A True NARRATIVE OF THE Occaſions and Cauſes of the late Lord Gen. Cromwell's Anger and Indignation againſt Lieut. Col. George Joyce, (ſometimes Cornet Joyce, who ſecured the King at Holmby) & his proceedings againſt him to Caſheer him from the Army, and impriſon and deſtroy him in his Eſtate.
A Little after the King was brought into the Cuſtody, or Quarters of the Army, Notice was taken, that Cromwell lifted up his hands in the Parliament, and called God, Angels, and Men to witneſs, That he knew nothing of Joyce's going for the King.
Thereupon Joyce asked the ſaid Gen. Cromwell, What made him to ſpeak ſuch words? and whether he intended to do as the King had done before him, viz. Swear and Lye; and bid him mark, What would be the end of ſuch things; cautioning him to take heed and beware of ſuch Actions: But he ſlighted thoſe warnings; and ſoon after flattered the ſaid Joyce again with tears of ſeeming repentance.
The next Occaſion of difference between the ſaid Joyce and Cromwell, was concerning the Marqueſs of Argile's carriage in Scotland; at which time ſpeaking plainly to him according unto his own exhortations; putting him in mind of former neglects of his, he immediately fell into a violent fit of paſſion againſt the ſaid Joyce; and laying his hand upon his ſword, uttered many threats againſt him in the preſence of Capt. John Vernon, and one more.
Not long after this, the ſaid Joyce, with ſome other Officers went with a Petition to St. Albans to General Fairfax for Juſtice againſt Capital offenders: And from thence was ſent to Pomfret Leaguer, with a Letter and Meſſage from our General and Army, to know whether that Brigade under Cromwell would joyn with us. And while he was waiting for an anſwer, Cromwell took an occaſion to fall out with him, and in a railing manner, called him Raſcall many times, and with great threats ſaid, That he would make him write a Vindication of him, againſt a book intuled, The Grand deſign diſcovered. Wherein was many things declared concerning Cromwell's carriage towards Joyce, before he went to Holmby for the King: which afterwards he called God to witneſs he knew nothing of.
And had it not been for Col. Dean & others, who through the mercy of God prevented him, he had in all probability done him miſchief at the ſame time.
Not long after this, the Parliament was to be purged, which the ſaid Joyce proteſting againſt, was by the ſaid Cromwell threatned to be deſtroyed.
But it came to ſuch a height at laſt, that the ſaid Parliament muſt be diſſolved forthwith; againſt which the ſaid Joyce proteſted, and gave him his reaſons for it, viz. Firſt, he feared he deſigned to be King by it. Secondly, That if he diſſolved the Parliament, there would be no Legal way to raiſe moneys2 for the Army; which would be a means to take off the affections of all the Parliaments friends; deſiring therefore it might not be diſſolved, untill they had by our means Introduced a more righteous and equal Government, which in our Declarations and Remonſtrances they had held forth. Then was a certain ſelect company of men to be ſent for out of ſeveral Counties; the ſaid Joyce proteſted againſt that likewiſe, ſtill telling him, that he intended by them to make himſelf King. At which he was extreamly angry with him, and in a great rage — After this,
About the year 1650, one Mr. Hen. Philpott being chief Ranger of Finckley-Park in Hampſhire, by a Patent from the late King; the ſaid Park, for the Delinquency of the ſaid Philpott, was ſequeſtred; by which means it came into the hands of the Lord de la Ware, who never accounted to the Commonwealth for one penny of the profits.
Whereupon one Mr. Villers Philpott, Kinſman to the former, deſired him, that in as much as his Coſin was beyond the Seas, that he would get the ſaid Park into his poſſeſſion, and he would engage, that his Kinſman, upon his coming over, ſhould do this Commonwealth very ſignal Services, and ſuch, as few beſides himſelf were able to perform.
