Officers were ordered to march with the General his Regiment to Windsor to be Prisoners there the other Officers were sent to the Mount Pendennis Cardiffe Oxford Arundel and other strengths but none beyond Trent The Common Souldiers were to be conveyed to Bristol and other Sea-Towns to be transported to America Venice or as shall be appointed the Gentlemen Souldiers were Committed to the care of Troupers till further order Letters from the North that of Scots Irish and English there are above seven thousand under Major General Monroe and they have twenty pieces of Ordnance that Lambert advanced to joyn with Cromwell against Monroe that the siege of Scarborough Castle continued 5. Letters from the Earl of Warwick of his pursuit of the Prince and of the revolted Ships A long debate about the Militia Order that all persons who were in the late Insurrections should be incapable of being Jury-men and that the Judges in their Circuits and the Justices of Peace at their Sessions do see this Order put in execution Ordered that the former Orders and Ordinances for the taking away the Voyces of Delinquents in Elections should be put in execution and all Officers of Cities and Towns Corporate to take notice thereof Order for a call of the House and a Fine of twenty pound upon those absent Order for three thousand pound for Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne as reparation for the Sentence against him in Star-Chamber A Message from the Lords that Doctor Burges may have his place at S. Pauls settled under the great Seal That the Earl of Cleveland may have his Liberty for three Months upon bayle to take the air in the Country for his health and to recommend a Petition from the Countess of Kildare for some reparation of her great losses in Ireland Letters from New-Castle that divers English came thither to ask quarter of the Governour and to desire to be imployed That the Committees of Berwick and Carlisle sit upon sequestrations and raise monies notwithstanding the troubles there That many English are with Monroe incouraged by their Land-lords and that Colonel Fenwicks Horse and some Dragoons relieved Holy Island near Berwick and stormed Fenham Castle in which was a Garrison of Scots 6. Order for mony for Tradesmen who trusted the Lord Inchequin for Armes Both Houses approved the appointment of monies for the Treaty five hundred pound for Coach and Horses for the King six thousand pound for his Majesties private use and three thousand pound for the charges of the Commissioners Debate of an Ordinance for sale of the Lands of Deans and Chapters The Commons agreed to the Earl of Clevelands Liberty upon Bayle so as he ingage upon his honour not to Act against the Parliament Letters from Holland that it was disputed amongst the states whether the Prince of Wales being returned thither they should entertain him in a publick way or give him an allowance per diem and they agreed to allow him a thousand gilders a day and some discontents were among the Sea-men in the Prince his Fleet. Order about stating Sir Jo. Clotworthy's accounts and for his pay and they declared an acceptable sence of his carriage 7. The thanksgiving day for the Victory aginst the Scots Sir Peter Killigrew returned with his Majesties answer to the last Message from the Houses desiring that the Treaty may be hastned that he could have wished all those desired by him might have been admitted to him but will not let that hinder the Treaty he desired Dr. Reeves and Dr. Ducke to be admitted to him in relation to the Treaty At the sight of a Gentleman in mourning for Sir Charles Lucas the King wept 8. Letters from the Earl of Warwick of the constancy unanimity and courage of the Officers and Sea-men in the Parliaments Fleet and that the revolted Ships though more in number avoided them That the Castles of Deal and the rest at the Downs upon which the Protection of the Fleet and of trade have such a dependance are in great want of reparation which he recommends to the Parliament Debate upon the Ordinance for Sale of Deans and Chapters lands Major Husbands sent to the House acquainted them with the surrender of Sandowne Castle in Kent and of the condition of the other Castles in Kent Referred to the Committee at Derby House to write to the Committee of Kent and Colonel Rich to advise with the Lord Admiral about the repair of those Castles and of pay for them Upon the General his Letter that four thousand Pounds of the fourteen thousand Pounds imposed on Colchester to free them from plunder could not be raised and was remitted by the General the House ordered five thousand Pounds to be raised out of the delinquents Estates in those parts to make up the Summ for the Souldiers who should have had the pillage of the Town 9. Order for a hundred and fifty pound for M r Rolphe for his unjust imprisonment The City of London advanced two thousand Pounds for the business of the Treaty Major Armestrong one of the Prisoners at Windsor was rescued at Brainford the House ordered the Captain of the Guards to send a party of Horse to apprehend those that made the rescue Letters from the North that Lieutenant General Cromwell was at Berwick that the Country generally rose with him against Monroe that Cromwell sent to Edenburgh to recal Major General Monroe and the Forces with him out of England and to surrender our Garrisons 11. Both Houses thought not fit to grant a Pass with Blanks for the King to send into Scotland but they advised his Majesty first to send into Scotland for them to name the Persons they would send hither and then a Pass to be granted to them M r Parsons had a Pass to go to his Majesty and to Scotland Instructions passed for Carriages to the Isle of Wight and things preparatory to the Treaty A Pass to Major Belford to transport six horses into France The business of Garrisoning the Earl of Lincoln's House referred to the Committee of Derby House and the Committee of Lincoln to secure it A Petition from thousands well affected persons in and near London giving reasons why they first assisted the Parliament and that they expected other ways from them than a Treaty they mentioned twenty seven heads which they expected from the Parliament 1. That they would have made good the supremacy of the People from all pretences of Negative Voices either in King or Lords 2. Laws for Election of Representatives yearly and of course without Writ or Summons 3. That their time of sitting exceed not forty or fifty dayes and to have fixed a time for the ending of this Parliament 4. To have exempted matters of Religion and Gods worship from the compulsive or restrictive power of any Authority 5. That none be forced or pressed to serve in War 6. To have made both Kings Queens
the several Committees to advance the coming in of the Excise The Assembly presented to the House the last part of the Confession of Faith 4. Petitions of the suffering Gentry of Durham and of Richmond-shire by the insupportable burdens of the Scots Army upon them ordered to be considered Debate upon the Ordinance for the Assesment for Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army and a Proviso to exempt the Northerne Counties from the Tax laid aside and another to exempt Colledge Rents the Ordinance sent up to the Lords Order to state the Accompts of Major General Massey now a Member of the House 5. Order to send down the hundred thousand pound to York for the Scots Army and for Sir Tho. Fairfax to send a Convoy with it An Ordinance sent to the Lords for redemption of the Captives of Algiers Great endeavours were to get hands to a Petition of the City of the former strain and to settle the Presbytery and suppress Sectaries c. contrived by some to raise Divisions 7. Debate about the latter part of the Confession of Faith and five hundred Copys of it ordered to be Printed for the Members of both Houses and that the Assembly do bring in their Marginal Notes to prove every part of it by Scripture and their Answer to the Queries touching the point of jus Divinum A Committee of both Houses appointed to consider of the business of the Petition now in Agitation in the City which may tend much to indanger the Peace of the Parliament and City and to find out some expedient to preserve the Peace Order for the Committee of both Kingdome to conclude the Treaty with the Scots Commissioners about the marching of their Army out of England Order for a new Election Order to send for the Bishop of Worcester Sir William Russel and the Mayor in Custody Order for a thousand pound for Phisitians and Chyrurgions to look to the maimed Soldiers Order to free the Libraries and other things in Oxford useful for Learning from Sequestration Letters from Ireland informed that the Lord Digby told the Nuntio there that he had done ill service to the King and the Nuntio told him thrice he lyed Four thousand pound allotted for Ireland 8. A full Agreement with the Scots Commissioners that when an hundred thousand pound comes to Topcliffe the Scots shall give Hostages to quit all their quarters possessions and Garrisons on the South of Tyne within ten days and then the Hostages to be re-delivered and upon delivery of the other hundred thousand pound on the North of Newcastle the Scots to deliver Hostages to march out of England Berwick Carlisle and the Garrisons in Scotland to be slighted within ten days For the second two hundred thousand pound the Scots are to have the publick Faith and nine hundred pound was allowed to the Tellers of the two hundred thousand pound and sixteen hundred pound for the charge of the carriages of it Vote That all who shall raise Forces against the Parliament or either House hereafter shall dye without Mercy and have their Estates confiscated And in all these Votes the Lords concurred Supplys for the Northern Forces Orders touching Compositions of Delinquents Upon suspition of a Plot to surprize York Major General Pointz drew in his Forces into the City General Leven and Sir James Lumsden Governor of New-castle published a Proclamation that all who had born Arms against either Kingdom should depart the Town and all quarters of the Scots Army within twenty four hours 9. The Fast day After Sermons the House Pass'd the Ordinance for the better observation of the Lords day 10. Debate touching Compositions Petition of Col. Whaley that the Earl of Newcastle unjustly possessed an Estate of three hundred pound per An. of the Colonel's Father and prayed that he might have that Estate upon Sale in lieu of so much of his Arrears which being proved the House ordered accordingly Order that Delinquents Tenants for Life might compound for one years value Letters of the French Ambassador stopped ordered to be re-delivered to him For Col. Purefoy to have fifteen hundred pound of his Arrears and for Sir Walter Earle to have seven hundred and fifty pound Order for new Elections The City Petition formerly mentioned was presented to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council the Petitioners had thanks were desired to return home in Peace and the Petition referred to a Committee of the Aldermen and Common-Council 11. Upon debate in the Grand Committee a sub-Committee was appointed to bring in an Ordinance to take away all Coercive power of Committees and another to take away all Arbitrary Power from both or either of the Houses of Parliament or any of their Committees in any matter between Party and Party Upon Recommendation of Sir Thomas Fairfax the House voted Major General Skippon to be Governor of New-castle and Tinmouth and to keep still the Command of Bristol by a Deputy and to command in Chief the Convoy of the two hundred thousand pound Upon extraordinary confluence of Delinquents and Papists to London An Ordinance pass'd both Houses to put them out of London and twenty Miles distant for two Months Upon a Petition of reduced Officers an Ordinance was appointed to be brought in for sale of Delinquents and Papists Estates to pay the Petitioners in such manner as the sale is to be of Bishops Lands Debate about the Answer to the Queries touching jus Divinum and about Mr. Dells Sermon 14. Desires of the Scots Commissioners touching the Payment of the last two hundred thousand pound debated but not granted Letters from Newcastle informed of the continuance of Delinquents in great numbers thereabouts of a Dunkirk ship come to Tinmouth and a Book there Printed in answer to the Assembly of Divines and for Episcopacy That some of the Malignants there were apprehended by the Major That two thousand men were to be shipped from Holland French and English for England under the Duke of Lorraine to be General and Prince Rupert to be Lieutenant General to assist the King That this is procured by the French Ambassador now with his Majesty and that he hindred the surrender of Dublin to the Parliaments Commissioners 15. Sir David Watkins reported upon the Exchange that Sir Jo. Evelyn a Member of the house said that since the Citizens of London intended to come to the Parliament with their Petition in a tumultuous and unlawful manner that he thought fit Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army should be sent for to quell those Mechanick Spirits This testified by Mr. Pennoyer and thereupon Sir David Watkins was sent for to answer this Scandal Referred to the Committee of the North to name six Knights and six Esquires for the House to choose of them three Knights and three Esquires to be Hostages for payment of the Money to the Scots and care taken for sending down the Money Vote for Mr. Bence to be a Commissioner of the Navy Ordinance
next day he was accused before the Lords but he got up earlier gave them the slip and escaped into Holland The House of Commons upon debate of the Inconveniences by the intermission of Parliaments they appointed a Committee to bring in a Bill for a Triennial Parliament This Committee met often and was much frequented by all the Grandees of the House then in most repute after diverse and great debates and consultations they agreed upon the frame of a Bill as the same is extant The King taking notice thereof and of the many Petitions from several Counties subscribed with multitudes of hands and presented by great numbers of people and all the Petitions mentioning the late exorbitances and concluding for frequent Parliaments and against the Hierarchy of the Bishops The King being informed thereof and mistrusting the Inclination of the Parliament speaks to both Houses Of their slow Proceedings and the Inconveniences thereby in maintaining two Armies in the Kingdom at excessive charges and of the weakness of his Navy and Forts He takes notice of the strange Petitions from Counties against the established Government of the Church tells them He makes a difference between Reformation and Alteration of Government that he is for the first but not for the latter He will not say but that the Bishops may have over-stretched their power and incroached upon the Temporal If they will reform the Abuse he is with them he will consent to take away some temporal authority if they have any inconvenient to the State and not necessary to the support of Episcopacy But he cannot consent to the taking away their Voice in Parliament which they have so anciently enjoyed even before the Conquest and since and which he conceives he is bound to maintain as one of the fundamental Institutions of this Kingdom He wishes them to eschew another Rock upon the Bill for frequent Parliaments which he likes well but to give power to Sheriffs Constables and he knows not whom to doe his Office that he cannot yield unto The King had reprieved one Goodman a Priest who was condemned at the Old Baily the Commons desire the Lords concurrence and both Houses Remonstrate to the King the danger thereof in these times and the increase of Popery and boldness of Papists in resorting to Mass in London the King leaveth him to the Parliament The Treaty with the Scots Commissioners proceeded at London and their Demands were in effect all yeilded unto Upon their Seventh Demand from the Justice and kindness of the Kingdom of Reparation for their Losses and Charges a long Debate was in the House of Commons about framing the Words of the Question and the stating of it The Question stated was to give them Three hundred thousand pounds as a brotherly assistance towards their charges and losses The House commanded Mr. Speaker to write to the City of London to advance Sixty thousand pounds upon Security out of the next Subsidies which was done accordingly and several other Sums were advanced by them upon Security of the House for supply of the King's Army and providing for the Northern Counties The Dutch Ambassadour here made an Overture of a Marriage between William the young Prince of Orange and the King 's eldest Daughter the Princess Mary to which the King was well inclined but as his Condition then stood he thought fit to acquaint the Parliament with it which he did in a Speech to the House of Lords and That he thought the Alliance with the Prince and the Vnited Provinces would be of much Advantage to this Kingdom and shewed his Reasons for it The Proposition was generally affected and imbraced by all the People and without fears or jealousies upon our Liberties or Religion and was soon concluded The House of Commons sent up a Message to the Lords to acquaint them that the Commons were informed of a great Design of the Papists an Army of Fifteen thousand in Lancashire and Eight thousand in Ireland well Armed and in Pay raised by the Earls of Strafford and of Worcester this gave occasion for many other Petitions but nothing was made out of the Rumour thereof February 13 1640. Sir Robert Berkley one of the Judges of the King's Bench who gave his Opinion for Ship-money was Impeached by the Commons of High Treason in the Lords House and by their Command Maxwell the Usher of the Black Rod came to the King's Bench when the Judges were sitting took Judge Berkley from off the Bench and carried him away to Prison which struck a great terrour in the rest of his Brethren then sitting in Westminster-hall and in all his Profession This Judge was a very learned man in our Laws and a good Orator and Judge moderate in his ways except his desires of the Court-favour He redeemed himself afterwards by supplying the Parliaments Occasions with Ten thousand pounds and ended his days in a private Retirement Yet not without considerable gains by his Chamber-practice and left a plentiful Fortune to his Family The Committee for the Bill of the triennial Parliament had taken a great deal of pains in the framing of it and it being past both Houses the King was not without some Difficulty as it was reported perswaded to give the Royal Assent to it which he did in his Speech to both Houses setting sorth His Confidence thereby in them and in their future Proceedings and the favour he now did to his Subjects The King then also passed the Bill of Subsidies and both Houses by the Lord Keeper Littleton returned their humble thanks to his Majesty and by their Order were Bonefires and Bell-ringing signs of Joy throughout the City Mr. Pym was sent from the House of Commmons to the Lords with the charge of High Treason against the Archbishop Laud who was thereupon committed to the Tower Articles of Particulars against Episcopal Government were presented to the House of Commons annexed to some Petitions and being read in the House were referred to a Committee The Lord Digby spake smartly against them and for Episcopacy but not many others were very eager for them The Commons the tenth of March Voted That no Bishop shall have any Vote in Parliament nor any Judicial power in the Star-chamber nor bear any Authority in Temporal Matters and that no Clergy-man shall be in Commission of the Peace The King of Spain was brought low by the Defection of Catalonia Portugal and part of the Indies the loss of Arras and his ill Successes in Italy besides the approach of the Swedish War to the back of the Danube but this year was very fortunate to the French The Spaniards ill Success was attributed to the ill management of Affairs by the Conde de Olivarez his Favourite hated by the People as is usual And the good Successes of the French were attributed to the prudence of their Cardinal Richlieu He Invites the Duke of Lorrain to Paris where he was highly caressed but
divers of the Officers and Soldiers of the Parliaments Army particularly Sir James Ramsey a Scot who commanded a Regiment of Horse under Essex rode hastily this morning through Vxbridge and upon that rode towards London and reported That the Parliaments Army was broken and wholly discomfited and many of the Officers slain and taken Prisoners Other Scouts brought other Intelligence quite different from the former and much more welcom They had it from divers upon the Road who were galloping to London with the News That the Earl of Essex had totally routed the King's Army killed and taken many of them and gained a full Victory But the Parliament had a great Deliverance and a small Victory the particular passages were thus The King disdaining to be pursued by Essex turns back to meet him and Oct. 23. being Sunday both the Armies drew into the Field between Kineton and Edge-hill in Warwickshire The King had the top of the Hill from whence he viewed the Parliaments Army who saluted him with three pieces of Cannon which was answered with two shot of the Kings The Fight began about two a Clock in the Afternoon the Generals of both Armies performed their parts with great Courage and Gallantry leading on their Forces with Pikes in their hands but were advised to change that posture as fitter for a private Soldier than for a General The greatest Body of the King's Horse was in his Right Wing commanded by Prince Rupert who furiously charged the Left Wing of the Parliament commanded by Commissary General Ramsey whom he routed and pursued to Kineton down with great slaughter But the Left Wing of the King's Horse had not the same success but was broken and routed by the Right Wing of the Parliaments Horse commanded by Sir William Balfour Sir Philip Stapleton the Lord Fielding and Colonel Hurrey General Lindsey being far ingaged was taken Prisoner and died presently after of his Wounds with him was taken the Lord Willoughby of Ersby his Son Sir Edmund Verney the Standard-bearer was slain and the Standard taken and rescued again by Mr. John Smith who was Knighted for it and made Standard-bearer Both Armies Horse and Foot performed their parts with great Valour and Bravery night parted the Fight and both Armies retreat each counting themselves Victors On both sides were lost between 5000 and 6000 Men. On the King's side the General Lindsey and Sir Edmund Verney on the Parliaments part Colonel Thomas Essex and Lieutenant Colonel Ramsey and the Lord S. John taken Prisoner soon after died The King marched toward Aino Essex kept upon the place where the Battel was fought and the next day marched towards Coventry Some of his Friends were very much against his marching thither but rather advised him to pursue the King and to make a fresh attacque upon him there being come in to Essex after the Battel three fresh Regiments The Lord Willoughby of Parham his Regiment of Horse and the two Regiments of Foot of Hollis and Hampden gallant stout and fresh Regiments But Essex was disswaded from it by Colonel Dalbier and some others but the three fresh Colonels Stapleton and several others advised it and probably had he with these fresh Forces made a new assault upon the King 's disordered and tyred Army it might have gone far to have put an issue to the business Upon the News of this Battel all Countreys were alarmed and frighted being a strange thing in England From Aino Oct. 27. The King sends a Proclamation of Pardon to the Cities of London and Westminster excepting onely Fulke and Manwaring Banbury Town and Castle surrendred without Blows to the King two Foot Regiments and a Troup of Horse there of the Parliaments took up Arms for the King who now brought his whole Army to Oxford and thereby the Error of the Lord Say in not fortifying this place before when it was in his power for the Parliament was the more evident Prince Rupert takes in the Lord Say's House at Broughton and made excursions near London which caused the Parliament to order Essex to bring his Army near London for their safeguard which he did and was honourably received at Westminster Novemb. the 7 th and presented with a gratuity of 5000 l. and a Declaration of his valiant and acceptable Service in the bloody Battel of Edg-hill The Papists of Lancashire were allowed to bear Arms which in many Protestants wrought a Censure on the King for too much favouring and entertaining them in his Army The Parliament order That all Apprentices who will list themselves in their Army shall have their time of that Service for their Freedom which brought many of them into their Army they also invite the Scots to come in to their assistance which the King seeks to prevent but in vain Prince Rupert ranged abroad with great Parties who committed strange insolencies and violences upon the Countrey at Ailsbury he failed of his design by the care and stoutness of Colonel Bulstrode Governour there The King takes a resolution and not without grounds of reason to advance to London and all his Army marcheth to Reading Henley and those parts Prince Rupert's Brigade quartered at Henley and of them a Regiment of Horse at Fawley Court The King marched forward with his great Army towards London and the Parliament having voted an Address to him for Peace desired a safe conduct for the Earls of Northumberland and Pembroke and for Mr. Pierpoint the Lord Weenman Sir John Evelyn and Sir John Hippsley to present their Petition to his Majesty But he excepted against Sir John Evelyn because he had proclaimed him Traytor which so irritated the Houses that they voted it a refusal of a Treaty and acquainted the City therewith But afterwards the Petition was sent to the King at Colnebrook by the other Commissioners without Sir John Evelyn and was to desire him to appoint his residence in some place near London where the Commissioners of Parliament might attend him with propositions of a Peace and the King appointed his Castle of Windsor for that purpose and desired that the Treaty might be speeded The Commissioners of Parliament being newly departed from the King he was informed That Essex had drawn forth his Cannon and Forces out of London and was advised to take in Brainford whither he advanced the same Night There were quartered part of the Regiment of Colonel Hollis who were very stout men as appeared by the resistance which they made to the King's Forces and though many of them were slain and divers driven into the River and drowned being mightily overpowred with Numbers yet they defended themselves till the Lord Brook's and Hampden's Regiment came in to their relief and when Night came on they quitted the Town and the King possessed it This being known to the Parliament Nov. 13. they sent a Committee to the City to move them to send forth their Trained Bands the next day to joyn with Essex for
Seal was at the first committed to the Custody of the two Speakers to be made use of by the Warrant of the Houses afterwards it was committed to the Custody of two Lords and four Commoners as Commissioners who had the Authority of Keeper of the Great Seal The Lords were the Earls of Manchester and Bullingbrook the Commoners were Mr. Brown Mr. S. John Mr. Wilde and Mr. Prideaux The Courts of Justice were not-yet open no practice for Lawyers August 12. The Earl of Lindsey being released from his Imprisonment by the Parliament came to the King at Oxford and was highly welcomed there but the Earls of Holland and Bedford found it otherwise to them For they about August 25. upon some distaste at the Parliament left them and got to Wallingford where the Governour Blagge received them with great shews of Honour and brought them from thence to the King at Oxford To him these Lords professed their Duty and Allegiance acknowledging their former Errours and promising wholly to desert the Parliament and to adhere to his Majestie 's Interest But not long after finding less favour and respect to them from the King and his Party than they expected upon this new Discontent they found means again to quit Oxford and to return to the Parliament About the same time the Earl of Clare left the Parliament and went to the King to Oxford but finding such Entertainment as Holland and Bedford had done both from the King and those about him he stoutly told the King That he intended to return to his own house in Nottinghamshire and prayed his Majestie 's leave for it The King wished him not to go but finding him resolute upon his Journey sent to have him stopped but in the mean while the Earl found means to pass the Guards and got home to Houghton and from thence to the Parliament It was said in Drollery that these three Earls had much confirmed others to continue with the Parliament for they having tried both Parties found it by Experience that this was the best to be in and to adhere unto A Book set out by Saltmarsh a Minister gave distaste to sober men by these among other his Counsells 1. That all means should be used to keep the King and his People from a sudden union 2. To cherish the War under the notion of Popery as the surest means to engage the people 3. If the King would not grant their Demands then to root him out and the Royal Line and to Collate the Crown upon some body else Some excepting against this in the house of Commons Mr. Henry Martyn said He saw no reason to condemn Mr. Saltmarsh and that it were better one Family should be destroyed than many Sir Nevill Poole moved that Mr. Martyn might explain what one Family he meant Who boldly answered The King and his Children Upon this some of the Members urged against his lewdness of life and the height and danger of these words And divers speaking sharply against Mr. Martyn he was committed to the Tower but shortly after released and re-admitted to his place in Parliament Sir Edward Coniers is removed fom his place of Lieutenant of the Tower and the Charge thereof given to the Lord Mayor Pennington The Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland send word of a fair Correspondence with the State there and their readiness to comply with the Parliament in order to which they had sent from them the Form of a Covenant to be taken by both Nations This the Parliament refers to the Assembly of Divines then sitting for their Advice in it Sir John Evelyn of Wilts had writ a Letter from the Earl of Northumberland's house at Petworth to Sir John Evelyn of Surrey which being intercepted and suspicious both of them being Members of the house of Commons were Imprisoned Both Houses passed an Ordinance August 28 for demolishing and removing all Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition out of all Churches and Chapels in England and Wales Divers Members of both Houses were Members of the Assembly of Divines and had the same liberty with the Divines to sit and debate and give their Votes in any Matter which was in consideration amongst them In which Debates Mr. Selden spake admirably and confuted divers of them in their own learning And sometimes when they had cited a Text of Scripture to prove their Assertion he would tell them Perhaps in your little Pocket Bibles with gilt Leaves which they would often pull out and read the Translation may be thus but the Greek or the Hebrew signifies thus and thus and so would totally silence them The Lord Willoughby of Parham had done great Service for the Parliament in Lincolnshire He had taken in Gainsborough and divers Prisoners there among whom was the Earl of Kingston who with the rest being sent by Water in a close Boat towards Hull A party of Cavaliers as they passed by called to the Boat to stay and because they did not the Cavaliers shot at them and the Earl with his man and no other in the Boat were slain by their own Friends The Lord Willoughby kept the Town afterwards against the Earl of Newcastle's Forces till over-powred with Numbers he was forced to surrender it upon honourable conditions Colonel Cromwell gave assistance to the Lord Willoughby and performed very gallant Service against the Earl of Newcastle's Forces This was the beginning of his great Fortunes and now he began to appear to the world He had a brave Regiment of Horse of his Country-men most of them Freeholders and Freeholders Sons and who upon matter of Conscience engaged in this Quarrel and under Cromwell And thus being well armed within by the satisfaction of their own Consciences and without by good Iron Arms they would as one man stand firmly and charge desperately The Parliament ordered Recruits for the Lord Willoughby and for Cromwell and both of them became in the Parliaments favour Gloucester was the general subject of discourse the King was set down before it with his whole Army the Governour Massey not only refuseth upon his Majestie 's Summons to render the City to him but sallies forth upon some of their Quarters and did cut off 300 of their men A Conspiracy of the Mace-bearer and others to kill the Governour and chief Military Officers was discovered and the betraying of the Town prevented some of the Conspirators being executed Gen. Essex advanced with his whole Body from Ailesbury towards Gloucester Aug. 29. The Enemy made a breach in the Outworks and some Assaults but was gallantly repulsed The King drew his Forces from Exeter and the West to the siege of Gloucester yet the Besiegers were very doubtful whether to continue or raise the siege Warwick Castle held out against the King's Forces and Colonel Bridges the Governour acquitted himself with much honour The Earl of Denbigh was made Major General of Coventry and some part adjacent The Lord Gray and Colonel
Strickland were sent to Gravesend to entertain and conduct the Dutch Embassadour to the Parliament The City invited both Houses of Parliament to Dinner in Merchant Taylor 's Hall on such a day as the Parliament would appoint and the rather at this time the General Essex and the Earl of Manchester being in Town that the City might express their thankfulness to the Parliament for their unwearied labours and care for the defence and peace of the City and whole Kingdom The Houses returned thanks to the City and ingaged to live and die with them in this Cause and this was the rather contrived now that the Plot to raise differences between the Parliament and City and to bring in the King might appear to be the more frivolous The Parliament ordered publick thanks to be given at this Meeting at a Sermon and the Sunday after in all Parishes for the discovery and prevention of the Plot of Sir Bazil Brook A Ship laden with Arms and Ammunition sent from Bristol to relieve the King's Forces at Chester was by the Mariners compelling their Master brought in to Leverpool to the Parliament The Archbishop Laud was brought to the House of Peers and the impeachment against him read and he required to answer who said he was an old man and weak and could not answer without Counsel and desired a further time to answer which was granted Both Houses dined with the City at Merchant-Taylor's Hall in the morning they met at Sermon in Christ Church from thence they went on foot to the Hall the Trained Bands making a Lane in the Streets as they passed by First went the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in their Scarlet Gowns and the Common Council then the Lord General Lord Admiral Earl of Manchester and other Lords attended with divers Colonels and military Officers After the Lords came the Members of the House of Commons and the Commissioners of Scotland then the Assembly of Divines and as they went through Cheapside on a Scaffold many Popish Pictures Crucifixes and Superstitious Relicks were burnt before them The Lord Howard of Escrick petitioned for reparation of his losses by the Cavaliers out of Delinquents Estates The 22. of January being the day appointed for the Anti-Parliament to meet at Oxford the Parliament at Westminster called the House and there appeared 280 of their Members besides 100 more in the service of the Parliament in the several Counties and now they expelled by vote 40 Members who had deserted the Parliament The Anti-Parliament met at Oxford but have not taken upon them the name and power of Parliament The first day of Hillary Term the Commissioners of the Seal and the Judges sate in the several Courts at Westminster Hall The Ordinance passed That if any should deliver Proclamation or other thing to any persons from Oxford or sealed with any other Great Seal than that attending the Parliament that they should be proceeded against as Spies according to Marshal Law Monsieur de Harecourt sent a Letter to both the Speakers but not intituling them Speakers of the Parliament but only Messieurs Grey de Werke and Lenthall upon which the Parliament refused to accept the Letters Colonel Mitton routed a Party of the King's Horse convoying Arms and Ammunition to the Besiegers of Nantwich Mitton fell upon them unexpectedly killed many took Sir Nicholas Byron Governour of Chester Sir Richard Willis one hundred inferiour Officers and Troopers one hundred and fifty Horse and Arms and all the Ammunition and Powder which they brought from Shrewsbury The Lord Lovelace wrote to Sir Henry Vane Junior to perswade a Treaty of Peace and to raise divisions among the Parliaments party The House authorised Sir Henry Mr. St. John and Mr. Brown to keep a Correspondence with the Lord Lovelace to sift what they could out of him and his Lordship was too weak for these Gentlemen Three hundred Native Irish Rebels landed at Weymouth under the Lord Inchiquin to serve his Majesty Divers Papists Servants about the King's Children were removed Ogle for the King wrote to Mr. Thomas Goodwyn and Mr. Nye of the Independent Judgment to make great promises to them if they would oppose the Presbyterian Government intended by the Scots to be imposed on England and much to that purpose These two being persons of great Judgment and Parts acquainted their Friends herewith and were authorised to continue a Correspondence with Ogle who gained no ground upon them No more could Ogle upon the Governour of Ailesbury nor upon Mr. Davenish the one was sollicited to betray Ailesbury and the other Windsor with mountainous promises from Ogle on the King's part but all were refused The Scots Army now entred England were eighteen hundred foot and thirty five hundred of horse and Dragoons The Recorder and Citizens of London presented a Petition to the Commons for dispatch of the business of the Accounts of the Kingdom and for recruiting and reforming the Armies This gave a stroke of jealousie and discontent to Essex and his friends and the more because the House so well entertained it The Commons ordered Worcester-house to be furnished for the Scots Commissioners who desired some Members of both Houses might be appointed as a joynt Councel with them A Trumpet came from Oxford with Letters to the General and a Parchment-Roll signed by the Prince the Duke of York Duke of Cumberland Prince Rupert about fourty Lords and one hundred Knights and Gentlemen sometime Members of the House of Commons and now met by the King's Proclamation at the Assembly at Oxford to debate of the State and Peace of the Kingdom and to prevent effusion of more blood And therefore they desire the General to treat with his Friends and those by whom he is imployed not naming the Parliament to appoint a time and place to treat of Propositions of Peace The General acquainted the Parliament herewith who would not own nor receive the Letters having no Directions to them but left it to the General to return an Answer An Ordinance past to recruit the Lord General 's Army to 7500 Foot and 3000 Horse and Dragoons and they to have constant pay only eleven Officers to have but half pay The Forces of Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Brereton joyning together marched to relieve Nantwich The King's Forces before the Town drew out to fight them and gallant Actions were performed on both sides the event of the Battel was long doubtful till unexpectedly the King's Forces gave ground and were pursued by the Parliaments till they were totally routed and dispersed There were taken Prisoners Major General Gibson Earnley Sir Richard Fleetwood Sir Francis Boteler an Irish Rebel Colonel Monk who afterwards served the Parliament and this was his first turn Colonel Gibs Harmon Sir Ralph Downes fourteen Captains twenty Lieutenants twenty six Ensigns two Cornets two Quarter-masters forty Drums forty one Serjeants sixty three Corporals and
