in general and to propound remedies Debate about the Ordinance for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands 7. Report of the arrears of the Assessment to the Army to be three hundred fourteen thousand three hundred fifty one pounds for which fifty thousand pound was in arrear in London Order that the Collectors who had not brought in the arrears should be taken into custody and that the Members of the House write to the Committees of the several Counties Letters from Lieutenant General Cromwell of the Surrender of Berwick and Carlisle to him The House approved what he had done and ordered the pay of the Forces there a hundred pound given to the Messenger Letters from the Isle of Wight that the King gave a Paper of reasons to the Parliaments Commissioners why he could not condescend to take away Bishops and Government by Bishops which he conceived to be of Apostolical institution and alledged several Scriptures to that purpose He also propounded some quaeries concerning Presbyterian Government wherein he desired to be satisfied the Commissioners referred it to M r Marshall M r Vines M r Caryll and M r Seaman who were with them to draw up an answer for satisfaction of his Majesty 9. Debate of an Ordinance for a hundred thousand pound for paying the Arrears of reduced Officers and Souldiers and Upon information that they were coming to London from all Parts of the Kingdom Order for a declaration to give them notice that the House is passing an Ordinance for satisfaction of their arrears and that their coming up to London will hinder the great business of the Kingdom and to forbid their coming up upon that or any other pretence whatsoever Order to admit Colonel Butler to his Composition upon Pembrokes Articles The Lords House being called there were about thirty Lords with them Letters from the Isle of Wight that his Majesty gave in to the Commissioners his objections touching the alteration of Church Government and the Ministers then with the Parliaments Commissioners gave in a Paper for answer and satisfaction to the Kings Scruples and as to the obiection that the Sale of Bishops Lands was sacriledge the Commissioners said it lay so much in the Laws of the Land that the Ministers could not judge of â—it That in their Debate touching the Liturgy the King asked what fault they found in the Common Prayer Book to which was replyed that the Liturgy was taken out of the Masse-Book only spoyled in the Translation and that King James had so considered it The King said that if it were good in it self that did not make it ill That his Majesty offered a limited Episcopacy Letters from Lieutenant General Cromwell of the particulars of the rendring of Berwick and Carlisle to the Parliament and desiring that Sir Arthur Haselrigge may supply Berwick being so considerable a place with Guns and Ammunition from New-Castle That both Parties in Scotland were agreed to disband all Forces except fifteen hundred Horse and Foot under General Leven to be kept to see all remaining Forces disbanded that he had some things to desire from the Committee of Estates in Scotland for the service of the Parliament of England for which purpose he was himself going to them The Chancellour of Scotland by command of the Committee of Estates of Scotland writ a Letter to Lieutenant General Cromwell giving him thanks for the many civilities and kind respect he had shewed to that Kingdom and that they had sent Commissioners to him to acquaint him with the agreement betwixt them in Armes in Scotland wherein they had been careful to avoid any thing that might give offence to the Parliament of England They acknowledge advantage hath come to them by the near distance of the English Forces in preventing new troubles whereof they shall be alwaies mindful and endeavour to preserve the Union and a good correspondence betwixt the two Kingdoms 10. A Petition from New-Castle desiring that before the Treaty be ended impartial and speedy Justice may be executed upon the incendiaries fomenters and Actors in the first and second War Another from York and from Hull that the treacherous and Implacable Enemies may be destroyed and exemplary justice done upon them without partiality or delay and their Estates to go towards discharging arrears and publick debts Another Petition to the same purpose but all laid aside by the House 11. Letters from the Commissioners in the Isle of Wight that his Majesty had consented to the settling of the Militia by Sea and Land as in the Proposition and that he will consent to an Act of Parliament to confirm for three years the form of Church Government and Directory for worship presented to him But that he is not satisfied in his conscience or can be content to the utter abolishing of Episcopacy the Substance whereof he conceives to consist in the power of Ordination and Jurisdiction as they were exercised by the Apostles themselves and others by authority derived from them Superiour to Presbyters and Deacons in the Primitive times His Majesties resolution being to comply with his two Houses for the alteration and regulating of his present Hierarchy and Government so as Episcopacy reduced to the Primitive usage may be settled and continued in the Church and if his two Houses shall so advise his Majesty will be content to lessen the extent and multiply the number of the Dioceses That he will consent to the sitting of the Assembly of Divines as formerly he offered and to confirm the publick use of the Directory and will consent to the repeal of so much of all Statutes as only concern the Book of Common Prayer and taking the same away out of all Churches provided that the use of it be continued to his Majesty That he will consent to an Act for the better observation of the Lords day and to prevent saying of Mass That he was not satisfied to take the Covenant or to impose it upon others and conceives his two Houses will not insist upon it and the rather because the ends of it will be obtained by the agreement if happily concluded Upon Debate of this Paper from his Majesty whether as concerning matter of Religion it was satisfactory or not it was voted in the Negative and a Letter ordered to be Writ to the Commissioners to proceed in the Treaty according to their Instructions and that till the Proposition for Religion were signed they should not proceed to the debate of any of the new and that notice should be taken of the extraordinary wise management of this Treaty by the Commissioners An Ordinance transmitted to the Lords for five thousand pound for pay of the Horse-guards attending the Parliament Orders touching mony and Provisions for the Fleet. 12. Upon a report from the Commissioners of the Seal the House ordered that there should be a new call of Serjeants at Law and voted to be Serjeants Out of Grays Inn Sir
the Judgment of Banishment against Lieutenant-Collonel Lilborne An Act passed to make void all Titles of Honour Dignities or Precedencies given by the late King since 4 June 1641. Referred to the Committee for considering of things of greatest Importance to take care for ascertaining the Debts on Publick Faith Order for constant Pay and Supplies for the Forces in Ireland Order for Moneys for Incident Charges to be disposed of by the Committee for removing Obstructions in the Sale of Forfeited Lands 4. One who undertook to cure the Blind and Deaf took Money before-hand of divers People and then ran away 5. Letters that by the late great Snows and Rain in Ireland the Waters rose so high that it drowned and spoiled most of the Corn and Provisions which the Rebels had got into Islands so that they were in a starving Condition That a Party of Collonel Venables men surprised some of the Rebels at their Markets took 20 Horse Slew 20 Men and 120 of them were Drowned 6. Letters that a Petition was presented to the Commissioners at Dalkeith that Dundee might chuse Officers according to their ancient Custome and Rights the Commissioners ordered them to bring in their Charter by a day A Copy of the Letter sent to Major-Ceneral Lambert and intended for the Lord-General Cromwell from the Lord Wareston and other Presbyterians setting forth That they made their Addresses to him because he had charge of those Forces that had unjustly Invaded that Land and had shed the Blood of many of the Saints of Scotland But they confess themselves justly punished for their late Treaty with the King but this doth no way justifie the Instruments They charge the Army with divers Errors countenancing of deposed Ministers to Preach silencing of Ministers that Preach of State proceedings and suffering Officers to Preach Scandalizing the Ministers subordinating the Church to the State in things of Christ which will tolerate the gathering of Churches in Scotland as it is in England Abridging the Assembly of the Kirke and imposing Magistrates principled against the Government of the Kirke They offer compliance in any thing not against their Conscience and the Liberty of the Kirke and Intreat the Major-General to imploy his indeavours with the rest of the Commissioners of England for the obtaining of their desires That the City of Edenburgh had a Commission to choose new Officers and such as should be chosen were to take an Oath of Fidelity to the Common-Wealth of England Letters That the