disability to goe through with the enterprise and defray the charges of it and partly because he was at the same time dealt with underhand by the King of France to relinquish the Prince's party and offer'd by him such termes as they were not able to give him And as ill fortune would have it the manner of discovery of their agreemenâ— made the King of England be lookt upon as the Agent and procurer of it For the French King's Army under Turenne marching into Brie in view of the Lorrain Army the Duke of Beaufort was extreme desirous to encounter with them To which purpose he went into the field where he found King Charles and the Duke of York with the Duke of Lorrain who upon the approach of Beaufort presently withdrew And then this Duke urging him of Lorrain to fight found an extreme coldnesse in him to the business and presently after understood his conjunction with the Court-interest Whereupon the incensed Princes exclaimed against the perfidiousnesse of the Duke of Lorrain and against the English Princes as the causes of it Who though they made it sufficiently apparent that their transactions with the Duke of Lorrain were wholly about another affair yet the indignation of the Princes and people for this collusion so blinded their reasons that they would not be convinc'd of the innocency of the King and his Brother but bitterly inveigh'd against them and the Queen Mother whom they also were resolv'd to believe had been instrumental in the business so that they were induc'd to withdraw from the Louvre to St. Germains and the Queen to Chaliot Shortly after the Victory at Worcester the pretended Parliament as I said executed abundance of the Royall party and such as were suffer'd to live had their Estates confiscated and were kept severall yeares after in prison Their principall Acts pass'd the remainder of this year were I. An Act for the increase of shipping and encouragement of Navigation in which it was enacted 1. That no goods or commodities of the growth or manufacture of any places whatsoever should be brought hither but onely in English Ships and that from the very places of their growth and manufacture onely Also that no Fish or Oyle made of Fish or Whale-bone should be imported but onely such as should be caught in English Vessels nor any salted Fish exported in any other save English Bottomes c. This Act was apprehended by the Dutch as highly prejudiciall to the Trade which they had driven with extreme advantage above us during our intestine Wars and proved a great cause of the War that shortly follow'd between this State and the Vnited Provinces II. An Act to determine the Session of this Parliament on Nov. 3. 1654. Their dissolution was a point they did not love to think of but being urg'd by the Army and several Petitions for a new Representative after many debates and delayes they resolv'd to continue their sitting 3. yeares longer but they reckon'd without their Host and receiv'd a quietus about a year and half after from Cromwel III. An Act of Oblivion which was loaden with many heavy provisoes and exceptions IV. An Act for incorporating Scotland into one Commonwealth with England the Government of which they invested in these Commissioners Ol. St. Iohn Sir Henry Vane Maj. Gen. Lambert Maj. Gen. Deane Col. Fenwick Alderman Tichburne Major Salwey and Lieut. Gen. Monck As for Ireland the Government of it having been wholly referred to Cromwel he constituted his Son in Law Ireton to command in chief there wâ—th the Title of Lord Deputy In December 1651. arrived at Paris the Gentlewoman Mrs. Iane Lane who had been instrumental in his Majestie 's deliverance after the overthrow at Worcester of which fearing danger by the discovery of some unfaithful confidents she went on foot in disguise to Yarmouth and there took ship for France She was conducted into Paris with great honour his Majestie himself with the Queen his mother and the Dukes of York and Glocester going out to meet her upon the first sight his Majesty took her by the hand and saluted her with this obliging term VVelcome my Life The French Court also regarded her with much respect and honour together with her Brother Col. Lane who accompanied her thither About the Spring of the year 1652. broke out a furious War between the English the Dutch Common-wealths after Embassadors had been sent to no effect from either The first Act of Hostility was on the 19. of May 1652. After which many bloody Sea-fights pass'd between them both in the British Sea and the Streights with great losse of Ships and men on both sides but the Dutch were most commonly worstest During this sharp War his Majesty was as mindfull of his Interests using all endeavours for an accommodation between the King of France and the Princes as also between the Kings of France and Spain in the mean time also sending Embassadours to severall Potentates to desire assistance as the Lord Wilmot whom he had created Earle of Rochester to the Imperial Diet at Ratisbone the Lord Culpeper to the Hague and the Lord VVentworth to the King of Denmark But the Catholick Princes were the colder in gratifying his Majesty for that he shew'd no pronesse to embrace their Religion as the Emperor once expresly signified to him And indeed such was his Majestie 's constancy that no temptations of worldly advantages no resentment of adversity nor the sollicitations and arguments of severall grand Catholicks who endeavour'd to pervert him as Mr. Montagu Militiere and Salmonet could prevaile any thing upon him He propounded to the Dutch that if they would furnish