Ecclesiastical history epitomized containing a faithful account of ye birth life & doctrine, crucifixion & ascension of ye holy Iesus : with the lives of ye apostles evangelists & primitive fathers & other famous men in ye Christian Church both antient & modern who have couragiously confessed & suffered glorious martyrdomes & persecutions under several tyrannical governours both heathenish and Romish : faithfully continued to ye reformation and since deduced to this present age / carefully collected by J.S. ... ; in two parts.

The Birth, Sufferings, and Mi∣raculous Deliverances, happy Restoration, and Prosperous Reign of our now Reigning Soveraign CHARLES the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Brittain, France, and Ireland, King, &c.

OUr Soveraign Lord King Charles the Second, first Son to King Charles the First, of ever blessed Memory, by his Queen Henrietta Maria, Daughter to Henry the fourth King of France and Navar, was Born the 29th. of May Anno Christi 1630. and brought up in his Royal Fathers Court in all Piety and Learning, till through the Blessing

of Heaven he Arrived at those Perfections that fit∣ly qualified him to bear patiently the severest Frowns of adverse Fortune; and when God was pleased to restore him to his Right (long Usurped and long Detained from him by the worst of Ty∣rants) sufficient to make his Reign Happy and Pro∣sperous, over so great a People Commited to his Charge.

His Majesties younger Years were for the most part spent in Camps, even till (the Scale of For∣tune turning against his Royal Father) he was for∣ced to leave the Land, to avoid falling into the Hands of such as made their Tiranny the sole Foundation of their usurped Power. When the fatal Blow was given, which made the Nations Weep, his Majesty was with his Sister at the Hague, and there Received the dismal and amazing News of his great Fathers Fall, which caused such Royal Grief as my weak Genius cannot here Portray, and therefore thinks it fit to pass it over in Silence; after which, he as it was, and is his undoubted Right, began his Reign over these three Kingdoms, and all other his Majesties Countries and Domini∣ons, even from that fatal 30th. of January, on which the Blessed Martyr made his way to Heaven: And after him such Nobles were put to Death as tood in the Tyrants Way to hinder him from ••ounting on the Throne; and after that, think∣••ng to Exclude his Sacred Majesty, Cromwell procu∣••ed the Rump to pass an Act to Disinable (as they ••retended) the Royal Line of King James from In∣••riting the Imperial Crown of England, Scotland, ••••d Ireland, and to shew their Malice, caused the ••••ngs Arms to be pulled down every where, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their stead placed the States Arms, as they called

them, viz. the Cross and Harp; and the better to Express their Antichristian Rage, defaced his late Majesties Picture in the Royal Exchange, and behind the Head wrote in Letters of Gold:

Exit Tyrannus Regum ultimus, Anno Libertatis An∣gliae restitutae primo, Anno 1648. January 30.

When indeed it was the very Moment when our Slavery under the Name of Liberty began, for neither Romans, Saxons, Danes, nor Normans, in the height of all their Cruelty proceeded to such barbarous and inhumane Acts as these Native Re∣bels, who made Murther their Pastime; and it was enough in those times to endanger the Life and Estate of any Man, if some notorious Ruffian or other would but Accuse him of being Loyal to his Lawful Prince.

The Rebels likewise caused the Titles of all Pro∣cess at Law to be altered, and instead of Carolus Dei Gratia, &c. they put Custodes Libertatis Angliae, and Caused the Kings Bench to be called by the Name of the Upper Bench. They likewise made a new Stamp for Mony, with the Cross on the one side thereof, and the Cross and Harp on the other, which at this Day is called Breeches Mony, the In∣scription on one side being, God with us, and on the other, The Common-Wealth of England; a great Seal likewise was prepared.

And now the Lord Fairfax having laid down his Commission, as not being able to square his Con∣science according to the Dictates of the Parliament Oliver Cromwell was Constituted General, whose Wickedness and many Inhumane Murthers, ren∣ders him justly Odious to Posterity.

