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FAith, Truth, and Piety, are rarely found in Men who follow Camps. The Army, who in their Remonstrance would have the Parliament dissolved, and another called which might settle the Nation; now they had got the Rump to be their Head, whereby they may share the Church, Crown-Lands, and Delinquents Estates among themselves, regard
neither Parliament nor Nation; and sure never was there such a Generation, who so impudently out-braved Truth, and all that may be call'd Sacred. If you could force a Belief into them, they first told you they fought for King and Parliament; then they declared for the King and People against the Parliament; and now they have taken off the King, if you will have any Benefit of their Protection, you must engage to their Government, with∣out King or House of Lords, and be content with a piece of the Commons, call'd the Rump.
Not content with the Death of the King, the Rump proceeds to abolish Monarchy, and place the original Power of Govern∣ment in the People, whose Representatives they are, if you'll take their Word; and voted it High Treason to restore Monarchy, or to assist, or pray for Charles Stuart, or any of that Line; over∣throw the King's Statue, with an Exit tyrannus Regum ultimus, Nor are they satiated with the Blood of the King, but erect ano∣ther High Court of Injustice, whereof one Lisle, an ignorant Fel∣low, was President; who condemns the Marquess Hamilton, Earl of Holland, and Lord Capel, for raising Arms against the Parlia∣ment, which themselves had destroy'd.
But tho the Rump and Army were establish'd upon these strange Principles, yet being the Instruments of Divine Vengeance, like a Torrent broke loose from raging Seas, in less than five Years time they overwhelm not only England, but Ireland and Scotland, al∣most pull'd the Dutch States up by the Roots, and made France and Spain tremble. But that we may observe what follow'd, let's see what went before.
The Scots were the first who invaded England against the King, to impose their Solemn League and Covenant, which was more against the English Laws and Constitutions than Laud's Service-Books, Canons, and High-Commission, were against the Scotish. In July last the Scots invaded England, commanded by the Mar∣quess Hamilton; in August, Cromwel routs, and utterly overthrows this Army, and takes Hamilton Prisoner: So the Scots who began these Wars first, are the first chastised by this English Army. But this is but the Earnest of what shall follow.
The secluded Members who first join'd the Scots, beginning first with an equivocal Protestation, but after downright joined with the Scots in their Covenant, are now not only turned out of the House by the Rump, but kept in nasty Prisons, till they became as little dangerous as The House of Lords.
The horrid Irish Massacre and Rebellion succeeded in the third place: And now the Rump, having established themselves by sub∣duing of the Scots under Hamilton, and deposing the secluded Members, are laying Rods in Piss to scourge these abominable Irish. But before we proceed, let's see how things stood in Ireland.
In October 1641. the Irish Massacre was, which succeeded in a Rebellion, in which Richlieu's Scarlet was as deep dyed, as in the Scotish and English Commotions. The Head of this accursed Crew was John Baptista Pennuncio, the Pope's Nuncio, who in his Passage through France threatned he would suffer no Man to live in Ire∣land that wished well to the King, or to the English Affairs. Thus you see how all the Factions conspired against the King, the Laws and Constitutions of England: But for these last seven Years, viz. so long as the Distractions were continued in England, the War was pursued but by halves in Ireland.
King Charles, in his Life-time, had made the Marquess of Or∣mond Lieutenant of Ireland, who in 1643 made a Truce with the Irish, that the King might make use of the English in England: But the Irish kept their Faith no better in it, than the Scots had before with the King in the Peace in 1639. For on a sudden they rise against the Marquess (now the English are sent into Eng∣land) and had surprized him, if he had not been informed be∣fore, and escaped into Dublin: and being in no Condition to de∣fend it, but obliged to deliver it up either to the English sent by the Parliament, or to the Irish, he gave it up to the English, who make Colonel Jones Governour; and so Ormond leaves Ireland.
After the Marquess was withdrawn, the Nuncio behaved him∣self (like a Church-Man) with such a Despotical Tyranny, that he became intolerable, even to the Irish themselves; who, being press'd by Jones, Coot, and Monk, combine in a Body, and send to the Queen and to the Prince of Wales (for then the King was close Prisoner in the Isle of Wight) to return the Marquess of Or∣mond, and they would submit to his Authority, and join to expel the Scots and Parliament's Forces. The Nuncio taking this for an Affront to his Authority (being that of the Apostolick See, which is infallible) threatens Excommunication to them who should not obey him; but neither he, nor his Excommunication, were obey'd, but was forced to Capitulate with the Irish them∣selves to procure his Departure, which was as shameful, as his Entrance was proud and insolent.
Upon the Marquess's Return, he enter'd into most dishonoura∣ble Articles with the Irish; which yet would not please Owen Ro Oneal, who join'd with the Parliament's Forces, and reliev'd Londonderry, then besieg'd by the Lord Ardes.
After this Pacification with the Irish, such as it was, Ormond raises a numerous Army, and by my Lord Inchiqueen, routs a Par∣ty of Jones's going to Drogheda, who takes the Town, and Dundalk, Green-Castle, Newry, and Trim, and returns Victorious to the Mar∣quess. Hereupon the Marquess besieges Dublin, but unfortunate∣ly sends my Lord Inchiqueen into Munster, with, if not the greatest, the best part of the Army; Jones falls upon the Remainder, and
utterly routs them: This was in August 1649. And the same Month Cromwel lands at Dublin with an Army of 15000 old Sol∣diers.
Upon this Disaster, the Irish, no more to be reconciled to the English, than the Scots Covenanters to Episcopacy, quarrel with the Marquess; which was never after composed: So the Marquess left Ireland again, leaving the Earl of Clanrickard Deputy.
Cromwel, after his landing, first storms Drogheda, or Tredah, with a most terrible Execution; and after, in less than one Year, all Ireland, upon the matter, is reduced to the Obedience of the Rump; who take dreadful Vengeance upon all the Irish who could be found to have had any hand in the Massacre of the English.
The King, Charles II. having lost England and Ireland, with all their Dependencies, except the Isles of Guernsey, Jersey, Man, and Scilly, and the Plantations in America, which shall soon follow, set up for Scotland, and makes the Marquess of Montross his Com∣missioner; who having got together about 400 Swedes, Danes, Poles, and Germans, lands them at the Wick of Cathness in April 1650, and takes Dumbeath: But Lesley having sent Major-General Straughan, with 300 choice Horse, he set upon this ill composed Body of Montross, and utterly routs them: Montross fled, but was betrayed by the Laird of Aston, who had formerly served him.
The Covenanters, to shew their Clemency and Humility, bind the Marquess in a Chair planted backwards on a Cart, that all Men might see him, the Hangman, with his Hat on, riding before; and upon the 28th of May 1650, by a Sentence pronounced the Day before by the Lord Lowden, was hanged upon a Gibbet 30 Foot high, at the Cross of Edinburg, for three Hours: after which, he was quarter'd, and his Head set upon the Talbooth, and his Legs and Arms over the Gates of Sterlin, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen. But see the Piety and Commiseration of these humble People! They order, in the Sentence, that if he repented, so that his Excommunication should be taken off, the Trunk of his Body should be buried in the Grey-Friars; otherwise, in the Burrough-Moor, the Common Burial of Malefactors. But Vengeance shall soon overtake these cruel Proceedings.
For the Kirk, sore afflicted for their deposed Brethren in Eng∣land, now in nasty Prisons, whereby Heresy, Schism, and Pro∣faneness raged, and the Throne of Presbytery was defaced, but being unable of themselves to restore their Brethren, before Mon∣tross's Death, had agreed to have the King proclaimed King of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland; yet so as to take the So∣lemn League and Covenant, to give Signs of Sorrow and Repen∣tance for his Father and Mother's Sins, and banish and turn out of his Court all who had not taken the Covenant, or taken up Arms for his Father. But the Kirk could not have found a Plant
so unlikely to produce the Fruit of Repentance, or to establish the Throne of Presbytery, as this King. However, they'll try what's to be done; and to this end, send Commissioners to treat with the King at Jersey, not yet reduced by the Rump: and a Treaty is agreed to, to be at Breda in Holland.
