extremely respected at all the places he came at in the Low-Countreys as at Dunkirk Antwerp the Hague Leyden c. And having been for some time entertain'd by his Royal Sister where he had the honour of the Garter sent him from the King he departed to the Court of France being attended by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Greenvile his Majesty himself the Duke of York Prince Rupert and others going two leagues out of Paris to meet him Towards the latter end of the year 1652. his Majestie 's hopes began to be something desperate concerning any considerable succour from France for that King in stead of uniting with the Prince's his subjects sent an Embassadour Mr. de Bordeanx Neufville to treat a Peace with England to which he was the rather induc'd for that Admiral Blake had not long before beaten and destroy'd the French ships under the Duke of Vendosme that were going to the relief of Dunkirk which defeat occasion'd the loss of that Town to the Spaniard Nor were his hopes likely to prove more successfull in the united Provinces for they were so weary of the War that they sent a Letter to England to cast about for an accommodation But before they effected any thing Cromwell finding his ambitious projects ripe being emboldned with former successes and backt with a strong Army on the 20. of April 1653. entred the Parliament House attended with some officers where he represented to them that their Dissolution was important to the publick good and welfare of the Nation with many reasons for it which none daring to oppose the Members departed the House To justify which Action He and his Council of Officers put forth a Declaration wherein it was pretended The Parliament was over-ruled by a corrupt Party who intended to perpetuate themselves deluding the Nation from time to time with hopes of a New Representative notwithstanding the Petitions of the Army and severall Counties That the Cause which God had so greatly blessed languisht in their hands and was in danger to be lost by their negligence of the publick and self-seeking with many more like crimes And thus fell this great Idol of the Nation this Parliamentum Infame which in a dozen yeares time had wrought more mischief to these Kingdomes then all the preceeding Parliaments had ever done good After this Cromwel with his Officers took the administration of Affairs into their own hands the Armies in Scotland and Ireland and the Fleet assenting to their proceedings But to gull the people a little longer and render Parliaments more contemptible to them Cromwel upon the 8. of Iune following sent out a summons in his own name to such persons as he pleas'd to meet at VVestminster on the 4. of Iuly Who accordingly appearing to the number of six score he impowred them by a writing under his Hand and Seal to be the Supreme Authority and Governours of the three Nations and that 40. of them should be a Quorum to dispatch business This Iunto of Sectaries and Officers of the Army going into the Parliament House in three dayes time gravely resolved that they would be called the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England and that their Chairman Mr. Rous should be called Speaker and that they would have a Sergeant at Armes and a Mace Thus they began ridiculously and continued in all their Actions for four moneths in which they voted down the High-Court of Chancery made a silly Act for Marriages Births and Burials confirmed the unjust Bill for Sale of the Estate of Sir Iohn Stowell Knight of the Bath ordered Sale of the remainder of the Royall Revenue made a tax for 6. moneths at 120000 l. per mensem struck fiercely at Tythes and Universities and then being partly weary and partly asham'd of themselves some of Oliver's faction by underhand appointment repaired to Cromwel and resigned their power into his Hands who at first seeming unwilling and excusing his inability was prevail'd with by importunity to accept it which he did with the Title of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland The rest of the Sectarian Convention who refus'd to break up the Parliament and doe as their fellowes had done Cromwel sent Souldiers to turn them out of the House which was accordingly done and the doors lockt against them Decemb. 2. 1653. And upon the 16. of the same moneth having by the advice of his Officers framed and published an Instrument of Government consisting of 42. Articles he sent for the Commissioners of the Great Seale the Major and Aldermen of London with the Iudges and the Officers of the Army and was by them solemnly installed in Westminster-Hall taking an Oath to rule according to his Instrument and the Lawes of the Land though nothing could be more repugnant to the Lawes then that Instrument In this last year notwithstanding the former offer of Accommodation severall encounters had been between the Ships of this Nation those of the United Provinces in which the Dutch suffer'd much so that the common people there were in a great consternation Two of the principal Battels were on the 3. of Iune and the 29. of Iuly In the former the English got a remarkable Victory though with the losse of one of their Generals Dean by a great shot taking above 1300. prisoners and 11. Ships of War besides 6. sunk In the latter being the greatest blow the Dutch ever received from us their Admiral Martin Harper van Trump one of the most expert and renowned Seamen in the world was slain with a Musket shot and 2000. men more 