on the behalf of Lilburn presented to the Councel of State Several of the English Frigots plyed before the Texel and the Fly as near as they could to the Harbours mouth A Dutch Prize brought into the Fleet two more escaped and some Frigots were sent after them more Men of War came into the Fleet with supplies of Provisions and Ammunition 21. An Order and Declaration of the Councel of State concerning the determination of several claims depending before the Commissioners for removing of Obstruction The Commissioners from Holland came over with a white Flag to Treat for Peace and were saluted by the English Ships as they passed by them The English were used uncivilly in Holland the Dutch prepared for War Trading with them was dead Corn dear their fishing prevented and the people very unquiet they compute their loss in the late Fight to be 5000 Men. Three Dutch Prizes taken by the English Frigots Three English Ships taken by five Pickeroons near the Coast of Sussex 22. Judges nominated by Cromwell and the Councel of State for the Summer Circuit Draughts brought to the Commissioners of the Great-Seal for passing Commissions touching the Lands in Ireland for the Adventurers Soldiers sent to the Fleet. 23. Cromwell and the Councel of State kept this a day of thanksgiving for the Victory at Sea against the Dutch and it was generally kept throughout the City 24. The Funeral of General Dean was solemnized his Corps was carried in a Barge from Greenwich to Westminster attended with many Barges and Boats in mourning Equipage and many great Shot discharged as he passed by from Ships and the Tower and Guns placed in the way and he was Interred in the Abbey Mr. Thurloe sent to many persons Notes by direction from the Councel to desire them to be present at the Funeral where they were accordingly and a very great Company of Soldiers and others and Cromwell himself was there The sickness increased at Dublin Some small Vessels upon the North of Ireland were taken by French Pyrates Some great Lords met in the Highlands upon a new design which they kept secret and pretended a Commission from their King A Prize brought into St. Maloes not admitted by the Town being resolved to maintain a free Trade with England 25. The Dutch Ambassadors pressed for a speedy Treaty of Peace The English Fleet were still plying before the Dutch Harbours 27. An Address from the Forces of Jersey to Cromwell and his Councel of Officers that they will stand and fall live and dye with them That a small party of the English Horse in Ireland routed a party of the Rebels 4 times more than themselves in the County of Kerry killed 60 of them and took divers Prisoners The English were but 30 Horse and 2 Files of Musketiers the Rebels were about 400. The States of Holland strengthened their Garrisons armed the Boors by the Sea Coast and marched some Land Forces into the Towns near the Sea being allarmed by the English Fleet and their People were very unquiet and apt to Tumults and Sedition The Fleet before the Texel took a Vessel going with Instructions to their Fleet coming in with young Van Trump that they and their East-India Fleet and other Merchants should go to Norway and the Sound Three Merchants Ships taken by the English Fleet. A rising of some People in Holland for the Prince of Orange 28. A Petition of many Thousand Prisoners to Cromwell and his Officers for Liberty That Magna Charta may be in force and no arrests for Debt c. Printe Rupert going to Swim in the River of Seine was in danger of drowning but saved by the Company 29. Cromwell and the Councel of State passed an Order forbidding all riotous Assemblies in the great level of the Fenns and the throwing down of Fences and Inclosures there Hamborough sent Supplies of Ammunition Guns c. to Holland 30. Prince Rupert in mean Condition with a few Men in France July 1653. 1. An Address to Cromwell and his Councel of Officers from the Commission-Officers of Lymericke and Clare in Ireland of Joyning with him Some prizes taken upon the Scotch Coast by Captain Rudlee 2. Some 50 Dutch Merchants from the Sâ—uâ—d Convoyed by 12 Danish Men of War for Holland William of Nassan coming to Amsterdam upon a design to suprise that Town hardly escaped with his life from thence Letters That the English Fleet had taken 5 Ships loaden with Masts Pitch and Tar two from Stockholm which besides other rich goods had 200 Copper Guns in their hold 3 Ships loaden with Corn 2 others from Denmark and 2 from the Streights one loaden with Oyl and the other with Silkes 4. The persons Summoned by Cromwel to take the Supream authority appeared in the Councel Chamber at Whitehal about 120 of them and being set round the Table Cromwel and the Officers of the Army standing about the middle of the Table Cromwell made a Speech to them Shewing the cause of their Summons and that they had a clear call to take upon them the Supream Authority of the Common-wealth and he urged divers Scriptures to admonish and incourage them to do their duties Then Cromwel produced an Instrument in writing under his own hand and Seal whereby he did with the advice of his Officers devolve and intrust the Supream Authority and Government of this Common-wealth into the hands of the Persons then met And that they or any 40 of them are to be held and acknowledged the Supream authority of the Nation unto whom all persons within the same are to yeild obedience and Subjection That they should not sit longer than the 3d. of November 1654. and 3 moneths before their Dissolution to make choice of other persons to Succeed them who are not to sit longer than a year and to be left to them to take care for a Succession in government Then Cromwel and his Officers withdrew and the persons met did adjourn themselves to the next day in the Parliament-house and appointed to keep a Fast there to seek God for his Direction and Blessing It was much wondered by some that these Gentlemen many of them being Persons of Fortune and Knowledge would at this Summons and from these hands take upon them the Supream Authority of this Nation considering how little Authority Cromwell and his Officers had to give it or these Gentlemen to take it but it was accepted by them An Address to Cromwell from many well affected in Lincolnshire to stand by him c. 5. The Summoned Gentlemen met in the House and kept the Day in Humiliation and Prayer After which ended they resolved that Mr. Rouse should sit in the chair for a Moneth and that Cromwel Lambert Harrison Desborough and Tomlinson do sit in the house as Members and that Mr. Scobel should be their Clark A list of 20 Dutch prizes brought into Lee Road by Captain
two wounded and got a French Prize A long Debate in a grand Committee about the equal proportioning of Taxes That Middleton was labouring to get Assistance of the States for the King of Scots and was offered it by them in case a Peace with England did not succeed 20 Advice of the French Pickeroons Design against the English Fleet coming from Newfoundland Of the Highlanders running away from their Officers that one of them Kenmorett marched with a Runlet of strong waters before him which they called Kenmoretts Drum Of Ships daily arriving at the Texel from the Northward That the States resolved upon a new Treaty of Peace with England and appointed Min Heer New-port and Joungstal to be added Commissioners for the Treaty of Peace with their other two Commissioners now in England That the Queen of Sweden shewed extraordinary kindness to the Spanish Ambassadour with her and was held to be a friend to the English 21 Letters that upon the March of the English Party into the Highlands they Retreated into their usual fastnesses amongst inaccessible Hills and Rocks That some Vessels came into Leith Road london with Fish and other Commodities and Provisions 22 Letters that the late Easterly wind for a fortnight together kept the Pickaroones from the English Coast Of the Speaker Frigot and Ten more of the Men of War gone out from the Downs to the Westward 24 Instructions passed for Administration of Justice in Scotland and Officers Letters of Kinninores Insurrection in the High-lands that Argyle advised the Commander of the English Forces not to Advance further against them That Holland resolved to renew the Treaty of Peace with England and in the mean time to prepare for War That the Swedes had given Letters of Marque against the Dutch 25 The House sate in a Grand Committee for the Bill of Union for Scotland with England A Petition from the Common Councel of London against the Lord Mayor Fowke referred to a Committee An Act past for the discovery and prosecution of Thieves and Highway-men The Lords Newport and Youngstal came to London to joyn with the other Two Deputies of the State to Treat with the Parliament for a Peace 26 Order for an Act against solliciting Members of Parliament for any Places and to disable such as shall do it That the Queen of Sweeds Agent came to the House to take his leave and that the Lord Ambassadour Whitlock was ready to go for Sweedland within two or three days Letters that Captain Sparling and another of the Parliaments Frigots had taken a Ship with Twelve hundred thousand pieces of Eight in her she pretended to be an Ostender Divers Seamen Armed and in a Tumultuous manner demanded at the Prize Office their shares of some Prizes taken and were so uncivil with the Commissioners that they were forced to send for Souldiers to appease them one of the Seamen was slain and divers were wounded on both sides Afterwards the Seamen came to Whitehall where they carried themselves more civilly and had good words given and were made sensible of their Errour and promised satisfaction and so they departed quietly 27 The Seamen more in number than before and better Armed came down again Tumultuously to White-Hall but was met with by the General his Life-Guard and soon dispersed Orders for the Reduced Officers in Ireland for their Arrears 28 Letters of Two Prizes brought into Leith Of Two Sea-Rovers put out of France pretending to have Commissions from Prince Rupert in the Name of the King of Scots That Argyle was raising Forces against his Countrymen the Highlanders but was not able to ballance their Power That upon the approach of the Parliaments Forces towards them the Highlanders retreated to their Fastnesses Upon the Tumults of the Seamen the Council published a Proclamation Declaring that Exemplary Justice shall be done upon the chief Authors or Ringleaders in the Mutiny and Sedition some whereof are in Custody and commanding that no Sea-men or others on pain of Death do meet in a Mutinous or Seditious manner and that the accounts shall be Stated and just payment made of all dues unto the Seamen The Parliament passed an additional Article to the Law of War and Ordinances of the Sea for punishing Mutinous Seamen 29 Upon a Report from the Council of State the House conferred several Gratuities to the Widdows and Children of those slain in the late Sea Fight The House approved the number and charge of Ships for this Winter Guard and Ordered Moneys for them The Lord-Ambassador Whitlock received his Commission and instructions for Sweedland from the hand of the Speaker in the House and is suddenly to go for Sweedland 31 Upon the Petition of the Water-men and antient Coach-men in London against the Exorbitancy and Multitudes of Hackney Coach-men Order for an Act for Redress thereof Votes for rewarding the Commissioners for Administration of Justice in Scotland Upon a Report from the Council Order for Dr. Cox to be Master of St. Katherines-Hospital The Spanish Ambassador had audience in the House The Four Dutch Deputies met with the Commissioners of the Council about the Treaty for Peace Two of the Tumultuous Seamen were Condemned at a Council of War one of them was Hanged the other Whipped under the Gallows A Petition of many who suffered by the delay of Justice in granting and allowing Writs of Error after Verdict and Judgment praying Remedy An Act passed for continuing the Powers of Commissioners for Compounding for advance of Moneys and Indempnity Letters of the Queen of Sweeds return to Stock-holm and the Spanish Ambassador Piementel with her November 1653. Nov. 1. The House chose a new Council of State whereof Sixteen of the old Council continued and Fifteen new ones were added Order to consider of the business of the Law upon every Friday Order for a Bill to take away Holy-days and days not Judicial The Commissioners of the Council and the Four Dutch Ambassadors met upon the Treaty Divers called Quakers apprehended in the North. That the business of Transplanting went on difficultly in Ireland 2. The House passed New Instructions for the New Council of State for Six Months The Lord Commissioner Whitlock Ambassador to the Queen of Sweeden set forwards with a Gallant Retinue from London to Gravesend to take Shiping there Letters that Captain Blagg took Prize a Ship of two hundred Tun and another Frigot took a French-Man of twenty Guns That young Trump being seen with Eight Ships off the Lizard The Frigots at Portsmouth being Seven weighed Anchor and put to Sea after him Of two other Prizes brought into Plymouth and the Channel cleared of the Pyrats 3. Of a Fight at Sea on the Spanish Coast by four Dutch Men of War against one Merchant Man who run her self on shore and kept off the Dutch and got off from the shore again Letters that the Commissioners in Ireland had disarmed all the Irish and forbid any of
