told them with what regret he had executed their late Orders in relation to the Chaines Posts and Gates of the City which he fear'd would be so far from answering the expected end that it would rather encrease the discomposure of mens spirits in the Nations minding them also That the ground of his coming into England was not only to return them to their trust but also to vindicate the Liberties of the People c. He also complain'd That Lambert Vane and others impeached of Treason that had acted in the illegal and tyrannical Committee of Safety were yet suffer'd to continue in and about the City and some too in the House and in the Army c. That they were contriving to take away the maintenance of the Ministry That they were framing another Oath to impose upon the people and to that purpose had countenanced a bold and dangerous Petition from the Fanatick Party And lastly he desir'd That by the Fryday following they would issue out VVrits for filling up the House upon due and reasonable Qualifications and put a certain and speedy period to their sitting according to their frequent Declarations This Letter produc'd not greater regret in the Rump then it did joy to the City and whole Kingdome which was testifi'd at night by Bone-fires and ringing of Bells c. The time set for filling the House being expir'd and nothing done by the Rump in order thereunto the formerly secluded Members upon addresse to the General and engageing to him not to be against a single person were on Feb. 21. permitted to take their seats in the House after 11. years exclusion The House now augmented by above a 100. Members take care for settling the Nations and first they constituted General Monck Commander in chief of all the forces of England Scotland and Ireland Sir VVilliam VValler Lieutenant General Colonel Rossiter General of the Horse General Montague Admiral af Sea Then they appointed a New Council of State consisting of Gen. Monck the Lord Fairfax Mr. Annesley Sir VVilliam VValler Mr. Hollis Gen. Montagu and others to the number of 30. And with all speed they released severall Gentlemen imprison'd by the Rump and amongst others Sir Geo. Booth ordering also the City Gate to be repaired at the publick charge And lastly having made provision for settling the Militiaa of the Kingdome and calling a new Parliament to convene at Westminster April 25. they dissolved themselves by Act on Friday March 16. And thus ended that unhappy Long Parliment after almost 19. years from their first assembling having been interrupted for 5. years together by Cromwel and for ten weeks by Lambert His Majesty in the mean time remov'd from the Spanish Court at Brussels to Bruges in Flanders and resided there for a good space but being now in fair hopes of restitution to his Dominions departed from thence toward the latter end of March to Breda a handsome Town scituate in Brabant about 10. leagues from Antwerp and belonging to the Prince of Orange In this interval the Council of State prudently manag'd affairs proclaiming against all disturbers of the peace under whatsoever pretence and tendring an engagement for peaceable demeanour to be subscrib'd by such as they suspected of disturbance which Lambert refusing was committed to the Tower The General also purg'd his Army of Fanaticks both Officers Souldiers sent down two Colonels to displace Overton from the Garrison of Hull which he pretended to keep till the coming of Iesus Christ But about the midst of April a great disturbance had like to have hapned For Lambert having made an escape out of the Tower appear'd in armes about Northampton in the head of a party many cashier'd souldiers and fanaticks repairing to him But this danger was timely remov'd by Col. Rich. Ingoldsby who without fighting took Lambert with his own hand and sent him up to London prisoner together with a son of Hasilrig's Col. Cobbet and Major Creed They were brought by Coach through Hide Park on April 24. at which time 20000. Horse and Foot of City Regiments and Auxiliaries were training there The Parliament according to appointment assembled at VVestminster chose Sir Harbottle Grimstone Speaker the Nobility also taking their places in the upper-House by virtue of their Peerage choosing the Earle of Manchester Speaker Within a few dayes after their meeting the Lord Viscount Mordant and Sir Iohn Greenvile one of the Gentlemen of his Majestie 's Bed-chamber arrived at London with Letters from his Majesty dated at Breda April 4 14. One was to the House of Peers another to the House of Commons another to Gen. Monck and his Officers and another to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London These Letters were accompanied with a Declaration and delivered accordingly on May-day The two Houses received them with great joy and loyal affection so did his Excellency and the City from whom Sir Iohn Greenvile receiv'd 200 l. and 500 l. from the Parliament as a gratuity to buy him a Iewel The Letters were full of very gracious expressions and in the Declaration his Majesty offer'd I. A Free and General Pardon to be passed under the Great Seale to all persons whatsoever who within 40. dayes after the publication thereof shall sue it out Excepting such as should be excepted by the Parliament II. A liberty to tender consciences in matters of Râ—ligion so as the peace of the Kingdome be not disturb'd and to pass such an Act to that effect as the Parliament should think fit to offer