FLAGELLUM: OR The LIFE and DEATH, BIRTH and BURIAL OF OLIVER CROMWELL  
〈…〉  
Faithfully described in an Exact Account of His Policies and Successes, Not heretofore Published or Discovered.  
By S. T. Gent.  
— Furto latatus inani  
Distulit in seram commissa piacula mortem.  Virg. Aeneid. 
London, Printed for L. R. 1663.   

To the Reader.  
THere have been so many vulgar Errors concerning this person, and such mistakes of his Faculties and Natural Endowments, some being prone to indulge Humanity, others to Balance his great successes with his evil Designs, and the rest to abominate all; that I thought it worthy the present time while those sad things we have suffered are yet recent in memory, and no lie dare be given to the Sun by any offuscation of Truth, to pursue his Life with this Memorial.  
The World is not ignorant of Him, and yet those few that truly love Him, that is, Disturbances and Troubles, have great thoughts of Heart as they Phrase it concerning Him; all the different Sects and Schisms which He kept in perpetual separation and misunderstanding, now run into a coalition; and like divided parcels of dying vipers, spraul towards a union with this their Head.  
But they will bear find that poison of Asps under his Lips, which as the Naturalists tell us, will evenome those of the Species that come near it, when it is cast upon the ground. No man either of Reason or Sobriety, of that party, can deny, but he was sucked in by that Pestilent Air of his pious pretences, and and therefore they will I hope accept of this Antidote for the future in good part.  
Magnae virtutes nec minora vitia, great Virtues and no less vices have been adapted to most of the great men in the world whose Interest held the ‛ cale, for this was still the Impress of just and rightful Monarches, whom Posterity dare say no worse of, because no better. But Tyrannies and the enormous excesses thereof, leave no such exchange or value of their Crimes, nor can their Policies, Craftiness, & Pretences commute with Prudence, Honesty or Justice.  
There hath been indeed an ingenious Essay to commend Richard the Third, and to extol him as an Excellent Prince, and this not from any other Authority but his Heroic and Famous actions in the foreign and Civil Wars of those times: and if this Hector be measured by the same Standard, in length only and not in Breadth, by the whole Circumstances of his Usurpation, he will make a better subject for such a Pen, 200. years hence, then Fate for some 100 of years, hath troubled the world with.  
But when the world shall see that those Felicities of his Sword and Brain were derived from, and accountable solely to the just Judgement of God, who gave us up a deserved prey to the Spoiler; and that there was nothing Extraordinary in him but in the Sins and vengeance of the Times, he being the Scourge of our Iniquity, they will convert their admiration into a reverence of that Supreme overruling power.  
It is a Common but most observable Sentence of my Lord Chancellors, that the Malicious influence of some planets had caused this Horrible Defection and Feud among us: some ages more than other are infested with Troubleworlds, Ours especially, for there have more Revolts, Detections and Secesses been made in Europe, then for many Centuries before; not to mention the like commotions, in the nearest and farthest parts of Asia, the Turkish and the Chinese Empires.  
In Europe, I place and reckon this Cromwell as a Medium or Mean, betwixt two almost his Cotemporaries, Wallenstein Duke of Friedland the Emperor's General, who from an obscure and wasted Barony risen to that Dignity, and thence aspired to the Imperial Diadem, but perished in the attempt; and Thomas Anello the famous Fisherman of Naples, who died in the frantic possession of the power he had so wonderfully attained to: for by a mixed adjument of Tumults, and Arms, and the Command upon the Rabble, and a mutinous disloyal Militia, did Cromwell. usurp the Sovereignty, though he had the fortune or we rather the Happiness) to die in his bed, after the fruition of his envied Greatness.  
Tyrant's are like plagues and are well termed Pests Humani Generis, they do not reign or rage always in all Climes & Countries, but come like other wonders into the World; the variety whereof do for the present stupefy and afflict the World, and then leave matter of enquiry and discourse, to assist against the suddenness and some other shaped violence (for seldom do they come in the same form) of another rapture and rebellion against Nature.  
There was something different in this man's Tyranny from all former precedents, as there were stronger and stranger Corruptions of manners in the Times He lived, so that he seemed to be accommodated to them Never were there such wild speculations, such dorages and caprichios in point of Religion, which made half the Nation mad, and run with zeal to the ruin of their Country; Now the destructiveness of these Chimaeras and whimsy's of Piety, that austere Sanctimony under which we laboured, could never better be discovered, then by the divine permission of this man's arrival and ascent to the Supreme power, thereby giving the world a Specimen of the deep mischief of pretended and morose Holiness.  
That is the design of this Biography of Oliver Cromwell, who hath been excellently shadowed in the lineaments of Agathocles the Syracusan Tyrant, but here he is drawn in his proper and full proportions; There are it must be confessed some passages herein coincident with the Histories of the Times which are borrowed thence, but generally there is very little which is not Novel altogether, and with which very few persons have been acquainted, as it is presumed, will appear to the Readers Satisfaction, who is desired candidly to excuse the tenuity of the Style, in so ample and so Masculine a Subject, considering it is an Epitome and abridgement, and to pass by or correct the Errata in the Printing.  
Vale.   

ERRATA.  
PAge 14. line 22. for Sir John read Sir Robert. p. 15. l. 24. in stead of the Pricks r. Sir James. p. 87. l. 1. Addendum, most abominably and barbarously cruel he was in this place, for, near 200 of the better sort and the beautifullest Women of the City, having (upon the Town being entered) fled to the Cross, and with the Command of their charming eyes, and those melting tears, prevailed up●n the Soldiers for quarter, now at his coming thither, and after a laughing jeering enquiry what they did there, and other mocking insultations, were commanded to be knocked on the head, which those that promised them life nobly refusing, He commanded another Regiment to encompass them, and there most horribly massacred them all. In p. 88 l. 16. It is very observable here, that though against the advice of the Council of War He had resolved on this Storm; upon the Defeat, He ascribed it wholly to their confidence in the Arm of Flesh and presently enjoined His old Crambe of a Fast, throughout the Army. p. 133. l. 5. r. to its vanquished Enemies: Nol's own argument. p. 136. l. ult. for professing, read possessing.   

The Life and Death OF OLIVER CROMWELL THE Late Usurper, etc.  
FATE, when it decreed and ordained the unhappy birth of this Famoso, by he most secret and hidden malice brought him into the World, without any terrible remark of his portentous Life, neither Comets, nor Earthquakes nor such like Violences of nature, ushering or accompanying Him, to the declaring and pointing out, that the Scourge of the English Empire and Nation was now born; as she did by indiscernible methods train him up to the possession of the Throne, and as secretly and cunningly after all his bloody and most nefarious actions shift him out of it, and with a blast of her spent Fury, turned him into his wished for Grave.  
Nor did she midwife him into this light, which he so horribly polluted by any unusual preternatural or monstrous way, not with seethe, or Heels forward, or long hair, nor with any marks upon his Flesh, as it is storied of Julius Caesar, our Richard the Third, and others; nor were the●e any presagious dreams, or fearful divinations of his Mother when she was impregnate with him, as is mentioned of several, who have proved like him to be the destruction and common Enemies of Mankind.  
None of all these signs revealed or discovered the abstruse, and most reserved deep and mysterious Fortune of this person, The subtleties, Arts, and Policies of his destiny, potently and irresistibly conspiring with his as close Treasons and dissembled Treacheries, to the ruin and overthrow of this Church and State, singly and insensibly accomplished by the mean and unobserved Hand of this bold and perjurious politic.  
All therefore that to this purpose is noted of him, is this, that he was born the last year of that wonderful Century of 1500. to begin the next with his fital Marvails, just before the union of the Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, by King James; as if it were congenial to Crowns, as to the other lesser accessions of Felicity in private persons, to have at the same instant a temperament and alloy to their lustre and greatness; that as fortunes right hand presented a Sceptre, so her left hand was ready with a Scourge to wreak her ●nvy upon the glory and grandeur of that renowned succession to, and accruement, of dominion.  
Every thing hath its good and evil Angel, to attend or haunt it, and that grand and happy revolution was to be afflicted and prosecuted by this Fury to an almost dissolution of its well composed, united, and established Frame.  
He was born and descended of a very ancient knightly Family of his name in the County of Huntingdon, where for many ages they have had a very large and plentiful patrimony, it will suffice therefore to deduce him from no further originals than Sir Henry Cromwell, his Grandfather, a Gentleman highly honoured and beloved both in Court, and Country, who had issue Sir Oliver his eldest Son, Henry, Robert, Richard, and Sir Philip the youngest, (whose Son upon Suspicion of poisoning his Master a Lawyer, was accused thereupon and convicted, and hanged some 35. years ago.) This our Oliver Cromwell was Son of Mr. Robert Cromwell the third Son of Sir Henry, a Gentleman who went no less ●n esteem and reputation than any of his Ancestors, for his personal worth, which did seem inherent in that Family, till his unfortunate production of this his Son and Heir, whom he had by his Wife Elizabeth Steward, the Niece of Sir Robert Steward, a Gentleman of a competent Fortune in that County, but of such a malign effect on the Course of this his Nephew's life, as hereafter shall be declared, that if all the Lands he gave him, (as some were Fenny Ground) had been irrecoverably lost and deluged, by any accident or disaster whatsoever, it might have passed for a most propitious providential prevention of that dire mischief and miseries that Estate occasioned.  
He was born April the 25. in St. John's Parish in the Town of Huntingdon, and was christened in that Church the 29. of the same Month Anno Domini 1599 where Sir Oliver Cromwell his Uncle gave him his name, being received into the bosom of the Church by her Rites and Ceremonies, both which he afterwards rend and tore, and ungraciously and impiously annulled and renounced.  
From his Infancy to his Childhood he was of a cross and peevish disposition, which being humoured by the fondness of his Mother, made that rough and intractable temper more robust and outrageous in his juvenile years, and adult and Masterless at man's estate.  
No sooner therefore had he obtained the u● of his Tongue, but his Father careful of his Education, sent him to School to learn the Elements of Language and principals of Religion, both which he studied with the same indifference, and inside and fallacious endeavour, as afterwards appeared by his never speaking what he thought, nor believing what he heard or was instructed in; so that his main policy was a radical and original hypocrisy, which growing up with him, could not but be at last after so many years of Experience most tightly perfected.  
From this A. B. C. Discipline and the slighted Governance of a Mistress, his Father removed him to the Tuition of Dr. Beard Schoolmaster of the Free-School in that Town, where his Book began to persecute him, and Learning to commence his great and irreconciliable Enemy; for his Master honestly and severely observing that and other his Faults (which like weeds, sprung out of his rank and uncultivable nature) did by Correction hope to better his manners; and with a diligent Hand and careful Eye to hinder the thick growth of those vices which were so predominant and visible in him; yet though herein he trespassed upon that respect and lenity due and usual to Children of his Birth and quality; he prevailed nothing against his obstinate and perverse inclination. The Learning and Civility he had, coming upon him like fits of Enthusiasm, now a hard Student for a week or two, and then a Truant or Otioso for twice as many months; Nunquam sibi constans, of no settled constancy; the very tenor and mode of his future life till his grand attainment.  
Among the rest of those ill qualities which fructuated in him at this age, He was very notorious for robbing of Orchards; a puerile crime and an ordinary trespass, but grown so scandalous and injurious by the frequent spoils and damage of Trees, breaking of Hedges and Enclosures committed by this Apple Dragon, that many solemn Complaints were made both to his Father and Master for redress thereof; which miss not their satisfaction and expiation out of his hide, on which so much pains were lost, that, that very offence ripened in him afterwards to the throwing down all boundaries of Law or Conscience, and the stealing and tasting the forbidden fruit● of Sovereignty, by which as the Serpent told him, He should be like unto a God.  
From this, he passed unto another more manly their, the robbing of Dove-houses, stealing the young Pigeons, and eating and merchandizing of them, and that so publicly, that he became dreadfully suspect to all the adjacent Country; and this was an unhappy allusory Omen of his after Actions, when he Robbed the King his Sovereign of his Innocence and Virtues, and prostituted them to the People and Soul ●ery, and made the World about him afraid of his Villainies.  
'Twas at this time of his Adolescency, that he dreamt, or a Familiar rather instincted him and put it into his Head, that he should be King of England; for it cannot be conceived, that now there should be any such near resemblance of truth in Dreams and Divinations (besides the Confidence, with which he repeated it, and the difficulty to make him forget the Arrogant Conceit and opinionated pride he had of himself doth seem to evince, it was some impulse of a Spirit) since they have ceased long ago. However the Thought or Vision came, most certain it is, that his Father was exceedingly troubled at it; and having angrily rebuked him for the Vanity, and Idleness, and Impudence thereof; and seeing him yet persist in the presumption thereof, caused Dr. Beard to whip him for them, which was done to no more purpose than the rest of his Chastisements, his Scholar growing insolent and uncorrigible from those results and swasions within him, to which all other dictates and Instructions were useless, and as a dead letter.  
Now to confirm this Royal Humour the more in his ambitious and vainglorious brain, it happened (as it was then generally the Custom in all great Free-Schools) that a Play called The five Senses, was to be Acted by the Scholars of this School, and Oliver Cromwell, as a Confident Youth, was. named to Act the part of Tactus the sense of Feeling; in the personation of which as he came out of the Tiring room upon the Stage, his Head encircled with a Chaplet of Laurel, he stumbled at a Crown, purposely laid there, which stooping down he took up, and Crowned himself therewithal, adding beyond his Cue, some Majestical mighty words; and with this passage also the Event of his Life held good analogy and proportion, when he changed the Laurel of his Victories (in the late unnatural War) to all the Power, Authority, and Splendour that can be imagined within the Compass of a Crown.  
Nevertheless the Relation of a Father, and one so stern and strict an Examiner of him, (he being in his own nature of a difficult disposition, and great spirit, and one that would have due distances observed towards him from all persons, which begat him reverence from the Countrypeople) kept him in some awe and subjection, till his translation to Cambridge, where he was placed in Sidney College, more to satisfy his Father's curiosity and desire, than out of any hopes of Completing him in his Studies, which never reached any good knowledge of the Latin Tongue.  
During his short residence here, where he was more Famous for his Exercises in the Fields than in the Schools, (in which he never had the honour of, because no worth and merit to, a degree) being one of the chief Matchmakers and Players at Football, Cudgels, or any other boisterous sport or game; His Father Mr. Robert Cromwell died, leaving him to the scope of his own inordinate and irregular will, swayed by the bent of very violent and strong passions.  
There is little to be said more of his Father, that is requisite to his Son's Story, further than this, that whereas 'tis reported Oliver kept a Brewhouse, that is a mistake; for, the Brewhouse was kept in his Father's time, and managed by his Mother and his Father's Servants, without any concernment of either of these therein, the Accounts being always given to the Mistress, who after her Husband's death did continue in the same Employment and Calling of a Brewer, and thought it no disparagement to sustain the Estate and port of a younger Brother as Mr. Robert Cromwell was, by those lawful means; however, not so reputable as other gains and Trades are accounted.  
It was not long after his Death, ere Oliver weary of the Muses, and that strict course of Life, (though he gave latitude enough to it in his wild salleys and flyings out) abandoned the University and returned Home, faluted with the Name of young Mr. Cromwell, now in the room and place of his Father, which how he became, his uncontrolled debaucheries did publicly declare, for Drinking, Wenching, and the like outrages of licentious youth, none so insamed as this young Tarquin, who would not be contraried in his Lusts, in the very strain and to the excess of that Regal Ravisher.  
These pranks made his Mother advise with herself and his friends what she should do with him, and to remove the Scandal which had been cast upon the Family by his means, and therefore it was concluded to send him to one of the Inns of Court, under pretence of his studying the Laws, where among the mass of people in London, and frequency of Vices of all sorts, His might pass in the throng without that particular reflection upon his relation, and at worst the infamy should stick only on himself.  
Lincolns-Inne was the place pitched upon, and thither Mr. Cromwell in a suitable Garb to his fortunes was sent, where but for a very little while he continued, for the nature of the place and the Studies there were so far regretful beyond all his tedious Apprenticeship to the more facile Academic Sciences, (by reason Laws were the bar and obstacle of his impetuous resolutions and the quite contrary to his lose and libertine spirit, that he had a kind of antipathy to his Company and Converse there; and so spent his time in an inward spite, which for that space superseded the enormous extravagancy of his former viciousness. His Vices having a certain kind of intermission, succession, or transmigration, like a complete revolution of wickedness into one another. So that few of his Feats were practised here, and it is some kind of good luck for that honourable Society that he hath lest so small and so innocent a Memorial of his Membership therein.  
His next traverse was back again into the country to his Mother, and there he fell to his old trade, and frequented his old haunts, consumed his money in tippling, and then ran on score per force; in his drink he used to be so quarrelsome as (few unless as mad as himself) durst keep him company; his chief weapon in which he delighted and at which he fought several times with ●ink●ers, Pedlars, and the like, (who most an end go armed therewith) was a Quarterstaff; in which he was so skilful, that seldom did any over-match him. A boisterous discipline and Rudiment of his martial skill and valour, which with so much fierceness he manifested afterward in the ensuing War.  
These and the like strange, wild, and dishonest actions, made him every where a shame or a terror, insomuch that the Alewives of Huntingdon and other places, when they saw him a coming would use to cry out to one another, Here comes young Cromwell, shut up your Doors, for he made it no Punctilio to invite his Roisters to a Barrel of Drink, and give it them at the charge of his Host, and in satisfaction thereof either beat him, or break his Windows, if he offered any show, or gave any look or Sign of refusal or discontent.  
His Lustful wantonnesses were not less predominant than the other unruly appetites of his mind, that there might no vice be wanting to make his Life a Systeme of iniquity; the public, open and more ingenuous vilenesses of his Youth, becoming the several dangerous and druell Villainies of his Old Age, it being now his rude custom, to seize upon all Women he met in his way on the road, and perforce ravish a kiss, by some lewder satisfaction from them; and if any resistance were made by their Company, then to vindicate and allay this violence and heat of his blood, with the letting out of theirs, whose defence of their Friend's Honour, and Chastity, innocently engaged them. And the same riots was he guilty of against any who would not give him the way; so that he was a Rebel in Manners, long before he was a Belial in Policy.  
I am loath to be too large in such particulars, which may render me suspect of belying him, out of prejudice or revenge; but I have heard it confirmed so often from knowing persons, and the stories made use of by his party who did thereby magnify his Conversion, making him thus dear and precious unto God, that I was obliged to mention them, partly as due to this Memoir of him, which pretends to an exact Biography, as well in the minute and small beginnings, as in the grand and most important Events of his Life; and partly to set him as a remark against all Satanical delusions of Instantaneous Sanctity, with which yet at this very day the World is bewitched though they have seen in him the Tragical, even Diabolical effects of his Religious Austerity.  
Only one thing I may not omit: by these lewd actions he had so aliened the affections of his Uncle and Godfather Sir Oliver Cromwell, that he could not endure the sight of him, having in his own presence in the great Hall of his House, where he magnificently treated King James at his assumption to the Crown of England, in a Christmas time, (which was always highly observed by him by Feasting, and keeping open-house) played this unhandsome and unseemly trick or frolic; with the Relation of which the Reader will be pleased to indulge me, because I have seen it raccounted by a Worthy and Learned hand.  
It was Sir Oliver's Custom in that Festival, to entertain in his House a Master of Misrule or the Revels, to make mirth for the Guests, and to direct the Dances and the Music, and generally all manner of sport and Gambols; this fellow, Mr. Cromwell having besmeared his own Clothes and hands with Surreverence, accosts in the midst of a frisking Dance, and so grimed him upon every turn, that such a stink was raised, that the Spectators could hardly endure the Room, whereupon the said Master of Misrule perceiving the matter, caused him to be laid hold on, and by his Command to be thrown into a Pond adjoining to the House, and there to be soused over head and ears, and rinced of that filth and pollution sticking to him, which was accordingly executed, Sir Oliver suffering his Nephew to undergo the punishment of his unmannerly folly.  
By this time and by these ways, Oliver had run himself out of that little Patrimony he had, and brought his Mother to the same near ruin, when taking a sad prospect from the brink of this destruction, of his present desperate condition, a giddy inspiration seized him, and all of a sudden so seemed to change and invert him, that he now became the wonder, who just before was the hissing and scorn of all people. And that this Conversion might seem true and real, he manifested it with the Publican first in the Temple, the Church, which he devoutly and constantly frequented, affecting the Companies and Discourses of Orthodox Divines, no way given to that Schism of Nonconformity, into which Oliver soon after fell, not out of Seduction and Ignorance, but Sedition, and Malice, and Treasonable design.  
But this appearance of such a Reformation in him (as he no doubt forecast it) did effectually conduce to his present purpose; for these Reverend Divines, glad of the return of this Prodigal, made it their business to have him welcomed and received with the Fattened Calf, to remove the prejudices that lie upon the narrowness of Christianity; and therefore severally and jointly they deal with Sir John Steward his Uncle (for Sir Oliver would by no means hear of him, as being assured and confirmed against him out of some good hints certainly of his own observation) to take him into his favour, and did at last prevail so upon h●, that he declared him his Heir, and dying soon after, left him an Estate of Four or five hundred pounds a year; which being got and obtained by so impious a practice, a kind of inverted Simony, to purchase Lands by Counterfeit Gifts and Graces, could not escape the canker of Sacrilege; but in few years mouldered away piecemeal, nothing at all remaining thereof but a thatched House, with some Lands of Forty or fifty pounds a year, in a Town called Wells, within four miles of Wishich in the Isle of Ely.  
In the Interim of this Estate, having served himself of those Venerable Divines, he fell in with some of the preciser sort; began to show himself at Lectures, to entertain such Preachers at his House, to Countenance that Way, and be very Zealous in all meetings of such People, which then began to be frequent and numerous; and to Exercise with them by praying and the like; to estrange himself from those his benefactors, and at last to appear a public dissenter from the Discipline of the Church of England. He had Matched a little before upon the account of this Estate in reversion, with a Kinswoman of Mr. Hambdens, and Mr. goodwin's of Buckinghamshire, by Name Elizabeth, Daughter of one Sir ... Bowcher, whom he trained up and made the waiting Woman of his Providences, and Lady-rampant of his successful greatness, which she personated afterwards as Imperiously as himself; so did the Incubus of his bed make her partaker too, in the pleasures of the Throne. Those Men eminent for Puritanisme together with their Preachers, set him up as the prime man of his County, for Religion, Integrity, and true Godliness.  
But his Estate still decaying, he betook himself at last to a Farm, being parcel of the Royalty of St. Ives, where he intended to Husband it, and try what could be done by endeavour, since nothing succeeded (as yet) by Design, and accordingly took Servants, and bought him all Utensils and Materials as Ploughs, Carts, etc. and the better to prosper his own and his men's Labour, every Morning before they stirred out, the Family was called together to Prayers, at which exercise very often, they continued so long, that it was Nine of the Clock in the morning before they began their work; which awkward beginning of their Labour sorted with a very sorry Issue; for the effects of those prayers was, that the Hinds and Plowmen seeing this zeal of their Master, which dispensed with the profitable and most Commodious part of the Day for their labour, thought they might borrow the other part, of it for their pleasure, and therefore they commonly went to the Plough with a pack of Cards in their pockets, and having turned up two or three Furrows, set themselves down to game till dinner time; when they returned to the second part of their Devotion, and measured out a good part of the afternoon with dinner and a repetition of some Market Lecture that had been preached the day before; and that little work that was done, was done so negligently and by halves, that scarce half a Crop ever reared itself upon his Grounds, so that he was (after five years' time) glad to abandon it and get a friend of his to be the Tenant for the remainder of his time.  
During his continuance here, he was grown (that is, he pretended to be) so just, and of so scrupulous a Conscience, that having some years before won thirty pounds of one Mr. Calton at play, meeting him accidentally, he desired him to come home with him and to receive his money, telling him, that he had got it of him by indirect and unlawful means, and that it would be a sin in him to detain it any longer; and did really pay the Gentleman the said thirty pound back again.  
Now was he therefore thinking of transporting himself and his Family into New England, a receptacle of the Puritan who flocked thither amain, for liberty of Conscience: But he indeed, for that his purse and credit were so exhausted that he could no longer stay here, which resolution he had taken up before the Estate of his Uncle fell to him, and was put aside it, by the amplitude of that Fortune to maintain him here: with this Estate of his Uncle Stewards, being again set up in the World, and assisted with his borrowed stock of Sanctity, He was looked upon as a rising person, the Voyage for New England, (the desperate Counsel of his necessity) abandoned, and the port and state of his Family resumed to such a conspicuous Grandeur, that rendered him a Candidate for the ensuing Parliament, and supplied him before with the Ability of disbursing 500 l. upon account of Irish Adventures towards the settling a plantation in Ulster, in that Kingdom. Yet was this the very last remains of that accessional Inheritance, He being forced to borrow money in Town here very precariously and by the mediation of friends, though for no greater sums than Ten pounds, (nay formerly ten shillings were acceptable) at several times which he received with this inducing Expression, That though sometime he had made no conscience of repaying any money, yet he would punctually now keep his word, which indeed he did justly observe; and this an eminent Citizen his Friend and School-fellow hath often declared. The last sum he borrowed being very anxiously besought and entreated, as rising to a 100 l. which upon his growing Greatness was pleasured him, and most abusefully employed in hiring Wagons for the Earl of Essex's Army, then advancing against the King. To this constant and insuperable indigency and ebb of Fortune was he kept and decreed, to the brink of our Troubles, that his ruins and private misery might the more industriously force him to the reparation of them; by the public calamities, and then carry him to the mixed Affluence and Excesses of wealth and state Usurpation.  
Nor did he omit any other duty or civility, or Office of love to any, especially to those of the Household, as they then termed the people of the Separation; insomuch that he had s●tued himself into the affections of a great many well-meaning people, whose suffrages he obtained against his use for them in the long Parliament.  
He was a great stickler likewise against ship-money, in which danger his great friend and patron Mr. Hambden was so far embarked: nor was he better affected to the Scotch War, then growing on, as he to his hazard discovered himself to some Chief Commanders of the English Army, who in their march against the Scots, quartered at his House; which Discourses drawing suspicion upon him made him the more popular in those parts who were generally infected with Puritanisme.  
About the same time one Mr. Bernard's coming to be Recorder of the Town of Huntingdon, some difference about precedency of place happened between them, Oliver's Spirit being too high to yield to any person in that town, where his Family had continued of the best rank some years together, and therefore to avoid the Session of his Honour to another, he withdrew himself thence just before the summoning of the Long Parliament, and took a dwelling in Cambridge; where upon the Election of Burgesses, by the procurement and means of Mr. Hambden, he was chose Burgess for that place, and so returned.  
Having now attained his desire and aims which was to help to blow up those Coals of dissension and rage, which had kindled in the breast of his malcontent party so long, and now were like to have free vent to the setting the kingdoms into a Conflagration; like a right incendiary, where he found any grievance complained of, he would make himself a party concerned in it; Inquire into the number and strength of the Faction that managed the Complaint, proffer his and his friend's assistance, encourage them to clamour against the maladministration, and generally set a foot those mischievous petitions, which were brought thick and threefold to the Parliament, till his Faction had so exasperated the King against them, that there seemed no possibility of reconciling them, making even all the Kings most earnest endeavours for an accommodation, arguments of refusing it. And though at first he was none of the principal of the Cabal, being taken in and tutored by Mr. Pym and Hambden. (as finding him of a bold and undertaking Spirit of what mischief soever was propounded to him) yet was he notably and highly instrumental and subservient to the Conspiracy, and at last arose to such a knowledge and capacity of the mystery, that he scorned their puny rudiments, when with a deeper Athiesme he set up for himself.  
The determinate time was now come for which the cabal of the Puritan had so long laboured, and that none of those things which had been so direfully Prophesied of their Schism (if it ever should attain any power or prevalency) might want, or rather not exceed belief; The whole Kingdom of a sudden, as if some Magical Charm had transformed the State and shape of it, seemed rather a Scene or boscage of Wild and brutal Creatures, than a Governed or civil Community. But because this particular hath been so largely treated off and is yet fresh in memory and will hardly ever be forgotten, it will not be much material to urge it further, unless to the maintenance of this Maxim; That the Uproars and Rebellions of Subjects upon what pretence soever, do always end in the greatest Tyrannies and turn to their most unsufferable and ignominious miseries, and that their Darling Demagogues, whom with applauses and Arms they have shouldered up, and have reared and exalted above the reach of the Law, make it no nicety afterwards to trample upon the Necks of their raisers; and to swim in their Blood which itching swelled their ambition to the Throne.  
Nor did the Volge know when, or could their Boutefeus' tell where to cease, what Issue would happen of these their troubles; Rash and blind Furies that made way to the unobserved advancement of this private Malcontent, who like Marius from his lurking holes in the Fens of Minturna after the defeat of his fortunes, crept into the Supreme Power, and died his purple with a more indelible tincture of Noble and Plebeian blood.  
The Jealousies and Fears and the like piques and quarrelling pretences of the Parliament proving hopeless of reconcilement or accommodation by the artifices of a Faction, wherein Mr. Pin's, Hambden; and other Puny's with Cromwell, mainly bu●ed themselves: and the just Judgement of God giving up up, our Peace, Prosperity and Plenty to the Calamity of a most unnatural War, the long desired occasion and expectation of those who had lodged their private hopes in the Common Ruin, did most gladsomely salute the Designs of Oliver, who having spent the utmost farthing of his Estate, and secured from an Imprisonment by his privilege as a Member, was one of the first of those adventurous Knights that mounted the Good Cause behind them, and so took the Field, which now Ploughed with Swords and Spears, and watered with Blood, answered its long denied increase, and from a luckless Peasant made him a fortunate Pedant Prince.  
For Enyo no ●ooner sounded her Trumpets under the Earl of Essex's Banners then entitled Generallissimo for th● King and Parliament, but Gromwell offered him his Service, and was thereupon honoured with a Commission of Captain of Horse, which to raise, he returned to his own County of Huntingdon, where among the Zealots he was never had in greater Estimation. He was likewise named a Commissioner in the Ordinance for the Militia for that and the neighbouring Shires then entering into an Association against the King, the Ground work and eminent endeavour of this great Conspirator, in pursuance of that rebellious Project of his party at Westminster; following herein the practice of all Ringleaders, who do first collect rabble's, and engage and assure places of retreat and fastness to all Events, though herein he practised the more difficult and unprecedented combination of a people, for Wealth, and Sobriety, and Civility, and judgement (for a great part most contrary to his Designs) little to be suspected of taking part with him. But it so luckily evened to him, that by his lopping off, as it were, this Limb of the Kingdom, and depriving the King thereby of any assistance thence, and of the convenience of the ports of those Eastern Counties for any foreign supplies, one Canton of the Kingdom was as planet struck in point of Allegiance, and not only a Member,— Mancum & inutile dextre Pers. but of a very sinister consequence to the Royal Cause, the Gangreen thereof spreading and diffusing itself through the whole Mass of the Nation, by feeding the Humourous rage of the War through the whole distemper thereof, till it finally consumed all; this being the abundant Magazine of Men and Horses for the Parliament Service.  