1000. Prisoners taken and 27. Ships of War sunk and fired Which losses quite broke the spirits of the Dutch who thereupon began seriously to think of peace This Summer also it pleased God to visit his Majesty with a Fever which held him for some time with violence so that the London Pamphlets publish'd it to be mortal But the Divine Providence intended better things to this Nation and about the latter end of August recovered him to perfect health After which he departed from the Court for some time to Chantilly not far distant from Paris for better aire being accompanied with Prince Rupert who after various fortunes at Sea and separation from his brother Prince Maurice by a Hericano who was never after heard off put in with his Ships at Nantes at Britany and resided with his Majesty for a long time at Paris in the Palace Royall This year the Lord Hopton who had commanded an Army for his late Majesty in the Rebellion of England dyed of a Fever after five dayes sicknesse at Bruges in Flanders a person of great learning piety temperance and valour In the beginning of the next year his Majestie 's hopes of doing any good upon the United States were absolutely extinguish'd He had us'd all possible means by the intercessions of his friends to avert them from reconcilement with England and to that purpose was very active upon
them comparing the old Tyrant to Moses and his Impe to Ioshua the Guides and conductors of Gods people out of Aegyptian thraldome The chosen Members assembled at VVestminster on Ian. 27. and so did the Other House Great debates were amongst them touching the recognition of the Government transacting with the Other House as Lords during which two Speakers successively dy'd till the young Protector being undermined by a Caball of Officers Fleetwood Desborough c. weakly yielded to the Dissolving of the Parliament on Friday April 22. shortly after which a Fast being solemniz'd the remainder of the Long Parliament who had been dissolved by Cromwel in April 20. 1653. were invited by Lambert to sit again which they did on the 7. of May excluding by violence such of their Fellow-members as they had before secluded in Decemb. 1648. though they were the greater number Richard was thereupon depriv'd of his Government so was his brother Harry in Ireland And now this old Iunto being advanc'd again and congratulated as other Governments had formerly been from Scotland Ireland and the Fleet begin to act like subtile Politicians And to the end the Army might be kept in obedience to them they made the Speaker of the House General cashir'd many Officers and caus'd new Commissions to be deliver'd by the Speaker in the House of Parliament to all the Commanders both of Land and Sea-Forces The affections of the people they did not much value so long as the Army would stand to them To gratifie whom they impos'd a whole years Tax at 35000. l. per mensem to be paid immediately After which about Iuly they pass'd an Act for settling the Militia of Counties in such hands as they pleased But Lambert and the other Officers who intended to have the whole guard of the Rump and aim'd at other designs not relishing this proceeding it was laid aside Nothing could have been more odious to the Nation then this re-establishment of the Rump-Parliament who taking these courses to secure the perpetuall continuance of their sitting and resolving never to encrease their number by admitting their fellow-members or new ones legally elected in their places awakened the spirits of most of the Gentry of the Nation to attempt something for their Countries liberty by restitution of the ancient Government A great inclination there was in most Counties to take up Armes and several Offers were made in divers places but none was so considerable as that in Cheshire Lancashire and the parts adjoyning under Sir George Booth Sir Thomas Middleton and other Gentlemen in those parts They declar'd for a full and free Parliament to be elected by the People Sir George Booth had taken Westchester and was reported to be very numerous Whereupon Lambert was sent out against him with an Army of six or seven thousand men and a train of Artillery moreover forces from all quarters were appointed to draw to him so that all meeting he had a very puissant Army The party under Sir George Booth had been in Armes a a good time before Lambert came against them in expectation that other Counties would have done the like but this hope failing upon Lambert's approach many of them withdrew from him The rest came to an encounter with Lambert at Northwich and were without much difficulty defeated The number of the slain was not many but the Prisoners were in great multitudes Sir George Booth himself was also within a few dayes after taken in a disguise in an Inne at Newport-Pagnel in Bedfordshire as he was coming up to London Persons of quality taken besides him were the Earle of Derby the Lord Kilmurrey Major General Ranulph Egerton Sir William Neile Sir Thomas Powel of Flintshire Col. Massey of Cheshire Major Peter Brook The Earle of Stamford and Sir Thomas Leventhorp were also imprison'd in other places with some hundreds of Gentlemen for designing to levy war against the Commonwealth The Rump overjoy'd with this successe presented Lambert with 1000. l. to buy him a jewel but he thought it more suitable to his designes to distribute it amongst his Army During these actions in England his Majesty privately withdrew from Bruxells together with the