him with a squadron of Ships he would set up his own Flags and command them in person Some of the Provinces were very inclinable to the motion but that of Holland which stood out against the admitting of the young Prince of Orange for Capt. Gen. was also backward to comply with his Majestie 's desires or undertake his interest then which act nothing could have been more honourable to them nor perhaps more beneficiall All that he could bring them to was that they granted liberty for his Ships to ride in their Ports with their Flâ—gs up as King of Great Brittaine c. The King of Denmark professed willingnesse enough to gratify his Majesty but his affairs were then in a doubtfull Estate and depended much upon the successe of the Dutch with whom he had partly engaged On December 1652. the English Iunto resolved to be rid of his Majestie 's younger Brother the Duke of Glocester and referr'd it to the Council of State to consider with what accommodation and to what place to send him The Council that they might seem to do something handsomely ordered him to go into Holland gave him a Bill for 1000. l. to be paid to him upon his arrival but such was their honesty that they took care that he should never receive one penny of it However he was
sent by the Lair Libberton The New Commonwealth in England in the mean time was modell'd thus The House of Peers as I said was voted down the Commons reduc'd to about 100 and a new kind of Senate set up called a Council of State who sate at Whitehall consisting of forty persons these indeed though deriv'd from the Parliament grew to have greater authority then their creators but though the supreme Power seem'd in appearance to be in these two Councils yet it was really in the hands of the Army the chief Officers of which rul'd them that rul'd the Nations Their principall business at Home was to fortify their new Government by making severall Acts of Treason and to terrifie others by putting to death divers of the Nobility as D. Hamilton E. of Holland L. Capel c. and such of the Gentry who had oppos'd their Barbarous and Tyrannicall Proceedings They also employ'd themselves in dividing the Patrimony of the Crown having murder'd the Father and expell'd the Son the same course also they took with many thousands of loyall persons either confiscating and selling their Estates or putting them to redeem the same upon great compositions by this meanes and prodigious Taxes together drawing all the Wealth of the Nation both Money Lands into their own hands and sharing the same among themselves their Lords the Officers of the Army His Majesty had small hopes of doing any good immediately upon England although he had friends enough in it However two noble Gentlemen Sir Iohn Berkly and Col. Slingsby offer'd themselves to serve their Prince in England and accordingly came from Iersey into the VVest and went about stirring up their Correspondents to Armes for their King Country but they were both accidentally discover'd taken The King had sent Ambassadours to severall great Princes and States as the Emperor the King of Spain the Duke of Moscovy the State of Venice the Grand Seignor and others to sollicite their ayd and contribution for the recovery of his Father's Kingdomes But from the most of them he received only complements pretenses of their good will to help him The most considerable Embasse and most probable to take effect was that to his Majesty of Spain by the Lord Cottington who at his Audience remonstrated in the name of his Master That the Parliament of England having been in Armes against his Father had prevailed against him and caused him to be put to dâ—ath That he being Son and heir to the late King was yet kept out of his Kingdomes by the said Parliament And therefore he desired his Aid and Assistance to establish him into his Rights and Dignities in his Kingdomes To this the King of Spain answer'd That he was sorry for his Father 's ill successe wishing he had been more prosperous That he condol'd with him for his Father's death and was much affected with sorrow at the manner of it That concerning the difference between him and the Parliament and the Rights on thâ— one or the other side they being matters out of his Territories and Iurisdiction he could not take cognizance of them nor should he meddle therein But for any thing within his own Dominions he should be ready to do him what lawful favour he could But such is the influence Self Interest has upon the minds even of the greatest Potentates that it many times excludes all considerations of generosity Had the neighbour-Neighbour-States resented the unjustice done to this King and his Father as they ought I am confident the Spirits of the Iuncto would have soon been broken But the course of the world as I said is otherwise his Majesty of Britain is an Exile his Enemies are great and powerfull and therefore in stead of sending assistance to the unfortunate Prince the King of Spain sends and Embassadour to court the new Common wealth of Rebels to a League The King hearing of a Fleet of Ships preparing by the Parliament for the Island of Iersey thought fit to dispatch his answer to the Committee of Estates of Scotland in order to a Treaty which being drawn up with a Letter directed to the Committee of the Kirk Assembly the Laird Libberton departed with it to Scotland Soon after which his Majesty to avoid all danger went from Iersey back again into France where her resided with his Royal Mother till the time for the Scotch Treaty drew near Before his going thither he writ thus