express Command that they should read it publikely in their Churches The Scots complained that a thing of so great concernment having not been allowed by their Church in a National Synod should be imposed upon them they complained likewise that it was not the same with the book of England but alterations were made some of them they confessed were for the better but more for the worse Lastly they affirmed that wheresoever that book varies from the English Lyturgie it approaches directly to the Romane Missal and all the parts of Popery are there But the King seemed to excuse those alterations in his great Declaration These are his words which were not satisfactory to the Scots We supposing that they might have taken some offence if We should have tendered them the English Service-book totidem verbis and that some factious spirits would have endeavoured to have misconstrued it as a badge of dependencie of that Church upon this of England which We had put upon them to the prejudice of their Laws and Liberties We held it fitter that a new Book should be composed by their own Bishops in substance not differing from that of England that so the Romane party might not upbraid us with any weighty or material differences in our Lyturgies and yet in some few insensible alterations differing from that it might truely and justly be reputed a Book of that Churches own composing and established by Our Royal authority as King of Scotland This Book of Lyturgie was read as the King commanded in the great Church at Edinburgh but not without a great uproar in which the Bishop that read it hardly escaped The Plebeians first stirred but presently after the Nobility and Ministers publikely avowed their detestation of that Book some therefore were sent to the King to intreat him that he would recal his command concerning it But the King was immoveable and sent another peremptory command for reading of the Book and that all people who came as Petitioners against it should depart from Edinburgh which did but increase the number of Petitioners who intreated the Councel once more to send to the King concerning it in the mean time they much accused their Bishops as the causers of this Innovation The King commanded his Councel to receive no more Petitions from them and sent the Earl of Traquare into Scotland with a Proclamation which was published at Sterlin wherein he declared That the Bishops were wrongfully accused about the Prayer-book that he himself was the Author of it and all done by his Command he condemned their proceedings as tumultuous and denounced the punishment of high-Treason to those who persisted Against this Proclamation the Lords of the Commission protested and so did the Ministers and others justifying their assembly to be lawful as tending to Gods glory the Kings honour and Liberty of the Nation Immediately after they entered into a Solemn Covenant for defence of their Religion and Liberties This Covenant was subscribed not onely by the Nobles but all sorts of men that their number within few months was many thousands the King enraged did by many Messengers condemn that Covenant the Scots defended it What was alleadged on both sides is more largely expressed in that book intituled Tumultus Scotici In June the Marquess Hamilton as Commissioner from the King came to Edinburgh who in vain dealt with the Covenanters to renounce their Covenant but published a Proclamation of the Kings wherein he forbears to press the reading of that Prayer-book upon them and resolved to call both a Parliament and Synod but the Covenanters in their Protestation declare that the Kings grants were not large enough to cure their present distempers and offer some particular Exceptions So great grew the differences and alterations upon several points that the Marquess Hamilton was enforced that yeer to make two journeys into England to the King and at last by the Kings command called a National Synod which accordingly began at Glasco Novemb. 1. but within seven days the Marquess dissolved that Synod alleadging for reasons that they had broken the Laws of a free Synod both in the maner of their Elections and in other businesses during their sitting But they protested against that dissolution and continued their Synod after that the Marquess was gone away and proceeded in such Laws and Decrees as they judged fit for the present State after which they dissolved the Synod and published a Declaration from Edinburgh to all sincere and good Christians in England concerning their innocencie and intentions The King after a sharp Proclamation against the Scots which he commanded to be read in all English Churches raised an Army to subdue them by force in which the Nobles and all Gentlemen his servants were commanded to attend him at York the first of April with Horse and Arms sutable to their degree the Earl of Arundel was made General and a rich and well-appointed Army at that time and place attended the King But the people of England in general abhorred that wicked War as a designe to enslave both Nations and loved the Scots as brethren persecuted by the same power which had long oppressed themselves they likewise hoped that such an occasion might necessitate the King to call a Parliament in England so long wanted there But the King while he could make any other shift how lowe soever and dishonourable would not endure to think of a Parliament The Covenanting Lords of Scotland published a Remonstrance in answer to the Kings Proclamation and wisely provided against all Invasions that might be made upon them on any side they seized the considerable Forts and disarmed all suspected persons without any great trouble electing Sir Alexander Lesly an old Souldier for their General to whom all the Noble men were content to give obedience at which time the King commanded the Parliament of Scotland to dissolve and his command was obeyed But the threatned War did not proceed it pleased God that by the happie mediation of some honest Lords of both Nations and upon a Conference granted that the Pacification was made and solemnly declared on the 18 of June 1639. and both Armies were disbanded within eight and fourty hours The King granted to the Scots a National Synod to begin upon the first of August following and a Parliament to begin on the 24 day of the same month so that both sides peaceably retreated home But when the King had been but a little time at London his heart was again estranged from the Scots and thoughts of peace He commanded by Proclamation that Paper which the Scots avowed to contain the true conditions of the Pacification to be disavowed and burnt by the hands of the Hangman and the honest people of both Nations began to fear another War The King about the beginning of December told the Lords of his Council that he intended to call a Parliament in England to begin in April following which being spread among the people made them almost amazed so
