sent them with a stately Tent and six fair Brass Ordnance for a Present to the King then at Sterling where all being joyned their Army consisted of 20000 men most raw or else but parboil'd having seen no Wars but what their own Country produced and being more acquainted with their fields then fights knew better how to handle a Spade then a Speare But though many of them were thus especially the new-raised Forces yet all were not so for Scotland being always numerous in people supplyed the neighbour-Nations with auxiliarie Forces so that many Regiments of them were always in the service of the Swede French Dutch and other Nations But now upon report of Wars in Scotland they repaired home to serve in their own Nation at this time against the English The Scotch Army being grown numerous was still augmented by Forces newly raised in all parts of the Nation where the King and States had any command yet more were desired to that purpose the Earl of Eglington an eminent person was sent into the VVest with some other Commanders to raise Forces these coming to Dunbarton began to put their Commissions in execution but Colonel Lilburn having notice of it sent them a party of Horse which suddainly snapt the Earl himself his Son Colonel James Mountgomery Lieutenant-Colonel Colborn c. whom they carried away prisoners to Edinburgh The Lord General Cromwel had now got strength to walk abroad notwithstanding the relapse he fell into after his first sickness and had it not been that he was of an extraordinary strong constitution the Ague which last of all seised upon him might have shook him into the grave But the Parliament in England seeing how frequent these distempers were upon their General and doubting the air of Scotland might be the cause of it the Council of State first of all sent him two eminent Doctors Dr. Wright and Dr. Bates to use their utmost skill in his recovery and presently after dispatched an Order into Scotland which gave him liberty to leave the business of the Army and repair into England until his health and strength was recovered Upon receipt of this he made a return of thanks by a Letter to the Lord President of the Council which ran thus My Lord I Having received yours of the 27 of May with an Order of the Parliament for my liberty to return into England for change of ayr that thereby I might the better recover my health all which came unto me whiles Dr. VVright and Dr. Bates whom your Lordship sent down were with me I shall not need to repeat the extremity of my last sickness it was so violent that indeed my nature was not able to bear the weight thereof but the Lord was pleased to deliver me beyond expectations and to give me cause to say once more He hath plucked me out of the Grave My Lord the indulgence of the Parliament expressed by their Order is a very high and undeserved favour which although it be fit I keep a thankful remembrance yet I judge it would be too much presumption in me not to return a particular acknowledgement I beseech you give me the boldness to return my humble thankfulness to the Council for sending two such worthy persons so great a journey to visit me from whom I have received much encouragement and good direction for recovery of health and strength which I finde by the goodness of God growing towards such a state as may yet if it be his good will render me useful according to my poor ability in the station wherein he hath set me I wish more steadiness in your Affairs here then to depend in the least upon so frail a thing as I am indeed they do not nor own any Instrument this Cause is of God and it must prosper Oh that all that have any hand therein being so perswaded would gird up the loyns of their minds and endeavour in all things to walk worthy of the Lord So prays My Lord Your most humble Servant O. CROMWEL Edinburgh June 3. Although sickness had a long time kept under the body of this noble General yet his courage was no way diminished by it for no sooner was he able to stir abroad but with eager desire of action he consults with the chief Officers of the Army to carry on the War The result of these Councils was to contract the Army by drawing in the out-guards or petty Garisons which were of little force and onely served for Perdues to give notice of the Enemies motions To Hamilton marcht Commissary-General Whally with eight Regiments of Horse and brought off a Troop of Dragoons and 60 Foot which were there placed afterward several other places were deserted by the Forces that kept them The Army being thus drawn into one body were supplyed with 33 Waggons and Carriages for the Train from Barwick and near upon the same time arrived by Sea Captain Butler in the Success a stout ship formerly taken from the French this was the Ship that wafted along the Golden Fleece and safely swom into Leith with a rich Cargazon of about 80000 l for to pay the Souldiers This money was presently distributed out to the Horse and Foot which mightily elevated their resolution to the present Expedition All things being now ready for this Champaigne the Lord General Cromwel ordered the Armies advance to Red-hall which was cheerfully done on June 24. 1651. At this place they onely tarried until the Souldiers had wholly quitted their Quarters and then marched off to Pencland hills a place which was well known to the English ever since the first enterance of the Army into Scotland when they took the confidence from thence to look big on the City of Edenburgh but now being in a braver condition then they were before having cut through the greatest difficulties of the VVar and advanced their Blood-red Cross on the top of the most impregnable places that durst withstand their invincible Force having made a breakfast of the South of Scotland they intended the North for a Dinner Therefore to make hast now their stomacks were up the Lord General Cromwel caused the whole Army to pitch their Camp on Pencland hills in such a comely Order and admirable Figure so that Julius Caesar himself could he have kept death off at the swords point and thereby survived to this Age might have turned Scholar and learnt the Rudiments of Modern Discipline by the Example of this excellent Commander How amiable was it to behold the towring Tents of the superiour Officers in various Figures and spreading Colours overlooking the Huts of the inferiour Souldiers like so many Pinacles in a well-built City that aspire over the humble Cottages administring a pleasant object to the delighted Traveller Here Military Discipline resembled the Civil Power all knowing their Duty and performing their Parts whilst General Cromwel the Head observed the Actions of every Member in this great Body with one hand stretched forth to reward the sober
