The TROUBLES of ENGLAND. by D r. BATES. Princip: Phys: to K.C.I.

Summoning Hull.

Edghill Fight:

ECCLESIA

I Sturt sculp

Printed for Abel Swall at the Unicorn at the West end of S t. Pauls. 1685

Elenchus Motuum Nuperorum in Anglia: OR, A short Historical ACCOUNT OF The RISE and PROGRESS OF THE Late Troubles in England.

In TWO PARTS.

Written in Latin by Dr. GEORGE BATES, Principal Physician to K. Charles the I. and K. Charles the II.

MOTUS COMPOSITI: OR, THE HISTORY OF THE Composing the Affairs of England By the Restauration of K. Charles the Second, And the Punishment of the Regicides: And other Principal Occurrents to the Year 1669.

Written in Latin by THO. SKINNER, M.D.

Made ENGLISH.

To which is added a Preface by a Person of Quality, and in the body of the Work several choice Original Papers, an account of which is given in the end of the Preface.

London: Printed for Abel Swalle, at the Ʋnicorn at the West-end of St. Paul's Church-yard. 1685.

THE PREFACE TO THE READER, Added by a Person of Quality, who had the care of Revisiing the Translation.

IN the beginning of the World the Life of Man being very long, and the Transa­ctions that happened neither great, va­rious, nor many, there was little need of History. The Father living many hundred years with his Children and Grand­children, had leisure and time sufficient to im­print in their memories the story of the few Oc­currents that were past; and no man coming then to govern any considerable number of men, till he had lived the space of three or four of our longest lives put together, was by that time abundantly furnished from his own Expe­rience; and what had happened in his own days, with so much prudence, as might qualifie him for Government.

[Page]But when after the Deluge the Life of Man was brought by degrees to about threescore and ten, or fourscore years, and much of the latter part of that small period became unfit for busi­ness by sickness and other calamities of old age, and the affairs of the World grew numerous, whether considered as past, or present; then it became necessary that Memorials should be kept for the relief of humane infirmity, the per­petuation of the memory of Actions, and that mankind, who had but a short time to live upon the Earth, might in that time be quickly and easily furnished with an artificial Experience, derived from an artificial Memory; by which Governours might be qualified for government, and Subjects disposed to a dutiful submission to the Prudence and Conduct of their Superiours: that so this short and transitory Life of Man might be rendered as wise and happy as it was possible, and that Piety too might be nourished in the minds of men by a serious reflection on the Works of Gods Providence, manifested in the several effects of his wise Conduct in the govern­ment of the World, whereby he has in every Age demonstrated his Justice and Mercy in dealing to every man a Reward according to his Acti­ons.

These were the Causes of the invention of Letters, and of writing Histories or Memoires of past Events for the use of Posterity, by those that had seen them, or were otherwise well in­form'd concerning them. And those into whose [Page] hands these first Monuments fell, were mighty fond of them, and by often reading and deep­ly considering them, in a short time much im­prov'd themselves in Wisdom, Virtue, and Pie­ty. For the first and most ancient Stories were written without any vain pomp of affected Words or Rhetorical Expressions: the Histo­rian not courting the Applause, but labouring hard for the Improvement of the Reader: And he again repairing to those venerable Reposito­ries, not to seek a vanishing Light, unprofitable Pleasure and Devertisement, but a solid and durable Improvement, and the Rules of living well and wisely. So there is a threefold use of History: Political, Moral, and Divine. Of all which, briefly in their order.

The Political use of History is twofold: first, as it relates to Governours; and then, as it re­lates to Subjects or Inferiours.

The advantages Princes and Great men, who are to govern others, do or may reap from the reading of Histories well and wisely written, are innumerable; but then they are to such so well known, that I need not spend any time to remark them here; my designe not being to in­struct my Betters, but to improve (if I may) my Equals.

And as to Subjects, the use of History is not much less; by which, if they would seriously reflect upon what is past, they might learn many things that would be of great use to them, and render theirs and their Governours lives more easie and happy.

[Page] 1. For first, they might observe with what difficulties all humane Governments are beset, how often God (for causes known sometimes onely to himself) defeats the wisest contrivan­ces and designes of men: How neighbouring Princes interpose, and cross or frustrate their undertakings, out of interest, fear, hope, envy, and the like: How often want of due instru­ments, provisions, men, moneys, changes in the seasons; and a thousand other accidents inter­vene and prevent their purposes.

Now this consideration would certainly (if men were modest and just) procure from them a due regard for their Superiours, even then when they are unfortunate, and not make every unprosperous accident that happened, the effect of sloath, negligence, carelesness, and supine stupidity. And being thus disposed, they might sometimes, at least, find the reason of publick Calamities in themselves; at others, in the ju­stice of God punishing the sins of men; or in the neighbour Princes, or any other cause, rather than traduce and defame their Governours, and suspect their fidelity to their own Interests and Honour, which must be infinitely dear to any man of sence.

2. History will teach men, that Religion and Liberty are very ill secured for the most part by Civil War and Rebellion: for as to the first, the right hand of God planted it in the World by Miracles and the effect of a mighty Providence, without Force, Wealth, Eloquence, or Policy, by [Page] the Bloud and Patience, the Meekness and sim­plicity, the Holiness and Resignation of Saints, Martyrs, and Holy men: And as it was planted, so it must be defended, so it must be preserved.

But then there is nothing in the world more contrary to this method, than for Subjects to raise Tumults, encourage Insurrections, list Ar­mies, and attempt the ruine and destruction of their Princes and fellow-Subjects, to defend this Faith; which was planted by Meekness, and watered with the blouds and tears of the Mar­tyrs: and this, if Religion be never so appa­rently persecuted and endeavoured to be de­stroyed. But who can delineate the madness of perpetrating all these horrid Villanies out of meer fear & jealousie Religion should be design­ed upon, before there is one drop of Bloud spilt, or one man ruined or attempted to be ruined?

And as to Civil Liberty and Property, they were won from kind and good-natured Princes, by the dutiful Carriage and Civility of their Subjects. And therefore there is scarce a foot­step of them to be found amongst those Nations that were never Civilized; and many of them have never enjoyed those rare Blessings, but in a low degree, and some scarce at all, as the anci­ent Egyptians.

Now as there is nothing more ungrateful, than for men to turn the Favours of their Prin­ces, or indeed of any man, into occasions of Quar­rels and Resistance, even when there is a real cause to be concern'd for the loss of these precious [Page] and inestimable Jewels; so is there nothing more foolish, than for men to put these Darlings of theirs to nurse in Fields and Camps, reeking with the Bloud of their fellow-Subjects, sur­rounded with Fire and Smoak amidst the roar­ing of Cannon, the ratling of Drums, the shrikes and groans of dying men, and all that is dread­ful to flesh and bloud; and after all to fall in­to the hands of an enraged Prince, if he pre­vails; and into the less-merciful clutches of their own Souldiers, if they happen to overcome their Prince. Certainly there cannot be a more impolitick Errour committed by Subjects, than to resist and rebel, when their Priviledges are really invaded: but then to do all this by way of prevention to be wheadled and cajoled into such miseries as those with the meer fears and jealou­sies of contingent and possible designes, this is a degree of Rage beyond all other human madnesses, and can be inspired by nothing but Furies & in­croaching Devils, who take possession of the very souls of such men, as they are said to have done heretofore of some mens bodies. And there is not a more powerful Amulet against these Mi­series, than a due observation of the Tragedies these Devils have heretofore raised in the world. The truth is, almost all the Nation are satisfied that next the Mercies of God, nothing did more contribute to our late Preservation, than the remembrance of our former Miseries: And the History of them may have very near the same effect upon our Posterity.

[Page] 3. The third and last Political use of Histo­ry, is to acquaint the World with the nature and temper of men. There is scarce any thing more difficult than for a man to know himself well; and if he did not sometimes see himself in others, he would hardly perhaps ever do it: But then who but God can pretend to know all the various, changeable, and inconstant humours, designes, and ends of the Mass of Mankind in the space of those few years we are to live? and yet if it were possible, how infinite is the danger of being mistaken and purchasing our experience at the price of our ruine?

But History, like a kind Mistriss, leads us by the hand into her delightful Gardens, and there reads Lectures upon every Flower, Plant, and Weed, and truly acquaints us how this and the other sped well or ill; and then assures us our Fortune will be the same, if we be not so wise as to take her word, but will be trying over again the same Experiments upon our selves or others. But above all, if we take Dema­goues, People-drivers, the Flatterers and A­dorers of the Many, for good men, or good friends, or in short, any man for a good Common­wealths-man or Patriot, who is not a good loyal hearty Subject.

If men would thus a while consult in History the honest policy of preserving themselves and their Countries from Ruine and Confusion, they could not but observe, that Immorality was in every Age the greatest Enemy of Mankind. [Page] That Ambition, Pride, Avarice, Revenge, Lust, and Luxury, and the rest of those horrid deformities of Mortality, were the real weights which set these Machines in motion, which have torn down Empires, and ruined the most flourishing Kingdoms; and particularly have in the memory of man twice, bid fair for the ruine of ours, under two Princes of so exact a Justice, and so God-like a Clemency and Goodness, that their Subjects having no real Calamities to com­plain of (which is a Felicity rarely given by Heaven to the best Ages) our wanton Country­men, sick of Peace, Plenty, and Prosperity, ri­fled the Cabinet of God Almighty, and the in­nocent bosoms of two excellent Princes, and pre­tended they discovered their designes of intro­ducing Popery and Arbitrary Government. And by these Chimerical fears intoxicated and be­wiched the poor Populace, and putting them at last in fearful Commotions, these quick-sight­ed Privado's of Heaven, the Censors of Princes, the Darlings of the Rabble, mounted the Sad­dle, and drove the People as the Devils did the heard of Swine down the steep Rocks of Rebel­lion, Schism, and Treason, while they who put them into this miserable condition, reaped the Wealth, and divided the Honours and Em­ployments of the Nation amongst them, and under the mask of a pompous Piety, were reli­giously proud, covetous, ambitious, revengeful, insolent, treacherous, perjurous, and in a word, a parcel of the most sanctified Rogues and Tray­tors that ever the Sun shin'd upon.

[Page]When God Almighty reduced us out of our Hell of Misery, and Chaos of Confusion, there was no Apologie more frequent in the mouths of men than this: Who could have thought that men of such seeming Piety, of so exal­ted and eminent a zeal for the Glory of God, the Protestant Religion, and the Liberty and Property of the Subject, that such men, I say, as these should hatch in their minds such horrid Villanies, Treasons, Rapines, Mur­ders, Perjuries, and ambitious Projects, as we have since with astonishment seen them practise? Well, if they had wisely considered the Histories of other Countries, or of former Ages, they might easily have foreseen and pre­vented all this Misery: for whenever men are more sollicitous for the faults of their Superi­ours, than careful to amend their own; when they seek to win the entire love and esteem of Subjects from their Princes and Governours; let the outside be what it will, there is Pride, Ambition, Avarice, and Discontent within: and therefore such men, of all others, are never to be trusted.

This Thought well pursued, will lead a man home too, and give him an occasion to search his own heart, and try diligently whether he is a good and useful Member of the Civil Society in which he lives: If he is under the dominion of any of these Vices, let him never call himself a loyal Subject, or a good Patriot; for whatever his present intentions are, he will be neither, [Page] when his Interest shall lie cross to his Duty. And because it is much harder to believe ill of ones self, than of another, let History acquaint him how many men have been drawn in by their own secret, and in all probability to themselves undiscovered Vices, till beyond their first inten­tions or thoughts, they have been swallowed up in an Abyss of horrible Crimes and Disorders; and what have betided them, may be our lot too, if we do not purge out, or at least watch the motions of these Disturbers of the World in us.

The Doctrines of Morality are sometimes un­pleasant and uneasie to corrupted minds, and do not easily insinuate and obtain admission; and when they are received, do often make such slight impressions, that they vanish in oblivion and forgetfulness: but examples convey them to us with pleasure and delight, and the variety and wonderful accidents that are to be met with in all Histories, which are nothing but the imagery and various colours of Virtues and Vices embodied and made visible to us, make vived and lasting impressions on the minds of men, and stamp and engrave the Ideas of them on the fancy and memory, so that nothing but death can destroy or obliterate those impres­sions. And this was one reason why the Anci­ents cloathed their moral Observations in Apo­logues, Fables, and Parables; but History ha­ving the reality of persons, names, times, and places, do infinitely exceed these fictitious re­presentations: [Page] and therefore as History grew up in the World, these fictitious Images of it were laid by and antiquated.

Examples fit all Capacities, at least some or others of them, in a vast variety; whereas Pre­cepts can hardly be so cloathed, but some will despise the meanness of the language, or others not understand the goodness of it: whereas Ex­amples fit themselves to all Capacities, and teach men before they are aware of it, the love­liness of Virtue, the turpitude and baseness of Vice, and the different events which for the most part in every Age have attended them.

This brings me to the third particular I proposed, the divine use of History. As the World was not the Product of blind Fate or Chance, but the Work of a Great, Wise, and Holy God, who raised and built it out of No­thing by his infinite Power, and by his Wisdom brought it into this beautiful order in which we behold and admire it: So neither did he de­sert it when he had form'd and adorn'd it, but has ever since govern'd it with one unsearcha­ble and irresistible Providence and Wisdom. And this not onely the inanimate and irratio­nal part of it, but above all, his eyes are upon the children of men; and in the government, protection, preservation, rewarding and punish­ing, exalting and abasing them, he exerciseth so steady, just, and reasonable a Providence, but withal, so abstruse, hidden, and reserved, that it exceeds the Wisdom of the greatest [Page] and wisest of men to penetrate into the reasons of it, or to foresee the events before they disco­ver themselves in time.

Now in the History of the Actions and E­vents of mankind, there is an undesigned Hi­story of this Providence of God, which like some Rivers, sometimes run above ground plain and delightful, or terrible and instructive at the first glance; but at others, buries it self under Mountains and Hills: and though in those secret recesses it still (like those Rivers) maintains an uninterrupted course, yet can no mortal eyes pursue its streams, and observe its windings and turnings, or when and where it will break out and again discover it self, till he himself is pleased to bring it into the light a­gain.

Now History has brought down an uninter­rupted thread of the methods of Providence from the creation of the World to this day; by which, as in a Glass, we may see a representa­tion of the Justice and Mercy of God in his dea­lings with the sons of men, and admire that wonderful Wisdom and Power, which, without offering violence to the freedom of mens wills, has yet been able to dispose them to effect his own most holy purposes, when they least designed it; without any violence has protected Virtue against the utmost rage of Men and Devils, and preserved it through all the Ages of an ill World; and punished Vice by it self, in ways so abstruse and secret, that the Workers of Ini­quity [Page] have been stun'd and amazed to see not onely their ill designes over-ruled, but made the Instruments of their own deserved ruine.

There is no one thing that hath in every Age so much staggered the belief of a divine Provi­dence governing the World and the Affairs of Mankind, as the prosperity of wicked and lewd men, and the misery and oppression of good and virtuous men. But this Mist will vanish like smoak, when men are pleased to take a view of past Ages, and observe the Catastrophies of the several Periods and Ages: for that which may seem at one time to be all Mystery and Riddle, will by degrees open and unfold it self, till at last there will be nothing more apparent, than that God had all this while his eyes upon both the one and the other, and kept the invisible Reins in his own hands, and by ways, unpercei­ved both by the good and bad, at last, tho not suddenly, brought them to their deserved ends, and recompenced both according to their diffe­rent deserts; and this will give us an assu­rance, that as it has been in past Ages, so it will be in ours; the same God is still at the Helm, and he will, as heretofore he has, conduct us al­so to that end we have deserved, be it good or bad, without respect of persons, which will pre­serve us in Peace and Virtue, dispel all melan­cholly thoughts, and free us both from specula­tive and practical temptations.

It is not hard to apply all I have said to the History of our Late Revolutions in England; [Page] but as I designe a Preface to a very short Hi­story of them, and so must not be long: so the Reader will be much more instructed and better pleased to reflect upon that History, and to com­pare it with this Preface, and then determine with himself whether these thoughts of mine up­on this occasion are pertinent, and whether there be any thing in the following Story that will prove and illustrate the truth of what I have here said; and therefore to him I shall leave it.

But because these Pieces never appeared be­fore in English, may I have the Readers leave to give him a short account of the designes of them.

The Author of the first two Parts was Dr. Geo. Bates, a learned and an eminent Physician of London in the last Age, who was afterwards Phy­sician to Oliver Cromwel, and so must of ne­cessity be intimately acquainted with many things which were not known to others, and had means to look through all the disguises of that cunning Impostor, as his Station and Employ­ment also afforded him an easie access to most of the Grandees that had then a large share in promoting the Miseries of England. The first part was published in the time of Oliver Crom­wel, and yet is written in an Air and Stile which shews the Author durst speak truth, when if discovered, his life would have paid the price of his Veracity; and yet that time too may yield us a good assurance he did not venture his life for falshoods and slaunders; it was not [Page] then a time to bely prosperous, insolent, and in­raged Villains.

He gives us this account of the Work him­self by an Epilogue added in a latter impression, at the end of the First Part.

Whilst the Original of this small History was in Writing, it was several times seen by the Reverend George Lord Bishop of Winchester, the Worthy Nicholas Oudart Se­cretary and Counsellour to the Prince of O­range; by Sir John Wederburn Knight; by Dr. Richard Owen Professor of Divinity, and Rector of St. Swithins in London; by Dr. George Ent, heretofore Physician to Charles the First, and now to the present King; and also by Fabian Philips an Attorney, who was my Assistant in searching the Rolls, Offices, and Monuments of the Law, (that I may not mention Dugard who printed it) men above all exceptions: although there is an insolent Defamer, who pretends I have fathered another mans Work, whose Ca­lumnies I neither value nor fear.

This Passage is inserted by him onely to prove he was the Author of it, but is at the same time a strong proof of his integrity: for it is very well known, these Persons were not all of one side in our late Distractions.

The first Part of this Piece was first printed about the year 1651, without his name, for the information of Strangers, and therefore he pre­miseth a short account of the Prerogatives of the [Page] Crown, and the Priviledges of Parliament, and Liberties of the Subject, here; which had been so abominably misrepresented to Forreigners, that they stood generally in great doubt on which side the right lay, and considering the time when it came out first, nothing could be of greater use and benefit to the then-oppressed in­terest of our late Soveraign.

Nor was it onely useful abroad, but at home also: for the People of England were then so distracted by the Contradictions betwixt the Royal and the Rebel Party, that they, at least many of them, did as little know on which side to give their Verdict, as the Neighbour Nati­ons. Hence the Learned and Ingenuous Mr. Henry Foulis, in his Preface to his History of the wicked Plots of our pretended Saints, gives us this Account of himself: As for the Author (saith he) whilst a School-boy, he was too much sway'd to Presbytery; and delighting in the Stories of our Times, had none to peruse, but May, Vicars, Ricraft, and such-like partial Relators: by which means believing, with the ignorant, all things in print to be true, he was perswaded to en­cline to the wrong side. But a little before his going to the Ʋniversity, lighting by chance upon Dr. Bates 's judicious Book E­lenchus Motuum, he found the Laws and true Government to be opposite to his former Readings, and therein the Knavery and Jug­ling of their Opposers, strange things which [Page] he had never heard of before. Which, with some other assistance, so far prevail'd with him, that in a short time he threw off Father Schism, and ever since, like little Loyal John in the Epitaph,

For the King, and Church, and Bloud-Royal,
He went as true as any Sun-Dial.

There are some others who have acknowled­ged to the World in print, the benefit they and the Government received from this first Part.

The Second Part was added by Dr. Bates, after his late Majesties Restitution, to inform the World of the manner of his Majesties E­scape from Worcester, and how things were carried till the deposition of Richard Crom­wel, wherein is an excellent account of the bloudy War in Ireland, and the just Judgment of God upon the Scotch Covenanters for joyning with our English Parliamentarians, upon pre­tence of setting up Presbytery here, but indeed to inrich themselves the second time with the Spoils of England; the effect of which was, that Presbytery was ruined even in Scotland by O. C. and his victorious Independant Army, and they lost at the same time all their Civil Priviledges, and were treated, till the Kings return, as a conquered People by their fellow-Rebels.

The Third Part was written by one Dr. Tho. Skynner, another Learned Physician, to conti­nue [Page] and bring down the Story, and shew the Joy of our Nation at the Restitution of his late Majesty. It is in the Original written in a florid stile, and full of curious and ingenuous Reflections.

The Translations of all these have been ma­naged with great care, to make them both true to the Originals, and delightful to the Reader; onely the Translator thought fit to supply some Papers which are but hinted at, or wholly omit­ted in the Author; as the Treaty of the Isle of Wight, in the First Part; the Coronation-Oath, in the Third; and others. And also when there are any Papers or Expressions men­tioned, to publish the original Papers and words, when he could find them; but when not, he hath humoured the Translation as near the Latin as the sence of the Author and idiome of the two Languages would permit.

There is great hope that this short account of our late horrible Confusions here in England, which is so acceptable in the Original to all For­reigners and Learned English-men, may now translated be no less acceptable to all those who either cannot read the Latin, or care not to give themselves so much trouble; and that it may contribute something to the interest of the Government, by forewarning men how they be­take themselves to those courses again which produced such dreadful Effects heretofore.

A TABLE To the First Part.

A.
  • ACcusations against the Lord Keeper and Judges pag. 24
  • Army fall off from the Parliament, and seize the King out of their possession, 82. Seem to comply with the King, ibid. but relapse, 87.
  • The Assembly set up Presbytery, 57
B.
  • Beginning of the Troubles, 17
  • Bishops accused, 24. Their Lands sold, 59
C.
  • Covenant and Solemn League, 60. Its fruits, 62
  • Courts, several abrogated, 28
  • Cromwel Oliver, 77
E.
  • Episcopacy abrogated, 56
F.
  • Fairfax, Sir Thomas, 77
  • Fasts, the noted fore-runners of some mischief, 134
H.
  • High Court of Justice (falsely so called) its begin­ning and proceedings, 139. and inf.
  • Hotham, Sir John, 38
I.
  • Independents, 61, 71. and inf. work the Presbyterians out of power, 76, 79
  • Intercessions for the King, 142
  • Ireton's Remonstrance, 133
  • Irish Rebellion, its beginning, 45
  • The Junto or Rump of the House of Commons 138
K.
  • King Charles the First goes into Scotland, 31. Goes to the House of Commons, 34. Withdraws to Windsor, and thence towards York, 35. Goes to the Scots Army, 65. Designed to be murdered, 88. Escapes to the Isle of Wight, 91. He is murder­ed, 158. His excellent Character, 161.
  • Keepers of the Liberties, or Council of Forty, 166
L.
  • Laud, Archbishop, 23
  • Lords House in Parliament abolished, 163
M.
  • Militia, 33, 36, 41
  • Monarchy of England, and the Rights thereof, 1. A­bolished by the Rebels, 163.
O.
  • Oxford-Parliament, 63
P.
  • Parliaments what, their Power and Customs, 5. and inf.
  • [Page]Parliament-Factions, 22. To sit as long as they please, 30. Their scandalous Declaration, 32. Their unreasonable Demands, 39. Modelled by the Ar­my, 137.
  • Peters, Hugh, 133, 143
  • Prerogative abated, 29
  • The Presbyterian Model, 57
  • Prynn, William, 137
Q.
  • Queen goes into Holland, 35
R.
  • Religion, the pretence of the Rebellion, 43
S.
  • Scots Rebellion, 20. They come into England, 62. The King puts himself into their hands, 65. They sell him, 67. Take up Arms for the Kings deli­verance, 100. Are defeated, 101.
  • Sects and Sectaries, 67, & infra.
  • Strafford Earl, 21, 23. His Tryal, 24.
T.
  • Tryal of his Sacred Majesty K. Charles I. 144
  • Tumults and Riots, 25
  • Tunnage and Poundage, 18
V.
  • Vote of Non-Addresses, 95. Is rescinded, 102.
W.
  • War, its beginning, 42
  • Wight Isle, the Treaty there, 102. & inf. The Kings Concessions there voted satisfactory, 136.
  • Writs of Summons to Parliament, the form, 7

ERRATA'S.

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A short HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE Rise and Progress OF THE Late Troubles in England.

ENgland, The Right of Kings in Eng­land, as all the Records of our Anti­quity tell us, never was governed but by the authority of a King; and though it hath been divided into se­veral Kingdoms, or rather Camps, yet it never had rest from intestine Com­motions, nor foreign Invasions, till it came under the Obedience and Protection to one sole Mo­narch.

Since that, In the person of a Monarch, for above a thou­sand years, it is now above a thousand years that Kings in a continued succession have reigned with supreme Authority in England. And so great all along hath been the Love and Reverence that the People have had towards a Prince, that he was al­ways judged the fittest and most worthy of the Go­vernment, who was next in Bloud to the King; And he heredi­tary, so that no factious Election, but lawful Birthright, could ever warrant a Title to the Crown. The Royal Heir of the last King, though an Infant, is im­mediately carried to the Throne, even in the Cradle: [Page 2] And in this kind of immortality in reigning, the Laws glory, And never dy­ing. To him all swear Allegi­ance That the King of England never dies.

Nay, and by the ancient common Law, all Sub­jects above twelve years of age, are bound by Oath to bear a peculiar Faith (by the Laws called Alle­giance) to the lawful Prince, to him alone, and for ever, even before he be crowned; and that their O­bedience may be confirmed upon a double account, a religious Oath, and Suprema­cy. that of Supremacy, is likewise to be taken to the King.

I must here beg the Readers pardon, if in the ve­ry beginning I speak of the Kings Prerogative, the Priviledges of Parliament, and Liberties of the People; which to our Country-men who have studied the point, perhaps may be tedious, though to the Work we now undertake it be absolutely necessary; seeing thereby it will appear who have been the Violators, and who the Observers of the Laws.

The Preroga­tives of the K. or chief marks of Majesty, and the Regalia, be­long onely to the King.In the first place, what great power the King has over the lives and fortunes of his Subjects, is hereby made manifest, that mediately or immediately they all hold their Estates of the King; that is to say, that whatever Lands and Possessions they enjoy in fee or feudal rights, they owe them more to the boun­ty of the King than to Fortune.

So that all E­states and Pos­sessions are de­rived from him, and to him re­turn at last. He hath the care of Pupils and Lunaticks.And therefore all Estates failing of lawful Heirs, or when the Owners forfeit them by Felony or Trea­son, flow back to the Kings Exchequer, as to the O­cean from whence they have been derived.

The King, as Father of the Country, has the care of the persons of Pupils and Lunaticks, and enjoys their Rents and Revenues. Nay, by the ancient Laws, it is not lawful for them to contract Marriage without his consent; and if they do, they are to be severely censured.

The power of coyning Money.And that what is to be given to Caesar, may be known by the publick Money, the matter, form, [Page 3] manner, and value of Coyn, is varied according to the will and pleasure of the King.

All Honours, Titles, and Priviledges, He confers all Honours and Offices; all publick Corporations and Societies, flow from and are consti­tuted by the Crown; the Admiral, Chancellor, Trea­surer, Judges, Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, are onely made by the King; Which are to be administred in his name alone. in whose name alone their Writs, Warrants, and Sentences pass: nor does any of them enter into Office before he hath taken an Oath of Fidelity to the King, and of faithful admini­stration.

None but the King has power of Peace and War, His power in matters of War. who orders Military Discipline according to his will and pleasure, and not by the forms or prescripts of Laws; and as he himself thinks fit, disposes of the Forces both by Sea and Land; it being necessary that he who watches for the safety of the Common­wealth, should be invested with sufficient Power to repress intestine Seditions, and repel foreign Inva­sions. Upon that account, it belongs onely to him to appoint Musters and Levies of Souldiers, secure the Castles and Garisons (with which maritim Forti­fications England, even in the profoundest time of Peace, is no less secured than by the Seas); as of­ten as there is need also to fit out a Fleet, and to set Governours and Commanders over both.

Nor is the Sword neither to be weilded by any o­ther hand but that which sways the Scepter: so that if any one (without the Kings command) take up Arms for the defence of the Kings Person and Rights, he is by so doing guilty of High-Trea­son, and liable to the punishment of a Traytor, with­out a special Pardon from the King.

Nor is his Power more limited in Ecclesiastical than Civil affairs: Also in Eccle­siastical af­fairs. for since the authority of the Pope being shaken off, the Church was made part of the Kingdom, and the Clergy after long reluctancy [Page 4] began to be contented with the common priviledges of Subjects; the King became at length Custos u­trius (que) tabulae, and (as he ever was in right be­fore, so was he then) acknowledged and confirm­ed by Law to be supreme Head and Governour in spiritual as well as temporal affairs, and owned to be in a manner the Bishop of the Kingdom; where­in, in the promotion of Bishops, conferring of Digni­ties, appointing Fasts, enjoyning Rites and Ceremo­nies in the Church, he hath (with the advice of the Fathers and Rulers of the Church) always exercised a supreme and sacred Power and Autho­rity.

He moderates the rigour of Laws.He hath also so great power over the Laws themselves (though he obliges himself to govern according to Law) that sometimes he moderates the rigour of the Law according to Equity, pardons Malefactors; And judges in undecided ca­ses. and in cases that are not decided by a­ny Law, interposes his Imperial Sentence. Lastly, that I may assert nothing rashly, but all upon the credit of Lawyers, the life, force, and authority of every thing that is acted in England, is to be found in the King alone.

But because the King of England has not, like Bri­areus, an hundred hands, nor can he, like the Sun, view all things at one glance; he hath been accu­stomed to create from amongst the Nobility, Bishops, Judges, He chuses his own Counsel­lors. and Commons of the Kingdom, without the envy and emulation of any, such and so many Counsellors as he pleases, to assist and ease him in the weighty care of the Government.

He that mounts the Throne is ne­ver to be brought to the Bar, since the Law says he cannot die.Having named these Prerogatives of a most Au­gust and Imperial Crown, what shall I call that bar­barous and inhumane Principle and Purpose of bringing the King to Judgment before the Kings Tribunal, and then to smite him with the Sword which he alone is to draw; the King, I say, whom [Page 5] the Law it self openly declares can never die? There is no necessity of curbing arbitrary government by such inhumane Tyranny upon the sacred Person of the King, since whatever may be done in the admi­nistration of the Government, either against the Laws of the Country, or inconsistent with the good and profit of the People, the blame and punishment of it is cast upon the publick Ministers: so that it was not flattery, but the highest Justice which gave ground to this noted maxime, Nor can he err, or do wrong. But as he of­fends by his Ministers, so is he punished. That the King can­not err, nor do any wrong; because the whole blame and all the punishment is wont, and ought to fall upon the publick Ministers and Counsellors, whose duty it is to admonish the Prince, and to deny their concurrence with him in any thing that is unjust; and to resigne their place, rather than obey him when he commands any thing contrary to Law.

Nay, The Heir of the Crown is by the death of his Predecessor ip­so facto clear­ed from all guilt. the Laws are so sollicitous for the safety of the Prince, as of him who is to maintain and pre­serve the Law, that the next Heir to the Crown, whatsoever Crime he might be guilty or accused of whilst he was a private person, yet by the death of his Predecessor, as by a certain postliminious Abso­lution, he is freed from all taint and guilt; and his stepping up into the Throne purges him from all defects. It is enough to curb him that holds the Reins of the Government, That he must expect the Judgment of God.

Nevertheless, Yet it is not lawful to rule arbitrarily. it is not lawful for the King to rule arbitrarily in England, oppress his Subjects, or make and abrogate Laws by his sole Authority. But as the Law allows a decorous administration of abso­lute Authority in some things to the King, so does it assigne to the Commons others, VVhat Rights belong to Par­liaments. and those no incon­siderable Priviledges in the Kingdom, in common with the King, that so the joynt Authority in Go­vernment might the more easily engage the Subjects to obedience.

[Page 6] To make and repeal Laws.For, for the making and repealing of Laws, and the interpreting and explaining former ambiguous Statutes; Impose Taxes. for raising of Money out of the ordinary course, Legitimate Bastards. when there is occasion for it; legitimating of Bastards; naturalizing of Strangers; altering and setling the Rights of Possessions; Enact the VVorship of God. confirming by ci­vil Sanctions the Divine Worship, after it hath by the Convention of the Clergy been formed accor­ding to the Word of God; setting Rates upon Weights and Measures, Set Rates on VVeights and Measures. and the like; that the peo­ple may not seem to suffer any thing without their own consent and concurrence, the Votes of Parlia­ment, which is the supreme Court of England, and in conjunction with the King, under God, hath a certain Omnipotence in this little World, are necessa­rily required.

VVhat the Parliament of England is.The Parliament is an Assembly of the States of the Kingdom, consisting of the Bishops, Lords, and Representatives of the Commons, called by the King who is the Head of it, who meet and sit in two di­stinct places called the Upper and Lower Houses, in respect of dignity not of scituation. The Upper House (which is called the House of Lords) con­tains two Estates, The Ʋpper House of it. to wit, the Spiritual Lords who are the Bishops, and the Temporal who are Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, and Barons; the Judges of the Kingdom assisting to give advice in matter of Law, but not to vote.

The Lower.The Lower House consists of the third Estate of the Kingdom, who are the Commons, and is there­fore called also the House of Commons; they are chosen by the plurality of Voices of the Freeholders of the Counties, and Freemen of Corporations, two Knights for each County or Shire, and two Bur­gesses for the most part for every City and Corpo­ration-Town, according to the use and custom of the place.

[Page 7]The day and place of the meeting of the Parlia­ment is appointed by the King; The time and place appoin­ted by the King. by him also it is prorogued, transferred, and adjourned to another place, or dissolved at his pleasure.

The Peers are summoned to attend in Parliament by Writs severally directed to them, They are called by VVrits. and signed by the King. To the rest the Sheriffs of the several Counties by virtue of a Writ out of the Chancery, give notice that the King within a certain time or­ders an Election to be made of Knights and Burgesses, which he commands to be made by the Sheriff in time and place convenient.

Vetus Rescripti formula ad Dynastas.

Rescriptum Regis ad Dyna­stas seu Pares sic sonat: Caro­lus Dei gratiâ, &c. Reveren­dissimo in Christo Patri, &c. (si Episcopos compellet) Consan­guineo nostro (si Duces, Mar­chiones vel Comites alloqua­tur) Dilecto & fideli nostro (si Barones.) Quia de advisamen­to Concilii nostri, pro quibusdam arduis & urgentibus negotiis, Nos, & Statum & defensionem Regni nostri Angliae & Ecclesiae Anglicanae concernentibus, quod­dam Parlamentum nostrum ad Westmonast. &c. teneri ordina­vimus, & ibidem vobiscum & cum caeteris Praelatis, Magnati­bus & Proceribus dicti Regni no­stri Angliae colloquium habere & tractatum; vobis in fide & Di­lectione [Page 8] (si ad Episcopos mit­tatur Rescriptum) per fidem & Allegiantiam (si ad Pares) quibus nobis tenemini, firmiter in­jungendo mandamus, quod consi­deratis dictorum negotiorum ar­duitate & periculis imminenti­bus, cessante quacunque excusa­tione, die & loco dictis, persona­liter intersitis Nobiscum cum cae­teris Praelatis, Magnatibus & Proceribus, super dictis negotiis tractaturi, vestrúmque Consilium impensuri; & hoc, sicut Nos & honorem nostram, ac salutem Re­gni praedicti & Ecclesiae sanctae, Expeditionémque dictorum nego­tiorum diligitis, nullatenus omit­tatis, (si ad Episcopos scribat) praemonere Decanum & Capitu­lum Ecclesiae vestrae tolúmque Clerum vestrae Dioeceseos, quod i­dem Decanus & Archidiaconi in propriis personis, ac dictum Ca­pitulum per unum, idémque Cle­rus per duos Procuratores idoneos, plenam & sufficientem potestatem ab ipsis Capitulo & Clero haben­tes, praedictis die & loco persona­liter intersint, ad consentiendum his quae tum ibidem de communi concilio Regni nostri (Divinâ favente clementiâ) contigerit or­dinari.

Teste Meipso, &c.

The ancient form of the Writ to the Peers.

The Kings Writ to the Nobles or Peers, runs thus: CHARLES by the grace of God, &c. to the most Reverend Father in Christ ( if it speaks to any of the Bishops) to Our Cousin ( if it is addressed to any Duke, Marquess, or Earl) To our Beloved and Faithful (if to a Baron.) Whereas by the advice of Our Council We have or­dained that Our Parliament shall be holden at Westminster, &c. for the dispatch of certain difficult and urgent Affairs con­cerning (or pertaining to) Us, and the State and Defence of Our Kingdom of England, and of the Church of England, and there to hold a Colloquy and Treat with you and with the [Page 8] rest of the Prelates, Great men and Nobles of Our said King­dom of England: Therefore We, by the Fidelity and Love (if the Writ be sent to the Bi­shops) by the Fidelity and Al­legiance, ( if to any of the Peers) which you owe to Us, streight­ly injoyning, command you, that in consideration of the difficulty of the aforesaid Af­fairs, and of the Dangers im­pending, laying aside all Excu­ses, at the day and place afore­said you personally appear to treat with Us, together with the rest of the Prelates, Great men, and Nobles, concerning the Affairs aforesaid, and there­upon give Us your counsel. And this you are not to omit, as you love Us, and Our Honour, and the Safety of Our said Kingdom, and the expedition of the said Affairs.

And if the Writ be directed to a Bishop, it goes on further thus: And you are to forewarn the Dean and Chapter of your Church, and all the Clergy of your Diocess, that the said Dean and the Archdeacons be per­sonally present; and the said Chapter by one, and the said Clergy by two sufficient Pro­curators, having full and suffi­cient power from the said [Page 9] Chapter and Clergy, at the day and place aforesaid, to Consent to those things which then and there (by the favour of the di­vine Clemency) shall happen to be ordained by the Com­mon Council of Our Kingdom.

Witness my self, &c.

Ad Communes, seu Inferi­oris Confessus Senatores.

Aliud Rescriptum ad Vice­comites & Praesides Civitatum, seu Municipiorum, conceptis hisce verbis ità se habet: Rex Vicecomiti salutem. Quia de advisamento & assensu Concilii nostri, &c. (progreditur ut su­perius) & ibidem cum Praelatis, Magnatibus & Proceribus Regni nostri Colloquium habere & tra­ctatum; Tibi praecipimus firmi­ter injungentes, quòd factâ Pro­clamatione in Comitatu tuo, post receptionem hujus Brevis nostri, Parliamenti tenendi die & loco praedictis, duos Milites gladiis cinctos, magis idoneos & discretos Comitatûs praedicti, & de quali­bet Civitate Comitatûs illius duos Cives, & de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de discretioribus & magìs sufficientibus, liberè & in­differenter per illos qui Electioni huic interfuerint, juxta formam Statutorum indè edictorum & [Page 10] provisorum, eligi, & nomina eo­rundem Militum, Civium & Bur­gensium in quibusdam Indenturis inter te & illos qui hujusmodi E­lectioni interfuerint conficiendis, sive hujusmodi electi praesentes fu­erint sive absentes, inseri, eósque ad dictum diem & locum venire facies: Ità quòd iidem Milites plenam & sufficientem potestatem pro se & Communitate praedicti Comitatûs, ac dicti Cives & Bur­genses pro se & Communitatibus Civitatum & Burgorum praedi­ctorum divisim ab ipsis habeant, ad faciendum & consentiendum his quae tum ibidem de communi Concilio Regni nostri (favente Deo) contigerit ordinari super negotiis antè dictis, ità nè pro de­fectu potestatis hujusmodi, seu propter improvidam Electionem Militum, Civium aut Burgensium praedictorum, praedicta negotia in­fecta maneant quovis modo. No­lumus tamen quòd tu nec aliquis alius Vicecomes dicti Regni no­stri aliqualiter sit electus.

To the Members of the House of Commons.

Another Writ directed to the Sheriffs and Chief Magistrates of Cities and Corporations, runs thus: The King to the Sheriff greeting. Whereas by the Advice and Assent of Our Council, &c. (as before) then and there to hold a Colloquy and Treaty with Our Prelates, Great men, and Nobles of Our Kingdom, &c. We command and streightly injoyn you that a Proclamation being made in your County (Court) after the receipt of this Our Writ, con­cerning Our Parliament to be holden at the day and place a­foresaid; you do cause two Knights of the most fitting and discreet of your County afore­said, and of every City in the said County two Citizens, and of every Burrow (or Corpora­tion) two Burgesses of the most discreet and sufficient, to be [Page 10] freely and indifferently chosen, according to the form of the Statutes in that case made and provided, by those who shall be then present at the said E­lection; and you are also to insert the names of the said Knights, Citizens, and Burges­ses (whether the persons so e­lected be present or absent) in certain Indentures to be made betwixt you and those who shall be present at the said Ele­ction, and you shall cause them to appear at the day and place aforesaid: so as the said Knights have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Com­munity of the aforesaid Coun­ty, and the said Citizens and Burgesses for themselves and the Communities of the said Cities and Corporations, severally to do and consent to those things which (by the favour of God) shall by the Common Council of Our Kingdom be ordained concerning the Affairs afore­said; so that by the want of such Power, or by the impro­vident Election of the Knights, Citizens, or Burgesses aforesaid, the Affairs aforesaid be not in any way left unfinished ( undis­patched). Yet We will not that you or any other Sheriff of Our said Kingdom be by any means elected.

[Page 11]These things being punctually performed accor­ding to exactness of Law, The manner of meeting. the Members in a solemn and splendid Procession, such as may imprint an Awe and Reverence in the minds of the People, go first to Church, and then to the Parliament-house. The King de­clares the cau­ses of their meeting in the Ʋpper House. And at that time the King coming into the House of Lords, and having called up the Members of the House of Commons, either speaks to them himself, or causes the Lord Chancellor to declare to them the weighty causes of their meeting, and what it is he would have them consult and deliberate about for the Publick Good.

The King is not obliged afterward, unless he please, to be present at their Consultations, except at the end of a Session, that he may give the strength and vigour of a Law to their Bills.

The Knights and Burgesses of the Lower House have severally the Oath of Allegiance administred unto them by one appointed for that effect by the King; which amongst other things, contains this clause: All and every one of the Members of the House of Commons take the Oath of Al­legiance to the King. I will bear Faith and true Allegiance to his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power, against all Conspiracies and Attempts whatsoever, which shall be made against his or their Persons, their Crown and Dignity; and make known unto his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, all Treasons and traiterous Conspiracies which I shall know and hoar of to be against him or a­ny of them, &c.

But lest any one being advanced to the high Ho­nour and Dignity of consulting with the King, and sharing in some part of the Government, should for­get that he is still a Subject; the better to keep him within the bounds of duty, he is to take another Oath of Supremacy in these words: And of Supre­macy. I A. B. do ut­terly testifie and declare in my Conscience, That the Kings Highness is the onely Supreme Governour of this [Page 12] Realm, and of all other his Highness's Dominions and Countries, as well in all Spiritual or Ecclesiastical things or causes, as Temporal: and that no foreign Prince, Person, Prelate, State, or Potentate, hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction, Power, Superiority, Pre­eminence, or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual with­in this Realm. And therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all foreign Jurisdictions, Powers, Superio­rities, and Authorities; and do promise from henceforth I shall hear Faith and true Allegiance to the Kings Highness, his Heirs and lawful Successors; and to my power shall assist and defend all Jurisdictions, Privi­ledges, Pre-eminences, and Authorities granted or be­longing to the Kings Highness, his Heirs and Succes­sors, or united or annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm. So help me God, and by the contents of this Book.

They chuse a Speaker, whom they accompany to the King, beseeching his Majesty to ap­prove their E­lection.Being thus obliged to their duty upon their en­try into this auspicious Honour by the Votes of the Lower House (according to the Kings designation or nomination) a Speaker is chosen, whom they accompany to the King, beseeching his Majesty to approve their election; which the King readily grants. This being done, the Speaker in the name of himself and of all the Commons, thanks the King, and begs of his Majesty that they may enjoy their Priviledges, and have the freedom of deba­ting; and that if any one in the heat of discourse should speak too warmly, And not to be offended with their freedom in speech. his Majesty would not take it ill, nor be offended; and that they may have free access to his Majesty and the Upper House so often as occasion shall require. Which being gran­ted, they are dismissed.

☞ All may petiti­on, but by the mediation of Deputies.All men heretofore were admitted to petition this August Assembly, provided their Petitions were pre­ferred within six days after the opening of the Par­liament, and by the hands of some appointed by [Page 13] the Upper House; it belonging to them to judge what were fitting to be presented in Parliament, and to reject such as were trivial or seditious.

Each House has power to consult, debate, The way of de­bating and communicating opinions be­twixt both Houses. and form Bills about the matters proposed by the King, or concerning the making or abrogating of Laws; so that what is agreed upon in the one House, is by Messengers to be sent to the other: and if both con­cur in judgment after the matter hath been debated, the Assent is marked over the head of the Bill (if it be in the Lords House) in this form of words: Les Seigneurs out assentes; The Lords have consen­ted. And in the House of Commons, thus: Les Communes out assentes; The Commons have con­sented.

But if they disagree, many times both Houses, or Committees chosen by them, meet in conference in a convenient place, which is called the Painted Chamber; where the Lords covered and sitting, in solemn manner receive the Commons standing un­covered, and both argue the matter in debate. If in such Conferences opinions disagree (as it hap­pens sometimes) the thing is laid aside; but if they concurr, the Bill is carried to the King: which if he approve of, it is written upon, Le Roy le veut, By the Kings consent the Bills are made Laws; The King wills it; whereby, as by a Soul infused in­to the body, it receives life, and passes into a per­fect Law, to be afterwards promulgated to the peo­ple: If on the contrary the King approve not the Bills brought to him, he uses to write over head, Le Roy s'avisera, The King will consider of it: Or otherwise rejected. some­times he utterly rejects them, and then they are wholly laid aside.

But matters of Religion (which require the Kings more especial care) are not so intirely com­mitted by him to the Parliament, Religious mat­ters a [...] [...]om­mit [...]ed by the Ki [...]g to the Clergy. but to the Convo­cation of the Clergy to be handled, unless for the [Page 14] sanction of Parliament to give them the authority of a Law, which otherwise they could not sufficient­ly have. Which by the Deans, Arch­deacons, and Deputies of the Clergy, are holden in the Convocation. The Deans, Archdeacons, two Prebenda­ries commissionated by the several Chapters, and as many Priests out of every Diocess, meet in an ap­pointed place to consult about affairs of that na­ture; where having first chosen a Prolocutor, they settle points of Religion, Ceremonies, and other matters belonging to the Church, and the imposi­tion of Subsidies also, in name of the Clergy: yet in these latter times their Acts bind not the People, Their Acts bind not the People, without the consent of the King and Par­liament. until (as we said before) they be passed into a Law by the King, with consent of both Houses of Parliament. And so cautious have our Kings been that Laymen should not meddle in such affairs, that, as it is recorded in History, Queen Elizabeth severely checked the Parliament for having appointed a Fast without [...]sking her leave; nor would she be satis­fied, till they begg'd her Majesties pardon for it.

That we may return to the Authority of Parlia­ment, each House hath its several and distinct Privi­ledges. The Rights & Priviledges of the Ʋpper House. The House of Lords not onely concurs in Council and making of Laws, but hath also power of Judicature and giving Judgment, and so of ad­ministring an Oath, especially in weightier Causes, as in the corruption of Judges and Magistrates, and in highest Appeals: which yet, the Lawyers say, cannot lawfully be brought to a tryal, without the consent and warrant of the King; and is never done, unless the Judges of the Law do assist.

Of the Lower.The House of Commons claims to it self the pri­viledge of petitioning and proposing Laws, or of prosecuting, but never of judging, unless within its own walls, and over the Members of their own House, nor that neither beyond a Fine and Imprisonment. By ancient custom that House was so far from pro­nouncing any Sentence (much less in cases of Life [Page 15] and Death) in the name of the People, against the meanest Servant in England, that it never took to it self the power of administring an Oath. It is also extant in the Rolls, to this purpose: Ʋpon the hum­ble supplication of the House of Commons, that whereas all Parliamentary Judgment belongs to the King and the Peers, and not to the Commons, unless by a Grant and Permission from the King, it would please the Kings Majesty that they be not, contrary to custom, obliged to give Judgment; whereupon the King for the future excused them from that trouble, reserving the Parlia­mentary power of Judging for the time to come to the King and House of Lords onely, (save onely in making Laws, or imposing Taxes and Subsidies) unless when it shall otherwise seem fit to the Kings Majesty to re­quire their particular counsel and assent for dispatching the publick Affairs of the Nation.

Nay, it was of old the custom also, that if any Controversie or Doubt arose about the validity of the Election of the Members of the House of Com­mons, the matter was not determined by the other Members of the same House, but either by the Lords in the Upper House, or by the Judges in Chance­ry. And if any of them also departed from the Parliament without leave from the King and both Houses, he was brought before the Kings Privy-Coun­cil or Kings-Bench, to receive sentence for his faults; but he was never punished at the will and pleasure of his own House.

This also is peculiar to the House of Commons, (that we may again return to their Priviledges) that it belongs to them first to debate and form the Bill for raising Money from the People.

Such therefore is the wonderful temper of our Monarchy, that the King, Lords, and Commons have their several parts in the publick administration of Affairs; yet with that harmonious proportion, that [Page 16] All can help, but none of them hurt the Publick. For the Prerogative of the King that gives him the supreme power of Government, and of Peace and War, tends to this, that he may have strength e­nough to defend the Laws against the Factions of the Nobility, and the Tumults and Insurrections of the people: whilst the Nobles, by the high Autho­rity they have in giving Judgment and making Laws, can on the one hand put a stop to tyrannical attempts, if any should be offered by the King; and on the other, curb the insolence of a tumultuous and seditious common People. Nor are the Com­mons, through the priviledge they have of accusing any man, and giving or denying Money, unprovided of means of restraining the licentiousness of the Lords and Privy-Counsellors, and of preventing the arbitrariness of the Prince.

The providence of the Law thae the Mem­bers might de­bate freely and without fear.The Laws are very careful that the liberty of De­bating and Voting be not obstructed through fear and the insolence of wicked men; for it is enjoyn­ed under severe penalties, that no Member of Par­liament come to the House with hidden or open Arms, nor that any other person armed with a Sword or any other Weapon, presume to walk in the Palace-yard or near the House, thereby to give cause of terrour and apprehension, or to lessen the reverence of the place. Yea, it hath been the cu­stom, that the Members of Parliament and their me­nial Servants, should during the sitting of Parlia­ment, be protected from arrests for debt, or other slight crimes; but the Priviledge of Parliament ex­cuses no man that is guilty of Treason, Felony, or Breach of the Peace, from the ordinary prosecution of Law. Yet if by the mistake either of the Magi­strate or Officer, any Parliament-man or their Ser­vants happen to be arrested, they cannot be set at liberty according to Law, but by a Writ (assigning the cause) directed out of the Chancery.

[Page 17]So much heretofore did both Houses contain themselves within the bounds of modesty, The modesty of the Parlia­ment. that if a­ny one inconsiderately offended against the recei­ved customs, or spake any way irreverently of the King, he was severely punished for the fault, and that at the suit and instance of the House of which he was a Member.

The Kings also did very seldom, What honour Kings were wont to shew the Parlia­ment. But when occa­sion required, reduced them into order. unless it were for weighty causes, act any thing that might give offence to so August an Assembly: Yet sometimes, upon high provocations, some of our mildest Prin­ces have severely rebuked the whole Parliament, and caused some Members to be brought to the Bar to answer for their offences; and have punished o­thers by Fine, Imprisonment, or Death, according to the nature of their crimes.

These were the old customs, and those the men that made England for many Ages past to flourish, The happiness of the King­dom under this Government. being happy at home, and renowned abroad; until too much happiness (as often happens in humane affairs) with Luxury and all sorts of Vice, brought in amongst us Pride, Ambition, and the contempt of the Laws both of God and man; so that with mu­tual emulation and envy men began to covet and invade the Rights of one another, to despise and set at nought, rather than to reverence and obey the King, Religion, and Laws, and to gape after No­velties, rather than to acquiesce in what was most excellently established.

Of late, VVhat were the beginnings of the Troubles raised by some Members of the House of Com­mons. some perverse men (and they at first but a few) who had screwed themselves into the Low­er House, being desirous of changes, and crafty Pro­moters of publick Debates, began to clamour about the Rights and Liberties of the People, and Power of Parliaments, to arrogate to themselves unheard-of Priviledges, to be very busie where they were no ways concerned, take upon them what they were [Page 18] not capable of effecting, and at length breaking out into insolent Expressions and Invectives against the the Kings power, calling into question the Tunnage and Poundage, which the Kings of England in all times enjoyed, and forbidding them to be payed to the King; nay, and to offer violence to their Spea­ker within the very walls of the House; and in a word, to shake off their ancient modesty, all reve­rence which they ought to bear to the Majesty of their King, and to trample under foot the sacred Customs of the Kingdom and Priviledges of Parliament.

Hence mutual Jealousies be­twixt the King and Parlia­ment. And then the dissolution of Parliaments.Hence arose mutual Heart-burnings and Jealou­sies, that the King designed to invade the Liberties of the Parliament, and the Parliament to encroach upon the Prerogative of the Crown. For this reason the King put an end to several Parliaments much sooner than many desired, (but not without precedents in former times) and checked the rashness of some by imprisonment. Being some time afterward sollici­ted, he refused to call new Parliaments, that so the Heats and Animosities might be allayed, and that they might learn for the future to bring along with them Modesty and greater Gravity to so great a Council.

This gave oc­casion of stir­ring the people up against the King.But that gave occasion to crafty and restless men of spreading their poyson all over England; so that every where they gave it out, That Religion was ru­ined, the publick Liberty opprest, and the Laws in dan­ger of being subverted; hoping that it would be no difficult matter to perswade credulous people of this, who were greedy of Novelties, and prone to listen to Calumnies and Slanders, especially of the great men. They reproached the King with bitter Rai­lings, calling him uxorious, imprudent, addicted to the Popish Religion, covetous, and what else they knew to be infamous and hateful to the People. They censured the best of his actions, and strained [Page 19] them to the worst sence. They wonderfully aggra­vated his Misfortunes and Failings, and were more injurious than ill fortune her self in their horrid con­structions.

Amongst so many Complaints and Outcries, And yet the Kingdom in a most flourishing condition. if you demand what real calamity happened, Britain was never in a more flourishing condition; stately Buildings both publick and private every where reared, not onely for conveniency, but even for O­stentation and Luxury; Trade increasing dayly both in compass and profit, had already enlarged it self to both the Indies; onely unhappy in this, that with the Wealth of Strangers, foreign Vices were also imported: Arts of all sorts never look'd gayer in Colledges, Courts, and Shops; nor were the wealthy Inhabitants ever prouder; Justice was ad­ministred according to Law; nor was any man de­prived of Life or Goods, but by the lawful Verdict of a Jury of his Country-men, to whom these things ought to be of highest value: all the parts of Go­vernment were so administred, that they seemed to conspire together for the publick good; save onely in this, that they could not repress the insolency and wantonness that sprung from so great prospe­rity; and (which is not to be dissembled) being long unaccustomed to War, we had been unfortu­nate in some foreign expeditions; Though unfor­tunate in War abroad, and some Taxes im­posed at home. and the people were incensed at some impositions at home, which though very moderate, and countenanced by publick necessity and good reason in Law, yet gave occasion to the people to pretend that the Right and Property of the Subject was opprest, Some seditious persons are pu­nished. and to outcries of In­justice; and also the imprisonment and lopping off the ears of four or five seditious persons, sentenced by the Judges of the Star-Chamber, seemed to be punishments too severe for those halcyon days of Peace and Tranquillity. To this may be added, [Page 20] that the Jurisdiction and Censures of Spiritual Courts wrought pity in some, and indignation in o­thers. Besides, the muster of Malecontents was made greater by some scrupulous Puritans who in­terpreted the enjoyning of Ceremonies and things indifferent in the Worship of God, New Ceremo­nies startle the Puritans. in the Canons of the Church, to be the Fore-runners of Popery.

We may also take along with us the Zeal of the Archbishop in exempting the Clergie from the Suits and Injuries of Laicks, and preferring them to civil employments; which drew a great deal of envy and ill will not onely upon himself, but upon all the Church-men also: The Archbishop endeavouring to impose the Liturgy of England upon the Scots, of­fends them. as also his endeavouring to bring into the Church of Scotland the use of the Service-book of England; which, though his designe was laudable, that these three neighbouring Nations, be­ing under the government of one and the same King, might also be joyned in an uniform manner of Worship, was yet unseasonable and ill timed, as we shall a little more fully relate.

Ʋpon which pretext, but for other causes, they grow tur­bulent.Matters in Scotland were then ripe for a Rebelli­on: for many took it ill that the King denied them the Honours and Titles to which they aspired; o­thers were vexed that they were forced to part with some portion of the Tythes (though but moderate) which they had, upon the dissolution of the Mona­steries, in the minority of King James, obtained from the Crown, for making a competent Stipend for Ministers, who then served the Cures at what easie rates the Patrons were pleased to allow them; but most could not digest, that the absolute Authority which they had for a long time usurped over their Vassals and Tenants, should be taken from them and annexed to the Crown.

These chusing rather to shake the State than quit their hold; those again, rather to get Titles of Ho­nour by the seditious Acclamations of the Mobile, [Page 21] than to want them, took occasion of the Liturgie and Ceremonies, to buz the people in the ear that the reformed Religion was to be overturned to make way for Popery; They take Arms; alter the Govern­ment both in Church and State. The King mar­ches against them; so that having taken up Arms and born down all that were of a contrary opinion, they new model Church and State according to their own humour.

The King resolving to reduce those by Arms, whom he could not reclaim by the milder causes of admonition, being accompanied by the Flower of the Youth, and Nobility of England, who volunta­rily, and at their own charge, set out upon the expedition, marches to the borders; but having by clemency and concessions brought them over to obe­dience, And upon Ar­ticles makes Peace with them. The Scots in­novating the Articles, cause a new VVar. which he preferred before Hostility and Arms, he condescended to Articles of Peace, and disbanded his Army.

The Scots afterward insisting upon Articles diffe­rent from those that were agreed upon, occasion new Broils and Dissensions; which when neither Com­missioners, Messengers, nor mutual Letters could com­pose, both sides prepare afresh for a new War.

On the Kings side the Earl of Strafford, then De­puty of Ireland, raised an Army of eight thousand men with the assistance of the Parliament of Ireland, being to be paid by them; and being come over again into England, bestirs himself in raising another Army here.

A Parliament is called: A Parliament is called in England, wherein a certain Cour­tier making bad use of his instructions, did (pur­posely, as most believed, that he might confound af­fairs, and increase Animosities betwixt the King and Parliament) somewhat haughtily demand twelve Subsidies, when the House of Commons had offered six, in lieu of the Ship-money: and this raised new discontents and grievances; And dissolved. for putting a stop to which in those troublesome times, the Parliament [Page 22] was sooner dissolved than many could have wished.

The Scots ma­king a secret Combination with the Fa­ctious, invade England.In the mean time the Scots, whose Forces were not so dispersed, but that they might be speedily drawn together into a body, nicking the opportunity, and by Agents entring into a Combination with the factious of England, under pretext of petitioning the King, came in a hostile manner into England; and having beat some Troops that guarded the passage of the River Tine, put all into fear and consternati­on, took Newcastle and other Towns unprovided for defence, and fortified them.

Having made a Truce, the Judgment of the Parlia­ment is expe­cted.And though Strafford, with the new-raised Army under his command, had undertaken to drive them out of the Kingdom; yet the most merciful King chose rather to refer the matter to a Parliament, than without publick consent to pollute the King­dom with bloud and slaughter. A Truce was there­fore made, whereby the Scots were allowed a free Trade and Commerce, with liberty to raise Con­tributions in the Counties where they lay; and so a Parliament was called, by whose prudence and Loyalty it was hoped all roots and Fibres of Animo­sities might be extirpated.

The Parlia­ment meets. The Factious in it.The Parliament being met, the Factious who in great numbers had got into the House of Commons, trusting now to the Patronage of the Scots, and the Disorders of the times, set about their business man­fully; they represent Grievances both publick and private▪ accuse Courtiers and Magistrates, and dart obliquely reproaches against the King himself, exag­gerating all with the highest strains of their Rhe­torick. Who under pre­text of reform­ing Grievances, endeavour to new-model the Government both in Church and State And by what steps. Under pretext of reforming these Abuses, they labour to overturn both Church and State, and, in imitation of the Scots, to new-model the Government; and that by these steps: If, in the first place, they could deprive the King of the Counsels and Assistance, of his most faithful Sub­jects, [Page 23] and by loading him with Reproaches and false Crimes, render him odious to the People, and strip him of all Power and Authority, they would next screw themselves into publick Offices and the power of the Militia; and then with absolute do­minion give Laws both to the King and People.

The Earl of Strafford and Archbishop of Canterbu­ry are accused of High-Treason, Many are ac­cused; the E. of Strafford, and Arshb. of Canterbury. both the English and Scots impeaching them. Against Strafford, al­so out of Ireland (where the greatest matter of accusation was to be pickt up) both Witnesses and Accusers are brought. For whilst he was Deputy of Ireland; he had by some severities (which though perhaps they could not stand the test of the puncti­lio's and niceties of Law, yet were necessary for the publick) raised the indignation of the Inhabitants; in that he endeavoured to reclaim the native Irish from their wonted Barbarity, to Industry, Civility, and better Manners, and to enure them to the Cu­stoms and Practices of the English. Whence in a short time he had been so successful in this, that having setled Trades, Husbandry, and Commerce amongst those lazy and stubborn people, they began to flourish more than in all Ages before, and to bring money into the Exchequer of England, which by Rebellions they had so often exhausted before. From amongst these, though they were Roman Ca­tholicks, and sworn enemies to the English Govern­ment, and even then plotting a Conspiracy against it, Accusers in name of the Kingdom of Ireland, and Witnesses were sent for, who being prone enough of themselves to the work, that they might the more securely attempt the Rebellion which then they hatched in their minds, (the wise Deputy be­ing taken off) were by all civilities and kind offices caressed by the Factious, that by accumulated crimes they might overwhelm Strafford. The Lord Keeper [Page 24] Finch was also accused, The L. Keeper, Judges, and all the Judges, who being sworn, had after long deliberation, declared in fa­vour of the King, as to the lawfulness of Ship-money: Twelve Bishops also, And twelve Bishops. who by the riotous Rabble ha­ving been barred from coming into the House of Lords, protested against all Laws that should be made as invalid, until all that were concerned in the Council of the Kingdom might safely be present. Others withdrew, to avoid the impendent storm.

The terrified Judges are freely dischar­ged.The Judges scared with this Parliamentary Thunderclap, and taught to obey their Lords and Masters, are at last all freely discharged; and some of them continued in their places, or promoted to higher. The Bishops al­so being depri­ved of the right of voting in the House of Lords. The Bishops having lost their power of voting in the Lords House by a Law made in their absence, being likewise set at liberty, Canterbury is reserved for a future Sacrifice. All the Storm, at present, fell upon the head of the Earl of Strafford, whose Tragedy, since it lay heavy upon the King during his whole life, and at his death, and that he by the Rebels was reckoned the most guilty, I shall more fully relate, that by the instance of one, judg­ment may be made of the rest, what kind of men they were who were so hated by the Parliament.

Strafford is brought to his tryal before the House of Lords the King over­hearing.With great pomp he is accused by the Commons of twenty eight Articles of High Treason before the House of Lords; all the Commons were present, of whom six of the most violent were his Prosecutors or Managers of the Tryal; the King also, Queen and Prince being there privately behind the Cur­tain. The weight of his Impeachment lay in this: That in Ireland he had acted many things arbitrarily contrary to Law: That in time of Peace he had raised Money of the Inhabitants against their wills by Military Exactions: That he had advised the King to force the Subjects of England to obedience by foreign Arms, and to make War against Scotland.

[Page 25]The Tryal lasted many days; during which, The Earl in his defence clears himself of the Accusation. the Earl with great presence of mind and judgment defending himself, so refuted the Arguments of his Prosecutors, that amongst so many Articles there was not one (even in the judgment of his ene­mies) that could amount to Treason, nor could all put together be constructed an acumulative Treason; which inraged the House of Commons so far, that having no colour of Law to take his life, they make a new Law ex post facto, The House of Commons make a new Law, whereby they make him guilty of Trea­son. Not without opposition, many dissenting. whereby he is made guilty of High-Treason, with a clause therein, That it should not be made a Precedent in other Courts.

But this past not without great debate and op­position, many speaking and arguing to the contra­ry, and fifty nine of the chief Members of the House dissenting; whose names were posted up in pub­lick places, that being exposed to the view and fury of the Mobile, they might learn to vote with the Factious for the future, if they had not rather be torn in pieces alive.

This Bill was in two days time past and engros­sed in the House of Commons, and carried up to the Lords for their consent; but a matter of such mo­ment was more seriously deliberated about there. The Lords de­liberating more seriously. The Factious impatient of this delay, stir up the Rabble and Dregs of the People, who armed with Staves and Clubs, and what Weapons Rage put in­to their hands, The Rabble be­set the House, came rushing to the Parliament-house, roaring out, Justice, Justice; and growing dayly more and more insolent, morning and even­ing persisted in their riotous Clamours.

These Blades besetting the House of Lords, And hinder the Lords and Bi­shops from en­tering it; then they break into Westminster-Abbey. lay hands upon what Lords and Bishops they please, and tossing them to and fro, hinder them from en­tering, and threaten them worse if they obstinately refused to comply with the Commons. Next, they break in into Westminster-Abbey, pull down the Or­gans, [Page 26] rob the Vestments and sacred Furniture of the Church; And after­ward run in tumult to White-hall. And answer the K. sawcily. and then with furious clamours run to White-hall the Kings own house.

Nay, they proceeded to that impudence, as to dare to affront the King by sawcy and insolent An­swers, when his Majesty from a Balcony told them as they passed by White-hall, that they should keep at home and mind their business.

Whilst the Ju­stices of Peace repress the Tu­mults, they are imprisoned by the factious House.Whilst some of the Justices of Peace, according to their Oath and duty, imprison those of that Rabble whom they could catch, to be kept there for condign punishment; they themselves are clapt up by the factious House of Commons; pretending that it was free for all to come and petition the Parlia­ment: though they had caused the Gates of Lon­don to be shut against the men of Kent, who came to petition the contrary, and frightened others who intended to have done the like. And when some discreet and good men had desired the Factious, that they would at length lay the Devils whom they had raised, they made answer, That they ought rather to thank their Friends.

The factious Members of Parliament consult with the Apprenti­ces, and teach them the time and manner of tumultuating.Nay, so far was the Parliamentary Dignity de­based, that many times Members of the House of Commons came to the Clubs of Apprentices, where they consulted about, related and examined the af­fairs that past in Parliament, what was designed to be done, what parts they themselves were to act, and when. Hence their Tumults became, by this kind of schooling, in a manner to be regular, being distributed into proper Classes and Fraternities, as of Porters, Watermen, Taylors, &c. who under pretext of petitioning, at the least hint from their Demagogues flocked together into bodies. And that once for all, we may lay open the nature of this Sore, if any difficult knot occurred, which by other arts they could not unty, they presently betook themselves to this Sword to cut it.

[Page 27]By this means many being terrified, Whereby the Members being frightned, for­bear coming to the House, and are therefore excluded. Whence the Au­thority of Par­liament wears out of date. and thinking it safer to keep at home, and abstain from coming, with danger to the House, for that fault alone they were excluded by the prevailing Faction. Others who did appear, durst not for fear of their own lives, give their Votes freely for the publick Good: so that from that time forward all authority of Parlia­ment seemed to be worn out of date, since the Riff­raff of the People challenged the right of voting in Parliament, and put a restraint upon the liberty of the rest.

But to return to Strafford: The Lords pass the Bill against the Earl of Strafford. The Lords being o­vercome by these Arguments, succumb; and scarce­ly a third part of them being present, the Bill of the House of Commons past in the Lords House, by the plurality of seven voices.

The King is not so easily prevailed upon, The Kings consent is very hardly obtain­ed, though the riotous Rabble, hardly forbearing their hands, continually plagued him with Clamours and Threat­nings; and the Noblemen and Courtiers that were about him, plied him incessantly with their Prayers and Remonstrances. Till the Judges pronounced it lawful, the Bishops remo­ved his scru­ples, And Strafford advised him to it. Nor would he signe the Bill until the Judges, who durst not so much as mutter against the actions of the Parliament and People, satisfied him that he might do it in Law, and some Bishops in Conscience; and until the brave Earl had by a Letter perswaded and almost besought him to do it, like another Curtius, that he might fall a Sa­crifice for the publick Peace, and the safety of the Royal Family.

The Sentence being past against the Earl, The King by Letters desires the execution may be delayed the the King immediately sent the Prince with Letters to the Lords, earnestly recommending it to them, that, at least, they would delay the execution for some time. The Lords de­ny it. But they having sent twelve of their number to wait upon his Majesty, perswade him that without great danger to himself and Family, it could not be done.

[Page 28] Courtiers fear­ful of their condition, free­ly resigne their places.The fall of so great a man from the very Pinacle of Honour, terrified the inferiour Lords who bore publick Offices. The Master of the Court of Wards, the Lord High Treasurer, who had with great inte­grity discharged that Office, and the Princes Go­vernour, freely resigne their places; like some Crea­tures, who biting off the Prize of the chace, escape the fury of the Huntsmen.

The Sheriffs & Justices of the Peace comply with the times In that thing alone the King withstood the will of the Parliament: In the rest he left himself in a manner at their discreti­on. He suffers the Jurisdiction of the Court of Stannaries, of the Court of the President of Wales, to be lessened.The Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace, who were formerly in Office, comply with the times, and wor­ship the rising Sun.

In this thing almost alone the King abandoned not himself wholly to the will of the Parliament: for afterwards he granted them every thing that they themselves were not ashamed to ask.

The Jurisdiction of the Kings honourable Privy-Council; that of the Court of Stannaries, wherein by Patent from the King, the Lord Warden decided all Controversies relating to the Labourers in the Mines, and the Officers concerned in that work; as also of the Court of the President and Council of Wales established in the marches betwixt England & Wales, wherein, as in Chancery, Law-suits amongst the Inhabitants, were by the Kings Substitute de­termined according to the Rules of Equity, were stinted and limited by narrower bounds.

The extent of the Forests al­so be abridged. The Court of the Star-Chamber,The extent also of the Kings Forests and Chaces was abridged into a narrower compass. The Star-Chamber, wherein the Chancellor of the Kingdom being President, greater Crimes, which were not at all, or not sufficiently provided against by any particular positive Law, were tried and punished; such as Sedition, Conspiracy, Faction, Scandalum Magnatum, &c. and those also who by cunning or power eluded the force of the Law, was wholly abrogated.

And of the High Commis­sion, to be a­brogated.The Court of High Commission, wherein the Arch­bishop presiding, some Nobles and the learned in the [Page 29] Law, by the Kings authority, past sentence upon the more enormous Crimes that fell under Ecclesiastical censure, suffered the same fate also.

The Court of the Lord President and Council of the North was abolished, As also that of the Lord Pre­sident and Council of the North. which for a long time had administred Justice to that part of the Kingdom, and wherein Seditions, Conspiracies, and Associations, were by Royal authority supprest, and Law-suits about civil matters determined amongst those who wanted money to go, according to the Laws, for a tryal to London.

With all these the King readily parted, in pro­spect of the publick good, though they were shining Jewels in the Imperial Crown.

He suffered all Monopolies to be rescinded, He allows Monopolies to be rescinded. leaving it fully to the Parliament to punish all those who in prosecution of them had acted any thing contra­ry to Law and Justice.

He renounced also his Right of raising Souldiers, He yields up also his right of levying Soul­diers, Ship-mo­ney, Tunnage and Poundage. and the Ship-money, (in lieu of which alone the former Parliament had offered him six hundred thousand pounds:) He also freely parted with Tunnage and Poundage, which none of the Kings his Predecessors, who without any interruption had enjoyed it past all prescription, would ever consent to.

And that all Grievances might be timely reme­died for the future, Allows also a Triennial Par­liament. and that no Great man or Ma­gistrate might infringe the lately-granted Conces­sions, or oppress the People, if he himself should o­mit to call a Parliament once in three years, he gave power to the Chancellor to issue out Writs for that effect; and the Chancellor failing, to the Lords and Sheriffs; and in fault of them, to the People to meet for Elections.

Lastly, at their desire he granted that which some magnified as a favour exceeding all former benefits, [Page 30] and others complained of as a mischief surpassing all future Grievances, And that the present Parlia­ment should not be dissolved without the consent of both Houses. to wit, That they might have time to pay the publick Debts, and secure to Posterity the Priviledges granted by his Majesty, he suffered a Law to pass whereby the Parliament had leave to sit un­til by consent of both Houses it should be thought fit to dissolve it; as if he would make amends for the many intervals of Parliaments, by the long continuance of one. Which, however others may interpret it, was an argument of his great candour and sincerity towards his Subjects, or at least a sym­ptom of a mind not inclin'd to Violence and War.

Yet with these the Factious are not pleasedNo man would think now but that the Kings Power was abundantly limited, and that the Pro­perty of the Subject and Priviledges of Parliament were sufficiently enlarged. But alas! these Harpies are not satisfied; and one of them made answer to a Gentleman that put the question to him, What more has the King now to grant? That he may, said he, lay aside all Authority, and commit himself and the management of all Affairs to our care.

But are there­by emboldened to raise Ani­mosities and Divisions.That the Factious might attain their ends, they suggest so many Fears and Jealousies to the weaker and less discerning Members, that like the heads of Hydra, more Divisions and Animosities sprung from the Kings grace and desire of appeasing them; and his Concessions so far from satisfying them, in­creased onely their thirst, and made them insolent in demanding more: as it usually happens in popu­lar Councils, where the people once infatuated with Jealousies, some dance to the Pipes of others; o­thers, that they may not appear shorter sighted, or less publick spirited than the rest, see Plots beyond the Moon, and look for joynts in a Bull-rush.

This amongst others is chiefly to be observed, That the King having given secret orders to the Army then on foot (which at his own charge he [Page 31] had raised against the Scots, though after the Truce they were payed by the Parliament) to march to London, that he might more conveniently repress the Tumults and Insolencies of the People; it was by the Factious charged upon him as a Crime. But though he might lawfully do it, yet they examined many Officers and Souldiers about the matter, and finding none privy to it, they made it their chief care, by laying all the blame at the Kings door, to incense the People more against him.

Now the Parliament has leisure, The Scots are sent home. the Power being in their hands, to send the Scots home to their own Country; who having received a promise of three hundred thousand pounds English to be paid with­in three years, and being loaded with Thanks, Pay, and Booty (of which they were not so free to the English Army) they departed; both the English and Irish Armies being at the same time disbanded. Nay, The English & Irish Armies are also disban­ded. it was hotly disputed which of the Armies should first be dismissed, this or that, till at length with much ado it past in Parliament, that both should be disbanded together.

The King followed the Scots into Scotland, The K. follows the Scots into their Country. where having called a Parliament, and having granted and confirmed by Law whatever Avarice, Ambition, and Wantonness could devise, to his own loss he recon­ciles all Parties, and for that time heals up all wounds of War and Dissention. But the Parlia­ment dogs the King with Commissioners as spies o­ver all his actions, who under pretext of cementing a stricter Union with their Friends and dear Bre­thren, might break off their friendship to the King; and indeed by tales, whispers, and crafty insinuati­ons, they had very near spoiled all the Kings busi­ness at that time. The Parliament of England also during this space, was by the Votes of both Houses prorogued to a certain day.

[Page 32] And upon his return is feast­ed by the Lon­doners.The King upon his return was received with ap­plause in London, and with the Queen and Royal Issue magnificently feasted by the City; which the Parliamentarians and some others took ill, lest the Kings Majesty being elevated by those Congratula­tions of the Citizens, might think the people had received sufficient satisfaction, or that his own af­fairs were setled to advantage. And the King ha­ving sent for the Lord Mayor and chief Citizens to Hampton-Court, gave them in recompence a sumptu­ous and Princely Treat; which grated upon the Fa­ctious, who were resolved to mingle sorrows with their joys.

The Factious congratulate the Kings re­turn by a defa­matory Decla­ration.After some days, they congratulate his return with a Declaration, or rather an infamous Libel. In it the Parliamentarians mustered up all the grie­vances of the State, or rather the murmurings of insolent and wanton men; aggravating with the utmost spight and malice, whatever had been com­mitted by the Courtiers, Courts, Magistrates, or Kings Officers; what calamities or misfortunes had hap­pened during his whole reign, yea, and those things also, which being reformed, ought justly to have been buried in silence; and at the same time cause it to be printed and published. ☞

This was forged during the Kings absence, be­ing moved under other pretexts by the chief Stic­klers of the House; and having been debated from three in the afternoon, all night long, until ten next morning, and many wise men in the mean time, through age and infirmity, and others (which is far worse) through fear and cowardise, with­drawing; it was at last with much ado approved by the plurality of eleven voices.

To which the King shortly answers.The King finding fault that they had made it publick without expecting his Answer, a few days after published another Declaration in refutation of it.

[Page 33]This was in a manner the first Declaration of War. For though the King endeavoured a Cure by somentations and mollifying Remedies, yet the Sore festered, and was not to be cured without Fire and Sword.

The Rabble again broke out into Tumults, New Tumults for snatching the power of the Militia out of the K.'s hands. under colour of the Ceremonies, Liturgie, and Church-go­vernment. The Factious whisper that the power of the Militia must be taken out of the Kings hands, which they intended immediately to seize. By which it clearly appeared, that the boldness of the disaffected, and the ways of sedition, were rather encouraged than conquered by patience; and that the Troubles were no less raised by the consent, The K. obvi­ates the Sedi­tion, than by the artifice and machination of the Factious; the King having discovered some of them to have been accessary to the Scottish Invasion. That the King therefore might not always suffer things to go on, but obviate, and timely stifle the growing Rebellion in the bud; by accusing the Heads of it of Treason. he accuses five Commoners and one of the Peers of High-Treason, and desires them to be brought to a fair tryal according to Law, before the Judges of the Kingdom.

But the Faction growing now more powerful Whom the House of Com­mons takes into protection. and numerous in the Parliament (many good men also being over sollicitous lest the Priviledges of Par­liament might be in the least infringed) the House of Commons, which durst never before own the de­fence of any who were accused of Felony, Murder, or Treason, takes them into protection; and so far from complying with the King who undertook the prosecution himself, they rather accuse him as in­vading the Priviledges of Parliament, and will not suffer any Member to be brought to the Bar, or ta­ken off by accusations from the care of the Publick, or that the Judges and Arbitrators of the Affairs of the Kingdom, should be disgraced by criminal Pro­cesses.

[Page 34] Wherefore the K. enters the House of Com­mons in person,The King being provoked at this, by the advice of some of his Privy-Council, who were themselves Members of the House, went to Westminster-hall, at­tended with about an hundred Noblemen and Gen­tlemen with their Servants, and commands that no body else be suffered to come up stairs, and that they should not upon any provocation offer the least affront to any man: Entering the House of Com­mons, accompanied onely by the Prince Palatine of the Rhyne, That he may demand them: he demands the Incendiaries to be deli­vered up to him, and promises to proceed against them according to the known Laws.

Who fled.They being warned, as it was reported, by means of the Earl of H. and of a Lady who was now wil­ling to set off her wit as formerly she had done her beauty, the gifts of different Ages, amongst the Par­liament-men, had withdrawn themselves. Where­fore the King having accused the Abscondents, re­turned without any hurt or injury done to any man. But when he perceived that the Members were in a chaff, The K. after­ward desisted, and in a man­ner acknow­ledged his fault. and highly displeased, he mildly remitted the Suit; and that he might soften the angry minds of the men, he retracted what he had done, and in a manner begg'd pardon for his fault.

But the Facti­ous take thence occasion of slandering, and of raising jea­lo [...]sies & stirs.Nevertheless they who lay continually at the catch, to blow the Coals of Jealousies and Offences, taking hold of this opportunity of inveighing against the King, set the minds of the ignorant agog, and scattered abroad in all places such sparks of Divisi­on as were enough to put the whole Kingdom in a flame.

Buckingham­shire & Essex petition.The Rabble of the neighbouring Counties, to wit, of Buckinghamshire and Essex, are egg'd on; that being armed in several bodies, they might come and petition, that their Members might have free liberty of voting, and that their Priviledges might be kept inviolate: Although the Kentish-men [Page 35] who came to supplicate on the other side, were de­nied liberty to enter the Gates of London; and o­thers who were about to do the like, were restrain­ed by threats and reproaches. So that by polling and in a manner mustering the people, they give the signal to War. The accused Members ab­scond in Lon­don, and with a Guard of Citizens are conducted to the Parlia­ment-house. The accused Members abscond in London until they might feel the pulses, and stir up the Citizens to draw out for their Guard, and conduct them to the House in arms and triumph. The King being advertised of this, though at that time by the care and contrivance of Gurney the then Lord Mayor, many valiant and loyal men offered themselves to mix with the Croud, and being scat­tered through the streets like Spectators, to oppose the Army if they attempted any thing against the King; The K. with­draws to Windsor-Ca­stle. yet his Majesty hoping that these storms might break and spend themselves by giving way to them, he with the Queen removed to Windsor-Castle.

But afterwards the Quarrel rising higher, having sent the Queen beyond Sea, under pretext of accom­panying her eldest Daughter lately married to the Prince of Orange, over into Holland; Sends the Q into Holland. but in reality that she might pass the Winter secure from the fu­ture storm, and having sent for the Prince, whom, Sends for the Prince. as he was informed, the Factious did intend to seize by authority of Parliament, he moves towards York; Moves to­wards York. Having first sent pacificato­ry Letters to the Parlia­ment. but not before he wrote to the Parliament, giving them the reasons of his departure, perswading them by all means to Peace, and desiring them, That whatever it was they so much desired that he would grant and do for them, they would set it down in wri­ting; that without ambiguiety they would state what the Parliament and People claimed; and what on the other hand was to be granted to the King: and he reli­giously protests that he would have the Rights of others no less to be inviolate than his own, and that he would [Page 36] most willingly give his consent to all things that might contribute to the restoring of Peace, and the just Rights of his Crown and Kingdom.

VVhich not­withstanding the House of Commons mis­interpret as contrary to the Priviledges of Parl. and pre­tend to be in great fear.They not onely slight, but caluminate this good­ness of so gracious a King, as if it were contrary to the Priviledges of Parliament, to be informed what was fit to be done, and that their consultations should be in­terrupted by Letters. It can hardly be exprest how much the House of Commons proud of the favour of the Multitude, pretended to be scared at these ad­monitions to Peace, as portending new dangers and ruine in disguise.

Daring, alone, to demand the power of the Militia:Hence laying hold of the opportunity, the House of Commons being onely the third and lowest Estate of the Kingdom, (the Lords being as yet averse from so unjust a desire) had the boldness to de­mand that the power of all Castles and Forts, and of the Militia, should be put into their hands.

VVhich when they could not obtain, they stir up the Corpo­rations to take up Arms of their own ac­cord. The House of Commons pass a Vote for or­dering the Mi­litia by Depu­ties; andWhen they could not obtain this from the King, they move all the Towns and Corporations that sided with them, that, as of their own accord, they should make musters, train up the Youth in Milita­ry Discipline, and divide them into Companies; which was afterward confirmed and approved in the House of Commons, as done according to Law.

They pass also a Vote in their own House, that by Authority of Parliament, Deputies should be na­med in each County, To exercise, arm, draw out and muster the Youth, and those that were fit to carry Arms, that they might be ready upon the future Orders of Par­liament, for suppressing Rebellions, resisting Invasions, &c.

having prevai­led with the Lords, with joynt address, they demand the Militia of the King, upon pretence of dangers.Having at length by their known Arts prevailed with the Lords to give their consent, both Houses joyn in an Address to the King: That it was a thing not onely expedient, but necessary to be done, as well for himself as for the State; pretending fears from France, [Page 37] Germany, and Spain, who then were all in Arms; and the intelligence they had from Paris, Venice, and Rome, that the restless Papists and ill men were plotting and contriving how they might overset the Parliament of England, and the reformed Religion.

The King, The K. allows a share in the power of the Militia, reser­ving to himself the supreme Au­thority: he exhorts them to moderation and peace. willing to grant any thing for Peace sake, yields them a share in the power of the Mili­tia for a certain time, reserving to himself the su­preme Authority, whereby he might be able to maintain the Dignity of the Crown, and the Rights of Parliament: He approves also the Deputies ap­pointed by them, (some Londoners excepted) and does pathetically exhort and adjure them, That at length laying aside vain fears and mutual jealousies, they would calmly and seriously consider by what means the troubled State, divided into several Factions, and torn almost into pieces by it self, might be united again into one, and that since no former Prince had made greater Concessions to his Subjects, they would peaceably enjoy them.

But they slighting this Indulgence of the King, But the Fa­ctious slight these things, fill the rest with idle fears, and by them stir up the People. and his sound Admonitions, impose upon the rest with their bugbears of Fears and Jealousies. They ordered strict Watch to be kept in suspected places, the Beacons to be watch'd, and prepare Pilots, as for a War.

The People are dayly stirred up with false Ru­mours spread amongst the Multitude; On Sundays when they are in Church at their Devotion, they are put into panick fears, as if the Papists (who were to come no man knew whence) were ready to burn their houses, and to mingle their Bloud with their Prayers; and by and by again, that their throats were to be cut by enemies lurking in the Woods and Vaults under ground. And many, though not the wisest, of the Londoners were perswaded that the River of Thames was to be blown up by Gun­powder [Page 38] to drown the City in the night-time; so ridiculous were the surmises that gave occasion to most fatal changes.

By these and such-like tricks the Populace is frightened out of their senses, and resolved to do any thing to rid themselves of these apprehensions.

Fearing that the K. might possess himself of the Maga­zine of Hull.Amongst the other preparatiss to War (all the particulars whereof it is not our designe to trace) the cunninger sort smelt a Plot; as if the King in his progress to the North, intended to seize the Town and well-provided Magazine of Hull, which might be of great consequence in carrying on the War.

They send Sir John Hotham to prevent it.That they might prevent this, the Factious of their own head, without any authority from both Houses, give the government of the place to Sir John Hotham, which he instantly secured with a Garison and the assistance of some Towns-men.

Who shuts the Gates against the King,So soon as the King had notice of this, he mar­ched thither attended with his Nobles and Servants; but the Gates being shut, and Souldiers planted up­on the Walls, he is denied entrance. The King being highly offended, commands the Governour to let him enter attended onely with twenty Gentle­men on horseback; And is proclai­med Traitor. but he refusing to let him in, unless alone, is proclaimed a Traytor: and the King by Letters to the Parliament complains, and de­mands reparation for the affront.

He is justified by the House of Commons.But the House of Commons approve Sir John Ho­tham's Fact, and vote that the King had violated the Priviledges of Parliament, in proclaiming a Member of the House guilty of Treason. Before he was heard in their House, they give Orders to the Earl of Warwick to send some Souldiers from on board into the Town, Afterward re­penting of what he had done, and being about to deliver up the Town to the K. he is taken, & with his Son beheaded. and to transport the Maga­zine from thence to London. But Sir John Hotham repenting too late, when he perceived that these [Page 39] Sparks had put the whole Country into a flame; having afterwards obtained pardon, and being a­bout to deliver up the Town to the King, was taken, and payed to the Parliament what he owed to the King; both he and his Son being beheaded.

Amongst these preludes to War, The Parl. sends Proposals of Peace to the King. there is some mention and hopes of peace; for after some months the Parliament send an Answer to the King's Pro­posals which he made at Windsor upon his depar­ture for the North, in nineteen Articles or Demands; of which, this is the sum.

1. That all the King's Privy-Council, great Officers, The Parl. Pro­positions to the King. and Ministers of State may be put out, excepting such as the Parliament shall approve, and to assigne them an Oath.

2. That all affairs of State be managed by the Par­liament, except such matters as are transferred by them to the Privy-Council, and to be concluded by the major part of the Nobility under their hands; the full num­ber not to exceed 25, nor under 15: and if any place fall void in the interval of Parliament, then (the ma­jor part of the Council) to chuse one to be confirmed at the next Session of Parliament.

3. That all the great Officers of the Kingdom shall be chosen with approbation of Parliament, &c. as before said.

4. The government and education of the King's Chil­dren, by Parliament, &c. ut supra.

5. Their Marriages to be treated and concluded by Parliament, &c.

6. The Laws against Papists, Priests, and others, be executed without Toleration or Dispensation, except by Parliament.

7. No Popish Lord or Peer to have vote in Parlia­ment, and their children to be educated in the Protestant Faith.

8. To Reform Church-government as the Parlia­ment shall advise.

[Page 40]9. To settle the Militia as the Parliament have or­dered, and for the King to recal all his Declarations published against their Ordinances therein.

10. All Privy-Counsellers and Judges to take Oath for maintenance of the Petition of Right, and other Sta­tutes which shall be made this Parliament.

11. All Officers placed by Parliament to hold their places quam diu bene se gesserint.

12. All Members of Parliament put out during this time, be restored again.

13. The Justice of Parliament to pass upon all De­linquents, and they to appear or abide their censure.

14. The general Pardon to pass with Exceptions, as the Parliament shall advise.

15. All Forts and Castles of the Kingdom to be disposed of by Parliament, ut supra.

16. The King to discharge all his Guards and For­ces now in being, and not to raise any other but in case of actual Rebellion.

17. The King to enter into a strict Alliance with all Reformed States, for their assistance to recover the Rights of his Royal Sister and her Princely Issue, to those Dig­nities and Dominions which belong unto them.

18. To clear the Lord Kimbolton and the five Mem­bers by Act of Parliament.

19. No Peer hereafter to be made shall sit in Parlia­ment without their consent.

And these Articles being confirmed, the Parlia­ment engage to make him a happy Prince.

The King an­swers.To these Commands rather than Articles of Peace, being such as were more proper to move In­dignation, than to gain an Assent; the King sends an Answer by two noble and discreet Lords, the Marquess of Hertford and the Earl of Southampton, The matter comes to no­thing, as all future Treaties & Propositions who were enjoyned to treat on more equal terms in the House of Lords. But they not being admitted, the Treaty came to nothing.

[Page 41]And because in this place we have made men­tion of Peace and Proposals, we are to take notice, that afterwards in the heat of the War, at the in­stance of the King, Propositions of Peace being mutu­ally sent, and Commissioners on both sides twice meeting to treat about it, nothing could be effected, and mostly by the Parliaments fault.

For seeing they proposed such severe Conditions on their own parts, The Parl. pro­posing most ri­gid Conditions. and which tended onely to their own advantages; and the King, on the other hand, such just and equitable Terms, more favourable to the Parliament and State, than to himself and Fa­mily; the People began to be enraged and to fall off dayly from the Parliament.

The King of France also, (how sincerely, The mediation of the K. of France, the States of the United Pro­vinces, and of the Scots, is rejected. I shall not judge) and the States of the Ʋnited Provinces interposed for accommodating the differences; but were rejected by the Parliament: and the Scots, who likewise offered to mediate, were refused by the King as partial. But farewel, Peace; Bellona is now at the doors.

The People being in the disposition we mention­ed before, The Parl. seizes the Militia. Deputies were sent with Commissions into all the Counties; and the Parliamentarian Re­bels by force and their own authority, invade the Militia, which they could not obtain from the King by petitioning.

The King on the contrary commands them to desist upon pain of Treason, The K. com­mands the con­trary, citing Laws that are against it. citing the Act of the 25 Edw. 3. whereby, To contrive the death of the King, Queen, or Prince, to violate the Queen or the Wife of the Prince, to take up Arms against the King, to assist the Kings enemies within or without the King­dom, to counterfeit the great Seal or Kings Coyn, are for the future declared to be Treason, having also alleadged other Acts, whereby it is declared, That the power of the Militia and taking up of Arms, belongs onely to the King.

[Page 42] They answer.But they make answer, That the Letter of the Law is for the King, but the mind of it for them: That it is not forbidden to take up Arms against the Kings Person, but against his Authority; which being in all Courts of Judicature, was most emi­nently in the Parliament.

And the K.'s Majesty replies,To this the King replies, That that distinction was condemned above three hundred years since, when the Spencers under that cover carrying on Sedition, were condemned to death by the Parliament. That besides, the present Parliament was not free, but the better part of the Members being excluded, the rest were slaves to the Faction.

And opposes the Aggressors.These courses taking no effect, the King also sends Deputies into all Counties, with authority from his Majesty, to array and arm the Subjects, and to have fit men in readiness (if necessity should re­quire) for suppressing Rebellions and Seditions. And from this we may date our Sorrows and Calamities: whilst the King endeavouring to maintain his an­cient Rights, and they again to invade them, War breaks out in the Kingdom.

But the Match was unequal, on what side soever the Right stood: The Parliament, superiour in strength, prevails, and in most Counties usurps the Government; the Royal Cause being very weak, and in a few Counties struggling for life: With no greater difficulty also the Fleet under the command of the Earl of Warwick, is divided; but all this still without any fighting. They skirmish on both sides in Apologies and Manifesto's, wherein the K. has the better. There was much skir­mishing, indeed on both sides by Apologies and Ma­nifesto's; but after that the King, in the judgment of most men, had got the better on't at the Pen, at length they come to try the matter by Armies and the Sword.

The Parl. levies an Army,It was easie for the Parliament to raise an Army in London, a City abounding with swarms of sedi­tious [Page 43] and restless men, where so many Arms, so great quantity of Provision and Ammunition, so much Money, and so many thousand pieces of Ord­nance were ready at hand. Where by the publick Declarations of so many specious Causes, for which it might seem even honourable to die, and the plau­sible Motto's in their Colours, they inflamed the minds of the deluded Rabble more than with the sound of the Trumpet or Drum; pretending, Having decei­ved the People by wheedles, for­sooth, That they took Arms for the defence of the Kings Person, and to remove evil Counsellors from him; for maintaining the Priviledges of Parliament, and the preservation of the Reformed Religion; for asserting the Laws and ancient Government of England, nay and for securing their Religion, Lives, and Estates: and there­fore inviting all to their assistance.

By which Artifices the Preachers being bewitched, And the Mini­sters. who were desirous of a change in the Church-go­vernment, and somewhat tickled with the hopes (which the Rebels had roundly promised) that the Livings of the Loyal Clergy, and the fat Bene­fices of the Bishops, Deans, and Chapters, would fall to their share in the Dividend; they sound the Trumpet to Rebellion from the Pulpit, from whence they ought to have preached the Gospel of Peace.

The People upon this, spurred on with other hopes of a future Golden Age, and of the temporal reign of the Messias, comes flocking from all quarters, the men bringing a vast quantity of Money and Plate, and the women their Wedding-Rings, Thim­bles, and Bodkins, and without any regard to their Families, by a strange kind of a phrenzy, casting them into the publick Stock or Treasury. The men strove who should be first to list themselves in this holy War: whence in a short time, there was an Army of about twenty thousand men got together, before the King had levied five hundred for his de­fence; [Page 44] and they also having more Cannon than he had Muskets in his possession.

They raise Pay.For raising Pay for their Army, besides the pro­fuse Contributions and Benevolences of the People, they seize the Goods of the Nobility and Gentry, whom they knew to be of the Kings Party; they fall also upon the Revenues of the Bishops, Prince, Queen, and of the King himself, by way of seque­stration: so that the Kings Majesty was forced to complain, That they had not left him enough to live on. And now they thought there was no more to be done, but to march, and seize the person of the King, who was overcome; and in a manner taken in a toyl; which they doubted not to promise themselves to be done within the space of a month.

Who favour the King.But the Will of God was otherwise: for the Juggles of the Rebels had not so blinded the under­standing of the English, but that most part of the Lords and Peers of the Ʋpper House, and almost an equal number of the Lower, who for Estates and Quality far exceeded the rest, went over to the Kings Party. Many also of those who tarried at London favoured the Royal Cause in secret, and in all Counties of the Kingdom there were many Gen­tlemen and common people that stood for the inte­rest of the King.

By their assi­stance and his own authority, the King raises an Army, such as he could.By the assistance of these and the Royal Autho­rity, which, like the Sun in an eclipse, drew toge­ther a crowd of Spectators, and by a certain pity and commiseration of some men who were ashamed to behold the Head of the Kingdom depressed into such a condition, as to be forced to flie from the Imperial City to York, from York to Nottingham, from Nottingham into Shropshire and the borders of Wales; after he had wandered up and down above four months, long and in vain imploring the help and assistance of his Subjects, the King at length got [Page 45] together a kind of a small Army, which afterwards increased to greater Forces; the people the more readily flocking to the King, because with him they thought the Government must stand or fall. Ma­ny of the Nobility and Gentry also brought what Forces they could to the Kings Party, amongst whom (not to rob any of the Honour due to them) the Loyalty and Interest of the two Marquesses of Hertford and Newcastle was eminently conspicuous; of whom the first brought with him a considerable Body of Dutch; and the other, almost at his own charge, raised no inconsiderable Army in the North: the Queen also sending over Moneys and Arms, which by pawning her Jewels she had raised; for which dutiful office to her Husband, the Rebels ac­cuse her of Treason.

Whilst these Clouds overcast the Sky at home, The Irish Re­bellion inter­venes. a dismal Tempest thunders from abroad upon the heads of the English, which (because it was of no small moment as to our affairs) that I may not wholly pass by in silence, the Reader must cross the Sea with me into Ireland.

The Irish, who always bore impatiently the Yoke of the English Government, & out of a natural aversion heightened by the emulation of different Religions, watched for an opportunity to shake off the one, and to assert the other; I mean, the Roman Catholick Religion, did now attempt the Enterprize, which long before they had formed in their minds. For the whole Nation of a sudden, and, which was strange, by a clandestine and concealed Conspiracy, fell upon the English scattered over Ireland, who were secure, and expected no such thing, turn them out of house and hold, and without distinction of Age or Sex, without respect to Affinity or Relation, barbarously butcher many thousands, like so many humane Sacrifices to their Superstition. And had [Page 46] not the Conspiracy been detected at Dublin, and in other places, the more cautious running to Arms had not withstood their fury, the English name was in a fair way of being totally extinguished in Ire­land.

The good luck was, that the very day before the intended Insurrection, the mystery of the Plot was discovered at Dublin by an Irish Footman belonging to Sir John Clotwaithie, who having refused to act the part that was put upon him in the Conspiracy, opened the whole Intrigue to his Master, who pre­sently informed the Privy-Council of it. Though many of the Conspirators fled, yet two of the chief Incendiaries and Promoters of the Rebellion, who had also undertaken to surprize Dublin-Castle, I mean, Macquire and Macmahon, the Incendia­ries of the Irish Rebellion, are taken & carri­ed to London. the Lord Macquire and Macmahon, were ap­prehended. Being committed to Prison, they were afterwards conveyed to London; where having long suffered the incommodities of a Prison, (that we may at once make an end of them) they made their escape; but being by another Irish-man be­trayed, in the absence of the King, who was then inevitably engaged in a War with his Subjects of England, they were taken, and at the Kings-bench-bar tried for High-Treason. Macquire being found guilty by a Jury, There to be punished with the utmost ri­gour. had sentence pronounced against him according to the Laws of the Country: That he should be dragged to Tyburn in a Hurdle, hang'd by the neck till he be half dead, his privy Members and Bowels burnt before his face, his Head cut off and set upon London-bridge, and his Quarters upon four Gates of the City. This Sentence was pun­ctually executed in the presence of the Sheriff of London, and fifteen thousand Spectators at least.

Macquire upon the brink of death.Nor is it to be omitted that the Sheriff having adjured Macquire by the dreadful Tribunal of God, before which shortly he was to appear, and the [Page 47] clearing and easing of his Conscience, which was then or never to be done, that he would ingenuously confess whom he knew to be guilty of the same Crime; though the Rope was about his neck, and he half up the Ladder, Constantly as­serts the inno­cence of the K. yet by name he acquitted King Charles from being any ways privy to it; so­lemnly professing that he knew no English-man but one, and he a Papist, that had any hand in the mat­ter. Nay, and being cast off the Ladder, and when after he had tried what hanging was, he was a little reprieved, and had no small hopes given him of a pardon; he still persisted in the same protestation.

But in the Pulpits, Clubs, and publick Pamphlets, Ʋpon whom nevertheless the Rebels charge the Crime. the Crime was charged upon King Charles; nor did the Rebels blush to asperse even the sacred and in­nocent Majesty of the King with so heinous a guilt, hoping that whilst they continued so boldly to vent their Calumnies and Slanders against him, some of them at least would stick.

The Irish Nobility and Priests, Who were the Authors of it, who were the chief Actors in this Tragedy, were encouraged to the Villany by the late successes of the Scots, who (to speak in the language of Sir John Temple, a Privy-Counsellor of that Kingdom, And what op­portunities they made use of. who wrote the History of those Troubles) having happily succeeded in their attempts, obtained by their last Commotions considerable Priviledges from the King. To this adde, that our intestine Troubles seemed to offer fair opportunity of changes, it being very rational and easie to con­jecture, that the English being ready to fall together by the ears at home, there was no fear that they would cross over to Ireland to defend and assist their Colonies in that Kingdom. Their boldness was in­creased by the Interregnum occasioned by the mur­der of Strafford, and the change of the Magistrates, of whom the severer and best acquainted with the State of that Kingdom, were by the interest of the [Page 48] Irish Lords, whilst they prosecuted Strafford in Eng­land, either turned out of place, or accused of High-Treason, men who were either ignorant of the Af­fairs and State of Ireland, or who were prone to Re­bellion, being put into their places.

Being thus in a readiness, the unseasonable dis­banding of an Army of eight thousand Irish who had been raised for the Scottish expedition, did not a little strengthen their resolution: for though the King after the pacification of the Scots, lest they might occasion Stirs in Ireland, had permitted the Spanish Embassadour to transport four thousand of them; yet the Irish Lords put on by the Conspira­tors, got the Parliament, under pretext that the French King might take it ill, earnestly to beseech that it might not be done. And afterwards when the King had ordered the same number to be raised for the service of the French, without any reasons alleadged, they utterly rejected it. Very few of the Captains and Officers of that Army dishonoured themselves by joyning in the Rebellion; but the private Souldiers, whose custom it is to be insolent, and at length appear valiant when they are about to be dismissed from the dangers of War, easily rushed into that Villany.

By what arts they stir up the Colonies to joyn with them in Rebellion.The Lords and Priests being soothed with these so many fair opportunities of fishing in troubled waters, that they might weaken our Colonies, divide and distract their thoughts, and in the mean time incense the Natives to slaughter and rapine, they cast about all ways. To the English they brag, That the Queen is in their Army, that the King was coming with an Army to their assistance; that the Scots were agreed with him; and to make that the more credi­ble, amongst the slaughter of the English they spare the Scots: They give out that they have the Kings Commission, and act by virtue of his authority; shewing [Page 49] indeed a counterfeit Commission to which one Plunket, with the consent of many Lords and Priests at Farn-Abbey, had appended the Kings Seal taken from another old Commission, as appeared by the confessions of a great many afterwards; That they defend the King's Cause against the Puritans. A­mongst their own men they divulge counterfeit Let­ters, whereby they pretend to be informed from Eng­land, That there was an Act lately past whereby all the Irish were to be forced to go to Church and assist at the Devotion of the Protestants, upon pain of forfeiture; for the first offence, of their Chattels; for the second, of their Lands and Inheritances; and for the third, of their Lives. They propose, besides, to the Natives the hopes of Liberty, and of recovering their ancient Customs: That the English Yoke is to be cast off, a King to be chosen of their own Nation, and the Goods and Estates of the English to be divided amongst the Natives.

By this hope of booty, and of living at their own liberty for the future, the Irish are allured to the War; and being egg'd on with fury and rage, they committed such horrid and heynous Crimes, as hardly any Age can parallel.

The King foresaw the Storm a coming whilst he was in Scotland; and therefore that he might pre­vent it whilst it was a gathering, he presently dis­patched Sir James Hamilton to the Lords and others of his Majesties Privy-Council of Ireland, with in­structions, and what money he could raise of his own and from his friends on the sudden. He ear­nestly desires the assistance of the Parliament of Scot­land, and acquaints the Parliament of England with it also: But the one, under pretext that Ireland was under the dominion of England, refuse their assi­stance; and the other takes but little notice of it. The Factious tacitly rejoycing that new Troubles [Page 50] were arising to the King, and that Kingly govern­ment being abolished alike in all the three King­doms, they would shortly be turned into so many free Commonwealths.

The zeal of the English for the revenge & de­fence of their Colonies.But the Sparks breaking out into a flame, and the report of the Irish barbarity being in every bo­dies mouth, the Parliament was enraged, and all were filled with an extraordinary zeal of revenging the bloud of their Country-men treacherously killed, and of defending and protecting the surviving. For the charges of a War, in a short time three hundred thousand pound English was raised, partly by benevolent Contributions, and partly out of the price of the Lands and Inheritances of the Rebels, which by the Parliament were sold, to be after the Victory (that the goodness of the Cause made them not doubt of) distributed amongst the Pur­chasers; Is eluded by the intestine Broils betwixt the King and Parliament, and many thousand English listed them­selves for the service. Nevertheless, such was the misery of this Nation, that that which is wont to procure some short Peace at least, amongst those who are at greatest variance, served onely to in­flame our Broils.

And mutual Accusations.On the one hand, they who were altogether gi­ven to changes, buzzing I know not what fears and jealousies into the ears of those who were but too prone to make the worst of things, obtain in Parliament, that the War be not carried on in the name of the King, nor that any Souldier who had shew'd his Loyalty to the King, or had served in the Scottish Expedition, should be admitted into this War. And for managing the War they also prefer factious men, and such as were ungrateful to the King. On the other hand, the King intended to lead the Army against the Rebels in person, urging and insisting, That he might use the right and power of War, which the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom entrusted him with.

[Page 51]The King at length desiring to overcome his Competitors by courtesie and yielding, Which at length are qui­eted upon the K.'s yielding his Right. if he could not by power and strength, consents that the War be carried on in his own and the Parliaments name, and that the Commissions should run in the name of the King and Parliament; granting the Parliament the power of levying and arming the Army, and of chusing the Generals and Commanders; and the King reserving to himself no liberty of making Peace or pardoning the Rebels without the consent of Parliament.

Yet neither so did the swellings of the Parlia­ment abate: for not long after, They break out again. (the Civil War breaking out in England) the Parliament make use of an hundred thousand pound raised for the Irish War, and two or three Regiments of men that were to be sent over for suppressing that Rebellion, for oppressing of the King here at home. Nay, and they make no scruple to employ the money that was charitably collected for the relief of the poor di­stressed Protestants, and for building of Churches, in paying their own Souldiers.

On the other side, the King's Souldiers seize the Ammunition sent by the Parliament towards Chester; which, so soon as they gave it out that it was de­signed for the War in Ireland, the King comman­ded to be restored. The Parliament, that by put­ting indignities upon the King, they might raise their own Reputation, alleadging some silly slight suspicions, are not ashamed to impute the Irish Re­bellion to the King as the Author of it. But, as the truth was, his Majesty retorts the crime and infamy of it with far better reasons, upon the factious Mem­bers of Parliament.

Yet these things hinder not but that our Auxi­liary forces b [...]at the Irish Rebels, The English thrice beat the Irish. and put them to flight in all places, kill, plunder, burn, and destroy [Page 52] many thousands of the Natives, and by a great slaughter revenge the murder of their Country-men. But at the same time they lay all the Country waste and desolate; And laid the Country so waste, that for want of neces­saries, they suf­fered a great deal of misery; which at length was no less preju­dicial to themselves, than to the Natives: for the War increasing in England, the Souldiers wanting Corn, Ammunition, Clothes, Pay, and indeed all things necessary, and at length being unable to sup­port their wants, it is hardly to be exprest what miseries and calamities our Country-men suffered in Ireland; And desire to be recalled. and having long struggled with these dif­ficulties, and with all importunity, but in vain, begg'd assistance from the Parliament, The Pri­vy-Council of the Kingdom, Commanders of the Army, and the Souldiers themselves write to the King, earnestly begging to be disbanded, or employ­ed in other service, where they might have any E­nemy but Hunger to fight with.

Wherefore the K. commands them to make a Truce with the Irish; and the Scots marching into England,The King at length, seeing the Scots were coming with assistance to the Parliament-forces, being too weak to make head against the Rebellion, moved on the one hand by his own necessities, and on the o­ther by the importunate Prayers of his Subjects, com­mands a Truce to be made with the Irish for a year, that in the mean time, if it were possible, he might make Peace upon good terms.

