CHAP. I. Shewing the birth and Parentage, and place of Nativity of the said Oliver Cromwell.

THE unparalleld actions of this man, hath made people more curious then otherwise, they would be, to know his Rise and Birth, which otherwise might better to the advantag of his memory been yet obscured and concealed; for it will neither add praise nor commendation either to his coun­trey or Relations, both which have publiquely protested their shame and their abhortance of him. So that without prejudice to his Family, who have cleared themselves of any participation of his Facts, and did and doe detest both him and them; you may understand; he was the Sonne of Henry Cromwell, alias Williams the Younger Sonne of Sir Henry Cromwell of Hinohingbrook, in the County of Huntingdon Knight, who so magnificently treated, [Page 2] King James in that place at his coming into England; who so Loyally and Affectionately loved King Charles the Martyr; and who lastly so hated and abominated this same Oliver his Nephew, God-sonne and Name-sake.

He was Born at Huntingdon, in the year 1599. where his Father being a Cadet or younger Brother, as we have said, having no large Estate, had intermarried with a Brewers Widdow, by whom he had some addition of Fortune, and from her sprung that story of Olivers being a Brewer in Huntingdon: he was from his in­fancy a lusty active Child, and of a sturdy rough temper, which to remedy in his young years, his Father prudently took this Course.

CHAP. II. How Oliver was Educated and brought up in the Ʋniversity of Cambridge, and afterwards in Lincolns Inne, in the study of the Law.

ABout the Age therefore of Thirteen or Fourteen years, his Father sent him to the University of Cambridge, to have him tempered and managed by the severe Tuition and Discipline of the University; but his Tutor quickly perceived the boysterous and untractable spirit of his Pupill, who was more for action then speculation, and loved Cudgells, Foot-ball-playing, or any Game and Exercise better then his Book, so that there was no hopes of making him a Shollar, or a learned Man, and much ado there was to keep him so in compasse, that he became not an open and publique dishonour to his Friends; (here he was made an actor in the play of the Five Senses, where he ominously stumbled at a Crown, which he had also dreamed he should once Wear) whereupon he was presently removed, his Tutor weary and a­fraid of disgrace by him, to Lincolns-Inne; where he might with lesse imputation and observance, if his bent were so given, royster it out, and yet without much trouble attaine some knowledge in the Lawes to qualifie him for a Countrey Gentleman, and that little Competency his Father could leave him. But no such Ru­diments would sink into him, he was for Rougher Arguments and Pleas, Club-law, and indeed what occasion had he to know and be versed in the Law, whose designs and wicked practises after­wards were directly opposite to all Lawes both Divine and Hu­mane, [Page 4]so that he continued not long there, but was called home, his Father dying soon after and leaving him to his swinge.

CHAP. III. Of his Manner of Life and Conversation in the Countrey.

OLiver being come down in the Countrey, and growing sturdy and of Mans stature, frequented all manner of wild Com­pany; who but he at any Match or Game whatsoever, where he would drink and roar with the rudest of his Companions, and when his Money which he had sparingly from his Mother, who yet kept the purse, failed him; he would make the Victuallers trust him, to such a ruine of his Credit and Reputation, he being as famous for his Raunting and his Scores, as after for his Prayers and Victories, that the Ale-wives of Huntingdon if they see him coming would set up a cry, here comes young Cromwel, shut up the Doors, and so keep him out. But he had better successe in the War, for then there was no shutting of him out, no Garrison or Castle or strength whatsoever was sufficient to debar him. But that may be imputable to the luck of his former Atchievments, Fortune being tyed at his Girdle, & keeping a constant Tenour with him, for at this Age he would make nothing of beating of Tinkers and such Masty Fellowes at Quarter staffe, or any such weapon they would chuse; so that he was dreaded by all the Ale-drinkers as well as Ale-wives of the Countrey.

CHAP. IV. How Oliver was reclaymed from these loud Courses, & how he joyned himself to the preciser sort, and became an Hypocritical Convert.

