Parliament John Lilburn demands Protection is denied and remitted to the Law The state of Affairs in Scotland The state of Affairs in Ireland An admirable effect of his Highness Prudence and Justice Continuance of the Dutch Affairs Holland Commissioners sent over to treat A notable fight between the Dutch and English during the Treaty The Fight renewed The Dutch Admiral Van-Trump slain The Dutch put to flight The weakness of the new Parliament A motion to dissolve the Parliament The Parliament ment dissolved December 12 1653. The Lord General Cromwel chosen and sworn Lord Protector The Protector Sworn to the ensuing Articles The Lord Protector proclaimed Sir Thomas Viner Knighted A Conspiracy discovered Addresses to his Highness from all parts The Scots frame an Army The Scots defeated by Collonel Morgan Peace with Holland concluded and proclaimed The Affairs of Ireland settled A second conspiracy Mr. Vowel Hanged Mr. Gerrard Beheaded The Portugal Ambassadors Brother Beheaded The Scotch Highlanders rise in Armes General Middleton defeated by General Monk A Parliament assembly September 3. 1654. Parliament dâ—â—â—â—ved January 10. 1655. Several Conspiracies discovered A Rising at Salisbury A Rising in Shropshire A Rising in Montgomery A Rising in Nottinghamshire A Rising framing in Northumberland A rising in York-shire Wagstaff defeated and Penruddock and others executed Royalists sent toforreign Plantations The Insurrections all dissipated A Spanish Ambassador sent over to his Highness Motives inducing his late Highness to a Breach with Spain The Hispaniola expeâ—â—ion Jamaica attempted and carried General Blake demads satisfaction for wrongs sustained General Blake attempts the Turks fortresses and navy A fourth conspiracy suspected A Relief sent to Jamaica in twelve ships General Pen returns to England General Venables also returned Treaty and Peace with Sweden Major Generals constituted France seeks his Highness to perfect a Peace Reasons inducing his late Highness rather to condescend to an alliance with France then Spain A Peace with France Concluded and Proclaimed The defence and good success at Jamaica General Mountegue his victory over the Spaniards at Sea General Blakes destroying the Spanish Fleet at the Canaries May. 4. 1657. The English joyn with the French in Flanders under Sir John Reynolds His Highness Installment in the Protectorship Mardike taken by the English and French The Spaniards repulst at Mardike General Blake dyes in sight of Plimouth The Spaniards repulse again from before Mardike St. Venaut taken by the English The Lord Henry Cromwel made deputy of Ireland Sir John Reynolds and others drowned The Parliament dissolved Febr. 4. 1657 8 The City Militia settled again by his late Highness A Conspiracy discovered A high Court of Justice erected The Plot prevented Several Conspirators taken and sentenced some condemned others pardoned A Whale cast up in the Thames Dunkirk besieged by the English and French The Spaniards attempt to relieve Dunkirk The Spaniard beaten by the English and French Dunkirk taken and possessed by the English The Lady Cleypolls death Graveling taken by the French Mr. E. Waller The remarkable passages which happened on the like dayes in his Highness life His late Highness Corps removed to Somerset-House The manner of his Highness lying in State His late Highness standing in State The Funeral Solemnities performed at his late Highness's Interment The several distinctions observed in the Funeral Solemnities See History and Policy reviewed An example of gratitude and generosity in the Lord Tho. Cromwell The Lord Tho. Cromwels Seed Destiny and end How the Name of Williams came to be changed into that of Cromwell His late Highness descent An example of his late Highness gratitude See History and Police reviewed See History and Policy reviewed Which you may see in two Books viz. Teats of the Indies and the other America Painted to the life
The Most excellent Oliver Cromwell Lord Gen ll of Greate Brittay Chancellor of the Vniversity of Oxford L d Cheife Gover r of Ireland ☜ Claude lib de laud Stil Similem Quae protulit Aelus Consilio vel Marle VIRUM THE HISTORY OF THE Life and Death Of His most Serene Highness O LIVER Late Lord Protector Wherein from his Cradle to his Tomb are impartially transmitted to Posterity the most weighty Transactions Forreign or Domestique that have happened in his Time either in Matters of Law Proceedings in Parliaments or other Affairs in Church or State By S. Carrington Pax quaeritur Bello London Printed for Nath. Brook at the Sign of the Angel in Cornhill 1659. FUIMUS The Right honble Charles Viscount Bruce of Ampthill â—en â— Heir Apparent of Thomas Earl of â—â—â—â—bury Baron Bruce of Whorleton To His most SERENE HIGHNESS RICHARD Lord PROTECTOR OF THE Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging May it please Your Highness AS nothing can be presented to the Potentates of the World of greater value then the Labours of Famous Historiographers who describe to the life the Examples of such Eminent Personages as were transcendent in preceding Ages and may in their Successours beget both Emulation and Experience so shall I not need to apprehend that this History which in all humility I present unto Your Highness will prove unacceptable since therein You may encounter with such a Model of all kinde of Vertues and Perfections as I hope may take a deeper impression in Your Highnesses Breast in regard that it will be found that Art herein is seconded by Nature And whereas I am under the lash of a severe Castigation for my presumption in profering this History to Your Review as I acknowledge when I seriously consider how You have attracted to Your Self that lively Pourtraiture of his Great Soul that You appear the true Embleme both of his Vertues and Majesty May it please Your most Serene Highness I cannot chuse but address this present Oblation as to Your Self so in other Languages to the rest of the Princes and Potentates of the Earth I bequeath it unto posterity very humbly craving the favourable Protection of Your Highnesses Patronage Nor durst I publish so glorious a Work to the World before I had craved Your Highnesses pardon for my Rashness in adventuring to trace those Vigorous Lineaments in the Alexander whom Your Highness so well resembleth and in whom your Highness beareth so great a part Moreover as a sole Apelles could onely be capable of so great an Enterprize so it will be altogether unnecessary for me to endeavour the Description of that Pourtraiture which so evidently is manifested to all the World both in Your Highnesses Person and Actions Wherefore my Lord I must needs confess that Your Highness is the true Original and mine onely relating to the Out-side of so Great and unalterable an Albionist The truth is I finde not in my self ability to express the Real Worth of His Accomplishments and Hardy Features accompanied with that Vivacity and Lustre which secret Mystery lyeth onely in the Hand of that great Master of Nature and Extant in that very Personage whose Simile is hardly this Day to be found in the whole Vniverse except in Your Inimitable Self Nor doth Art or Humane frailty allow so much to be in the Possession of the best men Therefore those who go about to Pourtraict such like Incomparable Personages cannot avoid one of those extremities which Painters run into when they go about to represent the Sun who either place themselves at so great a distance as that they can onely discover an ineffications and feeble Reflections of its Beams or approach so neer unto it as that being dazled with its Resplendency and overcome with its Heat they are bereaved of their Senses and retain onely their Hearts at liberty to adore and admire that powerful Hand which formed so glorious a Creature To the like Non plus am I reduced who rashly ascend to the very summit of the Throne of Honour thence to contemplate his late Highness Person surrounded by so glorious a Resplendency as no eyes are able to behold nor to be comprehended by the mindes of men so that I must needs sink under the burthen and content my self with the Poets Expression Inopem me copia fecit In which extasie all my Senses being surprized my Heart is onely left free to admire and my Tongue to plead Excuses and offer up good Wishes which I most humbly Dedicate and Devote unto Your most Serene Highness Nor could the Heavens have ever established a more fitting Personage to bear a share in or inclination unto this Work then Your Highness as well as to defend it from Envy it self And if so be History be a second Life Your Highness may judge by the black Attempts which threatned Your Glorious Father how this Work will be assailed and how many Enemies its Authour must resolve to enter into the Lists withall their Rage being thereby renewed and augmented by their perceiving that the Tomb hath onely bereaved us of the least part of this Great Heroe And how malicious soever their Envy may appear in such Stories which possibly may be written in Contradiction hereof it will onely publish from Truth it self to the World their inveterate Spleen which can never pierce through the bright Rayes of his Innocent and Glorious Actions Moreover whereas the Divine Providence hath so often and miraculously preserved the first life of his late Highness against the Attempts both of men and monsters Your most Serene Highness is also engaged as well by Imitation as by the Interest of Your Care and Royal Dignity to watch over the Preservation of his second Life which is in Your Highness by so Lawful a Succession as is devolved upon Your Self The Glorious Course whereof I resolve to trace from this very moment that I may the better publish the Illustrious Transactions thereof in five other Languages which during my Travels I have acquired In which also I intend to publish this present History the French being already perfected and fit for the Press His great Soul expecting proportionable Honours to its Dignity and his vaste Minde requiring number less Elegies which may remain as so many living Monuments not to be defaced by Times Violence nor Envy But I press this Subject too home to Your Highness since You bear so great a share therein and my self dare attribute so little of it to my own incapacity of compassing so great an undertaking Wherefore I shall onely hereby endeavour to attract others and to shew them the Borders and Coast of that vaste Sea into which they ought to lanch so that like to a Forelorn Hope I shall onely first mount the Breach and by diverse Languages animate all the Trumpets of Fame to Celebrate the Glory of his late Highness in those parts of the World where I have conversed for
the Spirit hath no other relief but that of Grace and Reason This his preservation was also an effect of his Prayers which he had chosen with a great deal of prudence out of the holy Writs He caused one of his Gentlemen often to read the tenth Chapter of Matthew's Gospel and twice a day himself rehearsed the 71. Psalm of David which hath so near a relation to his Fortune and to his Affairs as that one would believe it had been a Prophesie purposely dictated by the holy Ghost for him or else that this great Personage was a Mortal Figure of that great Favourite of God who hath done so many marvellous things with such slender beginnings passing through so many obstacles difficulties and dangers so likewise was it very just that he should enter into the eternal Rest on the like day wherein he had undergone such great and glorious Labours and Dangers and that he should triumph over Death even in his weakness at the like time wherein he had overcome her at her fullest strength and greatest advantages This conformity happened unto him as well as to several other great Personages of the Earth but by such observable and reiterated notable actions as that it is void of all doubt but the Heavens had foretold by the Stars which are the Looking-glasses and Rule of all famous Mens Lives the Events of our glorious Protectors successes To instance in some Alexander the Great was born on the sixth day of April on the like day the famous Temple of Diana at Ephesus was burnt presaging that fire which this Conqueror should kindle in Asia On a sixth day of April he overcame Darius King of Persia in a Battle and on the like day he departed this life whereunto there may be added that his Birth was preceded by a famous Victory which the Greeks his Subjects obtained on a sixth day of April against the Persians hard by Plutea and by a Naval Combat which also happened the same day So likewise Pompey was born and triumphed on a like day to wit the thirtieth of the Moneth of September Charles the Fifth the Emperour had also such like observable Encounters he was born on a twenty fourth of February and being twenty four years old on the like day he obtained a great Victory in which a great King was taken prisoner And on a twenty fourth day of February he was crowned Emperour by the Pope But not to look any further then our own Countrey and into our own Histories It is observed that his late Highness our present Lord Protector Richard was Installed in his Protectorship on the like day being a third day of September when as Richard the First that Famous King of England so much spoken of in the Histories by reason of his great Wit Understanding and Resolution began his Reign an accident which cannot choose but promise a most favourable Omen and good Token In like manner his late Highness had more favourable and famous dayes encountring together then any of those foregoing Worthies which we have specified For on a third of September he was confirmed in his Protectorship by the Parliament On a third of September he gained in Scotland that famous Battel of Dunbar On a third of September he gained that great Battel at Worcester And Finally on a third of September his glorious life was Crowned with a peaceable and resolved death in the midst of all his Triumphs in his Palace at White-hall with all the comforts which good hopes could give in his posterity both to his Children and to the Companions of his Fortune The Corps of his late Highness having been Embalmed and wrapped up in a sheet of Lead was on the six and twentieth of September about ten of the Clock at night privately removed from White-hall to Sommerset-house being onely attended by his own Domestick Officers and Servants as the Lord Chamberlain and Comptroller of the Houshold the Gentlemen of the Life-guard the Guard of Halberdiers and divers other Officers and Servants two Heralds of Arms went next before the Corps which was placed in a morning Hearse drawn by six Horses in which manner it was carried to Sommerset-House where it remained for some dayes in private untill things were in a readiness to expose it in State to a publick view which was performed with the following order and Solemnity The first Room at Sommerset-House where the Spectators entred was formerly the Presence Chamber compleatly hung with Black at the upper end whereof was placed a Cloth of State with a Chair of State under the same The second large Room was formerly the Privy Chamber hung with Black with a Cloth and Chair of State under the same The third Room was formerly the Withdrawing Room hung with BlackCloth had a Cloth and Chair of State in it as the former all which three large Rooms were compleatly furnished with Scutcheons of his Highness Arms crowned with the Imperial Crown and at the head of each Cloth of State was fixed a large majestique Scutcheon fairly painted and gilt upon Taffity The fourth Room where both the Corps and the Effigies did lye was compleatly hung with Black Velvet and the Roof was cieled with Velvet and a large Canopy or Cloth of State of black Velvet fringed was plated over the Effigies made to the life in Wax The Effigies it self being apparel'd in a rich suit of uncut Velvet robed in a little Robe of Purple Velvet laced with a rich Gold Lace and furr'd with Ermins upon the Kirtle was the Royal large Robe of the like purple Velvet laced and furred with Ermins with rich strings and tassels of Gold the Kirtle being girt with a rich embroidered Belt wherein was a fair Sword richly gilt and hatch'd with Gold hanging by the side of the Effigies In the right hand was the Golden Scepter representing Government in the left hand the Globe denoting Principality upon the Head a purple Velvet Cap furr'd with Ermins signifying Regality Behinde the Head there was placed a rich Chair of State of tissued Gold and upon the Cushion which lay thereon was placed an Imperial Crown set with precious Stones The Body of the Effigies lay upon a Bed of State covered with a large Pall of black Velvet under which there was spread a fine Holland Sheet upon six stools of tissued Cloth of Gold on the sides of the Bed of State was placed a rich suit of compleat Armour representing his late Highness Command as General at the Feet of the Effigies stood his Crest according to the custom of ancient Monuments The Bed of State whereupon the Effigies did thus lie was ascended unto by two steps covered with the aforesaid Pall of Velvet the whole work being compassed about with Rails and Ballasters covered with Velvet at each corner whereof there was placed an upright Pillar covered with Velvet upon the tops whereof were the four Supporters of the Imperial Arms bearing Banners or Streamers Crowned The Pillars
