THE LIFE and REIGNE OF Our SOVEREIGN LORD KING CHARLES the II In a compendious Chronicle relating both to his Majesties Person and Affairs With the chief Transactions of State in the Three Kingdomes from his Birth to this present By a Lover of his Prince and Countrey LONDON Printed by R. DANIEL for FRANCIS EGLESFIELD at the Marigold 〈◊〉 â—t Paul's Church-yard 1660. To the Happy Preserver of his Sacred Majesty the LADY JANE LANE MADAME THis smal Volume humbly Offered to your Hand contains part of the Life and Reigne of one of the Greatest Monarchs in the World The rest 't is hoped as it will be the imployment of a more elegant Pen so it will not be accomplisht till it afford a Chronicle of more years Prosperities in these Nations then this is of Miseries That I have presumed to dedicate it to your Ladiship if I incurre the censure of boldness I am confident every one will commend the fitnesse of my Choice Since nothing could be more proper then to intitle your Ladiship to the Relation of that Life which next under the Divine Providence you were chiefly instrumental to preserve To you Madame we owe all that can be ow'd from Christians Subjects or Men to any person upon Earth by whose dangerous but ever memorable Fidelity we are at length restor'd to whatever is dear to us in those three capacities and which is no small consideration to the liberty of publishing the impartiall truths as far as the best Relations afforded in this Book Nor is the present Age onely oblig'd to you but your glory shall live upon Record and your Name embalmea with praises be preserved in the memory of thankfull Posterity In all which respects I have thought it my duty both in testimony of my particular Loyalty Gratitude to present this Piece to your Ladiship as the Person that ha's the greatest right to it withall publickly to acknowledge my self MADAME Your Ladiships most devoted Servant and Eternal Honorer FR. EGLESFIELD A true and accurate Relation of the LIFE and REIGN Of our Soveraign Lord and KING CHARLES the II. KING Charles the first of that name having soon after his coming to the Crown married Henrietta Maria youngest daughter of Henry the fourth and sister of Lewis the thirteenth Kings of France was blessed with a Son on the twenty ninth day of May one thousand six hundred and thirty Upon whose birth as the King was going in solemn manner to the Church of S. Paul in London to present his gratefull devotions to God for his own and the Nations happinesse in receiving so eminent a Pledge of his favour there was observ'd a new Star appearing in the time of mid-day as if the Heavens seem'd by an extraordinary Production to aemulate the new splendor of the Earth The young Prince was baptised at S. Iames's on the twenty seventh of Iuly next ensuing by the hand of Dr. Laud then bishop of London Dr. Abbot Archbishop of Canterbury being rendred uncapable by an unhappy accident of shooting a man and received his Father's name Charles his Godfathers were his two Uncles Lewis the thirteenth King of France and Frederick King of Bohemia and Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine whose absence occasioning them to depute their substitutes the late Duke Hamilton represented his Majesty of France and the Duke of Richmond the King of Bohemia His Godmother was Marta de Medicis Queen dowager of France represented by the Dutchesse of Richmond It deserves our notice that he was born the greatest Prince that ever these Nations knew never any before him having been born heir apparent to the Crowns of England Scotland France and Ireland which was intimated in the Silver coynes made at the solemnity of his Baptism on the reverse side whereof were the Armes of those four Kingdomes with this Motto Hactenus Anglorum nulli On the fourth day of November one thousand six hundred thirty one it pleased the Divine Providence to enlarge the Royal Family by the birth of a Daughter the Lady Mary who was afterwards viz. 2. May 1641. married to VVilliam of Nassau Prince of Orange by whom she hath a posthume Son named VVilliam a Princess whose perfections qualifi'd her for the bed of the greatest Potentate in Christendome had not the interest of Religion been more consider'd in her match then amplitude of Territory or Title By the blessing of Heaven upon the Royal bed the King became father to another Son the most illustrious and renouned Iames Duke of York upon the thirteenth of October in the year One thousand six hundred thirty three he was solemnly baptised on S. Iames's day next following and within a few dayes after created Duke of York Title born by his Father during the life of Prince Henry his elder brother This Prince hath though yet in his youth so signalized himself by his valour in the Armies of the Kings of Spain and France that I think this Age nor perhaps any of old cannot afford his parallel His Majesty likewise had another Son brought forth to him by his Royal Consort upon the twentieth day of Iuly 1640. who was Christned Henry and created Duke of Glocester And a Daughter at Excester during the Warres upon the sixteenth of Iune 1644. named after her Royal mother Henrietta Maria. This is the surviving Issue of our late Soveraign of blessed memory And having thus briefly given an account of the Parentage and Birth of these Illustrious Princes I shall proceed to represent the Life of Him who is particularly the Argument of this Relation CHARLES Prince of Wales now our Soveraign Lord King of Great Britain France and Ireland c. The care of his Infancy was committed to the right honourable the Countess of Dorset wife to the last Earle 'till after some yeares having out-grown female conduct the present Marquess of Newcastle was chosen by the King as a fit person to imbue his Youth with all the accomplishments requisite to greatnesse and the Reverend Dr. Duppa Lord Bishop of Chichester and now of Salisbury as one able to form his tender mind to true Religion and Virtue Every year of his Childhood afforded new promises and hopes and even in that age which usually has not the advantage of discretion either totally to subdue or at least to dissemble the motions of passions he express'd on all occasions an extraordinary goodnesse and sweetness of nature seeming to have been born with that equal temper of mind which few men render themselves capable of by the help of Philosophy and Religion Nor were his inclinations to Virtue more remarkable then those he had to excellent and solâ—d Arts which the composednesse of his Genius render'd more acceptable to him then the levity of the most exquisite divertisements In the ninth year of his Age he hapned to break his arme and was very sickly falling first into a Feaver and shortly after into the Jaundies but by the favour of the divine providence he happily overcame
