OLIVER CROMWEL was born at Huntington, descended of the ancient Family of the Williams's, of the County of Glamorgan; and by Adoption into that of the Cromwels, the more noble Family, as descend of Thomas Cromwel, Earl of Essex, the Ax that hew'd down the Abbeys in the Time of King Henry the Eight.

His Education, in his Youth, was, for a Time, at the University of Cambridge, where, though he attained to no great Perfection in Learning, yet, with his o­ther Additionals, the Fox's Tail with the Lion's Skin, his Strength of Reason with the sharp Edge of his Sword, stood him in great Stead in his After-tranfactions; and which, together with his indefati­gable Industry, render'd him so fortunate, [Page 2]that he never fell short of what he under­took.

After his Return from the University, without any extraordinary Respects from the Muses, whose Unkindness he after­wards most severely retaliated, he resol­ved for the Future, upon the first Advan­tage, to try the Fortune of Mars; but long it was ere the blind Goddess provid­ed him any Action; during which Time he married a Gentlewoman of the ancient Family of the Bourchiers, (whence the Earls of Essex were descended) by whom he had two Sons that survived him, Rich­ard and Henry, and three Daughters, Brid­get, Mary, and Frances.

For his private Fortunes they were com­petent, a Mediocrity betwixt Riches and Poverty; the one blunting the Edge of Wit and Industry, the other, by its Hard­ship, whetting it quite away. But what was wanting in his Estate, was supplied in the greatness of his Mind, which put him upon high Attemps, which proved so suc­cessful, that at last they placed him at the Helm of Government.

He took his first Rise from the long Par­liament, where he was a Member, being chosen Burgess for the University of Cam­bridge; in this Parliament that Fire burst [Page 3]forth, which had been long before in kind­ling, that fatal Division betwixt King and Parliament; with which last he wholly sided: What Motives induced him there­unto, I know not, nor will I determine of the Integrity of his Choice; this I am sure of, he took the more fortunate, or, by his Manhood, made it so.

When he delivered his Mind in the House, it was with a strong and mascu­line Eloquence, more able to perswade than to be perswaded; his Expressions were hardy; Opinions resolute; Asseverations grave and vehement, always intermixt, Andronicus like, with Sentences of Scrip­ture, to give them the greater Weight, and the better to insinuate into the Affec­tions of the People, he expressed himself with some kind of Passon, but with such a commanding wise Deportment, that at his Pleasure he governed and swayed the House, as he had most Times the leading Voice.

Those who find no such Wonders in his Speeches, may find it in the Effect of them; most of the People he was concerned in, being, as they term it, Enemies to Book­learning; and whosoever should endea­vour, with an eloquent Oration, or other­wise go about to reconcile them, and make [Page 4]Friends, should make them Enemies; such great Adorers are they of the Scripture Phrase, though but little Practicer's; such as our late Times have brought forth. In­deed he usurp'd his holy Oil Quotations very frequently, which were so advanta­geous to his Designs, that Cicero and De­mosthenes, with all their Troops and Fi­gures, could never have so perswaded and moved the People, as he with one Text of Scripture aptly applied; the Dove, and the Serpent, of Scripture, and some small Parcel of Policy, to what he intended, sli­ly intermixed.

But his Side standing more in need of Action then Eloquence, he quitted the House, and betook him to the Field, to manifest his Courage as well as his Elo­quence, maintain by his Deeds what his Words had introduced.

Having raised a Troop of Horse at his own Costs and Charges, he marched a­gainst the Muses to Cambridge, (whereof he was Burges) seizing on a very conside­rable Sum of Money and Plate, which the Colleges had raised, and were sending a­way unto Oxford; which, as it was very advantageous to his own Side, (Money be­ing the very Lise and Sinews of War) so did it much weaken the adverse Party, [Page 5]who had always great Want of it. The Parliament having on their Side the rich City of London, that inexhaustible Bank of Treasure. By this Means he strength­ened himself with sufficient Aids to op­pose the Lord Capel, who was to have been seconded by Prince Rupert, and should have seized on Cambridge, thereby to have im­peded the Association of the adjoining Counties for the Parliament.

He being advanced from a Captain to a Colonel, having compleated a Regiment of Horse, to the full Number of a thousand Men, in the Spring of the Year he marches to Lowerstoft in Suffolk, where he sudden­ly surprized Sir Thomas Barker, Sir John Pettas his Brother, with above twenty o­ther Persons of Note, who were entring into an Association for the King; several Peasons of Quality, and divers Noblemen hourly flocking to that Rendezvouz; this other Service was very seasonably render'd to the Parliament, the King's Party both in Suffolk and Norfolk, being much discour­aged by this Success.

Having, by new raised Aids, inforced his Army to a very considerable Strength, he marched into Lincolnshire, with a Re­solution to assist those Forces that lay a­bout Newark, a very strong and stout Gar­rison [Page 6]of the King's; where, by their daily Excursions they kept all the Country thereabouts in awe; which he not only block'd up, but also defeated part of the Earl of Newcastle's Army which came to relieve them. I shall not need to particu­larize all his Actions, his other interveen­ing Atchievements are innumerable. To look forwards, only to mention the Battle of Marston Moor, where by his Valour he turn'd the Scales of Victory, which at the first enclined to the King's Side: As also, at that fatal Fight at Naseby, where the King's Foot were all cut in Pieces, or ta­ken Prisoners: His memorable Discomfi­ture of the King's Forces at Preston, in Lan­cashire, over Duke Hamilton and Sir Mar­maduke Langdale; the last of them as vali­antly faithful to the King, as the other was disloyal: Their united Forces amount­ing to Twenty five thousand, his not above Ten thousand at most; (altho' indeed he found little Opposition, save only of those few Forces of Sir Marmaduke Langdale, who fought it out courageously to the last Man.) Should I thus continue to signalize his Trophies, I might tire out the Read­er with his strange Successes; let it suffice then, that his Actions, with such Fame, arrived at the House, that in Recompence, [Page 7]they first bestowed on him the General­ship of the Horse, and afterwards the Lieutenant Generalship of the whole Ar­my. Certainly if his Ambition had ter­minated here, and his wonderful Successes had not raised his Thoughts higher; if he could not, for his Martial Merits, have been beloved, he had Power enough to have render'd himself save, and for his va­liant Atchievements, fear'd, honour'd and admir'd.

Raised to this Degree of Command, he was more careful of hazarding his Person than before; well knowing the Loss of a General is the most irreparable of all Los­ses; for him to expose his Person to trivi­al Hazards, in the Breath of whose No­strils the victorious Atchievements of the Soldiers remains, is too impertinently ad­venturous, as if it were more glorious to fight than command: Whereas, that is more especially the Virtue of a common Soldier: This other of a Leader, whose principal Talent lies more in Direction than Execution; more in the Brain than Hand: Thus that ever to be deplored Laureat of our Times, the Gentleman of the long Robe, the Oracle of the King's Cousels, the Lord Faukland, was as unfortunate­ly [Page 8]lost, as unnecessarily engaged in the Field.

But to proceed, he grew so subtilly care­ful, as to maintain a fair Correspondence; there was no Place taken; no Battle won, but he was the first that brought or sent Word to the House; by which he insinu­ated himself into the Affections both of the Parliament and People; expressing his own Actions in such Terms, as whilst he seemingly attributed much to others, he drew the whole Commendation thereof to himself.

One Thing that made his Brigade so in­vincible, was his arming them so well, as whilst they assured themselves they could not be overcome, it assured him to over­come their Enemies. He himself, as they call'd him Ironside, needed not to be asham­ed of a Nick-name that so often saved his Life.

These were his Acts whilst Lieutenant General, by which he got so great a Name in War, as Essex, Waller, and those other great Names before him, excepting only Sir Thomas Fairfax's Laurels, which were interwoven with his, the rest were swal­lowed up in his most inimitable Successes, even as great Rivers are swallowed up by the Ocean.

[Page 9] For the rest of his Actions when he was General; his conquering Ireland; his sub­duing Scotland; the many other Battles he fought till his s [...]ishing the War in Eng­land. To treat also largely of these it's Trophies, would weary the Pen of a seri­ous, though industrious Writer, that sad­ly concerns the Incivility of those late Ci­vil War, howsoever they were strange Successes, and so many, that as a Modern Poet agrees with what I have expressed;

I shall therefore summarily relate the most notable Occurrences then happening, leaving the less Assairs to be related by more voluminous Authors.

No sooner were the Civil Wars of Eng­land terminated, by the Discomfiture of all the King's Armics; the taking of his own Person, and putting him to Death, but the Parliament, by a solemn Vote and Or­dinance, changed the Monarchial Govern­ment, into a Commonwealth. The King­dom of Ireland, discontented at this Change, uniting themselves, owned the late King's eldest Son, and solemnly pro­claimed him King; no Place considerable standing out for the Parliament, saving on­ly Dublin and London-derry; the first where­of [Page 10]of was immediately besieged by an Army of Twenty two thousand Men, command­ed by the Marquess of Ormond; and the other by a considerable Party of the Na­tives of the Country. To the reducing of this Kingdom was Oliver Cromwel nomina­ted Governour of Ireland by the Common­wealth; who, with a well apointed Army set sail for Dublin: Where, although he found Things in an indifferent good Po­sture, the Marquess of Ormond having been beaten off, by the Valour of Michael Jones the Governour, yet he met with Work e­nough for his Army: For Droghedah, one one of the best and considerablest Places in all Ireland, held out stifly against them, and having a strong Party, bid Defiance to his Army: Yet notwithstanding, after ma­ny Assaults, and much Valour shewn on both Sides, he at last took it, putting therein to death 3000 Irish; who, tho' E­nomies, yet for their Valour and undaunt­ed Resolution, might have been look'd on with a more merciful Eye, as they were Men, and more especially Christians. Soon after followed the Surrender of Trim, Dun­dalke, Nury, Wexford, Rove, Bandonbridge, and Kingsale; yet notwithstanding the re­ducing of these Towns, many of the Irish retreating to their Bogs and inaccessible [Page 11]Places, held out for a long Time, in dsepite of the English.

To proceed, not only the Irish shew'd their Dislike of this Change of Govern­ment, but also the Colonies in Virginia, and the Carybde Islands; to the reducing of whom the Parliament sent Sir George As­kue, with a Fleet of Ships, who brought them again into Obedience.

In the mean Time the Scots were very busie, they had commenced a Treaty with Prince Charles at Breda, which at last was concluded on, he assenting to their Pres­byterian Government; and they to instal and re-establish him in that Kingdom, and in the other accordingly, as they questi­oned not but Fortune would answer their blind zealous Covenant Expectations.

