Majesties person and Right against all Forces whatsoever and in like manner the Laws Liberties and Privileges of Parliament and of this Kingdom And I shall to my utmost power preserve and defend the peace of the two Counties of Devon and Cornvvall and all persons that shall unite themselves by this Protestation in the due performance thereof and to my power assist his Majesties Armies for reducing the Town of Plymouth and resistance of all Forces of Scots Invaders and others levied under pretence of any Authority of two Houses of Parliament or otherwise without his Majesties personal consent And hereupon they agreed upon several Articles in reference to the taking of this Protestation directed to all Sheriffs Constables Ministers of every Parish Church at the next general Meeting That the Army be governed according to his Majesties Articles That all such persons slain or as shall be slain in this VVar or die in the Service by whose life any other person held any other Lands or Rents the said other person shall grant an Estate or pay such Rents for life under such Covenants c. as to the person so slain and the Refusers to lose double value one half to the King the other to the party and to be imprisoned till payment That if any Minister shall refuse or neglect his particular duty in his Service or not reade the Kings Declarations or do any thing contrary to â—is Majesties Instructions to be secured and his Estate sequestred That there be provided a thousand Barrels of Powder and ten thousand Fire Arms at the charge of both Counties whereof Devon three parts and Cornvvall to be a fourth according to the proportion of the grand Subsidy The Earl of Manchester for the Parliament is as active in his Association having gone over all vvith a high hand came to the University of Cambridg being not yet resolved vvhether the Colleges and Halls be vvithin his Commission for Sequestration for clearing vvhereof the Parliament sent out their Ordinance That the Estates Rents and Revenues of the Colleges and Halls in the University of Cambridg are in no wise to be seized on but shall remain and be to the same University Colleges and Halls as if the Ordinance of Sequestration had never been made Which is most nobly done like true Patriots of Learning but then the next Proviso marrs all That if any part portion or dividend be due to any Head Fellow or Scholar in the said University being or which hereafter shall be a Malignant or Delinquent within any of the Ordinances of Sequestration then they shal be excepted from receiving any part or portion of his Allowance but shall be dealt with as it shall be ordered by the Earl of Manchester and none to be Receiver Treasurer or Bowser but such as shall be approved by him Sir Richard Byron Governour of Newark for the King understanding that the Adversaries vvere quartered at Harmiston and VVaddesdon three Miles from Lincoln sent out tvvo hundred and fifty Horse and some Dragoons under command of Sir Gervase Eyre vvho beat up their Quarters and took kill'd some but the reason having Quarter he carried avvay above three hundred Prisoners Horse and Arms. The King at Oxford vvith sufficient Friends to finish his civil affairs considered of the fitness and conveniency to assemble the Members of both Houses of Parliament at Oxford and having to that purpose the tvvo and tvventieth of December last by his Proclamation summoned them for this day the tvvo and tvventieth of Ianuary vvhere novv they met in the great Hall at Christ's Church vvhere his Majesty declared the occasion of his calling them together to be witnesses of his actions and privy to his intentions Telling them That if he had the least thoughtâ— disagreeing with the happiness of this Kingdom he would not advise with such Counsellors as they are And so they went to the publick Schools the Lords in the upper Schools and the Commons in the great Convocation-house Indeed he having renounced those Members that sate at Westminster he thought it fit to assemble such as he might confide in to vote and act as his proper Parliament countenanced with able Members the most ancient and most honourable Peers and very worthy Gentlemen not amiss to record them The Names of the Lords and Commons in the Assembly of the Parliament at Oxford Ianuary 22. 1643. Charls Prince Duke of York Cumberland Edw. Littleton C. S. Fr. Cottington Treasurer Duke of Richmond Marquess of Hertford Earls Lindsey Dorset Shrewsbury Bath Southampton Leicester Northampton Devonshire Carlile Bristol Barkshire Cleveland Rivers Dover Peterborough Kingston Newport Portland Visc. Conway Lords Digby Mowbray and Matravers Lords Wentworth Cromwell Rich. Paget Chandos Howard of Charlton Lovelace Savile Mohun Dunsmore Seymour Piercy VVilmot Leigh Hatton Iermin Carington Knights and Gentlemen Sir Iohn Fettiplace Sir Alexander Denton Sir Iohn Packington Thomas Smith Francis Gamul Iohn Harris Ioseph Iane. Richard Edgcomb I. Raleigh G. Fane P. Edgcomb VVilliam Glanvile Robert Hâ—burn Sir Ralph Sidenham Sir Fr. Godolphin Ger. Parry Ambrose Manaton Sir Richard Vivian Io. Palewheel Io. Arundel Thomas Lower Edward Hide VVilliam Allestry George Stonehouse Edward Seymor Peter St. Hill VVilliam Pool Roger Matthew Richard Arundel Ro. VValker Giles Strangways Io. Strangways Sir Thomas Helâ— Geraâ—d Nape Samuâ—l Turner VVilliam Constantine Henry Killegrew R. King Io. Dutton Henry Bret. VVilliam Chadwell Theo. Gorges Io. George Thomas Fanshaw Humph. Conningsby Richard Seaborn Arthur Ranelagh Thomas Tomkins Sampson Evers Io. Culpeper Ieffrey Palmer Io. Harison Thomas Fanshaw Roger Palmer Sir Orlando Bridgman VVilliam VVatkins Iohn Smith Sir Thomas Bludder Edward Littleton Harvie Bagot Richard Leveson Sir Richard Cave Sir Richard VVeston Richard Lee. Thomas VVhitmore Edward Acton C. Baldwin R. Goodwin Thomas Howard Thomas Littleton Robert Howard Io. Meux Matthew Davis Fr. Cornwallis Thomas Germin Io. Tailor VVilliam Basset VVilliam Pateman Edw. Ridney Thomas Hanham Edw. Philips Io. Digby Edw. Kirton Chr. Lewkin Edw. Alford Io. VVhite Io. Ashburnham VVilliam Smith Thomas Leeds I. Thin VVilliam Pledel Ro. Hide Edw. Griffin VValter Smith George Lowe Richard Harding Henry Herbert Endimion Porter Samuel Sandys Iohn Bâ—dvil William Morgan William Thomas Iohn Mistin Henry Bellasis Knights and Gentlemen George Wentworth William Malory Richard Aldbury Io. Salisbury William Herbert William Price Io. Price Knights and Gentlemen R. Herbert Charls Price Philip VVarwick Thomas Cook Herbert Price Io. Whisler These Peers then disabled by several Accidents appeared since Viscount Cambden Lord Abergaveny Lord Arundel Lord Capel Lord Newport Peers imployed in his Majesties Service Marquesses Winchester VVorcester Newcastle Earls Darby Huntington Clare Marlborough Viscount Falkonbridg Lords Morley Lords Darcy and Coniers Sturton Everâ— Daincourt Pawlet Brudenel Powesse Herbert of Cherbury Hopton Loughborough Byron Vaughan VVithrington Peers absent beyond Seas Earl of Arundel Earl of Saint Albans Lord Viscount Mountague Viiscount Strafford Lord Stanhop Lord Coventry Lord Goring Lord Craven of Hamsted Lord Craven of Ryton Peers
great Account 355 c. a Plot in Scotland 464. their Answer to the Kings Letter 516. Declaration of their Council 517. their Army kept up 554. their Declaration in Answer to the Parliament in England 563. their Army enter England 669. their Declaration 670. their Army Voted to be gon 904. their Letter to the Parliament 906. Declaration against their papers 914. their Army intend to return home 921 922. they urge the King with their Propositions 923. Letters of complaint against their Army 924. one years account of their Army 927. their Papers concerning the dispose of the King 930. Quaeries of their Parliament 936. and Result touching the King 937. their Declaration concerning the King 939. Horse from the Scots Army come into Engl. 968. their Commissioners Messenger staid at Newcastle 1005. their Letter to the Speaker 1014. their Estates disagree 1071. their Committee of danger vote a War ibid. their Army comes to Penreath and engages 1073 defeated at Preston 1074. and disbanded 1077. they dissent as touching the Kings Tryal 1120 they declare against it 1122. their private instructions touching it ibid. A new Seal voted and framed 622 1119 Fight near Shaw 737 Sherborn seized by the Marquess of Herford 576. taken by Storm by Sir Tho Fairfax 828 Fight at Sherburn in Yorkshire 835 Shipmoney debated 197. Lord Keepers Speech to the Iudges concerning it 204. again debated 213. Iudges questioned about it 429 Shrewsbury betrayed to the Parliament 798 Earl of Somerset confined 140 Overtures of Peace with Spain 139. which is concluded 144. the Spaniards design 281 〈…〉 Spine 737 Spoâ—swood executed 1045 Stafford taken by treachery 658. Earl of Stamford proclaimed Traitour 546 Sir Philip Stapleton dies of the plague 1003 〈◊〉 â—tar appears at noon day 142 Col. Stephens surprizing is surprized 788 Stode taken by Tilly 105 Sir John Stowel taken prisoner 930 Lord Strange impeached of high Treason 566 The Earl of Stratherns Descent and Title 230 raised to his Ruine ibid. County of Surrey Petition 1062 Fight at Sutton field 820 Swansey summoned 702 King of Sweden enters Germany 146. â—beats the Emperialists at Frankfuâ—t â— 147. is slain at Lutzen 189. his Character ibid. Ambassadour from Swedeland 199. Swedes displeased 208. Peace made with them 798 Synod began to sit 604 T. TAunton besieged by the Kings Forces 802. Relieved and again besieged 804 Tax of weekly meals 698 Tenby surprized 1056 besieged and surrendred 1060 Term adjourned to Reading 21. Mich. Term adjourned 567 Mr. Thomas his speech against Bishops 416 Tinmouth Caslte revolts and is taken 1073 Tomkins and Chal. hang'd at Lon. 621 â— of Traquair 191. is treacherous 225 Tilly defâ—â—ted 52 〈◊〉 with neighbouring Nations 18 Tredagh fortified 447. besieged 452. and in distress 455. is relieved ibid. invaded again 456. yet the besieged make several Sallies 457. have fresh supplies by Sea 459. the Siege raised 460 Tumults at Westminster for justice against the Earl of Strafford 402 Turin lost 371 V. LOrd Francis Villiers slain 1069 All Uâ—ster-pâ—ssessed by the Rebels 440 Treaty at Uxbridge 756. 758. Directions to the Kings Commissioners there 757. Observations concerning the Treaty 762 W. WAllestein murdered 190 Sir William Waller defeated at Lands down 625. and by Prince Maurice near Teuxbury 655. and at the Devices 657 He is set to take the King 706. and defeated at Copredy Bridge 708 Court of Wards and Liveries voted down 865 Lord VVentworth sent Deputy to Ireland 189. Impeached of High Treason 336. his condition examined ibid. charge against him 342 374. his Tryal at VVestminster 375. Conclusion of his defence 396. the Commons justifie their Charge against him by Law 397. he answ by Council but is nevertheless voted guilty of High Treason 398. Bill of Attainder against him 399. the Kings Speech in defence of him 400. voted guilty by the Lords 406. his Letter to the King upon the Tumult of the Apprentices and his Speech upon the Scaffold to p. 409 VVestchester besieged and surrendered 861 c. Mr. Whites Letter 421 Williams Arch Bishop of York against the King 889 VVinchester taken by Cromwel 833 The â—â—dy VVinter summoned to yield 705. her Answer ibid. Sir John VVinter recruited 805 Sir Fran. Windebank gets away 338 Col. Windebank shot to death 802 Withers complained of 892 Dr. Wren Bishop of Ely committed to the Tower 429 Y. YEomans hanged at Bristol Duke of York born â—â—4 brought 〈◊〉 London 891. escapes beyond Seas into Holland 10â— Arch-Bishop of Yorks Letter to the Lord Ashley 858 The County of York Petition the King and are Answered 506 The Articles of Neutrality for Yorkshire infringed 567. York relieved by Prince Rupert but the Siege is renewed and it surendered 719 c FINIS Anno. 1625. King James dies His Funeral Amiens described Boloign described Puts to Sea Lands at Dover Canterbury Hist. of King Charles pag. 7. A Parliament summoned H. 9. Ob. 28. Parliament siâ— The Kings Speech Hist. pag. 11 Observ. p. 28. Of Wars Petitions Answered Subsidies granted Dr Mountague questioned Caballa p. 115. Lord Mordant made Protestant Parliament at Oxford Observ. 34. Parliaments Petition Kings answer And urges for Supply Observ. p. 35. Cabal p. 107. Parliament dissolved Hist. p. 16. Treaty abroad Ill successe of Gades voyage H Pa. 18. Pa 19 Cabella pa. H. p. 17. Ob. p. 36. Term adjourned to Reading Of Coronation of Soveraigns Hist. 20. Kings 11. 12. Hist. 20. Ibid. Hist. 21. The Scaâ—â—old 2. February Epis. Hist. p. 16. Rex Epis. Rex Epis. Rex Epis. Rex Sworn Annointed Crowned A Parliament called Lords Petition The Kings Answer Earl of Arundel committed 1626. The King demands supply Anno 1626. Mr. Cook aâ—d Dr. Tâ—rners insolent speeches The Lord Keepers speech The Kings Speech The Commons Reply The E. of Bristows charge against the Duke Articles against the E. of Bristow Ob. p. 45 Hist. p. 45. Ob. p. 49. His ingrossing great Offices By buying the place of Admiralty And Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Not guarding the Seas Stay of the St. Peter of New-haven And of the East India Fleet. Lending the Vant guard to the French To be imployed against Rochel Selling of honour And Offices Procuring honors for his Kindred His applying Physick to K. Iames. Hist p. 53. Parliament dissolved E. of Bristow Committed to the Tower Hist. p. 54. England and France at difference Hist. p 56. The French Insolent here at Court Sr. Dudly Carlton sent to complain Mcro Fr. Du Châ—snâ— Ill news abroad Our fleet comes home Hist. p. 63. Loan monies Hist. p. 69. Hist. p. 64. Ob. p. 41. Proposition for a more Toleration of Papists in Ireland Hist. pag. 65. The Clergies Protestation against Papistry Primate of all Ireland his Speech Abroad At home Pat. 13. H. 3. in Tur. Lond. Pat. 13. H. 3. membran 9. Pat. Gascony 1 Ed. 2. memb 25. in dorso Bishop Andrews dies 〈…〉 〈…〉 Anno 1627. The Dukes Manifesto The cause of this War Isâ—ardus pa. 1. Isnard p. 16. The
Proctors deprived and others partakers check't for engaging But the Expulsion of these Preachers Expelled not their Schism which inwardly burnt the more for blazing the lesse many complaining of the two edged sword of justice too penal for some to touch then others to break the Kings Declaration And in this controversie died the Arch Bishop of York Dr. Harsnet a discreet Assertor of these necessary and useful Ceremonies and complained even against the Conformable Puritan who preached it in policy but diffented in judgement His Epitaph sets forth his Bishopricks Indignus Episcopus Cicestrensis Indignior Norvicensis Indignissimus Archiepiscopus Eboracensis enjoying them all three And now they revive the Sabbatarian controversie which was begun five years since 1628. Bradburn on the Sabbath day and directed to the King maintaining First The fourth Commandment simply and intirely Moral and Christians obliged as well as the Iews to observe everlastingly that day That the Lords day is an ordinary working day it being Will-worship to make it a Sabbath by vertue of the fourth Commandment But the High Commission Court soon made this man a Convert which opinions begat controversies of five heads What is the fittest name of that day when to begin and end Upon what authority grounded Whether alterable or no Whether any recreations and what kinds on that day And then these disputants were distinguished into Sabbatarians Moderate men and Anti-Sabbatarians and their preaching and pamphlets so quarrelous as made the poor distracted people to seek what to do And at the Temple It was Explained by Learned Dr. Micklethwait That the richer fort were more obliged to the strictnesse of the day than the poor workman such as have no diversion by labour all the week need no Recreation on One day the Labourer having some title to Liberty But from the Pen they fall to Pikes and Somersetshire the Stage and fieâ—y Scene First keeping their Church-Ales and Wakes of meetings on that day evening which upon complaint to Richardson Chief Justice that Circuit he suppressed them totally by Order of the nineteenth of March. This being an usurpation of a Lay Judg on Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction the Arch-bishop Laud procures from the King a Commission to two Bishops and other Divines to examine the Judges carriage therein which Order at last he was fain to revoke the next Assize and so the quarrel on foot and petition troubling the King to settle this difference it procured reason of State in the King to revive his Fathers Declaration for Sports set out in the fifteenth of King Iames upon the like occasion in Lancashire which refer to the subsequent time 1654. And indeed though the State was induced with much prudence to afford some liberty to labouring people carving to some freedom on that day cut most for others and leave least for themselves The Declaration was not pressed on the Minister to publish more proper for a Lay Officer or Constable but because Judg Richardson had enjoyned his Order to the contrary and the Minister obeyed it Now the Declaration was put upon them also by the Order of the Bishops Some Schismaticks were forward to read it and forthwith the fourth Commandment setting as they meant God and the King at odds that so themselves might escape in the fray Nor was the reading absolutely urged upon any unless under the Bishop of Norwich too severe there Many men out of breath observe this as the concurring cause of our sad events and Civil War 'T is true our fights were often forced upon the King on that day as pointing at the punishing of profaneness but our Battels have been rubrick'd each day in the Week with English bloud and therefore to pick a solemn Providence out of a common Casualty savours more of Curiosity than Conscience though indeed Edg-hill Fight fell on that day which entred us into so much misery And truly had we all of us strictand duly observed the holy keeping that Holy Day we might be happy there still I mean the due measure but we have wrested it awry from the right way reeling into extremes afterwards neglecters now contemners Transcendents above common piety they need not keep any because they observe all days we call them Levellers equalling all Times Places Persons nay to our Lands in common a general confusion they make to be Gospel perfection for having supprest all due observation of festival Saints days and their Eves Wednesdays and Fridays Service and Letanies now our Hypocrites out of errour or worse perfect prâ—faness take away the Lords day also The famous Fabrick of Saint Pauls Church and Steeple made so in process of time from the pâ—ety of primitive Christians their devout zeal to good works and since by several additions of Benefactours raised to a structure of admiration a Pile huge and honourable not the like left to our last Age to be sampled in the whole World What the hands of good men had made wonderfull the hand of wasting had extremely decayed Onely the hand of Heaven by accident of Lightning had burnt down the high Spire in the time of Queen Elizabeth who then had designed not onely to rebuild that but to repair the whole Church and to that end some Materials were then prepared Afterwards in the time of King Iames the religious Patriot Sir Paul Pindar of worthy memory returning into England some years since from his Ambassie Lieger in Constantinople and afterwards one of the great Farmers of the Kings Customes and of ample fortune the most in money became the great Example of Charity to many and the Patern of Piety to all in his magnificent re-edifyfying of this Church First he repaired the Entry front and Porches to all the upper Church Quire and Chancel and enriched them with Marble Structures and Figures of the Apostles with Carvings and Guildings far exceeding their former beauty which cost above two thousand pounds the act of a good man as King Iames said But the main Fabrick fit for the work of a King And therefore King Charls having a pious resolution to begin the Repair of the whole Church and Steeple made his humble entry at the West end of the Isles up to the Body Quire and Chancel where after a Sermon of Exhortation to that Christian intention he made his pious Procession about the inside Circumvelation thereof and viewing the Decays gave up his promise with his Devotions speedâ—ly to settle the beginning of the work And this year issued out his Commissions under his Great Seal to the Lord Maior Sir Robert Drewry the two Arch-bishops the Chancellour Treasurer Privy Seal some Bishops Secretaries and Councellours of State Deans Aldermen and others or any six of them whereof three to be of the Privy Council and always the Bishop of London for the time being to be one who was then William Laud and the first man but not the chief Promoter being promoved and attempted by others before he was of
executâ—â—◠〈◊〉 he wretchedly died IRELAND The State of England must be cleared of an Imputation That the not reducing Ireland to Civility since the Martial design 17 H. 2. above four hundred years was so continued in policy But if otherwise intended why not the Conquest perfected till their subjection to K. Charls In truth their former defects have been the faint prosecution of the War and loosness of Civil Governments The Souldiers ill paid and worse commanded the more barbarous the greater difficulty witness Caesars to reduce Brittains and their petty Princes a longer War then with all Asia and under one Monarch The King of Spain hath felt that by the States of the Netherlands not as yet but the whole Kingdom of Portugal he got in a trice Tributaries they were the first degree of subjection but more properly Soveraigns than Subjects And H. 3. grants run thus Rex Regi Tosmond salutem c And the Record says Onale Rex 100 l. de auxilio domini Regis Henrici c. and in truth the English Kings might rather deserve their Title Rex Regum for each Rebel is a King and vi armis Regnum suum obtinuit and the Armies sent over at several times were ill paid more unruly worst commanded till 36. Edw. 3. Extorting Coin and Livery Free-quarter and Money the general fault of all Commanders there which the Irish call damnable Custom and so did nothing but undo one another the English Colonies as hardly used as the Irish Until 9 Eliz. who sent over more men and spent more money there than all her Progenitors since the first onset on that Nation for she had three Rebellions Oneal anno 1566. was soon defeated with a thousand men or rather he was slain by accident of the Scots not the English Army Desmond more deep six thousand English quite defeated him But Tyrones Rebellion universally spread enforced the Queen to send Essex with forces indeed twenty thousand by Poll yet did nothing till Mountjoy made an end of that war under King Iames and so submitted to English Government Laws Magistrates the Kings pardon and Peace in all parts an intire and perfect Conquest as Merline prophesied At Sextus maenia Hiberniae subverteâ— Regiones in Regnum redigentur But concerning the Civil Affairs they were never brought to any degree of Reformation till the Governour Earl of Sussex laid the platform and proceeded in the way which Sr. H. Sidney pursued reducing the Countries into â—hires placing 〈◊〉 and Ministers of Laws but yet rather in a course of 〈◊〉 than by Civil Courts for though the greatest part of 〈◊〉 were vested in the Crown by Act of Parliament yet no seizure nor brought in charge the Irish having all and though the Name O-Neal were damn'd as High Treason yet Tirlagh Leynnagh was suffered to leave that Title and to intrude upon the possessions of the Crown and that with favour of the State and the Abbaries and Religious Houses in Tyrone Tirconnel and Ferminagh dissolved in 33 Hen. 8. were never reduced into charge but were continually possest by the Religious Persons until King Iames came to the Crown Nay more strange the Donations of Bishopricks being a flower of the Crown which the Kings of England did ever retain when Papacy was at the highest There were three of them in Ulster namely Derry Rapho and Clogher which were never bestowed by any former Soveraigns though they were undoubted Patrons until King Iames the first King that ever supplied these Sees with Bishops Indeed after the Government of Henry Sidney followed Sir Iohn Perrolt who advanced the Reformation in three principal points In establishing the Composition of Conaught in reducing Ulster into seven Shires though in his time the Law never executed in those new Counties by Sheriffs or Justices of Assize but the people left to be ruled by their own barbarous Lords Laws Lastly by vesting in the Crown the Laws of Desmond in Munster and planting English there After Perrot comes Sir William Fitzers He raised a Composstion in Munster and setled the possessions of the Lords and Tenants in Monahan one of the last Acts of State tending to Reformation in Queen Elizabeths days Thus former Soveraigns endeavoured since Edward 3. to reduce this Nation and before the Civil Wars of York and Lancaster the chief aim was to order the degenerate English Colonies not respecting the meeâ— Irish. But after Hen. 7. who united the Roses they laboured to bring both English and Irish to Alleageance but never perfected till King Iames. The former 〈…〉 〈…〉 And for the Civil part to settle peace after Tyrone that Act of State or Act of oblivion by Proclamation pardoned all offences against the Crown and particular Trespasses don before King Iames his time and the inslaved Irish under their tyrant Lords were received into his Majesties immediate Protection As publick Peace so publick Iustice the first Sheriffs in Tyrone and Tyrâ—onnel in Ulster and Pelham and the first Justices in those Counties and afterwards in the first years Government of Sir Arthur Chichester he established two other new Circuits of Assize in Connaught and Munster where for two hundred years before had not been executed and publick Iustiâ—e grew so great as that there was Magna messis sed operarii pauci round about the whole Kingdom twice a year which heretofore was but about the Pale like the Circuit of Cynosur a about the Pole Quae cursu interiore brevi convertitur orbe By the Circuits of Assize the Commons were taught to be free Subjects to the King not Slaves to their Lords that their Cuttings Cosheries Sessings and such Extortions were unlawfull so that these tyrant Lords wanting means humbly petitioned for licence to take some competent contribution for their support which being denied them they were fain to fly into foreign parts and as Extortion banished them who could not live but under the Law so the Law banished the Irish Lord who could not live but by extortion that in five years not so many Malefactours of Death in the six Circuits or two and thirty Shires as in one Circuit of the West of England the Irish in peace fearfull to offend the Law and thereby â—ull knowledge of the Irish their Countries Persons and Actions and so their ancient Allowances in their Pipe Rolls pro Guidagio Spiagio was well spared Under Officers doing that Aâ—rand the neglect of the Law made the very English 〈◊〉 Irish which now counts them to be civil English The â—est was the setling of the Irish Estates as well as English for though a Law of Queen Elizabeth enabled the Governours to take Surrenders and regrant Estates unto the Irish yet but few Irish Lords in her time offered to make any if they did it was regranted to them again and to no other and the poor Septes paid their Duties as before so 〈◊〉 such a Surrender there was but one Freeholder made in a whole County which was
these were Pembrook Salisbury Holland and others lately Commissioners in the Pacification And yet amongst them all the most unworthy kept in and bred in Hamilton At last the number was lessened to three the Arch Bishop the Lord Leivtenant of Ireland and Hamilton And at the close it was concluded on the fift of December And no wonder now to set down the truth as secret as this Junto was I draw my intelligence from a Letter written the tenth of December to the most Eminent of degree under obedience of the King the whole manner and matter of that debate which saies that on Thursday last the Iunto met when the King gave reasons of the evil and necessity of suddain prevention ere it should highten beyond remedie which in his Judgement ought to be by consent and assistance of 〈…〉 in England the Lord Lievtenant acknowledged it the 〈…〉 highly magnifying the Kings resolution and with the 〈…〉 confirmed professing afterwards in a fuller Assembly that 〈◊〉 he should know himself to be one principally aymed at for Examination in Parliament yet he so far preferred the Kings prosperity and the affaires of State as to hazard his own life and fortunes to his Innocencie and their Censure And the Lord Lievtenant wholly had the honour in the peoples opinion for promoting this Resolution Then was it also concluded for a Parliament also in Ireland to precede this herein and the Lieutenant to be dispatched thither to return time enough to this which was therefore resolved for that cause principally not to remove till the middle of April following and in the mean time to raise monies by that reputation sufficient to put himself in a posture of war And indeed the Arguments were urged pro and con unsafe unseasonable insecure because of the rancour left by the last Parliament the unseasonable recalling an Assembly after the peoples thoughts had laid them aside and the King had learned to stand on his own legs viz. power by Land and Sea and no doubt Insecure to many great ones a whipping Parliament as Sir Thomas Iermin named it But then the necessity of the affairs and the Kings resolution to satisfie all exceptions put it on And for present mony The Lord Lieutenant subscribed the Lone of twenty thousand pounds the Duke of Richmond as much more Hamilton pretended poverty and did not sign at all though his Scotish Imployment got him twice so much It after came to the rest some in zeal other in good manners few refused All the Judges Officers and dependants of Courts of Judicature were assessed by the discretion of the Council acording to their qualities and places of profit But herein mistaking the profit of the six Clerks places in Chancery for they were raised to the sum of two thousand pounds a piece beyond the benefit of their gain And indeed to draw on the Clergie and to shew that a Recusant in the rites of our Church may yet have a conscience of fidelity answerable to the duty of other obedient subjects the Queen had the honour of Promoting her interest with them appointing Sir Kenelm Digby and Mr. Walter Mountague to negotiate with the Catholiques for a hearty contribution being very proportional to their affections and beyond their proper abilities which was afterwards hinted as a great crime and therefore throughout the war called the Papist Army It was no matter for the Scots were termed Rebells here and in Ireland and more forward than the King with their faces but with a cunning carriage of counterfeite humility and Innocencie crave leave to prostrate their duty and obedience by access to his Majesties Throne of grace and mercy To that end the Covenanters did send their Commissioners the Earl of Dunfermling the Lord Loudon Sir William Dowglas and Mr. Barkley The two last not so much as mentioned in the Commission and the Lords onely authorized to plead Integrity and to demonstrate their fidelity but not impowred to propound particulars towards a Mediation any way satisfactorie at all to the Kings expectation and in truth they came but to juggle with this State as you have heard for at this time the Covenanters were so forward as to Imprison at home some of the Kings well affected Nobility and Gentry suspected by them and from birds of their feather the Hollander they procured many Commanders Scots and others with liberty to keep their places with Arms and ammunition upon trust though such Officers from thence as came to the King were soon casheered ungratefull People both for courtesies done to repay with injury and after to destroy as 't is observed that Naturale est odisse quem laeseris And the King could say of them both that They were lost by Favours and won by Punishment And thus forwarded like desperate Insurrectors they engage beyond Retrive themselves the first to proclaim their Discontents imploring Aid from their old Friends the French by the Letter to that King which they did not doubt under confidence of the Cardinal Richelieu and Con the Popes Nuncio to obtain The very original Letter to the French King whether sent or but intended came to the Kings hands as a close Secret and was found to be the Character of the Lord Loudon who was therefore though Commissioner from the Covenanters committed to the Tower in close confinement till the Marquess Hamilton procured his Release And this very Letter in the Kings presence being openly read in the Lords House the next Parliament the Commons being at the Bar without any great resentment which testified that the major part did not much dislike the Scots Proceedings as appears too true thereafter Nay before this their Letter to the French King they were encouraged six Moneths since from France by Chambers the Priest a bold Scot and Chaplain to Richelieu sent by him to advise them to take Arms and thereafter he sent his Page Hepburn with Letters to the principal of them in the Court here and then to Scotland and no sooner invited but they begin their Reaks the Covenanters first seizing Edinburgh and Sterlin Castle others in a seeming way of force because the Earl of Mar was hereditable Keeper of them both and secretly sided with them as also the Castle of Dunbarton before their Army was marched to Dunslow And besides this Letter to the French King they had implored help from the King of Denmark Sweden Holland Poland and their Letters were shewed to the King wherein they offer their Isles of Orkney and Shetland to the King of Denmark advising the Swede to fall upon that King in case he should assist his Kinsman Nay it is further reported that they solicited the Turk to ingage against the Emperour lest he should contribute to their prejudice But it seems by their own true Representation that they trusted chiefly to their English Brethren We are now come to the consideration concerning this resolved Rebellion whether besides the hopes of
