to which On Sunday the 23. of October 1642. for they thought it better to rob God of his Sabbath than lose an opportunity of murthering their Soveraign the Earl of Essex and Parliament-Army powring in from all quarters of the Kingdom upon him had compassed him in on all sides and before the King could put his men in Battel-Array many of whom being young Country fellows had no better armes than clubs and staves in their hands cut out of the hedges and put his two young Sons the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in the guard of a Troop of horse at the further end of the field and had finished a short prayer a bullet of the Earl of Essex's Cannon grazed at his heels as he was kneeling at his prayers on the side of a bank for Blague a villain in in the Kings Army having a great pension allowed him for it had given notice in what part of the field the King stood that they might the better know how to shoot at him But God having a greater care of his Anointed than of their Rebellious pretences so ordered the hands of those that fought for the King as the Earl of Essex was so loaden with Victories as he left five of his men for one of Kings dead behind him lost his Baggage and Artillery retired back to Warwick and left the King to bless God in the field where he supped with such victuals as the more loyal and better natur'd neighbours sent him when the worser sort refused to do it and lying there all night sent warrants out the next day to the neighbour Parishes to bury the dead drew off his Ordnance and marched to Banbury and yet he could not forget to pity those were at such paines and hazard the day before to murther Him but before he went out of the field sent Sir William Leâ—neve Clarencieux King of Armes to Warwick whither the Earl of Essex was fled with a Proclamation of pardon to all that would lay down armes which though they scornfully received and the Herald threatned to be hanged if he did not depart the sooner cannot perswade Him from sending a Declaration or Message to the Parliament to offer them all that could be requested by Subjects but all the use they made of it was to make the City of London believe they were in greater danger than ever if they sent them not more moneys and recruited the Earl of Essex his broken Army and to cosen and put the people on the more to seek their own misery a day of Thanksgiving was publiquely kept for the great Victory obtained against the King And Stephen Marshall a Factious bloody Minister though he confessed he was so carried on in the crowd of those that fled from the battel as he knew not where he was till he came to a Market-Town which was some miles from Edge-hill where the Battel was fought preaches to the people too little believing the Word of God and too much believing him that to his knowledge there was not above 200. men lost on the Parliaments side that he picked up bullets in his black velvet cap and that a very small supply would now serve to reduce the King and bring him to his Parliament And here ye may see Janus Temple wide open though the doors of it were not lift off the hinges or broken open at once but pickt open by those either knew not the misery of the War or knowing it will prove to be the more guilty promoters of it That we may the better therefore find out though the matter of Fact already represented may be evidence enough of it self who it was that let out the fury and rage of War upon us we shall consider CHAP. II. Whether a Prince or other Magistrate labouring to suppress or punish a Rebellion of the People be tied to those rules are necessary for the justifying of a War if it were made between equals WAr was first brought in by necessity where the determining of controversies between two strange Princes of equal Power could not be had because they have no superiour A Rebel therefore cannot properly be called an enemy for Hostis nomen notat aequalitatem and when any such Arms are borne against Rebels it is not to be called a War but an Exercise of Jurisdiction upon trayterous and dissoyal Persons atque est ratio manifesta saith Albericus Gentilis qui enim jure judex est superior non jure cogitur ad subeundas partes partis aequalis non est bellum cum latronibus praedonibus aut piratis quanquam magnos habeant excercitus proinde nec ulla cum illis belli jura saith Besoldus The Romans who were so exact and curious in their publick denouncing of War and sending Ambassadors before they made War against any other Nation did not do it in cases of Rebellion and defection and therefore Fidenatibus Campanis non denunciant Romani And Cicero that was of opinion that nullum bellum justum haberi videtur nisi nunciatum nisi indictum nisi repetitis rebus stood not upon those solemnities in the Cataline conspiracy for the rules of justifying a War against an enemy or equals as demanding restitution denunciation and the like are not requisite in that of punishing Rebels Pompey justifies tbe War maintained by the Senate against Caesar not then their Soveraign with neque enim vocari praelia justa decent c. Cicero did not think it convenient to send Ambassadors to Anthony nor intreat him by faire words but that it was meet to inforce him by arms to raise his siege from Mutina for he said They had not to do with Hambal an enemy to the Commonwealth but with a rebellious Citizen The resisting of the Kings Authority when the Sheriff of a County goes with the posse Comitatus to execute it was never yet so much as called a War but Rebellion and Insurrection or Commotion were the best terms bestowed upon it such attempts are not called Wars but Robberies of which the Law taketh no other care of but to punish them The haste that all our Kings and Princes in England have made in suppressing Rebellions as that of the Barons Wars by Henry the 3. and his sending his Sonne the Prince to besiege Warren Earl of Surrey in his Castle of Rygate for affronting the Kings Justices saying That he would hold his Lands by the Sword That which Rich. 2. made to suppress Wat. Tiler H. 6. Jack Cade H. 8. Ket and the Norfolk Rebels and Queen Elizabeth to suppress the Earls of Northumber-land and Westmerland may tell us that they understood it no otherwise than all the Kings and Magistrates of the world have ever practised it by the Laws of England if Englishmen that are Traytors go into France and confederate with Altens or Frenchmen and come afterwards and make a War in England and be taken prisoners the strangers may be ransomed