his distempers and afterwards attain'd a firmer health When he came to sit in the House of Peers 1640 his first action in publick affairs was the carrying the King's Letter to them in favour of that noble but unfortunate Lord the Earl of Strafford the King hoping that when all other respects could not prevail upon them at least the consideration of the dignity and goodnesse of this Royal Messenger might something move them to reflect upon the hard measure they had determin'd for him But through the cruel fate of this brave man or rather that of these three Kingdomes the heat of I know not what strange zeal had made them so thirsty for his bloud that a day or two's respite of execution of the severest sentence that ever was given was more then could be afforded to the desires of their King though presented by the hands of their Prince This repulse he suffer'd was certainly the beginning if not the cause of all his ensuing sufferings and those of the Nation 's too For soon after hapned that fatall misunderstanding between the King and the Parliament which occasioning the King's withdrawing from London he commanded the Prince to attend him first at Greenwich then at Hampton-Court then at Theobalds the incensed Parliament and City in the mean time regretting his escape out of their hands having design'd to make advantage of his person according as the contingency of their affairs should suggest to them From thence with the Duke of York he accompanies his Father to New-market and from thence into Yorkshire where they all stood before the gates of Hull and were deny'd admission by Sir Iohn Hotham 'till at length the two Princely brothers were by his special favour permitted as children to see the Town At York the Northern Nobility and Gentry offering their service to his Majesty received thanks for it but were not made use of for prevention of jealousie 'till a greater danger induc'd the King to neglect his fafety no longer and accordingly he selected a company of gallant and loyal persons for his Life guard which were commanded by the young Prince His Majesty assuring them they should hazard their lives no further in defence of their Countries Lawes and Liberties then himself and that they should endanger themselves no farther for his person then his own dear Child In this manner he accompanied the King from York to Newark in Nottinghamshire and from thence to Lincoln and Leicester and back again into Yorkshire in which progress the King endeavoured to satisfie the Counties he passed through of the uprightnesse of his intentions for the good of the Nations and evidenc'd to them the desperate courses the Parliament engaging in order to deprive him of the Royalty left him from his Predecessours and this under pretence of Liberty and Religion At his return into Yorkshire the King informes the Gentlemen there of the Parliaments forwardnesse to a War desires them to spare him some Armes and to compleat Prince Charles's Regiment for the guard of his person under the command of the Earle of Cumberland Not long after the King having gather'd a considerable Army was met between Kinton and Edge-hill in Warwickshire by that of the Parliament under the conduct of the Earl of Essex There was the first considerable battle fought of our civill Wars The Prince was then in the field and the Honourable Earle of Lindsey who was the King's Generall and lost his life in the fight looking upon him very attentively a little before the conjunction of the Armies I know not by what Propheticall instinct utter'd these words Ther 's a Child born to end that VVar we now begin Which how miraculously accomplish't we cannot but gratefully acknowledge the civill Wars having continued ever since the Army which had subdued the one Party afterwards turning their swords upon those that first employ'd them and the poor Nations being rul'd by the sword and always in a state of War and groaning under the miseries inflicted on it by armed Oppressours After this the King retir'd with the Prince to Oxford and committed him to the Right Honourable the Marquesse of Hertford then and still Chancellor of that University who provided for him severall worthy persons in the quality of Tutors for his instruction in all such languages and Sciences as were convenient for the accomplishment of a Prince During his residence there it pleased God to visit him with the Meazles and that not without some danger of death which by the Divine mercy and indulgence to these Nations he avoided is respited we hope for many years Here he was very diligent in commendable studies intermix'd with ingenious and innocent pleasures and upon the King 's summoning a Parliament thither which convened the 22 of Ianuary 1644. himself with his noble Brother the Duke of York sate with the rest of the Nobility in the Upper Schooles which were designed for the House of Lords as the Convocation House was to the Commons who were no inconsiderable number there being present at that Assembly besides these two young Princes the Lord Keeper Littleton the Lord Treasurer Cottington the Duke of Richmond the Marquesse of Hertford nineteen Earles three and twenty Barons and a hundred and fourty Knights and Gentlemen The next year the Prince betakes himself into the field being now about fifteen years old his first course was Westward where by his Majesties Order he had attendants appointed him suitable to the grandeur and state of an heir to three Crowns He set up a Royall Court and chose out a Retinue at his own pleasure the King though disapproving the action in a Letter to the Queen yet admiring his discretion in the Election of them scarce inferiour as a great observer affirm'd to that of his deceased Uncle Prince Henry During this time the King of Portugal sends over an Embassadour who amongst severall specious proposals relating to his Majesties present exigencies tenders one for a Marriage between the Daughter of that King and the Prince of Wales which for good reasons the King his father put off with a civill answer importing a deniall of the proposition though as the policy of State-affairs often makes it necessary to do in words expressing no dislike of it After that fatall battle of Naseby which turn'd the scale to the disadvantage of the Royall Interest severall Overtures interven'd between Prince Charles the Lord Goring and the Parliamentarian General Fairfax but the two former alwayes receiv'd the same answer from him which signified nothing viz. That he was but a servant to the Parliament and could not exceed his Commission which impower'd him onely to fight therefore in râ—ference to a Treaty application ought to be mâ—de to his Masters at VVestminster The Prince accordingly writes to him again to grant the Lords Hopton and Culpepper leave to attend the King and mediate with him for a Treaty with the Parliament to which the General upon grave consultation with his Committee of