He calls over the Souldiers for his own defence.A Truce being made with the Irish, and Forces being left sufficient for maintaining the Garrisons, the Souldiers return from Ireland to the assistance of the King, whose fortune against the Parliament at home manifestly declined. But the Scots, who in­habited the greatest part of Ʋlster, By whom the Truce is bro­ken. supplied with Pay and Ammunition by the Parliament, refuse the Truce; as also some English in Connaught and Ʋl­ster, who lived in good correspondence with the Scots.

A little after, the Lord Inchiqueen who commanded [Page 53] the Munster-Forces, having brought over some thousands of men to the Kings assistance, when he thought himself not treated according to his dig­nity and merit, flying over secretly into Ireland, tampers first with those of Cork, and then with all such of the Province of Munster as were on the En­glish side, and having drawn them over to the Par­liament, he rejects the Truce; and is presently assi­sted by the Scottish Forces, and supplied with Mo­ney, Provisions, and Ammunition from the Parlia­ment.

Ireland being now delivered from the English Souldiers, the Natives lay hold on the opportunity of recovering the whole Kingdom under the com­mand of Owen Ro General of the Rebels, and ha­ving broken the truce which they had solemnly made, and arming of a sudden, they had surprized and seized the Marquess of Ormond, not dreaming of any such thing, had he not, being informed of it a little before, by by-ways mays made his escape to Dublin. Having afterward joyned their Forces, The K's Forces are attacked both by the I­rish and the Parliamenta­rians. those who were willing to keep the Truce, being instigated to the contrary by the Nuncio who pro­duced the Popes Bull, they all together besiege the City of Dublin by Land, whilst at the same time the Parliament-Ships shut up the Haven.

The Marquess being overmatched by the Forces of three Nations, And being o­vermatched, whatever was on the K.'s side in Ireland is delivered up to the Parl. acquaints the King with his con­dition; who sends him instructions that if he could not defend the City, he should rather deliver it up to the Parliament, than suffer it to fall into the hands of the Irish. Having therefore agreed upon Arti­cles, amongst which it was one, That he should have liberty to go to the King, that he might give his Majesty an account of all the affairs of Ireland; the Marquess returned into England, and found the King at Hampton-Court, environed by the Parlia­ments [Page 54] Rebel-Souldiers: where being informed that he was to be apprehended by Order of Parliament, he secretly withdrew into France, that he might e­scape their Snares.

The K. after­ward being imprisoned, the Marquess of Ormond re­turns with new in [...]tructi­ons & authori­ty, whereby he joyns all Par­ties into one for delivering the King. With whom many English, Some Irish,Not long after, when the King was committed to Prison in the Isle of Wight, and that the Rebels had cut off all hopes of restoring Peace and Liberty by their Vote of no more addressing to the King, (of which more hereafter) having received new instruction, he returned in quality of Lord-Lieute­nant into Ireland, where he endeavoured with all care to make the best Peace he could, and to unite the English, Scots, and Irish for the assistance of the King.

The Lord Inchiqueen with the English under his command, joyns him.

Some Irish commanded by Preston and Taaff, not forgetting their former Truce, make no scruple to joyn with them; others being still in doubt what to do.

And Scots joyn.The Scots forbear hostility against the Kings Par­ty, and march against the Rebels; but give hopes that at length they may unite with the Marquess.

But the Par­liament Gover­nour resisting,And now Jones Governour of Dublin, and the Parliament-forces there, the very same who with so bitter and vehement Reproaches inveighed against the Truce and Peace made by Ormond with the Pa­pists, as the utter ruining of their Religion, was caught in the same embraces of the Whore of Baby­lon: Associates with the Irish Rebels. for without either conscience or shame they at length make a strict League, and unite their For­ces with Owen Ro the General of the Rebels, a man infamous for the bloud and slaughter of the English against the Kings Army and the Protestants.

The discourse returns to the Troubles of England.But now from foreign miseries, (though indeed they be not altogether foreign) which though hap­pening in very distant times, yet for avoiding fre­quent [Page 55] digressions, we thought fit to present to the Reader under one view; Let us now return to our own, which were carried on with far greater and more pitched Battels, though with less slaughter and treachery, the fire burning but slowly, because, to our sorrow, the fuel was the longer to last.

Many Battels with various success, The King and Parl. fight; and the Victory inclining to the King, the Rebels lose Courage, and in several places, were fought betwixt the Kings Forces and the Parliament-Rebels, till at length Fortune breath­ing favourably upon the Kings Banners, the Rebels began to lose courage, and many that had been Sticklers in the Faction, to desert and fall off from their Party.

The Parliament being reduced to streights, And invite the Scots to their assistance. in­vite the Scots to their assistance; and that they might revive the expiring and almost extinct opi­nion of the people which formerly they had enjoy­ed, and the admiration they were had in for won­derful zeal for the Publick Good and purity of Re­ligion, and at the same time time drain the peoples Purses of their money, they have recourse to their often-practised tricks.

They forge new Calumnies against the King, By what Arts they confirm the people in their errours: by calumnies, to wit, against the K. spread amongst the Rabble. and those of his Party; and spread abroad every­where amongst the people, As if the King affected an absolute tyrannical Power, and that he would forfeit the Estates of all those who had been against him; that he would make Slaves of their persons, and leave no place for pardon, nor the least footstep of their ancient Liberty; nay, and that renouncing the reformed Reli­gion, he was about to bring in Popery, whereby all would be forced to go to Mass. And that the silly ig­norant people might not want Pretexts for their obstinacy, they perswade the Rabble, That the Kings Souldiers being accustomed to eat mens flesh, would feed and feast upon them; nay, and that their Dogs and Horses, bred up to the same dishes, were already ga­ping for their carcasses.

[Page 56] Some Sacrifi­ces being offer­ed to publick Justice;They appoint some remarkable Sacrifices to be offered to Publick Justice; for so was that barba­rous practice of pleasing the Rabble with bloudy Spectacles, and gratifying their own cruel revenge, at that time called amongst the ignorant people: Amongst these were Sir John Hotham and his Son, Carey, and especially (that the friendship of the Scots might be cemented with Episcopal bloud) William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury; he being condemned of High-Treason, by a partial and fa­ctious sentence of the House of Peers, (who accor­ding to the ancient Laws of the Kingdom, cannot, without the Kings consent, adjudge the meanest person to death;) and they by a Council of War.

Prayers, Fasts, and Thanks­givings ap­pointed; super­stitious Pi­ctures burnt, Crosses and I­mages pull'd down;They appoint days of Fasting and publick Pray­ers, and of Thanksgiving also, for inconsiderable Victories; publickly, and with great solemnity burn the Pictures of our Saviour, the Virgin and Saints, and so renew their Martyrdom; and with no ordi­nary devotion pull down Crosses and Standards bearing the Images of Saints, though they were not onely ornamental but useful in the chief streets of London.

Episcopacy & Service-book being abroga­ted, An Assembly is called;They also vote the abrogation of Episcopacy and Service-book, and commit it to the care of the As­sembly to frame a new Church-government, and manner of Divine Worship, instead of them; of which, the Reader I hope will pardon me, if con­trary to my custom I discourse a little more largely. To this Assembly two Ministers of the most zealous Enemies of the Bishops and Liturgie, are called, and come by authority of the House of Commons; some of the Episcopal Clergy being also invited, who ha­ving no command from the King, refuse to come, and give place to some of the more eminent Scottish Ministers to mingle with them.

These having long hatched, at length bring forth [Page 57] a Confession of Faith, Which makes a Confession of Faith, a Catechism containing the heads of the Christian Religion, and a Directory or Scheme of publick Worship; wherein no Set-forms were prescribed, but a certain Rule whereby, ac­cording to general heads appointed for all occasi­ons, the Levites of the new Law were instructed to pour out their extemporary and conceived Prayers. The Presbyterian Government and Worship were likewise established, to be administred by Pastors, And a new Presbyterian Government in the Church. Teachers, Lay-Elders, and Deacons, in four Courts, to wit, the Parochial, Classical, Provincial, and Natio­nal.

The Parochial Court consisted of one or two Lay-Elders at least, and one or two Pastors or Ministers, according to the nature of the place. These had power to rule over the Parishoners, and weekly to meet; to call before them the Parishoners, and to take inspection into their lives and manners, admit­ting those whom they thought worthy, to the Communion of the Lords Supper; reproving and publickly censuring others, nay, and for some time debaring them from the Sacrament, if they were guilty of any offence that might give scandal to the Congregation; and to excommunicate those that would not submit.

The Classical Court or Presbytery, was to meet once a month or oftener, and was made up of the Deputies of twelve Parishes at least, two out of each, the one a Church-man, and the other a Laick; or sometimes more. To these it belonged to take cognizance of the aforementioned matters, especi­ally if any difficulty or Appeal intervened; to correct the Ministers themselves, give orders to the These Ex­pectants were young men who stood candi­dates for the Ministry, and sought to ob­tain Orders. Expe­ctants, pronounce sentence of Excommunication, and to determine Cases of Conscience, and Controver­sies in Doctrine.

The Provincial Court or Assembly consisting of [Page 58] Deputies from the several Classes or Presbyteries of the whole Province both of the Church and Laity, had an authority superiour to the former. Over all was the National Assembly, the supreme Judi­cature in Ecclesiastical affairs, which had power to make or rescind the Canons or Laws of the Church, inflict severer punishments, and to determine all points concerning Manners, Church-discipline, and Government. From the lowest to the highest of these Courts, it was lawful to appeal.

This assembly endeavoured to have no Sect al­lowed the liberty of Worship, but all to be extirpa­ted. But when they could not obtain this from the Parliament, in which were many Independents, E­rastians, Anabaptists, and Atheists, the Rabble in­terposeth, and very often, whilst the Presbyterians were at the helm, disturb the religious meetings of the other Sectarians by hurling of Stones amongst them. The liberty of a great many being, contra­ry to expectation, restrained, the Parliament settle the Presbyterian government onely for three years, that in that time they might have a tryal how it would fadge.

This Novelty set mens humours wonderfully a working. Many Politi­cians & Law­yers being highly displea­sed. The Politicians and Lawyers were high­ly offended that there were as many Judicatures e­stablished as there were Parishes in England, and these almost arbitrary, putting the Rule into the hands of unskilful men, and for the most part inca­pable of government, and began to foresee at a di­stance I know not what calamities, ready to spring from thence, in Families, Parishes, Counties, nay and in the whole Kingdom also. And others also. Most part of the peo­ple grumble to be put again to School, and to be taught the Rudiments and Principles of their Reli­gion, wherein they thought themselves already very well instructed.

[Page 59]Those that were zealous for Episcopal govern­ment and the Service-book, bite the bit. But none repined more than the Independants, Anabaptists, and the other Sects, who saw their beloved liberty of Conscience in danger; for which they had at first taken up Arms against the King, hazarded their lives in so many battels, and suffered so much la­bour, cost, watchings, and danger.

Nevertheless, the Government went bravely on in London, but so and so in the other Cities and po­pulous Towns, and but very coldly in the Country; so that the triennial Essay being over, and no new Act made to confirm it, it had much ado to keep life. And thus far concerning Church-affairs, which we thought fit to relate together, though they happened not all at the same time.

Let us now return to the other arts whereby they wheadled the Scots. Bishops Lands are sold at ea­sie rates. Amongst which it was of greatest moment, no less for endearing the Scots to them, than for raising their power and authority amongst the Natives, to sell the Bishops Lands at ve­ry easie rates; so that Purchasers flocked in from all quarters, who with the materials of demolished Pa­laces, and the Timber they cut down, having paid for their Purchases, got large and entire Mannors almost for nothing. And (that once for all I may tell it) they lay Excise, Customs, and such heavy and continual Taxes and Impositions upon the peo­ple, as none of all the Kings that ever sat upon the Throne of England durst ever before that time im­pose; and such as were not onely sufficient to de­fray all publick expenses, but in some measure also the insatiable avarice and voraciousness of their Fa­ctors and Agents; besides what they got by plun­dering, sequestration and other ways. The Scots being allured by these Morsels, are tooth and nail for the interests of the Parliament.

[Page 60] The Scots con­sent,The Scots, the declared enemies of Episcopacy, fearing the worst, if the King should obtain the victory over the Parliament, and being drawn in by the aforementioned baits, enter into Articles of a Confederacy; among which, to give a colour of honesty and integrity to the rest, the chief was, That no hurt be attempted against his Majesties person, nor prejudice done to the Rights or Heirs of the Crown: an Oath being likewise taken by the Members of both Houses, Having enter­ed into Cove­nant. and all the Inhabitants of both Kingdoms being forced to do the same. This they call the Solemn League and Covenant; and in it promise, That according to their Places and Callings, they shall endeavour the preservation of the reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worship, Disci­pline, and Government: The reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, according to the Word of God, and the example of the best reformed Churches: and shall endeavour to bring the Churches of God in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion, &c. That they shall also endeavour the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Supersti­tion, Heresie, Schism, Profaneness, &c. That they shall mutually endeavour to preserve the Rights and Privi­ledges of the Parliaments, and the Liberties of the Kingdoms; and to preserve and defend the Kings Ma­jesties person and authority in the preservation and de­fence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms; That the World may bear witness with their Consciences of their Loyalty, that they have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just pow­er and greatness: That they shall endeavour to discover all Incendiaries and Malignants (branding with those aspersions all that favoured the Kings Party) that they may be brought to publick tryal, and receive condign punishment: That they shall endeavour that the King­doms [Page 61] may remain conjoyned in a firm Peace and Ʋnion to Posterity; shall assist and defend all those that enter into that League and Covenant, and shall zealously and constantly all the days of their lives continue therein.

No inconsiderable Authors of entering into this Covenant, were the Independents, Anabaptists, Wherein the Independents are Ring-lea­ders. and Republicans, and the chief and most severe in for­cing it upon others who were unwilling to take the same; though many of themselves purposely re­frained from swearing it, lest upon that account they should oblige themselves to the defence of the Kings person.

It is also to be observed, that the clause of defen­ding the Kings Majesties person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Li­berties of the Kingdoms, was by their artifices foisted in contrary to the sence and tenour of the Cove­nant, under colour, forsooth, that the safety of his Majesties person was sufficiently secured by other Oaths; that the repetition of the same promise would but harden the Kings mind against the Parliament, and make the People scrupulous in obeying the same: But in reality, as appeared afterward, that all obstacles being as much as might be removed, they might make way for the murther of the King. Who take the Covenant with an honest de­signe, are cal­led Presbyte­rians. These things being contrived and carried on betwixt the factious Scots and English, those who took that Covenant with an honest purpose, as many good men did, being won over by fear, delusion, or false hope, called themselves Presbyterians; other Factious of less note, as Independents, Anabaptists, and other Fana­ticks, not disdaining to list themselves in the same Cause.

These cruelly persecute all Dissenters who will not engage in that holy Covenant, They cruelly persecute Dis­senters. though they had acted nothing before against the Parliamentary Fa­ction, though they had not refused to pay any [Page 62] Taxes and Impositions, nay, though they had free­ly contributed for the pay of the Parliament-forces. The Parsons, especially who enjoyed fat Benefices, are sequestrated, and deprived of their Houses, Goods, and Livings, put into Prisons and Dungeons for many years together, nay, and put on board of Ships upon the Thames, in the heat of Summer, in order to transportation, without being either accu­sed or heard; where they suffered all the incommo­dities of hunger, watching, and nastiness.

The fruit of the Covenant.By the Religion of this Covenant, Children were taught to persecute, inform against, and rob their Parents, Fathers their Children, Servants their Ma­sters, Wives their Husbands; so that the mutual Offices to which men are bound in society, were denied to those that differed from them in opi­nion.

For these reasons many, contrary to the Dictates of Conscience, run into the noose of the Covenant, and at length, whether that they thought them­selves obnoxious to the Kings Laws, or really bound in conscience by their Oath, they seriously espoused the Party of the Parliament.

Learned men dispute against it.Against this, many learned and pious men took up the Cudgels, and in several Treatises (amongst which was the Judgment of the University of Ox­ford, an unanswerable piece in Latin) confuted it as contrary to the Laws both of God and man; the Covenanters in the mean time making no answer, but with force and the sharper Arguments of the Sword.

The Scots a­gain come into England.The Scots who faithfully promised the King to give him no trouble in his affairs in England, ha­ving by those previous artifices cleared their way into that Kingdom, with twenty thousand men come to the assistance of the Parliament. But first, for forms sake, they send Commissioners to the [Page 63] King to perswade him, being inclinable enough of himself, to make peace with the Parliament, and to offer themselves as Mediators of the Controversie: but the King having rejected them as unjust and partial Judges, and commanded them to mind their own affairs at home; they call a Parliament against all Law, in the Kings name, and then declare War.

The King foreseeing the Storm that was like to fall upon himself and Party, The King looks to him­self. had provided against it as well as possibly he could. The Lords and Mem­bers of the House of Commons, who, though they were excluded the Houses, thought it their duty still to stand by the Publick, came over to the Kings side; and the former to the number of forty, with the Lord Keeper of the great Seal, and the latter a­bove two hundred, The Parlia­ment at Ox­ford. transfer the Parliament to Ox­ford; where being called to Council before they were admitted to take Arms by the King, they held a Session of Parliament by the Kings authority, no­thing being wanting to the power and dignity of a Parliament, but Walls and the place appointed by the Kings Writ.

To these the King gave strictly in charge, that they would do what lay in their power to avert the Storm, or at least consult how they might be able to resist it. This Parliament wrote to the Scots that they would not in an hostile manner in­vade the King and Kingdom of England, nor vio­late the Pacification formerly made: They declare it Treason to take up Arms against the King, or without his consent to call a foreign Nation into the Kingdom; and that therefore the Rump-Par­liament sitting at Westminster, were upon both ac­counts guilty of High-Treason. They also pass an Act for raising as much money as could reasonably be expected from the exhausted Counties and Towns which still continued in obedience to the [Page 64] King, for defraying the charges of a double War now approaching.

The K. writes to the Scots.The King also by Letters earnestly dehorted the Scots from that unlawful attempt, and prohibits them by Proclamation, That being his Subjects, and obliged by so many bonds, they would not come to the assistance of Rebels. But this, being signed by the hands of nineteen Lords, the prevailing Rebels of Scotland, with matchless insolence in Subjects, cause it publickly to be burnt by the common Hang­man.

Sends the Marquess of Hamilton to draw them back into Scotland.The Marquess of Hamilton is commanded to keep the Scots at home, that they might not meddle in the affairs of another Kingdom; who being disco­vered to have unfaithfully discharged that Office, having under pretext of danger fled out of Scotland to the King, was afterward committed to Prison. The Marquess of Montross being made General and Commissioner of Scotland, Being deluded by him, he sends the Marquess of Montross. is dispatched thither, that by giving them a diversion at home, they might be kept from invading England. This Commission was valiantly discharged by the Marquess, having with a handful of men, and those raw and undis­ciplined, put whole Armies to flight, and every­where wasted the Country.

The Scots ne­vertheless pur­sue the War a­gainst the K. and prevail.However, the Scots pursuing their point, left not England, before by the help of Fairfax they had routed no small part of the Kings Army, which they had long diverted from quelling the Parlia­mentarians elsewhere; taken Newcastle, and other strong places, and handed on the Victory into the more Southern parts. Henceforward the Kings af­fairs do dayly decline, and were at length totally ruin'd, Victory everywhere smiling upon the Re­bels.

The Republican Rebels having obtained many Victories, began to vent their hatred and indig­nation [Page 65] against the Lords, and especially after the last Newberry-Fight, they grew sick of the Earl of Manchester. For he in a Council of War giving his opinion, and exhorting them to Peace, which he judged more expedient to the State, seemed not so thorough-paced and fierce upon the War as they could have desired: and being therefore, in a long Speech, accused by Cromwel in the Lower House, he defends himself in the Ʋpper, retorting the accusa­tion: So that both Houses thought it more conve­nient to compose the difference betwixt them, than to enter into the merits of the Cause.

The Kings Forces being at length scattered and broken by the Scots on the one hand, The K.'s Party goes to wrack. and the Par­liament-Rebels on the other, Pay and Provisions be­ing wanting, and Factions arising betwixt the Com­manders of the Army and the Lords (that all things might conspire to draw down Judgments upon us) His Majesty had in his mind, first, His Majesty having in vain essayed the En­glish, to come to Lon­don and trust himself in the hands of the Parliament; next, to cast himself into the arms of the English Army: but being rejected by both, and his affairs in a very doubtful condition, Casts himself into the hands of the Scots. he ventured to betake himself to the Scots, the French Embassadour, who then was in the Scottish Army, and some Scottish Commanders having obtained from them promises of honour, safety, and freedom for his Majesties per­son.

This revived former Grudges betwixt the English and Scottish Rebels, Former grud­ges are revi­ved betwixt the English & Scottish Rebels. which had almost broken out into a War.

It was likewise given out, that the Earl of Essex, who from a General was now become a private person, would joyn with the Lords and Commons that conspired for their ruine, in new Articles and Resolutions with the Scots; but his sudden death, occasioned by lying on the ground when he was all [Page 66] in a sweat after hunting, dissipated all those rumours. Nevertheless, the Rebels thought fit, at publick cost, to humour him with magnificent Funerals, as being more for their interest to shew gratitude to a dead friend, than to have him perhaps a living ene­my.

Provocations given to the Scots.Upon this they began to deny the Scots their Pay, put a necessity upon them of exacting Money and free Quarters from the Counties where they lay, ex­pose them to hatred, extenuate their merits, under­value the courage of the Nation, call them merce­nary Souldiers of fortune, whilst they in the mean time paid them onely with Reproaches; threaten to drive them out of the Kingdom by force of Arms, publickly provoke them, and at length march Northward against their Brethren. The Presbyte­rians holding their peace. Nor durst the English Presbyterians, who favoured the Scots, say much to the contrary, lest they should seem more concerned for the insolence of a foreign Nation, than the honour of their Country-men.

Debates be­twixt the Scots & Par­liament of England.At length after long Debates, the Scots pretending that it was contrary to the Laws of Nations and Hospi­tality to deliver up the King, who of his own accord put himself under their protection, into the hands of the Parliamentarians; our Republican Rebels on the o­ther hand, urging in the name of the Parliament, That the Scots serving and receiving pay in England, ought not to have received the King into their Army, and much less keep him there against the will of the Par­liament; but after some formal previous Treaties, that might serve to enhaunce the price, The Scots ha­ving got money deliver the K. up to the Parl. upon pretext that he would not take the Covenant. it was re­solved that the King should be delivered up to the Parliamentarian-Rebels.

And that they might have a specious colour for so horrid an action, They urge the King to take the Co­venant, pretending that without that they could not lawfully take him with them into Scotland. The [Page 67] King promises to take that Oath, provided he were satisfied in some scruples of Conscience, concerning Church-government: which Province was committed to the Minister Heuderson the then Oracle of the Kirk, who weakly and unsuccessfully attempted it: for in their disputes the King, in the judgment of all, had the better on't; but money prevailed. The Scots having received an hundred thousand pounds English in ready money, and the promise of an hundred thousand more to be paid within a year, draw out of England, leaving the King to the mercy of the Parliament; but with this condition, That no injury should be offered to his Majesties person, and that he might be received in one of his houses in or about London with honour, safety, and freedom, that so he might be prevailed with by Arguments from both Nations to confirm and approve their Propositions.

The King being received at Newcastle by the Parliament-Commissioners, The K. being received by the Parliament-Commissioners, is conducted to Holmely- house. four Lords and eight Commoners, was with a guard of Souldiers condu­cted to Holmeby house in Northamptonshire, where he suffered a splendid, indeed, but close imprisonment; all who had either actually been, or suspected to be of his Party, being removed from him, nay, and his domestick Chaplains also, whose assistance he had often desired of the Parliament.

The Conquerours now in striving for the Booty and Government, The Rebels disagree a­mongst them­selves. An account, by way of digres­sion, of the be­ginnings, pro­gress, sects and opinions of the Factious. did no longer dissemble their o­pinions, but divide themselves into various Sects and Names; which hitherto we called by the com­mon name of Factious or Rebels, but shall now di­vide them into their several Classes and Forms, as likewise shewing by what cunning and degrees they who got into power, advanced to the Supre­macy. Which that we may the more clearly do, it will not be amiss to look into some past Ages.

It is not to be denied but that the seeds of Fa­ction [Page 68] were sow'd in England from the very begin­ning of the Reformation. The seeds of them sown in the very refor­mation; Nor are the Roman Ca­tholicks to be proud of this, since they have given the examples to others, by subjecting the Crowns and Scepters of Kings, to the Mitre of the Pope and Keys of St. Peter, and are no less dangerous to Kings, whom they have pulled from their Thrones, and ex­posed to the Daggers of Assassinates.

Concerning Church-go­vernment, the Liturgie and Ceremonies, which were e­stablished by Kings and Parliaments.From that time some, but in no great number, are for shaking off Rome in every thing, and not leaving the least monument of the ancient Church-government or Liturgie.

But the greater number, and those the wiser, thinking it enough to retrench what was superflu­ous and superstitious, are for retaining Episcopal government and a publick reformed Liturgie: the one, because it suited well with Monarchical govern­ment and civil interest of the State; and the other, because it seemed pious and adapted to the publick Worship of God.

Both these, as being consonant to primitive Con­stitutions, Kings and Parliaments, wisely to prevent the inconveniencies that happen from skipping from one extreme to another, thought fit to esta­blish by Laws, and to inflict severe Penalties upon Dissenters.

Hence arose Disputes and Controversies; scandalous Li­bels from the Anti-Episcopa­rians; suspen­sions, deprava­tions, &c. from the Bishops.This at first gave ground to heart-burnings, after­wards to reasonings about the matter, and the li­centious humour of disputing prevailing to more bitter Controversies; so that at length (as it usu­ally happens amongst Brethren who differ in points of Religion) they fell to Contentions and inve­ctive Disputations, the common enemy egging them on on both sides.

And thus the Quarrel being managed with mu­tual hatred and animosity, the Anti-Episcopal Party, or the Jesuits in their name, defame the established [Page 69] Church with Reproaches and scandalous Libels; which forced from the Bishops and Ecclesiastical Courts, Suspensions, Deprivations, Imprisonments, and Banishments.

But that severity, VVhereby the Bishops got hatred, and the Anti-Episcopa­rians pitie; which ended in a Conspira­cy against the Hierarchy; though executed according to the prescript of Law, drew hatred upon the Prelates, and made the Anti-Episcoparians to be pitied, and the rather that they seemed to suffer for Conscience-sake, and the purity of Gospel-worship; being o­therwise, in appearance, men of strict lives and conversations, zealous Preachers, fervent in Prayer, ready to do pious Offices, and in a word, in all things else very good men. And this made many Towns, Noblemen and Gentlemen take them into pro­tection, make very much of them, and at length joyns with them in opinion, and conspire together a­gainst the Hierarchy or Church-government.

Who despairing to procure the abolition of it from the Kings, VVherein all the Sects and Factions agree, raising scruples betwixt the K. and Parl. that seeming to stand up for the Parl. they might be e­steemed popular men, and be chosen to serve in Parl. when occasion offer­ed. they hope to compass it by Parlia­ment, and therefore they endeavour to lessen the Royal Authority by magnifying a Parliamentary power; wherein being assisted by all the other Sects of Fanaticks, the seditious and turbulent off-scou­rings of Christians and Subjects, they begin to make a distinction betwixt, and divide the Royal Preroga­tive from the Liberty of the People, two things that are very consistent together; that laying hold on that pretext, they might set up for publick-spirited men, and be thought the Patriots of the Nation.

Having by this means, at length, raised their Authority amongst the common People, so as to be chosen Members of Parliament, they set all their En­gines at work for accomplishing their intended Pro­ject; there is nothing in their mouths but the Rights of the People, Priviledges of Parliament, and the publick Liberty; they lay open to the quick the faults of the Magistrates and Courtiers; in scanda­lous [Page 70] Pamphlets they inveigh against Episcopacy and the established government of the Church; censure the Manners and Pluralities of Church-men; they expose the administration of publick government; and make it their care and study, VVherein they censure the publick admi­nistration of the Govern­ment. in all things, to weaken the Kings Power, and lessen his Reputa­tion.

To these their cunning contrivances a commo­dious occasion happened: Whilst in the Reign of King James, They take oc­casion from a VVar to make division be­twixt the K. and Parl. Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhyne, the Kings Son-in-law, having been engaged in the German War, was, with his whole Family, by the Imperial Forces driven out of his Territories. To defend the Cause of the Protestant Religion, which seemed to be in danger, and to restore this banished Prince so nearly allied to the King, were made spe­cious pretexts for their following ill designes. And by these pretences they endeavour but in vain to engage that wise King in a War, until Prince Charles seconding their Addresses, and the Emperour refusing to agree to reasonable terms of Peace, he was rou­zed up to Arms.

The K. being engaged in a VVar, and fru­strated of assi­stance from the Parl. is neces­sitated with­out a Parl. to raise money.War being thereupon proclaimed, whilst prepa­rations were making, and all Europe expected great matters from England, the Parliament, upon I know not what slight Grievances, Jealousies, and Suspi­cions, leave the King in the lurch; so that unless King Charles, upon the death of his Father, would make himself ridiculous to the World, he was ne­cessitated to raise money by his own authority, laying on unusual Taxes and Impositions, by virtue not onely of old dormant Laws, but also of new in­terpretations; without calling a Parliament, which is customary on more urgent occasions.

This incensed the people, occa­sioned fears & combinations against the K.This incensed the People, and afforded a plenti­ful crop of Murmurs and Complaints, and inclined good and honest Subjects, who were far from any [Page 71] thoughts of Innovations; but alarmed with the fears of Arbitrary Government, and the loss of the Li­berty of the Subject, (as they imagined) to plot and combine with the Factious Malecontents, for curbing the power of the King.

All these Sects at first, though differing in opini­ons and designs, were called by the name of Pu­ritans.

During the rage of the Civil War, after that the Scots came to the assistance of the Parliament, and many had been noosed into the Solemn League and Covenant, VVhen the Presbyterians first challenged publickly that name. the Presbyterians were powerful both in wealth and number, raise their heads above the rest: Nor can they be excused from Rebellion, who ha­ving abolished the Church-government and Liturgie, introduced the Presbytery and Directory in place thereof, aiming at the change of Civil Government also from Monarchy to an Aristocracy, Aristocraticks. though they pretended to retain the name and person of a King; and making use of the assistance of the other Sects who fought openly under their Banners, though they cunningly concealed their designes. Democraticks.

Next came into play the better sort of Indepen­dents, and some of the Tribe of Anabaptists, who wished for no setled National Church-government, and who liked a Democracy best; yet still retaining the name and person of a King. But the chief was a Faction most properly so called, consisting of the ri­gidest sort of Presbyterians, and a medly of many other Fanaticks, who having destroyed the Monar­chy and the Royal Family root and branch, were, some of them, for an Oligarchy, others for Anarchy, Oligarchicks· and most for a Democracy; Christonaticks or Fifth-mo­narchy-men. I may also adde a Chri­stocraty, that Fifth-monarchy which not a few longed for, wherein worldly Powers, Magistrates, and all profane Authority being brought down and trodden under foot, Christ with his Saints might [Page 72] exercise dominion over the wicked and ungodly of the Earth.

Who deserve most the name of Rebels and Traytors.These are they who are in a more particular sence to be called Rebels and Traytors to the Govern­ment; who, though they all looked different ways, and served in the Presbyterian Armies for some time, yet they were the fire-brands that kindled civil Dissensions among them, till getting the power in their hands (into which by degrees they had screw­ed themselves) they had the boldness to fall off from the rest, set up for themselves in their own names, and publickly to magnifie their own At­chievements.

The original and artifices,At first, whilst the clouds of Troubles were but a gathering, these factious Rebels were hardly di­stinguished by any name, but skulk'd under the cloak of good Patriots and the godly Party. But in the mean time they carefully watched all occasions of blowing up the fire of a Civil War; Whereby they put all into confusion, and so soon as the War flamed out, and the State was all in dis­order, lest differences might be taken up, they used all arts to make the King jealous of his Parliament, and the Parliament again of the King, every where throwing in Bones of Contention, and, as it is the custom of all Demagogues, distracted the thoughts of the giddy and light-headed Multitude with jealou­sies and fears.

Raise up VVar.By this their indefatigable industry in calumnia­ting the King, and exposing of him in all things to the hatred of the people, they first alienate the minds of the Multitude from their Prince, and then from Peace. Oppose all Ʋ ­nion & Peace. When they observed any Proposals made by the Parliament to the King, or by the King to the Parliament, which in probability might heal the wounds of Contention and War, and restore a solid Peace they slily perplex and disturb the Nego­tiation; when they prosper they swell in their de­mands, [Page 73] lest what they had already got by force of Arms, By what Arts: they might seem to acquire precariously and by concession; but if fortune frowned upon them, then were they for rouzing despondent minds, That in that condition they would not think of making Peace, when in their low fortune they must of necessity submit to harder Conditions; nor that they would so far abase the honour of Parliament, as to seem to do any thing through fear or force.

Nay, and by false Reports, counterfeit Letters, and suborned Witnesses, they pretend to discover strange Plots and monstruous Dangers disguised under the specious mask of Friendship. They ad­jure others by the bowels of love and pity to the Commonwealth, by their affection to the publick and the Cause of Christ; and in long Speeches and Arguments plead, That in carrying on the War they should rather expect to know the will and pleasure of God (so they thought fit to speak) in a matter of so great consequence, than to make Peace with the King upon unsure Conditions prejudicial to the Publick.

The easie and credulous who are apt to suspect any thing, and those also who were conscious of their own guilt, being intangled by these Artifices, they propose so hard Conditions to the King, that he could not with a safe conscience, honour, and the safety of his Friends, consent to them; whilst they slighted and rejected his Majesties Letters and most just Proposals almost twenty times sent to them.

In the mean time these good men, In the mean time they make their own ad­vantage of the VVar. whilst they boast of their extraordinary zeal for the publick Li­berty and the pure reformed Religion, making use of the War for their own private advantages, step in­to the greatest and most profitable places of the State. And then having got deeper rooting, Their growth. by degrees they win upon others, and draw them into the Conspiracy, making great progresses both in [Page 74] the Parliament and Country; in this, stirring up the Mobile to prefer Petitions, or rather putting the peo­ples names to Petitions framed by two or three of their own Faction; and in the other, by cunning and knavery accommodating the Authority of Par­liament to their own arts and devices.

Indefatigable industry in the Parliament.By this means it was no difficult matter, either at midnight or early in the morning, when the o­ther Members that differed them appeared not, or were absent about their own private affairs, to snatch an opportunity of carrying things by vote, and to lay hold on occasion by the forelock; so that the less, but more vigilant part, by degrees circum­vented the greater, but less sedulous.

If any thing were moved in Parliament that they would not have pass, or which at a distance they foresaw might be hurtful to their practices, they vigorously opposed it, or by shams, evasions, scru­ples started in the heat of debate, and the like arts, got it put off till another time. If the greater num­ber of Voices were against them, they brought in some other Bill over head and shoulders, that might invalidate the former, and elude the intention there­of. If they contrived any thing that might give suspicion to their Adversaries, or that they despaired to obtain in a full House, they send the Presbyteri­ans of an Errand into the Country, either about re­al and urgent business, or feigned necessities: In the unavoidable absence, or supine neglect of whom, they got any thing voted and past with a nemine contradicente.

And in Cabals.Nor did their private Clubs and Cabals a little promote their designes; where having laid their heads together, they took their best measures be­fore hand, how they should behave themselves in publick, and what Province every one was to un­dertake.

[Page 75]By these and such-like arts, Having got into power, they take the title of Inde­pendents. that branch of the Rebels being advanced to no small power, and se­parated (as we said before) from the Presbyteri­ans, under the name of Independents, who would have no Head, make head against them. This Ti­tle did well quadrate to all the other Sects in gene­ral, and was used by them, because depending on the government of no National Church, nor Civil Power, they ordered all things relating to Doctrine and Church-Discipline in their private Congregations. Not that most part of them had any concern for Re­ligion, but that that specious Profession giving a comprehensive latitude to all Sects, Anabaptists, Qua­kers, Millenaries, and all other Fanaticks, they might swell the number and power of their Faction; whom others, in derision, called the Holy Brethren, a name they themselves affected.

Nevertheless, that they might enlarge their Party, They enlarge their Party by complying with the humours of all men. and by a hypocritical humanity and readiness to condescend hook in the good will of many, they sollicitously strike in with men of all Perswasions, and by allurements suitable to their tempers, feel their Pulses: To the godly they promise Reforma­tion of Divine Worship; sweeten the Preachers with the hopes of the Revenues of the Bishops, Deans, and Chapters, and of establishing Presbytery by Law, al­lowing still liberty to tender Consciences; do really grant indemnity to Hereticks and Schismaticks; draw in the Ambitious by honour and titles; feeding the Covetous with money under the notion of Pen­sions or Rewards for good services: they threaten the Obnoxious; protect Malefactors; and in a word, They prosecute their opposers. no man resolutely opposed them, but was by Emis­saries and Spies, whom they had in all places, Let­ters intercepted, misinterpreted words and actions, brought into suspicion and danger. Whoever they admitted into their friendship and service, though [Page 76] the most infamous and flagitious wretch living, Protect all sorts of men. yet in all things they protected him; and amongst o­thers, the Speaker of the House of Commons, who be­ing a man for their turn, when he was accused of Bribery, they brought him off, gave him money and gain'd him to their Party, as one that would be no less serviceable to them for all that, and the more faithful to their Party, as he was the more obnoxi­ous and guilty.

Try to bring over the E. of Essex and o­ther Nobles to their Party.They tamper also with the Earl of Essex, who being dejected by his defeat in Cornwall, they thought might be grown more tractable; and therefore they put it to him, if he would for the fu­ture be for a down-right Commonwealth. Upon which condition they promise, To put him at the head of a new Army, to be payed monthly, and suppli­ed with Ammunition and all necessary Provisions. But he refusing, it was said, that the same Conditions were privately offered to other Noblemen; not that they had any respect for the Lords, whom shortly they intended to turn out and to level with the Commoners, but that they might poyson them with their own venom, and rise to greater autho­rity by drawing more over to their side. But in vain. But they being of a contrary mind, and more inclinable to the Kings Party, no sooner rejected the offers, but the Rebels cast their eyes upon another.

Ʋnder pretext of the Self-de­nying Ordi­nance, they o­ver-reach the Presbyterians, deprive them of all Places Civil and Mi­litary;By a new and specious Ordinance, whereby they said they would reform the Parliament, and restore it to its integrity, to which they gave the title of the Self-denying Ordinance; they clipt the Presbyte­rians wings, and confirmed their own strength. For by this Ordinance it was provided, that none of either House, after a limited day, should bear any Office Military or Civil; whereby it was brought about that many of the emulous Faction were obli­ged to resigne the places they held.

[Page 77]This gives them a fair opportunity of altering the whole Civil State, and new modelling the Army, Which they & their Adhe­rents invade. as they called it; to the administration of which, the Candidates of that Faction are for the most part preferred: nor could some Republican Lords long refrain from the ambition of the rest, hunting after all opportunities of Preferment, and turning the Self-denying Ordinance into an Act of pure Self-love.

Essex, who suited not so well with their temper, New Comman­ders of the Army, Fairfax. being laid aside, they give the command of the Ar­my to Sir Thomas Fairfax, onely Son to Fardinand Lord Fairfax, a valiant man indeed, and of a good natural disposition, but easie and forward to under­take and execute any thing that he was put upon, as a sure Tool to work the effect which was de­signed by the hand that managed it; wherefore he was the more readily chosen by both Parties. To him they joyn Cromwel with the Title of Lieutenant-General, but with intention of being his Governour; Cromwel. by whom some Officers at first desired onely to be commanded for a time, though afterwards, con­trary to the intent of the Self-denying Ordinance, they were established and commissionated by autho­rity of Parliament. This last having wholly run out his Estate, which was not very great, resolved to trade in Religion for repairing his broken For­tune, and for that end became the Ringleader and Stickler for the Schismaticks: and by means of these he was chosen a Member of Parliament. Would you see him painted to the life in his natu­ral colours, and such as his own Party have drawn him in, in their publick Writings? He was a great Master in Hypocrisie and Dissimulation, who lifting up his eyes to Heaven, and laying his hand upon his breast, would invoke the Name of God, weep, pray, and bewail his sins, till he stabb'd him he spoke to, under the fifth [Page 78] rib. I mention not his Ambition, Avarice, and Pride, which the Republicans, who were before his Brethren and Companions, afterwards openly charged him with.

Colonels, Cap­tains, &c. Schismaticks.The Colonels, Captains, and inferiour Officers, are for the most part chosen from among the Schismaticks, or those that were no great ene­mies unto them. In the mean while Cromwel's Son-in-law, and his other Relations and Friends, have the chief Commands in the Army bestowed upon them.

Their industry.These, having got so fair an opportunity, did not trifle away their time, but were busie in all places, running up and down, exhorting and some­times preaching to the Souldiers, that they might gain their affection; by whose favourable assistance they make way for themselves to be elected into the vacant places in the House of Commons. For when the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Corpora­tions were about by a free election to chuse new Burgesses in place of the dead or excluded Members, with Souldiers in Arms they were forced through fear to chuse the Officers of the Army, or such at least as they approved of. To get men of their Party in­to the Parl. So that in a short time many of these being admitted into the Parliament-house, and the Self-denying Ordinance being laid a­side, all Offices and Affairs, both Civil and Milita­ry, were managed by the self-same persons.

And celebra­ting their mighty deeds.And that popular applause and fame might not be wanting to celebrate their excellent undertakings, hackney Presses and mercenary Scriblers are set a work to publish all their actions with wonderful Encomi­ums and Elegies, which in weekly Mercuries and Peny Diaries, are exposed to the perusal of the News-greedy people, and every line swollen with the prai­ses of Cromwel.

So soon as they perceived the Royal interest al­most [Page 79] reduced to a pinch, They more o­penly attack the Presbyte­rians, and the Parliament-Re­bels in a manner secure of victory, they bend their designs against the Presbyterians, their rival Faction; which, though predominant in number of Voices, yet began to totter and shake.

They endeavour to lessen their Reputation, By publishing defamatory VVritings a­gainst them, and by degrees to weaken their Force; publish Libels to disgrace and ridicule the Church-Discipline, en­veighing against the right of Tythes, and the ava­rice, pride, and severity of the Preachers.

Nay, And setting them upon du­ties that were ungrateful to the people; and that they might heap more hatred up­on their heads, they charge them, who of their own accords too officiously hastened to bring all into confusion and disorder, with the more rigid parts of Reformation that were most ungrateful to the people; such, as to press their Covenant with ri­gour upon those that refused to take it, exact Fines, squeeze money from the people, and (that they might entail infamy upon them to Posterity) un­der colour of visiting Colledges, to banish the most learned men out of the Ʋniversities. Mingling themselves in their Cabals, Upon pretext of friendship they steal into all the Presbyterian Ca­bals, that by raising scruples and delays, their Con­sultations might turn to Smoak, and themselves be exposed to publick Derision.

Having pretty well succeeded in this, Turning them out of govern­ments. Disbanding the Forces that befriended them, dismissing the Scots, and drawing over the Ringlea­ders to their Party. they re­solve to go thorough-stitch with it, by turning out of the government of Garrison-towns and Forts all those who declared for Presbytery. They likewise cause all the Forces that were almost in every Coun­ty, though but in small numbers, to be disbanded, except the Army commanded by Fairfax. They send the Scots home out of England: by bribes or fear they draw over the leading-men amongst the Presbyterians, that they would either openly own their Cause; or secretly under the name and badge of Presbyterians, diving into their secrets, usefully [Page 80] and securely serve the ends of the Republicans; a­mongst whom the two chief were, Philip Skip­pon and Ste­phen Marshal. Philip Skippon, and Stephen Marshal, the first Major-General of the Army; and the other a Minister, and the Oracle of the Presbyterians: both cunning Knaves, who un­der pretext of moderating and reconciling differen­ces, minded their own advantages, fooled the Pres­byterians, and not a little promoted the affairs of the Independents.

The series of the History is again continu­ed. The Presbyte­rians still pre­vailing in the Parl. they re­solve to lessen and divide the Army.The Presbyterians having made sure of Victory, and, which is more, of the King, and being as yet more numerous in both Houses, are now in greater fear from their own Servants the Army in pay, than heretofore from the enemy; and being sollicitous how to rid themselves from that Yoke, after much debate, they appoint, That for easing the Country of charges, twelve thousand of them should be sent over into Ireland, the rest to be disbanded, except six thousand Horse, two thousand Dragoons, and six thousand Foot.

These to be carried over by Skippon into Ireland, and those under the command of Fairfax to be di­vided into the several Counties of the Kingdom, with intent, as they said, They might be in a readiness to stifle all Tumults in the bud, and that they themselves being in a body together, might not attempt any Innova­tions.

The Souldiers mutiny, the Officers secretly applauding them, though vexed in shew, who (the sedi­tious succeed­ing to their mind) joyn with them.Many Officers and all the private Souldiers that were Sectarians, smelling a far off that by that trick they would be wormed out of the power which they had got, and the Military authority fall wholly into the hands of the Presbyterians, put the rest of the Souldiers in fear that they were to be disbanded without their Pay, or all transported into Ireland, there to be consumed with labour, sickness, hunger, and nakedness.

Hence the Souldiers began to mutiny, object their little Reasons to the contrary, and at length to [Page 81] break out into Sedition. The Officers in the mean time pretended in shew to be angry at these things, to repress, and by all means resist the mutinous com­mon Souldiers; but secretly they encourage them in the business, and industriously foment their fury. And the Sedition succeeding according to their wishes, they lay aside the Mask, withdraw from London to head the Mutineers in the Camp, and all together enter into a Confederacy against the Par­liament; amongst whom Cromwel was the chief, Cromwel a­mong the first. who lately, calling God to witness, had professed, That he was certain the Souldiers would at the first word of command throw down their Arms at the Par­liaments feet; and had solemnly sworn, That he ra­ther wished himself and whole Family burnt, than that the Army should break out into Sedition. They who were true to the Parl. being disbanded. And so they turn out of place about an hundred Captains and Officers, who chose rather to be true to the Parlia­ment, than to enter into that Confederacy.

The private Souldiers had opportunity to begin this attempt by means of the Adjutators. These, This they at­tempt by means of the Adjuta­tors. by connivance of the Officers, were chosen two out of every Regiment of Horse and Foot, and had power from their fellow-Souldiers to keep Councils, judge what was fit to be done for the common good, and by Spies dispersed through all quarters and Garri­sons inform the rest.

These Adjutators at length usurp the authority of Colonels, not thinking it enough to have meetings amongst themselves, but in Councils of War chal­lenge place amongst the principal Officers; nor barely concerning themselves in the interest of the private Souldiers, they meddle in the ordering and government of the whole Army; and not onely so, but bestir themselves also in the affairs of the whole People, as well of England as Ireland, and in refor­ming the government of both; the chief Officers, [Page 82] till the Parliament was by their mutual Conspiracy ruined, scarcely mustering against it.

They designe a Common­wealth.These men have nothing in their mouths but the Liberty and Power of the People, and professedly labour to erect a Democracy, giving being, birth, and name to a popular Commonwealth, another sort of Republick.

They carry a­way the King out of the Par­liaments custo­dy; sooth him with fair pro­mises and kind Offices.The Souldiers grown thus insolent and bold, stand not in awe to seize and carry away the King out of the Parliaments custody, who upon the trea­cherous discovery of a certain Earl, they understood was by the Captain of the Guard, with full autho­rity, to be brought to London; and having done so, they endeavour to please him with officious and flat­tering promises of greater liberty and freedom, and more dutiful usage; pretending to lament his con­dition, as being by the severity of the Parliament, in a manner, buried alive within his own Palace, as in a Prison, deprived of the company of his Friends and Servants; Professing (which to them was more than an Oath) that they would never lay down their Arms until they had put the Scepter into his hands, and procured better Conditions for his Friends.

They allow him the assistance of his Chaplains, the exercise of his Religion, and a free correspondence with the Queen, by Messengers and Letters, without any examination. His Royal Children were like­wise suffered to visit him, that so far at least he might seem to be at home, and to enioy the dearest part of his Kingdom. In so much, that the Camp seemed to be transformed into the Court, whilst his Majesties domestick Servants return with joy to their Master, and Courtiers increase daily in num­ber.

And that they may seem to be serious in treating with the King about the setling of affairs, they frame Propositions, whereby they gave it out, That [Page 83] things were contrived to the best for the interest of his Majesty, of themselves, and of the Publick; They frame Propositions whereby they would provide for the interest of the King, of themselves, and of the Publick; and soften them for the Kings sake. to which if the King would condescend, they engage on their parts immediately to restore him to the height of Royal Majesty. When afterwards the King liked them not as they were proposed by their Commissioners, they soften them, and made as if they had almost accommodated them to the inten­tions of the King; nay, one or two of his Majesties Servants, whensoever they had a mind to it, were permitted to be present in their Councils of War.

In the mean time they publish Declarations and Remonstrances to the dishonour of the Parliament; By Declarati­ons they envy against the Parliament. Accuse several Members of Treason. accuse them of Covetousness, Selfishness, Ambition, Injustice, Cruelty, and Tyranny; demand their Ar­rears; accuse eleven able Commoners, and as many Peers of the contrary Faction, of High-Treason, and having brought frivolous Articles against them, they urge, that being excluded the House, they may be brought to a Tryal. They desire, nay command, Command the Parl. to be dissolved. that the present Parliament be within a prefixed time dissolved, foreseeing that to be the onely way whereby they might hope to gratifie the People, and that a new and better Parliament should be cal­led in place of it, thereby to flatter the hopes of wretched Sufferers.

It is not to be denied, but that they proposed ma­ny useful things, that they might cajole the people; They propose useful things to the people, and pretend to mind the K.'s interest; wherein they never forgot, sometimes obliquely, and sometimes also directly to speak in favour of the King; and that to this purpose: That the King, Queen, and Royal Family be restored to their just Rights, without which, they cry, no solid Peace can be expected. Yet for the most part they play fast and loose by Conditions annexed, or ambiguous words, But in ambi­guous words. so that afterward they might easily extricate them­selves from these Promises, provided they had the [Page 84] luck to get the better of the Presbyterians.

They march a­gainst the Par­liament.But when the Parliament thought it neither ho­nourable nor safe to comply with these military de­mands, the Army inverting now the Cause, declare for the King and People, and march against the Par­liament. The Parl. pre­pares for de­fence. On the other hand, the Parliament with the Londoners prepare for a defence, and vote that the King should be invited to London, the people in a manner forcing them to it, who with importunate Petitions and Clamours, thundred tumultuously in Westminster-hall.

But the Spea­kers of both Houses, with many Members flying to the Camp, the Citi­zens are ap­peased upon the fair promises of the Army;In the mean time the Speakers of both Houses, with about fifty Members, partly Aristocraticks, and partly Democraticks, privily flie from London and be­take themselves to the Camp, in great consterna­tion, pretending violence offered unto them by their fellow-Members, Citizens, and some disbanded Souldiers, and demand reparation by Arms: yet all this while they left others of their own stamp be­hind them in the Parliament, that might blow the Coals, and disappoint the Councils of the rest.

The Citizens, who like men in an Ague after a burning heat, fall presently into a shaking cold, were easily appeased by the fair promises of the Ar­my, That the King should be restored (which was their onely desire) the Parliament dissolved, and publick Peace and Justice setled. But the Country-people, who heretofore were in a readiness to flock to the assistance of London, were now equally dis­gusted both with the Citizens and Parliament, as those who having first kindled the War, were still unwilling to put out the flame, and seemed to be the onely men that shut their Gates against Peace that was ready to return into the Kingdom. And without any previous Articles, open their Gates to the Souldiers. What's now to be done? The Parliament desponds; and the officious Citizens, who were for the Army and Faction, open the Gates, and without any previous [Page 85] Articles, tamely deliver up the City to the mercy of the Souldiers.

Upon this the fugitive Members are with no small pomp instantly restored to their places. The fugitive Members are restored; the accused Pres­byterians flie; others tempo­rize, all lose courage. Some Commo­ners, the Mayor and Leading­men of the Ci­ty, with some Lords, are clapt up in Prison. The accu­sed Presbyterians flie; and some, as it is usual, tem­porizing, strike in with the victorious Party, and the rest lose courage. From that time forward the History of the Evils they had done, is to be read in those they suffer. Some of the Members of the House of Commons, the Mayor also, and many chief Citizens being committed to the Tower, smart for their late fear and cowardise in abandoning the safe­ty of their fellow-Citizens, and their former obstina­cy and insolence against the King. Seven or eight Lords accused of Treason, are cast into Prison; but afterward the heat of Emulation by little and little cooling, and being almost quite over, the Prisoners, without any Indictments brought against them, are discharged from their loathsome Prisons, to be an example to others, not to presume hereafter to re­sist. Nor could this satisfie them, unless also to shew their strength, and the continence and discipline of the Souldiers, the Commanders of the Army led their men with Artillery and Ammunition, as in triumph over the Citizens, through the chief streets of London.

When the Army had now mastered the two strong Forts of the Kingdom, the Parliament and the City of London, being doubly victorious over their friends and enemies, there remained no more to be done, but how they might at their leisure settle and confirm themselves in the Power which now they had obtained. A new Lieute­nant & Gar­rison are put into the Tower of London. The Lieutenant and Garrison of the Tower of London, are chosen out of the dregs of the Citizens; but such as had nobilitated them­selves by being Slaves to the Faction, the old Lieu­tenant with the accustomed Garrison being turned [Page 86] out for no other fault, but that he favoured the Pres­byterians. The Colonels and Officers of the Army chan­ged. The Commissioners who had the power of ordering the whole Army, as also the Colonels, Captains, and other Officers, are forced to turn out, to make way for men of a new mould.

The Posts and Chains of the City being pul­led down.But some may think that it was overdoing, that when the Citizens had long ago laid aside their Arms and their resolution, yet the Works and For­tifications of the City should be demolished, under pretext that the Kingdom was now in Peace; and then the Posts and Chains in the streets removed, that the Horse might have freer passage into all the corners of the Town, and no hold left to the Citi­zens and the women from which they might in pro­bability kick.

A popular Re­publican is set over the Fleet.Moreover, that they might establish their Go­vernment both by Sea and Land, Rainsborough, the Bell-weather of the Republicans, is set over the Fleet. Fairfax made General of the Forces both in England and Ireland. Thanks are gi­ven to the Ar­my, Fairfax is appointed General of the Forces not onely in England, but in Ireland also, that that Country might the more speedily be succoured. The Army has the thanks not onely of the Parliament and of the Ministers from the Pulpit, but likewise of the honest Citizens, who now entertain and feast in their houses the very men whom a little before they intended to drive from their Walls. A months Pay besides, And Pay. as a token of kindness, is appointed for the Souldiers, for their good services to the Parlia­ment.

It's long in suspence to what side the Parl. should adhere.It was for a long time hotly disputed to which side the Parliament should adhere, whether the Acts of the Army or Parliament ought to be annulled, since both of them, according to the different num­ber of Voices, had by turns been resciended; and being uncertain how to get out of that Labyrinth, that the Parliament might not seem to be interrup­ted, or force put upon them whereby their autho­rity [Page 87] would be weakened, or that they might seem to approve the right of changing sides, which they had long ago condemned in the Members that fol­lowed the King. They are now for both, by and by again for either of the two, and of a sudden a­gain for neither. However, The flight of the Members of Parl. is appro­ved. they resolve that the separation of the flying Members, and their conjun­ction with the Army is altogether to be approved, as being lawfully done for the publick good.

By which successes the Commanders of the Army and Ring leaders of the Faction, were so puft up, The Rebels ha­ving got the power into their hands, forget the K. some being for an Oligarchy, and others for Democraty. that they quite forgot their old Friends and fellow-Souldiers. There was no more mention now of dissolving the Parliament, calling a new one, nor of the Promises whereby they had so often imposed upon the King and People. All their care is to mind their own advantage, and how to settle that Oli­garchy, which now they seemed to be in possession of.

But the Adjutators and all the popular Republi­cans are no less busie and sollicitous to have that Parliament dissolved, and a new one, under the name of a Representative by the free election of the People, called, with a limitation of their power and time of sitting, that so they might introduce a De­mocraty.

Both Parties being out of dread of the Presbyte­rians, All conspire a­gainst Monar­chy and the K. equally conspire the ruine of the King and Monarchy.

It had been long before privately proposed a­mongst some, to assassinate the King, Whose murder they plot; some privately, whilst he was in the Scottish Army; that they might at the same time glut their malice, and throw the odium of the fact upon the Scots. Afterwards one Rolf a Shoe­maker, instigated by some, armed himself for the Regicide. That Fellow being informed that the King intended to make his escape out of a window [Page 88] when he was in the Isle of Wight, lay in wait with a Musket several nights, that he might shoot him as by accident.

Others by a Council of War.But now several fiercely urge, that he should be forthwith and secretly dispatched, or at least that being condemned by a Council of War, he should be beheaded.

Some under pretext of a Parliamentary Authority.But it seemed more generous and safe to the leading Rebels to protract time, and manage the matter gradually by wiles and crafty fetches, until being countenanced by a colour of Authority, they might, under a sham of satisfying publick Justice, per­petrate the matchless Villany. And thus they or­dered it. To which they make way gra­dually, sending Propositions to the K. with a pretence of peace, but in reality to find a cause of ac­cusing him: Conditions of Peace were to be propo­sed to the King; but such, as if he consented to them, he himself would renounce the Crown: and if he refused, he would be deposed by the Votes of others; and so be, over and above, reckoned ob­stinate by the people; which would give them a more specious pretext for accomplishing their de­signe.

For this end it is contrived and obtained, that the Parliament should again send to the King Propo­sitions, but such as were rather imperious and hard Commands, than Conditions of Peace to be trea­ted about, which being granted, he would pluck off his Crown with his own hands. Which, though the Comman­ders of the Ar­my had procu­red in Parl. yet in the Camp they perswade the K. not to condescend to them. To which, though the Commanders of the Army and Cromwel in the first place, had given their Votes in the Par­liament; yet in the Camp they advised the King not to condescend to them, promising that they would either obtain or command more reasonable Conditions for him; and seemed to detest those as proceeding from the hautiness and severity of the Presbyterians.

The K. makes answer to the Parl. proposals,His Majesty being deluded by that artifice, makes answer to this purpose: That the Propositions were [Page 89] such, as he could not in honour and conscience consent to them, being such as could not reconcile all interests, nor settle a lasting Peace in the Kingdom: Appeals to the Demands of the Army, as more condu­cing to peace. He appeals ra­ther to the Proposals of the Army, as much more condu­cing to the satisfaction of all interests, and a fit subject for a personal conference betwixt himself and the two Houses (which he earnestly desired;) for which cause his Majesty would have Commissioners from the Army admitted.

Cromwel and the rest of the Commanders of the Army were extreamly well satisfied with this An­swer, Where at Crom­wel and the Commanders seem to rejoyce. as if the King himself gave greater honour to the Army than to the Parliament; and therefore on their parts they promise all good Offices to his Ma­jesty.

In the mean time they take all courses to incense the rest against the King, But from thence labour to incense the rest of the Members a­gainst him. pretending themselves much ashamed that they could not perform all they promised; and excuse themselves sometimes be­cause of the reverence that was due to the Parlia­ment, and sometimes again because of the perem­ptoriness of the Adjutators: They juggle with the K. putting him by turns in hope and fear. at length they began to juggle and quite fall off, to give a contrary sence to their promises, and to suggest apprehensions to the King, as if the Adjutators and Republicans de­signed his Majesties death, whose insolent attempts they could not moderate nor at present repress; mingling with all, promises that if they could cut the combs of the Adjutators, and restore the lost Discipline of the Army, they would without delay perform what they had undertaken.

With which his Majesty being moved, At which his Majesty being moved, makes his escape to the Isle of Wight. (seeing it was worse to distrust than to be deceived) he privately made his escape from the Army, and (as sate would have it) fled to the Isle of Wight, the government of which (as it seems probable) was just before put into the hands of Colonel Hammond a [Page 90] dear friend to Cromwel, that there he might play his part in this business. To this mans protection the King commits himself, running of his own ac­cord into the Snare which the Rebels had long ago laid for him.

From thence he speedily writes to the Parl. sending also Concessions;But that he might not be wanting to the publick whilst the Parliament were at a stand, wondering whither he might have fled, his Majesty wrote to them, sending therewith Concessions that were too easie and great to be expected, or indeed to be wish­ed for by any; adding thereto invincible Argu­ments, why he could not consent to the Proposals lately sent him by the Parliament. Ʋpon which he demands a Treaty with the Parl. He proposes his own Concessions and the Demands of the Army, as a fit subject for a personal Treaty: and for the sake of the People and Kingdom, earnestly desires it, be­ing willing on his own part to condescend to any thing, that by any means he might procure Peace and Tran­quillity to his languishing Kingdoms.

Thus the Re­bels oppose and take occasion of asking De­mands preli­minary to the Treaty.The Republicans of both sorts, as well they that were for a few, as for a many-headed Commonwealth, endeavouring by all means to put a stop to the Peace proposed and offered by the King, take hereby occasion to oppose to his Majesties most just desires, four unreasonable Demands, as preliminary cauti­ons; which if his Majesty would consent to, they promise to treat about the rest.

I. That the Parliament should have power to raise, settle and maintain the Forces by Sea and Land, with­in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, &c. without the Kings consent; it being declared High-Treason for any others, to the number of thirty, to meet together without the authority of Parliament.

II. That it should be lawful to the two Houses to sit and adjourn themselves when and where they plea­sed.

III. That all Oaths, Declarations, Proclamations, [Page 91] and other proceedings against either House of Parlia­ment during the War, should be declared void and null.

IV. That all Titles and Honour of Peerage conferred on any by the King since his Majesty left the Parliament, and since the great Seal was carried away, should he declared void. All these things they demand that the King would consent might be past into Law; if not, that things must remain as they were.

In the mean time the Scottish Commissioners who were then at London, Which the Scots oppose both in Parl. and before the King. give in their Reasons in writing against these Demands; and when, never­theless, they saw that they were sent to the King, they protest against them in his Majesties presence, as being flatly opposite to Religion, the Crown, and the Agreements made betwixt the Kingdoms of England and Scotland.

What can the King do to get out of these streights? If he grant the Demands, he voluntarily resignes up the Government; and if he refuse, he must be deposed with the ignominious brand of Obstinacy.

The King though wanted neither greatness of Soul nor Wisdom, The King an­swers. and therefore sends presently back an Answer: That the necessity of complying with all engaged interests in these great distempers for a perfect settlement of Peace, his Majesty finds to be none of the least difficulties he hath met with since the time of his afflictions; which is too visible, when at the same time that the two Houses of the English Parliament do pre­sent to his Majesty several Bills and Propositions for his consent, the Commissioners for Scotland do openly protest against them: so that were nothing in the case but the consideration of that difference, his Majesty cannot ima­gine how to give such an answer to what is now propo­sed, as thereby to promise himself his great end, A Per­fect Peace. And when his Majesty farther considers [Page 92] how impossible it is (in the condition he now stands) to fulfil the desires of his two Houses, since the onely ancient and known ways of passing Laws, are either by his Majesties personal assent in the House of Peers, or by Commission under his great Seal of England; he cannot but wonder at such failings in the manner of address which is now made unto him, unless his two Houses intend that his Majesty shall allow of a great Seal made without his authority, before there be any consideration had thereupon in a Treaty; which as it may hereafter hazard the security it self, so for the pre­sent it seems very unreasonable to his Majesty. And though his Majesty is willing to believe that the inten­tion of very many of both Houses, in sending those Bills before a Treaty, was onely to obtain a Trust from him, and not to take any advantage by passing them, to force other things from him, which are either against his con­science or honour; yet his Majesty believes it's clear to all understandings, that these Bills contain (as they are now penned) not onely the divesting himself of all So­veraignty, and that without possibility of recovering it either to him or his Successors, (except by repeal of these Bills) but also the making his Concessions guilty of the greatest pressures that can be made upon the Subject, as in other particulars, so by giving an arbitrary and un­limited power to the two Houses for ever, to raise and levy, for Land and Sea-service, of what persons (with­out distinction and quality) and to what numbers they please; and likewise for the payment of the Arrears, to levy what moneys, in such sort, and by such ways and means (and by consequence upon the Estates of what­soever persons) as they shall think fit and appoint; which is utterly inconsistent with the Liberty and Pro­perty of the Subject, and his Majesties trust in protect­ing them: so that if the major part of both Houses shall think it necessary to put the rest of the Propositions into Bills, his Majesty leaves the world to judge how un­safe [Page 93] it would be for him to consent thereunto; and if not, what a strange condition (after passing those four Bills) his Majesty and all his Subjects would be cast into. And here his Majesty thinks it not unfit to wish his two Houses to consider well of the manner of their proceeding; that when his Majesty desires a personal Treaty with them for the setling of a Peace, they in an­swer propose the very subject matter of the most essential part thereof to be first granted; a thing which will be hardly credible to Posterity: Wherefore his Majesty de­clares, that neither the desire of being freed from this te­dious and irksome condition of life his Majesty hath so long suffered, nor the apprehension of what shall befal him in case his two Houses shall not afford him a per­sonal Treaty, shall make him change his resolution of not consenting to any Act, till the whole be concluded. Yet then he intends not onely to give full and reasonable satisfaction in the particulars presented to him; but also to make good all other Concessions mentioned in his Message of the 16th of Novemb. last, which he thought would have produced better effects than what he finds in the Bills and Propositions now presented unto him.

And yet his Majesty cannot give over, but now again earnestly presseth for a personal Treaty, (so passionately is he affected with the advantages which Peace will bring to his Majesty and all his Subjects) of which he will not at all despair, (there being no other visible way to obtain a well-grounded Peace). However, his Majesty is very much at ease within himself, for having fulfilled the offices both of a Christian and a King; and will patiently wait the good pleasure of Almighty God, to incline the hearts of his two Houses to consider their King, and compassionate their fellow-Subjects mi­series.

The King having delivered this Answer sealed up, to be carried to the Parliament, the Earl of D. who hankered too much after the Oligarchick Re­publicans, [Page 94] desired it to be opened again, that the Commissioners might be acquainted with what they brought back, as he said, was fitting, they being Commissioners and not Posts or Couriers; (though no such thing was contained in their publick in­structions) he having past his promise that no pre­judice should therefrom accrew to the King.

Is confined to close imprison­ment.But so soon as the King, to satisfie them, had read over his Answer himself, without any respect had to their faith and promise, they confine the best of Princes to closer imprisonment in [...]arisborough-Castle, where then he was: They put from him all his Servants, except some new comers and enemies whom they placed about his person rather in deri­sion, and as a Guard, than for attending and ser­ving him. And that he might not have the use of the least bit of Paper secretly conveyed to him by any Messenger, they set Sentinels at all the entries, at the doors and windows of his Chamber.

The Oligar­chick Com­manders re­duce the De­mocraticks to order, and re­store Military Discipline.The Oligarchick Rebels, Cromwel and the other Commanders of the Army being resolved to pursue their designe, the Kings Answer wrought no good effect in the Parliament; yet the emulation of the Democratick Republicans, and of the Adjutators, for some time put a stop to their proceedings. That they might suppress this Party, of whom they had now enough, a general muster of the Forces is ap­pointed, amongst whom one whole Regiment ha­ving got the Democratical Proposals, which they termed the Ordinance of the People, put into wri­ting, they carried the Paper as a signal in their hats; the Oligarchick Republicans by their sollicitations had gained one or two Regiments; and the rest of the Army consisted of both Parties promiscuously jumbled together. The chief Commanders who were of the first (as the inferiour were of the other Party) drawing together into a ring, they com­mand [Page 95] the private Souldiers to throw away their Paper-signals; which when they refused to do, ac­cording as they had laid the designe, they break in amongst them, and pulling out some of the more sawcy fellows of the Regiment, they cause them pre­sently to be shot to death; which made the rest throw away their Badges, and submit to the plea­sure of the Generals.

This danger being over, They openly rail against the King, they began to publish the villany they had so long concealed, to rail open­ly against the King in the House, make Speeches, exhort the other Members, and to contrive four In­terdicts rather than Votes: whereby,

1. It is resolved, And pass a Vote of none Addresses to the King. That the Lords and Commons do declare that they will make no further Addresses or Ap­plications to the King.

2. That no Application or Address be made to the King by any person whatsoever, without leave of both Houses.

3. That the person or persons that shall make breach of this Order, shall incur the penalties of High-Trea­son.

4. That the Lords and Commons do declare, that they will receive no more any Message from the King to both or either Houses of Parliament, or to any other person.

But neither were these carried in the House of Commons, without tricks and the usual artifices. But surrepti­tiously in the Lower House; For before any mention was made of these Propo­sitions in the House, fourty or fifty leading-men, who for the most part would have withstood those at­tempts, are sent into their several Counties upon pretext of raising money to pay off the Souldiers, that by their absence, fewer opposing, and the greater part of the House being packt, the matter might be easily carried. Nevertheless, this execra­ble motion (made to the scandal of mankind) of [Page 96] abjuring their King, was debated to and again, from ten in the morning until seven at night, and had not, after all, found the Votes rather tired out than perswaded, unless the chief of the Oligarchick Party had given them hopes that they would attempt no­thing worse against the King. The three last Votes past in the space of half an hour with much preci­pitation, whilst the Factious got into the places of the dissenting Members, who had withdrawn out of the House to take a little refreshment.

By force and threats in the Ʋpper House.However, the Ʋpper House was more hardly brought over to an assent: for there the Debate la­sted many days, until Commissioners coming from the Army upon pretext of thanking the Lower House for those Votes, and protesting the Army would protect the Commons therein, threatned the Lords if they persisted to oppose them, and shortly after, whilst they still delayed, forced them out of fear to consent, two Regiments of Souldiers being sent in­to Westminster-hall, under colour of a Guard to the Lower House; but in reality to awe the dissen­ting Lords. This having terrified the three or four Lords that met, who at that time often usurped to themselves the authority of the Upper House, (many stealing out of the way) they agree to the Votes of the House of Commons. And then Commissioners were likewise sent from the Army to thank the Lords for that good service done to the Kingdom, and solemnly to assure them in name of the whole Army, That they would maintain and defend the Rights and Priviledges of the Ʋpper House.

Cromwel ex­cuses himself of perfidiousness.The Reader may be pleased to observe what Cloak Cromwel used for this perfidiousness. This Blade, whilst he was praying that Almighty God would be pleased to prosper his endeavours in rai­sing again the King to the Throne and Majesty of his Ancestors; here the words stuck between his [Page 97] teeth, so that he could not utter one word more; which he interpreting as a signe of Gods displea­sure, concluded the King to be rejected of God. But to others he roundly expressed himself, That it was lawful to circumvent a wicked deceiver, by craft and deceit.

After this comes out a Proclamation, They publish a Declaration, by autho­rity of the House of Commons, wherein the sticklers both for Oligarchy and Democracy, who agreed very well together against the King, declare the Reasons that enclined them to pass those Votes of none Ad­dresses to his Majesty.

This they stuff with all the Calumnies that were raised against the King, Which they stuff with all the Calumnies they can against the King. by the Clubs and Confe­rences of his lewdest enemies, or by uncertain Ru­mours spread abroad by themselves; to which they adde other Aspersions, which though they had been bawled over and over again in the House, yet were found not to have had the least shadow of truth, and were onely invented and exaggerated to create greater hatred.

They cause this infamous Libel to be sent about into all the Parishes of the Kingdom, They command it to be read publickly by the Ministers in all Parish-Churches, being secure that no body durst, or indeed could undergo the danger of answering it, since all the Presses were narrowly watched. The Ministers are commanded to read it to the people in the Church, and to preach as well as they could in praise of it.

And that they might be the more willing to serve the end, And sooth them with promises, that they may com­m [...]nd it in their sermons. it was at the same time voted in the House of Commons, That the Tythes and Dean and Chapters Rents should be paid to the Preachers; seem­ing to be very sollicitous for the Cause of God and Religion, when in reality they intended to cheat the Church of them, and to convert them to profane use. Nay, the Justices of Peace are everywhere en­joyned to force the Laicks, who refused, to pay [Page 98] them. They endea­vour by their Emissaries to procure gratu­latory Petiti­ons. They likewise hoped to stir up the people by Emissaries and Souldiers everywhere dispersed, by Anabaptists, Schismaticks, and Hereticks, who were most diligent in propagating their affairs, to approve what the Parliament had done by congra­tulatory Addresses, and to demand some severer pu­nishment to be inflicted upon the King.

But it happened contrariwise: for three Answers and Apologies at least came out within a short time, The K. Maje­sty is justified by many Apo­logies. (one of which was written with the Kings own hand) wherein his Majesty was most clearly acquit­ted from those reproachful Imputations, and the Accusations retorted upon the Faction it self, which was proved to be guilty of all the crimes that it ma­liciously and falsly fastened upon the King; and that with so great evidence and perspicuity, that no man durst offer so much as to mutter against it.

The Parsons coldly execute their orders: very few con­gratulate.In the mean time the Ministers coldly obey their commands: and some few gratulatory Addresses by the industry of Sectarians, are with much ado extorted from a few Counties, and signed but with the hands of some obscure and notoriously malici­ous Villains.

All the people grumble and fret.Now the people began to grumble and fret, to accuse the Sectarians, and especially the Souldiers of juggling and imposture; and to curse them all. Afterwards came Petitions from a great many Coun­ties, Many petition for a personal Treaty with the King, and those also which always were for the Par­liament, earnestly intreating that a personal Treaty might be had with the King, that the Army might be paid and disbanded, that assistance in the mean time should be sent over into Ireland, that England might be eased from Oppressions, and from contri­buting to the charges of an unnecessary Army, which it was no longer able to bear.

At length it came to that, that a great many of [Page 99] these humble Petitions signed with the hands of in­finite numbers of men, The Rebels in vain opposing it. had almost confounded the repugnancy of the Parliament; the Commanders of the Army in the several Counties, and the Parlia­ment Commissioners, who for the most part did all now comply with the victorious Party, in vain u­sing all their endeavours by threats of sequestrati­ons, imprisonments, banishment, and death, and now and then by flattery and golden promises, to make them desist and be silent.

Nor can we pass over, without a remark, ☜ the changing Tides of Divine Vengeance, or of Popular Inconstancy; whilst the very same Parliament, from which the first tumults of petitioning against the King had their rise, does now complain that the dignity of the Members are endangered by an unde­sired confluence of Petitioners.

The first that led the van in petitioning were the Essex-men, in numbers unusual before these times, First were the Essex-men; who were so many that they might have compel­led those whom they came to supplicate. Next, those of Surrey, who are abused by the Souldiers. Next came the Surrey-men, who being unarmed, were upon a slight occasion barbarously treated by the Souldiers near the very door of the Parliament-house; being severely beaten, forced to flie, some killed, more wounded, all plundered, and that by order of the House, and command of the Officers; nay, the Rioters had the thanks of the Lower House, and re­wards for the fact; that so the people might for the future beware of licentious petitioning, which hereto­fore was judged a part of their Right.

But all they get by their Tyranny in labouring to stifle the Grievances and Complaints of the opprest people, But neverthe­less, more Pe­titions come from other Counties; was to incense the other Counties to ply them more frequently with Petitions: who seeing they could procure no remedy by complaining, from Prayers and Petitions they betake themselves to [Page 100] Arms. The liberty of the King and People (which heretofore the deluded Rabble thought to be incon­sistent) are again born in colours, by the men of Kent, And the Ken­tish and Essex men with se­veral others being repulsed, betake them­selves to Arms. Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, York-shire, and other Northern Counties, South and North Wales also, and at length of Surrey, who were inflamed with a grea­ter desire of vengeance; many Nobles ( the Earl of Holland, Wiot, and Duke of Buckingham, &c.) who were unluckily discovered to have entered into a Conspiracy at London, joyning them too hastily.

The Fleet also falls off from the Parl.The Sea-men also being carried with the same tyde of Commiseration towards the King, fall off, and seventeen men of War, having put the Repub­lican Admiral Rainsborough on shore, come over to Prince Charles.

The Scots rise in arms for de­livering the K. out of prison.The Scots also by order of their Parliament take up Arms for delivering the King out of Prison wherein he was basely detained, and make an Ir­ruption into the Northern parts of England, with a numerous army under the command of Hamilton; be­ing joyned by Sir Marmaduke Langdale, with a con­siderable body of English: But whether it was the wonted ill fortune of the King, or of Hamilton himself, or rather the decree and purpose of Al­mighty God, the English first, by intervals, and one after another, The English are overcome by the enemy. were routed and killed by the enemy: for it was a matter of small difficulty for an old Army provided with Ammunition and all other ne­cessaries of War, commanded by vigilant and ex­pert Generals and Officers, to defeat and put to flight a tumultuary body of raw Country-men ra­ther than Souldiers, destitute of Arms and warlike provisions, and for most part without Commanders, whilst they come to engage by Parties one after a­nother.

Nevertheless, Colchester in Essex, and Pembrooke the chief Town of that County in Wales, though [Page 101] they were unprovided for a Siege, gave the Rebels no little work to do. Nor did Pontfract-Castle fall dishonourably into their hands; out of which about thirty Horsemen breaking through the Forces that besieged the place, pulled Rainsborough (lately Ad­miral and now General of the Northern Army, who had brought some thousands of Auxiliary Troops to make an end of the Siege) out of his Bed in Duncaster a fortified Tower, twelve miles di­stant from Pontfract; and because he refused to be carried away with them as a Prisoner, killed him. Nay, the Garrison being reduced to the utmost ex­tremity, all had free liberty to depart to their own houses, except two Souldiers; to whom it was per­mitted even by Articles, either to die in the Bed of Honour fighting, or to arm themselves and strive to break through the enemy. Which both of them watching their opportunity, got on horseback, and performed almost without a wound.

The Scots through the unskilfulness and cowar­dise of their Generals, And the Scots. or (which I am not willing to suspect) their treachery, leading the Army in two bodies forty miles distant one from another, are without any trouble routed by Cromwel, who unexpectedly falling upon the main body, Hamilton the General being taken. put it to flight, and all the rest into consternation; many be­ing killed and taken, amongst whom was Hamil­ton the General.

The rest he pursued into Scotland; where Argile with the Forces he had raised, being no less an Ar­my at home than Cromwel was abroad, reduced them in a short time to such streights, that the Ar­my which had been raised by order of Parliament, was forced to lay down Arms, and submit to the discretion of Argile's Faction. Then was a new Parliament called, all being excluded who had ta­ken up Arms, or voted for engaging in a War for [Page 102] the delivery of the King. In this the Acts of the last Parliament were recinded, the War declared to have been unlawful, Cromwel had the publick thanks, and Argile privately engaged (as Cromwel himself boasted) that he would concur with the Oligarchicks of England, and root out Monarchy (when occasion offered) in Scotland as well as in England.

The ships pre­pare to make a defection from the Prince, matters succee­ding ill at Land.Besides, many Ships, the Tyde turning, according to the innate levine of Seamen, prepare to make de­fection from the Prince, casting themselves into the protection of the Earl of Warwick, who had won their hearts by frequent Largesses, and who was set over a new Fleet for a time, that he might draw o­ver the Seamen again to the obedience of the Par­liament: but being beset with the Spies Of the Oli­garchick Rebels, and having done their job, he justly received the usual Reward from these Masters, that is, he was turned out and laid aside.

The Parl. in the mean time think of ma­king peace.Whilst the Army is busied in these Wars, the Members of Parliament being a little rid of the yoak of the Army and Cromwel that were now at a di­stance, and seriously considering how ill all the People of the Kingdom would resent the injuries done to the King, and how ticklish their own af­fairs stood, they begin to think of Peace; and growing wise behind hand, The Act of None Addresses is rescinded. against the advice of the Oligarchick Republicans, they rescind the Votes of None Addresses, by the unanimous consent of both Houses. They appoint a Conference with the K. by Commissioner in the Isle of Wight. They appoint a Conference▪ with the King for composing Differences; but by Commissio­ners, and that in the Isle of Wight. For this pur­pose they commissionate five Lords for the Ʋpper House, and ten Commoners for the Lower. The Pro­positions to be debated in that Conference, are pre­scribed to the Commissioners.

That the Translator relates all which verbatim, [Page 103] though it be contrary to the designe of this Work, and of the Author, who hath onely entred the short Articles marked with the numbers I.II.III. I hope the Reader will not dislike, since the Articles at large contain so ex­cellent a description of the Changes that were then in­tended to be made in the Government of England, that it is thought very fit to publish them according to the perfect Copy printed by order of both Houses the 29th of August, 1648.

May it please your Majesty:

WE the Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England, in the name, and on the behalf of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, in the name, and on the behalf of the Kingdom of Scotland; Do humbly present unto your Majesty the humble desires and Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace, agreed upon by the Par­liaments of both Kingdoms respectively; unto which we do pray your Majesties Assent: And that they and all such Bills as shall be tendered to your Majesty in pursu­ance of them, or any of them, may be Established and Enacted for Statutes and Acts of Parliament, by your Majesties Royal Assent in the Parliaments of both King­doms respectively.

I.

WHereas both Houses of the Parliament of England have been necessitated to under­take a War in their just and lawful defence; and afterwards both Kingdoms of England and Scotland joyned in Solemn League and Covenant, were en­gaged to prosecute the same.

That by Act of Parliament in each Kingdom re­spectively, all Oaths, Declarations, and Proclama­tions [Page 104] heretofore had, or hereafter to be had against both or either of the Houses of the Parliament of England, the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scot­land, and the late Convention of Estates in Scot­land, or Committees flowing from the Parliament or Convention in Scotland, or their Ordinances and Proceedings; or against any for adhering unto them, or for doing or executing any Office, Place, or Charge, by any Authority derived from them; and all Judgments, Indictments, Outlawries, Attainders, and Inquisitions, in any the said Causes; and all Grants thereupon made or had, or to be made or had, be declared Null, suppressed and forbidden. And that this be publickly intimated in all Parish-Churches within his Majesties Dominions, and all other places needful.

II.

That his Majesty, according to the laudable ex­ample of his Royal Father of happy memory, may be pleased to swear and signe the late Solemn League and Covenant; and that an Act of Parliament be passed in both Kingdoms respectively, for enjoyn­ing the taking thereof by all the Subjects of the three Kingdoms; and the Ordinances concerning the manner of taking the same in both Kingdoms, be confirmed by Acts of Parliament respectively, with such Penalties as by mutual advice of both Kingdoms shall be agreed upon.

III.

That a Bill be passed for the utter abolishing and taking away of all Archbishops, Bishops, their Chan­cellors, and Commissaries, Deans, and Sub-Deans, Deans and Chapters, Arch-Deacons, Canons, and Prebendaries; and all Chaunters, Chancellors, Treasurers, Sub-Treasurers, Succentors, and Sacrists; all Vicars Choril, and Choresters, old Vicars, and new Vicars of any Cathedral or Collegiate-Church, and all other their under-Officers, out of the Church of England, and Dominion of Wales; and out of [Page 105] the Church of Ireland, with such alterations concer­ning the Estates of Prelates, as shall agree with the Articles of the late Treaty of the date at Edenburgh, 29 November, 1643. and joynt Declaration of both Kingdoms.

IV.

That the Ordinances concerning the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines, be confirmed by Act of Parliament.

V.

That Reformation of Religion, according to the Covenant, be setled by Act of Parliament, in such manner as both Houses have agreed, or shall agree upon, after consultation had with the Assembly of Divines.

For as much as both Kingdoms are mutually o­bliged by the same Covenant, to endeavour the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in matters of Religion, That such Unity and Uniformity in Re­ligion, according to the Covenant, as after consulta­tion had with the Divines of both Kingdoms now assembled, is or shall be joyntly agreed upon by both Houses of the Parliament of England, and by the Church and Kingdom of Scotland, be confirmed by Acts of Parliament of both Kingdoms respective­ly.

VI.

That for the more effectual disabling Jesuits, Priests; Papists, and Popish Recusants, from distur­bing the State, and deluding the Laws; and for the better discovering, and speedy conviction of Popish Recusants, an Oath be established by Act of Parliament to be administred to them, wherein they shall abjure and renounce the Popes Supremacy, the Doctrine of Transubstantiation, Purgatory, wor­shipping of the Consecrated Hoast, Crucifixes and Images, and all other Popish Superstitions and Er­rours; and refusing the said Oath, being tendred in such manner as shall be appointed by the said Act, to be a sufficient Conviction of Popish Recu­ [...]ancy.

[Page 106]An Act or Acts of Parliament for Education of the Children of Papists by Protestants, in the Prote­stant Religion.

VIII.

An Act or Acts for the true Levie of the Penalties against them; which Penalties to be levied and dis­posed in such manner as both Houses shall agree on, wherein to be provided that his Majesty shall have no loss.

IX.

That an Act or Acts be passed in Parliament, whereby the practices of Papists against the State may be prevented, and the Laws against them duly executed, and a stricter course taken to prevent the Saying or Hearing of Mass in the Court, or any o­ther part of this Kingdom, or the Kingdom of Ire­land.

The like for the Kingdom of Scotland, concern­ing the four last preceding Propositions, in such man­ner as the Estates of the Parliament there shall think fit.

X.

That the King do give his Royal assent to an Act for the due observation of the Lords Day.

XI.

And to the Bill for the suppression of Innovasions in Churches and Chappels, in and about the Wor­ship of God.

XII.

And for the better advancement of the preach­ing of Gods holy Word in all parts of this King­dom.

XIII.

And to the Bill against the enjoying the plura­lities of Benefices by Spiritual Persons and Non-Residency.

XIV.

And to an Act to be framed and agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament, for the reforming and regulating of both Universities, of the Colledges of Westminster, Winchester, and Eaton.

XV.

And to such Act or Acts for raising of Moneys for the payment and satisfying of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom, and other publick [Page 107] uses, as shall hereafter be agreed on by both Houses of Parliament; and that if the King do not give his Assent thereunto, then it being done by both Houses of Parliament, the same shall be as valid to all intents and purposes as if the Royal Assent had been given thereunto.

The like for the Kingdom of Scotland.

And that his Majesty give assurance of his consen­ting in the Parliament of Scotland, to an Act, ac­knowledging and ratifying the Acts of the Con­vention of Estates of Scotland, called by the Council and Conservers of the Peace, and the Commissioners for the common Burthens, and assembled the two and twentieth day of June, 1643. and several times continued since: and of the Parliament of that Kingdom since convened.

XVI.

That the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England assembled, shall, during the space of twenty years, from the first of July, 1646. arm, train, and discipline, or cause to be armed, trained, and disciplined, all the Forces of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Dominion of Wales, the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Town of Bar­wick upon Tweed, already raised both for Sea and Land-service; and shall from time to time during the said space of twenty years, raise, levy, arm, train, and discipline, or cause to be raised, levied, armed, trained, and disciplined, any other Forces for Land and Sea-service in the Kingdoms, Dominions, and places aforesaid, as in their Judgments they shall from time to time, during the said space of twenty years, think fit and appoint; and that neither the the King, his Heirs, or Successors, nor any other but such as shall act by the authority or approba­tion of the said Lords and Commons, shall during the said space of twenty years, exercise any of the Powers aforesaid.

[Page 108]And the like for the Kingdom of Scotland, if the Estates of the Parliament there shall think fit.

That Moneys be raised and levied for the main­tenance and use of the said Forces for Land-service, and of the Navy and Forces for Sea-service, in such sort, and by such ways and means as the said Lords & Commons shall from time to time, during the said space of twenty years, think fit and appoint, and not otherwise. That all the said Forces both for Land and Sea-service, so raised or levied, or to be raised or levied, and also the Admiralty and Navy, shall from time to time, during the said space of twenty years, be employed, managed, ordered, and disposed by the said Lords and Commons in such sort, and by such ways and means as they shall think fit and appoint, and not otherwise. And the said Lords and Commons, during the said space of twenty years, shall have power,

1. To suppress all Forces raised or to be raised, without authority and consent of the said Lords and Commons, to the disturbance of the publick Peace of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Do­minion of Wales, the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Town of Barwick upon Tweed, or any of them.

2. To suppress any foreign Forces who shall in­vade or endeavour to invade the Kingdoms of Eng­land and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Town of Barwick upon Tweed, or any of them.

3. To conjoyn such Forces of the Kingdom of England, with the Forces of the Kingdom of Scot­land, as the said Lords and Commons shall from time to time, during the said space of twenty years, judge fit and necessary: To resist all foreign Inva­sions, and to suppress any Forces raised or to be rai­sed against, or within either of the said Kingdoms; [Page 109] to the disturbance of the publick Peace of the said Kingdoms, or any of them, by any authority under the Great Seal, or other Warrant whatsoever, without consent of the said Lords and Commons of the Par­liament of England, and the Parliament or the E­states of the Parliament of Scotland respectively; And that no Forces of either Kingdom, shall go into or continue in the other Kingdom without the ad­vice and desire of the said Lords and Commons of the Parliament of England, and the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland, or such as shall be by them appointed for that purpose; And that after the ex­piration of the said twenty years, neither the King, his Heirs or Successors, or any person or persons by colour or pretence of any Commission, Power, De­putation, or Authority to be derived from the King, his Heirs or Successors, or any of them, shall raise, arm, train, discipline, employ, order, mannage, dis­band, or dispose any of the Forces by Sea or Land, of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, the Do­minion of Wales, Isles of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Town of Barwick upon Tweed; Nor exercise any of the said Powers or Authorities in the prece­dent Articles mentioned and expressed to be during the said space of twenty years in the said Lords and Commons; Nor do any act or thing concerning the execution of the said Powers or Authorities, or any of them, without the consent of the said Lords and Commons first had and obtained. That after the expiration of the said twenty years, in all cases wherein the Lords and Commons shall declare the safety of the Kingdom to be concerned, and shall thereupon pass any Bill or Bills for the raising, arm­ing, training, disciplining, employing, mannaging, ordering, or disposing of the Forces by Sea or Land, of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Do­minion of Wales, Isles of Guernsey and Jersey, and [Page 110] the Town of Barwick upon Tweed, or any part of the said Forces, or concerning the Admiralty and Navy, or concerning the levying of Moneys for the raising, maintenance, or use of the said Forces for Land-service, or for the Navy, and Forces for Sea-service, or of any part of them; and if that the Royal Assent to such Bill or Bills shall not be given in the House of Peers within such time after the passing thereof by both Houses of Parliament, as the said Houses shall judge fit and convenient; That then such Bill or Bills so passed by the said Lords and Commons as aforesaid, and to which the Royal Assent shall not be given, as is herein before expres­sed, shall nevertheless, after declaration of the said Lords and Commons made in that behalf, have the force and strength of an Act or Acts of Parliament; and shall be as valid to all intents and purposes, as if the Royal Assent had been given thereunto.

Provided, that nothing herein before contained shall extend to the taking away of the ordinary le­gal power of Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, Mayors, Bayliffs, Coroners, Constables, Headboroughs, or o­ther Officers of Justice not being Military Of­ficers, concerning the administration of Justice, so as neither the said Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, May­ors, Bayliffs, Coroners, Constables, Headboroughs, and other Officers, nor any of them, do levy, con­duct, employ, or command any Forces whatsoever, by colour or pretence of any Commission of Array, or extraordinary command from his Majesty, his Heirs, or Successors, without the consent of the said Lords and Commons.

And if any persons shall be gathered and assem­bled together in warlike manner, or otherwise to the number of thirty persons, and shall not forth­with disband themselves, being required thereto by the said Lords and Commons, or command from [Page 111] them, or any by them, especially authorized for that purpose; then such person or persons not so dis­banding themselves, shall be guilty and incur the pains of High-Treason, being first declared guilty of such offence by the said Lords and Commons; any Commission under the great Seal or other Warrant to the contrary, notwithstanding.

And he or they that shall offend herein, to be in­capable of any pardon from his Majesty, his Heirs or Successors, and their Estates shall be disposed as the said Lords and Commons shall think fit, and not o­therwise.

Provided that the City of London shall have and enjoy all their Rights, Liberties, and Franchises, Customs and Usages in the raising and employing the Forces of that City, for the defence thereof, in as full and ample manner, to all intents and purpo­ses, as they have or might have used or enjoyed the same at any time, before the making of the said Act or Proposition; To the end that City may be fully assured it is not the intention of the Parliament to take from them any priviledges, or immunities in raising or disposing of their Forces, which they have or might have used or enjoyed heretofore.

The like for the Kingdom of Scotland, if the E­states of the Parliament there shall think fit.

XVII.

That by Act of Parliament, all Peers made since the day that Edward Lord Littleton, then Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, deserted the Parliament, and that the said Great Seal was surreptitiously conveyed away from the Parliament, being the one and twentieth day of May, 1642. and who shall be hereafter made, shall not sit or vote in the Parlia­ment of England, without consent of both Houses of Parliament: And that all Honour and Title con­ferred on any without consent of both Houses of Par­liament, since the twentieth day of May, 1642. be­ing [Page 112] the day that both Houses declared. That the King seduced by evil Council, intended to raise War against the Parliament, be declared Null and Void.

The like for the Kingdom of Scotland, those be­ing excepted whose Parents were passed the Great Seal before the fourth of June, 1644.

XVIII.

That an Act be passed in the Parliament of both Kingdoms respectively, for confirmation of the Treaties passed betwixt the two Kingdoms (viz.) the large Treaty, the late Treaty for the coming of the Scots Army into England, and the setling of the Garrison of Barwick of the 29th of November, 1643. and the Treaty concerning Ireland of the 6th of August, 1642. for the bringing of ten thousand Scots into the Province of Ʋlster in Ireland, with all other Ordinances and Proceedings passed betwixt the two Kingdoms, and whereunto they are obli­ged by the aforesaid Treaties.

And that Algernon Earl of Northumberland, John Earl of Rutland, Philip Earl of Pembrooke and Mun­gomery, Theophilus Earl of Lincoln, James Earl of Suffolk, William Earl of Salisbury, Robert Earl of Warwick, Edward Earl of Manchester, Henry Earl of Stanford, Francis Lord Dacres, Philip Lord Whar­ton, Francis Lord Willoughby, Dudly Lord North, John Lord Hunsdon, William Lord Gray, Edward Lord Howard of Estrick, Thomas Lord Bruce, Ferdi­nando Lord Fairfax, Mr. Nathaniel Fines, Sir Wil­liam Armine, Sir Philip Stapilton, Sir Henry Vane se­nior, Mr. William Perpoint, Sir Edward Aiscough, Sir William Strickland, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Sir John Fenwick, Sir William Brereton, Sir Thomas Widding­ton, Mr. John Toll, Mr. Gilbert Millington, Sir Wil­liam Constable, Sir John Wray, Sir Henry Vaine ju­nior, Mr. Henry Darley, Oliver Saint John Esq his Majesties Sollicitor-General, Mr. Denzel Hollis, Mr. Alexander Rigby, Mr. Cornelius Holland, Mr. Samuel [Page 113] Vassell, Mr. Peregrin Pelham, John Glyn Esq Recor­der of London; Mr. Henry Martin, Mr. Alderman Hoyle, Mr. John Blakiston, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Richard Barwis, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Ashurst, Mr. Bellingham, and Mr. Tolson, Members of both Houses of the Parliament of England, shall be the Commis­sioners for the Kingdom of England, for conserva­tion of the Peace between the two Kingdoms to act according to the Powers in that behalf exprest in the Articles of the large Treaty, and not otherwise.

That his Majesty give his Assent to what the two Kingdoms shall agree upon in prosecution of the Ar­ticles of the large Treaty, which are not yet fini­shed.

That an Act be passed in the Parliaments of both Kingdoms respectively, for establishing the joynt Declaration of both Kingdoms, bearing date the 30th day of January, 1643. in England, and 1644. in Scotland, with the Qualifications ensuing.

1 Qualification. That the persons who shall expect no pardon, be onely these following:

  • Rupert & Maurice, Count Palatines of Rhine.
  • James Earl of Darby.
  • John Earl of Bristol.
  • William Earl of New-castle.
  • Francis Lord Cottington.
  • George Lord Digby.
  • Matthew Wren Bishop of Ely.
  • Sir Robert Heath Kt.
  • Dr. Bramhall Bishop of Derry.
  • Sir William Widdrington.
  • Col. George Goring.
  • Henry Jermin Esq
  • Sir Ralph Hopton.
  • Sir John Biron.
  • Sir Francis Doddington.
  • Sir John Strangewayes.
  • Mr. Endymion Porter.
  • Sir George Radcliffe.
  • Sir Marmaduke Langdale.
  • Henry Vaughan Esq now called Sir Hen. Vaugh­an.
  • [Page 114]Sir Francis Windibanke.
  • Sir Richard Greenvill.
  • Mr. Edward Hide, now called Sir Edw. Hide.
  • Sir John Marley.
  • Sir Nicholas Cole.
  • Sir Thomas Riddel Jun.
  • Sir John Colepepper.
  • Mr. Richard Lloyd, now called Sir Rich. Lloyd.
  • Mr. David Jenkins.
  • Sir George Strode.
  • George Carteret Esq now called Sir Geo. Carteret.
  • Sir Charles Dallison Kt.
  • Richard Lane Esq now called Sir Rich. Lane.
  • Sir Edward Nicholas.
  • John Ashburnham Esq
  • Sir Edward Herbert Kt. his Majesties Attorney-General.
  • Lord Rae.
  • George Gourdon, sometime Marquess of Huntly.
  • James Graham, sometime Earl of Montross.
  • Robert Dalyell, sometime Earl of Carnewath.
  • James Gordon, sometime Viscount of Aboyne.
  • Lodowick Linsey, some­time Earl of Crawford.
  • James Ogley, sometime Earl of Airby.
  • Alester Madonald.
  • Gordon, Younger of Gight.
  • Col. John Cockram.
  • Graham of Gorthie.
  • Mr. John Maxwell, some­time pretended Bi­shop of Ross.

And all such others as being processed by the E­states for Treason, shall be condemned before the Act of Oblivion be passed.

2 Qualification. All Papists and Popish Recusants, who have been, now are, or shall be actually in Arms, or voluntarily assisting against the Parliaments or Estates of either Kingdom; and by name,

  • The Marquess of Winton.
  • Edward Earl of Worce­ster.
  • Lord Brudnell.
  • Carell Mollinex Esq
  • Lord Arundel of Warder.
  • Sir Francis Howard.
  • Sir John Winter.
  • Sir Charles Smith.
  • Sir John Prestan.
  • [Page 115]Sir Bazil Brooke.
  • Lord Audley, Earl of Ca­stlehaven in the King­dom of Ireland.
  • William Shelden of Beely, Esquire.
  • Sir Henry Beddingfield.

3 Qualification. All persons who have had any hand in the plot­ting, designing, or assisting the Rebellion of Ireland, except such persons who having onely assisted the said Rebellion, have rendred themselves, or come into the Parliament of England.

4 Qualification. That

  • Humfrey Bennet Esq
  • Sir Edward Ford.
  • Sir John Penruddock.
  • Sir George Vaughan.
  • Sir John Weld.
  • Sir Robert Lee.
  • Sir John Pate.
  • John Ackland.
  • Edmond Windham Esq
  • Sir John Fitzharbert.
  • Sir Edw. Lawrence.
  • Sir Ralph Dutton.
  • Henry Lingen Esq
  • Sir Hen. Fletcher.
  • Sir Rich. Minshall.
  • Laurence Halestead.
  • John Denham Esq
  • Sir Edmund Fortescue.
  • Peter Sainthill Esq
  • Sir Tho. Tildisley.
  • Sir Hen. Griffith.
  • Michael Wharton Esq
  • Sir Hen. Spiller.
  • Mr. Geo. Benyon, now cal­led Sir Geo. Benyon.
  • Sir Edw. Walgrave.
  • Sir Edw. Bishop.
  • Sir William Russell of Worcestershire.
  • Thomas Lee of Adlington, Esq
  • Sir John Girlington.
  • Sir Paul Neale.
  • Sir William Thorold.
  • Sir Edward Hussey.
  • Sir Tho. Lyddell Sen.
  • Sir Philip Musgrave.
  • Sir John Digby of Not­tinghamshire.
  • Sir Robert Owseley.
  • Sir John Many.
  • Lord Cholmley.
  • Sir Tho. Aston.
  • Sir Lewis Dives.
  • Sir Peter Osbourne.
  • Samuel Thornton Esq
  • [Page 116]Sir John Lucas.
  • John Claney Esq
  • Sir Tho. Chedle.
  • Sir Nicholas Kemish.
  • Hugh Lloyd Esq
  • Sir Nicholas Cripse.
  • Sir Peter Ricaut.

And all such of the Scottish Nation as have con­curred in the Votes at Oxford, against the Kingdom of Scotland and their proceedings, or have sworn or subscribed the Declaration against the Convention and Covenant; and all such as have assisted the Rebellion in the North, or the Invasion in the South of the said Kingdom of Scotland, or the late Invasion made there by the Irish and their Adhe­rents, be removed from his Majesties Councils, and be restrained from coming within the Verge of the Court; and that they may not, without the advice and consent of both Houses of the Parliament of England, or the Estates in the Parliament of Scot­land respectively, bear any Office, or have any Em­ployment concerning the State or Commonwealth. And in case any of them shall offend therein, to be guilty of High-Treason, and incapable of any par­don from his Majesty, and their Estates to be dispo­sed as both Houses of the Parliament of England, or the Estates of the Parliament in Scotland respectively shall think fit: And that one full third part upon full value of the Estates of the persons aforesaid, made incapable of Employment as aforesaid, be em­ployed for the payment of the publick Debts and Damages, according to the Declaration.

Branch 1. That the late Members, or any who pretended themselves late Members of either House of Parliament, who have not onely deserted the Parliament, but have also sate in the unlawful As­sembly at Oxford, called or pretended by some to be a Parliament, and voted both Kingdoms Traytors, and have not voluntarily rendred themselves before [Page 117] the last of October, 1644. be removed from his Ma­jesties Councils, and be restrained from coming within the Verge of the Court. And that they may not, without advice and consent of both King­doms, bear any Office, or have any Employment concerning the State or Commonwealth. And in case any of them shall offend therein, to be guilty of High-Treason, and incapable of any pardon by his Majesty, and their Estates to be disposed as both Houses of Parliament in England, or the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland respectively shall think fit.

Branch 2. That the late Members, or any who pretended themselves Members of either House of Parliament, who have sate in the unlawful Assembly at Oxford, called or pretended by some to be a Par­liament, and have not voluntarily rendred them­selves before the last of October, 1644. be removed from his Majesties Councils, and restrained from coming within the Verge of the Court; and that they may not, without the advice and consent of both Houses of Parliament, bear any Office, or have any Employment concerning the State or Com­monwealth. And in case any of them shall offend therein, to be guilty of High-Treason, and incapa­ble of any pardon from his Majesty, and their E­states to be disposed as both Houses of the Parlia­ment of England shall think fit.

Branch 3. That the late Members, or any who pretended themselves Members of either House of Parliament, who have deserted the Parliament, and adhered to the Enemies thereof, and have not ren­dred themselves before the last of October, 1644. be removed from his Majesties Councils, and be re­strained from coming within the Verge of the Court; and that they may not, without the advice and con­sent of both Houses of Parliament, bear any Office, or [Page 118] have any Employment concerning the State or Commonwealth. And in case any of them shall offend therein, to be guilty of High-Treason, and incapable of any pardon from his Majesty, and their Estates to be disposed as both Houses of Parliament in England shall think fit.

5 Qualification. That all Judges and Officers, towards the Law, Common or Civil, who have deserted the Parlia­ment, and adhered to the Enemies thereof, be inca­pable of any place of Judicature or Office towards the Law, Common or Civil: And that all Serjeants, Counsellors, and Attorneys, Doctors, Advocates, Proctors of the Law, Common or Civil, who have deserted the Parliament, and adhered to the Ene­mies thereof, be incapable of any practice in the Law, Common or Civil, either in publick or pri­vate; and shall not be capable of any preferment or employment in the Commonwealth, without the advice and consent of both Houses of Parliament: And that no Bishop or Clergy-man, no Master or Fellow of any Colledge or Hall in either of the U­niversities, or elsewhere, or any Master of School or Hospital, or any Ecclesiastical person, who hath de­serted the Parliament, and adhered to the Enemies thereof, shall hold or enjoy, or be capable of any preferment or employment in Church or Common­wealth; but all their said several preferments, places, and promotions, shall be utterly void, as if they were naturally dead; nor shall they otherwise use their Function of the Ministry, without advice and consent of both Houses of Parliament: Provi­ded that no Laps shall incurr by such vacancy, until six months past, after notice thereof.

[Page 119] 6 Qualification. That all persons who have been actually in Arms against the Parliament, or have counselled or volun­tarily assisted the Enemies thereof, are disabled to be Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, Mayors, or other head-Officers of any City or Corporation, Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer, or to sit or serve as Members, or Assistants in either of the Houses of Parliament, or to have any Military employment in this King­dom, without the consent of both Houses of Par­liament.

7 Qualification. The persons of all others to be free of all personal censure, notwithstanding any Act, or thing done in, or concerning this War, they taking the Cove­nant.

8 Qualification. The Estates of those persons excepted in the first three precedent Qualifications; and the Estates of Edward Lord Littleton, and of William Laud late Archbishop of Canterbury, to pay publick Debts and Damages.

9 Qualification. Branch 1. That two full parts in three, to be divided of all the Estates of the Members of either House of Parliament, who have not onely deserted the Parliament, but have also voted both Kingdoms Traytors, and have not rendred themselves before the first of December, 1645. shall be taken and em­ployed for the payment of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom.

[Page 120] Branch 2. That two full parts in three, to be divided of the Estates of such late Members of ei­ther House of Parliament, as sate in the unlawful Assembly at Oxford, and shall not have rendred themselves before the first of December, 1645. shall be taken and employed for the payment of the pub­lick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom.

Branch 3. That one full moity of the Estates of such persons, late Members of either of the Houses of Parliament, who have deserted the Parliament, and adhered to the Enemies thereof, and shall not have rendred themselves before the first of December, 1645. shall be taken and employed for the payment of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom.

10 Qualification. That a full third part of the value of the Estates of all Judges and Officers towards the Law, Com­mon or Civil, and of all Serjeants, Counsellors, and Attorneys, Doctors, Advocates, and Proctors of the Law, Common or Civil: And of all Bishops, Cler­gy-men, Masters and Fellows of any Colledge or Hall in either of the Universities, or elsewhere: And of all Masters of Schools or Hospitals, and of all Ec­clesiastical persons who have deserted the Parlia­ment, and adhered to the Enemies thereof, and have not rendred themselves to the Parliament be­fore the first of December, 1645. shall be taken and employed for the payment of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom.

That a full sixth part on the full value of the E­states of the persons excepted in the sixth Qualifica­tion, concerning such as have been actually in Arms against the Parliament, or have counselled or volun­tarily assisted the Enemies thereof and are disabled according to the said Qualification, be taken and [Page 121] employed for the payment of the publick Debts and Damages of the Kingdom.

11 Qualification. That the persons and Estates of all Common Souldiers, and others of the Kingdom of England, who in Lands or Goods be not worth two hundred pounds sterling; and the persons and Estates of all Common Souldiers and others of the Kingdom of Scotland, who in Lands or Goods be not worth one hundred pounds sterling, be at liberty and dischar­ged.

Branch 1. This Proposition to stand as to the English, and as to the Scots likewise; if the Parlia­ment of Scotland or their Commissioners shall so think fit.

Branch 2. That the 1 of May last, is now the day li­mited for the persons to come in that are comprised within the former Qualifications. Provided that all and every the Delinquents which by or accor­ding to the several and respective Ordinances or Orders made by both or either of the Houses of Parliament, on or before the 24th day of April, 1647. are to be admitted to make their Fines and Compositions under the rates and proportions of the Qualifications aforesaid, shall according to the said Ordinances and Orders, respectively be thereto admitted; and further also, that no person or per­sons whatsoever (except such Papists as having been in Arms, or voluntarily assisted against the Parliament, have by concealing their quality, pro­cured their admission to Composition) which have already compounded, or shall hereafter compound and be thereto admitted by both Houses of Parlia­ment, at any of the rates and proportions aforesaid, or under respectively, shall be put to pay any other [Page 122] Fine than that they have or shall respectively so compound for, (except for such Estates, or such of their Estates, and for such values thereof respective­ly as have been or shall be concealed or omitted in the particulars whereupon they compound;) and that all and every of them shall have thereupon their Pardons in such manner and form as is agreed by both Houses of Parliament.

That an Act be passed whereby the Debts of the Kingdom, and the persons of Delinquents, and the value of their Estates may be known; and which Act shall appoint in what manner the Confiscations and Proportions before-mentioned may be leavied, and applied to the discharge of the said Engage­ments.

