the people, that they were gone upon some important enterprise, and would speedily return; and it was insinuated, "that it was gone to the Isle of Wight to release the king, who would return "with it into Kent;" which made them hasten their preparations.

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At the time when the king made the earl of Northumberland admiral, he declared, and it was inserted in his commission, "that he should enjoy "that office during the minority of the duke of "York;" and the duke having made his escape at this time, when there was this commotion amongst the seamen, it was no sooner known that his highness was in Holland, but the seamen talked aloud, "that they would go to their admiral;" and the gentlemen of Kent stirring them up and inflaming them to that resolution, and the seamen again pressing the gentlemen to hasten their rising in arms, that they might assist and second each other, they both declared themselves sooner than they ought to have done, and before they were prepared for an enterprise of that importance.

ever done when it was in rebellion against the king; and, notwithstanding all his promises with reference to Ireland, the marquis of Ormond remained still at Paris, without obtaining arms or money in any proportion, (both which had been promised so liberally,) and was, after all importunities, compelled to transport himself into Ireland (where he was so importunately called for) without any manner of supplies, which were expected. And now, when the remove of the prince was so behoveful, the cardinal utterly refused to furnish him with any money; all which discountenances were shortly after remembered to Cromwell, as high merit.

The prince's remove was by every body thought so necessary, that the lord Jermyn, as was pretended, found means to borrow so much money as was necessary for the journey; which the king paid long after with full interest. Dr. Goffe, a man well known in that time, as the chief agent and confident of my lord Jermyn, was presently sent into Holland, to dispose the seamen to be willing to receive the lord Jermyn to command the fleet. So solicitous that nobleman was to be in the head of any action that was like to prosper, how unfit soever he was for it; having neither industry, nor knowledge of any thing of the sea, and being less beloved by the seamen than any man that could be named. The prince made what haste he could to Calais, attended by prince Rupert, the lord Hopton, and the lord Colepepper, and some other gentlemen, besides his own domestics; and finding one of the English frigates before Calais, and understanding that the duke of York was gone from the Hague to Helvoetsluys, and had put himself on board the fleet there, his highness presently embarked, and made the more haste lest his brother should be in action before him, and was received at the fleet with all those acclamations and noises of joy, which that people are accustomed to; they having expressed as much some days before, at the arrival of the duke of York.

The parliament was well informed of the distemper amongst the seamen, and had therefore forborne putting the half of the provisions aboard the ships, which, for the greatest part, lay ready in the Downs, wanting only half the victual they were to have for the summer service. But those officers which were on board, finding they had no authority, and that the seamen mocked and laughed at them, sent every day to inform the parliament, what mutinous humour the whole fleet was in. Whereupon they sent Rainsborough and some other officers thither; presuming that the presence of the admiral would quickly quiet all. He, being a man of a rough imperious nature, as soon as he came on board his ship, begun to make a strict inquiry into the former disorders and mutinous behaviour, upon which all the men of his ship retired into their old fortress of one and all, and presently laid hold on him, and put him, and such other officers of the ship as they liked not, into the boat, and sent them on shore. Which was no sooner known to the rest of the ships, but they followed their example, and used their officers in the same manner. After they had for some days been feasted and caressed by the people of Kent, some of the gentlemen putting themselves on board to join with them, and in order to assist them towards providing such necessaries as were wanting, they went out of the Downs, and stood for Holland, that they might find their admiral; and let fall their anchors before the Brill. What was done by the gentlemen of Kent on shore, and the suc-highness; who was persuaded by colonel Bamcess thereof, will be related hereafter.

This so very seasonable revolt of the fleet, in a conjuncture when so many advantages were expected, was looked upon as a sure omen of the deliverance of the king. And the report that the ships were before Calais, as if they had expected somebody there, which was true, for some time, was the reason that it was thought fit that the prince (who had hitherto thought of nothing but being sent for by the Scots, and how to find himself with them) should make all possible haste to Calais. This was the cause of that his sudden motion, which was yet retarded for want of money, and all other things necessary for his journey. The cardinal shewed no manner of favouring all these appearances of advantage to the king; he gave less countenance to Scotland, than he had