their practices provoking Aspersions upon the most gracious and best of Kings that he levels at none in particular let the faults lead to the men not to be exposed to irregular prejudices nor with-held from orderly justice Bodies natural to be effectually purged of Humours must be made moveable and fluid so of the Politick to be cleared of their Maladies by loosening and unsettling the evil Ministers and to be drawn into a Remonstrance and presented to a gracious Masters clear and excellent judgment And so he sat down This was held too courtly and which was suddenly laid hold on A forward young man well made up with Learning and by his Fathers fate kept aloof from the Beam of Sovereignty a little Sun-shine would enliven him some Marks of Majesty fell from the Queen which taken up tainted him presently after and in him his Father also now made Friends whom the King took also into favour The King to keep the City from Tumult and to prevent the Insolencies of busie and loose People had established a Constable of the Tower of London Supreme to the Lieutenant under command of the Lord Cottington enabling it with a Garrison also of four hundred Souldiers and with some shew of Fortification thereof at this very time when some publick notice was given to the Parliament of an extraordinary confluence of Popish Recusants in and about the City of London and Westminster and therefore to take away all Jealousies of conniving with them or other Fears of over-mastering the City he was pleased to send a Message to the Parliament that by Proclamation the Papists shall be instantly removed to their places of abode with prosecution also against their persons disarming their power according to Law And as for the Tower he erected the Government by a Constable and Garrison in favour to the peace of the City but is now resolved to leave the Tower to the command of a Lieutenant onely as hath been heretofore And in the afternoon came out an Order of the Commons House that all Projectours and unlawfull Monopolists that have or had lately any benefit from Monopolies or countenanced or issued out any Warrants in favour of them against Non-conformists to Proclamations or Commands concerning their Interests shall be disabled to sit in the House and Master Speaker is to issue out new Warrants for electing other Members in their places Whereupon it was notoriously observed how vacant their Rooms were upon the self-accusation of their own guilt who but lately framed speeches against others abroad who lodged under the Parliament lash for such Crimes The next day complaint was made to the Lords that their Privileges were infringed by the search of the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Brooks their Pockets Cabinets and Studies upon the Dissolution of the last Parliament And Sir William Beecher one of the Clerks of the Council being the Instrument alleged for his Excuse the command of the two Secretaries of State which could not protect him from Commitment to the Fleet Prison The Commons House intent upon publick justice sent Master Pym to the Lords with a Message the Impeachment of Thomas Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as guilty of High Treason Whereupon he was sequestred from the House and committed to the Usher of the Black Rod and Sir George Ratcliff his Confederate and supposed Criminary with him was two days after sent for out of Ireland by a Serjeant at Arms. And here we cannot pass by many wise mens opinions whether the Earl assumed his wonted judgment and courage when he came from the Army to this Parliament His wisdom could not chuse but know that the Scots and Scotizing English had infallibly resolved his destruction his innocency to be no Armour of Proof against Malice and Power why did he not rather keep under safeguard of the English Army at his command from which he had got much affection or have passed over into Ireland the Army there also at his devotion or in plain terms have taken Sanctuary into some foreign parts till fair weather might have invited him home whether it had been a betraying of his Innocency to decline the Trial where Partiality held the Beam of the Scales and self-ends backedâ— with power and made blinde with prejudice were like to over-ballance Justice that if Sentence should have passed against him for Non-appearance yet had he kept his Freedom till better times and have done his Master better service abroad than in Council at White-hall But on the other side it was said that all these Considerations had been pondered before he came from the Army even by the way where met him a Iunto of his confident Friends and then it was averred that he had gained in the North certain evidence that the Scots Army came in by Invitation a Confederacy between the Heads of the Covenanters and some of the English Parliament-members of both Houses his most deadly Enemies to subvert the Government of the Church and to innovate in that of the Civil State that therefore he himself had digested his Intelligence into the Form of an Impeachment which he intended to have offered to the House of Peers so soon as he had taken his place there There were his Reasons which he might have from Example of the Earl of Bristow who yet came too late to begin upon his grand Enemy the Duke of Buckingham in the like charge but then Bristow was ready at the instant to recriminate upon the Duke by an Impeachment of High Treason against him which took off the Dukes edg ever after But here Strafford was not so nimble as Master Pym who got the start and it seems the Earl failed of his former purpose which had he seconded by an after timely stroke and impeached them and prosecuted it in a reasonable pace and method as was afforded him it might have happened not so fatal to his utter ruine And the Commons speeding thus far it encouraged them no doubt to fall upon others in the same track with the Arch-bishop few Moneths after In this time the two Armies were heavy charge to the Counties where they quartered therefore the twelfth of November the Parliament borrow of the City of London an hundred thousand pounds upon interest and ingagement of the credit of some of the Members untill the Moneys might be levied upon Subsidies and so to repay them Munday the sixteenth of November upon the humble suit of the House of Lords to his Majesty the Lord Bishop of Lincoln was released out of the Tower and the next Day being assigned for Humiliation he was brought into the Abbey Church by four Bishops and did his Office as Dean of Westminster before the Lords Never wise-man so gulled into the false shew of true affection from Lords and Commons and so continued till their turns were served upon the Earl of Strafford and the Arch Bishop of Canterbury he became the spectacle of
and they have just cause to believe it to be true Fifthly the Papists as publickly and with 〈…〉 importunity resort to Mass at Denmark house Saint James's aâ—d the Ambassadours Chappel as others do to their Parochial Churches Sixthly there is found already so bad consequence of this Priest John Goodman his 〈◊〉 that the City of London being solicited by the Parliament for their assistance in the advancement of Money for the supply of his Majesties Army have absolutely denied the same for that very reason which may become an ill 〈…〉 To which the King makes answer That it was against his minde that Popery or Superstition should any way increase within this Kingdom that he will restrain the same by causing the Laws to be put in execution That he is resolved to provide against Iesuits and Papists by setting forth a Proclamation speedily commanding them to depart the Kingdom within one Moneth of which â—f they fail or shall return then they shall be Proceeded against according to Law Concerning the Popes Nuncio Rosetti he hath no Commission 〈◊〉 onely to retain correspondency between the Queen and the Pope in things requisite for the exercise of her Religion which is warranted to her by the Articles of Marriage which gave her a full liberty of conscience yet 〈◊〉 he hath perswaded her that since the mis-understanding of that persons condition gives offence she will within a time convenient remove him Moreover he will take special care to restrain his Subjects 〈◊〉 resorting to Mass at Denmark house Saint James's and the Chappels of Ambassadours Lastly concerning Goodman because he will avoid the inconvenience of giving so great discontent to his People as his Mercy may produce therefore he doth remit his particular case to both Houses But he desired them to take into their considerations the Inconveniences that may upon this Occasion fall upon his Subjects and other Protestants abroad especially since it may seem to other States to be a Severity But this while though of consequence to the main Affairs we have been enforced to leave the Scots in their five Moneths warm Quarters in this Kingdom The Treaty at Rippon produced a Câ—ssation of Hostility referring further to a Treaty at London which was impowred by Commission the three and twentieth of November to the former Lords the Earls of Bedford Hartford Essex Salisbury 〈◊〉 Bristow Holland and Berkshire the Lords Wharton Paget 〈◊〉 Brook Paulet Howard of Estrick Savile and Dunsmore 〈◊〉 to any ten or more of them to treat with the Scotish Commissioners or any seven of them being the Earls of Rothes and Dumferling the Lord Loudon Sir Patrick Hâ—pburn Sir William Douglas William Drummond Iohn Smith Bailiff of Edinburg Alexander Wedderburn Hugh Kennedy Alexander Henderson and Archibald Iohnson to take into consideration their Demands and to compose all Differences thereupon in pursuance of which Commission these Demands were assented unto The Scotish Comissioners demanded First that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to command that the Acts of the late Parliament may be published in His Higness Name as our Sovereign Lord with the consent of the Estates of Parliament conveâ—eal by his Majesties Authority To this it is answered and agreed 30 Decembris 1640. That forasmuch as the Kings Majesty at the humble desire of his Subjects did call and convene a Parliament to be holden at Edinburgh the 2. of Iune 1640. wherein certain Acts were made and agreed upon which Acts his Majesty is pleased to publish in his own Name with the consent of the Estates and therefore commands that the said Acts bearing date the 2. day of Iune 1640. be published with the Acts to be made in the next Session of the same Parliament and that all the said Acts as well of the precedent as of the next Session to be holden have in all time coming the strength of Laws and to be obeyed by all the Subjects of the Kingdom of Scotland Secondly that the Castle of Edinburgh and other Strengths of the â—ingdom should with the advice of the Estates of Parliament according to their first foundation be furnished and used for defence and security of the Kingdom It is agreed unto Thirdly that Scotish men within his Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland may be freed from censure for subscribing the Covenant and be no more pressed with Oaths and Subscriptions unwarranted by their Laws and contrary to their National Oath and covenant approved by his Majesty It is agreed Decemb. 8. 1640. that all those who in his Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland have been imprisoned or censured any way for subscribing of the Covenant on for refusing to take any other Oath 〈◊〉 to the same shall be freed of these Censures and shall be fully restored to their Liberties Estates and Possession and for time coming that the Subjects of Scotland as Subjects of Scotland shall not be constrained to any Oath contrary to the Laws of that Kingdom and the Religion there established but such of the Kingdom of Scotland as shall transport themselves into the Kingdom of England or Ireland and there be settled Inhabitants either by way of having Inheritance or Freehold or by way of settled Trades shall be subject to the Laws of England or Ireland and to the Oaths established by the Laws and Acts of Parliament in the said Kingdoms respectively wherein they live And the English and Irish shall have the like privilege in Scotland Fourthly that his Majesty would be pleased to declare that whosoever shall be found upon Trial and Examination by the Estates of either of the two Parliaments they judging against the persons subject to their own Authority to have been the Authours and Causers of the late and present Troubles and Combustions whether by labouring to make and foment Division betwixt the King and his People or betwixt the two Nations or any other way shall be liable to censure of the said Parliaments respectively It is answered December 11. 1640. That his Majesty believeth he hath none such about him therefore concerning that point he can make no other Declaration than that he is just and that all his Courts of Justice are to be free and open to all men Our Parliament in this Kingdom is now sitting and the current Parliament of Scotland near approaching the time of their meeting In either of which respective he doth not prohibit the Estates to proceed in trying and judging of whatsoever his Subjects And whereas it was further demanded that none after the Sentence of the Parliament should have access to his Majesty or be maintained or enjoy Places or Offices and have credit or authority to inform or advise his Majesty It is declared in his Majesties Name Decemb. 30. 1640. That he will not imploy any person or persons in Office or Place that shall be judged incapable by Sentence of Parliament nor will he make use of their service without the consent of
Earl craved not to Answer an unexpected addition without time assigned yet the Lords prevailed and put him to a present reply 1. That he had withdrawn four and twenty thousand pounds and more from the Exchequer in Ireland and converted to his own use 2. That in the beginning of his Government the Garrisons of Ireland had been maintained by the English Treasury 3. That he had advanced popish and infamous persons as the Bishop of Waterford and others to the prime Room in the Church of Ireland Answer 1. That England was indebted to Ireland so much which he took up upon his own credit and paid it in again producing the Kings Authority and Letter for the same 2. That the Garrisons had been formerly burdensom to England which he so found and had so improved the Kings Revenues there that they were not burdensom at all 3. That he never preferred any but whom he conceived consciencious and honest not being able to prophesie of mens future conditions And for the Bishop of Waterford he hath satisfied the Law The next Day March 24. the particular Articles were inforced to each he answered in order The further Impeachment of Thomas Earl of Strafford by the Commons assembled in Parliament The first Article was not insisted upon 2. That shortly after the obtaining of a Commission dated the 21. of March in the 8. Year of his now Majesties Reign to wit the last Day of August then next following he the said Earl to bring his Majesties Liege-people into a dislike of his Majesty and of his Government and to terrifie the Iustices of the Peace from executing the Laws he the said Earl being then President of the Kings Council in the Northern parts of England and a Iustice of Peace did publickly at the Assizes held for the County of York in the City of York in and upon the said last Day of August declare and publish before the People there attending for the administration of Iustice according to the Law and in the presence of the Iustices sitting that some of the Justices were all for Law but they should finde that the Kings little finger should be heavier than the loyns of the Law Testified by Sir David Fowls and others The Earls Reply That Sir David Fowls was his profest Enemy that his words were clearly inverted that his expression was That the little finger of the Law if not moderated by the Kings gracious clemency was heavier than the Kings loyns That these were his words he verified First by the occasion of them they being spoken to some whom the Kings favour had then enlarged from Imprisonment at York as a Motive to their Thankfulness to his Majesty Secondly by Sir William Pennyman a Member of the House who was then present and heard the words Which Sir William declaring to be true the House of Commons required Iustice of the Lords against him because he had voted the Articles as a Member of the House whereupon Sir William wept 3. That the Realm of Ireland having been time out of minde annexed to the Imperial Crown of this his Majesties Realm of England and governed by the same Laws the said Earl being Lord Deputy of that Realm to bring his Majesties Liege-people of that Kingdom likewise into dislike of his Majesties Government and intending the subversion of the Fundamental Laws and settled Government of that Realm and the distraction of his Majesties Liege-people there did upon the 30. Day of September in the 9. Year of his now Majesties Reign in the City of Dublin the chief City of that Kingdom where his Majesties Privy Council and Courts of Iustice do ordinarily reside and whither the Nobility and Gentry of that Realm do usually resort for Iustice in a publick Speech before divers of the Nobility and Gentry and before the Maior Aldermen and Recorder and many Citizens of Dublin and other his Majesties Liege-people declare and publish that Ireland was a conquered Nation and that the King might do with them what he pleased and speaking of the Charters of the former Kings of England made to that City he further said that their Charters were nothing worth and did binde the King no further than he pleased Testified by the Earl of Cork and two other Lords The Earls Reply That if he had been over-liberal of his tongue for want of discretion yet could not his words amount to Treason unless they had been revealed within fourteen days as he was informed As to the Charge he said True it is he said Ireland was a conquered Nation which no man can deny and that the King is the Law-giver in matters not determined by Acts of Parliament he conceived all loyal Subjects would grant 4. That Richard Earl of Cork having sued out Process in course of Law for recovery of his Possessions from which he was put by colour of an Order made by the said Earl of Strafford and the Council-table of the said Realm of Ireland The said Earl of Strafford upon a Paper-petition without legal proceedings did the twentieth Day of February in the eleventh Year of his now Majesties Reign threaten the said Earl of Cork being then a Peer of the said Realm to imprison him unless he would surcease his Suit and said that he would have neither Law nor Lawyers dispute or question any of his Orders And the twentieth of March in the said eleventh Tear the said Earl of Strafford speaking of an Order of the said Council-table of that Realm made in the time of King James which concerned a Lease which the said Earl of Cork claimed in certain Rectories or Tithes which the said Earl of Cork alleged to be of no force said that he would make the said Earl and all Ireland know so long as he had the Government there any Act of State there made or to be made should be as binding to the Subjects of that Kingdom as an Act of Parliament And did question the said Earl of Cork in the Castle-chamber upon pretence of Breach of the said Order of Council-table and did sundry other times and upon sundry other occasions by his words and speeches arrogate to himself a Power above the Fundamental Laws and established Government of that Kingdom and scorned the said Laws and established Government The Earls Reply It were hard measure for a man to lose his Honour and his Life for an hasty word or because he is no wiser than God hath made him As for the words he confessed them to be true and thought he said no more than what became him considering how much his Masters Honour was concerned in him that if a proportionable obedience was not as well due to Acts of State as to Acts of Parliament in vain did Councils sit And that he had done no more than what former Deputies had done and than what was agreeable to his Instructions for the Council-table which he produced And that if those words were Treason they should have been revealed within
and Figures within the Churches and afterwards from without suppressing the very Signs and Sign-posts and this curiosity of Imployment was conferred upon such as had least to do and could intend to be busied abroad Sir Robert Harloe was found out to be the fittest person which makes me remember Chaucer's Character of such another A busier man there never was Yet seemed busier than he was The King had given knowledg of his Resolution to journey to Scotland and to set out the tenth of August to which the Houses had agreed but now thus near they desire the King to put it off a Fortnight longer the great affairs of State necessarily requiring his presence and instanced in some Bills yet to be passed and some settlement for the Government of the Kingdom in his absence he told them the warning was so long since as that they might have hastened their business to that purpose And so the same day passed some Bills for Knighthood free making of Gun-pouder and Saltpeter and signed a Commission for passing Bills in his absence unto the Lord Keeper the Lord Privy-Seal the Earl of Lindsey Earl of Essex Marquess Hartford the Earl of Bath and the Earl of Dorset And signed to another Bill for the Earl of Essex General of all his Forces on this side Trent by which he had power to raise Forces in case of necessity but to that request that the Earl of Pembroke should be made Lord high Steward in the place of the Earl of Arundel now absent and the Earl of Salisbury to be Lord Treasurer he had no minde to either of them But the day before the King's Journey into Scotland and the Parliament serious in some sudden affairs of importance they were forced to lay aside the solemnity of this Day being Sunday and to sit from Morning till Night but not to bring it into President they publish in Print That for many urgent occasions they thought it necessary to sit and do declare so much that no inferiour Court or Council or any person may draw this into Example for their encouragement in neglecting the due observation of the Sabbath Sunday August 8. And then they adjourned untill the twentieth of October and a standing Committee of the House of Commons consisting of fifty Members appointed during the Recess But the King gone to Scotland the Parliament at leisure to frame business against his return such a Freedom and Liberty was taken up of the People and such connivance from the Parliament as somewhat like the late Comedy The World turn'd up side down Many Jealousies in the hearts of the People many Divisions and Differences in Opinion which little favour the Parliaments proceedings The Prelatical party utterly discountenanced and Learning discouraged the Universities neglected Orthodox men slighted A wonderfull liberty and licence afforded to the Communalty of a long time had now taken root and Riots too Every one as his fancy increased took upon him by connivance of several Members of several Opinions to countenance such who without other authority order or decency rudely and riotously disturbing Church-service in time of Prayers tearing the Book of Liturgy the Surplices and such things which the Parliament onely connived at being to use such a considerable party in time of need Ridiculous Conventicles and Preachings in Conventicles nay openly in corners of the Streets by Trades-men Tub-preachers to the general scandal of all good men In earnest to wise men and religious these courses were offensive and thereby grew disaffected to Parliaments but there were ways invented some were taken off by Preferments others deterred and most men distracted with these varieties exprest a Mutation and change of Church and State which after followed Insolencies and Disorders in the Populacy uncorrected or connived at grow up to Insurrections and Rebellions as with the late Actions of the Scots after whose Example the Irish Nation resolve of the like Freedom the one of Reformation the other of old ancient Popery National pretence either had but the effects of the former were soon smothered and pacified for the present but this other taking fire in time of our English Distractions which afforded them means and boldness to contrive the most horrid Rebellion in Ireland that after-ages will not easily believe It fell out in the Kings absence at Scotland and so we shall take up that time to enter the Reader in the former part of that miserable story and first of all to give some account of the Grounds and their rebellious pretences Somewhat we have said concerning the State of Ireland from the first Conquest of the English to these times of King Charls who highly indulged his Subjects there in this last Year 1640. upon their late Complaints and their general Remonstrance to him from the Parliament sitting at Dublin by a Committee of four Temporal Lords of the Upper House and twelve Members of the House of Commons instructed to represent the heavy pressures which they pretended to have suffered under the Government of the Earl of Strafford The King took their Grievances into his royal consideration heard them himself and presently provided for their redress And upon the decease of Master Wansford Master of the Rolls in Ireland and then Lord Deputy under the Earl of Strafford who still continued Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom though then accused of high Treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London the King sent a Commission of Government to the Lord Dillon of Kilkenny West and Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronet Master of the Wards there but finding his choice of Dillon to be much disgusted by the Irish Committee that Commission was forthwith cancelled with their approbation he placed the Government upon Sir William Parsons and Sir John Burlace Knight Master of the Ordnance both of them persons of great integrity who took the Sword the ninth of February 1640. who applied them selves with all possible content to the People In abating the Subsidies there being given in the time of the Earl of Strafford from fourty thousand pounds each Subsidy to twelve thousand pounds a piece so low were they reduced and drew up two Acts in Parliament most impetuously desired by the Natives The one was the Act of Limitations which settled all Estates of Land there for sixty years preceding The other Act for the relinquishment of the Kings Right and Title to the four Counties in Conaught legally found for him by several Inquisitions and ready to be disposed of to Brittish Undertakers as also to some Territories in Munster and Clare upon the same Title And that the King might testifie his own settled resolution for his future grace and favours to them he did about the end of May 1641. declare the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant General of Ireland perhaps upon the former score as Heir to his Uncle Sir Philip Sidney as to Sir Henry Sidney his Grand-father who had been Governour of Ireland in time