III. The determination concerning Sales and Purchases to the Parliament IV. And lastly satisfaction of Arrears to the Officers and Souldiers of Gen. Monck 's Army and reception of them into his own service upon as good pay and conditions as they now enjoy Hereupon the House of Commons Vote his Majestie 's Letters and Declaration satisfactory and the Government to be in King Lords and Commons soon after which both Houses ordered a certain number of their Members to go to his Majesty with Letters and to invite him to his Kingdomes also 50000 l. was ordered to be immediately sent to him 10000 l. to the Duke of York and 5000 l. to the Duke of Glocester The City also deputed several worthy Members to wait upon his Majesty with a Letter and 10000 l. as a present Moreover Admiral Montague was commanded to attend him upon the coasts of Holland with a squadron of Ships But the General first of all dispatcht away his Brother Sir Thom. Clerges with a Letter to his Majesty wherein was enclos'd an Addresse of the Officers professing their Allegiance to his Majesty On Tuesday May 8. his Majesty was solemnly proclaimed in London and soon after in all Counties Cities and Borroughs of England and that with greater transports of joy then had ever been known upon the like or any other occasion In the mean time great numbers of persons of quality daily flocked over to Breda to his
and their Army an accommodement of which is undertaken by Commissioners chosen on both sides But the Army judging it would be advantageous for their concernments to get the King into their hands sent Cornet Ioyce to Holmby with 500. Horse upon the fourth of Iune who took the King from thence by night without the privity and consent of the Parliament or the General himself as he profess'd in a Letter to them And now the damnable Mysterie of Iniquity begins to work they march up to S. Albans against the Parliaments order refuse to deliver the King's person to their Commissioners and mongst other insolencies impeach eleven members of the House of Commons The Speaker though he had the day before protested against such a dishonourable Act in the Abbey Church at Westminster flyes to the Army with several Members The City stick to the remaining part of the Parliament for the restoring of the King and declare against the Army Fairfax marches up to London which prepar'd to oppose him enters the City with 20000. Horse and Foot upon the 6. of August re-establishes the Members receives their thanks puts Tichbourn into the Tower of London as Lieutenant takes up his Head-Quarters at Kingston and places the King Hampton Court Within a few dayes after several members of the House are accused of Treason as Sir Iohn Maynard Denzil Hollis Sir William Waller Major General Massey c. Sir Iohn Gayer and four Aldermen Culham Bunce Langham and Adams are committed to the Tower and the Earles of Suffolk Lincoln Middlesex with the Lords Berkley Maynard Hunsdon and VVilloughby of Parham to the Black Rod. All the Works of the City are voted to be cast down upon pretence of bringing in the King but indeed according to the design of the Army sutably to whose pleasure they acted to disable it from resistance Propositions are sent to the King the same in effect with the former of Newcastle Agitators are set up by the Souldiers amongst themselves to carry on their Interests The Scots Commissioners send a Letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons for a personal Treaty between his Majesty and the Commissioners of both Nations But whil'st new Propositions are preparing the King being inform'd of designes against his Life escapes from Hampton-Court with intent to go to the Isle of Iersey where the Prince still lay At his coming to the sea-shoar he found himself disappointed of a ship and therefore goes with Col. Legg to Tedsworth to the Countess Dowager of Southampton's house and sends Sir Iohn Berkley and Mr. Ashburnham which three accompanied him in his escape to the Isle of Wight to L.G. Hammond of whom he had with no great reason entertain'd some hopes Hammond goes with them and fetches the King to Carisbrook Castle Hence he sends a Letter to the Parliament the Scots Commissioners granting all they could desire Whereupon new propositions are sent to him which the Scots protest against as too derogatory to his Honour and therefore they are refused Hereupon the incensed Commons vote no further Addresses to him which presently endears them to the Army again Affairs standing in this ill posture the Prince with the Duke of York who had escaped in woman's apparel from S. Iames's and landed at Dort in Holland by the help of Col. Bampfield sent over purposely on that design by the Queen Prince Rupert the Lords Hopton Wilmot VVilloughby Brainford Culpepper Ruthen Sir Henry Palmer c. in his own ships and those that had revolted in all twenty sail with 2000. men mov'd to and fro in the Downes and upon the southern Coast to lay hold of any opportunity that might present it self for the service of his Father sending forth several Commissions to that purpose to persons of honour and trust who might promote his affairs by land and to the Marq of Ormond the Lord Inchequin and Montgomery in Ireland to the Committee of States in Scotland and their Officers to the Lord Goring in Kent and the Lord Capel in Essex to Sir Thomas Glenham and Sir Marmaduke Langdale in the North to Col. Poyer Laughorn and Powel in Wales as also to Sir