to the Lord Marq. of Montross Most Dear and well beloved Cousin We have received Letters from our Kingdome of Scotland of which you receive herewith a Copy by which our subjects demand of us that we would please to acknowledge for lawfull their Parliament and particularly the two last Sessions of that Assembly Which being obtained of our Grace they offer to send us their Deputies with full Commission to Treat with us of the means to reestablish Peace and obedience in that Kingdome We have made them an Answer That we have made known to their Envoy the place where we desired their Deputies should come to us with all diligence And to the end you should not apprehend that by our Letters or by the Treaty we had any design to hinder the affairs we hâ—ve committed to you we have thought fit to let you know that as we judge the Levies you have made for our service to have been a powerfull motive to oblige them to send their Deputies and to enter into Treaty with us So we also believe that the Progrese you shall make in your generous Designes will dispose them to Treat with the more moderation to the end the whole Realm may again happily return under our obedience We assure you we have not the least thought to derogate from that ample Commission which we have given you nor to diminish that Authority in which we have invested you by our Letters Patents And we doe promise you also if it shall come to passe that we shall enter into any good Intelligence with our subjects we shall have so much care of your proper Interest that all the world shall see how much we esteem your Person what confidence we have in your conduct your Courage whereof not only the late King our Father but Our self also have reciv'd Proofs both by what you have done suffer'd for Us. In the mean time you shall understand that we have qualified the Assembly of our Subjects with the Appellation of the Committee of Estates which we have done onely for this Treary Which if it shall not succeed as we desire As we know already this Qualification of the Privy Signet do's not at all authorise them to be such so we shall then forthwith declare for what we hold them notwithstanding this Title which we have given them both for their own proper satisfaction also to make known to all the World that we desire to bring back our Subjects of the Kingdome of Scotland to their Duty rather by wayes of
should appoint As if it were unfit for his Majesty to be master of his own Purse while they were in expectation of his Arrival the Committee of Estates and Parliament consulted about forming of an Army for his service as they pretended and an Act was pass'd for training every fourth man capable to bear Armes throughout the Kingdom raising 16000. Foot and 6000. Horse in which the Earle of Leven was made General of the Foot Holborn Major General David Lesley Lieutenant General of the Horse and Montgomery Major General the supreme Command being reserv'd for his Majesty Who arriving at Edenburgh was entertain'd with many complements and congratulations and on the 15 of Iuly solemnly proclaimed King at the Crosse and should have been Crown'd in the ensuing moneth had not certain obstacles caus'd the deferring of that ceremony He had not been long there but the Estates and Parliament begin to busie themselves afresh about modelling his Retinue and clearing his Houshold of such Malignants as they term'd them as were in his Service excluding them also from all imployment both about his Person and in the Army As for himself he had a strong Guard continually about him to attend him and observe his motions The English pretended Parliament had all this while sufficient intelligence of the Scots proceedings with his Majesty in the Treaty of Breda together with their engagement to assist him in the recovery of his Rights in England and this by the perfidiousnesse treachery of some of the Fourth Faction I mention'd in the Parliament of Scotland And therefore by the sollicitation of these Traytors and partly out of policy to prevent an invasion by making one whereby the Enemies Country would become the Seat of the War they prepar'd an Army against Scotland and sent for Cromwel out of Ireland on whom they confer'd the Command of Capt. General of all their Forces in the room of the Lord Fairfax who gave up his Commission abhorring to be longer a servant to such horrid designes as they had formerly put him upon About this time one Ascham whom the Iunto had sent Agent into Spaine was assassinated at Madrid together with his Interpreter Senior Riba by a combination of six or seven men at Madrid who after the fact took Sanctuary Dorislaus another Agent of the Upstart Republick had the same fate also though more deservedly about a year before in Holland It hapned also during the Treaty was on foot between his Majesty and his Scottish Subjects that Prince Rupert's Fleet having for a long time been protected by the King of Portugal was utterly destroy'd upon that coast by Blake the English Admiral On the 28. of Iune Cromwel got all things in readiness for a War advanc'd towards Scotland in the head of 11000. Foot and 5000. Horse And approaching to the Borders sent the Scots a Declaration from the ptetended Parliament of England and another from himself to justifie these proceedings The Scots seem'd much surpris'd at this invasion without warning given and therefore send to expostulate the Cause of it in a paper to Haslerig then Governour of New-Castle in another to Cromwel and a third to the Iunto in which they urg'd the Solemn League and Covenant and