And so the War was mannaged by the cursed Irish and also by the Parliamentaries Scots and English against the Kings party being commanded by his General the Marquess of Ormond alone to defend himself which could not last over long for the Kings Forces in England being defeated and the Irish Rebells straitning Dublin with a Siege thought it more honourable to surrender to the Parliaments Forces that and what ere the King held in Ireland than to suffer the Interest of the English and Protestants to fall under the power of the Irish and so retires himself But after the Kings Imprisonment in the Isle of Wight and no further address to him Ormond goes over again with new Instructions and dignified with the Title of the Lord Deputy of Ireland with intent to make the best Peace he could and so to associate the English Scots and Irish to him many English and Irish conjoyn and Inchequin also upon the Kings Death with Preston and Taff and the mindes of others remaining in suspence the Scots forbear hostility giving good hopes to unite with Ormond To counterpoise these the Governour of Dublin Colonel Jones for the Parliament are deprehended in the same Embraces with Owen Roe the Rebells General and so are associated together with their Forces which Ormond not able to suppress after many Encounters yielded up all that he possessed for the King and his succeeding party after and retired into foreign parts where he now remains Thus in brief the Particulars follow It is true that Sir William Cole upon bare apprehensions of something had writ a letter to the Lords Justices the eleventh of Octâ—ber of great resort to Sir Phelem Oneal in the County of Tirone as also to the Lord Mac Guire in the County of Formanagho that Mac-Guire had often journeyed into the pale was continually busied in Letters and dispatches And then afterwards Sir William Cole certified by Letters of the one and twentieth of October of what was revealed to him by several Irish viz. to seize upon the Castle of Dâ—blin to murder the Lords Justices and Council and Protestants there and so over all Kingdom But these Letters never came to their hands nor any warning till the Evening of the day of Rebellion When many of the Conspirators arrived at Dublin and the three and twentieth of October 1641. met at the Lion Tavern neer Copper Alley Owen O Conally a Gentleman of a meer Irish family but a true Protestant by long Conversation with the English addressed himself to the Lord Justice Parsons about nine a clock that night and made a broken relation of a great conspiracy to seize the Castle at Dublin giving him the names of them now come expressly for that purpose and to attempt it the next morning and that Hugh mac Mahon was one of them who had told him so much with whom he had been drinking and so distempered his Lordship gave the less belief However he commanded him to return to Mac mahon to get out more of the plot and not faile to return back that night to his Lordship who in the mean time with all possible speed and secrecie ordered strong Guards in every corner And about 10. a clock went to the Council with Barlace without the Town and Sir Thomas Rotheram and Sir Robert Meridith Chancellor of the Exchequer where expecting the return of Conally he was seized by the watch ready to be carried to prison to the hazzard of all had not a servant of the Lord Parsons rescued him and so was brought to the Council and somewhat recovered of his former distemper told this Tale. That he being at Monimore in the County of London Derrey on Tuesday he received a Letter from Colonel Hugh Oge Mac mahan to come to Conaught in the County of Monaghan and to be with him on Wednesday last whither he came accordingly but Hugh being gon to Dublin he followed him hither and came about six a clock this Evening and forthwith went to his Lodging found him there without the Town and â—oth together came to the Lodging of the Lord Mac Guire but he not at home they two returned back again Hugh telling him that this night great number of the Irish Noblemen Papists would arrive in Town who with himself would take the Castle by Morning then to force the City by the Ordinance and destroy all the Protestants and so divers others were ordered in all parts of the Kingdom to seize and destroy all the English at an houre designed viz. to morrow by ten a clock and that all possible posting or speed could not prevent it And Conally moved Hugh rather to discover it to the State to prevent the mischief but he answered he could not help it yet that they owned their Allegiance to the King and pay it to him but what they did was against the tyrannical Government over them and to imitate Scotland who got their priviledge by that course And Hugh swore that they would not part but go together to the Castle and if this matter were discovered some body should die for it whereupon Conally fained some necessity for his easement to go out of the chamber leaving his sword in pawn Hugh's Man comming down with him into the yard where in a trice he leaped over a wall and two pales and so came to the Lord Justice Parson Examined the two and twentieth of October 1641. Owen O Conally Hereupon The Justices instantly sent and seized Mac-Mohan and his Man who forthwith came to the Council and confessed all the plot That on that very day all the forts and Castles of Ireland would be surprized That he with the Lord Mac Guire Hugh Birn Captain Brian Oneale and others were come to surprize Dublin Castle and that twenty men of Each County were to meet here to joyn with them That all the Nobility and Gentry Papists were confederates impossible to be prevented and how ever they used him now in their power his blood would be revenged Then Mac Guire and others were suddainly seized on and the Town filling with strangers the Council removed into the Castle and by this time a rumor of something gave Items to Hugh Birn and Roger Moor chief of the conspirators who escaped over the River and so did Plunket and Fox but thirty others were taken of the meanest quality the chief Actors found friends enough in the Town to help their escape The next day The Lords Justices Proclaimed the discovery of a Disloyal and detestable Conspiracy intended by some evil affected Irish Papists against the lives of the Lords Justicâ—s and Council and others his Majesties faithful Subjects throughout this Kingdome c. We therefore require all good Subjects to betake themselves to their own defence c. And to advertise us with all speed of all occurents which may concern the peace of the Kingdome and we require that care be taken that no levies be made of men for foraign
and plenty comparatively in respect of their Neighbours but even of those times which were justly accounted Fortunate Their Fears and Jealousies he supposes may be either for Religion or Liberty and their civil Interests the Fears for Religion to be invaded by the Romish party by any favour or inclination to them he professes that as he hath been bred up and practised the Religion now here established and as he believes he can maintain the same by unanswerable Reasons so he is ready if need be to seal with his bloud Having always been as much to the evidence of his care and duty herein as he could tell possibly how to express And for matters indifferent in reference to tender consciences he will comply with the advice in Parliament being to be pursued with temper and submission not with bold licence of scandalous Pamphlets and seditious Sermons against him and his Government a fit Prologue to Confusion upon the very profession of this Religion in England Concerning the civil Liberties and Interests of Subjects His Princely care of the Subjects this Parliament in passing Laws so large and ample that many sober men can wish for no better He understood well the Right and pretences of Right which he parted from in the Bill Triennial for continuance also of this Parliament Bill of Tunnage and Poundage taking away High Commission and Star Chamber Courts and in a word all Doubts secured by the Triennial Parliament but he had rather his grace and favours might be valued in the hearts of his people than in any mention of his own If these Resolutions be the effects of his present Councils as he takes God to witness they are no ill Design can follow why should he and they suffer under Misunderstandings If he hath or shall be mistaken in his Election of them the particular shall be no sooner discovered to him than he will leave them to justice But if any shall under colour of this endeavour to lessen his Reputation and Interest and to weaken his lawfull power and Authority with his good Subjects and to loosen the Bonds of Governments and so all Disorder and Confusion break in upon us he doubts not that God in his due time will discover them If his Intentions be thus clear and his part to be fully performed and that the peoples quiet depends upon themselves and as he will observe the Laws himself so he will maintain them against any opposition though with the hazzard of his own being And he hopes not onely their Loyalty and good affection will concur with him in preserving a good understanding between him and his people but at this time the bleeding condition of Ireland will invite them to unity for Relief of that unhappy Kingdom to which he hath lately offered to raise ten thousand English Voluntiers for that Service though it hath been most falsly whispered the want of alacrity in him which he acknowledges a high crime to Almighty God if he should be guilty thereof And conjures all his good Subjects of what degree soever by the Bonds of Love Duty Obedience to remove all Doubts and Fears and then if the sins of this Nation have not prepared an inevitable Iudgment for us all God will yet make him a glorious King over a free and happy People During this time the loose people of the City and the Mechanick sort of Prentices were encouraged by the Ministers Lecturers and other incendiaries in tumultary manner to come down to Westminster and by the way at Whitehal to be insolent in words and actions which caused the King to command the Major to call a common Council to receave his Majesties pleasure which was then brought by the Chancellor of the Duchy To signifie to them the late riotous assembly of people about his Palaces of Whitehal and Westminster and commands their care to prevent the like especially these ensuing holidaies or that by the late loyal affections of the City to him he cannot understand it of them to have any share therein but only the unruly people of the suburbs and as he is confident of their affections so he bids them be assured of his care and protection not to be disturbed by jealousies and fears Hereupon a double watch and guard kept the rabble in some Order And though the Houses kept Christmas at Westminster having much business and doing very little to the Kings desires He again sends a Message to the Lords House by the Lord Chamberlaine the eight and twentieth of December That being sensible of the miseries of Ireland and yet the succours so slow he will as he hath offered raise 10000. Voluntiers if the Commons will undertake to pay them And to express his detestation of that Rebellioâ— and the care that he hath of suppressing their Insolencies He publishes this Manifesto the first of Ianuary By the King Whereas divers lewd and wicked persons have of late risen in Rebellion in our Kingdome of Ireland in surprizing our Forts Garisons Arms and Munition disposessed many good subjects of the British Nations and Protestants of their Houses Lands and goods Massacred multitudes of them c. we do therefore declare our just indignation thereof and denounce them Rebells and Traitors with all such as adhere and abet them Commanding them immediately to lay down their Arms. Having authorized his Iustices of Ireland and other his Governour Governours General or Lieutenant General of his Army there to prosecute them with fire and sword and to be countenanced and supported by him and his powerful succours assisted by his good subjects of England and this his royal pleasure he commands his Iustices and other his Officers there to proclaim throughout the Kingdom of Ireland The King having intelligence of some high misdemeanours of suâ—dry of the Members of the Commons House and setting a narrow watch and spies upon their private meetings found that a Junto of them had designed a correspondence with the Scots and countenanced these late Tumults from the City He commanded Sir William Killegrew and Sir William Fleming by warrant to repair unto the Lodgings of several persons Members of the House of Commons to seale up their Trunks Studies and Chambers by name the Lord Kimbolton Iohn Pym Iohn Hambden Denzil Hollis Sir Arthur Hasserig and William Strode but whether that they had timely notice their persons were not to be met with but their Truncks and papers were seized and whilst a doing the House hears of it and instantly vote Die Lunae Ianuary 3. 1641. That if any person whatsoever shall come to the Lodgings of any Member of this House and then offer to seale the Truncks doores or papers of either of them or seize upon their persons such Members shall require the aid of the Constable to keep such persons in safe custody till This House do give further Order And that if any person whatsoever shall offer to arrest or detain the person of any Member without first
Remonstrances he being deprived of his Printing Presses at London and the Universities And so reades to them his former Protestations and Orders Copies of them to the Sheriffs to publish being in Manuscript The next day being come to Shrewsbury he tells them as much and sends for a Mint to melt his Plate and offers his Land to sale or mortgage thereby to lessen the charge of the County to provide for his Army The Parliament having information that the King intends to march from Wales to London expecting a party here to joyn with him as he was invited what a noise and disquiet it wrought amongst the Citizens and all the Counties thereabout All the Trained Bands of the Associate Counties of Essex Hartford Middlesex and London are to rendezvouz and all to be ready at an hours warning And all passages into any parts of the Suburbs Islington Mile-end and Westminster be set up with Posts and Chains and Courts of Guard to stop the passage of Horse if any come in their way And with this Declaration the Parliament imprint a Discovery of a Plot by one David Alexander a pitifull poor Scot perswaded thereto by a Confident of the Kings one Sir Iohn Hinderson a Papist to kill Sir Iohn Hotham which he refused to do as being the work of a Butcher and not of a Souldier That the King should send for him twice at Beverley and appointed a sum of money to be given him That afterwards Henderson should propose to Alexander to fire the Magazine of the Parliaments Army and therefore to get imployment in the Train of Artillery but was discovered and examined The story is thus Alexander had a minde fit for desperate base Attempts but finding no preferment with the King he comes to London and joyns with one Sir Balthazar Gerbier of the same even condition and out of repute both with the King and Parliament for his doubling with either these Copesmates discoursing together Gerbier forthwith discovers to the Parliament this Tale of Alexander who being cheated into a hope of getting preferment by this story believed it himself and the truth by examinations appearing he was a while imprisoned and so let loose to practise with his Companion Gerbier Knave and Fool together Every day increasing the suspition and fear of the Kings marching from Wales to London the Parliament vote That such as will not contribute shall be secured and disarmed And so the Mayor of London is set on work to search and seize the Arms of several Citizens Iefferson Austin Bedle Batty Long and Lewis all Broadstreet Ward Bluâ—â— Wright Drake and Walter of other Wards and for their sufferings deserve to be remembered That the Fines Rents and Profits of Arch-bishops Bishops Deans and Chapters and other Delinquents shall be sequestred for the service of the Common-wealth That all the Kings Revenue arising out of Rents Fines in Courts or Composition for Wards be sequestred for the State And a Committee of Sequestration appointed Sir Iohn Byron with five hundred Horse having entered the Town of Worcester and at that time not the least part of the Kings Army marching in a Body but flasht through the County the Voluntiers of the County under the Lord Say raised themselves and by some of their own were lead towards Worcester expecting to meet Mr. Nathaniel Fines whom his Father had created a Colonel of Horse he had faced the Town and drawn off again ere the Foot came there and so they followed him who with Colonel Sandys returning fell upon the Town on the Welch side of Severn supposing their General the Earl of Essex at hand to assult the other side being deluded by a Spie who mistook him for Prince Rupert whose Horse rushed upon his Ambuscado when through the â—traitness of the passage over a Bridg and after in a Lane neither the Rear could come up nor the Van retreat where all were slain or routed Sandys and some others taken Prisoners the rest ran away far beyond the reach of a pursuit The consequences of this a good omen to the royal party being the first fruits of the War but the Parliaments Army with Essex marching thither the other Forces quit the Town not being considerable to erect any Garrison yet by their motion and quick dispatch gathered strength and at last repute of a party not easily to be vanquished whilest the Earl of Essex and his whole Army entered Worcester who continuing a Moneth sending forth parties the Lord Stamford to Hereford to prevent the Forces of South-Wales and the King at Shrewsbury with such an Army as was able to deal with and endanger his Enemy Both Armies begin to take up Winter-quarters Colonel Thomas Essex into Glocester with two Regiments of Foot as Governour but the Deputy Lieutenants had command of the Countrey and after four Weeks he was commanded to Bristol a Town of great concernment by Sea and Land and much distracted between both parties The best and basest in degree were for the King the middle men Citizens for the other and amongst them all those of the Religion intermixing distinguished call them what you please into two Factions Prelate for the King Presbyter for the Parliament but afterwards as either party could nick-name into Heresie and Schism but the general distinction of the Armies that of the Kings called Cavaliers and the Parliaments party Round-heads these flock together shut up the Gates but guarded that Fort and planted Ordnance where they expected the Forces from Glocester but Colonel Essex in his way had timely intelligence to march to another Gate which was set open to him in the night who entered with his two Regiments with others of the County and so surprized the Mutiniers and quashed their Disturbance without bloud Glocester was now protected by the Earl of Stamford with his Regiment of Foot and two Troops of Horse from Hereford but soon commanded into the West he left his Government to his Lieutenant Colonel Massey as his Deputy but afterwards had the sole power for two years and a half The Earl of Essex about Worcester sends from thence two Regiments and ten Troops and five small Pieces towards Kiddermaster and Bewdly and to joyn with the Lord Wharton and Sir Cholmley's Regiments to make a Brigade against the Cavaliers if they march that way who were designed for Wolverhampton and Coventry and so on towards London as was supposed and at Coventry and Warwick lay their Enemies Sir William Constable the Lord Peterborough and Colonel Brown with Forces and the third Brigade was in Worcester under Government now of Colonel Essex The Town of Yarmouth seised a Ship with an hundred and fourty Cavaliers and three hundred Barrels of Powder that came from Holland for to do service for the King The City of York is over-powred by the Cavaliers the Earl of Cumberland Sir Francis Wortley Sir Marmadâ—â— Langdale Sir Iohn Kay Mr. Francis Nevil Sir Thomas Glenham he is resolved to fight
Yorkshire this Account came to the Houses that Sir Hugh Cholmley for the Parliament hath carried himself gallantly giving several Defeats to the Enemy at Malton and on the sixteenth of Ianuary joyning his Forces to Sir Matthewâ—Bointon they fell upon Colonel Slingsbie at Gisborough who was defeated and six hundred Horse and Foot that had done much spoil in the North. Slingsbie taken Prisoner and an hundred and fourty persons besides many killed and two hundred Arms recovered About Bradford and Hallifax God hath blessed my Son Sir Thomas says the Lord Fairfax having seized the Lord Savil's house at Howley and his Design against Leeds was thus he drew out from Bradford thither where Sir William Savil commands in chief after Summons the Assault began with great resolution on his Sons part the Town being fortified on all sides furnished with two Brass Sakers and manned with fifteen hundred Souldiers yet they forced an entrie in two Hours fight with loss on both sidesâ— not more than fourtie men but Sir Thomas took four Colours and five hundred Prisoners of which six are Commanders many Arms the Sakers and all their Munition On the Parliaments part were lost thirteen men Captain Brigs and Lee sore wounded The people observed he says that Sir William Savil and the chief Commanders on the other side soon after the Fight began fled by secret ways towards Pomfrait and their men after them by degrees but by the way Serjeant Major Beaumont was drowned crossing the River and Sir William narrowly escaped the like Sir Thomas intended to have marched to Wakefield where Sir George Wentworth commanded but the Enemie in fâ—â—â— was fled to Pomfrait and so Wakefield is invested for the Parliâ—â—â—nt The five and twentieth of Ianuary the Kings Forces marched out of Doncaster which was soon taken up by six Companies of Foot till more Forcesâ— shall come from the South to keep it The Earl of Newcastle hath drawn down all his Forces from the South of Yorkshire excepting those that keep Pomfrait Castle and yesterday marched from Sherborn to York with six and thirty Colours two Pieces of Cannon and three and fourty other Carriages and supposed to meet the Arms and Munition coming from Newcastle or to prepare for the Queens entertainment at York Selbie Ian. 26. 1642. Fer. Fairfax There had come forth two Proclamations the one from the Earl of Cumberland dated the first of December last the other from the Earl of Newcastle Ianuary 17. last publishing Ferdinando Lord Fairfax Sir Thomas Fairfax Sir Edward Loftus Sir Matthew Bointon Sir Henry Forbes Sir Thomas Malleverer Sir Richard Darby Sir Christopher Wray Sir Henry Anderson Sir Iohn Savil Sir Edward Rodes Sir Hugh Cholmley Sir Thomas Rennington Sir Thomas Norcliffe Knights Io. Hotham Tho. Hatcher Will. Lister Iohn Legard Io. Dudsworth Iohn Wastel Iohn Perce Willâ—White Iohn Robinson Arthur Beckwith Thomas Robinson and Thomas Stockdel and divers others and their Adherents to be Traitors which the Parliament resenting do as much against the Earls and so are alike quit upon that score The King had proposed a Treaty February 3. together with the cessation of Arms sixteen days since to which he received no Answer but puts them in minde thereof again whereupon the Parliament vote That there shall be a Treaty upon the Propositions before the disbanding and to begin March 4. next for twenty days and no more and a safe conduct desired by the Parliament for their Commissioners the Earl of Northumberland Lord Say Mr. Perpoint Sir William Ermine Sir John Holland and Mr. Whitlock But the King excepts against the Lord Say having been proclamed Traitor the third of November at Oxford and by Writ to the Sheriff to proceed agaisnt him for high Treason and so he was not admitted the rest were March 3. Oxford The Cessation of Arms was thus limited That all Arms Victuals Money Bullion and all commodities passing without safe conduct may be seized on either sides and the persons so passing That the Kings Forces in Oxfordshire shall advance no nearer Windsor than Wheatly and in Buckinghamshire no nearer to Alisbury than Brill and in Barkshire either Forces to contin â—e as they are The Parliaments Forces in Oxfordshire to advance no nearer to Oxford than Henley In Buckinghamshire no nearer than Alisbury The Kings Forces shall take no new Quarter nearer than twelve miles from Oxford any way nor the Parliament twelve miles from Windsor where the Parliaments Armie lay That no Siege shall be against Glocester but the Kings Forces to return And that the Parliament Forces remain as they are in Glocestershire c. February 28. And having treated without any success the Committee returns to the Parliament the seventeenth of April after During this Treaty comes out a weekly Assessment from the Parliament of England and Wales which amounted unto thirty three thousand nine hundred eighty one pounds thirteen shillings vast sums additional to the former and others subsequent In this time the Queen in Holland now imbarques for England the sixteenth of Feb. and with contrary windes and foul weather was forced back again and thereafter with much hazzard anchored at Burlington Bay the nineteenth and lands at the Key the two and twentieth wiâ—h Officers Munition and Money To her comes the Earl of Montrose and Lord Ogleby with two Troops of Horse being now received at York and the Queen forming a pretty Army whereof she hath the command and meets the King hereafter at Edg-hill three moneths hence Indeed she had been in very great danger in her passing out of Holland of which the King assures her he shall not be out of apprehension untill he may have the happiness of her company Thinking it not the least of his misfortunes that for his sake she hath run so much hazzard which it is impossible for him to repay but his heart being full of affection for her and admiration of her and impatient passion of gratitude to her he could not but say some thing leaving the rest to be read by her out of her own noble heart Oxford Febr. 13. 1642. The County of Glocester being mostly engaged in the Parliament service in the midst of their Enemy Oxford being the Kings head Garison Herefordshire his Forces Worcester entertain'd a strength Wales under power of the Lord Herbert The Earl of Essex and his Army drawn to London the Parliaments Forces in the West have their hands full two Regiments at Bristol and one at Glocester this County the most likely game for winter action but the strength of the County drawn to Cirencester a Frontier Town towards the Kings head Quarters and now made a Garison and Colonel Thetiplace that commanded a Regiment and two Companies of Foot added after some Horse and Dragoons raised by the Countrey and the rest of the Militia were to assist in danger more voluntary than regular but resting chiefly on Sir Robert Cook Sir Iohn Seymer Mr. Stephens and Mr. Hodges with
County importuned the King that Colonel Charls Gerrard might quarter upon the City with all the mischief that Hebert and Vavisor could do besides At this time comes over out of Ireland more forces for the King and land at Bristoll and thence fell down into Glocester commanded by Colonel Min and Sir William St. Leger with both their Regiments making up one thousand Foot and one hundred Horse with eight pieces of Ordinance and advance to Thornbury and the twentieth of December a party of two hundred Horse and Dragoons commanded by Captain Backhouse was set out to fall upon them who were now quartered at Wotton charged their main guard but were forced to retreat And now again the Clouds gather about Glocester the County Cavaliers shew themselves and those of Colsword take arms with them and garison several Houses Oxford Forces expected at Painswick and Stroud the Irish were to lyâ—on this side Barkleyâ— the Lord Herbert and Sir Iohn Winter in the Forest the Lord Chandois at Chettenham Sir VVilliam Vavisor and Sir VValter Pie at Teuxbury round about Glocester they were thus designed Every corner of the County had Garisons likewise at Newnham Lidney Monmouth Hereford VVorcester Dimock Newent Highleaden Taunton Teuxbury Snidly Sapton Beverston and Berkley and had in field at once twenty six hundred Horse and Foot After some stay a party of these Forces were drawn off towards VVarwick-shire to joyn with the Kings party waiting thereabout to intercept the supplies from London for Glocester was in want of Powder and Match Sir VValter Pies Foot and Colonel VVroughtons Horse remained at Teuxbury to block up Glocester on that side about which City fifteen hundred Horse were constantly quartered for Colonel VVashingtons Regiment was garisoned at Evesham and a Regiment of Horse also at Parshore besides what were at Snidley and all these to watch supplies of the City The Parliament party had these out guards Presbury Welbury Essington Framton and Froster which were set to keep Markets open which amongst all these was but little these Garisons eating up all the County impoverished the Commission of Excise not setled and the King was Petitioned by the County to free the County and distress Glocester at once Massy had built a Friggot for service upon Severn to hinder the Landing from Bristol and Wales this Frigot manned with Sea men and Souldiers for any attempt which ariving at Chepstow the Musketiers hastned a shore entered the Town surprized some officers of Colonel Oneals Regiment and returning with their Prisoners seized a vessel laden with Oil Wine Sugar but did so no more for the County set up many Vessels upon the River to prevent mischief The Counties thus pestered with Garisons to little purpose and straitned of quarter were fain to seek out for contribution two thousand Horse and Foot march out of Teuxbury to Panswick and Stroodwater and divided into three bodies whom to encounter Massy draws out two hundred Foot and one hundred Horse whilst two parts faced him the third got down a lane and drove him to a flight with loss of many two Lieutenants and sixteen Souldiers prisoners the rest ran back to a reserve for such an accident and gave liberty to the Cavaliers to return to Teuxbury laden with plunder suddenly after this the Parliament lost two Garisons Huntly which were taken by Sir Iohn Winter from Captain Davis who betraying them it was said went to Westbury and received there as a friend led in his train of Cavaliers and so both places surprized in two hours and one hundred men and arms taken The great design upon Glocester was thus what force could be spared from Oxford and Irish are drawn together Herbert Vavisor and VVinter lodged in their Garisons and Prince Rupert at Newent fifteen Cornets of Horse arrive at Cirencester and five hundred Horse and Foot advanced to Saperton and Misanden within ten miles of Glocester so that round about the Cavalier party were six thousand One Stanford a cunning gallant assaults Captain Backhouse his old friend by Letter presuming of former friendship to tender him the Kings pardon and preferment urging his Loyalty and Duty to render up the Town of Glocester being bound not to obey and unjust power and to deceive them was no deceit This hasty and abrupt temptation wrought the first onset which he communicated to the Governour Massy and both agreed to drill on the design and to accept the offer and so they take into the Junto Captain Singleton an Alderman and Captain Read and so Backhouse returns his professed duty and service to the King by any way to prove Loyal agreeing upon a trusty Messenger and to have money in hand as part of reward and draws the model of the plot in a Letter to Stanford Sir You desire my proposals and Plot Thus then whether to draw out my Troop in an evening meet with your Forces bring them in and Master the first guard My Troop alwaies in the Rear and at your Mercy whether if I perswade the Governour with a strong party of Horse and Foot upon some design to lie out all night eight or ten miles off and I stay at home and you to advance in the evening whom I can bring in as our own Forces or whether I shall draw off the Centinels and you to enter whether I send out for Hay and you have notice of their return in the night and you clap in like Carters with ammunition in the Carts master the first guards possess the Ordinanee so let in Horse Dragoons these or any other as you shall direct For my reward though against my Spirit to indent before hand but my straits and necessity such as I would expect two thousand pounds to be secured two or three hundred in hand for service likewise to the Souldier if need be and to ingage my own Troop with a silver Cord these I leave to you and hope to meet when all the world shall not know R. B. These being sent to Oxford the Lord Digby returns answer and ratifies the proposals Sir You having so far declared your desire to serve his Majesty unto Mr. Stanford I think fit to give you more assurance than his bare word therefore I do solemnly engage my word unto you as a Minister of State and a Gentleman that immediately after your faithfull performance of your promise you punctually receive such a Pardon as your self shall desire and two thousand pounds and as soon as I shall receive your Answer hereto under your Hand the three hundred pounds shall be paid to any person or any place which you shall appoint As for the Proposals for effecting the Design so rational in either of yours it is left to your choice who are to execute with whom if possible you should meet at some unsuspected place it is at your choice whether of these persons to be imparted and no other Sir William Vavisor Commander in