besides himself and divers Gentlemen That this Beach was the chief Ring-leader Pyrate That he lived at Brest like a Prince and had done much Mischief to the English Merchants 16 Letters that the Queen of Sweden and the Chancellor are desirous to see what will be the Issue of the Treaty between England and the Dutch before they come to a Conclusion with the Lord Ambassador Whitelock who is often in conference with the old Chancellor Oxenstiern and hath great respect from him and from the Queen That Middleton Commanded the Sheriff Gutherland to Act no more in the Name of the Lord Protector but said he would give him a Commission to Act as Sheriff under the King That he laboured much to raise men for the King 17 That Middletons Son when he Landed had but a few Reformadoes with him One hundred and fifty Barrells of Powder and Arms for about One thousand Men some say in all that he brought Five thousand Armes and two great Guns and that Grafort had got together Six hundred of his Men to meet Middleton and the rest had appointed a Rendezvous to shew their Forces to him That Collonel Morgan was Marched that way to wait upon them and their Motions 18 Letters of a French Vessel brought in Prize by a Private Man of War That Captain Potter after Captain Beach had yielded to him and came on Board the Warwick Beach demanded of him the performance of Articles to be set on Shore in France Potter told Beach that he never heard of any such Articles and told Beach if he would he might go on Board his own Ship again and Fight it out but Beach would not do so That the Fight between them lasted Eight hours That Beach had Thirty nine Guns and Two hundred Men whereof he lost twenty That Potter had but Thirty two Guns and One hundred and thirty Men and lost but two of them That Captain Potter brought Beach and his Ship and Company into Plymouth An Order passed by the Protector and his Council appointing of Commissioners for approving of Ministers Another passed for disposing of Forfeited Estates in Scotland Two other Ordinances passed for setling the Customs and Excise Of a Dutch Ship loaded with Pitch Tarr c. taken Prize by a private Man of War 20 That the Lord Protector passed a Declaration inviting the People of England and Wales to a day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation and shewing the ground thereof Letters of a great Fleet gone from New Castle for London and Ten more going forth after them and without a Convoy were set upon by the Capers and though they ran themselves on Ground yet after their Men were got out the Capers got off Five of the Ten Sihps and the other Five were lost that in a Fortnight the Capers had taken Twenty two Coal Ships 21 The Ordinance Published for continuing the Excise for one Year and the Rates of the Excise That the Country that fail to send in their Levies to the Enemy expected Fire and Sword from them That a Party of Collonel Okeys Regiment took a Cornet and Four Troupers and Eleven Horses from the Enemies 22 Several meetings by the Dutch Ambassadours and by the Lord Protector 's Commissioners about the perfecting the Articles for the Peace Report of a Match between the King of Scots and the Duke of Lorains Daughter and that the King was to have Four Millions and the Dukes Assistance for his Restauration 23 The Ordinance for Approbation of Ministers published with the Names of the Commissioners some of them being not Ministers and the greatest number of them Eminent Ministers 24 Kept by the Lord Protector and his Council a Solemn day of Humiliation and they had Three Sermons at White-hall 25 An Ordinance Published for continuing the Imposition upon Coals for the Building of Ships Another for passing Custodies of Ideots and Lunaticks Another for continuing an Act for Pressing of Seamen Letters that there wanted People in Ireland for Manuring the Ground that the Tories were near destroyed and if they heard of any Party of the English abroad they presently fled to the Woods and Boggs That the Highlanders had a Rendezvous and gave out that they were Seven thousand Men but have no Monys that the Duke of York was expected to come to them The Post with the Dutch Letters was seized upon by Thieves at Southwark and the Letters opened and thrown away That Monsieur Burdeaux was to be brought in State through London as Ambassadour Extraordinary from the French King to the Lord Protector 27 Monsieur Burdeaux made his Entry in London as Ambassador Extraordinary attended with Sixty Coaches Upon Letters from the Dutch Ambassadors in England to their Superiours That the Treaty of Peace with England was not yet concluded the States sent to their Admirals and Chief Sea Officers to repair to Amsterdam and to take care that the Fleet should be in readiness A List of divers Prizes lately taken 28 That the old Natives about Lewis in Scotland joyned with the English against Seafort and his Men and killed many of them That the English Commander in Chief confined some persons for Corresponding with the Enemy 29 The French Kings Ambassadour Monsieur Burdeaux had Audience by the Lord Protector in the Banquetting House at White-Hall New Frigots Launched for the Lord Protector 30 An Ordinance passed for Relief of Persons that have acted in Defence of the Common-wealth Letters of the Resignation of her Government by the Queen of Sweden to her Cousin the Prince Palatine and of her Knighting of the Count de Montecuculi General of the Horse to the Emperour An Act passed for suspending the Act for Relief of poor Prisoners and Creditors Towns in Scotland fined by the Court Martial for harbouring the Enemy the Houses to be razed to the ground April 1654. April 1. Letters that Collonel Cooper with a Party falling into the Enemies Quarters took Thirty five Prisoners and Killed Twelve and took sixty Horse and some Armes That about Three thousand Tories were shipped to be Transported out of Ireland Of a Dutch Prize brought in and a Ship of Vlushing taken after five hours Fight 3 Addresses to the Lord Protector from York and of the City and the Grand Jury of the County acknowledging his Government and promising Obedience thereunto Letters of a Captain of Middletons and Six Souldiers taken Ofa Vessel surprized by Seafort with Boats She was loaden with Armes and Ammunition That the Enemy were cruel in Plundering and Burning when the Country did not obey their Warrants The Portugal Ambassadour had Audience of the Lord Protector The Committee for Approbation of Ministers began to Sit. 4 An Ordinance Publisted for Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration Another Prohibiting making of Cock Matches The Agent from the Queen of Sweden had Audience Letters of an English Ship of One hundred Tuns taken by the Brest Men of War Of another Ship of Two hundred and
fifty Tuns and forty Guns taken by a Flushinger worth Five thousand pound and most of the best Ships of Weymouth taken by the Brest Men. 5 The Lord Commissioner Lisle and Sir Thomas Widdrington were Sworn Commissioners of the Great Seal before the Lord Protector and his Councel and the Lord Ambassadour Whitelock now in Sweden is to be the other of them The Articles of Peace were signed by the Dutch Ambassadour and by the Commissioners of the Lord Protector and to be Ratified by the Principals in fourteen days and to be publickly Proclaimed in England and the Low Countries and a Messenger sent to the States for their Subscription within that time 6 An Ordinance Published for repairing the High-ways Letters that in sight of Legorn was a Fight betwixt a Dutch Man of War of Thirty two Guns and an English Ship Loaden with Currans which lasted Six hours and then night parted them and both the Ships sunk but most of the Men were saved That a French Man of War took an English Ship of great value upon the Coast of Apulia in Naples 7 An Ordinance published for Adjourning part of Easter Terme A Dutch Prize taken in the North. Of the Preparations and Forces of Middletons Party and of Collonel Morgans March towards them Of a Prize brought into the Cows by a private Man of War 8 Of a Man of War gone with an Express to Holland for Ratification of the Treaty That the English Fleet were One hundred Sayl of Men of War out at Sea well accommodated That Denmark was taken into the Treaty with Holland and the losses of the English Merchants to One hundred and fifty thousand pound referred to Two English and two Dutch Merchants to determine those Demands within twenty days and the business of Amboyna referred to Eight Commissioners and if they agreed not within Six Months Umpiers were nominated Letters that the French laboured hard to be comprehended within the Treaty Monsieur Chanute their Ambassadour at the Hague in the Assembly of the States General Spake to this Effect HAving understood by the Deputies of this State in England who visited me after their Return by order of their Superiours that their Negotiations hath brought the Treaty of Peace to Equitable Conditions I come in the Name of the King my Master to Congratulate with your High Puissances and to wish that this great Affair may be readily Determined to the Honour and Advantage of your Provinces I am also to thank your High Puissances for the constant and faithful Communication which hath been given of this whole Negotiation to the Ministers of the King in England by your Deputies to Monsieur de Bourdeaux Neuf Ville and to me in this Court by your High Puissances your selves which hath not been done as a simple Complement but because of the Community of Interests in this Peace and to make known to the King the Care which the Lords Deputies have had according to their Instructions to Comprehend France within the Pacification I doubt not but your High Puissances will persist to Effect in this good intention and to obtain a point so easie since the instances of your Deputies have reduced unto Commodious termes a great number of the most difficult Articles so that it seems this only point is reserved to your High Puissances to the End that the Honour of this Great Office rendred to a Potent King your old Ally may be by the whole Body of your State I therefore desire you in the Name of his Majesty so to carry on this business that he may be comprised in the Treaty of Peace with England and forthwith to do that your selves which you gave Instructions to your Deputies to do nevertheless the Affection of his Majesty to this State is such and so pure that for his own Interest alone he would not have made this Request if it had not been equally advantageous to the good of these Provinces But since there is nothing more desirable to your High Puissances than an Vnion with France and England If it should be otherwise it were Impossible that the Trade of the State should not be extreamly interrupted being to pass daily through a streight Channel between two Powerful Nations Enemies and Armed one against the other That the free Trade with France which spends more of Forreign Commodities than any other part of Europe and furnisheth more of her own to Strangers would not be beneficial to your Subjects if it should be no Peace but a kind of Languishing Ruinous Carelessness and that thereby the freedom of Trade should not be destroyed These are the open and manifest propositions upon which I am to rely But these are Reasons above the Consideration of Profit and which render the Inclusion of France in this Treaty to be as it were necessary The Peace will unarme the States because your Subjects wearied with the War would fain enjoy rest and the fruits thereof and be discharged of the burdens occasioned by the expences of the War It is not altogether so here at this time as in England where the Protector constantly entertaineth a Powerful Land Army and also Sea Forces where as always when a State lays down Arms to enjoy Peace they must provide instead of Arms strong and Powerful Alliances as cautions of their Peace Whereupon their High Puissances may judge of two things First in what condition shall France be to Assist you if there should be need having much ado to keep her self from Civil Wars keeping so many Forces in the mean time and alone sustaining the whole Weight of the Great House of Austria She may be also Attaqued by England on one side And in the Second place some thoughts may come into the mind of his Majesty if he know that his Interests are so little regarded in these Provinces There are likewise many things to be observed touching the security of the Peace on the part of the State of England without entring into the discussion of the Rights of People and of Soveraigns whereof Strangers are not Judges for it is true that the force and the subsistance of the present Government consisteth in the Authority and Industry of one man only It is true also that jealousie of Trade hath chiefly occasioned the differences of the Provinces with England and that the desire of drawing to themselves the Trade will not be ended by the Peace It is also true that there is great difference of humour between the two Nations and in fine it is known that there remain certain pretences of Superiority which are not cleared but continue dissembled In the midst of all these Circumstances who can promise a long and sure Peace and is it not necessary to ingage Friends and to interest them in this Treaty without expectation that France being weakned with many Wars at once and these Provinces disabled by the interruption of Trade become not in a condition to yield mutual Assistance one to another Your
Peace published between the Protestant and Papist Cantons of the Switzers The Plague swept away many thousands of the Irish Monsieur Bordeaux the French Ambassador arrived in England March 26. New Commissioners for the Customs appointed News of the King of Sweden's Successes in Prussia and in Poland Of the King of Scots Conference with the King of Spains Officers Letters from Scotland that all there was quiet Mr. Meadow was going for Denmark Agent for the Protector Fiennes Strickland and Whitelock went to the Swedish Ambassadors House and proceeded in the Treaty with him The debates were upon matters of Trade The Ambassador thought the demands not equal that the English should pay no greater Impositions in the King of Sweden's Ports than his own Subjects paid and said That the former Articles were reciprocal and that herein nothing was offered for the Swedes priviledge in the Ports of this Common-wealth The Commissioners answered That this being granted to the English would cause them to frequent the Kings Ports to bring a great increase of Trade thither to have Ships there in a readiness to be hired for his Majesties Service if he should have occasion and that they were better fitted for War than any other Merchants Ships in Europe and that if his Excellencie should think fit to propound any thing on the behalf of the Swedes the same would be taken into due Consideration The Ambassador replyed That Neither the English nor any other Nation did afford equal priviledge to Strangers in point of Impositions as to their own people but made a difference as to the persons only in Sweden the difference was not made as to the persons of Swedes but as to Swedish Ships whosoever brought any goods in them paid less Impositions than others which was done to increase their Shipping and to prevent the deceipt of Strangers Consigning their Goods to Swedes names that thereby they might Pay the less Custom Whitelock told them that this was the Work of the wise old Chancellor whereby they did not only increase their Ships but likewise were provided of Mariners for those Ships which was the greatest want in Sweden as to their Navigation and the deceipts of Strangers venting their goods in Swedes names was also thereby prevented This Matter was referred to further Consideration and they proceeded to the demands for Setling the Trade and Priviledges of the English Merchants in Prussia and Poland wherein Whitelock observed to them the injustice of the Sealing the English Cloaths at Dantzick and the Not confirming of the general pact of Prussia agreed to be done formerly in relation to the English by the King of Poland who had not kept his word therein The Ambassador answered That his Mr. was but newly Mr. of Poland and Prussia which he hoped by the blessing of God to keep That he was not Mr. of Dantzick and prabably he may have granted and confirmed to those Towns that had submitted to him their ancient Priviledges And that he could not grant to the English there any thing contrary to those Priviledges of the Townes which he had confirmed and this was thought reasonable and not to be pressed further than might stand with the Confirmation of priviledges which the King had granted to the Townes that were come in to him The Ambassador then propounded That the English might have all the Trade of Russia brought down the River Volga into Narva the King of Sweedes Port upon the Balticke Sea and by that meanes save the going about to Archangel which voyage can be made but once in a year but to Narva may be made 3 voyages in a year Whitelock informed them of much discourse between the old Chancellor and his Son and him about this Matter