February 20, the Lord Mac-Guyer, another of the Grand Irish Rebels, was executed at Tyburn. About this Time was the Parliament's Army new modell'd. The Earl of Effex and the other Commanders, who were Parliament Men (Oliver Cromwell was excepted) were by the Self-denying Ordinance (lately made) to attend in Parliament, in whofe Stead others and more active Persons were appointed. Sir Thomas Fairfax was conftituted Captain General, Oliver Cromwell (then the Sectaries Darling) was made Lieutenant General, Henry Ireton Commiffary General, &c. After which Model the King's Affairs of the Nation began fatally to decline. A. D. 1645, his Majefty drew his Army out of Oxford, in order to relieve his Northern Counties and Garrifons; but after he had formed and taken Leicester, in his Way he was called back to fecure Oxford, which the Parliament Army threatned with a Siege. This while Sir Thomas Fairfax had intercepted a Letter of the Lord Goring's to the King, wherein that loyal Subject had defired of his Majefty to forbear engaging with the Enemy, till he could be joyned with him. Hereupon Fairfax left his Siege before Oxford, and made directly towards the King with a Purpose to fight him before that Addition of Strength fhould come in. And at a Place near Naseby in Northamptonshire, both Armies met on Saturday, June 14, 1645. His Majefty commanded the main Body, Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice the Right Wing, Sir Marmaduke Langdale the Left, the Lord Afly the Right Hand Referve, and Sir George Lifle the Left. Of the Parliament Army Fairfax and Skipton had the ordering of the main Battle, Cromwell the Right Wing, 1645and Ireton the Left. Prince Rupert charged that Wing commanded by Ireton fo home, that he dif ordered it, taking Ireton Prifoner ; and for a while he followed the. Parliamentarians towards Nafely, but in the Interim Cromwell worsted the King's Right Wing, and then came in to Fairfax's Afliftance, who together charged upon the King's main Body; and they, no longer able to ftand it out, retreated out of the Field leaving a compleat Victory to the difloyal Party, who purfued them within two Miles of Leicester, killing in their Way many Women that had followed the Cavaliers Camp. On the Parliament's Side were wounded and flain above 1,000. On the King's Side were flain 20 Knights, Colonels, and Officers of Note, and 600 private Soldiers; and of Prifoners were taken 6 Colonels, 8 Lieutenant-Colonels, 18 Majors, 70 Captains, with many other Officers, 4,500 common Soldiers, 13 of the King's Houfhold Servants, 12 Pieces of Ordnance, 8,000 Arms, 40 Barrels of Powder, 200 Carriages, ftore of rich Pillage, 3,000 Horfes, the King's Standard, one of his Coaches, his Cabinet of Letters, which the Parliameat caused to be made publick. 1646. difperfing the reft. Thefe Clubmen declared themselves Neutrals, pretending only to fecure their own Properties. August 15, Sherbourn Caftle was furrendred upon Promife of Quarter. At Rowton Heath, near Chefter, Colonel Poyns worfted his Majesty's Forces. In Yorkshire Colonel Robert Lilbourn routed the Royalifts commanded, by the Lord Digby, and Sir Marmaduke Langdale. Colonel Birch and Colonel Morgan, by a Stratagem took Hereford for the Parliament. At Bovey-tracey, Oliver Cromwell furprized the Lord Wentworth, took three Regiments, difperfing two others. Fairfax took Dartmouth, defeated the Lord Hopton at Torrington, and immediately after blocks him up at Truro, inforcing him to disband his Army. March 21, Jacob Lord Afbly was routed at Stow in the Wold, by Sir William Brereton and Colonel Mor gan. The loyal Lord himself was taken Prifoner, with 1500 others. Many of the King's Garrifons fell this Year into the Hands of the Parliamentarians; as Bristol, the Devizes, Winchefter Caftle, Bafing House, Laycock Houfe, Berkly Castle, Cheapflor, Winchester, Belvoir Cattle, Latham Houfe, Monmouth, and Welbeck Houfe, &c. A. D. 1646, This Year the Parliament began with difabling all fuch of their Fellow-Members as were with the King, from ever fitting in the House again, impowering the Speaker to give Warrants to the Clerk of the Crown for new Elections in their Places; and alfo commanded all Cavaliers to depart the City of London, betwixt the Thirtieth of March and the Sixth of April. And in London a Court-Marshal was erected, who made it Death for any to re pair to the King, Queen, Prince, or Malignant Lords and Commanders; for Malignant was a Term applied by the Parliamentarians to the King's loyal Subjects. And now his Majefty was reduced into a very low Condition. His Forces beaten out of the Field in all Places, and his Garrifons furrendred und taken daily, as St. Michael's Mount, Ruthen Caftle, Woodflock, Excefier, and Barnstaple; and General Fairfax approaching to befiege Oxford, the King upon Thoughts of providing for himfelf, went in Difguife to the Scotch Camp that was then before Newark, May the 4th. The Scotch Officers engaging to fecure both him and as many of his Party as fhould feek for Shelter with them, and to ftand to him with their Lives and Fortunes. But upon his Majefty's Departure from Oxford, divers