desires to the rest But in vain for Scudmore the Governour rejecting these Invitations with Contempt told them He would deliver the City to none but to the King that had entrusted him with it or to his Majesty's Commands And thus the Scots but raise is after a sharp though no long Siege of Five Weeks seeing there was no good to be done raised their Camp and marched Northwards occasioned perhaps by their Apprehension of the King's Motion from Oxford or rather affrighted with the stupendious Victories of Montross in their own Country Rosseter being commanded thither with Six Thoufand Horse The King having again left Oxford for his private Affairs there no less than his publick abroad grew by the Distractions and Divisions in his own Court daily worse marched to Ludlow with design to relieve Chester long labouring under the Pressures of a close Siege The Parliament hearing of the Kings Motion ordered the Colonels Poynts and Rosseter to observe him with orders that in case he moved towards Hereford they should act by consent with Leven but if he should go towards Bristol they should then move by Communication of Counsels with General Fairfax their Forces being joined Four Thousand all Horse follow the King close And the unhappy City of London to promote this Design of King-Catching as they called it or rather The Common-Council of London order their Members to find each a Horse to persuethe King their own Slavery made a Decree in Common-Council that every Member of it should have a Horse with Accoutrements ready to join with the rest in pursuit of the King His Majesty in the mean time hastens towards Chester and being come to Routon-Heath within Two Miles of it Rosseter falls with great Resolution upon the Royallists who received them with no less Courage The Fight was very hot wherein the Rebels were not only disordered but had been quite defeated and an entire Victory obtained but that Colonel Jones coming in that instant with near a Thousand Men from the Siege of Chester turned the Day by confirming their own Party and restoring to them the Success they despaired of before The Fight at Rowton-heath The King being overpowered with the Accession of these new-Commers lest he should be surrounded by them charged through them and not without much Slaughter on both sides recovered Chester The untimely Death of the Lord Bernard no less eminent for Courage and Loyalty than Illustrious for the Nobleness of his Extraction aggravated the King's Loss he being the Third Brother of the Duke of Lenox slain in his Majesty's Quarrel in this unnatural War The King did not stay long in Chester the Enemy growing upon him after their Victory but retired into Wales still loyal to his Interest he being a Prince however unfortunate insuperable in Afflictions and Superior to all Calamities Nor did he at all despond however harassed trusting that the same God who from small beginnings had raised him once to an Equality with his Enemies in Power might yet of his Goodness restore him in his good time He then by his indefatigable Industry and the Accession of Prince Maurice his Troops with some other scattered Remains had got a considerable Body of Horse together which he divided and delivering Fifteen Hundred of them to Digby and Langdale Digby and Langdale defeated sent them with Commands to endeavour to conduct them to Montross which if these great Men had been able to have compassed might have changed the whole Face of Affairs He had already acted to a Prodigy as will be hereafter declared but they could not reach the Borders and Confines of both Kingdoms For though they had broke Colonel Wren's Regiment of Horse and taken Eight Hundred Foot at Sherburne and Mylford they were afterwards surprised by Copely and Lilburne who being fresh fell upon their wearied Troops and defeated them Carnaby and Hutton Two Knights with some others were slain and Four Colonels together with many Inferiour Officers and Four Hundred Horse fell into the Enemies Hands The Lord Digby's Coach was also made a Prize wherein amongst other Spoils several of the King's Letters too carelesly guarded were found And these as those formerly taken at Naesby were printed with the same Malice and Impudence Nor is it to be wondred that as they began the War with Tumults Scandals and all Kinds of Barbarity so they should end it with the same Arts and the same Brutality Digby was again routed by the Scots upon Carlile-Sands and scarce saved himself by with-drawing with very few Attendants into the Isle of Man and from thence into Ireland So that this whole Party together with its Design was destroyed and vanished But to return to Fairfax into the West where the main Stress of the War was for what happened in other Provinces were rather Velitations and Encounters of Parties than formed Designs of Battels after the taking of Bristol the Enemy consulted what to undertake next Many were of Opinion they should march to the Relief of Plymouth labouring under the Evils of a very long and irksom Siege But that Town having the Sea open and the Parliamentarians abounding in shipping having the Navy at their Disposal it was thought more expedient to dislodge the Royallists out of those Garrisons which impeded the Commerce betwixt London and the Western Counties and so open a Passage for Travellers to and fro at Pleasure In order to this Barclay-Castle as nearest was first attempted This Fortress lying betwixt Glocester and Bristol did not only disturb the Commerce of both those Cities but extreamly incommoded the Country on every side with Excursions Fairfax had formerly sent some Horse to hinder their Cavalcades and now Colonel Raynsborough is ordered with Three Regiments of Foot to besiege and reduce them Which he also did having forced their Out-Works Barclay-Castle taken by Raynsborough and particularly the Steeple and Church which overlooked the Castle For Sir Charles Lucas however brave being unequal to the Enemy in Power was forced to surrender which he did considering the State of Affairs upon no contemptible Conditions In the mean Time Cromwell took the Devizes The Devizes by Cromwell without any great Opposition as also Laicock with the same Facility the Souldiers being permitted to march away with their Arms. And now Fairfax commands him with Three Regiments of Horse and Four of Foot to reduce Winchester and Basing-House the Seat of the Marquis of Winchester whilst he himself marches with the Rest of his Army Westward His Souldiers were mustered and paid and new cloathed Being come to Chard he was advertised that the Royallists had a design to break through his Army and join with the King Which seemed neither incredible nor unreasonable for that being effected the Enemy would be obliged either to divide his Forces which might expose both Parties or follow with his whole Army and so leave the Two fertile Provinces of Devonshire and Cornmall entirely in the Prince's Hands He
not be cleansed of it but continues still a Monument of this horrid Impiety with this Inscription engraved Hic jacent Car. Lucas Geor. Lisle a Fairfaxio mactati Capell was reserved for the Scaffold who afterwards suffered with no less Constancy and Greatness of Mind than his illustrious Colleagues now did as we shall see in the Sequel of this History Nor was it on Land only that the Sword did rage the Sea also had its Scenes of Blood and Horror for a great part of the Navy detesting the Tyranny of their Old Masters deserted them and revolted to the Prince of Wales The Revolt of the Fleet. Batten one of their prime Leaders having been dismissed by them returned to his Duty and joined his Highness with some more Ships The Sea-men had exposed Rainsborough their Admiral and a Turbulent Leveller by putting him on shore who was afterwards slain in his Quarters by a Party from Pomfret and now embracing the King's Party with universal Consent seemed resolved to expiate their former Rebellion by a Return of Duty and to merit their Pardon by the Eminency of their Services Prince Charles with the Duke of York his Brother who lately escaped from St. James's in Womans Cloaths Prince Rupert the Earl of Brandford the Lords Hopton Willmot Willoughby Culpeper and others of Name and Quality sailed from Holland with this brave Fleet consisting of Twenty Ships of War and came into Yarmouth-Road with design to attempt every thing that was possible for the Relief of Colchester But finding the distance from that City too great and the Shore and Passages possessed by the numerous Enemy his Highness sailed to the Mouth of the Thames carrying Terror and Force with him to awe the City of London But his stay there was not long the Castles of Deal Walmer and Sandwich requiring his Assistance which he attempted by landing Five Hundred Men who though they fought with extream Gallantry were yet forced back with great loss to their Ships again The Castles after this Defeat were immediately surrendered By this time the Earl of Warwick lately made Admiral again had equipt another Fleet in the River and having joyned that of Portsmouth resolved to fight the Prince which he yet delays for the present not only terrified with the Revolt of others but in some doubt of the Fidelity of his own Men. The Prince perceiving this courted the Earl with magnificent Offers to the Return of his Duty But he perfidiously constant persisted in his Rebellion and in recompense of his Services shall see himself disgracefully outed of all Trust and his only Brother the Earl of Holland beheaded for his late Return to his Obedience Some were of Opinion that the Royallists omitted an opportunity of fighting the Sea men being high in Heart and seemingly very Loyal and the Enemy supposed to waver tho the Event afterwards proved the contrary In the mean time the Prince seeing his Land-Forces every where defeated and the adverse Fleet growing daily stronger returned into Holland giving the Command of the Fleet to Prince Rupert But many of the Ships out of an innate levity of their Sailors leaving the Prince returned to their old slavery under Warwick whilst the rest continuing in their Duty stuck close to their New Admiral whose Actions and Adventures shall be hereafter related Some other Fortresses besides those already mentioned declared for the King as N. B. Tinmouth-Castle seized upon by Major Lilburn Scarborough by the Return of Sir Matthew Boynton the Governour to his Allegiance and Pomfret possessed upon the same score by Major Morrice Tinmouth indeed was retaken by Assault the Governour losing his Life with the Place Boynton got Terms not unworthy the Defence he had made and Morrice and being lost bravely exposed himself to save his Garrison Who tho he broke thro the Camp which was the Conditions he had articled for yet was afterwards taken and murthered under colour of Justice in cold Blood The Visitation of Oxford But before we proceed further in these Occurrences it may not be impertinent to take a Review of some Transactions in the entrance of this Black Year 1648. seeing they seem to tend to those monstrous Catastrophes it ended in The first thing our pious Reformers undertook was visiting the Vniversity of Oxford They had long since garbell'd Cambridge to their Interest and will now as much as in them lyes extinguish this other Luminary by removing its Candlesticks and ejecting all the Members thereof that were any ways notable for Learning Loyalty Piety or Obedience to the Church or State as established by Law The Earl of Pembrook being made Chancellor together with several Delegates of the Factious Clergy and some of the Laiety as good Divines as himself were appointed for this Service Which was performed with all the Rigor of an Inquisition none being spared from the Reverend Heads of Colleges to the hopeful Striplings of Sixteen And yet the entrance of this Year had thus much extraordinary in it in that it contributed to the Deliverance of the Duke of York out of the Hands of those worst of Rebels The Duke of York escapes into Holland being conveyed away in a Virgin-disguise and carried into Holland by Col. Bamfeild who afterwards aspersed the Honour of this Service by undutiful Intelligences But to return whence we digressed the Army with Cromwell being absent and in Scotland several Petitions from the Country the Captains Masters and Sailers as also from the City of London were presented to the Men at Westminister requiring with more than ordinary earnestness a personal Treaty with the King This did so far work upon the Presbyterian Faction in the House very jealous and apprehensive of the Power of the Independants that they resolved for their own preservation to make a Peace with the King And The Treaty in the Isle of Wight in order thereunto forthwith recalled their Votes of Non-Address and sent Commissioners with Propositions not much unlike the former with Power to make Peace allowing Forty Days for the time of treating They indeed permitted his Majesty the attendance of several Lords of his Council and Bed-Chamber many of his Servants some of his Chaplains some Lawyers and others But they refused the Assistance of any but himself in treating Nor was it truly necessary for it presently appeared that as he was a Prince of prodigious Parts so he seemed more than humanly inspired who could singly manage so weighty an Affair against Fifteen Commissioners Persons prejudiced and of great Subtilty and with that success that he made Converts of some of his bitterest Enemies and however unwilling forced their very Reason But they having no liberty to recede or any way to remit of the Rigor of their Propositions His Majesty out of his affection to Peace granted many things above their Desires being content to divest himself of most of his Regalities for his time and trust those insatiable Men with the exercise thereof