Grandees of the Rebells in Ireland have often meetings to draw up Propositions in order to a Submission to the Parliament of England but cannot agree 7. Letters That many of the Commissioners of Shires and Buroughs in Scotland are chosen to attend the English Commissioners at Dalkeith The Committee for Regulating the Law presented several Results to the Committee of Parliament appointed to receive them 9. Letters That the Oath of Fidelity to the Common-wealth of England much troubled the new chosen Burgesses of Edenburgh That there were great Contests in their Presbyteries and contradictory Orders by them and Appeals to the English Commissioners The English Commissioners published another Declaration for equal Execution of Justice and for the present appointed Persons to Administer Justice till the Judicatories should be Established and forbid any power under the King or any other than under the Common-wealth of England Letters That the Army in Ireland was disposed into convenient Quarters to meet with the Enemy if they came abroad and Collonel Reynolds to lye with a nimble Party of 3000 Horse and Foot to be ready upon any occasion A Copy of the Articles between the Irish and the Duke of Lorraine sent to the Parliament whereby Lorraine was to have the Lordship Spiering Silvercroon Agent from the Queen of Sweden to the Parliament dyed in the Strand 10. The Act of Oblivion passed and some Provisoes to be added to it debated Order for paying Mariners and for lessening the publick charge Order for the Lord-General to send down all the Officers belonging to the Forces in Scotland which was upon Letters from the Commissioners A Declaration of the Inhabitants of Jersey of their Fidelity to the Parliament of England with praise to God for his Justice and giving Success to the Parliaments Forces and beating out the Tyrant Carteret That 3000 Subscribed this Declaration and took the Ingagement Of the opposition of the Presbyters in Devon ' 11. An Account of the Frigats on the Western-Coast and that a great Fleet of Dutch-men of War lay there abouts that the Dutch Captains were rough against the English and demanded Restitution of some of their Ships taken by the English 13. Letters That a small Party of Highlanders Murthered five of the Parliaments Soldiers in their Beds near Innerness and another Party stole away some Cattle That the Scots Ministers pray for their King and the Prisoners in England That Argyles Countrey refused the Warrants sent thither for Contribution by the Parliaments Officers The English Commissioners published a Proclamation against entertaining any Scots in their house without giving up their names to the Governour of the place and that no Scot have any Armes 14. Letters That the English Commissioners in Ireland had settled the Affairs there and were returned to Dublin That Collonel Hewson sent out a Party who killed a whole Troop of Tories except two only That Captain Clerk took 200 Tun of Wheat and Rye carrying to relieve Golloway That Bellitan a strong hold of the Rebels was Stormed by Collonel Zanchey and Collonel Axtell and taken and 4 or 500 of the Rebels killed The Parliament ordered their Committee to call together the Adventurers for Ireland who met and chose a Committee of their own to make Proposals to the Parliament for Setling that Business with their Consent From Sir George Ascues Fleet That he had taken Eleven Dutch and One English Ship at the Barbadoes And that Sir George Shot many Pieces at their chief Castle and they Shot at him and killed one man That he took Two more Dutch Ships loaden with Provisions and Horses Sugar c. That he sent Summons to the Lord Willoughby who answered that he would keep that place for the King That he was informed the King was near London and that all the Countrey came in to him as a Dutch Ship related to him 16. Letters That Sir George Ascue came within half a Musquet Shot of the Fort at the Barbadoes that the Ships he took there were of great Value That his Voyage thither was 10 Weeks and 2 Days yet none of his Men Sick The Commissioners from the Parliament in the Fleet with Sir George Ascue sent a Declaration to the Inhabitants of the Barbadoes to perswade them to submit to the Parliament of England and to desert the Lord Willoughby and his Party there that this course they thought fit to take before they used any acts of
his People which were of late too much encreased and were hoped might have been cemented by this Parliament were by the Dissolution thereof aggravated and the Scots Troubles which many sober men expected this Parliament would have appeased were by the breach of it feared to grow wider and the chief Blame and Odium of all was by many laid upon Archbishop Laud. He was more busie in Temporal Affairs and Matters of State than his Predecessors of later times had been Judge Whitelocke who was anciently and throughly acquainted with him and knew his Disposition would say He was too full of fire though a just and good man and that his want of Experience in State Matters and his too much Zeal for the Church and heat if he proceeded in the way he was then in would set this Nation on fire By his Councel chiefly as it was father'd upon him the Parliament being dissolved yet he perswaded the King to continue the sitting of the Convocation by a new Commission granted to them for the conclusion of such Matters as were then in treaty amongst them Yet by the Opinion of Finch Maunchester Littleton Banks Heath and Shelton signified to the King the Convocation called by the King 's Writ was not to Dissolve but by the King 's Writ notwithstanding the Dissolution of the Parliament But it was held best and to clear all Objections to continue them by this new Commission May 9. A Paper was posted up at the Old Exchange exhorting the Prentices to rise and sack the Archbishop's House at Lambeth the Munday following and on that Night about Five hundred beset his Palace but the Archbishop having had notice of the Paper provided for his Defence that they could make no entrance only their Tongues ceased not to utter Revilings of all bitterness against him A few days after some of this Company were taken and tryed for Treason upon the Statute 25 Edw. 3. for levying War against the King because they had a Drum which beat up before them The Judges resolved it to be Treason and one of their Captains a Cobler was hanged drawn and quartered for it and his Limbs set on London Bridge In this Case although there was nothing but the breach of the Peace and of a few Glass-windows and setting at liberty some Prisoners and none slain or hurt yet because so great a Number were assembled and in a War-like manner with a Drum with unlawful Intents it was adjudged Treason and the Party suffered for it As the King had his private Juncto's so the Agents of the Covenanters and their Friends in London had their private Meetings and Councels with those who were discontented at the present managing of Affairs at Court and who had suffered by the late Proceedings and from hence no small Incouragement and promise of Assistance was given to the Covenanters The King caused a Guard to be set about Westminster Abbey that the Convocation might sit the more securely yet were not these Seats very easie they were in danger of the King's Displeasure if they rose and of the Peoples Fury if they sate to be beaten up by Tumults whilst they sate at the Work and to be beaten down by the next Parliament for doing of the Work Episcopacy was Dissolved in Scotland and as much envied by many in England the Presbyters there were equall'd with Bishops the same was the Tenent of not a few here and divers Tracts were written against them and in defence of Bishops and their Divine Right The Assembly in Scotland having formed a Covenant for destruction of Episcopacy this Convocation for their own support frame an Oath equivalent to be Imposed on all Ministers THat they approve the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England as containing all Things necessary to Salvation That they will not endeavour to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to it Nor give consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans and Archdeacons c. as it now stands Established and by right ought to stand Nor to subject it to the Vsurpations and Superstitions of Rome That this they do plainly and sincerely Acknowledge and Swear and do it heartily willingly and truly This Synod also made a Canon for placing the Communion-Table at the East-end of the Church sever'd with Rails to preserve it from Profanation and for permitting the practice of Bowing to the East or omission of it as men were perswaded in their Consciences of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of it They also granted to the King an ample Benevolence of the Clergy of Four Shillings in the Pound for six years towards his intended Expedition against the Scots and so brake up the twenty ninth of May. This added more Fuel to the Flames already burning and was the Subject of great Debate and Censures which followed The King was very active to carry on his Expedition Northwards he calls a Juncto of select Counsellors whereof Sir Henry Vane was then thought sit to be trusted for one At one of their Meetings he took short Notes of the Debate which coming afterwards to