The Prince puts forth to Sea, and in de­spite of foul Weather, and the English King Fishers that lay there to intercept him, he landed safely at the Spey. in the North of Scotland. Now, tho' the Scots had a King, yet (as if they had none) e­very one did that which is right in his own Eyes; and, as if they intended him only the Title, being now in their Power, they forced him to follow the Rules of their haughty Clergy, in all their sanatick Humours and imperious Decrees. First [Page 12]then, they bereaved him of all his old Friends, Counsellors, and Confederates, whether of the Clergy or Laity, as those who adhered to Episcopal Government, and so not pure enough for so reform'd a People. Thus they hamstringed him, not as what was formerly in the Sign-post, on­ly of printed Papers. Next, they make him take the Solemn League and Covenant, that strange Fire which the Scots believe descended from Heaven, and by which they, at their Pleasures, kindle those Wars wherewith they infest England: Then these Horse Farriers of the Conscience gave him another Drench, he is taught to Re­nounce the Sins of his Father's House, and of his own, the Idolatry of his Mother, by a con­stant adhering to the Cause of God, according to the Covenant, in the firm Establishment of Church Government, as it is laid down in the Directory for publick Worship, Confession of [...]aith and Catechism. These, with divers others of the like Nature, they wrought so on his Necessity, they obtruded, or ra­ther rammed into his Conscience (although with much Reluctancy) he signed to, mak­ing many strange Faces at these bitter Pills he swallowed, yet it better'd not his Con­dition, which was like that of a Child un­der Tutors and Governors; there was not [Page 13]an Officer in that Kirk or Commonwealth how vile and abject soever, in Place or Per­son, but enjoyed more Freedom both in Body and Mind, than he. Guarded in­deed he was, but no otherwise than he was surrounded with the Ignis Fatuus of their zealous Suspicions of him, so that move he must not but in the Sphere of the Kirk, their Primum mobile; whereby 'tis apparent, that the Government of that Nation might be almost question'd whe­ther it ever were truly Monarchial (tho' they had Kings.)

To proceed, the Parliament having no­tice of all their Proceedings, recalled Ge­neral Cromwel out of Ireland, making him Generalissimo of the Commonwealths Ar­mies, in the Lord Fairfax's Stead, who at the same Time laid down his Commis­sion; he, with a choice Army, marches into Scotland, and after many petty Defeats, gives them a great Overthrow at Dumbar, September 3, 1650, and prosecuting his Victory, takes Leith, a very considerable and advantageous Place; as also Edinburgh, the Metropolitan City of all Scotland. Thus he set firm there his Sword, hewing his Way for him to conquer that Country, which the King lost by his Pen.

Now were the Scots truly miserable, for [Page 14]besides a raging Enemy in the very Heart of their Kingdom, they were divided among themselves, even to the killing and slaying of one another; one Party in the North was for the King without the Kirk; another. Party in the West, was for the Kirk without the King; a third Party was for the King and Kirk. Yet notwithstand­ing these Losses and Divisions, they assum­ed new Courage, levied more Men, and crowned their King with the utmost Mag­nificence, as the Indigency and Necessity of their Affairs would admit. The En­glish, on the other Side, being resolved to terminate this War with Scotland, passed over into Fife, and having defeated four thousand Scots, they soon became Masters of Inchigravy, Burntisland, and St. John­stoun: Mean while the Scots Army, consist­ing of 16000 abandoned their own Terri­tories, and, by the Way of Carlisle, en­tred England. General Cromwel advertised hereof, leaves Colonel Monk with 7000 Men in Scotland, to perfect the Conquest of that Kingdom, and with the rest of the Army pursues the Scots; who, wheresoe­ver they came, proclaimed their King, to be King of Great Britain, France, and Ire­land, &c. But few stirred unto their Aid, among others, the unfortunate Earl of [Page 15] Darby, who having assembled 1200 Men, in Lancashire, was defeated by Colonel Lil­bourn, and to save himself was constrained to flee to Worcester; where the Scots, after a long and tedious March, had pitch'd their Camp, whither General Cromwel soon pursued; and having the Aid of the Train Bands of several Counties, gave them Battle, which proved fatal unto the Scots, their whole Army being overthrown. The King in a Disguise escaped into France, not without much Difficulty and Danger, the Parliament having promised five hundred Pounds to any one that could discover his Person. Such a List of Prisoners as were then taken, we shall seldom meet with in any Battle but Cromwel's, the Earl of Dar­by, the Earl of Lauderdale, Duke Hamil­ton, General of the Scots Army, who after­wards died of his Wounds, the Earl of Rothes, the Earl of Cornwarth, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Peckington, Cunninghame, and Clare, Knights; the Lord Spine, and Sin­clare, the Earl of Cleveland, of Kelley, and Colonel Greaves, six Colonels of Horse, thirteen of Foot, nine Lieutenant Colonels of Horse, eight of Foot, six Majors of Horse, thirteen of Foot, seven and thirty Captains of Horse, seventy three of Foot, fifth five Quarter-masters, eighty nine [Page 16]Lieutenants of Foot, Major General Biscot­ty, Major General Montgomery, the Lieu­tenant General of the Ordnance, the Ad­jutant General of the Foot, the Marshal General, the Quartermaster General, the Conductor General of the Baggage, seven­ty six Standards, ninety nine Ensigns; all which were hung up in Westminster Hall, for successive Parliaments, to understand what Vigour of Spirits, they, by their In­fluence, can infuse into those they please please to authorize, only the Want of the Allay of their Ambitions, often works them high, where it is impossible to set limits to generous Minds. To continue the o­ther Appendixes to this Victory, there were also taken nine Ministers, nine Chi­rurgeons, One hundred fifty and eight Co­lours, and all the Cannon and Baggage ge­nerally, the Royal Standard, the King's Coach and Horses, the Royal Robe, the Collar of the Order of the Garter, thirty of his domestick Servants, and that admi­rable Poet, his Secretary, Fanshaw. Seve­ral other Persons were also afterwards ta­ken in the remotest Countries, as Major General Massey (who being committed to the Tower, afterwards made his Escape) Major General Middleton, Lieutenant Ge­neral David Lesly, insomuch as that it may [Page 17]be said, the Gleanings of this Victory, were as considerable as the whole Harvest itself. Many of the common Soldiers were transported into Barbadoes, and other Plan­tations; this Mercy extended to them in saving their Lives, causing much Gain to accrue thereby unto the Commonwealth, in selling the poor heathenish Highlanders to the Plantations. I shall end these sad Transactions with what Mr. Wharton chron­ologized in these Words, Since England's Hogs eat our dear Brethren up. He only re­flects on the half Graves were made for them in Tuttle Fields.

Of all this long List two only suffer'd Death, viz. Sir Timothy Featherstone Knight, and the Earl of Darby, who, on the 15th of October following, was beheaded at Bol­ton in Lancashire, being conducted thither by sixty Foot, and eighty Horse, about two of the Clock he was brought forth to the Scaffold, which was built at the Cross, part of it with the Timber of his own House at Latham, there was not above an hundred Lookers on, besides Soldiers; presently after his coming upon the Scaf­fold there happen'd a great Tumult. (the Occasion whereof was not certainly known) in appeasing of which there were some cut, many hurt, and one Child killed. The [Page 18]Earl was no eloquent Orator, and the Tu­mult put him out of his speaking what he intended: At last, after some Silence made, he began as followeth.

Since it hath pleased God, by this untimely Death to shorten my Days, I am glad it is in this Town, where some have been made believe I was a cruel Person, that I might vindicate myself from this Aspersion: It was my Desire, the last Time I came into this Country, to come hither, as to a People that ought to serve the King, as I conceive, upon good Grounds: It was said, that I was accustomed to be a Man of Blood; but it doth not lie upon my Conscience, I was wrongfully bely'd. I thank God I desir'd Peace. I was born in Honour, and I shall die Honourably, as I suffer for my Sovereign. I had a fair Estate, good Friends, and was respected, and do respect: Those that were rea­dy to do for me, I was ready to do for them. I have done nothing, but as my generous Pre­decessors acted, to do you good. It was the King that called me in, and I thought it my Duty to wait upon his Highness, to do him Service.

Here he was disturb'd by the Noise of the People, after some Pause he said, I intended to have exprest my self further, but I have said. I have not much more to say to you, but as to my Good-will to this Town of [Page 25]Bolton, I can say no more, but the Lord bless you. I forgive you all, and desire to be forgi­ven of you all, for I put my Trust in Christ Je­sus. Looking about him he said, I did ne­ver deserve this hard Measure. Honest Friends, (you that are Soldiers) my Life is taken away, after Quarter given, by a Coun­cil of War, which was never done before. Walking up and down the Scaffold he said, The Lord bless you all, the Son of God bless you all of this Town of Bolton, Manchaster, Lan­cashire, and the rest of the Kingdom; and God send that you may have a King again, and Laws. I die like a Christian, and a Soldier, God and my Sovereign's Soldier. Causing his Coffin to be opened, he said, I hope when I'm imprison'd here, armed Men shall not need to watch me. Looking upon them that were upon the Scaffold, he said, What do you stay for? it is hard that I cannot get a Block to have my Head cut off. Speaking to the Executioner, he said, Thy Coat is so troublesome and cumbersome, that I believe that thou canst not het right, the Lord help thee and sorgive thee. Other Words he used, which to avoid Proxillty I willingly omit. At last submitting his Neck to the Block, he had his Head severed from his Body with one Blow; his sorrowful Son, who was a sad Spectator of this woful Tragedy, out [Page 26]of a pious care, and filial duty, conveyed his Corps back with him that Night to Wiggan, and afterwards gave them honour­able Burial.

Not long before at London was Colonel Eusebius Andrews apprehended, who having formerly practiced the Law, changed his Gown into a Coat of Armour, having re­ceived a Commission from the King of Scots, for the raising Men in England, he was tryed in Westminster Hall, at the High Court of Justice, then again newly erected, being the first unfortunate Centleman that hanselled the Court. He was condemned, and the 22. of August, 1650. brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill, where he expres­sed himself to the People in these his last Words.

Christian Gentlemen and People, your Busi­ness hither to Day is to see a sad Spectacle, a Man to be in a Moment unman'd, and cut off in the prime of his Years, taken from further opportunities of doing good either to himself, his Friends, the Common-wealth, or more espe­cially as to my continued services to my Creator. Truly, if my general known Course of Life were but enquired into, I may modestly say, there is such a moral Honesty upon it, as some may be so sawcy as to expostulate why this great Judge­ment is fallen upon me; but know I am able [Page 27]to give them and my self an answer, and out of this Breast am able to give a better Accompt of my Judgement and Execution then my Judgers themselves, or you are able to give: It is Gods wrath upon me for Sins long unrepented of, many Judgements withstood, and Mercies slighted; therefore God hath whipped me by his severe Rod of Correction, that he might not lose me. I pray join with me in Prayer, that it may not be a fruitless Rod, that when by this Rod I have laid down my Life, by his Staff I may be comforted, and received into Glory. I am very consident by what I have heard since my Sentence there is more exceptions made a­gainst proceedings against me, then I ever made. My Triers had a Law, and the value of that Law is undisputable; and for me to make a question of it, I should shame my self and my Discretion. In the strictness of that Law, something is done by me, that is applicable to some clause therein, by which I stand condemn­able. The means whereby I was brought under that Interpretation of that which was not in my self intended maliciously, there being Testimony given, (by Persons whom I pity) so false, yet so positive, that I cannot condemn my Judges, for passing sentence against me, according to Legal Justice, though Equity lieth in the higher Breasts.

[Page 28] As for my Accusers. or rather Betrayers, I pity, and am sorry for them; they have commit­ted Judas's Crime, but I wish and pray for them with Peter's Tears, that by Peter's Repen­tance they may escape Judas's Punishment; and I wish other People so happy, they may be taken up betimes, before they have drunk more Blood of Christian Men, possibly less deserving then my self.