fifteen hundred common Souldiers six Pieces of Ordnance four Canoniers twenty seven Waggons loaded There were slain in the Fight two Lieutenant Colonels four Captains and five hundred men an hundred and twenty Irish women with long Knives and they report that on the Parliaments side were slain not above twenty men and of them not one Officer From Gloucester Colonel Massey set upon Sir Henry Talbot's Quarters and surprized him three Captains three Lieutenants three Irish Reformadoes a Serjeant-Major sixty common Souldiers and much Arms Ammunition and Provision going for Worcester The Commons ordered publick thanks to be given in all Churches for these Victories and for the Assistance of the Scots come into the Parliament Sir Edward Deering came from Oxford into the Parliament and upon his Examination said That since the Cessation in Ireland and seeing so many Papists and Irish Rebels in the King's Army and the Anti-Parliament set up at Oxford and the King's Counsels wholly governed by the Popish party his Conscience would not permit him to stay longer with them but he came to throw himself upon the mercy of the Parliament and according to their Declaration to compound for his Delinquency To which he was admitted and order given for all others that would come in after him who was the first Massey retook Malmesbury and the Lieutenant Governour and took three hundred Ossicers and Souldiers and their Arms in that Town The Commissioners of the Seal gave the Covenant to the Lawyers and Officers and so many came to take it that they were fain to appoint another day for it The Dutch Ambassadour went from London to Oxford first to Treat with his Majesty Mr. Rowse a Member of the House of Commons was by them made Provost of Eaton College The Commons expelled several other of their Members who had deserted the Parliament General Essex advised with his Friends about an Answer to the Letters which came from the Anti-Parliament at Oxford and his Answer was in a Letter to the Earl of Forth the King's General to this effect That he received the Letter and Parchment from his Lordship but it having no address to nor acknowledgment of the Parliament he could not communicate it to them That in maintenance of the Parliament and Privileges thereof they all resolve to spend their blood as the foundation of our Laws and Liberties and he sends to Forth the National Covenant The Parliament appointed seven Lords and fourteen Commons to be a joynt Council with the Scots Commissioners but the fewness of the number distasted many who were left out The Commons took order for ransoming of the English Captives at Algiers Some differences or rather unkindness was apprehended between the Lord Willoughby of Parham and the Earl of Manchester who carrying Matters as a General the Lord Willoughby could the less brook it knowing himself not to be puisne to him but all was well reconciled The Lord Fairfax took In Birlington Bay and about a hundred Horses and Arms. Sir Thomas Fairfax pulled up the Bridges leading to Chester and regained three or four Garrisons from the Enemy and took about five hundred men Arms and Provisions The Estates of the Earl of Clare and of divers others were ordered to be sequestred An Exhortation of the Assembly of Divines touching the taking of the Covenant was approved The Commons allowed five pounds a Week to Sir John Hotham and as much to Sir Alexander Carew and three pounds a Week to Mr. Hotham for their Maintenance in Prison Prince Rupert by strickt Warrants under pain of Fire and Sword forbids any Provisions to be carried to Gloucester by which means the City was streightned Massey's Brother with a Party of the Gloucester Horse going to beat up the Enemies quarters was engaged with the main body of their Horse and forced to hasten his Retreat with the loss of seventeen of his men The Scots took Coquet Island and about two hundred men with their Arms seven Pieces of Ordnance and Provisions and rescued and restored to the Owners a great Herd of Cattel taken away by the King's Forces Colonel Grey the Lord Grey's Brother came in to them with a Regiment of Horse and took the Covenant and the Inhabitants of Northumberland and Westmerland came in great numbers to them they sent a Summons to Newcastle Sir Thomas Fairfax took in Crew-house and Darison house and the Lord Brereton he took Prisoner with many others The Swedes had great successes in Germany Another Letter of the Lord Goring's was intercepted and He ordered to be Impeached of High Treason The Timber upon the Lands of the Lord Tennet and of other Delinquents was ordered to be cut down for the use of the Navy The Commons ordered to sit every day in the Forenoon in the House in the Afternoon in Committees and every Member that came not before Prayers ended in the Morning to pay one Shilling to the Poor and for every Motion made after Twelve a Clock to pay five Shillings The Earl of Westmerland and divers other Delinquents came in to the Parliament desiring the benefit of the Declaration of both Kingdoms for Composition The Council at Oxford prohibited any to have this Declaration in his Custody upon pain of Felony and that if any went from Oxford without leave of the Governour they should be proceeded against by Martial Law as Traytors Sir William Brereton reported to the House of Commons that the Irish and other Forces under the Lord Byron commit great Spoils and Cruelties where they come what they cannot devour they set on fire commit horrid Rapes and Insolencies that more of the Irish Rebels are expected to land in those parts and Prince Rupert to come and joyn with them That he sends forth his Warrants to bring in Provisions on pain of death and that fifteen hundred more of the Rebels are to be landed in Scotland to interrupt the Scots advance into England The Marquess of Ormond the new Lieutenant of Ireland forbids the taking of the Covenant upon this and his being the chief Promoter of the Cessation there and of sending Forces from thence to the King the Commons vote To impeach him as a Traytor against the three Kingdoms and disable him of his Lieutenancy and of all Command in Ireland Twenty thousand English and Scots in the North of Ireland have vowed to live and die together in opposition to the Cessation A Trumpet came from Oxford to the Lord General with Letters from the Earl of Forth by the King's Command for a new Overture of Peace desiring a safe Conduct for Mr. Fanshaw and Mr. Offeley to come to Westminster with Propositions from the King The General acquainted the Parliament with these Letters but because they did not acknowledge the Parliament they would not read them but referred them to the Committee of both Kingdoms Sir William Constable in Yorkshire routed three Regiments of Newcastle's Horse took three hundred of them
better securing those Counties for the Parliament The City freely agreed hereunto and resolved to send out another Brigade of horse and foot under Major General Brown to joyn with the Forces of these three Counties The Earl of Warwick relieved Lyme with Provisions and Ammunition which they greatly wanted and with some of his Seamen helped to keep the Line Prince Maurice stormed the Town but Captain Ceely the Governour and his Garrison with the Seamen made such a Defence that sixty of the Prince's men were slain two Captains and many of his Souldiers taken prisoners and but eight men lost of the Garrison in this storm The chief Commanders before Lyme were Prince Maurice the Lord Pawlet and Sir John Borlace with about 2500 horse and foot in all The next day but one they began again to storm the Town and came on with as much bravery and resolution as could be performed by English men against English-men and they were as gallantly received by the Garrison and 400 of the Prince's men were slain on the place and not above seven of the Garrison All this was certified to the Parliament by Letters from the Earl of Warwick to whom a Letter of thanks was sent from both Houses for his great Service in relieving this Town and they ordered 1000 l. per an to the Town out of the Lord Pawlet's Estate and full satisfaction to the Inhabitants for their losses and the Lord General was desired to send a party to relieve them It was much wondred at that this Town could so long hold out being of little strength more than by the courage of their men and situate low under a Hill which was of great advantage to the Besiegers and they were sometimes brought unto such streights that their Water was noisom with the bloud of those slain and they much wanted provision of Victuals and Ammunition which the Earl of Warwick supplyed He also certified the Parliament that he had taken two Pinnaces at Sea one bound for Bristoll valued at 18000 l. A Troup of the Earl of Dallensie's Regiment marched to the Walls of York killed thirty and took thirty four Prisoners sxity Horse and forty Oxen and Cows from the Garrison General Lesley and the Earl of Manchester intrenched on each side of York very near to the City and the Scots took and fortified a Windmill near the Town though the Garrison made 200 great shot at them The Parliament ordered the Lord General to pursue the King and Sir William Waller to march into the West which was contrary to the General 's liking and it was thought strange that the Committee of both Kingdoms would at that distance take upon them to give particular Orders for the Services and course of their Armies March and not rather to leave it to the chief Commanders that were upon the place and who upon every motion of the Enemy might see cause to alter their Counsels This increased the jealousies and peeks between the General and Waller both gallant men but the General thought himself undervalued and Waller was high enough Nor did there want Pick-thanks to blow these coals of jealousie and this proved unhappy to the Parliament Affairs as will appear afterwards Mr. Hungerford a Member of the House of Commons was committed for going to the Anti-Parliament at Oxford Colonel Massey took in Tewksbury and in it Lieutenant Colonel Mynne and many Prisoners Powder and Ammunition and slew several inferiour Officers A Battery was made at the Windmill-hill at York five pieces of Ordnance planted which shot into the Town and did much hurt the Lord Eglinton with four thousand Scots entred some of the Gates and made a passage into the Mannor-house A strong party sallying out of the City were beaten back with loss General Leuen with his Regiment took a Fort from the Enemy and in it 120 prisoners the Garrison burnt up much of the Suburbs The Archbishop came again to his Tryal and the Matters against him were Touching his Ceremonial and Popish Consecrating of Churches and concerning the Book of allowing Recreation on Sundays The Earl of Manchester having made a Mine forced the great Fort at York where all the Defenders were slain and taken and but ten or twelve Scots lost The Earl of Newcastle sent to General Leuen to know the Cause of his drawing thither Leuen answers That he wondred Newcastle should be ignorant thereof that his intent was to bring that City to the obedience of the King and Parliament and therefore for avoiding further effusion of blood he summoned him once more to render the Town The Earl of Newcastle Sir Thomas Widderington and other chief Commanders with a strong party sallyed out of the Town endeavouring to escape but were driven back into the City from whence they shooting at a Tent where Leuen was took off part of the Tent but did no other hurt Sudley Castle in Glocestershire was yielded to Sir William Waller at mercy and taken in it nine Captains twenty two inferiour Officers and all the common Souldiers of whom a hundred and fifty took the Covenant and listed themselves for the Parliament they took here likewise 4000 l. worth of Cloth The same day Colonel Purefoy with the Warwick Forces took Compton-house and in it 5500 l. in money and five or six Pots of money more found in a Pond all their Arms four hundred Sheep about a hundred head of Cattel and great store of Plunder The King's Forces as they hasted to Worcester broke down the Bridges after them to hinder the pursuit of them and many of them crouding to get over Pursow Bridge the Planks left for their passage brake and about sixty of them were drowned The Commons again desired the Lords Concurrence to the Ordinance for secluding the Members who had deserted the Parliament and assisted their Enemies but the Lords were not yet satisfied therein A Party continued before Greenland-house An Ordinance passed for the relief of the maimed and sick Souldiers and for the Wives and Children of those who were slain in the Service of the Parliament The King sent from Bewdely a party of three thousand Horse to relieve Dudley Castle besieged by the Earl of Denbeigh who coming suddenly upon the Earl he sent out a Forlorn commanded by Colonel Mitton who charged the Enemy so home and was so far engaged that the Earl's friends advised him to draw off as fast as he could to save himself and the rest of his Company the Forlorn being given over for lost and the King's Forces far in number exceeding the Forces of the Earl But the Earl would not so leave his Friends ingaged but in person led on his Party and charged the Enemy so hotly that they retreated in disorder and the Earl rescued and brought off his Forlorn and the Enemy lost about a hundred of their men besides many Officers and common Souldiers taken Prisoners by the Earl and lost but
the High Sheriff of Wilts Colonel Ludlow getting some horse drove them out of the Town A recruit coming to Hopton Ludlow retreated and lost about 20 of his men then a relief coming from Colonel Norton to Ludlow he again set upon the Enemy and forced them to fly and took about 20 of them prisoners Upon information from Mr. Strickland the Parliaments Agent in the low Countries they voted some English Merchants there who had assisted the King in his affairs against the Parliament that is Webster Bainham Manning Ford and Yard to be Incendiaries and Enemies to the State The Dutch Ambassadours were solemnly received in the Lords House and afterwards in the House of Commons where Chairs were set for them They first were carried into the Inner Court of Wardes Chamber prepared for them as a withdrawing room from whence they were conducted by the Serjeant at Arms with his Mace and two Members of the House sent to accompany the Ambassadours into the House When they came in the Speaker and all the Members stood up in their places uncovered and the Ambassadours saluted them as they passed by then they sate down in their Chairs and the Members sate down likewise and when the Ambassadours were covered the Speaker and House were covered also They made a short speech of the affection of their Masters to these Kingdomes and their desire to mediate an accord between the King and his Parliament and after their Speech ended they returned with the same ceremonies as at the coming thither During the time of their being in the House there lay upon the table in their view 48 Colours taken from the King's Forces in the Battel of Marston-Moore Major General Brown with his whole Brigade came and joyned with the Forces before Greenland-house and continued the batteries upon which Colonel Hawkins the Governour of Greenland sent out for a treaty and rendred the Fort to Major General Brown upon these Articles 1. The House and Fort of Greenland-house with all the Ammunition Ordnance and Provision therein be delivered up to Major General Brown in the same condition it 's now in 2. That all Officers shall quietly march forth of the said house with their horses and swords the Common Souldiers and Canoniers with their Arms and Colours viz. swords pikes and musquets 3. That the said Major General do afford them a Convoy of horse to Nettlebed to return again within six hours without any molestation of the forces so convoyed 4. That the said Major General shall cause to be provided for the said Officers and Souldiers two teems and carts to carry away their baggage and such provisions as is necessary for their journey to Wallingford which carts and horses are to be returned so soon as they come thither 5. That all prisoners taken on either side be forthwith discharged They left in the house 5 pieces of Ordnance 30 barrels of Powder great store of Bullet and Match a good quantity of Cheese Bisket Fish Malt Flower Bear Oats Pease and great plenty of housholdstuff Prince Rupert after his defeat at Marston-moore joyned with the bordering forces of the King in Cumberland and Westmorland and the Parliaments three Generals sent out a party of 3000 horse and foot of their several Armies to follow him With the rest of their forces they sate down again before York The Parliament thought fit to set a rate upon Coals for the relief of the poor of London The Lord of Rochborough was impeached of high Treason upon a Letter under the King's hand taken in the battel among the Earl of New-castle's papers The Parliament in a kind temper upon their good success ordered the Sequestrations of the Estates of the Earles of Bedford Holland and Clare to be taken off The Town of Blandford had by the Lord General been used kindly yet when he was gone they apprehended a Messenger of his and sent him to the King's Garrison at Wareham and contriv'd to betray a party of 100 horse sent thither by Waller of whom they sent notice to Wareham Upon this Major Sydenham and other Parliament Commanders came to the Town seized upon the cheif Commanders and permitted their Souldiers to plunder this perfidious Town Prince Maurice his Major came in to the Lord General at Tiverton and Collonel Blake took in the strong Town of Taunton-Deane for the Parliament to whom the Townsmen were well affected The Earl of Denbigh took in Cholmeley-house and store of Arms and Ammunition in it By Ordinances divers high Sheriffs were appointed and the Lord Roberts was made Lieutenant of Exon and Devonshire and the Earl of Pembroke of Somersetshire Sir Richard Norton a Commissioner of Array in Hampshire was ordered to be sent for by the Committee Plymouth were well pleased with their new Governor Colonel Carre Mr. Dutton Mr. Lowe and Mr. Constantine former Members of the Parliament who had deserted them and were of the Antiparliament at Oxford were Committed to several Prisons Letters were produced under Sir John Hotham's hand among the Papers of the Earl of Newcastle taken at Marston-moore by which Hotham expresseth his affection to the Earl and thereupon the Commons called for the Ordinance for Martial Law and it being agreed upon was sent up to the Lords Papers sent to the Houses from the Spanish Ambassador touching Graveling were referred to the Committee of both Kingdomes The General by Letters informed the Parliament that Barnstable Taunton and Tiverton with all the East part of Devonshire were in his power and that 4000 of the Countrey proffered their service to the Parliament at Chard 3000 more at Collampton and 2000 more brought in since by Colonel Ware and that Barnstable freely entertained his forces That a few of the Malignants are come in to him that the Queen was come back to Exon that Hopton was recruited with 500 men but most of them ran away again The three Parliament Generals before York prepared to storm the City and thereupon Sir Thomas Glenham the Governor sent out a Trumpet for a parley which was admitted The Lord Inchequin drew out of Wareham 240 horse and dragoons and marched towards Dorchester to plunder and burn it but making some pause before the Town gave opportunity to Major Sydenhain to come to their relief who beat back Inchequin took 160 of his men prisoners with 60 horse and good store of their gotten plunder Sir Robert Pye and Colonel Blake at the taking of Taunton Castle had of the Enemies 11 peices of Ordnance and store of Arms and Ammunition with much provision and housholdstuff And intercepted Letters boast that Bonesiers were made at Oxford for the defeat that Prince Rupert gave the three Generals of the Parliament at Marston-moore and that Hopton had basted Colonel Popham The Archbishop was again brought to his Tryall and urged against him That he denyed the Pope to be Antichrist and did chide Dr. Hall for giving the Holy Father those Epithetes of
the Town and his coming down the hill near the Bridge the Enemy in Bath took an Allarm and discharged their Ordnance and some of Rich's Dragoons let fly their Musket shot and a sharp Summons was sent to the Town which so terrified them that although none of the Parliaments forces were on the other side of the Town Yet the next Morning they sent for a Parley at which they agreed to surrender the City with all the Common Souldiers Arms and Ammunition and Ordnance to the Parliament upon this condition only that their Governour Sir Thomas Bridges and his Officers should march to Bristol which was condescended unto The Parliaments forces thereupon entred the Town and took in it 200 prisoners but most of them got away 6 pieces of Ordnance 300 Arms 10 Barrels of Powder 10 Barrels of Match and much Ammunition divers heaps of Bullets great store of Beef Corn and other Provisions The Standard Colours upon the Fort Royal and all other Colours in the Town That Colonel Massey was gone with 8000 Horse and Foot towards Exeter and that the Enemy from thence drew out their Horse and Foot into the Field and some Field pieces into their out works August 1645. 1. Some from the Assembly of Divines were called in and presented to the House a Petition in the name of the Assembly desiring that a speedy course might be taken about those who should be thought not fit to be admitted to the Sacrament viz. The ignorant scandalous and profane c. It being a thing if effected exactly to the Rule would much tend to the Glory of God and the good of this whole Kingdom The speaker in the name of the House gave them Answer That the House was in debate of the same business and long before their coming And that they would expedite it with as much conveniency as could be A Letter from the Committee at York informed that they had chosen Colonel Boynton to be Governour of Scarborough Castle Colonel Poyntz desired the same Government and it was referred to a Committee to consider of it and of the vote of the House to bestow the next Command upon Col. Pointz which should be worthy of him An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for continuing the Monthly Assessment in Northampton Order for the payment of the 600 l. formerly ordered for the Charges of the Funeral of the Countess of Dorset Debate about the business of the Church Major General Brown was called into the House and had their thanks for his good service notwithstanding the nearness for so long time of a potent Enemy Then he informed the House of the state of the Garrison at Abington and the Enemies adjacent Garrisons The House ordered money for his Recruit Then he presented to the House several Propositions for reducing the Enemies Garrisons which were referred to the Committee of both Kingdomes The Commons assented to an Ordinance sent to them from the Lords concerning Trinity College in Cambridge Upon a Petition of 300 Reformado Officers who served under Colonel Saunderson for the Relief of Taunton and were promised by the Committee of the West to have the fifth part of their Arrears but after their service performed they could not get it The House referred to the Committee of the Army to audit their arrears and ordered 2000 l. for their present subsistence A day appointed for Alderman Foukes Petition to be heard News came that the Scots Army was sate down before Hereford The King was yet in Wales Sir T. Fairfax at Wells and Colonel Massey gone towards Excester 4. A Petition touching drayning in the Isle of Ely c. referred to a select Committee Upon debate of Alderman Foukes Petition Ordered that he should be accountable as other Commissioners of the Customes ought to be The Assembly presented to the House a Petition from Cambridge University expressing their thanks for being freed from the Excise and praying the Confirmation of their Rights and Privileges which was ordered untill the differences between the University and the Town should be determined by Law and they were referred to a Committee The House sent some of their Members to the Lord Mayor to desire that a Common Council might be called for the choosing of some more persons to be added to the Militia of London Letters informed that General Leven sent a summons to the Town of Hereford and the Parliament sent another to render the Town but the Governour Scudamore refused to surrender it without special Order from the King or Prince That the King is still in Wales and that a Party of Gloucester Horse gave Bristol an Alarm took a Lieutenant Colonel some Prisoners and 150 l. in money About 200 of the Newarkers fell upon Tocksey House a Garrison of the Parliaments in Lincolnshire surprized it and took all in it Prisoners Plundered the Town fired the House and then Retreated 5. The House gave the Credit of the Excise for 5000 l. more for the three Counties The House made several orders about supplies and the establishment of the Garrisons in the Eastern Association and about the blocking up of Newarke Orders for the Militia of London and Major General Browne to press 2000 Souldiers and to beat up Drums for the Voluntiers for reducing Oxford Propositions for reducing of Chester referred to a Committee the Ordinance continued for the payment of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army Debate touching the business of the Church and that Chapels of Ease or in private Houses should not be exempt from the Church Government in Presbyterial way Sir Thomas Fairfax beleagured Sherbourne Castle where Sir Lewis Dives was Governour Goring was in the West with 7000 men 6. The House was in debate about sending Propositions of peace to his Majesty They Voted that to such Propositions as shall next be sent to the King for a safe and well grounded Peace His Majestie 's positive Answer shall be desired without any Treaty And that such as shall be presented for England and Ireland shall be by Bills And that the Scots Commissioners shall be acquainted with these Votes The Lords consented thereunto The Ordinance sent up to the Lords for setling the Government of the Church in a Presbyterial way A Common Council ordered to be called for choosing two of the City to goe as a Committee into the Province of Munster and that Colonel Jephson should goe thither as another of that Committee and have the Command of a Regiment of Horse An Ordinance past for 2000 l. to Maximilian Beard for Commodities sent by him into Ireland Referred to the Committee of Prisoners to dispose of the Prisoners sent up by Sir Thomas Fairfax from the West and to treat with the Officers Prisoners for money for their Ransome 7. The House was Adjourned at Mr. Speaker's desire who was to goe out of Town 8. The House heard Letters from Sir T. Fairfax to his Father the Lord Fairfax of his leaving
carry away any thing that is properly belonging to any of them 18. That all Ladies Gentlewomen and other Women now in Oxford whose Husbands or Friends are absent from thence may have Passes and Protections for themselves Servants and Goods to go to and remain at the Houses of their Husbands or at their Friends as they shall desire and to go or send to London or elsewhere to obtain the Allowances out of their Husbands or Parents Estates allotted them by Ordinance of Parliament 19. That such of his Majesties Houshold Servants who shall desire to go to his Majesty may have free Liberty and Passes to go accordingly at any time within one Month next after the Rendring of the Garrison And that his Majesties Houshold stuff and other his peculiar Goods which are now in Oxford may be carried to his Majesties House at Hampton Court and his Servants under whose charge or custody any of them are shall be allowed and assisted in the procuring of Carts Boats and Carriages for the removal of them thither and there to remain till his Majesty shall otherwise dispose of them and then to be sent or disposed accordingly And that such of his Majesties Servants who are not able for the present to go unto him shall have Liberty Passes and Protections to go to and remain at his Majesties said house at Hampton Court and have liberty to attend the Committee for his Majesties Revenues to procure a competent allowance out of his Majesties Revenue for their subsistence untill his Majesty shall otherwise provide for or dispose of them 20. That all Clergy-men now in Oxford who shall not upon Composition or otherwise be restored to their Church-Livings shall have Liberty to go to London to obtain some fitting allowance for the livelihood of themselves and their Families 21. That it is intended declared and agreed That all persons comprised within these Articles shall peaceably and quietly enjoy all their Goods Debts and Moveables allowed by these Articles during the space of six Months after Rendring the Garrison and that they shall be free from all Oaths Engagements and Molestations except an Engagement by promise not to bear Arms against the Parliament nor wilfully do any Act prejudicial to their Affairs so long as they remain in their Quarters and that they shall have liberty within the space of six Months in case they should be resolved to go beyond Seas to dispose of their Goods Debts and Moveables allowed by these Articles and depart the Kingdom if they shall think fit and to have Passes for their Transportation or otherwise to stay in the Kingdom 22. That if any of these Articles shall in any point be broken or violated by any Person or Persons in Oxford or comprised within this Capitulation the fault and punishment shall be upon him or them only who made the breach or violation and shall not be imputed to or charged upon any other not assenting thereunto or not an actor in it 23. That the Duke of Richmond the Earl of Lindsey and their Servants that came forth with them shall enjoy the benefit of these Articles in whatsoever may concern them 24. That the Garrison of Farringdon shall be Rendred to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Governor Gentlemen Soldiers and all other of what quality soever within those Garrisons shall enjoy the benefit of these Articles in every particular which may concern them they rendring the Garrison accordingly as Oxford 25. That all persons comprised in these Articles shall upon request have a Certificate under the hand of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax or the future Governor of the City That such Persons were in the City at the time of the Surrender thereof and are to have the benefit of these Articles 26. That the General Sir Thomas Fairfax shall give a Pass to one or two Messengers with their Servants to go unto the King to give him an Account of the proceedings upon this Treaty and conclusion thereof and to return and receive the benefit of these Articles Dated at Water-Eaton June 20 1646. 22. The Propositions for Peace agreed upon and the City of London to have power of their own Militia they were ordered to be communicated to the Scots Commissioners here and upon their concurrence to be sent to his Majesty Mr. Dell the Generals Chaplain brought Letters and the Articles of Oxford to the Parliament Orders for Money for the Scots and about Mr. Charles Howards Composition Col. Birch Besieged Goodrich Castle 23. The Articles of Oxford approved and fifty pound gratuity to Mr. Dell and thirty pound to the Messenger Order for the Duke of York to be brought to St. Jame's and provided for in an honourable way Sir William Brereton being come into the House the Speaker by order gave him thanks for his good Services particularly for that of Chester 24. The Monthly Fast after the Sermons divers new Elected Members took the Covenant 25. Some Masters of Hospitals appointed Beumaris Town and Castle surrendred to Major General Mitton and he was voted to be Governor there Orders for Money and for a Ship at Anglesey The Marquess of Argyle and Scots Commissioners presented some papers to the Houses one was That the Quarters of their Army in the North might be inlarged and Money provided for them and other supplys as for the other Forces That Ships may be sent to prevent the landing of the Irish Rebels in Scotland That the Parliament here would send Commissioners to joyn with the Commissioners of Estates of Scotland at Newcastle to testifie the endeavours of the Scots and to assist them in perswading his Majesty to a good Peace and to have power to treat and settle the accounts between the two Kingdoms that all Forces may be disbanded and the fruits of Peace enjoyed by both Nations Another Letter was read being from the King to the Marquess of Ormond in Ireland to discharge all further Treaty with the Irish Rebels Letters informed that the Lord â—roghill had taken in the Garrison of Blaney in Ireland and given the Rebels some other small defeats Oxford was surrendred to Sir Tho. Fairfax no affront nor injury offered by any of his Soldiers to those of the Garrison when they marched forth but all the Articles punctually observed divers Irish men and Irish Women went out with them the Garrison were in all about seven Thousand men After the Governor was marched forth the Keys of the City were presented to the General who ordered three Foot Regiments to march into the Town and between them and the Citizens was courteous language and not a reproachful or uncivil word by any of the Army to them nor the least disorder They left in the City about thirty pieces of Ordnance but little provision for Man or Horse but after the Parliament Forces had entred the City the Countrey people thereabouts brought in store of Provisions The Duke of York
and divers great Lords remained in Oxford till they might receive the Kings order for which they had sent Messengers to him The next day the Citizens opened their Shops and there was a full Market again Farringdon was likewise surrendred and accommodation was sent for to London for removal of the Duke of York thither and surely no action or agreement either of War or Peace was ever more punctually observed than was this of the Oxford Articles Order for an Express to be sent to Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice that the Parliament took notice of their breach of the Oxford Articles by coming so near to London as Oatlands and requiring them to transport themselves beyond Seas within ten days if it could be or else to lose the benefit of those Articles Debate about the Preamble to the Propositions for Peace 27. The propositions for Peace were all agreed and a Committee named to consider of the manner of passing them and another Committee to be as Conservators of the Peace between both Kingdoms 29. Debate about the dismantling of Garrisons that of Oxford put off that of Winchester voted to be slighted Referred to the Committee of the Army to take care for the security of the City upon the repair of so many Delinquents thither from the Kings Quarters Order about the Judges who are to go Circuits and for allowances for them The General Commanded a select Council Cromwell Ireton Lambert Fleet-wood and Whitelocke to consult about disposing part of the Army to several Places and Sieges where there was need of them and also about the reducing of Wallingford and what conditions to send to them According to their advice Articles were drawn up to be sent to Wallingford and Whitelocke was made use of as their Secretary and there were two Regiments sent thither two more to Ragland and four Regiments to Worcester 30. The Princes Rupert and Maurice sent a very respectful answer to the Parliaments Letter to them that they were sorry that they had given them any offence had no intention to do it and would obey their orders The Prince Elector had leave to go and see his Brethren A Committee named to draw up an additional proposition for confirmation of the great Seal and invalidating of Acts passed by the Seal which was carried away to Oxford One Morgan a Popish Priest executed July 1646. July 1. Debate upon Ordinances touching the Excise and for moneys for Soldiers and Widows Order for reception of the French Ambassador one of the Lords and two of the Commons to come to him at his first landing The Garrison of Worcester agreed to a Treaty for the surrender of it 2. The Earl of Kent voted to be L. Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Orders that all Papists and Irish be put out of the lines of Communication and out of Corporations and that they that came from Oxford should be in their lodgings by nine a Clock the like for others that came out of any of the Kings Garrisons and that they have no Arms and that at Guild-hall they produce their Passes and ingage not to bear Arms against the Parliament and this order to be published by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet Thus we may see that even after almost a Conquest yet they apprehended no safety such are the issues and miseries of a Civil War that the Victors are full of fears from those whom they have subdued no quiet no security O let our Prayers be to God never to have such calamitous times again Letters from Major General Mitton informed the readiness and assistance of Bishop Williams to promote the Parliaments affairs and particularly for the reducing of the Castle of Conwey giving his advice and being very active in that and all other matters for the Parliament 3. Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax gave an account of the disposal of his Forces since the rendition of Oxford and the state he had put that City in and he sent up the great Seals and several other Seals which were there rendred to him Mr. Harbert one of the Commissioners for the Army presented the Seals to the House The great Seal which was carried away from the Parliament the Privy Seal the Signet Royal the Seal of the Kings Bench the Seals of the Exchequer and of the Court of Wards and of the Admiralty and the Sword Order for all those Seals to be broken and the Sword to be kept in the Kings Wardrobe Vote for the Earl of Salisbury to be one of the Commissioners of the great Seal in the place of the Earl of Bullingbroke deceased The proposition past the Commons and sent up to the Lords for making void what passed under the great Seal at Oxford and honours in Ireland and for confirming the great Seal here to which the Lords agreed and it was ordered to be communicated to the Scots Commissioners Order for Letters from both Houses to the King to desire him to send order to the Marquess of Ormond to deliver the Forts in Ireland in his hands to such as the Parliament should appoint A Petition from L. C. Lilburne to the Commons appealing from the judgment of the Lords who had Committed him referred to a Committee to consider of the priviledges of the Commoners of England 4. L. G. Pointz called into the House gave them an account of the Northern Forces they ordered a thousand pound to him in part of his Arrears and two hundred pound as a guift to buy him a Sword and a brace of Geldings and ordered three hundred pound per An. to him and his Heirs and gave him the thanks of the House Ordinance for ten thousand pounds for the Northern Forces Petition of London shewing that they intended to Petition the King a Copy of which they presented to the House for their approbation the House appointed a time to consider of it The Lords gave the City thanks for the like Petition Col. Jones his Regiment to be hastned for Ireland Papers from the Scots Commissioners which they received from New-Castle presented to the House One was a Declaration from General Leven and his Officers That they will adhere to the Covenant and will preserve the Vnion between the two Kingdoms and not countenance any disaffected to either Parliament that they abhor all wayes contrary to the Covenant Disclaim the Kings Letter to the Marquess of Ormond That as they came into England out of affection and not in a mercenary way so they will be as willing to return home and want of Pay shall be no hindrance thereunto and that the Kings unexpected coming to their Army hath not wrought in them any thing contrary to the Covenant Another Paper was a Petition of General Leven and his Officers to the King That his Majesty would take a speedy course to settle Religion and Church-Government the Liberties Priviledges of his Kingdoms to sign the Covenant and to comply with the Councils