The King was perplex'd what to do; for to be a King in Fact, he desired above all things: but to forsake his Mother and Father's Friends, was grievous to him; and to come to the Stool of Repen∣tance, was full sore against his Will. Yet to be a King, as a Man does for a Wife, he forsakes Father, Mother, and his dearly belo∣ved Friends, and comes to Breda: There the News comes of Montross's tragical Defeat and Execution, which had like to have spoil'd all; but over Shooes, over Boots; on he goes, having sub∣mitted to all the rigid Terms the Kirk-men imposed upon him. And in June 1650, arrives in Scotland, to be anew instructed in the Discipline of the Kirk.
The Rump in the mean while were not idle, you must think; for having spued up Presbytery in England, they scorn'd to chew the Cud of it from Scotland: and therefore Fairfax having refu∣sed to command an Army against the Scots, they send for Crom∣wel out of Ireland, by this time is good as reduced by him, and declared him General of all the Forces of England, Scotland, and Ireland; who, about the latter end of June 1650, enters Scotland, with a well-disciplin'd rather than a numerous Army: and having taken many Places of small moment, and often beat the Scots in Skirmishes, upon the 3d of September utterly overthrows the much more numerous Kirk-Army at Dumbar, commanded by their old General Lesley, 3000 Scots killed, 9000 taken Prisoners, all their Baggage and Ammunition, and above 200 Colours, which, as Tro∣phies, were hung up in Westminster-Hall, where the English and Scots had before taken such Pains and Care to unite both Nations in their Solemn League and Covenant.
Whilst these things were doing, the Kirk at Edinburg were close at their Devotion, hourly expecting the Feet of those which should bring the glad Tidings which were at hand; when Lesley, the same Day, brings Tidings of their utter Overthrow. Now was all their Joy turned to Lamentation and Wo, and the Songs of Sion are like to be sung in a strange Land.
To augment these Miseries, the King, who could not submit to the rigid Discipline of the Kirk, runs from Schole to the House of the Lord Dippon, intending for the Highlands, where he might go to School with more Liberty. Now all is in a Hurlyburley. After the King runs Montgomery from the Kirk, promising the King, if he would return, the Kirk would remit part of their Dis∣cipline: upon which, the King returned to St. Johnstons.
The King thus returned, did not please the Kirk-men, for being beaten by the English, they rail against those that called the King in too hastily, before he had given Marks of his Repentance and Conversion to God; and that it was not lawful for any who were truly Godly to take up Arms for him; and for the Advancement of the Kirk, made Kerr and Straughan Generals of the Kirk-Forces. But Straughan runs to Cromwel, and Kerr is utterly defeated, wound∣ed, and taken by Lambert.
Whilst these things were thus doing in Scotland, let's see what was doing in England: In January this Year the Rump erected a High Court of Justice, whereof one Keeble, an ignorant Petty-fogging Lawyer, was President in Norfolk, upon pretence of an intended Insurrection for bringing in of the King, where 24 were condemned, and 20 executed, whereof one Mr. Hobbard, Bro∣ther or near Kinsman to Sir John Hobbard, who after married Cromwel's Niece, and Widow of Col. Hammond, was one. And in March following the Rump erected another High Court of Justice, which condemned Sir Henry Hide for taking the King's Commissi∣on to be his Ambassador at Constantinople.
The Kirk-Party now lose their Reputation; they had nothing left, but to preach and pray, and rail: and now the Parliament and General Assembly take in all who will take the Covenant, but all to no purpose.
For Cromwel having taken Edinburgh Town and Castle, Jedworth, Reslan and Tantallon Castle, sends Overton and Lambert, in Boats over the Frith, who rout Sir John Brown, and Major General Hol∣born, kill 2000 of their Men, and take 1200 Prisoners, and Brown himself, with 42 Colours.
Now, though Scotland were a cold Climate, 'twas too hot to hold the King and his Army, and therefore with them he slips into England, by the Way of Carlisle, leaving the Kirk in Lamen∣tations and Woes, that Heresy and Schism had overspread the Beauty of Holiness, now Profaneness and Superstition had left it.
Harrison and Lambert followed the King, and Cromwel soon after, who at Worcester (that Day Twelve Month after he had routed the Scots at Dunbar) utterly again routs the Scots and English, kills 3550, with Duke Hamilton and General Forbes, and takes 5000 Prisoners, with the Earls of Rothes, Kanwarth, Kelly, the Lord Sinclare and Montgomery, General of the Ordnance; and soon af∣ter, David Lesley (who fought not, or but little in the Battel) is routed by Lilburn, and taken Prisoner, with Lauderdale (who held Correspondence in England with the Covenanting Scots) and the Lords Kenmore and Middleton: Yet the King by a Miracle escaped, to be restored King Charles II.
But the same Fate did not attend the Noble Earl of Derby, who coming out of the Isle of Man, with about 250 Foot, and 60
Horse, to have assisted the King, which he joined with about 1200 raised Men in Lancashire, (where he was highly honoured and beloved) was set upon by Col. Lilburn (John's elder Brother) and routed the 29th of August, where the Lord Widdrington, Sir Thomas Tiddersly, Col. Boynton, Sir Francis Gamul, Major Tro••lop, Sir William Throgmorton, Col. Leg, Col. Ratliff, and Col. Gerard, with some others, were taken Prisoners; but the Earl tho wound∣ed, escaped to the King at Worcester: but it was his hard Fortune to be afterwards taken, and tried by a Court Martial upon the 6th of October, which consisted of 20 Officers and Captains, five Co∣lonels, Maj. General Milton, and Col. Mackworth President, at Chester; and upon the 22d was beheaded.
When Cromwel came into England, he left Monk to command in Scotland, who besieges and takes Sterlin-Castle by Surrender, with all the Guns, Ammunition and Arms, Money, Jewels, and the Registers transferred from Edinburgh thither, and quite defaced the lofty Inscription:
—Nobis haec invicta dedere Centum sex Proavi—
About this time old General Lesley was raising an Army in Perth∣shire. Monk sends Morgan and Alured to prevent it; who surprized them, and take Lesley, the Earls of Crawford and Lindsey, the Lord Ogilby, and many other Prisoners: and after take Dunfrise.
At this time Monk besieges and takes Dundee by Storm with as terrible an Execution, as Cromwel the Year before had done at Tredah: Here it was, and at Sterlin-Castle, the Scots had lodged all their Plunder and Money they had got in England, which was so plentiful, that the English common Souldiers shared Money by Hatfuls. The Terror of this Success frighted Aberdeen, and all the other Towns in Scotland into Obedience; nor did it stay here, but all the Isles of Orcades and Shetland submitted; which nei∣ther Roman nor English Force could ever accomplish.
Now the Kirk-Party are all in Yelling and Woes, Heresy and Schism had overspread the beauteous Discipline of Reformation: Now they cannot persecute other Men, they exclaim and cry out they are persecuted themselves: Their Nobles (except Argile) which are not killed, are committed to Prison, that they might share in the Tribulations, as well as Triumphs of their Brethren in England.
But the Tribulations of the Covenanting Party did not end in Imprisonment only, but extended to Life; for upon the 22d of August, Love and Gibbons (two most zealous Covenanters) were executed by a Judgment of a High Court of Justice (as 'twas called) for holding Intelligence with their Brethren in Scotland; so that this High-Justice, or Summum Jus, reached the Covenanters as well as the Royalists.