their Army had not satisfied the expectation of the English but had lyen idle in the best time of the year if they were so precise in observation of the Covenant why then contrary to the Covenant did the Scots put Garrisons into Newcastle Tinmouth and Carlisle neither was it just in the Scots to object any thing in the case of Religion seeing the Parliament are now labouring in it being a business which requires time and mature deliberation From these jarrs the King hoped for some advantage to himself and now Oxford began to be blocked up by Ireton and Fleetwood and every day the coming of Fairfax himself and a straiter Siege of that City was expected therefore before this should happen the King resolved to go out of Oxford and communicating his mind to some inward Councellors above all other places he pitched upon the Scottish Camp to the Scots therefore as they lay before Newark the King sent Montruel the French Ambassador and himself soon after as Ashburnhams man with a Cloak-back behind him escaped unknown out of Oxford and came to Newark From this enterprise the King was disswaded by some who loved the safety of their Country and entreated rather to deliver himself to Fairfax which might in prohability put an end to the War but the King was obstinate in his design not doubting but that dissentions daily growing between the two Nations he should be the more welcome to the Scots safe from harm and be able by this means either to make a peace upon his own conditions or kindle a new war The King came first to Montruels house and from thence to Southwell into the Scottish Camp the besieged Newarkers understanding of the Kings coming and being brought into great straits harkned to conditions and surrendred the Town The Scots seemed to be amazed at the Kings unexpected coming to them and so signified the matter to the English Commissioners then present with them upon the place Letters were immediately written of it to London and to Edinburgh the English Parliament required the Scots to detain the King at Southwell but they contrary to that Order carried him away to Kelham where a greater part of their Army lay and soon after without expecting any further Orders from the Parliament of England removed their Camp marched Northward and carried away the King with them to Newcastle The Scots excused their departure because Newark being yeilded no work was left for them but alleadged That as the King came to them of his own accord unexpected so he followed their Army neither being entreated nor fobidden by them but they seemed to hasten their departure by reason of a rumor whether true or falsly pretended that Cromwell with all his Horse was marching toward them But the English upon this complained much both against the Scots and the King To the Scots they objected the breach of Covenant and Treaty To the King they imputed it As a great obstinacy and despight toward the English Nation whom he had so long injured that now in his low ebb he should in England leaving the Parliament of England go to the Scots their Mercenaries if he desired peace why did he not embrace it being offered upon such conditions as besides his necessities the common safety of his People invited him to rather than go about to kindle new fire between the two confederate Nations In the beginning of May General Fairfax with his whole Army came within sight of Oxford and disposing his quarters round about the City summoned the Governour Glenham to surrender it Glenham answered that he would first send to the King and when he knew his mind would do what was fitting this answer was not allowed Nevertheless Fairfax considering with himself which was also the opinion of all his Commanders that it was likely to prove a long Siege being a City excellent well fortified and a strong Garrison in it consisting of at least five thousand most of them old souldiers stored with provisions arms and ammunition for a great while yet was put into hope of sooner obtaining it by intelligence which he had gotten out of Letters and by some Spies that within they were much divided in their opinions and the greater part especially those of the Nobility desired it should be surrendred that they might have while time was honorable conditions Therefore they began to Treat and not onely between the Army and the City but in Parliament at London it was debated and at last decreed That the besieged should rather have the best conditions than that their precious Army should be consumed before so strong a place whilst in the mean time many things might fall out ill to the Common-wealth But the chief reason of granting such large conditions was that the conquering Army it being now Mid-summer might be transported into Ireland to vindicate that afflicted Country against the barbarous and bloudy Rebels but that so pious an intention of the Parliament was quite frustrated by the Kings going to the Scots of whom at that time there were some jealousies and that the King went to the Scots for that very purpose it was believed by Letters which were intercepted afterward written to Ormund before he went out of Oxford We hope that this design of ours though it may seem dangerous to our person will prove advantagious for Ireland in hindering the Rebels meaning the Parliament from transporting any forces into that Kingdom Thus Oxford was surrendred and at the appointed day all the souldiers of that Garrison marched away by Fairfax his Army with great quiet and modesty on both sides The Duke of York was honorably conducted to London where two of the Kings children remained thither also went all the Noble men nor was it denied to any of the Besieged to go to London but the Princes Rupert and Maurice being commanded to go out of England prepared for their departure The great Seal of England with other Ensigns of Majesty were layed up in the Library which afterward carried to London was by the command of Parliament for the Parliament when the great Seal three years before was carried away to the King had made a new one broken in pieces together with the other smaller Seals Prince Charles about that time distrusting the condition of his side fled from Silly with a few of his inward Counsellors and went to Jersey that from thence he might pass into France to the Queen his Mother While the Prince remained in Jersey the Commissioners both of England and Scotland intreated the King that the Prince his Son might continue within his Dominions lest if he should go into France it might be inconvenient at this time and an obstruction to the desired peace but the King promising them that he would think of it wrote in the mean time this short letter to the Prince CHarles I write to you onely that you should know where I am and that I am in health not to direct you at this time
Thomas May Esq Aetatis Sua. 55. A BREVIARY OF THE HISTORY Of the Parliament Of ENGLAND Expressed in three PARTS 1. The Causes and Beginnings of the Civil War of England 2. A short mention of the Progress of that Civil War 3. A compendious Relation of the Original and Progress of the Second Civil War First written in Latine after done into English By Thomas May Esq The Second Edition LONDON Printed by J. Cottrel for Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles neer the West-end of Pauls 1655. The Causes and Beginnings OF The Civil War of England OF the Parliament of England and beginning of that sad War which for so many yeers raged within the bowels of a distressed Kingdom whosoever will write though never so briefly must of necessity premise somewhat touching the Causes according to the state of the affairs and times of assembling that Parliament And though the condition of Scotland and Ireland were during that time no whit happier which being subject to the same King were exposed to the same Calamity our discourse especially shall be of England as the noblest Kingdom and the Royal Seat from whence the distemper might first arise and be derived to the rest And wonderful it may seem how great the distemper of that Government was which ingendered so great a disease how great the malignity of that disease to which a Parliament was not sufficient Medicine Fourty yeers old was King Charles and fifteen yeers had he reigned when this Parliament was called so long had the Laws been violated more then under any King the Liberties of the people invaded and the authority of Parliament by which Laws and Liberties are supported trodden under foot which had by degrees much discontented the English Nation For the King within the first four yeers of his Reign had called three Parliaments and soon dissolved them all before they could any way benefit the Commonwealth or redress the least grievance of the People In the second he granted and signed the Petition of Right but suddenly breaking up that Parliament he acted the same things in violation of Laws which he had done before So that it was manifest that the Peoples Liberties by grant of that Petition were not fortified but utterly overthrown and it appeared neither Laws themselves could give protection nor the Kings Faith security to the People After the dissolution of the third Parliament