It is true, there have been several Addresses made for Mercy, and I will put the Obstruction of it upon nothing more than my own Sin; and seeing God sees it fit, (having not glorified him in my Life) I might do it in my Death, which I am contented to do; I profess in the fear of God, particular Malice to any one of State or Parliament, to do them a bodily Injury I had none.

For the cause in which I had long waded, I must needs say, my engagement or continuance in it hath laid no scruple upon my Conscience; it was on Principles of Law, the Knowledge whereof I profess, and on Principles of Religion, my Judgement satisfied, and Conscience rectifi­ed, that I have pursued those ways which I bless God I find no blackness upon my Conscience, nor have I put it into the Bed-roll of my Sins.

I will not presume to decide controversies; I desire God to honour himself in prospering that side that hath right with it, and that you may [Page 29]enjoy Peace and Plenty, beyond all you possess here. In my Conversation in the World, I do not know where I have an Enemy with cause, or that there is such a Person whom I have to re­gret; but if there be any whom I cannot recol­lect, under the notion of christian Men, I pardon them as freely as if I had named them by name, I freely forgive them, being in free Peace with all the World, as I desire God for Christs sake, to be at Peace with me. For the business of Death it is a sad Sentence in it self, if Men consult with Flesh and Blood: But truly with­out boasting, I say it, or if I do boast, I boast in the Lord, I have not to this minute had one consultation with the Flesh about the blow of the Axe, more then as my passport to Glory.

I take it for an honour, and I owe thankful­ness to those under whose Power I am, that they sent me hither to a place, however of Punishment, yet of some Honour, to die a death somewhat worthy of my Blood, answerable to my Birth and Qualification, and this courtesie of theirs much helped towards the pacification of my Mind.

I shall desire God that those Gen [...]lemen in that sad Bed-roll to be tryed by the High Court of Justice, that they may find that really there, that is nominal in the Act, an High Court of Justice, a Court of High Justice, high in its Righteousness, though not in its severity. Father forgive them, and forgive me as I forgive them.

[Page 30] I desire you now that you would pray for me, and not give over praying till the Hour of my Death, not till the Moment of my Death, for the Hour is come already, the instant of Time approaches, that as I have a great load of Sins, so I may have the wings of your Prayers, to help those Angels that are to convey my Soul to Heaven; and I doubt not but I shall see my Saviour, and my gallant Master the King of England, and another Master whom I much honoured, my Lord Capel, hoping this Day to see my Christ in the presence of the Father, the King in the presence of him, my Lord Capel in the presence of them all; and my self there to rejoyce with all other Saints and Angels for ever more.

After the uttering of these and many the like Words, declaring his Faith and Con­fidence in God, with as much undaunted, yet Christian Courage, as possibly could be in Man, he exposed his Neck to the fatal Ax, commending his Soul into the Hands of a faithful and merciful Creator, thro' the meritorious Passion of a gracious Re­deemer; and having said Lord Jesus receive me the Executioner with one Blow severed his Head from his Body.

For such a collateral design, not long af­ter one Master Benson was executed at Tyburn, one that had some Relations to Sir [Page 31] John Gell, who was tried for the same Con­spiraccy, with his Man: Sir John's former Services to the Parliament, being his best and most assured Intercessors for his Life, and at that time were more then ordinary Advantages to him.

I shall in the next place give you an ac­count of the Beheading of Sir Henry Hide. He was by the Scots King commissonated as Ambassadour to the Grand Signior at Constantinople, and stood in Competition with Sir Thomas Bendish (then Ambassadour for the English) for his Place; whereupon they had a Hearing before the Vizier Bassa; the result whereof was, that Sir Thomas Bendish should dispose of the said Sir Henry Hide, as he thought good; who was to the same purpose sent to Smyrna, thence into England, and there condemned and exe­cuted before the Royal Exchange in London, March 4. 1650.

Here he made a Pause, as discontented at the disturbance of those on the Scaffold, when the Sheriff said to him, Sir, you have your Liberty to speak more if you please, at length he proceeded.

Having expressed himself to this effect with much meekness, he submitted his Neck to the Ax, having first said, Lord Jesus receive my Soul, the Executioner at one blow severed his Head from his Body.

Not long after Brown Bushel was behead­ed under the Scaffold on Tower-Hill, one who had formerly done great service to the Royal Party both by Sea and Land; crimes of such a Nature, as brought him into compass of Piracy, and then of high Trea­son.

Soon after ensuing the Deaths of Mr. Love and Mr. Gibbons, who were beheaded ed on Tower-hill the 22. of August, 1651. Their Crimes objected, were, for combin­ing with the Scots to re-establish Charles Stuart. many others were apprehended upon the same Account, but these two on­ly suffered.

Passing over these Golgotha's, the Rea­der may be pleas'd to understand, that all these Persons here mentioned, (save only the Earl of Darby) suffered Death before that memorable Battle at Worcester, though in our History we have related them after, as not willing to discontinue the series of our affairs with Scotland by such diversions. [Page 41]But to return to matters of more publick concernment, the Isles of Jersey, Jernsey and Man, who had hitherto held for the King, submitted themselves; so that now all seem­ed quiet, when suddenly a War brake forth with Holland, began only at first upon points of Honour at Sea, Van Trump the Dutch Admiral refusing to vail his Flag, a Ceremonial Honour which the English ap­propriate to themselves, as being Lords of these narrow Seas, whereupon a sharp Fight ensued betwixt them, wherein the Dutch were discomfited, one of their Ships sunk, and another of thirty Guns taken, with the Captains of both, and about a hundred and fifty Prisoners.

This Skirmish produced open War be­twixt the two Nations, notwithstanding Overtures of Peace made by the Hollander. General Blake, the English Admiral, sur­prizes twelve Dutch Men of War towards the Isles of Orkney, Sir George Ascue in the Road betwixt Dover and Calice, sets upon their Fleet, being thirty in Number, of which ten were taken and burnt, the rest hardly escaping. Soon after near Pliniouth he gave them another Fight, wherein the Dutch went again by the worst. These successes were seconded by others very re­markable, General Blake steering North­wards, [Page 42]took six Holland Ships of a great Value about the Downes. Captain Penne also took six more upon the Coast of France.

Soon after, the Navies engaged in ano­ther Fight at a place called the Kentish [...]ock, wherein the Dutch were again de­ [...], eleven of their Men of War set up­on four of the English in the Straights, took the Phenix Frigot, and much damaged the other. In a short space after, another Sea Engagement ensued on the Back-side of Goodwin Sands, wherein the English were worsted, four Ships taken, and a considera­ble Loss of Men. The greatest Fight of all was near the Isle of Wight and Portland, wherein the Dutch received a great Over­throw, fifty Merchants being taken, nine Men of War, above two thousand slain, and fifteen hundred taken Prisoners. But this great Victory soon after received a check, the English Fleet in the Levant Seas being again worsted by the Dutch, with the Loss of divers Ships and Men.

But leaving off these Affairs for a time, let us come to General Cromwel; who pre­tending for the better accomplishing of his own Designs, the dialtory proceedings, pernicious and arbitrary actings in the Par­liament, to perpetuate their Session, to be very dangerous, and enthrall the Nation; [Page 43]this train of his he knew would take well with the People; he therefore resolved to put a Period to the Parliament, and accord­ingly accompanied by the chief Officers of the Army, he entered the House, and having declared his Intentions, some by force, some through fear, and others not without a great deal of reluctancy and mur­muring, departed the House. To set a fair gloss upon what he had done, and to give some satisfaction to the People, he publishes a Declaration, the substance whereof fol­loweth.

This Declaration was seconded by ano­ther for settling a Councel of State, to give some Satisfaction to the People what Go­vernment they intended; which Declarati­on, for the Readers further Satisfaction, take as followeth.

These domestick revolutions put new Life into the Dutch, who hoping from these Distractions to reap a Victory over the En­glish, with great confidence put forth again to Sea; thinking upon nothing so much as Chapmen for the English Fleet, saying; It was to be cried out by the sound of Trumpet [...] and Horns. But they were deceived in their expectation; for coming to a Fight, on the North Foreland, near unto the South poin [...] of the Gobes, their Fleet was defeated eleven Men of War, and two Water Hove being taken, besides six Captains and fi [...] ­teen hundred Prisoners, and six Men [...] War which were sunk.

Not long after, to set the better face o [...] his resolute proceedings, Cromwel calls [...] [Page 49]another Parliament convened at Westminster, who met July 4. 1653. to whom Generall Cromwel made a long Speech. Then he produced an Instrument under his own Hand and Seal, whereby the Supream Au­thority of the Nation was devolved upon them, unto whom all Persons were to yeild obedience and subjection. He delared that they were to sit no longer then the third of November 1654. and three months be­fore their dissolution they were to make choice of others to succeed them, who were not to sit above twelve months, and then to take care for a succession in Government.

Now was the time come for the train to take the Dutch, having, as hath been ex­pressed, cast the Urine of the present Affairs, being quite tired with then continual los­ses, sent Commissioners over into England to treat of Peace. It hath been the result of the opinions of those that had their Eyes in their Heads, that the Dutch thought to have made up their Mouths, to have taken our Navy napping in the time of the Treaty the Fight happening betwixt the [...] and us; but they found it otherwise, their whole Fleet was put to slight, their [...] Van Trump, a Man of eminent [...] being slain, about thirty Men of War suck and fired, six Captains, and about a thousand [Page 50]Men taken Prisoners, and about six thou­sand slain. This great Victory did not a little conduce to hasten the conclusion of the Peace, but on such terms as were at that time more honourable for his present De­signs, than advantageous to the English Na­tion▪ For this service, gold Chains were presented to the Generals, Blake, Monk, Renne, and Lawson, and to the other Flag Captains; and silver Medals to the other Officers of the Fleet.

The Parliament having sat about as ma­ny Weeks as the other had done Years, they dissolved themselves, immediately making way for General Cromwel, by their dissolution, to be chosen Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and of all the Islands and Ter­ritories thereunto belonging, December, the 16, 1653. The Articles of the Govern­ment to which he signed are as followeth.

1. That his Excellency be chief Protec­tor of the three Nations of England, Scot­land, and Ireland.

2. That he will, call to his assistance Councellors, not under the Number of thirteen, nor above twenty one.

3. That he shall not act without the ad­vice of his Council.

[Page 51] 4. That here shall be every three Years a Parliament called, freely chosen, to be­gin in September next, viz. four hundred, and the Number for every County pro­portionable.

5. That no Parliament shall adjourn till they have sat above five Months.

6. When ever any Bill is passed in Parli­ament, the Lord Protector shall have twen­ty Days to advise with his Council; if he sign it not in twenty Days, it shall pass without, unless contrary to these Articles.

7. That no Parliament be dissolved by the Protector, but end every three Years, and the Protector to issue out Warrants.

8. All the Crown Revenues left, to go to the maintenance of the Lord Protector.

9. To make Peace or War as he pleaseth, with the advice of his Council, in the in­terval of Parliaments; but not to raise Mo­ney without the Parliament, unless in ex­traordinary Causes.

10. Whatsoever goes out in the name of the Keepers of the Liberties of England, to go out in the Name of the Lord Protector.

11. That it is Treason to speak against the present Government.

12. That all forfeited and confiscated Estates go to the maintenance of the Lord Protector.

[Page 52] 13. That all Acts of Parliaments made, and Estates sold, stand good and be enjoy­ed.