his Son's hands were made use of against the Earl of Strafford as will appear in the Story And now the Parliament having yielded no Supplies to the King's occasions all the Wheels of Prerogative are set on Motion to provide Money for the King's Affairs Knighthood Money is set on foot all Knights and Gentlemen who held Lands in Capite of the King are summoned to send men Horses and Arms agreeable to their Tenures and Qualities The City of London is Invited to a Loan but they stand off and generally refuse being discontented at the present Proceedings and particularly displeased because their Plantation at London Derry in Ireland was taken from them as they held unjustly by Sentence of the Star-Chamber adjudged to be forfeited for their usurping more Liberty than their Patent warranted and Fines were Imposed on them and on the Undertakers and though they offer'd by way of Composition to build for the King a stately Palace in S. James's Park and to pull down Whitehall and make a stately way by the Thames-side streight from Charing-cross to Westminster-hall yet it would not be accepted The main Assistance for this War came from the Officers and Gentry and a Royal Army was compleated whereof the Earl of Northumberland was made General and the Earl of Strafford Lieutenant General but Northumberland falling sick the King himself took upon him to be Generalissimo as being in Person in the Expedition he ought to be July the 20th The King had another Son born Henry Duke of Glocester The King's Army was marched before and about August 20. the King himself went out of London towards the North and two days after by Proclamation He declares the Scots Rebels That he had sought by Clemency to appease their rebellious courses who upon pretences of Religion have sought to shake off his
brought to the Parliament declaring his Affections for Peace and concluding that God had given him a late Victory and therefore he desires them to consider of his long rejected Message from Evesham which was for peace but not till this time brought to the Parliament The Parliament appointed a day to take this into consideration and ordered all Officers and Souldiers to repair to their Colours on pain to be proceeded against by the Commissioners for Martial Law Mr. Hoyle was put into Sir Peter Osborn's Office and Mr. Salway into Sir Thomas Fanshaw's place in the Exchequer and several Judges went into the Counties which were quiet to keep Assizes and to execute the Commissions of Oyer and Terminer Colonel Cromwell was sent with two thousand horse to meet Prince Rupert coming to relieve Bandury but Colonel Massey had before prevented the Prince's coming The Irish Rebels that landed in Scotland were beaten into the Mountains by the Earl of Argyle and L. Gourdon Upon debate of the King's Letter it was held not to be a sufficient acknowledgment of the Parliament and therefore laid by Yet the House went on to compleat the Propositions for Peace and a day was appointed for the bringing in the Names of such Delinquents as should be excepted from pardon Divers Ministers of London presented a Petition to the Parliament for dispatch of the Directory of Worship and settling of pure Discipline and Government according to the word of God and complained of the Schisms in the Church The Petitioners had thanks from the House and the Committee of Lords and Commons appointed to confer with the Assembly to endeavour to reconcile some Differences among them and to find out a way how tender Consciences may be born withall so far as may stand with the peace of the Kingdom and the word of God The Assembly named 23 Ministers to give Ordination who were passed The Commons considered of the Propositions for peace the L. Macquire and Macmahon who escaped out of the Tower were again apprehended by the Lieutenant of the Tower and Sir John Clotworthy and upon a Report from a Committee of Lawyers it was ordered That they should be tried by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer and not by Martial Law The French Agent lay at the same house where Macquire and Macmahon were taken and had a chief hand in their escape and opposed the Officers searching in that house for papers c. because he lodged there But a Committee of both Houses were appointed to search there and did so notwithstanding the Agent 's pretences A Committee of Lawyers was appointed to meet daily about the Tryal of the Archbishop till the same should be dispatcht The Parliament ordered all the Forces of the Earl of Manchester and of Sir William Waller to joyn together and advance into the West The Ordinance passed for the Militia in Worcestershire About eighty of the Leicester horse in convoy of some Carriers were set upon by 120 of Colonel Hastings his men but the 80 routed and dispersed the 120 killed 8 and took 60 of them prisoners and store of Arms. By Letters from Sir Thomas Middleton it was certified That he having taken Mountgomery Castle was forced to retreat upon the coming of the King's Forces thither who again besieged the Castle with five thousand men and Middleton being joyned with Brereton Sir John Meldrum and Sir William Fairfax in all about three thousand they marched to relieve the Castle and were fought with by the Enemy who came up gallantly a good while to push of Pike and worsted the Parliament Horse Which so encouraged the King's Forces that they shouted and cryed The Day is ours the Day is ours at which the Parliament Forces were so enraged that they came on again with a fresh Charge and wholly routed and put them to flight took prisoners Major General Broughton Colonel Sir Thomas Tilsley Lieutenant Colonel Bludwell Major Williams nine Captains many inferiour Officers and fifteen hundred common Souldiers Of the King's part were slain about three hundred and about five hundred wounded Of the Parliament part were slain Sir William Fairfax with eleven wounds and Major Fitz Symons and about forty common Souldiers and about sixty wounded the Lord Byron who commanded the King's Forces hardly escaped by the goodness of his horse Upon Letters from my Lord Roberts both Houses took care for Supplies for Plymouth and their other Western Garrisons The King came to Exeter and gave order to remove all superfluous persons forth of the Town and for the Country to bring in thither all their provisions About forty prisoners of quality were brought from Plymouth to London and committed to Lambeth-house After the Siege was raised before Plymouth and the King gone to Exeter yet the Cornish-men continued near the Town to stop provisions coming to them by Land but were driven away again Many of the prisoners taken at Mountgomery being willing to take the Covenant and to serve against the Rebels in Ireland the Parliament to avoid the inconvenience of many prisoners consented thereunto and gave order for their transportation The Commons came near to a conclusion of their Debate touching the Propositions for peace Orders were sent to the Earl of Manchester and Sir William Waller to advance together with all expedition to prevent the King's return back to Oxford and took care for Supplies for them and for the Lord General The Parliament sent thanks to Sir Thomas Middleton Sir William Brereton and Sir John Meldrum for their good service at Mountgomery and which was more acceptable took order for Supplies for them the Lord Cherbury and Sir John Price came in to the Parliament Massey fell upon a party of the King 's between Bristoll and Monmouth took their Commander in chief and ten others and a hundred and sixty common Souldiers two hundred Arms and two pieces of Ordnance The King's Forces besieged Barnstable which rendred to them upon conditions which they afterwards broke pillaged the Parliament's Souldiers plundred the Town executed the Major and imprisoned many of the Inhabitants Colonel Ludlow took eighty of the King's Commissioners of Array in Somersetshire and Captain Savile took twenty of Prince Rupert's men prisoners Sir Thomas Fairfax recovered of his Wound and Sir H. Cholmly offered to surrender Scarborough Castle to the Parliament but now upon the news of the King's Victory in the West he revictuals it again and is again wholly for the King whereupon the Lord Fairfax sent Sir William Constable with a strong party to besiege the Castle Colonel Ware revolted from the Lord General in the West to the King and another Colonel quitted his Post and the Matters of that nature were referred to a Committee to be examined A Day was set apart by the Commons for receiving private Petitions At Basing-house the Besiegers took an Outwork a Captain and twenty eight Souldiers who defended it At Banbury they made a Breach and some of the
