IF those Writers who pen the Histo­ries of great Men, had the same advantage as Painters have, who oblige those whom they are to Portraict, to seat themselves in such a posture, as they may best consider and judge of them, who do choose their Lights, and thereby discover most apparently the most de­licate [Page 2] and neatest feature of the Faces, which they are to represent; I might hope to give unto the publick and to Posterity a perfect Re­semblance of his late Highness the Lord Prote­ctor of England, although I should meet with a great deal of difficulty in the well applying of the Colours, and to make choice of such exqui­sire Ones to trace the Footsteps of so glorious a Life. True it is, that the Soul is not visible, as Mens Bodies are; for as it hath its Origine from Heaven, we must of necessity ascend up thither, and enter into the Councels of the Al­mighty, to observe those Lights and Inspirati­ons which he gives unto those persons whom his Divine Providence doth make choice of to command here on Earth, and those designs which he doth frame in these great Souls, for the encrease of his Glory, and for our Peace and Tranquillity. So that our Ignorance doth ob­lige us herein to immitare the modesty and good behaviour of Painters, who instead of a beautifull nakedness, render it to our view wrapt up in fine Linnen, and not discovering unto us the Brain, whence the severall motions of the Body do proceed, they only set before our eyes a dumb Image without Motion, and some few Physionomical Marks, which do help us to guess who the party is they intend to represent unto us.

My intent is, to give you a rough Draught of this most excellent Personage, whose Actions are so glorious and surpassingly winning in themselves, as that we shall only need to enter [Page 3] upon a Relation of them, and so insensibly com­pleat a Naturall Panegyrick, much like unto those exquisite Beauties, the advantages where­of we so much the more lessen, and detract from, by how much the more we go about to embel­lish them with Ornaments and Cloathing; so that the Resplendency of my Subject it self will spare me the labour of making a long In­troduction, and the vastness of its Renown saves me the care I ought to have taken in duly prepa­ring the Readers Mind to conceive worthily of this my HEROE, and to have begot in them a Love and Esteem of his Person.

His late Highness was born in the Town of Huntington, the chief of the Shire, which bear­eth the same Name, of a Noble Parentage, be­ing descended from the Ancient and Illustrious Family of the Williams's, of the County of Glamorgan, which Name in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, was changed into that of Cromwell, as will appear by the ensuing History. His High­ness Birth and Paren­tage. His Parents left him not much Wealth, but cau­sed him to be educated in the University of Cambridge; where, as it is reported, a publick Representation being to be performed, he that was to represent the Kings part, falling sick, this our Cromwell was said to have taken the Part upon Himself, and so well imployed the little time he had to get it by Heart, Lingua the Combate of the Sences.as it seemed, that it was Infused into him, and whereby he repre­sented a King with so much Grace and Majesty, as if that Estate had been naturall unto him: And truly thus much may be averred, that his [Page 4] Soul comprehended all those Seeds and Foun­dations of such Vertues, as do usually render a Person capable to govern others.

His excel­lent quali­fications.Having finished his course of Study at the U­niversity, when he had perfectly acquired unto himself the Latine Tongue (which Language, as all men know, he made use of to treat with Strangers) his Parents designed him to the Study of the Civill Law, which is the Founda­tion of the Politicks: It being very requisite that he who was Ordained to give Law to three Kingdomes, and to the whole Sea besides, should have a smack of the Law, and chiefly of those which were the most Essentiall and Uni­versall, for he dived not over deep into this Study, but rather chose to run a Course in all the rest of the Sciences, and chiefly in the Ma­thematicks, wherein he excelled, as likewise he may be justly said to have yeilded to no Gen­tleman whatsoever in the knowledge of the rest of the Arts and Sciences. But to keep more close to our History.

His Fortune and Rise did commence by those very means which by degrees elevated him to the Supream pitch of Grandeur; The conjun­cture of Affairs brought him on the Stage, his Valour raised him up, and the Politick part ta­king the upper hand as belonging to Her by Birth-right, Crowned him with all those Blisses which both the former and latter could justly discern.

Wherefore the Disorders of England and Scotland being not possible to be appeased with­out [Page 5] the intervening of a Parliament, there was one summoned in the year 1641. in which the late Protector assisted in the quality of a Bur­gess, for the Town of Cambridge, one of the most famous Universities of England, who could not fail in making so good a Choice, and so worthy of such Eminent persons as them­selves, verst in all Sciences and Profound Know­ledge. Things growing past an amicable recon­ciliation between the King and the Parliament, after severall and infinite Treaties and Propo­salls; the last Reason both of the one and the other terminated in the loud Volleys of Ca­nons, each Partie took the Field, The first Engage­ment.and those Parliament Men who were minded to engage in the War, did with a generall consent and ap­probation obtain leave to suspend their Im­ployment in the House whereunto they were called, To maintain the Liberties of Parlia­ment with the points of their Swords; His late Highness was none of the last that profer­red his Service to the Parliament, and the bet­ter to witness his Passion and Zeal to the Cause, he raised a Troop of Horse at his own costs and Charges. The esteem he had in the House, and the value which the County of Essex put upon his Person, obliged the Parliament to grant him a Commission to levy as many men as he could, that so he might make up a compleat Regiment: And as he was Burgess of the Town of Cambridge, so his first care was to set­tle that place for the Parliament, although he met with great Obstacles therein, and the Rea­son [Page 6] likewise was very harsh; it being the Month of January, the very heart of the Winter: Now you are to note, that the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge were the first of all the Towns in England which declared themselves for the King, and the last which acknowledged the new established Authority; by reason they were fil­led with persons designed to possess those Church Goods which were in the Kings Dona­tion, besides which the Parliament detesting their Commissions, was resolved to reduce and reform them.

The Trea­sure of the Uni­versity sailed on.His late Highness having notice that all the Colledges were making a Stock and Assembly of all their Plate, and of what ready monies they had, to send it unto the King, all which a­mounted unto a very considerabe Sum, went sud­denly to Cambridge, and seized all that Treasure just as it was ready to be sent away unto Oxford: And as he was upon this Expedition, he signal­lized himself far more by another Action; Sir Thomas Comes who was newly made Sheriff of Hertford Shire, had received Orders from the King, to publish a Proclamation, by which the County of Kent, and all its Adherents were pro­claimed Traytors. His late Highness. surprised him in the very Action on a Market-day, in the Town of St. Albons, and having seized the said Knight, he sent him up to the Parliament.

And not long afterwards he very oportunely assembled all the Forces of the County of Cambridge, & exhorted the Neighbouring Coun­ties of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Essex, to send him [Page 7] their Aydes to oppose the Lord Capell, who was to have been seconded by Prince Rupert, and should have seized Cambridge, and thereby have impeded the association of the united Coun­ties about London, which were the only Bulwark and Defence of that great City, wherein the Sinews of War did consist, and by whose resolu­tions and proceedings the rest of the Kingdome was then governed; His Highness diligence and vigilancy at that time, brake the Neck of that Design, and forced the Lord Capell, and Prince Rupert to direct their Thoughts another way. In the beginning of the Month of March, next ensuing, his late Highness having complea­ted a Regiment of Horse to the full number of a thousand Men, marched with great diligence in­to the County of Suffolk, on the advice which he had received of a great Confederacy which was there hatching between the Nobility of the Kings Party who were assembled in a consi­derable Town, called Lowerstost; whom he so unsuspectedly surprised, as that he became Ma­ster of the place without the fiering of one Gun; He took Prisoners Sir Thomas Barker, Sir John Pettas his Brother, Mr. Knevet, Catlines Ham­mond, Cory Turrill, Preston, and above twenty other Persons of Note. He likewise there took severall parcels of Armes and Ammunition, and other War-like Equipages, sufficient to have ar­med a considerable Party, and had not his High­ness made use of his accustomed Prudence, and his usuall Activity in this Conjuncture, he had met with a great deal of difficulty on this ac­count, [Page 8] and the whole County had run a danger to have been lost: severall persons of Quality, and divers Noble men hourly flocking to that Ran­dezvous; This Service was most seasonably rendred to the Parliament, and the Kings Party both in Suffolk and Norfolk, were thereby to­tally disheartned and di [...]ncouraged.

The Spring being advanced, and the Season permitting the framing of greater Designs, and taking of longer Marches, his Highness having well setled the Peace and Tranquillity of the as­sociated Counties; which (as we have sayd) ser­ved as a Bulwark to the Parliament, his Mind and his Valour requiring a space of Ground as vast as its Activity, he raised a Body of an Army and that a very considerable one, being compo­sed of such zealous persons as had already been charmed with his Conduct, and being attracted by his Reputation, did voluntarily come in un­to him to serve with, and under him in the Cause of Religion; He thus Marched into Lin­colnshire, with a Resolution to assist those Forces which lay about Newark, one of the strongest places which held out as then for the King, into which the greatest part of the Gentry of Lin­colnshire had retired themselves, and where there was a good Garison commanded by Officers, who had served their Apprentiships in the Mili­tary Art beyond the Seas; so that they fetcht in vast Contributions out of the Neighbouring Counties, and made Inroads to the very Gates of Lincoln: And his Highness being now at the Head of a Regiment of Horse, in his passage [Page 9] through Huntingtonshire, was willing to deliver his Native Country from those Disorders which two contrary Parties do usually cause and com­mit being in one Shire, he therefore disarmed all those who were not affectioned to the Parlia­ment, by which means he so enlarged and aug­mented his Troops that he had gotten two thousand Men together; and before he came neer Newark, he received another re inforce­ment of Horse, which was sent him by Captain Hotham, as also some other Troops which were sent him from Lincoln: insomuch that he thus framed a sufficient considerable Body of an Ar­my for that time: A remark­able expe­dition.He no sooner was come nigh to Newark, but that he signallized himself by an Action which was the more glorious, by how much the less it was expected nor foreseen; Captain Wray having so inconsideratly placed himself with his Lincolne Horse too nigh Newark, was in the Night set upon by the Gar­rison, which made a great Sally, and surrounded and took all his Men; the Alarm comming hot to his late Highness Quarters, he forthwith re­paired to the place where the Fight was, it be­ing then about ten of the Clock in the Night, relieved the said Captain Wray, and took three whole Companies of the Enemy, killed the rest on the place, and made good his Retreat by Fa­vour of the dark Night.

After which, having blocked up the place, he received those Sallies which were made by the Besieged, with so much Courage and Vigilancy, as that he alwaies came off with advantage, [Page 10] sometimes forcing the Enemies into their very Works, and sometimes cutting them in pieces, insomuch that he never returned unto the Camp but he was laden either with Prisoners, Spoyles or Colours, and that he might neglect no oc­casion for to give a testimony of his Prudence and Activity, he also scouted abroad into the Country with his Horse, and neer unto Grantham he defeated a strong Party which came forth of Newark, with a handful of Men, onely since which, the World did take notice that there was somewhat more then ordinary in the person of his late Highness: And not long after he also defeated part of the Lord of New­castles Army, which came to relieve Newark, setting upon them in their Quarters betwixt Grantham and Newark, where he took one hundred Horses, forty Prisoners, and killed se­verall on the place. And should I particular­lize all his late Highness's memorable Actions, during these English Civill Wars, I must of ne­cessity compile a whole Volume thereof, since nothing worth the taking notice of ever hapned in which he was not a Sharer, and wherein he was not alwaies one of the foremost: wherfore I shall only insist upon two chief Actions which were of so great Importance, that the decision of the whole War depended thereon, and wher­in the Valour of his late Highness may justly claim the greatest, if not the sole share. Two of the Parliaments Armies, the one commanded by the Lord Fairfax, and the other by the Lord Manchester, being united to the Scotch Army [Page 11] their Confederates, Commanded by the Earl of Livin, had joyntly besieged the City of York, the Metropolis of that County, and whereof the Earl of Newcastle was Governour for the King, who over and above his Garison which was ve­ry strong, had also a brave and gallant Army, Prince Rupert was sent by the King to raise that Siege, with such considerable Forces, as being joyned to those of the Earl of Newcastle, did well nigh equallize the Parliaments in number. The three Parliament Generals did immediatly raise the Siege to encounter Prince Rupert, and the Earl of Newcastle, drew forth also his Forces out of the Town, and both Armies being drawn up in Battell-Array upon Marston Moore,The Bat­tell of Marston Moor. they both fought with a great deal of Fury, Animo­sity, and hopes of Victory, which at first seemed to incline to the Kings Part, the right Wing of the Parliaments Forces Commanded by the Lord Fairfax, having the disadvantage of the Ground, was over-whelmed by the left Wing of the Kings Party, who routed and defeated it: But his late Highness (who as then was stiled but a Colonel) whose after Appellations I shall observe by degrees, which Fortune advan­ced him to) who commanded the left Wing, and had not the least advantage of the Ground, did so violently set upon the right Wing of the Kings Party, as that he brake in peeces Prince Ruperts best Regiments, and forced them not only to give way, but to turn their Backs, and suffering only some part of his Men to pursue the Enemy, he with the rest made half a turn about [Page 12] and charged the Enemies main Battell in the Rear so vigorously, as that putting Life again in­to the Lord Fairfax's Souldiers, he constrained them to face about, and thereby so well resto­red the Success of the Battell, as that he obtain­ed and Entire and compleat Victory. Two Ge­nerals of the Enemies, and some of the best mounted of their Officers only making their es­capes by their Horses good heels; and this Bat­tell was accounted the greatest that ever was fought during these last Wars.

His High­ness admi­rable ma­nagement of the Bar­tell at Nazeby. The same thing likewise hapned in the fa­mous Battell of Naseby, neer unto Northampton; when as his late Highness ariving in the Camp but on the Evening before the Fight, gave such encouragement and joy to the whole Ar­my, by reason of his so suddain and unexpected Arivall from so great a distance of place, as that it presaged an undoubted Victory. The left Wing of the Parliaments Army was quite over borne; General Ireton his late Highness Son-in-Law, and who afterward governed Ireland in the Quality of Lord Deputy, with as much Prudence and Conduct as he shewd Valour and Deserts to merit so considerable an Imployment, being the second Person of the Common-wealth, was carried off from the Field by two Wounds he received, and was taken Prisoner, but was relieved again, and Prince Rupert pursued his Victory with as much vigour and hopes to gain the Battell, as if the day had been his own: But his late Highness on his side defeating that Wing which was oposite to him, charged them [Page 13] with such force and Courage, as that he made the Victory dubious, and so it continued for a good while, neither inclining to the one side, not the other, till at last the Kings Horse falling a running, left their Foot to shift for themselves, which were all cut in pieces and taken Prisoners, all the Canon & Baggage was likewise taken, of a considerable value; there was also found a Ca­binet of the Kings with his Papers of great Importance: The royall Standard, and one hun­dred Colours beside were brought off, and his late Highness having pursed the Kings Horse as long as he listed, at length returned to the Camp with a great number of Prisoners. Should I go about to number up the severall places of con­sequence which this Conquerour hath taken, either by force or by Capitulations, I should fill up a whole Volume with the Names of Towns and Fortresses alone, besides intending hereby only to give you a Perspective of his glorious Life: I will only instance in those worthy A­ctions of his, whereby the Fortunes of the Wars did decide the possession of three King­domes.

