Hampton-court: Mr. Ashburnham had, daily, some message or another from the King to Cromwell and Ireton, who had enough to do, both in the Parliament and council of the army; the one abounding with Presbyterians, and the other with Levellers; and both really jealous that Cromwell and Ireton had made a private compact and bargain with the King; Lilburn printing books weekly to that effect and that Sir Lewis Dives, afterwards, acknowledged to him (Sir John), that being his fellow-prisoner, he had daily endeavoured to possess him with that opinion, of which, although he were not persuaded himself, yet that he judged it for the King's service to divide Cromwell and the army: that on the other side, the Presbyterians were no less confident of their surmises; and that Cromwell told him (Sir John) that Lady Carlisle affirmed, that he (Sir John) had told her that he (Cromwell) was to be Earl of Essex, and captain of the King's guards: that these and the like discourses made great impression on the army, to which Mr. Ashburnham's secret and long conferences contributed not a little; insomuch, that the adjutators, who were wont to complain that Cromwell went too slow towards the King, began now to suspect that he had gone too fast, and left them behind him; from whence there were frequent complaints in the council of the army, of the intimacy Mr. Ashburnham and he (Sir John) had in

were open to them when it was shut to the army; that they knew not why malignants should have so much countenance in the army, and liberty with the King: that with these discourses, both in public and private, Cromwell seemed highly offended; and when he could carry any thing to His Majesty's advantage amongst the adjutators, could not rest until he had made them (Sir John and Mr. Ashburnham) privately partakers of it; but telling them, that if he were an honest man, he had said enough of the sincerity of his intentions; if he were not, nothing was enough; and therefore conjured them, as they tendered His Majesty's service, not to come so frequently to his quarters, but send privately to him; the suspicions of him being grown to that height, that he was afraid to lie in his own quarters. But, continues Sir John, this had no operation upon Mr. Ashburnham, who alleged that we must show them the necessity of agreeing with the King, from their own disorders: that about three weeks after the army had entered London, the Scots had prevailed with the Parliament for another solemn address to His Majesty; which was performed in the old propositions of Newcastle, some particulars in respect to the Scots only excepted: that the army was very unwilling that the King should grant these propositions, of which the King advised with all the persons above mentioned, who were all of opinion that it was unsafe for His Majesty to close with the enemies of

the army, whilst he was in it. And therefore he followed the advice of all the leading part of the independent party, both in the Parliament and army, by refusing the articles, and desiring a personal treaty; whereof His Majesty thought the proposals of the army a better ground than the articles, though there were something in them to which His Majesty could not consent: that they (Sir John and Mr. Ashburnham) gave their friends in the army a sight of this answer the day before it was sent, with which they seemed infinitely satisfied, and promised to use their utmost endeavours to procure a personal treaty; and (adds Sir John), to his understanding, performed it: for that both Cromwell and Ireton, with Vane and all their friends, seconded, with great resolution, this desire of His Majesty. But that, contrary to their and all men's expectations, they found a most general opposition, and that this message of His Majesty had confirmed the jealousy of their private agreement with the King; so that the more it was urged by Cromwell and his friends, the more it was rejected by the rest, who looked on them as their betrayers: that the suspicions were so strong in the House, that they lost almost all their friends there ; and the army, that lay then about Putney, were no less ill satisfied; for there came down shoals every day from London of the presbyterian and levelling parties that fomented those jealousies: insomuch

not secure in his own quarters: that the adjutators now began to change their discourses, and complained openly in their councils both of the King and the malignants about His Majesty: that one of the first they voted from him was himself (Sir John); they said, that since His Majesty had not accepted of their proposals, they were not obliged any farther to them; that they were obliged to consult their own safety, and the good of the kingdom, and to use such means towards both as they should find rational: and, adds Sir John, because they met with strong opposition from Cromwell and Ireton, and most of the superior officers, and some even of the adjutators, they had many private solemn meetings in London, where they humbled themselves before the Lord, and sought his good pleasure, and desired that he would be pleased to reveal it to his saints, which they interpreted those to be who were most violent or zealous, as they called it, in the work of the Lord: that these found it apparent, that God had, on the one side, hardened the King's heart, and blinded. his eyes, in not passing the proposals, whereby they were absolved from offering him any more; and that, on the other side, the Lord had led captivity captive, and put all things under their feet; and that, therefore, they were bound to finish the work of the Lord, which was, to alter the government, according to their first design: and that to this end they resolved to seize the King's person, and take him out of Cromwell's hands. That these

proceedings struck so great a terror into Cromwell and Ireton, with others of the officers, whom they (Sir John and Mr. Ashburnham) supposed best affected to the King, that they were of opinion the army should be drawn to a rendezvous, and their endeavours used to engage them once more to adhere to the proposals: that, as soon as the tumultuous part of the army had notice of it, they resolved, before the day of rendezvous, to seize the King's person that he (Sir John) had been then about three weeks removed from the King, and about a fortnight after him, Mr. Ashburnham : that Mr. Leg still continued with His Majesty, and waited in his bed-chamber: that about eight or ten days before the time appointed for the drawing together of the army, Mr. Ashburnham invited him (Sir John) from London, and Mr. Leg, from Hampton-court, to dine with him on a Sunday at Ditton, being on the other side of the water: that they were both there long before him, and he a good while before dinner; but that just as dinner was ready to come in, they took him (Sir John) aside in the room, and told him that His Majesty was really afraid of his life by the tumultuous part of the army, and was resolved to make his escape, and that they had order from His Majesty to command him (Sir John), in his name, to wait on him in his intended escape: that he (Sir John) replied, "That it was a great honour, and accompanied