The like for the Kingdom of Scotland, if the E­states of Parliament, or such as shall have power from them, shall think fit.

XIX.

That an Act of Parliament be passed, to declare and make void the Cessation of Ireland, and all Treaties and Conclusions of Peace, or any Articles thereupon with the Rebels, without consent of both Houses of Parliament. And to settle the prosecu­tion of the War of Ireland in both Houses of the Parliament of England, to be managed by them; and the King to assist, and to do no act to discoun­tenance or molest them therein.

That Reformation of Religion, according to the Covenant, be setled in the Kingdom of Ireland by Act of Parliament, in such manner as both Houses of the Parliament of England have agreed, or shall agree upon, after Consultation had with the Assem­bly of Divines here.

That the Deputy or chief Governour, or other Governours of Ireland, and the Presidents of the se­veral Provinces of that Kingdom, be nominated by both the Houses of the Parliament of England; or [Page 123] in the intervals of Parliament, by such Committees of both Houses of Parliament as both Houses of the Parliament of England shall nominate and appoint for that purpose. And that the Chancellor, or Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, Commissioners of the Great Seal or Treasury, Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Dutchy, Secretaries of State, Master of the Rolls, Judges of both Benches, and Barons of the Exchequer of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and the Vice-Treasurer, and the Treasurers at Wars of the King­dom of Ireland, be nominated by both Houses of the Parliament of England, to continue Quam diu se bene gesserint, and in the intervals of Parliament, by the afore-mentioned Committees, to be appro­ved or disallowed by both Houses at their next sit­ting.

The like for the Kingdom of Scotland, concern­ing the nomination of the Lords of the Privy-Council, Lords of Session, and Exchequer, Officers of State, and Justice-General, in such manner as the Estates of Parliament there shall think fit.

That the Militia of the City of London and Li­berties thereof, may be in the ordering and govern­ment of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons in Common Council assembled, or such as they shall from time to time appoint, (whereof the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs for the time being to be three:) to be employed and directed from time to time in such manner as shall be agreed on and ap­pointed by both Houses of Parliament.

That no Citizen of the City of London, nor any of the Forces of the said City, shall be drawn forth or compelled to go out of the said City or Liberties thereof for Military service, without their own free consent.

That an Act be passed for the granting and con­firming [Page 124] of the Charters, Customs, Liberties, and Franchises of the City of London, notwithstanding any Nonuser, Misuser, or Abuser.

That the Tower of London may be in the govern­ment of the City of London, and the chief Officer and Governour thereof from time to time be nomi­nated, and removeable by the Common Council: And for prevention of inconveniencies which may happen by the long intermission of Common Coun­cils, it is desired that there may be an Act, that all by-Laws and Ordinances already made, or hereafter to be made by the Council assembled, touching the calling, continuing, directing, and regulating the same Common Councils, shall be as effectual in the Law to all intents and purposes, as if the same were particularly enacted by the Authority of Parlia­ment: And that the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons in Common Council, may adde to or repeal the said Ordinances from time to time as they shall see cause.

That such other Propositions as shall be made for the City, for their further safety, welfare, and go­vernment, and shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament, may be granted and confirmed by Act of Parliament.

That all Grants, Commissions, Presentations, Writs, Process, proceedings, and other things pas­sed under the Great Seal of England, in the custody of the Lords and other Commissioners appointed by both Houses of Parliament for the custody there­of, be, and by Act of Parliament with the Royal assent, shall be declared and enacted to be of like full force and effect to all intents and purposes, as the same or like Grants, Commissions, Presentati­ons, Writs, Process, Proceedings, and other things under any Great Seal of England, in any time here­tofore were, or have been; And that for time to [Page 125] come, the said Great Seal now remaining in custo­dy of the said Commissioners, continue, and be used for the Great Seal of England; And that all Grants, Commissions, Presentations, Writs, Process, Procee­dings, and other things whatsoever passed under or by any authority of any other Great Seal, since the 22th day of May, Anno Dom. 1642. or hereafter to be passed, be Invalid, and of no effect, to all intents and purposes: Except such Writs, Process, and Commissions, as being passed under any other Great Seal than the said Great Seal in the custody of the Commissioners aforesaid, on or after the said 22th day of May, and before the 28th day of November, Anno Dom. 1643. were afterward proceeded upon, returned into, or put in ure in any the Kings Courts at Westminster: And except the Grant to Mr. Ju­stice Bacon, to be one of the Justices of the Kings-Bench: And except all Acts and proceedings by virtue of any such Commissions of Goal-delivery, Assize, and Nisi prius, or Oyer and Terminer, passed under any other Great Seal than the Seal aforesaid in custody of the said Commissioners, before the first of October, 1642.

And that all Grants of Offices, Lands, Tene­ments, or Hereditaments, made or passed under the Great Seal of Ireland, unto any person or persons, Bodies politick or corporate, since the Cessation made in Ireland, the fifteenth day of September, 1643. shall be null and void. And that all Ho­nours and Titles conferred upon any person or per­sons in the said Kingdom of Ireland, since the said Cessation, shall be null and void.

That the several Ordinances, the one intituled, An Ordinance of Parliament for abolishing of Archbi­shops and Bishops within the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, and for se [...]ing of their Lands and Possessions upon Trustees for the use of the Common­wealth; [Page 120] [...] [Page 121] [...] [Page 122] [...] [Page 123] [...] [Page 124] [...] [Page 125] [...] [Page 126] the other intituled, An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for ap­pointing the sale of Bishops Lands for the use of the Commonwealth; be confirmed by Acts of Parlia­ment.

These were the Conditions of Peace proposed by the Parliament as the subject matter of that Confe­rence, which all passionately wished, and a great many fought for. They were the very same that had been heretofore sent to the King when he was at Hampton-Court, and not onely rejected by his Ma­jesty, but by the Army also, as being too unreasona­ble: No notice ta­ken of the Scots. To what Con­ditions the Commissioners are tyed. they onely differed in this, that in those last there was no mention made of the Scots.

In the mean time the Pacificators are invested with no other authority but that of answering the Royal Arguments, and of returning Reasons to in­duce the King to assent: they had no power of softening any Proposition, or altering the least word, nay, nor so much as of omitting the Preface. Their Instructions likewise bear, that they are to acquaint the Parliament with the Kings Concessions, and the whole progress of the Negotiation, to treat altoge­ther in writing, nay, and to debate the Propositions as they lay in order, not descending to a new Pro­position, until the former was adjusted.

The Conference to be held at Newport.Nor was it thought enough that the Conditions and Commissioners were so strictly limited; they confine the Conference also to the Town of Newport in the Isle of Wight, and the continuance of it to the space of forty days.

The King also, who was to be present at the Conference, was so far well treated as to be permit­ted to come out of his Prison and have that Island allowed him for a larger confinement; but upon promise given, that he would not depart out the [Page 127] Island within forty days after the conclusion of the Conference: and the sly Oligarchick and Democra­tick Republicans, who had a hand in the Councils, were the Authors of those scruples and restrictions. The K. is al­lowed his ne­cessary servants With great caution the Parliament permitted some of his Majesties necessary Servants, by name, some Lawyers, Divines, and a Secretary to be present; but not to be admitted into the Conference, onely to be without behind the Curtain in the Lobby. So that the King alone was singly to sustain the person of a Politician and Divine, against the ablest Parlia­mentarian Politicians and Divines of the whole King­dom.

In managing the Conference, the King alone, The K.'s won­derful prudence in the Confe­rence. with such incredible Prudence and Eloquence, sifted and bafled all their strongest Arguments, with so great lenity and readiness of condescension, granted their Demands even when he had made it appear they were unreasonable (so far as with Honour and a safe Conscience he could) that he ravished them all into admiration of him; and, which was an Argu­ment of a supernatural Wit, he brought over the Commissioners who were his most inveterate enemies, even against their will, to his Opinion, (though their Employment, and the danger of their heads, obliged them, against their Conscience, to continue in opposition to him.) Without doubt, in this, as in all things else, he gave a glorious proof of his Fatherly goodness, in that with his own loss and prejudice onely he would gladly have redeem'd his people from the havock and miseries of War.

The Conference had for some time been taken up in composing affairs, In the middle of the Treaty the Parliamen­tarians require that the Mar­quess of Or­mond's Com­mission be re­called. when of a sudden news is brought to the Parliament, that the Marquess of Or­mond was arrived in Ireland to govern that King­dom in quality of Lord Deputy, by authority from the King; and that he was to settle a Peace there, [Page 128] upon the best conditions he could; as also to levy an Army for delivering the King out of prison. Upon this, Letters are sent to the Commissioners in the Isle of Wight, with instructions to demand of the King, that he would recal Ormond's Commis­sion, and turn him out of that authority which was somewhat uneasie to the Pacificators.

In the mean while, report is made to the Parlia­ment by piece-meals of what was transacted in the Conference; where many with a mind as averse, as the Kings was inclinable to peace, The K.'s An­swers are cen­sured in Parl. quible at and censure the least punctilio of every thing, unless all were condescended to in every tittle according to their own words and prescribed form: for they were afraid (which some of them openly profes­sed) that the Propositions being fully granted, and no more place left for Animosity or Grievance, they might, if not by force from the people, yet out of shame be compelled to conclude a Peace in good earnest, which they onely desired in shew. For the the King having, The K. unex­pectedly gran­ted many things. contrary to the opinion of all, condescended to many things, had not onely ad­mitted the subject matter, but also the scrupulosi­ties and niceties of words.

To the Preface, which aimed not so much at the publick Peace, as the branding of himself and his party with a note of Ignominy, he would not con­sent, but with this clause, That nothing in that Con­ference should be taken for granted, unless all were a­agreed upon in general.

He agreed to the Ist Proposition, of recalling the Declarations; to the XVIth, of the Forces; the XIXth, of the government of Ireland; the XVth, of the payment of publick Debts, Provided these Debts were stated within the space of two years; to the XVIIth, of anulling Titles of Honours; the XIXth, of the chief Magistrates of the Kingdom; the XIXth, of the [Page 129] Great Seal; the XIXth, of the Priviledges of Lon­don. Of the Court of Wards There is no mension of the Court of Wards in these Articles, thô it is expressed both here and in Baker's Chronicle, and perhaps was thought of af­ter these Arti­cles were prin­ted., provided he had an hundred thousand pound a year paid him in lieu of it.

In all these points he made himself an easie prey to the avarice and ambition of others; and that he might render the Kingdom more peaceable to others, he even suffered it to be snatched out of his own hands.

He gave his consent to all the Articles of the IIId Proposition, except one, concerning Bishops and their Revenues; yet in that he was not alto­gether wanting to the desires of the Parliament: for whatever did not plainly appear to be of Divine Institution, he allowed might be abrogated; so that he suffered Archiepiscopacy to be abolished, Episcopal Jurisdiction also, that is, the exercise of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, and the state and priviledge of holding Ecclesiastical Courts; but he would not suffer the power of conferring Orders ( and administring Church-censures) as being Apostolical, to be altered and lessened.

But at length the little Rabbies of the Assembly and Pacificators interweaving with the other Argu­ments, which he could better refute, that of invin­cible Necessity, and promising privately, that if he would consent to these at present, they would here­after enlarge his Bonds, as also giving him hopes that the Parliament would condescend to him in other matters, provided in this he would remit somewhat of his strictness of Conscience; he con­sents that for the space of three years, Orders shall not be conferred by the Bishops, without the consent of Presbyters; nay, that the power of Ordaining shall be suspended, until twenty Divines of his chu­sing, and an Assembly called by the Parliament, do meet, determine, and settle the Government of the [Page 130] Church; to which he promised to acquiesce, if the Parliament would do the like: In the mean time he is not against it, but that Presbytery may be setled for a tryal.

Abhorring the thought of Sacriledge, he would not suffer Bishops and Church-lands to be divided and alienated from the Church; but permitted them to be let out by lease for ninety nine years, paying a small yearly rent for the maintenance of the Bi­shops, and as a token of their Tenure, provided after the expiring of the Lease, they should return to the Crown to be employed for the use of the Church: which, in the mean time, he was firmly resolved to redeem with his money, and to restore them to the Church-men to whom in right they belonged.

Nor would he (being mindful of his Friends a­midst his own dangers) consent to the XVIIIth Proposition, concerning Delinquents; but he al­lowed,

I. That they might be moderately fined.

II. That they may be debarred from the Kings presence and coming to Court: that some of them also may be banished, but not as Traitors, nor yet to lose their Lives and Estates, if they act to the contrary.

III. That for three years they be excluded from sitting in Parliament.

IV. That they might be brought to tryal, if it were thought fit, and be condignly punished, if they had acted any thing against the known Laws of England, (which certainly favoured the Kings Par­ty): But he thought it unjust that any man should be punished for his Loyalty to him, according to the dictates of his Conscience, and the municipal Laws, by a Law made ex post facto. Yet he condescended to other Articles of the same Proposition, upon this condition, that pious and learned Church-men, free [Page 131] from scandal, might enjoy a third of their Livings, and not be totally deprived of the liberty of prea­ching.

He could not, as he said, recal the Authorities which he had given to the Marquess of Ormond, at the very time when himself was confined to prison. The Parliament agreed with him in the rest: which succeeding, then, according to the Concessions in the XIXth Proposition, the Parliament should have the sole administration of the affairs of Ireland. In the mean time, however, he wrote to the Marquess of Ormond, commanding him to refrain from the execution of his power, so long as the Conference and any hopes of Peace continued.

Whilst the Conference lasted, the King, The K. makes some Proposals. that he might not still suffer so hard usage, and that he might try how the Members of Parliament were af­fected towards him, gave some very just and useful Proposals to be sent to the Parliament.

First, he desires, To which the Parl. in a great part consent. That he may have leave to repair forthwith to Westminster, or any of his houses near Lon­don, where he may treat with his Parliament at nearer distance, with honour, safety, and freedom. Which de­sire, the Parliament having felt the pulse of the City, and being encouraged under the hands of the most part and best of the Citizens, promised, so soon as the Propositions were granted, should be allowed him.

Secondly, the King demands, That he may be re­stored to the possession of the Lands and Revenues of the Crown.

Thirdly, That he may have compensation for his law­ful Rights which the Parliament have thought fit to a­bolish. To these also the Parliament willingly con­sent.

Fourthly, That by an Act of Oblivion the memory of all things that had been done in time of the War, [Page 132] might be abolished. To this Proposal they did not consent, but with cautions and limitations, that gave liberty to the Parliamentarians to bring Actions against any almost of the Kings Party.

The promising ho [...]es of Peace▪Matters being near composed beyond all mens expectation, though perhaps not so as every one desired, the Commissioners for Pacification, full of thoughts of Peace, promised the same to the King, though in that they were false Prophets: for they thought (as well they might) that the Parlia­ment would in some measure abate in their rigid demands, when the King to mollifie them, had stript himself of the Government both of England and Ireland. Nay, the glad hopes of Concord be­gun to cherish the drooping minds of all people; which without doubt would have followed, had not factious and rebellious men, Are disappoin­ted by the Re­bels▪ who by clandestine arts had already driven us into a War, now openly and with force of Arms disappointed the desired fruit of the Conference, and the Peace that was ready to be concluded. Now in what manner they accom­plished that, it will be necessary I should with all possible sincerity relate.

In what man­ner.In the heat of the Conference, that part of the Army which had prospered in the War, and was returned home victorious, commanded by Fairfax, whom Ireton as a bad Genius haunted, was encam­ped so near London, that in half a days time they might march thither and suppress their unprovided Adversaries, if any sudden occasion required. In the mean time Fairfax, The Comman­ders of the Ar­my pretend to be pleased with Peace. Ireton, and the rest of the Colo­nels behaved themselves very submissively in pub­lick, pretend that they will always obey the Ordinances of Parliament, and that publick Peace will be to them of all men most acceptable; that so being eased from the fatigues and labours of War, they may mind their own affairs, and after so much toil and danger, at [Page 133] length enjoy rest and peace. But privately having con­sulted with the Members of Parliament of their own Faction, they suffer Consults to be held amongst the inferiour Officers and private Souldiers of the Army, They stir up the common Soul­diers against it; and to de­stroy the King, and, at the instigation of their Emissaries, Petitions to be framed, wherein it was desired that the Treaty with the King should be broken up, and all the Ene­mies of the Commonwealth indifferently (thereby craftily glancing at the person of the King) brought to condign punishment: These also they caused to be printed and published, that they might feel the pulse of the people. Nor was it doubted, but that the chief Commanders and Colonels were the Authors of those Petitions; and that by their Emissaries (and particularly by Hugh Peters, a Renegado from, and the reproach of the Ministery, an impudent saucy fellow) they were dispersed into all places, whereby they wheadled the Souldiers, who in their own nature were sufficiently prone to Booty and In­novations.

In the mean while, The souldiers are drawn to­gether near London. the Country-people (whom we mentioned before to have made some stirs) be­ing dispersed, and Garrisons and Governours pla­ced in the several Counties, all the Souldiers of the Kingdom are commanded to repair to Fairfax's Camp; who in great numbers, many following the prevailing Party, flocked together victorious and triumphant. Ireton, Ireton makes a Remonstrance against the Peace; upon a rumour spread abroad amongst the people of a difference betwixt him and Fairfax, lurking privately in Windsor-Castle, and having called some of his Consorts of the Lower House, publishes a Remonstrance, with great ostenta­tion of words and affected eloquence, wherein, in name of the Army, by captious quirks and subtilties, And that in name of the Army. he argues against the Peace made with the King, and the Remonstrance of his Majesty, nay and desires Justice against the King himself: That those Members who the [Page 134] year before had been impeached of High-Treason by the Army, might be brought to tryal; and that all who staid in Parliament heretofore, when the Speakers and rest of the Members of their Faction fled to the Army, should be excluded: That the Souldiers Arrears should be paid out of the Kings Revenue, and the Deans and Chapters Lands, to be distributed for this use especially, and also for other publick charges: That the present Parliament should be dissolved, and a better course ta­ken for the future that the people should chuse a Repre­sentative which should have the supreme administrati­on of the Government. These and several other things of that nature, he very imperiously de­mands.

The Army be­ing called to­gether,The end of the Conference now approaching, (which the Republicans of both sorts in the Parlia­ment, endeavoured by all Arts to stave off and pro­tract, that the Army might more conveniently joyn) the Commanders of the Army being informed from the Isle of Wight of the progress of affairs, and of the opportunities that were proper for their turn, call a Field-Council, And a Fast appointed, ☞ wherein all the Colonels and in­feriour Officers meet; and there they give themselves to fasting and prayer.

(Which was often abused by them)For we must know, that these Sons of the Earth had great intimacy and correspondence with Hea­ven, as they pretended; and when they were about to act any thing contrary to the Law of Nature, the Light of Reason, or the Laws of God and man, they used to begin the work with Prayers to Al­mighty God, in a doubtful manner proposing the case; and the matter being first discussed between the Majesty of Heaven and themselves, they then, by turning and winding their Prayers, shape an Answer to their designes; which like a divine Oracle ren­dered to the praying inquirers, they impose upon the common Souldiers as an Article of Faith, though [Page 135] the matter had been long before hatched in their thoughts: nor durst any man gainsay it, who had not a mind to have his name dasht out of the Roll of the Saints. And hence it was that the people dreaded their Fasts and Prayers, as ominous Prodi­gies.

The Pageantry of their Devotion being over, It is read and approved; Ireton's Remonstrance was read, and applauded too by the Souldiers, as if it dropt from Heaven; they prefix to it the formidable title of the Army, as an Act and Deed approved by all, And presented to the Parl. in name of the Army and Peo­ple. and order it to be presented to the Parliament in the name of the Ar­my and People of England, who if they had been cal­led to give their votes, scarcely one of a thousand would have consented to it; and all the rest could not but have cursed the perfidious Author of the villany, with all his Adherents, as the Bane and plague of mankind.

But the Lower House making a virtue of the ne­cessity of the times, Nevertheless, the Lower House persists in considering of the Kings Concessions; at which the Commanders of the Army are angry, and carry the K. a­way from the Isle of Wight. take the courage to lay aside for some time that Remonstrance, and to apply them­selves to the examining and discussing of the Royal Concessions which then lay before them. The Com­manders of the Army taking it very ill to be thus slighted by them, who ought to have thanked them for all the honour and dignity they enjoyed, sent some Troops into the Isle of Wight, who having seized the King, removed him out of the Island, and clapt him up prisoner in Hurst-Castle opposite to the Island on the main-land-side, a narrow, nasty, and unwholsome place, by reason it is incompassed by the Sea. At the same time they march to London, They march to London and post themselves about the Par­liament-house. and put Garrisons into the Kings Palace, and the Noble­mens houses adjoyning the Palace-yard and Houses of Parliament, having posted the Army in the neigh­bouring places about.

The Souldiers hoped that this beginning would [Page 136] put the dissenting Members into such a fear, that they would hide in holes and corners, (which had been very usual with them) and that men of their own Faction being sole Masters of the Parliament, they might do what they pleased under the cloak of the Authority of Parliament, which would justifie their Violence, and make what Laws soever might conduce to their profit and advantage.

Yet the Mem­bers meet,But the event answered not their expectations: for most part of the Members, (as if at that time they had been assisted by divine inspiration) not at all terrified by the muttering and anger of the Soul­diers, nor the clashing of Arms, thinking themselves sufficiently secure by their character of Parliament-men, meet to consult in a greater number than ordi­nary.

And debate a­bout the Kings Concessions.Both that day and the following, the Lower House debated hotly about the Kings Concessions, whilst in the mean time the Republicans of both sorts raise scruples, jangle, make parties, and with long Speeches protract the time about Presbytery and the Covenant, neither of which they liked; amongst whom no man was so fierce as Sir Henry Vane, who in the Isle of Wight had perswaded the King to grant no more, seeing he had already yielded so many and so great Priviledges to the Parliament, as he thought it neither lawful for them to expect nor take, which he promised also publickly to assert: This man, I say, inveighed bitterly against the Conditions of Peace, as if under the mask of Con­cessions, and the shew of setling Peace, Danger lay hid, and that his Majesty laid a Snare for subverting the publick Liberty of Parliament and People; and all this, that he might gain time for the whole Ar­my to post themselves in the City.

They vote them to be a suffici­ent ground for a Peace,At length a Vote is passed, That the Kings Con­cessions were a sufficient ground for Peace. This past [Page 137] by the voices of two hundred, hardly threescore op­posing it. The House of Lords agree­ing to it. The Lords having next day assented to it in the same terms, the Parliament was adjourned for a week, till that Commotion might be some­what appeased. Commissioners are forthwith sent from the House of Commons to acquaint Fairfax and the Commanders of the Army with the matter.

This so incensed the Oligarchick Rebels, This incensed the Oligar­chick Rebels. that the Speaker of the House of Commons, who had already greedily swallowed down their poyson, or at least temporized and turned to either side as the Faction prevailed, threatned forthwith publickly in the House, That they would never be suffered any more to meet in Parliament, if they obstinately persisted in that opinion. The Comman­ders of the Ar­my beset the Parl. house; imprison many Members; de­bar others from entering; And indeed the day appointed for the next Session, some Colonels guarded by a Regiment or two of Foot, and a Regiment of Horse, beset all the avenues to the House of Commons, apprehend forty Members of the more resolute and wise, who dissented from them; debar about one hundred and fifty more from entering the House▪ and suffer none to go in but such as they knew to be devoted to their Faction. Some had slipt in undiscovered, Some they car­ry away by force out of the House. by a Note they call out under pretext of speaking with some Friend or Client at the door; and though they alleadged the authority and priviledge of Parliament, yet they seize and hurry them away in the very Court.

The captive Members being many ways tossed and abused, are exposed to derision, And abuse the Captives. and the mise­ries of a long and nasty imprisonment; amongst whom were many who having asserted the Parlia­ment-Cause, as Generals, Governours, and Colonels, were thus thanked for their good services. Nay, and William Prynn, a fierce Asserter of the Opinions he once entertained, that indefatigable Author of voluminous Writings for the Parliament, stuck fast [Page 138] in the same mire with the rest; the Spectators eve­ry where admiring the inscrutable Judgments of God, who suffered them to be so unworthily trea­ted by their Slaves and Servants, who themselves were the Subjects that first took up Arms against their King, and audaciously laid hands on him. All this was done under the honest and specious co­lour of purging and reforming the House.

The Oligar­chick Faction, to the number of about forty men, snatches the Authority: Who are still over-ruled by the souldiers.Thus the Lower House is reduced to a Junto of a few men, to wit, the eighth part of the just number, and these wholly enslaved to the Army, whose Com­manders coming as freely into the House as the Rum­pers went into the Camp, they daily conferred Notes together; and it is first resolved in a Council of War, what was to be proposed to be enacted in Parlia­ment, which then served under the Army, and lent them Authority to palliate their Machinations.

Of so many hundred Members, there scarcely re­mained forty in the House, a number unfit to bear the name of the Commons of England; and these not onely the least, but the most part consisting of a remnant of the dregs of the House; and many of them Commanders in the Army. So that there re­mained nothing of a Parliament but the name; the rest abominating such horrid wickedness, and shun­ning their company and conversation; amongst whom were some who being deluded with the sham of Conscience, had espoused the Party of the Republicans.

They enact con­cerning the highest affairs, and of bring­ing the King to a tryal.Thus a few fellows (about twenty of them for the most part continually dissenting) blush not to usurp to themselves alone the supreme power of ordering the affairs of England, of bringing the King to a tryal, making and abrogating the Laws of their Country, and overturning the ancient and fundamental Government of the Nation. They confirm the Vote for Non Addresses, which had [Page 139] been craftily and surreptitiously made, They confirm the Votes of None Addres­ses, and rescind that concern­ing a Confe­rence with the King. and after­wards repealed by both Houses in full number. But the other Votes, for having a Conference with the King, and especially that which declared the Kings Concessions to be a sufficient ground for a Peace, they re­scind and scornfully raze out of their Journal; as an Act unworthy of Parliament. New Orders in place of the former, pass in this House of Commons, whereby they invade the Government by Votes, which before they had snatched by Arms.

They first vote, They pass Votes preliminary to the Kings murder. That all Power resides in the Peo­ple.

Secondly, That that Power belongs to the Peoples Representatives (meaning themselves) in the House of Commons.

Thirdly, That the Votes of the Commons have the force of a Law, without the consent of the King or House of Lords, a M. Horatius Cons. of Rome caused a Law to pass, Ut quod tributim plebes jussis­set, populum teneret; that is, That what Laws or Or­ders the Com-Counc. or Tribes of Rome should make, should o­blige the body of the Common­wealth by which the Se­nate & Nobi­lity lost their power; & way was made for the turning that State into a Democracy, to the ruine of it. Liv. l. 3. c. 55 They erect a Trib. of subjects against the K. plain Horatian Law, that what the lowest Order of the People enacteth, binds the whole body of them.

Fourthly, That to take Arms and make War a­gainst the Representatives of the People or the Parlia­ment, is High-Treason.

Fifthly, That the King himself took up Arms against the Parliament, and that therefore he is guilty of all the bloud shed in this Civil War (that so they might seem to excuse themselves of the Villany) and ought by his own bloud to expiate it.

These were the Preludes to that most horrid and abominable Villany, (I tremble to mention it) which it behoved them to bring about by degrees: for trusting now to their great power, which in­deed was as great as they thought fit to take to themselves, they had the boldness to erect a new Tribunal of most abject wretches against the King, to which they give the name of the High Court of Justice, thinking that its name might procure it [Page 134] [...] [Page 135] [...] [Page 136] [...] [Page 137] [...] [Page 138] [...] [Page 139] [...] [Page 140] reverence. And appoint 150 Judges of their own Fa­ction to do the fact. In this Mock-Court they appoint an hundred and fifty Judges, (that they might in number at least represent the people) the most fa­ctious Sticklers of the whole Faction; to whom they give power of arraigning, trying, judging, and condemning Charles Stuart King of England.

Some Nobles and Judges also.In the number of these, they appoint six Earls out of the House of Lords, and the Judges also of the Kingdom lately chosen by themselves. But the greater part consist of the Commanders of the Ar­my, Commanders of the Army, Members of the House of Com. Mechanicks, Bankrupts, who first conspired the murder of the King, and the Members of the House of Commons who were the most inveterate enemies to Monarchy. The rest were Rascals raked out of the Kennel of London, or the Neighbourhood. Amongst these some were Coblers, Brewers, Silversmiths, and other Mechanicks, the greater part were Bankrupt Spend-thrifts, Debauchees and Whoremasters, who never­theless by the Disciples of the Sect were called Saints. All obnoxious men. Nay, there was none of them but did ex­pect impunity for his cheating the Publick, Sacri­ledge, Bribery, and other enormous Crimes; or did hope to glut his Avarice with the Kings Reve­nue, Houses, Furniture, or gainful places to be con­ferred upon him for so bold an attempt: or, in a word, that was not drawn in and allured up to the horrid fact by the tamperings, threats, and promi­ses of Cromwel, Ireton, and the other Commanders of the Army.

The Ʋpper H. is slighted.In the mean time there was hardly any regard had to the Lords; and it was commonly believed, that being now terrified by so many and so great dangers, they would of their own accords absent from the House, except four or five that were slaves to that Republican Faction. But the Re­publicans send them their Bills to be confirmed The Rebels thought that the authority of these was sufficient to confirm any attempt whatsoever, as they had already oftener [Page 141] than once experienced. Nor indeed were their hopes altogether frustrated. However, when the matter came to the push, their luck proved some­what worse than they expected: They are reje­cted as hurtful and unlawful. for a few Lords used daily to come to the House; but that day when the Bill for trying the King was to be brought to the Lords House for their consent, unexpectedly seventeen Lords were present, who all (not ex­cepting those who favoured the Republicans) not onely deny their consent, but cast the Bill over the Bar, as destructive and contrary to Law.

This inraged the Oligarchick Rebels, Wherefore the Lords are dash [...] out of the number of the Kings Judges, and put them upon thoughts of revenge, taking it hainously that so publick an affront and disgrace had been put upon them. However, at present they thought it enough to dash all the Lords out of the number of the Kings Judges.

By and by also the Judges of the Kingdom were struck out of that black List, And the Jud­ges of the Kingdom, as contrary to their Bill. because being private­ly asked their opinions in that affair, (though through the interest of this Faction they had been lately by authority of Parliament raised to their places) they had answered, That it was against the known and received Laws and Customs of England to bring the King to a Tryal.

For a President of this Court, They chuse a President of the Court, who might match it in fame and reputation, they pitch upon one John Bradshaw, a base-born broken Pettifogger, a fellow of a brazen forehead, and an insolent and sawcy tongue, who a little before was of no value amongst those of his own Gang. And an Attor­ney-General. One Cooke they make At­torney-General, a fellow of the same stamp, poor, guilty, (as was reported) of Polygamy, who had plaid a thousand tricks and cheats to get Bread, and now was ready to do any villany in hopes of pro­fit.

They privately consult for some days about the [Page 142] matter and form of the Arraignment, or the man­ner of perpetrating the Villany; where in drawing the Kings Indictment, one Dorislaus a Doctor of the Laws, a German, who was either banished or had fled his Country, took the greatest pains.

In the mean time all the Presbyterian Ministers of London, in a manner, and more out of several Coun­ties; yea, and some out of the Independents also, de­clare against the thing in their Sermons from the Pulpit, in Conferences, monitory Letters, Petitions, Protestations, and publick Remonstrances. They earnestly beg, In the mean time the Pres­byterian Mini­sters cry out a­gainst it. That contrary to so many dreadful Im­precations and Oaths, contrary to publick and private Faith confirmed by Declarations and Promises, contrary to the Law of Nations, the Word of God and sacred Rules of Religion, nay, and contrary to the welfare of the State, they would not defile their own hands and the Kingdom with Royal Bloud. The Scots also protest against it. The States General inter­cede English Lo [...]ds offer them [...]ves Hostages for the King. The Scots by their Commissioners protest against it. The Embassa­dours of the States General of the Ʋnited Provinces (if they faithfully perform'd their Masters Orders) intercede. Some English Noblemen, to wit, the Earl of Southampton, the Duke of Richmond, the Mar­quess of Hertford, and Earl of Lyndsey, &c. do what lies in their power; they neither spare prayers nor money; offer themselves as Hostages, or, if the Re­publicans demanded it, their lives, as being onely guilty, if the King had offended in any thing. The people whisper their rage, The whole Peo­ple rages. for that was all they could now do; hardly restraining their unarmed fury. Our present King, then Prince CHARLES, used all means to assist his Father in this danger. Besides, the Embassadours of the States General, whom he had procured to be sent, he daily dispat­ched Agents as well from the Prince of Orange as himself, and such as were Relations, Kinsmen, and Friends to Cromwel, Ireton, and the rest of the Con­spirators; [Page 143] who being warranted with full power, might by prayers, promises, threats, or what ar­guments they judged fit, either disswade them from that unparallel'd Barbarity, or at least for some time prevail with them to delay the execution of the Villany.

Nor was Bradshaw the bloudy President secure from violent hands; Burghill lies in wait for Bradshaw; for one Burghill armed with sword and pistol, watched him one night behind Gray's Inn-gate when he was to come home late; But in vain, and with dan­ger of his life. but missing of his designe that night, because Brad­shaw did not come home, next day being betrayed by one Cooke, to whom he had discovered the mat­ter, he was brought before the Parricides. How­ever, his Guards being drunk, finding an occasion of an escape, he saved his own life, having onely laid in wait for another mans.

But all was in vain: But all at­tempts are in vain, for the Rebels slighting these things, pretend Gods providence and the moti­ons of the Holy Ghost, for their warrant and securi­ty. Peters a brazen-faced Hypocrite, Peters from the Pulpit en­couraging the Judges. who being disgracefully whipt out of Cambridge, ever after that clove close to the Schismaticks, bids them from the Pulpit, Go on and prosper; that now was the time When the Saints should bind Princes in chains, and their Nobles with fetters of iron: so lewdly did that profane Knave interpret holy Scripture; telling them, That they need not question but this Prophecy was to be fulfilled by them: and in the Sermon he ad­dresses himself to the holy Judges (the title he thought fit to give them) and protests, that he was certain there were in the Army five thousand men, no less Saints than those that conversed with God himself in Heaven. Then kneeling in the Pulpit with flouds of forced tears, and lifted up hands, he earnestly begs, in the name of the People of England, That they would do Justice against CHARLES, [Page 144] and not suffer Benhadad the enemy to escape. Nay, he most insolently inveighed against Monarchy it self, and straining his virulent wit, he relates the History, How the Trees chusing a King, and the Vine and Olive-tree refusing the office, they submitted them­selves to the sharper government of the bramble; and compared Kingly government to briars. By such kind of Arguments he stirs up and confirms those new Judges, who of their own nature were already but too much enraged and fiercely bent against the King.

Accusers and Witnesses a­gainst the K. are cited by a Herald.There was another besides Peters the Preacher, an Herald, one Serjeant Dendy also employed, who (being environed with a Guard of Horse, for fear of being stoned) by sound of Trumpet, cited all those to appear who had any crime to object a­gainst the King; and this he did first in Westminster-hall, and then in the most publick places of the City.

The King is brought to the Bar.Before these Judges of the new Court, the most August Charles, already stript of three most flourish­ing Kingdoms by the Rebels, and having now no more but Life to be deprived of, is brought without the least signe in his countenance of any discompo­sure of mind.

Is indicted in name of the People of Eng­land.His indictment is read, wherein he is accused, In the name of the People of England, of Treason, Tyran­ny, Murders, and of all Rapines that were occasioned by the War; with the highest aggravations of the Crimes. But the whole stress of the Indictment lay in this, That he had made War against the Parlia­ment; which the Army under the Parliaments pay had long ago trampled under foot, scarcely any sha­dow of it remaining. Great was the company of Spectators, who with groans, sighs, and tears, la­mented the condition of the best of Princes.

Nor without injustice can I pass over the brave [Page 145] action of the heroick Lady Fairfax, The Lady Fair­fax publickly contradicting it. Daughter to the Lord Vere, who out of a Belcony that lookt into the Court, cried out publickly, That that was a lye; that the tenth part of the People was not guilty of that Villany, but that it was a contrivance of the Traytor Cromwel. And this she did with great danger of her life.

The King having heard this Indictment, He calls into question the Authority of the Court. with a majesty in his looks and words, that cannot be ex­prest, puts the question to those new Judges, By what Authority they brought their King to the Bar, contrary to the publick Faith which was very lately made to him when he entered into a Conference with the Members of both Houses. By what lawful Au­thority, said he emphatically. He knew indeed there were many unlawful and powerful Combinations of men in the world, as of Thieves and Robbers by the High-ways. He desires they would tell him by what Authority they had taken that Power, (such as it was upon them) and he would be willing to answer; but if they could not, he bids them think well upon it, before they go farther from one sin to a greater: That he had a Trust committed to him by God by an ancient and lawful Descent; and that he would not betray it by answering to a new and unlawful Authority.

The President replying, Which the Pre­sident affirming to be derived from the Peo­ple that chuse the King, the King denies it That he was brought to answer in the name of the People of England, of which he was elected King. The King made answer, That England was never an Elective Kingdom, but an He­reditary Kingdom for near these thousand years. That he did stand more for the liberty of the People, by re­jecting their usurped Power, than any of them that came to be his pretended Judges did by supporting it. That he did not come there as submitting to the Court: That he would stand as much for the Priviledge of the House of Commons as any man there whatsoever; but that he saw no House of Lords there, that might, together [Page 146] with a King, constitute a Parliament But then that neither one nor both the Houses, nor a­ny other Tri­bunal upon Earth, had a­ny power to judge the King of England; much less a parcel of pack'd Judges of the Lower House, who were masked onely with the oppressed power of that Court.. That if they would shew him a legal authority, warranted by the Word of God, the Scriptures, or warranted by the Con­stitutions of the Kingdom, he would answer: for that he did avow, that it was as great a sin to withstand lawful Authority, as it is to submit to a tyrannical or any ways unlawful Authority. The President in the mean time often interrupted him, and at length commanding him to be carried back to Prison.

The King is a­gain and a third time brought to the bar.Yet was the good King a second and a third time brought before the Bar of the Common People, where the President puts him in mind of his Indictment, and commands him to answer to the Articles brought against him, or otherways to listen to his sentence. But the King still protested against the Authority of the Court; affirming, That his life was not so dear to him, as his Honour, Conscience, the Laws and the Li­berties of the People; which that they might not perish all at once, there were great reasons why he could not make his defence before those Judges, nor acknowledge a new form of Judicature: for what power had ever Subjects, or by what Laws was it granted them, to e­rect a Court against their King? That it could not be warranted by Gods Laws, which on the contrary com­mand obedience to Princes; not by the Laws of the Land, since by them no Impeachment can lie against the King, And being a­bout to al­leadge Reasons against the Authority of the Court, they all going in his name: nor do they allow the House of Commons the power of judging the meanest Subject of England. And that lastly, that pretended Power could not flow from any Authority or Commis­sion from the People, since they had never asked the que­stion of the tenth man (he might have said, of the thou­sandth) of the Kingdom.

The President interrupting him again, as before, [Page 147] takes him up now more insolently, The President interrupts and takes him up. bids him be mind­ful of his condition: tells him, that the Court is suffici­ently satisfied, and do affirm their own Jurisdiction; and that no Reasons were to be heard that declined the Authority of the Court. But shew me that Court, answered the King, where Reason is not to be heard. We shew it you here, replied the President; and the next time you come, you'll know more of their pleasure. But the King urged, That at least he might be permitted to give in his Reasons in writing; to which if they could give him satisfaction, he would not decline their Jurisdiction. Here the President, not satisfied to deny his modest suit, but falling also in­to a heat, commanded the Prisoner to be carried away; who made no other return but this, Remember it is your King whom you refuse to hear: it will be in vain for my Subjects to expect Justice from you, when you will not hear your King make his lawful defence.

Now the King is the fourth time brought before this unjust Court of Justice; where the President, The King is a fourth time brought to the bar; refuses to plead: in his Scarlet-robe, bitterly taxes the King of Contu­macy, and runs out in commendation of the Pati­ence of the Court. He bids him at length submit to the Court, or to expect his Sentence. But the King con­stantly refuses to plead before them; telling them however, That he had something to say that concerned the Peace of the Kingdom, Desires a Con­ference with the Lords and Commons. and the Liberty of the Sub­ject, wherein he desires to be heard before the Lords and Commons. Yet they refuse to grant him that fa­vour, which is not wont to be denied to men of the meanest condition; pretending it would delay and put a stop to Justice. To which the King replied, That it would be better to admit the delay of a day or two, than to hasten a Sentence that might bring on that trouble and perpetual inconvenience to the Kingdom, that the Child that is unborn might repent it. For if I had had, said he, respect to my Life more than the [Page 148] Peace of the Kingdom, and the Liberties of the Subject, certainly I should have made a particular defence for my self: for by that at leastwise I might have de­layed an ugly Sentence, which I believe will pass upon me; and that the Zeal to my Country had not over­born the care that I have of my own preservation, I should have gone another way to work than I have done. Now since a hasty Sentence once past may be sooner re­pented than recalled, I desire, that having something to say more for the Peace of the Kingdom, and the Liberty of the Subject, than for my own particular, I may be heard before Sentence be given.

One of the Judges prickt in Conscience.Upon which Colonel Downs, one of the Judges, being prickt in Conscience, (contrary to what had been privately agreed upon amongst the Judges) desires that they may withdraw and debate that Proposal privately. Though this extreamly vexed the President, Cromwel, and most of the rest, yet that they might not seem publickly to quarrel among themselves, they all withdraw into an adjoyning Chamber; where Downs being paid off with flouts and jeers, intermingled with no small threats, they return wonderfully unanimous and agreeing into Court.

The President in a set-speech makes way for the Sentence.Then the President with the same inhumane bar­barity that he began, proceeds to Sentence; having premised a long Speech, wherein he aggravates the Contumacy of the King, and the haynousness of the Crime; he asserts the Power of Parliaments, produ­cing instances both foreign and domestick, (especi­ally from Scotland, how aptly the Scots are to look to it) wherein the People have punished their Kings; and that the Power of the People of England over their King, was not less than that of other Nations; that the King's guilt was greater than that of all others, seeing that (according to the wish of Caligula) he had en­deavoured to have cut off the head of the whole Nation, [Page 149] by undertaking a War against the Parliament.

Having ended his Harangue, Orders the Sentence to be read. he orders the Sen­tence to be read, in these words: That whereas the Commons of England in Parliament had appointed them an High Court of Justice for the trying of Charles Steuart King of England; before whom he had been three times convented, and at first time a Charge of High-Treason, and other Crimes and Misdemeanours, was read in the behalf of the Kingdom of England, &c. Which Charge being read unto him as aforesaid, he the said Charles Steuart was required to give his Answer, but he refused so to do, &c.

For all which Treasons and Crimes, the Court doth adjudge, That he the said Charles Steuart, as a Tyrant, Traytor, Murderer, and a publick Enemy, shall be put to death by severing his Head from his Body.

The Sentence being pronounced, All the Judges that were pre­sent, stand up and confirm the Sentence. sixty seven Judges that were present, as lifted up by the con­science of the Villany they had conspired in, at the desire of the President, (the thing having been privately concerted) stand up and confirm the same; the rest, (amongst whom was Fairfax) for the horrour of the Crime, not daring to be pre­sent.

Then was his sacred Majesty hurried away by the Souldiers to be by them (most like to his Saviour) scoffed at before he suffered; The souldiers carry away the King, scoff at him, who laying aside all reverence to the name of a King, as if they led their Captive in triumph with cruel barbarity, (the a­foresaid Peters setting them on) whereas in the be­ginning they cry'd, Justice, Justice; so now they cry, Execution, Execution; like the Jews of old, Crucifie him, Crucifie him: And barba­rously use him. They spit upon his Clothes as he passed by; nay, one or two had the boldness to spit in his majestick face, which one of his Judges, a Colonel, took notice of to many then present, commending the bravery of his Souldiers; [Page 150] and more beheld with horrour: They blew the smoak of Tobacco, a thing which they knew his Ma­jesty hated, in his sacred mouth, throwing their broken Pipes in his way as he passed along: They also enjoyn inhumane rudeness to others, beating those who with a hat or bow saluted him as he pas­sed; nay, whilst one more compassionate than the rest, sighing, said, God have mercy upon him, they knockt him down dead: Rushing into his Cham­ber both by day and by night, they allowed him no retirement, nor any private discourse not so much as with his Chaplain: When with much ado they had suffered one Bishop onely, I mean, of London, to have access unto him, with loud laughing they in­terrupt him in paying his Devotions according to the Rite of the Church of England; and even then when he was preparing for his last, they disturb him with scoffs and frivolous and impertinent Que­stions.

His Majesty be­haves himself courageously and prudently,But he with great presence of mind, whilst they cried out, Justice and Execution, turning to those that were about him, said, Alas, poor Souls, for a piece of money they would do so for their Commanders. Wiping off the Spittle when they spit upon him, all that came from him was, Christ hath suffered more for my sake. He so convincingly confuted the Com­manders, Souldiers, and other impertinent Anabap­tists, who with their cavils and silly disputes came to tempt him, that he put most of them to silence. He took so little notice of their ridiculous mirth, that by contemning it, he disappointed their sawcy petulance. Nay, though he was straitned with time, And prepares himself for his last sufferings. and disturbed with the noise of barbarous Souldiers, yet with a religious and sedate mind, spending his time in the confession of his sins, for­giving his Enemies, taking the Sacrament, holy rea­ding and meditation, and in all the other duties of [Page 151] Piety, he finds the favour of God amidst the hatred of men, and vanquishes and drives away the terrours of death even before they approach.

Whilst these things are done openly in view of the people, the execrable and merciless Judges, The Judges, be­fore the publi­cation of Sen­tence, consult about the kind, manner, and time of the Murder. in the mean time, in their private Cabals allot every one the part he is to act, what words and Gestures they are to use; consulting together about the time, place, kind, and all the manner and solemnity of the Mur­der: where, I am ashamed to mention, what dis­mal kinds of death were proposed for condemned Caesar, even before the Sentence, according as the wantonness, cruelty, or hatred of the several tem­pers did suggest, though I have been informed of it by most credible persons. Some vote that his Head and Quarters may be set up in publick places, a pu­nishment inflicted upon Traytors, as a lasting Infa­my after their death; some would have him hang­ed after the manner of Murderers, Robbers, and Thieves; others again are of opinion that he should suffer in his Crown and Robes, as a Monu­ment of the Power of the People over their King. At length they agree that it will suffice, that he lose his head upon a Scaffold to be erected before the Banquetting-House of White-hall, that from the same place where he used to mount the Throne, and appear in the sacred pomp of Majesty, he might pass to the Block, and cast off the Ornaments of Royalty, where he commonly put them on. This was the Triumph, these the Trophies of a victorious Revenge. And because they had been told, that the King would not submit his Neck to the Ax of his Subjects, they order iron Rings and Staples to be made upon the Scaffold, that if he resisted, he might be drawn down to the Block by the head and hands.

But it is not to be omitted, that amongst these [Page 152] Preliminaries to death, Proposals are tendered unto him, upon gran­ting which, he is offered his life. some Souldiers, the day be­fore the execution, offered Proposals; which if he would at length assent to, they promised to grant him life and the name of King. But having heard one or two of them read, he rejected them, saying to this effect: I had rather suffer a thousand deaths, than so to prostitute my Honour and the Liberty of my People.

He is permit­ted to take his leave of his Children.And, that I may not pass by unmentioned the least piece of humanity shew'd to him, they give him leave to take his Farewel of his Children; to wit, of the Lady Elizabeth then eleven years old, and the Duke of Gloucester nine. What the King gave them in charge. Here the King charged to tell the Queen, that his thoughts had never strayed from her, and that his love would be the same to the last; that she should command the Prince in his name (if it pleased God to ad­vance him to the Throne) to pardon his Enemies, &c. withal, he commanded her and her second Brother (the Duke of York who sometime before had made his escape from the Parliament) to be subject to the Prince and obey their Mother: he bid her also read Bishop Andrews Sermons, Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, and Bishop Laud's Book against Fisher, which would ground her against Popery.

Then he said to the Duke of Gloucester, Mark, Child, what I say; they will cut off my head, and per­haps make thee a King: but mark what I say, You must not be King so long as your Brother Charles and James do live; for they will cut off your Brothers heads (when they can catch them) and cut thy head off too at last: and therefore I charge you do not be made a King by them. To which the Child (looking wishfully upon the King) answered, I will be torn in pieces first.

The K. is led to execution.Now was the fatal day when the King, fortified against death by Innocence and Piety, came out of [Page 153] St. James's house, (now the Royal Prison) and walked afoot through the Park, with a chearful countenance, as if he had been going a hunting. The Souldiers and guard of Partisans marching slowly, he bid them go faster, saying, That he now went before them to strive for an heavenly Crown, with less sollicitude than he had often encouraged his Souldiers to fight for an earthly Diadem.

Being brought into the Banquetting-house, he spent an hour in prayer, that having recommended his Soul to God, he might have some leisure-time before death to be spent amongst the Souldiers. As he went out from thence upon the Scaffold that was covered with dismal black, the first Objects that present themselves to his view, are Executioners in Vizard-masques, a Block and an Ax; which yet do not so damp his Royal Courage, but that he shew'd his care for the living to be far greater than his ap­prehensions of dying: for looking round upon the People, who by numerous Guards of Horse were kept at a great distance, and perceiving that he could not be heard by them, He speaks to Col. Tomlin­son, and the o­ther Instru­ments of the Regicide. he waved (as it is probable) the discourse that he intended to deli­ver to the Multitude, and addressed himself to Co­lonel Tomlinson, and the other Instruments of the Regicide, in these following words.

I Shall be very little heard of any body else; His Maj. had not spoken, but that otherwise he might have been thought to submit to the guilt. I shall therefore speak a word to you here. Indeed I could have held my peace very well, if I did not think that holding my peace would make some men think that I did submit to the Guilt as well as to the Punishment: But I think it is my duty to God first, and then to my Coun­try, to clear my self both as an honest man, a good King, and a good Christian. I shall be­gin [Page 154] first with my Innocency; and in troath, I think it not very needful for me to insist long upon this: He did not be­gin the War. for all the world knows that I did never begin a War with the two Houses of Par­liament; and I call God to witness, unto whom I must shortly give an account, that I did never intend to incroach upon their Priviledges: They began upon me; But the two Houses. it is the Militia they be­gan upon: They confessed the Militia was mine, but they thought it fit to have it from me. And to be short, if any body will look to the dates of Commissions, of their Commissions and mine, and likewise to the Declaration, he will see clearly that they began those unhappy Trou­bles, not I. So as for the guilt of those enor­mous Crimes that are laid against me, I hope that God will clear me on't. His Majesty lays not the the guilt upon the two Houses, I will not, (for I am in charity) and God forbid that I should lay it upon the two Houses of Parliament, there is no necessity of either, I hope they are free of this Guilt; Ill Instruments the cause of it. but I believe that ill In­struments between them and me, have been the chief cause of all this Bloudshed: So that as I find my self clear of this, I hope (and pray God) that they may too. Yet for all this, God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian, as not to say, that Gods Judgments are just upon me; many times he doth pay injustice by an unjust Sen­tence, One unjust sen­tence punished with another. that is ordinary: I will say this, That unjust Sentence that I suffered to take effect, is punished by an unjust Sentence upon me: So far I have said, to shew you, That I am an [Page 155] innocent man. Now to shew you that I am a good Christian, I hope there is a good man here ( pointing to the Bishop of London) that will bear me witness, His Majesty forgives all the world, even the Causers of his death. that I have forgiven all the world, and even those in particular that have been the chief Causers of my death: who they are, God knows, I do not desire to know; I pray God forgive them. But this is not all, my Charity must go further; I wish they may repent, for indeed they have committed a great sin in that particular: I pray God, with St. Stephen, that this be not laid to their charge; and withal, that they may take the way to the Peace of the Kingdom; for my charity commands me not onely to forgive particular men, but to en­deavour to the last gasp, the Peace of the King­dom. So (Sirs) I do wish with all my Soul, Prays that they may take the right way to Peace. (I see there are some here that will carry it further) that they endeavour the Peace of the Kingdom. (Sirs) I must shew you, both how you are out of the way, and put you in a way. First, you are out of the way; for certainly all the ways you ever had yet, as far as I could find by any thing, is in the way of Conquest: certainly this is an ill way; Conquest an ill way, seldom just. for Con­quest, in my Opinion, is never just, except there be a just and good cause, either for matter of Wrong, or a just Title; and then if you go be­yond the first Quarrel that ye have, that makes it unjust at the end, that was just at first: for if there be onely matter of Conquest, then it is a great Robbery; as a private Souldier said to A­lexander, That he was a great Robber, himself [Page 150] [...] [Page 151] [...] [Page 152] [...] [Page 153] [...] [Page 154] [...] [Page 155] [...] [Page 156] was but a petty Robber: And so, Sirs, for the way you are in, I think you are much out of the way. To give God his due, the K. his due, and the People their due, is the right way. Give God his due in setling his Church. Now, Sirs, to put you into the way; believe it, you shall never go right, nor God will never prosper you, until you give God his due, the King his due, (that is my Successour) and the People their due; I am as much for them as any of you. You must give God his due, by regulating rightly his Church, according to the Scripture, (which is now out of order) and to set you in a way particularly, now I can­not; but onely this: A National Synod freely called, As to the K. it concerning himself, his Majesty waves it. freely debating among themselves, must settle this, when every Opinion is freely heard. For the King, indeed, I will not, the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that; therefore, because it concerns mine own particu­lar, Peoples liberty consists in ha­ving govern­ment, not in sharing it. I onely give you a touch of it. For the People, truly I desire their liberty and freedom as much as any body whomsoever: But I must tell you, that their liberty and freedom consists in having government under those Laws, by which their lives and theirs may be most their own; it is not in having a share in the govern­ment, that is nothing pertaining to them: A Subject and a Soveraign are clean different things; and therefore until you do that, I mean, that you put the People into that liberty, as I say, certainly they will never enjoy themselves.

Sirs, it was for this that now I am come hi­ther: for if I would have given way to an Ar­bitrary way, for to have all Laws changed ac­cording [Page 157] to the power of the Sword, I need not have come here; and therefore I tell you (and I pray God it be not laid to your charge) that I am the MARTYR of the People. His Majesty the Martyr of the People. In troth, Sirs, I shall not hold you any longer; I will onely say this to you, That I could have desired some little time longer, because I would have put this, what I have said, a little better digested than I have done; and therefore I hope you will excuse me. I have delivered my Conscience: I pray God you take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdoms and your own salvation.

Being thus about to conclude his most innocent and meek Speech, the Bishop of London gave him a hint, That if his Majesty thought fit, he would say somewhat as to his Religion; not that any man living suspected that, of which he had given so clear proofs during the whole course of his life, but that he might, according to custom, satisfie the People.

To which the King replied, He professes he dies a Christian of the Church of England. ‘ I thank you ve­ry heartily, my Lord, for I had almost forgotten it. In troth, Sirs, my Conscience in Religion, I think, is very well known to all the World; and therefore I declare before you all, That I die a Christian, according to the Profession of the Church of England, as I found it left me by my Father, and that honest man I think will wit­ness it.’

Then turning to the Officers, he said, ‘ Sirs, excuse me for this same; I have a good Cause, and I have a gracious God, I will say no more.’ [Page 158] But a little after, ‘ I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown, where no disturbance can be, no disturbance in the World.’

He is beheadedAfterwards kneeling down by the Block, as at a Desk, and having said a short Prayer, he most humbly resigned his sacred head to his Maker to be struck off by a masked Executioner; which was quickly done at one blow. So fell CHARLES; and so with him expired the Honour and Soul of Great Britain.

Barbarous Cruelty against him dead. Against his body.Nor are they satisfied to have exercised their Rage and Cruelty against him, whilst he was alive: they dishonour his martyred Body; wash their hands and dip their sticks in his Bloud; set to sale the Block cut into pieces, and the Sand underneath it moistened with Royal Bloud; and make money also of his Hair. All which were by the Specta­tors bought up upon different motives: some as dear Pledges and Relicks of a Prince whom they a­dored; others, that they might never want a Cure for the Kings Evil, a Prerogative which our Kings are believed to enjoy; but many also, that they might have and shew in triumph the Spoils of their Enemy. Cromwel, that he might to the full glut his traiterous eyes with that Spectacle, having opened the Coffin wherein the Body was carried from the Scaffold into the Palace, curiously viewed it, and with his fingers severed the head from the shouldiers, as we have been informed by Eye-witnesses.

Afterwards they give the Body to be embowel­led by a rascally Quack-Physician, and some Sur­geons of the Army, most inveterate Enemies to the very name of a King, (his Majesties own Servants being removed) who had orders carefully to enquire (which was the same to them as if they had been [Page 159] commanded positively to affirm) whether he had not the Venereal Distemper, or any signs of Frigidity; with a designe to take an occasion from thence of branding either himself or Posterity with Infamy. But that Villany was crushed in the Egg by the pre­sence of an honest Physician, who getting to be ad­mitted to the Dissection, overawed them by his reverence and authority: the same person having also reputed that by the healthfulness and vigour of his Constitution, he might have outlived most men; so that all who consider the humourous temper both of his body and mind, are fully now satisfied of it.

Nay, Against his soul. that they might strain their Malice to the highest pitch of Cruelty, they make no less scruple to murder the Soul of the King, and as easily damn him to the flames of Hell, as they are wont to ca­nonize all their own for Saints.

They make it their business also to blacken his Memory amongst men; Against his fame and me­mory to poste­rity. they cause his Statue that stood over the Porch of St. Paul's Church, and a­nother that was placed amongst the Statues of his Predecessors in the Royal Exchange of London, to be thrown down, putting these words into the empty Nich, The Tyrant the last of Kings is gone. Exit Tyrannus regum ultimus; most false both in the presage and crime. They employ the mercenary Pen of the Son of a certain S [...]rivener one Milton, from a musty Pedant, [...]ampt into a new Secretary, whose Talent lying in Satyrs and Libels, and his Tongue being dipt in the blackest and ba­sest venome, might forge an [...], or Image-breaking; and by his livid and malicious Wit, pub­lish a Defence of the Kings Murder against Salma­sius.

They rob the Bishop of London, They carry a­way all the Royal Writings that they might not be publish'd who was long kept a Prisoner, of all the Papers which his Majesty had delivered unto him, and ransaking all Clothes, [Page 160] Trunks, and Boxes, they search into every corner, that they might hinder any Paper written with the Royal hand, from coming into the publick; by which indeed they deprived mankind of many rare Monuments of Prudence and Piety.

Nevertheless, a golden book of the Kings Me­ditations saw the light.Nevertheless, by the extraordinary providence of Almighty God, to their eternal shame and confusion, and the everlasting praise of the boundless and Roy­al Virtue of the King, a Book of MEDITATIONS or SOLLILOQƲIES, saw the light, a posthumous work of which, whosoever impartially considers the weight of matter, the quaintness of stile, the strength of Reasons, and the ardour of Piety, must, in spight of Envy, acknowledge that amongst Writers he de­served the Kingdom, and that those ill minds that wrested from him the Civil Government, must ren­der him the dominion of Letters.

The extraordi­nary grief of the people.No King, not onely of Britain alone, but that e­ver sate upon the Throne, left the World more be­wailed and lamented. For the news of his death being spread over England, made women miscarry, cast both men and women into Fits, Convulsions, and Melancholy; nay, some were so surprized, that they outlived not the suddenness of the Consternation: The Pulpits in all places uttered nothing but Sighs and Groans: The same persons with useless grief bewailing him now he was gone, who because of difference of Opinion concerning Church-government, had no great kindness for him whilst he was alive. The very little Children (who seldom mind such things) bursting out into Tears, could hardly be comforted. Men of all sorts, and almost of all Sects, enlarged in his praises, comparing him to Job, Da­vid, and Solomon, for Patience, Piety, and Wisdom. Nor can I my self forbear in this place to hoist sail, and with all the skill I have, launch out into the Ocean of his Virtues; though the nature of an A­bridgment [Page 161] I am now about, does lay an embargo upon my liberty. I shall therefore by a few, and those clouded beams, give you what sight I can of that Sun.

He was indeed a Prince to be reckoned amongst the best of all past Ages, The Character of the late King. whose great endowments of mind, and greater Virtues, rendered him in the opinion of all, even his greatest Enemies, Worthy of Government, if he had not governed: who by all mens confession, attained to that height of perfection, that he was the same in all places, and at all times; that the course of his Virtues was even and steddy, his countenance and looks the same in the most dif­ferent kinds of fortune that he had tried; as if from the Torrid he had removed into the Frigid Zone, without the least alteration in his temper. Who pleased even the unwilling, and as by a kind of Charm, mitigated the hatred of many, won his e­nemies to Friendship, and turned Railings into Praises. Who so excelled in Prudence and all He­roick Virtues, that through Calumnies and Re­proaches he shone out with greater lustre.

His Enemies feigned him to be a man of weak Judgment, but found him to be a match, if not su­periour, to the choicest Politicians and Divines: They reviled him as cowardly and fickle, without faith, and of feminine inconstancy; but in Battels they felt him to be valiant, perceived him undaun­ted in Threats, Dangers, and Disgraces, and unsha­ken in Prison and at Death. They slandered him as a Papist, but saw him in his Writings to be a Champion for the Reformed Apostolical Religion; defending it not onely by his Pen, but with his Bloud. They who maligned him as cruel and bloud-thirsty, advanced to that licentiousness of ca­lumniating, onely through the clemency of their King, ☜ to which the Rebels promised themselves a [Page 162] too easie retreat, until by the favour of fortune, being transported beyond the bonds of pardon, they chuse rather to deny mercy to a Prince of so much clemency, than to ask it of him when he was dis­armed.

If any thing could be objected to him, it was so far from being a fault in so rare a Prince, that it was the height of an unseasonable Virtue, inconsi­stent with so vitious and corrupt an Age; that is, too much Lenity to the cruel, Candour to the disin­genuous and crafty, a strict Justice and Certitude, which is not commonly the Virtue of Kings, a Mo­desty that distrusted his own Abilities, and a Mind so far from pride, that he was more apt to comply with the worse Counsels of others, than to stick to the best of his own; as if he had indeed believed the Calumnies of his Enemies to be true.

He was a great Example of Living, but a greater of Dying;
Whom like slighted and unrewarded Virtue,
We hate whilst it's in being, and anxiously bustle for when it is gone.

The Rebels ex­ercise Arbitra­ry Dominion o­ver the Lives and Estates of others.The great Defender of the Laws being now cut off, and the Government unhinged, the new Ʋsur­pers thought it time to turn all topsie-turvy, and to make Laws according to their own pleasure. They order CHARLES the Second, by the name of CHARLES STEƲART, and the Duke of York, wheresoever they could be found, to be put to death. They forbid any man to call Charles the II. King, or to pray for him, his Brother, or any of the Roy­al Family. Out comes presently an Ordinance, under pain of High-Treason, That no man should presume to declare CHARLES STEUART, commonly called Prince of Wales, King: And as if this had been but a small matter, That no man should pray for CHARLES the Second, under the name of Prince of [Page 163] Wales, King of Scotland, or eldest Son of the King, or for the Duke of York, or any of the Royal Family, under pain of Sequestration.

Monarchy and the House of Lords being both a­bolished, the first under pretext of change, The Monarch being cut off, th [...]y presently murder Mo­narchy; they also abrogate the House of Lords. Turns out the Lord Mayor of London. uselesness and danger, and the other both of uselesness and dan­ger; they make an Ordinance for changing the most ancient Government of England into a Demo­craty or Popular Commonwealth: and because the Mayor of London refused to publish the Ordinance, they turn him out of his Office, fine him in two thousand pounds, and commit him to the Tower; notwithstanding his alleadging, That such an act was to be performed by the Sheriffs, and not the Mayor of London, and that being bound by so many Oaths, he could not in conscience do it. A dull block­head, one of the Kings Judges, was forthwith put into his place, and that others upon account of con­science, might not boggle at any of their commands, they abolish the Oath which all men upon their en­try into publick place, were obliged to take to the Kings Majesty. They alter the Common Coun­cil of the City also. They purge the Common Council of the City, which was wont to consist of the richer and graver Citizens, and turn out many Aldermen; making this their colour for it, that the year before (though at the desire of the major part of the Par­liament) They had signed the Petition for a personal Conference with the King; and filled their places with the abject Riff-raff of the Rabble, many of them very young, and most of them broken fellows.

They also turn out the Recorder, Town-Clerk, and other Officers of the City, who had refused to attend the Mayor at the publishing of the Ordinance for a­bolishing of Monarchy; other factious Villains of their own Gang, being preferred to their places; who leading the other Citizens by the noses, the City of London in a trice became obedient to the [Page 164] Orders of the Mock-Parliament. And repeal all Laws against Heresies and Schisms. They engage the Preachers to themselves by the Kings Rents. Punish the Gain-sayers. With one single Vote they repeal all the ancient Laws made against Sects and Schisms. They deprive the Ministers of the promised Revenues, I mean, of Deans and Chap­ters Lands: They also make profession of easing tender Consciences from the burthen of Tythes, as­signing some thousands a year out of the Kings Re­venue, for Stipends and Salaries for the Preachers; that so they might be at the beck of the Republi­cans, and be at length by Office constrained with mutual Assistance and Pay to conspire against Mo­narchy. Nay, it was debated, whether they should not for some time shut the Church-doors, and re­strain the licentiousness of Presbyterians: but milder Councils prevailing, some having been imprisoned, & others threatned with death, all are commanded up­on pain of Sequestration to refrain from Invectives, and to comply with their Rulers in keeping Fasts and Thanksgiving-days, and whatever else concer­ned the affairs of the Church. They break down the Kings Arms and Statues that were set up in publick places, and put up their own instead of them. They coyn new money with the impression of a Cross and Harp, as the Arms of England and Ireland. In a word, as by Law, and in full right, they invade and appropriate to themselves all the Regalia, which as by way of Sequestration they had before usur­ped.

Sparing no body.From henceforward, without any regard to Ju­stice and Honesty, they spare neither Sex nor any Or­der of men. The Kings Children who remained in England, to wit, the Lady Elizabeth and Henry Duke of Gloucester, Princes of singular accomplish­ments of Nature, are many ways basely used by them. Amongst the Regicides it was moved of­tener than once, whether they had not better put her out Apprentice to a Trade, that she might get [Page 165] her living, than to breed her up in a lazy life at the charge of the Publick. From the gentle tuition of the Earl of N. she is turned over to the severer dis­cipline of another, with orders, that when there was no occasion for it, she should not be treated as the Daughter of a King: Afterward she was con­fined to Carisborough-Castle in the Isle of Wight, un­der the custody of one Mildmay, an inspired fool, but implacable enemy to the Royal Family; that she poor Lady, thus put in mind of her Fathers Im­prisonment and Murder, being already consum­ptive, might the sooner be brought to her end. And indeed, when through the irksomness of Pri­son, Grief, and Sickness, she visibly and daily decay­ed and pined away, the inhumane Traytors deny her the assistance of a Physician; nay, the Physician whose presence she earnestly desired, they so frighten from his duty, that he durst not wait upon her. She being dead, they send the Duke of Gloucester in­to banishment, having allowed him a small piece of money (that I may not omit any act of their hu­manity) to carry him over into Flanders.

They basely treat the Countess of Carlisle, by an usage unworthy of her Sex and Quality, as being one who of too much a friend before, was now be­come an Enemy, and commit her to the Tower of London. Duke Hamilton and the Earl of Holland, who now too lately repented their having been the first of the Lords and chief of the Factious, who for their own safety, had too much served the times a­gainst the King, and of the Royal Party, the heroick Lord Capel, a prime Champion both for his King and Country, are by the same President Bradshaw, who dyed red with Royal bloud, knew not what it was to spare the bloud of other men, in the same Court of Justice sentenced to lose their heads. Whom the Rebels thought fit they banished, and [Page 166] seized all Estates and Inheritances, how large soe­ver, at their own discretion. There was a debate amongst them about making a Law, that whosoe­ver was by them suspected to be an ill willer to the Commonwealth, or an enemy to the Army, might be brought to a tryal before a Council of War, and sen­tenced by them as they thought fit.

Nay, they order the stately Fabricks of the Royal Houses and Palaces, to be thrown down, that Kings for the future might not have a house of their own to cover their heads under; God any stately Tem­ples wherein he might be worshipped, or the Kingdom any publick Structures to shew its magni­ficence. St. Paul's Church in London, that of Sa­lisbury, and the Kings house of Hampton-Court, Fa­bricks that may compare for stateliness with the best of Europe, with much ado escaped the fury of their desolating hands.

The Govern­ment commit­ted to the Council of forty men.A Council of forty persons is erected, which by a gentle name to the common people, they call the Keepers of the Liberties, who altogether, or at least se­ven of the number, had the full administration of the Commonwealth. Amongst these were three or four contemptible Lords, Slaves to the Republican Faction admitted, of whom Bradshaw was made Head, with the Title of Lord President, and a yearly Salary of two thousand pounds, as the price of Re­gicide.

A subscription is enjoyned.Moreover, a Writing is commanded to be taken by all, whereby they were bound to approve what­soever the Rebels had acted against the King and Kingdom. Yet when many had refused to take it, they were nevertheless admitted upon this condi­tion, That with their lives and fortunes, they should maintain and defend for the future, the State and Mock-Parliament in the same condition they were. Henceforward none of the secluded Members, nor of [Page 167] those who had withdrawn, were admitted into the House, unless they approved underhand the late Villanies. Nevertheless, they command all to ap­pear against a certain day, or otherways to be excluded for ever, and others chosen in their places. So that some for fear of Sequestration, and I know not what hurt and damage they were apprehensive of, others out of hopes of profit to be got in publick changes, by a base temporizing, strike in with the Republican Ʋsurpers, and are admitted into a share of the labour and danger, but not of the Govern­ment.

About the same time the secluded Members meet in Lincolns-Inne to consult together, S. inveighs bitterly against the Regicides. and take the advice of S. a Lawyer, what was fittest to be done in the present state of affairs. But he readily gave his opinion, that the late changes were made against the tenor of the Laws, the Customs and Interest of the Country, and the Dictates of right Reason; and that no commerce could be kept with the Usurpers, without the guilt and horrid crime of Treason: and indeed he frightened many of the Members from coming to the House, who could never afterward be brought to joyn in council with the Regicides. Nevertheless, By and by falls off to the same Party. within a few days he himself became a leading-man in the Rebel-Parliament, and the Council of the Keepers of the Liberties, and submit­ted to their Authority: nay, and did not reject the place of Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, con­ferred upon him by the same men, though the King before the Troubles had honoured him with the ti­tle of his Attorney-General.

These things are carried on under pretext of speedy setling the State; They labour to establish an O­ligarchy. The Democra­ticks oppose it. but in reality with designe to secure the Government to themselves: to whom all the rest almost being cow'd into a submission, the Popular Republicans onely resist. These demand [Page 168] that the Representative so often desired and so often promised, might be established by a free and equal election of the people, the Rump of the Mock-Par­liament being dismissed. Inveigh, In Writings and Confe­rences they inveigh against the arbitrary dominion of the Ʋsurpers, the High Court of Justice, Council of State, ☞ or of the Keepers of the Liberties, as onely the softer names of a harder Tyranny; nay, they cry out against the Kings murder as unjust, and committed a­gainst all Law and just Authority; that the People had changed but not shaken off the Yoke; that they had ra­ther live ten years under the government of the worst of Kings, than one year under their dominion; that the loins of King Charles were lighter than their lit­tle finger. So great force has truth, as that it draws such Expressions even from the unwilling. At length they flie to Arms, Resist with Arms. and the private Souldiers, especially the Troopers, who formerly consented with them in most things, being everywhere stirred up, they at length begin to gather together in form of an Army.

But the Ʋsurpers who were never wanting to oc­casion, obviate the beginnings; and under pretext of composing Differences amongst honest men, who minded the same things, though they mutually entertained bad opinions one of another, having corrupted and gained some of them to their Party, they suddenly fall up­on the rest and defeat them, They are de­feated by the Ʋsurpers. disarm the Prisoners, and having caused the chief Authors of the Stirs to be shot, and others to be punished more mildly, they terrifie all the rest from disturbing for the fu­ture the Rulers, either with cutting Truths, or shar­per Arms.

Th [...]y publish a Proclamation, that no man should accuse them of Tyran­ny.The Ʋsurpers being fixed in the Saddle, publish a Proclamation, forbidding all men to accuse them of Tyranny, to object any thing against them by word or in writing, or to attempt any alteration, under pain of [Page 169] High-Treason. Appoint a Thanksgiving. They appoint a solemn Thanksgi­ving-day to render publick thanks to God for their prosperous success against the Democraticks, that so by mocking of God, they might the more easily make the silly people rejoyce in their Calamities. And the same day they are sumptuously feasted by the Mayor and Aldermen of London, Are feasted by the City. not without the Reproaches and Curses of almost all the Spectators; where amidst the tears and miseries of a great ma­ny that perished by a famine that then raged, they junket it deliciously. Fairfax and Cromwel are complemented with splendid Presents of Gold and Silver. And that the wretched Citizens might not seem to have lost all their labour in feeding these Ravens, they bestow upon them the Kings new Park, Which they re­compence. under colour of making them some recompence for their late Magnificence; but in reality, that the di­stracted men being allured by the sweetness of that morcel, might be won over to their Party, and wish well to the new Government.

Henceforward there is nothing to them sacred or holy: They either distribute amongst themselves, or sell at easie rates the Kings Houshold-furniture, They sell the Kings Houses, Houshold-fur­niture, &c. Lands and Houses, the Revenues and Lands of the Church, which belonged to the Deans and Chapters, and which remained intire till now by the Votes of both Houses of Parliament, for the use of the new Clergy, or Presbyterian Ministry: That by these arts they might both glut their own Avarice, and by in­volving many in the same guilt with themselves, make them firmer to their Faction.

Nor being yet satiated by the Crown and Church-lands, and the Estates of the Noblemen and Gentle­men, who disagreeing from them, made up the far greater part of the Kingdom, which they had seized long ago by way of Sequestration; nor by the Goods and Chattels of those aforementioned [Page 170] whom they had plundered, and the vast sums of money which those that had been for the King day­ly paid for redeeming their Estates, and purchasing favour; they daily raise an incredible quantity of money from the Customs and the Excise, (a Tax which before would not have been endured in Eng­land): They burden the people with most heavy Taxes. Not to mention the secret Veins of Wealth, I mean Bribes and Gifts, which those that stood for Places or had business and Law-suits, slipt private­ly into their pockets. Nay, they were not ashamed to flea the so-often fleeced people by a most heavy Imposition of ninety thousand pounds a month to pay the idle Souldiers.

Invade Ire­land;However, the spoils and government of one Kingdom was not enough to satisfie them; they invade the Irish also that were ready to submit to the King, (whom whilst they were Rebels, most part of them praised, few at least did hostilely as­sault them) promising themselves certain victory over them; and hoping that Ireland being subdued, they might easily reduce Scotland and France, as be­ing divided at home; And threatned the whole world. and many of them had the confidence openly to glory, that they would break that Yoke wherewith the Kings of the Earth op­press the People. Nor truly could any man have told where the fierceness of this Scourge would have ended, and where that Floud would have spent it self, unless the divine Majesty, which hath hollowed a channel for the Sea, set bounds and li­mits to it, and said, Hither shalt thou come, and no further, had not opposed the over-swelling pride of these Waters, and commanded his Angel to sound the Retreat.

A Chronological INDEX FOR This First Part.
Old Stile.

MDCXXV. 1625
  • KIng James being dead,
    March 27.
    CHARLES the First succeeds King of Great Britain.
  • He marries Henrietta Maria Sister to Louis XIII.
    June 14.
    King of France.
MDCXXV, VI, VII, VIII. 1625, 26, 27, 28.
  • The King calls three Parliaments, and little or nothing done, as often dissolves them.
MDCXXX. 1630
  • Prince CHARLES is born.
    May 29.
MDCXXXIII. 1633
  • James Duke of York is born.
    October 14.
MDCXXXVII. 1637
  • Prin, Burton, Bastwick, having lost their ears,
    June.
    are put in prison.
  • [Page]
    July 23.
    The Scots grow rebellious.
1639 MDCXXXIX.
  • The King meets the Scots intending to invade England; but having made a Pacification, disbands his Army.
1640 MDCXL.
  • April 13. May 5.
    The Stirs of the Scots occasioned the Kings calling of a Parliament at Westminster; which was dissol­ved without any success.
  • Aug.
    So the Scots invade England, and take Newcastle: The King marches against them; but having made a Truce, calls a Parliament at Westminster.
  • November 3.
    The Parliament meets, and under pretext of Reforma­tion, put all into Confusion.
  • November. December.
    Thomas Wentworth Earl of Strafford, Deputy of Ireland, and William Laud Archbishop of Canter­bury, are accused.
1641 MDCXI.
  • May 12.
    The Deputy of Ireland condemned by a Law made for the purpose, is beheaded.
  • May 10.
    The King also by Act of Parliament grants, That the Parliament shall not be dissolved without the consent of both Houses.
  • May 2.
    William of Nassaw Son to Frederick Prince of O­range, is married to Mary Daughter to K. Charles.
  • August.
    The Scots full of money return into their own Country: The King follows them into Scotland.
  • October 23.
    The Irish conspire against the English, and cruelly fall upon them.
  • Novemb. 25.
    The King returns to London from Scotland.
  • December 1.
    A Remonstrance of the Lower House offered to the King.
1642 MDCXLI, MDCXLII.
  • January 3.
    The King accuses five Commoners, and one Lord of High-Treason.
  • [Page]The King goes into the House of Commons.
    January 4.
  • The King withdraws from London.
    January 10.
  • Sends a Pacificatory Letter to the Parliament.
    January 20.
  • Sends the Queen into Holland with her Daughter.
    February 23.
  • He himself goes towards York.
    February 28.
  • Sir John Hotham shuts the Gates of Hull against the King.
    April 23.
  • Ʋnjust Propositions of Peace are made by the Parlia­ment to the King.
    June 2.
  • The Parliament raising an Army,
    August 22.
    the King at length sets up his Standard at Nottingham.
  • Both Armies engage at Edge-hill,
    October 23.
    and both challenge the Victory.
MDCXLIII. 1643
  • A Treaty of Peace appointed at Oxford comes to no­thing.
    Feb. March, April.
  • The Earl of Newcastle gets the better of Fairsax,
    July 13.
    Com­mander of the Rebels in the North.
  • In the West, Waller a Commander of the Rebels,
    June 30.
    is routed by the Kings Party.
  • Prince Rupert taketh Bristol.
    July 27.
  • Maurice his Brother takes Exeter.
    September 4.
  • In the mean time the King himself besieges Gloucester.
    August 10.
  • Essex, General of the Rebels, relieves Gloucester.
    September.
  • The King meets Essex upon his return,
    Septemb. 20.
    and fights him at Nubury,
  • The English Rebels put to a streight,
    Jun. Sept. 25.
    call in the Scots and take the Covenant.
  • The King therefore makes a Truce with the Irish for a year.
    Septemb. 15.
MDCXLIII, IV. 1644
  • James Marquess of Hamilton is committed to prison.
    January 3.
  • The Scots again enter England.
    January 16.
  • The King holds a Parliament at Oxford.
    January 22.
  • The Earl of Montross is sent Commissioner into Scot­land.
    May.
  • [Page] Essex and Waller, Generals of the Rebels, march to­wards Oxford.
  • June 29.
    The King defeats Waller at Cropredian-bridge.
  • Then pursues Essex into the West.
  • July.
    The Scots in the mean time joyned with the English, defeat the Cavaliers at Marston-moore.
  • And then take York by surrender.
  • Septemb. 1, 2.
    In the West the King breaks all Essex his Forces.
  • October 27.
    Ʋpon his return he is met by Manchester at Newbury, where they fight a second time.
  • Decemb. 23.
    Alexander Carey is beheaded.
1645 MDCXLIV, V.
  • January 1, 2.
    Hotham the Father and Son are beheaded.
  • January 10.
    William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury is beheaded.
  • February 20.
    Macquire an Irish Lord is hanged.
  • February.
    The Treaty of Peace at Uxbridge comes to nothing.
  • June 14.
    Fairfax General of the Parliament Forces, defeats the King at Naseby.
  • Henceforward all by degrees fell into the hands of the Parliament.
1646 MDCXLVI.
  • April 27.
    The King having in vain tried the English, departing privately from Oxford,
    May 5.
    commits himself into the hands of the Scots.
  • June 24.
    Fairfax takes Oxford by composition.
  • September.
    Robert Earl of Essex dies.
1647 MDCXLVI, VII.
  • January 30.
    The Scots sell the King to the English, and return fraighted with Money.
  • February 16.
    The King is made close Prisoner in Holdenby-Castle.
  • March.
    The Marquess of Ormond, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, delivers up Dublin to the English.
  • June 4.
    The Army take the King out of Prison.
  • And march against the Parliament.
  • [Page]The Speakers of both Houses, with fifty other Members,
    July 29.
    flie to the Camp.
  • The Souldiers attend the Members that fled to West-minster.
    August 6.
  • Ʋnjust Conditions of Peace are proposed to the King at Hampton-court.
    September 7.
  • The King makes his escape to the Isle of Wight.
    Novemb. 11.
  • From thence writing Pacificatory Letters,
    Decemb. 24.
    they propose to him four Demands as preliminary to a Conference.
  • The King is made close Prisoner.
MDCXLVII, VIII. 1648
  • The Parliament votes no more Addresses to the King.
    January 17.
  • The Counties everywhere stir; the Kentish, Essex-men,
    May. June.
    and some others, take up Arms.
  • The Duke of Buckingham, Francis his Brother,
    July 5:
    and Earl of Holland, in vain take up Arms.
  • The Fleet comes over to the Prince of Wales.
    July.
  • The Scots commanded by Duke Hamilton, advance into England.
  • They are defeated by Cromwel, and Hamilton taken.
    August 17.
  • Fairfax takes Colchester upon surrender.
    August 28.
  • Rainsborough, a Commander of the Parliament Army,
    October 29.
    killed at Duncaster.
  • A Conference appointed with the King in the Isle of Wight.
    Sept. Octob.
  • The Marquess of Ormond returns Lord Lieutenant into Ireland.
    November.
  • The Remonstrance of Ireton is approved in a Council of War.
    Novemb. 16.
  • And is presented to the Parliament in name of the Army and People of England.
    Novemb. 20.
  • The King is carried from the Isle of Wight to Hurst-Castle.
    Decemb. 1.
  • Nevertheless, the Parliament votes,
    Decemb. 5.
    That the Kings Concessions are a sufficient ground for a Peace.
  • Many Parliament-men are made Prisoners by the Soul­diers.
    Decemb. 6, 7.
1649 MDCXLVIII, IX.
  • January 4.
    The rest amongst other and unheard things, vote, That all Power is originally in the People.
  • January 6.
    Then, That the King himself is to be brought to a tryal.
  • January 20.22, 23, 27.
    The King therefore is brought to the Bar.
  • The King is brought a fourth time, and condemned.
  • January 30.
    CHARLES the best of Kings, by unparallel'd Villany is beheaded.
  • March 9.
    James Duke of Hamilton, Henry Earl of Holland, and the generous Arthur Lord Capel, are beheaded.
  • March 17.
    Lastly, Monarchy it felf is abolished by the Regicides.
  • May 30.
    The Act is proclaimed by the mock-Mayor of London.
  • May.
    The Democratical Republicans stirring in Arms, are routed.
  • June 7.
    Solemn Thanksgivings appointed for the Victory, and the Conquerours feasted by the Londoners.
1650 MDCL.
  • September 8:
    The Lady Elizabeth, Daughter of Charles the Mar­tyr, dies in her Fathers Prison.
FINIS.

A short HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE Rise and Progress OF THE Late Troubles IN ENGLAND: AND ALSO Of the KING's Miraculous Escape after the Battel at Worcester.
The Second Part.

NOW are the Cruel Regicides Ma­sters of England, The state of Af­fairs after the Regicide, in England, Scotland, but of England a­lone. The Scots were in suspence, not being, as yet, fully resolved, whether they should settle Charles the Second in his Fa­thers Throne, or, usurping the Soveraignty, should Govern Scotland as a Common-wealth themselves. Ireland, Ireland, almost entirely for the King, was ready utterly to shake off the Yoke [Page 2] of the Mock Parliament. And the Islands belonging to England. The Islands belong­ing to England, not only the adjacent, as Jersey, Man, and Silly, but the more remote also in America, to wit, Bermudos, the Caribbe Islands, Virginia, and New-England, upon the Continent, which had been heretofore planted with English Colonies, refuse to obey the Usurpers.

The Regicides resolving the worst against Ireland, Forbid Trading with the Islands and Plantati­ons, and for what end. Ireland was to be the first Seat of War, short­ly to be subdued, whilst the Scots were for some time left to themselves. They think it enough at present, to discharge all Trading with the Islands and Plantations; that no Sugar, Indico, Tobacco, and Cotton should be from thence imported into England; nor any Cloaths, and other necessary Provisions for Life, be transpor­ted from England thither; hoping, by this Fetch, that either being glutted with their own Commodities, or at least pinched through the want of ours, they would be forced to comply: Nor was it doubted, but some time or other, as occasion offered, they would bring them un­der the Yoke.

Now there was one thing mainly necessary for their future Designs, which (as they were pleased to flatter themselves) was easie to be obtained. They sooth the Dutch. The Friendship and Alliance of no Nation, nor People, seemed more commodi­ous and necessary to them, than that of the Dutch, both in respect of Neighbourhood and Situation of the Country, and of the Humour and Inclination of the People; nor did they want a pretext of making application to them. For Strikland, who, from the beginning of the Troubles, had been Ambassadour, or Envoy with the States of the Ʋnited Provinces, being kindly treated by them: Dorislaus be­ing sent Am­bassadour, They thought fit to send over Dorislaus, who had had a chief hand [Page 3] in framing the Kings Indictment, as their Am­bassadour, And for what purpose: to Complement and Thank them in their Name, assure them of mutual good Offi­ces, justifie to them by Reasons their Proceed­ings against the King, and to colour the Villa­ny by the specious Authority of what Laws he could scrape together. Besides, he had it in Instructions (if he found it convenient) to let fall some mention of a Coalition, or Conjuncti­on, and to offer and press it; seeing if it could be effected by the Consent of both Nations, they might laugh at all Designs and Attempts of Fo­reigners, and share betwixt themselves the Trade of the whole World.

But that Negotiation proved unsuccessful, But without success: the Prince of Orange being Stat-holder, and the Peo­ple detested the Murder of the King. Some Scots also, who, though at a distance, had spee­dy notice of his Arrival, entering his Lodg­ings before he had had Audience, For the Ambas­sadour is killed by some Scots, with many Wounds killed Dorislaus, and made their e­scape before they could be apprehended. Thus the shedding of Royal Blood is punished by Bloody hands, and by the just Judgment of God, And that with safety. whatever may be the Injustice of Men, the Crime is brought home to the Author. The Regicides often demanded of the States Repara­tion for the Fact, but without any success.

But the Democratical Party in England, A Petition pre­served to the Regicides by the Democrati­cal Party; managing things now somewhat more cautious­ly, laid not aside their discontents. Walwin, Prince, Lilburn, Overton, and others of that Gang, prefer a Petition to the Rump Parlia­ment, wherein they propose many good things, which might be useful to the Publick, They are com­mitted to P [...] ­son for it. mingling with them Reproaches that were not altoge­ther false: For which they were committed [Page 4] to Prison, there to lye by it, till the fierceness of their tempers were allayed.

Another from the private Souldiers,Nevertheless, the private Souldiers of Ingolds­by's Regiment grow Seditious at Oxford, un­der pretence of Petitioning; That the Rump-Par­liament might be dissolved, a lawful Representative chosen in place of it; that the Laws might be ren­dered into the vulgar Language; and those that were superfluous abolished; that there might be a Re­gister kept of all Mens Lands and Estates; that e­very one might know what Title they had to what they possessed; that the Excise, and all unlawful Ex­actions might be abolished. To which they ad­ded over and above, (to increase their Party, not that they repented for the Kings Murder,) that Charles the Second might be chief Magistrate of the Kingdom. But the Collonel hastening thi­ther, Is supprest in the Birth. and having caused some few to be shot to death, by a timely remedy stifled the Tumult in the Birth.

A third and smarter Petiti­on from the Of­ficers of the Ar­my;Yet from these Embers a new Flame broke out; for some Officers in Fairfax his Army, present a smarter Petition to the same purpose, though in different words.

To the former they add, That the Tithes being abolished, or converted to another use, the Mini­sters might have more certain Stipends; that the publick Money might be more sparingly distributed amongst the Parliament Men; and that the Souldiers should have their pay. Which the Regi­cides elude, The Rump-Parliament durst not slight this; but gives them good words, and being conscious to themselves, how often they, by Declarations, had promised, and how many times they had been reproached with un­faithfulness and breach of Promise, they set a­part a day weekly for deliberating about these Proposals. First, Concerning the Government [Page 5] and Representative, where having examined and considered the Nature of all States and Repub­licks, from that of Rome, even to Ragusa, they pretend to search out a kind of Government, which might be best and most suitable for Eng­land. But they could find none that was ex­quisit enough, nor that seemed adapted to the Genius of this People. And so, like Penelope, By doing much to no purpose. weaving and unweaving their Web, they put off the time, until the matter might be for­gotten, or something of greater moment in­tervene.

I know not whether it be worth the while here to mention the Prohibition made by the French at that time, Some Trade with us, Prohibited by the French: of any Trade with us in Wollen and Linen Manufacture; which drew from the Regicides a reciprocal Prohibition, that no Wine, nor Silk Stuffs should from thence be Imported into England. With the French by us. It was likewise to our advantage, Ordered in Flanders, that no Ships nor Goods taken by Privateers, should be Condemned or Sold in their Harbours.

But it is worth taking notice of, that a se­verer Inquisition was appointed against the Mi­nisters all England over, The Ministers of the Church of England are Persecuted, under pretext of Re­forming the Church, and introducing the Or­thodox Religion; and all were cruelly perse­cuted, not only they who stuck close to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of Eng­land; but even they who wished well to it, or had any Conversation with Men of that Per­swasion: Ignorant men in the mean time (I speak of the generality) Laicks, Shepherds, and men void of all Learning, being put into the Ministry, and some of them preferred to two or three Livings at a time, which before they cryed out against as abominable.

[Page 6] Especially the [...]elch.Let North-Wales be one Instance for all of that Reformation; where, about some hun­dreds, and of these not a few Good, Grave and very Learned Divines, were turned out of their Livings: And Powell, Cradock, Floid, and a few other Ignorant Vagabonds that had no certain Habitation, going about in the mean time as Itinerant Evangelists, Preaching, or rather Canting from the Pulpit, devoured vast Revenues; for the Commissaries let out for a trifle, the remnant of the Tythes for feed­ing such Ravens, who were to be accounta­ble to the Rump-Parliament for them at Ne­versmass.

The rest are cherished.Moreover, the Regicides distribute amongst their own Clergy the Augmentations, which were the residue of the Tythes, and of Bishops and Deans Rents, that could find no Purchasers, es­pecially amongst those who had not an hundred Pounds a year. But that only during plea­sure, and for a time, that they might have them at their beck, and buy the Endeavours, Voices, and Affections of so many men; and that they also being more vigilant Spies, over suspected Persons, might pry into their Faults, their Expressions and Councils, and inform them of all.

An Expedition into Ireland, under the Com­mand of Crom­well.And now England is wholly taken up in preparations for a War in Ireland, whither Crom­well is sent as General of the Army. He ha­ving Mustered his Men, hastens his March to the Coast, and filling Bristol, Chester, and Milford-Haven with Souldiers, prepares for his Expedition. The Reader therefore must pass over with me into Ireland, that he may be able to give a Judgment of the Inha­bitants, and how to dispose them into their se­veral [Page 7] Ranks, that he may discover their vari­ous dispositions, and the ends they drove at.

The Inhabitants of Ireland are either Na­tives or Planters: The Irish are ranked into se­veral classes. The Native I­rish. And these last either Ancient or Late. Those I call Natives, who first of all Inhabited the Island, or were descended from them; and are either Noblemen and Gentlemen: Yeomen and Husbandmen, the Roman Catholick Clergy and Bishops; with other Free Denizens. The Native Nobles, either wholly enjoy their Ancient Lands; or, being subdued by the Kings of England, and for their Re­bellion forfeiting part of their Lands, enjoy what remains, and Rent the rest of the Pro­prietors for a small matter. These live in the Mountains and Woods, where they imperiously domineer over their Tenants and Vassals; and know exactly the Bounds and Limits of their Lands; trusting to this, that in future Revolutions, whatsoever they challenge for their own, will again, as by a Postliminous Right, return to them as to the lawful Proprietors and Masters.

The Titular Clergy and Bishops (for we must know that those of the Roman Communion have their own Clergy, Priests and Bishops, se­cretly appointed by the Pope, who live only upon Charitable Contributions) privately perform the Duties of Religious Worship, after the manner of the Church of Rome, in the same manner as if they were authorised by Law, and were not contrary to our Customs; His Ma­jesty conniving at the Errours of an obstinate and stiff-necked Nation. But for all this, we must know, that there is an Orthodox Clergy also all over Ireland, consisting not only of English, but of Irish men born, who every where [Page 8] enjoy the Tythes. But after the first break­ing out of the Rebellion, both, as well the Eng­lish as Natives, were forced to flye and withdraw.

The greatest part are Strangers, but Free Denizens, who, though they are sprung from English Race, yet partly by Marriage, partly being Naturalized, through long Conversation and Custom having forgot their Original Stock, are in Cloaths, Humour, and Carriage, trans­formed into the Manners of the Natives.

The Pope's Nun­cio head of the Rebels.The Chief and Head of all these, though a Stranger, was John Baptista Renuncio, Prince and Bishop of Firma, the Popes Nuncio; who passing through France on his Journey to Ireland, did not wait upon the Queen of England being then there, and openly threatned, that he would suffer no man to remain in Ireland that wished well to the King, or who should be found to favour the English or their Affairs.

These kindled, and in all places blew the Coals of Rebellion, and, that the Breach might not be made up again, used all means by Ra­pine, Murder, and all sorts of Villany to put things into confusion; to overthrow the Go­vernment, renounce the King, chuse a King of the Ancient Race, or of some new Family, whether the Pope or King of Spain, or to erect a new Common-wealth of the Clergy and De­puties of the Nobles. Yet I must except Clan­ricard, Taff, and some few more; who though they were zealous Roman-Catholicks, Some Catholick Nobles Loyal to the King. yet persevered in their Loyalty and Obedience to the King.

Irish Planters. Planters I call all those, who being of the Roman Catholick Religion, from the time of Henry II. went over from England into Ireland, and in a continued Succession, continued there until the [Page 9] Reign of Queen Elizabeth. These also being privy to the Conspiracy, whether that they might maintain the Roman Catholick Religion in security, Why they fell off, and at the same time increase their civil Jurisdictions and Immunities, or carried away with the Tide of Rebellion; or, in a word, that they might secure themselves and their Estates in a common Rapine, had alrea­dy joyned with the other Papists, Being before most Loyal. who never­theless, before that time could never be en­dured to pollute themselves with such barba­rous Cruelty, and so many unparallell'd Mur­ders, or to fall off from the Government of England.

They who lately went over into Ireland a­bout the latter end of the Reign of Queen E­lizabeth, either for the Wars, or for Planting and Setling there, were for most part faith­ful to the King, except those who were de­luded by the Authority of Parliament, or in­fected with Presbytery by the Neighbouring Scots.

A Colony of Scots transported into Ʋlster, The Irish Scots, by Authority from King James, had encrea­sed to the number of forty thousand Fami­lies. These in the beginning of the Troubles, following the Ceremonies of their Country­men, sided with the Parliament. But King Charles being beheaded, and the English Mo­narchy quite overturned, Now fight for the King. they changed their minds, and set themselves valiantly upon re­venge, under the Command of the Earl of Ards, Collonel Monro, Audley Mervin, and Sir Robert Stewart.

Coot Governour of Derry, Monck of Dundalk, Coot, Monck, and Jones, stand for the Rump-Parliament, and Principally Jones Governour of Dublin, stood for the Rump-Parliament. But O-brian Earl [Page 10] of Inchiqueen Governour of Munster, Inchiqueen for the King. with that whole Province, and all his Forces, who had sworn to be true to the King and Parliament jointly, after the Murder of the King renoun­cing the Rump-Parliament, declare now for the King alone, Hitherto we have taken pains to describe the various Inclinations, Designs, and Purposes of the Irish, now let us see by what Orphean Harp or Charm, they were united in­to one.

In the first Part we told you, how the Mar­quess of Ormond was forced by the treachery of the Irish, How the Roya­lists joyned toge­ther. to deliver up to Jones, Dublin with the whole Garrison, and all that continued in their Duty. From that time the Pope's Nuncio Com­manded in Chief, except in those places which were under Jones, Coot, and Monck, which espoused the Party of the Rump-Parliament. He took to himself the whole Power, made Laws, pronounced Judgments, The arrogance of the Pope's Nun­cio was his ruine, drew up and mustered Armies, managed the War, and imposed money, with an absolute and despotick Authority. But by this means he became both hated and despised, so that having received one blow af­ter another (especially Preston's Forces being defeated by Jones, And the cause of Preston's de­feat. The Ʋnion of the Irish in fa­vour of the King. Who humbly de­desire the Queen and Prince of Wales to send over the Mar­quess of Or­mond with sup­plies and Autho­rity. he grew weak both in Men and Authority. This opportunity was laid hold upon by Clanricard, who Commanded one Army in Ʋlster, and Taff who Commanded a­nother in Munster, who having consulted with Inchiqueen, resolved upon it as the most expe­dient course, to implore the Royal Assistance a­gain, Unite together into one, and to send forthwith to the Queen and Prince of Wales to acquaint them with what they had done; con­fessing that the Truce was not faithfully observ­ed, and discovering those by whose fault and [Page 11] instigation it was broken: They moreover most humbly beg, that the Marquess of Ormond may be sent over with Authority and Supplies, and engage upon conditions which were not disliked by the King, to fight under his Ban­ner, till the broken Forces of the Rump-Par­liament should be utterly destroyed, and his Majesty and they themselves fully restored to their former peace.

The Popes Nuncio suspecting that matters would fall out so, The Nuncio frets, and that the storm which his Government had raised, would break o­ver his own head, forbids any farther Treaty, threatens the Contraveeners with dire Punish­ments; and at length strikes those that per­sisted in their purpose, with the usual Wea­pon of Excommunication. But that blunt Thun­derbolt scared no body; And being be­sieged, for they march a­gainst him, and besiege him in the Town of Galloway: Whilst, in the mean time, the Lord O-brian diverts the Succours that Ouen-Ro-Oneal designed to bring to his Party. Capitulates for a departure. Then the Pope's Nuncio despairing of relief, capitulated for a dishonourable Retreat, and departed. Whilst these matters were acting, the Glori­ous King Charles the First, Murdered by the Hands of Rebel Parricides, Crowned his Death with Martyrdome.

Nevertheless, the Marquess of Ormond being rid of that difficulty, Ormond com­ing to Kilken­ny, where a ge­neral meeting of the Irish was held, they come to Articles of agreement. and having a new Com­mission and Instructions from King Charles the Second, repairs to Corke, and shortly after to Kilkenny, where a Parliament, or Convention of the States of Ireland was then kept; and af­ter long Debates on each side, they came to a great many Articles of Agreement; of which, this was the substance.

[Page 12]After a Recognition, whereby they owned his Majesty for Soveraign, and lawful King of Ireland, and that they would to the utmost de­fend him with their Lives and Fortunes; they agree, That the King should give the Irish free li­berty of their Religion. That if it seemed fit to the Deputies or Commissioners, (who were appoin­ted to the number of eighteen) a Parliament should be called within two Months, wherein Papists as well as others should have liberty of free Voting; and that the King shall confirm their Acts, provided they be not grievous to Protestants. All Acts and Decrees past since August 1641, that might be dis­honorable to the Irish Nation, shall be repealed. That all Law Suits, Sentences, Actions, or Processes com­menced or determined since that time, be wholly a­bolished, and that the Irish be restored to the Lands and Estates whereof they had been dispossessed. That all Impediments be removed, that were wont to barr the Irish Papists from sitting in Parliament. That all Debts be reckoned to be in the same state as they were in, in the Year 1641, and that no body be molested nor troubled upon that account. That the Lands of the Barons and Nobles in the Counties of Toumond, Clare, Tipperrary, Limmerick, Kilkenny, and Wicklo, be adjudged to the anci­ent Possessors, and their Titles made good by new Acts. That Inns be Erected for the Students in Law, wherever the Lord Lieutenant shall think con­venient; and where Degrees also in the Law may be taken, as well as in England. That Places and Titles of Honour, and beneficial Offices, may be free both to Papists and Protestants. That the use and Exercise of Arms, Commands, and Govern­ments, may be in the power of the same; and that during the War, five thousand Irish Foot, and two thousand Horse be kept in pay. That the Court [Page 13] of Wards be abolished, and in lieu of it, twelve thousand pounds a year payed into the Kings Exche­quer. That no Peer have liberty to Vote by Proxy: That the Nobles be obliged within five years to pur­chase Lands, a Baron to the value of two hundred pounds a year, a Viscount four hundred, an Earl six hundred, a Marquess, eight hundred, and a Duke a thousand. That they may be free to treat of the independance of the Parliament of Ire­land, upon that of England. That those of the Kings Privy-Council shall meddle with no Affairs, but the Publick: That Suits about Titles be referred to the Judges of the Kingdom, to whom it belongs to try them. That the Acts against the Exportation of Irish Wool, Tallow, and other Goods out of the Kingdom, be repealed. That they who have been under any pretext, Fined, or Punished, in the Coun­ty of Ulster, since the first of King James, shall be relieved according to Equity. That the Inhabi­tants and Citizens of Corke, Youghal, and Dun­garban, be restored to their Possessions, that they were turned out of in the beginning of the War, provided they give Security for their Loyalty, and that they shall not be troublesome to the Garrisons. That an Act of Oblivion be past, of all things before committed, those excepted, who stand guilty of Bar­barous and Inhumane Crimes. That it be lawful to none of the Nobles to Farm the Customes. That Laws be made against Monopolies. That the Ju­risdiction of the Court called, Castle-Chamber, — be moderated. That the Law be abrogated, which or­dained, That Horses should not draw the Plow by the Tail, and that the Straw should not be burnt to separate the Corn from it. That Law Suits about Sea Matters, shall be decided in the Chancery of Ireland. That, for the future, all Actions, a­bout the want of Title, shall be suppressed, if the [Page 14] owners have from ancient times possessed the Lands by any Right. That also all Interest for Moneys, since the beginning of the Troubles, be discharged, and that, for the following years, it exceed not five per Cent. a Year. That the Deputies or Commissi­oners shall impose sufficient Taxes, for carrying on the War, both by Sea and Land; either by way of Excise, or any other way, that they shall judge most convenient for the Publick. That Justices of the Peace shall have Power to determine Suits, under the value of ten Shillings. That the Governours of the Popish Perswasion, enjoy the Governments and Commands that they are at present in possession of. That the Tenths of taken Ships, and Impositions upon Commodities, shall remain in the hands of those to whom they have been granted, until fur­ther order be taken about all these things. That the Commission of Oyer and Terminer, Grand Assizes, and Goal-delivery, shall have Power, ac­cording to the standing Laws, of punishing Mur­ders, Felony, Thefts, and Robberies, until the twentieth of May following. That Courts be esta­blished, according to the Will and Pleasure of the Deputies, or Commissioners, in matters belonging to themselves. That the Romish Priests, who behave themselves modestly, shall not at all be molested; but shall enjoy the Salaries paid them by the Laicks for their maintenance, and the enclosures of the anci­ent demolished Monasteries and Abbeys. As to o­ther matters, that the King, with consent of his Parliament, shall order them. For expeding of those Conditions, the Papists chose about fifteen Deputies, or Commissioners, that, as so many Mediators, betwixt the King and the People, they might bring back the Confirmation of them.

[Page 15]So dear did a frail and transitory Peace with Rebels cost the King. But necessity is a pre­valent Orator, that perswades Men even to un­beseeming, and, many times, to dishonourable Resolutions. Nevertheless, the Lord Lieute­nant, whether willingly, or unwillingly, agrees to these Articles. And the Peace is instantly proclaimed by the Heralds.

But Ouen Ro-Oneal, and the Native Irish, Ouen-Ro-O­neal, Jones, and some oth [...]rs, find fault with the A [...]ticles of Pacification. that were on his side, refused to acquiesce to these Conditions of Pacification, under pretext, that their Religion was not sufficiently secured. Jones also, and others, find fault with the Com­missions, as too ample, and (as they gave it out) unseasonable; and that likewise they were patcht up with the King, without the Authori­ty of Parliament.

But the Lord Ards, with the rest of the Scots, who abominating the Rump-Parliament, first fa­voured, and then struck in with the Kings Party, bestir themselves bravely in taking in the Ca­stles and Garrisons, which held out for the Re­bels in Ʋlster.

The Lord Lieutenant being General, in the mean time, had many and great Affairs to mind. The Lord Depu­ty, also General of the Forces, sets about a d [...]f­ficult work. Men, Arms, Money, Ammunition, and all Military Provisions are wanting; which nevertheless were to be raised amongst Men of contrary Interests, different Perswasions, and who mutually hated one another. The English, indeed, were of themselves ready to undergo any danger; but they were but few in number, and of bad Cor­respondence with the Irish, by reason of their ancient Feuds and Animosities: And suspecting their Courage, no less than their Loyalty, they decline to serve with them under the same En­signs. The Irish again being in a great part [Page 16] Treacherous, Bloody, and Perfidious, divided amongst themselves into several Factions, were more apt to sheathe their Swords in one anothers Bowels, than to fight against the Common Enemy. Nevertheless by his own Presence, Wisdom, Diligence, and at his own Charges, being assisted with seven or eight trusty Com­manders, he luckily mastered all these diffi­culties. He found the Magazines of Ireland ex­hausted, the Treasury empty, and the Citi­zens and Inhabitants, in whose Hands was all the money of the Kingdom, very unwilling and sparing to contribute, and the Roman Clergy opposing and undermining his Designs.

Wherefore in the beginning he got toge­ther a small Army, And at length raiseth an Ar­my. which being increased in number by the conjunction of Inchiqueens For­ces, and the rest of the English his fellow Soul­diers, for the first Months he provided them pay either of his own money, or what he could borrow from others. And marches a­gainst Jones Governour of Dublin. Thus being pretty well provided with Men and Ammunition, he marches through Queens County streight a­gainst Jones, and by the way, takes in some Castles belonging to Ouen-Ro-Oneal, of which the most remarkable were Kildare and Tal­both.

Jones having had certain intelligence of this March, advanced to meet the Lord Lieutenant: But being informed by his Spies, that he was coming with a greater Army, than he was able to encounter, and distrusting his own Souldiers, he forthwith returns to Dublin. The Lord Deputy, in the mean time, passes the Ri­ver Liff—where having called a Council of Inchiqueen, Taff, Dillo, Preston, and the rest of the Principal Commanders, they consult [Page 17] what was best to be done; whether they should besiege Dublin, or, directing their course ano­ther way, take the Towns about, or else ra­ther block up the City, and at the same time have an eye upon the other places. Which place, af­ter a Council of War, he first views. Being as yet doubtful what to do, they advance to view Dublin, and so to take a resolution upon the spot. But Jones expected them with an Army without the Walls, but under the Cannon of the Town. Both Armies were drawn up, but without any Skirmishing. That night the Lord Deputy Quartred at Finglass, Jones preparing for a defence, sends the super­fluous Cavalry to Drogheda; three miles distant from Dublin: Next day all the Papists, both Men and Women, that were un­fit for War, are thrust out of the Town; and the Cavalry that were needless in the Siege, are sent to Drogheda, at the mouth of the River of Boin, that they might incommode the E­nemy in the Rere, and take care to send Provisions into the place.