Now the Rump change the Fabrick of the Scotish Government, and make Itinerant Judges, part Scots, part English, and make a Council of State of that medly; yet allow them 30 Commissio∣ners to sit and vote in their Parliament at Westminster; so that tho the Crown of Scotland were independent upon the Crown of England, yet Scotland, as well as Ireland and England, must de∣pend upon the Rump: And that the Scots may be the more tame∣ly ridden, they are denied Arms, and even Horses, unless on necessary Occasions.
The Victory at Worcester swelled the Sails of Cromwel's Ambiti∣on brim full, so that he began to entertain Thoughts of Setting up himself; yet being a ticklish Point, wherein he was sure to be opposed by the Factions as well as Royalists, upon the 10th of December, he called a Meeting of divers Members of the House, and some of the Principal Officers of the Army, and proposed to them, That now the old King being dead, and his Son defeated, he held it necessary to come to a Settlement of the Nation; and that he requested this Meeting, that they might consider and advise what was fit to be done, and to present it to the Parliament: So much easier is it to destroy a Government, than to erect another. And now Cromwel and his Adherents had overturned the Government of Three Kingdoms, they are to advise and consider how to erect a∣nother: This was the good Fight which these Men fought to de∣stroy, and then knew not what to do. However we'll give the Account of these Mens Opinions verbatim, as I find it in Whit∣lock's Memoirs, f. 492. a. b.
Lenthal. My Lord (who made him so?) This Company were very ready to attend your Excellency, and the Business you were pleased to propound to us is very necessary to be considered: God hath given mar∣vellous Success to our Forces under your Command, and if we do not improve these Mercies (Blood, Rapine and Murder) to some Settle∣ment, such as may be to God's Honour and the Good of the Common∣wealth, we shall be very much blame-worthy.
Harrison. I think that which my Lord General hath propounded as to a Settlement both of our Civil and Spiritual Liberties, and so that the Mercies which the Lord hath given in to us, may not be cast away; how this may be done is the great Question.
Whitlock. It is a great Question indeed, and not suddenly to be resolved; yet it were pity that a Meeting of so many able and worthy Persons, as I see here, should be fruitless; and I would humbly offer in the first Place, whether it be not requisite to be understood in what way this Settlement is desired, whether by an Absolute Republick, or with any Mixture of Monarchy.
Cromwel. My Lord Commissioner Whitlock hath put us upon the right Point, and indeed it is my meaning, that we should consider whether a Republick, or a mixt Monarchical Government, will be best
settled; and if any thing Monarchical, then in whom that Power shall be placed.
Sir Tho. Widdrington. I think a mix'd Monarchical Government will be most sutable to the Laws and People of this Nation; and if any Monarchical, I suppose we shall hold it most just to place that Power in one of the Sons of the late King.
Fleetwood. I think that Question, whether an absolute Republick, or a mix'd Monarchy be best to be settled in this Nation, will not very easily be determined.
L. C. J. St. John. It will be found that the Government of this Nation, without something of Monarchical Power, will be very difficult to be so settled, as not to shake the Foundation of our Laws, and the Li∣berties of the People.
Lenthal. It will breed a strange Confusion, to settle a Govern∣ment of this Nation without something of Monarchy.
Desborough. I beseech you, my Lord, why may not this as well as other Nations be governed by a Republick?
Whitlock. The Laws of England are so interwoven with the Power and Practice of Monarchy, that to settle a Government with∣out something of Monarchy in it, would breed so great an Alteration in the Proceedings of our Law, that you will scarce find time to rectify; nor can we well foresee the Inconveniencies which will arise thereby.
Whaley. I do not understand Matters of Law, but it seems to me the best way, not to have any thing of Monarchical Power in the Settle∣ment of our Government; and if we should resolve upon any, whom should we pitch upon? The King's eldest Son hath been in Arms against us, and his second Son is our Enemy.
Widdrington. But the late King's third Son, the Duke of Glocester, is still among us, and too young to have been in Arms a∣gainst us, or infected with the Principles of our Enemies.
Whitlock. There may be a day given for the King's eldest Son, or for the Duke of York his Brother, to come in to the Parliament, and upon such Terms as shall be thought fit and agreeable, both to our Civil and Spiritual Liberties, and a Settlement may be made upon them.
Cromwel. This will be a Business of more than ordinary Difficul∣ty; but really (a Word much used by him) I think, if it may be done with Safety, and Preservation of our Rights, both as English∣men, and as Christians, that a Settlement of somewhat of Monarchi∣cal Power would be very effectual.
So that the Soldiers were for a Republick, except Fleetwood, who knew not what to say; the Lawyers for a mix'd Monarchy, and many for the Duke of Glocester to be King; but then Cromwel, (designing for himself) still put off the Debate to some other Point; so the Company part without any Result at all: yet Cromwel discovered by this Meeting the Inclinations of the Persons
which spake, for which he fished, and made use of what he thus discerned. But this Point was too tender to be further pressed at this time, and so we leave it, till Cromwel shall give a further Occasion.
In October, this Year, Haines reduced Jersey to the Rump; and in January the Isle of Barbadoes was surrender'd to Askew, sent thi∣ther by the Rump; and in this Month, an English Man of War meeting with some Dutch Fishermen, demanded the tenth Herring, as a Duty for their Fishing in these Seas; which the Dutch denying, the English sunk one of their Ships, and all the Men were lost, (see Whitlock's Memoirs, fol. 487. b.) and here began the first Quarrel between the Rump and Dutch.
The Rump thus every where Victorious at home, yet it may be fearing they had disgusted all Christian Princes by the Death of the King, (and already the Czar of Muscovy had revoked all the Privi∣leges of Trade which had been granted to the English in the Reigns of Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth, and continued in the Reigns of King James and King Charles, and banished the English out of his Domi∣nions for putting the King to Death) upon the 11th of March sent the Chief Justice St. John and Mr. Strickland to treat of a Coaliti∣on with the Dutch, whose Title and Government were the same, or not unlike to the Rump's; and if this could be obtained, both Republicks being incomparably superiour to all the Kings in the World by Sea, they need not fear any Enemies abroad.
But the Dutch fearing this Coalition with England, (where the Harbours for Shipping are more, and much better than those in Holland) would rob them of the Trades they were possessed of, and that their rich Merchants, in case of a Coalition, would be tempted to lay out their Monies upon real Securities in England, rather than to venture them in the contingent Accidents of Trade, not only refused to enter into a Coalition, but rudely treated St. John; whose haughty Spirit ill brooking such Affronts, made a Report of his Embassy, little to the Dutch Advantage.
Hereupon the Rump made the Act of Navigation, designing thereby to have, in a great measure, lessened the Dutch Trade, and encreased the English; tho both succeeded quite contrary, as here∣after we shall make it appear: Yet the English, by virtue of this Law, took Occasion to search the Dutch Vessels, and often to make Prize of them; whereupon the Dutch sent over four Ambassadors, Catz, Van de Peere, Sharp, and Newport, to pacify the Rump, which they were so far from effecting, that the Rump, upon their first Audience, upon the 15th of April, demand the Arrears for the Dutch Fishing upon the Coasts of England and Scotland; that the Survivors of the Dutch, assisting in the Massacre of the English at Amboyna, should be given up to Justice; and a free Trade up the Scheld.
The Dutch Ambassadors were surprized at these Demands, ha∣ving no Instructions thereupon; or if they had, could not have given any reasonable Answer against them: Yet still they conti∣nued to make great Protestations of their Love and Affection to the Commonwealth of England, and their most ardent Desire of propagating and encreasing the true Reformed Religion; yet pri∣vately gave the State an Account how little was to be expected from the Rump by a Treaty. Hereupon the Dutch prepare for a War, nor was the Rump herein behind hand with them.