altogether like the Pharisee that prayed in the Temple but really often would he mourn in secret and many times did his eyes in publike distil tears at the Nations stubbornness To take him in the whole he was a Man better fitted to make a Prince of then the People was to receive him this we see sufficiently in the management of the Government to his Death But afterwards the sudden disaster which befel his Posterity was so admirable that it cannot be imputed to any thing else but Digitus Dei A Catalogue of Honours conferr'd on several Persons by Oliver Cromwel Lord Protector in the time of his Government His Privie Council HEnry Lawrence Lord President Lieut. Gen. Fleetwood Major Gen. Lambert Philip Lord Lisle Nathaniel Fiennes Commissioner of the Great Seal John Desbrow Edward Mountague Generals at Sea Sir Gilbert Pickering Sir Charls Woolsley Col. William Sydenham Edmund Earl of Mulgrave Walter Strickland Esquire Philip Skippon Major Gen. Col. Philip Jones Richard Major Esquire Francis Rouse Esquire John Thurloe Secretary of State The Members of the other House alias House of Lords 1. LOrd Richard Cromwel 2. Lord Henry Cromwel Deputy of Ireland 3. Nathaniel Fiennes 4. John Lisle Commissioners of the Great Seal 5. Henry Lawrence President of the Privie Council 6. Charls Fleetwood Lieut. Gen. of the Armie 7. Robert Earl of Warwick 8. Edmund Earl of Mulgrave 9. Edward Earl of Manchester 10. William Lord Viscount Say and Seal 11. Philip Lord Viscount Lisle 12. Charls Lord Viscount Howard 13. Philip Lord Wharton 14. Thomas Lord Faulconbridge 15. George Lord Euers 16. John Cleypole Esquire 17. John Desbrow 18. Edward Montague Generals at Sea 19. Bulstrode Whitlock 20. William Sydenham Commissioners of the Treasury 21. Sir Charls Wolsley 22. Sir Gilbert Pickering 23. Walter Strickland Esq 24. Philip Skippon Esq 25. Francis Rous Esq 26. John Jones Esquire 27. Sir William Strickland 28. John Fiennes Esquire 29. Sir Francis Russel 30. Sir Thomas Honywood 31. Sir Arthur Haslerigge 32. Sir John Hobart 33. Sir Richard Onslow 34. Sir Gilbert Gerrard 35. Sir William Roberts 36. John Glyn. 37. Oliver St-John Chief Justices of both Benches 38. William Pierrepoint Esquire 39. John Crew Esquire 40. Alexander Popham Esq 41. Philip Jones Esq 42. Sir Christopher Pack 43. Sir Robert Tichborn 44. Edward Whalley Com. Gen. 45. Sir John Barkstead Lieut. of the Tower 46. Sir Tho. Pride 47. Sir George Fleetwood 48. Sir John Huson 49. Richard Ingoldsby Esq 50. James Berry Esquire 51. William Goff Esq 52. Thomas Cooper Esq 53. Edmund Thomas Esq 54. George Monke Gen. in Scotland 55. David Earl of Cassils 56. Sir William Lockhart 57. Archibald Johnson of Wareston 58. William Steel Chancellor of Ireland 59. Roger. Lord Broghil 60. Sir Matthew Tomlinson 61. William Lenthal Master of the Rolls 62. Richard Hampden Esq Commissioners of the Great Seal and their Officers NAthaniel Fiennes John Lisle William Lenthal Master of the Rolls Officers attending HEnry Middleton Serjeant at Arms. Mr. Brown Mr. Dove Judges of both Benches John Glyn Lord Chief Justice Peter Warburton Richard Nudigate Justices of the upper Bench. Oliver St-John Lord Chief Justice and Edward Atkins Matthew Hale Hugh Windham Justices of the Common Bench. His Barons of the Exchequer RObert Nicholas John Parker and Roger Hill Serjeant at Law Erasmus Earl Atturney General Edmund Prideaux Sollicitor William Ellis Serjeants at Law called by him to the Barre RIchard Pepes 25 January 1653. Thomas Fletcher 25 January 1653. Matthew Hale 25 January 1653. William Steel 9 February 1653. John Maynard 9 February 1653. Richard Nudigate 9 February 1653. Thomas Twisdon 9 February 1653. Hugh Windham 9 February 1653. Unton Crook 21 of June 1654. John Parker 21 of June 1654. Roger Hill 28 of June 1655. William Shepard 25 October 1656. John Fountain 27 November 1656. Evan Scithe Viscounts CHarls Howard of Glisland in Cumberland created Baron Glisland and Lord Viscount Howard of Morpeth the 20th of July 1657. Baronets JOhn Read Esquire of Bocket Hall in Hertfordshire created Baronet the 25 of June 1656. John Cleypole Esquire created Baronet the 16th of July 1657. Thomas Chamberlayn of Wickham Esquire made a Baronet the 6th of October 1657. Thomas Beaumont of Staughton-Grange in Leicestershire Esq created March 5. 1657. John Twisleton Esq of Horsemans-Place in Datford in the County of Kent created Baronet of the same March 24. 1657. Henry Ingolds by Esq created 31 of March 1658. Henry Wright of Dagenhams in Essex Esq created Baronet March 31. 1658. Edmund Dunch Esquire of East-Wittenham in Berkshire created Baron of the same place April 26. 1658. Griffith Williams Esq of Carnarvon made a Baronet the 28 of May 1658. Knights when and where made SIr Thomas Viner Lord Mayor of London at Grocers-Hall Feb. 8. 1653. Sir John Copleston at White-Hall June 1. 1655. Sir John Reynolds at White-Hall June 11. 1655. Sir Christopher Pack Lord Mayor of London at White-Hall Septemb. 20. 1655. Sir Thomas Pride at White-Hall Jan. 17. 