Letters the most exquisite that are in any Language by Mr. Robert Lovedey who was the late admired Translator of the Volumes of the famed Romance Cleopatra Published by his dear Brother Mr. A. L. 15. The so long expected Work the New World of English Words or a general Dictionary containing the Terms Etymologies Definitions and perfect Interpretations of the proper signification of hard English words throughout the Arts and Sciences Liberal or Mechanick as also other subjects that are useful or appertain to the Language of our Nation to which is added the signification of Proper Names Mythology and Poetical Fictions Historical Relations Geographical Descriptions of the Countreys and Cities of the World especially of these three Nations wherein their chiefest Antiquities Battels and other most memorable Passages are mentioned by E. P. 16 A learned Comentary on Psalm the fifteenth by that Reverend and Eminent Divine Mr. Christopher Cartwright Minister of the Gospel in York to which is prefixed a brief account to the Authors life and of his Work by R. Bolton 17. The way to Bliss in three Books being a learned Treatise of the Philosophers Stone made publique by Elias Ashmole Esq 18. Wit restored in several Select Poems not formerly publisht by Sir John Mennis Mr. Smith and others 19. The Modern Assurancer the Clerks Directory containing the Practick Part of the Law in the exact Forms and Draughts of all manner of Presidents for Bargains and Sales Grants Feoffements Bonds Bills Conditions Covenants Jointures Indentures c. And all other Instruments and Assurances now in use by John Hern. 20. Naps upon Parnassus A sleepy Muse nipt and pincht though not awakened Such voluntary and Jovial Coppies of Verses as were lately received from some of the WITS of the Universities in a Frolick dedicated to Gondibert's Mistress by Captain Jones and others c. 21. The compleat Midwife's Practice in the high and weighty Concerments of Mankinde the second Edition corrected and enlarged with a full Supply of such most useful and admirable Secrets which Mr. Nicholas Culpeper in his brief Treatise and other English Writers in the Art of Midwifry have hitherto wilfully passed by kept cose to themselves or wholly omitted by T. Chamberlaine M. P. 22. America Painted to the Life the History of the Conquest and first Original undertakings of the advancement of the Plantations in those Parts with an exquisite Map by F. Gorges Esquire 23. Culpeper's School of Physick or the Experimental Practice of the whole Art so reduced either into Aphorismes or choice and tried Receipts that the free-born Students of the three Kingdoms may in this Method finde perfect wayes for the operation of such Medicines so astrologically and Physically prescribed as that they may themselves be competent judges of the Cures of their Patients by N. C. 24. Blagrave's admirable Ephemerides for the Year 1659. 25. History and Policy Reviewed in the Heroick transactions of his most Serene Highness Oliver late Lord Protector declaring his steps to Princely Perfection drawn in lively Parallels to the Ascents of the great Patriarch Moses to the height of 30 degrees of Honor by H. D. Esq 26. J. Cleaveland Revived Poems Orations Epistles and other of his Genuine Incomparable Pieces never before Publisht 27. England's Worthies Select Lives of the most eminent Persons of the three Nations from Constantine the Great to these times by W. Winstanly 28. The History of the Life and Death of his most Serene Highness Oliver late Lord Protector Wherein from his Cradle to his Tomb are impartially transmitted to Posterity the most weighty Transactions forreign or Domestique that have happened in his Time either in Matters of Law Proceedings in Parliaments or others Affairs in Church or State by S. Carrington 29. The right Lozenges publickly sold by Edmund Buckworth in St. Katherines Court for Coughs and Consumption of the Lungs c. are to be had at Nath. Brook's and John Grismond's in Ivy-lane and at no other place FINIS His Highness Birth and Parentage Lingua the Combate of the Sences His excellent qualifications The first Engagement The Treasure of the University sailed on A remarkable expedition The Battell of Marston Moor. His Highness admirable management of the Bartell at Nazeby The Victory of Preston in Lancashire The Monarchiall Government changed into a Common Wealth Forces sent into Ireland General Cromwell goes for Ireland and arrives there in August 1649. Drogedah in Ireland besieged The Common-wealth prepares to war against the Scots His late Highness made Generalissimo of the Common-wealths Armies A Manifest concerning the Scotch warre The Bâ—â—…teâ—… of Dunia gainte by the English Lieth taken Edinborâ—ugh taken The besieging of Edinborough Castle The good successe of the Naval Forces under General Blake Prince Ruperts Fleet ruined A Declaration for the security of the Soldiers The reducing the Isle of Scilly Blacknâ—sse taken by Coloâ—el Monk The Scots unitâ— A Plot discovered Major General Harrison sent to the North. Mr. Love Gibbons beheaded The Scotch army compleated refuse to fight Colonel Overton passes into Fife Major General Lambert passes into Fife 4000 Scots defeated by the English Brunt Isleland surrendred St. Johns Town surrendred The Scots enter England by Carlisle The English follow Colonel Monk with 7000 men reduceth all Scotland The Earle of Darby defeated Worcester Fight The Scots defeated at Worcester The remaining Nobility of Scotland seised and sent into England The Isle of Jersey attempted Jersey and all the Castles taken The Isle of Man attempted and reduced Guernsâ—y Castle surrendred The death of two famous Persons in England An Act of Parliament concerning the Importation and exportation of Goods Merchandises A Rupture with Holland caused The first Sea-fight with the Hollander May 52. Open War with Holland The Hollanders Fishermen destroyed in the North. A Holland Fleet destroyed by Sir Geo. Askue The Plimouth fight with the Dutch Six Hollanders Ships taken by Gen. Blake Six more taken by Captain Penne. A French Fleet taken by Gen. Blake The Kentish Knock a fight with the Hollanders Two Ambassadors arrive in England Severall passages between the English the Danes The Antelope Frigate lost 20 Holland Barques and 2 Men of War taken Another Sea Fight betwixt the English the Hollander in December A Fight between the English and the Hollander near the Isle of Wight Portland The Phenix regained A second Sea-fight in the Levant between the English and the Dutch A Portugal Ambassadour obtains Peace French Deputations sent to England Deputations concerning a peace with Holland The â—…ong Parliament dissolved The Lord General Cromwel and his Councells Manifest for the dissolving the Parliament A Declaration for settling a Councel of State A Fight between the English and the Dutch on the North Foreland The Dutch worsted and many Ships taken The Hollanders pursued and blocked up in their own Ports A Parliament called by General Cromwel The Generals Speech to the Members The Instrument of Government delivered to the
the space of sixteen or eighteen years past Hoping for the future to write the Heroick Actions of this Nation in unexpugnable Characters to leave unto Posterity as an eye witness the Rehearsal of those Victories which Heaven shall bestow on England under Your Glorious Government that so I may the better satisfie my Zeal and Fidelity to Your Highness and approve my self to be Your Highnesses most Humble most Obedient most Faithful Servant and Loyal Subject S. Carrington The Preface Courteous Reader THat which I do here intend to present you with all is the Life and Death of Oliver Cromwel late Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England that Grand Personage whose Conduct and Fortune all the world doth admire and who in the space of ten years time did accomplish the work of a whole Age nay more he perfected the work of future Ages having settled England on such good Foundations that if she continues to build thereon she may expect to produce second Edwards and second Henries This Illustrious Personages life is presented unto you in three several Scenes First you will finde him Dormant like unto David midst his Flocks untill the Troubles of his Countrey awake him And that the Almighty was pleased to call upon him to appease them as well as to en crease his glory you may reflect upon the course and progress of his valour by which being elevated almost to the sublimest pitch of his Grandeur he was left to act more absolutely according to his own prudence and was enforced to lay hands on the Reins of the most confused State that ever was Where you will finde his late Highness demeaning himself like unto a well resolved skillful Pilot in a Vessel tossed and tumbled by a tempest bestirring himself amidst the contrariest of Winds and wisely and dexterously avoiding those Rocks Shelves and Quicksands which threatned England with a second Shipwrack This his sage conduct being the more to be admired in that as then he had but a limited Power although the whole was due to his dexterity and prudence yet each one thought they had as great a share as himself in the Sovereign Power which as they supposed they had acquired by the Pen or the Sword either in the Army or in the Parliament so that all this great Politician could as then do was to reconcile those several Opinions then in agitation and to suffer himself to be swayed by the current of those windes and streams which he was neither willing nor well able to withstand at that time Now as there is nothing more dangerous in States then great and sudden changes so nothing more difficult to be managed and this being the Master-piece which a Politician hath to act this ensuing History will discover unto us the chief and several Motions Turnings Windings and Settling of the same His late Highness like unto an expert Physician was first put to read the Temperment of England her former way and manner of actings before the Current of her Humors and the Symptomes of all the Evils and Malignities which threatned her He likewise reflected on the Body Politick which he found as well as the Humane had its Replenishments and Evacuations and Crisis and then observed that as well in the one as the other those sudedn changes which happen are either Destructive or Salutary He observed that these Bodies nourished Choller as well as other Humors and thence deemed War to be the best Rubarb to purge them least otherwise they might evacuate of themselves Moreover he observed these Humors were subject to grow sharp and to rebell and that they oftentimes caused such violent and hot fits as that without the assistance of an expert and accomplished Physician death was like to ensue or which is worst most violent languishing and intollerable diseases So that the thing which is most to be admired at in the conduct of this grand Politician is that he could governe a People and procure a perfect Union and Tranquillity amidst three Nations whose mindes were agitated by several Opinions and whereby they are continually stirred against each other no motion transporting men more impetuously towards civil Dissentions then those which arise from the several Professions in Religion For besides the chief Religions profest in these three Nations viz. that of Geneva the Protestant the Episcopal and some Roman Catholicks there are sprung up throughout all England an infinite number of other Sectaries which like unto so many Hidra's did seem to issue forth from each others neck and whereby the mindes of men were so discomposed and hurried away into such violent Enthusiasmes as they stood in need of a good Guide to conduct and refrain them from a total precipitation And as it would be a difficult task to give you the several Denominations Derivations and Off-springs of all these several Schismaticks I shall therefore pass them by as being numberless Wherefore if we acknowledge as it is most assuredly true that Religion is the chief principal part which doth most of all contribute to the well ordering quiet and peaceable settling and Governing of a People we may easily judge that his late Highness the Lord Protector stood in need of more then ordinary Sagacity Prudence and Conduct to procure that Tranquillity Plenty and Splendour to England wherein he left it and the which without example is hardly to be found in all the other parts of Europe But to come nearer home to my own enterprize the Life of an Historian is the Life of History and his truth the most proper Preface to it Thus much I can safely write for my self that I have entertained no design beyond Truth as I have not made this History subservient either to Flattery or Interest I question not but the prejudice of some may go about to detect but I am so confident of my own integrity as to believe no person can forme a truer Relation of the late disturbed Affairs of these Nations I acknowledge where Originals have failed me and must do others I have conformed to Copies but of so near extraction as that they are but once removed from their Fountain I being so truly acquainted my knowledge so strongly established to trace this History as to discerne how to write so also for the credit of my laborious Industry I can affirme That my Information was not without near approaches as I continually conversed with the most principal Instruments in these admirable Transactions persons Unbiased that had certain and full Intelligence of the highest emergences whether Forreign or Domestick If I have been but as judicious and clear-sighted to perceive and write as I have been honestly unconcerned to transmit this History to posterity I shall not need to fear but stand secure against the most malicious or otherwise impertinent Imputations Having thus discharged my Conscience in these my honest endeavours I have no more to write but to bid thee read and then censure Impartially Farewell Thine S. C. The
Postscript REader Be pleased to take notice that this History is Translating into five other Languages it is in French ready for the Press the other Translations for other parts of the World being in such forwardness as that they will be speedily extant An Advertisement Courteous Reader BE pleased to take notice that in the Page 195. seven lines before that never till now published an Incomparable Poem of the English Virgil of our times Mr. Edmund Waller on General Mountague's wonderful Victory at Sea over the Spaniards at Sancta Cruze that in the Printing this escaped for shaming read sublime for other lesser Mistakes the expedition of the Press may obtain thy excuse THE HISTORY Of his Highness OLIVER The late Lord-Protector From his Cradle to his Tomb. The Introduction IF those Writers who pen the Histories of great Men had the same advantage as Painters have who oblige those whom they are to Portraict to seat themselves in such a posture as they may best consider and judge of them who do choose their Lights and thereby discover most apparently the most delicate and neatest feature of the Faces which they are to represent I might hope to give unto the publick and to Posterity a perfect Resemblance of his late Highness the Lord Protector of England although I should meet with a great deal of difficulty in the well applying of the Colours and to make choice of such exquisire Ones to trace the Footsteps of so glorious a Life True it is that the Soul is not visible as Mens Bodies are for as it hath its Origine from Heaven we must of necessity ascend up thither and enter into the Councels of the Almighty to observe those Lights and Inspirations which he gives unto those persons whom his Divine Providence doth make choice of to command here on Earth and those designs which he doth frame in these great Souls for the encrease of his Glory and for our Peace and Tranquillity So that our Ignorance doth oblige us herein to immitare the modesty and good behaviour of Painters who instead of a beautifull nakedness render it to our view wrapt up in fine Linnen and not discovering unto us the Brain whence the severall motions of the Body do proceed they only set before our eyes a dumb Image without Motion and some few Physionomical Marks which do help us to guess who the party is they intend to represent unto us My intent is to give you a rough Draught of this most excellent Personage whose Actions are so glorious and surpassingly winning in themselves as that we shall only need to enter upon a Relation of them and so insensibly compleat a Naturall Panegyrick much like unto those exquisite Beauties the advantages whereof we so much the more lessen and detract from by how much the more we go about to embellish them with Ornaments and Cloathing so that the Resplendency of my Subject it self will spare me the labour of making a long Introduction and the vastness of its Renown saves me the care I ought to have taken in duly preparing the Readers Mind to conceive worthily of this my HEROE and to have begot in them a Love and Esteem of his Person His late Highness was born in the Town of Huntington the chief of the Shire which beareth the same Name of a Noble Parentage being descended from the Ancient and Illustrious Family of the Williams's of the County of Glamorgan which Name in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth was changed into that of Cromwell as will appear by the ensuing History His Parents left him not much Wealth but caused him to be educated in the University of Cambridge where as it is reported a publick Representation being to be performed he that was to represent the Kings part falling sick this our Cromwell was said to have taken the Part upon Himself and so well imployed the little time he had to get it by Heart as it seemed that it was Infused into him and whereby he represented a King with so much Grace and Majesty as if that Estate had been naturall unto him And truly thus much may be averred that his Soul comprehended all those Seeds and Foundations of such Vertues as do usually render a Person capable to govern others Having finished his course of Study at the University when he had perfectly acquired unto himself the Latine Tongue which Language as all men know he made use of to treat with Strangers his Parents designed him to the Study of the Civill Law which is the Foundation of the Politicks It being very requisite that he who was Ordained to give Law to three Kingdomes and to the whole Sea besides should have a smack of the Law and chiefly of those which were the most Essentiall and Universall for he dived not over deep into this Study but rather chose to run a Course in all the rest of the Sciences and chiefly in the Mathematicks wherein he excelled as likewise he may be justly said to have yeilded to no Gentleman whatsoever in the knowledge of the rest of the Arts and Sciences But to keep more close to our History His Fortune and Rise did commence by those very means which by degrees elevated him to the Supream pitch of Grandeur The conjuncture of Affairs brought him on the Stage his Valour raised him up and the Politick part taking the upper hand as belonging to Her by Birth-right Crowned him with all those Blisses which both the former and latter could justly discern Wherefore the Disorders of England and Scotland being not possible to be appeased without the intervening of a Parliament there was one summoned in the year 1641. in which the late Protector assisted in the quality of a Burgess for the Town of Cambridge one of the most famous Universities of England who could not fail in making so good a Choice and so worthy of such Eminent persons as themselves verst in all Sciences and Profound Knowledge Things growing past an amicable reconciliation between the King and the Parliament after severall and infinite Treaties and Proposalls the last Reason both of the one and the other terminated in the loud Volleys of Canons each Partie took the Field and those Parliament Men who were minded to engage in the War did with a generall consent and approbation obtain leave to suspend their Imployment in the House whereunto they were called To maintain the Liberties of Parliament with the points of their Swords His late Highness was none of the last that proferred his Service to the Parliament and the better to witness his Passion and Zeal to the Cause he raised a Troop of Horse at his own costs and Charges The esteem he had in the House and the value which the County of Essex put upon his Person obliged the Parliament to grant him a Commission to levy as many men as he could that so he might make up a compleat Regiment And as he was Burgess of the
