A narrative of some passages in or relating to the Long Parliament by a person of honor. North, Dudley North, Baron, 1602-1677. 1670 Approx. 85 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 57 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A52446 Wing N1285 ESTC R5860 13085843 ocm 13085843 97307 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A52446) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 97307) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 393:25) A narrative of some passages in or relating to the Long Parliament by a person of honor. North, Dudley North, Baron, 1602-1677. [12], 101 p. Printed for Robert Pawlet ..., London : 1670. Written by Dudley North, fourth Baron North. Cf. Halkett & Laing (2nd ed.). Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng England and Wales. -- Parliament. Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1642-1660. 2003-05 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2003-05 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-03 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2005-03 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A NARRATIVE OF SOME Passages IN or RELATING TO THE LONG PARLIAMENT . Curse not the King , no not in thy thought , Eccles. 10. 20. Rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft , 1 Sam. 15. 23. By a Person of Honor. LONDON , Printed for Robert Pawlet , at the Bible in Chancery-Lane , 1670. To the Reader . BEfore thou makest an entry upon the following discourse , it is fit thou shouldst be acquainted with the occasion of its birth . A near relation of mine was the cause of my setting Pen to paper , upon a conceit that being a Member of the Long Parliament , my Observation might have fixed it self upon some particulars omitted by others , which particulars he was unwilling should be lost . And now since this issue of my Brain is come into the world with many characters of Truth upon its body , some friends looking upon it with too favourable an eye , will not consent that it should be stifled by a consinement to one family or place : But on the other side , lest travelling abroad it may contract some disadvantage by too much expectation , ( termed by Sir Philip Sidney , that friendly foe ) I my self having assented to a publication , deem it necessary so far to pass my own censure upon it , as that more may not be looked for , than it can yield ; and not only so , but otherwise to make some little apology for the Contents of it . I may profess my self to have been somewhat perplexed , in finding a proper name for that which I have written . It containeth matters historical and yet is no history , for it consisteth of particulars without any exact order . It compriseth the business of a limited number of years , and yet I cannot give it the title of Annals , because things transacted in several years are set together . It consisteth of abrupt parcels , and yet maketh up but one continued relation . Truth is , it wanteth method , containing nothing that is perfect , and if it were a perfect nothing , perhaps it would be much better , for then it would give no offence to any , whereas now my old fellow-Members , and Comerades of that Parliament , will say , I am Injurious to them , in relating only those proceedings which were not justifiable , and omitting the good things done by them , and they will also tax me for partiality , in not speaking at all , of the provocations and wrongs offered and done , by their opposers . To this I answer , that from beginning the war ( which with its preparatives gives limits to our business ) I know nothing publickly done , that was either good or justifiable , saving only an outward profession of personal reformation , which unless it carried with it a real intention , would have been mention'd with as little advantage , as had the outward pretended publick reformation , which deserved rather blame than praise . The intention of many of us was also very good , being desirous of peace and of a good agreement between Prince and people , but how could this appear without doors , till the army had kickt us out of the House ? And as for particular miscarriages of the King's party , I was not resident within his Majesties quarters , and therefore my relations must have been subject to much incertainty . But that which must satisfie me is this , that those Members , who were enemies to the war , will find reason in that which I say , and as for those Salamanders , who could live only in the fire , I regard not their censure . Perhaps I may also be condemned by the generality as imprudent , in setting an evil character upon the whole carriage of that Parliament , when I my self could not but be an actor in some part of that evil . Here I am put to a double apology for my self , first , as a Subject , and then as a Writer . As to the first , I cannot excuse my self otherwise , than by the Sincerity of my mind and Intentions . I may freely profess , that I never had the least disloyal thought in relation to my Prince , and my endeavours always tended to a reconciliation of the business , with a production of peace , and if I were at any time enforced ( for I never did it willingly ) to act in the way of opposition contributory to the war , it was with hope , that at last there would be a happy agreement . I must thus far confess my error , that I too much feared the ill consequences of a Parliaments being run down by force , and perhaps so great a distrust in the clemency of his late Majesty cannot be justified ; yet I may hope , that such a tenderness upon mistake , may be esteemed venial in comparison of greater offences , which are included in our present Soveraigns gracious pardon . And as for the imputation of imprudence in stigmatizing my self by too far publishing the miscarriages of that body , whereof I was a Member , I conceive , that I cannot better shew my self worthy to be included in that his Majesties general pardon , than by declaring a detestation of them , and by setting them out in their right colors , so far am I from condemning my self in that particular . As to the whole Narrative , considering that I have trusted only to my own private memory and Notes , I will not say , but that there may be an omission of some particulars , as important as those inserted , but I am confident , that for the substantial Truth of that which I have delivered , there can be no just exception to it , and so I must referr all to thy censure . Farewel . A NARRATIVE Of some Passages in or relating to the Long Parliament . CArdinal de Richelien , that great favourite of France ( perhaps to insinuate into his Masters thoughts the high importance of Naval power ) caused a Ship of extraordinary bulk to be made , which his malevolents affirmed to be an embleme of himself : for as that Ship could not move at Sea , but in a storm , so ( said they ) the Cardinal could not live in a quiet and undisturbed State. This was said of that great Minister of State , because he held his Prince engaged in a continual foreign war ; and if such a war were imputed to him , as mischievous to that Kingdom , what shall we think of those , who in this our Island so troubled the waters at home ( to fish out a greatness for themselves ) as to sever the Head from its Body , and by unsinnewing the government to batter down all the Pillars that supported it , and so to bring an absolute Anarchy and confusion upon the whole Nation ? Surely the depth of this offence is not to be fathomed , yet thus much is ordinarily said in their defence , that they were so far from designing Anarchy , as they intended only reformation , and the setting up of a much more accomplished government . It is easie to be believed , that confusion was not their ultimate end , and there needeth no other proof of it , than the actings of their Leviathan Cromwell , who made his own personal greatness the foundation of something in the way of new Government . And the intent of reformation , or of a new model , can be no justification of any particular Rebellion , since the same ends are pretended to by all persons , that at any time raise a Power in opposition to the present Governors , as these very persons found by experience during their short rule . Aristotle and his adherents , are much cried down by our modern natural Philosophers , for making privation a principle ; but certainly these men made it the most considerable principle in their politicks ; for they could not effect any thing fully , but demolition and destruction . They never set up any thing in the way of Government that was new , but it was in a short time disliked and overthrown : And indeed it could not be otherwise , since the greedy Monster of their faction could not subsist , but by devouring whatsoever was most precious in the Land ; and since the opportunity to do so could not be had , but by frequent changes of Government ; so the rapacity of this brood of Harpies caused the destruction of so many fair Buildings , whereof the raising had been so costly , the suppression of Bishops with their Hierarchy , and the sale of their Lands , and ( I may even say ) felling of the Royal Oak it self , with prostitution of the publick Revenue and Ornaments to sale , and the same cause would infallibly have produced the ruine of both Universities , with demolition of the Colledges , and alienation of their Lands , and many other destructions of that nature , so as to have deprived the Nation of all excellence in the way of beauty and splendor . That this was done , the Power once raised , is not strange , but how so great a part of the people ( nay even of that remainder of Parliament ) should be drawn to consent to it , carrieth much wonder ; and certainly there was much art used , to win their consent to so great a devastation . The Historical part of this business being too heavy a burden for my shoulders ; I shall only ( for the satisfaction of some friends ) set down in writing my observations , of the carriage of that business at Westminster , where I was then resident as a Member of the House of Commons , wherein perhaps there may be found some particulars , not so obvious to others , and in that respect likely to be omitted . In matters Political it is seldom found ▪ that events depend upon causes necessarily producing them , and when they do , there must be some great imperfection in the original constitution of a State , as writers in Politicks affirm , of Civil