education of their Children in the Protestant Religion for levying of penalties against Papists and their practices against the State and for putting the Laws in execution and for a stricter course to prevent hearing and saying of Masse As to the Covenant his Majesty was not then satisfied that he could sign or swear it or consent to impose it on the Consciences of others nor did he conceive it proper or useful at that time to be insisted upon As to the Militia his Majesty will consent to an Act to have it in the hands of the Parliament for ten years Touching Ireland after advice with his two Houses his Majesty will leave it to their determination Touching publick debts he will consent to raising monies by equal taxes Lastly he proposeth to have Liberty to come forthwith to Westminster and be restored to a condition of freedom and safety and to the possession of his Lands and Revenues and that an Act of Oblivion and indemnity may pass to extend to all persons for all matters relating to the late unhappy differences which being agreed by his two Houses his Majesty will be ready to make these his Concessions binding by giving them the Force of Laws by his Royal Assent More than this could not be obtained from his Majesty though most earnestly begged of him by some of the Commissioners great persons with Tears and on their knees particularly as to the proposition touching Religion Wherein the Church Government and publick worship and chiefly the revenues of the Church swayed more with the Kings Chaplains then about him and they more with his Majesty continually whispering matter of Conscience to him than the Parliament and all their Commissioners could prevail with him for an agreement though possibly his own judgment which was above all theirs might not be so fully convinced by his eager Divines about him After a long Debate upon this Message the House voted it unsatisfactory and a Letter of thanks to be written to the Commissioners approving what they had done and requiring them to proceed according to their Instructions Letters from Colonel Monk of his late success in Ireland the House ordered Major General Monroe to be Committed to the Fleet for joyning with the Enemy in Scotland and perfidiously breaking the trust reposed in him Letters from Anglesey of the taking it by Major General Mitton by Storm and that the Lord Byron and Lord Bulkely were escaped by flight A Petition from Leicestershire to the same effect with the large Petition of London and that from Oxfordshire against the Treaty Letters from Cromwell's quarters in Scotland near Edenburgh that he and his Officers are careful that the Souldiers give no offence to the Inhabitants by plunder or any incivility that Cromwell caused horses taken from the Scots by some of his Souldiers to be restored and the Plunderers to be cashiered A Lieutenant who connived at the plunder was committed to the Marshal and the Colonel himself taken from the head of his Regiment and suspended the execution of his place till he were tryed by a Council of War and the Regiment sent back again and this impartial justice pleased the Scots That Argyle and his Party endeavoured to perswade the Surrender of Berwick to Cromwell to whose quarters they sent their Commissioners to this end That Leven certified Argyle that both his Army and that under I annerick were likely to agree Letters from Cockermouth that it was still besieged by five hundred Country-men that they mined near the wall and the Governour Lieutenant Bird sallied out killed and took all that were at work brought away their tools and burnt the Barne that sheltered them that Cromwell had ordered Forces to relieve the Castle Argyle took at Leith a Ship with ten thousand Arms from Denmark designed for Duke Hamilton Cromwell sent some Horse and Dragoons to pursue some of Duke Hamiltons Officers who were got together in the Cheviot Hills 3. All the day was spent upon the business of the Militia for setling it and upon the question it was carried in the Affirmative for it 4. Letters from the General that he received many complaints of the insupportable burden people ly under by his Souldiers taking of free quarter upon them though they pay their assessments and have been alwaies well affected to the Parliament He desires a speedy course may be taken for payment of the Army that thereby his Souldiers may be inabled to pay their quarters and the People may not be oppressed by free quarter any more Order that four Members of the House do go down to the General to take Notice of his good service to congratulate his good success to return him the thanks of the House and to acquaint him with what they had done upon his Letter for bringing in of monies for the Army that free quarter might be taken off They presently sent a Message to the Lords desiring them to pass the Ordinance which had many days remained with them for bringing in the assessments for the Army their not passing whereof occasioned the taking of free quarter Order that the General be desired so to quarter the Army as may be least burdensome to the several Counties especially to such as have paid their assessments Letters from the North that all things were agreed between the several parties in Scotland all are to lay down Armes Berwick and Carlisle to be surrendred to Lieutenant General Cromwell a Parliament to be called in Scotland and none to be of it that were in the Engagement against England The Lords concurred with the Commons for five hundred pound to be given to Colonel Monk and to make him Governour of Carickfergus and for two hundred pounds to major Brough who brought Major General Monroe to London The Lord Inchequin's Son sent into Ireland to be exchanged Order for a thousand pound for Coals for the Poor of London and Southwark according to a grant of King James Order for the Commissioners of the Seal to bring in a list of names for Judges to fill all the Benches Referred to the Committee at Derby House to consider of the supernumerary Souldiers 5. Debate touching the Navy and for a Winter Guard for which they ordered two thousand seven hundred eighty five men and the Committee of the Navy to provide victuals c. and fifty thousand pound ordered for them Several orders for raising monies for the use of the Navy 6. Letters from the Lord Goring and Lord Capel that they took Notice of an Order of the House of Commons for impeaching them of High Treason and informe that quarter was given them by the General who had writ to the House to that purpose order that the General explain his Letter as to this point Order for six hundred pound for disbanding the new raised Forces in Dorsetshire Upon a Petition of the Clothiers of Kent referred to a Committee to consider of the decay of trade
good That C. Mark Treavor was there a great purchaser and Bought Choice Sheep for 3 Pound a Score Cowes for 30 Pound a Score and Horses for 40 Pound a Score and so made himself up a Regiment and was made Governour of the Town to Boot That this Defeat of Owen was a great advantage to Ormond that in Dundalke were store of Provisions taken that Owen was so inraged at this defeat that he Swore he would be Revenged That there were Divisions in Ormonds Army between the English and the Irish for that Ormond gave the Lands so regained to the English and put them into Garrisons but kept the Irish in the Field in most hardship and danger that many the of Ministers in Dublin are suspected and Suspended Letters from Scotland that the Levies there were much prest on by Lieutenant General David Lesley and his party to consist of about 14000 Foot and 6000 Horse and that they were in great fear of an Invasion either from England or Ireland August 1649. Au. 1 Debate touching Accounrs and the Assessment of 90000 l. Per mensem continued 3 Monthes Letters that C. Reynolds C. Venables and their Regiments were Landed at Dublin Letters from France that the Prince of Wales was still there and that the Lord Cottington and Sir Edward Hyde came to him from Bruxells with a Present of 20000 Crownes from the Arch Duke Leopold From Scotland that they are Listing 1400 Auxiliaries And that their Forces are 6000 Horse and Foot some of them Quartered on the English Borders that have demanded their Cannon at Berwick and Carlisle That they are troubled they can have nothing from their King but according to the Councel of the Queen Mother and those with her who are all for the Irish Interest and the Catholicks And that they are about a Declaration to receive all to Mercy upon their repentance and and taking the Covenant Except a few only 2 Order to Refrain Private Business for 8 dayes Order touching the Accounts of the Irish Officers and Stating of their Pay Debate Touching Excluding all from Offices who shall not subscribe to the Present Government Letters from Ireland that since the Landing of C. Reynolds and the other Regiments Ormond drew off his Army further from Dublin and that Trym held out still for the Parliament 3 An Act passed to enable the Comittee of Indemnity to receive Information and Articles against any Justice of Peace Maegstrate or other Officer touching their Malignity c. And to cause Witnesses to be Examined there upon in the Countrey And to proceed to Sentence against them Referred to a Comittee to bring in an Act to take down and raze out the Armes of the late King in all Churches Chappels and other publick Places throughout the Common Wealth Order for allowing 1300 l. to a Member of the House to be doubled upon the Purchase of Deanes and Chapters Lands Referred to a Commitee to consider of the Obstructions in the Sale of the Kings Goods Another Member readmitted A Letter from Hamborough of wrongs as to their shipping referred to the Commitee of the Navy And referred to the Councel of State to write to the Governour and States of Hamborough touching some Complaints of English Merchants against them 41 Debate of an Act for Admitting the 6 Counties