The Dutch in May set out a Fleet of Men of War, commanded by Van Trump, pretending for the Security of Trade, but with In∣structions not to strike Sail to the English Flag; and upon the 17th of May came into Dover Road with 45 Sail of Men of War, where Trump rode at Anchor, as if he defied what the English could do to him.
Blake, the English Admiral, had but 15 Men of War, yet re∣solved to have an Account of Trump what he had to do in Dover Road, and sailed directly to him: hereupon Trump stood to the East-ward, and by that means being become Head-most of the English Fleet, bore directly upon them; and being come within Musquet-shot of the English, Blake gave Order to fire at Trump's Flag, which was done thrice, but instead of striking it, Trump poured in a Broad-side upon Blake, and Major Bourn at this time coming to Blake's Assistance with 8 Men of War, both Fleets engaged from four in the Afternoon till Night, wherein there were not less than 2000 Shot exchanged upon one and the other side; and the Dutch had one Man of War taken and another sunk, and 150 Men slain; but the English had not one Ship lost or disabled, and very few Men killed: This Fight was the 19th of May. Van Trump in the Night drew his Ships on the Back of the Goodwin Sands, and next Morning sailed back to Zealand, instead of securing the Dutch Trade.
Hereupon the Rump set a Guard upon the Dutch Ambassadors at Chelsey; but tho the English Fleet in this Fight received little Damage, yet that of the Dutch was so batter'd, as made it unfit to fight. About this time Virginia submitted to the Rump, but not New-England, nor ever after did that I can find.
The Dutch thus balk'd in their Expectation of great things to be done by Van Trump, and finding the contrary Success, sent a Paper to their Ambassadors in England, which was presented to the Council of State the 20th of June, therein taking God the Searcher of all Hearts to witness, that the most unhappy Fight of the Ships of both Commonwealths, did happen against the Knowledg and Will of the Lords States-General of the Ʋnited Netherlands, and that with Grief and Astonishment they received the fatal News of that unhappy rash Action. A likely matter, as if Van Trump should
dare to do such an Action without their Order, and they not pu∣nish him for it.
That they did consult and endeavour to find out what Remedy chiefly may be applied to mitigate that raw and bloody Wound, and to that end had written to gather a solemn Meeting of Parliament or all the Provinces, whereby they doubt not but a Help may be found out for these Troubles, and a better hope of our Treaty in hand for the com∣mon good of both Nations, to shun the detestable shedding of Christian Blood (so much desired, and would be dearly bought by the common Enemies of both Nations.) We again crave this most Honourable Council, and beseech you by the Pledges both of common Religion and Liberty (Terms unusual in the High and Mighty States, and never used by them to any King since the Reign of Queen Elizabeth) mean while to suffer nothing to be done out of too much Heat, that afterwards may prove neither revocable nor repairable, but too late Vows and Wishes; but rather that you would let us receive a kind Answer without further Delay, upon our last Request.
To this Cant, wherein God's sacred Name is exposed to cover Dutch Hypocrisy, the Rump gave this Answer: That calling to mind with what continued Demonstrations of Friendship and Affection, from the beginning of their Intestine Troubles, they have proceeded with the Neighbours of the United Provinces, they do find themselves much surprized with the unsutable returns they have made thereunto, and especially at the Acts of Hostility lately committed in the very Roads of England upon the Fleet of this Commonwealth, the matter of Fact whereof stated in clear Proofs, is hereto annexed: Ʋpon serious Con∣sideration of all, and of the several Papers delivered by your Ex∣cellencies to the Council of State, the Parliament thinks fit to give this Answer.
As they are willing to make a charitable Construction of the Ex∣pressions used in these Papers, endeavouring to represent the late En∣gagements of the Fleets without their Knowledg, and against the Minds of their Superiours; so when they consider how disagreeable to that Profession, the Resolution and Actions of your State, and of their Ministers at Sea, have been, even in the midst of a Treaty offered by themselves, and managed by your Excellencies, by the extraordinary Preparations of 150 Sail of Men of War, without any visible occa∣sion, but what does now appear a just ground of Jealousy in your own Judgments, when your Lordships pretended to excuse it, and the Instructions themselves given by your Superiours to their Commanders at Sea, they do find too much cause to believe that the Lords States of the United Provinces have an Intention by Force to usurp the known Rights of England in the Seas, to destroy the Fleets, that are under God, their Walls and Bulwarks, and thereby to expose this Common∣wealth to Invasion, as by this late Action they attempted to do.
Whereupon the Parliament conceive they are obliged to endeavour, with God's Assistance, as they have opportunity, to seek Reparation of the Wrong already suffered, and Security that the like be not attempted for the future.
Nevertheless, with this Mind and Desire, that all Differences be∣tween the two Nations may (if possible) be peaceably and friendly composed, as God by his Providence shall open a way thereunto, and Circumstances shall be conducing to render such Endeavours less dilatory, and more effectual than those of this kind have hitherto yet been. See Whitl. Mem. f. 510. a, b.
This was the 10th of June, and on the 12th Captain Peacock and Captain Taylor in two of the English Frigats, fought with two Dutch Men of War on the Coast of Flanders, for refusing to strike their Top-sail; and after a short Dispute, the English took one of them with all their Officers and Mariners, but she was so torn that she presently sunk, and run the other upon the Sands to avoid being taken.
Upon the 13th Blake took 26 Sail of Dutch Merchant-Men near the Downs, and three Men of War, having before staid ten more of the Holland Ships; and upon the 29th the Rump passed these Votes.
Hereupon the Dutch Ambassadors the next day, viz. June the 30th, demanded Audience of Leave to depart, which was granted; but the Rump would not recede from demanding Satisfaction for all their Damages. Hereupon the Dutch Ambassadors returned home.
The Dutch foreseeing a Coalition with England, or a War would necessarily follow, and being set against the Coalition, resolv'd upon a War, and to that end enter into a Confederacy with the King of Denmark against the English.
Now both Rump and States make all imaginable Preparations for War; and about the beginning of July, Blake with a gallant Fleet went Northwards, and left Sir George Askue to command the rest of the Fleet in the Downs, who took five Dutch Merchant Men, and Blake in his Passage took two Men of War, and two Merchant-Men; and within a day or two after, viz. the 4th of July, Sir George met 40 Dutch Ships, took 7 of them, burnt 4, and ran 24 on Ground upon the French Shore, where, tho the French pro∣tected them against the English, yet coming aboard the Dutch Ships, they plunder'd them.
Upon the 24th, Blake took 100 of the Dutch fishing Busses, and in them 1500 Prisoners: and about the last of July Blake fell upon the Dutch Convoy for their Fishery in the Northern Seas, consisting of 12 Men of War, and sunk three, and took the other nine, with all the Dutch Busses, and unloaded all their Fish, and sent the Fishermen home; and Blake also took three of the Dutch East-India-Men richly laden. In these Actions Blake had but 8 Men of War, and Blake sent six of the Dutch Men of War to Major General Dean in Scotland.
Upon the 20th of August, Sir George Askue with 38 Sail of Men of War set upon the Dutch Fleet of 55 Sail, and 15 Merchant-Men near Plimouth; the Fight lasted three days, and the Dutch lost two Ships, one sunk, the other burnt, the English none. Here∣upon the Dutch retired to the Coast of France, and Sir George fol∣low'd them, and charged them, and sunk the Dutch Admiral, and lost but one Fire-ship, who having taken out her Men, sent her among the Dutch; but being upon the French Coast, Sir George pursued the Dutch no further, and went Northward to repair his Fleet.