chief of the Forces in Glocestershire or Colonel Min Commander of the English Brigade that came out of Ireland or Colonel Washington at Evisham or the Governour of Berkley Castle As soon as you send an Answer you shall receive satisfaction from Your assured Friend G. D. Backhouse replies and conceives Sir William Vavisor the fittest to comply and gives his Reasons but the present payment of the three hundred pounds was waved by Stanford and as deeply pressed by Backhouse till they in private met at Coflawn without Arms or Attendants where he receives two hundred pounds and a promise to disingage a Bond of his of fifty pounds And the Plot was thus that Colonel Massie should be drawn out of Glocester with a strong party towards Berkley Castle with assurance that the Castle should be rendered in whose absence Backhouse was to open the Gates and deliver the Word but with some counter considerances The fifteenth of February was now come the time assigned and nine a clock at night the hour and a Messenger is sent to the Cavaliers Quarters with the Word but the Design of Backhouse was discovered and so nothing was effected But how Backhouse could receive the Money and dispence with his deep Oaths to be sincere and just to his promise I know not certainly so much Money could not satisfie for an evil conscience nor can his part be excused from corruption in the highest nature if duly examined The Actions of Glocester against the Welch set up Sir William Waller and the Kings party thereabout to withdraw for Sir Matthew Carew forthwith quitted Teuxbury which within twelve hours was possessed by Captain Iohn Fines with sufficient strength of Horse and Dragoons to whom also their affected Friends at Glocester came home again hastily and with much confusion but no sooner warm in their new possession but the former Forces with a greater power returned upon design The Assistance was of Horse a gallant Brigade commanded by the Lord Grandeson which came from Chiltenham without the least intelligence to the other and as little to his Lordship to be met with by Glocester Forces which came suddenly to the succour yet Fines had been surprized with all his Horse had not a ridiculous Accident prevented it Captain Fines at a Miles distance off the Town meets a Man whom they question he supposing them a party of the Parliament to curry favour tells them of vast numbers and great strength of Cavaliers but seems to defie them with indignation this frightens Fines to a Council of War and were about to fall back which delay gave an hours respite and so the Enemy entred After Sir William Waller had refreshed his Men about the first of April he advanced towards Monmouthshire invited by some Gentlemen to reduce their parts at his coming to the Town of Monmouth the Garison of the Lord Herbert retired leaving a naked place to Sir William where finding small success of his parties sent abroad for Supplies of Moneys he marched to Usk and spending some time to no purpose in that County he returns the stream of the people affording him no welcome being all universal Tenants of that County to the Earl of Worcester In this time Prince Maurice enters Teuxbury with a Brigade of Horse and Foot added to the Lord Grandeson resolving to make after Waller or to meet his return out of Wales A Bridg of Boats wafts him over Severn with a Body of two thousand Horse and Foot Waller was nimble in his Retreat not to be catcht in a noose or neck of Wales but by a Bridg of Boats came back at Chepstow with his Foot and Artillery and himself with his Horse and Dragoons passed through the lowest part of the Forest of Dean near the River side of Severn and ere the Prince had notice sends forth two Parties to fall upon two of the Princes Quarters which was performed whilest Waller's main Body slipt between both and a Party was left also to face them and make good the Retreat which came off but disorderly with loss of some Souldiers It was held a handsome conveyance and unexpected to bring himself out of the Snare by uncouth ways This Allarm soon reached Glocester and caused Massie there to send assistance of two Troops of Horse and three hundred Foot to fetch him off This Party met him two Miles off the Town where being combined they design to set upon Teuxbury and taking conveniency by the Princes absence and Waller's supposed Defeat instantly they march and come up to the Town by break of day one part whereof fell into the Ham seized the Guard left with the Bridg-of Boats and cut off that Bridg but his Horse with the rest of the Foot came up Glocester way surprized and slew the Centinel climbed over the Works cut down the Draw-Bridges the Horse and Foot rushing in and the party on the other side Avon ready to enter also There they found in the Town three hundred men commanded by Sir Matthew Carew whom the Triumph of yesterday's supposed Victory had lull'd asleep and now awakened by this sudden Allarm rowsed up to a shufflâ—ng fighting posture and then to a Retreat and after to an Escape and but some Souldiers taken These sudden Surprisals gave various intelligence to Oxford not able to credit any Relations being so strangely inconstant but onely to chances Yet a party of the Princes Horse appear from the top of the Hill near Teuxbury as if his Body were hard by whereupon Waller marches thither that Evening resolving to break down or make good the Bridg at Upton upon Severn besides which there was no Pass nearer than VVorcester but the Scouts told him the Prince was there before and guarded it The next day VValler advances and found him in Ripple-field his Army drawn up and divided into three Bodies faces him but would not fight being fewer in number no Shot prepared no Cannoneers few Foot the Winde nor Sun to friend and their Retreat if need were through a long Lane In this posture though some perswade to fight others would not and so VValler retreats into the Lane commanding a Party of Dragoons to face the Prince and the Musketiers to stand at the corner to make good his Retreat But the Prince falls on the Dragoons fly over Hedg and Ditch broke over the Bridg disordering their own and were killed or taken Massie sends to Teuxbury for Supply but Haselrig with his Troop and some Foot made a Charge which in part took off the foulness of the Flight for at the end of the Lane a Ditch stopt their haste and a Gate flung off the Hinges barred the Pursute with time to make a Stand no longer than that the Prince came up but then faced about and fled in a great hurry and loss till a Supply of Foot from the Town met them near Mith-hill and there made a false Stand rather to take breath than to fight for their
Heels were their best Weapons of Defence which carried a few home again to their Quarters and others to Teuxbury now put under command of Sir Robert Cook by Commission from Waller The main Forces of the Kings party were drawn from these parts in Glocestershire towards Reading then besieged by the Earl of Essex and so Waller got freedom for a while and with some success without blows cried him up The Man of God and being now free not to defenâ— but to seek his Game he advances to Hereford with a thousand Horse and Dragoons assisted by Massie and the greatest part of the Lord Stamford's Regiment drew up before Bister's Gate on the North side of the Town aloof off and shot at Random untill Captain Grey with a party of Musketiers over the River towards Wye Bridg made shew there of an Assault and if need were to fall back to the Water side where Seconds stood to relieve them and it was time for the Town-horse â—allied out and drove them to a Church near Owen's Gate Massie this while draws up two Sakers against Wigmarâ—sh Gate the first shot pierced the Gate and strook off an Officers head behinde it and slew others following with other shot and scowring the Street they came to parley the whole day and the next to surrender the Prisoners were the Lord Scudamore Colonel Conesby and Sir William Crofts some Arms and Ammunition but the Souldiers this time of Parley got over Wye Bridg and went into Wales The Town compounded from Plunder and so deserted And so here as other where Waller seldom staid to endure any Siege of Surrender but with his Forces â—lew up and down no where to be found The next Attempt of these Forces thus combined flesh'd for any place came up before Worcester City viewed it for a day and a night but hastened away and some disorder at the noise of the Lord Capel's advance Then was Waller ordered to march to the West of England to prevent the joyning of Sir Hopton's Forces with the rest of the Kings Army and Sir Robert Cook was sent after him and Teuxbury slighted Massie in chief over Glocester who with an hundred and twenty Horse and Dragoons marched to Stow in the Wolds to beat up the Royalists Quarters and by break of day fell upon them took a Lieutenant and twelve Troopers Horse and Arms thence to Odington a Mile off and there surprized a Captain of a Troop with fourty Men and Horse but by this they were allarmed fell upon Massie's Rear near Slaughter with execution and having also Supply from Sudeley Castle charged Massie again at Andovers Ford which put him to dismount his Dragoons dividing his Men into three Bodies the Horse into the right and left Wing but looking back to bring them on he found them faced about and flying which put Massie to a pitifull shuffle amongst the Troops but came off with loss excusing that Design with the fault upon his new raised Forces Colonel Stephens with his Lieutenant and five and twenty Souldiers taken Prisoners and a dozen slain Stephens was forward enough but followed this Design unsent for and against Massie's desire who liked no partners in honour and so suffered him and his party to be led away Prisoners to Oxford where he died Sir Iohn Winter was now got up in good command for the King his House in the Forest of Dean in Glocestershire and of a sudden claps in a sufficient Strength of his own Confidents made it tenable and afterwards inaccessible as a Goad in the side of Glocester Garison and of terrour to all the Parliaments party thereabout for during this Sir William Waller in his March to the West was met with at the Devices and there defeated to the hazzard of his whole party casting these parts into a miserable plight the Parliament placing a great interest in the success of his Forces so that the King became Master of the Field and with his gallant Army came up to the Gates of Glocester Bristol yielded up the Earl of Essex's Army pined away Sir William Waller at London for fresh Forces the Earl of Stanford shut up within Exeter and now the Kings open Field had Campaigne from Cornwall to Scotland dividing his Army the one to besiege Exeter this other with himself come to Glocester The City and Castle of Bristol had been governed by Sir Thomas Essex for the Parliament against which Prince Rupert had made an Attempt but was called off upon other Designs Afterwards comes Col. Nathaniel Fines supplants Essex and hangs up several Citizens for intending to have delivered the same up to Prince Rupert But now the Prince at leisure sets down before it the twenty fourth of Iuly made some Attempt and had it surrendred after three days Siege It was in the very entrance of this War that the Parliaments Forces garisoned Coventry and had a squint eye upon such as were for the Commission of Aray Amongst many others Doctor Bird of the Civil Law was exposed to their scrutiny for his affection to the Kings Service and therefore the first man of note thereabout who under that score of Malignancy suffered the strange Justice by Plunder a new Name for a new Offence The Doctour took leave of his Habitation intending by the power of the Sword to repair his Losses and so soon as occasion offered he was intrusted with the garisoning of Ecclesâ—all Castle in Staffordshire belonging to Doctour Wright the Bishops See of Coventry and Lichfield with Commission to raise two hundred Foot and a Troop of Horse and to be Commander in chief there and the County adjacent subordinate to none but to the King and his Lieutenant General About April 1643. the More-landers Inhabitants so called from the low grounds in Staffordshire were got together into a Body not as yet for any cause and so not certain for any side untill Colonel Gell and others of his Faction took them up for the Parliaments Service and presently were called Gell's Brigade To suppress these the Garisons thereabout for the King drew out together viz. Colonel Bagot Governour of Lichfield Clâ—se Colonel Lane Commander of Stafford Garison and Captain Bird Governour of Eccleshall Castle and from each of these such â—en as could be spared met at a Rendezvouz four Miles from Stafford but their Enemy fled and these returned And that night was Stafford Town taken by treachery of one Stephens formerly Lieutenant Colonel under command of Colonel Cumâ—erford heretofore Governour of Stafford and high Sheriff of that County Stephens was now got to the Morelanders and being well acquainted with the Avenues into the Town surprized the place so suddenly that without any stroke of defence Lane and his Men as many as could escape by flight and others Gentlemen of good worth were seized and sent Prisoners to several places I shall not lodg any suspition or jealousie upon Lane because he saved himself and others suffered Stafford taken and
Lord and Commons do declare that all such persons as shall upon any pretence whatsoever assist his Majesty with Horse Arms Plate or Money are Traitours to the Parliament and shall be brought to condign punishment The French in publick appearing very sensible of the unchristian â—â—il War in this Nation had sent the Prince of Harcourt Extraordinary Ambassadour into England commissioned to mediate peace between the King and Parliament being received at London with all due respects but his Arrand was first to the King and therefore desires the Parliaments Pass and had it but notwithstanding at the out Fort at Hide Park corner was stopped the Guard having no such Warrant without searching his Coach and Train of Baggage which he highly resented as the greatest injury from any Nation but there he refused and staid untill some Members of the House were sent to relieve him with such publick scorns Libells and Pamphlets without President and knowing that he came to mediate the Parliament would not be backward upon that score and therefore voted Sir Henry Vane Mr. Saint Iohns with the Lord VVharton a Committee to relate to the City a great Plot discovered which was set forth to the Common Council on Munday the seventh of Ianuary still filling up the Periods of their Speeches with the Gun-powder Treason which they said was much like this Plot for a Peace It was frequent with the Armies whether necessity or special advantage to act extraordinary business on Sundays as Keinton Field Brainford Hopton-heath Leeds Chalgrove Field Basing The King had now large Territories for his Army to march in this Year set him up for on this Day Twelve-moneths past he had but one small County of all the West in Yorkshire but York City and Pomfret Castle and except Reading Wallingford Brill and Abington he had not a Souldier quartered out of Oxford when he had not one Ship nor any Port save Newcastle and Falmouth when the Parliament declared in print that he had not ten thousand Men. And yet the King hath now five small Armies better than Brigades and in all the Western Counties the Parliament hath not a Souldier but at Plymouth and Pool in Yorkshire none but Hull and in Cheshire onely Nantwich The last Battels if we may so call them were at Bodwin Tadcaster Hopton-heath Ancaster Middleton-cheany Stratton Bradford More Chalgrave Chuton Lands-down Round-way-down Auburn Newbury Leek Middlewich and if of some the King had the better of the rest not much to boast The remnant of South Wales is fully reduced and North Wales cleared the whole Principality Cavaliers The Parliament got from the King Strafford and Warrington but all these Towns were the Parliaments last Year which now the King hath viz. Saltash Cirencester Burningham Leege Lichfield Bradford Hallifax Wakefield Taunton Bristol Bath Dorchester Weymouth Biddeford Barnstable Appleford Tenby Haverford-west Pembroke Exeter The Marquess of Newcastle for the King in the Commission of Array was met at Chesterfield in Darbyshire with a vast concourse of people as a Novel to see and hear where he listed fifteen hundred Voluntiers assisted by Sir Iohn Gell his interest thereabout and Sir Iohn Harpers The Lord Byron had good success and took Crew House with all the Arms and Ammunition six Commanders an hundred threescore and five Souldiers as also he took Dodrington belonging to Sir Thomas Delves being a Garison and cleared many places Middlewich Beeston Castle Someback with sundry Prisoners his Brigade being now near seven thousand Horse and Foot Sir William Waller having besieged Arundel Castle in Sussex eight and twenty Days with the sacrifiâ—e of many men had it surrendered the Cavaliers at Oxford will not be perswaded but that it was not fairly delivered on their parts but rather by connivence if not for Reward and if we consult the strength of the place it self the Fortifications Men and Ammunition we may suspect no less not to credit the Purchasers for then it will seem true whose relations of the numbers of Men slain and strength of Ammunition surrendered as it is usual with all conquerours to account comes to a great Sum. This Service made Sir William Waller to fly high desiring the Parliaments Commission to him To place and displace all Governours of Towns and Castles within his Association But this took off the General Essex his Authority from whom all the military Commanders had Commissions And was occasioned through a late difference between Sir William and the Governour of Chichester who refused to admit Colonel Norton to enter his Garison being routed and pursued by the Lord Hopton which difference was by the Parliament referred to the General as it appears by his Letter to the House of Commons he tells them That in truth the Commission he sent to Sir William Waller was not so full as he usually grants and the Reasons why he was so limited are not to be discovered But tells them withall that he did no more than what he ought to do and that the charge he took upon him was not his own seeking though it was a great encouragement to him that the Houses thought him once worthy of the sole command which however lessened yet he will never desert the Cause as long as he hath any bloud in his veins till the Kingdom hath regained her Peace or an end made by the Sword But Sir VVilliam not well pleased with all this returned his Commission back to Mr. Nichâ—las with much regret as it appears by his Letters which accompanied this Surrender I have said he returned the Commission which is as good as nought The Counties of Devon and Cornwall Cavaliers for the King unanimously joyned in Association in these words VVhereas a few malevolent and ambitious persons in the name of two Houses of Parliament have by treasonable practices imbroiled this Kingdom in a Civil VVar pursued his Majesties person murdered his good Subjects some of them barbarously by the common Hangman against Law and Iustice others by hostile Assault brought a general devastation upon the whole Kingdom taking away all Liberty from the Members of both Houses by awing terrifying and assaulting them with Tumults and Arms usurping the Regal power counterfeiting a great Seal to shew their horrid intentions against the King Kingdom and Government and finding their Acts not likely to protect them from the punishment due to their merits have unnaturally invited the Scots to invade this Kingdom and in these Distractions to make a total Conquest of this Nation for Resistance whereof and preserving the common peace the Inhabitants of Devon and Cornvvall have united themselves and for continuance of which union this ensuing Protestation is to be taken I. A. B. do in the presence of Almighty God promise vow and protest with my utmost power to maintain and defend the true Reformed Protestant Religion established by Law in this Kingdom against all Popery popish and all other Innovations of Sectaries and Schismaticks as also his
confined by the Parliament at VVestminster Earl of Chesterfield and the Lord Mountague of Boughton These Members then disabled by Accidents have appeared since Peter Venebles Sir Io. Pawler Edward Bagshaw Sir Io. Burlacie Fr. Newport Anthony Hungerford Io. Russel Thomas Chichely Earl of Cork Sir Iervase Cliâ—ton Sir Guy Palmes Ro. Sutton Iervase Hollis Sir Patrick Curwin Sir Henry Bellingham Sir George Dalston Sir Thomas Stanford Sir VVilliam Dalston Mich. VVharton Sir Ro. Hutton Iames Sindamore Sir Io. Brich Sir Io. Stepny Imployed in his Majesties Service Sir Io. Finch Hugh Porter VValter Kurle VVilliam Stanhop Sir VVilliam Carnaby Sir Thomas Danby Io. Fennich Ralph Sneade Sir VVilliam Ogle Sir Thomas Iermin Sir Iohn Stowell Sir Robert Strickland Sir Ph. Musgrave Io. Coucher Io. Coventry Sir Henry Slingsby Sir Io. Malory Io. Bellasis Sir Thomas Ingram Lord Mansfelt Thomas Hebelthaite Sir Hugh Cholmly Sir George VVentworth Sir VValter Lloyd Iohn Vaughan Richard Ferrers George Hartnoll Sir VVilliam Udall Robert Hunt Thomas May. Sir Thomas Bourcher Sir Thomas Roe These Members taking into consideration the distressed estate of this Kingdom did the seven and twentieth day of this instant Ianuary send a Letter to the Earl of Essex for a Treaty of peace signed by all the Members with order to be published to this effect My Lord His Majesty having by his Proclamation of the two and twentieth of December last upon occasion of this Invasion by some of his Subjects of Scotland summoned all of the Members of both Houses of Parliament to attend him here at Oxford inviting us in the said Proclamation by these gracious Expressions That his Subjects should see how willing he was to receive advice for preservation of the Religion Laws and Safety of the Kingdom and as far as in him lay to restore it its former peace and security his chief and onely end from these whom they had trusted though he could not receive it in the place where he appointed VVhich hath been made good to us and seconded by such unquestionable Demonstrations of his deep and princely sense of the miseries and calamities of his poor Subjects in this unnatural VVar and his passionate affection to redeem them from that deplorable condition by all ways consistent with his Honour or with the future safety of the Kingdom c. We being most intirely satisfied of this truth and sensible of the Desolations of our Countrey and further Dangers threatned from Scotland c. And we being desirous to believe your Lordship however ingaged a person likely to be sensibly touched with these considerations do invite you to that part in this blessed work wich is onely capable to repair all our miseries and buoy up the Kingdom from ruine VVe therefore conjure you by all obligations that have power upon honour conscience or publick piety you will co-operate with us to its preservation by truly representing to and promoving with those by whom you are trusted this our Desire That they joyning with us in a right season some persons be appointed on either part to treat of such a Peace as may redeem it from the brink of desolation This Address we make being assured by his Proclamation of Pardon that his mercy and clemency can transcend all former provocations God Almighty direct your Lordship and those whom you shall present with these our real Desires as may produce a happy peace c. Your affectionate Friends c. Oxford Jan. 27. 1645. To these he returns no Answer to them but sends this Letter to the Parliament at Westminster where it wrought upon the Members according to their several affections The haste which the Scots Covenanters made rushed in their Army into England the sixteenth of Ianuary consisting of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse marching forwards till they came to the warm Sea-coal fires at Newcastle they knew the way hither having fared so well the time before in their first Expedition their then General and they being well rewarded here and at home by the Kings indulgent graces he following them into Scotland confirming unto them in full Parliament all the Privileges of Kirk and Kingdom and conferred many Honours and Offices He having done all this as before in particulars and ere he took leave to return wishing them to continue in allegeance and live in peace and if any difference should happen in England which he hoped God would divert he desired them to continue Neuters though he might expect Aid yet he would not disturb the Peace of his native Countrey To which they all obliged themselves by revival of their own Act to that purpose and at the publishing one of their chief that had been their General in the said Expedition fell on his knees and lifting up his arms and hands to Heaven wished they might rot to his body before he died if ever he would heave them up hereafter or draw his Sword against his gude King yet this Wretch Sir Alexander Lesly whom the King had made Lord Leven comes General of this Army also But their Harbinger came before them a Declaration spread abroad for satisfaction to their Brethren of England intentionally to answer three Questions The justness of their Cause The lawfulness of their calling thereunto And the faithfulness of their carriage therein For the first they appeal to the great Searcher of all hearts who knows that had not the love of Christ requiring to bear one anothers burthen and the Law of Nature challenging our endeavour to prevent our own Danger inveloped with our Neighbours and our Duty and Desire of rescuing the King from his pernicious Council we could with far more content have enjoyed our dry Morsel than entered into your Houses full of Sacrifices with strife c. And we profess before God and the world our hearts are clean and free from any other intentions than those expressed in our Solemn League and Covenant confederate with England viz. Reformation of Religion Honour of the King Peace of the Kingdoms Secondly and because a good necessarily requires a good Calling c. Providence hath so provided that the Parliament of England have a particular obligation upon this our Nation for refusing to countenance a VVar against us in 1640. and now desire our assistance to them and so with the sense of Piety Religion Honour and Duty to their Sovereign we may not resist our Call to this Expedition Thirdly then for our carriage herein we shall order our Army from Insolencies Rapines Plunderings and other calamities incident to War And we do freely give the Publick Faith of the Kingdom of Scotland unto the Kingdom of England that neither our entrance into nor continuance in England shall be made use of to other ends than is expressed in that Covenant which we shall keep inviolable And call God to witness their onely intent of VVar is to confirm all in Peace and so to return home again How they have performed these let the world judge I
which was assessed in Money proportionable to the condition of the Family The Scots are come and great care taken at Westminster for pay of that Army the twentieth part over all the North they have power to assess for themselves and all Malignants Estates that they can seize within their reach Nay several Counties and Associations are assessed for them Against whom the Marquess of Newcastle marched Northwards and to attack him in Yorkshire follows Sir Thomas Fairfax who was guided by his Father as the Father is by the grand Committee at Westminster as the Committee is by the Scots This dependency being very necessary to assure them good Welcome for so says their Letter to the Lord Fairfax My Lord VVe have taken into consideration the opportunity offered for reducing of Yorkshire whilest the Marquess of Newcastle hath drawn his Forces towards the North to oppose the Scots and how necessary it is to hinder his further Levies that Sir Thomas your Son march into the VVest Riding with all his Horse with two Regiments of Foot out of Lancashire and that your self take the Field with what Forâ—es you can and joyn with your Son for effecting these ends to hold a continual Intelligence with the Scots Army by drawing near Tees March 2. Northumberland Jo Maitland And here we see the great Earl of Northumberland invites the ancient Enemies of England into his own County and the Lord Fairfax into Yorkshire Cambridg University lay under the ordering of the Earl of Manchester Serjeant Major General of the Association where these Heads of Houses were turned out Dr. Beal Dr. Martin Dr. Stern in whose places were put in Masters of the Colleges Mr. Palmer Mr. Arrowsmith Mr. Vines as men more fit indeed such others as these were changed into the like I know not how more fit I am sure some of them are famous for false Latine Sir William Waller forward on his way to finde out the Lord Hopton who was drawn out of Winchester with sufficient Horse to oppose Sir William Balfore whom Waller had sent before to possess Alresford but came last for his Lordship was there first and forced Waller into small Villages in the morning Hopton drew down to Bramdean Heath and found Waller on a fair Hill and would not be forced thence till a long Dispute the Hill thus gained Colonel Lisle with his commanded Men kept it all night in this time of darkness Waller had mastered another Hill of greater advantage by the covert of Trees and Hedges which Colonel Appleford was to repossess and found it a hard Task to mount up against the powring shot of such as lined the Hedges not seen from whence it came Volleys well performed which yet were fain to give way to force which cost them dear enough for they paid a good price for it Here was a pretty breathing if Waller went off Hopton would follow to his undoing if they came on they would undo themselves but the Allarm was given by a mistaking Corporal of Hopton's who took his Enemies for Friends and so were engaged too far to seek throughout within their Ambuscadoes who now play their parts by this Advantage and put Hopton to a Retreat and neither parts had cause to cry Victoria for both sides were soundly beaten I intitle the Fight to the Lord Hopton but General Forth was there upon the other score he came in with the Lord Iohn Stuart sore wounded but I know not how concluded for dead yet Sir Arthâ—r Hasâ—erig called it A safe Deliverance though at London it was cried up for a Victory on this side Sir William Balfore in his Letter to his General â—ssex numbers then to be eight Commanders killed by him the Lord Stuart indeed and Sir Iohn Smith died afterwards of their wounds two gallant Gentlemen so did Colonel Sandys and Colonel Manning and Colonâ—l Scot Colonel Appleyard and Captain Pierson Sir Edward Stowel and Sir Henry Bard these were hurt and deserve honourable mention But at London they mention three Lords killed Stuart is confessed but not the General who they make a double one for his two Titles Forth and Ruthen And so they are described to be Gebal Moab and Ammon and to be utterly vanquished by the Servant of God Sir VVilliam VValler And the Parliament had some of theirs slain Dalbier wounded and Colonel Thomson had his Leg shot off by a Cannon Bullet And this happened upon a Friday March 29. The Cavaliers in disorder drew their Cannon off towards VVinchester but wheeled off unseen to Basing House VValler marches to VVinchester which was rendered to him upon Summons and Hopton is now at Oxford But a solemn Thanksgiving was ordered in London for this Victory and some Members sent to the City to encourage them for Supplies The Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery told them That the City Auxiliaries had done their part and if they went but once more they would rid the Kingdoms of these Rogues the occasion of all our miseries And upon these preparations and success of the Parliament the King draws all his Forces to a Rendezvouz to oppose his Adversaries And as VValler had done such Encouragements heightened others to undertake Mountains Colonel Griffith commonly called Prince Griffith had the confidence to propose to the House of Commons That if he might have a Commission to command in chief of all North Wales next under General Essex and to have Delinquents Estates there by him to be discovered and the Income of such as he should conquer in North Wales not exceeding the Sum of fifteen thousand pounds he would engage his Life and Estate to raise such Forces as should reduce Wales to obedience Which was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms And he set out in all magnificence with his Silver Trumpets and guarded Coats But at his first Encounter with some of Prince Rupert's Forces whom he sought out for a single Duel Prince Griffith was totally routed which occasioned a merry Lady to tell him He looked sadly ever since he lost his Silver Trumpets And so cashiered he became debaucht and abused the Lady Herbert for which he was imprisoned but her honour much concerned he was released and so having spent a reasonable Fortune he was necessitated to travel beyond Seas where at Paris he was killed in a Tavern the end of his impudency We may enter this Spring with the setting out of General Essex and his Army to be recruited to seven complete Regiments of Foot and six Regiments of Horse and a constant Pay of thirty thousand five hundred and four pounds a Moneth for four Moneths And the Parliaments Navy to be complete for this Summer with addition of twelve Merchants Ships in the places of nine others unserviceable and fifteen small Catches to be added to the Fleet. And a new way of Contribution was devised for getting Moneys towards the charge of arming the Auxiliary Forces now raising within the City of London That all Inhabitants