The Vi­ctory of Preston in Lancashire.Nor may we omit to reckon amongst the rest of his Heroick Atchievements, the Victory which he obtained by Preston in Lancashire, over Duke Hamilton, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale, whose united Forces amounted unto 25000, his late Higness having not above 10000 at most, notwithstanding which inequallity of Forces he gave them Battell, and entirely routed that [Page 14] puissant Army, killing 3000 Scotch upon the place, and taking 9000 Prisoners, chasing the remaining Forces to Warrington about 20 Miles from the place where the Battell was fought, and taking Duke Hamilton Prisoner, at a place called Ʋttoxeter, whither he was retired with 3000 Horse, as also Sir Marmaduke Langdale, the one by my Lord Grey, and Colonel White, and the other by Captain Widmonpoole, so that but few Scotch returned to their own Country, to cary back the News of so prodigious a De­feat.

NO sooner were the Civill Wars of England terminated by the discomsiture of all the Kings Armies, the taking of his own Person, and by his death, but the Parliament by a so­lemn Vote and Ordinance, changed the Monar­chiall Government into a Common-wealth.The Mo­narchiall Govern­ment changed into a Common Wealth. The Kingdome of Ireland was the first that wit­nessed a discontent of this Change, and all the severall Parties there uniting themselves on the News of this Change, they owned the late Kings Son, and joyned all their Forces against the Interest of the Common-wealth, and on a suddain became so powerfull and formidable, as that the chief Places in those Parts submitted to their obedience, Dublin only, and London Derry excepted, the first whereof was immediatly be­sieged by an Army of 22000 Men, Commanded by the Marquis of Ormond, and the other by a considerable Party, the Natives of the Country. [Page 15] The Royallists were as yet in possession of the Isles of Jersey and Man, which places although they were adjacent unto England, yet they only stood them in stead for a retreat to some Ships, which robbed up and down the Seas in those Parts: Nor were the Irish Businesses there arri­ved at the height of perfection, whereas they be­gan to decline: Forces sent into Ireland.for 3000 Horse and Foot which the Parliament sent into Ireland, as the forerun­ner only of a more considerable Body being safe­ly landed at Dublin, joyned themselves unto the Garison, and unto the rest of the Forces which could be got together in a Body, which in all amounted not unto above 9000 Men, and who joyntly made so generall and vigorous a Sally upon the Marquis of Ormond (which Sal­ly was so well ordered by the Prudence of Co­lonel Michael Jones, and so well encouraged and led on by his Prudence and Valour together) as that they forced the Marquis to quit the Siege, and so well prosecuted the point of their Victory, as that they cut all the said Marquises Troops in pieces, who with much ado saved himself; there were slain in the Combat and pursuit about 2000 Men, as many were taken Prisoners, and all the Ammunition of War, with the Baggage and Ordnance were likewise left behind as a Prey to the Besieged. General Cromwell goes for Ireland, and ar­rives there in August, 1649.

And the better to advance this generall De­feat, and to cause these puissant Confederates the sooner to run into their Ruine, who a little before promised themselves no less then the [Page 16] Conquest of the three Kingdomes; Oliver Cromwell being by the Common-wealth nomi­nated Governour of Ireland, took footing at Dub­lin with an Army furnished with all Necessaries requisite toward the Crowning of an Underta­king, which already had so happy and successfull a beginning.

But General Cromwell having in vain sought for the Enemies, who by these addition all For­ces were forced to take Sanctuary in the best pla­ces and Fortresses of the Country, at length be­sieged Drogedah, Drogedah in Ireland besieged. one of the best and consider­ablest places in all Ireland, defended by so strong a Garison as it might well have framed a little Army, and was commanded by such Officers as had been signallized beyond the Seas, whose numbers were so exceeding great, as that several of them bare Armes only as private Souldiers. There was no time spent in the framing of a Siege, or in the opening of Approaches, but each one minded the beating of the Iron whilst it was hot, and concluded that the Confederates ought not to be suffered to rally themselves, nor to unite in a Body again, wherefore a slight Breach being made, the Orders were given out for a generall Assault, but the Walls were lined with so many and so good Men chiefly in those places where the Assault was to be given, as that the solidst and gravest Officers of the Army did represent unto his Excellency the General, that there was no appearance at all to carry the place by force, but that it would be better to [Page 17] tyre and weary out the besieged by the length of a siege, during which the breach might be made the larger. But Generall Cromwell, whose prudence (as we have already observed) secon­ded his valour, did briskly answer them that he would goe and open the breach for them, and placing himselfe at the head of his Troops, caused the assault to be given, rendring this example of wisdome to all great Personages, that in Actions of important consequence nei­ther Age, nor great Commands, or high Prefer­ments, ought to hinder a General to be the first man to goe on upon an assault, since it must ren­der them the most considerable, and raise them up to the highest pitch of honour and esteem.

Finally, after a sharp and bloody contest hand to hand, most obstinately maintained on all sides, the English forced their entrance, and the General went into the place pell mell with his Souldiers, at which time the ardour and heat of the victory did appear to correspond with his prudence, for though his generosity did oblige him to give quarter to those who had so well defended themselves, not­withstanding, deeming it fitting to make that place an example of terror unto the rest of the Towns which were garrisoned, and which might cost him too dear should they stand out as sturdily and obstinately as these did, he cau­sed all those to be put to the sword who were found to be in Arms, & thus he sacrificed 3000 [Page 18] Irish unto the Ghosts of 10000 English whom they had massacred some years before. The ta­king of this place was followed by the surren­der of several others, fear causing the weakest to yield, but those which were able to defend themselves were sold at dear rates. Trin, Dun­dalke, Nury, Wexford, R [...]ne, Bandonbridge and Kingsale were subdued, this last being a very con­siderable passage, so likewise were several other places taken by the respective Commanders of the Common-wealth, at the self same time in the other parts of Ireland, and several parties of the Enemies field-Forces were likewise de­feated by Sir Charles Coot, Collonel Venables and Jones, and the Lord Broghill, each of them signalizing themselves according to their ac­customed valours, and the Lord Broghill having since made it appear in the managing of States affairs that he is as great a Politician as a Soul­dier. One would have imagined that the im­petrous course of these victories should abso­lutely have quelled and abated the courage of the Irish, or that force and might would soon have reduced them to terms of reason, but they held out for a long time together in unaccessa­ble places, in Woods and Bogges, over which none but the Natives both Horse and Men can passe without perishing, which doth manifest unto us, that the Conquest of that Island is not so easie at present, as it was formerly when Henry the second of England reduced it in one Winter, which, as certain Writers say, is almost [Page 19] incredible. That so populous a Nation, so har­dy, so well disciplined, so active and dexterous, should not so much as lift up a hand to defend themselves: But as the same writer saith, it is apparent that they were not accustomed to our manner or wayes of warring, nor to defend themselves against such kinde of weapons as were then used; however, if the Conquest was easie, the preservation was not found to be so, and cost farre dearer. True it is, that this last Conquest of that Nation was not so suddenly archieved, but those means which have been used to assure and preserve it, will give occasi­on unto our nephewes,—that this present age hath much profited by the faults and omissions of our Ancestors. Moreover, that fire which the Civil Warres had kindled: in the Britannick Islands, was so violent, as that all the Sea which separates the Old World from the New, was not capable to hinder the Communicati­on thereof even to their Colonies in America, for Virginia and the Carybde Islands refused to acknowledge the power of the Common-wealth, all those who inclined thereunto were either banished or executed, and despoyled of their goods, and however those Collonies could not subsist but by the Commerce of Eng­land, and that this Revolt did bring along with it their ruine, yet their obstinacy was such, as that they would neither yield to their own In­terest nor Reason. Till at length the Com­mon-wealth sent a Fleet thither, under the [Page 20] Command of Sir George Askue, who delivered them out of their miseries, by ranging them under the obedience of the Parliament. Mean­while the Royallists Forces were very conside­rable at Sea, for Prince Rupert had a Fleet of nine great Ships which served to shelter seve­ral other small ones, whereby the trade of Eng­land was much impeded and incommodated, which obliged the Parliament to put forth a most puissant Naval Army to Sea, fitted with good Mariners, and all kinde of necessary war-like Ammunitions. The sole brute of this Fleet made all the Enemies Ships to run into their several skulking holes like unto so many Conies, and Prince Rupert being not strong enough to encounter them, was forced to retire into Kingsale Haven in Ireland, where he was im­mediately blocked up by the Parliaments Fleet, whilest General Cromwell besieged both the Port and Town by land, and Prince Rupert be­ing forced to make a vertue of necessity, resol­ved to bear the brunt of all the English Fleet, and so saved himself, leaving behinde him three Ships, which by that occasion were taken, and finally after several turnings and turmoilings, be cast anchor at Lisbone, where he was pro­tected by the King of Portugal, which caused the rupture betwixt this Common-wealth and that Crown, and all those mischiefs which en­sued, as we hereafter shall rehearse.

Meanwhile the Royallists in Scotland seeing the Parliament was busied in Ireland, thought to [Page 21] lay hold on a fit opportunity to play their game, and to that purpose the Earle of Mon­trosse having landed in the North of Scotland, with some Forces he had raised in Holland and other parts, assembled the old Souldiers who had formerly served under him, and armed them with such Arms as he had brought from Hol­land, but before he could make a considerable body, he was defeated by the Presbyter Forces, taken, and hanged on a very high Gibbet, which is the last mark of infamy in that Coun­trey.

Within a while after, there was a Treaty commenced at Breda, between the Scots and their King, to install and re-establish him in that Kingdome, and in the others, according as Fortune should answer their designs and ex­pectations; and to this end, they deputed Am­bassadors into Spain, Italy, Denmarke, Sweden, Russia, and into Turkey, and finally throughout all Europe, to demand relief, aid and assistance: But all their Embassies procured neither men nor money, only their Ambassadors were laden with Complements and good wishes in return, each others particular affairs not permitting them to do more.

All which gave unto the Common-wealth of England, not any great fears, but great jea­lousies, wherefore the better to be informed of the passages abroad, and the better to fortifie themselves by foraign Leagues and Alliances, M. Dorislaus a person full of knowledge and [Page 22] conduct, was sent in the quality of an Agent towards the States of the United Provinces, the chief drift of this Negotiation being to criment a good and firm understanding between the two Common-wealths: But scarce was he arrived at the Hague, when five or six disguised persons entred forcibly into his Chamber and massacred him. And whilest it seemed all things were a profound Calm in England, or that at least the course of the Enemies designs both at home and abroad, being sufficiently known to the State, on a suddain there sprang up the most formidable faction that ever was hatch'd since these last Warres: A certain number of persons who called themselves Levellers, whose pre­tenses were to render all mens goods and pos­sessions alike, and truely this was a very plau­sible design, and might doubtlesse have met with as many Abetters as there are men in the world, who have no other possessions or Revenues, but their good wills to obtaine them.

The chief of these Levellers was one John Lilborn, a man of a dating and attempting spi­rit, who could not remain quiet, but was alto­gether invincible, not to be moved by threats nor gained by the favour or presents of fortune, which were beneath the extent of his ambiti­on, and a considerable part of the Army siding with their Leader, they augmented in numbers as fast as the shortnesse of the time would per­mit, the confluence of such men as flattered [Page 23] themselves with such fond hopes, and who promised themselves a revenge, and and esta­blishment by a second Revolution and change. But before all those who intended to have sided with them could come up to them and unite in one body, they were vigorously set upon by the Lord Fairfax, at that time the Common-wealths General, who defeated them at a place called Burford in the County of Oxford, where their Leader and the best part of his Souldiers were taken, some of which were put to death for example sake, and some others were ba­nish'd, but the greatest part were pardoned, and admitted into favour again.

As for their Leader John Lilborne being brought up to London, he appeared before the chief Officers and Judges of London and West­minster, the Lord Maior, Sheriffs, and divers others, where he was not only accused of di­vers Martial Crimes, but also Politick ones, as having been the Author of several scandalous and defamatory. Libells against the State, which tended to render the Government odious, and to beget a Mutiny in the people; however, he so dexterously shifted himself of all these accu­sations, as that the Judges declared him Not guilty. Much about that very time Mr. Antho­ny Ascham a most judicious and accomplished Gentleman, was Deputed, and sent over in the quality of an Agent to the King of Spain, and arrived at the Port of Sancta Maria, on the 5. of June, 1650. where being advertised but his [Page 24] person was in danger, he was constrained to cause himself to be guarded to Madrid, where the next day after his arrival, as he was at Din­ner, six men knocked at his Chamber doore, which was immediately opened unto them, and he rising from the Table to receive them, the first of the said parties stabbed him in the head with a Dagger, so that he fell down dead to the ground, and his Interpreter Signior Ri­ba being not able to make his escape soon e­nough, was likewise stabbed in the belly; which being thus done, the Murderers would have sa­ved themselves in the Venetian Ambassadors house, who refused them protection, whence they retired themselves into a Church, which in Spain is a Sanctuary which the Justice ought not to violate, whence however the King of Spain had them taken, and put into prison, one only excepted, who made an escape. Hence there arose a great contest betwixt the King and the Clergy, who complain'd that their priviledges had been infringed, and demanded that the Prisoners might be returned unto them: and on the other side, the Parliament of England pressed hard to have justice done on them, and though message upon message, in­stance upon instance were used therein, yet they took no effect. And lest it may seem that all these foraign Negotiations which we have here inserted, may be beyond my subject, however if they be considered as so many obstacles which Fortune opposed unto the vertue and [Page 25] greatness of his late Highness, you will find that the recitall of them will not be altogether use­lesse, the rather since I have related them as succinctly as possibly: Besides, we may also look upon them as so many seeds sowen, to beget those warres which thereon ensued, and which were by the late Protector, rather by most glorious Treaties whereunto he was sought, or by most signal Victories which were obtain'd, and brought to a happy period, by which the blood of these two Agents, so cru­elly murdered, were retaliated with use. But to go on to our History, the Treaty of Breda being absolutely concluded, and notwithstan­ding the great Antipathy and animosity be­tween the Royallists and the Presbyterians, all their jealousies and grudges were seemingly re­concised, so that the Scotch wanted nothing to compleat their design, but to enjoy their Kings preserce, who immediately coming to the Hague, went thence for Schevelinge, and em­barqued himself for Scotland notwithstanding the dangers and perils of the Sea, which were very great, and the English Ships which had way-laid him to surprize him. As soon as he was landed in Scotland, the first thing they pro­pounded unto their King was to take the so­lemn Oath, called the Covenant, that burning Torch which the Mother of Paris did see in her frenzies, that fatal fire which the Scotch believe descended from Heaven, and by which they at their pleasures kindle those warres where­with [Page 26] they infest England, which Covenant as we know was only a superstitious and warlike Prorestation made in the presence of God and Men: To maintain the purity of the Religion, to preserve the priviledges of Parliament, and the peo­ple, and to re-establish the King in his Ancestors Throne.