Town of Cambridge so his first care was to settle that place for the Parliament although he met with great Obstacles therein and the Reason likewise was very harsh it being the Month of January the very heart of the Winter Now you are to note that the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge were the first of all the Towns in England which declared themselves for the King and the last which acknowledged the new established Authority by reason they were filled with persons designed to possess those Church Goods which were in the Kings Donation besides which the Parliament detesting their Commissions was resolved to reduce and reform them His late Highness having notice that all the Colledges were making a Stock and Assembly of all their Plate and of what ready monies they had to send it unto the King all which amounted unto a very considerabe Sum went suddenly to Cambridge and seized all that Treasure just as it was ready to be sent away unto Oxford And as he was upon this Expedition he signallized himself far more by another Action Sir Thomas Comes who was newly made Sheriff of Hertford Shire had received Orders from the King to publish a Proclamation by which the County of Kent and all its Adherents were proclaimed Traytors His late Highness surprised him in the very Action on a Market-day in the Town of St. Albons and having seized the said Knight he sent him up to the Parliament And not long afterwards he very oportunely assembled all the Forces of the County of Cambridge exhorted the Neighbouring Counties of Suffolk Norfolk and Essex to send him their Aydes to oppose the Lord Capell who was to have been seconded by Prince Rupert and should have seized Cambridge and thereby have impeded the association of the united Counties about London which were the only Bulwark and Defence of that great City wherein the Sinews of War did consist and by whose resolutions and proceedings the rest of the Kingdome was then governed His Highness diligence and vigilancy at that time brake the Neck of that Design and forced the Lord Capell and Prince Rupert to direct their Thoughts another way In the beginning of the Month of March next ensuing his late Highness having compleated a Regiment of Horse to the full number of a thousand Men marched with great diligence into the County of Suffolk on the advice which he had received of a great Confederacy which was there hatching between the Nobility of the Kings Party who were assembled in a considerable Town called Lowerstost whom he so unsuspectedly surprised as that he became Master of the place without the fiering of one Gun He took Prisoners Sir Thomas Barker Sir John Pettas his Brother Mr. Knevet Catlines Hammond Cory Turrill Preston and above twenty other Persons of Note He likewise there took severall parcels of Armes and Ammunition and other War-like Equipages sufficient to have armed a considerable Party and had not his Highness made use of his accustomed Prudence and his usuall Activity in this Conjuncture he had met with a great deal of difficulty on this account and the whole County had run a danger to have been lost severall persons of Quality and divers Noble men hourly flocking to that Randezvous This Service was most seasonably rendred to the Parliament and the Kings Party both in Suffolk and Norfolk were thereby totally disheartned and diâ—…ncouraged The Spring being advanced and the Season permitting the framing of greater Designs and taking of longer Marches his Highness having well setled the Peace and Tranquillity of the associated Counties which as we have sayd served as a Bulwark to the Parliament his Mind and his Valour requiring a space of Ground as vast as its Activity he raised a Body of an Army and that a very considerable one being composed of such zealous persons as had already been charmed with his Conduct and being attracted by his Reputation did voluntarily come in unto him to serve with and under him in the Cause of Religion He thus Marched into Lincolnshire with a Resolution to assist those Forces which lay about Newark one of the strongest places which held out as then for the King into which the greatest part of the Gentry of Lincolnshire had retired themselves and where there was a good Garison commanded by Officers who had served their Apprentiships in the Military Art beyond the Seas so that they fetcht in vast Contributions out of the Neighbouring Counties and made Inroads to the very Gates of Lincoln And his Highness being now at the Head of a Regiment of Horse in his passage through Huntingtonshire was willing to deliver his Native Country from those Disorders which two contrary Parties do usually cause and commit being in one Shire he therefore disarmed all those who were not affectioned to the Parliament by which means he so enlarged and augmented his Troops that he had gotten two thousand Men together and before he came neer Newark he received another re inforcement of Horse which was sent him by Captain Hotham as also some other Troops which were sent him from Lincoln insomuch that he thus framed a sufficient considerable Body of an Army for that time He no sooner was come nigh to Newark but that he signallized himself by an Action which was the more glorious by how much the less it was expected nor foreseen Captain Wray having so inconsideratly placed himself with his Lincolne Horse too nigh Newark was in the Night set upon by the Garrison which made a great Sally and surrounded and took all his Men the Alarm comming hot to his late Highness Quarters he forthwith repaired to the place where the Fight was it being then about ten of the Clock in the Night relieved the said Captain Wray and took three whole Companies of the Enemy killed the rest on the place and made good his Retreat by Favour of the dark Night After which having blocked up the place he received those Sallies which were made by the Besieged with so much Courage and Vigilancy as that he alwaies came off with advantage sometimes forcing the Enemies into their very Works and sometimes cutting them in pieces insomuch that he never returned unto the Camp but he was laden either with Prisoners Spoyles or Colours and that he might neglect no occasion for to give a testimony of his Prudence and Activity he also scouted abroad into the Country with his Horse and neer unto Grantham he defeated a strong Party which came forth of Newark with a handful of Men onely since which the World did take notice that there was somewhat more then ordinary in the person of his late Highness And not long after he also defeated part of the Lord of Newcastles Army which came to relieve Newark setting upon them in their Quarters betwixt Grantham and Newark where he took one hundred Horses forty Prisoners and killed severall on the place And should I particularlize all his late Highness's memorable Actions
during these English Civill Wars I must of necessity compile a whole Volume thereof since nothing worth the taking notice of ever hapned in which he was not a Sharer and wherein he was not alwaies one of the foremost wherfore I shall only insist upon two chief Actions which were of so great Importance that the decision of the whole War depended thereon and wherin the Valour of his late Highness may justly claim the greatest if not the sole share Two of the Parliaments Armies the one commanded by the Lord Fairfax and the other by the Lord Manchester being united to the Scotch Army their Confederates Commanded by the Earl of Livin had joyntly besieged the City of York the Metropolis of that County and whereof the Earl of Newcastle was Governour for the King who over and above his Garison which was very strong had also a brave and gallant Army Prince Rupert was sent by the King to raise that Siege with such considerable Forces as being joyned to those of the Earl of Newcastle did well nigh equallize the Parliaments in number The three Parliament Generals did immediatly raise the Siege to encounter Prince Rupert and the Earl of Newcastle drew forth also his Forces out of the Town and both Armies being drawn up in Battell-Array upon Marston Moore they both fought with a great deal of Fury Animosity and hopes of Victory which at first seemed to incline to the Kings Part the right Wing of the Parliaments Forces Commanded by the Lord Fairfax having the disadvantage of the Ground was over-whelmed by the left Wing of the Kings Party who routed and defeated it But his late Highness who as then was stiled but a Colonel whose after Appellations I shall observe by degrees which Fortune advanced him to who commanded the left Wing and had not the least advantage of the Ground did so violently set upon the right Wing of the Kings Party as that he brake in peeces Prince Ruperts best Regiments and forced them not only to give way but to turn their Backs and suffering only some part of his Men to pursue the Enemy he with the rest made half a turn about and charged the Enemies main Battell in the Rear so vigorously as that putting Life again into the Lord Fairfax's Souldiers he constrained them to face about and thereby so well restored the Success of the Battell as that he obtained and Entire and compleat Victory Two Generals of the Enemies and some of the best mounted of their Officers only making their escapes by their Horses good heels and this Battell was accounted the greatest that ever was fought during these last Wars The same thing likewise hapned in the famous Battell of Naseby neer unto Northampton when as his late Highness ariving in the Camp but on the Evening before the Fight gave such encouragement and joy to the whole Army by reason of his so suddain and unexpected Arivall from so great a distance of place as that it presaged an undoubted Victory The left Wing of the Parliaments Army was quite over borne General Ireton his late Highness Son-in-Law and who afterward governed Ireland in the Quality of Lord Deputy with as much Prudence and Conduct as he shewd Valour and Deserts to merit so considerable an Imployment being the second Person of the Common-wealth was carried off from the Field by two Wounds he received and was taken Prisoner but was relieved again and Prince Rupert pursued his Victory with as much vigour and hopes to gain the Battell as if the day had been his own But his late Highness on his side defeating that Wing which was oposite to him charged them with such force and Courage as that he made the Victory dubious and so it continued for a good while neither inclining to the one side not the other till at last the Kings Horse falling a running left their Foot to shift for themselves which were all cut in pieces and taken Prisoners all the Canon Baggage was likewise taken of a considerable value there was also found a Cabinet of the Kings with his Papers of great Importance The royall Standard and one hundred Colours beside were brought off and his late Highness having pursed the Kings Horse as long as he listed at length returned to the Camp with a great number of Prisoners Should I go about to number up the severall places of consequence which this Conquerour hath taken either by force or by Capitulations I should fill up a whole Volume with the Names of Towns and Fortresses alone besides intending hereby only to give you a Perspective of his glorious Life I will only instance in those worthy Actions of his whereby the Fortunes of the Wars did decide the possession of three Kingdomes Nor may we omit to reckon amongst the rest of his Heroick Atchievements the Victory which he obtained by Preston in Lancashire over Duke Hamilton and Sir Marmaduke Langdale whose united Forces amounted unto 25000 his late Higness having not above 10000 at most notwithstanding which inequallity of Forces he gave them Battell and entirely routed that puissant Army killing 3000 Scotch upon the place and taking 9000 Prisoners chasing the remaining Forces to Warrington about 20 Miles from the place where the Battell was fought and taking Duke Hamilton Prisoner at a place called Vttoxeter whither he was retired with 3000 Horse as also Sir Marmaduke Langdale the one by my Lord Grey and Colonel White and the other by Captain Widmonpoole so that but few Scotch returned to their own Country to cary back the News of so prodigious a Defeat NO sooner were the Civill Wars of England terminated by the discomsiture of all the Kings Armies the taking of his own Person and by his death but the Parliament by a solemn Vote and Ordinance changed the Monarchiall Government into a Common-wealth The Kingdome of Ireland was the first that witnessed a discontent of this Change and all the severall Parties there uniting themselves on the News of this Change they owned the late Kings Son and joyned all their Forces against the Interest of the Common-wealth and on a suddain became so powerfull and formidable as that the chief Places in those Parts submitted to their obedience Dublin only and London Derry excepted the first whereof was immediatly besieged by an Army of 22000 Men Commanded by the Marquis of Ormond and the other by a considerable Party the Natives of the Country The Royallists were as yet in possession of the Isles of Jersey and Man which places although they were adjacent unto England yet they only stood them in stead for a retreat to some Ships which robbed up and down the Seas in those Parts Nor were the Irish Businesses there arrived at the height of perfection whereas they began to decline for 3000 Horse and Foot which the Parliament sent into Ireland as the forerunner only of a more considerable Body being safely landed at Dublin joyned themselves unto the
Castles knowing full well the danger wherein the Ships were did encrease the dangers from shoare as well as from Sea and thereby became the more resolute and obstinate Insomuch that on the twenty eighth they were constrained to Land the Horse and the rest of the Foot who became Masters of the Forts and afterwards set upon the Castles in one of which was the Earle of Darbies Widow who quickly surrendred herself together with all the Ammunitions of War and some Vessells which were Anchored in the Harbour And not long after the strong Castle of Guernsey was also surrendred to the Parliament the whole Island having alwaies remained under the obedience of the Common-wealth and never deserted the same And as there is no felicity or bliss under the Heavens which is not mingled with some bitterness so in like manner the great Conquest of the Parliament both by Sea and Land had some mixture of missorrunes on both Elements on the Land by the decease of a great Captaine and a greater States-man and on the Sea by the death of a great Pilot and a greater Admirall both together The first was the Lord Ireton Son-in-law to his late Highness who immediatly after the taking of Limrick a very considerable place in those parts died during his being Lord Deputy of Ireland he was generally bemoaned of all men being a person who had rendred himself equally famous in War-like Exploits as well as in Politick Affairs and Sagacious Councels and to speak the truth there was scarce his like in all England and all the Comforts which survived his loss were that those good Foundations which he had laid and the Maximes which he had prescribed for the Government of Ireland did not perish with him but have remained to his Successors as Lamps and Lights whereby they may safely conduct their Foot-steps and assuredly carry on their Designes The other famous Person who also dyed was General Poppham a Personage endowed with all the good qualities of an exquisite Sea-man being valiant active and well versed in Sea Affaires his precipitated death and the small time he continued in that Imployment did shew unto us less what he was then according unto all appearance what he would have been had it pleased God to have lengthned his daies And now the Parliament being truly sencible both of the old and new Injuries which England had received from and by the States of Holland thought it fit to publish this ensuing Manifest Viz. THat no Commodities whatsoever of the growth or Manifacture of Africa Asia America or Europe should be brought into England or into any of the Territories belonging thereunto either by the English themselves or by any others save in Vessels or Barques effectively belonging to this Common-wealth or the Collonies and Plantations in the Indies who depend on the same on the penalty of forfeiting both Ships and Goods 2. That all Commodities whatsoever of the growth or manifacture of Forreigners which shall be brought within the Dominions of this Common-wealth in Vessels belonging to the Inhabitants thereof shall be taken and laden only in the places where the said wares do grow or else in those Ports and Havens whence they must of necessity be brought and where they are accustomed to be had and bought at the first hand 3. That all kind of Fish of the Fishing belonging to the people of this Nation as also all kind of Oyle of Fish VVhales Oyle and VVhale Bones shall not be brought save in such Ships where the said Fishing shall have been made upon the forementioned Penalty 4. That after the first of February 1653. there shall be no Salt-fish transported out of England save in