passionate was Colonel Harley, that after an inventory had been taken of all the personal estate and goods, he waited on the Lady Lingen (Sir Henry being dead), and having asked, "whether that was a perfect inventory, and she had signed the same," he presented it to her, with all his right thereto. Sir Robert Harley wanted not fortitude, hereditary and acquired, to sustain these disasters; living several years after them, and at last died of the stone and gout, on Nov. 6th, and was interred with his ancestors at Brampton-Brian, on Dec. 10th following, anno 1656. His funeral sermon was preached, the day of his interment, by the Rev. Mr. James Froyseld, who, soon after publishing the same, dedicated it to his son Colonel Edward Harley; to that, therefore, we refer for his further deserved praise. Among other hardships in his old age, he was imprisoned by the army, on the following occasion: on Dec. 6th, 1648, he and his son Colonel Edward Harley having voted, "That the King's answer to the propositions from both houses, was a ground for them to proceed upon, to the settlement of the kingdom's peace," the army the next morning seized on forty-one of the principal members then sitting; and Sir Robert, with his son Colonel Harley, being two of them, were conveyed into their great victualling-house, near Westminster-hall, called Hell, where they kept them all night, without beds, and were after driven as prisoners (through snow and rain) to several inns in the Strand, and there confined under guards of the soldiers." See Dugdale's View of the Troubles, p. 362. Colonel EDWARD Harley succeeded his father, as his eldest son and heir, in his estate and virtues and, being a man of great integrity, was deservedly advanced to great honour. He was baptized at Wigmore, on Oct. 21st, 1624, and was educated at Magdalen-hall, in Oxford, though he did not abide long there. He was one of the Knights of the shire for Hereford, with his father, in the last Parliament called by Charles 1.; and, upon the eruption of the civil war, he was Colonel of a regiment, which he raised himself. In one of his first engagements, in the year 1642, he was shot with a musket-ball, which he bore in his body fifty-eight years, even to his grave. He distinguished his valour and expertness in arms, in several battles; and, in the year 1644, he was made governor of Monmouth; also, the year after, of e Regist. de Brampton. dEx Collect. B. Willis, Arm. e Whitlock's Memoirs, p. 102. g Cannon Frome, a garrison between Worcester and Hereford. In 1647, he was one of the eleven members in the House of Commous, who, by reason of their firmness in promoting a peace with the King, were impeached by the army of high treason: "For that, by their power in the house, the ordinance for disbanding the army did pass ;" and threatened, if they were not expelled, they would march up to Westminster: whereby the rest of the members were so intimidated, as to exclude them the house. But, being some time after again admitted, he and his father, Sir Robert Harley, were, by the army, made prifoners, as already mentioned in the account of Sir Robert. In 1656, being chosen by the county of Hereford, one of their representatives in Parlia ment; and Oliver Cromwell having secluded him, with several other members who would not be subservient to him; he was one of those who signed and published a remonstrance,h" That they would not be frighted or flattered to betray their country, and give up their religion, lives, and estates, to be at his will, to serve his lawless ambition." And in very pathetic terms, set forth the depredations of Cromwell, and the power he had assumed; protesting, that the assembly at Westminster was not the representative body of England; and "That all such members as shall take on them to approve the forcible exclusion of other chosen members, or shall sit, vote, or act, by name of the Parlia ment of England, while, to their knowledge, many of the chosen members are so by force shut out, ought to be reputed betrayers of the liberties of England, and adherents to the capital enemy of the commonwealth." In the Parliament which restored Charles II. he was one of the members for the county of Hereford. He approved himself such a faithful assertor of the royal cause, and was so instrumental to the restoration, that meeting the King at Dover, upon his first return to his dominions, his Majesty made him Governor of Dunkirk; and he went directly to take possession of it, that the town might not fall into the hands of the French, as General Monk told him otherwise it would. He also preferred a petition to the council, which Mr. Annesley reported to the House of Commons, on June 29th, 1660, and was referred to a committee, to take f Ibid. p. 256. and Kennet's Hist. of Engl. Vol. III. fol. 168. Upon this occasion Baxter mentions him: he calls him, "a sober and truly religious man; the worthy son of a most pious father, Sir Robert Harley." Life, p. 60. Whitlock, p. 643. i Journ. Dom. Com. into consideration the establishment of a government at Dunkirk, what number of men would be necessary to be continued, and upon what pay; and thereupon to prepare an establishment, and report it to the house, with their opinion, how provision may, with most conveniency, be made for the settled payment thereof. His said government of Dunkirk was soon after confirmed by the King; the warrant made to him for life, which he chose to have altered to during pleasure; telling the then Soliciter-general, that he would never serve any Prince longer than he desired. The commission was therefore drawn up in these words (of which there are copies in the office of records): "CHARLES the second, by the grace of God, King of Eng land, Scotland, and Ireland, Defender of the faith, &c. To all to whom these presents shall or may come, greeting. Know ye, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in the great industry, judgment, approved abilities, and good affections, of our trustie and welbeloved Colonell Edward Harley, have constituted, ordained, and appointed, and by these presents, of our especiall grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, doe