But that which seemed somewhat harsh and rude to this Prince, was the terms wherein they caused him to take this Oath, quite contrary to Physitians, who dip their Pills in Syrrops or Sugar, to make them down the glibber, yet these Politicians when the whole lay at the stake, it seems, troubled themselves not much with the wording of the thing; for amongst real friends indeed, there needs not many com­plements nor much complacence to be used. Therefore the Churches of Scotland made their King swallow this restorative in the following Beverage, constraining him to protest, That he renounced the sinnes of his Fathers and his own house, the Idolatry of his Mothers, and that he would adhere unto Gods cause in con­formity to the Covenant, in the firm establish­ment of the Church Government, as it was ex­pressed in the Directory, for that publick wor­ship which is to be rendred to God, contained in the Belief and Catechism: And this Cup he was forced to drink, that he might obtain his Fathers Kingdome, which formalities were more then requisite for to establish that Prince in the opinion of the prevailing party, which [Page 27] was only then in a condition to help him. The Com­mon-wealth prepares to war a­gainst the Scots.Howbeit the English knew very well to distin­guish between these Artificial fictions, and the truth, for the Parliament of England being duely informed of the Scots, their designs and practi­ses, thought it was high time to think of the best means to oppose them, and after several con­sultations upon this businesse, it was resolved that the Lord Fairfax should command the Army in chief, and with all speed march toward the North of England. But he most humbly thanked the Parliament, and like unto a second Cincinatus, retired himself from the Dictator­ship to a Countrey-life, excusing himself for not serving them in that Expedition, upon his In­disposition at that time. His late Highness made Ge­neralissi­mo of the Common-wealths Armies.The Renown of Ge­neral Cromwells feats of Arms, both as Gover­nour and Conqueror of Ireland, admitted of no lesse Proposals, then to make him Generalissi­mo of the Common-wealths Armies, in the Lord Fairfax his stead: So that he came over again into England, whilest his hands were as yet warm, and was sent to give a check unto other Enemies in another Climate, and under another disguise, after he had settled and assured all the Conquests of Ireland, and had left the ne­cessary and requisite Orders, conducing to a so­lid peace and establishment of those parts, with his sonne-in-Law Henry Ireton, so that he re­turned thence laden with Palms and Laurels, as Trophies of his worthy Acts in those parts. And scarce was he returned home, but he was [Page 28] enforced to march towards those parts, whither the glory of Conquering a second Kingdome called upon him. Now the Scots, who by no means would make any outward shew of the grand designs which they were hatching, at the approach of the English Army on their Fron­tiers, seemed to be very much astonished, and the whole Countrey took the Allarum, more­over, the better to colour this their astonish­ment and seeming surprizal, they deputed a Messenger to Sir Arthur Haslerigge, as then Governour of Newcastle, upon the Borders of England and Scotland, to know the reason of that so suddain March of the English Army to­wards their Frontiers, whereunto they joyned several Manifesto's, setting forth the Contents of the Leagues and ample Treaties of union be­tween the two Nations, and several other par­ticulars, which served only to gain time, and to make the better preparations to receive their Enemies. At the same time of the English Ar­mies advance towards the North, the Parlia­ment set forth a Manifest accompanyed by ano­ther from the General, and chief Officers of the Army, whereby both the one and the o­thers declared, viz. A Mani­fest con­cerning the Scotch warre.That the reasons which moved them to this great undertaking, was nei­ther the support which they expected from the Arm of flesh, nor the consideration or vanity of former successes, not the desire they had to compasse any of their own designs; But the true assurance they had, that their cause was just [Page 29] before God; reflecting on the foregoing Re­volutions, and the successe which had followed them, not as the handy-work of Politick men, or of Humane force, but as the most eminent works of Providence, and the power of God, thereby to make his good will appear, and to shew his pleasure concerning those things which he had decreed in this world: That they were obliged, not to betray the cause wherein God had so evidently manifested himself, after which there was nothing more dear unto them then the preservation of those who feared the Lord, and who might greatly suffer either by being mistaken, or by not being capable to dis­cern the true tye of a Generall Calamity, of which their Christian charity they hoped they had given sufficient proofs, at the last time, when they were in Scotland with this very Ar­my, of which God was pleased to make use, for to break in pieces the power of those who oppressed the faithfull in those parts. But that the acknowledgements of so signal a favour, did but little appear in the Engagement which they had lately made with their new King, and that they had not proceeded like unto good Christians, in publishing that their Army was but an Army of Sectaries: However, that they doubted not, but that God would give them the grace to forgive them that calumny, and to that effect they beseeched him to be so good unto them, as to separate the Chaffe from the good Corn, concluding in like manner as they had [Page 30] begun by a most solemn and terrible Impreca­tion, beseeching that in testimony of the truth of all these particulars, the great God of Heaven, through his infinite mercy pardoning their fail­ings and weaknesses, would judge betwixt them when they should come to joyn in battle with their Enemies. This Manifesto was sent from the Generals quarters, as then at Barwick, to the Metropolitan of Scotland, by a Trumpet, whose eyes the Scots did blinde both going and coming. Meanwhile the Army advanced as farre as the Lord Mordingtons Castle, on the 22 of July, 1650. and refreshed there three days, on the 25. they advanced towards Copperspeth, and the 26. they arrived at Dunban where the Army received those Ammunitions wherewith such Ships were laden, as were come thither on purpose to observe the motions of the Army, by reason that the Peasants had abandoned their dwellings, not leaving so much as any thing which might serve for refreshing. The Army being somewhat refreshed at Dunbar, marched toward Haddington, and the next day understood, that the Enemies were disposed to give them battle on a Heath called Gladsmore, so that the English endeavoured to possesse themselves of the place. But the Scots appear­ed not, whereupon it was resolved, that Major General Lambert, and Collonel Whalley per­sons of an approved valour (and who have since proved themselves as great Politicians as they were great Commanders) should with 1400. [Page 31] Horse advance towards Muscleborough, to en­deavour if possible to draw forth the Enemy, and to engage him to fight, whilest the rest of the Army marched up unto them, whereupon there happened some slight skirmishes, but the Scots would not by any means be engaged in a general Combat, so that the English that night encamped hard by Muscleborough, from whence the Scots were but four miles distant, defended by a brest-work which they had drawn from Edinborough to Leith, and which was well nigh flanked all the way by the Ca­non of the last place, so that they were pos­sessed of a very advantagious Port. The English being approached unto Muscleborough with a resolution to have set upon the Enemy in their works, found that it was a difficult matter to force their Line, and so were constrained to set down their Camp hard by that place all the day, to discover the countenance of the Ene­my: But the desire they had to fight was some­what abated by a great showre of rain, which continued all the day, and which did much in­commodate them, by reason they had no shel­ter at all. On the 30. finding that they were put to it for want of Victuals, and the ground being so throughly soaked by the rain, as that it was farre more difficult to attempt the Ene­my then before, the English retired to their former quarters; which begat heart in the Scots, who fallyed out of their Lines, and fell so fiercely upon the Rearguard of the English, [Page 32] as that they put them into a kinde of disorder, but some Squadrons of Horse fronting in the Rear, and making good the ground, assured the March of the foot, and so vigorously continu­ed their charge, as that they had like to have brought the businesse to a general Combate; had not the Commander in chief of the Scots Army caused a retreat to be sounded, that so they might bring their men into their Lines a­gain, whither the English pursued them, fight­ing all the way with their Cavallry. In this Encounter, Major General Lambert ingaged so farre, as that he was hurt in the Arm with a Launce, and received another wound in the body, and once he was taken prisoner, but was rescued again by Lieutenant Empson of the Generals Regiment, there were but few English killed, but farre more of the Scotch, and amongst them some persons of quality, several prisoners of theirs were also taken, as a Lievtenant Co­lonel, a Major, and some Captains. By which means the English recovered Muscleborough that night without being molested by the Enemy, but they were so disheartened for want of sleep, and so tyred by the dirty slabbery wayes, as that misdoubting least the enemy being aware thereof might give them an Alarum, that night they stood upon their guard, and accordingly they failed not betwixt three and four of the clock in the Morning, with fifteen Companies of choice Horse, commanded by Major Gene­ral Montgomery, and Collonel Straughton, to [Page 33] fall into the English quarters with such a vehe­mency as that they bare down the Guards, and put a whole Regiment of Horse in disorder, whereby the whole Army taking the Alarum, the English charged them so home as that they put them into a rout, and pursued them within half a League of Edinbourgh, killing them a sufficient number both of Officers and Souldiers, and taking several prisoners: After which, the Scots being disgusted at these their ill successes, retired themselves for a while within their intrenchments, where we shall al­so leave them to their closer guards. In the meanwhile the Parliament interdicted the Commerce between England and Scotland, and caused their Ships to be adjudged good Prize, which contributed very much to their undoing and ruine: During which they wanted for no Partisanes in England, who laboured to dispose things toward the effecting of their grand design, and amongst their chief Agita­tors, Collonel Eusebius Andrewes being disco­vered and convinced, was also condemned and beheaded on Tower-hill.

The whole Moneth of August passed almost away without any action in Scotland, towards the latter end whereof, Collington and Readhall were taken by attempt, where the Lord Hamil­ton and Major Hamilton were taken, with 60. Souldiers, 60. Barrels of Powder, Armes for 60 men, and a considerable quantity of Victu­als, and other good Booty, all which hapned on the 24 of August.

[Page 34] After which the whole Body of the English Army quitted the Mountains of Pencland, and encamped about Collington and Readhall, and the parts adjacent within one Mile of the Scotch Army; on the seven and twentieth both Ar­mies marched Flank to Flank, being only se­perated by a little Quagmire or Marsh-ground, which hindred their Conjuction, however the Canon played upon each other, and on the 28th the English Canon plyed the Scots hard, and endamaged them very much, notwithstand­ing they neither quitted their Ground, nor would they come to a Resolution to joyn in a closer Fight. And the English having consu­med all their Provisions of Victualls, retired un­to their former Quarters, first unto Pencland Hills, and afterwards unto Mussleborough whi­ther they had much ado to reach, where being some what refreshed, they dreyned their Gari­sons, assembled also their Forces, and took their March toward Hoddington, at which the Scots coasting their March on their right Wing, did charge them with a Squadron of stout Men, and as they did most briskly set upon the English, so they were in like manner vigorously repulst by a Regiment of Foot commanded by Colonel Fairfax: On the first day of September both Ar­mies found themselves only seperated by the Town and the Scots, being encamped in an ad­vantagious place, on the West-side of the Town the English were engaged to encamp themselves on the East-side of the Town, in an open Field, [Page 35] very fit to give Battel in, without that either Party would give or take advantage of the Ground, where the English having attended the Enemies a sufficient space of time, and percei­ving that they would not fight but upon an ad­vantage, they took their March towards Dunbar, whither the Scots followed them immediatly, and at a certain passage endeavoured to charge their Rearguard; But the English immediatly facing about, the Scots changed their resolution and gained the Hills, where they thought they might with advantage cut off the English their passage to Coperspeth: at which time the English Army was but in a very ill Condition, the Winter wch begins betimes in those parts had so nipt them with Colds and great Rains, and the ill Victuals which they had besides, caused a great deal of sickness in the Army, Fluxes, Loosness, and other Diseases, whereby many died, and were rendred uncapable of Service, being sent and carried away to Barwick, and the adjoyning parts.

The Scots who very well knew the sad estate of the English Army, which they had really blocked up at the passage of Copperspeth, which is betwixt Dunbar and Barwick, thereby impe­ding the English's Communication with that place, and by hindring them from those Conve­niencies which they thence received, intending either to overcome them there, or to cause them to perish there for want of Necessaries, so that they promised themselves an unquestionable [Page 36] Victory without much loss on their sides, wher­by they presumed to brag that they had gotten the English in the Earl of Essex's Pensold, allu­ding to that extremity whereunto the Royal­lists had reduced that Earle in the County of Cornwall. where his Army surrendred at discre­tion (the Horse only excepted, who made their way through the Enemy in the Night-time.) Nor were the Scots their hopes ill grounded, considering the ill plight wherein the English Army was at that time, and the inequality of their Forces, the Scots being at the least 20000 Men, and the English not above 12000, divers of which were likewise sick: But the extremity whereunto the English were reduced, made them pitch upon so firm a resolution, either to overcome, or to die in the Battel, as that the Scots were totally routed and defeated, by those very reasons, and that very confidence which had made them as it were sure of the Victory. The B [...] ­te [...] of Dunia gainte by the EnglishWherefore the General, and the chief Officers of the English Army, deeming that the longer they should delay, to put it to a noble adven­ture, whereby to get out of this great straight wherein they were, the lesse they should be able to compass it, resolved either to make their passage through their Enemies by the points of their Swords, or to perish in the under­taking; So that they imployed the whole Night in seeking of the Lord, and imploring his Assi­stance from Heaven, as also in giving out and distributing the Orders requisite for the Fight, [Page 37] and just at break of the day, the Army was rea­dy drawn up into Battel-aray, and to give the on-set; the English word was, The Lord of Hoastes: and the Scots word was, The Covenant, which did very well represent the state of their Affairs, and the subject of their Quarrell, and in an instant both the English Horse and Foot, with a gallant resolution, fiercely charged the right Wing of the Scots, where the Enemy had placed all their Cavalry, on purpose to hin­der the English in their passage that way. The Scots received their Charge with a great deal of constancy and resolution, and it may justly be said, That Alexander did not meet with more resistance, nor glory at the passage of Granicia, then our late Protector met with at this En­counter; especially if so be we consider, how that the said Conquerour of Asia had to do with an effeminate kind of People, bred in a delici­ous Country, accustomed to their ease and plea­sures; but here on the contrary, That the Eng­lish brought up in a fertile abundant Soil, and under a middle Climate, should come to con­front a War-like Nation in a harsh, barren, and cold Climat. The General's own Regiment of Foot had the Vanguard that day, and perfor­med the parts of men, answering most glorious­ly to that honour which belonged to them: Their Colonel and General together animating a [...]d encouraging them by his own example, witnessed by his Actions, that there was not a straws breadth that day betwixt them and death [Page 38] or the Victory: Major General Whaley charg­ed the Enemies whole Army through and through, with his Regiment; bearing down all those who durst withstand him, and without the loss of many men; having wheeled about a­gain, and cleared all before him, regained his former station himself, having only received a slight Wound in the Arm, and had a Horse kil­led under him. And not to detain the Reader in any further suspence, all the Regiments of the Army performing their parts, like resolute gal­lant men, (For should a man go about to praise one Squadron or Battallion of them in particular, he must of necessity derogate from the rest) you might have observed as many Sol­diers as Officers, & as many Officers as Soldiers, who being all of them animated, or rather in­spired by a supernaturall instinct of Valour, a man would have thought they had been invulne­rable, or shot-free, and that a Hand from on high did defend them from the showers of Lead and Launces, which were ready to overwhelme them, so that the violence and force wherewith they fought, did only permit the Scots to put by their Blows, as also it is worthy to be noted that in all this Fight the English lost but forty men, whereas of the Scots there were foure thousand killed upon the place, and that Army which was stronger then the English by two thirds, thinking to have overwhelmed them, did only by closing in upon them, force them to fight with the greater vigour; and you would [Page 39] have imagined, that the little Army of the Eng­lish consisted only of one Body, which had but one only motion, and charged the Enemy on all sides with so much Impetuosity and Animosity, as that you would have said it had been and in­sensible Mass, or Lump which only pressed for­wards, where the weight of Arms, or the force of Powder did transport it. Finally, after one whole hours dispute, very hot Fight, and vio­lent furious Contests, the Scots gave way, and their Horse being put to flight, endeavoured to save themselves by the goodness of their heels, the English Cavalry pursuing them to Hadding­ton, all the Scotch Foot remained on the place, and that which rendred the slaughter of them the greater was, that the English Soldiers re­membred an Action which hapned the day be­fore, in which thirty Soldiers of Colonel Prides Regiment being commanded to possess a House scituate betwixt both Camps, and not being se­conded, were over-powred by a greater number of the Scots, and so forced to deliver up the place again, notwithstanding which, after they had promised quarter to the English, they kil­led three of them, and hurt all the rest: There was no English Soldiers but had a Prisoner in this Battel, there being taken ten thousand, most of all which, except the Officers, were suffered to steal away, amidst which there was ten Co­lonels, twelve Lievetenant Colonels, nine Ma­jors, forty seven Captains, seventy two Livete­nants, and eighty Ensigns, and amongst the Pri­soners [Page 40] of Quality, there was the Lord Libberton, and his Son, the Lord Cranstone, Sir James Lunds­dale, Livetenant Generall of the Foot, and Sir Pickerten Adjutant General, all their Baggage and Canon was taken, to the number of two and twenty great Guns, and severall lesser ones, two hundred Colours, and Armes for 15000 Men; of the English there was but one Officer killed, and Major Rooksby, who afterwards died of his Wounds, as also Captain Sloyd of the Lord Fleetwoods Regiment, dangerously wounded. His late Highness obtained this me­morable Victory on the third day of September, 1650, on which day he also obtained another no less famous then this: And on this very day God crowned his Labours with a peacefull and resolved quiet death, whereby he no less tri­umphed over the World, and the rage of Hell, then he did in this last Battel we have related, over a most puissant raging Enemy; at which time his Army, as a man may say (brought low by Want, and Sicknesses) was even Bedrid, and at deaths very Door. And as the Parlia­ment of England had caused a day of universall Prayers and Fastings to be kept for the good success of their Army in Scotland, so likewise did they order a day of generall Thansgiving for this so notable and famous Victory: and the General likewise on his part did not faile with the whole Army, to acknowledge the good handy work of God, who had so visibly gained him and them this Battel: And the better to [Page 41] prosecute the said Victory, and Lieth ta­ken.to reap the fruits thereof, On the seventh day of September, four Regiments of Foot were sent to possess Lieth, a very considerable and advantageous place, where seven and thirty piece of Ordnance were found mounted on Plat-forms, and a con­siderable quantity both of Ammunitions of War and Provisions of Victuals. And on the same day his late Highness became Master of the Ci­ty of Edinbrough, the Metropolitan of all Scot­land, and caused his whole Army to march into it, without any loss, save the Arme of one Sol­dier, which was shot off by a Canon-bullet from the Castle. Edinbo­r [...]ugh ta­ken.And on the next Lords-day he sent a Trumpeter to the Castle, to give notice to such Ministers as had abandoned their Pulpits, to come and perform their Duties in their said Callings, which they having refused to do, he caused English Ministers to Officiate in their places; in the mean while, all possible dili­gence was used in the Fortifying of Lieth, it be­ing concluded to be the best and most commo­dious sheltring-place the English could have in Scotland, for the Winter Season. And after his late Highness had by sound of Trumpet, both at Lieth and Edinbrough, caused the freedome of Traffick, and liberty of Trade to be published and established, a sure way for the publick Mar­kets, himself on the fourteenth marched to­ward Nethrife, six miles from Edinbrough, lea­ving Major General Overton with his Brigade in Edinborough. On the fifteenth the Army ad­advanced [Page 42] toward Linlithgo, but by reason of the ill Weather they could not pass on forward; On the sixteenth, they marched toward Falkirk, and the next day they came up within one mile of Sterling; On the eighteenth, the Councel of War being assembled, a Letter was drawn up to be sent thither, by which the tenderness and affection of the English towards the Scotch Na­tion was represented, alledging that though formerly it had not taken its desired effects; Notwithstanding, seeing that at present the Fortune and Success of Armes had been so con­trary to them, they desired them to reflect on those Proposals which had been formerly made unto them, and to surrender that place unto them, for the use of the Common-wealth of England, and a Trumpeter being sent with the aforesaid Letter, who coming up almost to the VValls, met with a Gentleman on foot, with a Pike in his hand, who told him he should not be suffered to come into the place, and that his Letter should in like manner not be received: In the Afternoon that very day, those of the Town sent a Trumpeter to demand the Priso­ners, with a proffer to pay their Ransoms; To whom the General made answer, That they were not come into Scotland to trade in Men, nor to enrich themselves, but to do Service to the Com­mon-wealth of England, and to settle and establish those Dominions. On the same day, Orders were issued to draw up the whole Army to the very VValls of the Town, and by setting scaling [Page 43] Ladders to the place, to give a generall Assault, but after it was found that there was but a little appearance to effect the same, in regard of the good Condition the Place and Garison was in, they changed their resolution, and on the nine­teenth the Army retired to Linlithgow, which was accounted a very fit place to make a Garison of, whereby both Sterling and Edinborough might be bridled and curbed, and the necessary Orders for the fortifying of the place being gi­ven, there were five Troops of Horse left in Garison, and six Companies of Foot, and the Body of the Army returned to Edinborough, where on the twenty third of September, there was a day of Humiliation celebrated and so­lemnly kept.