the Universality of Mankind for Quae Regio in Terris nostri non plaena Doloris did lament the undeserved Fate of this Prince Nay the outragious Faction it self did blush to approve the Infamy of so flagitious an Act. The Factions disapproving the Infamy of the Regicide impute it to each other The Presbyterians to shift the Envy of it from themselves threw it upon the Independants condemning upon the Stage what they had designed in the Tyring-room But whether out of true Sentiments of Repentance or that they could act no further let them look to that being equally Regicides in their Intentions though not in the Execution The Independants said That they only put to Death a Private Man and an Enemy The King had been long since killed by the Presbyterians as being despoiled of his Prerogative whereby he excelled others of the Militia wherewith he protected his Subjests and of his Freedom of Vote whereby he made Laws They also remembred How he had been divested and robbed of his Liberty as a Commoner of the Society of his Wife as a Husband of the Conversation of his Children as a Parent of the Attendance of his Servants as a Master Yea of every Thing that might render his Life comfortable So that there was nothing left for the Independants to do but to put an end to the Calamities wherewith this Man of Sorrow had been so cruelly overwhelmed and afflicted by the Presbyterians But who ever were the Authors of this Impiety we grieve at what they did which seeing it cannot be undone we may wish that the Memory of it may perish with them who designed and perpetrated so Hellish a Mischief Nor had the Scelerates of the Faction yet satisfied their Cruelty They were inhumanly barbarous to his Dead Corps Their Inhumanities after his Death His Hair and his Blood were sold by Parcels Their Hands and Sticks were tinged with his Blood And the Block now chipt as also the Sand sprinkled with his Sacred Gore were exposed to sale Which were greedily bought but for different Ends by some as Trophies of their slain Enemy and by others as precious Reliques of their beloved Prince It is certain that Cromwell to satisfy his greedy Eyes had caused the Coffin to be opened in White-Hall and did with his Fingers search the-Wound as if he had still doubted of the effecting of his Hellish Cruelty Nor did it suffice to have raged against him living and dead they will also for as much as in them lies kill his very Fame Which they endeavoured to do by the enslaved Pen of a needy Pedagogue one Milton Salmasius indeed had writ a Defence for the King but he being a Presbyterian as the other an Independant both very good Latin if we believe the Learned Hobbs and hardly to be judged which is better and both very ill Reasoning and hardly to be judged which is worst And thus both Houses as they had often sworn with hands lift up to Heaven did make him a Great and Glorious King by changing his Fading Crown which they had interwoven with Thorns into an Immortal and Incorruptible one They made him great indeed great in Suffering in Patience His Character and great in his Martyrdom Thus fell Charles the Great and Just Monarch of sometimes Three flourishing Kingdoms A great Example if any of both Fortunes The Best of Kings The Meekest of Men. His Countenance was Comely and Majestic He was Constant Valiant Pious Eloquent of infinite Reason and Reading His Integrity was entire and no Guile found in his Mouth His publick and private Vertues were eminent He had been born for the Good of Mankind if he had not fallen amongst Monsters not Men. The best of Princes the best of Men the best Parent the best Husband the best Master Famous for Patience for Piety for Chastity for Justice and of an unshaken Fidelity towards God and Man His Greatness only rend'red him Guilty being by the Suffrages of his most bitter Enemies worthy of Empire if he had not reigned The Royal Corps being embalmed and exposed for some Days to publick View at St. James's was afterwards delivered to Mr. Herbert And Funeral one of his Servants to be translated to Windsor He had earnestly solicited to have had it deposited in Henry VII's Chappel near to the Monument of King James But they refused it lest the Place as they said might be prophaned by the Superstitious Concourse of the People He was therefore carried â—o Windsor by the Direction of the Duke of Lenox the Marquess of Hartford and the Earls of Southampton and Linsey who had got leave â—â—om the Faction for the decent Enterrment of their â—ear Lord provided the Funeral-Charges did not â—xceed Five Hundred Pounds These Sacred Reâ—â—ques being then born by the Officers of the Garriâ—on attended on by the Four Lords were laid 〈◊〉 Henry VIII's Vault It is observable that â—â—ough the Air was serene when they set out â—efore they reacht the Chappel-Door the â—â—erse of Black Velvet which covered them was all White with Snow which seemed to fall to testify their Candor and Innocence But it troubled the Assistants that the Fanatic Governour would not permit them the Use of the Common-Prayer the Bishop of London attending there to do this Last Office to his Dearest Master So that he was interred with the Sighs and Tears of his Servants And thus Lam. C. 4. V. 20. the Breath of our Nostrils the Anointed of the Lord was taken in their Pits of whom we said Vnder his Shadow we shall live among the Heathen COMMENTARIES ON THE REBELLION OF England Scotland and Ireland PART II. BOOK I. The Regicides prohibit the proclaiming of the Prince of Wales They abolish the House of Lords and the Government by Kings Choose a Councel of State Displace and Fine the Lord Mayor for refusing to publish the Act for abolishing of Monarchy Declare they will-maintain the Fundamental Laws Erect a High Court of Justice Hamilton Holland and Capell condemned by it and murthered Several Acts of State The Scots proclaim Charles II. Some Actions of the Levellers The King leaves Holland and goes by Brussels into France The Duke of Gloucester banished Continuance of the History of Ireland The King at Jersey Prince Rupert Sails from Kinsale to Portugal Loseth his Brother Prince Maurice by a Hurrycane The King at Breda Treats and Concludes with the Scots Montrosse's unfortunate End Fairfax routed and Cromwell General His Actions in Scotland The Scots barbarous Vsage of the King They are defeated at Dunbar The King crowned at Schone He enters England The Battle of Worcester The King 's miraculous Escape CHarles the Martyr being removed by a Parricide black as its Authors as is declared in our former Commentaries the Regicides endeavour with the same Fury to supplant his Son Heir of his Diadems and Vertues in order to which they immediately after his Fathers Death The Regicides prohibit the proclaiming of the
BEATAM AETERNAM CLARIOR E TENEBRIS CELI SPECTO ASPERAM AT LEVEM CHRISTI TRACTO In verbo tuo Spes mea MUNDI CALCO SPLENDIDAM AT GRAVEM Alij diutius Imperium tenuerunt nemo tam fortiter reliquit Tacit. Histor Liâ—â— 2. c. 47. p. 417 THE HISTORY OF THE Rebellions IN England Scotland and Ireland WHEREIN The most Material Passages Sieges Battles Policies and Stratagems of WAR are impartially Related on both Sides FROM The YEAR 1640. To the Beheading of the Duke of Monmouth in 1685. In Three Parts By Sir ROGER MANLEY Kt. late Governour of Land-Guard-Fort Quaeque ipse Miserima vidi LONDON Printed for L. Meredith at the Angel in Amen-Corner and T. Newborough at the Golden Ball in St. Paul's Church Yard MDCXCI THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER IN regard the Reputation of Histories is generally raised on the Worth of their Authors I thought it convenient to acquaint the World That the Compiler of This was a Gentleman of known Integrity bred in the Church of England for whose Cause joined with that of the Royal Family he was a valiant and zealous Champion having been Personally engaged in the most considerable Battles which his Royal Master King Charles I. fought against his Rebellious Subjects You are not therefore here to expect the Reversion of other Mens Labors no borrow'd Fragments or Scraps of Records no patch'd or imperfect Collections but an entire uniform History with great Impartiality and for the most Part of his own certain Knowledge Yet to free him from Suspicion of any Mistake in these Memoirs it is sufficient to observe That he collected them in those Troublesome Times whose Iniquity would not admit the Publication of them which he reserv'd till there was a clear Stage for Truth to appear on And having surviv'd this Great Rebellion for many Years he has added to the History of that an Account of all the Remarkable Transactions with the Conspiracies Insurrections and Tumults that happ'ned in the Reign of King Charles II. And concludes with the Invasion and Overthrow of the Duke of Monmouth in the West I shall say no more but that this Gentleman dying soon after he had finished these Commentaries the Publication of them was entrusted with me Which I did very readily undertake since I had the Honour to know the Author so well that his very Name was a sufficient Recommendation of the Work And all honest Men that knew Sir Roger Manley were very desirous of a History from his Hand whose Pen was aâ—â—oyal and Just as his Sword Reader honour the Memory of this brave Man and think not ill of the Publisher who like a faithful Executor presents thee with this his last Legacy And if thou take my Pains in good part 't is all the Acknowledgment I expect from thee Adieu THE CONTENTS PART I. BOOK I. THE Vnion of the Kingdoms of Great Britain The State of Affairs in England The Scots Tumults and their Causes They Rebel and Arm. The King Marches against them but concludes a Peace They break it and enter England with an Army The Little Parliament call'd and dissolved The Treaty at Rippon referred to the Parliament which met in November 1640. The Preludes to their ensuing Rebellion Strafford Impeach'd and Beheaded The Fatal Act of Continuance The Scots dismissed The King follows them into Scotland The Irish Rebellion breaks out The King upon his Return is pompously received by the Londoners The King enters the House of Commons The Bishops accused of High Treason The King forced by Tumults retreats Northward Contests about the Militia His Majesty is repulsed at Hull p. 1. BOOK II. The King attempts Hull in vain Propositions sent to his Majesty to York Most of the Lords and many of the Commons repair to his Majesty He erects his Standard at Nottingham and raises an Army Essex the Rebels General at Worcester at Keynton The famous Battle of Edge-hill Fight at Branford The King fortifies Oxford Some Actions in other Provinces The Queen lands at Burlington Goes to Oxford The Battle of Lansdowne Of Rownday Downe The Siege and Relief of Glocester The great Battle of Newbury The Parliament invite the Scots to their Succour They enter England The Siege of York The fatal Battle of Marston Moor. The Fights at Brandon Heath and Copedry-bridge Essex defeated in the West The second Battle of Newbury Alexander Carew and the Two Hothams beheaded Mac-Mahon and Macquier executed The Archbishop of Canterbury martyr'd The Treaty at Uxbridge Essex discarded and Sir Thomas Fairfax made General in his Place 38. BOOK III. The Continuation of the Irish Rebellion The Lords of the Pale side with the Rebels Their Model of Government The Cruelty of the English in Ireland Ormond makes first a Cessation then a Peace with the Irish Delivers Dublin to the English The King vindicated from any Correspondence with the Irish Rebels Fairfax marches Westward recalled besieges Oxford The King relieves Chester Takes Leicester The Fatal Battel of Naesby described The King's Cabinet taken and published Fairfax relieves Taunton The Fight at Langport He takes Bridgwater Sherburne and Bristol The King's Travels and Labours The Scots besiege Hereford They quit it The Fight at Rowton-Heath Digby and Langdale defeated in the North. Barclay-Castle the Devizes and Tiverton taken Cromwell takes Winchester and Basing-House by Assault The Fight at Torrington The Prince passes into France The Lord Hopton disbands his Army Distructions at Newark The King returns to Oxford The Lord Ashley defeated 84. BOOK IV. The King leaves Oxford and goes to the Scots Army Hereford is surprized and Chester surrender'd Oxford besieged and taken The other Royal Garrisons follow Massey's Forces disbanded Contests with the Scots Their barbarous Vsage of the King They sell him He is imprisoned in Holmbey-House The History of the Scots Rebellion and valorous Actions of Montross Independency triumphant The Army mutinies and seize upon the King at Holmbey They court him but deal treacherously with him He flies to the Isle of Wight 122. BOOK V. The King in the Isle of Wight His Message for Peace The Four Dethroning Bills The Votes of Non-address Cap. Burleigh attempts the King's Delivery Rolfe his Life The King appeals to the People They rise in several Parts of the Kingdom Are suppressed Pembroke taken The Scots defeated and Hamilton a Prisoner Colchester surrendered The Treaty in the Isle of Wight broken by the Army They seize upon the King Garble the Parliament The perjur'd Remains of the Commons assume the Supream Power Constitute a pretended Court of High Justice Arraign Condemn and Murther their King His End and Elogy 169. PART II. BOOK I. The Regicides prohibit the proclaiming of the Prince of Wales They abolish the House of Lords and the Government by Kings Choose a Councel of State Displace and Fine the Lord Mayor for refusing to publish the Act for abolishing of Monarchy Declare they will maintain the Fundamental Laws Erect a High Court of Justice Hamilton Holland and
Capell condemned by it and murthered Several Acts of State The Scots proclaim Charles II. Some Actions of the Levellers The King leaves Holland and goes by Brussels into France The Duke of Gloucester banished Continuance of the History of Ireland The King at Jersey Prince Rupert Sails from Kinsale to Portugal Loseth his Brother Prince Maurice by a Hurrycane The King at Breda Treats and Concludes with the Scots Montrosse's unfortunate End Fairfax routed and Cromwell General His Actions in Scotland The Scots barbarous Vsage of the King They are defeated at Dunbar The King crowned at Schone He enters England The Battle of Worcester The King 's miraculous Escape 109 110. BOOK II. Cromwell enters London Triumphantly Continuation of the Irish Affairs Ormond leaves Ireland and Clanrickard his Deputy there Ireton dyes of the Plague Monk takes Sterling Dundee and Subjugates Scotland The Isles of Scilly Barbadoes Garnsey Jersey and that of Man surrendered to the Regicides Their Greatness They are courted by the Neighbouring Kings and States They send a solemn Embassy into Holland Cromwell Cabals Turns out the Mock-Parliament Chooses another Is chosen Protector The Wars with the United Provinces The various Sea-Fights betwixt the Two States Cromwell makes a Peace with them and a League with France The Expedition of San Domingo and Jamaica Blake's success at Tunis and Santa Cruz. Dunkirk taken The Death of Oliver Cromwell His Character 249. BOOK III. Richard succeeds his Father in the Protectorate He is deposed by the Army The Rump restored Lambert defeats Sir George Booth Montague returns with the Fleet out of Denmark Lambert turns out the Rump Monk dissents and declares for the Rump Lambert marches against him Being deluded by Treaties he is deserted by his Army The Committee of Safety routed and the Rump yet again restored Monk marches to London Readmits the Secluded Members The Parliament dissolv'd by its own Act. An Abstract of the King's Actions and Motions abroad He is proclaimed by the Parliament Returns into England His glorious Reception The End of our Troubles 278. PART III. BOOK I. The REBELLION breaks into new Flames Some Millenaries secur'd Venner's Insurrection and End The Presbyterians stickle for new Elections Several Seditious Tumults detected and punished The Plague consumes the People The Conflagration of the City Tumults in Scotland Oate's Plot. The Parliament insist upon removing the Duke from the King's Presence and Councils It is dissolved Another Parliament call'd The Duke retires from Court A new Council chosen The Parliament refuse the King Money and insist upon the Bill of Exclusion It is also dissolved another being Summon'd A new Rebellion in Scotland The Arch-bishop of St. Andrew's inhumanly butchered The Rebels are defeated at Bothwel-Bridge The King sick He recovers The Duke returns to Court Monmouth Cabals and is outed of his Employments The Lord Stafford beheaded The Parliament dissolv'd and succeeded by another at Oxford which is likewise dismiss'd College is hang'd and Shaftsbury try'd The strange Encrease of the Fanaticks Their Insolence and Power in the City They form a Conspiracy The Council of Six The Plot to Murther the King and Duke The Providential Fire at New-Market Keeling discovers the Conspiracy Russel and Sidney are executed Monmouth absconds but upon his Submission is pardoned He again transgresses and is banished The King dyes of an Apoplexy The Duke succeeds 312. BOOK II. The Rebellion breaks out in Scotland under Argile in England under Monmouth Both are vanquished taken and executed The Final Ruin and End of the Rebellion 336. COMMENTARIES ON THE