Duke of York it was imagin'd by many that they were come concealed into England in expectation of the event or at least lay upon the Sea-coasts ready to have transported some forces in a Fleet which rode upon the Coast of Flanders in case matters had succeeded prosperously But not long after the suppression of the Cheshire Insurrection they appeared again at Bruxells from whence his Majesty dispatcht an Embassadour to attend with certain Proposals at the Interview of Cardinal Mazarini for the French King and Don Lewis de Haro for the Spanish who met upon the confines to treat a Peace between the two Crowns and a Marriage between the King of France and the Infanta of Spain The Embassadour was entertain'd by the two grand Ministers with very high testimonies of honour and respect and promised to have his Master's Interest taken into consideration assoon as the concernments of their own would permit But in England the pretended Parliament fell eagerly to their old beloved Trade of Sequestration and determin'd to exercise the utmost of severity upon the actors in the late Insurrection And no doubt they they would have prosecuted their intentions had not Providence diverted their malice by a breach which fell out between them and the principal Officers of the Army Lambert whose ambition instigated to him to be so active in the late change of Government and so popular in the management of his late expedition together with other grand Officers thought the Parliament so oblig'd to them for restoring them to Power and preserving them in it that they conceiv'd none of their demands ought to be denyed Whereupon at their return to London a Petition was presented to the House by Desborough for a General The Iunto remembring how their former General had serv'd them not only denied this request but vacated the Commissions of Lambert Desborough and 7. others and voted the supreme command of the Army into the hands of seven Commissioners whereof two or three were Army-men the others Members of Parliament Lambert and his Companions were so incensed herewith that upon the 11. of Octob. Forces were drawn out on either side at VVestminster those for the Iunto commanded by Haselrig Morley and others those for the Army by Lambert himself Desborough Berry and other Colonels and had not the Council of State interpos'd they had charg'd one another Neverthelesse the Army-party prevail'd and turn'd the Rump out of doors Oct. 13. Which being done the great Officers being assembled in Council at Wallingford-house dispos'd of commands among themselves Fleetwood was made General Lambert Lieutenant General Desborough General of the Horse and that they might satisfy Gen. Monck too who govern'd Scotland they made him Major General of the Foot As for civil Affairs they erected a Committee of
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
sent by the Lair Libberton The New Commonwealth in England in the mean time was modell'd thus The House of Peers as I said was voted down the Commons reduc'd to about 100 and a new kind of Senate set up called a Council of State who sate at Whitehall consisting of forty persons these indeed though deriv'd from the Parliament grew to have greater authority then their creators but though the supreme Power seem'd in appearance to be in these two Councils yet it was really in the hands of the Army the chief Officers of which rul'd them that rul'd the Nations Their principall business at Home was to fortify their new Government by making severall Acts of Treason and to terrifie others by putting to death divers of the Nobility as D. Hamilton E. of Holland L. Capel c. and such of the Gentry who had oppos'd their Barbarous and Tyrannicall Proceedings They also employ'd themselves in dividing the Patrimony of the Crown having murder'd the Father and expell'd the Son the same course also they took with many thousands of loyall persons either confiscating and selling their Estates or putting them to redeem the same upon great compositions by this meanes and prodigious Taxes together drawing all the Wealth of the Nation both Money Lands into their own hands and sharing the same among themselves their Lords the Officers of the Army His Majesty had small hopes of doing any good immediately upon England although he had friends enough in it However two noble Gentlemen Sir Iohn Berkly and Col. Slingsby offer'd themselves to serve their Prince in England and accordingly came from Iersey into the VVest and went about stirring up their Correspondents to Armes for their King Country but they were both accidentally discover'd taken The King had sent Ambassadours to severall great Princes and States as the Emperor the King of Spain the Duke of Moscovy the State of Venice the Grand Seignor and others to sollicite their ayd and contribution for the recovery of his Father's Kingdomes But from the most of them he received only complements pretenses of their good will to help him The most considerable Embasse and most probable to take effect was that to his Majesty of Spain by the Lord Cottington who at his Audience remonstrated in the name of his Master That the Parliament of England having been in Armes against his Father had prevailed against him and caused him to be put to dâ—ath That he being Son and heir to the late King was yet kept out of his Kingdomes by the said Parliament And therefore he desired his Aid and Assistance to establish him into his Rights and Dignities in his Kingdomes To this