under 9. The chief Officers of Seate as Chancellors Keepers of the Great Seal c. to be approved of by Parliament 10. That his Highnesse would encourage a Godly Ministry in these Nations and that such as do revile or disturb them in the Worship of God may be punished according to Law and where the Laws are defective new ones to be made in that behalf 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion and no other and that a confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or repreach the said Confession of Faith c. Which he having Signed declared his acceptance in there words That he came thither that day not as to a Triumph but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his life being to undertake one of the greatest burthens that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature so that without the support of the Almighty he must sink under the weight of it to the damage and prejudice of these Nations This being so he must ask help of the Parliament and of those that fear God that by their Prayers he might receive assistance from God for nothing else could enable him to the discharge of so great a duty and trust That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations and there being many things which cannot be supplied without the assistance of the Parliament it was his duty to ask their help in them not that he doubted for the same Spirit that had led the Parliament to this would easily suggest the same to them For his part nothing would have induced him to take this unsupportable burthen to flesh and blood but that he had seen in the Parliament a great care in doing those things which might really answer the ends that were engaged for and make clearly for the Liberty of the Nations and for the Interest and preservation of all such as fear God under various forms And if these Nations be not thankful to them for their care therein it will fall as a sin on their heads Yet there are some things wanting that tend to reformation to the discountenancing vice and encouragement of virtue but he spake not this as in the least doubting their progress but as one that doth heartily desire to the end God may Crown their work that in their own time and with what speed they judge fit these things may be provided for There remained only the Solemnity of the Inauguration or Investiture which being agreed upon by the Committee and the Protector was by the Parliament appointed to be performed in Westminster-hall where at the upper end thereof there was an Ascent raised where a Chair and Canopy of State was set and a Table with another Chair for the Speaker with Seats built Scaffold-wise for the Parliament on both sides and places below for the Aldermen of London and the like All which being in a readiness the Protector came out of a Room adjoyning to the Lords House and in this order proceeded into the Hall First went his Gentlemen then a Herald next the Aldermen another Herald the Attorney General then the Judges of whom Serjeant Hill was one being made a Baron of the Exchequer June 16. then Norroy the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury and the Seal carried by Commissioner Fiennes then Garter and after him the Earl of Warwick with the Sword born before the Protector Bare headed the Lord Mayor Tichborn carrying the City Sword being the special of Coaks of the Protector by his left hand Being seated in his Chair on the left Hand whereof stood the said Titchborn and the Dutch Ambassador the French Ambassador and the Earl of Warwick on the Right next behind him stood his Sons Richard Fleetwood Cleypoole and the Privy Council upon a lower descent stood the Lord Viscount Lisle Lords Montague and Whitlock with drawn Swords Then the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington in the name of the Parliament presented to him a Robe of Purple-Velvet a Bible a Sword and a Scepter at the Delivery of these things the Speaker made a short Comment upon them to the Protector which he divided into four parts as followeth 1. The Robe of Purple This is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice When you have put on this Vestment I may say you are a Gown-man This Robe is of a mixt colour to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy Indeed a Magistrate must have two hands Plectentem amplectentem to cherish and to punish 2. The Bible it is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures in which you have the happinesse to be well vers'd This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New the first shews Christum Velatum the second Christum Revelatum Christ vailed and revealed it is a Pook of Books and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government 3. Here is a Scepter not unlike a Staff for you are to be a Staff to the weak and poor it is of ancient use in this kind It 's said in Scripture that The Scepter shall not depart from Judah It was of the like use in other Kingdoms Homer the Greek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-Bearers 4. The last thing is a Sword