1655. Sir John Barkstead at White-Hall Jan. 19. 1655. Sir Richard Combe at White-Hall Aug. 1656. Sir John Dethick Lord Mayor of London at White-Hall Sept. 15. 1656. Sir George Fleetwood of Bucks Sir William Lockhart at White-Hall December 10. Sir James Calthrop of Suffolk Sir Robert Tichborn Lord Mayor of London and Sir Lislebone Long Recorder December 15. Sir James Whitlock at White-Hall January 6. Sir Thomas Dickeson of York March 3. 1656. Sir Richard Stainer at White-Hall June 11. 1657. Sir John Cleypole Baronet at White-Hall July 16. 1657. Sir William Wheeler at Hampton-Court Aug. 26. 1657. Sir Edward Ward of Norfolk at White-Hall Novemb. 2. Sir Thomas Andrews Alderman of London at White-Hall Novemb. 14. Sir Thomas Foot Alderman Sir Thomas Atkin Alderman Sir John Huson Colonel Decemb. 5. Sir Jaâ—… Drax at White-Hall Jan. 6. Sir Henry Pickering Sir Philip Twisleton White-Hall Feb. 1. Sir John Lenthal at White-Hall March 9. Sir John Ireton Alderman of London Sir Henry Jones at Hampton-Court July 17. 1658. Sic transit Gloria mundi FINIS
the Nation Col. Jones they commissionated Lieutenant-General of the Horse This being done the Souldiers march with great speed not resting above one night in a place to the Randezvous near Milford in Wales there to expect the Lord Deputy Cromwel who having dispatched his business with the Parliament began his Journey Tuesday July 10 1649. leaving London he set forward in great state himself drawn in a Coach with six Flanders Mares attended by many Members of the Parliament and Councel of State with the chiefest Officers of the Army his Life-guard consisting of eighty men which had been formerly Commanders bravely mounted and accouter'd both themselves and Servants Thus he rid to Branford where those Gentlemen that accompanied him took leave wishing a successful issue to this designe which was answered again with great respect Away he posts for Bristol to take order for the Traine of Artillery and many other businesses needful for the hastning his men on Ship-board From thence he takes his way to Wales having before sent three Regiments viz. Col. Reynolds of Horse Col. Venables and Col. Muncks of Foot these as the Vaunt-Coureurs to the Army were ship'd from Chester and the Ports thereabout who being favoured with a prosperous Gale soon arrived at the Port of Dublin where they were received with unspeakable Joy and Gladness the Citizens spared for nothing that might be a comfort to the Sea-sick Souldiers hoping that the recovery of their Health might be an enlargement of their Liberties vvho now vvere vvholly confined within the narrow compass of their City-walls They were not at all deceived in their expectation Jones his courage being much heightned by the arrival of these men novv scorned the Enemies Bravadoes and resolves upon the first opportunity by Gods blessing to remove them farther off which it was not long before he performed as appears by what follows On Tuesday August 2. 1649. the Enemy confidently draws down vvith a party of 1500 Foot besides Horse to Baggotsrold a place within one quarter of a Mile Eastward of the City upon the Sea hence they intended to run their trenches towards the City-works and thereby secure those Forts which were intended to be made towards the water to hinder the landing of supplies and succours expected from England But Jones and Reynolds with those other Commanders in the City observing the intent of the Enemy saw a necessity to interrupt them in their designe and therefore speedily drawing out twelve hundred Horse and four thousand Foot they with these quickly enter the works which the Enemy had newly raised and fell upon them with so much courage that they routed their Horse at the first charge the greatest part of the Foot were soon after cut in pieces and most of the rest taken prisoners This success so heated Jones his Men that they followed the chase to Rathmines where Ormond's Camp was and there they engaged his whole Army consisting of 19000 Men. The report of this bold Attempt quickly reached the General Ormond's Ears who then like a doughty Commander was valiantly playing at Tables in his own Tent and being told the news wished the Rebels as he called them would come that so he might have sport with them His wish he had but not the wished effect for the Tables are soon turned the sport proving very bad and bloody to Ormonds whole Army who were totally routed with a very great slaughter 4000 killed in the fight and chase 2517 prisoners taken most of them men of quality amongst the rest Ormonds own Brother All their great Guns Ammunition Provision they left behind them and withall a rich Camp to reward the valiant Souldiers who with the spoil thereof quickly clothed themselves in rich Habits and so marched into the City as it were incognito for many of the Officers knew not their own Souldiers they were grown so fine This Victory was obtained with the loss of few the number not exceeding twenty The News of this great Victory quickly reached the Lord Governour Cromwel at Milford Haven who was then shipping himself and Army August the 13 he set sail from thence with thirty two ships wherein vvas the Van of the Army on the 15 day Major-General Ireton followed after vvith the Body shipped in forty two sail Mr. Hugh Peters brought up the Reare in about twenty sail The Winds being favourable quickly brought them to Dublin where they were received vvith all the signes of Joy imaginable the great Guns ecchoed forth their vvelcome and the peoples Acclamations resounded in every street When Cromwel the now Lord Governour vvas come into the City the concourse of people being very great to see him vvhom before they had heard so much of at a convenient place he made a stand and in an humble posture having his Hat in his Hand he speaks thus to the people That as God had brought him