and the Ambassador having his Mapps there Whitelock shewed them the great difference of the Voyage going about by Norwey and the frozen Sea to the Archangel and going through the Balticke Sea to Narva He shewed them likewise that there was a probability of having the Persian Silks and Commodities from the Caspian Sea to the River Volga and from thence to be brought to Narva and thereby to save that vast voyage which Merchant-Men now take of going to Persia the usual way But Whitelock objected now as he had done formerly to the Chancellor That it would be difficult to procure the Russes Commodities to be brought down to Narva and to satisfie the Emperour of Russia that he should be no looser in respect of his Customs which he now received at Archangel and the goods being brought to Narva the Customs would be payable there to the King of Sweeden To which the Chancellor then answered That the people of Russia would be more willing to bring their Commodities to Narva than to Arch-Angel because it would be done at a less Charge almost by the halfe and that the Emperor would be no looser as to his Customs for the same Custom which was now paid at Arch-Angel would be paid at Blesgo a Town of the Emperors whither the goods must be brought before they came to Narva and that notwithstanding the payment of Custom twice yet the Commodities would be afforded at easier rates than they are at Archangel by reason of the cheapness and conveniency of bringing them to Narva All this was agreed unto by the Ambassador who inserted a Story of a Dutch-man who observing the Boats passing upon the Volga to be manned with 300 Men in a boat who in a Storm and high Wind held the bottom of the Sayls down this Dutch-man offered to the Emperor that he would shew him a way how with 30 Men in a boat they should be as well Manned as now they were with 300 men in a boat and so the Charge to be lessened but the Emperor called him Knave and asked him if a Boat that now went with 300 Men were brought to go but with 30 Men how then should the other 270 Men get their living After long debate upon this and the other particulars of the Treaty they were deferred unto a more full Answer upon further Consideration and a new Meeting 5. The Commissioners were summon'd to meet at Whitehal with Thurloe to look over together the several matters which had been treated on with the Swedish Ambassador and to consider how farr it was fit to go on to an agreement and wherein not to consent that so they might come to some conclusion with the Ambassador The Lord Major Aldermen and Common Council of London were with the Protector 11. The Commissioners were with the Swedish Ambassador and most of the Articles for Levies of Men and hiring of Ships and for the Passe-ports and Contrebanda Goods were near ageed between them The Articles for Trade and restitution for Damages in the time of War between England and Holland were not concluded but deferred to another time In the mean while the matters agreed upon were ordered to be drawn up in Form 13. The Swedish Ambassador did very earnestly press that
Parishes and the Ministers to exhort them to it The General with the Lord Gray Sir Philip Stapleton and others came to London and the Army removed to Windsor and thereabouts Sir William Waller's Forces quartering at Colnebrook Stanes and thereabouts The House of Commons with their Speaker went to Essex-house to congratulate the General his safe Return to them and his happy Success and Valour in the late Business at Newbury And caused their acknowledgment thereof and of their Protection by him under God to be entred in the Journal Book of the Parliament The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London waited in their Scarlet Gowns upon the General and highly complemented him as the Protector and Defender of their lives and Fortunes and of their Wives and Children and the Trained Bands sent out as he passed by loud acclamations of his praise In humane probability the King's Army was the more likely to have prevailed their Horse more and better than the Parliaments and their Foot were as good their advantages greater and their courages higher and their confidence too much God was pleased to raise the Courage of the Parliaments forces and to give them the success and indeed all success in war as well as in other matters is the free gift of the Lord of Hosts Essex and his Souldiers acknowledged much gallantry and courage in those of the King's party and the King's party acknowledged the like of Essex and his Souldiers all were Englishmen and pitty it was that such courage should be spent in the bloud of each other A passage or two I shall here remember of extraordinary mettle and boldness of Spirit One is of Sir Philip Stapleton though he would not acknowledg it that he being with other Parliament Commanders in the head of a body of horse facing another body of the King's horse before whom stood their Commanders and the cheif of them was Prince Rupert This Parliament Officer desiring to cope singly with the Prince he rode from before his Company up to the body of horse before whom the Prince with divers other Commanders were and had his pistol in his hand ready cockt and fitted Coming up to them alone he looked one and another of them in the face and when he came to Prince Rupert whom he knew he fired his Pistol in the Prince's face but his armour defended him from any hurt and having done this he turned his horse about and came gently off again without any hurt though many Pistols were fired at him Another passage was of Sir Philip Stapleton's Groom a Yorkshire man and stout if not two rash by this story he was attending on his Master in a charge where the Groom's mare was killed under him but he came off on foot back again to his own Company To some of whom he complained that he had forgotten to take off his Saddle and Bridle from his Mare and to bring them away with him and said that they were a new Saddle and Bridle and that the Cavaliers should not get so much by him but he would go again and fetch them His Master and Friends perswaded him not to adventure in so rash an Act the Mare lying dead close to the Enemy who would mall him if he came so near them and his Master promised to give him another new Saddle and Bridle But all this would not perswade the Groom to leave his Saddle and Bridle to the Cavaliers but he went again to fetch them and stayed to pull off the Saddle and Bridle whilst hundreds of bullets flew about his ears and brought them back with him and had no hurt at all The Lord Grey of Groby Sir Philip Stapleton and divers other Members of the House and divers Officers of the Army received the thanks of the House for their good service done in the late Gloucester journey and fight at Newbery and this to be entred in the Parliament journals for an honour to them and their posterity Amongst the Colours taken at Newbery one Cornet was the figure of the Parliament House with two Traitors heads standing on the top of it and by them this word ut extra sic infra but the Parliament nevertheless exposed them to publick view and censure The Commons ordered a Declaration upon a Bull from the Pope intercepted which was to encourage the Roman Catholicks in Ireland to the rigorous prosecution of the War Some discontents had been between the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller which upon a Conference with a Committee of both Houses and a Letter from Waller to Essex were made up again and the General of a good nature declared himself to be fully satisfied The Commons borrowed 30000 l. of the Merchant Adventurers to supply the Navy and took up other large sums for supply of the Armies They past a Declaration against the Cessation of Arms then in treaty between the King and the Irish Rebels but the same was brought to a conclusion and many of the Irish came in to the King's service here This gave occasion for many Invectives and Pasquils That the Queen's Army of French and Walloon Papists and the King's Army of English Papists together with the Irish Rebels were to settle the Protestant Religion and the Liberties of England The Charge against Arch-bishop Laud was referred to a Committee to be drawn up and presented to the Commons and the Committee to manage the Evidence at the tryal against the Arch-bishop The Earl of Ormond concluded the Cessation of Arms with the Irish Rebels and divers of them under Colonel Ernely came over hither to serve the King The Earl of Craford for the King sought to gain the Town of Poole by treachery and dealt with Captain Sydenham one of the Garrison who promised to doe his work and received of him 40 l. and a promise of a great reward and preferment At an hour appointed Craford comes to the Town with 500 horse and some foot Sydenham and the Governor whom he acquainted with it let in Craford and half his men into the Town and then letting fall a chain shut out the rest few escaped of those who entred the town but were killed or taken prisoners A Letter from Dr. Featly to Oxford was intercepted wherein he held correspondence with them and fished for preferment from them and the Dr. being a Member of the Assembly of the Divines was for his Infidelity discharged of his attendance on the Assembly and of his two Parsonages Sir Nicholas Crispe upon a quarrel and affront offered to him in his own quarters by Sir James Ennyon who challenged him also to fight he killed Ennyon but was acquitted for it by the King's Council of War Mr. Walter Mountagu was apprehended at Rochester coming up towards London in a disguise and Letters of Consequence taken about him They ordered Copes and Surplices to be taken away out of all Churches Monsieur de Cressey came over Embassadour from the French King
consider what Garrisons are fit to be demolished 4. Progress upon the propositions for Peace and both Houses agreed to trust London with their own Militia Col. Rossiter was called into the House and had thanks for his good services The Treaty proceeded for the surrender of Oxford 5. The Ordinance past both House for the Church Government Ammunition ordered for the Forces at Monmouth and Money Divers Ordinances past the House of Commons for compositions of Delinquents 6. Order for the Commissioners of Excise to pay ten thousand pound a Month for the Northern Forces A Declaration ordered to be drawn of the misdemeanors Plundrings and Cruelties of the Scots Army and their refusal to surrender the English Garrisons and to undeceive the People â—ouching a Book of the Lieutenant of the Scots Army justifying their proceedings and to draw the affections of the English to the Scots Sir Robert King brought Letters from Ireland to the House one from the King to the Marquess of Ormond to be communicated in Ireland to this effect That his Majesty having sent many Messages and Propositions for Peace to the Parliament received either no answer or such as shews their intentions to ruine him and Monarchy it self and a refusal of what formerly themselves desired but to have That hereupon having received good security that he and all that would adhere to him should be safe in their Persons Honours and Consciences in the Scots Army who would joyn with the King and his Forces in procuring a happy Peace and his rights he resolved to put himself into that Army and to use the best means by conjunction of them with the Forces of the Marquess of Montross and his Friends in England and Ireland to endeavour the setling of a good Peace The Treaty proceeded for the surrender of Oxford the General had nineteen thousand five hundred men in his Army 8. Mr. Hudson one of the Kings guides to the Scots Army was discovered at Rochester coming to London and apprehended Papers from the Scots Commissioners here touching the Kings Letters to the Marquess of Ormond whereof they say they had no knowledge nor hand in it ordered to be considered at a set day Ordinance for a thousand pound a Month for the Garrison of Henley Bostall House was surrendrd to the Parliament upon Articles A Letter of thanks to the General and order for thanksgiving to God for the several late successes 9. Votes That the King in going to the Scots Army intended to prolong the War against the Parliament in England and to make a difference between the two Kingdoms That there should be a Declaration to set forth the Jealousies and fears and the grounds thereof this Kingdom had to be presented to the States of Scotland and their Commissioners here Order for the Execution of the Ordinance for Church-Government Letters intercepted going to Oxford to incourage them to hold out and that the King was in the Scots Army Recruits came out of Scotland to the Army at New-castle The Lord Byron surrendred Caernarvon Castle to Major General Mitton upon Articles Letters and Papers read of transactions between the Marquess of Worcester and the Committee of Monmouth and L. G. Morgan and his Lp. for the surrender of Ragland Castle which Morgan by command of Sir Thomas Fairfax summoned and the Marquess desired liberty to send to the King to know his Pleasure which Morgan denied alledging that the King was in the Army of the Scots our Friends who had proclaimed that none formerly in Arms against the Parliament should be admitted to any conference with him The Marquess resolved to stand it out to the uttermost 10. Order for Circuits to be gone and the Commissioners of the Seal to appoint Judges Messages between the two Houses about the reception of the Russia Embassador and about an house for him 11. Several Orders in private matters Col. Glyn voted to be Governor of Caernarvon Castle The Garrison of Bostall house marched out and left four Brass Pieces and one Iron Gun store of Provisions and Ammunition 12. A Ship was taken with Ammunition and Provisions for Pendennis Castle and divers Letters intercepted in her Some of the Sheriffs and Common Council of London came to the House gave them thanks for their unwearied labours and desired that in any act or propositions care might be taken of the Rights and Priviledges of the City and were answered that the House have been and ever will be tender of the Rights and Priviledges of the City Order concerning an honourable reception of the Russia Ambassador 13. The Russia Ambassador solemnly received and delivered his Message for Unity between the two Nations and concerning Trade The Judges were appointed in several Circuits and the Commissioners of the Seal ordered to issue forth Commissions and Warrants requisite for that purpose The Order for Church Government published and ordered to be put in Execution Two hundred Sallyed out of Farrington House fell upon the Guards but the Parliament Forces wounded their Commander Major Hen and took him Prisoner killed two Lieutenants and five others took four Horses forty brown bills and forced the rest into the House again and lost but four men 15. Letters from Ireland informed of a great defeat given to the Protestant Forces in Ireland by the Irish Rebels the House ordered several Supplys for those Forces and ordered five thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse to be provided for that Service Referred to the Committee of Ireland to dispose of the Forces under Major General Massey for the Irish Service and the rest to be disbanded the like for other Forces in several Counties Complaint of the Major and others of Derby against some of the Soldiers of that Garrison upon his commitment of four of them for Sheepstealing the House ordered those Forces to be disposed of for Ireland and that Garrison to be dismantled The Scots Forces in Vlster marched out of their Garrisons under Major General Monrow to fall upon the Rebels all of them were about five thousand Foot and eleven Troops of Horse they were informed that the Rebels had eight Regiments of Foot and twelve Troops of Horse compleatly armed but the Scots would not believe it nor valued it but the Brittish Forces marched after them The Rebells drew up in good order in a place of advantage and set divers Ambuscadoes the Brittish Horse drew up so near them that they were galled and retired their Ambuscadoes made the Protestants retire and after some hours hot dispute the Rebels prevailed near five hundred of the Protestants killed taken and routed five field pieces with all the Ammunition and Baggage lost and about five thousand Foot Arms and most of the Officers killed and taken The Lord Mont-gomery and Lord Blaney taken the Lord Conweys Son had two Horses killed yet mounted on a third and escaped many Horses lost and men wounded Letters from the King to both Houses of Parliament to the same effect