of North Wales to a Composition fraâ— sum in grosse Debate of an Act touching Probate of Wills Administrations Mariages Divorces c. Debate of an Act for settling Tythes upon such Ministers as shall own the present Authority 6 Debate of an Ordinance touching Ministers publick worship and Government by way of a Declaration The House passed the preamble declaring their Resolutions for Propagation of the Gospel the establishing Presbyterial Government and the Ministers to have sufficient Maintenance and upon the Question whether Tythes should be continued it passed in the Negative Letters that Captain Norwood one of those who Landed last at Dublin Sallied out of the Town with a Troop of 80 and some additional Horse upon Sir Thomas Armstrong who came with part of 4 Regiments to drive away the Cattel of the Town That Norwood repulsed Armstrong Killed 30 of his Men and took some Prisoners and lost but 4 Men. That Trym Castle was Surrendred to Ormond or Inchequin by the Treachery of Captain Martin An Act past giving power to the Committee of Indemnity to transmit the Examination against Malignant Magestrates Officers or Justices of the Peace An Act past for settling the new Comissioners of the Customes The Declaration of the General Assembly of Scotland against those that ingaged in the late unlawful War against England and such as persevere in the like designs to be Excommunicate and further Punished and such as repent c. to be received to Mercy Letters from New-Castle that there were Condemned by the Judges 29 Moss Troopers Scots that Robbed upon the Borders and other Felons 7 Debate upon the Declaration touching Ministers and Church Discipline referred to a Commitee to consider of the Debate of the House and to bring it in again with the amendments with respect to tender Consciences Letters of the taking of Trym Castle and that 3000 in it went to the Enemy who afterwards took also a strong House near it belonging to Sir Adam Loftus Letters that part of C. Hortons Regiment refused to go with the Lieutenant for Ireland and disbanded themselves That Major Bethel and other Officers refused to go that about Chester they feared the Malignants rising again Letters from Hamborough that one Mr. Harrington an English Merchant came thither and designed to trapan Mr. Crispe and other English Merchants there and got on board a Ship provided for that purpose to carry them over into England But by the contrary Winds the ship being Wind bound the rest of the English Merchants over took the Ships and rescued their Friends 8 An Act passed for taking of the Customes and Navy-Accounts Debate upon the Act for poor Prisoners recommited as to Prisoners and Creditors and the Commitee to receive any offers from the Judges or any others for the good of the Common Wealth therein Instructions to the Commitee for bringing in the Form of a Commission to Passe the great Seal for relief of those that lye in Prison for Debt and have nothing to pay but are like to starve for want of Maintainance Letters that a Woman came out of Cleveland to York and there Preached several times and was much Admired by some Ladyes and other Persons of Quality who heard her but the Ministers were very Angry with her 9 Debate of an Act for suppressing false and Scandalous Letters Informations c. Commited Another for suppressing Scandalous and unlicensed Pamphlets and for Regulating the Press Upon the Motion of C. Martin Ordered that the Regalia of the Crown be delivered up to the Trustees for Sale of the Kings Goods to raise Money for the service of Ireland 10 The Act
and unlicenced Pamphlets and for punishing the Authors Printers and Publishers of them Resolved that the Singing-Psalms be not for the future Printed with the Bible Confessed by the Mutineers at Oxford That they exepected 6 or 7000 to joyn with them out of Northamptonshire and those parts 6000 out of the West many thousands and the whole Army to joyn with them and to have these things done 1 For Agitators to be set up again at the Head Quarters 2 That Tithes be taken away 3 That the Laws be Englished and another way of Justice to be in the respective Counties 4 That the Excise be put down 5 That Prince Charles be brought in That they had store of Money promised them upon the desire of C. Ingoldsby to the General Some of the Mutineers of his Regiment were pardoned and some of the Officers were Cashiered who did not come in to him when he commanded them against the Mutineers Letters from Scotland That the Parliaments Successes in Ireland had caused a stop of Affairs in Scotland That all their Eyes are upon Cromwel That the levying of their new Army did not proceed hastily Letters from Ireland That Sir Charles Coot was marched out of Derry with 1500 Foot and 400 Horse and had cleared the Country 14 Miles about and got into the City great store of Provisions 21 Order for Mony for poor Widdows and Souldiers Wives The Act past for taking the Account of the Kingdom Referred to a Committee to provide some Accommodation for the Earl of Denbigh near Derby House in satisfaction of his right to the Wardrobe The House adjourned 22 Letters from Leverpool That the Lord Lieutenant had taken Tredah and put all to the Sword that were in Arms there and that 180 of Inchequins Men were come in to the Lord Lieuteant Letters that divers of the levelling Party were taken at Brinnicham Twenty Horse of Hinds Company the great Robber committed fourty Robberies about Barnet in two Hours Divers Moss Troopers taken Letters but nothing certain of the taking of Tredah Referred to the Councel of State to order the Militia of the Kingdom for the present till a further Act of Parliament be agreed upon for it and an Act ordered to be drawn up accordingly 25 Debate touching an Adjournment for certain Dayes and about a New Representative but nothing resolved upon it An Act for punishing of Crimes committed upon or beyond the Seas ordered to be published 26 Governours named for the School and Alms-Houses of Westminster the Earls of Pombroke Salisbury and Denbigh Mr. Prideaux Lord Commissioner Whitelock Lord Commissioner Lisle Mr. St. John and divers others Letters from the Lieutenant General to the Parliament giving an Account of the proceedings against the Mutineers at Oxford Order for thanks to Major General Lambert C. Ingoldsby and the rest of the Officers for their good Service therein Letters that Sir Charles Coot kept the Field and not any considerable Party of the Enemy gave him Opposition The Church of St. Martins in the Fields was robbed and much Plate and Mony taken out of it and the Church of Waltham Abbey was also broke open and robbed 27 The Declaration published concerning a happy Roformation against Malignants Levellers and such as would bring in Monarchy and Tyranny again and that they would have respect to tender Consciences who go according to the Rule of Gods Word Order for speedy bringing in the Fines of Delinquents and for the 20000 l. Fine upon North-Wales to be paid to the Committee of the Army for the Service of the Army Referred to the Councel to appoint Persons in every County with Power to suppress Insurrections and Tumults A Day of Humiliation kept by the Officers of the Army for the Atheism and Prophaneness which was crept into the Army The Declaration passed touching the business of Oxford and other Designs of the Enemy against the present Authority and of the good Success in Ireland and in England and to remit the Crimes of many against the present Authority by discharging them of Imprisonments and Prosecution against them and referred to the Councel of State to consider who are fit to be discharged accordingly Letters from Mr. Peters thus Sir The Truth is Drogheda is taken 3552 of the Enemy slain and 64 of ours Col. Castles and C. Symonds of note Ashton the Governour killed none spared we have all Trym and Dundalk and are marching to Kilkenny I came now from giving thanks in the great Church We have all our Army well landed I am yours Hugh Peters Dublin Sep. 15 th Letters that one Den a Leveller formerly condemned by a Councel of War at Burford to be shot to death and afterwards pardoned hath raised a Tumult in Sturbridge against the Commissioners of Excise and got together 300 Men armed with Muskets Swords c. who fell upon Captain Prescot a Commissioner in his Quarters shot him in three places took from him the rest of the Commissioners and Souldiers all their Money Horses Arms and Cloaths The General wrote to the Governour of Stafford to apprehend Den and to suppress the Tumult 28 The business of the Tumult at Sturbridge by Den continued in the hight of it and they sent into the Neighbouring Towns to come in and joyn with them and be et up Drums for that purpose but few came in to them 29 Letters from Cromwel Sir It hath pleased God to bless our Endeavours at Drogheda after Battery we storm'd it The Enemy were about 3000 Strong in the Town They made a stout Resistance and near 1000 of our men being entred the Enemy forced them out again But God giving a new Courage to our Men they attempted again and entred beating the Enemy from their Defences The Enemy had made three Retrenchments both to the right and left where we entred all which they were forced to quit being thus entred we refused them Quarter having the day before Summoned the Town I believe we put to the Sword the whole number of the Defendents I do not think 30 of the whole number escaped with their Lives those that did are in safe Custody for the Barbadoes since that time the Enemy quitted to us Trim and Dundalk In Trim they were in such hast that they left their Guns behind them This hath been a marvelous great Mercy The Enemy being not willing to put an Issue upon a Field Battle had put into this Garrison almost all their prime Souldiers being about 3000 Horse and Foot under the Command of their best Officers Sir Arthur Ashton being made Governour They were some seven or eight Regiments Ormonds being one under the Command of Sir Edmund Verney I do not believe neither do I hear that any Officer escaped with his Life save onely one Lieutenant who I hear going to the Enemy said that he was the onely man that escaped of all the Garrison The Enemy were filled upon this with much Terror and truely I believe