At this time there was no Peace between the English and French, and the Spaniards having besieged Dunkirk, the French set out a Fleet under the Duke of Vendosme to relieve it: This Fleet was set upon by Blake in the Downs, who had then but 7 Men of War with him, whereof the Soveraign was one; and upon the 6th of September, Blake engaged the whole French Fleet, and took 7 of their Men of War, and dispersed the rest; whereupon Dun∣kirk, and after Gravelin submitted to the Spaniard.
Van Trump upon his Misfortune having laid down his Com∣mission, his Command was given to De Wit; and the King of Denmark having made a League with the Dutch against the Eng∣lish, seized all the English Ships and their Effects within the Sound or Zundt, and joined five of his Men of War with the Dutch.
But the Success of the English Fleet in these Seas was not an∣swered in the Levant; for Captain Bodiloe with five or six English Frigats, was set upon by Van Galen, Admiral of the Dutch in those Seas, about the latter end of September, with 16 Dutch Men of War, in which Encounter the Phoenix (formerly mistaken for the Garland) was taken by the Dutch, and the English forced to retire under the Protection of the Port of Leghorn: but Van Galen bought this Victory with the loss of his Life; and upon the 20th of No∣vember following, Captain Cox with two Boats of brave English in the Port of Leghorn, boarded her and brought her off, and young Van Trump was forced to skip into the Water, to save his Life, or being taken Prisoner.
De Wit had small Joy of his Employment, having De Ruiter joined in Commission with him; for having fitted out so great a
Fleet as the Dutch could put out, they took their Station in Octo∣ber on the side of the North-Foreland upon the Kentish Coast.
Blake having been on the Western Coast, and having taken five Dutch West-India Ships, and six Straits Ships, valued at 200000 l. hastned with his Fleet towards the Dutch, and divided it into three Squadrons, one commanded by himself, another by Vice-Admiral Penn, and the third by Rear-Admiral Bourn; and upon the 28th of October engaged the Dutch Fleet, and boarded and took their Rear-Admiral, and sunk two more of them, and one was blown up; and the rest of the Dutch Fleet was so shatter'd that it was forced to fly, and was pursued by the English twelve Leagues: the English lost not one Ship, tho many of them were disabled in their Rigging.
Van Trump thus laid aside, the ill Success of De Wit and Ruiter put the States to their Trumps what to do; when the King of Denmark, fearing to be called to a severe Account by the Rump for his seizing the English Ships in the Sound, in case the Rump prevailed over the Dutch, sent a Message to them, proffering to assist them with 20 Men of War, if they would re-establish Van Trump again in his Command, which the Dutch did.
Van Trump thus re-established, used all possible Industry to ••it out another Fleet, and having got 80 Sail of Men of War, and 10 Fire-ships, sailed directly to the Downs, where Blake lay with about 40; and upon the 29th of November a furious Fight was between them, which lasted from two in the Morning till six at Night (this cannot be, considering the time of the Year, yet Ba∣ker, f. 625. b. says it) I think it should have been from ten in the Morning: When the Dutch Fleet, double in Number to the English, prevailed, and took the Garland Frigat, and burnt the Bonadventure, and sunk three more: on the Dutch side, one of their Flag-Ships was blown up, and all the Souldiers and Mariners were lost but two, and Van Trump's and De Ruiter's Ships much damaged; and if the Night had not favoured the English, the whole Fleet would have been in danger to be lost.
After the Fight Van Trump sailed to the Westward, to convoy home the Dutch-French Fleets; and now the Dutch were so elated by their Victory, that they talk'd of nothing but blocking up the River of Thames, and forcing the English to a Peace, but they were mistaken in their Measures.
For the Rump, with incredible Diligence and Conduct, repair'd their shatter'd Fleet, and fitted up another, to the Amazement of the Dutch, commanded by Blake, Dean and Monk (newly come out of Scotland, the reason whereof you'll hear by and by) and upon the 8th of February set Sail from Queenborough with 60 Men of War, from whence they sailed to Portsmouth, where they were joined with 20 Men of War more, and from thence sailed over
against Portland, half Seas over, to call Trump to an Account for passing the Channel without the Rump's leave: and upon the 18th of February the Southern Ships of the English Fleet descried the Dutch Fleet, consisting of 76 Men of War, which had the Charge of convoying 30 Merchant Ships.
Blake and Dean were in the Triumph, and with 12 Sail more en∣gaged the Gross of the Dutch Fleet; and the Triumph having re∣ceived 700 Cannon-shot in her Hull, was bravely relieved by Law∣son (the rest of the English Fleet being not able to come up.)
But when the rest of the English Fleet came, a most furious Fight succeeded, wherein the Dutch had six Men of War taken and sunk, whereof one was a Flag-Ship; but the English lost not one Ship, tho many were disabled and sent into Portsmouth.
The next day after in the Morning, the Dutch Fleet was discern∣ed seven Leagues off Weymouth, whither the English ply'd, and in the Afternoon engaged them with like Fury they did the day be∣fore: Trump put his Merchant Men before him, and after the first Shock, fought retreating towards the Coast of Bulloign; but in his way thither, the English Frigats at large took many of his Mer∣chant Men, and Lawson boarded and took one of the Dutch Men of War.
The next day, Sunday the 12th, early in the Morning, the Eng∣lish renewed the Fight, which continued till four in the After∣noon; then the Wind proving cross to the English at N. N. E. Trump got to Calais Sands, and the English thought fit to pursue him no further.
In these three Fights the Dutch lost eleven of their Men of War, and 30 of their Merchant Ships; the English lost but one Ship, the Sampson, but the Captain, Button, and most of the Men were saved, tho the Captain was much wounded.
This Victory of the English was so much more surprizing to the Dutch, by how much they expected Van Trump should have block'd up the River of Thames, and obliged the English to seek a Peace: but the Success proving so contrary, the common People in the Dutch Provinces were all in an Uproar and Tumult, whereupon the Province of Holland (without the Consent of the other Pro∣vinces, which was contrary to the Constitution of their Govern∣ment) did privately imploy Colonel Doleman and some others (gaining to them Hugh Peters) to try the Inclinations of the Rump for a Peace.
Here take notice, that King Charles the Second employ'd one Mr. Stubbe, commonly call'd Dr. Stubbe, (who was a Man of great Parts) to write a Vindication of the second Dutch War in his Reign, whereby Stubbe had the opportunity of inspecting all the Manuscripts relating to the English Treaty with the Dutch in this Treaty; for the Rump refused to treat with them but in writing:
and out of these, and Leo ab Aitzma (a most faithful Collector of the Treaties of Peace and War and Commerce between the Princes and States of his time, and sometimes before) Dr. Stubbe hath, I believe, faithfully set out this Treaty of Peace between the English and Dutch; and therefore, tho but in Epit••me, I shall take him for my Guide herein.
The Rump did not refuse to treat of a Peace upon just and honou∣rable Terms, but not in Holland or any Neutral Place; nor would they condescend to any Treaty before Holland made the first Over∣tures in Writing. Whereupon the States of Holland upon the 18th of March, by their Secretary Herbert Van Beaumont, sent the Rump a canting and equivocal Letter, wherein I cannot find one Cate∣gorical Proposition, and wherein the sacred Name of God is more rent and torn than I can find in any of our Enthusiasts; of their Zeal for the Reformed Religion, much endanger'd by this War, and the Joys the Enemies of it conceived thereby; and of their Desire of preventing the further Effusion of Christian Blood; and carried on by a pious Zeal, and in no wise constrained by any other Con∣sideration: That Consideration may be had what may be done for the Honour and Glory of God, and the good of each State; whereupon, without doubt, the good God for his Name sake, and by the Inspiration of proper and fit Expedients, will give his Blessing, &c. Which Letter you may read at large in Stubbe's Vin∣dication, p. 78, 79. and in Leo ab Aitzma, p. 816, 817.