And now the King being in France, endeavour∣ing to get Aid, in order to Recover his Lawful Right, was there Disappointed; yet his Well-Wishers in England Proclaimed him King, as like∣wise did the Duke of Ormond, and Earl of Leicester in Ireland, whereupon the Rump, as the People then called it, proceeded to sell the Kings and Queens Land, Whitehall, and Summerset House being Voted to Sale, as likewise the Bishops, with Deans and Chapiters Lands, which being prized great∣ly under the true Value, wanted not purchasers, and this under the specious Pretence of working a tho∣rough Reformation.

About this time Orders were given for the De∣molishing most of the principal Castles and places of Strength throughout England, and all Persons were Deposed from their Offices either in Church or State, who refused to Comply with the present Government as by them Established; yet was his Majesty Proclaimed King in Scotland, and after some Debates held there on that Occasion, it was A∣greed that several Proposals should be sent to his Majesty, who at that time was Landed in the Isle of Jersy, to Tender which the Laird Libberton, and Mr. Winderam were appointed, the Heads of which were;

• I. That his Majesty should sign the Solemn League and Covenant.
• II. That he should pass divers Acts of Parliament which were Concluded on in the two last Sessions of Par∣liament in Scotland.
• III. That he would be pleased to Recall the late Com∣mission given to the Marquess of Montross.
• IV. That he should put away all Papists from him.
• ...

• V. That he would appoint some place about Holland to Treat with their Commissioners.
• VI. That he would be graciously Pleased to give a speedy Answer to their Request.

These Propositions being Perused, duly Weigh∣ed and Considered, Sr. William Fleming was sent a∣gain to the Committee of Estates then Assembled in Scotland, till such time as the Laird Libberton could be Dispatched, who shortly after followed with a Let∣ter, and ample Instructions by Word of Mouth; and Breda in Holland was appointed the place of Treaty, whereupon great Debates were held by the Committee of Estates, and those for the Kirk of Scotland; when in the end, it was concluded that the Earl of Cassiles, the Lords Lothian, Burly, and Libberton, Sr. John Smith, and Mr. Jefferyes should be Deputed Commissioners for the Estates, and Mr. Brocly, Lauson, and Wood for the Kirk; who having received their Commissions, met his Maje∣sty at Breda, where after their making known to what Intent they were come, they delivered their Propositions, much to the same Effect as those be∣fore mentioned; of which the King was pleased to take some time to Consider.

During this Treaty, the Renowned Marquess of Montross was taken in Scotland, after his Atcheive∣ing such Valorous Exploits and Victories with a handful of Men against great Armies, that Ages to come, upon hearing them Repeated, past doubt may term them Fabulous.

This brave Souldier falling into the Hands of his merciless Enemies, they used him not as a Peer and Loyal Subject who Fought by Commission from his and their Lawful Prince, but with all the Severity

imaginable, and in the end Executed him upon a Gibbet of extraordinary height, and then severing his Head from his Body, as likewise dividing his Body into Quarters, they set them up to the Mur∣therers eternal Infamy, upon the Gates of several Cities of that Kingdom; which unexpected News coming to Breda, caused a general Sorrow, and had gone near to have broke off the Treaty, but at length his Majesty condescending to some of the Propositions, and rejecting others; the part con∣cluded on were carryed to Edenburg, and it was there Resolved that a Messenger should be sent in the Names of the Committee of Estates and Kirk, to Invite his Majesty into Scotland.

The Rump Parliament having Notice of these Proceedings, and fearing their Downfall would soon insue if his Majesty was once Established in his Ancient Kingdom of Scotland, they therefore prepared an Army to Invade the Scots, under the ••eading of the Arch-Traytor Oliver Cromwell: And about this time, for the better Understanding of their Ignoramusses (most of the eminent Lawy∣ers being Suspended) they passed an Act for the Reducing all Proceedings at Law into English, and to be Written in Secretary Hand, But what was most Prejudicial to his Majesties Affairs, was that Blake meeting with part of Prince Rupert's Fleet, had burnt and sunk many of the best Ships.

