himself The Scots generally took it except Hamilton and some three other Lords and the Estates ordered it to be taken by all men on pein of confiscation whereof they gave notice by their Letters to the Parliament of England The Houses in answer to the Prince de Harecourt declared their good acceptance of the affection of the King and Queen regent of France in their offer of a mediation of a Peace and that as soon as the Prince should make it appear that the Propositions were by authority from the King and Queen regent of France the Parliament will give such an answer as may stand with the interest of both Kingdoms and with the Solemn League and Covenant A Party from the Garrison of Poole under Captain Laye went by Water to Warham seven miles from them whereof the enemy having an alarm laid Ambuscadoes in the Hedges in the way from the landing place to the Town but Laye commanded his men it being in the Night to keep their Matches close so that the enemy could not see where to shoot at them But the Party of Poole entred Warham in two places and came into the midst of the Town where their Garrison was drawn up together who after one good volley of shot threw down their Arms and fled away Those of Poole took about 200 Prisoners much arms cloth and provisions and so returned The King's Officers having caused divers of the Parliament to be hanged for Spies as one poor man by Prince Rupert's order upon the great Elm near the Bell in Henly and many others Now the Council of War at Essex-house condemned two for Spies who brought a Proclamation and Letters from Oxford to London which were taken about them and they were both hang'd The Judges and Officers were commanded by the Parliament not to adjourn the Term by colour of any Writs or Proclamations from Oxford without order of the Parliament The Commons pressed the Lords for dispatch of the business of the Great Seal and the Earl of Rutland named for one of the Commissioners desired to be excused as not understanding the Law nor the Oath to be taken by them The Castle of Flint was besieged by Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Middleton the Governour of it for the King held it out till all provisions even to Horses failing him he then rendred it upon honourable terms Then the Parliament forces took in Mostynhouse belonging to Colonel Mostyn the Governour of Flint and in Mostyn they took 4 pieces of Ordnance and some Arms. This Colonel Mostyn was a Gentleman of good parts and mettle of a very ancient family large possessions and great interest in that Countrey so that in twelve hours he raised 1500 men for the King and was well beloved there living very nobly Ships were sent to relieve Plymouth and secure Milford Haven and to watch the coming over of any of the Irish Rebels The Earl of Rutland was excused from being one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal and the Earl of Kent named in his place Some of Sir Ralph Hopton's forces drove a party of Sir William Waller's Horse into Farnham but Waller drew his party into the Castle they being inferiour in number to Sir Ralph Hopton's party The Great Seal was carried up by the Speaker of the House of Commons the whole House attending him and delivered to the Speaker of the Lords House who in the presence of both Houses delivered it to the Commissioners and they all took their Oaths and then carried it to Mr. Brown's House the Clerk of the Parliament where it was put into a Chest with three different Locks not to be opened but when three of the Commissioners were present The Earl of Warwick was voted Lord High Admiral of England and an Ordinance passed that all who would set forth Private Men of War should have all Ships and Goods they could take which were employed against the Parliament or for supply of the Irish Rebels Sir Peter Osborn Governour of Jersey delivered it up to Sir John Pennington for the King A Regiment of the Irish Forces landed about Mostyn in Flintshire for the King's service Colonel Hastings marching to relieve Fulbury Castle held for the King was by the way set upon by the Moore-landers who routed his Troups killed 100 of them took about 150 Horse 100 Arms and many Prisoners The Commons thought not fit to treat further with Monsieur de Harecourt untill he shewed that he was Embassadour extraordinary from France and that he would direct his Papers to one of the Speakers The Estates of Scotland by Letters informed the Parliament of England of a French Agent who had been with them to propound their desisting from giving any assistance to the Parliament of England but the Scots justified to him their proceedings The Scots declared the Lords Hamilton Morton Roxborough and Lonmerick to be publick enemies and seised their Estates because they came not in to take the Covenant The King's Forces took Arundel Castle and fortified there Divers Forces from Ireland landed in Wales and the Lord Byron went to joyn with them Sir Walter Earle was made Lieutenant of the Ordnance in the place of Mr. Pym deceased The Garrison at Plymouth gave a brush to the King's forces besieging them Sir William Waller set upon the Lord Craford's forces in Aulton routed them and took about a thousand Prisoners Arms and rich Booties Colonel Morley beat back the Lord Hopton's forces advancing to take Lewys in Sussex Mr. Walter Long was by the House appointed Register of the Chancery Dr. Burges by motion from the Militia of London is made Lecturer at Pauls with 400 l. per annum salary out of Deans and Chapters lands A Letter of thanks was sent to Sir William Waller from the House for his good service at Aulton Mr. Lenthall Speaker was sworn Master of the Rolls before the Lords and he and the Commissioners of the Great Seal took the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegeance in the Lords house they also took the Oath for observation of the Act for the Triennial Parliament The Rebels in Ireland proposed to the Council there 1. To have confirmed to them the free exercise of their Religion 2. That all Laws there against Papists may be repealed 3. That all Lands there belonging to Religion Houses may be restored 4. That their Popish Bishops and Hierarchy may be confirmed 5. That the English Protestants may pay tithes to the Popish Priests These things were after the cessation of Arms in Ireland Colonel Norton in Hampshire routed four Troups of Colonel Bennet's Horse and took about 200 of them The Earls of Northumberland Pembroke Salisbury and divers Members of the House of Commons were indicted of High Treason at Salisbury for assisting the Parliament before Judge Heath Banks Forster and Glanvile but they could not perswade the Jury to find the Bill The Commons ordered a Committee to draw up an Impeachment of
seventeen of his own men Lyme being relieved and the Siege raised the Earl of Warwick went on shore and much wondred that the Works of the Town being so slight and the Enemy so strong that yet the Town should hold out so long and against so many fierce Assaults and yet in the whole Siege the Town lost not above a hundred and twenty men but the Enemy lost two thousand Letters of Thanks were ordered to be written from the Parliament to the Town and two thousand pounds gratuity to be given them and Cloths for the Souldiers General Essex sent a Party to have relieved Lyme but Prince Maurice was gone with all his remaining Forces and the Siege raised before they came The Party sent by the Lord General to relieve Lyme marched from thence to Weymouth which was rendred to them upon terms and all their Ordnance Arms and Ammunition left behind them Prince Rupert took in Leverpoole a Garrison of the Parliaments in Lancashire but they first shipped all their Arms Ammunition and portable Goods and most of the Officers and Souldiers went on Ship-board whilst a few made good the Fort which they rendred to the Prince upon quarter yet were all put to the Sword The Lord General came to Dorchester where divers Western Gentlemen came in to him and among them the Lord Becham Son to the Marquess of Hertford The Queen was brought to Bed of a Daughter at Exeter The Parliament now ordered that the General should continue in the Western Service and Sir William Waller to attend the motions of the King's Army and that the Earl of Denbigh Sir William Brereton Colonel Massey Colonel Mitton and Colonel Rigby and their Forces should joyn with Sir William Waller The Earl of Newcastle desired a Treaty which was admitted and he demanded to march away with Bag and Baggage and Arms and Drums beating and Colourâ—s flying and that all within the Town should have liberty of Conscience the Prebends to enjoy their Places to have Common Prayer Organs Copes Surplices Hoods Crosses c. These things were denied by the Parliaments Generals but they offered the Earl of Newcastle that he and all the Commanders should go forth on horseback with their Swords and the common Souldiers to march out with Staves in their hands and a Months Pay and all else to be left behind them The Enemy desired four or five days time to consider hereof which was granted Taunton Dean was rendred to the Lord General and some other Places in the West where he was The Archbishop was again brought to his Tryal and the Matters insisted on against him were His introducing of Popery and Arminianism The Lords sent to the Commons that they could not consent to the Ordinance for secluding the Members of both Houses who had deserted the Parliament because they had already voted the Readmission of the Earl of Holland And the Commons referred it to a Committee to consider of some Expedient as to the Case of the Earl of Holland A Committee of Lawyers was appointed for sequestring and selling the Chambers in the Inns of Court belonging to malignant Lawyers The General by his Letters from Dorchester informs the Parliament that the Country thereabouts generally declared themselves for the Parliament and had furnished his Army with plenty of provisions The Lord Canoule a Scot Master of the Horse to the King came in and submitted himself to the Lord General The King left his Foot at Worcester and from thence went with two thousand Horse to Evesham where he took the Mayor and divers Aldermen of the Town and carried them with him prisoners to Oxford and brake down the Bridges after them as they passed to hinder Sir William Waller's pursuit of them they likewise burnt down many houses in the Suburbs of Worcester the better to secure the City and the like they did at Oxford and also at Abington The Siege continued before Basing-house but those that were before Greenland-house thought not fit upon the King 's coming back to Oxford to continue any Siege to Greenland-house till they might have the Forces of Major General Brown to joyn with them An Ordinance passed to impower the Committee of Oxon Berks and Bucks to raise Forces and Money to pay them and they to be under Brown's Command Troubles were in the Virginia Plantation The Archbishop was again brought to his Tryall and the same points of Popery and Arminianism urged against him and as a proof thereof the Remonstrance of the House of Commons in Parliament in the year 1628. Sir Richard Onsley's Regiment came to assist Colonel Norton lying before Basing-house to whom and to Colonel Morley the Commons sent a Letter of thanks At Weymouth the Lord General took a hundred pieces of Ordnance two thousand Musquets a thousand Swords Arms Pistols Powder and about sixty of great and small Vessels The General sent parties to Dartmouth VVareham and other places The Lord Viscount L'Isle had allowed him 1000 l. upon account of the Irish Service Plymouth Garrison sent out parties who beat up the Enemies quarters and at one time took forty and at another time a hundred and fifty horse and prisoners A Ship with Letters to the Parliament from Scotland and two other Ships loaden with Coals for London put in at Harwich and there cast Anchor and the Mariners went on shore leaving none aboard the Ships to guard them In the mean time came into the harbour a Pinnace of the King 's carrying the Parliament Colours and finding these Ships without any Guard boarded them and carried them clear away Westward The King marched from Oxford towards Bedford and several parties of his Army did very much spoil as they marched in Bucks Bedford and Hertfordshires they plundred Leighton and at Dunstable when the people were at Church they shot at the Minister in the Pulpit and committed many outrages there and in many other places Major General Brown marched out with his Forces to Barnet and from thence to St. Albans where the Forces of the Associated Counties are to meet him and the Commons took care for the supply of all of them Sir Thomas Fairfax and Major General Lesley were sent from the Leaguer before York with six thousand Horse and Dragoons and five thousand Foot to relieve Lancashire and to attend the motions of Prince Rupert Colonel Charles Fairfax sent to assist the Scots party at Sunderland beat back the Earl of Montross Musgrave and the rest into Newcastle and the Earl of Calender with a reserve of ten thousand Scots entred England to assist the Parliament The Commons took order touching the Prerogative Court and appointed Sir Nathaniel Brent to be the Judge of that Court. Letters of thanks were sent to the Lord General for his good Service and upon a Petition of the Western Gentlemen that he might continue in the Service there it was so ordered and an Ordinance appointed for the impowering a Committee of the
appointed for the two Ministers to attend the Commoners Sir Peter Killegrew was sent with the Letters to the King and was to bring back a List of the King's Commissioners for the Treaty and of their Attendants An Ordinance read and referred to a Committee of the whole House for laying the Assessment for the Armies upon the several Counties They appointed a day to consider of the business of Dunnington Castle and the Earl of Manchester The Lord Savile Earl of Sussex the Lord Piercy and the Lord Andover were consined at Oxford The business of Dunnington Castle and of the Earl of Manchester was taken into consideration and a weeks time given for the Earl to be heard therein if he please An affront done to the Commissioners of Excise in Lancashire was referred to examination and the House resolved to be severe in upholding the power of the Commissioners The Sergeant at Arms was sent to apprehend one as a Delinquent for serving of a Sub poena upon a Member of the House of Commons Goring with his forces coming before Christ-church were beaten back by Major Lower and many of them killed The Commons proceeded in the business of the new Model of the Army and nominated Sir Tho. Fairfax to command in chief and Colonel Middleton Holborn Fortescue and Barkley tobe four of the Colonels Then they appointed a Committee to consider what honour should be conferred on the Earl of Essex for his fidelity and good services to the publick the like for Sir William Belfour and to settle the payment of their Arrears to such as should not be employed in the new establishment The Commons proceeded upon the Ordinance for the new Assesment Colonel Lambert was ordered to speed down into the North to take care of the forces there he being Commissary General of the Lord Fairfax his Army when Sir Thomas Fairfax should come up Colonel Holborn took in the King's Garrison at Sydenham-house and therein about 100 Prisoners and the High Sheriff of Somersetshire and ten Commissioners of Array and after that he fell upon the Lord Hopton's forces going to joyn with Greenvile took some hundreds of them and drove the rest to Bristol The King made Prince Maurice General of Worcester Hereford and Shropshire and some of his forces began to fortifie Cambden-house Letters from Secretary Nicholas intercepted gave no hopes of Peace upon the intended Treaty Sir Peter Killegrew returned from Oxford with the King's Answer concerning the Treaty and the names of the King's Commissioners with a Safe Conduct and Propositions from the King to be treated on The Safe Conduct was inclosed in a Letter from P. Rupert to the Earl of Essex and was to this effect CHARLES REX Charles by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To our Generals Lieutenants General Commanders in Chief Generals of Towns Colonels Lieutenants Colonels Captains Officers and Souldiers belonging to any of our Armies or Garrisons and to all other our Ministers and loving Subjects to whom these presents shall come Greeting Our Pleasure and Command is that every of you permit and suffer that Algernon Earl of Northumberland Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery William Earl of Salisbury Bazil Earl of Denbigh Thomas Lord Viscount Wenman Denzil Hollis William Pierpoint Sir Henry Vane Junior Oliver St. John Bulstrode Whitelocke John Crew Edmond Prideaux for the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament of England at Westminster and John Earl of Loudoun Lord Chancellour of Scotland Archibald Marquess of Argile John Lord Maitland John Lord Balmerino Sir Archibald Johnston Sir Charles Erskin George Dundas Sir Jo. Smith Mr. Hugh Kenedy and Mr. Robert Berkley for the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland together with Mr. Alexander Henderson and their Retinue mentioned in a List annexed together with the Retinue of the Scottish Commissioners not exceeding in all the number of 108 persons together with their Horses Coaches and all other Accommodations for their Journey may repair to Uxbridge from London stay there and return at their pleasure and that they and any of them be permitted freely and as often as they shall please to go themselves or send any of their Retinue to and from Uxbridge and London without any let hinderance interruption or molestation whatsoever and to these our Commands we require your due obedience as you tender our service and will answer the contrary at your utmost perils Given under our Signet at our Court at Oxford the 21. day of January 1644. By His Majestie 's Command Edw. Nicholas The King's Propositions were Signed likewise Edw. Nicholas The Names of the King's Commissioners appointed for the Treaty for whom Prince Rupert desired a Safe Conduct from the Parliament were these The Duke of Richmond Marquess Hertford Earl of Southampton Earl of Kingston Earl of Chichester Lord Seymour Lord Hatton Lord Capel Lord Culpepper Sir Orlando Bridgman Sir Edward Nicholas Secretary Sir Edward Hyde Sir Richard Lane Sir Thomas Gardiner Mr. John Ashburnham Mr. Geoffrey Palmer with Dr. Stewart Dr. Laney Dr. Shelden and their Attendants in all to the number of 108. They were to meet with the Parliaments Commissioners on Wednesday the 29. of January at Vxbridge upon the Treaty for Peace The States Ambassadours were satisfied with the Answer of the Parliament to their Papers and said they would acquaint the States therewith expressing their good affections to the Parliament The Commons in a grand Committee further debated the Ordinance for new Modelling the Army and inserted therein the names of Sir Thomas Fairfax and of Major General Skippon They proceeded upon the Directory for Church Government and voted that several Congregations be under one Classis and that the Church be governed by Congregational Classical Synodical Assemblies and that there shall be one at least in every particular Congregation to labour in the word and doctrine Both Houses referred the Papers of the Treaty to the Committee of both Kingdoms to consider what is fit to be done and ordered that the Ministers in their several Congregations on the next Wednesday the day of the publick Fast and of the beginning of the Treaty should pray to God for his blessing upon it Both Houses ordered that the Lord Macquire should come to his Trial in the King 's Bench. A difference was between the two Houses touching the Safe Conduct for the King's Commissioners the Committee of both Kingdoms having altered some of their Titles given them by the King since the Great Seal was carried away from the Parliament as the Earl of Chichester they called Lord Dunsmore Lord Culpepper Sir John Culpepper Lord Hatton Sir Christopher Hatton and the new made Knights they called Mr. Hyde Mr. Lane and Mr. Bridgeman The Lords gave their Reasons why the new Titles should be given in the Safe Conduct the Commons gave Reasons against it as contrary to one of their Propositions and at length the Titles were agreed to be
unless the King would grant those Propositions it would be in vain to treat of any peace There was also much discourse about the acknowledging you to be a Parliament the Earl of Lindsey said That the King had acknowledged you a Parliament by the words Lords and Commons of Parliament We answered That this was the same style his Majesty gave to the Assembly at Oxford and we could not be satisfied with that acknowledgment Then the Earl of Lindsey demanded of us how we would be acknowledged We told him thus The Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster After this we returned to our Lodgings and acquainted our fellow Commissioners with the persons that were at the Earl of Lindsey ' s Chamber when we were there and with the matter of our discourse with them In all our discourses Mr. Hollis and my self did justifie your Propositions and vindicate your Proceedings Mr. Speaker It is no small trouble to my thoughts to have my Name questioned in this House but I am comforted in my own integrity and innocency and in my Accuser but chiefly in my Judges to whom I most humbly and most willingly submit my self After Whitelocke had spoken there was much debate in the House whether this Paper of the Lord Savile were an Accusation or Charge against them Many Gentlemen argued That it was against the Privilege of the House to take it for an Accusation being from the Lord Savile who was an Enemy come from the King's Quarters and one in contempt to both Houses of Parliament for refusing to name the person from whom he received the Letter concerning Mr. Hollis and therefore committed a close prisoner That he had not discovered this to the Parliament in five or six Months together that he had been in their quarters but after he had been complained of by Mr. Hollis about a Letter and Mr. Whitelocke was in the Chair of the Committee appointed to examine the business of that Letter Then the Lord Savile brought in a new Accusation both against Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke the Chairman to take off his testimony for Mr. Hollis Others went upon this ground That this business might be committed to see if the Lord Savile would avow his Letter and Paper and by what testimony he could make it good and that Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke might have reparation and be cleared from this aspersion But these were not their Friends and moved this out of a design to bring the business before a Committee to be examined more than out of respect to them After a long debate it was at last referred to a Committee to be examined in the general and power given to the Committee to examine any Member of the House and a Message sent to the Lords to desire that the L. Savile might be examined at this Committee Those who were of a contrary party to the Earl of Essex set their interest upon it to ruine Mr. Hollis whom they found to be a great Pillar of that Party and with him to ruine Mr. Whitelocke they being both involved in this business but they had not the same envy against Mr. Whitelocke as they had against Mr. Hollis nor could they well sever them But now having got it referred to a Committee they resolved there to put it home and were full of expectation to destroy them both which was their intention 5. A Letter from the Portugal Agent and his carriage to the Parliament referred to a Committee and how the Parliament might be vindicated therein Order that the Militia of London should put in execution the Ordinance for searching for Papists and Delinquents Proposals from the Governour of Windsor for supply of that Garrison presented to the House from the Common Council of London and referred to the Committee of the Army Sir Thomas Fairfax and Colonel Massey marched from Blandford towards Taunton their Scouts and Goring's had some Encounters but Goring understanding that Sir Tho. Fairfax was advancing towards him drew off all his horse and foot from before Taunton and went towards Exeter The Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons in answer of theirs yesterday That the Lord Savile if he pleased might be examined from time to time at the Committee to whom the business of his Letter was referred 7. Divers of Westminster in the name of the City petitioned the House for Maintenance for the Lecturers in Westminster Abbey out of the Revenues belonging to the Dean and Chapter there Thereupon an Ordinance was read and committed for regulating the College of Westminster and the Petitioners called in and acquainted with the care of the House in their business and had the thanks of the House Letters from Scout-master General Watson informed that the Enemy was wholly drawn off from before Taunton An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for making Mr. Jackson Lecturer at Gloucester and a 100 l. per annum to be settled on him and the House ordered Col. Morgan to be Governour there An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for One percent for the Captives in Argiers The King's Forces from Bolton Castle surprized Raby Castle belonging to Sir Henry Vane but were again close blocked up by Forces raised by Sir George Vane The Scots Army were on their march towards Worcester as far as Birmicham The Marquess of Argyle was in pursuit of Montross over the Hills and the Parliament of Scotland being now sate the Parliament of England appointed the Earl of Rutland the Lord Wharton Sir Henry Vane senior Sir William Ermine Mr. Hatcher and Mr. Goodwyn to be their Commissioners in Scotland The King with about 4000 horse and foot was at Hereford to raise 5000 l. Assessment and some Recruits The Committee of Salop took in Cause Castle Hawarden Castle and Lynsell House belonging to Sir Richard Lucy and sate down with their Forces before High Arcall the Lord Newport's House In the Afternoon Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke attended the Committee touching my Lord Savile's Accusation where Mr. Samuel Brown had the Chair and was no friend to them in this business but pressed matters against them more than a Chair-man was to do The Lord Savile was brought into the Committee and his Letter and Paper read to him which he owned as his and his hand to them and that he would justifie them to be true upon his Soul and his Life Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke averred the contrary but with less passion and with less indiscretion than the Lord Savile who being put to it by the Committee could not make any proof of one Particular mentioned in his Papers more than they themselves acknowledged which was the same in effect that they had said before in their Narratives in the House Every particular Clause in his Papers were severally read and he heard to them and they to make their Answers but they both did it with this reservation That what they did in this was out of their willingness
of some of the King 's and Queen's Letters taken at Naseby Fight 16. The House passed many Compositions for delinquency for Sir Richard Halford Sir John Cotton and others and appointed a Committee to examine the abuses of Sequestrators and Sollicitors of Committees Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army informed that they made a breach of about 30 foot wide in the Wall of Sherburne Castle and then sent a Summons And Sir Lewis Dives returned a peremptory denyal whereupon Sir Thomas Fairfax his men went on to storm 20 of the Garrison leaped over the Wall and came in to him demanding Quarter those within cryed out for a Parley but it was denied only Quarter offered for their Lives upon which terms the Parliament Souldiers soon made themselves masters of the Castle There they took Sir Lewis Dives the Governour and Sir John Stangeways formerly members of Parliament One of the Lord Paulet's Sons â—ussell an Attorney 10 Ministers divers of the Gentry and Commissioners of Array and 600 prisoners 1400 arms great store of Ammunition and Provisions 18. Order for the House to sit some daies in the week as a Grand Committee to consider of Propositions of Peace to be sent to his Majesty and the Scots Commissioners to be acquainted therewith Col. Rowe and Mr. Booker chosen by the City to go as Commissioners into Ireland were approved A Petition from Kent referred to a Committee Order for a Letter of thanks to Sir Thomas Fairfax and for a Day of thanksgiving for the taking of Bath Bridgwater and other Garrisons Goring failed of recruits in the West At Exeter an Oath was tendred to all the Inhabitants and Souldiers to oppose all forces not raised by the King's consent and particularly Sir T. F ' s. Army Letters informed that Prince Rupert had in Bristol a 1000 horse and 2000 Foot and took in a Garrison of the Parliaments called Stenchcombe where he put 40 men to the Sword in cold bloud In the King's march the Scotch horse fell upon his quarters at Bewley and took 70 horse and divers Officers At Litchfield the King confined Col. Hastings for delivering up of Leicester about Tilbury Sir John Gell fell upon his Rear took Captain Blake and others and 40 prisoners but the King's Forces returned upon him and rescued 20 of their own men and took 10 of Sir John Gell's prisoners Lieutenant G. David Lesly with the Scotch horse was near him and Mr. G. Pointz with 2500 horse Colonel Rositer with 1500 horse and the Country horse about 2000 intended to joyn together in all about 10000 horse to follow his Majesty 19. The House resolved That the Committees in the North had no power to appoint Governours of Forts there and the House nominated M. G. Pointz to be Governour of York and Colonel Sir Matthew Boynton of Scarborough A Declaration against Tumultuous Assemblies by any persons in Arms without Authority from the Parliament sent to Governours of Forts to be published and they impowered to seize on the Leaders of them to be proceeded against as Traytors Orders for Captain Doyley Governour of New-port Paganel to command the Regiment that was Sir Samuel Luke's Orders for levying the Arrears in London of the Assesment for Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army and for the Arrears to the Scots Army Order for money for several Forces 20. The House were in debate of the point for suspending from the Sacrament but nothing was determined in it Order for superstitious Pictures in York-House to be sold Orders for money and supplies for Garrisons Order That no foreign Impressions of English Bibles be vended here without perusal of the Assembly The King with 5000 Horse and Dragoons was at the Lord Fretswell's House and the Parliament forces not far from him G. Leven having planted his Batteries sent his summons to Hereford to come to a Parley and to expect no further offer A Book was brought into the House taken at Naseby fight wherein were the names of divers members of the House with summs of money supposed to have been contributed by them to the King and his Majestie 's hand in many places of it The Speaker said he had perused the Book and did not find there his own name nor Mr. Dunch or Mr. Whitelocke's name and he believed the reason was because the King had taken all from them 21. The House were in a Grand Committee in debate of new Elections for members and upon the Question it was carried by three voices to have new Elections and the Speaker ordered to issue out his Warrants for Writs for new Elections at Southwark Bury and Hithe and none to be chosen and sit unless they took the Covenant Both Houses granted a pass for the Lord Houghton the Earl of Clare's Son and another for Mr. Hollis's Son for going beyond Sea But Captain Bettisworth praying the like was desired to stay in England to doe further Service Sir Thomas Fairfax with advice of his Council of Warr proposed to go before Bristol The Plague was much in Scotland and Montross lately routed aBrigade of horse of the Covenanters 23. Order for supplies for M. G. Langherne and for 10 l. a Week to be allowed to his Wife in part of his Arrears A Bookseller questioned for Printing sheets unlicensed and order that none shall doe the like An Ordinance sent to the Lords for Mr. Case one of the Assembly to be Parson of Sapport in Cheshire Order for Colonel Jephson to beat up Drums for Voluntiers for Ireland Five hundred pounds Allowed to Scots Reformadoes Order for payment of Waggoners according to Contract and of Trades-men for their Commodities M. G. Brown continued very scrupulous and a discontent seemed to remain with him 25. Orders for recruits which came in but slowly for the Army and for money for the Forces of M. G. Massey A Petition of Ministers of London and Westminster concerning non-admittance of gross sinners to the Sacrament referred to the Grand Committee Order That the sad Condition of Scotland in respect of the sickness there and the late defeat given them by Montross shall be remembred in the publick prayers on the next fast day Upon Information of the King 's returning Southward and to prevent the plundering of his Souldiers and the breaking into the Associated Counties care was taken to put them into a posture of defence and for supplies of Garrisons in his way and Colonel Graves and Colonel Whaley were to go with more Forces into those parts Order for 300 l. for Colonel Graves The Scots Horse and Dragoons to whom M. G. Pointz Colonel Rositer and the Countrey Forces joyned makeing in all 10000 Horse and Dragoons got betwixt the King and the North so that he retreated back to Newarke a party of the Parliaments fell upon his Rear took the L. Harris a Papist 100 horse and divers prisoners From Newarke the King marched into Lincoln-shire where his Army
more they have need of instruction and where can they have it better than from the lips of the learned and pious Pastors which ought to preserve knowledg But it hath been said that the ruling Elders are to joyn with them let us inquire who they are in some Congregations in Country Villages perhaps they may not be very learned themselves yet the authority to be given them is sufficiently great The word Elders amongst the Hebrews signified the men of greatest power and dignity The Members of their great Sanhedrim were styled Elders so were the Princes of their Tribes The Grecians had the appellation in like esteem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we translate Elders was given to their greatest men and from thence is fetched the Name of Presbyters or Priests Presbytery and Presbyterian Government The Phoenicians Tyrians and other particular Nations used the word Elder in the like sense and styled their Generals and Princes by the name of Elders The Romans did the like their Senate and their Senators came all from Senes Elders and from them to this day the French Spaniards and Italians retain the Titles of Seigneur Seigniori Seniori and the like for their greatest men And in England we give the name of Earls to our great Lords from Elder and to the King himself the title of Sir abstracted from Seigneur an Elder In Towns they still keep the title of Aldermen that is Eldermen for the Chief and Rulers of the Corporation And so they may allow the title of Elders to the cheif and select men of every Presbytery Yet if this Power Excommunication and Suspension be allowed them they may well challenge the title of Elders in the highest signification The Power of the Keys is a great power The Romish Church will acknowledge it and the foundation of their Supremacy to be built upon it Whatsoever they bind or loose on earth to be bound or loosed in heaven is a power which may claim the highest title imaginable Although I can never presume that the reverend and pious learned Gentlemen who aym at this power can have the least supposition of any such effect by it yet if any petitioners should sue to you to be made Judges or Justices I believe you would judge their Petition the less modest and them the less fit for such Offices but to this I make no application and I hope none shall make any use of it Power is thought fit to be given to suspend from the Sacrament two sorts of persons the ignorant and the scandalous I am sure that I am a very ignorant person and I fear we are all more ignorant than we ought to be of the truth of Christ and some more than others And the most learned I doubt may be called in the large sense ignorant Even amongst the Pastors and perhaps amongst the Ruling Elders in some places the most learned may in other places be adjudged ignorant The more ignorant people are the more some will blame their Pastors who ought to instruct them and by private conference inform them and rectify their understandings And that is a good part of Spiritual food And to keep an ignorant person from the Ordinances is no way to improve their knowledge Scandalous persons are likewise to be suspended And who shall be said scandalous is to be referred to the judgment of the Pastors and Ruling Elders But where a Commission is extant for them to execute this judicature will be hard to shew Both Pastors and Elders and people are all scandalous in the general sense We are all of us gross sinners and our best performances are but scandalous as to the true and sincere profession of the Gospel of Christ Those who are scandalous sinners ought to be admonished to forsake their evil ways and to amend their lives and where can they receive this admonition and hope for more Conviction of their Consciences than by hearing good Sermons and being admitted to be pertakers of the holy Ordinances but to excommunicate them deprives them wholly of the best means for their cure The best Excommunication is for Pastors Elders and people to Excommunicate sin out of their own hearts and conversations to suspend themselves from all works of iniquity this is a power which put in execution through the assistance of the Spirit of God will prevent all disputes about Excommunication and Suspension from the Sacrament A man may be a good physitian though he never cut off a Member from any of his patients a body may be very sound though no member of it was ever cut off And surely a Church may be a good Church though no member of it hath ever been cut off I have heard here many Complaints of the Jurisdiction formerly exercised by the Prelates who were but a few there will be by the passing of this now desired a great multiplication of Spiritual men in Government Where the temporal Sword the Magistracy is sufficient for punishment of offences there will be little need for this new Diseipline nor will it be so easily granted After a long debate the House referred this matter to a further Consideration by the grand Committee to whom it was formerly referred Votes for new Elections of Members for several Towns and Counties Order for advance of the Forces under Major General Pointz and for Horse and Arms to be sent to the Scots Army before Hereford and notice to them of the party appointed to attend the King's motions A Conference and reasons given to the Lords for passing the Ordinance for sale of Delinquents Estates A Party of about 120 horse came from Walling-ford and Dunnington to gather Contribution near Reading and Col. Baxter with a party of about 30 horse marched after them beat up their Rear but they facing about one of Baxter's men was slain and 20 wounded and taken Then a party of 100 horse who by accident quartered at Reading came forth to relieve Baxter routed the Enemy recovered all the Prisoners took 25 and Captain Barker their Commander 50 Horse and 40 Arms. Montrosse carryed all things in Scotland without opposition and had many Eminent Prisoners and forced divers to fly to Berwick The funeral of the Countess of Dorset in much State 4. An Ordinance for a Collection for the poor of Leicester Another sent to the Lords for supply of the Forces in the Eastern Association Order for the Brigade under Lieutenant General Lesley to march into Scotland for their assistance there Order for 100 horse from Southwark to be sent to Basing-house and the Militia to fine such as refused Goring Greenvile and Mohun marched with 6000 in the West summoned all between 16 and 60 to come in to them and forced such as they met with to serve under them Massey attends them Sir John Seymore brought 1000 men to the Leaguer before Bristol Seven Parliament Ships were in Kings Road. 5. The publick Fast day by reason of the Plague and the ill success
Scotland Lathom house defended two years by the Countess of Derby was surrendred to the Parliament upon Articles and in it were taken twelve pieces of Ordnance all their Arms and Ammunition and store of rich Prize and Pillage 8. Debate touching Ireland and voted that the Government thereof should be in one hand under one Governor to be yearly chosen Order for six thousand Suits of Apparel to be sent to Sir Tho. Fairfaxes Army Thanks returned to the Citizens of London for their readiness to advance Money for the Scots Army and for the Publick upon all occasions Order touching Compositions of Delinquents The Speaker of the House of Peers presented a Letter to the Houses which he received from Sir Thomas Glemham Governor of Oxford and therein one inclosed from the King desiring that a safe Conduct might be granted to the Duke of Lenox the Earl of South-hampton Mr. Jo. Ashburnham and Mr. Jeffery Palmer to come up to the Parliament of England at Westminster with Propositions for Peace this was ordered to be debated next day Sir T. F. Sent another Party of Horse with M. Desborough to joyn with Col. Whaley in streightning Oxford A Letter in answer of that from Sir T. F. to the Prince was written by the Lord Capell to Sir T. F. signifying the Princes desire of Peace but that he would not quit his Piety and Loyalty to the King 9. Order for Arrears for Sir Thomas Fairfax's Officers Order for the Ministers about London to give thanks to God the next Lords Day for the Surrender of Lathom House and a Collection for the Poor of Manchester Another Order for Col. Harvey to have Liberty to transport eight hundred and fifty Calve-skins Order for five hundred pounds for Arrears of Dutch Officers and for bayling Sir Roger Twisden Letters from the Worcester-shire Committee informed that Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice with an hundred and sixty Horse were gone from Worcest and in the way meeting with some opposition from that Country men under Sir Edward Dingly they slew five of them wounded others and so got to Oxford Order that Col. Booth with the Lancashire Forces that took in Lathom House should joyn with Sir William Brereton before Chester A Ship was taken in Blith-Haven in the North Fraught with Cannon Arms and Ammunition for Montross Another Ship taken at Burlington Haven and three at Sutton loaden with Deal and Timber very useful for the Siege of Newark 10. An Answer agreed upon to the Kings Letter touching propositions for Peace That the Parliament were most desirous of it could not consent to the coming of the Duke of Lenox c. into their Quarters because of the danger thereof but were themselves in consideration of Propositions for Peace to be sent by way of Bills to his Majesty and herein the Scots Commissioners concurred The Custody of the great Seal continued in the present Commissioners till the last of next February Some Letters and Papers of the Kings taken at Naseby relating to Holland ordered to be Printed and sent over to Mr. Strickland and the Lord Digby's Letters at Sherburne ordered to be Printed M. Arch-bold Governor of Cannon-Froome for the Parliament fell upon the enemies Quarters at Mava and took eighty of their Horse and Riders 11. Divers of the Assembly came to the House and informed them that a Printed paper in the nature of a Remonstrance was published by the dissenting Brethren of the Assembly which they conceived Scandalous to them and they desired they might make an Answer to it The House named a Committee to peruse the Remonstrance and consider of the Scandal in it and by what Authority it was published Divers being summoned by a forged Warrant to appear at London the House ordered that none should serve any Warrant from any Committee but by Deputation from the Serjeant at Arms. Order for slighting the out-works of Wrestel-Castle belonging to the Earl of Northumberland Mr. Bond made Master of the Savoy Hospital under the Great Seal Letters informed that Sir Charles Cooke and Sir Robert Steward with their Eorces slew five hundred of the Irish Rebels 12. Debate touching the propositions for Peace and a day set for Delinquents to come in to make their Compositions and this Order to be published and that those who came in and did not take the Covenant should be taken as Spies and an Ordinance to be drawn to injoyn them to take the Covenant Instructions passed for the Commissioners who are to reside in the Scots Army and a thousand pounds ordered to defray their Expenses An Order for Money for the Forces of Lincoln and of Lynne Regis 13. An Ordinance sent to the Lords to make C. Welden Governor of Plymouth Order for supplys for that Garrison of Ammunition and Money An Ordinance committed for establishing the Garrison at Abbington Order for a thousand pair of Pistols and three thousand pair of Boots to be sent down to the Scots Troopers The Siege was so streight at Chester that in the Town they ate Horse-flesh 15. Proceedings about the Propositions for Peace and in the afternoon upon private Petitions and voted a Rate upon French Commodities imported and English exported thither Mr. Bedding-field had a Pass to go beyond Seas and was released out of his imprisonment by both Houses Order for three thousand pound to pay the fifth part of the Arrears of the reduced Officers 16. Some difference of Opinion between the Houses and the Scots Commissioners about the answer to the Kings Letter for Peace Reference of a Petition of Sir Robert Cooke Order for two thousand pound per An. out of the Court of Wards for the Lord Say in consideration of his Losses and great Services Thirty pound given to the Gallery-keepers at St. Margarets Church A Party sallied out of Newark but were beaten back with four of their men killed but pursuing too far Captain Peat had twenty of his men taken Prisoners Another Party Sallying out of Newarke their Captain singled himself out by way of Challenge and was incountred by Captain Thorney's Lievetenant his Horse killed and himself taken Prisoner G. Leven left the Leager and went to New-Castle Letters informed that Sir Tho. Fairfax had taken divers of the Kings Garrisons near Exeter whereby they were streightned that his Forces took in Ful-ford House That a Troop of Col. Okey's Dragoons surprized a Ship laden with Serges going to the Lord Pawlet That divers Cornish men sue to make their Peace with the Parliament and that they generally refuse there to give Quarter to Gorings men Sir Tho. Fairfax sent a Regiment of Horse and two Regiments of Foot to take in Corse-Castle and Dunster-Castle was Besieged 17. Another Letter from the King was communicated to both Houses wherein he admires they should deny a Convoy for those he would send with Propositions telling them of their Protestations to agree to Peace and conjures them by the Miseries and Blood which hath
as formerly That the propositions for Peace be hastned to him That he may come to London with safety freedom and honour where he resolves to comply with the Houses in what shall be most for the good of his Subjects That he will disband his Garrisons as by the inclosed Warrant appears only upon honourable conditions and will send for the Prince Papers came from the Scots Commissioners to the Parliament with these Letters and very fair expressions in them pursuant to the Covenant and that they had perswaded the King since his coming to their Army to give satisfaction to his Subjects and they hope such propositions will speedily be sent to his Majesty as may settle Religion and Peace in both Kingdoms and they shall willingly depart home Another paper was a Copy of that which the Committee of Estates presented to the King desiring that the Prince might not go beyond Seas 16. Progress about the propositions for Peace they agreed that the Militia should be in both houses of Parliament for twenty years Letters informed that the Scots perswaded the King to take the Covenant The Articles were almost agreed for the surrender of Oxford 17. A Letter from the King to the Prince intercepted and read in the Houses and was to this effect to tell him That he had written to his Mother about him and would have him to obey her in all things except Religion Debate about the Militia Ordinance for a Collection for the poor of Abbington 18. The Examinations and Confession of Mr. Hudson one of the Guides that led the King to the Scots Army were read and referred to the Committee who are to draw up the Declaration to be presented to the King and to the Estates of Scotland and the Committee was ordered to proceed further in these Examinations Hudson said that the King crossed the Countrey was at Henley Harrow on the Hill and at Brainford and almost perswaded to come to London and then he went to St. Albans and so to Harborough where the French Agent was to have met him with some Horse but came not from thence the King went to Stamford from thence to Downham in Norfolke where he lay at a petty Alc-house that he passed sometimes by the name of Hudson's Tutor sometimes Doctor and sometimes as Ashburnhams Servant Order for the Speaker to write to the Scots Commissioners for an answer of the last Letter of the Parliament A Petition of the Committee of Wilts of the Robberies and Cruelties of the Forces under Major General Massey quartered in those parts so that none could travail nor remain in their houses with safety A Letter ordered for Sir Tho. Fairfax to suppress them and soon after the House ordered them for Ireland A Petition of Newbury of the sufferings by the War referred to the Committee of the three Counties to cousider of a way for their relief Supplys for Garrisons and an order for Capt. Batten to be Governor of Holy Island 20. The Earl of Ormonds Quarter master with divers Letters and Papers about him was apprehended in London and a Committee named to examine him and to peruse the Papers A difference between the Committee of Kent and the Committee for the Prince Elector referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations and debate about Committees in General and the oppressions and illegalities of some of them referred to a Committee to consider of restraining them Progress upon propositions for the Peace News came that the Prince was in France The Treaty for the Surrender of Oxford was agreed Farrington was willing to Surrender upon the same terms with Oxford but Wallengford still held out two of Sir Tho. Fairfax's Commissioners went into Oxford to see the Governor and Council there to sign the Articles and two from them came to Sir Tho. Fairfax to see him sign them which were as followeth Articles of Agreement concluded and agreed on by his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax Knight General of the Forces raised by the Parliament on the one Party and the Right Honourable Sir Richard Lane Knight Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England Francis Lord Cottington Lord High Treasurer of England Will. Marquess of Hertford Edw. Earl of Dorset Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Honourable Houshould Tho. Earl of Southampton Francis Earl of Chichest Francis Lord Seymour Sir Edw. Nicholas Knt. one of his Majesties Principal Secretaries of State all of them being of his Majesties most honourable Privy Council and Sir Tho. Glemham Knt. c. Governor of Oxford on the other Party for and concerning the Rendring of the Garrison of Oxford as followeth 1. THat the Garrison of Oxford with the Castle Forts Mounts and places of Defence whatsoever with all the Ordnance Arms Ammunition and Provisions of War with all Magazins and Stores thereunto belonging excepting what is allowed in the ensuing Articles shall be delivered to the General Sir Thomas Fairfax or whom he shall appoint without wilful spoyl or embezlement upon Wednesday the 24th of this Instant June at ten of the Clock in the Morn or there about 2. That his Highness the Duke of York shall have an honourable Convoy to London where other of his Majesties Children are attended by his Officers and Servants and sitting accommodation for the removal of his Houshold and Goods thither and shall have an honourable Provision besitting his Dignity appointed for him by the Parliament and to remain there untill his Majestics Pleasure be known touching his setling there or elsewhere and then to be disposed accordingly to any place within fourscore miles of London and shall have such Officers and Servants to continue about him as the Parliament shall approve 3. That their Highnesses Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice shall have Liberty and Passes for themselves with their Servants Horses Arms and Goods the number of their Horses for them and their Train not exceeding seventy to repair to any place within fifty miles of London so it be not within twenty miles of London without leave from the Parliament nor in any Garrison and there to abide for the space of six Months after the rendring free from any molestation by imposition of Oaths or otherwise and shall have Passes to go beyond the Sea at any time within the said six months with their said Servants Horses Arms and Goods they ingaging themselves upon their Honours not to use the Liberty hereby granted in the mean time to any Hostility against the Parliament of England sitting at Westminster or any way wilfully to the prejudice of their affairs and they are to have the benefit of such the ensuing Articles as may concern them 4. That the Seals called the Great Seal Privy Seal the Signet and the Seals of the Kings Bench Exchequer Court of Wards Dutchy Admiralty and Prerogative as also the Sword of State shall at such time and in the presence of two such Persons as the General Sir Tho. Fairfax shall appoint be lockt up in
and that he would be ready to use his endeavour in what might conduce to the good of the Town Letters informed of some armed Forces that marched through Lancashire and Westmerland towards the borders of Scotland 8. Debate upon private Petitions Orders to provide for Reformadoes and Soldiers Widows Six of the Impeached Lords Petitioned for further time for their answers and it was granted them till the twelfth of April next Order of both Houses for Mr. Marshall to return from Scotland An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for the sale of some Lands of the Earl of Newcastle to Col. Whaley Order for Money for poor Widows of Soldiers and a reward given to the Auditors of the Soldiers Accounts Letters from Holland certified that the Lord Willoughby of Parham was come thither 9. The House debated and confirmed the ingagement of their Members who were forced by the tumults from Westminster and the subscription by them Aug. 4 1647. testifying a zeal to the Publick and a resolution to vindicate the honour and freedom of Parliament Divers Inhabitants of Bucks presented a Petition and remonstrance to the House acknowledging with thanks their unwearied Labours for the Publick the great successes God had given them and the continuance of their care and faithfulness They resolve to adhere unto and stand by the Parliament to their utmost ability against all opposers They desire them to proceed to a speedy setling of the Civil Government as may most conduce to the freedom and happiness of the Nation to promote Religion according to the Word of God to incourage able Ministers and to cast out such as are Scandalous and to be tender of the Consciences of those whose Conversation is as becometh the Gospel to relieve Ireland and to secure themselves from violence The Petitioners had the thanks of the House for their constant good affections and the Speaker told them that the House had ordered their Petition to be Printed as a pattern for other Counties and would consider of the particulars of their Petition in convenient time Order touching Augmentations for Ministers Sir John Strangeways upon his Petition was admitted to his Composition and the Money which should be raised thereby was ordered for the Navy 10. Order for an Ordinance for electing a Lord Major Aldermen and Common Councelmen of York as had been formerly for London Debate upon the confession of Faith 11. Debate about the draining of the Fennes in Lincoln-shire c. and about matters presented by the Committee of Accounts which were referred to a Committee Upon Information that the Troop which marched through Lancashire towards the borders of Scotland was Captain Wogans Troop and he with them who had slighted several Orders of the General 's and now hoped to find invitation to Scotland The General sent Orders to Col. Lambert and to the Sheriffs of the Northern Counties to stop Col. Wogans March and to deal with him and his Party as Disturbers of the publick Peace 13. Upon reading the Impeachment and hearing of Proofs against Sir John Gayer late Lord Major of London the House pass'd the Articles against him the like against Alderman Bunce Alderman Adams Alderman Langham and ordered them to be sent up to the Lords and their Lordships be acquainted that the House is ready to make good their Charge against the Aldermen The House approved of the Ingagements of Col. Welden for supplyes for the Garrison of Plymouth and ordered them to be paid accordingly Order to desire the Parliament of Scotland to give direction to seize and apprehend Captain Wogans Forces or any such that shall march into Scotland being discontented Persons who endeavour to forment new differences Reference to the Committee for Irish Affairs to examine and state the business concerning accounts for Provlsions for London-derry between Mr. Goring and Mr. Thornton Merchants Mr. Dell who was Chaplain to the General took his leave of the Army and retired to his private home Letters from Scotland informed That the Divines there have presented to the Parliament their resolution against adhering to on joyning with the King and his Party That a Letter from the King to the Commissioners of the Kirk was voted by them of a dangerous consequence that some of the Kirk are joyned to the Committee of danger who have in consideration these particulars 1. The danger of Religion in both Kingdoms 2. The carrying on of the Covenant 3. The state of the King 4. Monarchical Government 5. The danger Scotland is in 6. The Vnion of the two Kingdoms That the English Horse which are come into Scotland are not received the English Commissioners declaring to the Parliament there that these Horse come not by any authority of the Parliament of England They lye at their own charge and pay Quarter 14. Divers Compositions passed An Explanatory Ordinance for sale of Bishops Lands sent up to the Lords Reference of a Petition touching matter of Priviledge upon a Bond from a peer who doth not now sit in the House of Lords Sir Hardress Waller published a Declaration or Representation to the Counties of Devonshire and Cornwall where he commanded the Forces Expressing the Honour and Justice of the Parliament and their General in their proceedings and in the distribution of the Forces in those Counties and touching the Assessments and freeing the Countreys from the burden of free Quarter perswading them to complyance with the Orders of Parliament and to pay the Assessments and promiseth his utmost endeavour in his Station to preserve and further the Peace and good of those Counties 15. A Message from the Lords to the Commons That their Lordsnips had agreed to the Ordinance for the maintenance of the Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax Also that they had agreed to the Ordinance for committing the custody of the great Seal of England into the hands of Commissioners of both Houses viz. The Earl of Kent Sir Thomas Widdrington Knight and Bulstrode Whitelocke Esquire for one year only their Lordships desired that the Lord Grey of Werke might be added to the said Commissioners and that one Lord and one Commoner might be of the Quorum And in regard the Commissioners of the House of Commons were in the Circuits and shall not return till the beginning of the next Term whereby much dammage would accrue to the Subject by not having Commissions and Writs Sealed before the Term as usually it was desired that the Earl of Kent and the Lord Grey might have power to sign Commissions and Writs till the tenth of April next to which the Commons after some debate assented The Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament for the custody of the great Seal was of this Tenor Die Mercurii 15 Martii 1647. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for Committing the Great Seal of England into the Hands and Custody of Commissioners The Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled do Order and Ordain
and be it Ordained That the Great Seal of England shall be committed to the custody and keeping of Henry Earl of Kent William Lord Grey of Werke Sir Thomas Widdrington Knight and Bulstrode Whitelocke Esquire who are hereby Ordained Commissioners for that purpose for and during the time of one whole year from the Passing of this Ordinance Which said Persons are hereby constituted and appointed to be Commissioners for the Custody of the said Great Seal of England during the time aforesaid and they or any two of them whereof one Member of the Lords House also one Member of the House of Commons shall have and are hereby authorized to have the Custody and Keeping Ordering and Disposing thereof as also all such and the like Powers and Authorities as any Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal of England for the time being hath Lawfully had and used or ought to have had or used John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum Henry Elsinge Cler. Parliam Dom. Com. Orders upon private Petitions of Grievances Letters from Ireland That the Lord Inchequin relieved some Garrisons of the English in Tipperary entred Carricke and Fortified a Pass to make good his Retreat blew open the Gate of Cullen by a Petard entred the Town took two Castles by Assault and put three hundred Soldiers to the Sword and some Women notwithstanding order to the contrary and then took in another strong Castle upon Mercy That Owen Roe Oneal is dead and the Supreme Councel fled from Kilkenny That the Parliaments Ships took three of the Rebells Ships loaden with Ammunition and Captain Ball took an Irish Man of War 16. Orders for taking off several Sequestrations in performance of Articles of War Ten thousand pound accepted for the Composition of Sir Jo. Strangeway and his Son and ordered for the Navy The Lord Fairfax Father to the General having a bruise on his Foot where a Corn was growing it festred and turn'd to a Gangrene which brought a Feaver upon him whereof he died at York March 13. and was much lamented Order that Sir Thomas Fairfax his Son should be Keeper of Pontefract Castle Custos Rotulorum of York-shire and chief Ranger c. in the place of his Father Order for Papists to be admitted to Compositions in performance of the Articles of Oxford 17. Long debate upon the Confession of Faith allmost all the day Several Ordinances pass'd for placing Ministers in vacant Benefices 18. The House sate not but according to their Order the Grand Committee sate about the business of the Fennes in Lincoln-shire 20. a Petition of London Merchants complaining of Pyrats and decay of Trade was referred to a Committee of Trade which was revived with power to consider of removing Obstructions in Trade and to receive all Petitions concerning the advance of Trade And referred to the Committee of the Admiralty to provide a sufficient guard for the Merchants Ships Letters of the Proceedings of the Commissioners in Scotland and of their Letters to the Major of Berwicke giving him notice of a design to surprize that Town and the Major's Answer Order for a Letter of thanks to the Major and to desire him to preserve the Town from Garrisoning according to the Treaty and order to the General to prevent any inconvenience by such meetings of the Cavaliers and Papists Letters from York of another Troop Landed from Ireland at Chester which marched towards Scotland That the Lord Fairfax the General 's Father was honourably buried Letters from Scotland of Divisions in their Parliament Some for raising an Army against the Sectaries in England others for the King and a third Party for no War The Clergy were for an Oath to be generally taken That Presbyterial Government be maintained that the King be not restored till he sign the Covenant to endeavour the extirpation of all Sectaries especially Erastianisme that the Ecclesiastical power is not subject to the Civil that the Kings Negative Vote in England be taken away Captain Wogan had Money sent to him in Scotland to pay his Quarters but by whom will not be discovered there are four hundred Foot and a Troop of Horse of the English in a Body 21. Letters that Col. Poyer held out in Pembroke Castle against the orders of Parliament and the Forces sent thither by the General that in the Morning he is sober and penitent and in the afternoon drunk and full of Plots that he put four or five of his Companions in the best Apparel he could get and by Sunrising put them out at the Sally-port and received them in again at the Gate himself with great Ceremony giving out in the Town that they were Commanders sent out of France to him from the Prince of Wales and more were to follow That when he hears news that pleaseth him then he puts forth bloody Colours and declares for the King and Common-Prayer when he hears other news then he is for the Oath and Covenant and puts forth blew and white Colours That one day he fired all his Guns on the Parliaments Forces without any occasion that afterwards he was very quiet yet the next day he vowed that not one of the Parliaments Forces should go away alive and calls the General King Thomas That the Parliaments Forces lye close and make no Shot at him but none of his men dare peep out of Town Upon Summons sent to him his answer was that if they might have their Arrears Disbursements and Indemnity they would give up the Castle The House ordered the General to send sufficient Forces to reduce Col. Poyer and Pembroke Castle an Ordinance to remove him from being Major of Pembroke and to constitute another Order for a Months Pay for the Forces in the Isle of Wight and for an allowance for four Gentlemen attending his Majesty Debate about Compositions upon surrenders of Garrisons A Plot was discovered by the General to surprize the Tower this night 22. Orders upon many private Petitions Ordinance past touching the Collecting of the Rents of Westminster Colledge The Commons agreed with the Lords in the Doctrinal part of the Confession of Faith but altered the Title from the Confession of Faith to be Articles of Faith agreed upon by both Houses 23. Debate touching Oxford Articles and about clipped and false Money Ordinance about reimbursing the Committee of Surrey for Money laid out by them for the Soldiery Order for a Writ for a new Election 24. Debate about setling of a good Ministry in some vacant places and Ordinances for some particular Parishes Order for two thousand pound for repairing the Library at Cambridge to be raised out of Deans and Chapters Revenues and an Order for incouragement of the Heads of Colledges there The General sent strict Orders for the disbanding of Major General Laugherne's Forces according to the Orders of Parliament and for the reducing of Col. Poyer 25. The Ordinance passed both Houses for setling the business of the Navy