for a Treaty with the King the honester and greater part take heart again recall the Votes of Non-Addresses Vote a Treaty send Commissioners with Propositions to the King All which his Majesty fully consented to and there was no difference between him and the Houses but concerniâ—g Presbytery which he granted should be established for three years All men now hoped for a happy settlement But alas now begin the greatest of our woes The Army who could not think their greatness and power would be durable if the King liv'd draw nearer to London petition for their Arrears and for Justice upon the King as the Capitall cause of the Evils of the Civil War to which effect also they publish a Remonstrance requiring withall that a peremptory Day be set for summoning the Prince of VVales and Duke of York and if they refuse to declare them incapable of Government or succession and to stand exiled as Traytors and if they render themselves yet they to be proceeded against for satisfaction with other damands of the like strain To bring their accursed design to passe Fairfax commands Colonel Hammond to deliver up his charge to Colonel Ewer by whom the King is conveyed out of the Isle of VVight to Hurst Castle Novemb. 30. contrary to the intentions and consent of the Parliament as they declar'd And thus the Treaty was violenty broken off Yet the Lords Vote the King's concessions a sufficient ground for Peace and so do the major part of the Commons But the Army march up to London discharge the Trained Bands from guarding the Parliament and order Pride's and Rich's Regiments to supply their places by whom above fourty Members are seiz'd on and confin'd Major General Brown ninety odde Members excluded the House Then the Army form a new Model of Government which they stile The Agreement of the people destructive to all the Fundamental Laws of the Land which was presented to the new molded House by Sir Hardres VValler and 16. Officers The House hereupon annull the Votes against Non-addresses and exclude all Members that will not joyn with them in this proceeding They then proceed to order the Tryall of the King and remove him though the Lords refus'd to concurre and declare no act of the Commons binding without their consent However force overcomes all Right Reason A pretended High Court of Iustice is erected of which Iohn Bradshaw newly created Serjeant at Law is made President The King is brought before them upon Saturday the 20 of Ianuary 1648. on Monday the 22. on Tuesday the 23. and on Saturday the 27. of the same moneth where persisting with magnanimity and reason to deny the power of the Court and being most impudently and insolently treated by Bradshaw he is condemned to be beheaded for Tyranny Treason and Murder According to which sentence having taken leave of his Children here is England and sent his blessing to his son in Holland he was put to death before White-hal Gate upon Tuesday the 30. of Ianuary the Dutch and French Embassadours in behalf of his Majesty made intercession for his life The Scottish Parliament publish'd a Remonstrance against the Parliaments Proceedings The Ministry of London declar'd their disallowance before God and Men The House of Peers offer'd themselves as pledges for his Sacred Majesty but all prevailed nothing The barbarous Iuncto are inexorable being made so desperate by their own guilt that they thought nothing could secure their former crimes but this impious detestable and unparallel'd murther of their Sovereign During his Majesties tryall which was carried on with all expedition and speed the Prince who could not be satisfi'd of that strange turn from a Treaty to a Tryall writ the following Letter to his Father by the Lord Seymour SIR HAving no means to come to the knowledge of your Majestie 's affairs but such as I receive from the Prints or whiâ—h is as uncertain reports I have sent this bearer Seymour to wait upon your Majâ—sty and to bring me an account of it and that I may withall assure your Majesty I do not only pray for your Majesty according to my duty but shall alwaies be ready to do all which shall be in my power to deserve the blessing which I now humbly beg of your Majesty upon Sir Your Majestie 's most humble and most obedient Son and Servant CHARLES Hague Ian. 23. 1648. But alas Sad were the tydings the Lord Seymour return'd with into Holland the most inhumane illegall and barbarous murther of the King of Great Britain by the hands of his English Subjects An Act which struck all Europe with horror and amazement and which certainly our Posterity will eternally detest To represent the sorrow and affliction of our Illustrious Prince with his Royal Brother the Duke of York and his Sister of Orange without doubt surpasses all the power of words No Prince ever lost a Father whom he was to succeed in Royalty with greater regret and indeed all circumstances consider'd I conceive no mortal man had ever greater occasion of grief Certainly had not the extraordinary grace of God supported him he could never have borne up against it I know not how better to resent his passionate resentment then by imitating the old Grecian Painter who being to pourtray Agamemnon present at the sacrifice of his Daughter represented all his followers weeping and lamenting but drew a veil over the Father's face as hiding the transcendent passion his Pencil was unable to expresse A few dayes before the King's death the Commons voted the style in Writs and all Judicial proceedings to be altered from Carolus Dei gratia c. the Great Seal with the Royal Scutcheon of England to be broken and a new one made with the Armes of England the Harp of Ireland with these words The Great Seal of England engraven on one side and on the Reverse the picture of the House of Commons sitting with these words In the first year of Freedome by God's blessing restored 1648. On the evening of that black day on which his Majesty suffered a Proclamation was set forth by the Iuncto prohibiting all persons upon pain of High Treason to presume to declare or publickly to promote Charles Stuart styled Prince of Wales eldest son of the late King or any of the rest of his Children to be King of England In pursuance of which determination having taken their King out of the way they proceed against Kingship and constitute a select Number of themselves joyn'd with the General and chief Officers of the Army in the Supreme authority The House of Peers is voted dangerous and unnecessary and an Act pass'd and proclaim'd in the City of London for the abolishing of Kingly Government and settling these Nations in way of a Free State It was also published 1. That it should be Treason to speak against this Form of Goverment 2. That it should be Treason for any to endeavour the exercise of Kingships in these Nations in his