men were forbidden by Proclamation to speak any more of Parliaments In this Interval the people at home were fleeced by Monopolies and many ways exacted upon by illegal Taxes abroad scarce any Negotiations were made but such as were destructive to Religion and the Commonwealth In the beginning of his Reign an unhappie and dishonorable Expedition was made against the Spaniard to surprise Cales another more sad then that against the French in the following yeer at the Isle of Rhee but that of all other was most destructive to the Protestant Religion that King Charles not long before that time had lent a strong Navie to the King of France by whose force the Protestants Ships through all France were vanquished and scattered and the miserable Town of Rochel subdued by Famine the worst of all Enemies The King in the mean time by many illegal ways raised money through England large sums of money were exacted throughout the whole Kingdom default of Knighthood under the shadow of an absolute Law Tunnage and Poundage were received without the ordinary course of Law and though they were taken under pretence of guarding the Seas yet that great Tax of Ship-money was set on foot under the same colour c. These things were accompanied with the enlargement of Forests contrary to Magna Charta the forcing of Coat and Conduct-money taking away the Arms of the Trained Bands in many Counties c. Nor was there any remedy left for no Courts of Judicature could give redress to the people for these Illegal sufferings whilst Judges were displaced by the King for not complying with his will and so awed that they durst not do their duties for to hold a Rod over them a clause was altered in their Patents By this time all thoughts of ever having a Parliament were quite banished so many Oppressions set on foot so many illegal actions done that the onely way to justifie all was to do that one greater To take away the means which was ordained to redress them the lawful Government of England by Parliaments Whilst the Kingdom was in this condition the serious and just men of England who were not interessed in these Oppressions could not but entertain sad thoughts of what mischief must needs follow so great an injustice But another sort of men especially Lords and Gentlemen by whom the pressures of Government were not much felt did nothing but applaud the happiness of England calling those ingrateful and factious spirits who complained of the breach of Laws and Liberties that the Kingdom abounded with wealth plenty and all kinde of elegancies more then ever and that it was the honour of a people that their Monarch should live splendidly and not be curbed at all in his Prerogative c. The Courtiers would begin to dispute against Parliaments in their ordinary discourse That they were too injurious to the Kings Prerogative some of the greatest States-men and Privie Councellors would ordinarily laugh at the ancient language of England when the word Liberty of the Subject was named Though the Kingdoms Liberties were thus oppressed yet Peace continued and England seemed happie in that tranquillity until the fatal Coal which afterwards was blown into so great a fire through the three Kingdoms began to be kindled in the yeer 1637. by a designe which the King had upon Scotland which was as pretended to make a Conformity of Church-Worship and Ecclesiastical Government between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland The dignity and pomp of Prelacie had been much of late promoted in England in pursuance whereof many temporal Offices and Honours were conferred upon persons Ecclesiastical many Ceremonies and Innovations brought into the Church and too neer approaches made in some points of Doctrine to the Romish Church and a great contempt thrown upon the other Reformed Churches in Europe Popery seemed to be much countenanced in the Court and by reason of the Queens great power with the King several Nuncio's from the Pope as Panzani Conn and Rosetti had been received with great honour in the Court of England The King had made great preparations for that work in Scotland and bestowed many temporal offices and dignities upon Bishops in that Kingdom In particular 11 of the Scotish Bishops being in all but 14 were made Privie Councellors But this displeased the Scots to whom Episcopacie it self was not acceptable and having been once thrown out of that Kingdom was not restored but by great endeavour and policie of King James A book of Lyturgie was sent by the King into Scotland in the year 1637. with an
and after he had plundered the country thereabouts retired safely to his Winter-Quarters at Oxford The Parliament considering this action of the King began to hope little upon any Treaty resolving That the General should speedily pursue the King's Forces and fall upon them and the City of London to encourage the Parliament made a Petition to them wherein they entreated That they would proceed no further in the business of Accommodation because evil counsel was so prevalent with the King that he would but delude them that they had heard his Forces are weak and entreat that his Excellency would follow and fall upon them the City as heretofore being ready to spend with all willingness their lives and fortunes to assist the Parliament For which Petition and Protestation the Parliament returned thanks to the City and according as they desired it was decreed in Parliament FINIS Book II. A Short mention of the Progress of this Civil War THe beginnings of the Civil war together with the Series of causes from whence it sprung as likewise the degrees by which it grew have been already breifly and clearly shewed The things which remain to be unfolded are of so great a weight of so various a nature and of so many peices that scarce any Historian I might say History it self is sufficient to weave fully together so many particulars my intention therefore is to make onely a short mention not a full Narration of that Variety For the War went on with horrid rage in many places at one time and the fire once kindled cast forth through every corner of the land not onely sparks but devouring flames insomuch as the kingdom of England was divided into more Wars than Counties nor had she more fields than skirmishes nor Cities than Sieges and almost all the Palaces of Lords and great Houses were turned every where into Garrisons of War they fought at once by Sea and Land and through all England who could but lament the miseries of his Country sad spectacles were of plundering and firing Villages and the fields otherwise wast and desolate were rich onely and terribly glorious in Camps and Armies The following Summer namely in the year one thousand six hundred forty three proved for a long time fatal to the Parliament and Fortune seemed to have condemned the cause of liberty so exceedingly did the Kings party flourish in successes and Victories and the Parliaments condition every where low so that they were neer to ruine who in the end prevailed In the West Sir William Waller a Parliament-chieftain who had gotten divers Victories and then almost quite vanquished Sir Ralph Hopton was at last namely in July utterly defeated by the Lord Wilmot who came from Oxford with an Army of the Kings and having lost all his Army returned to London and such as the fortune of the Field was was the condition of Towns and Garrisons for immediately after Wallers defeat the two greatest Cities of all the West were yeilded up Bristol to Prince Rupert and Excester to Prince Maurice At the same time in the North of England was the like success where the Lord Fairfax who with his valiant Son had long and prosperously maintained the cause of the Parliament being now over-powred by a puissant Enemy the Earl of Newcastle and almost all his Forces scattered was driven into Hull and there besieged Essex himself the great General at the same time his Army decreasing suddainly some dying of sickness others for want forsaking their colours was constrained to leave the field and return to London quartering