So soon as the Lord Lieutenant had notice of this, he sends the Lord Inchiqueen, Who are forth­with pursued by Inchiqueen, Lieutenant-General, to pursue Jones's Horse, and if oppor­tunity offered, to take in the Towns on all hands. In the mean time he thought it not convenient to divide his Army, but to en­camp and entrench himself with his whole For­ces near Dublin, that he might intercept the Provisions going into the place, and entice the Souldiers and Citizens to desert it; not doubting but that the Souldiers would be easi­ly inclinable to do so, Affairs being doubt­ful, his Neighbourhood affording opportuni­ty, and the City being straitned for want of Provisions; and the rather knowing, that most of the Souldiers who were in Garrison had formerly sworn to be true to him. This he [Page 18] found to be a successful resolution; for a­bout two thousand by stealth, and as every one best could, taking occasion to get out, came over to his Camp. Nay, he was not wanting to essay Jones himself, by many fair Promises which he made him one after ano­ther. But he, that he might oppose Art to Art, having threatned the Deserters with most se­vere Punishments, pretended a willingness to comply with honourable Conditions, and shuffled off the Treaty with shifts and delays, though sometimes he seemed to be at a stand and uncertain what to do. However he sent private intelligence to the Rump-Parliament, and the General, in what dangerous straits he was; earnestly beseeching them to hasten the sending him Relief. In the mean time he surrounds the Walls, views the Works, repairs what is defective, casts up new Works, plants Palisadoes, drives sharp Stakes into the ground; and did what lay in his power to fortifie the place: Nay, and having sallied out upon the Enemies Camp near Finglass, he took, amongst other Prisoners, a Relation of his own, whom, for a terrour to all others, that they might not desert, he caused to be hanged.

Inchiqueen on his part, falls in upon a Troop of Jones's Horse, And being part­ly slain and ta­ken, and partly made to fly to Drogheda, in a short time he took the Town it self, and beat them in their Quarters; and next morning pursuing the rest, that were Commanded by the Younger Coot, he easily put them to the rout; so that most part of them being either killed or taken, he pursues the rest as far as Drogheda; in which place the Souldiers and Towns-People being put into great consternation, in a Weeks time he reduced it under his own power.

[Page 19]About the same time the Lieutenant-Ge­deral Inchiqueen had notice given him of an Agreement betwixt Ouen-Ro-Oneal and Monck made at Dundalk, whereby all necessary Pro­visions, Powder, Shot, and Mony were to be furnished for the relief of Derry, blockt up by the Lord Ards and Scots; and that Ouen afterward should make an Inrode into Leinster and Munster, that by this Stra­tagem he might draw off the Lord Lieute­nant from the Siege of Dublin. And beats Fa­rell upon his re­turn from re­lieving of Der­ry. To put this in Execution, Farell is Commanded out with five hundred Foot, and three hundred Horse. But Inchiqueen waiting for him in his return, charged him, routed him, and obtained the Booty he intended After that, having re­ceived fresh recruits of Men, he besieges Dundalk, Takes Dundalk, which notwithstanding Moncks re­sistance, the Souldiers delivered up after two days Siege, And other Towns, with all the Artillery and Am­munition: And being thus encouraged by the Smiles of Fortune, and chusing rather to make advantage of his Victories, than to enjoy them, he reduced, Green-Castle, Neury and Trim. After which good Services, And victori­ously returns to the Lord Lieu­tenant. he re­turns to the Lord Lieutenant, having left Gar­risons in the places he had taken, better pro­vided of Men, Mony, and Ammunition, than before.

But seeing we have in this place made menti­on of Ouen-Ro-Oneal, it is fit we relate a great Action of his, before we continue the History of the Siege of Dublin. The Lord Ards, with the other Commanders, had driven all the English Forces out of Ʋlster; only Derry, under the Command of the Elder Coot, remaining, which could give them any molestation. It is a City [Page 20] seated upon Logh Foyle, where it contracts it self into narrower compass, and is on each side beautified with goodly Meadows and Pastures, as the Water is inriched with Fishes. Hereto­fore a Colony of English, under the Conduct of Colonel Docwray, was there established; and many Londoners flocking thither afterwards, it was called London-Derry; the delightfulness of which place, drew to it so vast a number of Inhabitants, that it became, without Contro­versie, London-Der­ry straitned by Ards, the chief City of Ʋlster. Ards used all diligence to reduce this last place, but not by Storm, Approaches, or Mines, but by Building new Forts, or taking those that were round it, that so intercepting all Relief by Sea and Land, it might at length be forced to surrender. And, indeed, Provisions being exhausted, and all o­ther necessaries wanting, they had been reduced to utmost straits, had not Ouen-Ro-Oneal, in the very nick of extremity, and when the Gar­rison were at the last gasp, brought them succour. For he, though he had been, in a late over­throw, sufficiently bang'd by Inchiqueen, yet ha­stens with five thousand Foot, and four hundred Horse, to snatch the City out of the Jaws of the Enemy; Is relieved by Ouen-Ro-O­neal, which, indeed, he performed very suc­cessfully and seasonably. For swift-flying Fame having brought the news of his approach, Ards thought it safer presently to draw off his Ar­my, than rashly to sight this Enemy, that had the English in the City to assist him, and leave Garrisons in Convenient places, that might curb and block up the Town, till upon Ouen's departure, the Siege might be renewed again.

But Ouen, with the joint assistance of the Besieged, takes in all the Neighbouring Forts, and restored distressed London-Derry to full liber­ty.

[Page 21]Now the Reader is to take notice what Re­ward he had from the Rump-Parliament, Who made an Agreement with Coot and Monck, to be Confirmed by the Rump-Par­liament. for so important an Action. He had made an Agree­ment in writing, Signed and Sealed, with Coot and Monck, for relieving London-Derry, in name of the Rump-Parliament, which was sent into England to be Confirmed by the Members. Let­ters were likewise sent in Favour of Ouen, commending and extolling him for a Just E­nemy; a strict observer of his Faith, a Man of Constancy and Resolution, and true to his word, and who, if they thought it fit, would be very useful to their Cause. And both of them flatter him with hopes, as if there were no doubt to be made of the Consent of the Rump-Parliament.

The Rump-Parliament trisled away time in de­liberating about these Conditions, until they might have intelligence of the overthrow of Ormond, and of the Successes of Cromwel. And yet is igno­miniously re­jected. And then they reject Ouen-Ro-Oneal; thanking Coot and Monck for their Faithfulness, and good Services they had rendred to the Parliament.

But without longer digression, let us return to Dublin, and Inchiqueen, who having perfor­med Actions beyond expectation, returned tri­umphantly to Finglass, where the Lord Lieute­nant had settled his Camp. A Council of War being held there, it was resolved to besiege Dublin; but yet to try first if they could re­duce it by Hunger, rather than by a Storm and Assault, lest that Royal City, and Capital of all Ireland, might be Sackt, or Burnt by the enraged Souldiers; and Friends and Foes be e­qually destroyed. Dublin is be­sieged. It was therefore thought fit to attack it on both sides; and for that end, the Lord Dillo being left with five hundred Horse, and two thousand Foot, to block up the North [Page 22] and farther side of the City, the Lord Lieute­nant himself, with the rest of the Army, crossing the River, lies down upon the other and South side of it.

But whilst they are passing over to go to Rathmecus, (where the River being narrower, afforded a more convenient place for building a Fort, to hinder Importations into the Town) the English Fleet comes in view, with relief to the Besieged; Reynolds and Venables bring relief from England. wherein were embarked Colonel Reynolds, Commander of the Horse, and Vena­bles, who had the Command, not only of his own Foot, but also of the Regiment newly raised by Monck and others. They, all in Health and good Plight, had set Sail from Che­ster; and, with a prosperous Wind, arrived at Dublin, bringing with them all necessary Provisi­ons. With them also came no small number of Temporizers, The Lord Lieu­tenant being informed by De­serters, that Cromwel was to Sail to Mun­ster, who presently flying over to the Royal Camp, give it out for a certain, that no more Men were to come to the relief of Dub­lin; but that the whole English Army was to sail to Munster, where it was clear, that many of their Friends, and not a few of Inchiqueens Men, who loved changes, would joyn with them.

He resolves to send thither In­chiqueen, with the greatest part of his Forces,So soon as the Lord Lieutenant heard this, he forthwith designs Inchiqueen for Munster, with the choicest of his Foot, and almost the whole Horse, with orders to oppose the Enemy, in­courage and confirm the Province, and to be­ware of those whose Fidelity and Honesty was suspected. And with the rest to block up Dublin, and intercept Provi­sions. He, in the mean time, resolved to raise the Siege, and encamp his Souldiers at some distance, in two or three distinct Camps, where being strongly entrenched, they might assist one another, if occasion required, watch [Page 23] the Enemy's motion, and hinder Provisions from being conveyed into the Town.

But at the very instant, The Comman­ders allured with the h [...]pes of Booty, obtain first leave to straiten the Besieged, by Fortifying an old Castle near the Walls. the Commanders repining that they should be disappointed of the Booty, which they thought themselves sure of, whisper about, that they observed the Enemies Horse feeding without the Walls; and that if an old demolished Castle, called Baggo [...]s-wreath about a Musquet shot from the Walls, were new Fortified, which might be done in a Nights time, the Enemy might be hindred both from Forage and Provisions, which being wanting, Dublin must of necessity be surrendred within the space of a Week. And therefore they ear­nestly desire, that before they drew off, they might have leave to attempt this.

The Counsel, upon viewing the place, The Counsel took; was thought good; and it was not long before the Army was drawn out, and a choice made of Pio­neers for the Work: To whom Orders were given to repair the Castle, raise it higher, and cast up a Wall about it, whilst the Horse and Foot were in readiness behind to defend them. About Mid-night the Lord Lieutenant came, thinking that the work had been almost finished: but finding that it was not as yet begun, by their mistaking the way, having severely chid the Labourers, and placed another Over­seer over them, he encourages them to the work; then returning to the Camp, he kept Watch all the rest of the Night, and by break of day gave Orders that the Army should stand to their Arms, and be in a readiness, But the work not as yet finish­ed, Jones un­expectedly fall in upon th [...]m, whilst he refresh'd himself a little in Bed. But before he had been there an hour, he was wakened out of sleep by the noise and firing of Shot; and start­ing up immediately to see what the matter was, [Page 24] Alas! he found too late, that the Souldiers had been negligent in keeping Watch; and that in the mean time Jones had broken in into that half-repaired Castle, and that the Captain of the Guard being at first onset killed, all his Men were turned to a shameful flight. These things succeeding so well with the Enemy, their boldness (as it usually happens) increasing with their good Fortune, not only the whole Soul­diers, And having de­feated all the Forces of the besiegers, obtains a great Victory. to the number of twelve hundred Horse, and four thousand Foot, but a great many of the Citizens also came rushing out of the Town, and fiercely charge the Kings Forces, who were in disorder, putting all into Confusion, there being nothing but Horror, Noise, Slaughter, and flying of Men, to be heard or seen. In this deplorable state of Affairs, the Lord Lieu­tenant having with Sword in Hand, Prayers, and Intreaties, in vain endeavoured to stop and rally the Fugitives, he breaks through the thick of the Enemy, crosses the River, and encourages Dillo with all speed to come to the assistance of the Army, and fall upon the Enemy, now wearied, and busie at Plunder. But he finds them, tho they had not as yet seen the Enemies Face, seized with a panick Fear, throwing away their Arms, and betaking themselves to flight.

In this fatal Engagement, the wealthy Camp is plundered, and all that during the space of a whole year, had been with much Labour, and most diligent care gathered together, is scatter­ed in the twinkling of an Eye. Three thou­sand Men were killed, two thousand and one hundred private Souldiers, an hundred and fifty Officers, higher and lower, taken, above eight thousand Arms, the Tents, Warlike Engines, all the Baggage and Ammunition fell all into the hands of the devouring Enemy.

[Page 25]A great Overthrow indeed, and which gave an incurable wound to the Royal Cause in Ire­land. Part of the Kings Souldiers fly to Droghe­da. The Lord Lieu­tenant to Kil­kenny, The Kings Souldiers taking the advice that was given them in their slight, betake themselves to Drogheda. The Lord Lieutenant hastens to Kilkenny, that he might muster his broken Forces, having, upon his march, sum­moned the strong Castle of Bellison, upon pre­text that Dublin was taken, which surrendred. There having represented to the Convention of Estates that were still sitting, what loss he had sustained, and having moved them for Supplies and Money, And th [...]n to Drogheda, he sets forward to Drogheda with three hundred Horse: And that in a very op­portune time; for Jones had hastned thither with some Horse, that by the sole presence of the Conquerour, he might reduce the City, now in disorder, by the news of the late over­throw and confusion of the Souldiers. And delivers it from the fear of Jones, But the coming of the Lord Lieutenant scaring away Jones, the Fear and Danger were both quickly over.

Next he Fortifies Trim, Neury, Dundalk, And also Forti­fies other places. and other neighbouring places, putting strong Garrisons where it was needful; he views all places, gives Orders, and prepares for a vigo­rous defence; being resolved to meet Cromwell, if he came that way, whilst his Horse relieving the places that were in danger, he might in the beginning of the Spring raise a new Army.

But in that also his hopes were in vain. In the mean time Cromwell slighting Mun­ster, arrives a [...] Dublin; For Cromwell having received the glad ty­dings of the Victory, set Sail from Milford-Haven, and that he might pursue the Point upon the discomfited Enemy, and carry the Wound home to the Heart, he steers his Course straight to Dublin, with a Fleet of a­bout [Page 26] an hundred Ships, Men of War and Ten­ders; and, wholly slighting Munster, arrived there in the Month of August, One thousand six hundred and forty nine, where having put ashore the Souldiers, With fifteen thousand old Souldiers; with the Artillery, Am­munition and Baggage, he makes a General-Muster, of about fifteen thousand Men, most of them old Souldiers; for he thought it better to excel in Valour than in Number, and to take along with him stout Hands, and not many Heads. He declares Jones Lieute­nant-General, Ireton Major-General, and Rey­nolds General of the Horse, assigning to every one their several Offices. He orders Vena­bles to march to Derry to the Elder Coot, with a Regiment of Horse, and two Regiments of Foot. Of whom he marches w [...]th ten thousand to Drogheda; He himself, with ten thousand Men, marches streight to Drogheda, having com­mitted the care of the Fleet to Aiskew the Ad­miral.

Which was de­fended by Sir Arthur Aston and the Flower of the Kings Army.In this Town the Lord Liuetenant had put the Flower of his Veterane Souldiers, most English, under the Command of Sir Arthur Aston, a Gentleman Renowned in the Wars, both at home and abroad, but for the most part unfortunate. And here Cromwell resolved to make his first Essay of the War. Aston, on the contrary, laid his Design to tire out, and break the Enemy, insolent through Victo­ry, by the badness of the Weather, Watch­ing and Hunger; then expose them to be harrassed and alarmed by the Lord Lieutenants Horse, and the Foot that were shortly to be recruited, until the Royalists being reassured, and encreased in force, might have the cou­rage to provoke the Cromwellians, and fight them in a pitched Battel.

[Page 27]But he flatters himself in vain; for Crom­well attacks not the place by opening of Trenches, slow Approaches, and the other acts of a Siege: Cromwell forthwith bat­ters the Walls: But having forthwith caused a Bat­tery to be raised on the North side of the Town, and planted with Guns, he so plied the place with continual Shooting, that he quickly made two Breaches in the Wall; and imme­diately Commands an Assault to be made, that with Courage and Resolution they might force their entry into the place. He himself com­manding the at­tack, makes his way into the Town, and kills all he meets. But this having been twice unsuccessfully attempted, he himself, with Ireton, commanding the Attack, with Indignation and Courage, redoubled by the former repulses, they make the way which they found not, into the Town, and put to the Sword all they meet, without favour or compassion. The Governour, with some of the Souldiers, fled instantly to the Castle, a place strong by Art and Nature; but the Crom­wellians entering Pell-mell with them, (some of whom clambered up the Walls, not without the help of the Souldiers of the Garrison,) they were all put to the Sword. Some fly­ing into the Church, are killed as Sacrifices at the Divine Altars; not a few poor wretches having got up to the Church Roof, were forced to tumble down, by the smoke of kindled Hay and Gunpowder. There was but one single Person that saved his life by despair, who for fear of the Flames, throw­ing himself headlong down from the top of the Church, fell amongst the Enemies, without any other hurt, but that he broke his Leg; whom, for the extraordinariness of the thing, they spared and kept alive. The rest fleeing to the Ramparts begg'd quarter, but in vain. All [Page 28] are knocked down wheresoever they are found, The sad specta­cle of the Town taken. neither the Gown nor the Dwelling House affored any Protection, nor was there any great respect had to either Sex. The Soul­diers continued three days in cruelly slaying the Towns-People that had carried Arms, whom they dragged out of their lurking holes, and in Pillaging and Plundering the Town: Nay, and those also who after the fifth day came creeping out of their hiding-places, were most inhumanly put to death.

The number of the slain.About four thousand Men died in that But­chery, rather than Fight. So within the short space of one Week, was that City undone, which for whole three years together had re­sisted all the Rage and Attempts of the Irish Rebels.

The Garrisons about, either de­serted, or easily surrendred.This Town being thus taken and plunder­ed, the Royal Cause was quite extinguished in Ireland: For all the other Garrisons were ter­rified into so great a consternation, that they trembled at the very Name of Cromwell. The Towns or Places that were sufficiently pro­vided, make either no resistance at all, or but very faintly. The Garrison of Dundalk in great fear betake themselves to flight, in their haste leaving behind them their Brass Guns. Neury, Green-Castle and Trim, with some others, surrender with a little less dishonour, and fall under the power of the Enemy.

The Lord Lieu­tenant is desert­ed by many of the English Soul­diers;The Lord Lieutenants Levies, in the mean time, go slowly on. The English in many pla­ces falling off to the contrary Party, which had Fortune, and most of their Country-men on their side; yet, whether it was through the Severity of Discipline, or the Example and Authority of the Commanders, they were [Page 29] with much adoe for some time kept together; but at length, most desert and quit the Ser­vice: There were some however, whom shame, a sense of Honesty, But yet not by all. and a respect they owed to their Commanders, still retained within the bounds of Loyalty and Duty.

The Irish fall likewise into pieces; some hating the Lord Lieutenant as a Calvinist, The Irish ill af­fected towards him. whom God would never bless; others not dissem­bling their satisfaction at the unsuccessful Bat­tel of Dublin, and the taking of Drogheda much more, wherein more of the English and Royal Party perished; which gave them hopes that for the future, the Government must of necessity fall into the Hands of the Roman Ca­tholicks, or rather be changed. The Towns who had engaged to pay money into the Ex­chequer, either wholly refuse to do it, or do it but slowly. Nay, the Roman Catholicks set light by all that the Convention of Estates and Deputies acted. The Titular Clergy, and truly Implicite Papists, refuse to pay any Taxes. And when, accordng to the circumstances of Time, Places, and Persons, they were per­haps, somewhat rigidly exacted, they pre­sently complain, and cry out of breach of Faith, and that the Conditions of Peace are viola­ted, and under pretext of a just and equitable Government, an absolute Tyranny exercised. Factions and Animosities began to arise a­mongst the Souldiers also; some following the Roman Catholicks, and others the Royal Ca­tholicks, whilst many weary of the War, were ready to save stakes and compound with the Rump-Parliament. Nevertheless the Lord Lieu­tenant raised an Army, such as he could; Yet he raises an Army. but not such as he durst engage Cromwell with, [Page 30] which nevertheless might appear now and then at a distance, cut off some of his Parties, and often intercept his Provisions.

Cromwell understanding his designs, resolv­ed not to be idle, nor to let slip his opportu­nities; but laying hold of occasion by the Fore-lock, he gives Huson the Command of Dublin, Huson, put in­to the Govern­ment of Dublin, with Orders to molest and give no rest to all the Country about, with the Auxiliary Forces that were joyned him. And he himself passing by Dublin, Cromwell marches to Wex­ford, marches straight to Wex­ford.

This is but a little Town, though a con­venient Harbour for Ships; and for Importing Provisions and other necessaries of War into the very heart of Ireland, more Commodious than the Port of Dublin. This place being sum­moned to render, Summons it to render. the Governour Synott seem­ed not at first averse; only delayed time, until he might receive a supply of five hundred Men under Collonel Buther. At length, there be­ing no more hopes of a Surrender, Cromwell forthwith attacks it; Then making an attack, he first takes the Castle, And then the Town. and at first makes himself Master of a Castle (not without suspicion of treachery) that commanded the Walls; then battering the Town and Walls with his great Guns, the Garrison being disordered with so sudden a misfortune, and forsaking their Posts, he takes the Town. Nevertheless, the Wex­fordians flocking together into the Market-place, as if their blood after a little fainting fit had more impetuously burst out of the heart, their All being at stake, they made a brave resistance: but the Match was unequal; for they all fell under the Sword of the Con­querour; and so the Garrison paid dear for their late standing to the defence of the [Page 31] Town; which being plundered, was commit­ted to the Government of Colonel Shelburn.

Wexford being thus subdued, the Neigh­bouring Places surrender of their own accord, Wickelow, Arklow, and which hardly deserve the naming, Euiscorven and Fuernes. It was now about the midle of November, when the coldness of the Weather, and continual Rains seemed to require that the Souldiers, who were troubled with Fluxes, and other Diseases which attend a Camp, should be sent into Winter-Quarters. Nevertheless, Thence he mar­ches to Ross, with an Army sick and much weakened; Cromwell is for new Victories, and straight marches to Ross. The River Barrow runs by this Town, affording a safe Harbour for Ships of eight hundred Tun Burden, which may lay their sides to the very Walls, and it is situated four miles above Waterford upon the Suir that falls into the Barrow. Of which Taff was Governour, having just re­ceived a supply of fifteen hun­d [...]ed men. Yet upon the first attempt he sur­renders the Town, and mar­ches to Kilken­ny with fifteen hundred men. The Lord Taff was Go­vernour of this place; and on the other side of the River was the Army, with the Lord Lieutenant, the Earls of Clanricard, Ards, and Castle-Haven; who, in view of Cromwell, sent a reliefe of fifteen hundred men into the Town. Yet for all that, Cromwell attempts the place, and with six or seven great shot, softens the Governours resolution; who, delivering up the Town with the Canon, upon condition to march out with the Garrison to Kilkenny, about six hundred English falling off to the Enemy, he marches thither with fifteen hun­dred. A horrid piece of Villany, and not to be excused; were it not for the bad Corre­spondence that was betwixt the English and I­rish Souldiers, and that he would preserve his own Irish entire for a Battel, and divide at least Cromwells Forces by the multitude of Gar­risons; [Page 32] his Army being already much impaired, and hardly able to wagg, worn out by Fatigue, Fluxes, lying abroad in the Fields, and for want of Winter-Quarters.

Peace betwixt the Lord Lieu­tenant, and Oaen,About this time, by the Mediation of Daniel Oneal, a Peace was made betwixt the Lord Lieu­tenan, and Ouen-Ro-Oneal, with the rest of the Irish Papists, almost upon the same Conditions as we told you formerly had been offered to the Rump-Parliament, and were rejected by them; and thereupon both Forces Joyn. Who shortly af­ter dies. But Ouen shortly after died.

Nor is it here to be pass'd over in silence, how the Princes Rupert and Maurice, with no more than six Ships, The Princes Ru­pert and Mau­rice, with six Ships, hover up­on the Irish Coast, and Blake pursuing them, they fly to King­sale: the remaining part of that Fleet which two years before fell off from the Rump-Parliament, had the boldness to infest the Seas, hover upon the Coast of Ireland, put in Souldiers and Ammunition, and by all ways divert the supplies of the Enemy. But Blake and Popham pursuing them with a stronger Fleet, they were fain to sly to King sale; and from thence, the Sea-men being idle, and running away to the Enemy, that they might consult their own safety, Being blockt up there, they escape through the E­nemies Fleet, and set Sail for Portugal. prevent the danger that might befall them from the defection of Munster, which they might foresee, and that they might have the opportunity of Sea-room, Wind and Tide favouring them, they break through the whole Fleet of the Enemies, and with the loss only of two Ships, escaping out of that noose, they steer their Course towards Portugal.

But this is out of the Rode. I now return to Cromwell, Estionege be­ing taken, Cromwell makes a Bridge of Boats over the Barrow. whose Victories were such, as could not be limited by the banks of the River of Barrow. For he cast over it a Bridge of Boats at Ross; having first taken Estionege, a [Page 33] small, but Walled Town, standing upon this side of the same River, five Miles above Ross. Afterward having past a great part of his Horse, with his nimblest Foot, he reduces Carick, a Town up­on the River Suir, eight miles above Waterford; He takes Ca­rick and Pas­sage, then quickly crossing the River, he takes Passage, a very strong Fort with five Canon, lying two Miles below Waterford, where the Conjunction of the two Rivers Suir and Barrow, by the im­petuosity of the Current, render it difficult for Vessels to reach the Town. Nay, he had the boldness to attaque Waterford it self, He attempts Waterford, but in vain. though in vain. But Dungarvan, which the English Soul­diers might have defended, with the Canon and Ammunition, is delivered up into his hands.

And now at length Cromwell begins to think of Winter Quarters for refreshing of his Men, Now at length he bethinks him­self of Winter Quarters. who were not above four thousand Sound and in Health. The Lord Lieutenant, on the other hand, had eight thousand, which, though for the most part they were raw Men, yet were very conveniently posted. But what he had best to do, or whether to go, he was uncertain. For neither could he march back to Dublin, be­ing at such a distance, without a necessity of Fighing; nor yet Winter in those parts, with­out the greatest Inconvenience, the Enemy be­ing posted about him on all Hands, who would continually Allarm him, and intercept his Pro­visions.

Whilst he was casting about in his mind what course to take, the most desirable, All Munster revolts. and by Cromwell, long expected defection happened; for all Munster, that had stood for the King, re­volted to the Rump-Parliament. Some combined Souldiers had long ago given hopes of this, if ever occasion offered; and now Cromwell being [Page 34] upon their Borders, and past the River Barrow, when they saw Succours at hand, they attempt the performance of what they had promised.

The Treachery long ago [...]ss [...]ied at Youghal,The first sparks of this Flame, appeared long ago at Youghal; which the Mayor, and a great many Citizens, conspiring with two Colonels, and other Commanders, agreed to deliver into the hands of Cromwell. The Lord Inchiqueen smelling the Treachery, seized the Mayor and Souldiers, and committed them to Prison in Cork, Youghal, and King sale, until they might be brought to a fair Tryal. But that kind of Custody was unlucky, since thereby the sparks spread farther. Is now accom­plished at Cork, For the Colonels being too neg­ligently kept at Cork, draw over the Comman­ders, one after another, into the same Con­spiracy; and in the absence of Inchiqueen, whil'st the Souldiers carelesly kept the Guard, they of a sudden seize the Town. From thence the sparks fly into Youghal, Kingsale, Bandon-Bridge, Mallow, and other places, and by the coming of the Lord Broghill, Colonel Far, and a great many of Cromwell's Forces, was fomented into a Conflagration.

Where Inchi­queen's Lady and Children are imprisoned, Inchiqueens House at Cork was plundered; where neither the modesty of the dress could protect his Lady, nor innocent Age his Chil­dren; for all together were clapt up in Prison, and there detained, till by an exchange, that happened shortly after, they were set at liber­ty. Here at length Cromwell in the beginning of December, And Cromwell puts his Men in­to Winter Quar­ters. put his Men into Winter Quar­ters, and disappointed the Lord Lieutenant, who had intercepted his way, on his return to Dublin with an Army double in number. Nor will it be amiss in this place, to take notice of the death of Jones, Jones dies. for it happened about the same [Page 35] time; who basely stained the Reputation that he gained in subduing the Irish Rebels, by the defending, even unto the last, the Cause of the Murderers of the King.

The Lord Lieutenant, in the mean time, The Lord Lieu­tenant calls a general Council, and persuades Dissenters to Ʋnion: that he might provide, what lay in his power, a­gainst ensuing Storms, calls a general Council, where representing how grateful and profitable the Divisions and Animosities were to the Ene­my; he intreats the Clergy, Nobility, and Gen­try to mutual Peace and Concord, shewing them how that might be done. Which they all pretend. This produced a­mongst all a pretence of Sorrow for what was past, of true Friendship, by shaking Hands, and promises of mutual Assistance, in causing the Commands of the Lord Lieutenant to be o­bey'd, pay raised for the Souldiers, Quarters, and other necessaries for the War provided, and in persuading the Inhabitants, especially of Limmerick, Waterford, and Galloway, to Obedi­ence and Submission.

This put the Lord Lieutenant in heart again, who, whilst Cromwell refreshed his Men in Winter-Quarters, resolves to recover Wexford, He endeavouors to recover Pas­sage by Farell; and Passage: For the effecting of which, Inchi­queen, Armstrong, and Trevers, are designed for the one, and Farell, with the Forces of Ouen-Ro-Oneal, for the other. Farell, marching secret­ly to Passage, falls into the Snare that he had laid for others. For Cromwell presently having notice of the Design, Who, by Zan­kie, is inter­cepted and put to flight; Colonel Zankie pursues him in the Rear, Alarms, and puts him to flight, kills three hundred, takes two hundred, and had not suffered a Man to escape, if, in the nick of time, Farell had not, in great disorder, cross'd the River in Boats.

[Page 36] In vain implo­ring the assi­stance of the Waterfordi­ans.By this misfortune it plainly appeared how the Waterfordians were affected, whilst, though Farell earnestly begg'd it, they denied the use of their Boats, of which they had plenty, to the poor Fugitives; nor would they suffer them in this danger to enter the Town, nor any of them to Winter without the Walls, though it was put to their option, to chuse what Men and Colonels they pleas'd; nor would they af­ford them any Pay, or Money for providing Victuals, and other necessaries.

Inchiqueen be­ing about to recover Wex­ford, is hin­dered by Nel­son.Neither did the Wexford Expedition succeed better; for Inchiqueen marching thither, when he was but five Miles from the place, by cross Fortune, he met with Major General Nelson, who had then Command in those parts: Inchi­queen charged him; and although he put some of his Men to flight, yet he was taught by the rest, that it would not be so easie a matter to subdue Wexford: And Huson marching towards Ark­low, frightened him from proceeding farther: The Souldiers in the mean time agreeing ill a­mong themselves.

Cromwell having receiv­ed Recruits from England, divides his Forces, and marches against the Enemy.About the same time Cromwell received a sea­sonable supply, both of Men and Ammunition partly from Bristol, and partly from Milford Haven. And so being sufficiently recruited, about the latter end of February, he drew out his Army, and resolved to fall upon the Ene­my. And therefore he thought fit to divide his Forces, and march different ways, that he might amuse the Enemy, as not knowing whi­ther he designed. He himself goes before with the light Horse-men, and part of the Foot, by Maltow, the upper way into the County of Tip­perary. By another way, Ireton and Reynolds, with the rest of the Horse and Foot, the Artil­lery [Page 37] and Ammuition, march towards Carick; Broghill, with some Horse, being left behind to scour the Country, secure Munster, fly too and again, and watch the motions of the Enemy. Ingoldsby had Orders with a Select Party to hover about Limmerick, where he fell in into the Quarters of three hundred of Inchiqueens Horse, with three Colonels, and other Com­manders, and routed them; two of which Co­lonels, Broghill condemned to be shot to death.

Cromwell takes in Cahir Castle, standing up­on a high Rock in the River Suir; as also, He easily takes a great many Gar­risons. the Castles of Kiltemon, Foldea-Bridge, Clogen, and Roghill, and lies down before Calan, a Town of the same name with the River; where Ireton and Reynolds joyn him with the other part of the Army, having, upon their March, reduced several Castles, as Arkemon, Dunder, Knoctove­ry, Bullinard, and others; and having besieged Calan with three Camps, and Raynolds having put an hundred and fifty Horse to flight, in a days time they take it, putting all to the Sword, except Butlers Men, who being summoned, sur­rendred before a Gun was fired. After that, they make themselves Masters of Fethered, and Thomas Town, with the adjacent places. Calls Huson with his P [...]ers to joyn him. And now Cromwell calls Huson from Dublin, to joyn him with what supplies the Men of Wexford, and the neighbouring Garrisons could afford, which amounted to three thousand five hundred. He, having by the by taken Belsannon, and Kildare, comes to Lochlin, which being without any dif­ficulty reduced, he crosses the Barrow, and joyns Cromwell. The first thing they attempt after this Conjunction, making now eleven thousand Foot, and about four thousand Horse, was to [Page 38] besiege the Town of Gora; They jointly take Gora. which place, either trusting too much to its own Strength, or rely­ing on Ormonds Regiment, under the Command of Hammond, was, to its own misfortune, so bold as to make a resistance. But after that the Walls had for some time been battered, the Garrison began to Mutiny, and the place was instantly surrendered; the Conquerour inflict­ing no other punishment upon them, but the causing the Colonel and the Commanders to be shot to death.

Then they march to Kilkenny, the place where the Committee of the Estates met.From thence they march to Kilkenny, through which runs the River Noir, a pleasant place, and, without comparison, the chief of all the In-land Towns of Ireland; but withall, the Spring-head of an execrable Rebellion; and the Center, as I may justly call it, from which all the Treasons, and damnable Councils a­gainst the King, Country, and Religion, were as so many Lines drawn; it was, as yet, the seat of the Commitee of Estates, who, upon the approach of the danger, fled to Athlome— upon the River Shannon—upon the Borders of Connaght, as a place more secure for their Con­sultations. Kilkenny is divided into three parts, one on the farther side of the River, the other with a Castle opposite unto it, and the third separated from the other two by Walls. Crom­well lies down before it, and according to the Custom of War, summons it to surrender: The Governour refusing, without more delay, he attaques it by force, and having observed a convenient place, he presently raises a Battery, and from thence plays upon the Town.

The Governour now perceiving the danger, causes forthwith two works to be cast up with­in the Walls, with Palisadoes, and Engines [Page 39] laid in the way to hinder an entry, whilst the Souldiers, in a full Body, were posted behind to receive the Enemy, if they attempted it. The Breaches being made in the Walls, the Re­trenchments within appear. Therefore to fa­cilitate the Assault, Ewers is commanded, with a thousand Men, to fetch a compass about, and at the same time to attaque the other Town ad­joining to this. Here they come to blows, but with more Resolution than Success; the Be­siegers being beat off, with the loss of about seventy Men, two Colonels, and other Com­manders. Nevertheless Ewers gains the Town, which though divided from the other, yet served to straiten it, and distract the Garrison. Next Night another Officer is sent over the Ri­ver with a Body of Men, that by break of day he might break in into the other Town; which he having performed with the loss of thirty Men, whilst he attempted to burn down the Gate, to make way into the City over the Bridge, about fifty being exposed to shot, fell. At length the Governour perceiving himself attacqued on all hands, and that there was no hopes of relief: He capitulates, and upon these Conditions, delivers up the City into the hands of the Enemy, That the Canon, Arms, Which having made a brave Resistance, at length yields upon Condition and all the Ammunition, should be delivered to Cromwell; all the Citizens have leave to continue in the place, or to remove any where else, as they thought fit: That the Officers and Souldiers, should with Arms, Bag and Baggage, march to Athlome, and that the Citizens should pay two thousand pounds to Crom­well. And so in eight days time, (for the Siege lasted no longer) Kilkenny was reduced under Subjection, which for a great many years had given Laws to all the rest.

[Page 40] The Siege of Clonmel.Next upon the Stage of War succeeds Clon­mell, a considerable well Peopled Town, and walled round, lying upon the Suir, four Leagues from Waterford. This place was defended by Hugh Boy-Oneal, with a Garrison of two thou­sand Foot, and an hundred Horse; whose Re­putation was much heightned by his Pains and Assiduity, as having caused several conside­rable works to be made for the security of the place. Hither does Cromwell now convert the stress of the War: and having encamped, and strongly entrenched himself, he sends two thou­sand five hundred Horse, under the command of Reynolds, Reynolds is s [...]nt to hinder the Lord Lieu­tenants Levies, and Theophilus Jones, the Brother of the late Jones, to hinder the Lord Lieutenants Levies, and to reduce Towns every where, as occasion did present.

For he understood that the Lord Lieutenant having held a Council of the Irish Nobility and Bishops, at Baltimore, in West Meath, it was resolved, that on the one hand, that is to say, in the North, Cromwell should be kept in play, and harressed with frequent Incursions, whilst he should make greater Levies, and join toge­ther the Forces of the Counties: that on the other hand, to wit, in the South, the Bishop of Ross should relieve the Besieged in Clonmell, or at least give Cromwell some diversion.

With good suc­cess.But Reynolds being much stronger in Horse, prevents the Lord Lieutenant, and, as if he had had him in a Toyl, renders all unsafe; nor did he desist, before he had driven the Earl of Castle-haven, and all the Governours of Castles, into Connaght. Nay, and over and above, he took Bala-house, near to Trim; and forced Fi­nagh, and other neighbouring places, to Sur­render.

[Page 41]But a greater storm was coming upon the English out of Munster; Broghill takes the Bishop of Ross coming to the relief of Clonmell, and hangs him up. for the Bishop of Ross pittying the Condition of so many brave Men, that were Besieged in Clonmel, advanced to their relief with four thousand Foot, and three hundred Horse. But Broghill meeting him with twelve hundred Foot, and fourteen hundred Horse, part of which he himself had, and part he had received from Cromwell, he easily de­feated, and put them all to slight, having slain and wounded seven hundred, and taken an hun­dred Prisoners, and amongst them the Bishop, whom, because he had turned his Myter into a Helmet, and used the Temporal Sword, in­stead of the Spiritual, he caused ignominiously to be hanged before Caringdred, which Garrison, he having lately taken in Munster, the Captain would not deliver up, till he was terrified by that sad Spectacle.

In the mean time the Siege of Clonmel is carried on; The Garrison forsake Clon­mel, and make their escape by night: and though the Garrison bravely defended it, and had beat off the Enemy in a fierce Assault, with the loss of Colonel Culham, and many others; yet fearing, since there was no hopes of Relief; that they would at length fall as Sacrifices, under the bloody hands of Cromwell, packing up Bag and Baggage, about Mid-night thay desert the Town, and secure themselves by flight. The Mayor and Towns-People, destitute of Defence, without mentio­ning the departure of the Garrison, desire a Cessation and Parly; and upon condition of saving their Houses from being Plundered, and of liberty of living as they had formerly done, they very willingly open their Gates.

But the morning discovering the trick, Whom Crom­well in vain pursues. Crom­well was vexed, and sends some Troops to pur­sue [Page 42] the Garrison in the Rear. But they were before got out of reach, having in the night time past the Hills and most difficult ways; but the Cromwellians overtaking many Strag­lers, who by reason of their Wounds, or o­ther hindrances staid behind; amongst them there were not a few Women, put them all without Mercy to the Sword. He easily sub­dues several smal places. Afterwards the little Towns that lay about Duncannon, Water­ford, and Carlow, were taken in, that these stronger Garrisons being more and more strait­ned, if they could not by Force and Assault, they might at least, at length be starved into a Complyance and Submission.

The Exploits of the Elder Coot in Ulster.Nor were the other Cromwellian Commanders less successful, in the remaing parts of Ireland. For the Elder Coot joyned to Venables in Ʋlster, not to mention any but the principal strong holds, took Culmore, Done, Ems Castle, seated in Logh Suile, Colrane, famous for a Salmon fishing, standing commodiously upon the River Wane, Armagh, and (the Scots and Irish, to the number three thousand four hundred, whom Monro, a Scottish Man, brought to raise the Siege, being cut off) Karick Fergus, Belfast, Castlefordan, Carlingford, Margraff, Monagh, and Liskelagh. At length he routed Eyer-Marma­hon, Who takes the Bishop of Clo­ger, the Gene­ral of an Army, and hangs him up. Bishop of Cloger, who, by the Votes of the Ʋlster Nobility, being substituted in place of the late Oneal, commanded four thousand Foot, and four hundred Horse. But coming to an Engagement, they were all broken and dispersed, and their Mitered General taken and Hanged. It is observable of this Army, that they were all Roman Catholicks, who upon that account more confidently promised them­selves the Victory. Charlemont cost a great deal [Page 43] of Labour and Pains, nor at length would the Garrison surrender it, but upon very honoura­ble terms. Huson also subdued Kilmalock, Husons Victo­ries. Ha­riston, Hau, Blackwater, Rabrig, Talbo, Ath, Dermit Castle, and which we mentioned before, Kildare, Belsannon, and Lochlin. I purposely o­mit Yekrohan, and other places which Reynolds and other Commanders subdued to the rest of Logh Foyl.

It was about the beginning of May, Cromwell, I­reland being almost subdued within the space of a year, is re­called for the Scottish expedi­tion. when Cromwell, within less than a year, with wonder­ful success, having carried his victorious En­signes through three Provinces of Ireland, like a thunderbolt of War; of whom it might truly have been said, (and to his praise, had he fought for his Prince) Veni, vidi vici, I came, I saw, I overcame, is now recalled to fresh La­bours, and to a new War against the Scots, of which I shall hasten to the Relation, after I have given the Reader, in one glance, a view of the remaining affairs of Ireland.

Cromwell therefore hastening his expe­dition, leaves Ireton, his Son in Law, He leaves his Son in Law, I­reton, General in Ireland; to whom Water­ford being Be­sieged yields, upon Conditions. Gene­ral of the Forces of Ireland; who without longer delay besieges Waterford, and at the same time two other Castles, Carlow and Duncannon. Preston Commanded Waterford; not very willing to hold out a place difficult to be maintained, by reason it was beset on all hands, and no hopes of relief. Nevertheless, at first he seemed to carry high, and demands Conditions accordingly, which being rejected by the Enemy, when he perceived himself shut up within the Walls, Batteries raised, and the great Guns begin to roar, he abates a little of his height, and at length condescends to these Articles: That the Ships, Guns, Ammuni­tion, [Page 44] and publick Provisions, shall be delivered up to the Common-wealth. That the Governour, all the Colonels, inferiour Officers and Souldiers, with their Horses, shall march out with Drums beating, flying Colours, charged Musquets, lighted Matches, and have safe conduct to Athlome.— That the Sick and wounded Towns-People shall remain there, until they recover. That such as intended to transport their Families beyond Sea, shall have three Months time to do it in. That those who would stay at home, shall be free from all Injuries. That the Servants of Preston shall have liberty to pack up, and carry away all his Goods that he hath, ei­ther in this place, And in the same manner, Carlow and Duncan­non. or else-where, at Carlow. In the same manner, and upon the same Conditi­ons, out of Carlow and Duncannon, fifteen hun­dred Men marched, all under the Command of young Preston, for the elder was at that time sick.

But it is now time to return to the Lord Lieu­tenant, The Papist Cler­gy basely affect­ed towards the Lord Lieute­nant; whom, as the Papist Clergy had by all means formerly withstood; so now affairs de­clining and daily running into Ruin, they li­centiously slight and despise; for they grow o­penly mutinous, and infect others with the same itch of Rioting. They accuse the Lord Lieu­tenant in presence of the Lord O-Bryan, Inchi­queen, as the Disturber of the Affairs of Ire­land, From whom they endeavour to a­lienate the mind of Inchiqueen. whose continuing longer at the Helm, would quickly be the ruin of the Government; but that if he alone would undertake the ma­nagement of Affairs, being a person descend­ed of the ancient Race of their Kings, whom they had found to be a Valiant, Watchful, Faith­ful, As also the Lord Lieute­nant from In­chiqueen. and Successful General, they all promise to swear Obedience to him, and willingly submit to his Government. On the other hand, they whisper the Lord Lieutenant in the Ear, that [Page 45] Inchiqueen, having been an inveterate Rebel, had not as yet laid aside the thoughts of his anci­ent Enmity; nor would he cordially defend the cause of those; against whom he had been so long accustomed to draw his Sword, that if the Lord Lieutenant would consent to lay him aside, the Irish would unanimously joyn, and in all things obey his Commands. Thus, whilst by an abominable Treachery and Hatred to ei­ther, they strive to Calumniate and Blacken both, they make it their business to propagate Faction and Divisions.

But the Lord Lieutenant meeting the Bishops and Great Men, earnestly exhorts them, The Lord Lieu­tenant ex­horts to Concord and Obedience, That at length laying aside all private Grudges and Ani­mosities, which still remained to be composed, they would consult the Publick Interest, become Friends, and unanimously prepare for a more vigorous defence. That they would reflect upon the great danger they were in, three Provinces being already almost wholly subdued, and the last not like to resist much longer. That if his Government was less grateful to them, and was a hindrance to the defence of the Country, he would hasten his departure, Being ready to renounce the Go­vernment for the Publick good. and commit the charge to another. (For he had already secret­ly obtained leave to depart, from the King, being still at Jersey, and had got the Goverment con­ferred on Clanricard.) When they heard this, all of them pretended extraordinary Sorrow, that they would submit to his Will and Pleasure, banish all mutual Jealousies, The Irish at present seem sorrowful; and perswade the Towns to Obedience. They departed with glad and cheerful Countenances, as abundantly satisfied, though they were still inwardly dis­contented: So true it is, That those whom God intends to destroy, he first infatuates.

For the Inhabitants, and Roman Catholick [Page 46] Clergy, combining privately together, kept Clubs and Cabals, and dispersed infamous Li­bels, wherein they shew the Rancour of their Minds, But presently a­gain fall to Ca­lumniating, by calumniating the Lord Lieutenant, as unactive, Cowardly and Treacherous; finding fault with the Commissions that were granted to Officers of the Reformed Religion; and repining that the War should be committed to the Ca [...]e and Conduct of unfit Men, wholly addicted to Whoring, Gaming, Glutto­ny, and Impiety. The Bishops of Cork, and Toam, and of Clonfert, and the rest of the Cler­gy, Thuamensis, Clonfertensis. And declare his Government void. declare the Government void, and the Followers of the Lord Lieutenant liable to Ex­communication. And therefore they order the Army to be Disbanded before they could think of the raising of another. Nevertheless the Lord Lieutenant, that he might as much as lay in his Power, preserve the Forces in their Duty and Loyalty to the King, he left the charge of them to the Earl of Clanricard, with the Title of Lord Deputy, who being admitted by the unanimous consent of all that stuck to the Kings Party, He th [...]refore yields, and ap­p [...]ints Clanri­card his Depu­ty: Who having made new Le­vies, took upon himself the management of the War. A general Muster being thereupon appointed, new Levies are made, the Souldi­ers Exercised, necessaries for the War provi­ded, and all things prepared afresh, the Clergy being very Zealous, and the People assistant in carrying on the Work.

About that time Ireton betook himself to Winter Quarters in Dublin, that he might con­sult with the Commissioners of the Common-wealth, about the future War, and other Af­fairs; having left Orders to Axtel, Governour of Kilkenny, to have an eye upon the Garri­sons about Athlome. Axtel, by chance, whil'st he was upon Duty, Goes on prospe­rously, fell in with Clanricards Men; [Page 47] who passing the Shannon at Athlome, Till Axtel, who upon the first encounter had retreated, that he might procure Recruits, had taken some of Iretons Garrisons, and had surprised more, if he had not come in the nick of time. They charge Axtel, who being much inferiour in number, retreated a little, until being re­cruited from Wexford, and other places, he had joyned thirteen hundred men to the eight hundred which he himself had: and then he made head against the Enemy. But so soon as they began to Skirmish, though the Irish were five thousand Foot; and four hundred Horse strong, yet not daring to venture a battel, they retreat to the River Shannon, and skulk in two Boggs about Melecha fortifying themselves with Poles and Stakes driven into the ground, and filled up with Earth, as by a double Wall. How­ever the English, leaving no means unessayed, and breaking through all impediments, bravely drove them out of their Station, Beat him out of his Camp forti­fied by two Lakes, and put him to flight. and destroyed them five hundred men, who were partly slain and partly drowned. After this overthrow, it was thought safer, in the very extremity of Winter, to keep the Souldiers betwixt the Shannon vast Lakes, and the Collough Mountains, than any more to molest the Enemy, whom dai­ly Success made bolder.

The Reader may be apt to wonder that the Irish shewed themselves so Cowardly and Time­rous, during the whole Series of this War, Why the Irish so Cowardly. as if from Men they had degenerated into Women, being every where defeated, though they fought for their Lives and Liberties. But who­ever equally weighs matters, will easily leave off to wonder. For on the one hand, he'll find the English provided of all necessaries for a War, They are compa­red with the English Soul­diers, unanimous amongst themselves, all expert in War, and confiding (as it is usual) [Page 48] in their continual good Fortune. The Irish, on the other hand, almost without Arms, for most part destitute of Weapons, and other necessa­ries, disagreeing also amongst themselves, mi­serably rent into Factions, raw and unskillful in War, and in a manner cowed by constant ill Fortune. Besides, they are neither compara­ble to the English in Foot nor Horse, how brave soever they be in Foreign Countries. The pri­vate Souldiers, I know not whether it be by the Skill and Knowledge they have of the Bogs and lurking Places, that they are to soon enticed to fly; or that, through the force of an old Cu­stom, they could not but turn their Backs en­vied to the Blows of the English. Now, as to their Horse, they are far exceeded by the Eng­lish, not only in number, but also in the quali­ty of the Horses, and Riders. The Horses, in­deed, march but softly, but in bulk of Body, strength of Limbs, and Courage; one Troop of them, is worth three almost of the Irish, and breaks Ranks better. And the Riders again are for close Fighting, discharging their Pistols in the Enemies Breast, and laying about them with their Swords. Hence it is, that in every En­gagment, the Irish presently betake themselves to flight, nor can they endure the looks, yea, hardly the Neighing of the Horses of the Eng­lish. I hope the Reader will pardon me, that I have tacked this Apology for the Irish Nation, as an Appendix to the work. I now return to the History.

A treaty with the Duke of Lorrain.In the very depth of Winter, the Bishop of St. Cathdrin came seasonably, as an Agent from the Duke of Lorrain, who, as a token of his Masters Affection, brought with him a conside­rable sum of Money, and promises of more, if [Page 49] they agreed in Treaty, pretending great kind­ness to the King, Kingdom and People. The sums of the Proposals which he made to the affli­cted Party, was: That the Duke with ten thousand Foot, five thousand Horse and thirty Ships should come into Ireland, and with the Title of Protector carry on the War. That the Duke of York should Marry his Daughter. That Limmerick and Galloway, with the Magazine, Guns and Ammunition should be put into his hands. That he should have some cau­tionary Towns for security of the Moneys to be rai­sed. That the Inhabitants should have a care to keep the Enemy out of Connaght until his Arrival. These Conditions were debated, but whether agreed to or not, I am uncertain; and the En­voy departed to acquaint his master with his proceedings. But fruitless. But that Atlas was not strong enough to support the falling Firmament; and there was so much time spent in the Treaty, that the oppportunity of relief being past, shewed only its bald Poll instead of the favourable Forelock.

The Spring began now to come on; but Ire­land seemed to be in its autumn ready to be cut down. All that Clanricard could do, was to shew his tayl, and flap with some convulsive motions and vibrations of a dying Nation, Clanricard. stops all the pas­sages for the e­nemy into Con­naght. like the last blaze of an expiring light. He views all places, by which the Enemy might break into Connaght; he posts Soldiers at all the passes of the river Shannon, as also at the river Rour and the Collough mountains, wherever any passage might be found.

In the mean time Ireton call'd Coot out of Ʋlster, with two thousand horse and as many good foot, that he might come and join him near Galloway. Coot that he might deceive the [Page 50] Enemy, pretends that he is to march to Slego, and there stops, as if he were about to besiege that Castle; until he had drawn thither all the Irish Forces: Yet Coot by stratagem ha­ving past the Collough moun­tains got into it: From thence turning suddenly back again, he found a pretty easy passage over the tops of the Collough hills. Now must I re­late by what means Ireton got into Connaght. He; (having left Broghill in Munster, Ingoldsby in the parts opposite to Limmerick, Huson in West Weath, Venables in Canan, and Zankie in Tipparary) he marches to the River Shannon, and at three several places together, Ireton passes the river Shan­non at three places. (not without suspicion of Treachery at Killalve) he passes over his Forces, the Foot in boats, and the Horse for most part swimming: Whilst Huson in the mean time alarm'd Abhalone, as if he were ready to attack it. Clanricard's men being beat out of all places, he then over a wooden Bridge sends over his Canon and Baggage; and without longer delay joins Coot, as it had been agreed upon.

Athalone with other Garrisons are presently ta­ken.The Enemy being too weak to make re­sistance, Athalone, Portumna, Tagera and some lesser Garrisons are taken. Then having divi­ded the Army, Coot marches to Galloway, Ire­ton to Limmerick, Farell being forced to re­treat, Coot at­tacks Gallo­way. Coot had already forced Farel with an Army of three or four thousand men to retreat into the Woods, Bogs and other unac­cessible places about Galloway; and therefore daring to approach nearer the place, he en­camps and entrenches himself, and so summons the Town to surrender. He is answered, That if Conditions were offered for the whole Kingdom of Ireland, they would willingly listen unto them. But seeing he would grant none but private and particular Articles, both Parties prepare for a Siege.

[Page 51]In the mean time Limmerick is blockt up on all sides, the river Shannon being also stopt. Ireton besieges Limmerick. They had for about three weeks expected suc­cours from Muskery, whose motion Broghil ob­serving he had opportunely beat him off, de­stroyed and dispersed his Forces.

The City is therefore incessantly batter'd, and the approaches carried on to the very Walls. Nor was the danger within the walls less than without; the Plague having long ra­ged amongst the Inhabitants, and intestine di­visions a no less grievous Plague daily increasing amongst them. Some, are for surrendering the Town forthwith, others again, for suffe­ring rather the utmost extremity. The opini­on that was for a surrender prevailing, Which upon Ar­ti [...]les agreed up­on, but not sig­ned, is surren­dered to him. they came to Articles; which before they were signed the Gates were opened, and the Castle delivered to the Enemy as an Hostage. The Conditions were; That the Soldiers should lay down their Arms, and depart whither they pleased, except those who had embrew'd their hands in the in­nocent Blood of the English. That all the Arms Guns, Ammunition and publick stores should be de­livered into the possession of the Conquerour. That those that had a mind to be gone, should have time to pack up their Goods, and Ships to transport them whithersoever they pleased. That four and twenty should be left to the mercy of the Conquerour. So fell that beautiful and Rich Town, much fre­quented by reason of the advantages of the Sea and of the River Shannon, and strongly fortified but withal proud of its own Strength, Wealth and Riches; which, if it had not been divided, and if it had not again with a stiffness refused to obey the Governours, would not in so short a time, and with so small a loss of Blood have [Page 52] fallen into the Enemy's hands. He causes the Bishop of Ferne and some others to be hanged. The Bishop of Ferne with many others are hanged: And the Bishop of Limmerick made his escape in dis­guise.

The death and character of Ireton.But the place was fatal to the Conquerour; for as Limmerick fell, Ireton dies; concerning whom, since from a mean extraction he mounted to the Pinacle of Government, it will not be amiss that I speak a little. In Trinity Colledge of Oxford he was initiated in the liberal Arts, and made therein no contemptible Progress, af­terward he applied himself to the Study of the Common Law in the Temple; in which having got a little smattering, from his very Youth he drank in the Errours of the Anabaptists, and assisted the Fanaticks in drawing up a Petition against the holy order of Episcopacy; which was afterwards by Pennington and a numerous rabble of Londoners, ready at that time for such attempts, presented to the Parliament. Not long after, the Troubles daily encreasing, he struck in with Cromwel when he was in the Isle of Ely being first admitted into his Quarters, then by Cromwel being made Governour of the whole Island, he was presently after advanced to be his Son in law. Having there served an Ap­prentiship, he enured his body to the War, by a voluntary lying upon the ground, fasting, watching and exercises, before he came to the Tryal of it, until by degrees he at length, ad­vanced almost to the Chief command in the Ar­my. Hence forward he became his inseperable Companion; especially in assisting him in all Declarations, Articles, Letters and Treaties that were to be made. He grew indefatigable in la­bour and pains, being accustomed to spend night and day in his head-piece and boots; and [Page 53] in ordering of Civil Affairs also to watch till midnight at length, as the Devil would have it, he was one of the chief in shedding of the Roy­al Blood, his Memory, for that unparalelled Villany, being execrable to all Posterity. In Ire­land he always stood by the Anabaptistical Fana­ticks, relying upon their counsels for these he gave his Vote both in Civil and Military Affaires; and with them filled the Towns, Councils and Camp. At length this most cruel Pest of his Countrey, died of the contagious Plague.

Though he was removed, Galloway prest Coot, yet the War still goes on. For Coot with the unanimous consent of the Commanders, from Limmerick marches to the Siege of Galloway, which they straitly blockt up both by Sea and Lannd, Clanricard, ha­ving got leave to depart: Nor was it long be­fore it was delivered to the Enemy, upon Con­ditions not unlike to those of Limmerick. Is taken. And thus Galloway, the most noted staple of all Ireland, strong in fortifications, considerable for buil­dings, riches, numerousness of inhabitants, and open trade by Sea, submits to the yoke of the Enemies, in resisting of whom they had former­ly denied the Lord Lieutenant their assistance. And also consu­med by the Plague. But as if they had not been sufficiently punished by War, the hand of God chastised them with a severe punishment, a following Plague having within the space of a year and a half swept away twelve thousand of the Inhabitants.

Now was Ireland fully subdued; Ireland being now totally sub­dued, is go­verned by four Commissioners. and hence­forward the pleasure of the Commissioners went for Law; they being Jones, Corbet, Ludlow, and Weaver. To these it seemed good to begin their Government by the suppression of the To­ries; a kind of robbers who have always, Who first sup­press the Tories. but not in so great numbers infested Ireland. Nor [Page 54] is it a new thing amongst barbarous Nations, who whenever they find themselves oppressed by the Governours of Provinces, or otherwaies have run out their Estates and are broken, pre­sently to shake off the Laws, Publick enemies. refuse to labour the Ground, and despise Trades. Wherefore they betake themselves to the Mountains, De­sarts, Bogs and Rocks, according as the Coun­trey is naturally fortified, declare War against all other Mortals, and live by Rapine. Such are the Banditi in Italy and Spain, the Cossacks to Poland, and others in other Countreys; and that we may not go far for an example of such wickedness, such are the Moss Troopers in Scot­land, as will hereafter appear. For these in the night time lurk in Woods, Caves and Dens; but in the day time break out suddenly upon Travellers, or men about their lawful Business, and rob them both of Life and Money. And as often as they get together into a body, with desperate Barbarity, they burn and pillage Vil­lages, add presently betake themselves to their lurking holes again. They are a kind of land Pirats; who wandring amongst Lakes and Bogs, according to the light-footedness of the Na­tion, they safely skip over the Quagmires and loose ground, wherein strangers unacquainted with the places that follow them commonly stick. They therefore give orders to the Soldiers, who had now nothing else to do, to divide them­selves into small parties, and so to environ, hunt, and kill them like wild Beasts, which be­ing done, they either mutually betrayed one another, or found their holds and lurking pla­ces to be so unsafe for them, that in two years time there was none of those Enemies of man­kind any where to be seen.

[Page 55]In the mean time, It is consulted about a Successor to the late Ire­ton. Lam­bert is chosen Deputy of Ire­land. the Rump-Parliament con­sult about a Deputy, who might succeed to Ire­ton, and sit at the Helm in the administration of the Affairs of Ireland; and by unanimous Vote they pitch upon Lambert. But whilst he is pre­pairing for his passage with greater Pomp than the times required, Whose Commissi­on, whilst, whether it happened by the advice of the Commissioners (who at that time af­fecting Equality, did not like such preeminence) or through the cunning of Cromwell, (at whose beck the Affairs of Ireland were managed, and who had lately privately married his Daughter, Iretons Widow to Colonel Fleetwood,) The Rump-Parliament changing their resolution, He is command­ed to supply onely the place of a Commissio­ner. he has orders to lay aside his Title to Deputy, and go over to Ireland as a Commissioner. Which, Lam­bert a man most ambitious of Rule, and impa­tient to be baffled in the Honour that had been promised him; taking ill, and far worse, that the Command of the Army should be divided amongst men unacquainted with War, he thought it better wholely to renounce the Go­vernment of Ireland. Fleetwood therefore, em­bracing the same Conditions, having celebra­ted his marriage with the aforementioned Wi­dow, Lambert refu­sing, Fleet­wood is sent. passes over into Ireland in Quality of chief of the Commissioners, and besides of Major Ge­neral.

Now that the Reader may know who this man was, and to give some light to what fol­lows after, His Character. I thought fit to premise these few things. He was the son of a Knight, the youn­gest of many Brothers, who, to get an honest living, applied himself to the study of the com­mon Law; untill that the flame of Civil War spreading, he changed his profession, turned Soldier, and under the Earl of Essex served as [Page 56] a Gentleman Volunteer. Afterwards rising from one degree to another, till he became a Colo­nel, he aspired to the marriage of Cromwell's Daughter, (as we have now related) she being a Widow and he a Widower. His Religion from the Cradle was of the strickt new Cut; and if he was not a stout professour of Anabaptism, yet he loved to be thought a great favourer of it, not onely that he might serve a turn, and engage in a reciprocal aid and benevolence, but because he was inwardly and sincerely so. As he was no cunning man himself, so neither was he reckoned a a great prier into the Counsils of other men: And being so qualified, he became dear to the common Soldiers, and for that no ways suspected by the more Powerful. In a word, he was no ill man, but that by taking up Arms against his own King; he had for ever stained his Reputation by the horrid Crime of Treason and Rebellion.

The broken rem­nant of the Irish forces yield to Broghill,Now were the Rump-Parliament masters of all Ireland, except of a few scattered Forces, who here and there lurked in obscure and unaccessi­ble places: Of whom the greatest part sculked in Munster, under the command of Sullivan O-Beare; and some in Ʋlster under Farel. The former at length submit to Broghill; but up­on this Condition, that they might go beyond Sea, in Ships provided by the Rump-Parliament for that affect: And Ludlow; the latter, to Colonel Ludlow, upon the same Conditions. Having first ob­tained liberty to go beyond Sea. And afterwards all the Military part of the Nation followed their example, and six and twenty thousand departed the Kingdome, some to Spain, some to France, and the rest whither they pleased, the English accommodating them with Vessels for their Transportation; so that within the space of [Page 57] eight months, Ireland was left destitute of all its fighting Men, as being impatient of the Eng­lish yoke.

Then was a High Court of Justice Erected, consisting of most of every Sect of the Counties, where that assembly met, sometimes Cook, and sometimes another presiding there, for a strict enquiring into, and no less severe punishment of those who were the beginners of the Rebellion. No man was pardoned, who had dipt his Hands in the Blood of the English. But of that sort of Men, all Ireland could not furnish above two hundred, The first Au­thors of the Re­bellion are brought to Try­al; so great a havock had either the Sword or Plague made, or else the rest ming­ling with those who departed the Ringdom, un­der that disguise seasonably withdrew; or at least there were not English enough left to be Witnesses of their Barbarity.

But it will not be amiss to mention one, or two of the most obstinate Rebells; such as Philem Oneal, by the Pope, Especially Phi-Oneal, and Luke-O-Tool, created Earl of Ʋl­ster, and Luke O-Tool. Lying Fame had spread it abroad, that Charles the First had granted those two liberty to stir up the Rebellion, that he might cut out work for the Parliament, that then was bent upon Sedition. This base and false Rumour was industriously fomented by the Parliamentarians, that they might load the best of Kings with Envy; nor indeed did the Irish at that time endeavour to falsifie the Report: of this both of them are accused: but though they had hopes given them of Life and Reward, if they would confess, yet, with solemn Impre­cations, both of them acquitted the King; Who at their death acquitted the King from a false and scandal [...] [...] report. and by the just Judgment of God, though by the hands of unjust Men, they payed the just reward of Rebellion and Murder with their Lives, and [Page 58] were Hanged. So sure is Justice, though some­times she be slow in pursuing Malefactors.

The Plague rages in Ire­land,About that time the Plague raged all over Ireland, as if Humane Vengeance were not suf­ficient to chastise the madness of that Nation, without the concurrence of the Divine. This was the grievous Sickness of any that for fifty years backwards, had plagued that whole Nation; so that (which is strange) there was but one House free in all Dublin. Especially at Dublin: And that they might suffer under a double Pestilence, the profane People, laying aside all sense of Shame, be­came more Lewd and Licentions both towards God and Man; just as in the time of Thucydi­des, when the Laws of God and Man were e­qually despised.

And a grievous Famine also.Not long before, if not about the same time, so great a scarcity and Famine was sent upon them from above, that, with horrour, I mention it, the starved Mothers Sacrificed to their Bellies the dear Fruit of their Wombs; nor (as it is written of Saguntum) could inexorable hunger be satisfied with less than humane Flesh.

Now though these Evils fell heaviest upon the Irish, Both English and Irish are burdened with Taxes. yet it is not to be omitted, that a most heavy Tax, of six and thirty thousand pounds per Month, was imposed equally upon the Eng­lish and Irish; and that upon the Irish too, when so many Lands and Estates lay desolate without Possessours, and when there were neither Men nor Cattle to labour the Land; especially by reason of the multitude of Tories, who every where carried away the Fruits and Corn, so that some Landlords being disappointed of the hopes of their Crops, betook themselves to flight; others complained that their Crops were not sufficient to furnish them with Bread, and other [Page 59] necessaries for their Families; and not a few sold their Inheritances for two or three years pur­chase. In the mean time the idle Souldiers, The Souldiers in the mean time live at their ease, and the Commanders grow rich. to the number of twenty thousand, and the most of them Anabaptists, alone live plentifully upon the Money they got in Ireland, and the Pay they received in England, and their Comman­ders heaped up Estates.

All Law being administred at the pleasure of four or five Judges, All Law in a manner Arbi­trary. was in a manner Arbitra­ry; and depended upon the Wills of the Com­missioners, and chief Commanders of the Army; nay, and sometimes of the Souldiers, especially the Anabaptists, against whose Judgment, if the Court at any time pronounced, they cry out of the breach of Faith, and the violation of the Laws of God and Man.

About that time the Rebels surprised two or three very strong Forts, near Galloway, Some Forts sur­prised by the Re­bells, are reco­vered by Rey­nolds. Ems­buffen, Ernescrought, and Arran, which were scituate in some of the numerous Islands on that Coast. But Reynolds having conveyed over fifteen hundred Men upon Planks, reduced them to his Obedience, giving the men liberty to remove to other places.

At length they came to the division and di­stribution of the Lands and Possessions of the Irish, That all might receive their shares, The distribution of the Irish Lands, as a pu­nishment for their Rebellion. which either they had gained in the Wars, or by Mo­neys subscribed and payed in the year 1642, for suppressing the Rebellion, they had purchased upon the publick Faith. But upon the first pub­lication many are accused of the same Crime; Many of the Kings Party fall under the same censure. as the Marquess of Ormond, Lord Inchiqueen, and as many as had been for the King, and had put a stop to the impetuous torrent of the first Rebellion: And tho whatever was remaining in [Page 60] Ireland, was due to their Faithfulness and Va­lour, yet they stick in the same Mire, and are made liable to the forfeiture of their Lives and Fortunes: nor were any to be spared, who en­joy'd plentiful Estates, or had enough to stay the voracious Appetites of those insatiable Har­pies. Nay, if they could find out any one that for the space of a day, had fallen off from the Obedience of the Rump-Parliament, he came off very well, if he was but only sequestrated; and redeemed his Sequestration at two years pur­chase of his Estate.

The Popish Nobles are condemned of Treason.All the Popish Nobles, who had, either in the beginning been Rebels, or afterwards born Arms for the King, are condemned of High Treason, their Estates forfeited, and their Lives also, The Neutrals are fined in a fifth part of their Estates. if they could be apprehended, Both the English and the Irish Papists, who had been Neutro, and favoured neither side, are Fined in the fifth part of their Estates to be Levied in­to the Exchequer.

Strife betwixt the new and old Souldiers about dividing the Spoil,But for easing of the Publick Charges, there was a heavy dispute betwixt the new Souldiers, that came lately over into Ireland, under the Command of Cromwell, and the Veterans, who had served the Parliament, in suppressing the Rebellion in its first rise. These the new Soul­diers endeavoured by all means to have disban­ded, as being for the most part Anabaptists, and Sectarians; and, indeed, their Intention was to cheat them of their pay, and promised di­vidend of Lands. But the ancient Souldiers refusing to be so dismissed, after much jangling and debate, Is at length composed. at length they agreed Friendly upon these Articles; to wit, that being disbanded, they should monthly receive half pay, untill the distribution of the Lands should be made, and that they should [Page 61] enjoy their due proportion of the same. With this they were pleased, and had it in a great part performed.

They had often laboured hard about the di­viding and appropriating of the Irish Lands: Mathematicians met, and laying their Heads to­gether made Divisions; but in a rude manner only, by a general Estimate, some by the view, others by measuring. But neither way could they find half enough to satisfie the Creditors, till they came to William Petty, The way of mea­suring the Lands invented by Sir William Pet­ty, a Doctor of Physick. a Doctor of Phy­sick, but a most expert Geometrician, who is now, by the bounty of the King, Knighted. He undertook, in the space of thirteen Months, to measure all Ireland, (in respect of forfeited Lands) Geometrically, and to allow every one their several Portions: and, indeed, perfor­med it. For having got several expert Artists for making his Instruments, he divided the work of Surveying into five or six parts, assign­ing each part fit and proper Instruments: and taught ingenious Men how they should set about their several Provinces; whilst he himself sit­ting at home could, upon their reports, calcu­late and compare the whole. By this means he measured five millions, or more, of English Acres; and by the help of a Chain, and other Instruments, he ran over an hundred thousand Miles, five times the circumference of the World. So is all Ireland divided into parts, and every one has his share by lot.

Now do the Sectarian Vultures, from all parts, The Sectarians flocking together in Troops, come flocking to the rich Spoiles of Ireland, as to a fat Carcass, and, like Locusts, devour all the Provinces; of which, Cromwell having had no­tice, least such a confluence of People, might occasion Sedition, especially seeing he perceiv­ed [Page 62] the Anabaptists and Sectarians always skrewing themselves into profitable places, both Civil and Military, who being for the most part De­mocratical, would not fail to oppose that Subli­mity and Pre-eminence, to which he aspired, that he might crush the Serpent in the Egg, and baffle their Power, as if he minded other Af­fairs; Cromwell calls home Fleet­wood from Ireland, he recalls from Ireland his Son in Law, Fleetwood, upon pretext of using his Council at home, but in reallity, that he might have an eye over the designs and motions of the Man, and by taking off the Head and Patron, As being too fa­vourable to them: And sends his Son Henry at first as his Sub­stitute, disap­point the Practices and Councils of the Demo­craticks.

Therefore, in place of Fleetwood, he sends Henry, the younger of his two Sons, into Ire­land, but not as his Successour, only with the Title of a Commissioner, and Major General of the Army: And having for two years space made a tryal of his Juvenile Prudence, he rai­sed him to a higher degree. Henry took it ill at first, to be denied the Honour of a Title, when he had the Power given him; and being instigated by the whisperings of Flatterers, he desired of his Father, that he might Govern Ireland with the Name of Deputy. But Cromwell, not without a check, denying it, that unseason­able Ambition was stifled in the bud. But whil'st he alone sat at the Helm, two other Commissioners, or rather Privy-Counsellors, Hammond and Goodwin are added.

Who in the first place takes upon him the care of Religion,He made it his chief business, in the first place, to restore the Worship of God, tho not to its ancient Beauty, yet to some better Or­der; by degrees giving back the Churches and Pulpits, which were wholly possessed by the Anabaptists, to the Ministers. Nay, he caused [Page 63] his own Child to be publickly Baptized in the Cathedral-Church, a rare thing at that time, and made a Christening Feast. And farther, he protected the Preachers from all Affronts, Of the Preachers, and the troublesome interruptions of the Sectaries, in time of Divine Service. Now does the Colledge of Dublin, which had been long neg­lected, raise its head out of Obscurity. And of the Col­ledge, Henry himself being chosen the Chancellour, or Patron thereof; nay, School-Exercises, (but after the Presbyterian way) and Degrees in Arts and Professions are instituted: and which was most acceptable to the Scholars, at his own Charges he bought the Library of Ʋsher, Archbishop of Armagh, not to be named but with Honour, and made a present of it to the Colledge.

Nor was he less careful of the Civil, As also of Civil affairs of Ju­stice, than Ecclesiastical affairs; for Justice in the Courts began now to shew it self, as much as it could under a Tyrannical and Violent Government. Stately Houses were built in the Cities, And Trade▪ and the Country abounded in Pasture and Corn. Trade began also to flourish, in exporting to all places Tallow, Hides, Salt Flesh and Fish, and Am­bergrise. Henry moreover allowed a free ac­cess to all, and liberty of petitioning; nay, and illustrated his Bounty with some kind beams towards the Royalists, The Royalists being received more mildly. by easing those who had been forfeited and sequestrated, remitting one half of the Money, that had been imposed upon them, giving gracious words; liberty of play­ing with him, and many times admitting them to his Table.

Steel, at the Sollicitation of Fleetwood, His Assistants and Counsellers. is made Chancellour of Ireland, which rouzed a little the drooping Minds of the Sectaries; but, which was soon dashed, by the advancement of [Page 64] Berry to the place of Baron of the Exchequer, and of Pepis to that of Lord Chief Justice, who both stuck close to Henry. In Council he made use of Broghill, Coot, and Hill, and of the same, with Morgan and some others in the Army, go­verning the Common-wealth very well, accor­ding to the present state of Affairs.

Cromwell calls a Parliament at London.About that time a Parliament is called at London, to consist of Members of the three Kingdoms, thirty being nominated for Ireland. In it the Irish Papists accused of Treason, are declared Rebels, and therefore their Estates and Inheritances are forfeited; for discovering of whom, The Irish are commanded to Abjure Popery. Henry's cle­mency, as to that particular. a strict Oath of Abjuration of Popery is imposed upon all suspected Persons; in the execution whereof, Henry shewed himself mer­ciful, and very seldom put any to that Tryal. But the division and distribution of the Lands, which was heretofore appointed and begun, is now brought to an issue.

The Irish are enjoyned to transplant them­selves into Con­naght,The transplanting of all the Irish into Con­naght, is again brought upon the Stage, being the invention of one Spencer, who, by way of Dialogue, wrote of the affairs of Ireland, and afterwards insisted upon by Ireton, who by all means commended the practice thereof. Now are all commanded to pack up bag and baggage, change their Habitation, and to remove into that Province, where Lands were to be assigned to them in Inheritance, according to the plea­sure of Commissioners; the Forts, Cities, Towns, and Passages, And what was the cause of it: being only reserved for the use of the English, with all the Sea-coast within a Mile of the Sea. For that Province being for the most part surrounded by the River Shannon, vast Lakes, and the Collough Mountains, and so divided from the rest, cut off from them all [Page 65] hopes and power of rising any more against the English. None are spared but the labouring men, and some whom favour and popular ne­cessity procured a permission to stay. If Ireton had lived to these times, he would have made it absolutely necessary to have brought over Husband-men, and Trades-People from Eng­land, who are payed much dearer for their work and labour than the Irish are.

But, Good God! How many cunning Tricks, Yet it is by ma­ny cunningly e­vaded. frauds and inventions did the Irish find out for avoiding the sting of that Order? So that it reached none but the simpler and honester sort of People. Nay I am ashamed to divulge the horrid oppression and covetuousness of our Fa­ctors; who when they met with the more inno­cent and plain, they impose upon them with tricks and juggling, and so tire them out until they got their Lands from them for little or nothing, which they sell dear unto others; and the suspi­cion of a sudden Insurrection again amongst the Irish, because they parted so easily with their Inheritances, is laid at their door as a ru­ine

We purposely pass by matters of less impor­tance, least what we are about by the by should swell up to too vast a bulk. The Officers of the Army what by craft, and what by force turning Richard out of the Supream Power; and the Rump-Parliament after five years inter­ment being raised again from the dead, Henry neg­lecting both his own and bro­thers interest. the eyes of all are fixed upon Henry. It was thought by some that he would defend his own Authori­ty, and vindicate that of his Brother. Others hoped that he would favour the Royal Cause, and so make his interest with the King, the Navy especially giving no obscure marks of [Page 66] their inclination; and the Army and Kingdom of Ireland being ready enough to promote such an Enterprize. Nor dare I swear; that he en­tertain'd no such Projects. But the Lord Brog­hill and Coot deserting him in dubious Affairs; and Steel and Tomlinson old Commissioners, ma­naging, and Waller and Corbet new ones, conti­nually solliciting him, he at length resigns him­self to the Will and Pleasure of the Rump-Par­liament, and returns into England, there to give an account of his administration.

Delivers up the Government to the revived Rump-Parlia­ment.Hitherto we have dwelt in Ireland, that with­out interruption, we might give the Reader an account of the Affairs of that Kingdom. Now bringing our discourse back to former years, we must return to the Democratical Republicans, who after the murder of the King, swayed Affairs in England, under the Olygarchicks. These being upstarts promoted for the most part men of their own Edition to places of honour and pro­fit. Which the Londoners took so ill, that the Mayor and Aldermen came and petitioned the Rump-Parliament, A Petition of the Magistrates of London, to the Rump-Par­liament, for their Citizens turned out of the common Council. that the cheif Citizens or that some of them at least, might be again admitted into the common Council of the City. These were a­bout three hundred, whom either age, or wealth at least recommended: But the year be­fore the Rump-Parliament had turned a great ma­ny of them out, and judged them unworthy of carrying any office in the City; for no other reason, but because they had signed the Petition making Peace with the King, which the grea­ter and sounder part of the Parliament were also for. But that desire of the Mayor and Al­dermen, though they seriously alledged the want of ingenious and honest men, of moderate Estates for discharging the offices of the City, [Page 67] is rejected with contempt, Is rejected with contempt. nor would they have any but the Riff Raff and inconsiderable rable to manage Publick Affairs; as being such who measured good and evil according to the will and pleasure of their Masters.

Whil'st these things are carried on at London, The attempts of King Charles the Second for himself and his Subjects, CHARLES the Second was not asleep, nor did he neglect his Affairs, though the Regicides carried all before them in England, but moves every stone, and leaves nothing unessayd, that the wit and power of man could devise or exe­crate, for resetling the undone Nations, asser­ting the publick Liberty, and (the Regicide be­ing revenged,) recovering his ancient Inheri­tance.

He implores the assistance of Foreign Kings and Princes; By asking help from Foreign Princes. who are all equally concerned ac­cording to the Supream Power they have recei­ved from God, and their common duty, to give Sanctuary to the oppressed; but especially to Kings, whom above all men living they ought to protect, not only upon the account of Kin­dred and Cognation, but also for fear of Conta­gion, least the horrid example of Rebellion might have an influence upon their own Subjects; that if perchance, they should be reduced to the like streights, they might likewise obtain the like help and assistance.

He sends Ambassadours to the Emperour and German Princes, to the Grand Signior, By several Am­bassadours, es­pecially of the Spaniard by Hide after­wards Chance­lour of Eng­land and Earl of Clarendon, the great Duke of Moscovie, the Kings of Poland, Den­mark, and Sweden, to the republick of Venice and the States General of the united Provinces. He sends into Spain, from whence he had the greatest expectation, the Lord Edward Hide, who had formerly been Lord cheif Baron of the Exchequer and was afterwards Lord Chancellor [Page 68] and Earl of Clarendon, whose Iuvenile and ve­gete wit, And the French in person, might put life into the aged head of Cottington. In France, besides a particular Am­bassadour, the Queen Mother and Duke of York were there, and the King himself to sollicite his own affairs.

But with little success every where,But alass! almost every where unsuccessfully the distance of place hindering the aid of some; and either the want of money, domestick se­ditions, or dangers from neigbours, obstruct­ing the assistances of others. None are touched with the sence or pity of the Calamities of ano­ther. The Turk deli­vering up the Ambassadour Hide brother to the Chancelour into the hands of the Rump-Par­liament, who being brought to London is beheaded. The Ottoman Court dealt barbarously, in that for a little money, they delivered up the Ambassadour, Henry Hide a most accomplished Gentleman into the hands of the Rump-Parlia­ment, who being brought over into England, for his unshaken Loyalty, without any pretext of ancient Law, he was beheaded before the Royal Exchange in London.

France with promises, gives hope of large assi­stance, The French flat­tering with vain hopes, so long as they could procure any help from the Subjects of the King of England; es­pecially from James Duke of YORK, who com­manding the English and Irish that served the French in Flanders, had given many Noble and Illustrious proofs of his Heroick Valour and Courage: And at length making a league with the Regi­cides. Until that Blake had beaten the French Fleet under the Command of the Duke of Vendosme which came to the relief of Dunkirk at that time besieged by the Spaniards. Then, they sent Burdex to treat of peace at London, whil'st the Regicides expected no less than a de­claration of War: And having afterwards en­tred into a strict allyance; they inwardly rejoy­ced that the Kings Majesty was deluded, and no small stop put to the fury of the Rebels.

[Page 69]The Spaniard seemed to be grieved at the Kings Murder; The Spaniard declining to meddle in other peoples business. but excused himself that it did not belong to him to determine about the controversies of England, nor did he take plea­sure to meddle in other Peoples Affairs out of his own Terrritories; but that in the mean time he should be ready to do the King all the kindness he could within his Countries. Ne­vertheless, not long after Ascham being killed, (which I shall shortly relate) he was the first King who Commanded his Hedge Ambassadour Don Alonso de Cardenas, And being the fi [...]st of all that owned and com­plemented the Common-wealth of Eng­land, to Worship the rising sun of the Common-wealth, wish the Parrcides all happiness; intreat the continuance of Friend­ship and good Correspondence betwixt his King­domes and the New Common-wealth, and pro­mised severely to punish the Wicked Mur­derers of Ascham.

Now there are some not obscure Reasons why the great Mind of so Wise a King, For what Rea­sons chiefly in­stigated there­unto. was by so unexpected a change (that rather di­scovered than altered his Inclinations,) brought over to the contrary side: For besides Ancient and Paternal enmities with Queen Elizabeth, Philip himself had particular Quarrels against Charles. It wounded him deep, that his Sister being courted in Marriage, even so far as to have had an interview and conference with her, she should afterwards be slighted for a Daughter of France, though a Princess of ex­traordinary Worth. Besides the old offence stuck still in his Mind, that our King was the first of all who honourably received a splendid Embassie from the Duke of Braganza, and after he had successfully dispatched his bu­siness sent him away in triumph. To this may be added the mischance of Don Oquenda, [Page 70] not many years before, under whose Com­mand several Ships carrying Men and Arms for a recruit to the War of Flanders, being forced into the English Harbours by the Dutch who pursued them, were under our Castles, though then in Peace with Spain, suffered to be torn, sunk, and burnt; our Fleet rather threateningly rebuking, then stoutly driving off the Enemy. Which discontents not ex­piring with the Murthered King, are hurtful now to his Son. But after all, his new Friends as a reward of the amity freely offered them, by stealth and without any Declaration of War, having sometimes after invaded the West Indies, that is, the very Bowels of the Spanish Empire: And their attempt upon Hispaniola, being disappointed, he at length, laying aside all hatred, obliged CHALES the Second by all sorts of good Offices, and entertaind him in his Territories for the ruine of the Regicides.

The King of Portugal being able to do little,The King of Portugal shewed a generous Soul, (of which hereafter) had his Strength corresponded with his Inclinations. But what would one who hardly as yet sate steddy in his own lately recovered Throne, do for another expulsed Prince? The truth is, though he had then flourished in the quiet enjoyment of his own just Rights, he was not Potent enough to undertake such a War; as could restore a banished King, and much less at that time when he could hardly on the one hand repel the Spa­niard who offered at all, and on the other, keep even with the Dutch, who in the East Indies and all over the Ocean strove for the mastery.

And Sueden fickle. Suedland at first good natured, changed as Affairs altered. Frederick Duke of Holstein [Page 71] supplied the Earl of Montross, The Duke of Holstein brought some succours. The Dane indigent of money. The Pole engaged in domestick troubles. Others benevo­lent, but not much to the pur­pose. who was then ready to Sail into Scotland with Men, Money, Ships and Arms, for the Service of the King. Danemark having its Treasury exhausted for the Cause of the King's Father, and running into a new War, was able to do no more. The Rebellious Cossacks, and Neighbouring Nati­ons who had rendred the Peace uncertain, made the King of Poland sparing in his Assi­stance. Yet the Scottish Subjects, who lived in those Countries, as they were commanded gave what help they were able to give. And so did the Emperour of Moscovie, Elector of Brandenbourg, Arch-Bishop of Mentz, and other Princes of Germany show their Affe­ctions to the King.

But alas! what was all that to the fitting out of a Fleet, and raising of an Army? to the providing of Arms, Ammunition and Ne­cessaries of War? perhaps a little more than might defray the Charges of Ambassadours, and relieve the Poverty of Courtiers. The King's chief hope in his own Sub­jects; All the hope was now in the Loyalty and Benevolence of Subjects; who, though many of them were wheedled by the Artifices of the Regicides, or the fawnings of Prosperity, Ambition of ri­sing to higher Employments, or the covete­ousness of other mens Estates, which they hoped might be had for little or nothing, and these, because Justice delay'd to strike, drawn in to the number of above fifty thousand, Of whom a great many extreamly well affected, but very weak in strength. yet a far greater number kept their Loyalty and Al­legiance to the King inviolated. but being stun'd with the sudden horrour of the Kings Murder, and amazed at the continual Victo­ries of the Regicides, they knew not what to do, or whither to turn themselves. They [Page 72] knew not as yet, what it was to Associate, and they had no opportunity of rising; the Re­gicides having a watchful Eye over all the Countries, and their Spies and Emissaries wrest­ing all the Actions and Sayings of Honest men into the worst Sense.

Nevertheless many Royalists in disguise crossed the Sea and waited upon the King; and o­thers who came hither from the King, were by his Friends informed what to do. All that they could do, was gradually to confer Councils, encourage one another, plot and contrive, gather supplies, and by blowing the Coals, raise such a Flame as might at length destroy the Enemy. Yet some of them, of whom I shall mention two, Sir Charles Berk­ly, and Sir Henry Slingsby, were taken by the watchfulness of Informers; but both made their escape; though the last falling again in­to the Noose, payed for his Loyalty, and lost his Head by Sentence of the High Court of Justice.

Ascham, who he was:About that time Ascham, whom I named a little before, a Fellow of obscure Birth, de­siring to show his Gifts and get himself a Name, by writing against the King, and for the abominable change of Government, which the less it beeame him to do, for that heretofore (under the Earl of Northumberland) he had had the institution of the Young Duke of Glocester, is therefore in quality of Envoy with Ribera an Italian, An envoy from the Rump-Par­liament to the King of Spain, as his Interpreter sent into Spain to treat of Affairs. But he had got himself so much hatred by his Writings that were published, and the Employment he now under­took, that some conspired a revenge, and suddenly breaking into his Chamber at Ma­drid, [Page 73] against all Law and Equity killed both him and Ribera his Interpreter. He is privately killed with his Interpreter. One of the Mur­derers taken, making his e­scape suffers for it. The Ambassa­dour of Venice gave Sanctuary to one of the Murderers; another being taken making his escape, publickly suffered for it. The rest to the number of three took Sanctuary in a Church till the Ecclesiasticks should have time to take cognisance of the Cause. But by de­laying of time, and lengthening out the de­bate, the English also infesting the West Indies, they at length get clearly off.

It is fit we should also mention the good Of­fices of the emulous King of Portugal, The King of Portugal of­fends the Regi­cides, because he would not force Prince Rupert and Prince Mau­rice cut of his Harbours, when Blake desired to fight them. Blake therefore takes some Por­teguese Ships laden with Su­ger, and sends them into Eng­land. The Prin­ces hardly escap­ing, sail to A­merica. and how for the sake of our Prince he provoked the Rebel Hornets. Prince Rupert and Prince Mau­rice, when they fled from Ireland, found Pro­tection at Lisbon: But Blake Admiral of the Fleet for the Rump-Parliament pursuing them hither, desires leave to sight the Prince's Ships. The King of Portugal thinking that the Laws of Hospitality were not so to be violated, se­ing it was not safe for him openly to refuse, he shifts the matter, and forces not the Prin­ces to put out to Sea. Blake being highly of­fended at this, Cruises upon the Coast; and at length meeting with a Fleet of seaven or eight Sail of Ships laden with Sugers, he takes them and sends them into England. He himself, in the mean time having pursued the Princes who had put to Sea again, comes up with them at Carthagena, a Spanish Town in the Streights, and in the Bay of Vera, forces them ashoar; but both of them escaped in one of their Ships, and Sailing with one or two more Ships to the West Indies, they leave Spain to be sufficiently mau­led by the Parliament.

But a terrible Hurricane which is frequent [Page 74] in the Torrid Zone, Where Maurice was unhappily cast away, having separated Maurice from his Brother, he was cast away with his Ship and Men in the dreadful Storm. Here we cannot but sigh at our Calamities, in the dis­mal fate of so Illustrious a Youth. Unhappy English, who with blind rage have consumed the Relicts of the Palatinat! and accursed Broils of Britain, that shipwrack't that Life which escaped the Sword of Austria! I should give way to lamentations, if our shame could add Glory to the Dead, or give comfort to the surviving Family. But a Valiant man is not to be by womanish houling lamented; neither does true Grief require an ambitious pomp of Words, nor great sorrow admit it. Let us only then, which is all we can do, with our Tears wash out the stain of our unlucky Age; to which Crime it is no small accession, that the Ocean and other World are also polluted with the destruction of the Royal Family. But Prince Rupert (which was some comfort) having sent his Goods into France; Rupert retur­ning back to the Coast of France. with much adoe was saved.

I return to Portugal, from whence the steam of Sugar attracted an Ambassadour to London. Now would God the Supreme disposer of all things, The Portu­guese Ships are restored. suffer that so remarkable constancy of so good a King, should turn to the dam­mage of his Subjects. For the Ships being re­stored, the War that was threatened, was up­on supplication averted, a new League made, and the Peace afterward more religiously ob­served. The Rebels, indeed, think it below them to make reparation for dammages; yet they make them good by a War they were to engage in with the Dutch and Spaniards, to the great advantage of the Portuguese. I mention [Page 75] not the Glory of assisting distressed Princes, a rare thing amongst Kings. But after all, he himself has no cause to fear, but that his kind­ness shew'd to a King, heretofore in distress, will, by the same Prince, who never forgets those that have deserved well of him, now rai­sed to the Throne of his Ancestours, and joyn­ed to him in Affinity, be repayed to him and his Subjects with plentiful interest.

But now we have affairs nearer home, Strickland, the Ambassadour, being slighted in Holland, re­turns home. and with the Dutch again to consider. Strickland having long resided in Holland, as Ambassadour, is now slighted; and being allowed no more a place in the Assembly of the States, he returns home. But that the Parricides might repay one Affront with another, they command Ja­cobin Vanodenskirk, the Dutch Ambassadour to depart the Kingdom of England, The Dutch Ambassadour is commanded to depart Eng­land, upon pretext that the King being dead, the Negotiation with the States was now at an end. But soon after, as if they repented what they had done, Schae­pie is sent to treat of Peace, who, though he was but an Agent, and empowred only by one City, to wit, Amsterdam, to treat, yet, by the Rump-Parliament, To whom another presently suc­ceeds from Am­sterdam. St. Jones and Strickland are sent into Hol­land with great Equipage. he is honoured with the Title of Ambassadour, who take occasion, on the other hand to send two Ambassadours with Royal and Magnificent Equipage, to wit, Oliver St. Jones, one of the Members of the Rump-Parliament, and Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas, and Walter Strickland. These have Instructions, To clap up a Peace, and that by a Coalition of both Na­tions into one, they might live under the same Go­vernment, have the mutual Priviledges of Habitati­on, Trading and Harbours of each Country indiffe­rently: But these were not to be divulged, but piece and piece, and by degrees, if they found [Page 76] the People inclineable, and fit to comply with such Propositions.

Who neverthe­less being fool­ed by the States,But the States had no inclination to settle a Peace, until they found the success of the affairs in Scotland. But after much adoe, having at length given Audience to the Ambassadours, they put them off from day to day, till they pro­posed, at long run, some long winded Articles of Peace, drawn up in the time of Henry VII, to be considered; which, so soon as the Am­bassadours had rejected, they devise others to drive away time, until the Ambassadours, find­ing themselves fooled, might hasten their de­parture. But, during their stay in Holland, the States were necessitated to place a Guard at their Door; And exposed to continual dan­gers; nor was that sufficient to secure them from Affronts, but that their Windows were every night broken, or they themselves disturbed by I know not what Bug-bears and Apparitions. There was also a strong report, that a certain Relation of St. Jones came to his House, that, with a Bow-string, he might strangle him after the manner of the Turks Mutes, but that because he saw no way to escape, if he had committed the Fact, he abstained from attempting it. The Ambassadours being startled at these things, and daily fearing worse, They return without doing of any thing. and not knowing how long they might stay, nor what answer bring back, they re­turn without any effect of their Negotiation.

This enraged the Parricides,But great were the Disorders that this Af­front occasioned, and severe was the Revenge which the Parricides hatched in their Hearts; being resolved, that if the affairs in Scotland suc­ceeded according to their wishes, they would never rest nor sheath their Sword, before they had forced by Arms the Conditions, which by [Page 77] Ambassadours they could not obtain. In the mean time they thought it enough at present, to give out Letters of Reprisal, And made them give out Letters of Reprisal. and by other mens hands, revenge the Injuries done to themselves; and to make an Act, that no Merchandise, of what Country soever it were, should be brought into England, unless imported in English Bot­toms by English Sea-men, or fraighted by Eng­lish Merchants.

Let us make a trip over to Sweden, Whitlock Sails to Sweden with a splendid Em­bassy for the Que [...]n the Queen whereof had lately sent an Envoy to Compli­ment and Congratulate the Regicides: To her therefore Whitlock is sent in a splendid Embas­sie, to return the Honour and Compliment, and also to make Peace with her, to which she very willingly consented. But the Queen being short­tly after removed, or, to use a softer expession, having resigned the Crown, Who resigning the Crown, the King sends ov [...]r Bond Ambassa­dour to Crom­well. the King of Swe­den sends over a Reciprocal, and no less Honou­rable Embassy, by the Lord Christopher Bond, a Senator of the Kingdom, to Cromwell, who then had the chief administration of the Govern­ment.

The Isles of Silly lay very convenient for mo­lesting the Trade of the English. An expedition for reducing the Isles of Silly. There the Royalists cruising too and again with four or five small Vessels, did no little hurt to the Regicides, and would have done much more, could they have been morgaged to the Dutch, as it was commonly reported. For plucking out of this Thorn, great preparations are made at Plimouth, not above fifteen Leagues distant from the Islands. Where Blake and Popham having pro­vided some small Vessels and Boats, they take the opportunity, and set Sail from thence in the night time, with three hundred Souldiers, be­sides Sea-men, and having had a fair Wind, [Page 78] next morning they come to the Land. There are in all ten adjacent Islands, divided only by narrow Passages of an Eddy Sea, and on all sides secured by Shelves and Rocks. In three hours time they take Threscoe and Briari, Of which two, after a conflict of three houres continuance, are taken. with the loss of fifteen Men: but of the Garrison, a Boat being sunck, about fourty were drowned, one hundred and twenty made Prisoners, and about fourty Guns taken, which the Royalists out of two Friggats, had planted upon the shoar. The raging of the Sea appeasing the Fury of the Souldiers, made for two days time a Cessation, not unlike to a Peace. But on the third day, when it was Calm, they began to thunder on both sides with their great Guns, on the one hand from Threscoe, and the other Islands, and on the other, from St. Mary's Grimsby Haven, being betwixt them. The rest at length surrender upon articles. But the Governour Green­vill, now Earl of Bath, wanting supplies, at length, upon pretty good Conditions, surren­ders the Island.

As also upon Barbadoes, an Island in Ame­rica.Shortly after, that continual Victories might drop into to the lap of the Rebels, news was brought from the Caribbe Islands, that Barbadoes, the richest of them, had delivered it self up into the power of Aisckew, according to the exam­ple of which the rest would take their measures. He, with eighteen or twenty Sail of Men of War, had steered his Course to the West In­dies, to reduce those Islands once more under the yoak of England; and setting upon them unexpectedly, he took twenty or thirty Dutch Ships, who in contempt of two Acts, drove a Trade with them; cruising off and on in sight of the Island, he blocked it up for the space of six Months, and at length, a Sedition arising a­mongst the Planters, he forced the Lord Wil­loughby, [Page 79] whom the King had made Governour of it, to surrender.

Whilst these things are acting in the Indies, they erect of new in England, a High Court of Justice, as they were pleased to call it, A high Court of Justice is again erected, and that a standing Court. not upon the account of a present Emergent; but to con­tinue for six Months, which if it could pass with­out the envy of Tyranny and Oppression, might be adjourned de die in diem. Keeble is by the Rump-Parliament made President of this Court, being assisted by others, and fifty Assessors of the popular Faction. Most of these being Souldiers, were ready at the beck of the General, to smite the Prisoner as an Enemy; all the rest were Creatures of the new Common-wealth, whose hopes and whole Estates depended upon the fa­vour of the Parricides; except, perhaps, one or two, who had more Zeal than Judgment. And this horrid Violence, unheard of under the Go­vernment of our Kings past in all Ages, is impo­sed upon the ignorant multitude, under the spe­cious name of Justice. These Men had Power to bring before them, try and punish without appeal, any that had held Correspondence with the King, Queen, Duke of York, the Royalists, or Irish, that had assisted them by Word, or Deed, or receiv­ed them into their Houses, or that had delivered up any Castle, Town, or Ship, or had attempted a­ny such Surrender; besides many other Crimes of the same nature. Now if you inquire into the constitution of the Court, and whence it deri­ved its Authority, you must know, that it was first appointed against the Kings Majesty, by those who were so far from having any Power of administring Justice, that, by our Laws, and Customs, they had not the Power to con­demn the meanest Slave; then against the No­bles; [Page 80] afterwards as occasion offered, it was of ten made use of; but now was turned into a custome. If any man was suspected of plotting and contriving against the Publick, he was pre­sently dragged before this supreme Tribunal, and exposed to the Calumnies of pettifogging Lawyers, who for a little Reputation and Pro­fit sold their Souls in pleading against him; who having none to defend his Cause, and be­ing terrified or shamed out of Countenance, without the Evidence of two Witnesses, or the Verdict of a Jury of twelve men, (which has onely force in England) he is Condemned, and why should not I say Murdered?

A lively descrip­tion of the sad faee of affairsIt was, indeed no small matter of terrour, to see a drawn Sword hanging as by an Hair over all mens naked Heads, at every minute ready to fall upon them. About that time especially, and afterward when Cromwell had got the chief ad­ministration of the Government, whole swarms of informers wandered about in all places, Informers swarm in all places. both publick and private, sacred and prophane. They listned in Churches, sneaked into compa­nies in Taverns and Alehouses, and went to wrestling in the Rings. Noblemen and Gen­telmens Servants were corrupted, that they might discover what their Masters talked at Ta­ble; the chief Vintners or their Drawers at least were feed, to hearken to the free discourses of their Customers over their Wine, either in the room or skulking behind the Hangings, or thin partition Walls. Such kind of Spies and eave-droppers, Nothing secure from Spies. Hiero the Tyrant of Syracusa used to employ, who were called [...] and [...], In a word, Prisons were full of accu­sers that they might accuse; so that there was no Village free from snarlings nor snares. The [Page 81] Cities themselves were filled with solitude, silence, trembling and fear. All flocked into the Coun­trey, not for pleasure or the Society of their Neighbours, but where they could find solitude and retreat; where the Barrenness and desertness of the place might neither allure Soldiers nor secure Informers; where they might neither be known, nor have acquaintance, and where a­voiding the company of men, they might have the satisfaction of being secure, without the plea­sure of the Countrey or company. All Neigh­bourhood, Society, and intimacy were suspe­cted. Those who where naturally averse from ill things, yet often deceived, because they had been deceived before. Into such confusion had the Rout, the disturber of common Peace, put all things. Who had a thou­sand tricks to do mischief, With observant eyes do cu­rious Spies run about, and were not idle when they had nothing to do. They tope it stoutly that by a gentle rack they may pump out the secrets of the heart. They pry into words and actions, but much more into mens looks, the in­terpreters of the mind. It is their business to hanker about for Rumors, and spread reports, to rouze the drooping hopes of the credulous, and to foment them with strange stories, which after­wards vanishing into smoak, they might be cowed and rendered more pusillanimous for the future.

The Noblemen and Gentlemen who had been of the contrary side, are pursued with secret whi­spers and calumnies wherever they could be pickt up, onely to vex them; the more mode­rate are obnoxious to Suspicions: Those who were found any way to have assisted or corre­sponded with the King, were either forced to bribe lustily or to stand a Tryal. There were [Page 82] also a kind of Duckoys and Trapans, A New set of Trapans come in play, of all men the most accursed, whose chief study was to teaze the more hot-headed and cholerick, and draw them thereby into Capital snares; and when they had thus caught them, inform against them that they might be brought to a Tryal, or oppress them with secret Calumnies. Who amongst others, are fatal to Colonel An­drews. Colonel Andrews thus circumvented lost his Head. Nor was the president Bradshaw ashamed openly to declare in Court, that by counterfeit Letters he had cor­responded with him in the name of the King. Thus was the Estate of the Lord Craven confis­cated; By the craft of these, the Lord Craven is for­feited. though being no way obnoxious, but for a large Estate which he possessed in England, he lived beyond Seas in Holland. Whither one Faulk­ner of that Gang, a turn-coat to the Kings Party, being sent, (but for what end I dare not affirm,) laid a snare for him. One single evidence, and he infamous too, was sufficient to the partial and mercenary Judges, for the fellow was afterwards for the same deposition convicted of perjury, who having given under his hand contrary to what he had sworn, to the Judges eyes bely'd his venal Tongue. These are the counterfeiters of Com­missions, of the King's Signet, forgers of writings and hands, and the Cony-catchers of Novices. They of their own accord give men Autho­rity to raise Soldiers, And others brought into the danger of their lives. and then turn that Autho­rity to their ruine, Deliver Letters, which they venture to do, though (as they say) upon the Peril of High Treason, and then inform the Soldiers that they might seize the Parties with the Letters, bring them before the new Court, and point blank condemn them to Death. In the mean time there was no accusing of the clan­destine authors of the Villany, Whilst the accur­sed authors are secure, and far less bring­ing them to Justice. So that it clearly appeared [Page 83] that these were not the crimes of private men, but publickly deliberated, As being put up­on these tricks by the Regi­cides. forged in the shop of the Politicians, and committed to the Myrmi­dons, who as Jackcalls to the Lyons, might make it their business, to hunt out for Crimes, which the High Court of Justice might run down.

The Scots being long uncertain what to do, The Scots con­sent to Monarchy, and that in the person of Charles the Se­cond, those that were of a con­trary opinion not daring to resist: Yet they disagree about the condi­tions. and divided into divers Factions, at length re­solve upon Monarchical Government, and pro­claming CHARLES the Second King. A few who relished a Republick, being of the same mind with the Regicides, concealed their rancour, not daring to discover themselves, nor resist. But upon what Conditions he should be admit­ted to the Throne is seriously debated; nor never well agreed upon. Most of the High­landers, firmly maintain that no other Articles are to be demanded of his Majesty but the anci­cient promises which the Laws injoyned at the inauguration of Kings. Others, to wit the Covenanters, would have him first to subscribe the Solemn League and Covenant, give signs of sorrow and repentance for his Father and Mo­ther's sins; and all banished and turned out of Court who had carried Arms for his Father, or had not as yet taken the Covenant. I mention not the rest; as being but a few, whose minds were either corrupted by Bribes and Pensions from the Regicides,, or were infected with the contagion of their Friends the Democraticks; At length CHARLES the Second is proclaimed King of Scotland England, and Ireland; and who urged severer terms, that they might raise new scruples, and cut off all way for the King's admission. At length, the middle party pre­vailing, CHARLES the Second is by He­ralds, in all publick Place, proclaimed King of Scotland, England and Ireland.

[Page 84] And Windram is sent to the King from the Convention of Estates,In the mean while the debate growing long in the Convention of Estates, and Committee of the Kirk, who were to consider of the matter and to draw it up into Form, they themselves at length resolve to send Windram, Laird of Lib­berton, to try the Kings mind; who having de­livered him Letters full of sorrow, and regret, for the horrid and unparallelled Murder of his Father, That he might inform him up­on what conditions he was to be admitted. assures him that the Scots were ready to obey him, had proclaimed him King and Suc­cessour to the Crown, and that upon the follow­ing Conditions, they would admit him to the Supreme administration of the Government.

The Proposals were to this effect. That the King should subscribe the Solemn League and Co­venant, Which were to this purpose. and consent by act of Parliament that all his Subjects should take it, confirming all that they had done for that purpose. That he should confirm the acts of the two last Sessions of the Parliament; which condemns Duke Hamilton's late engagement and irruption into England. That he should recal his Commission to Montross, whereby he had Power to raise Souldiers in Scotland, or bring them into Scotland from abroad. That he would renounce his right of Negative Vote. That he would suffer no Papist about him, and lastly, that he would appoint a place in Holland, where Commissioners might wait upon his Majesty, for adjusting of these pro­posals and of other things that might be previous to his voyage.

The King ha­ving read the Letters writes back to the Scots by Flee­ming.These Proposals were made in the Isle of Jer­sey, where the King with many of his Courtiers then was, who, having received the Letters, made Windram very welcome; and not long af­ter sent Sir William Fleeming to the Scottish Nobi­lity and Committee of the Kirk with Letters of re­ciprocal congratulation. At length he writes [Page 85] to them by Windram. Afterwards by the same Win­dram; And appoints Breda in Hol­land for a Trea­ty. That he was well pleased with their obedience and indignation against the Re­gicides, exhorts them, that they would seriously endeavour the restoring of Peace and Concord; that for that end he should not be wanting in any thing; and bids them for that purpose send Commis­sioners to Breda, with whom he would treat about the re-establishing of Peace.

The King being willing to deliberate about these matters more seriously, Then deliberates with his Friends. privately demands the Opinions of his Friends, writing to those whose Affairs hindered them from waiting Personally upon him. But so many Heads, so many Minds; yet the Opinions were di­vided chiefly into two. Of whom some dread all con­cord with the Scots: Some perswade him not at all to listen to the Scots, there being treachery hid under the specious Cloak of obedience. They represent to him his Father as an Instance of it, who had been long gull'd with fair promises, until he was forced to be severe to his most faithful Subjects; and then afterward was delivered up to the pleasure of the Faction. That they would cloath him with the Name and Title of a King, but keep all the Power and real Authority in their own hands. And that if he offered for the future to re­sist, and get his neck from under the Yoke, they would deliver him up to the English Regicides, or kill him with their own hands. That he would do better to stick by Montross, than by the united Forces of Scotland, whom he had found to be faithful and brave in doubtful and difficult times, and magna­nimous and fortunate at a pinch; that with his own, and the Forces of his Friends, succours from a­broad, and the aid of the English, Irish, and Scots, he might mount his Throne in spight of all the at­tempts and endeavours of his Enemies.

Others again magnified the Authority of Par­liament, [Page 86] and the Power of the Covenanters, Others perswade him to listen to the Scots, giving it out, that the English also who loved Presbytery, secretly favoured the Scots, though at present they discovered not themselves; that it would procure him likewise reputation abroad, to be owned King of Scotland: As the Queen-Mother also did. That the Queen also exhorted him to make Peace with the Scots; who though at first they proposed severe and grievous Con­ditions of Union, yet his Majesty would in progress of time obtain more easie terms, the Covenanters by long conversation and frequent Offices being won over to calmer and milder Dispositions; that they consulted their own Interests, under the Veil of Divine Worship and Cloak of Religion, and that by comply­ing with the Times, he would at length find the Scots more tractable and submissive to his his Will and Pleasure. Thus the King betwixt Scylla and Charybdis, was for some time at a stand, ☞ uncertain to what side to adhere, but resolving to determine himself for the future as occasion did present.

Windram being sent into Scotland, the Kings Answer is kindly received, and joyful hopes of concord begin to shine out over the whole Nation. The King ac­quaints Mon­tross with the Treaty to be held with the Scots at Bre­da: The Kings Majesty, in the mean time writes to Montross, to whom he had formerly given a Commission to invade Scotland, acquaint­ing him with what the Scots had done, what answer he had sent to them, and that a Trea­ty was to be held at Breda for settling a Peace: That he nevertheless should go on in levying Soul­diers, that he might with as many men as possibly he could make be ready in Scotland, at the time that the Scots began their Treaty. For so he doubt­ed not but that they would insist upon easier terms, when they perceived him in a readiness to revenge [Page 87] by Arms the injuries that might be offered to him. Now his Majesty thought it fit to leave Jersey, And presently leaves the Isle of Jersey. both because he had intelligence that the Rump-Parliament were preparing a Fleet, for invading the Island; and also that all things necessary might be in readiness against the time of the following Treaty.