not a Military but Civil Sword it is a Sword rather of defence then offence not to defend your self only but your people also If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword as the valiant Lord Talbot had upon his it should be this Ego sum domini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum I am the Protectors to protect my people This Speech being ended the Speaker took the Bible and gave the Protector his Oath afterwards Mr. Manton made a prayer wherein he recommended the Protector Parliament Council the Forces by Land and Sea Government and people of the three Nations to the protection of God Which being ended the Heralds by Trumpets proclaimed his Highness Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging requiring all persons to yeild him due obedience At the end of all the Protector with his Train carried by the Lord Sherrard Warwick's Nephew ahd the Lord Robert's his eldest Son returned in the same posture the Earl of Warwick sitting at one end of the Coach against him Richard his Son and Whitlock in one and the Lords Lisle and Mountague in the other Boot with Swords drawn and the Lord Claypool Master of the Horse led the Horse of Honour in rich Caparisons to White-hall The Members to the Parliament House where they prorogued their sitting to the Twentieth of January He vvas novv setled and established in his first assumed Dignity to the satisfaction of some part of the Army only Lambert vvas gravelled with that clause in it which gave the Protector power to name his Successor Whereby he savv himself deprived and frustrated
above our own thoughts and desires so we shall and do in that of this great work which is behind put our selves wholly upon the Lord for a blessing professing we look not to stand one day without his support much less to bring to pass one of the things mentioned and desired without his assistance And therefore do solemnly desire and expect That all men as they would not provoke the Lord to their own destruction would wait for such issue as he should bring forth and to follow their businesse with peaceable spirits wherein we promise them protection by his assistance And for those who profess their fear and love to the Name of God that seeing in a great measure for their sakes and for righteousnesse sake we have taken our lives in our hands to do these things they would be instant with the Lord day and night on our behalfs that we may obtain grace from him And seeing we have made so often mention of his Name that we may not do the least dishonour thereunto which indeed would be our confusion and a stain to the whole profession of godliness We beseech them also to live in all humility meekness righteousness and love one towards another and towards all men that so they may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish who falsly accuse them and to know that the late great and glorious dispensations wherein the Lord hath so wonderfully appeared in bringing forth these things by the travel and blood of his Children ought so to oblige them so to walk in the Wisdome and love of Christ as may cause others to honour their holy Profession because they see Christ to be in them of a Truth We do further purpose before it be long more particularly to shew the Grounds of our Proceedings and the Reasons of this late great Action and Change which in this We have but hinted at And we do lastly declare That all Judges Sheriffs Justices of Peace Mayors Bailiffs Committees and all other Civil Officers and Publique Ministers whatsoever within the Common-wealth or any parts thereof do proceed in their respective Places and Offices and all persons whatsoever are to give Obedience to them as fully as when the Parliament was sitting Signed in the Name and by the Appointment of his Excellency the Lord General and his Councel of Officers William Malyn Secret Whitehall the 22. of April 1663. To ingratiate now vvith the Presbyterian vvho yet kept up their form of Church Worship and were the most of one publique persvvasion all disturbances in Churches were prohibited the Phanatick licenciousnesse of the Army vvhich svvarmed with Anabaptists Quakers and Ranters and vvere novv mad to be seizing all the remaining Revenue of Church Lands in Glebe Tythe or Impropriations And to this purpose Addresses vvere eagerly carried on such hopes being underhand given them to strengthen the hands of this Dictator in carrying on the vvork of Sion He vvas also complemented by the French Ambassadour Bourdeaux vvho had made applications to the Parliament but vvas doubtfull of effecting his Errand vvith those highest and Mightiest States vvho vvere grovvn formidable not only to the Dutch but to his Master who willingly courted them to prevent their closing vvith his Rebells of Bourdeaux onely Oliver as vve have seen valued them no more then Scoundrels or Rake Shames nor vvould give ear to any more Enemies of Monarchy Being thus by force possest of the Supreme povver after he had held it some fevv dayes to shew the absur'd and ridiculous State Caprichio's