the sick and weak remnant of his Army at Kingston and other adjacent places until a Recruit could be made for him The Parliamentarians were now in a desperate condition and their strengths every where broken on the other side the Royalists strong and dreadful in Arms Men and Horses conquerours of all the West of Wales and the North of England as far as the very borders of Scotland One onely Town of Note in the Midland Country Glocester stood out yet faithful and constant to the Parliament and much desired by the King who in great disdain that this Town after Bristol and Excester were yeilded should stand out came in person to besiedge it with a great Army The Queen was now arrived in England and had brought with her great store of Armes bought in Holland with the money which she had raised by pawning the Crown-Jewels there whose coming at this time seemed rather to a Triumph than a War Glocester not onely staid the career of the Kings Victories but made a great change in the Conditions of the sides The City was gallantly defended against a great and flourishing Army wherein Massey the Governour justly gained a wonderful renown so long did he defend the City until General Essex could be recruited with an Army great enough to raise the Siege and march thither from London eighty miles Famous and honourable in the judement of all men was that expedition of General Essex who by solong a March fighting often with great bodies of the Kings Horse by the way brought notwithstanding his whole Army safe to Glocester raised the Siege relieved that Town and in his retreat from thence encountered and vanquished the Kings Army in that memorable Battel of Newberry After this time the parliament revived of whose condition Wise men might justly have doubted if the King leaving Glocester had marched directly with his Victorious Army to London which was then not at all fortified and miserably distracted with factions within it Or besides if the Earl of Newcastle letting alone the besiegâ—ng of Hull which likewise proved fruitless had powred out his numerous forces upon the Eastern associated Counties but it otherwise pleased God who is the onely Lord of Hoasts and by whose providence all things are guided Both sides now by this Victory of Essex seemed to be put into an equal ballance both of strength and reputation and this sad War not onely likely to be continued but extended to a greater latitude on one side the Parliament inviting to their assistance their brethren of Scotland on the other side the King calling in his Irish The Scots by a Covenant to be taken by both Nations for conservation of Religion Laws and Liberties the Irish by a cessation of Armes granted by the King a peace being also promised were drawn in The Scots promised to the Parliament from whom Commissioners were sent to Edinburgh about that business that they would bring into England to their assistance an Army consisting of one and twenty thousand Horse and Foot the Parliament engaged themselves to pay the Scots one hundred thousand pounds toward the charge of raising that Army But the King dealt not so openly with those bloudy Irish in bargaining for their assistance but by a pretence of cessation of Arms for the behoof of the English Protestants in that Kingdom which cessation notwithstanding was for the benefit of the Irish Rebels in lieu of
in any thing for what I would have you do I have already written to your mother to whom I would have you obedient in all things except Religion about which I know she will not trouble you and go no whither without her or my Command write often to me God bless you Your loving Father C. R. This Letter was intercepted going from Newcastte to Jersey in a small Vessel and read in Parliament to their great grief Soon after the surrender of Oxford followed the end of this fierce War for Worcester Wallingford Pendennis and Ragland yeilded also to the Conquerors Peace now seemed to be restored to England but they had no security for the Parliament having vanquished the common Enemy were grievously troubled with Factions among themselves and divided under the unhappy names of Presbyterians and Independents nor was it onely in those things which concerned Church-government but in the transaction of almost all other businesses they debate fiercely and were divided in their Votes The same difference namely of Presbyterian and Independent troubled not onely the Parliament House but the City the Country and some of the Camps seeming a thing that threatned danger and the Parliament feared that Massey's forces which had deserved very well of the Common-wealth being quartered about the Devizes might under that name make a Mutiny wherefore Generall Fairfax was sent from Oxford into the West to disband the War being ended those forces of Massey being two thousand five hundred horse which thing was quietly done within eight dayes and all those Souldiers with ready obedience left their Colours although they were not fully paid at that time for which Massey as for other things was much commended in being careful by advising his souldiers that this business without any difficulty should be so ended The War being now quite finished Fairfax the Victorious Preserver of the English Parliament returned to London about the midst of November All good men longed to see that great Souldier whom they could not but admire by whose valour they were delivered from the worst of evils and were now in expectation of an happy peace The next day after he came to London That he might see the gratitude of the Parliament the House of Peers sent their Speaker Manchester whom the Earls of Northumberland Pembrook and many other Nobles accompanied who congratulated his return and gave him great thanks for his most faithful and happy services to the Common-wealth When the Lords were gone Lenthal the Speaker of the House of Commons with almost 300. Members of that House came to congratulate the General to whom Lenthal made a speech wherein he discoursed of the greatness of his actions extolling them by examples of the most great and famous Heroes of ancient times You said he noble General shall all posterity admire and honour and the people of England since they can give you no thanks equal to your merits do freely confess themselves for ever indebted to you as the happy instrument of God and finisher of our Wars with incredible suceess To which the modest Fairfax made a short reply Acknowledging himself unworthy of so great an honour and giving most humble thanks to the Parliament accounting it his greatest happiness in this world to be made by God instrumental for the good of his Country But the General staid not long at London being presently after sent to carry the money for the Scots into the North of which we shall speak afterwards in the mean time we will return to the King and Scots On the sixth of May 1646. long before the surrender of Oxford when the Parliament of England understood that the King was with the Scots when the Scots also had disobeyed their Orders which were That they should detain the King at Southwel and that Ashburnham with the rest of his followers should be sent to London of which the Scots obeyed neither letting Ashburnham and the rest escape and carrying the King into the North the Parliament after a long debate of both Houses at last Voted That the person of the King should be disposed of by the authority of both Houses of the Parliament of England But the Scots excusing themselves and defying to deliver up the King a great dissention hapned between the two Nations which did much animate the Royalists and seemed dangerous to the two Kingdoms Many complaints were made upon this occasion and many sharp invective Writings on both sides for the space of divers moneths The Scots alleaged that he was no less King of Scotland than of England and that therefore their Kingdom had some right to the disposing of him the English affirmed that his person was to be disposed by the authority of that Kingdom in which he then was but that they set forth