In the mean time the convention of the Estates of Scotland consult about Proposals, The convention of the Estates of Scotland chuse Commissioners, and the chusing of Commissioners to be sent to the King: Where the Ministers forgetting all Modesty and Justice, propose Conditions extreamly ri­gid, difficult and impossible; for qualifying and mitigating which the Lay-men bestir them­selves; and at length they ioyntly agree upon this. That the Commissioners be the Earls of Cassils and Louthian, the Lord Burleigh, and Laird of Liberton; Smith and Jeffreys to re­present the Laity; and Brodie, Lawson, And agree upon Articles to be sent to the King. and Wood, the Clergy. That the Proposals should be these. That a Proclamation should be issued out, prohibiting all Excommunicated Persons to come to Court. That the King should bind himself by his Royal Promise under Hand and Seal, to take the National Covenant, and the Solemn League and Covenant of the three Kingdoms. That he should besides ratifie all Acts of Parliament, where­by the League and Covenant, Presbyterian Govern­ment, the Directory of Worship, Confession of Faith and Catechism are enjoyned; and that he should use the same in his own Family, and not suffer them to be innovated or abolished by any. Moreover that in all Civil Affairs, he should govern according to the direction of Parliament, and in Ecclesiasticals, ac­cording to that of the Assembly of the Kirk. Which, proposed at Breda: These Proposals are after a Sermon, were delivered by the Earl of Cassils at Breda. The King asking [Page 88] if they had any more to say? They answer, Nothing; and after, if they were obliged by any engagement to be revenged on the Regi­cides? They answer, By none.

And presently after a few more by other Com­missioners; espe­cially against Montross.Whil'st his Majesty was consulting about these, other Commissioners come, to wit, Mur­rey and the Earl of Carnwath, with some few ad­ditions to the former Proposals; as that His Majesty would forbid Montross and his Followers to enter the Kingdom, and by his assent confirm the last Acts of Parliament.

And now it is time to relate the misfortune of Montross. He being honoured with the Kings Commission, uses all his endeavours amongst the Sweeds, The deplorable fate of that Ex­cellent Hero is related; Danes, Poles, Germans, and all the Northern Nations, that being furnished and as­sisted with Men, Money, Arms and Provisions, he might pass over into Scotland. And with­out delay, having for haste left behind King with a Body of Horse in Sweden, who designed to follow him; and Ogilbey also in Holland to gather the disbanded Souldiers of the Prince of Oranges Army, Who w [...]th a small handful of men arrives too soon in Scotland. who misapplied the Money designed for that purpose; with fifteen hundred Arms furnished by the Queen of Sweden, fuor Ships, (of which two were cast away upon the Rocks) and four hundred raw Souldiers raised in a hurry, he arrives at the Isles of Orkney; and there having ioyned about a thousand of the Islanders, most part Fisher­men, he set Sail and landed at the Wick of Cathness; chearfully reflecting upon what he had done before, and full of hopes, that he should in a short time get together a consi­derable Army, by the concourse of those who had heretofore been for the King.

But, alas! that hope deceived Montross. The [Page 89] Nation was now of another mind, He is sadly dis­appointed of his hopes, the Nati­on being now worn out with troubles, and in­clinable to peace. being tired out and broken with the Wars, their dangers over, inclinable to Peace; and restrained by the severities of the Covenanters. The whole Country was in Arms, so soon as they heard of his arrival. The Parliament happened at that time to be sitting, and not without the King's Command, and had seven or eight thou­sand men under the Command of Lesly. The Clans chose rather to have a Peace from any Masters, than an uncertain one, though more favourable; and to enjoy with security ra­ther an incommodious rest, than with the dan­ger of Fortune to endeavour a change by stirs. Nay many who were even ready to lay down their lives for the King, having now at length capitulated with the Parliament, and promised obedience and submission, think they cannot act contrary without a Crime.

Nevertheless he takes Dumbeath Castle, He takes Dum­beath. with a resolute mind advances farther; and expect­ing that the Earl of Seaforth would joyn him with two thousand Men, And hastens to p [...]ssess himself of a Pass. But Straughan was at hand with three hun­dred Horse. whom he had raised for the King: He hastens to possess himself of a narrow and difficult pass, which being taken, would facilitate their Conjunction. But Straug­han met him upon his march, who was sent before by Lesly with three hundred choice Horse, that he might watch his motion, beat up his Quarters, withstand his Progress, inter­cept Men and Provisions that might be sent to his Camp, and if a fair occasion offered, not only Skirmish with him, Who perceiving his opportunity, falls upon him, easily routs and puts his men to flight. but put it to the haz­zard of a Battel. This Man perceiving them to be out of order, weary, and only Foot, in an open and plain Champion, falls suddenly in upon them, and tries the fortune of War; and [Page 90] with that success, that the Souldiers of the Isles at once throwing away both their Arms and Courage, betake themselves to flight.

The Germans in the mean time defending themselves, Montross be­takes himself to flight, and being spent with three days fasting, con­fiding in a trea­cherous man, is brought to Leslie, until getting leave to depart, they sailed over Seas. All the Baggage was taken by Straughan and the Standard, bearing the Fi­gure of a Head cut off, with this Motto, Judica & vindica causam, Domine, Judge and avenge the Cause, O Lord. Montross fled, and having changed his Cloaths with a certain High-lander, for three or four days he lurked, accompanied only with one Servant, till being weakned and spent with Hunger and Fasting, he trusted him­self with the Laird of Aston, who, although he had formerly served under him, yet, having changed his Faith with his Fortune, betrayed him to Leslie for a reward of two thousand pounds. The Lord Freuderick, Colonel Hur­rie, Francis Haye of Dalgetty, another Haye of Naughton, Sibbald, Grey, Spotswood, and others were likewise taken by Straughan.

And from thence into the Jaws of his Enemies, and is basely u­sed at Edin­burrough:But Montross is made a subject of triumph, when he was come within a Mile of Edinburrough, is ordered to be bound by the Hangman, in a Chair, and planted backwards in a Cart, that he might be seen of all, the Executioner riding with his Cap on upon the Beast that drew the Cart; and in that posture he is carried to the Tolbooth, the publick Prison for Malefactors; many of the Spectators bursting out into Tears, when they reflected upon the changeableness and inconstancy of Fortune.

Next day he is in Parliament ac­cused of hainous Crimes,Next day he is arraigned at the Bar of the Parliament. It is objected against him, That he had stopt the Kings Ears to the Parliament, and to the rest of his Subjects, who gave him good Counsel; [Page 91] That he had brought over the Irish Rebels to make War in the very heart of the Kingdom: That he had heretofore slain some of the Parliamentarians; That he had committed many Spoils, Depopulations, and Devastations, in the Lands of the Marquess of Argile; That he had ill treated some Ministers upon his first coming into Scotland; That upon his second landing in Scotland, he had brought foreign Souldiers with him, and that without Commission, for what was known to others; That he had been ill affected towards all Covenanters, and that he had basely broken the League and Covenant, which he had solemnly taken and Sworn. These were the Crimes that were laid to his Charge. But he foreseeing that a defence would not stand him in any stead, answers in short and general terms; Which he shortly answered and refuted. That it was very well known he had made the Inva­sion by Commission from the King; that he had ne­ver acted any thing, which was not approved by the Kings Command, and his own Conscience; that by the League and Covenant he was bound to obey the Kings Majesty as well as the Commons. He was only brought twice before the Parliament, and a third time to receive Sentence, Nevertheless he is Condemned by Chancellour Loudon, to suf­fer in a most horrid manner. pronounced by Chancellour Loudon, with all maginable bit­terness and Contempt, which he undauntedly, and without the least Sign of Consternation, heard given against him in these Words.

That next day, the one and twentieth of March, one thousand six hundred and fifty, he should be hanged on a Gibbet at the Cross in Edinburrough, until he died, his History and Declaration being tied about his neck, and to hang three hours in pub­lick view of all the People, after which he should be beheaded and quartered, his Head to be fix'd upon the Talbooth of Edinburrough, and his Legs and Arms over the Gates of the Cities, Sterling, Glas­cow, [Page 92] Dundee, and Aberdeen: And in case he repented (whereby the Sentence of Excommunication may be taken off by the Kirk) the bulk of his Body should be buried in the Gray Friers, if not, in the Burrough Moor (a place like TYBƲRN). No­thing did his Blood descended from the Race of the ancient Nobility, nor his Heroick Virtues, avail him; nor could the Clemency that he had us'd towards the Vanquished, nor the Kings Commission, whereby he had undertaken the War, procure him any Favour. Neither, in­deed, did he desire any Favour, but with a brave and undaunted Mind, told them, That he thought it no less honourable to have his Head put up­on the Tolbooth, than to have his Picture hang in the Kings Bed-Chamber: wishing that he had Flesh and Parts enough to be set up in all places, as a mo­nument of his unshaken Loyalty to the King. He piously and couragiously suffered the publick shame he was put to, Next day he suffered a bar­barous and in­humane death. with so much Force in answering the Ministers, such sincerity in speak­ing to the People, and so much Zeal and Fer­vour in his Devotions, that he made the Mini­sters ashamed, cleared his Innocence to the People, and gave a proof of his Piety towards God. None of the Spectatours could refrain from Tears; unless it was the Lady Lorn, who could not forbear laughing; but her Note and Carriage was changed, when she might have seen the Head of her Father-in-Law, Argile, cut off in the same place, as it happened not many years after. Three or four Gentlemen more, who could give any hopes of retrieving the Kings Affairs, that were now sinking in Scotland, were overwhelmed in the same ruin, and pub­lickly put to death.

[Page 93]The news of this horrid Cruelty no sooner came to the Kings Ears, but, The King was extreamly grie­ved at this mis­fortune, and ex­postulates with Murrey. afflicted with ex­tream Sorrow, he sent for Murrey, and told him, that he was grieved at the Heart, that during the very Treaty, when he thought the minds of all to be disposed to Peace, the Parlia­ment had polluted themselves with the Blood of his best Subjects; demanding an account of the whole Tragedy, and of the Blood that was spilt. Yet he judged it most convenient, Yet he conceals his Anger. not to give way to his just Anger, but rather to moderate and restrain his Indignation, no hopes being now left him him, but what depended on the Scots.

The Scots make answer, That they still persist in the same Mind and Loyalty towards his Maje­sty. That they gladly heard that there were hopes of restoring Peace: That he should not be moved with Obstacles that, at first hearing, were grievous: That nothing had been acted in the case of Montross, that the King himself could repent of, or that did not con­sist with Reason and Justice. The Scots la­bour to soften and appease the King, This Answer past by Plurality of Votes in Parliament, though two and thirty Republicans opposed it. That he should hasten his Voyage into Scotland: That they were ready with all their Might and Force to stand by and defend him against his Enemies; tho they had intercepted Letters written to Montross, which they chose rather to bury in Oblivion, than mention.

At length, the King, Who at length consents to their Articles, by the advice of Wil­liam, Prince of Orange, and others, consents to the Articles of the Scots, with some little Qua­lification and Restriction; and bidding farewel to most of his Faithful Domestick Servants, and to the Church-men, his Chaplains, whose com­pany he thought would not be acceptable to the [Page 94] Scots, And together with the Com­missioners, that in different Ships, he puts out to Sea; by whom he is on Board plied with new Propo­sals, about the Solemn League and Covenant. he, with the Commissioners, but in diffe­rent Ships, set Sail from Scheveling in Holland, directing his Course towards the River of Spey. But by that time they were a little out at Sea, the Commissioners came to the King, having, as they said, received new Instructions, and in­treat him that he would Subscribe and Confirm the Solemn League and Covenant, according to the Commands they had received from the Par­liament. For he had signed the National Cove­nant already, and promised not to be against this; he had allowed it also to be imposed upon all others; and told them, that if he might give his Reasons personally to the Parliament, why he could not subscribe it, he would com­ply. Which with re­luctancy he sub­cribes in presence of Witnesses, This so stuck with the King, and vexed him so much, that he was about to have changed his Course, and failed back again to Holland. But being prevailed upon, he at length subscribed; and that no place of doubt­ing might be left, five or six are called to sub­scribe as witnesses to the Act and Deed. No sooner was this Evil over, but he fell into dan­ger by continual storms, and English Frigats, that lay in wait for him, of all things most to be feared. For those that looked from Land, believed those Frigats to have been up with the Kings Ships, though indeed they saw not one another by reason of a Cloud that interposed. And so after so many dangers, And at length, after many dan­gers, arrives in the Spey; under the pro­tection of Almighty God, they all safely arri­ved in the Spey.

With the gene­ral applause of the People.The People were not a little gladded by the Kings Landing in Scotland, testifying their Joys with Shouts, and Acclamations and Bonefires. But the Commissioners, that with shew of greater Honour they might conduct him to Edinburrough, [Page 95] put back those, that in sense of Duty came to salute and honour him, and beat off others with Fists and Sticks, that more importunately approached. He is splendid­ly entertained at Aberdeen; He was splendidly entertained by the Magistrates of Aberdeen, who, for a pledge of their Love, presented him with fifteen hun­dred Marks, which he distributed amongst his indigent, and almost famished Servants. And that occasioned a Proclamation for securing their Money, That such as thought fit to bestow any thing for the interest of the King, it should only be brought into the publick Treasury. The Magistrates of Dundee entertained him likewise magnificent­ly, And at Dundee also. saving that a Member of Montross was to be seen upon a Poll, on the top of the Town Hall; and that the Estates urged him to sign new Articles. Afterwards he came to Edinburrough, And when he came to Edin­burrough, he was solemnly pro­claimed King of Scotland, England, and Ireland. There he is managed at the pleasure of Commissioners, and continually vexed by the Ministers. amidst the reiterated and joyful Acclamations of all the People, and is again by the Heralds pro­claimed King of Scotland, England, and Ireland.

The Kings Majesty is managed according to the pleasure of some Commissioners; access is allowed to such as they thought fit, all others being kept back. His Guard is Commanded by the Lord Lorn, Son to the Marquess of Ar­gile, by whom all the avenues are observed, that no man might envy that splendid custody. In the mean time the Presbyterian Ministers, talk of nothing but Crimes; now inveighing against the Sins of his Father, and by and by again, against the Idolatry and Heresie of his Mother, and the obstinacy of both, towards the Reformation, the Government and Church of Christ: They never rest telling him of Wars, Slaughter, Bloodshed, of his Education and living amongst Bishops, Men of no Religion, and that in a saucy manner, without the least [Page 96] sense of reverence or shame. Labouring to make him a new Creature, by lessons of Re­pentance and Humility, severe rebukes and ad­monitions, that he might carry his Cross, be­fore he put on his Crown, and mount by the Valley of Bacha, to the Throne of regal Au­thority. And all these things they so absurd­ly and clownishly set about, that their Do­ctrins and Instructions were more apt to make him nauseate and eternally hate their ways, than to gain him to a liking or assent to their Opinions. The King one evening walking in the Garden, a couple of dapper Covenant Levites making up to him, and very severely chid him for profaning the Lords Day by a Walk; By the Laicks also almost di­vested of his Royal Power. though he had heard two Sermons, and been publickly at Morning and Evening Pray­ers that day, besides other private Meditati­ons that he was much given to. The Laity also instead of a Crown of Gold shining with Jewels, which they bragg'd they would Crown him with, the precious Stones being secretly and by degrees pick'd out of it, give him one of Feathers, such as Demetrius truly said, no man in his senses would stoop and take up from the ground, by allowing him his Robes, the Name of Majesty, and Ensigns of a King, with the troubles and difficulties of doing Justice, (though that also must be administred after their way;) whilst they invaded and re­served to themselves, the substantial Preroga­tives of making Laws, and Peace, and War.

The Regicides informed of all that past, look to themselves.But these things could not be so kept up from the Regicides (though the Parliaments claw'd one another, with mutual signs of good-will, by Conferences and Messengers, at least no Hostility as yet appears) but that by [Page 97] their Friends and Emissaries in Holland and Scotland, who were well paid for their pains, they were informed of the whole series of the pacification. And therefore they consult how they might provide before hand, against a storm that haug over their heads. Therefore pas­sing by Fairfax, who favoured the S [...]ots, There was an Army in readiness under the Command of Fairfax; but that General was not very prone to enter into a War with the Scots; who had not as yet provoked the English by any inju­ries; they suspected him rather to have a kindness for that Nation; and to be inwardly displeased at the Murder of the King, and subversion of the Government. They there­fore recal Cromwell out of Ireland, Cromwell is recalled from Ireland, who with much so­lemnity and ap­plause returns to London: to give him the charge of the Scottish War. He quick­ly returning home Crowned with Victories and Success, in a triumphant manner entred Lon­don amidst a crowd of Attendants, Friends, Citizens, and Members of the Rump-Parlia­ment, Guarded by a Troop of Horse and a Re­giment of Foot, and amongst them Fairfax himself, went out two miles to meet him, and congratulate his Arrival. But when they were come to Tyburn, the place of publick Execu­tion, where a great croud of spectators were gathered together, a certain flatterer pointing with his finger to the Multitude; Good God! Sir, (said he) what a number of People come to welcome you home? He smiling, made answer, But how many more do you think, would flock to­gether to see me hanged, if that should happen? There was nothing more unlikely at that time; and yet there was a presage in these words, which he often repeated and used in dis­course.

The Regicides and he having consulted, it [Page 98] is thought fit to ease the Lord Fairfax of the burden; and Cromwell is declared Captain Ge­neral of all the Forces in England, Scotland, and Ireland; And is presently declared Cap­tain General of the Forces in place of Fair­fax, for an im­mediate Invasi­on of Scotland. The Scots send Dehortatory Letters; who undertakes the War against the Scots, having ordered Souldiers and Provisions to be sent towards Berwick. The Scots instant­ly send Letters to the Rump-Parliament, Crom­well, and Haselrigg Governour of New-Castle; wherein they complain that the Rump-Parlia­ment design an Invasion of their Country; and that contrary to the Ʋnion agreed upon betwixt both Nations, and the publick Faith mutually given, no War being denounced, the Cause not pub­lished, nor their Answers expected, without giving them time to repent, if they had offended in any thing. To which the English Offi­cers answer. But that the Scene might be continued, The English Officers give an Answer, The summ of which, that the Genius of these times may the better appear to Posterity, I shall here shortly relate. And after a Preface, it was to this purpose.

We are blamed for the Murder of the King, for which we are bound rather to give God thanks, and applaud the Parliament, since the King was guilty of more bloodshed than the cruelty of all his Predecessours; an obstinate Enemy of Reformation, and of all good men; who besides taught his Son to follow his footsteps: Him the sounder part of the Peo­ple, (the timorous and bad Members being secluded) justly put to death; God Almighty show'd them the who way at first, approving it by wonderful successes and continual benedictions. What is on the other hand objected, that the Treaty, the Law of Arms, and the League and Covenant are violated, by a War made before it be denounced, but that Treaty is al­ready abrogated by Hamilton, at the Command of his own Parliament; unless it be thought that the [Page 99] English only are bound by the Religion of Treaties and Agreements, but the Scots not at all. Let them pretend their League and Covenant; but withal, let them consider that therein Religion and the Li­berty of the Subject is in the first place to be secured, ☜ and that the honour and defence of the King is de­signed but in the second place, and in order to the former; since therefore these two thwart one another, it is but just that that which is last, and mor [...] ignoble be dispenced with. As to what concerns the establishment of Presbytery, it was not certainly the intention of the Covenant, by force of Arms, to im­pose it upon people whether they would or not, unless it could be made out by Holy Scripture, and Ar­guments of sound reason; to which they themselves were ready to subscribe. Afterwards they profess in the Name of God, and with bowels full of love and compassion, That it would be their greatest joy, if with­out Arms they might obtain satisfaction and securi­ty. This they cause to be dispersed among the Scots that came to Market to Berwick, there­by to wheedle them, and create a good Opi­nion of themselves, and stir up Factions among the People.

Cromwell also gives the Scots sweet words; Cromwell al­so wheadles the common people of Scotland with sweet words. having published a Declaration, and caused it by his Agents to be dispersed through Scotland: Wherein he bids the honest Inhabitants, through whose Countries the Army was to march, to be of good courage; he having no quarrel with them; and not to depart from their Houses; it being his intention to do injury to no man, but rather to protect all. He moreover puts them in mind of the mo­desty and good discipline of the Souldiers, whereof they themselves were eye witnesses, when he pursued Duke Hamilton 's men into the heart of the Kingdom, tell­ing them that from that was past, they should [Page 100] make a Judgment of what was to come. That he took to heart all the concerns of good men; and that now he drew his Sword against the Authors of wrongs, who had lately polluted both England and Scotland with Blood and Slaughter, and who would involve them into new Miseries, having admitted into their bosom the King, an open favourer of wickedness.

But in vain, seeing all fled, leaving no vi­ctuals behind them.But he sings to the deaf, they being now sufficiently acquainted with his tricks and fal­lacies: For the Inhabitants flying with what Goods they could carry with them, betook themselves to places of more security; nor was there a bit of Victuals to be found in that Country, but what was brought in the Ships that waited upon the Coast.

Cromwell ha­ving entered Scotland,About the end of June, one thousand six hun­dred and fifty, after four days march in the Enemies Country, he came to Musselbrough, with­in a few miles of Edenborrough, with five thou­sand five hundred Horse, eleven thousand Foot, sixteen field pieces, and all sorts of warlike Provisions.

The Scots en­camp betwixt Leeth and E­denburrough.In the mean time the Scots were not idle; but having levied an Army under the Com­mand of Old Leslie, with much expedition, part of the Forces were encamped and strong­ly entrenched betwixt Leeth and Edenburrough. To whose assistance flocked daily Souldiers raised in all parts, who had taken the Cove­nant, and neither served under Montross nor Hamilton. No respect in the mean time was had to the King, who was left at St. Johnston, upon pretext, that he had not spent time e­nough in Prayers and the Works of Mortifi­cation, for receiving the mold and impression of Presbytery.

Cromwell afterward draws up his Army in [Page 101] Battalia, within a mile of the Scottish Camp, Cromwell shews hims [...]lf, and provokes them to Battel: Then thinks of falling in upon their Camp, but thinks it safer to march back to Mussel­brough to re­f [...]esh his Soul­diers. and took the Field that he might provoke them to come to Battel. But the Scots not in­clining to come to an Engagement, he went up to Arthurs seat near Edenburrough, that he might view the Enemy, and consider whether he had not best to fall into their Camp, whil'st his Forces were as yet in good plight, and the Scots not altogether well prepared.

But the Officers disswaded him from that enterprise as being full of danger, if not al­so rash. Wherefore perceiving that no good was to be done that way, he marches towards Musselbrough to refresh his Souldiers, Lambert beats back the enemy in pursuit of the English. Straughan of­fers great mat­ters, relying not only on the Prayers, but al­so the Horse of the Clergy. leaving a Guard behind, that might keep the Enemy in play, if perchance they might charge him in the Reer. And indeed, they did so, and beat and put that party to flight; pursuing them, until Lambert with another Body of men, put a stop to their Victory, though he re­ceived two wounds. Many were killed in that Engagement; which nevertheless was but as a prelude to the Slaughter of the night follow­ing. For Straughan had undertaken, with fif­teen hundred Horse raised by the Clergy, to have Cromwell either alive or dead. For that end Prayers were poured forth in the Chur­ches, and the Ministers roaring from the Pulpits, implored, nay, I had almost said, command­ed the Victory: As if God Almighty had been obliged in duty by all means to assist his own Saints, purged from the leaven of Malignan­cy, and joyned to himself by Covenant, against King-killing Hereticks and Sectarians.

In the mean time Straughan falls in sudden­ly and briskly upon the Cromwellians, He falls upon the English. and puts their Out-Guards into Disorder, but with no [Page 102] happy success, But is beat off, and loses his Horse. for the Enemy coming up in Bodies one after another, beat off the Black-Coat men, and pursued them even to the Camp; Straughan himself having been dismounted, and with much ado escaping into the Town. The fly­ing and consternation was so great, that the Pur­suers had almost entered the Enemies Camp, had not the Kings Majesty, who came that morning, been happily there. For he, causing the Can­non to be turned against the Fugitives, The King redu­ces the terrified Souldiers into order. threat­ned to Fire upon them, if they rallied not, and drew up again in order, under the protection of the Guns of the Camp, that so the Troops one after another might be received into the Camp. His Majesty lay in his Cloaths all that night up­on the ground, For which the Souldiers shew him very great Honou [...]. without a wink of sleep; but the Souldiers next morning being sensible from what danger he had delivered the Army, and how much he had deserved at their hands, had C. R. marked with a Coal or Match, some upon their Hats and Caps, and others on their Coats, as a badge of their gratitude.

The Comman­ders are angry; The Ministers pray him to withdraw:The Council of War was very angry at these things; and the Ministers coming, earnestly beg of him, that he would withdraw, and not expose himself to the dangers of War: They pretend to be in Covenant with God, as no King was; and that That Life, which was to be preferred before the Lives of ten thousand private Souldiers, was not to be exposed to the Enemy; with many things of that nature. But the King obstinately refusing, and judging it unworthy, that he who swayed the Royal Scep­ter, and wore the Crown, should fear Wounds, or shun the shedding of his Blood for his Sub­jects: The Commanders also come and intercede with him: They beseech, urge, and at length [Page 103] not obscurely threaten, that if he would not, he might shift for himself; and if he desired not to meet with worse usage, he would remove to some other place: These reasons so pre­vailed, that at length he withdrew. To whom with much ado he at length listens. Then do the Nobles and Ministers inquire into the Au­thors of the Kings coming, and order almost a thousand Horse, and two thousand Foot to be disbanded, as being Malignants; or that they had not at all, or too late taken the Covenant, without any previous signs of Repentance. But Cromwell at that time knew none of these things, The Prisoners are sent home in Cromwells Coach. who without any ransome sent the Prisoners, whom he had taken, in his own Coach to Eden­burrough, that by that good Office he might ob­lige the Kirk, having not as yet lost all hopes of the Ministers; or at least that he might have an occasion of getting Intelligence of the affairs of the Enemies.

Cromwell marches back to Dunbar, Cromwell re­turns to Dun­bar, where the Ships rode at Anchor, that he might refresh his faint Souldiers with Provisions, give them some rest, and draw the Scots farther off from their Camp; but being impatient of delay, after a few days he marched back again, And from thence suddenly march­ing back again, disturbs the joys of the Scots. and found much rejoycing and feasting at Edenburrough, for the departure of the English, which his sudden approach quickly put a stop to. David Leslie is sent to Cromwell from the Comittee of the Kirk to acquaint him; That the King stumbling at, The Kirk and States renounce the defence of Malignants. and refusing to subscribe to the Declaration offered him by the Committee of Estates, and Commissioners of the Kirk, concerning his former Carriage, and re­solution for the future, is cause of just Grief and Offence, in reference to the Cause of God, and the Enemies and Friends thereof. And therefore they do declare, that they do not, nor will not espouse [Page 104] any malignant Party or Quarrel, but that they fight meerly upon their former Grounds and Principles, in the cause of God and the Kingdom, nor will they own the King, nor his Interest, farther than he owns and prosecutes the Cause of God, &c.

Cromwell takes two Forts in view of the Scots; Cromwell perceiving that there was no way to allure the Scots to a Battel, marches towards Pentland Hills, and in sight of the Army, takes in Collington and Red-house, both garrisoned by Souldiers, that so he might draw the Scots out of their Trenches. But when neither that could do, he drew up his Army, marches too and again about the Camp, views, provokes them, and threatens a present attempt. Ne­vertheless the Scots keep to their resolution, sometimes, Who budg not for all that; indeed, skirmishing with, and harassing the Enemy, but not daring to put it to the try­al of a Battel: Until the Souldiers were enu­red by Skirkmishes and slight Engagements, to look the Cromwellians in the Face, use their Arms, And to wash off the Aspersion of Cowardise, they give Crom­well assurance that they would shortly fight him, and lay aside all fear; and that they might at length, with no great labour, defeat Cromwell's Forces, tired out and weakned, by the badness of Air, Cold, Hunger, watching and frequent Skirmishing.

But, because a rumour was spread abroad, that the Scots kept within their Dens and lurking holes with a whole Skin, not daring, (like Cowards) to hazard a Battel, that they might wipe off that Aspersion, they send a splendid message to Cromwell, to assure him, that within a few days he should have experience of the con­trary. And that they might be as good as their word, And march to the right hand, and come to a halt. two days after drawing out their Forces, they march to the right hand, as towards Ster­ling, and after a short march halt. Cromwell, that he might not seem to decline an opportu­nity [Page 105] of Fighting, now by them offered, He presently fol­lowing, finds a Marish betwixt them. ad­vances against, and follows them: But when he came within Musquet-shot of the Enemy, he puts Spurs to his Horse and advances, that he himself might view, what it was that hindered the Scots from coming on: Finding a great Marish there, which could not without difficulty be passed over, with his great Guns (which was all he could do) he thunders against the Army, to which the Scots, on the other side, return the like answer. This roaring of great Guns lasted about the space of two hours, with no great loss on either side, and then both draw-off, put an end to that kind of Mock-fight.

Cromwell returning to his Camp, From thence he marches to Mus­selbrough to hinder its being surprised, and presently after to Haddington, on Pentland Hills, has intelligence that the Enemy was a­bout to surprise Musselbrough, and intercept the Provisions, which he usually received in Boats from Dunbar. Therefore they march thither in the dead of the Night, and having refreshed the Army, they put on board Ships fifteen hun­dred Men, who being sick or wounded, were not able to carry Arms, and the rest march towards Haddington. The Scots are at their heels Skirmishing with them in the Reer, and flouting and jeering them; nor were they sooner encamped, but that they were set upon; yet only to disturb and allarm them, Next day to Dunbar, the Scots molesting them in their march, not to engage them with the whole Army. Next day the Cromwellians march to Dunbar, midway be­twixt Berwick and Edenburrough, upon the Sea shoar; Lamner-moor Hills to the South, being almost impassable. The Scots sent a Body of Men to Cobberspath, who, though they were but few in number, might hinder a far greater to pass over the Hills; Who encamp thereabouts. and pitch their Camp a­bout Dunbar. This being a very Rainy night, [Page 106] the Officers rambled up and down, and the private Souldiers, I know not by whose Order, had put out their Matches, (which as it usually happens when things go amiss,) was imputed to Treachery) though there was a strong Guard kept next to the English.

About break of day Lambert first falls in up­on the Scots, and presently after Crom­well, who ob­tain a great Vi­ctory.But Cromwell having that night refreshed and cherished his Souldiers in good Lodging, in the Town of Dunbar, divided his Forces about break of day, and sends Lambert first to charge the main Guard of the Scots; he himself fol­lows after, and after a sharp dispute, wherein most part being wounded, many were killed, he dispersed them all, and follows them to the Camp, where presently there was nothing but noise and confusion, Men running to and a­gain, they knew not whither, the groan­ing and sighing of dying Men, shouts and joyful acclamations of the Conquerours, flying and slaughter. Three thousand are killed, nine thousand taken Prisoners; fifteen thousand Arms, all the Artillery and Ammunition, with above two hundred Colours fall into the hands of the Victorious. The Prisoners, (after the wounded sick and weak, and those that were of no value were set at liberty) are sent to New-Castle, in England; where by the Governour Haselrig many of them were starved, having nothing to eat but green Cabbage Leaves, and Oats in a small proportion: The more Robust that out-lived this Diet, are condemned to the Sugar-Mills, and by the English Planters are transported to the West-Indies.

Whilst these things were acting, the Pulpits of Edenburrough resound with Prayers, and pro­mise a certain and speedy Victory, and that the Feet of those who brought glad tydings were at [Page 107] hand. But whil'st they are hourly in expecta­tion of joyful, they receive sad and sorrowful news; Leslie himself the Messenger of the defeat, ren­ders vain the confidence of the Pulpits. Leslie himself arrives about ten of the Clock the same day, and assures them of a to­tal overthrow. So dangerous a thing it is to pass a Judgment of God Almighty, and, by the line of our weak Reason, to fathom the depth of unsearcha­ble Providence. For the purposes of a sincere heart, are many times disappointed by corrupt affections.

Cromwell marching back victorious, during the general Consternation, takes, Leeth, Edinburrough and Leeth forthwith yield to the Conque­rour; But the Castle inexpugnable by Scituation and Art, holds out. E­denburrough, and the neighbouring Garrisons on this side of the Forth. Only Edenburrough Castle durst hold out. It is built on a high a­brupt Rock, inexpugnable by Scituation and Art, to which there is no way to mount, but by one steep side of a Hill, and that but for two, or three together. Dundass had the com­mand of this place, with a Garrison of forty Souldiers, fifty great Guns, and a full Maga­zine. He presently causes works to be cast up, Therefore he commands works to be cast up a­gainst it, to secure the City from the Castle, inviting from thence the Edenburrough Ministers, who had fled thither for security and protection. He commands all the Ships, Vessels, and Boats, From thence he pursues the rem­n [...]nt of the Ar­my to Sterling, but in vain; and leaving that place, visits the Ministers at Glasgow, en­deavouring to allure th [...]m to h [...]s side: and by Letters tries what he could work upon Ker and Straughan. that were in the Forth, either to be broken, or to be brought into Leeth, that all hopes might be cut off, of transporting Men or Ammuniti­on unto the Enemy, on the other side.

From thence he marches to Sterling, whither all the Scottish Cavalry, and the remnant of the Foot had escaped. But finding it stronger, than at that time of the year it could be taken, without success he turns aside to Glascow, there to wheadle and try the Pulse of the Ministers, who managed all things at their pleasure, some he sollicits, others he cajoals and flatters with [Page 108] extraordinary fair Promises, and a little molli­fies them, charming and taming the Syrens with a Cant. He sends likewise to the Committee of Estates, and to try the inclinations of two emi­nent Commanders of the Army, Straughan, and Ker, employing in all places sly and cunning Foxes, who partly with flattering speeches, and partly by threats and snubs, might bend the minds of their Country-men unto his Party, or crush their Resolutions. For two or three days the good man did negotiate with the Ministers; during which time the Souldiers interred a Member of the Marquis of Montross, that was put up upon the Gate, After three days, having taken Jed­brough, he re­turns to Eden­burrough. being in that more ge­nerous and just, than they who had denied it Burial. However, that he might not lose all his labour, he takes Jedbrough, and returns to Edenburrough; and a little after, a Fleet arrives at Leeth with fresh Souldiers, Money, Hay, and all sorts of Provisions.

But because the Rode betwixt Edenburrough and England, was infested by a dangerous sort of Robbers, called Moss-Troopers. In pur­suit of those, Monck marches against Robbers; Monck marches out with a Mor­ter-piece, and some Field-pieces, and a choice Body of Horse and Foot, who having intelli­gence that they had taken their nights Quarters in Dilcon House, not far from Haddington, he beset the House in the night time, and having plyed them with the Morter-piece and Field-pieces, next morning he took them all. Roslan Castle fell next into his hands; Takes Roslan, and the strong Castle of Tan­tallon: and then Tan­tallon, which being seated on a craggy Rock, is on three sides encompassed with the Sea, and strongly fortified to the Land, standing half way betwixt Edenburrough and Dunbar. This Castle was so long battered by Monck, until [Page 109] breaches being made in the Walls, As Fenwick did Hume Ca­stle, almost as strong. the Garri­son surrendered: though when James the fourth of Scotland besieged it, for many months it had resisted the fury of great Guns. About the same time Fenwick takes Hume Castle stan­ding upon a very high and unaccessable Rock, the Garrison having free Liberty to depart.

But we must return to Edenburrough Castle, for reducing of which Cromwell left no means unessayed. Cromwell ear­nestly sets about the reduction of Edinburrough Castle. At first he resolved to attack it by Mines, and having employed both English and Scottish Colliers, who were accustomed to dig in the Coalpits, he falls to mining; and by the force of fire endeavours to soften the stone: But all in vain because of the hardness of the Rock, And having therefore, in vain essayed Mines, he bat­ters it with h [...]s Cannon. which was proof against all his Arts. When therefore he could not blow it up into the Air, he endeavours to batter it down to the ground, and sets men at work night and day to raise a battery, so near the walls of the Castle, that by uncessant battering he might at length make a breach, which be­ing with much labour and pains finished, and fortified with Gabions and baskets full of Earth, he plants thereon, four mortar pieces, and six great Guns, and without intermission batters the place with great noise and damage. Dundas being terrified desires a conference with the Provost of Aberdeen, Till the Gover­nour, having in vain desired a conference and liberty to write to the Council of Scotland, and another (whose name I know not) both being at that time in Edenburrough. These men refusing a confe­rence with him, in the next place, he desires leave to send a Messenger to know the minds of the Council of Scotland, as to the relieving of the place. But since neither that was gran­ted, Cromwell denying him the liberty to send a Messenger, both parties resolve to continue [Page 110] the Siege. At length, the Governour's Wife being bruised by a Granado-shell, And his Wife at length being bruised by a Granado-shell, and an hun­dred and fifty Soldiers who had been privately put in for a supply, occasioning Tumults and Se­dition, the Governour took a pretext of sur­rendring the Castle which he resolved to do be­fore, if he could have an honest colour for it; and having sent a Deputy to Cromwell, both par­ties agreed upon these Articles. Consented to these Articles, That the Castle should be surrendered to his Excellency Oliver Crom­well, with all the Ordinance, Arms, Magazine, and Furniture of War thereunto belonging, on Tuesday the 24 of December. 2. That the Governour, Of­ficers and Soldiers should march with Drums beating &c. in Military posture, to such place as they shall appoint. 3. The publick moveables, private writs and evidences to be removed to Sterling. 4. That Proclamation should be made for all that had Goods in the Castle, to come or send to own and receive them. 5. All sick Officers and Soldiers as well as hurt, to have liberty to stay in Edenburrough, and the English to provide Horses and Waggons for the Governour, and other Officers; and Hostages to be given on the Scots part for performance.

And delivers up the Castle,In the Castle were taken three and fifty piece of Cannon, some of them considerable both for size and beauty; eight thousand Arms, four­score barrels of Gunpowder, and all the Kings Hangings, Tapestry and Jewels. So fell, (as I may say) that winged Castle, its Wings being broken; and that strong place, that gloried in it's Virginity, as having never as yet submitted to a Conquerour, is now deflowred by Crom­well. The Scots cry, it was taken by silver Bul­lets: But of hidden and obscure matters, I shall not willingly pass a Judgment.

[Page 111]In the mean time, The Scots con­sult what is best to be done, the Scottish Nobility on the other side of Forth in a Parliament held at St. Johnston, consult what is to be done in this desperate State of Affairs, for preser­ving the rest of their Countrey, and regaining what was lost: Where the King's Majesty was little regarded, The King sligh­ted, resolves to fly to the High­landers, who were in Arms a­part; who being daily more and more offended against the Presbyterians, resolves to fly to the Highlanders, throw himself into their Arms, take the Patronage of them, and to try a common Fortune with those of his Sub­jects, who, being rejected by the Covenanters, were in Arms separately by themselves; and if it had not been for the reverence and awe they stood in of the King, And by whom he was invited: would have flown in the faces of those Countrey-men of theirs, at least would have been very troublesome unto them. And now being informed how basely the King was used by the Covenanters, they in­vite him to them, promising to protect and defend him; these were the Marquess of Hunt­ley, Earls of Athol and Seaforth, the Lords Ogilby, and Gordon, Middleton and several o­ther great men. The King had already list­ned to these, and secretly casts about with him­self how he might make his escape out of the hands of those Covenanters. Therefore moun­ting on Horse-back without Boots, as if he had been going a Hawking, with three or four more in Company, he slips out of Town, And privately flies to the house of the Lord Diddop. and directs his Journey to the house of the Lord Vicount Diddop, with a purpose to abscond, until the return of the Messengers, who had been sent to learn the minds of the Highlanders, whether or not they were able, and were in­deed willing to assist him.

In the mean time an Englishman having disco­vered [Page 112] where the King was, great debates arise amongst the Nobles, whether the Scots should leave him to shift for himself, and onely look to themselves; or having made submission unto him, and promised greater obedience for the future, they should use his means and Authori­ty for reconciling all parties and perswasions. This was liked of by most; and for that end Montgomery is quickly dispatched, with a trusty party of Horse, Montgomery follows him, that he might represent to his Majesty how dangerous that forsaking of the Covenanters, would be to himself and his Affairs; intreat him to return; and promise better usage for the future. In pursuance of his orders, he came and beset the Lord Diddop's house in the night time, and entring in the morning, And prevails with his Ma­jesty to return. fell at his Majesties feet, and pressed him so urgently, that by his and others perswa­sion, he was prevailed upon to return back with him to St. Johnston.

The Prince of Orange dies.About that time, as an accession to other Ca­lamities, the Death of the Prince of Orange hap­pened. He had fallen sick of the small Pox, which at first seemed to threaten no danger; having been let Blood, put on clean Linnen, and eaten Flesh unseasonably, he suddenly dies; and, indeed, too soon for the King, and his own Family. But he left a posthumous Son, the present Prince, to inherit his just Rights and Dignities in the Ʋnited Provinces.

The Scots at length admit all to the War.Now began the minds of the Scots to bend by degrees. Heretofore none to be admitted into the War, but he who first gave a confession of his Faith, and whose Religion was no ways sus­pected. Flatterers, who could countefeit God­ly looks and grimaces, were freely admitted; but men of Courage, who had signalized them­selves [Page 113] in the Wars, were put back: No Wa­ter could serve them to quench the fire, but what came from the clear Fountain Head; no Sword, but the Holy Sword of the Spirit was to be drawn against the Enemy. But not till they took the Cove­nant. Now all are sha­rers in the War, yet not before they had con­fessed their Sins, and by a kind of Repentance scowred their Consciences. The Marquess of Hamilton is oblig'd of new to take the Cove­nant; as also the Earls of Lauderdale, Those that re­sisted, were by the King's means united to the rest, Craw­ford, Buchan, the Lords, Diddop, Levingstone, and many other Persons of great Quality. Nay and the English also, as the Duke of Bucking­ham, Lord Wilmot, Earl of Cleveland, Massey and others, whose names I do not remember, are associated.

But Middleton and Huntley, not satisfied with the Act of Indemnity, having joyned the for­ces of the Earl of Athol, march against them, and defeat Browns Regiment; and had also en­gaged Lesly, had not the coming of the King put an end to the Controversie, all being relax­ed from Excommunication, taking the Covenant, and associated into the War.

Whilst these things are in agitation on the other side of Forth, the effects of Cromwell's Letters and practises began to appear, The Ministers disagree among themselves. in that Seeds of Sedition being sown amongst the Scots, the foundations of the Kirk were misera­bly shaken; the Remonstrators from the Pulpit railing at the King and his Ministers; and publishing Libels, (nay at length appealing to Cromwell) against General Assemblies, which they sawcily enveigh against, because they pro­hibited their clamorous buffoonery: And in all places cry, that it was lawful for none that were truly Godly to take up Arms, for the cause above [Page 114] mentioned, at the Command of the Parliament, King, or Kirk.

The Remon­strance subscri­bed by many;All the South part of Scotland, with greatest part of the Ministers, and the Horse that were Commanded by Ker, and Straughan, are drawn in to subscribe the Remonstrance; wherein they spew out the poison of their rancour against all those, Who had called in the King too hastily, before he had given certain marks of sincere Re­pentance and Conversion to God; and before they had sounded the minds of the Parricides, who had not had satisfaction; objecting to them much more of the same stuff: At last they propose ways for remedying those Evils. The Parlia­ment and Assemblie of the Kirk at first essay to mitigate and appease those violent Spirits with Lenities, inviting them to send Commissioners to St. Johnston, that if they had any remaining Scrupules, Who behaving themselves sedi­tiously, they might be removed without noise. But they returning an answer more in­solently, propose Sterling as a place of greater se­curity to both meetings.

Ker is ordered to apprehend Straughan, who presently after died.That the Parliament might repress that Sedi­tion, they order Ker to apprehend Straughan, and bring him to Justice: But he discovering the Train, instantly sled into Cromwell's Camp, where soon after dying, he concluded the Ca­tastrophe of his Fortune. And so Ker alone has the command of the Horse.

Cromwell pur­sue, Ker: Cromwell now despairing of the intestine dis­sentions amongst the Scots, pursues Ker; and having ordered Lambert and Whaley with five Regiments of Foot, and an hundred Dragoons, to keep along the South side of the River Clide, he himself advances on the North side. Lambert marching through Peebles, quartered at Hamil­ton; which Ker being informed of by his Scouts, [Page 115] and knowing that Cromwell was absent, with fifteen hundred Horse, Who unexpect­edly falls upon Lambert, he suddenly falls upon Lambert in the night time, and that very suc­cessfully at first, till by chance a Tree being laid cross the street in the middle of the Town, which a Captain with a Company defended, put a stop to their Progress, whilst Lambert drew up his Men, and, surrounding the Enemy, charged them on the Rear. And having made a consi­derable slaughter of them, and Ker himself, who was shot through the hand, being taken, But unfortunate­ly. he pursued the rest to Air, which Town being pre­sently taken, was secured with a Garrison. And so those of the old Army that hitherto remain­ed, are quite broken and dispersed, whether more to the grief or satisfaction of the King, I cannot tell.

About the same time a great Conspiracy of Presbyterians, A Conspiracy di­scovered at London. both Ministers and Lay-men is dis­covered at London; which took vent first in Scotland, and was by Cromwell, upon some sus­pitions he had not without ground conceived, recommended to the Regicides of England to be sifted. A Ship bound for the Isle of Man, to acquaint the Earl of Derby with the whole Scheme of the matter was, by stress of weather, acciden­tally forced into Air: The Souldiers searching the Ship, detect the secret, afterwards the Con­spiratours are brought to Examination at Lon­don; and by the mutual accusations one of ano­ther, the whole Intrigue was laid open. That at the instigation of Massey, and some Scots, they had designed to raise Money and Arms, For raising an Army in Scot­land, to invade England. and therewith levy an Army in Scotland, which being joyned to Ker, the Duke of Buckingham, Lord Wilmot, and Massie, should invade England; Of this are accused, Jenkins, Case, Drake, Love, [Page 116] and many other Ministers, besides Lay-Men, Gibbons, Cook, Potter, &c. Adams, Alured, Bains, and others are brought in, who had ta­ken the League and Covenant of the three Na­tions, as they used to call it, and had served under Essex, and who professed that they had stood on the Covenanters side, that they might pump out all things, but were secretly of ano­ther mind, All that were found guilty of this, are con­demned, and two suffer. that they might so be able to give a clearer Evidence before the High Court of Ju­stice; all of them being convicted are condem­ned to Death; which two, undauntedly suffer­ed; Love, he and Gibbons were the two that suf­fered. one of whom, (that I may take notice of it by the by) by an unseasonable Sermon, formerly disturbed the treaty of Ʋxbridge, rash­ly inveighing against all Reconciliation, as if it were not lawful for those that professed the Christian Religion, to have any Peace, or Com­merce with the Followers of Antichrist, giving that Name to the Royalists. The rest being sufficiently warned, by the punishment of those two, and professing Sorrow and Repentance are one after another gradually dismissed, and set at liberty.

Another Conspi­racy in Nor­folk, Suffolk, and Cam­bridge-shire,Scarcely was that Conspiracy stifled, but a new Sedition arose amongst the Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridge-shire men, which was neverthe­less smothered in the birth, all the undertakers being dispersed; of whom, in Norfolk alone, fifty Men, by Sentence of the High Court of Justice, But in vain; were hanged for that attempt. And that we may insist no longer upon these Trage­dies, The Welsh­men with like success. a great many Welsh in Cardigan-shire ga­thered together, which in a short time might have looked like an Army, had not the Forces, who were ready in all places round about, drawn together, and quenched that Fire with Blood. [Page 117] But this is only a digression, which may some­what serve to excuse the Scottish Invasion, that happened this year.

But let us return again to Scotland, The King is Crowned at Scoon, where now the solemn Coronation of the Kings Majesty is appointed to be at Scoon, seaven and fourty Kings having heretofore put on the Crown of Scotland in that place; where it was performed with as much Pomp, considering the times, and the diminu­tion of their strength, as it had been celebrated in more flourishing ages. The Marquess of Argile put the Crown upon his Head, with joyful ac­clamations of the People, firing of Guns, splen­did Feasting, and Bonefires in all places.

And now Scotland is wholly taken up, in preparations for War, levying of Souldiers, And sets himself wholly to the de­fe [...]ce of the Kingdom. raising Money, and disciplining the Forces. The King himself views the Garrisons that border on Fiffe and Forth, and prepares for defence. From thence he visits the Highlanders, that he might compose the Feuds and Quarrels that were amongst them; but as if they had been possessed with Furies, Dissentions are extinguished. and as if fresh flames had burst daily out of the dead Embers, they bitterly quarrel and contend about Command and Go­vernments; until by order of Parliament the very Names of the Factious are abrogated, and all are freely admitted into the Army, though Argile opposed it. Commissioners are likewise appointed, to remove all impediments, who have Power given them, both of examining and punishing Friends and Favourers of the Rebel- Parricides; The Favourers of the Rebel-Parricides are punished. and whilst many received the condign punishments of these Crimes, Wariston and Cheeseley timely made their escape to Cromwells Camp. The King sets up his Standard at Aberdeen; The King sets up his standard, to which from all places about, Volunteers, and Honorary Soul­diers [Page 118] flock in great numbers. From thence the King marches to Sterling, and having mustered the Army, makes Duke Hamilton his Lieutenant General, David Leslie Major General, Middleton, Major General of the Horse, and Massey, Gene­ral of the English Troops. And having mustered his Ar­my, encamps at Torwood. Having assigned to all their several Offices, he Encamps and En­trenches at Torwood, four miles from Sterling, that he may train up, and put Life in his raw and unexperienced Souldiers, by Skirmishings, and fighting in Parties, before he put them to the Tryal of a pitcht Battel; and that he might in the mean time raise more Forces; in the do­ing whereof, whilst the Earl of Eglinton, and some other persons of Quality, are busie at Dumbarton, they are of a sudden surprized by Lilburn.

The Scots cele­brate the Kings-Birth-day.Amidst the great Cares and Dangers that all lay under, the Kings Birth-day was celebrated with all due Solemnity; to the Honour where­of, the Town of Dundee made splendid pre­sents; to wit, A most excellent Pavilion, six Field-pieces, with Carriages and Ammunition, and which procured them greatest thanks, a com­pleat well armed Regiment of Horse, a mark of true Affection.

Cromwell visits Torwood Not daring to attempt it. Cromwell in the mean time loyters not; but his Souldiers being furnished with new Cloaths, Money, and all other necessaries sent from Lon­don, through New-bridge and Hamilton he marches to Torwood, where furiously moving too and again, he views in all places, if an at­tempt might any where be made upon the Camp. But when he found it so well fortified on all sides, that without danger there was nothing to be attempted upon it, having taken Calendar House, he dares the Scots to come out,

[Page 119] Overton, in the mean while, Overton passes Forth; being provided of Ships, flat bottomed Boats, and other Ves­sels for transporting of Horse and Foot, with sixteen hundred Foot, and four Troops of Horse, puts out into the Forth, with orders to Land at the Queens Ferry, which he easily performed, beating off the Scots that resisted him; and pre­sently casting up a hasty work he entrenched himself, And presently after, Lam­bert, and sends to Lambert to come to his assistance; who at the same place, passing over two Regiments of Foot, and as many of Horse, he was met by Colonel Sr. John Brown and Major General Hobourn, with four thousand men, Horse and Foot. It was stoutly fought on both sides; Who obtained a Victory over the Scots. but with unhappy success to the Scots, of whom two thousand were killed, and twelve hundred taken, with two and fourty Colours, and a­mongst those Brown, who lived not long after the Battle. Thus the English got so sure soot­ting on the other side of Forth, that all the Forces of Scotland were not able to drive them thence. Whilst these things are done at Forth, Cromwell hovers about the King's Camp, as if he were every minute about to attack them; but onely to the end that he might keep them in play, until Lambert had routed the Scots, as we have just now related.

The King now leaving Torwood, encamps in Sterling Park. But the Scots seized with a pa­nick fear, upon the first summons surrender the Castle of Inchgarvey, Garrisons being summoned, pre­sently surren­der. an impregnable place stan­ding in the middle of the Forth, leaving behind them sixteen piece of Cannon, and Blackness, Brantiland also, on the other side of the Frith o­ver against Leeth, surrenders no less disgrace­fully, delivering up the Guns, Ammunition and Ships. Cromwell being informed of these suc­cesses, [Page 120] would not lose time by waiting the mo­tions of the King's Army: Wherefore he pas­sed over to Brantiland, whence sending Whaley to take in the smaller Garrisons which lay upon the Coast of Fiffe, he himself marches towards St. Johnston, Cromwell takes the town of St. John­ston, which the King had entrusted to the defence of the Lord Duffus with twelve hundred men, though to no purpose: For Cromwell having drained the water out of the Mote and Ditches, and battering the Walls with his Cannon, forces a surrender of the place.

The King, in the mean time marches streight to England, Cromwell being now at a great distance from Sterling, and wholely taken up about these matters, the King having given the best Or­ders he could about the Affairs of Scotland, sets out upon his march into England, that in that Kingdom of his, he might try his fate, which had been very cross to him in the other. By Carlisle, There­fore on the last of July one thousand six hun­dred fifty one, at Carlisle he enters England with about fourteen thousand men, Horse and Foot. But the Soldiers march with so much hardship, and so severe discipline, that hardly any Age hath seen the like; Troublesome to no man. so that from Carlisle to Wor­cester, about two hundred Miles distant from one another, no man, much less any house re­ceived the least injury; if you'l except the breaking of one Orchard, and the taking of four or five Apples; for which, notwithstanding, the Soldier that committed it was presently shot to Death. In the chief Towns he is pr [...] ­claimed King of England, &c. In all places on their march, the Garrisons are summoned in the Kings name to surrender, but without any success: And in the more eminent places, by Heralds CHARLES the Second is proclaimed King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland; the people [Page 121] in the mean while being in great Conster­nation.

So soon as the news of this expedition was by Post brought to the Rump-Parliament, The Parricides quaking at the news of it, and the report flying that the King having mounted his Soldiers on Horses which he found upon the Rode, hastened his March towards London, as it is common to fear, to make dangers far grea­ter than they are, such Horror and Consterna­tion invaded the minds of the Parricides and Rebels, that in despair they began to cast about for lurking holes and places of escape, and ac­cused Cromwell of rashness and precipitancy: Until they had notice that the King had diver­ted to Worcester, and received fresh comforts from Cromwell's Letters, who bad them be of good cheer, and use their utmost force, to ob­viat that last danger, and wholely destroy the Enemy.

Harrison on the left hand with three thousand Horse, waited the motion of the King's Army, Harrison and Lambert wait the motions of the King, and in vain oppose him at War­rington Bridge. being for that end left behind on the Borders of England; after followed Lambert, with two thousand; both as occasion offered, harassing and hindering them in their March. At War­rington Bridge, they made the chiefest attempt, to hinder the King's Forces to pass it. But be­fore the Bridge could be cut, Lambert's men being engaged and forced to retreat, the Scots get over. And now leaving London Rode, they resolve to rest at Worcester, a City scituated up­on the Savern; from whence they hoped to re­ceive succours from Wales, and make great le­vies in Glocester and Oxford shires by the means of Muffey, who heretofore had with reputation been Governour of Glocester for the Parliament. Thither therefore they march, and having met [Page 122] with one repulse from some of the Paliament Souldiers that were there by chance, The King easily possesses himself of Worcester. they pos­sess the City, but were much weakened and impaired in strength by the tediousness and length of the march.

He kindly in­vites the Lon­doners to his assistance,From hence, the Kings Majesty, by Letters, invites the Lord Mayor and Common-Council of London, to Arm for his Defence, and for their own just Liberties; promising Pardon to all for what was past, except the Murderers of his Father. But these Letters are burnt at the Royal Ex­change by the Hand of the Common Hangman; Who unworthily receive his Let­ters. a Copie of them is also burnt by the Hand of the Speaker Lental at a general Muster of the Trained-bands of London, in Moor-fields.

He demands aid of all his Sub­jects.The King presently after his arrival, in Pitchford-field near Worcester, by Proclamation, Commands all from sixteen to sixty years of Age, according to the Ancient Laws of the King­dom, Many Gentle­men come; to come to his Assistance. In obedience to that Proclamation, shortly after, Francis Lord Talbot, eldest Son of the Earl of Shreusbury, with sixty Horse, Thomas Hornihold with fourty, John Mashburn with fourty, John Parkinton, Walter Blunt, Ralph Clair, and many more both Knights and Esquires, But only two thousand of the Common People. besides two thousand common People, come in this desperate State of Affairs to hazard their Lives in the Kings Service. The conjunction of these makes in all fourteen thousand; two thousand Scots, either for fear, or because of the tediousness of the March having dropt off by the way. Why so few came in. Why more did not come into the Kings Camp, any Man may guess at the reason of it; to wit, That the late suppression of the Insurrection of the Welsh, Londoners, and Norfolk, and Suffolk Men, and the cruelty of the Rump-Parliament in punishing [Page 123] the fruitless attempts of rising, run in all Peo­ples Minds. Besides the sudden and unexpected coming of the King, gave no truce to the well affected, of animating one another, and of as­sociating for his Service. Nor, lastly, could the injuries done by the Scots not long before in England, be got out of the Minds of the Eng­lish; it seeming much the same to them, whe­ther they suffered Bondage under the Tyranny of their Countrey-men, or the Insolence of the Scots. And above all, we are to consider the great diligence of the Republicans of both sorts, in stirring up the Countries, encreasing their Forces, and in observing and suppressing those who were Loyal to the King.

Cromwell, who left Monck in Scotland with Eight thousand Men to carry on his Victories there, being now come back into England, Cromwel with a vast Army Be­sieges Worce­ster. a­nimates with new Vigour the Forces of the Re­bel-Parricides; and presently joyning his Men with Lambert, Harrison, Gray and Fleetwood, and those who from all parts came flocking in partly voluntarily, and partly by compulsion, he made up an Army (if some be not mistaken in their rec­koning) of fourscore thousand Men, and more, whom he posts round the City of Worcester.

But the brave, The Earl of Derby with a handful of new raised Men, though unfortunate attempts of the Earl of Derby which happened about that time, are not to be past over in silence. He with a small handful of two hundred and fifty Men, from his own Isle of Man, arrived at a little Town in Lancashire, and in that Countrey raised almost fif [...]n hundred Men; with whom he marches to [...]chester, there to joyn five hundred more; b [...] to his misfortune he met with Lilburn a Colonel of the Rump-Parliament Forces, with sixteen hundred Men. For com­ing [Page 124] presently to blow up the Town of Wigan, Is defeated by Lilburn. after a smart conflict the Earl is defeated, who having received two wounds, by By-ways cross the Countrey he flies to Worcester, the Lord Widderington, Sir Thomas Tilsley, Matthew Boin­ton and Trollop, Colonels, with Lieutenant Colo­nel Galliard being kill'd, and Sir William Throg­morton, Colonel Richard Leg, with four other Officers, and fourty Private Souldiers taken.

Cromwell in the mean time views the Kings Camp, Massey is beat out of Upton, which the Cromwellians possess them­selves of. uncertain as yet in what part to fall on: He thought it, however, fit to make his first attempt at Ʋpton, seaven Miles above Wor­cester to the South, where there is a Stone­bridge over the Savern. Massey had broken the Bridge, and accidentally left a Plank from one Arch to another, lying secure with two hundred and fifty Horse in the Neighbour­ing Town, and no Guard left to defend the pass. But the Cromwellians laying hold of the occasion, stradling upon the Plank, pass over one after another; and encreasing in number, they possess themselves of Ʋpton Church, and for some time defend it, until more Swimming over the River on Horseback, and crossing the Bridge that was now in some manner repaired, came up to their Assistance. Massey takes the Allarm too late, and having received a grievous wound in the Hand is forced to Retreat to Worcester. Then upon a Bridge of Boats, they pass the small River Team, which running at some distance to the West, falls into the Savern a little below the Town. Soon after a like Bridge of Boats being made over the Savern it self, they joyn'd all their Forces under Bun-hill, within a Mile of Worcester, and march towards the Citie, as challenging the Kings Forces to come out.

[Page 125]The night following, Middleton in the night time Sallies cut upon the Enemy, Middleton with fifteen hundred Horse and Foot, all Scots, resolves to Sally out upon the Enemy. But the Cromwelli­ans were in readiness, having had timely Intel­ligence given them by a Taylor, who was hang'd for his Treachery: Nevertheless the Royalists attempt to break into the Camp, To his loss. but in vain, and having lost Major Knox with some others, they Retreat back again. And now the third of September came, a Day fatal to, and ne­ver to be forgot by the Scots for the overthrow they received at Dunbar the year before; when the King with a Council of War, view­ing the Enemies from the high Steeple of the Cathedral-Church, perceived them upon their March towards the Town. All presently Arm, The King him­self marches out to defend Po­wick-bridge. and the King himself marches out to the de­fence of Powick-bridge, and to hinder the Ene­mies passing over the Bridge of Boats, which we just now mentioned. Which the Ene­mies possess them­selves of. The King was scarce­ly got back into the Town, when Montgomery who defended the Bridge, being dangerously wounded, and destitute of Gunpouder, Kreth also another Commander being taken, returns to the City. Whil'st these things were acting, the Kings Majesty turning towards the East-side of the Town, resolves to hazard a Battel. There is a sharp engagement at Perry-wood, where the King behaved himself most valiantly: There­fore with a considerable Body of Foot, but a small number of Horse (for the Scottish Cavalry scarce budg'd) he marches against the Enemy at Perry-wood with a most undaunted and present Mind, being followed by the Dukes of Hamil­ton and Buckingham, and Sir Alexander Forbes, at the Head of his Foot. But being over-powered by num­ber, At the first charge he beat the Van and made himself Master of the Artillery; but afterwards, though with won­derful Sagacity he gave orders in the heat and [Page 126] confusion of the Fight, fac'd the greatest dan­gers with a High and Steady Mind, not to be matched by others; and with his own Hand did many brave Actions, though at that time he gave illustrious proofs of his Personal Valour even in the Judgment of his Enemies; yet be­ing overpowred by fresh Men, whom Cromwell in great numbers sent in, he despaired not, but that he might reserve himself for better For­tune, He returns into the Town. thought it best to retreat in time, and save himself in the Town; but he was for some time stopt by a Wagon laden with Am­munition, which the Wheel being accidental­ly broken, lay cross Sudbury-Gate. However, alighting from his Horse, he went in on Foot; and presently mounting another, Where in vain encouraging his Men now in dis­order, he slips out at St. Mar­tins Gate. He exhorts the Horse to renew the Fight; but they are deaf to all entreaties. he used all manner of perswasions to encourage the Soul­diers who now were giving over to renew the Engagement; till the danger growing greater and greater, by St. Martins-gate he went out to the Horse, Commanded by David Leslie, be­ing almost whole entire, and directed his course towards Barbon-bridge, earnestly entrea­ting the Horse that they should take Courage, and hasten to the Assistance of the Foot, who were put to utmost extremity. But many re­fused, some threw away their Arms, all slunk away and chose rather to decline the danger, than by fighting stoutly, either make that the last day of their Life, or the first of their Vi­ctory. But whil'st the King is making his escape, the Earl of Cleveland, Sir James Ha­milton, Colonel Careliss and some other worthy and Loyal Gentlemen, with the remains of the Horse, renewing the fight at Sudbury-Gate, put a stop to the Enemy for some time, till Fleetwood on the West-side having past the Ri­ver, [Page 127] broke into the Town through the Suburbs of St. John; and Cromwel, The Town is ta­ken, and the Fort Royal, the Soulders that kept it be­ing put to the Sword. having thrown down Sudbury-gate, beat off the Earl and the rest. From thence he marched on victorious to the Fort Royal, maintained by Colonel Drummond with fifteen hundred Soldiers; who having re­fused to surrender it, was Attacked on all Hands, and cut off with all his Men. Deplo­rable and sad was the Countenance of the Town after that: The Victorious Souldiers on the one Hand, Killing, breaking into Houses, Plundering, Sacking, Roaring and Threat­ning; on the other hand, the Subdued flying, turning their backs to be cut and slasht, and with stretched out hands begging Quarters; some in vain resisting sold their lives as dear as they could; whil'st the Citizens, to no purpose, prayed, lamented and bewailed. All the Streets are strowed with dead and mangled Bo­dies. Here were to be seen some that begg'd Relief; and there again others weltering in their own gore, who desired that at once an end might be put to their lives and miseries. The Dead Bodies lay unburied for the space of three days or more, which was a loathsome spe­ctacle, that encreased the horrour of the Action.

Three thousand and five hundred Private Souldiers were slain. The number of the slain, Duke Hamilton having his Thigh broken, lived but four or five days af­ter the Battel. Forbess was shot through both his Legs. Five thousand were taken Prisoners, And Prisoners. some Towns-people, but most Scots; amongst whom were the Earls of Rothes, Karnewath, Kel­ly, the Lord Sinclare, Montgomery, the General of Artillerie, as also of English, Colonel Graves, and Fanshaw Secretary to the King, with the Of­ficers of the Scots Army, all the Baggage, and an hundred and five and fifty Colours.

[Page 128] The King lea­ving the Scot­tish Horse, be­takes himself to By ways,The Kings Majesty having a little beyond Barbon-bridge left Leslie, who resolved to march with the Horse that were almost entire, by Newport streight into Scotland, and being at­tended by the Duke of Buckingham, the Earls of Derby and Lauderdale, the Lords Wilmot, Talbot and other Persons of Qualitie, with a­bout fifty Horse, followed By-ways; partly that he might refresh himself with sleep, and partly that he might disappoint those that pursu­ed him. And at the per­swasion of the Earl of Derby, goes towards Boscobel. Upon their Journey, the Earl of Derby told the King, That lately when he was de­feated by Lilburn, one Pendrel harboured him safely in Boscobel-house; but that he was a Pa­pist. Thither the King resolved to betake himself. This House is distant from Worcester twenty six Miles, stands in Shropshire, upon the borders of Staffordshire; seated betwixt Tong-Castle and Brewood in a woody place very fit for a retreat. One Gifford that was well acquain­ted with the Ways, leaving Kedderminster on the Left-hand, When they came to the House cal­led Whitla­dies. conducted him by Stonebridge; and at Whiteladies an old Monasterie of Ci­stertian Nuns in the midst of the Woods, about a Mile from Boscobel, having knockt up ano­ther Pendrel about midnight, he and his Compa­ny are let in. Whilst the King had his Hair cut off in this House, and burnt in the Fire, his Hands blackned with Soot, and shifting his Cloaths put on an old Countrey Suit, two other Pendrells Brothers, Richard, who lived in a Neighbouring little Farm at Hobbal, and Willi­am in Boscobel, are sent for, whom the Earl of Derby acquainting them with the disaster, He commits him­self to the hi­ding of the Pendrels Bro­thers. and shewing them the Kings Majesty, Beseeches for Gods sake their Loyalty, and all that was Good and Sa­cred, to keep him safe, and forthwith find out some place for him where he might securely lurk.

[Page 129]The honest Countrey-men promising to do what lay in their Power, Richard by a back door led him out into the next Wood; Wilmot having been before ordered to go on Horseback to Lon­don, Wilmot being before sent to London. where at the sign of the Green Dragon by the Vintry in Thames-street, the King had resol­ved to meet him; John Pendrell promising to shew him a way which he might more securely follow.

After that the Nobles had taken the best care they could of the King, Whilst the No­bles essay to over­take Lesly. they consult about their own safety, and think it safest to follow, and if they could overtake Leslie, because of the number of men he had with him, that might secure them from a few stragling Soldiers, and because they were got so far on their way, that a considerable body of the Rebels could hardly overtake them. They were not far from thence, when they protected the Lord Living­stone, Captain of the King's Troop of Guards, from the Enemies that pursued him; but that good fortune lasted not long: For soon after, when they had advanced beyond Newport, They are disper­sed by Lilburn's men, Derby and others being ta­ken. they fall in amongst Lilburn's men, who easily rout and put them to slight, being quite spent with fatigue; the Earl of Derby (whom the impious Rebels afterwards condemned in a Council of War, and put to Death), Lauderdale, (who for his Loyalty suffered a tedious Imprisonment, until the King's Restauration) and others, whom it would be long to name, being taken. In the mean time the Duke of Buckingham, Livingstone, Talbot, with many others, severally shifting for themselves, made their escapes, and at length went beyond Sea.

Nay Lesly was not got far beyond Newport, Lesly and his men, became a prey to the Ene­my, when he is beset by the Enemies, and all his men [Page 130] either dispersed or taken; and particularly, the Earl of Cleveland, who had overtaken Lesly after the Battel, Kenmore, the Lord Wentworth and Middleton. Most of the dispersed straglers were by the Countrey people, not without a brand of Cruelty, which the English Nation abhors, Or (what was worse) to the Countrey People. knockt down, wherever they were found, with Staves, Pitch-forks, [...]lails, and what weapons rage and fury put into their hands; a very un­suitable return, indeed, to the moderation and continence, which not long before, they had shewed amongst them upon their march. Massey, being wounded in the hand, Massey yielding himself to a no­ble Lady, is fled of his own accord to the protection of the Countess of Stanford; under whose husband, the father of Gray, he had formerly served in Glocestershire. From thence after a fortnights stay, C [...]st into the Tower of Lon­don: he was carried to the Tower of London, where he en­dured the irksomness of a tedious imprison­ment, From whence he escapes in dis­guise. and being to be brought to his Tryal be­fore the High Court of Justice, he changed Cloaths with a certain Porter, and made his escape.

The Kingdom of Scotland thus taken, and most part of the Nobility cut off, truckles under the Victorious Arms of the English; and had not the Supreme Judge of all things reserved a root, from which the Royal Issue and cause might spring out again of new, and had not the same right hand of the Duke of Albemarle, (whom as yet we must call Monck,) that gave the Wound, also wrought the Cure, it had been undone for ever.

A full account where the King lurked in Eng­land.But now what befel the King, the Care of Pro­vidence, Hopes of the English Race, and Defen­der of the Church, since the English, I know, are insatiably desirous to be informed of it, and [Page 131] that hardly in any Age a more remarkable ad­venture hath happened, I shall, according, as I have heard it from the King's own Mouth, relate with some exactness and curiosity.

The King went into the Wood in the very nick of time, as will appear. For within less than half an Hour, the Souldiers of Colonel Ashenhurst come in quest of him, Ashenhurst's Souldiers search the Monastery. hunt all over the Monastery, and running from Chamber to Chamber, search into all secret places, reces­ses, and hidden corners. Yet, as Fate would have it, they made no enquiry abroad out of the House, for it rained all Day, and the drop­pings from the Trees made the Grass very wet; so that what did hurt to others, saved the King. For whilst he lurked amongst the thick shrubs of the Woods, Richard Pendrell borrowed a Blanket for him to cover him in the Rain, and furnished him with a Bill, that he might seem busie in mending Hedges, entreating the Wife of a Countrey-man, one Francis Yates that was related to him, that if she had any Victuals ready she would bring it into the Wood. A Countrey-man's Wife brings Victuals into the Wood for the King to feed upon. She without delay brings forth some Milk and Su­gar, with a few Eggs and Butter. The King somewhat startled at the coming of the Wo­man, because of the babling the Sex is subject to, asked her, Can you be true to any one that hath served the King? Yes, Sir, answered she, I'le die sooner than betray you. At which the King, being reassured, fed heartily on the Victuals that were brought him.

Towards the Evening, Richard brings him into his House that stood hard by, In the Evening he comes to Ri­chard Pen­drell's House; where he prepares for a New Journey, that he was to take that Night. For the King amongst other things had asked, If he knew any Faithful, [Page 132] Honest Man living upon the Severn, who might provide him a hiding place for a short space, From thence intending to go into Wales. till he might find an opportunity of pas­sing over into Wales; for in that Country he wanted not Faithful Friends, by whose means he might either get to London, or lurk more securely amongst the Rocks and Mountains. Being therefore informed of one Wolfe (but a Papist by Religion) living at Madely, five Miles from thence, That Night he goes on Foot to­wards the Se­vern, Richard Pendrell being his Guide: He is frightned by a Miller. and one from the Severn, at nine of the Clock at Night, accompanied with Richard, he sets out to go thither. But they were hardly gone the first mile, when they had a Water-mill to pass by, where they must cross the River on a Wooden Bridge: The Gate which they opened making a noise, the Miller comes out, and in a threatning tone asks them whither they were going so late at Night; and bids them stand. Pendrell terrified by that un­expected thunderclap, leaving the Bridge, ha­stily wades through the Water, and is follow­ed by his August Companion, who in the thick darkness, was not so much guided by his sight, as by the ratling of his Leathern Breeches. The Pursive Fat Miller soon gave over the pursuit; and the rest of the way was free from dan­ger.

At Madely he is lodged in a Barn,At length they come to Madely, where Pen­drell knocking at the Door, is presently let in. The Guest is kindly received by Wolfe, who being acquainted with the design, lodges him in the Barn, because in the day time his House was seldom free from Souldiers. They send to be enformed of an opportunity of passing the River, and have news brought back, that not only the Bridges are guarded by Souldiers, but also the Ferry-Boats most strictly observed, and [Page 133] therefore it would be very difficult and unsafe to pass the River. The River being strictly guard­ed, he returns into the Wood from whence he came. When it was night he was received into the House, where the good Wo­man stained his Hands and Face somewhat more with a Decoction of Galls, and having taken his leave, he returns back the same way on Foot to Boscobel, there to stay for a more com­modious opportunity of travelling.

Being come back before Day, he tarried in the Wood, till Richard went to see if any Soul­diers were in Boscobel House; but he finds none there save Colonel Carlos, whom we mentioned before to have, with others, kept the Cromwel­lians in Play at Sudbury-gate, who being born thereabouts, was just come to a Friends House, to beg a little Bread. Early in the Morning he is by Carlos brought into Boscobel-house▪ Carlos being informed who lay hid in the Wood, with the two Pen­drells went streight out to him, and after joyful Congratulations on all hands, they conduct him into the House; but the Sand that was got in­to his Shoes, whilst he ran through the River, had rub'd the Skin off, and fetch'd Blood from his Feet, which a poor Woman cured by washing them. Having taken refreshment, he climbs up upon an Oak. Then both being refreshed with Coun­trey-fare, they forthwith return back into the Wood; where climbing up to the top of a thick and leafy Oak, they spend the Day there: The King after long watching falling fast asleep up­on the Arms and in the Bosom of Carlos. In the Night time he is hid in a Priests-hole. At Night they come down, and, being very hungry, return to the House, where they were shew'd a Place called a Priests-hole, almost unscrutable, which pleased the King so well, that whilst he stay'd there he would trust himself no more a­broad.

Humphrey, another of the five Brothers of the Pendrells, who kept a Mill hard by, had gone [Page 134] to Sheffual to pay his Assessment; where, in the House of Captain Broadway Collector of the Money, he accidentally met with an Oliverian Colonel, who very earnestly sought after the King; and hearing that this Countrey-man li­ved near the Abbey of Whitladies, he asked him if he knew any thing of the King, or of the Abbey: Pendrell the Miller being asked concern­ing the King, adding, That if any would discover him, he might gain a thousand pounds Sterling; but that if he were found to have concealed, or hid him, he would undoubtedly suffer death for it. Yet honest Humphrey, preferring the safety of the King, and his own honesty before any hopes of gain, faithfully kept Counsel, Preserved his Loyalty unvio­lated. and made answer, that he knew nothing. When he returned home at Night, he relates the whole matter to the King, who the next Day, being Sunday, spent a great part of the Day in an Arbour adjoyning the House in reading the Scriptures.

In the mean time John Pendrell, when he was shewing the Lord Wilmot his way to London, found it every where so pestered with Souldiers, that he thought it safest to hide him and his Horse in a Marle-pit, Wilmot coming out of a Marle-pit, is commit­ted to the care of Whitgrave. until he could find out a more commodious lurking place; and at length he happily committed him to the trust of Whit­grave and Hudlestone, (though both Roman Ca­tholicks) Hudlestone being Tutor in the House to Mr. Whitgrave's three Sons. These having in the Night time sent the Horse to Colonel Lane's, their intimate acquaintance, who had formerly served the King, Hospitably enter­tained Wilmot at Mosely. The King having no­tice of this from John at his return, he forth­with sends him back to find out Wilmot, who had before changed his Lodging, and removed to Bentley, the House of Colonel Lane: Be­ing [Page 135] found there at length, and acquainted with the Kings mind, he promises next night to re­turn and meet the King at Mosely, five miles distant from Boscobel. John being come back to Boscobel, the King resolved to go thither and see Wilmot: But the unlucky rubbing off the skin of his feet, which we mentioned, made him unable to walk it a foot. Therefore mounting the Miller Humphrey's Beast, To visit whom the King, moun­ted on a Mil­lers Beast, goes to Mosely. upon an old coarse Saddle, and bidding farewel to Carlos, he goes to Mosely, the four Pendrels and Francis Yates being his Guard. Whither so soon as he was come, he dismissed the countrey-men with many promises, which have been since largely per­formed.

Then did Whitgrave and Hudlestone conduct him to Wilmot, with whom having had a long conference about his Affairs, and taken some re­freshment of food, he was led into a private Chamber to repose himself and sleep. But next day Whitgrave had some notice, Soldiers c [...]me to seize Whit­grave, that Sol­diers were coming to seize him, as one that had formerly served in the King's Army. And so, indeed, they came, yet he being innocent would not avoid them; but the King slipping into a private place, and the doors being all instantly opened, he confidently speaks to them; and by the testimony of Neighbours, and other Ar­guments, so clearly convinced them of the con­trary of what they suspected, And depart. that without so much as coming up the stairs, of their own ac­cord they left him, without any further distur­bance.

The same day Soldiers make a new search in the Abbey, The King is a­gain searched after in the Ab­bey. having been informed by an Ensign who was made Prisoner, that the King certainly absconded there; for that he had seen him with [Page 136] some other Company arrive there, and that he had observed no such person depart from thence. They therefore break into all the Rooms, search eve­ry Chamber, Closet, and Corner; break down the Wanescot and partition walls, and seek in every little hole, but in vain. Then they exa­mine the Master of the House, with a charged Musket cockt at his Breast; threatning him, that if he did not forthwith bring forth the King, he should die upon the spot. But he abso­lutely denies that he knew the King; yet confessed that many came to his house that night, who having eat up all his Victuals went off again. The Soldiers there upon turning to the Ensign, soundly banged him for telling a lye.

The night following his Majesty having drawn a Bill of Exchange upon a Merchant in London, for Money to be payed to his Landlord, that if it should come to the knowledge of the Parri­cides, that he had been harboured in that house, he with the rest concerned might have where­withal to shift for themselves, and get beyond Sea, took his leave of Whitgrave, his Wife, and Hudlestone; and committed himself and Wilmot to the protection of Colonel Lane, to be con­ducted to Bently. He removes to Bently, from thence to go to Bristol as the servant of Jane Lane. Where his sister Jane Lane undertook to carry him to Bristol where he hoped he might have a passage; having in this manner laid her design. She procured from a certain Colonel of the Rebels, a passport for her self, a Gentleman and his Wife, with one Servant, mounted upon two Horses, that they might safe­ly and without molestation travel to the house of one Norton near Bristol, whose Wife was rea­dy to lye in. Her sister Jane must needs be at her Labour; and could not have better Com­pany to go along with her, than her Cousin and [Page 137] her Husband; which was a Scheme very well con­trived. Without more delay, the King mounts on Horse-back, riding before Jane as her Ser­vant. Lassels, her Cousin, He sets forth upon his journey, accompanied with Lassels and Wilmot, with his Wife follows after: Wilmot rides before with a Hawk on his Fist, as a stranger who had accidentally met them on the Rode; resolving so soon as they came near Bristol, to strike off to the house of his friend Sir John Winter, there to expect the Issue of things. The design being thus laid, in a good time they set forward upon their Jour­ney.

The first remarkable accident that happened, At Bromsgrove he falls in dis­course with a Smith about himself. was at Bromsgrove; for the King's Horse lo­sing a Shoe, His Majesty was to carry him to a Smith to be shod. The King asking him, what News he heard? Nothing, answered he, but that Cromwell had routed the Scots, and that though all the rest were slain, or taken Prisoners, yet the King had made his escape. Perhaps, replied the King, he has got by by-ways back into Scotland. No, said the Smith, that is not very likely; he rather lurks secretly somewhere in England, and I wish I knew where he were, for I might get a thousand Pounds by taking him. After the Horse was shod, the King departed, and upon the Rode, told his Mistress what discourse he had had with the Smith. When they were come near to Strat­ford, they had a mind to foard over the River of Avon, about a mile below the Town: But drawing nearer, they perceived Soldiers Hor­ses feeding in the Meadows, and the Troopers lying upon the ground, on the other side. There they consult what was best to be done. The King was for going confidently on; but Lassels, thinking still on the Injury which he had lately received from the Soldiers, thought it safer to [Page 138] turn aside to the next Town; the King yield­ing to his fear, At Stratford he passes through Soldiers without any hurt. whilst they rode along the Streets, they met the same Soldiers whom they had avoided; yet without the least molestation, they civilly giving hat for hat. At night they came to the Crown in Cirencester, where the King pretending himself sick, went presently into a Chamber. Next Evening they came to Marsfield, Lodges at Ci­rencester, where they lodged at a Relations of Jane's. On the third day, leaving Bristol three Miles to the left, Then at Mars­field, and the third day at Norton, where he pretends him­self sick. they arrived at Norton's house; where Jane caused a Bed to be made in a private Chamber for the King, who she said, was the Son of one of her Father's Tenants, and was sick of an Ague, getting Doctor Gorge to give him somewhat for his Distemper.

As he came out of his Chamber in the morn­ing, Gorge asked him, what he heard of the King and of the Battel? But seeing he faultered in his Answer, And is visited by Doctor Gorge I am afraid, says he, you are a Round­head; but I will try what Metal you are made of; and taking him presently into the Buttery, he drinks to him the King's Health in a Glass of Wine, which the King pledging, assured him that he never was a man of that Stamp. The morning following, the King eating a piece of Bread and Cheese in the Buttery, fell into discourse with a bragging fellow there present, In the Buttery he discourses with a bragging fel­low about the King. who boasted that he had been at VVorcester fight, and talked largely of many things that hap­ned there. Says the King to him, Have you ever seen the King? Twenty times, answered he; What kind of man is he then? Then looking on the King more steadfastly, He is, said he, four fingers breadth taller than you. Afterwards take­ing off his hat to the Mistress of the House, as she accidentally past through the Parlour. The [Page 139] Butler eying him more attentively, and obser­ving his Countenance, suspected him to be the King, He is discovered by the Butler, and finding a private occasion fell upon his Knees, asking him if it were not so. The King enjoining him silence, confessed he was. This man's name was John Pope, who five years before had been a Soldier under his Majesty in the West, when he was Prince of VVales; and being afterwards disbanded, he had served se­veral Masters, before he came to be Butler to this Norton; from that time forward, he per­formed a great many good Offices to his Majesty with extraordinary Fidelity. A most faithful man; For first he was sent to Bristol to find out a Ship: But could find none there that within a Month was to sail ei­ther to France or Spain. Whilst he discoursed with the King of several that had served his Majesty, he pitched upon one Windham, whom he thought fit to try in the present streights, and who lived at Trent in Dorcetshire.

VVilmot coming, as it had been agreed upon, By whose means VVilmot is introduced. to Norton's House, is by night introduced to the King by Pope, and, after they had consulted to­gether, presently sent to Trent, to enquire if VVindham could receive and conceal the King in his house, until he might find an opportuni­ty of a passage over Sea. He sounds VVindham's mind, VVindham presently made answer, that he thought himself extreme­ly happy, that amongst so many Noble and Loy­al Subjects, he reckoned him chiefly worthy of that honour: That he was therefore ready not only to venture his Life, Family, and Estate, but even to sacrifice all to his Majesties Service. With good suc­cess. But withal begs leave to impart the secret not only to his Mother and Wife, but also to four Servants, of whose faithfulness both to his Ma­jesty and himself he was fully assured. VVilmot [Page 140] consented, and assuring him that the King would be there three days after, he returned.

But the night before, Norton's Wife was brought to Bed, after a hard and dangerous La­bour, and was not to be left by her Sister, (for so she called Jane) in that Condition. That she might therefore have a civil pretext of de­parting, a Letter is pretended to have been just then brought from her Aged and Decrepit Father; Jane counterfeits Letters as from her dying Fa­ther. wherein he acquaints her, that since her departure he had been grievously ill, and that he stood in need of her present assistance; he there­fore bids her, if she tendered her Father's Life, to hasten home. The Letters being produced, and the Rumour spread over the Family, Jane and Lassels take their farewel, leaving his Wife with the Lady in the straw, For a pretext of departing late at Night. and with their Ser­vant, whom the Kings Majesty personated, they depart. Rogers, who by by-ways had conducted VVilmot from VVinter's house to Nortons, was their Guide; and they lodged the first night at Carew-Castle seven miles on this side Trent. They go to Ca­rew-Castle, The appointed hour of their coming drawing nigh, VVindham and his Wife, as if to take a walk, went out to meet them; and send the King privately into the house, by one whom they had chosen for that purpose: And next day to Trent, where VVindam li­ved. Jane and Lassels in the mean time are publickly received as Relations, who coming from a place far distant, were to be gone next day. In this place the King's Majesty stayed secure­ly nineteen days, expecting a Vessel at leisure, and having been several times disappointed. But one day it happened that the Countrey People fell to ringing of Bells, with more than usual Solemnity; and the King, enquiring into the cause of this extraordinary rejoycing, A report of the King's Death. was told, that it was for the joyful News of the King's [Page 141] Death, which was confidently reported. But whilst they consulted, and cast about a long time concerning a passage, VVindham bethought him­self of one Elden a Merchant, formerly a Cap­tain under CHARLES the First, who since that, drove a considerable trade at Lime, that he possibly might procure a Vessel, since he had assisted the Lord Berkley in distress with a safe passage. Therefore VVindham is dispatched to him to learn, whether or not he could procure a safe passage for VVilmot, and another Noble­man, who had made their escape from VVorcester fight. He readily listened to it, and presently went to Chayermouth, near to Lime; Elden freights a Ship at Chay­ermouth. where ha­ving sent for the Master of a Ship, he asked him, under promise of secresie, if he durst ven­ture to carry VVilmot and his servant safely over to France. He undertook it, and bargains with a Captain for threescore Pound, which he obli­ged himself under Hand and Seal to pay him, after he had carried a Nobleman over to France. The hour and day, when he was to put them on Board in a Boat, are prefixed.

Hitherto all things succeeding according to their expectation; there only wanted a pretext of staying in Lodgings, till all things might be made ready for their passage. For that end Henry Peters, VVindham's Servant, Peters's device whereby he pro­vides lodgings in that place. who was privy to the design, applies himself to an Hostess at Chayermouth, and, amongst other discourses, told her that he was servant to a worthy Noble­man, who was deeply in Love with a Maid that had neither Father nor Mother, who lived not far off, and was as much in Love with him: But that her Guardian opposing the Marriage, he resolved to steal her away by Night. He there­fore asks her, if she would for some hours en­tertain [Page 142] them in her house; and at the same time gives her a small Gift as a pledge of a greater re­ward, and drinks a Glass of Wine with her. The woman softned by the present, and touch­ed with Compassion for the young Lady, pro­mises to serve them. Leaving therefore Trent, the King sets out towards Chayermouth, with Juliana Conisbey his pretended Bride, who was privy to the matter, The King goes thither, carry­ing Juliana Conisbey with him as his Bride. riding behind him upon the same Horse. The Lord Wilmot, Colonel VVindham, and Henry Peters accompany them; and were met by Elden, who carried them into a private house, whither he went under pretext of view­ing a little Farm: Here the King's Majesty dis­covered himself unto him, giving him a small present as an earnest of future Gratitude. From thence the Merchant goes to Lime, that he might give notice to the Master of the Ship, to be in readiness to put to Sea at the appointed time; The King with the rest went to their Lodg­ings at Chayermouth; and Peters to stay for the Boat. But having waited till it was almost day, he returned without any News of the arrival of the Boat. But losing hopes of a Ship, he presently departs This put them all into disorder; and made them think of taking other measures, there was no safe place here to stay in; and the King was resolved not to loyter a mo­ment.

After a short consultation, the King with Juliana, and the Colonel accompanying them, advance towards Bridport, there to expect the coming of the Lord VVilmot and Peters in an appointed Inn. Peters being to go to Lime to learn from the Merchant the reason of the disappointment: And VVilmot staying behind in the Inn, upon pretext of new shooing his Horse. But Elden the Merchant, who thought [Page 143] that by this time they had made half their Voy­age, could not imagine the reason of the breach of promise, nor could he attribute it to any thing else, save that the man taking his leave of his Friends, it being then the Market-day at Lime, had drank so much as to make him forget the prefixed time. Why the Ma­ster of the Vessel failed so foully. But it was known after­ward, that the Master of the Vessel being come home, to take clean Cloaths and other necessa­ries for his Voyage with him, was locked up in his Chamber, and bolted in by his Wife: For that very day a Proclamation had been made in the Town, whereby it was declared Death for any Person to aid or conceal the King; and a thou­sand Pounds promised to any that could apprehend him. This put the woman into so great fear, lest her Husband in doing that Office, which he had confessed to his Wife to have taken upon him, might suffer Shipwrack on Shore: She therefore used Entreaties, Tears, and almost Violence, to hinder him from it; and at length screamed out, thereby to allarm the Neigh­bourhood. Being therefore overcome by so much importunity, he kept at home, and com­mitted himself to the direction of his Wife.

Upon the way to Bridport VVindham went a little before the King, to view the Rode; They came to Bridport full of Soldiers. and coming near the Town, he found it to be full of Soldiers. For there was a Muster that day, and a taking on of Soldiers, for an Expedition a­gainst the Isle of Jersey, under Haines. VVind­ham was therefore for the Kings going to ano­ther place, but he laying aside all fear would needs enter the Town, lest he might seem to have deceived VVilmot, and partly also that he might refresh himself, tir'd out with night-watch­ing and travelling, and wait for the coming of [Page 144] VVilmot. The Colonel took care to provide a Chamber and Victuals; which was no easie mat­ter to be done amongst so many Guests. The King, in the mean time was employed in carry­ing the Horses into the Stable, and looking af­ter them; nor could he avoid talking with the Soldiers in the yard about his Journey. Where the King was very near discovered by an Hostler. But the Hostler looking him in the face as he deli­ver'd him the Horses, told him, You are welcome, I know you very well. Where did you know me? an­swered the King. At Exeter, said he; (for the King had continued long there during the heat of the War,) I lived two years in an Inn there. And so did I, replied the King, in the Service of Ma­ster Porter. I am glad I have met with a Coun­try-man; but I perceive you are so busie that you have no time to drink with me, when I come back from London, we'll talk of old Stories. Being pleased with these promises, and full of Busi­ness, or God Almighty casting a Mist before his Eyes, he forbore all farther discourse.

Shortly after, VVilmot passing through the Town, they take Horse, and following the streight Rode to London, they met with several Travellers in the way; and amongst those one who had formerly been a Servant to CHARLES the First: From thence, as good luck would have it, to Broad-VVind­sor. Therefore thinking it most conveni­ent to turn out of the Rode, they followed the next way upon the left hand; and having rid a long time, towards night they came to a Village called Broad-windsor. Windham goes be­fore to enquire where they were; what the name of the Village was, and whither the way led: And by good luck he stumbled upon an Inn-keeper an old Servant of his own, who had been also a Soldier in the Kings Army, pleased with this good Fortune, he speaks him kindly, [Page 145] and because it grew dark he easily obtained Lodging that night for his Company. Howe­ver it was not long before the Constable came with forty Soldiers at his back, Where he is dis­quieted by Sol­diers quartering there, who marching to the Sea Coast to be transported over to Jer­sey, must be quartered there. The House being pestered with them, the Kings Majesty had but a very narrow Lodging, yet that was not all the inconvenience. For about midnight a Wo­man that followed the Soldiers fell into Labour: Which being noised about, the People of the Village flock'd together, and kept a bawling and heavy rout about the keeping of the Child and Mother, which continued till break of day, And the Country People. when the Soldiers, weary of the jangle, haste­ned to their Ships.

During the hubbub, let us look back a little to Chayremouth, where the Shoeing of a Horse went near to have cost the Lord Wilmot dear, Wilmot is in danger at Chayremouth, by a discourse started betwixt the Smith and the Hostler. The Smith asking, From whence came these Gentlemen? From Exeter, as they say, answered the Hostler. Ʋpon a suspition occasioned by his Horses Shoes. To whom the Smith re­plied, but I dare swear these last Shoes were put on in the North. All other circumstances being consi­dered; to wit, that the Saddles were not taken off in the night time, that, though Travellers, they had sat up all night, and that the Servant went out of the Inn early in the morning, they presently conclude that they were Persons of Quality, who flying, after the late Worcester fight, had wandered thither, The Hostler con­sults the Mini­ster of the place, and that perhaps the King was amongst them. So that the Host­ler, hoping to make his Fortune, went to con­sult the Minister of the place, one Westley a great stickler for the Regicides, what he had best to do on this occasion. But neither was it fit to [Page 146] disturb him at his Morning Prayers; nor durst the Hostler stay till they were winded out, for fear of losing the Vails he expected from the Gentleman that was upon parting, and there­fore returning, Who having se­riously weighed the matter, without any thing done, he lets him go. The Smith having blazed about the story, presently came the Minister, so­licitously enquiring of the Inn-keeper, what the Travellers were that he had lodged that night; from whence they came, whither they were go­ing, and what was their Business there? His suspicion being encreased by the Inn-keeper's an­swers, he runs to Butler, the next Colonel, for obtaining a Warrant to raise the Countrey and Soldiers for apprehending the King. He hunts after the King, tho too late, The Co­lonel refusing, Captain Massey, quartered hard by, having gathered together as many Horse as he could in the hurry, follows after on the London Rode as far as Dorchester; but the King, dy divine Providence, having quitted the Rode, he returned disappointed of his fair hopes.

Especially in Sir Hugh Windham 's house.This set all the Soldiers about a working, who search all places and suspected houses, espe­cially that of Sir Hugh Windham, Uncle to the Colonel, where they left not a Chest nor corner unsearched, and having made the whole Fami­ly Prisoners, they will needs have a young Lady of extraordinary Beauty and Parts to be the King in disguise; nor did they let her go, till by an undoubted experiment they had found out her Sex.

The King's steps, however, are to be traced by a surer Guide. The King re­turns to Trent having sent VVilmot to Coventry. For after mature deliberation, it was resolved upon, that he should return to his known recess at Trent; and that the Lord Wilmot with Peters should hasten to Salisbury, that there he might advise with John Coventry, the eldest Son of [Page 147] the Lord Keeper Coventry by a second Marriage, by what means the King might either securely pass the Seas, or at least find a new retirement; for it was to be feared lest staying too long in one place, he might be discovered. After a consul­tation with Coventry, application is made to one Mrs. Hide, a Widow, who lived at a Village called Heal, within a mile of Salisbury, that she would look out for a lurking place; and Robert Philips, who had been a Colonel in the Army of CHARLES the First, is sent to Southampton to freight a Vessel. He, returning from thence, A ship freight­ed at South­ampton, but without Success. assured them that a Ship and all things ne­cessary were in readiness for a Transportation. But it fell out unluckily, that the same Ship, whilst the King was going to the Widows House, was taken up, and engaged to carry o­ver Soldiers and Ammunition to the Isle of Jer­sey. Philips being therefore disappointed of his hopes, begs assistance of Colonel Gunter, whom he met with by chance, in that affair. The King g [...]es to Heal. The King in the mean time came to the Widows House in the night time, and goes to Supper, Doctor Henchman, afterward Bishop of Salisbury, with other Guests, sitting with him at Table. After Supper, he privately disclosed himself to the Widow, and entreated shelter from her; and though she had never seen him before but once, and that seven years before in passing, yet at first sight she knew him. She therefore advises him early in the morning to depart to­wards London, but having turned out of the way, to come back about one of the Clock in the afternoon, at what time he should by a back door be let into the House; for that being a Market day at Salisbury, and all her Servants and other Witnesses being gone thither by [Page 148] her permission, she her self would let him in. The thing was accordingly done: For the King and Colonel Philips, taking formally leave of the Mistress of the House, mounted on Horse­back, Having taken leave in the morning, he re­turns [...]ack, without the knowledge of the Servants, and is hid. and go to see Stonehenge; but at the appoin­ted hour returned back again; here the Colonel carrying away the Horses, the King is hid in a secret place, which had been made in the time of the War, for securing of Jewels and Goods of greatest value.

In the mean time, by means of Colonel Gun­ter, a Vessel was hired at Bright-helmstead in Sussex; which so soon as the King knew, all things being in a readiness for a departure, his Majesty in good earnest takes leave of the Lady, From thence he hastens to Bright-Helm­stead, Gunter having hired a Vessel; and in the night time, accompanied by Colonel Philips, he removed to the house of one Simmons, near Portsmouth, and came next day in the Eve­ning to an Inn at Bright-helmstead; where all sit down at Table together, the King, Gunter, Wilmot, Mansel a Merchant, and Tetershal Master of the Vessel, opposite to the King. The Master of the Vessel, Where at Sup­per he is known, by the Master of the Bark. rising from Supper, cal­led the Merchant aside, and expostulated with him for having deceived him, in recommending the King to him, instead of another person pretended. The Merchant confidently denies it, and urges him to be as good as his word. But he affirmed that he knew him for certain to be the King, though in a mean and ordinary habit he past for a Servant, and that he remembred him very well since the time that at his own and others intercession, he had cleared a Fleet of Col­liers bound thither from New-Castle, which were stopt in the Downs. Nor indeed could, or ought the Merchant be ignorant of the Proclamation, whereby it was declared Death for any one to [Page 149] receive him into house or habour, Who being a­fraid of the Parliaments Proclamation, and the large reward of a Thousand Pounds, promised to him that could discover and apprehend him. Mansel perceiving that the man understood the design; immediately addresses himself to the King, who being informed of the humour and honesty of the Master, With diffiulty undertakes the thing, his Majesty and Wilmot ply him with promises, and give him a considerable Freight in hand. Whereupon, promising to be faithful unto them, he departs to make all things ready for their passage. The Vessel lay at Shoram four Miles from thence, as yet half laden with Coals, which he had not sold, most of the Sea­men being at Bright-helmstead: Those he knocks up in the night time, bidding them make haste to the Vessel, which having slipt its Anchors was at drift, and might be stranded or cast away up­on the Rocks, that he himself would presently follow after. In the mean time he orders his Wife to go and buy a Bottle of Brandy, and ano­ther of Sack, and to give him clean Cloaths to take along with him. But why so late in the night? His Wife, who smelt it out, [...]n­couraging him to the bus [...]ness. said she; would it not do as well in the morning? He still urging her, and cutting off all delays, It's the King, said the Woman, whom I suspect you are to carry over: Pray God you may carry him safe, though I and my small Children should for ever after go a Begging. The Inn-keeper also being by that time got drunk, and addressing himself to the King, took his hand and kissed it, saying, Who you are, whence you come, or whither you are going, I know not; yet I pray God he may bless and preserve you: If I guess aright, I shall be an Earl, and my Wife a Countess. And the Truth is, some discovered it was the King, so that presently after his escape, the News of it was whispe­red all about the Countrey.

[Page 150]The hour of departure approaching, they take Horse and go to the Shore, Being got on board they coast along the Shore, as bound for the Isle of VVight. the Master pretending that they were Merchants of the Isle of Wight, that had bought the rest of the Coals, and that they were to carry them thi­ther. About five in the morning they went on Board, and spent a great part of the day coasting along the Shore. Towards Sun setting the Master stands off, as directing his course towards the Isle of Wight. But Wilmot, who appeared to be the chief Passenger, as if his mind had changed with the Wind, after a little squabble with the Master in presence of the Seamen, as it had been agreed upon, altered his bargain, and, in­stead of the Isle of Wight, ordered him to run over to France; In the Evening they arrive in Normandy. so that in the dusk of the Eve­ning, they arrived at Fern, an inconsiderable Port in Normandy, and at length gained the much longed for Shore. The King very skilful in Navi­gation. During the passage, the Master wondered that his Majesty understood their course better than he himself did. Nor is it to be omitted, what an ignorant Seaman wittily blurted out by chance. The King, whilst the Vessel was under Sail, sitting with the Master in the Cabin, the fellow coming in, claps down by them, and blows the Smoke of his Tobacco in his face: At which the Master being vexed, bid him begone quickly, and not trouble the Gentleman with his Smoke. The fellow rising to go out, in Dudgeon made an­swer, That a Cat might look upon a King; a com­mon Proverb in England.

Now was the King's Majesty safely landed in France, where rendring first thanks to Almigh­ty God, the Protector and Avenger of all Kings, Lord of the Earth and Sea, who stills the raging of the Winds and Waves, He professes much [Page 151] gratitude to the Master, and kindly invites him to stay with him, and share in his Fortune. But he, wishing his Majesty all Prosperity and Happi­ness, chose rather, with danger, The Master of the Vessel being kindly dismissed arrives the same night at Pool. to return home to his Wife and Children. He therefore puts out to Sea again, and the Wind presently tur­ning, he came the same night to Pool, a Port in Dorcetshire, and there sold his Coals. But the King arriving at Rouen, applies himself to Sam­bourn and Parker, English Merchants, who pro­vide his Majesty with new Cloathes, The King ha­ving changed his Cloathes at Rouen, dividing his old ones betwixt themselves, to be kept as Holy Relicts.

Doctor Earl, since Bishop of Worcester, for­merly one of his Majesties Chaplains, living then at Rouen, came to pay him a Visit; but at first sight knew him not, Where by chance he found Doctor Earle, whether it was that the smuttiness of his Face, or the want of Hair had eclipsed his Majestick looks, or that the amazement of the unexpected sight dulled the Doctors eye-sight: It is certain, that he sought Charles in Charles, until taking a fuller view of his Sacred Countenance, his Joys grew more certain, and falling down and embracing the Knees of his dearest Master, he begg'd par­don that he had not sooner performed that Duty, and burst out in Tears of obsequious Joy.

Next day, the News being already carried to Paris, the Queen of England, He goes to Pa­ris; and Duke of Orle­ans, with a great Train of Nobility, went out to meet and welcome his Majesty, and intro­duced him into the City amidst the Applauses of the People. All desire to see and embrace him whom Providence had preserved to be the Ornament and delight of Mankind, praying from their hearts, that God would still keep and defend [Page 152] him for the hope and support of England, and bless him with all Blessings.

Thus he escaped safe out of the Snares of his Enemies, by whose means since we English-men have all triumphed over our Enemies; over whose Sacred Head had not the Angels kept Guard, Whose safely was an illustri­ous Testimony of Divine Provi­dence. it had certainly perished. That a­mongst so many men of mean Condition, of so contrary Religions, amongst so many Women, na­turally given to babling, and so many timorous People, who were frightned at the very name of Death, and, in a word, that amongst so many bro­ken and indigent persons, to whom a great reward could not but be acceptable, no body during the space of two Months ever betray'd him; is certain­ly (if ever there was any) an amazing work of the Hand and Providence of God. And this alone might have been sufficient, to confound the Ar­rogance of Rebels, who so often boasted of Providence; and to teach all Worldlings, by an invincible Argument, how dear to God the safety of his Anointed is.

After the defeat of Worcester, Cromwel in a Triumphant manner made his entry into London, Cromwell, ha­ving sent the Prisoners before, comes to Lon­don. having sent before him five thousand Prisoners; who being sufficiently exposed to the Scoffs and derision of the People, are either clapt up in Prisons, or sent to the New World, there to drudge in the Sugar Mills.

In the mean time Monck, who was deserved­ly afterwards Created Duke of Albermarle, be­ing made General of the English Forces, to the number of six thousand, Sterling Castle surrendered to Monck. which Cromwell had left behind him in Scotland, attacques Sterling-Castle, and takes it by surrender, with all the Guns, Ammunition, much Provision, five thousand Arms, the Registers, Coffers, Jew­els, [Page 153] and several Monuments and Relicks of Kings, together with that lofty Inscription, Nobis haec invicta dedere, centum sex proavi; Co­lonel Alured surprised and took the Aged Earl of Levin, the Earl of Crawford-Lindsey, Noblemen taken by Alured. Lord Ogilby, and many other Noblemen, whilst they were met for raising of Soldiers at Ellet, a Town in Pearthshire; Sir Philip Musgrave also, the Provost of St. Johnstone, and others, being about the same business, are taken at Dumfrise. But Dundee, because it had the boldness to hold out, Dundee was a prey to the Con­querour. was stormed and taken by assault, and the whole Town left to the mercy of the Soldiers, who kill'd and plunder'd all they found. Aberdeen, and other Towns and Forts, being warned by this sad example, of their own accord yielded to the Enemy.

A little after the Marquess of Argile, All Scotland in the power of the English, who strengthen themselves by new Citadels. made a shew of maintaining the Interest of the Kingdom, as also the Highlanders, but, having obtained indifferent good Conditions, they also yield, and submit their necks to the English Yoke. Afterward four Citadels are built, strong both by Art and Situation, to which, by Sea, men and Provisions might easily be tran­sported from England; to wit, at Air, Inner­ness, St. Johnston, and Leith; besides Sterling Ca­stle, standing on the Brow of a Hill, and Eding­burrough Castle, which we described before. Nay in every County they keep a Garison in some Ca­stle or other, that if any new Rebellion should arise, they might have opportunity to suppress it where-ever it happened in Scotland. Nor could the main Land of Scotland put bounds to the Victory of the English, And subdue Orkney and the Isles. who slighting the dangers of those raging and voracious Seas, carry their Victories over to the Isles, Orkney and Shetland.

[Page 154]But as when the Serpent is bruised in the Head, he often threatens with his Tail; so the Marquess of Huntley, Earls of Glencairn and Athol, The Scots rise, but in vain. Midleton, and others, stir the Embers, and raise new flames of a War. But Morgan easily reduced them, having, before they could joyn, routed the chief of them. Hencefor­ward, they who had been accustomed to be most unruly and disobedient, when occasion of Kicking offered, are fain to bite upon the Bit, and upon capitulation promise to live quietly for the future.

The administra­tion of civil Affairs in Scot­land, by Judges for the most part English;Now are Judicatures and Courts of Justices opened in Scotland, for which end, amongst other Itinerary Judges, are sent from England, George Smith, John Marss, Edward Moseley, to whom were added of the Scots, the Lord Craig­hall, Lockhart, and Swinton, not to be forgotten. A Council of State is also made up of English, not of the best Quality, And a Council of State. who were matched by some Scots mingled with them; nay in every Shire a Meeting is called, wherein, renouncing the King, they are obliged to subscribe to the English Government, and to unite into one Common-wealth with the English. And at length they are commanded to send thirty Commissioners to the Parliament of England. Nor is it to be denyed but that they were English, Thirty Commissi­oners from thence allowed to sit and Vote in the Parliament of England. though from Scotland, who were appointed to that Office, except the Mar­quess of Argile and Laird of Swinton, which two were the only Scots that hearded them­selves into that Parliament. The use of Arms is likewise denyed to that Nation, nay and of Horses also, except only for some ne­cessary ends and uses. Besides, their Commerce and Negotiations with Foreigners are narrow­ly [Page 155] observed, lest under that pretext they might hatch mischief against the Common-wealth of Eng­land. So much they got by disturbing the quiet of England, The Scots had what they deser­ved. and by medling in the stirs and troubles of others; nay, and by being the Au­thors of the innumerable Calamities which we suffered. So they fell into the Pit that they dug for us, and were taken in the Snares which they had laid for the Innocent; nor was there any hopes of a Deliverer, or an Avenger, till God should think fit to look down from his Mountain, and having chastised the perverseness of the Peo­ple, have Mercy upon them.

But so much for Scotland; Hains subdues Jersey. let us therefore leave it, and return to matters that proper­ly concern our selves. Jersey must now come up­on the Stage, for the subduing whereof, Hains, with great preparations of Soldiers, and all things necessary, is empowred; who, passing over thither with about seventy sail of Ships, great and small, for three days space was beat off from several places of the Island, by Sir George Cartright Governour of the Island, since deser­vedly, Ʋnder Chamberlain of the King's Houshold, though sooner than was expected, he after­ward obtained the Victory: For making a de­scent in the night time, and Bovil, who com­manded the Cavalier Party, doing his utmost to hinder the Enemies Landing, being killed in the first Encounter; the rest, seized with a sud­den fear and Consternation, are put to flight. The Inhabitants after that, submitted to the will and pleasure of their new Masters; Eliza­beth Castle also standing upon a Rock, and at high water encompassed by the Sea, being bat­tered and torn with great Guns and Mortar-Peeces, one of which was so fatal, as at one [Page 156] blow to kill or mangle eight and forty Soldi­ers, after two Months siege capitulates, upon Condition, that the Governour and Garison with Bag and Baggage should have liberty to pass over into France. The Isle of Mann also ta­k [...]n. Next follows the Isle of Mann, this place, though defended by Feminine Valour, to wit, by the Countess of Derby, yet vied so much in honour with men, that it was doubtful, whether, in the Royal Cause, Sir George Cartright, or she, fell the last Victim un­der the Hands of the Traytors.