14. That the Lord Protector have Power to confer titles of Honour, and to dispose of the great Places of trust.

15. That in the interval of Parliaments, the Lord Protector, with his Council [...] do order the Affairs of the Nation.

16. That all Articles of War be kept.

17. That the known Laws of the Com­mon-wealth be continued.

18. That a standing Army be maintain­ed of ten thousand Horse, and twenty thou­sand Foot.

19. That Christian Religion be maintain­ed, such as is contained in the Word of God.

20. That all Persons shall have Liberty of Conscience, provided that they disturb not the Civil Government, except the Po­pish and Prelatical party.

21. That no Papist, or Delinquent in Arms since the Year 1649, elect, or be e­lected, a Parliament Man, under Penalty of forfeiture of one Years revenue, and the Moiety of his personal Estate.

22. That the Lord Protector have Power to pardon all Offenders, except Murther.

[Page 53] 23. That Writs be issued out in Jul next for summoning the Parliament, either by the Protector, or in course.

24. That when the Protector dies, the Council then sitting shall summon all the Members of the Council, the Major part to elect one to be Protector before they stir out of the Council Chamber, and the Per­son so chosen, not to be under the age of twenty one Years, nor of the Family of the Stuarts.

These Articles sworn to, he was proclaim­ed Lord Protector in the Palace-yard, at Westminster, and by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in their Scarlet Gowns at the Royal Exchange; who to ingratiate them­selves with their new Governour, bestowed on him a costly Feast at Grocers Hall; it is an usual observation that Persons that make their ways with their Swords, that their shows to take the People, generaly are more stately then those of successive Princes; what he admitted of, as with his own permission, was nothing to those duti­ful solemnities that pursued his Memory; without dispute he had studied the art and ordinance of self-denying, insomuch that the Parliament perceiving that he did but complement his Generalship, which he might with safety and most right have ac­cepted, [Page 54]they pressed him the less, as he seemed to push away that with his little finger that they were certain he was ready to grasp with both his Hands.

The greatest Admiration that hath fur­prized me, hath been what in the compass of a Year I have observed, the Tides and Streams of Petitions out of most Counties, that at the first rise or promise of greatness have pursued every alteration, as Party-coloured as Joseph's Coat, and as variable as the Rainbow; it is not to depictured how Janus-faced they have been on all occasions, with how many religious expressions and wishes they have made their Addresses and masqued their self-interests, if it were possi­ble in so short an interim of time, at once adoring so many rising Suns.

Since I have so strangely dissgressed, it will not be amiss to take notice of a Book lately come forth, intituled, History and Policy reviewed, concerning the political transactions of the Protector, publish'd in a strange name, written in the stile of the holy Court, in which, the Author under­takes a prodigious Enterprize, to compare Cromwel to Moses; his Pen is too palpably [...]aught with Flattery, yet not without un­ [...] [...] Subtilty; he having like the little [...] Gentleman, in the short Jacket, [Page 55]pickt the Vermin out of Nic. Machiavels Head for his use; throwing off one side principles honester then his own; Machia­vel never so disguising himself with the Vizard of Religion, that he appears to be an arranter Devil than the Florentine; cer­tain I am, that I never read a Book that more pleased or displeased me.

But to proceed, at his first instalment, Heavens bless us, immediately follows a Plot, miraculously discovered, eleven of the grand Conspirators being apprehended, were committed to the Tower; where hav­ing remained a while, they were again set at Liberty. This web was not well spun, his Spies and Informers which he enter­tained at vast expence, put on their Specta­cles that they might see better against the next occasion.

In the Interim, the Scots under the Earls of Glencarne and Kenmore, raised another Army of 4000 Horse and Foot, but were soon dissipated by the vigilancy of Colonel Morgan, who after a short but smart Fight, killed [...]one hundred and fifty of them, and defeated all the rest. Suspicions are necessary Alarms, as they at least suffer per­sons not to be overtaken with too much se­curity of their Affairs.

[Page 56] Another great Plot was now again dis­covered; the chief Conspirators were said to be Mr. Thomas and John Gerrard, Bro­thers, John Jones an Apothecary, and Tho­mas Tendor, Somerset Fox, and Master Peter Vowel; who were all condemned, but two only suffered, viz. Mr. Vowel who was hanged. Also about the same time the Portugal Ambassadors Brother was brought to his Tryal for the pistoling of one Mr. Greenwood by a Knight of Malta, one of his high spirited followers; the tumult be­ing afterwards occasion'd from his retinue, he having been first very uncivilly treated by Mr. Gerrard in his expatiating of the New Exchange, as he termed it in his De­claration; for which Mr. Gerrard received a prick with his Dagger, and afterwards had the honour to die the same Death. The young unfortunate Stranger suffered a very high favour to please the New Ex­change Chevaliers.

Mean while the Scotch Highlanders im­patint of bearing the English yoke, resolved to try the other bout; to which purpose, they assembled together in great Numbers, having General Middleton to their Leader, who was newly come to them out of Hol­land, but all their endeavours vanished in­to Smoak, General Monk on the twentieth [Page 57] July, 1654, at a place called Loughberry, gave them such a charge as utterly defeat­ed them, and made them incapable of ever after thinking of appearing in Arms again.

Soon after was a Parliament called, who no sooner were set, but fell upon question­ing the Power by which they were convo­cated; and doubting of its lawfulness were soon dissolved by the same Power which they distrusted. The Protector at the dis­solution of this short Parliament, made a very long Speech, wherein amongst many other passages he hath this expression; This one thing I speak as thus advised, and be­fore God, as having been to this Day of this Opinion, and this have been my constant Judg­ment, well known to many that hear me speak, if this one thing had been inserted, that one thing, that this Government should have been, and placed in my Family hereditary, I would have rejected it. And a little after, If this be of humane structure, and invention, and it be an old plotting and contrivance to bring things to this issue, and that they are not the births of Providence, then they will come to no­thing.

But notwithstanding his Speech was can­died over with Scripture phrases, and great expressions of his zeal for the good Govern­ment of the Land; yet these his Actings [Page 58]much discontented the common People, whereupon ensued risings in Shropshire, Montgomery, Nottinghamshire, Northumber­land, and Yorkshire; but the most considera­ble was at Salisbury, where Sir J [...]seph Wag­staff, Penruddock, and Jones, who had for­merly been Officers in the late King's Ar­my, having gotten together about 200 arm­ed-Men, entered Salisbury, seized on all the Inns and chief Houses; and the Assizes be­ing holden there at that time, they took a­way the Judges Commissions and Pattents, and all their Horses, and so marched away. Sir Henry Slingsby and Sir Richard Mallever­er assembled some Forces also in Yorkshire; but not being seconded according to their expectation, they disperst themselves on their own account. For these actings were put to Death Master Lucas, Thorp, Kensey, Graves, and Penruddock, Sir Henry Slingsby was taken and Imprisoned, and aftewards beheaded upon another account, as I shall show you in its due place. About this time the great Head-piece of Europe joyns his Foxes Tail to our Lions Skin; Correspon­dencies are held betwixt the French and us, which occasioning some Jealousies with some other bitter Pills that had before been swallowed, but not disgested by the Spani­ard, caused some Heart-burnings, which [Page 59]soon broke forth into an open War, first ma­naged by the Generals, Pen and Venables, who on the 27. of December 1654, with a gallant Fleet set sail from Portsmouth, and on the 28 of January following, arrived at the Barbadoes, where they seized on 18 Holland Merchant Men, who contrary to the Ordi­nance of the long Parliament traffiqued in those Parts, from thence they sailed to Hispaniola, arriving near to the Port Sancta Domingo, where by the deepness of Sands, and heat of the Climate being infi­nitely tired, they were by the Spaniards put to Flight, and enforced to march back again to their Ships; from thence they set-sail to the Island of Jama [...]ca, which after a lit­tle resistance they mastered, and have since preserved, notwithstanding the Spaniards to regain the same, landed there with two or three thousand Men, but were discomsit­ed with the Loss of all their Cannon and Baggage.

In the Interim General Blake with a con­siderable Fleet of Ships, having cast Anchor before Tunis, April, 18, 1655. sent unto the Dey of the Place, demanding satisfaction for some English Ships, which the Pyrates of those parts had carried away, and the Liberty of the English Slaves they had de­tained; but his message and himself was re­fused [Page 60]with scorn and derision, the Turk making this answer, Behold our Castles of Galleta, and our Castles and Vessels of Port [...] Ferino, do your worst against them, and do no [...] think to brave us with the sight of your grea [...] Fleet. This answer so exasperated the En­glish Admiral, that notwithstanding there were one hundred and twenty Guns plant­ed on the Shore, and in the Castle against them; yet regardless of all danger, he set upon their Men of War which lay in Port [...] Ferino, and in less then in four Hours space burnt all their Ships, being in number nine to their very Keels, which enforced the King of Tunis to seek to the English for their friendship, and restored all the Prison­ers for little or nothing.

These successes were seconded by two other great Victories obtained over th [...] Spaniards at Sea; the one by Genera Mountague about nine Leagues from Cadiz where he destroyed six of their Ship whereof two were taken, two run aground one sunk, and another burnt, and there [...] the Marquess of Badex, his Wife and Daughter; the young Marquess and h [...] Brother, with a great deal of Wealth bei [...] taken, and brought into England. Th [...] Fight being incomparably related by [...] Laureat of our times, I thought fit to inse [...] [Page 61]it, not to deprive the Reader of so Ele­gant a Poem; let him wave the poetical Flattery of it as he pleases.

About this time the blasphemies of ma­ny Sectaries in England were horrible; par­ticularly of one James Nailor, who under a seeming Sanctity, and pretended illumina­tions, vented most horrible blasphemies, for which he was cast into Excester Goal; yet had this wretched Impostor so be­witched his followers to the committing of strange absurdities, that they ascribed to him Divine Honours, and gave him in Scripture phrase, the same titles which are applicable to none but Christ himself.

In a Letter of one Richard Fairman to him, are these horrid expressions, ‘I am fil'd with joy and rejoycing when I be­hold thee in the eternal Unity. O my Soul is melting within me, when I be­hold thy Beauty and Innocency, dear and precious Son of Zion, whose Mother is a Virgin, and whose Birth is immortal.’ One of his she Converts writes of him thus, ‘All the Wise Men shall seek for him, and when they have found him, they shall o­pen their Ears, and shall give unto him of their Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.’ The same Woman in another Letter to him pro­ceeds thus. ‘O thou fairest of ten thousand, [Page 66]thou only begotten Son of God, how my Heart panteth after thee; O stay me with Flaggons, and comfort me with Wine; my well-beloved thou art like a Roe, or young Hart, upon the Mountains of Spices.’ Then by way of Postscript her Husband Thomas Stranger adds this. ‘Thy Name is no more to be called James, but Jesus.’ Also a Maid named Dorcas Erbu­ry, being examined, declared, ‘James Nailor to be the holy one of Israel, the only Son of God,’ and that she pulled off his Stock­ings, and put her Cloaths under his Feet, because he is the Holy Lord, of Israel, and that she knew no other Saviour but him; affirming moreover, that the Spirit of the Lord within her, commanded her to call him Lord and Master, and to serve him. That in Excester Goal he had raised her from the Dead, after she had been dead two Days, and that he should sit at the Right Hand of the Father, and judge the World.