This therefore was Cromwell's first Province or Superintendency, wherein he exercised the original Office of a Major General, when as yet he sounded no more than a Captain, being the chief Committee-man of the Association, making himself most notably eminent by his activity and zealous industry in promoting the good Cause, and levying and listing of Forces, and Disciplining them, the skill whereof he had presently learned, from an exact observation of some veterane commanders, viz. Coll. Dolbier, whom he had by great sums of advance money, and as extraordinary pay alured to his side.  
The gross of those Troops he raised here and sent from this Seminary to the Camp and School of Action, were such, whose dull Spirits were to be beaten into the knowledge of Arms, and like the Turks Asapi were on purpose sent thither to blunt the weapons of the King's generous Cavalry, on purpose to beget in them a relash and contemptuous neglect, of so base and despicable an enemy; that such their regardless confidence might conclude their ruin. He himself was all the while continued by especial Order of Parliament in this Employment like an Independent Commander to have an Eye upon any Attempts that might be made thereabouts, and as a purer and preciser reserve to the mixed multitude, that then from the equal motives of pay and zealotry rushed into the War.  
And therefore Oliver, understanding how miserably the Cavalry freshmen of his party were worsted at every Encounter, and well knowing the nature of the quarrel; (which was pretended for Religion) resolved and advised, that there were no men so likely to oppose the conquering Gallantry of those Gentlemen on the King's side, than such who were or should be engaged upon account of Conscience and Zeal which would Spirit them with the same magnanimous Fortitude, and make them also to endure the difficulties and hardships of the War, with a more pertinacious Constancy, as having bodies better able, and minds more finely sublimed upon that score pro aris & focis then the mixed and most rascally Herd of lose and vicious people.  
Against the dangerous evil of this Association, the King directed his Commission of Array, which was first put in execution in Hartfordshire, by Sir Henry Conisby High Sheriff of that County, who proclaimed it at St. Alban, and intended to raise the County to the King's Assistance, but by the vigilance of Oliver Cromwell, the Design was prevented; for by that time the Members at Westminster had notice of Sir Henry's Loyal endeavour, Cromwell with a party of horse had surprised and seized that party almost in the very instant of their appearance, and sent Sir Henry and some other prime Gentlemen engaged with him, Prisoners to London, to the great satisfaction and liking of the Parliament Grandees, who were at first aghast at an attempt made for the King so near their own Doors: and thereupon this their Commander was ordered the Thanks of the House, and from thence forward looked upon as an eminent person, and a Champion of the Cause, which now jeoparded it in the field, whence the towardly settlement of these parts, withheld Cromwell in this Province, which like a piece of the former Heptarchy he himself ruled and governed absolutely and pro imperio.  
His next piece of Service was of the like nature, and of the same evil Consequence to the King. For divers Gentlemen of the County of Suffolk (another of the associated Counties) resenting this Curb upon their Allegiance, and the saucy Edicts and Commands of the Committees, which were made up of the meanest of the Gentry, and Burgesses of the Towns, designed together to free themselves and their Country from the yoke of these new Lords, the chief of these Gentlemen were Sir John Pe●tus, Sir Edw. Barker, etc. who having in order to their Conjuncture, rendezvouzed at Lowerstofe in that County, were by the preventing diligence of Cromwell, seized and secured, and thereby such a Break-neck given to any future Royal undertake in those parts (the rendition of Lyn Regis which then held for the King, soon after following this defeat and disappointment) that throughout the whole course of the War there happened not any the least Commotion in favour of His Majesty's Arms, either by supply, assistance, or diversion.  
Things being thus quieted thereabouts and disposed to the Interest of the Juncto, there remained after the military part, a Scholastical labour for this Parliamentary Hercules, the zealons cleansing of the University of Cambridge, the Parent of this Viper, who just before his infectious production into the main Army, (whither he was now designed) did miserably exenterate her, leaving her a sad and doleful Skeleton, deprived of so many learned and religious persons, whose only charge was, that they adhered to the Dictates of their Conscience, and the Obligations of those Oaths, which just Authority had enjoined, against the novel and illegal Commands and Covenants, forcibly imposed and obtruded on them. In this destructive work, his module and method of Ambition, Cromwell was mainly and chief active, as also against the Orthodox and Protestant Ministry, and their Churches, defacing all the Ornaments and Beauty thereof, leaving them the ruinous Spectacle of his Reformation.  
And from this Employment now finished he was Commissioned Lieutenant General to the Earl of Manchester, who had the separate command in a distinct Supremacy of these associated Counties, and was designed to march Northwards with those Forces and join with the Scots newly entered England, and the Lord Fairfax, against the Marquis of Newcastle, who was General for the King in those parts, and yet balanced the Fortune of War against that potent Scotch Invasion; but upon the conjuncture and addition of the Earl of Manchester's fresh and well disciplined and armed forces, the said Marquis was constrained to quit the field, and distribute his Army into the Garrisons, he himself shutting up the best part of it in the City of York, which the Confederates presently besieged, and made several venturous attempts, wherein Cromwell was none of the backwardest, though always repulsed with loss and considerable slaughter.  
The importance of this place, and juncture of time, which either won or lost the North to the King (who had newly had great success in the West by the defeating of the Earl of Essex at Lestithiel in Cornwall) caused him to send away Prince Rupert as Generalissimo, with a very potent Army to raise that Siege, and fight the Enemy if he found occasion. The Prince accordingly advanced, and upon his approach the Confederates drew off from their Leaguer, affording the Garrison liberty to join with their friends, when it was resolved by the Prince, without any delay to give Battle; though the Marquis knowing what hazard the King's Interest, and his own, and all the Loyal parties Estates would thereby be put to, did very much dissuade the suddenness of the Encounter, which notwithstanding ensued on the Evening of the same day July 2. On Marston-Moor within Three miles of York, and lasted till Night.  
It will be tedious and beside our purpose to relate the whole order and manner of the Battle, further than this, that the Scots and my Lord Fairfaxes Forces were totally routed and pursued some miles out of the field, and the day given for lost, when Cromwell with his associated Horse most of them Curassiers in the left wing, seeing this discomfiture, fell on with great resolution and courage, and worsted the Prince and his reserves, and with the same fury fell upon the Marquess' foot, whose Regiment of White-Coats, and therefore called his Lambs, yet stood and could not be broken, till the field being almost cleared, the Parliaments Infantry came up, and then both horse and foot charged and broke them; Cromwell here made a very great Slaughter and Carnage, especially in the rout and pursuit, purposely to make his name terrible, this being his first and grand appearance, gaining here the Title of Ironsides, from the impenetrable strength of his Troops, which could by no means be broken or divided.  
The success of this day made him indeed highly famous, and his Laurels most verdant and flourishing, the Victory being principally ascribed to his courage and conduct. His Cunctation and temperate delay were highly magnified; and then his Resolution in the desperation of the Event extolled the firmness and constant equality of his mind, when intrepidly and fixedly he beheld the overthrow of the gross of their Army, and thereby animated his Troops to the more vigorous recovery of the day, now that the adverse fury was spent in the chase of their Fellows the Scots, whom Cromwell ever afterwards though in Covenant with them, most disdainfully despised, but not only for this reason.  
The Credit of this Achievement was industriously cried up at Westminster, and all the Grandezza's of Scriptural Ovation fitted and accommodated thereto; He himself with the same conquering Troops, as yet in the same quality under the Earl of Manchester, was remanded from the North to oppose the King, then returning victorious out of the West; and because the Earl of Essex had hither to been unfortunate, therefore this lucky Cheiftain was added as his better Star, at the second Battle of Newberry, within font Months after Marston Moor; and here again the Fates favoured him, though not with a complete Victory, yet on that side where he fought with a part of one, and so much as endangered the person of the King, if the noble and stout Earl of Cleveland had not hazardously interposed, and bore off the pursuit.  
This indifference of Fortune begot very great differences among the Parliament Commanders, one Taxing the other of Neglect, Treachery, or Cowardice, and by what means it could come to pass that nothing was yet effected against the King, whom in the beginning of the War they had thought to have swallowed up presently? Not were the divisions less at home then in the camp, ●or now the younger Brother of the Rebellion, the Independent Faction began to appear; a preciser and severer sort of Zealots, who thought Essex and his Army not righteous enough, nor fit instruments, in whose hands the work of Reformation should ever be blessed to an attainment, and that therefore it was fit the Army should be purged of such Officers, or the Cause would never prosper. To the same purpose Oliver was tampering with his Myrmidons, frequently bewailing the want of Faith and Grace in the heart of the Soldiery, which alone retarded the desired Conclusion, that the great men of the Army minded themselves more than God or his people, and that purposely they protracted the war, not sparing to insimulate his own General the Earl of Manchester of the same prevarications, aggravating the affront he received before Dennington-Castle, and some other later miscarriages, which coming to the Ear of the said Earl, who rightly guessed the ambitious Drifts of his Lieut. General. He caused a Charge and impeachment to be drawn up against him for some misdemeanours in the Army, as stirring up of Mutiny, etc. and delivered it to the Lords, to whose Bar Cromwell was summoned, but he refused their Jurisdiction, pleading his privilege as a member of the House of Commons, who alone had Cognizance of him: and to be even with the Earl recriminated him in the same manner to the House of Commons, but both these accusations stuck upon the file without any prosecution on either side, either party as yet afraid of the other, and distrustful of their plots, not having yet attained the absolute power from the King, which was the only subject of the Quarrel. So soon did these twins of the Usurpation struggle in the womb of their Ambition, and though Presbytery was midwifed first, yet Independency carried away the Blessing or rather the Curse of their prosperous Violence.  
For the Independents had insinuated such plausible Expedients for the redress of this evil Management of the Army, and by their austerer Piety (which Oliver most devoutly personated, being frequent in praying and preaching in his Quarters) had conciliated such an esteem of their Counsels, which were absolute Intrigues to the contrary Faction, that a Resolution was taken to module the Army, and appoint a new General; and in this Consultation great part of the Winter 1644. was taken up, the rest was spent in a seeming tendency to Peace, by a Treaty held at Uxbridge, which Affair concerned Cromwell no further than thus, that it showed how eminent and great a man he was taken to be, being named in the Parliaments Demands and Propositions, for one of the standing Commissioners, to whose trust and exercise the Militia of the Kingdom (upon Agreement) should be committed.  
While these and the like Articles were in vain debating, the prosecution of the War was effectually intended, and the new module so far advanced, that an Ordinance passed the two Houses, wherein it was forbidden any Member of either House to have any Command in the Army or Garrisons, and the time limited to forty days from the publishing the said Ordinance. By this fair and impartial dealing (as they called it) the Earls of Essex, Manchester, Stamford, and Denbigh; Sir William Waller, Sir Philip Stapleton, and others were laid aside, only Lieutenant General Cromwell, was respited for a while longer, because of his present usefulness in that unsettled Condition of the Atmy, and because he had been of an unexampled success and Conduct: In the place of Essex, Sir Thomas Fairfax was made General, and he Issued out Commissions to such whom the Independents favoured, most of the supreme Officers being discarded, and entitled the Reformadoes, and left a begging their pay, and their Inferior ones substituted in their places. Among the rest of these New blades, Ireton was raised to be Commissary General of the Horse, Cromwell's second, who had newly married 〈◊〉 of his Daughters, and was as near in brain to him as in blood.  
This continuance of Cromwell in his Command after all the other Members of Parliament were laid aside at last upon the marching of the Army in the beginning of the Year 1645. styled him Lieutenant General; a little before which he had doctrinated his Regiment in the new mode of Addresses to the Parliament, and to the General, setting forth their acquiescences and gladness in this frame and module of the Army, and that they were ready to lay down their lives in prosecution of the good Cause so far advanced: and this Arche-type was soon after followed by every Regiment and Garrison, whereunto none but the Creatures and Confidents of Independency were now admitted.  
For from the first Headquarters of this Army, Cromwell (having newly come out of the West, and tendered his Service to the General if the Parliament should think fit, but intimating his sorrow that he seated he should not have the Honour to wait upon him (when at the very instant came down another dispensation) was sent with a flying party of Horse (by his party's prevalency in the House for forty days longer) to intercept a Convoy of Horse which was the Queen's Regiment, the Earl of Northampton's● and Colonel Palmer's, with some other Troops, coming to Oxford to bring off the King with his Train of Artillery, who made such haste, that at Islip Bridge he surprised and routed them, took four hundred Horse and two hundred Prisoners with the Queen's Standard, and continuing his good speed having got intelligence of 〈◊〉 Party of three hundred and fifty Foot under Sir William Vaughan, who were marching towards Radcot-Bridge, he pursued them and took the said Sir William, Lieutenant Colonel Litleton, and two hundred more prisoners, and immediately lummoned Blechingdon-House not far distant from the place, whither some Ladies were newly come to give a visit to Coll. Windebank's (the governor's) Bride, who being affrighted with the suddenness of the danger, never left importuning the unfortunate Gentleman till he rendered the Garrison, though Cromwell for want of Foot, could never have forced him out, making use of this Stratagem by raising a Cry of, Fall on Foot, fall on; for this surrender, upon his coming to Oxford, by Sentence of a Council of War he was shot to death, leaving his Widow to blast with her sighs and tears, Cromwell's Laurels, who with this envious Triumph returned to his General. And this first happy Exploit done by him in the beginning of the Expedition, was taken and published for a good Omen of his future Service, and therefore the Prudence of the Parliament was much commended in continuing him in Command, who was so hopeful and Instrument of carrying on the remaining work through so many difficulties, which had so long, and yet seemed so insuperably to impede it. Thus did his Faction and Partisans prepare and sublime him to his succeeding Enterprises and Designs after the expiration of the War.  
To enhance this reputation and to secure his Continuance in the Army, he next resolved upon a gallanter, and more hazardous Attempt, the reducing of Farringdon house, which had been an impregnable and most advantageous Garrison for the King, the Governor, was Sir George Lisle, a person of an invincible Spirit, and eminent throughout the War; to the better effect of this Design, he borrowed 600 foot of M. G. Brown, from Abingdon, and with them fell presently to storming, but was notably repulsed, losing 50. men, without any success at all, and before he could get off was attaqued by a party of General goring Horse, commanded by himself then newly come out of the West from Taunton Siege, who being as vigilant and valorous a Commander as himself, gave Cromwell the first brush he received in the War, taking three Colours and Major Bethel prisoner, and so returned to his former Leaguer at Taunton.  
In the mean while, General Fairfax by Order of the Committee of both Kingdoms of England and Scotland, who ordered the Conduct of the War, was advancing into the West for the relief of the said Town of Taunton, and because the King was yet at Oxford preparing to take the Field, Cromwell was left behind in the same parts, where now he quartered with Major General Brown to attend the King's motion, and to impede his Conjunctures with the Princes Rupert and Maurice, then coming with● Complete Body of Horse out of Worcestershire, but His Majesty had equipped so gallant an Army, that Cromwell durst not venture to fight him or retard his march any whither, so that Fairfax was presently recalled and ordered to sit down before Oxford, to reduce the King to the care of that place, and upon advantages to fight him: when News came that the King having joined with the Princes, and relieved Chestor besieged by Sir William Brereton, was now returning and bending his March towards the Associate Counties, the heart and unrouched strength of the Parliament Cause, and therefore Cromwell was immediately dispatched into the Isle of Ely, with three Troops, to secure that against any Invasion, it being as the Bulwark or Fortress of the rest. But the King diverting from that course, came and sat down before Leicester, and after summons stormed and took it, which put the Parliament into such a fright, that they commanded Fairfax to rise from Oxford, and presently find out the King and fight him, who was now (as he himself writ to the Queen) in a better and more successful condition than any time since the War. This Order Fairfax (having never sent in a summons to the City, as forejudging he should rise without it disgracefully) readily obeyed but withal requested them that they would forthwith dispatch away Cromwell from the Isle of Ely, to command the Horse, extolling his Experience and Sucoeffe in that Service.  
Accordingly Cromwell reinforced and recruted with some Troops of the Association, returned to the Army then marching to Northampton, where the General was informed that the King lay about Daventry, quartering his Foot and Carriages upon Borough hill, as if he intended to fight upon that ground if they should advance, but he stayed only till the 1200 Horse which he had sent to carry the Cattle he had taken out of Leicester and Northamptonshire, for the supply of Oxford, were returned, intending thence according to advice of his Council of War to march to the relief of Pomfret Castle in the North, and to reduce those parts lost to him ever since Marst● Moor, and so to draw on Fairfax after him, and fight him at advantage, which he could not do in these Counties, that were every were Garrisoned by the Parliament forces.  
But this Resolution, the quicker Consultation and Opinion of Cromwell soon disappointed, for by his advice (now that their Army could expect no other Additions but Coll. Rossiter, who was then also in a Days march of them, for Sir John Gell was joined already) Ireton was presently dispatched with a Brigade of Horse to observe the posture of the King's Army, and if they we● upon their March Northwards, to skirmish then in the Rear, and keep them in Action till the whole body could come up and engage; June the 13. Fairfax came to Gilsborough, within 5 miles of Borongh hill, whence the Cavaliers, the 120● Horse being returned, were marching northwards: and the next night to the wonder and amazement of the King, Ireton gave an Alarm to His Own quarters at Naseby, whence about a 11. of the Clock the King dislodged and hastened to Harbour, where Prince Rupert and the Van of the Army was quartered; here a Council of War was presently convened, and by the King's fatal Opinion concluded, that because there was danger of bringing off the real of his Army, the Enemy pressing so near and hard upon them, that therefore they should desist from their March further Northwards, and immediately turn back upon the Enemy and give him Battle, relying chief upon the valour of the Infantry, now flushed and encouraged with the Plunder and spoil of Leicester.  
This was put in execution (though the major voices were for staying till General Goring with his forces were come up) and the Kings will obeyed. For very early in the Morning the Scouts brought word that the King was making all haste to the Engagement, being falsely informed that Fairfax in fear was retreating to Northampton, whereas he had now disposed of Naseby-field, & awaited Him, having Cromwell with whaley on his right wing, and Ireton on his left, the one opposed to my Lord Langdale, and the Northern Horse, and the other to Prince Rupert, General of the Cavalry, the King himself being Generalissimo. To come to the Event, Prince Rupert totally routed Ireton, who being engaged and driven upon the King's rightmost foot, was there wounded in the Thigh with a Halberd and taken Prisoner, and the Field on that hand cleared; which Fairfax and Cromwell observing, having not yet stirred from their ground, Fairfax with a short Speech encouraged the Troops to the Charge; which was seconded with some devout ejaculations from Cromwell, who clapping Spurs to his Horse fell in with Langdale's Brigade, and quite charged through three bodies and utterly broke them, nor did he stop till with fine force he had likewise beat that Wing from their ground, without possibility of rallying or recovering it again. In this Action, a Commander of the Kings knowing Gromwell, advanced smartly from the Head of his Troops to exchange a Bullet singly with him and was with the like gallantry encountered by him, both sides forbearing to come in, till their Pisto● being discharged, the Cavalier with a slanting Backblow of a broad Sword, having cut the Ribond that tied his Murrain, and with a draw threw it off his head, and now ready to repeat his stroke, his party came in and rescued him, and one of them alighting threw up his Headpiece into his Saddle, which Oliver hastily catching, as being affrighted with the chance, clapped it the wrong way on his head, and so fought with it the rest of the day, which proved most highly fortunate 〈◊〉 his side, (though the King most magnanimous and expertly managed the sight, exposing himself to the eminentest perils of the Field) & raised him beyond the Arts and reach of Envy or his Enemies of the Presbyterian party, who had so long been heaving at him to out him off all Military employment, which concluding so pertinently and peremptorily for him in this grand Event, did charm the hatred and prejudice against him, into fear and dread what this arrogance of his fortune would finally aspire to.  
This Battle wholly overthrew the King, who was never after able to make head against the Parliament Forces, but piecemeal lost his Armies, Castles, and Towns; Fairfax taking in the remoter Western Garrisons, while Cromwell was employed nearer to London, being sure to have one eye on the Counsels of the Parliament, as well as the other intent against the King. Among the rest of those places taken by him, as Winchester, the Devizes and Langford-house; Basing-house, that had defeated so many Seiges and ruined so many Leagures, was not able to withstand the Fortune of this Victor, but humbled itself to dust and ruin at his first and terrible approach.  
The war now almost expired, he began to ruminate on his former Dreams, and to adjust those strange revolutions and unexpected alterations of the times and the Government, to his former Fancy, in which he had so much affiance anew, that he became resolutely confirmed, that all those things were brought about merely to fulfil that Oracle of his Imagination, That he should be King. And therefore he thought it a just reverence to his Fate to neglect no advantages, occasions and means which might conduce to the accomplishment of its mystery, and conciliate its constant affection and favour to him. One thing primarily requisite was the assistance and Counsel of some confident Privado, and to this purpose he had before pitched upon Coll. Ireton, a man of a most profound and deep dissimulation and of a most clean conveyance of any mischievous design, one very well learned, but who had converted it (as Toads do the best nutriment unto the most exquisite poison) to barbarous and most Horrid Artifices of impiety and Treason; this man Cromwell made sure to him first by marriage as abovesaid, and now by a more mutual endearment, the partnership of the Sovereignty, which they agreed to seize; and from henceforth they never ceased plotting and conspiring, now colloguing with this party, then with that, and fomenting divisions still betwixt all, till with these many strange patches of Policy, Cromwell made himself a Protectoral Robe, with which he was not many years after solemnly vested.  
In the mean time the King in Oxford fearing a Siege, and having no better shelter in England to secure himself, after he had in vain wooed the Parliament from this his Court to a Treaty and agreement; designed an escape out of their hands, and to that purpose (Colonel Rainsborough and other Forces at a distance lying about all the passes of the City) by Coll. ashburnham's means, procured a pass from the General for the said Coll. Ashburnham and his two servants, to Travel from Oxford upon some pretence of private business of the Colonel, and by virtue, thereof in a Disguise of a Servant passed their Guards, and after many traverses delivered himself into the Scotch hands then beseiging Newark. Herein Cromwell most cunningly and deceitfully first practised the King's ruin, for whereas upon the rendition of that City if the King had been taken in it, a sudden end had been put to the Troubles by some composure, which would have marred Cromwell's plots, not to be acted but by a Stratocracy and an Army; by this means of suffering the King to escape, which might easily have been prevented, the war was no nearer a conclusion then at the beginning, if the Scots as was hoped howsoever would have proved honest, and kept their Allegiance & Faith due to such extraordinary confidence and trust reposed in them. 〈◊〉. Now to carry on their Treason the more irresistibly and indiscoverably, upon a plausible pretence of lessening the charge of the Kingdom, they concluded to put their Partisans in the Parliament (who gaped for the spoil of the Kingdom and would be content with that) to motion a disbanding of some Regiments of the Army, which being a just and necessary work was assented to by many Patriots who understood not the drift of the Conspiracy and accordingly Major General Massey and Coll. Cook and their Brigades were ordered to disband, amounting to Two Thousand five hundred Horse, which journey work was put upon General Fairfax, who at the D● performed it giving them six Weeks pay for many months' arrears, divers of the disbanded 〈◊〉 from very remote Countries, and had passes 〈◊〉 for Mesopotamia, some for Egypt, and Eth●●pi●.  
M. G. Massey was he whom they aimed at in this Dismission, as too much an Essexian, and of juster and honester principles than their designs would allow, of a very great interest in the Army also, & very well esteemed and beloved by them, as being of a clear spirit and as valorous as the best of them, and would dare to oppose any rebellious practice whatsoever against the Authority of their Masters. Besides this Cromwell had a further reach to the future on the Parliament likewise, first to make hereby a division and beget and stir some ill humour in the Army, as if that were the leading case, next to make those Officers that should continue, when they should perceive at whose beck they must stand or fall, more fixedly dependant on him, and then to instill unto them his own Traitorous designs and purposes; and so having the Army entire at his devotion effect and bring to pass his Royal projections. Massey submitted but carried the revenges of this affront and Cab●l with him to the Parliament House.  
Cromwell upon this Accident was at Westminster, and perceived by the toss and perplexity the Parliament was in about the King's Person, that it was a brave thing to be a Monarch, and therefore concluded it very necessary to other his Elements and Points of Policy to get Possession if he could, of His Majesty, and thereupon his party, the Independent's F●ction, being so instructed fall violently upon the Scots, and would have run it up to little less than Treason for the Scots to detain the King's 〈◊〉 this purpose divers Resolutions and Messages passed, but it appearing in the Conclusion that the Scots drove at a Bargain, Cromwell and his Faction must readily agreed to strike it, and so the King was delivered to the English Commissioners at Newcastle.  
Yet that nothing might slip or passed which any way promoted his ambitious purposes, he made use of this agreement of the 200000 l to be paid the Scots, by his Agents to mutiny the Army under General Poyntz, another Presbyterian Commander then at York, upon their Guard against the said Scots, as if the Parliament had no care or respect for them, but that Foreigners should be paid with their money; and then afterwards upon the ceasing that Tumult and military Sedition, to get Poyntz dismissed, as too remiss and negligent in his Command. And not long after died the Earl of Essex, one whom Oliver more feared than any or all the Presbyterian Officers together, Death officiously removing this great impediment also; so that by this time there was not an Officer left in the Army that did not acknowledge Cromwell's Sultanship; the General himself being lulled and bewitched with the Siren Charms of his zealous insinuations.  
The Presbyterian Party in the Parliament began now to be sensible, whither these devices tended, and therefore to Counterplot this Cabal of Cromwell's, they resolved upon a new disbanding of some (the Scots having friendly departed home) and transporting of other Regiments for the service of Ireland, for that the necessity of that Kingdom did require the Translation of the wa● thither; This the Independents presently perceived, and gave Cromwell timely notice of, who knowing himself to be principally aimed at, caused it by some of his Familiars to be spread about the Soldiery, that the Parliament by the major Vote of some corrupt Members, had voted the disbanding of the Army to cheat them of their Arrears, and then to send them in a necessitous condition into Ireland, to be there knocked 〈◊〉 the Head by the Rebels. This presently put the Common Soldiers into such a rage, who always judge by the first appearance, that they ●lew out into most opprobrious and reviling Language against the Parliament but fury being no present remedy to this evil, Ireton an● his instructed Pupils prescribe a Module never heard of or practised in War before, of a Military Common-Council, who should assemble 2 commission Officers, and two private Soldiers out of every Regiment, to consult for the good of the Army, to draw up their grievances and present them to the General, and he to the Parliament, these to be called by the name of Adjutators.  
Having thus made sure of the Army, he thought it time now to make sure of the King, whom the Parliaments Commissioners had brought to his Captivity at Holmby-house, and therefore Ireton and he having sometime before acquainted themselves with the King in this his restraint, and vowed and protested their readiness to serve him, to the ensnaring the King's belief, while they condoled the hard usage and unreasonable carriage of the Parliament towards him, especially in point of Liberty of Conscience, and the Worship of God (His Majesty's Chaplains having been obstinately refused him) they judged it no difficult thing to get his person into their Custody and deceive his good nature, with the same semblances of it in themselves, only the manner was not presently resolved by them. For without the General's consent and command it could not be done in his name, nor might it avowedly be done by the Council of War, for it would be a peremptory and hazardous enterprise, and engage the whole Kingdom about their Ears, but at last it was concluded betwixt them that this surprisal of the King should be fathered on the Council of Adjutators, as the sense and Act of the Army. Thus in all these bushes and puzzles of accidents did they extricate themselves by that Mongrel consistory a mere Chim●●● or Brainsick Idea of a convention which was conversant only about shadows and umbrages of things, while Cromwell ran away with the substance.  
This way being agreed upon, one Cornet Joyce a busy pragmatical person, whom Cromwell his Familiar had tutoured in the Method of boldness and Rebellion, was privately conferred with about it, and after some familiar compellations hugged into the Conspiracy, and immediately dispatched away with a party of 1000 Horse on the 4. of June, to Holmby, where he arrived late at Night, but being very importunate to speak with the King, was by his order admitted, to whom he declared his ●●●and, and being demanded by whose Authority, whither by the General or Council of War, no other answer could be drawn from him, but that it was from the Army, adding that if the King should refuse to go along with him he must carry him away per force.  
The King nevertheless deliberated the whole night, and consulted with the Parliaments Commissioners, what was most adviseable for him to do, though the sway of his judgement in 〈◊〉 him to the Army Custody (from a just 〈◊〉 of the sullenness and Rebellious obstinacy of the Parliament) who had by Joyce offered him (as the last and chief Artifide of Cromwell to all 〈◊〉 of ranks and persons) the liberty of Conscience with other specious and dutiful pretences.  
From Holmby therefore next morning the King was carried to Childersly, than the head quarters of the Army, though the King desired to go to Newmarket his own house, as persuading himself in some greater degree of Royalty, then in the Parliaments Tuition; but this was at first denied and a complementary amends made him by the General, and more particularly by Cromwell, that His Majesty could no no where be safer or more regally honoured then in their quarters, which were the only Sanctuary of his person.  
This daring presumption of seizing the King, gave light to the World what this Oliver would at last appear, though no certain Conclusions could be made, what the mischief did presently signify: It was sufficient to Cromwell's design to amuse the World, and let them guess at the danger he had readily prepared beyond any sudden remedy. And therefore he now personates the King's Interest, professeth himself exceeding sorry to have mistaken the quarrel; intimates and insinuates to the King, that there were a corrupt party (meaning the Presbyterians) in Parliament, who alone withstood his Resolution, and that He and all the power and friends he could make, were resolved to assert his Rights, and vindicate them from those unreasonable injuries of the Juncto, as he spared not frequently to own the same Honesty to the King's friends, then admitted to attend Him; particularly He declared to Colonel John Cromwell (a Commander in the State's Service in Holland) then in England, That he thought the King of England was the most injured Prince in the World, and clapping his hand to his Sword in some passion said, Cousin This shall right him: to the very great Contentment of that Loyal Subject, whom we shall have further occasion in this Discourse, and from this Passage to mention.  
In the mean while the King is at his earnest desire, which Cromwell seemed most officiously to study, conveyed to Newmarket House, and thither his friends and Chaplains without any restriction admitted, and such a sudden change made in the condition of the King as to his Liberty and Honour, that most of his party were dazzled with the shows of it, and could not foresee the Treason that was hid under those fair Umbrages: Nor could the King himself (so cunningly Cromwell carried it) give any true judgement of this his Surprisal, more than that the Examples and rules of all Policy generally resolved him, That the Person of a Prince in whosoever hands it remaineth, addeth Strength and Authority to that Party.  
The King being thus in oliver's hands, as he had declared (upon Joyces telling him, that he had the King in Custody) that he had the Parliament then in his Pocket; so his next Main Work was to perform his word; and to this intent he never ceased exasperating the King against the Presbyterian Members in Parliament, thereby indisposing the King to any accommodation with them, though the Terms or Propositions sent his Majesty were so unreasonable that they needed no dissuasion to his Assent: but this Ambidexter so invisibly managed both the injustice of the Juncto, and the indignation and resentment of the King, that he was looked upon no otherwise than as a partial Spectator and Wellwisher to the King's Fortunes.  