An Act of Ob­livion passesAll the Provinces thus subdued, an Act of Oblivion passes, whereby the memory of what was past being abolished, all Crimes whatsoever are pardoned. But this was hampered with so many Limitations, Restrictions, Exceptions, and ensnaring Clauses, that there was little hopes for true Penitents to expect any good from it. But such, But not without the instance of Cromwell. however, as it was, Cromwell alone was to be thanked for it, by him chiefly it was proposed, and by his means and endeavours it past in the Rump-Parliament, that, by so doing, he might by a shew of kindness claw the suffering and vanquish­ed People, and at the same time heap ha­tred and indignation upon the Heads of his fellow Traytors. For now, forsooth, it was time to put an end to Rapine and Violence. Did they take so much pleasure in undoing Estates, and ruining Families? There was enough allowed to anger and revenge: That it was altogether fit to shew Clemen­cy and Mercy to the Guilty, who having sufficient­ly payed for their faults, now at length sued for pardon.

The Soldiers displeased with the Rump.But the hatred and animosities betwixt the Rump and the Soldiers, the Seeds whereof had been long ago sown, though during the common danger they appeared not, began now to show [Page 157] themselves, and, after long and mutual grudges, to break out into Flames, and to devour one another. So rare a thing it is for Thieves and Rob­bers, to agree long together. The Soldiers object, Which with these Crimes they load, that these men did for ever appropriate to them­selves and their Friends all places of Honour and Command, barring all others from any share with them; and that under colour of the publick good, they divided amongst themselves all profitable Offices, without any regard to the Publick. For what end had they taken Arms a­gainst the King? exposed their lives to so many dangers, ript up the bowels of their Country-men and friends? Did they bring the King to the Block, ( for in that execrable Villany they triumphed) that they might only settle them in their Seats, so as they might securely live at their ease for e­ver, and, right or wrong, domineer over all with­out any distinction, and Murder and Sacrifice to their own private Lust or Revenge, as many Subjects as they pleased? Away with it, say they, it were better to return to the old way of Govern­ment, Raise King CHARLES from the Dead, and submit to his Rule, seeing it was known that he followed the Laws, and accordingly squared the ad­ministration of his Government. They therefore earnestly desire, That at length an end might be put to the Parliament, a new and fair Representative chosen by the good people, and that the Laws might be reformed; besides the many other things which had already so often cloyed them with Petitions.

The goodly Warriours made these specious demands, As minding onely their own advantages, not out of a pure zeal for the Pub­lick good; but that having baulked them, by de­termining their Authority, they themselves might have their turn in the Government; [Page 158] hoping that by branding them with these re­proachful Characters, they would at length be fain to put the Power into their hands.

The Objections are boldly e­nough answered.On the other hand the Rump-Members, Ma­gisterially grave, by a long possession of Au­thority, bid the Soldiers mind their own Affairs, look to their Arms, and obey Orders, that they, to whom the care of the Common-wealth was committed, and the business of settling a new Government, ha­ving long laboured in the Affair, with no small Pro­gress, would at length by the help of God bring it to perfection. They bid them have a care, in the mean time, that they make no Tumults, seeing they who had pulled a King from his Throne, wanted neither Resolution nor Force to reduce into order li­centious Souldiers, though milder courses were more pleasant to them.

The Soldiers re­ply.But the Soldiers disdaining that they should be thought pragmatical, and medlers in Affairs that did not belong unto them, answer those State-Advisers, That they were not Mercenary Soldiers, nor had not taken up Arms only in Pro­spect of pay, but for maintenance of the Publick Li­berty, neither would they lay them down till they found the common Fruit of their endeavours. That they ought not to boast of putting the King to Death, (so they mutually gloried in that Horrid Villany) since they onely stood by, as in Disguise and Masquerade; but that they by their Valour, and at their own Peril, accomplished the thing, at the menti­on of which they would have started, had they not been encouraged, and set on by men of the Sword.

The Rump, therefore, being now more afraid of their Servants and idle Soldiers, than former­ly of the Royal Enemy, endeavour by all ways to reduce them to Obedience, or at least [Page 159] fairly to dismiss and disband them, Of whom there­fore the Rump, under another pretence, order a great part to be disbanded. but still un­der another pretence, alledging that the Com­monwealth was not able to entertain so many idle and lazy Soldiers. Wherefore, under colour of lessening the Charges of the Publick, they pass an Act for Disbanding part of the Army, and the rest to have but half pay, and to be divided and separa­ted in several Countries; that at once they might secure themselves against the attempts of the Ca­valiers, and take from their own Souldiers all opportunity of making Innovations.

The Soldiers smell out the design, and it prickt them to the heart, that they were now to be cast down from that height, from whence they received plentiful incomes, and almost sha­red in the Government: They take it very ill to be cut short of their pay, of their dominee­ring, after their accustomed manner, in the Countries, and of making their own advanta­ges in suppressing the beginnings of Sedition. Therefore the Officers refuse to be disbanded, reciprocally pretending the Publick good. The Soldiers re­fusing, and de­manding a new Representative, They also frame a Petition, such as they had formerly presented, with proposals much to the same effect, and desire a speedier answer; nor would they lay down their Arms, before the remnant of the old Par­liament being abolish'd, a Representative were lawfully chosen, and that for the greater expedition, An equal numb [...]r of both consult in common, some of the Officers of the Army, as Commissioners, should be admitted into the House, or at least sit and debate about the Proposals with the Members of Par­liament. The Rump condescending to this, twelve of each party meet and consult in com­mon: Where, Oliver St Johns, more skilful than the rest in the Common Law, But without any Fruit. raising scru­ples, and perplexing matters that were clear in themselves, so confounded the Rude Sol­diers, [Page 160] that about one word, they spent above two Months.

These Proposals were also debated in the Rump: The Rumpers are divided a­bout the manner of the Repre­sentative, but since it would be tedious to mention all of them, I shall briefly, onely relate with what sharpness and quite opposite Opinions they clashed about the Representative. Some were for shaping it after this manner, some af­ter another, and some after none at all. The Presbyterians, who were but few in number, are for having it conform to the Solemn League and Covenant, a strict and previous Inquisition be­ing made into the Manners and Religion of the men. The Ʋtopians dreamt of, I know not what Olygarchy made up of the Godlier Party, winnowed and sifted to the highest Purity. O­thers were for a kind of Circulation, that every one successively and in course might have their turns in the Government. And about the Time; Besides there was no less strife about the Time. Some thought it very dangerous, nay, without doubt fatal, to assign any day of dissolution, and to introduce a new Representative. Not willing to give the Power rashly out of their own hands. Others would have no such change to be made, but every third, fourth, or fifth year. But those who were in Power, think it safest, that new Members should be chosen in place of those that died or were tur­ned out. And most Votes agreed in this; which they forthwith enacted, though the night before they had privately promised the contrary to the Officers, to wit that they would model a new Representative.

Cromwell fly­ing to the House, and objecting to them Misde­meanours and other horrid Crimes,So soon as Cromwell heard of that, he hastens to the Parliament House, ordering ten or twelve Soldiers to follow him, and stay for him at the door. He himself, accompanied only with Fleetwood, entring in: To this purpose [Page 161] spake to the Speaker: You have sufficiently imposed upon the People, and provided for your selves and Relations; you have long cheated the Country, by your sitting here under pretext of settling the Com­monwealth, reforming the Laws, and procuring the Common Good; whilst in the mean time you have onely invaded the Wealth of the State, screwed your selves and Relations into all Places of Honour and Profit, to feed your own Luxury and Impiety. Then stamping with his Foot, which was the Signal to the Soldiers without, For shame, said he, get ye gone, give place to honester Men, Commands all to be gone. and those that will more faithfully discharge their Trust. But whilst all, surprised by this sudden Conster­nation, held their tongues, one had the bold­ness to tell him, It suits ill with your Excellen­cies Justice, to brand us all promiscuously and in general, without any Proof of a Crime. At which being a little more heated, taking hold of one by the Cloke, Thou art a Whoremaster, says he; to another, Thou art an Adulterer; to a third, Thou art a Drunkard and Glutton; to a fourth, Thou art an Extortioner: And the Musquetiers rushing in, he excludes them all, And they de­laying, by the assistance of the Soldiers he ex­pelled them the House, and commands the Parliament to be dissolved; whilst Harrison gently pulled the Speaker out of his Chair, be­ing unwilling to rise, and sent him going. So that that vast, horrid, and many-headed Mon­ster, whose Bellowing had made all Europe to shake, is by one single Puff of Cromwell's Breath dispersed and scattered, no body regretting, but rather all the People rejoycing at it. So, Government basely got, is basely lost. Nay, to compleat their Punishment, And makes them ridiculous. they were ridicu­led, a Bill being set upon the Door, with, This House is to be Let. They were also Lampoon'd by the Ballad-singers about Town, who cried [Page 162] publickly about the City, Twelve Parliament-men for a Peny. Next day the Council of State, and Privy Council, are in the same manner sent pack­ing by Cromwell, lest, if any remained, the Rooks might breed again.

By this so acceptable an Action, he so blot­ted out the Memory of his past Villanies, that for a time he was rather look'd upon as a Savi­our; The People re­joycing, the Shouts and Bonfires that were made, sufficiently expressing the Joys of the People, for being delivered from so cruel a Yoke. They praise the Freedom the General took, And much ap­plauding him. in not fearing to charge his Impotent Masters to their Faces, with the Vices that were publickly talk­ed of; some few in the mean time observing, that whilst he himself now accused those whom before he had commended, he had then pre­ferred such as he might afterwards most justly accuse. For he had so purged the Parliament, as casting away the Flower, he had for his own purpose reserved the Bran, to be likewise thrown away when he had a mind to it. The Rump-Members loaded with publick Hatred, and sad Hearts, departed home, as they were com­manded; for there was a Necessity that they must fall at the Pleasure of those, at whose Plea­sure they chose to stand; and since they could not thrive in their Trade, without obeying their Guardians, the Injuries of the Soldiers were to be born with, and onely whispered. But they find no other Patron. The Publick, indeed, grieved not at their Disaster, as if the Office of the Laws had been shut; but triumphantly in­sulted over them, as a Den of Thieves now bro­ken up and dispersed.

But the Commonwealth was still reserved to sadder Bondage, Cromwell now, as General of the [Page 163] Army, arrogating to himself the Supreme Au­thority. Yet that he might remove all suspici­on of any such ambitious Design, and render the same more secure and stable by gradual and crafty Insinuations; as also that he might gull the Demotratical Republicans, They consult, in the mean time, what is fittest to be done. it is decreed in a Council of the Officers, That the Supreme Power should be committed to Godly and Pious Men, to the number of an hundred and forty four, during the space of six Months; who should have power to moderate, and with such Prudence settle all things, that all Sin and Vice being rooted out, Peace and Concord might flourish in the Nations. There­fore the Officers of the Army, The Officers ad­vance the Godly to the Govern­ment, with Consent of Cromwell, call out of every County and Corpora­tion a proportionable number of the holiest Men whom either they knew, or could find out, (the civiller, or rather most pragmatical sort of the Private Soldiers being permitted to name some) whom they place at the Helm of Government, to consult about the difficult Af­fairs of Three Kingdoms: Illiterate Men for the most part, Chosen from a­mong the Off-scowrings of the People, and out of all Sects: and the Off-scowrings of the Peo­ple; and these also Bigots, Anabaptists, Fifth-monarchy-men, Democraticks, Fanaticks, and, in a word, the most villanous Incendiaries of all the Sects. But with those were mingled Crom­well's cunninger Adherents, whom, being most obnoxious, he had endeared to himself by Fa­vour, that as occasion offered they might sway the rest, and check their mad Counsels.

These being met in the Parliament-house, Who having chosen a Spea­ker, Take the Name of The Parlia­ment of Eng­land; their first Care is to chuse one Rous, a Smat­terer in Letters, for Speaker; and then, to give themselves a Title; which, after much Preli­minary Dispute, was at length concluded to be, The Parliament of England. This done, they [Page 164] set to work. But, Good God! what strange Confusion presently arose? Which Cromwell and the other cunning Rogues foreseeing would undoubtedly happen, laughed in their Sleeve, that they being hampered and entangled in Difficulties, would with universal Applause and Gratulation deliver up to Cromwell alone the sole Administration of Government.

They resolved to make way for the Monar­chy of Christ upon Earth, prophesying his Per­sonal Presence to be at hand: Therefore they pronounce Priesthood to be Popery; And presently shew their mad­ness, in falling soul of the Mi­nisters, Colle­ges, and Nobi­lity. paying of Tythes, Judaism; the Laws of England, the Re­mains of the Norman Yoke; Schools and Colle­ges, Heathenish Seminaries of curious and vain Learning; Nobility, lastly, and Honours, con­tray to the Law of Nature, and Christianity: all which they would have wholly abolished, and pluck'd up by the Roots; and without doubt had done so, had not the few of Sense that were amongst them put a stop to it.

They abolish all Courts of Ju­stice.However, in effect they abolish the Court of Chancery, and all the Judicatures that were wont to be kept in Westminster-hall. By one or two Acts was that prodigious Parliament re­nowned: Appoint Justices of Peace to ce­lebrate Marri­age. For, Marriage, which from the very Birth of the Church of England was never ce­lebrated but by Church-men, they commit to the Care of Justices of the Peace; as if in an Affair of so great moment, there were no need of Solemn Prayers, nor of the Benediction of the Church. They leave also the Publication of the Bans of Matrimony, which used always thrice to be made in time of Divine Service, to the choice of the Parties, either to have it made in the Church or Market-place. A Regi­ster also is appointed to be kept, not of the [Page 165] Christnings, but of the Birth of Children: so that from hence you may guess what a kind of new Reformers these were.

But when Cromwell had suffered them to give the People sufficient Proofs of their Mad­ness, and to work Fear and Hatred also in their Fellow-Subjects, some of them who had more sense, The sounder part deliver up the Government to Cromwell, who with relu­ctancy accepts it; upon a day appointed went with their Speaker to attend him, earnestly beseech­ing him to take upon himself the Supreme Au­thority, now again fallen at his Feet. Cromwell made a shew of wonder, denying utterly and rejecting it; but at length, with much ado, suffered himself to be prevailed upon; but with this Condition, That an Instrument or Form of the Thing, under Hand and Seal, should be given him.

This being done, though the Inferiour Offi­cers of the Army and the Republicans were against it, who promised to themselves profita­ble Places under that Government, and a Li­cencious Liberty of domineering, or at least constant and standing Commands in the Army; yet Lambert, Lambert chief­ly, and by his persuasion the rest of the Of­ficers consent­ing. who at present promised himself the Second Place in the Government, and after­terwards the First, hiding a proud Ambition un­der a Cloke of Humility, by Words, and by his Example, persuaded the other Officers not onely to comply with that Monarchy, but also to stickle for and desire it. So now the Name of a Commonwealth stinks, and the Popular State, which heretofore they gloried in, is despised. The Single Government of One Person onely pleases them; and, what heretofore they had cursed with so many private and publick Impre­cations, after a Consultation with the Officers, is declared to be the Government of this Na­tion. [Page 166] Yet Cromwell would not accept of it by the Title of KING, But he would be called Prote­ctor, not King. though he was persua­ded to it by many, lest he might seem to make Shipwrack of all Modesty, and too openly to prevaricate: But joyning together a Common­wealth, and Single Government, which former­ly were inconsistent, under the Title of Pro­tector he takes into his Hands the Reins of Go­vernment, modelled according to the Conditions of an Instrument, which here we shall insert.

THE Instrument of Government.

THat the Supreme Legislative Authority should be in a Single Person and the People in Parliament; but the Administration thereof to be left to the Lord Protector and to his Council, whereof the Number was not to be above Twenty and one.

That all Charters, Patents, Writs, and Commis­sions, should be passed by the Protector: All Power of Magistracy, Honours, and Titles, to be deriv'd from him. Likewise the Pardon of all Offences, excepting Treason and Murder. He also to have the Administration of all things, with the Advice of his Council, and according to the Tenor of this Instrument.

That the Militia, sitting the Parliament, should be in the disposal of the Protector and the Parlia­ment; but in the Intervals, in the Protector and his Council. The Power also of making Peace and War with Foreign Princes, to be in the Protector and his Council: but he to have no Authority of Re­pealing or Making any Laws, without the Consent of Parliament.

[Page 167]That the Parliament should be called before the end of Six Months then next ensuing, and after­wards once in Three years, or oftner if need require; and that it should not be in the Protector's Power to Dissolve the same for the first Five Months, without the Consent of the House.

That the Number of Members for England should consist of full Four hundred, Elected accord­ing to an equal Distribution: for Scotland Thirty, and for Ireland the like Number; the Number for each County and City to be also assigned.

That the Calling of such Parliament should be under the Seal of the Commonwealth, by Writs to the Sheriff in the Protector's Name. But if the Protector should not call the same within the times limited, the Chancellor then to do it, under the Penalty of High Treason; and if he should fail therein, then that the Sheriffs should peform it. And after such Election should be made, to be trans­mitted by the Chief Magistrate, by Indenture, to the Chancellor, signed with his Hand, Twenty days be­fore the Sitting of the same Parliament. Also if the Sheriff or Mayor should make a false Return, that he be fined in Two thousand Marks.

That none should be capable to Elect, who had ever born Arms against the Parliament, or been Actors in the Irish Rebellion. Nor that any Papist should ever be capable to give his Voice. And that all Elections against these Rules should be void, and the Transgressors fined at Two years Value of their Revenues, and a third part of their Goods.

That no Person under the age of One and twen­ty years, should be capable of being Elected; nor any other than of known Credit, fearing God, and of good Behaviour.

No Man likewise to have Power of Electing, whose Estate should not be worth 20 l. per An. Ster­ling.

[Page 168]That the Return of the Persons Elected should be transmitted by Prothonotary in Chancery, unto the Council of State, within two days after they should come to his Hands, to the end that Judgment might be made of the Persons, if any Question should arise touching the Lawfulness of the Choice.

That Sixty Members should be accounted a Par­liament, in case the rest be absent. Nevertheless, that it should be lawful to the Protector to call a Parliament when he shall see cause.

That the Bills agreed on in Parliament should be presented to the Protector, for his Assent thereto; and if he should not give his Assent to them with­in Twenty days, that then they should have the force of Laws without it.

That if any Counsellor of State should die, or be outed of his Place for Corruption, in the Intervals of Parliament, the Protector, with the rest of the Council, to substitute another in his stead.

That a certain Annual Tax should be made throughout the Three Commonwealths, for the Main­tenance of Ten thousand Horse, and Fifteen thou­sand Foot; which Tax should also supply the Charge of the Navy: And that this Rate should not be lessened or altered by the Parliament, without the Consent of the Protector and his Council. But if it should not be thought necessary hereafter that any Army should be maintained, then whatsoever Sur­plusage of this Tax should be, to be kept in the Trea­sury for sudden Emergencies.

That if there might happen to be occasion of ma­king extraordinary Choices, and to raise new For­ces, it should not be done without Consent of Par­liament; but that in the Intervals of Parliament it should be lawful for the Protector and his said Council, both to make new Laws, and to raise Mo­nies for the present Exigencies.

[Page 169]That all the Lands, Forests, and Jurisdictions, not then sold by the Parliament, whether they had be­longed to the King, Queen, Prince, Bishops, or any Delinquents whatsoever, should thenceforth remain to the Protector.

That the Office of Protector should thenceforth be Elective; but that none of the King's Line should be ever capable thereof; and that the Ele­ction should belong to the Council.

That for the present Oliver Cromwell should be Protector.

That the Great Offices of the Commonwealth, viz. Chancellor, Keeper of the Seal, Governour of Ire­land, Admiral, Treasurer, in case they should be­come void in Parliament-time, to be filled up by the approbation of Parliament; and in the Inter­vals, by the like approbation of the Council.

That the Christian Religion, as it is contained by Holy Scripture, should be the Publick Profession of the Nation; and that those who were to have the Care thereof, should have their Support from the Publick; so that it be with some other more con­venient Maintenance, and less subject to Envy, than by Tythes.

That no Man shall be by any Fine or Penalty whatsoever, forced to Comply with the said Publick Profession, otherwise than by Persuasions and Ar­guments.

That no man Professing Faith in Christ, should be prohibited the Exercise of his own Religion, so that he disturb not any other: but that neither Po­pery or Prelacy should be permitted the least Fa­vour or Licence; and that all Laws to the contra­ry should be void.

That all Agreements made by Parliament should be firm and stable; All Articles of Peace made with Domestick Enemies, made good.

[Page 170]That all Protectors, in their Order, should be obliged by Oath, at their first taking upon them the Government, by all means to procure the Peace, Wel­fare, and Quiet of the Commonwealth; by no means to violate the present Agreements; and lastly, to his Power to administer all things according to the Laws, Statutes, and Customs of England.

Cromwell swears to his own Conditions, and presently chuses Counsellors out of every Sect.To these Conditions Cromwell swears, and then cunningly chuses his Privy-Counsellors; which he so dexterously pack'd, that though they differed in Quality and Inclinations amongst themselves, yet all were equally at his devotion. Of every Sect he chuses some Lead­ing Men, by whose means he might gain the rest of the same Stamp: Officers also of the Army, especially the Higher, and those who were most in Favour and Authority with the People. Amongst them were Anabaptists, Inde­pendents, and Presbyterians; Irish and Scots; all sorts of Republicans; and, until all Liberty of Ingenuous Minds was restrained, some Royalists also. The Reins of these so many and diffe­rent Opinions, Factions, Nations, and Sects, the skilful Driver, being himself of no Faith nor certain Profession, took into his Hands, and turned them at his pleasure; now inclining to one side, now to the other; sometime appro­ving the greater, and sometime the smaller number of Votes; being ready at every turn to dismiss those that were head-strong. And thus assisted by his Counsellors, he takes upon him the Administration of the Commonwealth.

What were the thoughts of men in this great Revolution.Out of fear, few withstand this so great a Change in Affairs, and many applaud it: Those who are of a contrary Opinion, stand in amaze, and conceal their Thoughts. Presbyterians, In­dependents, [Page 171] Royalists, Neutralists, and all, chuse rather to acquiesce under his Government, than eternally to be enslaved to the Pleasure of mad Fanaticks. The exulting Soldiers are cock-a­hoop: Now Colleges are freed from the fear of Ruine; the Common-Laws are secured from dan­ger; the Nobility, though maimed, yet still seemed to be in being; the Presbyterians, secure of their Tythes and Discipline, though not co­active, triumph: nor are the Royalists much grieved, being now sure of a Single Person, and hoping that the Scepter and Crown, after one or two Turns more, would at length be setled upon the right Basis, the Royal Family. Every Commander of the Army talks of Golden days, as if now their Places were to last for ever; nor does the meanest Soldier despair, but that by degrees he may mount to the top of the Government. But Lambert and other Chief Of­ficers, besides the plentiful Estates wherewith they are enriched at present, skip for joy that they are admitted into a share of the Govern­ment, hoping within a little after the death of the aged Protector, to be raised higher.

Amidst these Domestick Revolutions at home, England wanted not a Foreign Enemy; A War with Holland. they had a heavy War with Holland upon their Shoulders, which being begun two years before, and till then continued, seemed like to termi­nate in the Ruine of one of the two Nations, had not God othewise decreed. The Dutch were netled at the Letters of Reprisal, The use of it. which being promiscuously granted, Pyrats from all Places, who liked better to live by Rapine, than by honest Courses, infesting the Seas, had ta­ken above Fourscore Sail of Ships; as also at the Order of Parliament, That no Goods should [Page 172] be Imported from abroad, unless in English Bot­toms, or Ships of the Country where the Commodi­ties were originally to be had. And that People were too late foolishly bent upon War: For when it was in their Power to have assisted the King against His Rebellious Subjects, then would they neither aid Him with Counsel, Money, In­tercession, Credit, nor any other way; nay, I wish it might not be said, that some of them as­sisted the Rebels. But now, when the Princes of Europe vailed their Crowns and Scepters be­fore the Parricides, they think themselves able to make Head against them, and vie for Pre-eminence. Nothing now is to be heard amongst them, but forthwith resisting Force by Force: The Publick Places resound with Ballads and Songs against the Villanous Regicides and Secta­rians, and Booksellers Shops are adorned with Pictures. The Flushingers exceeded all the rest in Folly, who boasted, that their own Ships alone were able to beat the English. But the High and Mighty States were not of that Judg­ment; Different Opi­nions of the States of the United Pro­vinces about that Matter. they were divided into Three Parts: One Part was not onely for entertaining a Peace and good Correspondence with the Regicides, but also for Leaguing into a stricter Amity: Others, favouring the Popular Opinion, did all that lay in their power to thwart that; and that Confederating with Neighbouring Princes, they should endeavour to restore the King of Great Britain to the Throne of his Ancestors: A third Party taking a middle way, thought it best to mind their own Interests, carry fair and civilly with the Rebels, thereby to secure their Trade, and the free use of the Seas; but, in the mean time, if the Parricides carried it high, and slighted their Friendship, that with a well-ap­pointed [Page 173] Fleet of an hundred and fifty Men of War, they should forthwith quell them.

The last Opinion prevailing, The middle Opi­nion prevailing, Embassadors for Pacification are sent into Eng­land. Four Embassa­dours for Pacification are appointed to go into England; the Heers Catz, Schaep, Vandeperre, and Neuport, who had long been resident there. They renew the Treaty which St. Johns had broken up, beginning at the same Article where he had left off. The Oligarchicks here­upon seem sorry for what was past; and presa­ging a future Coalition with the English into one Commonwealth, carry very civilly, and kindly receive them. Then the Dutch Ambas­sadors, without denouncing of War, make some mention of an hundred and fifty Men of War, which they had in readiness to scowr the Seas from Pyrates, and securing Navigation; but without any Intention to molest us, which was far from their thoughts.

But in the heat of the Treaty it unluckily fell out, In the heat of the Treaty a sharp Engage­ment hapned. that a great Fight hapned betwixt Blake and Trump, the Admirals of both Nations; but I am uncertain who gave the first Provoca­tion. We alledged, That the Dutch refused to strike Sail, which is a Mark of Prerogative and Dominion that we demand of all Foreign Ships; and that Trump being warned to do so by a Gun without a Bullet, was the first that fired a Broad-side, and that by order from his Ma­sters. However, from which Side soever the Provocation was given, May 24. 1652. both Fleets desperately engaged in the Afternoon, and fought it out stoutly, till dark night hid the horrid Spectacle from the Eyes of Men. From this Engagement the Dutch, double to us in number, with the loss of two Ships, and as much, if not more mauled than we, departed. [Page 174] But seeing the Dutch could obtain no Victory in that unexpected Aggression, The Dutch excuse the matter, their Embassadors excuse the Matter, as having been a fortuitous Engagement, when they themselves thought of nothing less. Yet both Sides prepare for War; which was not at all ungrateful to the English, as being certain they could so long protract it, until the Dutch being forced to a Coalition, would at length yield; or being reduced to extremity, of which they entertained no doubt­ful Hopes, considering the Opportunity of our Ports, and the Number of their well-equipped Fleet, they would be glad to submit to the Will of the Conquerors. Both Parties were obsti­nate, and prepared all things that might be necessary to destroy one another. The Dutch Confederate with the Danes; But confederate with the Danes, who therefore lay first an Embargo upon a Fleet of the Eng­lish in the Sundt, and afterwards carry them in­to Copenhagen, being laden with Masts, Pitch, Hemp, and Sail-cloth, which at that time the Regicides were in great want of, though they had got a pretty good Supply from the West-Indies, and the Northern Parts of Scotland. The King of England, besides, offers them a Squadron of English Ships for their Assistance; which nevertheless they would not suffer to car­ry the English Colours, but in their own Ports, lest the Breach betwixt the two Commonwealths might prove irreparable. Both Parties in the mean while press Seamen, set out Ships, encrease the number of their Sailors, yea and put Land-Soldiers on Board too. All hopes of Peace now vanishing, the Embassadors return home; and a second and third Engagement hapned at Sea. And fight a­gain and again. No Age before that can shew an Instance that ever any People, not onely of Europe, but [Page 175] of the whole World, engaged at Sea with such roaring of Great Guns, such Fury, Courage, and Resolution of Men, and so much Blood and Slaughter, as the English and Dutch did during that War, though with continual ill Success to the Dutch; except that in the Straits, near Le­gorn, John van Galen, who was killed by a Can­non-bullet, and had young Trump for his Suc­cessor, having sunk two of our Ships, and taken a third, that was afterwards regained by a Stra­tagem, had the better of us through our own negligence. But then Revolutions hapning a­mongst us at home, At length they sue for Peace, Cromwell be­ing now at the Helm. when Cromwell had invaded the Government, by the the Mediation of Stones and Dolman, Englishmen, who favoured the Dutch, four new Ambassadors come over again, Bevering, Jounstal, Neuport, and Perre, at first to learn what Advantage they might expect from that turn of Affairs, and accordingly then to treat of Peace.

The Dutch now thrice overcome, had suffici­ent experience of the English Strength, having Seventeen hundred Merchant-Ships taken, ma­ny Men of War sunk and disabled, a great many Sea-Commanders slain, no Trade by Sea, and Sedition at home rising almost to a Rebel­lion. But the fourth and last Engagement, above all the rest, gave a clear Demonstration, what Side Victory inclined to; when not a few were punished with Imprisonment, Infamy, and Death, for their Miscarriage at Sea; others al­lured and encouraged with Promises, Rewards, Hopes of Booty, and full Cups of Brandy: and as if Holland lay at stake in the Fortune of this Engagement, and that they were to use their utmost and last Efforts for the defence of their Country, they restore Discipline, build stronger [Page 176] Ships, cast Guns that carried further, and give Commands to trusty, valiant, and daring Men: Nay, some of the States General are ordered to go on Board, as Eye-witnesses of the Valour or Cowardise of their Men. At length the English Fleet, commanded by Monck, having waited for the Dutch six Months upon their own Coast, they set out from the Texel and Weelings, and bore up towards ours, A fourth En­gagement, most fatal to the Dutch: Trump being killed, and, with as many Ships as they could fit out, briskly came to an Engagement; but after a long Dispute, with such Success, that Trump in the Admiral-Ship bearing in bravely amongst the English, was shot dead in the Breast; a Man of great Cou­rage, (for Valour is to be praised even in an Enemy) and most skilful in Sea affairs: after his Death, the Enemy was put to flight, and great slaughter committed amongst them. In that Engagement seven and twenty Dutch Ships were either sunk or burnt, And 2000 be­sides. two thousand Sea­men and Soldiers killed, a thousand taken, with six Captains: Whereas of the English there were not above four hundred Men, and one small Ship wanting, about seven hundred wounded, most of whom afterwards recovered.

Cromwell claps up a Peace with the Dutch and Danes;These things succeeding so ill, the Dutch clap up a Peace with Cromwell, the Danes also being comprehended in the Treaty. He hinted a little at a Coalition, onely for Forms sake, which the Dutch Ambassadors rejecting, he wa­ved it, having other things in design. But Bevering and Newport privately promise, in the Name of the States of Holland and West-Fries­land, And lays a snare for the Prince of Orange. and engage themselves, That neither the Prince of Orange, (an innocent Babe, then in the Cradle) nor any of his Race, should ever be chosen Statholder, or Admiral of their Provinces; [Page 177] and that he should never have the Vote of their Pro­vinces in the States General, for being elected Gene­ral of the Forces. Which they got at length confirmed by the States at Groningen: The rest of the Provinces, in the mean time, crying out against it.

But the Peace made with the Dutch, had al­most disturbed ours at home. S [...]ditious Sea­men. For the Seamen complaining that they were defrauded of their Pay, tumultuously and seditiously flock together in a great Body, and with murmuring and Threats fly to Whitehall, bitterly railing, and demanding their due; till Cromwell, attended with some Officers, rushing out, drew their Swords, killed some Seamen, dispersed the rest, and so composed the Tumult.

But we must not so dismiss the Dutch: For it hapned that War breaking out with Holland, three Ships, the Saviour, Samson, and St. George, Three Hansia­tick Ships are stopp'd, were freighted by some Amsterdam-Merchants, under borrowed Names, from Hamborough and Lubeck, Hanse-Towns, to bring Goods from St. Lucar in Spain to Amsterdam. But the la­den Ships by Storms and contrary Winds being forced into the Downs, fell in amongst the Eng­lish Frigats, that were more formidable than the Winds: Which being searched, they found them very richly laden, having on board to the value of Four hundred thousand Pounds Eng­lish, in Plate and other rich Commodities; and stopp'd them until they had acquainted the Par­ricides with the Booty. They presently order them to be brought up into the River of Thames, where it was pretended, that the Silver and Goods were consigned to the Spanish Embas­sadour, Don Alonso de Cadenas, who used all his Endeavours to have them cleared. But the [Page 178] Parricides, under pretext of doing Justice, re­fer the Matter to the Court of Admiralty; which by long Delays protracts the Suit; till the Silver, upon pretext of the Publick Neces­sity, being brought ashore, and Coyned in the Tower of London, was in Oliver's Protectorship Condemned with the rest of the Goods. And condemned.

Let us now make a step over to the Portu­guese; Cromwell is reconciled to the King of Por­tugal. whose King's Excuse Cromwell took in very good part, seeing he pretended sorrow for what he had done: Wherefore he dischar­ges the Ships laden with Sugar, upon reparati­on of the English Losses, and enters into Alli­ance with him; for confirmation whereof, Me­dows is sent over to Portugal with the Embassa­dor, who then was upon his return.

The Embassadors Brother, Don Pantaleon Sa,But I must not here pass over the Embassa­dors Brother, Don Pantaleon Sa, who had not the luck to return again into his own Country. For he walking one Evening in the New Ex­change of London, and resenting an Affront which he thought he had received from one Gerard, the Night following he repairs to the same Place, attended by the Retinue of his Brother the Embassador, and with Sword and Pistol falls indifferently upon Men and Women. A great Hubbub rising upon this, Colonel May, an Irish-man, drew, and alone beat off the Por­tuguese, the Authors of the Tumult. However, next morning Don Pantaleon Sa was carried out of his Brother's House, For a Murder committed in London, to be tried for the Murder of one Greenway, an innocent Person, who was unexpectedly and unfortunately kil­led in the Scuffle; and was shortly after brought to the Bar before Rolls Chief Justice of England, having some Doctors of the Civil Law for As­sessors; where the Prisoner having pleaded and [Page 179] much insisted upon the Privileges of the Em­bassador, he is notwithstanding found guilty, and condemned. But having afterwards, by the help of a certain Mistress, made his escape out of Prison, either by the Discovery of a pretended Friend, or the diligent Search of the Keepers, he was again apprehended, and six months after beheaded upon Tower-hill, Is beheaded; his Countenance looking so pale, that he seemed to have been dead before he died.

At the same time, and upon the same place, And Gerard at the same time also, for stand­ing up for the Kings Interest [...] Gerard, for a different Cause, and with far greater Resolution, suffered the same Death: For he was condemned by the High Court of Ju­stice (as they called it) for asserting the Royal Cause; and upon the same Scaffold where the Portuguese afterward suffered, he chearfully and undauntedly had his Head struck off upon the Block. So by Death they seemed to be made Friends, who so lately sought one anothers Life.

Vowell, a School-master, Vowell hanged for the same Cause. was hanged for the same Cause; who bravely upbraiding the Judg­es to their Faces with Injustice, he cited the Judges and Cromwell to appear before the Judg­ment Seat of God, who will render to every one according to their Works.

But let us return to our King, who having an Appartment in the Louvre, did not lazily lament his Misfortunes, but tried all ways where­by he might better his cross Fortune, and set things to rights again: He uses all Endeavours to procure the Favour of the King, the Cardinal, and Princes. He mediates a Peace betwixt Spain and France; but in vain, seeing the Cardinal was against it. His next Care was, by persua­ding some, and appeasing others, to reconcile [Page 180] the Princes of the Blood of France to the King, The King of England uses all Endeavours to oblige the French King; who were in a bad understanding because of the Cardinal: At length he prevailed with the Duke of Lorrain, who was joyned with the Princes against the King, to depart peaceably out of France, though he had entred it full of Anger and Revenge. But this cost Our King dear: For whilst He and the Duke of York were in a private Conference with Lorrain, the Duke of Beaufort coming in by chance, discovered it to the Princes of the contrary Faction; who casting the blame upon the King, that Lorrain afterwards forsook them, But being basely used, made the French be­spatter Him and all His Retinue with bitter Railleries and Calumnies. He being a little moved at these things, removed to St. Germans, until he was informed that Burdeauxe de Neuf­ville had made a firm Peace with Cromwell; and then through Liege and Aix la Chapell he went to Cologne in Germany, He removes to Cologne. where by the Burgomaster and Senators he was invited to a Banquet, and welcomed with all the Expressions of Joy and Friendship.

His Friends in England, in the mean time, use all endea­vours.The Royalists in England at first knew not what Hand to turn to; yet they cast about all ways how they might restore the King to His ancient Dignity, and by shaking off the Yoke of Tyranny, recover at length their own Li­berty. The Parricides were indeed but few in number, in comparison of them; but they were such as exceeded them in craftiness, and, being victorious, had the Arms and Money in their Hands; and besides, were so well served by their clandestine Spies, Cromwell counter-endea­vours. that they had a watchful eye over all; so that they could not confer Counsels, nor discourse privately toge­ther, nor so much as whisper any Business. And [Page 181] this was the reason that all Stirs and Attempts of Liberty were prevented. The Prebyterians also, though they wished well to the King, yet for the most part stuck obstinately to their Principles, neither advising nor associating with the Royalists, but rather entertaining their old grudge and hatred against them. Yet by mutual Exhortations they do some­what. The Royalists nevertheless finding by degrees Opportunities of conferring together, did by faithful Mes­sengers, by Cyphers and Characters, by Signs and the dumb Language of Fingers, exhort, ani­mate, and stir up Parties against Cromwell. Some of the bolder sort openly disobeyed his Commands; many unwillingly complied, under pretext of Laws to the contrary; whilst others with various Colours and Pretences, some pre­tending themselves Presbyterians, others Repub­licans, and others again Anabaptists, were still jumbling Affairs, and Plotting.

At length Royal Commissioners began to be appointed all over England; The matter was at length un­dertaken by Comm [...]ssioners, the Chief to re­main in London, and the Inferiour in the several Counties and Provinces; with Power to act, and by Messengers going to and again, to give one another and the Kings Majesty intelligence of the Beginning and Progress of Affairs, and of the op­portuonities of Acting. Among these were some Presbyterians, but not many. These Commissioners were impowred to draw as many others as they could into the same Association; which they set about after this manner: Every one, according as they could, acquainted their trusty Companions with their purpose of Rising, the Place, & Time; but that privately, and one onely at a time, Very cau [...]iously; lest if the Matter afterward should come to be de­tected, there might be no more but one Wit­ness against the Party accused. So the Affair [Page 182] was spread amongst a vast number of Men, and the more to be feared, that it was communica­ted to so many.

Few Nobles, either of higher or lower Quality, but were made acquainted with the Design; and though some declined the Danger, yet most of them kept Counsel: Nay, many Re­publicans, The Republi­cans also con­spiring with them, who now were more displeased with the Tyranny of Cromwell, than the Lawful Go­vernment of the King, joyn in the same Reso­lution; namely, Overton, who heretofore had been Governour of Scotland, and Wildman, both Leading Men. They had hopes that the Republi­cans and Royalists being associated together, they might either overcome, or at least force Cromwell to come to better Terms; and that then turn­ing their Arms against the Royalists, they might easily subdue them. For the report was, That 2000 Horse, and vast numbers of Foot, all Re­publicans, had listed themselves for that Service.

And some Go­vernours of Places.The Governours of Towns and Forts give also hopes of joyning in the Confederacy: Cannon are likewise provided, and one day first, then another, and a third, are appointed for the In­surrection; that rising at the same time in all Counties, they might every way divert and di­vide the Enemy, and in this uncertainty what Course to take, overcome him.

But Cromwell discovering the Design, easily disappoints it;But Cromwell is not ignorant of these Con­trivances; he employs all his Arts and Might to get a clear discovery of the Scheme and Series of the whole Business, to bring to light the Plot­ters, and especially that he might detect the Lords and Chief Persons of Quality, break their Measures, and by a false Insurrection spoil their true Rising. By that means he suppressed the Conspiracy of the Cornish and Shropshire Men, [Page 183] by stirring them up to precipitate their Rising. Some rising too soon, At Hessen-Moor also, in Yorkshire, a numerous Meeting is appointed to be, amongst whom Fairfax himself was reported to have given hopes of appearing: But he being beset by the Craft and Artifices of Cromwell, abstained from Action. There the Earl of Rochester, whom we have often mentioned by the Name of the Lord Wilmot, and Sir Nicholas Armorer, met at the appointed time, that they might Head the rest: But both of them, few appearing, and most part falling off for fear, Others coward­ly; betook themselves presently to flight, and being taken at Ailsbury by the Rebels, with much ado made their escape. Sir Henry Slingsby and Sir Richard Maleverer be­ing with others taken, are committed to Pri­son. A great many People appeared that night also in Sherwood-Forest near Nottingham: But being partly betrayed, and partly smitten with fear, and divided about the Choice of a Com­mander, they all fly; of which, a great many, being apprehended, suffer a tedious Imprison­ment for it. At the same time, about Three hundred Wiltshire Men rising, under the Com­mand of Wagstaff Major-General of the Army, broke into Salisbury, where two Judges of the Kingdom were then holding the Assizes, whom they seised, but afterwards civilly dismissed. From thence for some days they wander up and down, in vain expecting Auxiliary Forces; till at length many of them disappeared, and the rest were defeated in their Quarters by Crook's Regiment, Wagstaff escaping safe in the dark. London, Kent, and the other Counties, And all disap­pointed of their Hopes. taking warning from the Misfortunes of their Breth­ren, forbore at present to make any Distur­bance; but yet they could not escape the Intel­ligence [Page 184] of Cromwell. Many Persons of Great Quality committed to Prison: The Earl of Oxford, Lords Willoughby of Parham, Newport, and Compton, Littleton, Peyton, Packington, Ashburn­ham, Russel, Legg, Philips, Halsey, and many others, whom I shall not name, being seised, are committed to a long and irksom Imprison­ment, and some transported to the Plantations. The Republicans also, Wildman, Overton, and (much about the same time) Vane, are made Prisoners.

All the Prisoners who were clearly convicted of the Fact, are severely punished: Many shed their generous Blood, Not a few put to death. some being beheaded at Salisbury, and some at Exeter; as Penruddock, Groves, Lucas: and others died upon a Gibbet, who ought to have had their Memories eter­nized in Statues. But not many of the rest were put to death, as not being taken in the Fact, or escaping in the Crowd of so many con­cerned, or, lastly, not any one accusing ano­ther.

Cromwell's Arts of Disco­very.Now the Reader is to know how Cromwell came to the knowledge of the matter. He had given power to the publick Postmasters, who were all at his devotion, to stop suspected Peo­ple, open and secretly read their Letters, and if they appeared to insinuate any thing tending to an Insurrection, to give him an account of them; if there were any thing found ambigu­ously written, to write it down, till he might have an opportunity either of seising or brand­ing the Parties with pregnant suspicion. He narrowly observed all Posts and Messengers, caused them sometimes to be stopp'd, and care­fully searched from Head to Foot, terrifying them with Threats and Imprisonments, and plying them with Wine and other Engines of [Page 185] Discovery, he found out the most hidden Se­crets. He therefore hired and dispersed about many Spies and Eve-droppers; nay, Spies mingled amongst the Ca­valiers; and some clandestine ones amongst the Cavaliers them­selves, who openly stood up for the King and Royal Cause, but Men of no Estates nor Ho­nesty, who prying into all the Secrets they could, gave intelligence of them. But these Men did but little Service being accustomed to detect things that were publickly known, and sometimes contradictory. He gained a consi­derable and topping Traytor, one Manning, Especially one Manning that lived at Court, whose Father died in defence of the Royal Cause, as he himself had formerly served the King, and received a Wound in the Foot; be­ing a Gentleman of a good Family, and by Re­ligion a Roman Catholick: who notwithstand­ing, that he might be the more acceptable, and make way for his future Treachery, daring in a manner to mock God, took the Sacrament, after the manner of the Church of England. Cromwell by Craft and Allurements wholly de­bauched this Man into his Party; who insinua­ted himself into the King's Service, and the So­ciety of the Courtiers, under pretext of raising amongst the Royalists Six thousand pounds Eng­lish a year, for the Use of His Majesty, Crom­well in the mean time privately paying the Mo­ney. Under this specious colour, he securely dived into the Counsels of the King and of His Friends, and weekly sends an Account of them; till at length (as no Treason can be long con­cealed) the Rat discovered himself, and being guilty of the Death of so many Brave Men, Who at length was justly put to death. by his own Blood, which was all he could do, he expiated his Crime.

[Page 186] Cromwell calls a Parlia­ment of Com­moners onely,But a Parliament is now called at London, though not after the ancient manner: The Commons are onely called to sit and consult in Parliament; nor these neither freely elected by all the People. But before they were suffered to enter the House, Cromwell spake to them to this purpose: Wherein he brags of his own good Deeds. That some years ago none would have thought of such a Door of Hope; that he knew there were yet many Humours and Interests, and that Humours were above Interest; that the Condition of England was like Israel in the Wil­derness; that this was a Healing Day; there was neither Nobleman, nor Gentleman, nor Yeoman be­fore known by any Distinction; we had not any that bore Rule or Authority, but a great Contempt of Magistracy and Christ's Ordinances: That the Fifth Monarchy was highly cried up by Persons who would assume the Government; but that desired thing wanted greater manifestation than appeared, for such Men to change the Authority by. He de­sired this Honourable Assembly to remedy all these Disorders; shewed, That the Wars with Portugal, France, and the Dutch, do and did eat up the As­sessments; That swarms of Jesuits are crept in to make Divisions, which were grown so wide, that nothing but his Government could remedy them: And let Men say what they will, he could speak it with comfort before a Greater than any of them. Then he shewed what he had done during his Go­vernment: First, his Endeavours of reforming the Laws, having joyned all Parties to assist in that great Work: Next, his filling the Benches with the Ablest Lawyers: Then his Regulation of the Court of Chancery, and his Darling Ordinance for the Approbation of Ministers (which hindred all that list from invading the Ministry) by Men of both Persuasions, Presbyterians and Independents, &c. [Page 187] And lastly, his being Instrumental to call a Free Parliament; which he valued, and would keep it so above his Life.

Then he shewed the Advantage of the Peace with the Dutch, Dane, and Suede, Which he would have the Parlia­ment to confirm. and the Protestant Interest, which he would have them improve and intend chiefly: That they were now upon the Edge of Canaan: That he spoke not as their Lord, but their Fellow-servant: And then bad them go and chuse their Speaker. Cromwell having spoken to this effect, the Members, without returning him Thanks, as is usual, went to the House.

Lenthall being again chosen Speaker, But they, on the contrary, nibble at the Instru­ment of Go­vernment, The Officers and Courtiers oppo­sing it, they fall first upon the New Instrument of Government; all the Clauses and Articles whereof they thorowly sift and examine. The Officers of the Army who were Privy-Counsellors, and all who depended on Cromwell, vigorusly oppose that, saying, That that Instrument was to be taken for the Basis and Foundation of the Government, no ways to be called in question, since by the Authority there­of the Parliament met; and that it would be con­trary to the Dictates of Natural Reason, to bring it to a Trial. Nay, many, and particularly Lam­bert, threaten, That if the Parliament did not approve and confirm it, they themselves would call another, nay a third, and a fourth, till it should be at length established by Publick Con­sent. But the Repub­licans urging the same. But the Republicans stood stiff to the con­trary, making answer, That the Government was usurped by Craft and Force, not procured by Right, nor confirmed by the Free Votes of the Peo­ple; that it laid Snares for the Liberty of the Com­monwealth, and made way for a most grievous Ty­ranny. One amongst the rest, in the heat of the Debate, was so bold as to say, That since they were approaching so near to Monarchy, it were better [Page 188] to call one of the Royal Family to the Government, than that Cromwell should usurp the Scepter and Crown.

But Cromwell severely checks these Debates, Cromwell being informed of these Debates, comes in great rage to the Parliament, and tells them to this effect: That they were not cal­led together that they might confound and turn all things again into the former Chaos, but that they should build upon the Foundation and Ground-work already laid down, and not to be altered: That his Authority could not be called in question, unless at the same time they invalidated their own Power; since the present Parliament was called by him, and by him had liberty to consult: That he alone had the Right of setling Fundamentals, upon which they had power to raise and beautifie Superstructures: That he was resolved to maintain the Government and Supreme Power in a Single Person, to call a Par­liament once in Three years, not to sit above Five months without his Consent, &c. That to violate or innovate these things, should neither be in the Power of the Protector nor Parliament: That in other things they might consult and enact as they pleased for the Publick Good.

And obliges all that would en­ter the House to own the Govern­ment.But because Admonition might not be suffi­cient, he thinks fit to apply Force. Next day a Guard of Soldiers being set before the Door of the House, no Man was suffered to enter, unless he signed the following Recognition: I shall be faithful to the Lord Protector, and shall not endeavour to change the Government of a Single Person. Many who could not swallow that Bit, are debarred from the Privilege of Sitting. Nevertheless, so many Republicans took the Re­cognition, as made the Cromwellian Faction and Republican almost equal; some who underhand favoured the King joyning themselves to each [Page 189] Side, enflaming Animosities, and, as much as might be, setting the Parties, who seriously treated these Affairs, at greater variance: In­somuch, However, he left all his Labour. that after five Months continual jang­ling and debate, Cromwell was not able to bring his Affairs to any good issue in this Parliament.

Nor do the Republican Spirits onely prevail in the Parliament, but also in the Army. The Republican Soldiers con­spire his ruine. For these consult and plot together, how they might apprehend Cromwell, and bring him before the Parliament, to be accused and condemned of Treason; thinking with themselves, that if they could lay Hands upon him, and make him Prisoner, there would be a sudden change of Affairs; and that his Favourers and Adherents being thereby baulked, would sculk and shift for themselves. The truth is, the Officers of Three thousand Horse, and of no inconsidera­ble number of Foot, frequently met in Somerset-house, and elsewhere, about the contriving and carrying on of that Design: But before the Matter came to maturity, Which he smel­ling out, pre­sently dissolved the Parliament. by the Treachery of Pride, it came to Cromwell's Ears, who, by a ha­sty Dissolution of the Parliament, prevented all those Machinations, and disbanded those Of­ficers.

In the mean time Cromwell having received a splendid Embassie from Sueden, He makes Peace with Sueden, with equal Mag­nificence, he concluded a Peace with that Crown, and dismissed the Embassadors with hopes of a nearer Alliance. He makes Peace also with France, And France. and promises to send over Assistance thither, if the Affairs of England would permit him.

But all this while, the specious Pretext of Supreme Authority was wanting to these At­tempts. The Parliament had denied their Col­lective [Page 190] Votes; to make that up therefore, it remains, that the Distributive Votes of all the People be had, and that the Officers break the Ice. For Support of his Authority he procures Gratu­latory Addres­ses from the Of­ficers of the Ar­my in Scotland, Wherefore Gratulatory Petitions or Ad­dresses are sent by the Commanders of the se­veral Regiments of the Army in Scotland, whereby they thank the Lord Protector for ha­ving changed the Form of Publick Government to the better. They pray him to go on in the discharge of that Province which by Providence he hath undertaken; promising with their Lives and Fortunes to maintain and defend him in all difficul­ties. Then from the Officers in England, But amongst the English Officers there was a necessity of a wheadling Pretext; to wit, That the Malignants and Enemies of the Country now triumphed, as if the Army breaking into Dis­cords and Divisions, would presently renounce their General Cromwell: That therefore a Petition of that nature must needs be framed, wherein by ap­plauding the Protector, they would convince those that were of a contrary Opinion. With much ado he obtained that amongst the Republicans; but at length (some refusing to sign it, as venturing rather Cromwell's Displeasure and Revenge, than by a sneaking Compliance to betray the Rights and Privileges of the People) all the rest agree to the Petition. The Army thus leading the Dance, And afterwards from some Cor­porations. some Corporations and Coun­ties follow; and these, possessed by what Spi­rit I know not, heap so many and so great Elogies upon the Man, that striving to outdo others in Hyperbolical Cant and Flattery, they fall into Blasphemy, and blush not most pro­fanely to attribute to this Man, Titles that are peculiar to God Almighty.

He affected to be a Promoter of Justice,In the mean time ( to give the Devil his Due) he restores Justice, as well Distributive, as Com­mutative, [Page 191] almost to its ancient Dignity and Splendour; the Judges without Covetousness discharging their Duties, according to Law and Equity; and the Laws (unless some few that particularly concerned Cromwell) having full and free course in all Courts, without hindrance or delay. Mens Manners also, And a rigid Censurer of Manners, at least outward­ly, seemed to be reformed to the better, whe­ther by really substracting the Fewel of Luxury, or through fear of the Ancient Laws, now re­vived and put in execution. His own Court also was regulated according to a severe Disci­pline; here no Drunkard, nor Whoremonger, nor any guilty of Bribery, was to be found, without severe Punishment. Trade began again to prosper; and, in a word, gentle Peace to flourish all over England.

He studied also to gain an Opinion of extra­ordinary Sanctity among the Church-men; And a Favourer of the Clergy, for no Man affected to seem more tender of the Clergy than he, though he would not list him­self in any particular Sect, nor espouse parti­cular Opinions: He was, indeed, more inclined towards the Independents, his Affairs so re­quiring; but a severe Enemy to all the Ortho­dox Clergy of England. He gave it out, That it was his onely wish and desire to see the Church in Peace, and that all would gather together into one Sheep-fold, under one Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and mutually love one another; whilst under-hand he set them together by the Ears, Whose Divisions nevertheless he foments, whilst he seemed ear­nest in composing of them. and promoted their Dissentions. He projected some specious Proposals of Reconciliation be­twixt the Presbyterians and Independents; but when they were upon the point of agreement, he put them again at greater variance. Under pretext also of moderating and pacifying the [Page 192] Divisions of the Scottish Remonstrators and As­sembly-men, he blows up the Embers, and kindles greater Flames amongst them. By turns he used to countenance all sorts of Fanaticks, that the hair-brain'd People might the more obsti­nately stick to their Whimseys and Scruples; of whom, if he could frame any one to his own Temper, by prying into his Secrets, he shewed himself easie and tractable to the Opi­nions and Punctilio's of any Religion. He had moreover the knack of wheadling and alluring all with hopes of Favours, and fawning Offices, but so, as they must know, there was no resist­ing of the Bridle; if otherwise, he would break out into Anger, Industriously suppressing the Insolence of the Presbyterians. and thunder Threatnings. If he perceived that the Presbyterians began to raise their Crests, be troublesom to their Neigh­bours, seem uneasie under the Government, or meddle in Civil Affairs, then would he threa­ten and denounce all Evils to the Sect, and let loose against them the Anabaptists, Quakers, and the rest of the Fanaticks, who took pleasure in disputing with the Preachers, and interrupting them in their Divine Worship; and by such Brutes he created no small trouble to the swel­ling Presbyterians: Nay, he was heard by many to glory, that he had curbed that Insolent Sect (as he used privately to call it) which would suffer none but it self, so that they had humbly begg'd his leave, and thanked him for granting them permission to Preach and perform Divine Worship after their manner, in their own Con­gregations, and to those who were willing to submit to their Government.

Though the Publick Use of the Service-Book was denied to the Episcopal Party, yet in Pri­vate Houses he allows them the Use of their [Page 193] Rites. He not onely cherished, He was ill-affe­cted towards the Church of England, tho he was accusto­med to caress some few. but seemed al­so mightily to love Dr. Brownrigg, a Bishop, and other Learned Men, whom heretofore he was acquainted with at Cambridge, whilst they were suffered by the Parliament to live there, and commanded them to visit him often: yet it was his custom, so soon as they were gone, to for­get, calumniate, and deride them. If any were suspected by him to promote the Royal Cause, or to contrive against himself, they must be sent to Foreign Plantations, chained and imprisoned, severely checked, interrupted in their Sermons, haled before Officers or Justices of the Peace, and not dismissed till they found Security for their Good Behaviour, and the keeping of the Peace. Nevertheless, though the State of the Church seemed now sad and deplorable, yet it is not to be denied, but that milder Courses were used, than under the rigid Tyranny of others that went before.

The Independents get into the Chief Places of Honour and Profit, He hugged the Independents: whom he countenanced with his own Familiarity; and at length gave them liberty to call an Assembly at the Savoy, that the Preachers or Prelates of the In­dependent Churches in all Counties meeting there, might make a Confession of their Faith, and justifie themselves from absurd Opinions, with which they were branded by some: but especially, and indeed, that they might shew their Numbers and Strength, and by knowing one another, associate together into a stricter Union. Though this Meeting was not celebrated till Richard was possess'd of the Government, yet the Grant of it was obtained in Oliver's time. Nor was he an enemy to Fana­ticks, He allows a To­leration of Religion to all sorts of Fanaticks. [Page 194] Though publickly he detested, And Roman-Catholicks. and seemed an implacable Enemy to the Papists; yet he was very familiar with some of them, and very ob­liging towards them: Nay, once he set afoot a Treaty with them, about a general Toleration of Religion, converting the third part of their Rents, wherein by our Laws they are fined, in­to a certain Sum of Money. But because they could not agree upon the Money-consideration, and that he smelt out that it would be ungrate­ful to the People, and give occasion of Stirs and Commotions, he thought it more expedi­ent for that time to desist. But what success so­ever that Affair had, he gave to all Liberty of Mass privately; and Priests and Jesuits, who by the Law are guilty of Death if they set foot in England, had never greater freedom, nor did they ever more boldly carry on their Designs, in the Camp, Courts, and Pulpits, some of them being even raised to Promotion; so that amongst the unstable and ill-grounded, they reaped no small Harvest of Proselytes.

He creates Cen­surers of the Preachers out of every S [...]ct;He appointed a Convention of Lay-men and Church-men, as well Presbyterians and Indepen­dents, as also Anabaptists, who had power to judge of Promotions, and the Collation of Ec­clesiastical Benefices, vacant by Death or De­position; to call before them, and examine Competitors, put Questions to them concern­ing their Manners and Learning, and especi­ally about the Marks of the In-dwelling of the Holy Spirit; and sometimes about Civil Matters, as, If they liked a Popular State. It was lawful to these either to admit to, or debar from the Cure of Souls, whom they pleased, without any regard to Ordination. I shall not mention how much, according to the various Tempers of [Page 195] the Men, by Sollicitations, Promises, Gifts, Who basely minded their own Profit. and Bribes, things were Symoniacally transact­ed in that kind of Office, Lay-men, Soldiers, Bankrupt Tradesmen, and Shop-keepers, being also admitted into the Ministry, and mingled with some skilful Preachers who had been Or­dained.

He endears and obliges to himself Seculars, He studies to ingratiate him­self with all men, according to their various Humours: With the Nobi­lity, by specious Offices, such as were accommoda­ted to the different Humours of the Men. The Nobles and Great Men (for with some few of them he had an Intimacy) he delighted with Raillery and Jesting, contended with them in mimical Gestures, and entertained them with merry Collations, Musick, Hunting, and Hawk­ing. But the Godly, The Godly, and those that professed much Piety, he would humour with holy Con­ferences, Prayers also (when it was needful), and Expounding of Sacred Scripture. O! how he would magnifie Divine Mercy, casting his Eyes up to Heaven, and laying his Hand on his Breast, in shew adoring his Maker with Tears and Sighs! When he was in the Country, Country People, he used once or oftner a Year, to give the Neigh­bours about, a Buck, to be run down in his Park, and some Money to buy Wine to make merry with. And also the Soldiers. He would often make Feasts for the In­feriour Officers, and whilst they were a feeding, before they had satisfied their Hunger, cause the Drums to beat, and let in the Private Sol­diers to fall on, and snatch away the half-eaten Dishes. The robust and sturdy Soldiers he loved to divert with violent and hurtful Exer­cises; as by making them sometimes throw a burning Coal into one anothers Boots, or Cu­shions at one anothers Heads. When the Offi­cers had sufficiently laughed, and tired them­selves [Page 196] with these Preludes, he would wheadle them to open their Hearts freely; and by that means he drew some Secrets from the unwary, which afterwards they wished might have been wrapp'd up in everlasting darkness: whilst he, in the mean time, pumping the Opinions of all others, concealed his own. Let not the Rea­der take it ill, that I have taken notice of such Trifles; which, indeed, would not be worth the minding, had not Matters of great moment depended on these idle and ridiculous Toys. For whatever he could catch by that Artifice, he kept in his Mind, till he thought fit to disco­ver and apply them to his own Purposes.

Always glancing at his own Pro­fit:He was rich in Promises, but at the same time very sparing of Gifts; for he never bestowed a Place or Office, till first he weighed it ex­actly in the Scales of his own Profit, that he might thereby reap considerable Advantage to himself; as, when he advanced his Countrymen, the more sagacious, or such as were ready to undertake any thing, to Preferments. He had the knack of prying into, and winding about the Minds of all, even of his Enemies them­selves, besetting them with Snares, Artifices, and Wiles. If he perceived any one caught in the Trap, his way was to put him upon odious Employments, as Raising and Collecting As­sessments, informing against and accusing of others; and so he endeavoured to render him hateful to the rest: But if he was altogether inflexible, and would not conform to his Hu­mour, then would he turn him off, and make him lose all his past long Services.

A most cunning Diver into the Manners of Men.No Man dived more cunningly into the Man­ners of Men, and into the Tempers of those with whom he had Business to do, nor sooner [Page 197] discovered their Talent; no Man knew more of Men; nay, if there was any Man in all Eng­land that was singular in any Art or Faculty, he could not be hid from him. And most prodi­gious Hypocrite. He had an ab­solute command over all the Passions and Affe­ctions of his own Mind; could weep when he saw his Friend in Tears, yet without any Grief; he would seem to hug in his Bosom, and shew all kind of Civility to the Man whom he hated: sometimes he would break out into Fury and Rage, and scold till he came to Blows; but next day again be sorry for his Transports, and from thence take occasion of sawning and slattering. But enough of the Tyrant: Let us now say somewhat of the King.

He had not been long at Cologne, King Charles finds for the Duke of Glo­cester his Bro­ther from France, before he had News of his Brother the Duke of Glocester, whom, being as yet a Child, the Parricides had sent beyond-Sea, and for no other end, as was believed by many, but that he might make Ship­wrack of his Faith and Religion. He lived, in­deed, in great danger, amongst Roman Catho­licks, who tampered with him, threatning him with the Everlasting Wrath of God, and Tem­poral Punishments, if he embraced not the Ro­man Catholick Faith. But though he bravely resisted the Temptation, and by an unparallel­led Example maintained the Orthodox Religi­on, the Kings Majesty, nevertheless, fearing his young and tender years, Lest the Strip­ling might be in danger of h [...] Religion a­mongst Catho­licks. lest at length he might be prevailed upon, either by the Importunity of those Men, or the Allurements of his Mo­ther, sent the Marquess of Ormond into France, with pathetick and dehortatory Letters, to take him out of the Hands and Custody of the Queen-Mother, and bring him to Cologne. The Prin­cess Mary came also from Holland, and many [Page 198] other Nobles, who went with the King to Dus­ [...]dorp, to visit the Prince of Neuburgh, and the [...] of Mentz. His Majesty also saluted the [...] of Sweden upon her Journey into Italy, [...] from Frankfort on the Mane; and ha­ [...]g [...]en leave of the Princess, his Sister, whom [...] accompanied to the Spaw-waters, he re­ [...]ed to Cologne: [...] by a certain Astrologer, O­neal. Where the Bishop of Avignon, that he might gain Credit to Astrological Pre­dictions, sent him out of France a Scheme cal­culated by one Oneal a Mathematician, wherein he predicted, That in the Year One thousand six hundred and sixty, the King should certainly enter England in a triumphant manner; which since, to our wonder, we have seen fulfilled, all the People triumphantly rejoycing. Whether he foretold this by the Principles of his Art, or fortuitously, I shall not determine. The King, notwithstanding, bends His Thoughts towards England, watching every Opportunity to be laid hold on, for the advancement of His Af­fairs.

In the mean time, whilst He with great tran­quillity of Mind suffered greatest Adversity, Cromwell had neither Rest nor Security in his Prosperity, Cromwell con­tinually dogg'd with anxious & biting Cares, since the time the last Whirlwind had blown with so much fury and force; whe­ther he was lashed by the Furies of an ill Con­science, or terrified with growing Dangers, he never was at ease. In the day-time his Looks were intent upon new and unusual Spectacles; he took particular notice of the Carriage, Man­ners, Habit, and Language of all Strangers, especially if they seemed joyful: He never stir­red abroad but with strong Guards, wearing Armour underneath his Clothes, and Offensive Weapons, as a Sword, Faulchion, and several [Page 199] Pistols; Thinks himself safe no where. never coming back the streight Publick Rode, or the same way, nor never passing but in great haste and with speed. How many Locks and Keys are for the Doors of his House? Seldom he slept above three Nights together in the same Chamber; nor in any, that had not two or three Back-doors, Guards being set at all of them.

Let us here mention one Passage, which tho' indeed ridiculous, had nevertheless almost cost him his Life. Being much troubled with the Stone, he used sometimes to swill down several sorts of Liquor, and then stir his Body by some violent kind of Motion, as Riding hard on Horseback, or Jolting in a Coach, that by such Agitation he might disburden his Bladder. Wherefore one day he took with him his Se­cretary Thurlow, that they two by themselves might privately use this Exercise, in a Coach in Hide-Park. When they were come thither, Cromwell himself got up into the Coach-box, Getting into the Coach-box to ex­ercise his Body, drawn by six stout Horses, lately presented him by the Count Oldenburgh: But so soon as he be­gan to snap his Whip, the Horses run away, and the Postilion who was to guide them being thrown off of the Forehorse, they fall a fret­ting, and grow unruly, and not knowing their Master, toss their new Driver from his Seat upon the Pole; He was very near being torn to pieces alive by Horses. who falling from thence upon the Ground, and being entangled in his Coat, was dragged up and down, till having received many Bruises, and a Pocket-Pistol going off in his Pocket, his Coat rent, and he escaped from the very Jaws of Death; a Troop of Guards that waited without the Park, hastning in to his Assistance, God Almighty thought it not fit that this Plague of England should thus expire, [Page 200] though he was not far from the just punishment of his Crimes, that is, from being torn to pieces alive by unruly Horses. But this made work for Poets and Post-boys, and afforded plea­sant Discourse in Taverns.

Of new he op­presses the Roy­alists, whom he spoils of the tenth part of their Goods, Cromwell now growing bare of Money, dis­persed his Souldiers over the Countrey, allow­ing them free Quarters instead of Pay; taking a pretext from a late Insurrection, without any accusation or proof of a Crime, to plunder all those who had been sequestrated for the Roy­all Cause, commanding them to pay the tenth part of their Goods, and of their yearly Rents; unless they could compound for it, by laying down a Sum of Money, as had been often done before. The Publick Faith, and Act of Oblivi­on stood them in no stead; though it had cost vast Sums of Money, Withot any di­stinction. or had been stipulated by Articles upon the surrender of Garrisons and strong places: Nor did the innocence of many, who had not meddled in these Affairs, in the least excuse them; all are equally involved in the Guilt, and must all alike part with their Money.

He sets Major Generals over Provinces,New Major Generals are appointed to raise the Moneys in all Counties, to the number of fourteen, each having their Province, which perhaps reached three or four Counties, over which, as amongst the Romans, the Military Tribunes, so these were appointed with almost an absolute Power. Who had great power given them over su­spected persons. And that they might not seem thus to domineer onely for Money, they are impowered to make inquiry into all those who had carried Arms for the King, or had fa­voured that Cause; those who had heretofore bought up Arms, or had hired or let out Post-horses; into Privat Assemblies; those who [Page 201] live at too high a rate, when it is not known how they are able to afford it; into Vagabonds and Idle Persons; into those that frequent any sort of Game; those who slight, or are averse from the established Governments; into such as raise Tumults or Sedition; those who haunt Taverns, Tipling and Eating-houses; into un­learned and scandalous Ministers and School-masters: All such the Major Generals had pow­er to inquire into, call before them, and pu­nish. To these were joined Assessors in the se­veral Counties, Towns and Provinces, for most part chosen out of the very Sink of the People, though others of better note were sometimes mingled with them; these had Power upon common Fame, proper Knowledge, or bare Conjecture, to inform against others, make them appear, and accuse them before the Ma­jor General of the Army, with whom they sat as Assessors in giving Judgment. Good God! how Princely these fellows carry it! Especially over Ministers turn­ed out of their Livings, who are not permitted so much as to teach little Children. how big and proud do they look, despising and slighting all others of what rank and quality soever? Nothing pleased them more than to insult over, and oppress the Ministers of the Church of England, sufficiently already born down; who being long ago turned out of their Houses and Livings, these Blades would not so much as suffer them to teach little Children, thereby to get Bread to themselves and Fami­lies, unless some Fanatick interceded for them, which happened rarely, and but to a few. The Royalists being right or wrong before seque­stred, must now suffer a Decimation; and be threatned with Imprisonment, Bonds, and Transportation, which sometimes were actually inflicted. Licentious indeed was the Rule of [Page 202] these Men, they carry all things Arbitrarily, and with Despotick Authority; making them­selves Judges of Controversies, (though they were ignorant of, and despised all Forms and Me­thods of Process,) which they constantly decided in favours of the Faction and their Party. They imposed new and unusual Punishments; nay, and made new Laws: Raised People out of their Beds at Midnight, and committed them to Goals; nay, and caused Constables, who have the power of keeping the Peace in Coun­trey Villages, to be whipt, and put in the Stocks; compelled Persons of Quality, who had appeared for neither Party; nay, such as had been for the Parliament, and others also, who heretofore by hereditary right had si [...]ten in the House of Lords, to come and give their Votes in the Elections for Parliament-Men. At length their Exorbitant Power being su­spected to Cromwell himself, they are wholly abolished. Be­ing at length drunk with that Exorbitant Pow­er, they hardly acknowledged the Protector himself, and begun to spurn against the mighty Tyrant; which made him by degrees lessen their Power, and upon the approach of a Parlia­ment wholly abolish it.

About the same time Cromwell sends one of his Bedchamber Envoy into Poland, there to Congratulate the Victories of the King of Swe­den; with a present of four brave Horses, as a Testimony of his Affection.

Whether or not, Private Affairs be worth the relating, may be a doubt; yet, that the incli­nations of the People may be known, I shall mention some Passages. Some Imprisoned for the Royal Cause, Davison, Holder, and Thorold, are brought into suspition of act­ing for the King, and of using endeavours to bring him in; therefore they are committed to a Provost Marshal, to be shortly brought to [Page 203] Tryal before the High Court of Justice. In the mean time, having obtained leave from him to walk abroad, they wheadled the Soldier into a by place, whom, because he refused to consent to their escape, they Pistolled. For a Murder afterward com­mitted, are brought to a Tryal, and ac­quitted by a Ju­ry. But being af­terwards apprehended, they are brought to their Tryal for Murder before the Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench, in Westminster-hall, and submitted themselves to the Verdict of a Jury of Twelve Men; a Tryal that onely pleases our Countrey-men, as being according to Law. Nevertheless, though they were taken in the fact, and that the Judge himself had promised to use his endeavours to have these Men Con­demned; yet, I know not what scruples be­ing started, the Jury brought them in, Not guilty; which thing vexed Cromwell, who had resolved with himself that they should certain­ly die for it.

This instance made him inveigh bitterly a­gainst the ancient way of Tryal; After the same manner Lil­burn escaped Death; and Stawell thrice. reflecting al­so how Lilburn two years before, by the same means escaped his fury; and as luckily also, one Stawell, who was a Knight, notwitstanding the Capitulation he had made upon the surren­der of his Garrison, being thrice brought to a Tryal of his Life, (a barbarous thing, and contrary to Law, to be again tried for one and the same crime) was thrice acquitted by the Jury. This, though the strongest Bulwark a­gainst Tyranny, he affirms ought to be taken a­way, as a hindrance to Justice; complaining, The Tyrant objects against the Ancient Custom of a Ju­ry of twelve Men. That Sacred Justice was rashly put into the Hands of the Profane, Common People; that the weighti­est matters of Law did not depend upon the Senten­ces of the Learned in the Law, but upon the Plea­sure and Prejudices of a Company of Men, destitute [Page 204] of all Ingenious Learning, nay, and almost of Common Sense. That it was more consonant to Justice, that fifty Men chosen out of the flower of the whole Na­tion, should determine of Lives and Fortunes. Under these Colours and Pretexts, he subverted the wholsom Constitutions of our Fore-fathers, and invented a new way of Butchery of his own.

But I desire that both our Countrey-men and Foreigners would take notice, This wholesom Custom is justi­ed. that this Custom of Tryal by a Jury of Twelve Men, founded on Reason and Equity, granted us by the singular favour both of the Saxon and Norman Kings, and practised amongst us time out of mind, though it was in this Age for a short time in­termitted, yet it was approved by the Publick desires of all. The truest Judges of the Com­mons, are the Commons; as of the Nobles, their Peers; since Men of the same Rank and Quality are aptest to love, and not to envy one another. Besides, if the Sheriff empannel any who bear you a grudge, you may challenge and reject them. How are they to be accused of igno­rance, since the matter of Fact is known by Evidence, who alledge, and by their Oath prove it in open Court? and the point of Law they are to be directed by the Judges who are versed therein. The Fact is better exami­ned by a plain and uncorrupted Conscience, than cunning, that serves the ends of another. The Judges and Bench have onely their Duty to mind, Consult for the common Interest, and with the publick good procure the favour of their Princes. On the other hand, those whom the offended Conquerour appoints as Arbi­ters of your Life and Fortune, obeying the pleasure of one Master, and obsequiously oppress you. Accused Subjects, whom before they look­ed [Page 205] upon as Servants, they now sternly frown upon as Publick Enemies; and without more ado, find them guilty of Treason, and condemn them to suffer accordingly. It is a Compendi­ous and rare way of Justice, indeed, to have the same Men to be the Accusers, Witnesses, In­formers, Judges; nay, and plainly, the Execu­tioners, and very often also the Authors of the Crimes.

About this time great Troubles hapned in Piedmont in Savoy: for the Duke of that Coun­try, by Military force, drove many of the Re­formed Religion out of their own Habitations, not without Blood and Slaughter. Cromwell takes upon him their Protection, writing for that end to the Suitzers and French King; Cromwell as­sists the Prote­stants oppressed by the Duke of Savoy. and having sent a Messenger to visit them, who might intercede for them, and relieve their Wants with Money. For the Money that was charita­bly raised for their use all over England, he partly, indeed, distributed amongst them, but reserved the greatest part for other Times and Occasions.

At that time England was in a Fermentation, secretly designing a War; whereof the Medi­terranean felt the first Effort, which afterward fell upon Spain, though not with the same force and violence. An Expedition into the Medi­terranean Sea under Blake; Blake was made Admiral of the first Fleet, being ordered to sail into the Medi­terranean, there to give a Proof of our Strength by Sea, to block up Algiers, Tripoly, and Tunis, and having redeemed the English Captives, to make Peace with these Towns, or rather Nests of Pyrats; which if they refused, to reduce them by force to better terms. The Divan of Algiers, upon payment of the just Ransoms, and having mutually interchanged honourable [Page 206] Presents with the English, Who easily a­greeing with the Algerines, without any diffi­culty restore the Captives, and publish an Edict whereby free Commerce for the future is al­lowed to the English Nation. He chastises the Pride of those of Tunis, by burning their Ships in the ve­ry Harbour. But he chastises the Insolence of those of Tunis, who had an­swered proudly, having sent in some Ships, and burnt eight of theirs in Porto-Ferina; which ha­ving broken and humbled the Infidels, at length they agree to a Peace.

Another greater into America.But the other Expedition required greater preparatives; as being carried on by the re­mains of the Dissenting and Disbanded Soul­diers, to wit, of Essex, Waller, and Massey's Ar­mies, &c. some Royalists and Republicans also, but sparingly joyned with them. The first reason of it. For these being for the most part indigent and dange­rous at home, watched all opportunities of in­novation; and therefore business is found out for them abroad, that they might not be troublesome to others, but ease England a little by the departure of so many Men. The second. The Pro­tector made his brags openly, that by a War with Spain, the Nation would attain to much Glory, Wealth, and large Dominions in the West-Indies: The third. And not only cut off the Sinews of War whereby the Spaniards infested Europe, but also hinder the Influx of the Spirits and Life of it, by intercepting their Riches. Nor did he doubt of an easie and cheap Victory. The fourth. For the Spaniards were but few, and those dispersed over the vast Territories of America; and that it was credible, that the Natives, weary of their hard and tedious Bondage, would upon the first glimpse of liberty, rise up against the Tyranny of the Spaniards. That though the Towns were well fortified, yet they were un­prepared for making a resistance, the Souldiers [Page 207] being unaccustomed to War; nay, though Garrisoned by such as had been inured to fight­ing, yet all relief by Sea being stopt, and the Land not affording Provisions either for the English, or the Inhabitants, they must in a short time be starved out. The fifth. The neighbouring Planta­tions of our Countrey-men, besides, accustom­ed to the Climat and Diet, could yearly fur­nish supplies; so that there could neither be any want of Souldiers for subduing the Provin­ces, nor of People to be Transported into bet­ter Plantations. N [...]y, (and which went a great way,) there was not wanting a certain Divine, that gave vent to the Ambition which flamed sufficiently of it self, and who well understood the Enthusiastick humour of Cromwell. This Man bid him, Go, and prosper; calls him, A Stone cut out of the Mountains without Hands, that should break the Pride of the Spaniard, crush Antichrist, and make way for the Purity of the Gospel over the whole World. Swollen therefore with this hope, he sends for Officers and Commanders from all Places, solli­cits, wheadles them with good words and with fair Promises of their past Arrears, and I know not what Mountains of Gold perswades them to undertake the Voyage. He raises also pri­vate Souldiers, and fits out a considerable Fleet; he makes Penn Admiral at Sea, Penn Admiral at Sea, and Venables Ge­neral at Land. and Vennables General of the Land Forces, Men that could not set their Horses together; joining with them Commissioners, who were acquainted with the Humours, and Language of the Inhabitants, and skilful in the Harbours and advantages of Places, with whose advice the Generals were to manage all matters; and presently orders them to make sail to the Caribbee Islands, there shortly to expect all necessary Provisions from England.

[Page 208] The Spaniard being afraid.Whil'st these things are carrying on in Eng­land, the Neighbouring Princes were at a stand what to think on't; but the Spaniard was most startled, who from Dunkirk sent the Marquess of Leda to learn if he intended to keep the Peace with him. But he from the Answers conjecturing the Design, speedily returns, and repented too late of his too early honouring an Usurper.

They arrive first at Barbadoes;In six or seaven weeks time, with a fair Wind, they arrived at Barbadoes, the most flourishing of all the Islands; from thence sailing to St. Christophers, and other Circumjacent Islands, they raise nine or ten thousand Men, not so much Souldiers, as Porters, Slaves, and Rogues, who in hopes of Booty, not with design to un­dergo the Perils and Toils of a Military Life, engaged in the Service; fitter to make up a number, than to sight. Trusting to this Army (though I must confess some old Souldiers were mingled with them) Arms and Ammunition not being as yet brought from England, (so that in­stead of Pikes many were fain to make use of Poles) they sail to the Island of Hispaniola, Afterwards they saile to Hispa­niola, with a design to pro­ceed to Cartha­gena after they had taken St. Domingo. that surprising and making sure of St. Domingo the chief Town, and leaving there a Magazine with as many Souldiers as they could spare, they might proceed to Carthagena; but when they came in view of St. Domingo, having landed part of the Souldiers near the Town, whilst the rest fetched a compass about, that they might attack it on the other side, the signal is expected. But these ha­ving fatally sailed ten Leagues beyond the place appointed for the landing, put ashoar in another place, and marching through a Sandy and thick Woody Country, But they are first overcome by the heat and thirst, they were so scorched and burnt up with heat and thirst, that some being [Page 209] quite spent, fell dead by the way; many stragling to find somewhat to asswage their thirst, were killed by the Enemy: the rest hardly able to go or stand upon their Legs, at length joyn their Companions. There, Orders were published, which were as grievous to their Minds as the drought had been to their Bodies, whereby They are commanded upon pain of Death to bring all the Gold, Silver, and Rich Goods that they should find, into a Common Treasury. The hope of booty had hitherto kept up their Spi­rits; but now being destitute of all comfort, and sensible of their present and past fatigues, they were setting forward on their march to­wards St. Domingo; when after a sudden vol­ley of small shot, Then by the In­habitants, three hundred Cow-hunters armed with Lances break out of the Woods up­on them, and having put them into disorder killed them till they were weary. But next Day, the Army being refreshed as well as they could, their design succeeded somewhat bet­ter.

At length drawing off their Forces, they bid adieu to that unhappy Land, having lost six hun­dred Men or more. Then they set sail towards Jamaica, to the Westward, a pleasant Island, and, as it were, a Garden of Delights; which they easily become Masters of, the Spaniards Capitulating to be gone; And at length by a Plague in Jamaica, whi­ther they had betaken them­selves. but there a direful Plague, the avenger of Wickedness, raged a­mongst the English, which within six Months in­fected and swept away the whole Army except two Souldiers. Afterwards new Souldiers, and fresh supplies coming by little and little to their refreshment, they drive all the Spaniards out of Jamaica, which extends in length threescore Leagues, and thirty in breadth, and bravely [Page 210] repulsed those that attempted to come back a­gain; becoming Masters of the whole Island, and raising Forts in several places for their de­fence. Thus Divine Wisdom baffles the Pride and Vanity of Man.

The Spaniard declaring War, Cromwell as­sists the French upon these Conditions.The Spaniard to be revenged Proclaims War against Cromwell: And he on the other hand makes a League with the French, that at the Peril and Charges of others, he might give the Spaniard his Hands full on't. It was therefore agreed, That Cromwell should send six thousand Men over into Flanders, to be payed by the French; and that the second Town that should be taken, should belong to the English; and that CHARLES King of England, with all His Court and Family, should be Banished France, lest he might any way be aiding and assisting to the Enemy. The Duke of York, the Kings Brother, forseeing that, re­nounces the French Service, wherein he had hitherto bravely behaved himself under Mar­shal Turen; King CHARLES and the Duke of York being in­vited, go into Flanders, and shortly after both the King and He, are by Don John of Austria and others in­vited to come into Flanders, having a Pension of Nine thousand pounds English a year settled upon them, which his Majesty after his return into England fully repaid. Where the Duke serves the Spa­niard. They came first to Brussels; and there the Duke is made General of the English, Scots and Irish, who left the French Army at the Kings Command, and now served the Spaniard.

Manasses Ben Israel, a Jew, desires liberty for his Nation to live and Trade in England.At that time one Manasses Ben Israel, a Jew­ish Rabbi, came from Holland, and desired leave of the Protector that the Jews might be suffered to live in England, and enjoy a Free Trade, using many Arguments for obtaining that Fa­vour; as, in the first place, The Innocence of their Lives, and the Gain that would accrue from their [Page 211] Trade; and others easie to be deduced from the Native Genius and Qualities of that People: But the advantage he most boasted of, was, their Art in giving the best Intelligence, seeing they knew the secret Designs and Counsels of all Prin­ces; these he promises to discover to him, and at the same time to defeat the Counsels that might be preju­dicial to his Interests. Lastly, which was the strongest Argument of all, he promises a great Sum in ready Money, and some Thousands of Pounds yearly to be paid into the Exchequer. To which Cromwell listens, in hopes of gain: Such golden Promises, with the sweet smell of Gain, soon prevailed, the Exchequer especially at that time being exhausted, much Debt contracted, and Cromwell casting about all ways how he might have Money to defray the Publick Char­ges. But a fair and honest Pretext was want­ing: Therefore, on a day prefixed, But having first consulted Di­vines, Divines are called to meet, and give their Judgments about this Matter; Why, since we pray to God for the Conversion of the Jews, we should banish them our Society; as if we, who are enlightned by the bright Beams of the Gospel, ought to be afraid of our Religion because of Jews? He being assured of a great many Votes, made no doubt but that they would comply with him: But, alas! what a Tide of Contradiction had he to stem? Of whom some, contrary to his expectation, are of a contrary O­pinion. Some Divines on the day appointed disputing to the contrary, not without some inward heat and anger, so that they seemed rather to decline than promote the Determination of the Controversie, by opposing this rapid Motion. However, he resolved to connive, and allow them liberty to trade in England, with an Indul­gence of their Religion according to the Rites of Moses, without any publick Examination going before, or (as it is usual amongst Catho­licks) [Page 212] coming yearly after, and without teach­ing or catechising them.

The English Fleet, Command­ed by Monta­gue and Blake,But this Year was famous for the Actions of Mountague, since Earl of Sandwich, and of Blake: For they with a Joynt-Commission commanding the Fleet, whilst they were cruising upon the Coast of Spain, without the Straits Mouth, met with Eight great Spanish Ships, whom Stainer presently engages with Three Frigats onely; for the rest could not come up because of the Wind: but with so much Bravery and Resolu­tion he plied them with his Broadsides, that within three or four Hours space he mastered them all; Defeats eight Spanish Ships richly laden; whereof two were taken. one being sunk, another burnt, two escaping into Cadiz, and two more forced ashore and broke to pieces, wherein were lost Sixty thousand Wedges of Silver, besides other rich Goods of vast Value. However, two of them fell into the hands of the Victorious, with a great deal of Coyned Gold, to the quantity of Six hundred thousand Pieces, much Silver, curiously-wrought Plate, and other things of value, together with two Sons of the Marquess de Baydexio, Don Joseph de Savega, and Don Francisco de Lopes; the Marquess himself, with his Lady, and Daughter, who was to be mar­ried to the Son of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, being burnt. The two Brothers that remained alive, were by Cromwell discharged without any Ransom.

England now being sufficiently plagued by those petty Tyrants whom they called Major-Generals, A second Par­liament, c [...]nsist­ing onely of Co [...]moners, wherein Scots and Irish are admitted, who (as we said before) began to be uneasie to all, another Parliament is called; but not after the ancient manner, but onely made up of the Commoners or People; Thirty being called out of Scotland, and as many from [Page 213] Ireland; Cromwell tampering with many, and the Major Generals hindring the Elections and Votes of several, that the House might not be filled with Republicans. In the mean while no Man is suffered to enter the House, till first he subscribed to the Authority of the Protector; so that by that means most of the Republicans of either sort are excluded from sitting. Suits better with Crom­wells Interests Sir Tho­mas Widdrington is chosen Speaker. Many things passed here in favour of Cromwell: as, That it should be Treason to conspire his Death: and, That the Royal Family should be renounced. Nor is it in this place to be omitted, that about this time many things were publickly talked of to the prejudice of the King: as, That he was Consump­tive, and could not live long; That he was also Melancholy, and inclinable to a Monastick Life, laying aside all desire of Government; and that the Duke of York was a Professed Papist; that by that means they might wheadle over the credulous and unwary to their Party, by removing every thing that might curb and keep them in awe. The Customs are renewed; a vast Triennial Tax also imposed upon all Houses built upon new Foun­dations in London, and witbin Ten miles round, that every one of them should pay a years Rent.

At length, Since they would have made him King, at the Motion of a certain Citizen of London, the Parliament resolves to give Cromwell the Title of King, with most of the Ensigns of Royalty, which he had already long ago usurped; and many Members apply them­selves to him, beseeching him that he would vouchsafe to accept of it: which he sometimes made a shew as if he would embrace; but by and by again appeared doubtful, and at length shift­ed it off.

[Page 214]I think it will not displease the Reader if I give in this place a short hint at the main Rea­sons whereby the Members of Parliament endea­voured to incline Cromwell to accept of the Title of King, which inwardly he was most am­bitious of, though outwardly he affected a re­luctancy. This Affair was by the Parliament committed to the diligent management of six or seven of their number. Alledging these Reasons for it: These Men urg'd, That the name of King had always been in vogue from the very beginning in this Nation, for the space of above thirteen hundred years; that the Person of the King had sometime displeased the People; but that the Title was never before abrogated; that moreover the same was fitted to our Laws, and the Humour of the People, and approved not onely by the Votes of the preceding, but of this present Prarlia­ment also. To which he an­swering, Cromwell answers, That these were persuasive, but no cogent Arguments; that the Title of Protector might be adapted to the Laws; that Providence was against them, which hath now altered the Name; and that he could not without a Crime displease so many Godly and Religious Men. But the Commissioners reply, They strongly reply. That the Title ought to be fitted to the Laws, not the Laws to Titles; nay, that the Innovation of Titles is suspected as a Cloak for Ʋnderhand Tyranny, and that the disad­vantages of such a kind of change are never felt in in the same Age; for which very Reason, when King James came to the Crown of this Kingdom, the Parliament would not give way that in his Title, instead of England and Scotland, he should insert Great Britain. That by refusing the Title of King, he does not derogate so much from himself, as from the Nation; whose Honour it is to be governed by a King. That the supreme Magistrate was never designed by the Name of Protector, unless for a [Page 215] time, during the Nonage of the King, for the Admi­nistration of the Government, and a Title for the most part unfortunate. That that Name at pre­sent having its Original from the Souldiers, sound­ed Victory, and might be lawfully rescinded by ano­ther Parliament. That the Title of King being once abolished, the Government would become mutable and unsafe, not durable, if the Foundation tottered; that in the space of five years it had been three or four times altered, and was yet as wavering, as heretofore the alteration of Title was ominous to the Roman People, who neither could endure the Name of Prince, nor of Perpetual Dictator, nor of the Prince of the Senate, till at length the Pleasure of Caesar went for Law. The chief Argu­ment. But the strongest Ar­gument of all was, The Statutes of the Ninth of Edward the Fourth, and of the Third of Henry the Seventh, wherein it was enacted, That no Man carrying Arms, though unjustly, for the King in being, shall be punished for it; and that in the late Wars, more trusting to that Law, were in Arms for the King, than of those who loved his Cause. That as to Providence, it was no less conspicuous in changing the Government again into Monarchy, for avoiding confusion, and quelling a tumultuous Peo­ple, than in changing the Name of a Monarch into that of Protector. That, lastly, Good and Godly Men would submit to a Decree of Parliament, though perhaps they might seem to differ in private. A great deal of time is spent betwixt Cromwell and the Committee in mutual Answers and Re­plies; but after much affectation of Words, they still fell upon the same Heads again.

There was no less to do with the private Addresses of different Parties; Who they were that would have had him take the Title of King. most of the Pet­tyfogging Lawyers, the Commissioners for the Great Seal, the Judges, and some of the Officers of [Page 216] the Army, relying upon the former Reasons, entreat, urge, and earnestly importune him, That he would consent to take upon him the Name of King. And who on the other hand as fiercely opposed it. On the other hand, the Anabaptists, Sectarians, and Democratical Republicans, by Let­ters, Conferences, and Monitory Petitions, wearied him with their importunities to the contrary. Many also of the Soldiers and infe­riour Officers, laying their Heads together, frame a Petition to the same purpose. But he, during the whole transaction, dismisses all with the same uncertainty and doubts; however he se­verely chid the Soldiers, biding them mind their own business, for what had they to do with the Resolutions of Parliament? that they should look to their Arms, and keep themselves modestly within their own bounds, not medling in Civil Af­fairs; but that if they did forget their Duty and Obedience, neither God Almighty, nor he him­self would be wanting to reduce them into or­der.

The Cavaliers for several rea­sons were for the first Advice.The Cavaliers are Tooth and Nail for his complying with the first Advice, as being a Matter which they thought would not a little contribute to the reviving of their Cause, whilst continual jangling and and dissentions would thereby arise betwixt the Republicans and Cromwell; and the Office of King being a­gain introduced, the onely Quarrel would then be betwixt two Families, which of the two had the better Title, the one having it by undoubted right, and the other by none at all. And be­sides, thereby it would be made manifest for what cause the War was in a great part begun, to wit, the sole Ambition of Cromwell. But he having taken time to weigh with himself all their Opinions, thought it more modest and [Page 217] suitable to his Interest, to retain his more than Regal Authority, circumscribed by no Laws, un­der the submissive Title of Protector, Cromwell re­jecting the Crown which be so earnestly co­veted, than by coveting an August Name, render himself ridi­culous to the World. At length having called the Parliament unto him, He tells them, That at present he durst not take upon him the Administra­tion of the Government with the Title of King; though he was resolved in future Parliaments to introduce it by degrees, how humbly soever at present he carried himself, and utterly reject­ed the same.

I cannot tell whether or not it be worth the mentioning, what many interpreted as a bad presage. Whilst the Members of Parliament were going up to the Banqueting-House in Whitehall, to have the last Debate with Cromwell about that Affair, his eldest Son Richard being in company with them, the old Stairs by which they mounted being overcharged with weight broke with them, so that many fell to the ground; of whom not a few had bruises in their Legs and Arms, and amongst the rest Ri­chard being grievously wounded, lay by it a long time.

But since Cromwell refused the Title of King, With much ado, he obtained from the Parlia­ment the Title of Protector, the Parliament, by the superiority of two Voices onely, confirmed to him that of Protector, which he had taken before; and that they might not seem to have done nothing at all, they agreed about reforming the Instrument of Government, and added a House of Peers, or Lords, to be chosen by him, That these Men might as occasion offered, be a check sometimes to the Commons when they proceeded too hastily. They give him likewise Power of appointing his Successour or next Heir. That no Man, how­ever [Page 218] lawfully elected according to the above-mentioned Conditions, should under any pre­text whatsoever, be excluded from sitting in Parliament.

And is so­lemnly Inaugu­rated by the Speaker.On a day appointed the Members march to Westminster-hall, there solemnly to Inaugurate Cromwell, and to receive his consent. So soon as he had mounted a Stage erected for that pur­pose, round which the Members of Parliament sat, Widdrington the Speaker reaching to him the Ensigns of Majesty, to wit, a long Purple Robe lined wtth Ermin, the Holy Bible, a Sword and Scepter, thus he speaks to him, standing near him under a Canopy of State. This Robe of Purple 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. The Bible is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures, in which you have the happiness to be well versed. This Book of Life consists of two Testaments's, the Old and New: The first shews Christum Vela­tum; the second, Christum Revelatum; Christ Vailed and Revealed: It is a Book of Books, and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government. 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 like use in other Kingdoms; Homer the Greeek Poet calls Kings and Princes, Scepter-bearers. The last thing is a Sword, not a Military, but Civil Sword: it is a Sword rather of Defence than Offence; not to defend your self [Page 219] onely, 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; I am the Protectors, to protect his Peo­ple. Then having given him his Oath, and read over the Articles of Government, with sound of Trumpet he is Proclaimed Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ire­land, &c. but with faint Acclamations from the People. Hence you may understand what, and how great things the Power of a Tyrant, counter­feit Virtue, Lawyers fetches, fawning hope, anxious fear, love of novelty, and specious pretexts, could, against all right and reason, bring to pass, amongst Men in all things else, for most part, very Prudent and Wise: That in the like case I may use the Words of another. These things being thus performed, the Parliament shortly after were dismissed for three or four Months, and Crom­well has time to make choice of his Peers for the other House.

But we must not omit to take notice in this place of that unbridled licentiousness of Here­ticks, which grew greater and greater daily. The sink of He­reticks of these times: Besides Arrianism against the Divinity of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and other abominable Er­rours, which one Biddle profanely and yet safe­ly maintained before the Parliament; the Blas­phemies also of Copps against the Holy Name of God; and Fry, who heretofore scattred his Poisons in the Parliament-House; besides Erbury, who as with impunity he sowed the monstrous Seeds of Heresies amongst the Souldiers, and in the City, whilst he was in health, so dying he breathed out his last in Blasphemy; Saltmarsh also, and other Sectarians, whose Fanatical Er­rours, [Page 220] by the Enthusiasm of Cromwell, and the other Officers of the Army, were again conjured from Hell; a new and unheard-of Generation of Quakers sprung up, of whom the Parliament brought before them a considerable Ring-lea­der, that I shall now briefly discourse of.

Of whom Nay­lor had the im­pudence to give himself out for Jesus Christ; James Naylor was the Man, who had hereto­fore served under Lambert, and now had the impudence to personate Jesus Christ, imitating his Words, Looks, and Carriage: And to so great madness he grew, that his Boldness en­creasing through the Applauses of some, and the Admiration of others, he would represent him in all things. For mounting a Horses Colt, he came riding towards the City of Bristol, those of his Sect strewing the Way with Leaves and Boughs of Trees, and crying, Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. But the Madness stops not here neither; for the distracted Fellow affects Di­vine Honours, as if he could raise the Dead, heal the Sick, and fast after the Example of Christ. At length the Parliament tired out with the continued Clamours of Accusers, having ci­ted him to appear before them, sentence him to be publickly Whipp'd, Ʋntil he was Whipt and Im­prisoned, who deserved a thou­sand times to be put to Death. Pilloried, and com­mitted to perpetual Imprisonment. But the Parliament being dissolved, this Monster of Mankind was set at liberty by an Order of the Rump-Parliament, when it revived again.

Sundercome a Republican plots against Crom­well.About that time Cromwell's Life was in dan­ger from one Sundercome a Republican. It was said, that he was suborned by Alonso de Carde­nas, formerly Embassadour in England from the King of Spain, and then living in Flanders, to kill him. He had often taken a House fit for committing the Fact; but his Hopes always [Page 221] failing him, he got him a Blunderbuss that could discharge twelve Bullets at a time, resolving with that, out of an Arbor upon the side of the Rode, where the Way grows narrow, at Ham­mersmith near London, to shoot Cromwell as he past in his Coach to Hampton-Court, and forth­with mounting a fleet Horse, make his Es­cape on the opposite side. But because there was a necessity of having another privy to the Design, when the time that he was to go drew near, one Toop belonging to the Guards is en­gaged in the Plot. Who being be­tray'd by ano­ther Conspira­tor, is brought to a Tryal, and condemned: But one Assassine betrays another; Toop, Sundercome: who that he might be the first that suffered for Treason under this Government, by a new Statute is arraigned, and condemned for conspiring the Death of the Protector. However, some few hours before the time of his designed Execution, But he preven­ted the Execu­tioner by a sud­den Death. he was found dead in his Bed, though his Body appear­ed found, there being no Marks of Violence either inwardly or outwardly to be discovered. Of which thing, according to the diversity of Humours, People might severally judge as they pleased.

In the mean while the fiercer Fifth-Monarchy-men and Republicans, making all the Preparati­ons they could for a sudden Insurrection against the new Monarchy in the Bud, are discovered, The Republicans rising are appre­hended. and presently seised; amongst other things, a Standard being taken, bearing a Lion Couchant, with this Inscription, Quis suscitabit eum? Who shall rouse him? This Rising then being wholly defeated, Lawson a Sea-Commander, Colonel Harrison, Rich, and several Officers of the Ar­my, with Danvers, and others, who could not endure the Regal Authority of Cromwell, are clapp'd up in Prison. Lambert also, when he [Page 222] perceived that all his Hopes of Succession were cut off by an Ordinance of Parliament, began to tack about, and strike in with the Republi­cans: Lambert being Disbanded, Which so soon as Cromwell had notice of, he presently recalled his Commission, and dis­banded him, Fleetwood is put in his place. appointing Fleetwood to be next to himself in Power; for he thought it neither safe nor fit, that he should have the Chief Com­mand in the Army, who professed himself an open Enemy to the Civil Government.

Cromwells Lords of the ve­ry dregs of the People, Cromwell, in the mean time, that he might by fair and gentle means draw over more of the Republicans, and endear them to himself, pro­moted many of them into the House of Lords, that they might seem to share with himself in the Government; but such mean Fellows, of no Birth nor Merit, raised out of the Dregs of the Rabble, who were contemptible and ri­diculous to the real Lords and Peers, could nei­ther give nor receive any Splendour or Nobi­lity. Would ye have a List of some of them? Let Pride then lead the Dance; a most abject Rascal, who had served a Brewer; and that he might now with greater security cheat the Publick, he purchases a Grant for Brewing Beer for the Protector's Family, and for serving the Fleet at Sea. Huson was another, who not long before cobbled old Shoes in a Stall. Berk­stead, who heretofore sold Needles, Bodkins, and Thimbles, and would have run on an Er­rand any where for a little Money; but who now by Cromwell was preferred to the Honoura­ble Charge of Lieutenant of the Tower of Lon­don. Cooper, who had been a Haberdasher of Small-wares in Southwark. Berry, a Wood­monger; and Whaley, a broken Clothier, who had removed into Scotland until the breaking [Page 223] out of the Wars. I shall name no more of them, that I may not turn the Readers Sto­mach. In the mean time, Some of the No­bility being mingled with them who dis­dain, such com­panions: he joyns to them for Companions five or six of the Ancient Nobi­lity, and gives them place in the House of Lords; who nevertheless refuse to herd with the rest, and all refrain the House, that they might not pollute their Blood by such a Contagion. Others called out of the House of Commons to this Other House, prefer their own Seats, and will not be reckoned amongst those Peers. The two Sons, and one Son-in-Law of Cromwell, Falconberge also his Son-in-law, and both his own Sons. are brought into this House: For it is to be obser­ved, that he had lately married his two younger Daughters (the eldest having formerly married to Cleypole) the one to Mr. Rich, Nephew to the then Earl of Warwick, who lived not long af­ter; and the other to the Lord Falconberge, of whom now we speak; Henry Cromwell his younger Son, whom he made Deputy of Ire­land, and Richard the elder: of whom, since I am to mention him in the Sequel, it will be fit I speak a little at present, before I leave this House of Lords.

That Cromwell might remove all suspicion of arrogating to himself and Family the Supreme Authority, Of whom he sends Richard to lead a Coun­trey Life, he sends his eldest Son Richard in­to the Country, to take his Pleasure in Hunting and Hawking: Where he, a Man of a good Nature, courteous and affable, far from the Tricks of his Father, receiving the Common People hospitably, diverting himself with the Gentry, and behaving himself civilly to all, be­sides many good Offices that he did at Court and elsewhere, not onely gained the Applause of the People, but obliged a great many Per­sons of Note and Quality. But at length his [Page 224] Father took him off of these Toys, and by de­grees inured him to Publick Business; ordering him first to sit in the Committee of Trade, then in the House of Commons, and now at last having called him, as we have just now said, up to the House of Lords. Who at length is made Chancel­lour of the Ʋni­versity of Ox­ford, and one of his Father [...]s Pri­vy Council. Besides, he made him Chan­cellor of the University of Oxford, one of his Privy-Council, and a Colonel of the Army; that he might shew him not onely to the Peo­ple, but to the Soldiers; and that he might in­sinuate with all, and as much as he could make himself Friends by Conversation.

A Parliament of two Houses, who agree ill betwixt themselves, the Bastard Peers being despised by the Lower-House.And now the day was come when the whole Parliament was to meet, as well the Republicans, who in the beginning of the Parliament had been excluded by Cromwell, for refusing to sub­scribe to the Condition required, as the Lords or Peers who by Oliver's Writ filled the Upper House. But the Reader cannot but wonder, how disdainfully the Members of the Lower House looked upon those new Lords, asking them with scorn, By what Authority they sate? to what end? and for what purpose were they cal­led hither? Nay, they could not refrain from ridiculing and scoffing at them, nor be induced to have any thing to do, or consult in common with these Men. On the contrary, the Lords (as they were instructed by Cromwell) fawned, complied, wheadled, and courted their Friend­ship, leaving no means unessayed whereby they might soften and make them more gentle. But they continue to be morose, untractable, and refractory to every thing: Which Cromwell ob­serving, and especially because he understood that the Cavaliers were hatching new Designs; that the King was in a readiness, with I know not how many thousand Men, to invade Eng­land; [Page 225] and that the Marquess of Ormond was really in the Land, secretly labouring to raise the Country; for these Reasons he forthwith dissolved that fictitious, and, as I may say, And therefore that Parliament is dissolved. New Designs of the Cavaliers are disappointed by Cromwell, they being disco­vered by secret Spies. Co­mical Parliament.

It was not long before the Stirs began more clearly to appear; one Corkar, a Parson in Sussex, who nevertheless had heretofore had a hand in killing Rainsborough at Doncaster, Sir Richard Willis, and many others, who had ser­ved and been well rewarded by the King, and had opportunity of passing to and again be­twixt Cromwell and His Majesty, and discover­ing all secret Intrigues, having basely betrayed the Design. A General Insurrection was de­signed almost all over England, especially in Hull, London, Sussex, Surrey, and many other Places; which the King himself, with Foreign Forces commanded by Marsin, intended to Head. But all proved in vain; the Matter, as we have said, having been discovered to Cromwell by treacherous and clandestine Spies.

The Marquess of Ormond with much ado made his Escape, having by the Assistance of Doctor Quarterman procured a Boat in Sussex: Many are brought to Trial for their Life. And now a vast number of Persons apprehend­ed, are loaded with the suspicion of guilt: and therefore the High Court of Justice, a true Object of Derision, had it not been polluted with Blood, is again appointed, Lisle being President. Before this Court are brought Mor­dant Son to the Earl of Peterborough, two Sta­pleys, Woodcock, Sir Henry Slingsby, Hewet Doctor of Divinity, Mallory, Rivers, Dyke, and many more. Hewet is condemned for Contumacy, in not acknowledging the Authority of the Court. Slingsby, because being formerly a Prisoner in [Page 226] Hull, he had treated with Waters about the De­livery of Hull-Fort into the hands of the King. Mordant is absolved by the Majority onely of one Voice; when within a quarter of an hour after Pride came in, who would certainly have voted to the contrary: so near he seemed to the very Jaws of Death. Woodcock defended him­self so ingeniously, that he came off. The rest were either not found Guilty, or obtained Cromwell's Pardon for accusing of others, or, in short, were condemned of High Treason. Hewet and Slingsby were both beheaded. Two of the more remarkable are beheaded: Four others drawn, hanged, and quartered But four others were drawn, hanged, and quartered, their Privy Members and Bowels burnt, their Heads set up upon London-Bridge, and their Quarters upon four Gates of the City. The Common sort being safe by their Number, after a long Imprisonment, at length denying the Fact upon Oath, are dismissed. Thus they who for attempting to slay a Tyrant deserved a Trium­phal Arch, and highest Honours, falling into the bloody Hands of their Enemies, suffer a cruel and ignominious Death.

Cromwell for greater security levies new Troops of H [...]rse, consisting of Voluntiers.But that he might provide against such Stirs for the future, and more securely settle his ill­got and unsafe Government, besides the Soldi­ers of the Army, he levies Troops of Horse in the several Counties, which for the most part were made up of Voluntiers, whom either ambi­tion of domineering, hope of Preferment, pro­spect of Booty, or at least the tediousness of an idle and lazy Life, allured into the Service. Of these he gave the Command to some of his Relations and fast Friends. Though at present their Pay was but small, Eight pound a year, yet by getting into profitable Places, and plun­dring the Cavaliers upon all occasions, they [Page 227] were in good hopes of feathering their Nests. Their Duty was to watch over the Counties, to be present at Publick Fairs and other numerous Meetings, to hinder private Assemblies and Concourses of People, to exact the Taxes from those who were either slow or unwilling to pay them, by Free-Quarters, and Fines imposed upon them; to seise, besides, suspected Persons, search their Houses, take from them the Arms which they might have for defending them­selves against Thieves in the Night-time, and, in a word, to suppress instantly all Stirs, if any hapned, in the bud.

Blake is again, but now the last time, to ap­pear upon the Stage. He being this year sent to cruise in the Atlantick Ocean, had Intelli­gence that the Spanish Fleet, richly laden with Silver and Plate, had out of fear put into the Island of Tenariff, resolving to keep in the Port of Sancta Cruce, until Blake should be forced to return home, either by the Winter Weather, or the want of Victuals and Provisions. Where­fore steering his Course thither, he found the Harbour in shape of a Crescent, defended by seven Forts lying round it, and two Castles placed at the Points, with seventeen Ships ri­ding therein, their Heads standing towards the Mouth of the Harbour, that they might fire with greater certainty upon those that offered to enter: nor could the Governour forbear to jear and slout at the English. Blake with un­parallell'd bold­ness burns the Spanish Fleet in the very Har­bour of Sancta Cruce. Blake therefore entring the Mouth of the Harbour with his Frigats, thunders Broadsides and small Shot against the Castles, till the Soldiers flying from thence, he Manned his Boats with Seamen, and sent them in, who destroyed and burnt all the Spanish Ships that were there. Which being [Page 228] done, he made use of a favourable Wind, which as it had brought him thither, so carried him off again, more satisfied with his Revenge than Booty.