As soon as it was known in Holland that the prince of Wales was arrived, the prince of Orange, with his wife the princess royal, came presently thither to entertain his highness the best that place would permit, but especially to rejoice together, having not seen each other from the time they were children. The prince found the fleet in faction and disorder, and great pains had been taken to corrupt them. Sir John Berkley's coming to the Hague to assume the government of the duke of York, had not been acceptable to his royal

field, that he had been unfaithful, as well as unfortunate, in his attendance upon the king to the Isle of Wight. The colonel himself was so incensed with it, that he used all the skill and insinuation he had, to lessen his highness's reverence to the queen, and to dispute her commands. Then taking the opportunity of the fleet's being come to Helvoetsluys, he went thither, and having, as is said before, a wonderful address to the disposing men to mutiny, and to work upon common men, which the fleet consisted of, the greatest officer among them being not above the quality of a boatswain or master's mate, he persuaded them "to "declare for the duke of York, without any re"spect to the king or prince; and when his highness should be on board, that they should not "meddle in the quarrel between the king and the

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The prince comes into the Downs with the fleet-then into the Thames. 649

parliament, but entirely join with the presby"terian party, and the city of London; which by this means would bring the parliament to reason:" and he prepared his friends the seamen when the duke should come to them, that they would except against sir John Berkley, and cause him to be dismissed; and then he believed he should be able to govern both his highness and the fleet.

At the same time Dr. Goffe, who was a dexterous man too, and could comply with all men in all the acts of good-fellowship, had gotten acquaintance with others of the seamen, and made them jealous of Bamfield's activity; and endeavoured to persuade them, "that they should all petition the "prince," (who, he knew, would be shortly with them,)" that the lord Jermyn might be made their "admiral; who would be able to supply them "with money, and whatsoever else they wanted: "that there was no hope of money but from France, and that the lord Jermyn had all the power and credit there, and might have what money he desired;" and by these agitations, the infant loyalty of the seamen begun to be distracted.

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At the same time the lord Willoughby of Parham, who had always adhered to the presbyterians, and was of great esteem amongst them, though he was not tainted with their principles, had left the parliament, and secretly transported himself into Holland; and was arrived at Rotterdam, when Bamfield returned from the fleet, and went to wait upon the duke of York at the Hague. Bamfield delivered such a message from the fleet as he thought would hasten the duke's journey thither; and told him, "the seamen made great inquiry "after the lord Willoughby, and much longed to "have him with them;" insinuating to the duke, "that he had much contributed to that good disposition in the seamen, and was privy to their "revolt, and had promised speedily to come to "them, and that it would be the most acceptable "thing his highness could do to carry him with "him to the fleet, and make him his vice-admiral." The duke made all imaginable haste to Helvoetsluys, and immediately went on board the Admiral; where he was received with the usual marks of joy and acclamation. He declared the lord Willoughby his vice-admiral, and appointed some other officers in the several ships, and seemed very desirous to be out at sea. In the mean time Bamfield continued his activity; and the doctor, finding he had little hope to raise his patron to the height he proposed, did all he could to hinder the operation of Bamfield, and took all the ways he could that the prince might be advertised of it, and thereupon hasten his own journey; which did likewise contribute to the haste his highness made. He arrived at Helvoetsluys very seasonably to prevent many inconveniences, which would have inevitably fallen out; and the seamen, upon his highness's appearance, returned again into their old cheerful humour; which the prince knew would be best preserved by action; and therefore exceedingly desired to be at sea, where he was sure he must be superior to any force the parliament could in a short time put out. But the fleet already wanted many provisions, of which beer was the chief; which, by the countenance and assistance of the prince of Orange, was in a short time procured in a reasonable proportion; and

then the prince set sail for the Downs; having sent his brother, the duke of York, with all his family to the Hague, to remain there.