future Upon this many of the Multitude who were come as far as Greenwich and Deptford retreated home and left the Ordnance and what they had taken behind them Letters from Cornwall That Sir Hardress Waller had routed and dispersed the Forces there for the King That he had killed near a hundred and took about two hundred of them Prisoners and let the rest go home to their own dwelling Letters from Collonel Ewer of his taking of Chepstow Castle Sir Nicholas Kemish slain an hundred and twenty Prisoners taken Order for fifty pound for the Captain who brought the News and for a Letter of thanks to Collonel Ewer and his Officers and Soldiers Letters from Viceadmiral Rainsborough of the revolt of some of the Ships under his command and that they had set him on Shore and had sent to the Earl of Warwick to take the Command of them and declared for King Parliament and Covenant The Commons referred this business to the Committee of Derby House and to follow the humour of the Revolters they Voted that the Earl of Warwick should be Lord High Admiral of England and forthwith go to take care of the Navy Order for a Letter of thanks to Sir Hardress Waller his Officers and Soldiers for their good Service in suppressing the Insurrection in Cornwall Letters from Kent that the Rioters encreased there to a great strength and committed many Plundrings and Insolencies the House left the business of reducing them wholly to the management of the General with power for him to give Pardons and Indemnity to any but only to such as had been formerly in Arms against the Parliament in pursuance hereof the General had a Rendezvous upon Black-Heath of seven Regiments of Horse and Foot and marched towards Rochester Letters of Cromwells Success in Wales Letters from Scotland That the Levyes of Soldiers there are opposed in some Counties From Newcastle That Langdale left five hundred Foot and a Troop of Horse at Berwicke That the number of the Cavaliers in those parts were about eight thousand That Major General Lambert was come with about nine hundred Horse to Bernard Castle The Three Bills to be sent to the King in order to a Treaty transmitted to the Lords Some Members added to the Committee of Derby House six Lord and twelve Commoners Referred to Major General Skippon to take care of the Ordnance at White-Hall and of sending Beds to Windsor Ordinances passed the Commons giving Power to the Militia of London to send Guards to the Parliament and for six thousand pound for satisfying the ingagement of Collonel Welden to the Inhabitants of Plymouth The Kentish men grew numerous under Esquire Hales their General and Sir Thomas Peiton their Lieuetenant General who sent a Message by a Trumpet to the Lord General for a Pass for their Commissioners to come and treat with him but the General refused it answering That he knew no authority they had to appoint Commissioners for such a purpose But finding them and their Countreymen gathered together in Arms and doing many Acts of Hostility and damage to their Neighbours in disturbance of the Peace and without any authority from the Parliament he cannot admit of a Treaty with them whilst they are thus in Arms. But if they shall forthwith lay down their Arms and depart to their Homes he doubts not but the Mercy of the Parliament will be extended to the Estates and Lives of those who have been deluded into this Rebellion and their Justice only against some of the most eminent fomenters of it Some Skirmishes were between Parties of the Army and the Kentish Men some few of them slain and about a hundred Prisoners taken they fought stoutly 31. The Monthly Fast they had three Sermons in the House The Kentish men sent a Resolute Reply to the General 's Letter Justifying themselves and their Cause The House sate till after six a Clock at night June 1648. June 1. Debate of an Ordinance touching the Arrears of many Officers and Soldiers who have served the Parliament A Petition from the Lord Major and Common Councel of London to acquaint the Houses with a Petition presented to the Common Councel which they desired to tender to the Houses and to leave to their Consideration It was 1. To return thanks to the Common Councel for their endeavours for a Personal Treaty 2. That the Militia of London Essex Hertford Bucks Kent Sussex and Surrey might be Associated 3. That Captain Batten might be restored to the place of Vice-Admiral 4. That the Distempers in Kent might be appeased 5. That the Aldermen under restraint might be discharged The Answer of both Houses to the Petition was That they perceived the Wisdom and Moderation of the Common Councel in this business and thereby their good affections to the Parliament for which they gave them thanks and desired that a Common Councel might be called this afternoon to which the Houses resolved to send some of their Members to acquaint them with the sence of the Houses upon such Petitions Intelligence that the General with four Regiments of Horse and three of Foot and some Companies of Colonel Ingoldsbie's Regiment marched to Eltham and lay in the Fields all Night May 31. they had a rendezvous at Craford Heath and from thence marched through Dartford and the General having intelligence that a party of the Kentish had fortifyed and barricadoed a bridge which led to Gravesend A commanded party was sent forth under Major Husbands of three hundred Horse who took up an hundred Foot behind them when they drew towards the bridge the Enemy sired thick upon them but they notwithstanding fell on and the Horse swam through the water and so got over The Kentish men seeing their danger fled Major Childe who commanded them hardly escaped having his Horse shot and his Son was shot and taken About twenty of the Kentish were slain on the place divers wounded and thirty Prisoners taken most of the party routed were Country-men Sca-men and Apprentices of London Major Husbands Marched on two or three Miles beyond Gravesend and had orders to retreat to Maulin where the Army quartered The General published a Proclamation forbidding his Souldiers to Plunder or commit any outrage in their March and to restore any thing that had been so taken Many Knights and Gentlemen of quality and Cavaliers were with the Kentish men and their numbers were increased to above ten thousand Major Gibbon went with a party to relieve Dover-Castle and forced Sir Richard Hardresse who had besieged it to retreat 2. A report from the committee who were sent to the Common Council That they did return their humble thanks to the Parliament for sending the Committee to acquaint them with the Overtures of favour the Parliament have made to the Petitioners of Kent The Common Council acknowledge the great patience and low condescension of the Parliament towards the Kentish men
a Pass for himself and his attendants forty Horse but none other to go over with him Report by Lieutenant General Cromwell from the Committee of Estates that according to the Order of the House nineteen of the Committee had subscribed for approving the Kings execution but that two and twenty of the Committee had refused Not but that they confest except one the Commons in Parliament to be the supreme power of the Nation and that they would live and dye with them in what they should do for the future But they could not confirm what they had done in relation to the King and Lords this report was committed Debate about disbanding the Kentish Forces and referred to a Committee to examine the publishing of Papers to Proclaim the Prince to be King The high Court of Justice sate and witnesses proved that the Earl of Cambridge was Prisoner to the Lord Grey before the Articles with Major General Lambert were concluded Letters produced signed with his own hand to Sir Marmaduke Langdale touching the carrying on of the design in England and passages touching his Friends in Colchester Proved also that he was called by the late Kings Writ to sit in Parliament in the Lord Houses by the name of Earl of Cambridge and appeared as Earl of Cambridge and acted as a Peer of England sitting in the Lords House and in divers Committees That as a Peer of England he took the National Covenant and subscribed to it Cambridge in the House of Peers and took the Negative Oath before the Commissioners of the Great Seal as a Peer of England Letters from Scotland that Sir Joseph Douglas was chosen by their Parliament to go to their new Proclaimed King to acquaint him with what the Parliament had done and to desire him to take heed of evil Counsellours That they are putting the Kingdom into a posture of defence Colonels chosen in all the Shires and every fourth man to be arrayed and trained Letters from Pontefract that one Beaumont a Priest was executed for corresponding with the Garrison in Characters and he chose to dye rather than to discover the Characters At the Council of State they were all demanded to subscribe the test appointed by Parliament for approving all that was done concerning the King and Kingship and for taking away the House of Lords and against the Scots invasion c. All the Lords and divers other Members of the Council refused to subscribe this test the General desired to be spared for what was past as to subscribing but he and the rest of the refusers affirmed that for the future if the Parliament thought them worthy to be imployed they would joyn with them and faithfully serve them Many of the Commons refusers to sign it as it then was made divers scruples some to one part of it some to another Whitelock scrupled that part of approving the proceedings of the High Court of Justice because he was not privy to them nor did know what they were in particular nor ever heard any report of them made to the house and not knowing what they were he could not sign that paper to approve of them the like was said by divers others 20. Offer for Merchants approved to send out Ships at their own charge in the next Summers Fleet. Order for three thousand pound for the Maimed Souldiers and for Sale of the Crown Jewels Hangings and goods to raise money for the Navy An Act for the Commons to call Common Councels in London Debate about the Act for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands 21. Letters directed from the House to the Judges in their Circuits to give order for due payment of the Excise and that all rioters against it be punished Upon a report from the Council of State an Act passed for repealing the Commission to the Earl of Warwick as Lord Admiral and an Act Ordered to be brought in giving power to the Commissioners of the Navy to command the Fleet as the Lord Admiral had done An Act passed for the Company of Weavers in London The Hart Frigat revolted to the Prince the Sea-men set the Captain on shore the Prince was courted at the Hague as King but not by the States publickly The High Court of Justice sate and their order was read to the Lord Capel that they would hear what he could say this day and then proceed to judgement He said he was to be comprehended wholly in the Martial Law and urged the Articles again which excepted Tryal after by Parliament that divers that were in Colchester in his condition had compounded That breaking Prison for Treason by Common Law was but felony and benefit of Clergy might be had at last when he could not get the resolution of the Court to be referred to a Tryal by Martial Law He moved that he might not be barred of additional defence and that if he must be judged by the Common Law he hoped he might have the full benefit of it He urged for it the late Act which saith though King and Lords be laid aside yet the fundamental Laws shall be in Force He recommended to the Court Magna Charta and the Petition of Right and prest the consideration of the Act made in favour of those who assisted K. Hen. 7. and the exception in the Acts touching the Lord Strafford and Canterbury that they should not be drawn in precedent He desired to see his Jury and that they might see him and to be tryed by his Peers and said he believed that a precedent could not be given of a subject tryed for his life but either by Bill in Parliament or by a Jury Witnesses were heard against the Earl of Cambridge 22. Debate about the business of the Navy and to incourage the Sea-men Order that the Councel of State take care for preserving the Library Medals and Statues at St. James's An expedient assented unto for the Members of the Council of State that they should subscribe the test to approve of what shall be done by the Commons in Parliament the supreme Authority of this Nation but nothing of confirming what was past Referred to the Council of State to take care for the preserving of Timber for the Navy The Earl of Cambridge brought before the High Court produced his witnesses some of whom were disallowed being Officers under him and so Participes Criminis He pleaded that he had not broken the Negative Oath for he had not ingaged against the Parliament but for the ends in the Scots Declaration His Council moved that they might with the Council of the Common-Wealth state the case of the Earl but this was denyed being in case of Treason and that the Earl's Council could only declare their opinions in point of Law Upon the Earl's desire he had further time granted him The Council of the Army Ordered some to prepare a draught of such things as might be presented by them to the
Council of State the Lord Major Sheriffs and Aldermen of London the Militia and many Thousand others of Quality There was a great Guard of Soldiers Horse and Foot and Multitudes of People in the Fields and in the Streets he was entertained all the way as he passed to his House with Vollies of great and small shot and loud Acclamations and Shouts of the People He carried himself with great affability and seeming humility and in all his Discourses about the Business of Worcester would seldom mention any thing of himself but of the gallantry of the Officers and Soldiers and gave as was due all the Glory of the Action unto God 13. A List sent up to the Parliament of many Officers taken in Pursuit of the Scots near Manchester That Collonel Gerrard who fell upon the Rear of the Scots Party in Cheshire was by them taken Prisoner and carried four or five Miles when coming to a Passe where they saw Clubmen ready to oppose them Two Majors Three Captains and Twelve Soldiers desired the Collonel that they might be his Prisoners to avoid the Club-men which he did and brought them Prisoners to Chester That the King was escaped but the Earl of Montgomery and about 80 more divers of them Men of Quality were brought Prisoners to Halifax That Collonel Lilburne's Regiment took divers Officers of Quality and 200 Soldiers and sent them Prisoners to York That the York-shire Forces took Lieutenant General Lesley Major General Middleton many Officers Gentlemen and Soldiers That Duke Hamilton was dead The Scots Prisoners were conducted through the City to the new Artillery-ground in Tuttle-fields 15. Letters That a Party under Collonel Okey took several Houses in the Highlands by Storm That the Scots threatned to hang all between sixteen and sixty that would not joyn with them and executed some That 80 Women were killed at the Storming of Dundee 100 Ships Prize in the Harbour That about 1000 Scots were brought Prisoners by the Country joyning with the Parliaments Forces in Lancashire and that of 2000 Horse of the Enemy that fled from Worcester few or none escaped 16. Cromwel sate in the House and the Speaker made a Speech to him and gave him the Thanks of the House for his great Services Lieutenant General Fleetwood and other Officers of the Army had also the Thanks of the House Cromwel and most of the Members of Parliament and divers Commanders of the Army were Feasted by the Lord Major in London The Parliament resumed the Debate touching a New Representative Debate of an Act of Oblivion and General Pardon with some Expendients for satisfaction of the Soldiery and the Ease of the People Order for a Fast-day in the House to seek God for Counsel and Assistance for improvement of his great Mercies and for doing things most to his Glory and the good of the Common-wealth Report to the House from the Committee of the Army of all the Forces in England and Ireland and the Monthly Charge of them A Committee appointed to receive the Agent from the Common-wealth of Genoa Letters That the Mosse-Troopers killed four of the Parliaments Soldiers and Two Passengers and indangered the Packet and that the Forces in the North were on the Borders to meet with the Flying Scots That the Commissioners of the Militia in Worcester-shire were disbanding the Militia Forces demolishing the Works and securing the Persons and Estates of such as adhered to the King 17. The Scots Prisoners came to London and among them who were not discovered before were the Lord Grandison Collonel Blague and others of Quality the Parliament ordered the Trials of the Earl of Cleveland Lauderdale Derby Major and Sheriffs of Worcester and others 18. Letters That Aberdeen was quitted by the Scots That divers died of the Spotted Feaver at Lieth Collonel Hubbold and others and that Lieutenant General Monk had been dangerously sick That the Gentlemen of Fife submitted to the Government of England An Account of dismissing Militia Forces and of the trouble to the Countries by the Scots Prisoners 19. Letters That upon the Suit of General Leven Sir Arthur Hasclridgge had given leave for his being Prisoner at his Son-in-law's House Mr. De la Vale upon his Parole and Mr. De la Vale gave Bonds of 20000 l. for his being a true Prisoner 20. Upon the desire of the Guinnee Merchants 1500 of the Scots Prisoners were granted to them and sent on Ship-board to be transported to Guinnee to work in the Mines there and upon a Quarrel among the Soldiers in the Barges Two or Three of them were drowned 22. Letters That Lymbrick would gladly accept of the first Offers of the Lord Deputy That they have Divisions among themselves That they made a Salley with 1000 Foot upon the Parliaments Forces who after an hours Dispute killed 80 of the Irish and wounded many and had nine slain and 35 wounded of the Parliaments Soldiers The House kept a Private Fast in the House Act read for a Thanksgiving-day and another Act for a yearly Observation of the third day of September in all the Three Kingdoms with a Narrative of the Grounds thereof The High Courts of Justice continued for Three Months by a new Act. Letters of a Prize taken with 20000 Dollers and rich Lading 24. The Funerals of General Popham were accompanied from Exeter House by the Speaker and Members of Parliament the Lord General and Council of State with great Solemnity to Westminster 25. Two of the Parliaments Soldiers in Scotland sentenced to ride the Wooden Horse for seizing and carrying away a Chest of Goods buried by a Country-man in the Fields and the Lieutenant General Monk published a Proclamation for the better prevention of disorders and plundering in Dundee 26. That the Enemy in Limbrick have made many Overtures for another Treaty but it would not be granted That the Priests and Friers among them bind them by new Oaths but they dare not trust one another That the Lord Deputy is before Clare Castle 27. Letters of the Jersey Pyrates doing mischef upon the Western Coast The Parliament ordered a Bill to be brought in for setting a time for the ending of this Parliament and for constituting a New Representative 29. The Narrative of the Mercies and Victories obtained by the Parliaments Forces in Scotland and England The Lord Major and Sheriffs of London were presented at the Exchequer 30. Letters That Collonel Reynolds had taken in Bellebeg Castle in Ireland and dispersed Dungans Forces That whilst Collonel Hewson was abroad the Enemy took in Two or Three small Garrisons of the Parliaments near Dublin but upon Hewsons return they quitted them An Act passed for providing Maintenance for Maimed Soldiers and Widows of Soldiers Order for a Bill for Confirmation of the Sale of Bishops Lands and the Lands of Deans and Chapters c. October 1651. 1. Several new Acts of Parliament Fead and debated in the House 2. Letters of
which was furthered by Whitelocke's advice to the Protector 20. The Commissioners of the Treasury made several reports to the Protector and Council of Arrears of money due to the state and upon advice with them his Highness and the Council made several orders for the Collecting and bringing in of those Arrears December 1657. 1. News of the King of Sweden's proceedings in the Isle of Funen 3. The distaste between the Protector and Bradshaw was perceived to increase 6. Order for the prosecution of some persons who had committed very great wasts and spoils in Forests 7. The Protector was perswaded to take to heart and to further the relief of the poor persecuted Protestants in the Vallies of Piedmont and to send an Agent to the Duke of Savoy to negotiate for favour to them as other Princes had done 11. Writs of Summons under the great Seal were sent to divers persons to sit as Members in the other House of Parliament The Form of the Writs was the same with those which were sent to summon the Peers in Parliament They were in all sixty among whom were divers Noblemen Knights and Gentlemen of ancient Families and good Estates and some Colonels and Officers of the Army Their Names were as followeth The Lord Richard Cromwell the Protectors eldest Son The Lord Henry Cromwell his other Son Lord Deputy of Ireland Nathaniel Fiennes John Lisle Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Henry Lawrence Lord President of his Highness Privy Council The Lord Charles Fleetwood Robert Earl of Warwick Edmund Earl of Mulgrave Edward Earl of Manchester William Viscount Say and Seal Lord John Cleypole Master of the Horse Philip Viscount Lisle eldest Son to the Earl of Leicester Charles Viscount Howard Philip Lord Wharton Thomas Lord Fauconbridge Lord John Desborough Lord Edward Mountague Generals at Sea George Lord Eure. The Lord Whitelocke Sir Gilbert Pickering Colonel William Sydenham Sir Charles Wolseley Baronet Major General Philip Skippon Lord Strickland Colonel Philip Jones Sir William Strickland Francis Rous Esq John Fiennes Esq Sir Francis Russel Baronet Sir Thomas Honnywood Knight Sir Arthur Hasilrigge Baronet Sir John Hobart Sir Richard Onslow Knight Sir Gilbert Gerard. Sir William Roberts Knight John Glyn Oliver St. John Lords chief Justices William Pierpoint Esq John Jones Esq John Crew Esq Alexander Popham Esq Sir Christopher Pack Sir Robert Tichborn Edward Whalley Esq Sir John Barksted Knight Lieutenant of the Tower of London Sir George Fleetwood Sir Thomas Pride Richard Ingolsby Esq Sir John Hewson James Berry Esq William Goffe Esq Thomas Cooper Esq Edmund Thomas Esq George Monk Commander in chief of his Highness Forces in Scotland David Earl of Cassils in Scotland Sir William Lockart Sir Archibald Johnston of Warriston William Steele Lord Chancellour of Ireland The Lord Broghil Brother to the Earl of Corke in Ireland Sir Matthew Tomlinson 16. Colonel Sir John Reynolds who commanded the English Forces that joyned with the King of France was in a Pink coming over with Colonel White and others from Mardike for England and upon Goodwin Sands the Pink was cast away and all their men in her were drowned Among them was one William de Vaux a young man a good Scholar and very ingenious and being in a great storm in a former Voyage he vainly said That if ever he went to Sea again he would be contented that God should let him be drowned And now being again at Sea the Judgment imprecated by him did fall upon him and he was now drowned 24. The Commissioners of the Treasury prepared the business of the Contract with Commissioners for the Excise and new Impost 25. Some Congregations being met to observe this day according to former solemnity and the Protector being moved that Souldiers might be sent to suppress them he was advised against it as that which was contrary to the Liberty of Conscience so much owned and pleaded for by the Protector and his friends but it being contrary to Ordinances of Parliament which were also opposed in the passing of them that these days should be so solemnized the Protector gave way to it and those Meetings were suppressed by the Souldiers January 1657. 1. Whitelocke having lent Mr. Rushworth some Manuscripts he attended Whitelocke to shew him his Historical Collections as his Highness had ordered 3. A Meeting of the Gentlemen of the County of Bucks at Merchant-Taylors Hall where they had a great Feast 9. The Lord Willoughby petition'd the Protector for his Highness Order to go into the Country to dispatch some necessary business in relation to his Estate and promising to return to Prison which Petition the Protector granted 12. The Protector resolved to have a Collection for the poor persecuted Protestants of Piedmont 20. The Parliament met according to their Adjournment and the Members of the other House summoned by Writ met and sate in the Lords House as the Lords used to do formerly The Protector came thither and the Speaker with the House of Commons being sent for by the Black Rod came to the Lords House where the Protector made a solemn Speech to them but was short by reason of his Indisposition of health and after him the Lord Commissioner Fiennes spake to them more at large My Lords and Gentlemen of both the most honourable Houses of Parliament AMongst the manifold and various Dispensations of God's Providence of late years this is one and it is a signal and remarkable Providence that we see this day in this place a Chief Magistrate and two Houses of Parliament Jacob speaking to his Son Joseph said I had not thought to have seen thy face and lo God hath shewed me thy seed also Meaning his two Sons Ephraim and Manasseh And may not many amongst us well say some years since We had not thought to have seen a Chief Magistrate again amongst us and lo God hath shewn us a Chief Magistrate in his two Houses of Parliament Now may the good God make them like Ephraim and Manasseh that the three Nations may be blest in them saying God make thee like these two Houses of Parliament which two like Leah and Rachel did build the House of Israel May you do worthily in Ephrata and be famous in Bethlehem May it be your great business to procure the peace the safety and the prosperity of these three Nations and these things too not for themselves only but in order yet to greater and higher ends the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ amongst us and the Glory of God in the good of all men but especially of the Churches of God amongst men which as they are God's most precious Jewels and his chiefest care so must they also hold the choicest place in the eyes and in the hearts of all those that act under him and are cloathed with his power and authority In order to the great and glorious end you may please in the first place to reflect upon the Posture that
Parliament is not necessary 3. That divers Acts have been made when the Bishops were present and did not consent as the Act of Conformity 1 Edw. 6. and of Supremacy 1 Eliz. 4. That in Parliament though the Bishops dissent in any matter yet the major part of the Barons agreeing it and the House of Commons concurring It shall pass as an Act because the Bishops Votes are over-ruled by the major Vote of the Barons 5. That the Bishops cannot sit in case of Blood in Judicature but they may sit to enact Laws yet not to give assent for execution of them in case of any Murder or Blood In his second Case he had this Point Whether any beneficed Clerk were capable of Temporal Jurisdiction at the time of making that Law To this he argued in the Negative 1. That the first Clergy-men that ever were made Justices of the Peace or had power in Temporal Jurisdiction were the Bishops of Durham and York 34 E. 3. nine years after this Act so not a Principio but a Tempore 2. That before the Statute of Conformity 1 Edw. 6. the Clergy were not put in Commission for Temporal Power and the reason of their being then admitted was to perswade the people to Conformity not to give Judgment against them 3. If in Conscience because of their spiritual Calling they hold it not fit for them to meddle in temporal Causes they may refuse In his third Case he had this Point Whether a Bishop without calling a Synod have power as Diocesan to Convict an Heretick To this he argued in the Negative That although by the bloody Statute of 2 H. 4. some supposed grounds may be raised for maintenance of that Authority yet it is not full and besides which is the main reason the Commons did not assent to the making of that Law For he said He had searched the Records and found that Act only past by consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal and the Commons not mentioned therein His Arguments being reported at Court he was commanded not to proceed in his Reading He repaired to the Lord Keeper with the Heads of his Arguments who said It was good Law but not seasonably delivered and that as he was prohibited by the King so he must have his Licence or else he could not proceed in his Reading and advised him to move the Archbishop Laud therein After the Reader had twice attended at Lambeth without admittance the third time he spake with the Archbishop who told him That he had fallen upon an unfit Subject and in an unseasonable time and that it would stick closer to him than he was aware of The Reader excused himself That he had chosen this Statute two years before and could not alter suddenly what he had before framed That the business about Bishops in another Kingdom did not concern this and that he had no ill Intentions The Archbishop answered That perhaps he had done better to have given it quite over at the first than to suffer by it as he was like to do The Reader replyed That what he had delivered was good Law and he was able to maintain it and would stand by it and hoped he need not to fear any man's power in regard his Cause was lawful and warrantable but he humbly desired his Majestie 's leave to finish what he had begun The Archbishop said His Majesty had otherwise resolved of it So the Reader came away and shortly after went out of Town accompanied with fourty or fifty Horse and in good credit with the Gentlemen of that Society Anno 1640. Car. 16 April 13 1640. The Parliament met when the Earl of Strafford was led into the Lords House by two Noblemen to take his place according to his Degree He gave an account to the House what he had done in Ireland having there obtained a Grant of the Parliament of Four Subsidies for the maintenance of ten thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse And it was urged by some as a good President for the Parliament of England The Lord Cottington reported in the Lords House That by the King's Command he and Secretary Windebank and the Attorney General had examined Lord Louden in the Tower touching the Letter of the Covenanters to the French King That Louden acknowledged the hand-writing to be his and that it was framed before the Pacification at Berwick to be in readiness but was never sent to that King And that it was supprest upon the Pacification The Lords nevertheless thought fit that Louden should be continued in the Tower until further Evidence either to convict or to clear him Glanvill who had engaged to be a better Servant to the King than formerly was now Speaker of the House of Commons and very active to promote his Majestie 's desires whereof he gave sufficient testimony and of the change of his former Opinion A Message was sent by the King to the Commons which was for Supplies representing to them the intollerable Indignities and Injuries wherewith the Scots had treated him and he declared that if the House of Commons would assist him suitable to the Exigency of his Occasions he would quit his claim of Ship-money and give them contentment in all their just Demands This Message did take much with the House the Speaker Sir John Wray and others cried it up yet they first insisted upon a Security in three Points 1. For clearing the Subjects Property 2. For establishing Religion 3. For the Privilege of Parliament Many Conferences were between the Lords and Commons and warm Debates in both Houses upon the old Question Which should precede the King's Supply or the Subjects Grievances In the debates Strafford was magnified for being a chief Instrument to bring on this Parliament at length the Lords after a strong division Voted for the King and the House of Commons for the Subjects But it was not long ere this difference was unhappily decided Secretary Vane who by the King's appointment was to make known the particulars of his Desires demanded Twelve Subsidies At which high and unreasonable Demand as some called it many of the House of Commons were greatly distasted and expressed themselves to that purpose yet were generally inclined to have given no usual or lean Gift the Gift of Six Subsidies Sir Henry Vane escaped not without his Censures That his Commission from the King was but to demand six Subsidies and that his mistake in requiring twelve Subsidies was industrious and on purpose to raise the House to animosity Which took effect but whether intended so or not is hard to judge The King advising with his Juncto the averseness of the House of Commons to any compliance with him and their sharp Debates upon the old score of Grievances was rendred to him so desperate that May 5th he ordered the Dissolution of that Parliament The Councel given to Dissolve this Parliament was greatly and generally disliked and the differences between the King and
apprehending their Designs he comes to the discontented Princes of France who had raised an Army at Sedan And from thence from the Count of Soissons the Duke of Guise and the rest a Manifesto is published of their taking Arms for the Peace of Europe and expulsion of him who fomented the publick Wars They make Alliance with the Emperour and Cardinal Infanta and joyning Forces with General Lamboy they come to Battel where the Count de Soissons was slain and their Forces overthrown and Richlieu gets more advantage thereby against the House of Austria The close Committee for managing the business against the Earl of Strafford sate very constantly and took great pains in framing the Articles against him and preparing of Witnesses for proof of them for some of which Witnesses there were Messengers sent into Ireland to bring them hither All the Papers Proofs and Examinations in this business were committed to Whitelocke's care and charge being Chairman to the Committee The Committee had often resort to the House of Commons for their direction upon any Point of Difficulty and they were appointed by the House to be the Managers of the Evidence against the Earl and accordingly they divided the work among themselves January 30. Mr. Pym presented to the Lords the particular Articles of the Charge against the Earl of Strafford being 28. The Earl was immediately sent for to the Lords House where he heard the Articles read and they being two hundred sheets of paper and some of the Treasons being of fourteen years standing he desired three Months time to make his Answer which must also of necessity be very long and being unto matters of so high concernment especially to his own life and fortunes This time was opposed by the House of Commons and at length the Lords ordered his Answer to be brought in by the 24th of February next which was done though to the great labour of his Lordship and of Sir Richard Lane and others of his Councel and on that day it was read in the Audience of the King and in the House of Commons the next day after Some Disputes arose between the two Houses touching the Tryal 1. Whether Councel should be allowed for the Earl which the Commons opposed as not allowable in case of high Treason which the Lords said was true as to pleading of Matter of Fact but not in Matters of Law which was at length yielded to 2. Concerning the place of Tryal the Lords desired it might be in their House which the Commons opposed because they intended to manage their Accusation by Members of their own House in the presence of the whole House for which the Lords House would be too little whereupon Westminster-hall was agreed upon 3. The Commons intended to come in the Body of their whole House which the Lords not assenting to they at last yielded to come as a Committee of the whole House But there was a Proposal the Subject of much Discourse to prevent all this trouble and to restore the Earl of Strafford to his former Favour and Honour If the King would prefer some of the Grandees to Offices at Court whereby Strafford's enemies should become his friends and the King's desires be promoted It was that should be made Lord Treasurer the Lord Say Master of the Wards Mr. Pym Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Hollis Secretary of State Mr. Hampden Tutor to the Prince others to have other places In order whereunto the Bishop of London resigned up his Treasurers Staff the Lord Cottington his place of Master of the Wards and the rest were easily to be voided But whether upon the King's alteration of his mind or by what other means it came to pass is uncertain These things were not effected and the great Men baffled thereby became the more incensed and violent against the Earl joyning with the Scots Commissionres who were implacable against him The time and place of the Earls Tryal was appointed Westminster-hall prepared for it and never was there or any where else seen a more solemn and majestick Tribunal In the middle of the Theatre below on Forms covered with red cloth sate the Lords in their Parliament Robes their faces upwards at the head of them with his face towards them sate in a Chair the Earl of Arundel for that occasion made Lord High Steward of England and at that Tryal the Speaker of the Peers the Earl of Lindsey was made Lord high Constable of England for that time and had the ordering of the place Scaffolds were erected on either side of the Hall and at the lower end on those Scaffolds sate the Members of the House of Commons uncovered as a Committee of the whole House and many hundreds more of Gentlemen who could get places with them Beyond the Peers towards the upper end was placed a Chair and Cloth of State for the King raised on a Foot-pace on either side whereof was a close Gallery for the King Queen and Prince to be private At the lower end of the State on a Scaffold did usually sit Ladies of Quality on the right hand at the lower end even with the Lords was a place with partitions for the Committee of Parliament and a Door backwards out of it to a place for a withdrawing Room for them to retire to and consult as there was offered occasion On the other side of the place for the Committee and adjoyning to it was a place made for the Earl of Strafford with a Seat and Room for the Lieutenant of the Tower to be next to him and places for the Earl's Secretaries and for his Councel to be near him The Bishops were excluded by the Canons of the Church to be assistant in cases of blood or death and therefore they absented themselves from this Tryal Monday 22. March 1640. was the first day of the Earl's appearing on this Theatre the King Queen and Prince and divers foreign Lords and many Ladies with them attending there the Lords in their Robes on their Seats and the Scaffolds full of the Members of the House of Commons and many others mixed with them The Earl was brought to the Bar by the Lieutenant of the Tower his habit black wearing his George in a Gold Chain his Countenance manly black his Person proper but a little stooping with his Distemper or habit of his body his behaviour exceeding graceful and his speech full of weight reason and pleasingness The Lord high Steward declared to him That he was called thither to answer to the Impeachment of high Treason preferred against him by the Commons of England and Ireland Then his Accusation was read and next his Answer to it in which most part of that day being spent the Court arose The next day Mr. Pym made an Introduction very rhetorical and smart to the Articles and the first seven of them were managed as to the evidence by Mr Glynne and the proof was to his subverting the fundamental Laws
of England and Ireland Then a sealed Paper was produced which being opened and read appeared to be sent from the Parliament of Ireland declaring that the Commons there had Voted the Earl guilty of high Treason At this the Earl being much transported said There was a Conspiracy against him to take away his life The Committee of the House of Commons took hold of those words and required Justice from the Lords against the Earl who standing Impeached of high Treason accused the Parliaments of two Kingdoms of a Conspiracy against him Hereupon the Earl falling upon his knees humbly craved pardon for the Inconsiderateness of the expression protesting seriously that he did not thereby intend either Parliament but some particular persons and so that Matter was past over Then the Committee offered to the Lords three new Articles to be annexed to the Charge and desired that the Earl might presently give his Answer to them To which the Earl replyed That the Process being closed he hoped he should not be ordered to answer any adventitious and unexpected Charge without more convenient time assigned But the Lords finding the Articles to be of no great Importance he was urged to a present Answer which he then made to them March the 24th the Committee proceeded upon the Articles of the Charge and after Glynne had ended his part Maynard proceeded upon the following Articles and after him Mr. Palmer managed the ensuing Articles as to the aggravation of them and inforcing the Evidence upon them and his part extended to the seven last Articles upon the which Whitelocke was appointed to manage the Evidence Anno 1641. Car. 17 These Articles on his part were Matters of very high nature and some of them particularly the twenty fourth Article relating to the design of bringing over the Army in Ireland into Scotland and so to England to reduce this Kingdom Whitelocke having spoken with Sir Henry Vane the elder and with the other Witnesses to the twenty fourth Article and finding that their Testimony would not make good the Matter of that Article thought it not honourable for the House of Commons to proceed upon an Article whereof they could not make a clear proof and thereupon proposed it to the Committee to omit that Article in his proceedings The Committee were of the same opinion but upon Sir Walter Earle's undertaking to manage it they left that Article to him upon which Whitelocke after he had inforced the Evidence upon the twenty third Article sate down and Sir Walter Earl with much gravity and confidence began to aggravate the Matters in the twenty fourth Article and the dangerous Consequence and high Crime in it and called forth the Witnesses to prove the particulars which he had at large opened Some of the Witnesses were not in England those of them who came in being sworn spake little to the purpose and did not prove the Matter at all of that Article upon which the Knight was very blank and out of countenance But the Earl of Strafford who lost no advantage of his Defence rising up from his Seat made a low obeysance as he was used to do to the Lords and spake to this effect My Lords I am a poor Gentleman a Prisoner at the Bar against whom several persons learned in the Laws and of great ability for pleading and strength of reason and other noble persons of great parts and eloquence have enforced the particular Matters of my Charge and I had well hoped they had been drawing towards an end But now my Lords unexpectedly a new and great Pleader sets upon me tired out before and this noble Knight hath laid a heavy burden indeed upon my shoulders he hath opened more hainous Crimes against me than all those Gentlemen who have gone before The learned Gentleman who urged the Matters of the last Articles against me when he came to this twenty fourth Article sate down and seemed to decline it and yet he left nothing material which was not urged home by him But this noble Knight goes beyond all and indeed beyond the Article it self observing things not contained in it and impossible to be And could he have proved this it had been truly a Miracle But I humbly beg your Lordships pardon I am not willing to spend any of your time impertinently I shall only say this That where nothing is proved against me I know your Lordships great wisdom and justice will expect no defence from me After the Earl was sate down the Lord Digby stood up and in a very witty rhetorical speech took off Sir Walter Earle Desired their Lordships to pass by a mistake that this Article was not intended for prosecution as might appear by the Gentleman 's declining of it who managed the former He moved That this twenty fourth Article might be omitted and their Lordships not to receive any further trouble in the urging of it or defence to it and that they would be pleased to look upon what that noble Knight had said but as a Superfâ—tation After the Lord Digby had spoken Whitelocke presently rose up and after the Lords 〈◊〉 done smiling he proceeded with the twenty fifth Article The Queen who was present at the Tryal inquired who that Knight was whom the Lord Digby relieved and being told his name was Sir Walter Earle She said that water Dog did bark but not bite but the rest did bite close The Earl of Strafford speaking of the Committee who managed the Evidence against him and particularly of the Lawyers said to a private friend that Glynne and Maynard used him like Advocates but Palmer and Whitelocke used him like Gentlemen and yet left out nothing material to be urged against him When the Committee had gone through all the Articles they moved That if the Earl had any thing to say further in his defence that he might do it the Earl obtained with difficulty time till the next Morning The next day both Houses being met the Lieutenant of the Tower acquainted them that the Earl had been extream ill the last Night of a violent Fit of the Stone and was not able to come abroad this Day and humbly desired their Lordships excuse This caused them to adjourn to the next Morning and in the Afternoon some of the Lords were sent from the House to see in what condition the Earl was who found him somewhat recovered and he hoped so as he might attend them the next Day Then the House met again April the 10th and the Commons desired liberty to produce an additional piece of Evidence to the twenty third Article The Earl craved the same liberty for himself concerning some Testimonies not yet exhibited on his behalf this the Committee opposed but the Lords thought it equal and after a warm Debate upon it the Commons rose in some discontent not so much as appointing a day for their next meeting April 12. In the House of Commons Mr. Pym produced a Paper of some Notes taken by Secretary Vane
of some Opinions delivered at the Council-table of Juncto May 5. 1640. being the day that the last Parliament was dissolved the discovery whereof was thus Secretary Vane being out of Town sent a Letter to his Son Sir Henry Vane the younger then in London with the Key of his Study for his Son to look in his Cabinet for some Papers there to send to his Father The Son looking over many Papers among them lighted upon these Notes which being of so great concernment to the Publick and declaring so much against the Earl of Strafford he held himself bound in duty and conscience to discover them He shewed them to Mr. Pym who urged him and prevailed with him that they might be made use of in the Evidence against the Earl of Strafford as being most material and of great consequence in relation to that business Accordingly they were now produced to the House of Commons and in the Afternoon at a Conference with the Lords and the next day the Earl being brought to Westminster and both Houses being met the Notes were openly read the Title of them was No danger of a War with Scotland if Offensive not Defensive Then followed the Opinions interlocutory K. C. How can we undertake offensive War if we have no more Money L. L. Ir. Borrow of the City 100000 l. go on vigorously to levy Ship-money your Majesty having tried the affection of your people you are absolved and loose from all rule of Government and to do what power will admit Your Majesty having tried all ways and being refused shall be acquitted before God and Man And you have an Army in Ireland that you may imploy to reduce this Kingdom to obedience for I am confident the Scots cannot hold out five Months L. Arch. You have tried all ways and have always been denied it is now lawful to take it by force L. Cot. Leagues abroad there may be made for the defence of the Kingdom the lower House are weary of the King and Church all ways shall be just to raise Money by in this inevitable necessity and are to be used being lawful L. Arch. For an offensive not any defensive Warr. L. L. Ir. The Town is full of Lords put the Commission of Array on foot and if any of them stir we will make them smart To this the Earl answered That it were hard measure for Opinions and Discourses by Privy Counsellors in a Debate of Council to be prosecuted under the Notion of Treason As to the words that the King had an Army in Ireland to reduce this Kingdom they are only proved by the single testimony of one man Secretary Vane which is not of validity enough in Law in a matter of Debt much less in point of Life and Death 2. That the Secretarie's Deposition was exceeding dubious upon two Examinations he could not remember any such words the third time his Testimony was not positive but that I spake those words or the like and words may be very like in sound yet differ much in sense 3. There were present at the Debate but eight Privy Counsellors two of them the Arch-bishop and Secretary Windebank cannot be produced Secretary Vane affirms the words I deny them Four remain for Evidence Marquess Hamilton the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington all these have declared upon their Honours that they never heard me speak those words nor any the like 4. Suppose I spake the words which I grant not yet cannot the word this rationally imply England as is yielded on all hands because England was not out of the way of obedience as the Earl of Clare well observed and because there never was any the least intention of landing the Irish Army in England as the Lords of the Council are able to attest This Paper of so great Consequence was missing at the Committee and by the Earl's Answer supposed that he had seen it and that it was conveyed to him by some of the Committee Whitelocke being in the Chair and having the charge and custody of all the Papers he was suspected more than others to have acted this piece of Treachery Great inquiry and search was made for the Paper but it could not then be found He told them when it was missing and that amongst such a multitude of Papers as he had in his custody it was not easie to see that he had them all again when they were brought forth or any of them called for That he never shewed this Paper to any but to the Committee and knew not who had it or what was become of it nor did he convey it or know of any that had conveyed it away But this would not serve the House was acquainted with the missing of the Paper and they ordered That every one of the Committee should make a solemn Protestation in the House that they did not convey it away nor know what was become of it All of them made this Protestation and the Lord Digby with more earnestness and deeper Imprecations than any of the rest yet afterwards at the Battel of Naseby the King's Cabinet being taken among the Papers in it was a Copy of these Notes under the Lord Digby's hand whereby Whitelocke was cleared and the Conveyer of the Paper to the King and from him to the Earl of Strafford was fully discovered The Earl having delivered his Answer to the additional Proof the Lord Steward told him That if he had any thing to say further in his defence he should proceed because the Court intended to prepare Matters for their speedy Judgment VVhereupon he made a summary Repetition of the several parts of his former Defence and concluded thus It is hard to be questioned upon a Law which cannot be shewn where hath this fire lain hid so many hundreds of years without smoak to discover it till it thus burst forth to consume me and my Children That punishment should precede promulgation of a Law to be punished by a Law subsequent to the Fact is extream hard what man can be safe if this be admitted My Lords it is hard in another respect that there should be no token set by which we should know this Offence no admonition by which we should avoid it If a man pass the Thames in a Boat and split himself upon an Anchor and no Buoy be floating to discover it he who oweth the Anchor shall make satisfaction but if a Buoy be set there every man passeth upon his own peril Now where is the Mark where the Token upon this Crime to declare it to be High Treason My Lords Be pleased to give that regard to the Peerage of England as never to expose your selves to such Moot Points such constructive Interpretations of Laws If there must be a tryal of Wits let the subject matter be of somewhat else than the Lives and Honours of Peers It will be wisdom for your selves for your Posterity and for the whole Kingdom to cast
Antichristian c. That he held the Pope to be the Metropolitan Bishop of the World and that there could be no true Church without Bishops The Speaker offered to the house a petition which he received from the hands of the French Ambassadour touching the French and English Merchants in matters of Trade which the House referred to the Committee of the Navy and directed that when addresses should be made to them as a Parliament they would doe right Colonel Popham was ordered to go down to Taunton to take into his charge a Regiment raised by the Country for him The Lord Inchequin's party taken at Dorchester that were Irish Rebels were there hang'd The Lord Admiral upon the General 's advance to Exeter sent the James a Ship of 1200 Tun to lye before it at Torbay that 100 are come out of the Town to him and that he hearing of eleven Ships waiting for the Queen to carry her beyond Sea sent three lusty Ships to wait on them The King marched with 7000 horse and foot to Bath and from thence towards Bristol where Hopton joyned with him Bostal-house in Bucks was re-fortified by the King's party York was rendered upon Articles to the three Parliament Generals who entred the Town and went to the Minster where they had a Sermon and thanks returned to God for the recovery of it An Order was made touching compounding for Wardships Colonel Massey wrote that the King with about 400 horse and 3000 foot was marched Westward whereof he had given notice to the General and to Sir Will. Waller and that he with three Troops of horse followed the King's Rear to keep them from plunder By Letters from the General he desires a pass for an Irish Gentlewoman Governess to the young Princess and sends a Letter which he received out of Exeter from Sir John Berkley the Governour The Irish as was informed by the King's allowance made a Declaration and Vow to assist the King against the Puritan Parliament and to defend Episcopacy and the Papists of England and protest against the Covenant and that they will proceed against all that take it The Lord Grey of Groby and Sir John Gell joyning together to reduce a Garrison of the King 's at Wilney-ferry who did many outrages to the Countrey and much infested them they used this Stratagem to get the Fort. They took about 60 Cart-loads of Hay and other combustible Matter and carried them with their Forces up to the very Fort under the shelter of which their men were secure from any hurt from the Enemy and putting fire to the combustible Matter with the advantage of the wind did so annoy the Enemy that they were driven out of the Works and their Trenches filled with the Hay and other stuff Captain Robinson the Governour offered to render upon terms to march away with Bag and Baggage but that being denied he prepared for a resolute defence but when the Parliament forces began the storm Robinson's men threw down their Arms and craved quarter which was given them and but one man killed there was taken three Captains divers inferiour Officers two Drakes and seventy common Souldiers after this they took in Wink field Manor and Shelford Manor The Parliament ordered a Letter of thanks to them The House being informed that Sir John Berkeley Governour of Exeter hanged up Captain Turpine in cold blood ordered that the Judges who condemn'd him Heath Banks Forster and Glanvile might be impeached of High Treason which was ordered against Glanvile onely being in their power Two Priests who were in the Earl of Newcastle's Army were sent up to the Parliament and ordered to be tried according to Law The Commons ordered a Letter of thanks to the Lord General for his good service in the West The Lord General sent word to the Parliament That he was advancing to relieve Plymouth and to fight with Prince Maurice Indeed there was a great Debate at the Council of War whether they should march on Westward or face about and meet the King who was marching towards them and rather fight with him than with Prince Maurice Most of the Council were of opinion to face about and to meet the King but the Lord Roberts was very earnest for them to advance into Cornwal and by the way to relieve Plymouth and from thence to march into Cornwal to fight Prince Maurice affirming that when they came into Cornwal which was his Lordship's Countrey they should find great assistance and many to come in to them by his interest among them The General followed his advice and wrote to the Parliament as before That the King was in Somersetshire and that the Queen with Bristol and Jermin were landed at Brest in France The House ordered that Mr. Hollis one of their Members shall have out of the King's Revenue the Fine which was imposed on him by the Star-chamber 3 Car. for his fidelity to the Common-wealth A Ship loaden with Arms and Ammunition for the King was taken and brought into Sunderland with 22 pieces of Ordnance in her A Committee of seven Lords and fourteen Commons was appointed to hear any complaints sent in by the Dutch Ambassadours concerning taking of Ships that right may be done A Committee most of Lawyers was appointed to consider what Ordinances were fit to be made into Laws when the King and Parliament should be agreed The Archbishop was again brought to his Trial and proofs produced against him that he should say the Pope was not Antichrist but the Head of the Church and that the Protestant and Romish Religion was all one and if the one was false so was the other and that he concealed a Plot revealed to him that 7000 men were in pay attending an opportunity to kill the King and to massacre the Protestants The Lord General sent up to the Parliament a Letter which he received from the Earl of Forth now made Earl of Brainford General of the King's Army acquainting that a Letter was sent by His Majesty from Eversham by the French Agent to be by him presented to the Parliament for Peace It was intituled A gracious Message directed to the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled at Westminster It propounded a Treaty of Peace and that Commissioners might be appointed on both sides to meet and treat thereof and it was signed by the Lord Digby Secretary A Letter came from the three Generals That now if it pleased the Parliament they believed the the King would be more inclineable to Peace than formerly This was excepted against by some who were no friends to Peace but those who longed for Peace carried it against them to have a day set to consider of this business Major General Brown was ordered to march to Abington to secure the Magazine and Artillery there The Earl of Manchester wrote to the Parliament for their advice which way the Scots Army and his should march and that the L. Fairfax
with his Army through deep wayes to Launceston that Col. Butler was sent with a thousand Horse and four hundred Dragoons to beat up the enemies Quarters that he forced the Pass at Tamerton Bridge beat the Enemy from place to place put them to flight took about three hundred Horse and eighty Prisoners and had taken more but they escaped by the Soldiers greediness of prey and taking of Horses That within two miles of Launceston Sir Tho. Fairfax's men met with several of the enemies Scouts by whom he understood that Col. Basset with Horse and Foot was resolved to keep Launceston whereupon Sir Tho. Fairfaix sent a Forlorn Hope of Horse and Foot to force entrance into the Town the Enemy shut the Gates made some opposition but at last quitted the Town disorderly about two of them were killed and some Prisoners taken Night coming on the rest escaped in the dark the Arms and Magazine in the Town was seized on The Countrey and this Town expressed much joy at the coming of the Parliaments Army thither although the Kings Forces told them That the Parliaments Army would give no Quarter to any Cornish man or Woman Which caused a terror upon them but the Parliaments Soldiers notwithstanding their entring was opposed they did not plunder any one house nor do any prejudice to the Town Some Sallyes were made out of Banbury but they were beaten back 3. Progress in the business of the Church Order for the Serjeant at Arms to apprehend Sir Jo. Aubery and bring him as a Delinquent to the House The Commons desired the Lords to pass the Ordinance for Sale of Delinquents Estates News came that a strong Party from Oxford fell upon Abbington cut off some of the Centinels entred at the Abby gate passed three of their Guards came near as far as the Market-place and possessed themselves of three pieces of Ordnance That Major Blundell having then together but eight Horse came up and charged the enemy retreated and came on again which incouraged the Foot at the main Guard and the allarm being given through the whole Town the Soldiers betook themselves to their Arms and leaving their cloaths ran forth to encounter the enemy in their Shirts and fought with such resolution that they regained the Ordnance put the Enemy to flight many of them killed and some Prisoners taken and nine only of the Parliaments men killed and Major Blundell wounded Order for supplys for Abbington and for the Blocking up of Oxford and Major General Browne to command them 4. By consent of the Scots Commissioners leaving it to the House of Commons they appointed a Committee to consider of the desire of Mr. Sabrand and M. Manterent desiring a Pass to go into Scotland and to take Oxford in the way and to consider of all Ambassadors Agents and Residents here from Forraign Princes Referred to a Committe to examine the uncivil carriage of some pretending to be Messengers to a Committee in entring into the House of the Lady Wray Order for Col. Ven to convoy the pressed men to Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army Ashby-de-la-zouch was surrendred to the Parliament upon the conditions agreed upon five pieces of Ordnance were taken in it Arms and Provisions and the Garrison to be slighted 5. The Ordinance for setling Presbyterian Government sent up to the Lords Order for the Committee of the Admiralty to send Ships to guard the Western Coast according to the desire of Sir T. F. Vote to slight Corfe Castle and Warcham 6. Several Votes touching the relief of Ireland Upon information that several Troops of horse were raised by some Scots Officers in Ireland ordered that no Horse or Foot should be raised or brought in thither nor Moneys levied there without warrant of the Parliament Order for auditing the Accounts of Major General Browne and that he should have ten pound per diem allowed him and some Honour conferred upon him Letters informed that Sir Tho. Fairfax marched to Bodman in Cornwall which was quitted by the Kings Forces that L. G. Cromwell with a thousand Horse and five hundred Dragoons went to secure the pass at Ware-bridge That six of the Parliaments Troopers seized and brought to Bodman a waine load of the Kings Ammunition going to Foy. That a Party of the Parliaments sent out another way overtook forty two Musquetiers with their Matches lighted and Musquets loaded and four Troopers riding up to them made them all lay down their Arms and brought them back Prisoners to the head quarters That Sir J. Greenvile's Lieutenant Col. and divers others were taken Prisoners 7. Order for Money for Major General Masseys Forces The Lords sent to the Commons concerning an assesment on some Western Counties for M. General Massey's Forces which the Commons voted a Breach of Priviledge the power of Moneys resting wholly in the Commons Order that the Speaker do give a Pass to Mr. Montruell to go to Oxford and so to Scotland he giving security not to return to England Sir Thomas Fairfax gave twenty shillings a piece to the four Troopers that took the forty two Musquetiers Letters informed that the Prince with the Lord Capell Lord Culpepper and Sir Ed. Hyde put to Sea with three Ships from Pendennis Castle with much Company for France and that one of the Ships with the Horses and Provisions were cast away 9. Order for the Serjeant at Arms to apprehend and bring to the Bar Sir Ed. Herbert the Kings Attorney lately come to London Ordinance sent up to the Lords for an Assesment for the Garrison of Henley Another for Money for Plymouth Garrison Order that the Ministers of the West to repair to their Charges Letters informed that Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army was Quartered about Bodman and Lestithiel some time having been spent to secure the Passes and make all sure behind them That Mount Edgecombe was surrendred to Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Regiment in it disbanded That many of the Princes Servants came in to the Parliament and desired Sir Tho. Fairfax to make their Peace That there came in to him likewise the High-Sheriff the Lord Mohun and thirty other Gentle-men of Quality and submitted to the Parliament The Cornish men neer St Columbe presented a Petition to Sir Tho. Fairfax offering themselves lives and fortunes to serve the Parliament acknowledging the General the instrument of their deliverance from Bondage The Countrey people assisted Sir Tho. Fairfax in blocking up the Passes to hinder the Kings Forces from escaping Sir Thomas Fairfax sent a Summons to the Lord Hopton to lay down Arms to prevent effusion of Blood and courted his Lordship and offered him and all his Forces very honourable conditions to go beyond Sea or to their own homes as they pleased and to have his pass or protection and desired their speedy answer thereunto The Townsmen of Padstow took an Irish Vessel in their Harbour and two others going with Plundered goods and in them were several Packets of letters from
Army 23. Debate upon the Ordinance against Blasphemies and Heresies and the Punishment voted to be death The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London gave a congratulatory visit to Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Recorder made a Speech to him The Committee of Westminster imprisoned Bayliffs who arrested their Officers Letters from New-castle informed that the Earl of Antrim and Kilketto in Scotland refuse to lay down Arms and the rest of the Gourdons part though the King sent to them to do it Some of the Mutineers at York executed Some of the supplys for Ireland were safely landed there 24. A Report from the Committee touching the conference with the Scots Commissioners about disposing of the Kings Person in which the Scots urged that it might be done by joynt consent of both Kingdoms and in their Speeches seemed to reflect and bring an Odium upon the proceedings of the Parliament in that business and to perswade the people into such an opinion and in favour of what the Scots Commissioners had said therein That the Papers of the Speeches of the Scots Commissioners in this business had been unduly Printed to this end that the Scots had promised to bring in their positive answer to this business but had not yet done it whereupon the Committee had framed a Declaration in vindication of the Parliaments proceedings which was read Referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to treat with the Scots Commissioners about the time and place of Payment of the first hundred thousand pound to them which was now ready and about the march of their Army out of England A Committee made to consider of the losses of the Lord Say Sir Rowland Wandesford Col. Fleet-wood and other Officers of the Court of Wards by the taking away that Court and how they may have a satisfaction Order for payment of Arrears to Sir Edward Doddesworth Commissary of the Horse to the Earl of Essex and for auditing the Arrears of the Officers of Col. Massey's Brigade and about forty thousand pound for Officers of the fourth List Letters that Dublin was well fortified to resist the Rebels 25. The Fast day and some new Members took the Covenant 26. A Declaration pass'd for Security of those who double their Money owing upon the publick Faith towards the raising of the two hundred thousand pound for the Scots Order for a new Election Order touching the ten thousand pound for the necessitous persons Widows c. Leave for Col. Popham and Mr. Gaudy to go into the Country Letters informed the landing of the English Forces at Dublin and Sir Charles Coote breaking through the Rebels Army with a Party caused them to draw further off from Dublyn and that the Lord Inchequin hath had success against the Rebels in Munster 27. The House sate till six at night about the Declaration of the Arguments and answers in the Conferences with the Scots Commissioners touching the disposing of the Kings Person The Herse and Effigies of the late Earl of Essex was cut to pieces and defaced as it stood in the Abbey of Westminster and the like barbarous action was to the Tomb of old Cambden there 28. Vote of both Houses for the Earl of Rutland to be Justice in Eyre of all his Majesties Forrests and Chaces beyond Trent The House sate till five at night about the Declaration touching the Scots Papers and passed it Carried in the Negative not to be sent to the Lords for their concurrence but to be inclosed and sent in a Letter from the Speaker to the Scots Commissioners here and afterwards to be printed and published 30. Debate upon the Ordinance against Heresies and Blasphemies wherein those of the Presbyterian Judgment were very violent and severe Letters from Major General Pointz informed of a design to surprize Pomfret for the King but discovered and prevented others that his Majesty had given Commissions to divers Gentlemen in the North lately to raise Forces against the Parliament others that there was a late Conspiracy to betray Lynne The House ordered all the Conspirators to be sent for by a Serjeant at Arms and Letters to Major General Pointz and General Leven to assist the Serjeants Deputies for the apprehending of them Orders for Supplys for Money for the Garrisons of Lynne and of Portsmouth The Lords concurrence desired to the Vote for the Committee to treat with the Scots Commissioners about the time and place of payment of the two hundred thousand pound and the advance of the Scots Army Referred to the Committee of the Navy to consider of raising Money to repair the banks of Humber Letters from Ireland informed that after the Parliaments Commissioners and Forces were landed at Dublyn Road the Marquess of Ormond contrary to expectation and the former Treaty denyed to deliver possession of Dublyn to them because he had not yet received his Majesties consent thereunto and upon this the Parliaments Commissioners Shipped again the Forces to joyn with the Brittish Forces at Belfast That the Irish Rebels upon the coming of the English Forces were so terrified that they drew off and attempted nothing against Dublyn and that nothing was attempted against them by the Marquess of Ormond December 1646. December 1. Report from the Committee appointed to give in three names of Gentlemen in each County fit to be made Sheriffs and the House chose one of the three and went this day through most of the Counties Order to revive Committees that sate de die in diem that old businesses may be dispatched Order to state accompts of Massey's men The Declaration touching the Scots Papers being sent to their Commissioners they sent it back again because it came not from both Houses and the Commons ordered it to be printed It was wondred at by many that the Concurrence of the Lords was declined in this business but a great ground thereof was to have the more expedition and because the Lords were supposed would not consent to many parts of it The single and great question was Whether the Kingdom of Scotland had any right of joynt exercise of Interest in disposing of the Person of the King in the Kingdom of England The Papers Arguments Objections and Answers between the Committee of Parliament and the Scots Commissioners upon this point were very long and are in Print by themselves therefore here omitted And their proposal That the King might come to London with honour freedom and safety is there considered 2. The Ordinance sent up to the Lords for the Assesment for the Army and orders for speedy collecting it past and a complaint against Col. King for obstructing the levying of Moneys in Lincolne shire referred to a Committee A Fast appointed for averting Gods Judgments by the unseasonable Rain Debate about Provisions for the next Summers Fleet and about habeas Corpus 3. Orders touching Arrears of reduced Officers and about the ten thousand pound for Widows of Soldiers c. Order for the Speaker to write to