the former Union between the two Nations But it was answer'd by a Declaration 1. That the Scots contrary to their agreement had once already invaded England under D. Hamilton and were now ready for a second invasion so that the English were advanc'd against them onely by way of prevention 2. That they had made a Peace with the Common Enemy promised him assistance to regain the other Kingdomes he pretended to 3. They had resolved to impose their form of Religion upon the English Nation These were the grounds the English alledg'd for their proceedings Accordingly Cromwel marches into Scotland taking all the Garrisons that lay in his way till he came to Muscleborough a place famous for a signall defeat given the Scots in the Reign of Edward the 6. there he is set upon by Maj. Gen. Montgomery and Col. Straughan but the assailants were put to the worst After which the two main Armies having for some time moved at a small distance one from another the Scots declined engaging till they got the English at a great disadvantage at Dunbar who by the difficulties of the place were so distress'd for provision that they began to think of an escape by Sea and would without doubt have taken that course had not the Scots confidence of Victory induc'd them to set upon them contrary to the great prudent maximes of War viz. To make a bridg for a flying Enemy not to drive an enemy Army to the utmost of despair The event of this engagement was that the Scots in stead of an assured Victory received a totall overthrow 3000. of them being slain in the field amongst whom was the Laird of Libberton Col. Lumsden about 8000. with Sir Iames Lumsden Lieut. Gen. of the Foot made prisoners 200. Colours part of those that were afterwards hung up in Westminster-Hall 15000. armes and 30. pieces of Ordnance taken The King in the mean time was withdrawn to St. Iohnston's being so sensible of the Scots unfaithfulnesse that he apprehended as much danger from them as from the Enemie Here he received the news of this losse which was followed with a greater that of the excellent Princesse his Sister Elizabeth who dyed on the eight of Sept. 1650. at Carisbook Castle in the Isle of VVight a Lady of incomparable goodness piety and who deserved to have been born in a better Age and in a lesse Barbarous Nation The execrable murther of her Royall Father hastned her death whither the same Villaines at the helme of the State contributed any thing towards it though reported I will not affirme Onely I know they were enemies enough to that family base enough to attempt as great a crime It is recorded by some that the decease of this Illustrious Princesse afflicted his Majesty more then the losse of the Army at Dunbar and perhaps he had reason since himself seem'd least concern'd in this the Forces having been raised and order'd wholly by the States and Kirk's command and for their interest About this time also dyed the renowned Prince of Orange to the great grief of the King leaving his Princesse great with her first child of which she was safely deliver'd four dayes after being a Son his Father's Successour About this time Col. Eusebius Andrewes having been found with a Commission from his Majesty was condemned by a High-Court of Justice and beheaded on Tower-Hill Immediately after this notable Victory Cromwel made himself master of Edinburgh and of Leith onely the Castle of Edinburgh held out for a good while after The King being unable to bear the imperiousness and hard impositions of the Estates and Kirk extorting a Declaration from him to condemn his own proceedings and those of his best affected party banishing
beheaded On Decemb. 24. Edenburgh Castle having endur'd a violent siege 3. Moneths surrender'd to Cromwel so did other strong Castles places as Nesbit Berthwick and Roswell c. so successfull were their Impious Armes by God's providence who was pleas'd to use them as a scourge for these sinfull Nations Preparations in the mean time were made for the Coronation of his Majesty for the celebrating of which the 1. of Ianuary had been long before design'd by the Estates The place was the Town of Scoon where 150. Kings of that Nation had formerly been Crown'd Thither therefore his Majesty with the Nobility Barons and Burgesses in their robes remove'd the whole Scotch Army standing all the way as a guard making a lane between those two places The solemnity was performed with as much Pompe and Ceremony as the present State of things would permit and with loud Acclamations Bonefires shooting of Guns c. His Majesty having first heard a Sermon preacht by Mr. Rob. Douglas sitting upon a Scaffold erected in the Church of Scoone took the ordinary Coronation Oath and subscribed the National Covenant with the solemn League and Covenant After which he ascended upon a Stage a little Higher then the former sate down in the Throne when the people being demanded four times by the King at Armes VVhether they were willing to accept of King CHARLES for their King becomâ— subject to his Commandments express'd their consent with loud Acclamations God save King CHARLES the Second This being done his Majesty was cloathed by the Lord Chamberlain with his Royall Robes the Crown was set upon his Head by the Marquiss of Argyle and the Scepter put into his hand the Sword was girt about him by the Earle Marshall and the Spurs put on by the Earle of Eglington Then the Nobility being called by the Herald one by one swore allegiance fealty to his Majesty touching the Crown upon his head with their right Hand in these Words By the Eternal