thither in safety so he doubted not but by his Divine Providence to restore them all to their just Liberties and Proprieties and that all those whose hearts affections were real for the carrying on of the great work against the barbarom and bloody-thirsty Irish and the rest of their Adherents and Confederates for the propagating of the Gospel of Christ the establishing of Truth and Peace and restoring that bleeding Nation to its former happiness and tranquillitie should finde favour and protection from the Parliament of England and himself and withal should receive such endowments and gratuities as should be answerable to their Merits This Speech was highly applauded by the people and answer returned by many hundreds That they would live and dye with him The Army being all vvafted over the General knowing that vvithout Gods blessing his labour vvould be in vain therefore to obtain it he published a Proclamation strictly forbidding all persons under his Command to use the frequent practise of swearing cursing and drunkenness declaring a full resolution to punish with the greatest severity that the Law could inflict all those that should neglect or contemn the same This vvrought a great Reformation many taking vvarning by the punishment of some The Army being now refreshed and the Lord-Governour having settled the Affairs of the City both Military and Civil he draws the Army out of Dublin to a general Muster vvhere appeared a compleat Body of 15000 Horse and Foot out of these were drawn twelve Regiments containing in number between 9 or 1000 stout resolute Men for the present Expedition This Army being provided vvith all things necessary either for Offence or Defence drawing along vvith them a gallant traine of Artillery four vvhole Cannon and five Demy-cannons besides other Pieces useful either for a Siege or the field the Lord-Governour marches them away and quickly seats himself under the Walls of Tredagh Here he finds a most resolute enemy that vvould sooner break then bend the Governour of the Town vvas Sir Arthur Ashton vvho had formerly been Governour of Reading and Oxford in England for the King a
they went about to starve him Even so these State-Doctors dieted this poor Prince for some time feeding him with hopes and expectations of his desire and then at last give him no more but onely a Nut without the Kernel a Crown without a Kingdom so that his Commands were presently countermanded by a stronger and made invalid by General Cromwels sword who never left hunting him from place to place till at last he was forc'd to flee into Flanders for shelter where he now remains The Lord General Cromwel having given this deadly blow at Worcester September 3. 1651. which laid the Scots hopes low in the dust and thereby raised to himself a full assurance of the security of all his former Conquests tarried no longer in that City then to see the Walls of it levelled to the ground and the Dikes fill'd with Earth that so the disaffection of the inhabitants might be bridled from attempting to secure any future Enemy And now leaving this Golgotha he hastened away to offer his victorious Palms at the Parliaments feet Accordingly September 12. approaching neer to London the Speaker with the Members of Parliament and the Lord President of the Council of State with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and some hundreds more of Quality met him with demonstrations of extream affection to congratulate all his Noble Atchievements and Worthy Exploits here they comment on his Valour making large notes on his Victories the more because he had done much in a small time bringing that about in fifteen Months which was rather judged to be the work of so many years having in this time quite dispelled those Vapours fearful to the Parliament which were exhaled by the Rayes of Regality and once more made the serenity of Peace to shine in our Hemisphere Thus the Lord General was received in Triumph having before sent his Trophies the Scotch Prisoners with great acclamations and conducted to his house neer White-hall And after some small repose there he and his valiant Lieutenant-General went to take up their places in the Parliament where the Speaker in a congratulatory Oration acknowledged the Obligation of the State to them for their indefatigable industry The same day the Lord Mayor of London to compleat the rejoycing and shew his gratitude in behalf of the City feasted the General and his chief Officers This being ended with mutual returns of thanks the Lord General took his leave and returned back again to consider what was farther to be done for the settlement of the nation This is his next Work And what he did in order to the accomplishing thereof we now come to shew The End of His Personal Wars HIS ACTIONS In the PROTECTORSHIP THE English Nation having by a Civil War banished Monarchy with an Exit Tyrannus presently institute an Oligarchy which to give them their due acted in their Infancy like Hercules in the Cradle stifling all those Serpents that offered to hiss against their Authority and with such vigor prosecuted they their designes that both Ireland and Scotland were inforc't to yeild obedience to their commands The Authority of this Power being thus miraculously extended it grew at length dreadful to the neighbouring Nations especially the Dutch a people who of all others were most sensible of the growing greatness of the English Commonwealth they knowing full well that two neighbouring States of equal greatness could never long agree being still jealous of each others actions which jealousie causing misconstruction would at last break forth into open hostility Examples are frequent in this kinde Rome and Carthage so long contended till the one was ended They first fell out about the Island of Sicily and so by degrees this fewd extended it self through all those