Having seduced these silly Souls into such damnable opinions, and gotten releas­ment out of Excester Goal, he began imme­dintely to play his Pranks at divers Places in the West; particularly at Wells and Glas­tenbury, thorow which Towns he rode on Horseback, a Man going bare before him, [Page 67]some walking a foot on each side of his Stir­rup, and others strewing their Garments in the Way; from thence he took his Journey towards Bristol, and coming to a Village called Bedminster, about a Mile from Bristol, rid through it in the same presumptuous blasphemous manner, as he did before at Wells and Glastenbury. There accompanied him two Men, with each a Woman behind on Horseback, which alighted when they came to the Suburbs of Bristol, and footed it along on each side of Nailor's Horse, the Man still bare-headed leading the Horse, and all the Way they went, they sung, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Israel, and then the Women led the Horse with the Reins in their Hands, up to the high Cross of Bristol, and from thence to the White­hart-Inn in Broad-street; by this time the Magistrates hearing of their doings, sent for Nailor and his Companions, who came singing all the Way Hosanna, and Holy, Holy, Holy, &c. The Magistrates of Bristol having examined him, sent him up to the Parliament (together with the narrative of his Action committed in those parts) to receive his Sentence, which was as follow­eth.

‘That James Nailor be set with his Head in the Pillory, in the new Palace [Page 68]at Westminster, during the space of two Hours, on Thursday next, and shall be whipped by the Hangman through the Streets from Westminster, to the Old Ex­change London; and there likewise be set in the Pillory, for the space of two Hours, between the Hours of eleven and one, on Saturday next; in each of the said Places, wearing a Paper containing an Inscription of his Crimes, and at the Old Exchange his Tongue shall be bored through with a hot Iron; and that he be there also stigmatized in the Forehead with the Letter B. and that he be afterwards sent to Bristol, and conveyed into, and thro' the said City on a Horse bare ridg'd, with his Face back­ward; and there also publickly whip'd, the next Market-day after he comes thi­ther. That from thence he be commit­ed to prison in Bridewell, London, and there restrained from the Society of all People, and kept to hard labour, till he shall be released by Parliament; and du­ring that time be debarred the use of Pen, Ink, and Paper, and shall have no relief, but what he earns by his daily Labour, which accordingly was executed upon him, December 17. 1656.’

His Flies and Familiars were still useful to him for the discovering of more strange [Page 69]designs; the revealing of which, no Questi­on kept many Conspiracies from being at­tempted, to which effect there is yet ano­ther Plot, against the Protectors Life, in­tended by Miles Sindercomb, alias Fish, one who had formerly been a Parliament Sol­dier, under the command of Sir John Rey­nolds, together with one Cecil; induced thereunto, as is said by Don Alonso, the late Spanish Ambassador; to the effecting their designs, they are said to have hired a House at Hammersmith, adjoining by the High­way side, to have shot him in his Coach, as he passed by; but that failing, they in­tended to have shot him in Hide-Park, and to that purpose they filed off the Hinges of the Gates for their better escape; and this miscarrying, they intended to have fired White Hall. For these Offences Sinder­comb was arraigned at the Upper Bench Bar in Westminster Hall, February, 9. 1656. where being found guilty by the Jury, he was condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn; but before his Execu­tion he was found dead in his Bed, and se­veral presumptions of a violent Death ap­pearing on him; it was concluded he poy­soned himself. Afterwards he was drawn from the Tower unto Tower-hill, at a Horse's-Tail, with his Head forward, and [Page 70]there under the Scaffold, turned into a hole stark naked, and a Stake spiked and plated with Iron, driven thro' him into the Earth. It is to be observed that whatsoever the vigilancy of the Guard of the Tower was over this Gentleman, that he died with as fresh a Colour as Sir Thomas Overbury is said to have expired with.

But to return where we left, that success­ful Sea-man General Blake, the Protectors intended Drake, an honest stout incompara­ble Sea-man, he failing with his Fleet to Sancta Cruza, in the Island of Teneriff, in which Port lay sixteen great Spanish Vessels, laden with rich Merchandizes from the In­dies, He on the 20th of April, 1657. set up­on them, and destroyed them all, not sixty of his own Men being lost.

But to return, June the 20. 1657 the Pro­tector with great Magnificence was installed at Westminster, the Parliament then sitting; and in Westminster Hall, a rich Cloth of State was set up, and under it a Chair of State placed upon an ascent of two degrees, co­vered with Carpets, and before it a Table with a Chair appointed for the Speaker of the Parliament, and on each side of the Hall upon the said Structure were Seats raised one above another, and decently covered for the Members of Parliament, and below [Page 71]them, Seats on one side for the Judges of the Land, and on the other side for the Aldermen of the City of London.

About two of the Clock in the Afternoon, the Protector met the Parliament in the Painted Chamber, and passed such Bills as were presented to him; after which they went in order to the place appointed in Westminster Hall; the Protector standing under the Cloth of Estate, the Lord Wid­drington Speaker of the Parliament, addrest himself to him in this Speech.

May it please your Highness,

You are now upon a great Theatre, in a large Chore of People, you have the Parliament of England, Scotland, and Ireland, before you; on your Right Hand my Lords the Judges, and on your Left-Hand, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Sheriffs of London; the most noble and populous City of England. The Parliament, with the Interposition of your sufferage, makes Laws, and the Judges, and Governours of Lon­don are the great Dispencers of those Laws to the People.

The Occasion of this great Convention and Intercourse, is, to give an Investiture to your Highness in that eminent Place of Lord Pro­tector; a Name you had before, but it is now settled by the full and unanimous consent of the [Page 72]People of these three Nations assembled in Par­liament; you have no new Name, but a new date added to the old Name; the 16 of Decem­ber, is now changed to the 26 of June.

I am commanded by the Parliament, to make oblation to your Highness of four Things in or­der to this Inauguration.

The first is a Robe of Purple, an Emblem of Magistracy, and imports Righteousness and Justice; when you have put on the Vestment, I may say, (and I hope without Offence) that you are a Gown Man. This Robe is of a mixt Co­lour, to shew the mixture of Justice and Mercy, which are then most excellent when they are well tempered together. Justice without Mercy, is Wormwood and Bitterness, and Mercy with­out Justice is of a too soft a Temper for Govern­ment; for a Magistrate must have two Hands, Plectentem & Amplectentem.

The next thing is a Bible, a Book that con­tains the Holy Scripture; in which you have the Honour and Happiness to be well versed. This is the Book of Life, consisting of two Testaments, the Old and New. In the first we have Chris­tum velatum, Christ in Types, Shadows, and Figures; in the latter we have Christum reve­latum, Christ revealed. This Book carries in it the grounds of the true Christian Protestant Religion; it's a Book of Books, it contains in it both precepts and examples for good Government.

[Page 73] Alexander so highly valued the Books of his Master Aristotle, and other great Princes other Books, that they have laid them every Night under their Pillows. These are all but Legends and Romances to this one Book; at Book to be had always in remembrance: I find it said in a Part of this Book which I shall de­sire to read, and it is this. Deut. 17. And it shall be when he sitteth upon the Throne of his Kingdom, that he shall write a Copy of this Law in a Book, out of that which is before the Priests and Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the Days of his Life, that he may learn to fear the Lord God, and to keep all the Words of his Law and those Statutes, to do them. That his Heart be not lifted up a­bove his Brethren; and that he turn not a­side from the Commandment, to the Right Hand or to the Left, to the end he may prolong his Days in his Kingdom, he and his Children in the midst of Israel.

The next Thing that I am to offer to your Highness, is a Scepter, not unlike a Staff, for you are to be a Staff to the Weak and Poor; it's of ancient use in this kind; it's said in Scrip­ture, in reference to Judah, the Royal Tribe, That the Scepter shall not depart from Ju­dah. It was of like use in other Kingdoms and Governments. Homer the Prince of the Greek [Page 47]Poets, calls Kings and Princes Scepter-bearers.

The last Thing is a Sword, not a Military, but a Civil Sword; a Sword rather for a De­fence than an Offence; not to defend your self only, but others also; the Sword is an Emblem of Justice. The noble Lord Talbot, in Henry the Sixths time, wrote upon his Sword, Ego sum Talboti, propter occidendum inimicos meos; This Gallant Lord was a better Souldier then a Critick. If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword, it should be this, Ego sum Demini Protectoris ad protegendum populum meum.

Long may you prosperously enjoy them all, to your own comfort, and the comfort of the People of these three Nations.

The Speech being ended, Master Speaker came from his Chair, took the Robe, and therewith vested the Protector, being assist­ed therein by the Earl of Warwick, the Lord Whitlock and others. Which done, the Bible was delivered him; after that the Sword girt about him; and last of all he had the Scepter delivered him. These Things being performed, Master Speaker re­turned unto his Chair, and administred him his Oath, in haec verba.

I do in the Presence, and by the Name of God Almighty, promise and swear, that to the uttermost of my Power I will uphold and main­tain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Re­ligion, [Page 76]in the Purity thereof, as it is contain­ed in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my Power and Ʋnderstanding; and encourage the Profession and Professors of the same; and that to the utmost of my Power I will endeavour as Chief Magi­strate of these three Nations, the Maintenance and Preservation of the Peace and Safety, and just Rights and Priviledge of the People thereof; and shall in all Things, according to our best [...]est Knowledge and Power, govern the People of these three Nations according to Law.

These Ceremonies being performed, a Herald of Arms by sound of Trumpet pro­claimed him, Lord Protector of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging; hereupon the Trumpets sounded again, and the People (after the usual man­ner) gave several Acclamations, with loud shouts, crying, God save the Lord Protector. His Highness had scarce accepted of these Honours, but as if the ill affected would not let him breath, yet another Plot is disco­vered, Collonel Edward Sexby is said to have conspired against the Lord Protector; for which he was committed to the Tower, where having continued about half a Year, he died.

But to reflect a little back, Mazarine that great Minister of State, on which hinge all [Page 77]the grand Affairs of France turn, perfects a Peace with England; the Protector having no regard to those Advantages that Spain might render him as to Commerce, the Places of Hostage which she proffered to put into his Hands, as Gravelin Dunkirk, and others, he was swayed with other Interest which he best understood himself, to prefer an Alliance and League with France before all those Advantages, except his civility in­duc'd him (which seldom had such Power over him) to look more lovingly upon France as the weakest at that time, being a­bandoned by some of her Allies, as quite disordered by an Intestine War in her own Bowels, her Navigation totally ruined, as the Pirates of Dunkirk had blockt up all her Sea Ports; whereas the English scowred those Seas, cast away the Pyrates, and re­duced the Mounsieur and Diego by their successes to their so likely advantageous Peace. Indeed, (as one writes) it was a high generosity, since the English caused the French to lose Graveling and Dunkirk, to help France again to take those places. In the mean Space was not here rare bandying of Interests.

France having thus perfected a Peace with England, they joyntly resolve to [...] [...]ainst the Spaniard; hereupon Article [...] [Page 78] Reynolds with six thousand Foot was sent into Picardy, to joyn with the French Ca­valry, which compleated as gallant an Ar­my as had been seen in France for many Years together. These jointly besiege and take Mardike; a strong Fort of the Spani­ards in Flanders, whereof Major General Morgan took Possession for the English; as the earnest of further Conquests; which the Spaniards attempting for to regain, were twice repulsed with very great loss.