into the hands of Members of both Houses the question was put whether that question should be put or not and carried in the Negative Voted That it should be disposed into hands of three Commissioners That the Members of both Houses late Commissioners of the great Seal as a token of Favour from the Parliament and Kingdom should have a thousand pound bestowed on them for all their faithful Services That the Earl of Salisbury one of the late Commissioners should have the thanks of the House That the Members of the Commons late Commissioners of the Seal should have the priviledge to plead within the Bar next to the Sollicitor General of the King An Ordinance voted to be brought in for setling five thousand pounds per An. upon Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Heirs Many Aldermen and Common Council-men of London desired to know the pleasure of the House whether the Works about the City should be slighted or not and if not then they desired twelve thousand pounds for the Maintainance of them the House appointed the Committee of the Army to treat with the Militia of London about it Letters informed that the Popish Clergy at Waterford have pronounced the supreme Council at Kilkenny to be perjured for agreeing to the Peace and proceed to excommunicate them 2. The House sate in a Grand Committee till seven at night upon the Ordinance for disposing of Bishops Lands 3 Private Petitions heard Order for two thousand pounds for the Officers and Garrison of Dover and for payment of the debts of the State to some Handy-crafts men and for two thousand pound for Col. Sandersons Regiment upon their disbanding Order for seizing upon a new Impression of the Common-Prayer Referred to a Committee to find out the Author and Printer of a Pamphlet called Yet another word to the Wise that they may be punished 5. Ordinance for setling two hundred pound per An. on Mr. Hugh Peters Order for a new Election The Negotiations of some Captains of the Parliaments Ships with the Marquess of Ormond confirmed as to lending to him Arms and Ammunition against the Rebels and order for Letters of thanks to Captain Willoughby one of those Captaius Orders for supplys for Ireland Ordinance sent up to the Lords for sale of Bishops Lands Treasurers and Trustees for it named Letters informed That the Estates of Scotland had fully agreed to the Scots Army marching out of England and the Garrisons to be delivered up upon payment of the two hundred thousand pound as was agreed The Irish Rebels drew their Forces towards Dublin and the Marquess of Ormond prepared for defence Col. Bethel was called into the House and had their thanks for his good Services Beaumarice Castle in Anglesey was surrendred to the use of the Parliament upon Articles Order that all Commissions made to Sea Captains which were as from the King and Parliament which some of them interpreted to the prejudice of the Parliaments Service should be altered and made in the name of the Parliament only Order for Money out of Delinquents Estates in Wilts for disbanding the Forces there The Confession of Faith brought in from the Assembly debated Order for one thousand seven hundred pound out of Delinquents Estates in Lincoln-shire to be paid to the Earl of Lincolne which he had disbursed for the Parliaments Service A French Pyrat taken by the Parliaments Ships The Irish Rebels prevailed A Conference by the Committee of Lords and Commons with the Scots Commissioners about disposing of the Kings Person 7. Upon Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax for Pay and Cloathing for the Army Ordered that the Assesment be continued for six Months longer for the pay of them Order for three pound a week for maintenance of the Widow and Children of Mr. Franklyn a Member of the House that dyed a Prisoner to the Kings Party and that the Arrears of M. Franklyn be computed and paid Order for hastning the payment of ten thousand pound to the poor Widows and for relief of Tenants whose Land-lords were of the Kings Party For supplys for the Northern Forces 8. Composition of the Lord Savile allowed and out of it a thousand pound was ordered for the Widow and Children of Captain Askwith who laid out nine hundred and sixty pound in raising a Troop of Horse for the Parliament Votes That Sir Rowland Wandesford Sir Tho. Beddingfield and Mr. Jo. Bradshaw be Commissioners of the great Seal for six Months sent up to the Lords 9. Progress upon the Articles of Faith Votes of both Houses that Captain Pen be Captain of the Assurance Frigot The Committee of both Houses debated with the Scots Commissioners about disposing of the Kings Person An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for four hundred pound for the poor Irish Protestants here The Lords desired the concurrence of the Commons in the Ordinance for dissolving of all Countrey Committees 10. Debate upon the Accounts of Sir Will. Brereton as Major General and a Committee named to consider of the pay of ten pound per diem to every Major General and of their incident charges and of the free quarter and provisions taken by them They ordered five thousand pound to Sir Will. Brereton out of such Delinquents Estates not yet compounded for as he should nominate Order that the Tax of one per cent for Plymouth shall continue till January 1 and no longer Vote for a Balleting box to be made 12. Report of seven Ordinances drawn out of the Propositions for Peace 1. For justifying and confirming the Proceedings of Parliament 2. For setling the Militia of England and Ireland in the Parliament for twenty Years 3. For confirming the Treaty with Scotland 4. For making void all Titles under the great Seal after it was carried away 5. For confirming the present great Seal and all Acts done thereby 6. For making void the Irish Cessation 7. For disposing Offices by consent of Parliament All these except that of the Militia and Scots Treaty pass'd and sent upto the Lords An Ordinance appointed to be drawn to injoyn all to take the Covenant Order touching Compositions of Delinquents A Malignant chosen Major of Berwick sent for and the old Major continued A Petition of many Officers and Soldiers of the Parliaments That they may not be prosecuted at Law for things done by them in the war and as Soldiers upon sundry Exigencies Conference about disposing of the Person of the King A Committee appointed to treat with the Commissioners come from the Marquess of Ormond The French Ambassador and Agent were with the King at Newcastle The Plague broke forth there brought from London Letters informed that divers Inhabitants of Northumberland had left their habitations by reason of the oppression by the Soldiers quartered with them 13. The Lords concurred to the Ordinance for sale of Bishops Lands for advance of two hundred thousand pounds for the Scots Army and to take away the power of Committees for disposing
sent up to the Lords for payment of five hundred pound to Mr. Phips out of the Marquess of Wintons Estate for which Sir John Danvers was ingaged A Scotch Minister Preached boldly before the King at New-castle and after his Sermon called for the fifty second Psalm which begins Why dost thou Tyrant boast thy self thy wicked works to praise His Majesty thereupon stood up and called for the fifty sixth Psalm which begins Have Mercy Lord on me I pray for men would me devour The People waved the Ministers Psalm and sung that which the King called for 16. An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for disposing four thousand five hundred and fifty pounds Arrears of the Joynture of the Countess of Essex by reason of her delinquency Sir David Watkins called into the House denyed the words which Mr. Pennoyer justified to be spoken by him of Sir John Evelin and said he heard them from one Mr. Drake who was ordered to be sent for The two Speakers continued Commissioners for the great Seal twenty days longer Order for the Committee of Elections to sit and for reports every Monday from the Committee of Priviledges The Lords concurrence desired to the Treaty for the two hundred thousand pound and a hundred thousand pound of it sent away 17. Order for three thousand pound for the poor Widows c. Hostages agreed to the Scots for the two hundred thousaud pound Sir William Selby Mr. Dela Vale Sir Edward Loftus Sir Tho. Trollop Sir H. Mildmay and Sir William Browton Mr. Drake called in about speaking the words touching Sir Jo. Evelyn named one Dr. Aldwyn who said he heard it from a Member of the House referred to a Committee 18. To the Scots Paper desiring aid of this Kingdom against the Rebels in Scotland the House answered that that was no obstruction of their March or delivery up of the Garrisons which being done then the House would consider of that particular To that of charging the Countrey upon their March out of England was answered That they should take no money nor goods of the English Subjects but pay and discharge all their quarters and the form of their Receipts for the two hundred thousand pound was agreed upon The Committee of both houses ordered to meet about disposing the great Seal Sir Thomas Fairfax went towards Northampton to give order for the Convoy of the Scots Money and fifty thousand pound was carried thither for his Army 19. Order for two thousand pound for Sir Peter Killegrew for his Interest in Pendennis Castle and for a thousand pound for the burying of the Earl of Worcester and the Lord Dockra to be according to the Directory The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council and many Citizens of London presented the Petition formerly mentioned first to the Lords who gave them thanks then to the Commons who after much debate gave them thanks for all their good Services and appointed a day to consider of the Petition and also the Petition of the Gentry of Durbam Another considerable party of the City were about a different Petition 31. Orders touching the payment of the second two hundred thousand pound to the Scots and that they should not take free quarter These to be Communicated to the Scots Commissioners The Earl of Stamford for the Lords and Mr. Ashhurst and Mr. Goodwin for the Commons named Commissioners to go into Scotland to satisfie the Parliament there of all proceedings and to prevent misunderstandings between the two Kingdoms and a Committee appointed to draw instructions for them Upon a Petition of many of Durham that the Scots Army may be removed and twenty five thousand six hundred sixty six pound paid due to them since 1641 and that they may send Knights and Burgesses to the Parliament the House gave this answer that they were sensible of the Countreys sufferings and had taken course to remove the Armies and concerning their electing Knights and Burgesses for the Parliament it was referred to a Committee Col. Hoskins voted to be Governor of Lynne Both Houses agreed to an Ordinance for maintaining of the water-guards And the Lords sent an Ordinance to the Commons that none be permitted to Preach or use publick Exercise but such as had taken Degrees in the Universities and another Ordinance against such as shall disturb the Ministers in their publick Exercises 22. The House agreed that Sir Rich. Lloyd Governor of Holt should have liberty to go beyond Sea and carry three hundred pound with him and his Wise to enjoy his Land being three hundred pound per An. and they voted that Holt Flint Harding Rotheland and Ruthen Castles should be slighted Sir William Listers Lady ordered to have six hundred and ten pound of her Husbands Arrears and two thousand pound to Col Carter and five hundred pound to Major General Skippon for his extraordinary charges in convoying the two hundred thousand pound The Lords sent their Vote to the Commons That the King should come to New-Market upon the Scots Army marching away Upon debate of the City Petition the House Voted first to insist upon the breach of Priviledge in the way of this Petition and then to consider of the particulars of the Petition and for that purpose referred it to a Committee The Earl of Northumberland acquainted the Lords that some persons had a Plot to steal away the Duke of York and to carry him beyond Sea and that by advice from his Majesty two that were in the Plot were apprehended and the rest escaped Mr. Hudson the Kings Guide to the Scots was taken again by Major General Pointz and his Examination sent up to the Parliament Some Proposals from the Lord L'isle Lieutenant of Ireland for supplyes and Moneys to carry on the War there and that he would go over thither in person 23. Letters from Ireland informed That proposals were received by the Marquess of Ormond from the Rebels That the Roman Catholick Religion may be free and publick as in Paris That the Garrisons may be in their hands All Counsellors Officers and Soldiers to take an Oath to fight against the Parliamenteers and never to make Peace with them The Scots Hostages given in A Letter directed to General Leven that no free quarter be taken by his Soldiers in their march for Scotland Order for Mr. Allen to provide a Jewel as a gift of the House for General Leven Order for five hundred pound for Mrs. Chichester and four pound per mensem for the Lady Denny Widows The Duke of York confessed that the King his Father sent to him to get away Great use was made of a Press at London to Print the Lord Chancellor of Scotlands Speeches the London Petition and other things at New-castle 24. The Commons dissented from the Vote of the Lords for the Kings coming to New-Market and voted his coming to Holmesby-House in Northampton shire and to be those with such Attendants as both Houses shall think sit
Now there began to be an understanding between some here and the Scots for their delivery up of the Kings Person to the Parliament Both Houses agreed to appoint a Committee to ask some questions of the Duke of York touching the Kings Letter to him for his escape and to refer to the Committee of both Kingdoms a Letter newly come from the King to both Houses much to the same effect with his former desiring to come to London or to some of his Houses thereabouts with Honour and safety and that the Letter be communicated to the Scots Commissioners The Scots Commissioners had sent to the Lords to acquaint them with their speedy going away from hence to Scotland and desired to know what further service the Houses had to command them to the Parliament of Scotland Both Houses agreed that the Committee of both Kingdoms should return the thanks of the House to the Scots Commissioners for all their pains and good service taking notice of this their last respect to the two houses Orders for five hundred pound for Col. Blake for disbanding some Forces and for Sir Ben. Ayliffe and Sir William Wingfield Prisoners to be bayled 25. Though Christ-mas day the Houses â—ate ordered a Collection for the poor The Commons concurred with that part of the Vote of the Lords That the Kings coming to Holmeby shall be with respect to the safety and preservation of his Majesties Person and in preservation and defence of the true Religion The question was put whether words according to the Covenant should be passed and it pass'd in the affirmative 26. The Commons agreed with the Lords That after his Majesty was come to Holmeby house and attended by such as both houses shall appoint and that the Scots are gone out of this Kingdom the Houses will do nothing but what shall be for the preservation of the Peace and Vnion of both Kingdoms This with the rest ordered to be sent to the Lords Many Citizens attended impatiently for an answer to their Petition 28. Both Houses conferred the Searchers place of Sandwich and Dover upon Col. Mainwaring of London and other competitors were referred to a Committee to find out something for them An Ordinance pass'd at Sir Henry Vanes request to enable him to make a surrender of his place of Treasurer of the Navy Both Houses agreed that there should be no further Treaty with the King and the Commons voted That the King coming to Holmeby House and the Scots Army gone out of the Kingdom the two Houses will then joyn with the Scots in using all possible means to perswade the King to pass the Propositions and if he refuse that then the Houses will do nothing that may break the Vnion and Affection of the two Kingdoms but to preserve the same Upon this and the other Votes a Declaration was pass'd and sent up to the Lords and with them the Ordinances for Sale of Bishops Lands and for taking away the Court of Wards to be sent to the King as additional Propositions A Conference of both Houses about Compositions of Delinquents and that Lawyers and others who had taken Oaths to attend at the Terms might not be made Sheriffs who take an Oath to attend the County Affronts offered to the Parliaments Commissioners and to their Officers and Soldiers in Ireland Great wants of the Protestant Forces there so that a Soldier had but six pence and a six penny-loaf of Bread in a week to live upon 29. The Lords agreed to the Ordinances and declaration yesterday sent up to them but the Houses did not agree to a Clause added by the Lords for giving one hundred thousand pound per An. to the King in lieu of Wardships Mr. Mynnes after proofs heard and examinations was voted a Delinquent and four thousand pound due to him in the hands of Sir Humfrey Forster was ordered two thousand pound thereof to Sir John Merrick in part of his Arrears and the other two thousand pound to Whitelocke for his Arrears and Charges Order that Mr. Minnes do bring in his Deeds evidences c. for Sir Humphrey Forster and that he be indempnified for his paying the Money according to the order of the Parliament Orders for the payment of Hull Garrison for Sir Jo. Hippesley's disbursements for the State to be audited and paid To some Queries propounded by the Parliament of Scotland to the Assembly of their Kirk the Assembly gave this Answer The Quere supposeth the Kings coming into this Kingdom which we humbly conceive should not be put into the question and therefore desire your Lordships to go about all means for the present preventing of it as a matter of most dangerous consequence to Religion this Kirk and Kingdom and to the King himself and his Posterity But if the question be stated If the King be excluded from Government in England for not granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and for not giving a satisfactory answer to the remnant Propositions whether in that case it be lawfull to assist him for the recovery of the Government or if it be not lawful being put to it we cannot but answer in regard of the ingagement of this Kingdom by Covenant and Treaty Negative The Parliament of Scotland pass'd these Votes 1. That Scotland shall be Governed as it hath been for the five last years all means being used that the King may take the Covenant and pass the Propositions 2. That the taking the Scots Covenant and passing some of the Propositions doth not give warrant to assist him against England 3. That upon bare taking the Covenant we may not receive him 4. That the Clause in the Covenant for defence of the Kings Person is to be understood in defence and safety of the Kingdom 5. That the King shall not execute any power in Scotland till he hath granted the propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and given a satisfactory answer to both Kingdoms in the rest of the Propositions presented to him by both Kingdoms at Newcastle 6. That if his Majestie refuse to pass the Propositions he shall be disposed of according to the Covenant and Treaties 7. That the Vnion be firmly kept between the Kingdoms according to the Covenant and Treaties 30. The Fast day divers new Members took the Covenant and voted that all such Members who have not taken it shall take it the next Fast day or be suspended the House 31. Instructions for the Commissioners who are to take possession of the Garrisons upon the departure of the Scots and for the Hostages agreed upon and a Letter to General Leven that the Scots may lay no Assesments nor take any free Quarter upon their March after the first hundred thousand pound shall be paid Order for the Ammunition in Berwick and Carlisle to be brought to New-castle Debate about the City Petition and Crowds of Citizens attending to know what was done in it In the afternoon they sate again and till
informed that the Parliaments Commissioners were come to Newcastle and that the King had appointed them a time for Audience February 1646. February 1. Divers new Members took the Covenant and ordered that those who have not yet taken it shall by a day take it or be suspended The Preamble and Ordinance pass'd both Houses for a day of Humiliation that God would stop the growth of Heresie and Blasphemy The Lords sent to have Mr. Barrill added to the Privy Councellors of Ireland but it was not assented to by the Commons Upon a Petition of the Inhabitants of Westminster referred to a Committee to consider of a maintainance of two hundred pound per An. for Mr. Marshall their Minister Letters from the North informed that the Scots were upon their March That the Commissioners attended his Majesty about his going to Holmeby That the Scots Parliament carried it but by two Votes for the Kings not coming to Scotland That the King asked the Scots Commissioners why he might not go into Scotland when he came to their Army for protection They answered him because he refused to sign the Convenant and Propositions therefore they were to deliver him to the Commissioners of the Parliament of England who were come to attend him to Holmeby House The King desired the English Commissioners to sent to the Parliament that he might have two Chaplains who had not taken the Covenant to go with him to Holmeby which they excused as that which would not be for his Majesties service and much other discourse he had with them and some reported he used the expressions that he was bought and sold The Dutch Ship went away from Newcastle Harbour Complements pass'd between the English and Scots and Proclamation was made by General Leven that all his Soldiers should pay off their quarters at their departure 2. Debate about a Declaration of the Lords that the Compositions at Goldsmiths Hall were not by Ordinance and the Sequestrators of the Counties not bound to obey them A Committee appointed to draw reasons to satisfie the Lords herein Many Complaints and Cavils were made against the Officers and Soldiers of the Army as such who held Erroneous and Schismatical Opinions contrary to the true Doctrine and that they took upon them to Preach and expound Scripture not being learned or ordained and some of the Kings Party were not wanting to soment these things and to raise an odium upon the Army in the peoples minds And those who so lately were in their highest esteem and respect as freers of their Countrey from Servitude and Oppression are now by the same people looked upon as Sectaries and Oppressors themselves Thus we may see the inconstancy of the giddy Multitude and the uncertainty of Worldly Affairs when their turns are served their minds change their best friends when they relieve them are counted their enemies when they are relieved the best course is to provide for such a condition as will always afford comfort and will never change not to trust in men but in God alone Referred to a Committee to consider a Petition of two Committee men who were sued at Law for what they did as Committee men The Scots marched out of Newcastle and the English entered it and Tinmouth The King would not hear Mr. Marshall nor Mr. Carryll Preach because he had not submitted to the Directory of Worship Proclamation by General Leven that if any in Newcastle had any Debt owing to him by the Scots he should come to the General and receive it A Party of Ormonds Forces marched into the Rebels Quarters fifty miles and took from them three or four thousand Cows and in their March back being careless Oneal's men fell on them rescued the Cows and spoyled three of Ormond's Troops Captain Pen took four Vessels from the Rebels 3. Conference about the Lords Declaration concerning Compositions That Lords were joyned in that Committee that this difference between the two Houses and at this time would be of evil Consequence Letters informed that the Mayor of Newcastle delivered the Keys of the Town to Major General Skippon who took possession of it The Parliaments Commissioners received the King into their Charge lodged in the same House and intended to watch by turnes Carlisle and Berwicke were upon slighting 4. Instructions for the Commissioners going to the Parliament of Scotland and a Letter agreed to be sent from both houses here to the Parliament in Ireland desiring that Belfast in Ireland may be surrendred to their Forces there An Ordinance read for selling certain Delinquents Estates for satisfaction of a debt due to Mr. Pennoyer and Mr. Hill for Provisions sent by them into Ireland A Bill of Exchange from the Commissioners in the North complyed with Order for the next Summers Fleet. Incivility of Officers to a Committee for their Accounts Lords added to the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall 5. Grand Committee about the Ordinance against such as Preach not being Ordained 5. Several Sheriffs appointed and Judges for Circuits agreed upon The Plate of the Chappel at White-Hall ordered to be sold Order for three thousand pound to defray the charges of the Kings Journey to Holmeby Letters to the Commissioners attending him That none be placed about the King but Persons well affected c. 8. Debate by the Lords about the City Petition and they voted that those who should refuse to take the Covenant should bear no Office Civil or Military Lords concurrence for Sheriffs and for Judges to ride the Circuits The King removed from New-castle to Durham and at his going out a Proclamation was made that none who had served against the Parliament should come near his Majesty The Commissioners were attended by nine hundred Horse One being admitted to kiss the Kings hand delivered to him a Letter in Characters The last hundred thousand pound paid to the Scots Care by Major General Skippon that any Scots who were left behind sick in New-castle should not be disturbed The Kings Letter in Characters referred to Mr. Wakerly to open the meaning of it and thanks ordered to their Commissioners and additional instructions and power ordered to be given to them Four shillings per Chaldron upon New-castle Coals continued for maintenance of that Garrison Order for a Declaration touching the Excise and continuing of it and referred to a Committee to prevent the Insolencies and exorbitancies of the Sub-Commissioners The Ordinance pass'd for establishing the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall of Members of both Houses and others The Lords recalled their former Declaration against the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall 9. Vote of the Lords that Sir Jo. Brampston shall sit in their House as an assistant Petition of some Apprentices that they may have a play-day once in a Month. Debate upon the Ordinance for regulating Oxford Complaints to the General of Suits against Soldiers and Countrey-men for horses taken from the enemy in the War The King came to Rippon 10. Debate of the Oxford Ordinance Visitors named
and sent to the Lords Order of both Houses for the Library of the Arch Bishop to be given to the University of Cambridge Orders about the next Summers Fleet. Ordinances touching the Clerks places of the privy Signet and the Water-Bayliffs place and for four thousand pound for Col. Barton out of Delinquents Estates for his Arrears The Lords proceeded upon the City Petition and named a Committee to consider of punishing Hereticks and Schismaticks 11. Order for two thousand pound for the Executors of Sir Jo. Meldrum for his Arrears Ordinance committed for safe custody of Prisoners and yet that they may be liable to Suits Orders touching Compositions 12. The grand Committee sate about Religion and the Ordinance against Preachers not being Ordained 13. Grand Committee sate upon the same business A Committee appointed to moderate the Fees of the Registers in Chancery Receipts of the Scots for the two hundred thousand pound ordered to be entred in the House-Journal and in the Exchequer and the Lords desired to enter them in the Journal of their House Order for indemnity of the Treasurers Vote for an addition to a Committee The King came to Nottingham 15. Order for the Members to give in notes under their hands of the several Garrisons and the charge of them in the respective Counties Order to confirm the Articles of Truro A Committee to examine a complaint against the Lord Mohun that he had killed divers men in cold blood and therefore should not be admitted to his Composition Orders concerning new Elections and for Priviledge for Col. Rigby's Servants and for three hundred pound to Mrs. Herle for her late Husbands Arrears and for two thousand pound to Col. Cely Governor of Lime a Member of the House for his Arrears An Ordinance from the Lords to prohibit the killing of Beef Veal and Lamb for eight weeks Another to take away all Country Committees both Committed by the Commons The Lords concurred in the Ordinances for removing the Library from Lambeth to Cambridge and in that for Sir Jo. Meldrum's Executor A great tumult in Smithfield the Excise-house pulled down the Lord Mayor published a Proclamation that whosoever could bring in the chief actors in it should have five pound and many were committed to Prison about it Success of some of the Parliaments Forces in Ireland care for men and provisions thither Sir Thomas Fairfax went and met the King who stopped his Horse Sir Thomas Fairfax allighted and kissed the Kings hand and afterward mounted and discoursed with the King as they passed towards Nottingham The King said to one of the Commissioners That the General was a man of honour and kept his word with him Divers of the Kings Officers were apprehended upon suspition and imprisoned by the Commissioners The Scots passed Berwick into Scotland most of them were to be disbanded General Leven executed one for Murder who was one of his Soldiers and the Countrey were well pleased with it 16. The Sheriffs of London came to the House and informed them of the tumult in Smithfield about the Excise-house and the Commitment of many for it The House gave them thanks and ordered that the Malefactors be proceeded against at the Sessions The Declaration of the grounds of laying and continuing the Excise committed New Members admitted The Lords pass'd the Confession of Faith as the Assembly gave it in A Petition to the Lords from Suffolke of the same effect with the London Petition with an addition that the Armies may be disbanded The Lords gave them thanks for their good affections for the Petition and the particulars of it they would speedily take into consideration 17. Debate of disbanding Forces and dismantling Garrisons the several Members gave an account of all their Counties and sate till eight at night then resolved that the Army should first be taken into debate Ordinance for nine thousand pound for the works of London sent to the Lords 18. Order that a Body of five thousand horse and a thousand Dragoons be continued for the service of the Kingdom and at the charge of the Kingdom Letters from the Commissioners with the King at Holmeby desired that they might be discharged from that great charge Ordinances for Compositions Ordinance for six thousand pound for Nottingham House The People flocked to see the King as he passed by 19. The House sate from Morning to nine at night and voted that no more Foot should be maintained than what was sufficient to man the Garrisons 20. Orders for Members to go into the Countrey Letters from the Earl of Ormond to Mr Salleway and others with propositions for surrender of Dublyn and other Forts in Ireland Lords concurrence to divers Ordinances A Letter from the King from Holmeby to both Houses Desired That in regard he was not satisfied with the Presbyterian Government that Doctor Sheldon and divers others of his Chaplains or any two of them might be permitted to come to him by whom he might receive satisfaction The House voted to send to the King to sign the Propositions The Declaration concerning the Excize past the House and care taken for ease of the poor in the payment of Excize Benson a Delinquent apprehended by the City Martial and committed close Prisoner 22. Upon the report of all the transactions between the Parliaments Commissioners and the Marquess of Ormond the House approved what the Commissioners had done and gave them thanks Orders for ten thousand pound for the Forces which shall go to possess Dublin and three thousand pound to the Marquess of Ormond and referred to the Committee of the Irish Affairs to manage the whole business of the Marquess of Ormond and they to give an Account of the Money Forces and Supplys for Ireland A Letter assented to That the House agreed to Ormonds propositions and to acquaint him that the Sequestration of his Estate should be taken off Letters to the Lord Inchequin and others to assist in this business The Earl of Pembroke had leave to come from Holmeby to London Both Houses voted Mr. Bradshaw to be Chief Justice of Chester and to refer it to the Commissioners of the Seal to consider of fit persons to be Judges in Wales The Declaration pass'd concerning the Excise with Instructions to the Officers The Lords made an Order against the spoylers of the Kings Game 23. Leave to divers Members to go into the Countrey and for Mr. Crew to come from Holmeby to London And a vote pass'd that the Commissioners who stay with the King shall have the same Authority as when they were all together Votes for dismantling of Garrisons The King desied to come to or near London Letters informed that the Scots were all gone out of England and their whole Army disbanded except five thousand Foot and fifteen Troops of Horse 24. The Monthly Fast day some new Members took the Covenant 25. The French Ambassador desired Audience and a day was set for it The Sequestrations of Sir Henry
bayling of Sergeant Glanvile Order of the Lords against Counterfeiting and Clipping the Kings Coin 16. Ordinance Read for making Mr. Bradshaw Chief Justice of Chester Votes for Captains of Ships for the next Summers Guard for Packet Boats for Ireland and Convoys for Merchants Ships Votes That the Houses intend to carry on the War for Ireland with the Forces of England and the Scots Forces there to be called away paying what is due to them and the Scots Commissioners here and the Parliament of Scotland to be acquainted herewith Order to treat with the General and his Field Officers how the Forces designed out of that Army may be disposed of for Ireland and sixty thousand pounds Voted for Pay per Mens of the Forces there and in England 17. A Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of London Professing their Zeal to the Parliament and to the Covenant and their apprehensions of the advance of the Army not yet Disbanded nearer to the City and of a dangerous Petition now on Foot in the City the Copy whereof they annexed pray that the Army may be removed and Disbanded and the dangerous Petition suppressed and that they may yearly chuse their Militia The House answered them That most of the particulars in their Petition were under consideration and that the House would do what may be most for the ease safety and satisfaction fo the City and Kingdom that the annexed Petition was referred to a Committee and they had thanks for their sincere Affection Divers Governours of Garrisons Voted Fifty pounds a day allowed for the Kings Expences Collonel Jones Ordered by the Committee for Ireland to take Possession of Dublin with two thousand men 18. The Commons again Voted Sir John Brampston Sir Thomas Bedingfield and Mr. Chute to be Commissioners of the Seal The Lords Voted Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Warburton Mr. Keble and Mr. Littleton Mr. Powell and Mr. Clerke Mr. Lewis and Mr. Elkenhead to be Judges in Wales The House passed several Compositions of Delinquents 19. Report of the Counter-Petition in London and That the Committee had imprisoned one Tewleday an active man for that Petition Many excused him as being as lawful for those of one Judgment as of another to Petition the Parliament but it was carried in the House to approve of his Commitment and Mr. Tewleday was sent for in safe custody Order of both Houses to remove the Kings Children into the Country Orders for new Elections Some disturbance was in the Army about going into Ireland and for Petitioning the Parliament and Offence taken at the Essex Petition which reflected upon them but all was appeased and they promised not to Petition before they had acquainted their General therewith 20. The Ordinance Read for the Assessement of sixty thousand pounds per Mens for the Forces Order for the House to adjourn every Friday till Tuesday after Divers Citizens came to the House to avow the Petition complained of by the City Petition The Commissioners of the Great Seal continued for twenty days longer 22. The Ordinance for sixty thousand pounds per mens referred to a Grand Committee and the same proportions as formerly observed A Petition from the reduced Officers answered with a reproof for their giving directions to the Parliament Upon information of a great Riot in Moorfields and assaulting and Plundering the House of Mr. Hobbard a Justice because he Committed one for Tipling on the Lords day in Sermon time Both Houses past an Order for putting in due Execution the Laws for prevention of Riots and Tumults and for better observation of the Lords day and Fast days The Commons Voted that Mr. Hobbart should have reparation Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Field-Officers met with the Parliaments Commissioners at Saffron Walden about sending Eight thousand Foot and Four thousand Horse into Ireland the Officers as to a personal Engagement to go thither could then make no answer but agreed whether they go in person or not yet they shall endeavour to advance the Service among those under their respective Commands They desired satisfaction in Four Particulars 1. Vnder whose Command in chief they were to go 2. What particular Regiments Troops or Companies were to be continued in England 3. What assurance for Pay and subsistence for those that go to Ireland 4. Satisfaction in point of Arrears and Indemnity for past services A Petition was presented to these Officers from the Army to be by them presented to the General and by him if he thought fit to the Parliament upon these Heads 1. For indemnity for actions as Souldiers 2. For satisfaction of Arrears 3. That neither Horse nor Foot may be Pressed to serve 4. For relief of Widows and Maimed Souldiers 5. For Pay till disbanded 23. Mr. Bolton admitted one of the Assembly Mr. Cooke's Sequestration taken off The Ordinance recommitted for regulating the University of Oxford and the Ministers sent down thither to Preach Ordered to continue there and two hundred pounds allowed to them Order for Collonel Jones going for Dublin to have power of Martial Law A Pass for the Dutch Ambassadour to go to the King Debate upon the Ordinance of the Fleet and for Lambeth Library Votes touching Sequestrations The Parliaments Commissioners agreed with the Marquess of Ormond for the surrender of Dublin and other Forts in Ireland and returned to England with Hostages from the Marquess The Parliament of Scotland answered the English Commissioners That they could not render Belfast in Ireland whilst they had an Army there but upon Paying off their Arrears they will render Belfast and all they have in Possession The Jewel was presented to General Leven from the Parliament of England to whom the General wrote a Letter of thanks The Plague broke out in Edingburgh 24. Votes for Governours of Garrisons Anno 1647 Order of both Houses to free the States Ambassadors from Custom and Excise for things for his own use Orders that no private business be debated for ten days and for re-payment of Money to the Customers and for thanks to their Commissioners in Scotland The Lords gave Reasons to the Commons against the Armys quartering in the Association or near London 25. Votes for Governors of Garrisons Order for the Lord Herbert to have possession of his own Castle A Committee of both Houses to receive some intelligence which the Prince Elector desired to communicate to the Parliament of great concernment to the Protestant Religion Order that the Master and Wardens of the Stationers endeavour to find out the Authors and Printers of a Book called a warning piece c. to suppress it and to seize the Books 26. Order to bayl Mr. Tulida and his business referred to a Committee Votes for Governors of Garrisons Order for Money for Col. Birch who agreed to transport a thousand Foot and two Troops of Horse into Ireland A long report of what is paid and what in Arrears to the Army