constitute, ordeyne, and appoint the said Colonell Edward Harley, Governour of our town, port, and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, in West Flaunders, and of all the forts, fortifications, and our other strong holds and havens thereunto belonging: to have and to hold the said office or place of Governour of our said towne, porte, and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, and of all the forts, fortifications, and other strong holds thereunto belonging, unto the said Colonell Edward Harley, during our pleasure; with all privileges, profits, allowances, duties, fees, emoluments, perquisites, commodities, thereunto incident and belonging, in as large and ample manner, and forme, as any person or persons heretofore exercising and executing the said office of Governour of our said towne, porte, and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, formerly enjoyed and received, for the exercise and execution thereof. And for the better ordering and governing of all and every of our officers and souldiers already placed, or hereafter to be placed within our said towne, porte, and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, and the forts thereunto belonging, wee do by these presents give full power and authoritie to the said Colonell Edward Harley, from time to time, upon any just occasion, to remove, displace, and cashiere all and everie officers and soul. diers, officer and souldier nowe placed, or hereafter to be placed in our said towne and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, for the defence and safeguard thereof, who, for contempt and disobedience, or any reasonable cause, shall deserve the same; and, in his or their places so removed, to admit and place others as often as occasion shall require, and to put in execution the law martiall against notorious offenders, for the prevention of all mutinies, rebellions, and insurrections, within our said towne and guarison of Dunkirke and Mardyke, and other the places aforesaid: and from time to time to doe and execute all and every such lawful act and acts, thinge and things whatsoever, as may tend to the safetie and well governing of our said towne and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, and other the places aforesaid: in as ample manner and forme, as any person or persons formerly Governour or Governours of the said towne and guarison have lawfully executed and performed. And further, for that the said Colonel Edward Harley may have urgent occasions sometimes to absent himself from his said charge and command, we have given and graunted, and by these presents doe give and graunt unto the said Colonell Edward Harley, in case of such his absence, fall power and authoritie to nominate, substitute, and appoint, one or more deputie or deputies, for whom hee the said Colonell Edward Harley will be answerable: to which deputie or deputies, we do hereby give full power and authoritie, in the absence of the said Colonel Edward Harley, to do and execute all the powers and authorities hereby given to the said Colonel Harley, in as large and ample manner as the said Colonel Harley might or ought lawfully doe and execute, if hee were present. Willinge and hereby streightly charginge and commanding all our officers, as well civill as martiall, and all, and all manner our loveinge subiects, within our said towne, porte, and guarison of Dunkirke and Mardyke, and places aforesaid, to be aydeing, assistant, and obedient unto the said Colonell Edward Harley, or any other authorised, by, or under him as aforesaid, in the due execution of his said office and place, as they and everie of them will answeare the contrary at their perils. In witness whereof, wee have caused these our letters to be made patents. Witness our selfe at Westminster; the fourteenth day of Julie, in the twelfth yeare of our reign." By the Kinge, HOWARD. During the short space of time he held this government of Dunkirk, he recruited the garrison to above nine thousand men, and began many fortificatiuns, which were afterwards perfected by the French. And, as a singular pattern of incorruptible fidelity, be it remembered, to his lasting glory, that no honours, no rewards, could make him act contrary to the interest of his country. He was so far from uniting with those who consented to the sale of Dunkirk to the French, that he strenuously opposed it; and by his interest, got the 'House of Commons to pass a resolution to prepare an act that it should never be alienated, but be made a part of the King's hereditary dominions. Nor could he be prevailed on, by threats or promises, or even by great bribes, to relinquish that resolution. And it must be more particularly remembered, that he refused the dignity of Peerage; also an offer made him, by a certain great man, of ten thousand pounds, to be passive in the surrender of that place, and forbear his prosecution of a law, to annex Dunkirk to the crown of England. However, the court being determined to sell the town, he received the following order at Dunkirk, on May 25th, by the hands of Major Floyd: "Charles R. "WHEREAS, we have given commission to our right trusty and well-beloved Andrew, Lord Retorfort, to bee Governour of the said garrison, and to take charge of the said garrison, with all the forts and strengths thereof, and of the ordnance, amunition, and other furniture of war, in or belonging to the said garrison: these are to require you, Sir Edward Harley, Governor of the said garrison of Dunkirke, upon sight hereof, to surrender and deliver up the said garrison of Dunkirke, with all the forts and strengths therein, or therewith under your command; and all the ordnance, arms, ammunition, stoares, and other furniture and utensils of war, with all provisions, cloathes and necessaries belonging to the said garrison, or now therein for publique use, or in any of the forts and strengths, that are under your command, unto Andrew, Lord Retorfort aforesaid, for our service; taking the said Lord Retorfort's receipt for all the particulars you shall so deliver up unto him, which shall be your discharge Hist. de la Maison de Harley, par Mons. Moret, MS. Moret ut supra. |