The number of slaine in that Battel, were judged to be, by those who speak most moderately, foure times as many of the King's Party as of the Parliament's; but others have spoken of a farre greater difference. Divers Captains, as Captaine MASSY, and Captaine HUNT, with others, were slaine on the Parliament-side; but scarce any of higher ranke. Three of the Nobility fell on the King's side, the Earl of Carnarvon, the Lord SPENCER (newly-made by the King Earle of Sunderland) and the Lord Viscount Fawkland. The Lord-General After this Victory, the Lord-General was received at London with great joy and Honour. The Trayned Bands and Auxiliaries of London marched home in full Companies, and were welcomed by their friends; and met by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen at Temple-Barre: And now the face of things seemed much to change, and the reputation of the Parliament to rise higher. The King agrees to At the time of this Expedition for the reliefe of Gloucester, a Cessation of Arms a cessation of Arms was made by the King with the Irish Rebels; of which, together with the great with the Irish Re bels, in Sept. 1643. Victories which small numbers of the English Forces obtained over great multitudes of those Irish Rebels, before the time of that Cessation (which was here omitted, as not to interrupt the Relation of proceedings in the English Warres) there may be a larger Discourse in the continuation of this History; as also of the Covenant which the Parliament, and that part of the Nation which adhered to them, about this time entered into with their Brethren of Scotland, for maintenance of the Religion, Lawes, and Liberties of both Kingdomes. HERE ends this full and faithful History of the first three years of this celebrated Parliament, (which has since been generally called The Long Parliament of King Charles the 1st,) by Mr. THOMAS MAY. For, though he here speaks of a Continuation of it as a work that he then designed speedily to enter-upon, he never carried that design into execution. However, he afterwards published a more summary history of the whole Civil War of England, down to the trial and execution of King Charles in January, 1648-9, about three years after the publication of the present history, to wit, in the year 1650, during the Government of England and Ireland under the form of a Common-wealth, or Republick, without a King and House of Lords, and before Oliver Cromwell had usurped the Supreme authority by military force under the title of Lord Protector. This summary history was published with the approbation of the Parliament then sitting, under the authority of an Imprimatur signed Na. Brent, and dated June 10, 1650, which was about a year before the Author's death. It is written in a clear and easy style, and is full of judicious observations, and seems to be very faithful and impartial. The title of it is as follows: A BREVIARY OF THE HISTORY OF THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND; EXPRESSED IN THREE PARTS: 1. The causes and beginning of the Civil War of England. 2. A short mention of the Progress of that Cwil War. 3. A compendious Relation of the Original and Progress of the Second Civil War. Written by THOMAS MAY, Esquire. The oldest Edition I have seen of this Breviary of the History of this Parliament was published in the year 1655. But I suppose there had been a former Edition of it in the year 1650, which is the date of the Imprimatur. F. M. APPENDIX. FOR the further satisfaction of the Readers of the foregoing valuable History of the first part of the celebrated Long Parliament of England (from it's beginning on the 3d day of November, 1640, to the 27th of September, 1643,) by Mr. THOMAS MAY, I shall here insert an APPENDIX to it, containing all the papers issued by the King and the Parliament, from the time of the King's return from Scotland to London in November, 1641, to the middle of the following month of March, in the year 1641-2, when the King had retired from his usual residence at his Palace at White-hall in consequence of some tumults in the City of London, and was gone to Huntingdon in his way to the City of York, where he afterwards resided for some time, and began to raise soldiers as a Guard to his Person, which he declared he apprehended to be in danger: which measure was, in a few months after, followed by an open war between him and the Parliament. The papers here re-published form the first part of the large Collection (mentioned above in the Note in page 129,) which was published by Mr. HUSBANDS in the year 1642-5; and they relate to the principal subjects of dispute in these unfortunate dissensions between the King and the Parliament ; and therefore will, as I conceive, be sufficient to gratify the curiosity of the greater part of the Readers of this History. But they are followed in that Collection by a great body of other papers, which, on account of their their great number, and the great length of many of them, I have not thought it necessary to reprint on this occasion, though they contain much important matter that may be interesting