Almighty God who liveth reigneth for ever I shall support thee to the uttermost The people also holding up their hands swore obedience to hiâ— Mâ—â—â—sty according to the usuall Oath And to conclude â—ll an exhortatory Oration was made by Mr. Rob. Duglasse and a Prayer Which being done his Majesty and the Nobility departed out of the Church in the former Order and Pompe the Earle of Glencarn carrying the Sword before him The Ceremonies being thus ended his Majesty and the Nobility were intertain'd at a Stately and Magnificent Dinner which done they all return'd to St. Iohnston's in the same manner they came in his Majesties Guard consisting of the Sons of divers great Scotch Lords and other Members of Parliament the Captain whereof was the Lord of Lorne Son to Argile I have omitted the full relation of all the passages at his Majesties Inauguration because they have been already frequently publish'd and lest they should adde too much to the bulk of this volume This business being over it behoved his Majesty to provide for the defence of his Crown and Kingdome in order whereunto he set up his Standerd at Aberdeen to which a considerable number of men in a short time repaired of whom himself was General Duke Hamilton Lieut. General of the Army David Lesley Major General Middleton Lieut. Gen. of the Horse and Massey Commander in chief of all the English Forces The Parliament of Scotland which had adjourn'd during his Majestie 's Coronation reassembled about the beginning of March and much contest there was for several Lords of the Royal Party to be admitted to their Seats in the House which by reason of the opposition of the Kirk-assemblies at Sterling and Aberdeen could not be obtain'd till they had pass'd the Stool of Repentance which Duke Hamilton did with some kind of splendour having a Table plac'd before him covered with black Velvet with a Cushion of the same and making a great Feast that day In this Session a Committee was appointed to consider of the State of Affairs and examine obstructions by whom severall persons that were found to hold correspondence with the English Army had their Estates sequestred and some were try'd for their lives Arguile at the same time and other Covenanteer Lords repining at the admission of the Royall Lords into the Parliament Army as if they should thereby become overpower'd or utterly discarded And indeed to these two pernicious qualities Treachery and particular Ambition peculiar almost to that Nation his Majestie 's and that Kingdome 's ensuing misfortunes ought to be ascrib'd In the mean time his Majesty was very active in modelling his new Army whose Rendezvouse was at the East of Fife encouraging them many times with his presence and speech the English gaine two very strong Castles Hume and Trimptallon lying between Berwick and Edenburgh the former by Colonel Fenwick and the other by Colonel Monck But to prevent their further progresse his Majesty personally visited all the Garrisons of Fife and put them in a posture to hinder the English from landing on that side the Frith after which he went to the Assembly at Aberdeen to endeavour by his presence and authority to compose Dissentions And having taken this order at home he imploy'd the Earle of Dumferling Ambassadour into Holland Mr. Crofts into Russia besides others into other Nations to solicite for assistance Thus he acquitted himself as far as humane prudence could reach but abroad his Ambassadours receiv'd nothing but fruitlesse promises and empty complements amongst whom Sir Henry Hide Lieger at Constantinople had the worst fortune for I know not upon what contest between him and Sir Thomas Bendish that lay there in behalf of the New State Bendish got him into his hands and sent him over into England where as other Loyall Subjects had formerly been he was formally tryed before a parcel of Murderers in apretended High Court of Iustice condemned and beheaded near the Old Exchange in London on March 4. 1650. A person he was of great parts honesty and loyalty Of the same cup also and from the same hands tasted Captain Brown Bushel an expert Seaman who had lately done notable service for his Majesty by sea He was beheaded on Tower-hill on the 25. of April 1651. But to proceed No considerations could unite the dissenting Covenanted Scots The Clergy like fire brands were as eager to ruine their Countrey with their tongues as the Sectarian Army could be with the sword Guthry Cant Duram Galespy men of hot spirits inflaming inconsiderable discontents to high outrages as if a spirit of division had wholly possess'd them and so perverted their judgements that petty animosities were prosecuted with greater zeal then the publick Cause Malignants it seems had commands given them and grew potent this was the ground of contest Some covenanted Lords too either for that they were Kirk-ridden or blinded with envy and ambition began to be dissatisfi'd whereupon Louden was discharged from being