ordered by the then Juncto sitting in Parliament that all publick Writings should be issued out under a new Test and Stile and a new great Seale should be made and the old one broken that the Inscription and Stamp of the Coin shall be altered also It was Enacted and Proclaimed that none upon pain of high Treason should presume to declare and publickly promote Charles Stuart Prince of Wales eldest Son of the late King or any of the rest of his Children to be King of England Nevertheless there was not wanting those who ventured their lives and fortunes in asserting the Title of his Majesty to the Crown of England to which end this following Proclamation was Printed and dispersed in severall places of London We the Noble men Judges Knights Lawyers Gentlemen Free-holders Merchants Citizens Yeomen Seamen and Free men of England do according to our Allegiance and Covenant by these presents heartily joyfully and unanimously acknowledge and Proclaim the most Illustrious Charles Prince of Wales next Heir apparent to his Father King Charls whose late wicked murther and all consents there unto we from our souls abominate to be by hereditary birth right and lawfull succession rightfull and undoubted King of Great Brittain c. And we will constantly and sincerely in our severall places and callings defend and maintain his Royall person Crown and Dignity with our Lives and Estates against all opposers whom we hereby declare to be enemies to his Majesty and Kingdomes in Testimony whereof we have caused these to be published throughout all Counties and Corporations of this Realm the 1. day of February In the first year of his Majesties Raign But so totally was the Kings party suppressed in all parts of the Kingdom that the Proclamation was of none essect none daring to appear for the Royal Interest Yet his Majesties greatest hopes and expectations were from Ireland where the severall factions united together Proclaim him King and bend all their whole strength against the Interest of the Common-Wealth of England and in a short time became so formidable and prevail so much as the possessed all the strong Holds of that Country Dublin and London-Derry are excepted both were straitly besieged the former by a gallant Army of 22000 men under the Marquesse of Ormond the latter by a party of the Irish Rebells Hee had likewise adjoining to the Territories of England the Islands of Scilly Jersy and Man which places served as a retreat for that small Fleet that was left him being the remainder of those Ships which had deserted the Parliaments Navy and revolted unto him This while his affairs in Ireland were at the height they began as suddenly to decline for there being about 3000 Horse and Foot safely landed at Dublin as the forlorn of a greater body they were joyned with what other forces they then could make all which did not make above 9000. at the most were commanded by Colonell Mich. Jones who sallying forth of Dublin did not onely raise the seige but also utterly routed the whole Army the Marquesse of Ormond himselfe hardly escapeing about 2000 were slain in the place and in the pursuite some thousands were taken prisoners as like wise all their Ordinaces Ammunition Carriages and Provision The siege of London-Derry was also raised by a resolute sally of Sir Charls Coot forcing Sir Rob. Stewart and Col. Merven to retire immediately upon this success not to give the Royall party any time to recover strength All disturbances being quieted in England The Levellers at Burford being suppressed by Generall Fairfax Oliver Cromwell then Lievetenant Generall of the Parliaments Army landed with a powerfull Army about the midst of August 1649. invested with the Title and Authority of Lord Governour or Lievetenant of Ireland presently after him followed his son in law Major Generall Ireton with about 40. Sail of Ships soon after Drogheda was taken by Storme not without some difficulty and loss and that hee might terrify other Garrisons that should stand out put Sir Arthur Aston all that were in the Town to the Sword which was about 3000. Then followed the taking of a number of considerable Towns and Castles in all parts of Ireland Besides severall Field-battells gained over the Lord Inohiqueen the Lord Ards and Clanduboys with Lievetenant Generall Farrell and others of his Majesties party by the Lord Broghill Sir Charles Coote Collonell Venables Zanchy Reynolds and Hewson so that in lesse then a years time Ireland was subdued to the power of the English Common-Wealth Much about this time hapned a generall defection of the English Plantations from their obedience to the Parliament viz. Virginia and the Caryb Islands publickly own the Royall Interest whereupon all Traffique and Commerce is prohibited thorow which means they are driven to great streits and presently after by a Fleet of Ships from England under the Command of Sir George Ascue they are brought unto conformity The King having Constituted Prince Rupert Admirall of his Fleet did much harm to the English Coasts and takes many rich prizes was at last blockt up in the Harbour of Kings Sale the Town presently after taken by Cromwell The Prince is forced to leave three of his Ships behind he had enough to do to get clear off with the rest at length he arrived at Lisbon the imperiall City of the King of Portugall and craved his protection which was not denied them which was the occasion of a great Contest between that King and the State of England other designes were set on foot by his Majesties Loyall Subjects for the obtaining of his Right The first was of James Graham Earl of Montross for the raising of what force he cold in Holland and else where to invade Scotland The 2. was the procuring a Treaty betwixt his Majesty and the Scots to give more life to these undertakings Ambassadors were dispatcht to Spain Italy Denmarke Sweden and Russia c. In the name of CHARLES the Second King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith The effect of whose Embassies were little else but Complements pleas and excuses for neither men nor mony could be got Montrosse According to his Majesties instructions having got together very considerable supplies of men and monies at length lands in the North of Scotland where he had not long been but Colonell Straughan Colonell Kerr Colonell Mountgomry and Lievetenant Colonell Hackets Troop and another amounting to 230 approach and give battel whereas Montrosse was at least 1200. and their Chief-Leaders such resolute and expert souldiers unlesse struck with fear of Lesley's great Army coming against them however so great was the defeat that the whole body of Montrosse was engaged in the battle There escaped not above 100 from being either taken or slain amongst the prisoners ners were S. Joh. Vrry Major General of Montrosses Army the L. Fendraught Col. Grey Lievetenant Colonell Stewart with a great number of other considerable Officers