English Vessels c. Then which nothing was more pleasing to the Merchants nor could any thing have more eucouraged them to cause the Traffick and Navigation to flourish again and whereby they were not a little also endeared to the Parliaments Interest So likewise was it very effectual to gain the Seamens hearts then which nothing is so apt to rebell and so hard to be kept in awe So likewise severall other Ordinances and Regulations were made concerning those Merchandizes which are brought from the East Indies from the Levant and from the Coast of Spain and Portugal all which did not much please and but lease oblige the Hollanders but to the contrary did so exasperate their Minds as that even during the time when they were treating of an Accommodation it came to an open VVar concerning the point of Honour at Sea and in this wise the Quarrel begun MAjor Bourn Commander in chief of a Squadron of English Ships discovered Van Trump Admirall of the Dutch Fleet on the back of Goodwine Sands who with two and forty Saile of Ships made towards Dover Road whereupon the Frigat called the Greyhound was commanded to make all the possible saile she could after them to speak with them which she accordingly did whereas they struck their Saile and gave all kind of tokens of honour and respect saying moreover That they would gladly tell something in the behalf of their Admiral unto the Party that commanded the English Fleet in chief and coming on board they saluted the English Ships and to seem the more officious they gave them an Account of their Navigation in this wise saying That the Nothernly VVinds having been somewhat high for some daies they had been constrained to ply more to the Southward then else they willingly would have done and that being come to an Anchor somewhat hitherwards to avoid the falling too neer unto Dunkirk they had lost severall Cables and Anchors concluding that they had not the least intention to do us any Injury General Blake was at that time with the rest of the Fleet towards the VVest who being enformed by Major Bourn of the Hollanders proceedings he used all the possible speed he could to joyne with him and on the nineteenth of May he discovered the Hollanders Anchored in Dover Road and being within three Leagues of each other the Hollander weighed Anchor and sailed Eastward where they met with an Express from the States whom they spake withall and afterwards made all the Saile they could up to the English Fleet their Admiral Van Trump shewing himself upon the Decks of the foremost Ships And General Blake coveting the honour to give the first Volley let fly three Guns at Van Trumps Flag though without Bullets To which Van Trump answered by a shot from the Stern of his Ship backwards signifying his disdain to vale his Flag and instead of the striking his Main Top-saile he caused a red Flag of War to be set up in token of a Combat to his whole Fleet and without any further delay he gave General Blake a whole Broad-side who joyfully received it and returned two for one and for the space of foure houres together both Fleets fought with that Animosity and vehemency which is usually on the like occasions at
great Statesmen untill the very effects of them are ready to appear All which reasons being naturally pondered by the wisest and most zealous persons interessed in the glory of the English Nation the good and wellfare of the Commonwealth and particularly by his excellency the Lord General it was resolved that the Parliament should be dissolved in reference hereunto on the twelfth of December 1653. as soon as the Parliament was met A Member of the said House stood up and moved That the sitting of this Parliament as it was then constituted being not thought proper nor fitting for the good of the Commonwealth It was therefore requisite to deliver up unto the Lord General Cromwel the powers which they had received from him Which motion being seconded by the greatest part of the other Members the House arose and the Speaker accompanied by the major part of the House departed and went to White-Hall where they did by a Writing under their hands being the greater number of the Members sitting in Parliament resign unto his Excellency the Power which they had received from him and the which was by the Speaker presented to his said Excellency accordingly in the Name of the whole House No sooner was the Parliament dissolved and that Affairs of moment and weight came crowding in apace but that there was a necessity during the intervalls of Parliament to form as it is called in forreign parts an upper Councel and to create a superiour dignity to avoid both tediousness and confusion in the dispatch of Affairs which said dignity holding the mid-way between a Monarchial and Democratical might avoid the inconveniencies which these two extremities are subject unto and the thing it self having been well pondered and maturely deliberated the choice of the person on whom this dignity was to be conferred was soon made God having pointed him out unto them by a mark those admirable and uninterrupted Victories which he caused him to gain and by those excellent productions of a minde which had something of supernatural in it and partaked of the Divinity Wherefore the Lord General Cromwel was Elected Declared and Sworn at Westminster in the presence of all the Judges and Justices the Barons of the Exchequer the keepers of the Liberties of England the Lord Major and Aldermen of the City of London with most of the chief Officers of the Army Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Islands and Territories thereunto belonging and at the same time several Articles were presented to the Lord Protector by which he was to govern the people which being red unto him he took a solemn Oath to performe and see them kept in the presence of the whole assembly protesting moreover that he would minde nothing so much as the good of the Commonwealth the Glory of God and the Honour of the English Nation The chief heads of the Articles of Government were as followeth 1. That the Protector should call a Parliament every three years 2. That the first Parliament should assemble on the third of September 1654. 3. That he should not dissolve the Parliament till it had sate five moneths 4. That such Bills as he should not signe within twenty dayes should pass without him 5. That he should have a select Councel to assist him not exceeding one and twenty nor less then thirteen 6. That immediately after his Death the Councel should choose another Protector before they rose 7. That no Protector after him should be General of the Army 8. That the Protector should have Power to make Peace or War 9. That with the consent of his Councel he may make Laws which shall be binding to the Subjects during the intervals of Parliament c. Immediately after which the Lord General Cromwel without the devesting of himself of the Command of the Army which he preferred before all other charges took upon him the title of Highness and the dignity and name of Lord Protector A very fit appellation in regard of the Infantine and as yet growing State of England which the several Factions and Divisions as also the different Opinions in Religion would have exposed to a numberless kinde of unavoidable miseries had not a powerful Genius armed with Force and Judgement protected it from ripping up its Entrails and Bowels by its own hands And immediately after he was proclaimed Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland c. First in the Pallace yard at Westminster by the Officers of State and afterwards at the Royal Exchange by the Lord Major and Aldermen in their Scarlet Gowns Some few dayes after the body of the City invited his Highness the Lord Protector to a most splendid feast and gallant entertainment at Grocers-Hall not so much to treat him with their good chear as with the resplendent testimonies of their joy and with the submissive tenders of their devoires His Highness would by no means refuse to give that satisfaction to their evidences of respect and joy and the better to testifie unto them on his behalf the high value he put upon their care and love he set forth towards them in as great a pomp and magnificence as befitted a person invested with so eminent qualities and as one who having reaped so many Laurels had newly restored peace and tranquillity unto three distracted Kingdomes The manner of his Highness going to the City and reception there was on this wise His Highness's Life-guard of Horse marched in the first place after which followed the chief Officers of the Army on Horse-back and some of his Councel of State after them rode two Pages bare headed in sumptuous Apparel after them came twelve Lackeys in velvet Caps and gray Liveries with silk and silver Fringe then followed his Highness seated in a Charet of State drawn by six beautiful Horses richly trapped which by their lofty gate seemed to glory in their drawing so victorious a Hercules triumphing over so many Monsters and his Highness who alwayes preferred the little ornaments of the Soul before those of the Body was onely clad in a dark coloured Suit and Cloak the greatest part of the other Nobility attending in their Coaches and six horses At Temple-Bar his Highness was met and received by the Lord Major and Aldermen and the Recorder of the City saluted him with an excellent Speech containing several expressions of Joy Fidelity and Obeisance and of good Hopes of his prosperous and happy Government His Highness having thanked him alighted from his Chariot and quitting his Cloak put on a rich Riding Coat imbroidered with Gold and got up on Horse-back on a Palfrey richly trapped and was followed by three other led Horses of State By which change of Garments his Highness testified unto them that when as occasions of the States-service should call upon him he would descend from his Triumphal Chariot where the glory of his Conquests had set him in rest and mounting his Horse for Battel would expose
his Life as freely as he formerly had done for the peace and tranquility of their City and for the Liberty of England The Lord Major rode all the way bare-headed as also carried the City Sword drawn before his late Highness the Lord Protector By the one representing the Respect and Obedience of the City and by the other its Fidelity and Resolution to spill their Blood in the defence of the Peace of the State and for the preservation of the Life and new Dignity of his Highness The Streets were railed up and the several Companies of the City in their Liveries sate on both sides of the way with Streamers sticking up to distinguish each Company Moreover it is a thing worthy to be observed how that the Character which God doth imprint on the Forehead of those whom he hath designed to be his Vicegerents on Earth doth beget an astonishment and fear in the hearts of those where it cannot raise a respect but in the others both admiration and love so that on all sides the Divine Providence compasseth its Glory either by the means of its Justice or Mercy And thus you see his Highness the Lord Protector passing through this great City which was drawn up in Arms having his Head onely covered with Laurels and his guarded with a simple though resplendent morsel of Glory The one surrounding him to cover and protect him with her wings and the disarmed Justice which accompanied this great Heroes footsteps seemed to Lead a naked and fettered Mars by a silken thread And thus after his Highness had been most splendedly entertained by the City before he departed he conferred the Honour of Knighthood upon the Lord Major and left all the City filled with an admiration of his Heroick Vertues and with a general satisfaction of his candor and generousness their hopes being freighted with acclamations and good wishes No sooner was his late Highness settled in the Supreme degree of his Protectorship but just like the Sun elevated in a high sublime Sphere he begat an infinite number of malignant Exhalations which however were soon dissipated by his luster and resplendency and at the same time by his vertue he gave a life and being to all those glorious actions which knowing men did expect from his sage Government On the Eighteenth of February 1653. a most dangerous Conspiracy which was hatched by the Royalists was discovered several of the Conspirators were taken and sent to the Tower of London But his Highness willing to begin his Government by an Act of Clemency and to let the world see that the Grandor of his new Dignity did onely render him powerful to do good he pardoned the said Delinquents and caused them to be set at liberty Much about which time arrived Deputies from the several Counties and Shires as well of England Stotland and Ireland to congratulate his Highness happy Inauguration and to assure him of their fidelity and submission to his Commands all which his Highness received with a great deal of Candor and repaied them with Use to wit the establishing of good and salutary Orders for the Peace and Tranquility of the Commonwealth and each Member thereof in particular Nor did he forget to regulate the Spiritual Affairs and out of an infinite number of Opinions he begat a pleasant harmony the seeming dissonance and harshness whereof was onely unsavory to the ignorant and to such as had stopped their ears Mean while the Scots animated by several discontented persons here in England did levy an Army by Command from their King and began to take heart of grace again reassuming their former courage and hopes The Earls of Glencarne and Kenmore were at the Head of four thousand Horse and Foot joyning several other small parties which from all sides flocked down unto them But Collonel Morgan was so vigilant and active that before they could have time to Form a greater Body he marched with fifteen hundred Horse and Foot and on the seventh of February he arrived at Lough which was the Enemies appointed Rendezvouz where having charged them after a short but smart Fight he killed one hundred and fifty of them and defeated all the rest the Earl of Glencarne with much ado making his escape onely with forty Horse But all these small Bickerings and as it were shadows of War did onely serve as a foil to that most important and considerable Peace which both England and Holland was to reap at our Olivers hands When as most part of the Winter was well nigh passed over in this Negociation at London where the Hollanders had four Ambassadours who daily laboured to compass the same Two of them to wit the Lords Newport and Youngstall re-passed into Holland about the Moneth of February to communicate unto the High and Mighty Lords the States their Masters the Conclusion of the Treaty and to get them to ratifie the same On the third of March 1653 4. of the same Year they returned back again where they were received with all the pomp and state that could possibly be imagined and might demonstrate the Joy which the Merchants conceived of the happy effects of so happy a Reconciliation The next day they had Audience from his Highness where declaring the full powers they had from the Lords States to ratifie the said Peace which they had made they desired a speedy Cessation of Arms should be published on both sides and in conformity thereto on the fifth Day of April next ensuing the Articles of Peace were signed sealed and delivered on the behalf of both parties and were accordingly published and proclaimed to the general satisfaction of all men And his Highness the better to testifie the particular pleasure he took therein did most sumptuously treat the Holland Ambassadours witnessing unto them by his noble Noble treatment all the marks of Joy which might manifest and make good by his Conduct and Entertainment the old Motto of his Family That War hath no other end save to beget a Peace And as to the Affairs of Ireland his Highness by his good Orders and establishing the Natives in the Province of Cannaught which is in the heart of Ireland had settled all things so well in those parts as that the English needed not to fear any either abroad or at home and the Irish beginning to be sensible that the Yoke of a vigilant and absolute Protector was far more tollerable and to be preferred before the Servitude of a feeble and tottering multitude who onely heeding their own preservations and particular interests do abandon the People and their wellfares either to their own capriciousness or to the imbroils of ambitious and hot spirits who abusing of the Commonalties simplicity and sincerity run them headlong into Ruine But some enemies of the State perceiving that it was impossible to hinder the Earth from bringing forth of good fruits as long as it was animated by so sensible and feeling a warmth resolved to