And much about the same time the Churches of Scotland likewise ordered a solemn Festivall for the ensuing Reasons; Viz.

• I. To humble themselves before God, and to crave his pardon for having too much re­lyed on the Arme of Flesh.
• II. For the wickedness and profaneness of their Armies.
• III. For the Spoils and other Misde­meanours their Soldiers had committed in England.
• [...][Page 44] IV. For having not sufficiently purged their Armies; that is to say, For not ha­ving put out such persons as were not godly, and of their Belief.
• V. For the indirect and sinister Means which their Commissioners made use of in their Treaty with their King, and the indi­rect waies by which they had brought him in­to Scotland.
• VI. For their not having sufficiently purged the Kings Family.
• VII. For the just Grounds they had to believe that his Majesties repentance was not reall; nor from his heart.

The be­sieging of Edinbo­rough Ca­stle.The rest of the Month was imployed in the making of the Siege and Approaches against the Castle of Edinborough, and in applying the Mines to the VValls. And on the thirtieth the English with so much gallantry surprized one of their Bulwarks, as they carried thence three hundred Muskets, one Ensign, and severall other Armes, without the loss of one Man. On the first of October, the Besieged began to make their [Page 45] Salleys to hinder the working of the Miners, up­on whom they fired incessantly with their great and small Shot, yet however they continued their Sappinges. Upon the second of the said Month, upon notice that severall Armes and Ammunitions of VVar were hidden in the Ca­thedrall Church at Edinborough they were trans­ported thence. VVhilst the fortifying of Leith was carried on vigorously, as well as the Mines under the Castle of Edinborough, that no time might be lost; his late Highness whose great Soul could not live without Action, and who was not to be taken up by one or two single Ob­jects, marched off with part of the Army to go and view Glascow, which having done, and find­ing that he was not in a Condition to assail it at that time, he returned back to Edinborough; but by the way, he rased two strong Holds whi­ther the Moss Troopers were accustomed to re­treat and shelter. And as the Scots had a puis­sent Enemy in the heart of their Country, so had they a far greater in their very Bowels, since its generally confest, That the greatest of all Evils which can possibly happen to a State, Is the Divisions which the different professions in Religion, and the other particular Interests do beget: For in the North of Scotland, there was a Party for the King, seperated from the Chur­ches, in the VVest, there was a Party for the Church seperated from the King; so likewise there was a third Party more moderate, who held both for King and Church, and all these in­testine [Page 46] Divisions were carryed on with such a violent animosity, as that they neglected the common good, and were even ready to cut each others throat: The last of these parties was the strongest, being composed of the Ge­neral States of the Kingdome, as then held at Sterling, who neverthelesse stood upon their Guards, as well as the several others did, they being afraid of each other. The Assembly of the Estates used their best endeavours to recon­concile these two parties, and to this purpose treated mainly with the Colonels Carre and Straughan, who seemed to be the chief Heads of the said parties, but they could not prevail with them. His late Highnesse who was al­wayes as politick as vigilant, endeavoured to make good use of their dissentions, and so wrote both unto Carre and Straughan, but their particular quarrels hindred them not to joyn in their general animosities against the English, whom they reputed to be their com­mon Enemy. But the said proffers which were made unto them, having as little wrought upon them as the care of their own preserva­tions, Colonel Whaley was commanded with a good Squadron of the Army, to goe and re­duce them to their obedience, which he un­dertook not, however, before he had once more assayled to gain them by fair means, wherefore he sent a Letter unto them both, representing unto them in substance as fol­loweth, viz.

[Page 46] That all the world knew how many ami­cable wayes and endeavours had been used by the English since their being in Scotland, to hinder the effusion of Christian blood; and al­though all the said undertakings had proved fruitlesse, yet they still harboured the same thoughts and resolutions, continuing thus, that their arms were alwayes ready and open to re­ceive and embrace them, whensoever it should please God to inspire them to meet them half­way. That their design was not to rule over them, nor to intrench upon their liberties, far lesse on their Church Government, or to pos­sesse their goods and fortunes, their drift being only to advance the Lords work: But if they perished in their blindnesse, and would conti­nue to harbour frivolous and vain hopes, they must continue to be their enemies to their rests, and declared unto them, that all the miseries which should befall them hereafter, either by the sword or famine, would fall very heavy on their own accompt.

Collonel Carr sent an answer to this Letter quite in another strain then it might have been expected from persons who professed to desire nothing so much as an accommodation; and this Answer was returned to Commissary Ge­neral Whaley, at his being at Carlisle, accor­ding to the tenour following, or very nigh the same: That although they were not strong e­nough to resist the English their unjust Inva­sion, yet that they had strength enough to un­dergoe [Page 48] it, and that by their actions and suffer­ings they would submit themselves to the will of God, untill the time of their deliverance should come: That in case they should have the happinesse to perish in doing of their du­ties, it would be too much grace that God would do unto them, that they doubted not but when their miseries should be arrived at the full pitch, their Fortune would then change, adding that they thought it very strange, that the Eng­lish should mention a cessation of Arms at the same time when they laded their Subjects with Irons, when they took their Towns, when they imprisoned their Ministers, and by this means bereaved their flocks (now going astray) of the only and best comforts which they had left unto them amidst their greatest miseries: Concluding thus, That if they would voluntarily desert and relinquish Scotland, and afterwards enter upon a Treaty in such a manner as becommeth Christians to doe, it would be a reciprocal grace and favour they would doe un­to both Nations. But these Interparlies having proved thus unprofitable, the English began to fall to work again, and Major Brown possessed himself of a strong place called Ball-house, and afterwards took the Castle of Dorlington, in which there were great store of Ammunitions of warre found, and in this last some Mosse-Troopers, some of which were put to death. Collonel Monke likewise with a party both of Horse and Foot, marched towards the Castle [Page 49] of Rozellar within seven miles of Edinborough, which was also surrendred after some Granado Shells were fired into it: Immediately after which Colonel Lambert marched with 2000 Horse towards Dumfreez, in quest of Colonel Carre who was about Peblies, and likewise Colonel Whalley who commanded a Squadron of that partie, took Dalkeith on his march, which meerly surrendred upon the threats which he sent in unto those who defended it, although the walls of the said Castle were 13 foot thick, and that they were well stored with Canon, Arms, and all kinde of warlike Ammu­nitions, and provisions of victuals. Mean­while Colonel Lambert having with much difficulty passed the River Hamilton, encamp­ed there that night, whereof Colonel Carre having notice, did endeavour to surprize him the next morning at the very break of day, which he likewise did very briskly, but the English having opportunely taken the Alarum, and being unwilling that any of the Enemies forces should escape out of their hands, did surround them in such a manner, as that they found themselves at one and the self same time set upon on all sides. The English in a trice killed them 100 men, and took as many pri­soners: Not could the Scotch Horse escape their clutches, so that they dismounted 400. Horse-men, whose Horses and baggage they brought away, and might have had the men too, but that they would not stand to trouble themselves with so many Prisoners, but rather [Page 50] follow the Run-awayes, and so contented them­selves to take the most considerable persons: They chased the Scots as farre as Aire Town: Colonel Carre himself was wounded and ta­ken Prisoner, together with his Captain-Leiv­tenant, as well as his Lievtenant-Colonel and Major Straughon: as for Captain Giffin, and several other chief Officers of their party, they came and voluntarily surrendred them­selves up to Major Generall Lambert, who brought them all with him to the Head quar­ters at Edinborough. During all which, the approaches against Edinborough Castle, were continued, but to speak the truth, with little or no effect, till the Moneth of December, when as all the Troops which were dispersed up and down the Countrey, were assembled and brought together, by reason of the ill wea­ther and sharp season, which would not per­mit them any longer to keep the field, and then they fell to work in earnest towards the reducing of the said Castle, which is the strong­est and most considerable of all that Countrey, against which a Plat-form was raised to place the Morter-pieces and the great Guns on, but those within relyed so much on the strength and goodnesse of the place, that they hung out a Flagge of defiance; but not long after they were glad to take it in again, whereby it was conceived that the Morter-shells had done some execution, and that thereby they were constrained to change their tune; so that in [Page 51] lieu of their former Flagge, they were glad to hang out a white one, betokening Peace, and likewise they sent out a Drummer to propound, That they were resolved to yield, if so be they might be permitted to send to the Deputy of the States, which being refused them, they de­sired to parley, and so delivered up the place. Moreover one of the most remarkable and es­sential parts of his Highnesse life, was his abi­lity in making choice of capable personages, fit to serve the State as well by their Councels, as for the managing of the wars, and indeed herein the Parliament alwayes preferred his opinion and sence beyond all others, having found by experience, that his advice and counsells were accompanyed with a good fortune, as his valour constrayned her to Crown his actions.

The good successe of the Naval Forces un­der Gene­ral Blake.And on the other part, Generall Blake, who commanded the Common-wealths Fleet at Sea, was no lesse successefull by Sea then his late Highnesse was by Land, whose Naval Forces being anchored before Lisbone, having taken several French and Portugal men of war, which much endamaged the English Merchant-men, especially those which traded to the Levant, was obliged by ill weather and for want of pro­visions, to quit that Coast, and to leave the Port of Lisbone free.

During which, Prince Rupert making use of this opportunity, set sail towards Mallaga, where he took, burnt, and pillaged severall English Merchant-men, which obliged Admiral [Page 52] Blake to reduce his Fleet to seven of his best sailing Frigats, and sending the rest into England with the Prizes which he had taken, he pursued the Enemies with all possible speed & diligence, and being arrived at Mallaga, he understood that they had made sail towards Alicant, and in his search of them, betwixt the Cape of Gat and Paulo, he took a French Ship, which carryed twenty Guns, and presently afterwards the Roe-buck of Prince Ruperts Fleet, after which he encountred with another called the Black Prince, which rather then she would suffer her self to be taken, ran on shore, and fired her powder: Some few dayes after four Vessels more of Prince Ruperts Fleet ran on shoare in the Bay of Carthagena, where they were lost, and deserted by their Ships Companies: Prince Ruperts Fleet rui­ned.Inso­much that of all that Fleet, there was but two left, which steered their course toward Major­ca and Sumaterra. Generall Blake having thus missed them, would no longer continue the pursuit, lest the Common-wealth might need him on more urgent and important occasions, so that he set over for England, to receive the Laurels due to his good service, having done as much as could be expected from a person of Honour and Courage, alwayes faithfull and true to the Common-wealth. He was received by the Parliament with all the prayse and thanks he could expect for his good service, but especially by the Merchants, who treated him highly, and immediately revived the Trade [Page 53] again, which had for so long time as it were layn dead by the interruptions of so many Ene­mies. Notwithstanding which good successes the Royallists were not backwark to be stirring in England, being incited thereunto by the Mi­nisters of the old Church of England, one of their Agents Benson being discovered, was put to death: So likewise in the County of Nor­folk certain people made a rising, and under the notion of abolishing Papisme, Schismes and Heresies, and of re-establishing the King, they gathered to a head, but the Parliament not give­ing them time to get into a body, they were routed and defeated, and a score of them were put to death. Much about which time there happened a contest at Constantinople betwixt two English Ambassadors, the one a Royallist, the other a Common-wealths-man, and to know which was the true Ambassador, they referred their businesse to the—who delivered the Royallist into the others power, to dispose of him as he pleased, and in reference thereto he was imbarqued at Smyrna for London, where he was beheaded before the Exchange.