REBELLION OF England Scotland and Ireland PART I. BOOK I. The Vnion of the Kingdoms of Great Britain The State of Affairs in England The Scots Tumults and their Causes They Rebel and Arm. The King Marches against them but concludes a Peace They break it and enter England with an Army The Little Parliament call'd and dissolved The Treaty at Rippon referred to the Parliament which met in November 1640. The Preludes to their ensuing Rebellion Strafford Impeach'd and Beheaded The Fatal Act of Continuance The Scots dismissed The King follows them into Scotland The Irish Rebellion breaks out The King upon his Return is pompously received by the Londoners The King enters the House of Commons The Bishops accused of High Treason The King forced by Tumults retreats Northward Contests about the Militia His Majesty is repulsed at Hull THE Kingdoms of Great Britain being United under the Dominion of one Prince and the Animosities and Emulations which usually disorder Neighbour-Nations thereby removed gave a sudden Rise to a very great and formidable Power which could not be destroyed but by it self The Moderator of this vast Empire was JAMES VI. King of Scotland and First Monarch of Great Britain undoubted Heir to both as well by Right of Succession from Margaret the only Daughter of Edgar Atheling the last of the Saxon Princes as by that of Force derived to him from the Norman Conqueror This Wise and Learned Prince Charles I. succeeds to the Crown being gathered to his Fathers the loss which his Dominions suffered by it however great was abundantly repaired by the Succession of his Son CHARLES who being truly Heir to his Father's Greatness and Vertues as well as Scepters did excel all his Predecessors in the more severe Disquisition of what was Fit and Just so that our Tragedies will scarce find Credit with Posterity whilst the Ages to come mistrusting the Reports of such enormous Villainies will look upon our unheard-of Vicissitudes but as the Fancies of Poetry and the Decoration of Theatres For how is it possible to believe that the Best of Princes should meet with the Worst of Subjects on whom he had conferred more Graces than the whole Series of his Ancestors and that he who valued his Kingdoms and Life at a lower Rate than the Happiness of his People should by a Judicial Parricide be sacrificed to the ambitious Violence of a prevailing Faction in their Representative and that under the pretence of Usurpation and Tyranny But these things happened an everlasting Reproach to the Nation and not to be atoned for by any Resentment or Hecatombs of Victims King James left a flourishing Kingdom behind him but an empty Treasury and his Successor engaged in a War with Spain and what was worse the Parliament that oblig'd the Father to Arm abandoned the Son when they had exposed him Nor were the succeeding Parliaments more Obsequious or forward in supplying his Necessities how great soever either in recovering the Palatinate or rescuing the French Protestants though undertaken in Defence of the Reformed Religion 'T is true his Third Parliament voted him Five Subsidies but we must own also The Petition of Right that the Petition of Right being a Condescension even to Supererogation deserv'd their best Acknowledgements for raised with that Grant they that very Session questioned the Tribute of Tonnage and Poundage though perpetually enjoyed by his Predecessors Kings of England affirming
descending Edge-hill in Battalia and very Chearful had a Sight of the Enemy who were busie in ordering their Army in the Valley below The King viewing of them being asked what he intended to do answered briskly I never saw the Rebels before in a Body I am resolved to fight them God and all good Men assist my Righteous Cause Prince Rupert commanded the Right Wing Lieutenant General Willmot to whom the Earl of Forth was added the Left and the Earl of Lindsey General of the Field led the Main Battel on Foot with a Pike in his Hand and each Division had their Reserves Essex who had Quarter'd at Keynton drew his Army into Battalia in the Vale saluting or provoking the Adversaries with Three great Shot and as many Shouts of his whole Army This Summons was answered by Two great Guns and being advanced nearer the King observed the Rebels Army to be drawn up as followeth Two Regiments of Horse composed the Right Wing commanded by the Two Colonels Balfore and Stapelton and the Lord Fielding had his Regiment in their Rear for a Reserve Essex commanded the Battel at first also on Foot as the adverse General and the Left Wing consisting of Twenty Troops of Horse was led by Colonel Ramsey a Scot. And now the Cannon began to play on both Sides but without any considerable Execution Prince Rupert charged Ramsey with so much Courage that he not only forced him from his Station but off the Field also and the Brigade of Foot next to them frighted with the Flight of their Horse and surprized with the Defection of Sir Faithful Fortescue who mindful of his Duty went over with his Troops to his Majesty threw down their Arms Colonel Essex who commanded them retiring to the Main Body But our Horse following the Chace too far and their Reserves commanded by the Earl of Carnarven and hurried with the same Violence suffered the Victory to slip out of their Hands by their too much eagerness to overcome For if they had charged their Flank bared of their Horse they had probably much incommoded them Essex was more cautious who sending Fielding's Reserve with others under the Command of Hurrey did much disturb the King's Foot destitute by the Absence of their Horse The Left Wing had not the same Success for Balfore had forced Willmot to a disorderly Retreat and breaking Two Battalions of Foot left naked by the Flight of their Horse on that Side opened a passage to the King's Standard The Foot by this were all engaged and the Fight growing very hot the Standard it self was seized on Sir Edmund Varney that carried it being Slain but it was recovered again by Sir Jo. Smith for which generous Act he was by the King the best judge of Merit Knighted upon the Place and honoured with the bearing of that Standard he had so bravely recovered The Earl of Lindsey was slain there having performed all the Parts of a great Captain and his Eldest Son hastning to his Assistance was taken Prisoner The Battel being restored by the Accession of fresh Supplies on the King's Side and the Evening approaching they left combating as if by consent both Sides being weary and the Rebels also in want of Ammunition Both Sides therefore rallying their shatter'd Forces drew up into Battalia as at the Beginning By this the Prince was returned who if he had not amused himself in that vain pursuit and Plundering of the Enemies Carriages at Keynton the War had been ended at this first Blow Essex was strengthened in the Field with Colonel Hamden's Regiment and presently afterwards by Colonel Hollis his Foot and the Lord Willoughby's Regiment of Horse who meeting Prince Rupert's Wing in the Lanes pursuing of Ramsey forced him back into the Field Although Essex was more numerous by the Addition of these Three fresh Regiments he did attempt no farther upon the King considering also that the Prince's Horse of whose Bravery he had had Experience were fresh and entire Night being come the King withdrew to the Hill from which he had descended where he lay all Night in his Coach with the Prince of Wales the Hopes and future Glory of our Nation the Camp shining with Fires The next Morning the King sent off his Foot towards Ayno and having stood sometime in Battel-array with his Horse did also follow Essex lay in the Field where he had fought and however recruited with the Accession of Three entire fresh Regiments attempted no farther upon the Royallists but retreating to the Banks of Avon under the protection of Warwick-Castle Essex retires to Warwick suffered the King to march whither he pleased The slain on both Sides were at first believed to amount to near Five Thousand though the Country by a stricter Enquiry affirmed they had not buried above a Thousand which is the more probable seeing Slaughters of this Kind are ordinarily magnified On the King's Side the General bravely performing the Duty of his Place as also that of a private Souldier was slain together with the Lord Aubigny and Sir Edward Varney who died in this Field of Honour The Rebels lost Colonel Essex who signalized himself by his Bravery Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey and the Lord St. Johns who being taken died of his Wounds Both Parties attributed to themselves the Honour of the Victory The Essexians said That the Field and Dead were left to their Disposal The Royallists likewise gloried that they had done what they designed by removing the Obstacles that hindred their March towards London The King continues his March adding farther That the Rebels however strengthned with Three Regiments durst not oppose themselves to the King's Passage the next Day And truly though the King's Forces were much shattered they grew accidentally more formidable than before to whom it proved no small Victory considering his Discouragements not to have been vanquished For many Eminent Persons who stood at gaze before seeing the Party equal ranged themselves now without difficulty on the better Side where their Duty and Inclination invited them How fair this Enemy behaved themselves in other things may be guessed by Letters taken amongst their Baggage in the Battel discovering the Treasons of one Blake in the King's Army Blake's Treason Punishment who daily gave Intelligence of what passed to the Rebels and particularly in what part of the Army the King fought that they might direct their Bullets with more Certitude at so Illustrious a Mark. Perhaps thus designing as they had Religiously affirmed to defend the King's Person But the unhappy Contriver of this nefarious Treason expiated his Crime with his Life being hanged on the next Tree O. Cromwell 's first Adventure I cannot omit what is affirmed of Cromwell then a Captain of Horse in Essex his Regiment who absented himself from the Fight He had observed from the Top of a Steeple in the Neighbourhood the Disorder of the Right Wing of their Army wherewith being greatly terrified he slipp'd down
unwilling to leave Bridgewater behind him It was therefore resolved in a Council of War to attack and to loose no time to attempt it by Assault The Town seated on the Banks of Severne and divided into Two by a Branch of it was very strong The Moat though deep was but narrow not exceeding Thirty Foot in Breadth which was filled with the Flood every Tide The Circuit of the Place was not large being defended by Eighteen Hundred Soldiers Forty Guns mounted upon the Walls with great Stores of other Military Provisions But the Rebels fierce with their former Victories and slighting all this cast Lots for the Posts they were to attempt But first they summon the Citizens to a Surrender with Threats of all the Extremities of War in case of Refusal Colonel Edmond Windham the Governour no less brave than Loyal returning the Messenger with Scorn prepared for Defence Which so irritated the Enemy that planting their Cannon they also ran floating Bridges into the Graft which was not difficult by reason of its narrowness and storming the Walls with great Violence notwithstanding their utmost Resistance mounted them and beating the besieged from their Bullwarks seize their Cannon and turn them upon the other Town whilst the rest forcing the Gate and cutting down the Draw-bridge opened a Passage for their Horse to enter at And thus this part of the Town it being as is said divided by a Chanel was taken as also Five Hundred of the Defendants in it Nor did this terrisie the Governour who refusing another Invitation to surrender consumed with Fire from Granadoes and glowing Bullets that Portion of the. Town which the Enemy had possest Fairfax having provided all things for another Assault sent a Trumpet to the Governour and that he might add the Fame of Clemency to that of his Success he signified to him That seeing he was resolved to maintain the Fortress he would notwithstanding making War against Men only and being loath to involve the Innocent with the Guilty permit the Women and Children Liberty to go where they pleased Upon publishing hereof the Governour 's Lady and some other of that Sex accepting this unexpected Gallantry went out Who were no sooner departed but the Enemy thundred upon the Town with their Mortar-pieces Cannon Fireballs and incessant Showers of small Shot that the Buildings were all in a Flame The Citizens and Souldiers astonished with this unusual Tempest sent Mr. Elliot who had formerly carried the Great Seal from London to York by the Governour 's Consent to Fairfax with Conditions of Peace But he rejecting all mention of Treaties with the Governour and Garrison fiercely replied That since they had destroyed so sine a Town by their Obstinacy they should immediately surrender themselves to the pleasure of the Parliament upon Quarter for Life only Which was done Bridgwater taken July 23. the Souldiers remaining Prisoners of War but the Townsmen permitted their former Immunities The City of Bath terrified with the Fate of Bridgewater tamely surrender'd it self to the Colonels Rich and Okey but Sherburne was defended more nobly Sir Lewis Dives a Man of Courage and Honour was Governour of the Castle Who rejecting Fairfax's Summons and Offer of fair Quarter replied That he would sooner lose his Life than his Fame especially in such a Cause And he bravely defended himself and the Place until it was ruined by Approaches by Mines and by a Breach made in the Wall capable of Ten Men abreast with the Rubbage whereof the Moat was filled and levelled so that after much Resistance it was taken by Assault Sherburne taken Many brave Men fell into the Enemies Hands at least Four Hundred Amongst whom were Colonel Thornhill Sir Jo. Wallot and others Nor did they slay Sir Lewis Dives nor Mr. Strangeways who being Members of Parliament were reserved for more exemplary Punishment Sherburne being taken they were at a stand what to undertake next Some advised their March Westward to hinder Goring's recruiting of his Army which was broken at Langport which he might easily do by new Levies in the Provinces of Devonshire and Cornwall being countenanced by the Prince of Wales and by the Addition of Greenville Barkley and the rest of the King's Generals They also demonstrated how the Plague was in Bristol which might endanger the whole Army if they moved that way by the Infection But others perswaded the taking of Bristol lest Prince Rupert who was Governour with Five Thousand brave Souldiers should draw the wavering Club-Men to his Party and having the Severne open invite and obtain Auxiliaries from Ireland and Wales and consequently form a formidable Army a-new in the very Bowels of the Kingdom which would not only render him terrible to the Parliament but troublesome to them also if he should exclude their Forces whilst they were in the remote Counties of the West from all Commerce with London by Land and disturb their Rear whilst they had Goring in the Van. They further remonstrated of what Moment that City was to the Royallists as being their chief Port and great in shipping and Wealth Bristol being preferred for these Reasons Ireton was sent with Two Thousand Horse to hinder the Excursions of the Garrison and to oppose the firing of the Neighbouring Villages and Buildings And yet Bedminster and Clifton and some other houses nearest were burnt The whole Army being advanced all the Avenues were stopped up Bristol besieged and the City entirely closed by the taking of Potsheard Point and the obstructing of the Severne by Seven of their Men of War Nor did the Rebels fix their Quarters and Stations about this great Town without vigorous Interruption being obstructed in their Approaches by the continual Sallies of the besieged though with mutual Slaughter But the Multitude prevailed for the Club-Men of whom the Rebels doubted before now Rebels themselves joined with the other Rebels so that the Defendants being shut up within their Works they were also summoned to a Surrender by a Trumpeter The Prince demanded Permission to send to the King to know his Pleasure which was denied under pretence of Delay The Trumpet sent again was notwithstanding his Orders to return that Evening not dispatch'd till next Morning and then returned with a Draught of Conditions from the Prince above the supposed State of a vanquished Enemy Fairfax perusing them and finding some things doubtful in them and others not to be granted but by the Parliament it self he proposed that Commissioners on both sides should meet with power to conclude sending with all a Scheme of what was in his Power to grant But the Messenger being delayed and bringing but a dilatory Answer he was commanded in Anger suddenly to return and tell the Prince That unless he would immediately accept of what had been offered all that had been hitherto done should pass for nothing The Trumpet returning again later than ordered carried with him an Answer not unlike the former The Prince desired to procrastinate the