of the Noblemen, as if they had been deferted by the King, yielded themselves to Fairfax. And June 24, the most loyal University and City of Oxford was furrendred upon honourable Terms by Sir Thomas Glenham. After which a Number of the King's Garrifons yielded to the Parliament, as Barbury, Ludlow, Borftal, Carnarvon, Lichfield, Worcester, Wallingford, Gothridge, Ragland, Pendennis, and Newark by the King's Order was delivered up; and the Lord Mon trofs in Scotland, and the Lord Or mond in Ireland, by the King's Com mand, defifted their Hoftilities. After the Surrender of Newark, the Scotch Army marched back towards their own Country as far as Newcaftle upon Tyne, where when they were come, they tendred their Co. venant to the King, pretending that unlefs he would take that, they durft not bring him into Scot land. This the King refufed not, if they would still fatisfy the Scruples concerning concerning Church Government, VIII. An A&t for the Education of the Children of Papifts by Proteftants. which lay upon his Confcience; which to effect, Mr. Alexander Henderfon, a Minifter, the Oracle of the Kirk, was employed to converfe with him. But his Majefty's Parts were fo great, and Caufe fo good, that made all Mr. Henderfon's Attempts fuccefslefs. See the printed Papers of their Difputations. Whilft thefe Things were acting at Newcastle, the Bargain was ftruck at London betwixt the Parliament and Scotch Commiffioners, and for 200,000 the Scots delivered the King up to the English Parliament. Yet to mark their Perfidy, the Scots added this Caution, That there fhould be no Attempt made upon the King's Perfon, but being entertained at one of his own Palaces, he should be there treated with upon Propofitions from both Nations, which fhall be speedily fent unto him. July 24, were Nineteen Propofitions prefented to his Majefty from the Parliament for a fafe and wellgrounded Peace; the Heads of which Propofitions were as followeth. I. That his Majesty call in his Declarations and Proclamations against the Parliaments of both Kingdoms. II. That his Majefty fwear and fign the Covenant. III. That he pafs a Bill for abolifhing Bishops. IV. To confirm the fitting of the Affembly of Divines (which Affembly the Parliament had called to meet together, July 6th, 1643.) V. That Religion be Reformed as the Parliament agree. VI. That fuch Uniformity be paffed into A&t. VII. To pafs an A2 against Popifh Recufants. IX. An Act for laying Penalties on Papifts. X. An A&t for Prevention of Popifh Practices. XI. And the like for the Kingdom of Scotland. XII. An Act for the due Obfervance of the Lord's Day, for preaching againft Pluralities, &c. XIII. For fettling the Militia and Navy in the Parliament's Hands XIV. For nulling all Honours conferred fince 1642. XV. For confirming the Treaties, &c. paffed betwixt the two Kingdoms. XVI. For exempting certain Perfons from Pardon, &c. XVII. For making void the Ceffation of Ireland. XVIII. For fettling the London Militia. XIX. The Great Seal to be with the Commiffioners of Parliament, and all Acts by it to be made good. These were fent to his Majefty to Newcastle. February the 6th, the Scots left Newcastle, and marched homeward; and two Days after the King fet forward with the Parliament's Commiffioners for Holmby, attended with 900 Horfe. And now the Parliament, because they wanted others to quarrel withal, fell to quarrel amongst themfelves, dividing into two Parties, Presbyteri ans and Independents, with Anabaptifts and the other Sectarists; for the Independents comprehended all the feveral Sects. The Presbyterians were then powerful in the Houfe, but the other in the Army, and were a fubtil and refolute People. The former of thefe Parties P feeing 1646. 1646. feeing themselves in Danger of being fupplanted by the other, voted in Parliament, to have Part of the Army difbanded, another Part of it fent over into Ireland towards the reducing that Country, and the remainder to be difpofed into feveral Places of England, to keep the Royalists in Awe. This put the Army into a Heat, who, to make their Part fure, fent a Party of Horse, commanded by Cornet Joyce, to feize upon the King's Perfon, and to bring him from Holmby into their own Quarter, which was done, June 3, 1647. From Holmby they conveyed his Majefty to Childerfley, and thence to NewMarket, the Grandees of the Army pretending to him, how they were grieved for his Imprifoment and Sufferings, profeffing they would never part with their Arms, till they had made his Way to the Throne (but it must be a Throne in Heaven.) Oliver Cromwell the Grand Grandee, to clear himself from Diffimulation herein, 'tis faid, did afterward pretend, that as he was praying for a Bleffing from God on his Undertaking, to reftore the King to his priftine Majefty, his Tongue did cleave to the Roof of his Mouth, that he could -not speak one Word more, which he took as a Return of Prayer, and that God had rejected him from being King. And the more to palliate their evil Meanings, they permitted him the Service of his own Chaplains, which he had been denied at Holmby, the Commerce of Letters with the Queen, the