Though the duke was exceedingly troubled to leave the fleet, which he had been persuaded to look upon as his province, yet he could not but acknowledge, that right reason would not permit they should both be ventured at one time on board the fleet; and, the prince determining to engage his own person, he submitted to the determination; and was well content to remain with his sister. The prince did not think fit to remove the lord Willoughby (who, he knew, was much relied upon by the presbyterian party) from the charge the duke had given him; though he had never been at sea, and was not at all known to the seamen. But captain Batten coming at the same time when his highness did to the fleet, and bringing the Constant Warwick, one of the best frigates the parliament had built, with Jordan, and two or three seamen of good command, his highness knighted him, and made him rear-admiral of the fleet; believing, that he could not do a more popular and acceptable thing to the seamen, than by putting the same man, who had commanded them so many years, over them again at this time; whose experience and government would supply the defects and want of skill of the vice-admiral, who was very willing to be advised by him. But the prince shortly after found he was mistaken in that expedient, and that the seamen (who desired to serve the king upon the clear principles of obedience and loyalty) did not in any degree affect Batten, because he had failed in both, and was now of a party towards which they had no veneration. The truth is, the prince came prepared and disposed from the queen, to depend wholly upon the presbyterian party, which, besides the power of the Scottish army, which was every day expected to invade England, was thought to be possessed of all the strength of the city of London; and the lord Colepepper, and Mr. Long, the prince's secretary, were trusted by the queen to keep the prince steady and fast to that dependence; and his highness was enjoined to be entirely advised by them; though all the other lords about him were of another mind, and the prince himself not inclined that way. Dr. Steward, the dean of the king's chapel, whom his majesty had recommended to his son to instruct him in all matters relating to the church, and Dr. Earles, and his rest of his chaplains, waited diligently upon him to prevent those infusions. But, by those two, the benefit of this fleet was principally considered, as a happy means to put the prince on shore, that he might be in the head of the Scottish army; and no doubt if that army had been then entered into England, as it was very shortly after, the prince would have been advised, with the fleet, to have followed all the "advice which should have been sent from the "Scots."

In the mean time it was thought most counsellable, after the prince had sailed some days about the coast, that the kingdom might generally know that his highness was there, that they should all go into the river of Thames, and lie still there; by which they expected two great advantages; first, that the city would be thereby engaged to declare itself, when they saw all their trade obstructed; and that their ships homewards bound, of which, at that season of the year, they expected many,

must fall into the prince's hands; and then, that the presence of the prince in the river would hinder the parliament from getting seamen; and from setting out that fleet which they were preparing to reduce the other, under the command of the earl of Warwick; whom they thought fit, in this exigent, again to employ; and who, by accepting the charge, thought he should be in a better posture to choose his party, in any other alteration that should happen at land.

blank commissions ready to be disposed as the service should require, they filled one with his name, by which the command of all Kent was committed to him, "with power to lead them any "whither as the good of the king's service should "make requisite." And with this commission he made haste into Kent, and found at Maidstone a better body of horse and foot armed than could have been expected; enough in number to have met any army that was like to be brought against them. They all received him with wonderful acclamations, and vowed obedience to him. Mr. Hales, upon the news of another general to be sent thither, and upon the storms of threats and rage which fell upon him from his grandfather, on the one side, and on his wife by her mother on the other side, and upon the conscience that he was not equal to the charge, though his affection was not in the least declined, found means to transport himself, and wife, together with his friend Mr. L'Estrange, who had lost his credit with the people, into Holland; resolving, as soon as he had put his wife out of the reach of her mother, to return himself, and to venture his person in the service which he could not conduct; which he did quickly after very heartily endeavour to do.

When the parliament first heard of the commotion in Kent, and saw the warrants which were sent out and signed by L'Estrange, whom nobody knew, (and the gentlemen of Kent, who sat in the parliament, assured them, "that there was no such "gentleman in that county;" and sir Edward Hales, who likewise was present there, told them, "he was very confident that his grandson could "not be embarked in such an affair,") they neglected it, and thought it a design to amuse them. But when they heard that the meetings were continued, and saw the declarations which were published, and were well assured that young Hales appeared with them as their general, they thought the matter worth their care; and therefore appointed their general, " to send two or three "troops of horse into Kent to suppress that sedi"tious insurrection;" sir Edward Hales now ex-byterians their correspondents, the fame of sir cusing himself with revilings, threats, and detestation of his grandson; who, he protested, should never be his heir.

