HIS SACRED MAJESTIES
MOST MIRACULOUS
Preservation
AFTER
The Battle of Worcester, &c.
It was in June in the year 1650. That Charles the Second, undoubted heir of Charles the First, of glorious memory, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, (after his Royal father had been barbarously murdered, and himself banished his own dominions, by his own rebellious subjects) took shipping at Scheevling in Holland, and, having escap'd great dangers at sea, arrived soon after at Spey in the North of Scotland.
On the first of January following, his Majesty was crown'd at Scoon, and an army raised in that kingdome, to invade this; in hope to recover his regalities here, then most unjustly detain'd from him, by some members of the Long Parliament, and Oliver Cromwell their general; who soon after most traiterously assum'd the title of Protector of the new minted Common-wealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.
The first of August 1651. his Majesty with his army began his march into England, and on the fifth of the same month, at his Royal Camp, at Woodhouse near the Border, publish'd his gracious declaration of general pardon and oblivion, to all his loving subjects of the kingdom of England and dominion of Wales, that would desist from assisting the usurped authority of the pretended Common-wealth of England, and return to their obedience. Except only Oliver Cromwell, Henry Ireton, John Bradshaw, John Cook, and all others, who did actually sit and vote in the murder of his royal father.
His Majesty, after the publication of this gracious offer, march'd his army into Lancashire, where he received some considerable supplies from the Earl of Darby (that loyal subject,) and at Warrington Bridge met with the first opposition made by the rebels in England, but his Majesties presence soon put them to flight.
In this interim his Majesty had sent a copy of his declaration, enclosed in a gracious letter to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the city of London, which, by order of the usurpers then sitting at Westminster, was (on the 26. of August) publickly burnt at the Old Exchange by the Hangman; and their declaration proclaimed there and at Westminster, by beat of drum and sound of trumpet; by which his sacred Majesty, (to whom they could afford no better title than Charles Stuart,) his abettors, agents and complices, were declared traytors, rebels and publique enemies.—Impudence and treason beyond example!