Nay so far had he proceeded in this Dissimulation and Treachery (the more detestable, by how much the simple confidence of so innocent a Prince was abused and deceived) that he stuck not sundry times voluntarily and of his own accord to assure the King, that if the Parliament failed in their duty, and did not speedily restore him, and settle the Kingdom, the Army should do it without them, and that to that very purpose the newly constituted Council or Court of Adjutators were now proceeding, and that speedily his Majesty should see the effect of his Faithfulness and Allegiance, while he the more indiscernably sought, and most nefariously practised his Ruin.  
The Presbyterians in Parliament, were hastily alarmed at these Transactions of Cromwell; and therefore (the Army having assumed to themselves by decree of this their Court of Adjutators, a right of Petitioning as English Freemen, as being no mercenary Soldiers) resolved as was partly hinted before, to divide the Army and send part of it to Ireland, and forthwith to Cashier Cromwell and his Chief Partisans, and to run parallel with his designs, to send propositions to the King, at the same time as the Army had hammered out some proposals of more equal and of fairer pretences than theirs, that the King acknowledged the just●● dealing of the Army, with which satisfaction of the King Cromwell seemed very much delighted, assuring His Majesty that more than that now proposed (which yet plainly asserted the Regal and Monarchal right) should in time be brought about, and that he might be confident in him as his most Dutiful and Faithful Subject.  
Thus practised he with the King by Delusion and Treachery, but against the Parliament he proceeded in a more forcible way, for his party therein had tried all ways to overreach the Presbyterian with finesse and Artifice, but found them so vigilant and sensible of their proceed and being also far the Major part of the House, that no issue was to be expected from debates and disputes with them, for a Declaration was now published, forbidding the Soldiers to Petition the Parliament, as being under their pay and command, and for disobedience hereunto Sir Philip Stapleton and Mr. Hollis had drawn their Swords upon one Major Tuleday, and committed another, one Nicholas T●w to Newgate in the month of May, and a private resolution had been taken to secure Cromwell then in Town, and not suffer him to return to the Army now full of Rebellious mutiny against them, which might have put an end to this grand conspiracy, and the mischiefs ensuing but Oliver having sudden intimation of the design got secretly and hastily out of Town, and upon a Flea-bitten nag without stop or stay arrived at the Rendezvouz at Triploe Heath, June the 5. his Horse all in a foam, and there was welcomed with the Shouts of the whole Army, to whom he declared the actions and designs of the Parliament.  
And here was made that pernicious and destructive engagement of perpetuating the Army till their desires, that is till Cromwell's devices should be attained, and this for his better security he caused to be confirmed at another more general Rendezvouz, June. the 14. at New-market, where he himself was the first man alighting from his Horse at the head of his Regiment and lying upon his Belly that subscribed it, which was in several Parchment Rolls universally Followed. I must not omit one further remark, on this occasion one Edward, afterwards better known by the name of Colonel Sexby, and one Lazingby, both of the Council of Adjutators, were ordered by the said Council to attend the Lieut. General Cromwell, than quartering near Colchester in Essex, with a draught of the engagement, every word whereof was privily dictated by himself & Ireton, yet at the receipt hereof Cromwell very angrily rising up in his bed, demanded how they durst presume to give him any Papers, they replied it was the sense of the Army, and that they were commanded to deliver it; Be you well assured of that saith he in the same rage, and presently thereupon read it, & instantly changing his Countenance to a mild and devout aspect, said, It is a most just thing, God prosper it, I will stand by the Army with it to the utmost of my life and Fortunes, and so after many familiar Caresses dismissed them, it being his constant custom afterwards during this Intrigue, to take the meanest Soldier by the hand, clap him on the Shoulder, or box him lightly on the Ear, thereby to ingratiate himself into their affections, and it accordingly succeeded, in this bold attempt and enterprise upon the Parliament.  
For immediately hereupon an Impeachment is drawn up and presented to, and approved by, this Council of Adjutators against 11. Members of the House of Commons, the chief of the Presbyterian party, viz. Sir William Waller, Colonel Massey, Sir John Clotworthy, Mr. De●●ill Hollis, Colonel Long, Mr. Anthony Nichols, Sir Philip Stapleton, Mr. Glyn, etc.— the main of which charge was that they had been the obstructers and prejudicers of several Petitions to the Parliament for redress of public greivances, retarded the settlement of the Kingdom, and had shared the Revenue thereof among themselves, and last of all had underhand complied with the King— Imputations of all sorts to make some thing stick, and to catch one parties or others belief of their criminal Suggestions.  
This was accordingly with impudence enough presented to the House of Commons, though they had expressly declared against this unparallelled violence, and straightways the Army advanceth nearer to London, resolving not to desist their march till they were superseded the House, which affront was most abjectly suffered by the Parliament, and the said Members after some frivolous debates, suspended sitting till they had cleared themselves: and now Cromwell having thus awed the Parliament and abused the King, was come to a fair prospect of his aspired greatness, making good that praesagious saying of his upon the seizing of the King by Joyce: there remained now nothing to hinder the facilitating of the residue of his Plot but the City of London, and we shall see him cajole and Baffle them worse and more insolently than the Parliament.  
But before we mention that we must return to the King now traversing the Country with the Army, and shown to the people in great State, and received and welcomed every where by them with all demonstrations of joyful Allegiance, and in like manner yet Complemented by Cromwell: Thus he progressed from New-market to Royston, thence by S. Alban to Hatfeild, to Windsor, (being carried towards London almost in the same Road in which he was driven thence) to Caversham, back again to Maidenhead, to Latimer, Stoke, oatland's, Sion-House, almost in view and hearing of those Tumults which forced him away; while in the interim, Oliver having made a Pique against the Citizens and revenged one Tumult by another had made the City Submit and receive the Domineering Army in Triumph through their Streets, with Laurel and other Ensigns of victory in their hats. With the Army returned those Fugitive Members, that left the Parliament upon the same Tumults, being invited by Cromwell to his Sanctuary of Redcoats, while the remaining members had voted the King's present coming to London to treat personally with his two Houses, all which votes being Tumultuously obtained (by instinct of some of Cromwell's own sending to increase the violence) were afterwards vacated after a long struggling in the Parliament as contrary to Privilege; and the secluded Members, who had resumed their seats, deserted London and went some over Sea, others with passes to their own homes in the Country, resigning their ill employed power to Cromwell, and his Faction in the Parliament, who abused it ten times more. In Justification of this insolence they published a Declaration wherein they said, that the Parliament had declared that it is no resistance of Magistracy to side with just principles, and the Law of Nature and Nations, being the same Law upon which they had assisted them, & that the soldiers may lawfully hold the hands of the General who will turn his Cannon upon the Army on purpose to destroy them; The Seamen the hands of the Pilot who wilfully runs the Ship upon a Rock, as their Brethren the Scotchmen had also argued.  
The said Declaration still-directing them to the equitable sense of all Laws and constitutions; as dispensing with the very letter of the same, and being supreme to it, when the safety and preservation of all is concerned, and assured them; That all Authority is fundamentally seated in the Office, anâ but ministerially in the persons.  
But before this great success, the dubious Expectation thereof, had caused Cromwell to stagger now and then at his first resolutions, (which it prosperous would at all times help themselves and there ultimately he was fixed whatever conditions and promises cross accidents should extort from him) and therefore he was dealing with the King in way of recompense and reward for his Service in his restitution, that he should be made Earl of Essex, and a Knight of the Garter, his eldest Son to be of the Bedchamber to the Prince, his Son in Law Ireton to be either Lord Deputy or at least Field Martial General of Ireland, and it was reported by Henry Cromwell, that then Commanded the General's Lifeguard, that the King had put himself upon his Father and Brother Ireton, to make his terms for him and restore him to his Crown: which grant of the Kings, caused and produced those proposals beforementioned to be contrived, but now in the very nick of this Juncture set forth and published, called the Proposals for the settling a just and lawful peace where in the three first and last particulars the Authority was left as entire in the King as before the rest were some Caprichio's of biennial Parliaments and the like Fegaries, whose impertinences discredited the important veracity of the other. But this feud betwixt the Presbyterians and Cromwell, ending so fortunately for him, there being nothing at present to withstand his first and grand intendment, he began to waive his respects to the King and cast off those disguises wherewith he had made himself acceptable to the King's adherents, and laid aside the King and them.  
The King therefore gently reminds Cromwell of his promises, repeats to him his Protestations and urgeth the Proposals aforesaid (and not only so but in confidence of the fair meaning of the Army declines a speedier accommodation with the Parliament) but Cromwell gins to turn a deaf ear, to deny many things what he had said and promised, to retract from others, pretending the difference of times and circumstances, that they cannot be performed, telling the King moreover that He did mistake and not rightly understand his meaning, and in short that though he would keep his word with His Majesty, that now it was not in his power, for that the Adjutators were grown to such an ungoverned and insolent licentiousness. that until the Discipline of the Army could be recovered, it were in vain to expect any such things as he when he promised really intended.  
The King was at this time at Hampton-Court, perplexed on the one hand with the obstinacy of the Parliament, in their Propositions, being more rigid since the last garbling by the Army; and on the other with the dangerous Positions of the Adjutators and the Levelling party both in Camp and City, in which last John Lilburn was Chief of the Faction, who decried Monarchy and all former forms of Government, having something (which Ireton spread by the by as it were among the Soldiery) in projection, on purpose to stave off all manner and means of settlement. This at last came to a Systeme or Consistency and was styled an Agreement of the people, and was now the only darling of the Army and the Sectaries: being a mixture or miscellany of Politic Notions no way practicable among Englishmen, being a deformation or destruction of all things, but an establishment of nothing a mere temporary expedient, and shift of design; (except always their Arrears, Indemnity and the Period to the Parliament) and this shape Cromwell assumes also confessing and acknowledging the excellence, acquity and goodness of the same the only fault in it was the unseasonableness, for as yet it was not his time and his cue to appear so publicly against the King; and this his Character of it was dressed out and enlarged with such taking Saintlike Language, as the Fanatic rabble might best be surprised, and not suspect any of his own venomous designs to be lurking under the leaf of His holy and sacred pretences. Withal when his Plot against the King was ripe for Execution, he caused a Fast to be published in the Army, (a certain forerunner of mischief with him) where he was as usually observed to howl and cry and bedew his Cheeks with the Tears of Hypocrisy, cruelty, and deceit; and after this mock-duty performed, he and the rest of the Officers pretended to confess their iniquity and abomination, in declining the Cause of the people, and tampering with the King, and then in the presence of the Allseeing God, acknowledge the way of an Agreement of the People to be the way to peace and freedom.  
The King was in the mean while, by the fallacious advice of whaley, and the practices of Cromwell, (who had caused frequent rumours to be whispered, of some Assassinate intended by the Levellers against his person) frighted from Hampton-Court, which place was found to be too near to London for fear of a rescue, in a dark and tempestuous night, in November 1647. and forced to cast himself into the disloyal hands of Coll. Hamond, Governor of the Isle of Wight, and Brother to the most Learned and Reverend Dr. Hamond, which consideration Cromwell forelaid, would invite the King in his distress to betake himself thither, where we shall leave him in a most disconsolate Imprisonment; the Votes of Non Addresses being not long after procured by Cromwell's Menaces to the Parliament, when upon the Debate of them he declared in such like words. That it was now expected by the good people of the Nation, and the Army, that the Parliament would come to some Resolution and Settlement, as the Price of all the Blood and Treasure that had been expended in the War, and that they would not now leave them to the expectation of any good from a Man whose heart God had hardened, but if they did, they should be forced tolook for their preservation some other way. At the end of this Speech he laid his hand upon his Sword by his side, as was the more observed, because formerly in the same place it could not keep him from trembling, when Sir Philip Stapleton a man of spirit and metal baffled him; but Sir Philip and his seconds were now out of Dores. Next to him spoke Ireton in the very same sense (being newly chosen a recruit for the Parliament, by their illegal writ of Election) extolling and magnifying the valour, civility, and duty of the Army, concluding with the same threats, that if the Parliament would not settle the Kingdom without the King, than they of necessity must and would.  
So that after some Opposition, the said votes passed against any further Address to be made to the King, and now Oliver thought himself cocksure, and therefore the King, Parliament, and City being in his power, he had no rub left to his Ambition, but those Imps and Spirits of his own raising and conjuring up, the Adjutators and Levellers of the Army, who having conned their Lesson of the Agreement with the people, were became most artful and skilful Governors, already, boasting in the Country, (many of which silly people they had induced to their side, upon the account of laying all in common, and in a wild Parity) that the Parliament sat only during their pleasure, and till a new Representative than a forming, should take upon them the Government; nor did they more dutifully respect and behave themselves to their Officers, whom they counted as pieces of the Prerogative Military & therefore decried all Courts and Counsels of them, which began to separate and act by themselves, without the mixture of their Adjutators.  
This exorbitancy and height of the Soldiery, was altogether as destructive to Cromwell, now he had done his work with them for this time, as any of the other 3 Interests, but desperate diseases must have desperate Cures, for immediately the Headquarters being then at Ware Coll. Eyer a Leveller was seized and imprisoned, and one Arnold a private Soldier shot to death for promoting the former solemn Engagement, and Agreement of the People, and after that He cashiered all such who favoured the same; and to fan and cull out the rest he proceeded to disband 20 out of a Troop, by which the most of that party were totally excluded; the like was done in London by the Imprisonment of Mr. Prince, and others of the same Faction.  
Having for the present stilled that commotion in the Army, the danger of a second war seemed a fresh to threaten the Juncto and Cromwell, by reason of their injurious Votes of Non-Addresse and therefore to prevent so potent and formidable a Conjunction of all Interests and Parties against him, He now by his Party and Emissaries, proposeth an accommodation between the Presbyterians and Independents, and a way and means whereby they may be so united; at the motion of this in the House of Commons, a Gentleman replied, That if there were any such persons, who had any private Interest different from the public and under the distinction of parties had prejudiced the Kingdom, he was not fit to be a Member of that House; Nevertheless it was insisted on that the House would declare and ratify their Votes of nulling and making void the Votes that passed in the absence of the Speakers that fled into the Army in 1647. and their Engagement of adhering to the Army, which were tacitly confessed to be then unduly procured; so fearful and doubtful was he again of the issue of those new Troubles he foresee would fall out, and therefore would shelter himself and justify his Actions by the Authority he had so often baffled.  
The same Artifices he used likewise to the City offering them now upon the like condition of uniting Interests, the freedom of their Lord Maior and Aldermen, viz. Sir John Gayr, Alderman Langham, Alderman adam's, and others, and the setting up again their Posts and Chains, but when they (having already treated and engaged with the Scots, then in preparation for a March into England, refused to give ear to any propositions or terms, resenting the base affronts He and the Army had put upon them, He, questioned his Argent Glover, who gave him Commission to make any such Overtures, and in great rage turned him out of his Service.  
The danger still increasing, he suffered the Lords as namely the Earls of Suffolk, Lincoln, Lord Maynard, Willoughby, etc. whom he had impeached of High Treason after his March into London, to be freed from their Imprisonment in the Tower, and with them the Mayor and Aldermen aforesaid; and as a further satisfaction and submission to the Authority of the Parliament, A Declaration of the Army is published, wherein they bewail their former miscarriages and misdemeanours towards the Parliament, their meddling with the civil power, and that force and violence they had offered to the two Houses, and in Conclusion promise faithfully and dutifully to acquiesce in their Resolutions and Wisdom. With this Hocus Pocus deluding the Presbyterian party into a kind of stupid neutrality or rather worse, while yet they would by no means comply with the King, until Polyphemus Courtesy appeared in this Cromwellian Craft.  
The Scots under Duke Hamilton, having entered England, and divers Insurrections happening in England and Wales, according as was expected, Cromwell was ordered by the Parliament to attend the first of them, which was the Welsh and Northern Armies (though the Scots delayed their March so long till all was near lost in England) and after a short Siege upon the Defeat at St. Pagons', which was atcheived in his absence, took in Tenby-Castle; Pembroke Castle held out a while longer; thence he marched for Lancashire, having joined with Major General Lambert, who attended the motion of the Scotch Army, and at Preston, his forces amounting to few more than 9000 Men, whereas the Scots were not less than 20000, gave Duke Hamilton Battle, and after a very short Dispute, wherein the English forces under Sir Marmaduke Langdale made him the greatest Opposition, totally routed the Scotch Army, taking all their Artillery, Bag and Baggage and some 9000 prisoners, with the Duke himself in the pursuit Southwards, while he followed the Main of the flying Army Northwards, with a resolution of putting a final end to that business, and to rid himself of the Fears which from thence had hitherto perplexed him. Upon this his hasty advance, Major General Monro who commanded the reserve of 6000 Men to the former Army, and was marching after them, immediately returned to Berwick, and so back into Scotland. Berwick upon Cromwell's approach rendered itself upon terms, and hindered not his advance to Edinburgh, where by the Committee of Estates he was very sumptuously welcomed.  
Monro as yet and the Earl of Lanerick with him stood to their Arms upon the Hamilton account in the West of Scotland, and the Marquis Arguile with another party stood for the purer Kirk, which since the Duke's march had recovered its Magistracy and Superiority, and with Cromwell's accessionall Troops could give Law to the Kingdom: but because Cromwell was loath to venture a new War there, so far distant from his main design which the Army successes at home had now matured, and his presence only wanting to accomplish it, he so ordered the matter that a Treaty was procured, by which all parties were to lay down their Arms (a greater assurance to him then if the Kirk had been absolute victor) the Hamiltonians to have indemnity, but none of them to be admitted or elected for the next Parliament or Assembly General, so that he so absolutely manacled that Nation, that they had no other use of their hands then to hold them up to Heaven at the doleful murder of their natural Prince, whom by their primitive rebellion they had brought to the Block.  
Things thus settled in Scotland, he departed thence, having been most highly and magnificently treated by the Grandees of that Kingdom before and at his departure, and complemented by the Kirk as their deliverer, which he regested in as good Scriptural Language, laying his hand on his breast and demurely looking on their Scotch screwed faces, and laughing to himself what Idiots he had made of those Politicians at their own sanctified Weapons.  
In his way homeward he visited the Siege of Pomfret, and was by the Commander in Chief against that place importuned, to see it reduced (it being believed that his fortune or experience Mastered all things) as he was afterwards at Scarborough, which being upon the point of Surrender, he dispensed, for the Honour thereof, to stay at the last place and have it delivered into his hands; and so posted for the head Quarters of the Army then at St. Alban, having subdued all the opposition made this Summer 1648, where he was welcomed with the highest gratulations of his late achievement, especially by the Officers, for as yet the Soldiers knew not what to think of him as to their new Agreement of the People, which was now began again and favoured already by Ireton so much, as that he had it under consideration, and promised to return it with some additions and amendments of his own.  
And that proved that accursed Remonstrance of the Army, in which all the former freaks of policy were inserted to make up the number, but the burden thereof was the Treasonable Contrivance of the King's Death, and the altering the Government; for first they remonstrated to the Parliament, That all persons of whatsoever quality or condition, not excepting the King, that had been guilty of the blood spilt in the late War, should be brought to justice and condign punishment; Next, That a day should be set for the summoning the Prince and the Duke of York, to appear and clear themselves of such things as should be laid to their charge, and if they did not, then to be declared incapable of succeeding in the Government. Many such there were of the like Batch, but all of them concluded with a most favourable Aspect to the Royal party, whose fines and compositions they pretended to have mitigated, and many more Good Morrows, on purpose to amuse even them too, as they had deceived and outwitted the Presbyterian. This pestilent paper Cromwell got delivered to the House of Commons by a select number of Officers, just as they had almost concluded with the King by a Treaty in the Isle of Wight, to the amazement and fright of all good Christians and Subjects.  
And here Cromwell terminated and centred all the crooked lines of his most Impious ambition, resolving to stand or fall by this Conclusion, and therefore immediately, (the Army being then advanced to London to prosecute this Remonstrance) as he had dispatched Colonel Ewer to take the King out of the Custody of Hammond, and carry him over to Hurst-Castle, a most unhealthful place, so did be upon notice that the Parliament had voted the King's Concession a ground for a peace and settlement of the Kingdom, command Coll. Pride, a fellow who had not wit enough to consider his business, to seize upon the avennues and passages to the Parliament House, and exclude above a 140 Members, whose names were given him in a Roll, which unheard of and unparallelled Violation was backed and sccured by Force of Horse and Foot quartering up and down the City and Suburbs, another lawless and forcible Intrusion upon their Charter.  
The House being thus purged as they called it, & others besides those that were forcibly secluded, absenting themselves for fear of being engaged and overpowered in those wicked Counsels which this Action portended, the remaining Juncto of his culling, a great part whereof were Army Officers not amounting in all to 60. passed an Ordinance for Trial of the King, the manner whereof by a High Court of Justice of his and Iretons own forming and Conception, was fully agreed upon, and the King brought from the said Hurst Castle, by Winchester, Farnham, and Windsor to Saint James' in order thereunto.  
But of this lamentable Tragedy so much hath already been said, that I will not add this supernumerary load to him here, though it were his principal guilt, and to which all his other perpetrations were but as subservient. I will only instance two particulars, relating to this sad and fatal business, which discover the Abyss of this man's Villainy.  
There was mention made before of Coll. John Cromwell; This Gentleman upon the news the States of Holland had received of this proceeding against the King, at the instance of Our Sovereign, than Prince of Wales residing at the Hague) to them, to mediate and interpose in the business, was pitched upon by them as the only fit person, because of his relation to Cromwell, (who was looked upon there as the only Author and Contriver of this mischief) to be employed in a Message to him, with Credential Letters from the said States, whereunto was added a Blank, with the King's Signet, and another of the Princes, both confirmed by the States, for Cromwell to write his own conditions in, if he would now preserve the life of the King.  
The Colonel putting some confidence in what Oliver formerly had told him, willingly undertook the Errand, and forthwith repaired to London, (just before the King's Martyrdom) and found him out at his house, but so recluse and locked up in his Chamber, with an order that none should know he was within, that he could not be admitted till he had told his name. After mutual Salutations the Colonel desired a word or two in private, which being granted, he began roundly to tell him, of the flagitiousnesse of the Fact, now almost ready to be committed, and how derestable it sounded abroad, adding that of all men living he never should have imagined that he would have had a hand in it, having protested so much for the King in his hearing. Whereupon Cromwell fell to his old shifts, telling him it was not he but the Army, that 'tis true once he did say such words, but times were altered, and Providence seemed to dispose things otherwise; that he had prayed and fasted for the King but no return that way was yet made to him; whereupon the Colonel stepping back clapped the Door to (to the agasting of Cromwell who suspected an assassinate) and coming close to him, Cousin said he it is no time to dally with words in this matter, look you here says he (pulling out the abovesaid Papers out of his Pocket) 'tis in your own power not only to make yourself, but your Pasterity, Family and Relations happy and honourable for ever, otherwise as they have changed their name before, from Williams to Cromwell, so now they must be forced to change it again, for this Fact will bring such an ignominy upon the whole generation of them, that no time will be able wipe away.  
Cromwell here paused, and seemed to ponder with himself, and after a little space said, Cousin, I desire you will give me till night to consider of it, and do you go to your Inn, but go not to bed till you hear from me, I will confer and consider further about the business. The Colonel did so and about one of the Clock (within an evening or two of the murder) a Messenger came to him and told him he might go to Bed and expect no other answer to carry to the Prince, for the Council of Officers had been seeking God as he also had done the same, and it was resolved by them all that the King must die.  
The other is of the same piece with the former (not to mention his threatening of Colonel Downs into an acquiescence with other the Regicides, upon the adjournment of the High Court of Justice at the King's request into the Painted Chamber; nor his like usage of Colonel Ingoldshy, and holding his hand while he signed that horrid Sentence, and many other particulars of the same Crime) and perfectly discovers how much an Atheist or mocker of God he was in his pretended piety and Devotion.  
The very same day appointed for this Murder Cromwell and the Officers assembled together, to consider of some means if possible (with security still to the Nation) of saving the King's life, and many tediousexpedients were offered by some not so bloody as the rest, & a speedy Remonstrance to the Parliament proposed, and in the mean while the King should be Respited. Cromwell likewise seemed very forward, expressing how glad he should be if such a thing might be effected, for he was not ignorant, he said, what calumny that action would draw upon the Army and themselves in particular, though they did nothing therein but in obedience to the Parliament. But before we (said he) proceed in so weighty a matter, let us seek God to know his mind in it; hereto they agreed, and Oliver began a long-winded prayer and continued in it till a Messenger whom he had appointed for that purpose, came rapping at the door and hastily told them that they need not trouble themselves about the King for the work was done, which being unexpected to many of them, did at present astonish them while Cromwell holding up his hands, declared to them, that it was not the pleasure of God he should live, and therefore he feared they had done ill to tempt Him against his will or words to that effect.  
When the King's body was removed and Coffined, Cromwell to satisfy himself of the full and certain consummation of all his practices against his sacred life would needs see him himself, and upon his return thence was heard to say, That if he had not been a King, he might have lived longer.  
Other passages there were which concern this doleful subject, both preceding and succeeding it, as namely oliver's Conferences with Hugh Peter's at Ware, his feigned letters out of the North to applaud this Fact, and extolling the Justice and Courage of the Army, by whose means it was, that the great Cedar of the Forest was fallen, without any noise, and now the time was coming when we should rejoice under our own Vines and Figtrees— whence this Criminal had his leaves, and we Blood instead of Wine, but of this more than enough.  
With much craft and cunning did he now hid his daring ambition, for though it was thought as feasible for him now to have seized the Crown as afterwards, considering that his Usurpation was to be maintained by Arms, yet he well knowing what a Faction there was in the Army of the Levelling principle, ventured not to put his o●acular Title to a present Trial but await more promising opportunities.  
In the mean while to quarrel these Levellers, and confine the Democratical Regiment or a Free state (so was it now called) to a narrow compass, and to assume the greatest part of the Government to himself especially the executive power thereof, according as Ireton had projected the module soon after New-market Heath engagement; a Council of State like the 30 Tyrants of Athens was established, which consisted principally of his Creatures and this was but a forerunner of his single Tyranny, like rays by a burning Glass contracted into one Beam; The word being now given out amongst the Officers of the Army; That this Nation must have one prime Magistrate or Ruler over them, and that the Gen●rll hath power to make a Law to bind all the Commons of England.  
These tendencies to Slavery first of all enraged the Levellers, who having promised to themselves a good share of the spoil of the Kingdom, found they were merely deluded, and that all the engagements and agreements were but so many Rattles by which the Army was drawn on to act Cromwell's designs, who had on purpose contrived that Council of Adjutators, to engage the mass of the Soldiery in the danger of his Treasonable conspiracy, that knowing themselves in the same predicament with him, they must resolve to stand by him, like a wily Fox who being pursued, will herd himself among Sheep and so avoid the dogs; but all those hazards and necessities being passed, the Council of Adjutators was abolished, the Officers now abhominating to suffer the Soldiers to sit Cheek by Jowl with them any longer, the Expedition for Ireland absolutely concluded on, without satisfaction of Atrears, the Engagement slighted, and the right of Petitioning, which the Army claimed as Freemen, denied by their Officers, who put them upon impeaching the 11. Members for that very reason; And because a near total Defection of the Army followed upon this soon after, the Engine which Cromwell had used to subvert the Government, being likely to prove his own Ruin, 
— (Nec Lex est Justior ulla  
Quam necis artifices arte perire sua.)  though the Fates and his Treachery narrowly prevented it, it will be requisite to show you the sense of the Army, upon the present State of the Usurpation in this following Petition.  
To his Excellency Thomas Lord Fairfax, and his Council of Officers.  
May it please your Excellency, and you● Council of Officers.  
We have lately made out humble Address unto the people's Representators in Parliament, concerning some relief to ourselves and the Commonwealth, by way of Petition, the meannest and lowest degree of an Englishmans Freedom that we know of, and yet the same (to our astonlshment) hath much distasted and embittered divers of our Superior Officers (in this Council convening) against us, as we perceive, and that even unto death.  
We therefore being willing to avoid all occasion of offence and division, and to clear ourselves of all imputations thereof, that in Justice and Reason may be convinced against us, desire, that you would be pleased to consider, that we are English Soldiers, engaged for the Freedoms of England; and not outlandish Mercenaries, to butcher the people for pay, and serve the pernicious ends of ambition and will in any person under Heaven. That we do not imagine ourselves absolved from the solemn Engagement at Newmarket Heath, but to be still obliged before God and the whole world to pursue the just ends of the same; and you may remember the many promises and Declarations to the people upon that account, which like the blood of Abel cries for justice upon the persitious infringers and pervere●rs thereof in this Army. You may farther remember that it hath been a principle by you asserted and avowed, that our being Soldiers hath not deprived as of our Right as Commoners; and to Petition the people in Parliament, we do account in the member of our Birthrights; and you may remember that in the time of the domination of the 11. Members, you complained against their then radevour to suppress the liberty of the Soldiers to petition, as an insufferable infringement of the right of the Army and people; and we hope you did not then condemn it in them, to justify it in yourselves: when the power was theirs, it was then condemned; but now it is yours, how comes it to be justified? In the point of Petitioning, we expectal your Encouragement, and not to have manacles and fetters laid upon it: it is not the bure name or shadow thereof will satisfy us, while we are gulled of the essence of it. It is a perfect freedom which we desire, not therein to be subjected under the Gradual Negative voices of a Captain, a Colonel, your Excellency, or your Countel; to pass the test from one Negative voice to another for its approvement, we account as the most vexations Labyrinth of thraldom that in this point can be devised, worse than all oppositions and infringements of the 11 Members; we had rather that in plain terms you would deny us our right of petitioning, and pronounce and proclaim us absolute Slaves and Vassals to our Officers then secretly to rob us of the right itself. God hath in some measure opened our eyes, that we can see and perceive; and we desire plain dealing, and not to be met half way with smooth expedients, and Mediums facing both ways, with specious and fair pretences, to overtake our sudden apprehensions, and unawares steal upon us, and so be defeated, as too often we have been, to the we and misery of the people, and of us. but The burnt child dreads the fire.  
Further we desire you to consider, That the strength, the honour and being of the Officer, yea and of this Council (under God) doth consist in the arm of the Soldier. Is it not the Soldier that endureth the heat and burden of the day, and performeth that work whereof the Officer beareth the glory and name? For what is it, the Officer can do without the Soldier? If nothing, why are they ashamed to deny us our right to petition?  