The earl of Holland, who had a commission to be general, and the rest who were engaged, were not yet ready, the Scots being not yet entered; nor did they understand any thing of the business of Kent; however when they were assured that they were drawn into a body, and were so strong that the officers who commanded the troops which had been sent to suppress them, had sent to the parliament word, "that they durst not advance, "for that the enemy was much stronger than they, " and increased daily; and that they had sent a "letter to the city of London inviting them to join "with them;" they thought it fit to send them all the countenance and encouragement they could; and thereupon despatched those officers who had been designed for the troops of that county, when the season should be ripe, and who had hitherto lurked privately in London to avoid suspicion. They were desired to call their friends together, as soon as was possible, to join with their neighbours; and were told, "that they should very shortly "receive a general from the king :" for they did not think Mr. Hales equal to the work, who found his power and credit to grow less, the greater the appearance grew to be; and they begun to inquire for the king's commission. The earl of Holland had formed his party of many officers who had served both the king and the parliament; all which were in the city; and he had not yet a mind to call them together, but to expect the appearance of their northern friends, and therefore consulting with the rest, and finding the earl of Norwich, who had been some months in England under a pass from the parliament, (upon pretence of making his composition, from which he had never been excluded,) willing to engage himself in the conduct of those in Kent, where he was well known and beloved, his affection and zeal for the king's service being not to be doubted, they resolved that he should go thither; and there being many

The importunities from Scotland with the presMarmaduke Langdale's being well received at Edinburgh, and that many English officers and soldiers daily flocked thither, but especially the promises from Paris of supplies of arms, ammunition, and money, as soon as they could expect it, set all the other wheels going in England which had been preparing all the winter. There were in South Wales colonel Laughorn, colonel Powell, and colonel Poyer, who commanded those parts under the parliament, which they had served from the beginning: the first of them a gentleman of a good extraction, and a fair fortune in land in those counties, who had been bred a page under the earl of Essex, when he had a command in the Low Countries, and continued his dependence upon him afterwards, and was much in his favour, and by that relation was first engaged in the rebellion, as many other gentlemen had been, without wishing ill to the king: the second was a gentleman too, but a soldier of fortune: the third, had from a low trade raised himself in the war to the reputation of a very diligent and stout officer, and was at this time trusted by the parliament with the government of the town and castle of Pembroke. These three communicated their discontents to each other, and all thought themselves ill requited by the parliament for the service they had done, and that other men, especially colonel. Mitton, were preferred before them; and resolved to take the opportunity of the Scots coming in, to declare for the king upon the presbyterian account. But Laughorn, who was not infected with any of those freaks, and doubted not to reduce the other two, when it should be time, to sober resolutions, would not engage till he first sent a confident to Paris to inform the prince of what he had determined, and of what their wants consisted, which if not relieved, they should not be able to pursue their purpose, desiring to receive orders for the time of their declaring, and assurance that they should in time receive those supplies they stood in need of. And the lord Jermyn sent him a promise under his hand, "that he should not fail

" of receiving all the things he had desired, be- | formed; and when he had been destitute of that "fore he could be pressed by the enemy;" and help, he had always received some affront. When therefore conjured him, and his friends, " forth- by this means there was a new general to be "with to declare for the king; which he assured named, duke Hamilton was proposed, as a fit "them would be of singular benefit and advan- man to be employed to redeem the honour of the tage to his majesty's service; since, upon the nation. He had formerly undergone the office of "first notice of their having declared, the Scot- general under the king of Sweden, where Lesley, "tish army would be ready to march into England." that had now declined the employment, was Hereupon they presently declared, before they major general under him; and therefore could were provided to keep the field for want of ammu- not be thought to be without ample experience nition and money, and when Pembroke was not of war. supplied with provisions for above two months; and were never thought of after.