therefore lay in the Field all Night and forced the advancing Royallists to retreat over the Isca Goring had fallen into the Enemies Quarters near Chard with Success having slain some and taken about Sixty But Tiverton by Fairfax Fairfax closely pursuing them took Tiverton as also the Castle and Church by storm occasioned by a casual Shot which broke the Chain of the Draw-bridge by which Accident the Passage was immediately seized Sir Gilbert Gerard the Governour and the whole Garrison being made Prisoners The Winter being far advanced and the Robels wearied with so many Toils thought it neither fit nor safe to attempt the Royallists further or besiege Exeter well fortified and strengthened with a Garrison of Five Thousand Men. They therefore resolve to block up the City at a Distance and raising some Redoubts and Skonses upon the River Clyssa within Command of each other though Three Miles from the City put Guards into them whereby they might with no great Force extreamly disturb the Communication betwixt the Town and Country They might have done the same on the other side of the Isca and so at once have shut up the Garrison from all Commerce with the adjacent Neighbourhood which they also afterward did Cromwell having possessed himself of the City of Winchester without Opposition Cromwell takes Winchester battered the Castle with Six Cannon and made a Breach in the Walls Which being observed by the Lord Ogle the Governour who thinking every Defence in this declining State of Affairs superfluous beat a Parley And being admitted to treat having compounded for the Security of his Garrison he surrender'd this Fortress however furnished with all kinds of Military Provisions for a long Siege But the Marquis fell by a nobler however more unhappy Destiny for Cromwell having battered his Works assaulted them with Four Battalions and passing the Moat and Ramparts brake down the Gates and so however bravely opposed forced his Passage into the House and became Master of it and Basing House The Marquis Sir Robert Peak with others of Quality with immense Spoils were the Reward of the victorious There were a hundred slain a Girle of a masculine Courage being found amongst the stript And thus this Fortress of Loyalty having baffled very many Attempts of the Rebels for its Reduction hitherto fell now by the uncontrouled Fortune of Cromwell And being first pillaged was afterwards burnt to the Ground out of spite rather than any advantage to the Conquerours Langford fearing the like Fate prevented it by a timely Surrender And now the Passages being cleared betwixt London and the more distant Provinces of the West Cromwell rejoins his Forces to Fairfax's Army The Prince sends to Fairfax about Peace During these Traverses the Prince of Wales had sent to Fairfax his Desires for a safe Conduct for the Lords Hopton and Culpeper to go to the King with design to endeavour to compose the Differences betwixt his Majesty and the Two Houses But Fairfax returned Answer That it not being of his Province to treat of Peace he had sent his Highness's Letters to the Parliament from whom an Answer was to be expected Goring having sent the Colonels Scroop and Philips had attempted the same before proposing That by the united Force of both Armies they should compel both King and Parliament to an Accomodation The like Conjunction of Forces had formerly been motioned to Essex which was then rejected by him as now by his Successor All hopes of Peace being vanished the Prince sollicitous for Exeter draws his Army consisting of about Seven Thousand to Okehampton His Highness had been informed that the Rebels Forces were very much diminished by Death and Diseases which gave him room to hope for some favourable Occasion to attempt upon them But being suddenly after assured that they were daily furnished with new Levies Fairfax surprizes Three of Wentworth's Regiments at Bovey and fresh Supplies which was true he changed his mind and with-drew his Forces to a greater Distance But the Enemy advancing surprized Three of Wentworth's Regiments at Bovey The Troopers except Fifty and a Major who were taken escaped by Favour of the Night but they left near Four Hundred Horses behind them Fairfax was careful to advertise Plymouth of his Advance and the Royallists Retreat which was also relieved by the drawing off of the Besiegers This Place had been very long blocked up by Land and having been often bravely attempted by Sir Richard Greenville did defend it self with no less Bravery For the Sea always open and the Rebels Masters of it they could not be forced Dartmouth was the next Trophy of the Conquerours Dartmouth taken which they took by Assault without the Loss of scarce one single Man though the Town was strengthened with a Hundred pieces of Ordnance Nor was the Slaughter greater on the Defendants side Sir Hugh Pollard the Governour the Earl of Newport Seymour Denham and about Eight Hundred being taken Prisoners .... Carey and his Officers upon the Delivery of a Fort which he guarded was permitted his Liberty and the Souldiers had also leave to retire every Man to his own Home The Cornish-men who they were many had each Two Shillings allowed for their Journey not absurdly bestowed to tempt the rest of their Countrymen who were now the only considerable part of the King's Forces The Rebels marched thence to Totnes and afterwards returned to the Siege of Exeter Sir Hardres Waller had commanded there and now it is resolved to attempt the forcing of the Place it having hitherto been but block'd up with Forts and Redoubts They therefore commanded Ladders to be brought out of the Country for an Assault until upon fresh intelligence of the Prince's Preparations and Design to relieve the Besieged they again leaving Waller with Three Regiments of Foot and one of Horse to continue the Blockade moved with the Rest of the Army to meet the Royallists The Lord Hopton commanded the King's Forces For the Lord Goring being gone for France and having entrusted his own Troops to the Lord Wentworth's Conduct the Government of the whole was devolved upon this excellent Personage Who now had with Three Thousand Horse and Four Thousand Foot possessed himself of Torrington with a Resolution to defend the Town and to hazard there the Extremity of War Fairfax being advertised of all this by his Spies quickens his March and to give the Royallists no time to fortifie themselves made all imaginable haste Hopton had lined the neighbouring Avenues with Musqueteers which he again quitted upon the Enemies Advance who also possessed the said Places Where they fix'd their Station by reason of the Darkness until a Noise in the Town creating an Opinion that the Royallists were dislodging obliged them to send a Party to see what was the matter These Discoverers being received with a Volley of Shot were seconded by a Reserve and they again by a Third and Fourth Party so that Supplies being successively sent
the main Forces of Scotland suffering well-nigh a Saguntine Famine in its Defence Nor did then quit it but upon equitable Terms for the Security of his Garrison At York also he had extorted good Conditions from their victorious Armies These things being considered Fairfax invites him also to treat with very large Offers which he seemed to hearken to requiring First permission to acquaint his Majesty and to know his Pleasure therein This being denied Commissioners were some time after appointed to treat on both sides But they could not agree for the Terms the Royallists demanded were so high that Fairfax transferred them to the Parliament by which they were rejected as incongruous and new Orders sent to the General to reduce the City with all his Power and Skill But the Treaty was after some time reassumed though no Cessation intervened neither did any Military Action happen worthy the recital and after some Disputes agreed upon being comprehended in Six and Twenty Articles Faringdon was likewise surrender'd upon the same Terms for Sir George Lisle the Governour of that Fortress being then in Oxford Oxford surrender'd Jan. 24th 1645 6. was comprehended in the Oxford-Pacification The chief of the Articles were That Oxford with the Castle Forts Works Arms Cannon and all Provisions of War should be delivered to Sir Thomas Fairfax 's Possession on the 24th of January The Duke of York received and treated according to his Dignity should be permitted to go to London with his Family and continue there with the King's Children until his Majesty should otherwise dispose of him The Princes Rupert and Maurice with their Train not exceeding Seventy Persons should in Six Months depart out of the Kingdom The Seals and Sword of State should be lock'd up in a Chest and secured in the publick Library The Governour Colonels and all other Officers and Souldiers should be permitted to march with their Horses Arms Standards flying Colours Musquets and Pistols loaden Match burning at both ends c. the usual Solace of the vanquished Fifteen Miles which way they pleased where the private Souldiers should lay down their Arms and then at their choice either return to their Homes or dispose of themselves into Foreign Service The Nobles Peers Gentlemen and all others of what Quality soever should not be obliged to compound for above Two Years Revenues of their Estates The Chancellour Masters Professors Students c. of the Vniversity should enjoy their Possessions Customs Institutions Privileges and Government without Disturbance The Citizens should also enjoy all their Immunities and Freedoms nor be burthened with a Garrison or enquartering of Souldiers but upon great Necessity The Kings Houshold-Servants shall together with all his Houshold-Stuff be conveyed to Hampton-Court where they shall continue until his Majesty shall otherwise dispose of them To conclude Immunity for what was pass'd was granted to every Individual and that no Man should be questioned for any thing done during the War or the present Siege And thus this Seat of Loyalty and Learning where the King had kept his Court during the Troubles fell with the Fate of the Kingdom whose Example and Fortune the remaining Royal Garrisons did readily follow the which to gratifie the Reader we will also mention though not without Reluctancy Wood stock Banbury Raynsborough had stormed Woodstock not without great Loss which Place notwithstanding was afterwards surrender'd to him Banbury stoop'd to the same Fate however bravely defended for a long time by Sir William Compton and signalized with several Slaughters of the Rebels Radcot was delivered by ..... Palmer and Bostol-House by another Compton But nothing was more sensible than the Loss of Newark which had been defended by the Lord Bellasis with Conduct and Valour against the united Forces of the English and Scots until delivered up to Poynts upon the King's Order now in the Scots Army Worcester and Wallingford Ragland c. Worcester held out till the Surrender of Oxford and then veil'd Wallingford submitted with the same Facility but better Conditions Ragland was kept during the whole War by the Marquess of Worcester a Man of great Parts and one who had greatly obliged the King who however Bed-rid had an active Soul which made him maintain the Place till there was not a Garrison left to go to upon the Rendition Nor did he yet part with it till Fairfax himself came to receive it The Lord Charles Somerset his second Son Commanded under him who had also signalized himself in many Rencounters during the War but all failing was forced to surrender the Marquess Sacrificing his own Liberty to the freedom of his Soldiers Pendennis involved in the same fate was forced to submit to the same necessity being delivered up by Colonel Arundel There remained yet some few Castles in North Wales which had the honour to hold out longest in this Scene of Blood Conway was taken by force by Colonel Mitton and the Archbishop of York who sacrificed the honour of his Robe and Loyalty to his Ambition and Revenge Ludlow was delivered as also Litchfield to Brereton upon Chester-Articles The Isles of Scylly ran the same fortune The Dutch had much desired the Possession of them for the convenience of Navigation and offered great Sums for them But Sir Jo. Greenville the worthy Governour now Earl of Bath prudently chose rather to deliver them to the English Rebels being not ignorant that if annexed to England they might one day return to their obedience and duty to their Natural Prince again Some time after Holt-Castle and those of Harlegh and Denbigh in which last place as also Denbigh and Harlegh the two last Scenes of this War were delivered up the Author of these Commentaries besides many other Gentlemen was besieged after long and tedious expectation of some good from the North tho' contrary to the Proverb closed the last Act of our unnatural Tragedy Omne malum ab Aquilone The Royallists being wholly subdued it pleased the Parliament the Independant Faction in the House being paramount to order Fairfax their General Massey's Forces disbanded to go and disband Massey's Forces being Five and Twenty Hundred all Horse The pretext was very plausible the easing of the publick charge of the Treasury and 't was therefore perhaps that they allowed them but six weeks Pay whereas they had many Months due to them This considerable Service being done Fairfax came to London where he was received by the Militia of the City in Arms by the Speakers of both Houses with Congratulatory Speeches and Thanks and by the Court of Aldermen and Common-Council with great Assentation and Flattery The King prosecuted by the Scots at Newcastle The King at Newcastle being no less prosecuted and afflicted by the Scots to whom he had betaken himself for Sanctuary than by the Parliament which he had escaped was yet constant to himself And to use his own words in his Divine Soliloquies Not to be compelled by any