BY these debaucht Courses of Life, and regardlesse thoughts how the world went, as long as Drink and Company could be had, no matter how nor where; he had so endangered his small Estate and Patrimony, and was so far in debt that nothing robory, he was forced to retire himself, and get out of the way, and live privately for private arrests and judgements which were brought against him. In this solitary Condition he had time to bethink himself of his Condition, and having nothing else to do, having play'd a part at Cambridge, to personate another at home, [Page 6]seeming very pensive and melancholy, and much reserved in his talk and discourse, which from vaine and frivolous and wild speeches was now altered into serious and modest and grave language, and sober expression, which accomodated and set forth with a more stayed and solemne aspect and gesture, made him ap­pear to be another kind of person, having run from the one ex­treme to the other; from Stark nought to too Good, and twill be a question whether, by the first he were more destructive to him­self, or by the latter more pernicious to his Countrey.

This humour sowred him at last into a precise Puritanisme, with whom his zealous design was to ingratiate himself, who increasing every day, and being grown to a head-strong Faction, he doubted not but if time should serve, which his daring spirit (if he had not a familiar,) told him was a coming, to be princi­pal person among them, and howsoever to make up his decaies on his Fortunes, by the kind-hearted supplies and loanes of the brother-hood, who were very proud of such a proselyte.

In a short time after, he had learned to pray, and attained a very ready faculty therein, which he made no nicety to mani­fest upon all occasions, both in their publique and private meet­ing; so that he was looked upon by those of his Godly party as their chiefest Ornament, and by the rest of the world as a strange wonder. This Artificial devotion did not onely then advantage him, but served him thereafter through the whole course of his Life, and was the main ingredient of all his policies and successes. A Friar was an Asse to him for saying of Prayers, he was able to give him two for one with his Beads and by Rote, and out-stript him Extempore.

CHAP. V. How Oliver, being noted for his pretended Sanctity, was chosen a Burgesse of Cambridge for the Long-Parliament. and the War breaking out, was made a Captaine of Horse.

BY this sanctimonious vizor and manifested zeale for Refor­mation, which was then in every Mans mouth, he was lookt upon as the fittest Instrument to promote it in the Parliament, which the King had called in 1640. to redresse the grievances of the State and Church and to supply his necessities; and there­fore [Page 7]the Puritan faction and his Relations by marriage, as Mr. Goodwin and also Hambden of Buckingham laboured in the Ele­ction of Burgesses for the town of Cambridg to have him chosen. The Town was generally infected with the same Disease, and therefore it was no hard matter to effect it. Sitting in Parliament as a Member, he quickly saw which way the streame went, and therefore resolved to run one of the first with it, & therefore helpt out the Noyse and Cry for Priviledge, proving a great stickler against the Prerogative; and to that end endeavouring to widen the breach way made by the Malapertnesse of Tumults against the Kings Person and Court, insomuch that he became conspi­cuous and noted for his aversion to the Government. The Flame of those inward burnings now breaking out, and because of his influence on his Country, and his bold confident spirit, he was courted with a Commission (which he accepted) under the Earl of Essex the Parliaments Generall, and was made a Captaine of a Troop of Horse,

CHAP. VI. Of the Exploits Cromwell did in the beginning of the War.

HAving raised his Troop, he marched not presently with the grosse and main body of the Army, but was ordered to con­tinue about his own countrey, that so his own enterprizes might be the better observed, and he taken notice of; so that he was a rising man from the very first beginning of our civil confusions. The first service that he appeared in, was the seizure of Sir Henry Conisby, the Sheriffe of Hartfordshire: when in a gallant con­tempt of the Parliament, he was proclaiming the Commission of Array at St. Albaus, and sending him and other Gentlemen his asistance to London; which sudden and meritorious exploit of his was well resented, and highly commended by the Parliament. His next piece of diligence was the like seizure of Sir John Pettus and Forty Gentlemen more, of the County of Suffolk, who were forming a party for the King, and securing them; by which means he broke the neck of any future designe in that or the next County of Norfolk, for the Royal Interest; so that he had brought all the Eastern part of England to the Parliaments subjection by a bloodlesse and easie Conquest: but his other Victories, which were principally ascribed to him, though they were joyned with him, were very sanguinous and fatally cruel.

As his last home employment, he was ordered to purge and to inspect the University, wherein he proceeded with so much rigour against that place of his own Nurture, &c. it was conceived he would at last as mercilessly use his Mother, then bleeding England which work being over, and unhappily effected, Cromwell was the only man; his prudence, Fortune and Valour every where applauded and extolled, and he reputed for one of the most emi­nent and able Commanders in the Parliaments Army.