War arising in an Oligarchy , by reason of many dependences upon great persons possest of the Sovereign power , whose private and differing interests distract the forces of such Commonwealths ; but this cannot be our case , who live in an extraordinary well-tempered Monarchy , where the perfect constitution is sufficiently proved by an esflux of very much time , without the least appearance of any visible defect . We must therefore search out other causes . It cannot be doubted , that there is a Divine Providence , which ordereth and governeth all things ; but as this is above us , and altogether out of our sight , so we must rather submit chearfully , than make any inquisition about it . As for second causes in disturbance of States , none can justifie an armed opposition by Subjects against their Sovereign ; and unless there be some plausible title to the Supreme power , there is seldom any that become considerable , but discontents upon conceit of misgovernment ; and in this case the justness of discontent is not so dangerous , as the generality of it , and in that respect designs grounded upon right reason , and with certainty of publick advantage , if effected , are yet well laid aside , when liable to a general misconstruction , in the way either of danger or oppression . Never Parliament was assembled , when the people were in a higher discontent , than at this time : such a general diffidence there was , as they thought themselves sure of nothing . The encrease of Ceremonies had made them fear the approach of a Religion hateful to them . The late business of Ship-money , together with some other impositions without consent of Parliament , caused them to apprehend the loss of property in their estates , and they had little hope of redress by Parliament , because his then Majesty had been so unhappy , as to be put upon a sudden dissolution of all Parliaments formerly by him called . There wanted not persons ill-disposed , and seditious , to trumpet these things in the ears of the generality , whereby they incensed them so far , as thereby they found means to raise a power against their Sovereign , which how it was done , and by what degrees , and how improved is the chief intent of our business to set forth . At the time of assembling this unhappy Parliament there were two armies on foot in England , whereof one was that of the Scots , and another consisting of English-men to oppose them , if occasion were ; and the King to remove all jealousie of a wilful continuance of the war , by engaging them to a fresh hostility , had made the Earl of Holland ( a person then standing gracious with the Parliament and People ) General of the English army . The persons who knew themselves faulty in holding intelligence with the Scots , were then so apprehensive of a complete agreement between his Majesty and Them , and of their being won to a compliance with him in all things , as the Earl of Holland in a private Letter to Mr. Pym , writ somewhat to this effect ; That the sky was horridly black in those Northern parts , and that all things there seemed , as tending to an universal judgment . The Earl being then General , could not intend this other than a private advertisement , but Mr. Pym finding the publication of it a sit means to encrease the general apprehensions , presently imparted that Letter to the House of Commons , and from thence the substance of it was divulged over all the City of London . This served to keep the people in a heat and jealousie concerning the Kings intentions , but that fear proved vain , for the pacification was effected wholly by interposition of the English-Commissioners , who were persons approved of by the Parliament as to that employment . But this business of satisfying the Scots , and of disbanding of the Armies , requiring vast summs of money , there were were great Taxes laid upon the people by Act of Parliament , which money was not likely to be levied in much time , and therefore there needed a present supply by the City of London , who ( as was pretended ) would not part with their money , lest a dissolution of the Parliament should come before payment ; thereupon the King was pressed to pass the Act of Continuance , whereby the Parliament could not be dissolved , but by their own consent . This Act had the Royal assent , and gave to the Crown the greatest blow that it had yet received ; for so the King established against himself a Power , which he could not extinguish . This pacification being free from all secret agreements with the Scots , gave a great strength and confidence to our Cinistones , or kindlers of Sedition : for though the Presbyterian discipline , was now again consimed , as to Scotland , yet it was impossible , that the Scots could think themselves secure to hold it , as long as Episcopacy stood firm in England , in which respect they could not but be willing to assist those , whose design it was to abolish it . Before this time , it was thought sit to deprive the King of two prime Counsellors , the Archbishop of Canterbury , and the Earl of Strafford , ( whose names were delivered in by the Scottish-Commissioners , as incendiaries between the two Nations ) which was done in the way of an impeachment by the House of Commons at the Lords Bar for High Treason . Upon this Impeachment it was found requisite to commit them presently to the Tower , so as the King was immediately deprived of their advice in Council ; and the Earl of Strafford was speedily brought to Trial in Westminster-Hall with much solemnity , which had continuance for many days , and at last was broken up with heat and violence by the House of Commons , such as ill became the gravity of that Assembly ; and they did it , conceiving that the Lords carried themselves partially in relation to the person impeached ; but his condemnation was finished afterwards by the Legislative power in a Bill of Attainder , which could not pass the Lords , till many of them were so terrified by tumults , as they found it for their safety to be absent at the last Reading . And this business of the Bill was carried on with such violence , as there was a kind of proscription of such persons , as in the House ●f Commons had Voted against the Bill ; for their names were posted up in London by the care of some malicious body . The Archbishop was reserved to a Trial , less legal as to the form , but no less fatal to his ruine ; being some few years after condemned by a Bill passed in both Houses , but wanting the Royal assent . At or about the time of Straffords Trial , there was a general licentiousness used . The Parliament-houses were daily haunted with a rabble of tumultuating people , crying out for that which they called justice . There was also a Liberty assumed , and connived at , to Print and publish what every man thought fit , which for the most part was in defamation of the Governors Ecclesiastical and Temporal . Within the City of London the Pulpits were almost wholly possest by Presbyterian-Ministers , whose eloquence was altogether employed the same way . In the Country ( or at least in divers parts ) there was such encouragement given under-hand , as the common people fell upon Popish Recusants , and plundered their houses with all severity : And the House of Commons being made acquainted with the inconvenience and terror of these Tumults , as well by their own members , as by a Message from the house of Lords , would not be drawn to discountenance , much to declare against them . It was not long after the Pacification , that the Scots much urged the King to go into Scotland to be crowned , whereunto his Majesty assented at the last , which gave great jealousie again at Westmirster , in so much as the Parliament made some addresses to the King , desiring that he would not depart out of the Kingdom at that time , but those addresses became altogether fruitless , the King declaring his absolute and peremptory engagement to go . And the apprehensions of this journey were so powerful , as a very active Member of the house of Commons , standing at the door of the Lords House , upon occasion of a Message , having fetch'd a great sigh , made a profession , he thought we were all undone ; but the Presbyterian Scots continued true to their own interest , with a respect also to their profit , and expecting to be called again into England , as it came to pass afterwards . The Scottish Coronation being past , the King returned to London , and then the exasperations grew higher than ever . It seems , his Majesty was willing to impute the disorders in Parliament to some particular persons Members of both Houses , whom he had found to have held intelligence with his enemies , and therefore he directed his Atturny General , to accuse the five members ( whose names are well known ) in Parliament of high Treason , which was so ill resented in both Houses , as the Impeachment was refused , whereupon his Majesty fell upon that unhappy resolution , of coming personally into the House of Commons , which gave so great offence , as both Houses , pretending they could not sit securely at Westminster without a guard , adjourned themselvs for some days , and appointed to meet during the vacancy in London as grand Committies , to consider what was to be done upon the pretended breach of Priviledge . This gave a great advantage against the King , for by this means , they had opportunity to fix their correspondence with the Citizens , and to engage them in their defence . Between this time and the Kings return out of Scotland , the Court had been annoyed with a confluence of unruly people ; so as it was thought fit to have a Corps de guard ( or a Court of guard as they call it ) kept in the passage before Whitehal to keep the rabble at a distance . But during this Adjournment the Citizens of London became so engaged , as upon the day of the Houses meeting again at Westminster ; they sent a little army with some field pieces for their security : these passed by land and by water on each side of Whitehal , and the noise of their coming was so loud , as it was concluded fit for the guard of Middlesex trayned bands to withdraw , and so their passage became free . This was interpreted at Court , as the beginning of a war , and thereupon his Majesty thought good to retire to Hampton-Court . After this , there were many addresses to the King by the Parliament , but not any , that could be in the least measure pleasing to him . It happened that Mr. Pim had