Nations where either side had any dominion But at last a peace being patched up it continued until the second Punick War wherein Carthage was made a Puny indeed and brought under subjection to Rome Another Example we have in that most noble Republick Venice whose first Founders being hunted by the barbarous Huns out of Italy were fain to shelter themselves by flying unto some little barren Islands which lay in the Adriatick Gulph where necessity putting an edge upon industry caused these people to begin an admirable Structure which since hath been increased to such a magnitude and splendor that it may well be termed The Worlds Wonder for the excellent Architecture multitude of Bridges rare Arsenal or Magazine but above all the Policie of this State far surpasseth all others in Government and may well be a pattern for direction and imitation to any people in the world Venice thus gradually ascending to eminency grew so great as to challenge the superiority over all the watry Element about it as well it might being situate therein and therefore Neptunes Minion This City being on one side of Italy on the other side lay Genoa situate neer the feet of the Apennine Hills a Commonwealth too and therefore aspiring high grew emulous of the Venetians greatness which made those two Republikes grow at enmity The first occasion of their falling out was about a Church allowed them both for exercise of Divine Service in Ptolemais commonly called Acoe in Syria this Church being too little to hold both people of such great spirits there grew a hot Dispute whose it should be which came to this issue That it must be theirs that could get possession which prov'd to be the Genoeses who to maintain their Mass armed the Church with Fortifications not for example to after-Ages and so kept it wholly to their own Use Thus began the Quarrel which continued for many years chiefly by Sea till at last the Genoeses received such dangerous shot betwixt winde and water that they were fain to cry Quarter and ever since vail to Venice acknowledging it their superiour Even so was it between these two mighty Republikes England and the United Provinces The Dutch fearing that current of Traffick would be stopped which they had so long enjoyed by reason of Englands Domestick and Forreign Wars themselves mean while having Peace with all Nations except Portugal whereby they increasing their Trade by an un-interrupted fishing in the British Seas and still greedy in their unsatiable appetite of ingrossing all to themselves without either Right or Reason grew at last highly conceited of their own abilities both as to Policy and Power Their Policy was seen in giving assistance to the Enemies of the English Parliament whilst in the mean time their Embassadors tickled the Council of State and Parliament into a belief of their Masters real affections and hearty wishes for their prosperity But these unworthy actions being privately suspected it was not long before they were publikely detected This put the Dutch to their Trumps and made them arm out a considerable Navy to execute a designe upon the Isle of Scilly which then was in possession of the Scotch Kings Forces But the Council of State in England having timely notice of this project
establish Righteousness and Peace in these Nations And after much debate it was judged necessary that the Supreme Government should be by the Parliament devolved upon known persons fearing God and of approved integrity for a time as the most hopeful way to countenance all Gods people reform the Law and administer Justice impartially hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy and understand their true interest in the Election of successive Parliaments that so the Government might be settled upon a right Basis without hazard to this glorious Cause or necessitating to keep up Armies for the defence of the same And being still resolved to use all means possibly to avoid extraordinary courses we prevailed with about twenty Members of Parliament to give us a conference with whom we plainly debated the necessity and justness of our Proposals The which found no acceptance but instead thereof it was offered That the way was to continue still this Parliament as being that from which we might probably expect all good things This being vehemently insisted on did much confirm us in our apprehensions That not any love to a Representative but the making use thereof to recruit and so to perpetuate themselves was their aim in the Act they had then under consideration For preventing the consummating whereof and all the sad and evil consequences which upon the grounds aforesaid must have ensued and whereby at one blow the interest of all honest men and of this glorious Cause had been endangered to be laid in the dust and these Nations embroyled in new troubles at a time when our Enemies abroad are watching all advantages against and some of them actually engaged in War with us we have been necessitated though with much reluctancy to put an end to this Parliament This Declaration being sent abroad into all the Dominions of the Common-wealth was readily assented to by most of the chief Officers both by Land and Sea But for farther satisfaction to the Civil Power in the Nation whereby a right understanding might be had and that every one might still notwithstanding this sudden change observe his Duty the former Declaration was seconded by this ensuing WHereas the Parliament being dissolved persons of approved fidelity and honesty are according to the late Declaration of the 22 of April last to be called from the several parts of this Commonwealth to the supreme Authority and although effectual proceedings are and have been had for perfecting those resolutions yet some convenient time being required for the assembling of those persons it hath been found necessary for preventing the