of the Councel of Officers vvho as yet managed the Civil Authority he transmitted it to a new Councel of State made up of the supremest of them and some former Juncto men vvho by Proclamation commanded all Officers to execute their Trusts as formerly and required the same obedience to commute with which they abated the Tax from 120000. to 90000. per mensem It was now remarqued that many great Fires ushered in this Incendiaries Usurpation This Council of State did next give birth to that Monster of the little Parliament which like an abortive Cub was cast by Cromwell and fonâ—ly and vainly lickâ—d by Harrison both which had most different ends on this Convention in the one a Temporal in the other a Spiritual Pride and Covetousness though not altogether purified from the Deceits of the World worked in this mysterious knack of a new and unheard of Legislative Authority who by the Name of men of Integrity and Fidelity to the Cause of God were by a bare summons from Oliver called to the Settlement of the State that was to be Stirrups or Foot-steps to the Throne whereon Cromwell should tread they being abject and mean people being such as were named by the Officers that is by Cromwell's Agents to this Councill and of most destructive Principles to all Community and Society either as Men or Christians It is observable that Cromwell who utterly rejected the Rump-expedient to his instances of a new Representative of filling up the House by foisting in Elections of their own to which their Authority standing they could unquestionably awe the Country made not nice of it for himself According to their Summons on the 4. of July the Members of approved fidelity c. met at the Council Chamber in Whitchal to whom Cromwell in a zealous speech much to the purpose of his Declaration and the occasion of the present Meeting stuft with various citations of Scripture I am loath to nauseate the Reader with any more of his Harangues at large to his but far from the purpose devolved the supreme Trust which they translated into more common English adjourning themselves after a short consultation to Westminster and giving themselves the Title and Authority of the Parliament of England voting Mr. Francis Rouse for their Speaker but with a Collateral Vote that he should continue in the Chair no longer then for a Month They were persons for the most part of such mean and ignote extractions that so far were they from being taken notice of by their Shires each of whom but two or three represented that they were scarce known in the very Towns they were born or afterwards inhabited till the Excise then Committees for Sequestration and the War in the respective Counties made them infamously known The rest were of his Partisans in the Parliament and High Court of Justice On the 12. of Decemb. as it had been directed by the Counsel of State the Parliament being Sate some of the Members stood up one after another and made a motion for a Dissolution thereof for that it would not be for the good of the Nations to continue it longer this Court Ayre almost blasted the men of Fidelity and Committee Blades who had scarce warmed their Fingers ends in the Government and were newly settling themselves and their friends in a thriving way as they had done in their Offices they had passed before and thereupon they began one after another to make
and Passes would suffer him the Kings Army as yet lying out of the Town a mile in the fields The first pass endevoured to be taken was Vpton-Bridge on Fleetwoods side which Major General Lambert attempted with 500. Horse and Dragoons who unespied crept upon their Bellies on a peice of Timber they had laid over the River which the surprizing Assailants after a brisk dispute wrested from Colonel Massey The Scots lâ—wing thus abandoned the place it was presently possest by a strong Party of Horse and Foot in order to the present advance of the rest of the Army The Scots now drawn closer to Worcester made many Salleys breaking down 2. or 3. Bridges over the River Team and shewing a well ordered and governed courage but September the third that ominous day he drew out from his own Post and having given the signal to the whole Army to fall on began the Fight in this manner Cromwell himself in person about 3. a Clock with hss Life Guard and Colonel Hackers Regiment of Horse with part of his own Regiment and Colonel Ingoldsby's and Fairfax's entire passed over his Bridge of Boats upon the Severn and marched towards the City after him Lieut. Gen. Fleetwood who had been most part of that day marching of 5. miles from Upton to Powick-bridge which the Kings Army had broken down passed with Colonel Goff's and Major General Dean's Regiments and joyntly advanced the Kings Forces encountring them at the Hedges and disputing every field with them in such order and with such gallantry that these already over lest they should not be wholly discouraged with the hotnesse of the service were relieved by reserves and they by others no considerable progress yet made the Highlanders proving excellent