as a very strange thing that a Scottish Army paid by the Parliament of England and which by the Compact of both Kingdoms was to be governed by Commissioners of both Kingdoms upon the place should notwithstanding receive the King of England without the consent or knowledge of the English Commissioners and carry him away to Newcastle a Town of England and there keep him without the consent of the Parliament of England In the midst of these great dissentions which notwithstanding the prudence of some men did so well moderate whilest the common enemy and factious spirits sought to aggravate them that they proved not pernitious to the Kingdoms the main business and things necessary for the Common good were unanimously and friendly transacted by the two Nations and among other things concerning the sending of propositions to the King for a firm and well grounded peace it was debated and at last agreed that nineteen Propositions so many therewere should be sent to Newcastle to the King which because they are long and fully recited in a larger History I will not relate in this Epitome These Propositions were sent away to the King upon the fifteenth day of July one thousand six hundred forty six and presented to his hands at Newcastle by the Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament namely the Earl of Pembrooke Earl of Denbigh and the Lord Mountague of the Peers and six of the House of Commons the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland being present and consenting to them And that the King might conceive himself dealt withal like a King not a vanquished man and a captive this preface by the consent of Parliaments of both Kingdoms was set before the Propositions May it please your Majesty WE the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England in the name and on the behalf of the Kingdom of England and Ireland and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland in the name and on the behalf of the Kingdom of Scotland do humbly present unto your Majesty the humble desires and propositions for a safe and well grounded Peace agreed upon by the Parliaments of both Kingdomes respectively unto which we do pray your Majesties assent and
we confess they are higher than we if our wish might have gone would have made them but seeing that no other way is left to cure the Kingdoms wounds and consolidate the ruptures between your Majesty and the Parliament We do in all humility and loyalty advise your Majesty that out of your gratious goodness you would assent to them as being the onely remedy left to procure a firm and happy peace from whence also many happinesses will accrue to you c. But neither this Oration of Londen nor all the endeavours of both Parliaments could after the Kings mind yet did not the Commissioners give over their hopes but persisted in intreating so that many moneths were spent in this business and the time consumed till the midst of Winter in which space they could not perswade the King to hear any Ministers of the Synod preach before him being constant onely to his own Chaplains Upon which they began to endeavour that amity might be preserved between the two Nations and that the two Kingdoms things standing as they did might be peaceably setled without the King Therefore after some debate between the Parliament of England and the Commissioners of Scotland they at the last agreed upon the aforesaid sum namely that two hundred thousand pounds should be forthwith paid to the Scots which mony being told out was by General Fairfax with part of his Forces conveyed out of London who afterwards committed the business to Major General Skippon He with six Regiments marched away in the midst of Winter and in January came to Newcastle upon Tine with the mony The Scots when they had received their mony according to the compact delivered up the English Garrisons Berwick Carlisle and Newcastle into the Parliaments hands and marched quietly home into Scotland they delivered also the King to the English Commissioners to be carried into the South Who was received with great respect and honour by the Earls of Pembrook and Denbigh and the rest of the Parliament Commissionerâ— and by them waited on with great observance and an honourable guard to his Palaâ—â— of Holmby in Northampton-shire Thâ—â—â— things were done in the Moneth of February at which time the Earl of Stanford Mr. Gâ—â—win and Mr. Ashhurst of the House of Commons were sent Commissioners by the Parliament into Scotland that at Edenburgh thâ—â— might treat with the Scottish Parliament about the Common Affairs Though the Kings party which had fougâ—â— against their Parliament and Liberties wâ—â—â— absolutely subdued yet a quiet liberty 〈◊〉 security could not be suddenly obtained the victory For the Civil War being ended dissention more than Civil arose among the Conquerors which seemed therefore more sad to all good men because it was between those who before had with most united affections and desires thrown their lives and Fortunes into the hazard against a common Enemy whom the same cause the same fervour of reforming Religion and restoring liberty and the same prayers had linked together in the nearest bond of conscience By this division under the names of Presbyterian and Independent still encreasing the minds of men began beyond all measure to be embittered against each other one side complained that the Covenant was broken the other that it was not rightly enterpreted by them nor so as that it could any way be a vindication of the cause undertaken or the publike Safety on both sides were men of great reputation Yet did they not at first so far dissent but that both sides seemed forward to vindicate the Common cause against the Kings party called Malignants It must be a longer time that must by degrees so far work upon the consciences of that side which seemed weakest as to make them cleave to the Malignants for a prop. The Malignants were ready to joyn with either side that they might ruine both They themselves though disarmed being now the greatest number especially by reason of the unconstancy of many men either upon particular grievances or the burden of Taxations A great number of the Citizens of London not of the meaÌ„est but highest rank had revolted from their former principles insomuch as that City all the Kings Garrisons being by Fairfax his bloudless Victories emptied thither became to be of that condition as that the Parliament without the Armies help could not safely sit there These dissentions of Presbyterian and Independent because the motives and intentions of men are not enough known our purpose is to touch with more brevity than the actions of open War and plain hostility though they also are here shortly mentioned It were a work of too much length and difficulty to recite how many Calumnies were raised by the other faction against the Army before so much admired as maintainers of the Independent faction How divers Petitions were drawn up and sub-scriptions eagerly sought in the County of Essex against this Army which was then quartered about Walden in the moneth of April And in the Parliament it self it was so far and in that manner debated concerning disbanding of that Army that they being now taught to value their own merits conceived themselves much injured and in the moneth of May presented a Petition to their General In which they desire to be satisfied not onely for their due pay as Souldiers but in things concerning belonging to them as free born sons of the Nation the publike liberties which they had fought for Of which Petition great complaint was made by those of the other Faction These and some other Alterations wrought at last so far as that the Souldiers about the beginning of June upon what design or what jealousies I leave to Judge took away the King from Helmby out of the Parliament-Commissioners hands and carried him along with them in the Army So that his person was to be in some Town or Palace neer to their Quarter When this was known it was ordered by both Houses of Parliament and their order sent to the General 1. That the King should reside at Richmond 2. That he should be attended by the same persons that he was at Holmby 3. That Rossiters Regiment should guard him But the next day from the General and his Councel of Officers was brought to the Parliament an Impeachment against eleven Members of the House of Commons viz. honoured names many of them Hollis Stapleton Waller Glyn Massey Maynard Lewis Clotworthy Long Harley and Nichols Wherein divers things were objected concerning hindering the Releif of Ireland obstructing Justice and acting somewhat against the Army and the Laws of England The Impeached Members declared themselves ready to answer to any crime that could be objected against them But another request came from the Army that those Impeached Members untill they had brought in their answer might be secluded from their Seats in Parliament This at the first was not granted as a thing judged to be too high and too much against the priviledge of Parliament But when the Army iterated their desire those accused Members