by the Apostles 1 Rom. 7. Beloved of the Lord called Saints and Rom. 5. 8. and 1 Cor. 6. 18. to the whole Church and v. 19. and 20. the exhortation is to all the Church and their faults were Sins incident to Saints though justly reproveable and 2 Thess 3. 15. yet are they to be esteemed Brethren 3. Math. compared with the 7 Lu. 30. Shew that John the Baptist would not admit the Pharisees to be Baptized That we are under a snare by our Sinful mixture 1 Cor. 10. 16. 17. and 2 Cor. 6. 17. touch no unclean thing v. 14. 15. No hope of purging the Ministery Elderships or Presbyteries Nor can a Rule for it be agreed upon That the Congregational way comes nearer to the pattern of the word than the Classical form and that the Congregation hath full power of judging in themselves Matth. 18. 15. 16. 17. 18. power of binding and loosing The Elders with a Congregation or without cannot be called a Church Act. 15. 22. 23. and Act. 14. 23. acceptation of the Word Elders The Church Congregational is the first Judicatory and have the power of binding and loosing The power of Elders onely is dogmatical That for the first 300 years the Church was partly Aristocratical Take heed lest ye be snares to the people of God in the Land and do not censure us for following our own light and Consciences in this great matter of Concernment to us 27. Letters That the English Soldiers in the Highlands were healthful and civilly Treated by the Inhabitants upon Command of the Marquess of Argyle who also entertained the Collonels with much State That the Country is very Mountainous yet the Vallies rich the People simple and ignorant in the things of God and some of them as Brutish as Heathens That some of the Inhabitants did hear the English Preachers with great Attention and Groaning That the Holland Fleet was still off about Newcastle about 105 Ships not many of those strong and serviceable but weakly man'd their men dye fase their Victuals short already at half allowance That the Dutch took several English Vessels and made their men serve under them 28. Order for the Commitment of the Earl of Worcester being come into England without Licence and for bringing him to his Tryal Referred to the Councel of State to take care for prevention of breaches of the Peace Letters from the Queen of Sweden to the Parliament read wherein She Subscribes her self Vestrabona Amica Christina Referred to the Committee of the Army to receive any Propositions for easing the Charge of the Common-wealth and to report them to the House 29. Letters That the Dutch Fleet seised divers English Fishermen and other small Vessels and forced their men to serve in the Dutch Fleet. Letters That the Presbyterian Spirit in Scotland blows higher and equally storms against the Papists and Sectaries That the Independents endeavour to settle a freedom there from the Tyranny of the Presbyterian Classes and Prelatical High Commissioners not excluding moderate dissenters from Church Government from a Share in the advantages of Government 31. That no intelligence could come from General Blake being so far to the Northward and the Dutch Fleet between him and home but by letters from Holland to several Merchants and to Mr. Strickland the Parliaments late Agent there they write That General Blake had fallen upon the Convoy to their fishing Busses which were 12. men of War and had sunk 3 of them taken the other 9. seised upon their fishing Busses and unloaden what fish they had taken but afterwards dismissed their fishermen and sent them home That he had taken 3 Dutch Merchant men richly laden coming from the East-Indies That General Blake having dispersed and dimist the Dutch Fishermen was upon his return homewards and neer the Dutch Fleet ready to ingage with them That Sr. George Ascue went to the Westward with his Fleet to convoy and bring to Plymouth 5 of the English Merchants East India Ships which he did and nothing was attempted against him by the Dutch August 1652. 2. Letters That the Lord Argyle kept his word in the entertainment of the Parliaments Forces in the High-lands That some of the Brotherhood in Scotland were up in Arms and gainsayed the Major-General in his approaches to them Of Several places in the High-lands Garrison'd by the Parliaments Forces A Protestation of divers Ministers in Scotland to the Ministers and Elders met at Edenburgh desiring a Conference about reconciling differences and against insufficient Scandalous and corrupt Ministers in the Kirke From General Blake to the Parliament with a List of the Dutch men of War taken by him who were to convoy the Fishermen in all 12 Ships two of which were since Sunk From the Commissioners in Ireland That of the Lord Muskerryes party 3000 Foot and 700 Horse-men mounted 300 unmounted have brought in their Horse and Armes and the Lord Muskerry himself intends to go for Spain and to carry with him 1000 Men and to return again if he can obtain any considerable Command That a party of Rebells is still in Kerry against whom Sir Charles Coote is marched That the Earl of Clanrickard and the Forces under him being beaten from their fastnesses by Sir Charles Coote and Collonel Reynolds and Collonel Venables and by planting some Garrisons and securing some passes could not continue longer in a body together so that the Earl and his party have come in and Submitted and have leave to Transport 5000 Men. An acknowledgement by the Officers of the Army of the Parliaments care in sending provisions to them 3. Letters of a Conference of the Commissioners with the Officers of the Army about receiving some of the Irish into Protection 4. The Act past for sale of Lauds forfeited with the names of the Persons whose Estates were to be sold Letters That General-Blake was coming Southwards and had sent 6 of the 12 Dutch men of War to attend Major-General Dean in Scotland that divers Dutch were Slain and wounded and some of the English and 900 Dutch Prisoners That General Blake had but 8 Frigots in this action against 12 Dutch That Lieutenant Mathews was robbed by his own Servant of 300 l. 5. That Sir Thcophilus Jones sent out to get some Provisions was met with by a far greater Party of the Enemy who ingaged with him but Sir Theophilus killed 300 of them took some Prisoners and a Collonel a Lieutenant-Collonel 2 Majors and 8 Captains besides Inferior Officers were Slain and he lost not one Officer one Lieutenant was wounded and 60 common Soldiers with Sword but not one man of the English Slain That Collonel Venables rescued many Cattle pursued a party of 60 Tories left but 6 or 8 of them and drove others to the Mountaines that the Vlsters desired a Treaty 6. Letters of a Soldier executed for running away from his Colours Of pirates on the Western
and that the Armies Forces streighten the Town The General Council of Officers of the Armies and Fleet of the three Nations sat dayly they voted That a Parliament be called before February next to sit and act according to such Qualifications as are or shall be agreed upon and may best secure the just rights liberties and privileges both Civil and Religious of the People of this Common-wealth 11. Intelligence of attempts of Insurrections in Sussex but defeated So was a design to surprize the Tower A Commission was sealed to Whitelocke and several other Gentlemen of Bucks for the Militia in that County 12. Intelligence that Monk was come to Berwick and that he wrote to Lambert for a Pass for his three Commissioners to come thither to him which caused suspicion of his further delay 13. The General Council of the Officers agreed upon seven Articles 1. That there be no King-ship 2. No single person as chief Magistrate 3. That an Army be continued 4. No Imposition upon conscience 5. No House of Peers 6. The Legislative and Executive powers to be in distinct hands 7. Parliaments to be Elected by the People The Resolutions were committed to a committee of the Common Council 14. The Council of Officers signified their Opinions to the Committee of safety that the best way to satisfie and appease the present distractions would be to have a Parliament forthwith summoned without a King or House of Peers Thereupon the Committee agreed upon a Proclamation to be issued declaring That a Parliament should be summoned to meet January next according to Qualifications And the Proclamation was sealed which gave satisfaction to many Orders