The Rump having got this Letter, and to make a further Di∣straction in the States General, sent an Answer the first of April 1653, to the States of Holland, and a Letter to the States General: that to the States of Holland was,
That the Inconveniences to Religion in general, and to the Trade and Liberties of each Nation, were such as any man might have foreseen; and that none could be ignorant how requisite it was for both Nations to preserve a good Correspondence and Amity together; that the English had not omitted any thing on their parts, but the Dutch had assaulted them in the midst of a Treaty for a strict Ʋnion; and their Ambassa∣dors had used such Tergiversation, as made them justly imagine that their sense of things was different from what they now professed. That the good Endeavours of the Parliament were answered with unusual Preparations, Acts of Hostility, and other extraordinary Proceedings thereupon. That they had this Comfort and Satisfaction in their own Minds amidst the Troubles and Calamities of War, that they had with all Sincerity done what lay in their Power to obviate all the Evils specified: That they did look upon the Overtures of Holland, if ap∣proved by the States General, to be an effectual means for composing this unwelcom War; however, the Parliament having discharged their Duty, would with Patience acquiesce in the Issue of Providence, whereof they had so gracious Experience.
That to the States General was, That there could be no doubt of the sincere Affection and good Will which the English did bear to the United Provinces; so that it might be well imagined, that they were really inclined, by just and honourable means, to extinguish the Fire of War, stop the Effussion of Christian Blood, and restore Amity between the two Nations: That as they had not been wanting in the Beginning to prevent the ensuing Calamities, so they were not altered with Suc∣cesses from their former good Intentions: That they were ready, upon the Grounds expressed in the Letter from the Provincial States of Hol∣land and Friezland, friendly to compose Differences, &c.
This Letter had the desired Effect of the Rump, for the rest of the Provinces complained, that Holland had broke the Union, which that State would have salved by a manifest Lie, in denying they ever wrote such a Letter: However, the rest of the Provinces, fearing the Calamity would be common to them all if the War continued, did consent to a Treaty of Peace with the Rump. How∣ever, the Rump, in their Letter to the States, refused to give them any other Title than the States General, notwithstanding the Title of High and Mighty, obtained at the Treaty of Munster not five Years before; nor did they assume this Title, when they returned their Answer to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England.
To these Letters the States General returned this Answer to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, That they always en∣deavoured, with a good and sincere Intention, not only to keep, but to augment more and more, all manner of Friendship and Correspondence with the said Parliament; and would now do any thing that might contribute to so pious and Christian an Ʋnion, desiring a Neutral Place, and Plenipotentiaries might be appointed forthwith on both sides. But before this Answer was returned, a new face of things hap∣pen'd in England; for Oliver had turn'd out the Rump, and set up for himself. How this came about, and what Steps Cromwel took to do this, is now fit to be enquired into.
Herein I take the Confidence to say, that as the Covenanters sub∣duing the Royalists was the Cause of the Ruin of the Covenanting Parliament; so was Cromwel's Victory over the King at Worcester, the Ruin of the Rump: for Cromwel, after that Fight, having no∣thing to do, set his whole Thoughts how he might, tho not un∣der the Title of King, usurp the Dominion of these Kingdoms, already subdued by the Rump; and the Rump improvidently ena∣bled him to do it, when upon the 16th of June 1650, they con∣stituted Cromwel Captain-General, and Commander in chief with∣in Ireland as well as England: which you may read in Whitlock's Memoirs, pag. 511. a.
You have heard how Cromwel felt the Pulse of the Lawyers and Soldiers for the Establishment of the Nation, and how the Lawy∣ers were of Opinion, that no Settlement could be made without some mixture of Monarchy, and that it was ••it that the Duke of Glocester should be intrusted with something of a mixt Monarchy; and that Cromwel's Opinion was really that a Settlement, with somewhat of a mixt Monarchy, would be very effectual; but this somewhat of a Settlement of mixt Monarchy he reserved for him∣self: but herein he found three Rubs, and Rump, the Duke of Glocester, and Monk in Scotland, (who, I verily believe, had a great Awe upon Cromwel) whereupon, to remove these two lat∣ter, in February 1652 he got the Duke of Glocester to be sent be∣yond Sea; and about the same time, or a little before, sent for Monk into England, and found him pliable to Cromwel's Design of setting up himself: but to cover this, he made Monk one of the three Admirals at Sea, with Blake and Dean, tho Monk was whol∣ly ignorant of Sea Affairs.
These two Rubs thus removed, only the Rump stood in Oliver's way to set up himself; but before he discover'd this openly, he enter'd into a long Dialogue with Commissioner Whitlock, which you may read at large in his Memoirs, fol. 523, 524, 525, 526. wherein Cromwel takes notice, as well as Whitlock, of the Danger of a Victorious Army lying idle in Peace, more than in War; and of their murmuring in not being rewarded according to their De∣serts; and that the Army had a strange Disgust against the Par∣liament for their Pride, Ambition, Self-seeking, engrossing all Places of Honour and Profit to themselves and Friends, and their daily breaking forth into new and violent Factions; their Delays in Business, and Design to perpetuate themselves; their medling in private Matters, contrary to the Institution of Parliament; their Injustice and Partiality in those Matters, and the scandalous Lives of some of the chief of them: so that unless there be some Autho∣rity so full and high as to restrain and keep things in better Order, and that may put a stop to these Exorbitancies, it will be impossi∣ble, in humane Reason, to prevent our Ruin.
Whitlock magnifies Cromwel's Government of the Army, yet finds great Difficulty how he could reform the Parliament, he be∣ing subordinate to them, and having taken his Commission from them, and hopes the greater part of the Members are not such, as Cromwel says, when great Matters come before them.
Cromwel answered, My Lord, There is little hopes of a good Set∣tlement by them, really there is not, but a great deal of fear that they will destroy again what the Lord hath so graciously done for them and us: we all forget God, and God will forget us, and give us up to Con∣fusion; and these Men will help it on if they be suffered to proceed in their ways: some Course must be taken to curb and restrain them, or we shall be ruin'd by them.
Whitlock answered, We our selves have owned them the Supreme Power, and taken our Commissions from them; and how to restrain them after this, will be hard to find out.
Cromwel. What if a Man should take upon him to be King?
Whitlock. I think the Remedy worse than the Disease.
Cromwel. Why do you think so?
Whitlock.
As to your own Person, the Title of a King would be of no Advantage, because you have the Kingly Power in you already; concerning the Militia, as you are General; as to the Nomination of Civil Officers, those whom you think fittest are seldom refused; and tho you have no Negative Vote in passing Laws, yet what you dislike is not easily carried; and the Taxes are already settled, and in your Power to dispose the Moneys raised; and as to the foreign Affairs, tho the Ceremo∣nial Part be to the Parliament, yet the Expectation of good or bad Success, is from your Excellency; and particular Solicita∣tions of foreign Ministers are made to you only.
So that I apprehend indeed less Envy and Danger, but not less real Opportunities of doing Good, in your being General, than it would be if you had assumed the Title of King.Whit∣lock after enlarged himself,
How dangerous it would be to Crom∣wel to assume the Title, for that the main Controversy between us and our Adversaries, is to be established in a Monarchy or a Free State, and most of our Friends have engaged with us upon the Hopes of a Free State, and to that end have under∣gone all their Hazards and Difficulties; if then your Excellency shall take upon you the Title of a King, this state of your Cause will be thereby wholly determined, and Monarchy established in your Person; and the Question will be no more, whether our Government shall be by a Monarch or Free State, but, whether Cromwel or Stuart shall be our King?
After Whitlock desired his Excellency to consider his Condition; viz.
You are environ'd with secret Enemies: upon your sub∣duing the publick Enemy, the Officers of the Army account themselves all Victors,and have had an equal share with you.