We have long waited in silence, even while we perceived any hopes of any real redress from them. But now finding the Military power in an absolute usurpution of the Civil Jurisdiction, in the place of the Magistrate executing that Authority, by which the sword of war is encroached into the self same hands under one Military head, which we disclaim and abhor, as not having any hand or assent therein at all. And we find a strange and unexpected constitution of a Council of State, Such as neither we or our forefathers were ever acquainted with, entrusted with little less than an unlimited power, and with the whole force both of Sea and Land, in which is combined the most pernicious interests of all Tyrannies. And which hath already swallowed up half our Parliament, and we sear to be an expedient to cut off our Parliaments, for ever, for if this Council of State survive the Parliament, how shall we obtain a new Representative, if the Parliament sit but till a new one be ready to take their places, farewel Parliaments, farewel Freedoms.  
Further, we find the just and legal way of trial by twelve men of the Neighbourhood in criminal cases, ●ttexly subverted in this new constitution of an High Court, a Precedent for aught we know to frame all the Courts of England by, and to which ourselves may be as well subjected as our enemies. And considering not one oppression is removed, not one vexation in the Law abated, nor one punctilio of freedom restored, or any fair hopes at all appearing, but oppression heaped upon the back of oppression, double cruelty upon cruelty, we therefore from those many considerations, betook ourselves as Englishmen to make our Address unto the Parliament, as the proper refuge and authority of the people for our and their Address, in which by birth we challenge a right, as also by the price and purchase of our hazard and blood; and our Civil Rights we cannot yield up, we shall first rather yield up our lives.  
And thus after the weak measure of our understandings, we judge we have given a rational and full account of the occasion and reason of our Petitioning, and we hope satisfactory to your Excellency and this Council, humbly praying that you will make a charitable and fair construction thereof.  
And we further desire, that you will take special notice of the serious Apprehensions of a part of the People in behalf of the Commonwealth, presented to the House by Lient. Col. John Lilburn, and divers other Citizens of London, and the Borough of Southwark Feb. 26. now published in Print. To the which with due thank fullness to those our faithful friends the promoters and presenters thereof, we do freely and cheerfully concur, to stand or fall in the just prosecution thereof, as the most absolute Mod●m to our peace and freedoms that hath been produced, and we hope it will produce an happy effect upon this Council, to prevent the otherwise innvaidable dissolution and division that will ensue upon us all, which to prevent shall be the faithful endeavours of (Sir)  
Your Excellencies most humble Servants and Soldiers, 

Robert Ward.  
Simon Grant.  
Thomas Warson.  
George Jelles.  
William Sawyet.    
These Petitioners being seized, were tried at a Council of War, but for fear of too much exasperating the Army were only sentenced in this manner, Coll. Baxter being then Precedent, who delivered judgement in these words,  
Gentlemen; for so I think I may without offence call you, for as yet you are Soldiers; but truly you are not long to continue so: For you are guilty of high crimes, as your Letter here by you owned doth manifest, being Scandalous to the Parliament, Council of State, High Court of Justice, and tending to breed mutiny in the Army; for which you have in an high measure deserved death; but through the great mercy of the Court that is waved, and truly they have waved the Sentence again and again, and now they are come as low as possibly they can: and it being late, I shall declare unto you your several Sentences which are as followeth.  
You shall ride with your faces towards the Horse-tails, before the heads of your several Regiments, with your faults written upon your breasts, & your Swords be broken over your heads, and so be cashiered the Army, as not worthy to ride therein; and a Proclamation to be made, that none shall receive you into any Troop, Company, or Garrison. And this I would have you look upon as a great mercy of the Court.  
Which sentence was accordingly executed upon them, in the Great Palace-yard at Westminster, March 6. to the exasperation of the Army.  
Soon after, all the Army quartering near London, rendevouzed at Ware, where several Regiments among whom was Cromwell's of Horse, in pursuance of the same Petition and to be known to themselves, wore white in their Hats; Oliver had intimation of it, and therefore he appointed two Regiments of Horse from further quarters who were ignorant of this Combination to appear there likewise. Being all drawn up in Battalia Cromwell with an angry and down look rides round, and of a sudden Commands one of those two Regiments to encompass a Regiment of Foot, which being done he commanded four men by their names out of the body, and committed them with his own hands to the Marshal, and immediately called a Council of War, (while the rest of their partakers slunk their White Colours into their Pockets and trembled at this boldness of Cromwell) and tried and condemned them, but by the favour of the Court they were to cast Lots for their Lives, two only to die, by which means the two Guilty persons and whom Cromwell chief aimed at, and lusty Fellows also, escaped, but the two other sneaking ignorant Fellows were presently shot to death, upon a green bank by the other two, in the face of the Army.  
But yet could not this humour be purged out of the Army, though another Leveller bled for it, one Lockyer a Trooper, who for promoting the same engagement and agreement was shot to death at St. Paul's Churchyard, and was attended to his grave like a General Officer, a thousand people of the Lilburnian Faction following his Hearse all of them wearing Black and Sea-green Ribbons; Colours that denoted a Storm was coming, the whole Army being now generally leavened with the same principle & furiously enraged at this Butchery of their fellow Soldiers being avowedly egged on by the said Lilburn, and secretly encouraged by the Royal party, who promised them their assistance in case they should need it.  
And it was seen when too late by the Soldiery (the Instruments of that Tyranny) that they had borrowed their Libertinism at a dear rate, the price of their Lives; like Cratander's they should rule for a while but then become victim to their short ridiculous Usurpation, while the Revenges of their Rebellion followed their endeavours after those shadows of their own casting.  
The first formidable eruption of it was at Salisbury, where Col. Scroops Regiment of Horse laid aside their Officers, and with their Colours marched thence, in order to a conjunction with Harrisons, Iretons, and Skippons Regiments, who had confederated (by means of those Adjutators) in the same design: which affair admitting no delay, Fairfax and Cromwell with his own Regiment advanced to them, to Bagshot, and so to Alton, where they had notice that they were marched to Abington, whither (after a tedious march of 40 miles in one day) the General came; and Cromwell fell presently to work with his old arts of Treachery, for Harrisons Regiment was hasting to the Conjunction.  
His first finesse in order to their reducing, was the offer of a Treaty, wherein satisfaction might be mutually given, and that done, that neither party should come within 10. miles of one another; whereupon the Levellers marched to Borford, and being opposed at a Pass called Newbridge over the River, to avoid any quarrel, and hoping the Soldiery there would no doubt join with them upon the Treaty, passed a mile lower, and arriving at the Town, relied so much upon the Generals and Cromwell's engagements, that most of them had put their Horses to grass, leaving a Corpse de guard of some 60. men, the whole party making in all 900. consisting of 12. entire Troops, reputed the best in the Army, and whose defeat would have cost many men's lives, if the Army would have stood against them. But to save that dissiculty, while those secure Troops were resting themselves, and their Horses put in the adjoining Meadows, about 12. a clock at night Coll. Reynolds fell into their quarters, having notice from some Traitors within of their posture, and presently mastered the guard, not dreaming of such a Camisado, and seized most of the other, thentipling or asleep. Here were taken near 900. Horse, and 400. Prisoners, whereof three only were Executed, one Thomson and two more, who died very resolutely, Cornet Den expressing his grief and sorrow, was reprieved at the instant of Execution, which their fellows beheld from the Leads of the Church, and were saluted with a Message of Decimation; but that Cromwell might ingratiate with the Army; for his sake, and at his instance they were all pardoned, and sent home to their own houses. The great Chieftain of them being pursued as he was marching towards this party, took into Wellingborough-wood, where courageously defending himself, he was killed by Carbine shot, refusing to take quarter at such perfidious people's hands. This Hurly burly being over, and ended like a flash, the General came to Oxford, where he was highly treated, and he and Oliver made Doctors of the Civil Law.  
This proved the utter Suppression of that party, & rendered the Army entirly at his command, without any farther dispute of their Leading, so that they presently submitted to the Lot, which Regiments should be sent to Ireland (than almost reduced to the King's obedience by the M. of Ormond) which thus decreed it, viz. 11. Regiments, One of Dragoons under Col. Abbot. Of Horse, Iretons, Scroops, horton's, and lambert's. Of Foot, Eures, Cooks, Hewsons', and Deans. And three new ones, viz. Cromwell's, Venables, and Phayrs.  
Cromwell was ordained Commander in Chief, and tituladoed with the Style of Lord Governor of Ireland; while Fairfax was lest here to attend the Parliament, and pass away his time in the Dotages of his Success, giving him the Honour of subduing that Realm, and preparing it to his Usurtion.  
He with a very potent Army was now landed at Dublin. Whereupon a strong Garrison of 2500 Foot and 300 horse, resolved men under the charge of Sir Arthur Aston, was put into Drogheda, the nearest Garrison to the late defeat of the Ms of Ormond which Cromwell having refreshed his Army a while at Dublin came to besiege. The Town was stormed resolutely thrice, and as well defended-Sir Arthur Aston being so confident that he advised the Lord Lieutenant not to precipitate any thing, for he should hold them play a while; but in the third assault Colonel Wall being un●ortu● nately killed his dismayed Sould●ers listened to th● offer of quarter before they had need of it, and admitted them upon those terms. Cromwell having notice that the Flower of the Irish Army was in his hands, gave order to put all in Arms to the Sword, where were killed Sir Arthur Aste●, Sir Edmund Varney, Colonel Warren, Coll. Dun, Finglass●, Tempest, etc. with 3000 Soldiers the best in that Kingdom.  
He comes next before Wexford, which having resused to accept of a Garrison, now the Enemy was under their walls was contented to admit of 500 Men under the command of Sir Edmund Butler, and the Lord Lieutenant came also in sighth● the Town, before whose face Stafford the Governor of the Castle basely betrayed it to Cromwell, together with the Town, who there are acheroro●fly murdered 2000 more. Rosse was the next place whither a Garrison was sent under the command of Luke Taaf, with order (the Town not being tenable) to render upon Conditions, which accordingly a breach being made, they did, and marched away with their Arms. His next attempt was upon Duncannon, but the noble Wogan and the English Cavaliers gave him a foil; hence he retreated to Rosse● ●ere he made a floating bridge, that to having a passage to the other side he might compel Ormond either to divide his Army to observe his motions, or otherwise to get a passage into Munster, where he held intelligence with several places that would then Revolt; and accordingly for all my Lord Taaff was sent thither before hand to secure them, yet Youghall, Cork, and all the English Towns of Munster openly Revolted, and many of my Lord Inchiqueens men alured by Money and Commands in Cromwell's Army, ran over to the Enemy; and his Excellency the L. Lieutenant having lost the opportunity of Fight Cromwell by his dislodging from Duncannon by night, when the Irish were cheerful and earnest to engage, was never after in a condition fit to venture a battle. He therefore passes over his Bridge and so into the County of Kilkenny facing his Enemy and moving up and down after him, while his Lieut. G. Jon●s with parties took in the Castles, and Carrick was wretchedly betrayed to him by Martin that commanded there; whence 〈◊〉 passes his Army into Munster and takes several Castles by the appearance only of his Horse, only at Kilteran he received a repulse, but Ballisannon was sold to him; Kilkenny was taken next, aster a stout defence made, the Townsmen complying contrary to the Soldier's knowledge who were driven into the Castle and there conditioned. The next enterprise he went in hand with was to take clonmel, kept by Major General Hugh Neake, who behaved himself so well, that the Enemy having lost 2500 Men before it had gone away without it, had it not been that the Garrison wanted Powder, so that they got over the River to Waterford in the night, leaving the Townsmen to make conditions for themselves, which the Enemy not knowing the Soldiers were gone, readily granted; Soon after Colonel Roch received a brush from my Lord Broghill in the County of Cork, where the Bishop of Rosse being taken was hanged.  
I have thus briefly discoursed of the War in Ireland, that I might hasten to the grand event and from the Camp after another expedition conduct him to the Palace, the main consequence of his Life, which rendered all his other actions so notable and conspicuous.  
The Irish War thus in a manner ended, and the Scotch War ready to Commence, the Committee of Estates there, having concluded with the King at Breda, and he upon his Voyage to that Kingdom, whe●e all correspondence with the English was by Proclamation forbidden, and all manner of Provision stopped from carrying into England, though the Juncto at Westmi●ster had used all Artifices to keep the Scots from closing with Him, (who were so far disposed thereto, that they had barbarously murdered the Great Marquis of Montross, a Hero far surpassing Oliver in Conduct, and who was untimely and unfortunately taken away from the rescue of his Country) Cromwell (like a Fury) was ready at hand to take revenge of that Fact. For having been seeretly called for over from Ireland, to amuse all Parties (both the Irish who trembled at his presence, and made no considerable resistance against him and his Fortune; and the General himself at home, who expected not such his sudden ●valship to his Command, which gave him no time for mature consideration of the design; the Scots, who though Alarmed by frequent rumours of an English Invasion, yet were not so forward in their Levies, as having assurance of Fairfax's dissatisfaction) he was now wasted over into England, preventing the Letters he had sent to the States to know their express pleasure for his departing that Kingdom.  
On the beginning of June he returned by the way of Bristol from Ireland to London, and was welcomed by Fairfax the General, many Members of Parliament and Council of State at Hounsle-heath, and more fully complemented at his Lodgings, and in Parliament by the Thanks of the House, and the like significant Address of the Lord Mayor, etc. of London, being looked upon as the only Person, to the Eccsipses and diminution of the General's Honour, which we shall presently see him paramount in the same supreme Command.  
The World that considered the carriage of this Politic towards his Prince, and with what impetuous violence, and short lived ex-tempore Counsels He had bereft him of his Life, had wondered that hither to he had suffered the Command of the Army to rest in 〈◊〉 's hand, and had not practised some quicker expedient to remove him; that having finished the work of 〈◊〉 Generation (as they canted it with Essex) he did not give him a Fig for his labour; but Cromwell who courted his Minion of Providence, and devoted himself to her care and 〈◊〉 of his Desions, would not rashly precipitate his Ambition without her Augury, but await the Assistance and Concurrence of some promising Revolution, which those many Military cross rencounters of that turbulent New State did certainly bode. And the Scotch was, now evening, the lucky minute was come, and his Brazen Head told him TIME 〈◊〉 for from hence he dated His Empire and Sultanship, and the Aere Olivarie, choosing to derive his Succession to the Supreme Power, rather from the unperplexed Tradition of the sword, then from an upstart bold Title to, and a forcible wresting of the Sceptre. And yet such Helps and Hints he waylaid to his Throne, that it was tumoured soon after abroad, that he was descended of the British Princes, and near allied to Henry the Seventh, the glory of that race. But to proceed,  
This Command of course was devolved upon my Lord Fairfax, and he desired to accept it, but he being inscrupled by some of the Presbyterian Ministers (who were highly incensed at this War) as it was cunningly foreseen by Oliver and his Party, who never endeavoured his satisfaction) and pretending a reluctancy from the Obligations of the National Covenant to engage against their Brethren, totally declined it, transferring the long expected Military Supremacy, by a Vote of the Parliament to Cromwell, who very zealously accepted the Charge, and with all readiness prepared for the expedition; which made the second Trophy or Garland, of those strangely and wonderfully prosperous Free-States of England.  
On the 12. of June it had been resolved that the Army should advance Northward, but it was the middle of July before they Arrived there, for on the 21, of that Month Cromwell quartered at Berwick, from whence he sent a Letter and Declaration to the Committee of Estates, fraught with hypocritical canting expressions, which the said Committee suppressed, returning answer, that they would reply to it by Messengers of their own; and lest any of their people should be deluded by the like fair words, they made it Treason for any person to correspond with the English, and fell a oliving all their Cattle and Provision in the parts next adjacent to them, beyond Edinburgh.  
Cromwell's Army was now reckoned 16000 effective, with which he came first to Mordington his Headquarters July the 25. thence to Hadington, within 12. miles of Edinburgh, on the Hills whereabouts the Scots had encamped themselves, declining to engage till all their additional Forces were come out of the Highlands. On the 25. of July the English advanced, and attempted one of the said Hills where a small party of the Scots were, and beat them presently off, when a Party of Scotch Horse fell in the Rear with such fury and vigour, that they wholly disordered it, and with Reserves and Fresh bodies seconded and pursued this advantage, which being perceived by Major General Lambert and Coll. Whaley, who had the Rearguard, they courageously repulsed them to their. Trenches, in which Action Lambert had his Horse shot under him, was run through the Arm with a Lance, and was taken Prisoner, but was rescued by one Lieutenant Empson. This past, and the Army wet and weary in their way to Musclebarough; betwixt 3 and 4 in the morning, another Party of some 1500 Horse, the flower of the Army, being veterane Blades, under the Command of Coll. Montgomery and Straughan●; fell with great fury, and more exact valour upon: them betwixt sleeping and waking, and brought a terrible fright and dismay upon the whole Army, Charging almost clear through upon the Sands, but returning with their Prisoners, were set upon by fresh Troops under Coll. Okey, in good order, and forced to double their speed home to their Camp, having lost an hundred men (to the same number in the former attempt) and some of their Officers slain and wounded, but came off otherwise with honour enough, giving the Invaders little hopes of so easy a Victory and Conquest, as the Fates had decreed to them, and their invincible Fortune.  
Several jealousies, animosities and discontents were now reigning among the Scots, more supremely than the King's Authority; the King's friends wholly discountenanced and laid by, even Presbyterians themselves no way understanding one another; some willing to give the King his Rights without more Stipulation and Engagements, others of them thinking they I could not sufficiently debase his Authority, and that it should wholly depend on the Kirk; and to that purpose severable ever end Postulata were put to him, beyond the Tenor of the Treaty at Breda; and in fine that party prevailed so, as that the Army then on foot, was in effect but very little for the King's Interest and Service, but was wholly at the disposal of the rigid Covenanters. This was not unknown to Cromwell, who thereupon never ceased Scribbling and Divulging of the English Armies good intention to the People of Scotland; With whom they have no quarrel, but against a Malignant powerful Faction, who had brought in the King to the disturbance of the public National-peace and Friendship betwixt the two People, and that he was willing by Conference to give and receive satisfaction therein, otherwise to decide the Justice of that Cause by Battle. To which when no Answer would be returned, he advanced on the 10. of August (having recruited his Army by those Provisions that were plentifully brought by Sea, the Fleet Sailing an even pace with him and observing the same signals) on the Westside of Edinborough up to the Line of the Scotch Army playing his Cannon, which were likewise answered, and Encamped on Pentland-hills a little above Edinborough-castle; intending to March for Queens-ferry, but the Passes were so difficult, and other Considerations intervened, that he proceeded no further. Next morning came a Letter to Him with a Declaration from the Estates and Kirk by found of Trumpet, Declaring that the quartel being now stated, and the King ready to consent to their demands, they were resolved to put it to the Issue and that the World may see what that was like to prove, it will be worthy the memory of Those Transactions, to particularise them in this short abstract.  
Cromwell being thus fat advanced unto Scotland, beyond the most advised Fears of the Parliament of Scotland (who had newly welcomed the King at St. Johnstons') and their Army yet unprepared to sighed him, they thought fit to entertain his Time and divert his Hast with a Declaration, wherein most abominably they disowned the King, without such and such Satisfactions, to the tenor of the most rigid and undutiful conditions, that the worst of Rebels could have put upon a Prince, which being once confirmed and assented to by him, they would be ready to give Battle as the quarrel should then be stated, and upon which they might expect a blessing. But this wile advantaged not the Kirk, but only served as a Directory to Oliver, where he should levelly his Treasonable projects.  
To this Cromwell takes very good occasion to reply, and help our their sophistry with some more of his own● and to let the Scots see of how near affinity the Kirk and the Congregational way were in this respect to the King, he permitted, nay, caused their Declaration to be publicly read to his Army; putting the Scotch-Remonstrants upon these Dilemmas; That their professed disowning of Malignants, and receiving and assisting their Head and Chief, in whom all their hope lies, cannot consist in common sense or pradence, reciting (as evidence thereof) the late Popish affairs in Ireland, and Prince rupert's roving at Sea) That suppose He (the King) should give security of his turning, it must be some other way then by a few and feigned formal submissions, for it is his necessity and his old Complices that connsel him to that Compliance: Nor is it possible for the Scots (in the way that they are now in) to be able to secure themselves or England; and concludes, that upon this quarrel, if they be ready to fight, his Army attends there for that purpose; and therefore the Scots cannot complain for want of an opportunity.  
These pestilent and alike dangerous Papers, (which in effect seemed rather an agreement than cause of quarrel between the Antagonists) were warily considered by some, even of Kirk-men who loved the King, as of sudden and desperate consequence to his Majesty's Person and Government, so highly vilified and disre-garded; so that a Declaration (to the liking of the Kark) was extorted from him, that there might no cause of pretence remain, either for their obstinate carriage towards him, or ready compliance with the Enemy.  
Hereupon the English Army advanced again, and though several Bodies of Scotch Horse appeared, yet they presently withdrew upon their approach; which that it might not be altogether frustrate, Cromwell in sight of them caused a Garrison (called Red-house, within a mile and a half of Edinburgh) to be Stormed, wherein were taken 60. Foot, and the House made tenable and manned by the English; while the Scats (being necessitated for Provisions, and to join with some other Forces from Fife and the West) had marched two miles beyond Edinburgh, having a great Hill on the one side, and the City and a River on the other, so that it was very hazardous to engage them, being drawn up in Battalia, the great Cuns playing on both sides. In which posture and attendance the Scots and English stood, and neither changed ground, till Provisions growing scarce, Cromwell retreated to Pentland-hills (Lambert having had some discourse and conference with Straughan, etc. about the former equity of their cause, de lana caprina) and thence with some difficulty (by reason of bad weather) to Musleborough, for Provant, and thence a few days after to Dunbar, with intention by shipping or any other way to get into England, being now closely followed by the Scotch Army in their rear; who rightly guessing the English to be weakened with long Marches and want of Victual, made cocksure of a total Victory, which snatching at before it was ripe for them, fearing nothing more than that they would escape them, they saw themselves miserably frustrated, and their despairing Enemy, a most insulting Conqueror.  
On Sunday at night, the first of September, the English (making at most not above 12000. men) came to Dunbar, whither the Scots (keeping close at their Heels) came also, and drew up their whole Army, consisting of between 20. and 24. thousand men, upon a high Hill within a mile of the Town, to the great amazement at first of the English; but despair adding resolution to their courage, they presently drew out in Battalia in the Cornfield near adjoining, and so stood all night, being encamped upon a Neck of Land, whose Breadth was not a Mile and a half from Sea to Sea; so that they were by Land quite cooped up. In confidence therefore of an assured Victory, David Lashley who Commanded this Kirk Army in chief, began to advance as early as the Sun next morning, and drew down the Hill, fixing at the foot thereof, and about 4. a clock in the afternoon brought down his Train, there being a great Ditch betwixt both the Armies. That night the English (by Command) placed themselves close to the Ditch, and placed their Field-pieces likewise in every Regiment, that they might be in a readiness in case the Enemy should attempt any thing upon them, who were vainly expecting terms of a rendition; boasting that they had them in a worse pound than the King had the Earl of Essex at Lestithiell in Cornwall.  
The Ministers having their voice in the Council of War held by this Kirk Army, most earnestly urged the Engagement and fight (against those that were of opinion to let the English escape, and not venture the fortune of War, upon an Enemy made desperate of which there were 〈◊〉 many sad examples) saying that God had delivered Agag, meaning Cromwell, into their power, and if they let him go, would require him at their hands.  
On Tuesday morning at four of the Clock, a Brigade of the English Army drew down to possess themselves of a pass upon the Road, between Edinburgh and Berwick, which being had, they might with the more ease and advantage, make their way home, and in order thereto pass over so the Enemy, to fall upon them. This Brigade consisted of three Regiments of Horse, of Major General lambert's, Commissary General whales, and Colonel lilburn's, and two of Foot. This gave the Scots a great Alarm, and a fore dispute happened about the pass, which lasted above an hour, the great Guns playing in the mean time against both the bodies. At length that stout Brigade gained and possessed the pass, much gallantry and bravery being showed on both sides. This pass lay at Copperspeth in the English way homewards, to impede which, they had drawn off their best Horse upon the right Wing to receive the English, weose Word was the Lord of Hosts, theirs The Covenant.  
The Enemy charged hereupon with their Lanciers, so that that the Horse gave way a little, but immediately rallied, and the foot advancing to second them, the Scots were charged so home, that they put them presently to the rout, it being about six a Clock in the morning, the left Wing of Horse without striking one stroke, following the same way; The Foot seeing this rout and flight of the Horse, and not able in any order by reason thereof to engage, were all of a sudden so confused and confounded, that without any resistance or offer of Engagement, they threw down their Arms, and fled, giving the English the full pursuit of them above eight miles beyond Haddington; the number of the slain were 40000. 9000 Prisoners, many whereof were desperately wounded, and 10000 Arms, all their Ammunition, Bag and Baggage, Prisoners of Note were, Sir James L●sdale, Lieutenant General of the Army, the Lord Libberton, employed by the States to the King lately, and died of his wounds presently after the fight at Dunbar, Adjutant General bickerton, Scout-master Campbel, Sir William Douglass, Lord Cranston, and Colonel Gurden; 12 Lieutenant Colonels, 6 Majors, 42 Captains, 75 Lieutenants, 17 Cornets, 2 Quarter-masters, 110 Ensigns, Foot and Horse Colours 200. 27 Guns, some Brass, Iron and Leather, with the loss of not above 300. English, and one Major Rookisty who died after of his wounds: there was likewise taken the Purse to the great Seal of Scotland, which was presently sent up to London, and the Colours with those taken before at Preston, ordered forthwith to be h● up in Westminster-Hall; The full Contents of all which, was signified in a Letter from the General in his usual strain of devout zeal, tending very much to strengthen the Independent against the Presbyterian at home, and the advancement of a Commonwealth to the imitation of the rest of the World; the latter part thereof for the severe● Aspect it had towards the Ministry in favour of Anabaptists, with which the Army swarmed, I have here inserted.—  The Ministers of Scotland have hindered the passage of those things (meaning his affection to the good people of Scotland) to those to whom 〈◊〉 intended them, and now we see that notionly the deceived people, but some of the Ministers (three or four) are fallen in the fight. This is the great hand of the Lord, and worthy of the consideration of those who taking into their hands the instrument of a foolish Shepherd, to wit, meddling with worldly policies, and mixtures of earthly powers, to set up that which they call the Kingdom of Christ, (which is neither it, nor if it were it, would such be found effectual to that end) and neglect, or trust not to the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit, which is alone able and powerful to that end, and when trusted to will be found effectually able, etc. This is HUMBLY offered for their sakes (who have lately turned too much aside) that they might return again to Preach Jesus Christ, etc. and then no doubt they will deserve and find your protection and encouragement. Which humble offer was to command a strict Inquisition upon them, as those most probable to obstruct the new module of his future greatness. 
The glory of this field though it were by his own party ascribed to his valour, yet it laid a great blemish on his conduct, and indeed the rescue of his honour is principally to be referred to Colonel Monck, whose company he had obliged in this expedition, (being very understanding in the choice, and as subtle in the shaking off his Friends and Familiars.) He had newly had a Regiment conferred on him, made up of recruits and other imperfect companies, and did now at the General's request draw and design the fight, and embattle the Army, and seconded that deliberate speculation with forwardest of action, for which indeed most of the Officers were very praise worthy: After the fight Cromwell used some catching courtesies to the wounded Soldiers, and the feebler sort of Prisoners, but the poor Highlanders and such like, paid dear for that partial kindness shown their Countrymen, as many as with difficulty lived being sold for slaves.  
On the 14. of September, General Cromwell marched out of Edinburgh with 7. days provision, for the Scots had not left any manner of subsistence betwixt that and Sterling, and on the 15. reached beyond Linlithgow, but through bad weather was constrained to retreat th●ther that night for shelter, the 16. to Falki●k within a Mile of Sterling, from whence fresh Letters of the old strain were sent into that City, but the Trumpeter was not suffered to enter, whereupon order was given for a storm, but upon better thoughts of the danger, forborn, so that on the 19 of September they returned to Linlithgow (whither came General Dean to him from Shipboard, being newly arrived at Leith, in the Speaker Frigate) and fortified the Town, being the road way betwixt Edinburgh and Sterling, and a sufficient Garrison was left to maintain it, and so on the 22. the English returned to Edinburgh, where Coll. Whally had offered the Ministers fled to the Castle, leave 〈◊〉 come out and preach in their several Parishes, but they refused: Another Cajole to the Kirk.  
Cromwell encamping and traversing hereabouts with his Army, but not being able to effect any thing against the main Army of the Kings that lay on Sterling-side, resolved to be doing with a Patty that then lay in the West of Scotland, under the Command of the Colonels Ker and Straughan, with whom Cromwell had maintained an open intercourse, and had proffered them a Cessation; driving at this, to take them off and subdivide the Nation in several parties, and the effect of his Papers, taxing the Scots with the admission of the King upon the old Malignant score, did operate as he projected; for thereupon outcomes a Declaration or Remonstrance from these Western fellows, full of saucy and treasonable language, which accordingly was voted both by the Commissioners of the Kirk, and the Committee of Estates to be scandalous and seditious, Sir James Stuart, and Sir John Cheisly, and one Mr. Leviston (who seemed to countenance it) were strictly watched, and Straughan taken and made Prisoner in Dunbarton, and after in Cathnes-castle, whence he escaped and came over to the English at Edinburgh: but 'twas more the sacred hunger of Gold than zeal for Religion, made him first betray his King and his Country after, and we shall see all Cromwell's Proselytes of that Nation, both Dundasse, Warrest●n; and Giffan, to love nothing so much as the Mammon of Presbytery.  
Straughan thus removed, Major General Lambert was sent to prevail with Ker, either by blows or words, the latter being thought as feisible as the former, and accordingly on the last of November, having difficultly found, and passed a Ford over Hambleton-river, Car got notice of it, and resolutely fell into the Major General's quarters at a Town of that name; but the Horse being in a readiness to receive him he lost a 100 men, had his right hand almost cut off, and was taken Prisoner, and the rest of his party being 5. Regiments of Horse, 2. whereof were the Earl of Cassells, and Lord Kirconbrights, pursued as far as Air, where Commissary General whaley was now left to command in chief in those Western parts. Cromwell had marched with his Army this way as far as Glasgow in October, but understanding or dreading the enemy would come and relieve Edinburgh-Castle, with Provisions and another Governor (being in Treaty with the present for a sum of money) he forthwith retired; having there took and garrisoned two Houses, while Coll. whaley took in Dalkeith, and another nest of Mosse-Tropers, yet his coming thither hindered Major General Montgomery from marching into those parts, to reduce K● likewise to his obedience to the King.  