16. To establish the Declaration of both Kingdoms 30 June 1643. with the qualifications of exception from Pardon both English and Scots and the names of those made incapable of Office and such as have deserted the Parliament 17. To make void the Cessation in Ireland the War there to be left to the Parliament and the same Religion to be setled there as in England 18. The Militia and Tower of London to be in the Government of the City and their Charters to be confirmed 19. All grants and Process under the Great Seal here to be confirmed and all by any other Great Seal to be void and the like for Ireland and all Honours granted since the Cessation there to be void And all these particulars to be pass'd by several Acts of Parliament 14. Order for disposing and paying the Forces under Major General Massey Differences between the Soldiers and Towns-men of Exeter referred to a Committee to be composed and orders for pay of that Garrison Search ordered for Materials for coining in some Trunks The Commissioners set forth with the Propositions Letters informed that Montrill the French Agent came to New-Castle and brought letters from the Queen to the King advising him to make Peace upon any Terms at which the King was very joyfull That Montross desired liberty to go beyond Sea and that great levys of men were made in Scotland and the Garrisons of New-Castle Carlisle and Berwick re-inforced by the Scots who lay heavy upon Northumberland and the Bishoprick of Durham 15. An Ordinance committed for setling three hundred pound per An. on Mrs. Burghill whose Husband was slain in the Parliaments Service and upon their Heirs Upon Information of the Master of the Ceremonies an Order for the reception of the French Ambassador One Grady and Irish Rebels and other Papists apprehended and committed and orders for apprehending all of their condition and a day set for their departure out of London Orders for pay for several Forces The Kings answer to the Letters of both houses for delivery up of the Garrisons in Ireland into the the hands of such as the Parliament should appoint was read and was very General expressing great desires of Peace and that the Propositions for it might be speedily sent to him And that business being once well setled those Garrisons and all the rest of the Forces will be ordered for the publick good 16. Great complaints from Cumberland and Westmorland of the heavy pressures of the Scots Army Ragland Castle held out the Siege some of their Officers as M. Price and others were taken Prisoners by L. G. Morgan Major General Mitton Besieged Denbigh Castle Letters informed that the Rebels in Ireland were come within twenty miles of Dublin 17. Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax gave an account to the House of the Treaty for surrender of Wallingford Castle and desired the direction of the House upon one Article insisted on by Col. Blagge That they might have no Oaths nor Covenants imposed upon them after the surrender The House ordered the General to continue his Siege of that Castle and would not allow of that Article Order that the Heads of Houses in Cambridge for bear cutting down of Timber in Colledg Lands till they had order from Parliament to do it An Ordinance sent up the Lords for fifty thousand pound for Ireland Monsieur Bellieure the French Ambassador was received in great State and usual Ceremonies in both Houses 18. A day of Thanksgiving appointed for the reducing of Oxford Litchfield was surrendred upon Articles to Sir Will. Brereton with all their Ordnance Arms and Ammunition 20 Montross demanded that his Son and the Gentleman with him might enjoy their liberty and Estates and he to go beyond Sea otherwise he resolved to hold out and not disband Letters informed great resort of Malignants English and Scots to the King The City of Worcester was agreed to be surrendred to the Parliament upon Articles 21. The day of publick thanksgiving for the surrender of Oxford 22. Debate of the French Ambassadors Message which was That he had in command from the Queen Regent and the King of France to interpose and endeavour a good reconciliation of the differences between his Majesty and the Parliament of England but seeing in what forwardness they were and the Propositions sent to his Majesty he had now nothing further to do but to take his leave and desired their Pass to go to the King and to the Estates of Scotland The Answer of the Parliament was That they took in good part and thankfully from the King of France his good affections and intentions to these Kingdoms and willingness to see their troubles over to end the which they had done and would continue to do their utmost But they could not agree that any Foraign State should interpose in the remaining Differences nor in particular the King of France by his extraordinary Ambassador And they agreed that he should have a Pass and be used with all respect and civility Mr. Herle voted to be Moderator of the Assembly Dr. Twist being dead Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax of the surrender of Worcester and thanks ordered to be sent to him and his Messenger had a gratuity Letters from the Northern Committees of the insupportable burden upon them by the Forces there and relief of those Counties A Letter from both Houses inviting the Duke of York to come to London Order for an Ordinance for the Government of North-Wales and for Committees there The Lords pass'd a Declaration for restraining Malignants from coming to the King 23. A Committee appointed to receive complaints against such as have been in Arms against the Parliament with power to imprison Order for re-imbursing Commissioners of Excise Some Forces of the Eastern Association met at St. Albans in a kind of mutiny the House ordered them to return to their several Counties Order for a new Election Goring House ordered for the Speaker The Ordinance for sale of Delinqueuts Estates sent up to the Lords 24. Letters informed the surrender of Wallingford with a Copy of the Articles Several Ordinances pass'd for Compositions by Delinquents Order for the slighting of all the Garrisons in Worcester-shire except Worcester City and all the Horse there to be disbanded except eighty to attend upon the High Sheriff An Ordinance appointed to be drawn for obedience to be yielded to Committees so long as they should be continued and no affronts to be offered to them or to any publique Officer Order for a Collection for the poor in the places in Devon-shire visited with the plague Order for all the Horse in Bucks to be reduced to eighty only 25. The House did not sit The Commissioners arrived with the propositions at New-Castle and the King seemed well pleased 27. The Houses sate not many Letters came from the Northern Counties of the Miseries and devouring Charge indured by them from the Scots Army and
the Earl of Essex to sit in Parliament Divers Scotch Ministers endeavoured to satisfie the Kings Conscience that he might take the Covenant but could not prevail 17. An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for charging ten thousand pound upon the Excise for poor Widows Officers Wives and others The Lords desired the concurrence of the Commons that the Earl of Northumberland be made L. Lieutenant of York-shire in the stead of the Earl of Essex deceased A Petition of the Levanâ— Merchants against Sir Sackvile Crow for Cruelties and Tyrannies exercised by him against their Company and desiring his Commission might be made void was referred to a Committee Order for four hundred pound for relief of poor Irish Protestants here 18. Order for a Letter to the Grand Seignior to revoke the Commission of Sir Sackvile Crow from being Agent at Constantinople and power given to the Merchants to chuse a new Agent Voted That no Consultation touching his Majestics Person should hinder the March of the Scots Army out of England nor violate the Treaties and that the Kings Person should be disposed of as both Houses of the Parliament of England should hold fit The Speaker desired he might communicate some secret Intelligence which he had to a Committee and was ordered to do it to the Committee of both Kingdoms and the Committee of the Admiralty Order for stating Arrears of Accounts 19. The Houses sate not The Estates of Scotland met about the surrender of the English Garrisons c. 21. The Commissioners from Scotland not being able to prevail with the King to pass the propositions returned into Scotland The Kings did not absolutely refuse to do it but said he hoped they would grant him a hearing which for better accommodation he desires may be near London and doubts not but after a full hearing he may not only have but receive full satisfaction Letters informed of the Irish Rebels drawing with a great Army towards Vlster and that the Marquess of Ormond was gone with Forces to joyn with them to suppress such as withstand the new Peace The Committee of Worcester took great care in listing their Soldiers for Ireland 22. No means prevailing with the King to pass the Propositions the House named a Committee to turn those Propositions into Ordinances of Parliament Order that the Committee of both Kingdoms do communicate to the Scots Commissioners the Votes of the House for disposing of the Kings Person Ordinance for Money A Committee for satisfying the City about the security for the two hundred thousand pound Letters of the surrender of Silley and Col. Rouse appointed Governor Reasons offered by the Commons to the Lords for continuance of the Commissioners and Treasurers of the Army The Lords Voted the Lord Roberts to be Governor of Silly but before that the Commons Vote was passed for Col. Rouse The Lords concurred with the Commons in the Vote for disposing of the Kings person The Duke d'Anguienne Besieged Dunkirk The Spaniard raised Forces to relieve it 23. The House proceeded in a grand Committee upon the Ordinance against Blasphemies and Heresies A Petition of Lieutenant Col. Lilburnes Wife accompanied with many Women at the door of the House and mentioning the Tyranny of the Lords by their imprisoning of her Husband and thereby divorcing her from him and desires Justice Intelligence came that upon discovery of a Plot against the Person of the Marquess of Ormond and those with him they returned back to Dublin 24. A new Committee appointed of both Houses to treat with the Scots Commissioners about disposing of the Kings Person this new Committee was purposely named to carry on the design touching the Kings Person as was intended The Committee of Foreign Affairs appointed to receive what the Spanish Ambassador desired to communicate to both Houses Order that no Passes should be granted to transport any Horses for six Months An Ordinance sent up to the Lords to put the Office of Chancellor of Chester in the Speakers of both Houses Order for the Forces of Cheshire for Money A day set to consider how the Army under Sir The. Fair fax shall be disposed of 25. Orders for Money and Cloaths for the Forces in Vlster Order to continue the Committee of both Kingdoms till the last of November next and that if the Scots Commissioners shall refuse to joyn with them then they were to act by themselves Votes That the Estates of the Lord Capell Lord Cottington Marquess of Winchester Earl of Worcester and Sir Charles Smith should be sold to raise Money for Ireland Some of the Assembly of Divines from the rest brought into the House such Heads of the Articles of Faith as they had perfected The Establishment and securing of Wallingford Castle referred to the General and a Committee named to draw up a new establishment thereof 26. The House sate not 28. Letters from the North certified that the Convention at Edinburg agreed that the Scots Army should march out of England upon the receipt of the two hundred thousand pound as agreed and all Towns and Castles held now by them in England to be delivered up that they are sending a Plenipotence to their Commissioners here to determine with the Parliament of England as to the dispose of his Majesties Person The Irish Rebels by Declaration disclaimed the Peace made with the Protestants The Articles of the Surrender of Silly Islands sent up 29. Vote That no Office shall be conferred by any Committee upon any person without consent of the Parliament A Committee of the long Robe appointed to make some amendmerts in the Ordinance for security to the advancers of the two hundred thousand pound Great complaints of the Quartering of the Scots Army in the North and in Lancashire Denbigh Castle was upon Treaty of surrender Order against the great resort of multitudes of People to the door of the House and it was observed then that some of those Gentlemen who formerly most incouraged such resort were now most fearful of them 30. The publick Fast day the House met after the Sermons and ordered an Ordinance to be drawn up to be read in every Congregation on every Fast day and therein the sins of the Nation to be mentioned and lamented and particularly in relation to Ireland The Ordinance for Observation of the publick fast day sent up to the Lords with some amendments An Ordinance to be drawn up to prevent clandestine Marriages without the consent of Parents October 1646. October 1. Order for five hundred pound to be paid to the Executors of the late Earl of Essex for defraying some ingagements and for the charge of his Funeral and that of four thousand five hundred pound due to his Countess who was disaffected to the Parliament four thousand pound should be paid to the State and five hundred pound to Col. Mathews and to the Servants of the Earl A question being propounded whether the great Seal be disposed of