The Success which God hath given us hath not a little elated their Minds, and many of them are turbulent and busy Spirits, and are not without their Designs, how they may dismount your Excellency, and some of them get into the Saddle; how they may bring you down,and set up themselves.
They want not Counsel and Encouragement herein, it may be from some Members of Parliament, who may be jealous of your Power and Greatness, lest you should grow too high for them, and in time over-master them; and they will plot to bring you down first,or to clip your Wings.
Cromwel thank'd Whitlock for his good Advice; then ask'd him, What were his Thoughts for Prevention of the Mischiefs which hung over our Heads?
Whitlock advised him to make a private Treaty with the King of
Scots, whereby he did not doubt, but in the Condition the King was in, but Cromwel might secure himself and Friends, and might make himself and Posterity as great and permanent to all humane Probability, as ever any Subject; and provide for his Friends,as well as secure our spiritual and civil Liberties. Cromwel heard him, and seem'd displeas'd, and brake off the Dis∣course; and his Carriage to Whitlock, from that time, was al∣tered.
Notwithstanding the manifold Pretensions of the Dutch and Rump, wherein God's sacred Name was so often exposed to cover their Hypocrisy of sincere Love and Friendship of either State to one another, and of their Zeal for Propagation of the Honour of God, and encreasing the true Reformed Religion, neither State trusted the other, but made all imaginable Preparations for carry∣ing on the War; and the Rump, for Encouragement of the Sea∣men, order'd them some Pay before-hand, and Subsistence for their Families in their Absence; and that for every Ship which shall be adjudged good Prize, 40 l. per Tun, and 6 l. for every Piece of Cannon taken or found in Prize-Ships, and 10 l. for eve∣ry Piece of Cannon which should be taken on board of any Ship they should take or fire, to be distributed to the Seamen accor∣ding to their Qualities; and that whosoever should enrol them∣selves in the Parliament's Service within 40 Days, should receive a Month's Pay, not to be passed upon Account; and Hospitals provided for sick and wounded Men. This was in Jan. 1652.
Cromwel's Ambition to be uppermost, could no longer be sup∣prest; but now the Rump being the only Obstacle, he first set the Officers of his Army to bait the Rump, which they did with the Words Cromwel put in their Mouth, and which he before decla∣red to Whitlock.
During these Commotions, Doleman and Hugh Peters, set on by the Dutch, did make very submissive Applications to the Council of State and Rump, confessing they were not able to contest with the Pu∣issance of England; offering to acknowledg to the English the So∣vereignty of the British Seas, and to pay 300000 l. to the Rump: but the Dutch above all things dreading the Rump, animated Crom∣wel with the Promise of a far greater Sum, in case he would de∣pose the Rump. See Stubbe, pag. 81.
If the Dutch dreaded the Rump, the Rump did not less dread Cromwel, and therefore made their Application to Monk for Pro∣tection, but failed, for Cromwel had gained him before, and he discovered all to Cromwel, and that he had no Concern for them,
nor Obligation to them, as you may see in Dr. Gumble's History of Monk's Life, pag. 73. So that Monk was not now of the same Mind as he was afterward when Lambert turn'd the Rump out of doors.
All other Obstacles thus removed, and Cromwel heightned in his frantick Resolutions, by the Expectation of Mountains of Gold from the Dutch, upon the 20th of April, with a Party of Soldiers with him, marched to the House, and led a File of Musqueteers in with him, and the rest he placed at the Door of the House, in the Lobby; and entring the House in furious manner, bid the Speaker leave the Chair, and told the House,
That they had sat long enough,unless they had done more Good (I could have told him, they had done two good Deeds for him; one, in taking away the King's Life, to let him into his Throne; the other, that they had made him General, to enable him to turn them out of doors)
That some of them were Whore-masters, looking towards Henry Martin and Sir Peter Wentworth; That others of them were Drunkards, and some corrupt and unjust Men, and scandalous to the Profession of the Gospel; and that it was not fit they should sit any longer as a Parliament, and desired them to go away.
But the Speaker not stirring from his Seat, Col. Harrison took him by the Arm to remove him from his Seat; which when the Speaker saw, he left the Chair: Some of the Members rose up to answer Cromwel, but he would suffer none to speak but himself. He bid one of the Soldiers Take away that Fool's Bawble, the Mace; and stay'd himself till all the Members were out, and then caused the Doors to be shut up.
We will look upon this Act in a threefold Consideration; viz. In the Doers; to whom done; and in the Manner of it.
1. The Doers were the Rump's Servants, raised by the Rump, and no ways provoked by the Rump. So little do Benefits received by ill Men create any Obligation of Gratitude in those who receive them.
2. The Rump were a Parliament which were impowered to make War or Peace, or were not; if they were not, then Cromwel and his Assistants Commission from the Rump to judg the King to Death, and all the Acts of Hostility which they did during these Wars, were Murder or Rapine: but if they were a Parliament, who might grant Commissions in War, and make Laws, then Cromwel and his Assistants were greater Rebels and Violators of the Liberties of the Nation, than either the Irish or Scots were against the King, or the Royalists against the Parliament; for the Irish and Scots pretended Grievances and Oppressions against the present Powers, whereas Cromwel and his Assi∣stants pretended not one categorical Complaint against the Rump; and the Royalists fo••ght to preserve the Establish'd Laws and Constituti∣ons
of the Nation, which Cromwel and his Assistants did not. Besides, herein Cromwel and his Assistants assumed a Power above Regal, in deposing the Rump, if it were a Rightful Parliament, which the King could not do without their Consent.
3. For the Manner of Cromwel's Deposing the Rump, it was so barbarous and rude, as I do not think you will find the like among the most Savage People, unless it were when Cromwel and his Agents de∣posed the Secluded Members: Yet sure there was a Divine Justice in both; for as the Covenanting Members expelled the Royalists for not taking the Covenant, or joining with them in the Innovations which the Covenanters brought into the Church and State; so Cromwel and the Rump expelled them for their Covenanting, and set up themselves instead of them; and now Cromwel does the like by the Rump, to ex∣alt himself.
Thus, by their own mercenary Servants, and not a Sword drawn in their Defence, fell the Haughty and Victorious Rump, whose mighty Actions will scarcely find Belief in future Generations; and to say the Truth, they were a Race of Men most indefatiga∣bly industrious in Business, always seeking for Men fit for it, and never preferring any for Favour, nor by Importunity. You scarce ever heard of any revolting from them in England, Scotland, or Ireland, during their time, except by the Levellers, 1649. See Whitlock's Memoirs, fol. 385, 386, 387. No Murmur or Com∣plaint of Sea-men or Soldiers employ'd by them either by Sea or Land, for want of Pay: In all the Ports of England, during the Dutch War, Money or Credit was found to pay off the Sea-men whenever their Ships were designed to be laid up. Nor do I find they ever press'd either Soldiers or Seamen in all their Wars. And as they excelled thus in their Management of Civil Affairs, so it must be owned, they exercised in Matters Ecclesiastick no such Severities as either the Covenanters, or others before them, did upon such as dissented from them.
And as the Rump were thus industrious and victorious in War, so were they not negligent in reforming the Abuses in the Pra∣ctice of the Common Laws; and to that end, in October 1650, or∣der'd that all the Books of the Laws be put into English, and that all Writs, Process, and Returns thereof, and all Patents, Com∣missions, Indictments, Judgments, Records, and all Proceedings in Courts of Justice, shall be in the English Tongue, and not in the Latin, or French, or any other Language. See Whitlock's Me∣moirs, fol. 459. a.
The Rump further ordered a Committee for regulating the Law; and the Committee reported the Draughts of several Laws, viz.
Whether the Rump passed these into Laws, I do not find; but if they did not, they might have done, if Cromwel had let them alone: and they sat not four Years and three Months.