But the Joy of these Successes was miti­gated by the Death of Admiral Blake, who as he got his Honour by the Sea, died on it, and that within sight of Plimouth. He was a Man who had deserved of his Country, and might justly be stiled the Neptune there­of. His Body was brought with a Naval pomp by Water from Greenwich to Westmin­ster, being a suitable Ceremony to [...]his Em­ployment, and was there buried in Henry the Seventh's Chappel. Upon whom an Ingenious Person bestowed this Epitaph.

Soon after was St. Venant taken by the English, the Lord Henry Cromwel made De­puty of Ireland. Sir John Reynolds, Collonel White, and some other Officers drowned up­on Goodwin Sands, as they were coming out of Flanders into England.

One writes that the subtilty of discover­ing of Plots, though but in the Embrio, or before they are hatcht, in the time of Peace is the most succinct way of letting of Blood? March 24. (the last Day of the Year account­ed for) 1657. a great Conspiracy was again discovered in London, several Regiments (as was said) being enrolled; who on the first day of May in the Night Time should have set Fire on several parts of the City, and whilst the Confusion and Horrour thereof had seized all Men, they should have made a general massacre of all who opposed them. Hereupon several Persons were apprehended, as Doctor Hewet, Sir Henry Slingsby, Collonel Ashton, &c. and a High Court of Justice e­rected for the Tryal of them; and first they began with Sir Henry Slingsby, the Articles [Page 80]charged against them will in part discover themselves in their several Speeches made just before their Deaths. In short, they were both condemned, Dr. Hewet (professing himself to be ignorant of such Law; tho' amongst the most learned Divines few of them were more knowing in the Gospel) being taken in three defaults upon formali­ties of the Court, was proceeded against as mute,

June 8. 1658. was the Day appointed for their beheading, Sir Henry Slingsby first mounting the Stage, spake in effect as followeth.

That he stood condemned by the Court of Justice, as contriving and endeavouring to withdraw divers Officers of the Garrison of Kingston upon Hull from their Duty; and perswading them to a surrendring and yield­ing up of that Garrison, and one that held correspondence with some beyond Sea to that end. That it was true, he had confe­rence upon that Account with the Officers of that Garrison; and that he gave Major Waterhouse a Commission signed Charles R. But that it was but an old one that had lain by him, though he thought fit to make use of it to the Major. Many Passages he said there were which he would not insist on; that some Friends of his had made Applica­tion [Page 81]to his Highness for the saving of his Life, but it seems it was thought fit not to be granted, and therefore he submitted, and was ready to dye, &c.

Having uttered these and the like Words he took off a Ring from his Bandstrings wherein instead of a Seal engraven, was the Picture of the late King exactly done, and giving it to a Gentleman that stood by him, he said, Pray give this to Harry. Then he addrest himself to Prayer, wherein he con­tinued some time; taking leave of his Friends, he submitted his Neck to the Block, and had his Head severed from his Body at one Blow by the Executioner. This at one Blow by the Executioner, the Reader may observe hath been very often repeated in this Volume.

His Tragick Scene being acted, that Re­ligious and Reverend Divine Doctor Hewet, the golden tongu'd Chrysostom, entered the Lists of Death. In this Warfare the Doctor put on the spiritual Armour of a blessed Confidence, delivering his Mind to the People in these following Words.

I am now become a publick Spectacle to Men and Angels, and (I hope) God who is omniscient is now beholding me with much Pity, Mercy and Compassion; and the more, because I am now come to that end [Page 82]that his own Son came into the World to, to bear Witness to the Truth; he himself said, For this end was I born, for this cause came I into the World, that I should bear Wit­ness to the Truth. I was brought into the World (the Christian World) for to bear Witness to the Truth of the Gospel, as [...] common Christian; I was brought into th [...] World (the Church) as a Minister of hi [...] blessed Word and Sacraments; [blessed be his Name for that great Honour and Digni­ty;] and I came into the World to dy more immediately for the Testimony of Je­sus, which God hath now called me to. [...] came into this World (this Commonwealth) to be a Member thereof, to bear Witness to the Truths of the Customs, the Laws the Liberties, and Priviledges thereof; fo [...] am a Member of the Common-wealth. And methinks it seems to me a strange thing that in as much as we all plead for Liberty and Priviledges, and I pleading for the Pri­viledges, the Laws, the Statutes, and th [...] Customs of this Land, yet I should die by those that should stand for the Laws, the Statutes, and Priviledges of the Land. An [...] I am here beheld by those that plead for their Liberties, and I hope I am pittied, be­cause I here give up my self willingly and steely to be a State-Martyr for the publick [Page 83]good; and I had rather die many Deaths my [...]elf, then betray my fellow Freemen to so [...]any Inconveniencies that they might be [...]ke to suffer, by being subject to the Wills [...]f them that willed me to this Death.

And it is worthy Remembrance that Master Solicitor having impeached me of Treason to the Commissioners of the Court [...]gainst his Highness, I did often (when brought before those Commissioners) plead for the Liberties of the People of England, [...]hough I had no Knowledge of the Law, [...]et I had Instructions from those that were learned in the Law, and had several Law-Cases and made my Appeal. First, for [...]he Judicature that I was to be tryed by, Whether it were according to Law? Whether it were according to the Act? And whether it were according to the Words of the said Act? I did appeal to have the said Act argued by learned Law­yers on both sides, and then to be resolved by his Highness own Council, which was denied me. [This by the by.] I pressing the Argument, made a second Appeal, that those Judges, if they would give singly their several Judgments that it was a just and lawful Court of Judicature, I would [Page 84]answer to my Charge. I did make another Appeal to those that were his Highnesses Council, and pleaded against me, That if they would deliver it to me under their [...] to be according to Law, I would then [...] plead, and answer to the Charge. What was then said further my Spirits be­ing faint, I shall not say much, but only this, I was taken in three defaults upon for­mality of the Court. It seems it is a cus­tom in all Courts, (which I did not know before) that if they answer not the third time speaking, by the Clerk, that then they are guilty of three defaults, and pro­ceeded against as mute: [I had no such Knowledge of the Law.] So they found me guilty of those defaults; and when I would have pleaded, and resolved to begin to plead, I was taken from the Bar. I did the next Day make my Petition to the Court in the Painted Chamber, two Petiti­ons were presented, the same in effect; the former, the Title was mistaken. Yet because the Title was mistaken, and no Answer given, therefore it was that another Petition was drawn up to the same Effect, with a new Title given, (as I remember) presented by the Serjeant at Arms; and one writ it over in such haste, lest they should be drawn out of the Painted Chamber into [Page 85]the Court, that I had not time to read it over, only I subscribed my Name, and there was in the Front of the Petition a Word left out, but what the Word was, I know not; and this was taken so ill, as if I had put an Affront and Contempt on the Court: And it was thought they would have heard me plead; and then because of that mistake, they sent Word, I should have my Answer when I came into the Court, and my Answer was the Sentence of Condemnation. And therefore I pray with all my Soul, that God would forgive all those that occasioned the Charge to be drawn against me, to give such unjust Things against me: I pray with all my Soul, that God would forgive all those that upon so slender and small Grounds adjudg'd me to dye, taking Advantage of such simple Ignorance as I was in. And I had at the very beginning of my pleading, engaged their Honours no Advantage should be taken against me to my Prejudice, that in as much as I understood nothing of the Law: And having heard that a Man in the Nicety of the Law might be lost in the Se­verity thereof; meerly for speaking a Word out of simple Ignorance, I made it my Pray­er to them that no Advantage might be ta­ken against me to the Prejudice of my Person [Page 86]And there was to me a seeming Consent; for the President told, there should be no Advantage taken against me; and upon these Considerations I am afraid there was too great Uncharitableness; but I pray God forgive them from the very bottom of my Soul, and I desire that even those that shed my Blood, may have the Bowels of the God of Mercy shed for them.

And now having given you the Occasion of my coming hither, it is fit I should give you somewhat as concerning my self as I am a Christian, I thank God I was Baptized to the Holy Church, so I was Baptized to be a Member of the Holy Catholick Church, that is, the Church of England, which I dare say for Purity of Doctrine, and orderly Discipline, till a sad Reformation had spoil­ed the Face of the Church, and made it a querry whether it were a Church, or no; I say, it was more purely Divine and Apo­stolical, than any other Doctrine or Church in the Christian World, whether National, or Classical, or Congregational. And I must tell you, That as I am a Member of this Church, so I am a Member of the Holy Catholick Church, and shall give a most just Confession of my Faith both negatively and affirmatively; negatively, I am so a Member of the Holy Catholick Church, [Page 87]that I abhor all Sects, Schisms, Sedition, and Tyranny in Religion. Affirmatively so, that as I hold Communion with, so I love and honour all Christians in the World that love the same Lord Jesus in Sincerity, and call on his Name agreeing with those Truths that are absolutely necessary, and clearly demonstrated in the Word of God, both in the Old and New Testaments; tho' in Charity dissenting from some others that are not necessary. And I, as I am thus a Christian, I hope for Salvation through the Merits of Christ Jesus; his Blood I rely on, his Merits I trust to for the Salvation of my own Soul. Though to this Faith, good Works are necessary, not meritorious in us, but only made meritorious by Christ his Death; by his all sufficiency, by his satis­faction, and his righteousness, they become meritorious. And truly as I am a Member of this Church, so I am a Member of this Community, and so pleaded for the Liber­ties and Priviledges thereof. I must now answer something I am aspersed withal in the World.

They talk of something of a Plot, and a Treasonable Design, and that I had a great Interest in the Knowledge and Practice thereof, and that for the saving my Life, I would have discover'd and betray'd I cannot [Page 88]tell what: I hope my Conversation hath not been such here in this City, where I have been a long Time very well known, as to make one imagine I should intermeddle in such an Action, and go so contrary to the Practice of my Profession; and I hope there are none so uncharitable towards me, as to believe I had a Knowledge of that Design.

Here I must come to particulars, for a Plot, of having a Design upon the City of London for the Firing of it: I so much trou­ble at the Thought of the Thing that should have been done, as they say, for the carry­ing on of such a Design, (if my Heart de­ceive me not) had I known it, I so much ab­hor the Thing, I should have been the first discoverer of it: Nor ever had I Correspon­dency or Meetings with such Persons as would have carried on such a Design. It is said likewise, I entertained the Earl, the Marquess of Ormond; to my Remembrance I never saw the Face of that Honourable Person in my Life. It is said, One Lords Day I did preach at Saint Gregory's and the next Lords Day I was at Brussels or Bruges, and kist the Kings Hand, and brought I cannot tell what Orders and Instructions from him; this I shall say, For these three Years last past together, I have not been six­ty Miles from this City of London, and I [Page 89]think it is somewhat further to either of those Places then threescore Miles. It is said that I kept Correspondence with one Barrow and Bishop; they are Persons I have heard of their Names, but never saw their Faces, and to my Knowledge I do not know they knew me; nor do I know them at all, but only as I have heard of their Names. And whosoever else hath suggest­ed such things against me, I know not.