ten times over Here they remained pretending a Peace but in earnest to settle Trade and to see which way the Game went and having leave to go to the King they caress him with their Masters the States great inclination to cement these Differences but the King knew their mindes not to engage for him and so they returned in the end of this year The Marquess of Newcastle had been besieged above nine Weeks by the Parliaments Forces in the North for the raising of which Prince Rupert advances out of Shropshire marching with his Army through Lancashire raises the Siege of Latham House takes three Garisons Stopford Bolton and Leverpool he came forward towards York and on Sunday last of Iune enquartered at Knaresburgh fourteen Miles off the next morning over Burrough-bridg and that night along the River to York upon whose approach the Besiegers quit their Quarters and those in York pursue the Rear and seize some Provisions the next morning Iâ—lie 2. the Prince advances after them resolving to give them Battel by noon yet was it almost seven a clock ere they began and upon disadvantage enough for the Parliaments Forces had choice of the Ground and stood it on a Corn Hill on the South side of Marston Moor four Miles from York and so the Prince taking their leavings fell on upon their Horse who began to shrink and their right Wing of Horse and Foot were routed by the Princes left Wing commanded by General Goring Sir Charls Lucas and Major General Porter And thus confessed by themselves Our right VVing of Foot say they had several mis-fortunes for our right VVing of Horse consisting of Sir Thomas Fairfax 's Horse in the Van and the Scots Horse in the Rear wheeled about and being hotly pursued by the Enemies left VVing came disorderly upon the Lord Fairfax his Foot and the Reserve of Scotish Foot broke them wholly and trod the most of them under foot The Fight was sharp for three hours till night put a period Some of the Prince's Horse followed execution too far and none advancing to supply their absence the Enemy rallied and did the work and many slain on both sides and Prisoners also taken three Prisoners of quality on the Cavaliers party Lucas Porter and Colonel Tilliard The Scots were the Reserve in all their three Armies but smarted at last because their Van both of Horse and Foot not standing brought execution upon them The Parliament printed two Relations the one a Scotish Captain says That Prince Rupert had got the Ground with VVinde and Sun of the Scots when it is certain it was late in the Evening that the loss of men of qualitie upon their parts was but one Lieutenant Colonel and some few Captains And yet he says that the Earl of Eglinton's Regiment lost four Lieutenants the Major the Lieutenant Colonel and the Earls Son mortally wounded that the number of their slain about three hundred and that of the Cavaliers almost three thousand that Prince Rupert took all the Ordnance out of York and lost them in this Fight which Sir William VVallar says were eight and twentie Pieces Another Relation five and twentie And another says twentie That in this Fight were taken ten thousand Arms. Sir VVilliam Waller says six thousand Another Scots Captain says three thousand For Colours they shew a Scene of 47. Colours The truth is that the Horse of both Armies were sufficiently scattered by night next morning the Prince marched towards Thursk and can onely say That he relieved York with some Cattel raised the Siege and was soundly beaten Yet from thence he marched with six thousand Horse and three thousand Dragoons into Lancashire But from the last Fight divers of the Kings party took leave to depart the Kingdom and landed at Hamburgh the Letters from thence names them the Earl of Newcastle lately made Marquess with his two Sons and his Brother Sir Charls Cavendish General King the Lord Falconbridg the Lord VViddrington the Earl of Cranworth the Bishop of London Derrie Sir Edward VViddrington Colonel Carnabie Colonel Basset Colonel Mozon Sir VVillam Vavasor Sir Francis Mackworth with about eighty other persons Sir Thomas Glenham was Governour of York a gallant Gentleman maintaining it against the Siege of all the main Northern Forces of the Parliament the Earl of Manchester the Lord Fairfax and his Son And although Prince Rupert had so far relieved the City as to send them in some Cattel but neither Men nor Amunition so that after his fatal Blow at Marston Moor and now marched away the City left utterly from further expectation of assistance and the Parliaments Forces now resolving to fall upon the storming which the Governour opposed with as much gallantry as his necessitous condition could afford but being over-powered and his wants increasing he was inforced to surrender the City upon honourable terms on the sixteenth of Iulie 1. That all Officers and Souldiers â—hall march out on Horse back with their Arms flying Colours Drums beating Matches lighted Bullets in Mouth with Bag and Baggage 2. VVith a Convoy to Skipton 3. The Sick to depart at pleasure 4. That no Souldier be plundered or enticed away 5. The Citie to enjoy their Trade 6. The Garison to be two parts of three Yorkshire men 7. The Citie to bear Charges with the Countie as usual 8. To dispose and enjoy their Estates according to the Laws of the Land without molestation 9. The Gentlemen there to dispose and carrie away their Goods at pleasure 10. That the Churches be not defaced no man plundered justice to be administred by the Magistrate as before 11. That all persons whose Habitations are within the Citie though now absent shall enjoy the benefit of these Articles The Parliament ordain new Levies to be raised ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse and one thousand three hundred Dragoons out of nineteen Counties South Counties Suffolk Norfolk Huntington Oxford Berks c. Not only to raise these thousands but must advance as much money as will pay them during their imployment so as it was said that the two Houses at Westminster would devour all the Houses in London It was murmured that as these two had ruined all the rest so ere long they would pull down one the other for the Lords were daily baited by the Commons as Peers which yet doe but should not sit above them so as Mr. Blaston lately told the Lower Members That the Lords had been allowed too long to domineer and we see said he how often they have been defective the Lower stickling to heave out the Higher by the strength of whose Votes and Number the Committee of State is newly reared up which at long running will be too hard for them both and then that very Committee will perchance split into two Factions when our Northern Brethren may prove the better Gamesters because the Elder at this kinde of Contract untill at the last the whole Cause will appear in its
confined to fit words So slight and easie is that Legerdemain which will serve to delude the Vulgar That further they should use such severitie as not to suffer without penaltie any to use the Common Prayer Book publickly although their Consciences binde them to it as a Dutie of Pietie to God and Obedience to the Laws Thus I see no men are prone to be greater Tyrants and more rigorous Exacters upon others to conform to their illegal Novelties than such whose pride was formerly least disposed to the obedience of lawful Constitutions and whose licentious humours most pretended conscientious Liberties which Freedom with much Regret they now allow to me and my Chaplains when they may have leave to â—â—rve me whose Abilities even in their extemporarie way comes not short of the others but their Modestie and Learning far exceeds the most of them But this matter is of so popular a nature as some men knew it would not bear learned and sober Debates lest being convinced by the Evidence of Reason as well as Laws they should have been driven either to sin more against their knowledg by taking away the Liturgy or to displease some Faction of the people by continuing the use of it Though I believe they have offended more considerable men not onely for their Numbers and Estate but for their weightie and judicious Pietie than those are whose weakness or giddiness they sought to gratifie by taking it away One of the greatest Faults some men found with the Common Prayer Book I believe was this That it taught them to pray so oft for me to which Petitions they had not Loyaltie enough to say Amen nor yet Charitie enough to forbear Reproaches and even Cursings of me in their own Forms in stead of praying for me I wish their Repentance may be their onely punishment that seeing the Mischiefs which the Disuse of publick Liturgies hath already produced they may restore that credit use and Reverence to them which by the ancient Churches were given to Set Forms of sound and wholesome words But Praier upon all occasions must be ex tempore and to pick and chuse what Chapters or Psalms the Minister pleaseth but before and after Sermon to conclude with the Pâ—ter noster Novemb. 26. For Baptism it must be in the Church the manner referred to the use of French and other Reformed Churches beyond Seas And afterwards came in the Directorie for Mariages Visitation of the Sick and the whole compleated by the Commons Decemb. 23. But in respect of many dissenting Brethren of the Assemblie it was referred to a Committee before it should be born up to the Lords and onely three hundred of them printed to be distributed to the Members to seek God for his direction And at length complete Mr. Rous carries it up to the Lords Ianuarie 1. and so it was printed for the publick use of all people And the two Scribes of the Assemblie whose pains are considered therein and are to partake equally in the profits Ian. 4. And the same Day passed the Ordinance also for attainting the Arch-bishop of Canterburie of high Treason Thus much for Church-worship and now they consider of the Presbyterial way for Government of the Church and the dissenting Assemblers having printed their Reasons for each Member of the Commons a strict Order was That no man presume to reprint or to disperse any of those Reasons as they will answer it at their perils Certainly they were though dispersed and so satisfactory against the Presbyterial way which is the reason they were strictly inquired for and suppressed And on the sixth of Ianuarie the Commons House resolve That to have a Presbyterie in the Church is according to the Word of God And the same day provision is made for such of the Assemblie that have lost their Means to have better subsistence and so having never any or lost but little they were preferred to the best places in England and some to Pluralities But on they go to order the Train of Pastors Doctors Teachers Elders Deacons c. Officers of the Church And good God how this new manner wrought upon many The Prince Elector was come over and who but he must be ordered by Parliament to fit with the Assemblie and to have a print of the dissenting Reasons so that it was said not in earnest that he was sent Nuntio from the Palatinate to direct our Directorie And then what Debates Resolutions Votes Orders Ordinances about the use of Classes several Congregations under one Classis and that the Church should be governed by Congregational Classical Synodical Assemblyes which made such work among the weaker sort as that it was suspected those hard words would disturb the doctrinal part as it did We have heretofore observed how oft the King had sent to the Parliament for a Treaty of Peace and now being returned from the West and setled at Oxford they by a Committee of English and Scotish for now they are joyned in all publick affairs present him with their Deâ—ires and Propositions for a Peace agreed upon by mutual consent of the Parliaments of both Kingdoms united by Solemn League and Covenant Novemb. 23. 1. That by Act of Parliament in each Kingdom respectively all Oaths Declarations and Proclamations against both or either Houses of the Parliament of England and the late Convention of the Estates in Scotland and their proceedings c. be declared null 2. The King to swear and sign the late Solemn League and Covenant and the taking thereof by all the Subjects of the three Kingdoms 3. To pass the Bill for the utter abolishing of Bishops Root and Branches agreeing with the late Treatie at Edinburgh Novemb. 29. 1643. 4. To confirm the Ordinances for the setling of the Assemblie of Divines 5. That Reformation be setled by Act of Parliament as the Houses shall agree upon according to the Covenant c. 6. That Papists abjure and renounce the Pope Transubstantiation Purgatorie Images if not to be therefore convicted and severe Laws to be made against them 7. Their Children to be educated Protestants 8. To give his royal assent to several Acts and Bills to be passed as is named An Act in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively for confirmation of their Treaties viz. the large Treatie for coming in of the Scots and the setling of Barwick and for Ireland and all other proceedings between the two Kingdoms by Treaties An Act to avoid the Cessation of Ireland and to prosecute the War there by Orders of Parliament To establish the joint Declaration of both Kingdoms Dated Jan. 30. 1643. in England and 1644. in Scotland With these Qualifications viz. That the persons without pardon are these to be excepted Princes Rupert and Maurice the Earls of Bristol Derby Newcastle the Lords Cottington Pawlet Digby Littleton Arch-bishop of Canterbury Bishop of Ely Sir Robert Heath Bishop of Derry Sir William Widrington Colonel Goring and these Knights Hopton Dodington Ratcliff Langdale Hothams
little darknesse upon nature but thou by thy mercies and passion hast broke through the jawes of death So Lord receive my soul and have mercie upon me and blesse this Kingdom with peace and plenty and with brotherly love and charity that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood amongst them for Iesus Christ his sake if it be thy will Then laying his head upon the Block and praying silently to himself he said aloud Lord receive my soul which was the signal to the Executioner who very dexterously did his Office at a blow This one Note I may not forget as a truth from an Honourable person then present upon the Scaffold that though the Chinks were stopped yet there remained a small hole from a knot in the midst of a Board and in which his finger of the right hand happened to fall into and to stop that also that his desire might be fulfilled lest his blood might descend on the peoples head his soul ascending to Heaven and leaving his body on the Scaffold to the care of men imbalming it with their tears His body was accompanied to the earth afterwards with great multitudes of people whom love had drawn together to perform that Office and decently Interred in the Church of Allhallows-Barking a Church of his own Patronage and jurisdiction according to the Rites and â—eremonies of the Church England He deserved that honour at his death being the greatest Champion of the Common Prayer Book whilst he lived Nor need Posterity take care to provide his Monument It being well observed by Sir Edward Deering He who threw the first stone at him that St Pauls Church will be his principal Monument and his own Book against the Iesuite his lasting Epitaph and so I leave him to that comfort which the Psalmist gives him The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance and shall not be affraid of any evil report Psal. 112. 6 7. Take this though for the present Thy brave attempt on Pauls in time to come Shall be a Monument beyond a Tombe Thy Book shall be thy Statua where we finde The Image of thy Nobler part thy Minde Thy Name shall be thy Epitaph and he Who hears or reads of That shall publish Thee The Kings Party had Garisoned a repaired Castle at the Devises and Colonel Devereux had a Garison at Roudon House between the Devises and Malmsburie being set upon and Besieged Colonel Stephens in Wiltshire newly made by the Parliament Governour of Beverston Castle was willing to give aide to the Besieged at Roudon and sets upon the Besiegers with three Troopes of his own and some Malmsburie Foot without staying for Devereux assistance broke through the Cavaliers and Relieves the House with Provision and Powder and alighting would needs eate and refresh himself with his friends giving time to the Cavaliers Party to Rally and cast up a Brestwork before the passage and so he with 1400. Horse and Foot cooped up all together and so the Besieged more straitned then before News gets to Glocester from whence comes sixty Horse well commanded and were to joyn with one hundred Horse and Dragoons from Malmsburie to break through the Cavaliers and these added to the four hundred and thirty within the House were conceived to force a Passage through the first Sconce But then comes Sir Iacob Ashlie with three thousand Massie raises the County about Strodewater doing what he could to face the Garison at Cirencester and to divert the danger of the Besiegers but nothing prevailed and so they were faine to Surrender upon bad quarter The Cavaliers grow strong on all sides and a stream of ill success rushes in upon their enemies upon Colonel Hopton having raised sixty Horse and fourty Foot Garisoned Castle-ditch near Lidburie in Herefordshire a Party from thence of three hundred Horse and Foot in twenty four houres took him Horse and Foot Prisoners to Hereford Sir Iohn Winter hath Guards set round about upon him to straiten his Garison his own House in the Forest of Deane but they break out through all those Guards and joyn with a Party of Foot from Cheystow which Landed at Lancaught intending to make good the Passe over Wye and so to issue out of Wales at pleasure To oppose them all the Guards drew together thither Sir Iohn violently charged the Forlorn of Foot who gave back to let in their Foot and so both Horse and Foot fell upon him some were slain Colonel Gamne and Vangerris Colonel Pore of Berkley Castle drowned but Sir Iohn and his escaped being the industrious enemy to all his Parliament neighbours These things happened the latter end of the year February about the time of surprizing Shrewsburie by the Parliament Prince Rupert falls back out of Shropshire and comes upon Herefordshire with all his Army the greatest in the Kingdom being a confluence of these Forces his own formerly Prince Maurice Colonel Gerard Lord Hastings Lord Ashlie and Sir Marmaduke Langdale and yet impresse more men in aboundance in all the neighbouring Counties with store of Arms necessity casting them in such waies of violence and coercive power prest-men of suspected fidelity and lesse value often deceiving them in Battle yet the King was forced to these waies for conducing to the sudden forming of an Army when the Kings affairs became desperate and so thrust in with the old Volunteers made up the bulk of a great Body when the Parliament had no such necessity to enforce rather a more cunning way to win upon that party the City of London being the undrained Magazine of Men and Money the common Asse that bare the burden and so ends this year A continuance of the brief Narrative of the Kings Affairs Military in Scotland under Conduct of the Marquesse of Montrose Montrose with considerable Forces enters Scotland 13. April 1644. comes to Dunfrize seises that Town expecting Antrims Irish but being there in some danger returns to Carlisle with his men for the Earl of Calander had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Leslie in England and now besieging York Montrose having beaten a Garison out of Morpith pillaged the Castle and took a Fort at the mouth of Tine He plentifully sent Victuals to Newcastle which come from Almwick And is now sent for by Prince Rupert then in his way to raise the siege of Yorke but could not possible get to him till the retreat from that unfortunate Battle of Marston-moor and so returned back to Carlisle with a few but faithful gallant men He sends the Lord Oglebie and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in disguise who return with sad news that all Strengths in Scotland were possessed by the Covenanters The Earl of Traquair contrary to his Oaths and promises to the King was an Agent for the Covenanters Yet this man was more in the Kings Favour then any Scotish except the Hamiltons Montrose in these Difficulties sends Oglebey with his earnest
Garison of Hereford taken by Surprize which saved the labour of doing it by treachery as it had been agreed upon But this was done thus The Garison was strong and well appointed the Countrey about in affection and friendship together a piece much aimed at as thereby denuding the King of all his Welch Forces And truly the Knight was happy that the Treachery failed But Colonel Iohn Birch and Col. Morgan Governour of Glocester their design took the effect of a just and Souldier-like surprize Morgan had 1100. Horse and Foot and Birch with 900. Foot and a Troop of Horse march from Glocester to Hereford in one day and a night where he was provided of six lusty men in habit of Labourers and the seventh man must be for a Constable with a Warrant in his hand to bring these fellows to work in the Town as if for service of the Garison These men thus prepared with 150. Firelocks lodged in the dark as near the Gate as possible without discovery and a Body of men was ready to second the Design of the other and to enter with them In fine the Bridge is let down to the Constable and his Crew who with Pick-ax and Spade and no sooner entred but the Guard began to examine and to bustle and to kill three of the Guard whilst the Firelocks enter with Col. Birch and Skirmish till the Body came up commanded by Colonel Morgan and so entred the Town with small losse on either side some submitting wherein were eleven pieces of Ordnance much Arms and Amunition the Lord Brudenel 14. Knights 4. Lieutenant Colonels 3. Captains and other Officers and Gentlemen one hundred 18. December Amongst those of the most honoured was that worthy Lawyer Judge Ienkins sent up to the Parliament and committed to several â—ayles of whom we shall have occasion to mention in many sufferings of his This surprize was quick and gallant As for Treacheries and corruptions of Companies or Guards they have been used by some but hated afterwards in all We have met with such on both sides and but lately the offer of Sir Iohn Digby to Colonel Ker Governour of Plymouth It is true that the Parliament willing to intrust that Garison to another person I doe not finde it out of any doubt in that Gentleman but Digby took that occasion to tempt Ker with this treachery SIR I am troubled to understand that through the ingratitude of those you serve you are likely to be rewarded with the dishonour of having a person of much inferiour merit put over your head an injury insupportable to any man of spirit and which may offer you a justifiable occasion of doing a very eminent service to your Native King and Countrey and which if you will embrace to deliver up the Town with the Works of Plimouth I shall engage my self on my honour and the faith of a Gentleman you shall be rewarded with ten thousand pounds and have the command if you please of a Regiment of 500. Horse with what honour your self can desire Sir be not scrupulous in taking the advice of an Enemie that desires heartily on these terms to become your true friend and faithful servant Jo. Digby For Colonel Ker Governour of Plimouth 30. Decem. Colonel Ker returns him this Noble Answer SIR Your motion to Treason I have seen and detest it it is below my spirit for personal injury supposed only by an Enemie to take National revenge and for a Punctillio of honour to take advice from Hell and betray my trust I am sorry that one so ingenious as your self should abuse your natural parts only to doe mischief Yet I have no reason to wonder much at your perswasion to treacherie because I have had the experience of the indeavours of your Family to corrupt others also I remember the Gunpowder Plot the Letter which your Brother writ to the Lord Roberts in this place for the same purpose And his Negotiation with General Brown at Abington Surely these Principles came from Spain but you should have told me also that Spanish proverb To love the Treason and hate the Traytor c. 20. Decemb. Your assured servant Iames Ker. The great success of the Parliament and the distresses of the Kings party enforcing them by numbers to come in and submit upon qualifications of Composition somewhat reasonable heretofore but now the more strict That all such Delinquents that were contained in the first qualifications in the Propositions to be sent to his Majesty and humbled not themselves in obedience to the Parliament before the 25. of March next should forfeit their whole Estates And that those who are contained in the second qualification and came not in as aforesaid should forfeit the Moity of their Estates and that this Qualification should extend to none but those who cordially should submit and should take the National Covenant appointed by Ordinance of Parliament The King had caressed the Parliament for a Treaty of Peace and Cessation also but they finding the Kings Affairs to pinch without hope of his ever being able to make an Offensive War and as little power to defend Therefore to give some satisfaction to the world and to the Kings desires they intend somewhat The Parliament have been hammering Propositions and as the Kings condition changed to the worse they were the bolder to offer such terms as were never likely to be granted And first they please themselves with Votes improbable for additional Honours to be forced from the King and to be placed on their several Members to them and their Heirs for ever Sir Thomas Fairfax be made an English Baron with five thousand pounds Lands per annum and a Committee to consider how this Estate and others following may be setled upon him and others for ever His Father Fairfax to be an English Baron and an Earl The honour of an English Baron on Lieutenant General Cromwel with 2500. l. per an The Honour of Dukedoms on the Earl of Northumberland Essex Pembroke The Earl of Salisbury and Manchester to be Marquesses The Lords Roberts Say Willoughby of Parham Wharton and Howard to be Earls Mr. Denzil Hollis a Viscount Sir William Waller a Baron and 2500. l. per. an Sir Arthur Hazelrig such another which only he modestly refused but not theâ— money Sir William Brereton 1500. l. per an Skippon 1000. l. per an All which Honours and Grants are to be confirmed by his Majesty upon passing the Propositions and the Revenues and estates to be setled out of Delinquents Lands after the satisfying of publique debts of the Kingdom but not before 1. Sept. 1645. But how unlikely the Propositions should pass clogged with these designs against the very hair of the Kings Councellours And how unlikely any Propositions at all shall be consented unto if we consider the Kings inclination towards a Peace by the Contents of his late Letters to Prince Rupert upon occasion of Ruperts Letter and Advice to Treat and
1000. Foot odds of their Enemies and yet left their Siege works well manned at Chester and meet the Cavaliers in their March sending their Forlorn by Captain Otter the Body commanded by Mitton Iones and Louthian against men of resolution and gallantry but overmastered because overpowred and with other advantages to boot defeated the Cavaliers kild some and took Horse and Foot more then will be imagined and this was 1. of November A second design of Relief was nobly attempted by the Lord Aston who in his way was met with near Stur-bridge Horse to Horse each a Regiment Aston too forward was wounded and taken prisoner he scaped no better others payed dear on both sides loss whereof neither bragged and this was ten days after the other defeat Thus abroad and more at home for Byron was a brave man discreet and valiant but could not doe much more then he did within doores for wearied a long time with Sallies outward was now overpowred and overpressed that he was forced to keep in and feed upon nothing even to nothing in great distress when Horse-flesh failed Sir William Brereton and Col. Mitton now command the Leaguer heretofore knowing the resolution of gallant Governours supposed it to no purpose to summon Byron that never used to yield yet now each Opposite fall to treat but the Overtures high neither of them would condiscend November 28. for Byron had intelligence of the Kings earnest desire and unfortunate endeavours for his Relief and the Parliament debating and voting for a Committee on purpose to order force upon force to joyn with Brereton for the gaining of this Garison blocking up and guarding all ways and passages about the County to hinder Relief December 9. And therefore the Townsmen murmur first then mutiny which Byron appeases with promises after a weeks expectation of Relief if none comes to treat upon Surrender and as yet none comes nor can and therefore Brereton ingeniously writes to him For the Lord Byron and the Mayor of Chester SIR Experience tells you on what Foundations your hopes of Relief were grounded but that you may see â—y tender care of the preservation of the Lives and Estates of the Inhabitants once more I summon you to deliver this Garison into my hands for the use of the King and Parliament with expecting your speedy Answer Your Servant Will. Brereton Chester Suburbs Jan. 17. But Byron was busie and did not answer Brereton sends the second time again SIR I perceive my Desire to preserve the Citie encourageth a great obstinacie as though you expected as good Conditions when you can hold out no longer as if you had treated the last Summons which proceeded not from any fear of disturbance for I believe your self is hopeless of Relief but to prevent further miserie and the ruine of that Citie which will be remediless I expect your Answer by three a clock this Day Your Servant Will. Brereton Jan. 12. To which Byron answers We are not convinced by experience of the groundless Foundation of our hopes of Relief neither is our Condition such as to precipitate us to a prejudicial Treatie however if within twelve Days we be not assured of Relief by a Gentleman and Citizen whom we shall send for that purpose with a Trumpet of ours and a Pass from you we shall then be contented to enter into a Treatie for Surrender upon honourable and orderly condition Charls Walley Mayor Your Servant John Byron Chester Jan. 12. And instantly replied unto the same Day The Writing sent by the Drummer is not satisfactory to the Summons neither will I assent to your Desires in any part of it If you return not a positive Answer before ten a clock to morrow morning expect no further Treatie Will. Brereton This was sharp and sudden but Byron stirs not having sent out a Messenger whose return he expected That if Relief came not by the end of this Moneth Ianuary at the furthest he could hold out no longer This Messenger is intercepted on his way which Brereton sends to the Parliament having private order if possible to spare the storming and plunder of that City which Brereton hoped to govern hereafter and he being that Countreyman was not willing to ruine the chief Town The time is come and they treat ten Days spent with several Transactions in hope of Relief for which strong preparations were made whereof the Besiegers had frequent advertisement that Sir Iacob Ashley and Colonel Vaughan had united and lay hovering about Bridg-North their Intention to have joyned with the Welch Forces under the Lord St. Paul and some Irish that came over in December last and those other lately landed at Blewmorris who were part of the Lord Digby's Regiment as the intercepted Letters mentioned to prevent which Conjunction Brereton sends three Regiments of Horse the Warwickshire the Reformado's Regiment and part of the Staffordshire Horse and Foot and also of the Cheshire Dragoons together with some of Colonel Mitton's Horse and Foot which Party was commanded by Mitton who marched to Ruthen the four and twentieth of this Moneth Ianuary intending to fall upon the Cavaliers Quarters who made their way and marched to Denbigh and so to Conway but Mitton came in good time after for Ruthen Castle was so ill provided that he hath hope to master it however the Conjunction of the Cavaliers is frustrate which probably occasioned the Cavaliers Retreat quite away so as now the Besieged hopeless sent out their Commissioners Ian. 30. to treat with the Assailants The first Day nothing was concluded The next Day the Besiegers importuned to lengthen the Treaty for three Days longer which being denied they conclude the first of February Between Iohn Lord Byron Field-Marshal General of North-Wales and Governour of Chester and Sir William Brereton Knight and Baronet Commander in chief of all the Forces of Cheshire The Lord Byron and all Noblemen Commanders and Officers and Souldiers in all their Apparel whatsoever The Lord Byron with Horse and Arms and ten Men alike accomplished to attend him His Lady and Servants with Coaches and in each four Horses with such other Ladies and Gentlewomen as he thinks fit and with his Books Evidences and Writings in his possession and all of them with not above fourty pounds in Money and twenty pounds in Plate The rest of the Noblemen and their Ladies answerable with Honour and Arms and not above thirty pounds in Money Every Knight and Colonel alike with ten pounds in Money and so in a respective condition and quality of every Officer to the common Souldier who was to march away with twenty Shillings In a word throughout their degrees Men and Women answerable and as reasonable for the Citizens So that I shall conclude for the honour of Sir William Brereton although he knew the Distress of the Garison yet he was so noble and so much a Gentleman and a Souldier that in earnest I finde his Concessions worthy of honourable Record which I mention