Order about Soldiers Widows and Officers 27. A report from the Commissioners who treated with the General and his Officers about part of the Army going into Ireland and the result of the Officers and about the Petition intended from the Army Order to desire the General to use means to stop the progress of the Petition and thanks were given to the Commissioners and the House declared the good esteem they had of the Army 29. The Lords desired the concurrence of the Commons to an answer to the last Message from the King That they cannot consent to his desire in sending any of his Chaplains named in his Letter because they are disaffected to the present Government of the Church and have not taken the Covenant but for others of his Chaplains who have taken the Covenant if his Majesty please they will send them to him They desired the Commons concurrence also to the Ordinances for putting down Countrey Committees for prohibiting the killing of some flesh meats for eight weeks and for power to the Northern Committee Letters to Col. Harley and Col. Rossiter Members of the House from some of their Soldiers informed that the Petition of the Army was carried on and was subscribed by many and those who refused it threatned to be cashiered and that the subscriptions were to be sent to Lieutenant General Hammond Col. Hammond Col. Ireton Col. Rich. Order that a Letter be written from the Speaker to the General to hinder the progress of this Petition and a Declaration to require a desisting in it By this we may take notice how soon the Officers and Soldiers of an Army though never so successful and well disciplined will through want of Action fall into disorder and designs of trouble The Parliament took great care to prevent this and others were as busie to foment it Hammond Ireton Skippon and others were ordered to reside in the Army and some of their Quarters to be removed Car. 23 Vote that three Regiments of Horse under M. G. Pointz C. Bethel and C. Copley be continued and all the Foot of the Northern Association except those in Garrisons to be disbanded and all the Foot in England and Wales except those in Garrisons or such as are to be sent for Ireland shall be disbanded At a second meeting of the Officers of the Army at Saffron Walden by the desire of Sir William Waller and the rest of the Parliaments Commissioners this question was propounded to every Officer distinctly Whether upon the Votes and Resolutions of the House of Commons now read do you find cause to alter or recede from the third quaere concerning assurance of pay and subsistence It was resolved in the Negative by all except Col. Harley Col. Fortescue and Capt. Young The same question being proposed concerning the fourth Article To have satisfaction in payment of Arrears and Indemnity Resolved in the Negative by all except Captain Young The like question being proposed concerning the first quaere To know what particular Regiments Troops or Companies of this Army are to be continued in this Kingdom it pass'd likewise in the Negative All referring to the Votes yesterday Several other Officers that came in to the meeting agreed with the other Captain Young receded from what he concurred in yesterday and resolved upon the main question That he will engage with as many of his Soldiers as he can get and several other Officers did the like 30. Divers Compositions passed Letters from St. Malloe in France advising that a Pyrate about Jersey had made Prize of a vessel of the Parliaments going for Ireland with Cloath and Apparel for six thousand Soldiers Order for a Letter to the Parliaments Agent in France to desire the King to seize the Pyrate and restore the Ship The Lords desired the concurrence of the Commons to some desires of the Dutch Ambassador and for a Pass for him to go to the King and to an Ordinance for setling the Militia of London A Committee named to treat with the City of London about the loan of two hundred thousand pound upon the Assessment of sixty thousand pound per mensem that they might provide Money for sending the Forces into Ireland and to pay off those that were to be disbanded and to pay the Army here Both Houses passed a Declaration against the Petion in the Army as set on foot by some evil Spirits purposely to raise a Distemper and mutiny in the Army Pardons what is past and forbids further proceeding by any of them in that Petition The Parliament of Scotland named their Commissioners to joyn with the Commissioners of the Parliament of England to perswade the King to pass the Propositions for Peace Harleigh Castle the last in Wales surrendred to Col. Mitton whose Soldiers put a Guard upon Col. Jones for their pay 31. Very long Prayers and Sermons this Monthly Fast day as usual April 1647. April 1. Orders for the Letter to the Agent in France and for Ships to keep in Pyrates Voted That the Civil Government in Ireland shall be distinct from the Military and be by two Lords Justices as formerly That the Military Government shall be by a Commander in Chief and be to be directed by Commissioners on the Place Sir William Waller was named to be Commander in chief there but it came not to the Vote Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax informed that he had Communicated the Letter and Votes of the House to the Officers of his Army touching the Petition on Foot among them That they expressed a deep sence of their unhappiness in being misunderstood in their clear intention which were no other than by way of Petition to represent to him those inconveniencies which would necessarily befall most of the Army after disbanding desiring that as much as he should think fit might submissively be made known to the House of Commons and assuring him that they would wholly acquiesce in whatsoever he should think fit to offer and the House to grant That he had sent up Hammond Lilburne and some other Officers to give the House a full account of this business and that he doubts not of the Armys Obedience Hammond Pride and the other Officers sent up by the General were called into the House and Pride was charged to have read the Petition at the head of a Regiment where was threats to those that should not subscribe it which Pride denyed and they were all required to return to their charges and to suppress the Petition 2. Debate of the Ordinance for the Militia of London Vote That the Commander in Chief of the Forces in Ireland should be stiled Field-Martial and his pay be six pound a day and Major General Skippon to be Field Martial there and that Golonel Massey should be Lieutenant General of the Horse under him A Committee of both Houses named to go into the City for borrowing two hundred thousand pound for the service of England and Ireland 3. The House
sate not 5. The Houses sate not Letters from some in the Army informed that they were discontented at a Petition on foot in Essex against the Army That they might not be heard to Petition but Petitions against them were not suppressed That the Horse talked of drawing to a rendezvous to compose something for their vindication That the General was very industrious to keep them from disorders Letters from Scotland informed of good success by Major General Middleton against the Gourdons and that he had taken in the chief Fort of the Marquess Huntley 6. Orders for placing Ministers in Livings Letters from the Judges in the Norfolk Circuit of convicting one for Blasphemy Order for the Members of the House who serve for Essex and for Suffolk and for Norfolke to write into the Countrey for suppressing the Petition now on Foot there against the Army and to let the Inhabitants understand that the Parliament are upon a way so to dispose of the Army as may be best advantageous to the whole Kingdom The difference about the new Election at Newcastle referred to a Committee The Committee of both Houses propounded to the Common Council for the loan of two hundred thousand pound this security viz. the remainder of the Bishops Lands the Excise Delinquents Estates and the Ordinance for sixty thousand pound a Month or any other security in the power of the Parliament to give the Common Council appointed a Committee to consider of their answer to these Proposals Several Forces dispatched for Ireland For Dublyn divers Irish Rebels went out of that City and others were turned out by the Marquess Ormond Mr. Ashurst was careful in sending Forces and Supplys thither The Rebels were raising a great Army for Vlster 7. Reference to the Committee of Ireland to consider of the Exchange of some Scots Lords taken Prisoners in Ireland Scots Papers read about Belfast and calling home all their Forces upon payment of their Arrears Letters from Ireland from the Lord L'Isle Debate upon the Ordinance for sixty thousand pound a Month. A Clause offered to exempt the Universities Hospitals and Schools from the payment of it referred to a Committee Another Clause for abating all Counties the free Quarter in paying the Assessment was agreed unto Power to the Committee of Ireland to secure the Horses and Arms of such as shall not be listed for Ireland and to transport those that are designed thither The Lords desire the Commons concurrence to take off the Sequestration of the Duke of Bucks 8. Vote for Col. Jones to be Governor of Dublyn and to approve several contracts for supplys for Ireland and that Col. Sidney be considered for his good Service An addition of both Houses to the Committee for Ireland Votes to continue the Regiments of Horse of Sir Thomas Fairfax of Lieutenant General Cromwell of Col. Rossiter and Col. Whaley and Col. Needham and that Major General Mitton shall have an hundred Horse and an hundred Dragoons for North-Wales and Major General Laugherne the like for South Wales Letters from the Commissioners at Holmeby informed That notwithstanding all their care to prevent delivering of Papers to his Majestie yet one Col. Bosvill formerly of the Kings Party in the disguise of a Countrey mans habit as the King and the Commissioners were passing over a narrow Bridge put a packet of Letters into the Kings hand the Commissioners apprehended him and he confessed the Letters came from France and sent up his Examinations Order that Col. Bosvile be sent up as a Delinquent and a Letter of thanks to the Commissioners for their care and to desire the continuance of it 9. Order for greater pay for the Officers that go for Ireland than for those that continue here and to have Land in Ireland for that part that is respited upon the publick Faith and a Committee to draw up an Establishment of pay for the Forces there and in England Power to the Committee to grant Commissions to the Officers for Ireland to draw the Forces into Regiments and to take care to transport them Order to proceed a fortnight hence in the business in the Church for fourteen days together and no private business to intervene and the Assembly to examine such as are recommended to Livings Reasons given by the Lords at a Conference for taking away of Country Committees The present Commissioners of the great Seal continued for twenty days longer 10. The House sate not 12. Letters from Holmeby certified That when Bosvile delivered the Letters to the King no man perceived it but a Miller that stood by and he espying it cryed out Nobles and Gentlemen there is a man gave his Majesty Letters That Bosvile offered Gold to the Miller to be silent but he would not take it Bosvile got away and the Miller told some of it that attended the King and they rode after Bosvile and brought him back who being examined confessed he brought the Letters from Paris from the Queen That he was told the Letters contained a desire of the Prince to go into the War with the Duke of Orleans this Summer in point of Honour That the King being desired to make known the Contents of the Letters answered he was not to give an account to any man living That Bosvile was sending up to the Parliament 13. Votes touching Pay for the Forces to go into Ireland The Committee of both Houses sent down again to the Army to make further Propositions to the Forces that are to go for Ireland An Establishment agreed by the Commons for the Forces in both Kingdoms The Impost of five shillings per Chaldron upon Coals taken off and Vote That those who adventured mony for the reducing of Newcastle be repaid by Goldsmiths Hall Letters from the Lord L'Isle Lord Lieutenant of Ireland expressing his readyness to serve the Parliament and willingness to return if they think fit Letters Propositions and a Charge against a person in Ireland referred to the Committee for Ireland Unruliness of some of the Souldiers going for Ireland referred to that Committee A Citizen came and rendered himself Prisoner to the Sergeant at Arms saying He had a dangerous Plot to discover against the Parliament and Westminster which he had imparted to Mr. Marshal and Captain White The Lords concurrence desired to the Votes concerning Ireland and other Votes The Souldiers in North-Wales mutinyed for mony kept some of the Committee-men Prisoners in Wrexham Church and say they will have mony before Disbanding Letters from Ireland informed That the Lord L'Isle was ready to take the Field and to do all the service they should enable to do for the Parliament The Scots prevailed against the Gourdons Letters from Ireland informed That about sixty Men Women and Children that were stripped by the Rebels in Kerry coming from thence into the Protestant Quarters were taken and thrown into a deep rocky Cave and impossible to get out some with broken Arms Legs and other Limbs and most
grievously Wounded lay there and Starved 14. Letters to Collonel Mitton to hasten the slighting of the Garrisons in North-Wales A Committee appointed to draw Instructions for Commissioners of both Houses to press the King to grant the Propositions Upon a Petition of the reduced Officers of the Lord Fairfax and a Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax Order for a fifth part of their Arrears to be paid to them 15. Difference about the alterations in the Ordinance for Oxford University and an Order about a fitting maintenance for the Heads of Houses there Upon a Petition of some of the Bishops Order for the Committee to dispatch the reference to them about maintenance for the Bishops and an Order to deface all Superstitious Monuments and Scandalous in both Universities and that the Committees for Ireland do meet daily about that business An Ordinance past the Commons giving power to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of London to choose thirty one persons of the City to Govern their Militia for one year Mr. Devereux newly returned a Member of the House for Wales was suspended being a Delinquent and a Charge against him 16. Orders for mony for Ireland and for four thousand pounds for the Lady Brooke and her Children whose Husband Sir William Brooke was slain in the Parliaments service and for five hundred pounds for Mr. Sanderson for his service and losses Allowance for the Treasurers to Goldmiths-Hall and Licence to Sheriffs to reside out of their Counties 17. Letters from Saffron Walden certified That the General with the Parliaments Commissioners and two hundred Officers of the Army had conference about part of the Army going for Ireland that the Earl of Warwick one of the Commissioners spake with many Exhortations to the Officers to accept of the terms and undertake for Ireland setting forth the necessity concernment and honour of the service That the General did much incourage the Officers to ingage for Ireland That Collonel Lambert in the name of the Officers desired to know what satisfaction the Parliament had given to the four Quaeries concerning Arrears Indemnity Maintenance in Ireland and Conduct That Sir John Clotworthy one of the Commissioners said they were all answered except that of Indemnity whereof the Parliament would take care and had given Instruction to the Judges not to receive any Indictment against Souldiers for things done in tempore loco belli till the Ordinance could be brought in Then it was moved concerning Commanders and answered That Major General Skippon and Major General Massey were named by both Houses to be General and Lieutenant General Collonel Hammond said that if they had assurance that Major General Skippon would go he doubted not but a great part of the Army would ingage with him It was cryed out All All Fairfax and Cromwel and we all goe Some few of the Officers subscribed to go for Ireland most of the rest signed presently a Declaration to the same effect as formerly and to Authorise Lieutenant General Hammond Collonel Hammond Collonel Lambert Collonel Lilburnc Collonel Hewson and Collonel Rich to declare their sence and to act for them 19. The House Sat not Letters come from Holmeby that the Dutch Ambassadour had Audience of the King and acquainted him with the death of the Prince of Orange The Earl of Lotherdale and Dumferling came to London with Commission to joyn with the Parliaments Commissioners in persuading the King to Sign the Covenant and Propositions 20. Apprentices of London came to the House for answer to their former Petition for days of Recreation the Commons referred it to a Committee to draw up an Ordinance to abolish all Festival-days and Holy-days and to appoint the second Tuesday in every Month a day of Recreation for all Apprentices Schollars and Servants with limits against Tumults Disorders and Unlawful Sports Referred to a Committee to settle Augmentations for Ministers in Dorchester A Bayliff Committed for Arresting a Servant of Mr. Speaker Debate about the Government of the Church by Presbiteries The City propounded for security for two hundred thousand pounds last desired to be borrowed of them the remainder of the Bishops Lands Papists and excepted persons Estates and the Excise in course which was agreed unto Order for twenty thousand pounds for Ireland The proceedings of the Commissioners to get Forces for Ireland proved not so effectual as was expected That generally they were unwilling to go unless the General and their other Commanders went with them The General sent a Letter to every Regiment to persuade them to ingage in this Service 21. Order for the third part of the Arrears of the Scots Officers be abated for free Quarter Horse and Arms c. The Lord Rich referred to his Composition Instructions sent up to the Lords for the Commissioners to go to the King to persuade him to Sign the Propositions c. Another for Collecting the Arrears of the Bill of four hundred thousand pounds upon the County of Bucks Order for Pay to the Messenger of both Kingdoms and fifty pounds apiece above it and for Pay for Sir Thomas Fairfax's Messenger An Ordinance Read for payment of mony long since borrowed of Mr. Steward Several Votes of either House Communicated to each other touching security for the two hundred thousand pounds and touching scandalous persons The Councel of War in Ireland Sentenced Collonel Brocket worthy of death and his Regiment was conferred on Collonel Monke That the Souldiers are in very great want there and the Lord L'Isle very careful to get Supplies for them and to do service 22. Letters informed the great resort of people to the King to be cured of the Kings-Evil Whereupon the House Ordered a Declaration to be drawn To inform the people of the Superstition of being Touched by the King for the Evil. And a Letter of thanks Ordered to the Commissioners at Holmeby Progress about the business of the Church Order for a Declaration for payment of Tithes and other Duties to Ministers and for Presentations to Benefices A Petition of a Merchant of Hull for ten thousand nine hundred pounds owing to him by the State referred to a Committee and Ordered that he have four thousand pounds in the mean time Report of the Transactions with the Army about going for Ireland The Argiere Duty continued for one year Labour to get the Souldiers ingage for Ireland proved not effectual 23. Votes pursuant to Truro Articles The Lords differed from the Commons about the Security for the two hundred thousand pounds to the City of London Officers that undertook for Ireland were of Horse seventeen of Dragoons seven and of Foot eighty seven but they could get only a few of their several Troops and Companies to go with them Much Debate about Disbanding of the Army or sending the Army intirely into Ireland and other motions the result deferred to another time 24. The House was Adjourned 26. The Commissioners returned from the Army presented to the House a List of
such Officers as have engaged themselves for the service of Ireland some disorders began in the four Regiments of Norfolke about this business but Major Huntington and other Officers pacified them 27. Four Officers of the Army informed against for obstructing the service of Ireland in the Army were sent for up by the Sergeant at Arms. Upon a Message from the Lords touching the Army the Commons resolved that the Army Horse and Foot should be Disbanded with all convenient speed and six Weeks Pay to be given them at their Disbanding Some Officers of the Army in the name of themselves and the rest of the Officers presented to the House a vindication of the particulars in their late Petition Setting forth the great sence they had of some misrepresentation lately made to the House of their Actions and Intentions by which as they conceived it is endeavoured to Alienate the Houses of Parliament from that their ever Trusty and Obedient Army That the accomplishing thereof would much rejoyce their and the Kingdoms Enemies they desire liberty to Petition as Souldiers now and hereafter as Members of the Common-Wealth and that their integrity might be vindicated from such false suggestions and reports as had been formerly made and raised against them and suggested to the House Here it was observed by some that a Victorious Army out of imployment is very inclinable to assume Power over their Principals and this occasioned the Parliaments greater care for their imployment for Ireland One Ensign Nichols of the Army sent up by the General to the Parliament Major General Skippon declared himself willing to accept the Imployment to which he was Voted for Ireland The Lord L'Isle returned from thence The Common-Councel of London outed of the old Commissioners for their Militia Alderman Pennington Foucke Warner and Kenricke and Collonel Wilson Collonel Player and Collonel Tichburne and agreed upon a new List of Commissioners for their Militia They received from the Parliament of Scotland Letters of thanks for their affection and respect to the Covenant and Union of both Nations and they Ordered thanks to be returned to the Scots Commissioners who presented them Some proceedings were upon Mr. Eastwicks and Mr. Bretts not taking the Covenant 28. The Monthly Fast-day 29. Order for a Writ for a new Election Order for continuing the Commissioners of the Seal and the Commissioners for hearing Causes in Chancery for ten days after the Term. Vote that Sir John Brampston be one of the Judges of the Common Pleas and that Mr. Walter Long be continued Register of the Chancery The Assembly attended the House with their advice upon the thirty nine Articles and the Confession of Faith with the Texts upon both of them Order for six hundred Copies of them to be Printed for the use of the Houses and Assembly and they had the thanks of the House given them The thanks of the House given to Field Marshal Skippon for his compliance and not denying himself to serve the Publick in Ireland and one thousand pounds bestowed upon him for his services 30. Debate upon the Petition and Vindication of the Army and Major General Skippon in the House produced a Letter presented to him the day before from some Troopers in the behalf of eight Regiments of the Army of Horse wherein they expressed Some reasons why they could not engage in the service of Ireland under the present Conduct and complaining of the many scandals and false suggestions that were of late against the Army and their proceedings whereupon they were taken as Enemies and saw designs upon them and many of the Godly Party in the Kingdom and that they could not engage for Ireland till they were satisfied in their expectations and their just desires granted Three Troopers Sexby Allen and Sheppard who brought this Letter were examined in the House touching the Drawing and Subscribing of it and whether their Officers were engaged in it or not They affirmed That it was first drawn up at a Rendezvous of several of those Regiments and afterwards at several meetings by Agents or Agitators for each Regiment and that few of their Officers knew or took notice of it Those Troopers being demanded whether they had not been Cavaliers it was attested by Skippon That they had constantly served the Parliament and some of them from the beginning of the War and being asked concerning the meaning of some expressions in the Petition they answered That the Letter being a joynt Act of those Regiments they could not give a punctual answer being only Agents but if they might have the Quaeries in writing they would send or carry them to those Regiments and return their own and their answers These Troopers were ordered to attend the House upon Summons and after several Votes passed for prevention of disorder in the Army Major General Skippon Lieutenant General Cromwel Collonel Ireton and Collonel Fleetwood were Ordered to go down to the Army and acquaint them That the House would provide a considerable sum of mony for them before their Disbanding and their Arrears should be audited and an Ordinance to be brought in for Indemnity for acts done tempore loco belli Vote of both Houses for Sergeant Godbolt to be a Judg of the Common Pleas and for Mr. Rich and Mr. Hakewel Masters of the Chancery to sit with the Commissioners of the Seal to hear Causes Both Houses Ordered their Commissioners in Scotland to return The Accounts of Sir John Clotworthy Ordered to be certified May 1647. May 1. The Receipts of Goldsmiths-Hall Ordered by both Houses for part of the security for the two hundred thousand pounds to be borrowed of the City and that the Common-Councel be acquainted with it Ordinance for securing mony to some poor men who could not lend more Six thousand pounds and Ammunition Ordered for Collonel Rainesborough for reducing Jersey Order for payment of mony to Mr. Potter A Proclamation by Sir Thomas Fairfax pursuant to an Order of the House that all Officers of his Army do within twenty four hours repair to their Charges The Committee of both Houses met with the Common-Councel about security for the Loan of two hundred thousand pounds 3. The Provincial Assembly of London met at St. Pauls and Doctor Gouge was chosen their Prolocutor about settling the Presbyterian Government Both Houses past the Ordinance for regulating the University of Oxford there was also a numerous Committee for Appeals Letters from Scotland informed that Kolkitoth in the Marquess of Argiles Country put to the Sword Men Women and Children that Lieutenant General Lesley was Marched against him Forces Shipped away for Ireland 4. Divers Citizens of London attending for an answer to their Petition were called in and the Speaker told them That the House did not approve of their Petition The Commissioners for the Militia of London approved and their Ordinance passed and thanks Ordered to the old Militia Commissioners Letters from the Sheriff of Oxon
certified That many Troopers Irish and others who had been in Arms against the Parliament Robbed all Passengers and that he had raised the Posse Comitatus and apprehended about one hundred of them The House approved what he had done and appointed an Ordinance for punishing such misdoers by death and Ordered a Letter of thanks to the Sheriff They also Ordered the Commissioners of the Seal to issue out a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to try these and the like Offenders and all that take Free Quarter without Warrant The Lords recommended a Proposal of Captain Poe to the House of Commons 5. Vote for half the Compositions of Goldsmiths-Hall to be added to the security for the two hundred thousand pound to the City Order for a Collection for poor people fled out of Ireland A Fleet of Swedes refusing to lore their Top-Sail to Captain Owen he with some other of the Parliaments Ships fought them Some hurt was done on both sides but some of Captain Owens Ships forsake him yet afterwards the Vice-Admiral of the Parliaments Fleet Captain Batten came in relieved Captain Owen and brought in the Swedes Fleet to Portsmouth 6. Letters from the Committee of Kent informed That Sir Jo. Sidley had advised an Indictment against Collonel Kenricke for his Troopers taking of three Horses in the first Insurrection in Kent in the time of actual War Order to put Sir Jo. Sidley out of all publick imployment Mr. Tulidah discharged of his restraint Orders about the two hundred thousand pounds and for the ten thousand pounds for poor indigent persons The business of the late Fight with the Swedes referred to the Committee of the Admiralty 7. The Lord L'Isle and Sir Jo. Temple reported the State of Affairs in Ireland and they and Collonel Sidney and Major Harrison had the thanks of the House for their good service in Ireland The Ordinance of Indemnity committed The Order for Trying Souldiers by Commission of Oyer and Terminer was revoked Private Petitions Read 18. Letters from the Army informed that Skippon Cromwell and the rest sent down to the Army communicated to them the Votes of the House concerning their Arrears and Indemnity and that they were injoyned to imploy their indeavours to quiet all distempers in the Army Some of the Officers desired to know what was meant by distempers in the Army if it were meant of grievances which the Soldiers had just cause to complain of they had then something to offer but were unwilling to declare the Sence of the respective Troops Regiments and Companies without first acquainting them therewith Time was given them to communicate the Votes of the House and to represent to the field-Martial Skippon and the rest sent down to them an Account of their proceedings in this business Much discontent was in the Army upon an expression in the Declaration that they were declared enemies who persisted in the Petition which was to their General and meerly for things relating to them as Soldiers and that it had been publickly said that a Petition was sent from the Army to the King to come to them and they would set the Crown on his head for which Scandal they expected reparation And they were troubled that it was said That in the Army there were four thousand Cavaliers whereas among all the Officers they knew but one who had served the King and he was put in by both Houses and the Common Soldiers who had served the King and afterwards listed themselves for the Parliament had since done faithful Service for them Field-Martial Skippon desired the Officers to know of their Soldiers who would ingage with him in the Service of Ireland 10. The House sate not but Committees Forces shipped for Ireland The Rebels fortified apace there The Lady Cave apprehended for endeavouring to present Letters from the Queen to the King 11. The Ordinance for setling five thousand pound per An. on Sir Tho. Fairfax committed A Committee to draw reasons to satisfie the Lords for passing the Ordinance for the Scots Forces to depart out of Ireland A printed Paper called Judge Jenkins his Vindication and another called Dudley Digges of the Illegality of Subjects taking Arms against their Soveraign was referred to the Committee of Complaints and the Printers and Publishers thereof to be tryed at the Kings Bench. Thus we see that there is nothing constant in this Worlds affairs The Parliament having Conquest and Success after their own desires yet are now miserably incumbred with the mutinousness of their Army on one side and with the petulancy of Pamphlets and with discontented Petitions on the other side Order for five thousand pound for Mr. Selden and for Mr. Valentine for their sufferings 3. Car. Orders for a Writ for a new Election and for Sir John Holland one of the Commissioners at Holmeby to have leave to go into Hamp-shire Mr. Bosvile Committed to Newgate And Wood for the use of the Navy and that Col. Mainwaring grant no more Passes to any to go beyond Sea 12. The Earl of Denbigh had leave from the Lords to be absent for ten days from Holmeby and the Earl of Dumferling to have access to the King Both Houses pass'd the Ordinance for securing the two hundred thousand pound to the City The Ordinance pass'd for six thousand pound for Jersey And the Lords desired to pass the Commission to Col. Rainsborough for that service and a Letter to Portsmouth and Peterborough that his Forces were to be removed from thence Complaint against Major General Mittons Forces referred to a Committee and a Letter to Col. Mitton to prevent those disorders Information that Captain George Carteret Lieutenant Governor of Jersey was very cruel against the Parliament Party 13. The Petition of the Earl of Mulgrave sent from the Lords referred to a Committee to state his losses and report matter of Fact The Petition of the Earl of Northampton sent down by them was to compound for his Delinquency for two years value Mr. Cartwright Petitioned for ten thousand pound out of the Earls Estate for losses he had sustained by the Earl It was referred to Goldsmiths-Hall for him to compound at the usual rates They agreed that the Earl of Dumferling might attend the King but not as his Servant Order of both Houses to discharge the Swedish ships brought in by Capt. Batten 14. Order for two Months pay for those of the Army who disbanded and six weeks more for those that went for Ireland Both Houses passed the Ordinance for Indemnity of the Soldiers and of Committee men The History of the Military proceedings of the Earl of Essex carried in the Negative not to be Printed The King told the Commissioners at Holmeby That he had long expected the propositions to be sent to him that he had those by him which were presented at New-castle and had himself framed an answer to them and if they would not afford him a Secretary to transcribe it he would scribble it out himself 15. Letters
Regiment resolved that the Votes would not be satisfactory except six or seven of them their reasons were Because eight weeks Pay voted was not a considerable part of their Arrears and that no visible security was given for what should not now be paid and that nothing was done for their vindication they being declared enemies they might be dealt with as enemies when they came home unless that Declaration were recalled After this a Petition was Read which had been presented to the General in the name of the private Souldiers of the Army desiring a general Rendesvouz of the Army before their Disbanding It being an amazement to them to hear that some of the Army were so soon to be Disbanded before all their grievances redressed The Councel of War resolved to contract the Quarters of the Army nearer to the Head Quarter in the mean time Ireton and Lilburne Okey Rich and Harrison were appointed to draw up some Heads of advice to be presented to the General by the Councel of War not above five or six Officers differing from it They show the necessity of the Officers complying with the Souldiers who would have a general Rendesvouz without their Officers if not by their consent and the spoil to the Country by such a disorderly drawing together and draw up a Declaration to the General to that purpose past by all but four or five and That his Excellency would be pleased to represent to the Parliament the condition of the Army and that they would be pleased to reassume the Votes lately passed and to suspend any present proceeding upon them and some satisfaction to be given to the grievances of the Army Relation That Collonel Fenwickes Troop in Ireland defeated a Party under the Earl of Westmeath on great disadvantage where Captain Farrington one Lieutenant on Ensign and sixty Souldiers of the Parliaments were slain and the Rebels lost three hundred Wherein Captain Standley did gallantly and of several other successes there Whitelocke's friends in the House and some others who would have been rid of him had moved that he might be sent Lord Justice into Ireland to exercise the Civil Government as Field Marshal Skippon was to Command on the Military part who was very willing to have his company but Whitelocke was not free to undertake that charge in Ireland And now Cromwel and his Party were against his going away and more than formerly desired his company and began to use his advice in many things June 1647. June 1. Divers Compositions past but the Titles which they had since the War were altered as for Sir Peter Ball Kt. they stilled him Peter Ball Esq and so of the rest Ordinance for thirty thousand pound for such as had advanced sums upon the publick Faith and were now become indigent Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax That he had called a Council of War and communicated to them the Letters and Votes of the Parliament and sends the results of the Council saith it is a grief to him that there should be a misunderstandding between the Parliament and the Army and that the late Votes did not give satisfaction wisheth that things may be determined in Love and ways of composure thought upon that the Officers were many and unanimous and a speedy resolution taken Order that the Money sent to disband the Generals Regiment be recalled the like for Col. Inglosby's Regiment and the Commissioners sent to the Army to be recalled That Field Martial Skippon do forthwith attend the House The Lords agreed The Lords desired concurrence of the Commons to take off the Sequestration of the Duke of Bucks 2. Information against Sir Richard Price a Member of the House bearing Arms against the Parliament notice to him to attend the like aganst Sir Philip Percival referred to a Committee Three thousand pound recalled that was to have been paid to Col. Ingolsby's Regiment was stopped by some of Col. Rainsboroughs men and many come into Oxford A Petition of the City with a thousand hands read and laid aside Order that the Forces drawn for Ireland shall have a Months pay Order for three thousand pound for Widows c. 3. Vote for an Ordinance to enable Soldiers to assign their debenters and that Officers be protected from arrests for two Months whilst they attend the Committee of Accounts That Officers in Prison should have their arrears first audited and paid and accounts left with the Committee shall be of equal benefit to the Officers who attend the Parliaments Service as to any others and that the Accounts be expedited Order that the Common Soldiers shall have all their Arrears deducting for free quarter the like for non-Commissioned Officers to have three months Pay and a Letter to acquaint the General with what the House had done in persuance of the desires of the Army and to signifie to him their desire of his care to keep the Army in an orderly posture Order for ten thousand pound for the Officers whose Accounts were stated And that the Declaration against the Army be razed out of the Journal of the House and the Lords desired to do the like and here the Parliament began to surrender themselves and their power into the hands of their own Army The General 's Regiment came nearer to the Army of their own accord some of the other Regiments marched without their Colours and divers Troops were very disorderly 4. An Ordinance of Indemnity more large than the former was committed and Orders for an Act of Oblivion to be brought in Order to continue the Commissioners of the great Seal for forty days after the Term and the Ordinance for hearing Causes in Chancery Letters from the Commissioners at Holmeby with an inclosed Note delivered in by Cornet Joyce and Capt. Titus related the coming of a Party of Horse to Holmeby Fifty pound ordered to Titus to buy him a Horse A Petition of Soldiers referred to the Auditors to state their accounts Order for ten thousand pound for the Petitioners The Lords desired the Commons concurrence to recall the Kings Children to London and to a Letter to the General they agreed to the first Two Members of the House that fell out were injoyned by the House to keep the Peace 5. Letters from Holmeby from the Commissioners informed that a Party of Horse sent from the Committee of Troopers of the Army came to Holmeby where after they had secured the Guards they demanded his Majesty the Commissioners amazed at it demanded of them what Warrant they had for what they did but they would give no other account but that it was the pleasure of the Army When they came to his Majesty he demanded several questions of them as security for his Person c. which they promised and the next day his Majesty and the Commissioners went along with this Party towards the Army That night the King lay at Huntington Mr. Walford the Commissioners Messenger was called into the House and related the particulars