People and the Parliament to quarrell for as they were much behind in thankfulness for what they had got of him already Or if any other causes or provocations should be imagined as misusing the Parliaments Messengers or the like we know the King unlesse it were by his patience and often Messages for peace was guilty of no provocations but on the contrary though hee had all manner of scornes and reproaches cast upon him and his messengers evil entreated by them could never be brought to return or retaliate it to any of theirs But nothing as yet serving to excuse them It will not be amiss to examine the causes as they are set down by themselves to justifie their war and so we may well suppose there are no other A war against the King for safety of his own Person was needless and then it comes within that rule of war and law of Nations Ne leves sint causae beâ—li not to make a warre unnecessary for the King would look to that himself and as they were his Subjects they as well as every honest Subject were bound to defend and assist him but not whether he would or no and in such a way of defence as would tend to his ruâ—ne rather then his safety For â—urely should any stranger of another Kingdom or Nation have casually passed by Edge-hill when the Kings and the Parliaments 〈◊〉 were in fight and have been told that the King shot at them for the safety of his own Person and that they also shot against hiâ— for the safety of his own Person and being aâ—ked which of the two parties hee believe did really or most of all intend the safety of it we cannot tell how to think any man such a stranger to nature reason or understanding as to think the King should not fight as the Dictates of nature perswaded him to or that the King could tell how to fight against those that fought for him or that if he should be so hugely mistaken in that one year or Battell he should be in severall â—â—her years and Battells after To 〈…〉 the deâ—ence of the Religion establishâ—d as they made also the people believe that was as needless when the King offered to do every thing might help to promote it and they are so little also to be credited in that pretence as we know they did all they could from the beginning to ruine it took away Episcopacy the hedge and bounds of it brought in Presbytery to preach up and aid their Rebellion and when their own turnes were served encouraged Conventicles and Tub Preachers to â—ud down the Presbytery And being demanded at the Treaty at Vxbridge by the Kings Commissioners what Religion they would have the King to establish were so unprovided of an answer as they could not resolve what to nominate nor in any of their propositions afterwards sent to the King though often urged and complained oâ— oy the Scottish Commissioners could ever find the way to doe it but have now set up an Independent extemporary enthusiastick kind of worshiping God if there were any such thing in it or rather a religious Chaos or gallimaufry of all manner of heresie errours blasphemies and opinions put together not any of the owners of which we can be confident will subscribe to that opinion that Wars may be made for Religion or that Conscience ought to be forced by it As for the restrictive part of the Lawes to keep the people in subjection we can very well perswade our selves no such War was ever made yet in the world nor any people ever found that would engage in a War for that they obeyed but against their wills And for that part of the law that gives them the Kings protection priviledges immunities and certainties of deciding controversies which are more fitly to be called the Liberâ—ies of tbe people than to have 45. of the house of Commons or a Faction to make daily and hourly Lawes and Religion and Government and vote their estates in and out to pay an Army to force their obedience to it if we had not outlived the Parliaments disguises and pretences saw them now tearing up by the roots that there may be no hope of their growing up again and setting up their own as well as the ignorant and illiterate fancies of Mechanicks and Souldiers in stead of them we might have said that also had been needless when the King had done abundantly enough already and offered to grant any thing more could in reason be demanded of him And as touching their priviledges of Parliament they that understand but any thing of the Lawes of England or have but looked into the Records and Journals of Parliament can tell that all priviledges of Parliament as King James said were at first bestowed upon them by the Kings and Princes of this Kingdom That priviledges of Parliament extended not to Treason or Felony or breach of the Peace That 32 Hen. 6. Sir Thomas Thorp Speaker of the House of Commons being arrested in execution in the time of the prorogation of the Parliament the Commons demanded he might be set at liberty according to their priviledges wherupon the Judges being asked their Councel therein made answer That general supersedeas of Parliament there was none but special supersedeas there was in which case of special supersedeas every member of the House of Com-of Commons ought to enjoy the same unles in causes of Treason Felony or breach of the Peace or for a CondeÌ„mnation before the Parliament After which answer it was determined that the said Sir Thomas Thorp should lie in execution and the Commons were required on the behalf of the King to choose a new Speaker which they did and presented to