Edw. Hales Sir Charles Lucas the Duke of Buckingham the Earles of Holland and Peterborough Letters of correspondency passe mutually between him and the Scots his Father and the City whereof some are intercepted in which the City the Lord and some Commons are intimated ready to contribute all assistance possible For the better satisfaction of the World his Highnesse was pleased to publish a most gracious Declaration which consisted of the ensuing Particulars 1. For the establishment of Religion according to his Majesties agreement of the 26. of December last viz. That Presbytery should be continued for Three yeares and a free debate to be had between the Divines assembled at Westminster and twenty whom his Majesty should appoint about the settlement of Church Government for the future 3. For the performance of the said Agreement and pursuance of the concessions on the King's part which were That the Parliament should dispose of the Militia and have the choice of his privy Counsellors during his Reign c. That the Arrears of the Army be pay'd c. 3. For restoring the King to a personal Treaty 4. For the just Priviledges of Parliament 5. for an Act of Oblivion 6. For the Liberty of the Subject and the abolishing Excise Taxes and Free Quarter c. 7. For disbanding of all Armies and setling of Peace 8. For the defence of the Narrow Seas securing of Trade support of the Navy and Seamen c. This excellent Declaration was seconded with a Letter from his Highnesse to the House of Peers desiring 1. That a Personal Treaty be had in such place and manner as may consist with the King's Honour Safety and Freedome that the Treaty be not blemish'd with any appearance of a restraint 2. That Scotland be included 3. That in the mean time there be a cessation of Armes and an orderly moderate subsistence agreed on for Forces on Foot on both sides by land and sea to the Souldiers content and the Subjcts ease Hereupon within a short time severall attempts were made for the King's service April the 9. 1643. the London Apprentices made an insurrection but were supprest by Fairfax the next day Soon after Colonel Poyer and Major General Laughorn and Powel revolted and reduc'd South-wales to his Majesties service Sir Iohn Owen also got together a party but they were all routed and enforced to surrender the places they had seis'd and themselves prisoners In behalf of the two former the Prince under whose Commission they acted desired Generall Fairfax that they might have the terms and usage of souldiers of war as those had whom the fortune of war had made prisoners to his Highnesse But the General answer'd It was not in his power to act further the Parliament ordering their tryal he dar'd not interpose against their justice So that they were
1200. which were in the field on the Marquesse's side 200. were slain and all the rest taken saving about a hundred who escaped by flight Among the Prisoners of note were Major General Sir Iohn Vrrey the Lord Frendraught Sir Francis Hay of Dalketie Colonel Hay of Naughton Colonel Grey Lieutenant Colonel Stuart with a great number of other considerable officers and two Ministers The Royal Standard was also taken in which was pourtrayed the Head of the late King lying a bleeding and severed from the body with this Motto IUDGE AND REVENGE MY CAUSE O LORD The Marquesse himself when he saw the day loft threw away his Cloak which had the Star on it having receiv'd the order of the Garter a little while before deserted his horse changed his habit with a Hâ—ghlander and fled The news of this Victory was so welcome to the State and Kirk of Scotland that they rewarded Straughan with 1000. l. sterling and gratifi'd other officers And to assure it they order narrow search to be made for Montrosse propounding a great summe to any that should apprehend him He had continued three or four dayes in the open fields without meat or drink with onely one man in his company till at lenght in this starving condition he discoverd himself to the Lord Aston who had formerly been a friend of his But his adversity and the promised reward made him now be lookt upon under another notion so that either out of fear or covetousnesse or both this Lord sends this Illustrious but unfortunate Heroe with a strong guard to David Lesley by whom he was forthwith sent to Edenburgh into which he was carried with all the ignominy malice assisted with zeal could invent all which he underwent with extraordinary constancy and magnanimity He was brought to the Towns end upon a Cart-horse and at the Gates he was met by some officers and the Executioner in his Livery Coat They put him into a high seat in fashion of a Chariot and bound him about the breast and armes with a cord into a Chair The Executioner being so commanded took off the Marquesse his hat and the chariot being drawn with four horses put on his own bonnet mounted one of the first horses and so very solemnly drive along to the Tol booth He had at that time many wounds about him but none uncurable The Parliament had resolv'd before-hand what sentence to pronounce upon him but the more to disgrace him and to act with formality and insolence He was brought before them where he appeared in a rich attire with an undaunted countenance His chief adversaries were Argile an inveterate enemy to loyalty and consequently to this Noble Marquis Lowdon the Chancellor Ker and Cassells who was gone in Commission to the King but especially the fleabitten