'Twas time therefore now to shew him abroad, having Armed, Disciplined and paid his Men so carefully, that there was no doubt of their prevailing upon any equal Enemy, and under the Conduct of so Vigilant and Wary a Leader, whose only aime it was to keep up his Reputation to greater undertakings. There­fore in order to a Conjunction and assistance of the Scots, who were entred England, he was made Lieutenant General to the Earle of Manchester, who had raised his Army out of the associ­ated Counties, as Cambridge, Huntingdon, Bedford, Suffold, &c. Those Armies being joyned, and mastering the Field (the Mar­quesse of New-castle who opposed them, retreating into York) they resolved to besiege that City: to Reliefe whereof Prince Rupert came, and forcing them to draw off from their League, gave them the battel on Marston Moor, July the Second, 1644. In the beginning of the Fight Prince Rupert had utterly discom­fited the right wing of the Army, where Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Scots Horse stood and disordered the main body of the Foot, so that the day was given for lost, the Scots running and throwing down their Arms; when Cromwell with his Curafficres and the rest of my Lord Manchesters Horse, who were placed in the right wing, fell with such force and fury upon the Lord Gorings Briga­des on the Right, that they presently broke them in pieces, and following their successe before the Prince returned, obtained a compleat Victory, killing no lesse then 5000 Men, gaining their Camp, Bag and Baggage, and as the price of all, the City of York: Hence he acquired that terrible name of Ironsides, his Troops being reported unvulnerable and unconquerable; by this De­he feat, lifted up himself to those great Titles and Places he went through afterwards.

CHAP. VII. A continuance of his successes against his Soveraign and his Forces, his Treacherous and Disloyal dealing with his Majesty.

THe next Field we finde him in, was that of the second New­berry, October the 27 1644. where with the same Felicity and Valour, he had the better on that part of the Field, where he Fought, and contributed mainly to that piece of a Victory the Parliament Forces had there; when to cloud and damp this ri­sing Martiallist, he was Articled against by his Superiour Officers for some miscarriages and practises in the Army, to the hindrance of the service, which was indeed his ambitious insinuation into the affection of the Souldiery: but this was never prosecuted, his Friends the Grandees of the Independent party, interposing and justifying him for a godly, expert and Valiant Com­mander.

This Independent Faction was now grown too crafty, and had supplanted their Brother of Presbytery, by new modelling the Army, turning out most of Essexes Officers, and dismissing all Members of Parliament from their several Commands therein; among which number Cromwell should have been included, but his partisans wrought so, that he was continued for Forty dayes, and those expired longer and longer even till the War ended. By this said model Sir Thomas Fairfax was made Lord General, and Cromwell after some time Lieutenant General, being the only man lookt upon able to carry on the independent Interest. The first action he engaged in in this quality, was his routing of the Queens Regiment and some other Troops (come from Wor­cester to fetch the King from Oxford, then designed to be besieged in the beginning of the year 1645.) at Islip bridge: then his im­mediate summoning and taking Blechingdon House, April 24th. whereafter as he was designing a stratagem upon Faringdon House, he was set upon by as vigilant a Commander as himself, the Lord Goring, and received a smart brush, and the onely one throughout the War; which now hastning to an end at the Fatal Nasby, he was called from out the Isle of Ely (whither he had been lately sent to secure it, it being thought the King would have turn'd his now successeful Armes thitherward) to assist the Ge­neral, [Page 10]who by his Letters to the Parliament had desired it. That Unfortunate day the 14th. of June, 1646. owes it's dismalness to the Fortune of this Rebel whose Troops alone could glory in that Atchievment; for the left wing of that Army, where Ireton his Sonne in Law Commanded, was absolutely routed and the main body solely distressed; so that Cromwell alone assured that Victory.