Mischiefs and Inconveniencies which may arise in the mean while to the publike Affairs that a Council of State be constituted to take care of and intend the peace safety and present management of the Affairs of this Commonwealth which being setled accordingly the same is hereby declared and published to the end all persons may take notice thereof and in their several places and stations demean themselves peaceably giving obedience to the Laws of the Nation as heretofore in the exercise and administration whereof as indeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong be done to the people so a strict accompt will be required of all such as shall do any thing to indanger the publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever O. CROMWEL April 30 1653. These wonderful Revolutions mightily heightned the Resolutions of the Dutch who were wholly possest with Chimaera's of their own inventions imagining their work would be very easie if the English should happen to fall together by the ears amongst themselves But GOD by his Providence had so ordered it that the Nation continued in a peaceable posture not any offering in the least to resist the Commands of their Superious The like was seen amongst the Naval Forces at Sea whose vivacity was now as great as ever both Officers Sea-men and Souldiers minding nothing more then how to gain honour to their Country by repressing the insolencies of their Enemies whose indeavours at this time were to rob England of her Right But now the Lord General having taken upon himself to weild both the Sword and the Scepter the first remarkable passage that befel him was at Sea between the two mighty Antagonists The Dutch having ready in their Harbours a very great Fleet of Merchant men outward bound for France Spain and other Ports all things being fitted and prepared for the Sea those High and Mighty States added ninety men of War to secure them from those dangerous Fellows the English This Fleet being all ready they hoist up sail bidding amain for the North of Scotland it seems rather chusing to make a long and sure Voyage that way then a short and dangerous one through St. George his chanel which had many times proved fatal to their Fleets notwith standing the protection of their best Commanders Trump having according to his Commission conducted his charge so far that they feared no other enemy then the winds and waves immediately tacked about for the Sound from whence he brought away a great Fleet of East-Land Merchant-men from Russia Denmark Dantzicks and other Parts to which was joyned a Fleet from France laden with Wine Salt and other Commodities of that Country having in safety brought all these home he entered the Ports of Holland and Zealand with so much Bravery and so great a Flourish that those persons that knew not the matter might have thought him dragging the English Generals at the Stern of his Ship in Triumph This good Fortune being seconded with a report of the English Fleet being gone Northward under the Command of General Monk and Dean so highly animated Minhere Martin Harper that with all his Men of War he presently set sail for the Downs to act that in the absence of the English Fleet which he durst not do in their presence Being come into the Downs May 25. the Dutch Fleet consisting of 108 Ships ranged themselves before Dover where they expressed a great deal of small valour in beating down with great shot the chimnies of that Town and with so much resolution and spirit did they perform this worthy exploit that not any of their ships offered to run away all the while This Action of Trump's was looked upon by all to savour more of Arrogance then Valour for a gallant souldier will scorn to meddle with him that is incapable of defence but rather measure weapons with his Enemy before the fight neither should a General content himself with making a few Tiles fly from the tops of Houses in a poor Town which can be but small credit to himself and not much damage to his Enemie But we shall see that Van Trump will meet with such a match as will give him opportunity enough to exercise his courage to the utmost for the two Generals Monk and Dean upon the sudden returned from the North into Yarmouth-Road where they joyned with that Fortress of his Country General Blake having 18
Hands by this Resignation made use of them to his best advantage First of all he called a Council of Officers and joyning with them certain other persons to advise it was by them not without abundant seeking of God and speaking from several places of Scripture which lay much upon the spirits of many in this Assembly resolved to have a Commonwealth in a Single Person which person should be the Lord General Cromwel under the Title and Dignity of Lord Protector of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging To him was assigned a Council consisting of One and twenty to be assistants in the Government But because there can be no Superstructure without a Basis an Instrument was framed to be the Foundation of this present Government which chiefly was made up of these following Heads 1. The Protector should call a Parliament every three years 2. That the first should assemble on the third of September 1654. 3. That he should not dissolve the Parliament till it had sate five moneths 4. That such Bills as they offered to him he not passing them in twenty days should pass without him 5. That he should have a select Council not exceeding one and twenty nor under thirteen 6. That immediately after his death the Council should chuse another Protector before they rose 7. That no Protector after him should be General of the Army 8. That the Protector should have power to make Peace or War 9. That in the Intervals of Parliament he and his Council might make Laws that should be binding to the Subject c. But now to make these things binding to the Conscience of this Grand Magistrate December 16. 