to consult on their Business were seized with a Pannick fear and no one of their Enemies appearing or pursuing them they cryed out that they were betrayed and so betook themselves to their heels some one way some another in a confused manner So likewise did Collonel Lilburn send word out of Northumberland that they were busie in framing of a party there also but that they had dissipated themselves through their own Fears and Jealousies Finally in Yorkeshire Sir Henry Slingsby and Sir Richard Maleverer had also assembled some Forces to have seized the City of York having two Cart-loads of Ammunition with them but they dispersed themselves on their own accompt seeing but little appearance to succeed in their designe Sir Henry Slingsby was taken and Imprisoned and afterwards Beheaded upon another accompt The first party commanded by Wagstaff and Penruddock was defeated by Captain Vnton Crook at a place called South-melton some whereof were killed and others were taken who were Tried and Condemned and those which dyed of note were Mr. Lucas Thorpe Kensey Graves and Penruddock Sir Joseph Wagstaff had the hap to make his escape and to get away Moreover a little afterwards to rid the State of such like Incendiaries and Firebrands the several Prisons and Goals of England were delivered from the Royalists which were detained prisoners on the foregoing accompts who were sent away to the Plantations and Collonies in America In like manner the rest of the other risings before mentioned were quelled and dissipated which both struck a terror in those who had not as yet shewn themselves and restored peace and quietness to the State By this time the subtil Spaniard whose quaint policy doth for the most part hug the prosperous and destroy the miserable and distressed seeing that Fortune did daily more and more incline to favour his late Highness the Lord Protector that his Vigour and Force increased by opposition and that the sole resplendency of his glory dissipated all those fogs and mists which endeavoured to obscure it thought it meet to court England and to endeavour to engage this State in his interests in which was omitted no proffers which a Puissant Monarch could possibly make unto a Prince whose Power was but as it were in the bud and beginning to sprout forth To which purpose the Marquis of Leda arived at London in the quality of an extraordinary Ambassador to his late Highness where he was received with all the Demonstrations of Honour and Pomp. But his late Highness being over-sensible of all those gross injuries which the Spanish Nation for several years together have committed against the English and also against all Europe besides and being not willing to conforme his Maximes with the tyrannical and unjust principles of the Spaniards returned civil and ceremonious Answers to the said Ambassadors Proposals who returned back again very speedily with all sorts of contentment and satisfaction save onely to that which he chiefly expected and most of all insisted upon And England being at that present time in a peaceable posture the Almighty having Crowned his late Highness the Lord protector with several signal Victories and Deliverances of his person from an infinite number of Dangers his Highness thought he could not in a better wise express his acknowledgements for so many mercies then by the imploying of all his Care and Forces to oppose and beat down the Ambition nay I may justly say their Sacraledge and Impiety and Avarice of the Spaniards since it onely belongs to a God to Stile himself the Universal Monarch who at the expence and charge of an hundred thousand Murders and Devastations have rendred themselves Masters of the whole worlds Treasures And withall totally to extripate and root up the profound plots and devices which the Spaniards had long since laid in England to become Masters thereof or at least to breed divisions in it at their own pleasures Nor shall I need to enlarge upon the ambitious and cruel designes of that invincible Armado of Philip the Second which was to have invaded England and to have made it swim in its own Blood nor of those several entreagues and policies which Spain hath hatched in Ireland by assistances of men and monies as also by their several Conspiracies in England abusing of the Religion and blind zeal of some particular persons there I shall onely begin with Gundamore that arch Machiavilian Spanish Ambassador who had gained such a Credit and Power in the Court of England as that when he pleased he could dispose of the Lives of the greatest and best men in the State when he had discovered they were his Masters Enemies I shall onely instance in one that admirable personage Sir Walter Rawleigh who by reason he had undertaken to visit their Treasures in Hispaniola and had Committed some hostillities in those Seas in former time Gundamore never left importuning of King James whom he had in a manner bewitched till he had obtained his death and thus bereaved England of one of the great Politicians and Universallest men that ever this Isle brought forth leaving us a testimony of his vast knowledge and experience to wit his famous History of the World From hence his late Highness resolved to begin his just War against the proud Spaniard and to sacrifice to the memory of this great Captain and one of the most experienced Sea-men of all the World all the Spanish Blood which the valour of the noble English hath so generously by way of retaliation drawn and let out since his late Highness's expedition against them There are some friends with whom a man is forced to break off all friendship because they will be too much our friends that is because they over-act the part of friendship by prying too deep into our Affairs and Designes and by interesting themselves too far into the concernments of those who depend on us as that thereby they steal away their hearts from us and such like friends have the Spaniards been to England who buy their friendships at such cheap rates as that they feed those who side with them onely with imaginary speculations here on earth making them eternally miserable and with specious promises in the world to come which would be obtained at cheaper and more assured rates without the interposing of their Hippocritical and Ambitious trains But to return to our History again his late Highness whose Genius affected the greatest difficulties and the most extraordinary and rarest Designs fix'd his thoughts upon New Spain not to bereave them of their Treasures which are with more ease to be interrupted at their coming home but to revenge all Europe unto whom the Jealous humor of the Spaniards denies Traffique and Commerce into those parts having at all times exercised unheard of Cruelties and horrible Treacheries on such as were driven into those parts accidentally and forcibly by storms and tempests or such as were by themselves under the notion
second of July next ensuing and in convenient space of time arived safely at their designed Port. Within a moneth after which General Pen arrived in England having left the best part of the Fleet in those parts under the Command of Vice-Admiral Goodson a very valiant and experienced Sea-Commander and the Troops which had mastered Jamaica under the Command of Collonel Fortescue But as all prosperities are usually accompanied with some small Allayes of adversity the Almighty suffering it to be so for our instruction and precaution and to humble us in our highest transcendencies of Fortune Wherefore the said Fleet having gained the height of the Havennas in the Isle of Cuba the Paragon Frigot was fired by negligence and perished in the flames with the greatest part of its Company and Mariners before she could be succoured or relieved On the ninth of the moneth of September ensuing General Venables likewise returned from the Indies in the Frigot called the Marston-moor in so weak and dejected a condition that he was even at deaths door and nothing save the change of Air could possibly have saved him Mean while the sympathy which all great and couragious persons seem to have for each other begat a desire in his late Highness to be in amity with the King of Sweden and likewise the King of Sweden on the other side coveted the same thing so that the noble Lord Bulstrode Whitlock one of Englands Worthies having scarce his like for profound Knowledge and Sagacity after he had resided for the space of eight Moneths in Sweden terminated his Embassy by a compleat Peace and glorious Alliance which he had concluded between that Crown and England and returned himself to bring the good tydings thereof Now for the preservation of the Peace of this Commonwealth his late Highness constituted several Major-Generals in the respective Counties thereof whose Names are as followeth viz. 1. For Kent and Surrey Collonel Kelsey 2. For Sussex Hamshire and Barkeshire Collonel Goff 3. For Glocestershire Wilts Dorset Somerset Devon and Cornwal General Desborow 4. For Oxfordshire Bucks Hertford Cambridge Isle of Ely Essex Norfolk and Suffolk the Lord Deputy Fleetwood 5. For the City of London Major General Skippon 6. For Lincolnshire Nottingham Derby Warwick and Leicestershire Commislary General Whaley 7. For Northamptonshire Bedford Rutland and Huntington Major Butler 8. For Worcester Hereford Salop and North-Wales Collonel Berry 9. For Cheshire Lancashire and Staffordshire Collonel Wortley 10. For Yorkeshire Durham Cumberland VVestmerland and Northumberland the Lord Lambert 11. For VVestminster and Middlesex the Lieuetenant of the Tower At this time France on her side being jealous of the several applications profers and propositions which the Spaniards made unto England to beget an alliance with us began to be sensible that it was high time to think upon her own preservation her navigation being quite ruined her subjects divided by Civil Wars and intestine troubles and her forreign Enemies as powerful as ever resolved at length to make an address to his late Highness for an Alliance of Peace Besides that his late Highness harboured a natural aversness and hatred against the Spaniards who time out of minde have alwayes been the implacable and cruel Enemies of England as well as of all mankinde besides and who under a fair pretence of Religion and Amity endeavour to withdraw the Subjects of their Allyes and make them swerve from their Allegiance and Fidelity either by the powerful operations of money gifts and such like other bewitching inducements rendring themselves the Masters of the peoples inclinations when by their Valour they cannot overcome them in Battel nor by force of Arms gain their Towns or Fortresses But his late Highness open vertue and magnanimous courage disdaining any Commerce with this kinde of insinuating and entreaguing Nation the Lion being too noble to enter into association and communication with the Fox The French policy did better jump with his humor and their manner in vanquishing their Enemies in a pitch'd Battel and forcing them upon the very Ramparts of their Fortresses did better please and second his War-like vertue and by whose good intelligence and communication the English growing discipline could not choose but attain to a rare perfection whereas the Spaniards might happily have poysoned them by their Wiles and Subilties and have corrupted them by their Hipocritical false Alloy and Mettal Besides that the Liberty which is granted by the French to those who are of a different opinion in the points of Religion was a great inducement to move his Highness rather to incline to a peace with that Nation since himself was ever so tender in matters of Religion as that he believed it did onely belong to the Almighty to force the Consciences of Men at least to enlighten and inspire them by his Graces which are onely capable to convince our reason Finally The Articles of peace with France which were so much traversed by the Spanish Faction were concluded and signed by such Commissioners as his late Highness had thereunto deputed and on the other part by his excellency the Lord Bourdeaux Ambassador of France and on the eight and twentieth day of the moneth of November next ensuing the publication of the said Treaty was proclaimed first at White-hall by the Heralds of Arms the sound of Trumpets and other formalities accustomed on the like occasions afterwards in the Palace-yard at Westminster and in the other usual places in the City of London where such like Proclamations are made and on the self-same day it was also published at Paris with a general applause and joy at least of the Merchants who by the preceding misunderstanding between England and France were quite ruined and who by this conclusion of peace found not onely the Seas open and free for them to trade in but that the English of their worst Enemies became their best friends by causing a bundance to reign in their Rivers and Territories and by begetting an assured Commerce and Navigation in all those Seas wherein the Navigation extended it self Nor was the Lord Major of the City of Paris less glad then the poor Citizens who all of them witnessed an equal joy and allacrity finding themselves indulged by this Treaty of peace from breaking their Ember-weeks their Lent and Fasting dayes as they call them since they would otherwise have been constrained by reason of the excessive rates which fish butter and cheese and such other small ratable wares were grown to to have kept more fasting dayes then the Roman Kallendar doth enjoyn them which would have been a double Penance and an intollerable mortification From all which they were freed by this happy Peace and in acknowledgement whereof the Guns and Chambers from the Market-place and Town-House called the Greve as well as those from the Bastile or Tower ecchoed forth the joy which the Monsieurs conceived of this forerunner of the peace and tranquillity which they
And now into her lap the richest Prize Fell with the Noblest of our Enemies The Marquis glad to see the fire destroy Wealth that prevailing Foes were to enjoy Out from his flaming Ship his Children sent To perish in a milder Element Then laid him by his burning Ladies side And since he could not save her with her dy'd Spices and Gums about them melting fry And Phenix-like in that rich nest they dye Death bitter is for what we leave behinde But taking with us all we love is kinde VVhat could he more then hold for term of life His Indian Treasure and his more priz'd VVife Alive in flames of equal Love they burn'd And now together are to ashes turn'd Ashes more worth then all their Funerals cost Then the huge Treasure which was with them lost These dying Lovers and their floating Sons Suspend the Fight and silence all our Guns Beauty and Youth about to perish findes Such noble pitty in brave English mindes That the rich Spoil neglecting and the Prize All labour now to save their Enemies How frail our Passion 's how soon changed are Our wrath and fury to a friendly care They that but now to gain the Spanish Plate Made the Sea blush with Blood forget their Hate And their young Foes while sinking they retrive VVith greater danger then they fought they dive VVith these returns Victorious Mountague VVith Laurel in his hands and half Perue Let the brave General divide that bough Our great Protector hath such Wreaths enough His conquering Head hath no more room for Bayes Then let it be as the whole Nation prayes Let the rich Oare forthwith be melted down And the State fixt by making him a Crown VVith Ermins clad and Purple let him hold A Royal Scepter made of Spanish Gold Take the particulars of the Fight briefly thus The Spaniards were seven in number richly laden about nine Leagues from Cadiz coming from the West Indies one whereof was burnt another sunk two run aground two were taken one got away with a Portugal Prize In the ship that was burnt was the Marquis of Badex his Wife and one Daughter In one of the ships taken was the young Marquis his Brother and another Sister who was set on shore in Spain The two Brothers were brought to England with a great deal of wealth And amongst these Victories which were gained at Sea against the Spaniards since the breach of the Peace that which was obtained by General Blake at Sancta Cruza in the Island of Teneriff on the twentieth day of April 1657. was none of the least in which Port there was sixteen great Vessels burnt and sunk by the English and the Spaniards Forts and Castles of the Isle amidst which there were five or six great Gallions the Admiral Vice-Admiral and Rere-Admiral the greatest part whereof were mounted with Brass Ordnance and laden some with rich merchandizes from the Indies and the others with provisions and other manufactures to be transported thither equipied in ample manner both with Soldiers and Mariners All which having their Flags Ensignes and Streamers flying were set upon by the English who in less then four hours time destroyed them all without the loss of above sixty men the greatest part of which were killed by the Musquet shot which played from the shoar But in lieu of them the English with their Cannon killed a great number of the Spaniards in their Breast-works and Forts Wherefore his late Highness who never recompensed vertuous and magnanimous actions which bare praise sent a civil Letter of thanks to General Blake with a Diamond Ring valued at five hundred pounds and gave the Captain that brought the news one hundred pound for a present Moreover according to his accustomed Piety be ordained a day of publick Prayer and Thanksgiving to be set apart to return all Thanks Acknowledgements Praise and Glory to the Almighty for this so happy and signal a success and to supplicate his Divine Bounty to bestow frequent and like Blessings upon the English Armadoes and Land Forces But the Sea being a Theater or Stage too unstable for so settled a valour and constant aFortune the traces and marks which she receives of Combates and Victories are too soon worn out and scare leave unto History and to the memory of men wherewith to raise Monuments erect Triumphs and to transmit unto posterity the truth of things and although that vertue be the more glorious by how much the greater dangers it assails and surmounts yet however as a flight is more easily made by Sea then by Land where seldome men fight at hand-blows we have reason to give the first praise and honour to that Element which first brought us forth and whence we reap the most beneficial necessaries towards our subsistence In like manner his late Highness's solid policy was imployed on such solid foundations where it might lay deep rooting and spread its large branches far and near without the apprehension of being sapped or dug up The French therefore being desirous to be revenged for their ill success at Valenchenes resolved the next summer to assault Montmedy a strong Frontier seated upon a Rock but being not strong enough to keep the Spaniards in play in Flanders they separated part of their Army to prosecute the said siege and the English began to make their first landing in Flanders Sir John Reynolds was chosen by his late Highness to command the Body of the English Forces consisting in six thousand Foot who happily landed in Picardy about the latter end of May. And that it may not seem to be a digression from my subject I shall omit the particularizing of the siege and the taking of Montmedy and shall onely tell you that the Marshal De la Ferte who carried on that siege was not at all incommodated by the Enemy from without during the whole siege nor durst the Spaniard ever set upon the French Army thereby to attempt the relief of that place And although it would be a piece of injustice to dispoil that war-like nation of their glory yet all men know that their Army wanted Foot extreamly that Summer but the English foot which we must confess is the best in all Europe being joyned to their Cavalrie which also excel all others there had not a more resolute and gallant Army been seen in France for many years together And here by the way take notice of the Installment of his late Highness in the Protectorship which was on this manner viz. On the twentieth day of the moneth of June in the year of our Lord God 1657. being appointed for the Installment of his late Highness the Lord Protector a large and spacious place was raised at the upper end of Westminster-Hall under the great window in the midst whereof a Rich Cloath of State was set up and under it a Chair of State was placed upon an ascent of two degrees covered with Carpets before which stood a Table with a