the King of Spain answer'd That he was sorry for his Father 's ill successe wishing he had been more prosperous That he condol'd with him for his Father's death and was much affected with sorrow at the manner of it That concerning the difference between him and the Parliament and the Rights on thâ— one or the other side they being matters out of his Territories and Iurisdiction he could not take cognizance of them nor should he meddle therein But for any thing within his own Dominions he should be ready to do him what lawful favour he could But such is the influence Self Interest has upon the minds even of the greatest Potentates that it many times excludes all considerations of generosity Had the Neighbour-States resented the unjustice done to this King and his Father as they ought I am confident the Spirits of the Iuncto would have soon been broken But the course of the world as I said is otherwise his Majesty of Britain is an Exile his Enemies are great and powerfull and therefore in stead of sending assistance to the unfortunate Prince the King of Spain sends and Embassadour to court the new Common wealth of Rebels to a League The King hearing of a Fleet of Ships preparing by the Parliament for the Island of Iersey thought fit to dispatch his answer to the Committee of Estates of Scotland in order to a Treaty which being drawn up with a Letter directed to the Committee of the Kirk Assembly the Laird Libberton departed with it to Scotland Soon after which his Majesty to avoid all danger went from Iersey back again into France where her resided with his Royal Mother till the time for the Scotch Treaty drew near Before his going thither he writ thus to the Lord Marq. of Montross Most Dear and well beloved Cousin We have received Letters from our Kingdome of Scotland of which you receive herewith a Copy by which our subjects demand of us that we would please to acknowledge for lawfull their Parliament and particularly the two last Sessions of that Assembly Which being obtained of our Grace they offer to send us their Deputies with full Commission to Treat with us of the means to reestablish Peace and obedience in that Kingdome We have made them an Answer That we have made known to their Envoy the place where we desired their Deputies should come to us with all diligence And to the end you should not apprehend that by our Letters or by the Treaty we had any design to hinder the affairs we hâ—ve committed to you we have thought fit to let you know that as we judge the Levies you have made for our service to have been a powerfull motive to oblige them to send their Deputies and to enter into Treaty with us So we also believe that the Progrese you shall make in your generous Designes will dispose them to Treat with the more moderation to the end the whole Realm may again happily return under our obedience We assure you we have not the least thought to derogate from that ample Commission which we have given you nor to diminish that Authority in which we have invested you by our Letters Patents And we doe promise you also if it shall come to passe that we shall enter into any good Intelligence with our subjects we shall have so much care of your proper Interest that all the world shall see how much we esteem your Person what confidence we have in your conduct your Courage whereof not only the late King our Father but Our self also have reciv'd Proofs both by what you have done suffer'd for Us. In the mean time you shall understand that we have qualified the Assembly of our Subjects with the Appellation of the Committee of Estates which we have done onely for this Treary Which if it shall not succeed as we desire As we know already this Qualification of the Privy Signet do's not at all authorise them to be such so we shall then forthwith declare for what we hold them notwithstanding this Title which we have given them both for their own proper satisfaction also to make known to all the World that we desire to bring back our Subjects of the Kingdome of Scotland to their Duty rather by wayes of
the arrival of Monsieur Boreel their Embassadour to negotiate a League with France to promote the conclusion of it but they had so deeply tasted of the English valour in the Sea war were so impatiently desirous of peace and Trade that all he could gain of them in the end was a Letter of complemental civility And accordingly applications being made to the new pretended Protectour by two Dutch Embassadours the Lords Newport and Yongstall a Peace was concluded between the two States the Articles of which were proclaimed in London April 26. 1654. Nor were his Majestie 's solicitations for a Peace between France and Spain more successefull though he prosecuted it with his utmost ardour as judging it the most important expedient whereby he might obtain assistance from these two Potent Monarchs and other Princes also together with the Pope himself interpos'd for a Reconciliation For the politick reasons of Cardinal Mazarine who knew the peace of the Kingdome of France depended on his removal out of it induc'd him to venture the fortune of war rather then be sacrific'd though deservedly to the tranquillity of that Kingdome And having taken this resolution he judg'd it also his interest in the next place to make a sure friend of the new Protector of England who being an Usurper too he conceiv'd would be more willing to join interests To which purpose all considerations of Honour Generosity yea of affinity