further accountable for the Duke The Commons ordered the allowance to the Duke of York to be taken off and an increase of allowance to the Duke of Glocester and that the Earl of Northumberland may remove him and his Sister to Sion House or Hampton Courr An Information concerning two Gentlemen relating to Everards business referred to the same Committee The General and his Officers kept a Fast-day at Windsor and the next day a Captain and others had their Tryals begun by a Councel of War Col. Poyer fell upon a Party of the Parliaments Forces under Col. Flemming routed them and killed and took most of them May 1648. May 1. Debate touching the business of the Church The Ordinance against Blasphemy and Heresie in some cases the punishment being death in other cases Abjuration c. passed both Houses but not without much opposition Order of both Houses for Ely House to be for the Sick and Wounded Soldiers Ordinance transmitted for placing of a Minister in Bathe Order for the Members of every County to present to the Commissioners of the Great Seal fit persons to be Justices of the Peace Letters from Bristol of some there privately listing for the King and the Forces there are cold in suppressing them Order for the Committee at Derby House to consult with the General about it Letters of the South-Welch rising in several places against the Parliaments Forces and driving away their Cattle and carrying away their Corn and Goods where the Parliaments Forces come not a Horse-shooe nor Smith to be found there Lieutenant General Cromwell ordered by the General to go into South-Wales with two Regiments of Horse and three Regiments of Foot Letters from Scotland that the Parliament there passed a Declaration thirty one protesting against it and the Clergy dissenting that two hundred and ten Barons and Lords met to perswade the Countries to rise in defence of Religion the King and Church 2. Vote for five thousand pound for repair of the Works of New-Castle and Tinmouth the like for Hull Scarborough and other Northern Garrisons and six thousand pound for Bristol Letters that Berwicke was surprised by Sir Marmaduke Langdale Sir Charles Lucas and other English with a Party of a hundred Horse pretending a Commission from Prince Charles that the Major endeavoured to get strength to oppose them but could not referred to the Committee of Derby House and the General Letters from the General that he had ordered the Regiments at White-Hall and the Meuse and other Forces near London to remove further off unless the Houses should give order to the contrary The House ordered a Letter to the General to stay the removal of those Regiments till farther order and a Committee to treat with the City what guards they will provide for the Houses if those Regiments be removed The General likewise acquainted the Houses with his sending Lieutenant Cromwell into Wales and with the not payment of Assessments whereby the Soldiers would be inforced to take free Quarter the House passed instructions to the Committee of the Army and Officers to rectifie it The Common Councel returned thanks to the Parliament for their confidence in the City and assured them that when the Forces of the Army should be removed the City would stand by the Parliament for their security The City allowed six hundred pound per An. to Major General Skippon Petitions to the Cities Common-Councel That the Impeached Aldermen may not be tryed by the Lords but by their equals That there may be a new Committee of the Militia every year the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs to be part and the rest to be chosed by the Common-Councel and approved by the Parliament and the Lieutenant of the Tower to be under the Cities Command referred to the Committee 3. Letters from the Lord Chancellor of Scotland by command of the Parliament there with their demands to the Parliament of England to this purpose 1. That the King may come to some of his Courts near London to abide with Safety Honour and Freedom 2. That a Personal Treaty may be had with his Majesty 3. That the Independent Schismatick Army may be Disbanded and none put into Garrisons but such as will take the Covenant and both Kingdoms may conside in 4. That all Anabaptists Separatists and Independents may be suppressed and no Toleration allowed for any of them 5. That all absent Members may be sent for to perform their duties in Parliament 6. That the Covenant may be inforced upon all men 7. That the Presbyterian Government may be effectually setled These demands were thought by some to be very strange a day was set for the debate of them Information of Tumults by the Malignants in Colchester Order for Letters to be sent to some Forces of the Army in that County to quiet them and the Committee at Derby House to take care thereof A Petition from many thousands Knights Gentlemen and Free-holders in Essex expressing the reason of their desires which were For a Personal Treaty with his Majesty that a course be taken for satisfaction of the Arrears of the Army with a disbanding of the same The Lords gave thanks to the County of Essex for their good affections and let them know that they would take their Petition into a serious and speedy consideration and not be wanting to contribute to their endeavours for the ease of the Countreys burdens and setling of a good Peace The Commons gave this Answer to the Petition That they take notice of the great service and good affections of that County to the Parliament and are consident they will so continue and as to their Petition the House is now in debate concerning the speedy settlement of the Kingdom and do not doubt but what they shall conclude there upon will give satisfaction to that County and to all well affected people It was earnestly pressed to have the words thanks of the House expressed in this Answer but it was carried in the Negative 5. Debate of the Letters from Scotland The Houses declared That they are resolved to maintain the Covenant and Treaties between the two Kingdoms and that they will be ready to joyn with Scotland in the Propositions presented to the King at Hampton-Court Order for Forces for the Northern parts and to put those Countries into a posture of defence and referred to the Committee at Derby House Instructions pass'd for the Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland to acquaint the Parliament there with the surprisal of Berwicke by enemies to both Kingdoms who had layn long in Scotland and were demanded by the English Commissioners Col. Horton published a Declaration to satisfie the Welch of the Parliaments Proceedings in order to disband the Forces of Major General Laugherne and to ease the Country of free Quarter and to settle Peace generally and of the revolt and opposition of Col. Poyer the trouble charge and danger to the Countries thereby
to him A Committee appointed to consider how every County may maintain a proportionable number of the Scots Prisoners and to treat with Merchants about transporting them to forreign service Order for the Lord Grey to dispose of Duke Hamilton into safe custody till the House take further order and to keep in strong custody all the Officers then Prisoners in such places and Castles as he should think fit Letters from Colchester that the Town was surrendered according to Articles all Prisoners at Mercy the Town preserved from plunder paying fourteen thousand pounds That by the resolution of a Council of War Sir Charles Lucas Sir George L'Isle and Sir Marmaduke Gascoigne a Papist were to be shot to death That the two first were executed and the third respited That Sir Charles Lucas urged this was to be without precedent but a Parliament Souldier standing by told him that he had put to death with his own hand some of the Parliaments Souldiers in cold blood at which he was dismaid but took better courage afterwards before he died That Sir George L' Isle kissed his dead friend and then after much expostulation and discourse first with the General his Chaplain then by his own desire with one of the Lord Norwich his Chaplains and some private prayers with him Sir George died both he and Sir Charles Lucas with very much courage 30. The publick Fast-day The House passed an Ordinance for the Discipline of the English in new England 31. Votes for several persons named by the King to have leave to attend his Majesty during the Treaty only M r Dowcet and M r Legge disapproved of Order for Instructions to be prepared for the Commissioners who are to treat and for mony for their charges Order that Colonel Farre Lieutenant Colonel to the Earl of Warwick who ingaged ten thousand men of the Train'd Bands of Essex to joyn with the Enemy should be left to the Lord Fairfax to be executed as Sir Charles Lucas was A Committee appointed to confer with M r Moâ—bot about suppressing of scandalous Pamphlets and to bring in an Ordinance for that purpose Letter from the General of the particulars of the Surrender of Colchester and a Copy of the Articles with the explanations upon them That for some Satisfaction to Military Justice and in part of avenge for the innocent blood they had caused to be spilt and the trouble dammage and mischiefs they had brought upon that Town that County and Kingdom He had with the advice of a Council of War of the chief Officers both of the County Forces and the Army caused two of them who were rendred to mercy Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George L' Isle to be shot to death before any of them had quarter assured them and hopes the Parliament will not find cause in the Military execution of these two persons to think their own honour or justice prejudiced That as for the Lord Goring Lord Capel and the rest of the persons rendred to mercy and now assured of quarter whose names he sent in a List he did render to the Parliaments judgement for publick Justice and mercy to be used as they should see cause he desires that God may have the glory of his multiplied mercies In the List of the Prisoners were the Earl of Norwich Lord Capell Lord Loughborough eleven Knights nine Colonels eight Lieutenant Colonels nine Majors thirty Captains general Officers servants of the Lords and Gentlemen sixty five Lieutenants seventy two Ensigns and Cornets sixty nine Sergeants one hundred eighty three private Souldiers three thousand sixty seven Letters from Southampton that the Grand Jury found the Bill against Major Rolphe Ignoramus A Petition of the Common Council of London for Vnity and Amity between the Parliament the City and the Army approved of and thanks given to the Petitioners A Ship sent from the Prince to Garnsey taken by one of the Parliaments Ships September 1648. 1. An Ordinance for stating the accounts of Souldiers and Widows ordered to be Printed and published A place to be appointed for the Auditours Care for Augmentations for Ministers The five Commissioners for the Treaty named by the Lords were The Earl of Pembroke the Lord Say Earl of Salisbury Earl of Middlesex and the Earl of Northumberland The ten Commissioners of the House of Commons were M r Holles Lord Wenman M r Pierrepoint Sir Henry Vane junior Sir Harbottle Grimstone Mr. Samuel Brown Mr. Crew Mr. Recorder Glyn Sir John Potts and Mr. Bulkeley 2. A Letter agreed to his Majesty to acquaint him with the Commissioners named to attend him in the Treaty and that they should be dispatched to him with all convenient speed Sir Peter Killigrew sent away with this Message An Ordinance transmitted to the Lords for payment of fifty thousand pounds part of the last hundred thousand pounds formerly ordered for the Scots forty thousand pounds of it for the Navy seven thousand pound for Stores and three thousand pound for the pay of the Lancashire Forces A long debate about the Militia One thousand of the Prisoners taken at Colchester sent up to London Mr. Lilly's Astrological Predictions for the years 1648 49 and 50. published 4. Both Houses agreed for those servants of his Majesty who are to attend him during the Treaty And they passed an Ordinance to inable the Commissioners to treat with his Majesty upon the Propositions presented to him at Hampton-Court Those in the late insurrection in Essex c. admitted to a Composition at a fourth Value of their Estates Mr. Rolphe delivered his Remonstrance in the Lords House against the Judges and against his prosecutours and desired reparation the House ordered his discharge Lieutenant Colonel Lilburn desired reparation for the Sentences against him in the Star-chamber Order for the Committee to take care for transporting the Scots Prisoners in the first place to supply Plantations and the rest to send to Venice In a Vessel at Exeter one thousand five hundred pair of Carabins being found Order for Securing them till the matter be examined Both Houses agreed upon a day of publick Humiliation to desire a blessing upon the Treaty with his Majesty Colonel Hammonds Instructions for safe keeping his Majesty in Carisbrook Castle repealed The Colonel taking the Kings own ingagement for his going abroad in the Island Order for the Committee of the revenue to provide horses for the King to ride about the Island Upon Colonel Hammonds desire of an addition of Horse and Foot during the Treaty referred to the General and Committee of the Army and his desire for Shipping to ly about the Island referred to the Committee of the Army to prepare them The Forces of Suffolk and Essex had a rendezvous with the Army and after shaking hands and many Vollies of Shot they bid one another farewel Some Regiments marched towards Tarmouth The Lords that were Prisoners with two men a piece and twelve other