the King accordingly That Queen Elizabeth was assured by her Judges that she might commit any of her Parliament during the Parliament for any offence committed against her Crown and Dignity and they shewed her precedents for it and that primo tertio Caroli Regis upon search of precedents in the several great cases of the Earls of Arundel and Bristol very much insisted and stood upon the House of Peers in Parliament allowed of the exception of Treason Felony and breach of the Peace For indeed it is as impossible to think there can be any priviledge to commit Treason as to think that a King should priviledge all his Nobility and every one of his Subjects that could get to be elected into the House of Commons in Parliament to commit Treason and to take away his life in the time of Parliament whensoever their revenge or malice or interest should finde the opportunity to do it or that if it could be so any King or Prince would ever call or summon a Parliament to expose himself to such a latitude of danger or give them leave to sit as long as they would to breed it or that priviledges of Treason can be consistent with the name or being of a Parliament to
doe any thing might help himself either to purchase his own quiet or so great a Liberty and would neither for any good might come to himself or any evil might be cast upon him and his Posterity be perswaded or threatned from the protection of his people who if he had not taken more care for them then they did for themselves must if he had yielded to all the Parliament-propositions for then they might have imagined mischief by a Law have from time to time been engaged in any Warre their Task-masters had a mind to put them upon must have been excised plundred sequestred ruined and undone sworn and forsworn constrained to swear to doe a thing to day and the next day swear not all to doe it The son set to kill his Father and brothers forced to fight one against another and have all their Holy-dayes turned to Thanksgiving-dayes that they are undone or Fasting-dayes that they may be undone soon enough And if at any time that thing they call a Parliament should think it fit to make a Directory to the Alchoran and to order every man to turn Turk and the King as their Henry Scobel or Town-Clerk but subscribe it their Spiritual as well as their Temporal Estate and their Soules as well as their Bodies must be voted and forced to it And now let the people that have tasted too much of such a kind of happinesse and are like to continue in it as long as their misery-makers can by any help of the Devil or his Angels hold them to it consider whether they or their fore-fathers though some have thought themselves to have wit enough to adventure to call them fooles were the wiser whether they that setled the Government and were contented with it or they that pulled it in pieces and whether the tearing up of the fundamental Lawes of Monarchy Peerage Parliament and Magna Charta even since this day the King was murthered for defending of them which every one but themselves desired to uphold be not enough besides the Scottish combination and the plots to ruine Monarchy and the King and his Posterity before the five Members and Kimbolton had so for engaged themselves in it to inform them if nothing else had been demonstrated unto them That the King did all he could to preserve the Lawes Religion and Liberties of the people which divers pieces of his coin will help to perpetuate the truth as well as the memory of and the Parliament all they could to destroy them And that as he actually endeavoured to defend them so have they as actually undone and destroyed them And let the greatest search of History can be made or time it self be Judge if ever any war was more made in the defensive or upon juster grounds or greater necessities or if ever any King before fought for the Liberties of those he was to govern and for Lawes to restrain himself withal or if it were possible for him to suffer so much in any mans opinion as to have it thought to be unlawful or that he was a murtherer of his people for seeking to Protect them How shall any King or Magistrate be able to bear or use the Sword when they themselves shall be in continual danger to be beaten with it King Edward the second of England was not murthered for the blood that was shed in the Barons Wars though some of them had drawn their swords but in performance of his fathers will to take away his favourite Gavestion from him King Rich. 2. in those many devised Articles charged against him was not deposed for the blood was shed in Wat Tilers Commotion nor Hen. 6. publickly accused for that of Jack Cades Rebellion and the most bloody differences of the White and Red-Roses nor Queen Elizabeth for all that was spilt in reducing Ireland when her favourite the Earl of Essex made it to be the more by his practises with Tyrone nor for the blood of Hacket who pretended to be Christ nor of Penry and other Sectaries lesser Incendiaries than Burton Prynne and Bastwick for disturbing the Common-wealth the great Henry of France was not endeavoured by his Catholick Subjects to be brought to trial for shedding so much of their blood to reduce them to his obedience nor by his Protestant Subjects after he was turned Catholick for spending so much of their blood to another purpose than they intended it Nor have the stout-hearted Germans though many of them great and almost free Princes in their late Peace and Accord made betwixt the Swedes and the Emperour thought it any way reasonable or necessary to demand reparation for those millions of men women and children houses and estates were ruined and spoiled by a thirty years War to reduce the Bohemians and Prince Elector Palatine to their obedience For what rules or bounds shall be put to every mans particular fancy or corrupted interest if they shall be at Liberty to question and call to account the authority God hath placed over them Shall the son condemn or punish the Father for his own disobedience the Wife her Husband for her own act of Adultery or the Servant the Master for his own unfaithfulnesse or can there be any thing in the Reason or understanding of man to perswade him to think the King was justly accused for the shedding of his blood which the accusers themselves