Parliament no further Expectation of Aid from Ireland or any foreign Friend the Lord Ashley was onely in a Body but closely pursued by Sir William Brereton and Colonel Morgan Governour of Glocester and in the end not able to avoid the Quarrel they came to fight the one and twentieth of March where Ashley was totally defeated near Stow in the Wold upon the edg of Glocestershire himself taken Prisoner fifteen hundred Horse and Foot with his Baggage Ammunition and all and therefore he told them that took him Their Work was done they might go play Meaning that the King had lost all And it seems so by the hasty Vote of the Parliament to the Kings Letter which Message was in effect That he offers to come to his two Houses upon their Assurance for the safety of his Person and to advise with them for the good and safety of the Kingdom Provided that all those who have adhered to his Majesty may have liberty to return in peace to their own home to live in quiet without the Obligation of the National Oath or Covenant and Sequestration to be taken off from their Estates And that then his Majesty will disband all his Forces dismantle his Garisons pass an Act of Oblivion and free Pardon to all and give ample satisfaction to the Kingdom of Scotland March 23. But it is now too late and therefore they answer not at all unless he be willing to take notice of this Ordinance That in case the King shall contrary to the advise of Parliament already given to him come or attempt to come within the Lines of Communication that then the Committee of the Militia of London shall have power and are hereby enjoyned to raise such Force as they shall think fit to prevent any Tumult that may arise by his coming and to suppress any that shall happen and to apprehend and secure any such as shall come with him to prevent resort unto him and to secure his person from danger Nay more That all persons whatsoever that have born Arms against the Parliament are to depart the City by the sixth of April upon the penalty as followeth viz. The Lords and Commons taking notice of the great concourse and resort of Papist Officers and Souldiers of Fortune and such as have been in Arms against the Parliament of England from the Enemies Garisons and Quarters unto the Citie of London and Westminster and other parts within the Lines of Communication That such depart c. before the sixth of April next or to be declared against as Spies and to be proceeded against according to the Rules of War unless with licence of the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall and of the Militia of London and the Sub-committees are hereby to keep strict Guards and Watches to make frequent Searches Provided that this Act shall not extend to such as came in to the Parliament before the first of June last And that no Peer have licence but by the House of Lords And this Order to continue for a moneth after the sixth of April and no longer March 30. Then for fear that the King should come notwithstanding all their fore-warnings Letters are devised from several places of Intelligence That the King is resolved to come suddenly to London And with some Designs also hinted as might seem most dangerous to the Parliament and Kingdom Therefore the Parliament order That Letters shall be suddenly sent to the Prince as in answer to former received from him as also to the King that Commissioners will forthwith be sent to his Majesty with Propositions of Peace And now we have almost done fighting in the Field some Garisons onely stand out but others are daily surrendred And for these and such like Victories we have such City-feastings Bonefires and Bell-ringings as that we were imagined to be all mad which the Pay-masters of all the Aldermen and the rest expressed in the highest manner that could be as being the effects of joy union sweet harmony heavenly blessings and the like as indeed we want words also to express their conceits Then was there established a Court Martial in London with Articles published against such Inhabitants as were but tending to the malignancy of Cavaliery as that it was almost impossible for a conscionable Subject but to be liable to their punishment And withall comes out another Ordinance viz. That no persons whatsoever shall repair to the King Queen Prince or Lords malignant or to either of them or to any Commander or Officer of theirs or shall hold Intelligence with them or shall plot contrive or endeavour with the Enemie contrary to the Rules of War not to relieve any person that have taken up Arms against the Parliament not to assemble or mutinie And against such as have taken up Arms against the Parliament and have taken the Covenant no Officer shall desert his Trust none that hath been in Arms against the Parliament or assisted the Enemy shall come to London or Westminster without a Pass and shall not also within eight and fourty hours tender himself to the Parliament All these aforesaid shall die the death without mercie And this Ordinance to last for three moneths April 3. What should the Kings party his Souldiers and Friends do that had delivered up themselves and Garisons upon Articles and Quarter but to return home which indeed in effect was for all or the most to come to London for means for inquiry for subsistence and for courses to sell Lands raise Moneys to seek Relief and to compound multitudes of such are come and must suddenly be gone again others on their way to the City and ignorant of the Ordinances fell unwittingly under the Penalties and so are daily taken seized and hurried into Prisons or Goals and are utterly ruined ere they know for what This makes them repent their hasty Surrenders of Garisons rather to have been there slain in honour by the Sword than after all to be undone at home Aud to colour the cruelty it was surmized that probably these had some horrible Design against the Parliament City and Kingdom which was referred to other Committees to do and order the Cavaliers to dispose and command them as they should think fit A mischief to the Sufferers beyond all their former miseries thus to submit to a City Committee made up they said of Tradesmen and Tailours These Tidings reach to the knowledg of the King and his Council at Oxford who disorderly seek in private their own safety leaving the King to shift for himself But to make their own Jealousies of some colour and Punishments answerable thereto It is devised that the King notwithstanding the Refusal of his coming he is yet resolved to come some fix upon the Day others suppose it uncertain some say he comes disguised and others affirm positively that he is come and is to be seen at the Lord Mayors whether the City Wives went to visit my Lady Mistress Mayoress
signal compliance with the Army and their interest and what of importance my complyance was to them and their often repeated Professions and Ingagements for my Iust Rights in general at Newmarket and St Albans and their particular explanation of those generals by their Voted and Re-voted Proposals which I had reason to understand should be the uttermost extremity would be expected from me and that in some things therein I should be eased herein appealing to the Consciences of some of the chiefest Officers in the Army if what I have said be not punctually true and how I have failed of their expectations and my professions to them I challange them and the whole World to produce the least colour of Reason And now I would know what is it that is desired Is it Peace I have shewed the way being both willing and desirous to perform my part in it which is a just complayance with all chief Interests It is Plenty and Happinesse They are the inseparable effects of peace Is it security I who wish that all men would forgive and forget like me have offered the Militia for my time Is it liberty of Conscience he who wants it is most ready to give Is it the right administration of Iustice Officers of trust are committed to the choice of my two Houses of Parliament Is it frequent Parliaments I have legally fully concurred therewith Is it the Arrears of the Army Vpon a settlement they will certainly be paied with much ease but before there will be found much difficulty if not impossibility in it Thus all the world cannot but see my real and unwearied endeavours for Peace the which by the grace of God I shall never repent me of nor ever be slackned in notwithstanding my past present or future sufferings but if I may not be heard let every one judge who it is that obstructs the good I would or might do What is it that men are afraid to hear from me it cannot be Reason at least none will declare themselves so unreasonable as to confess it and it can less be impertinent or unreasonable discourses for thereby peradventure I might more justifie this my restraint then the causers themselves can do so that of all wonders yet this is the greatest to me but it may be easily gathered how these men intend to govern who have used me thus and if it be my hard Fate to fall together with the Liberty of this Kingdom I shall not blush for my self but much lament the future miseries of my people the which I shall still pray to God to avert what ever becomes of me C. R. And now was the strict custody of the King referred to the care and Command of the General to place and displace servants such as to him thought meet and only eight persons for the present allowed to him Of which and his strict Guards he expostulates with Hamond telling him that he might yet ere long be beholding to one of his Sons for his life for now was Prince Charles gone from Paris into Holland from whence we shall hereafter hear more of him February 4. The first alteration of Soveraignty was in Title of things properly stiled the Kings and therefore the Title of the List of his Majesties Ships is but now altered to the List of the Parliaments Ships and the Hollanders refuse to strike Top Sail to the English disputeing that they were the Elder States and indeed so they were and Elder Brothers in the other also The Army resolve of new Modelling themselves to put the Martial power into the best way for themselves to appear formidable in the Field to make good the Garisons and to take in all confiding persons and so to make more Officers and fewer Souldiers under their Command the easier to be governed and in time of Action soon filled up by Sir Thomas Fairfax who now takes an additional Title of Lord Fairfax being the unic Son to his Father who of a Corn on his great Toe iâ— turned to a Gangreen and killed him And so we end the troublesome affairs of State in England for this year But may not pass over those concernments of Scotland and Ireland contemporary Nor would we nor could we handsomly interrupt our History with them and therefore we insert them here by themselves And first of Scotland beginning where we left before The continuation of the Military Actions for the King in Scotland under conduct of the Marquess of Montrose this year 1647. The Covenanters held Convention at St. Andrews upon the East Sea in Fife carrying their prisonâ—rs with them where ever they removed both of War or others of the Kings Friends men of the best note the Lord Ogleby Sir William Spotswood William Murrey and Andrew Gutlery men of singular merit who here were to be sacrificed To which purpose they set up a couple of their Kirk men Kaint and Blaire and others also possessed with the same spirit That God required the blood of these men nor could the sin of the Nation be otherwise expiated or the revenge of heaven diverted sentencing their very souls to damnation But Ogleby the most eminent a Hamilton by the Mothers side and cousin German to Lindsey pretending himself sick had leave for his Mother Wife and Sisters to visit him in prison and whilst the Jaylors withdrew he got on his sisters cloths and put her in his place in bed And at evening passed out with them for a Lady and so got out of danger his sister suffered strict imprisonment in the same Chamber for a long time after and hastened the execution on the rest of the Prisoners The first was Nathaniel Gordon the next Colonel Gordon and then comes Sir Robert Spotswood he had been raised by favour of King Iames to the honour of Knighthood and Privy Councellor of Scotland King Charles made him Lord President of the Session and of late principal Secretary of Scotland Their Charge against him was not for Arms being a man of the Gown but they found Treason in his bringing of the Kings Commission to Montrose to be Vice-roy of the Kingdom and General of all the Kings Forces there It was no boot his Eloquent and Learned defence answerable to the fundamental Laws of that nation But the Earl of Lanerick heretofore Principal Secretary by his revolt against the King this Office was setled upon Spotswood this was additional to his Charge which because he was not able to bear out he was forced to fall under And on the Scaffold prepared to dye he made his last Speech to the People but Blair being by bad the Provost stop his mouth and privately praying Blair interrupting offered his prayers which the other refused adding That of all the Plagues with which God had scourged this Nation this was not the least nay greater than Sword or Pestilence that God had sent a lying Spirit in the mouthes of the pretended Prophets for which Blair basely reproached
the Force that could be spared from all the Southern County and the City of London also It was vigorously assaulted and gallantly defended with â—uch Sallies at several times and successes as rendred the Gâ—â—eral â—ot very prosperous At last the whole City was surrounded and by often Skirmishes they within grew weak of fighting men provisions of all sorts spent both for Ammunition and Victuals and whilst they within had hopes to their hearts they neglected â—ay disdained offers of Treaty or capitulation for almost three moneths when horrid necessity inforceth them to consider of a Treaty when Horse-flesh and Dogs Cats and Vermin failed for Food No hope of succour the Princes Fleet part fell from him the Wâ—lsh reduced the Earl of Hollands Insurrection suppressed Revolts Muâ—inies Allarms in several Counties quieted the Scots whole Army of Invasion totally defeated and the King himself lay'd aside for whose sake all these pretended And of all which the Besieged had continual intelligence then the Horror waxed high And therefore the chief Commanders within capitulate with the Camp without That they at the desire of the Inhabitants think fit to send to the General they are constrained to turn out the Towns-pâ—ople for bâ—tter accommodation of the Souldiery whereby their houses and gâ—ods would be left lyable to ruine for prevention they think fit to Treat with the General for surrender of the City to which purpose they would send out Officers to Parley To whose Letter they have this Answer That the General believes their extream pressure upon the Inhabitants and all the rest but he clears himself from the occasion of their sufferings he is compassionately willing to allow the proper Inhabitants only to come forth provided the Committee of Essex now prisoners within be first sent out and excepting the wives children of such as remain behinde in Arms. And concerning the Rendition of the Town hâ—â—ffers that all Souldiers under the degree of a Captain shall have free pass to their homes and all Captains and other Offcers superiour with Lords and Gentlemen to submit to mercy These Conditions would not go down with Goring therefore the next day five hundred women are forced out upon the powdercharged Cannon and Muskets to frighten them back but better so to dye then to return to Famine and thus they make a stand and crave rather sudden destruction They within make a Sally for a dead horse and one slain yet â—fter two dayes stink it is got in for food And to the Generals Letter they within Reply That they would not Render themselves to mercy to any but to God alone And therefore to spare blood they send out their utmost offer the lowest conditions they could yield unto 24. Aug. Which in truth were too high for the General to grant And therefore he is peremptory not to give Answer Then they 〈◊〉 send out a Drum with Mr. Barnardeston one of the Committee pâ—â—â—oners and Colonel Tuke desiring a Treaty upon what the General offered heretofore and concerning the explanation of the words to submit to mercy how far they would extend and in reference to the Officers and Souldiers and Townsmen And had Answer that in respect the Officers and Souldiers c. had neglected that former offer that now they should have only fair Quarter the rest to submit to mercy But however the Treaty should succeed the misery was much within and therefore the private Souldiers were resolved to deliver up their Commanders who caress the Souldiers with Wine and Victuals and fair words to joyn with them to break through the Besiegers over the North-bridge the way to escape but that Design shrunk for it was soon apprehended by the Souldiers that whilst they should fight the Commanders would fly And therefore in this high distemper they all submit to mercy the twenty seventh of August The Inhabitants of the Town were fined fourteen thousand pounds to be preserved from Plunder â—â—d two dayes after Sir Charls Lucas and Sir Geo. Lisle were shot to death they disputed this kinde of Justice to be in cold bloud without any Tryal without president of men at Arms and unsouldier-like but seeing no remedy Lucas was said to dye like a Christian justified his taking up Arms in defence of the King his Sovereign and bad them doe their worst he was prepared Lisle came to the stake kissed the others warm Corps wreaking in bloud and was shot to death also But why this unusual Execution was so acted I cannot be satisfied which the General in his Letter to the Parliament calls Military Execution and hopes that your Lordships will not think your honour or justice prejudiced had he put it to the question before their death the Lords would have resolved him but it was now too late and must be submitted to the worlds censure The rest of the Lords Officers Gentlemen and Souldiers are referred to the Parliaments mercy or justice Indeed the Commissioners that treated put the question what is meant by fair Quarter what by rendering to mercy It was resolved to the first That with Quarter for their lives they shall be free from wounding or beating shall enjoy warm clothes to cover them shall be maintained with Victuals fit for prisoners while they be prisoners For the second That they be rendered to mercy or render themselves to the General or to whom he shall appoint without certain assurance of Quarter so as the General may be free to put some immediately to the Sword Although the General intends chiefly and for the generality of those under that condition to surrender themselves to the mercy of the Parliament Neither 〈◊〉 â—he General given cause to doubt of his civility to such as render to mercy The chief Commanders deserve to be mentioned Some amends for their sufferings they were Valiant men The Earl of Norwich the Lord Capel Lord Loughborough Sir Charles Lucas Sir William Compton Colonel Sir Geo. Lisle Sir Bernard Gascoigne Sir Abraham Shipman Sir Iohn Watts Sir Lodowick Dyer Sir Henry Appleton Sir Denart Strutt Sir Hugh Ovelly Sir Rich. Maliverer Colonels Garter Gilburn Farr Till Hamond Chester Heath Tuke Ayloff and Sawyer Eight Lieutenant Colonels nine Majors thirty Captains Commissary General Francis Lovelace Master of the Ordnance Major Gen. Graveston Gentlemen sixty five Lieutenants seventy two Ensigns and Corners sixty nine Serjeants a hundred eighty three private Souldiers three thousand sixty seven The Gen. Fairfax having done his Work Marches Northwards to Yarmouth and up and down these Counties to settle Peace caress his Garrisons receiving testimonies of thanks for his Victorious Successes and returns to St. â—lbans his Head Quarters in the beginning of October from which time we shall hear more of him and his hereafter The universal distractions of the Parliament and Kingdom by Insurrections Revolts Tumults and Disorders both on Land and also in the Fleet at Sea made the City of London sensible of the sufferings which fell heavily
Statutes were verbatim recited the substance of the Petition was this 1. THey do pray your most excellent Majesty that no man hereafter be compelled to make or yeeld any Gift Loan Benevolence Tax or such like charge without common consent by Act of Parliament and that none be called to make answer or to take such oath or to give attendance or be confin'd or otherwise be molested or disquieted concerning the same or for refusal thereof 2. And that no freeman be taken and imprisoned or be disseised of his free-hold or liberty or his â—ree customs or be out-lawed or exiled but by the lawfull judgement of his Peer or by the law of the Land 3. And that your Majesty would be pleased to remove the Souldiers and Mariners now Billitted in divers Counties and that your people may not be so burthened in time to come 4. That the late Commissions for proceeding by Martiall-Law may be revoked and annulled and that hereafter no Commission of like nature may issue forth to any person or persons whatsoever to be executed lest by colour of them any of your Majesties subjects be destroyed and put to death contrary to law and the franchises of the land All which they most humbly pray of your most excellent Majesty as their rights and liberties according to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm and that your Majesty would also vouchsafe to declare that all awards doings or proceedings to the prejudice of your People shall not be drawn hereafter into consequence and example And now indeed their Lordships Eyes were opened and fearing the eminent mischief to the King and in him to themselves as having more interest in Prerogative then the Commons their first existence present subsistence and yet not altogether to leave the publique without remedy they annexed to the Petition this addition of Salvo We present this our humble Petition to your Majesty not onely with care to preserve our own Liberties but with regard to leave intire that Soverain Power wherewith your Majesty is trusted for the Protection safety and happinesse of your People But the Commons refused this and procured a Conference and Mr. Noy is sent with reasons and resolutions of the Lower-House which signified little but at a second meeting managed by Sr. Henry Martin and Serjeant Glâ—nvile the Lords did comply and so presented without that saving To which the King took a little leasure ere he returned them this for answer THe King willeth that right be done according to the laws and Customs of the Realm and that the Statutes be put in due execution that his Subjects may have no cause to complain of any wrong or oppressions contrary to their just Right and Liberties to the preservation whereof he holds himself in conscience as well obliged as of his Prerogative Certainly the sense was as the very Essence the matter being the Main aud was excepted against as too firm but not full enough without their own formalities of the old Model for which they agreed to Petition but were surprized with this Item from the King My Answer was made with so good deliberation and approved by the judgement of so many wise men that I wonder it hath not satisfied you to the full but to avoid all ambiguities and to clear my just meaning I am willing to please you even in Words as well as Substance Read your Petition and receive an Answer I am sure will please you Which was Le droict soit faict comme iâ— est desire This I am sure is full yet no more than in my first you may see now how ready I shew my self to satisfie your demands so that having done my part if this Parliament have not a happy conclusion the sin is yours I am free Hereto the Houses shout with mighty acclamations of joy testified also with the usuall consent of the publique Bonefires and Bellsâ—inging â—inging over all the Cities and the Upper-House finding this a fit time of reciprocal contexture the King glad to see them satisfied with little aâ—doe procured his Majesties Grace to extend even to those Lords in former disfavour To Abbot Arch-Bishop of Canterbury William Bishop of Lincoln the Earl of Essex Lincoln Warwick Bristow and him that was alwayes out the Lord Say This did the King do the fifth Presage from the King vailing his Crown to the Parliament which doth so astonish the Historian that he breaks out into Ravishment That this session that Gallant Standard of Common Liberties the Petition of Right was granted That never did Arbitrary Power since Monarchy first founded so submittere fasces so vail its Scepter Never did the Prerogative descend so much from Perch to Popular Lure as by that Concession a Concession able to give satisfaction even to supererogation for what was amisse in all the Kings by-past Government But what did they do having now thus sentenced all Illegalities they fell to Execution of Commission of Loan and Excise and cancelled them in the Kings presence And now thus secured they yet ride on ripping up all manner of Grievances and Grievers in a large Remonstrance 1. THe danger of Innovation and alteration in Religion This occasioned by 1. The great esteem and favours many professors of the Romish Religion receive at Court 2. Their publique resort to Masâ—e at Denmark house contrary to his Majesties answer to the Parliaments Petition at Oxford 3. The Letters for stay of proceedings against them Lastly the daily growth of the Arminian faction favoured and protected by Nele Bishop of Winchester and Laud Bishop of Bathe and Wells whilest the Orthodox parts are silenced or discountenanced 2. The danger of Innovation and alteration in Government occasioned by the Billetting of Souldiers by the Commission for procuring one thousand German Horse and Riders as for the defence of the Kingdom by a standing Commission granted to the Duke to be General at land in times of peace 3. Disasters of our Designes as the expedition to the Isle of Rhe and that lately to Rochel wherein the English have purchased their dishonour with the waste of a million of treasure 4. The want of Ammunition occasioned by the late selling away of thirty six Last of Powder 5. The decay of Trade by the losse of three hundred ships taken by the Dunkyrkers and Pirates within these three last years 6. The not guarding the narrow Seas whereby his Majesty hath almost lost the Regality Of all which evils and dangers the principall Cause is the Duke of Buckingham his excessive power and abuse of that power And therefore they humbly submit it to his Majesties wisdom whether it can be safe for himself or his Kingdom that so great power both by Sea and Land as rests in him should be trusted in the hands of any one Subject whatsoever This and the Bill of Subsidies went cheek by joll and were presented to the King in the Banquetting house at White-Hall which being read out with some regret in
restrictions and bounded the writ at the first but to Maritime Counties as mostly receiving the present benefit of security from Pyrates but that not sufficient for the common necessity the wits became afterwards Generall to all Counties and so did the quarrel The whole amounting unto two hundred thirty six thousand pounds in lieu of all payments came but to twenty thousand pounds per mensem The Clergy never pleaded but indeed they muttered their case to be free from all secular and civil charges And to prevent the boldness of any pretence the Laws made disputes of the three fold necessity binding all Clergy and Laity viz. aid in war building of Bridges and raising of Forts Nor had they any Execution that which the Arch-bishop did for them was upon their just Complaint of their unequal Tax by their Neighbour therefore the Sheriffs were required not to tax the Clergy of Parsonages above a tenth part of their Land-rate of their several Parishes and no doubt we may easily believe the Inlanders might mutter as conceiving it strange to be concerned in the Sea But in truth the main Exception was to be taxed out of Parliament against the late Petition of Right and indured long debate in Courts of Iustice thereafter whilest the first Mover Noy the Attorney having set the Wheel a going took his last leave in August to rest for ever from the toil of an Attorney General And now was the great Design of the Swedes quarrel in Germany prosecuted and Ambassadours abroad to all the Neighbour Allies for assistance and Axel Oxenstiern the great Chancellour and Guider of those affairs of State sent hither his Son in Ambassy impowred with Credential Letters no doubt from his Sovereign Queen or from interest of the Chancellour of which our King could not pretend ignorance for in all outward reception he appeared so I was present in the Banquetting-house at White-hall when he had Audience of his tedious peremptory Oration But indeed whether because his Address had been before to the French King from whom he had large promises and a great Present or whether because our Reasons of State gave slender hopes to engage against the Emperour with whom we were in Treaty concerning the Palatinate he refused our Kings Present of equal value with that of France and returned not well pleased The state of Ireland in some disquiet dangerously now divident between Papist and Protestant the wise Lord Deputy Wentworth being necessitated to summon a Parliament for the supply of a fresh Contribution for the Army the former of twenty thousand pounds per annum determining the next year and provision must be assured before hand to discharge the Kings Debt of eighty thousand pounds besides It is most true that there was no ill Husbandry of former Governours that caused a contraction of this Debt but the wisdom of the Sovereign not to charge the Nation with Levies for they had granted but one Subsidy since primo Iacobi the Kingdom in good condition since the Wars and their Estates being by the King so lately setled they could do no less than raise their Purses with their plenty and give the King Subsidies which they did The Civil affairs well forwarded the care was to setle the Ecclesiastick by Assembly of a Synod The Design was not more politick as pious to repeal the Body of Articles formed Anno 1615. and to substitute those nine and thirty Articles of the Church of England in their room and the rather because the nine Articles of Lambeth were included with the Irish which in truth had been purposely inserted by King Iames to ballance against the Tenets of Arminians and were evermore started by the contrary Opinions where the Points of Predestination and the Lords Day Sabbath had found free acception to these indeed the Alteration seemed strange some referring it to power others to piety and reason also the reason might be in relation to the Papists who made a wonder that the Churches of three Kingdoms united being under one chief Head and Governour there should be three several and distinct Confessions of Faith and yet all pretending to one Religion and the conclusion and concession not huddled but canvased and with some advantage in Vote for the Church of England although as some say the Primate of Ireland interposed his Negative The Scots are busie fomenting sundry pretended Designs of State against their Liberties they became very bold endeavouring to blast the Kings Proceedings in their last Parliament as indirect charging him with corrupting and suborning the then Votes and evermore of some tendency in favour of Papists and to publish it in print they framed a Libel which passing through malignant hands and so vented but the Lords of the Council there searching narrowly for the Authour it fell upon one William Hagge and he escaping his Abetter was brought to the Board being the Lord Balmerino the Son of a Father of small Conscience and less Religion but Secretary he had been to King Iames who shuffled a Letter of his own contriving amongst others for the Kings signature too much complementing with the Pope Clement in favour of the Catholicks which Letter being so sent and some years after mentioned by Cardinal Bellarmine to the Kingâ—s prejudice and Balmerino questioned for it did ingeniously confess the same and after some outward sufferings had his pardon and preferment but time discovering the Policies of State another way it is now averred that the Letter was then devised by the Kings command in some reason to gain upon the Romish party in reference to his interest in England where the Papists were prevalent and more powerfull abroad but now this Lord the Son whether by nature perfidious or made so by Revenge elapsed into the like crime indeed and suffered the same Trial and Eviction and found the same mercy the Kings pardon and preferment for the present but fell more foul in offending some years after But the Kings Pardon to him gave great encouragement to the discontented Party in Scotland having now found by experience the Kings inclination either by fear or affection to be wrought upon if not mastered and having continual intelligence from his Majesties Bed-chamber the bane of the King by persons near about him Scots of all passages in England concerning the interruption of three Parliaments imprisoning the Members and other civil Distractions sufficient to discover a discontented condition in England also but it appears not who gave the first invitation for assistance to each other of a War Either party Scots and English so forward as that it seems they met joyn'd at last in an unnatural War with their dread Sovereign And yet untill 1637. that the Service-book was imposed on the Scots both parties lay dormant without any perfect correspondence that I can meet with till that time or a little after And then also Cardinal Richelieu sent over his Chaplain Chambers a Scotishman to stir up the