Officers were ordered to march with the General his Regiment to Windsor to be Prisoners there the other Officers were sent to the Mount Pendennis Cardiffe Oxford Arundel and other strengths but none beyond Trent The Common Souldiers were to be conveyed to Bristol and other Sea-Towns to be transported to America Venice or as shall be appointed the Gentlemen Souldiers were Committed to the care of Troupers till further order Letters from the North that of Scots Irish and English there are above seven thousand under Major General Monroe and they have twenty pieces of Ordnance that Lambert advanced to joyn with Cromwell against Monroe that the siege of Scarborough Castle continued 5. Letters from the Earl of Warwick of his pursuit of the Prince and of the revolted Ships A long debate about the Militia Order that all persons who were in the late Insurrections should be incapable of being Jury-men and that the Judges in their Circuits and the Justices of Peace at their Sessions do see this Order put in execution Ordered that the former Orders and Ordinances for the taking away the Voyces of Delinquents in Elections should be put in execution and all Officers of Cities and Towns Corporate to take notice thereof Order for a call of the House and a Fine of twenty pound upon those absent Order for three thousand pound for Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne as reparation for the Sentence against him in Star-Chamber A Message from the Lords that Doctor Burges may have his place at S. Pauls settled under the great Seal That the Earl of Cleveland may have his Liberty for three Months upon bayle to take the air in the Country for his health and to recommend a Petition from the Countess of Kildare for some reparation of her great losses in Ireland Letters from New-Castle that divers English came thither to ask quarter of the Governour and to desire to be imployed That the Committees of Berwick and Carlisle sit upon sequestrations and raise monies notwithstanding the troubles there That many English are with Monroe incouraged by their Land-lords and that Colonel Fenwicks Horse and some Dragoons relieved Holy Island near Berwick and stormed Fenham Castle in which was a Garrison of Scots 6. Order for mony for Tradesmen who trusted the Lord Inchequin for Armes Both Houses approved the appointment of monies for the Treaty five hundred pound for Coach and Horses for the King six thousand pound for his Majesties private use and three thousand pound for the charges of the Commissioners Debate of an Ordinance for sale of the Lands of Deans and Chapters The Commons agreed to the Earl of Clevelands Liberty upon Bayle so as he ingage upon his honour not to Act against the Parliament Letters from Holland that it was disputed amongst the states whether the Prince of Wales being returned thither they should entertain him in a publick way or give him an allowance per diem and they agreed to allow him a thousand gilders a day and some discontents were among the Sea-men in the Prince his Fleet. Order about stating Sir Jo. Clotworthy's accounts and for his pay and they declared an acceptable sence of his carriage 7. The thanksgiving day for the Victory aginst the Scots Sir Peter Killigrew returned with his Majesties answer to the last Message from the Houses desiring that the Treaty may be hastned that he could have wished all those desired by him might have been admitted to him but will not let that hinder the Treaty he desired Dr. Reeves and Dr. Ducke to be admitted to him in relation to the Treaty At the sight of a Gentleman in mourning for Sir Charles Lucas the King wept 8. Letters from the Earl of Warwick of the constancy unanimity and courage of the Officers and Sea-men in the Parliaments Fleet and that the revolted Ships though more in number avoided them That the Castles of Deal and the rest at the Downs upon which the Protection of the Fleet and of trade have such a dependance are in great want of reparation which he recommends to the Parliament Debate upon the Ordinance for Sale of Deans and Chapters lands Major Husbands sent to the House acquainted them with the surrender of Sandowne Castle in Kent and of the condition of the other Castles in Kent Referred to the Committee at Derby House to write to the Committee of Kent and Colonel Rich to advise with the Lord Admiral about the repair of those Castles and of pay for them Upon the General his Letter that four thousand Pounds of the fourteen thousand Pounds imposed on Colchester to free them from plunder could not be raised and was remitted by the General the House ordered five thousand Pounds to be raised out of the delinquents Estates in those parts to make up the Summ for the Souldiers who should have had the pillage of the Town 9. Order for a hundred and fifty pound for M r Rolphe for his unjust imprisonment The City of London advanced two thousand Pounds for the business of the Treaty Major Armestrong one of the Prisoners at Windsor was rescued at Brainford the House ordered the Captain of the Guards to send a party of Horse to apprehend those that made the rescue Letters from the North that Lieutenant General Cromwell was at Berwick that the Country generally rose with him against Monroe that Cromwell sent to Edenburgh to recal Major General Monroe and the Forces with him out of England and to surrender our Garrisons 11. Both Houses thought not fit to grant a Pass with Blanks for the King to send into Scotland but they advised his Majesty first to send into Scotland for them to name the Persons they would send hither and then a Pass to be granted to them M r Parsons had a Pass to go to his Majesty and to Scotland Instructions passed for Carriages to the Isle of Wight and things preparatory to the Treaty A Pass to Major Belford to transport six horses into France The business of Garrisoning the Earl of Lincoln's House referred to the Committee of Derby House and the Committee of Lincoln to secure it A Petition from thousands well affected persons in and near London giving reasons why they first assisted the Parliament and that they expected other ways from them than a Treaty they mentioned twenty seven heads which they expected from the Parliament 1. That they would have made good the supremacy of the People from all pretences of Negative Voices either in King or Lords 2. Laws for Election of Representatives yearly and of course without Writ or Summons 3. That their time of sitting exceed not forty or fifty dayes and to have fixed a time for the ending of this Parliament 4. To have exempted matters of Religion and Gods worship from the compulsive or restrictive power of any Authority 5. That none be forced or pressed to serve in War 6. To have made both Kings Queens
The King desired that in respect sentence of death was past upon him and the time of his execution might be nigh that the House would give him leave to see his Children and that he might have D r Juxon to be private with him in his Chamber and to give him the Sacrament This was ordered accordingly and Dr. Juxon preached before the King in his private lodgings this night at White-Hall 28. The Commissioners of the High Court of Justice kept a Fast in the Chappel at White-Hall 29. The House sate early and one of the secluded Members coming in they Voted That such Members as 5. Dec. last Voted that the Kings concessions were a ground of setling peace in this Nation should not be readmitted but disabled to sit as Members for the future The Dutch Ambassadours had their Audience in the House they read their Instructions and Credentials in French and promised Copies of them in English to morrow but would not part with the Originals Their business was to interceed for the Kings life and to preserve a fair correspondence betwixt this Nation and the States An Act passed for alteration of names and forms in Writs Grants Patents procedings in Courts c. That in England Ireland and Berwick c. instead of the style title and teste of the King shall be used Custodes libertatis Angliae Authoritate Parliamenti c. That the date shall be the year of our Lord and no other That instead of the former words Juratores pro Domino Rege c. the words now to be used shall be Juratores pro Republica Instead of the words Contra pacem dignitatem vel Coronam nostram the words shall be Contra pacem Publicam That all Writs Patents Commissions c. shall stand good notwithstanding the death of the King The High Court of Justice sate and appointed the time and place for the Execution of the King The Kings Children came from Syon-House tovisit him at S t Iames's he took the Princess in his Arms and kissed her and gave her two Seals with Diamonds and prayed for the blessing of God upon her and the rest of his children and there was great weeping The Prince Elector the Duke of Richmond and others made suit to see him which he refused Letters from Scotland that the Ministers there preach against the Army in England and the proceedings against their King they say they are bound by their Covenant to preserve Monarchy and that in the Race of the present King That their Parliament have passed several votes against those that were in the late ingagament against England Letters that Prince Rupert was at Sea with about fourteen of the revolted Ships and took divers Merchant men the Parliament having no Ships abroad The Commissioners met at Mr. Browns House where the Seal lay to have had a Private Seal but by reason of my Lord Grey's absence who had the key and because of the sentence given against the King they did not seal any thing but they heard divers Petitions 30. The King walked from St. James's through the Park guarded with a Regiment of Foot and Partisans to White-Hall Divers Gentlemen went bare before him D r Juxon followed next to him and Colonel Thomlinson had the charge of him they brought him to the Cabinet-Chamber where he continued at his devotion He refused to dine having before taken the Sacrament but about twelve a clock at noon he drank a Glass of Claret Wine and eat a piece of Bread from thence he went with D r Juxon Colonel Thomlison Colonel Hacker and the Guards through the Banqueting House adjoyning to which the Scaffold was erected it was hung round with black and the Floor covered with black and the Ax and block laid in the middle of it Divers Companies of Foot and Horse were on every side of the Scaffold and great multitudes of People came to be spectators the King looked earnestly on the Block asked if there were no place higher and directing his speech to the Gentlemen upon the Scaffold he spake to this effect I shall be very little heard of any Body here I shall therefore speak a word unto you here indeed I could hold my peace very well if I did not think that holding my peace would make some men think that I did submit to the guilt as well as to the punishment but I think it is my duty to God first and to my Country for to clear my self both as an honest man and a good King and a good Christian I shall begin first with my innocency in troth I think it not very needful for me to insist long upon this for all the world knows that I never did begin a War with the two Houses of Parliament and I call God to witness to whom I must shortly make an account that I never did intend for to incroach upon their priviledges They began upon me it is the Militia they began upon they confest that the Militia was mine but they thought it fit to have it from me and to be short if any Body will look to the dates of Commissions theirs and mine and likewise to the Declarations they will see clearly that they began these unhappy troubles not I. So that as to the guilt of these enormous Crimes that are laid against me I hope in God that God will clear me of it I will not I am in Charity God forbid that I should lay it upon the two Houses of Parliament there is no necessity of either I hope they are free of this guilt for I do believe that ill Instruments between them and me have been the chief cause of all this Blood-shed so that by way of speaking as I find my self clear of this I hope and pray God that they may too Yet for all this God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian as not to say that Gods judgments are just upon me many times he does pay justice by an unjust sentence that is Ordinary I only say this that an unjust sentence that I suffered for to take effect is punished now by an unjust sentence upon me that is so far I have said to shew you that I am an innocent man Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian I hope there is a good man pointing to Dr. Juxon that will bear me witness that I have forgiven all the world and even those in particular that have been the Chief causers of my Death who they are God knows I do not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my Charity must go further I wish that they may repent for indeed they have committed a great sin in that particular I pray God with St. Stephen that this be not laid to their Charge nay not only so but that they may take the right way to the peace of the Kingdom for Charity commands me not only to forgive particular men but
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
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.
of the Defeat given to C. Ker. That there is a great Distraction and mighty Workings of God upon the hearts of divers Religious People in Scotland both Ministers and others much of it tending to the Justification of your Cause A Declaration was published in Scotland of the King and Committee of Estates concerning the Remonstrance of Col. Straughan and his Party And another Declaration and Resolution of the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland 17 An Act passed for continuing two former Acts touching Elections in London of Commmon-Councel-men c. Vote That the Fee called Damna Clericorum or Dammage Cleer shall be taken away and an Act to be brought in for that purpose An Act passed for the Sale of the L. Deincourt's Lands Upon a Report from the Councel of State of all the Proceedings of the High Court of Justice upon the Trial of the King the House Ordered them to be Recorded amongst the Records of Parliament and to be transmitted into the Chancery and other Cours at Westminster and to the Custos Rotulorum of the several Counties That an Ambassador from the King of Portugal to the Parliament was arrived in the Isle of Wight 18 Letters from the Admirals at Sea That upon a Letter from the Councel of State to improve all Opportunities for the Service of the State he took the French Man of War and went on in pursuit of P. Rupert That Blake pursued the Prince to the Port of Carthagena belonging to the King of Spain where the Prince with five Ships was put in and Blake sent to the Governor That an Enemy to the State of England was come thither That he had Orders from the Parliament to pursue him c. and the King of Spain being in Amity with the Parliament Blake desired leave to take all Advantages there against an Enemy To this the Governor returned Answer That he could not take any Notice of the Difference of any Nations or Persons among themselves only such as were Declared Enemies to the King his Master that they came in thither for Safety and therefore he could not but give them Protection and that he would do the like to them assuring them all Safety if they also did come in whilst they should stay there That Blake sent a Reply pressing the Governour for leave to fall upon the Prince and thanking him for his Offer to himself But the Governour sent to the King of Spain to know his pleasure herein and in the mean time Blake waited without the Harbour That since the Defeat of C. Ker they took 100 Horse more about Aire and Col. Straughan came in to Major General Lambert with about 60 Horse many of them Officers Jasper Collins was hanged at Charing-Cross for extorting Money from the Countrey and other Outrages as he marched with Recruits towards Ireland Another was tied by the Thumbs to the Gibbet for concealing a Design to betray Walling-ford-Castle where he was a Souldier Two others whipped at the Gibbet for running from their Colours 19 Letters That the Money and Supplies sent from the Parliament to the Army were arrived at Leith That three of the Parliaments Souldiers defended a weak House three hours together in their Shirts against 100 Moss-Troopers 20 Letters That Prince Rupert came to Malago and other Ports and fired and sunk divers English Merchants Ships and demanded the Master of a London Ship who had signed the Petition against the Personal Treaty saying that he would boyl him in Pitch but the Governour of Malago refused to deliver up the Master to him Of a French Ship sent in Prize to Poole by Capt. Mildmay 21 Letters That Blake fell upon Prince Rupert in Malago Road sunk two or three of his Ships run on Shore and exposed to Ship-wrack the rest of his Fleet only two Ships escaped wherein it is conceived Prince Rupert and his Brother Prince Maurice were and Blake in chace of them That when the Great Guns and Mortar-pieces played against Edenburgh-Castle they hung out a Flag of Defiance but after they had played a while and some Execution done by them those in the Castle hung out another Flag for a Treaty And sent a Messenger to the General that they might have time to send to their Friends at Sterling to know by what