newly and publickly ( at a conference between the House , as I take it ) used some words of disrespect to the King , wherewith his Majesty exprest himself to be offended , and thereupon the House of Commons , having notice of the Kings resentment , took a resolution to send his Majesty a paper , in full justification of that which Mr. Pim had said , I my self was present at this resolution , and appearing dissatisfied with it , immediately went out of doors , which being observed by a back friend of mine , he named me one of the four to carry it . This unwelcome news was brought to me to my own house by one of our Serjeants , with a copy of the order , which must not be disobeyed , and so we went and delivered the paper to his Majesty at Hampton-Court , which being read , he began to discourse upon it , as if he expected reason from us , and seem'd to address his Speech more particularly to me ( perhaps having heard of my dislike ) but Sir John Culpepper then Chancellor of the Exchequer and chief of the four , told his Majesty , we had not power to speak one word , whereupon we were dismissed , and returned to London . After this the King left Hampton-Court and went to Theobalds , whither the Parliament sent a Committie of Lords and Commons , but with a message either so unreasonable , or unseasonable , as the King thought fit to dismiss them with an absolute negative , and there passed something then , which perhaps may be fit to be inserted herein , as containing that which is something extraordinary . I received the relation from a noble person , who was one of the Commoners then sent , and this it is . After having received his Majesties answer , the Committy being still at Theobalds , retired it self to take into consideration the terms of it , that there might be no difference in reporting to the several Houses of Parliament . As soon as the Committy was set , the Earl of Warwick was called out , to speak with his brother the Earl of Newport . He went out , and speedily returned with this account of the business ; that the Earl of Newport had acquainted him , that the King was even then so pressed to give a more satisfactory answer , as he was confident they should have such an answer , if they would but defer their departure for a small season : To this the whole company seemed to assent with much chearfulness , when suddenly young Sir Henry Vain declared himself to mervail at it , for said he , is there any person here , who can undertake to know the Parliaments mind , that is , whether this which we have , or that which is called a more satisfactory answer , will be more pleasing to the Houses ? For my part I cannot , and if there be any that can , let him speak ; to this no man made any answer , and so having agreed upon the report to be made , they departed . I have related this , to shew how easily one subtle ill-disposed person may overthrow a general good intention . Now were the well affected party ( as it was then termed ) stirred up in all parts , to give incouragement to the House of Commons in the way of pretended Reformation , by petitions , whereof some were delivered dayly at the bar , and the deliverers had thanks given by the Speaker , which was a thing altogether new . And as a general return to these , and to keep the people in perfect heat , it was resolved , that a general and publick declaration of the State of the kingdom should be made to the Nation . In time of former Princes the House of Commons had some times ( but very rarely ) made remonstrances of that nature to the King , which were never pleasing to him , yet not justly to be excepted against , because it is exprest in the writs of Summons , that they are to advise his Majesty , but for any advising ( or treating with ) the people , it was always held illegal , and of mischievous consequence . Upon these grounds the declaration , being brought into the House , caused a very long debate , but was at last passed , with the dissent of very many of the most considerable Members . Our Nation being in such disorder , the rebellion broke out in Ireland , and the Lords of the Council being yet in London , imparted their new received intelligence to the House of Commons , who seemed chearfully to embrace the business of reducing that Kingdom to obedience , and thereupon endeavoured the raising of a stock of money by adventure , upon security of the living Bears-skin , which was the Estates of such persons as were in Rebellion . Upon this the King made offer of going in person to suppress the rebellion , if he might be supplied with money , and other necessaries for the work ; which offer was so far from being hearkned unto at Westminster , as it created new jealousie . But the Parliament made good use of the Irish business ; for by that means they listed Officers , and made full enquiry concerning their inclinations , which succeeded happily with them afterwards . Every day produced new differences between the King and Parliament ; for that unsatiable Monster of publick security caused the making of a proposition to his Majesty , which was , that the Parliament might govern the Militia , ( or Trained-bands ) for some time at least , which was rejected by the King , as a power not to be parted withal , no not for an hour ; whereupon the Parliament made new Lieutenants for each County , who assumed the exercise of that power by Parliamentary authority in many parts of the Kingdom . And upon the same ground of publick security , Sir John Hotham seised upon the Town of Kingston upon Hull , with the Kings Magazin there , which his Majesty cried out upon , not only as rebellious , but as a robbing him of his Arms and Ammunition ; being personal Goods bought with his money ; and this before any the least act of hostility shewed on his part . The King was then retired to the City of York , as a place of more safety , than nearer to London : And there first of all the Warrants of Parliament being sent by express Messengers for Delinquents ( by them so stiled ) were flatly disobeyed , which was no unwelcome news to the great managers of affairs at Westminister ; for they pretended such obstruction of Justice , to be a justifiable & sufficient ground for the raising of forces . When the opposition was grown to this height , his Majesty judged it fit , that such Members of both Houses as had resolved to engage against the Parliament should withdraw themselves ; and one of the last that continued sitting in the House of Commons was Mr. Sidney Godolphin , who for a farewel declared , That by a War the Parliament would expose it self to unknown dangers : for ( said he ) when the Cards are once shuffled , no man knows what the Game will be , which was afterwards found by the Parliament too true , when their own Army became their Masters : But in the mean time , this Secession of Members did very much facilitate the entry into , and continuance of the War ; all dispute being taken away within the Houses , and the House of Commons would not lose this convenience , and therefore they soon excluded the withdrawn Members by special Votes . This abscission or cutting off of Members had been formerly used in this and other Parliaments , but very rarely , and for offences extraordinary , and such an offence was this obedience to his Majesty then adjudged to be , so unfitting a time for Judgment is the heat of a Civil War in matters relating to that War. This War first began in Paper , by Manifestoes and Declarations on both parts , which brings to remembrance a pleasant passage in the House of Commons upon this account . One of the Members brought with him into the House a Declaration of his Majesties , which he had newly bought , and complained much of those , who were so insolent , as freely to sell such papers of the Kings : At this a young Gentleman ( of those who were accounted Fanaticks in those days ; but one who never spake publickly in the House ) grew into a seeming impatience , and said with much earnestness , Why not his papers as well as every mans else ? Which though loudly , yet being spoken , without standing up , was answered only with looks and smiles . This passage is scarcely worthy of a place in any serious discourse , yet it seemeth naturally to express the small ingenuity of those times , which allowed not to a Sovereign Prince in his own Dominions that freedom , which every petty fellow assumed without exception . At this time both parties were employed in raising of forces : The Earl of Essex being made Captain-General for the King and Parliament , ( as the stile of the War was then ) with full power to nominate Officers ; and I can affirm , that the Army was raised with great difficulty ; there being immediately upon grant of that Commission , the greatest solitude at Westminster that I had seen , whereof I my self taking notice before a Member , who was designed to a principal command in the Army , as a thing of small encouragement , he made this answer , That he thought the people of England were mad , being so blind to the discerning of their own interest ; but the Parliaments business was more and more facilitated every day , there being a Committy erected of Lords and Commons , called the Committy of Safety , in the nature of a Privy Council ; and Money or Plate coming in freely ( upon the propositions for contribution ) in London beyond any mans expectation . But that which most advanced the Levies , was a Liberty declared for Apprentices to forsake their Masters service at this time , without loss of freedom : and the nomination of Collonels , Members of both Houses , being persons eminent for popularity , so as the Army consisted very much of boys at the first , but there being great scarcity of experienced Commanders , the General thought it necessary to accept the service of divers Scottish-men , whom the assurance of good pay had invited to offer themselves , being not only able persons for Command , but also better hardened in the way of Military opposition to the Royal power , than our English. Now there passed every day Acts of hostility , for the King appearing in person before Hull , and entrance being denied , raised a battery against the Town , and laid a kind of siege to it . On the other side the Parliaments forces seized every day , upon such places , as they found necessary in the way of advantage for War ; so as Mars began to exercise his power in several parts of the Kingdom , even to bloud , by wrestlings between the respective