about monies for the Navy Letters from Scotland of preparations there to raise an Army and men being Listed in all parts on pretence to put that Kingdom in a posture of defence and that they are preparing Proposals to be sent to the Parliament for a personal Treaty with the King That the English in Edenburgh were in all about two thousand and have four pence a day allowed to the Souldiers 18. Sergeant Welde a Member of the House and one of the Judges in the last Circuit in the West reported a presentment of the Grand Jury of Sommersetshire Acknowledging the great care and pains of the Parliament for the Peace of the Nation particularly in the late Votes touching the King desiring the Judges to return their humble thanks to the Parliament and their resolutions to adhere to them in prosecution thereof The danger of their Country by Malignants Apostates and Newtrals from whose power they desired to be freed The Dearth of Corn and excessive multitude of Ale-Houses and Malsters wherein they desire remedy and against Forestallers Ingrossers and Regrators and against Malignants being in Offices and practising as Counsellours and Attorneys The Judges and Grand Jurors had the thanks of the House and referred to a Committee to nominate able and well affected persons to be Justices of the Peace in those Counties Order for an Ordinance to impower the Committees in the respective Counties to secure all suspected and disaffected turbulent persons Which passed not without much opposition as a thing of ill consequence and example especially by those who professed to be so highly for the Liberty of the Nation Thanks given to the Sheriffs of Norwich for their good affections Order to renew the Commission of Oyer and Terminer and Judges to go down to try the late Rioters at Canterbury The Commons desired the Lords to proceed upon the Impeachments against the seven Lords and against the Citizens and against Judg Jenkins and to pass the Ordinance for making Mr. Steele Recorder of London in Mr. Glyn's place 19. The Commissioners of the Customs refused to advance thirty thousand pounds for the Navy which others offered to do if they might be Commissioners but the House would not put forth the old Commissioners till they were reimbursed the monies formerly advanced by them The House accepted ten thousand pounds Composition for Sir Jo. Strangeways and ordered it for the use of the Navy Order to remove Prisoners from the Tower to Warwick Castle Windsor Castle and Wallingford Castle Collonel Fortescue recommended to the General for imployment in the Army and an order for his Arrears To the Papers of the Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland the Parliament there gave this answer 1. To that of the amity between the two Kingdoms they do on their part desire it and will labour to continue it 2. For delivery of Captain Wogan Sir Thomas Glemham and the other English Delinquents they say it is not contained in the Treaties they not taking these to be Incendiaries between the two Kingdoms but only between the King and England 3. They approve of the matter of their Commissioners Declaration and the Parliament answer to it they conceive not satisfactory Sir John Geere late Lord Mayor of London was brought to the Lords Bar and refused to kneel was fined five hundred pound and committed to the Tower and a day set for him to put in his desires for Counsel Debate about mony for the Navy The Earl of Pembroke Chancellour of the University of Oxford went thither and made Dr. Reynolds his Vice-Chancellour put him into possession of the Deanery of Christ-Church by the Souldiers breaking open the Deans Lodgings which were shut against him The like he did for Dr. Palmer at All Souls Colledg where Dr. Sheldon denyed the Chancellours Authority not being derived from the King So did Dr. Bayle at St. Johns Colledg where Mr. Cheynel was put in to be President and Mr. Wilkins at Wadham Colledg 20. An Ordinance debated and committed for raising fifty thousand pounds for Ireland An Ordinance debated for securing all disaffected and tumultuous persons Another for punishing defaulters upon Musters in Kent Letters from Wales That Collonel Poyer increased in strength and that many of Laughernes men after they were Disbanded and had received their Pay went and joyned with Poyer and That Collonel Powel is joyned with him That they force the Country to Musters and great Taxes 21. Debate of Ordinances for settling of Ministers The thanks of the House ordered to the Earl of Pembroke for his settling and reforming the University of Oxford And That such as refused to submit to the power of the Visitors there should be expelled and That the Tenants of the Colledges should pay their Rents to such as the Parliament appointed to receive them And That these Votes be Printed The Ordinance sent up to the Lords for securing all the disaffected Riotous party in England An explanatory Ordinance for Ireland past Letters from Collonel Horton of his being near to Pembroke Castle and resolution to ingage Poyers men as soon as he could 22. Upon debate of the Letters from the Commissioners in Scotland It was Voted That the answer of the Parliament of Scotland to the demands of the English Commissioners touching Captain Wogan and other Delinquents is no ways satisfactory and that their Commissioners in Scotland insist upon their demands and press the Parliament of Scotland for a further answer thereunto An Ordinance transmitted to the Lords for ascertaining and securing the Arrears of the Soldiery At a Conference the Lords acquainted the Commons That the Duke of York with the Duke of Gloucester and the Lady Elizabeth being together playing in a Room the last night after Supper by themselves the Duke of York privately slipt from them down the back Stairs without Cloak or Coat in his Shoos and Stockings and by the way of the Privy-Garden having got a Key of the Door he escaped away through the Park and could not be found none of his servants were missing who attended him Letters to the General to send for a Lieutenant who with his Souldiers took Free Quarter about Barnstable and to examine the business and do Justice to the Country and the House passed a new Ordinance for taking away Free Quarter 24. The House of Commons was called and there appeared and Sate three hundred and six of their Members and referred to a Committee to report the cases of those who were absent and none to go out of Town without leave A new Instruction past for the Commissioners in Scotland to insist upon their demands to the Parliament there to deliver up Incendiaries Divers Captains agreed upon for the Summers Fleet. Letters from Scotland That preparations for War go on there but opposed by the Kirk yet the other party prevails That Wogans Troop increaseth and the Parliament there declared That they will preserve the Union and ends of the
Southwark c. That the personal Treaty may be hastened and those Militiaes united to the City They had thanks for their good affections and were told that the house had already voted the uniting of the Militiaes Letters from Colchester Leaguer that the Enemy attempted to escape by a Ford but the Parliaments Scouts firing at them they retreated in again That the General to prevent shedding of more blood and the ruine of the Town sent another Summons to the Earl of Norwich the Lord Capel and Sir Charles Lucas to surrender the Town to the service of the Parliament to which they returned a scornful answer that if any more Letters of that kind were sent to them they would hang up the Messenger That presently after the return of the Generals Trumpet the Enemy set fire on another Street of the Town That before any attempt upon the Town the General intends to send for all women and children to come out Letters from the North that Duke Hamilton was come in person into Carlisle where he was received with shooting of Ordnance and ringing of Bells that he marched himself in the Van of his Army his Trumpets in rich Liveries and his Life-guard with Standards and Equipage Prince-like with his Carriages but little Artillery that being expected by them at Carlisle and Sir Marmaduke Langdale with three thousand English to joyn with the Duke The Duke sent a Letter to Major General Lambert to the effect before mentioned and that he was commanded by the Committee of the Estates of Scotland to prosecute their desires here against the Sectaries to liberate the King from his base imprisonment and the two Houses of Parliment from constraint and for the disbanding of all the Armies whereby the subject may be free from Taxes and Quarter and for setling peace and a firm Vnion That being the intentions and desires of the Kingdom of Scotland he expects Lambert will not oppose their just pious and loyal undertakings but rather joyn in prosecution of these ends and desires his present and positive answer To this Letter Lambert returned answer that as to the transactions of the Parliament he could give no answer seeing they are laid open to the view of the world and known to his Excellency That as to the English Forces being drawn upon the borders of Scotland he can the better give answer to that having the conduct of those Forces by Commission from the Lord General Fairfax and his positive Command to be most tender in acting any thing that might give any seeming occasion of offence to our Brethren of Scotland which he hath punctually observed That he believes it never entred into the thoughts of the Parliament or his Excellency the Lord General Fairfax to act any thing prejudicial to the Kingdom of Scotland That the occasion of their drawing Forces near the borders is notoriously known to be for suppressing of Sir Marmaduke Langdale and his adherents many of them Papists and grand Delinquents opposers to the ends of the Covenant and who are risen in rebellion against the Parliament That he wonders at the suggestions of the Parliament of Scotland that the Parliament of England is under Force when all English men except Sir Marmaduke Langdale and his adherents do act only by the immediate authority of the Parliament who sig and command all freely Then he vindicates the Parliaments Proceedings for Peace and to free the People from Taxes and Quarter he concludes that the resolutions of the Committee of Estates are wholly grounded upon mistakes and desires the Duke to consider if they be not contrary to the Covenant He saith that he must in prosecution of the trust reposed in him to the utmost of his power oppose all Forces raised or brought into this Kingdom except those by authority of the Parliament of England in which he hopes the D. will not oppose but rather assist him if the Parliament of England shall desire it 18. A Declaration transmitted to the Lords of the Victories God had given to the Parliaments Forces within a few late Months Letters from Major General Lambert that the Scots Army was joyned with Sir Marmaduke Langdale that they were in all about twelve thousand Horse and Foot he desired supplies of Money and men and it was referred to the Committee of Darby house to take care of it A Petition from the Common Council of London to the House of Commons that no Tax or Imposition may be laid upon New-Castle Coals and that the House would consider of disposing the profits of all places and imployments injoyed contrary to the self-denying Ordinance and the Votes of Parliament Junii 10. 1647. and of Customers Excise-men Committee-men c. for the publick occasions of the Kingdom Another Petition was to both Houses for adding fifteen persons named by the Common Council to be of the Militia of London Another Petition not from the Common Council but with ten thousand Hands to it that the Militiaes may continue distinct that the Parliament would keep the power in their own hands and call what Forces they please to their assistance These and other Petitions from Southwark Westminster c. for joyning the Militiaes together and some against it were referred to a Committee to hear all parties and their Claims and report their opinions to the House A Petition from the Water-men upon the Thames for a personal Treaty and settlement of Peace the Petitioners had thanks for making their Addresses by a few of their Company and were told that they were witnesses of the Parliaments indeavours for Peace who had now the same things under consideration for which they petitioned and would do therein what they judged best for the Kingdom Order for a day of thanksgiving for the great Victories obtained by the Parliaments Forces Letters from Colchester Leaguer that those within the Town made several attemps to escape away but were beaten back again some of them killed and divers wounded That they refused another summons of the General to surrender the Town 19. Intercepted Letters from one in Carlisle that they expect the Prince of Wales there that he sent a Declaration to Sir Marmaduke Langdale to publish to the Army and Country that the King his Father being kept Prisoner by the Parliament he is resolved to use all possible means to free him and re-inthrone him and desires all men to joyn with him therein And he ingages and desires Langdale and his friends to ingage in the Princes name that all who have formerly acted for the Parliament and shall now come in and joyn with him shall not only have their Pardon and Indemnity but all their Arrears satisfied 20. Letters from the Committee of Surrey of a late Insurrection at Horsham but suppressed and that Mr. Middleton a member of the House of Commons was a party in it and imprisoned by that Committee which the House approved and sent for Mr. Middleton
Pawlets composition at three thousand seven hundred and sixty pound allowed and four thousand and two hundred pound for the Lord Pawlet An Act for a new Seal for the Courts of Wales and for Powell Eltonhead Parker and Clerk to be Judges there Letters from Scotland that the Parliament resolved to raise an Army of seventeen thousand Foot and six thousand Horse against the Sectarian Army in England in prosecution of the Covenant they having a report that an Army of English was upon their Borders That Colonel Monroe and Colonel Fizen with a party of Horse and Foot in the Northern parts of Scotland having Declared for King Charles II. taken Enderness and increased to four thousand the Scots Parliament repealed their votes of raising an Army against England and Ordered Forces against Monroe and his Party Pontefract desired a Treaty and were full of sickness in the Garrison 6. Report from the Council of State of forty thousand Horse and Foot to be kept up in England and Ireland whereof twelve thousand for Ireland their pay to be eighty thousand pound per mensem and free-quarter to be taken off Mr. Cauton a London Minister in his Prayer before the Lord Mayor having prayed for Charles II. as lawful King referred to Mr. Steel and Mr. Coke to prosecute him in the Upper Bench for Treason upon the late Declaration Letters of proclaiming King Charles II. in Guernsey Island by Sir George Carteret Letters from Holland that the Ministers there in their Pulpits inveigh against the proceedings in England and Pray for King Charles II. Referred to the Council of State to consider what is fit to be done herein and to preserve a good correspondence betwixt the two Nations The Earl of Cambridge brought before the High Court and asked what he had further to say why sentence should not be pronounced against him spake to the same effect as formerly The Earl of Holland and Lord Goring extenuated what they could their Offences as being rash not much hurtful c. The Lord Capel briefly repeated what he had formerly said and further observed an Ordinance of Parliament That Quarter should not be given to Irish Rebels for life which implyed that quarter given to others should be inviolable for life Sir John Owen pleaded quarter The President in his Scarlet robes spake many hours in answer to the several pleas of the Prisoners and at last sentence was given against them all that their heads should be severed from their Bodies yet with relation to the Mercy of Parliament 7. Referred to a Committee to draw up an Act for taking off all priviledge from Noblemen and to make their persons as liable to Law as any Commoner An Act committed for taking away Kingly Government and another for dissolving the House of Peers The Earl of Warwick and the Countess of Holland presented a Petition for the life of the Earl of Holland and divers Ladies for the others against whom the High Court had pronounced sentence of Death After some hours Debate upon these Petitions the House resolved upon the Question not to proceed any further upon these Petitions but to leave them to the Justice of the Court that sentenced them Then the Ladies Petitioned the High Court who only reprieved the Execution for two daies 8. A New form for electing Members of the House assented to Order that the Council of State nor Committees do not sit after nine in the Morning when the House sits Orders for seventy thousand pound per mensem for the Forces in England and thirty thousand pound per mensem for the Forces in Ireland and for an Act for eighty thousand pound per mensem assessment for the Forces and free quarter to be taken off New Petitions of the condemned Lords and a Letter from the General touching their Articles and after a long Debate the Question was put of them severally and voted That the Lord Capel should not be reprieved And carried by one vote that the Lord Goring should be reprieved this one vote was the Speaker who carried the House being equally divided four and twenty of each part and he said he did it because he had formerly received some civilities from the Lord Goring and his single vote now saved his life The House was also divided upon the question whether the Earl of Holland should be reprieved or not and the Speaker gave his voice against him Thus the Lord Goring who had been no friend to the Religious party was saved and the Earl of Holland who had been a most civil person to all and a very great friend to the old Puritans and protected them in the time of his greatest interest by the same single Vote lost his life This may be a caution to us against the affectation of popularity when you see the issue of it in this Noble Gentleman who was as full of Generosity and Courtship to all Sorts of Persons and readiness to help the oppressed and to stand for the rights of the people as any person of his quality in this Nation Yet this person was by the Representatives of the people given up to execution for Treason and another Lord who never made profession of being a friend to liberty either Civil or Spiritual and exceeded the Earl as much in his Crimes as he came short of him in his popularity the life of this Lord was spared by the people The resolution touching Duke Hamiltons Reprieve past in the Negative and for Sir Jo. Owen in the Affirmative and these Votes ordered to be sent to the High Court of Justice 9. Amendments to an Act for provision for the Forces of England and Ireland assented to The House rose early being thin because of the execution of the Lords The Earl of Cambridge was brought to the Scaffold in the Palace-Yard at Westminster and after some discourse with Dr. Sibbalds a Minister that came with him he turned to the people and seeing them so great a multitude he said his voice would not serve for them to hear him and therefore directed his speech to those upon the Scaffold with him He confessed his Religion to be according to that of the Kirk of Scotland that he had ever been Loyal to the late King and wished well to his Posterity and that none more desired the peace and happiness of this and other Kingdoms than himself That his coming into England with the late Army was out of no Treasonable or ill intent but for the ends contained in the Scots Declaration and what he did was as a servant to that Parliament and Kingdom That in that imployment next to the setling of Religion the establishing the King was his greatest aim and he wished his blood in order to the Kingdom might be the last that should be spilt That if he would have confessed who invited the Scots Army into England it would probably have saved his life Then he made a short Prayer Dr. Sibbalds kneeling with
near to Dublin and took away much Cattle From Coventry That a Souldier of C. Prides Regiment was sentenced to be tyed neck and heels together and to be set where the whole Regiment should march by him and to be cashiered for stealing a Hen and putting it under his Coat in his March which Justice pleased the Country 12 A Letter from the Officers of the General his Regiment of Foot to their fellow Souldiers exhorting them to Prayer and Vnity and full of pertinent and wholsom Scripture Expressions and good Councel 13 From Chefler that the Bishop General Macmoghun a vicious wicked wretch is in the head of the Northern Irish From Newcastle That in the Marches of Scotland they have listed every fourth man That some of their Forces are marched to Sea Towns to attend the arrival of their King That they are much started at the News of the English Armies marching Northwards That they will not believe Cromwel to be come to London That the Kirkmen bid the People not to fear as the Malignants even so shall all Sectaries Perish The Solemn Fast kept the Parliament Councel of State G. Fairfax L. G. Cromwel and the Judges being all together 14 From Edenburgh That Dalgely of Montrosses Party being sentenced to be beheaded and brought to the Scaffold ran and kissed the Scaffold and without any Speech or Ceremony layed down his Head on the Block and was presently beheaded That they recruite their Army That they put it to the Vote in Parliament Whether they should make any more addresses to the King and it was carryed to send another Letter to him To desire his speedy coming thither and they will endeavour to set him on his Throne and will passe by those things contrary tohis Agreement found in the Letters about Montross if he will now come in and comply with them and they forbid divers great Men to come into Scotland From Beaumaris That Sir Thomas Armstrong the Lord Moore M. G. Oneal M. G. Barry with divers Officers and 250 Horse came into Dublin From C. Reynolds That few strong Places in Ireland remain unreduced That some of their Ministers Preach Damnation to the Parliaments Army and to all that Assist them That the Army and Garrisons there subscribed the Ingagement unanimously so have the Magistrates and generally the Inhabitants though not required to do it That the Enemy taking Toome Veneables was sent to reduce them which he did and in the mean time the Enemy got into the Woods between his Party and Sir Charles Coots that they could not joyn That in their absence many Scotch Ministers were sent to debauch the People in those parts of Ireland That the Enemy are about 5000 Foot besides Horse yet dare not fight with a much smaller Party of the Parliaments Forces who are almost naked and full of sickness for want of Cloaths That they secured some Scotch Ministers 15 Letters of a very solemn keeping of the Fast day at Shrewsbury and of the Militia settled in Herefordshire Of a great perplexity in Scotland by the Kings delaying his coming thither and of Montrosses Brother designing to sail with his Brothers Frigot to Norway the Captain and divers others being on Shore the rest of the Mariners brought the Ship to Leith and in it divers Papers of consequence with Subscriptions of Ministers and Lords to the Declaration of Montross 17 Letters That the Levyes go on in Scotland and that the People cry out upon the Taxes and they shall be undone if the English Army come into Scotland before theirs be ready That the Ministers do preach against what their Commissioners have done That the Parliament Army about York is full of Courage and desirous of Service That in Holland Van Trump commanded out all the Men of War to wait on the Prince into Scotland The Parliament had a long debate and passed several Votes about ordering of Monies for the Armies in England and Ireland 18 Several Orders about Monies for the Navy and for Supplies for them and for the Forces in England and Ireland Letters from several Garrisons to the Officers of the Army at the Head Quarters in answer to theirs about the Fast and which were full of Courage and Piety 19. Letters that the Vlsters about 6000 in a body 〈◊〉 dmuch spoyl in Sir Charles Cootes Quarters That the Clergy about Chester kept a Fast Day rather to pray against than for the Parliament and Army Of Recruits ready for Ireland That 900 in one Parish near Leverpool willingly took the Ingagement That divers Gentlemen about Exon were secured by the Militia there That the Ministers there refused to publish the Fast Day but the People generally kept it and shut up their Ships That the Ld. G. his Regiment and the Train were at Nottingham in their March North-wards 20 Letters to the Officers of the Army at the Head Quarters from some of their fellow Officers and Souldiers and it was strange to see in many of those Letters the wonderful zeal and affection of the Officers and Souldiers to the Parliaments Service and with what a Spirit of Prayer and Piety not usual in Camps they were carried on and incouraged one another Letters that Mr. Ayscam the Parliaments Agent to the King of Spain at his first arrival at Madri took up his lodging in an Inn there the first night that the next day a more convenient house was provided for him by his Steward That in the mean time Mr. Ayscam and his Interpreter being at dinner in the Inn with one Footman attending them six English Men three of them habited as Merchants the other three as Souldiers knocked at the door and being admitted because they were English Men Mr. Ascam rose from the Table to salute them As he saluted them the formost laid hold on his hair and stabbed him into the Head whereupon the Interpreter endeavoured to escape but was stabbed in the belly and they both fell down dead immediately The Murderers fled for refuge to the Venetian Ambassadors house but he denyed them entrance and then they took Sanctuary in the next Church Mr. Ayscams Papers and Goods were secured by the Spanish Secretary of State and a Guard allowed to Mr. Ascams Secretary till his return for England Two Troopers sentenced by a Court Marshal for Raunters and Cashiered the Army 21 Letters that 5000 of the Irish were fallen into the County of Derry to hinder the joyning of Sir Charles Coot and Veneables Of an Hue and Cry sent from the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal after Captain Dowglas and that in search of him another notorious Delinquent was found who leaped out of a Window eight foot high yet was apprehended and sent to Prison That since the Forces went from Dublin to Trecoghan the Tories fell into those Parts and drove away many Cows from about Dublin That a Party of 80 of the Parliaments Horse being sent after the Tories to rescue the Prey and dispersed
live privately there and submitted to the Parliament of England That some of the Isles of Orkney were upon submission to the Common-wealth of England 28. Letters of the particular Passages of the Siege of Limbrick and the Rendition of it after 15 Months Siege That it was a very strong Town the Grafts Counterscarâ—s and Bulwarks without the Walls the Flanking Towers upon them and the Rampiers round the Irish Town very strong and regular an incredible quantity of Arms and Ammunition were delivered in there 29. The Parliament approved the Articles of Limbrick gave 100 l. to the Messenger that brought the News of the Surrender of it and ordered that the next Lords day Thanks should be given to God for it An Act passed appointing Dr. Clerke Dr. Exton and Dr. Stevens to be Judges of the Admiralty Letters That the Scots Parliament met in the Highlands where were present only the Lord Chancellor and two or three Lords and a few Burgesses who could not agree but rose without doing any thing That the Lord Chancellor and other Lords of Scotland were come in to Lieutenant-General Monk That several Recruits were come from England to the Army in Scotland December 1651. 1. Letters That the Parliaments Army in Ireland were setling of their Quarters and had no Enemy to encounter with but a few Tories and stragling Robbers That the Lord Deputy was gone to Galloway to summon that City That in Limbrick there dyed 40 and 50 a day of the Plague 2. Letters from the Lord Deputy to the Parliament and to the Council of State of the Particulars of the Surrender of Limbrick and an account of the great Guns in all 34 and the Arms and Ammunition taken there with a Copy of the Articles 3. Letters That Lieutenant-General Monk intended to have prevented the meeting of the Parliament in the Highlands of Scotland but could not by reason of the excessive quantity of Rain which fell at that time 4. Letters That Captain Pen had taken some French Vessels prize and that Captain Coxe took a French Ship with 39 Guns which made stout resistance and one of the Parliaments Sea-men lost both his Legs with one Shot of a Canon That Two of Prince Ruperts Ships were sunk and himself hardly escaped drowning at the Jercera's That Captain Bertlet the notable Pyrate of Jersey desired to be received into favour and to do some Act to merit it from the Parliament That Captain Christian a notable Sea-man in King James's time was released from being a Prisoner in Peele Castle in the Isle of Man where he had been long detained and ill used by the Earl of Derby That the whole Revenue of the Isle of Man was but 1500 l. per Ann ' That the Countess of Derby was allowed 200 l. in Plate to bear her charges into England That Three of Prince Ruperts Ships were cast away near to Tercera Island with a great Tempest one of them the Swallow which carried 54 Brass Guns sprung a Leak about the Keel and was suddenly sunk and 340 Persons in her drowned the Prince the Master the Boatswaine and Three more in her were only saved 5. Letters That divers Scotch Lords came in and submitted to the Parliament of England That the third Shot at Elizabeth Castle in Jersey fell upon the old Church there killed and wounded 30 Persons and indangered the Governour Sir George Carteret and his Lady and the chief of the Island That this made so great an Impression on the Lady Carteret and the other Ladies and some few Men who were afraid to be taken that the next night they imbarqued for France That this Shot spoiled great store of Syder and other Victuals That several of their Men made an escape and some being taken were forthwith tryed and executed 6. Letters That Major-General Lambert and Major-General Deane were come to Edenburgh 8. Letters That many of the Parliaments Soldiers in Ireland were sick and wanted Accommodations That the Country groaned much at the burden of quartering but the Lord Deputy was very tender to them Letters That the Lord Deputy went from Limbrick to assist the Lieutenant-General at the Siege of Carrick Houlta but meeting with the Lieutenant-General at Inch Castle after conference together they both returned to Limbrick That the Lord-Deputy having taken cold in his Journey the Weather being very tempestuous and having no Accommodations he fell sick and Nov. 17. took Physick the next day was let Blood but grew worse and worse every day after till Nov. 26. and then died That the Commissioners appointed the Lieutenant-General Ludlowe to command the Forces in Ireland till the pleasure of the Parliament should be known or the Lord-Lieutenant give further order That his Body was to be carried over into England This Gentleman Collonel Ireton was a Person very active industrious and stiff in his ways and purposes he was of good abilities for Councel as well as Action and made much use of his Pen and was very forward to reform the Proceedings in Law wherein his having been bred a Lawyer was an help to him He was stout in the Field and wary and prudent in his Councel and exceedingly forward as to the Business of a Common-wealth he married Cromwels Daughter who had a great opinion of him and no Man could prevail so much nor order him so far as Ireton could His death struck a great sadness into Cromwel and indeed it was a great loss to him of so able and active so faithful and so near a Relation and Officer under him Letters That Clare Castle and Carrick Calta Castle were surrendred to Lieutenant-General Ludlowe and Maso Castle to Sir Charles Coote That 22 Men were excepted from the benefit of the Articles for the surrender of Limbrick of whom Seven were executed That Hugh O-Neale the Governour was pardoned for Life 9. Upon the News of the death of the late Lord Deputy of Ireland Collonel Ireton the Parliament as a Testimony of their affection for his many eminent Services ordered a Bill to be brought in for setling 2000 l. per Ann ' upon his Wife and Children of the Lands of the Duke of Buck's and his Corps to be brought to London to be honourably buried A List of 34 strong Holds and Castles in Ireland taken in by the Parliaments Forces the last Summer A Copy sent to the Parliament of the Earl of Clanrickards Declaration or Summons for an Assembly of the Rebels Letters That Two Troops of Collonel Whaley's Regiment quartered at Nottingham had meetings twice a week where their Officers and some of their Soldiers did preach and pray for which they were hated and cursed by the Presbyterians and their Preachers who say They are the greatest Plague that ever did befall that Town That the Presbyterians got the Scotch Prisoners there to be released and sent them home with store of Money and good Cloaths but they will give no Countenance nor Relief to any
which is the most fruitful Country in Scotland and the common Proverb is hath fifteen days more of Summer than any other part of the Nation That Three English Soldiers stragling were killed near Aberdeen and Collonel Overton sent for the Gentlemen thereabouts and told them That if they did not find out the Murderers he would fine the Country whereupon they apprehended three of the Murderers who were executed One Bull who raised Money from the Country upon pretence of being a Parliament Captain was pursued and taken by the Country and executed for it the Country also brought in Two Moss-Troopers The Parliament ordered That no Beer or Ale should be Exciseable but what was brewed to be sold again 15. Letters That Collonel Overton hearing of some incivility offered to Mr. Andrew Cant the Minister the Collonel went over to him at his House and told him he was sorry that any injury should be offered to him who he heard was a Friend to the Parliament of England Cant replyed That he was a lying Knave that told him so for he neither regarded him nor his Party A List was sent up of the considerable Persons that came in to the Parliament with Marquess Huntley The Admiralty of Amsterdam ordered That all Ships of what Nation soever lying in the Texel and bound for England be staid till they hear out of England Meen heer Scaep Catz and Parre Extraordinary Ambassadors from the States of the United Provinces landed at Gravesend The Swedish Ambassador Mr. Spiering was upon his Voyage for England 16. Order for a Commission for the Lord St. John Sir Hen. Vane jun ' Fenwicke Salwey Lambert Deane Monk and Tichburne to go Commissioners into Scotland Order That the Council of State take care for the Reception of the Ambassadors from the States The Act read for the Monthly Assessment and 30000 l. per Mens abated Petition of the Justices of Peace and of the Grand-Jury of Cheshire read and referred to a Committee the like of the Officers of the Cheshire Brigade Petition of the Masters and Livery-men of the Companies of London referred to the Council of State Vote That no Parties of Soldiers shall march without a Commissioned Officer to conduct them nor be quartered in any private Houses but in Inns c. Order That the Power of Committees shall be transferred to other Persons not Members of Parliament that the Members may attend the House Letters That Scotland is like to come to settle quietly if the Clergy be kept from having a finger in the Settlement for that no Nation that ever permitted the Clergy more or less to intermeddle could ever continue long in peace especially England and Scotland for there is in the generality of that Coat a rank mixture of Pragmatical Humour and Spiritual Pride that besots them in most things 17. The Dutch Ambassadors were brought to London by the Master of the Ceremonies in the States Coaches and other Lords Coaches to attend them and they were received with much Honour and conducted to Sir Abraham Williams his House in Westminster provided by the Parliament for them 18. Letters That the hard duty of the Soldiers in Jersey had caused much sickness among them so that they brought themselves to fourth night Duty both Officers and Soldiers Horse and Foot That Elizabeth Castle held out obstinately and sent many Shot amongst the Parliament Soldiers but had not killed one Man that one by a Shot of a Mortar-piece being in the Church in the Castle was blown out of the door having the Hair of his Head and Beard and his Cloaths singed but his Body had no harm That Jermyn and Greenvile were sent to Paris to advise about selling of Jersey to the French 19. Letters That the Parliament Forces marched up into the Highlands and the Lord Belcarris came in to them and Articles of Capitulation were signed between him and Collonel Overton and Collonel Lilburne and they became Masters in Innernesse which was further than Julius Caesar or any Invader before ever went in Scotland That some of the Marquess Huntley's disbanded Horse got together under Captain Gourdon and took four of the Parliaments Dragoons and one Foot Soldier they intended to murder them but one of them escaping they did not meddle with the rest But drawing them forth upon a Hill Gourdon pulled out of his Pocket a Psalm-Book and made the four remaining Prisoners to kneel down upon their Knees and swear to be true to the King and never to take Arms for the Parliament and so let them go 20. Letters of a Dutch Vessel laden with French Wines come into Dundee Harbour seized a Prize according to the late Act of Parliament That several English Vessels were come seasonably thither with Provisions An Act passed for continuing the Act formerly made touching the Elections of Officers and Electors in London The States Ambassadors had their Audience in Parliament the House had rich Hangings and Chairs and Foot-cloaths for the Ambassadors Between 10 and 11 a Clock the House sent Three of their Members the Earl of Salisbury Sir John Danvers and Sir Henry Mildmay to accompany the Ambassadors from Sir Abraham Williams his House where they lodged to the Parliament About 11 a Clock the Ambassadors came accompanied with those Members and attended by the Master of the Ceremonies with about 30 Gentlemen and 30 Lacquies of their own Retinue to the Inner Court of Wards where they reposed a little time and the Parliament sent their Serjeant to bring them into the House They came with all their Company into the House and when they came to the Bar put off their Hats and then the Speaker and all the Members of the House stood up in their places uncovered and when they came to the Chairs the Speaker desired them to take their places Being sate down and covered the Speaker and the Members at the same time sate down and were covered and after a little Pause one of the Ambassadors made his Oration to the House in Latin and the Speaker returned the usual Answer That he would acquaint the House with what the Ambassador had said When the Ambassadors were sate down all the Company not Members did withdraw and the Doors of the House were shut after the Speech ended and the Speakers Answer the Ambassadors rose from their Chairs and put off their Hats and saluting the Speaker and Members who also stood up in their places bare and answered the Salutes the Ambassadors went out of the House again attended as before to the Inner Court of Wards and from thence to their Lodgings between which and the Parliament were placed a double Row of Pikes and Musqueteers and a Troop of Horse drawn up in the Palace-yard 22. Letters That Sir James Stuart had gotten a Commission from Major-General Lambert to get himself to be chosen Provost of Edenburgh Letters of many Ships cast away in the late Storms 23. An Act passed for raising
in a third Summons to the Barbadoes to submit to the Parliament of England which being refused he formed a Regiment out of the Ships of 600 Men whereof 170 were Scots The Enemy having notice four hours before of their coming made opposition at their landing with nine Companies of Foot and three Troops of Horse who made a gallant Charge But the Parliaments Forces having received the on-set immediately fell in upon the Lord Willoughby's Forces and wholly routed them and their Commanders ran away and left the Foot ingaged after which the Parliaments Forces pursued the Enemy to their Fort-Royal and stormed it with the loss of nine Men some hurt as Collonel Morrice his Major and others That 50 of the Enemy were killed and 100 Prisoners taken all their Ordnance dismounted and many of their Houses burned by the Parliaments Forces the Place being not tenable That soon after Sir George Ascue sent a Trumpet to the Lord Willoughby which produced a Treaty and Hostages being given Articles were concluded between them for the surrender of the Barbadoes and the rest of the Islands to the obedience of the Common-wealth of England That the Lord Willoughby Collonel Walrond and divers others should have protection for enjoyment of their Estates in England or elsewhere That the Inhabitants be protected from the fury of the Sword and to enjoy and live peaceably in their own Habitations acting nothing prejudicial to the Parliament Sir George Ascue was very courteous to my Lord Willoughby and gave him very good Terms upon his rendition of the Island and did great service in it for the Parliament That Collonel Pointz Governour of St. Christophers seeing the Inhabitants of that Island generally well affected to the Parliament quitted that Island and went to Virginia That Sir George Ascue by reason of Prince Ruperts being near him his Fleet having watered and ballasted he sailed towards Virginia to prevent Prince Ruperts getting that Place Letters from Lieutenant-General Ludlow concerning the Earl of Clenrickards Letters That the Lord of Muskerry was in treaty with the Lord Broghill and Collonel Fitz-Patrick with Collonel Reynolds That Collonel Axtel fell upon the Enemy killed 100 took 300 Horse That Captain Gilbert took Lieutenant-Collonel Farrel a Major and Two Captains Major Meredith drove 30 of the Enemy into a Bog and put them all to the Sword That Captain Cotterel slew another Captain Major Bolton killed and took 25 of the Enemy with their Horse and endangered Scurlocke Captain Preston took a Captain Prisoner and killed 16 of his Men Captain Staffe fell upon the Enemy in Thomond and was shot yet his Party routed the Enemy and killed their Two Officers That Collonel Renolds took in the Collowe and garrison'd a Fort there A Vessel taken by Captain Church attempting to go into Galloway with Corn and bulged on a Rock another Vessel taken loaden with Wheat for Galloway Three Companies of the Enemy at Dingel routed and all their Arms taken That the Synodal Assembly at Edenburgh emitted a Declaration for every one of their Congregation to subscribe any thing tending to an Union and desire every one to do what is publickly commanded in reference to Quarter and Assessments That Sir James Stuart protested against the acting of the English Commissioners and of the Scotch Deputies and left Edenburgh That Argyle wrote to all of his Name though some of those Gentlemen lived 100 Miles from him to attend him to Dunbarton to meet the English Commissioners That he hath a considerable part of the Highland in League with him 16. Sir Hen. Vane and another of the Parliaments Commissioners sent into Scotland returned and gave an Account to the Parliament of their Commissioners Proceedings in Scotland and what had passed between them and the Deputies of the Scots That 20 Shires and 35 Boroughs had assented to the Union A Petition presented to the House by divers Merchants and Sea-men Ship-Carpenters c. Answered That the Parliament did accept well of the Petition and gave the Petitioners thanks for their good affections An Act passed for impressing of Sea-men Reports from the Committee appointed to receive the Danish publick Minister That he after a short Preamble delivered his Letters of Credence from the King of Denmark his Master with Papers of what he delivered by word of mouth which were read and referred to the Council of State to hear the Danish Agent and to treat with him Reports touching the payment of small Debts owing upon publick Faith Votes upon it Reports and Orders upon them touching Compositions of Delinquents 17. Letters That Major-General Deane was gone to treat with the Marquess of Argyle That the Country People followed their Husbandry That the Cavaliers in Scotland were most forward to submit to the Parliament of England 19. Letters That Galloway was reported to be surrendred that the Rebels wanted Victuals and were much divided so that Collonel Venables had intelligence from their Provincial Council 20. Letters from Orkney of great dangers passed by the Parliaments Forces in going thither and the Inhabitants willingness to submit to the Parliament of England That Deputies from more Countries came in daily to the Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland and a fair compliance was expected They desire a general meeting to comply and carry on the general Union That the Provost of Edenburgh by the Parliaments Authority convened a Minister for preaching against the Vnion but the Minister said That he knew better what to preach than the Provost could instruct him That the Isles of Orkney and Sheathland sent their Deputies to the English Commissioners and consented to the Union That the Commissioners ordered a Cittadel to be built at St. Johns Town to hold 500 men The Parliament ordered an Act to be brought in to Incorporate Scotland one Common-Wealth with England 22. Letters That the Treaty was begun with Argyle in relation to his coming in and for the good effect thereof the Presbytery daily meet and fast and pray That the Hollanders called away their Ships from Scotland and some of their Ships hung out the Scots Kings Colours That a considerable Fleet was come into Leith with Corn and other Provisions very Seasonably there being before Some Scarcity That many formerly refractory came in daily and a face of Peace was upon the whole Nation the bitterness of Some Spirits began to asswage and the Union with England desired Severall persons desired the inlargement of their Friends the Scots who are prisoners of War in England and offered sufficient bayle for their appearance when required and in the mean time to live peaceably and submit to the Parliament and to subscribe the Ingagement Letters of great divisions among the Irish Rebells most of them being for a Treaty but the Priests had inflamed the rest especially those of Galloway against it That they have sent severall expresses of Dean King into France for relief else they cannot hold out any longer
drowned Orders touching Claims upon the Bill for Sale of Delinquents Estates 18 The Tryal of the Portugal Ambassadors Brother put off till the next Sessions upon the Petition of the Portugal Merchants An Address of the Army to the Lord Protector congratulating his Access to the Government and promising their Obedience and Faithfulness to his Highness and Service to him in the Station wherein God hath placed him Of a Discontent between Glencarn and Lorn and they divided and Warrants were sent to Apprehend the Lord Lorn 19 Letters that the States were likely to agree to the English Propositions for Peace Of a Prize loaden with Three thousand Cheeses brought in by the Hector Frigot and another Dutch Ship taken by a Private Man of War 20 Letters of the Enemies Levies in the Parliaments Quarters but that they dare not come to Execute their own Warrants Coppies of them sent up to the Protector These Warrants were forbidden by Collonel Cooper to be Executed under pain that any who obey them or correspond with the Earl of Glencarn or any of his Party shall be proceeded against as Enemies Of Prizes taken upon the Coast of Norway A Day appointed for drawing Lotts for Lands in Ireland Of Mischiefs done by the Tories in Ireland who were beaten back to their Boggs That the Plague continues in some places there 21 Letters that the Tories in Ireland indeavoured to get into a Body but were prevented Of Two Dutch Prizes brought in That Seventeen Dutch Ships were Arrived in Scotland with One thousand five hundred Forreiners and some Armes That in France an Imbargo was to be put upon all English Ships and Goods 23 An Ordinance Published by the Lord Protector and his Council declaring what Offences and no other shall be adjudged Treason within the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland Another Ordinance touching the Ingagement repealing all former Acts touching the same Of Two Prizes of French Wines brought in by a Frigot 24 That Collonel Morgan was drawing together the English Forces against the Highlanders That Collonel Wogan was thought to be Slain That Lorns Revolt startled the Enemy 25 That the Lord Athol was Sick That Captain Cressey fell into the Quarters of about Forty of the Enemies Horse Killed Two took Prisoners and Sixteen Horse That a Party of the English being but Thirty Horse fell upon another Party of the Enemies and Routed them but the Enemy having Two hundred Men in Ambush fell upon the English slew the Lieutenant and Cornet and Seven of the Troopers and the rest made a difficult Retreat Cheats went about in the names of the Earl of Cleaveland and Lord Grandison to borrow monys of divers persons of Quality for the said Lords whereas the Lords employed none such as knew any thing thereof 26 That Myn Here Beverling one of the Dutch Gommissioners that lately returned from England was returned back from Holland thither and had Audience of the Lord Protector He affirms that the Province of Holland have agreed to the Articles of Peace with England and that the other Provinces will shortly do the same Mr. Feak and Mr. Simpson were examined before the Council for Preaching against the Lord Protector and his Government 27 Letters of the Honourable Reception and Audience of the Lord Ambassador Whitlock at Vpsale and the Queen shewed extraordinary respects to him A part of Pauls Church fell down 28 Letters that in the late Ingagement near Vaummond Captain Carr and another Scotch Commander of quality was slain and divers Prisoners taken and the rest driven to the Mountains Letters of Twenty Sail of Brest Men of War out at Sea which took some English Vessels in the Channel Of the Queen of Swedens Answer to the Lord Ambassadour Whitelocks Speech to her and her favours to his Sons and some of his Gentlemen and of the Complements of her Ministers to him and his returnes and of her great civility to him And the relation of the Senators who supped with him and their forbearing to begin a health to him And of his sending to Visit the Spanish Resident there of his Visit to Whitelock and of Whitelocks Private Audience with the Queen and of the Visits of Great Men to him with his Returnes to them an account of them to the Protector Of a Defeat given to the Highlanders and the taking of a Town near Blair Fourteen killed seven Prisoners and fifty Horse taken and many wounded That Captain Carr and Captain Kilsmores Lieutenant fired at each other at four yards distance and both of them fell from their Horses and dyed Mr. Feak and Mr. Sympson sent Prisoners to Windsor Castle That Captain Minns Ingaged four hours together with four Brest Men of War and saved some English Vessels from them and rescued another Vessel of Plymouth taken by a Brest Man of War and took in her Seventeen French Prisoners 31 Letters of the Officers of the Army in Scotland sending up their Addresses to the Lord Protector owning his Government Of Two Dutch Prizes brought into New Castle Dutch Capers in each Fifty Prisoners February 1653. Feb. 1. An Ordinance by the Lord Protector and his Council appointing a Committee of the Army and Treasurers at War as formerly Order by the Lord Protector and his Council to add some persons as Commissioners for the Assessments Upon invitation of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London the Lord Protector appointed a Day to dine with them Five stout Men of War gone out to Sea and twenty more going out to add to the English Fleet. A Declaration and Address of the General at Sea and Officers of the Fleet owning his Government and promising Obedience to the Lord Protector 2 Letters That the Vnited Provinces rejoyce in the Agreement and Peace between them and England 3 Orders for the drawing of Lots by the Adventurers for the Lands in Ireland Divers intercepted Letters from the Cavaliers sent up That the People in the North set upon the Quakers and beat them and the Quakers prayed to God to forgive them which so convinced the people that they fell out among themselves and were sorry that they had beaten the Quakers That the English Fleet was gone out to Sea divided into Three Squadrons but not so far distant but that by their Scouts they had quick Intelligence and Correspondency 4 Letters of the French Pickaroons who fly to their own Coasts when any of the English Frigots appear Of a Bickering between the English and High-landers 6 An Ambassadour from the Great Duke of Tuscany to Congratulate the Lord Protector And Two Agents from the Lords of the Isles of Omerland in Holland desiring to be esteemed as Neutrals and brought in the Number and Marks of all their Ships and desired to be accounted as a free State The Frigots about the Lands-end rescued many English Vessels from the French Pickaroons That Glencarns Captain Lieutenant and Seventeen of his Men were taken by a Party of the English and
the Citizens and 30 of them and of the Inhabitants were Slain by the fall of Timber and Houses on fire upon them Some small Skirmishes were between little parties of the Highlanders and the Parliaments Forces 31 Voted by the Parliament that any Natives of the Commonwealth may transport Wheat when the Price shall not exceed six and thirty Shillings the quarter paying Four-pence the Quarter Custome And Rye when it exceeds not Four and twenty shillings the Quarter paying three pence the Quarter Custom And Barly or Mault when the Price of it exceeds not twenty shillings the Quarter paying two pence the Quarter Custom And Pease not being above four aâ—d twenty shillings the Quarter paying three pence the quarter Custom And Beans not being above four and twenty shillings the Quarter paying three pence the Quarter Custom The Corn to be transported in Vessels of this Commonwealth Butter to be transported when it is not above six pence the pound A Bill to be brought in for this purpose November 1654. 1. Nov. The Officers of the Army met at St. James's to keep a day of praying together The Resident of the Duke of Guelders had Audience of the Protector declaring the late decease of his Master and the acknowledgment he made upon his death bed of the Favours and Protection he had receiv'd from the Protector desiring the continunuance of his Favour and Protection to his Son 2 The Lord Lorn the Marquls of Argiles Son continued in Rebellion against his Father Collonel Hammonds Funeral solemnized at Dublin with much State 3 The Parliament sat upon the Articles of Government and voted the forfeiture of Lands for Treason and Delinquency 4 Petitions of the Lord Craven Sir John Stowell and others referred to several Committees 6 Debate about the Bill for Ejecting Ignorant and Scandalous Ministers and School-Masters and Voted That in the mean time the Ordinance for Ejecting them passed by the Protector and his Councel shall not be suspended Order for Accounts to be brought in of the value of all Customs and Receipts in several Offices Petition of the Doctors of the Civil Law in behalfe of themselves and their profession was referred to a Committee A Committee of Ten persons appointed to confer with His Highness about stating the Point of Liberty of Conscience 7 Order to examine and punish the Authors and publishers of a Scandalous and Treasonable pamphlet entituled Collonel Shapcots speech in Parliament and the Sergeant at Arms to seize the Copies 8 The Protector and his Councel considered of the Nomination of new Sheriffes in the several Counties 9 Long debate by Councel at the Committee for the Lord Cravens and Sir John Stowells Petitions 10 Debate in Parliament upon the Articles of Government That the Supream Legislative power shall be in one Person and the People assembled in Parliament being the first Article And upon the 24 Article That if the Protector consent not to Bills presented to him within twenty days that they shall pass as Laws without his consent This Letter came from Seldon to Whitlock My Lord I am a most humble Suitor to your Lordship that you would be pleased that I might have your presence for a little time to morrow or next day Thus much wearies the most weak hand and body of Novemb. 10. 1654. White Fryers Your Lordships most humble Servant J. Selden Whitlock went to him and was advised with about settling his Estate and altering his Will and to be one of his Executors But his weakness so encreased that his intentions were prevented He dyed the last of this Month. He lived at the Countess of Kents house in the White-Fryers His mind was as great as his learning He was as hospitable and generous as any man and as good Company to those whom he liked The Primate of Ireland preached his funeral Sermon in the Temple Church and gave him a great and due Eulogie 11 The Parliament agreed upon the first and 24th Articles of Government with little alteration 13 A Petition of the Purchasers of the Lord Cravens Estate referred to the former Committe likewise a Petition of Sir John Stowell The King of Swedens Marriage was solemnized at Stockholm the 14th of October last 14 Prince William of Nassaw received by the Province of Over-Issell to be Governour there during the minority of the Prince of Orange 15 The House proceeded in the debate of the Articles of Government They considered of an Assesment for the preventing of free Quarter The Lord Lorn sent parties into his Fathers Countrey to steal Cows 16 The Parliament voted His Highness to be Lord Protector c. during his life They debated about the business of the Militia by Sea and Land 17 A List published of the several Sheriffs for England and Wales agreed on by the Protector and his Councel Much debate at the Committee concerning the Lord Cravens and Sir John Stowels business A Fire in Amsterdam quenched by casting Sand upon it Some few of Middletons party in Scotland roaming up and down were routed by the Parliaments Forces The Funeral of the Protectors Mother Solemnized at Westminster Abby 20 The Parliament sat Forenoon and after-noon upon the Government and agreed fully upon the first Article and the 24th 21 Vote for an Assesment of 60000l a month for three months to be laid on England Petition concerning Sir Peter Vanlores Estate referred to a Committee Some small Skirmishes were in the Highlands 22 A Committee appointed to consider of the Accounts of the Kingdom and who have any publick moneys in their hands The King of Scots was at Colen and the Queen of Bohemia went to Flanders to visit the Queen of Sweden 23 The House in the Forenoon upon the Government and in the Afternoon upon the Assessment 24 Five Hundred Irish were landed in some Isles of Scotland to joyne with Middleton and Seaford 160 horse more were to joyn with them and to force the Clans to rise with them The Parliament voted That no Law should be altered or repealed nor new Laws made nor any Tax imposed but by assent of Parliament 25 The Parliament voted That a new Parliament should be summoned to meet upon the third Monday of October 1656. They called for a Report from the Committee for Regulating the Chancery Seven English Ships and divers Forreign Ships cast away by a storm near Dover 27 The Parliament passed several Votes touching Qualifications of persons to be chosen to serve in Parliament and for the Electors Vote that a new Parliament shall be every third year and not to sit above six Months but by Act of Parliament with the Protectors Consent and that to be but for three Months longer That the Protector may Summon Parliaments within the three years if he see Cause to sit for three Moneths and the Summons to be by Writ according to Law The Chancellor or Commissioners of the Seal to issue Writs
though Lambert were on foot and none with him yet Evelyn at the head of his Troop dismounted at his command and his Troop also obeyed Lambert who drew together some other Forces and placed them along in Kings Street and near the Abbey Church and Yard and when the Speaker came by in his Coach they stopped him and caused him to return back and so the House did not sit The Council of State sate where were both Parties of the opposite Souldiers Lambert Desborough and Haslerigge Morley and others and they had a long and smart debate Some of the Members had got into the House but the Speaker was kept from them and most part of their Members Those in the House were sent to from the Council of State and consulted with about an Accommodation and in the mean time the several parties of the Souldiers kept their stations expecting Orders to fall on But the Council of State so managed the business and so perswaded with all parties that at the last they came to an Accommodation to save the effusion of blood and the Parliament was not to sit but the Council of Officers undertook to provide for the preservation of the Peace and to have a form of Government to be drawn up for a new Parliament to be shortly summoned and so to settle all things This being agreed upon and it could not be obtained otherwise the Council of State in the Evening sent their Orders requiring all the Souldiers of each Party to draw off and to depart to their several quarters which was obeyed by them 14. The Officers of the Army met and had many Debates about a settlement they declared Fleetwood to be their Commander in chief On the other side Haslerigge and his friends consulted what to do to restore themselves and to curb the opposite Officers of the Army who had thus affronted them and the Parliament and they had some hopes of Monk to be their Champion 15. The Council of State seldom met but some few of them in private 17. The Council of Officers sent one of their Company to Monk and another into Ireland to acquaint the Officers of those Forces of the proceedings here and to desire their concurrence therein They suspended from their Commands the Officers of the Army who appeared against them They nominated a Committee of ten of the Council of State Fleetwood Lambert Whitelocke Vane Desborough Harrington Sydenham Berry Salwey and Warreston to consider of fit ways to carry on the Affairs and Government At a General Council of Officers they agreed upon Articles of War they declared Fleetwood to be Commander in chief of all the Forces and Lambert to be Major General of the Forces in England and Scotland and this discontented Monk They appointed Fleetwood Lambert Vane Desborough Ludlow and Berry to be a Committee to nominate Officers of the Army and they kept a day of Humiliation in Whitehall Chapel 19. Letters from the Zound that the Dutch and Danes Fleet were retreated 21. Whitelocke had notice that he was named among the Officers of the Army to be one of that Council which they intended to set up to carry on the great Affairs of the Commonwealth but he was not desirous of that Imployment especially at such a time as this 22. The Council of Officers agreed upon the names of 23 persons to be of this Council 26. The General Council of Officers agreed upon these persons to be intrusted with the management of publick Affairs Fleetwood Lambert Desborough Steel Whitelocke Vane Ludlow Sydenham Salwey Strickland Berry Lawrence Harrington Wareston Lord Mayor Ireton Tichburn Brandrith Thomson Hewson Clerk Lilburn Bennet Holland and gave them the same powers that the Council of State had and more A printed Letter was published as sent from General Monk signifying his dissatisfaction with the proceedings of the Forces in England And another Letter was published as from divers of Monk's Officers signifying their concurrence with the Officers in England Care was taken for government of the Army in England and to prevent Insurrections 27. The General Council of Officers agreed to call the new Council The Committee of Safety and that Letters should be sent to the several Members of it to undertake the Trust The Letter to Whitelocke was this For our honoured Friend Bulstrode Lord Whitelocke Sir Vpon consideration of the present posture of Affairs of this Commonwealth the General Council of Officers of the Army have thought fit to appoint a Committee of Safety for the preservation of the Peace and management of the present Government thereof As also for the preparing of a Form of a future Government for these Nations upon the foundation of a Commonwealth or free State And your self being one of the persons nominated for that purpose we do by their direction hereby give you notice thereof and desire you to repair tomorrow morning at Ten of the Clock to the Horse Chamber in Whitehall in order to the Service aforesaid We rest Whitehall 27. Octob. 1659. Your faithfull Friends and Servants Zankey Packer Salmon Milles Allen Ashfield Kelsey Biscoe Creed Clerk Gough King Whitelocke was in some perplexity what to do upon this Letter and had much discourse with his Friends about it Desborough and some other great Officers of the Army and Actors in this business came to him and made it their earnest request to him to undertake this Trust and told him That some of this Committee as Vane Salwey and others had a design to overthrow Magistracy Ministry and the Law and that to be a balance to them they had chosen Whitelocke and some others to oppose this Design and to support and preserve the Laws Magistracy and Ministry in these Nations That they knew their Abilities to do it and depended much upon them and that if Whitelocke should deny to undertake this Charge it would much trouble the General Council of Officers and be of great prejudice to the intended settlement and therefore they most earnestly desire him to accept of this Imployment And Fleetwood perswaded Whitelocke to the same purpose and many other Friends were of the same opinion and earnest with him not to decline it 28. The Committee of Safety were to meet Whitelocke had revolved in his mind the present state of Affairs that there was no visible Authority or power for Government at this time but that of the Army that if some Legal Authority were not agreed upon and settled the Army would probably take it into their hands and govern by the Sword or set up some Form prejudicial to the Rights and Liberties of the People and for the particular advantage and interest of the Souldiery more than would be convenient That he knowing the purpose of Vane and others to be such as to the lessening of the power of the Laws and so to change them and the Magistracy Ministry and Government of the Nation as might