other but Mr. Thomas Murray a Scotishman Indeed he had been Clerk of the Chappel-closet when he was Prince a very mean place for so proud a Perâ—on as in earnest he was so observed to be by such as could search into insides outwardly concealed from ordinary observation and wanting preferment of his own conceited merit he grew factious first and then insolent in print in two Pamphlets against Episcopacy sharp and full of rancour Bastwick the second Having been heretofore about the 10. of the King censured by the High-Commission for writing and speaking against Government And thereupon three years since he writ his Latine Apology ad presules Anglicanos and a name very reproachful against them all by name the Arch Bishop Lawd the Lord Treasurer Iuxton Bishop of London flagello Pontificis where he he says Paris enim in Parem non esse Imperium Bishops and Presbyters alike he invited father William of Canterbury his holiness and William London Magnificus Rector of the Treasury and the Whore of Babylon to be witnesses to his Childs Baptizing And in his Latine he says ridentem dicere verum Quis vetet But not to mistake him without Book see how he intitles his Answers The Answers of John Bastwick Doctor of Physick to the information of Sir Iohn Bancks Knight Atturney General in which there is a sufficient demonstration That the Prelates are Invaders of the Kings Prerogative royall contemners and despisers of the Holy Scriptures Advancers of Popery Superstition Idolatry and prophaness Also that they abuse the Kings authority to the oppression of his Loyalest Subjects and therein exercise great Cruelty Tyranny and Injustice and in the execution of these impious performances they shew neither wit honesty nor temperance Nor are they either servants of God or of the King as they are not indeed but of the Devil being Enemies of God and the King and of every living thing that is good All which the said Dr. Bastwick is ready to maintain c. And so fills his answers of six large skins of Parchment to the amaze of the Court nor could he be brought to be briefer Imprints this and dedicates it to the King with an Epistle to prove all Mr. Pryn was the third a Barrester of Lincolns-Inn his crime as of the same some Pamphlets scandalous to the King and Church but he suffered the most amongst them now for being censured there before and not to bewarâ— is punished the more He was fined five thousand pounds to the King to lose the remainder of his ears in the Pillory to be stigmatized on both cheeks with an S. for schismatick and perpetual imprisonment in Carnarvan Castle in Wales Bastwick and Burton each five thousand pounds fine to the King to loose their ears in the Pillory aud to be imprisoned the first in Lanceston Gastle in Cornwall and the other in Lancaster Castle But had they been brought to the Kings Bench Bar and so to have made an end with them there they had not risen up in policy and power to joyn their revenge upon the King and all their accusers as they did hereafter see the eight and twentieth of November 1640. But as to those Schismatiques and other such like deformities so also a severe eye had been upon the Romish Catholiques their numerous resort to private conventicles to the Ambassadors strangers their chappels and most notorious to the antient chappel at Denmark house whereto the English in flocks repaired and many others under leave of the Court domestiques the receptacle and countenance to all other Catholiques Of which the Arch Bishop publiquely complained to the King and Councell Table telling his Majesty that the Insolencies of others took advantage from such audacious behaviour as Mr. Walter Mountague Sir Toby Mathews all the Queens Officers and others of the Kings Court a rol of whom he there presented to which the King professed that he had it in his mind to have referred the consideration thereof to the Board from his own observation and commanded them all to see it reformed Iune the 26 the Prince Elector beginning to languish saies one in his hopes of succour from his Uncle departed with his Brother Prince Rupert for Holland they did depart but not in languish and being purposely sent back upon a design of doing somewhat beyond Seas in reference to his Interest of his Patrimony of the Palatinate which took not effect For the next year them two Brothers by assistance of his Uncles purse and credit though in privacie with the Prince of Orang and some of the States had raised a small beginning of an Army with which and the hopes increasing they advance into Westphalia and besiege Lemgea and were as suddainly enforced to â—rise and fight with one of the Emperours Generals Hatisfeild who slew two thousand and took Prince Rupert and the Lod Craven Prisoners the Elector escaping by flight back again to the Haghe where he remained forlorn till the next year after when you shall find him in England again Williams Bishop of Lincoln comes now to be censured in Star-chamber of whom we observed his first declension heretofore the first of this King 1625. when he parted from the great seal to the Lord Coventry but kept his Bishoprick and Deanery of Westminster and so continued not a peer but a Prelate in Parliament and powerfull enough of purse and câ—nning to revenge upon the King fomenting under hand all Malevolent and popular disaffections against his Soveraign and being Narrowly watcht when his wit and will tempted him to talking disloyallâ— of the King and as usually increased by the late telling to be intolerable for which he had been put into a Bill in Star-chamber 4 Car. and then somewhat slackned because the Bill would not bear it out to proof till 4 years after 8 Car. and then revived towards a Triall The Bishop wondrous bare of defence had only Predeon for his sufficient witness who was charged with getting a barn on Bess Hodson and so became perhaps invalid to be trusted with his testimony for truth The Bishop suborns his two country men Agents Powel and Owen Welchmen to procure the suppression of the order of the publique session at Lincoln which charged Prideon the reputed father and afterwards 10 Car. to lodge the bustard upon Boon and the other to be acquit which cost his purse soundly saies one twelve hundred pounds to bring this about the cause and consequence of his Triall in Iuly this year and sentence Ten thousand pounds to the King and to the Tower during pleasure Suspension ab officiis et beneficiis and referred to the High Commission for the rest which concerned that Courts Iurisdiction which punishments fitted his villanies for after reveng King Iames had a design not once but alwaies after his coming into England to reform that deformity of the Kirk of Scotland into a decent discipline as in the Church of
to have been abjured 3. That if they return to this Kingdom they be used as accursed and delivered over to the Devil and out of Christs body as Ethniks and Publicanes 4. That all evil Councellours be accusable and censurable at the next Parliament conform to the Statute of 4. Jac. and that all persons in this Kingdom entertainer and maintainers of Excommunicated Prelates be proceeded against with Excommunication conform to the acts of this Kirk 5. That seeing this Session or Term is now appointed to sit in prejudice of the people who have been busie for the late defence of their Religion and this Nation and now retired to settle their own affairs and not having fourty dayes warning as legally it ought to be and now but twenty to come Wee Protest that all the Members of the Colledge of Iustice and all other subjects ought not to attend this Session that all their Acts which they shall doe shall be voyd 6. Lastly We Protest to have liberty to inlarge this our Protestation and Reasons and thereupon the Earle of Dalhouse for the Lords Sr. William Rosse for the Barons the Provost of Sterling for the Burroughs and Mr. Andro Ramsey for the Ministers take Instrument hereof Edinburgh 1. July 1639. They that would excuse this Insolent impetuosity of proceeding in the Covenanters so early after the accord and so fair do affirm that by the endeavours which was lately used by the Commissioner Marquesse Hamilton to disunite as they call it and corrupt the chief and most leading Covenanters as namely Argyle Rothes Lindsay Monrosse Lowdon Sr. William Dowglas Mr. Alexander Henderson and others by allurements of great offices And that Argyle offered his Daughter in Marriage with Rothes and Ten thousand pounds portion and to remain forthwith and for ever to Rothes in case Hamilton failed of performance But the Scots meet at their time appointed the sixth of August the General Assembly at Edinburgh continuing till the twenty fourth and there made good to themselves the first Article of the Kings reference to his Commissioners former promise which were in particular Abolishing Episcopacy the five Articles of Perth High Commission Liturgy and Book of Canons And the Marquesse Hamilton designed with new Commission from the King to assent thereto and to Act in other things But he cunningly cast that Imployment upon Traquair whose jugglings together proved false and treacherous to all succeeding affairs of their Soveraigne For after the Assembly the Parliament being prorogued to the twenty sixth of August they then sit And at the beginning debate the Interests to the Election of the Lords of Articles The King heretofore named eight Bishops and they eight Noblemen and these sixteen elected eight Commissioners for the Sherifdoms and eight others for the Burroughs and Corporations And these thirty two and no more had the names of Lords of the Articles and were a Committee to canvasse and correct all Bills before they go to Vote And so the King not to be prejudiced in his Nomination by the avoydance of Bishops the Parliament yeelded to his Commissioner to chuse eight Noblemen for the present bnt voted that hereafter every State should Elect their own Commissioners Thus far they were forward for businesse but then how and in what manner to supply the vacancy of Bishops Votes and how to constitute the Third Estate The Commissioner urged for the King fourteen Laiks of such as were called Abbots and Priors to represent the third Estate which after some alteration was settled and voted into small Barons that represent the Commonalty and then fell upon abrogating former Acts of Indictions of Courts of Exchequer Ward-lands and other things so peremptory to a kinde of Reforming all to a fresh new modeling of a Government of their own without reference to Regality the Commissioner had command from the King to Prorogue the Parliament until the second of Iune next against which they frame a Declaration to be of no effect without consent of Parliament and might sit still but in some shew of duty they for the present would make Remonstrance of their Propositions and proceedings and if by suggestions Informations and Imputations bad effects should follow the world should witnesse their constraint to take such courses as might best conserve the Kirk and Kingdom from eminent confusion And accordingly and as a consequence their Deputies the Earl of Dumfirmlin and the Lord Lowdon present their Remonstrance and the Commissioner Traquair came also to the King to give the account of all not before a select Committee of Councellours but the whole body of the Councel and to hear both parties with very fierce Reproofs Recriminations between them where the deputies their old impudent manner not at all qualifying any mistakes or oversights but absolutely insisting upon direct justification of all and every Act of both Assembly and Parliament in their transactions to the very not onely lessening of the Kings prerogative but over ruling if not destroying of all soveraign authority which nothing but power and force could reduce to moderation or reason and these passages made an end of the moneth September During these Scotish affairs about the middle of Iuly came over hither into England the Prince Elector who the last year had ill successe of his designe into Westphalia where he was beaten and his brother Rupert taken prisoner And now Duke Bernard a gallant Commander lately dead the Prince of Orange advised the Elector to procure assistance of his Uncle the King of England to get command of that Dukes Army And although our home affairs were in great necessity of support here yet the King upon his score encouraged him therein and withall dealt with the French Ambassadour Leiger here to procure his Master into a League of assistance with him Intimating so much to Cardinal Richlien the great manager of the French affairs and Councels and glad sayes one to serve his Majesty and Nephew Quite another way for though a Treaty therein was set on foot yet with no intent or policy in the Cardinal too much to further the effect and indeed but a by shift of our King for the present for how could Richlieu be righty perswaded to it being so lately hardly reconciled for the English account upon the Isle of Rhe and the relief of Rochel and from whence he took rise and resolution of revenge by plots and councels with the Scots in all their Rebellions against the King as you shall see hereafter And in truth even now whilst the Treaty the Palsgrave in November was treacherously advised even by the Cardinals designe to passe disguised through France to the Swedes army but discovered all the way first by our own Fleet at the Downs saluted with a voley of great Guns and so by the ship the like which landed him at Boullen for Paris and after to Lions where he was seized and denying himself arrested and as it was managed by the Elector very perfidious to the
of those Times see the boldness of some particulars Reading at the Middle Temple the Lent Vacation February 24. by Master Bagshaw making his choice of the Statute 25 Edward 3. cap. 7. He had intended he said to meddle with Prohibitions but not with Tacitus to follow Truth too near the heels for fear of his teeth nor too far off lest he lose it and so neither to offend nor to be offended Dividing his Matter into ten parts for ten Days and every Day into ten several Cases I shall oney insist upon such as then became the common discourse then but misreported His first Case thus Whether or no it be a good Act of Parliament without assent of the Lords Spiritual He for the Affirmative proved thus First that they sit not as Bishops but as Baronies annexed to their Bishopricks 5 William 1. and all of them have so save the Bishop of Man and he is not called Ergo Secondly he proved some Parliaments held without any Bishops at all Kelway's Reports 7 Henry 8. fol. 184. that the presence of Bishops are not necessary Thirdly that divers Acts have been made when they were present and would not consent as the Act of Conformity 1 Edward 6. and Supremacy 1 Eliz. Fourthly that if at any time of Parliament they should dis-assent yet the major part of Barons concluding and the House of Commons concurring the Act shall pass because their Voices are over-ruled by the major of Barons Fifthly that the Bishops cannot sit in case of Bloud in Iudicature but they may sit to assist to enact Laws but not to give assent for Execution of them in case of any Murder or Bloud His second Case thus If any beneficed Clerk were capable of temporal Iurisdiction at the time of making that Law He held the Negative point and these his Proofs First the first that ever were made Iustice of Peace or had power in temporal Iurisdictions were the Bishops of Durham and York 34 Edward 3. nine years after the same Act so not a principio but a tempore Secondly before the Statute of Conformity 1 Edward 6. the Clergy were never put in Commission for temporal and the reason why they were then admitted was to perswade the People to Conformity not to give sentence against them Thirdly if they conceive in conscience because they have spiritual calling therefore not to meddle in temporal causes then they may refuse it for they are never desired nor put in Commission but at their own suit so then they may either refuse or be allowed as their desires affect His third Case thus Whether a Bishop without calling a Synod have power as Diocesian to convict an Heretick And so he maintained he could not His Reason thus That albeit by the bloudy Statute of 2 Henry 4. some supposed grounds may be raised for maintenance of that authority yet it is not full and besides which is the main reason the Commons did not assent to the making of that Law for he had searched the Records and found that Act onely past by consent of the Lords Spiritual and Tempâ—ral and the Commons never mentioned therein Some other Matters he held in point of Law and had he gone forward he would have delivered his opinion both of the High Commission and Prohibition as is conceived but he was commanded silence and within two Days after he repaired to the Lord Keeper carrying with him the Heads of Argument which the Lord Keeper said was good Law but not seasonably delivered And told him that as he was prohibited by the King from his Reading so he must be set at liberty again by his Majesty and advised him to move the Archbishop of Canterbury for his Proceeding After the Reader had been twice at Lambeth without admittance the third time he spake with the Arch-bishop there who told him he had fallen upon an unfit subject and in an unseasonable time and that it would stick closer to him than he was aware of He answered that he had not done it of any evil intentions neither had he taken this resolution of late time but that above two years ago when he knew he must now perform the Exercise he then made choice of that Statute and untill within these twelve Moneths he never heard of any opposition against the Prelacy and thinking the same that was moved against them in another Kingdom nothing concerned this therefore he conceived no offence would have been taken by it and for him to have altered the frame of his Reading specially before this time he should have disappointed the House and wronged himself in his studies Profession and Practice in regard he would not have been able in so short a time to have performed so great a Task as that was His Lordship answered that perhaps he had been better have given it quite over at the first than to suffer that by it which he was like to do The Reader replied that what he had delivered was good Law and he was able to maintain it and would stand by it and hoped he needed not fear any mans power in regard his cause was lawfull and warrantable but he humbly desired his Majesties leave to finish what he had begun He was answered that his Majesty had otherwise resolved of it This Reader went out of Town on Friday the sixth of March accompanied with fourty or fifty Horsmen in very good credit and applause of the House in which he is a Member to this instant time The Scots Commissioners lately here having done their arrand and thereby settled a resolution in this State to have a narrower search into their national actions returned home to Edinburgh that same night the nineteenth of November that a great part of the Castle wall fell to the ground with the Canons mounted as if undermined and to be surprized by an Enemy which so dayly they supposed was done by design of treachery to them who were all Traytors themselves But recovering their fears and Jealousie this time was calculated to be the just Anniversary of the Kings birth day the nineteenth of November 1600. just thirty nine years since and so they turned the accident to an ominous presage of the ruines of the Kings design now in hand against their Idol Covenant yet the more subtiler sort made a better use and more politique for the King having commanded the Lord Estrich Colonel Ruther and the commander of the Castle to order the reedifying the Covenanters withstood those appointed not permitting any materials to be carried in for repaire this was the highest in dignity and signified their resolution not to be mastered To which the King gave suddain apprehension concluding upon force to bring them to obedience And therefore he drawes out a select choyce of his Council into the Cabinet for the Scotish affaires and indeed directly to cashier such the most especially as were light headed and as the Arch Bishop is said to nickname them Hunting Lords
horse of the Lord Ormonds Troop made their way through without loss of a man A great loss to us and a greater gain to the Rebells of Ammunition and monies and now it appeared plain who were the Enemies in the Pale heretofore Neuters The Governour of Drogheda upon our Scouts intelligence issued out with 600. foot and two Troopes of horse but came too late and now it became certain that whilst the Commissioners were in the Treaty at the Town they themselves were of this Plot. Not long after the Enemy took another advantage The Master of a Chester Bark corrupted by some Popish Merchants abroad he run her on ground at the Skerms in faire weather riâ—â—ing the English Passengers of store of money and fraughted with powder and Ammunition designed for Dublin At the which Landing of the English the Lord Netherfield as in favour to them sent them to Dublin assuring them that he would take Tredagh the next morning which was believed at Dublin before the Account and evermore in these surprisals the Enemy would boast of the special hand of Gods providence in their successes and likelyhood to deliver the Kingdom unto Catholiques The Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale being secretly the first contrivers of the Rebellion and had now drawn the Rebells down from the North into the Pale and that presently after the defeat of the English at Gelianston bridge the Lord Germanston a secret conspiratour summons the County at Dulick and after to the Hill of Crofty to the number of 1000. persons to whom came divers of the chief Leaders of the Northern Rebells where they are associated to live and die in their quarrel And a week after the like summons was to all the Lords and Gentry of the County of Meath to meet at the Hill of Taragh where multitudes assembled And now by reason the Northern Rebells had setled their Camp within the River of Boyne besieging Tredagh between that and the City of Dublin and all entercourse of the Pale interrupted the passages stopt so that the State were ignorant of what passed there They therefore called a grand Council of the Lords within distance of Dublin and so Letters were posted to them in effect That the State had present occasion to confer with them concerning the present estate of the Kingdom and the safety thereof And pray and require to his Lordship to be at Dublin the eight day of this Moneth at which time others of the Peers will be here From his Majesties Castle of Dublin the third of December 1641. To our very good Lord Georg Earl of Kildare Your very loving friends William Parsons John Buclaâ—r c. And the same day to other several persons who near about that time had made the publick Combination with the Ulster Rebells And there they frame their General answer thus in effect May it please your Lordship We have heretofore presented our selves and freely offered our advice and furtherance which was by you neglected c. Having received advertisement that Sir Charls Coot had uttered at the Council-board some speeches tending to execute upon these of our Religion a general Massacre by which wee are deterred to wait on your Lordships not having security for the safety of our lives but rather to stand upon our Guard till we shall be secured from perills Nevertheless we all protest to continue faithfull advisers and furtherers of his Majesties service concerning the present state of this Kingdome and the safety thereof Your Lordships humble servants Fingale Germaston Slame Dunsany Netervile Oliver Lowth Trimbleston Dec. 7. 1641. To this Letter the State gives answer by Proclamation with all satisfaction to the Lords to remove all misunderstandings and clear Sir Charls Coot from any such pretended speeches or any intention thereto and pray the Lords to attend the Board on the seventeenth day after But not prevailing Netervile and others of the Pale gather forces and quarter at Swores within six miles of Dublin and there encamped To whom the State send theiâ— warrant Immediately upon sight hereof to disband and separate and that Netervile and six other principal persons amongst them do appear to morrow morning at ten a Clock before the Council upon their utmost perills  Ormond Ossery c. Dec. 9. 1641. To which they answer That for the safety of their lives they were constrained to meet and resolve so to continue till they might be assured of their lives Hereupon by publique Proclamation the Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General of the Army hath warrant to suppress them and to bring up such shipping and vessels to the new Crane at Dublin and to destroy the rest the fourteenth of December The Rebels now declare Germanston general of their forces in the Pale Hugh Birne Lieutenant General and the Earl of Fingale General of their Horse and several Commissions to raise forces and in a very seemly order and proportion frame an Army with all manner of provisions accordingly The sad condition of Ireland was very often recommended to the King and Parliament of England with a proposition 10000. Scots to be sent over from Scotland with Letters met the King at his return from thence to London And Commissioners out of Scotland arrived at London to treat with the Parliament therein they make offer of 10000. men provided to receive forth an advance of 30000. l. of brotherly assistance to be afforded them by the Kingdom of England to have shipping for their transport and upon Landing in Ireland to have 100 horse joyn with each 1000 foot but to receive order and to obey their Scotish General which was condescended unto and great hopes of the effeâ—ts specially that the Parliament was so very often urged thereto by his Majesties several speeches as that of the fourteenth of December 1641. More he could not say or offer to do in person therein But ah alas all was delaied and nothing performed for the Parliament was more busied to quarrel their priviledges with the King and the house of Commons utterly refused to send any English Forces which the Lords proposed to be 1000. Foot so that Dublin began to be nearly distressed All the provinces of Munster likewise in rebellion The State therefore again send over Letters into England That the Rebells were formidable 20000 in a Body besides several other Brigadoes in divers Counties and complain that of the 20000. l. lately sent to them they received but 16000. But in fine the last of December arrives Sir Simon Harcourt with his Regiment out of England Tredagh was now beset on all sides by Sea and Land all ways of entercourse to Dublin stopped divers designs were devised for conveyance of intelligence thither And now upon this grand confedaracy of Meath and Lowth they style themselves the Catholique Army The Town increased their Fortifications Breast works before each Gate Platforms in convenient places where the walls were defective centinels put to their stands Ordnances mounted abundance