were only guilty of And Bradshaw himself like the Jewes high Priest confessing a truth against his will in the word he gave instead of reason for murthering the King against the will and good liking of nine parts in every ten of the Commons of England could make his Masters that call themselves the Parliament of England to be no better then the Tribum plebis of Rome and the Ephori of Sparta the former of which for manifold mischiefes and inconveniences were abrogated and laid aside and never more thought fit to be used and the latter not being half so bad as our new state Gipsies killed and made away to restore the People again to their Liberties But the opinion and Judgement of the Learned Lord Chief Justice Popham who then little thought his grand-child Colonell Popham should joyn with those that sate with their Hats on their Heads and directed the murther of their Soveraign and if he were now living would sure enough have hanged him for it and those other learned Judges in the case and Tryall of the Earl of Essex in the Raign of Queen Elizabeth That an intent to hurt the Soveraign Prince as well as the act of it was Treason And that the Laws of England do interpret every act of Rebellion or Treason to aim at the death or deposing of the Prince For that Rebells by their good will never suffer that King or Prince to live or Raign that understands their purposes and may revenge them agreeable to that of the Civil Law That they that go about to give Law to their Prince will never suffer him to recover
Damer in Com. Darby Shoomaker Humphrey Browne of Whitsundine in Com. Rutland Yeoman David Evans of Abergeveny in Com. Monmouth Smith Robert Holmes of Robert Williams of Samuel Woorden of Lineham in Com. Wilts Gent. Thomas Read of Maidstone in Com. Kent Gent. George Cornwall of Aston in Com. He. reford Forgeman William Jones of Uske in Com. Monmouth Husbandman Arthur Young Citizen and Barber-Chirurgion of London Diogenes Edwards of Carston in Com. Salop Butcher John Bennet of Harwood in Com. Ebor. Glover William Cutbert of Patrington in Holderness in Com Ebor. Gent. Richard Price of London Serivener Henry Gouch of Grays-Inn Gent. The true manner of proceeding to take off the Kings Head according to the Sentence given as aforesaid SIr Hardress Waller Colonel Harrison Commissary General Ireton Colonel Dean and Colonel Okey were appointed to consider of the Time and Place for the Execution of the King according to his Sentence given by the pretended High Court of Justice Painted-Chamber Monday January the 29th 1648. UPon Report made from the Committee for considering of the Time and Place of the Executing of the Judgment against the King that the said Committee have Resolved That the open street before Whitehal is a fitting place And the said Committee conceive it fit That the King be there executed the cuorrow the King having already notice thereof The Court approved thereof and ordered a Warrant to be drawn to that purpose which Warrant was accordingly drawn and agreed to and Ordered to be ingrossed which was done and signed and sealed accordingly as followeth At the High Court of Justice for the Trying and Judging Charles Stuart King of England Jan. 29. 1648. VVHereas Charles Siuart king of England is and standeth Convicted Attainted and Condemned of High Treason and other Crimes and Sentence on Saturday last was pronounced against him by this Court to be put to Death by the severing his head from his body of which Sentence Execution yet remaineth to be done These are therefore to will and require you to see the said Sentence Executed in the open street before White-hall upon the morrow being the 30. day of this instant Moneth of January between the hours of Ten in the morning and Five in the afternoon of the same day with full ef fect and for so doing this shall be your sufficient Warrant and these are to require all Officers and Soldiers and other the good People of England to bee assistant unto you in this service Given under our hands and Seals To Colonel Francis Hacker Col. Huncks and Lievtenant Colonel Phray and to every of them Sealed and Subscribed by John Bradshaw President Thomas Gray Oliver Cromwell Edward Whaley John Okey John Danvers Mich. Livesey John Bourcher Henry Ireton Tho. Maleverer Jo. Blackston Jo. Hutchison William Goffe Tho. Pride Henry Smith Vincent Potter William Constable Rich. Ingoldsby William Cawley John Barkstead Isaac Ewer Val. Walton Peter Temple Tho. Harrison Joh. Hewson Pet. Pelham Richard Dean Robert Titchburn Hump. Edwards Dan. Blagrave Owen Roe Will. Purifoye Adrian Scroop James Temple Aug. Garland Edmon Ludlow Hen. Martin Jo. Alured Robert Lilburn Will. Say Anthony Stapley Gregory Norton Tho. Chaloner Tho Wogan Simon Meyne Tho. Horton Jo. Jones Jo. Moore Hadress Waller Gilbert Millington Ch. Fleetwood Jo. Venn Greg. Clement Jo Downs Tho. Wait. Tho Scot. John Carew Miles Corbet In all Fifty eight Ordered That the Scaffold on which the King is to be executed be covered with black The warrant for executing the King being accordingly delivered to those parties to whom the same was directed Execution was done upon him according to the Tenour thereof about two of the clock in the afternoon of the said 30th of January 1648. The fatall day of the said Execution being Tuesday January the 30. 1648. HIs Majesty continued in prayer all the morning and receive the Sacrament just at Ten of the Clock before noon he was conveyed on foot from St. James's Palace to Whitehall guarded by a Regiment of foot Souldiers part before part behind with Colours flying and Drums beating his private guard of Partizans about him and Dr. Juxon Bishop of London next to him on one side and Colonell Tomlinson on the other being come to Whitehall he continued in his Cabinet Chamber at his devotions refusing to dine only about 12 a clock he eat a bit of bread and drank a glasse of Claret Wine from thence he was conveyed into the Banquetting house and the great window inlarged out of which he ascends the Scaffold the rails being hung round and the floor covered with black His Executioners disguised with Vizards yet was his Majesty not affrighted He shewed more care of the people living then of himself dying for looking upon the people whom the thick guards of Souldiers kept a great