requiring That the Treaty with the King might be renewed and the Army paid off and disbanded But their reception was very rude being beaten and plundered and slain by their Guards Insomuch that the Kentish-men having likewise framed a Petition for Peace upon the like usage by a Party of Horse and being threatned to have two harged out of each Parish that were Promoters of it and the rest sequestered they threw away their Paper and betook them to their Arms. The first appearance of an Insurrection broke out in the City of London being accidental not upon the King's Accompt The Parliament had piously voted down Holy-days abrogating all the Festivals of the Church having appointed one Day in every Month in lieu of them for Publik Recreations The Apprentices as usually had met in some Numbers in Moor-Fields on the 9th of April to play and divert themselves But this being Sunday moved the Zeal of some precize Schismatical Officers of the Trained-Bands who with their Guards would force them away but were themselves routed by the Boys with Stones and Clubs who also took their Colours from them and in a Childish Bravery marching into the Streets frighted Warner the then Mayor into his House and taking away a Drake from his Door Planted it at Lud-Gate nearest the Foe the Army then about White-Hall But Fairfax on the Morrow following ent'ring with some Regiments of Horse and Foot at Alders-Gate easily dispersed them though then numerous no Person of Quality undertaking their Conduct The Fame of this tumultuous Insurrection or rather Riot was quickly noised throughout the Kingdom which although strangled in its Infancy seemed to animate the oppressed populace to follow the Example whereby they might redeem themselves and Liberties from their impending slavery The Welch were the first that took up Arms under the Conduct of Major General Laughorn The Welch in Armes and the Collonels Poyer and Powell all Three formerly stiff Assertors of the Parliaments Jurisdiction But now being to be disbanded by Orders of the Council of War of the Army they refuse to obey And the better to secure themselves declare for the King acting by Commission and Powers from the then Prince of Wales Laughorn grew suddenly by the accession of Major General Stradling and others of the King's Party to a considerable Army esteemed Eight Thousand strong which rendered him Master of the Town and Castles of Pembroke and Tenby Sir Nicholas Kemish at the same time surprized Chepstow Castle and Sir John Owen another eminent Cavalier in North wales defeated and took the High-Sheriff of Caernarvan So that all Wales seemed at once to shake off that cruel Yoak they laboured under Nor were the preparatives for a War of the Kentish-men less considerable For As also the Kentishmen Rendezvouzing near Rochester they chose the Earl of Norwich then upon the place to be their General Very many Apprentices and reformed Officers and Souldiers flocked from London daily to them Insomuch that the Juncto terrified with the apprehension of what might happen restored to the City their Militia which they feared otherwise might be extorted from them hoping by this Confidence to render them more addicted to their interest Which also happened not upon sentiments of generosity but to manifest their aversness to oppressed Monarchy even then when it was in their Power to restore it Skippon being also readmitted to the Command of their Forces the Communication with Kent was interrupted by placing Guards upon the Passages of the River But the Clouds that threatned the fiercest storm gathered in the North where Sir Marmaduke Langdale Sir Charles Lucas and others having surprized the strong Town of Berwick Berwick and Carlile surprized and Sir Phillip Musgrave and Sir Thomas Glenham that of Carlile and raised considerable Forces to joyn with the Scots now ready to enter England seemed no less able than willing to effect what they pretended the King's Restitution Though it be true that the Scots-Declaration had so many untoward Restrictions in it that nothing but the Frank Loyalty of the Royallists could joyn with them Upon the first noise of the Scots arming many English repaired into Scotland which obliged them at Westminster by their Deputies to require the delivery of the chief of them as Incendiaries They named particularly Wogan who carried a Troop thither with Sir Thomas Glenham and others But the Scots refused it seeing it was not stipulated in the Treaties betwixt both Nations They not judging those to be Incendiaries between the Two Kingdoms but only between the King and England These Revolts and Preparations for a new War did strangely disquiet the pretended Parliament who thereupon reviving their Votes of 1642. declare That it appears that the King seduced by wicked Counsel though then a close Prisoner intends to make War against the Parliament Cromwell being dispatcht against the Welch with great Forces the Kentish Expedition was not thought unworthy Fairfax's Conduct He therefore marches with Six Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Horse against the Cavaliers who being fatally divided whilst they Fight singly by Parties they are all overcome Fifteen Hundred stout Men were sent to Maidstone Fairfax defeats the Kentish-men to oppose their Enemies Passage there who fought with so much Valour that after they had been beaten from the Avenues and Hedges they kept that Town firing from the Houses and Leads about the space of Six Hours with great slaughter of the Enemy So that it is believed if the Earl of Norwich had come up with the rest of the Army to their Assistance the Rebels might have been defeated that Day But he dividing his Forces sent half of them to Dover and himself marched with the rest to Black-heath and being denied a Passage through the City which had been promised him he Ferries and Swims his small Army over to the Isle of Doggs From thence he moved to Mild-end-Green But seeing none come out of London to his relief as he expected he himself with only Five Hundred the rest being upon the obstinacy of the Citizens slipt from him joyned with the Essexians at Bow under the Command of Sir Charles Lucas They all stay'd here some time to favour any Loyal Attempt that might be made at London until warned by the approach of Fairfax who having dispatcht Rich and Barkstead with their Regiments to reduce those Castles which the Kentish had taken towards the Downs had passed the Thames at Graves-End they were also forced to dislodge And marching further into the Country seized store of Arms and Ammunition in the Earl of Warwick's House at Lees and having surprized the Parliament-Committee at Chelmsford went thence to Colchester where the brave Lord Capell joyned them with some Horse And all of them received the Van of Fairfax's Army with such Gallantry at the Towns-end that they forced them to retire to their main Body with considerable Loss They had designed to march further if they had not been so
and threw Pieces of Pipes as he walked along at his Feet And lest he might not be like his Saviour in his Sufferings he was mocked and had his Reverend Countenance defiled with Spittle which he wiped off with no other Reproaches than That Christ had suffered more for his sake He spent the Rest of his Time in preparing himself for his Last Hour however disturbed with the Questions Cavils Scoffings and Petulancy of the Enthusiastick Souldiers All which he either repressed by Arguments or eluded by neglecting them Nor did he say any thing however provoked by Arrogancies unusual to Princes or unworthy his former Magnanimity Dr. Juxton the Reverend Bishop of London was at length admitted to wait upon the King to whom by reason of his Holiness of Life and the Consolation he brought him he was exceedingly welcome But coming later than he was expected the King said to him That you are not come sooner is I know none of your Fault and now seeing these Rogues will shed my Blood you and I must consider how I may best part with it The Faction had offered some of their own Fanatick Levites whom the King had rejected as miserable Comforters He would not pray with them who had always pray'd against him but they might pray for him if they pleased Having then the Benefit of his own Chaplain he prepared himself for Death so well that he overcame the Terrors of it before it appeared Amongst these Preludes of Death some of the Prime Officers of the Army came to the King offering him certain Propositions with Promise of Life and some Shadow of Royalty if he would sign them Of these one was That the Army consisting of Forty Thousand Men should be perpetuated under the Present General and Officers and that the Council of War should be impow'red to supply Vacancies from time to time He rejects the Souldiers impious Propositions tho' to save his Life as occasion should happen and settle Taxes for the Pay of the Army to be levied by the Souldiers c. But the King having read some of these Tyrannous Proposals threw them away with much Indignation saying That he would rather become a Sacrifice for his People than thus betray their Laws Liberties Lives and Estates with the Church the Common wealth and Honour of the Crown to so intolerable a Bondage of an Armed Faction Preferring with his usual Greatness of Mind a Glorious Cross before an ignominious Life Nor did he only prefer the Public Good before his own Particular but would not expose private Friends to inevitable Danger to save himself Which abundantly appeared at his being at Bagshot where when the Lord Newburg and his Noble Lady had demonstrated to His Majesty Means whereby he might elude his bloody Keepers who led him to the Slaughter His Children come to him His instructions to thâ—m he waved their Proposals saying If I should escape they would cut you to Pieces It was some Solace to the King in his Streights that his Children were permitted to see him The Lady Elizabeth and the Duke of Gloucester very Young were only left in the Power of the Faction the Duke of York having as is already mentioned escaped their Bloody Hands To these Princes of rare Endowments and Hopes the King gave in Charge That they should consider Charles not as their Brother but as their King That they should forgive their Enemies Love one another and all of them be Obedient to their Mother He told them also what * Hooker 's Eccl. Pol. Bish Andr. Sermons Laud against Fisher Books they should read to confirm them in their Religion and giving them his Blessing dismissed them in a Deluge of Tears The Prince Elector and the Duke of Richmond had also obtained Permission to visit the King though His Majesty now intent only upon his Meditations would not admit them how dear soever to him And now the Fatal Day the 30th of January being come the King being guarded from St. James's through the Park on Foot he spake to the Souldiers to go faster saving That he now went before them to strive for a Heavenly Crown with less solicitude The King prepares for his End than he had often encouraged his Souldiers to Fight for an Earthly Diadem Being come to White-Hall he spent most of his time there in his Devotions And having received the Blessed Communion he was much raised by the reading of the History of the Passion of our Saviour described by the Evangelist St. Mathew and more particularly when he knew it was not done upon Design but prescribed by the Rubrick for the Service of the Day Being brought through the Banquetting-House to the Stage covered with Black the Block the Axe and the masqued Executioners presented themselves to his Sight Which did not so much dismay his Heart fortified with Innocence and Piety but that his Care for the Living seemed no less than his Solicitude for Dying He therefore lest he might seem to submit to the Guilt as well as the Punishment in Vindication of his Innocency demonstrated That it was not He but the Two-Houses that began the War He acknowledges God 's Justice in punishing one Unjust Sentence with another He not only forgiveth his most bitter Enemies but prayes also that God will Pardon them Being solicitous for Peace he warns them not to seek it by Conquest but to give God the King and People their due God by setling the Church the King according to Law and the People by such a Government whereby their Lives and Goods might be most their own Finally he told them He dyed the Peoples Martyr and a Christian according to the Profession of the Church of England After some short Prayers he submitted his Head to the Axe an unheard of and surprizing Example of Human Fragility It is wonderful with how much Constancy and Christian Fortitude He his Murthered he laid down his Head used to wear Crowns and with what Meekness who by all Laws Divine and Human was exempt from the Penalties of any Perhaps insulting in that he was to change this Earthly Crown however splendid yet heavy for that of Immortal Glory As he seemed to intimate in that prophetick Anagram composed by himself the Day preceding his Martyrdom CAROLUS REX Cras ero Lux. And truly as there was never any Parricide except that of our Saviour so detestable as this so never any Man was equally lamented as this best of Princes No Sex nor Age nor Order of Men was found that did not mourn this universal Loss Children how little soever sensible of the Public dissolved in Tears could hardly be appeased Those who were more advanced in Years could scarce bear their Sorrow Whilst the Weaker not able to support their Grief as Thunder-struck sunk under it And Breeding-Women laboured with Untimely Births and like her who when the Glory was departed from Israel would admit of no Consolation And truly not only his own Subjects but