Ministers of Edinburgh a generation of people whose courses and practises are detested by all that understand any thing of the sobriety of Christian Religion Being brought to the Bar of the House the Chancellour told him first That he must kneel at the Bar. Whereunto he answer'd My Lord I shall with all my heart observe any posture you shall appoint mâ— to appear before you in whereby I may minifest to you that I freely submit to the authority of Parliament and to this present Parliament in a more especiall manner because you have concluded so near a Conjunction with his Majesty my Master in the late Treaty After which the Chancellor made a Speech to him the substance whereof was this SIR I am commanded to mind you of the last judgement of God befallen you for your perfidious breaking of the Covenant which might justly provoke God thus to divert your counsels and affairs for having been so eminent an Author and Actor of mischief against this Nation You abandoned the Covenant and despised the Oath of God invaded your Native Country and with most inhumane and barbarous cruelty burnt and wastest divers parts thereof and have spilt much blood of his Majestie 's good Subjects taking advantage of that time when the prime Commanders forces thereof were imploy'd elsewhere For these Crimes you were excommunicated by the Church and sore-faulted by the Parliament of this Kingdome and yet still continued in the highest contempt against God under that fearfull sentence of excommunication And to this day have you remained without the least shew of Repentance And God by his Providence hath now justly brought you hither to receive the Sentence of your Condemnation Hereunto the Illustrious Prisoner having defir'd and obtain'd liberty answer'd My Lord I am glad that I may to answer for my self Though I am here your prisoner yet my cause is good Nor is there any breach of the Covenant on my part in which I swore to be true to his Majestie his Heirs and Successors Concerning what I have done in relation to the VVars affairs of this Kingdome I had not onely a General Commission but particular Orders for what I have done from his Majesty which I was engag'd to obey by the said Covenant And concerning my coming over now I was assertain'd that you had profest to comply with his Majesty in the present Affairs in which he hath employ'd me and upon that Account it was that I have acted I desire to refer my self and to submit unto this present Parliament and the authority thereof to be my Iudges in this Case whom I own as a true Parliament by authority from his Majesty and I shall be content however it shall please God to deal with me As for my Life if you take it away by this Authority it is well known to the VVorld I regard it not Death is a debt which all owe and must once be pay'd by every one And I shall be willing and much rejoice to goe the same way which my Master pass'd before me and it is the joy of my heart not onely to do but also to suffer for him After he had pronounced this with a very composed gravity even to the admiration of all that heard him he was commanded to withdraw The Parliament were not long in debate but unanimously resolv'd upon this Sentence of Condemnation which he being recall'd was pronounc'd against him You are to be carried back to the place from whence you came and from thence to morrow being the 21. of May 1650. to Edenburgh Crosse there to be hanged on a Gallowes 30. foot high for the space of 3. hours with your History Declaration about your neck and then to be taken down and your head cut off upon the Scaffold and set upon Edenburgh Talbooth and your legs and armes over the gates of the Cities of Sterling Dundee Glasgow and Aberdeen your Trunk to be buried in the common place for Thieves and Robbers except the Kâ—rk take off your excommunication This sentence aggravated by the Chancellor in the utmost terms of horrour his spleen could invent was undismaiedly receive d by the noble Marquesse who answered That he took
his friends from about him usurping the whole Government of all affairs both Ecclesiastical and Civil into their own hands and placing guards about his Person c. secretly escapes from St. Iohnston's in much discontent in order as some think to going beyond Sea accompanied onely with four Horsemen toward the North of Scotland where the Marquis of Huntkey the Earls of Athol and Seaforth Lords Ogleby and Newburgh with the Gourdons and the men of Athol were ready to appear for him with a considerable force The Committee of Estates at St. Iohnston's were much surpris'd and troubled at this departure of his Majesty especially for that they fear'd he was gone to Mai. Gen. Middleton and the Athol men who were purely for his interest disclaiming the Kirk's authority with that of Parliament and Estates for the appeasing of whom an Act of Indempnity was offer'd them which they contemning and falling upon and worsting Sir Iohn Browes Regiment Lieut. Gen. Lesley is commanded forth against them In the mean time while the Parliament and Committee of Estates are consulting and debating what course to take with the King some propounding That since he had deserted them they should look no more after him but leave him to his own wayes the more moderate judging it fit rather to testifie to his Majesty their sorrow for his departure and desire him graciously to return a different Faction of the Covenanters under the command of Straughan and Kerr