But to return to Scotland, where the cold Northern Climate seems to have buryed all the Martial heat, although not the Scotch Ministers zeal, who had excommunicated Straughon and Swinton, for adhering to the English, who per­formed in those parts as much as the rigour of the season would permit men to doe, and the [Page 54] Scots on the other side laboured to unite and set­tle each others mindes and differences, give order for new Levies, and Crowned their King with the greatest magnificence as the indigency and necessity of their affairs would permit. The Scots, who were better accustomed to the ri­gour and violence of their Winters then the English, thinking to have some advantage over them, would not let slip so favourable a season without their making some good use thereof, wherefore Lievtenant General David Lesly, with a party of 800 Horse endeavoured to sur­prize Lithgoe, maintained but by one Regiment of Horse, under the Command of Colonel San­derson, but finding the English upon their guards, were forced to return without any attempt at all: And the English on the other side, to let them see that the harsh season had not quite benummed them, took the field with two Regi­ments, one of Horse, the other of Foot, com­manded by Colonel Fenwick, and marched to­wards the taking of Hume Castle, which was very strong by reason of its situation; I have here inserted two Letters which passed between the Besiegers and the Besieged, by reason that the one denotes an absolute power in the Countrey, and the other bears an extraordi­nary style.

[Page 57] BUt the Morter-pieces had no sooner made a slight breach, when as they demanded to parley, and because they would not receive such Conditions as were preferred unto them, they were forced to be contented with such Condi­tions as they could obtain, and thus they sur­rendred at discretion. After which, Colonel Monke with about three Regiments of Horse and Foot laid siege to Tymptallon Castle, which for the space of eight and forty hours together, he battered with Morter-pieces without any ef­fect, whereby he was enforced to raise a Batte­ry of six Guns, which did marvellous execution, whereupon the besieged desired to parley, but no composition would be given them, so that at last they were constrained to yield to the mercy of the Conquerour, and to deliver into his hand all the Armes, Cannon, Ammunitions of War, and Provisions; The keeping of which Place by the Scots, was a shrewd Thorn in the sides of the English, who were by the parties from the said Castle scituate between Edinbo­rough and Barwick daily taken and dispoiled, when as they stragled never so little out of their way, which enforced his late Highness to cause this ensuing Declaration to be published, and to have executed with the utmost rigour; Viz.

[Page 60] BY vertue of this Proclamation severall sums of money were raised on those Parishes and places where the like Robberies and Murthers were committed, and those who were found ei­ther to be the Authors of, or Complices therein, in any manner whatsoever, were either put to death, or put to a pecuniary Mulct. Shortly after there was a design upon Brunt Island, but at that time it took not any effect; whereas General Cromwell, drew all his Forces out of Edinborough, to have maintained them all the rest of the VVinter in Fyfe, which is the best part of all Scotland, but the rigour of the Season, and the difficulty of the passage constrained him to face about again to his old Quarters, which were very good by reason of the Shipping which con­tinually arived at Leith with all kind of Provisi­ons for the Soldiery Horse and Foot; which said Refreshments came in very good time to the Army, which being not accustomed to the extream rigour of the VVeather in those Parts, was incommodated by severall Diseases, and a­mongst the rest, by a certain contagious Feaver which is peculiar to that Country, and the which had also seised the General himself, who spared his person no more then the least Sol­dier; His late Highness was so cast down by this kind of Contagion, as that it was believed he would scarce have escaped death: and it may be said that his sickness was the greatest of the whole Armies, for the private Soldiers they [Page 61] lost no Courage, but did gladly and joyfully withstand and out-brave those difficulties which stopped Julius Caesar in his enterprize in those parts, and who chose rather to be at the charge of a prodigious VVall which fenced him from the Scotch Incursions, then to engage his Army in that mountainous Country, hoary with Snow and Ice, and the Conquest whereof was by the English undertaken in the very heart of the VVinter.

And whilst the fierceness of the VVinter is passing over, we will leave both parties in Scot­land, being seperated by a River, which was im­possible to be passed over in that Season, and will make a small digression into England, to see what in the mean while passed there. At Oxford, one of the most famous Universities of England, A certain Maiden, who bym if chance at four Months end cast her Fruit, was accused, to have done it wilfully and of set purpose, to have used some art therein; and without any more formalities was Impeached and con­demned to be hanged, which was accordingly done; and some while afterwards the Physitians and Chirurgions being resolved to make a disse­ction of her body, there being no Symptomes of life at all in her: Notwithstanding, just as they were ready to cut her up, as if she had been only in a Dream, and as if her shamefac'dness being not able to endure the touching and looks of so many men, had awakened her to shun their Eyes and Rasors, she gave some tokens [Page 62] of life, to the admiration of the wisest and most judicious men learned in the like Cases, who all of them declared, that she was really dead▪ whereupon no kind of remedies were left unas­sailed to bring her to herself, which accordingly was accomplished, and she at present liveth in as perfect health as even she did before; It being not Gods will nor pleasure, that during the Government of the justest of Conquerours, there should an act of so high an Injustice pass, as the barbarous condemning and putting to death so innocent a Creature, as the Event pro­ved this silly Maiden to be.

But to come to publick Concernments, the Parliament being desirous together with the Kings person to extirpate his Memory, and to remove those Objects which might beget ten­derness in the people (who do alwaies bemoan the misfortunes of those whom before they ha­ted) Commanded that his Statues should be flung down, whereupon that which stood on the VVest-end of St. Pauls Church in London was cast down, and the other which was placed in the old Exchange, placing this following In­scription in the Comportment above the same; Exit tyrannus Regum ultimus Anno Libertatis Angliae restitutae primo, Anno Domini, 1648. Janu­arii 30. In like manner the A [...]mes of the Crown of England, which were placed in the Churches, in the Courts of Judiciture, and other publick places, were taken down: And the Common­weath being now as it seemed solidly establish­ed, [Page 63] some neighbouring States who desired to be in Amity with Her, sent their extraordinary Ambassadors over; as namely, the Hollanders, Spain and Portugal, and by the following Nego­ciations the issues of the said Embassies will ea­sily appear.

As to the Spanish Ambassador, satisfaction was continually demanded of him, for the Mur­ther which was committed on the persons of this Common-wealths Agents at Madrid, nor was this State at all satisfied with the Answer thereon returned; That the Contestations be­tween the King of Spain and his Clergy, on that particular were not as yet reconciled or brought to naissue. And as to the Portugal Ambassador, great and vast summes being demanded of him for the reimbursement of those Charges which the King his Master had caused the Common-wealth to be at, and for the reparation of those damages which the English Merchants had su­stained: He replyed, he had no Orders to make Answer thereunto; whereupon he had his Au­dience of departure, and went his way.

Immediatly after, this Common-wealth sent two extraordinary Ambassadors to the States of the united Provinces, the Lords Oliver St. Johns, and Walter Strickland, Personages of a high re­pute, and endowed with exquisite Parts; their Train was great ad splendid, and their Equipage favoured not a little of the Splendor of their continued Victories: They Embarqued in the Downs on the eleventh of March, 1651. and the [Page 64] next day toward even they came to an anchor neer Helvoot Slugs, but not without some dan­ger, on the 13 they made towards Rotterdam in the long-boats, and by the way they were met by some of the States Jachts or Barges, and being arrived they were by the English Mer­chants conducted to their publick House, where they were most splendidly entertained; whither the Spanish Ambassador sent to com­plement them, by one of his Gentlemen, to testifie unto them his joy for their happy arri­val, beseeching them to enter into and joyn with him in a right understanding. Two or three dayes after, they set forward towards the Hague, and by the way were met by the Master of Ceremonies, accompanyed with about thirty Coaches, and after some reciprocal com­plements passed and exchanged, they were con­ducted to a stately House which was prepared for them in the Town, where having been three dayes treated at the States charges, they had audience. In which the Lord St. Johns made a most Elegant and learned Speech, in English, and gave the Copy thereof unto the Lords States both in English and in Dutch, the most essential points whereof were as fol­loweth.

• [Page 65] I. That they were sent unto the Lords, the High and mighty States of the United Provinces, on the behalf of the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England, to ciment a firm League and Confederation betwixt the two Common-wealths, in case their Lordships thought it fitting, notwithstanding the inju­ries which the English had received from the Holland Nation.
• II. That they desired to renew and con­firm the Treaties and Agreements formerly made, concerning the Traffique and Com­merce betwixt both Nations.
• III. After which they exhibited the advantages which the Hollanders would reap by this said union, in regard of the commodious situation of England, for the Traffique, with the multitude and security of her Havens, and of all things which may advance the Commerce and Trade.
• IV. Finally he told them, That he wus commanded by the Parliament of England and by the Common-wealth, to make known [Page 66] to their Lordships, how sencibly they were touched with the Murder which was com­mitted on the person of their Agent, Mr. Dorislaus, and that they doubted not but their Lordships would use all possible en­deavours to discover the Authors of that horrid and unworthy action.

After which, the Lords States being infor­med, that the said Lords Ambassadors follow­ers were daily molested and affronted by the English Royallists, and other persons, who re­sided in Holland, they caused a Proclamation to be drawn up, which they sent unto the Lords Ambassadors, to know of them whether it was penned in the due terms, according to their good liking, whereby on pain of death they prohibited, that no man should either by words or deeds, offend or molest any of the said Am­bassadors followers or retainers. Three months time was already elapsed in their Negotiation at a vast expense, and with a farre greater pa­tience, without that the least satisfaction in the world could be obtained at the hands of Justice, for those daily affronts & injuries which were put upon the Lords Ambassadors Retinue & Servants, and the scorns and disgraces offered to their own persons, even to such a pitch, as that the Common people and Rascality would assem­ble themselves at the Gates of their house, and belch out injurious language, and set upon, and [Page 67] injure their Servants. Now the Parliament being sensible of these wrongs and injuries, and seeing the Lords States did not at all answer those kinde proffers and endeavours which were made unto them, to beget and fettle a solid and firm alliance and peace betwixt the two Com­mon-wealths, save with delayes and shifts, purposely to gain time upon the English, till they should be able to judge how the face of things would evidence it self in Scotland, and which way the Chain would turn there, they recalled their Ambassadors.

Which suddain and unexpected newes ex­treamly surprised the Hollanders, who testified their astonishments thereon to the Lords Am­bassadors, by more frequent and oftner visita­tions then formerly, and by which they endea­voured to perswade them to beleeve the since­rity of their intentions, and how earnestly and ardently they desired the alliance which their Lordships had propounded. But all these fair words were not able to stay the Ambassadors, who immediately returned into England again, to cut out another guesse kinde of work for the Hollanders. And that which gave the greater cause of jealousie unto the English, and made them believe that the Hollander dealt deceit­fully with them, was that their Admirall Van Trump lay lurking about the Isle of of Scillie, with his Fleet, as if he had some design to make himself Master of them: But when as the States were demanded the reason of his [Page 68] lying there, they replyed, that their Admirals being in those parts was only to demand resti­tution of some Ships, Goods and Merchandises which the Pyrats of those parts had despoiled their Merchants of: Which answer though in some measure it satisfied the Parliament, yet not so farre as to trust too much therein to the Hollanders, and whereby the Parliament was obliged to give order for the suddain reducing of that Island to their obedience.

The re­ducing the Isle of Scilly.Generall Blake being re-inforced by a Squa­dron of Ships commanded by Sir George Askue which was designed for the reduceing of the Cariba Islands made sail towards Scilly, where immediately they set ashoar 300. Sea-men, be­sides the Land-men, the Sea-men gave the first onset with a great deal of courage and resolu­tion, and the Land-men did second them very well, insomuch that they speedily became Masters of the Isles of Tresco and Bryers, where they took 150 Prisoners, after they had once slain a score of them. They found in the place two good Frigats, one of 18 Guns and the o­ther of 32. and immediately possessed the best Haven of all these Islands, whence the Ene­mies fled unto St. Maries, the strongest of all those Islands, but which held not long out af­terwards, and so they were all reduced. It is unnecessary to lose time in the disating upon the strength and conveniencies of those Islands, since all what art and nature could possibly al­lotte unto them, is there to be found, and so [Page 69] need but look into the Mappes, to judge by their very situation, of what concernment they are unto England. Meanwhile it is worthy ad­miration that so difficult a Conquest should be attained in so little a space of time, with the losse of so few men onely. And whereas the Royallists did continue to make good Cornet Castle in the Isle of Guernsey, and on a false advise, that there were but forty men in the place, eighteen of which were also said to be incapable of doing service, a resolution was taken to set upon the said Castle, and to carry it by surprisall; but when the attempt was made, there were found to be in the place threescore good men, who when the Scaleing Ladders were applyed to the walls, and the assault given to the place, defended themselves resolutely, and endammaged the Assailants in such a manner, with Stones and Timber which they cast down upon them, as also by their Canon which flanked the wall, charged with Case-shot, as that they killed divers of the Assailants, and constrayned the rest to retire, and the greatest dysaster that hapned, was, that a Vessel or two in which the men retired, were sunk by the Canon from the Castle: And however this attempt did not succeed, yet the English did like couragious men, and deserved no lesse prayse then if they had carryed the place. About which time, one Brown-Bushell was beheaded at London, a famous Royallist both by Sea and Land, for having deserted the Parliaments Forces, and having since com­mitted [Page 70] several Murders and mischievous acti­ons.

But it is time to return into Scotland, and to see in what posture both Armies are there. The English, who would not remain idle, only to keep their Men in action, besieged Blackness, a considerable place, and whence their quarters were continually allarum'd by the Mosse-Troopers, who retreated and sheltred them­selves in that place. Blackn [...]sse taken by Colo [...]el Monk.Colonel Monk comman­ded in chief in this Expedition, who with but a handfull of men, causing a Battery to be rais­ed, and having given them some few volleys of Cannon, constrained them to yield. The Scots unit [...].On the other side, all the several dissenting parties amongst the Scots, notwithstanding their diffe­rences, quarrels, jealousies, and their terrible excommunications, did unite themselves al­together, by their common interest, wherein they concurred to re-establish their King, whereunto they were encouraged by severall under hand practises which were carried on here in England, and chiefly in Lancashire, which was generally to have risen in Arms: A Plot discovered.One of the chief Agents interessed in this busi­nesse, by name Mr. Thomas Cook, was taken at London, who discovered part of the design, and more was known by Letters which were found in a Vessel sailing from the Mount of Scotland to the Isle of Man, which belonged to the Earl of Darby, and who anon will appear more vi­sibly in this businesse, as also Mr. Birkenhead [Page 71] was taken, being charged with severall Orders and Instructions by which the most hidden and intricate secrets of this conspiracy were disco­vered. Major Ge­neral Har­rison sent to the North.These proceedings obliged the Parlia­ment to order a party both of Horse and Foot under the command of Major General Harri­son, to march towards the North, as well to dissipate such raisings as should chance to hap­pen there, as to oppose the Enemy, should they make an irruption by the way of Carlisle. Meanwhile, several persons of note were im­peached, and tryed for having a hand in this Conspiracy: Mr. Love & Gibbons beheaded.The names of the chief are as followeth, viz. Mr. Christopher Love, Major Alford, Major Addams, Colonel Barton, Mr. Blackmore, Mr. Case, and Mr. Cauton, Doctor Drake, Mr. Drake, Captain Farre, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Haviland, and Mr. Jenkins, Major Hunting­ton, Mr. Jackwell, Mr. Jackeson, Mr. Walton, Mr. Robinson, Captain Massey, Captain Potter, Lieutenant Colonels, Jackeson, Sowton, and Vaughan, and several others.