time they might expect Relief from them and if their expectation was not answered therein that then they would treat for Surrender of the Castle Or if this should be denied then they desired that some of the Scots Prisoners with the General might be permitted to come into the Castle to speak with them which the General granted That the Souldiers in the Castle were many of them sick for want of Water 23 Letters That the Battery went on against Edenburgh Castle and dismounted three of their Guns and shattered their Platform in pieces Copies sent to the Parliament of the Summons sent by the General to the Governour of Edenburgh Castle with his Answer and the General 's Replies 24 Upon a Petition of the Adventurers for Lands in Ireland a Committee appointed to consider of it and to state the Matter of Fact of that Business An Act passed giving power to the Lieutenant General Deputy and Commissioners of Ireland and declaring several Laws to be in force in Ireland Order touching the Trade of Gold and Silver Wyer A safe Conduct granted for the Ambassador of Portugal to repair to London Upon Information by the Speaker That the Spanish Ambassador had been with him and delivered to him a Copy of the Credentials directed to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England and Signed by the King of Spain the House Ordered That the Ambassador should have Audience The General sent his Letter to the Commanders at Chester Conwey and and other parts commanding That none of the Souldiers offer to give any Disturbance to Justice in the Case of Cheadle who had murdered Bulkley Letters That the High Court of Justice at Norfolk had condemned six of the Mutiniers in the late Insurrection who were Executed at Norwich 25 Letters That Prince Rupert was got on shoar in Spain and being demanded by C. Blake the King of Spain refused to deliver up the Person of the Prince but sent a Messenger to the Parliament about it 26 Letters That Sir Arthur Haselrigg and Mr. Scot members of the Councel of State were come to Edenburgh That the King made a Speech in the Parliament at St. Johns Town expressing much Joy that he was the first Covenanted King of the Nation 27 Letters That Major General Lambert was come to Edenburgh with C. Ker and other Prisoners That after much Execution done by the great Guns and Mortar-pieces in Edenburgh Castle and the General denying them to send to the Committee of Estates The Governour admitted a Treaty and the Commissioners agreed upon the Surrender of the Castle to the L. General Cromwel with all the Ordnance Arms Magazine and
bring in the Enemy thereabouts to the Parliament of England Whereupon the Forces removed and a Cornet of Collonel Okey coming to his Regiment with a small Party was set upon by many Moss-Troopers who gave seven of them quarter yet afterwards killed them in cold Blood and only the Cornet and four more scaped That Collonel Heane was shipping with his Men at Weymouth for the design of Jersey 18. Letters That Captain Benboe was shot to death at Shrewsbury according to the Sentence of the Court-Martial and that the Earl of Derby was beheaded at Bolton the same day That Captain Duckinfield with his Men were shipped for the Isle of Man 20. Letters of the Particulars of the Earl of Derbies Death who carried himself with stoutness and Christian-like temper 21. Letters came from Holland That the Scots King was landed there with the Duke of Buck's and the Lord Wilmot and others in Sea-mens Cloaths and that upon the news thereof the Princess Royal and many with her went to Scheveling where they met the King That an English Man of War meeting with some Dutch Fishermen demanded of them the Tenth Herring as an acknowledgement of the Sovereignty of England in those Seas but the Dutch denying it they fell from words to blows and the Dutch shooting first at the English the English Man of War sunk one of their Ships and all their Men were lost Others relate That the Quarrel began upon the English Man of War requiring the Dutch-men to strike Sail to him according to the usage and they refusing it he sunk one of them Of the dispersing of Dungans Forces by Collonel Reynolds and his recovery of some Castles and joyning with Collonel Zanchey That Fitz-Patrick stormed Castle-Jorne and took 30 of the Parliaments Soldiers and ingaged Collonel Hewsons Troop took 25 and killed 27 of them That the Irish are numerous and desperate That Two Congregational Churches were gathered in Dublin 22. Debate upon the Bills for a New Representative and on a Bill for propagation of the Gospel and ordered that they be considered de die in diem till ended Letters of Forces shipped from Chester against the Isle of Man being 3000 Men and between 30 and 40 Sail. Mr. John Sayer condemned by a Court-Marshal at Chester to be hanged for Treason but upon his Penitence was reprieved That Collonel Venables rose from the Siege of Dundalke in Cavan That the Irish attempted Bellinger but were beaten off with the loss of 40 of their Men and divers of their Officers and Soldiers wounded 23. Letters of some Endeavours for new Levies in Scotland 24. The Thanksgiving-day observed solemnly Letters That the Scots are ready to embrace what the Parliament of England shall require of them That divers Ministers confer at Edenburgh and are permitted That Argyle and Huntley are raising Forces yet have none in a Body but a few stragling Highlanders That an English Soldier for lying with a Scots Woman was by Sentence of the Court-Marshal together with the Woman whipped through Edenburgh and a Scotch Laâ—s that held the Candle to them in the Action lighted them all the way and was duck'd with them That Augustine the Moss-Trooper took an English Sutler and 60 l. in Money at Monrosse That Argyle sent a Trumpet to Sterling to desire a Treaty and that the Scots generally desired to be governed by the English That the Lord Chef-Justice St. John Sir Henry Vane jun ' Major-General Lambert Major-General Deane Lieutenant-General Monk Collonel Fenwicke Alderman Tichburne and Major Sallowey were appointed Commissioners for the Affairs of Scotland and being there it was hoped they would soon settle the Civil Affairs there 25. Letters That many of the Scotch Prisoners and others at Shrewsbury were dead of a Contagious Feaver That there was no certainty of the King of Scots Arrival in Holland and that upon the Rumor of it the States propounded to pass a Decree That no forreign Prince or Noble-man should come into their Dominions without their Privity That Meen heere Scape and Meen heer Parre were nominated Ambassadors for England 27. Letters That the King of Scots was arrived in France and got to Paris met by the way and conducted thither by the Duke of Orleans and visited by the Queen his Mother and divers of the great Lords That he told them his Adventures after the Battle of Worcester to this effect That about Six a Clock in the Evening his Army being in all likelihood beaten he quitted Worcester with a Party of Horse and marched towards Lancashire being fearful of being pursued and lest some of the Scots Officers should deliver him up he with the Lord Wilmot quitted their Horses and sent the Party of Horse upon their March That he and the Lord Wilmot betook themselves the second days march from Worcester into a Tree where they remained until night and then marched on foot that night That the third day they took Sanctuary in a Wood and night approaching marched on foot towards Lancashire where they were received by a Lady who furnished them with Cloaths for a disguise and cut off their Hair very short Having reposed two or three days the Lady resolved to endeavour to ship them out of England to which purpose she riding behind the King and Wilmot as another Servant by they went to Bristol But finding a narrow and hot Inquiry there they went to London where they stayed three Weeks and the King went up and down in London in a Gentlewomans Habit and at Westminster-Hall he saw the States Arms and the Scots Colours That the Lord Wilmot procured a Merchant to hire a Ship of 40 Tuns to transport them which cost them 120 l. but as soon as the Lord Wilmot was entred the Bark and the King as his Servant the Master of the Vessel came to him and told him That he knew the King and in case it should be known he could expect no mercy which Saying troubled them But at length what with Money and Promises they Prevailed and so set Sail for Haver de gras and there landed and from thence went to Rohan where they were cloathed and wrote from thence to Paris That this Arrival of the King stopped the French King from sending Ambassadors for England That the King sent for the Lords Inchequin Taffe and Ormond That the Lord Taffe had treated with the Duke of Lorrein for his undertaking the Business of Ireland That divers Prisoners presented a Petition to the Lord General reciting That the Law was the Badge of the Norman Bondage and that Prisons were Sanctuaries to Rich Men Prisoners and Tortures to the Poorer sort who were not able to fee Lawyers and Goalers They pray the General into whose Hands the Sword is put to free them from oppression and slavery and to restore the Nations fundamental Laws and Liberties and to gain a new Representative and that the Poor may have Justice and Arrests
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
Fleet thereby but being disappointed thereof the common people were earnest for a Peace with England That the King of Denmark stood off expecting the issue of the Business betwixt England and Holland and fearing the danger of Sweden That Monsieur Burdeaux was Arrived Ambassador from the French King to the Common-wealth of England That the Generals of the Fleet sent Orders from Aberdeen for all English Ships in the Service of the State upon the Coast of Scotland to follow and joyn with them 19. Letters from the Fleet that they were still in pursuit of the Dutch Fleet upon the Coast of Scotland but had no other Intelligence of them than what they had formerly given to the Councel 20. Collonel Jones and Collonel Ryley agreed upon Articles in Ireland for pardon of some of the Rebels and for Indempnity and Transportation of them 21. Letters That the Captain of Clanrannold one of the chief Clans in the North Highlands had taken the tender to be faithful to the Common-wealth of England and desired a Commission to set out a private Man of War against the Dutch That Captain Diamond brought into Pool 8 Dutch Merchant Ships prizes 23. That Collonel Atkins took a Dutch Pacquet-boat with some Letters of Concernment from Holland to Van-Trump Letters from the Forces in Scotland under Collonel Lilburne directed to Major-General Lambert to be communicated to the Army in England highly approving of the action of Dissolving the Parliament and ingaging to live and dye with Cromwell and his Councel of Officers in the further prosecution of this cause and for procuring of Justice and Righteousness and freedom to be settled to this Nation 25. That the Holland Merchants who went round about by Scotland had slipped by the English Fleet and were returned safe into their Harbour with their Convoy Van Trump and his Men of War which raised the Spirits of the States and their People 26. The Rebels in Cork and Kerry lessened their General O Sullinan Beer fled to France and the remaining Collonels sent to the Lord Broghill for terms of submission A young Conspiracy to bring in Charles 2d discovered at Yonghall and the Conspirators apprehended 27. Cromwell and his Councel of Officers resolved to Summon select Persons to be nominated by themselves out of every County who should be as a Representative of the whole Nation 28. Cromwell and his Councel of Officers sat close this week about choosing Persons to sit in the next Representative They also published a Declaration for continuing the old Commissioners for Assessments in the several Counties and the present Tax for 3 months longer They appointed a Committee to consider how the Receipts of the Customs and excise might be best managed and brought into one Office Van Trump came with his Fleet into Dover Road having Convoyed home all the Merchants he discharged many Shots against the Town of Dover whereby some Houses were prejudiced but no person Slain the English Fleet were to the North of Scotland That Dover Castle and the Forts playing upon Van Trumps Fleet they tacked about and stood to the Southward that they took three small Vessels of the English bound from London to Rohan 30. Several Aldermen and others of London made an Address to Cromwell for reinvesting the late Parliament whereupon divers others of London made an Address to Cromwel testifying their dislike of and dissent from the former and their resolution to adhere to Cromwell To Cromwell and his Councel of Officers came the humble acknowledgment and Congratulation of the Churches of Christ and other well affected Persons to their proceeding in the County of Radnor Two Dutch Prizes loaden with Wines taken by two of the English Frigots An Account of several Ships of War going to the Fleet and of a guard of Ships appointed to ply to the North Foreland for security of the Fisher-men 31. Of a single English Man of War who met with several Dutch Fleets of above 300 Merchant men with their Convoys some from Russia some from France and the English Ship putting up the Danish Colours and setting only some Danes on the Deck which they had on board their Ship they came off cleer from the Dutch Letters from the Hague that Trumps design in going out towards the Downs was to Fire such English Ships as he should find there or in their Harbour or upon the English Coast before their grand Fleet should return June 1653. 1. The General of the English Fleet being returned near the Texel called a Councel of War and sent orders for all Men of War in the River and other parts that are ready to Sail to come and join with them An Account that Van Trump was at Goree with 120 Men of War and expected more to join with him 2. Letters That the English Fleet was at Yarmouth and the Dutch Fleet at the back of the Goodwin 3. Letters of differences among the Remonstrators in Scotland about the point of Jus divinum of their Government of the Kirk That upon the English Fleets appearing near the Texel divers rich Men of Roterdam and other parts fled into the Country and left their Houses that the People cry out for Peace with England Of a Dutch Prize taken near Plimouth That a private English Man of War of about 8 Guns took 3 rich Dutch Prizes Letters and Messengers from the Fleet did bring the news That yesterday about noon the English Fleet ingaged the Dutch about the North Foreland and the Ingagement continued very hot and sharp till near night in which time one of the Dutch Admirals was blown up and 3 or 4 Sunk but not one of the English Ships lost only General Dean on the first on-set was slain by a great shot This day 't was observed that the Fleets were ingaged again and the report of the great Guns were heard in London and other places remote from Sea 4. Letters from General Monk of the Fight at Sea with the Dutch that for 3 hours the dispute was very sharp on both sides which continued from 3 to 6 in the Evening at which time the Enemy bore away right before the wind and little more was done only the Frigots gave chase so long as there was light One of the Dutch Admirals was blown up and 3 or 4 Sunk General Dean slain A Messenger brought News from the Fleet that they had taken 20 of the Dutch Men of War and fired and sunk many more of them 6. Letters from the Generals at Sea to Cromwell and they to the Councel of State of the first days Fight with the Dutch at Sea and of the second days Fight with them which continued 4 hours after which they endeavoured to get away from the English as fast as they could the particulars were not fully known what Ships were taken and sunk and what men Slain but a List was sent to the Councel