During these Passages, his Majesty Prosecuted his Voyage for Scotland, and Arriving at Spey, se∣veral Lords came to Welcome him, as likewise to Accompany him to Edenburg, when as all the way he Passed, great was the Joy of the People; at A∣••erden his Majesty was Presented with fifteen hun∣dred Pounds, which the Committee of Estates and

Kirk took in great dudgeon, and sent to the seve∣ral Towns through which his Majesty was to Pass, strictly forbidding them to do the like.

The King being now come to Edenburg, he was there Proclaimed King on the 15th. of July Anno 1650, but his Coronation was Deferred by reason of the Troubles that were then arisen; for the English Army under the Command of Cromwell, was by this time entered the Frontiers; whereupon great Forces were Raised to Oppose them under the Leading of Montgomery; who gave the English Battail at Dunbarr, but were worsted: And now, notwithstanding the English Army was Victorious even in the Heart of Scotland, yet such was the ill Hap, that the Scots themselves were at Strife, be∣ing Divided into three Parties, so that they could expect no other then to be worsted. To heal these Breaches his Majesty earnestly Laboured, insomuch that through his Princely Wisdom, he at last pro∣cured a Reconciliation, whereupon all the Estates unanimously resolved to Crown his Majesty, there∣by the more to Abash the Rebels, which on the first Day of January Anno 1650 was Performed ac∣cordingly at Scoon in Scotland.

And now the King set up his Standard at Aber∣deen, Reserving to himself the Title of Generalissi∣mo of the Scotch Army, when as News came that Sr. Henry Hide, and Captain Bushel had been Be∣headed at London by the Rebels for their Loyalty. The English Army still Approaching, the King for∣tified Sterling, and leaving St. Johnstown, went thither with his whole Court, but was no sooner Arrived there, but News was brought of the Sur∣prize of the Earl of Eglington and his Son.

Whil'st things were at this pass in Scotland, the

Rump who had still their Spies abroad, discovered a new Plot against themselves, carryed on by the Presbyterians, for which Mr. Gibons, and Dr. Love were Beheaded, Cromwell seeing he could not Ob∣lige the Scots to a Field-Battel, for that they had Encamped in Fife, he therefore Transported sixteen hundred Foot, and four Troops of Horse o∣ver the River, who joyning with Lambert and Okeys Forces, Routed Sr. John Brown, and altho he made a brave Resistance, yet he was taken Prisoner, and with him several Persons of Quality, as like∣wise a hundred common Souldiers, and two thou∣sand were killed upon the Place.

Fortune being thus averse to his Majesties Af∣fairs, he resolved to try an other way, by leaving Scotland and making England the Seat of War, where∣upon on the 30th. of July Anno 1651, he Marched his Army into England, of which Cromwell had no sooner Notice, but he sent Lambert after with a Party of Horse to fall upon the Rear of the Kings Army, himself, with such other Forces as could be spared, Marching to second him; the Rump like∣wise hearing of his Majesties Approach, sent their Mandates into all Counties, that none should be so hardy as to Assist him with Men or Mony, under the Penalty of High Treason (when indeed them∣selves were the worst of Traytors) as likewise caused Forces to be Raised in each County to Op∣pose him.

The King having entered England, Commanded it to be Proclaimed, That no Soldier should Offer Vi∣olence to the Persons or Houses of any of his English Sub∣jects, which was Obeyed with due Observance, yet such was the Peoples Fear of the Rump, that few (or none) came to the Assistance of their King, ex∣cept

the Lord Howard of Eskrich's Son with a Troop of Horse.

By this time Lambert being guided over the Moors and Dales in Yorkshire, was got before the Kings Army, and thought to have stoped them at Warrington Bridg, but after a hot Dispute, and the loss of several Men on either Side, the Pass was gained, and the King Marching with his Ar∣my to Tong-Norton, sent a Trumpet to Collonel Humphry Mackworth, Governour of Shrewsbury, to Summon him to deliver up the Town, but he Re∣fused, and was so Insolent, as not to own his Ma∣jesty by any other Title than Commander in Chief of the Scotch Army, as appeared by the Superscrip∣tion of a Letter he sent back: From hence his Ma∣jesty Marched to Worcester, and was joyfully Wel∣comed by several truly Loyal Gentlemen.