own Person or promote it in another especially Charles the eldest Iames the second and Henry the third Sons of the late King After which they proceed as far as they could to abolish the very memory of his late Majesty his Arms are ordered to be defaced in all places throughout the Nations and his Statues broken all the regalia sold and imbezil'd the Crown Revenue to sale and all the goods of the Royal Family made prize on by those that had murdered and expell'd the Owners Neverthelesse there wanted not some in this sad consternation who shew'd themselves so resolute in asserting the Title of Prince Charles to the Crown of these Nations as to print and disperse this following Proclamation in several places of the City of London WE the Noblemen Iudges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Freeholders Merchants Citizens Yeo-men Sea-men and other Free men of England do according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these present Heartily Ioyfully and Vnanimously acknowledge and Proclaim the illustrious CHARLES Prince of Wales next Heir to his Father King Charles whose late wicked murder and all Consenters thereunto We from our hearts abominate to be by Hereditary Birth-right and lawfull Succession rightfull and undoubted King of Great Britain France and Ireland And we will constantly and sincerely in our several places and callings defend and maintain his Royal Person Crown and Dignity with our estates and lives against all Opposers whom hereby we declare to be Enemies to his Majesty and Kingdomes In Testimony whereof we have caused these to be Publish't throughout all Counties and Corporations of this Realm The first day of February in the first year of his Majestie 's Reign But the Royal Party was so totally supprest throughout this Nation that they wanted power to make good what their consciences assur'd them was just and right This endeavour testifi'd their Loyalty and withall their weaknesse For though the hearts of most of the Nation were as willing to promote the Son's succession as to withstand the Father's destruction yet were they as unable to advance the one as they had been to prevent the other Indeed Ireland was in a manner wholly for his Majesty in many places whereof he was by joynt consent both of Protestants and Papists proclaimed King The Lord Marquesse of Ormond the Lord Inchequin and other great persons had considerable Forces in the field for his interest and all the Garrisons of that Island held out for him excepting the two most important the Cities of Dublin and London-Derry which were kept from returning to their Allegiance the former by Lieutenant General Iones then Governour and the latter by Sir Charles Coot who maintain'd their cause and authority who had barbarously murder'd his Royal Father in England Besides the Islands of Iersey Guernsey Scilly and Man remain'd faithfull to him though they were of no other advantage then to serve as places of retreat for the small Fleet that was left after the greatest part of it had again revolted to the Parliaments Navy The Parliament of Scotland as I said had protested against the proceedings of the English against their common King But at this time that Nation was divided into four grand Factions or Parties 1. The first consisted of such as had confederated with the English Parliament during the Warres till they saw their accursed design of destroying the King and subverting the Government these were the prevailing party who sent Duke Hamilton with that numerous but unfortunate Army into England 1648. They were willing though upon certain conditions to own and declare Prince Charles for their King only in this they sided with the English Independent Iuncto That they endeavoured to the utmost to depresse and discountenance the Malignants as they called those who had adher'd to his late Majesty who make up the second party The third consisted of such as were so strictly devoted to the Kirk and Convenant that they only projected the advancement of them and car'd not for any other interest either of King or Free-State but strenuously oppos'd both of which Faction Colonel Sâ—â—aâ—ghern and Colonel Kerre were two great Sticklers The fourth and last and worst were such as by unparallel'd treachery to their Prince their Native Countrey and as it appear'd afterwards to themselves too held secret correspondence with the Sectarian power and Army of England This Division I have made will give much light to the understanding of the reasons of the Scottish actions and their consequences when we come to relate them At present it may suffice to intimate that this Discord among themselves retarded them from publickly proclaiming and owning their lawfull King In the mean time the King having been a while a close Mourner in Holland and receiv'd the condolements of the Lords States who also deputed an Oratour Dr. Lotius to represent their sad sence of the inhumane murder of his Royall Father which he performed in an elegant Latine Oration extant in Print he committed the management of his affairs there to the care of his Brother and Sister of Orange and took a journey to France both to visit his disconsolate and forlorne Mother and to desire the assistance which he might reasonably conceive that King oblig'd both in honour consideration of consanguinity and the generall concernment of all Monarchs to afford him He was receiv'd in the French Court with much respect and after a short stay at Paris took up his abode at St. Germains having his Royall Brother the Duke of York with him He had not been long here but contrary to the expectationâ— as well as hopes of himself and all his Loyall Subjects news is brought him of the defeat of the Army in Ireland under the Marquis of Ormond then which a gallanter richer had scarce been seen during all the late Warrs The Marquis had laid siege to Dublin on the 21. of Iune 1649. but that City being reinforc'd with a supply of 3000. Horse and Foot from England and encouraged with the expectation of more the Besieged made severall Sallies out upon them from time to time and at length in one suppris'd the Marquis's maine Army and totally defeated it himself not without much difficulty escaping by flight 'T is very true the Marquis had an Army of about 20000. men but the greatest part of them were Irish and so such as he dar'd not trust besides I have heard it creadibly reported He might have taken Dublin if he had pleas'd but forbore to doe it meerly in tendernesse to the numerous Protestants were in it whom the Irish would have without question unmercifully destroy'd if they had taken the place by assualt and as yet there was no other way to take it by reason the besieged had high expectation of succour from England This was the first blow receiv'd by the young King and a great one it was indeed and so important that it made way for the losse of all that Kingdome About the same time also Sir Ch. Coot
