1648.]

in favour of the king.

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And so those gentlemen of Kent, who were privy to any design, lay privately in London to avoid all cabals in their country; so that what now fell out there, was by mere chance and accident, that could never be foreseen, or prevented.

There happened to be at some jovial meeting in Kent about that time, one Mr. L'Estrange, a younger brother of a good family in Norfolk, who had been always of the king's party, and for attempting somewhat in his own country for his majesty's service, had been taken prisoner by the parliament, and by a court of war condemned to die, but being kept in prison till the end of the war, was then set at liberty, as one in whom there was no more danger. But he retained his old affections, and more remembered the cruel usage he had received, than that they had not proceeded as cruelly with him as they might have done. He had a great friendship with a young gentleman, Mr. Hales, who lived in Kent, and was married to a lady of a noble birth and fortune, he being heir to one of the greatest fortunes of that country, but was to expect the inheritance from the favour of an old severe grandfather, who for the present kept the young couple from running into any excess; the mother of the lady being of as sour and strict a nature as the grandfather, and both of them so much of the parliament party, that they were not willing any part of their estates should be hazarded for the king. At the house of this Mr. Hales, Mr. L'Estrange was, when, by the communication which that county always hath with the ships which lie in the Downs, the report first did arise that the fleet would presently declare

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Commotions in Kent

[B. XI.

Mr.

for the king, and those seamen who came on shore talked as if the city of London would join with them. This drew many gentlemen of the country who wished well, to visit the ships, and they returned more confirmed of the truth of what they had heard. Good-fellowship was a vice generally spread over that country, and this young great heir, who had been always bred among his neighbours, affected that which they were best pleased with, and so his house was a rendezvous for those who delighted in that exercise, and who every day brought him the news of the good inclinations in the fleet for the king; and all men's mouths were full of the general hatred the whole kingdom had against the parliament as well as the army. L'Estrange was a man of a good wit, and a fancy very luxuriant, and of an enterprising nature. He observed, by the good company that came to the house, that the affections of all that large and populous country were for the king. He begun to tell Mr. Hales, that though his grandfather "did in his heart wish the king well, yet his carIriage had been such in his conjunction with the parliament, that he had more need of the king's Ifavour than of his grandfather's to be heir to "that great estate; and that certainly nothing could be more acceptable to his grandfather, or "more glorious to him, than to be the instrument of both;" and therefore advised him "to put " himself into the head of his own country, which "would be willing to be led by him; that when the Scots were entered into the northern parts, and all the kingdom should be in arms, he might, with the body of his countrymen, march

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in favour of the king.

"towards London; which would induce bdth the OF "city and the parliament to join with him, whereby “he should have great share in the honour of xel A. "storing the king.

The company that frequented the house thought the discourse very reasonable, and saw that the issue must be very honourable: the young lady of the house was full of zeal for the king, and was willing her husband should be the instrument of his delivery: the young gentleman himself had not been enough conversant in the affairs of the world to apprehend the danger or hazard of the attempt, and so referred himself and the whole business to be governed and conducted by Mr. L'Estrange, whom they all believed by his discourse to be an able soldier. He writ some letters to particular gentlemen, who he was informed would receive them willingly, and signed warrants to the constables of hundreds with his own name, which had been never heard of in the country, requiring, “in his majesty's name, all persons to appear, at a time and place appointed, to advise together, and to lay hold on such opportunities, as should be offered for relieving the king and delivering him out of prison." There was an incredible appearance of the country at the place appointed, where Mr. L'Estrange appeared with Mr. Hales, and those persons which had been used to their company. Mr. L'Estrange spoke to them in a style very much his own; and being not very clear to be understood, the more prevailed over them. He spake like a man in authority, inveighed against the tyranny of the army, which "had subdued the parliament, against their bar

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Commotions in Kent

[B. XI.

"barous imprisonment of the king, and against a conspiracy they had to murder him.' He added, "that the affections of that noble country were "well known to his majesty, and that he had "therefore appointed the fleet that was in the "Downs to join with them; and that he doubted "not but they would together be too strong for "his enemies, who were like to have enough to "do to defend themselves in many other places; "and that his majesty was willing they should "have a gentleman of their own country, well "known to them, to be their general;" and named Mr. Hales; who was present. There was not one man who so much as asked for any letter or commission, or other authority from the king; but all of them, very frankly and unanimously, declared they would be ready to join, and march as their general Hales should direct ;" and so another day and place was appointed for another appearance, and listing and forming their regiments; and in the mean time Mr. L'Estrange set out such declarations and engagements, as he thought most like to prevail with the people, and required, "that they should be read in all churches;" which was done accordingly. The next appearance was greater than the former; and with the same courage, many coming armed both horse and foot, and shewing a marvellous alacrity to the engagement. Their general then gave out his commissions for several regiments, and a new day was appointed for their rendezvous, when all should come armed, and keep together in a body, until it should be fit to march to London.

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It was known that the fleet was gone out of the

1648.]

in favour of the king.

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Downs, but it was as well known that it had absolutely renounced the service of the parliament, and rejected all their officers. It was easy to persuade 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.

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 parlia