distance off and seeing he could not be heard by them omitting probably what hee purposed to have spoken to them therefore turning to the Officers and actors by him he delivered himself in a short but excellent Speech which being ended he meekly went to prayers and after some heavenly discourse between him and the Bishop having prepared himself he lifted up his eyes to heaven mildly praying to himself he stooped down to the block as to a prayer-desk most humbly bowed his generous Neck to God to be cut off by the Vizarded Executioner which was suddainly done at one blow Thus fell King Charles and thus all Britian with him A SHORT HISTORY OF His Royall Majesty our most Gracious SOVERAIGN Charles the Second KING of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Third Monarch of Great Brittain London Printed by Henry Bell and are to be sold by most Book-sellers 1660. A Short HISTORY OF His Royall Majesty King CHARLES the Second c HAving I hope sufficiently cleared his late Royall majesty from that execrable sin of blood-guiltinesse to every one that is not wilfully blind I shall now crave leave to give the Reader a short account of the Life and hitherto sorrowfull Raign of our most Gracious and Dread Soveraign Charles the Second King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defendeâ—â— of the Faith c. No sooner was this mighty Prince barbarously butchered before his own doors to the astonishment and griefe of the greatest part of his Subjects throughout his Dominions And the three Lords Hamilton Capel and Holland which had taken up Arms in his late Majesties defence but now Monarchy the darling of the people together with the House of Peers is voted chargeable unnecessary and useless and the Government changed into a Free State neither did this mutation happen for want of such as by a lineall discent and according to the usage of this Nation might pretend a Title to the Crown for there was a plentifull issue of his late Majesty both male and female then surviving but from the aspiring greatness of some who had wrested the power into their own hands to this end it was
miseries of a civil War but all endeavours proved in effectuall for the French King persisted in his resolutions not to give way to the banishment of the Cardinal hereupon the Duke of Lorraine was sent for with his Army to come and joyn with the Princes the Duke having been tampered with by the contrary party and having advantageous termes desisted hereupon aâ— generall report was spread that his Majesty of England had drawn over the Duke to the Kings party because they were often together this coming to the peoples ears so incensed them not onely against the Duke for his perfidiousness But also against his Majesty and the Queen his mother the fury of the people increased so much that the King was forced for his own preservation to retire from the Louver to St Jermans the Queen his mother received many affronts as she passedin her Coach from the Louver to the Nunnery at Chaliot where she kept her Refidence his Majesty now treateth with Lorraine for the recovery of his kingdom of Ireland out of the hand of the English Republick to this end several Articles are agreed unto by the Lord Taffe agent for the King and the Duke amongst other things it was concluded that the Duke should be vested with the power and title of Protector Royall of Ireland But the Duke having not strength enough for this great enterprise this businesse takes no effect his Majesty having stayed at Saint Jermans till the heat of the popular fury was over returned again to the Louvre During his abode there his ilustrious Brother the Duke of Glocester who for a long time had bin under the custody of the English Juncto and at length dismissed and sent into Holland to his sister was from thence attended into France by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Grenvile and he was honorably received at Paris by the French King Queen-Mother and the rest of the Grandee during his Majesties abode here arrived Mrs. Jane Lane who had so miraculously preserved the King after the fight at Worcester he being exceedingly glad to hear this news immediately sends some persons of quality with Coaches to conduct her to Paris where being come they rejoyce in each others presence let us now a little cast our eyes into England where Cromwell and the Council at White-Hall having usurped the Regall authority carry all by force before them about the latter end of February several persons of quality are carried to the Tower for being Loyal to his Majesty but because nothing of moment could be proved against them they are set at liberty Cromwell being desirous to strengthen himself in the Tyrannical Reigning over his Majesties subjects bethinks himself of making peace with forein States and Princes to that end presently patches up a very disadvantageous peace with the Dutch presently after concludes a peace also with Christina Queen of Sweden a a little before the resignation of her Crown to her Couzen Carolus Gustavus In May following several persons are charged with high Treason for endeavouring to take away the Protectors life seize upon the Tower and proclaim his Majesty King of Great Brittain a High Court of Justice is erected Col. Gerard Peter Vowel School-master and Somerset Fox are condemned to die the last is reprieved for his ample confessions Col. Gerrard was beheaded at Tower hill and Vowel hanged at Charing-Cross on the same day Don Pantalaon Sa Brother to the Portugal Ambassadour was beheaded for engaging in a quarrel on the New Exchange where one Mr. Greneway was slain His Sacred Majesty having now remained in the Court of France about two or three years sometimes being lifted up high with hopes of regaining his three kingdoms other times being cast down with fears sollicitates the States of Holland again to own his Royall interest but they having made a peace with Oliver onely complement him with a letter full of civility and now that which troubled his Majesty most was this the French Court notwithstanding all means used to the contrary by the King of England his mother and other friends prepare to send over an Ambassadour into England hereupon his sacred yet still suffering Majesty leaves that kingdom having taken his farewell of