strange a thing was the name of a Parliament grown But rational men did not like it that it should be deferred so long and that preparations for a War with Scotland went on in the mean time They were likewise troubled that the Earl of Strafford Deputy of Ireland a man of deep policie but suspected honesty one whom the King then used as a bosom-Councellor was first to go into Ireland and call a Parliament in that Kingdom besides the King at that time had broken up the Parliament in Scotland which the Scots complained of the business of State depending as a great breach of their Liberties and against the Laws of that Kingdom Upon which they sent some Lords into England to intreat the King to grant them a redress of such Injuries as they had received since the Pacification which were That their Parliament was broken off before any business done That Edinburgh-Castle was Garisoned with far more Souldiers then were needful That Dun-Britain-Castle was Garisoned with English Souldiers That the Scots that traded in England and Ireland were enforced to take new Oaths contrary to their Covenant and altogether contrary to the Articles of Pacification The King imprisoned those Lords sending one of them the Earl of Lowden to the Tower and commanded a Charge of Treason to be drawn against him concerning a Letter which the Scotish Covenanters had written to the King of France for his assistance and Lowden had subscribed but the accusation was frivolous easily answered and came to nothing because those Letters were not sent at all and besides it was before the Pacification upon which an Oblivion of all things was agreed although the King at the beginning of the English Parliament produced that Letter against them as a ground of his second War for now on the thirteenth of April the Parliament of England was begun before which time the Earl of Strafford was returned out of Ireland where he had held a Parliament and gotten four Subsidies The King was very urgent with his Parliament to give money to enable him for a War against Scotland and pay that Army and Officers which he had already raised he demanded twelve Subsidies of them for which he promised to release Shipmoney he promised them that he would afterwards redress the Kingdoms grievances but desired money in the first place to go on with his designed War It was answered by many Members of the House in several Speeches that redress of Grievances was the chiefe end of Parliaments and should go before Subsidies That the King asked a great summe of money for releasing of that which he had no title to hold but had taken illegally by power That the people had no reason to pay for a War which they desired not but abhorred a War not for their good but their own ruine that nothing was so just as to punish the contrivers of that wicked War But so strange was the obedience and complyance of that Parliament towards the King that although the money which he asked was against themselves yet they took the Subsidies into consideration but while they were debating the King whatsoever his reasons were whether he thought it a delay or not came into the House on the fifth of May and dissolved the Parliament The people were grieved in an extraordinary manner to see this Parliament so suddenly broken up and as much to see the King break his word so immmediately upon the dissolution of it for he protested in the House at that time that he would rule for the future as legally as if a Parliament were constantly sitting Yet nevertheless he imprisoned some Members the next day after Mr. Belosis Sir John Hotham and M. Crew he commanded the Lord Brookes his Study his Cabinet and pockets to be searched for Letters He Commanded the Convocation of Divines to continue their sitting an unexampled thing who by authority from him made Canons and imposed Oaths upon the people contrary to their Laws and Liberties The King to defray the charges of this War besides the Contribution of the Clergy and Papists issued out again Writs of Shipmoney in a greater proportion then before he seized the Bullion in the Tower and took up Commodities to be sold again at an under-rate and consulted about Coyning of brass-money but that went not forward But the War went on the Earl of Strafford commanding in chiefe the Earl of Northumberland not being in health who had been appointed General but the Scots had not been backward for having been debarred of their trade and lost their ships by seizure they entered into England with an Army expressing their intentions in writing to the English and bringing with them a Petition to the King But the King in this War found a greater want then that of Money which was the hearts of the Souldiers especially the common Souldiers who could not be easily brought to engage against the Scots as hating the Cause many of them mutinying against their Officers and Commanders which might be one cause that the War proved not so bloody and fatal as it was designed some Skirmishes but not very considerable happened at Newburn and at Dunsian not far from Barwick Thus proceeded this unhappie business until some English Peers Earls and Barons about twenty grieved at the dishonour which England suffered by the unhappie actions of the King made a Petition to him declaring in some part their former sufferings by illegal Government the dissolution of the last and other Parliaments the miserable condicion of the Kingdom at present the sad consequence of this wicked War desiring him to summon a Parliament within some convenient time where the Kingdoms Grievances may be redressed this War composed and the Authors of these wicked counsels punished Upon this Petition the King caused all the Lords to meet at York on the 24. of September And there told them his intention of calling a Parliament with all possible speed which was to begin on the 3. of November It was there also consulted and debated how to end this War upon fair termes and after some time spent between Lords chosen out of both Nations the matter was composed according to these Articles 1. A Truce or cessation of Arms was made for two moneths till the 16. of December 2. That 850. li. a day should be paid to the Scots during that Truce 3. That if it were not paid the Scots might force it from the Counties of Northumberland Cumberland Westmerland and Durham 4. That those Counties should be allowed the Scots for their Winter-quarters 5. No new preparations for War to be made 6. That private Injuries should not break the Truce so satisfaction were made upon complaint 7. That Merchants might freely traffique in either Kingdomes without letters of safe conduct but Souldiers without leave might not pass their limits Thus was the state of things altered and that VVar which was intended for an enslavement of both Nations became the bond of Concord between them and