by the Common Council of London for preserving the Peace Intelligence of Alarms taken by Monks Forces and that he had taken many Scots into his Army And that Newcastle was resolute for Fleetwoods party that they suspected Monk's design to be to bring in the King 15. The Proclamation for a Parliament was solemnly published Whitelocke did much further it At the General Council of Officers of the Armies when they considered of Qualifications of the Members and way of Electing them Whitelocke informed them that some things propounded were expresly contrary to the Law and to the Oath which he had taken as Keeper of the Seal And therefore if those things should be insisted upon he could not without breach of his Oath and Duty Seal Writs for a Parliament after that manner Some of the Officers said That if Whitelocke would not do it they would Seal the Writs themselves Whitelocke replyed that he was ready to deliver up the Seal to them and that it was there ready for them if they pleased to take it from him Another Officer said That it could not be well when in such a time as this a Lawyer should be intrusted with so great a charge as the keeping of the Great Seal And that it were more proper for some who had endured the dangers of the War and adventured their Lives for the service of the Common-wealth to have the keeping of the Seal than for a Lawyer to have it who had not undergone dangers as others had Whitelocke replyed again that the Gentleman who disparaged Lawyers might remember the services done by Ireton Reynolds Jones and other Lawyers in this War and that Whitelocke had been in such dangers in the service of the Common-wealth particularly in his Swedish journey as the Colonel had never been in and therefore desired that such reproachfull language might be forborn Fleetwood and others justified Whitelocke and his Profession and silenced the Colonel 16. The General Council of Officers of the Armies desired the Committee of safety that Writs might be issued out for Election of Parliament men 17. Lawson and his Officers set forth a declaration that the long Parliament should sit again whereupon Vane and others were sent to him to inform him better The Forces lay still about Portsmouth some designs of an Insurrection at Bristoll were prevented 18. The like designs of the King's party at Colchester were prevented 19. No quiet was enjoyed by any party all were at work and the King's party very active And every man was guided by his own Fancy and Interest those in employment were most obnoxious to trouble 20. Many wished themselves out of these dayly hazards but knew not how to get free of them the distractions were strangly high and dayly increasing A design of a rising in London laid by the King's party but discovered and prevented and many of the Conspirators taken 21. Letters that several of the Forces which Fleetwood sent to reduce Portsmouth were gon into the Town and joyned with them some of Colonel Rich's men and others 22. That the Isle of Wight was come in to the Parliament party Letters from Vice-Admiral Lawson and his Officers to the City and others to the Militia of London declaring for restoring the Parliament And from Haslerigge Walton and Morley from Portsmouth to the City acquainting them with their success there Most of the Souldiery about London declared their judgment to have the Parliament sit again in Honour Freedom and Safety And now those who formerly were most eager for Fleetwood's party became as violent against them and for the Parliament to sit again These passages perplexed Whitelocke as well as others if not more he alâ— along suspecting Monk's design The Lord Willoughby and Alderman Robinson M. G. Brown Mr. Loe and others came to him and confirmed his suspicion in this particular and propounded to him to go to Fleetwood and to advise him to send forthwith to the King at Breda to offer to bring him in upon good terms and thereby to get before hand with Monk who questionless did intend to bring in the King Whitelocke upon serious thoughts of this went to Fleetwood and they had a long private discourse together wherein Whitelocke told him That by the desire of his Brother Sir Will. Fleetwood and of the Lord Willoughby M. G. Brown Alderman Robinson Mr. Loe and others he was come to discourse freely with him about their present condition and what was fit to be done in such an exigency as their Affairs were now in That it was more than evident that Monk's design was to bring in the King and that without any terms for the Parliament party whereby all their lives and fortunes would be at the mercy of the King and his party who were sufficiently enraged against them and in need of repairing their broken fortunes That the Inclinations of the Presbyterian party generally and of many others and of the City and most of the Parliaments old friends were the same way and a great part of the Souldiery And that these here were revolted from Fleetwood as those in the North under Lambert and those at Portsmouth and other places That Monk would easily delude Haslerigge and the rest of the old Parliament men and that
per An. allowance for the Bishop of Armagh and for one thousand and thirty Pounds for Col. Thornehagh who raised a Troop of Horse at his own Charge Another Petition of divers Londoners against those Members who sat during the Force upon the Parliament The Petitioners in the House were told that the Parliament had already setled this business and that it was the duty of every English man to acquiesce in the Judgment of the Parliament An account from Major General Lambert of the ordering of his Forces in the North of the agreement with the Vale-men about Quartering his Soldiers and about suppressing the Moss-Troopers The Lord Chancellor of Scotland and the Lord Lannericke expected in England 6. A Petition to both Houses about sending of able gifted men though not Clergy-men in Orders to preach the Gospel in barren places of the Kingdom and that the like persons were admitted to Preach the Gospel in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth her Reign and that such men may receive incouragement and Protection from the House Referred to a Committee to consider of a way how such Persons so to be sent may be first examined The Ordinance for setling the Presbyterian Government re-committed to have a Clause inserted in favour of â—tender Consciences And this to be sent to the King with the other Propositions 7. The House spent all the day in a grand Committee about Tunnage and Poundage The General Councel of the Army sat at Putney about the business of their Pay Col. Jones marched forth against the Rebels and took good Booties from them but they declined fighting 8. Debate about the Commissioners of the Customs and about this Winters Fleet. New desires from the Army were 1. That their Arrears may be paid out of the Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands and the remainder of the Security of Bishops Lands and Sale of Forrest Lands 2. That the Moneths Pay for the Army may speedily be Collected by such as the Parliament shall appoint 3. That the Propositions may be drawn up and speedily sent to his Majesty Referred to the Committee of the Army as to the Collecting of the Months Pay 9. The House was called and a hundred and fifty of their Members absent and twenty pound Fine was set on every one that was absent and a Committee appointed to examine the absence of the Members and their excuses and a new day set for their appearance and the respective Sheriffs to Summon them The Duke of Richmond Marquess Herford Marquess Ormond Earl of Dorset Earl of Southampton Lord Seymour and some others came to the King to Hampton-Court intending to reside there as his Councel but the Army declaring against it they returned back again The General Councel of the Army had conserence with a German who gave himself out to be a Prophet and they considered of their own pay and the Pay of the Northern Forces 11. Debate of the desires of the Army in relation to their Pay and Arrears in a grand Committee and it was voted That they should be paid out of the Excise and Goldsmiths-Hall and the Arrears to be secured out of Bishops Lands and Deans and Chapters Lands and the like for pay for the Forces in Ireland Order for a thousand pound for Sir Thomas Maleverer who raised two Regiments of Foot and one of Horse for the Parliament in part of his Arrears It was reported that Mr. Maynard got in the last Circuit seven hundred pound which was believed to be more than any one of the profession ever got before 21. Much debate of the Ordinance of Tunnage and Poundage and voted that if the Commissioners will advance thirty thousand pound they shall not be removed till they be reimbursed all that shall be owing unto them which the Commissioners agreed to do An Ordinance for the levying of the Arrears of the Army and the Power of the Commissioners of the Army when they shall come away to be transferred to the Committee of the Army was sent up to the Lords Order for a Committee of the Militia of Hertfordshire Another Letter from the General and his Councel to the Parliament for a Provision of Pay for the Army and for Ireland and to prevent the Misery of the free quarter and for Money for disbanding Forces And of the Arrears of the Tax not paid in and that