The lord Byron had been sent from Paris, upon the importunities from Scotland, to get as many places to declare in England in several places, as might distract the army, and keep it from an entire engagement against them; to dispose his old friends about Chester and North Wales to appear as soon as might be: and he presently, with the help of colonel Robinson, possessed himself of the island of Anglesey, and disposed all North Wales to be ready to declare as soon as the Scots should enter the kingdom. But that which was of most importance, and seemed already to have brought the war even into the heart of England, was that some gentlemen, who had formerly served the king in the garrison of Newark, and in the northern army, under sir Marmaduke Langdale, had (by a design consulted with him before his going into Scotland, and upon orders received from him since, when he believed the Scots would be in a short time ready to begin their march) surprised the strong castle of Pontefract in Yorkshire, (which had a garrison in it for the parliament,) and grew presently so numerous, by the resort of officers and soldiers from the adjacent counties, that they grew formidable to all those parts, and made the communication between London and York insecure, except it was with strong troops. Upon which argument of the surprise of Pontefract, we shall enlarge hereafter, before we speak of the tragic conclusion of this enterprise. All affairs were in this motion in England, before there was any appearance of an army in Scotland, which they had promised should be ready to march by the beginning of May.

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Whilst this was depending, Argyle took notice of sir Marmaduke Langdale's and sir Philip Musgrave's being in the town, and of some discourses which they had used, or some other English officers in their company, and desired, "that, if they were to have any command in the army, they might presently take the covenant; and that "there might be a general declaration, that there "should be neither officer nor soldier received "into their army, before he had first taken the "covenant: and that, after they were entered into "the kingdom of England, they should make no conjunction with any forces, or persons, who "had not done, or should refuse to do the same." This proposal found no opposition; they who were most forward to raise the army for the delivery of the king, being as violent as any to advance that declaration. And though duke Hamilton and his brother of Lanrick did as well disapprove it in their own judgments, as they did foresee, out of the long experience they had of England, what prejudice it would bring upon them there, yet they had not the courage in any degree to speak against it; and the chancellor of Scotland and the earl of Lautherdale were as passionate for the advancement of it, as Argyle himself; and seemed to think that those two gentlemen either | had already taken, or would be willing to take it. It can hardly be believed, that, after so long knowledge of England, and their observation of whom the king's party did consist, after their so often conferences with the king without prevailing upon him, in any degree, either to preserve himself at Newcastle from being delivered up to the parliament, or in their last agitation with him, when he yielded to so many unreasonable particulars to gratify them, to consent to or promise, "that any man should be compelled to take the

Indeed as to the raising an army in Scotland, the difficulties were well nigh over, nor did they ever look upon that as a thing that would trouble" covenant;" that they should still adhere to that them, but who should command, and be general of this army, was the matter upon which the success of all they proposed would depend; and if they could not procure duke Hamilton to be made choice of for that service, they could promise themselves no good issue of the undertaking. It was a hard thing to remove the old general Lesley, who had been hitherto in the head of their army in all their prosperous successes; but he was in the confidence of Argyle, which was objection enough against him, if there were no other; and the man was grown old, and appeared, in the actions of the last expedition into England, very unequal to the command. And therefore some expedient was to be found to be rid of him; and they found it no hard matter to prevail with him to decline the command, upon pretence of his age and infirmities, when in truth he had no mind to venture his honour against the English, except assisted by English, which had been his good fortune in all the actions of moment he had per

fatal combination against the church, which they could never hope to bring to pass, except they intended only to change the hand, and to keep the king under as strict a restraint, when they should get him into their hands, as he was under the domination of the parliament and army: yet they were so infatuated with this resolution, that they discovered their apprehension of the king's party, and designed no less to oppress them than the independents and anabaptists; and upon the news of the revolt of the fleet from the parliament to the king, the insurrection in Kent, and other places, and the general inclinations throughout the kingdom for the king, they slackened their preparations, that they might defer their march, to the end that all that strength might be oppressed and reduced, that so they might be absolute masters after they had prevailed over the army. And at last, when they could defer their march no longer, upon the importunate pressure of their friends in London, they sent the earl of

Lautherdale with those insolent instructions, which | under pretence of "the secrecy that was necessary; will be mentioned anon, and positively required "in respect whereof he would not trust his own the prince immediately to repair to them; posi- secretary; and likewise, as a thing unnecessary tively declaring, "that if his person should not be " for the work; since it was their own reputation "forthwith in their army, they would return again" and interest, and their being known to have "into Scotland without making any attempt;"" been always trusted by the king, by which they and the knowing this resolution, was the reason "could bring it to pass, and not his commission; that the queen was so positive in her instructions, "for which those towns would have no reverence." notwithstanding the appearance of any other ad- Besides, he told them, "that the marquis of Arvantage to the king in England. gyle had still protested against their beginning "the war by any act of hostility against the Eng"lish, in forcing any of the towns; which was "not necessary in order to the king's deliver"ance; but that an army might march to the place where the king was, to the end that those messengers who were sent by the state to speak with the king, might have liberty to speak with "his majesty; which was a right of the kingdom, " and the demanding it could be no breach of the "pacification between the two kingdoms."