extremely respected at all the places he came at in the Low-Countreys as at Dunkirk Antwerp the Hague Leyden c. And having been for some time entertain'd by his Royal Sister where he had the honour of the Garter sent him from the King he departed to the Court of France being attended by Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Richard Greenvile his Majesty himself the Duke of York Prince Rupert and others going two leagues out of Paris to meet him Towards the latter end of the year 1652. his Majestie 's hopes began to be something desperate concerning any considerable succour from France for that King in stead of uniting with the Prince's his subjects sent an Embassadour Mr. de Bordeanx Neufville to treat a Peace with England to which he was the rather induc'd for that Admiral Blake had not long before beaten and destroy'd the French ships under the Duke of Vendosme that were going to the relief of Dunkirk which defeat occasion'd the loss of that Town to the Spaniard Nor were his hopes likely to prove more successfull in the united Provinces for they were so weary of the War that they sent a Letter to England to cast about for an accommodation But before they effected any thing Cromwell finding his ambitious projects ripe being emboldned with former successes and backt with a strong Army on the 20. of April 1653. entred the Parliament House attended with some officers where he represented to them that their Dissolution was important to the publick good and welfare of the Nation with many reasons for it which none daring to oppose the Members departed the House To justify which Action He and his Council of Officers put forth a Declaration wherein it was pretended The Parliament was over-ruled by a corrupt Party who intended to perpetuate themselves deluding the Nation from time to time with hopes of a New Representative notwithstanding the Petitions of the Army and severall Counties That the Cause which God had so greatly blessed languisht in their hands and was in danger to be lost by their negligence of the publick and self-seeking with many more like crimes And thus fell this great Idol of the Nation this Parliamentum Infame which in a dozen yeares time had wrought more mischief to these Kingdomes then all the preceeding Parliaments had ever done good After this Cromwel with his Officers took the administration of Affairs into their own hands the Armies in Scotland and Ireland and the Fleet assenting to their proceedings But to gull the people a little longer and render Parliaments more contemptible to them Cromwel upon the 8. of Iune following sent out a summons in his own name to such persons as he pleas'd to meet at VVestminster on the 4. of Iuly Who accordingly appearing to the number of six score he impowred them by a writing under his Hand and Seal to be the Supreme Authority and Governours of the three Nations and that 40. of them should be a Quorum to dispatch business This Iunto of Sectaries and Officers of the Army going into the Parliament House in three dayes time gravely resolved that they would be called the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England and that their Chairman Mr. Rous should be called Speaker and that they would have a Sergeant at Armes and a Mace Thus they began ridiculously and continued in all their Actions for four moneths in which they voted down the High-Court of Chancery made a silly Act for Marriages Births and Burials confirmed the unjust Bill for Sale of the Estate of Sir Iohn Stowell Knight of the Bath ordered Sale of the remainder of the Royall Revenue made a tax for 6. moneths at 120000 l. per mensem struck fiercely at Tythes and Universities and then being partly weary and partly asham'd of themselves some of Oliver's faction by underhand appointment repaired to Cromwel and resigned their power into his Hands who at first seeming unwilling and excusing his inability was prevail'd with by importunity to accept it which he did with the Title of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland The rest of the Sectarian Convention who refus'd to break up the Parliament and doe as their fellowes had done Cromwel sent Souldiers to turn them out of the House which was accordingly done and the doors lockt against them Decemb. 2. 1653. And upon the 16. of the same moneth having by the advice of his Officers framed and published an Instrument of Government consisting of 42. Articles he sent for the Commissioners of the Great Seale the Major and Aldermen of London with the Iudges and the Officers of the Army and was by them solemnly installed in Westminster-Hall taking an Oath to rule according to his Instrument and the Lawes of the Land though nothing could be more repugnant to the Lawes then that Instrument In this last year notwithstanding the former offer of Accommodation severall encounters had been between the Ships of this Nation those of the United Provinces in which the Dutch suffer'd much so that the common people there were in a great consternation Two of the principal Battels were on the 3. of Iune and the 29. of Iuly In the former the English got a remarkable Victory though with the losse of one of their Generals Dean by a great shot taking above 1300. prisoners and 11. Ships of War besides 6. sunk In the latter being the greatest blow the Dutch ever received from us their Admiral Martin Harper van Trump one of the most expert and renowned Seamen in the world was slain with a Musket shot and 2000. men more 1000. Prisoners taken and 27. Ships of War sunk and fired Which losses quite broke the spirits of the Dutch who thereupon began seriously to think of peace This Summer also it pleased God to visit his Majesty with a Fever which held him for some time with violence so that the London Pamphlets publish'd it to be mortal But the Divine Providence intended better things to this Nation and about the latter end of August recovered him to perfect health After which he departed from the Court for some time to Chantilly not far distant from Paris for better aire being accompanied with Prince Rupert who after various fortunes at Sea and separation from his brother Prince Maurice by a Hericano who was never after heard off put in with his Ships at Nantes at Britany and resided with his Majesty for a long time at Paris in the Palace Royall This year the Lord Hopton who had commanded an Army for his late Majesty in the Rebellion of England dyed of a Fever after five dayes sicknesse at Bruges in Flanders a person of great learning piety temperance and valour In the beginning of the next year his Majestie 's hopes of doing any good upon the United States were absolutely extinguish'd He had us'd all possible means by the intercessions of his friends to avert them from reconcilement with England and to that purpose was very active upon