Regiment to attend the House to morrow and for ten thousand pounds for the service of Ireland 9. Each House kept a Solemn Fast in their several Houses 10. The City Petition Presented to the Lords and the Petitioners had thanks The Lords chose a Committee to consider of all the grievances of the Kingdom and to present them to the House They desired a conference with the Commons about paying such Officers as served under the Earl of Essex and Disbanded willingly upon the Order of the Houses and they put the Commons in mind of putting down the Country Committees The Commons resumed the debate of the Self-Denying-Ordinance and Voted That such Members as have any Office Place or Sequestration from the Parliament those places shall be void That the benefit such Members have received shall be paid in to the use of the Common-Wealth and the Committee to take the Accompts That the Lands and Estates of all Members of the House be liable to the Law for payment of their Debts A day set to hear Informations against Members and that no Member hereafter shall receive any reparation for damages by these times till the publick Debts be first satisfied Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax Certified That the King being ill accommodated at Sir Jo. Cutts House Sir T. F. went over thither to him and to advise with the Commissioners whither to remove him but they refused to advise or act in that business and the King declared That unless he were forced he would not return to Holmeby Whereupon the General Ordered Collonel Whaley to attend the King to New-Market The General Rendezvous of the Army was appointed at Triploe Heath near Cambridg Letters from the Commissioners related That the General Lieutenant General and other Officers came with him to the King who said that Cornet Joyce had the Commission of the whole Army for what he did and by consequence had the Generals Commission That Joyce being present said that he avowed to the King that he had not the Generals Commission The King replyed That surely Joyce durst not have attempted such a thing without that Commission 11. Both Houses passed the Ordinance to inable the Militia of London to raise Horse for defence of the City Another to take off the Excise of Flesh and Salt A Committee of both Houses named to advise with the Militia of London about Arming all within the Lines of Communication for the safety of the Parliament and City if there be occasion Collonel Sands Collonel Devereux and Collonel Wiltshire came to the House and acquainted them That meeting with a Major lately come from the Army at Triploe Heath he told them that the Army was upon their advance and the Horse would be here to morrow by Noon and said if they would come into the Army they should be included in the Capitulation of their Arrears Ordered to send for the Major in safe Custody The Committee of Safety was revived and to act this Evening The Sheriffs and Common-Councel came to the House this Evening with a Letter sent to them from the Army a Committee of both Houses was named to go down to the Militia about it and they Sat all night in Consultation The Commons Sat late this night Letters were Ordered from both Houses to Sir Thomas Fairfax to desire That the Army might not come within fifteen miles of the City Order That all Officers and Souldiers of the Army who will conform to the Votes of Parliament sent down to them shall receive the benefit of them and ten thousand pounds upon Account Ordered for them The General kept a Fast-day in Cambridge The Commissioners sent down to the Army came to Cambridge where the General visited them and they communicated to him the Votes of the House and to his Officers with him and desired their advice in communicating them to the Army The General ordered a general rendezvous near Royston where he and the Commissioners rode to each Regiment and first acquainted the General 's Regiment with the Votes of the Parliament and Skippon spake to them to perswade a complyance Then an Officer of the Regiment returned answer that the Regiment did desire that there might be an answer returned after perusal of the Votes by some select Officers and Agitators whom the Regiment had chosen and that it was the motion of the Regiment The Officer desired the General and Commissioners to give him leave to ask the whole Regiment if this were their answer to which they cryed All. Then he put the question if any man were of a contrary opinion he should say no and not one man gave his No. The Agitators in behalf of the Soldiers press'd to have the question put whether the Regiment did acquiesce and were satisfied with the Votes but in regard the other way was more orderly and they might after perufal proceed more deliberately that question was laid aside The like was in the other Regiments and all were very unanimous and after the Commissioners had done reading the Votes and speaking to each Regiment and received their answer all of them cried out Justice Justice A Petition was delivered in the field to the General in the name of many well affected people in Essex desiring that the Army might not be disbanded in regard the Common-wealth had many enemies who watched for such an Occasion to destroy the good People Some Musquets were taken out of Cambridge Castle and distributed among the Soldiers at the rendezvous Divers of the General 's Life-guard deserted the Troop and had Passes to go for London Another Petition to the General from Norfolk and Suffolk desiring the Army might not disband till grievances were redressed 12. Upon a Rumor that the Army was coming towards London all the Trained Bands were raised on pain of Death but afterwards dismist again and strong Guards set the Shops were also shut up but in a day or two opened again and all things were peaceable in the City The Common-Council resolved with the Houses approbation to send a Letter and some of their Members to the Army to treat with the General and Officers about a right understanding between the Army and the City Letters from the Commissioners in the Army of their proceedings and the Army's advance near London and the Petitions to the General by the Counties not to disband Information from Alderman Adams of a design to secure New-castle for the King referred to Field-Martial Skippon Sir Tho. Widdrington added to the Commissioners in the Army and larger instructions given to know what the desires of the Army were and what would give them satisfaction and the Lords concurred herein Orders for Ammunition for Plymouth c. Letters from the General that the Army was advanced near St. Albans before he received the Houses Letter that they should not come so near London and he doubted not to give a good account of the reasons of their advance and desired a Months pay for
a Gentleman of worth and fidelity dwelling among them Collonel Tichburne to have that charge that he would acquaint his Officers with their kind Invitation and desired that all may labour and study for unity and peace After this the General viewed the Stores and gave some Orders to the Lieutenant and twenty pounds to the Warders and Officers 10. The Lords desired the Concurrence of the Commons to the Declaration of Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army mentioning the grounds of their coming up to London with the Army and after a long debate it was upon the question laid aside for that time Both Houses past an Ordinance for the continuing the two Speakers Commissioners of the Great Seal for a month longer Order That the twenty five thousand pounds stayed by the Apprentices and sent to the Tower should be sent for the service of Ireland and Sir Thomas Fairfax to send a Convoy with it to the Sea side Two Aldermen and four Commoners attended the General for his answer to their Invitation which he excused That he could not accept because of the many and great Affairs touching the settlement of the Kingdom wherewith he and his Officers were at present taken up and returned thanks to the City They were preparing a Bason and Ewer of Gold of the value of about one thousand pounds for a present to the General Letters from Berwick That Pulpits in Scotland urge the necessity of that Kingdom To maintain the ends of the Covenant against all violation and that many Souldiers are entertained there and Letters from Collonel Lambert mention their preparations 11. The Lords sent again to the Commons for their Concurrence to the Declaration of Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army and for Nulling the forced Votes and after a long debate the Commons agreed upon an Expedient and referred it to a Committee to be drawn up for Nulling the forced Votes by a Repeal yet so as the fomenters of that force and the Mutineers might be proceeded against Mr. Brittan of London sent for to answer abusive Speeches against Captain Brain of Southwark for assisting Sir Thomas Fairfax and an Order of thanks and indemnity passed both Houses for those of Southwark the like Orders passed for the Committee and Forces of Hertford-shire and for Collonel Blunt and his Forces in Kent Orders for a Committee to inquire what Arms c. have been taken out of the Publick Stores in the late Tumult and to have them restored And for one hundred pounds for the poor Visited people in Westminster and for suppressing of Stage-Plays Bull-baitings Dauncing on the Ropes c. Upon a complaint to the General and his Councel of War at Kingston That Members of Parliament and other rich men were exempted from Quartering and the poorer sort thereby oppressed the General and his Councel of War made an Order to take off those exemptions and that all alike should bear the burden equally Some Gentlemen out of South-Wales came to the General declaring the Good affections of those Countries and readiness to joyn with the General and Army The Brewers of London Petitioned the General to be a means to take off the Excise of Beer and Ale from them 12. The Thanksgiving-day kept by both Houses together Divers Reformed Officers who disclaimed having any hand in the late Tumult Petitioned the General That he would be a means they might have part of their Arrears Certain Ministers Petitioned the General complaining That divers Delinquent Ministers who were put out of their Livings do now trouble and seek to out those Ministers whom the Parliament put in and particularly That Dr. Layfield counterfeited a Warrant from the General to remove a Minister from his Living in Surrey into which he was placed by the Parliament The General and Councel of War declared their dislike of the proceedings and to clear themselves therein and to endeavour to bring such Offenders to punishment 13. Reference to a Committee to consider of a gratuity for Mr. Marshal and Mr. Nye for their pains as Ministers to the Parliament and their attendance of the Commissioners in the Army The Lords desired the Commons Concurrence to a Declaration That the Commissioners of the Militia of London now acting upon a forced Ordinance called the Apprentices Ordinance did act unwarrantably but upon the question it was laid aside But they concurred to another Ordinance to appoint a Committee of Lords and Commons to examine the force put upon the Houses by the Apprentices and Malignants July 26. and the chief actors in it some whereof were apprehended The Lords desired the concurrence of the Commons in approving the Declaration subscribed by the Lords and Commons who absented themselves by reason of the late violence upon the Houses An Ordinance was sent up to the Lords for vindication of the Army Letters from Ireland certified a very great defeat given by Collonel Jones to the Rebels near Trimme with a List of those killed and taken viz. Lieutenant General Burne Collonel Plunket Earl of Fingale Collonel Butler Collonel Waring Collonel Eynod Earl of Westmeath Lieutenant Collonel Rochford Preston's Son killed forty Officers taken three hundred Foot left to the mercy of the Horse seven thousand Foot Arms taken three hundred of the Gentry killed one hundred and fifty Oxen taken three thousand Foot killed four pieces of Ordnance taken great Pillage and Preston's Cabinet of Papers The Marquess of Ormond and Lord Roscommon came into England and had a Ticket to reside near Gloucester 14. The House gave fifty pounds to the Messenger that brought the good news from Ireland and Ordered twenty five thousand pounds more for the Forces there and thanks to the Commissioners Upon a report by the Commissioners in the Army of their proceedings the House approved them and gave their Commissioners thanks Upon a Letter from the General Orders for some maintenance for the Kings servants who were not in Arms against the Parliament Order for one thousand five hundred pounds for the Garrison of Lynne An Ordinance Committed for taking away the jurisdiction of the County Palatine of Durham The King removed to Oatlands and Sir Thomas Fairfax Quartered at Kingston The Judges Sat at Hereford but the people came not in so that there was but little to do either for Judges or Lawyers and the Judges especially Clerk were very froward upon it 16. The Houses Sat not Letters from the North informed That Collonel Lambert in a Speech to the Forces there acquainted them that he was sent by his Excellency to take upon him the Charge and Conduct of the Forces in that Northern Association and hoped to find their ready concurrence with him but he was answered only with silence That they met at a General Rendezvous about five thousand of them and there again Collonel Lambert made a Speech to them to the effect as before and That his Excellency had taken equal care of them
for their Pay as for the rest of his Army That he was sent down to Command them by the General not of his own seeking or for private Interest and desired their complyance then they gave him a loud acclamation and had Orders to go to their several Quarters The News of the Parliaments being restored by the Army and the City of London agreeing with the Army hindered the intended proceedings of the Estates of Scotland Great resort was from London to the King at Oatlands 17. Upon the question it was carried in the Negative by three Votes That the Declaration should not pass that the proceedings in the House from July 26. to Aug. 6. were forced and that sitting not to be a free Parliament A Petition and Congratulation was presented to the General of many thousands Young men and Apprentices of London for his great services to the Kingdom and City which they acknowledg with thankfulness and as they refused to comply with those who lately acted against the Army so they resolved to live and dye with his Excellency and the Army in settling His Majesties Rrights the Parliaments Priviledges and the Peace and Freedom of the Nation To this the General gave a respectful and grateful answer The Councel of War Sat close about a Declaration of their proceedings in behalf of the Parliament the Kingdom and themselves 18. Order for a day of Thanksgiving for the great success in Ireland and for one thousand pounds for Collonel Jones one thousand pounds to Collonel Fenwicke and other gratuities to other Officers in this service and for Supplies for Ireland Upon a Letter from Mr. Nicholls one of the Eleven Members now under restraint in the Army Order to the General to discharge him or send him up to the Parliament for his Tryal A Complaint by Letters from the Scots Commissioners for breach of the Union in staying Mr. Chieseley their Secretary at Newcastle the Copy hereof sent to the General and that he give Order for Mr. Chieseley's release 19. Letters from the General to both Houses with the Remonstrance of the Army touching their late proceedings and chiefly driving at The purging of the Parliament by expunging such Members as did Act and Vote in the time that the Speakers and the rest were forced from the House The House of Lords approved of this Remonstrance and Voted a Letter of thanks to the General and to signifie to him that they would take care for the Punishment of those Delinquent Ministers and others by whose practises Ministers put into Livings by the Parliament had been disquieted and outed in which the Commons Concurred but did nothing upon the great Remonstrance The Examination of Collonel Ennis who sought to go beyond Sea under another name referred to a Committee Order for eight thousand pounds for Plymouth Garrison and to Treat with the General about the lessening of the Charge there 20. Order for a Collection for the poor English Irish here and for one hundred pounds for the poor visited people in St. Martins Parish and for a general Contribution for the visited City of Chester and an Ordinance for twenty thousand pounds for Ireland Mr. Strickland had leave to come to England Upon another debate the Ordinance passed For declaring all Votes Orders and Ordinances passed in one or both Houses since the force on both Houses July 26 until Aug. 6. 1647. to be null and void 21. Upon a Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax Order for thirty pounds a week for Sick and Wounded Souldiers four shillings eight pence a week for each of them and an Ordinance passed for Judges and Justices to put it in execution Order for a months Pay for the Army to be borrowed of the City Upon a report touching the late Tumults Order That the Lord Mayor and Aldermen do call a Common Councel by Tuesday next and that the Clerk who attended the Committee of the Militia and of the Safety do deliver over the Books Papers and Warrants in his hands or be committed to the Sergeant Mr. Hollis Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Waller Sir William Lewys Sir Jo. Clotworthy and Mr. Long being in a Vessel going towards Callis were pursued by a Frigot of the Parliament and taken within six Miles of Callis and by their desire brought back to Captain Batten who dismist them to their Voyage again and chid those that apprehended them The High Sheriff entertained the Judges and Lawyers very nobly at Shrewsbury The Ordinance pass'd both Houses for relief of Ministers put into Livings by the Parliament Another for a Collection for the poor visited Persons in Chester and an additional Ordinance concerning the sale of Bishops Lands A false Allarm of Scots Forces being upon the Borders Letters from Ireland informed That the Lord Inchequin had taken divers Castles from the Rebels in the County of Limricke That he defeated a Troop of the Rebels near Balling garry slew twenty three of them and took the rest That he beat the Rebells from a Pass near Limricke and killed about an hundred of them and took two hundred horses and two hundred Cows and took in New castle within a mile of Limricke some of his Forces got over the River Shannon and got eight thousand head of Cattle and five thousand Sheep and struck such a terror into the Rebels that they burnt the Earl of Thomond's Castle Bonratty which they had Garrisoned and fled away That they took in Grace-Castle and put all the Rebels there to the Sword and took eight hundred head of Cattle and Garrons They stormed and burnt the Abbey of Adare where four Fryars were burned and three taken they took Fox's Castle and put all in it to death 24. A Letter from the General touching Mr. Anthony Nicholls one of the eleven Members sent up Prisoner with the Grounds of his detainment by the Army and a further accusation of High Treason against him Ordered that he be continued in safe Custody but he escaped from Denham one of the Serjeants Deputys in whose Custody he was Denham being examined concerning the escape confessed That he took Mr. Nicoll's word as a Gentle-man to be a true Prisoner but he brake his word and escaped The House committed Denham and ordered all the Ports to be stopped for the apprehending of Mr. Nicolls and revoked the Pass formerly granted to Mr. Nicolls Upon a report by Mr. Corbet touching the Force upon the Parliament and Commitment of some of the Offenders the House approved of their Commitment and ordered an impeachment of high Treason to be brought in against Col. Chapman and Lieutenant Collonel Baines and of high misdemeanor against Col. Vaughan A Petition from the Brewers to take off the Excise of Beer and Ale They were told if they paid not the Excise by a day they should be distrained to pay The Common-Council excused themselves that they could not advance a Months pay by way of loan for the Army The
Honour Freedom and safety with his two Houses as the only means to settle Peace And then he desires that the Proposals of the Army as to future Parliaments and Elections may be considered 20. Debate for raising Mony for the Army and upon a Letter from the General to the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councel of London and another to the Committee of the Army That the General had ordered Col. Hewson's Regiment to Quarter in the City to assist the Committee in collecting the Arrears due to the Army The House ordered Lieutenant Collonel Cromwell to write to Col. Hewson to forbear marching into the City and a Committee of Lords and Commons were appointed to acquaint the Common-Councel with the inconveniencies that might arise if they did not speedily collect the Arrears due to the Army Both Houses ordered their Committee to press the Scots Commissioners to consent to the sending of the propositions to his Majesty Order about placing some of the Kings Servants about him Letters from Ireland informed a late and great defeat given by Col. Jones to the Rebels and that he had beat them off from Dublyn The General 's Head-Quarters were at Windsor 22. The Ordinance committed for setting the Poor to work Some from the Common-Councel came to the House with thanks for their care to prevent Quartering of Soldiers in the City and with an answer in writing concerning collecting of the Arrears of the Assessments and that they had given an account of it by a Letter to the General The House ordered a Committee to prepare an answer to the City and Voted That they should go on to collect the Arrears and speedily to bring them in Order to press the Commissioners for their answer touching the Propositions That the sending of them to his Majesty may not be further delayed Letters from Col. Hammond That he received by the hands of a Messenger from the General the Votes and Resolutions of both Houses relating to the security of his Majesties Person That as to the Vote not to permit such as have been in Arms or assisted against the Parliament to come into the Island he had before taken order and touching the Votes last come to his hands he will with the best of his endeavours see them put in Execution That as to a Warrant for apprehending Mr. Ashburnham Mr. Leg and Sir Jo. Berkley he desired the Serjeants Deputy to forbear the Execution thereof till he might know the further pleasure of the Houses in regard if those Gentlemen should be apprehended it would be very difficult for him to secure the person of his Majesty That the King said If these Gentlemen should be taken from him and punished as Evil doers for councelling him not to go out of the Kingdom but rather to come to this place for the more conveniency as to settlement of Peace and for endeavouring it accordingly in attending him hither he cannot but himself expect to be dealt with accordingly his case being the same That these Gentlemen have engaged their Honours not to depart from him and having cast themselves upon him in case they should be removed from thence it would much reflect upon him 23. A Petition delivered to the supream authority of the Nation presented to the Commons was read and voted to be a Seditious and Contemptuous avowing and prosecution of a former Petition and Paper annexed stiled an agreement of the People formerly adjudged by the House to be destructive to the being of Parliaments and fundamental Laws of this Kingdom Some of the chief Actors herein were committed to the Gate-house others to New-gate and a Letter sent to the General to prosecute the Examination of that business to the bottom and to bring such guilty Persons as he shall think fit to exemplary punishment Letters from Bristol of a Mutiny in the Garrison and that the Soldiers had secured an Alderman there till they had a Months Pay the House sent a Letter to the General to discharge the Alderman and to prevent the like abuses by the Soldiers for the future 24. The Monthly Fast-day 25. Order to press the Scots Commissioners for a further and speedy answer touching the Propositions to be presented to his Majesty and to take off the Commissioners Seal of his Bed-Chamber at Hampton-Court Some from the Assembly presented the short Catechism to the House who gave them thanks and desired them to give a speedy answer to the Quaeries formerly sent them and to perfect those things referred to them A Letter to the General from Buckingham-shire complaining of the unsufferable burden of free Quarter sent by him to the House and referred to the grand Committee who are to consider of taking off free Quarter and setling a constant Pay for the Army The Merchant Adventurers lent ten thousand pound towards the Months Pay for the Army Letters from the General to the City why he appointed some Soldiers to assist in collecting the Arrears of the Assessments that he submitted to what the Parliament had ordered concerning the stop of that Course and hoped the City would perform their undertaking in the speedy collecting of them otherwise it might be very inconvenient to the Parliament the Army and Kingdom and to themselves 26. The Grand Committee sate about Pay for the Army and ordered the disbanding of the supernumerary Forces At a conference the Lords acquainted the Commons That they had considered the desires of the King to treat with the Parliament and the Scots Papers and the desires of the Kingdom to be delivered from all burdens and fears and to be preserved in Peace That their Lordships propound to the Commons four Propositions to be speedily sent to his Majesty to be speedily passed for the safety and security of the Parliament and Kingdom and to treat with his Majesty upon the rest The Propositions were 1. That a Bill be past for setling the Militia of this Kingdom 2. That an Act be passed for calling in of all Declarations Oaths and Proclaimations against the Parliament and those who adhered to them 3. For an Act that those Lords who were made after the Great Seal was carried to Oxford may be made uncapable of sitting in the House of Peers thereby 4. That power be given to the two Houses of Parliament to adjourn as they shall think fit That his Majesty giving the Kingdom security by passing these four Propositions there may be a Personal Treaty with his Majesty and the Parliaments of both Kingdoms for passing the rest of the Propositions Herein they desired the Commons concurrence who appointed a time to debate this business fully A Representation was presented to the General under the hands of Col. Lilburne and the Officers of his Regiment acknowledging and promising their obedience due to the General and praying him to mind the Parliament of considering and resolving those things which have been presented to them from the Army and as soon as the necessary great
Committee who are to go into the several Counties for disbanding the supernumerary Forces take care to disband Troop after Troop and Company after Company till they be all disbanded and the General desired to give his Orders therein Letters of a design of Col. Kempson's Col. Ayres Col. Herberts and Col. Cookes Officers of their Regiments consulting about eighty of them together to surprize Glocester and other Forts thereabouts upon assurance that Col. Laugherne and the discontented Londoners would joyn with them This was referred to the Committee at Derby House 25. Order for the Committee of the Revenue to retrench the Kings Servants and upon the Governors Letter a thousand pound ordered for Repairs of Carisbrooke Castle The Commons named Mr. Goodwyn Mr. Ashurst Mr. Stapleton and Col. Birch their Commissioners to go into Scotland An Ordinance passed both Houses for Pardons to be passed under the Great Seal for some Prisoners in New-gate Another for the sale of Worcester House to the Earl of Salisbury another for making Major General Mitton Vice-Admiral of North Wales 26. The Monthly Fast-day Letters from Ireland of the Lord Inchequin's success in Limericke but the extream want of his Soldiers of Food and Rayment compelled his return That there were differences amongst the chief of the Rebels the Lord Taffe was chosen their General 27. Upon Letters from the Committee of Kent the House voted tryal of more of the Rioters of Canterbury by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer The charge against the Lord Willoughby of Parham pass'd the House and ordered to be sent up to the Lords wherein his Friends did him what service they could to pacifie his adversaries but they were sharply bent against him Debate of the charge against the eleven Members The charge against Sir Jo. Maynard passed and ordered to be sent up to the Lords and ordered that Mr. Hollis Sir William Lewis Mr. Nichols Sir Jo. Clotworthy Sir William Waller Col Massey and Col. Long be disabled to sit as Members of the House The Lords named the Earl of Denbigh and the Earl of Stamford Commissioners to go into Scotland 28. The Ordinance for setling the Presbyterian Government and for removing obstructions therein sent up to the Lords Part of the Instructions assented to for the Commissioners that are to go into Scotland Upon information that divers discontented persons met in the West and under pretence of apprehending High-way-men themselves committed many Robberies Order for the General to suppress all such Money ordered for the Commissioners who are to go into Scotland Reference to a Committee to consider of removing Prisoners out of the Tower to other Prisons for security of the Magazine and of the Lieutenants Fees 29. Voted that the rest of the eleven Members should be impeached of High Treason as Sir Jo. Maynard was except Sir William Lewis who was to be impeached of High Crimes only The House considered of recommending a Successor to Mr. Glyn to be Recorder of London And upon consideration of the good Service done by Mr. Steel in the business of Captain Burley and other affairs they recommended him to the City to be their Recorder Voted to impeach the rest of the seven Lords as the Lord Willoughby was impeached The Lords named the Earl of Nottingham in the place of the Earl of Denbigh to be one of the Commissioners to go into Scotland and had sent up to them the instructions for the Commissioners Sir William Constable's Regiment marched into Glocester and Col. Morgan's Forces marched from thence 31. An Ordinance pass'd the Commons for dividing the Parish of Roram in Kent The Charges carried up against the Lords and desired that they may be proceeded against according to the Laws and Customs of Parliament Reference to the Committee of Foreign Affairs to examine an Information touching the raising some Forces here for the Spanish Ambassador without leave of the Parliament Order for payment of Arrears of some of the Scots Officers Debate of the Ordinance for suppressing of Stage-plays The Lords Concurrence was desired to recommend Mr. Steel to be recorder of London A Petition of the Officers sent out of Ireland to have their Liberty The Ordinance passed both Houses for dividing and setling the several Counties into distinct Classical Presbyteries and Congregational Elderships The Disbanding went on in the North. Rumors of preparations for War from Scotland February 1647. February 1. Orders for providing Money for the next Summers Fleet and about the Customs An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for two thousand pound per Mens for Ireland Order to prosecute the late Riotous Persons and that Mr. Jermy and Mr. Steel be of Councel with the State against them and Mr. Becke to be the Sollicitor An Ordinance for repair of Churches assented to Letters from Ireland That Col. Jones for want of Corn and Cloaths for his Soldiers was inforced to leave the Field 2. The Examination and punishment of the late Authors of the Force against the Parliament referred to the Judges An Ordinance appointed that the Probate of Wills shall be as heretofore by the Civil Law proceedings Order to dissolve the Kings Houshold and the Committee of Revenue to pay them off and the General to appoint attendants upon the King not exceeding thirty Sir Henry Mildmay had the thanks of the House for his good Service in Hamp-shire at the tryal of Captain Burley c. The House of Peers ordered the seven Impeached Lords to give security for their appearances and to answer the charges against them by a day 3. Votes for Legacies Administrations Marriages Divorces Suits for Tythes c. to be by the same Law as formerly Referred to a Committee to consider of some speedy course to prevent the sale or pawning of the Crown Jewels An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for conveying the Earl of Newcastle's Mannor of Flawborough in Nottingham to a Member of the House in satisfaction of his losses by the Earl Upon Letters of General Leven Order for a thousand pound for Mr. Robert Fenwicke for his losses and good affections Both Houses pass'd an Ordinance to make Mr. Strong Minister of St. Dunstans 4. Debate upon the Confession of Faith The General was feasted in the City by the Lord Major with many of his Officers 5. Referred to Col. Hammond to remove such attendants about the King as the Collonel cannot confide in and to appoint eight such persons to attend his Majesty as he shall think fit and can confide in till the General hath setled the Family according to former Order Debate about the Declaration touching non Addresses to the King Sir Jo. Maynard one of the eleven Members appealed from the Judgment of the Lords by a Paper spread abroad saying their Lordships were no competent Judges of him The Lords advised with two Judges Assistants as to matter of Law and ordered Sir Jo. Maynard to be remanded to the Tower Fined five hundred pound
Covenant and will oppose the Popish Prelatical and Malignant party as well as the Sectaries if they shall be put to ingage in a new War That as they will endeavour to rescue His Majesty who is detained Prisoner contrary to the resolution of both Kingdoms that he may come to some of his own Houses near London with honour freedom and safety where both Kingdoms may make Applications to him for a safe and well grounded Peace So they resolve not to put into the hands of His Majesty or any other such power whereby the ends of the Covenant may be obstructed or Religion or Presbyterian Government indangered but before any agreement that His Majesty give assurance by Oath and under his Hand and Seal that he will pass such Bills as shall be presented to him from both or either Kingdoms respectively for settling the Covenant the Presbyterian Government Directory of Worship and Confession of Faith and never to oppose them That if any War be made as it shall be on just and necessary Grounds so none shall have charge in the Armies or Committees but men of known integrity that the Church shall have interest therein That they think fit the Kingdom be put into a posture of defence and some discreet persons be sent with their demands to the Parliament of England 25. Upon a Letter from Prince Philip Son to the Queen of Bohemia to Vice Admiral Rainsborough desiring a Pass to come into England to visit his Brother the Prince Elector Wherein the Vice Admiral desired to know the pleasure of the House they ordered a Pass to be given to Prince Philip. A day set to consider of settling the Kingdom and Mr. Strong desired that morning to Pray with the House and a Letter sent from the House to all the Ministers in and about London to Pray to Morrow being the Fast-day For a blessing of God upon the Consultations of the Parliament Upon Information That Captain Brown Bushel who revolted from the Parliament with a good Ship and turned Pyrate was apprehended the House gave twenty pounds to the two men that took him and referred it to the Committee of the Admiralty to take order for his Tryal as a Pyrate and he was committed to Windsor Castle Orders for monies for repair of Hull and New-Castle Works The Aldermen Langham Adams and Bunce brought to the Lords Bar refused to kneel or be Tryed by their Lordships but Petitioned to be Tryed by the Common Law denying the power of the Lords to try Commoners They were fined five hundred pounds apiece sent back to the Tower and had liberty to name their Counsel in order to their Tryal The Common-Councel of London sat Yesterday and this day upon an Affidavit made by one Everard That he being at Windsor in an Inn in Bed heard some Gentlemen whereof he supposeth one was Collonel Grosvenour another Ewer and others with them in the next Room to him discoursing together to this effect That they doubted not but the Scots would come in and that the City of London would joyn with the Scots for the preventing of which they found no way but to disarm the City friend and foe That such as were friends to the Army should be armed and keep the rest in aw and that they would make the City advance a Million of mony or else would plunder them and that they had acquainted Ireton therewith Letters from Scotland That the Kings Party there carry all That the Irish Forces under Monke have offered their Service to Scotland and received thanks and a fornights Pay from the Parliament of Scotland 26. Letters came this Fast-day from Norwich to Collonel Fleetwood That the Major of Norwich being sent for to attend the Parliament the Malignants opposed his going and the Parlamenteers were for it That both Parties got into Arms and plundred many Inhabitants of the City That Captain Zanchie with his Troop and some other Horse of Collonel Fleetwood's Regiment Quartered thereabouts came into the City They sell upon the Rioters in several Partys drove them into Corners and wounded many of them and Captain Lloyd and divers of the Troopers were wounded That the Rioters got possession of the Magazine and being to get out Powder the Magazine was fired and about forty of them blown up and spoyled the blow shaked the whole City threw down part of some Churches wounded and killed many of the Town not one of the Troopers hurt by it Legs and Arms found in the Streets torn from the Bodies and about a hundred and twenty of the Citizens missing in the Evening all quieted 27. Order for all the Members who have not taken the Covenant to take it tomorrow Debate about setling the Kingdom the question was whether the business of the Church or of the State should be first considered but the business of the City intervening the House resolved to sit again in the afternoon The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of London presented a Petition to the House informing the business beforementioned in the affidavit of Everard and desired That upon further examination thereof such course may be taken therein as the House shall think fit That the Chains of the City may be set up again and the Army be removed to a further distance That an Ordinance may pass to constitute Major General Skippon Major General of all Forces within the Lines of Communication for defence of the City and of the Parliament to whom the City resolve to adhere The Lords gave the Petitioners thanks for their good affections and resolutions to adhere to the Parliament As to the setting up again of the Chains they leave it to the Lord Major and Common Councel to do as they think fit as to Major General Skippon he being a Member of the House of Commons they can do nothing without the assent of the House The House of Commons approved the desires of the Common Council and ordered the Militia to see the Chains set up again and the Speaker acquainted the Petitioners therewith That the occasion of part of the Armies being drawn so near was the late tumults that the House would take this business into Consideration and gave their thanks to the Petitioners 28. The House proceeded in debate about the business of the State and voted That the Government of the Kingdom should be still by King Lords and Commons and the ground-work for that Government should be the propositions presented to the King at Hampton-Court and that every Member of the House shall have liberty to speak to any Votes c. concerning the King 29. Both Houses passed a Declaration upon the Duke of York's going away That whereas upon a former endeavour of his to escape which was prevented the Duke by his Letter to the Houses acknowledged his Errors and promised not to attempt the like for the future they declared that they conceived the Earl of Northumberland not to be