Partisans , when they met , as also by the siege of Warwick-Castle by the Earl of Northampton , who soon after lost his life in the Kings service ; and the Parliament it self then seemed to have assumed a new nature , according to the businesses there agitated , which were only relating to the War. After several skirmishes between parties , the Armies came to face one another at Edgehill , in the year 1642 , whereupon ensued a battel , and notice being given at Westminster , we were in continual expectation of the issue ; and the House being set in an afternoon , there came a Messenger , who brought word , that the Parliaments Army was so worsted , as he his self saw the Earl of Essex's Cannon seized upon by the Kings forces . This gave so great a terror , as the Speaker Lentall addressed himself to some of us , and used these terms . Gentlemen , you shall do well to send to his Majesty betimes to ask conditions , lest by delaying you come too late to effect your security : Such a terror did the present apprehension strike into him , and many others ; but it was not long before an express Messenger came from the General himself , signifying that he was Master of the field , and had been once possest of the Royal Standard . This gave fresh courage , yet the intelligence brought by the first person was true ; for the Parliaments left wing had been routed , and their Cannon possessed , but for want of discipline the prevailers applied themselves to plunder the baggage , and so the other part of his Majesties Army was born down , and the Earl of Essex remained possessed of the field , ( or Champ de bataigle , as the French call it ) but with his Forces so broken , as the Kings Army , having done their business in forcing a passage , pursued their design , and marched forwards , which Essex in his Letters termed a flight , and said , that for want of horse , he could not prosecute his victory , without a fresh supply from London . And thus the victory is pretended to on both sides , and not without a fair colour . Not long after this , the King having refreshed his army at Oxford , marched with it towards London , yet could not do this with such expedition , but that General Essex was gotten thither before him , and the Citizens of London were so fearful of being plundered , as they came out unanimously for defence , and so his Majesty thought good to retreat to Oxford , which gave a period to action for that year . Somewhat before the late encounter near Brainford , the house of Commons ordered me to go into the Countrey for which I served , where I found all full of terror , the common people generally apprehending , that the Cavaliers ( as the Royallists were then called ) were coming to plunder them . This fear was artificially put into them , as I could easily perceive : for the Countrey was full of strange fictions of their inhumane carriage in other countreys , and being at my usual Mansion , we had scarcely any rest ( no not in the night ) for Messengers giving the allarm , and the manner was to bring a paper of intelligence without any subscription , and this must be taken for truth , without any farther proof . These allarms generated strange , wild , and indigested propositions , such as were not to be hearkned unto by any person of Judgment and experience , yet they were some way tending to the great design of raising the terror to a height , and putting arms into the hands of Schismatical people under the name of Voluntiers , and by those means to form a new power to be disposed of upon occasion in any part of the Kingdome , without the limits of their own Counties , as it came to pass afterwards , when Majors General were established . But since the Kings forces did not really make any approach towards us , and since I had not accepted of any Command to oblige my stay in the Countrey , I made my return to London , and applyed my self to my constant course of attending in Parliament , where I found the state of business somewhat altered : for General Essex began now to appear to the private Caballists somewhat wresty , so as they found it necessary to raise new forces to be commanded less immediately by him . Upon this there was a kind of army put under command of Sir William Waller and Sir Arthur Hasellrigg , whose actions were afterwards as much cryed up , as the Generals were cryed down . And then there were also Ordinances of Parliament ( which kind of law grew now in fashion ) framed , and past for constituting associations , whereof the Eastern was chief , and much promoted by Cromwel , who founded his greatness there , though for the present he was commanded by the Lord Grey of Warke , chosen Major General of that association , and placed in that Command , as a person less active , and more to be wrought upon , than he afterward proved to be , which made Essex who had yet power sufficient to crush him ; cause him ( after about a years service in that Command ) to be summon'd to his attendance in the Lords house , with a substitution of the Earl of Manchester in his place of Major General , being one of his own near relations . The House of Commons was employed in providing money , without which they could have no good effect of their armies . Several ways were found , but no one ( nor all of them together ) answerable to their occasions . One was by Sequestration of Delinquents estates , not excepting the King 's own revenue , which last yielded the best supply , being manag'd by a Committy of Parliament , whereas they were inforced to use ravenous people in the Sequestration of private estates , making a very slender account to the publick , and converting most of the profits to their own use , whereof the Parliament was not in condition to take much notice at that time . Another way of raising mony there was , by requiring a twentieth part of goods and a fifth part of every man's revenue . This began upon persons disaffected to the Parliament , but came at last to be a calling dance , being made general , and herein both parties did good service , by giving complete information concerning one anothers estates . But the last and surest , was a monthly tax for the army , which was the first of that kind , and likeliest to continue in being . And now the case is wholly altered , for every demand must be answered , there being armies on foot , very well disposed to constrain payment in case of refusal . About this time , those persons who had been nominated Committies in each County for money matters , held meetings ( in imitation of the Covenanters tables in Scotland ) and took upon them the decision of businesses relating to the County in general , but especially as to the war , which comprized the suppression of the Royallists , and by this means they exercised an unlimited power , being assured of Indemnity at Westminster for all things done in the way of advantage to their military affairs . While the asperities of war lay thus frozen up in winter quarters , it pleased his Majesty to send the Earl of South-hampton , and Sir John Culpepper with a proposition for a treaty of peace , and a considerable member of our House made this relation to me , of Mr. Pims opinion concerning it . This Gentleman said , he met Mr. Pim going into the Committy of Safety , and desiring a word with him asked , if he knew the substance of Southhampton's message , and what he thought of it ? Mr. Pim's answer was , that he knew the particulars , and praised God in his heart , hoping that the issue of it would be happy for the Kingdome . But it seems , that being entred into the Committy his mind soon changed , for the General ( with other Lords there ) were absolutely for the refusal of it , which was the event of it also in Parliament , and not without some harshness in the manner , for South-hampton and Culpepper would have delivered their message in the respective Houses within the Bar , as Members , which was refused to them , and so their message being made known , and unanimously concluded unseasonable , by reason of the Generals standing yet ( together with divers other eminent persons ) declared Traytor , they both returned to Oxford . This may appear strange , since the General was conceived to wish and labour for peace , which may the better be believed , because after this time , he sent a letter to the Parliament , to express his sense of the Nations miserable condition under a war , and to desire that there might be propositions of peace sent to his Majesty ( a fault never to be forgiven by the private Caballists ) which desire of restoring peace continued with him even to his end , as was hinted in his funeral Sermon , wherein he was compared to Abner , who perished being in such a design , but it is usual for such persons to dislike all pacification , saving what is procured by themselves , wherein their own interests are fully provided for , and it is very likely , that Essex would have had the business to pass chiefly through his own hands , whereby we may see , how far a poor Nation may suffer by the on of some principal persons . But howsoever it was with others , it is not to be doubted , but some of the close Cabal , rather than to yield to any pacification , were disposed to make use of the pious intimation , delivered by a Minister in a Fast Sermon preached before the House of Commons , which was this . That if they could not effect the desired reformation , yet it would be in their power , to break the pillars , and as Sampson did , to pull down the house over the heads of their enemies . Yet for publick satisfaction ( the people being wearied with a war ) it was always in agitation , to bring the business to a treaty , though not without much jealousie on the Parliaments side , which might be much encreased , by a letter from a Lord at Oxford to a Commander in that army , which became publick being intercepted , and contained these words . Do but cudgel them into a Treaty , and we shall do well enough with them . Before drawing the armies out in the year 1643. there had been a hopeful treaty of peace , both parties having tendred propositions , and Commissioners being sent to Oxford to treat , but this was soon rendred fruitless by the Parliament , who too far straightned the time of treaty , and bound up their Commissioners by instructions , obliging them in the first place , to treat upon and conclude the proposition for disbanding of the armies , which could not be consented to by his Majesty , without assurance