Chair appointed for the Speaker of the Parliament On each side of the Hall upon the said Structure there were seats raised one above each other and decently covered for the Members of the Parliament and below them there were Seats made for the Judges of the Land on the one side and for the Aldermen of the City on the other side About two of the Clock in the afternoon his Highness met the Parliament in the Painted Chamber and passed such Bills as were presented to him after which they went in order to the place appointed in Westminster-Hall his Highness being entred on the place and standing under the Cloath of State Mr. Speaker did in the Name of the Parliament present several things which lay ready on the Table unto his Highness viz. A Robe of Purple Velvet lined with Ermines being the habit anciently used at the solemn Investure of Princes next a large Bible richly Gilt and Bossed and lastly a Scepter of massie Gold which being thus presented Mr. Speaker came from his Chair took the Robe and therewith vested his Highness being assisted by the Earl of Warwick the Lord Whitlock and by others which being done the Bible was delivered to his Highness after which Mr. Speaker girt about him the Sword and finally delivered his Highness the Scepter which being thus performed Mr. Speaker returned to his Chair and administred the Oath to his Highness which had been prepared by the Parliament for him to take His Highness standing thus adorned in Princely State Mr. Manton by prayer recommended his Highness Forces by Sea and Land the whole Government and People of these Nations to the blessing and protection of God Almighty After which the people gave several shouts and the Trumpets sounding his Highness sate down in the Chair of State holding the Scepter in his hand and whilst his Highness thus sate a Herald of Arms stood aloft making a signal to a Trumpet to sound three times after which by direction and Authority of Parliament he did there publish and proclaim his Highness Oliver Lord Cromwel Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging Hereupon the Trumpets ' sounded again and the People gave several Acclamations with loud shouts crying God save the Lord Protector After a little pause the Ceremony being ended his Highness saluting the Ambassadors and publick Ministers proceeded thence in his Princely Habit the Train whereof was borne up by six noble persons and passed through the Hall into the Palace-yard the Earl of Warwick carrying the sword before him where his Highness entred into his Coach attended by his Life-guards and Halberdeirs the Officers of State the Lord Major and Aldermen all which waited on his Highness back to White-Hall the whole Ceremony having been managed with State and Magnificence suitable to so high and happy a Solemnity But to return to our History again toward the end of the Summer therefore the united Forces of England and France took the Fort of Mardike whereof Major General Morgan took possession for the English as the earnest of further Conquests The Spaniard hereupon conceived all the fears and jealousies which so dangerous a neighbour-hood might justly cause which obliged them in the following moneth to resolve vigorously to assault the place and to carry it by force But they were received with so much vigour by the English as that they were manfully beaten off and constrained to retire with a great loss of their men and of several Officers of note But the joy of these successes were moderated by the death of Admiral Blake a person who had so well deserved of England as that he may be justly intituled its Neptune at the same time when as his Highness was its Jupiter and Mars who caused him to be buried with all the Demonstrations of Honour due to his high demerits He came within sight of Plimouth onely to give up the Ghost and received this satisfaction at his death to have bestowed all the Moments of his life on that Element which had given him so much glory just like unto Moley Moluch that Illustrious King of Fess who at the Article of Death caused himself to be carried in a Litter into his Camp where he expired in the middle of the Battel as he was exhorting his Soldiers and gained the Victory In like manner dyed General Blake in the midst of his famous Combats and Victories regretted by all England and his late Highness who had alwayes an especial care to cause those honours to be rendred to such great persons as were due to their demerits would have him stately interred as the Earl of Essex had been before but General Blakes body was onely brought with a Naval Pomp by Water in State on the Thames from Greenwich to Westminster as being a more suitable Ceremony to his imployment and was there buried in Henry the Seventh's famous Chappel Now the Spaniards disgusted at the firme footing the English had both gotten and kept at Mardike conceiving that against the next Spring it might give them a greater in-let in Flanders deemed they had best to endeavour the driving of them thence betimes before they should be too well settled and established there they resolved to assault them again and accordingly did set upon them very vigorously and resolutely with a party very considerable commanded by the pretended Princes of England and the Marquis of Coracene but the English defended themselves so manfully and stoutly as that the Spaniards began to judge that as the French are good at taking of places so the English were constant in keeping and defending them insomuch as that my Dons were forced to return by weeping cross to Dunkirk and take their last farewell of Mardike For they might very well have perceived by the business of St. Venant that the English were as good at the one as at the other when as the Spaniards having besieged Ardres the English supposed that their advance into France was onely to retard their progress into Flanders gave so resolute an assault to St. Venant as that they carryed the place and had the sole honour of it and immediately marching towards Ardres they drove away the Spaniards then with so much courage and resolution as amazed the French Wherefore this latter part of the season having been imployed in sowing the seeds of those Laurels which they were to reap in the next years expedition in Flanders His late Highness recollected himself to establish Peace and Tranquility in England and to settle the foundation of a happy and glorious Government And deeming that he could not more justly confer the eminent dignities of the Land save upon those who together with their blood had sucked from him the seeds and buds both of Military and Politick Vertues he created his younger son the Lord Henry Cromwel Lord Deputy of Ireland who hath alwayes and doth still behave himself with so much conduct and applause in
this so eminent a charge as that envy it self is constrained to confess that his Fathers wisdome could not have made a better choice Much about this time the Officers at Mardike in whose breasts the rigour of the winter did onely excite the heat of those designs which they had conceived in their souls being desirous to imploy part of that unprofitable season to concourse and consult that Oracle of Prudence who by the conduct of their Heroick Projects did inspire into them the vertue and efficacy to compass their designs and to surmount even the greatest difficulties Sir John Reynolds I say Commander in chief Collonel White and some other Officers being impatient to enjoy the happiness of seeing and consulting his Highness embarqued at Mardike for England but the mischance was that being assailed by a tempest they were unfortunately cast away upon the Goodwin Sands and so frustrated all the world of the expectations of those fair hopes which were conceived of their valours and of so fortunate beginnings On the fourth day of the moneth of February then next ensuing his late Highness repaired to the Lords House then in Parliament and having sent notice thereof to the House of Commons by the Keeper of the Black-Rod the Speaker with the Members came to the Lords House where standing without the Bar and his Highness within under a Cloath of State being animated with his wonted vigour and resolution succinctly told them without many preambles That it concerned his Interest as much as the publike Peace and Tranquility to terminate this Parliament so that he was come thither to dissolve the same which was also immediately performed On the twelfth day of the moneth of March ensuing his late Highness being desirous to oblige the City of London in a particular manner and at the same time to witness unto them the care he took for their preservation and tranquillity he sent for the Lord Major the Aldermen and the other Magistrates of the City and having made them sensible of his tenderness and care for their good he also represented unto them that during the Calm Tempests were most of all to be apprehended so that at such times the requisite Orders and necessary preventions to resist Troubles were to be chiefly minded For to this knowing and vigilant Spirit to whom nothing was dark or hid this penetrating Light who could pry even into mens hearts and who from out of his Cabinet could discover the most secret Plots which were hatching throughout all Europe declared unto them That the Enemies both of the State and of their City did not sleep although it seemed they were quite lulled That their City was great and vaste and like unto a corpulent Body nourished several ill humours That he requested them for their own goods to have a special care and to bear a watchful eye That he relied much upon their Vigilancy and Affection and that all he could contribute thereunto on his behalf was to re-establish the City Militia which had been abolished through the disorder of the foregoing Wars and to desire them to appoint for their Officers persons of Honour and Probity well-wishers and friends to the peace and quietness of the State and publique Good Whereupon the Lord Major and Officers having returned thanks to his Highness for so signal a Mark of his confidence and goodness towards them proceeded to settle the Militia and repayed him with all the Obedience and Fidelity which a Magnanimous Prince could expect from Subjects who were well versed in the duties they owed to a Governour who had rid them of a world of miseries and delivered them from the burthen of a Civil War Nor was this precaution or forewarning of his late Highness without some grounds or foundation for on the twenty fourth of the said Moneth the quiet Serpent which hatched its poison under the green grass unawares let slip a Hiss whereupon an exact search was made throughout all London and Westminster for suspected persons divers of which were secured and imprisoned His late Highness knowing full well that States are maintained as well by Justice as by force of Arms and that those chiefly stand in need of both which through the divisions of Mens mindes touching Spiritual concernments seem to be in a continual apprehension of those revolutions which at all times have been caused in the World by the means of these diversities of opinions His Highness I say through the cause of these apprehensions and the discoveries which were already made as aforesaid caused a High Court of Justice to be erected according as it had been decreed by an Act of Parliament and settled under the great Seal of England and truly it was high time for the Swords of Justice to appear to chastise the Conspirators since the sparkles of their fury had spread themselves abroad through its veil rather by their immoderate heat then their sad looks several persons of quality were imprisoned in the Tower of London and within few dayes afterwards just like unto a River which is ready to disgorge it self into the Sea appears great and violent at its entrance so also the Conspiracy being just ready to break forth appeared the more formidable and assured there were whole Regiments enrolled and in the midnight of May-day they should have set fire on several parts of the City and whilest the confusion and horror thereof had seized all men they should have made a general Massacre of all those who would have opposed their fury His Highness like unto the Sun elevated up to the highest Heaven peirced through all those other Sphears which were darkned to all other Lights but his and dissipated those Fogs and Mists which the darkness of the Furies had spread over the City of London for on the morning of that fatal intended day the Guards were doubled both within and without the City and about five of the Clock in the Evening both Horse and Foot were drawn up in Arms the City Militia likewise keeping strong Guards all that night to prevent and hinder so sad and horrid an attempt Mean while all care was taken to discover the Firebrands before they could enter upon their exploit and as Enterprizes wherein so many persons are engaged cannot remain very secret or hidden about seven of the Clock that Evening about forty of the Conspirators were taken and carried to White-Hall and on the day following several others of all kindes and conditions were also apprehended as Gentlemen Merchants Souldiers and the like many of which were condemned to dye as Traytors but his late Highness was so merciful to pardon the most part of them to the end that like unto a second Augustus he might gain by his Clemency those hearts which would not be mollified by the horror of the undertakings nor the rigour and severity of the punishments On the second day of the moneth of June then next ensuing there arrived a strange accident on
the Thames near London to wit a Whale of a prodigious bigness at least sixty foot and of a proportionable breadth was cast up This great Fish which may be stiled the King of the Sea for his bulk came to do homage to his late Highness and by his Captivity and Death to to let him see he was absolute Master of that terrible Element which had given her a being But let us again return to the Wars in Flanders and let us see how whole Armies and Cities do there submit unto his Highness power as well as the Sea Monsters here Now although taking and keeping of Mardike had been a sufficient warning to the Spaniards to provide the Town of Dunkirk with all necessaries to withstand a Siege however that changed not the English their resolution to attempt it wherefore the United Forces both of France and England under the Command of those two glorious Chieftains his Highness the Martial of Tureine Prince of Quesnoy and his Excellency the Lord Ambassador and General Lockhart besieged the place opened the approaches and with an incredible diligence perfected the Circum volution The Spaniards intending to attempt the relief of the place being the Key of all Flanders and the chief Sea Port assembled all their Forces and made up a considerable Army of sixteen thousand men with a design to have forced the Lines and to have raised the Siege To which intent on the third of June they came in a Body through Fuernes and encamped within an English mile and a half of the Martial Tureines Quarters who being aware of their intent the following night brake up his Camp and having left part of his Forces to make good the Approaches and to guard the Trenches marched all night with fifteen thousand men and ten peeces of cannon to encounter the Enemy to decide in a pitched Battle and an open Field with an equal advantage which party should be victorious The English Foot drawn up into four great Battalions and led on by his Excellency the Lord Ambassador and General Lockhart gave the first on-set upon five great Battalions of the Spanish Foot placed very advantagiously on three high and great Downs feconded by Don John of Austria himself and the best of the Spanish and Condean Forces which they had purposely opposed unto the English conceiving them to have been as yet Novices in the manner of waging War beyond Seas and that for want of Discipline and Conduct they would soon have been routed and disordered But they were suddenly deceived in their expectations and found that they had to deal with persons of courage and resolution who as well in the Military Discipline as in the Art of Courtship became perfect and absolue Masters even during their first years of Apprenticeship wherefore it was not without reason the Ancients did alwayes joyn Mars and Venus together since towards the doing of gallant Actions it is sufficient to be passionate and resolute at the very entering into the Lists of either of these Divinities The English therefore assailing the Spaniards in their advantageous stand as aforesaid in the high Downs did themselves alone severall times charge them and sustained both the burnt of their Horse and Foot without ever being seconded or relieved by the French who were so confident of their Resolution and Valour as that they would not seem to intrench upon their Honour besides that they were loath to change their Stands least thereby they might bring themselves into a disorder and finally forcing the Spaniards to quit their stations they put them to a total rout and confusion In which Charge up the Downs Lieutenant Collonel Fenwick who shewed a great deal of Gallantry in leading on his Excellency the Lord Ambassador and General Lockharts Regiment of Blue received his mortal wound by a Musquet bullet through the Body whereof he dyed some few dayes after Divers other persons of quality and note signallized themselves not a little that day at the Head of their respective Regiments as the Honorable Collonel Lillingston Lieutenant Collonel Fleetwood Captain Devaux who led up a Forelorn of three hundred Musquetiers and gave the first Charge upon the Spaniards And of the Voluntiers Collonel Henry Jones who at first charged with Lieutenant Collonel Fenwick on foot afterwards on Horseback when as engaging too far he was taken prisoner but was afterwards exchanged and by his late Highness at his return into England made Knight and Baronet Divers others did gallantly who doubtless will not be forgotten in the English Annals and would be too large to be expressed in this Epitome relating onely to his Highness The Spaniards had at first resolved to have given no English man quarter but the fortune of the day made them glad to seek to the English for quarter themselves and it was well they could have it given them although the English were generous enough to have spared their Lives had not the zeal of overcoming and their resolutions to perfect the Victory taken up all their care and passions Finally the Spanish Foot being totally routed and coming to surrender themselves to the English in whole troops the English mistrusting they had some other intentions and stratagem thereby neither understanding their Language nor designe continued charging them and enforced them to seek quarter elsewhere preferring the gaining of the Victory to their own particular interests and so reaped an intire glory in their despising and rejecting several prisoners of quality who profered themselves to them and for the which they might have had considerable ransoms And in the gaining of those high Downs on which the Spaniards were placed the English behaved themselves with so much gallantry and resolution as that envy and malice raised a report amidst the jealous and their Corivals that it savoured more of a piece of rashness then of a true valour as if Soldiers could possibly with too much zeal and readiness performe those Commands which are given them To be brief the victory wholly declared it self for the English and for the French and the whole Spanish Army was quite discomfited and pursued to the very Gates of Fuernes with the loss of three thousand five hundred men two thousand whereof were killed on the place of Suydcote a Village seated in the Downs between Dunkirk and Fuernes and the rest were taken prisoners and the whole Army dissipated and disordered which defeat having quite disheartned the besieged and depriving them of all hopes of relief besides their Govornour the Marquis De Leda being mortally wounded by two hand Granadoes as he defended the false bray and of which wounds he dyed constrained them to beat a Parley fourteen dayes afterwards and to surrender the place on the fifteenth of July 1658. after the one and twentieth day of the opening of the Approaches And in this manner this famous Sea-port was reduced under the obedience of his late Highness the Lord Protector and was by the French put
