Chap. III. 7he HISTORY of the PuRil'ANs. nef's in the profecution of it. They renounced and difanulled the title Olivcr '.!' J tr: [ · • h' 1 r p,·otct7o,· of CHARLES STUART; an paaedanaCl:, mHmg It 1g1 treatonto 66 · I 5 • comoafs or imagine the death of the LORD PROTECTOR. They re-~ vie~t:d the orders and ordinances of the proteCtor, and his council, in the intervals of parliament, and confirmed mofl of them. They abrogated the authority and power of the major· generals, conceiving it inconfiftent with the laws of England, and liberties of the people. Thefe, and fome other aCts hereafter mentioned, were prefented to his bighnefs, Nov. 27, for confirmation ; and as be was pleafed to confirm them all, he told them, that as it bad been the cu;1om of the cbiif.gG'Vernors to ackncwledge thecare tmd kindnefs of the CC1!i111VIIS upon j itch Ocrajlous, jO he did rc·ery heartily and than!ifidly acknowledge their kindne(s therein. But the parliament coutinued fitting till next year, when we i11all meet with more important tranfactions. The aCt for fecurity of the proteCtor's perfon was no fooner-paifed, th an Syndera plot was difcovered again it his life. Miles Syndercomb a leveller, a bold comb's pM. relOiute m<1n, having been diibanded in Scotland, combined with one Ceci/, and another of the proteCtor's life. guards, to affa!1inate him as he was going to Hampton-Court; but being difappointed once and again by fome unexpecled accid~n!s, the other confpirators betrayed the defign. Syndercomb put himfelf on his trial, and was condemned on the Gatute 25th of Edward Ill. the chief juflice Gb•nne declaring, that by the word king in the flatute, aily chief magiCtrate was underftood. But Syndercomb prevented the execution, for the very morning he was to Juffer, he was found dead in his bed ; whereupon his body was tied to a horie's tail, and drag'd naked to the fcaffold on Tower-Hill, and then buried with a fiake· driven through it, However a day of public thankfgiving was appointed to~ the proteCtor's deliverance, Feb. 20, when his highnefs gave the fpeaker and members of parliament, ,a fplendid entertainment at the banquetinghoz!fe. · The war with Spain this fummer was attended with vafi fuccefs for Spanilh platt no fooncr bad the l~ing of Spain feized the effects of the englifh merchantsfleet takm. in his country, than the protc&"lor- ordered his admirals, Blake and Montague, to block np the harbonr of Cadiz, and look out for the plate fleet, which captain Stapzer, who was left with feven men of war upon the coafi, while the admirals were goue to Portugal for freili water, difcovered; confii1:i11g of eight men of war making dirdtly for Cadiz; Stayner bore up to them with all.the fail he could make, and engaged them within four leagues of their port; the jpanijh admiral run his fhip ailiore with fix: hllndred thoufand pieces of eight .; but the vice-admiral, with twelve hundred thoufand pieces of eight, and another galleon, were fired and funk; the rear admiral, with two millions of plate in her, was taken ; Vor_, II. Q_q q and
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