first had , that the other most important articles would be agreed upon . And so at this time the poor people were defeated of their hopes , it being one of our Cabals greatest arts , to give way to a treaty of peace for publick satisfaction , and then to bring it to a rupture in some plausible way , as here it was upon the article of disbanding , which was a thing so much desired by the people . This year 1643. businesses were transacted at Westminster with greater heighth than ever ; for the Queen being returned to the King's quarters with some assistance , the House of Commons assumed the boldness to impeach her of high treason at the Lord's bar , and about the same time , both Houses voted a new great Seal to be made , which is the instrument of Royal power far above all others , and the doing of these two things , could not but much exasperate his Majesty , yet their military affairs were never less succesful , for the West of England was wholly lost by defeat of the Earl of Stamford's army , and Bristow forced by Prince Rupert . In the Northern parts the Earl of Newcastle was prevalent almost wholly : And certainly had the King ( instead of besieging Glocester ) marched to London , and the Earl of Newcastle ( instead of besieging Hull ) forced his way into the Eastern association , the war had come to a period , but Divine Providence had designed a more gentle end , and disposed the minds of the Northern and Western armies , so as they would not forsake their own Countries till they saw them cleared from all opposition . The Parliaments business being in this evil condition , it was easily judged fit to call in the Scots , which matter being moved in the House of Commons , and it being objected , that it would be fruitless to call them , without proposing to them at the same time something of great advantage by it , there stood up presently that great Patriot Henry Martin , and desired with much confidence , that an offer might be made them , of the Counties of Northumberland and Cumberland , and in case they were not therewith contented , to add two such other Counties in the North , as should be most convenient for them . So little care had he in that conjuncture , of the honour , and advantage of the English Nation . This was justly thought extravagant , yet that business of calling in the Scotts being communicated to the Lords , there was a Committy of Lords and Commons nominated to go into Scotland , and matters were so transacted with the Scots , as they entred into England with an army the February following . I should have related how in the former year , after the King 's retiring from Parliament , there was set up at Westminster an assembly of Divines , being an Ecclesiastical body of strange constitution , and composed of persons nominated by the Knights and Burgesses of each County , to which were added a small number , named by the Lords , and some few Commissioners deputed by the Kirk of Scotland . This assembly being so extraordinary in the constitution , was certainly designed to produce great effects , but the success was not answerable , for they could never perfect their model of Church Government , not well agreeing among themselves , by reason of the Independent members , who approved of no Church discipline , other than Parochial , and even that part of the model , which was concluded upon with approbation of Parliament could never be put in execution , the Presbyterian discipline being so strict , as made it unpleasing to most of the people ; and especially to those of the Gentry , who found themselves likely to be over-powered by the Clergy , even in the places of their habitation : But the Army , after it became new modelled , was wholly averse to it . I conceive , the intentions of calling an Assembly to have been these two : First to have a Synod of Divines concurring in the subversion of the Bishops , and their Hierarchy ; and in this the Parliament had their end fully , for the matter very well pleased all such persons as were earnestly of their party : And secondly , to agree upon some uniformity in Divine Service , which was the ground of their Directory ; but all Uniformity ( or colour of it ) was distasteful to the Independents , which became the growing opinion , and at last so over-spread the Army , as the sight of a black-coat grew hateful to them ; and so the Directory fell to ground of it self . These Assembly-men might well be discouraged , since hopes were given at first , that the Lands of Bishops and of Collegiate Churches should be setled in some way , for the raising of all Parochial Churches a competency of means for the Ministers , but the necessities belonging to War exposed these to sale , and frustrated that hope . I should have related how the House of Commons finding the Pulpits filled with persons disaffected to them , made a breach upon the Lords in point of Judicature , and erected a Committy called of plundered Ministers , and by this Committy they ejected the old Ministers , and placed new at pleasure , but because the ejected had been possest of a Freehold , the Committy ordered to his Wife and Children a fifth part of the profits , if cause were not shewed to the contrary , which must be this , That the person displaced was otherwise possest of temporal means sufficient ; and to my observation , there was scarcely any of the new-placed , who did not dispute that provision at the Committy . But it seems that this Committy could not dispatch that business fast enough ; for the Earl of Manchester was afterwards invested with a power by both Houses , to do the same thing within his association , as also to reform the University of Cambridge , where he had the like arbitrary power of ejection . But the Parliament had a way of cementing their fluctuating faction by religious bands of union , which certainly they found very effectual , though upon differing grounds , or else they would never have had three of them in three or four years time , which I think is not to be paralell'd in any other revolt . The first of these was a protestation in the year 1641 , which being before the War began , took into it the defence of his Majesties Royal person , Estate and Dignity . The second was termed a Vow and Covenant , set on foot in the year 1642 , and this containeth no mention of the King , but in the way of forcible opposition to him by prosecuting the War. And the third was , the Scottish-Covenant , which again taketh in the defence of his Majesties Royal person , but in so perplexed and complicated a way , as it signified little . And in this was also contained , a total abrogation of the Government Ecclesiastical by Archbishops , Bishops , &c. with the whole Hierarchy ; so as this Covenant may be said , to have spoken perfect Scottish . The taking of the first and last of these in their proper time , was pressed upon the people in general with all terror ; and the Vow and Covenant ( which related much to a particular conspiracy ) only upon the Members of both Houses ; and certainly it was a very useful policy , to engage the most considerable persons in these oaths , and in other things rendring them odious to their Prince , and exposing them to confiscation of their Estates upon conquest , which could not but make them stick the more closely to common defence . All the time of this Parliament it was the design of our Caballists , to abate the power of the Lords House , and in pursuance of that design , at the very beginning in Straffords business , they prevailed to have the Recusant Lords deprived of Voting there ; and afterwards they had not patience to stay till the Bishops were excluded by the Ordinance , but took advantage of a protestation made by such Bishops , as then sate in the House of Lords , being about half their number , and to my best remembrance , thus it was . Those Bishops having taken a resolution , not to continue sitting long after his Majesties forsaking the Southern parts , yet finding that there was an Ordinance coming for abolition of their Order , which must pass the Lords House , they used their endeavours to enervate that , which might be done in their absence ; and upon that ground they entred a Protestation , subscribed with their names , against all such determinations to their prejudice . This being become matter of record , the House of Commons took notice of it , and came up presently with an impeachment of those Bishops by name , as guilty of a Praemunire , in assuming to themselves a power , to invalidate that which is otherwise the Law of the Land , viz. the Jurisdiction of Parliament ; and upon this ground ( how justly I know not , for the matter was never brought to Judgment ) those Bishops unhappily formed to themselves a deprivation , instead of a withdrawing . By this means , and by the absence of those Lords , who withdrew themselves to serve his Majesty , the House of Peers was grown so empty , as their Authority became little considerable , which was not much regarded by our Leaders in the House of Commons , who ( in likelihood ) had at that time a resolution to dissolve that House , as it came to pass afterwards . As great assertors of priviledge of Parliament , as that House of Commons pretended to be , yet they cared not how far they encroached upon the Lords , nor how they violated their priviledges , as may appear by a message delivered at their Bar near the beginning of the Parliament , which was to this effect ; That the Commons found in that House , so great an obstruction of matters tending to the good of the Common-wealth , as they desired their Lordships to make known the names of such Lords , as were the causes of it , that they might be dealt with as enemies to the State : So as in those days , the House of Commons might properly use the French proverbial saying : Je n'ayme pas le bruit , si je ne le faits , I love no noise , but what I make my self . But their own House began to be almost as much cried out upon for paucity of Members ; and for this they had provided a remedy sufficient by the new great Seal ; and there was little danger of bringing in evil Members , for no writ of election could be issued , but by Warrant from the Speaker , and consent of the House , who would not grant it for places , where the people were known to be disaffected to the Parliament . By this means the House became pretty well filled , and many of the new Members were Officers of the Army , who had been so used to command , as at