A TRUE HISTORICAL NARRATION OF THE REBELLION AND CIVIL WARS IN ENGLAND BEGUN IN THE YEAR 1641, WITH THE PRECEDENT PASSAGES AND ACTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTED THEREUNTO. BOOK IX. WE E are now entering upon a time, the representation and description whereof must be the most unpleasant and ungrateful to the reader, in respect of the subject matter of it; which must consist of no less weakness and folly on the one side, than of malice and wickedness on the other; and as unagreeable and difficult to the writer, in regard that he shall please very few who acted then upon the stage of business, but that he must give as severe characters of the persons, and as severely censure the actions of many who wished very well, and had not the least thought of disloyalty or infidelity, [as well] as of those, who, with the most deliberate impiety, prosecuted their design to ruin and destroy the crown: a time in which the whole stock of affection, loyalty, and courage, which at first alone engaged men in the quarrel, , seemed to be quite spent, and to be succeeded by negli VOL. IV. В. |