Two of which number were only put to death, being found more guilty then the rest, to wit, Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbons, who were both beheaded on Tower-hill. And a false re­port being spread in the principality of Wales, that Generall Cromwell was defeated in Scot­land, and that the Royallists Army was entring England, a party began to form it self in those parts, but as the cause of the same rising was false, so the effect thereof did soon vanish.

[Page 72] Now the English being resolved to termi­nate the warre of Scotland, caused Vessels to be built, to passe over the River, and to enter into Fife, which began to allarum the Enemies who were on the other side of the water, as also those in Brunts-Island. Nor were the Scots idle neither, but incommodated those quarters of the English which were the most advanced, which they effected with the greater advantage, being versed and known in the wayes and advan­ces, and by this means they slew several Eng­lish Souldiers as they went out to forrage and to get in Provisions, whereby the English were constrained to quit their Out-quarters, and ha­ving thus ingrossed their Army by the said Gar­risons, they advanced towards Fife, and to that end made their Magazine at Blacknesse, but not finding wherewithall in the Countrey to feed their Horse, they retarded their March for some few dayes: The Scotch army com­pleated re­fuse to fight.By which time the Scots ha­ving compleated their Levies, found them­selves to be 15000 Foot, and 6000 Horse, with which Force they marched toward a place call­ed Torwood on this side Sterling, whereby they were faced by the English Army, but would not ingage in a Battail, keeping themselves with­in their Bogges, and other inaccessable places, Colonel Overton passes into Fife.whereupon the English resolved to passe over part of their Army on the other side of the River, and Colonel Overton being thereunto ordered, did on the 6th of July, 1651. passe at Queens Ferry with 1600 Foot, and four [Page 73] Troops of Horse, having in his said passage lost but six men; as soon as they were arrived they fell to intrenching themselves, and at the same time, the Generall with the body of the Army marched directly towards the Enemy, to the end, that in case the Scots should make a shew to march towards Fife, he might charge their Rear, before they should gain Sterling, and the Scots being unwilling to let the day passe without driving the English out of Fife, sent 4000 Horse and Foot, under the command of Sir John Brown, to set upon the English, which obliged Generall Cromwell to send over a re-in­forcement of two Regiments of Horse, and two Regiments of Foot, under the Command of Major Generall Lambert, Major Ge­neral Lam­bert passes into Fife. in lesse then 24 hours they were passed over and joyned to the others, and immediately the Regiment of Co­lonel Okey advanced towards the Enemy, which ingaged them to draw up into Battel-array, and the English likewise did the same, who though they were more in number then the Scots, yet they had the advantage of the ground, and the Scots being placed on a hill, they re­mained face to face for the space of an hour and a half, looking on each other, the Scots not being willing to march down nor lose their advantage, insomuch that the English at last re­solved to march up towards them, and set upon them so resolutely, as that after a very slender contest they quite routed them, and made such a butchery amongst them, that they killed [Page 74] 2000 of their 4000 took 1400 Prisoners,4000 Scots defeated by the English. a­mongst whom Sir John Brown who commanded the Party, Colonel Buchanam, and severall o­ther persons of quality on the English side, there were but few slain, but many hurt; and in refe­rence hereunto more Forces were sent over into Fyfe, in case the whole Body of both Armies might chance to come to a generall Battell. Immediatly after the English became Masters of Inchigarvy a strong Castle, scituate upon a Rock in the midst of the Province of Fryth, be­tween Queens Ferry and North Ferry, in which there were sixteen piece of Ordnance mounted. Brunt Isle­land sur­rendred. On the twenty seventh of July, all the English Army appearing before Brunt Island, the Go­vernour there of took such an Alarme thereat, as that after a small Contest in a Parley, he surren­dred the same, delivering unto the English, to­gether with the said Island, all the Men of War which were found in the Haven, all the Cannon of the place, as also all the Armes, Ammu­nition of War, and the provision of Victuals; which said Isle was very considerable for the English to make a Magazine and Storehouse for the Provisions and Ammunition for the Army.

St. Johns Town surren­dred.Thence the Army marched to St. John's Town, a very strong and considerable place, in­to which the Enemy had but just before put a fresh Regiment, who were resolved to have de­fended themselves very well, but as soon as they saw that their Sluces were cut off by the English, they lost their Courage, and surrendred the place,

[Page 75] The Scots enter Eng­land by Carlisle.Meanwhile there happened a great change of Affairs, for the Scots Army consisting in 16000 men, abandoned their own Territories, in hopes of establishing themselves in a better Country, and by the way of Carlisle enter England.

The Eng­lish followGeneral Cromwell being advertised hereof, issued out immediatly such Orders as were re­quisite to pursue the Scots, and with all possible speed the Army repassed the River of Fife upon a Bridge of Boats at Leith, Major General Lambert the sooner to overtake the Enemies Rear, with 3000 Horse and Dragoons followed after them, and Major General Harrison with a Body of lighter Horse, was commanded to get into the Van of the Enemy, for to amuse and detain them, whilst the General himself with the Body of the Army consisting in sixteen Regiments of Horse and Foot immediatly pur­sued the Enemy.

Colonel Monk with 7000 men reduceth all ScotlandBut not wholly to abandon the Affaires of Scotland; Colonel Monk was left there with 7000 men, with which alone he perfected the Conquest of that Kingdome, taking immediatly after this Change of the Scene, the strong Town and Castle of Sterling, being a very considerable Place, and also Aberdeen, Dundee, and the strong Castle of Dunnotters, and Dunbarton, with many others: Insomuch, as that after the pas­sage into Fyfe was once gained, the remaining parts of Scotland were so on entirely subdued, and were made tributary unto the Common-wealth of England.

[Page 76] Mean while, the divided Parties of the English Forces which pursued the Scots Army, did quite and clean tire them out during their March, set­ting upon them sometimes in the Van, some­times in the Rear, sometimes in the Flank; and finally, on all sides as they saw their oportunity to disturb and annoy them: Insomuch that their long and precipitated March did much weaken the Scots. But that which troubled and vexed them most of all, was the little hopes they saw of those promises of relief which were given them from England, The Parliament having settled such good Orders in all parts, as that no body durst stir or rise in Armes to their Aide. In all places wheresoever the Scots came they proclaimed their King, To be King of great Britain, France, and Ireland, according to the accustomed Formes, and in his Name they sent unto all those who had any Commands, or were in any Authority in those parts through which they passed, to rise in Armes joyntly with them, but no body budged. To the contrary by Or­der of Parliament the Trained Bands of severall Countries drew forth in Armes, to hinder the Risings, and to augment the Common-wealths Armies. On the one side, General Cromwells Army marched on the Heels of the Scots to their Terrour; on the other side, the Major Ge­neral Lambert and Harrison waited upon their Designs, and Colonel Robert Lilborn was left in Lancashire, to hinder the Earl of Darby from levying men in those parts, and to the same [Page 77] purpose, severall other Bodies were placed in other places, as the occasion required, both to cut off the Enemies Provisions, as well as his passage; In case they should resolve to retreat back again, or to fly away. Finally, the Scotch Army having reached the Town of Worcester, pitched its Camp there, having much debated where, and in what manner they should fix upon a resting and breathing place, after so long and tedious a march: Whereof the Earl of Darby was no sooner assertained, but he issued forth of his Island with 300 Gentlemen, and Landed in Lancashire, where he assembled at least 1200 men, during which, the Generals Regiment which was left at Manchester, was Commanded to joyn with Colonel Lilborne, to cut off the Earl of Darbies passage to Manchester, whither he was marching to have faln upon the said Re­giment; but Colonel Lilborne observing his motion, marched the very same way, joyning Flank and Flank, with the Earls Forces, who deeming that he ought not to defer the Fight with Lilborne, till he should have joyned with the Generals Regiment, when as then he might have proved too strong, but whilst he was weaker being alone, fell upon Colonel Lilborne, and each side for the space of four hours fight did be­have themselves very well, The Earle of Darby defeated.till at length the Earls Forces being worsted, he was constrained to save himself, and to gain Worcester, almost all alone; amongst Prisoners of note, which were taken in this Encounter, were Colonel Legg, [Page 78] Robinson, Baines, Gerrard, four Livetenant Colo­nels, one Major, four Captains, two Livetenants, twenty Gentlemen, and five hundred Soldiers. There were killed the Lord Withrinton, Sir Tho­mas Fieldsley, Colonel Boynton, Sir William Throg­morton, Sir Gamuell, and sixty Soldi­ers.

On the Parliaments side there were but ten men slain, but abundance were hurt, which de­feat, although it was but a small one, yet it was very ominous, and served not a little to discou­rage those who were on the Brink of declining themselves, and ready to rise in Armes; so that it may be said without vanity, that the de­feating of those 1500 men, hindred above 10000 to joyn with the Scots at Worcester: and indeed Colonel Lilborne received those Ho­nours and that recompense from the Parliament which was due to his Valour; And the Lord General Cromwell whose prudence did at all times equallize his Valour, nay far surpass it, being conscious that diligence and expedition was more then requisite in this Conjuncture, which was like unto a Gangren, continually gaining ground, and therefore immediatly to be cut off, least it should endanger the whole; a­rived with his Army at Worcester, sooner then he was expected, with a resolution to make his E­nemies either perish within the place, or con­strain them to give Battel. Here War-like stra­tagems or wiles were not necessary, for there was no delaying of the business, neither was [Page 79] there any retreat to be made, or flight to be ta­ken; It matters not for one Town more or less, This is the upshot Blow, where the best Swords were, to decide the Interest of three Crowns. The Royallists were backed by dispaire, and the others were animated with the continuall and accustomed defeating of their Enemies; Now both must either fight or die, and resolve to be a Cast or nothing, and the Town of Worcester, this very day must be the bloody Theater, of the fairest chance of Fortune which ever happened in the Isles of great Britain; The first thing therefore which the Parliaments Forces endea­voured, was to gain a pass over the River of Se­verne, which was immediatly performed by Major General Lambert, at a place called Ʋpton, and which passage was made good by Liveten at General Fleetwcods Brigade, which advancing towards Tame River, a Bridge of Boats was laid over the same, and likewise another Birdge was made over Severn on the Generals side, which being perceived by the Royallists they caused a Body both of Horse and Foot to advance to op­pose the Livetenant Generals passage, Worcester Fight.who was backed by two Regiments of Foot of Colonel Inglesbies, and Colonel Fairfax's, by the Ge­nerals Troops of Guard, and Clonel Hackers Regiment of Horse, all which were animated and encouraged by the Generals prerence, who marched at the Head of them; after which Co­lonel Goff's, and Major General Deans Regi­ments were passed over the River, who began [Page 80] to scoure the Hedges which were lined by the Enemy, and whence they drave them away, beating them from Hedge to Hedge, being sup­plyed with fresh men, but after this kind of Skir­mish had lasted well nigh a good hour, very smartly, the Royallists were constrained to give ground, and to retire to Powick Bridge, which they made good for an hour longer, but quitting it at length, they retired toward the Town, ex­cept those which were made Prisoners; and within a little while afterwards, having assem­bled all their Forces, and all their Courage to boot, they issued forth of the Town in a Body towards the Generals side, believing that the best part of his Army had been on the other side (as in effect it was seperated in two by the a­fore specified River, and the Royallists at their first charge were so furious and resolute, as that the Generals Troops were constrained to give way, but that only served to augment their cou­rage, and make them more covetous of Glory: Insomuch, that renewing their Fight with a fresh vigour, they charged the Enemy so impetuous­ly, as that the Scotch Army both Horse and Foot were on a suddain over borne and quite brought into disorder, all their Works and Lynes, toge­ther with their Royall Fort, and their Cannon were immediatly taken, and turned upon and a­gainst themselves; the Town was given in Pil­lage, The Scots defeated at Worce­ster.and all their Foot were either slain or ta­ken Prisoners, a Body of 3000 Horse brake through and made their escape, and one thou­sand [Page 81] of them were taken by Colonel Barton who lay about Bewdly, only with a few Horse and Dragoons, and Colonel Lilborne with the Ge­nerals Regiments of Foot accidentally met with the Earl of Darby, who a little before had escaped him, whom he seized, together with the Earl of Landerdale,, and above a hundred persons of quality, severall others were like­wise taken by the other parties which were a­broad; as Duke Hamilton General of the Scotch Army, who afterwards died of his Wounds, the Earl of Rothe, the Earl of Cornwarth, the Earle of Shrewsbury, Packington, Cunningham, and Clare, Knights, the Lords Spine and Sinclere, the Earle of Cleaveland, of Kelley, and Colonel Greaves, six Colonels of Horse, thirteen of Foot, nine Livetenant Colonels of Horse, eight of Foot, six Majors of Horse, thirteen of Foot, thrity se­ven Captains of Horse, seventy three of Foot, fifty five Quarter-masters, eighty nine Livete­nants of Foot, Major Generall Biscotty, Major General Montgomery, the Livetenant General of the Ordnance, the adjutant General of the Foot, the Martiall General, the Quarter-master General, the Conductor General of the Bag­gage, seventy six Standards, ninety nine Ensigns, nine Ministers, nine Chirurgions, one hundred fifty eight Colours, and all the Cannon, and Baggage generally, the Royall Standard, the Kings Coach and Horses, the Royall Robe, the Collar of the Order of the Garter, thirty of his domestick Servants, and his Secretary Fa [...]shams [Page 82] as for the King his own person, he made and es­cape strangely, and in a disguise he saved himself at length into France, not without many diffi­culties and dangers; Notwithstanding the Par­liament had promised five hundred pounds to any one that could discover his Person. Several other persons were also afterwards taken in the remotest Countries; as Major General Massey, who afterwards made an escape, Major General Middleton, Livetenant General David Lesly, and severall others; insomuch, as that it may be said, the Gleanings of this Victory, were as conside­rable as the whole Harvest it self.

But let us return to our CONQUEROR, and observe with what a moderation he enjoyed this his victory, he desires no triumphall prepa­rations, He would not that thanks should be re­turned to him for the same; but only to God alone, who helped him with his mighty Arme to advance his own Glory, and to establish the peace and repose of England, upon solid and firm Foundations, and when as the Parliament did propound unto him most splendid and mag­nificent Presents, in recompense, he only desi­red the Lives and Liberties of their Prisoners. They proposed to have Bonefires made, and to have Triumphall Arcks erected, but he answer­ed; That it would be better to raise Monuments to such of their Illustrious Patriots as lost their lives in the gaining of that Day, and to bewaile their deaths with Teats. And Iastly at the Ge­nerals request; there were onely the Earle of [Page 83] Darby, and Sir Fetherston Knight, of all this great number of Prisoners put to death. besides some few others of less quality.

The re­maining Nobility of Scotland seised and sent into England.Much about which time also, that smal Body of an Army which remained in Scotland, seized upon a great number of the Nobility of the Country, who were assembled all together at a place called Ellet; where the old General Lesly, Earle Marshall, the Lord Keith, Cofford, Ogleby, Barany, Huntly, Lee, and severall other Knights, Gentlemen, and Ministers, were in Consulta­tion, all of which were put on boord a Ship, and sent into England.