1653. he in great state went from White-hall to Westminster where in the Chancery Court before the Judges Maior and Aldermen of London with the chiefest Officers of the Nation he did solemnly swear To accept of the Government and promised in the presence of God not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of his understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs seek their peace causing Justice and Law to be equally administred This Oath being publickly known the Ceremony concluded with great Acclamations of certain Souldiers Presently after this following Proclamation by the Council was published through England Scotland and Ireland WHereas the late Parliament dissolved themselves and resigning their Powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland by a Lord Protector and successive triennial Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwel Captain-General of all the Forces of this Commonwealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make Publication of the Premises and strictly to charge and command all and every Person and Persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conform and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Maiors Bailiffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf Nothing could satisfie Caesars Ambition but a perpetual Dictatorship nor Alexander's but to have more worlds to conquer and why then should our Cromwel having the same aspiration and inspiration above them be satisfied with less then a perpetual Protectorship Ambition is of such a Nature that to be first in a Village pleases better then the second place in a City but to satisfie an ambitious Appetite sufficiently with honour is impossible unless he can clime so high that none dares ask how he came to that height To this Elevation is the Subject of our Discourse come that his thoughts can rise no higher then how to keep in Peace what he hath got by Policy The City of London as there can be no great change without its Concurrence presently invites the Protector to a great Feast at Grocers-Hall where his Entertainment was more suitable to the former Splendor then present Exigence of that once-flourishing City Immediately after some Paper-kites flew out of the Country to Court from particular persons making Demonstration of Congratulation and real Obedience These bore in the Front the Title of Addresses from all the good people in the Nation when it was well known that those whose Blood had purchas'd them Liberty from under one Person would never subscribe themselves Slaves to another The Protector began his Reign with seeming Serenity insomuch that many expected Halcyon days such Sanctity appeared in the Countenance of this Governour his Tongue on all occasions was tipt with Lamentations at the Effusion of Christian Blood and customarily would bemoan the Animosities amongst the people caused by diversity in Religion Yet for all that when any Overtures were made to him tending to a Settlement and Conformity in Religion then his power was no greater in the Nation then a Constable's who is to keep peace and quietness amongst all parties Thus he behaved himself towards the Ecclesiasticks But now we come to his first grand Action of State the Negotiation of the Dutch Peace This War had been gallantly maintained by the long Parliament who in many Fights filled our Harbours with Prizes which weakened much the united Provinces but every bout augmented the Valour and Resolution of the English Sea-men so that in a little while the dread of this Adversary was turned into contempt I will not yet in the least derogate from the worth of this brave Enemy for in all Encounters their endeavours were good might have been better if Sobriety among the Sea-men had been well observed but 't is sad fighting when the Can charged with Brandy must be a Gun to conquer an Enemy these weapons usually conquered themselves and made way to their own destruction But now to shew in part the Dutch Ingratitude it will not be much amiss to remember what England hath done for them Time was when the High and Mighty States of Holland not able to help themselves implored as poor and distressed Queen Elizabeths assistance she readily condescending sent them over a well-furnished Army commanded by the Earl of Leicester These were but the forlorn to greater Bodies which after were transsported under the Conduct of those brave Commanders Norris Vere Sidney and many more whose blood laid the Foundation of that Commonwealth These were the Men that cut the Spanish Yoak from off their Necks and never offered to sheath their Swords until the Dutch were fully possest of their Liberties But O Ingratitude this was no sooner done but the Deed forgotten For in King James his time many Depredations were secretly committed on the English by them It may suffiice if we mention no more but onely the business of Amboyna which sufficiently witnesseth how far their Will