His Highness was pleased to tell me, I was like a flaming Torch in the midst of a Sheaf of Corn; he meaning, I being a publick Preacher, was able to set the City on Fire by Sedition and Combustions, and promoting D [...]signs. Here truly I do say, and have it from many of those that are Judges of the High Court, that upon Examination of the Business they have not found me a Meddler at all in these Affairs. And truly, I must needs say therefore, that it was a very uncharitable Act in them (who ever they were) that brought such Accusations against me, and irritated his Highness against me, I will not say it was Malice, it might be Zeal, but it was rash zeal which caused me to be sentenced to this Place; the God of Mercy pardon and forgive them all, and truly as I am a Mem­ber of the Church, and as a Member of [Page 90]the Community whereon behalf I have been speaking, I cannot but do as our Saviour himself did for his Disciples when he was to be taken from them, he blessed them, and ascended up to Heaven. My Trust is in the Mercy of the most High, I shall not miscarry; and however my Days are short­ned by this unexpected doom, and shall be brought untimely to the Grave: I can­not go without my Prayers for a Blessing upon all the People of this Land, and can­not but bless them all in the Name of God, and beseech God to bless them in all their Ways, and his Blessing be upon them.

His Speech and Prayer ended with much Meekness and spiritual Consolation. He submitted his Neck to the stroak of the Ax, to as great a Loss of the Church of Christ, and of all good Men, as hath hap­pened in our Times. I have the more en­larged my self, that my Reader might not without a kind of a Consternation or Pos­session of strange Amazement pass by the Concernments of this blessed Heroe.

The same Day of Doctor Hewets Tryal, was also tryed John Mordant of Clement Danes Esquire, with whom he was a Fel­low-Prisoner; the Charge against him, was for combining with Henry Bishop of Parham in Sussex Gent. Hartgil Baron, and Francis Mansil, with divers others for raising War against Oliver Lord Protector, in the behalf of Charles Stuart, and confering with J. Stapely, Esq Henry Mallory, and others, how to effect the same; and delivering Com­missions to several Persons in the Name of, and as from the said Charles Stuart, &c. [Page 101]He stood long upon it (as did [...]e Doctor before) to have Council assigne [...] him, and that he might be tryed by a Jury; but finding it would not be granted, he at last pleaded not Guilty, many Witnesses depo­sited against him; yet he by his Ingenuity so cleared himself; that notwithstanding many Endeavours to the contrary, he was discharged.

July the 17. following, Colonel Ashton and John Betley were executed, the one in Tower-street, the other in Cheap-side: Co­lonel Ashton was the first, being drawn on a Sledge, that Worthy Divine Doctor War­mestry submitting for the good of a poor Christians Soul to lie along with him upon the Sledge, that he might lose no Time for his spiritual Converse. They were drawn from Newgate to Tower-street, over against Mark-lane end, where a Gibbet was erect­ed. As he ascended the Ladder, Doctor Warmestry said, Almighty God, who is a strong Tower, be with thee, and make thee know and feel, that there is no other Name under Heaven, whereby to attain everlasting Life, but by the Name of Jesus. The Blessing of God the Fa­ther, the Son, and Holy Ghost be with you hence­forth and for ever, Amen.

He being upon the Ladder, exprest a great deal of Confidence he had in the [Page 102]Merits and Mercies of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; not doubting but that through the red Sea of his Blood he should arrive at the Heavenly Canaan, and in little space behold his Saviour, whom his Soul so much longed after. Then fixing his Eyes upon the Multitude, he spake to this effect.

I am brought here to a shameful Death; I am an English Man born, and (as many know) a Gentleman born; I was drawn into this Business by several Persons, and am now brought here for my former Sins: God hath delivered me several Times from several Judgments, he hath visited me at this Time; because I slighted and did not pursue that Repentance that I pro­mised. Therefore I desire all good People to leave off their Sins for Christ his sake, and be­agme new Men, for it is that that brings all Men to ruin: I beseech God of Mercy have Mercy upon my Soul, Lord God I come to thee, Lord the Father of Heaven have Mercy upon me O God the Son Redeemer of the World have Mercy upon me, O God the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have Mer [...]y upon me. Remember not my Of­fences, but spare me, good Lord God; I be­seech thee spare thy Servant whom thou hast vedeamed, for thy dear Sons sake. I have no more to say, but desire the Prayers of all good People.

[Page 103] Having ended his Speech he committed his Spirit into the Hands of God, and hav­ing said, Lord have Morcy upon my Soul, he was turned off the Ladder, and instantly cut down, his Belly ripped up, and his Bowels burnt in a Fire ready prepared for that purpose; he being not yet Dead; then was his Head cut off, and his Body divided into four Quarters, put into a Basket and conveyed back to Newgate.

Next they proceeded and fetcht John Betley (for there was a great deal of Business done by the Executioner that Day) into Cheapside, where formerly the Cross stood; where was likewise a Gibbet set up; being come to the Place with a Minister, the Mi­nister read, and the People sung with him a Psalm, beginning thus, O Lord consider my Distress, &c. Then he went up the Lad­der, and said as followeth.

LOrd receive my Soul, and be merciful to me; I commit my Soul into Almighty Gods Hands; for he is my Protector and Redeemer. I am not ashamed to live, nor afraid to die; for my Conversation hath been such, in Christ Jesus I hope I shall find Mercy. As concerning them that are my Enemies, I pray God forgive them their Sins, I freely forgive them all that have done me wrong. As for the late Plot, I [Page 104]was never but once in Company with them con­cerned therein: I did know of such a Thing, but deny that I acted therein. Shall I damn my Soul at this Instant? I will speak the Truth. One Brandon, that was one of them, drew me into the Business, and his Man. I carrying Work to him, could not refrain his House, he so often enticed me thereto, and would not let me alone, till he had got me into a House, where we drank together. I have no more to say as to the Plot, but desire Mercy from God. Having this said, the Executioner turned him off, and the rest of the Sentence was executed upon him, as before upon Colonel Ashton, and his Head and Quarters were conveyed also to Newgate.

Some two Days after, one Edmund Stacy also about the same Conspiracy was execut­ed in Cornhil over against the Exchange; as also a Youth in Smithfield having the Rope about his Neck, the horror of Death being worse then Death it self, but for his Souls Health, was Reprieved, the Torrent of Blood being for a while stayed.

Whilst these Tradgedies were acting on the Land, a strange Accident no less prodi­gious happened on the Water; a Whale of a monstrous bigness, at least sixty Foot, and of a proportionable Breadth, was cast up [Page 105]on the River of Thames near London; which by the common People was accounted a Prognostication of the Protectors Death, which ensued not long after.

But to return to Flanders, where we for­merly left, the Sea whereof like a sharp Humour did always nourish the Wounds of incurable Evils; nor was the French their letting of her Blood sufficient, she wanted an English Physician to treat her. Our Armies, whose Valours made not a stand at Mardike, but with a gallant Resolution besieged Dunkirk, which being a Place of great Importance, the Spaniard intended to relieve; and with an Army of sixteen thou­sand, came within an English Mile and a half of the French Quarters; whereupon the Engeish and French uniting their Forces, leaving some part of them before Dunkirk; to make good the Approaches, and guard the Trenches; with fifteen thousand Men, and ten Pieces of Cannon, set upon the Spaniard, whom after a long and sharp Fight, they put to a total Rout and Confusion, with the Loss of three thousand five hun­dred Men; which Victory was in a man­ner wholy attributed to the Valour of the English. The Loss of this Day lost the Spaniard Dunkirk, who quickly after sur­rendered up the Town upon these following Conditions.

[Page 106] 1. That the Town shall be yielded up, with all their great Guns, their stores of Victuals, Magazines of Arms, and Ammunition, with­out any embezlement.

2. That all Officers and Soldiers shall have Liberty to marth out with their Arms, Drums beating, Golours flying, two Pieces of Oridinan­ce, and their Baggage.

3. That they shall have the Liberty to march with a Convoy so conduct them to Saint Omers.

4. That the Inhabitants should remain in­dempnified in their Persons and Goods, and en­joying their former Customs and Priviledges for two Years, and not be molested touching the Ex­ercise of their Religion.

The Articles signed, the Spaniards march­ed out, being about one Thousand Horse and Foot, and seven hundred more that were wounded; the French (according as it was articled before) put the English in Pos­session thereof, which ever since they have maintained.

I have heard of an expression of the Go­vernours of Ostend. A little before the Massacre there, a Person of Quality being sent thither about the exchange of Prisoners, after he was civilly treated, the Glasses of Wine going freely about; the Governour being in a safe Place began to throw forth Words to this effect; Sir, is this the Mode of [Page 107]your Mushroom Protector, hath he no other Way to pay my Master the King of Spain for his Bul­lion, but with Bullets.

Soon after the taking of Dunkirk deceased the Lady Cleypoll, second Daughter to the Protector; a Lady whom Posterity will mention with an honourable Character, who often interposed, and became an hum­ble Supplicant to her Father for many Per­sons design'd to dye; her last request as it was thought, for some eminent Persons be­ing deny'd, was a means of hastening her Death, which much sadned her Father's Spirits; nor did he long survive her, her Death causing more Wounds in his Heart, than all he received in the Wars.

But as his Severity was great to his Ene­mies, so did he excell in Gratitude to his Friends; amongst other Examples, I shall Instance in the Person of one Duret a French­man, who attonded him during his Gene­ralship, and served him with so much Fide­lity and Zeal, as that he entrusted him with the Managing and Conduct of the greatest Part of his Domestick Affairs, al­ways retaining him nigh his Person, bear­ing so great an affection towards him, and reposing so entire a Confidence in him, that during a great Sickness which he had in Scotland, (and whereof it was thought he [Page 108]wou'd have died) he would not be served by any one, nor receive any nourishment, or any thing else that was administer'd unto him, save from the Hands of Duret, who both Day and Night continued to watch by his Master; tending him with a special care and assiduity, not giving himself a Moments rest until his Master had recover­ed his perfect Health; which long and con­tinued Watches of Duret, and the great Pains he had taken, drove him into a sad fit of Sickness; to recover him, his endear­ed Master in retribution of his great Servi­ces, spared no Cost, but applied all possible means that could be procured, not only by his Commands, but by his personal Visits (so oft as his urgent Affairs would permit.) Duret dying, he sends over into France for his Mother, Sister and two Nephews, to requite in them the Obligations he owed to his deceased Friend and Servant; and where as by reason of the continuance of the Scotch Wars, he was as it were confin'd to the North, he wrote unto his Wife, ‘That she should proportion that Kindness which during his Absence she should shew unto them, to the Love which she bare unto him.’ In somuch that Duret's Mother was admitted into her own Family, and seated at her own Table; his Sister was placed in [Page 109]the rank and Quality of a Maid of Honour, and his two Nephews were admitted to be her Highnesses Pages, which Love of his he extended towards them to the Day of his Death.

One writes, that when he came to have more absolute Power towards the latter End of his Days, that he hath been heard often to wish, that those that had been put to Death were yet alive; protesting so­lemnly, that if he could not have changed their Hearts, he would have changed their Dooms, and converted their Deaths into Banishment.

Waving this digression, as in respect of the distance of Time, we are now come to his own approaching Catastrope. His Death was ushered in by an extraordinary Tem­pest, and violent gust of Weather, which blew down some Houses, tore up the Trees by the Roots, one in the old Palace Yar'd by the Parliament-House, which by the e­vent hath signified no otherwise then the Root and Branch of his Government. It was a horrid Tempest, as if Nature would have the Protectors Death to be accompani­ed with a general horrour. The same is elegantly set forth in a Poem by the same Laureat. I shall set down his smooth Poem, which was answered as roughly in respect [Page 110]of the single rapier'd Sense, though other­wise in the same Virgil stile, Line for Line; the latter as too Satyrical I have ommitted, the other follows.