This great Storm being thus over-blown, and the Minds of the Parliament Members being calmed, after the apprehensions of the Scotch Invasion, and the doubtfull and unexpected E­vents of a Battel, they began to track the Foot-steps of their Conquest a new, and the whole Common-wealth being entirely cleansed with­in, they cast about how to reduce those Islands which sheltred several of the Enemies smal Ves­ssels, whereby the Trade was interrupted, and several Merchant-men impeded in their Voya­ges: The Isle of Jersey attemptedThe Isle of Jersey was the first they resolved to begin withall, and the Conduct of this En­terprise was left to Colonel Haymes, who upon the same accompt on the fourteenth of October, 1651. caused two Regiments of Foot, and as ma­ny of Horse to be embarqued on board of eight Ships, in the Port of Weymouth, and the seven­teenth they set Saile, but the Stormy Weather [Page 84] forced them to return: On the nineteenth they set saile again, and on the same day about Mid­night, they came to anchor under the Island of Zoark, and next Morning continuing their Course, they arived at Stowens Bay in Jersey; on the next day they fell down with the Tyde, and got into St. Brelads Bay, where they were assai­led by so vehement a storm as that the Fleet was dispersed, but having joyned to each other again; on the one and twentieth they resolved to go ashoare that Night at Stowens Bay, whe­unto they were necessitated for want of Forrage for the Horse, and as it were in a trice, they landed their Horse by an admirable Industry of General Blake, and his other Officers in Boats, and two hours after the Flood they weighed anchor, and some cut their Cables to run a shoare, and so the Foot Landed some at three some at four, some at five, and some at six foot set and more, receiving all that while both the Cannon and Musket shot which played upon them from the shoare; Notwithstanding which they gained Land, although they were faced by both the Horse and Foot of the Island, but this was their advantage, they were so over-charged with Water, as that they were not succeptible of Fire. Finally, after they had endured this first brunt, they got all of them on shoare, and quickly gained as much Ground as served them to draw up into a Body to fight, which they ac­cordingly did, with so much resoluion and vi­gour, that in one half houres time they forced [Page 95] the Enemy to retreat, who left their Ensignes behind them, and twelve piece of Cannon, af­ter which the Horse being a little heartned ha­ving been refreshed in their Quarters in the Island, on the two and twentieth of October they attempted three small Forts, each having two piece of Ordnance in them which they took, af­ter which, they advanced within sight of Eliza­beths Castle, to set upon a Fort called the Tow­er of St. Albons, having fourteen piece of Ord­nance commanded by the said Castle: In two hours time they gained the said Tower, and their next work was to possess the Castle of Montorqueil, which they also took without much trouble; Jersey and all the Castles ta­ken.But Elizabeths Castle being a very strong and considerable place into which they had retired all rheir Forces, was not sur­rendred untill the midst of the Month of De­cember, on the most advantagious Conditions which so considerable a place could expect.

On the sixteenth of October 1651. there were embarqued at Westchester and Leverpoole three Regiments of Foot, to wit, The Isle of Man at­tempted, and redu­ced.General Cromwells, commanded by Livetenant Colonel Worstey, Ma­jor General Deanes Commanded by Livetenant Colonel Michell, and Colonel Duck [...]nfields, who Commanded the whole Brigade, together with two Troops of Horse, which Forces were sent to reduce the Isle of Man.

On the eighteenth of the said Month they set Sail, but the VVind coming contrary, they were driven into the Port of Beaumorris. On the [Page 86] twenty fifth, by two in the Morning the Wind coming Southwardly, by the favour of a fresh Gale, they set Sail again, and about two of the Clock in the Afternoon they discovered the Custle of the Isle of Man, Rushen Castle, Darby Fort, and a good part of the Island, as also the Inhabitants and Soldiery, as well Horse and Foot in Armes, who were drawn out to make a review of their Forces, when as by a suddain Gust the Fleet was hindred from approaching neerer the shoare, whereupon they tacked about towards the North of the Island, and not with­out some difficulty they gained Ramsey Bay, where they Anchored that Night in sight of the Island, and sent them Volleys of Cannon which were not at all answered by those of the Island. On the twenty sixth of October, an In­habitant was sent on board the Fleet from the chief persons of the Island, to assure the Com­mander that they would not in any wise hinder their Landing, But to the contrary that they would deliver up unto them two Forts which they had Mastered, after which there remained only Rushen and Peele Castle to be taken, where­in they would also be assisting to the utmost of their powers: But because the said Inhabitant brought nothing in writing to confirm what he had said, Major Fox went on shoare to be assu­red of the certainty thereof, and returning well satisfied, he was followed by some Commissio­ners of the Island, who most humbly beseeched the Officers not to ruine them, which must of [Page 87] necessity ensue, should they Land all their Men, obliging and engaging themselves to bring Pro­visions at reasonable rates, unto those who should remain on board the Ships: The Com­mander in chief returned them thanks, promi­sing them to do them all the favour possible and imaginable; but it fell out unhappily for all sides: That on the twenty seventh the Sea be­came very rough, and the Ships being not able to remain all of them under shelter in the said Bay, they were in a great deale of darger, and one Ship running a shoare, was broken and rent in sunder; however all the men were saved, and those within the Castles knowing full well the danger wherein the Ships were, did encrease the dangers from shoare as well as from Sea, and thereby became the more resolute and obsti­nate; Insomuch that on the twenty eighth they were constrained to Land the Horse and the rest of the Foot; who became Masters of the Forts, and afterwards set upon the Castles, in one of which was the Earle of Darbies Widow, who quickly surrendred herself, together with all the Ammunitions of War, and some Vessells which were Anchored in the Harbour.

Guerns [...]y Castle sur­rendred.And not long after the strong Castle of Guern­sey was also surrendred to the Parliament, the whole Island having alwaies remained under the obedience of the Common-wealth, and never deserted the same.

And, as there is no felicity or bliss under the Heavens, which is not mingled with some bit­terness; [Page 88] The death of two fa­mous Per­sons in England.so in like manner, the great Conquest of the Parliament both by Sea and Land, had some mixture of missorrunes on both Elements, on the Land by the decease of a great Captaine, and a greater States-man, and on the Sea by the death of a great Pilot, and a greater Admirall both together. The first was the Lord Ireton, Son-in-law to his late Highness, who immediat­ly after the taking of Limrick, a very conside­rable place in those parts, died, during his being Lord Deputy of Ireland, he was generally be­moaned of all men, being a person who had rendred himself equally famous in War-like Ex­ploits, as well as in Politick Affairs, and Sagaci­ous Councels, and to speak the truth, there was scarce his like in all England, and all the Com­forts which survived his loss, were, that those good Foundations which he had laid, and the Maximes which he had prescribed for the Go­vernment of Ireland did not perish with him, but have remained to his Successors, as Lamps and Lights whereby they may safely conduct their Foot-steps, and assuredly carry on their De­signes.

The other famous Person who also dyed, was General Poppham, a Personage endowed with all the good qualities of an exquisite Sea-man, being valiant, active, and well versed in Sea Af­faires, his precipitated death, and the small time he continued in that Imployment, did shew un­to us less what he was, then according unto all appearance what he would have been, had it [Page 89] pleased God to have lengthned his daies. And now the Parliament being truly sencible both of the old and new Injuries which England had received from, and by the States of Holland, thought it fit to publish this ensuing Manifest; Viz.

An Act of Parlia­ment, con­cerning the Impor­tation and exportati­on of Goods & Merchan­dises.THat no Commodities whatsoever of the growth or Manifacture of Africa, Asia, A­merica, or Europe, should be brought into Eng­land, or into any of the Territories belonging thereunto, either by the English themselves, or by any others, save in Vessels, or Barques, effe­ctively belonging to this Common-wealth, or the Collonies and Plantations in the Indies, who depend on the same, on the penalty of for­feiting both Ships and Goods.

2. That all Commodities whatsoever of the growth or manifacture of Forreigners which shall be brought within the Dominions of this Common-wealth, in Vessels belonging to the Inhabitants thereof shall be taken and laden only in the places where the said wares do grow or else in those Ports and Havens, whence they must of necessity be brought, and where they are accustomed to be had and bought at the first hand.

3. That all kind of Fish of the Fish­ing belonging to the people of this Nati­on, as also all kind of Oyle of Fish, VVhales [Page 90] Oyle, and VVhale Bones, shall not be brought, save in such Ships where the said Fishing shall have been made, upon the forementioned Pe­nalty.

4. That after the first of February, 1653. there shall be no Salt-fish transported out of England, save in English Vessels, &c. Then which, no­thing was more pleasing to the Merchants, nor could any thing have more eucouraged them, to cause the Traffick and Navigation to flourish a­gain, and whereby they were not a little also en­deared to the Parliaments Interest: So likewise was it very effectual to gain the Seamens hearts, then which nothing is so apt to rebell, and so hard to be kept in awe.

So likewise severall other Ordinances and Regulations were made concerning those Mer­chandizes which are brought from the East In­dies, from the Levant, and from the Coast of Spain and Portugal, A Rup­ture with Holland caused. all which did not much please, and but lease oblige the Hollanders; but to the contrary did so exasperate their Minds, as that even during the time when they were treat­ing of an Accommodation, it came to an open VVar, concerning the point of Honour at Sea, and in this wise the Quarrel begun.

The first Sea-fight with the Hollander, May 52.MAjor Bourn Commander in chief of a Squadron of English Ships, discovered Van Trump Admirall of the Dutch Fleet, on the back of Goodwine Sands, who with two and forty [Page 91] Saile of Ships made towards Dover Road, where­upon the Frigat called the Greyhound was com­manded to make all the possible saile she could after them, to speak with them, which she ac­cordingly did, whereas they struck their Saile, and gave all kind of tokens of honour and respect, saying moreover, That they would gladly tell something in the behalf of their Ad­miral, unto the Party that commanded the En­glish Fleet in chief, and coming on board, they saluted the English Ships, and to seem the more officious, they gave them an Account of their Navigation in this wise; saying, That the No­thernly VVinds having been somewhat high for some daies, they had been constrained to ply more to the Southward, then else they willing­ly would have done, and that being come to an Anchor somewhat hitherwards, to avoid the fal­ling too neer unto Dunkirk, they had lost seve­rall Cables and Anchors, concluding that they had not the least intention to do us any Injury. General Blake was at that time with the rest of the Fleet towards the VVest, who being en­formed by Major Bourn of the Hollanders pro­ceedings, he used all the possible speed he could to joyne with him, and on the nineteenth of May he discovered the Hollanders Anchored in Dover Road, and being within three Leagues of each other, the Hollander weighed Anchor, and sailed Eastward, where they met with an Ex­press from the States, whom they spake withall, and afterwards made all the Saile they could up [Page 92] to the English Fleet, their Admiral Van Trump shewing himself upon the Decks of the fore­most Ships; And General Blake coveting the honour to give the first Volley, let fly three Guns at Van Trumps Flag, though without Bul­lets, To which Van Trump answered by a shot from the Stern of his Ship backwards, signifying his disdain to vale his Flag, and instead of the striking his Main Top-saile, he caused a red Flag of War to be set up, in token of a Combat to his whole Fleet, and without any further de­lay, he gave General Blake a whole Broad-side, who joyfully received it, and returned two for one, and for the space of foure houres together both Fleets fought with that Animosity and ve­hemency, which is usually on the like occasions at the first fallings out: when at last, having se­verall times past and repast, through and through each other, General Blake obtained the Victory, having sunk one Holland Man of War, took another with thirty Guns made a hundred and fifty Prisoners, and both the Captains of the said Ships, and sent the rest of their Fleet home by weeping Cross, to tell the rest of their But­ter-box Brethren the success of their rash At­tempt: The English lost but ten Men in this Fight, and had forty wounded, and of the whole Fleet, the Generals Ship alone was some­what endamaged in her Masts, Sails, Tackling, and Apparel; After which the States of Holland disowned and disavowed this Action, and to that purpose sent over two extraordinary Ambas­sadors [Page 93] into England, who represented these Reasons to the Parliament of England, therein declaring, Viz.

That the unhappy Fight betwixt the Fleets of both Common-wealths, hapned without their knowledge, and contrary to the will and desire of the Lords, the States General of the united Provinces, taking God to witness of this Truth, who knows the hearts of men, and that both by Letters and Messages they had con­tinually been assured of the said Lords and States Sincerity: That with astonishment and amazement they had received the fatall tydings of so rash an Attempt and Action; and that im­mediatly they entred into Consultation, how they might best find out a remedy to soften and excuse this fresh bleeding Wound: To which end they had convocated a general Assembly of the Provinces, in the which they doubted not, God willing, to meet with a present remedy to these Troubles, whereby not only the Causes of all the evils which might ensue, should be removed, but also by an interiour Comfort mens Minds might be rectified, and brought to a better hope of the Treaty which was on Foot, wherein their Lordships laboured daily, and in good earnest for the Welfare of both Nations, to avoid the further effusion of Christian blood, so much desired by the Enemies unto both Na­tions; wherefore they requested and desired most humbly of this honourable Councel by the Pledges of the Liberty and their mutuall con­currence [Page 94] in Religion; Not to suffer any thing to be undertaken with too much precipi­tation and heat, which might at length become irrevocable, and not to be remedied by vaine Wishes, or too late Vows; but that without delay they might receive a favourable Answer, which they the more earnestly desire, since their Lordships, the States Ships, and Marriners were detained and impeded in their Voyages, some by force and others by the Fights at Sea, and the rest in the Ports of this Common-Wealth.

Open War with Hol­land.So that this Conference besides many others, having not been caple to produce the Agree­ment and expected Reconciliation; the Hol­land Ambassadors took their leaves of the Parliament, by a publick Audience, and went their ways. And immediatly both these powerful Common-wealths prepared for an open VVar, all the Waters of the Ocean being not able to quench their just Indignations, and those Forces which they will both engender upon the Surface of the Sea, may well and duly represent unto us the Image of the Chaos, and the VVars of the Elements.

The Hol­landers Fisher­men de­stroyed in the North.General Blake who seemed to have fast­ned the Saile of Fortune to his most pro­digious mast by the glorious appearance of his gallant and resolute Fleet, makes Saile towards the Northen Parts, and about the Isles of Orkney, and seised upon all the Hol­land Vessels which he found Fishing on that Coast, most part of the Fishing Barques he sent away, and discharged as unwor­thy Objects, or Ornaments to so state­ly [Page 97] a Navall Armado; but the twelve Holland Men of War which were to con­voy and secure them, he brought home with him.

A Holland Fleet destroy­ed by Sir Geo. Askue.On the other side, Sir George Askue remaining in the Channel with another Squadron of Ships, to clear and guard the same, discovered thirty Saile of Hollanders betwixt Callis and Dover, to which he gave Chace, and constrained them all for the most part to run a shoare on the Coast of France, onely ten ex­cepted, which were taken, burnt, and sunck, and in reference to this fatall Rupture, there was not a day past wher­in Prizes were not made by the Eng­lish on the Hollander and French, who likewise were not as yet well reconciled to the English.