Edinburgh-castle had been besieged some Months and upwards, with little loss on either side, save that the great Guns from the Castle did some Mischief in Edinburgh-streets, and one Captain Hamilton was shot in the head with a Musket, as he was viewing the Castle, and the Morter-peices made semblance of great terror and annoyance to the besieged; a Mine was likewise carried on some 60. foot, the Stone being cut all the way; but then they could proceed no further, being come to the Rock whereon the Castle stands: Nevertheless the Derbyshire Miners (being 12. in number) did what they could to proceed, the Enemy throwing Pitch and Flax and other combustible stuff into the Works. At last the personated Hostility came to a period, and Dundasse old Levens Son in Law, pretending want of Water, came to a Parley, and having premised a colourable request of 10. days time, to send to the Committee of Estates, by whom he said he was entrusted, which he knew was to be denied; and after several missives betwixt Cromwell and him, concluded the rendition of that most important place to the King's Service, in these Articles agreed on, betwixt Major Abernethy Dundasses' man, and Captain Henderson on one side, and Col. Monk L. Col. White on the other (it was always before called the Maiden, it may henceforth be called the Prostitute-castle) the Articles were as follow,  That the Castle should be surrendered to his Excellency Oliver Cromwell, with all the Ordnances, Arms, Magazine, and Furniture of War thereunto belonging, on Tuesday the 24. of December. 2. That the Governor, Officers, and Soldier's, should march with Drums beating, etc. in military posture, to such place as they shall appoint. 3. The public moveables, private writs and evidences to be removed to Serling. 4. That Proclamation should be made for all that bad goods in the Castle, to come or send, to own and receive them. 5. All sick Officers and Soldiers, as well such as hurt (in reputation) to have liberty to stay in Edinburgh, and the English to provide Horses and Wagons for the Governor and other Officers and Hostages to be given on the Scots part for performance. 
There were found in it five French Cannon, nine Dutch half Cannon, two Culverings, two demi Culverings, two Minions, two Falcons, 28. Brass Drakes, called Monkeys, two Petards, betwixt seven and eight thousand Arms, near 80. Barrels of Powder, and a like store of Cannon shot: Col. Fenwick, was presently upon the surrender, made Governor of this and Leith; Sir Arthur Haslerigge, and Mr. Scot were present at the rendition thereof, and then departed, their work being done; which that it may the better appear for a piece of the vilest treachery any Scot ever committed (though Cromwell ascribes it in his Letter to the Speaker, to the alone Wisdom of God beyond all humane power and accomplishment) take this account from the lovers themselves of this Treason at Edinburgh, The greatest want they had was of Beer, but as for Oatmeal, Butter, Fresh Water, and Salt Meat, they bade enough, the Master Gunner told me, that when our Guns were a drawing to the Batteries, he had so placed his Pieces, that ours could not possibly have been planted without great loss, but when he prepared to give fire, he was forbidden by the Governor upon pain of ' Death. His man Abernethy went often out of the Castle, upon pretence of geiting intelligence (but it was to hold it with Cromwell) sure it is, that Dundass and he and some others were a little wiser, and went not over the water as they had made conditions, some of those that did being Imprisoned (the Court and Camp being sadly affected with this loss) The Provost of Edinburgh, Sir James Stuart is in Town, but keeps private, lest the Wives in the Street should abuse him as they did Straughan, and Ker at their coming hither, the Lord Warreston, who came as he pretended for the Records, is not yet returned, but stays in Town, for he cares not to go back, He and the rest of that Remonstrant Tribe are summoned to come to Parliament, Col. Dundass, Straughan, and Captain Giffan, with Abernethy, Swinton, and Andrews, were else to be Excommunicated and declared Traitors, which was done Jan. 14. Mr. James Guthry, and the Earl of Lothian, and Gen. Holborn were generally suspicted, with Sir John Chief, who are every day expected in our quarters, Rutherford and Gillespy are likewise dissenters from the present manage of Affairs. Ker saith, his wound on his right hand is God's justice against him, for lifting it up against us in such a cause as he maintained. And so I will conclude all those treasonable practices, and fomented divisions of that Nation against their common interest by this Master of all Treacherous Arts.  
Cromwell was again very earnest and intent upon making or finding a way by Sterling, and therefore on the 8. of February he marched thither again, having been informed of some Fords thereabouts where he might pass his Army, or at lest impede their raising of new Forces, and waylay their marching into England. which was given out as the grand design, a Force being left on that side the water, sufficient to sustain any impression of the English; and to that expedition Duke Hamilton, Duke of Buckingham, Lord Cleaveland, Wentworth, Wilmot, and Colonel Massey, who had a noble and full Regiment and was to be Major General, with Titus, and Col. Graves were designed. Cromwell as was said, to this purpose, in very tempestuous weather reached his intended passes, but found the approaches to them so boggy and unpassable, that in the same stress of weather, his Army half spoiled with cold, and other discommodities, he was forced to retire again as he had done twice before (having only alarmed the Scots, and put them into a sudden posture of defence) to Glasgow, and to await the time of his boats Arrival and a happier season of the year.  
This was the first ●eat of Rebellion in that Kingdom, and very fit for his Head Quarters, an University also; which remembers me that Cromwell a little while before was chosen Chancellor of Oxford, and honoured here with the public Seal thereof, on purpose to stave off the rapinous, sacrilegious hands of the Parliament, who were a hammering upon an Act for the sale of Colledge-Lands, to carry on their Wars; and Cromwell did (as was was well projected) undertake their preservation, and did express some angry resentment at the Parliament for this Barbarity, laying his hand as usual upon his Sword; There was this remarkable herein, that the Delegates of the University declared not their main design till they had given him his Oath as Chancellor, which was thought of little security, but only that the solemnity of it might the better mind him to whom he had given it. Hence after some debates, and public disputes with the Ministers, viz. Gillespy, Rutherford, etc. of Glascow aforesaid, concerning the lawfulness of his Invasion, which he performed as he said, in much weakness of (both Argument and) body, seeing there was no drawing the Scot out that way to fight, which way they intended for an undisturbed march, marched back to Edinburgh by the beginning of May (and in his way burned the Lady Kilsithes house, for holding intelligence with the King) having notice of the Arrival of his Boats at Leith, for the transportation of his Army into Fife, which was the last remedy; the failure of victuals in the Scotch Camp, which therefore they should be forced to abandon and march, proving a mere delusion.  
Cromwell being at Edinburgh, having notice how the King lay encamped at Sterling, Leshlys Foot quartering on the Southside, and middleton's on the North-side of the Park encompassed with a Stone-wall; and that abundance of Provision was brought in daily, supposing they would march; drew all his remaining forces out of the west with as much care and conduct as could be, and encamped likewise in the Fields by Edinburgh in a readiness for them, whither to march or fight: But in the mean time he was taken very ill of his Ague, so that Doctor Wright and Doctor Bates eminent Physicians, were sent down to attend his cure, & many blithe & anxious discourses were made concerning his Death, as either party wished, for he was brought very low; but being recovered to some degree of health by these Gentlemen, it was presently sounded like a Proclamation: and I have therefore thought fit to transcribe a piece of the Letter, that the world may see what queer Hypocrites his attendants, like himself and his times were, by the pious nonsense and most blasphemous flattery of this Apocrypha Epistle. If I knew the Secretary or Inditer, I would record him for his Pen,— Truly Sir, his Life and Health are exceeding precious, and I account it every day a greater mercy than other that we have his Life, observing that every dispensation of God draws him nearer to himself, and makes him more heavenly and holy, and by consequence more useful for his Generation, in the management of that power God bathe committed to him, etc.  
This Occasion of his Sickness, minds me of one passage of his Life, wherein was a Ray or Specimen of his Humanity. He had a Servant a Frenchman, one Dury, that attended him in his Chamber, whom of all his Retainers he best loved, and would hardly brook his absence out of his Sight, whether for that he could more freely communicate his Privacies to a foreigner, who was altogether unconcerned in them, and therefore of greater secrecy and confidence; or for his diligence and care of his person, set off with his national fondnesses & insinuations. This fellow dying not long after, Cromwell did passionately grieve thereat, and for the memory of this his dear Servant, made ample provisions by a Pension for his relations, which continued during his Usurpation. At last with much ado by the helps of Physic, and the especial constant attendance of those Doctors sent him, and charged with his preservation by the Parliament; Cromwell fully revived to theirs (afterwards) aswell as the Kingdom's sorrow.  
The English Army in Scotland was now in motion for grass, and marched upon their old design of Sterling to Newbridge, so to Lithgow, from whose Castle Battlements, they might espy the Tents of the Scotch Army encamped in Torwood 4 Miles of this side Sterling (whither his creature Warreston was now summoned by the Commissioners of the Assembly peremptorily by the third of July) having cast up a regular and well fortified line with Bulworks mounted with Guns, and having a River behind them, which they might pass at pleasure; in this posture they awaited the English, who coming up and facing them the third of July, in the night following the Scots drew up their Cannon, and planted them on the brow of the Hill, and next morning saluted Cromwell with 50. great Guns, but with little Execution, which made him quickly draw out of shot, and give over his once begun resolution of attaquing them at so much disadvantage. The English therefore, marched back again, Major General Lambert being sent from Glascow a week after to view the passes, which he reported by reason of the boggy approaches there, to be very hazardous. Upon their departure from Lithgow to Glasco, the Scots removed from Torwood, and encamped at Kilsith a place environed with insuperable defences, having a bog on one hand, and craggy mountains on the other, but the English Army (having eaten up all at Glasgow and those parts, and trod down the Corn standing, that the Scots might find no sustenance that way, if they should march) appearing and marching with great noise, on the other side, they imagining the English meant to clap in between them and Sterling, hastened back again to their old line at Torwood, July 13. whither Cromwell followed, and to provoke them to an Engagement, stormed Calendar House in their view, and put all the Defendants except the Governor to the Sword, and then seeing there was no possibility of fight with them, but that they were resolved to keep them in play, till Winter's scarcity of horse-meat should make them give over and departed the Kingdom, he encamped himself, awaiting the success of his design by Boat into Fife.  
While Cromwell thus attended the Scots at Torwood, within a mile and a half of them at Falkirk, at length the long expected success of a transportation into Fife manifested itself: for Col. Overton with 1400. foot of his own, and Col. daniel's Regiment, with four Troops of Horse of Coll. Lydcots, having with the loss of a few men gained a place called North Ferry on the other side the Frith, on the 17. of July, had as the time served entrenched themselves, and before the Scotch Army then beyond Sterling could reach them with a sufficient force to drive them out, Major General Lambert was passed over to them, it being an Arm of the Sea, and had defeated Sir John Brown with 4000 men; The success and great consequence of which, and the said transportation, I will briefly sum up in Cromwell's Letter.  
In pursuance of the providence of God, and that blessing lately given to your Forces in Fife, and finding that the Enemy being Masters of the Pass at Sterling, could not be gotten out there without hindering his Provisions at Saint johnston's, we by general advice thought fit to attempt Saint johnston's, knowing that that would necessitate Him to quit His Pass; wherefore leaving with Major General Harrison about 3000. Horse and Dragoons besides those which are with Coll. Rich, Coll. Saunders, and Coll. Barton upon the Borders, we marched to Saint johnston's, and lying one day before it, we had it Surrendered to us; during which time we had some intelligence of the Enemies marching Southward, though with some contradictions as if it had not been so; but doubting it might be true, leaving a Garrison in Saint johnston's, and sending Lieutenant General Monk with 5, or 6000. to Sterling to reduce that place, and by it to put your affairs into a good posture in Scotland: We marched with all possible expedition back again, and have passed our Foot and many of our Horse over the Frith this day, resolving to make what speed we can up to the Enemy; who in this desperation and fear, and out of inevitable necessity is run to try what he can do this way. I do apprehend that if he goes for England, being some few days march before us, it will trouble some men's thoughts, and may occasion some inconveniences, of which I hope we are as deeply sensible, and have, and I trust shall be as diligent to prevent as any; and indeed this is our comfort, that in simplicity of heart as to God, we have done to the best of our judgements, knowing that if some issue were not put to this business, it would occasion another Winter's War to the ruin of your Soldiery, for whom the Winter-dissiculties of this Country, are too hard, and be under the endless expense of the Treasure of England in prosecuting this War.  
It may be supposed we might have kept the Enemy from this, by interposing between him and England, which truly I believe we might, but how to remove Him out of this place without doing what we have done, unless we had had a commanding Army on both sides of the River of Frith, is not clear to us, or how to answer the inconveniences aforementioned we understand not; we pray therefore, that seeing there is a possibility for the Enemy to put you to some trouble, you would with the same courage (grounded upon a confidence in God) wherein you have been supported to the great things in which God hath used you heretofore, improve the best you can such Forces as you have in readiness, or may on the sudden be got together to give the Enemy some check, until we shall be able to reach up to him, which we trust in the Lord we shall do our utmost endeavour in; and indeed we have this comfortable experiment from the Lord, that this Enemy is heart-smitten by God, and when ever the Lord shall bring us up to them, we believe the Lord will make the desperateness of this Council of theirs to appear, and the folly of it also; when England was much more unsteady than now, and when a much more considerable Army of theirs unfoiled, invaded you & we had but weak force to make resistance at Preston, upon deliberate advice, we chose-rather to put ourselves between their Army and Scotland, and how God succeeded that is not well to be forgotten.  
This is not out of choice on our part, but by some kind of necessity, and it is to be hoped will have the like issue, together with a hopeful end of your work, in which it's good to wait upon the Lord, upon the earnest of former experiences, and hope of his presence, which only is the life of your Cause. Major General Harrison, with the Horse and Dragoons under him, and Colonel Rich; and the rest in those parts, shall attend the motion of the Enemy, and endeavour the keeping of them together, as also to impede his March, and will be ready to be in conjunction with what Forces shall get together for this service, to whom Orders have been sped to that purpose, as this enclosed to Major General Harrison will show. Major General Lambert this day marched with a very considerable Body of Horse up towards the Enemy's Rear; With the rest of the Horse and nine Regiments of Foot (most of them of your old Foot and Horse) I am hasting up, and shall by the Lords help use the utmost diligence: I hope I have left a commanding force under Lieutenant General Monk in Scotland. This account I thought my duty to speed to you, and rest.  
Leith 4. August 1651. Your most humble Servant O. Cromwell.  
This shows what sudden troubled apprehension He had of this well designed March of the Kings, and made him repent his obstinacy of Honour in reducing St. johnston's, by which the King got 3 days March of him; but however he excused this to the Parliament (who were almost in despair, and terribly affrighted at the News of it) yet they did highly tax him for his negligence, and spoke ill words of him, which came to his ears, and for which he soon after cried quits with them.  
The King departed from Sterling the last of July, and came into England by the way of Carlisle, and upon his first footing there was Proclaimed rightful Kin ' of Great Britain, and did thereupon publish his Declaration, wherein He offered His free Grace and Pardon (to be confirmed by an Act thereafter) to all His Subjects of England, of what ever nature or crime their offences were, excepting Cromwell, Bradshaw, and Cook, the more immediate Murderers of His Father; and therewith prosecuted His March, being proclaimed in the same manner through all the Towns he passed.  
On the 22, of August, the Van of the King's Army entered Worcester, some resistance being attempted to be made by some new raised Forces under one Colonel James, and by the influence of Baron wild, but the Townsmen saved them the labour of driving them out, and most joyfully welcomed these weary Guests, and such too as in 1645. had been extremely oppressive and intolerably burdensome, at the Siege of Hereford but their gladness at the King's presence, and hope of his Restitution, obliterated all other considerations and remembrances whatsoever. The Mayor and his Brethren at the Kings Intrad● did Him the customary but most cheerful obeisances tendering Him the Keys and the Mace upon their Knees, and bidding Him and His Forces welcome to this his Majesty's Ancient and Loyal City, where the same day with great solemnity He was anew Proclaimed, and the tired Soldiers most abundantly provided for, being in all Scotch and English some 13000. who had marched 300. miles outright in three weeks.  
In the mean time the Parliament had amassed a numerous Militia in all the Counties of England and glad were the Members that the King stayed for them, for nothing was more dreaded than his continued march to London, which place would have soon ridded their fears, upon an approach of the King's Army but 30. miles further from Worcester, but to prevent that, as Essex did before at the beginning of the War (whose first efforts took this way) Cromwell by long Marches through Newcastle, Rippou, Ferrybrygs, Doncaster, Mansfield, and Coventry, had interposed himself, and joined with his Army at Keynton, where a General Council of all his Officers was held, and a speedy advance to Worcester resolved on, Lieutenant General Fleetwood being dispatched to bring up his Forces, then on their way at Banbury, the gross of all the Forces amounting to above 50000. effective, Militia and all.  
By this time Cromwell had surrounded the City of Worcester with his spreading Host, in as near a compass as the Rivers and Passes would suffer him, the King's Army as yet lying out of the Town a mile in the fields. The first pass endeavoured to be taken, was Vpton-Bridge on Fleetwoods' side, which Major General Lambert attempted with 500 Horse and Dragoons, who unespied crept upon their Bellies on a piece of Timber they had laid over the River, which the surprising Assailants after a brisk dispute wrested from Colonel Massey. The Scots l●wing thus abandoned the place, it was presently possessed by a strong Party of Horse and Foot, in order to the present advance of the rest of the Army.  
The Scots now drawn closer to Worcester made many Salleys, breaking down 2. or 3. Bridges over the River Team, and showing a well ordered and governed courage; but September the third, that ominous day, he drew out from his own Post (and having given the signal to the whole Army to fall on) began the Fight in this manner.  
Cromwell himself in person (about 3. a Clock with hss Life Guard, and Colonel Hackers Regiment of Horse, with part of his own Regiment, and Colonel Ingoldsby's, and Fairfax's entire) passed over his Bridge of Boats upon the Severn, and marched towards the City, after him, Lieut. Gen. Fleetwood, who had been most part of that day marching of 5. miles from Upton to Powick-bridge, which the King's Army had broken down, passed with Colonel Goff's and Major General Dean's Regiments, and jointly advanced, the King's Forces encountering them at the Hedges, and disputing every field with them, in such order and with such gallantry, that these already over (lest they should not be wholly discouraged with the hotness of the service) were relieved by reserves, and they by others, no considerable progress yet made, the Highlanders proving excellent Firemen, and coming to the Butt-end at every foot, till weary, and their Ammunition spent, the King being then upon the place Commanded them in some haste into the City, and hastened himself to the other side where Colonel Hayns Regiment, with Cobbets stood about Powick bridge, and were entertained with no less Manhood and Slaughter, and though Colonel Mathews was the reserve to the other two Regiments, yet did the Scotch Foot fairly drive them from their ground, till their little Army being every way engaged, and no seconds or supplies to be expected, after some wheelings in a careless regard of the Enemy, as if they feared not to make which way they pleased, they drew likewise into the Town as did that Brigade which opposed the Regiments of the Lord Grace Colonel Blague, Gibbons, and Marsh.  
But they stayed not long here, for as if their penned spirits had broke out with greater fury, they sallied out in great bodies upon the General's side, who had now brought the Militia Forces into play, the Veterans wisely detrecting to engage first upon the Storm which was then intended, but there was yet field matter enough to do. In the Head of one of those squadrons, the King himself charged with that gallantry which would have become our Admiration in other men, and showed he had not forgot the Discipline of War in which he had been brought up from his youth; In one of those Charges he made, Duke Hamilton a better Soldier and nobler gallanter person than his Brother, received a shot on his thigh, whereof presently after he died. The loss that was sustained by the Enemy, fell principally upon the Essex Foot, and those of Cheshire and Snrrey, who returned in thin Troops and Companies to their Counties; but fresh and entire Brigades and Regiments, in Reserves, namely Desborough's Regiment of Horse, Cromwell's of Horse, Major General Lambert's of Horse, WWhaley's, Harrison's, and Tomlinson's Brigades, with other Foot reinforcing them; the Scots by the overpowering multitude were driven into the Town, Leshley with 2000 Horse (upon what account not known) not stirring out of the Town to relieve them, when the Enemy entered pell mell with them, and gained the Fort Royal about 7. a Clock at night, at which time the King left the Town it being dusk, and accompanied with some 60. Horse of the chiefest and most confident of his Retinue, though many more pressed to bear him Company) departed out of St. Martins-gate, and it was reported that Cobbet very narrowly Missed of him, as the King left his lodging, whether he first hastened.  
The Enemy's Foot was now got into the Town, and according to their Order fell a plundering the Town in a most barbarous manner, as if Turks were again a Sacking of Constantinople, and giving no quarter to any they found in the Streets: through this their greediness of spoil, they kept the Horse out lest they should have shared the better part, and to that purpose kept the Gates fast a● they were, and so favoured (as God would have it) the King's escape, some Scots who had got into one of the Churches held out till next morning, when they obtained quarter for Life, by which time there was not an Inhabitant in Worcester friend or fo● left worth a farthing; but the Loyal Inhabitants lost little by the bargain, being supplied with fresh wares to their desires from London, without any scruple of credit or payment and their Debts forborn till such time as God should enable them, which the Gentry and Inhabitants round about them endeavoured to bring to pass, by their more than ordinary resort to that Market, for all necessaries and upon all occasions. The Mayor (being Knighted by the King) and Aldermen were committed to Prison, and the Wife of one Guyes (who for betraying the designs of the King in that Garrison was hanged) was rewarded with 200. l. per annum, and 200 l. down.  
There were slain in Field, and in Town (in the last the most) and in pursuit some 3000. and some 8000. taken prisoners in several places, most of the English escaping by their Shiboleths, the principal were Duke Hamilton, who presently died of his wounds, and at Newport the Earl of Lauderdale, Earl of Rothes, Earl of Carnworth, Earl of Kelly, Earl of Derby, Earl of Cleveland, the now Earl of Shrewsbury, Sir John Packington, Lord Spyne, Sir Ralph Clare, Sir Charles Cunningham, Colonel Graves, Mr. Richard Fanshaw Secretary to the King, 6 Col. of Horse, 13. of Foot, 9 Lieutenant Colonels of Horse, 8. Lieutenant Colonels of Foot, 6. Majors of Horse, 13. Majors of Foot, 37. Captains of Horse, 72 Captains of Foot, 55. Quarter-masters, 89. Lieutenants; there were taken also some General Officers, with 76. Cornets of Horse, 99 Ensigns of Foot, 90. Quartermasters, 80. of the King's Servants, with the King's Standard which he had set up when he summoned the Country, the King's Coach and Horses, and Collar of SS, but that which was Ten times more worth than all, the King's person, they had no power to touch.  
On the 12. of Sept. Cromwell came to London, and was met about Acton with the Speaker and the Members, and the Lord Mayor and the Recorder Steel, who in a set Speech congratulated his great successes, and like a false Prophet, by a mistaken Prolepsis, applied these words of the Psalmist,— To bind their Kings in Chains, and their Nobles in fetters of Iron, in an arrogant Exaltation of his Achievements. Next day the common Prisoners, (being driven like a herd of Swine) were brought through Westminster into Tuthill-fields, (a sadder spectacle was never seen, except the ●serable place of their defeat) and there sold to several Merchants, and sent to the Bar● the Colours taken were likewise hanged up in Westminster-hall, with those taken before at Preston and Dunbar.  
He had now passed and surmounted all the dissiculties and troubles that the Interest of the Crown hither to had threatened, and nothing was wanting to the Completion of his aims, but the King's person, most miraculously preserved and rescued to the perpetual disquiet and vexation of this Wouldbe-Monarch. But because that sacred story ought not to be blasphemed with the impiety of his, I will not intermingle any of those blessed Providences of His Escape, with the direful designments of Cromwell's unobstructed passage to the Throne.  
For having superated all outward appearances of danger to his ultimate design, there remained nothing but a wretched and hated Juncto of Men with whom he was next to grapple; things so slighted by him and their Authority so scorned after this discomfiture of the King, that he never vouchsased them a good look. Nay publicly expressed his resentments of their saucy expostulations of his conduct, about the King's march for England, which was mentioned before.  
And therefore at his first coming into the House, (where he was entertained by the Speaker with the second part of Steel's Panegyric) a motion was started for a new Representative, and all the coddlings and Embryos of Tripl● and Newmarket-Heaths Engagements afresh reamed, and those Army expedients for which ●o many Levellers had suffered) now again revived, acknowledged and applauded for the only conducing means to the long expected settlement.  
The main whereof was the proposal of a new Representative to be equally chosen to succeed the present Parliament. A most abhominated and deprecated evil by the Members, who having done so much mischief and incurred so much detestation for practising his and their mutual designs upon the best Government and the most incomparable Prince in the world, were almost at their Wit's end with madness at his, and invention of their, (contra) devices.  
While these things were debating amongst them and every day produced some fresh altercation and quarrel about dissolving this and choosing a new Representative, which the Soldiers not only from their former principle as English Freemen but now as the General's Janissaries, and in obedience to his dictates and commands; with the pretensory advice of his Council of Officers unanimously and readily urged, (for he had brought the Army to his bow and disciplined them to a most exact ignorant devotion and obedience to his service during the Scotch War, where the distance of the Commonwealth-men could not reach:) his second self his son in Law Ireton died in Ireland, just as he was coming to the fruition of those grand projections they had both conspired. He had employed his Vice-government after Cromwell's departure in reducing places held for the King there being no Field service ever after.  
He survived not the total Conquest of Ireland, to which he was by compact and oliver's Bull decreed, but saw a very fair prospect thereof in the rendition of Limbrick and the expected delivery of Galloway: and since this concerned Cromwell and the Agreement between them (which is most certain though none of those secret compacts are discoverable) I will give the Reader his Character and this short account of his decease here.  
Limrick being taken, Ireton marched to join with Sir Charles Coot to attempt something further, and together took in Clare Castle, but the weather not proving so seasonable, and the Soldiers tired out with duty at the Siege of Limrick, they parted into Winter Quarters, Ireton back again to Limrick, in the way whither he fell sick on the 15. of November, and after purging and bleeding and other means used, died of the Plague in that City on the 27. of the same month, the Commissioners for the Parliament there substituting to his command in the Army (while the Parliament or General (for Cromwell was lately so made of Ireland) should otherwise appoint) Edmund Ludlow the Lieutenant General of the Army in that Kingdom. On the 17. of December his Carcase was landed at Bristol, and pompously dismissed to London, where it was for a time in state at Summerset-House, all hung with black, and a Scutcheon over the gate with this Motto, Dulce est pro patris mori, how suitable, that Countryman best told who Englished it in these words, it is good for his Country that he is dead: on Feb. 6. following he was interred in H. 7. Chappel (being carried out with a pompous Funeral at which Cromwell was chief Mourner, and the Members of the Juncto attendants in Black with a great deal of State,) but hath since found a fit repository for his accursed dust. It was believed by the Army who did credit their own conjectures and others impostures for want of literature that he was a perfect Commonwealths-man, and would have withstood his Father in Law in his ambitious intrusions upon the Parliament, and this because he was the Drawer or Promoter of all the Levelling Fundamentals, but he prevented their juster judgement by appearing to a greater and most exact Tribunal, and perished with rottenness in the maturity of his design.  
He was absolutely the best prayer-maker and preacher in the Army for which he might thank his Education at Oxford, though Oliver came but little behind him, being very frequent and instant, now especially, in such devotions out of all season and reason, but it was all one to the Soldiers who had nothing else to do but to Prey and to Pray. The other qualities and conditions of Ireton were so congenial with oliver's, that in the prosecution of his story I shall but tell the same things, the evil Spirit after his decease being doubled upon him by a mischievous Metempsychosis, a transmigration of soul, which assimilated their ashes in the same grave at Tyburn.  
The Fortune of this Grand atcheiument at Worcester subjugated all the Dominions of the English Sovereignty entirely under the power of the free States, the Isles of Scilly, Man, Barbadoes, and Christophors submitting and acknowledging their Jurisdiction, all which were reckoned by Cromwell but the Trophies due to his valour and the reward of his labour; and therefore all things thus flattering his conceits of Majesty, He was angry with himself for permitting those delays to his eager Ambition, now complemented, smoothed and tired by many fine and pretty Evasions of the Members, who wanted not most just pretences to detain the Government from his handling; but of this presently.  
There was another thing in his eye which troubled him most of all and respited and superseded his design up on the Rump, which was the Illustrious Duke of Gloucester then a Prisoner at Carisbrook-Castle the prison of His Father and the Custody of himself; so long therefore as that Prince should continue here, he could not expect that a single person could be opposed to his right, without manifest danger from all parties, who to be revenged of their injuries would rather comply with the Royal Family then suffer his bold Usurpation. Therefore to quit himself of that fear, he procured by his Party in the Parliament (who were resolved to dispose of him here in some ordinary profession to make Majesty more contemptible in the sight of Men) that for the lessening the charge of the Commonwealth, the said Duke should be transported into some place beyond Sea, with a promised Exhibition of some scorned Pension.  
The noble Duke being accordingly removed to the great content and joy of his Relations, who dreaded his Murder, and the satisfaction of Cromwell who was Gorged with his Royal Fathers, another danger returned from beyond Sea in exchange of that exported: for the Dutch gave manifest Symptoms of a Rupture with this new Commonwealth whose insolent depredations at sea had molested and greatly damnified their Trade, and braved them to a revenge, upon a pique taken from their rejecting their offers of a Treaty and Amity and suffering their Ambassador's St John and Strickland to be affronted at the Hague while the affairs of the King in Scotland, were yet in suspense.  
It was therefore a hazardous Enterprise to be fight with two Commonwealths together, and to which his confidence and Resolution could not raise him, without a surer interest in the people, who were to undergo his Tyranny. This now reprieved the Members from his Decree of Dissolution, while they had tried the fortune of war with the Dutch, and had put things into such a posture and certainty, that no home alteration could discompose or disorder it. The Treasures for the support of the War, being now a filling, a Naval force rigging and Equipping, and the Honour and glory of the Nation engaged and concerned. Thus far he cast his Eyes to sorraign Transactions: To return;  
At home the Parliament had a greater mischief breeding against them than they feared from the most dangerous of their foreign Enemies. A dangerous imposture of ambition, whose quabbing beating pains gave them no rest, nor could all their skill tell how to assuage or cure it. It swollen every day more and more in continual addresses, desires, petitions, declarations, till it came to be ripe, and then burst out to the destruction of this political body. This was the reiterated and inculcated story of the Parliaments providing for future equal representatives and putting a period to this, than which nothing could be more distasteful, and of greater antipathy to the present members, which yet they did most artfully conceal, and dissemble in a hundred complying Votes and resolves even to the ascertaining of the longest day, November 5. 1654. for their sitting, but that was two years too long for Cromwell, whose fingers itched to be managing a Sceptre. In order to this delay, the Committee that first sat and hatched upon this bill were removed from the nest, and the addle eggs put under the chill incumbency of other wild foul, and they to proceed therein with all expedition, a thing so unlikely, that Sultan Cromwell, who expected a Grand Cairo brood, resolved not to be baffled much longer, or await the leisure of his mercenary Servants, as after a Fast and humiliation of him and his Council of Officers, and the Communication of the grounds thereof to the whole Army in England and Ireland (which was a lamentation for the tedious continuance of self-interested persons in the Authority, and other Religious melancholy about Charity, the want whereof was greatly bemoaned) we shall fully discover.  
Every other day almost more Fasts, or some such religious Exercise was managed by Cromwell and Harrison, who mainly promoted the same Proposals for a new Representative, in order to the personal Reign of Christ, and that therefore it was high time the Government was placed in the Hands of his Saints, for all the glorious Prophecies thereof were now ready to be fulfilled, and this was cried up as the Doctrine of the Times.  