His Death, Cha­racter; and A­ctions.But farewell to Blake, who in that Expedi­tion died of a Scurvey and Dropsie: A Man de­serving Praise even from an Enemy; who ha­ving heretofore diligently plied his Studies, took his Degree of Master of Arts in Wadham-College in Oxford, and lived long a quiet and Country-life in Somersetshire; till afterward, the Civil War breaking out, he was engaged into the Service by some Parliamentarians, and defended Lime and Taunton even to a Miracle against the King. Then being advanced to a Command at Sea, he subdued the Isles of Silly at home; after which, being honoured with the Title and Place of Admiral, he became famous by many Actions abroad: For he hum­bled the Pride of France, reduced Portugal into order, broke the Strength of the Dutch, and drove them off of the Sea, suppressed the Py­rats, and, lastly, triumphed twice over Spain: In this alone to be blamed, that he stuck to the Side of the Parricides.

The Dane makes War against the Swede, [...]ow vi­ctorious in Po­land.About that time a dreadful War broke out betwixt two Northern Nations. Frederick the Third, King of Denmark, egg'd on by his Confederates the King of Poland and Elector of Brandenburg, invades the Territories of Ca­rolus Gustavus King of Sweden, then Victorious in Poland; The Swede hast­ning his return, invades Den­mark, revenges himself on the Dane, and re­duces him to ex­tremity. and breaking the Truce, besieges Bremersford, and other strong Places in Bremen. Which so soon as Carolus Gustavus had Intelli­gence of, leaving Poland the best way he could, he marched his Forces through Gassue, Pomera­nia, and the Dutchy of Mecklenbourg, into Hol­stein, [Page 229] recovers what he had lost, and drives Frederick, who was unable to give him Battel, into the Islands; then he over-runs all Jutland and Holstein; and having the opportunity of a hard Winter, (not without danger to himself and Army,) he boldly marched over the Sea, upon the Ice, into Fuinen; and having subdued it, and the Islands about, one after another, in the same manner he enters Zeeland, divided from them by a narrow Frith, where, by the same Storm of a sudden War, he had overwhel­med Copenhagen, had not a Peace been made at Roschild, by the Mediation of Medows, (who with Jepson was by Oliver sent from England as Mediators of Peace, he to the Swede, and the other to the Dane) and the Intervention of the Embassadors of other Princes: for which time­ly Service King Frederick made Medows Knight of the Elephant, and a Nobleman of Denmark: And King Charles the Second of England, as a Testimony of His Favour for the good Offices done to his Kinsman, honoured him likewise with Knighthood.

The War breaking out again afterward be­twixt the Kings, the Swede having possessed him­self of Croneberg, and the greatest part of Den­mark, and blocked up Copenhagen by a long and obstinate Siege, both Parties implore the Assi­stance of Neighbouring Nations; Afterward he demands Assi­stance from the English, and the Dane from the Dutch. Carolus Gu­stavus, of the English; and Frederick, of the Dutch. The Swede wanted Ships and Seamen; the Dane, all kind of Relief, to wit, Soldiers, Ships, and Ammunition. The Swede offered the English for their Security, and a Reward of their Pains, Gluckstadt, with a small Territory on the other side of the Elbe (which neverthe­less was not in his power), and Leth-Fort upon [Page 230] the River Wese. But the English demanding ei­ther Gottenberg on the Baltick Sea near the Sound, or Elsenburg that lies in the Mouth of the Bal­tick, Cromwell and the Swede disagree about the Terms. Cromwell sends thither a Fleet, and two Mediators. Nevertheless, Oliver fits out a pretty considerable Fleet in England; and, that he might watch all Opportunities of advantage for the English, sends it into Denmark, under the Command of Goodson; but the Ice and Win­ter-Colds hindred it from advancing beyond Scagen: and at length Richard sent a greater, under the Command of Admiral Montague, who was afterwards made Earl of Sandwich, and Knight of the Garter. But the Dutch being secure that the English would not interfere and molest them, that they might maintain a Free Trade through the Sound, and at the same time assist the King of Denmark, The Dutch like­wise assist the Dane, having fought the Swedes at Sea. reduced to the ut­most extremity, fitted out a Fleet, under the Command of General Opdam, provided with all Necessaries; which having engaged in a Sea-fight with the Swedes, with equal Loss on both Sides, they supplied Copenhagen with Am­munition, and plenty of all Provisions.

The French by the assistance of the English take Montmi­dy; and pre­sently after Mardyke Fort, which is given to the English to be defended.To Flanders now the series of this short Hi­story calls me, where the Affairs of the Spani­ards began to decline and grow daily worse and worse. A well appointed Army of six thousand English under the Command of Reynolds is land­ed at Calis; of which some assist the French in taking Montmidy, and being afterwards all joyned with the French, they take Mardyke Fort two Miles distant from Dunkirk, which was given to the Engl [...]sh to be kept during the Winter, who fortifie it round with Palisadoes, besides a Wall and Ditch, and render it impregnable. Nevertheless the most illustrious Duke of York re­solved [Page 231] to attaque it, bringing therefore about four thousand Men before it, partly English, Scots, and Irish, and partly Spaniards, The Duke of York in vain attempts it. he attacks it in the Night-time by an Assault. But he found Morgan Governour of the place in a rea­diness, who in watchfulness was not inferiour to him; but in this much superiour, that un­der the cover of a strong Fort he fought against an Enemy in the open Fields; wherefore after he had by all ways attempted, but in vain, to storm the place, at length he sounded the Re­treat: But the Marshall d' Aumont came not so well off at Ostend; for being tempted thither by hopes given him that the Town would be be­tray'd into his Hands, he pay'd for his rash hopes, himself being made Prisoner, and ma­ny brave Men killed.

Next Spring Marshall Turen having taken in Graveling, Graveling be­ing taken, Dun­kirk is Besie­ged; he came with a vast Army of French and English to Besiege Dunkirk, and quickly in­vested the Town by Land, the English Ships blocking it up by Sea. For it was necessary ei­ther to reduce that Key of Flanders under the Power of the French, or to try the uncertain Fortune of War, Affairs being as yet doubtful. On the other hand, if the Spaniards suffered it to be taken, besides the loss of the profit which they made by Pyracy and Traffick, the English would also deprive them of the rest of their Ports, (for they easily conjectured, that Dunkirk would fall into the Hands of the English) and open to themselves a way of bringing an Army into the Heart of the Countrey. Therefore, For the relief of which, Don John of Au­stria comes. Don John of Austria, Governour of Flanders, resolved to hazard a Battel. For that end, ha­ving drawn out of the Garrisons about some fifteen thousand Men, to which were added [Page 232] four Regiments but half compleat in Men, un­der the Duke of York, he possesses himself of the Sandy Hills, half a Mile distant from Tu­ren's Camp, there, as occasion served, to hin­der or raise the Siege. But next Morning Tu­ren having left Men enough in the Trenches, to prevent the sallying out of the Garrison, with the rest of the Army, in this manner at­tacks the Spaniards. About three hundred Eng­lish under the Command of Devaux are orde­red to march up the Hill, The French fight and over­come. and beat the Spani­ards from thence, two thousand following after, and four thousand to second them, the Horse being placed on the Wings, and behind in the Rear. The Spaniards being drawn up, bravely received the charge, with confused shouts of mixt Nations. But at length, though the loose Sand af­forded no sure footing to those that marched up, and that the Spaniards showred down continual Volleys of Shot, yet the English obtain the Victo­ry, the Spaniards being on all hands put to flight, and killed. Then at length the French Horse fall on, and were for a long time bravely re­sisted by the Duke of York, and his Brother the Duke of Glocester; but they both, the English Red-coats advancing, and number overpow'ring them, are fain to give ground, and at length are beat out of the Field. Above a thousand were killed in that Battel, fifteen hundred pri­vate Soldiers taken, fourscore Officers, and all the Cannon and Ammunition.

Shortly after the Governour being shot, the Town is tak [...]n,The Garrison of Dunkirk nevertheless persist in their defence, till the Marquess of Leda be­ing shot with a Musket Bullet, the Town lost its Life with the Governour, and fell into the Hands of the French King, who, that he might perform the Articles agreed upon, gives it to [Page 233] our Countrey-men, And given to the Engllsh as a Reward for their Service. as a Reward of their Servi­ces, and delivered it up into the Hands of Lockart, a Scottish Man, who had married Crom­well's Neece, and was his Embassadour in France; for Reynolds the Winter before crossing over into England in a weak Vessel, that he might justifie himself before Cromwell, from a Crime of Treason that he was accused of, as if he had entertained a Correspondence with the Duke of York, was cast away at Sea. The same Year, the French, with the assistance of the English, possessed themselves of Winoxberg, Fu­ern, Ypress, Oudenard, and many other places; their Horse ravaging all Flanders almost. So way was made for a Treaty betwixt the French King and Spaniard, whereupon a Marriage after ensued.

Let us now return home, Cromwel be­gan to be sick, first in Mind, and view at nearer distance the Preludes of Cromwell's approach­ing Death. Whilst he is delighted with Tri­umphs beyond Sea, he is hampered at home with difficulties and gnawing Cares. For the Death of his dearest Daughter, Besides the Death of his dearly beloved Daughter, the Lady Cleypole, who died of an inward Impost­hume in her Loins with great agony and pain, af­ter she had in her Hysterical fits much disquieted him, by upbraiding him sometimes with one of his Crimes, and sometimes with another, ac­cording to the furious distraction of that Di­sease: And the Re­publicans that grew daily grew stronger, The Republicans created him continual troubles and vexation; especially seeing his Son-in-law Fleetwood and his Wife seemed to favour these Men, excuse, and intercede for them; nay, he refrained coming to his Father-in-laws House, though he lived hard by, and ought to have comforted his dying Sister amidst the mourning and bewailings of her Relations; and [Page 234] though Cromwell (as he told it to some) had made him his Heir in his last Will and Testa­ment. Besides, Desborough, who had married his Sister, Pickering also, and Sidenham, whom he had made Privy Counsellors, had secret meetings with Lambert, and other leading Men of the Republican Party, whom they openly magnified, and extolled.

But all his Distemper was not in his Mind a­lone; Presently after being taken with a slight Fever, for shortly after he was taken with a Slow Fever, that at length degenerated into a Bastard Tertian Ague. For a Weeks time the Disease so continued without any dangerous symptoms, (as appearing sometimes one, and sometimes another kind of distemper) that eve­ry other Day he walked abroad: but after Dinner his five Physicians coming to wait upon him, one of them having felt his pulse, said, that it intermitted; at which suddenly startled, he looked pale, fell into a Cold Sweat, almost fainted away, Which at length confined him to his Bed, and orders himself to be carried to Bed, where being refreshed with Cordials, he made his Will, but onely about his Privat and Domestick Affairs. Next Morning early, when one of his Physicians came to visit him, he asked him, why he looked so sad? And when he made Answer, That so it becomes any one, who had the weighty care of his Life and Health upon him; Though he was secure of recove­ring, Ye Physicians, said he, think I shall die: Then the Company being removed, holding his Wife by the Hand, to this purpose he spoke to him, I tell you, I shall not die this bout; I am sure on't. And because he observed him to look more attentively upon him at these words, Don't think (said he) that I am mad; Trusting rashly to his silly Mi­nisters and Flat­terers, I speak the Words of Truth, upon surer grounds than Ga­len or your Hippocrates furnish you with. God [Page 235] Almighty himself hath given that Answer, not to my Prayers alone, but also to the Prayers of those who entertain a stricter commerce, and greater in­timacy with him. Go on chearfully, banishing all sadness from your looks, and deal with me as you would do with a Serving-man. Ye may have skill in the Nature of things, yet Nature can do more than all Physicians put together; and God is far more above Nature. But being ordered to take his rest, because he had not slept the greatest part of the Night, as the Physician was coming out of the Chamber, he accidentally met another, who had been a long time very familiar with him; to whom, I am afraid, says he, our Pa­tient will be light-headed. Then said he, You are certainly a Stranger in this House: Don't you know what was done last Night? The Chaplains, and all who are dear to God, being dispersed into se­veral parts of the Palace, have prayed to God for his Health, and all have brought this Answer, Who feed the Dying-man with vain hopes, and mock God him­self with their Thanks-givings. He shall recover. Nay, to this degree of madness they came, that a Publick Fast being for his sake kept at Hampton Court, they did not so much pray to God for his Health, as thank him for the undoubted pledges of his Recovery; and repeated the same at Whitehall.

These Oracles of the Saints were the cause that the Physicians spake not a word of his danger. From Hamp­ton-Court he is brought to London. In the mean time Cromwell leaving Hampton Court, where hitherto he had lain sick, is brought to London; and the Physitians meet at a Consultation in the Chamber of the aforementioned Doctor, who at that time was troubled with a grievous Head-ach, and an Im­posthume in his Ear. But next Morning early another Physician coming, who had watched all Night with the Patient, and telling the rest, [Page 236] how ill he had been in the last fit, The Disease growing more dangerous, they all con­clude that he could hardly out-live another. This Sentence of the Physicians awaking the Privy Council, He is advised by his Counsellors to name his Suc­cessour; at an appointed time they come to advise him, that he would name his Successour. But when in a drowsy fit he answered out of purpose, they again ask him, if he did not name Richard his eldest Son for his Successour, to which he answered, Yes. Then being asked where his Will was which heretofore he had made concerning the Heirs of the Kingdom, he sent to look for it in his Closet, and other pla­ces, but in vain; for he had either burnt it himself, or some body else had stole it. And so Richard being nominated his Heir, And so his Son Richard nomi­nated, shortly after he died, Sept. 3. 1658. the Day following, being the third of September, he yielded up the Ghost about three of the Clock in the Afternoon; not, (as it was commonly reported) carried away by the Devil at Mid-night, but in clear Day-light, and the same Day that he had twice defeated the Scots. His Body being opened; in the Animal parts, the Vessels of the Brain seemed to be overcharged; in the Vitals the Lungs a little inflamed; but in the Natural, the source of the distemper ap­peared; The Spleen of all other parts of his Body when opened, being most affected. the Spleen, though sound to the Eye, be­ing within filled with matter like to the Lees of Oyl. Nor was that Incongruous to the Disease that for a long time he had been subject unto, seeing for at least thirty years he had at times heavily complained of Hypochondriacal indis­positions. Though his Bowels were taken out, and his Body filled with Spices, wrapped in a fourfold Cerecloath, but put first into a Coffin of Lead, and then into a Wooden one, yet it purged and wrought through all, so that there was a ne [...]ssity of interring it before the Solem­ [...] [...] [...]rals

[Page 237]But still his Character is wanting; Cromwells Character. which with­out prejudice, and waving what we before obser­ved in the series of the History, thus take. His Birth. He was born of honest Parents in Huntington­shire, Childish Enthu­siasms, and from a Child gave no obscure proofs of Enthusiasm. For, as I have had it from cre­dible Persons, when he was a Child he repor­ted, that one appeared to him in the likeness of a Man, who told him that he should be a King; which his School-master being acquain­ted with, whipt him for it, by his Fathers di­rection. He laid an unsolid Foundation of Learning at Cambridge; but he was soon cloy'd with Studies, delighting more in Horses, and in Pastimes abroad in the Fields. However, from one Indecent Action the Reader may con­clude of the extravagance of his Youth. Sir Oliver Cromwell his Uncle, an honest, good Gen­tleman, far from the Humours of the Nephew, after the old manner kept Christmas, with Mu­sick, Dancing, And Scurrility. and the other Diversions of a chearful heart, a Master of the Revels (as the Custom was) presiding in their Plays; when, my Gentleman observing a great many got together, daubs over his own Boots and Gloves with Or­dure, and crouding in amongst the rest whilst they were a Dancing, besmears the Clothes of the Master of the Revels, and other Guests; so that the whole House was perfumed, but not with the scent of Frankincense. Therefore the Master of the Revels caused him to be Horsed upon a Pole, carried upon the Shoulders of some of the stronger Youths, and so plunged over Head and Ears in the next Pond, there to be throughly rinsed. I would add a great many more of such his nasty pranks, if I were not afraid to offend the Readers Modesty.

[Page 238]After the Death of his Father, in his Youth, he married a Gentlewoman; but by his profuse and luxurious way of living, in a short time he squandered away both his own and Wives Estate, His youthful Luxury and Re­pentance. so that he was almost reduced to Beg­gary. Afterward, playing the Penitent, he gave himself wholly over to the hearing of Ser­mons, reading of Godly Books, and Works of Mor­tification; and having hired a Brewhouse, as if he would now Brew better than he had Baked, he plied the Brewing Trade and Husbandry. After that, by means of Sir Robert Steward, some Royalists, and Clergy-men, he was reconci­led to his Uncle, who could not before endure him, so that he made him his Heir. But short­ly after, His Penury and Want. having again run out of all, he resol­ved to go to New-England, and prepares all things for that end. In the mean time, by the help of Sectarians, he was chosen a Member of Parliament; where finding fit Companions, mad partly through Ambition, and partly through Zeal and Religion, His Prejudice against the King. he omitted no oppor­tunity of fomenting Debates, and raising Ca­lumnies to the prejudice of the King, inventing Tales, stirring up the Embers, and blowing about Sparks of Division, till at length he put all into a fair Flame and Combustion. The War afterwards breaking out, he served as a Captain, and really was so, against his own King, Charles the First, a Prince of ever Blessed Memory. But reflecting with himself on the continual Victories of the Cavaliers, He advises the Parliamenta­rians. he told the Parlia­mentarians, that the Rabble would never be able to fight against the King, whose Army consisted of Gentlemen, because of the disparity of the Cause and Motives, Honour moving the one, and Pay the other: but if they desired to fight [Page 239] with equal Courage, and overcome the Enemy, they must look out for and raise good honest Soldiers, that would fight meerly for Consci­ence sake, or at least place such Officers of their Forces. Many have often heard him glory of that Advice. Having therefore obtained leave from the Parliament to raise a Regiment, by Letters or Messengers he invited the Honest Men (as he was pleased to call them) from among all the Soldiers in the several Counties, with whom he had had any acquaintance, and persuaded them to take on with him. Where­fore Independents, Anabaptists, Quakers, and, in a word, all the Sink of Fanaticks, come flocking to him; so that he made up above a thousand Horse: who in the beginning being unskilful either in handling their Arms, or managing a Horse, by Diligence and Industry became in process of time most excellent Soldiers; for Cromwell used them daily to look after, feed, His Military Discipline. and dress their Horses, and, when it was need­ful, to lie together on the ground; and besides, taught them to clean and keep their Arms clear, and have them ready for Service, to chuse the best Armour, and to arm themselves to the best advantage. Trained up in this kind of Military Exercise, they excelled all their Fel­low-Soldiers in Feats of War, and obtained more Victories over their Enemy. This was the beginning of the New Model, as they called it. These were preferred to be Commanders and Officers in most part of the Troops of the Army; the places of Private Soldiers being fil­led up with lusty strong Fellows, whom Oliver trained up and kept in very strict Discipline. His Command and Rule. Afterward he was made Major-General of the Horse, then Lieutenant-General, and at last Ge­neral; [Page 240] till, after all, he raised himself to the Dignity of Protector, and invaded the highest Place of Honour and Authority. When he was thus mounted to the top of Preferment, his first care was to break down the Steps by which he ascended, lest Rivals might climb up by the same means. His way of Ru­ling. Few have hitherto applied grea­ter Industry than he in the Administration of the Commonwealth. What is Philosophically said of others, I may with probability affirm of him; to wit, That he had two Assistant Spirits, a good, and a bad; and that when he knocked his Breast, poured out his Prayers, Sighs, and Tears, promising all things that were good, he was acted by his good Genius; but when by Lying and Fallacies he carried on his Cheats, his wicked and Traiterous Designs, then was he prompted by his bad Genius or Spirit. He was not unworthy of Government, had he not invaded it by Villany, Fraud, Treachery, and the Blood not onely of others, but of his own Prince also.

Richard takes into his Hands the Reins of Go­vernment,Next day, Richard, his eldest Son, is by the Privy-Counsellors, after mutual Consultation, saluted Protector; and is by a Herald proclaim­ed, first in the conspicuous Places in London, and then all over England, Scotland, and Ireland. Nay, the Officers of the Army though they hatched in their Breasts contrary Counsels, which were not as yet come to maturity, came to Congratulate him, and under their Hand­writing promised to be true to, and defend him. Not so much out of his own Am­bition, as in­deed by the Al­lurements of o­thers. But he was far from aspiring to it out of Ambition, and his Genius was so far from affecting Rule, having observed, that though in the worst of time the factious prevailed, and the Republicans proudly insulted, especially [Page 241] over the Cavaliers, yet Justice used commonly to follow such Practices at the heels, that he would have been content rather to have led a private Life in Peace, free from hatred and danger. But Allurements and the fawnings of Fortune blassing his Youthful Mind, and being tickled (as it is natural to Man) with the splendour of Government, he at length complies with the temp­tation. I know not what madness of the People spurred him likewise on to it; who in a kind of a Phrensie brought him from all parts, to the number of ninety Congratulatory Addres­ses, that they might worship the Rising-sun.

Richard makes a magnificent Funeral for his Father Oliver Cromwell, at a vast charge; Cromwells ex­pensive Funeral, which his Counsellers advised him to, for this end, that being already sufficiently burdened with Debts, he might be reduced to greater want of Money. But it was debated amongst the Of­ficers, whether they should accompany the Fu­neral in deep and close Mourning, for fear that being pestered in that Habit, a Regiment or two of Cavaliers dropping out of the Clouds to di­sturb the Solemnitie, they might not be able to defend themselves, though Soldiers were plan­ted all along on both sides of the way for their security. And Enterment amongst Royal Ashes. He was buried in Westminster Abby Church, which is so Conspicuous for the Monu­ments of our Kings, that Europe cannot exceed it in stately and sumptuous Tombs; as if he were there to give Laws to the Ghosts of Prin­ces, whom he prosecuted with so much hatred whilst alive. Ireton, Bradshaw, and all the crew of the Regicides aspired also to that Burial amongst the Royal Ashes.

This Farce is no sooner ended, but another presently comes upon the Stage. For the Re­publicans [Page 242] Plot and undermine, The [...] [...]ill [...] t [...]rds Ri­cha [...]d. and by degrees attempt the ruine of Richard, which they had before hatched in their Minds. First they re­pair to Fleetwood's House, upon pretext of Du­ty, and of joyning together in Prayers after their accustomed manner: they glance at things first, a [...] a distance; and reconcile Lambert and other disbanded Officers to Desborough, and those that still were in Office in the Army. By and by, [...]y end [...]avour [...] F [...]twood and him together by the Ears. they discourse of the Charge of Protector, as if by right it belonged to Fleetwood, and by Cromwells last Will, whilst he was Compos mentis, designed for him; but that Richard was in a surreptitious manner, and by the craft of some of the Council substituted, when his Father had lost his Senses; that it concerned them to be governed by a Pious and Expert Leader, such as had been tried in many difficulties. So the Firebrand of Contention being once thrown in amongst them, they proceed by all ways to blow it, and by fresh Fewel to raise it to a Flame. The Relations being by this means put at variance, and mutually incensed one a­gainst another, the Private Soldiers are tamper­red with to side with them; and that they might not seem to lose their labour, for their sakes, they desire that the Soldiers may have their full pay, which in latter times was cut short by two pence a week.

The next thing brought under debate, is the Government of the Army. Cromwell had ruled Arbitrarily by meer Despotical Authori­ty, turning out any Officer or Soldier at his pleasure, and putting others in their places; no Man must now take so much upon himself, nor enjoy so unlimited a Prerogative. There­fore the Soldiers come to a Petition, wherein [Page 243] they humbly desire, that for the future, The Soldiers challenge to themselves ex­travagant Pri­viledges. No Soldier be turned out of place without a Council of War, nor that any Action be brought against a Soldier but according to Martial Law; that no Soldier be brought to Tryal for Murder, Theft, Sa­criledge or Robbery, but in a Court Marshall; and that the Soldiers have the power of choosing their own General. These things are argued verbal­ly before the Protector, and afterwards by Pub­lick Writings and Declarations.

When Richard perceived that the Council of State and Government were tossed with these storms, he though it safest to betake himself to a Parliament, and try the aid thereof in his dif­ficulties. Therefore a Parliament is called, A Parliament is called, where­in much time is spent in jang­ling without any f [...]uit; to consist of two Houses, according to the Model of the Instrument of Government; Commissioners from Scotland and Ireland being likewise admit­ted; who no sooner meet, but they begin to quarrel at the new made Lords. These, again, are inveighed against, and it is called in questi­on, by what Right or Law they sat in that House. Nor is there less heat in the House of Commons, betwixt the Republicans and Court-Party; the first contending, that both the Scots and Irish ought to be turned out of the Parliament of England, as having no right to Vote there by any Law, being meer Slaves to the Protector, and no ways representing the Commonwealth.

At length, after much Jangling, Yet they are re­conciled. and many Reproaches, the Members of the lower House, for Reconciliation sake, Vote a present Confe­rence with those of the Other House, for they studiously avoided the name of the Ʋpper House, about Publick Affairs; provided, that should be no prejudice to the True and Antient Peers, and [Page 244] those, who during the War had not abandon­ed the Commonwealth.

The Instrument of Government is sifted.Afterwards a Recognition in favour of Ri­chard being moved, occasioned no small stir's in the House; the Courtiers, who were devoted to his Party, and the Republicans clashing mightily about it: taking occasion thereupon, they inveigh against the Instrument of Government, as being extorted from a Lame Parliament, that was neither full, nor free; and examining all the Articles of it, they let fly against Cromwell's Ghost. Not a few who favoured the Kings In­trest struck in with these, that the contrary parties being equally ballanced, nothing might on either side be agreed upon.

They recall O­verton from Banishment.Nevertheless they repeal the order for Im­prisonment of Overton the Republican, as here­tofore made by Oliver Cromwell against the standing Laws; and having sent for him from the Isle of Jersey, where he had been detained in Prison, they suffered him to shew himself near Whitehall in a trumphant manner. They accuse Berkstead and Butler of Trea­son. Berk­stead also, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, and Butler, Major General of the Army, a most insolent, haughty Man, are accused of High Treason, which they thought sufficient to be done at present.

The Comman­ders of the Ar­my urging their Proposals,In the mean time the Officers of the Army obstinately urge their Proposals; whose Coun­cils were for the most part guided by many Re­publican Parliament-Men. When some per­swaded Richard, and offered their assistance to quell these Men, by suddenly seizing the Lea­ders of them when they came together to hold a Council, Richard is wanting to him­self, he would not condescend; partly out of Cowardise, as not daring to oppose the raging Officers; and partly also out of too much [Page 245] credulity, as being perswaded by Fleetwood his Sisters Husband, and his Uncle Desborough, that the Army, though they desired to enjoy their Priviledges, and that the form of Government might be a little altered, yet would not do any prejudice to his Person or Interest, which they would not make ample and sufficient amends for. Richard then thought it enough, in imi­tation of his Father, to look big, threaten, chide, and roar. However they are not terri­fied, but rather provoked to greater rage by that blunt Thunderbolt; nor do they onely scoff and make mouths at him, but slight him as an Ass, and attempt greater matters against him.

From hence forward, And is forsaken of his Friends. those that formerly wished best to him, abandon him in Counsel, and every way; nor do they think it worth the while to meddle in his Affairs, whom God had so infatuated, as to make him neglect his own Interest. Therefore they bequeath their Labour and Studies to the Cause of the King, as being clearly convinced at length, that that was the onely Interest that could justly and law­fully be maintained.

But the Officers seeing their Proposals tend­ing to maturity, frame a Remonstrance, The Officers pub­lish a Remon­strance, wherein they turn the fury of their engines aganst the Name of Malignants; complaining, That the Good Old Cause was forgot, that the Asserters of it were every where vil fied, the great Patrons and Patriots of it (the Kings Judges) put into Printed Lists, and marked for destruction, with the ruin of all the Godly and the Cause together; that many Ca­valiers came daily from beyond Sea, and in presence of the People asserted the Kings Cause, and Con­sulted together; with much more of this Nature. [Page 246] They pray, that these things may speedily be re­dressed; giving no obscure marks of their Incli­nation of bringing in a Democracy again. This they desire Richard to represent to the Parlia­ment, scaring him thus with Lightning before the Thunderclap. But the Parliament, (some true Republicans being amongst them) out of design, as some thought, that he might have the Army a­gainst him, And are by the Parliament dis­charged to keep Consults. pass a very imperious Vote, Prohibiting any number of Officers and Soldiers to meet together for holding of Consults, until the Parliament should determine about these Affairs: Which Richard de­livering both in his own, and in Name of the Parliament, and commanding their Consults to cease, in a full meeting of the Officers, Desbo­rough takes him up for it; so that the Officers becoming fiercer and more angry, This made them draw into the Conspiracy the L [...]eutenancy and Officers of the Militia of Lond [...]n. they apply themselves to the Lieutenancy of the Militia of London, and allure them to a consent, and to joyn with them, that being involved in the same guilt with them, they might not boggle to desire the same things of the Parliament. This by means of Ireton (the Brother of the late Ireton, the Commander) then Lord Mayor, and of other Leading Men, they easily obtained.

After these Prelimnaries, the Officers of the Army, drawing together their Forces before Day, Presently they beset White­hall, beset Whitehall, where the Protector lived, sending in, in the mean time, Desborough and Fleetwood, earnestly to beseech him that he would presently dissolve the Parliament, and to ac­quaint him, That if it were not speedily done, the Officers would cause Fire to be set to the House, and all that resisted to be slain. And Richard being overcone by their Prayers and Threat­nings, dissolves the Parliament. Richard terrified with these threats, having in vain implored the Assi­stance of the City, without either Guards or Soldiers to stand by him, and his Bed-chamber [Page 247] Men and other Servants being frightned, at length Signs a Proclamation to be published for Dissolving the Parliament.

After this, some few days being allowed him to repent for what he had done, and to take new Counsels, there were a great many who prognosticated all evils to him, nay, affirmed them to be hanging over his Head; seeing now the inveterate Enemies of his Family, swoln with Pride and Malice, who never kept Faith to any Man, were got into Power again: He being s [...]r­rounded with these dangers, That perhaps they would sooth and slatter him at present; till under pretence of his Authority they might rob him of the Assistance and Pro­tection of his Friends, and then having exposed him to hatred and derision, try him for his Life, and that under colour of a Law former­ly made, whereby to aspire to, or introduce Monarchy, is declared Treason. Is perswaded to espouse the Kings Cause. It was more­over represented to him, That he had still a safe refuge under the Mercy of the King, if he would ex­piate his Fathers Crime by his own Allegiance; that it was the part of a King to keep his Word; that the Lord Petcombe, the Danish Resident, had promised to send over Letters safe to the Soundt, that a Messenger might be more securely sent after­ward to the Admiral to acquaint him with these Affairs; and that he would likewise give security on the Kings part, that the Articles should be fulfilled: That that was no such difficult thing to be done, since the Fleet was as yet free from Contagion, the Admiral ready to serve the King, and both hating and hated by the Parricides; that besides, Ports­mouth and other strong Holds would joyn with him in a strict Confederacy; that most part of the Peo­ple also, for the sake of the King, and to revenge the injuries done to himself, and the Parliament, ab­ruptly [Page 248] dissolved, would rise in Arms; and lastly, that all Ireland was as yet subject to his Govern­ment. Being sollicited by these and such like Arguments, he was in suspence, not knowing what to do; he was tossed betwixt hope and fear, having missed or abused the occasion of doing his business, sometimes preferring the Counsels of some, and by and by again of o­thers, and sometimes ready to run for it: till at length being advised by Fleetwood and other Re­publicans (whose Opinions he had privately ask­ed) That it would be much safer for him to enjoy certain and sure Priviledges, [...]eetwood di­ [...]wading him. than dangerously make tryal of new Experiments, with fear and astonish­ment he keeps in Whitehall.

In the mean time a Council being called, the Officers that had stood for Richard, Ingoldsby, Coff, Whaley, Fal [...]onberge, and Howard, are [...]a­sheered; the old Republican Colonels, whom his Father had formerly turned out, Lambert, Har­rison, Rich, Parker, Ok [...]y and others, being a­gain brought into play. Then the Officers of the Army, with some five or six Members of the Musty Old Rump, The Officers a­gan raise the Rump from the Dead, meeting together in the House of the Old Speaker Lenthall, require him, that he would reassume his Chair, after a long intermission, in Parliament, and again sit at the Helm of the Government. Which at first he refused, alledg­ing invincible Arguments to the contrary; but afterwards, partly through the threats and de­sires of Vane, and chiefly of Lambert, partly through his own Pusillanimity, and partly through his own ambitious desire of Rule, he is prevailed upon, and condescends. The Of­ficers having acknowledged the injury they had done to the Rump, and having publickly de­clared their sorrow for it, and the Members [Page 249] obliging themselves of new, by mutual engage­ments, the Speaker with his Mace before him enters the House of Commons, being attended by as many as could be got together out of the Streets, Ale-houses, Taverns, (And what sort of Men they were:) even the Army and Prisons; which nevertheless being compu­ted, hardly made up two and fourty Men: by so small a Thread the Affairs of England then hung. Yet these Varlets made no scruple to represent three States, make and unmake Laws, Pros [...]ribe, Forfeit, and take to themselves the absolute Power over the Lives and Fortunes of all.

The Articles or Engagements that they en­tered in, were to this purpose; And bound to these Articles, That all should enjoy their Liberties and Properties. That there be a fixed and determinate proceeding in Law. That all Crimes relating to the change of Government be abolished. That all Statutes and Ordinances re­main in force, until the contrary be Enacted. That Publick Debts be punctually paid. That no Man be­lieving in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and acknowledging the Holy Bible for the Word of God, be debarred from the profession of his Religion, ex­cept Episcopal-Men and Papists. That a Zealous and Powerful Ministry be by all means cherished. That Colledges and Schools be reformed. That at present Fleetwood have the chief Command of the Forces both by Sea and Land. That for the future, the Parliament have the Legislative Power, and the Council of State the Executive. That the Pro­tectors Debts be paid: and that he have a Liberal Pension of Ten thousand pounds yearly, during Life, and ten thousand more in Inheritance. And that his Mother also, during Life, have eight thousand pounds yearly out of the Exchequer.

[Page 250] Send them into the Parliament-house.The Parricides being bound to these Articles, take their Seats again in the Parliament-House; but how much they valued them, they make it quickly manifest. In the mean time, many of the old Members, to the number of above three hundred, who had been secluded heretofore by the Officers of the Army, though they believed the Parliament to be dissolved by the Death of Charles the First, and the Abrogation of the House of Lords, yet, that they might avoid other Inconveniencies, desiring to be readmit­ted, are carefully kept out. Some few Days after, they send Commissioners to Richard, to ask him the Question, How he liked the change of Government, and what Debts he owed? that wheadling him with the hopes of kind usage, they might draw from him a voluntary renun­ciation of the Authority. He makes answer, That he thought it reasonable that he should submit to their Authority, from whom he must expect pro­tection: that his Steward should give them an ac­count of his Debts. Richard out of fear having re­signed up his Authority, But nothing but a formal and express resignation would please them; to which he seemed chearfully to give his assent. And now at length he is commanded to deliver up all the Goods and Houshold Furniture, not so much as reserving to himself any Gold or Silver, Jewels or Hangings, Linnen, or any other Goods that might have been pack'd up in a small bulk; all are adjudged to the Exche­quer. Stript of all, de­parts out of Whitehall. Thus stript of all, he is commanded to depart out of Whitehall, liable to the Actions of all his Creditors, and perhaps to have been tried for his Life, had they not had other Fish to fry.

Behold the perfidiousness of Mortal Men, and a wonderful instance of Divine Providence, [Page 251] which presides over, and alters Humane Af­fairs and Governments, as it seemeth Good to the Amighty! He who just now swayed the Scepter of three Kingdoms, forced by the Ca­lamities of a tedious Civil War to truckle un­der his Vicegerents, three old Commanders, to wit, his Brother, Brother-in-law, and a third, whom Cromwell had obliged by many and great Favours; he, I say, in the short space of one year, is craftily turned out of all, and now stript of his borrowed Plumes, he becomes the object of the Raillery of Poets and Painters, And being made a laughing stock, betakes himself again to a Coun­try Life. and being sufficiently lasht with the giibes and reproaches both of the Parricides, and Rabble, as of old the Dictator was called from the Plough, so now the Protector is sent back to the Plough.

A Chronological Table FOR THE SECOND PART.

1649 MDCXLIX.
  • May 3.
    DOrislaus by some Scots killed in Holland.
  • The Marquess of Ormond, Lieutenant of Ireland, makes a Truce with the Irish.
  • June 21.
    Having raised an Army, he besieges Dublin.
  • August 2.
    Jones routs his Forces, and raises the Siege.
  • August.
    Cromwell, General of the Rebels in Ireland, ar­rives at Dublin.
  • Sept. 11.
    Cromwell takes Drogheda, cruelly abusing his Victory.
1650 MDCL.
  • June.
    Cromwell takes Kilkenny, the Seat of the Irish Council, by a Surrender.
  • June.
    Leaving Ireton his Son-in-Law in Ireland, he re­turns to England.
  • June.
    Ascham, Embassador from the Regicides, is killed at Madrid.
  • April 29. May 1.
    The Marquess of Montross, Commissioner of Scot­land, overcome in Battel, is betrayed and taken.
  • May 21.
    And basely used by the Scots, is put to death at E­dinburgh.
  • June.
    King CHARLES, having Articled with the Scots sails into Scotland.
  • June 26.
    Fairfax laying down his Comission, Cromwell is declared General of all the Forces in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
  • July 22.
    Cromwell leads an Army into Scotland.
  • August 22.
    Eusebius Andrews is beheaded at London.
  • [Page 253] Cromwell defeats the Scots in a bloody Battel at Dunbar.
    Septemb. 3.
  • William Prince of Orange dies.
    Octob. 24.
MDCL.LI. 1651
  • CHARLES the Second is Crowned in Scotland.
    January 1.
  • He enters England with an Army of Scots.
    August 7.
  • Easily possesses himself of Worcester.
    August 20.
  • James Earl of Derby is by Lilburn routed at Wiggan.
    August 25.
  • The Scots being beat by Cromwell at Worcester,
    Septemb. 3.
    the King escapes.
  • Cromwell in triumph enters London.
    Septem. 12.
  • The King, after many dangers,
    October 2.
    at length arives in Normandy.
  • The Isle of Jersey reduced by Haines.
    Oct. Dec.
  • James Earl of Derby, Lord of Mann,
    Octob. 15.
    is put to death.
  • His Lady Carlotta generously,
    October. November.
    but in vain defends the Isle of Mann.
  • Henry Ireton, Son-in-law to Cromwell,
    Novem. 26.
    dies at Limerick in Ireland.
MDCLI, LII. 1652
  • Aiskew takes the Island of Barbadoes by surrender.
    Januar. 12.
  • An Act of Oblivion is past in the Rump Parlia­ment.
    Feb. 24.
  • St. Johns and Strickland are sent to Holland.
    March 11.
  • The first fight at Sea between Blake and Trump.
    May 19.
  • Aiskew beats the Dutch at Sea near Plimouth.
    August 16.
  • Blake beats the Dutch again.
    Septem. 28.
MDCLII, LIII. 1653
  • The English and Dutch fight in the Streights.
    March 4.
  • Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament after twelve years Tyrannical Ʋsurpation.
    April 20.
  • Yet he calls a new one,
    July 4.
    to which he commits the Go­vernment.
  • [Page 254]
    June.
    The Dutch send four Embassadours into England to treat of Peace.
  • August 2.
    Monck in a great Sea-engagement beats the Dutch, Trump being slain.
  • Novem. 22.
    Some Portuguese commit a Riot in the New Ex­change in the Strand.
  • Decem. 12.
    The Mock Parliament resigns up the Government to Cromwell.
  • Decem. 16.
    Oliver Cromwell with the Title of Protector takes upon him the Administration of the Government.
1654 MDCLIV.
  • April 5.
    Cromwell makes Peace with the Dutch.
  • July 10.
    Don Pantaleon Sa, brother to the Portugal Em­bassadour, and John Gerard are beheaded.
  • Septemb. 3.
    Cromwell calls a Mock Parliament which meets at Westminster.
  • Septem. 12.
    Cromwell makes the Members swear Fealty to him.
  • Octob. 18.
    King CHARLES leaving France, goes to Colen.
  • November.
    He sends for his Brother, Henry Duke of Glo­cester.
1655 MDCLIV, LV.
  • Januar. 22.
    Cromwell dissolves his Mock-Parliament.
  • The Cavaliers stir, but in vain, in several places of England.
  • March. 11.
    Wagstaff possesses himself of Salisbury.
  • May 16.
    Penruddock and Groves are beheaded at Exeter.
  • June.
    Henry, Cromwells younger Son, made Deputy of Ireland.
  • May 5.
    The Marquess of Leda, the Spanish Embassadour, comes to London.
  • May 7.
    Pen and Venables Commanders of the Fleet and Army take the Island of Jamaica.
  • Octob. 25.
    Ten Major Generals are set over the Provinces.
  • November.
    Cromwell makes Peace with the French.
  • The Jews sue for liberty to come and live in Eng­land.
MDCLVI. 1656
  • Cromwell makes Peace with the Portuguese.
    July 10.
  • The Swedish Embassadour is feasted by Comwell at Hampton-Court.
    July 25.
  • Blake and Montague beat eight Spanish Ships,
    Septem. 10.
    and take two of them richly laden.
  • A Mock-Parliament of the three Nations, England,
    Septem. 17.
    Scotland, and Ireland is held at Westminster.
  • James Naylor a false Christ enters Bristol.
    Octob. 24.
MDCLVI, LVII. 1657
  • Sundercome, who conspired Cromwells death,
    Februar. 9.
    is condemned.
  • He is found dead in his Bed in the Tower of Lon­don.
    Feb. 13.
  • Harrison, Lawson,
    April. 10.
    and others are committed to Prison.
  • Blake burns the Spanish Fleet in the very Harbour of Santa-cruce.
    April. 20.
  • Cromwell refuses the Title of King,
    May 8.
    offered him by the Parliament.
  • He is solemnly inaugurated Protector.
    June 26.
  • And the Parliament is adjourned for six Months.
  • Richard, Son to Cromwell,
    July 29.
    is made Chancellour of Oxford.
  • Jepson is sent to Sweden,
    August.
    and Medows into Denmark.
  • Mardike-Fort taken by the English and French.
    Octob. 23.
  • The Vicecount Falconberge marries Mary Daugh­to Cromwell.
    Novem. 19.
MDCLVII, LVIII. 1658
  • A Parliament is again held, consisting of two Houses.
    Januar. 20.
  • Suddenly dissolved by Cromwell.
    February 4.
  • Slingsby and Hewet are beheaded.
    June 8.
  • Dunkirk is yielded to the French.
    June 15.
  • Cleypole, Cromwell's Daughter,
    August 6.
    dies at Hampton-Court.
  • [Page 256]
    Septemb. 3.
    Oliver Cromwell, Protector, dies in Whitehall.
  • Septemb. 4.
    Richard Cromwell publickly declared Protector.
  • Novem. 24.
    Oliver is buried in Westminster.
1659 MDCLVIII, LIX.
  • Januar. 27.
    Richard, calls a Mock-Parliament, which is held at Westminster.
  • February 3.
    Overton is recalled from his Banishment.
  • Febr. 14.
    The Lower-house vote Richard to be Recognised Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
  • March 28.
    And Vote also a present Conference with those of the Other House about Publick Affairs.
  • April 8.
    The Officers of the Army present a Remonstrance to Richard, and he to the Parliament.
  • April 18.
    The Parliament make an Ordinance, That the Of­ficers of the Army meet not to hold Consults.
  • April 22.
    The Officers beset Whitehall, and Richard by Pro­clamation dissolves the Parliament.
  • May 7.
    Richard being turned out, the Rump-Parliament is again revived.
FINIS.

A TABLE To the Second Part.

A.
  • ADdresses and gratulatory Petitions to Cromwel, pag. 190
  • Ascham the Rebel, Embassadour in Spain, killed there, 72
B.
  • Blake, his Death and Character, 228
C.
  • Cavaliers conspire to rise for the King, but disappointed, 182, 225
  • Church of England, her Ministers persecuted, 5
  • Cromwel Oliver, 6, 98. He procures a kind of Am­nesty to be past by the Rump, 156. Turns out the Rump, 161. Is made Protector, 165, 166. The Instrument, 166. His Arts and Cunning, 184. Calls a House of Commons under the name of a Parliament, 186. But cannot work 'em to his will, 189. The manner of his Government in some matters, 190, 191, 192. His fears and mistrust, 198. Enters into a League with France, 210. Treats with the Jews about a Toleration, 210, 211. Calls a pickt Assembly of the three Nations, 212. [Page] The point debated, whether he should take the Title of King; 214, 215. The manner how he was in­augurated Protector, and the Speech thereat, 218. Falls sick, 233. Dies, 236. His Character, 237. His Funeral, 341.
  • Cromwel Richard, 217, 223. He becomes Prote­ctor, 240. Call [...] a Sham-Parliament, 243. Dis­solves it, 246. He is advised to be for the King, but refuses the advice, 247. Turn'd out of his Pro­tectorship by the Rump, 250.
D.
  • Dorislaus sent by the Regicides into Holland, 2. Is killed there, 3.
  • Dunbar defeat, 106
  • Dunkirk taken by the English, 231
  • Dutch War, 171
G.
  • Gloucester Duke sent for to Cologn by the King, 197
H.
  • Hereticks in Gromwel's time, 219
  • Hewet Dr. 225
  • High Court of Justice, another erected, 79. And does a world of mischief, 80. & inf.
I.
  • Jamaica taken by the English, 209
  • Jersey subdued, 155
  • Ireland, Expedition thither under Cromwel, 6. & inf. Subdued 55.
  • Juries, endeavoured to be abolished by Cromwel, 203
K.
  • King Charles I. the state of Affairs after his death, 1
  • King Charles II. seeks help from foreign Princes, 67. Proclaimed in Scotland, 83. Crowned there, 117. His march into England, 120. His Escape from Worcester, 128. & inf. Arrives in France, 150. Removes to Cologn, 180. His Restoration foretold by an Astrologer, 198.
L.
  • Lambert John, his Character, 55
  • Lane Jane, 136
  • Lords of Cromwel 's making 222
  • Love 's Conspiracy, 115
M.
  • Major-Generals and their Tyranny, 200
  • Man-Island subdued, 156
  • Marriages by Justices of Peace, 164
  • Montross the noble Marquiss his Story, 90
N.
  • Nayler James, his Pranks, 220
P.
  • The Pendrils, 128
  • Petty Sir William, 61
  • Portugal Embassadour's Brother beheaded, 178
R.
  • Rump-Parliament and Army disagree, 156
  • Turned out by Cromwel, 161
  • Brought again into play, 249
S.
  • Scotland, Expedition thither under Cromwel, 98
  • Subdued, 152
  • Slingsby Sir Henry, 183, 225
  • Sundercome and the Republicans conspire against Cromwel, 220, 221
V.
  • Van Trump kill'd, 176
  • Vowel, a condemn'd Royalist, cites Cromwel and his Judges to appear before the Judgment-seat of God, 179
W.
  • War against the Spaniards in America, 206
  • Between the Danes and Swedes, 228
  • Worcester-Fight, 125

Part the Third: OR, THE HISTORY OF THE Composing the Affairs of England By the Restauration of King CHARLES II. And the Punishment of the Regicides, And the Settlement of the Church and State as they were before the Rebellion.

THE Civil War of England, begun by a pernicious and fatal Parliament, A Recapitu­lation of things past. raged for the space of eight years with various suc­cesses of Battels; till the Royalists being in all parts worsted, and not able to keep the Field, Charles the First, the best of Kings, a Prince of most exal­ted but persecuted Virtue, to avoid the victorious Arms of the English Independants, moved by ill fate or bad counsel, cast himself into the arms of the Presbyterian Scots, by whom he was, for a round sum of money, treacherously delivered up into the hands of English Traytors.

Nor was it long before he was a sad instance, that [Page 2] the Prisons of Kings are but little distant from their Graves.

For (what the flagitiousness of past Ages never attempted, and future Will hardly believe) the unfortunate Prince, to make way for the Usurpa­tion of the Traytor Cromwel, January 30. 1648. was forced by a sceni­cal and mock-form of Law and Justice, to lay down his sacred head to be struck off upon a Block. The boldest Villany that ever any Nation saw; and a Parricide that all the World was astonished at.

But this Villany succeeding so prosperously, and Britain at length, September 3. 1650. and Sept. 3. 1651. and Ireland being subdued by victorious Rebels, as the Forces of Charles the Se­cond were entirely routed by the defeats at Dumbar and Worcester; Cromwel the Traytor delayed no longer the execution of his long-projected Wicked­ness. He knew full well, that the name of the Parliament was grown odious to the people, through the uneasiness of their flagitious and usurped Do­minion. Turning therefore his Arms against his hauty Masters, April 20. 1653. he turned them out of the House, as Objects first of his own contempt, and then of the peoples scorn. The onely grateful action he did to the Kingdom.

Cromw. takes upon him the Protectorship.And now Cromwel being Master, and impatient of a slow progress to Usurpation, grasps the Scepter, with the lofty Title of Protector. In the mean time he ruled more arbitrarily than a King, though he seemed to refuse the Title which he passionately a­spired to. Whether he was more remarkable for Falshood or Valour, the Reader may judge, since Courage he had by turns and intervals, but was ne­ver without Hypocrisie and native Treachery.

When for the space of five years he had filled all places with Slaughter, and Bloud, with Banishments, Robberies, and all sorts of Cruelty; being im­placable to his Enemies, false to his Friends, despi­sed [Page 3] abroad, grievous to others, uneasie to himself; amidst the Pulpit-Juggles of foolish idle men, the hid­den stings & lashes of a most guilty Conscience, with a distracted mind and enthusiastical madness, he ended his wicked days; He dies. Sep 3. 1658. on the very day which be­ing formerly joyful to him, because of the two bloudy Overthrows of Britain, becomes now festival to three Nations.

Richard succeeds to his villanous Usurpation, Richard suc­ceeds. a Son in all things unlike to his Father, and unfit for daring Resolutions. His judgment and actions were managed by the direction and suggestions of others; and was so easily imposed upon by their knavery, that by what followed shortly after, Ʋnfit for the dignity. it ap­peared that onely the late Cromwel had a mind able to support such a weight.

For the Colonels of the Democratical Faction heretofore turned out, He is despised by the Demo­cratical Colo­nels. who were more addicted to the government of the Parliament, than to that of a Protector, when they perceived the turn of Affairs, and their old hopes revived, revenged by the ruine of the Son, the injuries they had received from the Father. And abusing the easiness of Richard to insolence and contempt, they industriously set about the changing again of the Protectordom into a Com­monwealth.

Whether the Relations and Counsellors of Richard were privy to the Plot, or deluded, I cannot say, Richard's Re­lations com­bine with them but at length they fatally deluded him. And be­ing Complices of the Treachery of the Democraticks, they were made a Cloak for the Ambition of o­thers. Richard therefore being advised by his Friends to dissolve the Parliament which he had lately called, the onely support of his own hopes, and terrour of the Rebel-Colonels; too late he was sensible of the treachery or ignorance of his Friends, and too late condemned his own credulity. Ri­chard's [Page 4] affairs being then in their declension, and his Relations Fleetwood and Desborough seduced either by vanity or knavery; The power of Lambert for­merly laid aside, became now paramount, and by joynt Councils in appearance, Lambert, &c. returns to the Army. they managed the Affairs of the Government with equal care, though different designes; but what Fleetwood more openly, Lambert more cunningly carried on.

And now the Officers whom old Cromwel had heretofore turned out of the Army, being restored, they invaded the Forces, as before they did the go­vernment of Richard. But that the matter might be brought about in the usual forms, they appoint Prayers, the common prelude of Traytors, to be made in St. James's; where many Independant Prea­chers of great note in their long-winded Prayers, call upon God as a Witness of their Treachery. And the very same who lately prayed for the health of Cromwel on his Death-bed, now basely and craf­tily consult about the exclusion of his Son.

The Rump-Parliament is restored by the Colonels.But whilst they hastned the execution of their late designes, they gave a remarkable and foul in­stance of their inconstancy, by restoring to Supreme Power, the Rump-Parliament, which Cromwel by their own hands six years before, had dragg'd out of the House: that sink of ill men, I mean, who were infamous by the Spoils of the publick, foully stained with all sort of Knavery, Impudence, and A­varice; and for their Crimes so universally hated of the People, that it was a very easie matter to have raised or depressed again these Phantoms of Go­vernment, by the like wantonness of the giddy Mo­bile.

To be turned out again i [...] time. Which deposes RichardAnd now these Parliament-Robbers being again admitted to the Government, they take their known places, and being above all things mindful of Cromwel's Treachery, they turn out Richard, wa­vering, [Page 5] as yet, and tottering in his Throne; and lay the quaking Protestoral Youth flat upon the ground. As if by turning the infamy upon the Cromwels they might thereby wipe off their own Reproach.

They demand an account of the Funeral-charges of his dead Father, Then exposes him. (wherein that prodigal Villain had outdone the burials of Kings) and of his own Creditors; but with no designe, in the mean while, to pay his Debts, onely to expose him to contempt, because of his Poverty, or to scorn, for his Luxu­ry.

The Members of Parliament that were more in­nocent than themselves, And excludes many of the Members. or more adverse to bad Councils, by Guards set at the door, they exclude out of the House; and presently declare the Secret and Mystery of the Government, which with no less vanity than impudence, they stiled, THE GOOD OLD CAƲSE.

From the meeting of this fatal Rump again, May 8. I shall begin my work. The first thing they now do, is to consult how they may secure themselves, and undo the Publick. That they had been for­merly thrust out by the Souldiers, The Rump pre­vents the pow­er of the Colo­nels. struck deep in their minds; and that they might therefore pre­vent future Snares from the Colonels, they reserve to themselves the Supreme Authority in the Army; making their Speaker Lenthal General in the Chair. And having turned out the Officers of the Army that were for a Protectoral Dignity, they create new ones out of the Sink of Democraticks.

But before I proceed any farther, it will be ne­cessary both for my self and the Reader, to give a more accurate account of the state of the English Affairs at that time.

The fate of the Cromwels was now come: for [Page 6] Richard being laid aside at London, Henry Crom­wel Deputy of Ireland, sub­mits to the Rump. his Brother Hen­ry, whom his Father had made Deputy of Ireland, imitating his Brothers weakness, at the command of the Rump, delivers up the Army and Govern­ment to Colonel Ludlow, a stern man, and trusty to the Faction, who succeeded him.

And Monk, Governour of Scotland; and the Fleet un­der Lauson. Monk, Governour of Scotland, a man often to be mentioned in our Annals, promised to be true to the Rump-Parliament; as also did the Fleet, and Vice-Admiral Lauson.

Fleetwood also and Lambert, slighting the Oath that had been taken to the Cromwels, made the English Forces and Trainbands of the City, swear to be true to the Rump.

Fleetwood's temper. Fleetwood was old Cromwel's Son-in-law, of lit­tle or no reputation in the War, but a stout Prea­cher and Prayer: He hoped to have been Succes­sour in the Government, after the death of his Fa­ther-in-law; but being disappointed by crafty Oli­ver, if he was not, because of that, glad, he was not at all displeased at the overthrow of his Brother-in-law Richard.

Lambert's ambition. Lambert followed another conduct; under an affected modesty disguising a proud spirit, and a­spiring to nothing less than supreme Government. He had heretofore possessed a great share in the friendship of Cromwel; but whether for his own or his Wife's sake, I shall not determine. Nor was he thought to be displeased with the old man, so long as he hoped for a Successour out of his Family, and to be adopted in the Army, where his reputation was great. He secretly despised Cromwel's Relati­ons, as too low and unfit for Principality; thinking that he alone remained worthy to be advanced to Supremacy. Which afterwards more secretly, but not more justly, he attempted, rather than obtained.

The awe of Cromwel, whilst alive, gave some [Page 7] check, such as it was, The deplorable state of the Commonwealth to the dissembled madness of the Democratical Republicans. But the Family of the Cromwels being ruined, the British affairs were in that state, that amongst the Regicides no faith, Through the perfidiousness of the Souldiers. love, judgment, nor truth was to be found. The furious unsetled Colonels, without sense or honesty, laying aside all care of Reputation or Justice, soften­ed and fed their private hopes. The Power of the Rulers was mutually suspected, and the Honour of the Nation wholly slighted. And the same Army of Cromwel abandoning the Family of their Gene­ral, perfidiously abolished the Protectordom, which by perjuries they had established as a brave and memo­rable Constitution.

The Rabble also were so inclined, And madness of the People. that many de­sired, and all accustomed to the Yoke of Bondage, suffered the Rump-Parliament, though of old noto­rious for flagitiousness, and now for buoying up the aspiring Colonels. In the mean time all things were carried according to the pleasure of the Rump, 1659. and the dictates of Fanaticks, the terrour of the pre­sent, and presages of future evils.

But the turns of the Government were no less o­dious than the vices of the Parricides, to those who any ways concerned themselves for the Publick. In the mean time they were not free from danger, The dangers of the Nobility, and of good men. whom Quality, the suspicion of Loyalty to the King, Wealth, or eminent Parts rendred obnoxious to the Jealousies of the Rulers.

The old Souldiers of the King, and such as were devoted to Charles the Second, in the mean while, who had hearts to do and suffer any thing, rejoyced in secret; having without the loss of reputation, or degenerating from the ancient care they were sprung from, endured the calamities of Adversity, the long insulting and many Rapines of Robbers, and all the shams of Fortune, with an honest and patient Poverty.

[Page 8]Though the settlement of Cromwel in the govern­ment, and the unshaken fidelity of his Adherents, had so often defeated all their endeavours of restoring the King, yet they carefully eyed the dissensions and di­stractions of the Fanaticks, and the turns and revo­lutions of the Government.

From the con­fusion of things the Royalists take hopes.And now the mutual clashings of the Rebels, gave courage to the Loyal Nobility, secretly to con­trive the restauration of their Liberty; and under pretence of a free and full Parliament, the recovery of the just Rights of King CHARLES. Their Enter­prizes. For that end they made use of the assistance of some Presbyterians, an inflexible sort of men, a bad pre­sage of a certain overthrow, since they are a kind of people that make use of good fortune, rather for the subversion than the establishment of Kings.

Thus a framed Conspiracy all over England, produced both glory and danger to the illustrious Undertakers.

Booth's Insur­rection in Che­shire. By whom assi­sted.Sir George Booth, now Lord Delamere, appeared first in the Insurrection in Cheshire: He was assisted with the advice and hands, by the Earls of Derby and Kilmurry, Sir Thomas Middleton, Major-General Egerton, and many others of less note, who having incited their Country-men to take up Arms, and having formed an Army, they put a Garrison in Chester, an ancient City washed by the River Dee.

Booth himself, in the mean time, with 2000 Horse and Foot, took the Field, expecting the aid of all good men throughout England in so illustrious an Undertaking; but with more Loyalty than Fortune.

The Rump is terrified.At the news of so sudden an Eruption, the Rump was terrified; and being doubtful of their New Government, startled at the present Commotions, apprehensive of future, and conscious of the greatness of their own Crimes, they were in fear of all men. And so much the more, that they knew that Booth was not the sole Head of the Party, but that there [Page 9] were many more besides him who hatched the same designes.

The Parricides had no other hopes of safety, but in daring boldly; wherefore arming with expedi­tion the fiercest of the Sectarian Rout, Prepares to fight. doubling their Guards, and sending flying parties of the old Forces into all Counties and Towns, they no sooner smelt out, but they prevented the designes of the Royalists.

In the mean time Lambert is ordered with a bo­dy of Horse and Foot to march in all haste against Booth. Lambert is sent against Booth. But the guilty Parricides could not think themselves secure, unless they were re-enforced with Souldiers from Scotland, and the Garrison of Dunkerk, and with two Regiments called from Ire­land, commanded by Zanchie and Axtell. After that Booth had in vain endeavoured to hinder their con­junction, both Armies come in view one of another near Norwich; but the River that runs by the Town, hindred the Enemy from approaching.

Booth had set a strong Guard to defend the Bridge over the River, and had drawn up his men beyond it, but still inferiour both in number and fortune. For Lambert having gained the Bridge, Booth is de­feated, charged Booth's Forces so warmly, that the raw and unexperienced Country-Rout were not able to en­dure the shock of the old and expert Souldiers.

Lambert having put all of them to flight, Chester is surrendered unto him. Booth, after his over­throw, hunting about for a safe retreat, And flies. He is taken, Aug. 20. was disco­vered in disguise at Newport, and taken; from whence being carried to London, he was clapt up in the Tower. His whole Estate, which was pretty considerable, being seized; his head had likewise gone, had not a greater destiny preserved him from the imminent cruelty of the Rump. For the short­ness of their government seems to be the cause that the punishment of Booth's Party was rather deferred than remitted.

[Page 10]The short-lived Rump in the mean time were not a little proud of the overthrow of their enemies, The confidence of the Rump upon Booth's overthrow. And the arro­gance of Lam­bert and his souldiers. and emboldened by this auspicious beginning of their New Government.

And the Cheshire-Insurrection was so convenient for Lambert's interest, that he reckoned it amongst the favours of his prosperous fortune. For having thereby attained (which he so much desired) to the pre-eminence of a General, he intended to tri­umph, not so much over Booth, as over the con­quered Rump: and indeed the mutual confidence of the Knaves was not durable; Jealousies ari­sing betwixt the Parlia­ment-men & the Colonels. for the Rump was jealous of the Army, and the Army of the Rump. Lambert in the mean time, who had a vast power in the Army, exceeding all bounds of a private con­dition, so wheadled the Officers and Souldiers, that upon their return they drew up and signed a Petition at Derby, Sept. 16. wherein after they had alleadged many ridiculous falshood of their dutifulness to­wards the Rump, their affection to the Publick, and Liberty of the People, they saucily desire the House, that the Command of the Army should be put into the hands of Fleetwood and Lambert; as the onely means of uniting the Forces in faithfulness and concord, which would produce a durable obedi­ence.

October 5.The Colonels of Fleetwood's Army at London, de­spising the Authority of the Rump, more haughtily demanded the same thing.

But the cunninger Members smelt afar off these Camp-designes of the Officers, well foreseeing what these Councils drove at at long run. And this made them fret, rage, and threaten.

Lambert's am­bition is taken noting of by Haselrigg. Haselrigg, a hot-headed man, and a great Stic­kler formerly in the War, now no less concerned in the Faction of the Democraticks, lays it out confi­dently, That the Authority of the Parliament was a [Page 11] precacious thing; that Lambert, following Cromwel 's steps, endeavoured alterations, and that his modesty, at long run, would prove but a Decoy to easie Fleetwood: or to this purpose.

In the mean time the Army was divided into two Factions. The Army di­vided. The far greater part were for giving Laws to the Parliament, though the rest submitted to their Authority.

And this so netled the Members, The Parl. mad, that they could not endure the insolence of the Souldiers; but come on't what would, they resolved to vindicate their supreme Authority, and not to suffer any Power in the Army above their own. Thus, ven­turing upon a revenge, Discharges the Country from Taxations, October 10. (whilst the Scales were as yet a turning) if the Colonels intended to use force, they resolved to leave the Traytors a poor Game to play; and discharge the publick from paying any Taxations, by passing a Vote, That no money shall be raised without consent of the Parliament; and that he who did to the contrary, should be guilty of High-Treason against the Commonwealth. And this, see­ing the Army wanted money, was the neck-break of the Colonels.

Nor could any thing content the discontented Rump, And disbands some stubborn Colonels, Octob. 11. but the debarting of some of the boldest Co­lonels disbanded, to wit, Lambert, Desborough, Berry, Kelsey, Ashfield, Cobbet, Crede, Packer, and Bar­row.

In the mean time the Rump appoints a Supreme Council of War over the Army, No General now, but a Council of War. without any name of a General, consisting of Fleetwood, Monk, Hasel­rigg, Ludlow, Walton, Morley, and Overton; the Souldiers in the mean time laughing in their sleeve at the vain and impotent anger of the Members.

For Lambert and the rest of the cashered Colo­nels, upon mature deliberation, resolved, The Colonels conspire against the Rump. That see­ing their interest and authority was still in force in the [Page 12] Army, they would take the Field, persist in their Reso­lutions, and if it came to a push, try the fidelity of the Souldiers. And because they found by experience, that Richard lost all by delaying, they resolved to hasten their Undertaking.

The Rum or­ders their Friends to guard them.The Rump in the mean time had intelligence of the violent designs of the Colonels; and seeing hands were more necessary than heads, Moss and Morley's Regiments are ordered next day to keep guard in Westminster.

Lambert besets the Rump.The same morning, Lambert with undaunted boldness, and a strong body pickt out of the Forces that were best affected towards him, hastens into the old Palace-yard, and before the Members were come, set Guards upon all the entries into the House. Lambert stops the Speaker Lenthall coming out of his Coach, and attended by a Troop of Guards, and presently changing the Captain, sends him back again into the City, And despises them, Octob. 13 more like a Prisoner than a Speaker of the House: and so with little a­do he terrified and dispersed the rest of the Knaves.

And now Moss and Morley's Regiments guard­ing the silent and empty House, are themselves be­set by Lambert. Both Parties looked big, and see­med ready to come to blows; but the night ap­proaching, they drew off without bloud: whilst the Rump and Colonels, full of anger and hatred, mutually reproached each other, and justly too, with Treachery, Villany, and Tyranny.

The Colonels having turned out the Rump, consult about the Govern­ment.But the Rump being now sent packing, and the Parliament-doors shut, the Officers of the Army be­came no less inconstant Masters and Ficklers in ru­ling than they had been in obeying. Next morn­ing a great confluence of Colonels met in Walling­ford-house, to consult about setling the Govern­ment: and having first modelled the Army, as be­ing more considerable than the Commonwealth, by [Page 13] unanimous consent, they appoint Fleetwood to be General, Lambert Lieutenant-General, and Desbo­rough, heretofore a blunt Country-clown, Major-General of the Horse.

The Supreme Power in Civil Affairs was com­mitted to three and twenty, Vane, Fleetwood, They appoint a Committee of Safety. Octob. 23. Lud­low, and the rest of that odious Crew, too long to be named; whom they were pleased, by a new and unheard-of Title, to call the Committee of Safety.

Thus having erected a new Scheme of Govern­ment at London, They invite the Forces of Scot­land and Ire­land into their Party. they disperse themselves into all places, endeavouring to secure themselves by asso­ciated Villany. Barrow they send to Ireland, Cobbet to Scotland; allure the Forces abroad into their Party; but all in vain.

For the Army in Ireland, Monk refuses. Octob. 28. whilst Ludlow was at London, declared for the Rump Parliament. Monk in the mean time writing to Fleetwood and Lambert, sharply taxes the Army in England with Treachery and Ambition of governing; and professes also, that for the future he'll stand by the Parliament: refuses to admit of Cobbet as an Embassadour, but commits him to custody as a Traytor.

Monk in the mean time, being as yet, uncertain what to do, had many anxious thoughts: He fore­saw, indeed, greater security under the Rump, but if the Army in England had the better on't, inevi­table ruine; having long ago had experience of the hatred of Lambert and Fleetwood, though disguised in their looks: And besides the usual competition in rule, they were also looked upon as men of dif­ferent humours and manners. Monk was for a plain and modest Religion; but they turbulent and violent in their pernicious Heresie.

Wherefore seriously weighing with himself the strength of the English Army on the one hand, and on the other the weakness of his own Forces, the [Page 14] perfidiousness of many of the Officers, and the fic­kleness of the Souldiers; he thought still that he might do better in War than in Peace, and so ha­ving resolved against the worst, he hastened his march into England. When he had consulted a­bout these things with his most intimate Friends at Delkeith, he goes to Edinborough, and there in a full Council of Colonels, At Edinbur­rough Monk harangues the souldiers. Octob. 18. he represents the new Trou­bles of England: How that the Parliament was tur­ned out of doors by the Officers in England, without a­ny provocation, but through levity and an ambition of governing: That the London- Colonels having attem­pted many bad things, resolved not onely to bear rule o­ver their own, but the Forces abroad also: That it would be disgraceful to them to submit to the Com­mands of another Army; That he himself was a Gene­ral neither inferiour to Fleetwood nor Lambert; nor was the Army of Scotland, that had outlived so many Battels, less to be accounted than that of England. That therefore he was firmly resolved to march into England, to revenge the Right and Honour of the Par­liament; that the Authority might remain in their hands who gave them their Pay and Rewards.

When with much authority and greatness of mind, which do better than eloquence in a Soul­dier, he had spoken to this purpose, the Souldiers were inflamed with Zeal and Resolution; and un­der the command of so great a General, desire the signal to march.

He secures the Garrisons of Scotland.Having now confirmed the Souldiers and the Gar­rison of Edinburough-Castle, he put the command of Berwick, Leeth, Air, St. Johnston, and other Ca­stles and Citadels, into the hands of trusty Officers. He turned out, in the mean time, all suspected Se­ctarians, especially the Anabaptists, the Plague of Mankind, whilst many of his Horse, addicted to the errour or humours of the English Army, of their [Page 15] own accord desert him; and leave the Foot and the rest who were truer to their Trust. Changes the Officers, and prepares for War. He remain­tained in their places many of his own Officers, who had been lately casheered by the London Coun­cil of War: which gained him their affection, and Fleetwood and Lambert their hatred.

The report of this Storm coming from the North, was quickly brought to London, and all things made greater, as it is usual at such a distance, than really they were. This distracted the Councils of the Rulers, and put them into no little anxiety: However, they arm against Monk, and appoint Lambert, elevated by the overthrow of Booth's Par­ty, General of the War, and Head of their Faction, who was now to engage in another kind of a War, and with anothergets General.

But seeing they stood much in awe of the prouess and conduct of Monk, Fleetwood & the Colonels desires a Paci­fication. Octob. last. and had him in great admi­ration, they thought fit first to essay him by Trea­ty.

Wherefore Fleetwood sent unto him Clarges, nearly allied to him, and Colonel Talbot who ser­ved in the Scottish Army, and in great favour with the General, to mediate a Peace and Reconciliation. With the same purpose of Pacification, They sent Com­missioners into Scotland. Colonel Goff and Colonel Whaley followed after, with Car­ril and Barker, the great Oracles of the Independents, that the Artifices of Preachers might not be wan­ting in laying of Snares.

Monk received them all civilly. He had many secret Conferences with Clarges: To the rest he publickly professed that he had no Quarrel with the Colonels commanding in England, about Religion: That his whole designe was to revenge the Indigni­ty done to the Parliament, Monk admits of a Pacifica­tion. and to proceed no far­ther. That if they had rather take up the matter at London, without bloud, he was willing to allow time for Conferences.

[Page 16]The Ministers with affected flattery preached up the advantages of Peace, presaging from more than one instance, that the divisions of fellow-Souldiers, would be pernicious to themselves, and very advan­tageous to the publick Enemy, intimating the King: and indeed their Presage proved afterward to be true.

But the mercenary and canting Tongues of those preaching Mediators, wrought no effect upon an old Souldier, who was so well acquainted with their juggling tricks. He civilly sends back these Agents of Peace with the same security as they came: Clarges in the mean time was before gone to Lon­don with more secret Instructions.

And though Monk now perceived that all Agree­ment with the Colonels of the English Army would prove fallacious and unsafe, yet all things not being as yet sufficiently ordered for securing the more re­mote Garrisons of Scotland; he made his advantage of what was cast in his way by chance, and labours for the convenience of his own affairs, to protract the time of Treaty.

Monk sends Commissioners to London.He therefore dispatches to London, Wilks, Knight, and Cloberry, as Commissioners for the Treaty from the Army in Scotland, with Instructions how to de­lay time; where for some time we'll leave them in Wallingford-house, The Pacifica­tors meet in Wallingford-house. with more complement than freedom, debating with Fleetwood's Officers, though I am not apt to believe that the desire of Pacifica­tion was sincere on both sides.

Lambert en­ters York. Lambert marching against Monk, was already got as far as York, with twelve Regiments of men; he was weak in Foot, but strong in Horse. Here he found Morgan, Major-General of Monk's Army, re­covering out of a fit of the Gout; a man that at that time was judged inferiour to none in Military skill.

[Page 17] Lambert, who was his old friend, and knew him to be dear to Monk, sent him into Scotland to pro­mote the business of Peace. Sends [...]organ to Monk as a Mediator of Peace. He having followed Monk to Edinburrough, in a military manner decla­red his business, and what he was come about; but preferring Monk's cause and honesty, he took com­mand under him, when because of the many Com­manders lately turned out, and others that had de­serted, he was made very welcome.

Monk in the mean time having pretty well com­posed the affairs of his Army, Monk invites the Nobility of Scotland to a Council. Decemb. 13. invites the Scottish Nobility to Council, first at Edinburrough, and then at Berwick; where he discovered his designes unto them, beseeching them, for the sake of their Coun­try and of himself, that they would keep Scotland in peace, and raise moneys to pay the Army that now was upon the march into England.

The Scottish Nobility very readily promised him money, nay, The Scots offer assistance. and to assist him with men and Arms in the expedition; which was an accession to Monk's good fortune, that when he might have made use of so great assistance from Scotland, he did not stand in need of it.

For being a man of a sharp wit, Monk consi­ders of it. he was not wil­ling that Scotland should come under the power of another, the Inhabitans being armed; nor, that they accompanying him into England, might render his coming ungrateful at home.

Trusty Officers being left to command the Gar­risons of Scotland, the Souldiers rightly modelled, The Commissio­ners signe the Pacification. Novemb. 15. and all things in a readiness for the expedition, of a sudden news is brought to Edinburrough that the Peace was confirmed; but upon so hard and uneasie terms, that Monk with anger in his looks severely checked the Authors of the hateful Recon­ciliation upon their return; telling them, Monk is an­gry. That if the honesty of some, certainly the prudence of all of them, [Page 18] was to be suspected; and committed Wilks to prison for transgressing his Commission.

The truth was, Monk's Commissioners being by Fleetwood's Officers, with a shew of honour, nar­rowly observed, and in a manner confined, igno­rant of the Stirs abroad, and imposed upon by false reports of the diminution of Monk's Forces, with more haste than judgment, had clapt up an unjust Peace.

Clarges in­forms Monk of the affairs of London.In the mean time Monk having had certain in­telligence from Clarges, a faithful man, that Fleet­wood was daily more and more despised at London; that at York Lambert 's Army was divided and full of Faction: judging a delay more convenient for him­self than for the Enemy, industriously protracted the Treaty.

Whereupon he prorogues the Pacification:Having therefore sent Letters to Fleetwood, he acquainted him, That the news of a Pacification was very acceptable to him, but that he found some things doubtful in the Conditions, and other matters not right­ly transacted by his Commissioners; that therefore that the agreement might be more solid (all Officers being removed) he desires the number of Commissioners to be increased, And demands a new place of Treaty. and Newcastle as a more proper place for their meeting.

Fleetwood & Lambert con­descend. Fleetwood condescended more out of fear than choice: but Lambert, whose whole ability consisted in charging an Enemy, rashly and fatally deluded to his own ruine, accepted also of the delays of Trea­ty.

Lambert pos­ses himself of Newcastle. Monk goes to Caldstream, Octob. 8. Lambert in the mean time moving from York, came to Newcastle; and Monk leaving Berwick, marched along the borders of Scotland, and pitched at Caldstream, an inconsiderable Village upon the River of Tweed, but now famous by the Pavillion of so great a General. It was for some time the Ca­pital of the Affairs of Britain, and had the splen­dour of a City: For,

[Page 19]
—Veios habitante Camillo,
Illic Roma fuit—

Veii was Rome, if there Camillus lived.

The season was very sharp, the ground being co­vered with Snow, and Lambert's Souldiers wanting provisions and money, were forced to live upon what they plundered from the Villages and Coun­try about, the want of Pay being some excuse for that licentiousness. Monk's Forces, in the mean time being provided of all necessaries, kept them­selves secure within their Camp.

Monk's Army, The number of Monk's Army. more considerable for valour than number, consisted onely of four Regiments of Horse, commanded by Johnston, Morgan, Knight, and Clo­berry, brave men, and Commanders consummated in War: and of six Regiments of Foot, under the command of Major-General Morgan, another Mor­gan, Fairfax, Rhede, Lidcott, and Hublethorn. Price and Gomble were the Chaplains, Clark Secretary, and Barrow Physician to the General.

Whilst matters were in this state in the Camps at a distance, London was divided by Factions. Tumults in the mean while in London. On the one hand the Republican Sectarians whose hopes were founded on mischief, stood for the Rump-Parlia­ment; on the other, the Souldiers in the City were for Fleetwood and the Committee of Safety: but juster Grievances were to be heard amongst the frequent sighs of the good Citizens.

That the Rump-Parliament made up of most profli­gate wretches, was in vain turned out, And Grievan­ces. if the Govern­ment must remain in the hands of the Commitee of Safe­ty, a new name for old Rogues; and the Cromwels had fallen in vain, if Fleetwood and Lambert must be raised to Supreme Authority. Though the soft tem­per [Page 20] of the one was less feared, than the imperious ambition of the other.

And some there were that at a distance wished well to Monk, and looked upon him as a fitter Re­storer of their Liberty; who taking boldness from despair, spared not to say, That the Commonwealth was almost undone, whilst sacrilegious Robbers contend about the Government; that England was never in so great distress, nor reduced to such extremity; that ha­ving suffered the greatest evils, nothing worse could be­fal them.

And so with bitter Invectives they reckon up the Imprisonments, Sequestrations, continual Taxes, and the other severities they had been obnoxious to.

That they had long enough born the burden of the ac­cursed Parliament, and groaned under the Yoke of an enraged Enemy: That the Power of both was abomi­nable, and their Bondage grievous: That wicked Par­ricides laughed at their Miseries, whilst they falsly call Slavery, Peace; Cruelty and Slaughter, Discipline: That since whether they be overcome or do submit, they must perish; how much more honourably would they perish in the embraces of their Liberty and Country? That slavery is less ignominious to those who attempt their freedom, and that they had already sinned enough through cowardise: That they should shake off the Yoke of the Jangling Traytors, and put an end to so many years bondage: That the rash attempts of the daring have often been favoured by fortune: That secret hopes in Monk, wealth in the City, the fortune of London, and God their Protector, were still in being: That it would be glorious to themselves and Posterity, to have expiated the civil Troubles wantonly begun by their Ancestors, and the Royal Bloud of Charles the Mar­tyr, by restoring his Son with no other helps than the Loyalty of his own Subjects.

[Page 21]Amidst these discontented Speeches and City-tumults, The tumult of the London-Prentices. a vast croud of Prentices and Serving-men got together: a bold sort of men, accustomed to an insolent kind of City-liberty, who tired out by long slavery, with a licentious freedom, run about in all places in a tumultuary and confused manner, deman­ding a new and full Parliament, as the onely Re­medy to their Evils.

But Colonel Hewson, formerly a Cobler, Is suppressed by Hewson. Decemb. 3. being by Fleetwood sent into the City with a Party of brisk Souldiers, in a moment suppressed the de­fenceless anger of the Rabble, and the headless Multitude, and used many severities against the Ci­tizens.

The Grievances of the City increasing daily, The Garrison of Portsmouth rises for the Rump. Wetham Governour of Portsmouth admitted into the place three Members of the late excluded Rump, and Colonels in the Army, to wit, Hazelrigg, Walton, and Morley: against whom Fleetwood having sent Forces, they despairing of the strength of their Friends, and having neither money nor credit, re­volted to the Enemy.

Nor was this all the misfortune that befel Fleet­wood and the Committee of Safety: The Navy en­deavours the same. for Vice-Admi­ral Lawson with a Fleet of Ships true to the Cause, stopt the mouth of the River of Thames, threatning to suffer none to escape by Sea, if they did not a­gain restore the Rump to the power of Govern­ment.

All things everywhere growing worse and worse, Fleetwood yields to the Rump. the Committee of Safety was startled; and Fleetwood unfit for adversity, who never could bear prosperi­ty, and growing daily more contemptible and cheap, neither constant in his Resolution, nor reso­lute in his Treachery; having sent a fawning Messenger to Lenthal the Speaker, he prays and be­seeches, more slavishly than became a General, that [Page 22] the Members being forthwith called together, they would take upon them the Government, and re­ceive them into favour who confessed their errour. And indeed many of the Committee of Safety, The Commit­tee of Safety wavers. though they were very desirous of retaining their Power, yet consulted about the restoring of the Rump, knowing very well that their Government would not be long, if Lambert returned victorious from the North.

Fleetwood's souldiers make defection to the Rump.And now General Fleetwood's Regiments selling their souls and bloud for Eight pence a day, under Colonels of the Democratical Faction, return under the power of the Rump, forgetting their yesterdays-Commander, who carried the empty Title of Ge­neral. Nor was there any publick Commodity so saleable as the Treachery of the Souldiers.

The Commit­tee of Safety is dissolved.This was the Exit of the two months-whirlegig of Government; the very names of Fleetwood and Lambert grew contemptible, and Safety forsook the Committee.

So soon as Monk understood that the Fleet were for the Rump, and that the Garrison of Portsmouth was of the same mind, having speedily recalled his Com­missioners, he broke off the Conference and Over­ture of Peace with Lambert. In the mean time he wrote to him, Monk breaks off the Confe­rence of Paci­fication. That since he understood that the Par­liament by their own authority had chosen Portsmouth for their Session, he thought it not consonant to his trust and modesty, by private Debates to constitute a private Commonwealth; but rather setting aside the Quar­rels of the two Armies, to refer the administration of publick Affairs to their prudence and care.

The Rump re­stored to the Government. Decemb. 6.The Reverend Rump now strikes in again, in the last year of their government, and probably the best for the Publick; though reinstated more by the beggary than the good will of the Souldiers. And this was the reason that their chief care was for [Page 23] money, and that the Souldiers might be paid by the spoils of the State. Recals Lam­bert's Army. Lambert's forces are impe­riously commanded back to their Garrisons, and forthwith to leave the Field, upon pain of disobey­ing the Supreme Power, and forfeiting their Duty. And at the same time news was brought to Monk's Camp, that the Committee of Safety was broken, and the Rump again in power.

What could Lambert now between hawk and buzzard do? he was forsaken by Fortune, deluded by Fleetwood's confidence, over-reached by Monk under a colour of Peace, and despised by the Rump. Should he return to London, it was a long and diffi­cult march; and perhaps as late for the succour of his friends as dangerous to himself, having such an Enemy in the rear. Should he engage Monk in a Country improper for Horse, the ground being co­vered over with Ice and Snow, it would be very uncertain, if not in vain, since in the dead of Win­ter his Horse could do no feats: What to do he could not tell.

Nor were Lambert's men truer to their Trust than Fleetwood's had been at London: The treachery of Lambert's men towards him. for so soon as they heard of the defection of the London-Regi­ments, basely, without consulting their General, nay, and slighting his authority, they submit to the Rump.

Few now were to be seen at Lambert's door, and fewer within; nothing but silence, and seldom any Guards: He was no more General nor cause of the War; but where he hoped for Laurel and Triumph, he was fain to search a hiding place: so that with­out any attendance, he speedily and secretly betook himself to London. So fallacious and uncertain a thing is Power, when it is too great.

A certain kind of Triumviral Power now exer­ted it self in Britain under Monk, Fleetwood, and [Page 24] Lambert, not much unlike to that Roman Trium­virat of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus.

With almost the same gallantry Monk behaved himself in Scotland, as Caesar heretofore governed in Gallia; but out of their Governments Monk out-did Caesar: for the Roman being come into the City, offered violence to the Senate, and unjustly u­surped the Dictatorship. The other entering London, under colour of restoring the Parliament, by a rare instance of Loyalty and Modesty, restored the King.

Nor were the emulous and competing Crassus and Pompey more sollicitous in drawing in Caesar, than Fleetwood and Lambert were in endeavouring to as­sociate Monk into the Government: for though they contributed their mutual assistance in over­turning the Rump-Parliament, yet it is certain, they hardly conspired in any thing, but in the fear that both of them had of Monk. Fleetwood was jealous of Lambert's ambition; and Lambert could not brook Fleetwood's authority: the one could not ad­mit of an Equal, nor the other of a Superiour.

Monk therefore was courted by Letters from both, as having it in his power to give the Government to what Party he pleased. Nor could Fleetwood have expected better Conditions from Lambert, had he prevailed against Monk; which those who favou­red Fleetwood in his Army perceiving, avoiding all opportunity of fighting with Monk, lest Lambert, perchance, getting the victory, might turn out his Rival Fleetwood. Lambert can hardly be compared to Pompey, unless it be in boundless ambition, and the unhappy issue thereof; and Fleetwood not at all to Crassus.

But without doubt it was the interest of the Publick that both were undone, seeing Monk get­ting the better, restored at length Britain to it self.

[Page 25] Lambert's Forces in all places having either run away or submitted, Monk divides his Army, 1659, 60. Monk marches into England, January 1. 1659, 60. and under his own and Morgan's conduct, marches streight to London; a march that will be famous in all future Ages, and memorable to Posterity.

On New-years-day, having sent before the Foot, he moved from Caldstream, and the day after he himself followed with the Horse, and took his Quar­ters at Wellar: the next day, At Morpet he receives Let­ters from the Mayor of London. when he was come to Morpet, he received Letters from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of London, sent by the City- Sword-bearer, wherein they earnestly entreat him, That according to the great Trust and Power he had, having now found an occasion, than which, Providence had never offered a greater, he would relieve the di­stressed State, and call a new and full Parliament, as the onely support of their tottering Country; freely of­fering him the assistance and concurrence of the City in the affair.

And now on the fourth of January, He comes to Newcastle, Jan. 4. Monk having marched his Army over desert Mountains in deep Winter-Snow, arrived at Newcastle, and the day following sets forward to Durham; Jan. 5. from thence directing his march to York; near Allerton he was honourably received by the Sheriff of the Coun­ty.

Being next day come to York, He enters York. he was met by a multitude of Citizens and Persons of Quality, and by them splendidly conducted into the City. Ha­ving performed so great a march in so short a time, he rested here five days, either that he might let the news of his coming flie before him to London, or that having allowed some time, he might by his Agents, of whom he had a great many in the City, be early informed of the Councils of the Rump, and inclinations of the Citizens.

Here Monk met with Fairfax, a famous Souldier, [Page 26] and his old Companion in the Wars; who now following his own humour, Monk meets with Fairfax at York. had risen in Arms a­gainst Lambert, and was with no contemptible For­ces, but far greater reputation, come over to the right side, being now with more honour an Ene­my, than he had heretofore been General of the same Army.

He sends part of his Army under Morgan back into Scotland.During this stay at York, Monk received into his service some Regiments of Lambert's Army, having changed the Colonels and Officers; and no Enemy now appearing anywhere, he mustered his Army, and sent back part of it under the command of Mor­gan into Scotland.

He himself, with four thousand Foot, and eigh­teen hundred Horse, marches forwards towards London. Such was the Army of Monk, the least and yet most renowned body of men that ever marched through England, which being hardly a third part in number to the enemy, buoyed up the fate of tottering Britain, and the fortune of Charles the Second.

Monk meets Clarges at Nottingham. Jan. 19.The Army marching from hence, and being come to Nottingham, he was met by Clarges, who came post from London, a man deservedly of great inte­rest and authority with him. He secretly inform­ed him of the designes of the Rump, the strength of the City-Forces, the suspicions and jealousies of the Sectarians, and that the hopes of the Citizens de­pended wholly on him.

The Commissio­ners of the Rump meet Monk at Lei­cester. Jan. 22.Upon his march he was met at Leicester, and con­gratulated by Scot and Robinson, Commissioners from the Rump, upon pretext of doing honour to the General, and civilly waiting upon him in his march; but in reality as Spies to dive into his se­crets, and diligently to observe his words and acti­ons.

Nor was Monk less circumspect, but being a [Page 27] great concealer of his thoughts, and sparing in words, accommodating all his discourse to occasion, and shewing the Commissioners all imaginable re­spect in the Army, he confirmed them in the opi­nion of his sincerity.

In this long and triumphant march, The people e­verywhere pe­tition Monk for a new Parliament. he advan­ced amidst the Applause and Congratulation of all men, and everywhere was met by the people, who, to the grief of the Commissioners, petitioned him for a full and free Parliament, as the onely Remedy to their Evils. The same the Commissioners from the City of London desired, upon their meeting the General at Harborough. At Northampton he met with the like. And most part of the neighbour­ing and more remote Counties of England, sent him Deputies and Petitions to the same effect: all which, Monk that kept his own counsel, civilly re­ceived, but cautiously answered.

Now was Monk arrived at St. Albans, From St. Al­bans he sends to the Rump, Jan. 28. within twenty miles of London, wholly intent upon his en­tering the City. Therefore by Colonel Lidcolt he prudently wrote to the Rump to acquaint them with his approach; And that seeing he had brought with him an Army true to the Parliament, and most observant of Discipline, he intimated to them, that it would be unsafe to mingle his honest and faithful Soul­diers with the treacherous Forces in London, Desiring Fleet­wood's Forces to be sent out of Town. who were so lately endeavouring changes, and their fierceness not as yet wholly laid aside: that therefore for the safety of the Parliament, he earnestly intreats them, that sen­ding forthwith Fleetwood 's Forces out of Town, they would order them Quarters to be appointed by the Quar­ter-Master-General. This was the reason alleadged in publick, but in secret there was another.

The Rump consented to Monk's desire, The Rump consented. whether cordially, or rather out of fear, I shall not deter­mine. And therefore Fleetwood's men are ordered [Page 28] to leave the City, and to go and quarter in the Country at a distance.

Fleetwood's men march an­grily out. Feb. 2.But the Pretorian Bands being long pampered in London, angrily, and with a threatning carriage, left the City; rage being mingled with their obedi­ence, and the hatred of the Parties still remaining after the War.

Monk enters London. Monk in the mean time came from St. Albans to Barnet, and the day following being the third of Fe­bruary, marched into London in order. He himself in military pomp lead the Horse through the streets of London, and, not without a presage, took his Lodgings in Whitehall.

The Parliament had been so often garbl'd and curtail'd, that it was then by the People in deri­sion called the Rump: But these Senatorian Conspirators, the shame and scorn of all honest men, being of insolent tempers, and now the third time got into power, blown up with prosperity, be­gan more and more daily to insult over the Pub­lick; and being in fear on both hands, from their friends as well as foes; and knowing that their strength consisted more in Fame than in Force, they resolved to establish their Tyranny by a new Oath, The Rump by Oath abjures Monarchy. and that the desperation of all Pardon might adde strength to this Bond of Iniquity, to compel the People to swear not onely, that they should bear Faith and true Allegiance to the Commonwealth of England, and the present Parliament; but that they should also renounce and abjure all Allegiance to Charles the Second, and the whole Royal Family: Which was the last effort of their expiring For­tune.

In the mean time the Rumpers, being themselves employed in perpetrating the highest Crimes, let those of Booth's Party, and of the revolting Regi­ments, pass unpunished, as below their notice.

[Page 29]And now the Council of State, consisting of the most villanous Republicans, The Council of State offers Monk the Oath. He delays. He goes to the Rump. Feb. 6. renders the Oath to Monk; which he, as taking time rather to consider than refusing it, prudently avoided.

The third day after Monk had entred the City, being attended by Scot and Robinson, he went to the House, where the Speaker Lenthall, a mighty man at words, and nothing else, having commen­ded his fidelity and good services rendred to the Parliament, in restoring them by his Arms to their Authority, gave him the publick Thanks of the House.

And now what Speech he again made to the Rump, I shall in his own words relate.

Mr. Speaker,

AMongst the many Mercies of God to these poor Nations, your peaceable Restitution is not the least; it is (as you sad) his work alone, and to him belongs the glory of it. And I esteem it as a great effect of his goodness to me, that he was pleased to make me, amongst many worthier in your service, some way in­strumental in it. I did nothing but my duty, and de­serve not to receive so great an honour and respect as you are pleased to give me at this time and place; which I shall ever acknowledge as a high mark of your favour to me. Sir, I shall not now trouble you with large Narratives; onely give me leave to acquaint you, That as I marched out of Scotland hither, I observed the People in most Counties in great and earnest expectations of a Settlement; and several Applications were made to me, with numerous Subscriptions to them. The chie­fest heads of their Desires were, for a free and full Par­liament, and that you would determine your sitting; a Gospel-Ministry; encouragement of Learning and Ʋniversities; and for admittance of the Members se­cluded before the year 1648. without any previous [Page 30] Oath or Engagement. To which I commonly answered, That you are now in a free Parliament; and if there be any force remaining upon you, I would endeavour to remove it; and that you had voted to fill up your House, and then you would be a full Parliament also; and that you had already determined your sitting: and for the Ministry, their maintenance, the Laws, and Ʋ ­niversities, you had largely declared concerning them in your last Declaration; and I was confident you would adhere to it. But as for those Gentlemen secluded in the year 1648. I told them, you had given judgment in it, and all people ought to acquiesce in that judgment; but to admit any Members to sit in Parliament without a previous Oath or Engagement to serve the Govern­ment in being, it was never done in England. But al­though I said it not to them, I must say (with par­don) to you, That the less Oaths and Engagements are imposed (with respect had to the security of the com­mon Cause) your settlement will be the sooner attained to. I am the more particular in these matters, to let you see how grateful your present Consultations about these matters will be to the people. I know all the so­ber Gentry will close with you, if they may be ten­derly and gently used; and I am sure you will so use them, as knowing it to be the common concern, to ac­complish and not lessen our interest; and to be careful that neither the Cavalier nor the Fanatick Party have yet a share in your Civil or Military Power; of the last, whose impatience to Government you have lately had so severe experience of. I should say something of Ireland and Scotland: indeed Ireland is in an ill settled con­dition, and made worse by your interruptions, which prevented the passing an Act for the settlement of the E­states of Adventurers and Souldiers there, which I heard you intended to have done in a few days; and I presume it will be now quickly done, being so necessary at this time, when the wants of the Commonwealth call [Page 31] for supplies: and people will unwillingly pay Taxes for those Estates, of which they have no legal assurance. I need not tell you how much you were abused in the nomination of the Officers of your Armies there; their malice that deceived you hath been sufficiently mani­fested. I do affirm, that those now who have declared for you, will continue faithful; and thereby convince, that as well there as here, it is the sober interest must establish Dominion. As for Scotland, the People of that Nation deserve to be cherished much; and I be­lieve your late Declaration will much glad their spirits: for nothing was more dreadful to them, than a fear to be over-run with Fanatick Notions. I humbly recommend them to your affection and esteem, and desire the intended Ʋnion may be prosecuted, and their Taxes made proportionably to those in England; for which I am engaged in promise to become a Suiter to you. And truly, Sir, I must ask leave to entreat you to make a speedy provision for their Civil Government there, of which they have been destitute near a year, to the ruine of many Families: and except Commissioners for ma­naging of the Government, and Judges to sit in Courts of Judicature, be speedily appointed, that Country will be very miserable. I directed Mr. Gumble (whom I lately sent to you, to give you an account of the affairs of the Scottish Army, and to make certain Proposals in their names) to present some persons to you, both for Commissioners and Judges, which he did; but by rea­son of your great affairs, they were not dispatched: but I humbly now offer them to your consideration.

If what the General spake was unpremeditated, Monk's Speech suspected by the Members. certainly it was well his upon: but how the Rump were satisfied with his Speech, the sequel will make it appear. Besides, his declining to take the Oath of Abjuration the day before, the freedom of his speech mightily netled the Rump-Abjurors, who [Page 32] looked upon him as a Dictator rather than an Ora­tor, commanding rather than petitioning; and who had seemed as much dissatisfied with the trea­chery of Fanaticks, as the contumacy of the Cava­liers.

The Abjurors in the mean time, those Piles in the Rump, who had the sole power in carrying of things, began to have jealousies of the sincerity of Monk's intentions, and of the extraordinary affecti­on of the people towards him; and having found an opportunity, they delayed no longer to make a tryal of his thoughts and hidden designes.

The Londoners refuse to pay Taxes.The Government of this Rump-Parliament was grown so contemptible and loathsome to the Londo­ners, that an Order past in Common Council, That unless they had a free and full Parliament, they would not pay one farthing of Taxes: which so startled and incensed the guilty and timerous minds of the Members, that Monk hath forthwith severe orders to march into the City, Monk is sent into the City in Arms. Feb. 9. commit twelve of the more sawcy Citizens to the Tower of London, and by pulling down the City-Posts and Chains, Gates and Portcullices, in a military manner quell the boldness of the People: which if he did, then the disgrace and hatred would equally fall upon all; and that by that means they would prove Monk's friendship, as if he refused, they might conclude him an Enemy.

To which he offers violenceThough Monk abhorred those cruel Orders of these Rulers, yet he marched into the City with armed Forces, and contrary to his own inclination, puts in execution the hateful Orders of the Rump.

This unexpected Aggression of Monk astonished the City, and the People were in consternation at it, appearing first by a profound silence, then secret murmurings, and amazed looks; but there was more sadness than fury in the case, and the Town [Page 33] seemed rather surrendred than stormed. In the mean time the Souldiers had the chief command, slighting the Authority of the Mayor, and Dignity of the City.

—Et nullos Comitatu est Purpura fasces.
—And no Scarlet nor Gold-Chain appeared.

Now did the Londoners bewail their own credu­lity, and the false hopes they had conceived of Monk; and desparing of humane assistance, they directed their eyes to Heaven, presaging no less than a per­petual Bondage to the City.

This odious obedience performed by Monk to the Rump, put the Spectators to a plunge, The action of Monk is vari­ously interpre­ted. and suffered various interpretations. But for what he so far hazarded his own Reputation in obeying the Rum­pers after this manner, or why, by so sudden a change of counsel and conduct, he endeavoured to regain their favour again, I shall not venture to de­termine. The truth is, And is present­ly displeased with himself for it. being either conscious to himself of the injury and affront done to the City, or having too much experienced the Arts and Trea­chery of the Rump, and being no less prevailed up­on by the Prayers of his Friends, and the Com­plaints of all, he was sensible that his too great compliance with the Rumpers reflected upon his own Honour, and that the Indignity offered to the City, had raised him too much Envy.

The same night being come back to Whitehall, and casting about what was to be done in this tic­klish state of affairs, he called to Council privately some of the Officers who were his greatest Confi­dents, and privy to his secret designes, and having formed a Letter, He sends an angry Letter to the Rump. Feb. 11. he therein angrily complaining of several things to the Rump, as, That his services done to the House were slighted, whilst the late Traytors, [Page 34] who were not much less Enemies to them than to the Commonwealth, had with them now much more cre­dit and esteem than he. From whence else proceed your new kindness to Lambert and Vane? and your new offences against me? If the perfidy of the Fa­naticks had still displeased you, why did you with so much respect receive yesterday that Leering Heretick Barebones? and the insolent Rabble of Sectarians, which lewdly in his company approached you with a dishonest Petition?

This kindness of the House shewn to a Rabble of Hereticks, is not simple (sincere). It is the common de­sire of the whole Commonwealth, the general request of the People, Citizens, Souldiers, of every one, and all, That the number of the Members being fill'd up within a week, and then your sitting determined, you should give place to a new Parliament.

These Letters he sent the next morning by Lid­cot and Clobery, two Colonels to the House.

Monk returns into the City. Feb. 12.In the mean time he himself hastens into the City, that he might make amends for his fault, and wipe off the infamy of the foregoing day. Having sent a Messenger before to acquaint the Lord Mayor with his coming, and mustered his Army in Finsbu­ry-fields, he is entertained at a splendid Dinner in the Lord Mayor's house. After Dinner the Mayor conducted the General to the Common-Council of the City, where in a full Assembly of the Citizens in their formalities, Makes a Speech to the Citizens: He declared to them his trouble to see what affronts were offered to them by Orders from the Council of State, which he obeyed; yet disliked that he was necessitated to comply with those Commands; but with a resolution always to run through the greatest dangers to serve them: That he had not forgot their kind Letter at Morpeth, wherein he affectionately con­curred, but was forced to retire backwards, like a Fen­cer, to make the better ground, and the more advantage­ous [Page 35] assault. That he had sent to the House that mor­ning, And promises a new Parlia­ment. that they should issue Writs for a full Parlia­ment; and to this end he was come to stay with them, and see his desires fulfilled; and that they should put a period to their sitting by the sixth of May.

Monk's Speech was with delight and universal applause heard by the Citizens; The Citizens rejoyce. and the name of a New Parliament so pleased the minds of the Peo­ple, that the City which appeared desolate and de­jected in the morning, seemed transported with joy at night, by the ringing of Bells and Bone­fires.

Now was Monk in every bodies mouth; And honour Monk; and the Multitude not able to contain their secret joys, pro­claimed him the Honour and Deliverer of their Country; Reproaching the Rump. praying for and blessing him in all pla­ces. Then was the Rump loaded with the Re­proaches and Imprecations of all, with so much freedom, that it seemed to be the first step to their Liberty, thus to despise their Oppressors. Which was offended at Monk's Letter. Nor was this night revelling of the over-joyed People less boundless, than the Rage of the Rumpers was be­fore, upon the reading of Monk's Letter. They in great indignation complain, that the violence of old, offered by Cromwel, and more lately by Lam­bert, was not more grievous, than the present-impe­rious boldness of Monk, in prefixing a day to their dissolution.

But the old Commissioners, Scot and Robinson, being sent into the City to the General, they offer­ed him the hypocritical Thanks of the Rump for his quelling of the City; and concealing their dis­pleasure at his Letter, they promise a fuller Parlia­ment: and that their dissimulation might be the more specious, they invite Monk again to Westmin­ster to assist them with his counsel.

The General and his Friends gave them a doubt­ful [Page 36] answer, as well knowing that the civility of the proud Rumpers was not for nought: However, it was the interest of both Parties to continue their dissimulation.

But the Commissioners upon their return, having brought advice of the joyful familiarity that was betwixt the General and the Citizens, the Rump smelt out Monk's designe, and were distracted in their thoughts. Wherefore they forthwith set a­bout the lessening of his power in the Army; The Rump weakens Monk's au­thority. ap­pointing a Committee of five for ordering the af­fairs of the Forces; which if they could have gone through with, the English Army being altogether averse from Monk, they had certainly ruined his fortune.

So soon as Monk heard that he was made one of five Generals, being unaccustomed to affronts, and equally slighting the baseness and treachery of the Rumpers, He takes it in indignation. he took greater care of his affairs: And that he might not make use of the counsel of Ene­mies and Traytors onely, he desires a Conference with the old secluded Members; upon whose sense and inclinations when he found there was more to be grounded, And sends the secluded Mem­bers to the house. Feb. 21. and perceived them to be fit men for qualifying matters, and not averse from his own de­signes in time, he sent them to the Parliament at­tended by a guard of Souldiers.

The secluded Members in the mean time entring the House again, The Abjurators depart. the baser and viler sort of the Ab­jurors being now in despair, left the House. The rest being more moderate, continued to joyn with their restored fellow-Members in the administration of the affairs of the Publick.

The Votes of the fuller Par­liament.The Parliament being now increased in number, and the Vote of their own exclusion being in the first place repealed, they appoint Monk General of all the Forces in Britain and Ireland, and order mo­ney [Page 37] streight to be levied for the Pay of the Soul­diers. They appoint Montague Admiral of the Fleet; give liberty to Booth's Prisoners, and the Captive Citizens; in whose place Lambert was afterwards clapt up in the Tower.

Whilst the Parliament was busied in the affairs of the Commonwealth, Monk ac­quaints the di­stant Forces, with the re­stauration of the Parliam. Feb. 21. Monk in the mean time wholly taken up about the care of the Forces, having cal­led a Council of his Colonels, dispatched Letters to all the Regiments of the Army and their Officers, that were quartered up and down Britain and Ire­land, to certifie them of the reason of the readmission of the Members, with large assurances of their constancy to their old Profession and Principles; and that with­out this Expedient there was no way to satisfie the Na­tion, or raise money for the subsistance of the Army or Navy.

The distant Regiments in the mean time wan­ting Money and Necessaries, They consent to him. and having tried the experience of both fortunes, chose rather to com­ply, and have their certain Pay, than to stand it out, and trust to uncertainties.

But Monk, to make sure of the Forces, And take an Oath to be true to the Parliament. made them all take a new Oath to be true to the Parlia­ment; which the Colonels and Officers of his own Army, and many of the English Forces willingly did: but those who refused or scrupuled, he dis­armed and casheered. And now Monk had the sole power over both Armies, and received all Souldiers as bound by the same Oath under the same Gene­ral.

Monk before this had removed his Quarters from Whitehall to St. James's: There amongst others, Monk quarters at S James's. Here he re­ceives Letters from the King, by the hands of Greenvile. March 18. William Morrice was a chief Confident of the Gene­ral's, a man of great solidity and prudence, as the times went. By his means Greenvile a Knight be­ing introduced to Monk, and all company being re­moved, [Page 38] he privately delivered him Letters from King CHARLES.

Having read them, he makes an answer suitable to the times and the doubtful state of affairs, resol­ving neither to say too much, nor to conceal all his mind; and so tempered his expressions, that he might seem to reserve a fuller answer in his acti­ons. And this was the first step to the restoring the Government to Charles the Second.

Greenvile returned to Brussels to the King with the joyful and expected news of Monk's good in­clinations towards his Majesty. But by how much the Parliament and Monk seriously applied them­selves to the setling of affairs, by so much the more the bloudy Parricides used all their Arts and Trea­chery, by sowing Sedition in the Camp, and raising Tumults amongst the Sectarians in the City, to stir up new Commotions; nor did Treachery end with the War. A new Conspi­racy of the Traytors. For the Abjurors having no more opportunity of doing mischief in the Parliament-house, kept Cabals and secret Conferences with the lately-disbanded Officers of the English Army, and being crushed in the head, stung with the tail.

As to what may be gathered from the present actings of the Parliament, and the secret inclinations of Monk, (say they) the restauration of the Government of Charles Steuart is not far off: That therefore they thought to consider in time that their affairs were in a slippery condition; and that without their ruine and o­verthrow, Charles would not mount the Throne. That the Trophies of so many Wars, the glorying in the assi­stance and protection of God, and the actions of so many years, would not now avail them.

That it was madness, after the slaughter of so many Royalists, the killing of so many Nobles, and the un­parallel'd Crime of the Murder of Charles the First, to expect from a young banished man, and exasperated [Page 39] by a long Exile, a Pardon, 1660. which God Almighty would hardly give for so many Villanies.

That there remained then no remedy for them, but a daring boldness, whilst as yet neither the Authority of the Parliament in the House, nor that of Monk in both the Armies, was firmly enough setled. Let us therefore dare, say they, and re-attempt Murders, Rapines, Di­sturbances of State, and all those Villanies that for twenty years past have so well succeeded with us; ra­ther than tamely and cowardly deliver up our Liberty purchased by our blouds, into the power of an Enemy, who will the more cruelly be revenged upon us, that he hath been so often baffled and defeated by us. Let us either by greater Crimes justifie the past, or bury our misfortunes with our lives in the ruine of the Common­wealth.

—Trahere omnia secum
Mersa juvat, gentes (que) suae miscere ruinae.
If we must sink, we'll drown the State,
And involve Nations in our Fate.

Having thus concerted a Conspiracy, there wan­ted onely an opportune Leader; but then Lambert being the person of greatest reputation amongst the Fanaticks, was thought the fittest to undertake that Charge.

Having therefore corrupted his Keepers, Lambert e­scapes out of Prison. April 9. he made his escape out of the Tower by night; then lurking privily in the City, and consulting with the Ring-leaders of the Party, they concluded amongst them­selves, O damnable madness! by corrupting the English Regiments, and raising Sedition in the Ar­my, to renew a Civil War.

And so Lambert secretly posts to Warwick, He gathers to­gether an Ar­my. the place appointed for their meeting: Thither came [Page 40] Axtell, Okey, Cobbet, Crede, and other bloudy Tray­tors; where being joyned by Turncoats and the disbanded Souldiers of the English Regiments, whom they had allured into their Party, they sud­denly make up an Army; and so the unhappy Ge­neral is once more in command.

The first that gave Monk intelligence of Lam­bert's Insurrection was Colonel Streater, who was with a Regiment of Foot quartered in Northampton.

The Council of State hearing of the escape of the Conspirators, Lambert is proclaimed a Traytor. proclaim Lambert and his Adherents Traytors. Monk in the mean time, lest leaving the City of London, he might bring the publick safety in danger, resolved to reserve his main Force for greater occasions, and to send in all haste, some Horse after Lambert to crush the designe in its In­fancy.