Vifits of his own Party, and Attendance of his Courtiers. The Parliament voted, that the General fhould be required to deliver the King to their Commiffioners, who were to bring him to Richmond, to the End that Propofitions of Peace might be fpeedily prefented him. Here upon the Army drew up Articles againft Eleven of the Members of the Commons Houfe, namely, Mr. Denzil Hollis, Sir Philip Staple ton, Sir William Lewis, Sir John Clotworthy, Sir William Waller, Sir John Maynard, Colonel May, Colonel Long, Colonel Harley, Mr. Glynn, and Mr. Anthony Nicholls. Nor would the Army be fatisfied till the Houfe was purged of thefe Members. Which being done, the Army Party became fomething prevalent, who voted that the London Militia fhould be taken out of the Hands of the City, and transferr'd to others better affected to the Army; and that it should be Trea fon to feek for Subfcriptions to Pe titions. Hereupon great Multitudes of Apprentices and others, in a tu multuous fort, reforted to the Par liament-Houfe, and there kept the Speaker in his Chair till this Vote was pafs'd, That the King fhould come to London to treat, and that the City fhould have the ordering of their own Militia. Fairfax un derftanding this, haftes with hi Army to London, and at Houn was met by the Speaker, and fuch of the Members as fided with the Army, who complained of the Vi olence that was offered them. I the mean while the Citizens at Prefbyterian Part of the Parlia ment made fome Preparations to oppofe the Army; but upon th General's Approach to the City, th Gates were thrown open, and th Army marched in Triumph thro the City, feized upon the Towe difmantled the Fortifications, in prifoned the Mayor, and divers the chief Citizens, and committe fome Noblemen to the Black-Ro In September the Members at H minter fent Propofitions to his Al jefly then at Hampton-Court, whic were the fame in Subftance with those formerly offered, as, for the abolishing Epifcopacy; the Parliament to have the Difpofal of all great Offices of Truft, and Militia &c. About this Time the Parliament voted, That 6,000 Foot, and 2,400 Horfe and Dragoons fhould be fent into Ireland, and 18,000 Foot and 7,200 Horse, and 1,000 Dragoons, fhould be kept up as a ftanding Army for England, the reft of the Soldiers to be disbanded. The Army alfo, for the better carrying on of their Designs, about the fame time elected out of every Regiment a certain Number of Soldiers to meet and confult, by the Name of Adju lators; which were a Military Common-Council, being two Commiffion Officers and two private Soldiers out of every Regiment, to confult for the Army's Good, to draw up their Grievances and prefent them to the General, and he to the Parliament. Thefe Oliver and his Affiftant Ireton encouraged as long as faited their Defigns, and then laid them afide. November the 6th, the Scotch Commiffioners fent a Letter to the Speaker of the Lower Houfe, that the King might be admitted to a perfonal Treaty, at least that the Army might not remove him from Hamp ton-Court; but fome of the Army Of ficers having informed his Majefty (on Defign to have him the furer at their Difpofe) that his Perfon was in fome hazard from the Adjutators and Levellers, he therefore with three of his molt trafty Attendants, Sir Jaba Berkley, Mr. Afhburnham, and Colonel Legg, in the dark and tempetuous Night of November the 11th, escaped from Hampton-Court, and after fome wandring, committed himself to Colonel Hammond, Governour of the Isle of Wight; who conveyed him to Carisbrooke- 1646. Cafle, the very Pit, 'tis faid, that his Enemies had defigned for him; for it was rumour'd above a Fortnight before in the Army, that the King fhould be in the Ifle of Wight: And the very Night he departed from Hampton-Court, the Centinels were withdrawn from their ufual Standings, on Purpofe to facilitate his Efcape thence. Whilt his Majefty was at Hampton-Court, Propofitions (being the fame with thofe at Newcastle) were prefented to him by the Earls of Pembroke and Lauderdale, Sir Charles Erskin, Sir John Holland, Sir John Cooke, Sir James Harrington, Mr. Richard Brown, Mr. Hugb Kenedy, and Mr. Robert Berkley, in the Names of the Parliament of Eng. land, and in Behalf of the Kingdom of Scotland. From Carisbrooke-Cafile, his Majefty wrote a Letter to the Parliament, wherein he profefled he could not either, as a King or Chriftian, confent to the abolishing of Epifcopacy, because he esteemed it to be Apoftolical, and at his Coronation was fworn to maintain it; yet he was willing Prefbytery fhould be fettled for Three Years, and that a free Debate fhould be had by fuch a Number of Divines, about the Settlement of ChurchGovernment for the future. And was willing alío that the Parliament fhould difpofe of the Militia, and fhould have the Choice of his PrivyCouncil by Grant of Patent from him during his Reign: Withal earneftly foliciting them to pity the languishing Condition of the Kingdom, and to come to a perfonal Treaty with him. After Three Days Debate, the Parliament fent Four Bills to his Majefty to be figned by him; but fo derogating they were from his Royalty, that the Scotch |