the King and other great ones from whom he received many Complements and Apologies being accompanied with his brother the Duke of York his Couzens Prince Rubert and Prince Edward Palatine to Chatilion a house belonging to the Prince of Conde where they stayed a while to confider how to dispose of themselves to th' best advantage his Majesty with Prince Rupert resolves for Germany having before sent the Lord Wilmot before Ambassadour to the Emperor to negotiate in his behalf Prince Edward took his journey to Burbone the Duke of York remaining in France till after the peace with England is concluded being Lieutenant General of the French Army the young Duke of Glooester after his Brother was gone into Germany by reason of the Queen his Mother and some others of the Catholique Religion was placed in the Colledge of the Jesuits there to have been bred up in the Romish Religion Intelligence thereof being soon brought to his Majesty he being not a little displeased soon takes order for his remove which was exactly performed Oliver according to one Article in his Government called a Parliament to meet at Westminster Sept. 3. 1654. William Lenthal master of the Roll being chosen Speaker at their first sitting they begin to question the lawfulness of the power by which they were called this highly Offended Oliver Protector and made him resolve to put a Period to their sitting so when they had sat about 5 mouths he dissolved them soon after the dissolution of the Parliament the Court was allarmed with news of a great rising in Shropshire Montgomryshire Wiltshire Nottinghamshire Northumberland and Yorkshire in the behalf of his Royal Majesty Sir Henry Littleton Sir John Packington and Major Wildman are secured and sent Prisoners to the Tower Sunday 11. March a Party about 200. enter Salisbury seize upon Horses take away Commissions from the Judges as they were going there circuit and march towards Cornwal they are met with by Captain Vnton Crook and after a sharp dispute totally routed their chief Captains were taken viz. Penruddock Jones and Grove Sir Joseph Wagstaffe made a shift to escape shortly after Penruddock and Grove were beheaded at Exon and Jones was repreived several other risings in other parts of this Kingdom but were all suppressed and now Cromwel prepares a very great Fleet but for what end none knew but some principal Commanders In the mean time the King of Spain sends over as Extraordinary Ambassador the Marquis of Leda who was here conplemented by our new Court but finding which way things went after a short stay returns to his own Country presently after his departure this great Fleet steer there course towards Hispaniola one of the fairest Islands belonging to the American Dominions of the King of Spain at
came over and submitted to their good pleasure And now the cunning Rump the better that they might secure themselfs take into their own hands the absolute command of the whole Army consâ—stituting the Speaker General in the name of the Parliament appointing the several Officers to receive now Comissions from them and now the foundations of government being thus overturn'd there appeared a generall discontent throughout the whole Kingdome in the end a Secret combination was laid for a generall rising in all Counties Sir George Booth in Cheshire and Middleton in Shropshlre raised a considerable Army in the defence of King and Parliament Other Counties failing to come into their assistance Sir George Booth and his party are totally routed by Lambert himselfe taken in a disguised â—abit and was sent Prisoner to the Tower of London This successe revived his antient credit with the Army and now he begins to plot their destruction whose lately had taken him into favour and that he might the better bring about his own ambitious designes 13 October 1659. he forced them to a dissolution 〈◊〉 keeping their Speaker and the rest of their Members from the House Thus was those once flourishing Kingdomes â—urried into changes of Government and Aâ—archiâ—â—â—â— confusions by mean persons who only studied to advance their own base ends and interests Fleetwood and Lambert and the rest of the Officers of the Army have now the sole authority of the Nations and because they have the longest Sword make their wil their Law but a little to satisfie the people that they might think themselvs not under the power of the sword these Officers chose a certain number of choice persons fit for their own turn to whom they give full authority over the people and Christen them a Committee of Safety This Goverment is the scorn and derision of the whole Nation and now though the Rump had hung its tail betwixt it's legs for about 3. months In December it began to wag it while the safety of the Committee of Safety was marched into the North under its Father Lambert the churlish Rump stole into the House again by night seven times a Devil worse then before where now they ride triumphant make whâ—â— Laws they list send their Jâ—â—â—â—ary 〈◊〉 coats into the City take away the Citizens money pretending it was gathered for the King they fill the prisons about London with those persons that are for a full and a free Parliament But yet the eyes of all the good are fixed upon our renowned Generall Monck who is ordered to march up to London with what force he thinks fit in the way he was courted with addresses from the Gentry in every County Being come to Lond. he was received with much joy now instead of being their Moses to deliver them from their Egyptian bondage he was suspected to be worse then Pharaoh himself On Thursday Feb. 9. 1659. by Commandment from the Rump he enters the City with his whole Army imprisons many of the Common Counsell Diggs up their posts breaks down the Gates of the City and none dares open their mouth This being done Saturday 11 of February 1659. a day never to be forgotten The Noble Generall enters the City with his Army refusing to obey the Rumps Command and shortly after admitts the Secluded Members of the House of Commons which were kept out by the Army 1648 Those Gentlemen take their places provide for the safety of the Nation and at last disolve themselves Issue out Writs for a free and full Parliament to meet at Westminster Aprill 25. 