The Earl of Darby having brought his Majesty a Supply of two hundred and fifty Foot, and sixty Horse, Raised in the Isle of Man, and in hopes to procure more, he went into Lancashire, where he was set upon by Lilborn, and had most of his Com∣manders Slain, as the Lord Witherington, Sr. Thomas Tilsby, Collonel Trollop, Collonel Bointon and o∣thers, altho they behaved themselves with all im∣maginable Bravery, performing as much as Men could do. This Misfortune happened to the Earl, up∣on the Disappointment he met with in those Parts, his Lordship upon his Repair thither having been assured that the Presbiterians would come in to his Assistance, in order to his Majesties Restoration; but on the contrary, they did all they could to hin∣der his Success, unless he would have taken the Co∣venant, which he refused to do: This Engagement happened in Wiggon Lane.

During these Proceedings in Lancashire his Maje∣sty gave necessary Orders for the Fortifying of Worcester, to which Lambert made his Approach∣es, and gained the Pass at Ʋpton, where the Bridg was cut down, by causing his Troopers to swim their Horses over the River, in order to Rescue about fifty desperate Fellows that had got over upon a Pole, and were driven by Major General Massy's Men into a Church and there Besieged, but the Troopers Landing, and those fifty Sallying out of the Church, the Majors Men were forced to Re∣treat, whereupon a Bridg of Boats was laid over the River; and now Cromwell joyning Lambert, the Loyalists were beat out of the Town, and so Re∣treated to Worcester, whether now the Rebels made their Approaches, and Incamped upon Red-hill, where they had been Surprized by the Roya∣lists, had not a Rascally Taylor discovered the De∣sign, so that it came to a fair Battail, and his Ma∣jesty on the third of September 1651, Sallying out of the Town at the Head of his Forces with King∣ly Bravery, and an undaunted Resolution, Charged Cromwell's Life-Guard, and forced them to Retire, leaving many of their Fellows dead upon the place; but the Enemy being three to one in Number, were still Recruited with fresh Supplies, so that after the Fight had remained Bloody and Doubtful for some Hours, when as the King bravely Fighting, having had two Horses Shot under him, and many of his chief Commanders Slain, the Scale of War turned, and the Royal Party were forced to Retreat into the Town, which they did with much Difficulty, by reason a loaded Cart was overthrown in the Gateway, supposed to be done on purpose, which so obstructed the Entrance of the Horse that the

Enemy had time to come up, who entred pell mell with the Royalists, when as the Cry went, Save the King, Save the King.

His Majesty now Perceiving all to be lost, with some of his most trusty Followers made his Escape out of Worcester, altho not without great Difficul∣ty, and coming to a Farm House on the Borders of Staffordshire, his Majesty there Refreshed himself, and the better to prevent Discovery, cut off his Hair, and changed his Aparrel; yet was pursued so close that at Boscobel House the Troopers entered the fore Dore, and his Majesty went out at the Back, and coming into a Wood, made an Oake his Pallace whil'st the Blood-Hounds had left Pursuing him in those Parts; and afterwards by the Assistance of the Pendrills and Mrs. Lane, having escaped through miraculous Providence many Dangers, he found means to pass the Seas, and landed safe at New Haven in France; and in this Gods Goodness was evidently Demonstrated, for altho his Majesty was in the Hands of Men of mean Fortune, who might have made their own Price with the Rebels to betray him (one thousand Pounds being the first Penny the Rump had set upon his Head) as like∣wise his Life lay in the Hands of Women, whose Brests rarely Contain so weighty a Secret long; yet no Temptation could prevail with them to prove Perfidious to the best of Kings.

In the Battle of Worcester about three thousand were Slain, and seven hundred taken Prisoners, upon News of which the Rump caused publick Days of Thanksgiving to be kept, and caused the Scoth Colours taken in the Fight to be hung up in West∣minster Hall: And now the Earl of Darby endea∣voring to make his Escape, fell into the Hands of

the Rebells, who without any due Process of Law Beheaded him at Bolton in Lancashire.