further accountable for the Duke The Commons ordered the allowance to the Duke of York to be taken off and an increase of allowance to the Duke of Glocester and that the Earl of Northumberland may remove him and his Sister to Sion House or Hampton Courr An Information concerning two Gentlemen relating to Everards business referred to the same Committee The General and his Officers kept a Fast-day at Windsor and the next day a Captain and others had their Tryals begun by a Councel of War Col. Poyer fell upon a Party of the Parliaments Forces under Col. Flemming routed them and killed and took most of them May 1648. May 1. Debate touching the business of the Church The Ordinance against Blasphemy and Heresie in some cases the punishment being death in other cases Abjuration c. passed both Houses but not without much opposition Order of both Houses for Ely House to be for the Sick and Wounded Soldiers Ordinance transmitted for placing of a Minister in Bathe Order for the Members of every County to present to the Commissioners of the Great Seal fit persons to be Justices of the Peace Letters from Bristol of some there privately listing for the King and the Forces there are cold in suppressing them Order for the Committee at Derby House to consult with the General about it Letters of the South-Welch rising in several places against the Parliaments Forces and driving away their Cattle and carrying away their Corn and Goods where the Parliaments Forces come not a Horse-shooe nor Smith to be found there Lieutenant General Cromwell ordered by the General to go into South-Wales with two Regiments of Horse and three Regiments of Foot Letters from Scotland that the Parliament there passed a Declaration thirty one protesting against it and the Clergy dissenting that two hundred and ten Barons and Lords met to perswade the Countries to rise in defence of Religion the King and Church 2. Vote for five thousand pound for repair of the Works of New-Castle and Tinmouth the like for Hull Scarborough and other Northern Garrisons and six thousand pound for Bristol Letters that Berwicke was surprised by Sir Marmaduke Langdale Sir Charles Lucas and other English with a Party of a hundred Horse pretending a Commission from Prince Charles that the Major endeavoured to get strength to oppose them but could not referred to the Committee of Derby House and the General Letters from the General that he had ordered the Regiments at White-Hall and the Meuse and other Forces near London to remove further off unless the Houses should give order to the contrary The House ordered a Letter to the General to stay the removal of those Regiments till farther order and a Committee to treat with the City what guards they will provide for the Houses if those Regiments be removed The General likewise acquainted the Houses with his sending Lieutenant Cromwell into Wales and with the not payment of Assessments whereby the Soldiers would be inforced to take free Quarter the House passed instructions to the Committee of the Army and Officers to rectifie it The Common Councel returned thanks to the Parliament for their confidence in the City and assured them that when the Forces of the Army should be removed the City would stand by the Parliament for their security The City allowed six hundred pound per An. to Major General Skippon Petitions to the Cities Common-Councel That the Impeached Aldermen may not be tryed by the Lords but by their equals That there may be a new Committee of the Militia every year the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs to be part and the rest to be chosed by the Common-Councel and approved by the Parliament and the Lieutenant of the Tower to be under the Cities Command referred to the Committee 3. Letters from the Lord Chancellor of Scotland by command of the Parliament there with their demands to the Parliament of England to this purpose 1. That the King may come to some of his Courts near London to abide with Safety Honour and Freedom 2. That a Personal Treaty may be had with his Majesty 3. That the Independent Schismatick Army may be Disbanded and none put into Garrisons but such as will take the Covenant and both Kingdoms may conside in 4. That all Anabaptists Separatists and Independents may be suppressed and no Toleration allowed for any of them 5. That all absent Members may be sent for to perform their duties in Parliament 6. That the Covenant may be inforced upon all men 7. That the Presbyterian Government may be effectually setled These demands were thought by some to be very strange a day was set for the debate of them Information of Tumults by the Malignants in Colchester Order for Letters to be sent to some Forces of the Army in that County to quiet them and the Committee at Derby House to take care thereof A Petition from many thousands Knights Gentlemen and Free-holders in Essex expressing the reason of their desires which were For a Personal Treaty with his Majesty that a course be taken for satisfaction of the Arrears of the Army with a disbanding of the same The Lords gave thanks to the County of Essex for their good affections and let them know that they would take their Petition into a serious and speedy consideration and not be wanting to contribute to their endeavours for the ease of the Countreys burdens and setling of a good Peace The Commons gave this Answer to the Petition That they take notice of the great service and good affections of that County to the Parliament and are consident they will so continue and as to their Petition the House is now in debate concerning the speedy settlement of the Kingdom and do not doubt but what they shall conclude there upon will give satisfaction to that County and to all well affected people It was earnestly pressed to have the words thanks of the House expressed in this Answer but it was carried in the Negative 5. Debate of the Letters from Scotland The Houses declared That they are resolved to maintain the Covenant and Treaties between the two Kingdoms and that they will be ready to joyn with Scotland in the Propositions presented to the King at Hampton-Court Order for Forces for the Northern parts and to put those Countries into a posture of defence and referred to the Committee at Derby House Instructions pass'd for the Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland to acquaint the Parliament there with the surprisal of Berwicke by enemies to both Kingdoms who had layn long in Scotland and were demanded by the English Commissioners Col. Horton published a Declaration to satisfie the Welch of the Parliaments Proceedings in order to disband the Forces of Major General Laugherne and to ease the Country of free Quarter and to settle Peace generally and of the revolt and opposition of Col. Poyer the trouble charge and danger to the Countries thereby
the King to acquaint him that the Houses desire a Treaty with his Majesty's person in what place of the Isle of Wight he shall appoint upon the propositions tendered to his Majesty at Hampton Court and concerning Wards and Liveries and to treat with honour Freedom and safety to his Majesty's person To this Vote the Commons added And with safety and freedom to the Commissioners 2. To receive such other propositions to be treated on as shall be presented to his Majesty 3. The Commissioners to be dispatched within two dayes with these Votes and to return within ten dayes The Lords chose the Earl of Middlesex and the Commons chose Sir Jo. Hippesly and Major Bulkley Commissioners to go to the King A Paper presented to the Lords from Major Huntington of the reasons why he left the Army and touching the carriage of Lieutenant General Cromwell and Commissary General Ireton since the Parliaments going to disband the Army and of overtures to his Majesty The Duke of York went back to Holland and the Prince continuing in the Downes sent a Letter to the Merchant Adventurers of London signed with the Prince his hand which was delivered and read in Common Council The effect of the Letter was to signify that his Highness had caused to be staid divers Merchants of London but would discharge them again upon condition that the City would send him twenty thousand pound with this his Letter the Prince sent to the City his Declaration that his endeavour was to rescue the Kings Majesty his Royal Father from base imprisonment to restore the Rghts and Liberties of London c. as before The Common Council ordered to acquaint the Parliament herewith the next day 3. Debate of an Ordinance to give Commission to the Lord Admiral to execute Martial Law A Committee from the Common Council presented to the House a Copy of the Letter and Declaration sent from the Prince to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London who commanded Copies thereof to be presented to both Houses before they did any thing concerning the same After much debate the House ordered the Originals to be sent to them the Copies not satisfying and that no answer be returned by the Common Council nor they to proceed thereupon without special leave from Parliament Order for the Committee of the Army to bayle such Officers of the Army then in restraint who were in the Kentish insurrection as that Committee should think fit and the rest to be examined by the Committee of Kent Reference to a Committee to slight or continue Queenborough Castle as they should think fit and to the Committee of Derby House to consider of the Fort at Gravesend if it be tenable to fortify it and provide Ordnance for it 4. Debate upon the Prince his Declaration and Letter to the Common Council which was brought to the House of Peers from the Common Council but not to the House of Commons After most part of the day spent in debate thereof the Commons voted That all persons subjects of this Nation and others who did joyn with or assist Prince Charles in this war by Sea or land against this Kingdom are Traitours and Rebels and ought to be proceeded against as such and this Vote ordered to be printed and published Order for one thousand pound for the Children of D r Twisse The Ordinance past the Commons for better regulating of the Estates of Papists and Delinquents Letters from Colchester Leaguer That a small party came out of the Town and were beat in again That divers Souldiers Horse and Foot a Lieutenant a Cornet and an Ensign came out of the Town to the General and said that many more of their Party watched for an opportunity to do the like and were weary of eating Horse-flesh The Town of Yarmouth returned an answer to Colonel Scroope that they will adhere to the Parliament against all interests and if his Excellence the Lieutenant General shall command it they will admit Colonel Scroop's Forces into the Town and that he shall have liberty upon all occasions to march through the Town and that they are able of themselves to suppress all tumults that shall arise 17. of the Enemy came out of Colchester to the Parliament guards complaining that their allowance of Bread in the Town was abated from fourteen ounces to ten ounces a day and that their Horse-Flesh was much tainted That twenty more came out of the Town to the General complaining of the Horse-flesh and said that many of their fellows will come after them 5. Order for a day of publick humiliation to bewail the Sins of the Nation and to pray to God for seasonable weather Debate upon the Ordinance for settling Church Government Order for two thousand Oaks for repair of the Town of Lynn The self-denying Ordinance for taking away all publick places of benefit conferred upon any Member of Parliament since the beginning thereof was debated and committed This was looked upon as a design tending to remove Whitelock again from being a Commissioner of the Seal which was not a place of profit to him having left his practice that brought him in near two thousand Pounds a year and the profit of this place being not above fifteen hundred Pounds a year Letters from Colchester Leaguer That they conceive themselves able to take the Town by Storm when they please but hope to have it without and are not willing to lose so many mens lives as a storm will cost that the flux increaseth among them in the Town and that two hundred of their men lately ran from them to the General that they exchanged thirty five Prisoners with the Town 7. The House being called and a small appearance another day ordered for a new call Debate upon the ordinance for the Militia Order for six hundred pound for M r Sleigh late Major of Berwick in regard of his losses when the Town was surprised Order for the General to recall his orders for the March of Sir Hardress Waller out of the West that the Country might not be left in danger and for pay for his Brigad Sir William Masham was exchanged for M r John Ashburnham Letters from the North of the advance of Lieutenant General Cromwel towards Major General Lambert whom he desired not to ingage with the Scots before his coming up to them Commissioners were sent to Treat with Colonel Boynton for the surrender of Scarborough Castle to the Parliament from whom he had revolted but they made no agreement with him that the Commissioners shot in a Printed order to the Souldiers in the Castle promising them one thousand Pound to deliver it up to them That Appleby Castle was surrendred to Major General Langdale upon conditions that some quarrels were between his men and the Scots who killed an English man and one of Langdales men killed a Scots man that the Scots Army
City Petitioners desired that the House would reassume the consideration of every part of their former Petition before they proceed in the Treaty with the King but the House did nothing in it Captain Bethan made Provost Martial with power to apprehend such as staid in Town contrary to the Ordinance and to seise upon all Ballad Singers Sellers of Malignant Pamphlets and to send them to the several Militias and to suppress Stage-playes The Instructions and Propositions were delivered to the Commissioners in the House and they took their leave to go to the King Orders for maintaining the Militias in the North out of Delinquents estates there and by other means Orders for money for Plymouth Garrison and for Herefordshire 14. The Houses sat not but the Committee of Derby House and other Committees sat and Letters came that the Lords and others sent for by the King were come to him and from the North that fifteen hundred old Souldiers were joyning to march with David Lesley to the Marquess of Argyle That Monroe was dispatching a guard to Edenburgh that Cromwell allarmed the English Cavaliers near to Berwick and that the inhabitants of Carlisle Petitioned the Governour to let in no more Souldiers neither Scots nor English That the General was gallantly entertained by the Town of Ipswich Where M r Edgar made a speech to his excellency who removed from thence to Yarmouth who sent out three Aldermen to meet him and gave him great entertainment they agree to admit three Troops of Horse and a Company of his Foot to quarter there 15. Letters that the General went from Yarmouth to S. Edmonds Bury thence to Malden where he viewed the remaining reliques of the Roman industry That he viewed the Fort of Mercy Island and gave orders at Harwich for keeping the guards and manning of the works there That he viewed Langarfort a place of great strength and concernment and there and at Harwich and other places had a great number of Ordnance discharged to salute him He ordered Colonel Desborough to command the Forces in Yarmouth and took care not to prejudice the fishing trade there by the Souldiers That he was highly entertained at Sir John Wentworths in Lovingland and at Norwich the High Sheriff of Norfolk and the Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs of the City in their Scarlet Gowns with the Trained bands of Horse and Foot came out of the Town and accompained the General in thither and highly treated him 16. The House sat not Letters from the Isle of Wight that the Commissioners of the Parliament for the Treaty were come to Newport where the King was with those whom he had sent for to attend him and that there was a very fair correspondence betwixt them and the Parliaments Commissioners Some noted the Astrological predictions of M r Lilly to fall out very strangely according to what he had predicted particularly concerning the danger of the Kings person by a fall from his Horse 18. The Houses sat not Letters came from Lieutenant General Cromwel that he sent Major General Lambert with a summons to Berwick That Sir T. Tildesly with about fifteen hundred lay on this side Berwick but were not suffered to come in That Monroe marched through with three thousand and was joyned with Lannerick who had five thousand more that Argyle lay twelve miles from Edenburgh with about ten thousand men and both parties were upon a Treaty that they found no Bread in that Country but Bisket which they brought from New-Castle That Colonel Ashton with the Lancashire Foot is marched towards Carlisle Letters from Lambert's quarters of their march towards the borders and that David Lesley with old Leven and Argyle are in the head of eight thousand Horse and Foot about Edenburgh and have made the Committee of Estates to fly That Lesley the Governour of Berwick hath kept out of that Town all both English and Scotch Cavaliers and reports that he keeps it for the Parliament of England and will deliver it up to them That the English Cavaliers in the North sware they are bewitched and will fight no more and daily depart from their Colours That the Parliaments Army are discontented for want of pay and many of them slain and wounded and divers Horse lost Letters from York that the siege of Pontefract continues that the Prince hath sent relief to Scarborough of Men Victuals and Ammunition whereupon the Besiegers stormed the Castle and took it four of the assailants slain and eighteen of the besieged and an hundred and fifty Prisoners taken some Walloons whom the Souldiers took for Irish men were put to the Sword A day of Thanksgiving was kept at Leicester after which the Lord Grey feasted his Officers one hundred and fifty of them and they all rejoyced for the Victory against the Scots and promised to stand together upon their first undertakings for a good peace Colonel Martyn went to Lieutenant General Cromwell and the Parliaments Commissioners went to Ashby de la Zouch to speak with Duke Hamilton to see what he would discover to them for the good of this Kingdom 19. Letters that the Parliaments Commissioners for the Treaty were entertained with great respect at Southhampton and met and received by Colonel Hammond at the Cows with great vollies of shot and expressions of joy That the King kept a Fast with his Company for a blessing upon the Treaty in which the Common Prayer was exactly read with the Litany and a particular Prayer drawn by his Majestys direction and dictates That after Sermon the Commissioners went to the King to acquaint him that they were come to treat the King said he was glad they were come and desired God to perfect this blessed work and professed he was in Charity with all of them and not willing to seek revenge against any nor give occasion of delayes That the Commissioners presented the Three Bills to his Majesty for Religion the Militia and recalling his Majesties Proclamations c. but as yet have received no answer to them The House approved the report of the Committee of the Army for recruiting all the Regiments of the Army and for pay for them And they allowed a Quarter-Master to each Company of Dragoons and renewed the Ordinance for the assessments for the Army for six months longer Referred to the Committee of the Army to provide clothes shoes and Stockins for the Army and order for pay of the two new Companies in the Isle of Wight A Letter from Sir Edward Walker for some more persons to be sent down to the King the House did nothing upon it but declared that upon a Letter from the King or from their Commissioners for that purpose the persons should be sent to his Majesty An addition of Salary to Colonel Hammond in regard of his extraordinary charges upon the Treaty Divers Compositions passed that of M r Geoffery Palmer was five hundred pound The House approved of what
said orders and that Colonel Hammond be set at Liberty to attend his charge in the Isle of Wight The Town was full of fears of the Army 30. The question whether the Remonstrance of the Army should be taken into speedy consideration was by ninety voices resolved in the Negative Report of the Letters from the General to the Committee of the Army wherein he takes Notice that the Committee intend not to furnish him with money for contingences which of necessity must be had for pay of Messengers and incident charges that he must be forced thereby to receive monies for this purpose out of the Collectors and Receivers hands where he can find it if speedy course be not taken to supply him This was held in the Debate an high and unbesceming Letter from the General but in conclusion it was referred to the Committee of the Army to take such course as they shall think fit for pay of the arrears of the Army Debate touching pay for the reduced Officers Intelligence from the Head quarters That a full Council of the Army had agreed upon a Declaration expressing their sad apprehensions of the danger and evil of the Treaty with the King and of any accommodation with him or restitution of him thereupon Then they recite their late Remonstrance presented to the Commons the Heads whereof they justify but say that to their grief they find that instead of any satisfaction or a reasonable answer thereto they are wholly rejected and the consideration thereof delayed from day to day That they can see in the Majority of those trusted with the great affairs of the Kingdom nothing less than a treacherous or corrupt neglect of and apostasie from the publick trust reposed in them And considering that as to the breach of that trust there is no higher formal power of man in being to appeal unto for judgment in such case as all others concerned in such breaches of trust will so as they cannot but exercise that Common judgment which in their Natural capacity is left to them And there being no way of a just succession of another proper Judicature to be appealed unto in due time and they being convinced of the greatness and destructiveness of those evils they have declared against and of the necessity of those better things they have propounded and how inconsistent with the publick trust and fundamental ends of it still to pursue the one and reject the other as that they dare appeal to the common judgments of indifferent and uncorrupted men and to the more righteous judgment of God above all That this Parliament being sole Judges of their own performance or breach of trust they hold themselves necessitated to and justified in an appeal from this Parliament in the present constitution as it stands unto the extraordinary judgment of God and good People Yet that in the prosecution of this Appeal as they will drive it on but to the speedy obtaining of a more orderly and equal judicaâ—ure of men in a just Representative according to their Remonstrance where in to acquiesce so they will endeavour to preserve so much of the matter and form of the present Parliamentary Authority as can be safe or useful till a just constitution can be introduced That they should rejoyce if the Majority of the House of Commons would become sensible of the destructiveness of their late way and would exclude from Communication in their Councils all such corrupt and Apostatized Members as have obstructed justice safety and publick interest However they desire that so many of them as God hath kept upright would by protestation or otherwise acquit themselves from such breach of trust and would withdraw from such as persist in the guilt thereof and that they will own such as shall so do as having materially the chief trust of the Kingdom remaining in them and shall adhere to them and be guided by them in their faithful prosecution of that trust till a more full power in a just Representative may he indeavoured That they will not hereby take any advantage to themselves in profit or power but should he willing to be presently discharged if they could but obtain a rational assurance for the effectual prosecution of these things and should give a proportionable assurance on their Parts concerning their laying down of Armes when required That for all these ends they are drawing up with the Army to London there to follow providence as God shall clear their way By the appointment of his Excellency the Lord Fairfax Lord General and his General Council of Officers held at Windsor Nov. 30. 1648. Signed Jo. Rushworth Secr. Major Cromwell returned with Letters from Colonel Hammönd that he was detained at Windsor and that Colonel Ewers had the charge of the Kings person in the Isle of Wight the Lords pressed on the consideration of his business December 1648. 1. The General Wrote a Letter to the Lord Mayor and Common Council of London to this effect That being upon an immediate advance with the Army towards London they thought fit to give them notice of it and for the grounds thereof refer them to the late Remonstrance and Declaration of the Army That they are far from the least plunder or wrong to any and for the better prevention of any disorder they desire forty thousand pound may be paid to them to morrow night and they will quarter in the void and great Houses in and about the City A report by the Commissioners of all his Majesties concessions at the Treaty twice read over and long and smartly debated About two a Clock the question was put whether they should then debate whether his Majesties answers and concessions were satisfactory or dissatisfactory and carried in the Negative and Ordered to resume the debate to morrow morning The Lord Wenman M r Holles and M r Pierrepoint three of the Commissioners who came last to the Town had the thanks of the House for their great pains and care in managing of the Treaty A Committee of the Common Council acquainted the House with the Letter they received from the General upon which the Common Council would not do any thing till they knew the pleasure of the House After a long debate till eight a Clock at Night it was voted That the House taking notice of the great arrears due from the City of London to the Army do declare that it is the pleasure of the House that the City do forthwith provide forty thousand pound of their arrears upon security of the said arrears And that the House doth leave it to the City either by Committee or Letter or otherwise as they shall think sit to address themselves to the General And that a Letter be written to the General upon the heads of this daies debate and that he be acquainted therein that it is the pleasure of the House that he do not remove the Army nearer to London In all places
of the Army two Regiments of Foot and several Troops of Horse were quartered in London and the Treasuries secured in Haberdashers-Hall Weavers-Hall and Goldsmiths-Hall whereof the General by his Letter acquainted the Lord Mayor and City before hand And gave his reasons for the doing of it because they had not paid their arrears of the Assessment nor furnished the Money which he desired of them and that they had by order of Parliament quartered in several Counties on those who did not pay the Assessment till they paid the same That yet if they would advance for the Army forty thousand pound in part of their arrears the Souldiers should not be further troublesome to them A party of Souldiers going by mistake to the Excise House to seize the Money there the General recalled them and wrote a Letter to the Commissioners of Excise to excuse it 9. A Committee of the Common Council made some proposals to the General and Council of the Army touching their security for forty thousand pounds which the General demanded of them which they promised to advance and humbly desired that the Army might this night withdraw out of the City To this the General answered that if within fourteen days the City would pay in all their arrears of the Assessment that then the Army should withdraw but that in the mean time their quartering in the City would facilitate the work The Foot were quartered in private Houses the Horse in Inns and two more Regiments marched into the City and took up their quarters there this day 11. The Houses sate not but to the General and general Council of the Army was â—resented a new Representative or an agreement of the people propounded as a Rule for future government to be published to the view of all that any might offer what they thought fit against it or of alteration or addition to any part of it Much of the same matter was contained therein as in their late Remonstrance this was more large giving rules for future Elections of Representatives of the people they to have the supream authority and this Parliament to be dissolved in April next and then a new Representative to sit Divers Rules for the Election of them Officers and Malignants to be incapable of electing or being elected and generally of the power and equal distribution of the Members of this Representative to be in all three hundred Persons c. The frame of this agreement of the people was thought to be for the most part made by Commissary General Ireton a man full of invention and industry who had a little knowledg of the Law which led him into the more errours Little business in the Chancery The Lord Grey of Groby came to the Lord Grey one of the Commissioners and wished them not to sit to morrow because it would be a busy day It seems he was acquainted with the private Councils of the Army They advised together about this matter and resolved to meet to morrow at Westminster and to do as they should see cause as to the hearing of Motions or other business of the Chancery 12. Both Houses sate the Commons ordered two Troops of Horse in Northamptonshire to be continued for a Month longer under Major Butler and Captain Strike Petitions from Bristol and Exon complaining of the neglect of guarding those Coasts that ten Merchants Ships had been taken by the Irish the last week the Petitions referred to the Committee of the Navy A Letter from the Lord Admiral of the grounds of his coming from Goree to the Downes to avoid the danger of being frozen up and because he wanted Victual referred to the Committee of the Navy Vpon debate of the last proposals and desires of the Army Voted That the Vote for revoking the Order of disabling the eleven Members and re-admitting them into the House when a charge of so high a nature lay against them was un-Parliamentary and of dangerous consequence and was now made Null They Voted likewise that the Vote of this House concurring with the Lords to take off the former Vote which forbid any more addresses to the King was highly dishonourable to the proceedings of Parliament and apparently destructive to the good of the Kingdom Major General Brown Sir Jo. Clotworthy Sir William Waller Colonel Massey and Colonel Copley were apprehended by the Army and sent Prisoners to S t James's House M r Pelham M r Vaughan and some other of the Members that were Prisoners had liberty given upon their Paroles The City sent in Beds for the Souldiers whereupon the General ordered them to be removed from private Houses and Quartered in empty Houses Letters from Ireland that the Marquess of Ormond was piecing up the differences among the Rebels and that their main design was against Dublin 13. Voted that the Votes of non-Addresses to the King shall stand and that the Votes for revocation of them and that for a personal Treaty with the King in the Isle of Wight were highly dishonourable to the proceedings of Parliament and apparently dectructive to the good of the Kingdom Letters with the Catalogue of twenty Commanders who were for the Parliament lately come in to the Lord Ormond Several Members did forbear going to the House not being satisfied whether they might with a safe conscience be in the House or not having such a force upon them and lest they should countenance that force On the other side they considered whether it were fit for such as had no force upon them and were not forbidden to be in the House to be absent and wholly to omit their duty or rather to continue therein whereby they might help to keep up the Parliament lest it should be dissolved which the Souldiers wished and thereby the whole power be given up into the hands of the Army Sir Thomas Widdrington did forbear going to the House this day 14. Referred to the Committee of the Army to confer with the General and Officers of the Army how the last six Months Assessment may be raised and payed to the Souldiers Order for two hundred pound for Colonel Ewers now Governor of Hurst Castle Order to repeal the former Ordinance for setling the Militia it being made upon design to destroy the present Army and that a new Ordinance be brought in for the Militia Debate of a Letter to be sent to the General to desire that a charge may be brought in against such of their Members not admitted to sit against whom they have any matter and that the rest against whom they have no matter may have the freedom to sit in the House Letters from Hurst Castle that his Majesty was in health and had good accommodations that he desired of the Governour to have two of his own Chaplains to pray and preach with him and to have liberty to write to the Queen and to the Prince 15. Debate touching provisions for the Navy and orders for pay
them and That the Prince of Conde came with Force before Paris and stopt provisions 3. The List of the Officers of the Fleet referred to the Committee of the Navy To report who they think fit to go out with this Winter guard and who not Ordered that Captain Moulton be preferred in the Navy answerable to his Merit and the like for Colonel Lidcote The Commons taking notice that the Lords had rejected their Ordinance for Tryal of the King and had Adjourned their House they sent some of their Members to examine the Lords Journal-Book and they reported to the Commons three Votes passed by the Lords 1. To send answer by Messengers of their own 2. That their Lordships did not concur to the Declaration 3. That they had rejected the Ordinance for Tryal of the King Hereupon the Commons Voted That all their Members and others appointed to act in any Ordinance wherein the Lords are joyned with them shall be impowered and injoyned to sit act and execute in the said several Committees of themselves notwithstanding the House of Peers joyn not with them Order that the Ordinance for Tryal of the King and the Declaration from which the Lords dissented and which were intended for both Houses shall now be by the Commons only and that the former Committee do sit presently and report the alteration in the Afternoon during which time the House Adjourned In the Afternoon the Committee made their report and the Ordinance was re-committed and to be reported again to morrow the Lords names to be left out and the three Judges and Sergeant Bradshaw Sergeant Nicholas and Mr. Steel to be Assistants The Speaker acquainted the House with a Letter he had received by the French Ambassador from the Queen but the House would not have it read A Letter was sent from the General to the Committees of several Counties for Levying the Arrears of the Assessment for the Army and that he would take off free-quarter from those who paid their proportions 4. Report of amendments to the Ordinance for Tryal of the King and in respect the Lords had rejected it the Commons turned themselves into a Grand Committee to consider of the power of the Commons in Parliament and the Committee Voted 1. That the people under God are the Original of all just power 2. That the Commons of England assembled in Parliament being chosen by and representing the people have the Supream Authority of this Nation 3. That whatsoever is enacted and declared for Law by the Commons in Parliament hath the force of Law and all the people of this Nation are included thereby although the consent and concurrence of the King and House of Peers be not had thereunto These being reported to the House were upon the question all passed without a negative Voice to any of them An Ordinance intitled for Tryal of Charles Stuart by a Court Martial was assented to and ordered to be Ingrossed and brought in to Morrow Order that the Clerk do not give out any Copy of the Ordinance for Tryial of the King to any Member of the House or to any other 5. Order to require the Lord Mayor of London to suspend the taking of the usual Oaths and to proceed to perfect the elections of Common-Council Men. Upon information that divers Prisoners of War had escaped out of Peter-house through neglect of the Keeper referred to a Committee to examine and report it And to consider of a Prison to be given to the Sergeant at Arms attending the House Order to desire the General to command his Marshal General of the Army to put in execution the Ordinance concerning Scandalous and un-licensed Pamphlets Order for a large Book of Velom to be made and all the Acts Ordinances and Records which lie abroad in Papers and have been neglected be there entred The Committee for Concealed Monies sate in Whitehall and rewards were allowed to the discoverers 6. The Ordinance for Tryal of the King was brought in ingrossed and passed A Letter from the Commissioners of Scotland resident here pressing for unity of Councils and Actions according to the Covenant betwixt the two Kingdoms and that the House would not proceed to Try or Execute the King till the advice of that Nation be had thereunto Debate concerning the proceedings of Law the issuing of Writs and the like in what name they should be the King and the Lords not acting The Common Council agreed upon an Order to be published to morrow in all Churches for speedy payment of nineteen thousand pound of the arrears of the Assessment for the Army to prevent the whole Armies coming into the City and to be quartered upon those who have not paid their Arrears 8. Letters from Ireland that Sir Charles Coot marched with his Forces of Connaght from Sligo seventy miles into the Rebels Country and after a little conflict with the Rebels some of them were killed and his party burned great store of their Corn preyed upon the Country and brought away one thousand of their Cows without loss That at his return he apprehended Sir Robert Stuart and hath sent him into England with a Charge against him that since this he hath possessed himself of Kilmore and fourteen Guns which Sir Robert Stuart endeavoured to block up by Sea and Land and hindered the provisions sent by the Parliament from being brought to their Forces The House referred it to the General and Councel of War to try Sir Robert Stuart and to take care for the Forces of Sir Charles Coot in Ireland whose actions they approved and Ordered a Letter of thanks to him Referred to the General and Council of War to secure Holy Island Order for the Northern Counties to have the Sequestrations of Delinquents there for disbanding their Forces The Commissioners for Tryal of the King sate in the Painted Chamber at Westminster and Ordered that to morrow a Herald should proclaim and invite the people to bring in what matter of fact they had against Charles Stuart King of England and appointed to sit the next day upon his Tryal 9. Widdrington and Whitelock by agreement went into the House this Morning the Tryal of the King being begun some looked very shy upon them others bid them welcome and seemed glad to see them there About ten of the Lords sate and passed several Ordinances which they sent to the Commons who laid them all aside The Lords had debate upon their last Votes about the Tryal of the King And that some thing should be published to satisfy upon what grounds they rejected the Commission for his Tryal but they resolved nothing Sergeant Dendy who attended the Commissioners for Tryal of the King according to their Order rode into Westminster-Hall with the Mace on his shoulder and some Officers attending him bare and six Trumpets on Horse back and Guards of Horse and Foot in the Palace-yard The Trumpets sounded in the middle of the