the last they found a way to command , even the House it self . Besides this , the new Great Seal enabled the Parliament to constitute Judges , and to set up again the Courts at Common Law , as also to make what Justices of the Peace they thought sit , whereof there was very great want in the Parliament Quarters till then ; so as now there were complete judicial proceedings , both Criminal and Civil , which gave great satisfaction to the people , and would have deserved high applause , but that all men knew this convenience to be raised upon a most unjust , and insolent foundation . Before this recruiting of the House of Commons ( as it was then called ) the Military affairs of Parliament were much advanced ; for by the help and countenance of the Scottish Army , his Majesties strength in the North was so broken , as the Parliament had first besieged Newark , and then the City of York , but both these Towns were very bravely relieved by Prince Rupert ; and could that Prince have been contented , with the honour of having effected his business in the dissolution of those sieges , it had been happy , but he as a Souldier , knew what a fear usually is attendant upon Armies in a retreat , having been forced to forsake a siege ; and thereupon he gave the Parliament Forces Battel at Marston-Moor , and was defeated wholly , yet with such a confusion on both parts , as six Generals present in that sight , were said to take wing at the same time , conceiving their party to be utterly overthrown , whereof General Lesly of the Scottish was one . This set the Parliaments reputation very high in point of strength , and gave opportunity to our Caballists , of abating ( or rather dissolving ) Essex his power , who , as they conceived ( and perhaps grounding their conceit upon his Letter for propositions to his Majesty , in which Letter he also exprest much care that the Royal person might be preserved in safety ) had no mind to an utter overthrow of the Regal Authority : So as when the Armies were withdrawn into their Winter-quarters , our grand Politicians set themselves upon the effecting of this great work , which must have influence , as well upon Essex his chief adherents , as upon himself . The manner of this critical business was thus . It was affirmed in the House of Commons as impossible , that the War could be brought to an end , by an Army that had totally lost its discipline ; whereupon it was moved , and assented to , that a Committy should be nominated , for examination of corruptions and abuses in the Army . This Committy sate many days , and was very full of employment , till at last a Report was called for . Then arose up Mr. Tate the Chair-man , with a great bundle of papers in his hand , being a very great Presbyterian , and little suspecting , that his business would become the ruine of his party , as it did in conclusion . He appeared unwilling to make the Report , but being pressed to do it , he desired , that the House would first give him leave to speak a few words ; And then he uttered his parable , concerning a man much troubled with Botches and Boiles , in several parts of his body , who had recourse to a Physician for cure ; his Doctor told him , that he could give him plaisters to cure any part of his body so disaffected , but that whatsoever was healed in one member would break out again in another , for the whole habit of his body was corrupted , and that if he would have perfect health , he must procure for himself a better habit of body , by much purgation with a new diet , and so the Ulcers would be healed of themselves . This , saith Mr. Tate , is so applicable to the business in hand , as I hope the House will find no need of a Report , and yet upon command I am ready to make it . Hereupon other Members , who had prepared themselves , spake against the Report , and said , that abroad out of doors , all our ill successes were imputed to the absence of Members from Parliament ; and then a motion was made , that there might be a self-denying Ordinance , by which all the Members of either House might be deprived of other employments , that diverted them from their service in Parliament . This was very hard of digestion to many Members , who had profitable Offices , yet for publick satisfaction , and for better reforming of the Army , it was consented to , that there should be such an Ordinance , which was afterwards brought in , and passed both Houses . By this means Essex , Denbigh , Manchester , Grey of Groby , Sir William Waller , Haselrig , Brereton , Cromwell , and divers others were deprived of Command , though the last was never intended to suffer by this Ordinance , as it appeared afterwards . But notwithstanding all this , Essex had not surrendred his Commission , and therefore something must be done to shew him a perfect necessity . So the House of Commons proceeded in nomination of Collonels for their new Army , whereof Sir Thomas Fairfax was one , and at last he was Voted to be General of it . He was a person eminent for valour , ( vaillant comme son espée , fearless as his sword ) but of a temper more flexible than Essex ; and very many others , which pleased Cromwell , who meant to be the chief Steersman . Not long after this , Essex finding himself imperatorem sine exercitu , a General without Command surrendred his Commission , with many expressions of good affection to the Parliament ; and wholly bent himself to a retirement , being the first person , and last of the Nobility employed by the Parliament in Military affairs , which soon brought him to the period of his life ; and he may be an example to all future Ages , to deter all persons of like dignity ; from being instrumental in setting up a Democratical power , whose interest it is , to keep down all persons of his condition . Yet they did him all possible honour , in his Funerals at the publick charge , so acceptable is an opportune death . In pursuance of the great design , all the old Commanders were wormed out by little and little , and none admitted to Commands , but those persons who were known , not only to be of an Antimonarchical spirit , but purely disposed to the Armies interests , which the Army found very useful afterwards , when it began to contend with the House of Commons for the Sovereign power . By this it may appear , how supinely negligent the Parliament was , in forbearing to mould the army , with surer dependence upon it self , which might have been effected in the nomination of Colonels and chief Officers at first , if care had been taken for choice of many persons , who were resolved to stand & fall with their interest , such as were Colonel Harley and Sir Robert Pye , who forsook the army , when it opposed it self to the Parliament , and for want of associates could effect nothing , but their own prejudice . As soon as this new army began to move , it was thought necessary by the House of Commons to send Cromwel to them , who was there not only received , but intrusted with command of all the cavalry by the title of Lieutenant General , there being then no General of the horse . This army had but ill success at first , having laid siege to Oxford , and failed , when in the mean time the King with a brave army had taken Leicester town , and struck a great terror into all the parts adjacent . But all this was useful only to bring on a greater misfortune , for General Fairefax drew his army that way , and the opposing of his passage brought on that fatal battail of Naseby , where there was so absolute a defeat of his Majesties forces , as the after strivings were but as labouring for breath , by a person not long before his decease . After this Oxford was besieged again , and yielded by treaty , which was followed by a total dissolution of all his Majesties military power . Yet the King assayed to engage a powerful army for him , which was that of the Scots at Newark , and that he might the more endear himself to these , he put his Royal person wholly into their power . At first the Scots carried themselves , as if they intended to appear worthy of so great confidence , for they presently marched Northwards . The Parliament gave no time to consider , but made a peremptory demand , to have the King's person delivered to them , and had the help of Themistocles his two great gods Vis & Suada , the terror of a victorious army ready to fall upon them in case of refusal , and by way of perswasion a representation of their duty , that army being then in the Parliaments pay , and obliged to act only in their service , to which with many other reasons , was added a promise of their arrears by very ready payment . The first of these was more likely to give offence , than terror , to so powerful a body , and as to that pretended duty of the army , it could not extend it self to the extinguishing of natural allegiance , which is a duty personal . But whatsoever arguments were used , the Scots consented to deliver him , and performed it to their eternal infamy , which infamy is much encreased by a breach of trust ( for having received his Majesty they ought to have set him in a state of freedom , as good as he had when he came ) and because the contracting for mony makes the business appear , as a sale of their Soveraign Prince . Soon after the King's forces were wholly dispersed , the army being without imployment made business for it self , by interposing in publick matters appertaining to the Government , which was begun by a mutinous accusation of Mr. Hollis , with other members to the number of eleven , and a drawing up of the army Southwards , whereupon the Parliament sent Commissioners to them to expostulate about their remove Southwards , and to promise all reasonable satisfaction in general terms , but nothing would serve , without the exclusion of those Members from the House of Commons . But I should have related , how upon delivery of the King's person , the Parliament placed him at Holdenby-house , with a guard of Soldiers , and a Committy of Lords and Commons to attend him , and to order matters there for his security . At this the army seemed to take offence , disliking the choice of Commanders for his guard , but surely their main intention was ( since now an opposition to the Parliament was designed ) to have the Royal person only in the power of the army , and thereupon they sent a party to take him from Holdenby , which was effected without the least opposition , and so they held his Majesty with ( or near ) the army , till being at Hampton Court the chief Officers grew jealous , that his residence with the Soldiery might have an influence , endangering the power of them the Commanders . At this time Cromwel who was the chief manager of affairs in the army , carried himself with such respect to his Majesty , as his party grew highly jealous of him , insomuch , as John Lilborn , the great Leveller , offered a kind of 〈◊〉 against him at the bar in the House of Commons , wherunto there was little car given by the house in general , but those , who abhorred all reconciliation with his Majesty , remained unsatisfied , and began to complain bitterly of him one to another , as a person persidious ; but their fear was causless , for he never intended to be an instrument of so much good to the nation , and therefore his courtship must be thought to have had some other intention , which may be guessed at by that which followeth . While the army lay about Hampton Court , the Houses were informed , that the King had made an escape from thence , and that the chief Commanders were very much distracted with the thought of it . This was very well dissembled , since it soon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that the King had been perswaded to withdraw himself , and was never fully out of power , for being quickly seized upon again , they placed him ( according to their hearts desire ) in the Isle of Wight , where there could be no addresses made to him , but by their permission . Yet here the army was content the Parliament should have the honour , that his Majesties perseemed to be in their custody , for the guard and care of him was referred to a person nominated ( or at least approved of ) by them , who was Colonel Hammond . And now the English Nation ( though all too late ) was grown so generally sensible of their Prince his distressed estate , as it drew on a treaty at Caris-brook Castle in the Isle of Wight , where the King had his forced residence , called the personal treaty , because none were admitted to be present at the debate , but the King his self , and the Commissioners of Parliament . It is true , that the King might retire at any time into another room to advise with Divines and others , being persons of his own choice , but they were not admitted to be present with him for assistance in the debate . There were terms of very great disadvantage , yet the King carried himself even to admiration of the Commissioners . I remember , that it hapned after the report had been made in the House of Commons , as we passed through Westminster-hall , that one of us was speaking of his Majesties great abilities in the hearing of one of our Grandees , who turning his face to him who spake , used these words : perceive , you take notice of the King 's great abilities , and you may thence conclude with your self , that you have the more cause to take heed of him , which speech I could not but find very strange , as if it were dangerous to a Nation to be governed by a Prince of parts extraordinary . But this treaty had the like issue with others , though the unsatisfactoriness of the King's concessions could not be voted in the House , as it was then constituted , which caused a new purgation of it by the army . Before this personal treaty , the Parliament for a long time was enforced to take for payment , whatsoever reasons the army Officers were pleased to tender for their justification , but in the year 1647. the army was grown to that insolence , as the Presbiterian party in Parliament thought it unsufferable , and thereupon they took heart , and having made some resolute votes , sent a Committy of both Houses to the City of London , to ingage them in an opposition to the army together with the Parliament , but there was then as great a Schisme ( or rent ) in the City , as in the Parliament , and the Borough of Southwork siding wholly with the army , it was impossible for the City to stand out against it , so as that ill grounded opposition fell wholly to ground , and the Speakers of both Houses ( who easily foresaw the issue , and together with many other Members had made an escape to the army ) returned triumphantly to Westminster , and the army with much greater triumph marched in body quite through London , and by means of this opposition became more eminently powerful than ever . And thus the great City of London was made to stoop , and it may be observed in this business ( taking it wholly from the beginning to its happy conclusion ) that all other persons and parties , which had been much cryed up for eminent power , were brought low , as the great favorites in Church and State , the Scottish armies , the Houses of Parliament , and the Royal Soveraign his self , whom it pleased God to humble even unto violent death , as it was with his ( and our ) Blessed Saviour . And as for this triumphant army , with its brave and politick Commanders , Divine Providence reserved it and them , to an utter dissolution , ( as to that great power wherewith they so afflicted the world ) which came upon them at last , though with leaden feet . And to shew unto those insolent Commanders of the army the unstableness of their condition , it pleased God before this personal treaty , that there was a strong design laid , to draw on a total change of affairs , by insurrections in divers Counties , and a fresh coming in of the Scots , who now began to understand themselvs better . Yet as is usual in matters , wherein several and distant parties undertake together , these could not hold time one with another , so as some were overthrown , before others appeared to stir . But as preparatory to these troubles , the Parliament by a just judgment of God ( as a return for their own miscarriage in the same kind ) was much disquieted with tumultuating Petitioners from Surrey , Kent , and other Counties , who carried themselves with such violence , as some of the Petitioners lost their lives by the guard which attended in the new Palace-yard , & the loss of these persons was so ill resented abroad , as Kent suddenly arose in a great body for the King , and had Essex held time with them , it might have somewhat distracted the army , but Essex men stayd , till the Kentish strength was broken at Maidstone , and then began to stir , whereupon the remainder of Kentish men crossed the Thames , and came into Essex , where not being able to resist a complete army , the whole party of both Counties was constrained to retire into Colchester town , and was there besieged by General Fairesax , and enforced to surrender for want of provisions . About the same time , the Earl of Holland made a party , and took arms on the other side of London , but finding no assistance from the Countrey , he retired Northwards , after some damage received , and being pursued by forces sent by the army , his party was routed at St. Neots in Huntington shire , and he his self there taken prisoner . Neither had the Scots under Duke Hamilton any better success , for Cromwel having gathered together a competent force , fell upon them in their quarters , when they had scarcely heard of him , and he cannot be said to have routed them , for they were never suffered to gather themselves into a body , so as all that great army fell to nothing , without making the least opposition in any considerable number , and in the pursuit the Duke their General was also taken prisoner . Now the army having once more cleared the coast , had good leisure to fall into mutiny again , but it was against the Parliament , and not against their Officers , who made use of the common Soldiers , to demand Justice ( as they called it ) against the King , and for whatsoever else they the Officers had in their desires ; and for this they found out a new and unheard of way , giving the Soldiers leave to chuse agitators , being substitutes , receiving denomination from agitating their businesses , which then consisted only in medling with affairs concerning the publick . These persons were busie-headed fellows , pointed out by the Officers , but elected by the Soldiery , and held their assemblies , wherein they questioned all parts of the Government , and proposed what new models they thought fit . This made the people in general almost mad , fearing that all would fall into absolute confusion , but the army Officers meant no such thing , as parting at this time with their old Masters , who had not yet done all their work , and who would be governed ; as they knew by experience , which perhaps a new and more numerous representive body would not have endured , and therefore they resolved only upon the seclusion of all those Members , whom they had found to be principled opposite to their interest ; and so having had good trial upon our great debate concerning the personal Treaty , and time to make a Catalogue of such persons names , as they intended to seclude , during one days adjournment made by the House after having spent a whole night in that debate , they sent their Red-coats early in the morning before the next sitting , who passed the Streets with great cries , and so possest themselves of the House of Commons-door , admitting only those Members , whose names they found not in their Catalogue , and seizing upon many of the rest who would have entred . I question not , but upon this occasion ( as upon all others of great importance ) they held a solemn fast among the chief Commanders , to ask counsel of God , for the doing of that which they their selves had already resolved upon , which ( if I deceive not my self ) is one of the greatest hypocrisies that the world hath known . The House of Commons being thus moulded according to their desire , they presently fell upon the formalities of that most hideous ( and not to be paralell'd ) murther of our Royal Sovereign , and upon the business of putting down the House of Lords , with intention to establish a perfect Democracy among us . But God hath preserved us from so unhappy a change : As for my self , being one of the secluded Members , I from that time retired me wholly from publick affairs , till a farther call , which by Gods mercy I lived to see , and had the happiness to be a Member even of that House of Commons , when all was disposed there for a perfect restitution of the ancient Government under our most gracious Sovereign Charles the Second , whom God preserve long in prosperity for his service , and for the happiness of these Nations . And here I end this Discourse , leaving it to better pens , to set forth the continuance of that Anarchy , and the miraculous way of Divine providence , in Restoring us to our Sovereign Prince , and to our fundamental Laws , without effusion of one drop of bloud in the Military way . A SHORT ADDITAMENT . SInce the finishing of this Discourse , I have consulted the Histories of several Nations , to see , if I could meet with any thing running paralel to the raising and issue of this War ; but I have absolutely failed of doing it . It hath been usual for Senates to take part with a power already raised by persons assuming the Sovereignty ; so it was with the Roman Senate , when Galba had prevailed against Nero ; and that Senate went farther than any other within my reading , for they proceeded to a capital sentence against their Prince , but it was not till the Imperial dignity was in a manner possessed by Galba , and the Military power was so far from being raised , or directed by themselves , as they durst not give the least countenance to it , till Nero was absolutely run down . That which cometh nearer to us , is a levying of War by the Roman Senate against Julius Maximinus the Emperor ; but at the same time they invested Pupienus and Albinus with the Imperial purple in opposition to him , and claimed no Sovereignty in themselves ; which setting up of Emperor against Emperor was a thing very frequent among the Romans . In these later times , there have been divers Rebellions against Princes , wherein Senates have been concurring , but have not originally formed the opposition . So in the United Provinces of Belgia , Arms were first raised by particular persons , or places ; and the States ( or Deputies of Provinces ) afterwards approved , and concurred : And the Parliament of Paris adjoyned it self to the Liguers ( or Covenanters ) against the two last Henries of France ; but that Parliaments actions are little to our purpose ; for they are to be looked upon as no more than a standing Court of Judicature , wherein the Peers of France are priviledged to sit at pleasure , and having jurisdiction only in some part of the French Dominion ; ( except in cases of appeal ) and besides this , the War was neither begun , nor managed under their Authority . In Scotland , an Assembly stiled Ecclesiastical , ( though comprizing Lay-persons ) was Convocated by King Charles the First , and they continued their Session after his Majesties Act for their dissolution , assuming to themselves a power independent upon him ; but I never read , that they made any Order for raising of Military Forces for maintenance of their Decrees , though it was otherwise done against his Majesty . In our Chronicles , there is mention of divers Kings deposed , even by Parliament , but those Parliaments did it in compliance with a strength already in being ; and they no ways either directed or concurred in raising that power . Thus have I raked together out of several Histories much filth , but none of so bad savour , as that contracted by our Long Parliament . There are some particulars of aggravation against that Assembly , ( I mean chiefly the House of Commons , who for the most spurred the Lords into action as to things irregularly done ) which are not applicable to any of those in foreign Histories : As first , that they levied War against their Prince in their own name . Secondly , that they were Assembled by the King 's Writ to advise him in his affairs , and therefore ought not to have acted against him . Thirdly , that they were limited by the terms of that Writ , and in that respect ought not to have exceeded those limits . Fourthly , that they were representatives of the Commons , and ( though they would be otherwise exorbitant ) ought not to have done things prejudicial to them , and contrary to the mind of their Major part , as certainly they did , in levying of War , and in those things which ensued thereupon . And lastly , they assumed a Jurisdiction upon the Kings Royal person , without the least colour of right , by making Substitutes ( stiled by them a High Court of Justice ) to Arraign him as a Delinquent , and to proceed capitally against him , even to death it self ; whereas he alone was the Fountain of all Justice within his Dominions ; and nothing of that nature could regularly be done against the meanest person ; but by vertue of Authority , or Commission from him . And all this when he was still acknowledged to be their King ; for he was so stiled In Terminis at the Arraignment . This is far beyond what hath been formerly done by any other body of men ; and is of so odious a condition , as pity it is , there cannot be a total obliteration of it , to prevent any transmission to posterity . It hath been hinted herein , that the levying of War against the King was displeasing to the people in general ; yet partly by terror , and partly by hope of advantage , the most powerful part of the Nation was made instrumental in it ; and this may the better be believed , because many of the most important businesses transacted in that Parliament were ( upon a weaker consideration ) carried on , contrary to the judgment of the Major part of that House of Commons . ( I intend the sense of the House , as it was constituted at first ; for to speak of it otherwise were like making a Coat for the Moon , which is never of the same dimensions , but either encreasing or decreasing . ) This seemeth a paradox , yet thus much I can say by experience , for the truth of it , that oftentimes very many Members , of those who sate near me in the House , gave their voice the same way that I did upon putting the question ; and yet upon division of the House , they were ashamed to own it ; for then they associated themselves with our great managers of business in the way of opposition to his then Majesty . Of so great force is the desire of popularity with too many , which could not but have a very great influence upon matters of greatest consequence , that were usually determined without any great disparity in the Votes . Yet were not businesses always carried on in the House , according to the mind , and intended Order of the leading persons ; for the business of that Protestation made in the year 1641 had been taken into consideration at a private meeting of the Grandees , and was there concluded to be unseasonable . Yet Henry Martin being unsatisfied with their determination , moved it the next day in Parliament , and found the House so disposed , as a Vote was presently passed for a Protestation , which was afterwards worded by a select Committy , and approved of in both Houses . And to this the Leaders would not oppose themselves , though they conceived it to be improper at that time . Having herein insinuated the different constitutions and inclinations of that House of Commons , I may demonstrate it by particular resolutions , in the case of this Henry Martin , who as well by that of the Protestation , as by some other successes in the seditious way , being exalted in mind , adventured to cast himself upon a Rock ; and thus it was : When it had been some ways expressed in the House , that the good and happiness of this Nation depended upon his Majesties safety , and continuance of the Royal Line , Henry Martin stood up and affirmed it to be a mistake ; for ( as he conceived ) this Nation might be very happy , though the Royal Line were extinct . Upon these words he was presently questioned , and after some debate , Voted out of the House , and he continued long under that exclusion : But the War being begun , and carried on , it was conceived , that Henry Martin might do good service , as a Member , and so his restitution was moved for , but answer was soon made , that he was a person dead civilly , and could not be restored to life . Hereupon young Sir Henry Vane ( one of the Oracles of those times ) arose and said , That the matter was very easie to be effected , by expunging out of the Journal-book that Order , whereby he had been cast out ; and that the House was ever understood to be Mistriss of her own Orders . This was found so ready a way , as the matter was presently determined , and Henry Martin having notice , came into the House again , disposed to do farther mischief . And that the House was otherwise disposed , before the Members , who fully embraced the Royal interest had forsaken the Parliament , may appear by the difficult saving of Sir Henry Ludlow , who thus exposed himself to danger . The House had newly received a message from his Majesty , which was so far from being satisfactory , as many persons spake against it with much vehemency , and among the rest Sir Henry Ludlow , who very resolutely used these terms : He who sent this Message is not worthy to be King of England ; Upon saying this , he was immediately interrupted , and the words were agreed upon preparatory to a Charge ; but before his withdrawing , in order to a Censure , Mr. Pym arose , and said , That those words contained nothing of dishonor to the King , which being found very strange , he thus cleared his meaning . If these words be such as a fair conclusion is naturally deducible from them , then they cannot be evil in themselves , but that a fair conclusion naturally ariseth from them , may be proved by this Syllogism . He who sent this Message is not worthy to be King of England , but King Charles is worthy to be King of England ; And therefore King Charles sent not this Message . Now ( saith Mr. Pym ) I leave it to judgment , whether or no this Syllogism comprize any thing in it worthy of your Censure . This argument was so ingenious , as Sir Henry Ludlow ( with his ill meaning ) came freely off without punishment ; whereas those Members , who were of the Royal party , found no such effectual intecessions , but were ejected many in a day , and the House was replenished again with Soldiers and other persons ( most of them ) of a Tribunicial spirit and temper ; so as no wonder it is , that a Body so fallen from its Primitive Constitution , having contracted so much evil habit , and prostituted it self to the embraces of an insolent and rebellious Army , governed by Commanders highly ambitious , should yield births of so horrid and prodigious a nature , which ( as we hope ) shall never be paralelled in any future Age. And now , it is more than time , to conclude also this Supplemental Discourse , which is become greater than I my self at first intended . Spicas aliquot legi , messem validioribus linquo . FINIS .