From New Haven the King went to Paris, and having stayed there a while, he went to St. Germaines, there to Confer with the Duke of Lorraine about the Recovery of his Kingdom of Ireland, but it came to no Result. During his Majesties Abode there, the Duke of Glocester, who had a long time been detained by the Parliament in the Isle of Wight, came to him from the Hague, Accompanyed with Sr. Richard Greenvil, and Sr. Marmaduke Langdale, and not long after Mrs. Lane, who had been Instru∣mental in his Majesties making his Escape out of England, for which she was now kindly Received, and had many Thanks given her by his Majesty for her Care and good Will towards him.

About this time Cromwell intending to assume to himself an absolute Power, Dissolved the Rump Parliament, which had sat twelve Years six Months and seventeen Days, and after that they were cryed about the Streets in Derision, four Parliament men for a Penny, so Odious and Hateful were they now grown amongst the People, and within a while af∣ter War was Proclaimed with the Dutch, in which happened five bloody Ingagements, and the Eng∣lish got the better; the Dutch having lost most of their great Ships, were forced to sue for Peace, which with much Difficulty they obtained; and now Cromwell perceiving the People began to be displea∣sed with his usurped Authority, he called another fagend of a Parliament, Composed for the most part of Mechanicks, who not knowing how to man∣nage the Affairs of State, within a while after re∣signed up their Power to old Noll, from whom they received it, and departed to mind the Business they

better understood, upon which, viz. the 16th. of December 1653, Cromwell by the Procurement of his own Creatures was Sworn Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and by that means the Democracy for which the Rebels had long con∣tended was dissolved by a Creature of their own making, whom yet the boldest of them durst not Oppose.

The King during these Proceedings being in France, sought to make Peace between that Crown and the Crown of Spain; and hoping yet to further his Interest he departed for Germany, Accompani∣ed with Prince Rupert and such Nobility as then at∣tended him, and Arriving at the Spaw, his Royal Sister the Princess of Orange came to Visit him, and there his Majesty diverted himself for some time, during which Cromwell was busy in setling his Great∣ness upon as sure a Foundation as he could, by put∣ing such to Death (under pretence of their Con∣spiring against the Government) whom he thought were most likely to Oppose his Tyranny: And a∣bout this time Collonel Gerrard, and Mr. Wowel were put to Death, for he had his Agents in all parts of England secretly to pry into mens Actions, and to see how they stood Affected (For Tyranny is al∣ways attended with Mestrust and Fear) and these Rakehells were wont to trapan Gentlemen, to de∣clare themselves for the King, pretending them∣selves at the same time great Royalists, and railing against the Usurper, till such time they had procu∣red their Ends, and then upon their Informing a∣gainst them, their Estates and Lives were at the U∣surpers Mercy, none of his Judges daring to Aquit a Person (tho never so Innocent) that Cromwell would have Condemned; for his Motto might well

be the same that is written over the Pallace Gate of the Grand Signeour.

Sic Volo sic Jubeo, stat pro ratione Voluntas.

This do I bid, and so I do Command, And for a Law my Will shall firmly stand.

For indeed never was any People under pretence of Liberty brought into such Slavery, and yet it was Death to complain, or so much as murmur a∣gainst the Protectors Proceedings.

About this time the Scots Rising under the Lead∣ing of the Earl of Glencairn, Monro, and Middleton, resolved to prosecute the Kings Cause, but being Routed by General Monk, all came to nothing. The King having left the Spaw, was now arrived at Co∣logne, and there himself and the Princess of Orange were Royally Entertained, and shortly after they were Invited by the Duke of Newburg to his Pallace of Dunsel-Dorf, where they met with the like Enter∣tainment; and here it was that the King and his Sister parted, the former returning to Cullen, and the latter to Holland.

During these Passages the Usurper discovered another Plot by means of his Agents, which was to have been a general Rising all over England, whereupon several worthy Persons were Executed, and some hundreds sent beyond Sea, and sold for Slaves.

And now the King with his Brother the Duke of Glocester, and his Sister the Princess of Orange, attended by a great Train of Nobility, went to Frankfort, and at Coningstem near Frankfort, Christina Queen of Sweeden gave the King a Visit, after which

he returned again to Collen, and from thence into the Low-Countries, being Invited thither by Don John d' Austria Governour thereof under the King of Spain, whither his Royal Highness the Duke of York came to him.