in the West set forth a Remonstrance to the Committee of Estates taxing them of imprudence and temerity in hastning to conclude a Treaty with receiving entertaining the King before he had given any convincing evidence of a reall change after his commissioning Montrosse to invade Scotland judging his profession of the Cause the Covenant meerly counterfeit as appear'd by his favouring Scotch and English Malignants as they termed them And for these reasons they absolutely refus'd to submit to his power and authority Of this Faction bisides Kerr and Straughan were the Lord VVarreston lately a Member of our pretended Committee of Safety and Sir Iohn Chiesy An accommodation was endeavoured to be made between them and the Estates at St. Iohnston's but they stood off and declar'd against King and Lords on the one side and the Sectarian English Army on the other Thus was this poor Nation divided among themselves whilst at the same time a mercilesse forraign enemy was ravaging in the bowels of it However the Committee of Estates and Kirk several of whose great sticklers were become very inclinable to his Majestie resolve at length to dispatch Maj. Gen. Montgomery with a party of Horse after him humbly to intreat his return Montgomery upon inquiry understanding that his Majesty was at the L. Dedup's House in the North confines of Fife hastens thither and first surrounding the House enters and upon his knees acquaints the King what desires he brought from the Committee of Estate But he absolutely refus'd at first as not enduring the Subjection they had made him live in The news whereof brought to the Estates set the Kirk Party such as favouâ—'d the English Sectaries a gog again who hereupon were very violent for no more Addresses to be made to him whose motion began to have some influence upon the rest In the mean time his Majestie was urgently solicited by the Marq. of Huntly the Athol men that rose for him in the North to adhere solely to them undertaking to secure him against the Kirk and all others To which invitation he seem'd very prone to hearken so that the Breach betwixt him and the Covenanted Party who brought him in was near become irreconcilable But the consideration of the danger which might redound from the forraign Enemy by occasion of this division the concession of some propositions together with the importunity of Montgomery the industry of some attendants about him induc'd him to returne back with the Maj. Gen. to St. Iohnston's And it was judg'd requisite to unite all parties if possible against the common Enemy to which purpose Huntly and Middleton were treated with who refus'd to submit and marcht up within a mile of St. Iohnston's where they had like to have been engag'd by David Lesley But upon some concessions as to be admitted into places of Trust c. a Treaty was concluded One would have thought now the service against the Common Destroyer of their Country would have been unanimously carried on yet this reconciliation begat another fewd as if the zealots of this Nation had been infatuated purposely for their own ruin The Ministers of Sterling were so farre trom consenting to this Treaty that they past the Sentence of Excommunication upon Middleton in defiance of the Estates at St. Iohnston's and being summon'd thither to a general meeting to be held here consisting of King Lords Barons Burgesses and Assembly of Ministers to consult for the good safety of the King Kingdome and Kirk they refused and advised the Estates to be at a greater distance from the King his Council and rather to come to Sterling But at length with much adoe they were brought to go to St. Iohnston's Much time had been lost in these fatall differences and the publick safety was neglected whilest men minded the satisfaction of their own perverse and malicious humours It was now highly requisite to look about them therefore Middleton was imploy'd with a Commission and Instructions from his Majestie who well enough understood that the safety of himself and that Nation depended wholly on the unanimity of his Subjects to treat with some forces in the Hâ—ghlands who still refused to submit The grand Assembly convene as the first evidences of concord divers Scotch Lords formerly in disfavour with the Kirk were received into the Army or the Parliament as Duke Hamilton the Lords Lauderdale Buchaim Leith Dedup Crawford and of the English Major General Massey was admitted to a command in the Army Col. Ker in the West of Scotland who had stood off from all parties hitherto at length so far comply'd with the Kirk-Grandees that he took Straughan prisoner who by Cromwel's inveglement inclin'd to side with the English a right Scot. But not long after Kerr was defeated and taken by Maj. Gen. Lambert a just reward consequence of his seditious discord About the beginning of October some Gentlemen and others in Norfolk took Armes against the Tyranny of the pretended Parliament declaring for the restitution of the Ancient Government of the Land by a King and the Lawes but the County Militia and some Forces from Lin suddenly dispersed them taking some whom afterwards by a solemn new way of murder first practis'd at VVestminster upon the late King and afterwards in most places of England upon his friends they put to death at Norwich A little before this they likewise executed at Tyburn one Mr. Benson for having been guilty of the same pretended Treason with Col. Eusebius Andrewes formerly