Speaker and was the same day feasted by Iohn Kendrick Mayor of London From whence he never after went forth upon any expedition About the latter end of October the Island of Iersey was reduc'd by Colonel Hain and General Blake from Sea and the Isle of Man was surrender'd to Colonel Duckenfield upon Articles by the Countesse of Derby whose renowned pious and valiant Lord was at Chester adjudgeed to death for engaging with the King at VVorcester by a Council of War after quarter given and beheaded at Bolton in Lancashire on the 15. of October with the teares and lamentations of most of the Spectatours Severall executions were also done upon others by shooting or hanging in divers places for the same cause as on Sir Timothy Fetherstonehaugh Captain Bendbow c. They were tryed upon the pretended Act made after the King 's coming into England viz. Aug. 12. 1651. prohibiting correspondence with his Majesty or his party under the penalty of High Treason His Majesty having upon his arrival at Paris been visited congratulated by the King Queen Nobles of France had a Princely Attendance assigned him and lodgings in the Louvre where he lead a retired life in expectation of some happier opportunity which it might please Providence to present him with for the recovery of his Kingdomes which he had now small hopes to obtain by the assistance of his own Subjects in either of them England being so strictly overaw'd by the numerous Army kept on foot for that purpose and Scotland and Ireland being in a manner wholly subdued by the English Armes Yet in Scotland there were still some small Forces up in the North as the Marquis of Huntley with about 1500. men and the Lord Belcarris The Marquis of Argyle also fortified his houses at Ander-arran and Lorne the Castles in Arran Island and was expected to join with 4000. with the former Moreover the Clergy were still very high against the English But it seemes the designes of the Noble men were onely to make themselves considerable that they might treat upon better termes For shortly after the Marquis of Huntly made his peace the Lord Belcarris divers other Lords came in to the protection of Lieut. Gen. Monck and Argyle having made an attempt to summon a Parliament and shuffled off and on for some moneths at length submitted and afterwards testified under his hand his agreement to the making of Scotland a Commonwealth with England and protested fidelity to it as establisht without King or House of Lords c. Upon which termes he was left at liberty with assurance to enjoy his Estate Had these Lords been cordiall to the Royall interest to which they had so solemnly sworne a little while before they might easily have maintain'd the Highlands against all opposition these places being naturally almost inaccessible and invincible Notwithstanding this low posture of his Majestie 's affairs he was treated with much honour by the Princes and Nobility in France and Madamoiselle de Orleans daughter to the late Duke of that Title being a very rich Princesse worth 60000. per annum and Soveraign Dutchesse of Montpensier shew'd great inclinations towards him in relation to marriage It is also reported that there was a match designed between his Majestie 's Brother the Duke of York and a daughter of the Duke of Longueville a Prince descended from the Royall House of France who was by her mother heire to the rich possessions of the Count of Soissons But the great troubles arising about that time between the King and the Princes of the Blood hinder'd the successe the Duke of Orleans and his Daughter being far ingag'd with the Prince of Conde against the King of France in a civil War occasioned by the imperiousness of Cardinal Mazarine who during the King's minority had by means of his great favour with the Queen ingrossed the whole Government of that Kingdome in a manner into his own hands usurp'd an inordinate power and all the grand offices had committed several enormous miscarriages during the Queen Mother's Regency The Princes of the Blood and generality of the Nation became so incensed against him hereby that an Arrest was passed by the Parliament of Paris for the banishment of the said Cardinal who thereupon retired to Colen and all his goods were confiscated But the Queen having a great inclination to bring him back again into France the Duke of Orleance and Conde vehemently opposed it and when no accommodation could be made the Prince withdrew his forces which he commanded for the King's service against the Spaniard to Stenay a strong Garrison where making great levies he got a considerable power into the field The Cities also of Paris and Bourdeaux owned the Prince's cause and quarrel Whereupon the King rais'd a great Army commanded by Marshal Turein and Count de Harcourt Several encounters pass'd between them the Illustrious Duke of York first serving as a Volunteer and afterwards commanding a Regiment at the siege of Estampes where he behav'd himself extreme honourably in two conflicts The Cardinal in the mean time return'd into France with 6000. men and the Princes on the other side invited the Duke of Lorrain to their assistance who had a mercenary Army of 10000. in the service of the King of Spain His Majesty of Great Britain understanding sufficiently the fatal effects of civill combustions partly out of sincere intentions for the good of France and partly out of the consideration of the advantageousnesse of its peace to his own affairs interceeded as a Mediatour between the King and the discontented Princes and his motion was gratefully accepted of by both Parties and thereupon Deputies were sent severall times by the Princes to represent their grievances but the King of France persisted resolute not to part with the Cardinal though the King of England urg'd him as far as possible to gratifie his incensed subjects if not by dismissing him altogether yet at least by sending him upon some honourable foreign imployment Of all which generous endeavours this noble prudent and Christian Prince obtain'd no other fruit but an extreme hatred from Mazarine At the same time his Majesty imployed himself in reconciling the French King and his subjects upon hopes of those endeavours succeeding he thought fit to deal with the Duke of Lorrain to transport his Army into Ireland where some Garrisons still held out Which affair was so far proceeded in that Articles were drawn up between the Duke of Lorrain and the Lord Taaf on behalf of his Majesty by which it was agreed amongst other things That the Duke should at his own charges land an Army of 10000. for the reducing of Ireland to his Majesty That he should be invested with the Title of Protector Royal of Ireland and have four Towns put into his hands for security for his disbursements with restrictions and cautions But these Articles never came to be signed partly because the Duke was conscious of his