September the third, 1658, he march'd off from his earthly Honours, and received his Writ of Ease from all his Labours, as Death alone was able to encounter him, which was on a Day, one Year after another, An­no 1650, and Anno 1651, rubrickt with two of his remarkable Victories; as Antipater died the same Day of his rising. But as concerning the manner of his Death, after he had been sick about a Fortnight of the Disease, which at the beginning was but an Ague, of which Tamberlain died; on Friday being the third of September 1658. in the Morning he gave all the Signs of a dying Person; he remained in that manner till three of the Clock in the Afternoon; he had to his last a perfect and intire Under­standing, his greatest and most important Affair was to name a Protector to be his Successor, which after his decease was con­scentaneously confirmed on his eldest Son Richard; he died in the midst of his Victo­ries [Page 112]and Triumphs, and in a Bed of Buck­lers. On his Death-bed he dispatcht several Businesses of Consequence, answering the Physicians who reproved him, as the Em­peror did, That a Governour ought to die standing.

Alexander the Great was born on the sixth Day of April, on the like Day the fa­mous Temple of Diana at Ephesus was burnt presaging that Fire which this Conqueror should kindle in Asia. The same Gnatho, from whom I borrow this example, who hath many more, but at last, saith he, to look no further then our own Country, into our own Histories, it is observed that the late Richard the succeeding Protector was installed in his Protectorship the third Day of September, when as Richard the First so much spoken of in our Histories, begun his Reign; an Accident, saith he, which cannot but promise him a most favourable Om [...]n, and good Token: But a blunt Fellow in two rustical Verses hath since, as to the event, better specified.

As to the remarkable Passages which happened on the like Days of Olivers Life, [Page 113]some have observed, that on the third of September he was confirmed in his Protector­ship by the Parliament; on the third of September he gained that Battle of Dunbar; on the third of September he gained that great Battle of Worcester; and on the third of September he died at White Hall; with all the Comforts that good Hopes could give in his Posterity.

His Corps being embalmed, and wrapped up in a Sheet of Lead, were September the 26, about ten of the Clock at Night, pri­vately removed from White Hall to Somerset House, where it remained till the 23 of No­vember, lying in the mean Time in so great State, as would puzzle Antiquity to shew such a President; which by some was ac­counted an unnecessary Vanity, the Com­monwealth at that Tim being so involved in Debts both to the Soldiery, the Navy, and others.

The three first Rooms at Somerset-House where the Spectators entered, were hung with black, having in each of them a Cloth of State, with a Chair of State under the same, at the Head of each Cloth of State was fixed a large Majestick Scutcheon fair­ly painted and gilt upon Tassaty, and all the Rooms furnished with Scutcheons of his Arms, crowned with the Imperial Crown

[Page 114] The fourth Room where both the Corps and the Effigies did lye, was compleatly hung with black Velvet, the Roof ceiled with Velvet, and a large Canopy or Cloth of State of black Velvet sringed, was plated over the Effigies made to the Life in Wax. The Effigies it self being apparel'd in a rich suit of uncut Velvet, robed in a little Robe of Purple Velvet, laced with a rich geld Face, and furr'd with Ermins; upon the Kirtle was the Royal large Robe of the like Purple Velvet, laced and furred with Ermins; with rich strings and tassels of Gold: the Kirtle being girt with a rich embroidered Belt, wherein was a fair Sword richly gilt and hatch'd with Gold, hanging by the side of the Essigies. In the Right Fland was the Golden Scepter, representing Government; in the Left Hand the Globe, denoting Principality; upon the Head a Purple Velvet Cap furr'd with Ermins, sig­nifying Regality: Behind the Head there was placed a Rich Chair of State of tissued Gold, and upon the Cushion which lay thereon was placed an Imperial Crown set with precious Stones. The Body of the Effigies lay upon a Bed of state covered with a large Pall of black Velvet, under which there was spread a fine Holland Sheet upon six Stools of tissued Cloth of Gold: on the [Page 115]sides of the Bed of State was placed a rich suit of Compleat Armour, and at the Feet thereof stood his Crest.

The Bed of State whereupon the Effi­gies did thus lye, was ascended unto by two Steps covered with the aforesaid Pall of Velvet; at each corner whereof there was placed an upright Pillar covered with Velvet, upon the Tops whereof were the four Supporters of the Imperial Arms, bearing Banners or Streamers crowned. The Pillars were adorned with Trophies of Mi­litary Honour, carved and gilt, the Pedestals of the Pillars had Shields and Crowns gilt, which compleated the whole Work, cover­ed with Velvet: within the Rails stood eight silver Candlesticks, or Standards, almost five foot high, with Virgin-wax Tapers of a yard long; next unto the Candlesticks there were set upright in Sockets the four great Standards of his Arms, the Guydons, great Banners, and Banrolls of War, being all of Taffety very richly gilt and painted. The Cloth of State which covered the Bed and the Effigies, had a Majestick Scutcheon; and the whole Room adorned with Taffe­ty Scutcheons, several of his Servants at­tending bare-headed, to set out the Cere­mony with the greater Lustre.

[Page 116] After this (to shew there is no intermissi­on of this Vanity) his Effigies was several Days shown in another Room, standing up­on an ascent under a rich Cloth of State; vested in Royal Robes, having a Scepter in one Hand, and a Globe in the other, a Crown on his Head, his Armour lying by him at a distance, and the Banners, Banrolls, and Standards being placed round about him, together with the other Ensigns of Honour, the whole Room being adorned in a Ma­jestical manner, and his Servants standing by bare-headed, as before.

November the 23. was the Day appoint­ed for the Solemnization of the Funerals, multitudes were the Spectators, which from all Places came to behold it, so much are we taken with Novelty, that we think no cost too much for the beholding a two or three Hours Vanity. The Effigies being a while placed in the middle of a Room, was carried on the Hearse by ten Gentle­men into the Court-yard, where a very rich Canopy of State was born over it by six o­ther Gentlemen, till it was brought and pla­ced in a Chariot; at each end whereof was a seat wherein sat two of his late Highness Gentlemen of the Bed-Chamber; the Pall which was made of Velvet, and the White Linnen was very large, extending on each [Page 117]side of the Carriage and was born up by several Persons of Honour. The Chariot wherein the Effigies was conveyed, was co­vered with black Velvet, adorned with Plumes and Scutcheons, and was drawn by six Horses covered with black Velvet, and each of them adorned with Plumes of black Feathers.

From Somerset-House to Westminster the Streets were railed in, and strewed with Sand; the Soldiers being placed on each side of the Streets without the Rails, and their Ensigns wrapped up in a Cypress mourning Veil.

The manner of the proceeding to the In­terment was briefly thus. First, a Knight Martial advanced on Horse-back with his black Truncheon tipt at both ends with Gold, attended by his Deputy and thirteen Men on Horse-back to clear the Way.

After him followed the poor Men of Westminster in mourning Gowns and Hoods, marching two and two.

Next unto them followed the Servants of the several Persons of all Qualities, which attended the Funeral.

These were followed by all his own Ser­vants, as well inferiour as superiour, both within and without the Houshold, as also all his Bargemen at Watermen.

[Page 118] Next unto these followed the Servants and Officers belonging to the Lord Mayor, and Sheriffs of the City of London.

Then came several Gentlemen and Atten­dants on the respective Ambassadors, and the other publick Ministers.

After these came the poor Knights of Windsor in Gowns and Hoods.

Then followed the Clerks, Secretaries, and other Officers belonging to the Army, the Admiralty, the Treasury, the Navy, and Exchequer.

After these came the Officers in Com­mand in the Fleet, as also the Officers of the Army.

Next followed the Commissioners for Excise, those of the Army, and the Com­mittee of the Navy.

Then followed the Commissioners for the Approbation of Preachers.

Then came the Officers, Messengers, and Clerks belonging to the Privy Council, and the Clerks of both Houses of Parliament.

Next followed his late Highness Physi­cians.

The Head Officers of the Army.

The chief Officers and Aldermen of the City of London.

The Masters of the Chancery, with his Highness learned Council at Law.

[Page 119] The Judges of the Admiralty, the Masters of Request, with the Judges in Wales.

The Barrons of the Exchequer, the Jud­ges of both Benches, and the Lord Mayor of London.

Next to these the Persons allied in Blood to the late Protector, and the Members of the Lords House.

After them the publick Ministers of For­reign States and Princes.

Then the Holland Ambassador alone, whose Train was born up by four Gentle­men.

Next to him the Portugal Ambassador alone, whose Train was held up by four Knights of the Order of Christ.

And thirdly the French Ambassador, whose Train was also held up by four Per­sons of Quality.

Then followed the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal.

The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.

The Lords of the late Protectors Privy Council.

After whom followed the Chief Mourn­er, and those Persons of Quality which were his Assistants, and bare up his Train. All the Nobles were in close Mourning, the rest were but in ordinary, being dispo­sed [Page 120]in their Passage into several di [...]isions, being distinguished by Drums and Trum­pets, and by a Standard or Banner born by a Person of Honour, and his Assistant, and a Horse of State covered with black Velvet, and led by a Person of Honour, fol­lowed by two Grooms: Of which Horses there were eleven in all, four covered with black Cloth, and seven with Velvet. These being all passed in Order, at length the Cha­riot followed with the Effigies, on each side of which were born six Banner Rolls, twelve in all, by as many Persons of Ho­nour. The several Pieces of his Armour were born by eight Officers of the Army, attended by a Herald and a Gentleman on each side. Next followed Gartar principal King of Arms, attended with a Gentleman on each side bare-headed.

Then came the chief Mourner, together with those Lords and other Personages that were Supporters and Assistants to the chief Mourner.

Then followed the Horse of Honour in very rich Trappings embroidered upon Crimson Velvet, and adorned with White, Red, and Yellow Plumes, and was led by the Master of the Horse.

Finally, in the close of all followed those of his late Guard, and the Warders of the [...].

[Page 121] At the West Gate of the Abbey Church in Westminster the Hearse with the Effigies thereon was taken off again from the Chari­ot by those ten Gentlemen who placed it thereon before, and in their passing on to carry it into the Church, the Canopy of State was by the former six Gentlemen born over it again: In which stately manner it was carried up to the East end of the Ab­by, and there placed in a magnificent Struc­ture purposely erected there to receive it; being interred amongst the Kings and Queens at Westminster; for all which vast expences, his Son Richard might have ta­ken up that sad expression in Virgil. ‘Infandum Regina jubes renovare dolorem.’ had not the Parliament since dealt so gene­rously with him, as to order the Payment of his Debs contracted by his Fathers Fu­neral. Certainly the Gentleman expressed noble and truly dutiful respects to his Me­mory, fit for brave Minds to imitate. Thus as great Oliver lived victoriously, so he was buried honourably, Sic Fxit. It was a report that his Effigies was taken down and pre­ferved from a threatning Mulitude of the rascally People; even he that had swayed and governed these three Nations five Years, [Page 122]his Reign being troublesome, was necessi­tated after his Death to be protected in his Picture; his Posterity after him being sud­denly levelled.

Thus after many a weary Step, having traversed so many Crowns, I must now set my Reader down at a Commonwealth. I shall end all with a Glimpse rather than a Character, some gleaned Observations on this great Favourite of Fortune, I hope in Terms agreeing to Truth, such as are nei­ther below or above his Estate.