Cromwell seemed to be of the same judgement and of that Millenary Principle, designing (as he said) nothing in those Mutations of Government which were agitating, but in tendency to that great Revolution, so that he had absolutely fooled Harrison into a confidence of his good Intentions, and that he aimed not at his own greatnesse● and thereupon all the party Harrison could make which was Feaks, Rogers, and sympson's, Congregations, were impatient to have the Parliament outed, and their fine module to takeplace, wherein Righteousness and Holiness should be exalted in the Kingdoms of the World. And now the Turk and the Pope were horribly threatened, and Oliver looked upon as the great Instrument that should confound Antichrist.  
But though most of the Officers were thus bewitched and besotted, yet a great many of them had just and strong suspicions what his dissolution of the Parliament would end in, and therefore secret consultations were held how to oppose these practices upon the Parliament, in whose Authority conserved and secured, they were so wise as to see themselves safe and defended from the After claps of the Rebellion; Among the rest, several Officers of Note came voluntarily out of Ireland (as some out of Scotland) who had by their general Fasts perceived the Drist of their General, to withstand Him, and publicly protest against the conduct of this business, as directly tending to the overthrow and undoing all, for which so much blood had been spilt, and giving up the most glorious Cause in the World, to its Nols own vanquished Enemies Argument.  
Major General Lambert nevertheless did concur with him in every particular, the whole design being secretly imparted to him, and he promised as a reward for his Assistance, the succession to the Supreme power. This intimacy of Lambert was of a long standing ever since Preston-fight, and was cemented the faster by that complacency Oliver took in his Wife; A Woman of good birth and good parts, and of pleasing attractions both for mind and body. The Voice of the people was, that she was more familiar with Him then the Honour of her Sex would allow, and that she had some extraordinary kindnesses for him which she had not for her husband, and that being the Medium or Reciprocation of Intelligence between them, she did communicate all her husband's designs, and conceal some of the others, though she needed not to have been so squeemish, or reserved for one, whose Depths were never fathomed nor discovered to any one mortal, Ireton excepted. Of those that opposed him in the Design; Col. Venables, Scoutmaster-General Downing, and Major Streeter, were the most eminent, who to that purpose as abovesaid, came out of Ireland; but Colonel Venables was soon wrought upon, and Mr. Downing offering to speak against it in the Council of Officers, and getting upon a Table for better Audience, was bid to come down by Cromwell, ask him what he did there: only Coll. Streater persisted in his Resolution of giving reasons against it, and being flammed with Harrison with Christ's personal Reign, and that he was assured the Lord General sought not himself, but that King Jesus might take the Sceptre; He presently replied; That Christ must come before Christmas, or else he would come too late. For this opportune opposition, and 10. Queries then published by him in the Army, he was committed to the Gatehouse, and looked upon by Cromwell as his Mortal Enemy.  
The next Scene of this applauded Comedy was laid at the Cockpit by Whitehall, where Cromwell concealing the number of the Beast in his Apocalypse, declared to his Council of Officers, That if they should trust the People in an Election of a New Parliament according to the old Constitution, it would be a tempting of God, and that his confidence was, that God did intent to save and deliver this Nation by few; as he had done in former times, and that five or six men, and some few more, setting themselves to the Work, might do more in one day, than the Parliament had or would do in a hundred, as far as he could perceive; and that such unbiased men, were like to be the only Instruments of the people's Happiness.  
These things had been offered to be debated with a Committee, and a Treaty agreed, wherein so many Officers, and so many Members should meet, and argue the business, which signified only the crafty Cunctation of the Parliament (who made Asses of the Swordmen) St. john's being one of those Referrees, with other resty Sages of the Anarchy. By this means 4. or 5. Months were spent upon the Definition of an equal Representative. But Cromwell growing tasty, some began to make particular excuses, others to promise a new Representative to his mind, and some to side with the Equity of his Proposals, as most consistent, well advised, and prudential means, to the Peace of the Nation; such a ridiculous collusion, that I cannot but anticipate the Event of this Conspiracy with this Truth.  
Upon his return from the Dissolution of the Parliament back again to the Council of Officers, He acquainted them of his Exploit, and then told them, That now they must go hand in hand with him, and justify what was done to the hazard of all their Lives and Fortunes, as having advised and concurred in it. Adding, That when he went into the House, he intended not to do it; but the Spirit was so upon him, that He was overruled by it, and did not therefore consult with Flesh and Blood at all, nor did He premeditate the doing thereof, though he plainly saw the Parliament designed to spin an everlasting Thread, And because there are few good Acts of his Life let the Reader score him up One for the 23. of April 1653.  
Oliver himself attended by Major General Lambert, Harrison, and some 8. more Officers having after several conferences with their Committees (who showed him the danger of calling a new Representative as the case then stood with the Commonwealth, for that no qualifications could sufficiently secure the interest thereof, and that the only way was to recruit the House which could judge of such Elections by their own Authority) received no satisfaction, entered the House (some Members being made privy to his design before, especially Sir Gilbert Pickering who had held consultation the night before with him, and was up armed in his Chamber till the very time) and after a Speech therein showing the reasons and necessity of that Dissolution, did declare it to be so, and required them to departed; saying in some passion to some of them who began to ask the reason of this, thou art a Whoremaster, thou a Drunkard, thou a Cheater of the public; and presently M.G. Harrison peremptorily bid the Speaker to leave the Chair; which be refusing to do without the Order of the House, and till he was pulled out, Harrison desired him to lend him his hand, and gently heaved him out; Cromwell also commanded that Bauble (as he called the Mace) to be taken away, and to be carried no more in State before him, and so having turned them out of Doors, locked them up and clapped Guards before them, and about all the Avenues of the Palace, to keep these spirits out from professing it again.  
The News of this Luciferian fall, was quickly spread throughout the City, and from thence into the Kingdom, being related and received with all imaginable gladness, while the Members slunk away, muttering to themselves the affront they had received, and laying their heads together how to retrieve themselves, for loath they were to suffer this Violence, or acknowledge their Dissolution, which they would by no means hear of. But what ever they fancied to the contrary, raving at this boldness and audaciousness of their servant, as they styled Cromwell, he minded it not, but went on in his work.  
The Government (such as it was) was now lodged in the Council of Officers of his own making and preferring, and the first thing done by them after this new module, was the Emitting of a Declaration from Him and His Officers, showing the grounds and reasons of this Dissolution of the Parliament, with an account of their intentions as to the present and future government of the Nation: which that it may appear by how slender a thread the Sword of this lawless Commander hung over the Heads of those Parliament Tyrants, is very requisite to be inserted, it holding forth the present Intrigues of Cromwell's designs, and method of ambition.  
Our intention is not to give an account at this time, of the grounds, which first moved us to take up Arms, and engage our lives and all that was dear unto us, in this cause; nor to mind in this Declaration the various Dispensations through which Divine Providence hath led us, or the witness the Lord hath born, and the many signal testimonies of acceptance which he hath given, to the sincere endeavours of his unworthy Servants, whilst they were contesting with the many and great difficulties, as well in the Wars, as other transactions in the three Nations; being necessitated, for the defence of the same Cause they first asserted, to have recourse unto extraordinary actions; the same being evident by former Declarations published on that behalf.  
After it had pleased God not only to reduce Ireland, and give in Scotland, but so marvellously to appear for his People at Worcester, that these Nations were reduced to a great degree of Peace, and England to perfect quiet, and thereby the Parliament had opportunity to give the people the harvest of all their labour, blood, and treasure, and to settle a due liberty both in reference to civil and spiritual things, whereunto they were obliged by their duty, their engagements, as also the great and wonderful things which God had wrought for them; it was matter of much grief to the good and well affected of the Land, to observe the little progress which was made therein, who thereupon applied to the Army expecting redress by their means, notwithstanding which, the Army being unwilling to meddle with the Civil Authority in matters so properly appertaining to it, it was agreed, that his Excellency and Officers of the Army, which were Members of Parliament, should be desired to move the Parliament, to proceed vigorously in performing what was amiss in Government, and to the settling of the Commonwealth upon a foundation of justice and righteousness; which having done, we hoped that the Parliament would seasonably have answered our expectations: But finding (to our grief) delays therein, we renewed our desires in an humble Petition to them, which was presented in August last, and although they at that time signifying their good acceptance thereof, returned us thanks, and referred the particulars thereof to a Committee of the House, yet no considerable effect was produced, nor any such progress made, might imply their real intentions to accomplish what was Petitioned for; but on the contrary there more and more appeared amongst them, an aversion to the things themselves, with much bitterness and opposition to the people of God, and his Spirit acting in them, which grew so prevalent that those persons of Honour and Integrity amongst them, who had eminently appeared for God and the public good, both before and throughout this War. were rendered of no further use in Parliament, then by meeting with a corrupt party to give them countenance to carry on their ends, and for effecting the desire they had of perpetuating themselves in the supreme Government. For which purpose the said party long opposed, and frequently declared themselves against having a new Representative; and when they saw themselves necessitated to take that Bill into consideration, they resolved to make use of it to recruit the House with persons of the same spirit and temper, thereby to perpetuate their own sitting, which intention divers of the activest amongst them did manifest, labouring to persuade others to a consent therein: And the better to effect this, divers Petitions preparing from several Counties for the continuance of this Parliament, were encouraged, if not set on foot by many of them.  
For obviating these evils, the Officers of the Army obtained several meetings with some of the Parliament, to consider what sitting means and remedy might be applied to prevent the same: lest that this Cause which the Lord hath so greatly blessed, and bore witness to, should languish under their hands, and by degrees, be wholly lost, and the Lives, Liberties, and comforts of his People delivered into their Enemy's hands.  
All which being sadly and seriously considered by the honest People of this Nation, as well as by the Army, and wisdom and direction being sought from the Lord, it seemed to be a duty incumbent upon us, who had seen so much of the power and presence of God going along with us, to consider of some more effectual means to secure the Cause, which the good People of this Commonwealth had been so long engaged in, and to establish Righteousness and Peace in these Nations.  
And after much debate it was judged necessary, and agreed upon, that the Supreme Authority should be by the Parliament devolved upon known persons, men fearing God and of approved Integrity, and the government of the Commonwealth committed unto them for a time, as the most hopeful way to encourage and countenance all God's People, reform the Law, and administer Justice impartially; hoping thereby the people might forget Monarchy, and understanding their true interest in the Election of successive Parliaments, may have the Government settled upon a true Basis, without hazard to this glorious Cause, or necessitating to keep up Armies for the defence of the same.  
And being still resolved to use all means possible to avoid extraordinary courses, we prevailed with about twenty Members of Parliament, to give us a Conference, with whom we freely and plainly debated the necessity and justness of our Proposals on that behalf; and did evidence that those, and not the Act under their consideration, would most probably bring forth something answerable to that Work, the foundation whereof God himself hath laid, and is now carrying on in the World.  
The which notwithstanding found no acceptance, but in stead thereof, it was offered, that the way was to continue still this present Parliament, as being that from which we might reasonably expect all good things. And this being vehemently insisted upon, did much confirm us in our apprehensions; That not any love to a Representative, but the making use thereof, to recruit, and so to perpetuate themselves, was their aim.  
They being plainly dealt with about this; and told, That neither the Nation, the honest Interest, nor we ourselves, would be deluded by such deal, They did agree to meet again the next day in the Afternoon for mutual satisfaction, it being consented to by the Members present, that Endeavours should be used, that nothing in the mean time should be done in Parliament, that might exclude or frustrate the Proposals beforementioned.  
Notwithstanding this, the next morning the Parliament did make more haste then usual, in carrying on their said Act, being helped on therein by some of the persons engaged to us the night before, none of them which were then present endeavouring to oppose the same; and being ready to put the main Question for consummating the said Act, whereby our aforesaid Proposals would have been rendered void, and the way of bringing them into a fair and full Debate of Parliament obstructed;  
For preventing whereof, and all the sad and evil consequences, which must upon the grounds aforesaid have ensued, and whereby at one blow the Interest of all honest men, and of this glorious Cause, had been endangered to be laid in the dust, and these Nations embroiled in new Troubles, at a Time when our Enemies abroad are watching all advantages against us, and some of them actually engaged in War with us; we have been necessitated, though with much reluctancy, to put an end to this Parliament; which yet we have done, (we hope) out of an honest heart, preferring this Cause above our names, lives, families, or interests, how dear soever; with clear intentions, and real purposes of heart, to call to the Government persons of approved fidelity and honesty: believing, That as none wise will expect to gather Grapes of Thorns, so good men will hope, that if persons so qualified, be chosen, the fruits of a just and righteous Reformation, so long prayed and wished for, will (by the blessing of God) be in due time obtained, to the refreshing of all those good hearts, who have been panting after these things.  
Much more might have been said, if it had been our desire to justify ourselves, by aspersing others, and raking into the Misgovernment of Affairs; but we shall conclude with this, That as we have been led by necessity and Providence, to act as we have done, even beyond and above our own thoughts and desires, so we shall and do, in that of this great work which is behind, put ourselves wholly upon the Lord for a blessing; professing we look not to stand one day without his support, much less to bring to pass one of the things mentioned, and desired, without his assistance: And therefore do solemnly desire and expect, That all men, as they would not provoke the Lord to their own destruction, would wait for such issue as he should bring forth, and to follow their business with peaceable spirits; wherein we promise them protection by his assistance.  
And for those who profess their fear and love to the Name of God; that seeing, in a great measure for their sakes, and for righteousness sake, we have taken our lives in our hands, to do these things, they would be instant with the Lord, day and night on our behalves, that we may obtain grace from him. And seeing we have made so often mention of his Name, that we may not do the least dishonour thereunto: which indeed would be our confusion, and a stain to the whole profession of godliness.  
We beseech them also to live in all humility, meekness, righteousness, and love one towards another, and towards all men; that so they may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish, who falsely accuse them; and to know, that the late great and glorious dispensations, wherein the Lord hath so wonderfully appeared in bringing forth these things, by the travel and blood of his Children, ought so to oblige them, so to walk in the Wisdom and love of Christ, as may cause others to honour their holy Profession, because they see Christ to be in them of a Truth.  
We do further purpose before it be long, more particularly to show the Grounds of our Proceed, and the Reasons of this late great Action and Change, which in this We have but hinted at.  
And we do lastly declare, That all Judges, Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, Mayor, Bailiffs, Committees, and all other Civil Officers, and Public Ministers, whatsoever, within the Commonwealth, or any parts thereof, do proceed in their respective Places and Offices, and all persons whatsoever, are to give Obedience to them as fully as when the Parliament was sitting.  
Signed in the Name, and by the Appointment of his Excellency the Lord General, and his Council of Officers. William Malyn, Secret. Whitehall the 22. of April, 1663.  
To ingratiate now with the Presbyterian who yet kept up their form of Church Worship and were the most of one public persuasion, all disturbances in Churches were prohibited the Fanatic licentiousness of the Army, which swarmed with Anabaptists, Quakers, and Ranters, and were now mad to be seizing all the remaining Revenue of Church Lands, in Glebe, Tithe, or Impropriations. And to this purpose Addresses were eagerly carried on, such hopes being underhand given them, to strengthen the hands of this Dictator in carrying on the work of Zion.  
He was also complemented by the French Ambassador Bourdeaux, who had made applications to the Parliament, but was doubtful of effecting his Errand with those highest and Mightiest States who were grown formidable not only to the Dutch, but to his Master, who willingly courted them to prevent their closing with his Rebels of Bourdeaux, only Oliver as we have seen valued them no more than Scoundrels or Rake Shames, nor would give ear to any more Enemies of Monarchy.  
Being thus by force possessed of the Supreme power, after he had held it some few days, to show the absurd and ridiculous State Caprichio's of the Council of Officers who as yet managed the Civil Authority, he transmitted it to a new Council of State, made up of the supremest of them, and some former Juncto men, who by Proclamation commanded all Officers to execute their Trusts, as formerly, and required the same obedience; to commute with which they abated the Tax from 120000. to 90000. per mensem. It was now remarqued that many great Fires ushered in this Incendiaries Usurpation.  
This Council of State did next give birth to that Monster of the little Parliament, which like an abortive Cub was cast by Cromwell, and fond and vainly licked by Harrison, both which had most different ends on this Convention, in the one a Temporal, in the other a Spiritual Pride and Covetousness, (though not altogether purified from the Deceits of the World) worked in this mysterious knack of a new and unheard of Legislative Authority, who by the Name of men of Integrity and Fidelity to the Cause of God, were by a bare summons from Oliver called to the Settlement of the State, that was, to be Stirrups or Footsteps to the Throne whereon Cromwell should tread, they being abject and mean people, being such as were named by the Officers, that is, by Cromwell's Agents to this Council, and of most destructive Principles to all Community and Society, either as Men or Christians. It is observable, that Cromwell who utterly rejected the Rump-expedient to his instances of a new Representative of filling up the House, by foisting in Elections of their own to which (their Authority standing) they could unquestionably awe the Country, made not nice of it for himself.  
According to their Summons, on the 4. of July, the Members of approved fidelity, etc. met at the Council Chamber in Whitchal, to whom Cromwell in a zealous speech much to the purpose of his Declaration, and the occasion of the present Meeting, stuffed with various citations of Scripture, (I am loath to nauseate the Reader with any more of his Harangues at large) to his, (but far from the) purpose, devolved the supreme Trust, which they translated into more common English, adjourning themselves after a short consultation to Westminster, and giving themselves the Title and Authority of the Parliament of England, voting Mr. Francis Rouse for their Speaker, but with a Collateral Vote that he should continue in the Chair no longer then for a Month; They were persons for the most part of such mean and ignote extractions, that so far were they from being taken notice of by their Shires, each of whom but two or three represented, that they were scarce known in the very Towns they were born, or afterwards inhabited, till the Excise, than Committees for Sequestration, and the War in the respective Counties, made them infamously known, The rest were of his Partisans in the Parliament and High Court of Justice.  
On the 12. of Decemb. (as it had been directed by the Counsel of State) the Parliament being Sat, some of the Members stood up one after another, and made a motion for a Dissolution thereof, for that it would not be for the good of the Nations to continue it longer; this Court Air almost blasted the men of Fidelity and Committee Blades, who had scarce warmed their Finger's ends in the Government, and were newly settling themselves and their friends in a thriving way, as they had done in their Offices they had passed before, and thereupon they began one after another to make perorations of the Cause of God and the godly people committed to their charge, which they could not tell how to answer to him, if so easily they should give it up, and leave the Commonwealth in such a distraction, as would inevitably ensue, and Major General Harrison and Arthur Squib (the great Sequestrator of Haberdasher-hall) were very copiously zealous in defence of their Authority: But the Military or Court-party being the Major part, not thinking them worthy of a dispute or longer debate, the Speaker being of their side, rose and left the House and them Sitting in it, where to prayers they went, and then resolved to continue Sitting.  
In the mean time Rous the Speaker (with the Mace before him and his Followers) came to Whitehall, and there resigned the Instrument he gave them, by which they were constituted a Parliament, and gave him likewise to understand how they had left their Fellows: Their surrender was kindly received by Oliver, and they thanked for the pains they had taken in the service of the Commonwealth, however he and they had miss of their intentions of the good should thereby have come to the Commonwealth, which a strange spirit and perverse principle in some of the Members had solely hindered; and as to them yet Sitting in the Parliament-house, he dispatched away Lieutenant Colonel White a Confident of his to dislodge them, who accordingly with a Guard of Red-coats came thither, and entering the House demanded them in the Name of the Genetal to departed, for that the Parliament was Dissolved, who replying to the contrary, and telling him they were upon Business, and ought not to be thus disturbed; he asked what Business, they answered, we are seeking of God; Pugh saith he, is that all, that's to no purpose, for God hath not been within these Walls these 12. years, and so fairly compelled them out, muttering with the same wrath and sorrowful look-backs, as those that had Sat 30. times the same term, and could almost have pleaded prescription.  
Thus was the Power emptied from one Vessel to another, as the Scribes and Chaplains of the Grandees phrased it, and could find no settlement, till Oliver was called to it by his Council of Officers to supply this gap in Government: and now a Single Person with a Council is the only expedient for the safety of the People, for that there is no trust nor truth in Parliaments, as their often abberrations and failures had sufficiently declared; and it was discoursed by the Abettors of this change, that 'twas not Monarchy which was quarrelled at, but the corruptions and abuses of it, in its unlimited, unbounded Prerogative, all which would be avoided, by the circumscription of it in a Protector, by his Council and a new Instrument of Government, and the supreme power of a Triennial Parliament, in whom during their Session the Sovereign Authority should reside.  
So they said, and so they did, for after 4 day's time (in which Feak and his Freaking Partisans were almost run from their wits in rage and madness) Cromwell was appointed and declared for Protector of this Infant Commonwealth (and it was a tedious interval to him) the Chancery Court at Westminster-hall being prepared for the Ceremony of the Instalment in this manner, after the usual seeking of God by the Officers of the Army.  
The Protector about one of the clock in the afternoon came from Whitehall to Westminster to the Chancery Court, attended by the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal of England, Barons of the Exchequer, and Judges in their Robes; after them, the Council of the Common wealth, and the Lord Mayor, aldermans, and Recorder of the City of London, in their Scarlet Gowns; then came the Protector attended with many of the chief Officers of the Army; a Chair of State being set in the said Court of Chancery, the Protector stood on the left hand thereof uncovered, till a large writing in Parchment in the manner of an Oath, was read; there being the power with which the Protector was invested, and how the Protector is to govern the three Nations, which the Protector accepted of, and Subscribed in the face of the Court, and immediately hereupon sat down covered in the Chair; the Lords Commissioners then delivered up the Great Seal of England to the Protector, and the Lord Mayor his Sword and Cap of Maintenance, all which the Protector returned immediately to them again: The Court then risen, and the Protector was attended back as aforesaid, to the Banqueting house in Whitehall, the Lord Mayor himself uncovered carrying the Sword before the Protector all the way; and coming into the Banqueting-house, an exhortation was made by Mr. Lockyer, after which the Lord Mayor, aldermans, and Judges departed.  
The Instrument or Module framed to be the Foundation of this present Government; was chief made up of these following heads,  
That the Supreme Legislative Authority be and reside in a single Person, and the People in Parliament, the Execution of that power to be in the Protector, with the advice of his Council, not to exceed Twenty and One. All Proceed to run in the Name and Style of the Protector, and all Honours, Offices, and Titles to be derived from him, that he may pardon all Offences but Treason and Murder. The Militia during the Parliament shall be in his and their hands, but in the Intervals only in his and his Councils. He and his Council to make War and Peace with foreign Princes. Not make new Laws or abrogate old without Consent of Parliament. A Parliament to be called within six Menths, and afterwards every third year, and if need be oftener, which the Protector shall not dissolve without consent in Parliament, till after 5. Months. The Parliament of English to consist of 400. to be chosen by more equal distributions, in Counties and Boroughs; of Scotch 30, and so many of the Irish. The Summoning of the Parliament to pass under the Seal of the Commonwealth, to the Sheriffs; and if the Protector omit or deny that, than the Commissioners of the Seal, be held under pain of High Treason, to issue out such writs, and in case of failure in him, the High Sheriffs, (and some other By-blows concerning the equality, and fairness of Elections under great penalties.) No Royalist, Irish Rebels or Papists to be capable of being Elected, and in case they be, to forfeit two years' Revenue, and three parts of their goods. None to be elected under the Age of 21. years, nor unless he be a man of Integrity, a lover of God, and of good conversation. None to have voices in Election but such as were worth 200. pounds. The Elections to be forthwith transmitted to the Council of State, by the Secretary of the Commissioners, & in case of dispute to the Council of State. Sixty to make a Quorum. The Protector if need be to call Parliaments between the Intervals thereof. Bills offered to the Protector, if not assented to by him within 40. days, to pass into Laws notwithstanding. The Protector with the Advice of his Council, in case of death, or Breach of trust, to substitute new Privy Counsellors. A Competent Revenue to be settled for the maintenance of Ten thousand Horse and 15. thousand Foot, and the Navy, and not to be altered or lessened but by the Advice of the Council, & upon the disbanding of them the money to be brought to the Exchequer. No new Levies, nor Laws to be made without consent in Parliament. All forfeited Lands unsold to belong to the Protector, The Protectorate to be elective, but the Royal Family to be excluded. Oliver Cromwell to be the present Protector. All places of trust, and Office to be in the Protectors disposal; if in Interval of Parliament, to be approved and confirmed in Parliament. The Rest; for the purity and toleration of Religion, out of which the Papist and Protestant were to be exempted, and all Laws in favour of them to be abrogated. All Sales of Parliament to be confirmed. Articles of War to be made good. And lastly, the Protector and his Successor to be bound by Oath to observe these present Articles, and to uphold the Peace and Welfare of the Nation; which Oath was in 〈◊〉 verba,  
I promise in the presence of God, not to violate or infringe the matters and things contained in the Instrument, but to observe, and cause the same to be observed; and in all things to the best of my understanding, govern the Nations according to the Laws, Statutes, and Customs; to seek their peace, and cause Justice & Law to be equally administered.  
The Feat needed no more security, as good altogether as its Authority, in this following Proclamation, which was published throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, in these words,  
Where as the late Parliament Dissolved themselves, and resigning their Powers and Authorities; the Government of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland, in a Lord Protector, and saccessive Triennial Parliaments is now established: And whereas Oliver Cromwell Captain General of all the Forces of this Common wealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations, and hath accepted thereof: We have therefore thought it necessary (as we hereby do) to make Publication of the Premises, and strictly to charge and command all and every Person or Persons, of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations, to take notice hereof, and to conform and submit themselves to the Government so established. And all Sheriffs, Mayor, Bailiffs, etc. are required to publish this Proclamation, to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf.  
This Miscellany of the Laws, and new projections, suited a great many humours and different persuasions of the fanatics, Independents, Anabaptists and others, being the second part of the Koran. And because there is occasion for it, we will discourse a little of the present State of Religion, and what opinion Cromwell best aspected. The Orthodox Protestants were wholly suppressed, and yet some Reverend persons, as Dr. Usher the Bishop of Armagh, and Dr. Brownrig the Bishop of Exeter received some shows of respect and reverence from Him, which he more manifestly boasted in the funeral Expenses of the Learned Usher, and this to captate a Reputation of his Love to Scholars, and the meek, modest, and virtuous Clergy. The Presbyterian was rather tolerated then countenanced, and yet such of them as would comply with his Court greatness, were much in his eye and his favour; for others of them he cared not, pleasingly expressing himself how he had brought under the Pride and Arrogance of that Sect, making those that would allow no liberty to others, sue for it for themselves. The Independents and Anabaptists he loved and preferred by turns, and was most constant to them, as the men that would and did support his Usurpation; only he could by no means endure the Fifth Monarchy men, though by their dotages he had raised himself to this height; and therefore Feak and Rogers, were by him committed to Prison in the Castle of Windsor, where they continued a long while, and not only so, but he set Kiffin the Anabaptist whom he had taken out of design into his favour, with his party, together by the ears, with Feaks, to the raising of a Feud between them, the Balance of his Security in the Government. The like he did betwixt the Presbyterian & the Independent, a subdivided Schism from the Church of England, as Feaks and Kiffins were from Independency; whom when out of his zeal to the Unity of Christian Religion, he seemed to bring together, to compose and accommodate all Differences; in the near probability of such expedients, he would divide and more irreconciliably sever and alienate. And this was all his practical Devotion. But to return;  
Great shooting of Guns at night, and Volleys of Acclamations, were given at the close of this mock solemnity by Cromwell's Janissaries, while the Cavaliers were more joyfully disposed at the Hopes of the King's Affairs, but no body of any Account giving the Usurper a good word or miskiditche with his greatness, save what was uttered in Fur by my Lord Mayor, and the Complices in this Fact, who tickled his ears with the Echo of the Proclamation done with the usual Formalities, These Triumphs so disgusted Harrison (as also Col. Rich) that he withdrew himself from the Gang and turned public Preacher or Railer against his Comrade Oliver, who was glad to be rid of such a busy and impertinent Assistant in the moduling of Government: so Cromwell had now two Common-wealth-contradivided Factions against him, the old and the new Parliaments, and therefore it nearly concerned him to make much of the Anabaptist and Sectary, which now succeeded Independency as the Religion maintained and favoured above all other, and Kiffin a great Leader and Teacher, was now in great request at the Court at Whitehall, and contrarily Sir Henry Vane, jun. was looked on askew, as also Sir Arth. Hazilrig, and Bradshaw, and Scot, and so the Fabel bvilders were confounded one amongst another.  
The Council appointed by the Officers, or taken rather by himself, by whose advice he was to govern, were 14. at first.  

Lord Lambert.  
Lord Viscount Lisle.  
General Desbrow.  
Sir Gilbert Pickring.  
Major General Skippon.  
Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper.  
Walter Strickland Esq  
Sir Charles Wolsley.  
Col. Philip Jones.  
Francis Rous Esquire.  
Richard Major Esquire.  
John Lawrence Esquire.  
Col. Edward Montague  
Col. William Sydenham.   
I should have mentioned the Dutch War in its place, which aggrandized him with the usual victorious success; but because, he was never personally engaged in the Service, but owed this Garland, as he did the glory of Dunbar to the noble General Monk, and wore but a second-hand Triumphal Robe; I will not constellate Him with that Hero's Splendour and Brightness of Fame.  
That which properly concerns Cromwell is rather the Dishonour of that War, the Peace that ensued the Conclusion of it; for the Stomach of that Nation had been so humbled by several great losses, their Trade so spoilt, and their Subjects so impoverished, that it was thought impossible for them to have equipped another Fleet, able to look out Navies in the Face; Withal there were so many Discontents and Divisions in that popular State, that they were ready to ruin themselves without any of our help, yet did this puny and unfledged Prince come to a Treaty and agreement with them, upon most mean and inconsiderable Terms, when it had been no question but another rub at Sea, or beleaguering their Ports, would have brought them down to the Humble Compliment of Our faithful Tributaries, which of how great advantage it might have been to the Trade, and consequently the greatness of this Kingdom, I take not upon me to determine.  
His next Affair was a Conclusion of a League with the Queen of Sweeden, which he transacted by the Embassy of the Lord Commissioner Whitlock, who being commissioned at his Departure by the foolish Parliament, was invested with new credentials from Cromwell, whom accordingly he owned as his most serene Highness his Master.  
But that which he most aspected, was the two neighbouring potent Monarchies of France and Spain, with one whereof he must of necessity quarrel, and so spend the ill blood, and convey away those humours which were so redundant in the old Soldiery, both of the Kings and Essexes Army, and if not employed in some foreign war, would create him trouble at home; this the French Cardinal, newly restored to the administration of that Monarchy, timely foresee, and therefore a Treaty was privately and industriously carried on here by Mounsieur Bourdeaux Neufville, to an amicable Association and League against the Spaniard. Cromwell's Covetousness and thirst of Gold prevailing against his Interest and Ambition and thirst of Malice and Mischief against the Royal Family, which was now shaded under the French Flower de Lyzes, whereby all petsons expected an Invasion from hence of that Kingdom, that if it were possible for his Treason, he might drive it out of the World.  