Firemen and coming to the But-end at every foot till weary and their Ammunition spent the King being then upon the place Commanded them in some hast into the City and hastned himself to the other side where Colonel Hayns Regiment with Cobbets stood about Powick bridge and were entertained with no less Manhood and Slaughter and though Colonel Mathews was the reserve to the other two Regiments yet did the Scotch Foot fairly drive them from their ground till their little Army being every way engaged and no seconds or supplies to be expected after some wheelings in a careless regard of the Enemy as if they feared not to make which way they pleased they drew likewise into the Town as did that Brigade which opposed the Regiments of the Lord Gray Colonel Blague Gibbons and Marsh But they stayed not long here for as if their pent spirits had broke out with greater fury they sallied out in great bodies upon the Generals side who had now brought the Militia Forces into play the Veterans wisely detrecting to engage first upon the Storm which was then intended but there was yet field matter enough to do In the Head of one of those squadrons the King himself charged with that gallantry which would have become our Admiration in other men and showed he had not forgot the Discipline of War in which he had been brought up from his youth In one of those Charges he made Duke Hamilton a better Soldier and nobler gallanter person then his Brother received a shot on his thigh whereof presently after he dyed The loss that was sustained by the Enemy fell principally upon the Essex Foot and those of Cheshire and Snrrey who returned in thin Troops and Companies to their Counties but fresh and entire Brigades and Regiments in Reserves namely Desborough's Regiment of Horse Cromwell's of Horse Major General Lambert's of Horse WWhaley's Harrison's and Tomlinson's Brigades with other Foot re-inforcing them the Scots by the over-powering multitude were driven into the Town Leshley with 2000. Horse upon what account not known not stirring out of the Town to relieve them when the Enemy entred pell mell with them and gained the Fort Royal about 7. a Clock at night at which time the King left the Town it being dusk and accompanied vvith some 60. Horse of the cheifest and most confident of his Retinue though many more pressed to bear him Company departed out of St. Martins-gate and it was reported that Cobbet very narrowly Mist of him as the King left his lodging whether he first hastned The Enemies Foot was now got into the Town and according to their Order fell a plundering the Town in a most barbarous manner as if Turks were again a Sacking of Constantinople and giving no quarter to any they found in the Streets through this their greedinesse of spoil they kept the Horse out lest they should have shared the better part and to that purpose kept the Gates fast aâ— they were and so favoured as God would have it the Kings escape some Scots who had got into one of the Churches held out till next morning when they obtained quarter for Life by which time there was not an Inhabitant in Worcester friend or foâ— left worth a farthing but the Loyal Inhabitants lost little by the bargain being supplied with fresh wares to their desires from London without any scruple of credit or paiment and their Debts forborn till such time as God should enable them which the Gentry and Inhabitants round about them endevoured to bring to passe by their more then ordinary resort to that Market for all necessaries and upon all occasions The Mayor being Knighted by the King and Aldermen vvere committed to Prison and the Wife of one Guyes vvho for betraying the designs of the King in that Garrison vvas hanged vvas revvarded vvith 200. l. per annum and 200 l. dovvn There were slain in Field and in Town in the last the most and in pursuit some 3000. and some 8000. taken prisoners in several places most of the English escaping by their Shiboleth the principal were Duke Hamilton who presently dyed of his wounds and at Newport the Earl of Lauderdale Earl of Rothes Earl of Carnworth Earl of Kelly Earl of Derby Earl of Cleveland the now Earl of Shrewsbury Sir John Packington Lord Spyne Sir Ralph Clare Sir Charles Cunningham Colonel Graves Mr. Richard Fanshaw Secretary to the King 6 Col. of Horse 13. of Foot 9 Lieutenant Colonels of Horse 8. Lieutenant Colonels of Foot 6. Majors of Horse 13. Majors of Foot 37. Captains of Horse 72 Captains of Foot 55. Quarter-masters 89. Lieutenants there were taken also some General Officers with 76. Cornets of Horse 99. Ensigns of Foot 90. Quartermasters 80. of the Kings Servants with the Kings Standard which he had set up when he summoned the Country the Kings Coach and Horses and Collar of SS but that which was Ten times more worth then all the Kings person they had no power to touch On the 12. of Sept. Cromwell came to London and was met about Acton with the Speaker and the Members and the Lord Mayor and the Recorder Steel who in a set Speech congratulated his great successes and like a false Prophet by a