So ended the first War with the Praises and Triumphs of this Man of War, Adored and Worshipped by the Rascal Rabble of Independency, who stuck not to Blaspheme God and his Scrip­tures attributing all those Hosanna's and Psalmes, and Songs of Deliverance and Victory to this their Champion; in effect ma­king a meer Idol of Him, which Phanatick Religious Veneration, he mist not to improve, though for the present he covered his ambition with modesty and humility, ascribing all things in a Canting way of expression, to the goodnesse and omnipotence of God, which he frequently and impiously abused, intituling it to all his wicked and Villanous designes and actions.

The War thus ended, and the KING having escaped their Swords, and so the main rub yet lay in the way to his projected soveraignty; he resolved by Treachery to ruine him; to that purpose, that he might render the King indisposed to the Terms and Propositions of the Parliament, which were hard and unrea­sonable enough besides; he pretended to the King that the Army should take his part and declare for him: as on the other side in the Parliament House, & privately in the Army (telling them that the Kings designe of peace and Agreement was onely to get them Disbanded, and then Hang them for their Rebellion) he exas­perated them against the King, adding that God had hardned his heart against any composure, and had rejected him: and when all this would not doe, but that the people every day more and more were undeceived, and he conceived a fear they might re­scue the King from Hampton-Court, & bring him to London which the King and all good men desired; he contrived another wicked Device to the Kings Final Overthrow, by scaring him with the Adjucators (such were two selected out of each Company and Troop) conspiracy to assassinate him, and so making him fl [...]e to the Isle of Wight, a distant and sure prison, from whence he never came but to his Death. The King a while before was not igno­rant [Page 11]of these Treacherous arts of Cromwell, seeing nothing per­formed as to substance of what ever he promised, and therefore did roundly Tax him with his Faithlessenesse; who at the up­shot told the King that He did misconstrue his words, or else he remembred no such matter, and that if it were so, yet it were no time to perform them, till the Discipline of the Army was reco­vered, and chose Adjutators in a capacity to be questioned, who were now most outragiously and uncontroulably violent against his person and Government, with many more such Flams and Delayes, and Traiterous Fallacies.

The King being in prison at Carisbroke Castle in the said Isle, by the jugling of Cromwell with Hammond the Governour (Bro­ther to one of the Kings most affected Chaplains) an ungrateful Fellow, who owed himself to the Kings bounty; several fresh at­tempts were made for his restitution: that which particularly con­cerned this Oliver, was the Welsh insurrection at Pembroke, which Town in July, after a brave defence was rendred to him. and the Scots invasion under Duke Hamilton, whose Army, to which were joyned some Three Thousand English under Sir Marmaduke Langdale, he totally defeated at Preston in Lanca­shire, on the 17th. of August, (and not long after the General Fairfax took in Colchester, which had stood out Three months (in expectation of relief from this Army) upon the same account) and pursued his Victory as farre as Scotland, marching to Eden­burgh, and there making sure of a party, dealing with Bribes and other forceable perswasions, and making them disarm them­selves to give him no disturbance or interruption in the accom­plishing his most execrable Regicide, for which he was now ready; the expected advantages and opportunities being now in his Hand.

CHAP. VIII. Cromwell turnes out the Parliament, Murders the King, sets up a Commonwealth, who invading Scotland and Ireland, make him their General.

CRomwell posting to London, and he and his Sonne Ireton put the Council of Officers to demand Justice upon the King as the Capital Offendor, and Authour of all the Troubles and Bloodshed: which he so eagerly prosecuted, that though the Par­liament [Page 12]had nearly concluded with the King in the Isle of Wight, after a full Treaty, he by Col. Pride, one that would venture upon any thing he was commanded by him, Secludes twice the Major part of the Members, and then packs up a Juncto of Army Blades, of some Fifty, who constitute a High Court of Justice, by which the Martyr King was Traiterously and Barbarously Con­demned and Beheaded, January the 30. By the same Juncto and Rump of a Parliament, the King ship and Government by a single Person was Voted uselesse and dangerous, to which Cromwell freely assented, as purposing to time his Ambition, now the great Obstacle was removed.

But though the King and his Interest were defunct in England, yet they were not in Ireland or Scotland; whereupon, Cromwell is made General for the Irish Expedition, and though he was the only diswader of the Souldiery from that service, during the quarrel betwixt the Independants and the Presbyterians, and while he had accomplished his mischievous Ends upon the King; yet now he is severely bent to transport such as the Lot should appoint: which the Levelling party, the Adjutators, Whelps of his own Litter, refusing and mutining, them likewise under pre­tence of a Treaty, and giving and receiving satisfaction (their usual expressions) he betraies and surprizes at Burford (not daring to venture a Fight with them for fear of a Total defection of his own party) and had the Ring-leaders shot to Death.