to very diligent inquirers into the foundations of our Laws and Government; Mr. HUSBANDS's whole Collection extending to no fewer than 954 pages. F. M. APPENDIX. APPENDIX, CONTAINING ALL THE PAPERS IN HUSBANDS'S COLLECTION, FROM THE BEGINNING HIS MAJESTIE'S SPEECH, to both HOUSES of PARLIAMENT, My Lords and Gentlemen, I THINK it fit, 'after so long absence, at this first occasion, to speak a few words unto you; but it is no ways in Answer to Master Speaker's learned Speech. Albeit I have staid longer than I expected to have done when I went-away, yet inthis I have kept my promise with you, that I have made all the haste back again, that the -settling of my Scotch Affaires could any ways permit : in which I have had so good successe, that I will confidently affirme to you, that I have left that Nation a most 'peaceable and contented People; so that, although I have a little misreckoned in time, yet I was not deceived in my end. But, if I have deceived your expectations a little in the time of my return, yet I am assured that my expectation is as much, and more, deceived in the condition wherein I hoped to have found businesse at my return. For, since that, before my going, I settled the Liberties of my Subjects, and gave the Laws a free and orderly course, I expected to have found my People reaping the fruits of these benefits, by living in quietnesse, and satisfaction of minde: But, instead of this, I finde them disturbed with Jealousies, Frights, and Alarms of dangerous Designes and Plots; in consequence of which, Guards have been set to defend both Houses: I say not this as in doubt that my Subjects affections are any way lessened to me in this time of my absence; (for I cannot but remember, to my great comfort, the joyful reception I had now at my entry into London ;) but rather as I hope that my presence will easily disperse these fears For I bring as perfect and true affections to my people as ever Prince did, or as good Subjects can possibly desire. And I am so far from repenting me of any Act I have done this Session for the good of my people, that I protest, if it were to do again, I would do it and will yet grant what else can be justly desired for satisfaction in point of Liberties, or in maintenance of the true Religion that is here established. Now 231 Now I have but one particular to recommend unto you at this time. It is Ireland: for which though I doubt not your care, yet me-thinks the preparations for it go but slowly on. The occasion is the fitter for me now to mention it, because of the Arrival of two Lords from Scotland, who come instructed from my Council there (who now, by Act of Parliament, have full power for that purpose,) to answer that Demand which it pleased both Houses to make me by way of Petition, that met me at Barwick, and which the Duke of Richmond sent-back by my command to my Scotch-Council: Therefore my desire is, That both Houses would appoint a select Committee, to end this businesse with these Noblemen. I must conclude in telling you, that I seek my people's happinesse; for their flourishing is my greatest glory, and their affections my greatest strength. By the KING. A PROCLAMATION for the LAWES ordained for establishing of the true RELIGION in this KINGDOM of ENGLAND. obedience to the HIS Majestie, considering that it is a dutie most beseeming, and that most obligeth Soveraign Authoritie in a Christian King, to be careful (above all other things) of preserving and advancing the Honour and Service of Almighty God, and the Peace and Tranquillitie of the Church, (to which end His Majestie, with his Parliament, hath it under consideration, how all just scruples might be removed :) And being, in the mean time, sensible that the present division, separation, and disorder about the Worship and Service of God, as it is established by the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom, in the Church of England, tendeth to great distraction and confusion, and may endanger the subversion of the very essence and substance of true Religion: Hath resolved, for the preservation of Unitie and Peace (which is most necessary at this time for the Church of England) to require Obedience to the Lawes and Statutes ordained for establishing of the true Religion in this Kingdom, whereby the Honour of God may be advanced, to the great comfort and happinesse both of his Majestie and His good Subjects. His Majestie doth therefore charge and command, That Divine Service be performed in this His Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, as is appointed by the Laws and Statutes established in this Realm, and that obedience be given by all His Subjects, Ecclesiastical and Temporal, to the said Laws and Statutes. concerning the same; And that all Judges, Officers, and Ministers, Ecclesiasticaland Temporal, according to Justice and their respective duties, do put the said Acts of Parliament in due execution against all wilfull Contemners and Disturbers. of Divine Service, contrary to the said Laws and Statutes. His Majestie doth further command, That no Parsons, Vicars, or Curates, in |