chariry set aside by the Cardinals means instructions were sent over to Monsieur de Bordeaux Neufville who had layen here a long time before but had done little by reason of the unsettledness of the Government to treat a League and Confederacy with the pretended Protector Whether the Cardinal had any particular malice towards the King of England as some affirme I cannot determine but this ha's been apparent in all his actions That he will not stick to promote his own ambitious interest by the ruine of that or any other whatsoever being a greater Politician then to stickle at such rules as the sense of Honour goodnesse or justice it self may lay in the way of his proceedings This his Majesty sufficiently understood and foresaw that by naturall consequence the Union of the English Mahomet and this Ecclesiastical Politician would produce his Exclusion out of France Wherefore he thought it more honourable to depart that Kingdome voluntarily then stay till he were dismiss'd by Articles and accordingly on the 1. Iuly 1654. took leave of the King and Queen of France and of his Royall Mother with the French Grandees from whom he receiv'd such dissembling language as that ceremonious Nation uses on all occasions He went first to Chatillon a House belonging to the Prince of Conde being accompanied with his Illustrious Brother the Duke of York and his Cousins the Princes Palatines Rupert and Edward having made some stay here his Royall Brother returned to Paris and from thence to the Army with the Title of Lieutenant General under Marshall de Turenne who then lay with his Forces besieging the Archduke and the Prince of Conde with a numerous Spanish Army in their Trenches before Arras Prince Rupert also here kist his Majestie 's Hand and departed to Heydelberg to his Brother's Court and from thence to that of the Emperour and prince Edward went to Bourbon From Chatillon about the latter end of the same moneth his Majesty went to Cambray and from thence passing through Liege to the Spaw In the mean time Cromwel playes the Tyrant in England at a high rate and on Feb. 18. he sent 11. persons of quality to the Tower for a conspiracy against his Highnesse's person but having no evidence against them besides his own guilty feares which suggested to him that most men wanted the power rather then the will to dispatch him out of his Usurped dignity they were soon after set at liberty The first Act of himself and Council was to repeal the engagement made by the Infamous Parliament against a Single Person which was done by an Ordinance Ian. 19. next the style of publick writings was alter'd from The Keepers c. to Oliver Lord Protector c. Then an Ordinance was pass'd by his Highness and Council declaring Offences of Treason which were made of three sorts 1. Attempting any thing against Cromwel and his Government 2. Corresponding with or promoting the right of his Majesty 3. Declaring that any Parliament was at present in being or had any continuance c. So we see it came about that owning of the Commonwealth interest as they call'd it was now as great an offence as malignancy Moreover to gratify Sectaries he made an Ordinance to eject scandalous Ministers by which many worthy Ministers were deprived of their livings in several Counties and to shew the more exquisite malice such ejected were not to be admitted ever after to any Ecclesiastical preferment nor to teach schole or officiate as Chaplains in the Houses of persons of quality He also set up an Inquisition for approbation of Ministers by whom ignorant Fanaticks were prefer'd before grave and learned Divines the Commission running in termes that they should have especiall regard to such as were indue'd with gifts and graces though they wanted humane learning Of these Inquisitors were Rob. Tichburne Hu. Peters Ph. Nye Th. Goodwin St. Marshal Pet. Sterry Syd Simpson and others of the like stamp And that he might according to the course of Tyrants establish his power in blood by deterring all that lov'd their Country from attempting its deliverance and removing some of those he judg'd loyall and valiant enough to do it upon the 20. of May a Plot was discover'd for which severall persons of quality were apprehended as Sir Gilbert Gerrard and Col. Iohn Gerrard Humphry Bagaley Secretary to the late Earle of Derby Sidney Fotherby Somerset FoxEsq rs Mr. Tuder an Apothecary and Mr. Vowel a Schoolmaster there were also committed to the Tower the Earle of Oxford Maj. Baily Col. Ashburnham and amongst others Sir Richard Willis For the Tryall of these Conspirators a High Court of Iustice was erected by an Ordinance of Cromwel's Iune 13 of which Iohn Lisle was President and Steel Tichburne Sir Will. Roberts and some twenty more right qualifi'd for any murder it pleas'd the Protector to put them upon Commissioners Of the Gentlemen committed onely three were tryed Iune 30. Mr. Gerard Mr. Vowel and Mr. Fox who were adjudged within the new-made Ordinance and guilty of Treason though by no Law of the Land Glyn Prideaux and Ellis like good Instruments of a Tyrant urging the Protectors will for Law Yet the latter of them was repriev'd and the two former suffer'd death with much resolution and courage Mr. Gerard being beheaded on Tower-Hill and Mr. Vowell hanged at Charing Crosse Iuly 10. Scotland was not yet so absolutely subdued but that there appear'd some still in Armes for his Majesty in the Highlands The Earles of Seaforth Athol Glencarne Kinoole the young Marquis of