are said to be committed in Parliament and ought not to be punished in this or any other Court except in Parliament The Kings Attorney moved the Court to over-rule the Plea though he did not demur to it but the Court would not and gave a day to joyn in Demurrer and to have the point argued The Attorney exhibited an information in the Star-Chamber against Mr. Long for that he contrary to his Oath when he was made Sheriff and was by his Oath to keep within his County yet he did come to Parliament and serve as a Member there and in the time of Parliament resided out of his County For this the Court sentenced him to pay Two thousand Marks to the King for a Fine to be imprisoned in the Tower and to make a submission In Hillary Term the Information in the King's Bench against Sir John Elliot and the rest touching the point of the Jurisdiction of the Court came to be argued All the Judges severally declared their Opinions That in this case the King's Bench hath jurisdiction of the Cause And the Defendants were ruled to plead further but they would not put in any other Plea Whereupon Judgment was given against them upon a Nihil dicit that they should be imprisoned and not delivered till they had given Security for their good behaviour and made a submission and acknowledgment of their Offences and they were also fined Anno 1630. Anno 1630 In Easter Term Sir Henry Martyn Dr. of Laws and Judge of the Admiralty made a great Complaint to the King against the Judges of the King's Bench for granting Prohibitions against that Court and all the Judges were before the King about it and they mannerly and stoutly justified their proceedings in those Cases to be according to Law and as their Oaths bound them Sir Henry Vane was sent to the Queen of Bohemia about a Marriage for her Son with the Emperor's Daughter and the Son to be brought up in the Court of the Emperor to which the Queen would by no means hearken The Venetians were set on to mediate a Peace between England and France which took effect and Sir Thomas Edmonds was sent to take the Ratification thereof by the King of France by his Oath and signing of it Car. 5 A Book of Sir Robert Dudley's making being of purpose to increase the King's Revenue and containing in it somewhat in prejudice of the proceedings as to the Parliament was dispersed by the Earls of Bedford and Clare Sir Robert Cotton Mr. Selden and Mr. St. John for which they were committed to prison but Sir David Fowlis discovered the Author and so the matter ended and the prisoners were released William Earl of Pembroke died suddenly as was predicted to him by an Astrologer Upon the 29th of May 1630 the Queen was brought to Bed of a Son Prince Charles to the exceeding joy of the Subjects and the same day a bright Star appeared shining at Noon-day in the East About Midsummer this year Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden landed in Germany with about 8000 Men and as soon as he came on shore he kneeled down upon the ground his Officers and Soldiers round about him and there gave thanks to God for his safe Arrival and prayed for his blessing upon that Action he prayed very pathetically in the presence of his Army and incouraged them by Texts out of holy Scripture himself being the Preacher The Prince Palatine sent his Plea to the Dyet at Leypsick and Sir Robert Amstrother was sent thither from our King to Negotiate the Palsgrave's Restitution but he received only a general Answer That at present the Affairs of the Empire were so pressing that they could not take into consideration the business of the Palatinate but that shortly it should be done and to the satisfaction of the King of Great Britain Dr. Leighton a Scotch-man for his Book Intituled Sions Plea dedicated to the last Parliament counselling them to kill all the Bishops by smiting them under the fifth Rib and railing against the Queen calling her a Canaanite and Idolatress had the Sentence of the Star-Chamber executed upon him he was stygmatized his Ears cut off and his Nose slit and imprisonment Sir Humphrey May Vice-chamberlain of his Majestie 's Houshold and one of his Privy Council died the 10th of June 1630. The Peace with Spain was concluded in November and the Articles solemnly signed and sworn to be observed upon a Latin Bible brought for that purpose by Bishop Laud. At this time the Face of War was over most parts of Christendom in Italy and France it was begun and in Spain also France fuller of fears and Germany full of the calamities of War and infested on all sides with potent Enemies Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden being entred into Germany carries on his Designs vigorously and successfully first he declares the Cause of his Invasion For succour and relief and assistance to the Protestant Princes and the Cause of Religion so much oppressed by the Emperor and the Popish Party The Emperour answers the Declaration and justifies his Proceedings It is certain that the King of Sweden had not the least ambition or thought of beginning a War in Germany wanting Strength and Treasure to carry on so great a Design and therefore for a long time would not hearken to any Motions or Proposals made to him about that matter until he was earnestly sollicited and pressed by the Protestant Princes of Germany to take their Cause and Oppression and the Cause of all the Protestants in Germany into his Compassion and Intreated for the Cause of God and of his People to assist them for their deliverance from the miserable and unjust oppressions and persecutions under which all the Protestant Party did then groan by the Emperor's violence and cruelty towards them And yet it was then after many denials and excuses and dissatisfaction in himself as to the lawfulness of his undertaking this action that at length he was prevailed with by their Importunities and fair Promises but more by the sadness of the condition of the poor Protestants in Germany and the danger to the Protestant Religion there and in his own and all other Countries designed to be rooted out to pity their Estate Paries cum proximus ardet and for defence of the Protestant Religion to confederate with the Protestant Princes of Germany He thereupon made a League with them and raised an Army though but a small one and landed happily as is before mentioned and some of the Princes of the League joyning with him they went on prosperously through the blessing of God going along with them The particular proceedings of this great King Generalissimo of the Protestant Army are set down in the Histories of that War therefore I shall not insert them here But shall only in the general say this that the relation of those Affairs by our later Chroniclers is so
advice of his Privy Council and Council Learned the King requires Shipmoney The Writ for it was at first but to Maritime Towns and Counties but that not sufficing other Writs were Issued out to all Counties to levy Ship-money Yet great care was taken to favour the Clergy all the rest of the People except Courtiers and Officers generally murmur at this taxe although it was politickly layd with all equality yet the great objection against it was because it was imposed without assent of Parliament and that therefore it was unlawfull The old Chancellor Oxenstierne of Sweden the great director of their affairs both at home and abroad particularly in Germany during the Queen's minority sent his eldest Son Grave John Oxenstierne Ambassadour to our King with Credentials from the Queen of Sweden But Grave John the Ambassadour and the Authority from whence he came were so unworthily slighted in our Court who were not willing to give any assistance to the Prince Elector against the Emperor that in great distast Grave John who was high enough in his own thoughts and for the honour of his Mistress the Queen went away in discontent from England and neither he nor his Father nor family were friends to our King after this affront put upon them The Parliament of Ireland gave some Subsidies to the King and the 39 Articles of our Church were there by that Parliament Established Mr. Attorney Noy having set on foot the tax of Ship money leaveth it and the world He died of the distemper of the Stone The Scots began to murmer against their last Parliament the Lord Balmerino was questioned about a Letter written by King James to Pope Clement to complement him It was suggested that this Lord's Father being Secretary to the King did draw the Letter and shufling it among other papers did by that means get it to be signed by the King Yet was this Lord afterwards not onely pardoned but honoured and preferred The discontented party in Scotland had Intelligence of the discontents in England and the Cardinal Richeliew sent his Agents to foment the discontents in both Kingdomes who met with matter and persons very apt to be kindled The Lord Treasurer Weston dyed not much lamented of the people who generally esteemed him to be a covert Papist and an Agent for Rome and though himself might be dispenced with yet most of his family made open profession of the Popish Religion and continue in the same profession Sir Edward Coke dyed this year also who was of greater reputation with the people but of less at Court whose Illegal actions he earnestly opposed in Parliament being usually chosen a Member of the House of Commons after he was put out of his publick offices He was a man of great Learning and Industry and had the value of a just and Impartial Magistrate The Imperialists and Swedes fought a bloudy Battaile at Nortington where the Swedes were overthrown 12000 of them slain and 6000 taken prisoners but hereupon insued a peace between them The Emperor being wisely the more Inclined to it after his being victorious in the Warre Spotteswood Archbishop of St. Andrews was made Chancellor of Scotland and though he was a wise and learned man and of good reputation and life yet it gave offence to many that he being a Clergy man should be Invested with that dignity which they affirmed not to have been done before since the Reformation At Abington complaint was made to the Mayor and to the Recorder of divers in the Town who were Nonconformists to the orders and ceremonies of the Church in divine Service as that some did not stand up at the Creed nor bow to the Altar nor at the name of Jesus nor receive the Sacrament kneeling at the High Altar and the like For which some that were related to the Ecclesiastical Court complained to them being Justices of the Peace for the Town and desir'd they would punish these Offenders the Recorder answered them that these offences were more properly punishable by the Ecclesiastical Judges in their Courts than by Justices of Peace and therefore he advised them to inform the Chancellor of the Diocesse or other Officers of that Jurisdiction concerning those Matters that proceedings might be had therein according to their Law but he thought it not fit for him to interpose in those matters the Complainers seemed much unsatisfied herewith but the Mayor being somewhat inclin'd to the opinions of the Non-conformists was not easily to be perswaded to punish them and Anno 1634 the Recorder himself was much for liberty of Conscience and favourable in that point so that allthough the other party urged much to have the Non-conformists punisht yet they put it off and would not doe it for which the Recorder was afterwards required to attend the Council Table to Answer some complaints made against him from Abington That he did comply with and countenance the Non-conformists there and refused to punish those who did not bow at the name of Jesus and to the Altar and refused to receive the Sacrament kneeling at the high Altar and the like offenders and that he was disaffected to the Church and the Ceremonies thereof enjoyn'd by Authority But the Recorder alledged in his own vindication why he did not punish those against whom the complaints were made That he knew no Common Law nor Statute in force for the punishment of them especially by Justices of the Peace and that the Complainers did not prefer any inditement against them and that the matters whereof the pretended offenders were accused were meerly as the accusers acknowledged Spiritual Matters proper for the Spiritual Judges as they were called And that he might have been censured to incroach upon the Jurisdiction and Rights of the Church if he should have taken Cognizance of them upon which the Council were satisfied and dismist him from further Attendance Anno 1635. Car. 11 By the help of the tax of Shipmoney a Navy was prepared of 40 good Ships of War and set out this Summer under the Earl of Lindsey Admiral and the Earl of Essex his Vice Admiral who had 20 Saile more for securing of the narrow Seas and of the trade of England The King resolves to prosecute his design with a Navy Royal to be set out yearly and therefore it was at Court concluded to lay the Charge of Shipmoney generally upon all Counties The Lord Keeper Coventry was ordered to direct the Judges to promote that business in their Circuits this Summer and to perswade the people to a ready obeying the writs and payments of Shipmoney for the next year In pursuance hereof his Lordship in his charge to the Judges in the Star Chamber at the end of Midsummer Term after sundry other particulars concluded as to this great business to this effect You my Lords the Judges are commanded in your charges at the Assizes and at all places opportunâ—ly to acquaint the people with
summon all the Peers to his Presence the twenty fourth of September and with them to consult what in this Case is fittest to be done for his Honour and Safety of the Kingdom when the Petitioners with the rest might offer any thing conducing to these ends This was followed with a Petition of the Citizens of London Setting forth their Grievances and the Remedy by calling a Parliament Much to the same effect with the Petition of the Lords The Scots at Newcastle seize four great English Ships laden with Corn lay a Tax of Three hundred and fifty pounds a day on the Bishoprick of Durham and Three hundred pounds a day on Northumberland on pain of Plundering and committed many Injuries and Insolencies on the English where they quartered The great Council met at York 24. Septem according to summons and the King spake to them that he had called them for their advice and assistance in this time of exigency according to the custome of his predecessors That he of himself had resolved to call a Parliament to meet 3d. Novemb. next and in the mean time required their advice in those things which could not stay untill the meeting of the Parliament The War being begun with the Scots put many men to think of a posture of defence for themselves and to a provision of arms The discourses of the Scottish War were very various those who favour'd the Popish and Prelatical ways did sufficiently inveigh against the Covenanters but generally the rest of the people favoured and approved their proceedings and there was a strange spirit of division in the opinions and wishes of most men in these affairs too many not onely favouring but joyning with and assisting the proceedings of the Scots Covenanters After several meetings and debates in the great Council at York a Messenger was sent from the King and Lords to the Scots Army to give notice to them that on Tuesday next sixteen of the English Lords should meet with as many Scotch Lords at York to treat of the differences But the Scots refuse York to Treat in as not secure for their Commissioners so long as the Lieutenant of Ireland commanded there in chief who had proclaimed them Traitors in Ireland before the King had done it in England threatning to destroy their memory against whom they had high matters of complaint This was the first publick appearance of the Scots enmity against Strafford which some affirm was set on from hence and it was strange that it should not be more regarded Another place of Treaty was named at Rippon where the Commissioners on both sides met The English proposed a Cessation of Arms but the Scots as they would obey the King's commands not to advance so they could not return till they had effected their business They presented their Demands how their Army should be maintained till the Treaty ended and peace secured 2. For safe Convoys for their Commissioners 3. Safe Convoys for all Letters to and from the Parliament 4. For free trade of both Kingdomes and Newcastle trade not to be hindred At length the Commissioners on both parts agree To a Cessation of Arms. To a Contribution of 850. l. per diem for the Scots Army in Northumberland Westmorland Durham and Newcastle The River Tees to be the bound of both Armies Private Insolencies to be no breach of the Treaty with divers other conditions and their chief demands were referred to a general Treaty to be proceeded in at London Many wondred and some inveighed against this Treaty wishing the King would have put it rather to the Issue of a Battel than to have given such Terms to his Subjects in Rebellion and of this Judgment was Strafford and the Episcopal party But the other party cryed up this treaty as Just Honourable and Pious to prevent effusion of Bloud and to settle peace and the King saw plainly that both divers officers of his Army and even the private Soldiers generally which was a most remarkable Inclination had no mind to fight against the Scots which cheifly caused the King to conclude this Treaty The Resolution of calling a Parliament set many on work to canvase for places The Court laboured to bring in their friends but those who were most favour'd at Court had least respect in the Country and it was not a little strange to see what a spirit of opposition to the Court proceedings was in the hearts and actions of most of the people so that very few of that Party had the favour to be chosen members of this Parliament The Earl of Montross of great alliance in Scotland came into England to serve the King but by Hamilton's cunning as was supposed the King at his first coming to him neglected him which caused his resort to and joyning with the Covenanters being weary of them he now writes to the King to York professing his Loyalty and Service to His Majesty This Letter by Hamilton's means as was reported was stoln out of the King's pocket copyed and sent to the Convenanters they made use of it as shall be mentioned hereafter The third day of November the Parliament was to meet some perswaded the Archbishop to get it adjourned for two or three days because that the third of November was an ominous day the Parliament called on that day 20 H. 8. beginning with the fall of Cardinal Woolsey and ending in the dissolution of Abbeys but the Archbishop took little heed of such things The time of the Parliaments meeting drawing near it was considered at York whether the Earl of Strafford should repair to the house or continue in the north with the Army The King was earnest for his going up to the Parliament as one of whose service he should have great occasion and placed much confidence in his faithfulness and abilities The Earl humbly desired His Majesty to excuse his going to the Parliament alledging that he should not be able to do His Majesty any service there but should rather be a means to hinder his affairs in regard he foresaw that the great envy and ill will of the Parliament and of the Scots would be bent against him Whereas If he kept out of sight he would not be so much in their mind as he should be by shewing himself in Parliament and if they should fall upon him he being at a distance what soever they should conclude against him he might the better avoid and retire from any danger having the liberty of being out of their hands and to go over to Ireland or to some other place where he might be most serviceable to His Majesty but if he should put himself into their power by coming up to the Parliament it was evident that the house of Commons and the Scots with all their Party especially being provoked by his coming amongst them would presently fall upon him and prosecute his destruction The King notwithstanding these reasons continued
Ireland Marquess Hertford Governour to the Prince and the Earl of Essex was made Lord Chamberlain of the King's House The Field Officers and Commanders of the English Army were at London and some of them Members of both Houses the Army was left to the care of Sir Jacob Ashley And the dislikes between the King and Parliament with the supply of the Scots Army and neglect of the English caused discontent in the English Officers and private Meetings and Consultations which were discovered and the Design not brought to a head was crushed June 19. It was Voted that the Scots should receive 100000 l. of the 300000 l. The Scots by a Paper pretended necessity of 25000 l. in present The Parliament took off 10000 l. of 50000 l. which they had appointed for the English Army and order it for the Scots The Lord Piercy Commissary VVilmot and Ashburnham Members of the Parliament sitting together and murmuring at it Wilmot stept up and said That if such Papers of the Scots could procure Moneys he doubted not but the Officers of the English would soon doe the like And this caused the English Army to say that the Parliament had disobliged them The Officer's put themselves into a Junto of sworn Secrecy drew up some Heads by way of Petition to the King and Parliament For Money for the Army Not to Disband before the Scots To preserve Bishops Votes and Functions To settle the King's Revenue The Army tainted from hence met and drew up a Letter or Petition which was shewed to the King and approved and signed by him with C. R. and a Direction to Captain Leg that none should see it but Sir Jacob Ashley the main drift was That the Army might be called up to attend the safety of the King's Person and Parliaments security or that both Armies might be disbanded Mr. Thomas a Member of the House of Commons made a sharp and historical Speech against Bishops and concluded it with his Opinion for the unlawfulness of their sitting in Parliament any longer Mr. White did second him and divers others declared the like Opinion against Bishops The Commons had Debate about a new Form of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and July 17. agreed That every Shire should be a several Diocess a Presbytery of twelve Divines in each Shire and a President as a Bishop over them and he with assistance of some of the Presbytery to Ordain Suspend Deprive Degrade and Excommunicate To have a Diocessan Synod once a year and every third year a National Synod and they to make Canons but none to be binding till confirmed by Parliament The Primate of Armagh offered an Expedient for Conjunction in point of Discipline that Episcopal and Presbyterial Government might not be at a far distance but reducing Episcopacy to the form of Synodical Government in the ancient Church June 22d. The Commons presented to the King an Act for granting of Tonnage and Poundage to him which he before took as his due but by passing this Act accepted as a gift from his people The House also presented to the King the Act of Poll-money for the defraying the Charge of the Armies and with it an Act for putting down the high Commission Court and another Act to put down the Star-chamber July 2d. He passed the Poll-money but demurred upon the other two Acts but being informed of the discontent of the House of Commons because he had not passed the other two Bills he came again July 6. and passed the other two Bills likewise The Queen Mother went out of England into the Low-countries and shortly after died The King acquainted the Parliament with his purpose to send Sir Thomas Row Ambassadour to the Emperour to be present at the Diet at Ratisbone and there to mediate on the behalf of the Prince Elector and his intent to publish a Manifesto in his own Name about this business to which the Parliament assented July 5 th The House of Commons had a Report from their Committee of a Charge against Doctor Wren Bishop of Ely and he was voted unworthy and unfit to hold or exercise any Office or Dignity in Church or Commonwealth And a Message sent to the Lords to desire their Concurrence in a Petition to the King That he might be removed from his Place and Service and he was committed to the Tower and by few pitied Another Charge was brought in against five Judges Brampston Trevor Weston Davenport and Crawley who gave their Opinions for Ship-money and against Judge Berkley for high Treason but he came off by Redemption as is before remembred The House of Commons made an Order and Sir Robert Harlow the Executioner of it to take away all scandalous Pictures Crosses and Figures within Churches and without and the zealous Knight took down the Cross in Cheapside Charing-cross and other the like Monuments impartially The King had given Notice of his Purpose to go into Scotland and had set the Day to begin his Journey August 10. to which both Houses had agreed Yet now the Commons desire him to put off his Journey for a Fortnight the Affairs of State and his passing of some Bills requiring it But to please them the King the same day passed the Bill for taking away Knighthood-money and another for making of Gunpowder and Salt-Petre and signed a Commission to divers great Lords for passing of Bills in his absence He also signed a Bill for making the Earl of Essex General of his Forces on this side Trent with power to raise Forces in case of necessity but he refused to make the Earl of Pembroke Lord high Steward Judge Croke obtained his Writ of Ease upon his own Petition to the King but the Profits of his Place were continued to him After some Debate in Parliament whether the English or Scottish Army should be first disbanded it was at last agreed that both of them should be disbanded together which was done accordingly Aug. 6. and the Scots with Store of English Money and Spoils and the best Entertainment left their warm and plentiful Quarters August 8. Being the Lord's-day yet the House of Commons thought fit to sit for the dispatch of some important Affairs before the King went out of Town towards Scotland which was appointed the Tuesday after but they Printed an Order of Excuse for their sitting on that Day and that it should not be drawn in President After this the Parliament Adjourned to the 20 th of October and a Committee of fifty of the House of Commons was appointed to sit during the Recess with ample powers Hitherto the Calm was not quite blown over but now hideous Storms began to arise and threaten the long-enjoyed Mercies of Peace and Happiness in this Nation Discontents at Government Distractions of Opinion in Matters of Religion the whole Kingdom seemed to be moulded into a Spirit of Division and Contradiction Insolencies and Disorders unpunished or connived at
mightily increased the Scots Successes animated other Subjects to their illegal Pretences and impious Actions and in this time of the King's absence in Scotland the Irish Flames of Rebellion brake forth having been thus kindled The last year the Parliament at Dublin sent a Committee hither with a Remonstrance to the King of their Grievances and Pressures under the Government of the Earl of Strafford whom they had accused of high Treason The King gave them most favourable Answers and Redresses and parted with much of his own to give contentment to his Irish Subjects Mr. Wainsford Deputy there to the Earl of Strafford Lieutenant being dead the King by Commission constituted the Lord Ditton and Sir William Parsons in the Government there but finding Ditton not well liked he made Sir William Parsons and Sir John Borlace generally approved to be the Lords Justices there These applyed themselves to give all satisfaction to the people they abated the Subsidies given in Strafford's time from 40000 l. to 12000 l. Passed an Act of Limitation much desired to settle all Estates for sixty years precedent and another for relinquishing the King's Right found for him by Inquisition to four Counties in Connaght and other Territories He declared the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Papists there were permitted a private enjoyment of their Religion and a general good Agreement was had between the English and Irish In this Security the Irish Army was disbanded after which and in the King's absence in Scotland about October 23. there brake forth so horrid black and flagitious a Rebellion in Ireland as cannot be parallell'd in the Stories of any other Nation This was fomented and contrived by their Popish Priests and Lawyers some of their Maxims in Law were That any one being slain in Rebellion though found by Record gave the King no Forfeiture That though many thousands were in Arms and exercising the violences of War yet if they professed not to rise against the King it was no Rebellion That if one were Outlawed for Treason his Heir might reverse the Outlawry and be restored These and the like Tenets they published in their Parliaments and endeavoured a Suspension of Poyning's Act and the Act for annexing that Kingdom to the Crown of England and assumed a power of Judicature in Criminal and Capital Causes to be in their Parliament They took advantage of the Scots Sucesses of their Favourers in England and our Distractions here of the disbanding the Army there and the Death of the Earl of Strafford They raise Forces give out that the Queen was in the head of them and the King was coming with an Army to them and the Scots had made a League with them that they were authorised by the King's Commission and asserted his Cause against the Puritans of England To their Country-men they scatter Advertisements out of England of a Statute there lately made That all Irish shall come to the Protestant Worship on pain of loss of Goods for the first Offence of Lands for the second and of Life for the third Offence They give them hope to recover their Liberties and ancient Customs to shake off the English Yoke to have a King of their own Nation and to possess Goods and Estates of the English These Motives they published in Print That the King and Queen were curbed by the Puritans and their Prerogatives abolished which these as loyal Subjects take to heart and that the Catholick Religion is suppressed in England and the Catholicks there persecuted with all rigour even to death and that the Puritans in Ireland have threatned to doe the same there That in Ireland the Catholicks are made uncapable of any Office to the decay of them in their Estates Education and Learning That the Government of their Country is in the hand of Strangers who come thither poor and mean yet soon rise to wealth and honour by oppressing the Natives That there have been threatnings to send Forces to compel the Consciences of the Irish and to cut their Throats and that the Catholicks are not allowed to have any Arms or Ammunition but the Protestants and Puritans may Vpon all which they saw no way but to attempt to seize upon Arms where they could get them to save their Lives maintain the King and Queen their Religion and Country Upon these pretences and manifest untruths they ground their taking up of Arms. The first suspicion whereof was by Sir William Cole who about Octob. 11. wrote to the Lords Justices of great resort to Sir Phelim Oneale and to the Lord Macquierre and they were exceeding busie about dispatches About October 21. He wrote another Letter to them of what some Irish had revealed to him of a design to seize the Castle of Dublin to murther the Lords Justices and Councel and all the Protestants there and throughout the Kingdom But this Letter came not to their hands When many of the Conspirators were come to Dublin and met there at a Tavern one Owen O Conelly an Irish-man but a true Protestant came to Sir William Parsons about Nine a Clock at Night with a broken relation of a great Conspiracy to seize the Castle the next morning and that Mac Mahon who was one of them had told him so much Parsons seeing Conelly distempered with drink gave the less credit to his relation but wished him to return to Mac Mahon to get out of him what he could further of the Plot and to return to him again that Night Yet he did not so slight the Information but that secretly he ordered strong Guards in several places and assembled the Councel where they expected the return of Conelly who coming to them was seized on by the Guards who had carried him to Prison and so prevented the discovery of the Plot had not a Servant of Sir VVilliam Parsons accidentally come by and rescued Conelly and brought him somewhat recovered of his drinking unto the Lords Justices and Councel who confessed that a few days before upon Letters from Mac Mahon he went to meet him at Connaght but he being gone to Dublin Conelly followed him thither and they two went to the lodging of the Lord Macquierre that by the way Mac Mahon told O Conelly that this Night there would be a great number of Irish Noblemen Papists in Dublin who with himself would take the Castle by Morning then force the City by the Ordnance and destroy all the Protestants and so divers others were ordered in all parts of the Kingdom to seize and destroy all the English at an Hour designed viz. to Morrow by Ten a Clock and that no posting nor speed could prevent it That Conelly moved Mac Mahon to discover it rather to the State to prevent the mischief But he answered He could not help it yet that they owned their allegiance to the King and pay it to him but what they did was against the tyrannical Government over them and
to imitate Scotland who got ther Priviledge by that course And Mac Mahon swore that they would not part but go together to the Castle and if this Matter were discovered some Body should die for it Whereupon Conelly feigned some necessity of easement to go out of the Chamber left his Sword in pawn and Mac Mahon's Man came down with him into the Yard where in a trice he leaped over a Wall and two Pales and so came to the Lord Justice Parsons Examined Octob. 22. 1641. Owen O Conelly Presently upon this the Justices sent and seised Mac Mahon and his man and they before the Councell confessed all the Plot that on that very day all the Forts and Castles in Ireland would be surprised that he and Mac Guire and Hugh Bim Brian O-neale and others 20 out of each County were to surprise Dublin Castle Thatâ— all the Nobility and Gentry Papists were confederates herein and however they used him now in their power his bloud would be revenged Then Mac Guire and others were suddenly seised on and the Town filling with strangers the Councel removed into the Castle upon the Rumor hereof Bim and Moore and others chief of the Conspiratours escaped and divers others who found friends to help them but about fourty of the meaner sort of them were taken The next day the Lords Justices proclamed this discovery and that all good Subjects should betake themselves to their defence and to advertise them of all occurrences and that no levies of men be made for foreign service The same night the Lord Blancy arrived with the news of the Surprisal of his House his Wife and Children by the Rebells This execrable Rebellion began in Vlster and every day and hour ill news came of fearful Massacres upon the English which increased a fear of the like at Dublin by the Papists there The Council seised upon what money they could some Artillery Armes for 10000 men 1500 barrels of powder and match and lead stored by the Earl of Strafford The old Army was but 2297 foot and 943 horse and these dispersed Yet the Council sent to several Garrisons to march to Dublin They dispatched Letters to the King in Scotland and to the Lord Lieutenant in London of the Rebellion and the state of the Kingdom and the small number of their forces they pray supplies and that Conelly the discoverer and messenger may be rewarded All their dispatches were sent by Sea the Rebells having stopped the Land passages The Lords of the English pale repair to the Council offer their faith and service and the Rebels in Vlster by the latter end of October had possest themselves of allmost all that Province Such English as had gotten into any places of strength able to indure a siege yet upon good terms rendring themselves were sure to be murdered in cold bloud men women and children And for the Scots they professed they would and did indeed spare them that they might the more easily swallow them up afterwards Phelim O Neale a man but of mean parts or courage was their General he was of near alliance to the late Earl of Tirone bred in England a Student in Lincolns-Inn and till of late a Protestant lived lazily till now elected by his Countrymen to be their leader He with a numerous Rabble marched to Lisnagamy near the Scots and fell upon them without mercy with other forces he came up into the Pale took in Dondalke then marched to Ardee seven miles from Tredah The news from Dublin was posted to Tredah and there incountred with news of the Treacherous surprisal of divers Castles in the North. The Lord Moore brought some Horse to the Town whither he came to escape the Rebels The Town drew out some old peices scoured and planted them and four out of a Merchants Ship with some powder and Captain Gibson commanded there Sir Faithful Fortescue leaving his charge Some forces sallyed out upon the Rebels and got from them who hastily fled away some plunder and Cows and 80 Prisoners whereof six onely were hanged Many treacherous designs of the Town Papists fayled Sir Henry Tichburne came to be Governor with 100 horse and 1000 foot not without some Jealousie of the Protestants There was dropped in the streets a Declaration of the Catholicks of Ireland framed upon presumption that the design had been effected and to the like purpose as is before remembred The first Letters of the business from the Lords Justices and Council arrived at London the last of October and were delivered that evening Next morning the Lords House sent them down to the House of Commons by the Lord Keeper Lord Privy Seal and 14 other Lords who had chayrs in the House and sate while the Letters were read and then departed The House presently resolved into a Committee and ordered That 50000 l. be forthwith provided The Lords to be moved that Members of both Houses should move the City of London to lend this money That a Committee of both Houses consider of the affairs of Ireland O Conelly to have 500 l. presently and 200 l. per Annum in Land All Papists of quality in England to be secured None but Merchants to pass without Certificate to Ireland To all which the Lords agreed They voted many other particulars in Order to supply for Ireland and a pardon to be offered The Lords Justices and Council in Ireland neglected no means in their power by fortifying Dublin and other Castles and places and making provisions for defence against the Rebels they also granted out Commissions to diverse Noblemen and Gentlemen and some of them Papists whom they in prudence thought not fit yet to suspect though they afterwards joyned in the Rebellion with the rest They also delivered Armes to many of them who imployed them to cut the throats of the English such were the Lord Gormanstone and others and by the midst of November several Counties declared for the Rebels in Leimster and other Provinces the miserable English men women and children whom they took were savagely butchered by them and those who fled from them came to Dublin for Succour where wanting relief they perished so that the publick burying places would not contain their dead bodies The Lord Ormond and several others came with some forces to Dublin The Members of the Irish Parliament were discontented that it had been adjourned for so long a time as next February to please them they were called together for one day to make their Protestation against the Rebellion there was but a thin meeting of them and but a saint Protestation against the Rebels the Popish Members not induring to have it called a Rebellion but traiterous and rebellious actions of some persons against which they protested They sent Commissioners to treat with the Rebels in the North who tore the Order of Parliament and returned a scornfull answer The Lord Ditton and the Lord Taff coming for London were committed and their papers seised and
1100 Prisoners and 3000 Arms. These Prisoners were led in much triumph to Oxford where the King and Lords looked on them and too many smiled at their misery being tied together with cords almost naked beaten and driven along like Dogs Among them was a proper handsome man of a very white Skin where it could be seen for the blood of his wounds he not being able to goe was set naked upon the bare back of an Horse his wounds gaping and his Body smeared with blood yet he sate upright upon the Horse with an undaunted countenance and when near the King a brawling woman cried out to him Ah you traiterly Rogue you are well enough served he with a scornfull look towards her answered you base Whore and instantly dropped off dead from his Horse And the beginning of such cruelty by English men towards their Countreymen was afterwards too too much followed Prince Rupert summons Gloucester which Massey resolves to hold out and the better to strengthen himself deserts Sudeley and other Out-Garrisons The Welsh Army under the Earl of Worcester and the Lord Herbert his Son having beaten Colonel Burroughs his Regiment sit down before Gloucester which they summoned but Massey returned a scornfull Answer Colonel Fines came to him with 200 Horse and Dragoons and not long after Sir William Waller with his Forces The Welsh were routed and the Earl after sive weeks siege without any memorable Action departed The Scots pass over the Tyne with a compleat Army into England to assist the Parliament Their General was Lesley who had been an old Commander in the service of the Swedes where he had great and deserved Reputation He was a person of great worth and honour not so good a Clerk as a Souldier The Pope sent into Ireland to encourage the Rebels there bestows upon them his fatherly Benediction and plenary Absolution The Germans received several defeats from the Swedes in Germany and from the French and this year died the famous Polititian Cardinal Richlieu and not long after him his Master Lewys the XIII King of France died in the midst of his Catalonian Conquests leaving his Son Lewys the XIV under the tuition and government of his Mother the Queen Dowager and of Cardinal Mazarin Richlieu's Successour Anno 1643. Car. 19 The Nineteenth year of King Charles 1643. begins with a Treaty of Peace between Him and the Parliament who had named for their Commissioners two Lords the Earl of Northumberland and the Lord Say and four Commons Mr. Pierpoint Sir William Ermyn Sir John Holland and Mr. Whitelocke The King excepted against the Lord Say as before is mentioned therefore he did not goe but the other 5 Commissioners The Earl of Northumberland carried with him his own Plate and Housholdstuff and Accommodations even to Wine and Provisions which were brought from London to them to Oxford where they lived in as much Height and Nobleness as the Earl of Northumberland used to doe and that is scarce exceeded by any Subject Anno 1643 The King used them with great favour and civility and his General Ruthen and divers of his Lords and Officers came frequently to their Table and they had very friendly discourses and treatments together The King himself did them the honour sometimes to accept of part of their Wine and Provisions which the Earl sent to him when they had any thing extraordinary The Commissioners finding Whitelocke's Pen usefull in the service did put him upon drawing of all their Papers to the King which were transcribed afterwards by their Secretaries Their Instructions were very strict and tied them up to treat with none but the King himself whom they often attended at his Lodgings in Christ-Church and had access at all times when they desired it and were allowed by His Majesty a very free debate with him He had commonly waiting on him when he treated with them Prince Rupert and the Lord Keeper Littleton the Earl of Southampton the Lord Chief Justice Banks and several Lords of his Council who never debated any Matters with them but gave their Opinions to the King in those things which he demanded of them and sometimes would put the King in mind of some particular things but otherwise they did not speak at all In this Treaty the King manifested his great Parts and Abilities strength of Reason and quickness of Apprehension with much patience in hearing what was objected against him wherein he allowed all freedom and would himself sum up the Arguments and give a most clear Judgment upon them His unhappiness was that he had a better Opinion of others Judgments than of his own though they were weaker than his own and of this the Parliament Commissioners had experience to their great trouble They were often waiting on the King and debating some points of the Treaty with him untill Midnight before they could come to a conclusion Upon one of the most material points they pressed His Majesty with their Reasons and best Arguments they could use to grant what they desired The King said he was fully satisfied and promised to give them his Answer in writing according to their desire but because it was then past Midnight and too late to put it into writing he would have it drawn up the next Morning when he commanded them to wait on him again and then he would give them his Answer in writing as it was now agreed upon They went to their lodgings full of Joyfull hopes to receive this Answer the next morning and which being given would have much conduced to a happy issue and success of this Treaty and they had the King's word for it and they waited on him the next morning at the hour appointed But instead of that Answear which they expected and were promised the King gave them a Paper quite contrary to what was concluded the Night before and very much tending to the breach of the Treaty They did humbly expostulate this with His Majesty and pressed him upon his Royal word and the ill Consequences which they feared would follow upon this his new Paper But the King told them he had altered his mind and that this Paper which he now gave them was his Answer which he was now resolved to make upon their last Debate And they could obtain no other from him which occasioned much sadness and trouble to them Some of his own Friends of whom the Commissioners enquired touching this passage informed them that after they were gone from the King and that his Council were also gone away some of his Bed Chamber and they went higher hearing from him what Answer he had promised and doubting that it would tend to such an Issue of the Treaty as they did not wish they being rather for the continuance of the War They never left pressing and perswading of the King till they prevailed with him to change his former Resolutions and to give order for his Answer to be drawn as it was
Harvey with their Parties and many Voluntiers joyned with General Essex in his advance for the relief of Gloucester At Plymouth Mr. Alexander Carew a Member of Parliament and Governour of the Island there had a design to betray the Town and Island to the King But his own Souldiers discovering it seized upon their Governour to send him up to the Parliament and the Women were so enraged against him for his perfidiousness that it was difficult to rescue him from their execution The House by Vote disabled him from being a Member and the like they did for Sir John Harrison Sir Henry Anderson and Mr. Constantine of whom they were informed that he designed to betray Poole into the King's hands And these and divers other Members of the House being disabled and the new Great Seal finished they ordered that new Writs should be issued forth to the several places for which they served to choose new Members in their room Sir Edward Bainton another Member who deserted the Parliament and went to the Isle of Wight where he spake opprobrious words against them was put in Prison The Town of Lyn in Norfolk declaring for the King the Earl of Manchester with three thousand Horse and fifteen hundred Foot draws to them and blocks up the Passages to them by Land The Earl of Warwick did the like by Sea General Essex made the slower marches towards Gloucester being forced to keep his Army together in a continual posture of Defence for he was daily skirmished with by the Lord Wilmot who attended all his Removes with a Body of two thousand and five hundred Horse His Majesty understanding that Essex advanced apace towards the relief of Gloucester sent to him a Trumpet with some Propositions to be treated on But Essex too much acquainted with such small designs to hinder his march returned a speedy Answer That he had no Commission to treat but to relieve Gloucester which he was resolved to do or to lose his life there And his Souldiers hearing of a Trumpeter come with Propositions to treat they cried out for a long time together with loud acclamations No Propositions no Propositions And so the Trumpeter was dismissed The Ordinances for the Covenant and for the Excise were at a Conference delivered to the Lords as having past the House of Commons the Covenant was read to the Lords with the Explanation upon it and the Fifth Article touching the Pacification omitted and Ireland added The Ordinance for the Excise with some Amendments of the former was read to the Lords and their Concurrence to both desired which was given by them the next Morning Sir John Hotham and his Son were examined in the House touching their Treasons and committed to the Tower Sir William Brereton took Eccleshall Castle and defeated a Party of the Lord Capel's Forces under Colonel Hastings Two of the City Regiments were ordered to march out and joyn with Sir William Waller The Major General of his Army was Colonel Potley an old Souldier under the King of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus He was of such repute with that Crown that when he took his leave of them to come for England the Chancellor Oxenstierne by command of the Senators when they all sate in Council sent for this Colonel to come in to them and told him That he having been an ancient Servant to that Crown and who had done gallant Service for them they held him in the Rank of their Children and therefore by command of the Senate he put about the Colonel's Neck a rich Gold Chain with a Medal of the late King his Master to wear in Memory of him He told him that the Senate had ordered Two thousand Dollars to defray his Expences and Four thousand Dollars to bear his Charges to his own Country and to keep him still a Servant to that Crown and that he might eat of their Bread as long as he lived they had given him a Pension of Two thousand Dollars per annum during his Life Essex proceeded in his march to Gloucester and when the Enemy fell upon any of his Companies as they often did Essex relieved them fought with his Enemies and made his way through them The King understanding his near approach to Gloucester and finding his own Souldiers not forward to fight Essex as the King intended He upon Sunday and Monday the third and fourth of September drew off his Carriages and removed the Siege and on Tuesday morning Septemb 5. 1643. went over Severn with all his Army the way to Bristoll Essex came to Gloucester Septemb. 6. and sent four Regiments who entred the Town and himself the next day finding the Siege totally raised he sent Three thousand horse to attend the King's march and keep his Forces in a body that they might not plunder the Country er else to fight them Upon the coming of the Earl of Newcastle towards Beverly the Lord Fairfax finding the Town not tenable and the Inhabitants ill affected to the Parliament he drew off all the Carriages and Souldiers from thence to Hull and Newcastle entred and possessed Beverly The Mayors of Barnstable and of Bidiford in the West betrayed these Towns to the Lord Digby's Forces The Lords sentenced Judge Berkley to pay Twenty thousand pounds Fine and to be disabled from bearing any Office in the Commonwealth for his Judgment in the business of Ship-money The Lord Maitsland Mr. Henderson and another Scots Commissioner with Mr. Hatcher and Mr. Nye arrived in London and their Letters of Credence from the States of Scotland were read to the Lords and Commons with the readiness of the Scots to assist the Parliament This Business was referred to a Committee of both Houses to Treat with the Scots Commissioners upon their Propositions and at two Meetings all was agreed The Lords assented to the Covenant with the Alterations made by the Commons and the Scots Commissioners assented to them likewise The King sent his Proclamation to Scotland forbidding them to Treat any further with the Parliament of England or to give them any Assistance Newcastle's Forces from Beverly quartered about three miles distance round on the Lands-side of Hull upon whom Sir Thomas Fairfax made a sally out of Hull killed many and took fifty Prisoners The Town of Portsmouth petitioned that Sir William Waller might be their Governour and it was left to the General Essex to give him a Commission accordingly The Speaker acquainted the House with Letters he received from France That an Army of Twenty thousand was ready at S. Malloes to be shipped for Bristoll to assist the King The News of the King 's raising the Siege of Glocester occasioned various Discourses of that Action all men both Friends and Enemies agreed that Essex herein performed a very gallant Souldier-like Action And most men were of opinion that when the King went to Gloucester if he had marched up to London he had done his work For at that time the Parliament had
Treason against the four Judges and to consider of a way to vindicate the Lords and Members of the Commons so indicted Several more forces about 1500 landed from Ireland in Wales and Sir William Brereton wrote to the Parliament that some of them were of the Rebels and the Lord Byron is joined with them The like power was given to Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Middleton for sequestrations and levying of moneys in Wales as was given to the Earl of Manchester in the associate Counties Five hundred of the Prisoners taken by Sir William Waller at Alton took the Covenant and served under him The Parliament wrote to General Essex to advance with his Army to joyn with Waller Essex answered that he held it not convenient for their Service and a little discontent began to kindle betwixt him and the House of Commons and the Committee of Safety The Commons ordered that none should elect or be elected Common Council men or Officers in London but such as had taken the Covenant The Commissioners of the Great Seal sate in the Queens Court Decemb. 22. and sealed above 500 Writs so desirous were people to have the course of Justice to proceed Colonel Brown is made Major General of the City Forces appointed to go to Sir William Waller Essex sent 600 Horse to Waller and removed his Army from St. Albans to Windsor to be the more in readiness to assist Waller and divers Kentish Forces came in to him and he sate down before Arundel Castle Duke Hamilton proscribed in Scotland gets to Oxford and there is committed close Prisoner an unhappy or unsteady man and by this you see the uncertainty of Greatness and of Princes favours Sir John Meldrum and Sir William Savile took in the Fort at Barton and after that Gainsborough for the Parliament about 600 Prisoners some of them Officers of Quality store of Arms and Ammunition The Parliament sate on Christmas day 1643. The Earls of Bedford and of Clare came from Oxford back again to the Parliament A Letter was intercepted from Oxford to Sir Peter Killegrew which brought him into suspicion Colonel Hutchinson Governour of Nottingham Castle acquainted the Parliament with an offer of the Earl of New Castle to pay him 10000 l. and to make him a Lord and Governour of that Castle to him and his heirs if he would deliver it to him for the King which Hutchinson refused The Scots Army of about 12000 advanced near to Berwick and publish a Declaration as they march of the justness of their undertakings in assistance of the Parliament Major General Skippon took Grafton House and in it Sir John Digby with 20 Officers of note and Horse and 200 Foot Arms and Money Some differences fell out at Coventry between the Earl of Denbigh and Colonel Purefoy a Member of the House of Commons they were both sent for to London and reconciled Many of the Protestants in Ireland refuse to submit to the cessation and joyn with the Scots Forces The King of Denmark providing to send assistance to the King of England and sending for men to the King of Poland to infest the Swedes the Letters being intercepted the Swedes enter Denmark and take sundry places there Colonel Fiennes was sentenced by the Council of War to be beheaded for the surrender of Bristol The King issued a Proclamation for adjourning the Parliament to Oxford and all the Members who had deserted the Parliament or been disabled met at Oxford General Essex came to London from St. Albans and was not well pleased with some Members and proceedings of the House of Commons Jan. 1643. The Earl of Bedford lately come from Oxford to the General to St. Albans was sent to London and committed to the Black Rod. Prince Maurice his Forces before Plimouth received a blow from the Garrison and the Princes men falling sick of the Camp Disease whereof many died he raised the siege Colonel Boswell with 800 Horse from Coventry took by storm Sir Thomas Holt's House 80 Prisoners store of Goods Money and Plate General Essex sent a new Commission with further powers to Sir William Waller which pleased the House of Commons A Plot was confest of setting on work a Petition from the City to the King for peace and to invite his Majesty to London and the Plotters were committed to Prison Mr. Riley a Clerk belonging to the Records in the Tower was committed for intelligence with Oxford The King sent Proclamations to the several Sheriffs to adjourn the Parliament to Oxford and to summon the Members of that County to appear at Oxford 22. of this month whereupon the Commons order their House to be called the same day Another Proclamation from the King was to adjourn the next Term and all the Courts of Justice from London which the Proclamation calls the Rebellious City to Oxford but the Parliament forbad it Arundel Castle was surrendred to Sir William Waller to mercy there were taken in it Sir William Ford High Sheriff Sir Edward Bishop Colonel Banfield and divers Gentlemen of Sussex 50 Reformades 1200 Prisoners with their Arms Money and with Pillage The Parliament imparted to the City at a Common Hall the late discovered Plot to make a difference between the Parliament and City to divert the Scots advancing hither and to raise a general Combustion under the pretence of Peace Sir Bazil Brooke and Mr. Riley were chief agents in this Plot. The Lord Byron took in Beeston Castle in Cheshire for the King The Parliament ordered the Commissioners of the Great Seal to issue forth a Proclamation for holding the next Term at Westminster and all Judges and Officers to attend here under pein of sequestration and forfeiture of their Offices The Lords sent to the Commons to hasten the impeachment against the Queen A new Ordinance of Excise passed The Lord Goring's Letter to the Queen was intercepted by which he gives her an account of Supplies of Money and Arms coming from France to our King that Monsieur Harecourt was to treat with the Parliament as the King should direct him and that all but two or three Jewels of the Crown were now pawned for money Upon this Letter and other Informations the Commons impeached the Lord Goring of High Treason and ordered the Letters of the French Ministers of State to be brought to the Committee of Safety A Party of Horse under Colonel Ashton in Lancashire marching to joyn with Sir William Brereton were by the way surprized and routed by the Lord Byron Brereton upon this alarm fell upon the Rear of the Lord Byron's Forces and killed and took many of them Major Brookban was shot to death for deserting his Colours and revolting to the King The Parliament wrote to Monsieur de Harecourt at Oxford to acquaint him with their grounds of stopping the Pacquet from France and with the Lord Goring's Letter from thence One Lord and Sir H. Mildmay and Sir William
upon view of those proofs we shall be the better able to advise and your Lordships to judge what will be fit to be done in this matter Maynard Your Excellence and my Lord Chancellour are pleased to require our advice in this great business and we shall deal cleerly and freely with your Lordships which I think will be most acceptable to you and will in conclusion be best for your service Mr. Whitelocke hath begun thus and in speaking his own sense hath spoken much of mine and left me the less to say and I shall follow him in the same plainness and method as he hath begun which I presume will be most pleasing to your Lordships The word Incendiary is not much conversant in our Law nor often met with in our Books but more a term of the Civil Law or of State and so to be considered in this case and to be taken according to the expression wherein it is used in the Accord of the two Kingdoms and in the sense of the Parliaments of both Nations That sense of it which my Lord Chancellour hath been pleased to mention it doth bear ex vi termini and surely he that kindles the coals of contention between our brethren of Scotland and us is an Incendiary and to be punished as it is agreed on by both Kingdoms But my Lords as you have been told there must be proof made of such particulars of words or actions upon which there may be sufficient ground for a Parliament to declare their judgment that he who used such words or actions indeavoured thereby to raise differences and to kindle the fire of contention among us and so that he is an Incendiary Lieutenant General Cromwel is a person of great favour and interest with the House of Commons and with some of the House of Peers likewise and therefore there must be proofs and the more clear and evident against him to prevail with the Parliament to adjudge him to be an Incendiary I confess my Lords I do not in my private knowledge assure my self of any such particulars nor have we heard of any here and I believe it will be more difficult than perhaps some of us may imagine to fasten this upon him And if it be difficult and doubtfull it is not fit for such persons as my Lord General and the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland as yet to appear in it but rather first to see what proofs may be had of particular passages which will amount to a clear proof upon which judgment may be grounded that he is an Incendiary And when such proofs shall be ready to be produced we may again wait upon your Excellence and the business will then be the more ripe for your Lordships resolution in the mean time my humble opinion is that it may be deferred Mr. Hollis and Sir Philip Stapleton and some others spake smartly to the business and mentioned some particular passages and words of Cromwel tending to prove him to be an Incendiary and they did not apprehend his interest in the House of Commons to be so much as was supposed and they would willingly have been upon the accusation of him But the Scots Commissioners were not so forward to adventure upon it for the reasons they said did satisfie them which were given by Maynard and Whitelocke until a further inquiry were made of particulars for proof to make him an Incendiary the which at length was generally consented to and about two a clock in the Morning with thanks and Complements Maynard and Whitelocke were dismissed they had some cause to believe that at this debate some who were present were false brethren and informed Cromwel of all that past among them and after that Cromwel though he took no notice of any particular passages at that time yet he seemed more kind to Whitelocke and Maynard than he had been formerly and carried on his design more actively of making way for his own advancement as will appear in progress of this insuing story The Lord sent to the Commons that a speedy answer might be given to the Papers of the States Ambassadors and for audience to be given to the French Agent and a Committee was named to consider of the manner of his reception A Report was made to the House by their Command of the particular passages betwixt His Majesty and the Committee that carried the Propositions to him which they had forborn before to mention but the House having an intimation thereof ordered the particular passages thereof to be Reported to-them which was done as I have mentioned them before The Commons ordered 6000 l. for providing store of Arms and Ammunition A party of the Newark horse being quartered near the Town Colonel Thorney fell upon them took 80 Horse one Major several inferiour Officers 2 Colonels 24 Troupers and Arms. The Commons took order for setling Magistrates in Newcastle though different from the Course of their Charter and disfranchised some of their Aldermen The Parliaments Committee at Newcastle sent up a great quantity of Coals for relief of the poor of London whereof the Commons gave notice to the Lord Mayor and orders for the distributing of them The Clause for Marriage in the Directory was agreed unto An Ordinance past for relief of Soldiers widdows Letters were ordered to several Counties for levying Arrears due to the Army and for the Deputy Lieutenants and Committees to assist the Commissioners of Excise The Commons agreed to the reception of the States Ambassadors as formerly Sir William Massey was made one of the Assembly of Divines The Court Marshal adjudged Sir John Hotham to have his head cut off Higgins the Lord General 's Trumpeter returned from Oxford where he said he was more courteously used than before and that the King commanded he should be kindly used and rewarded and that he was not as formerly hoodwink'd when they brought him in Prince Rupert by the King's direction sent a Letter to the General for a safe Conduct for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton to bring unto the Parliament of England Assembled at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of the Kingdome of Scotland an answer of the Propositions lately presented to his Majesty for a safe and well grounded peace The Commons voted that no Member of either House of Parliament shall during this war injoy or execute any office or Command Military or Civil and that an Ordinance be brought in accordingly This was moved by Mr. Zouch Tate who brought it in with a similitude of a boyle upon his thumb and was set on by that party who contrived the outing of the Lord General and to bring on their own designes and they could find no other way than by passing a Self-denying Ordinance as they called it which would serve their turn both as a specious pretence of their own integrity and waving all self ends and so plausible to the people and would also
altered A Petition from Bedfordshire complained of the unruliness of the Souldiers there taking Horses in Markets from the Countrey people and then making them to redeem them again for money and particularly against one Captain Crawford The like from Sussex and Bucks and complaining of the ravishing of Women and murthering of Men to redress which evils a Committee was appointed to consider These were the Fruits of Civil War Robberies Ravishings and innumerable Wicked actions committed by the barbarous Souldiers to the unspeakable Misery of the poor Countrey The Commons further Debated upon the Ordinance for the new Model of the Army and for the Assessment for their pay and ordered the Members of each County to bring in names of Commissioners for the Assessement in every County About 1100 of the King's horse and foot issued out of Chester and fell upon Sir William Brereton's quarters and to relieve Beeston Castle closely besieged by Brereton who hearing of the Enemies coming drew out a party to encounter them they placed their Ambuscadoes which the Parliaments brake through and routed the Enemy They took of them prisoners Colonel Worden Colonel Ware divers other Officers 200 common Souldiers as many horse and arms and killed and wounded a great number of them this party of the Parliament was commanded the horse by Lieutenant Col. Jones and the foot by Major Louthian News was brought that a Merchants ship from London bound for the East Indies revolted to the King and went to Bristol having in her 28 pieces of Ordnance and above 30000 l. in Goods A party of the King's forces from Newark came forth to gather Contribution and took prisoners some Countrymen that were in arrear the Committee of Nottingham having notice thereof sent forth a party who pursuing those of Newark they left their prisoners and five or six of their men behind and hasted to their quarters Nottingham men followed them close and so far that another party of the Newark forces came forth upon them routed them recovered their prisoners and took of the Parliaments party Major Meldrum Lieutenant Smith and about 28 Souldiers with their arms and horses The Commons resumed the Debate about the new Titles of the King's Commissioners in the Safe Conduct for them and at last it was agreed That the new made Knights should have that Title given them because it was not a Title under the Great Seal And for the new made Earl and the two new Lords their new Titles were not given them in the Safe Conduct because they were granted by the King after the Great Seal was carried away from the Parliament and so Sir Peter Killegrew was sent away towards Oxford with the Safe Conduct thus corrected The Commons were moved for the Exchange of the Lord Brereton for Sir John Northcot but they denied it till his Lordship should declare the business of the killing of divers of the Parliaments friends in cold blood at Nantwich The City petitioned the supply of Plymouth which had been two years besieged and concerning matters of Trade and had thanks for their care The Commons finished the Ordinance for the new model of the Armies and past several Votes concerning Church Government Sir Peter Killegrew who went to Oxford on Saturday returned on Monday with the King's Answer That he waved the matters of honour and was content that his Commissioners should treat under those Titles that were admitted by the Parliament A complaint was made against Colonel Harvey by several Petitions particularly by Mr. Squire concerning 3000 l. taken from him by the Colonel or some of his Officers which was referred to a Committee to be examined Divers Compositions of Delinquents were allowed The Ordinance for raising and maintaining forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax was sent up to the Lords An Ordinance was read for enabling the Scots to march Southwards Sir Charles Sherley and Mr. Devereux were sent for as Delinquents for sending a Challenge to a Member of the House of Commons who was also sent for Both Houses agreed that the three first days of the Treaty should be for Religion the three next for the Militia and another three days for Ireland and so alternis vicibus and sent these Votes to the Committee of both Kingdoms for the concurrence of the Scots Commissioners who desired some alterations upon which the Commons debated till ten at night and then adjourned the Debate till the next morning though it were the Fast Day Colonel Craford going from Aylesbury with about 80 horse to seek quarters met with about 120 of the King's men under Colonel Blake Governour of Wallingford and after a hot Dispute between them he routed Blake whom Craford wounded in a single charge between them two Blake escaped by the goodness of his horse all his men except 14 were killed and taken and some few desperately wounded and Craford lost but three men and some wounded News came from the West that Greenvile in discontent had pistolled Colonel Champernoun and his Brother The Commons sate all the Fast Day about the business of the Treaty the Lords sate in the after-noon and at length all was agreed with the Scots Commissioners that the Treaty is to be upon the three Propositions in order three days upon each and to begin with Religion And now some began to observe the difficulty if not inconvenience of carrying on their affairs with a concurrence of Commissioners of another Kingdom whereupon grew delays and difference of opinions and not overmuch inclination to submit to reason more than to will Letters from Colonel Jephson informed that Goring's forces had much endeavoured and offered great rewards for the betraying of Portsea-bridge and some who complied with him were apprehended that Goring was in Normandy beating up Drums for Souldiers to come for England A party of Goring's forces fell upon the quarters of some of the Parliaments forces near Farnham took forty Prisoners two Colours killed five or six of their Foot burnt a Barn full of Corn four Houses and set fire on several parts of the Town The Commons ordered Sir William Waller into the West to prevent these mischiefs The Covenant was ordered to be read in the Churches every Fast-day The Commons ordered a Letter for the speedy bringing up of the Scottish Army but many were not satisfied therewith A party of the King 's from Dunnington and Bazing going to joyn with the Lord Hopton by the way plundered the Countrey and surprized the West-countrey Carriers Colonel Devereux with a party from Marlborough fell upon them took Prisoners Sir Anthony Saint Leger their Commander in chief Major Hyde divers other Officers 30 Troupers 50 Horse and Arms and rescued the plunder Colonel Lucas was put out by the King from being Governour of Belvoir Castle and Sir Guy Palms put in his place and Sir John Byron was removed from being Governour of Newark upon jealousie that he held correspondence with some of the