Thence Sir George Askue set Saile to­wards the West, as well to seek out for the Hollander, as to guard those Coasts, and to convoy the Merchant-Men which were ready to set Saile from Plimouth through the Channel, and being come within seven or eight Leagues of the said Port, he had notice given him that the Holland Fleet was not far off, where­upon calling a Councel of Warre, it was conceived they might be met with about the Coast of France, a Resolu­tion was taken to make Saile thither­wards; [Page 98] and the same day which was the sixteenth of August, betwixt one and two of the Clock in the After­noon they discovered the Holland Fleet, and immediatly made up towards them as fast as they could, and found them to be sixty Men of Warre, and thirty Merchant men; the English were but eight and thirty Men of Warre, foure Fire Ships, and foure small Frigats, who notwithstanding the inequalitie of of their Number, about foure of the Clock of the said Afternoon, encoun­tred the Enemy with as much Gallan­try and Resolution as possible could be expected.

The Plimouth fight with the Dutch.And Sir George Askue seconded by six other Ships immediatly Charged into the very Body of the Enemy, and however they were sufficiently dama­ged by this first Charge, in their Sailes Masts, and Yards, yet they got to the Wind-ward of their Enemies, and once againe Charged the whole Body of them, continuing their said Combat very fiercely in this wise, and al­wayes being intermingled pell-mell with the Enemy; untill the obscurnesse of the Night had seperated them, and had the rest of the Fleet imployed their parts as well as Sir George Askue's Squadron did, it is believed the whole Hollands [Page 99] Fleet had been destroyed: amongst the English there were severall hurt and kil­led, however but one Person of Note, Captaine Pack a Person of Honour, and a very Valiant, stout, and experi­enced Sea-man, whose Legg being shot off by a Cannon Bullet, he died im­mediatly; there were also two other Captaines hurt, Viz. Little, and Whi­teridge, Two of the Holland Men of Warre, and one of their Fire Ships were sunck, as might be guest by the Wrecks afterwards; for the Night which terminated this Fight, did also debarre the sight of the Fleets what it had pro­duced: So that the Hollanders conti­nued their Course towards the Coast of France, and the English towards Pli­mouth, to repaire their Vesseels, but especially their Masts, Yards, and Tack­ling, which were so much endamaged, that they were forced to give over the pursuite of the Enemy.

Six Hollanders Ships taken by Gen. Blake.And much about the same time that this Fight happened, Generall Blake steeting North-wards, took six Holland Ships of a great value about the Downes, and sent one Frigat toward the East, to re-inforce Sir George Askue; presently af­terwards Captaine Penne Six more ta­ken by Cap­tain Penne. plying also up­on the Coast of France, took six Hol­land Ships, which had formerly been [Page 100] in the Venetian Service, and were all of them bound homewards richly Laden, being all Men of Warre of considerable Burthen. A French Fleet taken by Gen. Blake.

On the fifth of September, General Blakes Fleet riding at Anchor in the Downes, having notice that a French Fleet was to touch in Callis Road, there to take both Men and Ammunition on Boord for the Reliefe of Dunkirk, he weigh­ed Anchor and made towards them, and about five in the Evening they were tiding it out of Callis Road, with a Designe in the Night to have set Saile towards Dunkirk: But General Blake as soon as they were got to Sea gave them Chace, and pursued them to the very Flats be­fore Dunkirk, as farre as he durst, by reason of the Flats, and the Burthen of his Ships; he took seven of their Men of Warre, the least carrying two and twen­ty Guns, and one Frigat with eight Guns, and also one of their Fire Ships; whereupon the Garrison of Dunkirk ha­ving been disappointed of their expected Reliefe of Ammunitions and Provisions: Not long after was forced, together with the rest of the Garrisons which depended on the same, to yield to the Spaniards.

On the twenty seventh of September, General Blake discovered about sixty Saile of Holland Men of Warre, Comman­ded [Page 101] by Admiral Dewit, on the back-side of the Goodwin Sands, so that next day he set Saile and made towards the Enemy, but falling upon a Flat called the The Kentish Knock, a fight with the Hol­landers. Kentish Knock (under which the Hol­lander had purposely sheltred themselves, to endanger the English, should they at­tempt to gain the Windward of them) they found they had but three Fathome Wa­ter, so that severall of the Fleet struck upon the Sands, but had no other harme, which caused them to stand off againe, and to make directly towards the Ene­my, endeavouring to engage them to a Fight: But the Hollander being unwilling to engage, all that day past in slight Skir­mishes onely, towards Evening the Hol­landers changed their Station, but kept themselves off from the English towards the Flats, making a shew of being desi­sirous to fight: But the next Morning by break of day, the English Fleet perceiving that the Hollanders were gone about two Leagues Northward from them, they re­solved although they had but very little Wind, and that various to make up to­wards them, which they endeavoured all the Morning, but could not reach them, the Wind being come North, inclined to the West: However the best Sailing Fri­gats were commanded to make after them, and to keep them in play till the rest of [Page 102] the Fleet could get up to them, and about three in the Afternoon, the said Frigats with much ado got within shot of them, but the Hollander fearing least by degrees they might be drawn to a generall Com­bat (as it indeed was the English's, De­signe) hoyst up their maine Top-sailes, and fairely run away: Notwithstanding which, ten good Frigats gave the Chace, till ten at Night, and the next Morning by the favour of a fresh Gale from the South­west, the whole Fleet pursued them till they came to West Cappell in Zeland, when as they put into Gore, the English would faine have falne on and fought them in their own Ports, but a Councel of Warre being called, it was judged unfitting to pursue them any further upon their owne Coasts, by reason of the Flats, and also by reason that the English Provisions be­gan to fall short: The Hollanāers loss in this Encounter is not well known, that which was visible was, that three of their Ships were disembled from fighting, the one having her Main-mast shot downe, and the Mizen-mast, Bowsprits, Staies and Tackling of the other two; the Admiral of their Reare Squadron was reduced to so ill a plight, as being not able to make any way of her self, they were constrained to tow her a long by a Hoy of two and thirty great Guns, which advanced but [Page 103] slowly forward: so that the Nonesuch Fri­gat boarded her, and having put thirty men over into each Vessell, they mastered them, but finding that they were extream leakie, and began to sinck, they took eigh­ty men out of them, and their Officers, the Reare Admiral, and the Captaine, and left the Hulks to serve the dead men for a Cof­fin: The English had but forty men killed, and as many hurt. Now the fame of this notable Warre between these two Queen­ly and Mistress Common-wealths of the Navigation, having spread it self through­out the Universe in all places where Trade and Commerce is used; The effects there­of appeared shortly after in the Mediterra­nian Seas, as well as in the Ocean and in the English Channel: Some Frights were sent towards the Levant, to guard the En­glish Merchant Men from the French Ship­ping of Marselleis, and Toulon, a Squadron of which Frigats consisting onely in foure Saile of Ships, viz. The Paragon, the Phe­nix, the Constant Warwick, and the Eli­zabeth, convoying three Merchant Men, two of which had taken in their Lading at Scandaroon, and the other at Smyrna, were encountred by eleven Holland Men of War, who made up towards them, and set upon them; All that the English could at first do, was to returne their broad Sides on [Page 104] their Poopes, to let them see that they were not affraid of their exceeding them in number, but ere the fight was well begun, the Night separated them, and the next Morning the Hollanders began the fight a­gaine, and were received as briskly, as if they had been equally matched. The Masts and Yards of two of their Ships were quickly shot downe, and another was set on fire, but quickly recovered; The Phenix a gallant Frigat of five and forty Guns was boarded by a huge States Ship, and after a marvellous defence lost al­most all her Men (and being over pow­erd) was forced to yield, but not with­out a great loss on the Hollanders side; Nor did the English quit the fight till all their Men and Ammunition were killed and spent: The Paragon lost seven and twenty Men, and had sixty wounded, the Elizabeth had but two Barrels of Powder left; However they disengaged themselves from so great a number of their Enemies, and put their Merchant-men safe in Porto-longone; So that the Hollander had not much to brag of in the fight which hapned neer Corsica. Much about this time an Ambassador from the Queen of Sweden; Two Ambassa­dors arrive in England. but before he had made the least overture of Business, he dyed: Another Ambassa­dor arrived from the King of Denmark, but [Page 105] finding that it was impossible to reconcile the differences betwixt the two Common-wealths, he withdrew againe and went his wayes, by reason of the common Interest of the Danes, and the united Provinces: And the Parliament having notice that the Hollanders who blocked up the passage of the Sound, had constrained two and twenty English Merchants coming from the Eastern Parts towards England, to put themselves under the King of Den­marks protection, ordered eighteen Saile of Ships to go to fetch them home, the ra­ther because they were Laden with such Merchandizes, as were at that time very usefull for the State, and without which the Warre against the Hollanders could not be prosecuted nor continued.

Severall passa­ges between the English & the Danes.On the nineteenth of September, the Fleet set saile from Yarmouth, and the next Morning they came to Anchor within two Leagues of the Castle of Essenhoeur, in Den­mark, whence the Commander in chief sent away the Greyhound Frigat, with a Letter directed to the Governour of the Castle, and another to the Admiral of Denmark, by which he desired them to informe the King of Denmark of their arrivall, and of the Subject thereof, whereunto he ad­ded a third Letter, directed to the Masters of the English Ships, ordering them to [Page 106] make their Addresses to the King of Den­mark, and to procure libertie from him that their Ships might with all speed be suffered to come out of the [...] of Co­penhagen, where they as then lay: But the Frigat was not suffered to approach neerer then within a League of the Castle, whence she returned againe. The next Morning the Commander in Chief him­selfe went thither in his long Boat, and declared the Subject of his Arrivall, and delivered his Letters, but no Answer was returned unto him, which obliged him the second time to send to the King, and to the English Merchants, but with­out successe, for the King was not to be heard of, nor seen, nor to be spo­ken with; at length two Lords sent from the King of Denmark, came to Elsenore Castle, whither also the Cap­taines of the English Fleet went, who vigorously pressed the Restitution of their Merchant-men: But in answer to this their Demand they were interroga­ted; Wherefore their Ambassadour had not been admitted to Hearing at his be­ing in England? wherefore they came so boldly into his Majesties Seas, and so neer to his place of Residence, and of his Castles, with so strong a Fleet, be­fore they had given notice thereof three weeks before?

[Page 107] But the English not standing to Can­vasle these Demands, save onely to procure satisfaction on their Pretenses, pressed to have a positive Answer retur­ned thereunto: Whereupon on the se­ven and twentieth of the said Moneth they received a Letter from the King of Denmark, telling them, That he would preserve the said Ships for the Merchants, as carefully as he had hitherto done, but that he would not deliver them into their hands. Whereupon the English Mer­chants, and the Masters and Sea-men, seeing there was no hopes to get their Ships released, abandoned them, and came aboard of the Fleet, and straight­way quitting the Sound, made over a­gaine towards England, but in the Night of the following Day, which was the last of the Moneth, the VVeather pro­ved so dark, that the Admiral Ship Commanded by Captaine Ball, The Antelope Frigate lost. steer­ing too much towards the shore, run on ground upon the Coast of that Sand, where she was lost, onely all the Ships Com­pany was saved, and it was ten to one that the whole Fleet had not followed her, she bearing the Lanthorne: she was an excellent Frigat, called the An­telop, carrying fifty brass Gunnes. But this Losse was presently after repaired by [Page 108] 20 Holland Barques, and 2 Men of War taken.taking of about twenty Holland Barques, and one Convoy Man of Warre, as al­so one other Ship carrying twenty Gunnes, and thus without any other Losse, or ad­venture, they returned into England, and on the fifteenth of October, they came to an Anchor in Burlington Bay, within a little while after Master Bra [...]haw was deputed in the quality of an Envoy, or Deputy towards the King of Denmark, to try whether the Restitu­tion of those Merchants Vessels might not be procured in an amicable way, but this Attempt proved as bootlesse as the former; For the said Ships were not onely detained, but their Lading was carried on Shoare and Sold: Which Acts of Hostility committed against the Law of Nations and of Hospitality to in­nocent Persons, and against a State which had desired their Amity, by all wayes and means possible, will sooner, orlater meet with their Reward and Punishment, either by the hands of those who were en­damaged, or by some others, which by the sequell you will find proved so.

But to return againe to the Hollander, who were almost enraged at their conti­nuall Losses of their Ships, with which all the Havens in England were filled, and being resolved to be revenged for so many [Page 109] Another Sea Fight betwixt the English & the Hollander, in December.Sea Fights as they had lost, busied them­selves in setting forth a great Fleet, and notwithstanding the rigour of the Season in the very midst of Winter, they came to Sea with a Fleet of ninety Saile, and ten Fire-ships; and on the twentieth of December, they appeared on the back of the Goodwins, the English Fleet un­der General Blakes Command, con­sisted but in two and forty Ships, ill furnished, wanting Men, and all o­ther Necessaries: The greatest part of the best Ships having been rendred inca­pable of going forth to Sea; whereas there was the greatest occasion to make use of them, which happened either by the negligence, or rather by the perfi­deousness, and treachery, and set Ma­lice of some, who at that time had the management of the Sea Affaires, being over jealous that the Military Persons and Men of Action, should grow too high and over-top them; although afterwards God in his own time found out these men, and caused them to give an account of these their pernitious aversnesse to the publicke Good of the Common-wealth, and to the private interests of the parti­cular Members thereof. Hower the Eng­lish, notwithstandsting the Inequality of their Forces, resolved to Launch out [Page 110] and fight them so that on the thirtieth of December being a very faire day, both Fleets steering Westward, encountred each other about eleven of the Clock in the Morning, and began the Fight, the English having the upper hand of the Wind; of two and forty English Ships, not one halfe of them engaged in the fight for want of men, insomuch, that twenty, or two and twenty Ships bare the brunt of the puissant Holland Fleet. The Avant guard, and the Victory, two brave, Frigats, having been the whole day engaged in the midst of the Enemy, firing from all sides, got off in a very good Condition: But towards the E­vening, the Garland, carrying about forty pieces of Cannon, was boorded at once by two great Dutch Ships, which she manfully resisted, till her Decks were quite unfurnished of men, which having blowne up, and finally being over powered on all sides, was forced to yield. The Bonaventure being a Mer­chant-man, but a, good Vessell going to relieve the Garland, was clapt a­boord by a Man of Warre, and after she had severall times cleered her Decks of the Enemy, which were gotten into her, at length by the death of her Cap­taine, who behaved himselfe stoutly, [Page 111] she lost both Strength and Courage, and so fell into the hands of her Ene­mies.

Meanwhile, Generall Blake, who Commanded the Triumph, seeing this Disorder, plunged into the thickest of his Enemies to rescue the Garland, had his fore-Mast shot downe close by the Boord, and was Clapt on Boord by the Enemy, but having stoutly de­fended himselfe, and severall times beaten them off againe, he at length got cleare of them, and went off with the rest of his Fleet, onely with the losse of two Ships, which cost the Dutch deare enough, before they got them: and after the fight two English Merchant-men falling casually into the Hollanders hands, helped to make up the Friutes of this their great boasted of Victory over the English, which be­ing in it selfe but a small Check, ser­ved onely to whet the Valour of the Eng­lish, and to edge them on with the more vehemency to dissipate that Ecclipse which had so lately over Clouded their wonted Glory; Wherefore they made a very considerable Sea Equipage, and fitted out with all speed a brave Fleet of the best and gallantest Ships, as well to bring downe their Enemies Pride, who were devoid of all Moderation, after [Page 112] this their pretended Successe, as to stop and silence the Murmurings and Cla­mour of the People, against those who at that time held and guided the Reines of the State; some of which be­haved themselves so untoward, that it could not be imagined, save that by a base and vile black pollicy they inten­ded, together with the Ruine of Ma­ratine Affaires, to bring Destruction upon the whole LAND.