To the latter he very readily hearkened, and thereupon procured Mr. Henry Philpott to come over; which he accordingly did, and gave ſo good an account of affairs abroad, that it came not ſhort of his Kinſmans word, nor his expectation: But for the former, he was altogether unwilling, and offer'd him divers reaſons againſt it, although his Kinſman upon his coming over, had made him ſeveral proffers, of aſſigning all his intereſt in the ſaid Park unto him; which he as often refuſed.
Notwithſtanding which, he was continually importuned by both, but nothing prevailing, they deſired him to offer it to ſome friend of his, and alleadg'd this, That it were indifferent to them, whoever had it, ſo it were out of the hands of him that then enjoy'd it.
But he being as much to ſeek in this, as unwilling in the former; they earneſtly entreated him, that in regard of his more then ordinary Knowledge, (as they would perſwade him he had) of the L.G. Cromwel, that he would prevail with him, or one of his Sons, to take it into their hands; which, after ſome time, and perſwaſion, he brought to this iſſue, That upon the aſſignment of Mr. Philpott, and the reſignation of the Lord de la Ware, Mr. Richard Cromwell deſired to take it: all which being accordingly done, he was poſſeſt of it, and hath ever ſince enjoyed it. But farther, there was this agreement between Mr. Richard Cromwell, Mr. Philpott, and him ſelf, That if ever the ſaid Park were expoſed to ſale, that he ſhould have the ſole right of purchaſing it, before either of them two: In order to which, he bought up all the Arrears of Portſmouth, Hampton, & the better part of the Iſle of Wight, at 7 s. 6 d. per l. deeming him ſelf obliged in conſcience to allow the Souldiers (who had equally ventured their lives with him ſelf) a more proportionable rate, then the common prices of 1 s. 18 d. per l.
After this, the Parliament made an Act for the ſale of Kings Lands, of which the Park aforeſaid being parcel, it was amongſt others ſurvey'd, and expoſed to ſale: he having notice of it, by the conſent of the Lord Richard, went to the Committee, and informing them of the matter, at large, they ordered, that a ſtop ſhould be put to the ſale of the ſaid Park for the preſent, and that when ever it was to be ſold, him ſelf ſhould have the preemption; giving this for the reaſon of their order, That he had deſerved better then ſo ſmall a courteſie: by which means the Lord Richard enjoy'd the ſaid Park between 4 or 5 years longer, his Debenters all that while lying dead upon his hands.
By this time the greateſt part, if not all the Kings Lands being ſold, comes in one Capt. Urland, and pretends a diſcovery of the ſaid park; whereupon3 the Committee forgetting, or at leaſt taking no notice of the former paſſages, order a new Survey; which being returned, and the Park upon ſale, he went to him then called Lord Richard, (Cromwell his Father having interrupted this Parliament) and deſir'd to know of him, whether he would let the Park go ſo, or whether he had forgot our former agreement? his anſwer was, No, he had not forgot it, but for the Park he would not meddle with it; and therefore bade him do in it what he would: Whereupon he preſt it to him, how convenient it lay for his Eſtate, and therefore if he pleaſed, he would purchaſe it, & he ſhould have the whole, or half at the ſame rate it coſt him. To which he ſaid, he wanted moneys. He reply'd, Let not that trouble you I will purchaſe the whole, and truſt you for one half, till you are able to pay me; but before we proceed farther, I will acquaint your Father: which being accordingly done, and he having ſhewn him a particular of other Lands that were likewiſe upon ſale, and offer'd him his choice; he took me in his arms, and told me, that himſelf, his Son, and Family were more beholding to me, then all the world beſides; and therefore bade me go on and proſper.
Upon this, he went the next morning about it, and there being a full Committee, he was juſt upon the point of contracting for the ſaid Park; when on a ſuddain in came the Lord Richard (his Father then overtopping all in power) with three Lawyers with him, and required them to proceed no further in it, in regard it was his own Inheritance, and no Park, as was ſuppoſed: whereupon he informed the Committee of the whole diſcourſe, that paſſed between the General, his ſon, and him ſelf the night before; upon which he fell upon him in foul words, ſaying, Sirrah, Sirrah, hold your tongue, or I ſhall make you repent the time you were born; which the Committee perceiving, they deſir'd us to withdraw; and ſince that time, never durſt meddle with the Park any farther.