Having surmounted this difficulty, he wafts his Army over into Iréland, and presently storms Tredagh, and understanding it was the Flower of the Kings Army, set there to give him a repulse, having twice bin beaten off, he led his men himself the third time and entred, and put all to the Sword, (having amused the de­fendants who maintained the breach; but having then lost their Colonel, were in some confusion through offer of Quarter,) and by that device got admittance) with alike basenesse, treachery and cruelty.

After that followed the rendition of most of that Kingdome, the Lord Lievtenant thereof, the Marquesse of Ormond being in no Condition to resist him: whereupon the Scotch War then newly beginning, Cromwell was sent for over, and the Presbyte­rian Ministers, set on no doubt by some of his Agents, having in­veigled Fairfax with the unlawfulnesse of his engaging against [Page 13]their Gude brethren; he laid down his Commission, which was readily conferred on, and taken up by Cromwell.

CHAP. IX. Of Cromwells March into Scotland, his Victories at Dunbar and Worcester, and the reduction of that Kingdome.

GLadly did Oliver undertake this War, for now he was sure to make the Army his own, by placing and displacing of Offi­cers; long it was, and many delayes were used by the Scots, be­fore they would be brought to Fight, intending to starve the English Army, which was neer done to their Hands, and Oliver sneaking away Home, when the precipitate blew cap greedy of Spoyle and Victory, would needs fall upon them at Dunbar, Sept. 3d. 1650. and were there by the prowesse and desperate Valour of their Enemies totally overcome. Cromwell therefore now Marches back again to Edinburgh, and buyes that impreg­nable Castle of the Traytor Dundasse, and advances against King Charles the Second, who lay Encamped by Sterling; but he not stirring out of his fortified Camp, and there being no other or fur­ther passage into Scotland, but over the Frith an Arm of the Sea: Cromwell wafts over most part of his Army, and defeats a Scotch party, while the King gives Cromwell the Go-by, being two dayes march before him, and after a tedious march came to Worcester, August the 22d. whither not long after came Cromwell in great doubt and perplexity by the way, (having left General Monk to carry on the War in Scotland, who shortly after reduced the whole Kingdome) and beset the Town, being recruited and made up with his old Army, to above Forty Thousand Men; what shall I say of that Unfortunate day? the King was Worsted, and most miraculously escaped, and so Cromwell might have leave to play.

But no such matter, the time was come he had long expected, to act his own Game and appear in it for himself, for by the year 1653. Scotland and Ireland being wholy subdued, & in the hands of his most trusty Privado's and Confidents, his New Son-in-Law Fleetwood (for Ireton was dead of the Plague at Limbrick) being Deputy of Ireland, and General Monck Governour of Scotland; he proposeth to the Parliament, the desires of the Army for their [Page 14]Dissolution, to make way for succession of a new Representative, which they endeavouring to delay, and to impose upon him with the necessities of their sitting a little while longer; his Ambition could brook no longer retardments, but sent Major General Harrison on the 20th. of Aprill, 1653. to out their Rump-ships which he accordingly did, to the general rejoycing of the people, who considered nor cared who should come next, so they were rsid of these.

CHAP. X. How Cromwell ordered the Government afterward, and how he made himself Lord Protector of England.

AFter the RUMP was thus dissolved, Oliver by the advise (forsooth) of his General Councel of Officers, erected a Councel of State, of such as were true to his Interest and the Army, and were well Fledg'd with the spoyles of the Kingdome, but perceiving that was but a slender Authority, to derive the Government to himself, which was the first and last thing inten­ded; he called a pickt Conventicle of the like batch as himself and his Followers, all of the Godly party, whom he stiled a Par­liament; the name whereof was enough to Authorize and Dig­nifie the Resignation of the Authority they had from, to, him; & their odious actions moreover would make a single person (him­self) more acceptable; For these wild Fellows were upon Abo­lishing the Ministry, and opening the Floodgate to Heresie and Atheisme; when Cromwell dissolved them, and with them dis­carded his old Friend and their darling, Major General Harrison, who was tampering with the Army to unhorse Oliver; but he smelt him out and Cashiered him, as he did his Trusty Friend Lambert soon after, as finding they were both greater in the Army then his Safety and Interest would suffer: so impossible it is for brethren in iniquity long to continue in Love and Friend­ship. Oliver would endure no Competitor, but resolved to be Single and Supreme:

CHAP. XI. How Oliver was sworn Protector, and how be managed the Govern­ment, briefly.