Parliaments party The King's Garrison in Latham-house as was informed contrary to an agreement and cessation of Arms â—allied out and did much mischief to the Parliaments friends Jan. 29. The Commissioners for the Treaty on both parts met at Vxbridge and had their several quarters those for the Parliament and all their Retinue on the North side of the Town and those for the King on the South side and no intermixture of the one party of their Attendants with the other the best Inn of the one side was the Rendezvous of the Parliaments Commissioners and the best Inn of the other side of the Street was for the King's Commissioners The Evening that they came to Town several Visits passed between particular Commissioners of either party as Sir Edward Hyde came to visit Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke the Lord Culpepper visited Sir Henry Vane and others of the King's Commissioners visited several of the Parliaments Commissioners and had long Discourses about the Treaty and to perswade one another to a compliance Mr. Whitelocke visited Sir Edward Hyde and Mr. Palmer and Sir Richard Lane and others and several of the Parliaments Commissioners visited divers of the King's Commissioners and had discourses with them tending to the furtherance of the business of the Treaty The Town was so exceeding full of company that it was hard to get any quarter except for the Commissioners and their Retinue and some of the Commissioners were forced to lie two of them in a Chamber together in Field Beds onely upon a Quilt in that cold weather not coming into a Bed during all the Treaty This place being within the Parliaments quarters their Commissioners were the more civil and desirous to afford accommodations to the King's Commissioners and they thought it fit to appoint Sir John Bennet's House at the further end of the Town to be fitted for the place of meeting for the Treaty The foreway into the House was appointed for the King's Commissioners to come in at and the backway for the Parliaments Commissioners in the middle of the house was a fair great Chamber where they caused a large Table to be made like that heretofore in the Star-chamber almost square without any upper or lower end of it The King's Commissioners had one end and one side of the Table for them the other end and side was for the Parliaments Commissioners and the end appointed for the Scots Commissioners to sit by themselves Behind the Chairs of the Commissioners on both sides sate the Divines and Secretaries and such of the Commissioners as had not room to sit next to the Table At each end of the great Chamber was a fair withdrawing Room and Inner-chamber one for the King 's the other for the Parliaments Commissioners to retire unto and consult when they pleased The first night of their being together a little before Supper an intimation was given that the Chancellour of Scotland expected both at the Table and Meetings to have precedence of all the English Lords and that Mr. Barkley and Mr. Kennedagh expected to have precedence of the English Commissioners who were but Esquires except Mr. St. John to whom they were pleased to allow precedence because he was the King's Sollicitour Upon Discourse the Arguments they insisted upon for the Chancellour were That he was the prime Officer of Scotland and had precedence of all Dukes there unless they were of the Blood Royal and both the Kingdoms being now united he was to have the same precedence in England as he had in Scotland To which was answered That he was not Chancellour in England nor had any precedence here but in courtesie as Earl of Loudoun that formerly when the great Officers of England attended the King into Scotland as soon as they came thither they ceased to execute their Offices and had no precedence there and that it ought to be alike with the Chancellour of Scotland when he was here For the precedence of Mr. Kennedah and Mr. Berkley before the Commissioners who were Esquires they were informed that Mr. Whitlocke and Mr. Crew were eldest Sons of Knights and that by the Law of England those were to have precedence next to Knights and consequently before the Scottish Gentlemen with which they were satisfied but still they insisted upon the point of the Chancellour's precedence The Earl of Northumberland smiled at this contest and seemed to contemn it of whose great Honour and Family and the Antiquity of it the Scots Commissioners could not be ignorant nor of the difference between that and the Family of the Earl of Loudoun Yet Northumberland moved for satisfaction of the Scots that the Chancellour and one other of the Scots Commissioners might sit at the upper end of the Table which was not taken for the chief but for the Womans place and the rest of the Commissioners to sit in their ranks on either side and so that matter was for the present settled Officers had been sent down from the Parliament to prepare all things fit for the Commissioners and for their Diet and Entertainment at which the Scots Commissioners were contented to have their share and things were ordered very nobly and handsomely Mr. Thurloe and Mr. Earle were Secretaries for the English and Mr. Cheesely for the Scots Commissioners none sate at the Table with the Commissioners but the Ministers when there was room and sometimes strangers or persons of Quality that came into them and a very full Table was there kept for them and alwaies before every Meal one of the Ministers Mr. Marshal or Mr. Vines and now and then Mr. Henderson prayed and suitable to the occasion On the first day of their meeting Jan. 30. in the Evening before they entred upon the Treaty each side desired to know the others power for the Treaty and to have Copies thereof A Petition from Kent presented by their Committee express their good affection to the Parliament and encourage the Commons to pursue the Self-denying Ordinance and the thanks of the House was returned them The King's forces advancing towards Newport Paganel Sir Samuel Luke the Governour was sent down thither Divers Orders were made for Supplies for the several forces The Members of the House attended the Burial of Mr. John White of the Middle Temple a Member of the House of Commons a Puritan from his youth to his death an Honest Learned and Faithfull Servant to the publick but somewhat severe at the Committee for plundered Ministers The Lords read the Bill or Ordinance for raising Forces under Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Commons ordered a Letter to be sent to him for his speedy coming up to the Parliament and whilst the Treaty for Peace went on they did not slacken their pains to prepare for War in case the Treaty should take no effect For the motion of the Scots Army Southwards Letters were past by the Commons and sent up to the Lords Jan 31. The Commissioners for the Treaty having
and other Officers Letters to the Committee in the Army to keep the Army together and to assist for Sir Tho. Fairfax his Recruits Orders for providing the Train Waggons Artillery Arms Powder and a Magazine for Sir Tho Fairfax and for Draught-horses and Carriages out of several Counties for him A thousand pounds ordered for General Brown The mutinous Horse returned to duty were allowed a Fortnights pay but none for the time they were in mutiny and were now sent upon Service Several Committee-men added in divers Counties and Orders for money and clothes for the Scots Army in Ireland 15. Ordinances past for 1. per Cent. for supply of Plymouth and for money upon the Custom of Currans for Gloucester and for recruiting the Kentish Regiment at Plymouth The Lords at a Conference gave Reasons why they left some Officers out of the List of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army but they waved the nominating of others they sent to the Commons an Ordinance for Marshall Law differing from the former and to continue two Months Waller and Cromwell beat up Goring's quarters who sled to Exeter 17. Captain Smith of Colonel Martins Regiment for a slight offence murdred an honest Buckinghamshire man the Commons sent to inform the Lord General thereof and ordered Smith to be sent for and punished Letters from the Committee of Nantwich informed that Prince Rupert Maurice and Langdale were all joyned in one great body and that without a speedy relief Sir Will. Brereton's Forces would be in great danger The House Ordered a Letter to be forthwith sent by the Committee of both Kingdomes for a party of the Scots horse and Dragoons to advance towards Sir Will. Brereton and ordered Supplies for his Forces And they referred it to the Members serving for Yorkshire and Lancashire to consider of some means for the supply of the Forces in those Counties At a free Conference the Commons offered their reasons to the Lords why they could not consent to the leaving out of the list those Officers whom the Lords had left out because they were such as Sir Tho. Fairfax nominated and the Commons approved and a delay in passing this list would be dangerous to Sir Will. Brereton ' s Forces to the association and to the whole Kingdome The Lords acquainted the Commons with a Paper from the French Resident desiring the transportation of Gunpowder from Holland to France without interruption of the Parliaments Navy The Commons Ordered for Answer that there being Amity between the Crown of England and the Crown of France there needed no particular Licence for the same Colonel Sir James Long High Sheriff of Wilts for the King returning from the Convoy of Prince Charles to Bristol was set upon by a party of Sir William Waller's at the Devizes and 40 of his men killed the Colonel 8 Captains 7 Cornets and most of the other Officers with 300 Souldiers taken Prisoners about 340 Horse and store of Arms taken and but 30 of the whole Regiment escaped Oxford was much streightned for Provisions Browne did them no small prejudice from Abington some of the Souldiers and Townsmen grew very mutinous and the Antiparliament there were about to question the Lord Digby for an Incendiary but they were dissolved 18. 1000 l. Ordered for Abington Colonel Stephenson a Member of the House was taken Prisoner at Royden-house in Wilts Ordered that Sir James Long taken at the Devizes be exchanged for him An Order for supply of the Town of Henly upon Thames with Match 1000 Bandeliers c. and Whitelocke was appointed Governour of that Town and of the Fort of Phillis Court which he rather accepted being his own house and he had there in Garrison about 300 foot and a Troup of horse The works of the Fort were strong and regular and the Thames brought round the Fort in a large Graft all the horse and foot were quartered within the works the great Guns about it were good and the Souldiers stout men and well armed and good Officers The Officers and Souldiers of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army had a fortnights pay allowed them The Lords concurred with the Commons in passing the list of the Officers of Sir T. Fairfax's Army without any alteration which was so well taken by the Commons that they appointed a Committee to prepare a Message to be sent to the Lords from them to assure their Lordships of the real affection and endeavours of the House of Commons to support their Lordships in their honour and privileges The List of the Officers was this Sir Thomas Fairfax Commander in chief Major General Skippon Colonels of Horse Middleton Sidney Graves Sheffield Vermuden Whaley Sir M. Livesey Fleetwood Rosseter Sir Robert Pye Colonels of Foot Craford Berkley Aldridge Holborne Fortescue Inglesby Mountague Pickering Welden and Rainsborough A Petition of the East India Company for transporting some things agreed unto The Governour of Hurst Castle took two of the King's Ships bound for France forced by weather into the Isle of Wight in them they had 300 barrels of Herrings 11 pieces of Cloath 10 pieces of Ordnance 40 Prisoners and a pack of hounds News came that the Swedes in Germany gave a great defeat to the Emperours Forces 8000 of them slain the two Generals the whole Army routed many Prisoners taken all their Colours Ordnance Carriage and Ammunition Letters from Holland mentioned some difference rising there between the Prince of Orange and the States 19. The care of the education of the King's Children was committed to the Earl of Northumberland and his Countess and they took into Consideration the great losses of this noble Earl for his affection to the publick Care was also taken for an allowance for the Earl of Mulgrave and the Lord Sheffield in lieu of their losses Mr. Ford was voted to be one of the Assembly in the room of Mr. Bolles deceased Orders for expediting Sir Thomas Fairfax into the field and for money for the Lord Generals old Foot Souldiers and for monies for Sir William Brereton's Forces and for supplies for Ireland The Lord Savile left the Oxford party and came to London he was staid by the Guards and this day examined by a Committee of the Lords of the grounds of his coming in and was committed to the custody of the black Rod. Colonel Holborne routed a party of Goring's horse near Crookehorne and took about 500 of them About 400 of Banbury horse faced Northampton and endeavoured to take a Parliament Captain out of his house near Northampton but he with his Servants and about 16 firelocks kept the house and repelled the enemy and a party of horse drawing forth of Northampton the Banbury Horse fled away with some loss Letters from Colonel Cromwel informed that since his coming to his Regiment their Carriage had been obedient respective and valiant a good testimony whereof they gave in the late defeat of Long 's Regiment that they were sorry
a Committee to send for such Officers of Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army as were seen in Town and to examine the cause of their stay here and that they might be proceeded against according to their demerits Conference about the instructions for the Commissioners who are to reside in the Scots Army Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax signified that they had by storm gained the North part of Bridgewater 500 prisoners and one peice of Ordnance with the losse of 20 men 24. Letters informed the surrender of Pomfret Castle upon Articles which were the more favourable by reason the Plague was hot in Pomfret Town there were left in the Castle for the Parliament 8 peices of Ordnance store of Arms and Ammunition The House appointed Sir Thomas Fairfax to be Governour of that Castle the Lords sent to the Commons that Colonel Pointz might be Governor of that Castle which he took in but being informed that before their message the Commons had voted that Command for Sir Thomas Fairfax the Lords agreed thereunto News was brought to the House of the taking the rest of Bridgewater The House ordered that the Ministers in the several Parishes in London should the next Lord's day render thanks to God for the surrender of Pomfret and taking of Bridgewater Sir Rowland Egerton who brought the news of the surrender of Pomfret was called into the House and had their thanks given him and 20 l. was ordered to the messenger who brought the Letters of the taking of Bridgewater An Order sent to the Lords for the charging of 5000 l. more upon the Excise for the reducing of Oxford Winchester Wallingford and Basing House A Petition of the Inhabitants of Jersie for their security and relief referred to the Committee of the Navy 25. Letters from Colonel Massey and from Mr. Rushworth Secretary to Sir Thomas Fairfax certified the particulars of the taking of Bridgewater The Generall being informed that they within the Town had store of Victuals and that it would be a long work to continue the siege of it he again moved to storm it which was unanimously assented unto and the Lord's day before Mr. Peters and Mr. Boles in their Sermons incouraged the Soldiers to the work About 7 at night the foot being drawn out and those that commanded the storm and forlorn Mr. Peters in the Field gave them an Exhortation to do their duties July 21. about two a Clock the General 's Regiment began the storm seconded by others and gave not over till they were at the top of the works with their Colours and gained the peices that played upon them and let down the Bridge Whereupon Captain Reynolds a valiant Young Gentleman entred with a forlorne hope of Horse scoured the Streets and beat them out of the hither Town into the further and the Pikes stood bravely to the Horse This perplexed the Enemy and the Assailants brought away with them 500 Prisoners the Enemy for fear left all the line on the other side where Col. Massey was to storm but there wanting some preparations he only gave them a hot Alarm on that side That they lost but 20 men although in likelyhood they might have lost 1000 in the storm and not one Officer of Note slain though many of them led on their men in Person as Lieutenant Colonel Jackson Colonel Hewson and others The Enemy was so far from yielding that with Grannadoes and other things they fired that part of the Town where the Parliaments forces were not leaving three Houses there standing which so exasperated Sir Thomas Fairfax and his men that he sent in the Evening another Summons to them by a Trumpet But they within peremtorily refused to treat whereupon the General commanded the Town to be stormed on Col. Massey's side the next Morngin July 22. at the dawning of the Day the General in Person gave order for the forces on this side to give a fierce Alarm with great and small shot whilst they on the other side fell on which was done with great resolution and probably they might have gained the Town had not the Tide come up They on the other side again failing to fall on onely gave an Alarm something being wanting for the storm but this hot Alarm working nothing upon them Sir Thomas Fairfax was so inraged that he sent a Trumpet to the Governour to let all the Women and Children come forth of the Town by four a Clock in the Afternoon Accordingly the Governour 's Lady the Lady Hawley Mrs. Marre and divers others came forth and then Sir Thomas Fairfax with great Guns Mortar-pieces Fire-balls hot Irons c. played against the Town and fired it in three places the Wind being great increased the fire and the huge flame so terrified them that Mr. Elliot came runing out to Sir Thomas Fairfax for a Parley He answered That the Governour refused it the last night and now that he had brought this misery upon himself Sir Thomas Fairfax would not admit of a treaty yet if he would submit to mercy he should have it In the mean time till Mr. Elliot returned a speedy and positive answer Sir Thomas Fairfax told him that if any Souldier in the Town offered to take off a Slate on the House or to quench the Fire and his Souldiers cried the Cessation should be void and they would then take all advantages This so amazed them in the Town that instantly they came out and cryed mercy for the Lord's sake so it was agreed and they had Quarter for their Lives and liberty to save the Town There were left for the Parliament 40 pieces of Ordnance 4000 weight of Match Powder proportionable Victuals for 2000 Soldiers for four months 1000 prisoners now taken besides the 500 the other day Reformades Commanders Gentlemen and Priests about 200 Treasure in Plate Jewels c. said to be worth 100000 l. the works of the Town were as strong as any in England the Moate deep yet the Parliaments Soldiers waded through and 30 foot in the breadth of it Ordered that a considerable summe of money should be sent to Sir Thomas Fairfax to dispose for rewards to such of his Officers as had gallantly demeaned themselves in this Action They ordered also that it should be proclaimed by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet that such Officers of Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army as were now in Town for recruits should forthwith repair to Reading to receive recruits and to march away with them and order was taken for the recruits to be ready An Ordinance past for charging upon the Excise 500 l. for the prisoners taken at Naseby who were willing to serve the Parliament against the Irish Rebels The Commons by message put the Lords in mind of an impeachment against the Earl of Stamford formerly presented to their Lordships and now they desire a time may be appointed for proceedings to be had therein to which the Lords said they would send an answer by messengers
Houses with the Calamities in Scotland which occasioned the advance of their Army Northward and some Flourishes about it A Committee to consider of the Excise another of what Prisoners are fit to be ransomed 15. Upon the Report touching the Speaker and his Brother's sending 6000 l. to Oxford from the Committee of Examinations it was voted by the House a false and malicious scandal and they referred to a Committee to consider what punishment was fit to be inflicted on the Authors of it Divers of Bristoll petitioned That M. G. Skippon might be Governour there and the House referred it to Sir Thomas Fairfax L. G. Lesley marched with his Forces beyond Tweed M. Temple with a Party from Henley came undiscovered to a Village near Wallingford where a Party of the King 's were quartered killed the Sentinels took a Captain and six and thirty Horse The King's Forces burned down Master Cartwright's House at Ayno and all the Outhouses and plundered him to the value of eight hundred pounds 16. The House ordered that all the Books and Manuscripts of the Lord Littleton which should be discovered should be bestowed upon Whitelocke and the Speaker to grant his Warrant to search for them and to seize them and deliver them to him Whitelocke undertook this business as he had done others of the like kind to preserve those Books and Manuscripts from being sold which the Sequestrators would have done but he saved them to have the present use of them and resolving if God gave them an happy accommodation to restore them to the Owner or to some of his Family An Ordinance was sent up to the Lords touching the Church in Covent-Garden The Hangings taken at Bridgewater after being sold the moneys were sent to Sir T. F. to bestow among the Officers and Souldiers Several Ordinances about Money and for payment of their Debts to Tradesinen The Prince Elector's Ordinance debated An Ordinance for the Government of Vlster and disposing the Church-lands there by Sir Arthur Onslow and Sir Robert King and others Five thousand pounds Composition on the Earl of Devon The Scots Papers referred to a Committee 17. Debate about the Church-business Orders for new Elections Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax and Lieutenant General Cromwell brought by Colonel Mountague and Colonel Hammond informed the particulars of the taking of Bristoll as before and that Prince Rupert went for Oxford convoyed by two Regiments of their horse That they took in it about a hundred and forty pieces of Cannon mounted store of Arms and Ammunition and Provisions In Cromwel's Letter was this passage It may be thought that some praises are due to these gallant men of whose Valour so much mention is made their humble suit to you and all that have an interest in this blessing is that in remembrance of God's praises they may be forgotten It 's their Joy that they are Instruments to God's glory and their Countries good It 's their honour that God vouchsafes to use them Sir they that have been imployed in this Service know that Faith and Prayers obtained this City for you Sir Thomas Fairfax lost but two hundred men in the Siege and storm They retook here and at Bridgewater all the Cannon which the Earl of Essex lost in Cornwall The Sickness was much in Bristoll yet but one of the Parliament Souldiers died of it though they were often in the infected Quarters A day of thanksgiving ordered for the Success at Bristoll and a Collection for the poor there and a Letter of Thanks to Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Officers and Souldiers and a Committee appointed to consider what reward is fit to be given them The House sate in the Afternoon about private Petitions 18. Debate about besieging Chester The Speaker rose not being well and the House sate in a Grand Committee in Debate of the business of the Church A Paper published taken in the King's Cabinet at Naseby Fight wherein the Earl of Portland late Lord Treasurer acknowledgeth to have received of the King's Gift Ten thousand pounds and in Gratuities which some call Bribes Thirty three thousand five hundred pounds more and the King's hand was to it in allowance of it Letters from the Earl of Argile and others to the Scots Commissioners here and communicated to the House informed that they had cut off all Montross's Foot and routed all his Horse taken many Prisoners and some General Officers That Lieutenant General David Lesly was prosecuting the Victory 19. A Letter of Thanks to Sir Thomas Fairfax passed and another to Lieutenant General Cromwell Order for the Ministers in and about London the next Lords-day to give thanks to God for the late good success against Montross in Scotland and some of their members were sent to the Scots Commissioners to Congratulate this Victory Order for imploying the horse under Colonel Jephson till they be ready to be transported into Ireland About six hundred in Sussex were risen in the Nature of Club-men but well armed and declared for the King The House referred it to the Committee of both Kingdoms to take special care for the suppressing of them The Clubmen of Devonshire declared for the Parliament killed the Governour of Barnstable Sir Leven Apsley and divers of his party 20. The Grand Committee for money sate and after much debate voted That the Court of Wardes and all the tenures except soccage should be taken away and in lieu thereof should be raised in England and Wales 100000 l. per. ann this was confirmed by the House and Ordinances appointed to be brought in for this purpose and to free from Wardship those whose Fathers died in the service of the Parliament Whitelocke made report of the answer which he drew to the Scots papers and a day was set for the debate of it An Ordinance for money for Portsmouth Sir Thomas Fairfax with his Army advanced towards the Devises the King from Worcester attempted to go to Oxford but was hindred by M. G. Pointz 22. Order for money for Souldiers Widdows Disabling of Sir Ralph Verney to be a member of Parliament and an Order for a new Election at Aylesbury Orders for raising money and Forces Major Young dispersed the Club-men in Sussex took two Ministers leaders of them and divers other prisoners News came from Oxford that Prince Rupert and Colonel Legg were confined and Sir Thomas Glenham made Governour there M. G. Pointz took about 100 of the King's horse 23. Order That the Scots Army be desired to sit down before Newarke and that they gather no Contribution nor levy any Tax in England Another Order for money for their Army Upon a Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax of the good service of Mr. Ash and Mr. Moore in Somersetshire they had the thanks of the House they being members of it Letters informed of the taking of the Castle of the Devizes by L. G. Cromwell surrendred to him upon conditions and in it five
the Marquess of Ormond the Earl of Glamorgan the Lord Digby and others of great concernment and mentioning preparations for Irish Rebels hither which so inraged the Countrey people that they put to the Sword thirty Irish taken by them in that Vessel at Padstow 10. Difference of Opinion between the Houses about the Earl of Derby the Lord Pawlet Sir John Byron and Sir Jo. Strangways whom the Lords thought fit not to except from Pardon Col. Rainsborough sent to command the Forces before Banbury had power of Martial Law given him Letters informed that Sir William Brereton entred Litchfield with the loss of three men slain and some wounded that he killed six of the enemy and beat the rest into the Close being a thousand horse and soot A Sally out of Newarke with four hundred horse and a thousand foot upon the Scots Guards the Bridge being down none of the rest of the Army could come to assist them and the Newarkers were double the number to the Scots in that place but after a little time some got over to them and the Newarkers retreated having killed one Captain two Lieutenants and eight Soldiers and about twenty wounded and few of their own party left behind them 11. The accounts of the Committee of Excise brought in and a Vote passed to continue the Excise in such hands as both houses shall think fit and order for advancing of eighty four thousand pound upon the Excise for the Army Divers other orders about the Excise and one for two thousand pound for Abbington Garrison Letters informed that the Army advanced from Bodman towards Truro but by reason of bad weather put into Quarters that a party of 800 Horse and Dragoons was sent under Col. Rich to fall upon the enemies Quarters which they did near St. Columbe being the Princes Regiment consisting of about eight hundred they of the Van Charged Rich's men but were quickly put to the rout and pursued three or four miles Rich's men took about an hundred Prisoners most of them Reformado's whereof M. G. Perâ— was one twenty nine of the Princes Guard and a hundred Horse this so allarm'd the Enemy that they left their head Quarter for a Mile and drew all their Horse to a rendezvous upon a down at eleven a clock at night where they stood in the rain till the next morning A Trumpet came with an Answer from the Lord Hopton to Sir Tho. Fairfax's Summons implying a willingness to end the business of the West without more blood-shed but desires to know whether the King and Parliament be not near to a conclusion of a Peace that he being intrusted may be careful of the Kings Honour and a Treaty is entertained and in the mean time Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army advanced The Letters taken in the Trish Ship mentioned the Commitment of the Earl of Glamorgan to be to colour that business and that a Peace was concluded with the Irish Rebells and that ten thousand of them were ready to come into England to assist the King 12. The day of thanksgiving for the late successes in the West Letters from Abbington certified that they had several allarms from Oxford and the last Lords day at six in the Morning a great party of Horse and Foot came near to Abbington Town who took the Allarm and were in a posture to receive them That the Cannon played upon them half an hour from the Town and did good execution that the Oxford Party notwithstanding their words that they would gain the Town or leave their bones there yet they ran away and the Horse could not be perswaded to stay but taking up about ten of their Fellows dead bodies they all retreated to Oxford That the Soldiers wanted no Courage but Money and are put to watch almost every night 13. The Assembly of Divines desired by some of their brethren sent to the House That Mr. Patrick Young might be incouraged in the Printing of the Greek Testament much expected and desired by the Learned especially beyond Seas and an Ordinance was read for Printing and Publishing the Old Testament of the Sepâ—uagint Translation wherein Mr. Young had formerly taken pains and had in his hand as Library-keeper of St Jame's an Original Tecta Bible of that Translation Orders for Money for Soldiers Wives and Widows and to the train of Artillery The Petitions of London Westminster and Middlesex touching the setling of the Militia and the differences thereupon referred to a Committee to be composed A Party from Oxford plundring Basing-stoke and the pressed men going to Sir Thomas Fairfax mutinied at Farnham their Conductor Col. Ven being very imperious and not pleasing to them but it was soon appeased Foy was delivered up to Sir T. Fairfax and thirteen pieces of Ordnance in it 14. An Ordinance past both Houses for setling and regulating the Heralds Office to effect which Whitelocke laboured and was one of the Committee for that end but opposed by many inclining to leveling Order for a Pass for the Earl of Northampton and twenty Officers with him to go beyond Sea provided they take the Negative Oath Votes that the Great Seal should be in the hands of Commissioners Members of both Houses and in the present Commissioners for six Months longer Both Houses agreed to the Ordinance for setling Presbyterian Government Letters informed that Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Lord Hopton agreed upon these Articles That the Lord Hoptons Army should presently be disbanded and his Horse Arms and Ammunition Artillery Bag and Baggage delivered up to Sir Tho. Fairfax Officers to have their Horses and Troopers twenty shillings a man Strangers to have Passages to go beyond Sea and English to go to their homes A hundred and twenty Musqueteers Armed came out of Pendennis Castle and yielded themselves to Sir T. F. That the Lord Hopton surrendred to Sir Tho. Fairfax near three thousand horse 16. Votes touching the Affairs of Ireland and the Commission to be granted to the Lord L'isle appointed Governor there Care for Money for Major General Massies Forces Reference to a Committee to consider what places of benefit are held by any Members of the House and to report it Conference about the propositions for Peace Harwarden Castle was surrendred to Major General Mitton and he besieged Holt Castle A Party from Hereford and Monmouth surprised sixty Horse in the Stables of Gotherick Castle burnt the Stables and Besieged the Castle A Party from Worcester came within a Mile of Evesham plundered and took away some Country men Prisoners but were pursued by a Party from Evesham the Prisoners and Plunder rescued and eighteen of their Horse taken 17. The House being informed that the Prince was in Silley and in some streights for want of Provisions they agreed that a Letter should be written to him in a loving and tender way from both Houses of Parliament to invite him to come in to the Parliament and to reside in such place and have such
conditions were very honourable one much insisted on was that the Cathedral should not be defaced The General advanced towards Barn-stable and sent Parties to Besiege Salt-combe and Dunster Castle 13. Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax certified the Surrender of Exeter and that he had nominated Col. Hammond to be Governor there which the House approved Lieutenant Colonel Grimes and Mr. Potter Messengers from Sir Tho. Fairfax of this good success had one hundred pound a piece given them Letters from Major General Mitton informed the surrender of Ruthin Castle to him and in it two Drakes and a Murdering-piece Arms Ammunition and Provisions That Captain Simkins and Captain Carter fell upon the Enemy near Denbigh killed seven of them and took divers Officers and Soldiers Prisoners That Sir Trevor Williams fell upon a party of those of Ragland killed fourteen and took forty Prisoners and Arms that divers Officers and others came in to him to submit to the Parliament Col. Mason by desire of Major General Mitton was made Governor of Ruthin Castle and Mr. Fogge a Minister that brought these Letters had fifty pound for a gratuity Letters certified divers good successes of the Parliaments Forces in Ireland and the taking of the Earl of Thomond Prisoner 14. Debate about reducing the receipts of the Kingdom into one general way Order that Committees shall not meddle with any matter of Title or any private interests between Party and party without special authority from both houses of Parliament Upon a Book of printed papers touching the Scots differing about the Propositions for Peace both houses voted That the matter in those printed papers was false and scandalous against the Parliament and Kingdom of England and should be burnt by the common Hangman and a Declaration to be of the truth of those proceedings and that the Author of this Book was an incendiary between the two Kingdoms It was not without some ground of suspition that some of the Scots Commissioners themselves encouraged if not appointed the printing of this Book which caused the more sharpness in divers towards it Order for other Papers to be published about the payment of their Army Religion and the propositions for Peace 15. The Ordinance for the Assesment for Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army sent to the Lords to be continued for four Months longer A Convoy ordered for Ships trading from New-Castle and the Northern parts An Ordinance sent to the Lords for constituting a Church in Dover for the Protestants French and Walloons A Pass granted to the Earl of Northampton to go beyond Sea The Siege of Newarke went on smartly and the Town wanted Provisions Barn-stable was surrendred to the Parliament on the same terms as Exeter and Sir Tho. Fairfax was upon his march towards Oxford many old Soldiers wondred at his speed 16. A Committee named to consider of the Breach of Priviledges of the Parliament in the Ministers Petition A Committee named to consider of those well affected persons who had Offices in the Court of Wards which would be lost by taking away of that Court and how they might be recompensed particularly the Lord Say and Sir Benjamin Rudyeard 17. Order to Licence the East-India Company to transport five thousand pound of Forreign Bullion A Petition of the Lord Inchequin Lord Broghil and others referred to the Committee of the Irish Affairs Maintenance as formerly continued to Sir Robert King Mr. Annesley and Col. Beale the Parliaments Commissioners in Ireland The Declaration touching the Scots Papers passed and ordered to be printed Col. Rainsboroughs men received some loss attempting to Storm Woodstock Mannour 18. Major Dingley made Governor of Evesham The Declaration was published upon occasion of the Scots Papers and to settle a right understanding between England and Scotland and to vindicate the proceedings of the Parliament of England the same is in Print and worth the reading Letters from the Army informed that Exeter was surrendred according to the Articles and Sir John Berkley the Governor marched forth with about two thousand men that as soon as they were out of the Gate seven hundred of them being Cornish men and divers others laid down their Arms and went to their own dwellings and that Sir Allen Apseley was to surrender the Fort the next day 20. Order for ten thousand pound per An. for the Queen of Bohemia and for Money for the Prince Elector Order for the Chambers of Mr. Mostyn and Mr. Stampe in the Temple to be given I think to Mr. Hill A Message from both Houses to the Scots Commissioners desired their speedy answer touching the propositions for Peace that they might be speedily sent to the King Mr. Norfolke and others made Serjeants at Arms. The Batteries went on against Newarke and the Garrison desired liberty to send to the King about surrendring of it Sir William Brereton summoned Litchfield Close to surrender and informed them of the defeat of Sir Ja. Ashley and the rendition of Exeter Barnstable c. Sir Thomas Tidsley and Col. Bagot returned a short and peremptory denyal 21. Almost the whole day was spent in debate of the Ministers Petition and many votes passed for the power of Parliaments in spiritual matters sought to be impeached by this Petition as well as in Temporal and Questions ordered to be drawn up concerning Government jure Divino to have the answer of the Assembly thereunto The Preface to the Pamphlet entituled the Scots Commissioners Papers and the stating of the question concerning the propositions for Peace were burnt by the Hangman In Exeter the Parliament had thirty pieces of Ordnance store of Ammunition and Provisions Mount-Edgecombe was surrendred to Col. Hammond Governor of Exeter and in it thirty pieces of Ordnance store of Arms and Ammunition The Earl of Bristol and Lord Pawlet had leave to stay sometime in Exeter to make their Peace with the Parliament or to get Passes to go beyond Sea 22. Order that every Member that came into the House after Prayers should pay one shilling to the Poor For a new Election and for a new High-Sheriff For payment of a debt of Arms and for continuing the Committee of Middlesex Lieutenant General Cromwell and Sir Hardress Waller came to London from the General to advise about the motion of the Army The Kings Party gave out that six thousand Irish were Shipped for Wales that Montross with twelve thousand men was upon the Borders advancing to the King and their hopes upon the differences between the Presbyterians and Independants and between the Scots and the Parliament 23. Lieutenant General Cromwell sate in the House and the Speaker by command gave him hearty thanks of the House for his good Services Differences between Sir Jo. Danvers and the Lady Gargrave referred to a Committee Order for fifteen thousand pound a months pay for the Scots Army before Newarke the Countrey not being able to bear their Quarter St Michaels Mount Surrendred Order to recommend to Sir
for these Mercies Fifty pound given to Mr. Row the Commissioners Secretary before Newarke A Committee appointed to draw Reasons to satisfie the Lords for demanding the Kings Person as was formerly voted 11. Letters advised of the Kings advancing Northwards with the Scots Army and that a house was preparing for his Majesty in Newcastle this caused the resuming of the debate for demanding the Kings Person but voted to be disposed of and to reside near his Parliament not to go to Warwick Castle The Lords concurrence desired to Votes That his Majesty be desired to give command for the Delivery up of all Forts in England Ireland and Wales into the hands of the Parliament and to dissolve the Commissions for Peace with the Irish Rebels and to leave the prosecution of that War to the Parliaments care Letters from Col. Whaley of the surrender of Banbury Castle upon Articles and left there ten pieces of Ordnance five hundred Arms nine Colours Arms Ammunition Malt Beef Wheat Bisket twenty Cows and sixty Sheep An hundred pound ordered to Col. Whaley to buy him two horses and five hundred pounds to the Engineer twenty pounds to the Messenger Letters of the Particulars of the surrender of Newarke that there went out with the Lord Bellasis the Governor the Lord Deincourt the Lord Lexington twelve Knights and many Gentlemen of one thousand five hundred foot all went to their several homes that the Articles were exactly performed and they left in the Town fourteen Pieces of Ordnance three thousand Arms store of Ammunition and Provisions and the Town very strong but the sickness was violent in it Letters of oppressions by some of the Scots Forces in the North upon whom the Countrey rose and some of both partys were killed A day appointed to consider thereof and of sending Forces into the North to protect the well affected and to hinder resort of malignants to the King and how to dispose of the Scots and other Forces and of Carlisle and other Forts which the Scots supplyed being in their hands 12. The day of thansgiving observed Letters of the Scots Army being on their march Northward the King in the van of them and that the Scots Commissioners desired a Meeting with the English Commissioners to give an account of their sudden departure and reasons for their not delivering up Mr. Ashburuham according to the Order of Parliament Letters that Sir Tho. Fairfax had made his approaches near the works at Oxford and finished the Bridge at Marston that Oxford Garrison made a Sally out but were beaten back one of their men killed and one of the Parliaments wounded that the approaches were so near that the Officers and Soldiers of either Parties parlied one with another and those of the Garrisonseemed troubled at the Kings goingto the Scots Army The General was a person of as meek and humble carriage as ever I saw in great imployment and but of few words in discourse or Council yet when his Judgment and Reason were satisfied he was unalterable except it were by Letter whereof as was fit he was the only Judge But I have observed him at Councils of War that he hath said little but hath ordered things expresly contrary to the judgement of all his Council and in action in the Field I have seen him so highly transported that scarce any one durst speak a word to him and he would seem more like a man distracted and furious than of his ordinary mildness and so far different temper The General sent a Summons to the Governor to surrender Oxford for the use of the Parliament expressing his unwillingness to do any thing of damage to that famous University and offering to them honourable terms Sir Thomas Glemham the Governor desired a safe conduct for Sir Jo. Mounson and Mr. Philip Warwick to come to the General to speak with him from Sir Thomas Glemham first which was assented to and the same day a Summons was sent to Wallingford Bostol and Radcot 13. An Ordinance sent to the Lords enabling the Lord L'isle Lieutenant of Ireland to beat up Drums to raise six thousand Foot and eight hundred and fifty Horse for Ireland another for Money for the Forces there A Letter for Sir Thomas Fairfax to spare a hundred Horse for recruits for Col. Jephson and referred to consider how an able Ministry might be setled in Ireland and that a thousand pound given by a Gentleman for the service of Ireland should be imployed for maintainance for Ministers there Reasons given by the Commons to the Lords why they adhered to their Votes for demanding the Kings Person That in England the disposal of him belonged to the Parliament of England and that the Scots Army were in Pay of the Parliament of England that the King ought to be near his Parliament and it was consonant to the Covenant The Scots Commissioners here presented papers to the House touching stay of their Packets of Letters the last Week Another Letter agreed on to be sent to the Prince further inciting him to come in to the Parliaments Quarters with offers of due respects beseeming a Prince Letters that M. G. Mitton fell upon the Lord Byron at Carmarthen beat them out of the Town into the Castle Letters of Dudley Castle being surrendred to Sir William Brereton upon Articles which were sent up to the Parliament and approved by them 14. A Letter of thanks to the Commissioners at Newarke for their care in that business and in demolishing the works of the Town Debate of the Scots Commissioners Papers touching the seizing of their Pacquet at the Court of Guard and the Speaker was ordered to deliver to them a paper inclosed in their pacquet which was in characters and no subscription to it nor Superscription Debate touching the Scots Commissioners Papers about the propositions for Peace and what inteterest Scotland had in the affairs of England in relation unto Peace and some Votes passed thereupon The Scots Commissioners failed to meet with the English Commissioners in the North about the delivering up Mr. Ashburnham Sir Jo. Mounson and Mr. Warwick who came from the Governor of Oxford to Sir Tho. Fairfax desired only liberty for the Governor to send to the King to know his pleasure touching the surrender of Oxford which the General denyed next day a Trumpet was sent to the General to desire longer time Wallingford also desired leave to send to the King but it was denyed News came that Prince Rupert made a Sally out of Oxford but was beaten back and himself wounded in the shoulder 15. Debate about the Scots Papers concerning the propositions for Peace Order for the Arrears of M. Mathews The General Muster put off The high Sheriff of Devon impow'red to bring forth his Regiment out of his County Allowance ordered to the Marquess of Winton 16. Some of the Common Council came to the House and desired the general Muster might not be wholly put off
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
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
settle differences between well affected Tenants and disaffected Landlords and to consider of Judges for Wales Dr. Hudson the Kings Guide was long examined in the House and committed close Prisoner to the Tower for Treason Orders for sixty pound to the Officers and Troopers that brought up Dr. Hudson and for the discharge of Col. Morrice and for sixty pound to the Serjeants Deputies 22. The Grand Committee sate upon matter of Religion and the Lords Ordinance prohibiting any to Preach but those who are ordained The King propounded to the Scots Commissioners two Quaeries in what condition he stood whether a free man or under restraint if not a free man then his answer to their desires would not be valid They pressed him to assent to the Propositions if not they must acquaint him with the resolutions of the Parliament of England The King replied he knew them and demanded if he went to Scotland whether he should be there with Honor Freedom and Safety to which they gave no answer 23. The Grand Committee sate about the payment of the Soldiers 25. The House received a Declaration of Scotland sent to the Scots Commissioners here to be communicated to both Houses of Parliament to this effect Reciting former transactions with the King and his denyal to sign the Propositions that the King hath often declared his desires to be near the Parliament of England who have communicated to them that Holmeby House is the place they think sit for his Majesty to come unto there to remain with safety of his Person in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms according to the Covenant Therefore and in regard his Majesty hath not given a satisfactory answer to the Propositions and to keep a right understanding and prevent new troubles to satisfie the desire of his Majesty the Parliament of England to prevent misinformation and to satisfie the estates of the Parliament of Scotland do declare their concurrence for his Majesties coming to Holmeby House or some other of his Houses in or about London there to remain till he satisfie both Kingdoms in the Propositions of Peace And that in the interim there be no harm done to his Person that there be no change of Government other then hath been the three years past and that his Posterity be no way prejudiced in their Lawful Succession They are assured that the intentions of their Brethren are the same and they conclude that they will endeavour to keep all right between the Kingdoms according to the Covenant and Treaties They desire 1. That a Committee of both Kingdoms attend his Majesty and press him to grant the Propositions and if he refuse to determine further what is necessary for continuing the Vnion and that no agreement be made with the King distinct 2. That such Scots as have Places about the King may exercise them except Persons excepted and none be barred access or attendance who have warrant from either Parliament 3. That the one Kingdom assist the other in case of trouble 4. That England agree for some Competency for the Scots Forces in Ireland A Committee touching the Accounts of the Kingdom Orders for one thousand eight hundred pound for Sir Philip Stapleton for his Arrears and for two thousand five hundred pound for Col. Thompson and for Captain Torneton Major of London Derry to be sent for in Custody to answer the Committee of Accounts Order for Sir Thomas Fairfax to have his five thousand pound per An. out of Delinquents Estates excepted Orders for Disbanding the Troop of Wilts and for six thousand pound for the Regiment of Northampton-shire and for twelve thousand five hundred pound for the reduced Officers A Committee to confer with the Judges about bringing excepted Persons to a speedy Tryal An Ordinance read for Sale of Delinquents Estates who are excepted but they to be first tryed Order for six thousand pound for the Garrison of Portsmouth out of such Delinquents Estates as the Gentlemen of Hampshire should name Upon the Lord L'Isle's desire Major Harrison voted to go with him into Ireland A Letter from the French Ambassador to the Lords that he had Letters of Consequence from the King his Master to the Parliament 26. Divers Compositions past that of Mr. Goodale rejected because he lately killed a man in cold Blood In the afternoon the House sate about the Scots Papers Letters from the North informed that the Scots had received their Money and given Acquittances for it That the Parliament of Scotland sent their resolution to the General and Commissioners to deliver the King to the Commissioners of England to be conducted to Holmeby Major General Skippon published a Proclamation at the head of every Regiment of his Convoy that no Officer or Soldier under his Command either in Word or Deed give any just occasion of offence to any Officer or Soldier of the Scots Army but demean themselves towards them civilly and inoffensively as becometh Brethren Letters from the North that the Scots had shipped their own Ordnance and Carriages that they sent but fourteen Troopers to Convoy their Money 27. The Monthly Fast After the Sermons the House met and ordered a general Fast day throughout the Kingdom to beseech God for the rooting out of Heresie and Blasphemies At a Conference both Houses agreed to the Scots desires That when the Scots Army is out of the Kingdom and the King come to Holmeby Commissioners be sent from both Kingdoms to press his Majesty to pass the Propositions and Sign the Covenant And if he refuse then to consider how to settle the Kingdoms according to the Covenant and Treaties that nothing be concluded with the King but according to the Treaties that no Person excepted be admitted to the King that those chosen to attend him at Holmeby be but for a time nor any prejudice to be to those who have adhered to the Parliament and that when any trouble ariseth in either Kingdom the other to assist according to the Treaties 28. Order for Money for the reduced Officers Mr. Barrill approved to be Attorney General in Ireland Orders for the Assesments for Ireland to be continued for discharging of Sir Robert King and Sir Jo Clotworthy from being Commissioners for Ireland upon their own desires and for supplys for Dublin Order for Newport Pagnell to be slighted and the Ammunition there to be sent to Ireland Orders for all the Officers and Soldiers designed for Ireland speedily to repair to the Sea Side and for six pound a Week allowance for the Lady Ranelagh and for five hundred pound for Col. Temple for his Arrears The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland took his leave of the House 29. Debate in the Grand Committee concerning Persons Preaching who were not Ordained The Commission agreed for the Agent of the Turkey Company to Constantinople sent up to the Lords and they consented to it 30. The Grand Committee sate concerning the pay for the Army Letters
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
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
to the house to give way to it and the Commons concurred and that the Earl of Northumberland should go with the Children to the King and take care of their return Order for the Lord Major of York to have the charge of Cliffords Tower there The Soldiers in Dublin were in a high Mutiny Col. Jones the Governor in danger to be killed by them yet he appeased the Mutiny with great Courage and stoutness Some little Defeats were given to the Rebels and sometimes to the English some of the leading Rebels taken Prisoners by Col. Coots Forces twenty five killed five hundred Cowes a thousand sheep and two hundred and fifty Plough-Horses taken Indeavours were used in Scotland to raise an Army there to invade England several debates about it at Edinborough and by the Estates but nothing concluded 13. The first day of relaxation for Scholars and Apprentices Many Apprentices came to the Parliament with a Petition which they presented to the Commons set on by their Masters and others their desires were 1. That the House according to promise take into consideration the several heads of a petition of theirs delivered the fifth of March last 2. That the authority of Parliament so apparently abused contrary to Right by those that have of late effected the ejections of men of known Fidelity out of places of Trust redeemed and those so expulsed may be restored 3. That they would declare against all invectives of the Clergy 4. That those who have appealed to this Court of Justice may have an impartial Tryal 5. That the sum of all the endeavours of Parliament may tend to the sweet composure of differences The Petitioners had Answer by some Members that were Citizens That their Petition would be considered in due time And they were commended for their civil carriage in presenting it Orders for slighting of Garrisons The Lords desired the Commons Concurrence to an Order for Money for the Earl of Kildare the Commons rejected it because the Lords had first made the Order for Money which was not proper for them to do but afterwards the Commons made a new Order for two hundred pound for the Earl 14. A contrary Party of the London Apprentices came to both Houses with a Petition 1. That according to the Covenant the Kings Person may be defended and his just power in defence of Religion and Liberties be estabished 2. That the Priviledges of Parliament may be vindicated and the Liberties and Property of the Subject preserved 3. That the Government of the Church may be setled and Conventicles suppressed 4. That Incendiaries Malignants and evil instruments hindering reformation and raising Divisions may be punished 5. That Obstructions in Courts of Justice may be removed and the abuse of Committees and their Officers considered 6. That Arrears of Soldiers may be paid 7. That the Army may be disbanded 8. Against Forreigners being free of London Thus each Party might frame what matter they pleased into Petitions and have hands to them and multitudes to present them The answer to this Petition was That divers matters thereof were under consideration and the rest should be considered in due time The Lords gave leave for the Marquess Winton to go out of Town The Earl of Clare had his Priviledge of Peer allowed him 15. According to a former Order of the House several Members of the House brought in their Case stated touching their Elections and the point of being disable to sit in the House and they were referred to a Committee Letters from Major General Pointz and another from his Wife informed the manner of his imprisonment by his own Soldiers and their seizing of his goods The House ordered Copies of them to be sent to the General with directions for the discharge of Pointz or sending him up to London and a Letter ordered to the Lord Mayor of York to discharge and restore his goods to him The Kings Children went with the Earl of Northumberland to Causham to see their Father 16. Orders touching supplys and managing the Forces in Ireland A Proposition for the Earl of Ormond to transport five thousand five hundred men out of Ireland was denyed by the House Orders for Pay and disbanding of Forces come off from the Army The Kings Children coming to Causham to meet their Father great numbers of People slocked thither to see them and strewed the ways with green bows and herbs After Dinner at Maiden-head the King and his Children went together to Causham 17. Vote That all the Forces in England and Wales c. be under the immediate Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax and for disbanding of divers Forces Order for putting Reformades out of the Line and about money for the Army 19. The eleven Members in Person presented to the House an answer by way of Demurrer to the Charge of Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army against them which was for the present laid aside Votes for divers Garrisons to be slighted and the Deputy Lieutenants to see it done Bristol Castle and the great Fort at Caernarvon to be continued the keys of the Garrison to be delivered to the Mayors of the Corporations to be governed as formerly Leave given to the Lawyers to go the Circuits Upon information from Col. Birch of some distempers in his Regiment Ordered that the General send them away for Ireland The Assembly in Scotland debated about a Declaration concerning the Affairs of England relating to the King the Parliament and Army Letters from Ireland informed the taking of eight or nine thousand Cattle from the Rebels but they by a strategem killed betwixt thirty of forty of the Parliaments Forces and That they are forced for want of Bread and Money to leave the Field and retire into Garrisons A design to surprize Dublyn discovered and prevented and the Actors apprehended 20. Upon a Message from the eleven Members of their desires to absent themselves for six Months That in the mean time the great affairs of the Kingdom mentioned by the Army might be setled without any interruption from their lesser business The House voted That they or any of them should have leave and Passes to go into the Countrey or beyond Sea for six Months and then to return to the Parliament to attend concerning the Charge against them Upon information that a Multitude of People were coming up to the doors of the House in a tumultuous manner The House Ordered that the Guards do disperse them And that the Serjeant at Arms acquaint that it was the pleasure of the House that they remove themselves That an hundred Halberts be brought into the House for their Service That the Militia order the Guards constantly to suppress such disturbers of the House and that Col. Webbe see the Guards daily placed Letters from the Commissioners of the Army with these new Proposals from the Army 1. That a Declaration be published against the
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
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
were forced to lye in Taverns that they are unwilling Mr. Marshal should preach there and many of them would willingly be in England again that many endeavor to engage a Party against England The Soldiers in the North were disbanded according to the Parliaments Order and the Countrey eased of their Free Quarter Dr. Leyfield was by the Court-Marshal acquitted of the accusation against him for Counterfeiting the General 's hand The like acquittal of the Officers of Col. Herberts Regiment accused for conspiring against Glocester 29. The Declaration passed the Commons in answer to the Scots Papers Voted by both Houses that none shall raise any men to be transported beyond Sea without Warrant from the Committee at Derby House The Committee of Estates excepted against the Credentials of the English Commissioners because they were directed to the Parliament of Scotland which did not then sit but only the Committee of Estates But the English Commissioners shewed their Instructions to the Committee of Estates also Col. Jones took in the Town of Kildare upon Quarter only and a house near to another Garrison within half a mile of Kildare being accidentally on fire the English Soldiers before Kildare seeing it ran down thither and entred pell mell into the Garrison and took possession of it and several other small Garrisons were rendred to Sir Tho. Armstrong sent by Col. Jones to them Divers other Castles and Garrisons were taken in by Col. Jones and some were fired by the Rebels March 1647. March 1. Debate touching the Church-business Order of both Houses for Hampton Court to be made ready for the Kings Children to be there Sir Jacob Ashley admitted to compound Order to consider to morrow of disposing the Great Seal and no other business to intervene Order to continue the Comittee of the Admiralty for seven Months Order for a guard of Ships for the Northern Coasts and trade of Fishing there Order touching the Commissioners of the Customs 2. Order for three new Elections Order that the Earl of Kent Sir Tho. Widdrington and Bulstrode Whitelocke Esquire shall be Commissioners for the Great Seal of England for twelve Months and that an Ordinance be brought in accordingly Which Ordinance was brought in and read and passed the House of Commons and ordered to be sent to the House of Lords for their Concurrence These Commissioners were said to be agreed upon by the private juncto of Cromwell's party before-hand to be trusted with this great charge and in the debate of the business several others of both Houses were propounded but after a great debate these three only were pitched upon The Earl of Kent being a very honest just man of good rational parts and abilities and of an antient great Family who would be a Countenance to this business was held a fit person for the Lords House Sir Tho. Widdrington being a Gentleman of known integrity and of great abilities in his Profession and brother in Law to the General whose Sister he had married was very fit to be one of the House of Commons to be intrusted with so weighty an imployment Whitelocke was well known and understood in the House by his long attendance there and by them judged not uncapable of this imployment besides the General had an affection for him and he had a good interest in the House and Cromwell and his Party were willing to ingage him as far as they could with them Letters from the Committee of Pembroke shire that Mr. Poyer formerly Major of Pembroke and now Governor of that Castle refused to deliver it up to Col. Flemming who had a Commission from the General to be Governor of it Order for an Ordinance to settle this business 3. Order for a new Election Letters from the Committee of Kent concerning the Propositions of that County in the Assesment for the Army referred to the grand Committee for that Ordinance 4. A Committee to draw up an Ordinance to prevent and suppress all private Ducls and Quarrels An Ordinance passed both Houses for reducing of Pembroke Castle and requiring the General to bring Col. Poyer and his adherents to Justice The General sent this Ordinance to the Forces before Pembroke Castle with orders for them to send it to Col. Poyer into the Castle and to signifie to him that if he did not render the Castle in twelve hours after this notice then they were to endeavour by force to reduce it Debate touching the Commissioners of the Customs and their Officers Orders for relief of maimed Soldiers and Widows and Letters to the Judges in their several Circuits to put in execution the Ordinances concerning them Three French Ships taken by the Parliaments ship under Captain Pen. 6. Ordinance sent up to the Lords for the further establishment and maintenance of the Army Order to sell the Coats of the Kings Guard to buy fire and candle for the Forces at White Hall and the Mues Orders touching Compositions to commit those Delinquents who refused to compound A Patent Ordered for Mr. Petty for seventeen years to teach his art of double writing Letters from the Commissioners in Scotland of their Proceedings Debate about the business of the Fennes The Committee of Estates in Scotland ordered the disbanding of their Army by a day if danger did not in the mean time appear and they appointed a Committee called the Committee of danger 7. The Ordinance sent up to the Lords for setling Lands of the Earl of Worcester of two thousand five hundred pound yearly value upon Lieutenant General Cromwell and his Heirs in recompence of his great service Order for the Ordinance to be brought in for setling five thousand pound per An. upon the General Sir GilbertGerrard ordered to be Chancellor of the Duchy Mr. Miles Corbet and Mr. Robert Goodwin were by order made Registers of the Chancery in the place of Col. Long one of the eleven impeached Members Additional instructions concerning the Miscarriages of the Scots Commissioners here were passed and ordered to be sent to the Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland and the large Declaration in answer to the Scots Papers passed both Houses and was ordered to be Printed The Composition of Sir Jacob Ashley and others passed The Town of Hull sent a long Letter to the General setting forth divers Calumnies raised against them their own former actions relating to the reception and assistance of Sir Jo. Hotham and his Son and their refusing and resisting the Earl of Newcastle and others testifying their great affection and service to the Parliament and vindicating their integrity Then they complained against their present Governor Col. Overton for imposing upon them free Billet for his Soldiers when free quarter was taken off from all the Countrey and they hoped to reap the fruits of Peace and settlement and they pray relief herein from his Excellency The General gave answer to the Letter That he though it unreasonable that Town should be exempt more than others from free Billet