and censures as by the rest of the Knights citizens and burgesses assembled in the Commons house of Parl. c. And the Sheriffs and other Officers and Persons to whom it appertaineth shall make returns and accept and receive the returns of such elections in like manner as if Writs of Summons had issued and been executed as hath been used and accustomed And in default of the Sheriffs and other Officers respectively in not accepting or making return of such elections it shall and may be lawful to and for the several Freeholders and other persons that have elected to make returns of the Knights c. which shall be as good and effectual to all intents and purposes as if the Sheriff or other Officers had received a Writ of summons for a Parliament and had made such returns any Writ c. to the contrary notwithstanding And in case any person shall be so hardy as to advise or put in execution any such Writs c. then he or they so offending shall incur the penalties contained in the Statute of Premunire made in the 16 year of Rich. the 2d. and be deprived of the benefit of the Law in any case c. And if any Sheriff Constable of the Castle of Dover or Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports shall not perform his duty enjoyned by this Act then he shall lose and forfeit the sum of one thousand pounds and every county city cinque-port and borough that shall not make election of their knights citizens barons and burgesses respectively shall incur the penalties following that is to say every County the sum of one thousand pounds and every City which is no County two hundred pounds and every Cinque-Port and Borough the sum of one hundred pounds All and every of which several forfeitures and all other forfeitures in this Act mentioned shall and may be recovered in any of the Kings Courts of Record at Westminster by and in the Name of the Lord Major of the City of London for the time being by action of Debt Bill Plaint c. wherein no Essoin Protection c. shall be in any wise prayed granted or allowed And if any person after notice given that the Action depending is grounded or prosecuted upon or by vertue of this Statute shall cause or procure any such Action to be staid or delayed before judgment that then the said persons so offending shall incur and sustain all and every the pains penalties and forfeitures as aforesaid The fifth part of all and every the forfeitures in this Act mentioned shall go and be to and for the use and behoof of the City of London and the other four parts and residue to be employed and disposed to and for such only uses intents and purposes as by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament assembled shall be declared and appointed And be it further Enacted That the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses to be assembled at any Parliament by vertue of this Act shall and may from time to time at any time during such their assembly in Parliament choose and declare one of themselves to be Speaker for the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons assembled in the said Parliament as they shall think fit And it is further enacted That all Parliaments hereafter to be assembled by authority of this Act and every Member thereof shall have and enjoy all Rights Priviledges Jurisdictions and Immunities as any Parliament summoned by Writ under the great Seal of England or any Member thereof might or ought to have and have voices in such Parliament before and without the taking of the several Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance or either of them any Law or Statute to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding For Signing of this Bill thanks were given to the King at White-hall the same afternoon by both Houses of Parliament By this time being the end of December that Cessation of Arms which was spoken of before between the English and Scotish Armies was expired and by the Parliament now renewed for a month longer for the Paliament although the King as is said before called them Rebels and desired to have them driven out of England had a better opinion of them and at this time of renewing the Cessation ordered that the Scots should be recompensed for all their charges and losses by that mischievous war which the King had raised against them and within few dayes after examination of those losses and charges the Parliament ordered that the Scotish Ships taken since that war should be restored to them and 4000. l. in money given them to rig those ships it was further resolved by both Houses that the full sum of 300000 l. should be given to them in these words Towards a supply of the losses and necessities of our brethren of Scotland And that the Parliament would in due time take into consideration the manner of raising daies of Paiment for which three daies after the Scotish Commissioners then Resident at London gave thanks to the Parliament not only for that great Sum of 300000. l. but for the stile of Brethren which so kindly they had used towards them The Parliament of England as a further strengthning of the Nations amity Ordained at that time That all Books Libels and Proclamations against the Scots should be called in and a thanksgiving to God should be in all Churches of England for that happy Peace The payment of two Armies for so long a time was a great charge to the poor people of England which they without any grudging or repining at the King as cause of that great burden in hope to gain him for the future bore with exceeding patience they willingly parted with six Subsidies and were content with the taxation of Poll-money a personal assessment of the whole Kingdom wherein every Duke was assessed at 100. l. a Marquess at 80. l. Earls at 60. l. Viscounts and Barons at 40. l. Knights of the Bath at 30. l. Other Knights at 20. l. Esquires at 10. l. Men of 100. l. per annum at 5. l. every common head at six pence The King in February had declared to the Houses his intention concerning a marriage for his eldest Daughter the Princess Mary who was then betwixt 9 and 10 yeers of age the husband appointed for her was the yong Prince William of Nassau Son to Henry Prince of Orange a youth about 16 yeers of age the matter was then in agitation and fair Propositions made upon it to the King by the Ambassadors of the States General The Parliament were pleased with the marriage and not long after the yong Prince arived in England and was by the King and Queen with all the Court joyfully received and entertained at London After convenient time spent in the English Court he was upon the second day of May with great solemnity Married at White-hall to the Princess Mary On the tenth day of May Thomas Earl of Strafford who had
about of that Fleet was committed to the care of Sir George Ayscough nor did the Lord Admiral Warwick know certainly what was become of that Porchmouth-Fleet whether that also were revolted for so the rumonrs were every day in London And certain it is that the Mariners being so ill-affected in general and daily corrupted by the Townsmen in Porchmouth that Fleet had been lost from the Parliament by which means the other could not have subsisted if the discretion of Sir George Ayscough his estimation among the Sea-men and their love to him had not happily for the Parliament then appeared He wisely sounding the affections of them cashiering the worst to prevent the spreading of that contagion did with many endeavours and great difficulty so well prevail at last that he confirmed the whole Fleet in the Parliaments obedience And very successfully sailing by Prince Charles in the night brought all his Ships safe to the Earl of Warwick Who now strengthened by Ayscoughs coming with the Porchmouth Fleet resolved to make toward his Enemies But finding that the Prince for want of Victual was gone back into Holland he followed him not long after with the whole Fleet to Gore upon the Coast Cromwel after he had given that great defeat to Hamilton following his Victory entered into Scotland to help Arguile and Leven against the Forces of Monroe and â—â—nerike Which he effected with great felicity and reduced those Garisons which the Scots and English Malignants had