1660 But to return to his Majestie in Flanders of whose Itineracy life I have given you some small account already May the first the Parliament consisting of Lords and Commons in their Coachs assisted with divers Noblemen Gentlemen Citizens Souldiers c. Proclaimed his Sacred Majesty King of England Scotland and Ireland Defendor of the Faith at Westminister and London in great pomp and solemnity this being done they send Commissioners to his Royal Majesty then at Breda to acquaint his Majesty what his Parliament in Eâ—g had done entreating his Majesty to make what hast conveniently he can to his Parliament the City of London also send their Commissioners to wait on his Majesty The Ministers also of London send their Deputies to congratulate him his Majesty conferred the honour of Knight hood on the Citizens with the Lord Gerrards Sword The States General during his Majesties abode with them entertained him with as great expressions of joy as it he had been theirs not Englands Soveraign they had several times audience of his Majesty who delivered themselves in French and his Majesty answered them in the same language The States of Holland supped bare with his Majesty where they supped his Majesty sat at the upper end of the Table the Queen of Bohemia on the right hand the Princess Royal on the left the Duke of York at the right hand of the side of the Table the Duke of Glocester at the left hand and next him the Prince of Orange one of the Courses was served up all in Gold which was afterward presented to his Majesty valued at 60000. l. they also gave him a Bed which cost 7000 l. and Table linnen to the value of 1000. and 600000. Guldens the Illustrious Duke of York as high Admiral of England gives order to the Fleet for his Majesties Reception and Transportation of his retinue His Sacred Majesty the Queen of Bohemia the Princess Royal the most Illustrious Duke of York and Duke of Glocester and Prince of Orange went aboard General Montague in the good ship formerly called the Naseby but now christened by his Majesty the Royal Charles Where after Re-past the Queen of Bohemia the Princess Royal and the Prince of Orange having taken leave of his Majesty they set sail for England the Duke of York in the Lond. the Duke of Glocester in the James Not long after they arrived at Dover where he was received with great demonstrations of joy the General so soon as ever he saw his Majesty fell on his knees but his Majesty taking him up and kissing him and embracing him all parties were well satisfied His Majesty put on the George on his Excellency the Lord General Monck the Duke of York and Glocester put on his Garter he also made him one of the Lords of his honourable Privy Councel and Master of his Horse On Tuesday May 29. 1660. being the same day of the week on which his Royal Father was murdered and the same day of the month on which he was born being just 30. years age the same day it also pleased God to bring him in peace to the enjoyment of his Crown and Dignities Never was any Prince received with more Triumphs All the streets being richly hanged with Tapestry and a lane made by the Militia Forces to London Bridge from London Bridge to Temple Bar by the Trained bands on the one side and the several Companies in their Liveryes and the streamers of each Company on the other side in their Railes from Temple Barr to Westminster by the Militia forces and Regiments of the Army Thus was his Majesty conducted to his Royal Pallace at Whitehal the solemnity of the day was concluded with infinite of Bonfires among the rest a very costly one was made in Westminster where the Effiges of old Oliver Cromwel that grand Traytor was set upon a high post with the Arms of the Commonwealth which having been exposed a while to publick view with Torches lighted that every one might the better take notice of them were at last burnt together And thus having traced his most Sacred Majesty even from his lowest condition through all his sufferings persecutions We shall now leave him invested with his Royal Crown and Dignity and pray long may his Majesty live a support to his friends a Terrour to his Enemies an Honour to his Nation an Example to Kings of Piety Justice Prudence and Power that this Prophetical saying may be verifyed in his Majesty King Charles the II. shall be greater then ever was the greatest of that Name God save the King FINIS Camden Annalls Eliz. 99. 103. Ibidem p. 391. 394. 395. Vide the vote in M. Vicars Book entituled God in the moun p. 78 Collect. of Parl. and Decl. and Kings Mes and Decl. p. 50. Ibid. 51. Ibid. 52. Ibid. 53. Ibid. 77. 78. Vide the Petition of some Holderness men to the King 6. July 164â— Ibid. 153. Ibm. 169. 170. Collect. Par. Decl. 183 Ibm. 29. Ibidem p. 297. 298 Ibid. 301. Ibid. 305. Collect. of Par. Mes and Dec. 370. 370. Ibm. 346. 348. Ibid. 349. 350. Ibid. 350. Ibid. 356. 357. Collect. Par. Decl. 373. 374. Ibid. 376. Ibid. 442. Ibid. 449. Ibid. 450. Ibid. 453. Ibid. 459. Ibid. 452. Ibid. 457. Ibid. 457. Ibid. 465. 483. Ihm. 614. Alber. Gentil 223. Besoldus in dissert de â—ure Belli 77 78. Lib. Alber. 23. Lucan li. 2. Cicero Phiâ— lipic 5. 2 Sam 15. 2 Sam. 20. Bodm page 736. H. Grotius de jure paâ—is belli Collect. of MessR â— mon st and Declar. 15. Iom 45. c. Besoldus in dissert philolog p. 58. Besoldus dissert pâ—î log pa 88. Can. quid culpatur 23. Da. D. Bocer de bâ—llâ— cap. 5. Besoldus de juribus Majestati cap. 6. 7 Edw. 1. Besoldus Ibid. 95. Du. picart observat decad 10. colle 2. Facius axiom bell 10. Cic. 1. de offic Jov. lib. 1. Polidor 13. 20. Albericus Gentilis Cap. 3. Jerom. Ep. 47. Cicero pro Milone Baldus 3. consid 485 confid 3 Alberic Genti lib. 1. Dec. 25. Bald. 5. Cons pa. 439. Gen. 14. Judg. 20. 1 Sam. 30. 2 Sam. 6. 1 Reg. 20 1 Macc. 3. v. 43. 8 June 1644. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cap. 28. History of the Marque Montrosse his actions in Scotland Weavers Funcral Monu ments pag. 605. The government of the Kindoms â— changed K. Proclain Ireland Marquess of Ormonds Army defeated be Siege of Lon. -Derry raised by Sir Charles Coot Crom-lands with an Army in Ireland Prince Ruperts fleet blockt up at Kings sale Sentence in Parliament Treaty concluded Preparat for his Maj. His Maje proclaimed K. Edinbur Cross Edinburgh Castle sur to the Eâ—gl * Whereof but three suffered