The War continuing between France and Spain, Cromwell according to a Treaty with the French sent over six thousand Foot Soldiers to Assist that King in his Wars against Flanders, and in Lieu thereof he was to have Dunkirk delivered into his Possession, which being afterwards taken with great Difficul∣ty, was accordingly put into the Possession of the English: And now the Protector desirous of a high∣er Advancement, called an Assembly of his own Creatures, who durst not move but by his Dictates, of which Sr. Thomas Witherington being Speaker, it was by them Ordained that the Protector should be Cloathed in Purple Robes and Installed in Westmin∣ster-Hall, after which he Established a Pajeant House of Lords of his own Creation, as John Lord Hew∣son the Qondam Cobler, the Lord Clapole, Lord Ire∣ton, and the like; when wanting Treasure to sup∣port his upstart Greatness, he sent his Scouts upon the Discovery, who brought him News of an o∣ther pregnant Plot, which was just about to Teem, whereupon Sr. Henry Slingsby, and Dr. Hewet were Executed, and Mr. Aston, Mr. Betly, and Mr. Stacy Drawn, Hanged, and Quartered, and their Estates seised and Sold by the Protector (a Politick, tho a wicked Invention to get Mony.)

And now the Pomp of this blustering Tyrant be∣ing at its highest Pitch, he made his Son Henry Lord Deputy of Ireland, and appointed Commissi∣oners in most Parts of England for the Approbation of Ministers and Schoolmasters, with ample Com∣mission

to Eject such as were Ignorant, under Pre∣tence of which all the well Affected and Learned Men were turned out, and any Blockheads placed in their steads that could but raise any considerable Sum of Mony: Hugh Peters was kept by Cromwell in the nature of his Jester; it was also Enacted by one of Nols mechanick Parliaments, that no Person should be Married but by a Justice of Peace, and first to be Asked in the Church, or Proclaimed in the Market. And now the Tyrants Power began to Decline, the People every where Inveighing a∣gainst him in Private, altho they durst not do it o∣penly: And now their Eyes being open, they plain∣ly discerned in what Miseries their mad Folly had Involved them, and would willingly have shook off the Tyrants Yoke, but found it stick too fast.

In September Anno 1658, Cromwell began to setle his Affairs, and make a more narrow Inspection in∣to matters, as finding a Decay of his bodily Health, and was very desirous to settle his Son Richard in the Kingdom, if he should at that time Decease, for on the first Day of the Month aforesaid, he was sensible of Change, and therefore sent for those whom he had raised from a low Estate to great Ho∣nours, and consulted them about the matter, who promised to stand by his Son Richard; so that his Sickness still encreasing, on the third of September, in Year aforesaid, he yeilded to Death, who fol∣lowing his own Example, admitted neither of Bail nor Mainprise. The Day whereon he dyed (as it was observed) the like Storm had not happened in many Ages past, for by the Violence thereof Trees, Houses, Barns, Church-Steeples, Stacks of Hay and Corn were overthrown.

After his Death he was Conveyed to Summerset House and there laid in State, where he continued till the 23d. of November following, and then was carried to Westminster Abby with all Magnificence and Splendor imaginable, and Interred near the Kings of England formerly buryed there.

The old Tyrant being removed, his Son Richard was Invested with his Power, but his Head being too light, and his Shoulders too weak to Support the ponderous Weight of Government; he after his having called a Parliament was decently laid a∣side as a useless Tool, not fit to finish the Reforma∣tion, or rather unreform, and overthrow the Established Laws of the Kingdom.

And now Fleetwood and Lambert the chief Instru∣ments in outing Richard, called the Rump Parlia∣ment that had ben turned out by Cromwell, who not a little Rejoyced that it was put into their Pow∣er again to Lord it over their Betters, and add yet more Sin to the former. But whil'st they were bu∣sy in setling themselves Anno 1659, the Gentle∣men in Cheshire and Lancashire Rose under the Lead∣ing of Sr. George Booth in Defence of their Liber∣ties and Priviledges and to maintain the Kings Cause; against whom Lambert Advanced, and by him those Loyal Gentlemen had the Misfortune to be Routed, and the Renouned Sr. George Booth now Lord De-la-Mere, shortly after taken and sent Pri∣soner to the Tower, and Lambert upon his Return was gratified with a thousand Pounds by the Rump for his Service.