Aug. 16. Upon these grounds The Parliament of England take resolution and declare their approbation and thanks to the secret Council and Assemblie in Scotland for their desires of unitie in Religion and uniformitie in Church-government in the three Kingdoms we having say they often had that matter in debate concurring in judgment and experience of the manifold mischiefs which the Government of the Prelacie hath in all times and ages produced in this Church and State and so we hope to satisfie the Christian desires of our dear Brethren of Scotland although we know that hereby we shall exceedingly irritate that malignant partie who will bend all their forces to ruine that holy work and to ruine and destroy us in the undertaking being the very same partie which hath now incensed and armed his Majestie against us The very same Design of rooting out Reformed Religion endeavoured to begin that Tragedie in Scotland which being perfected in one Nation will be accomplished in the other Religion is the band and safetie of both And as we resolve by the national Covenant betwixt the two Kingdoms to be carefull of Scotland so we doubt not but the secret Council and Assemblie there will be always ready to express their brotherly kindness to us according to the Articles ratiâ—ied between both Parliaments and advantagious to all the professours of the Reformed Religion in Christendom And so this being the Proeme to their Declaration the Parliament goes on with lamentable sighs and groans from the bowels of their hearts for being obstructed in this piaculous work of true Reformation and after much striving and seeking God wrestling with the Engines of Satan they have jumped in resolution with their Brethren in Scotland that the Prelatical party is the cause of all distraction And being thus backed they take the boldness to declare That this Government by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissioners Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and other Ecclesiastical Officers depending upon the Hierarchie is evil and prejudicial to the state and Government of this Kingdom and resolve the same shall be taken away And according to our Declaration of the seventh of February we will consult with godly Divines to setle a Government of Reformation And intend that a Bill for this Assemblie may be passed for their Meeting the fifth of Novemb. next And desire their dear Brethren of Scotland to concur with them in petitioning the King for his approbation And because nothing will prosper without their handy work they pray them to send some out of their many good â—nd godly Divines of that Kirk to assist our Assemblie for setling of one Confession one Directorie and one Catechism in all three Kingdoms to the relief and deliverance of the poor afflicted Churches abroad and confusion of the tyrannie of Rome being the prime cause and fountain of all calamities bloudy massacres outrages cruelties and bitter persecution of Gods people and saints in all the Christian world for many ages Here is now a resolution to reform all Christendom and beat down Popery in a trice but the result was that under colour of Religion the Design went on and so prospered in outward success And now to encourage the well-affected to lend money and bring their Plate upon Publick Faith which without a mans strong belief could hardly get Customers to come in fearing belike that the Kings gentleness and mercy might agree to an Accommodation having been upon terms of Treaty on his part The Parliament therefore once again to ascertain their Resolution to fight it out to the last man and being confident of success do declare That the Arms which they have been forced to take up and shall take up for the preservation of the Parliament Religion the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom shall not be laid down untill his Majestie shall withdraw his protection from such persons as have been voted by both Houses to be Delinquents and shall leave them to the justice of the Parliament to the end that those great charges and damages wherewith all the Common-wealth hath been burdened since the Kings departure from his Parliament may be born by the Delinquents And all his Majesties good and faithfull Subjects who by loan of moneys or otherwise at their charges have or shall assist the Common-wealth may be repayed and satisfied out of the Delinquents Estates And these Delinquents were sure to be made so out of the noblest and richest persons in the Nation against whom there could be found but the scent of Malignancie so that it became a huge crime first to be rich or able in any condition to be either Neuter or not wel-affected to the Parl. or to be suspected so to prove it a slender Accusation would serve the turn witness sundry persons which we shall have occasion to speak of ruined upon that score onely And first they begin with Iames Lord Strange Son and Heir of William Earl of Derby who to the intent and purpose to subvert the Laws c. did upon the fifteenth of July last past at Manchester in the Countie of Lancaster traiterously summon call together and raise great Forces and did kill murder and destroy Richard Percival a Linnen Webster for which the Parliament impeach him of high Treason And the sixteenth of September he is so published in all Churches and Chapels and Markets in the Counties of Lancaster and Chester and where the Parliament had any power for the County was mostly for the King against which party the City of London are desired to advance sixteen thousand pounds for setting forth ten thousand Dragoons and some Troops of Horse for suppressing that party upon Publick Faith which was soon raised but not repayed The King being at Shrewsburie whither Judg Heath came and advised for the Adjourning part of Michaelmass Term from the first Return In Octab. Sancti Martini Octob. 4. And at Bridg-North he proclames Thomas Nichols Humphrey Mackworth and Thomas Hunt Esq guilty of high Treason active men in the Militia and assisting the Kings Enemies in their Rebellion Octob. 14. The L. Fairfax for the Parl and Mr. Bellases for the King with considerable parties Commissioners on either side had concluded upon certain Articles concerning the peace in Yorkshire and dated the 29. of September To which the Parliament take exception That the Parliament gave no such authoritie to binde that Countie to a Neutralitie it being prejudicial to the whole Kingdom for one Countie to withdraw from the rest which thâ—y are bound by Law to assist It being derogatorie to the power of Parliament for private men to suspend the execution of the Militia and therefore it is ordered that no such Neutralâ—â—â—e be observed in that Countie without any defensive force whereby it will be open to the King to return with his Armie for Winter quarter in that plentifull Countie New-castle near for his Supplies by Sea And so they declare the Lord Faâ—â—fax and his
party not bound to observe the Articles but to assist the Parliament in defence of the common cause Octob. 16. And by this President they afterwards would not endure any new triall Upon this score of the common cause Mr. Iohn Fountain a Lawyer at London was desired whâ—t he would please to lend who answered That it was against the Petition of Right to answer Yea or No. Whereupon the House of Commons for that contempt in not giving his Answer at all committed him to the Gate-house declaring further the imbecillity of his judgment or positive refraction to draw on others to the like Errour And such as refuse their Contribution of money or plate are disarmed and if in the least measure active in words or perswasion against the Parliament have the brand of Malignancie their persons secured and within a little time after made Delinquents and forfeâ—t all And because the Earl of Essex gave a deep yellow for his colours every Citizens Dame to the Draggle-tail of her Kitchin had got up that colour of the cause untill the Earl of Pembroke and Mountgomerie in a fume with a Parliament Captain swore That his Turdcolour'â— Skarf should not excuse him from Commitment But some not affecting that color set up others in disdain to the Generals which increasing to a Faction some urging of a Design to be distinguished by these Ribands the Parl. declare That such persons as shall be seen to wear them for distinction shall be forthwith committed and further proceeded against as Malignants endeavouring to set Divisions among the people In the Generals Commission the fourth Article is printed and published That whosoever shall return from the King to the Parliaments Armie within ten Days after Publication shall have reception and pardon excepting persons impeached of Delinquencie or Treason or have been eminent Actors against the Parliament and except the Earls of Bristol Cumberland New-castle Rivers and Carnarvan Secretarie Nicholas Endimion Porter Mr. Edward Hide the Duke of Richmond Viscount Newark Viscount Falkland now principal Secretarie of State to the King And thus marshalled in this order The King having sent over the Queen out of the danger of these Distractions into Holland and remaining at the Hague she made application to the Prince of Orange to whose Son the Princess Maria was maried by whose interest she had the fairer means to promote the Kings affairs with the States of the United Provinces for Arms and Ammunition which had been procured by the Lord Digby there and some Officers sent over to the Kings Army The Parliament having knowledg hereof send over Mr. Walter Strickland a Member of the House of Commons their Residenciary with Credential Letters to the States thus To the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces High and Mighty Lords We are commanded by the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England to signifie unto your Lordships that they have chosen and appointed the Bearer hereof Walter Strickland Esq to repair to your Lordships and to present to you in their Names and in the Name of the whole Kingdom a Declaration and some Propositions and Desires very much importing the maintenance of the Protestant Religion which is the surest Foundation of the safetie and prosperitie of this Kingdom and your State and the ancient amitie between us to the advantage of both desiring your Lordships to give ear to what shall be delivered or propounded to you by him And to expedite your Answer thereunto in such manner as shall stand with your Wisdoms and the due respect of the common good of the State and of your selves which is the earnest desire of Your affectionate Friends and Servants Mandevil Speaker pro tempore for the Lords House William Lenthal Speaker of the House of Commons A Declaration of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament of England to the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces We the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled taking into serious consideration the meanes of composing the great distempers and combustions begun in this Kingdom which threaten the destruction and ruine of it and of all other Protestant Princes and States have thought good to make this Declaration to the High and Mightie Lords the States of the United Provinces That we under stand by a Letter of the Lord Digby a person fled out of this Kingdom for high Treason That as he often endeavoured by his wicked and malicious counsels to make division between his Majestie and the Parliament and hath been in great part the cause of that miserable and unnatural War which is made against us by his Majestie so he hath laboured by all means in the United Provinces to provide Arms Powder and Ammunition for the fomenting of that War and making it more dangerous to this Kingdom and for this purpose did address himself to the Prince of Orange by whose countenance and help as we are informed by the Lord Digby's own Letters he hath made provision of great quantities of Ordnance Powder Arms and divers other sorts of warlike provision And we are further informed by credible advertisement that the Prince of Orange in favour of the Lord Digby and those other wicked Counsellours and Incendiaries who being joyned together in these mischievous practises against the peace of this Kingdom hath not onely licensed but the better to encourage divers Commanders experienced Officers and Souldiers to resort into this Kingdom in aid of them against the Parliament hath promised to reserve their places for them in their absence and doth cause other provision of the same kinde to be made and prepared to be sent over for their supplie to the great hurt of this Kingdom and the danger of interrupting the most necessarie profitable and long continued amitie between the two States We further desire to let them know that we cannot believe that this is done by any authoritie or direction from their Lordships considering the great help that they have received from this Kingdom when heretofore they lay under the heavie oppression of their Princes and how conducible the friendship of this Nation concurring with the wisdom valour and industrie of their own people hath been to the greatness and power which they now enjoy Neither can we think that they will be forward to help to make us slaves who have been usefull and assistant in making them free-men Or that they will forget that our Troubles and Dangers issue from the same Fountain with their own and that those who are set a work to undermine Religion and Libertie in the Kingdome are the same which by open force did seek to bereave them of both It cannot be unknown to that wise State that it is the Iesuitical Faction here that hath corrupted the counsels of our King the consciences of a greaâ— part of our Clergie which hath plotted so many mischievous Designs to destroy the Parliament and still endeavoureth to divide Ireland from
the Breaches of the State without the Ruines of the Church as I would be a Restorer of the one so I would not be an Oppressor of the other under the pretence of Publick Debts The Occasions contracting them were bad enough but such a discharging of them would be much worse I pray God neither I nor mine may be accessory to either And now dies Mr. Iohn Pym a Member of the House of Commons and a notable stickler for the Parliament he was ever observed to be an high Prebyterian in profession whose subtilty managed the most of their publick affair and ended his days when he had wrangled for the Mastery and left all in great doubt which party might overcome not without some regret and repentance they say that these Differences which he hatched should prove so desperate as he now too late fore saw would undo this Nation In the midst of May it was that Colonel Nath Fines Governour of the City of Bristol had discovered a Plot of the Inhabitants to betray the Town which after much Examination lighted upon Robert Yeomans and George Bourchier who had secretly provided themselves of Arms intending to kill the Centinels by night and possess the Main Guard whereby to master the greatest part of the other side within the Town to kill the Mayor and many others affected to the Parliament and by that means to betray the City to the Kings Forces which should lodg near hand for that purpose two miles off but the Plot pretended was discovered and those men condemned by a Council of War to be hanged This was known at Oxford whereupon the Kings Lord Lieut. of all his Forces the Lord Ruthen lately made Earl of Forth writes to the Governour of Bristol I having been informed that lately at a Council of War you have condemned to death Robert Yeomans late Sheriff of Bristol who hath his Majesties Commission for raising a Regiment for his Service William Yeomans his Brother George Bourchier and Edward Dacres all for expressing their loyalty to his Majesty and endeavouring his Service according to their Allegeance do therefore signifie to you that I intend speedily to put Mr. George Mr. Stevens Captain Huntley and others taken in Rebellion at Cirencester into the same condition I do further advise you that if you offer by that unjust Iudgment to execute any of them that those here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie At Oxford May 16. 1643. To the Commander in chief of the Council of War in Bristol Forth The Answer comes from the Governour Colonel Nathaniel Fines and the Council of War at Bristol in effect That if you shall not make distinction between Souldiers of Arms and secret Spies and Conspirators we will not onely proceed against them but others and if by any inhumane and unsouldierlike Sentence you shall execute those persons you named then Sir Walter Pye Sir William Crofts and Colonel Connesby and others whom we have here in custodie must expect no favour or mercie May 18. 1643. Nath. Fines President c. To Patrick Earl of Forth Lord Lieutenant General And so notwithstanding the Kings Letter also to the Mayor and Citizens in their behalf Yeomans and Bourchier were hanged May 30. There was a Plot discovered at London the last of May against the Cities of London and Westminster and by consequence the whole Parliament the chief of the Conspiracy were Mr. Waller a Member of the House of Commons Mr. Tomkins his Brother in Law and lately Clerk of the Queens Council Mr. Chaloner Mr. Hasel Mr. Blinkhorn Mr. White and others As for the Plot we have ravelled into the search of the truth but must take it from the Parliaments Declaration That they should seize into their custodie the Kings Children some Members of the Parliament the Lord Mayor and Committee of Militia all the Cities Out-works and Forts the Tower of London and all the Magazines Then to let in the Kings Forces to surprize the Citie and destroy all Opposers and to resist all payments of Taxes And much heartened they were by a Commission of Array sent from Oxford at that time and brought secretly by the Lady Aubigne Daughter to the Earl of Suffolk Widow of the late Lord Aubigne wounded at Edg-hill and died at Oxford the thirteenth of Ianuary This Commission was directed to Sir Nicholas Crisp and divers others This Plot was discovered the last of May. They were arreigned in publick at Guild-hall and all those four named condemned onely Tomkins and Chaloner executed the first 〈…〉 Door in Holborn the other in Corn-hill but the chief Conspirator Waller was by General Essex reprieved imprisoned a twelve-moneth in the Tower and after for a Fine of ten thousand pounds pardoned and for shame sent to travel into France The reason is much studied for satisfying the World why he the chief Actor the other but brought in by the by should receive such partial Justice because he was ingenious and confessed all and Mr. Pym had engaged his promise for his Life but certainly the most evident Reason is very apparent his great Sum of Money paid down and belike his ample confession of the particulars which the other at their death did not acknowledg Iuly 5. The Parliament having been put to it in want of the great Seal of England now at Oxford for confirmation of their Acts and Ordinances it had been oftentimes disputed and committed the making of another Seal for the use of the Parliament yet deferred the times not â—itted for so great a business the renewing of the Treaty being offered at on both sides But now the Parliament pass four Votes 1. That it is necessary the Great Seal to attend the Houses 2. That there hath been a failer of it at this Parliament 3. Much prejudice to the King Parliament and Kingdom 4. That the Houses ought to provide a Remedie thereof for the time to come Afterwards they made an Order That if the Lord Keeper Littleton upon Summons did not return with the great Seal within fourteen days he should lose his Place and whatever should be sealed therewith by him after that time should be null and vacate in Law A worthy Member desired the Serjeant at Law that ordered the Ordinance not to wade too far in the business before he did consult the Statute of 25 Edward 3. where Counterfeiting the Great Seal is declared high Treason To which the Serjeant replied That he purposed not to counterfeit the old Seal but to make a new Indeed the Parliament being the highest Court and Council had shewn their legislative power by passing Ordinances without the Kings assent to binde the Subject in the exercise of the Militia and that there wanted nothing but the executive part with a Great Seal for the administring justice in all Courts of Law and Equity which would sufficiently declare their power in all necessary Incidents of that supreme Council That since inferiour Courts had their proper Seals the
their affairs and was resolved to be relieved the recruit of the Parliaments Army was too slow for the service the London trained bands must do the deed and shop-windows must be shut up and trading suspended the expedition cried up out of every Pulpit and an Army was raised in an instant and upon their March Against whom Prince Rupert is sent from the siege at Glocester to retard their speed untill the King might rise and be gon which was upon the fifth of September and the Rear guard had fired their huts The Earl of Essex came to the brow of the Hills seven miles from the City and gave his warning piece but the Town had no minde to hinder the King being glad of his departing when all his indeavours were now prepared ready for a storm the besieged in want their Amunition consumed to three Barrels of powder but the Towns loss of men were not many not one hundred say they and two or three Officers Captain Harcus and his Ensign the King lost many more and especialy his precious time to no purpose had he waved Glocester and Marched to London directly whilst the Parliament had no Army in the Field London full of discontent and disorder and their actions of Council unresolved The Kings Northern Army under the Earl of Newcastle there also prevailing but it was his fate to be overtaken with this idle siege Sir Nicholas Crisp One of the Farmers of the Kings Customs of England had a high command also both in the Army by Land and afterwards in the Navy by Sea He being Colonel of a Regiment of Horse and his first service took the charge of Convoy of the train of Artillery sent from Oxford to the siege of Glocester and brought it in safety to the Kings Camp and there very much esteemed He was quartered in Rouslidge near Glocester at a Knights house where finding Sir Iames Enyon and other Gentlemen of no Command in the Army and had taken up so much of the house as was Incommode to the Colonel yet he continued then there with much civility Not long it was that the Guests had some horses missing out of the Pastures and so charged upon default the Colonels Souldiers and indeed very ruffly demanding the accompt from the Colonel himself who promised indeavours to finde them out buâ— refused to draw out his Regiment for that purpose onely to satisfie Sir Iames who urged it for his friend himself no otherwise concerned But being a person of eminency and of a Spirit answerable impatient of any delay or orderly proceedings departs and sends a Gentleman with this summon to Sir Nicholas Crisp to meet him with his sword in a field near the Quarters and with this express addition That if he did refuse upon any pretence he would pistoll him against the wall Upon which sharp and suddain summons of an hours warning the Colonel accompanied with a Gentleman findes Sir Iames at the place with him that brought the challenge and as it became a Christian desired to understand the true reason of the meeting professing that his Duty to the King in the charge he had there of present service might justifie his refusal to fight Yet he told him he was come to give him all satisfaction first as a Christian if he had done him Injury of which he professed ignorance Sir Iames shortly replied He came thither to receive no other satisfaction but by the sword which instantly he drew out and as soon so don by the other whose fortune was at an encounter to give a pass that pierced Sir Iames about the rim of the belly of which he was caried off to the same house in eminent danger But whilst he had life and memory the Colonel gave him a visit beseeching him to put by all passions and receive him infinitely afflicted at this misfortune unwillingly provoked to this mischief and so with Christian reconciliation they parted and he died two daies after Hereupon a legal trial was offered for any complainant to prosecute the matter And after some time on Munday the second of October a Council of war being set thereupon gave their opinion and sentence thus In the cause depending against Sir Nicholas Crisp Knight concerning the death of Sir James Enyon Knight slain by him in a Duel in September last The Court being informed that an Affixer was duly set up upon the Court house door according to their Order of the eight and tewentieth of September last and the affixer afterwards taken down and brought into the Court and Proclamation being made and no man appearing against him according to the Affixer yet upon examination of all the matter and difference between them and that the friends of the slain taking notice thereof The Court proceeded to sentence That although the Court doth condemn all manner of Duels and utterly disallow them yet in this particular case of Sir Nicholas Crisp in consideration of the great injury he received in his own Quarter and how much he was provoked and challenged the Court hath thought fit to acquit him from any punishment in this Court and doth leave and recommend him to his Majesties mercy for his gracious pardon the second of October 1643. Forth Lord Lieutenant general and President Dorset Bristol Northampton Andover Dunsmore Jacob Astley Arthur Aston William Brumchard John Byron Who all reported to the King the whole matter and brought him to kiss his hand and received a Pardon under the great feal of England and to confirm him in the Kings affection He had a Commission to be Admiral of a Fleet at Sea set out by himself and was undon for his Masters service The solemn League by Oath and Covenant being ordered to be sworn unto by all and divers consciencious persons excepting against the same and refusing were therefore committed and sequestred to their utter undoing Amongst many Doctor Featly that excellent and learned Divine and Minister at Lambeth had given by Letter to the Lord Arch-Bishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland an accompt of his demeanour in this business of the Scotish Covenant and was therefore committed to the prison in the Lord Peters house in Aldersgate Street as many other noble houses turned into Jayles both his livings given away and his books bestowed upon White of Dorchester It was the Doctors reasons that raised all this stir He first excepted against these words We will indeavour the true reformedâ— Protestant Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Discipline worship and Government according to the word of God These words said the Doctor imply that the Worship Discipline and Government of the Church of Scotland is according to the word of God which said he is more than I dare subscribe unto much less confirm by an Oath for first I am not perswaded that any Plat form of Government in each particular circumstance is Jure Divino Secondly admit some were yet I doubt whether the Scots Presbytery be
for the Spaniard Cockram's Instructions to the King of Denmark Annâ— 1644. 〈…〉 Sir W. Waller 's Commission The Scots are caressed Fight at Braâ—dean Heath Essex's Army recruited Tax of weekly Meals Bewdley taken Fairfax in the North. Parliaments Army hastened The Parliament assembled at Oxford proroguâ—d Parliament at Westminster write to the Parliament in Scotland Anno 1643. The Queen journeys to the West and so to France The Kings Protestation aâ— the Sacrament of the Eucharist Swansey summoned Anno 1644. Siege at Latham House from Aâ—ril 17 raised May 27. The Lady Winter summoned to yield Her Answer Malmsbury taken The Kings design to march from Oxford Essex and Waller divide Forces Waller to catch the King Waller defeated at Copredy Bridge General Essex defeated in Cornwal Anno 1643. Anno 1644. The King returns to Oxford The Kings Letter to the Earl of Essex The Lords Letters to Essex Another from Tavestock Holland Ambassadours have audience for Peace York relieved by P. Rupert York surrendered to the Parliament Dennington Castle assaulted by the Parliaments Forces A second Attempt upon the Castle Church Reformation Princess Henretta Maria born at Exceter Iune 16. Ambassadours mediatours for Peace A Letter from beyond Seas to a member at Westminster The Kings Letter to the Parliament for a Peacâ— Upon the Victory against Essex's Army in Cornwal Banbury stormed by the Parliament and repulsed Earl of Northampton defeats the Besiegers Massey meets Myns design Grâ—y and Hammond fall out Myn de feated and slain Prince Rupert near Bristol Ast Ferry Fight Lieutenant Col. Kirle betrays Monmouth to Massey Military affairs in Monmouthshire Fight on the East side of Spine Earl of Cleveland commended Fight near Shaw Monmouth surprized and how Sir Iac. Astley at Cirencester Sentenced to death Captain Hotham arraigned Hothams Letter to the Earl of Newcastle Eikon Bas. cap. 8. p. 46. A new Government of the Church voted Eikon Bas. Cap. 16. Parliaments Propositions for Peace Directions to Ormond to make peace with the Rebels in Ireland Memorials for Secretary Nicholas at the Treaty Directions to the Kings Commissioners to treat Treaty at Uxbridge The Kings Commissioners offers concerning Religion Ireland Observations concerning the Treaty Anno 1644. Upon Uxbridg Treaty and other the Kings offers Eikon Bas. Chap. 18. Irish Rebels Macquire and Mac-Mahone Executed The design of new modelling the Army Newcastle siege Newcastle surrendred The siege of Basing House Basing relieved the 12 of Sept. The Besiegers rise from Basing Arch-Bishop of Canterbury arraigned Acts 6. 12. Acts 12. 3. Isa. 1. 15. Psal. 9. 12. Heb. 12. His Prayer at the Block Colonel Stephens surprizing was surprized The Cavaliers prevail Price Rupert in Wales with additional Forces Military affairs in Scotland Montrose spoils the Mâ—neses Dâ—feat at Aberdinc Fight at Favy Montrose in Arguile divastates all Arguile defeated A Design for the Duke of Lorain's assistance to the King The reason of the Danish War Anno 1645. General Fairfax his Commission Peace with the Swedes Shrewsbury betrayed to the Parliaments Forces Anno 1645. The Earls of Essex Manchester and Denbigh surrender their Commissions A Paper delivered to the Lord by the Earl of Essex together with his Commission Declaration in behalf of these Generals Grand Ordinance to disable Members from Offices and Commands Both Armies how disposed Blackington delivered to the Parliament Colonel Windebank shot to death Taunton besieged by the Kings Forces Taunton relieved for the present and again besieged State Ambassadours take leave Sir Iohn Winter recruited Lidbury fight A Protestation of Loyalty to the King Leicester taken by the King Naseby Fight Their Order The Kings Letters taken and divulged Upon his Majesties Letters taken and divulged Eikon Bas. ch 21. And his Declaration Leicester Surrendered upon Articles to the Parliament Prince Elector arrested for debt at the City feast Oxford straitned Carlisle surrendered Club-men are up Club-men treat with Fairfax His Answer Club-men's mis-rule Goring and Fairfax fight at Sutton Field Goring goes Westward Fairfax to Bridgwater Bridgwater bravely defended Bridgwater bravely defended at last surrendered Scarborough Castle delivered to the Parliament Bath rendered to Fairfax Siege of Hereford by the Scots raised by the King Summons Answers The King raises the Siege The Scots in discontent Sherburn taken by storm Club-men surprized by Cromwel Huntington taken by the King The King comes to Wales Fight at Bauton Heath Bristol besieged by Fairfax and Cromwel Cromwels Letter from Bristol to the Speaker He takes the Devizes And Winchester His Letter A Ranting Commander Basing taken by storm The wealth of Basing The Kings condition His Forces defeated at Sherburn in Yorkshire Digbie's Letters taken concerning Ireland The Kings Officers quarrâ—l Commanders quit their Commissions Belvoir surrendred to the Parliament Latham House rendred to the Parliament Hereford surprized for the Parliament Of treachery or Corruptions Qualifications concerning Delinquents Prince Charles desires conduct for two Lords to treat about a peace Fairfax's Answer The Princes Reply The Kings Letter to the Parliamentâ— for a conduct for persons to treat The Parliaments answer The Parliaments Answer to the Kings former Letters Anno. 1645. Fasting and Prayer at Oxford Irish Letters Intercepted The Kings Commission to the Barl of Glamorgan Message about Ireland and personal Treaty Arch-Bishop of York his letter to the Lord Ashley Digby's letter Glamorgans letter to the King out of Ireland Westchester besieged and surrendered Court of Wards and Liveries voted down Lilburn petitions for justice Dartmouth besieged and surrendred to the Parliament Exeter summoned Hopton defeated at Torrington Lamiston quitted Hopton agrees to disband Eikon Bas. pa. 17. 2. His expedition to Dundâ—e Aldern Battel Kilsithe famous Battel Foreign Affairs Prisoners of note Anno. 1646. The Prince of Wales invited to the Parliament The King at Oxâ—ord in distress Lord Ashley defeated totally The King desires to come to his Parliament He is answered negatively Cavaliers to depart the City Court Martial and their Articles Misery of the Cavalier The Brass Tomb of Windsor sold. Garisons surrendred Exeter surrendred Garisons rendred up to the Parliament Williams Arch-bishop of York turnned Souldier against the King Dudley Castle surrendred Oxford City besieged the second time Instructions to treat Oxford surrendred upon Articles Prince Elector visits his Brothers The Kings Seal of State broken The Duke of York brought to London Princess Henretta conveyed into France Sir Richard Onslow complains of Withers Newark siege and surrender of it First summons Second summons Banbury Castle surrendered and Carnarvan Ragland Castle besieged The King escapes out of Oxford And arrives at the Scots Army before Newark The Kings Letter to Ormond of his intention to go to the Scots Army Order to dispose of the King Levens Letter concerning the King The Kings Message to the Parliament from Southwel Votes to dispose of the King Eikon Bas. chap. 21. The Prince invited again to the Parliament The King enters into Newcastle The Scots Army voted to be gone