Execution of Civil affairs may be wholly freed from the interposition of the Sword and that Martial Law during the times of Peace when all Courts are open may not be exercised upon the persons of any according to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right Nothing done upon these Petitions The Inhabitants of Pool subscribed an ingagement to adhere to and assist their Governour by Authority of the Parliament or the General and to discover all Plots to the prejudice of the Parliament Letters from Scotland that they are raising Forces to the number of fifteen thousand Horse and Foot Letters from Dublin that the Scots in Vlster are again on Foot with the Govenant and a Declaration against the Army in England which they call the Sectarian Army that murdered the King that they have taken in some Towns there That Dublin expected to be besieged by Ormond That eight of Prince Rupert's Ships went to Scilly and he with sixteen more went to block up the Road of Dublin 17. Letters reported by the Council of State that the Scots in Vlster had declared for King Charles the Second had taken several places and were set down before London-Derry That they demanded the delivery of the Town for the use of the King and the Governour Sir Charles Coot to depart the Kingdom That Ormond with a party was come within thirty miles of Dublin The House referred it back to the Council of State to take speedy care hereof An Act passed for the Judges of the Admiralty and for judging of Prizes at Sea and for incouragement of Seamen An Act passed for appointing the Lord Mayor Andrews Sir John Woolaston Alderman Dethicke and Mr. Allen to be Treasurers for the ninety thousand pounds per mens Assessment Debates about taking away of Tythes and setling a sufficient maintenance for the Ministry another way as by an Assessment of twelve pence per pound upon Lands by Deans and Chapters Lands Impropriations c. Order for ten thousand pounds for Ireland out of the Welch Compositions Order to send to the City to summon all the Companies to meet and consider their own interest about London-Dery to hasten the advance of the Monies for Ireland and about sending a Message to the Scots to withdraw their Siege from London-Derry The Council of State had intelligence of new Levellers at S t Margarets Hill near Cobham in Surry and at St. George's Hill and that they digged the Ground and sowed it with Roots and Beans one Everard once of the Army and who terms himself a Prophet is the chief of them and they were about thirty men and said that they should be shortly four thousand They invited all to come in and help them and promised them Meat Drink and Cloaths they threaten to pull down Park Pales and to lay all open and threaten the neighbours that they will shortly make them all come up to the Hills and work The General sent two Troops of Horse to have an account of them 18. Another Petition on the behalf of Lilburn c. to the like effect with the former which had a quick answer from the House and that the Prisoners should be proceeded against according to Laws in force before their crimes committed Debate upon the Act for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands and several Votes past for allowances to Ministers and Scholars out of the Revenues of those Lands to the Value of above twenty thousand pounds per annum And for the arrears of the Souldiers to be charged upon the Parks and Lands belonging to the Crown and left to the Lord General and Council of the Army to propound six Persons to be approved by the House to joyn with others whom the House will name as Trustees for disposal of those Parks and Lands for that use and the Attorney General ordered to bring in a Bill for this purpose Upon the Petition of the Lady Capel referred to the Committee of Complaints to examine it and in the mean time Ordered that the Sequestrators do forbear to cut down any more Woods or Timber upon the Lady Capels Lands Upon a Charge in a Petition against Mr. Edward Vaughan a Member of the House he was Ordered to attend and answer it Letters from Sir Charles Coot of his being straitly besieged in London-Derry and that without speedy relief he must be forced to surrender Ormond sent a second and more peremptory Summons to Colonel Jones at Dublin Letters from the Hague that since the news of Cromwels ingaging for Ireland the Prince hath no mind to go thither 19. A Solemn Fast kept by the Commons the Lord General and Officers of the Army 20. Several Members of the House appointed to go to the Ministers that preached yesterday and to give them the thanks of the House Order for the third of May next to be a general Fast-day and a Committee appointed to bring in an Act for dissolving the former Ordinance for a Monthly Fast and to injoyn the observance of such Fast-days as from time to time shall be appointed by Parliament An Act recommitted for discharging poor Prisoners who are not able to pay their debts and to compel such as are able to pay and the Committee to confer with the Judges Everard and Winstanly the chief of those that digged at S t George's Hill in Surry came to the General and made a large Declaration to justify their proceedings Everard said he was of the race of the Jews that all the liberties of the people were lost by the coming in of William the Conquerour and that ever since the people of God had lived under Tyranny and Oppression worse than that of our Forefathers under the Egyptians But now the time of the deliverance was at hand and God would bring his people out of this slavery and restore them to their freedom in injoying the Fruits and Benefits of the Earth And that there had lately appeared to him a Vision which bad him arise and Dig and plow the Earth and receive the Fruits thereof that their intent is to restore the Creation to its former condition That as God had promised to make the barren Land fruitful so now what they did was to renew the ancient Community of injoying the fruits of the Earth and to distribute the benefit thereof to the poor and needy and to feed the hungry and cloath the naked That they intend not to meddle with any mans Propriety nor to break down any pales or inclosures but only to meddle with what was common and untilled and to make it fruitful for the use of man that the time will suddenly be that all men shall willingly come in and give up their Lands and Estates and submit to this Community And for those that will come in and work they should have meat drink and cloaths which is all that is necessary to the life of man and that for money there was not any
That the Tories doe much mischief To prevent which and other inconveniences the Parliaments Commissioners in Ireland published a Declaration excepting severall places from the protection of the Parliament from which all friends to the Parliament are to remove their Persons Families and Goods and those that remain in those places shall be taken as Enemies slain and destroyed And all Intelligence forbid with them and that those who shall remove from those places shall have other Wast-lands assigned them and places for their habitations 23. Dr. Walker and Dr. Turner added to the Committee for regulating the Law Order for an Act for Confiscation of the Estates of several persons in Scotland and for pardoning of the rest An additionall Act passed for Sale of the remainder of Fee-farm Rents Referred to the Councel of State to nominate Persons for Administration of Justice in Scotland Order for an Act to prevent the Mischiefs and Robberies upon the Borders and for settling of the Fishing upon Tweed Report from the Committee for regulating the Law of an Act for Marriages to be made before Justices of the Peace That Committee presented to the Committee of Parliament to be reported to the house the draughts of Several Acts viz. For taking away Fines upon Bills Declarations and Original writs Against Customary Oaths of Fealty and Homage to Lords of Mannors For taking away common Recoveries and the unnecessary charge of Fines and to pass and charge Lands intailed as Lands in Fee-Simple For ascertaining arbitrary Fines upon discent and alienation of Copy-holds of Inheritance For the more speedy recovery of Rents Touching Pleaders and their Fees For the more Speedy regulating and easie discovery of debts and damages not exceeding 4 l. and under 24. Letters That the new chosen Magistrates of Edenburgh had Subscribed their Assents to the Union with England and taken the same Oath that the Mayors of Cities and Towns in England do take and that other Burghs in Scotland sue for Licence upon the same terms to chose new Magistrates That in many parts of Zealand the people are so mad against England that it is dangerous for an English man to be among them but in other places they are in a better temper 26. Letters That Captain Pen came to Pendennis with his Squadron and 5 Prizes which they had taken in the Streights That Prince Rupert with 3 or 4 Ships was upon the Coast of Barbary but his Ships so much eaten out with Arckes that they were not able to keep the Sea Of Recruits Shipped for Ireland 27. Letters That Major Salloway was returned from meeting with the Marquess of Argyle which was with much seeming Love and Kindness None were present at the Treaty but the Marquess and one of his Kinsmen and Major Salloway and Major-General Dean That 40 Sail of Ships were come into Lieth Harbour with Provision and Merchandise from England so that the Deputy-Governour published a Proclamation That no Ship or Vessel should have any Fire or Candle in them but at a certain time of the day That one English Frigot went up to 3 Dutch-men of War who refused to strike Sail to her and with a Broad-side of above 20 Guns perswaded them all to strike to the English Frigot 29. Letters That there is no doubt of a fair Compliance by the Marquess of Argyle with the Commissioners He insists upon Protection and Freedom for himself and his Tenants and their Estates and payment of the Debts owing to him from the Parliament of England Proposals were tendred to the Committee for propagating the Gospel for Supply of all Parishes with Able and Godly Ministers for settling of right Constituted Churches c. An account of the Forces come away from Jersey and of Recruits for Ireland Shipped That the States of Holland sent an express for all the Captains of their Men of War forthwith to go down to their Ships and to stay all Shipping going for England which Imbargoe raiseth thoughts that they intend a War against England 30. Reports to the Parliament from the Commissioners for Scotland of the Form of consent of the Deputies of the Shires and Boroughs of Scotland to the Vnion with England into one Common-wealth without a King or House of Lords and to live Peaceably in the mean time with submission to the Authority of the Parliament of England With their Petition for New Magistrates to be chosen of such as consent thereunto and that Course may be taken with the Ministers who preach against this Vnion April 1652. 1. Letters of Recruits Shiped for Ireland A Letter Signed by Gerald Fitz-Gerald in behalf of an Assembly of the Irish in the Province of Leinster to the Parliaments Commissioners for Ireland setting forth the Calamities of War and the blessings of Peace and the good inclinations of the Common-wealth of England to give reasonable Conditions to those that shall submit to them He desires a safe Conduct for the Inhabitants of the several Provinces to meet and choose Commissioners to Treat with and Propound such things to Commissioners to be appointed to meet with them as may conduce to the Peace and Settlement of that Kingdom The Commissioners in Ireland published a Declaration in answer to this Letter That they cannot in Duty and Honour own that of Gerald Fitz-Gerald for an Authority but declare That the settlement of the Affairs of Ireland doth of right belong to the Common-wealth of England the consideration whereof is at present before them 2. That in the Settlement thereof the Parliament will make distinction of such Persons as have lived Peaceably or having been misled have since submitted to their Authority and those who have acted or abetted the Murders and Massacres of the Protestants and such as adhered to them the first year of their Rebellion or such as continue in Hostility 3. That to grant safe Conducts to such as are in Hostility against the Parliament to meet and consult together is an Act to which the Commissioners cannot in Prudence consent 4. That for such as are now in Arms and are willing to lay them down and submit to the Parliament upon timely application to the Parliaments Ministers here for particular places and persons such moderate Terms will be consented unto as men in their condition can in reason expect Lieutenant-General Ludlow by advice with the English Commissioners and Field Officers of the Army returned answer to the Earl of Clanrickards Letters That the power of ordering the Affairs of Ireland belonged to the Parliament of England who would not capitulate with those in Arms against them but upon Application of particular Persons such favour would be shewed to them as they should deserve and should be reasonable Anno 1652 The Commissioners from the Rebels presented another Paper to the English Commissioners for a safe Conduct to such as should be appointed Commissioners by the Provinces to attend the Parliament To this the Parliaments Commissioners made
Correspondencie with forreign Kings Princes and States and also with the Consent of the major part of the Council have the power of War and Peace VI. That the Laws shall not be altered suspended abrogated or repealed nor any new Law made nor any Tax Charge or Imposition laid upon the People but by common Consent in Parliament save only as is expressed in the Thirtieth Article VII That there shall be a Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster upon the third day of September One thousand six hundred fifty four and that successively a Parliament shall be summoned once in every third year to be accounted from the dissolution of the preceding Parliament VIII That neither the Parliament to be next summoned nor any successive Parliaments shall during the time of Five Months to be accounted from the day of their first meeting be adjourned prorogued or dissolved without their own Consent IX That as well the next as all other successive Parliaments shall be summoned and Elected in manner hereafter exprest That is to say The Persons to be chosen within England Wales the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed to sit and serve in Parliament shall be and not exceed the Number of Four hundred The Persons to be chosen within Scotland to sit and serve in Parliament shall be and not exceed the number of Thirty And the Persons to be chosen to sit in Parliament for Ireland shall be and not exceed the number of Thirty X. That the Persons to be Elected to sit in Parliament from time to time for the several Counties of England Wales the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed and all places within the same respectively shall be according to the Proportions and numbers hereafter exprest That is to say For the County of Bedford six viz. For the Town of Bedford one For the County of Bedford five For the County of Berks seven viz. For the Borrough of Abingdon one For the Burrough of Reading one For the County of Berks five For the County of Bucks eight viz. For the Town of Buckingham one For the Burrough of Alisbury one For the Burrough of Wiccomb one For the County of Bucks five For the County of Cambridg Isle of Ely eight viz. For the Town of Cambridg one For the University of Cambridge one For the Isle of Ely two For the County of Cambridge four For the County of Chester five viz. For the City of Chester one For the County of Chester four For the County of Cornwall twelve viz. For the Burrough of Dunishwet otherwise Launceston one For the Burrough of Truro one For the Burrough of Penryn one For the Burrough of East-low and Westlow one For the County of Cornwal eight For the County of Cumberland three viz. For the City of Carlile one For the County of Cumberland two For the County of Derby five viz. For the Town of Derby one For the County of Derby four For the County of Devon twenty viz. For the City of Exeter two For the Burrough of Plymouth two For the Burrough of Dartmouth Clifton and Harderness one For the Burough of Totness one For the Borough of Barnstable one For the Borough of Tiverton one For the Borough of Honyton one For the County of Devon eleven For the County of Dorset ten viz. For the Borough of Dorchester one For the Borough of Weymouth and Melcomb-Regis one For the Borough of Lyme-Regis one For the Town and County of Pool one For the County of Dorset six For the County of Durham three viz. For the City of Durham one For the County of Durham two For the County of York twenty two viz. For the City of York two For the Town of Kingston upon Hull one For the Borough of Beverly one For the Borough of Scarborough one For the Borrough of Richmond one For the Town of Leeds one For the Town and Parish of Hallifax one For the County of York fourteen to be chosen distinctly by the three Ridings That is to say for the West-riding six for the East-riding four for the North-riding four For the County of Essex sixteen viz. For the Borough of Maldon one For the Borough of Colchester two For the County of Essex thirteen For the County of Gloucester and County of the City of Gloucester nine viz. For the City of Gloucester two For the Borough of Tewksberry one For the Borough of Cirencester one For the County and the County of the City of Gloucester except the said City five For the County of Hereford six viz. For the City of Hereford one For the Borough of Lempster one For the County of Hereford four For the County of Hartford seven viz. For the Town of Saint Alban one For the Borough of Hartford one For the County of Hartford five For the County of Huntingdon four viz. For the Borough of Huntingdon one For the County of Huntingdon three For the County of Kent eighteen viz. For the City of Canterbury two For the City of Rochester one For the Borough of Maidstone one For the Port of Dover one For the Port of Sandwich one For the Borough of Quinborough one For the County of Kent eleven For the County of Lancaster eight viz. For the Borough of Preston in Anderness one For the Borough of Laucaster one For the Borough of Leverpool one For the Town and Parish of Manchester one For the County of Lancaster four For the County of Leycester six viz. For the Borough of Leycester two For the County of Leycester four For the County of Lincoln sixteen viz. For the City of Lincoln two For the Town of Boston one For the Borough of Grantham one For the Town of Stamford one For the Town of Great Grimsby one For the County of Lincoln ten For the County of Middlesex six viz. For the City of Westminster two For the County of Middlesex four For the City of London six For the County of Monmouth three For the County of Norfolk sixteen viz. For the City of Norwich two For the Town of Lynne Regis two For the Town of Great Yarmouth two For the County of Norfolk ten For the County of Northampton eight viz. For the City of Peterborough one For the Town of Northampton one For the County of Northampton six For the County of Nottingham six viz. For the Town of Nottingham two For the County of Nottingham four For the County of Northumberland five viz. For the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne one For the Town of Berwick one For the County of Northumberland three For the County of Oxford eight viz. For the City of Oxford one For the University of Oxford one For the Borough of Woodstock one For the County of Oxford five For the County of Rutland two For the County of Salop eight viz. For the Town of Shrewsbury two For the Borough of Bruges alias Bridgenorth one For the Borough of Ludlow one For the County of
Salop four For the County of Stafford six viz. For the City of Lichfield one For the Town of Stafford one For the Borough of Newcastle on the Line one For the County of Stafford three For the County of Somerset sixteen viz. For the Borough of Taunton two For the City of Bath one For the City of Wells one For the Borough of Bridgewater one For the County of Somerset eleven For the City of Bristol two For the County of Southampton fourteen viz. For the City of Winchester one For the Town of Southampton one For the Town of Portsmouth one For the Isle of Wight two For the Borough of Andover one For the County of Southampton eight For the County of Suffolk sixteen viz. For the Borough of Ipswich two For the Borough of Bury St. Edmonds two For the Borough of Dunwich one For the Borough of Sudbury one For the County of Suffolk ten For the County of Surrey ten viz. For the Borough of Southwark two For the Borough of Gilford one For the Borough of Rygate one For the County of Surrey six For the County of Sussex fourteen viz. For the City of Chichester one For the Borough of Lewis one For the Borough of East-greenstead one For the Borough of Arundel one For the Borough of Rye one For the County of Sussex nine For the County of Westmorland two For the County of Warwick seven viz. For the City of Coventry two For the Borough of Warwick one For the County of Warwick four For the County of Worcester seven viz. For the City and County of the City of Worcester two For the County of Worcester five For the County of Wilts fourteen viz. For the City of New Sarum two For the Borough of Marleborough one For the Borough of the Devizes one For the County of Wilts ten For the County of Anglesey two For the County of Brecon two For the County of Cardigan two For the County of Carmarthen two For the County of Carnarvon two For the County of Denbigh two For the County of Flint two For the County of Glamorgan three viz. For the Town of Cardiffe one For the County of Glamorgan two For the County of Merioneth one For the County of Montgomery two For the County of Pembrook three viz. For the Town of Haverfordwest one For the County of Pembrook two For the County of Raduor two The distribution of the Persons to be chosen for Scotland and the several Counties Cities and Places within the same shall be according to such proportions and number as shall be agreed upon and declared by the Lord Protector and the major part of the Council before the sending forth Writs of Summons for the next Parliament The distribution of the Persons to be chosen for Ireland and the several Counties Cities and places within the same shall be according to such proportions and number as shall be agreed upon and declared by the Lord Protector and the Major part of the Council before the sending forth Writs of Summons for the next Parliament XI That the summons to Parliament shall be by Writ under the Great Seal of England directed to the Sheriffs of the several and respective Counties with such alteration as may suit with the present Government to be made by the Lord Protector and his Council which the Chancellour Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal shall seal issue and send abroad by Warrant from the Lord Protector If the Lord Protector shall not give warrant for issuing of Writs of Summons for the next Parliament before the first day of June one thousand six hundred fifty four or for the Triennial Parliaments before the first day of August in every third year to be accounted as aforesaid That then the Chancellour Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal for the time being shall without any Warrant or direction within seven days after the said first day of June One thousand six hundred fifty four Seal Issue and send abroad Writs of Summons changing therein what is to be changed as aforesaid to the several and respective Sheriffs of England Scotland and Ireland for summoning the Parliament to meet at Westminster the third of September next and shall likewise within seven days after the said first day of August in every third year to be accounted from the Dissolution of the precedent Parliament Seal Issue and send abroad several Writs of Summons changing therein what is to be changed as aforesaid for summoning the Parliament to meet at Westminster the sixth of November in that third year That the said several and respective Sheriffs shall within ten days after the receipt of such Writs as aforesaid cause the same to be proclaimed and published in every Market-town within his County upon the Market-days thereof between Twelve and Three of the Clock and shall then also publish and declare the certain day of the week and moneth for choosing Members to serve in Parliament for the Body of the said County according to the tenour of the said Writ which shall be upon Wednesday five Weeks after the date of the Writ and shall likewise declare the place where the Election shall be made for which purpose he shall appoint the most convenient place for the whole County to meet in and shall send Precepts for Elections to be made in all and every City Town Borough or place within his County where Elections are to be made by vertue of these Presents to the Mayor Sheriff or other Head Officer of such City Town Borough or place within three days after the receipt of such Writ and Writs which the said Mayors Sheriffs and Officers respectively are to make publication of and of the certain day for such Elections to be made in the said City Town or place aforesaid and to cause Elections to be made accordingly XII That at the day and place of Elections the Sheriff of each County and the said Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs and other Head-Officers within their Cities Towns Boroughs and places respectively shall take view of the said Elections and shall make return into the Chancery within twenty days after the said Elections of the persons Elected by the greater number of Electors under their hands and seals between him on the one part and the Electors on the other part wherein shall be contained That the persons Elected shall not have power to alter the Government as it is hereby setled in one single Person and a Parliament XIII That the Sheriff who shall wittingly and willingly make any false return or neglect his duty shall incur the penalty of Two thousand Marks of lawful English Money the one mâ—ity to the Lord Protector and the other moity to such person as will sue for the same XIV That all and every person and persons who have ayded advised assisted or abetted in any War against the Parliament since the First day of January One thousand six hundred forty one unless they have been since in the service of the
their parts Provided this liberty be not extended to Popery or Prelacy nor to such as under the profession of Christ hold forth and practise Licentiousness XXXVIII That all Laws Statutes Ordinances and Clauses in any Law Statute and Ordinance to the contrary of the aforesaid Liberty shall be esteemed as null and void XXXIX That the Acts and Ordinances of Parliament made for the Sale or other Disposition of the Lands Rents and Hereditaments of the late King Queen and Prince of Arch-bishops and Bishops c. Deans and Chapters the Lands of Delinquents and Forest Lands or any of them or of any other Lands Tenements Rents and Hereditaments belonging to the Commonwealth shall no way be impeached or made invalid but shall remain good and firm And that the securities given by Act and Ordinance of Parliament for any sum or sums of money by any of the said Lands the Excise or by any other Publick Revenue and also the Securities given by the Publick Faith of the Nation and the engagement of the Publick Faith for satisfaction of Debts and Damages shall remain firm and good and not be made void and invalid upon any pretence whatsoever XL. That the Articles given to or made with the Enemy and afterwards confirmed by Parliament shall be performed and made good to the persons concerned therein And that such Appeals as were depending in the last Parliament for relief concerning Bills of Sale of Delinquents Estates may be heard and determined the next Parliament Any thing in this Writing or otherwise to the contrary notwithstanding XLI That every successive Lord Protector over these Nations shall take and subscribe a solemn Oath in the presence of the Council and such others as they shall call to them That he will seek the Peace Quiet and Welfare of these Nations cause Law and Justice to be equally Administred and that he will not violate or infringe the matters and things contained in this Writing and in all other things will to his Power and to the best of his understanding govern these Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs XLII That each person of the Council shall before they enter upon their Trust take and subscribe an Oath That they will be true and faithful in their Trust according to the best of their knowledge And that in the Election of every Successive Lord Protector they shall proceed therein impartially and do nothing therein for any promise fear favor or reward The Oath taken by His Highness Oliver Cromwel Lord Protector WHereas the Major part of the last Parliament judging that their sitting any longer as then constituted would not be for the good of this Common-wealth did Dissolve the same and by a Writing under their hands dated the Twelfth day of this instant December resigned unto Me their Powers and Authorities And whereas it was necessary thereupon That some speedy course should be taken for the settlement of these Nations upon such a Basis and Foundation as by the Blessing of God might be lasting secure Property and answer those great ends of Religion and Liberty so long contended for And upon full and mature Consideration had of the Form of Government hereunto annexed being satisfied that the same through Divine Assistance may answer the Ends afore-mentioned And having also been desired and advised aswell by several Persons of Interest and Fidelity in this Commonwealth as the Officers of the Army to take upon Me the Protection and Government of these Nations in the manner expressed in the said Form of Government I have accepted thereof and do hereby declare My acceptance accordingly And do promise in the presence of God That I will not violate or infringe the matters and things contained therein but to My power observe the same and cause them to be observed and shall in all other things to the best of My understanding Govern these Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customs seeking their Peace and causing Justice and Law to be equally administred O. Cromwel Oliver Cromwell Captain General of all the Forces of this Commonwealth and now declared Lord Protector thereof did this Sixteenth day of December One thousand six hundred fifty three Sign this Writing and solemnly promise as is therein contained in presence of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England who Administred the same Oath and of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London divers of the Judges of the Land the Officers of State and Army and many other persons of Quality The Writing mentioned in the Oath was in these Words December 12. 1653. UPon a Motion this day made in the House that the sitting of this Parliament any longer as now Constituted will not be for the good of the Commonwealth And that therefore it was requisite to deliver up unto the Lord General Cromwel the Powers which they received from him These Members whose Names are underwritten have and do hereby resign their said Powers to his Excellency The same Day the Council did set forth this Proclamation BY THE COUNCIL WHereas the late Parliament Dissolving themselves and resigning their Powers and Authorities The Government of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland by a Lord Protector and Successive Trienial Parliaments is now Established And whereas Oliver Cromwell Captain-General of all the Forces of this Commonwealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make Publication of the Premises and strictly to Charge and Command all and every person and persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice thereof and to conform and submit them selves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Majors Bayliffs and other Publick Ministers and Officers whom this may concern are required to cause this Proclamation to be forthwith Published in their respective Counties Cities Corporations and Market Towns To the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf Given at White-Hall this sixteenth day of December 1653. 17 The new Lord Protector observed new and great State and all Ceremonies and respects were paid to him by all sorts of Men as to their Prince 19 Letters that the Highlanders dispersed themselves for their Levys and intended to force unreasonable Contributions That some of them near Durham robbed the Post Boy took away his Letters Horse Coat and Twenty pence in money That Major Murryhead was taken Prisoner by a Party of the English he being on his Journey to the Highlanders That Captain Lisle with a Party of the English Army fell into the Enemies Quarters and took Two Captains one Cornet one Quarter-Master a Corporal and twenty private Souldiers and about forty Horse and some Armes fired the House and killed three Men and lost not one Man and but one wounded in the Thigh That by Order Captain Lisle met with Collonel Morgan and they marched seven Miles into the Highlands
now in my Return homewards give me leave Sir to acquaint you with some passages of Respect to this Common-wealth in my Journy both in Sweden Denmark and Germany The Magistrates and People of Stockholm were very Respectful to your Servants and General Wrangel and General Major Fleetwood with Here Lagerfelds and others Accompanied me Fourty English Miles to their Chief City There they freely showed me not only the Stately Castle Town Haven and Ships but their Works Magazines Arsenal Work-Houses for Arms and Shipping which were very strong and Considerable There I had two Ships provided for my Transportation over the Baltique Sea and in that where I went on Board a Vice-Admiral was sent to Command being a point of great Honour and the Ship was Richly Furnished and Accommodated for the Voyage After we had passed this deep and rough Sea through great Tempests and Dangers and were Arrived near to the Hans Town of Lubeck they hearing of it by our Guns sent their Coach and Officers to conduct me to their City where some of the Chief of their Lords with their Syndick or Recorder came from the rest to Salute me and in the Latine Oration made to me gave me all welcome to the Place and highly expressed their Valuation of this Common-wealth I Received also Civil Complements and Salutations from the Dukes of Saxony Holstein Curland Lunenburgh and other free Princes of Germany full of Respect and Honour to you Here I received likewise Respect and Ceremonies from the English Company at Hambourgh two days Journy from this City who sent Messengers to invite me to their House in Hambrough and expressed all Duty and Respects to you as their Superiours In my Land-journey which was not without hardship and want of Conveniencies where the Armies had been in their late Warrs betwixt these two Hans Towns of Lubecke and Hambourgh About two Leagues before I came to Hambourgh my Countrymen of the English Company there met me upon the way with about Fifty Coaches and about Two hundred Horsemen to welcome me to those Parts They Treated me Nobly by the way and Conducted me into Hamburgh where the Streets were so Crowded with People that we had a difficult passage through them and generally both in their words and carriage they expressed all civility and respect unto this Commonwealth The same Evening that I came hither the Lords of Hamburgh sent four of their Senators with their Syndicke to Salute and welcome me to their City and presented me nobly with Provisions of Fish and Flesh Wine and Beer for my Hospitality They Congratulated the success of your Treaty with Sweedland and expressed very high regard to our Commonwealth they invited me to Collations and did me the Honour to come to my Table and appointed one of their Chief Military Officers to shew me the Works and Ammunition of the Town and others of their own Number to accompany me to their Town-House and to inform me in Matters relating to their Judicatories Indeed their Fortifications are very strong and regular and they have great store of Armes and Ammunition and give therein a good Pattern for others as also for Provisions for their Shipping Sir I must do this right to them that both at my coming thither and during my stay there which was about ten days and at my departure from thence they did upon all occasions manifest as great an esteem and respect for this Common-wealth as any whom I have met with in Forreign Parts Sir it pleased God to stop our Voyage by contrary Winds and to stay us upon the Elbe near Gluckstade a Town of the King of Denmarks who hearing of my being there sent one of his Senatours Grave Rossen-Cross Vice Roy of Holstein to invite me to his Court. The Vice Roy came with many Attendants and not without great danger by the stormy Weather on Board my Ship and highly Complemented this Commonwealth from his Master but I knowing the course of Treatments in those Parts excused my self with the best Civility I could from going on Shore Alledging what was a truth That no person having the Command of your Ships as I then had and being on Board them ought to go from them without leave until his Voyage were finished and that this was my condition at that time I had much ado to satisfie the Vice Roy but he was well pleased with this Treatment and promised to make my Apology to his Master and to do all good Offices with him to testifie his Service to this Commonwealth After an extream dangerous and strong passage betwixt Hambourgh and England wherein the hand of God appeared wonderfully in the preservation of your Servants we all came in safety to our dear Country Thus Sir I have given you an Account of the whole Transactions of this business and for any Errours or Miscarriage of mind in the Negotiation or in this Account I have given you of it I humbly ask your Pardon After he had spoken the House gave a general Applause and divers of them stood up and moved That he might have the Publick Thanks of the House for the good Service done in this hazardous and Important Business of his Ambassie Then the Lord Broghil spake much in commendation of the Treaty and of the Ambassadour and seconded the Motion that he might have the Publick Thanks of the House for his good Service He added That there was a considerable Sum of Money due to him for the Expences of his Ambassy and no Gratuity or Reward given for his hazardous and Great Service done for this Commonwealth And further moved That two thousand pound might be ordered by the House to be paid in satisfaction of all Arrears due to him and as a mark of favour from the House Others who were well acquainted with the business informed the House That there was near Two thousand pound Arrears due to him and that there would be very little of the Two thousand pound if they should order it for him which would be a Testimony of their Favour and Reward of his Services The House unanimously ordered That two thousand pound should be forthwith paid out of the Publick Treasury in satisfaction of all his Expences in his Ambassy not yet paid and of all Arrears due to him and the Speaker according to the order did solemnly give him the Thanks of the House for the great Service preformed for this Common-wealth in his Ambassy in Sweden 7 Six English Vessels at several times were taken upon the Western Coast and carried into Brest and other Havens of France by the Pickeroons 8 The States of Holland sent their Command to the Governour of Breda That if the Queen of Sweden came thither he should entertain Her according to the Quality of so great a Princess Much Division was amongst them concerning the young Prince of Orange 9 Most of the great Commanders of the High-landers came in to the English upon Articles 11 The House all the three last