his Majesty had agreed to the proposition for recalling Oaths Proclamations c. and the preamble thereof Letters from Lieutenant General Cromwells quarters That Messengers came to him from the Lord Argyle and his Associates to inform him of their dislike of Duke Hamilton's coming into England with his Army and of Monroe's being there with his Forces and desired Cromwells assistance against them That Cromwell by advice of his Council of War answers that he will assist them and with all heartiness joyn with them against Monroe and desires nothing more than the subduing and rooting out of trust all loose persons and such as are Enemies to goodness and good men and desires his Letter may be kept as a Testimony against him and those under him of their hypocrisy if they did not joyn with them for these ends with all cordialness Letters that Monroe fell upon a Party of Argyle's men when they were in Treaty contrary to the Agreement The Lords voted the approbation of Lieutenant General Cromwells entring into Scotland by directions from the Committee of Derby House and that he may assist those in Scotland who dislike Duke Hamiltons coming into England if they shall desire it of him Divers after they were called over in the House went out of Town again the same day God forgive them for their Negligence 27. The publick Fast-day Letters from France of the troubles there and of Mazarine and the Prince of Conde c. 28. The Commons concurred to the Votes of approving Lieutenant General Cromwells entring into Scotland and to a Letter to be written to him to prosecute his Victory and take all advantages for recovery of Berwick and Carlisle Letters that Colonel Monk fell upon the Scots quarters in Ireland who were drawing out under Major General Monroe to joyn with his Nephew Monroe's Forces in Scotland that he had taken Carickfirgus and Belfast and had Monroe and all his Forces Prisoners Order for five hundred pounds to be bestowed on Colonel Monk and a Letter of thanks to him and his Officers and Souldiers and that he be Governour of Belfast and be advised with for a Governour of Carickfirgus and the Committee of Derby House to give him a Commission and to consider of an Establishment of pay for his Forces This Action and success was one of the first that brought Colonel Monk into extraordinary favour with the Parliament and Army who began to have more confidence in him than they had formerly since his revolt to them Order for a day of thanksgiving for this success in Ireland Letters that the King and the Commissioners in the Treaty proceeded upon the proposition for setling of the Church Government 29. Debate of an Ordinance for setling five hundred pounds per annum Salary upon each of the Judges of the Admiralty and a Proviso agreed upon that they take no mony of any persons upon any pretence whatsoever Order for five thousand pounds out of Delinquents Estates for payment of the Horse-guards that attend the Parliament Upon Petition of the Commissioners of the Excise all the Members of the House were added to the Committee of Excise and Ordered in their several Counties to endeavour the removal of all obstructions in that receipt Both Houses past a Declaratory Vote that nothing should be binding between the King and Parliament till all were concluded in the Treaty Major Miles Corbet a Member of the House being assaulted and wounded by some Cavaliers as he past in a Boat upon the Thames the Serjeant at Armes was ordered to apprehend the Malefactors Liberty given for Major Ashburnham to return into England to prosecute his Composition 30. Debate of an Ordinance for raising a hundred thousand pounds for pay of arrears of reduced Officers The Officers of the Committee of Haberdashers Hall coming to seise the goods of the Earl of Lauderdale who came with the late Scots Army to invade England they found a File of Musquetiers as a Guard to oppose them the House ordered the Militia of London to secure those guards and to give an account to the House of the business The Lord Admiral offered indemnity to the revolted Ships and the Prince offered the like indemnity to the Lord Admiral A Member of the House coming out of the City was assaulted by three Cavaliers but he and a Friend with him repulsed the Assaulters Colonel Rainsborough and a Captain with him upon the High way near London were assaulted by three others of the Kings party who after a little bickering ran away a Captain of the Army and a Major were in the like manner assaulted in London and both killed It was dangerous for any Member of the House or of the Army to walk without Company for fear of being assassinated and the Committee of Derby House were informed that a certain number of the Kings Party had combined to massacre eighty Members of the House of Commons whom they suspected averse to their hopes A Petition in the name of many thousands of Oxfordshire agreeing with the large Petition of the City against the Treaty Letters from the Head quarters of great want of pay for the Souldiers which forced them to take free-quarter and that it was to be feared neither the Country nor the Souldiery would long undergo it That Letters came to the General out of Scotland of the good corespondence betwixt Lieutenant General Cromwell and Argyle Letters came to the General from good hands and others from France of a design of the Cavaliers to stab him October 1648. 2. A Letter from his Majesty by Captain Titus That he will consent to confirm by Act of Parliament the sitting of the Assembly of Divines and the Directory of Worship for three years and the form of Church Government provided that the King and those of his judgment who cannot submit to it be not obliged to comply That a free consultation and debate with the Assembly be had in the mean time twenty of his Majesties nomination being added to them whereby it may be determined how Church Government and the form of publick Worship shall be after that time and how Religion may be settled and the Articles determined and care taken for the ease of tender Consciencs Concerning the Bishops lands and revenues his Majesty will consent to Acts of Parliament whereby legal Estates for lives or for ninety nine years shall be made of those lands towards satisfaction of purchasers or others to whom they are ingaged or his Majesty will order some other way for their further satisfaction providing that the propriety and Inheritance of those lands may still remain to the Church That his Majesty will consent to Acts for the better observation of the Lords day for suppressing innovations in Gods worship and for the advancing of Preaching And to acts against Pluralities and Non-residencies for regulating the Vniversities and Colledges for the better discovery and conviction of Popish Recusants and
desired 4. To that concerning the Court of Wards a recompence being assured to his Majesty his heirs and successours of one hundred thousand pounds per annum The General explained his former Letter concerning the quarter given to the Lord Goring and Lord Capel that it did not extend to any other but the Military power and that they were notwithstanding liable to Tryal and Judgment by the Civil Power otherwise any who was Treacherous or had revolted might get quarter from a private Souldier and so not be further questionable With divers other reasons given by him to the same purpose Letters from Scotland that M r Parsons sent to them from the King had complaints of the miseries suffered by the late Ingagement that they refer the King to their agreement with Lanerick and their Declaration and beseech him at last to hearken to the advice of his Parliament in consenting to the propositions of both Kingdoms Especially to those concerning the Covenant and Reformation of Religion which they understand to be the Point he sticks most at and they in Honour and interest are most obliged to stick to and without which they tell him his Kingdom cannot be established in righteousness That they have also writ to the Prince dehorting him from that course of opposition he is now in and from attempting any act of hostility against that Kingdom and since all worldly policy and projects have failed that he would apply his endeavours to mediate with his Father to consent to the propositions of both Kingdoms and especially the Covenant Letters from Major General Lambert's quarters that divers of his men were set upon as they past up and down by some of the Scots and many injuries offered to the English that six of his Regiment with Quarter-Master Diamond were set upon by fourteen of the Scots and fought with them about a quarter of an hour left three of the Scots sprawling upon the ground and wounded most of the rest routed them and came off without any hurt only one of the English had a cut of his hand That the Committee of Estates taking notice of these things have indeavoured to prevent the like for the future and to give satisfaction for what is past The Lords consented to the Sergeants that were named and the Commons also the Speaker moved that Whitlock might be suspended from being a Sergeant at present in regard of Swearing the rest which was likely to fall to his share But this was opposed until Whitlock spake and shewed them the necessity that either Sir Thomas Widdrington or he must make the Speech to the rest of the Sergeants and Swear them which they could not do if both of them were to be Sworn and that upon Conference together he was perswaded to take that trouble upon himself and to have his Swearing suspended if they pleased Nevertheless the House in favour to Whitlock would not wholly excuse him but Voted that he should not be Sworn a Sergeant till further order The House passed Mr. Hatton to be Sergeant 24. Order for five hundred pound for Sir Anthony Welden in satisfaction of his losses by the Kentish Rebels against whom he was very active Upon the Generals answer to the Parliaments Letter touching Sir Henry Cholmley the question was whether he should be subject to the commands of the General or the Parliament only and Voted that he should be subject to the General Orders for disbanding Supernumerary Forces in several Counties not of the Army Debate about Ordinances for Dr. Bastwick Mr. Burton and Mr. Pryn to have reparations for the illegal Sentences against them in the Star-Chamber Both Houses agreed upon seven persons to be exempted from pardon viz. The Lord Digby Lord Cottington Sir Robert Heath Sir Francis Doddington Sir George Ratcliffe Sir Richard Greenvile and Sir Charles Dalison Several compositions past Letters from Newcastle that Cromwel Haselrigge and the Committee ordered the slighting of several Northern Garrisons that the Army coming thither was entertained with great Guns and ringing of Bells and feasting That Sir John Chiesely and others were posting up to London to declare that Kingdoms dislike of their late Armies invading England and to desire a fair correspondency Letters of a design to betray Pendennis Castle some of the conspirators were taken and one of them adjudged to death by Sir Hardresse Waller and his Council of War Another who was imployed to corrupt the private Souldiers was not tryed but sent up to the Parliament because he was no Souldier himself but a Country-man many others of them fled 25. The publick Fast-day 26. Voted that the Kings last Message concerning Episcopacy was un-satisfactory And a Committee appointed to draw up the particulars wherein it was un-satisfactory that his Majesty might have the same in writing An Ordinance transmitted to the Lords for payment of Tithes to the Ministry Letters from the Committee of Estates in Scotland desiring a fair correspondency and brotherly Vnion between the two Nations And that Sir John Chiesely was intrusted to deliver by word of mouth other particulars of their desires Order that the Letter be communicated to the Lords and Sir John Chiesely referred to the Committee of Derby-house to impart further particulars to them Order for five thousand Suits of Cloaths for Cromwels Souldiers The Lords concurred that the Kings Paper concerning Episcopacy was not satisfactory 27. Voted that that part of the Kings answer concerning the taking of the Covenant is un-satisfactory Also that concerning the taking away of Arch-bishops Bishops Deans c. Also that concerning the abolishing of Popery in desiring to have it tolerated in the Queens Chappel and for her Family Also that for alienating of Bishops Lands and sale of Dans and Chapters Lands and many others A Committee appointed to draw up the Covenant in such a form as may be proper for his Majesty to take it A Committee ordered to consider of his Majesties Concessions to any part of the Propositions and to draw them up into Bills to be tendred to his Majesty An Ordinance past for repayment of Money advanced by the Merchant Adventurers for the service of the Navy 28. Letters from Colonel Jones in Ireland That the Marquess of Ormond was upon concluding a peace with the Irish Rebels the Lord Inchequin complying and all to joyn against the Parliaments party there the design hatched in England by the fomenters of the second War and the Scots who last invaded England and should then have broken out and given forth to be by Commission from the King He desires the House seriously to consider of it Order that a Message be forthwith sent to his Majesty to desire him to declarè against the Rebellion of Ireland and against this Truce with the Rebels and to require the Marquess of Ormond to forbear joyning with the Rebels against the Protestants The Parliaments Commissioners with the Army agreed with the General
as they give satisfaction 3. That publick Justice may be done upon some Capital causers and actors in this War 4. That the rest upon submission may have mercy for their lives 5. That the Souldiers may have their arrears and publick debts be paid out of Deliquents Estates 6. That a period be set to this Parliament and a provision for new and more equal Representatives of the People Then they offer rules for this Representative power and that it be the Supream power That no King be hereafter admitted but upon Election of and in trust for the People by such Representative That the General settlement be done by this Parliament and established by a general contract and agreement of the People with subscriptions thereunto and none to be capable of benefit by this agreement without subscribing thereunto nor any King be admitted to the Crown or any other to any Office without Subscribing to it These things they press as good for this and other Kingdoms and hope it will not be taken ill because from an Army and so servants when their Masters are servants and trustees for the Kingdom This Remonstrance induced a long and high debate some inveighing sharply against the insolency of it others palliated and excused the matters in it and some did not stick to justify it most were silent because it came from the Army and feared the like to be done by them as had been done formerly in fine the debate was adjourned 27. Ordinance transmitted to the Lords touching the Sale of Bishops Lands Order to stay all process against any for selling Tobacco without licence from former Patentees of that Monoply and referred to a Committee to examine that matter the like order touching the Office of Wine licences An additional proposition past by the Commons to be sent to the King that he would pass such Acts as should be presented to him by both Houses for strengthning the Vnion between England and Scotland Both Houses agreed to continue the Earl of New-Castle one of the seven to be excepted from Pardon and Sir Jo. Byron to be put in for another in stead of Sir John Winter Order of both Houses for three thousand pound for Colonel Rossiter and all the Forces in Lincolnshire except his Troup to be disbanded Letters from the Isle of Wight that the King refused to pass any thing against the Marquess of Ormond until the Treaty be wholly ended and that he adheres to his former resolution concerning Bishops and that their Lands be leased only for 99. years and not sold The Commissioners of the great Seal sate in Chancery without Sir Tho. Widdrington and heard many Motions till past two a Clock then the new Serjeants came in their party-coloured Robes and their servants and the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court with them after they were come the Judges of the Kings Bench and after them the Commissioners of the great Seal went to the Common-Pleas Court where they sate in the middle of the Bench the Chief Justice of the Kings Bench on the Right hand of the Earl of Kent and the Lord Chief Baron on Whitelocks Left hand and the other Judges on either hand of them in their antiquity and the Barons of the Exchequer on a form on the Right side of the Court. The new Serjeants were brought up in their antiquity singly by two of their Elder Brethren to the bar where they Counted and when they had done a Gentlemen their Friend appointed by them did deliver their several Rings to the Earl of Kent first then to my Lord Grey next to Whitelock then to the Chief Justice and Chief Baron and to the rest of the Judges and Barons in their Antiquity This ceremony held till past four a Clock in the afternoon 22. Orders touching levying the assessments and disbanding supernumerary Forces Upon a Report from the Committee of the Army the House approved of the General his drawing the Army into Towns and Garrisons and of his Listing no more Forces and disbanding supernumeraries An Ordinance past for five thousand pound out of the Delinquents Estates in Essex for the gratuity promised to the Souldiers that were before Colchester Upon the desire of Colonel Birch a Member of the House the place of high Steward of Lemster with the profits thereof was conferred on him being void by the Delinquency of Sir Walter Pye And upon the desire of M r Thomas Waller of Grey's Inn Order for the Commissioners of the great Seal to pass a Patent to constitute him the Judge of the Isle of Ely Letters from the Hague that six more of the revolted Ships were come in and that a Challenge past betwixt Prince Rupert and the Lord Culpepper The Commissioners heard some causes and a few Motions in Chancery and then rose and went to the Kings Bench where they did swear Serjeant Brown a Judge of that Court Sir Thomas Widdrington made a short speech to him which he answered and then took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and of a Judge Then the Earl of Kent delivered to the Secondary of the Kings Bench the Patent for him to be a Judge of that Court which was read and afterwards the Earl of Kent delivered the Patent to Sergeant Brown and he took his place of the third Judge of that Court. From thence they went to the Common-Pleas where Sir Tho. Widdrington made a short speech to M r Sergeant S r John and Sergeant Bedingfield who answered him and then their Patents were read and delivered to them and Sergeant S r John was sworn Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and Sergeant Bedingfield the Puisne Judge of that Court. From thence they went back to the Kings Bench where Whitelock made a short speech to Sergeant Jermyn and he answered him and then his Patent was read and delivered to him and he took the Oaths and his place of a Fuisne Judge of that Court. From thence they went into the Exchequer where Sir Thomas Widdrington spake not long to M r Gate who answered him and was sworn and received his Patent and was made a Baron of that Court. 23. Letters from the Isle of Wight with his Majesties ultimate answer concerning Bishops That he cannot with a good conscience consent to the total abolition of the function and power of Bishops nor to the intire and absolute alienation of their Lands as is desired because he is yet per swaded in his judgment that the former is Apostolical in the institution and that to take away the latter is Sacriledge Neither can his Majesty communicate in a publick form of Divine service and administration of the Sacraments where it is wholly uncertain what the Minister will offer to God To this the Commissioners answered That it was not the Apostolical Bishop which the Bill desired his Majesty to remove but that Episcopacy which was formerly established by Law in this Kingdom grown up to an height of outward pomp and
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
Court of Justice sate in the afternoon and heard proofs to the Impeachment the King was brought from Windsor to St. James's in Order to his Tryal The General Councel of the Army met and the draught of the agreement of the People was subscribed by many of them and Sir Hardress Waller and sixteen other Officers were appointed to present it to morrow to the House of Commons Information of a Vessel taken by Colonel Russel Governour of Guernsey and Captain Burley in her A Petition from North-Wales to the Councel of the Army complying with their Remonstrance c. for which the Councel gave them thanks The two Lords Commissioners of the Seal still refused to joyn in signing Warrants for Writs to adjourn the Term whereupon Sir Tho. Widdrington and Mr. Whitelock went to the Speaker and acquainted him with all passages and their intentions in this business to procure an Act of the House of Commons to command Sir Thomas Widdrington and Mr. Whitelock to sign Warrants without the Lords for Writs to adjourn the Term and to draw an Act for that purpose the Speaker approved of this way and offered that he would present the Act to the House for this purpose 20. Lieutenant General Hammond and divers chief Officers of the Army presented to the House in the name of all the Army from the General Council of the Army a Petition and a Writing concluded on by them intituled an Agreement of the People of England desiring a serious and speedy consideration thereof by the House The Petition was read but not the Writing it being long and the House having resolved to rise at twelve a Clock in regard the Commissioners for Tryal of the King were to sit in the afternoon yet they returned to the Officers this answer and Ordered That the thanks of the House should be given to these Officers for their particular and great services to the Kingdom and that they be desired to return the hearty thanks of the House to his Excellency the Lord General and all the Army for all their unwearied and gallant services to the Nation And that the Petition with this answer should be forthwith printed and published that the Kingdom might take notice of the Union and affection between the Parliament and Army and for the Agreement and Declaration they should be taken into speedy and serious consideration Upon a conference betwixt the King and Mr. Hugh Peters and the King desiring that one of his own Chaplains might be permitted to come to him for his satisfaction in some scruples of conscience Doctor Juxon Bishop of London was Ordered to go to his Majesty Order that the Commoners Commissioners of the Great Seal should issue forth Writs for adjourning of the Term though the Lords Commissioners did not joyn with them The High Court of Justice sate in the place in Westminster-Hall made for them the President had the Sword and Mace carryed before him and twenty Gentlemen attended as his guard with Partizans commanded by Colonel Fox After an O yes and silence made The Act of the Commons of England for sitting of the Court was read and the Court was called sixty of the Members appeared The King was brought from St James's to White-Hall and from thence by Water guarded with Musquetiers in Boats to Sir Robert Cottons House near Westminster-Hall and from thence to the Bar of the Court attended by Colonel Hacker with about thirty Officers and Gentlemen with Halberts At his coming to the Foot of the stairs he was met with the Mace of the Court and conducted to a chair within the Bar where he sate down in the Face of the Court they all being covered as well as his Majesty The Lord President in a short speech acquainted the King with the cause of his bringing thither in Order to his Tryal upon a charge against him by the Commons of England which was then to be read and his Majesty to give his answer thereunto The King Offered to speak before reading of the Charge but upon some interruption was silent and the Charge was read By which he was charged in the name of Charles Stuart King of England as Guilty of all the Blood that had been shed at Kenton Brainford Newbury and other places where he had been present in Arms against the Parliament and other particulars very large The King smiled at the reading of his Charge and after it was read demanded of the President by what lawful Authority he was brought thither and being answered in the name of the Commons of England He replyed he saw no Lords there which should make a Parliament including the King and urged that the Kingdom of England was hereditary and not successive and that he should betray his trust if he acknowledged or made answer to them for that be was not convinced that they were a lawful Authority After he had been often demanded to answer and refused he was remanded to Sir Robert Cottons House and thence to St. James's and the High Court adjourned and kept a Fast together at White-Hall Sir Thomas Widdrington seemed to scruple the signing of Warrants without the Lords for adjourning of the Term. 22. The Commissioners of Scotland delivered some Papers to the House and declared that Scotland had an undoubted interest in the person of the King that he was not delivered to the English Commissioners at New-Castle for the ruine of his person but for a speedier settlement of the Peace of his Kingdom That they extream'y dissent and declare against the Tryal of him and that this present way of proceeding against him leaves a deep impression on them and sits heavy on all their Spirits in regard of the great miseries that are like to ensue upon the Kingdoms And they moved for leave of the House to make their personal Addresses to the King The House referred it to a Committee to draw up an answer to the Parliament of Scotland This Declaration with some Papers from the Parliament of Scotland were likewise presented by their Commissioners to the Lord General A Letter to the General from the Officers before Pontefract Castle concurring in the Action of trying the King secluding the Members of Parliament who carried on corrupt designs and acknowledging the present proceedings of the Army to be the work of God alone The High Court of Justice sate and the King was again brought to the Bar. Mr. Coke Sollicitor General moved That whereas the Prisoner had refused to make answer to the Charge against him that now he might be directed to make a positive answer either by way of confession or negation which if he shall refuse to do that the matter of the Charge may be taken pro confesso and the Court may proceed according to Justice The President then required the King to answer to the Charge against him by the Commons of England of High Treason c. The King confessed
when he was last here he made the question of their Authority and should have satisfied himself with the Protestation he then made against the legality of this Court and that a King cannot by Tryed by any superiour Jurisdiction on Earth But he said it was not his case alone that he stood for but the freedom of all the People of England for if power without Law may make or alter Law no Subject can be safe for his life or any thing that he calls his own Then he said he would give his reasons why in conscience and the duty he owed to God first and his People next for the preservation of their Lives Liberties and Estates he conceived he could not answer till he were satisfied of the legality of it President Sir I must interrupt you which I would not do but that what you do is not agreeable to the proceedings of any Court you appear as a Prisoner before this Court and are not to dispute their Authority but to give a punctual answer to the Charge King Sir by your favour I do not know the forms of Law I do know Law and reason though I am no Lawyer professed but I know as much Law as any Gentleman in England and therefore under favour I do plead for the Liberties of the whole People of England more than you do and therefore if I should impose a belief upon any without reasons given for it it were unreasonable but I must tell you that reason that I have as thus informed I cannot yield unto it President Sir I must interrupt you you may not be permitted you speak of Law and reason it is fit there should be Law and reason and there is both against you Sir the Vote of the Commons of England in Parliament is the reason of the Kingdom by Law you should have ruled and reigned Sir You are not to dispute our Authority you are told it again by the Court Sir it will be taken notice of that you stand in contempt and your contempt will be recorded King I do not know how a King can be a Delinquent let me tell you they may put in Demurrers against any proceedings as legal and I demand that and to be heard with my reasons if you deny that you deny reason President Sir you have offered something to the Court I shall speak something to you the sence of the Court Sir neither you nor any man are permitted to dispute that point you are concluded you must not demurr to the jurisdiction of the Court if you do I must let you know that they over-rule your Demurrer they sit here by the Authority of the Commons of England and all your predecessours and you are responsible to then K. I deny that show me one Precedent P. Sir you ought not to interrupt while the Court is speaking to you this point is not to be debated by you neither will the Court permit yâ—u to do it if you offer it by way of Demurrer to the jurisdiction of the Court they have considered of their jurisdiction and do affirm their own jurisdiction K. I say Sir by your favour that the Commons of England were never a Court of Judicature I would know how they came to be so P. Sir you are not permitted to go on in that speech and these discourses Then the Clerk of the Court read this aloud Charles Stuart King of England you have been accused on the behalf of the People of England of High Treason and other crimes the Court have determined that you ought to answer the same K. I will answer the same so soon as I know by what Authority you do this P. If this be all that you will say then Gentlemen you that brought the Prisoner hither take charge of him back again K. I do require that I may give in my reasons why I do not answer and give me time for that P. 'T is not for Prisoners to require K. Prisoners Sir I am not an Ordinary Prisoner P. The Court hath considered of their jurisdiction and they have already affirmed their jurisdiction if you will not answer we shall give order to record your default K. You never heard my reasons yet P. Sir your reasons are not to be heard against the highest jurisdiction K. Shew me what Jurisdiction where reason is not to be heard P. Sir we shew it you here the Commons of England and the next time you are brought you will know more of the pleasure of the Court and it may be their final determination K. Shew me whereever the House of Commons were a Court of Judicature of that kind P. Sergeant take away the Prisoner K. Well Sir remember that the King is not suffered to give in his reasons for the liberty and freedom of all his subjects P. Sir you are not to have liberty to use this language how great a Friend you have been to the Laws and Liberties of the People let all England and the world judge K. Sir under favour it was the liberty freedom and Laws of the Subject that ever I took to defend my self with Arms I never took up Arms against the People but for the Laws P. The command of the Court must be obeyed no answer will be given to the Charge K. Well Sir Then the Officers guarded the King back again to Sir Robert Cotton's House and the Court adjourned The Commissioners met at Mr. Brownes House the Clerk of the Parliament where the Great Seaâ— lay and there Sir Thomas Widdrington and Mr. Whitelock without the two Lords did sign a Warrant for Writs to adjourn the Term the two Lords Commissioners were present though they did not joyn in this yet they did in other business There were strict Guards many Souldiers and a great press of people at the Tryal of the King The House sate only to adjourn Some who sate on the Scaffolds about the Court at the Tryal particularly the Lady Fairfax the Lord Generals Wife did not forbear to exclaim aloud against the proceedings of the High Court and the irreverent usage of the King by his Subjects insomuch that the Court was interrupted and the Souldiers and Officers of the Court had much to do to quiet the Ladies and others 23. Report of an Ordinance that where upon Indictments c. it was formerly said contrary to the peace of our Soveraign Lord the King his Crown and dignity it should now be said against the peace justice and Council of England That Writs out of the Chancery should go in the name of the Chancellour or Keepers of the Seal and in other Courts in the name of the Judges The High Court of Justice sate Mr. Coke Sollicitor General moved That whereas the Prisoner instead of giving answer to the charge against him did still dispute the Authority of the Court that according to Law if a Prisoner shall stand as contumacious in contempt and shall not give an Issuable Plea Guilty or not
Guilty whereby he may come to a fair Tryal that as by an implicit confession it may be taken pro confesso as it hath been done to those who deserved more favour than the Prisoner and that therefore speedy judgement be pronounced against him President Sir you have heard what is moved by the Council in behalf of the Kingdom against you Sir you may well remember and if you do not the Court cannot forget what dilatory dealings the Court hath found at your hands you were to propound some questions you had your resolution upon them You were told over and over again that the Court did affirm their own jurisdiction that it was not for you nor for any other man to dispute the jurisdiction of the Supreme and highest Authority of England from which there is no appeals and touching which there must be no dispute yet you did persist in such carriage as you gave no manner of obedience nor did you acknowledge any Authority in them nor the High Court that constituted this Court of Justice Sir I must let you know from the Court that they are very sensible of these delays of yours and that they ought not being thus authorised by the Supreme Court of England to be thus trifled withal and that they might in justice if they pleased and according to the rules of justice take advantage of these delaies and proceed to pronounce judgment against you Yet nevertheless they are pleased to give direction and on their behalfs I do require you that you make a positive answer to this Charge that is against you Sir in plain terms for Justice knows no respect of persons you are to give your positive and final answer in plain English whether you be Guilty or Not guilty of these Treasons laid to your Charge King After a little pause When I was here yesterday I desired to speak for the Liberties of the people of England I was interrupted I desire to know yet whether I may speak freely or not President Sir You have had the resolution of the Court upon the like question that last day and you were told that having such a Charge of so high a nature against you and your work was that you ought to ackowledge the jurisdiction of the Court and to answer to your Charge Sir if you unswer to your Charge which the Court gives you leave now to do though they might have taken the advantage of your contempt yet if you be able to answer to your Charge when you have once answered you shall be heard at large make the best defence you can But Sir I must let you know from the Court as their commands that you are not to be permitted to issue out into any other discourses till such time as you have given a positive answer concerning the matter that is charged upon you King For the Charge I value it not a rush it is the Liberty of the people of England that I stand for for me to acknowledge a new Court that I never heard of before I that am your King that should be an example to all the people of England to uphold justice to maintain the old Laws indeed I do not know how to do it You spake very well the first day that I came here on Saturday of the obligations that I had laid upon me by God to the maintenance of the Liberties of my people the same obligation you spake of I do acknowledge to God that I owe to him and to my People to defend as much as in me lies the antient Laws Therefore until that I may know that this is not against the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom by your favour I can put in no particular answer if you will give me time I will shew you my reasons why I cannot do it and thus Here being interrupted he said By your favour you ought not to interrupt me how I came here I know not there 's no Law for it to make your King your Prisoner I was in a Treaty upon the publick Faith of the Kingdom that was the known two Houses of Parliament that was the Representative of the Kingdom and when that I had almost made an end of the Treaty then I was hurried away and brought hither and therefore Here the President said Sir You must know the pleasure of the Court. King By your favour Sir President Nay Sir by your favour you may not be permitted to fall into these discourses you appear as a Delinquent you have not acknowledged the Authority of the Court the Court craves it not of you but once more they command you to give your positive answer Clerk Do your duty King Duty Sir Then the Clerk read a paper requiring the King to give a positive and final answer by way of confession or denyal of the Charge King Sir I say again to you so that I might give satisfaction to the people of England of the clearness of my proceedings not by way of answer nor in this way but to satisfy them that I have done nothing against that trust that hath been committed to me I would do it but to acknowledge a new Court against their Priviledges to alter the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom Sir you must excuse me President Sir This is the third time that you have publickly disavowed this Court and put an affront upon it but how far you have preserved the Liberties of the people your actions have spoke it but truly Sir mens intentions ought to be known by their actions you have written your meaning in bloody Characters throughout the Kingdom But Sir you understand the pleasure of the Court. Clerk record the default And Gentlemen you that took the charge of the Prisoner take him back again King I will say this one word more to you if it were my own particular I would not say any more to interrupt you President Sir you have heard the pleasure of the Court and you are notwithstanding you will not understand it to find that you are before a Court of Justice Then the King went forth with his Guards to Sir Robert Cottons house where he lay 24. The House only met and adjourned The High Court of Justice was expected to sit but they sent an Usher to tell the people there assembled that the Court was busy in the Painted Chamber examining witnesses in relation to the present affairs and should not sit in Westminster-Hall that day but that all persons appointed to be there were to appear on further summons About four a clock this afternoon all the Judges by appointment met at Sergeants-Inn to advise with the Committee about the new style of Writs in which matter the Judges seemed not to be very forward to joyn with them 25. The House met and adjourned The High Court of Justice met and proceeded in examination of Witnesses to prove the Charge against the King some proved that they saw him present at the setting up of his
to endeavour to the last gasp the peace of the Kingdom So Sirs I do wish with all my Soul and I do hope there is some here that will carry it further that they may endeavour the peace of the Kingdom Now Sirs I must shew you both how you are out of the way and will put you in a way first you are out of the way for certainly all the way you ever have had yet as I could find by any thing is in the way of conquest Certainly this is an ill way for Conquest Sirs in my opinion is never just except there be a good just cause either for matter of wrong or just title and then if you go beyond it the first quarrel that you have to it that makes it unjust at the end that was just at first But if it be only matter of Conquest then it is a great robbery as a Pyrate said to Alexander that he was a great robber he was but a petty robber and so Sirs do I think the way that you are in is much out of the way Now Sirs to put you in the way believe it you will never do right nor God will never prosper you until you give him his due the King his due that is my Successours and the People their due I am as much for them as any of you can be You must give God his due by regulating rightly his Church according to his Scripture which is now out of order for to set you in a way particularly now I cannot but only this A National Synod freely called freely debating among themselves must settle this when that every opinion is freely and clearly heard For the King indeed I will not then turning to a Gentleman that touched the Axe he said hurt not the Axe that may hurt me For the King the Laws of the Land will clearly instruct you for that therefore because it concerns my own particular I only give you a touch of it For the People and truely I desire their liberty and freedom as much as any Body whomsoever but I must tell you that their liberty and their freedom consists in having of Government those Laws by which their life and their goods may be most their own It is not for having Share in Government Sirs that is nothing pertaining to them a subject and a Soveraign are clean different things and therefore until they do that I mean that you do put the People in that liberty as I say certainly they will never enjoy themselves Sirs it was for this that now I am come here if I would have given way to an arbitrary way for to have all Laws changed according to the power of the Sword I needed not to have come here and therefore I tell you and I pray God it be not laid to your Charge that I am the Martyr of the People In troth Sirs I shall not hold you much longer for I will only say this to you that in troth I could have desired some little time longer because that I would have put this that I have said in a little more order and a little better digested it than I have done and therefore I hope you will excuse me I have delivered my conscience I pray God that you do take those courses that are best for the good of the Kingdom and your own Salvation Then D r Juxon spake Will your Majesty though it may be very well known your Majesties affections to Religion yet it may be expected that you should say somewhat for the worlds satisfaction K. I thank you very heartily my Lord for that I had almost forgotten it In troth Sirs my conscience in Religion I think is very well known to the world and therefore I declare before you all that I dye a Christian according to the profession of the Church of England as I found it left me by my Fathers and this honest man I think will witness it Then turning to the Officers he said Sirs excuse me for this same I have a good cause and I have a gracious God I will say no more Then turning to Colonel Hacker he said take care that they do not put me to Pain and Sir this and it please you Then a Gentleman coming near the Axe the King said Take heâ—d of the Axe pray take heed of the Axe Then he said to the Executioner I shall say but very short Prayers and then thrust out my hands Two men in disguises and vizors stood upon the Scaffold for Executioners Then the King called to D r Juxon for his Night-cap and having put it on he said to the Executioner does my Hair trouble you he desired it might all be put under the cap which the King did accordingly by the help of the Executioner and the Bishop Then the King turning to D r Juxon said I have a good cause and a gracious God on my side D r Juxon There is but one stage more this stage is turbulent and troublesome it is a short one but you may consider it will soon carry you a very great way it will carry you from Earth to Heaven and there you shall find a great deal of Cordial joy and comfort King I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbance can be D r Juxon You are exchanged from a temporal to an eternal Crown a good exchange Then the King took off his cloak and his George which he gave to Dr. Juxon saying Remember some other small ceremonies were past after which the King stooping down laid his Neck upon the block and after a very little pause stretching forth his hands the Executioner at one blow severed his head from his Body Then his Body was put in a Coffin covered with black Velvet and removed to his lodging Chamber in White-hall At this scene were many sighs and weeping Eyes and divers strove to dip their handkerchiefs in his Blood The House sate early and the Dutch Ambassadors having sent them a transcript of their Ambassy in English it took up much time in the reading and was referred to a Committee to draw up the answer to it An Act past to prohibit any to proclaim the Prince of Wales or any other to be King or chief Magistrate of England or Ireland without consent of Parliament on pain of High Treason Some imperfect Copies of the proceedings at the Tryal of the King being printed the House referred it to the High Court to draw up a Narrative of those proceedings to be confirmed by the House The Act forbidding the proclaiming of any King was Ordered to be sent down to all the Sheriffs to be proclaimed in all Counties Duke Hamilton and the Lord Loughborough escaped out of Windsor-Castle 31. Between three and four a clock this morning Letters came from Windsor to Lieutenant General Cromwell of the escape of Duke Hamilton and his man the last Night Warrants were presently issued forth and five hundred pound promised
Painted Chamber and such who had any evidence to give against the Earl of Holland Earl of Cambridge Lord Goring Lord Capell and Sir John Owen or any of them were to repair thither where they might be heard A Committee to examine the Authours and publishers of a Pamphlet and such as have preached printed and published seditiously the proceedings in bringing the King to justice and to prepare an Act to restrain the preaching and printing any thing against the proceedings of the House and of the High Court of Justice Letters from Scotland that the Parliament and priests there are at much variance that they bring all to the stool of repentance that were in the last invasion of England yet they are now as much as ever Enemies to the proceedings of the Parliament and Army in England That they talk big of raising an Army in revenge of the Kings Blood and all will joyn unanimously against the Sectaries of England and ground themselves upon breach of the Covenant Letters from New-Castle that many Ships were loaden with Coals for London and the Coast clear and their Governour Sir Arthur Haselrigge and some Officers of the Garrison were gone for London Letters from Pontefract that upon notice of the Kings execution the Garrison made a stout Salley but were beaten in again In the House the debate was long and smart concerning the Lords House 6. Debate concerning the House of Lords and the question being put whether the House of Commons should take the advice of the House of Lords in the exercise of the Legislative power of the Kingdom it was carried in the Negative by many voices Then they voted That the House of Peers in Parliament is useless and dangerous and ought to be abolished and that an Act be brought in to this purpose A Committee named to draw up an Act for making the Estates both of the late Members of Peers and likewise of the House of Commons liable to the Law for payment of all debts Referred to a Committee to consider of a way to take away all Appeals to the Lords and to discharge all persons committed by them in relation thereunto and how the Peers may be elected Burgesses and Knights to serve in the House of Commons Debate what Government to set up in England and Ireland and whether Kingship should be abolished or not Divers Sheriffs made Scruple of acting in their Office because of the Death of the King Order for instructions to be drawn up therein Order for Sergeant Bradshaw to make a Deputy in Guild-Hall where he is Judge in regard of his imployment in the High Court The accounts allowed of the Charges of the Kings Tryal Letters that the Irish Pyrates take divers vessels at Sea from the English and that the several Parties in Ireland are agreed to carry on the designs of the Prince of Wales It was put upon Whitelock to draw an Act to take away the House of Lords wherein he desired to have been excused in regard he was not in the house when the vote passed and had Declared his opinion against it but he could not get excused 7. Debate whether the Government by Kings should be abolished and upon the Question whether it should be referred to a grand Committee of the whole House it was carried in the Negative Then after a long and quick Debate they passed this vote Resolved upon the Question by the Commons of England in Parliament assembled That it hath been found by experience and this House doth declare That the Office of a King in this Nation and to have the power thereof in any single person is unnecessary burthensome and dangerous to the liberty safety and publick interest of the People of this Nation and therefore ought to be abolished and that an Act be brought in to that purpose A Committee appointed to bring in names of persons not exceeding forty to be a Councel of State Instructions passed for drawing new Commissions for the Judges the new Great Seal being ready The Judges appointed to meet with the Speaker and a Committee of the House about the Judges Commissions The High Court of Justice sate receiving witnesses and preparing the Charges against the five persons to be tryed The Earl of Holland sent up by post that he was dangerously sick at Warwick-Castle The Corps of the late King was removed from St. James's to Windsor to be interred in St. George's Chappel there and monies allowed for it An Act appointed to be brought in to make Sir Thomas Widdrington and Whitelock Commissioners of the new Great Seal with a blank for others to be added 8. Instructions passed for Commissions to the Judges of whom six agreed to hold viz. Rolles Jermyn St. John Pheasant Wilde and Yates provided that by Act of the Commons the fundamental Laws be not abolished The other six Judges viz. Bacon Brown Bedingfield Creswell Trevor and Atkins were not satisfied to hold Order for altering the Judges Oaths formerly in the name of the King now to be in the People A Committee appointed to bring in a list of fit persons to be Justices of peace in every County Instructions passed for rewards to such as shall bring in any of the revolted Ships The Duke of Richmond and others had leave to attend the late Kings funeral at Windsor Widdrington and Whitelock without the Lords who were in Commission with them yet having an Act of the House of Commons for it they went with the old great Seal to the House Mr. Malbon the usual Seal-bearer carried it to the door where Widdrington and Whitclock took the Purse and Seal in it and both of them holding it brought it in solemnly into the house all the Members being silent and laid it down upon the Table in the house Then the House past an Act for the old Seal to be broken and a work-man was brought into the house with his tools who in the Face of the house upon the Floor brake the old Seal in pieces and the house gave to Widdrington and Whitelock the pieces and purse of the old Seal After this the House passed another Act for establishing the new Great Seal to be the Great Seal of England Then they read another Act to constitute Widdrington and Whitelock to be Commissioners of the New Great Seal which occasioned Sir Thomas Widdrington to stand up and excuse himself very earnestly because of his unhealthfulness but that excuse would not be allowed Then he further excused himself by reason of some scruples in conscience which he had concerning the acting in this high place though he did acknowledge the Authority and submit to it and had Acted by vertue of it in signing a Warrant for a Writ to adjourn the Term and bringing in the new Great Seal without the Lords Commissioners Upon a long Debate the House did excuse Widdrington and to manifest their respects for his former services
particulars mentioned by my worthy Colleague that spake last in which I have owned your Authority And for a strict formal pursuance of the Ordinary rules of Law it hath been hardly to be discerned in any of the late proceedings on either side in all our great and weighty transactions Unavoidable necessity hath put us upon those courses which otherwise perhaps we should not have taken I am sure my sitting and acting here is according to the known Laws of England and that my protection at this time is only from you therefore my obedience is only due to you and there is no other visible Authority in being but your selves There are sufficient reasons to justify an obedience to your Authority which truly Sir I do own and not scruple at all as things now are to act by that Authority I only scruple my undertaking this great Charge knowing my own want to perform it as I ought to do this place requires quick apprehension general learning and deep judgment all which are wanting in me but I see many worthy Gentlemen within these Walls of much greater abilities and more compleatly furnished for the execution of this Charge than I am My humble Motion therefore to you is That you will be pleas'd to think of some persons more fit and worthy of this great trust than I am and to excuse me from being one of your Commissioners for the Great Seal of England which is a place too high for me The House would not allow of his excuse but after a little debate the question was put and it was voted Nemine contradicente that he should be one of the Commissioners for the Great Seal Then Mr. John L'Isle was named to be another of the Commissioners and after a short and no eager excuse made by him and his high owning of their Authority which he had sufficiently done before as one of the High Court of Justice for tryal of the King Mr. L'Isle was Voted to be another of the Commissioners for the Great Seal Lastly Mr. Sergeant Keeble was named to be the third Commissioner of the Great Seal and two of them of the Quorum Upon debate the time for their being Commissioners was Voted to be quam deu se bene gesserint The Title held some debate whether they should be stiled Commissioners or Lords Commissioners and though the word Lords was less acceptable at this time than formerly yet that they might not seem to lessen their own Authority nor the Honour of their Officers constituted by them they Voted the Title to be Lords Commissioners and the Act was passed presently in these words An Act of the Commons assembled in Parliament for committing the Great Seal of England into the hands and custody of Commissioners Beit enacted by this present Parliament and the Authority of the same that the Great Seal of England shall be committed to the keeping of Bulstrode Whitelock Sergeant at Law Richard Keeble Sergeant at Law and Iohn L'Isle Esq who are hereby appointed Lords Commissioners for that purpose quamdiu se bene gesserint which said Persons are hereby constituted and appointed to be Lords Commissioners for the Custody of the Great Seal of England during the time aforesaid and they or any two of them shall have and are hereby authorised to have the Custody Keeping Ordering and Disposing thereof as also all such and the like powers and Authorities as any Lord Chancellour Lord Keper or Commissioners of the Great Seal of England for the time being have Lawfully had and used or ought to have had or used Hen. Scobell Cleric Parliamenti Sergeant Keeble was sent for and they three being commanded by the House to come up to the Table Whitelock went in the middle Sergeant Keeble on his right hand and M r L'Isle on his Ieft hand there the Speaker gave them their Oaths Well and truly to execute the place of Commissioners for the Seal and then he delivered the new Great Seal to them They put up the Seal in the Purse and with the usual Ceremonies and reverence they brought it out of the House and went into the Queens Court where they sealed it up with their Seals and went their selves to see it locked up in the Tower in M r Brown's House where it was usually laid before 9. Many Justices of the Peace scrupling to Act because their Commissions were in the name of the King a Committee was appointed to consider of another form for them and thatthey might be commanded to Act in the name of the Parliament The House confirmed the election of the Lord General and Colonel Rich to be Burgesses for Cirencester and to admit them Members This being the first day of the Term the six Judges who were inclined to hold their places were as yet much unsatisfied because the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy were still continued and because the House had not declared that the fundamental Laws should be continued and the Judges to administer justice accordingly They debated these matters together and in conclusion came to this result that if the House would pass such a Declaration repeal the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and alter the Oath of a Judge that then they would presently sit in their places 'T was told them it would be hard to procure all this to be done in the House so soon as that they might sit in the several Courts this morning and if they should not sit this first day of the Term it would be some interruption to the Course of Justice and reflect upon the Parliament They were intreated to draw the Declaration themselves as they desired the House should pass it which they did presently and the Cmmissioners of the Seal went into the house and acquainted them with the consequence of the business which they tendred to them to be forthwith passed to enable the six Judges to sit in Court this morning The House were so sensible of the reasonableness and fitness to give a speedy dispatch to this business that they laid aside all other and soon Voted That the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy should be null and void made a satisfactory alteration of the Oath of a Judge and passed the Declaration drawn by the Judges They were satisfied herewith and the Commissioners presently sealed their Patents and gave them the new Oath of Judges then they went and sate in their several Courts and the Commissioners of the Seal sate in Chancery They caused the Declaration to be read and spake to the Auditory concerning the business to give them satisfaction and to settle their minds this they took occasion to do in their Speeches to the Judges and therein 't is believed they did some service for the Parliament Upon the desire of the Committee for the Revenue the Lord General granted his Warrant to all Officers and Souldiers to suppress the cutting down and destroying of Timber and killing of Deer in any of the publick Forests Chaces
the Trustees for sale of Bishops Lands to put their Powers in Execution for speedy bringing in of Moneys due upon contracts with them as well against Members of the House as others The Commitees to sequester those in default and divers Orders made to remove obstructions in the sale of deans and Chapters Lands 21 Mr. Lenthall the Speakers son re-admitted to sit in the House Letters that Ormond was come up with 12000. into the quarters of Dublyn That Divers from the Town ran away to him That C. Jones and C. Monke were preparing to march out to him 22 A report from the Councel of State that before the house do Adjorn it will be fit that these Acts be passed by them viz. All General Acts concerning Monies for settling the Militia For Prohibiting the exportation of Wool and Fullers Earth To Prohibit the Exportation of Gold and Silver For Punishing revolted Sea Men and for investing the Judge of the Admiralty with his Power For Relieving well Affected Tenants against their oppressing Land-Lords For Suppressing all Scandalous and Malignant Pamphlets and the Authors and Printers of them and to Prevent as much as may be Printing For Punishing Licentiousness and Abuses in Pulpits For repealing the Clause in the Stat. 35 El. concerning Sectaries For a General Pardon For relieving Poor Prisoners for Debt For securing the Soldiers Arrears For Probate of Wills Granting Administrations and investing Ministers in Livings The Councel further reported divers things to be prepared during the recesse of the House for their debate at their next Meeting viz. An Act for taking away Tithes and for setling another maintenance for the Ministers concerning future Parliaments For Regulating Proceedings at Law and what Lawes are fit to be repealed The House appointed a day to take these matters into consideration The Commission to Lieutenant General Cromwell to command in chief the Forces in Ireland was read in Latin and in English and approved and ordered to Passe the Great Seal to be in Force for 3 years And the Civill and Military Power to be in him for that time An Act Passed for Making Robert Bernard Esq Judge of the Isle of Ely Order for the Painted Chamber to be Prepared and hanged for the Commissioners of Articles to sit there An Act Passed for Stating the accounts of all Officers and Souldiers A Proclamation by the General forbiding Souldiers to put their Horses into Mowing Grounds 23 Upon consideration that the Mony was very little that yet came in by Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands ordered that the Officers and Souldiers whose Accounts are audited may double their areares for Purchase of those Lands The desires of the Earl of Denbigh touching his Arreares for his Ambassy into Italy and other Arears referred to the Commitee of the Revenue Referred to a Commitee to consider of C. Henry Martin's Losses and of his Arrears and how they may be satisfied 25 The Petitions of the Earl of Rutland and of the Leadminers referred to Judges of the Northern Circuit An Act Past for holding the Assizes for Lancashire in Lancaster Castle The next Winters Guard for the Seas approved off The extraordinary charges of Lieutenant General Cromwell for his journey into Ireland referred to a Commitee to consider and report Referred to a Commitee to select the Acts fit to be past before the adjournment of the house and what matters to be debated during the recesse The Lord Grey's Disbursments and Arrears referred to a Commitee how he may be satisfied An Act for making a Judge of the Admirality and Cinque-Ports rejected An Act past giving Power to the Councel of State to grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal An Aditional Act past for incouragement of Purchasers of Deans and Chapters Lands Letters from C. Blake and C. Deane Generals at Sea that they are again before King-Sale that P. Rupert and Maurice are there and have gotten 400 Sea-men from Waterford that Ormonds Army is 14000. A Paper of requests delivered to Lieutenant General Cromwell for Recruits and Supplyes for Sir Charles Cootes Forces in the North of Ireland that they being 3 Regiments of Horse and 3 of Foot have had but 8 Moneths Pay in 8 Years and a Peck of Oatmeale a Weeke And that Sir Charles Coot may be relieved Letters that C. Jones was Marched out of Dublyn with 4000 Foot and 1000 Horse upon Ormonds drawing near to the Town but that Ormond being with in 5 Miles of him Jones retreated to secure Dublyn Letters from Scotland that their King had parted with Montrosse had consented to the Covenant and to the desires of the Kirke and to confirm what was done by his Fathers Authority and by the Parlement of Scotland since and that shortly they expect their King with them 26 The Act for relief of Creditors and touching prisoners recommitted A proposal by Sir Paul Pindar and the rest of the old Commissioners for the Customes to advance 100000 for the Parlement if they might be secured a debt of 300000 owing to them by the late King was laid aside A report for Papists who had not been in Armes to be admitted to compound was laid Captain Young spoyled a Ship in Helford sluce in Holland being ready to set Sail for the P. And took a Frigot belonging to the P. with 70 Prisoners and 10 pieces of Ordinance in her and a Corn Ship Letters that Captain Peacock upon discovery of 2 Corn Ships taken by one of the P's Vessels recovered both the Ships and brought them to Harbour And took one of the P's men of War and another Ship taken with 11 Guns and Ammunition Letters that the P. was at Bruxels and at a stand what to do because the Levellers in England were reduced that he was expected shortly to be in France Letters that a Frigot of Sir John Greenivile Governour of Scilly with 2 Brasse Guns 24 Muskets and 24 Oares made for Pyracy coming near Swansy the Governour of Cardiffe sent out Boats pursued the frigot from Creek to Creek and at length took her and all her Men except the Captain and some few with him who got on shoar and fled away 27 Letters from C. Jones of his March out of Dublin and after some Skirmishes his retreat being so much overpowred and desires relief Other Letters of C. Jones his March and that thereby he much streightened the Enemies Quarters and made a very honorable retreat and in all demeaned himself with great Valour and Wisdom Order touching 350000 l. upon the Sale of Bishops Lands Order concerning Compositions and the Accounts of Gold Smiths Hall 28 Upon a report of Mr. Salwey further time given for compositions of Delinquents Adjutant General Sadler went to Chester to transport 3 Regiments for Ireland Forces about Pontfract disbanded and many of them listed for Ireland Letters that Prince Charles was highly entertained at Antwerp at the cost of the Burghers 29 The Petition of the Earl of Denbigh for Arreares referred to a new
Lands and Revenues of the King Queen and Prince and securing thereby the Arreares of the Souldiery again debated and Committed A Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Councel of London acquainting the House that one of the Members thereof Alderman Wilson was elected one of the Sherriffs and desired the leave of the House that he might serve according to his Election Upon the Question it was voted to be left to Alderman Wilson to except thereof if he should think fit and that the house would look upon it as an acceptable service to the Common-wealth if he would serve therein according to the election and desire of the City Alderman Wilson being very fit for that place and freely elected to it and a Conscientious worthy Person considering the Affection of the City and that God had blessed him and his Father with the gaining a plentiful Fortune in that place thought it fit for him to spend some of it and to undergo the Trouble of the place for the Honour and Service of the City A Petition of the well affected in Lancashire to the Officers of the Army reciting the Order of the Councel of State for demolishing Lancaster Castle shewing the danger thereof to the well affected praying them to be a Meanes to the General and to the Councel that it may not be done 14 Debate all day upon the Act for sale of the Kings Lands c. and Order to meet on Munday at 6 a Clock in the morning for the dispatch of this Act that the Souldiery may see the care of the Parliament for securing their Arreares before they go into Ireland Order giving further time for doubling upon the purchase of Deanes and Chapters Lands 16 An Act passed for sale of the Crown Lands to secure the Arrears of the Souldiery Order for allowing 3000 l. to Mr. John Brown Clerk of the Lords House for his Losses and referred to a Committee how to raise it Referred to the Councel of State to examine a Mutiny of the reduced Souldiers at York and to punish the Mutineers A Petition from South Wales that when Collonel Horton with his Regiment shall be drawn from thence to Ireland C. Martin or who the House shall think fit may be their Commander in Chief and they will pay his Forces Referred to the General to take care of South-Wales and the Petitioners had thanks for their good Affections Letters that the Fleet before Kingsale took a Vessel of Prince Ruperts of 11 Guns and in her Captain Leg and Sir Hugh Windham Captain Darcy and 60 Men and Ammunition That Captain Ball took a Holland Man of War of 30 Guns loaden with Stuffes and Provisions for Prince Rupert and Maurice and sent her up to the State Letters that Tredah holds out against Ormond who puts the English into Garrisons and keeps the Catholicks and the Irish in the Field to fight That Captain Jones out of Dublin fell upon Ormonds Quarters took 200 Horse killed and took 140 Men without the Loss of one Man cut their Tents and retreated to Dublin whither 4000 Quarters of Corn were brought in from Chester That the Lieutenant of Ireland was entertained with great Honour at Bristol and the Country came in great multitudes to see him that he lay there for a Wind. 17 The Act passed touching Coynes Upon a Report from the Conncel of State who had consulted therein with the General the House Voted That when the Councel should see Cause for the safty of the Common Wealth they might make an Addition of Forces both Horse and Foot to be in readiness to take the Field and march with the standing Army and they to have Pay only while they should be in Service Indemnity given to some well affected Justices of the Peace of Surrey who were sued for some things irregularly done by them Orders of Reference to Lords the Commissioners of the Seal touching Coynes Letters from Scotland that they resolve to levy a considerable Army forthwith and as they say for their own Defence Letters that Collonel Reynolds Regiment of Horse and Collonel Venable's and Collonel Hunks's Regiments of Foot were ready to be shiped Letters from Dublin that the Enemy fiercely assaulced Tredah but were beaten off with the Loss of 2000 Men that the Governour went forth with a Party of about 200 Horse and about 1500 Foot into the Enemies Camp brought away 200 of their Horse with some Bread Beer Fruit and Sack but are in great want of Provisions and can receive none from Dublin 18 Vote to discharge Mr. Abbot from being Register of the Prerogative Court and Mr. Oldsworth and Mr. Parker to have Patents for that Office Referred to a Committee to consider what to do concerning Ecclesiastical Offices and Courts An Act Passed for a Collection for the Propagation of the Gospel in new-New-England Leave given to Lieutenant Collonel Lilbourn to visit his sick Wife and Family Letters that Sir Charles Coot sent forth Captain St. John and Captain Taylor out of London Derry who fell upon the Enemies Quarters slew divers of them and took many Prisoners A Declaration passed in answer to the Letter from the Parliament of Scotland to vindicate the Proceedings of the Parliament of England 19 Order for the Printing and Publishing the Act declaring what Offences shall be adjudged Treason Several Orders passed relating to particular Persons and not of publick Concernment 20 Order for the Committee of Accounts to allow the Certificates of the several Sub-Commissioners for Accounts in the respective Counties Referred to the Commissioners of the Seal to consider how Monies may be raised for the Repair of Marlborough-Bridge Referred to the Committee of the Army to confer with the General and Officers of his Army how free Quarter may be totally taken off and the late Act passed for that end be put in effectual Execution and to give an Account thereof to the Councel of State Letters from Bristol from the Lieutenant of Ireland about Supplies for his Forces referred to the Committee of the Army Order for 500 l. for Mrs. Farrer of her Husbands Arrears Mr. Fell made Second Judge of Chester and the L. President Bradshaw made Chief Justice of Chester Order for 4000 l. to be paid to divers who were Labourers in Scotland Yard to his late Majesty Attourney General Prideaux moved the House in the behalf of the Lords Commissioners Whitelock and Lisle that they may have the Duke of Bucks House as a conveniency of their being together for their Service of the Seal and that they might have a Lease for 21 Years of that House The Parliament very freely ordered what Mr. Attourney desired and referred it to the Committee of Haberdashers Hall to set the Rent for it which they did the same day at 40 l. per annum and no more because of the great Charge they should be put to in the repair of it it being much ruined by the Quartering of Souldiers in it 21 Letters from Plymonth of Collonel