But Mazarine's Golden expedient, & temporary Medium, of shifting the King and his Relations out of that Kingdom, by virtue of the said League, wholly swayed and inclined him to a War against Spain, which not long after was commenced: The greater invitation thereto being Three ships pretended Hamburgers, but laden with the King of Spain's Pieces of Eight, whether for his Account or no uncertain, that had been newly stayed and seized by the Court of Admiralty, at the prosecution of one Violet a Goldsmith: and notwithstanding the Spanish Ambassador, Don Alonso de Cardenas, protested and struggled against it, were carried to the Tower, and there minted to the Sum of 400000. Sterl. This and other moneys in the Exchequer, gave the greater courage to his Ambition, and his raw and unsettled Usurpation. He had also now accepted satisfaction from the King of Portugal, and was entered into League and Friendship with Him.  
How many are the troubles, cares, and miseries of Tyrant greatness. No sooner is one design, one passion gratified and accomplished, but another disquiet and danger invades or perplexes Him. No sooner had he sacrificed to his Covetousness, but now he must offer Victims to his cruelty the next Assurance of his hated Throne. There is in the Labyrinth of Vice, as in the orderly Frame of Arts and Sciences, a Circle, a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a Spherical Motion from one evil to another, till the last terminates at the beginning, their qualities and quantities being only altered, augmented, or diminished by Time or other circumstances.  
From the deep Design of foreign Mines, He next converted his thoughts upon a Homespun Plot. A horrible Practice of Machivilian Policy, and Art of Empire, with which even just Sceptres have been polluted, and stained by some unhuman Ministers of State, upon pretences of preventing danger (who stand chargeable even with the Loyal blood this Leech sucked through their Conduits) to entrap and engage innocent persons (upon Suspicion of others of the same party, who are obnoxious to the Government) in Machinations and Conspiracies of their own forming and contrivance, and by their Emissaries betray and then condemn them. This was the first bloody remark of Cromwell's Princing, managed by his Secretary Thurloe, who drew in Col. John Gerrard and Mr. Vowel two eminent Royalists, into his snare of conspiring the Death of the Protector with others, who confessed the intention, for which they were both condemned by a High Court of Justice; (Cromwell not daring to trust the Laws or a Jury, the Birthright of Englishmen, no more than did the Juncto of Regicides) and the first beheaded at Tower-Hill, and the other hanged at (haring-Crosse; the Colonel declaring, That he was so far from having hand or heart in it, or any encouragement from the King (as was falsely suggested) that he feared he should not die right in his favour as being but suspected, of that (though so just) assassinate: it being below His Majesty's Honour and Religion. Mr. Vowel referred his Cause, and his unjust Judges, and the Tyrant to Heaven's Tribunal.  
This was the Rozin, there wanted now the Consent of the People in Parliament, to sidle his Instrument. He resolved therefore to call one forthwith, for the Nation began to murmur at him (and some openly to refu●e obedience) and to forget the pleasing acquiescence in the change he had made, since they saw he made it only for himself. The Nine days wonder was over, and they had recovered themselves to a fresh sense of their Slavery (which might afterwards stupefy and benumb them) before the several opposite parties of Royalists, and Common-wealth-men, could understand one another, and bandy both against Him.  
Having now plotted and secured the Elections of as many Sectaries, and of his Party to the ensuing Parliament, as his young Interest could procure him, in the Month of July, to recreate himself and his Familiar Thurloe, with some robust and jogging Exercise, to void the Gravel with which he was much troubled, He would needs show his skill in driving a Coach with six great Germane Horses, sent him as a present by the Count of Oldenburgh, in Hyde-park, but those generous Horses no sooner heard the Lash of the Whip, but away they ran with Thurloe sitting trembling in it, for fear of his own Neck, over Hill and Dale, and at last threw down their unexpert Governor from the Box, into the Tra●es, and there bad likely to have trod and drawn him to pieces, but Vengeance was yet again pleased to respite him and put him over to a like judicial Execution, after his immature Death, in 1660. Of this ominous chance many ingenlous Songs were made, and one called the Jolt by Sir John Berkenhead, which being in Print in a History (and in the Rump Songs) though the Author mistaken, is purposely forborn.  
The Elections were made one and the same day throughout England; most of the Boroughs had but one Burge●s, and the Shires some of them 6. or 7. Knights, all of them under sure qualifications, of not having been or being of the Cavalier party; there were 30. also by the Instrument Elected for Scotland; and as many for Ireland, all or most of whom were English Commanders; on the 3. of Sept. they met, and adjourned from the House to the Abbey, where Mr. Martial preached, and so to the Painted-Chamber, where they had a message from the Protector to invite them to a Sermon the next day again, when Doctor Goodwin Preached; and the Protector came in great State in his Coach, Cleypole the Master of Horse, and Strickland the Captain of his Guard, barcheaded on both sides; at his entrance into the Church, Lambert carried the Sword before him, and Whitlock the Purse; the Sermon done, to the Painted-chamber again, and there in a Speech he set forth these Heads.  
That some few years ago, none would have thought of such a Door of Hope; that he knew there were yet many Humours and Interests, and that Humours were above Interest, that the condition of England was like Israel in the Wilderness (of which the Sermon was) that this was a Healing day, there was neither Nobleman, nor Gentleman, nor Yeoman, before known by any cistinction, we had not any that boat Rule nor Authority, but a great Contempt of Magistracy and Christ's Ordinances; that the Fifth Monarchy was highly cried up by persons who would assume the Government, but that desired thing wanted greater manifestation than appeared for such men to change the Authority by (and this directed at the late Parliament.) He desired this Honourable Assembly to remedy all these Disorders, shown that the wars with Portugal, French and Dutch, do and did eat up the Assessments, that swarms of Jesuits were crept in to make divisions, which were grown so wide that nothing but his Government could remedy them; and let men say what they will, he could speak it with comfort before a greater than any of them. Then he shown what he had done during his Government, First, his endeavour of reforming the Laws, having joined all Parties to assist in that great work; next, his filling the Benches with the ablest Lawyers; then his Regulation of the Court of Chancery, & then his Darling Ordinance for approbation of Ministers (which hindered all that List from invading the Ministry) by men of both persuasions, Presbyterians and Independents, etc. And lastly, his being Instrumental to call a Free Patliament, which he valued and would keep it so above his Life.  
Then he shown the advantages of the Peace, with the Dutch, Dane, and Swede, and the Protestant Interest, which he would have them improve and intent chief; that they were now upon the edge of Canaan; that he spoke not as their Lord, but their fellow servant, and then bid them go and choose their Speaker.  
Which they did without presenting of him, his Name William Lenthal, the old Chairman; and next day fell upon the Instrument, as they had Voted, by parts as it lay, and questioned the Power; which Oliver understanding, to put them out of that course which touched his Copyhold, after 9 days he came to the Painted Chamber, and sending for them, declared and asserted four Fundamentals in the instrument, which they were not to meddle with or to alter. 1, The Government by a single person and Parliament. 2. The Imperpetuity of Parliaments, or no continued succession. 3. The Militia, which was his only. And 4. Liberty of Conscience; telling them a Free Parliament was but a term of Reciprocation, for that power which made him Protector, made them a Parliament, and therefore was very sorry they should go about to destroy the Settlement, which to prevent, and cease such Debates (though he denied any negative voice) he was necessitated to appoint a Test or Recognition of the Government as it was established (by every Member) before they sat again.  
This bogled at first 3. quarters of them, especially the Commonwealth-men, and those of the late Long Parliament, so that of four hundred and odd there appeared but two hundred, but were made up at last three hundred, for the old ones would not be baulked so, and fell afresh upon the same disputes and ran out the Articles, resolving to put the whole judgement of the House upon them, into one entire Bill, and so present it, but in truth to spin out time, and work upon the Protectors occasions for money, which was proposed in the House, and coldly and slowly considered.  
Just at their sitting down, the Protector published several Ordinances, which being passed and bore date before; were to pass as authentic as Acts by the Instrument, one for paying the money into the Treasury, that was raised for the propagation of the Gospel in Wales, another for making Soldiers free of all Corporations, and to exercise any Trades; Another to turn out all honest men under the notion of scandalous Preachers and Ministers, Common-Prayer being their chiefest Imputation; and a fourth to survey King's Lands, etc. and for doubling upon Deans and Chapters, which sales those many changes of power had much retarded and depretiated. The more occult cause of the publication of these Ordinances, was to let the Parliament understand that Oliver took his Instrument to be in a good case, and sufficiently warranted already.  
In this Convention Lambert laboured Tooth and Nail to have the Instrument confirmed, for by that the Protectorate was left undetermined and Elective, threatening them that if this Parliament would not, they would call 4. or 5. Parliaments one after another till it was Enacted; (the same Art of menacing which Oliver used to the preceding Juncto) but that not prevailing (the Parliament dissolved) by his Interest in the Army, He procured Addresses both from Scotland and Ireland, as well as here, declaring their Resolution to stand by this Government in defence of the Protectors Life and Dignity against all Opposition; which in this Stratocracy was to be as good a Security as Parliamentory Assent. There were some Superior Officers, as Lieut. Col. Majors, & Captains, who were yet for a Commonwealth, who had private Meetings, and contrived the seizing this Rebel, and deliver him to the Justice of the Parliament: but by Pride's Discovery, who was made privy to this business, they were prevented, and their Commissions only taken away; Cromwell not willing by severer punishments to make a noise that there was such a potent Faction in the Army.  
Lambert was very officious in this matter, as neither resenting the late affront put upon him by Cromwell (when he advanced Fleetwood in his 〈◊〉 to the Supreme Command in Ireland, though with a lesser Title than Lambert, who made magnificent preparation for his investiture in the Lie●tenartship, and would suffer no Diminution of that Honour) nor scenting his future designs and cheats, as to his promised Succession to the Sovereignty here. But I must Retrospect a little having omitted some things of Concernment to pursued the former discourse.  
Cromwell now supplied the Benches of the Court at Westminster, with the ablest of the Lawyers, whom he had invited to the public service, and Mr. Maynard, Twisden, Nudigate, Hugh Windham were made Sergeants, and Mr. Hales one of the Justices of the Common-Pleas, where St. john's yet sat, and of the Cabinet to his Protector besides; having preferred his Man Thurloe (his Secretary at the Hague) to be his Secretary of State, the Candle or Light of that Darklanthorn, which St. john's was said to be in these mysterious times of Cromwell, in all his attempts and designs of consequence and moment.  
The Dutch Peace was also concluded on by the Ambassadors and the Commissioners of the said ●ouncil for the Protector, between whom this private Article was agreed, that the Prince of Aurange should never be restored to the Dignities, Offices, and charge his Ancestors held and enjoyed, and this was urged for the better conservation of the Peace which would in his Restitution be endangered, because of his Relation to the King.  
The Protector dined in great State upon an Invitation from the Lord Mayor, etc. at Grocers-Hall the 8. of February being Ash-wednesday, a very unsuitable day for any Festival but his Entertainment, who inverted all things, the streets, being railed from Temple Bar thither the Liveries in their Gowns in their gradual stand awaiting Him; he was met at the said Gate by Alderman Viner, the Lord Mayor, who delivered him the Sword there, and having received it from him back again, bore it on Horseback before him all the way; through which the same silence was kept, as if a Funeral had been en passant, and no doubt, it was that muteness which Tacitus mentioned in Tiberius, quale Magnae Irae vel magni metus est silentium, no appreciations or so much as a How do ye, being given during the Cavalcade. After Dinner he was served with a Banquet, in the conclusion whereof he Knighted Alderman Viner, and would have done the same to the Recorder Steel, for his learned Speech of Government, calculated and measured for him, but he for good Reasons avoided it; My Lord Maior was forced to carry it home, and anger his Wife with it, who had real Honour both in her Name and Nature. Oliver at his return had the second course of a Brick-bat, from the top of a House in the Strand by St. Clement's, which light upon his Coach, and almost spoiled his Digestion with the daringness of the affront, search was made but in vain, the person could not be found, and vengeance was not yet from Heaven to rain upon him.  
He published a little after an Ordinance for the Trial and Approbation of Ministers, wherein Phillp Nye, Goodwin, Hugh Peter, Mr. Manton, and others, were named Commissioners, the question these men put to the Examinants', was not of Abilities or Learning, but grace in their hearts, and that with to bold and saucy Inquisition, that some men's spirits trembled at their Interrogatories, they phrasing it so, as if (as was said of the Council of Trent) they had the Holy Ghost in a Cloak Bag; or were rather Simon Magus his own Disciples; and certainly there were never such Symoniacks in the World, not a living of value, but what a Friend or the best purchaser was admitted into, to which humane learning even where a former right was, was a good and sufficient Bar; no less to the ruin then scandal of the Church of England, and the Protestant Religion and Professors thereof; several ignorant bold Laics being inducted into the best Spiritualities, as best consisted with oliver's Interest, which depended upon the Sectary, and their hideous divisions in Religion. To return;  
During those Protectoral Intrigues, the King's Interest had got such footing again in England, that all, or most of the Gentlemen and Counties thereof, were engaged for it, and therefore while Lambert managed one Province, the Affairs of the Parliament, wherein Oliver would not descend so low, as to be pragmatical, and Sceptically busy with their Debates against His power, as wrested and usurped from the people; He was mainly intent upon the proceed of the Royalists, the particulars whereof he had betrayed to him weekly, a constant correspondence being held betwixt Him and one Manning a Retainer, and Undersecretary to the King at Colen, his Father being killed in his Service at Alresford in the year 1644.  
The price of this Treason was no less than 6000. l. a year, most whereof came to the King by this fellows hands, as sent over by his and his friend's procurement, but on purpose by so notable a service in the King's necessities, to s●rue himself into the secrets of His Majesty's designs.  
Hence came the Western Association and Attempt of the noble Penruddock in the West, to be so suddenly defeated, with the like Insurrections in several parts of England in the year 1654. For upon certain notice of the days appointed for their rising, Cromwell to be before hand with them gave out supposed and false days, and made the like Appearances, particularly at Shrewsbury, by which means the Confederates came to perceive there was some Treachery among themselves, and did then wisely desist from the danger of taking public Arms against Him; For a fuller account of all which, I must refer the Reader to the Histories of the Times lately published, though I should take notice of his cruelty against those unfortunate Gentlemen.  
The Event of this, by which he had overreached the King in his own designs, and the Hopes of his rich successes in the West-Indies (by robbing another Prince) whether his Fleet and Army under General Pen and Venables was now arrived, (which also I shall only mention, for the Story is trite and vulgar) made Oliver most blithe and confident, and his Court of Beggars and such like mean people, very gay and jocund; A great deal of State was now used towards him, and the French Cringe, and other ceremonious pieces of gallantry and good deportment, which were thought unchristian and favouring of Carnality, introduced in place of austere and down looks, and the silent Mummery of Starched and Hypocritical gravity, the only becoming Dress (forsooth) of Piety and Religion. He had now a Guard of Halberdiers in Grey Coats welted with black Velvet; over whom Walter Strickland was Captain; and a Lord Chamberlain Sir Gilbert Pickering; Two Masters of Requests, Mr. Bacon and Mr. Sad'er; a Master of his Horse his Son Claypool●; and generally all persons of Honour both to His own person, and his Wives, who very frugally Huswifed it, and would nicely and finically tax the expensive unthriftiness (as said she) of the Other Woman who lived there before her. But I must not engage in her impertinencies, though a many pretty stories might be told of this obsolete Princess.  
It will be requisite to speak something of his manner and course of Life, now raised to a very near fruition of the Sovereignty, this being the Solstice of his Fortunes. His Custom was now to divert himself frequently at Hampton-Court, (which he had saved from Sale, with other Houses of the Kings for his own greatness) whether he went and came in post with his Guards behind and before, as not yet secure of his Life from the justice of some avenging hand; Here he used to hunt, and at the fall of a Deer, where he would be sure to be present, imbrue his hands in the blood of it, and therewith asperse and sprinkle the Attendants: and sometimes to coke's the neighbouring Rustics, give them a Buck he had hunted, and money to drink with it; His own Diet was very spare and not so curious, except in public Treatments, which were constantly given every Monday in the Week, to all the Officers of the Army not below a Captain, where he dined with them, and shown a hundred Antic Tricks, as throwing of Cushions, and putting live Coals into their Pockets and Boots; A Table being likewise spread every day of the Week for such Officers as should casually come to Court, and this was the greatest expense, which and other charges of the Government, h● levied as yet by his and his Councils Ordinances, which were as du●ly and respectfully obeyed as Acts of Parliament.  
With these Officers while he seemed to disport himself, taking off his Drink freely, and opening himself every way to the most free familiarity, He did merely lie at the Catch of what should incogitantly and with such unsuspected provocation fall from their Mouths, which he would be sure to record and lay up against his occasion of reducing them to the Speakers Memory, who were never like to forget the prejudice and damage they had incurred by such lose Discoveries of their Minds and Inclinations.  
He was a great Lover of Muhck, and entertained the most skilfullest in that Science, in his pay and Family; in that like wicked Saul, who when the evil Spirit was upon him, thought to lay and still him with those Harmonious charms; but generally he respected or at least pretended a Love to all ingenious and eximious persons in any Arts, whom he procured to be sent or brought to him, but the niggardliness and incompetence of his reward, shown that this was a personated Act of Greatness, and that private Cromwell yet governed Prince Oliver. Among the rest of those Virtuosos, He favoured a Poet too, who very elegantly sang his Marston-Moor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, but with more misfortune than others, who made the Muse's Slaves to his Triumphs, and Pegasus to draw His Chariot.  
He had twenty other freaks in his head, for sometimes before he had half dined, he would give order for a Drum to beat, and call in his foot Guards, like a Kennel of Hounds, to snatch off the meat from his Table, and see them tear it in pieces; the like Jocoes and Frisks he would have with other Company; even with some few of the Nobility, when he would not stick to tell them, what Company they had lately kept, when and where they had drank the King's Health and the Royal Families, bidding them when they did it again, to do it more privately, and this without any passion, and as festivous and Drol discourse.  
But the sad news of the Defeat at Hispaniola, whence he had promised himself Mountains of Gold, and Rocks of Gems, to the maintenance of his Mamalukes, and perpetuating of the Army, coming to his ears, soon after the Marquis de Leda, Ambassador from the Spaniard, had departed dissatisfied with the preparations here, and other ill news founding in his ear, that the Commonwealth Party were very active in the Army, and the Royalists breeding new Designs, he began to cast off the Merry Devil and act the Tyrant altogether, and not without Cause. For;  
The effects of this Parliament rapture encouraged two most opposite parties to conspire against the Protector, the Fifth Monarchists and Cavaliers (as we must so distinguish the Royal Party upon this difference, who) longed for their rightful Sovereign Charles the Second, the Fifth Monarchy expected King Jesus, the Courtiers and those engaged by them or with them, with Cromwell himself, desired King Oliver; and every of these manifested much impatience, but none of them could attain their Wishes, and when Oliver might afterwards he durst not, The Protector was no way ignorant of this, and therefore he resolved to deal with the weakest first, which yet by undermine was more dangerous than the other: The Army was corrupted by that Millenary Principle, and that was to be purged, so that as Harrison and Richardo had been laid aside, and not long after committed with Carew and Court●ey into several remote Castles; so now General Monck had order to seize Major General Overton, and the Majors Bramston and Holms, and other Officers, and Cashier them, after Fines and good Security for their Behaviour; Overton was sent up to the Tower, and his Regiment conferred on Colonel Morgan; Colonel Okey's Regiment taken from him, and given to a sure Confider, and so the danger from the Army was quickly suppressed: Cornet but now Colonel Joyce, was likewise malcontent at this change, and signified so much to Cromwell's Face, whom he upbraided with his own Service and his faithlessnesse, but escaped any other Censure then a bidding him be gone; Cromwell well knowing him to be one of those mad men that would say or do any thing they were bid.  
Now happened occasion, or rather Cromwell made it one, for him to show his zeal to the Protestant cause, and publish himself to the World the Champion or Hector thereof; this was also one secret step and reach to the Crown, by invaing the sacred Title of the Defender of the Faith, due only to the Hereditary Sovereigns of England● Herein also he aimed, as in the Proverb, to hit two Birds with one stone, not doubting but to find another Mine in the charitable minds and compassion of this Nation towards the parallel suffering of the old Waldenses in piedmont to the Irish Massacres, which were set out and dressed here with the greater skill of Butchery, than the Actors could handsomely do it there, and it was said the Copy was drawn from that Original.  
Alderman Viner and Pack were made Treasurers for this money, which amounted to a very large sum, and reaching the full design of the Protector, a small parcel whereof was now remitted to Geneva, the French King having newly before accommodated the business, the Duke refusing to admit Cromwell's Mediation.  
There was another Artifice of the Protectors to set this business forward, and to countenance it, which was, Addresses from the Army here and abroad, offering their Service in this common cause of the Protestant Religion, no way doubting but that God in his due time would confound those Enemies of his people, as he had shown his salvation by themselves, in the same Controversy to that day.  
A new Plot was now started, and most of the Nobility and Gentlemen of England secured, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Lord Willoughby of Parham, Lord Lovelace, Earl of Lindsey, Lord Newport, and Sir Richard Wingfield, Lords Maynard, Petre, Lucas, and Faulkland, Sir Frederick Cornwallis, etc. and this done by Manning, whose Villainy was not yet discovered, though to render a due account of him, his Treachery was before related. County Troops were now also established for security to his Highness, such Trooper 8 l. a year pay and more in case of Service, a Captain a 100 l. and Officers proportionably; and as these new Forces were raised here, so were other old ones disbanded in Scotland and Ireland, in which last place, the disbanded were yet to be the same kind of Militia they being settled in the Rebel forfeited Lands, their Tenure being their Service, and thus that Kingdom was repeopled. An Agent that had come hither from Ragotzi Prince of Transilvania, now departed, the Conspiracy betwixt whom and the King of Sweden, and the Swede and Cromwell was just ripe for execution.  
The Spanish War therefore commencing, the Protector began new practices against the Cavalier party, whose interest and spirit was against his Government as high as ever: he foresaw that by the French peace, the King only shifted & changed war from one quarter to another, and was yet as near as ever, and in a more opportune and advantageous posture, for that the King of Spain and he would certainly concur against him, and so the Low Countries, his Provinces and Ports be open and at the service of our Sovereign, therefore his party was by all ways, how unjust and tyrannical soever to be crushed and suppressed: it began with the, Clergy who were neither to keep School, nor cure, nor be Chaplains, except they give signal testimony of their Apostasy from the Church; it next extended to all ●orts of men, the revived Act of 1652, forbidding all Cavallers or such as meant well to the peace of the Kingdom in their subicription to the personal Treaty in 1648. by a new Proclamation to that purpose, from giving voices of Electing, or to be elected themselves upon their utmost peril: then came out a Declaration for Decimating such who were actually in Arms; and to show the Reasons of such proceed against them, Cromwell therein taking it for granted, that the whole Mass of them were engaged in the late design of Penruddocks, and observing their Malignity to the Government, by refusing to match their Relations but within themselves, and so to propagate the quarrel from one Generation to another; that they supplied their King (as they called him) with money, that their Clergy were as refractory as ever; and that therefore since by them the peace so endangered could not be kept, nor the cause and the well affected secured but by keeping up a standing Army by a constant pay, it was requisite the charge should be born by those who caused it.  
For the better dispatch of this Affair, He had erected a new Military Authority, like the Turkish Bashaws, distributed into several Provinces or Counties, with an unbounded power, England being now cantoned into this Hendecharchy, viz. Kent and Surrey under Col. Kelsey; Sussex, Hantshire, and Berk-shire under Goff; Gloucestershire, Wilts, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, under Col. Desborough; Oxfordshire Buckingham, Hartford, Cambridge, Isle of Ely, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, under Lieutenant General Fleetwood; London, Major General Skippon; Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Derby, Warwick and Leicester under whaley; Northamptoushire, Bedford, Rutland and Huntingdon, under villainous Butler; Worcestershire, Hereford, Shropshire and North-wales under Col. Berry; Cheshire, Lancashire and Stafford under Col. Worsely; York shire, Durham, Cumberland, Northumberland and Westmoreland, under Lord Lambert; Westminster and Middlesex, under Col. Berkstead, their Commission was to take a Roll and Account of all suspected persons of the King's party, and such as were actually so to receive security of them, in which they were to be bound to act nothing against the Government, and to reveal all Plots that should come to their knowledge: they were to suppress all Horseraces, Cock matches, and other Concourses of people, to secure the High Ways, to take engagement from Cavaliers, for their Servants, and Children, and those that did not so, nor give security, to commit to prison, and to rate and receive the money rising from this Decimation. In short there was nothing which they might not do; nor which they did not, such an Arbitrary vast power they had from the Protector. To this purpose a M. Gen. Office was erected in Fleetstrees, as other Courts had, where these Recognizances were entered, and all other the like Affairs, dependencies, and concerns thereof entered and Pecord d; by this means the Tyrant intended to inform himself of the value and quality of every Estate and person, together with the number of that party in every County throughout the Kingdom. Most of those Loyal persons formerly secured, were hereupon set at liberty, but by another 20. Mile Proclamation driven into the Country, into the bounds of the several Major Generals, who presently took cognizance of them, and summoned them to their respective Residences, they sat sometimes without, other times with some of the old Committees, where they received accounts of Estates, which were rated to the tenth penny yearly. Some bought off that Tax and encumbrance by a present Sum, at three years' purchase, which was very acceptable, for money was the thing the Usurper wanted, others looked for a nearer Redemption, and to be constrained to that payment: the well affected and godly people voiced this to be a just and reasonable imposition, for when should they be at quiet, and enjoy themselves in the goods they had got, free from the interrupting endeavour of this old and restless Enemy; so that there wanted not Abettors and Assistants, to this most religious work of the Major Generals; who had ordered in the first place, that no Cavalier should keep or wear either Arms offensive or defensive but streightways deliver them, so that they lay a the mercy of whomsoever they met, and at the Discretion and charity of whosoever resorted to their Houses, for what they had left.  
The Barbarous Cruelty and Severity of these Bashaws, to the Orthodox Clergy, while with the Hotness of the persecution it suffocated the true Religion, did warm and foster the viperous brood of sects and Heresies into monstrous luxuriances; For besides the Ranter, who at this time began to infest the Church, and multiply exceedingly, and the Socinian, who denied the Divinity of Christ; one Biddle being infamous for those impious opinious, as Erbury formerly a Minister for Ranting; the Quakers appeared like Locusts, and overspread the whole Kingdom, even to the Disquiet of Oliver himself, who could not endure to hear of their Anti-Magisterial-principles, the schism consisting chief of such as had been of the Army or Rebel Faction. The Height of that Frenzy and Delusion so possessed the haughty mind of one Janies Naylor (as if Pride and Ambition were the reigning secular sins) that he fancied himself to be our Saviour, procuring such Worship to be done him, as was due only to that Blessed Divinity. This Blasphemous Impostor was severely punished by the consent of Oliver (who perceived Lansb●re, whose Soldier this was formerly, to stickle for him on design to cajole his party.) But not from any sense of this Impiety, and zeal to Christ or his Worship, for he had lately struck a Bargain with the Jews that deny him, but the Ministers who were to dispute with Ben Israel their Agent, dissenting from his covetous project, He only gulled them of their earnest money.  
By this mixture of subtlety with Cruelty and Rapine of all sorts, he had so established himself, and his formidable greatness engaging in a foreign War with the French against the Spaniard in Flanders, whither he sent Commissary General Reynolds with 6000 men, who jointly took in St. Venant & Mardike in the close of the Summer 1647 the latter being put into English hands) that the Royal party began truly to dread his mischievous power, the effects whereof were felt also in very remote parts of the World, in the Polish and Danish War, by his partaking with and assisting to the King of Sweden (when he pretended a Mediation between them, having dispatched Mr. Rolt of his Bedchamber, and Colonel Jephson to Carolus Gustavus, and Mr. now Sir Philip Meadows, to Frederick King of Denmark) to the diverting the Germane Emperor, to the care of his own Dominions, and by that means depriving the Spaniard of his aid, and consequently frustrating all His Majesty's designs of recovering, his rights to these Kingdoms.  
I must omit his Successes by Blake at Porta Ferina, and Sancta Cruz, for which the English valour was famous; as also Sir Richard Stayners taking and Spoiling 7. Galleys from the West Indies, laden with Plate, which were substantial Tropnies, and made his power dreadful.  
And therefore now he thought it time to show his Son Richard to the World, whom to ●avoid the Suspicion of designing the Sovereignty to be Hereditary in his Family, and to amuse Lambert (who would not brook other Successor than himself) His Kival if not Superior now in the affection of the Army He had kept in the Country, in Hampshire where he had married the Daughter of one Major of Southampton, with a very plentiful fortune, the support and maintenance of him now) among the Convene of the Sentry Roya●sts, to insinuate into their affections and good liking by some kind of Offices and Civilities he procured from ●ourt, and by his own debonair and affable Dispositions; The first public Honour done him was the Chancellorship of Oxford, in which he was ●emnly invested after his Father had purposely resigned it, at Whitchall, next he was sworn a Pirvy Councillor, and made a Colon I in the Army, to have an interest in all parties and parts of the body politic, and not long after, in the next Parliament, after their recess, the first Lord of the other House, and now styled the most noble Lord Richard, and rife discourses there were of Richard the Fourth, but it proved no more than the story of Queen Dick.  
His Son Harry Cromwell lately married to Sir William russel's Daughter he likewise sent in the ●lity of Lord Lieutemant, to succeed his Son.  
Law Fleetwood, in Ireland, only Scotland could not be taken from General Monk, and disposed in the han●s of his more confident Relations, Flectwood or Desborough being designed for that Government. ●s Daughters likewise were all married, Elizabeth his Darling, before his late Greatnesle, to a private Gentleman, one Mr. Cleypo●e of Warwickshire; his Daughter Mary to the Lord Viscount Falconbridge, the noble Family of the Bellasis; and his younger Daughter Frances to Mr. ●obert Rich, eldest on to Robert Lord Rich, and grandson to Robert Earl of Warwick, all three whereof died within one year after this unfortunate and unglorious Match. So that he thought he had established his House, but the Foundation being laid in Sand tempered with Blood, the next gust and boy sterous Wind blew it like Chaff, and scattered and dispersed it to nothing.  
From this haughty confidence he was invited to call another Parliament, and to assume from thence the long awaited result of his Ambition, the Crown Imperial of England. All other things moreover did ●e●m to comspire to the same purpose, except the Levelling Fifth Monarchy party, and Lambert: for the Presbyterian and other Sectaries, who had their hands full of Sacrilegious and Treasonable Pennyworths, of Ecclesiastical, and Crown and Delinquents Lands, were most eagerly desirous of a settlement of the Government by Law, that might secure and confirm their purchases; the more indifferent Royalists preferred any Legal (not manner how or what) Authority, rather than be continually tisked and oppressed by the outrageous unlimited violence of the Major Generals, whom Cromwell had on purpose set up, as he did the little or foolish Parliament, to make another Title he gaped at, more acceptable to the people.  