to passe that way to Italy whereupon he sent one of his Lords to her to signify his desire to wait upon her Majestie at what place she should be pleased to nominate To which message she return'd thanks for the honour his Majesty intended her and appointed Coningstein a village near Francfurt in the Electorate of Mentz for the place of Interview His Majesty was accordingly received there by her with many expressions of respect and had private conference with her alone for almost an hour after which the Duke of Glocester was admitted to her presence alone and then the Prince Elector Palatine and his Brother Prince Rupert who came thither on purpose and the refst of the great Lords that attended the King The Elector Palatine invited his Majesty to his Court but his Majesty waved his civility and after many complements between these Princes his Majesty returned to Francfurt the Prince Elector and his Brother to Heidleberg and the Queen of Sweden proceeded without stay in her journey to Italy At his Majestie 's returning from Francfurt which was by water the Elector of Mentz having provided magnificent entertainment for his reception came inperson a great part of the way to meet him and conducted him to one of his Palaces where he treated him for four dayes in a most sumptuous and splendid manner after which himself accompanied him for some part of the way to Collen in which City four Burgomasters were appointed by the Magistrate to wait upon his Majesty and the Princes and to testify the satisfaction they took in their return thither And thus we see what respect his Majesty found in a forreign Country and in his lowest fortune the greatnesse of his vertues causing him to be every where extremely valued not for what he injoy'd but for what he truly deserv'd Shortly after the Princesse Royal took leave of his Majesty and the Duke of Glocester and departed for Holland In the mean time in England Cromwel's feares or his malice were restlesse for about Iune most of the Gentry in all parts of the Nation were clapt up by his Major Generals not would any securiry be taken for them but rhey were kept in Inns such like places with guards of Souldiers at an excessive charge and in convenience for many months together Among others the Lord Falkland Lord Willoughby of Parham and the Lord Newport were committed to the Tower upon suspition of Treason but it seems it was rather his own guilt that induc'd him to do thus then any reasonable cause which could he have found no question they had paid their lives for his security There having been this year a barbarous Massacre committed upon the Protestants of the Valleys of Piedmont by the Souldiers of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy the Protector testifi'd his resentment of it by appointing a solemn day of Humiliation to be observ'd and a large contribution to be gathered throughout the Nation for their relief The collections came to a vast sum but how well they were pay'd to those for whom they were pretended is not unknown to them that were employ'd about this affair into Savoy Also toward the latter end of this year Proposals were made to Cromwel by Manasseh Ben-Israel a Iew in behalf of the Iewish Nation for their free admission to trade and exercise of their Religion in England They had been excluded for the space of almost 400. hundred years yet Cremwel out of a sense of charity for their conversion and in consideration of 200000 l. was willing to listen to their reentertainment But the designe was so vehemently oppos'd by the Divines aâ—d Merchants that it took no effect In the beginning of the next year 1656. the King of Spain being sensible of Cromwel's perfidiousness solemnly proclaimed Warre against England Whereupon Cromwel enter'd into a strict league both Offensive and Defensive with the King of France who was then at Wars with the King of Spain both in Flanders Italy and Catalonia One of the chief Articles of the Confederacy was that his Majesty with the Dukes of York and Glocester and all his Relations and Adherents saving the Queen Mother should be excluded out of France In which it is to be wondred with what sense of honour that King could consent to so base and ignoble a proposall made by one that had murdered his Uncle and Usurped his Dominions and withall to banish such Princes as were so near of Blood to him and came to him for succour and relief But selt-interest not self-preservation for what could France fear from Cromwel when he was ingag'd with the King of Spain and jealous every day of the people he tyrannis'd over self-interest I say of not of the King of France at least of Cardinal Mazarine the Queen's creature prevail'd above all respects of honour justice and the sense of humane calamities The King wisely withdrew before and the Duke of Glocester not long after there remain'd onely the Duke of York who during his service in the French Army had acquir'd to himself a great renowne and a high command Neverthelesse he had some small time respited for his stay in which he was visited and honourably treated by Marshal Turenne who infinitely esteem'd and lov'd him for his extraordinary courage skill in Martial affairs others of the French Lords as also by the Duke of Modena who was then occasionally in that Kingdome And shortly after he took his leave of the King of France the Queen his Mother and the rest of the Court and departed into Flanders In the mean time the King of Spain partly out of a noble generosity and partly out of consideration that having engag'd in a Warre against Cromwel his Majestie 's interest might be of some advantage to him caused Don Iohn of Austria his Governour in the Low-Countries to invite his Majesty into his Territories which invitation was made by the Count of Fuensaldagne a great Commander and lately Governour of Milan His Majesty accepted of the offer and departed from Colen to Bruges in Flanders where he was received with great expressions of honour and respect Thither also the Duke of York went to his Majesty having taken Bruxels in his way and been extremely caress'd by Don Iohn and his Court who expressed much joy in having the most valiant Prince of his age in the world come to assist personaâ—ly in the war In England Cromwel being much necessitated for money and withall impatient to tarry longer for a confirmation by the people which although he could not obtain of the preceeding Parliament he hoped he might gain of another attempted once more to call a new Representative But remembring the carriage of some in the former he gave private intimation to certain persons in several Counties to obstruct if possible their Election again in the ensuing Session and writ Letters to some Sheriffs to the same purpose Neverthelesse though they were chosen after the new mode 10. in a County and 1. in