General and Lieutenant General they had their Quarters surprized and beaten up about Mid-night by Reynolds where Four Hundred of them were made Prisoners and Nine Hundred of their Horses taken The Democraticks or Levellers being thus defeated our brave Hero's march to Oxford where both of them Fairfax and Cromwell were made Doctors of Law who had themselves trampled upon all Laws both Divine and Human. After this having visited Portsmouth they return to London in Triumph where after a Thanks-giving for their late Successes they were together with their Servile Senate invited treated and regal'd by the more Servile City who again not to seem ungrateful or rather to intangle them in their Interest bestowed New-Park with all the Deer in it upon the Citizens The Regicides being now secure at home at least in Appearance began to look after Foreign Correspondence and Amities Amongst which the Friendship of the Vnited Netherlands seemed preferable by reason of their Neighbourhood of their Resemblance in Government and the Genius of the Nation Dorislawes and Ascham in their Embassies Doctor Dorislawes a Civilian as also a German by Birth was sent thither with Instructions not only to propose a strict Friendship but also a Coalition of both People But he was prevented in it being assassinated in his Lodging by one Whitford a Scot who with Ten or Twelve more having perpetrated the Fact withdrew without any Pursuit though they were afterwards colourably summon'd in by the States The reason of this Remissness was his presuming to appear as it were in the King's presence having contributed so eminently to the Ruine of his Father And thus God permitted one Injustice to be retaliated with another Nor had Ascham another of their Envoy's at Madrid better Fate being kill'd in his Inn upon his Arrival by one Sparks an English-man who though he took Sanctuary was pulled thence by the Spaniard apprehending the rising Greatness of the new Common-wealth for the Regicides had declared though they much esteemed the Amity of so great a King yet they ought and did require the punishment of so Nefarious a Parricide as they called it adding that unless Justice were immediately satisfied they did not see how the Friendship betwixt both Nations could be sincere and durable The King acknowledged at the Hague The King had continued hitherto at the Hague acknowledged and reverenced by all and though the States that they might not altogether seem to displease their Sister Common-wealth of whom they began to be jealous had dispensed with the Ceremony of Public Congratulation yet the Swede and Danish Embassadors had saluted His Majesty with the usual Testimonies of Condolence and Congratulation He was also King in Possession Scotland having proclaimed him and Ireland being upon the point of being reduced so that his Affairs calling him away he left the Hague and being attended by the Princess Royal his Sister and the Prince of Orange his Brother-in-law to whose generous Friendship he owed all Things through Rotterdam Dort and Breda Treated magnificently by the Arch-Duke being received at these Places with the noise of their Cannon and Bells and all other marks of Honour he came to Antwerpe the principal City of the Spanish Netherlands where he was magnificently entertained and presented with a rich Chariot and Eight brave Horses sent him by Arch-Duke Leopold Governour of the Low-Countries His Majesty was also Royally treated by him at Brussels from whence after some Stay being conveyed on his way to France by the Duke of Lorrain Goes into France and feasted and honoured every where with the same Grandeur as if the King of Spain had been there he came to Compeigne where the French King accompanied with a great Train of his Nobility received him with all the Testimonies of Affection and Honour and brought him thence in State to his Mother the Queen of Great Brittain then at St. Germians Whilst the King was in France the Duke of Gloucester his Brother and the Lady Elizabeth his Sister both Princes of divine Endowments and Hopes were removed from the Earl of Northumberland's Guardianship to Carisbrook Castle infamous for having been the Prison of their Martyred Father to the custody of that impure Villain Anthony Mildmay The Lady Elizabeth dyeth and the D. of Gloucester is banished where the Princess afflicted with the daily Sight of that odious Mansion and consumed with Grief and the Maladies it occasioned breathed her last being denied by those barbarous Parricides the Assistance of such Physicians as she had desired Her Brother the Duke was presently after banished out of England by the Regicides the only agreeable Thing they did in rescuing him out of their Bloody Hands by their own Act. The Kingdom being thus subdued and the Army reduced to Obedience the Mock-Parliament or Rump for Continuation of the History of Ireland it grew famous by that Title of Infamy thought Ireland now worthy their consideration They therefore Vote Eleven Regiments to be sent thither under the conduct of Cromwell with the Title of Lord Governour whereof he was very fond which he could not forbear testifying for all his Dissimulation The Fame of these Preparations immediately flew over which obliged the Irish Rebels however dissenting amongst themselves to think of uniting for their Public Safety and although the Nuntio opposed this Confederation with all his Power excommunicating the Authors of it whilst they declared him and his Party Traytors resolving to force him by Arms which they did The Popes Nuntio expelled driving him into Galloway for his security where they prest him so hard that notwithstanding the Thunder of his Excommunication he was necessitated for his personal safety to abandon his Principality and the Kingdom The Irish-Grandees thus at Liberty invite and obtain the Marquess of Ormond as is mentioned in our former Commentaries with an Assurance of an entire Obedience to his Majesty's Lieutenant He being arrived the Confederates grew formidable by the Accession of the Lord Inchequin President of Munster and the Scots in the Province of Vlster Both these had served the Parliament with much Vigor until the King and Monarchy had been destroyed in England but abhorring the sordid Tyranny of the Regicides they deserted that Party they had so unjustly followed and return to their Duty and Allegiance to their Sovereign Owen-Roe-Oneal refused to be included in the Confederacy upon pretence that sufficient Provisions had not been made for the Security of their Religion but in reality because the Confederate Delegates had foolishly denied the no extravagant Conditions which his Quality seemed to require and he had demanded The Difference was about the Command of Four Thousand Men which they were willing to grant and Six Thousand which he insisted upon which they afterwards tho too late after his conjunction with Monk and Coot and his relieving of London-derry were glad to assent to During these Traverses the Marquess of Ormond entered upon the Government The
them as St. Johns and others were for imposing Conditions upon the King for they no more doubted of his Restitution that might restrain him from acting beyond their pleasure But His Majesty's Rights and Prerogatives were inviolablely restored to him by the Prudence and noble Endeavours of Monk This enraged the Regicides to that height that they began now to condemn their own Precipitation and Folly accusing themselves of Madness in that that they did persecute Lambert so rashly and unseasonably to their own Destruction They now call to mind how ridiculously they had rejected the King's Gracious Letters presented them by Nevil who had accidentally received them wherein they were assured of Indignity for all their monstrous Crimes and Treasons if they yet at length would return to their Duty They therefore like Men in Despair agitated by the Flagitiousness of their Guilt resolved to vindicate their Crimes by attempting greater and to try the Matter once more by the Sword Nor was it long before an occasion presented it self Lambert who had been imprisoned in the Tower because he had refused to give bail for his good Behaviour had escaped thence and appear'd armed about Northampton Some Sectaries and several disbanded Souldiers repaired to him all the Fanaticks of the Army being upon the Wing till stay'd with the News of his Defeat This Sedition was extinguish'd in its Birth And Lambert being taken by Ingolsby without a Blow hâ—s Party was easily dispersed whilst he was returned into a more safe Custody in the Tower During this Interval of Parliaments the Council of State administer'd Affairs with much Prudence and Courage and putting out a Proclomation against all Disturbers of the Peace easily restrained the Seditious Minds of the most dissenting Monk also purging his Army by the Casheering of Fanaticks and living more familiarly with his Officers than usual reconciled the most fierce amongst them to an Acquiescence in the Resolves of the future Parliament The Disturbers of our Peace being thus suppressed or quieted the Loyal Party as if indued with new Spirits put on more chearful Countenances and shaking off their Fears with their Shackles appeared more eminently conspicuous But being traduced by their Adversaries as thirsting after Revenge and Blood they abundantly demonstrated by their Declaration their own Innocence and the Enemies Malice restifying That they would leave Vengeance to God and Justice to the Disposal of Parliament And now the City of London did also publish a Declaration whereby they endeavoured to clear themselves from the Guilt of the Regicide and Vsurpation as being actuated and oppressed by the Counsels of Despair and Violence Nor will we deny but that they contributed by the like Tumults to the Restitution as they had formerly fomented the War We have hitherto made but little mention of the Particular Actions of our King for we would not intermingle the History of the Best of Princes with that of the most Scelerate of Subjects We shall therefore deliver the Series of his Actions by themselves wherein notwithstanding will appear as Extreams do best shine by Contraries not only the Eminency of his Vertues but the Errors Impieties Rebellions Treasons Slaughters Sacriledges Pride Rapine and Infamy of his Enemies For what Mischief did they not commit and were guilty of After the King 's miraculous Escape from Worcester through a thousand Hazards he at length got safe into France being received at Paris as if sent from Heaven A pregnant Example of the Care of Providence for the Persons of Kings That Monarchy was actuated then with well-nigh the same Spirit of Division which had so lately distracted England the Parisians inveighing against the Errors of the Government and Evil Counsellors pointing particularly at Mazarin with the same Rage and Passion as the Londoners did against Strafford The Princes were grieved that a Stranger should be First Minister of State and would have him therefore removed In order to which they raised an Army obtaining Assistance from Spain that Nation being very officious in helping their Neighbours upon such like Accompts Nor did they find King Lewis unprovided but resolved to oppose them with all his Power King Charles perswaded Lewis and the Princes by his own example to peace but could not prevail tho he carried himself with that Equality that both sides were Jealous of his Conduct For the Princes refused to lay down Arms unless the Cardinal were removed And the King with the Queen-Regent his Mother would not have Laws prescribed to them by their Subjects The Princes had called the Duke of Lorrain to their Aid who also entered France with an Army but returned upon the Interposition of King Charles who had discoursed with him about his undertaking the Protection of Ireland This enraged the Princes against Charles who blamed him much and the Parisians did dare to calumniate and affront him to that Height that he was forced to retire to St. Germains Where he also for the most part continued until a League being made betwixt Cromwell and that Crown which he had opposed in vain he was compelled again to go into Exile out of his very Banishment The Duke of York had thus long served in the Armies of France with such Bravery and Fortitude particularly in the Battle of Estampes that he attracted the Eyes of all Men upon him And his behaviour in General in Court and Camp were so signal that the Duke of Longville would have bestowed his Daughter upon him the greatest Fortune in France And Marshal Turene being very Sick recommended him to his King as the fittest Person in that Great Monarchy to command his Armies But he would not stay in France after the King his Brother though he was offered to be Liuetenant-General of their Forces in Italy but leaving that inhospitable Land accepted the Invitation of Don John the Governour of the Spanish Low-Countries where he largely asserted the Glories of his former Actions The King in his passage to Germany was received at Leige with all imaginable Honour and going thence to the Spaw met his Sister the Princoss of Orange there Very many Persons of Quality as is usual at the Season but in unusal Numbers upon this Occasion were come thither out of the Neighbouring Nations as well to see this Royal Congress as to take the Waters And all of them paid His Majesty as much Reverence and Honour as if he had been their own Natural Prince or would have vyed with us who had the Happiness then to attend him in Duty and Obedience and Veneration for him He was afterwards received at Colen by the Magistrates there which the same Testimonies of good-will and Esteem Where he resolved to fix his Court for some Time as a place delectable and convenient for his Designs A while after he accompanied his Sister in her Return to Holland as far as Dusseldorp where he was magnificently received by the Duke of Newburgh and treated during his Stay with Hunting and other Royal Divertisements Being
horrid a Design discountenanced the Credit of the Relator until verified by demonstrative Arguments which gave Opportunity to the Conspirators to withdraw themselves Yet some of them were taken as Howard Essex Russel Rumsey Sidney Walcot Hone Rowse and the Lord G. but he escaped out of the hands of the Messenger The Lord Russel and Collonel Sydney were both beheaded Walcot Rowse and Hone were executed at Tyburn and others in other places suffered the punishments due to such execrable Treasons The Earl of Essex the unfortunate Son of a good Father by his own hands prevented the Kings Clemency who could not shew the utmost of his Severity against a Son of my Lord Capels Of those who fled some obtained the Kings Pardon by their ingenious Confessions as Barber Blaney Bourn How Howard Rumsey c. Nor is it unworthy of Notice that scarce any of those who were executed did dye without confessing enough to demonstrate their Crime though not their Repentance Amongst the Fugitives the most considerable were Armstrong Ayloff Burton the Two Goodenoughs Brothers Gray Holloway Norton Nizbet Row the Two Rombalds Brothers Smyth Wade Tyley and Ferguson the Shame of his Coat and Calling a Canting Teacher and more cruelly wicked than all those he had endeavoured to mislead Sir Thomas Armstrong and Holloway being intercepted the First at Leyden in Holland the other at Mevis one of our Western Plantations and brought into England were both executed according to the Merit of their Crimes The Parricide designed thus in England against His Majesty and the Duke being discovered and prevented the Conspiracy in Scotland fell also as depending on it James Stuart Monroe Melvin Cockran Bayley Castares Spence Alex. Gordon Nezbet c. were the Chief of the Party acting in all Things by Agreement with Argile This perverse Son of a wicked Father had Demanded 30000 l. of the English to buy Arms engaging himself to make a powerful Diversion in his own Country Which he also effected as we shall see hereafter having procured Supplies by other means The Duke of Monmouth youthfully rash inconstant ambitious and hurried on with the Pretense of vindicating Liberty and Religion agitated now with the Guilt of his Crimes had also withdrawn himself But being proscribed and finding but little safety in a Retreat though it his best course to implore that Clemency which he had so cruelly offended Which he did by his Letters seemingly full of Ingenuity wherein he acknowledges his Crimes of Unfaithfulness against the King and of Ingratitude to the Duke bewailing what he had done and humbly supplicating Pardon for what was past With Imprecations of Vengeance upon himself if he offended any more or violated the Promises he then made of his future Fidelity The King the mildest of Princes moved with his Submissions answered him under his own Hand in these Terms That if the Duke of Monmouth would render himself capable of his Mercy it was necessary he should surrender himself into the Hands of Secretary Jenkins and should tell His Majesty all that he knew submitting himself as to the rest entirely to his Pleasure This peremptory Declaration of the King's Will extorted other Letters from Monmouth wherein he patheticalâ—y aggravates his Sorrow and Tortures of Mind for his failings against his Majesty Confessing that being fatally circumvented by the Enchantments of others he was drawn into their Design and precipitated into those Evils the Consequences whereof he had not suspected He declares that his