Royall and loyall blood shed by Cromwell and his party, &c. viz. King Charles the martyr. The Earl of Strafford. The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. Duke Hamilton Earl of Holland Lord Capell Earl of Derby Marquesse of Montrosse Col. Eusebius Andrews. Sir Henry Hide Doctor Hewit To which are added 3. other murthers of publique note. Viz. Sir. Thomas Overbury. Sir George Sonds his 2. sons. Knight and Butler. To which is annexed a brief chronicle of the wars & affairs of the 3. kingdoms, from 1640 to 1661. Most exactly collected and compared with the originals, and amended of those errours which abound in the counterfeit impression of this book.

Anno Domini, 1658.

After the dissolution of this Parliament, as of course, and according to custome another plot was discovered, and this was clearly of Cromwells own making; the City was to be fi∣red, and a general insurrection and massacre of the well-affect∣ed: In this snare were taken Sir Henry Slingsby, Doctor Hewet,* 1.1 and Master, now Sir Thomas Woodcock, Iohn now Lord Viscount Mordant, and others of meaner rank, as Colonel Ashton, Tho∣mas Bettley, Edmond Stacy, and others; Sir Henry Slingsby and Doctor Hewet, were beheaded at Tower-hill, and the three last hang'd and quartered in the streets of London.

Dunkirk, after a gallant defence, and a field battel,* 1.2 in at∣tempting the relief, where the English had the honour, and the French and English the victory of the day, was on the 25th of Iune delivered to the United Forces, and by the French King put into the English hands; Lockhart, formerly Ambassador in

France, and then General of the English being made Gover∣nour thereof.

Now it pleased God suddenly after this tyranny and cruelty, committed on those innocent persons above-named, to call this Protector to an account, who lingring some time with an ague and a pain in his intestines, on the third day of September, his great fortunate day, breathed out h s last, his death being ushered by a most terrible wind, and the coming of a Whale up the River of Thames, of twenty yards long. Thus ended that wretched Politique.

After Oliver Protector war dead, his Son Richard, according to an Article in the Instrument or Government, by which he was to declare his Successor, was by his Fathers Councel pro∣claimed Lord Protector of these three Nations, with the usual solemnities, and accordingly owned by several addresses from most parts of the Kingdome, but drawn and subscribed by some particular persons of the times, who obtruded them upon the rest. He was courted also by the French, Swedish, Dutch Am∣bassadors, who all condoled him for his Fathers death.

After a little respit of time, Richard was advised to call a Parliament, the Courtiers thinking, that what with the Army and the Lawyers, they should make their party good for the Protector in the House of Commons, being sure of their other House of Peers, and in the mean time took care for his Fathers Funerals; which were solemnized in most ample manner, above the expences usual to any of our Kings deceased, November 23. 1658.

The Parliament being convened on the 27th of Ianuary, the Protector and his new Lords gave them a meeting in the Lords House, where he made a speech to them, which was seconded by the Keeper Fiennes, and so departed to Whitehall, the Lords keeping their seats, and the major part of the House of Com∣mons, not vouchsafing audience, betook themselves to their own house, and elected Challoner Chute for their Speaker.

The Parliament being in some measure, fuller then it used, by reason of Knights and Burgesses from Scotland and Ireland, began with the old Trade of questioning the power. In con∣clusion, the debate came to this result, that they would recog∣nize the Lord Protector, but so that nothing should be binding, till all other Acts to be prepared by the Parliament should likewise pass and be confirmed: For the other House also, that no stop might be put to the great design of setling the King∣dome,

which was then aimed at, and that question of owning them being but a baulk to their proceeding, they resolved to transact with them for this Parliament as a House of Peers, not excluding the right of other the Peers of England.

The Protector, at the instance of the King of Sweden, had rigg'd forth a Fleet for the Sound, which being ready to set sail, the Parliament ordered that for this time the Protector should have the mannagement of the Militia in this expedition, reserving to themselves the Supreme right thereto; that Fleet, after six moneths time, returned back again, re infecta.

Now the debates flew high in the House of Commons, tend∣ing to the lessening the power of the Sword, which was grown so exorbitant; therefore the Army being sensible whereto such consultations would finally tend, resolved to break up the Par∣liament; and accordingly, having secured the Protector, made him sign a Commission to Fiennes to dissolve it, which accord∣ingly was done, though the House of Commons, to prevent it, adjourned themselves for three daies; but then out came a Proclamation, forced likewise from the Protector, whereby he declared that Parliament to be absolutely dissolved.

Now the Army; and some of the tail of the Parliament which were turned out by Oliver in 1653. joyn their heads toge∣ther, and so make way for their free Commonwealth again. Ri∣chard Protector is laid aside, the Officers of the Army playing some eight daies with the Government, and then resigning it to those men, who very readily imbraced the motion, and met May 7. in the House the Old Speaker; and some forty more making up a Quorum, and forthwith published a Declaration, how that by the wonderful Providence and goodness of God they were restored, which to most seemed the saddest judge∣ment could befall the Nation.

Presently they fall to their old trade of squeezing money; and providing sure for themselves against any more attempts of the Army, leisurely purging out those that had been active with Oliver against them, but by all means refuse to admit those Members that by the like force were formerly secluded in 1648. They depose the Protector, and make him sign a Resignation, yet promising him the yearly allowance of 10000 l. per annum, and the payment of his debts, so that they thought themselves now cock-slue, levying money by taxes before hand, to gratifie the Army, for the peoples love they never expected, and then settle the Militia in confiding hands.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vide Speech.
• * 1.2

  June.