great Victory That an Act be brought in for settling 1000 l. per annum Land upon Lieutenant General Jones and his Heirs that thanks be sent to him and the rest for that good Service That the Councel of State prepare the Letter of thanks to be signed by the Speaker and do take into consideration the Request of Lieutenant General Jones for continuing Sir George Askue Vice Admiral of the Irish Seas That it be referred to the Trustees for Sale of the Kings Goods to choose 6 of the best Horses in Tilbury Race for Lieutenant General Jones as a Gratuity from the House That 200 l. be given to Captain Otway who brought the Letters The Petitions of the Brewers referred to the Committee of Excise and they to bring in a new Model for the Excise The Act passed for the more speedy collecting of the Excise Order for some Pentions to be continued to Souldiers Wives And for some scandalous Prmphlets and their Authors to be examined and punished and that Mr. Caughton a London Minister now in Prison be discharged Letters from Chester that Ormond was rallied to 12000 Men and had taken in some Forts Letters from Cardiffes That divers of the Lieutenant of Irelands Souldiers went away from him That C. Cooks Regiment was in a great Mutiny at Minehed and many of them went away but the Captain appeased the Mutiny and forced his Men on Ship Board 15 A Petition of the Earl and Countess of Thommond touching a debt from the Earl of Peterborough referred to a Committee An Act passed for settling 2000 l. per annum upon the Lord President Bradshaw another for 1000 l. per annum upon C. Martin out of Eynsham Another for 2000 l. per annum upon M. G. Skippon The Act published for the Composition of the Delinquents of North-Wales for 24000 l. Letters from Ireland that the Parliament having sent some Corn and 200 Souldiers to London Derry and two of Sir Charles Coots Brothers beingcome to him with 700 Horse he sallyedout of the Town and scoured the Countrey for 7 Miles on all sides of the City took many Cows and Prisoners and killed all whom he found in Arms then returned to Derry 16 A Petition from the General and his Councel of Officers to the House praying First That all penal Statutes formerly made and late Ordinances whereby many Conscientious People are molested and the Propagation of the Gospel hindered may be removed 2 That it is not their meaning that the Liberty desired by them should extend to the tolleration of Popery Prelacy the Book of Common Prayer publick Scorn and Contempt of God and his Word But desire that all open Acts of Profaneness or Drunkenness Swearing Vncleanness and the like be vigorously proceeded against and punished in all Persons whatsoever 3 That upon the Sense of the late great Mercy in Ireland they would extend Favour to those in restraint who have formerly served them and this Nation against the Common Enemy and for the future all disturbers of the publick Peace to be vigorously proceeded against 4 That speedy Consideration may be had of the great Oppressions by reason of the multiplicity of unnecessary Laws with their Intricacies and Delayes which tends to the profit of some particular men but much to the Expence and Dammage of the whole C. Goffe and Pride and other Officers who presented this Petition were called in to the Bar and the Speaker by command of the House gave them thanks for their constant good Affections and in particular for this Petition Acquainting them that the House had the things desired already under consideration and that this Petition should hasten the granting the same with all possible speed and Convenience Then it was voted That all penal Statutes and Ordinances whereby many Conscientious People are much molested and the Propagation of the Gospel hindred may be removed and referred to the Committee for bringing in an Act for ease of tender consciences to bring in the Act according to this Debate And referred it to a Committee who are to bring in an Act of Pardon to comprize herein the three proposals of this Petition And referred to the Committee concerning the Laws of the Land to consider of the 4th Proposal of this Petition The Act passed for paying 3500 l. to the Widdow of Mr. Blackstone a Member of the House An Order for Mr. Hall Attourny of the Dutchy to have the priviledge to plead within the Bar. The like Order was made for Mr. Steel and also to be freed from his Reading Order for Mr. Stevens a Member of the House and a common Lawyer to be made Judge of the Admiralty for which place he was not very fit A Declaration and Narrative past of the Grounds and Reasons for setting apart a day of publick Thanksgiving 17 Debate of the Act for Payment of the Arreares of C. Thornhaugh deceased Order for the Serjeants Men to disperse the Copies of the Act for the Thanksgiving Day and referred to the Councel of State to consider how the House may be eased of this trouble for the future and to give order for the dispersing of Papers upon the like Occasions The accounts of C. Willoughby referred to be audited A Petition of Mariners referred to a Committee An Act passed for settling 1000 l. per annum upon Lieutenant General Jones Order for an Act to settle 500 l. per annum out of the Irish Rebels Lands upon Sir Charles Coot An Act past for the Payment of their Arrears to the English Officers in Ireland for their former Services in England The House adjourned for three Days 18 Letters of confirmation of raising the Seige before London Derry by Sir Charles Cootes Brother in which Service many of the Enemy were taken Prisoners and divers slain Letters from Chester That C. Jones was again gone out of Dublin to besiege Drogheda that Ormond had dismounted most of the Irish for not fighting and had turned all the English out of Trym Castle That the Lord Lientenant of Ireland was imbarqued with his Army The House being adjourned Mr. Speaker Commissioner Keeble Mr. Chute Mr. Adams Mr. Steel and Mr. Whitelock by appointment met in the morning at Mr. Attourney General 's where they conferred together about the making new Rules for Reformation of the Proceedings in Chancery and agreed upon some general Points which they referred to some of the Company to draw up into Form 20 Letters to the Councel of State of the imbarquing of the Lieutenant of Ireland on Munday last and of Commiss G. Ireton on the Wednesday after with a great Fleet that nevertheless they left 3 Regiments behind for want of Shipping That the English Ships were very forward for the Voyage and so were the Flemish Bottomes when their Money was punctually paid them That no Provision was wanting for the Transportation of this Army and there is a considerable stock of Money with plenty of Ammunition That the
of the French Crown Order for Sommerset-House to be the Head Quarters of the Army Orders of the Councel for supplyes of Horse Saddles Pistols c. for the Lord Lieutenant Letters that many of Ormonds Men came in to the Lord Lieutenant That Sir George Askue sent Provisions to Dublin and more to the Leaguer before Tredah 17 Letters that the Commanders of the Rebells were in Factions and that Sir Charles Coot took advantage thereof to march into their Country and took in divers small Garrisons Letters that the Lord Lieutenant had fixed his Posts and begun his Batteries before Tredah That the Garrison often sallyed out upon him but were beaten back with loss That in the Town were 3000 Foot Souldiers and 500 Horse and they were victualled for five Months That Inchequin commits great wast as far as he dares venture about Dublin and Tredah by burning and driving away of their Cattle and hangs all he can meet with going in to the Lord Lieutenant That Ormond proclaimed whosoever should mention the Covenants Subscription or that the King should not come in but upon Conditions should be secured and his Estate Sequestred That Mr. Peters the Minister was arrived at Dublin and that at the beginning of the Troubles in Ireland he had a Brigade against the Rebels and came off with honour and victory and the like was now expected from him That the Lord Lieutenant for satisfying of the Country through which he was to march and that they might not be terrifyed with Fear upon his Approach set sorth a Declaration of his Intentions and to assure the Country that none of them should be injured behaving themselves peaceably and bringing in their Provisions c. Letters that 14 Sale of English and Dutch Ships were brought into Dunkirk and Ostend laden with Corn and other Goods and after the Goods Sold the Masters were forced to buy their own Ships That 15 small Ships of four and six Pieces of Ordinance a piece were manned out of those Ports with Commissions from Prince Charles to take the English Ships That the Governour of Dunkirk hath the 10th part of the Prizes and the Prince hath the 5th part That one of the Parliaments Ships brought in a New Ostend Frigat of 10 Guns a Prize and an Account of the several Convoys That Montrossis with about 5000 Men at Hamborough That the Packet-Boat with the Keel of a Ship striking her by a gust of wind was sunk and the Packets all lost but the Men saved 18 For an Honour to the E's of Pembroke and of Salisbury and of the Lord Howard of Escrigge Members of the House of Commons ordered That they might sit in all Committees of which they were before the Lords House was dissolved Allowance of 40 s. a week to an Irish Officers Widdow Mr. Noel made sole Treasurer at Weavers Hall 300 l. allowed to Lieutenant Goddyer for Losses sustained by him when he prevented the betraying of Tinmouth An Act past for Tryal of Pyrates and Robbers at Sea and of revolted Seamen and Mariners An Act past for maintenance for the Alms-Men and Free-School at Westminster A Letter from the Holland Ambassador in behalf of three Vessels loaden with Wines taken by the Parliaments Ships referred to the Committee of the Navy The Lord Ormond sent Instructions to his Officers to this Effect 1 That every man who hath submitted to his Majesties Authority be put into Possession of his Estate he contributing to the maintenance of the Army and necessary Burdens of the Countrey 2 That the Articles of War be put in Execution 3 That no Commanders in Ulster do assume to themselves the Nomination of any Military Officer upon pretence of any late Commission but leave them to our discretion as in this Kingdom hath ever been accustomed 4 Any that speak or act in prejudice of his Majesties Affairs let him be imprisoned and his Estate secured and Information sent up to us of the Nature of his Crime that we may give further order therein And if any Ecclesiastical Person in his Prayer or Sermon shall incite the People to Sedition or disobedience or shall intermeddle with the Managery of civil Affairs or derogate from the present Government or teach that his Majesty is not to be admitted to the Crown till he hath given Satisfaction to his Subjects or taken such Oaths or Covenants as are imposed on him without his consent contrary to Law and the Dictates of his own Conscience Vpon Proof thereof without further Circumstances let his Estate be confiscated to the use of the Army and himself be either Imprisoned or banished or tryed for his Life as the Case shall require 5 If there be any whose Loyalty is suspected let the chief in Command upon the place Minister to him the Oath of Allegiance and if he refuse let them securehis Person and Estate 6 For Inlargement of Quarters 7 Touching Forces coming from other Quarters into Ulster 8 Let the Siege of Derry be prosecuted by the common advice of the Lord of Ardes Sir Robert Stuart Sir George Monroe and C. Audley Mervin 19 Orders upon private Petitions By Sentence of M. G. Lambert C. Okey and the rest of the Officers at the Court Marshal at Oxford two of the late mutinous Souldiers were shot to death a third was reprieved and seven ran the Gantlope The University entertained the Officers with great Respect and presented them with Gloves That the Schollars offered to assist the Officers against the Mutineers and not above three of the Townsmen joyned in the Mutiny Letters that Sir Thomas Armstrong sallyed out of Tredah upon the Lord Lieutenants Quarters with 200 Horse but were so entertained that every one of them was enclosed and taken except Sir Thomas who escaped by the Goodness of his Horse That the Enemy hath 3000 Horse hovering about the Lord Lieutenants Camp but attempting nothing That 35 of the Renegadoes being taken ten of them were hanged in the Camp and the rest were sent to Dublin to be executed Letters that the English Merchants in Muscovia were commanded by the great Duke to sell all they had there and to depart his Dominions within a Year and not to come thither any more unless in the King of Englands Name and by his Patents So great a dislike did he conceive against the English andit was fully fomented by the Dutch upon the Parliaments proceeding against the late King and Kingship 20 Letters from Sir Arthur Haselrigg of want of Pay for his Regiment referred to the Committee of the Army Order for Mr. Genners Sallary Upon Debate of a Letter from the Holland Ambassador resolved not to dispence with the late Act against Importation of French Wines The Act past for the Schoole and Alms-Houses in Westmiuster and the allowance to Mr. Lambert Osbaldstone Debate of the business of the Miners of Derby-shire The Act passed against revolted Seamen and against Pyrates Another for suppressing Scandalous
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
that Parliament in the Margent Parliamentum Indoctorum The Parliament of unlearned Men. Speed in his History sayeth That this Parliament was called the lack learning Parliament either for the unlearnedness of the Persons or for their Malice unto Learning But God hath blest this Nation with such an Age of learned men at this present that former times knew not and we must acknowledge that though the House should lack all their Members who are Lawyers yet the rest are of so great Abilities that there would be no lack of Learning Yet Sir I am sure that the Addition of those many learned Gentlemen of our Profession hath been and will be some help in your Affairs and will not be despised by any prudent Men. The worthy Gentleman was pleased isâ—ghtly to call them Gownmen who had not undergone the dangers and hardships that martial men had done And truely it might less become the Gentleman that said it than others to make that Observation if it had been so The antient Romans were Souldiers though Gownmen nor doth that Gown abate either a mans Courage or his Wisdom or render him less capable of using a Sword when the Laws are silent or you command it You all know this to be true by the great Services performed by Lieutenant General Jones and Commissary Ireton and many of the Members and other Lawyers who putting off their Gowns when you required it have served you stoutly and successfully as Souldiers and undergone almost as many and as great Dangers and Hardships as the Gentleman who so much undervalues all of them But we are now speaking of their Right to be chosen and to sit as Members of the Parliament which doubtless is as much and the same with all other the Commoners of England The Historian last mentioned sayeth That the Commons of England who have liberty in the choice of their Knights and Burgesses would not be debarred thereof by the Ordinance of E. 3. nor by the Clause of Nolumus inserted in the Writ by H. 4. But have made a constant choice of some of them to sewe for them in all Parliaments The L. Cook 4. Instit p. 48. holds That the Ordinance 46. E. 3. by the general Words of 5. R. 2. Stat. 2. C. 4. and 7. H. 4. C. 15. was repealed However we read not of any Parliament except that unhappy one 6. H. 4. in which the Lawyers were excluded and after not a few considerable Services both Civil and Military performed by some of them for you it was somewhat an ungrateful Motion now to have excluded them We may lay aside the Clause of Nolumus least other Clauses of Nolumus which we find in the Writs of Summons do come as near home to others Sometime Clauses were inserted in the Writs for Election of Commoners to this purpose Nolumus autem quod aliquis de Retinentia Domini nostri Regis aliqualiter sit electus We will not that any of the Retinue of our Lord the King in any wise be chosen Though Sir I acknowledge that worthy Gentle-man and many others who have been the Kings Servants and Courtiers have been very faithful to you and done you acceptable Services and so some of them have done in former Parliaments and I hope you all do think so Yet the undervaluing of our Profession to be Members of Parliament hath less strength coming from such Gentlemen than from others because of them some from abroad will be apt to say though scandalously That Courters and Kings Servants used to sit in Parliament rather to promote their Masters ends than their Countries Rights but such Objections are now out of Doors The like Passage with this we are now debating is related in the Roman Story when the Law Cincia was made whereby it was provided That for pleading of Causes no man should take either Money or Gift and this Law was endeavoured upon the like-Grounds to be set on Foot presently after the Death of Tiberius Caesar But when some alleadged That this would cause the want of Councellors and Advocates whereby the Poor would be oppressed by the Rich and Mighty That Eloquence did not come by chance or gratis without Study and Labour That the care of a mans own Family was neglected whil'st he attended other Mens Affaires That some maintained their Life by War some by tilling the Earth yet no man laboured in those Callings or to attain Knowledge but for the Comodity arising thereby That the meanest of the People endeavoured what they could to better their Estates and that if the Reward of Studies should be taken away Studies also would decay as having neither Glory nor Honour Vpon these reasons the Senate thought it not just and I hope this Senate will be of the same Judgment to take away the Honorarium of Advocates but limited the same to 1000 Sesterces which some compute to about 781. of our Money Neither sayeth Tacitus Aunal l. 11. did that Law continue or gaine compliance to it Neither do I think that such a Law amongst us would be to any Effect or have any Compliance to it But I hope this honourable English Senate and that worthy Gentleman a Member of it will be satisfyed with the Reasons given in the Roman Senate who were very Wise Men and not trouble themselves about such new Laws which will be ineffectual prejudicial to many and good to none But the Gentleman Objected and it is much urged in these times against the Profession of the Law and the Professors of it that they are the Occasion of multiplicity of Suits and of delayes in them and therefore after the Example of some Forraign Countries not to be permitted I have observed to you before that those in Power have most reason to be displeased with this Profession as a Bridle to their Power but that the Profession occasions multiplicity of Suits is as improbable as any other of his Reasons or his Arguments Mr. Speaker the reason of the multiplicity of Suits and Law Causes amongst us is the greatness of our Trade which causeth a multitude of Contracts and those occasion a multitude of Law-Suits In those Countries mentioned by that worthy Gentleman there is not one of his Profession one Merchant nor one Contract for a hundred in England that is the Cause that they have so few Law-Suits and we so many And give me leave Sir to tell him that in the Netherlands and Countries where there is much Trade there are proportionably as many Law Suits as there are in England Another Ground of what I affirm is that in Forraign Countries every Mans Estate is disposed of by their Law after a certain Rule and Proportion which the Possessor cannot either by Conveyance or by his Testament afterwards alter As when one dyes his Estate is thus divided by the Law his Wife hath a part set out for her the Eldest Son hath a double Portion and all the other Sons have equal Portions and every two Daughters have as
other Provisoes Referred to the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall to take into consideration the Business concerning the Souldiery and Ministers in Lancashire that such satisfaction may be given them as may tend to the Service of the Commonwealth and to take into consideration the Troupe of Horse in Oxfordshire and to pay it out of the Sequestrations in Oxfordshire until further order from the House or Councel of State 26 Ordered that the Lord Commissioners of the great Seal do take care that Writs be issued out and sent down into every County to the several Sheriffs to proclaim the Act touching the Ingagement This Course of proclaiming new Acts of Parliament was very antient and constantly used especially in elder times as appears by the Records but of late disused It was thought fit to have it revived again that the People might be informed what Acts were passed which they were not so fully by the Printing as by proclaiming of them at their Markets Orders touching the Composition of Delinquents Votes for taking off the additional Exercise upon most of the Commodities mentioned in the last Act touching the Excise Letters from Ireland of C. Hewsons taking in some Forts near Dublin 28 Letters that the Scots had no Answer from Sir George Windram Laird of Libberton but that the King would be satisfyed from him whether his Subjects of Scotland would ingage to Establish him in England as King That he is not yet removed from Jersy That divers Souldiers came from Ireland into Orkney Letters That the States Provincial of Holland have resolved to send an Agent into England for their better Correspondence with the Parliament 29 Letters from Ireland of taking the Fort upon the Bogg of Allan of a Dutch Ship of 300 Tun cast away upon that Coast that the Lord Lieutenant had sent to besiege Eniscorsie Castle belonging to Mr. Wallop a Member of the House which the Enemy had lately surprised That the Lord Lieutenant visited all the English Garrisons in Munster and gave Orders to them That Inchequin was in Kerrcy That 16 of the Enemies Horse came from Duncannon to the Lord Lieutenant 30 Letters from Holly-Head that a Vessel bound for London Derry with Coals Cloaths and other Merchants Goods was taken by a Scots Man of War the Mariners and sixteen Passengers put on Shore the Owner and Master carryed away Prisoners That the Gentlemen and Commonalty of Ireland do generally submit to the Lord Lieutenants Orders From York That a Minister lately informed that there would be shortly a Massacre of the well affected in the Nation From Shrewsbury That many Cavaliers wear Ribbands with Motto's God prosper That the Ministers incourage them and Preach against the present Government They report an Agreement between the King of Scots and his People of that Kingdom upon the terms proposed at the Isle Wight and that the Presbyterians of England will joyn From Plymouth That a Vessel of Dartmouth was by a storm forced into the Mounts Bay and wracked and all lost save one Person Returns of Subscriptions to the Ingagement 31 The Town of Pool having warned a general Sessions to be held not one Justice came to joyn with them The Act giving 10 l. to him that shall apprehend a Fellon caused the Countrymen to apprehend many of the Thieves and Robbers in all places and the Mony was duely paid to them February 1649. Feb. 1. Divers People took away by violence from the Owners Wheat and other Corn carrying to Market to Basing-Stoak and beat the Carters and some of them being imprisoned for it the rest brake the Prison and let out them and other Malefactors Letters from Rome That there an Agent from England and the English Priests seem very confident that within few Years their Religion would be Established in England 2 At a Court Marshal in C. Prides Regiment a Souldier was sentenced to run the Gantlope and afterwards to be cashiered for threatning to cut his fellow Souldiers throats in case King Charles the Second came in and for swearing and drunkenness Another had the like sentence having been found to have been in Arms against the Parliament and then came in to them and at his disbanding gave out threatning words against the Officers The Parliament Voted that a Book written by one Coppes intituled a fiery flying Roll c. contained many horrid Blasphemies and damnable and detestable Opinions and that the Book and all Copies of it that can be found shall be burnt by the hands of the Hangman A Petition from Wiltshire for Propagation of the Gospel c. approved by the House and in order thereto they appointed every Fryday to consider al wayes for the better advancing the Gospel of Christ An Act committed for the better propagating of the Gospel in Wales The Parliament ordered touching Negotiations with Forraign Princes and States That the Stile and Title to be used by this Parliament in all Negotiations shall be Parliamentum Rei-publicae Anglicae And the Style when any address shall be made to them The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England And no other Title to be used Order for an Act to be brought in for the Punishment of insolent Profanations of the Sabbath and Adultery The Parliament upon the hearing Sir Jacob Garrets Business sentenced three of his false Accusers to stand in the Pillory Thus they took upon them and exercised all manner of Jurisdiction and sentenced Persons Secundum Arbitrium 4 Letters that Jermin and other Lords and Courtiers are hastning from Paris to Breda hearing that the Scots are sending Money to defray the charges of their King and Court there That the Scots are busy in purging their Army but are startied at the news of the Parliament sending for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland That they report the ground thereof to be That he is routed in Ireland and That the Parliament of England fear new Troubles Yet the Scots sent an Express into Ireland to know the certainty 5 Letters of the Losses by Pirates about Scarborough From Weymouth That one Mr. Thomas May was secured by the Governour there and to be sent up in Custody to London for raysing false Rumors concerning the Parliament and the General From Portsmouth That G. Deane came thither with the Phenix and informed of several Vessels with Recruits for Ireland cast away An Act passed for a day of publick Humiliation throughout England and Wales to seek God for a Blessing upon the Proceedings of Parliament and their Armies in England and Ireland Debate about an Act for a publick Register to inroll all Deeds and to find Incumbrances upon all Estates and Lands An Additional Act passed for removing of Obstructions in the sale of the late Kings Lands c. A Petition from Westminster for settling the civil Government there referred to the Committee for Corporations Debate of an Act for regulating and erecting a Corporation in Norfolk concerning the Worsted-Weavers and Yarn-Men
6 Returns of Subscriptions to the Ingagement from several Regiments and Garrisons Letters from Taunton That the Commissioners for settling the Militia in that County had agreed upon Officers of Horse and Foot to be named to the Councel of State for Commissions That C. Pine is most Active in this and all other Business of that County At a Horse Race near Blackley there being many Gallants with Pistols Swords and Arms C. Smith with the Oxfordshire Troop came thither and disarmed some of the chief and most suspected of the Company The same Captain Smith in 6 Months apprehended 50 Robbers in those Parts 30 of them were hanged Letters from Shrewsbury of the meeting of Cavaliers in that County and Suspicions of new Plots Account of Troops and Recruits marching towards Chester for Ireland 8 Letters from Newcastle That the Cavaliers report generally that the Scots and their King are agreed and thereupon many of them are gone into Scotland That course is taken to prevent them for the future That the Ministers in Yorkshire preach openly against the Ingagement That many Mosse Troopers are dayly taken From Yarmouth That Commissions came from the Councel of State for the Militia which the Bayliffes and others are putting in Execution and Souldiers list themselves and take the Ingagement very willingly That the like was done in Norwich for that City and for the County of Norfolk The like was done in Essex That the four Ships sent to guard the Fishers have much advanced the Fishing Trade From Cork That 5 Ships with Souldiers were all cast away coming from Minehead for Ireland only 20 or 30 men swam to shore That the Enemy besieged Captain Barrington in Arklow Castle and he sallyed out upon them beat them off and killed many of them That Lieutenant Collonel Axtel Governour of Rosse made several Incursions into the Enemies Quarters in the County of Kilkenny took many Prisoners and great store of Cattle Account of Recruits for Ireland Some debauch't Persons in a Tavern drinking Healths in a Balcone breaking Glasses and drawing a great deal of Company together some Souldiers who saw it went up to the Gentlemen and carryed them away Prisonees to Whitehall 9 Letters from Dunstar confirming the sad news of the 5 Ships that went from Minehead to Ireland all cast away Captain Ensor and Captain Whiting with 80 Horse and 150 Foot and all the Seamen drowned except 20 or 30. From Ireland that the Popish Clergy there have agreed to raise 7000 Men by March next and to pay them and that Antrim shall command them That the Estates of Scotland are setting out a Declaration in answer to Montrosses Declaration and conform to that of the Kirk One Hinderson proclaimed in several Streets of Newark I pronounce Charles the Second of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. as King of England although his Father suffered wrongfully Yet you cannot be Governed without a Head but now you are Governed by a stinking lowsy Committee For these words he was apprehended and sent to Prison A Petition to the General and his Councel of Officers in the behalf of 3000 maimed Souldiers and Widdows whose Husbands were slain in the Service of the Parliament the General and his Councel recommended it to C. Rich to move the House therein The Councel of State sent three of their Messengers to apprehend one Mercer who stabbed two of them that they dyed immediately and wounded the third and so escaped from them 11 Letters that an Irish Frigot boarded a Newcastle Ship near Hartlepool which the Governour seeing caused some of his Guns to be so planted that they shot the Irish Frigot through and through and caused her to hasten away and leave her Prize behind which came in safe to Hartlepool From Scotland that Libberton was returned with a Message from the King which was read but nothing done upon it that he speaks high what the King will do for and stand by Scotland yet they go on in purging the Army That an English Merchant having a cause to be pleaded there the Scots Lawyers refused to plead for him because the business was drawn up in the new way in the Name of the Councel of State About 24 Persons came in the Night to White-Fryars with Muskets as Souldiers called up the Constable and required him to go along with them to apprehend some dangerous Persons and brought him to the Lodging of Sir Edward Hales whom they knew to have a great Sum of Money there That when they came into the House they bound the Constable and Sir Edward Hales and the Master of the House broke open Trunks and carryed away with them 100 l. besides Rings Watches c. Then they locked the Doors after them left theirMuskets behind them and got away in Boats which they had laid ready at White Fryars Stairs but 7 of those thieves were afterwards apprehended 12 The House named these Persons to be of the Council of State for the Year following viz. E. of Denbigh L. C. Justice St. John Sergeant Bradshaw L. Grey of Groby M. G. Skippon Alderman Pennington Sheriffe Wilson Sir William Masham Lord Commissioner Whitelock Sir James Harrington C. Hutchinson Mr. Bond. Mr. Alderman Popham Mr. Wanton̄ C. Purefoy Mr. Jones C. Ludlow E. of Salisbury Mr. Luke Robinson L. C. Justice Rolle L. Ch. Baron Welde L. G. Fairfax L. Lt. Cromwel Mr. H. Martyn Sir Gilbert Pickering Mr. Stapely Mr. Heveningham Sir Arthur Hassterig Mr. Wallup Sir H. Vano Junior L. Lisle Sir William Armyne Sir Henry Mildmay Sir William Constable Lord Commissioner Lisle Mr. Scot. Mr. Holland Debate touching meanes of advancing the Gospel of Christ An Act touching the way of Presentations and settling of Ministers in Livings committed An additional Act for the more severe punishing of prophane Swearing and Cursing committed An Act for suppressing and punishing the abominable sins of Incest Adultery and Fornication committed 13 Letters from the West That many Presbyterians in their Pulpits prayed very Zealously for restoring the King of Scots to his Fathers Crown in England That a French Vessel which came from the Barbado's was wracked and 13 of her men lost and the rest saved Sir Bathazer Gerbier set up his Academy in White Fryers for the teaching of all manner of Arts and Sciences a good design if the conduct and Success had been answerable 14 Letters from Scotland That their King in his Message by Libberton would have exempted from any benefit of the Agreement all such as shall be found to have had a hand in the Death of his Father without mentioning whom which breeds a general Jealousy that it may reach to all that consented to the giving up of his Father at Newcastle or joyned in the Covenant with England That the King will only acknowledge the Scots Commissioners to be Commoners of Parliament during the Treaty or after as it shall succeed and private Letters were sent from the King to
Passenger to go beyond Seas or land any coming from beyond Seas without notice given to the Governour A Design was discovered and the Plotters apprehended it was to seize Pendennis Castle for the Prince Order for a day of Humiliation through the Kingdom 17 Letters that Moutrosse was taken 2 or 3 dayes after the fight 16 Miles from the Place of the Ingagement in a disguise and sorely wounded From Dublin that the Governour was marched out with an additional strenght to joyn with Sir Theophilus Jones and C Reynolds and that they would be about 4000. That Castlehaven Clenrickard and Mac Thomas were joyned in a Body and that a Spye numbred with them 25 Colours of Foot and 10 Colours of Horse That Eniskellin was surrendred to Sir Charles Coot according to the Agreement That the Irish Army in the North grow strong and more Forces to be sent to Sir Charles Coot who already marcheth with 2700 Foot and 1100 Horse That Castlehaven and his Party are retreated towards Connaught That the Parliaments Forces in Wicklow have taken Fernes and Carnow and have killed 120 of Mac Phelims men 18 From Edenburgh the Particulars of Montrosses defeat that he had but 1100 Foot and no Horse yet with them marched 50 Miles into the Country and would not stay for the rest of his Forces nor those who were to joyn with him but sent to them to come after That he would not keep the Hill where he might have been safe but marched into the plain Campania were he had neither Lanes nor Ditches to favour against the Horse in which he knew the other Partyes strength Consisted That some conceived Montrosse expected to meet with DavidLesly who had received his Propositions for marching into England and further Overtures and did not expect to have met with Strachaâ— and his Sectary Troopes who fell on him and he haveing no Horse was the more easily defeated From Newcastle that Sir William Fleming and others were landed at Leith with Letters from the King and the Commissioners that they were agreed of the substantiall Poynts yet with Reference in some particulars to a Resolution in Parliament From Ireland that C. Reynolds fell upon the E. of Castlehaven killed 1200 of his men and took as many Prisoners that they were struck with such a Pannick fear that they made no resistancee 20 From Berwicke that in Scotland Montrosse was sentenced to be quartered and Preparations for his Execution before they heard from their King or he from them least he should interceed for his Pardon That the King and their Commissioners are unquestionably agreed but they hold it not fit for him to come thither till they be in a better Posture that they kept a Day of Thanksgiving and the Ministers prayed exceedingly for the Kings coming as one brought into the Kirk and therefore to God That the D. of Loraine had promised to assist the King with 10000 men From the Bath that 4 Wagons came thither loaden with Sick and maimed Souldiers who had good Allowance from the Parliament to be there in hopes of some help by those Waters that a private Gentlemen near that Place sent them 20 l. 21 An Act passed for a day of publique Humilitation An Act passed for an Assessment for the Forces in England and Ireland for 6 Monthes at 90000 l. per mensem for the first 3 Monthes and 60000 l. per mensem for the latter 3 Monthes Order that the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal grant a Brief for a Collection for losses by Fire Order for C. Bennet to raise a Regiment of Foot the like for C. Hayne A Letter from the Officers at the Head Quarters to the Collonels and Governours of the respective Regiments and Garrisons iu England and Wales Exhorting them to Prayer and to Vnity and to joyn in keeping a Day of Humiliation set apart to seek God for his Assistance to them in all Services whereunto they shall be called And to reform Drunkenness Swearing Prophanation of the Lords Day contempt of the Ordinances of Christ and all Sins in their several Charges and to sanctify the Camp Order for an honourable Reception of Min heer Scaph An Agent sent from the States of Holland to the Parliament of England 22 Letters of Designes against Pendennis Castle and the Commissioners of the Militia being very active and giving great Assistance to them 23 From Dartmouth that two Irish Pyrats Chased a Merchant man into the Harbour and attempted to Board her at noon Day but the Governour rescued her Certain Proposals were agreed upon to be presented to the Parliament at a general Meeting of Atturneys and Officers for Reformation of the Proceedings of Law whereby they hoped that the Clyent will be much secured the Creditor and Purchaser fully provided for the Charge of Suits greatly abated and the Processe of Law much shortned 24 From Chester that Trechohan was quitted and burnt down by the Enemy From Leverpoole report that Clonmel was taken by Storm and that the Countrymen drawn together by the Bishop of Cloher were dispersed and gone home being not willing to bear Armes From the Leaguer before Clonmel that they prepared to storm that all the Fnglish under Ormond had submitted to the Parliament That the Enemy had lately two considerable Defeats given them one in the County of Wexford by C. Cook who routed the Enemy slew many and took divers Prisoners The other in the County of Corke by the L. Broghil who slew about 700 and took many Prisoners and totally routed the Party From Dublyn that they have recovered Drumere and other Forts 25 From Hull that the Ingagement was generally taken by the Inhabitants of the East riding Suspicion of a Plot. From Coventry that the Country came in so fast to take the Ingagement that the Commissioners could not give it to all of them From Edenburgh that the L. Frendraght of Montrosses Party after his Defeat for Vexation starved himself and that the L. Kenoule was also starved That the Presbitery of Orkeney and Caithnesse had relaxed Montrosse of his Excommunication That Sir William Flemming arrived there with a Letter to Montrosse to disbandhis Forces and that he sent a Messenger to disband about 300 in Orkeney under his Bastard Brother That the Commissioners Secretary was arrived with the news of a full Agreement with the King From Bristol that Clonmel was surrendred to the L. Lt. upon Articles that they would have made Conditions for Ormond and Inchequin but were refused but passes offered for them to go beyond Seas which they would not take but the L. Ardes and others of Quality took them That C. More and C. Reynolds besieged Tetrogham That the Bishop of Rosse being taken in the late Defeat at Kerny was hanged before a Castle kept by his Forces who thereupon surrendred it That this Bishop was wont to say there was no way to secure the English but by hanging them And now came himfelf
be given them nor would they agree to surrender to Mercy but upon Reverence which was consented unto That they took the Governour and the Capt. of the Moss-Troopers and 60 Souldiers That two of the most notorious of them and the Captain were shot to death upon the Place They took in it many Arms 60 Horse which they had taken from the English and released 10 English prisoners and demolished the House That Middleton laid down his Arms upon condition that the King should be forthwith Crowned and the Estates and Kirk ordered him to take his Command again That Recruits were come from England to the Army That the G. and his Officers kept a Fast-day The House had a very long and smart Debate touching the Act for putting all the Books of Law and 〈◊〉 Process and Proceedings in Courts of Justice into the English Tongue in which Debate some spake in Derogation and Dishonour of the Laws of England For some vindication whereof and for satisfying some Mistakes one of the Members delivered his Opinion in the House to this Effect Mr. Speaker The Question upon which your present Debate ariseth is of no small moment nor is it easily or speedily to be determined for it comprehends no less than a total alteration of the Frame and Course of Proceedings of our Law which have been established and continued for so many years I should not have troubled you with any of my weak Discourse but that I apprehend some mistakes and Dishonour to the Law of England if passed by without any Answer may be of ill consequence and having attended to hear them answered by others who are not pleased to do it I held my self the more engaged in the Duty of my Profession to offer to your judgment to which I shall always submit what I have met with and do suppose not to be impertinent for the rectifying of some Mistakes which are amongst us A worthy Gentleman was pleased to affirm with much confidence as he brought it in upon this Debate That the Laws of England were introduced by William the Conqueror as among other Arguments he asserted might appear by their being written in the French Tongue In his first Assertion That our Laws were introduced by William the Conqueror out of France I shall acknowledge That he hath several both Foreign and Domestick Authors whom he may follow therein The Foreign Authors are Jovius Aemilius Bodine Hottoman Dynothus Volateran Berault Berkley Choppinus Uspargensis Malines and Polydore who affirm this erroncous piece of Doctrine but the less to be regarded from them because they were strangers to our Laws and took up upon trust what they published it this point Of our own Countreymen they have Paris Malmesbury Matthew Westminster Fox Cosins Twyne Heyward Milles Fulbeck Cowell Ridley Brown Speed Martin and some others All of them affirm That the Laws of England were introduced by William the Conqueror But their Errors are refuted by Sir Roger Owen in his Manuscrit who saith that Roger Wendover and Mat. Paris were the first Monks that hatched these addle Eggs. I shall endeavour to shew you That the Original of our Laws is not from the French that they were not introduced by William the Conqueror out of Normandy And I shall humbly offer to you my Answer to some of their Arguments who are of a contrary Opinion Polydore Hist Angl. L. 9. Affirmeth That William the Conqueror first appointed Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace erected Tenures brought in Trials by 12 men and several other Particulars of our Laws For Sheriffs their Name Scire Reeve shews them to be of the Saxon Institution And our Histories mention the Division of Shires by King Alphred but in truth it was much more ancient And it is apparent by our Books and Records some whereof are in the Hustings of London and in the Tower that the same things were in use here long before the Time of King W. I. Sir Roger Owen shews at large that Livery of Seisin Licenses or Fines for Alienation Daughters to inherit Trials by Juries Abjurations Utlaries Coroners Disposing of Lands by Will Escheats Gaoles Writs Wrecks Warranties Catalla Felonum and many other parts of our Law and the Forms of our Parliaments themselves were here in being before the time of Duke William Agreeing hereunto are many of our Historians and Learned Antiquaries But it is Objected That in the Grand Customary of Normandy the Laws are almost all the same with ours of England and the form of their Parliaments the same with ours That the Writer of the Preface to that Book saith it contains only the Laws and Customs which were made by the Princes of Normandy by the Counsel of their Prelates Earls Barons and other wise men which shews the forms of their Parliament to be the same with ours and the Laws in that Book to be the proper Laws of Normandy and ours to be the same therefore they argue that our Laws were introduced from thence by William the Conqueror This will be fully answered If that Grand Customary of Normandy was composed in our King E. 1. his time as good Authors hold it was then it cannot be that our Laws or Parliaments could be derived from thence These Learned men say That this Customary was a meer Translation of our Law-Book Glanvill as the Book of Regia Majestas of the Laws Scotland is and the like of the Laws of Burgundy They further add That the first establishing of the Customary of Normandy was in H. 1. his time and afterwards again about the beginning of E. 2. his time If the Laws in the Customary were introduced there from England it will then be granted that the Laws of England were not inoroduced here by William the Conqueror But I think it very clear that their Laws were brought to them cut of England and then you will all agree to the Conclusion Our King H. 1. Conquered Normandy from his Brother Robert and was a Learned King as his Name Beauclerk testifies whom Juo calls An especial Establisher of Justice Sequerius relates That this King established the English Laws in Normandy Herewith do agree Gulielmus Brito Armoricus Rutclarius and other French Writers who mention also that the Laws in the Customary of Normandy are the same with the Laws collected by our English King Edward the Confessor who was before the Conqueror An additional Testimony hereof is out of William de Alenson Revile who in his Comment upon the Customary saith That all the Laws of Normandy came from the English Laws and Nation In the Customary there is a Chapter of Nampes or Distresses and Decreed that one should not bring his Action upon any Seisure but from the time of the Coronation of King Richard and this must be our King Richard 1. because no King of France was in that time of that Name and the Words Nampes and Withernams were Saxon Words taken out of the English Laws signifying a Pawn or Distress
and in the same sence are used in the Customary That which puts it further out of scruple is that there are yet extant the Manuscripts themselves of the Saxon Laws made in the Parliamentary Councels held by them here which are in the Language and Character of those times and contain in them many of those things which are in the Norman Customary It is no improbable Opinion that there was a former establishment of our Laws in Normandy before the time of H. 1. and that it was by Edward the Confessor who as all Writers of our History agree was a great Collector and Compiler of our English Laws He lived a long time with his Kinsman Duke William in Normandy who was willing to please the Confessor in hopes to be appointed by him to be his Successor wherein the Dukes expectation did not fail him The Confessor having no Children and finding Normandy without a setled Government and wanting Laws advised with his Kinsman Duke William to receive from him the Laws of England which he had collected and to establish them in Normandy which Duke William and his Lords readily accepted for the Good of their People and thereby obliged the Confessor Another Proof hereof is That such Laws as the Normans had before the time of D. William were different from those in the Customary and from the English Laws As their Law that the Husband should be hanged if the Wife were a Thief and he did not discover it The meaner People were as Slaves and the like and the trial of Theft by Ordeil which then was not in England Wigorniensis reports That the Normans who came in with Queen Emma the Wife of Ethelred were so hated of the English for their Injustice and false Judgment that in the time of King Canutus they were for this cause banished and it is the less probable that they being so unjust themselves should introduce so just Laws as ours are Between the Conquest of Normandy by Rollo and the Invasion of England by Duke William there were not above 160 Years that of Normandy was about An. 912. that of England An. 1060. It is not then consonant to reason That those Normans Pagans a rough Martial People descended from so many barbarous Nations should in the time of 150 Years establish such excellent Laws among themselves and so different from the French Laws among whom they were and all parts in the World except England And such Laws which were not onely fit for their Dukedom and small Territory but fit also for this Kingdom which in those dayes was the second in Europe for antiquity and worth by confession of most Forreign Historians If we will give Credit to their own Authors this Point will be sufficiently evinced by them these words are in the Proheme of the Customary which is titled Descriptio Normanniae Hucusque Normannicae consuetudinis latorem sive datorem Sanctum Edvardum Angliae regem c. The same is witnessed by Chronica Chronicorum That St. Edward King of England gave the Laws to the Normans when he was long harboured there And that he made both the Laws of England and Normandy appears sufficiently by the conformity of them for which he cites several particulars as of Appeals and the Custom of England ad probandum aliquid per credentiam duodecem hominum Vicinorum which he sayeth remained in Normandy to that day Polydore forgetting himself what he wrote in another place sayeth of King Henry the Seventh That when a doubt was made upon the Proposal of Marriage of his Daughter to Scotland that thereby England night in time be subject unto Scotland The King answered No and that England as the greater will draw it to Scotland being the less and incorporate it to the Laws of England as sayeth the Historian it did Normandy though the Owner thereof was Conquere in England And Sir Roger Owen in his Manuscript affirms That there is not any of our Historians that lived in the space of 200 Years immediately after the Conquest which doth describe our Laws to be taken away and the Norman Custome introduced by the Conquerour Some of them and not improbably mention the alteration of some part of them and the bringing in some Norman Customes effectual for the keeping of the Peace There is yet behind the great Argument most insisted on and often urged by the Gentlemen of another Opinion which is the Title of William who is called the Conquerour from whence they conclude That by his Conquest he changed the Laws and Government of this Nation and that his Successors reckon the beginning of their Reigns from his Conquest To this is answered that â posse ad esse non valet argumentum the conquering of the Land is one thing the introducing of new Laws is another thing but there is direct Proof to the contrary of this Argument Duke William never surnamed himself the Conquerour nor was so called in his life time as may appear by all the Letters Patents and Deeds that he made wherein he is called Gulielmus Rex Dux c. never Conquestor and our antient Historians give him the same Titles and not that of Conquerour In the Title of Nubrigensis's Book he is surnamed William the Bastard Malmsbury calls him W. 1. Hoveden W. the Elder Adam de Monmouth sayeth That 1. E. 3. this word Conquest was found out to denote and distinguish the certain Edward because two of the same name were Predecessors to this King and to the Conquerour who claimed the Crown as Heir to Edward the Confessor but saith he we call him the Conquerour for that he overcame Harold Duke William himself claimed to be King of England as Successor and adopted Heir of the Confessor by his Will and Harolds renouncing of his Title by Oath The Register of St. Albans Math. Paris and others attest that the Barons of England did homage to him as Successor and he relyed on them in his Forreign Wars and the check given to him by the Kentish men and the Forces gathered by the Abbot of St. Albans brought him to ingage to confirm the Laws of the Confessor and as his Successor by legal right they admitted him to be their King Volaterus writes That he was made Heir to the Confessor and was Vncle to him Another affirms That Edward by his Will left England to him Paulus Aemilius and Fulgasius are to the same purpose Pope Alexander the Second sent him a Banner as witness that with a safe Conscience he mighe expel Harold the Tyrant because the Crown was due to him by the Confessors Will and by Harolds Oath Agreeable hereunto are Gemiticensis Walsingham Malmsbury Huntington Ingulphus Paris Pike Wendover Caxton Gisborn and others The antient Deeds of the Abby of Westminster which were sometimes in my Custody do prove this King William in his Charter to them sets forth his own Title to the Crown thus Beneficio Concessionis Cognati mei gloriosi Regis Edvardi In his
Second Charter dated anno 15. of his Reign he sayeth In Honour of King Edward who made me his Heir and adopted me to rule over this Nation In his Charter dated 1088 of the Liberties of St. Martins the Great in the Manuscript thereof are these words In Example of Moses who built the Tabernacle and of Solomon who built the Temple Ego Gulielmus dei dispositione Consanguinitatis haereditate Anglorum Basileus c. The Charter of H. 1. his Son to this Abby In Honour of Edward my Kinsman who adopted my Father and his Children to be Heirs to this Kingdom c. In another Charter of Henry 1. in the Book of Ely he calls himself the Son of King William the Great who by hereditary right succeeded King Edward It is true that as to his pretence of Title by the Will of the Confessor Mathew Paris objecteth That the device was void being without the consent of the Barons To which may be answered That probably the Law might be so in H. 3. time when Paris wrote and was so taken to be in the Statute of Carlisle and in the case of King John But at the time of D. Williams Invasion the Law was taken to be That a Kingdom might be transferred by Will So was that of Sixtus Rusus and Asia came to the Romans by the Will of King Attalus the words by Annaeus Florus are Populus Romanus bonorum meorum Haeres esto Bythinia came to the Romans by the last Will of their King Nicomedes which is remembred by Utropius together with that of Lybia Cicero in his Orations tells us That the Kingdom of Alexandria by the last Will of their King was devolved to Rome And Prasitagus Rex Icenorum in England upon his death-bed gave his Kingdom to the Emperour Nero. As to Examples in this point at home this King William the 1. by his Will gave England to his younger Son William Rufus King Steven claimed by the Will of Henry the first King Henry 8. had power by Act of Parliament to order the Succession of the Crown as he pleased by Will. And the Lords of the Councel in Queen Marys time wrote to her That the Lady Janes Title to the Crown was by the Will and Letters of Edward 6. As the Case of Henry 8. was by Act of Parliament So Duke William after he had Conquered Harold was by the general consent of the Barons and People of England accepted for their King and so his Title by Will confirmed And he both claimed and Governed the Kingdom as an Heir and Successor confirmed their antient Laws and ruled according to them This appears by Chronica Cronicorum speaking of William the Bastard King of England and Duke of Normandy he saith That whereas St. Edward had no Heir of England William having conquered Harold the Usurper obtained the Crown under this Condition That he should inviolably observe those Laws given by the said Edward It is testifyed likewise by many of our Historians that the antient Laws of England were confirmed by Duke William Jornalensis sayeth That out of the Merchenlage West-Saxon-Lage and Dane-Lage The Confessor composed the Common Law which remains to this day Malmsbury who lived in Duke Williams time sayeth that the Kings were Sworn to observe the Laws of the Confessor so called sayeth he because he observed them most religiously But to make this point clear out of Ingulphus he sayeth in the end of his Chronicle I Ingulphus brought with me from London into my Monastery Crowland the Laws of the most righteous King Edward which my Lord King William did command by his Proclamation to be anthentick and perpetual and to be observed throughout the whole Kingdom of England upon pain of most heinous punishment The Leiger Book of the Abby of Waltham commends Duke William for restoring the Laws of the English Men out of the Customes of their Countrey Radburn follows this Opinion and these Laws of Edward the Confessor are the same in part which are contained in our great Charter of Liberties A Manuscript entituled De gestis Anglorum sayeth That at a Parliament at London 4 W. 1. the Lawyers also present that the King might hear their Laws He Established St. Edward Laws they being formerly used in King Edgars time There is also mention of the 12 men out of every County to deliver truely the State of their Laws the same is remembred by Selden History of Tithes and Titles of Honour and in a manuscript Chronicle bound with the Book of Ely in Cottons Library One of the worthy e Gentlemen from whom I differ in Opinion was pleased to say That if William the Conquerour did not introduce the Laws of Normandy into England yet he conceives our Laws to be brought out of France hither in the time of some other of our Kings who had large Territories in France and brought in their Laws hither else he wonders how our Laws should be in French Sir I shall endeavonr to satisfy his wonder therein by and by but first with your leave I shall offer to you some Probabilities out of the History That the Laws of England were by some of those Kings carryed into France rather than the Laws of France brought hither This is expressly affirmed by Paulus Jovius who writes That when the English Kings Reigned in a great part of France they taught the French their Laws Sabellicus a Venetian Historian writes That the Normans in their Manners and Customes and Laws followed the English Polydore Virgil contradicting himself in another place than before cited relates that in our King Henry 6. time the Duke of Bedford called together the chief men of all the Cities in Normandy and delivered in his Oration to them the many Benefits that the English afforded them especially in that the English gave to them their Customes and Laws By the Chronicle of Eltham H. 5. sent to Cane in Normandy not only Divines but English Common Lawyers by the Agreement at Troys So there is much more probability that the Laws of England were introduced into France and Normandy than that the Laws of Normandy or any other part of France were introduced in England If the Normans had been Conquerours of England as they were not but their Duke was only conquerour of Harold and received as Hereditary King of England yet is it not probable they would have changed our Laws and have introduced theirs because they did not use to do so upon other Conquests The Normans conquered the Isles of Guernsey and Jersy yet altered not their Laws which in their local Customes are like unto ours The like they did in Sicily Naples and Apulia where they were Conquerours yet the antient Laws of those Countries were continued I hope Mr. Speaker I have by this time given some Satisfaction to the worthy Gentlemen who differed from me That the Laws of England were not imposed upon us by the Conqueronr nor brought over hither either out of Normandy or any
other part of France but are our antient native Laws I must now come to endeavour also to satisfy the wonder if they were not brought out of Normandy or some other part of France how come they then to be written in the French Language Sir It is to me an Argument that because they are written in French therefore they were not brought in by Duke William the Norman For the French Tongue was not the Language of Duke William and the Normans They had not been then in Duke Williams time past 4 descents in that part of France and it is improbable that they in so short a time should loose their native tongue and take up and use the Language of another Country which was conquered by them The Normans came from Sueden Gothland Norway and Denmark between whose Languages and with the High-Dutch their Neighbours there is a great affinity but between these Languages and the French there is none at all Ulphilus holds That the Dutch Tongue came from the Goths Jornandus saith The Goths Tongue came from the Dutch all agree that between those Languages and the French there is no Affinity It is so improbable that D. William should cause our Laws to be in French that when he proclaimed them as Ingulphus testifies he commanded that they should be used in the same Language they were written in English to his Justices and gives the reason lest by Ignorance we should happen to break them But it hath been further Objected If D. William did not cause our Laws to be written in French what then should be the reason that the Grand Customary of his Norman Laws were written in the French Tongue The reason thereof is given that the Normans being a rough and martial People had few Clerks among them but made use of those French among whom they then lived and whose Language they then began to be acquainted with and to understand But when they were in England they had not so much use of those Clerks and that Language but more of the English And probably it might be that the Confessor had been so long in France that he was more Master of that Language than of the Norman and that the Normans understood that Language better than the English and thereupon the Customary was written in the French Tongue But it doth not therefore follow that D. William must cause the English Laws to be written in the French Tongue but it is more likely that he might cause them to be continued in their Native Idiom which was much nearer in affinity to his own Northern Language than the French was That the French Tongue was not introduced as to our Laws and other things by D. William into England appears in that the French was in great use with us here both before and some time after his Invasion Beda affirms That in Anno 640. it was the custom of England to send their Daughters into the Monasteries of France to be brought up there and that Ethelbert Ethelwoulf Ethelred and other Saxon Kings Married into the Royal Blood of France Glabor notes That before the time of D. William the Normans and English did so link together that they were a terror to Foreign Nations Ingulphus saith That the Saxon Hand was used until the time of Kind Alfred long before the time of D. William and that he being brought up by French Teachers used the French Hand And he notes many Charters of Edred and Edgar written in the French Hand and some Saxon mixt with it as in the Book of Doomesday That Edward the Confessor by reason of his long being in France was turned into the French fashion and all England with him But that W. 1. commanded our Laws to be written in the English Tongue because most men understood it and that there be many of his Patents in the Saxon Tongue I suppose we may be satisfied that W. 1. did not cause our Laws to be written in French though the French Language was much in use here before his time And if he did not introduce the French Language into England the Argument falls that because they are written in French therefore he brought them in But Sir I shall offer you some Conjectures how it came that our Laws were written in French which I suppose might be begun in the time of our King Hen. 2. who was a Frenchman born and had large Territories and Relations in France many of his Successors had the like and very much to do in France and with Frenchmen of whom great numbers came into England and they and the English matched and lived together both here and in some parts of France Hence it came to pass as Giraldus Cambrensis notes that the English Tongue was in great use in Burdeaux and in other parts of France where the Englishmen were resident and conversant the like was when the Frenchmen were so conversant in England Matthew Westminster writes that he was in hazard of losing his Living because he understood not the French Tongue and that in King H. 2. and King Stephen ' s time who had large Dominions in France their Native Countrey and the number of French and of Matches with them was so great that one could hardly know who was French and who English Gervasius Tilsberiensis observes the same and Brackland writes that in R. 1. his time Preaching in England was in the French Tongue probably Pleading might be so likewise and in King John's time French was accounted as the Mother Tongue There are scarce any Deeds of our Kings in French before H. 2. his time the most are in E. 1. and E. 2. their time That our Laws were pleaded and written in French before E. 3. his time appears by the Statut. 36 E. 3. c. 15. which recites the mischief of the Law being in French and enacts that the Law shall thereafter be pleaded in English and enrolled in Latine This is oneGround of the mistaken Opinion of Lambert Polydor Speed and others that D. Willam brought in hither both the Norman Laws and Language which I apprehend to be fully answered and the contrary manifested by what I have said before on this Subject Polydore's Mistake may appear the more when he asserts that by this Statut. 36 E. 3. Matters are to be Enrolled in English which is contrary to the express words that they are to be Enrolled in Latin Many of our Law-Books were written in Latine before the Norman Invasion as appears bp the Ancient Rolls of Mannors and Courts Baron and our Old Authors Glanvile Bracton Tilesbury Hengham Fleta the Register and Book of Entries The Records at Westminster and the Tower and other Records yet extant are in Latine and many Books of our Law in Latine were translated into English about E. 3. his time Most of our Statutes from E. 1. his time till about the middle of H. 7th ' s Reign are Enrolled in French notwithstanding this Statute 36 E. 3. except the Statute 6 R.