THat little or foolish Parliament being divided among them­selves, one part thereof resigned their power unto Oliver, who straight with caused the Commissioner of the Seale Mr. Lisle, to Administer him an Oath on the 16th. of December, 1653. before the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, in West­minster-Hall, to observe a Module of Government in Forty Two Articles; which instrument of his, as was said, was found in my Lady Lamberts placket, and thereupon he was proclaimed Lord Protector; in February he was feasted sumptuously in the City, and Knighted the Lord Mayor, as he did many other afterwards, upon whom he had better have pissed: he made also one Lord, but he never owned it. Now though he was proclaimed Pro­tector, yet he knew the people took him for no such thing, there­fore he called a parliament according to Form, thinking to have been declared so by them, but they would not own him or his Authority. Seeing therefore he could neither get Reputation nor Money at home, he resolved to have it from the King of Spains West-Indies, but at Hispaniola his Forces under General Venables were strangely defeated, and forced to plant themselves in Jamaica, and fight for Bread instead of Gold. He likewise star­ted several plots, (the Fox was the finder) against Cavaliers, such as Colonel Gerrard, and afterwards Colonel Penruddock (main­taining intelligence at the price of 1500. per annum, with one Manning a Clerk to the Kings Secretary, who then resided at Colen, who discovered most of the Kings Councel, till he was dis­covered himself and executed) on purpose to terrifie people, and those especially from rising against him.

Now when Oliver saw he could not attaine his will by whole Parliaments, he resolved on his old expedient, to garble a Parlia­ment, Call it, and then Cull it, which he did, and secluded those Members that would not before they entred, recognize and own his Highnesse; by which means two parts of three were excluded, and he by the remainder complemented with the stile of King, but for fear of Lambert and Harrison, and indeed the whole King­dome, [Page 16]especially the Army, he durst not accept of it, but was content to take the Title of Protector from their Hands, and was accordingly on the 16th. of June, 1657. Solemnly installed by the Speaker, Sir Thomas Widdrington again in Westminster-Hall, and the Parliament adjourned, who had likewise passed an Act for erecting of a thing called another House, consisting of such Lords as Pride, Hewson and Barkstead; but upon the meet­ing of a full House, after the Adjournment, all this new structure was questioned even to Oliver himself, who thereupon in a passion, and transported beyond his vizarded sanctity, with an Oath by the Living God, dissolved them.

In the year 1658. he assisted the French against the Spaniard, and helped them to take Dunkirk, which for his pains he had delive­red to him, and no doubt it was the best service he ever did to his Countrey. But during this unenvied triumph, having drencht his polluted hands in more innocent and Loyal Blood; namely, that of Dr. Hewet, and Sir Henry Slingsby, God put a Hook into the mouth of this Leviathan, and having snatcht away his belo­ved Daughter Claypoole just before; on the 3d. of September 1658. his great successful day, he was hurried in a Tempest out of the world, which he had so long troubled, and on the 16th. of No­vember following, was most magnificently buried, to the onely sorrow of those who furnished the Mourning, and Pageantry thereof, leauing his Wife Elizabeth alias Jone, with two Sonnes, Richard, who succeeded, till he tamely and Cowardly resigned & is now fled for his Fathers Debts, & Henry, and a Daughter y­cleped Francis Rich. A Person as it was well charactered of him, fit to be a Prince of Tartars or Cannibals.

Before the King returned into England, Colonel Henry Crom­well, Sonne of Sir Oliver Cromwell, obtained license of the King to change that hateful name into Williams, which was the name of this Family, before they married with a Daughter and Heir of of Cromwell, which was upon Condition they should take her Name as well as Estate.