told them with what regret he had executed their late Orders in relation to the Chaines Posts and Gates of the City which he fear'd would be so far from answering the expected end that it would rather encrease the discomposure of mens spirits in the Nations minding them also That the ground of his coming into England was not only to return them to their trust but also to vindicate the Liberties of the People c. He also complain'd That Lambert Vane and others impeached of Treason that had acted in the illegal and tyrannical Committee of Safety were yet suffer'd to continue in and about the City and some too in the House and in the Army c. That they were contriving to take away the maintenance of the Ministry That they were framing another Oath to impose upon the people and to that purpose had countenanced a bold and dangerous Petition from the Fanatick Party And lastly he desir'd That by the Fryday following they would issue out VVrits for filling up the House upon due and reasonable Qualifications and put a certain and speedy period to their sitting according to their frequent Declarations This Letter produc'd not greater regret in the Rump then it did joy to the City and whole Kingdome which was testifi'd at night by Bone-fires and ringing of Bells c. The time set for filling the House being expir'd and nothing done by the Rump in order thereunto the formerly secluded Members upon addresse to the General and engageing to him not to be against a single person were on Feb. 21. permitted to take their seats in the House after 11. years exclusion The House now augmented by above a 100. Members take care for settling the Nations and first they constituted General Monck Commander in chief of all the forces of England Scotland and Ireland Sir VVilliam VValler Lieutenant General Colonel Rossiter General of the Horse General Montague Admiral af Sea Then they appointed a New Council of State consisting of Gen. Monck the Lord Fairfax Mr. Annesley Sir VVilliam VValler Mr. Hollis Gen. Montagu and others to the number of 30. And with all speed they released severall Gentlemen imprison'd by the Rump and amongst others Sir Geo. Booth ordering also the City Gate to be repaired at the publick charge And lastly having made provision for settling the Militiaa of the Kingdome and calling a new Parliament to convene at Westminster April 25. they dissolved themselves by Act on Friday March 16. And thus ended that unhappy Long Parliment after almost 19. years from their first assembling having been interrupted for 5. years together by Cromwel and for ten weeks by Lambert His Majesty in the mean time remov'd from the Spanish Court at Brussels to Bruges in Flanders and resided there for a good space but being now in fair hopes of restitution to his Dominions departed from thence toward the latter end of March to Breda a handsome Town scituate in Brabant about 10. leagues from Antwerp and belonging to the Prince of Orange In this interval the Council of State prudently manag'd affairs proclaiming against all disturbers of the peace under whatsoever pretence and tendring an engagement for peaceable demeanour to be subscrib'd by such as they suspected of disturbance which Lambert refusing was committed to the Tower The General also purg'd his Army of Fanaticks both Officers Souldiers sent down two Colonels to displace Overton from the Garrison of Hull which he pretended to keep till the coming of Iesus Christ But about the midst of April a great disturbance had like to have hapned For Lambert having made an escape out of the Tower appear'd in armes about Northampton in the head of a party many cashier'd souldiers and fanaticks repairing to him But this danger was timely remov'd by Col. Rich. Ingoldsby who without fighting took Lambert with his own hand and sent him up to London prisoner together with a son of Hasilrig's Col. Cobbet and Major Creed They were brought by Coach through Hide Park on April 24. at which time 20000. Horse and Foot of City Regiments and Auxiliaries were training there The Parliament according to appointment assembled at VVestminster chose Sir Harbottle Grimstone Speaker the Nobility also taking their places in the upper-House by virtue of their Peerage choosing the Earle of Manchester Speaker Within a few dayes after their meeting the Lord Viscount Mordant and Sir Iohn Greenvile one of the Gentlemen of his Majestie 's Bed-chamber arrived at London with Letters from his Majesty dated at Breda April 4 14. One was to the House of Peers another to the House of Commons another to Gen. Monck and his Officers and another to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London These Letters were accompanied with a Declaration and delivered accordingly on May-day The two Houses received them with great joy and loyal affection so did his Excellency and the City from whom Sir Iohn Greenvile receiv'd 200 l. and 500 l. from