And now Lambert began to harbour some Con∣ceptions of Monopolizing the Government, by as∣suming to himself the Power of Oliver, and there∣upon he turned out the Rump and Erected a pre∣tended

Committee of Safety, all of his own Creatures, who were to inspect into the Affair of the three Kingdoms.

General Monk being in Scotland, and having notice of these Proceedings, concluded that now was the time to deliver his Country out of Slave∣ry; whereupon he passed the Tweed with his Ar∣my, and incamped at Cold Stream, there expecting the coming of Lambert, who advanced towards him, intending to give him battle, thinking that if he could but overthrow him, he should not fail to sit in Oliver's Chair. But whilst he Incamped at New Castle, the Rump had got together again, and had dissolved his Committee of Safety, and so dealt with the Officers of his Army, that first shewing the small disposition they had to fight General Monk, they afterwards left him to shift for him∣self, as likewise all his Soldiers; after which the Rump sent their Commissioners to General Monk to desire him to March for London, which he ac∣cordingly did, and was petitioned by all the Coun∣ties he passed through, if not by all the Counties of England, for a Free Parliament.

He was no sooner arrived at London, but the Rump to revenge some Indignities the Citizens had put upon them, set him to pull up their Posts and Chains, as likewise to throw down their Gates, which made many that hoped well of him, doubt the Event; but assoon as he saw it convenient, he began to declare himself openly for a Free Parlia∣ment, drawing his Troops into the City, who were now welcomed with great expressions of Joy.

The first thing he put in practice, was, to restore the Secluded Members to their Places in the House

of Commons, upon which the Assembly dissolved it self, and Writs were Issued out to the several Cities, Counties, Burroughs, and Towns Corpo∣rate, for calling a New Parliament, which was called the healing Parliament, as indeed it was, for assoon as the Members had settled themselves in the House, they began to Vote for the King's Return to his People, which after a long Dehate was car∣ried in the Affirmative; whereupon the States Arms were every where pulled down, and the King's Arms set up in their Places, and on Tuesday the Eighth of May, 1660. the King was Proclaim∣ed at White Hall Gate, according to the usual man∣ner, to the great Joy of his Loving Subjects, who had long groaned under Tyranny and Oppression, and immediately after Commissioners were sent to the King to invite him and his Royal Brethren, the Dukes of York and Glocester (who then resided at Breda) over into England; whereupon His Ma∣jesty sent Sir John Greenvill, and others before, to sound the Hearts of the People, by whom he re∣ceiving assurance of the longing Expectations of his Subjects for his Return, He with his Royal Bro∣thers, and a great Train of Nobility landed at Dover, where he was met by the General, and greatest part of the Nobility of England, and there his Majesty to express his Gratitude, dignified Ge∣neral Monk with the Honour of Knight of the Garter, himself putting the George about his Neck, his Brothers the Dukes of York and Glocester, the mean while tying on the Garter, and when the General offered to kneel, the King took him up in his Arms and Imbraced him, and so with a Splen∣did Train, his Majesty marched towards London, whilst great were the Expressions of Joy the Peo∣ple

every where shewed for his Happy Restau∣ration.

On Black Heath the General's Army was drawn up, as likewise a great number of Nobility, toge∣ther with the Lord Mayor of London, and Alder∣men in Scarlet, and some hundreds of Citizens lead by Sir John Robinson in Velvet Coats, who with loud Shouts and Acclamations of Joy, wel∣comed his Majestie's Return; when the King had passed them, they fell into his Rear, and after them the General's Soldiers in Armour with their drawn Swords, and so with a Train that reacht two miles in length; his Majesty was conducted through London to White Hall, whilst the Citizens the bet∣ter to express their Joy had reared many stately Pageants, and caused the Conduits to run Wine, and the Night by the Light of the Fires that were every where kindled, seemed another Day.