importance and might much conduce to the taking in of Dunkirk it self as afterwards it proved The French and English having beleaguered this strong place did not lie long before they reduced it to a surrender upon Composition so that it was delivered up wholly into the possession of the English But presently after the French being withdrawn into winter-Quarters came a strong body of Spaniards and made a fierce Camisado upon the Fort hoping to give the English little joy in their new Conquest but it fell out quite otherwise for the assailants were stoutly repulsed and inforc't to flee having lost in the attempt several brave Commanders The Protectors forraign affairs standing in a posture answerable to his desires his domestick designes at the same time did likewise very well correspond thereunto for the Parliament having sate near nine Months had in this time past many Acts which crowned the Protectors hopes so fully that more could not have been desired by him nor well granted by them For first out of a deep sence of his loss should such a design as bold Syndercomb's take effect they made provisions for the security of his Highness Person wherein it was Enacted High Treason for any to attempt compass or imagine the Protectors death This Act having pared the claws of cholerick humours at home in three whoops more the Title of Charls Stuart c. was utterly defunct And besides this to answer the end for which they were called round sums of money were granted to carry on the Spanish War notwithstanding his Highness late Conquests in the Indies that so the Protector might with more facility bang the legs of that long-limb'd Enemy The Acts made for this purpose were these that follow  Per Mens An Act for an Assesment upon England for three Months at the rate of 60000 l. On Scotland for three Months at 05000 l. On Ireland for three Months at 05000 l. On England Scotland and Ireland for three years   England to pay 35000 l. Scotland 06000 l. Ireland 09000 l. An Act for continuing of Tunnage and Poundage   An Act for preventing the multiplicity of buildings in and about the Suburbs of London and within ten miles thereof a whole years Revenue to be presently payd for dwelling or out-Houses that had been reared upon new Foundations since the year 1620.   An Act for Excise of merchandize imported Hobby-Horses Childrens Rattles and old shirts not exempted   These with many more being at once presented to the Protector for his consent were by him passed at which time he made this short Speech to the Parliaments Speaker I perceive that among these many Acts of Parliament there hath been a very great care had by the Parliament to provide for the just and necessary support of the Commonwealth by these Bills for levying of money now brought to me which I have given my consent unto and understanding it hath been the practice of those who have been chief Governours to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons their care and regard of the Publike I do very heartily and thankefully acknowledge their kindness herein The Protectors thanks for this could do no less then animate the Parliament to compleat the great work they were about for settlement of the Nation This business had been dayly debated and was almost brought to perfection when on a sudden a Petition was ushered into the House by a worthy Citizen of London to have his Highness one Tittle higher in his Title Hereupon the great Machine of Englands Government called the Petition and Advice was hastened away to the Protectors view with a desire that his Highness would be pleased to magnifie himself with the Title of KING Alas what thing more averse to his nature could be presented to him then this It was not to sit in high places that made him undertake the Government but rather to be a Servant to his Countrey Monarchie he knew was as odious to the Army as according to the proverb comparisons among the people and therefore he could not look upon this otherways then as a Temptation to try the strength of his resolution against that which before had like to have wrackt the peoples Liberties which said he undoubtedly had fallen out had not he stept into the sea of bloud and with invincible Arms preserved the Ship of State from those Piratical inchroachers that were ready to board her Yet to do nothing unadvisedly nor without mature deliberation his Highness took time to return the Parliament this positive answer to their liquorish desire which he with much meekness gave them in the Painted Chamber in these words That he could not undertake the Government with the Title of King Upon this the Parliament voted that Protector should be the stile of the chief Magistrate All things being now brought to maturity in the Petition and Advice and nothing wanting to make it a Law but onely the Protectors condescention a Committee was sent to desire a Conference with his Highness which he granted and appointed the place of meeting to be in the Painted Chamber May 25. 1657. his Highness attended by his chief Officers came accordingly and there the Speaker Sir Thomas Widdrington presented him with the Parliaments Petition and Advice the substance whereof was as followeth 1. That his Highness under the Title of Lord Protector would be pleased to exercise the office of chief Magistrate over England c. and to govern according to all things in this Petition and Advice also that in his life-time he would appoint the Person that should succeed in the Government after his death 2. That he would call Parliaments consisting of two Houses once in three years at farthest 3. That those Persons who are legally chosen by a free election of the people to serve in Parliament may not be excluded from doing their duties but by consent of that House whereof they are Members 4. In the fourth was shewn the qualifications of Parliament-Members 5. In the fifth the Power of the other House 6. That the Lawes and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept and no Laws altered suspended abrogated repealed or new Law made but by Act of Parliament 7. For a constant yearly revenue ten hundred thousand pounds to be settled for maintenance of the Navy and Army and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government besides other temporary supplies as the Commons in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nations to require 8. That the number of the Protectors Council shall not be above one and twenty whereof the Quorum to be seven and not under 9. The chief Officers of State as Chancellors Keepers of the great Seal c. to be approved of by Parliament 10. That his Highness would encourage a Godly Minstery 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 Lawes are defective new