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Sir Marmaduke Langdale and sir Philip Musgrave no sooner heard of this declaration, than they went to those lords, and expostulated very sharply with them, for "having broken their faiths, "and betrayed them into their country; where they were looked upon as enemies." They were answered, "that they must give over their design" "to redeem the king, or yield to this determina"tion, which their parliament was so firm and "united in; and would never depart from." And therefore they entreated them with all imaginable This argument, they knew, was not reasonable importunity, that they would take the covenant; enough to sway the duke. But they foresaw two some of them desiring to confer with them upon other reasons, which did prevail with him not to it, and undertaking to satisfy them, that the cove- give those commissions they desired, which othernant did not include those things in it, which wise might have been given with the same secrecy they thought it did. But when they saw those that the business was to be acted with; the one, gentlemen would not be prevailed with, but that the order against giving any commission to any on the contrary they resolved presently to leave man before he had taken the covenant: and how the country; and told them, "they would unde- much authority soever the duke might take upon "ceive those honest people in England, who were him to dispense with that order after he should be "too much inclined to trust them; and that they in England, it might not be convenient that he "should find that they had a harder work in hand should assume it whilst he remained yet at Edin"than they imagined;" the Scottish lords knew burgh: the other was, that, when they had done it well enough of what importance their presence without his commission, he might, upon his march, was to be to them, for their very entrance into or as soon as he came thither, dispossess them of England; and thereupon desired them, "that the government, and put Scotchmen into their they would have a little patience, and again ab- places; the last of which he did not dissemble to "sent themselves from Edinburgh, till the heat them; but confessed, "that, though the council "of this dispute was over, and till the army "of Scotland would not attempt the taking of "should be ready to march;" and duke Hamil-"those towns, yet when they should be taken, ton, who had a marvellous insinuation to get himself believed, assured them in confidence, "that as soon as he should find himself in the "head of his army, and upon their march, there "should be no more talk of covenants, but that "all the king's friends should be welcome, and "without distinction." So they left Edinburgh again, and went to their old quarters; where they had not stayed long, before the duke sent for them to come to him in private; and after a very cheerful reception, he told them, "he was now "ready; and that their friends in England called so importunately for them, that he was resolved "to march in very few days; which he thought necessary to communicate to them, not only for "the friendship he had for them; which would "always keep him without reserve towards them; "but because he must depend upon them two "to surprise the towns of Berwick and Carlisle, against the time he should be able to march "thither; for he intended to march between those "two places."

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they would expect the government thereof "should be in their hands, and depend upon "them, without which they should not be able to "send him those continual supplies which he ex

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pected from them." And there being then a recruit of five or six thousand, which sir George Monroe had near raised in the north, who were to begin their march after him, as soon as he should be out of Scotland, the two gentleman had no purpose of remaining in those governments, well knowing that their presence would be of importance to the army, at least whilst they stayed in the northern counties; yet they knew well, it was for the service that those towns should remain in the hands of the English, without which few of the gentlemen of those parts would declare themselves, how well affected soever they were; which when they had offered to the duke, they left it to him, and accepted the employment he pressed them to undertake, and parted to put the same in execution in both places at one time, all things being concerted between them to that purpose.

Sir Marmaduke Langdale had several officers, and soldiers, laid privately on the Scottish side to

The work was not hard to be performed by them, they having, from their first entrance into Scotland, adjusted with their friends who inha-wait his commands, and more on the English; bited near those places, to be ready for that enterprise when they should be called upon; which they then believed would have been much sooner; so that they were willing to undertake it, and demanded commissions from the duke for the doing thereof; which he excused himself for not giving,

there being two or three good families within two or three miles of Berwick, who were well affected and ready to appear when they should be required; in expectation whereof they had for some time harboured many men. Some of them sir Marmaduke appointed to meet him, on the Scottish