At White Hall Gate was the Effigies of Oliver Cromwel set upon a Pole, and the Common-wealths Arms about his Neck, which after it had been a long time the Sport of the People, was thrown into the Fire prepared for that purpose, and thus ended the Triumph of the Happy Twenty ninth of May, which was doubly blessed, in being the Day of his Majestie's Birth and Restauration.

And now the Parliament being exceedingly sa∣tisfied with the King's Return to his People, Orde∣red, that a Bill should be prepared for keeping a perpetual Anniversary, or day of Thanksgiving to return Praise to God for his Infinite Goodness in Restoring His Majesty to be a Blessing to his Peo∣ple, which Twenty ninth of May is still kept Sa∣cred by all Loyal and well affected Persons.

The King being by Heavens Providence setled

in his Royal Throne, the Parliament began to call such to an account, as had been concerned in the late King's Murther, of which Twenty six were Convicted, and Nine of the Principal Executed, viz. Adrian Scroop, John Carew, Thomas Harison, John Joanes, Gregory Clement, Thomas Scot, John Cook, Hugh Peters, and Daniel Axtel, all of them suffering for High Treason, as they most justly deserved; for although Divine Justice may delay for a sea∣son, yet at last it will strike home: And now his Majesty being mindful of his Vows to Heaven, used great Diligence to settle Religion, that dearest part of Government, by restoring the Church to its Purity of Worship, and setling those Bishops and Pastors that had been expelled by the Rebels, in their Diocesses and Cures; the Common Prayer was again read in Churches to the content of all good Christians.

About this time the Pious Princess of Orange coming over to visit his Majesty, fell sick of the Small Pox, of which Distemper she died, to the great grief of his Majesty, and all his Subjects. And now the Devil envying the happy state of this Kingdom, began again to stir up his Agents to molest our happy Peace; for in January after his Majesties Restauration, one Venner a Wine Cooper, with his Phanatick Proselytes Rebelled, and decla∣ring themselves for King Jesus, and the Fifth Mo∣narchy, ranged about the City like Madmen, kill∣ing first a man in Paul's Church Yard, and then another in Beach Lane, without the least provoca∣tion on the part of the deceased, and then making their Escapes into Cane-Wood; the third day after they entred London at several Gates (and past doubt imagining that more of the same Gange

would have come to their Assistance, they fell to knocking down, and killing all they met with; so that the Trained Bands and part of the King's Life-guard opposing them, there was above Forty Persons slain on both sides; but at last the re∣mainder were taken, and being condemned as Re∣bels and Traytors, they were Executed in several Parts of the City, dying obstinate and justifying themselves to the last.

Upon the Thirtieth of January, 1660. the odi∣ous Trunks of Oliver Cromwel, John Bradshaw, and Henry Ireton, were taken up and carried to Tyburn, where they were hanged at each Angle of the Triple Tree till Sun-set, and then their Bodies cast into a Pit under the Gallows, and their Heads fixed on Poles, and set upon Westminster Hall.

During these Proceedings the Pious Prince Hen∣ry, Duke of Glocester, left this Life for that more durable, and on the Twenty third of April, 1661. his Majesty was Crowned at Westminster, having the day before passed in great Splendour, from the Tower to Westminster.

And thus notwithstanding all the Popish and Fanatical Plots and Designs, has the best of Kings been preserved to this day, God having at sundry times frustrated and brought to nought all the per∣nicious devices of wicked men, and caused the mischief they intended to others, to fall upon their own heads, as hath been seen in the miraculous di∣scovery of the late damnable Popish Plots, and fru∣strating the Designs of the late Rebels in Scotland, and likewise the subtle underhand contrivances of the disaffected, whilst under his prosperous Reign we enjoy all that Subjects can lawfully expect, or is convenient to be enjoyed; therefore let every

good Subject make it his dayly Prayer to the Al∣mighty, That His Reign may be long and prospe∣rous over us.

And they that will not, may they Traytors dye, To shame themselves, and their Posterity.

FINIS.