were adorned with Trophies of Military Honour carved and gilt the pedestalls of the Pillars had Shields and Crowns gilt which compleated the whole work Within the Rails and Ballasters stood eight great Silver Candlesticks or Standarts almost five soot high with Virgin-wax Tapers of three foot long next unto the Candlesticks there were set upright in Sockets the four great Standards of his Higness Arms the Guydons great Banners and Banrolls of war being all of Taffity very richly gilt and painted The Cloth of State which covered the Bed of State and the Effigies had a Majestick Scutcheon and the whole Room was fully and compleatly adorned with Taffity Scutcheons several of his late Highness's Gentlemen attending bare-headed round about the Bed of State in Mourning and other of his Highness's Servants waiting in the other Rooms to give directions to the spectators and to prevent disorders After which his late Highness Effigies was several dayes shown in another Room standing upon an Ascent under a rich Cloth of State vested in royal Robes having a Scepter in one hand and a Globe in the other a Crown on his Head his Armour lying by him at a distance and the Banners Banrolls and Standards being placed round about him together with the other Ensigns of Honour the whole Room which was spacious being adorned in a majestical manner and several of his late Highness's Gentlemen attending about the Effigies bare-headed in which manner the Effigies continued until the solemnization of the Funerals On the three and twentieth day of November in the morning the time appointed for the solemnization of the Funerals of his late Highness the several persons of Honour and quality which were invited to attend the Interment being come to Somerset-house and all things being in a readiness to proceed the Effigies of his late Highness standing under a rich Cloath of State in the manner afore specified was first shown to the company and afterwards removed and placed on a Hearse richly adorned and set forth with Scutcheons and other Ornaments the Effigies it self being vested in Royal Robes a Scepter in one hand a Globe in the other and a Crown on the Head after it had been a while thus placed in the middle of a Room it was carried on the Hearse by ten of his late Highness Gentlemen into the Court-yard where a very rich Canopy of State was born over it by six other of his late Highness Gentlemen till it was brought and placed on the Chariot at each end whereof was a seat wherein sate two of his late Highness's Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber the one at the Head and the other at the Feet of the Effigies The Pall which was made of Velvet and the white linnen was very large extending on each side of the carriage and was born up by several persons of Honour thereunto appointed The Chariot wherein the Effigies was conveyed was covered with black Velvet adorned with Plumes and Scutcheons and was drawn by six Horses covered with black Velvet and each of them adorned with black Plumes of Feathers From Somerset-house to Westminster the streets were railed in and strawed with Sand the Soldiers being placed on each side of the steeets without the Rails and their Ensigns wrapped up in a Cypress mourning Veil The manner of the proceeding to the Interment was briefly thus First a Knight Martial advanced on Horse-back with his black Truncheon tipt at both ends with Gold attended by his Deputy and thirteen men on Horseback to clear the way After him followed the Poor men of Westminster in mourning Gowns and Hoods marching two and two Next unto them followed the Servants of the several persons of all qualities which attended the Funeral These were followed by all his late Highness's Servants as well inferiour as superiour both within and without the Household as also all his Highness's Barge-men and Water-men Next unto these followed the Servants and Officers belonging to the Lord Major and Sheriffs of the City of London Then came several Gentlemen and attendants on the respective Ambassadors and the other Publique Ministers After those came the poor Knights of Windsor in Gowns and Hoods Then followed the Clerks Secretaries and other Officers belonging to the Army the Admiralty the Treasury the Navy and Exchequer After these came the Officers in Command in the Fleet as also the Officers of the Army Next followed the Commissioners for Excize those of the Army and the Committee of the Navy Then followed the Commissioners for the Approbation of Preachers Then came the Officers Messengers and Clerks belonging to the Privy Councel and the Clerks of both Houses of Parliament Next followed his late Highness Physicians The Head Officers of the Army The Chief Officers and Aldermen of the City of London The Masters of the Chancery with his Highness learned Councel at Law The Judges of the Admiralty the Masters of Request with the Judges in Wales The Barons of the Exchequer the Judges of both Benches and the Lord Major of London Next to these the persons allied in Blood to his late Higness and the Members of the Lords House After them the Publique Ministers of Forreign States and Princes Then the Holland Ambassador alone whose Train was born up by four Gentlemen Next to him the Portugal Ambassador alone whose Train was held up by four Knight of the Order of Christ And thirdly the French Ambassador whose Train was also held up by four persons of quality Then followed the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury The Lords of his late Highness most Honorable Privy Councel After whom followed the chief Mourner and those persons of quality which were his Assistants and bare up his Train All the Nobles were in close Mourning the rest were but in ordinary being disposed in their passage into several Divisions being distinguished by Drums and Trumpets and by a Standard or Banner born by a Person of Honor and his assistant and a Horse of State covered with black Velvet and led by a person of Honor followed by two Grooms Of which Horses there were eleven in all four covered with black Cloth and seven with Velvet These being all passed in order at length the Chariot followed with the Effigies on each side of which were born six Banner Rolls twelve in all by as many persons of Honor The several pieces of his late Highness Armor were born by eight Honorable persons Officers of the Army attended by a Herald and a Gentleman on each side Next followed Garter principal King of Arms attended with a Gentleman on each side bare-headed Then came the chief Mourner together with those Lords and noble personages that were supporters and assistants to the chief Mourner Then followed the Horse of Honor in very rich Trappings embroidered upon Crimson Velvet and adorned with white red and yellow Plumes and was led by the Master of the Horse Finally in the close of all followed his late Highness
Guard of Halberdiers and the Warders of the Tower The Solemnity was mannaged with a great deal of State from Somerset-House to Westminster many thousands of people being Spectators in the Windows and upon the Scaffolds all along the way as it passed At the West Gate of the Abbey Church the Hearse with the Effigies thereon was taken off again from the Chariot by those ten Gentlemen who placed it thereon before and in their passing on to carry it into the Church the Canopy of State was by the former six Gentlemen born over it again In which stately manner it was carried up to the East end of the Abbey and there placed in that Magnificent structure which was purposely erected there to receive it where it is to remain for some time exposed to publick view The Corps having been some dayes before Interred in Henry the Seventh's Chappel in a Vault purposely prepared for the same over which a costly Monument is preparing Thus have you a brief Relation of the last Ceremonies of Honor which were performed to the Memory of his late Highness who by his Heroick Acts had so well deserved as that my dull pen not able to express them I shall remit the Reader to censure my endeavours and submit to those that shall hereafter undertake to present the World with a larger Chronicle FINIS THE CHARACTER of his late Serene Highness OLIVER Late Lord Protector With several Reflections on the foregoing History SEeing Philosophers are of opinion that the Resemblance of Children to their Parents as well in their bodily shapes and features as in the Inclinations of their Souls is produced by one and the self-same Cause chiefly grounded upon this reason That the one is the Representative of the other And seeing moreover that we may not attribute unto a material Cause an immaterial Effect such as are all the operations of a Rational Soul they reject the power of a forming vertue the the Imaginary one the Constellation of the Planets and the qualities of the Seed To fix upon a more sublime mystery whereby God would have the Legitimateness of Children and Nephews to be manifested rather by the better part of man which is the Soul then by his Complexion his Behaviour his Speech and the shape of his Body And that such glorious souls as are wrapt up as it were in the body should like unto a transparent sun penetrate through those thick clouds and by that resplendency which they infuse through the whole body should attract the esteem and veneration which they beget in men either in the vulgar sort who are onely taken with the out-side or in the malicious and envious who endeavour to smoother those Talents in others which they do not possess themselves Which truth that we may the better make good it will not be amiss having first represented unto you some of his late Highness the Lord Protectors memorable Acts to demonstrate unto you the greatness of his soul and how well it was placed whereby all its Heroical vertues may as through a Christal glass appear unto the eyes of the whole world In this wise all Hystoriographers have proceeded not onely in their describing of the lives of Illustrious Personages but also in subduing of Cities and Towns Foretresses and places of Consequence which no sooner had received the Conquerours yoke but the Origine and Foundations were narrowly pried into the manner of their being fortified was described the form of their being besieged the assaults which they susteined and the glory which they acquired even by their surrendry upon honorable terms whereas on the contrary inconsiderate ones are quite neglected their appellations and reductions being scarce deemed worthy to be specified in a History In like manner since death after several vain attempts and successess assaults hath at length bereaved us of our Illustrious late Lord Protector we shall give you the Character of his person to let you see how much he resembled his glorious predecessors And howbeit we may thereby somewhat diminish and detract from his glory however so beautiful a soul as his was accompanied by a body participating of all those Organs which were succeptible of such high and admirable operations could not choose but produce the ensuing glorious effects In his person he somewhat exceeded the usual middle stature but was well proportioned accordingly being of a becoming fatness well shaped having a masculine face a sparkling eye both courteous and harsh at once according as there was occasion hardy and fierce in combats and reprehensions tempered in councels and meek promising to the afflicted and suitors He was of a strong constitution and of an active body well disposed an enemy both to ease and excess and although in his youth he was capable of yet he used not those fair and bewitching pleasures which a countrey where idleness and wantonness did reign doth afford to vigorous constitutions with a great deal of mediocrity in the War he was active vigilant and circumspect and although he was doubtless one of the best head-pieces in the world yet he disdained not to conferre and take counsel with others even in Affairs of the least concernment His greatest delight was to read men rather then books and his Eloquence which was both Masculine and Martial was rather a natural gift then an effect of art wherein he alwayes mingled some passages of the holy Writ in which his piety had amply instructed him to which most charming part as well as to his Sword he owed most of his Conquests and Victories being alwayes accustomed to exhort and animate his Souldiers at the undertaking of any great enterprize and before the giving of a battle so likewise after he had gained the victory he himself did express unto God his thankfulness and acknowledgements with so profound an humility as that he attributed unto God alone all his good success and did constantly refuse all those triumphs which were prepared for and profered to his valour He had an especial care to have Piety and Godliness reign in his Armies and punished as a most enormious crime those who took Gods name in vain Moreover he loved his Souldiers as his Children and his greatest care was to see them provided for with all necessaries requisite by which foresight and provividence he was the better able to execute that severe punishment which he usually caused to be inflicted on those who plundred and spoiled the Peasants for which crime he would not have pardoned his ownbrother and on the other side he was alwayes most bountiful and liberal to his Souldiers and those Pensions which are yet payed daily unto the old Souldiers unto their Widows and to the maimed and hurt men may save those charges which some Princes have been at to hire persons to weep and lament at their Funerals and over their Tombs He took great delight to discourse of the Affairs of the World and his own judgement did furnish him with such exact resolutions