shall be left by the party acusing in writing under his hand with the party accused or in his absence at his house in the County City or Town for which he shall be chosen if he have any such house or if not with the Sheriff of the County if he be chosen for a County or with the Chief Magistrate of the City or Borough of which he is chosen And that the number of persons to be Elected and chosen to Sit and serve in Parliament for ENGLAND SCOTLAND and IRELAND and the distribution of the persons so chosen within the Counties Cities and Boroughs of them respectively may be according to such proportions as sholl be agreed upon and Declared in this present Parliament V That your Highness will consent That none be called to Sit and Vote in the other House but such as are not disabled but qualified according to the Qualifications mentioned in the former Article being such as shall be nominated by your Highness and approved by this House and that they exceed not Seventy in number nor be under the number of Forty whereof the Quorum to be One and twenty who shall not give any Vote by Proxies and that as any of them do dye or be Legally removed no new ones be admitted to Sit and Vote in their rooms but by consent of the House it self That the other House do not proceed in any Civil Causes except in Writs of Error in Cases adjourned from Inferior Courts into the Parliament for difficulty in Cases of Petitions against Proceedings in Courts ef Equity and in Cases of the Priviledges of their own House That they do not proceed in any Criminal Causes whatsoever against any person criminally but upon an Impeachment ef the Commons assembled in Parliament and by their consent That they do not proceed in any Cause either Civil or Criminal but according to the known Laws of the Land and the due course and Custom of Parliament That no final Determinations or Judgments be by any Members of that House in any Cause there depending either Civil Criminal or Mixt as Commissioners or Delegates to be nominated by that House But all such final Determinations and Judgments to be by the House it self Any Law or Vsage to the contrary notwithstanding VI. That in all other particulars which concern the calling and holding of Parliaments your Highness will be pleased That the Laws and Statutes of the Land be observed and kept and that no Laws be Altered and Suspended Abrogated or Repealed or new Law made but by Act of Parliament VII And to the end there may be a constant Revenue for Support of the Government and for the Safety and Defence of these Nations by Sea and Land We declare our willingness to Settle forthwith a Yearly Revenue of Thirteen hundred thousand Pounds whereof Ten hundred thousand Pounds for the Navy and Army and Three hundred thousand pounds for the Support of the Government and no part thereof to be raised by a Land Tax And this not to be altered without the consent of the Three Estates in Parliament And to grant such other Temporary Supplies according as the Commons Assembled in Parliament shall from time to time adjudge the necessities of these Nations to require And do pray Your Highness That it be Declared and Enacted That no Charge be laid nor no person be compelled to contribute to any Gift Loan Benevolence Tax Tallage Aid or other like Charge without common consent by Act of Parliament which is a Freedom the People of these Nations ought by the Laws to Inherit VIII That none may be added or admitted to the Privy Council of your Highness or Successors but such as are of known Piety and undoubted affection to the Rights of these Nations and a just Christian Liberty in matters of Religion nor without consent of the Council to be afterwards approved by both Houses of Parliament and shall not afterwards be removed but by consent of Parliament but may in the Intervals of Parliament be suspended from the Exercise of his Place by your Highness or your Successors and the Council for just cause and that the number of the Council shall not be above One and twenty whereof the Quorum to be Seven and not under As also that after Your Highness death the Commander in Chief under Your Successors of such Army or Armies as shall be necessary to be kept in England Scotland or Ireland as also all such Field-Officers at Land or Generals at Sea which after that time shall be newly made and Constituted by Your Successors be by consent of the Council and not otherwise And that the standing Forces of this Commonwealth shall be disposed of by the Chief Magistrate by consent of both Houses of Parliament sitting the Parliament and in the Intervals of Parliament by the Chief Magistrate by the Advice of the Council And also that your Highness and Successors will be pleased to Exercise your Government over these Nations by the Advice of your Council IX And that the Chancellor Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal of England the Treasurer or Commissioners of the Treasury there the Admiral the Chief Governour of Ireland the Chancellor Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland the Chief Justices of both the Benches and the Chief Baron in England and Ireland the Commander in Chief of the Forces in Scotland and such Officers of State there as by Act of Parliament in Scotland are to be approved by Parliament and the Judges in Scotland hereafter to be made shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament X And whereas your Highness out of your zeal to the glory of God and the propagation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ hath been pleased to encourage a Godly Ministry in these Nations We earnestly desire that such as do openly revile them or their Assemblies or disturb them in the Worship or Service of God to the dishonour of God scandal of good men or breach of the peace may be punished according to Law And where the Laws are defective that your Highness will give consent to such Laws as shall be made in that behalf XI That the true Protestant Christian Religion as it is contained in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and no other be held forth and asserted for the publique profession of these Nations And that a Confession of Faith to be agreed by your Highness and the Parliament according to the Rule and Warrant of the Sciptures be asserted held forth and recommended to the people of these Nations That none may be suffered or permitted by opprobrious Words or Writing maliciously or contemptuously to Revile or Reproach the Confession of Faith to be agreed upon as aforesaid And such who profess Faith in God the Father and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son the true God and in the Holy Spirit God coequal with the Father and the Son one God blessed for ever and do acknowlege the
Articles in the Petition and Advice excepting such as since have born Arms for your Highness or the Parliament or have been admitted to sit and serve in the Parliament of this Commonwealth and are of good life and conversation or such as shall hereafter be declared by your Highness with the advice of your Council to have given some signal testimony of their good affection and continuance in the same That the Proviso in the said fourth Article be explain'd thus viz. That such English and Scotish Protestants who since the defection of the Earl of Ormond and the Lord Inchiquin and before the first day of March 1649. have born Arms for and ever since continued faithfull to the Parliament or your Highness or have otherwise before the said first day of March 1649. given signal testimony of their good affection to this Common-wealth and have ever since continued faithfull to the same shall not be debarred or deemed uncapable of electing or being Elected to serve in Parliament And whereas in the said fourth Article Publick Ministers or Publick Preachers of the Gospel are disabled to be Elected to serve in Parliament It is hereby explained and declared to extend to such Ministers and Preachers only as have Maintenance for Preaching or are Pastors or Teachers of Congregations In the said fourth Article That in stead of Commissioners to be appointed by Act of Parliament to examin and try whether the Members to be Elected for the House of Commons in future Parliaments be capable to sit according to the Qualifications mentioned in the said Petition and Advice there shall be the Penalty and Fine of a 1000 pounds laid and inflicted upon every such unqualified Member being so adjudged by the said House of Commons and imprisonment of his Person until payment thereof And that the ensuing Clauses in the said Article viz. We desire that it may by your Highness Consent be Ordained That forty and one Commissioners be appointed by act of Parliament who or five or more of them shall be Authorized to examine and try whether the Members to be Elected for the House of Commons in future Parliaments be Capable to sit according to the qualifications mentioned in this Petition and Advice and in case they find them not qualified accordingly then to suspend them from sitting until the House of Commons shall upon hearing their particular Cases admit them to sit which Commissioners are to stand so Authorized for that end until the House of Commons in any future Parliament shall nominate the like number of other Commissioners in their places And those other Commissioners so to be nominated in any future Parliament to have the same Power and Authority That the said Commissioners shall Certifie in writing to the House of Commons on the first day of their meeting the cause and grounds of their suspensions of any person so to be Elected as aforesaid That the Accusation shall be upon Oath of the Informant or of some other person That a Copy of the Accusation shall be left by the party accusing in writing under his hand with the party accused or in his absence at his house in the Country City or Town for which he shall be Chosen if he have any such House or if not with the Sheriff of the County if he be chosen for a County or with the chief Magistrate of the City or Burrough for which he is chosen shall not be put in Execution or made use of but shall be void frustrate Null and of none effect and shall be so construed and taken to all intents and purposes whatsoever anything contained in the said Petition and Advice to the contrary notwithstanding In the fifth Article That the Nomination of the Persons to supply the place of such Members of the other House as shall die or be removed shall be by your Highness and your Successors In the seventh Article That the monies directed to be for the supply of the Sea and Land Forces be issued by Advice of the Council And that the Treasurer or Commissioners of the Treasury shall give an Account of all the said money to every Parliament That the Officers of State and Judges in the Ninth Article of the said Petition and Advice mentioned shall be chosen in the â—ntervals of Parliament by the Consent of the Council to be afterwards approved by Parliament That your Highness will be pleased according to the usage of former Chief Magistrates in these Nations and for the better satisfaction of the People thereof to take an Oath in the form ensuing I do in the presence and by the Name of God Almighty promise and swear That to the uttermost of my power I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my power and understanding and incourage the Profession and Professours of the same and that to the utmost of my power I will endeavour as chief Magistrate of these three Nations the Maintenance and Preservation of the Peace and safety and of the just Rights and Privileges of the people thereof And shall in all things according to my best knowledge and power govern the people of these Nations according to Law That your Highness successors do before they take upon them the Government of these Nations take an Oath in the Form aforesaid That all such persons who now are or shall hereafter be of the Privy Council of your Highness or Successors before they or either of them do act as Counsellors shall respectively take an Oath before persons to be authorised by your Highness and Successors for that purpose in the Form following I A. B. doe in the presence and by the Name of God Almighty promise and swear That to the uttermost of my power in my place I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and encourage the Profession and Professors of the same And that I will be true and faithfull to His Highness the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging as Chief Magistrate thereof And shall not contrive design or attempt any thing against the person or lawfull Authority of his said Highness and shall keep secret all matters that shall be treated of in Council and put under secrecy and not reveal them but by Command or consent of His Highness the Parliament or the Council and shall in all things faithfully perform the trust Committed to me as a Councellor according to the best of my understanding in order to the good Government Peace and Welfare of these Nations That the same Oath be taken by the members of your Highness Council of Scotland and Ireland That every person who now is or hereafter shall be a Member of either House of Parliament
and friendly to all Gentlemen of her acquaintance her death did much grieve her Father 12. The Protector was ill at Hampton Court 13. The Attorney Prideaux and the Sollicitor General were made Baronets 16. Mr. Robinson had a project to raise money for the Publick 17. Sir John Winter had a Project of charking of Sea-coal whereby it became as sweet Fuell as Wood or Charcoal and he sent some of it with a new fashion'd Grate to several great men for a Tryal but it came to nothing 21. A Bill signed by his Highness for a Patent to make Whitelocke a Viscount and in Secretary Thurlo's hand to be passed but Whitelocke did not think it convenient for him 22. Gravelin was delivered up to the French upon Articles 24. The Duke of Buckingham was apprehended and committed to the Tower 26. The Protector was sick at Hampton Court as some thought of an Ague 28. The Earl of Mulgrave one of his Highness Council died in the way as he was coming up to London September 1658. 3. This day about Two a Clock in the After-noon the Protector died at Hampton Court the same day that he had before obtained the Victories at Dunbar and at Worcester he now went to rest in the Grave after his many great Actions and Troubles he now died quietly in his Bed some were of opinion that he was poysoned Immediately upon his death the Council assembled and being satisfied that the Protector in his life-time according to the Petition and Advice had declared his Son Richard to be his Successour the Council caused the same to be proclaimed in a solemn manner in London and Westminster and they went the same day to Richard to acquaint him with it and sent a Committee of the Council into the City to inform them hereof The Proclamation of Richard to be Lord Protector was made in London in the following words Whereas it hath pleased the most wise God in his Providence to take out of this world the most serene and renowned Oliver late Lord Protector of this Common-wealth And his Highness having in his life-time according to the humble Petition and Advice declared and appointed the most Noble and Illustrious the Lord Richard eldest Son of his said late Highness to succeed him in the Government of these Nations We therefore of the Privy Council together with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Citizens of London the Officers of the Army and numbers of other principal Gentlemen do now hereby with one full voice and consent of Tongue and heart publish and declare the said Noble and Illustrious Lord Richard to be rightfull Protector of this Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging To whom we do acknowledge all fidelity and constant obedience according to Law And the said humble Petition and Advice with all hearty and humble affections beseeching the Lord by whom Princes rule to bless him with long life and these Nations with peace and happiness under his Government Richard Chiverton Mayor Henry Lawrence President Nathaniel Fiennes C. S. John Lisle C. S. C. Fleetwood P. Lisle John Desbrough E. Mountague Gilb. Pickering C. Wolseley Philip Skippon William Sydenham Wal. Strickland Phil. Jones Jo. Thurloe Fauconberg Edw. Whaley W. Goff Tho. Cooper Oliver Flemming John Clerk Tho. Pride Edm. Prideaux Tobias Brigde Edw. Salmon Jo. Biscoe Waldine Lagoe John Mill. E. Grosvenor c. God save his Highness Richard Lord Protector The Council gave the Oath to Richard and with his consent another Proclamation was published for all that were Officers in his Father's time to continue in their places 8. The Master of the Ceremonies by Order of the Council acquainted all foreign Ministers with the death of the late Protector and the Succession of his Son Richard 9. Letters of the Proclaiming of Richard to be Protector in several of the chief Cities and Towns in England 10. Of the Proclaiming of Richard Lord Protector at Dunkirk Richard and his Council kept a Day of humiliation and ordered the keeping of it at another time in London 11. News of the King of Sweden's besieging of Copenhagen 17. Mens minds were troubled at this change and feared the consequences of it 20. News of the surrender of the Castle of Cronenberg by the Danes to the King of Sweden 25. Several Addresses came to the new Protector declaring satisfaction in his succession and resolution to adhere to him 28. News of good Service performed in Liefland by General Douglas and of the King of Sweden's Successes in Denmark October 1658. 2. An Address from the Sea-Officers acknowledging Richard and protesting to stand by him and from General Monk and his Officers in Scotland 4. News of the taking of Ipre by the English and French in Flanders 5. Addresses to Richard from Portsmouth 6. An Address from the French Dutch and Italian Churches in London 7. The Gentlemen and Freeholders of Buckinghamshire having framed an Address to Richard wherein most of the principal Gentlemen were engaged When they had got it signed they pitched upon Whitelocke to present it whom a great number of them accompanied to Richard with the Address and were quickly admitted to his presence Whitelocke with a short Speech presented it to him and Richard made a very good prudent Answer and thanked the Gentlemen for their affections 10. Letters from Bergen ap Zoam of the news of those parts and of their great Fleet and assisting the King of Denmark against the King of Sweden 23. Mr. Fell died he was a good Lawyer and a good man he served the Parliament as a Souldier and they made him Commissioner of the Seal for Lancaster and second Justice of Chester 15. Several Addresses to Richard from the Congregational Churches and from divers Cities and Counties 18. Audience given by Richard to the French Ambassadour when Richard did carry himself discreetly and better than was expected 19. An Envoy from the King of Sweden to Richard to congratulate his Succession had Audience and from him news of the continuance of the Siege of Copenhagen 22. By advice of the Commissioners of the Treasury order was taken for the bringing in of money for the Souldiers 24. Several other Addresses were made to Richard 27. A general Address to Richard from Berkshire 28. Addresses from the Sea-Officers and Mariners Novem. 1658. 3. An Address to Richard from Oxfordshire 8. News of the Fight at Sea betwixt the Swedes and the Dutch who came to relieve Copenhagen Admiral Wrangell behaved himself very gallantly and the Swedes had much the better in the Fight but whilst the Swedish Ships were engaged the Merchantmen got by and brought the desired Relief to Copenhagen 13. Sr. Gustavus du Val Envoye from the King of Sweden had Audience and took his leave of Richard 16. Addresses to Richard from the Officers of the Army presented by Desborough 18. Whitelocke constantly attended the business of
Forlorns of both Parties incountred and the Parliaments Horse were forced to a disorderly retreat the Enemy pursued with their whole Body upon the reserve of the Parliaments who received their Charge and after a hot dispute routed them Captain Taylor singly incountring Sir John Owen after he had broken his sword upon his head closed with him dismounted him and took him Prisoner and his party immediatly sled There were killed of them thirty and Sir John Owen with divers others of Quality and sixty private Souldiers taken Prisoners four of the Parliaments Souldiers were Slain and divers Wounded and many Horses Killed on each side Order for two hundred pounds for Captain Taylor and gratuities for divers others and for disposing of the Prisoners Letters of an Agreement betwixt the General and the Kentish-men and that the five revolted Ships are willing to submit upon an Act of Indempnity which the General hath promised them That Sir Thomas Feyton was taken Prisoner at S. Edmonds Bury the Lord Goring Sir Charles Lucas and the Lord Capell coming to them increased in numbers in Essex whereupon the Lord General Fairfax advanced to Gravesend intending to pass over his Men there into Essex 12. Order upon Letters from the Governor of New-Castle for fifteen hundred Pounds for that garrison and that no free Quarter should be taken but only of such as refuse to pay their Assessements and Letters thereof to be written to the Commitees Order for those Gentlemen who formerly attended the Duke of York to attend the Duke of Gloucester and four more added to them and two thousand five hundred Pounds per annum for maintenance of his Family Letters from Colonel Sir Hardresse Waller of his disarming some in Exeter Major General Lambert advanced to Langdale who retreated expecting Assistance from Scotland A Souldier of Hemsley Castle was offered a hundred Pounds in hand and five hundred Pounds more and to be knighted if he would betray the Castle to the Kings Forces but he discovored the Plot and the Agents were apprehended Pontefract Castle was besieged by eight hundred Horse and Foot but at a distance the Kings party there being two hundred and fifty Horse and four hundred Foot The Committee of Lancashire ordered four Regiments of Foot and two of Horse to joyn with Major General Lambert laid an Assessement of three thousand Pounds to advance them and kept a day of Fast to pray to God for his blessing upon them 13. The House approved of the Articles of Canterbury and what the General had done in reducing of Kent A day of thanksgiving appointed for the good success in Kent and a Narrative thereof to be read in Churches Orders touching compositions of Delinquents A Report made of a Design to surprise Nottingham Castle but the Governor Captain Poutton surprised and took Prisoners the Complotters Letters from the Head quarters that Ireton Rich and Hewson's Regiments had reduced Canterbury wherein were three thousand Armes good Horse and twenty four Colours and the other Castles The General sent by Letter an offer of Imdempnity to some revolted Ships at Deale but a Boson told the Trumpeter that brought the Letter that they did not owe the Parliament so much service as to write answer to any that came from them and so the Ships set Sail and went away That the General put over his Forces with much trouble at Gravesend into Essex where Colonel Whaley and Sir Thomas Honywood with two thousand Horse and Foot of the Country joyned with him who kept many from going to the King's Party Among others fourscore Horse out of London most or all Gentlemen intending to be as a Guard to the Prince of Wales when he came in their March met with some of Whaley's Horse many of them killed and taken the rest dispersed among them were four Brothers three of whom were killed or mortally Wounded and the Country-men took many Prisoners That Goring marcheth about four thousand whereof six hundred Horse and about two thousand five hundred are well armed that he touched at Lee's and took horses guns and Arms of the Earl of Warwick's and marched from thence toward Colchester That many of Essex came in to the General who wrote to Suffolk to pull up Bridges and cut down Trees in the way to hinder the March of the Enemy Whitelock reported to the House the appointment of the Judges for the next summer Circuit 14. Order for the tryal of Sir John Owen and the rest of the chief Actors in his business An Ordinance past for forty two thousand pounds for arrears of disbanded Officers and Soldiers Order renewed that such as shall take up Arms without the authority of Parliament shall dye without mercy A Letter ordered to the States of Holland for apprehending three revolted Ships gone for Holland and an order for payment of part of their arrears to others of the revolted Ships that were come in again upon the Act of Indemnity A Committee appointed to draw up a Declaration touching the business of Kent 15. Ordered That the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall do Print all their Receipts for Compositions and how the Moneys have been disbursed that the aspersion upon the Parliament may be cleared of their receiving many millions by compositions for which they could give no account And that the Order should be printed that none shall pay their fifth and twentieth part but Delinquents An additional Ordinance committed for putting Papists and Delinquents out of the Lines of Communication An ordinance transmitted to the Lords for putting the County of Radnor into a posture of defence A Committee appointed to take order for twenty persons of the Kings party to be apprehended and sent down to the General to be kept in like harsh usage as Sir Willian Masham and others sent down by the Parliament are kept in by the Lord Goring until they be exchanged Orders concerning Saltpeter 16. Ordinance past for putting Papists and Delinquents out of the Lines of Communication and twenty Miles from London and four days time given them to depart the Town and that Delinquents who have not presented their compositions and sequestred Ministers shall be taken to be within this Ordinance An affront to Sr. Henry Mildmay by a Foot-man of the D. referred to a Committee to be examined Letters from Colchester That the great ones had a purpose to escape had shipped their Goods but were prevented by the Parliaments Horse and Dragoons who took in Marsey Island and Fort by which they intended to escape and by land their body cannot stir That many of the Townsmen came away to the General whose Soldiers are inraged against those of Colchester for the loss of their Commanders That the General hath five hundred Prisoners most of them taken from the gates of the City that Sir William Masham and the rest of the Committee are detained Prisoners by Goring That the Enemy buryed sixty of their slain men in one Church-yard
besides those killed in the other part of the Town and many of them wounded that Sir William Campion Col. Cooke two Majors and other Officers were slain many of Quality wounded and many of the Trained Bands whom the General released They say that Colonel Farre Lieutenant Colonel to the Earl of Warwick led them out into the field and into Mr. Grimston's house and when he and the men fled being galled by the Parliaments Musquetiers he got to the gate and caused it to be shut and left his men to be cut in pieces by the Parliament Souldiers if they had not been more merciful That the General closely beleaguers the Town his train being come up to him but intends if possible to preserve the Town from fire and plunder That Sir Bern. Scudamore Colonel Stewart and Colonel Thorneton were taken at New-market raising sorces for the King That the Trumpet sent by the General into the Town to see in what condition Sir William Masham and the other Gentlemen Prisoners there were returned that they were in a reasonable good condition That Captain Zanchy who took in Marsey Fort and Island found there two Culverins two Sacres and one Drake and that Captain Peacock and the Commander of the Ships at Harwich offered their assistance to the General Order for raising two Troops of Horse in Northamptonshire and for money for the Army Order about setling Ministers in particular Parishes and for reviving the Committee of Examinations with power to suppress scandalous and unlicensed Pamphlets 17. Debate that every officer before he had his Commission should take the Covenant laid aside A Commission to Colonel Herbert to raise Forces for the Isle of Ely Vote for a Strong Summers Fleet for defence of the Kingdom and to reduce the revolted Ships and a gratuity to be given to the Officers and Mariners of the Fleet. Orders about levying the Assessments for the Army Letters of the General summoning Colchester to render to the Parliament and that the Lord Goring asked the Trumpet who brought the Summons how his General did and bid him tell his General that he heard he was ill of the Gout but that Goring would cure him of all diseases that the Soudiers were highly inraged at this scoff to their General The Lord Goring Lord Capel and Sir Charles Lucas sent to the General for a List of the Prisoners he had taken of their party and the General sent it to them 19. Order for Sir Hardress Waller to permit no new forces to be raised in Devonshire and Cornwal but to make use of the Trained-bands there if there shall be occasion Debate about breaking the Chamber of M r Charleton a member of the House and taking away a Ward from thence the affront referred to a Committee the matter of the Ward referred to the Law Vote to readmit M r Walter Long a Member of the House The Case of Sir John Clotworthy referred to the Committee of Priviledges to examin The County and the City of Chester raised Forces for the Parliament and desired that Captain Carter might command those of the City which the House granted A Letter sent to old Sir Robert Booth inviting him to raise Forces for the King was by him sent up to the Parliament and they referred it to a Committee Referred to a Committee to examin some Mariners upon suspicion of plotting against the Parliament A battery being made against Pembroke Castle an assault was attempted but the Parliament Forces were repulsed with the loss of three and twenty men and but four of the Garrison Letters from Colchester that a Party of three hundred Horse issued out of the Town and returned with forty Head of Cattle and a hundred Sheep and were not met with by the Parliaments Forces sent after them That Lieutenant General Cromwell hath planted his Cannon and intended the next day to begin his battery Letters from the North that Langdale marching towards Carlisle Lambert fell upon his Rear into the quarters of a Regiment newly raised which he totally dispersed and brake that the Officers fled after Langdale and the Souldiers threw down their Armes and ran home seeming glad of the opportunity That Lamberts men pursued another Party of Langdale's and took some Prisoners that Carlisle was unwilling to receive Langdale's Forces saying they would rather lose their lives than be forced to eat Horse Flesh as they had been before Letters from Scotland that an Army will be forthwith raised there that Duke Hamilton goes along General and hath already Six thousand Horse Foot and Dragoons that Middleton is Major General of the Foot and the Earl of Kalender Lieutenant General of the Horse That their Parliament have adjourned for two years and left a great power to the Committee who act vigorously for the War so that the Chancellor the Lord Wareston and others have left them and are gone to the Earl of Argile That an Act is passed for punishing all such as preach or write or speak against any thing done by the Parliament or by any authority derived from them that Holborne is gone with a thousand Horse to fetch in the Earl of Argile and his Party 20. Both Houses reciting former Votes passed 20 Maii 1642 viz. 1. That it appears that the King seduced by wicked Counsel intends to make War against the Parliament who in all their Consultations and Actions have proposed no other end to themselves but the care of the Kingdoms and the performance of all duty and Loyalty to his person 2. That whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a breach of the trust reposed in him by his People contrary to his Oath and tending to the dissolution of this Government 3. That whosoever shall serve and assist him in such wars are Traytors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament and ought to suffer as Traytors 11 R. 2. 1 H. 4. The Lords and Commons now Declare that it appears that divers who have assisted the King in the late War against the Parliament and divers others endeavour to levy a new War against the Parliament That all such are Traytors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged by the said two Acts of Parliament And they ordered that these Votes be printed and published by the Sheriffs in every Market Town and by the Judges in their Circuits An Ordinance passed to establish Colonel Welden Governor of Plymouth and a hundred Pounds orderd him to buy Horses Orders for raising Forces in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire and that the Militia of Lancashire present to the General a fit person to be Governor of Leverpool Colonel Ralph Ashton approved to command the Lancashire Brigade to joyn with Major General Lambert Colonell Russell ordered to go to his Government in Jersey Letters from Lieutennnt General Cromwell That the Garrison of Pembroke begin to be in extream want of
Princes Dukes Earls Lords and all persons alike liable to every Law of the Land 7. That all Commoners be freed from the Jurisdiction of the Lords in all cases and all tryals to be of twelve Sworn men and no conviction but upon two or more sufficient known Witnesses 8. That none be examined against themselves nor punished for doing that against which no Law is provided 9. That the proceedings in Law be abbreviated mitigated and made certain the charge thereof in all particulars 10. That all trade be made free from all monopolizing and ingrossing by Companies or otherwise 11. That the Excise and all kind of taxes except Subsidies be taken off 12. To have laid open all late inclosures of Fenns and other Commons or to have them inclosed only or chiefly for the benefit of the Poor 13. To have considered many thousands that are ruined by perpetual imprisonment for debt and provided for their inlargement 14. To have ordered some effectual course to keep people from begging and beggery in so fruitful a Nation as by Gods blessing this is 15. To have proportioned punishments more equal to offences that so mens lives and estates might not be forfeited upon trivial and slight occasions 16. To have removed the tedious burden of Tithes satisfying all Improprietors and providing a more equal way of maintenance for poor Ministers 17. To have raised a stock of mony out of confiscated Estates for payment of those who contributed voluntarily above their abilities before those that disbursed out of their superfluities 18. To have bound themselves and all future Parliaments from abolishing Propriety levelling mens Estates or making all things Common 19. To have declared what the duty or business of the Kingly Office is and what not and have ascertained the revenue past increase or diminution that there be no more quarrels about it 20. To have rectified the election of publick Officers for London restoring the Commonalty thereof to their just Rights 21. To have made reparation to all oppressed by Sentences in High Commission Star-Chamber and Council Board or by any Monopolies or projects and that out of the Estates of those that were Authors Actors and Promoters of those mischiefs and that without much attendance 22. To have abolished all Committees and have conveyed all businesses into the true method of the usual tryals of the Common-Wealth 23. Not to have followed the example of former Tyrannous and superstitious Parliaments in making Orders Ordinances or Laws or in appointing punishments concerning Opinions or things supernatural stiling some Blasphemies others heresies 24. To have declared what the business of the Lords is and ascertained their condition not derogating from the Liberties of other men that so there might be an end of striving about the same 25. To have done Justice upon the Capital Authours and Promoters of the former or late Wars 26. To have provided constant pay for the Army and to have given rules to all Judges and other Officers for their indemnity and saving harmeless all that have assisted 27. To have laid to heart the abundance of innocent blood that hath been spilt and the infinite spoil and havock that hath been made of peaceable harmless People by express Commission from the King and to have seriously considered whether the Justice of God be likely to be satisfied or his yet remaining wrath to be appeased by an Act of Oblivion The House gave thanks to the Petitioners for their great pains and care to the publick good of the Kingdom and said they would speedily take their desires into Consideration Another Petition was from well Affected Masters and Commanders of Ships Shewing that the Parliament had done Contrary to their Declarations and trade destroyed and they Petition for convoyes of their Ships in trading Outwards and Inwards according to the order of the Hollanders And that all monopolies and restraint of trade may be removed and some way taken to prevent the Shipping of Goods in foreign bottoms Intelligence from the revolted Ships that some of them are mending in Holland that the Saylors are insolent in their carriage towards the Prince Letters from the Isle of Wight that the King was removed to the place of Treaty and had his Liberty to ride about the Island Letters from Chester that by a Council of War there two were condemned and executed for a Plot to betray that City to the Kings Forces Letters from the North that a hundred Scots were brought in Prisoners by the Country that Cromwel was in pursuit of the Enemy and Lambert in the reare of him that the Enemy are about six thousand strong That Colonel Bethel and Colonel Lassells are sent to inforce the siege at Scarborough where three hundred Walloons are landed by command of the Prince That the Souldiers run away from Pontefract Castle to the Parliaments Party 12. The day of publick Humiliation for a blessing upon the Treaty Letters from New-Castle That Lieutenant General Cromwell was about Durham pursuing the Enemy who in the Bishoprick had exceedingly plundered and terrified the people wounding divers taking away the Children of others to get mony for the redemption of them and besides quarters they took of some three pound a House That those who cryed up Duke Hamilton's Party for the great reformers having been thus used by them and with civility by the Parliaments party their opinions are now altered That Monroe held a Council of War and resolved to march back to the Colepits and fire them all but two Posts came speeding to him to have him return presently back to Scotland for that the Presbyterian Ministers had got hold of the Civil Sword made the Marquess of Argyle General who was four thousand strong and too hard for the new levyed Forces of the Lord Lannerick Brother to Duke Hamilton That these Messengers came from Craford and Lannerick That the Scots Ministers had decreed among other things that in regard of the great defection to the Government throughout Scotland they will not administer the Sacrament of the Supper for one year to come That this saved the Colepits and sent the Scots the nearest way over Tweed in such hast that they had almost left their plunder behind them had they not preferred it before life and they left their confederate English to shift for themselves That some of Lieutenant General Cromwells Forces were gon over Tine and Major General Lambert marched by the way of Carlisle and many Countrey-men went with them to seek their Goods and Cattle carryed away into Scotland 13. The Grand Committee sat upon the Ordinance for sale of Deans and Chapter-lands and voted that a hundred pounds per annum should be the least that should be allowed to any minister for his benefice Letters from the Committee of York that the Treaty about Pontefract not taking effect they desired twenty thousand pounds for the Souldiery the House ordered twelve thousand pounds for them Some of the former