Proposals to be tendered to the Parliament of England for their Submission to them That they are contented to wave Kingly Government That no Lord shall exceed in Power a Private Person That the Tyrannical Power of the Clergy may be dissolved 14. Letters That the Lord Argyle had called a Parliament and that Mr. Alexander Kant a Minister said in his Pulpit That God was bound to own that Parliament that all other Parliaments were called by Man but this was brought about by his own Hand That the Lord Belcarris levying Forces in the North of Scotland his Officers would not allow Men and Horses sent in though they were very good but would find fault with them and demanded 20 l. for every one and they would find Men and Horses for 20 l. a-piece themselves Whereupon the Countrey rose upon them killed some of them and made the rest run away A Soldier shot to death by Sentence of a Court-Marshal for striking a Serjeant who was correcting him for a misdemeanour That 800 Recruits were landed in Scotland and more expected That the Lieutenant-General sent out a strong Party under Collonel Overton That the greatest part of the Gourdons had laid down their Arms and most of the Gentry were willing to comply with the Parliament of England only the Ministers endeavoured to keep up the War 15. Letters That the Marquess Huntley sent to the Governour of Lieth for a Treaty as Argyle had done the Countrey forsaking them and inclining to submit to England That Mount Orgel in Jersey was surrendred to the Parliament Forces and in it 20 Brass and Iron Guns and 20 Barrels of Powder and that Admiral Blake was in a Treaty for Elizabeth Castle That a Master of a Ship coming by saw Boats passing up and down between the Ships and the Castle with Flags of Truce and many Guns fired The Parliament voted That it was a convenient time to declare a certain time for the continuance of this Parliament beyond which it should not sit 17. Letters That the Gentlemen of Fife and other Counties met and prepared Letters and Commissions to be sent into every County for authorizing Commissioners to attend the coming of the Commissioners from England to make Proposals to them for setling the Peace of the Kingdom 18. The Parliament voted That the time for continuance of this Parliament beyond which they resolve not to sit shall be the third day of November 1654. And that such Scots Prisoners who have been disposed of by the Parliament or Council of State and any Officers of the Army if they run away and go into Scotland without licence shall suffer death and be proceeded against by Marshal Law Letters from Collonel Heane from Jersey of his Proceedings there with the Summons Answers and Conditions of the Surrender of Mount Orgeil Castle That they had in the Castle 18 Pieces of Ordnance four Barrels of Powder Match and Bullet proportionable 1000 Arms Two Months Provisions for 70 Men. The Parliament confirmed the Articles and voted Thanks to General Blake and Collonel Hayne for their good Service 19. Letters That at the Surrender of Lymbrick the Bishop the Major and the Deputy-Governour were hanged the Governour was condemned but reprieved to be sent to the Parliament That the Bishop and Major were hanged for breach of the Articles in disguising many Friars Priests and Bloody Rogues whereby they escaped contrary to the Articles 21. Letters from Lieutenant-General Monk giving thanks to God for the good news of the Rendition of Orgeil Castle That he appointed some Gentlemen to meet with the Marquess of Argyle to treat with him according to his desires That the Country are expecting the coming of the Parliaments Commissioners from England to settle the Civil Affairs of Scotland The Protestation of 28 Ministers given in to the Provincial Assembly at Aberdeen which the Assembly condemned as prejudicial to the Priviledges of the Kirk whose Proceedings they justifie 22. Letters That the Marquess Huntley was come to live privately at his own House upon a Passe sent to him That one of his Proposals was That the Lieutenant-General should put him in possession of certain Lands which was kept from him by his Cousin the Marquess of Argyle That the Earl of Kalander and others of Quality were come in That some Gentlemen in Scotland have done great Service for the Parliament of England at which the Kirk are much enraged and call those Gentlemen Malignants and inveigh against them and against the Parliaments Forces That the Scots rose against Captain Augustin their Countryman killed some of his Men and drave away the rest That the Lord Forbes and others were come in to the Parliament of England and the Country generally desired to be under the Protection of the English Commander in chief in that Kingdom 24. Major-General Massey and others were brought up Prisoners to London Massey endeavoured to escape by the way as he was brought up having a good Horse to ride on he set Spurs to his Horse thinking to ride away from his Convoy but the Soldiers overtook him and brought him back Letters That the Enemy in Cornet Castle in â—uernsey were besieged and very high but the Inhabitants of Guernsey Island were generally the Parliaments Friends That Collonel Hayne shot with his great Guns against Elizabeth Castle and did very great execution and Sir George Carteret had much ado to appease the Mutiny of his Soldiers That Major-General Sterling was come in to the Protection of the Parliament That Argyle and Huntley were to meet with some Persons appointed by the Lieutenant-General to treat with them about their Submission to the Parliament 25. The Parliament ordered the new Council of State to be constituted for the year ensuing That 20 of the last years Council should be continued and â—1 new ones joyned to them The Parliament passed further Instructions to the Council of State The Power of the Admiralty was placed in the Council of State They ordered That the Council of State take care that no Meetings should be in Scotland under any pretence of consulting touching Matters of Government Order That no Chair-man shall continue in the Chair of any Committee above a Year and this to extend to the President of the Council of State Several Votes touching Compositions of Delinquents in Durham Letters That Major-General Dungan with 600 Horse attempted Rosse in Ireland and possessed the Town and took Collonel Markham and killed 12 sick Men in their Beds and took 13 Prisoners and plundered the Town although Irish upon the coming of Forces from Waterford they deserted the Town That Zanchey and others fell upon them killed 100 of them and took 50 of them Prisoners That 4 or 500 of Lymbrick were dead of the Plague That the Lord Deputy had the Castle of Clare surrendred to him 26. Letters That the Lord Belcarris had disbanded his Forces in Scotland and was come to his own House to
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
Answer That they do not hold it fit or reasonable to lay open their power but such as shall submit they have sufficient Power to receive them into the Parliaments Favour As to the granting Passes to any to go to the Parliament they hold it not fit to such as contrary to their Duty are in Hostility against them 2. Letters That the Basse was delivered up to the Parliament and in it all the Kirke Records which much troubled the Clergy An Act passed for continuing Serjeant Bradshaw Chancellour of the Dutchy and Bartholomew Hall Esq Attorney-General of the Dutchy 3. An Act passed for removing Obstructions in the Sale of the Kings Lands c. Letters That the Dutch Ships had orders if they met any English Ships to bring them into their Harbors 5. Letters of a Petty Rising of some High-landers but their Commander and a few of them being knockt down the rest of them ran away That a Bloody Moss-Trooper was Condemned to be Hanged and another by the Court-Martial to be Shot to Death for killing a Scotch-woman That some English Troopers being pursued by some Moss-Troopers who said they were of Collonel Okey's Regiment and Friends and so they put up their Arms again and rode on together when suddenly the Moss-Troopers drew out their Pistols and killed one of the Troopers wounded another of them and took the rest Prisoners and afterwards in cold blood murdered Three of their Prisoners and the Fourth miraculously escaped 6. Letters of the low condition the Irish were brought unto of John Fitz-Patrick an eminent Rebel admitted to his submission to the Parliament and of Clanrickards Letter for a National Treaty of the good service of Collonel Reynolds and the other Officers and Soldiers in Ireland Of the Forces of the Parliament about Eniscortly burning the Corn and every Morning the Houses they quartered in the night before killed and took many Irish That he was an idle Soldier who had not a Veal Lamb Pig Poultry or all of them for his Supper That they destroyed as much Provision as would have kept many Thousands of the Irish till next Harvest That they took about 200 Garroons 300 Cows and 400 Sheep and Goats and many Horse-men Of Contests between the Towns-men of Galloway and the Soldiery the Earl of Clanrickard taking part with the Soldiery and perswading the Town not to submit but to a National Treaty the Town insist upon a Treaty for themselves Of Assents of more Shires and Boroughs in Scotland to the Vnion with England transmitted to the Parliament The House passed Instructions about the Earl of Argyle to the Council of State The Cracovian Catechisme reported to the House and Voted by them to contain matters that are Blasphemous Erroneous and Scandalous That all the Printed Copies of that Book be burned Mr. Primate upon his Petition was discharged Order for 4000 l. to Repair Dover Pear and Harbour That Commissioners were in Treaty about the Surrender of Galloway The Dutch Imbargoe taken off from the English Ships Of the Dutch great Preparations for the Seas 7. Letters That Blackness was not thought fit to be made a Garrison That Dunbarton Castle was one of the Strongest holds in the 3 Kingdoms That Argyle in his Treaty with Major-General Dean and Major Salloway insisted much for the Interest of the Kirke That the Parliaments Forces fortified Ayre a strong Town and convenient Harbour 9. Letters of the meetings of the Ministers in Scotland who do threaten interdiction and communication to complyers with the Parliament and that the Highlanders fall upon them Of an Eclipse in Scotland that put the Inhabitants to a great Astonishment 10. Letters That the Dutch Ships in Pendennis Harbour hasted away from thence fearing an Imbargoe by the Parliament Of 6 English Colliers taken by the Dutch and rescued again by an English Frigot That Collonel Cook was Slain and no other of his Party in a Skirmish with the Rebels 12. Letters from Collonel Zanchey to the Lord-General and read in Parliament of all the proceedings of his Party the Winter past wherein among others he mentions the good Service of Captain Whitelock That they killed above 400 of the Irish and took 350 110 whereof he sent for Spain that they took many Hundreds of Cows and Garrons and 300 Troops of Horses and a great quantity of Arms. That about 400 of them upon their Petition and Security given have been received into the Parliaments Protection That they hanged above 50 of the Irish according to the Lord-General his Orders That he had not lost above 5 men nor any officers but Captain Ball. He mentions the Sollicitation of many of the Irish for a Treaty wherein he was doubtful what to do not knowing the mind of the Parliament therein towards those bloody Rebels but that to Collonel Odvery who had been very Civil and kind to the English who were Prisoners with him and very just in Performance of all his Ingagements he had granted a safe Conduct and Treaty to be confirmed or annulled as the Parliament should think fit and sent a Copy of the Articles From Leith that March 29 was so dark that they could not see to write without a Candle and it caused great fear upon all Men. 13. The Act read for Incorporating Scotland into one Common-wealth and Free-state with England and for abolishing the Kingly office in Scotland and committed A Letter assented unto to be sent to the King of Denmark and ordered to be sent Upon a report from the Councel of State of the abuses in Cloathing and Transporting of Wool and Fullers-Earth a day was appointed to debate it Order to exclude all private Business for 14 Dayes Order for an Act to settle the Lincoln-shire Fens 15. There was a smart debate between the Dutch Ambassadors and the Parliaments Commissioners wherein the point of the Right of Fishing in the Narrow-Seas and the Soveraignty of those Seas to be in the Nation of England was touched upon and by Whitelock more than others to the distast of their Excellencies the Lords Ambassadors 16. Letters That the Forces of Dublin had kined about 100 Tories and taken much Cattle That many Irish had made Conditions with the English Commissioners for a Submission that Collonel Fitz-Patrick had made Terms for 5000 men to go beyond Sea 17. Letters That most of the Countries by their Deputies had consented to the Vnion of Scotland with England and had chosen divers Officers of the English Army for their Deputies Of Ship-wracks near Scilly 19. Letters That Galloway had agreed to Surrender upon Articles That Collonel Reynolds had taken in 2 Garrisons of great Consequence bordering upon Vlster That the Ministers of Scotland inflame the People against England and damn all their Brethren and People who are not of their opinion That the Lord of Drum had bid them defiance That Argyle dallied and doubled with the English Commissioners 20. Letters That a party sent
to Ayre were received of the Garrison of the Castle of Arran upon conditions That Ships were come to Leith with Provisions and horse meat A Petition of the Eastland Merchants residing at Dantzicke submitting and commending the late Act of Navigation which they do pray may be observed and remedy of abuses in their Trade Votes That all Wools brought into England shall be Excise-free That an Act be brought in to prevent the Exportation of Scotch Wools Woolfells or Leather Referred to the Councel of State to consider and prepare an Act touching the Adventurers for Ireland and the qualifications touching Ireland formerly read in Parliament and that they be impowred to transport such of the Irish as they shall think fit into Forrein parts and about Transplanting of the Irish from one part of the Nation to another And to consider of Satisfaction to such Officers and Soldiers as shall be disbanded in Ireland Letters of the Surrender of Galloway to the Parliaments Forces with a Copy of the Articles and several Letters between the Parliaments Commissioners and Sir Charles Coot in Ireland about that Business referred to the Councel of State Vote That the Committee for the Universities and the Committee of Indemnity do sit no more and the House appointed a day to consider of filling the House with new Members 23. Letters That the Isle of Arran in Scotland and Duke Hamiltons House the Castle there was upon Summons Surrendred to the Parliaments Forces the Island is 8 miles over and 24 miles in Length and those in the Castle told the Commander of the Parliaments Forces that if they could have kept the Castle against him they would not have Surrendred it but being they could not defend it that he and his Soldiers were welcome to it That the Inhabitants shewed much distast to Argyle but the Civil Carriage of the Parliaments Soldiers did much ingage them 24. Letters of several Ships come into Leith Road loaden with Hay and others with Merchandize That the Ship which brought the Money for the Army lost her â—udder at Yarmouth Road and so was hindered of her Voyage That Argyle was preparing of Forces and yet gave good words to the English Commissioners That great depredations were committed by the Highlanders That the Chancellour sought to come in and the Ministers in the West were busie in designing against England That Sir George Ascue had taken in the Barbadoes the Letters from him with the Articles read in Parliament and the Messenger had 100 l. given him by the House Debate upon Regulating of the prizes of Wine 26. Letters That Sir George Ascue landed but 200 at first under Captain Morris who beat up one of the Enemies Quarters and took from them a little Fort with 4 Guns which they spiked up without any Loss That the Virginia-Fleet came in thither but very weak and their Men sick yet Sir George took the advantage of the appearance of that Fleet and sent a new Summons to the Lord Willoughby But he refusing to submit Sir George modelled 400 into a Regiment and landed them at night and were gallantly received by the Lord Willoughbyes men but being night they thought the Assaylants more than they were and the Seamen with great Shouts running upon the Enemy they were so amazed that after a short dispute they all ran away Leaving a place where in a manner they were intrenched and 4 great Guns That this party thus routed were 1200 Foot and a Troop of Horse and Sir George lost but 7 or 8 men whereof one was Lieutenant-Collonel Allen of the Enemy were 100 Slain and 80 Prisoners The success was nothing towards the gaining of the whole Island the Enemy having then about 5000 Horse and Foot in Arms. That the Virginia-Fleet after 7 days went away and then Sir George upon Information of Collonels Muddifords interests in the Island and Affections to the Parliament Sir George sent to him and his Friends by giving them honourable Conditions and he joined with Sir George and made up 2000 Foot and 100 Horse That the People came in hourly to Sir George who went on Shoar to Collonel Muddiford and his Company and gave them full satisfaction of his Commission and the Parliaments intentions whereupon they engaged to live and dye with the Parliament That the Lord Willoughby understanding this marched up to them with all the Force he could make and one of Sir George his great Guns Shot in at the Door where the Lord Willoughby and his Councel of War were and carried away the Sentinels head That this night the Enemy marched 2 Miles from Sir George his men who had many designs but were hindred by the Rains for 3 or 4 daies together and before they could March the Lord Willoughby sent for a Treaty and in regard his strength was much the greater and to avoid the destruction of that goodly Island which was already much wasted Sir George sent his Commissioners to meet with the Lord Willoughbys Commissioners and they agreed upon Articles and it was surrendred to the Parliament The truth was that the Lord Willoughby was forced to this surrender knowing that his men would not stand to him but dayly did desert him and most of the Islanders took in with C. Muddiford against my Lord. Letters that the Frigot with the Mony was safely arrived at Leith narrowly escaping the Sands on which she struck six times upon the Coast of Yarmouth but was delivered by the breaking of her Rudder That Argyle and his Clans agreed to oppose the Parliament of England and that he had gotten 10000 Arms. That the Kirk began to piece again but the People were inclinable to the Union 27. Votes touching the payment of Debts upon publick Faith Referred to a Committee to consider how the Poor may be set to work and relieved and not suffered to beg and to review all the Acts touching the Poor and report the defects of them and to receive Proposals for the City of London or others touching the Poor An Act passed for the further ease and relief of poor Prisoners for Debt Letters That the Scots King was ingaged in mediating a Peace between the King of France and the Princes wherein he alledged his own condition and that of his Father and the King of France thanked him for his good Intentions and desired him to make the like Proposals to the Princes Which the Scots King did but the King of France refused to put away the Cardinal who offered to go away rather than to be a cause of continuing the miseries of France that the Princes doubled their Guards and the People were enraged against Cardinal Mazarini 29. Letters of the reducing of the Barbadoes to the same effect as before The Revolt of Collonel Muddiford and Letters from my Lady Willoughby to my Lord her Husband that the Kings Forces were defeated at Worcester and of the condition of the Affairs in England with her advice
all Estates be made liable to make satisfaction nor the rich turn Prisons into places of Protection 9. That none be pressed for War the power of Counties being sufficient to suppress all Insurrections and forrein Invasions 10. That Trade be free and exempt from Monopolies and disburdening Customs Excise and all Charges and all publick Monies to be equally raised 11. That all Sheriffs Justices Coroners Constables and the like be annually chosen by those of the place 12. That all Laws contrary to these Fundamentals be repealed 13. That Parliaments or Common-Councels of England may be returned to the old course to be annually elected and satisfaction given to the Nation in point of Accounts and the publick Faith satisfied arrears of Soldiers paid Juries duely chosen Registers appointed to ascertain all Mortgages and Sale of Lands care taken of the Poor and wast places assigned for them the Printing Presses set at liberty The Parliament debated the Business of the Dutch Ambassadors and passed these resolutions to the Ambassador in answer to his Papers 1. That the Lords the States General do pay to this Common-wealth the charges and dammages they have sustained by their attempts 2. That upon payment or securing thereof shall be a Cessation and their Ships and goods released 3. This being assented to and put in Execution the security for the time to come to be a firm amity and interest of the 2 States for the good of both The Parliament received another Paper from the Dutch Ambassadors that they were commanded Home and desired Audience to take their leaves which was appointed to morrow A Letter from the King of Denmarks Ambassadors for Audience they were appointed to have it the next day but one 30. The Dutch Ambassadors had Audience in the House with the usual Ceremonies The Lord Paw made a Latine Oration which he gave in writing to the Speaker with a Petition from the Merchants of the Intercourse they went all away this Night Letters from Amsterdam That the Dutch are very high against the English and for a War with them The Ambassadors having received the last Resolutions of the Parliament of England demanding satisfaction for all their Damages it gave such a distast to their Excellencies that they presently resolved according to their Instructions to return Home and went to Graves-End this day and many Letters came from Holland mentioning the great Preparations there made for the War at Sea July 1652. 1. Much discourse was upon the departing of the Dutch Ambassadors some Members of Parliament being unsatisfied with the dismission of them and that so high Terms were insisted on by the Parliament 2. Letters of 800 Irish come in and many Thousands of them stand out because they cannot be pardoned for their Murders From Collonel Hewson of his Proceedings and that an ambush being laid by the Irish for a Captain of the English and Collonel Pretty he escaped and a party sent out by Collonel Hewson killed 4 of them released their Prisoners and took divers Rebels and 16 Horses That another party sent out by him killed 40 of the Rebels and took 30 good Horses That Collonel Hewson denied to give or take any quarter with them That Slego was surrendred and that Sir Thomas Jones killed 2 Collonels 10 Captains and 300 of a party of 3000 of the Rebels and took all their Horse 3. Letters of the English Forces gotten into the Highlands of Ships come into Leith with provisions Of several late Successes in Ireland That the Enemy burnt Portumney Town and Collonel Ingolsby relieved them and routed all their Horse and Surrounded their Foot in a Bog That the Irish were in the Field with about 4000 Men. That the Lord Broghill did good Execution upon the Irish and pursued them 4 miles took 100 Horse and rescued a prey of 200 Beefs That the Lord Muskerry was come in to the Parliament with his Forces That General Blake with a gallant Fleet went Northwards and left Sir George Ascue to command the rest of the Fleet in the Downs who took 5 Dutch Merchant-men and General Blake took 2 Men of War and 2 Merchant men 500 Soldiers sent on Board Sir George Ascue That after this Sir George Ascue and the Fleet with him met with 40 Dutch Ships took 7 of them and burnt 4 and about 24 of them ran on ground on the French Shoar and he pursued the rest and this Fight was gallantly performed by him after so long a Voyage which his Ships had gone and were very foul 5. Letters from the Parliaments Commissioners in Ireland That Sir Charles Coote and Collonel Reynolds had reduced Slego That the Lord Clanrickard had sent for a Treaty and that the Lieutenant-General had routed a party of the Enemy and marched towards Rosse That the Lord Muskerry sent for another Treaty that the Lord Broghill took 80 Horse killed about 50 took Lieutenant-Collonel Supple and 2 Colours and Arms yet the Irish were double his Number and he regained 200 Cattle Of Recruits come into Ireland 6. A Declaration past concerning the differences of England with the Netherlands Letters from Sir George Ascue of his Fight with the Dutch who were 40 Merchants and 4 men of War he took 7 of them and burnt 3 and few that ran on Shoar escaped that the French defended them from the English yet coming on board their Ships plundred them That Captain Wright made a gallant Fight with one of them and forced him on Shoar and burnt him and Captain Wright lost 8 men and above 20 wounded and Captain Wright himself lost his Leg with a great Shot and few or none of his Officers but were wounded That of those Irish who submitted not a 4th man laid down their Arms. 9. Letters of Recruits sent for Ireland That some of the Parliaments Forces were marched 20 Miles into the Highlands where the Country of the Fraziers all except one inconsiderable Person with a few people came in and submitted to the Parliament That General Blake with a Fleet of 60 Sail passed in Sight of Dunbar towards the North to attend the Holland Busses and sent for the Frigots and Parliaments Vessels in those parts who went to him That the Scots reported the Dutch to have taken 25 Sail of the Parliaments Ships in a Fight there That divers Barks were come in to Air with provisions for the Parliaments Forces and 4 Frigots and several small Vessels come thither for their Assistance 10. Dr. Winston a Physitian in the beginning of the late Troubles by leave of the House of Lords went over into France and there continued till very lately that he returned into England in his Absence none being here to look after his Business for him his Estate was sequestred as if he had been a Delinquent and his place and lodgings as Physick Professor in Gresham Colledge were taken from him tho he had never acted any thing against the Parliament
but had been out of England all the time of the Troubles whereupon applications being made to the Committee of Sequestrations an order was procured for his being restored to his place and lodgings in Gresham Colledge and the Sequestration of his Estate which was 500 l. per annum was also taken off Letters of the Dutch preparations for Sea and the Petitions of many of their people to have Letters of Marque against the English That about 60 Sail of their men of War showed themselves to Sir George Ascue's Fleet but attempted nothing 12. Letters That some eminent Scots in the Highlands have submitted to the Parliament of England That there wants English Ministers in Scotland From Yarmouth That the Hollanders have 180 Busses at Sea and 60 men of War for their Guard that General Blake was near them That Van Trump was seen in the Downs with about 100 Sail of Ships nearer to Sir George Ascue That Meen heer Schaep sent to the Parliament thanks for their civility to him and that the States sent to forbid their Fleets from taking any more of the Ships of the Parliament 13. Upon a Report from the Councel of State the Parliament voted That Lieutenant-General Fleetwood do Command in Chief the Forces in Ireland under the Lord-General and that he be one of the Commissioners for the Civil affairs of Ireland Votes concerning the Satisfaction of Publick Faith monies by taking Lands forfeited in Ireland Referred to a Committee to consider what Cathedrals are fit to stand or what to be pulled down and how such as shall be pulled down may be applied to the payment of the Publick Faith Debate upon a Bill for Sale of Forfeited Lands and upon another Bill touching Receivers c. Letters That the Dutch appeared with a Fleet of 102 Sail of Ships and 10 Fire-Ships near Sir George Ascue intending to Intercept some Ships coming to him out of the River to whom Sir George sent to stay there that a Squadron of 40 of the Dutch Ships came up to Sir George within a League of him That 2 Plat-Forms were planted by Deal Castle to fall upon the Enemy if they came near but upon changing of the wind they all steared away again Many debenters forged upon which Purchasers were cheated That the charge of the Survey of a Mannor came to 255 l. 12 s. being 226 Sheets of Paper and the value of the Mannor but 300 l. per annum and a life allowed upon it so at 6 years purchase the Reversion came to but 1800 l. whereof half was in doubled money and that with Fees and Charges of Conveyances c. took off 3 parts of the purchase money 16. Letters of the Agreement by the Lieutenant-General Ludlow with the Lord Muskerry and the Forces in Munster to submit to the Parliament and Rosse to be surrendred to them That the Earl of Clanrickard and the Lord Musgrove were come in that the Lord Slain was taken the last week by Collonel Stanley and most of those with him killed and not a considerable party of them left and none of them have quarter given them 17. Letters That the Fleet could get no further than Aberdeen by reason of the contrary winds That Collonel Overton with his Regiment and 3 Troops of Horse and 2 Troops of Dragoons Sailed to Ostold and took in a strong Castle in Argyles Country That the Grandees and chief Gentlemen round about the Highlands were come in to the Parliament of England that many of the Soldiers were severely punished for stragling and plundering That General Blake had taken 3 or 4 of the Dutch Busses and one man of War and sent them up 19. Letters of several Garrisons settled for the Parliament of England in the High-lands that 600 High-landers were up in Arms. That the Lord Glencarne and divers of the Chief of the Clans were come in to the Major-General that the People generally speak Irish go in their pladdes about their middles both Men and Women their Houses except a few of Stone are onely of Earth and Turfs That the English Forces in the Highlands were careful to do no wrong to the Inhabitants nor to their Corn most of them went from their Houses as they use to depasture their Cattle and return not till harvest that the English could get nothing from them for their money That the Holland Fleet were exactly numbred to 92 Ships whereof 6 were Fire Ships and 3 Galliot Hoyes and about 10 small Frigots about 8 or 10 Guns a piece about 20 of them were good and firm Ships of about 30 or 40 Guns the rest Ships of a middle Size that four Ships more were come to them out of Zealand That upon the North of Whitby the Dutch Fleet was met of about 107 Sail and that they said they lay to find out the English Fleet. That 20 Dutch men of War were plying up and down by Southwold Bay and 80 more of the Dutch discovered Letters pretended from Van Trump to his Friend at Rotterdam that the English Fleet being assaulted by him some threw their Guns over-board others cut their Cables and all fled and that he had taken 40 of them That new Letters of Marque were granted by the States against the English 20. An Act past for relief of double Assessments Debate upon the Act for Sale of Forfeited Lands 23. Letters of Pyrats from France infesting the Coast about Scilly That Sir George Ascue with his Fleet of 50 Sail went from the Downs Westward to attend the Dutch Fleet That Van Trump was about Newcastle and chased 2 English Ships who ran themselves on ground to avoid being taken by the Dutch one of which they fired and the other they waited for till the Sea came in and carried her away Of the difficulties passed by the English Forces in the Highlands the extremities there both of Heat and Cold at this time scorching of the Sun and yet snow upon the mountains to cool them that the Inhabitants faced them continually that Venison is plenty there though Mutton be dear and the Springs better than Sack at Leith That the Horse-men are apt to ride over the tops of their Houses That the Army had 400 Baggage Horses led by the Country-men loaden with Bread and Cheese that they guarded their Horses from the Corn. 24. Letters That General Blake had taken 100 of the Holland Busses and in them 1500 men the rest secured themselves in Bressies Bay in Scotland 26. Letters of a Declaration presented to the Kirke Assembly at Edenburgh Of the Lords dispensations towards that Land That the Ordinances of Jesus Christ have been prostituted to a Prophane mixt multitude the Church impure That none should be admitted Members of a Church but such as with a profession of truth join such a blameless and Gospel-like behaviour as they be esteemed in a rational judgement of Charity believers and their Children that such were the Churches formed
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
coast and not a small Vessel escapes them that they have 36 Oares 7. That the Scots could not agree at Edenburgh That divers gentlemen in the High lands subscribed to act nothing prejudicial to the Common-wealth of England and submitted to it 9. Letters That the Major-General had found out a Vale between the Marre and Athole which would keep 1500 Horse for 14 daies and therefore would stay longer in the High lands and had sent a summons to Clankerry and his forces about 2000 men to come in to him That Van Trump with 125 Sail of Ships was upon the Coast of Aberdeen and took an English Ship worth 2000 l. and detained all the men that he had 5 fire Ships 5 Gallies for Intelligence and 115 men of War That General Blake was come near to Van Trump That the Earl of Glencare and divers Gentlemen were with the Major-General who punished divers Soldiers for pillaging That the French had taken an English Ship of 300 Tuns That Sir George Ascue took 4 Prizes French and Dutch and brought in 4 English Ships That Zealand and Amsterdam Petitioned the States to give Commissions to Prince Rupert and his Fleet. 10. Order of Parliament for a day of Publick Humiliation A Bill read for the Settlement of Ireland An Act passed to inable the Judges of the Northern Circuit to hold Assizes at Durham Referred to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Justices of Peace of London to examine what Lead had been taken off from St. Pauls Church and to prevent the taking away any more Letters That General Blake was off at Sea near Scarborough and that 44 Dutch Ships were near Rye in Sussex That the new Committee of Sequestrations in Hertford Shire make void the former Leases of Sequestred Lands contrary to right 11. Letters That Trump by a Storm at Sea had the greatest part of his Navy lost and spoiled and came home with but 40 Ships 60 men of War missing and Two of their East-India Ships cast away 12. An Act passed for settling the Affairs of Ireland for satisfaction to the Adventurers and Soldiers out of Lands there and for Provision of maimed Soldiers and for the Widows of Soldiers slain in the Parliaments service there and a List of the Persons excepted from pardon 13. A Petition from the Officers of the Lord-General his Army reciting that they had often sought the Lord and desire these particulars to be considered 1. That speedy and Effectual meanes may be used for promoting the Gospel Prophane and Scandalous Ministers be outed good Preachers incouraged maintenance for them Provided and Tithes taken away 2. For regulation of the Law and what the Committee for it have propounded may be debated and incouragement given to them 3. That Prophane Scandalous and Disaffected Persons in all places of Authority may be removed by Act of Parliament and well affected Persons put in and all to be such as fear God and hate Covetousness 4. To redress abuses in the Collecting and Manageing of Excise 5. That publick Faith Debts be justly Satisfied and firct to the poorer sort and before any more of the publick Revenue be given away to particular persons 6. For stating the Accounts and satisfying the arreares of Soldiers and care for maimed Soldiers and Widdowes and Children of Soldiers slain 7. That all Articles of War given to the Enemy may be made good 8. That the publick Revenue may be brought into one Treasury with Officers to be appointed by Parliament and their receipts and disbursement published half yearly 9. That a Committee may be appointed out of the House to consider of unnecessary Offices and Salaries 10. For setting the Poor to work punishing beggars and providing for the impotent 11. For liberty in Corporations for those who have served the Parliament to use Manual occupations 12. For qualifications of such as shall sit in future Parliaments The Speaker from the Parliament returned to the Petitioners the hearty thanks of the house for their great care and love to the publick Many were unsatisfied with this petition looking upon it as improper if not arrogant for the Officers of the Army to the Parliament their Masters and Cromwel was advised to stop this way of their petitioning by the Officers of the Army with their swords in their hands lest in time it may come too home to himself But he seemed to slight or rather to have some design by it in order to which he put them to prepare way for him Letters of the Ships come with Armes Ammunition and men which were feared to have been lost That the Major-General was retreated to St. Johns Town wanting provisions to continue the pursuit of the thievish Highlanders Of the Highlanders generally submitting to the Parliament of England That the Hart Frigot fought with 3. Dutch ships but was taken by them 14. Letters That the Dutch fleet that appeared neer the Goodwin Sands caused the Kentish men to be up in armes lest they should land That a Portugal Ambassador was arrived at Plymouth From General Blake to the Councel that he was safely arrived with his Fleet from the Northward Of a Dutch private man of war taken after a Sharp fight sunk by two English Catches 15. Letters to the Councel of State of General Blakes standing off to the coast of Holland to looke after the Dutch fleet who were gone off from the Coast of Sussex 16. Letters That the Commissioners for the several Counties in Scotland were to meet at Edenburgh to choose Commissioners to attend the Parliament of England That the Assembly of the Kirke at Edenburgh agreed upon an Act and Overture of the general Assembly for the peace and Vnion of the Kirke With a letter to the Nobility and Gentry and all other wise and pious persons to promove the same 17. Vote for transportation of all Commodities to the Parliaments quarters in Ireland custom-free Referred to the Councel of State to send over Preachers into Ireland and to give them Salaries Referred to the Commissioners in Ireland to provide for maimed Soldiers and Widowes there Addition of names to the Bill for sale of forfeited lands Letters of a Fleet of Dutch Ships upon the Sussex coast who took and plundered some English Fishermen that the Country thereabouts fired their Beacons 18. That 42 of Trump's scattered Ships were safe at Shetland and the Two East-India Ships supposed to be lost That Sir George Ascue and the Dutch Fleet were ingaged about Plymouth and there had passed between them 2 or 3000 Shot 19. Letters That Argyle promised to go and submit to the Parliament of England 20. Letters That Sir George Ascue was ingaged with 80 Sail of the Dutch near Plymouth as Captain Packe related who was brought off in a Ketch having his Leg shot off that 200 Men went from Shore chearfully in their Boats to relieve Sir George Ascue That the Hollanders lost Two Ships one sunk and
and carryed into Brest Of the like Solemn Proclaiming of the Lord Protector at Weymouth Bristol Shrewsbury Exeter Yarmouth and many other places 31 That the King of Scots was present with the King of France and the Cardinal at Evening Prayer in one of the Jesuits Convents and the Dukes of York and Gloucester were with them That the Highlanders were grown up to the Number of at least Three thousand that some of them over-powring in number a Party of Collonel Thomlinsons Men killed Two of them That they imprisoned some Heritors in those parts for refusing their Levys and denying their Orders and giving out That whosoever shall not conform to their commands shall be proceeded against with Force and compelled to a Submission January 1653. Jan. 2. The Instrument of Government by the Lord Protector and His Council was Published for the View of all Persons together with the Oath Publickly taken by him 3 Letters of the Enemies increasing in Numbers in the Highlands who meeting with Four of Collonel Morgans Dragoons near Edenburgh Barbarously Murdered them and the adjacent Houses would not Protect them some of them were killed by a Party of the English 4 Letters of several small bickerings between Parties of the Highlanders and of the English Army That the Highlanders threaten sorely and seize the Persons of divers who refuse to assist them in their Levys The Dutch Ambassadors took their leave at a Conference at Whitehall and went to Gravesand for Holland Of General Monks Riding with his Squadron in the Channel and sending Frigots abroad 5 The Protector and his Councel had several Applications and Addresses made to them from divers considerable places acknowledging his Power and Government and promising Obedience to it 6 Letters that Judge Bulstrode came with a Commission of Goal-delivery to Warwick and in the Execution thereof gave great satisfaction to the People commended the present Government and charged the Grand Jury to bring to Justice any disturbers of it Of the Lord Whitelock his Arrival and Honourable reception at Gottenburgh 7 Letters of an English Ship Cast away near Weymouth and all her Men drowned except the Shipman and Two Passengers and of Picaroons coming into the mouth of Severn and taking some Vessels there That the Dutch Ambassadors remained at Gravesend and from thence made a further Application to his Highness and his Councel Of great Thunder about Amsterdam Lightning and Tempest which destroyed about Five hundred Houses and about Forty Merchants Ships sunk in the Texel 9 Collonel Lilburn Published a Proclamation for all the Scots to bring in their Horses to the next Garrison to them to prevent the Enemies taking of them or being sent to them and that for the Horses so brought in the owners shall have satisfaction or may keep their Horses in the Garrisons That a Commanded Party of Collonel Rich's Troop routed a Party of the Lord Kinoules Men and took his Lordship Prisoner and Fourteen more all Wounded and Thirty five Horse killed three of them and lost but one Man and five Wounded 10 Letters of a Lamentable Fire at Amsterdam which burnt Six hundred Houses there That Captain Welch after he had Landed the Lord Ambassador Whitelock of whose Squadron of Ships he was one took Two Holland Ships Riding at the Seah one of Four hundred the other of Three hundred and fifty Tuns loaden with Corn Wool and Plancks which he took and brought away with him and by Storm was forced to come a little way within the Port of Gottenburgh but without the Command of the Fort. That the Lord Ambassadour Whitlock was earnestly pressed to send for the Captain and to discharge the Prizes but he answered He conceived it to be a matter not appertaining either to himself or to the Queens Officers to meddle with and that he believed the Queens Ports would not be denyed to any English-man who had Commission by Authority of Parliament coming thither to shelter himself against Storms That the Conflict had been upon the High Seas betwixt the English and the Dutch who were Enemies for these reasons his Excellency refused to do any thing in it Some of Captain Welch his Men coming to Gottenburgh were stayed and brought before the Lands-Here who examined them and sent his Major to the Ambassadors to know whether he would own the Captain whereto he Answered He did own him as one that had a Commission by Authority of Parlioment and one of his Fleet whereupon the Men were dismissed That the English have the more trouble there and the less favour because the Queens Vice Admiral was a Hollander 11 That the Lord Protector and his Councel sate very close and all things seemed to favour them both at home and abroad 12 Divers Forein Ministers came over to the Lord Protector and acknowledged his Power Courted him and gave him his Title of Highness 13 Letters of Six months Pay brought to the Forces in Scilly Islands Of Prince Ruperts Arrival at the French Camp before Beffort 14 Letters that a Frigot chased a French Man of War till he forced him on Shore and shot at him so fiercely that some of the French coming down to the Sea-side Four of them were killed with the Shot from the Frigot That the Highlanders continued Stealing and Plundering their Countreymen who would not joyn and Rise with them or not Pay their Taxes That the Scots chose rather to be Destroyed by the Highlanders than to give any Intelligence of them to the English when they Marched near them That some of the English Fleet plyed about the Lands-end and others between that and the Downs and others upon the French Coast 16 Copies of Letters sent up from Glencarry to Captain Hill Governour of Bagnoth Castle courting him and informing him of the unsetledness in England and Answering his Letters to the Gentlemen of Bagnoth and affirming divers to be up in Armes in England for the King with other the like stuff and perswading him to Return to his Fidelity to the King Also the Answer to the Earl of Glencarnes Letter by Captain Hill full of stoutness and handsome Expressions and also his Letter to the Gentlemen of Bagnoth 17 Letters that the Dutch did exceedingly desire a Peace with England and the States sate often about it and that the People in Holland were not so high as formerly in speaking against England and that their Neighbour Princes feared and indeavoured to hinder a Conjunction between the Two Common-wealths That the Supply from England came to their Forces in Scotland That the Highlanders were very Active and great Men flock to them as young Montross and the Lord Gourdon That Lieutenant General Fleetwood and the Commissioners in Ireland appointed to try the Lord Muskerry and sent some Parties against some Tories An Agent came from Hamburgh to congratulate the Lord Protector Of many Protestants coming by Boat from Charington after Sermon towards Paris the Boat was cast away and about Sixty
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
for the several Burgs in Scotland 23 Divers Noblemen and others of Scotland who had Fines imposed on them by an Ordinance of the Protector and his Council came into the English Commissioners to offer what they could for Remission of those Mulcts 25 Debate about the Ordinance for ejecting Scandalous and Ignorant Ministers and ordered that the Members for the several Counties do bring in the names of fit persons to be Commissioners in this Act in the respective Counties 26 An Ordinance of the Protector and his Councel made a little before the Parliament sat was now Published appointing Commissioners to survey Forests Mannors Lands c. of the late King Another for the taking an Act of moneys upon the Act for Propagation of the Gospel in Wales Another for bringing in several branches of the revenue under the management of the Commissioners of the Treasury and Exchequer Three small Prizes brought in 27 The Lord Louden late Chancellor of Scotland was seized upon by some of his own Party intending to make their Peace by him but he got off from them receiving a shot in his Neck Collonel Morgan came out of Scotland for England and Collonel Overton was sent into the north of Scotland to Command in his place Bremen sent Commissioners to the States of Holland to desire their assistance to repel the Swede Count William of Nassau went from one good Town to another in Holland feasting the Magistrates and people to gain their affections tâ— the Prince of Orange M. Howard Son to the Earl of Arundel slew one Mr. Holland in the passage going to the Star-Chamber where a Committee sat 28 The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Councel of London Published their Order in pursuance of an Ordinance of the Lord Protector and his Councel for restraint of Hackney Coaches 29 A new Lord Mayor of London chosen Alderman Pack The new Sheriffs of London were Sworn in the Exchequer 30 The Grand Committee of Parliament debated the Articles of Government and came to some further Results and Votes upon several parts of them which they ordered to be Reported to the House forthwith October 1654. Oct. 2 The Marquess of Montross and his party in Scotland came in upon the like Articles as the Earl of Athol had done Those of Bremen were much put to it by the Swede 3 The business betwen England and the States of Holland in relation to their East-India Company was concluded by Commissioners on both parts to their Contentment Commissioners met to reconcile the differences betwixt the Sweeds and Bremen 4 A French Prize was brought in and seven more French Prizes Bankers sent in 5 Much Endeavour in Holland for setting up the Orange Party 6 The Parliament being resolved into a Grand Committee sat every day upon the Articles of Government Three Hundred Members of the House had subscribed the Recognition Letters of the Death of the Old Chancellor of Sweden Oxensterne and that his Son Grave Erit Oxensterne was to succeed him 7 Middleton ranged up and down in Argile Countrey in Scotland with about 40 Horse and some Foot but few came in to him to add to his Numbers 9 Twelve French ships taken by Captain Gethings and four more of the English Fleet. Some more Parliament men were chosen in Scotland 10 Divers Members returned for several places where they were Elected made their Elections in the House for which of those places they would serve and new Writs issued for Electing Members in the Places waved by them Questions about some of the Elections of Parliament men for Scotland were heard at the Committee of Priviledges In regard of the Plenty of Corn butter and Cheese which God gave us this year It was referred to a Committee to consider how some incouragement may be had for the transportation thereof and the Statutes in force against Ingrossers A Committee appointed to consider of the Ordinances made by the Protector and his Councel 11 The Solemn Fast kept 12 The House sat in a Grand Committee about the Government 13 The Highlanders in Scotland having stollen 100 Cattle from the Low-lands a Party of the English Army routed them killed a Lieutenant Collonel and one or two others and routed the rest 14 Lawson defeated the French in Caneda and took their Forts from them 16 Sir Mungo Murray taken Prisoner in the Highlands by Captain Elsemore and his Party routed 17 The Inhabitants of Ireland being very sensible of the mischiefs done to them by the Tories made head against them slew divers and brought their heads into Kilkenny The business of transplanting distasted the Irish more than any other thing At Delfe in Holland a Magazine of 700 barrels of Powder was casually set on Fire burnt about 300 Houses and a great Number of People and in the Hague 3 miles distant their glass windows were beaten down with the blow Four French Vessels sent in Prizes 18 Working in the Netherlands for advancement of the Party of the Prince of Orange 19 The House sat this day and the three former days in a Grand Committee about the Government and had much debate whether it should be Elective or Hereditary as to the single person the Protector of the Common-wealth 20 The Inhabitants of Edenburgh were very cross to the Parliaments Souldiers quartered among them 21 The Parliament continued sitting in a Grand Committee upon the Articles of Government 23 Four more French Prizes brought into Plimouth 24 Hammond one of the Parliaments Commissioners died at Dublin Two English Souldiers brought to the Gallows in Edenburgh for Robery one was hanged and the other saved by Lot and more Souldiers were then Scourged at the Gallows Foot for the same offence The Clergy in Scotland refused to observe the Fast-day ordered by the Protector it being their Principle Not to receive any directions for the keeping Fasts from the Civil Magistrate A Party of the Scots taken and killed in the Highlands by a small party of the English Forces 25 A Committee appointed to bring in a Bill for the relief of Creditors and poor prisoners The Committee for Religion sat and the Committee for regulating of the Chancery The Parliament approved and Confirmed the present Lord Deputy of Ireland the present Lords Commissioners of the great Seal of England the Commissioners of the Treasury and the two Chief Justices 26 The Parliament continued the consideration of the Government 27 Don Antonio Piementelle appointed to go Ambassador extraordinary from the King of Spain to the King of Sweden At Delph in Holland by the late fire 500 persons were Killed 250 wounded and 500 houses burnt to Ashes 28 Brest Pirates took four English Ships and Barques 30 The new Lord Maior of London Alderman Packe took his Oath before then Baronsof the Exchequer In a great Fire in Edenburgh the English Souldiers were so active to stop it that thereby they gained much upon the affections of
and his Countenancing Orthodox Ministers and frequenting the publick Ordinances The Sweeds had good Success in Poland and in Muscovia Collonel Harvey committed to the Tower The Swedish Ambassador had Audience and related to the Protector his Masters successes A Paper of the Special Commissioners for Charitable uses read in the Churches in London inviting discoveries Cracovia was Surrendred upon Articles to the King of Sweden The Major-Generals and their several Commissioners met in several Counties to execute their Commissions The Protector and his Councel referred to Sir William Roberts and others the Examination of the Accounts of Collonel Harvey and Collonel Langham upon which they stand Committed The Ratification of the Treaty with the King of France returned by Monsieur de la Bastile the Kings Ambassador under the Kings hand and then the Protector ratified it and it was Sealed with the Great Seal of both Parties A Declaration for a publick Fast A Commission for appointing Justices of the Peace in Scotland Major Rolt arrived in Poland Envoy from the Protector to the King of Sweden A Declaration for a New Assessment The Peace between England and France proclaimed in London The French Ambassador by Invitation dined with the Protector The Swedish Ambassador having often solicited the Protector that Commissioners might be appointed to Treat with him and none being yet appointed he grew somewhat impatient and the more because none of the Grandees would vouchsafe to visit him by reason of a former Order of the long Parliament prohibiting the Conversing with Forreign Ministers neither were they willing that the Ambassador should come to them at which he wondred being so contrary to the Practice in his Countrey December 1655. Instructions published by the Protectors Councel in Scotland for the Justices of Peace in that Kingdom and for Constables and they Order the former Great Seal and Privy Seal there to be brought in The Tories in Ireland brought in the Copy of a Letter from Queen Christiana to the King of Sweden of her declaring her self to be of the Roman Catholick Religion and some Complements to the King Divers Ministers sent for by the Protector whom he acquainted with the Proposals made by Manasseth Ben Israel the Jew and referred them to the Consideration of the Ministers and others A Day of Fast publickly kept The French Ambassador went away A Brest Man of War with Commission from the Duke of York brought in the Queen Christianaes Absolution from the Church of Rome A French Man of War sunk by one of the English Fleet the Peace not being yet known Instructions to the Majors-General to take Security of all who had been in Armes for the King for their Peaceable demeanour and obedience to the Protector Audience to the Envoy of the Duke of Brandenburgh A Conference with Manasseth Ben Israel about admitting the Jewish Nation to Trade in England The Swedish Ambassador had audience The Protestors in Scotland Petitioned with Reasons against the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Church matters as contrary to Law and Scripture The Queen Christiana of Sweden Honourably received at Ferrara Additional Instructions to the Major-Generals Letters of Mr. Mannings being put to death by King Charles at Duynwald for holding Correspondence with those in England He was a Servant to Sir Edward Hyde and shot to death Audience to the Venetian Ambassador No Commissioners being yet come to the Swedish Ambassador he grew into some high expressions of his Sense of the neglect to his Master by this delay which was excused and the Protector made acquainted with it who thereupon promised to have it mended and to send suddenly to the Ambassador Mr. Meadow by Command of the Secretary of State Translated the Sweedish Treaty made by Whitelock January 1655. An Arch-Rebel in Ireland taken A Committee appointed for the business of Piedmont most of the Protectors Councel were of it Orders by the Protectors Councel in Scotland touching Delinquents payment of their Fines The Committee for Piedmont were very careful of the poor Protestants there to send relief to them The Envoy of the Elector of Brandenburgh had private Audience with the Protector Letters of the King of Sweden's prosperous Successes The Major-General and Justices of the Peace in Shropshire made strict orders for the suppressing of Drunkenness and Disorders and of Ale-Houses Players taken in New-Castle and whipt for Rogues The Sheriffs of the Several Counties declared Popish Books burnt in London The King of Sweden had a Son born at Stock-holm he was Baptized Charles Donnah o Derry the Arch Irish Traytor who had Murthered many English was Hanged at Dublin Letters of a Gallant action performed by the English in Jamaica against the Spaniards in the Indies An agreement made between the King of Sweden and the Elector of Brandenburgh The Lord Deputy Fleetwood and Collonel Sydenham told Whitelock that his Highness and the Council had appointed them to acquaint him with a Business of very great importance which is that they considering the present Condition of Affairs did hold it necessary forthwith to send an extraordinary Ambassy to the King of Swedeland about a business of the greatest Consequence and Honour that could be and most conducing to the good of the Protestant cause which was the uniting of that Interest preventing the differences that were likely to fall between that King and the Vnited Provinces and the Elector of Brandenburgh for which ends they had thoughts of Whitelock and Sir Christopher Pack to go to the King as Ambassadors from his Higness Whitelock thought he had enough of Danger and Trouble in his former Ambassy without the least reward or acknowledgment of his Service therein but instead thereof and notwithstanding the Success which God gave him yet at his return home he found Neglects and Slightings and was removed from his place of Commissioner of the Seal and was 500 l. out of Purse upon his Accounts These Considerations stuck with him and made him endeavour by all handsome pretences to be excused that Service And when Collonel Sydenham spake in commendation of Sir Christopher Pack Whitelock replyed that they might send Sir Christopher alone for he did not apprehend a necessity of sending two Ambassadors together They both to that said that the intention of sending Sir Christopher Pack was to manifest the Engagement of the City in this business and in it to put an honour upon them Whitelock alledged also that the King of Sweden's Ambassador here might probably conclude upon the Business intended without sending one from hence to him The Lord Deputy said that the Ambassador here had no Instructions for it Whitelock told him the Ambassador here he believed had instructions sufficient or might have them before Ambassadors could go from hence to Sweden And that to send him now who had been so lately with the same King would give an alarm to all the Popish Princes and
before he sit in Parliament shall from and after the first day of July 1657. take an Oath before persons to be Authorised and appointed 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 the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto beloâ—â—â—ng as Chief Magistrate thereof And shall not Contrive Design or Attempt any thing against the Person or lawfull Authority of the Lord Protector and shall endeavour as much as in me lies as a Member of Parliament the preservation of the Rights and Liberties of the People That your Highness would be pleased in convenient time before the next meeting of this Parliament to cause several summons in due form of Law to be issued forth to such persons as your Highness shall think fit being qualified according to the Humble Petition and Advice of the Parliament whereto your Highness hath consented to sit and serve as Members in the other House of Parliament by which summons the said persons shall be respectively commanded to be and personally to appear at a certain place and time to be appointed by your Highness to give their Advice and Assistance and to do such things concerning the Great and Weighty Affairs of this Common-wealth as to the other House of Parliament doth appertain by the said Humble Petition and Advice That the Persons so summoned and Assembled together shall be and are hereby declared to be the other House of Parliament and shall and may without further Approbation of this House from such time of their meeting proceed to do and perform all such matters and things as the other House of Parliament ought to do and perform and shall and may have and exercise all such Privileges Powers and Authoryties as the other House of Parliament ought by the aforesaid Humble Petition and Advice to have and Exercise the said Humble Petition and Advice or any thing thereincontained to the contrary thereof notwithstanding Which Petition being presented the 26 day of June 1657. His Highness answer thereunto was read by the Clerk of the Parliament in these words The Lord Protector doth consent July 1657. 1. The Protector was proclaimed in the City with great solemnity 16. Letters of the Victory obtained against the Moscovites by Grave Magnus de la Garde in Liefland August 1657. 10. News of the Death of General Blake on Ship-board in his return from the Spanish coast in Plimouth sound he was a man of as much Gallantry and Sincerity as any in his time â— and as successfull 11. Vice-Admirall Bodiley dyed 13. News of the War proclaimed by the King of Denmarke against the King of Sweden 15. News of the engagement between the Swedes and Danes in Schonenland and that the Swedes had the better 18. Order of the Protector and Council for releasing Children taken up and put on Ship-board by such as are called Spirits and for punishment of such persons 24. New Plots against the Protector discovered 28. Applications about farming of the Customs and Excise and reasons given against it 29. Colonel Jephson was sent by the Protector as a publick Agent to the King of Sweden 31. Mr. Meadow one of Thurlow's Secretaries went a Publick Agent from his Highness to the King of Denmarke September 1657. 2. The Portugal Ambassador had audience 4. The Funeral of General Blake which was performed with great solemnity 14. The Protector advised with Whitelocke about the besieging of Dunkirke by the English and French Forces which were now drawn near to it 16. The Lord Ambassador of France had audience of the Protector 17. News of the King of Sweden's driving the Danish Forces out of Jutland and his advancing near Scagan 24. The Lord Fairfax his Daughter and Heir was married to the Duke of Buckingham 25. Letters of the taking of Mardike by the English and French Forces 29. The Protector discoursed with much pleasure about the taking of Mardike 30. News of the Sea fight between the Swedes and Danes and that the Swedes got the better of it October 1657. 11. Whitelocke was desired to meet the Committee for Ejecting scandalous and insufficient Ministers but he liked not the work 13. Warrants sent to Whitelocke to sign for one hundred thousand pound per. ann for the expences of his Highness House-hold and for one thousand pound for Mardike 25. The Provost of Eaton College Mr. Rous being dead Whitelocke had some thoughts and was advised by some friends to endeavour to have the place of Provost a thing of good value quiet and honourable and fit for a Schollar and Whitelocke was not wholly uncapable of it he therefore made applications to his Highness concerning it but found him Ingaged or at least seeming to be so for another Whitelocke's service was past and therefore no necessity of a Recompence but this was reserved as a Bait for some others to be imployed by his Highness 30. The Protector advised about incouraging the Fishing Trade News of the Enemies attempt to regain Mardike and how gallantly they were repulsed by Sir John Reynolds and the English in the Fort and that the King of Scots was with them November 1657. 3. Applications from Sir Charles Wolseley for his salary of one thousand pounds per. ann to be paid as a Counsellor In favour of the poor Lord Ruthen it was procured that his Petition should be referred from his Highness to the Council for relief of the Lord. The Commissioners of the Treasury with many Grandees were present at the Tryal of the Pixe in the Tower 5. Mrs. Mayerne Daughter and Heir of Sir Theodore Mayern the great and rich Doctor of Physick made Applications to the Protector about matters of her Estate This Young and wealthy Lady was afterwards married to a French Marquess of Mountpellion who had hopes to make up his small fortune by this Ladies great Estate This Marquess came into England with Letters from the King of France and from the Marshall Turene to the Protector in favour of the Marquess who earnestly sollicited the Protector about it and Sir John Colladon Doctor of Physick with all the Interest that he could make as earnestly opposed the Marquess claiming a Title to part of the Estate by Sir Theodore Mayern's Will if his Daughter dyed without Issue The Protector would doe nothing in this business without Whitelocke's advice and his Highness did very justly determine what belonged to him to do in it 8. Souldiers were shipped for the service of the King of Sweden
right again in relation to them and a Committee made to consider what other Votes were fit to be vacated Then to please their Patron they voted Monk to be General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland Lawson was voted to be Vice-Admiral and the Powers given to the Commissioners for government of the Army were repealed Sir Robert Pye Fincher and others released of their Imprisonment All Orders of the Council of State or Commissioners of the Army concerning the Forces are to be communicated to Monk and not to be proceeded upon without his approbation The Powers given to the Council of State to be taken away and a new Council to be chosen Order to restore the Common Council of London to their liberty and for the City to set up again their Posts Chains Gates and Portcullises The Members of Parliament ordered to attend the House the imprisoned Apprentices released by Order and the cause of the Imprisonment of Sir George Booth Col. Brooke the L. Crawford L. Louderdale and Lord St. Clare to be certified to the House 22. More former Votes vacated M. G. Brown restored to his place in Parliament Sir G. Booth released upon security and his Sequestration stopped Order for a new Parliament to be summoned to meet April 25. 1660. A Committee named to prepare Qualifications for it The City returned thanks to the House for their favour and the House sent to borrow money of them Monk took up his Quarters at S. James's House 23. Divers imprisoned for Addresses to the former House were released and ordered that no private business be admitted during the sitting of this Parliament All Powers granted for the several Militia's repealed and an Act to be for new settling of them The Vote repealed that Scot be Secretary of State The City sent a Congratulation to the Parliament for their Restauration and consented to lend them 60000 l. for pay of the Forces and petitioned for settling their Militia in such hands as the City might confide in and named in a List Commissioners for their Militia which the House approved A Day of Thansgiving appointed The Council of State named Several Sheriffs appointed Vote to discharge Mr. Bulstrode from being a Commissioner for the Excise this Gentleman Whitelocke had put in formerly to be a Commissioner of the Excise and although he had faithfully served the Parliament yet that was not now considered but he was set by and perhaps the rather because of his kindred to Whitelocke to make way for another The like was done to others and several new Officers made Order for a Bill to dissolve the present Parliament 25. The Act passed for constituting George Monk Esquire Captain General and Commander in chief under the Parliament of all the Land Forces in England Scotland and Ireland An Act passed for constituting the Council of State with a Repeal of the Act for the former Council An Act past for continuance of the Excise and Customs and Votes about those Customs The Lent Circuits put off and a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to be issued forth in the several Counties Several persons discharged of their Imprisonments and Sequestrations A Pardon past for divers reprieved persons A Declaration from the Officers of the Army in Ireland for the secluded Members and for a free Parliament Sir Hardress Waller opposed by Coot and others The City advanced money for the Parliament They entertained Monk and his Officers at Dinner on the Thanksgiving Day Monk visited the Speaker at the Rolls Ingoldsby sent by Monk with Forces to quiet the Regiment at Bury Colonel Morley Lieutenant of the Tower concurred with Monk 27. Votes to make void all that was done in Parliament against those of Sir George Booth's Party and against Chester This was sufficient to cause men to suppose what was intended The Speaker made Chamberlain of Chester An Oath past for the Officers of the Council of State A Proclamation for the Officers of the Army to continue with their Souldiers Vote for the Council that they may secure any persons though they be Members of Parliament to prevent publick danger John Thomson and John Thurloe Esquires voted to be Secretaries of State Vote for Dr. Clargies Monk's friend to have the Hamper Office Letters from York that by Monk's Letters to the Forces there he had given them so full satisfaction of his joyning against the Old Enemy and that Family that they concurred with him but if he should do otherwise they would oppose him 29. A Committee to examine matters touching sequestred Ministers Debate of security for money to be lent by the City and Votes touching the Militia of the City and other Militias A few Arms seized in the Houses of L. Colonel Kiffin and others Monk made Mr. Carew Ralegh Governour of Jersey Colonel Vnton Crook and his Regiments concurrence with Monk declared by them and the like by other Regiments March 1659. 1. Sir George Gerrard voted to be Custos Rotulorum of Middlesex Order for maimed Souldiers c. and for the poor Knights of Windsor Order about the Publick Revenue and the Assessment and for wounded Seamen Vote that this Parliament be dissolved at or before the fifteenth day of this instant March A Message to the City for money 2. The Confession of Faith of the Assembly of Divines agreed unto by the House except the 30 and 31 Chapters which are touching Church censures and synods Monk and Mountague voted to be Generals at Sea both fit for the intended design Orders touching the Militias and for maimed Souldiers c. and about the settlement of Ireland Repeal of former Votes against Hollis and of two late Acts of Sequestrations 3. The Question betwixt Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Owen about the Deanry of Christ-Church referred to a Committee The Earl of Crawford and Lauderdale and the Lord Sinclere released from their Imprisonment in Windsor Castle Orders about the Admiralty and Navy and Prize Goods Dr. Walker put out from being Judge Advocate Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper's Regiment declared for the Parliament and for Monk Courting Addresses to Monk from Northampton-shire and Nottingham-shire Intelligence of the Death of the King of Sweden a Gallant wise just and valiant Price The Protestant Interest lost a great Patron A Souldier hanged for murther Monk was feasted by several Companies in London 5. An Act passed for the publick confession of Faith Divers Sheriffs of Counties named Orders for a Proclamation to put the Laws in execution against Papists Orders for the Militias and for Justices of Peace Order for Printing and setting up in Churches the Solemn League and Covenant 6. Some Sheriffs named Lambert committed to the Tower and Haslerigge ordered to attend the House Overton discharged from being Governour of Hull and a Colonel Divers Commissions for the Militia passed Persons and Arms apprehended 7. The House approved the committment of Colonel Rich by the
of the Paâ—liament Montross Obstructions Jones Ireton U 〈◊〉 ties Ireland Cromwel sent for Reasons Scotland Ingagement Courts Marshal Durham Reports Pembroke Scots Declaration Kings Lands New Representatives Acts of Parliament proclaimed Ireland Report Letters from Rome February Gospel Stile Scotland Humiliation publick Register Hinderson Scotland Academy Scotland Army humilation Ingagement Scotland Ireland Gospel Scotland Preachers â—ct for â—eamen March Ministirs Ingagement Taunton Scots â—reland vote Sabboth Blasphemy Blasphemy Ireland Army Petition Ireland 〈◊〉 Judge Nicholas Ireland Letters London Address Answer April New Inventions L. Broghall 〈◊〉 Ireland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orders G. Blake Scots Ireland Kilkenny Witches Petition Vote Montrosse Massey Letter Cromwell 〈◊〉 Army Petition Scots Bonds Ireland Proposals Ireland Montross defeated May. Leeds Montress Kirk Montresse Adultery Act. H. Martin trepaâ— Montross Montross Scots Army Law Scotland Ireland 〈…〉 Ireland Clonmel Scots Ireland Scotland Cromwel Cromwel June Blake Scotland Cromwel Scotland Ireland army Ascham Murdered Lady Fitz-gerald acts South-wales Iuncto of State Resolution to invade Scotland Fairfax unsatisfy'd Conference with Fairfax Farfax Lays down his Commission Cromwell made General Court Marshal Ireland Scots Cromwel Scotland Act against Swearing Fleet. Barbados Message from the Scots York Ireland Victory Scotland Letters from Sir Charles Coot July High Court of Justice Plague Cromwel Adultery Act. Scots Scotland Blasphemy Proclamation Portugal Russia Amsterdam Ireland Cromwel G. Lesly Proclamation Baâ—bados Scotland August Amsterdam Spain Scotland Ireland Scotland Scotland H. C. of Justice Scots Scots Officers Cromwel Ireland Scotland Septemb. Call from God Fleer Scots Cromwell Victory at Dunbarre Scots Ministers Colours hung in Westminster Hall Scots London Ireland 〈◊〉 Ministers Letter from Cromwel Another Letter Barbados Blasphemy Ireland Scotland Proclamation sir John Gell. Lady Elizabeth H. C. of â—ustice Scots Barbados Scotland October Ireland Petition Scotland Portugal Kirk Ireland Scots The Engagement Trained Bands Fleet. The Law in English Scotland Cromwel Return of Iuries Cromwel Blasphemy Scots Pr Rupert Scots Ireland Novem. Law-business Irish Scots Proclamation Ministers Moss-Troopers Middleton The English Laws Kirk Ireland Victory C. Axtel December Blake Scots Portugal Sermon Scots Letters from Cromwel Declarations H. C. of Justice Blake Blake Scotland Spanish Ambassador Blake January Scotland Edenburgh Castle sâ—t rendred Scots H. C. of Justice Ireland Portugal Ambassador Coronaâ— at Schone Gr. Seal Scotland Blake New Seal Kirk February Kirk Aysebam Ambassadors to the States Hume-Castle Kings-Armes Ministery Hume-Castle Fenwick Councel of State Court-Marshal Cromwel Ireland Blake Mr. Fryes Book Ireland March Scotland Admirals Revolters Cook Dangerous Opinions Scotland English Ambassadors Holland April Apseley Ireland Van Trump Pyrates Kirk Ireland English Ambassadors Coalition Scilly Island May. Scots Scotland Scilly Island Petition Massey Scotland Cromwel P. Edward English English Ambassadors Scots Cromwell Holland Scotland June Sir George Ascut Scilly Island Ireland Scotland Mr. Love Scots English Ambassadors Holland Mr. Love Scots Lord Broghill Ireland July Ireland Scotland Mr. Love Cromwell Ireland Scots Cromwell Mr. Love Petition St. James's Fair. Jersey Ireland Scotland Love Cromwell Lambert Victory in Scotland Primers Ireland August Fise Battle Ministers Questions Brunt Island Mr. Love Scotland Cromweâ— Harrison Ireland Lord Broghill London Scots invade England Co. Alured Preston Harrison Oxford Letters from Lambert Mr. Love Scots Motion Sterling Castle Scots Letters from Fleetwood E. Derby Ministers Worcester Septem Scotland Worcester Vote C. Alured Tory. Ireland Monk Worcester Fight Letters from Cromwel Harrison Scotland Dundee Massey Sir Arth. Haselrigge Ireland Dundee Dundee Cromwel Scots Cromwel Fast-day Scots General Popham Ireland New Representative Hewson Okey C. Alured Scotland E. Derby October Conspirators Scotland Countess of Derby E. Derby Bill for a New Parliament Conspirators London Scots Moss-Troopers E. Derby King landed in Holland English and Dutch quarrel Ireland Bills Scots Discipline Commissioners for Scotland Holland Ambassadors The Kings Escape from Worcester Prisoners Petition Novem. Jersey taken Argyle Monk Isle of Man Jersey 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isle of Man Scotland Jersey Votes for Dissolution Jersey Ireland Monk Kirk Huntley Massey Jersey Council of State Ireland Limbrick surrendred Scotland Scotland Jersey Ireland Decem. Ireton dies Preaching Cromwel Conference Petitions Scotland Dutch Ambassadors Votes Dutch Ambassadors Jersey Scotland Dutch Ambassadors Ireton Advice Jersey Elizabeth Castle Lambert Law Barbadoes Scotland Jersey Ayscham Januar. Scotland Haselrigge Scotland Monke Lilburne Committee of the Law Court-Marshal Scotland Votes Sweden Declaration Sea Vision 〈◊〉 Committee of Law H. Peters Februa Acts. Scotland Declaration Ireland Jersey Dutch Scotland Hewson Sir George Ascue Barbadoes Lambert Declaration Committee of Law Scotland Kens Town Ireland Petition Answer Scotland Hans Towns Holland March Blake Kirk Covenant Scotland Ireland Barbadors taken Lord willoughby Ireland â—â—ts Union Petition Danish Minister Scotland Union Ireland Bills Union Scotland Frigots Argyle April Dutch Union Ireland Lieutenant-General Ludlow Ireland Cracovian Catechisme Kirk Ireland Union Dutch Ambassadors Union Scotland Merchants Ireland Vote Hamilton Sir George Ascue Barbadon Scotland France L. Willoughby Sweden Conde Argyle May. Union Representative Captain How Judges in Scotland Ireland Fleet. Dutch Flag Ireland Van Trump Dutch Ambassadors Fight in the Downs Ireland June Throckmorton Judges Scotland Scotland Dunotter Castle Blake Dutch Paper Answer Scotland Dutch Ambassador Fight at Sea Blake Ireland Vote Cromwel Lambert distated Whitelocke Ireland Scotland Kirk Prerogative Sir George Ascue Register Kirk Tumult Storm Petition Votes in Answer to Dutch Paper Dutch Ambassadors Hewson Ireland Blake Ascue July Ireland Ascues Sea Fight Highlands Blake Dr. Winston Fleetwood Ascue Ireland Scots Dutch Fleet. Ascue Highlands Blake Kirke Highlands Dutch-Fleet Q. Sweeden Scots Presbyterian Blake Ascue Kirke Blake Ireland Blake Ireland Highlands Van Trump Ascue St. Pauls Van Trump August Army Petition Answer Cromwel Blake Kirk Ascue Fight Committee for Ireland Ascue Blake Scotland Blake Pen. Compalint Virginia Highlands Dutch Fleet. De Wit Denmark Septem Ireland Blake Wales Ireland â—udges â—rcuits in Scotland Highlands Dutch Bill Parl. Blake Dutch Mutiny Scotland English Judges Blake D. Tuscany Portugal Ambassador October Dutch Fleet. Witches Sea fight Ireland Storm Union Blake Denmark De Witt. Denmark Dutch Denmark Union Ireland Alderman Fowk Kirke Witches Scotland Dutch Petition Union Novem. Dutch Fleet. Union Cromwell Whitelock Blake Monk Parliament Navy Scotland Forreign Ministers Seamenincouraged Februa Placard Sea Fight Cromwell and Army against Parliament Prince Rupert Captain Bodiley Lord Lisle Holland March Scots Dutch Scotland Army Holland Anno 1653. Scots Declaration Sea Fight Irish Scotland Captain Appleton Ministers Sweden Cromwell Colliers April Irish Pamphlet Holland Scots Van Trump Cromwell Parliament turned out of Doors Kirk Cromwell Holland Declaration Great-Seal Sea Captains Scotland Dutch Holland Fleet. May. Durham Acknowledgments Coynen Cromwell Fleet. Dutch Kings-Bench Prison Army Ireland Bodiley Army Ireland Dâ—al Dutch Danâ—s French Ambassador Fleet. Ireland Highlands Army Dutch Ireland Cromwell Van Trump London Addresses Radnor Fleet. Van Trump Scots Jus divinum Sea Fight Dean Monk