concerning the Government of his Estates and touching the interests of other Princes as without the entring into their Cabinets or partaking of their Counsels he discoursed very pertinently of their Affairs and foretold their several issues and events He likewise was an excellent Phisionomer and having once seriously considered any one he was seldome deceived in the opinion he conceived of him He married into the ancient and noble family of the Bourchers whence the Earls of Essex were descended his marriage bed was blessed with many Children none of which did ever degenerate from the eminent vertues of their most Illustrious Father His eldest son named Ricard hath succeeded him in the Protectorship his younger son named Henry being at this time Lord Lieutenant of Ireland both of them capable to follow their Fathers glorious footsteps and to perfect and crown such hopeful promising though difficult beginnings their Father having as it were divided shared and left by inheritance unto their youth swelling with marvellous hopes that most exquisite Quintessence of two great Talents which he had acquired by his age and by his experience so that the one of his sons may be stiled the Jupiter and the other the Mars of England He had four Daughters all of them Ladies of a most eminent and vertuous disposition The Lady Bridget first married unto the Lord Ireton in his life time Lord Deputy of Ireland a Personage of sublime worth and afterwards espoused unto the Lord Fleetwood sometimes Lord Deputy of Ireland and at present Lieutenant General of all his Highness Forces The Lady Elizabeth his second Daughter married unto the Lord Cleypoll and dyed a little before her Father of whom we shall speak hereafter The third the Lady Mary espoused unto the Lord Viscount Faulconbridge And the youngest the Lady Frances at present widow of the Lord Robert Rich Grandchilde to the late Earl of Warwick Nor did the change of his late Highness Fortunes in the least decline or diminish the tenderness and affection which he ever bare towards the worthy Mother of so numerous and hopeful an issue and that absolute power which he had over all his Dominions never gave him the least desire to captivate any heart save that which God had given him in marriage And that which is the most to be admired at and seems to be the summe of all bliss is that the Almighty lent his late Highness so much life as to see all his Children disposed to the most gallant personages and allied to the most Illustrious Families of England which are as so many props of his Fortune and Fences against the enviers of his Vertue He was an enemy to vain gloriousness ostentation and although he was all as it were fire that is of a passionate constitution yet he had so overcome his passions that he was seldome or never moved but when there was a great cause given so likewise was he more subject to repress and keep in then to give way to his passion The actions of his body denoted those of his minde his actions were in a manner without motion and without any forcings of the body in like manner his minde was not at all agitated nor his expressions precipitated sweetness and tranquillity accompanied his thoughts and his words but when there was occasion to carry a business he expressed himself with so much vigour as gave to understand that he was not easily to be disswaded from the thing he had once resolved In like manner during the whole course of the War he never harboured the least thought of changing of parties And as for Ambition which is the onely passion whereof envy it self seems to accuse him the effects thereof were so inconfiderable and unnecessary unto him nay so unpleasing and unwelcome and which is more he so often refused the pomps delights and grandours which were profered him that all the world must needs confess that where Nature could claim so small an interest the master and directer of Nature must needs have had a great share Wherefore we may aver with a great deal of reason That in case he hath hoorded and laid up Treasures it hath been in the Intrals of the Poor of all Sexes and of all Nations of all Professions and Religions both at home and abroad insomuch that it hath been computed that out of his own private instinct particular Motions and pious Compassion he distributed at least forty thousand pounds a year in Charitable Uses out of his own purse out of such Moneys as the Commonwealth did allow him for his Domestique Expences and for the maintenance of his State and the Dignity of his Person Family and the keeping up the splendour of his Court. And the better to illustrate this matter we shall insert an Essay of two examples of Generosity and Gratitude which are not to be parallel'd save in the persons of Thomas Lord Cromwell his late Highness's predecessor in Henry the Eighth's Reign and in the person of his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector In those glorious dayes when the English young Gentry endeavored to out-vie their elder Brothers by undertaking far and dangerous journies into Forreign parts to acquire glory by feats of Arms and experiencing themselves in the Military Discipline Thomas Cromwel a younger Brother to better his knowledge in Warlike Affairs passed into France and there trailed a Pike accompanying the French Forces into Italy where they were defeated at Gattellion whereupon our English Volantier betook himself to Florence designing to pass thence home again into England but having loft all his equipage and being in a necessitated condition he was enforced to address himself to one Signior Francisco Frescobald an Italian Merchant who corresponded at London and making his case known unto him Frescobald observing something remarkable and a certain promising greatness in the Features Actions and Deportment of Thomas Cromwel who gave an account of himself with so candid an ingenuity and in such terms as beseemed his Birth and the Profession he then was of whereby he gained so much upon Frescobald as inviting him home to his house he caused him to be accommodated with new Linnen and Clothes and other sutable necessaries kindly entertaining him till such time as he testified a desire to return for England when as to compleat his Generosity and Kindeness he gave Mr. Thomas Cromwell a Horse and sixteen Duccats in gold to prosecute his journey homewards In process of time several disasters and Bankrupts befalling Signior Frescobald his Trading and Credit was not a little thereby impaired and reflecting on the Moneys which were due unto him by his Correspondents in England to the value of 15000. Duccats he resolved to pass thither and try whether he could happily procure payment During which interval of time Mr. Thomas Cromwell being a person endowed with a great deal of Courage of a transcendent Wit hardy in his undertakings and a great Politician had by these his good qualities gotten himself
entrance and credit at Court and highly ingratiated himself with King Henry the Eighth having advanced himself to almost as high a pitch of Honour in as short a time in a manner as his late Highness did The Lord Thomas Cromwell therefore riding one day with a great train of Noble Men towards the Kings Palace chanced to espy on foot in the streets Signior Frescobald the Italian Merchant in an ill plight however he immediately alighting from his Horse embraced him before all the world to the great astonishment of the beholders and chid him that at his very arrival he came not to visit him Frescobald being astonished at so unexpected an encounter and receiving so signal a favor from a personage he could not call to minde he had ever known was quite surprized and my Lord Cromwells pressing affairs at Court not permitting him the while to acquaint him further who he was onely engaged him to come and dine with him that day Frescobald full of amazement enquired of the attendants who that great personage might be And hearing his name he began to call the Feature of his Face and the Idea of his Person to mind and so by degrees conceiving with himself it might happily be the same Mr. Thomas Cromwell whom he had harboured at Florence he enquired out his Lordships habitation and attended his coming at Noon-tide walking in his Court-yard No sooner was the Lord Thomas Cromwel entred the same attended by several persons of quality and officers of the Crown but speedily alighting from his Horse he embraced his friend Frescobald in the same manner he had done in the morning and perceiving that the Lords which accompanied him were amazed at such a disproportioned familiarity he told them that he was more obliged to Frescobald then to all the men in the world owing unto him the making of his Fortune and so proceeded to relate unto them the whole story which had befallen him at Florence So great a delight do generous mindes take to recount their foregoing Misfortunes when their Grandor hath elevated them to such a pitch as that they triumph over Shame and are incapable of Ingratitude Frescobald was treated at Dinner with all the tenderness he could expect from so great a personage and so good a friend after which being carried up by the Lord T. Cromwel into his Closet he was there presented with four bags of Gold each containing four hundred Duccats in return of his former civilities which Frescobald being of a gallant spirit at first refused but after several contestations was constrained to accept as an acknowledgement from the Lord Cromwell who moreover enquiring of him concerning his coming over and affairs in England and understanding his Losses and that there were Moneys due to him caused him to write down his Debters names and by his Secretary summoned the several Merchants which were indebted to Frescobald upon pain of his displeasure to clear their Accounts with him and to pay him within the space of fifteen days which was accordingly performed onely Frescobald freely forgave them the Use Over and above all which the Lord Thomas Cromwell endeavoured to perswade his friend Frescobald to have remained in England the rest of his Dayes profering to lend him a stock of 60000. Duccats to trade withall But Frescobald being over-charged with all those grand obligations which the Lord Cromwell had conferred on him having by his Lordships Generosity acquired enough to keep him from being necessitated all his life time and deeming that the trading in good Works was incomparably more sure and gainful then in the richest Wares and Merchandizes being resolved to quit Trading and to end the rest of his dayes peaceably and quietly he obtained leave of the Lord Thomas Cromwell to depart towards his own Countrey freighted with so great obligations as caused in him a generous shame But the Almighty doth not alwayes recompense the fruits of good Works here on Earth often repaying the greatest with the least rewards and Heaven delights in the exercising of its great Vertues by the Vices which are thereunto opposite and as the most noblest Creatures are the slowest in the attaining to their perfections so the Almighty doth not immediately cause those Fruits to ripen which are sowed here below by Christian Charity Wherefore to return to the Lord Thomas Cromwell who had made the Match between Anne of Cleve and King Henry the Eighth you shall see how he was rewarded for his Generosity and good Services for this Princess Anne of Cleve conceiving a certain womanish Jealousie she knew not why nor wherefore against the Lord Thomas Cromwell save onely that she apprehended he had too great a power and sway with the King never left off solliciting and importuning of him till he caused the Lord Thomas Cromwell to be beheaded by which sad compliance the King lost the best Supporter of his Crown and the faithfullest of his Servants and Subjects The Lord Thomas Cromwell dyed without Heir Males leavingone onely Daughter espoused to one Mr. Williams a Gentleman of Glamorganshire of a good Family who as we have before said inherited little of his Father save his Vertues besides what his own Deserts had procured him and what he might promise himself by the Match with this Heiress the Lord Thomas Cromwels Daughter from whence our Lord Protectors are lineally descended and who was the lively representative of her Father and the very pourtraiture of his great soul as the Lady Cleypool was of his late Highness the Lord Protector Now that you may know on what occasion the Name of Williams came to be changed into that of Cromwell it happened when as King Henry the Eighth was in the midst of his Splendor Pomp and Magnificence wallowing in the pleasures of a sumptuous Entertainment at Court Mr. Williams who had been a retainer to the late Lord Thomas Cromwell made his appearance before the King in deep Mourning like a dark Cloud eclipsing the Sun at Noon-tide The King casting his eye upon so unexpected and dismal an Object which seemed to reproach his rash fault was surprized and offended at the interrupting of his Pleasures by Williams so unseasonable apparition wherefore the King asked him how he durst appear at Court in that garb whereunto Williams replied with a sad but assured countenance That not onely himself but the King and all the Court had reason to mourn for the loss of the greatest and faithfullest of his Subjects and Servants whose Death himself might one day chance to regret when he should stand in need of his Councels and Fidelity But the King whose thoughts were at that time taken up with his Pastimes wished Williams to be gone and to get himself cured of his Frenetick Mallady Some while after troubles arising and the King finding himself in a strait for want of so faithful a Minister of State as the late Lord Thomas Cromwel was whose life he had so inconsiderately taken away began to
reflect on the loss he had sustained and how requisite it was for Princes and great Potentates to retain near their Persons Men of Knowledge Worth and Fidelity and calling to minde the action and discourse of Williams conceiving that it could not proceed but from a great soul endowed with extraordinary vertues and such a one as might be useful and serviceable to him he sent for him up to Court and commanding him to take the name of Cromwel upon himself unto whom he had testified so much Fidelity and Gratitude he invested him with all the Offices and Charges the late Lord Thomas Cromwel enjoyed near his person and re-instated him again in all his Goods and Lands which had been confiscated so that the Lord Williams assisted in the Kings Councel as his Father in Law the Lord Thomas Cromwel before had done From this Noble Lord Williams alias Cromwel and the Illustrious Daughter of the renowned Lord Thomas Cromwel his late Highness and our present Lord Protector are lineally descended in whom the Almighty hath raised up and ripened those generous vertues of their predecessors and hath elevated and spread their branches as high as their deep roots had taken profound and vigorous Foundations So that to compleat our parallel we may observe by the fruits of this Illustrious Stock from whence his late Highness is descended whether they retained their accustomed Generosity and Clemency which we will not go about to prove by the Military Acts in which they have outvied their Predecessors nor by their Politick and prudent Government of the State in which they have at least equalized them but by their private and domestick actions since the resemblance of Children to their Parents may be more observed by the Features of the Face then by the course of their lives which are subject to vary either by the inconstancy of Fortune or the Communication of other men To come therefore to his late Highness the Lord Protector and signalize his gratitude we shall instance in the person of one Duret a French attendant of his Highness during his General-ship who served him with so much Fidelity and Zeal as that he intrusted him with the managing and conduct of the greatest part of his domestick Affairs alwayes retaining him nigh his person bearing so great an affection towards him and reposing so entire a confidence in him as during his late Highness's great sickness which he had in Scotland and whereof it was thought he would have dyed he would not be served by any one nor receive any nourishment or any thing else that was administred unto him save from the hands of Duret who both day and night continued to watch by his Master tending him with a special care and assiduity not giving himself a Moments rest untill his late Highness had recovered his perfect health which long and continual watches of Duret and the pains he had taken in the administring unto his Master plunged him into a sad fit of sickness during which this faithful servant received all the acknowledgements which his good and zealous services had demerited his late Highness applying all the possible cures he could not onely by his commands but by his personal visits so oft as his urgent Affairs would permit him to comfort Duret and to see all things applyed that might conduce to his recovery but Durets hour being come he was content to lay down his life in his Masters service and the Physicians having quite given him over his late Highness would needs render him his last good offices by comforting him at his death by his sensibleness of his good services and the extream zeal and affection he had born to his person which although he could not requite unto him yet his Highness assured him he would manifest his acknowledgements thereof unto his Parents and Kindred Whereunto Duret replyed That the honour he had received in having served so good and great a Master and the glory he reaped in having laid down his life for the preservation of his Highness and of so good and glorious a Cause was extream satisfactory unto him in his death That he had a Mother and a Sister with some Kindred in France who were unworthy his Highness thoughts or reflecting on them however that he remitted them to his Highness gracious consideration And so Duret his good and faithful servant breathed his last In which contract of grief and resolution of acknowledgement his late Highness may be said to have harboured the same thoughts as Henry the Eighth did perswading himself that he had been the Author of Durets death though in a far innocenter way However his late Highness retained all the resentments and sensibleness of the acknowledgements and gratitude expressed by his generous predecessor the Lord Thomas Cromwel towards his dear Friend Frescobald For his late Highness immediately sent over For Durets Mother Sister and two Nephews out of France and would have the whole Family of the Durets to come and establish themselves here in England that he might the better manifest his Love and Gratitude in their persons towards his deceased faithful servant And whereas by reason of the continuance of the Scotch Wars his late Highness was at that time as it were confined to the North he wrote unto her Highness the now Lady Protectoress Dowager his wife that she should receive and use Durets Mother Sister and Allies accordingly as she praised the good offices of his deceased faithful servant to whose cares pains and watchings he owed the preservation of his own life and that she should proportion that kindnes which during his absence she should show unto them unto the love which she bore unto him insomuch that Durets Mother was by her Highness admitted into her own Family and seated at her own Table his Sister was placed in the rank and quality of a Maid of Honour to her Highness and his two Nephews were admitted to be her Highnesses Pages whereby the Almighty Crowned Durets good and faithful services towards his Master and his piety and observance towards his Mother and Sister whose onely support he was in his life time with the rich Flowers of Prosperity and with the Fruits of Fortune advancing them as fast as the sad destiny did his precipitated death And no sooner was his late Highness returned into England after the conquest of Scotland and the glorious Victory he had obtained at Worcester full freighted with the resplendency of his noble atchievements but he desired to see Durets Mother Sister and Nephews enquiring how they had been received and treated and whether they were well pleased to be in England and as soon as they appeared in his presence he could not retain his generous tears for the loss of Duret nor could he cease to testifie his inward grief for him comforting the good old Gentlewoman Mrs. Duret by the mouth of his Children who spake French telling her She had not lost her son although dead