Crimes appeared to him with so terrible an Aspect that he would rather dye than be tormented with their stings he therefore implores the King's Grace and Pardon which he did not desire but by the Mediation of his Royal Highness He further professes That he saith this seriously and sincerely not only submitting himself for this Time to the King's Pleasure but for his whole Life Concluding That he should be the unhappiest of Men until he were raised with a grateful and mild Answer The King after this 1683. Nov. 25. not questioning the sincerity of Monmouth's Conversion admitted him to his presence Where throwing himself at his Majesty's Feet he plainly and fully acknowledged himself conscious of all the Conspiracy except the Parricide discovering many things to the King which they had hitherto been ignorant of Monmouth being by the Intervention of the Duke restored to his Majesty's Favour as formerly obtained also the Favour not to be produced as a Witness against any Body which Grace had been formerly refused to the Duke of Orleance in France and that undoubtedly was the reason that his old Associates and Friends impudently gave out that he had discovered nothing of the Conspiracy but contrarily had vindicated the Innocency of those that had so injuriously suffered The King moved with so great Arrogance and perceiving that Monmouth did continue his Society with those who seduced his unwary Youth after some Admonitions he commanded him to publish in Writing what he had declared to himself and to the Duke his Brother Nor did he refuse it writing to the King in these Terms That he was informed that it had been reported of him as if he had designed to extenuate the late Conspiracy and traduce the Testimonies against them that suffered His Majesty and the Duke knew how ingeniously he confessed all Things and that he was not conscious of the least Evil against his Majesty's Life It grieved him however that he had so greatly countenanced the said Conspiracy He would publish this for his Vindication beseeching his Majesty not to look back but that he would please to forget those Injuries which he had forgiven It should be his Care for the future to sin no more or suffer himself to be misled from his Duty Yea he would spend his whole Life to deserve that Pardon which he had granted to his most Dutiful Monmouth But these Flourishes were no less fickle than short-liv'd For the unhappy Youth being bewitcht by the Artifices of wicked Men and his own Ambition broke that Faith which he had so solemnly promised to preserve inviolable For being foolishly perswaded That the Declaration he had so lately made was a Diminution to his Honour and might rise up in Judgment against him hereafter he redemanded it from his Majesty Who tender of his Good endeavoured to divert him from so preposterous an Attempt but being more obstinately pressed he in great Anger restored it him banishing him at the same time from his Court and Presence The King did not long survive this for being intercepted by a violent Apoplectic Fit he changed his Terrestrial Crowns for one of Glory being so universally lamented by the Good and leaving so great a Desire of him behind him that our Loss was in a Manner inconsolable He was succeeded by James Duke of York who was immediately proclaimed King But he was scarce setled in his Throne when the Hydra of Rebellion lift up her Head again out of the Lake of Schism and Faction BOOK
aloud Stop pierced the Throng and having whispered a while Sir Phelim answered aloud in the hearing of several Hundreds of Spectators I thank the Lieutenant General for his intended Mercy but I declare good People before God and his Holy Angels and all of you that hear me that I never had any Commission from the King for what I have done in levying or prosecuting of this War Nor was it only with him but with several other Prisoners that they most impiously endeavoured by Promises of Life Liberty and Estates and no less abominable Artifices to sooth them to Confessions that might entitle the King to this nefarious Rebellion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And 't was thus the Enemy did with exquisite Malice to use the King 's own Expressions in his Divine Meditations mix the Gall and Vinegar of Falsity and Contempt with the Cup of his Affliction charging him not only with Vntruths but such as wherein he had the greatest Share of Loss and Dishonour by what was committed Whereas in all Policy Reason and Religion having least cause to give the least Consent and most grounds of utter Detestation he might be represented by them to the World the more inhumane and barbarous Dublin surrendred to the Parliament The Treaty being concluded with the Committee of Parliament the City was surrendred into their Hands Ormond stipulating amongst other Things a Liberty of going to the King to give him an Accompt of the Progress of that War He found his Majesty in Hampton-Court in the Hands of the Army but seeing how Affairs were carried he withdrew himself into France where he continued until the Confederate Irish terrified with the Preparations made in England to destroy them by their humble Addresses to the Queen and Prince of Wales obtained his Return But it is now time to return into England where upon Essex his being laid aside the Command of the Army was as we have already related given to Sir Thomas Fairfax who with great Industry and Toil modell'd and formed the divers Forces that were dispersed under several Chieftains into one entire Body This being effected he marched from Windsor his head Quarters in the Beginning of May by Orders of the Committee of both Kingdoms to the Relief of Taunton Fairfax marches to the Relief of Taunton which had been long besieged and reduced to great Extremity In the mean Time Cromwell had been sent from Windsor with a strong Party to disturb the King's Preparations about Oxford He defeated two Thousand Horse at Islip-Bridge killing several and taking Four Hundred Horses as also Two Hundred Prisoners with the Queen's Standard Some Runnaways had taken Sanctuary in Blechingdon House where being followed and the Place summoned the unfortunate Governour to gratifie the Fears of his Lady tamely surrendred it which cost him his Life by being shot to Death by the Sentence of a Court-Marshal Sir Willam Vaughan sent with some Foot to Radcot-Bridge was likewise with Two Hundred of his Party intercepted by him Fierce with these Successes and strengthened with Six Hundred Foot from Abington he assaulted Faringdon but not without Loss being bravely received by Sir George Lisle the Governour At the same Time General Goring being sent for by the King to Oxford fell upon Five Hundred of Cromwell's Men under the Command of Whaley near Faringdon where Bethel who led the Van was taken and the rest routed with the Loss of Three Colours But Goring having Intelligence of Fairfax's march Westward returned with all imaginable Haste to oppose his Attempts upon Taunton In the mean time the King taking the Opportunity of Fairfax's Absence sent for his Horse under the Command of his Nephews Rupert and Maurice and marching himself with his Cannon out of Oxford joined them notwithstanding Cromwell and Browne's Endeavour who were commanded to observe him to the contrary His Forces being united for Gerrard having vanquished Langhorne in South-Wales was also come up he grew so formidable the Rebels Army being absent that he was greatly apprehended especially in the associated Counties and neighbouring Countries Fairfax was recalled upon these Apprehensions And though advanced as far as Blainford he there received Counter-Orders commanding his Return which he obeyed sending Col. Welden with betwixt Six and Seven Thousand Men to the succouring of Taunton whilst he himself strengthened with the Addition of Cromwell Browne and some other Chiefs of the Party marches to Oxford and lays Siege to it Besieges Oxford The Royallists at Taunton upon the Approach of Welden supposing the whole Army to be there removed from the Town but perceiving their mistake Goring Hopton and Greenville joining their Forces fight and beat Welden and besiege the Town more closely than before The King relieves Chester The King having united his Forces moved with quick Marches towards Chester one of the Loyallest and Chief Cities of his Party then besieged by Sir William Brereton who drew off upon Report of his Majesty's Advance The King thereupon wheeling about flies to Liecester and by Summons commands the Town to be surrendred to him The Place lying in a fertile Country was also well stored with Ammunition and Provision The Committee of the Shire was then there and consulting with the Townsmen about the Summons told the Messenger they would return an Answer next Morning But that being refused and but one Hour's Space granted for Consultation by a Drum sent on purpose whilst they delayed the Cannon began to play which together with the small Shot they continued to do without Intermission that Evening and the following Night The next Morning the Town was assaulted in many Places at once Leicester taken and after a stout Defence forced The Garrison embodied again upon the Market-Place and continued the Fight with great Resolution till being oppressed with Numbers they were defeated with a great Slaughter The Plunder of the Place followed which was great the Governour * Colonel Gray and the Committee with several other Officers and Gentlemen being made Prisoners The King's Affairs much heightned with this Victory were judged by most Men not inferiour to the Enemies And he himself thought no less when he writ to the Queen in these Terms I may without being too sanguine affirm That since this Rebellion my Affairs were never in so hopeful a Way The Men at Westminster terrified with the Greatness of the Danger and in no less Disquiet by reason of the Diffidence and Dissensions amongst themselves which every Success on the King's Side would improve dispatch'd sudden Commands to Fairfax who had thus long trifled at the Siege of Oxford That be should forthwith follow the King and having overtaken him fight him if possible and so decide the controversie by Battel This City seated in the middle of the Kingdom was a great Eye-sore to the Faction Besides it extreamly incommoded London and being the Royal-Seat of the King and head of the contrary Party it seemed great to attempt it Nor
from both sides both Armies were at length engaged The Passage into the Town was barricado'd up The Fight at Torrington where the Fight was very sharp at push of Pike and Butt-Ends of Musquets but that being gained the Encounters in the Street were no less brave The Royallists had Twice repelled the Enemy and being as often beat back themselves were forced at length to quit their Ground to the more numerous Assailants Hopton in Person very conspicuous and well mounted brought up the Rear of his Horse but was not able to save his Foot whereof scarce Six Hundred escaped The Horse by Benefit of the Night and Knowledge of the Ways did well-nigh all save themselves by Flight Four Hundred as well Commons as Gentlemen were taken of which near Two Hundred were blown up with the Church Hopton had left Fourscore Barrels of Powder in it which being fired by Accident or by one Watts as it was said hired thereto for Thirty Pieces of Gold I will not determine But however it happened very many of the Rebels perished with it the Town was miserably shaken and Terror and Destruction were scattered every where by the Dreadfulness of the Noise and the Vibration of the Ruines of the Temple The Enemy following the Chace forced the Cavaliers over the River Tamar and advancing forwards beat Colonel Basset out of Launceston which they also possessed The Prince sails to the Isles of Scylly The Prince of Wales admonished by the frequent Misfortunes of his Party and seeing after this last Defeat no possibility of renewing the War took shipping at Truro And that he might with-draw himself from these barbarous and bloody Enemies to his Life and Fame and being attended on by the Lord Capel Lord Culpeper and Sir Edward Hyde since Lord Chancellor of England sailed to the Isles of Scylly and thence into France reserving himself by the Care of Providence for the signal Restitution of his enslaved Kingdoms to their former Glory Fairfax did not omit to improve this Opportunity of the Prince's Retreat by inviting Hopton by honourable Conditions to disband his Forces as being abandoned and left to himself The Greatness of the thing kept him in suspense for some Time It grieved him to the Soul to see his King and dearest Lord deprived of so many brave Men and such a gallant Body of Horse and that by his own Act. But to conserve them seemed morally impossible for there was no Help to be expected from Abroad and he himself shut up within the compass of Six Miles in the Streights of Cornwall surrounded by the Sea and a victorious hostile Army Nor did he know whither to go in case he had broke through the Ways being obstructed with Trees cut down and laid cross them on purpose the Passages every where kept with strong Guards and what was more dismal the King's Affairs were under such sad Circumstances and so desperate that we were deprived of the very Solace of Hope In this Extremity it was determined to lay by our now useless Arms and submit to the Necessity of our Fate A Treaty was therefore entered upon by Commissioners from both sides The Lord Hopton disbands bis Army who met at Tressilian-Bridge and after a great Contestation concluded a Dissolution of the Royal-Army The Officers each according to his Quality were permitted the Enjoyment of their Arms Horses and Equipage But the common Troopers were obliged to deliver theirs receiving every one Twenty Shillings in Lieu of them All had their Bag Baggage and Liberties secured to them and Permission to return to their Homes or to pass into Foreign Countries at pleasure The Army being disbanded and the Garrisons thereby excluded from all Hopes of Relief did likewise fall Exeter the Chief City of the West surrender'd upon honourable Terms Barnstable followed as also the remaining Garrisons upon Demand And now Fairfax having subdued the West marched with his victorious Army towards Oxford Whilst he is on his way it may not be from the Purpose to relate what happened in other Parts of the Kingdom Which I hitherto designingly omitted not willing to interupt the Progress of this Western Expedition Being content to deliver the greater Actions in their Order rather than to distract them with a regard to the Things themselves more than the Times they were acted in though that also will appear in the Margent After the Defeat of Digby and Langdale which we have mentioned the King had continued for some time at Newark until wearied with the Dissentions of his Party he was necessitated to depart The Lord Gerrard Sir Richard Willis Distractions amongst the Royallists at Newark and others had deserted his Majesty and the Princes Rupert and Maurice having capitulated with Poynts for Passes to go beyond Sea which was assented to by the pretended Parliament were upon the point of abandoning him The Dispute was about Digby who being accused by these Dissenters with more Fervor than Duty considering the Times found an Advocate of his Innocency in the King and Bellasis the Governour Hereupon his Majesty with Six Hundred Horse came to Oxford where being entertained with heavy Countenances and a lugubrious Accompt of Affairs he replied with undaunted Constancy That Three Years ago he had been in yet a lower Condition than at present The same God who from such despicable Beginnings had render'd him great and formidable did live and reign still to whose Goodness he also recommended the Care of his present abject Estate But however confident he seemed to be he was as is usual in great Calamities too much neglected by many And though he daily performed whatever could be expected from a brave and prudent Prince yet nothing succeeded by reason of the perpetual Distraction of his Nobles his Officers and Counsellours agitated by the Infelicities of the present Condition of Affairs or rather actuated by the secret Dispensations of Providence Nor was he long permitted to reside there Ashley beat at Stow. the Lord Ashley having been defeated and taken at Stow. He had drawn a Body of near Two Thousand out of several Garrisons evacuated for that Purpose which were the last Field-Forces that appeared for the King So that the Remains being forced to save themselves in their Fortifications were since there was no Success to be expected from Abroad easily divested of them also BOOK IV. The King leaves Oxford and goes to the Scots Army Hereford is surprized and Chester surrender'd Oxford besieged and taken The other Royal Garrisons follow Massey's Forces disbanded Contests with the Scots Their barbarous Vsage of the King They sell him He is imprisoned in Holmbey-House The History of the Scots Rebellion and valorous Actions of Montross Independency triumphant The Army mutinies and seize upon the King at Holmbey They court him but deal treacherously with him He flies to the Isle of Wight FAirfax had sent Ireton with a Body of Horse to hinder the Excursions of the Oxonians and to invest