As to the Fifth Monarchy men, he had nearly pried into that danger, and seized and took the chief of that party, among whom was Venner the Wine-Cooper, being engaged somewhat after in a Plot, in a house in Shoreditch, where some Arms were taken, and and an Ensign with a Lion couchant of the Tribe of judah painted in it, having this Motto, Who shall raise him up?  
And hereupon Harrison, Carew, Rich, Vice-Admiral Lawson, Courtney, Portman, Day, and the like, were imprisoned in remote places, as Col. Overton, Major Holms, and others of the same party, had been seized in Scotland, and disbanded by Gen. Monck, according to Cromwell's Order, and sent up Prisoners to the Tower of London.  
As to the Levellers, he had lately discovered their practices and combinations against him, and had likewise clapped up the chief of them, one Major Wildman, in order to his Trial being taken at Marleborough, inditing and drawing Declarations against him; so that they were at a stand and a loss which ●ay to proceed, to the unsettling and overthrow of his Tyrannical power; procured by so many tricks and cheats put upon them by him; so that afterwards when they began private Subscriptions to Petitions, and Addresses to the Parliament against the Kingship, he peremptorily upon their peril forbidden them to intermeddle with their Consultations, and so awed and dashed them, that they never offered any more afterwards, to hold up so much as a Finger against him. Lambert was the only impediment, and we shall see him neatly and quietly removed and discarded like the rest of his former Confidents.  
This Olivarian Parliament brought together by these, means was not less awed in its Election by the Major Generals (they themselves and all their friends being returned for Members, while the Gentry and other Honest men being confined or under some qualification or other, could not, or dared not appear, particularly Col. Berkstead, and Kiffin the Anabaptist, by Voices of Redcotes got themselves returned Knights of the Shire for Middlesex, with Sir William Roberts, and Mr. Chute (4 as the Instrument directed;) then in the Admission to the House, where a Recognition of his Highness and the Government by a single person, with a Guard of Soldiers was ready placed, and unless each Member swallowed the one, he might not pass the other, by which means almost 200. were at the first dash secluded, those within taking no notice of the force, but referring the excluded to the Examination of the Privy Council.  
The first Work this Parliament did was their declaring the Justice of the War against Spain (the Cromwellian party personating the Interest and Honour of the Nation, that they might by that be looked upon for all this garbling, as a due Representative, and to credit their ensuing By-blows) and a Resolution to assist the Protector in it; And next as the grand and Liminary work to Oliver's Regality, An Act for the renouncing the Title of His Majesty, and the whole Line of King James; seconded with another for the Security of His Highness' person, in which they alleged the peace and safety of the Nation was bound up.  
And that this might appear most necessary and opportune, a Plot was hatched by Cromwell and Thurloe, for further quashing all Levelling and Fisth Monarchy designs against that party; A Book had likewise been lately divulged, styled, Killing no Murder, wherein it was proved, that it was most lawful, just, necessary, and Honourable to kill him, and this Printed with the Name of one Allen a disbanded Leveller, but so politely and learnedly written, that it intimated a more exact and curious hand; whose ever it was, it scared Cromwell almost out of his Wits, and made him betake himself to preventionary Artifices, and fright Assassinates with his Severity against the suppositious Authors of pretended dangers.  
This Scarecrow was one Miles Syndercombe, a disband of Overton's in Scotland by General Monck, a Leveller and Fifth Monarchist, both which parties he conjoined in this trap, as most feared by him: The wily Arts of Thurloe, who set one Cecil, and Trop of Cromwell's Lifeguard, to urge this Malcontent into a Conspiracy of The Protector's Death; This was readily assented to, and several Engines and Instruments fixed for that purpose and places appointed, and Whitehall Chapel to be fired; all which was from time to time discovered, and Syndercombe after the last vain experiment, seized and arraigned, and after a careless defence convicted and sentenced for Treason, which he avoided (as the Coroners Jury gave their Verdict) by poisoning himself in the Tower the night before his Execution, and was drawn at a Horse Tail to Tower-hill, and inhumed, and a Stake driven through him under the Scaffold.  
For this Delivery of his Highness the Parliament voted a thanksgiving, and attended him at the Banqueting-house in Whitehall with a gratulatory Oration, setting forth the Ruin that was intended in that horrible Treason to the whole Protestant Religion throughout the World, with the like parasitical designed Falsehoods, but to the almost spoiling the Compliment, the Stairs in the ascending broke, and samed Richard Cromwell, and others, who for amends were invited to dinner there upon the Thanksgiving day; and that Courtesy requited by a more gaudy Gift.  
For the next day Alderman Pack (a great Excise Commissioner, and in greater Arrears for it to 30000 l. and deep in the Piedmont Account) from the advantage of this Royal Treat, suddenly started a Motion like a Puppet jerkt with a wire, that in regard of the strange unsettlement and discomposure of the Nation, and the minds of men, and the ill aspect it had upon Foreign Princes, and all Trade; that therefore the Protector might be desired to assume the style of King as the most known and most agreeable Government: and presently tooth and nail the Court party were at it; and after sundry consultations passed a Resolution in order to his being Kinged by the second part of the Instrument, called The Humble Petition and Advice of the Parliament, which being now in Debate we must leave to a further account.  
The suitable political talk of the party of the Usurper, was now engaged in strained Arguments for a Monarchy in the person of this their Ringleader, and this Maxim was broached in the News-Book, That there was no everlasting principle in Government as to any particular form; that Government is but a temporary expedient, that it is like Vltima tabula post Naufragium, in the hazard of the Commonwealth the next shift may be made use of. The same was the inspired reason into the Humble Petition and Advice, which after several debates and resolutions was drawn into that Consistency, the main whereef was to desire the Protector to change that Title for the other of King. On the 9 of April, the Parliament having desired a Meeting with him, came to the Banqueting-house in Whitehall, where Sir Thomas Widdrington in a Speech, commended the Title and Office of a King, as settled here with Christianity, approved by our Ancestors, consisting with our Laws and Temper of the people, and then presented him with the module of the Humble Petition, etc. To this tender, Cromwell in a fit of Devotion, answered, That it was a weighty matter, and therefore desire a space to seek God, that the charge laid upon him was too great for him to bear without His Assistance, that the English were the best people in the World, and required therefore all tenderness and consideration of their Liberties, etc.  
The next day a Committee was appointed to attend him, and receive his Answer, which being insignificant, they upon report thereof resolved to adhere to their Petition, and appointed a Committee of above half the House to attend him, to receive from him his doubts and scruples touching any of the particulars contained in the Petition, etc. and to offer reasons for his satisfaction, for the maintenance of the Resolution of the House, and wherein they cannot satisfy to report. The chief of this Committee were Mr. Whitlock, Lord Chief Justice Glyn, Lord Breghall, Lenthall, Lisle, Philip Jones, Fiennes, Strickland, Thurloe, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Charles Woolfley, etc.  
We have through these Labyrinths of his shifted Designs, now clued him to his Lustful and adulterous Usurpation, which the nocturnal pollutions of his Dream had so long before fancied and acted in his thoughts.  
This was the critical Time, and the very Juncture of his accomplishment of all his projections upon the Crown, which now seemed to court his Brows by the complimental tender of a Parliament so picked and culled to his purpose. But it pleased God, to rescue the Honour and Majesty of England, from the profanation of his Temples; by some sudden emergent dangers, and Suspicions he raised in his Breast, and to elude his Royal Phantasms with Rival and Democratick apparitions; His Oracles now ceased, and a lying Spirit was in the Mouth of his Prophets, who in their preachments harped upon this Subject. Now that the Reader may know how the whole mystery and cabal of this Business was managed by the above mentioned Committee (who would fain have drawn Oliver under the yoke of Laws, and retrencht his exorbitant power of the Sword) and Cromwell (who feared they would fortify his Title, and weaken his Tenure, and had notice that Lambert laboured in the Debauch of the Army) He is here presented with the sum of that abortive Regal Consultation, which like the Philosopher's Stone, or rather the Apples of Sodom, vanished and perished in the Attrectation.  
After many Meetings and Conferences together at Whitehall, the Commissioners being impowered to receive his Highness' Scruples at his request (the whole Affair being managed with Royal State and respect to him they came to these Disputes. It was alleged by the Committee who were to offer and make play, that the Title of King had been confirmed by all Parliaments, for 1300 years, and the person, not the name, displeasing to any of them. That it was interwoven with the Laws, and the very consent of this Parliament in being.  
To this the Protector answered, that these were swasory not compulsive or convincing Arguments. That the Title of the Protector might be made accommodable to the Laws, by the content of the Parliament, as well as the Title of King was made so by the same; that the Title of King would be displeasing to many godly men, and Officers of the Army, who had declared against the Title and Office.  
To these it was replied, That the Title ought to be accommodated to the Laws, not the Laws to them. That Invention of Titles was suspected as the Veil or Concealment of some Design against the public; and that therefore the Parliament of England, had scrupled the new Title of King of Great-Britain, to King James. That if he regarded not his own honour and Greatness, yet he should respect the Honour and Reputation of the Kingdom. That the name of Protector had always been unfortunate to the Kingdom during the Minority of our Princes, and also to themselves. That it being given him by the Soldiery it sounded of Victory. That when the Kingly Title was abolished in the Roman Empire, nothing but confusion followed, nor could the State find Rest, either under Consul, or Dictator's, or Prince of the Senate, until the pleasure and will of Caesar came to be acknowledged for Law.  
Other instances there were of the Commissioners, who severally by order of the Committee delivered their Answers to Him, as namely the reason of the change of the Style of Lord to King of Ireland in H. 8. time, for the better, and more regular Government of that Nation, and Examples of a neighbouring Protestant Kingdom of Sweden, who had crowned their Marshal that took up Arms with them against their Sovereign, but their main Argument was drawn from the Statutes of 9 Edw. 4. & 3 H. 7. by which all persons were indemnified that took up Arms for the King in being, which was one and the chief reason said Whitlock, why so many at first assisted the King against the Parsiament, and would be his Highness' case and Security. And lastly to his Argument of displeasing many godly men, and that Providence seemed to cross the introduction of the Kingly Office by a seven years' War to the overthrow of it: He was answered that the reduction of the Commonwealth to Monarchy, was a greater Act then from Monarchy to the Protectorate; that in all Governments some men would be unsatisfied, and that therefore his safest way would be to rely on this Settlement by the Parliament. But after all Cromwell's Fears surmounted his Ambition, and he told then in a long Harangue, that He could not accept the Title of King, being against his conscience.  
The Protector having refused the Title of King (awaiting a more opportune time and advantage to reach to that top and height of his ambition, which inwardly tormented him) was now by the Parliament to be confirmed in his former dignity, and a Committee called of the Settlement was ordered to prepare an Explanatory part to the Humble Petition and Advice, in respect of the Protectors Oath, his Councils, the Members of Parliament, the other House, which was to consist of 60. and odd Lords of Cromwell's Election, of which in their place we shall give an Account; all which with some Acts being prepared and finished, the Protector came to the Painted-Chamber, and sent for the Parliament where the Speaker tendered him these Acts of State, besides others relating unto Trade, etc. 1. An Act for Assessment of 60000 l. a Month, for 3. Months, from March, for the three Kingdoms. Another money Act for 50000 l. for three years, at 35000 l. for England, 6000 l. for Scotland, and 9000 l. for Ireland. An Act for preventing multiplicity of Buildings in and about the Suburbs of London, and within 10. Miles thereof; and a whole years' Revenue to be paid for every Dwelling, or House buil upon any new Foundation since 1620. (and this was the reason and soul of that Law.) An Act for punishing such as live at high rates and have no visible Estates: And lastly for the observation of the Lords Day; there was a Bill for ascertaining and satisfying the Public Faith, that these Patriots might seem to intent the ease of the people, but it was but once read and committed, and resumed afterwards to as much purpose very briskly by the Council of this Protector. At the Signing of there Cromwell made this short Speech.  I perceive, that among these many Acts of Parliament, there hath been a very great care had by the Parliament, to provide for the just and necessary support of the Commonwealth, by these Bills for levying of money now brought to me, which I have given my Consent unto; and understanding it hath been the practice of those who have been Chief Governors, to acknowledge with thanks to the Commons, their care and regard of the Public: I do very hearty and thank-fully acknowledge their kindness herein. 
The principal substance of the Humble Petition, etc. was this,  1. That his Highness under the Title of Lord Protector, would be pleased to exercise the Office of Chief Magistrate over England, etc. and to govern according unto all things in this Petition and Advice; also, that in his life-time he would appoint the Person that should succeed in the Government after his death. 2. That he would call Parliaments consisting of two Houses, once in three years at farthest. 3. That those persons who are legally chosen by a free election of the people to serve in Parliament, may not be excluded from doing their duties, but by consent of that House whereof they are Members. 4. In the fourth, was shown the qualifications of Parliament-Members. 5. In the fifth, the Power of the other House. 6. That the Laws and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept, and no Laws altered, suspended, abrogated, repealed, or new Law made, but by Act of Parliament, 7. For a constant yearly Revenue, ten hundred thousand pounds to be settled for maintenance of the Navy and Army; and three hundred thousand pounds for support of the Government, besides other temporary supplies, as the Commoas in Parliament shall see the necessities of the Nations to require. 8. That the number of the Protectors Council shall not be above one and twenty; whereof the Quorum to be seven, and not under. 9 The chief Officers of Seat, as Chancellors, Keepers of the Great Seal, etc. to be approved of by Parliament. 10. That his Highness would encourage a Godly Ministry in these Nations; and that such as do revile or disturb them in the Worship of God, may be punished according to Law; and where the Laws are defective, new ones to be made in that behalf. 11. That the Protestant Christian Religion, and no other; and that a confession of Faith be agreed upon and recommended to the people of these Nations; and none be permitted by words or writings to revile or repreach the said Confession of Faith, etc. 
Which he having Signed, declared his acceptance in there words,  
That he came thither that day, not as to a Triumph, but with the most serious thoughts that ever he had in all his life, being to undertake one of the greatest burdens, that ever was laid upon the back of any humane creature; so that without the support of the Almighty, he must sink under the weight of it, to the damage and prejudice of these Nations. This being so, he must ask help of the Parliament, and of those that fear God, that by their Prayers he might receive assistance from God: for nothing else could enable him to the discharge of so great a duty and trust.  
That seeing this is but an Introduction to the carrying on of the Government of these Nations, and there being many things which cannot be supplied, without the assistance of the Parliament, it was his duty to ask their help in them; not that he doubted: for the same Spirit that had led the Parliament to this, would easily suggest the same to them. For his part nothing would have induced him to take this unsupportable burden to flesh and blood, but that he had seen in the Parliament a great care in doing those things, which might really answer the ends that were engaged for, and make clearly for the Liberty of the Nations, and for the Interest and preservation of all such as fear God under various forms. And if these Nations be not thankful to them for their care therein, it will fall as a sin on their heads.  
Yet there are some things wanting that tend to reformation, to the discountenancing vice, and encouragement of virtue; but he spoke not this as in the least doubting their progress, but as one that doth hearty desire, to the end God may Crown their work, that in their own time, and with what speed they judge fit, these things may be provided for.  
There remained only the Solemnity of the Inauguration or Investiture, which being agreed upon by the Committee and the Protector, was by the Parliament appointed to be performed in Westminster-hall; where at the upper end thereof, there was an Ascent raised, where a Chair and Canopy of State was set, and a Table with another Chair for the Speaker, with Seats built Scaffold-wise for the Parliament on both sides; and places below for the Aldermen of London, and the like. All which being in a readiness, the Protector came out of a Room adjoining to the Lords House, and in this order proceeded into the Hall. First went his Gentlemen, than a Herald; next the Aldermen another Herald; the Attorney General; then the Judges (of whom Sergeant Hill was one, being made a Baron of the Exchequer, June 16.) then Norroy, the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury, and the Seal carried by Commissioner Fiennes, than Garter, and after him the Earl of Warwick with the Sword, born before the Protector, Bore headed, the Lord Mayor Tichborn carrying the City Sword (being the special of Coaks of the Protector) by his left hand: Being seated in his Chair, on the left Hand whereof stood the said Titchborn and the Dutch Ambassador, the French Ambassador and the Earl of Warwick on the Right; next behind him stood his Sons Richard, Fleetwood, Cleypoole; and the Privy Council; upon a lower descent stood the Lord Viscount Lisle, Lords Montague and Whitlock with drawn Swords.  
Then the Speaker (Sir Thomas Widdrington) in the name of the Parliament, presented to him a Robe of Purple-Velvet, a Bible, a Sword, and a Sceptre, at the Delivery of these things, the Speaker made a short Comment upon them to the Protector, which he divided into four parts, as followeth.  
1. The Robe of Purple, This is an Emblem of Magistracy and imports Righteousness and Justice: When you have put on this Vestment, I may say you are a Gown-man. This Robe is of a mixed colour, to show the mixture of Justice and Mercy. Indeed, a Magistrate must have two hands, Plectentem, & amplectentem, to cherish and to punish.  
2. The Bible, it is a Book that contains the Holy Scriptures, in which you have the happiness to be well versed. This Book of Life consists of two Testaments the Old and New: the first shows Christum Velatum, the second Christum Revelatum; Christ vailed and revealed: it is a Pook of Books, and doth contain both Precepts and Examples for good Government.  
3. Here is a Sceptre, not unlike a Staff; for you are to be a Staff to the weak and poor; it is of ancient use in this kind. It's said in Scripture, that The Sceptre shall not departed from Judah. It was of the like use in other Kingdoms; Homer the Greek Poet calls Kings and Princes Scepter-Bearers.  
4. The last thing is a Sword, not a Military but Civil Sword; it is a Sword rather of defence than offence: not to defend yourself only but your people also. If I might presume to fix a Motto upon this Sword, as the valiant Lord Talbot had upon his, it should be this, Ego sum domini Protectoris, ad protegendum populum meum, I am the Protectors to protect my people.  
This Speech being ended, the Speaker took the Bible and gave the Protector his Oath: afterwards Mr. Manton made a prayer, wherein he recommended the Protector, Parliament, Council, the Forces by Land and Sea, Government, and people of the three Nations, to the protection of God. Which being ended the Heralds by Trumpets proclaimed his Highness' Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging: requiring all persons to yield him due obedience. At the end of all, the Protector with his Train carried by the Lord Sherrard Warwick's Nephew, and the Lord Robert's his eldest Son, returned in the same posture, the Earl of Warwick sitting at one end of the Coach against him, Richard his Son, and Whitlock in one, and the Lords Lisle and Montague in the other Boot, with Swords drawn, and the Lord Claypool Master of the Horse, led the Horse of Honour in rich Caparisons to Whitehall. The Members to the Parliament House, where they prorogued their sitting to the Twentieth of January.  
He was now settled and established in his first assumed Dignity, to the satisfaction of some part of the Army, only Lambert was gravelled with that clause in it which gave the Protector power to name his Successor. Whereby he see himself deprived and frustrated of his Hopes, and that Contract that had passed betvveen them. Cromwell therefore to secure himself, set the Army Regiment after Regiment to subscribe Addresses congratulating his legal Authority, and declaring their readiness to assert Him therein with their lives and Fortunes; being the very same Method he had used before to prevent any Designs against him in the Army, when he was left upon his own bottom by the Parliament before.  
In the mean time a more potent enterprise was form by the King's Interest, and the appearance of the Marquis of Ormond (as my Lord Wilmot from beyond Sea, was engaged before in Penruddock's rising in the West) about Sussex, whither some English forces for Flanders in the King's pay and service were to have been transmitted; but by the traitorous discovery of two former eminent Royalists, which Cromwell by great pensions had corrupted, one a Knight, the other a Minister, and one that a hand in the kill of Rainsborough, the whole Intrigue was discovered, the Marquis narrowly escaping back again to the King, who was dispatching General Marsin with his Forces then in readiness.  
He was no sooner rid of the danger of this, but he was puzzled with Lambert's Cabal, who had inveagled and almost debauched Fleetwood and Desborough Cromwell's nearest Relations with his but emulous pretended Democratick principles; so that Cromwell (having dissolved the Parliament at their access in January, when according to the new Instrument the● met in a full House, who began and were resolved to undo all again that had passed during their Seclusion, nor would own the other House of upstart Mechanic Lords, but flew so high as bringing Oliver into question for those confusions of the State) was now in as ticklish a condition as ever; therefore Lambert was gently laid aside, and his Commission taken from him, and his Regiments taken from him and disposed to better hands, and Spies and Eavesdroppers dispersed through the Army to give him intelligence of their Affections and Inclinations.  
This made him most suspiciously fearful, so that he began to dread every person or strange face he saw (which he would anxiously and intently view) for an Assassinate, that Book of Killing no Murder perpetually running in his mind; It was his constrant Custom to shift and change his lodging, to which he passed through twenty several locks, and out of which he had four or five ways to avoid pursuit: when he went between Whitehall and Hampton-Court, by private and back ways, but never the same backward and forward, He was always in a Hurry, his Guards behind and before riding a full Gallop, and the Coach always filled, especially the Boot with armed persons, he himself being furnished with private Weapons; and was now of more than difficult access to all persons.  
A Plot was again on foot, and like a Mongril design that had no issue, was made up one half by the Cavalier, & the other half by himself (who was sure not to be behind hand in such designs) for which Sir Henry Slingsby, Dr. Hewyt, and 3. other private persons lost their lives by a High Court of Justice, the Severity whereof so afflicted or affected the mind of his Daughter Cleypoole, that falling sick with the pains and torments of an Ulcer, in her intestines, which stopped her terms and made her frantic, she never ceased roaring against that bloody man, her Father.  
He was now again adorned with another Success and Triumph, by the Defeat of the Spanish Army and surrender of Dunkirk into his hands, Lockhart his Kinsman & General of the English Forces, being made Governor thereof, which I am constrained to pass without any further remark and from the height of this glory, levelly him with the dust of other Mortals.  
This Kingdom was now almost stupefied and tired out with struggling against his Government and Domination, when it pleased God to call him to an account of all that Mischief he had perpetrated; Ushering his End with a great Whale some three Months before on the second of June, that came up as far as Greenwich, and was there killed, and more immediately by a terrible Storm of Wind, the prognostic that the great Leviathan of men, that Tempest and overthrow of Government, was now going to his own place.  
He was taken sick at Hampton-Court having not been well in mind sometime before (troubled with the last frantic words of his beloved Daughter Claypole, who threatened Judgement like another mad Cassandra, and with the insinuations and encroachments of the Republican party into the Army, nor were must of his Relations taint free of those principles, but were winding towards them:) the disease was a bastard Tertain which appeared not at first of any danger, but after a week's time it began to show very desperate symptoms, wherefore he was removed to Whitehall, where his Chaplains and others of that pious Family, kept private meetings and fastings of which they were to vainly confident (as before) that they obtruded their unseasonable thanks to God for the certainty of it, and with the same unseasonable flattery and pickthank with the Protector, deluded him into the like persuasion, so that he told his Physicians, He should not die this bout; but the Fits proving worse and worse, and causing him to talk idly, and to faint often, They in Council concluded, he could scarce survive another Paroxysm, at which the Privy Council being astonished, they immediately repaired to him, about his settling a Successor, whom by the Petition he was to declare in his life-time; but he was then scarce himself, which they perceiving, interrogated him, if he appointed not his Son Richard, whereunto he answered in the affirmative. It was thought that he had designed Fleetwood in his ultimate thoughts but the distraction of the choice betwixt his Son and Son-in-law, had made him leave it undetermined (a private Will relating to his Family he made at his first sickening at Hampton-court.) Continuing in this condition, he died on Friday the said 3d. of September at 3. of the clock in the afternoon, though divers tumors were spread, that he was carried away in the Tempest the day before; His body being Opened and Embalmed his Milt was found full of corruption and filth, which was so strong and stinking, that after the Corpse were Embalmed and filled with Aromatic odours, and wrapped in Cere-cloath, six double, in an inner sheet of Lead, and a strong Wooden-coffin, yet the filth broke through them all, and raised such a noisome stink, that they were forced to bury him out of hand; but his name and memory stinks worse.  
The Corpse (presently after his expiration) being buried for the aforesaid reason, a Coffin was on the 26. of September, about 10. at night, privately removed from Whitehall in a Mourning Horse, attended by his Domestic Servants, to Somerset house, where it remained in private for some days, till all things were in readiness for public view; which being accomplished, his Effigies was with great state and magnificence exposed openly; multitudes daily flocking to see the Sight, which appeared in this order.  
The first room where the Spectators entered, was wholly hung with Black: at the upper-end whereof, was placed a Cloth and Chair of State: In like manner was the second and third, all having Scutcheons very thick upon the Walls, and Guards of Partisans placed in each room for people to pass through. The fourth room was completely hung with black Velvet, the Ceiling being of the same; here lay the Effigies, with a large Canopy of Black Velvet fringed, which hung over it. The Waxed Picture lying upon its back apparelled in a rich Suit of Velvet, robed in a little Robe of Purple-Velvet, laced with a rich gold Lace, furred with Ermines: upon the Kirtle was a large Robe of Purple-Velvet, laced and furred as the former, with rich strings and tassels of Gold. The Kirtle was girt with a rich embroidered Belt, wherein was a Sword bravely guilt and hatched with gold, which hung by the fide of this fine thing. In the right hand was a Sceptre, in the left a Globe; upon his head was placed a Purple-Velvet-Cap furred with Ermines, suitable to the Robes: behind the head was placed a rich Chair of Tissued gold, whereon was placed an Imperial Crown, which lay high that the people might behold it. The Bed of State whereon he lay, was covered with a large Pall of Black Velvet, under which was a Holland Sheet, born up by six stools covered with Cloth of Gold. About the Bed was placed a complete Suit of Arms and at the Feet of the Effigies stood his Crest. This Bed had fixed about it an Ascent of two steps; a little from thence stood eight silver Candlesticks, about five foot high, with white wax Tapers standing in them, of three foot long. All these things were environed with Rails and Ballasters foursquare, covered with Velvet; at each corner thereof was erected an upright pillat, which bore on their tops Lions and Dragons, who held in their paws Streamers crowned. On both sides of the Bed were set up in Sockets, four great Standards of the Protectors Arms with Banners and Banrols of War, painted upon Taffeta, About the Bed stood men in mourning bareheaded; and without the Rails others to receive people in, and turn them out again.  
When this Show had been seen for many weeks together, the Scene was then altered; the Effigies being removed into another room, it was there set up, standing upon an Ascent under a Cloth of State; being vested as it was before, lying: only now his purple-Velvet-Cap was changed for a Crown. In the same manner (as formerly) were men waiting upon him bareheaded. In this manner he continued until the 23. of Novemb. which day was appointed to to carry him in solemnity to Westminster-Abby.  
This great Funeral was performed with very great State, in this manner following. All things being in readiness, the Waxed Picture of the Protector (with a Crown on his Head, a Sword by his Side, a Globe and Sceptre in his hands) was taken down from his standing, and laid in an open Chariot, covered all over with Black Velvet, adorned with black Velvet, and with Plumes and Scutcheons, and drawn by six Horses in black Velvet. The Streets from Somerset-house to Westminster-Abby, were guarded by Soldiers in new Red-coats and Black Buttons, with their Ensigns wrapped in Cypress: which made a Lane to keep off Spectators from crowding the Actors.  

The Procession.  
In the first place went a Marshal attended by his Deputy, and 13. more on horseback, to clear the way; after him followed the poor men of Westminster by two and two, in Mourning Gowns and Hoods; next to them, the Servants of those Persons of quality that attended the Funeral. These were followed by the Protectors late domestic Servants, with his Bargemen and Water men. Then came the Servants of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London. Following them, were gentlemans Attendants on Foreign Ambassadors and Public Ministers. After marched the poor Knights of Windsor in Gowns and Hoods: then the Clerks, Secretaries, and Officers of the Army, Admiralty, Treasury, Navy, and Exchequer: next, the Commissioners of the Excise, of the Army, and Committee of the Navy. Then the Commissioners for approbation of Preachers: behind these followed all the Officers, Messengers, and Clerks belonging to the Privy Council, and both Houses of Parliament. Next in order followed his Physicians, The Head officers of the Army, the Officers and Aldermen of London. The Masters of Chancery, and his Highness' Council at Law, The Judges of Admiralty, Judges of both Benches, and Lord Mayor of London. The Persons Allied in Blood to the Protector, and the Members of the other House, The public Ministers of Forraign-Princes. The Holland Ambassador alone, having his Train held up by four Gentlemen. Then the Portugal Ambassador, and the French Ambassador, in like manner. The Commissioners of the Great Seal. The Commissioners of the Treasury. The Members of his Privy-Council. All the Grandees in Close Mourning (but it was once advised other ways for fear of a surprise in the Streets) the rest but in ordinary.  
The whole Assembly passing along in divisions, were distinguished by Drums, Trumpets, Banners and Horses, whereof there were eleven in all, four being covered with black Cloth, and seven in Velvet. These passing in fine order, at length came the Chariot with the Effigies, on each side of which were six Banner-Rolls (twelve in all) born by several Persons; and likewise several Pieces of the Protectors Arm, carried by eight Officers of the Army, attended by the Heralds. Next went Garter principal King of Arms, attended by a Gentleman on each hand bareheaded, Next came the chief Mourner. And to conclude all, came the Horse of Honour, in very rich Trappings embroidered on Crimson-Velvet, and adorned with white, red, and yellow Plumes of Feathers, being led by the Master of the Horse. The Rear of this brave show was brought up by the Protectors Cuard of Halberdiers, the Warders of the Tower, and a Troop of Horse.  
The Effigies in this manner being brought to the West-Gate of the Abby-Church of Westminster, it was taken from the Chariot by ten Gentlemen, who carried it to the East end of the Church, and there placed the Picture in a most magnificent Structure, built in the same form as one before had been (on the like occasion) for King James, but much more stately.  
And here they lodged and Usurped a Grave (the impatient Spectators fretting at this pompous Mummery and Magnificent cheat, taking his funeral triumphs for a more solemn Cozenage of the Executioner, till the due inevitable justice of Heaven found them out, after the reduction of His Sacred Majesty in peace to His Kingdoms, which would very difficultly have been so accomplished if this resolute destroyer had survived to that blessed time.  
On the 30. day of January 1660, that day 12 years of his most nefarious parricide, his Carcase with bradshaw's and Iretons, having been digged out of their Graves, were carried to the Red Lion in Holborn, and from thence drawn in Sledges to Tyburn, where they hanged from Ten of the Clock in the morning till Sunset, with their Faces towards Whitehall, and were then inhumed under the Gallows, and His Head set upon Westminster-Hall to be the becoming Spectacle of his Treason, where on that Pinnacle and Legal Advancement it is fit to leave this Ambitious wretch.   
FINIS.