Ingoldsby is sent against Lambert. Richard Ingoldsbey acquitted himself like a brave man, retrieving by a bold attempt the faults, that be­ing a Colonel under both the Cromwels, he had formerly committed. He having Orders from Monk, with a body of Horse hastened to joyn Streater's Foot at Northampton; and on the two and twentieth of April, being Easter-day, within two miles of Daventry came in sight of the Enemy in an open Country fit for a Horse-fight, and no less for flight.

Lambert, before his Forces were ripe for Action, being thus unexpectedly beset, for a last proof of his Valour drew up his men in order to fight, lea­ving the rest that was not in his power, Both prepare to fight, to destiny; and Ingoldsbey did the like: both for some hours mutually expecting the charge.

Whilst thus they delayed to engage, it was re­ported that Lambert made some overtures of resto­ring Richard Cromwel, whom he knew Ingoldsbey to have been much affected to, that so he might save [Page 41] Stakes: But he disdaining to see the force of that sce­nical Prince plaid again, they must come to blows. Providence appeared in the engagement: And do fight. for hard­ly had they begun to skirmish, but that many of Lambert's Horse turned to Ingoldsbey's side; the rest either daunted at the desertion of their Com­panions, or the force of the Enemy, took quarters and yielded.

Which when the Commanders perceived, they began to think of running. Ingoldsbey charging then home, put Lambert hard to it; Lambert is o­vercome, who far below the great fame that he had acquired in Arms, his Courage sinking with his Cause, and forgetting his former Reputation, And taken. tamely yielded himself Priso­ner.

With Lambert, Cobbet and Crede were taken; but Axtell and Okey making their escape, delayed, but avoided not their deserved punishments.

And now again Lambert, forsaken of his Friends, and a Prisoner, became sensible of his fortune. Yet this fresh madness of Rebels, had it not been sea­sonably quelled by Ingoldsbey and Streater, would have again embrewed the Nation in Bloud and Slaughter, and turned all things into new Disor­ders.

The very day that Monk mustered the Militia of London, Ingoldsbey brought his Prisoners to Town; Is carried a Prisoner to the Tower of Lon­don. who were now led in triumph where they had so often triumphed by their Villanies, passing disarmed through armed Souldiers. And thus the Civil Wars had an end.

Not long before, March the 17th, The dissolution of the Long Parliament. March 17. the Long and Black Parliament dissolved themselves; a Parliament infamous for such havock made in the State, so many impudent and unwarrantable Undertakings, and for the murder of Charles the Martyr; being twice garbl'd, twice turned out, twice restored, and [Page 42] at length much more happily ended than begun.

And now, on the five and twentieth of April, a new and more auspicuous Parliament assembled, A new one met. April 25. be­ing made up, according to the ancient English cu­stom, of Lords and Commons. The Earl of Man­chester was Speaker of the House of Lords, and Sir Harbotle Grimstone of the Commons. And this con­junction of both Houses seemed a natural Prelude to the Kings Restauration.

The People de­sire a King.For the English accustomed to Kingly govern­ment, cried, that there remained no other way of remedying the publick Distempers, but a submission to the rightful government of Charles the Second. So was it ordered above, that God and man should concur in recalling the King to his Throne. And so great was the fame of the Virtues and Accom­plishments of this August young Prince, that though by reason of a long Exile, he was by face almost unknown to all, and though he had not had a law­ful and hereditary Title to the Crown, yet they would have courted him to accept of the Govern­ment. Nor was he less desirable, when compared and put into the balance with those bloudy Ʋsur­pers. Nay, the compassionate sense of his adverse Fortune and tedious Exile kindled also in his Sub­jects an affectionate desire of recalling him to his Right.

And the inconsiderate mistakes of the imperious Traytors at length came to this, That the Common­wealth no less desired the King, than the King the Government; and the languishing condition of the Publick made it as, if not more, necessary for the English to have a Prince, than for him to have a People.

Th [...] King comes to Breda.While these things were a doing, Charles, wholly intent upon the motions of England, leaving Brus­sels, a Town under the Spanish dominion, came to [Page 43] Breda which belongs to his Nephew the Prince of Orange; From whence he sends Let­ters to the Parliament, &c. April 14. from whence he dispatched Sir John Green­vile with Royal Letters to both Houses of Parlia­ment, and Letters also to General Monk and the Officers of the Army, to the Mayor and Common-Council of London, and to Montague Admiral of the Fleet.

Which were received with so universal a Joy and Applause, that the Parliament forthwith ordained him to be proclaimed KING in the City, and all over England, with the accustomed Solemnities, having made a Proclamation to this purpose.

Although it can no way be doubted but that his Ma­jesties Right and Title to these Crowns and Kingdoms, The Parlia­ments Procla­mation. is and was every way compleat by the death of his most Royal Father of glorious memory, without the ceremony or solemnity of a Proclamation; yet since Proclamations in such cases have been always used, to the end that all good Subjects might upon this occasion testifie their duty and respect; and since the armed violence, and other the Calamities of many years last past, have hitherto de­prived us of any opportunity wherein we might express our Loyalty and Allegiance to his Majesty: We there­fore the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parlia­ment, together with the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council of the City of London, and other Freemen of this Kingdom now present; do according to our Duty and Allegiance, heartily, joyfully, and unani­mously acknowledge and proclaim, That immediately upon the decease of our late Soveraign King CHARLES the First, the Imperial Crown of the Realm of Eng­land, and of all the Kingdoms, Dominions, and Rights belonging to the same, did by inherent Birth­right, and lawful undoubted Succession, descend and come to his most Excellent Majesty King CHARLES the Second, as being lineally, justly, and lawfully next [Page 44] Heir of the Bloud-Royal of this Realm; and that by the goodness and providence of Almighty God, he is of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the most potent, mighty, and undoubted King. And thereunto we most humbly and faithfully do submit and oblige our selves, our Heirs, and Posterities.

The King being proclaimed throughout the City with the joyful shouts and acclamations of all, and all things being prepared for his reception, both Houses of Parliament appointed an honourable bo­dy of Commissioners to be sent to the King with their Letters, all men of great Quality and Birth: Obery Earl of Oxford, Commissioners from the Lords to the King. Charles Earl of Warwick, Li­onel Earl of Middlesex, and Hereford Viscount of Leicester, the Lords Berkley and Brooks, for the Lords.

Commissioners from the Com­mons.The House of Commons chose Fairfax, Bruce, Falkland, Castletown, Herbert, Mandiville, all Lords; Ashley-Cooper, Townsend, Booth, Holland, Chumley, and Hollis, Knights: Who besides Letters, carried Instructions with them, humbly to beg that his Majesty would be pleased to hasten his long wished-for return into England.

The K. Dukes, of York and Gloucester have Presents sent them from the Parlia­ment.And because they knew that the Exchequer of their exiled King could not be very full, they order them to carry him a Present of fifty thousand Pie­ces of Gold; and also ten thousand to the Duke of York, and five to the Duke of Gloucester.

Clerges, a person in great favour with the King, carried General Monk's and the Armies Submission and Letters.

The Londoners send Commissio­ners and Pre­sents.The City of London also sent twenty Commis­sioners chosen out of the Flower of the Citizens: and the wealthy Citizens present the King and his Illustrious Brothers with twelve thousand pounds.

All things now succeeding beyond expectation, [Page 45] Monk was secure in his fortune, having so dexte­rously managed things, The Traytors with astonish­ment beheld the Revoluti­on. with such innocent and harmless Arts defeated the Snares and Arms of the Parricides, and procured the publick safety without bloud, that the same Virtue of the General was both hated and admired; whilst the praying Secta­ries in vain called upon God, who was not certain­ly the Lord of their Hosts now.

The Eleventh of May the Commissioners set sail from England, The Commissio­ners sail from England, May 11. and wait upon the K. at the Hague May 16. Sir Thomas Clerges the first Messenger of the Kings coming. and with all dutifulness waited upon the Kings Majesty at the Hague; where they were gladly and kindly received by him.

Clarges had been with him before, whom the King having first knighted, sent back into England as a Messenger of his coming; and having sent Letters to Monk full of expressions of good will and gratitude towards the General and Army, he designed Dover for his place of landing. In the mean time, by the Kings command, Admiral Montague (since Earl of Sandwich) came with the Fleet upon the Coast of Holland, and waited for the King before Scheveling.

And now all things being in a readiness for his departure, the best of Kings, The K. went on board, May 23. with the Dukes of York and Gloucester, came on board the Admiral. Thi­ther they were attended by the Queen of Bohemia their Aunt, their Sister the Princess of Orange, and the young Prince their Nephew; where after they had taken a glad Farewel, with a joyful Huzza of the Sea-men they set sail.

Charles the Second now in possession of his Fleet, (the first Pledge of his Government) which was speedily to waft him over to that of his Kingdoms, with a prosperous Gale directs his course to Dover. Monk having received Letters by Clarges, accompa­nied with a numerous train of Nobility and Gentry, Monk hastens to Dover. hastened thither to welcome him on the shore, and to pay Honour to that Virtue at home, which he had reverenced at so great distance abroad.

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[Page 46]So soon as the Fleet with full sail came in sight, in­numerable crouds of over-spied Spectators flocked to the shore, and Sea-coast, and to every other place from whence they might have any prospect, being desirous to see and congratulate their restored Prince.

The Troubles of England Composed by his Majesties happy Restauration.

There the King lands. May 25.On the 25th of May, amidst the roaring of all the Canon in the Fleet, ecchoed and answered from the Castle and shore, and, which was a more glori­ous sound, amidst the joyful and louder Acclama­tions of his Subjects, AƲGƲST CHARLES landed at Dover, with so much Piety, Gravity, and Gracefulness in his Countenance, that he seemed to be come to pay his Vows to God, the Protector of the Government. His department shew'd no Vanity nor Pride, but a mind rather above the reach of them, yet capable of any fortune; and so great was his Majesty in all his actions, that he seemed more to deserve than to desire a Crown.

Monk receives the King upon his knees at his landing.Here Monk falling upon his knees to welcome the King, was by his Majesty embraced, kissed, and rai­sed from the ground; the rest of the Nobility ha­ving also performed their duty, the same night the best of Kings advanced to Canterbury, The King ha­stens to Can­terbury. There he made Monk Knight of the Garter. May 27. and next morning created Monk Knight of the honourable Order of the Garter, the most illustrious Princes the Dukes of York and Gloucester putting the George a­bout his neck. Here the King spent Sunday, and restored the service of the Church in the Metropo­litan Church of England.

May 28. He came to Ro­chester.Setting forward from hence, he lodged all night at Rochester, and next day upon Black heath he viewed the Forces drawn up with much military pomp and splendour: Forces heretofore onely [Page 47] brave in shedding of Civil Bloud, whose Trophies and Triumphs were then disgraced with horrid Crimes; but now upon the return of Charles, The K. views the Army upon the Road, and praises them. loyally and deservedly triumphant. The Regi­ments drawn up in a most lovely order, made an Army worthy of King Charles.

The King having by the famous Colonel Knight received the Salutations and Respects of the Forces in their Arms, and having praised them for their dutifulness and affection, proceeded forwards; the people strewing Flowers and Leaves of Trees in the way, and in all places offering him the choicest marks of their Honour.

When he was come near the City, The King is welcomed by the Lord Mayor and Citizens of London. the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London welcomed him upon their knees. The Mayor delivered his Majesty the Sword, the Badge of his Dignity, which the King graciously gave him back again; and being con­ducted into a large and richly-adorned Pavillion, was entertained at a splendid Collation.

From thence with a magnificent train of Persons of all quality, He enters Lon­don. May 29. over London-bridge he entered the City, amidst such a glorious appearance of brave and great men, that scarcely in any Age the triumphal Bridge of Rome ever bore a greater Pomp, or victo­rious Tyber saw, or Euphrates of old, By Tyber, Euphrates, and Tygris, are meant the Roman, Persian, and Assyrian Empires, and their Triumphs. or the yet more ancient Tygris.

Along the Streets from London-bridge to White-hall, The Pomp of his entry. on the one side in a continued order the Train­ed-bands of the City were drawn up, and on the o­ther, the Companies in their Livery-gowns, the houses on each side being hung with Tapistry. The tops of the houses and windows were filled with vast multitudes of Spectators, And Atten­dants. the People from all places flocking to this glorious and joyful Show.

[Page 48]There were no less than twenty thousand richly attired on horseback. The first that led the Cavalcade were some Troops of young Gentlemen in a various & most rich dress and shining Arms, with Trumpets sounding before them. The Sheriffs of London's men with their Spears, followed after; next after whom marched six hundred of the chief Citizens, in Velvet-coats and Gold-chains. Then followed the Kings Horse-guards, led by the Lord Gerrard their Captain.

With the chearful musick of Drums, Trumpets, and Waits, next advanced the Sheriffs and Alder­men of London in their Scarlet-gowns, and their Horses richly deckt with Trapings; their Footmen attending them, shining with Gold and Silver.

Then followed the Kings of Arms and Heralds in their rich Coats; and next to them the Lord Mayor, carrying in his right hand the naked Sword; and after him the Illustrious Duke of Buckingham, and the renowned General Monk.

And now appeared Charles, the Wishes of all good men, and the Joys of the happy, conspicuous in a triumphant Majesty: On the right hand rode the Duke of York, on the left the Duke of Glouce­ster; he himself on a stately horse in the middle, carrying all Triumphs and Diadems in his looks, which seemed then more than humane.

After his Majesty, came his chief Courtiers and Servants. General Monk's Life-guard commanded by Sir Philip Howard; and then five Regiments of Horse of Monk's Army, led by Colonel Knight.

This Triumphal Procession was brought up by a vast body of Noblemen and Gentlemen, with red Colours fringed with Gold, in rich Attire, shining Arms, their Swords drawn, and Plumes of Feather in their Hats.

In this order the King marched slowly through [Page 49] the City, amidst the shouts, acclamations, and joy­ful looks of his Subjects, which he triumphantly heard and beheld. And now entring his Royal Palace, he mounted the Throne of his Forefathers on the twenty ninth of May, heretofore the day of his Birth, and now of his Restauration; after he had been, since Worcester-fight, ten years banished his Country.

The Members of both Houses of Parliament came to wait on his Majesty in the Banquetting-house, The two Hou­ses come to con­gratulate the King. there to express their joyful Congratulations for his Return, and unfeigned Loyalty to the Go­vernment; which was eloquently done by the Earl of Manchester for the House of Lords, and Sir Har­botle Grimstone for the Commons. The King tired out with the Fatigues of his triumphant Journey, made them this short Answer.

I Am so disordered by my Journey, and with the noise still sounding in my ears, (which I confess was pleasing to me, because it expres­sed the Affections of my People) as I am unfit at the present to make such a Reply as I desire; yet thus much I shall say unto you, That I take no greater satisfaction to my self in this my Change, than that I find my heart really set to endeavour by all means for the restoring of this Nation to their Freedom and Happiness; and I hope by the advice of my Parliament to assert it. Of this also you may be confident, That next to the honour of God, from whom princi­pally I shall ever own this Restauration to my Crown, I shall study the welfare of my Peo­ple; and shall not onely be a true Defender of the Faith, but a just Assertor of the Laws and Liberties of my Subjects.

[Page 50]The night following was consecrated to Joy. The Conduits running Wine, The night-joys of the Citizens. and the whole City lighted by Bonfires. The loyal Citizens, willing to lull asleep the memory of twenty years Calami­ties, merrily spent the night in the noise of Trum­pets, Drums, and Volleys of shot.

A happy revo­lution of affairs from the Kings Restauration.The providence of God Almighty never appear­ed more visible in humane affairs: for now the Golden Age returns, a Happiness too good for our times; the blessed day shone forth, wherein King Charles being restored to his Country, restored his Country to it self, and united Liberty and Monar­chy, two things thought incompatible under the traiterous Usurpers. The honour of the Laws, which makes all things firm and durable, returned: The splendour of the Church of England, and the ancient Rites of Worship, also returned; Piety co­ming in place of Sectarian Superstition.

The King ap­points a Privy Council, and Ministers of State.The King having tasted a little of the delights of his Return, seriously set about the setling of the State, entangl'd with so many Civil Dissentions, and rent by Divisions; and in the first place ap­pointed a Privy-Council, and disposed of the chief places of his Kingdom and Court.

The Duke of York made Admiral.The King makes the most Illustrious James Duke of York Lord High Admiral, a Prince renowned at home and abroad, and crowned with many Victo­ries.

The Earl of Clarendon, Chancellor. Edward Hide Earl of Clarendon, was made Lord Chancellor; in Eloquence not inferiour to the most famed Orators; nor in Prudence, to the greatest Statesmen.

The Earl of Southampton, Treasurer.The uncorrupted Earl of Southampton, with Ho­nour and Integrity, discharged the Office of Lord High Treasurer.

The D. of Or­mond, Stew­ard of the K.'s Houshold.The Illustrious charge of Steward of the Kings Houshold, was conferred upon the Duke of Or­mond, [Page 51] a Peer of a steddy Judgment, of the Honesty of elder times, and renowned both in Peace and War.

The Earl of Manchester, The E. of Man­chester, Cham­berlain. whose Loyalty had been proved, was created Lord Chamberlain of the House.

Nicholas and Morrice, two aged Knights, Nicholas and Morrice, Secre­taries of State. and con­summated in business, were the Principal Secreta­ries of State.

Monk the Restorer, Monk Master of the Horse, and Duke of Albemarle. formerly by the Kings Com­mission made General of all the British Forces, is now advanced to be Master of the Horse, and ho­noured with the Illustrious Title of Duke of Albe­marle. For his noble Extraction gave him a claim to the Honour of the Albemarlian Family; and the bounty of the King in rewarding his good Services, an Estate to support it.

Nor was the most Religious King less careful of the Church. Bishops resto­red in the Church. Those Bishops who had survived the fury of the Hereticks, he restored to their Sees; and chose others conspicuous for Primitive Piety, Lear­ning, and a good Life, in place of those that were dead; who with the same Piety and Humility that they had suffered the Reproaches of Sectarians, and born the Calamities of a Civil War, now in their old age carried the Miter, and governed the Church of God.

The King made Juxon Archbishop of Canterbury and primate of all England, Will. Juxon Archbishop of Canterbury. a Prelate of Primitive Piety, venerable both in his books and words; here­tofore Confessor to Charles the Martyr, and his As­sistent to the last, whilst amidst the fury and reproa­ches of bloudy Traytors, he took his leave of this world.

—Et nullo gemitu consensit ad ictum,
Despexitque nefas—
[Page 52]
When without sighing, he received that Blow,
And bravely scorn'd the Villanies below.

And now it was no small comfort to many, that they to whom the Parricides had formerly been li­beral, were as poor as those whom they had rob­bed: but it was fit that Clemency should usher in the new Administration of the Government; and therefore Charles imitating God Almighty in mer­cifulness, An Act of O­blivion is past. past in Parliament an Act of Indemnity and Oblivion for all his Subjects, except those who had embrewed their hands in his Fathers Bloud; the rest of the guilty Rebels being wonderfully pardoned: but whether with greater Policy or Mer­cy, let Posterity judge.

The Army re­ceives their Pay, and is disbanded.The King now secure in his own Majesty, and the Loyalty of his Subjects, resolved to disband the Army, which for so many years had been the Bur­den and Grievance of the Nation; for the paying of which, a Tax by way of Poll, was imposed on e­very head in England. The Souldiers had also a Donative bestowed upon them, and many of the Officers were rewarded according to their me­rit.

Amidst the Joys wherewith the first three months of his Majesties government was blessed, The Duke of Gloucester dies, Sept. 13. Henry Duke of Gloucester fell sick, and was fatally too soon snat­ched out of this world by the Small Pox; so much the more lamented by the King his Brother, and by the Kingdom, that at twenty years of age he had given such sublime proofs of his Princely Accom­plishments: And this alone may seem an Eclipse of the Glory of Charles, that almost in his own tri­umph, he beheld the Funeral of his dear Bro­ther.

[Page 53]
—Manibus date Lilia plenis,
Purpureos spargam flores—
Bring plenty of white Lillies to his Herse,
Whilst sad there the purple Rose disperse.

The affairs of England being setled, The King takes into considera­tion the Go­vernment of England and Ireland. Scotland and Ireland were to be taken care of: The King there­fore appointed Privy-Councils of the most Loyal Subjects of both Kingdoms, to manage the Govern­ment, till he might advise about calling a Parlia­ment in Scotland, and sending over a Lord Lieute­nant into Ireland.

After the dutiful Addresses of his Subjects at home, the neighbouring Kings of France, Sweden, Congratulato­ry Embassies from neighbou­ring Princes to the King. Denmark, and many Princes of Germany, by honou­rable Embassies congratulate the Kings happy Re­stauration; all which were outdone by the pom­pous and splendid train of the Prince Ligny, Em­bassadour from the Catholick King.

And now it was time to bring the Murderers of Charles the Martyr to their Tryals, The Kings Murderers brought to tryal. Octob. 10. many of whom were before clapt up in Prison; others fled away se­cretly, and wandered in foraign and distant Coun­tries; and some trusting to the hopes of a Pardon, obeyed the Kings Proclamation, and freely surren­dred themselves.

Therefore on the tenth of October, Harrison, Ca­rew, Clements, Jones, Scot, and Scroop, who had been of the number of the Judges that condemned the King, Cooke Attorney-General, the famous infa­mous Peters Chaplain to the Traytors, Axiell and Hacker Commanders of the Guards, were brought to the Bar, not before an accursed and new-made High Court of Justice, but according to the ancient Laws of the Kingdom, before the chief Justices and [Page 54] the rest of the Kings Justices, to be tryed by a Jury of Twelve men, after the usual manner of England.

What they were accused of.They were chiefly charged by the Attorney-Gene­ral and the Kings Council, That they the aforesaid Traytors, and others guilty of High-Treason, con­spiring with an accursed Army of Fanaticks had carried away to Prison, King Charles, securely trea­ting a Peace with the two Houses of Parliament, which was almost concluded in the Isle of Wight. So that the House of Lords being abrogated, and the founder Members of the Commons, six and forty Villains that remained took to themselves the name of a Parliament, invaded the Government, and de­creed to bring the King to a Tryal.

By whose authority these Parricides (an High Court of Justice being impudently constituted) had condemned and caused to be put to death the King of England, who was above the Laws, contrary to the will, and to the great grief of the People.

They make an idle base de­fence.To their Indictment, rightly laid and fully pro­ved, having made many false and frivolous Answers concerning the supreme authority of the Parlia­ment, which indeed in this case had no authority at all, And are con­demned. they were by the Verdict of a Jury of Twelve men found guilty of and condemned for High-Treason. The same Verdict past also upon nine­teen other of the Kings Judges, but with a different event, as shall be mentioned in the proper place.

On the third of October a Gibbet was set up at Charing-cross near Whitehall, whither in the morn­ing Harrison being brought, Harrison hang'd and quarter'd. Octob. 3. the first of the survi­ving Regicides both in guilt and punishment, with the same madness and obstinacy as he had behaved himself at his tryal, the cruel Traytor affecting an undauntedness at his death, was hang'd and quar­ter'd, as he well deserved.

[Page 55]
CAROLE, tuis jam Victima mittitur umbris,
Nec satis hoc fortuna putat, procul absit, ut ista
Vindictae sit summa tui—
Great CHARLES, a Victim to thy Ghost does fall,
And yet thy Fates are not appeas'd; no, all
That just Revenge is not yet paid that shall.

Harrison, rather of a base than low Birth, was the Son of a Butcher; bred at first a Pettifogging Country-Attorney: but in the heat of the Civil Wars, when the onely way to get into Power, was Fanaticism and Treason, he fled to the Rebellious Army; and there turning a furious Anabaptist, and advanced to be a Colonel, he grew very intimate with Cromwel, and his Competitor in Villany. But being a proud and haughty fellow, and a most de­sperate Republican, he fell out, and was highly dis­pleased with Oliver when he was made Protector; not that he hated the Tyrant Cromwel, but disdain­ed to be outstripped, and to submit to one who from a fellow-Souldier was become his Prince.

Carew came next and suffered the like death; Carew is hang'd. Octob. 15. but his Relations, who had served the King in the Wars, obtained, as a mark of favour, the liberty of burying his body; which was the same night ob­scurely performed.

The day following, Cook and Peters, The death of Cook and Peters. Octob. 16. in the same place, suffered the same punishment; where Peters by a drunken and base death, disgraced his infa­mous life.

Cook was an obscure, ragged, beggarly Lawyer, and ambitious to get a Name by any kind of Vil­lany. Peters a Fanatical Tub-preacher, and the Jack-pudding of the Ordinances. Sometimes he was Presbyterian, and sometimes Independant, as the se­veral [Page 56] Factions prevailed. He was the first of the Jugglers that from the Pulpit sounded the Trum­pet to Civil War, a fellow full of talk, and had a knack of sporting the People into Sedition, with an insipid kind of Buffoonry and Lying, which past with them for Eloquence, and became a Crony of Oliver's by a flagitious compliance. October the seventh, Clements, Scot, Jones, and Scroop, executed. Octob. 17. Clements, Scot, Jones, and Scroop, suffered the same death upon the same Gibbet, without any regard had to a decent end.

Clements was heretofore a Merchant in London; a lustful mercenary Traytor, who abused his Parlia­mentarian Authority to Whoredom and Leache­ry.

Jones brought nothing with him out of Wales, his native Country, but Infamy and an ignoble Ex­traction; he was first a Robber, and for his exces­sive wickedness preferred to be a Colonel, he mar­ried Cromwel's Sister, who then enriched his Rela­tions with the Spoils of the Commonwealth: nor was he less related to Oliver by Affinity than Villa­ny; and to many men prejudicial by his ill na­ture.

Scot sprung out of a Brew-house, and amongst o­ther Calamities of the Civil War, was admitted into the Parliament-house; and of all the Traytors perhaps, was the most inveterate Enemy to Charles the Martyr, of which Villany he bragg'd to the last: and so rejoyced in the Kings Murder, that he would have Posterity remember him as an Author of so great a Crime; and besides the murder of the King, was guilty of many other horrid Villanies.

Of all the Regicides that surrendred themselves, Scroop onely was hanged: for whether by indiscre­tion, or obstinacy, he drew upon himself this ill fortune; or that a mans destiny is not to be avoi­ded, I shall not determine: for after that he had [Page 57] surrendred himself, he seemed so much to justifie the Murder of the King, that he chose rather to be look­ed upon as a Criminal than an humble Suppli­cant.

Then Hacker and Axtell at Tyburn had the re­ward of their Treason. Hacker formerly in London, Hacker and Axtell hang'd at Tyburn. Octob. 19. and Axtell in Bedford, had kept shops.

The Quarters of the Traytors, (their Bowels be­ing burnt) and their Heads were set up upon the Gates and publick places of London.

The fugitive Regicides being summoned by Pro­clamation to appear, The punishment of the fugitive Regicides. were afterwards by Act of Parliament declared guilty of High-Treason, and their Estates forfeited.

Nor did the just severity of the Parliament so pu­nish the living, as to quite forget the dead: for the like Sentence of High-Treason was pronounced a­gainst the deceased Ireton, Cromwel, Bradshaw, The bones of the deceased raised and buried under Tyburn. Jan. 30. 1660, 61. and Pride; who having, whilst alive, usurped the Go­vernment of the murdered King, they with no less impudence, when dead, were pompously buried in Henry the Seventh's Chappel, the burying-place of Kings of England.

The Parliament therefore ordered their Bones and stinking Carcasses to be raised and buried un­der Tyburn; and in this posthumous disgrace being dragg'd through the City, they had a Gibbet-inter­ment.

I think it will not be amiss to give the Reader an account of the Original of the last named Tray­tors, so famed for enormous Villanies; which here I shall once for all subjoyn.

Ireton of a mean Extraction, Ireton 's Cha­racter. was Cromwel's Son-in-law, and the Confident and Counsellor of all his secret Villanies; who, though to all others he was most hidden and reserved, yet to this man he opened his heart; as he on the other hand was [Page 58] reported not onely to have kept his Counsels, but also to have advised him to act many of his worst Villanies. He was esteemed the best Orator of all the Colonels, and had a canting kind of preach­ing Rhetorick, more copious than eloquent.

Of Pride. Pride descended of unknown Parents, and was Dray-man to a Brewer; but within a short time, the affairs of England being in confusion, the rough-hewn Clown was dignified and made proud by the Title and Authority of a Colonel: nor is it certain whether he was the greater Knave or Fool.

And Bradshaw Bradshaw was of the fatal High Court of Justice, the more fatal President, a Lawyer of no account at the Bar, till being bribed by money, he got himself a name by a most execrable Villany. The Scarlet­robed Brauler, and hardly more innocent than Pi­late, surpassed the wickedness of all the rest of the Kings Murderers, by his boldness in condemning an innocent Prince, and adding malicious scoffs to the impudence of the Fact, without any Reverence to Captive Majesty.

The Original of Cromwel. Cromwel indeed came of a better Race, but which he himself for ever disgraced. The ancient dig­nity of his Family by the name of Williams, chan­ged afterward by his Ancestors, in the time of Henry the Eighth, to that of Cromwel, had its origi­nal from a Blacksmith.

And his Man­ners. Catalin luxu­ria primum, hinc conflata egestas, in ne­faria concilia opprimendae Patriae com­pulêre. Flor. l. 4.His Youth was loose, infamous and debauched; but having run out his Estate, and from a prodigal Rogue turning Puritan, and then Fanatick, like a­nother Cataline, incited by Beggary, he ventured upon the overthrow of the State.

Bearing a mind above a private condition, he still appeared as a private person, and had the art to set himself off undiscerned: He had a wonder­ful dexterity amongst the Fanatick Rout, (in [Page 59] whose opprobrious friendship he chiefly delighted) of winning upon the minds of the Rebels, shaking his bald pate, and smiling with a deceitful Coun­tenance; he was by Nature and Art excellently disposed for alluring the affections of the Dissen­ters; nor do I know whether amongst mortal men there was even a cunniner Artist in pretended Piety, a wickeder or more crafty man, and bolder in at­tempting any Villany.

But by what deceitful grinning Arts having o­verturned the Parliament, and murdered the King, he raised himself to Supreme Power; many great Wits and able Pens have already described: Much he did in War, but more by Perfidiousness, Hypo­crisie, Perjury, and Falshood.

More cruel he was than the ancient Tyrants, whose Manners and Examples he imitated: with Tiberius he was subtile and suspicacious, He had a crafty disposition with a jealous head, Tacit. Annab. l. 1. p. 4. and delighted in none of his Virtues so much as in Dissimulation; more easily concealing Hatred than Fear. Nero he acted in the slaughter of his best Country-men, nor was he unlike him in driving a Coach. His Counte­nance carried the bloudy complexion of Domitian, In vitâ Agri­colae. and a redness that fortified him against Blushing.

But that he might not onely appear famous through Crimes and Villanies, by intervals he made a shew of some great actions; not from a principle of Goodness, but Ambition; nor out of love to Virtue, but Vanity, and future Glory. This alone was wanting to his fortune and our slavery, that he had neither a Son nor Successour able to match him.

Pity it was that that bold Orator, Milton. or rather Bagpiper, was out of the way at the shameful Obse­quies of the Traytors, that the same hand which (reproaching all Kings in Latin) vindicated the [Page 60] Party, and justified in writing the Crimes of the Parricides, now might, though a surley lookt School-master, have either made a Funeral-Oration for the deceased, or sung their Praises in hanging Elegies; his Poetry surpassing his Oratory, especially when he treated of such monstrous subjects.

Strangers may perhaps wonder, and no less our Posterity at home, that such base and contemptible fellows, many of them Brewers, others who drank as they had brewed, and spent their Estates; and some again whose ignominious Poverty was a scan­dal to the Nation, should overturn the flourishing state of England, and get to the top of Authority and Government.

Would we know the cause of it? These were the Spoils, and these the Trophies of Heresie; which taking its rise from the Sermonizing Presbyterian Ministers, increased by the Independants, hurried on by the Kennel of all the Sectarians, and by a kind of flying Contagion spread over all the Forces, could not be stopt till they had shed the Royal Bloud, subverted the Parliament, and made one ruinous heap of all good Subjects.

Mary Princess of Orange came into England Sept. 23. She died at London. Dec. 24.Some time before, ( September the twenty third) the Princess of Orange was come into her Native Country, more fatal to her than a foreign Land, to congratulate his Majesties return; but falling sick of the Small Pox at London, on Christmas-Eve she died, being snatched away amidst the Triumphs and fresh Lawrels of her Brother Charles, she onely shared in the adverse fortune of her Family, and renewed the Mourning wherein the Court still was for the untimely death of the Duke of Gloucester.

1661.I shall begin the year with the Solemnities of the Coronation of King Charles. On the two and twentieth of May, The Solemni­ties of the K.'s Coronation. the King from the Tower of Lon­don, as the custom is at the Coronation of our Kings, [Page 61] passed through the City; where in honour of so great a Solemnity, the Citizens of London, in the more eminent places of the streets, erected four Triumphal Arches of a vast height and bigness; e­laborate Pieces of Art, and exquisite Engines of Pomp, bearing Inscriptions and Devices, and ador­ned with Painting and gilding.

The first Arch bore in its Frontispice the Tri­umph of Charles upon his return, Triumphal Arches. The First.

To CHARLES the II.

By the grace of G. K. of G. Brit.
To the Best and Greatest,
And ever most Venerable,
Ever most August;
The most Happy & most Pious,
Who was born for our Good,
Who of his Native Britain,
And of Mankind in general,
Has deserved most:
To the Father of our Country,
The Extinguisher of Tyranny,
The Restorer of our Liberty,
The Founder of our Quiet,
In memory of his happy
And long-desired Restitution,
We Willingly and Joyfully
Have placed this.
S. P. Q. L.

CAROLO II.

D. G. Britanniarum Imp.
Optim. Maxim.
Ʋbique Venerando,
Semper Aug.
Beatissimo, & Piissimo.
Bono Reip. Nato,
De Avitâ Britan.
De omnium Hominum genere
Meritissimo
P. P.
Extinctori Tyrannidis,
Restitutori Libertatis,
Fundatori Quietis,
Ob Faelicem Reditum,
Ex voto L. M.
P.
S. P. Q. L.

[Page 62]The second being a Naval, bore this Inscripti­on: The Second.

To the British Neptune,
CHARLES the II.
By whose Authority
The Sea
Is free or restrain'd.
NEPTƲNO Britannico,
CAROLO II.
Cujus Arbitrio
Mare
Vel Liberum, vel Clausum.

The Third.The third placed in the middle of the City, represented the Temple of Concord, with this In­scription.

The Temple of CONCORD,
Erected in honour of the best of Princes,
By whose return
The British Sea and Land being appeas'd, and
By its ancient Laws reform'd;
He has restored,
Enlarged and adorned it.
S. P. Q. L.
Aedem CONCORDIAE,
In Honorem Optimi Principis,
Cujus Adventu
Britannia Terrâ Marique Pacata,
Et
Priscis Legibus Reformata est,
Ampliorem Splendidiorem (que)
Restituit.
S. P. Q. L.

The Fourth.The last exhibited the Garden of Plenty and Cor­nucopia's with the Statues of Bac [...]bus, Ceres, Flora, and Pomana, with this Inscription:

To Plenty, and to Augustus.
The fire of Civil War
Being Extinguished,
And the Temple of War shut,
This Lofty Altar
Was built by the S. A. P. O. L.
ƲBERTATI Aug.
Extincto Belli Civilis Incendio,
Clausoque Jani Templo,
Aram Celsiss.
Construxit S. P. Q. L.

[Page 63]Under all these, the King rode on horse-back streight to his Palace in a triumphant manner with Trumpets, Musick, and the joyful Acclamations of the People, being attended by the Nobility, his Ma­jesties Ministers and Servants, the Heralds, Kings at Arms, the Kings Judges, and Knights of the Bath.

The solemnity of this day, The King crowned at Westminster. April 23. though it was not so great in the number of Attendents, yet in rich­ness and splendour of Cloaths and Arms, it sur­passed the triumphant Entry of the King upon his return.

Next morning the King was in great pomp con­ducted to Westminster-Abbey, where in his Imperial Robes, the Prelates in their Myters, and the Nobles in their Parliament-Robes, conducted him to his Throne, and the Archbishop of Canterbury anointed him with the sacred Oyl. Afterwards all the an­cient and usual Ceremonies upon such occasions were performed.

The Author of this History designing the utmost brevity, hath not mentioned any of these Ceremo­nies; but Mr. Philips in his Continuation of Dr. Richard Baker's Chronicle, has very exactly set forth all the Rituals then used, but hath o­mitted the Coronation-Oath, and onely given an Epitom of it; and there having of late years been strange Pretences raised upon the account of this Oath, it is thought fit to insert the same here, from Mr. Sanderson's History of Charles the First, with that variety of Circumstances which were used in the Coronation here mentioned, expressed by Mr. Philips.

Coronation-Oath.

SIR, (said the Bishop of London) will you grant and keep, and by your Oath con­firm to the People of England, the Laws and Customs to them granted by the Kings of England, your Lawful and Religious Prede­cessors; and namely, the Laws, Customs, and Franchises, granted to the Clergie by the Glo­rious King St. Edward your Predecessor, ac­cording to the Laws of God, the true Profession of the Gospel established in this Kingdom, a­greeable to the Prerogative of the Kings there­of, and the ancient Customs of the Realm?

The King's Answer, I grant and promise to keep them.

Bishop.

Sir, Will you keep Peace and goodly Agree­ment (according to your power) both to God, the holy Church, the Clergie, and the People?

King.

I will keep it.

Bishop.

Sir, Will you (to your power) cause Law, Justice, and Discretion, with Mercy and Truth, to be executed, to your Judgment?

King.

I will.

Bishop.

Sir, Will you grant to hold and keep the Laws and rightful Customs which the Common­alty of this Kingdom have; and will you defend and uphold them to the honour of God, so much as in you lieth?

King.

I grant and promise so to do.

[Page 65]Then the Bishop of Rochester read this Admoni­tion to the King, before the People with a loud voice.

Our Lord and King, we beseech you to par­don, and to grant and to preserve unto us, and to the Churches committed to your charge, all Canonical Priviledges, and do Law and Ju­stice, and that you would protect and defend us, as every good King to his Kingdoms ought to be Protector and Defender of the Bishops, and the Churches under their government?

The King answered,

With a willing and devout heart, I pro­mise and grant my Pardon, and that I will preserve and maintain to you, and the Chur­ches committed to your charge, all Canoni­cal Priviledges and due Law and Justice, and that I will be your Protector and Defender to my power by the assistance of God, as e­very good King in his Kingdom in right ought to protect and defend the Bishops and Churches under their government.

Then the King arose, and was led by the Bishops of Duresme and Bath and Wells, to the Com­munion-Table, where he made a solemn Oath in sight of all the People, to observe the Pre­mises; and laying his hand upon the Bible, said,

The OATH.

The things which I have here promised, I shall perform and keep: So help me God, and the Contents of this Book.

[Page 66]On the eighth of May a new Parliament met, which continued many years. A new Parl. May 8. The traiterous Solemn League and Covenant is condemned & burnt. Since, the year be­fore the Regicides had been brought to condign pu­nishment, the three Estates of Parliament, now con­demned to the flames, the Solemn League and Cove­nant, the Bond of the English and Scottish Conspira­cy, and Sacrament of the Presbyterian Villany. The same was done by the Parliament of Scotland and Ireland; and that which had raised a Civil Com­bustion, and propagated the same all over Britain and Ireland, is now burnt by the hand of the Hangman, and by its own ashes expiated at length the wickedness of three Nations.

The punishment of Mouson, Mildmay, and Wallop. Jan. 27. 1661, 62.This year was concluded, or the new begun, by the further punishment of Regicides: For by Or­der of Parliament, Mouson, an upstart Lord, Sir Henry Mildmay, heretofore Keeper of the Jewels to the late King, and therefore the more criminal, and Robert Wallop, on the seven and twentieth of January, the day whereon the blessed King had been condemned; were in Hurdles, with Halters about their necks, dragged to Tyburn and back a­gain to Town, being sentenced to perpetual im­prisonment.

It was sufficiently made out that they had been Members of that execrable High Court of Justice; but because they had not signed the Warrant for the Kings execution, they were onely punished by Bonds and Imprisonment.

Hazelrigg in the mean time, one of the bitterest of all the Traytors, being sentenced to the same pu­nishment, pined away with anger and grief, and unable to bare his disgrace, prevented the dishonour and his captivity by a timely death in the Tower of London.

The Traytors that came in:The same punishment was inflicted upon the Traytors who (as we said before) came in upon the [Page 67] Kings Proclamation: For being brought to the Bar, 1662. because waving all defence, Hard. Waller, [...]eveningham, Marten, Jam. Temple, Wayte, Tich­burn, Lilburn, Downs, Pen­ningt. Smith, Garland, Geo. Fleetwood, Roe, Millingt. Meyn, Peter Temple, Har­vey & Potter. they humbly acknow­ledged their Crime, and that they were a Crew, most part of them, of silly seduced Rascals, drawn in either by the arts or threatnings of Cromwel: they redeemed their necks from the Gallows, which they had so often deserved, by a perpetual impri­sonment; to which being closely confined, they lived to see their Villany punished by Infamy.

But fortune was more favourable to the Traytors that came in at home, than to those who fled a­broad: for about that time Sir George Downing being Embassadour in Holland, had intelligence that three of the Fugitive Regicides, Barkstead, Okey, Barkstead, Okey, and Corbet taken. and Corbet, being come back out of Germany, lurked in Delf. He therefore having obtained a Warrant from the States General, seized them, and sent them over to England; where being brought to a tryal, Were hanged at Tyburn. April 19. they were condemned for High-Treason, and April the nineteenth executed at Tyburn.

They went all to death with a fanatical ostenta­tion of Piety. But Barkstead and Corbet approach­ing to their end, after many ugly delays, and cups of Strong-waters, unwillingly put their trembling necks into the Halter, which quickly put an end to the Wretches, half dead already for fear. But Okey being a man of an undaunted mind, and ma­king use of his courage to the last, went off with the bravoury of a Souldier, and not undecently, had he so died for his Country.

Corbet was heretofore an inspired prating Law­yer, more skilful in the Principles of Fanaticks, Corbet 's Cha­racter. than in the Laws; he got to be a Member of that long and black Parliament, and no man was more pro­fessedly an implacable Enemy to the King.

The low extraction of Okey is buried in obscuri­ty. Being a Tallow-chandler in London, Okey 's. and [Page 68] weary of his poor condition, he followed the profi­table Wars of the Parliament; where his daring­ness advanced him to the place of a Colonel, and at length to be one of the chief Judges in trying and sentencing the King.

And Bark­stead 's. Barkstead was heretofore a whifling Gold­smith in London, and had raised himself upon the Ruines of his Country: But those who knew the cunning of Oliver in chusing his Magistrates, won­dered that he preferred so silly and idle a fellow, even to be a Colonel, and Lieutenant of the Tower of London, besides other Offices.

But that kind of stupid fierceness was more use­ful to Cromwel than the cunninger knavery of o­thers: for the Tyrant himself for the most part looked another way, and commanded the Villanies which he would not behold; so that this fellow, no doubt, was privy to the furious Councils of Cromwel, and a trusty Minister of his Protectoral Cruelty: And so long as he was chief Jaylor to Oliver, the barbarous Villain was never startled at the sight of the Murders and Imprisonments of so many Nobles and worthy Subjects. His head was set upon a Gate of the Tower, whereof heretofore he had been Governour, that upon the same Stage where he acted his greatest Crimes, he might suf­fer his greatest Punishment.

The vanity of the Regicides even to the last.The first Prodigy of the Regicides was their matchless impudence in putting to death the King; and their next, their obstinacy to the last. For when they had murdered the best of Kings, to the shame of Christianity, the infamy of the Re­formation, and the universal reproach and maledi­ction of Fanatick Zeal; these godly Regicides were ashamed, when Treason stuck in their breasts, to confess their hypocritical pretending Religion, even at the last gasp. Nay, their Godliness made them [Page 69] so impudent, as rather to know themselves guilty and deny it, to save their reputation amongst their Brethren, than humbly and modestly to acknow­ledge their Crimes.

The Authority of Parliament was the onely thing that all of them alleadged to justifie their Parri­cide, And the cause of it. as if a Gang of fifty Robbers (who had so often violated that Authority) had been worthy of that name, when there was neither the colour nor resemblance of a House of Commons left.

Nec color Imperii, nec frons fuit illa Senatûs.

But since they could live no longer to do mis­chief, their whole care was at their death to harden the minds of their Party by a fanatical assertation of dying good men: when it was rather the highest Judgment of an offended God, to let them fill up the Cup of their bold Indignities by a desperate end.

It was time now for the King, The K. Think [...] of Marriage. who was a Batche­lour, to think of Marriage, that he might leave a Po­sterity for the future security of his Kingdom; and therefore communicating his intentions to the Par­liament, he addressed himself to the most Illustrious Catharine Daughter of Portugal, descended from the ancient Race of the Family of Braganza; with the universal Applause and Congratulation of the E­states. And a Fleet was sent to Portugal to bring over the Royal Bride; who having had a favoura­ble passage to the English Coast, was by his Royal Highness the Duke of York met and saluted with Naval Solemnities at the Isle of Wight.

The King received his Bride at Portsmouth, and was with great Solemnity, in presence of many Nobles, there married, the Office of Matrimony ha­ving been performed by Gilbert Sheldon Bishop of London.

[Page 70]The King from thence conducted his Royal Con­sort to Whitehall, He marries Catharine at Portsmouth. May 22. where, after the reiterated festi­vity of the Royal Nuptials, the dutiful Comple­ments of the Great men, and the Presents of the Lord Mayor and chief Citizens of London, slighting the wanton Pleasures of a Court, by the innocence of her Manners, and an exemplary Piety of Life, she consecrated the trancient Delights of a Palace to the severer Sanctity of a Monastery. A Queen that wanted nothing to render her self and us happy, had she been as fruitful as good.

Sir Hen. Vane brought to try­al. June 2.On the second of June, the last of the Traytors Sir Henry Vane, after a two years imprisonment, is brought at length to the Bar: where, after he had defended himself by shifts, and strained querks of Law, rather than by any colourable Plea, he is found guilty of High-Treason.

The first advance he made in the career of his Villany, was in the death of the Earl of Strafford; afterwards being a great Incendiary in the Civil Wars, His Character. and equally ungrateful and perfidious to Charles the Martyr, he cherished and strengthened the Party of the Traytors: and though more cau­tiously than innocently, he was not present at the Condemnation of the King; yet after the Murder of Charles, he was very active in changing the Monarchy into a Commonwealth, and in abolishing for ever the Government of Kings.

But at length, when Cromwel got into the Su­preme Power, being ill-affected and envious against all Government by a single Person, he was negle­cted and laid aside: But when the Rump came a­gain into play, with the pretences of a Brutus or Cassius, he stept again to the Helm of Government, and was one of the Committee of Safety. He was, as to Religion, a man of an inconstant and unsetled mind, who professedly hating the name of a King, [Page 71] was treacherous to Charles the First, 1663. and envious to Charles the Second.

January the fourteenth, Beheaded. Jan. 14. 1662, 63. being brought to a Scaf­fold on Tower-hill, with a most affected shew of a composed and sedate mind, as the rest of the Tray­tors had already done, he insisted upon the Supreme Authority of Parliament, and spake much of the Presbyterian Covenant, the Engine of all our Evils, which heretofore when he was a far more refined Heretick, he had so often despised and laughed at.

And whilst he still persisted in asserting his own innocence, not without reproaching his Judges, Sir John Robinson Lieutenant of the Tower, wanting patience to hear any more, interrupted him. Being vexed at this, like a mad man, he tore the written Speech that he had in his hand, and though he had never shew'd great resolution amongst his Party, yet resolutely, or rather ragingly, he submitted to the blow of the Executioner; and fell a Sacrifice to the Ghost of the Great Strafford, and to the Subverted Monarchy.

But Lambert, who stood indicted with Vane, Lambert is condemned; had better luck, and behaved himself with so much modesty in his looks and words at his tryal, that though he suffered the Sentence of Death, as de­serving the utmost Rigour, But obtains Mercy from the King. The Duke of Ormond goes Lord Deputy into Ireland. July 9. yet he tasted the Kings Mercy, and ransomed his Life by a perpetual Im­prisonment.

About the middle of Summer the Duke of Or­mond went over to Ireland as Lord Deputy of that Kingdom; there to give as great instances of Civil Prudence, as heretofore he had erected Trophies of Military Glory during the Irish War.

The Parliament now sitting, The Ceremonies and Rites of the Church con­firmed by Parl. May 29. the Convocation of the Clergie sate also; and the Licentiousness of Fanatical Sects increasing, made the distressed [Page 72] Church look to the King and Parliament for relief: It was therefore enacted by the King in Parlia­ment, That the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper, and the publick Prayers and Liturgie of the Church, should be celebrated after the an­cient manner of the Reformed Church of England, the Fanaticks on all hands crying out against it, and refusing to conform.

The licentious­ness of Fana­ticks.For though they enjoyed Impunity with the re­wards of their Crimes, yet no gracious condescen­sions of the King could oblige them. The Cle­mency of the Prince was maliciously interpreted by the Sects, and the Power of this indulging Monarch was grievous to these Fanaticks. Nor had the King granted so much to Traytors, but that they still thought they might take to themselves more; and the brazen-faced Sectarists demand of the Son, the same liberty of Religion which had undone the Father.

And without any respect or reverence to Majesty and the Laws, frequent Conventicles of seditious men were kept: Meetings were to be found every­were in Towns and Villages, and the Insolence of the Rabble growing greater by the boldness of their Preachers and the Lenity of the King, there was nothing but a mustering of Parties, boasting of strength, and polling of heads amongst the Facti­ous; all which seemed to threaten imminent Dan­gers.

The attempt of Vennet the Cooper.The year before, the Fifth-monarchy-men under Venner, raised the first Stirs amongst the Preaching Rout; but their Fury, like the thundering Rage of Marius of old, Flor. was confined within the City, and there expired, the fiercest of the Traytors being killed up­on the spot, and others at length brought to the Gallows.

But this year a darker, and therefore more dan­gerous [Page 73] Conspiracy was hatched; the same being the cause of this, as of all other Plots, to wit, a loose and obstinate licentiousness in Religion.

Many of all Sects were concerned in it, several Officers of Cromwel's late disbanded Army, Mem­bers of the late Rump-Parliament, and many who were turned out of the Kings and Churches Lands, which they had heretofore sacrilegiously purchased. And a secret Committee at London had the dire­ction of all their Councils and Actings.

The chief designe of their Villany, was to kill the King and Duke of York, murder the Duke of Albe­marle, set fire to the City, seize the Tower of Lon­don, rifle the Exchequer; and through the Bowels of the Nation, drive on a new Fanatical Govern­ment.

In the mean time, Infamous Li­bels are found. to make way to the bold At­tempts of these Rascals, it was resolved, that im­pudent Libels should be scattered about; Twine the Printer hang'd Feb. 24. 1663, 64. but the Papers being seized at the Press, the Printer was hanged, and payed dear for his officious med­ling.

But the licentiousness and boldness of the Conven­ticlers growing greater and greater daily, the Parl. made an Act to put a stop to the seditiousness of the People, Conventicles forbidden by Act of Parl. commanding the doors of the Meeting-houses to be shut, or guarded by Souldiers, and im­posing upon Delinquents, for the first fault a Fine; for the second, Imprisonment; and for the third, Banishment: that punishment might at length re­strain those whom Clemency could not gain.

Nevertheless, a War with Holland breaking forth, and the Laws being silent amongst the noise of Arms, the domestick Calamity grew so strong, that the Authority of the Justices of the Peace not being able to prevail against the obstinacy of the Rabble, the evil catched like Wild-fire, and all future Re­medies [Page 74] seemed posthumous and unseasonable. 1664.

Complaints of the injuries of the Dutch.The great injuries done by the Dutch to the English Merchants, having for a long time past unrevenged, did now occasion great grievances, and complaining at London. Though there was no Nation upon Earth whom the Dutch desired more for Friends and less for Enemies than the English, who in the late War had proved themselves as formidable Enemies to the Hollanders, as heretofore they had been to their Enemies; yet they unjustly broke that Peace, which some years before they had dishonourably begg'd of the Rump and Cromwel, (as being necessary for their interest) by humble Addresses, sordid and base compliances of their Embassadours; and had since confirmed by a stricter League with King Charles the Second.

For to that pitch of Arrogance and Perfidy was that State of Fisher-men, and croud of crafty Mer­chants, who under the Title of a Commonwealth disliked all Monarchy, raised, that (besides the de­taining of the Island of Poloron, which they were obliged to deliver up by the Articles of Peace) they took a great many English Ships upon the Coast of India and Africa, What were the injuries of the Dutch. and making Prize of the Ships and Goods, made the Sea-men Prisoners, and added cruelty and scoffing to their Injustice.

They block up many Ports of the Indies which the English had long possessed with Men of War; and having unjustly intercepted the English Trade, they sold to other Nations at home, at the dear rates, the Commodities which they had for a small matter bought in the Indies.

They injure, Holmes, who was Admiral for the King upon the Coast of India and Africa, behaving himself mo­destly in his Commission, was by those Dutch Pi­rats, by Sea and Land, whom neither the East nor West could satisfie, contrary to the Law of Nations, [Page 75] often fired upon. At which, Holmes, a man of a daring temper, and unacquainted with affronts, And provoke Holmes. be­ing provoked, resolved to continue no longer on the defensive part, but to turn Aggressour; and therefore bringing his Guns ashore, and planting them on Batteries, he took some of the Dutch Gar­risons, and revenged the injuries he had recei­ved.

But with false Accusations they complain of Holmes, They falsly ac­cuse him. who had been so often and basely used by them, to the King, crying out against him as a Robber, and the causer of a War; as if by making a clamour first, they might ridiculously excuse their own Treachery.

These and many other Encroachments of the Dutch so incensed the Parliament, The Parl. is moved at the injuries of the Dutch, and address to the King. that they forth­with voted it necessary to revenge so many Injuries done to the Merchants, and a considerable supply of money to be given to the King, to carry on a War, which they judged safer than a doubtful and uncertain Peace.

Though the King was highly offended to hear of the Injuries done to his Subjects, and concerned in honour to right them; yet he resolved to try o­ther ways of adjusting matters, before he came to force of Arms; having therefore dispatched Let­ters to Sir George Downing, The King de­mands Repa­ration by his Embassadour; his Embassadour at the Hague, he demands a speedy reparation of the In­juries done to his Subjects from the States. But though the Kings demands were just and lawful, But in vain. yet it was in vain to represent the Rapines of Dutch Merchants to trafficking States, since they who were in Authority, and should have punished these Abuses, reaped the profit of them.

But amongst these Clashings about Injuries, a new cause of quarrel, not heard of till then, hap­pened, through the treachery of the Dutch. For [Page 76] the year before, the States General having been op­pressed by the frequent Piracies of the Algerines, by Embassadours made earnest application to the King, that joyning his Fleet with theirs, he would help to revenge the Injuries of these Infidels: Nor was the King wanting to contribute to the safety of his Subjects, and of all Christendom; but sent Vice-Admiral Lawson, an expert Sea-Commander, with a well-appointed Fleet, to joyn and assist the Fleet commanded by de Ruyter.

But whilst Lawson was wholly taken up in fight­ing and pursuing the Pirats Ships (of which he had sunk and burnt many) upon the Coast of Barbary, De Ruyter gave him the slip, De Ruyter 's action at Guiny. and by orders from the States directed his course to Guiny; where falling upon the English who were secure, and nei­ther expected nor deserved any such thing, he committed no less Robberies upon us, than he pre­tended to revenge on the Algerines, but with far greater treachery.

The news of so base an action being freshly brought to London, so incensed all People, that the King highly offended, commanded all Dutch Ships in the Ports of England to be stopt, and all further Treaties of Pacification being laid aside, both sides prepare for a War.

The contume­lious sauciness of the Dutch.But during the preludes of the approaching War, the Dutch, a more contumelious than formidable Enemy, inflamed the rage and hatred of the En­glish by scurrilous Libels, Medals, and many base and satyrical Pictures, according to the innate insolency and barbarous vanity of that People.

De Wit the Dutch Dicta­tor. Holland more powerful both in Wealth and Cunning, led the rest of the Ʋnited Provinces by the nose; and Dewit Holland, a man of a crafty and subtle Wit, malicious Eloquence, and of more re­putation for cunning Policy than Honesty. The [Page 77] greatness of the Family of the Prince of Orange, and the vast power of the King of Great Britain by Sea, stood in the way of the Artifices of this arro­gant man, and of his own Holland.

To ruine therefore the Prince and Family of Nassau, he raised secret jealousies against him; His Character and Arts. and by lessening the authority of Orange with the States, he alone managed all affairs, and under colour of standing up for the liberty of the Commonwealth, ruled absolutely at his pleasure; and so confident of himself grew this Butter-box, that having trode upon the Dignity of the Prince at home, he thought that by turns he might make fools of all the Kings of Europe. He hated the King of Great Britain the more, because he feared him; and since, through si­militude of Manners, he had been a great friend to the Traytor Cromwel, he was therefore the more implacable Enemy to King Charles. Certainly, next to the insatiable Avarice of the Dutch Nation, all the hatred of that People to the English, is to be attributed to Dewit and his Faction.

To so great an Arrogance were the Dutch raised, The confidence of the Dutch, and why. that it was given out amongst the People, That the affairs of England were not in such a posture, that the Civil War of England being just ended, they had mo­ney enough still to make War abroad; nor that the King was, as yet, so well seated in the Government, that he could revenge the Injuries of the Dutch: that it was not safe for him to trust Arms in the hands of his Subjects, which afterwards they might be unwil­ling to lay down.

That the English were not now the same Enemies as the Dutch had found them to be under the Rump-Par­liament; that the warlike fierceness of that Nation was gone with the Sectarians, and that there remained a­mongst them none but a company of silly Cowards: That there were a great many Fanaticks in England, [Page 78] who perhaps would fight for the Dutch against the King, or at least would not fight for him against those who were for liberty of Conscience. Nor was there wanting a great many of our fugitive Traytors a­mongst the Dutch, who made these false reports to be believed.

The bloudy War which broke out the year fol­lowing, was ushered in by the taking of Ships on both sides; Alan's action. and Alan with a Fleet of English Ships, for securing the Merchant-men, and anoy­ing the Dutch in the Mediterranean, fell upon the Dutch Smirna-Fleet in the Streights upon their re­turn homewards; and having killed them many men, sunk some Ships, Brakell the Admiral of the Fleet being slain; he took and brought off four of the Enemies Ships, which was the first booty and glad Omen of the War; but one of them richly la­den, being much shattered and leaky, foundered in the greedy Sea.

The K. visits the Colledge of Physicians of London. April 15. 1665.Nor was the King so wholly taken up with the thoughts of the approaching War, but that he also minded other affairs, and his innocent diversions; he therefore on the fifteenth of April visited the famous Colledge of Physicians of London, and was received very honourably by the Doctors.

There he saw the Marble Statue of Harvey the chief Pilot of the Blouds Circulation; and heard the President Ent, with equal Eloquence and Art, reading upon the mysteries of Anatomy, whom there he knighted: There he saw the chief Physi­cian Bates, renowned in the skill of Physick and of Latine; and Fraser his chief Physician since; and Glisson, excellent in Medicine and Philosophy; and successful Micklethwait; and much-esteemed Cox; and Scarborough, accomplished in all Natural Philo­phy, and no less famous amongst the Muses; with Wharton the Secretary of the Glandules; and acute [Page 79] Merret: 1665. besides many others eminent in the Art of Curing; to whom at length were associated, Willis the great Restorer of Medicine, but of too short a life, with Lower and Needham, who have illustrated the Faculty by their Writings.

And now was the Royal Fleet ready to set sail, The Royal Fleet ready to put to Sea a­bout the end of April. The chief Com­manders, divided into three Squadrons, the first commanded by the Duke of York Lord High Admiral of Eng­land; the second, by the most Illustrious Prince Rupert; and the third, by the Earl of Sandwich, famous in Expeditions at Sea.

The other Flag-Officers of the Fleet were Law­son and Alan, And Flag-Officers. lately returned from the Mediterra­nean; Jordan, Spragg, Smith, Meens, and Tiddi­man, all famous Sea-Commanders.

Many persons of great Quality went Volunteers to Sea; Volunteers. and though they had no command in the Fleet, yet they thought it honourable in so just a War to try their fortune with the Duke of York.

The Fleet consisted of about an hundred Men of War, The number of Ships and men in the Royal Fleet. They set sai [...] April 22. having on board to the number of about thir­ty thousand Sea-men and Souldiers; and on the two and twentieth of April weighed, and with joyful Huzza's, full Sails, and flying Streamers, sailed over to the Coast of Holland, and came to an Anchor before the Texel; the Enemy in the mean while, for all their bragging, not daring to come out.

His Royal Highness in the mean time, The Royal Fleet blocks up the Coast: in the Roy­al Fleet, rode Master of the Seas; and many Dutch Ships returning home in sight of the Shore, fell into the hands of the English, as Booties cast into their way by Providence.

But his Royal Highness, And the Ene­my delaying to come out, re­turns back to the English Coast. more desirous of Fighting than Prey, after he had expected almost a month the coming out of the Enemy upon their own Coast, Victuals and Provisions growing scarce, came [Page 80] back again to the English Coast, giving them op­portunity, if they had a mind to fight, to come out.

The Dutch Fleet comes out.But now the Commanders of the Dutch Fleet, moved with the disgrace of being blocked up, but more at the Reproaches and Execrations of the people, use all diligence to bring out their Ships.

The number & Commanders of it.The Fleet of the States General consisted of above an hundred sail of Men of War, in seven divisions, which were commanded by Opdam, Trump, Car­tener, Schramp, Stillingwolfe, Cornelius and John E­vertsons; Opdam in the mean time being Admiral. But as the Dutch stood out to Sea, a Fleet of En­glish Merchant-men coming from Hamborough, They take the English Ham­borough Fleet. in the dark of the night, by mistake, fell in amongst the Enemies: nor were they sensible of their Cap­tivity, till it was too late to flie for it; and so they payed dear for their unhappy and prohibited Voy­age.

The taking of the English Merchant-men was to the Enemies so joyful a presage of a future Engage­ment, that directing their course towards England, they resolved not to expect the coming of the En­glish; but, not doubting of success, to attack them in their own Coast. His Royal Highness in the mean time was at Anchor with his Fleet near Har­wich; where so soon as he was advertised by his Scouts that the Enemy approached, rejoycing at the long wished-for occasion of an Engagement, on the first of June, setting his Fleet in order with all the expedition he could, he steers directly against the Dutch.

Next day he came in sight of the Enemies Fleet: by night they were got near to one another; and on the third of June, with the day, the Fight be­gan. A Sea-fight, June 3.

The Fleet being drawn up, undaunted Prince [Page 81] Rupert was in the Van; in the Body of the Fleet was the Duke of York; and the Earl of Sandwich in the Rear, an expert Commander at Sea; the Ene­mies Fleet being in order to engage them.

The first shot that was fired, was from Prince Ru­pert's Squadron: And both Fleets, as yet, fought with their great Guns at a distance. The English had the wind; which the Dutch on the other hand strove to gain, it being westerly: but whilst both Fleets strive for the wind, the order of the Ships engaged changing, the middle of the English Fleet came up with the front of the Enemies; and Law­son, who commanded the next Ship to the Admi­ral, bearing in amongst their Fleet, they came by a closer engagement to try the fate of both Na­tions.

By and by the Admirals of both Fleets by chance engaged together. There was great slaughter on both sides, and it was a bloudy Victory to his Royal Highness: for whether by carelesness or our shot, fire got into the Powder-Room, Opdam's ship blown up. and presently blew up Opdam's Ship. He flying up into the Air, pre­vented a shameful flight with his Fleet; and fal­ling again into the Sea,

—Animam morti non redidit uni.

Resigned his life to several deaths.

The loss of the Admiral was attended with the overthrow of his Fleet; and the English redoubling their courage, bore in more furiously amongst the Enemies. But the Dutch Fleet wanted both strength and courage to continue the Engagement longer, The Dutch put to flight. and with full sail run for it. Now it was no more an Engagement, but a Pursuit, accompanied with slaughter, and the usual calamities of Fugitives: [Page 82] for four of the Enemies Ships, in the haste and consternation of the flight, falling foul of one ano­ther, Dutch Ships burnt. were by an English Fire-ship burnt all toge­ther. Three more of their Ships being afterward in the same manner pestered together, were by the next Fire-ship likewise set on fire and burnt.

Then were many of the Dutch Ships taken, and more sunk; nor was there any end of destroying and pursuing, till it was dark night. The Pursuit continued next day with the same vigour, and the Dutch fled with the less shame, that they had the Duke of York to follow them.

This was a famous Victory, nothing short of the ancient Atchievements of the English; five thou­sand of the Enemies being killed or taken, The Comman­ders of the Dutch Fleet killed. and Op­dam, Cartener, Stillingwolfe, and Stamp, the chief Commanders of the Dutch Fleet, dying in the En­gagement.

There were about eighteen Ships burnt, sunk, and taken. Many of the Enemies swimming in the Sea after the Ships were burnt or sunk, his Royal Highness, who is merciful in his anger, caused them to be taken up, having for that purpose or­dered out Boats. For why should they die, who hardly deserved to live?

Volunteers kil­led in the En­glish F [...]eet.It was a greater than joyful Victory to the En­glish, the flower of the Honorary Volunteers being slain: Just by the Duke fell the Earls of Portland and Fulmouth, the Lord Mufcarrey, and a Warlike Youth the Son of the Earl of Burlington, who joy­fully sacrificed their lives to the Honour of their Country, and to that Victory wherein they had the Duke of York for a Witness of their Valour, and a Bewailer of their Destiny. The valiant Earl of Malborough, and Rear-Admiral Sanson, died also in the Bed of Honour. Lawson dies. Lawson being wounded in the thigh, six weeks after died with Honour and Re­putation: [Page 83] And though being in a dying condition, he could not make use of the Triumphant Victory to which he had largely contributed, yet he tasted of the pleasure of it. There were not many killed nor slain, and onely one Ship lost. And thus his Royal Highness brought home the Royal Fleet load­ed with Triumph and the Spoils of Victory.

And whilst the States of the Ʋnited Provinces were taken up in punishing the cowardise of Comman­ders, King Charles in the mean time conferred Ho­nours upon his deserving Officers; and knighted Alan, Smith, Jordan, Meens, Tiddeman, and Spragg, for their brave and good services.

The Dutch Fleet, in the mean time fighting ill, De Ruyter is abroad at Pi­racy. having been soundly-beaten, De Ruyter in his Pira­cies abroad had somewhat better fortune. After the action at Guiny he attempted other English I­slands in America. From Barbadoes, Attempts Bar­badoes. April 20. an Island well fortified and defended, he was repulsed with dis­grace. From thence sailing to New-found-land, and having easily mastered it, he made prize of all he found there; Spoils New-found-land. and having cruelly used the Inhabi­tants, plundered them of all, and wasted the Island, he returned home. Upon his return he was imme­diately from a Pirat advanced to be Admiral, Is made Ad­miral. being the onely person judged worthy to succeed Opdam in the command of the Navy.

But for this year the Dutch were sufficiently cowed, as no more to fight the Victorious English by Sea. Wherefore the Duke of York, who liked better to overcome than to spoil his Enemies, seeing there was no hopes of any farther Engagement, spent the remaining part of the year on shoar.

But Sandwich being made Admiral of the Royal Fleet, set sail again towards the Coast of Holland, The Earl of Sandwich braves the Dutch. and offered, though in vain, a second Engagement; but the Enemy could not be overcome, till they were found.

[Page 84]The States in the mean time, after their Fleet of War was disabled and beaten off of the Sea, were in no small fear and apprehension for their East India Fleet, which was upon the way homeward richly laden; nor was the eagerness of the English less, to catch the Booty: But that Fleet having intelligence that Holland was blockt up by the En­glish, and thinking it safer to shelter themselves in another Dominion, put into Bergen, a famous Har­bour in Norway.

The Royal Fleet attacks the Dutch East India Fleet in Bergen.Part of the Royal Navy hastened thither; and sending five Frigats into the Harbour, they attacked the Dutch Ships that lay secure under the protecti­on of the Castle and shore; nor did it seem diffi­cult to have taken them, had not the English, con­trary to expectation, found another Army to deal with, the Danes firing upon them from the Ca­stle. The English, greedy of the Prey, were a little too rash in running themselves into the danger of a double Enemy; but their Valour made amends for their boldness.

A sharp Dispute continued for almost six hours, to the vast damage of the Goods on board the shat­tered and torn Ships; and to no small loss on our side, especially from the Castle: but at length, af­ter a proof of great but unseasonable courage, to prevent greater loss and slaughter, the Fleet retrea­ [...]ed: and seeing they could not enjoy the spoils of the Enemy, they had the satisfaction to embezile and sink them, as if they had got, when the Enemy lost.

A Plague breaks out in London.But amidst the Triumphs of War, the Joys of the Victorious English were short and interrupted: for this was a doleful year, through the breaking out of a raging Plague, not occasioned by an influx of the Stars, nor the French Pox degenerating into a Contagion, as some idle men dreamt; but as it [Page 85] was more credibly reported, by the infected Goods that were brought from Holland into England: so that when the Dutch Arms could not beat us, their Contagion overcame us.

After it had by the space of almost one whole year, And then ra­ges over Eng­land. raged in London, and swept away infinite numbers of people, it spread over many other and far di­stant Cities and Towns of England. Nor could the Contagion be stopt by any humane arts or skill of Physicians, before it had carried away above two hundred thousand Souls within less than two years time; neither were the days and nights long enough for the dying to expire in, nor Church-yards big enough to contain the bodies of the dead, though they were heaped together into Graves.

The King and Court leaving the desolate City, The K. went to Oxford. removed to Oxford, as yet clear from infection, and seated in a wholsome Air: thither also went the Judges and Courts of Justice.

The Nobility, Gentry, and rich Citizens, in the mean time, avoiding all confluence of people, lurked everywhere in Country-houses and Villages. The onely persons of great Quality that stayed in London, were the Duke of Albemarle and Earl of Craven; which was both a comfort and safety to the City, in so great a Desolation and Mortality of the Citizens.

The Plague at length ceasing in London, The K. return­ed to London. Feb. 1. 1665, 66. the ear­nest desires of the Citizens invited back the King, who on the first of February returned from Oxford to London; where the Bonfires during the night, expressed the hearty Joys of the People, glad to see their Prince, and that he saw the City now again in health.

Neighbouring Nations as yet looked at a di­stance upon the bloudy War betwixt the English and Dutch. But Louis the French King, powerful [Page 86] in men and money, after he had for some time stood neutral, thought and hoped that the Dutch and we having mutually weakened and tired our selves out in War, he might have a fair opportuni­ty to raise his power at Sea, though the genius of that Nation seems not to be cut out for that pro­fession.

War proclaim­ed in London against the French. Feb. 10.He therefore smoothed up the Dutch with pro­mises of assisting them with his Fleet, being wil­ling that they should have the dominion over the Seas, whom he intended to conquer by Land; and thereupon declared War against the English, which was reciprocally proclaimed in London against the French. In the same condition we stood with Denmark, that the triumphs of Charles might be the larger.

Now besides the Dutch (our Rivals at Sea) the English Valour alone, as yet unshaken, resisted the threatning French and Denmark then alied with Holland, as was equal to them all.

The affairs of England never succeeded better at Sea, than under the auspicious conduct of his Roy­al Highness James Duke of York, who always pre­fered the welfare of his Country before his own life; yet he was dearer to the King and Kingdom, being the second hopes of Britain, than that his Princely person, born to the highest Honours, should be any more exposed to so mean and base an Enemy.

1666.Therefore in the year one thousand six hundred and sixty six, Prince Rupert and the D. of Albemarle, Commanders of the Fleet. The Prince is sent against the French Fleet. May 29. Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albe­marle were pitched upon for the command of the Royal Navy; who going on board equal in Power and Concord, they put to Sea with a Fleet well ap­pointed for War: but presently after, Prince Ru­pert, by Letters from the Privy-Council, has orders sent him in all haste, with twenty good Frigats of [Page 87] the Fleet, and others lying at Portsmouth, to stand over for the Coast of France, and hinder the French Fleet from joyning the Dutch.

I would to God it had not been judged of such an importance to make so great an effort to hinder the coming up of an Enemy, who would not have much injured us, nor assisted their Friends; nor was there any thing to be feared from the French Fleet, after the late overthrow of the Dutch.

But they laying hold of the opportunity of the English Fleet being divided, In the mean time the Dutch Fleet offers Al­bemarle an Engagement: and never fighting but by wiles, and upon the advantage of number, with fourscore and five Men of War, attack the Royal Navy, now much diminished in number. With Albemarle there were not above fifty Frigats; but he being a General without fear, unacquainted with flight, and judging nothing too hard for his fortune, despised the Enemy, which so far surpassed him, as if they had been inferiour to him in number, so confident a thing is Courage; And they fight. June 1. and preferring Glo­ry before Safety, on the first of June, the day being pretty far advanced, he drew up his Fleet and bravely engaged the Dutch. Here number strove with Valour; but the Sea being rough, the English could not then use their lower tire of Guns, which never failed to shatter and tear their Enemies.

Albemarle did great actions in this Engagement, and everywhere behaved himself bravely, being fear­less amidst the thickest dangers, and bold to admi­ration; for bearing down with his own Ship upon the Enemies main Fleet, he broke quite through them, furiously firing on both sides, till at length having given and received great loss, and being dis­abled in his Masts, Sails and Rigging, he bore off. Part of the Royal Fleet defended the Duke, whilst he refitted his Ship; and the rest continued obsti­nate in the Engagement, till they were parted by the night.

[Page 88]In this Engagement four Dutch Ships were burnt, and a Vice-Admiral and another of a less value, sunk. And the Dutch took three English Ships, who being separated from the rest of the Fleet, were engaged at a distance.

The Royal Fleet in the mean time suffered most in their Rigging and Tackle; but all things by the diligence of the Sea-men being repaired in the night-time, next morning, the second of June, Al­bemarle having called the Commanders to a Coun­cil of War on board his own Ship, spake to them to this purpose: ‘ HAd we been afraid of the double number of the Enemy, we should have ran for it yesterday; but though we be inferiour to them in Ships, in all things else we have the better on't. Number made the Dutch bold, and Courage us; let us reflect upon that Fortune, upon that Valour which heretofore the Dutch have felt to their woful experience; we have the same Enemy to deal with, whom we have so often beaten, and made it our custom so often to overcome. Let our Adversaries find to day, that though our Fleet be divided, our Courage is entire; and when we consider our own Glory and ancient Renown, how much more honourable will it be to die not unrevenged upon the Seas, than to be carried Prisoners in our own Ships, as a Spectacle of Triumph to the Dutch? It is less dis­grace to be overcome than to flie; and Death is to be preferred before Fear.’

The Fight is renewed. June 2.The Fleet thus encouraged, equally despising their own safety, and their too numerous Enemy, and being eager to retrieve their Honour, all desire an Engagement; and Albemarle, confident in his own Valour, and in the eagerness of his Souldiers, declined not the Fight; so that both Fleets fell to it afresh, and engaged Pell-mell.

[Page 89]The English, whose courage is redoubled by dan­ger, put the Enemy hard to it, though they had had a fresh supply of Ships, Men, and Ammunition from Holland. The Royal Fleet being incompassed by so many Dutch Ships, had nothing else to trust to but to fight stoutly, and make way for them­selves in the best manner they could, till at length many of the English Ships, being disabled in their Sails and Rigging, stood away, and left the rest to deal with and maul the Enemy. The Dutch sunk one Ship of the Royal Fleet, and we our selves de­stroyed another that could not be brought off. The Dutch in the mean time had but one Vice-Admiral Ship burnt; and in this days Engagement with so numerous an Enemy, it was a harder thing for us to keep our selves from being beaten, than it was many times heretofore to have overcome them.

But after that with more than humane force and courage they had asserted their own Honour and the Glory of Britain, The Royal Fleet thinks of retreating. June 3. lest they might make that Engagement which the resolution of the English had rendred famous, by an inconsiderate boldness, to be thought rash; it was next day resolved in a Council of War, to send off first the disabled Ships, draw up the rest that were in a condition of fight­ing, which were not above sixteen, to make head against the Enemy, and so to make the safest retreat with the Fleet they could.

Ashamed they were, and no less encouraged at the disgrace, that they who were used to command the Seas, should now decline the Enemy whom they had so often pursued; And Albemarle stood on the Quarter-deck, flying with threatning looks, and terrible to the Enemy in his very retreat: the boldest of whom that durst approach him, with his Stern-Guns he either beat off or sunk; nor did o­ver-powered [Page 90] Valour give o're: and they who fled, had m [...]re courage to flight than those that pur­sued.

But now Fortune seemed to repent that she had not seconded the Valour of the English Nation. For during this sharp Engagement, the noise of the Guns had reached the ears of Prince Rupert, who at a great distance was in search of the French Fleet, though in vain; he therefore tacking about, made all the sail he could to come into the assistance of his Friends, inflamed with the desire of fighting. The sight of his Ships was as joyful to our men, as formidable to the Enemy.

Prince Rupert opportunely re­joyns the Fleet.But Albemarl's Fleet had the ill fortune to take the nearest course to joyn the Prince, who was so luckily come: For the unskilful Pilates hastening too rashly, steered upon Shelves and Banks, where many struck; but though the rest got off again, yet the Prince, a Man of War that deserved better fate, commanded by Sir George Askeugh, being so far got on as they could not bring her off, was burnt by the Enemy; and Askeugh being taken, was af­terward carried in triumph into Holland.

The Royal Fleet being now rejoyned, on the fourth of June give chace to the Dutch, daring them to another Engagement. Hopes of Victory incited the Prince and Albemarle to revenge; but which of the two had greatest Courage, it is hard to determine. The Fight is again renewed June 4. And now a fourth time they fall to it, in as memorable and fierce an Engagement, as perhaps ever happened upon the Ocean; though after three days fighting, they now contended with greater fury than force.

The Prince with his fresh and entire Squadron had the Van, carrying in his looks the resoluti­on of his mind: Albemarle followed after, spurred on with new desires, from the supplies of others, [Page 91] having received fresh Vigour to himself; but the Enemies Fleet kept at a distance, not daring to come to a close Engagement; until Prince Rupert, desirous to make an end of the matter, with his u­sual undaunted Courage, fell in amongst the thick of the Dutch, and sunk and put to flight many of them; and had not Albemarl's own Ship been extream­ly disabled in the former Engagements, and had not an unlucky shot of the last of the Enemies Ships, towards the evening brought the Mast of Prince Rupert's Ship by the board, and so hindred the pur­suit, The Dutch Fleet flies. They had been able to have given a far better account of the Dutch in this days Engagement, who now strove who could run fastest. But the Dutch found by this days experience, that the English, e­qual or unequal in force, were invincible, and that they must submit to the fortune of Charles.

The Enemy being now everywhere put to flight, The Royal Fleet puts into Harbour. June 6. the Royal Fleet seemed the more joyful that they had conquered the greater dangers, and so stood over to their own Coast, and put into Harbour to have their Ships refitted, which was done with all diligence.

In the mean time the Dutch gave it out, that they had got the Victory, because they came off so well; and after that they had celebrated a Mock-triumph over the English at home, with a more ridiculous silliness, they bragg'd of their Victory a­broad, to the scorn and derision of Foreign Na­tions.

And having speedily patched up a Fleet, The Dutch dare the Royal Fleet. they come in sight of Harwich, and dared the English up­on their own Coast; but with no designe of fight­ing, as appeared afterward, The Royal Fleet sets out to engage them July 17. but onely out of a Dutch vanity, and a false perswasion of a Victo­ry: for so soon as upon the seventeenth of July the Royal Fleet had put out to Sea again, the Enemy [Page 92] bore off, trusting more to their Banks, than their Courage.

And engages the Dutch. July 25.On the twenty fifth of July, Prince Rupert and Albemarle engaged the Dutch on their own Coast; nor did they decline the Engagement, not out of confidence, but being compelled to be bold, and trusting to the neighbourhood of the shore, and the nature of the Coast.

There was a hot Dispute on both sides for al­most four hours; but the Dutch suffering more in their reputation than in other losses, tacked about, and made all the sail they could to be gone, the re­port being, The Dutch flie. that de Ruyter's Ship gave them the ex­ample of flying. The Royal Fleet pursued after with continual thundring of Guns, until the Ene­mies having got behind their Banks, the English were in greater danger from the Banks and Shelves of their Coast, than from the flying Enemy.

A Squadron of Ships, under the command of Trump, stood it out still, and was attacked by a part of the Royal Fleet that was in the rear; but after a bloudy Engagement, they were forced in the night-time to follow the fortune of the rest, and shift for themselves upon the Coast of Zealand.

Jordan sunk de Ruyter's Fire-ship; and in the Fight were taken Banker the Vice-Admirals Ship, and the stoutest Ship of Harlem, both which were burnt by the English, who were more intent upon the Battel than the Booty. Everts Admiral of the Zealand-Squadron, Tirich Hides of the Friesland, Vice-Admiral Conder, and six Captains of Ships were killed. The English lost onely one Ship, com­manded by Captain Hannam, which after the Sea­men had escaped, was burnt by the Dutch.

The Royal Fleet was more troubled at this base flight of the Dutch, than they were at the dangers of the former Engagement; and they were vexed [Page 93] that the cowardly running of the Enemy should have cut them short of a more triumphant Victo­ry. But the Dutch always preferred a whole skin, though with a dishonourable flight, before Honour with danger.

Now did the Royal Fleet again block up the Dutch Coast, that they might keep the Seas, The Royal Fleet blocks up Holland. and make them ashamed of their overthrow; who now being so often beaten, were forced in their skulking holes, to acknowledge the prowess of the English; and seeing no Enemy appeared, the Merchant-ships that were daily taken, suffered what the Fleet bet­ter deserved.

But the English were unwilling to be idle upon the Dutch Coast, and therefore Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle ordered out Sir Robert Holmes, a man of great undertaking, to the Ʋly; Holmes sails to the Uly; who sailing thither, and having left a guard of Ships at the entry into the Harbour, he took with him five Fire-ships, and one Frigat, besides Pinnaces and Boats manned with Souldiers and Sea-men, and boldly entring in, he burnt all the Ships in the Harbour to the number of one hundred and fifty Sail, many of them East India Ships laden. And there burn 150 ships. The Town of Schilling was afterwards taken and burnt, and the Plunder given to the Souldiers. And Holmes having shared the glory and danger with his men, came safe off, leaving behind him a bla­zing Bonfire of Ships, and an amazement amongst the Enemies.

The Enemy having now wholly abandoned the Sea, the Prince and Albemarle steered their course back again to England, leaving the terrour of their Names behind them.

After a tryal of Fortune both ways, The Dutch Fleet sails for France. Aug. 16. the Dutch prevailing neither with equal nor greater force, they apply themselves to the French for the assistance so [Page 94] often promised and so often delayed, and turning their sails and desires towards France, they endea­voured in another Country to raise up an Enemy to the King of Great Britain.

Upon the news of the Enemies being out again at Sea, the Royal Fleet presently set sail from England, and beyond Calis blockt up the Dutch on the French Coast; but a strong East Wind blowing, and the Sea being very tempestuous it was not safe for the English to keep out longer at Sea. They therefore bear away to St. Helens Point, a very fit place to intercept the French Fleet, that then was at the Rochell.

The Fire of London. Sept. 2.But so many fortunate successes over conquered Enemies abroad, were quashed by a sudden and most dismal Calamity at home; as if the beams of our shining Fortune were always to be intermixed and set off by Adversities: For on the second of September, a Lamentable Fire broke out in London; a sad Judgment of an offended God against Eng­land. The Fire began in a Bakers house in the lower part of the City near Thames-street, amongst old rotten houses apt to catch fire, and full of com­bustible Goods. The darkness of the night putting all things into terrour and confusion, increased the horrour of the Calamity. The Citizens being frightened, delayed the use of timely Remedies; and which was no small accession to the Evil, the people neglecting too much their houses, were too fatally set upon the hasty removing of their Goods, which were yet at length devoured by the nimble flames.

The raging East Wind that had much incom­moded the English Fleet at Sea, did far greater damage in the burning City, by carrying the force of the flames through the greatest part of London. The Conflagration grew soon insuperable by the [Page 95] blowing of the Wind; which raising in a moment the fire from the bottom to the tops of the houses, and scattering flakes in all places, it grew too strong for the endeavours of those that laboured to quench it. Here the blazes of ruddy flames were to be seen, and there the crashing of falling houses to be heard; and which was the sadest Spectacle under the Sun, the doleful looks of so many Citizens, the wailings of desolate women, and the cries of chil­dren and decrepit aged people: And in the for­saken shops of the wealthy Inhabitants, numbers of Thieves and Pilferers, greedier of Booty than the fire, villanously skulked.

No man that had a sense of humane Miseries, could see, and not be affected with the dismal spe­ctacle of the Ruining City of London. Now were there to be seen almost an hundred Churches con­secrated to God, and many Hospitals, the Monuments of ancient Piety; besides other publick Buildings, raised at the vast charges of our Ancestors; the famed Sion-Colledge, and Royal Exchange of Lon­don, the Guild-hall, and stately Cathedral of St. Pauls, as sad Spectacles of the Calamity, either bu­ried under their own Rubbish, or standing Monu­ments of the devouring flames.

Whilst all things else in the Exchange were con­sumed, without sparing the many Statues of our Kings, onely that of Gresham the Founder stood, to bewail the Ruines of his own Fabrick: so kind was Fate to the fame and memory of the liberal Doner.

The King, whose high-born Soul was above the Vicissitudes of humane Contingencies, could not but with grief and sorrow behold the lamentable Calamity of his wretched Subjects, and native Ci­ty, exhorting, comforting, and advising them in their greatest difficulties: And therefore he ordered, [Page 96] that the next houses to the fire should be blown up, that a void space being made betwixt the Buildings, the remaining part of the City, that which still stood, might be saved; this being the last Remedy that could be used.

The Duke of York also, and many of the Nobility, praised and encouraged the forward, assisted the di­stressed, and gave a generous example to all by the vigorous resistance they made against the devouring flames.

The fire is put out, Sept. 4.After that the Conflagration had continued four days, to the inestimable losses of the Citizens, and had burnt down thirteen thousand houses, it was at length stopt more at the direction of Divine Provi­dence, than by any humane Arts or Means.

The more loyal part of the Citizens, affected with the Kings sorrow more than their own, put an high value upon his Royal Compassion towards them. The Fictions of Fanaticks con­cerning the Fire. But the Fanatical Clubs, who turned even the Calamities of their Country into Reproaches, could scarcely forbear to miscal the Judgment a Command; or at least did buz it about, that the Kings Guards were a hindrance to those who la­boured to put out the fire; but the commoner sur­mise was, that some French Agents had fired the City: And many reasons were by fear or envy sug­gested to confirm the Treachery; nothing being more usual amongst the common People, than to make all Casualties Designes.

But those who still remembred the insolent Rage of the Londoners, was the first cause of the Misfor­tunes of Charles the Martyr, that the City was pol­luted with sacred Bloud, had beheld the sad fate of the King, and that some of the Citizens had called for, and others permitted the murder of Charles, humbly acknowledged the avenging hand of God in the Judgment.

[Page 97]This was the issue of that memorable fire of Lon­don; which for above two thousand years had been rising to that greatness, which now it could hardly bear. A City impregnable against all the Efforts of so many foreign Enemies, and civil Broils; could no otherways be ruined but by the breaking out of a Fire amongst old wooden Buil­dings that were but too apt fewel for the flames.

Yet after the City was destroyed, Liv. l. 5. the Londoners bore up with greater resolutions than the Romans did of old, when after the Conflagration made by the Gaules, they removed to Veii: nor did any man, despairing to see London again rebuilt, talk in the least of changing his habitation; but the Ci­tizens crowding themselves into Booths and new-made Deal-board houses, or into Dwellings in the Suburbs, took their measures about the building of a new City.

The approaching Winter now put an end to all Naval Engagements for this year; The Fleets put into Harbour. so that both Fleets, the Dutch and ours, put into Harbour and were laid up; and left the Privateers on each side to molest and take Merchant-men at Sea.

The King having last year tried the shifting way of his Enemies managing the War, 1667. resolved upon other measures, that by intercepting the Dutch Trade, he might force them either to put an end to the War by fairly fighting, or willingly submit­ting.

So that without putting himself to the charge of a Fleet this Summer, The K. keeps his Fleet at home; he was advised to order some Frigats to cruise in the Scottish Seas, and others in the West about Plimouth, thereby on all hands to shut up the British Ocean.

And by fortifying Sherness and Ʋpnore-Castle, And secures the Coasts and Harbours. and drawing a Chain cross the River of Medway, to secure the Royal Fleet at Chatham; which was bet­ter advised than executed.

[Page 98]And now the powerful Kings of France and Sweden, Neighbouring Kings mediate a Peace. by their Embassadours mediate a Peace be­twixt the King and the States; so that the heat of both Parties being somewhat allied by the mutual losses that two trafficking Nations had sustained in their Trade, as well as otherwise, they both conde­scend to send Embassadours to Breda, to treat of a Peace.

The Dutch by surprize fall upon the Kings Fleet. June 10.But the English trusting to a Truce or Cessation of Hostilities, in order to a Pacification, laid aside all thoughts of War, and the Guard-ships were far off at Sea: A part of the Dutch Fleet in the mean time entering Chatham-River, and having forced the Garrisons on the shore, and broken the Iron-Chain that was too weak to make a resistance, fell upon the Kings Fleet, which had often chased them, ly­ing mored in the River, unrigged, and unprovided of Sea-men and Souldiers.

Our Frigats were burnt by the Dutch Fire-ships, and others snatched, not carried away in triumph, to the reproach no less of the Dutch Knavery, than of our own vain Security; a loss so much the grea­ter, by how much it cost the Enemy the less.

The King in the mean time passing by the Trea­chery of that People, and conquering his own Re­sentment, (for the present) performed his Pro­mise; and that he might not delay the Treaty of Peace, Embassadours meet on both sides; sent the Lord Hollis, one of his Majesties Privy-Council, and Henry Coventry, on the Prudence of which two the King much relied, as his Embas­sadours for carrying on the Peace; which at length was concluded at Breda, And conclude a Peace. July 9. upon no less honourable Conditions, than what the King had demanded before the War.

And now this Naval War, carried on by the suc­cessful Valour of York, the Courage of Prince Ru­pert and Albemarle, is at length terminated in a [Page 99] most specious Peace; but such as drew the fate of that perfidious People upon themselves, the begin­ning of the fall of the Ʋnited Provinces being to be calculated from that War.

The King was not a little inclined to facilitate the profitable Peace, The building of London is taken into con­sideration. that the Citizens might have time to rebuild the City: And the War being now over, he made it his care to erect to himself Tro­phies of Glory, upon the Ruines and Rubbish of London; instead of a wooden City which he had lost, laying the foundations of one of Brick that might more powerfully resist the flames. Nor were the Citizens allowed to build at their plea­sure, but the streets being first staked out, and en­larged on each side, every one built their houses in a strait and equal front; London rising again with so much beauty and uniformity, that the loss of the old City was hardly regreted.

October the twenty third, The Royal Ex­change foun­ded. Octob. 23. the King being honou­rably received in the City, laid the first Stone in the foundation of the Royal Exchange: the next was laid by the Duke of York, an auspicuous Presage of the splendour of the Structure.

The loss of a memorable and much-lamented person, must here have an honourable mention in our Annals: For this year Abraham Couley, The death of Abraham Couley. a man of famed Wit both at home and abroad, and for his delightful Learning, a Companion to the chief of the Nobility of England, departed this life. His Poetical fancy seemed to be inspired with some di­vine breath; which in sweet numbers, the Monu­ments of his own glory, after Maro and the delights of Rome, equalled the Raptures of Pindar and the Gracefulness of Athens. No man was more sub­lime, nor modest than he; and he lived with the same politeness and grace as he wrote, in Verse and Manners being equally conspicuous.

[Page 100] 1668.The next year was taken up in building of the City, All hands are set to work in the rebuilding of London. with so great magnificence of modern Pomp, that it might be thought that the Citizens in dig­ging and clearing the Ground, had found Mines of Gold amongst the Rubbish of the Ruines. Nor will it be more the wonder of this than of future Ages, that during the calamity of a dangerous War, and amidst the many losses of Merchants, there still remained in the hands of the Citizens such vast stocks of Money to build new and stately houses; and in their minds so much resolution, as in time of War to promote the works of Peace. For now in less than the space of three years, a new City was rai­sed; which being purged by Fire, and having ex­piated its former Offences, recovered more than its ancient Vigour and Glory.

Liv. l. 26.The Fame of the Roman Virtue will hardly sound so loud in future Ages, in that Lands were bought and sold at Rome, whilst Hannibal was at the Gates of the City; when now it may be heard, that after a late and devouring Plague, after a la­mentable Fire that laid the City in Ashes, and whilst three most powerful Nations were in War with us, The English still retained that confidence of their own fortune and height of mind, as to re­solve, and to be able to lay the Foundations of a new and so magnificent a City; and that under so much Affliction they dared to look beyond their Calamities.

The Monument of the dreadful Fire.And that there might be a standing Monument of the sad Conflagration, or rather a Trophy of the Cities Restauration, the Citizens of London grow­ing greater in their Misfortune, and magnificent in their Adversity, erected in the place where the dreadful Fire began, a Lofty Pillar one hundred and seventy foot high, all of Portland Stone, not much inferiour to Marble.

[Page 101]And that we may not always have need to return to ancient Annals for Monuments of magnificence, The Theatre of Oxford founded in the year 1664. is finished. this year Gilbert Sheldon, after the death of Juxon, Archbishop of Canterbury, perfected the Theatre of Oxford, a lasting Temple of the Muses, and a Capitol consecrated to Apollo; which he dedicated as a Circle to the learned Exercises and Acts of the Gown; and a new Ornament to the Ʋniversity, finished at his own vast charges, and by the advice and contrivance of Sir Christopher Wren, a most in­genious Architect and Mathematician.

On the outside the Beholder may admire the magnificence of the Structure; and within be de­lighted with the comliness and beauty of the Thea­tre, being incompassed around with lofty and regu­lar Benches for the convenience of Spectators.

Underneath is to be seen a most excellent and well-contrived Printing-house: All which, will be a lasting Monument of the Founders Fame, so long as men can speak in his Theatre, or Books be printed at his Press.

Last year the Duke of Ormond returned into England, after he had, 1669. The Lord Ro­berts Deputy of Ireland. Sept. 20. with the reputation of ex­traordinary Wisdom, governed Ireland as Lord-Lieutenant for the space of seven years; and this year the Lord Roberts, a Person of great Integrity, Prudence, and Worth, succeeded in that Govern­ment.

In the mean time the Duke of Ormond, The D. of Or­mond made Chancellour of the Ʋniversity of Oxford. with u­nanimous consent of the Heads, Fellows, and Stu­dents of Colledges, is chosen Chancellour of the U­niversity of Oxford; and so being taken off from the care and troubles of the Irish affairs, he had the direction of the softer and more peaceful Muses.

About the beginning of September, Mary the Queen Mother of England having for two and twen­ty years, in Banishment and Widowhood, lived [Page 102] without the enjoyment of the King her Husband, and with the comfort of a flourishing Off-spring, having beheld her Son setled in the Throne, The Queen Mother dies in France. died at Paris in France, full of years, and of glory in all the changes of humane condition.

The death of the Duke of Albemarle. Jan. 2. 1669, 70.About the end of this, and beginning of next year, the Duke of Albemarle also finished his course. And being now to speak the last of a man born for the publick good, famous in a high, and famous in a lower degree, I shall take a short review of his Birth, Manners, and Fortune.

His Birth and Extraction. George Monk, the Son of a Knight, was born in Devonshire in the West of England, in the year One thousand six hundred and eight: He had an elder Brother who inherited his Fathers Estate and Ho­nour; and a younger, who being bred a Scholar, after the Restauration of the King, was made Bishop of Hereford.

He followed the Wars in his youth. George the middlemost pushing his Fortune in the Camp, followed the Wars; wherein he was first initiated in his youth at Cadis against the Spa­niards, and shortly after in an Expedition against the French at the Isle of Ré, both unfortunate in their issue; but with better success he served under the Earl of Oxford in Holland. The Civil Wars afterwards breaking out, Ʋnder Charles the First he served in the Scottish War. occasioned first by the ac­cursed madness of the Scottish Presbyterians, he re­turned into England, and listed himself under Charles the First, who then marched against the Scots, In Ireland also and next year after was made a Colonel in the Army against the Irish Rebels.

But the Civil War of England raging more furi­ously afterwards, whilst the Parliament called in the Scots, their Brethren in Iniquity, to their assistance; the King on the other hand having made a Truce with the Irish Rebels, called over his Forces from Ireland, for his own defence at home: and Monk [Page 103] being one of the Commanders of that Army, 1669, 70. with the rest joyned the King at at Oxford; He joyns the K. at Oxford. Is taken by the Parliament, and made pri­soner in the Tower of Lon­don. but whilst by orders from the King he mustered the Irish For­ces in the Camp, he was unexpectedly surprized and taken by Fairfax, who served the Parliament; and being carried to London, lay there almost four years Prisoner in the Tower. Whilst he was there shut up and in distress, the King sent him secretly an hundred Pieces of Gold; which considering the streights his Majesty was then put to, was no small Argument of his Royal Affection towards him.

But being at length tired out with an irksome imprisonment, and, for the sake of liberty, He takes on with the Par­liament; chan­ging sides, he took in with the Parliament, and went again over into Ireland; And goes to Ireland. where he did many brave actions against the Irish Rebels, not without Presages of becoming sometime a great General, as being the onely person who seemed to have carried with him Honesty and Civility to the Civil War.

Here it was that first of all he gained the good esteem of Cromwel, who then commanded the Par­liament-Forces in Ireland, having performed an action more advantageous to his General, than ho­nourable to himself. The Irish War being ended, He marches with Cromwel into Scotland. the Summer following he marched with Cromwel against the Scots, and did not a little contribute to his fortunate Successes in Scotland.

Having been so often victorious at Land, He fights a­gainst the Dutch under the Rump-Parliament. and now an old Commander, he tried his fortune at Sea; and under the Rump-Parliament was very suc­cessful against the Dutch, having in two Engage­ments beaten them and put them to flight.

At length when Cromwel got into Supreme Pow­er, he was made Governour of Scotland; Is by Cromwel made Gover­nour of Scot­land. which Trust, with equal reputation of Equity and Pru­dence, he discharged during the space of almost [Page 104] five years: until Quarrels and Animosities happen­ing at London betwixt the Rumpers and Colonels of the Army, he laid hold on the occasion for restoring of the King.

But at what time first he framed the designe of restoring Charles to the Throne, I shall hardly pre­sume to determine: Cavillers, and those that make the worst of things, gave it out, that his dutiful ser­vices to the King were but fortuitous; but they who judge impartially, affirm that it was a designe laid many years before. Certainly the best of Kings, more mindful of the effects of his Loyalty, than of its beginning, received the duty of Albemarle, as ex­traordinary and kind services, and honourably and liberally rewarded them.

The year before his death, he fell into a Dropsie; and being weary of the ordinary methods and ad­vice of Physicians, he made use of a certain Quack-Medicine, which in appearance recovered him; but his body being opened after his death, a great deal of Water was found in his Bowels, and much congealed Bloud in both the Ventricles of his Heart, and other neighbouring Vessels: For the motion both of the Heart and Bloud being weaken­ed by an inveterate Dropsie, gave occasion to the stagnating of the chylous juyce about the Heart; which stopping the Fountain of the circulating Bloud, put at length a stop to his last breathings for life.

The Marriage of his onely Son was in a manner the last thing he minded in this life; who a few days before his death was married to the Daughter of the Earl of Ogle, and Grand-daughter to the Duke of Newcastle; thereby to settle, as well as honour, his Family by an Alliance with so Noble a House.

After he had seen Britain rejoycing in Triumphs, [Page 105] beheld Charles confirmed in the Throne by ten years happy Reign, and after he had administred the greatest Offices of Trust under the King, both in Peace and War, being upwards of sixty years of age, he yielded to Destiny, which he willingly and undauntedly submitted unto; that after the Tro­phies of a past Life, he might at length triumph o­ver Death.

He left but one onely Son, the Illustrious Inheri­tour of his Fathers Fame, hopeful to the State, and cherished by the King as his own. Charles who had often visited and condoled with him in his sick­ness, was with him to the last, and expressed the same affection for dying Albemarle, that he had testified to him during his life.

From Somerset-house, where he had lain in state, The Solemnity of his Funerals he was with a splendid pomp of solemn Funerals at the Kings charges conveyed to Westminster-Abbey, and there amidst the Tears and Condolings of all good men, interred amongst the August Monuments of Kings, being the last Triumph due to his me­mory.

They who are curious to have a description of the shapes and countenance of so great a man, may know; that he was a person more graceful than beautiful; of a middle stature, strong and well comparted, with a comely presence; and of a com­posed, rather than severe or stern, aspect.

He may easily be reckoned a most valiant General in War, His Courage. not onely to be compared to the chief Com­manders of his own age, but to the most renown­ed Warriours of elder times; and of so great re­putation he was in Military affairs, that the modest­est do acknowledge too great a Courage in Albe­marle. He spent almost his whole life in Arms, and at length growing old amidst Victories, he be­came gray-headed under a Helmet.

[Page 106]In Britain and Ireland, by Sea and by Land, so happy was Albemarle, that Fortune traced out for him, His Prudence, Honour, Renown, and Titles. He had indeed a hidden and a silent kind of Sagacity in the ma­nagement of affairs; and improved almost all the Arts of Prudence by Silence.

And Modesty.He had a Modesty that set off all the other Vir­tues of his Mind; nor was he ever heard to brag of what he had done or deserved. The Fame of so great a man, doubtless inferiour to no other Mortal, will propagate it self to Posterity; who, without Pride or Ostentation, gratified a banished Prince with so signal Services, and onely rejoyced in the conscientious performance of his Duty and O­bedience.

Tacit. Hist. l. 3.Nor after the Restauration of Charles, did he behave himself as a Colleague in the Government, as Mucianus was of old reported to have done to Vespasian, but as a Servant; neither did he ever boast, that having the Power in his own hands, he had bestowed it upon another; whereby he burned, to his glory, the Arrogance of the Rump, and the Impudence of Cromwel: his Loyalty inclining him more to give up, than his Ambition to retain the Government.

We may, moreover; reckon Albemarle happy, not onely in the greatness of the Action, but also in the seasonableness of the Service: That he brought back the Government to a Prince of so just and good a temper, who put so true an estimate upon his Loyalty, and under whom it would never be unsafe nor dangerous to deserve the most: For good Offices are acceptable, Tacit. Annal. lib. 4. especially to Kings, so long as the obliged think they may be able to requite them; but when they are too great to be rewarded, instead of Thanks they procure Hatred: And it is rare, and al­most [Page 107] unusual, for Princes to think themselves obliged; or if they think so, to love their Benefactors. Plin. Panegyr.

Peace being now established at home, and Janus his Temple shut, Albemarle departed the more joy­fully out of this life, that when he left no Troubles in Britain, yet he left behind him a Love for him­self in the hearts of all good men: so much the more wanted, that he had taken care that nothing should be wanting, having left nothing in the State but his own death to be bewailed; the King flourishing in his Government, and the Loyalty of the Parliament as yet vieing with the modesty of the Prince. Every one enjoyed the happiness they desired at home, and Peace with all Nations abroad, till the League-breaking Dutch again provoked the English Arms.

But the Actions of that War, the steddy Fortune of the British Nation, and the future Triumphs of CHARLES, I have set aside as a subject for my more advanced years.

FINIS.

A Table to the Third Part.

A.
  • ALbemarle, vid. Monk,
  • Army disbanded, 52
B.
  • Bishops restored, 51
  • Booth Sir George, his Insurrection, 8
C.
  • Committee of Safety, 13
  • Commissioners from the Parliament wait on the King at Breda, 44
  • Conventicles supprest, 73
  • Covenant burnt by the Hangman, 66
  • Cowley, Abraham, 99
D.
  • De Wit, 76
  • Dutch War, beginning and occasion, 74. The first Engagement, 81. The second, 87. The third, 88. the fourth, 90. The fifth, 92. Their Attempt at Chatham, 98. Peace concluded, 98.
F.
  • Fanaticks rise, but are supprest, 72
G.
  • Gloucester Duke dies, 52
K.
  • King Charles, 2. Comes to Breda, 42. Lands at Do­ver, 46, Enters London, 47. His Coronation, 61. Marries the Infanta of Portugal, 69.
L.
  • Lambert proclaimed a Traytor, 40. Committed to the [Page] Tower, 41. Condemn'd, but obtains mercy, 71.
  • Libels, 73
  • The Liturgie and Ceremonies of the Church confirm'd and establish'd by Act of Parliament, 71
  • London, the great Plague there, 84. The great Fire there, 94. Rebuilt, 99, 100.
M.
  • Monk Sir George, 6, 13, & inf. His famous march into England, 25. Enters London, 28. Admits the secluded Members, 36. Receives Letters from the King, 37. Created Duke of Albemarle, 51. A short ac­count of his Life and Death, 102, & inf. His Cha­racter, 105.
O.
  • Oblivion Act, 52
  • Great Officers upon the Kings Restoration, 51
  • Orange Princess dies in England, 60
  • Oxford, the Court and Term there, 85. The new Thea­tre there built, 101.
P.
  • Parliament, the long one dissolved, 41. A new one meet, 42. A new one call'd by the King, 66.
  • Physicians Colledge visited by the King, 78
Q.
  • Queen-Mother dies, 101
R.
  • Recapitulation of things past, 1
  • Regicides brought to Tryal, 53. Their several Chara­cters, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 67, 68, 70.
  • Rump-Government, 5. & inf. Rump and Army at va­riance, 10.
S.
  • Solemn League and Covenant burnt by the Hangman, 66
V.
  • Uly-Island, and Ships there burnt by the English, 93
Y.
  • York Duke made Lord High Admiral, 50. His great Victory at Sea, 81.
A Catalogue of some Books printed for and to be sold by Abel Swalle.
  • DR. Comber's Companion to the Temple, or Help to Devotion, in 4 parts. fol.
  • Dr. Allestry's Forty Sermons, whereof Twenty one now first published.
  • The Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley. The Eighth Edition.
  • The second part of the Works of Mr. A­braham Cowley: being what was written in his younger years. The Fifth Edition.
  • The Case of Resistance of the Supreme Powers, Stated and Resolved, by Dr. Sher­lock, in 8 o
  • Dr. Sherlock's Vindication of the Rights of Ecclesiastical Authority: being an Answer to the first part of the Protestant Reconciler, 8 o
  • Pet. Dan. Huetii de Interpret. Lib. 2 o qua­rum prior est de Optimo Genere Interpret. Al­ter de Claris Interpret. &c. in 8 o
  • L. Coelii Lactantii Firmiani Opera quae extant ad fidem MSS. recognita & Commen­turiis Illustrata à Tho. Spark. Oxon, è Theat. Sheld.
  • The Case of Compelling Men to the Sa­crament of the Lords Supper considered. By the Author of the Charge of Scandal.
  • [Page]A Sermon preached before the King at White-hall, Nov. 23. by Gilb. Ironfide, D.D.
  • A Discourse concerning the Object of Re­ligious Worship: or, a Scripture-proof of the unlawfulness of giving any Religious Worship to any other Being beside the one Supreme God. Part 1.
  • A Discourse about the Charge of Novelty upon the Reformed Church of England, made by the Papists asking of us this Que­stion, Where was our Religion before Luther?
  • A Discourse about Tradition: shewing what is meant by it, and what Tradition is to be Received, and what Tradition is to be Rejected.
  • The Protestant Resolution of Faith, being an Answer to three Questions, &c.
  • A Discourse concerning a Guide in Mat­ters of Faith.
  • A Discourse concerning the Unity of the Catholick Church maintained in the Church of England.
  • A Discourse concerning Invocation of Saints.
  • A Discourse concerning Auricular Confes­sion, as it is prescribed by the Council of Trent, and practis'd in the Church of Rome.
  • There is now in the Press, and will spee­dily be published- Philosophia Vetus & Nova ad usum Scholoe accommodata in Regia Bur­gundia olim pertractata. 2 Vol. Duodecim. According to the Edition printed at Paris, 1684. in 2 vol. 4 o

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