the High Sheriff may levy the Assessments and that the Arrears of the Army may be audited and satisfied out of Deans and Chapters Lands This Letter referred to the Committee appointed to consider of providing Pay for the Forces of England and Ireland Both Houses pass'd an Ordinance for collecting all the Arrears of the Assessments for Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army Letters from Col. Jones of the great wants of the Forces in Ireland and of his resolution to fight the Rebels if he can force them to it Order for supplys for Col. Jones A Committee to examine all complaints against such as use the Common-Prayer Order for Mr. Du Moulin to be History Professor in Oxford Order touching the Earl of Portland's business of the Isle of Wight and for the Agent of the Duke of Florence to be free from Excise Col. Monke joyned with Col. Jones in Ireland against the Rebels 13. Upon debate of the settlement of the Presbyterian Government it was voted That the King be desired to give his consent to such Acts as shall be presented to him for setling the Presbyterian Government for three years with a provision that no person shall be liable to any question or penalty only for Non-Conformity to the said Government or to the form of Divine Service appointed in the Ordinances And that such as shall not voluntarily Conform to the said Form of Government and Divine Service shall have liberty to meet for the Service and Worship of God and for exercise of Religious duties and Ordinances in a fit and convenient place so as nothing be done by them to the disturbance of the Peace of the Kingdom And provided that this extend not to any toleration of the Popish Religion nor to any Penalties imposed upon Popish Recusants nor to tolerate the practice of any thing contrary to the Principles of Christian Religion contained in the Apostles Creed as it is expounded in the Articles of the Church of England Nor of any thing contrary to the Point of Faith For the ignorance whereof men are to be kept from the Lords Supper nor to excuse any from the Penalties 1 Eliz. 2. for not coming to hear the word of God on the Lords day in any Church or Chappel unless he can shew a reasonable cause or that he was hearing the word of God Preached or expounded elswhere These were the Lords Votes The Commons Voted That the Presbyterian Government be established till the end of the next Session of Parliament That the Tenths and Maintenance belonging to any Church shall be only to such as can submit
to the Presbyterian Government and none other That Liberty of Conscience granted shall extend to none that shall Preach Print or Publish any thing contrary to the first fifteen of the thirty-nine Articles except the eighth That it extend not to Popish Recusants or taking away any Poenal Laws against them Order by the Lords that the Marquess of Winton have three Months longer time to be abroad Committees appointed to draw things into form and touching the Prorogation of the Parliament and touching Justices of the Peace and Grand-Jury-men 14. Debate touching the end of Sessions of Parliament and this Session to end in twelve Months after the passing the Bill and afterwards the Sessions to be Triennial The Commons voted Liberty to tender Consciences by way of Indulgence and much to the effect as the Lords had before voted A Letter from the King to the General That he would write to the Parliament that his Majesties Children might not yet be removed to St James's but remain for a night or two within 15. Debate upon the Ordinance for Tunnage and Poundage Proceedings upon the Propositions concerning Church-Government The General Councel of the Army at Putney resolved That every Trooper should abate 12d per diem in lieu of free Quarter and every Foot Soldier 4d per diem 16. Debate touching Religion and Voted That the Indulgence as to tender Consciences shall not extend to tolerate the Common Prayer The Lords sent the Propositions to the Commons for their concurrence to be sent to the King with some alterations The Commons referred them to a Committee to peruse wherein they agreed or disagreed from the former Propositions Suspition of designs to bring in the Scots to assist the King 18. Proceedings upon the Propositions to be sent to the King the same as before Added to put a period to this Parliament a year after the passing of this Act. For Elections of Justices of Peace and Grand Jury-men The King to return to his Parliament and have his Rights Queen and Children restored to him Some alterations made by the Commons and referred to a Committee Debate Seven Delinquents to be excepted from pardon of life Complaints against Stage-players and an Ordinance to suppress them Debate upon L. C. Liburne's Case committed by the Lords against which he complained by a long Speech Mr. Belliure the French Ambassador took his leave of the King The Gourdons rose in Arms in Scotland and Major General Miadleton gave a defeat to some of them The Agitators of five Regiments of Horse presented some high Papers to the General as the sence of the Army which was not so but of these Agitators The General answered their Letter That he thought it meet to be presented to the General Councel 19. A grand Committee to consider of Moneys for Pay of the Army out of the Excise Bishops Lands c. Letter from the French Ambassador about his taking leave and desiring a Pass Debate about Coaches c. for his Journey Order that three Lords and six Commoners give the Ambassador a visit at his departure Ordinance against Stage-plays carried up to the Lords Col. Jones took in four Castles from the Rebels but could not force them to fight though at advantages Power given to suppress the Moss-Troopers 20. Several Votes pass'd upon the Proposition of Persons excepted from Pardon agreed to be seven and touching Estates and Offices c. 21. Proceedings and several new Votes upon the Propositions A Petition from Sir William Roberts and the other contractors for the sale of Bishops Lands of the Obstructions in that business referred to a Committee to consider of a way for removal of them The Lords agreed with the Commons in the Ordinance for suppressing Stage-Players 22. A Petition of the East-India Company referred to a Committee Order for twelve hundred pound for Lieutenant Collonel Goll's Arrears An Ordinance committed for Payment of all Arrears to the Soldiers particularly to some of Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army and ordered out of the Sale of Bishops Lands after the precedent engagements thereupon The Assembly presented to the House a Catechisme drawn up by them Referred to the Committee of the Army and to the Committee of the Navy to inquire what Arms Ammunition and Ordnances belonging to the Publick are in any private hands or not made use of for the service of the State and to restore such as belong to any who are well affected to the Parliament and the rest to be brought in to the Tower or made use of for the Navy The General and General Councel of the Army met at Putney and had much debate touching the Papers presented by the Agitators of the five Regiments which were disliked by the General and his Officers and they appointed a Committee to consider of the Paper printed intituled the Case of the Army to send for such Parties as they shall think fit and to prepare something to be offered to the next General Councel and for vindication of the Army from the aspersions cast upon them by that Paper They were also to consider of a way for the speedy bringing in of monies upon Compositions to be offered to the House from the General Councel and of an abatement of the Pay of Non-Commissioned Officers and to prepare Rules for Quartering of Souldiers for the ease of the Country and about some Troopers lately taken in to be Disbanded about Waggoners and payment of Arrears 23. A Letter from the Scots Commissioners here to give notice to the Houses That there was a command laid upon them to attend the King which they did this day at Hampton-Court Orders for mony for the Army Proceedings upon the Propositions and Voted That the Tithes belonging to Deans and Chapters shall be imployed towards the maintenance of a Preaching Minister 25. Votes for Pay of the Arrears of Souldiers out of the Estates of Delinquents the remainder of Bishops Lands and Forest Lands this to be inserted in the Propositions and an Act to Null the Court of Wards and the King to have twenty thousand pounds per An. in lieu thereof and that the two Houses shall nominate all the chief Officers in Ireland and also in England A Committee of both Houses for Forrein Affairs to consider of a Message from the Ambassadour of France A Case of Indemnity determined The Committee of Estates in Scotland considering the dangers then imminent to Religion His Majesties Person and Authority the Union betwixt the Kingdoms and Peace of that Kingdom fully represented to them in Letters from the Commissioners in London and by several informations found it necessary in regard thereof that the Army be kept up till March next Letters from the North of the care of Major General Lambert for equal Quartering of his Souldiers and for punishment of some to run the Gantelope for Plundering and for meddling to assist in taking possession of a parcel of Tithes and taking in the advice