the Parliament as a gratuity to buy him a Iewel The Letters were full of very gracious expressions and in the Declaration his Majesty offer'd I. A Free and General Pardon to be passed under the Great Seale to all persons whatsoever who within 40. dayes after the publication thereof shall sue it out Excepting such as should be excepted by the Parliament II. A liberty to tender consciences in matters of Râ—ligion so as the peace of the Kingdome be not disturb'd and to pass such an Act to that effect as the Parliament should think fit to offer III. The determination concerning Sales and Purchases to the Parliament IV. And lastly satisfaction of Arrears to the Officers and Souldiers of Gen. Monck 's Army and reception of them into his own service upon as good pay and conditions as they now enjoy Hereupon the House of Commons Vote his Majestie 's Letters and Declaration satisfactory and the Government to be in King Lords and Commons soon after which both Houses ordered a certain number of their Members to go to his Majesty with Letters and to invite him to his Kingdomes also 50000 l. was ordered to be immediately sent to him 10000 l. to the Duke of York and 5000 l. to the Duke of Glocester The City also deputed several worthy Members to wait upon his Majesty with a Letter and 10000 l. as a present Moreover Admiral Montague was commanded to attend him upon the coasts of Holland with a squadron of Ships But the General first of all dispatcht away his Brother Sir Thom. Clerges with a Letter to his Majesty wherein was enclos'd an Addresse of the Officers professing their Allegiance to his Majesty On Tuesday May 8. his Majesty was solemnly proclaimed in London and soon after in all Counties Cities and Borroughs of England and that with greater transports of joy then had ever been known upon the like or any other occasion In the mean time great numbers of persons of quality daily flocked over to Breda to his
Majesty who stay'd not long there but removed to the Hague where himself and the English Gentry were splendidly entertain'd at the charge of the States who also presented him with gifts of great value From thence the Queen of Bohemia with the Princesse of Orange and the young Prince accompanied his Majesty and the two Dukes to the Sea-side where they were entertain'd in the Naseby with a magnificent collation and so his Majesty took leave of them and set sail for England At his landing at Dover he was met by the General who immediately kneel'd to kisse his Royal hand but his Majesty embraced him graciously and took him with his two Brothers into his Coach to Dover where after a Treatment by the Magistrates he rid to Canterbury where he was met by the Mayor and Citizens who presented him a golden Cup full of gold and the Ministers who presented him a Bible Having rested there on Sunday the next day he went to Cobham-House and on Tuesday May 29. being his Birth-day he came towards London attended by the Duke of Buckingham the Earles of Northhampton Norwich Shrewsbury Litchfield Cleaveland the Lord Mordant and Sir Iohn Robinson with their several Troops of the chiefest Nobles and gentry of the Kingdome and the General with ten Regiments of his best horse besides innumerable companies of people that flock'd from all the adjacent Counties On Blackheath near Greenwich he was met by Major Generâ—l Brown with a gallant Company of young Citizens and others c. and at Southwark he was met by the Lord Mayor Aldermen 300. Citizens in Velvet Coats and Gold Chaines representing the several Companies and entertain'd with a Collation in a Tent erected on purpose and from thence about 5. a clock in the afternoon he rode into the City between his two Brothers the streets being on one side beset with the several Companies in their Gownes and on the other with Souldiers the windowes adorn'd with Tapistry and other hangings the Conduits running with Wine and the people testifying their joy with incessant shoutings and Acclamations Arriving at White-Hall the Speakers of both Houses congratulated his return in two solemn Speeches to which his Majesty answer'd that the People's acclamation together with his journey though gratefull to him as demonstrations of affection had so disordered him that he could not give such an answer as he desir'd But they should find him a sincere Defender of the Lawes and Liberties of the people and the Parliament should not be more ready to ask his consent to any thing fitting to be done then he would be to grant it After which he retir'd out of the Banquetting House to his Lodgings Thus we have trac'd out all the principal actions of this great King's Life in his Infancy Youth and Manhood to this present as well in his own Territories as beyond the Seas and withall given an account of the most considerable events here in England during the Oligarchy of the late long Parliament and the Tyranny of Ol. Cromwel In all which we have endeavour'd to give an impartiall Relation with as much brevity as the smalness of this Volume containing more strange occurrences then have hapned in some Ages would permit May the God of Heaven who of his infinite and undeserved mercy towards these poor Nations hath restor'd his Majesty to his Dominions long preserve his Sacred Person for the good both of Church and Commonwealth and multiply the years of his Reign in Honour and Prosperity Glory be to God on High and on Earth Peace and good Will towards Men. FINIS ERRATA Pag. 118. l. 11. read greater honour Pag. 273. l. 8. for at Salisbury read at Exeter Pag. 320. l. 24. read Commoners