But how industrious and victorious soever the Rump was in War, they were not so wise in Counsel, by making the Act of Navigation: and tho we have before demonstrated the manifold Mischiefs and Inconveniences which this Law has brought upon this Nation, and shall more particularly hereafter (if God plea∣ses) in Answer to those Reasons which Sir Josiah Child and Sir Francis Brewsier pretend in Defence of it; yet it's fit that we here shew, how that the Rump was mistaken, as well in the End, as Causes of this Law.
If we look upon Britain, it is an Island, and divided into two Kingdoms, England and Scotland; and both these Kingdoms, be∣fore they were united under one King, viz. James I. by imm••∣morial Prescriptions, were possessed of the Sovereignty of the Sea adjoining their Coasts, wherein no Nation (before King James I.) presumed to fish, without Agreement or Leave first obtained from those Kings.
The first who presumed to fish in these Seas, without such Licence or Agreement, were the Dutch; yet never disputed their Right to it, before Grotius (and he only that I can find) disputed it. The Dutch Fishery upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, is the Foundation of all the Dutch Greatness at Sea, and wherein they employ more Shipping and Mariners than the English do in all their foreign Trades; with this further Advantage to the Dutch, that they have all their Mariners at home, or near home, so that they are always ready, upon all Occasions, to serve the States; and there being but little Difference of Climate, are healthful and strong: whereas the English in their long Voyages, especially to the East and West-Indies, are far from assisting the Nation in time of need; and by the Diversities of Climates, and eating over∣salted Meats, and drinking sowr Drinks, causes such Sickness and Mortality amongst them, that it's a Question, whether we lose more Sea-men, or make more Mariners in them; and those which survive are so feeble, that a healthy Mariner will beat two of them.
The Rump therefore should have considered from what Cause the Dutch were enabled to carry on this Fishery in Foreign Trades ex∣clusive to the English: And first negatively, That the Dutch were not enabled to do this from any Principals of their own, for they had neither Timber to build Ships, nor Pitch, Tar, Hemp or Flax, or Iron for fitting them up; nor Salt to cure their Fish; their Ports from which they fished, not half so good, or a quarter so many as the English; and the Coasts upon which they caught these Fish, more convenient for the English than the Dutch, and an Eng∣lishman of a stronger Constitution than a Dutch-man, and tenfold more; so that herein the English had all natural Advantages above the Dutch. Now let's see how the Dutch could do this.
The English, tho there were tenfold more Men in England than in Holland, could not employ one Man to ten which the Dutch em∣ployed in their Fisheries upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, for these Reasons. First the Dutch employed and gave Encourage∣ment to all sorts of People in these Fisheries, as well Foreigners as Natives; whereas Foreigners fishing from the English Ports, is de∣nied by a Law in England; nor are Foreigners only excluded here∣in, but all the Ports of England, being Corporations, the Freemen in them make the rest of the Nation Foreigners to them: so that the Fisheries upon the Coasts of England and Scotland, between the English and Dutch, are of a general Freedom in the Dutch Ne∣therlands; and the Freemen of the Ports of England, who being few, and generally Beggars, have few Men, and less Means, to be Competitors with the Dutch in these Fisheries. But the Rump not considering these Causes, but restraining this Fishery only to Eng∣lish-men, at least three Fourths English, have made the English in no Capacity to be Competitors with the Dutch in the Foreign Trades of the Fish caught upon the Coasts of England and Scotland: be∣sides the Dutch had their Agents, Factors, and Correspondents in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and other Places, for a Market for the Fish they caught, whereas the Poverty of our Corporation-Men denied the English this Benefit.
The Rump in making the Act of Navigation, did not consider that the Fish caught on the Coasts of England and Scotland, cost nothing but the catching; so that they who can catch them cheap∣est, and cure them best, are sure of a Foreign Market against them whose Charges are more, and they ignorant in the Curing of them: The Rump therefore restraining the English to fish in Ships 40 per Cent. dearer than the Dutch, and 40 per Cent. dearer sailed, (and who knew not how to cure Herring and Cod-fish so well as the Dutch) has eternally fixed the Fisheries in the Dutch, exclusive to the English, so long as the Act stands in force; and how this has made good the Title of their Act, For Encouragement of encreasing Shipping and Navigation, let any Man, not in the Temper the Rump was when they made this Act, judg.
The Rump should have encountred the Dutch with their own Weapons, and made all the Ports of England, not only free to all English in these Fisheries, but to Foreigners; and made them free to import all sorts of Timber for building Vessels for these Fisheries; as also for rough Hemp, Flax, Pitch and Tar, for fitting up Vessels for these Fisheries, so as we might have had the Materials as cheap as the Dutch; and also have given Rewards and other Encourage∣ments to Foreigners to instruct us how to build Vessels as cheap and convenient for the Fisheries as the Dutch, and how to cure them; and denied the Dutch the Benefit of drying their Nets in the Fishe∣ries, or to take in fresh Water or Provisions in their Fisheries, as the Dutch do to the English in their Plantations in the East-Indies; and have taken off the Imposts in England, which the Dutch pay in Holland; and then the Rump might have beaten the Dutch out of these Fisheries without fighting with them, and made our Ma∣ritime Towns as great and flourishing as those in Holland. But the Temper the Rump was then in would not admit of any of these Considerations; and it's admirable to me, that all the Parliaments since have been of the Rump's Temper herein, and never taken these things into Consideration; tho the Coast-Towns of England are not only ruined by the Act of Navigation hereby, and the Fishe∣ries not only on the Coasts of England and Scotland, but those to Iseland and Greenland, ruin'd only by this Law, without possibility of retrieving them, so long as it stands in Force.
If the restraining the English, in their Fisheries, to English-built Ships, and sail'd by three Fourths English, be so pernicious to the English in our Fisheries, the Reasons are the same in the Foreign Vent of our Native Commodities: for obliging the English to vend the Manufactures of the Nation in these near double as dear built Ships, and sailed by near double Men, and permitting the Dutch to buy our Manufactures, the Dutch by their Cheapness, and more convenient building of Ships, has outed this Nation of their Navigation to Muscovy, and all the Kingdoms and Countries within the Sound with them, as much to the Encrease of the Dutch Navi∣gation, as the lessening of the English.
And as this Law is so injurious to the English in our Fisheries, and Foreign Vent of our Manufactures, so it is not less in the Im∣portation of Foreign Commodities, by restraining the Import of them to English-built Ships, and sailed by three fourths English, and the Natives of those Places from whence they shall be imported, whether they have Ships or not. I'll give but two Instances here∣in, viz. in our Trades to Norway for Timber, Pitch and Tar, and to Liefland and Prussia for rough Hemp and Flax; for which Trades the English never built one Ship since this Act; and by rea∣son of the Dearness and Inconveniences of our English Ships in these Trades, the Norwegians have encreased their Navigation from
6 Ships of about 60 Tun, to above 200 of three, four, five and six hundred Tun; and the English pay near double the Price for these they did before the Act.
And as the Inhabitants of Liefland and Prussia, rarely or never trade with us in rough Hemp and Flax; so the Dutch importing these by the Cheapness of their Navigation one third cheaper than the English; and when they are made into the Manufactures of Cordage, Sails and Nets, the Dutch, by the Act of Navigation may import them; whereby the English in their Fisheries, and the Fo∣reign Vent of their Commodities, have lost the Manufactures of them, and by a Foreign Expence buy them of the Dutch and French, as much to their enriching and Employment of their People, as to our Impoverishment, and the Loss of employing ours. It's fit to give this light Touch of the Mischiefs and Incon∣veniences this Act has brought upon the Nation; but hereafter I shall enlarge upon them, when I reply upon Sir Josiah Child and Sir Francis Brewster's Defence of it, as before.