Hereupon the anger of the Father and Son waxed hot againſt the ſaid Lieut. Col. Joyce.
Upon this, and alſo upon the ſaid Lieut. Col. his bearing teſtimony in the publique meetings of the Officers againſt the Armies Apoſtacy at that time, who were then concurring to make the ſaid Lord General, Lord Protector, endeavours were uſed to ruine him; and to that purpoſe his Lieutenant (who had before given information againſt the Lieut. Col. but could make nothing of it, as the Commiſſioners who had been appointed to examine the matters alledged, had ſignified to the General) was ſent for from Portland by General Cromwell, and by him encouraged to proſecute his Lieut. Col. again, and contrary to the courſe and Cuſtome of the Army, privately appointed about 9 Officers, ſuch as he could then truſt in ſuch an affair, viz. Col. Whaly Col. G. Col. Gravener, Lieut. Col. White, and Lieut. Col. Worſley, &c. to take the Lieutenant's information againſt him; and they (having no power thereunto) took his depoſition againſt the Lieut. Col. who falſly ſwore, That he ſhould hear the Lieut. Col. ſay, (in a diſcourſe in Portland about the death of Lockyer) That he was ſorry that Lockyer had not piſtoll'd Cromwell; and thereupon ſent him to priſon without bayl, and order was given, that he ſhould be kept cloſe priſoner: So he was carried away with Muſqueteers to the Mewes, and put into a cloſe Chamber within the common Dutch priſon, where the lice creeped up very thick, and where he was forced to continue above 10 dayes; After great importunity he obtained a remove to another Chamber in the Mewes, where he fell ſick with the filthy ſmells, and other inconveniencies, and continued ten weeks, but was often ſent to by Oliver Cromwel to lay down his Commiſſion, which he abſolutely refuſed to do; declaring to all, how unworthily he was dealt with, and that what was ſworn againſt him was falſe, and that it would at laſt appear to the view of the whole world; and when they ſhould4 underſtand what was the deſign, they would marvail; And when he could not be perſwaded out of his Commiſſion, Articles were drawn againſt him; and by the falſe and double-ſwearing, and proſecution of his Lieutenant (ſo encouraged as aforeſaid) and the Officers privately inſtructed by their General, he was outed and caſhiered, though the Lieut. Colonel was in his own Conſcience clear of any Crime or Offence unſtable by any Law, or deſerving ſuch uſage.
After this the ſaid Lieutenant moved the General, then called Protector, for his promiſed preferment, and his charges, in proſecution; but he anſwered him in theſe words: You have not dealt like a Chriſtian with your Lieut. Col. Joyce. To which the Lieut. replyed, That he had done nothing but what he had commanded him, and perſwaded him into, upon hopes of preferment. Whereupon the General thruſt him out of his Chamber, and bad him go like a Knave as he was.
This was the Caſe; but the effects of it were more conſiderable, as to the ruine of his eſtate: for before he was in priſon, he had made large Contracts, and paid many pounds in part; by which means, he was endebted greatly to private perſons, who as ſoon as they heard he was in priſon, came ſo thick upon him, that to ſatisfie them, was forc't to ſell at ſuch under Rates, or elſe relinquiſh his bargain, that he loſt above 3000 li. in money, and 500 li. per annum, in Lands, and he pays Intereſt at preſent for 1200 li. and he ows the Common-Wealth 1600 and odd pounds in Money and Bills for the Eſtate he now lives in; which being part of that which was the Lord Cravens, no man can deal in it, there being ſo many Clamours about it.
And now that he hath declared to your Honours, both his Caſe and Sufferings, he knows not what he ſhould add more, unleſs it be to beſeech your Honours ſo to take them into ſerious conſideration, that being vindicated to the World, he may once again appear to be an honeſt man, a true Servant o•〈◊〉Country; or elſe ſuffer according to his deſerts, if he ſhall be found the contrary.