which put the King upon thoughts of providing for his own safety and therefore on the 13. of April he went out of Oxford in a disguise with Parson Hudson waiting upon Mr. Iohn Ashburnham and upon the 6. os May got to the Scots Army before Newark Soon after which Sir Thomas Glenham surrendred the City of Oxford to General Fairfax upon the 24. of Iune 1646. The Duke of York was carried from thence to Saint Iames's where he met with his Sister the Princesse Henrietta Maria who was sent thither from the surrender of Exceter but was shortly after conveyed from Oatlands over to her Mother in France by her Governesse the Lady Dalkeith From the Island of Scilly the Prince removed to that of Guernsey where he had not long been but an Ordinance is put out against him in the nature of a Ban prohibiting all persons to repair to him or correspond with him by letter or otherwise upon pain of death without mercy Whereupon his abode here being so uncomfortable he betakes himself for France to visit his Mother and that Court there he was received with great demonstration of joy by all parties excepting the dissembling Cardinal Mazarine who though he pretended much respect yet was he inwardly glad to see him in distresse and exile From hence the Queen being willing to comply with the active desires of her Son which inclin'd him to break through these clouds of misery and retirement which seem'd wholly to obscure him writes to the King by Major Bosvil requesting him to permit the Prince to go into the field with his Uncle the Duke of Orleans that summer in the head of a French Army that was then design'd for an expedition into Flanders against the Spaniard To which his Majesty refus'd to condescend partly for that he judg'd it an imployment below a Prince of Great Britain to serve any other King but his own whose pay and orders were once receiv'd by a Roman Caesar and partly because he knew not how soon his service might be necessary for his own Couhtrey and therefore he commands him to wave that design and await his further instructions In the mean time it pleased the King of kings to lay his hand upon him and visit him with an intermitting Fever which continued upon him for the space of some weeks 'till by the divine blessing upon the Physitian 's care he was recover'd to perfect health Soon after which he receiv'd a Commission from his Royal Father to be Generalissimo of all the Loyal forces that survived of the late unsuccessefull battels and garrisons While he is advising about this affair the Kingdom of Scotland out of tendernesse of the Prince's safety honour and conscience move the King That his Son the present hope and future happinesse of these Nations might not be exposed in his youth to the dangers which encompassed him in the French Court particularly in reference to his Religion the perversion of which might have fatal consequences in these three Kingdomes Whereupon his Majesty from Newcastle whether the Scots fearing least General Fairfax should fall upon them and compel them to deliver him up retir'd with him writes to him That he should wait upon his Mother and obey her dutifully in all things Religion only excepted and that he should not stir any whether without his directions The Scots also by their Committee of Estates write themselves to the Prince to invite him thither Professing that none of the late calamities except those that had befallen his Royal Father afflicted them more then his Highnesse's absence And seeing their Forces had entred England to doe their duty to Religion his Majesty and his Highnesse they humbly desire he would please to honour and countenance their pious and loyal endeavours with his gracious presence for whose honour safety and freedome they engage the publick Faith of that Kingdome Signed Crawford Lindsey In Answer to this he desires the Earle of Louderdail to return his acknowledgements to the States of Scotland and assure them he would doe nothing misbecoming a good Prince or unsuitable to their civility But the Prince in pursuance of his instructions negotiating in behalf of his Father's affairs in the French Court by his Mother's assistance whom her nearnesse of bloud great deserts and low condition made powerfull there prevails with the French to advance ten thousand pounds for the Marquesse of Ormond towards the furtherance of his Majestie 's affairs in Ireland as an earnest of greater matters And some remainders of his Cornish Forces getting to a head others upon order marching to him out of Ireland he goes to meet them at the Island of Iersey with such Forces as he had gotten together beyond sea especially in France by his Mother's means and in Holland by the mediation of his young Brother in Law VVilliam of Nassaw Prince of Orange who about this time succeeded his Father Henry in the dignity of General and Admiral of the United Provinces He possessed himself likewise of some Vessels in the Island adding others to them which he hired in France While his Highnesse lay here a Letter is sent to him from the Parliament by the hands of Colonel Russel their Governour of Guernsey which lyes six or seven Leagues distant from Iersey The effect of it was to desire him for his Father's his own and the three Kingdomes sake to return to them where he should find all due respects Subjects could afford or his H ghnesse expect The Design was to get the person of the Prince into their hands as the Scots had that of the King but it took no effect the Prince proceeding to manage his affairs by sea and land to such advantage as might â—nable his Royal Father to stand in the approaching Treaty on such termes as might consist with his Conscience and his Honour On Iuly the 27. following sixteen General Propositions with sundry Qualifications were presented to the King at Newcastle by the Earles of Pembroke Suffolk c. who were limited to ten dayes which the King judging unreasonable refused to consent to and defir'd to come to London and treat personally After which the Scots general Assembly send a Remonstrance to his Majesty desiring him to settle matters in England according to the COVENANT and to signe the Parliaments Propositions And Chancellor Lowdon told him plainly there was no other means for him to close with his Two Houses And moreover if he lost England he should not be admitted to reign in Scotland But the King still persisting in his denyal the Scots who had hitherto some what sharply disputed about the disposall of his Person are content upon the receit of a good summe of Money to depart home and leave the King in the power of the Parliament who voted him to Holmby House and sent Commissioners to receive and convey him thither where he arriv'd on the 17. of February 1646 7. The War was now totally finished and dissentions brake out between the Parliament