before seized namely Berwick and Carlisle into the Parliaments power Then going into Scotland to consult about the safety of both Kingdoms he was most honourably entertained in the Castle of Edinburgh Many of the Scotish Nobility and Gentry were sent from the Commitee of Estate to meet Cromwel who after congratulatory Orations made conducted him to Edinburgh where Arguile Leven and other Lords entertained him and the rest of the English Commanders with a most magnificent banquet in the Castle Thanks were given by the Ministers to Cromwel who was by them styled the preserver of Scotland under God Such also is the testimony of the Committee of Estate written to the English Parliament concerning Cromwel presently after the forces of Monroe and Lanerike were disbanded and all other forces except fifteen hundred Horse and Foot which were to stand under the Command of Leven untill the Kingdome were setled It was also decreed both by the Committee of Estate and Assembly of the Kirk For preservation of Religion and brotherly amity with the English Nation That no man which had joyned with Hamilton in the late invasion of England should be chosen into the new Parliament which was then called or into the Assembly of the Kirk For the Faction of Hamilton were judged Enemies to Religion and both the Kingdoms It was worthy of noting that that English Army which were by the religious Party of Scotland called A bundle of Sectariés and reviled by all opprobrious names should now be acknowledged by the same Scots to be the Instruments of God and Vindicators both of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland The greatest Peers of Scotland also did ingenuously confess their Rashness and Errour the year before for accusing this Army as Rebellious for acting the very same things in England which now themselves were enforced to act in Scotland for preservation of that Kingdom This great change in the Council of Scotland had been to be wondred at if the change that then happened in the English Parliament had not been a greater Miracle Who would not be amazed at this That Cromwel for vanquishing a Scotish Army by which he delivered England from the worst of Miseries should be acknowledged there the Preserver of Scotland and not here allowed the Preserver of England and that the same Victory of his against Scots should please the Presbyterian Scots for Religions sake and for Religions sake displease the Presbyterians of England Oedipus himself cannot unriddle this especially if he judge according to Reason not according to what Envie Hate and embittering Faction can work The face of the English Parliament was now suddenly changed and the Votes which passed the year before namely of making no more Addresses to the King were annulled and made void those Votes upon which the Parliament as before is said had published a Declaration to inform the World concerning the reason and necessity of their proceedings Their Counsels were now quite changed and new Addresses to the King the formerly impeached members being again restored to their Seats with more submissive earnestness then ever before were resolved on The Houses then fell into a Debate about propositions to be framed and a Treaty to be had with the King before he had given any satisfaction or security to the people personally at London with Honour Freedom and safety But that was not carried Onely a Treaty was Voted to be in the I le of VVight and that the King should choose the place within that Iland Therefore on the fourth of August the Earl of Middlesex with two of the House of CoÌ„mons were sent to the King Who made answer that he was very ready to treat of Peace and named Newport in that Iland to be the place For that business Commissioners were presently chosen out of both Houses Five Peers Northumberland Pembrook Salisbury Middlesex and Say Ten of the Commons Lord VVainman Hollis Perpoint Vane junior Grimstone Pots Brown Crew Glyn and Buckley The King during this treaty found not onely great reverence and observance from the Commissioners of Parliament but was attended with a Prince-like retinue and was allowed what servans he should choose to make up the Splendor of a Court The Duke of Richmond the Marquess of Hartford the Earls Southampton and Lindsey with other Gentlemen of note and a competent number of them waited in his train his own Chaplains and divers of his Lawyers to advise him in the Treaty were allowed there But while this Treaty proceeded and some months were spent in debates concessions and denyals behold another strange alteration happened which threw the King from the heighth of honour into the lowest condition So strangely did one contrary provoke another Whilst some laboured to advance the King into his Throne again upon slender conditions or none at all others weighing what the King had done what the Commonwealth and especially what the Parliaments friends might suffer if he should come to raign again with unchanged affections desired to take him quite away From hence divers and frequent Petitions were presented to the Parliament and some to the General Fairfax That whosoever had offended against the Commonwealth no persons excepted might come to Judgement The first Petition of that kinde was presented to the Parliament upon the eleventh day of September The Title of the Petition was To the most honourable the Commons of England assembled in Parliament The humble Petition of many Thousands of well-affected men in the Cities of London and Westminster in the Borough of Southwark and the neighbouring Villages Inhabitants This Petition which broke the Ice was followed in the space of one month by many other Petitions of the same kinde from divers Counties of England and several Regiments of the Army namely from the County of Oxford on the 30 of September from the County of Leicester on the second of October from many Commanders in the Army on the 4 of October Three other Petitions brought upon one day namely the 10 of October another from Ireton's Regiment on the 18 of October and another from Inglesbies Regiment on the 21 day of the same month The scope of all these Petitions was the same That Justice might be done and that the Chief Authors of so much bloodshed in England and so many calamities to the Nation namely those who had been the raisers of this Second War and were now in the Parliaments custody Hamilton Holland Capel Goring and the rest might be punished But especially they intreat that the King himself the Chief offender the raiser of the whole War and author of Englands calamity might be called to Judgement That the Parliament would give them leave to remember what the Parliament it self had the yeer before decreed and declared against the King and what the Kirk of Scotland in 1646 had declared against the same King That he was guilty besides other horrid Crimes of shedding the blood of many thousands of his best Subjects Which things if they were true and not at all punished nor any satisfaction made it might be feared would provoke by so much injustice the wrath of God who had delivered that King after so bloody a War into their hands They therefore humbly intreat the Parliament that they would not ungratefully throw away so many miraculous deliverances of Almighty God nor betray themselves and their faithful friends by deceitful Treaties to an implacable Enemy This was the sense of all those Petitions which during the Treaty were daily presented to the Parliament and by them laid aside But at last these Desires prevailed especially after that the Remonstrance of the Lord General and the General Council of Officers held at St. Albans the 16 of November 1648. was presented to the Parliament on the 20 of the same November But by what means or what degrees it came at last so far as that the King was brought to trial condemned and beheaded because the full search and enarration of so great a business would make an History by it self it cannot well be brought into this BREVIARY which having passed over so long a time shall here conclude FINIS