Prince of Wales made an Act prohibiting the proclaiming of the Prince of Wales without consent of Parliament and that under pain of High Treason This Decree being dispatched by swift Messengers into all Counties the High Sheriffs had likewise Orders sent them to see the same publisht with all Expedition which was likewise done Their next care was to disable the Secluded Members from being admitted to sit for the future which was performed by voting them quite out of the House as desiring no more sharers in their Oligarchy The House of Lords came next under consideration These had sent a Message to the Commons for a Committee to settle the Kingdom which upon no great Debate was refused Admittance They abolish the House of Lords and a Vote pass'd that the House of Peers in Parliament is useless and dangerous and ought to be abolished and consequently was laid aside being the less pittyed because they had so unnaturally abandoned their Sovereign Only they had this Comfort left that they might sit in the Lower House if they had the luck to be elected which some did as Pembrooke Salisbury Escreek This is in no wise mentioned to reflect upon those honoured Peers who attended the King in all his Fortunes those we honour for their eminent Courage and Loyalty but upon that hated Juncto that continued their Session even to this Moment And yet they will not separate without a Protestation against these Tyrannical Proceedings of the Commoners affirming And Monarchical Government their Treason and Insolencies exceeded those of the Malignants that is the Loyal Party And now the Kingly Government was likewise abolished under pretence that it was chargeable useless and dangerous And that Monarchy which had continued from the Beginning of Times changed into a detestable and many-headed Tyranny under the Chymerical Title of a Free State This being done the Pseudo-Parliament for they still abused the reverend Title of Parliament by assurning it as most grateful to the People to ease themselves of part of the Government choose a Councel of State upon which they transfer the Execution Part of the same Choose a Council of State These were Forty in Number chief Officers of the Army and other principal Sticklers of the party sufficiently infamous in their own Persons tho they had not chosen that execrable Parricide Bradshaw for their President whom they also gratify with the Donation of 2000 l. per Annum The City seemed all this while uneasie which put our Usurpers upon diminishing their Greatness which they did Reynoldson the Lord Mayor had refused to publish their Act for abolishing Monarchy which enraged them to that Height that they cast him into the Tower fine him 2000 l. and also put him from his Employment electing Alderman Andrews Displace and fine the Lord Mayor for refusing to proclaim the Act for abolishing Kingly Government one of the Regicides in his place They further empower any Ten of the Common Council which was modelled to their Design by new choice of young needy enthusiastick Fellows in stead of the grave and wealthy Citizens whom they had elected to convent this City-Senate where they pleased tho the Lord Mayor should not consent to it But as they had displeased some they would content others especially the Populace which they did by rescinding the old Laws against Heresy and Schism which opening a vast Door to Libertinism procured them very many Proselytes Abrogate Laws against Schism and Hereâ—y This Religious Indulgence in opinions strangely distracted the Common-wealth insomuch that they burst out into infinite Errors and Schisms being mainly animated by the Hystrionick preaching of their Itinerant Teachers industriously displaying the Doctrine of the Democraticks and holding forth a Liberty in Holy Things But upon more serious consideration lest these Concessions of Liberty might terminate in Confusion it was thought fit at least seemingly to countenance Presbytery as most popular but with a strict inhibition For these busy Ministers were curbed by an Act wherein according to the method of the Low Countries they were forbid under severe Penalties to meddle with any Affairs of State They moreover endeavour Allow of Presbytery to draw these Dissenters to their Fold promising generally to all their Preachers Settlements out of the Kings Revenue Nay further they tell these that differing from the King in Civil Interest puts them at a greater Distance from him than any Contests about Religion could do They add that the Presbyterians first raised War against him subdued him and delivered him to the Independants to be put to Death That his Successor therefore would consider them as equally noxious and criminal and therefore insinuate that they ought in Prudence for their own preservation to joyn with them in their common Defence Declare they will maintain he Fundamental Laws However they will flatter the People by declaring that they were fully resolved to maintain the Fundamental Laws of the Nation as to the preservation of the Lives Liberties and Properties of the Subject saving those Alterations concerning the King and House of Lords already made And yet at this very time they levyed Taxes by Souldiers permitting them free Quarters and contrary to all Laws erect a pretended High Court of Justice with the same bloody President But erect a High Court of Justice who being gorged with Royal Blood would not stick at any other Sacrifice how Sanguineous soever And now as they had subverted Monarchy the most excellent Form of Government by murthering their Prince so they will lay the Foundation of their new Republick in the Blood of his Nobles Hamilton Holland and Capel condemned and murthered by iâ— Duke Hamilton by the Title of Earl of Cambridge was the first that ascended this Fatal Tribunal of whom it was doubted whether his Ambition or Infidelity were greater The Earl of Holland the most ungrateful of Men followed him yet both deserving our Sentiments of Pity in this that when they would have been good they could not Both had pleaded Quarter but in vain tho Hamilton had offered vast Sums for his Ransom and Holland urged the many Sâ—â—vices he had formerly done for the Parliament The generous Lord Capell was the third in this Scene of Blood involved in the same Fate with the other but lamented with more real Sorrow because of his eminent Loyalty and Vertues He had not been wanting in his defence with those unmerciful Judges who had already resolved his Death chiefly insisting upon the Quarter given at Colchester but to no purpose Fairfax then in Court no less impiously than unsouldierly interpreting that the said Quarter regarded only the Military not the Civil Power His Colleagues had argued much in extenuation of the Crimes objected against them But he being brought to the Scaffold behaving himself with a most Christian Bravery looking upon the People with Assurance told them amongst other Things That he was brought thither for obeying the Fifth Commandment written by
returned to Cologn he found his Brother the Duke of Gloucester there lately arrived from France The King had been informed now he had been thrust out of England by the Regicides which they had done to save the Expence of his Maintenance and to Ship-wrack his Religion Besides it was supposed that Cromwell had designed his Removal for that some in his Council had moved his Assumption to the Crown as no ways obnoxious or prejudiced by reason of his Youth as is already mentioned 'T is scarce imaginable with what Constancy he defended his Religion however very young In so much that armed with Instructions from the Lord Hatton and Doctor Cousens he eluded the Assaults of Abbot Montague and the Marquess of Plessis the one employed by the Queen-Regent of France and the other by the Queen of England Neither the charming Pleasures of the French Court nor the Purple Dignities of the Church of Rome nor yet the extream Severities of the Queen his Mother who did not only refuse him his ordinary Sustenance but denied him the Solace of her Benediction were of strength to shake his Faith Which they yet would endeavour to force by shutting him up in the Jesuits Colledge if the King his Brother displeased with these Novelties had not sent the Marquess of Ormond to his Rescue and to bring him to Cologn to him which he did though not without Difficulty But nothing was impossible for this Great Man After this the King went to Franckfort famous for its Marts And in his Progress saluted the Queen Christina of Sweden at Koningsteyn Where after a Reception worthy Two such great Princes and some private Discourses the Duke of Gloucester and his Royal Sister did the same The Marquess of Ormond Earl of Norwich Lord Newburgh and others of His Majesty's Train being also admitted paid that great Princess the Respects due to her Highness The Queen continued her Journey to Insprug where after a splendid Reception from the Arch-Duke she made Public Profession of the Roman Religion The King leaving Franckfort with the universal Acclamations of the People and thundring of their Cannon went to Ments whither he had been invited by that Elector where his Reception was truly Royal. And after three Days Treat parting with the same Magnificence returned to Cologn Nor did his Majesty spend the Time idly whilst the Regicides triumphed in England He had already sent Embassies to all the Princes of Europe to desire their Assistance against his Rebels But with little success though the Cause were Common The French flourishing in Promises made a League with the Regicides The Spaniards though they seemed to grieve at the Murther of the King were yet the first that acknowledged and owned this rising Common-wealth The Grand Seignior corrupted with English Gold delivered Sir Henry Hyde the King's Embassadour at that Court against the Law of Nations into the Hands of the Parricides who Murthered him by cutting off his Head before the Exchange Swedeland was then in an unsetled Condition Portugal unable being attacked both by the Spaniard and Dutch in the Indies Poland was worried with her own Domestick Distractions Denmark was exhausted with the Treasure formerly lent to Charles I. Others indeed restified their good-wills by their Contributions as the Great Duke of Muscovy the Count of Oldenburg the Electors of Mentz and Brandenburg and some other Princes of Germany by the Earl of Rochester's negoriating at Ratisbone But what could this import to make a new and great War Whereas it scarce sufficed to defray the Charges of the Embassies The King then seeing no Hopes of his Restauration from abroad wisely sought a Remedy where the Wound was received from the Benevolence and Loyalty of his Subjects which the Eminence of his Vertues could not in Justice refuse him Neither was he any way wanting to himself but most intent upon all Occasions leaving nothing unattempted whereby he might raise his sinking Affairs He kept constant Correspondence with his Friends in England Caus'd great Disturbances to the Rebels on every side and exposing himself to the Danger did more than once incite the People to arm against the Usurpers He now kept his Court at Bruges in Flanders nearer hand having been invited by the Spaniards repenting their too early Compliments to the Regicides and supplied with 9000 l. per annum which Money was punctually repaid upon His Majesty's Restitution The Duke in the mean Time having recalled all the Kings Subjects in the French Service joyning them with those in the Spanish Low-Countries composed a considerable Body which he commanded with no less Honour than he had done in France although they were well nigh destroyed by the fatal Valour of the English Rebels at Mardike and the Battle of Dunkirk The Duke more illustrious by Misfortunes did not only for some time resist but retard the Progress of the Victors until oppressed by multitudes as is already said he was necessitated to comply with the Fate of the vanquished Cromwell dying soon after however a way seemed thereby to be opened to the Kings Restauration his Majesty received the News of it with remarkable Constancy and Calmness of Mind in no ways insulting though he saw his most Mortal Enemy extinguished in the Person of this Vsurper Cardinal Mazarin however averse to King Charles did at the same time congratulate the Queen his Mother upon the Hopes of her Sons Restauration since he was by the Death of that Tyrant delivered from his most implacable and successful Enemy The sudden Change in England followed by the Deposing of Richard and the Resurrection of the Rump and the other Innovations already mentioned which followed as they augmented the Hopes of the King at Home so they varied the Counsels of Princes abroad Which his Majesty applyed in as much as was possible to his own Use by Negotiations and Embassies But there being now a Treaty in Agitation betwixt France and Spain he would himself be present at it For if a Peace were concluded which was more than probable betwixt these great Princes it was but reasonable to suppose that they might spare some of their numerous Forces to assist an injured King their Ally by Blood and Common Interest And yet the King would rather reduce his Rebel-Subjects to Obedience by the Appearance of his Power than by the Use of his Forces In the mean time accompanied with the Duke of York his Brother and the Marquess of Ormond he hasted Incognito through France having saluted the Queen his Mother at Paris in his way to St. John De Luz where the Great Ministers of the Two Crowns were then in Treaty Don Louis de Haro upon Notice of the Kings Approach went to met and receive him Which he did alighting from his Horse and Embracing and kissing his Knees with as much Honour and Splendour as if he had been his Master the King of Spain The next Day his Majesty was visited by Cardinal Mazarin the other great Plenipotentiary who was