danger the Prince should make prize of their ships for that he had engaged to the States of the Low Countries to do no act prejudicial to Trade At last the debate was put off till the next day when the Speaker putting the House in mind of it again it was earnestly called upon by the younger Sir Iohn Evelin Scot VVeaver Hollond Boys and almost all the godly gang So the debate was resumed and VVeaver went very high to try the Temper of the House But the debate interminis That the Prince should be declared a Râ—bel a Traitor was soon laid by though violently press'd chiefly for these reasons 1. They had not the Originals of the Princes Letters and Declaration which the Common Council still kept but only Copies not so much as attested upon Oath by any authentick Clerk therefore no legall Proceedings could be upon them 2. It world argue no peaceable inclination in them the same day when they sent Messengers to invite the King his Father to a Treaty of Peace 3. It could not consist with the National Covenant 4. It is High Treason by the Stat. 25. Edw. 3. to endeavour the destruction of the Prince the King 's eldest Son but to declare him a Rebel and a Traytor was to endeavour to destroy him and therefore High Treason c. But what they could not do expresly they did implicitely by Voting all that should adhere to aid or assist the Prince Rebels and Traytors Hereby they put a tye upon the City not to redeem their ships by lending 20000. l. to the Prince and yet had a Pyrate taken them it had been lawfull to redeem them About this time also an Order passed the House of Commons for the Earl of VVarwick to fight the Prince at sea It was sent up to the Lords and passed that House too whereby it became an Ordinance yet some of the Lords entred a Protestation against it as the Earles of Lincoln Suffolk Lord North. The Prince continued still in the Downes with his Fleet in a good condition waiting for that supply of Land forces his Brother the Prince of Orange was very industriously raising for his service in Holland and in the interim was willing to do something for the relief of Deal Castle which was besieged by a party of Fairfax's Army left in Kent for that purpose In order to which he landed 500. men who at first charged handsomely but being overpowr'd by number were beaten several slain and taken and the rest got aboard again Failing of this attempt he was inclinable to hazard himself for the relief of Colchester which bravely held out against Fairfax's whole power but from this he was disswadeded as a businesse of too apparent danger Wherefore he continued expecting the event of Hamilton's expedition in the North who was sent into England by the Parliament of Scotland with an Army of 21000. upon the account of the Covenant viz. for a restitution of his Majesty with safety and honour and settlement of Presbyterie On the 15. day of Iuly the House of Commons without the Lords Vote the Scots that were come into England enemies and that they might covertly include the Prince the Question was put That all such English as had invited the Scots under Duke Hamilton to come in hostile manner into England should be declared Traitors and carried in the affirmative He that shall consider the House of Commons was still in a manner entire and consisted of the very same men that so often and by so many Votes Remonstrances Declarations Protestations Vowes and Oaths pretended the defence of the King's person and just authority settlement of these Nations in purity of Religion and preservation of the just Rights and Liberties of the Subject the very same things now petition'd for by several Counties declared for by the parties up in Kent Essex and Duke Hamilton in the North cannot but wonder they should vote them Traitors and endeavour their destruction with that of the Nations consequently who took up armes in the greatest sincerity possible for those honourable purposes themselves alledged to countenance their own against the King But the truth is the two Houses sate under a force ever since August 6. 1647. when Fairfax march't up with his Army in hostile manner against the City For from that time the lesser party of the House who together with some Officers of the Army had layd the blackest design that ever was hatcht by the instinct of the Devil siding with the Army over-aw'd all the Proceedings of Parliament and at the same time held the King and the major part of the House in suspence with unfaithfull Treaties and sent their forces against such as desir'd the same things they would be believ'd themselves intended The House of Lords too being strangely supine in not resenting the frequent sleighting and contempt of their Authority and not attempting any thing at all for the deliverance of their Soveraign the Vindication of their own Honour that of the Nation with it's rights priviledges and freedomes against the Usurpation of an Army and corrupt faction in that of the Commons An insolence which I am perswaded none of their great Ancestors we find in Histories under the same Titles but would have ventur'd both lives and fortunes to the utmost rather then have endured and certainly their posterity will wonder what they were doing all this while The Earle of Holland indeed though no Souldier yet dar'd well and out of a sense of Honour thought himself oblig'd to try his fortune in the Field if possible he might be an Instrument to avert the Destruction he saw threatned his Soveraign and the miseries of tyrannie impendent over this poor Nation by an armed power By commission from the Prince he assembles together about 500. Horse and Foot about Kingston heath Iuly 2. having with him the Duke of Buckingham and his Brother the L. Francis Villers and the Earle of Peterborough But he was soon routed by a stronger Party himself taken and afterwards put to death for his noble but unfortunate Attempt Such were the sinnes of this Nation and thus the good Providence of God was pleased to bring about the punishment of them by frustrating all meanes and courses taken to deliver it from the miseries of that threatned it For soon after viz. August 17. the great Army under Hamilton is defeated by Cromwell and Lambert at Preston in Lancashire and the Duke himself taken and afterwards beheaded by the English Parliament for this action This Defeat was followed by the surrender of Colchester which had indur'd a sharp starving Siege of three moneths upon hopes of relief from this Scottish Army Thus all the Princes Enterprises failing and his Fleet being in great need of provision he is forced to give over further Action and retires to the Hague in Holland to his Sister the Princesse of Orange in expectation and attendance upon Providence Shortly after many Counties of England soliciting the Parliament
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
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