fell into the Lord of Kinoules Quarters took seven or eight Prisoners and about twelve Horse killed one rescued the Lord of Egles Sheriff dispersed the Regiment and the Lord of Kinoule hardly escaped The Lord Protector was Proclaimed by sound of Trumpet in the Pallace yard at Westminster at the Old Exchange and several other places in London divers of the Councel and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in their Robes with three Serjeants at Armes with their Maces and the Heraulds attending And command to Publish the same Proclamation in all Counties 20. Letters of a Dutch Prize taken by a Private Man of War and brought to Hull 21 A Proclamation Published by his Highness the Lord Protector with the consent of his Councel for continuing all Persons being in Office for the Execution of Publick Justice at the time of the late change of Government until his Highness further direction in these Words OLiver Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland considering That whereas the exercise of the chief Magistracy and the Administration of Government within the said Commonwealth is Invested and Established in his Highness assisted with a Council and lest thereupon the setled and ordinary course of Justice in the Commonwealth if remedy were not provided might receive interruption his Highness in his care of the State and publick Justice thereof reserving to future consideration the reformation and redress of any abuses by misgovernment upon better knowledge taken thereof is pleased and doth hereby expresly signifie declare and ordain by and with the advice and consent of his Council who have power until the meeting of the next Parliament to make Laws and Ordinances for the Peace and Welfare of these Nations where it shall be necessary which shall be binding and in force until Order shall be taken in Parliament concerning the same that all persons who on the Tenty day of this instant December were duly and lawfully possessed of any place of Judicature or Office of Authority Jurisdiction or Government within this Commonwealth shall be and shall so hold themselves continued in the said Offices and Places respectively as formerly they held and enjoyed the same and not otherwise until his Highness pleasure be further known And all Commissions Patents and other Grants which respect or relate unto the doing and executing of Publick Justice and all Proceedings of what Nature soever in Courts of Common Law or Equity or in the Court of Admiralty or by Commissioners of Sewers shall stand and be in the same and like force to all Intents and Purposes as the same were on the said Tenth day of this instant December until further Order given by his Highness therein And that in the mean time for preservation of the publick Peace and necessary proceedings in matters of Justice and for safety of the State all the said Persons of whatsoever Place Power Degree or Condition may not fail every one severally according to his respective Place Office or Charge to proceed in the performance and execution of all Duties thereunto belonging as formerly appertaining to them and every of them whilst the former Government was in being Given at White-Hall this 21st of December in the year of our Lord 1653. 22 Letters that the States of the Netherlands keep from their People the knowledge of the Offers of England for coalition and Peace with them Of great Preparations for the Sea against the Spring of above One hundred Sayl of Ships of War 23 Letters of the Highlanders dividing themselves in several Territories that they often remove their Quarters and are in want of Provisions That a Party of the English killed three and a Captain of the Lord Lords 24 Letters of two Dutch Prizes brought in by a Private Man of War That the Dutch about the Lands-end took an English Ship which came from New England That some French Wines were taken and brought into Deal That the Highlanders make so high Demands from the Country that they are not able to supply them 26 Letters that Captain Hart about Dumfrize with a Party of English pursued some of the Enemies by the tract of the Snow and fell upon them took Sixty five Horses sixteen Prisoners and many Armes and four of them slain they fought very Resolutly for a while Captain Hart lost but one Man and sixteen Wounded That the late Change of Government in England was well Resented by the Army in Scotland and they were unanimous to obey the Lord Protector That some Gentlemen about Ruthen Castle in Scotland sent to Captain Hill the Governour to know if an Enemy should come into those Parts whether he would give them leave to furnish the Enemy with Provisions c. to rid them out of the Country to which he answered That if any did so they should forfeit their Lives and Estates Then he showes them the Power of the State of England and their kind dealing with the People of Scotland under their Power and the inconsiderableness of those in Armes against the State of England concludes with an absolute forbidding of them to give any Assistance to the Enemy and to pay in their Sesses Letters from Swedland of the safe Arrival of the Lord Ambassadour Whitelock and of his gallant Reception there 27 The Lord Protector and his Councel passed several Ordinances For continuing the Excise and the Commissioners For the continuing the Act for Redemption of Captives For alteration of several Names and Formes used heretofore in Courts Writs Grants Patents Commissions c. and setling Proceedings in Courts of Law and Equity Divers Prizes taken by Captain Newberry between the Isle of Wight and the French Coast and several other Prizes taken and brought in by others of the Parliament Frigots 28 An Order Published of the Protector and his Counsel for reviving of a former Act for the Probat of Wills and granting Administrations Letters that Chanut Ambassadour from the French King with the States did freely offer to them an Alliance and Assistance from his Master if they would break with Spain and England That Captain Crispin pursued some French Vessels into Conquet Road where he Anchored and the Town and Country came down to assist the Pickaroons and Dutch there and Crispin made Two hundred and thirty great Shot into the Town and did much spoil to the Ships which got close under the Houses 29 The Lord Protector and his Councel sate very close in Ordering their dispatches to the several Forces in England Scotland and Ireland and to their Publick Ministers abroad 30 The Lord Protector with his Councel and the Officers of his Army kept a Day of Humiliation at Whitehall That the Lord Protector was Solemnly Proclaimed at Plymouth the Magistrates present in their Robes the Trumpets sounding and Guns firing the Bells Ringing and Shouts and great Acclamations of Joy of the People Of Two English Ships loaded with Masts c. coming from New England taken by three Dutch-men of War
they fell into divers of their Quarters and took many Prisoners 7 Letters of a chase of a French Ship which ran on ground Of a Dutch Ship of Three hundred Tuns brought in Prize That the Brest Men of War took Two Vessels of Milford Of all the Vnited Provinces but Friezland agreeing to the Articles of Peace with England That the French Ambassadour in Holland laboured to continue the War between England and Holland and offered to bear half the Charge of it but the States would not consent unto it that nevertheless the States go on with their preparations for the Sea-war That there will be a great distraction and trouble among the People in case the Peace with England be not concluded 8 The Lord Protector Dined in London with the Lord Mayor and Common Council by their invitation at which the Recorder made a Speech to his Highness The Intertainment was in a Magnificent manner the Streets Railed on both sides and the Rayls covered with Blew-cloath Twelve Lacquayes in rich Liveries the Field Officers bravely Mounted the Guards c. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen met his Highness on Horseback in their Robes and his Highness Knighted the Lord Mayor when he went away 9 The Lord Protector appointed certain days to hear Petitions from the Masters of the Requests the Lord Protector made several Serjeants at Law 10 Letters that the Irish had a general Fast and that some of the Tories took Twelve Surveyors of the Lands as they were Travelling Of a Dutch Pyrate brought into Burlington Bay That some small bodies of the Irish were got together That a Private man of War brought in a Dutch Ship and a French Ship Prizes and of fifteen other Dutch Ships brought in Prizes 11 Of the Highlanders burning Corn and out-houses and doing much mischief to the Scots who would not afford them Supplyes and help their Leavys 13 A Servant to Myn Here Beverling the Dutch Ambassador in England brought News That all the Vnited Provinces had assented to the Articles of Peace with England Letters of the general inclinations of the People in the Netherlands to have a Peace with England for that another Summers War and their loss of another years Free Trade and Fishing would hardly be born by the Multitude That all the Orange Party and Cavaliers are against the Peace and discontented at it That Middleton was going with about Two hundred Cavaliers towards the Highlanders 14 Letters of a Party of the Enemy that came to Dunbarton and but Twelve of the Horse got ready and Charged them very shoutly they being Twenty five Horse and took their Lieutenant that Commanded them and Two more and Wounded all the rest From Vpsale that the Change of Government in England was well resented in Sweden and the Lord Ambassadors Credentialls from the Lord Protector were well received by the Queen of Sweden The Commissioners for Accounts being informed that some pretending Authority from them do summon People in the several Counties to places where they meet to draw up Accounts and Claims and exact unreasonable Fees for the doing it The Commissioners declare that they gave no such Authority to any person but leave the People to their own liberty and conveniency and will see those abuses punished 15 The Council of the Protector sate close and had got Intelligence from the Army in all places and from the Fleet. 16 Letters that the Lord Protector was Proclaimed at Dublin but not so soon and so chearfully as he was in the North. The Articles were agreed to transplant the Munster-Tories into Flanders 17 That Kenmore with a Body of Two thousand Men lay quiet expecting the issue of the Dutch Treaty That Collonel Wogan was dead and most of his Party sought to get out of Scotland again That an English Lieutenant with Twelve Dragoons took Four of Glencarns own Troop and Eight Horse That Glencarn by Proclamation threatned Fire and Sword to all that did not supply him That six English Souldiers were set upon by Fifty Highlanders who took Three and killed Two of them and the other escaped That Collonel Drummond was got to the High-landers with Instructions from the King and to see whether they were in such a posture as that the King might adventure to come to them 18 Eleven Persons were sent Prisoners to the Tower and some of them examined about a Plot against the Lord Protector and the present Government A Private Man of War from the Holy Island brought in two Prizes loaden with East-Country goods 20 An Address to the Lord Protector from the Minsters of Leistershire Two Ordinances of the Lord Protector and his Council Published one for the Monthly Assessment of Twelve hundred thousand pounds for six Months to be continued the other for an Explanation of a former Ordinance touching Treasons 21 Letters that Collonel Morgan with a Party of Twelve hundred Horse Foot and Dragoons fell upon 〈◊〉 and Kinmores Army being Two thousand and Routed them totally and pursued them Seven miles into the Hills That Captain Moltlows fell upon a House in Argibeshire and took it with all the Men Armes and Ammunition in it and fired the House That Lieutenant Collonel Coâ—â—rel Marched from Glascoiâ— to Reduce the Garrison of Ross Dew but before he came near it the Enemy ran away and left word they had no orders to Fight 22 That Captain Foster with the Phoenix Frigot brought in a Swedish Ship for Prize having Prohibited Goods on Board her That Captain 〈◊〉 with the Amity in company of Captain Fosturâ— fought with a Zealand Man of War and Killed and Wounded most of her Men yet She would not yield till Captain Foster came in to the Amity 23 Letters of Credence 〈◊〉 Monsieur Bourdeaux to be Ambassadour Extraordinary from the French King to the Lord Protector The King of Scots was to go from Paris upon the Peace with England The Dutch Admiral Prohibited all their Merchant-men from going to Sea till the Cessation of Armes came from England That the Sâ—aâ—es are sending Ambassadors Extraordinary to the Lord Protector to Sign the Peace with England Of English Merchants Ships taken by the Brest Men of War and rescued by the English Frigots 24 Letters that Collonel Daniel with One thousand men took in the Lord Athols House by Storm killed only three of the Enemies the rest cryed for Quarter and had it Collonel Daniel lost but one Man and took in the House Two Lieutenants one Ensign two Serjeants two Cornets and one hundred and nineteen Souldiers eighty Musquets some Fire-locks and Swords sixteen pound of Powder and twenty five Troop Houses That there was in the House much more Meat Mault and Oaes which Collonel Daniel could not carry away and therefore he set fire to a barrel of Powder and those Provision and blew up them and the House together 25 That one of the late Collonel Wogans Men with Three of his best Horses ran away to an English Garrison That
High Puissances are also too just to give the World cause to say that you regard not your Friends but in the Moment when you have need of them and that you neglect to give them like succour as you expect from them What will all the Neighbourhood judge of such proceedings that while these Provinces are Treating in England they let it be known that at the same time they are Negotiating Alliance in France and the Treaty in England being brought near to Effect they speak no more of the Alliance of France One would expect that these two Treaties should March with an equal pace it will be seen that one is advanced and the other stands still If that of England be concluded and no mention made of that of France will it not rather be suspected that an Alliance was proposed at Paris to obtain an advantageous Peace at London But it will not fall out so these distrusts have not entred into the Council of the King the Alliance will proceed and if in the Project which the Commissioners of his Majesty have given to the Ambassadour of your High Puissances there be any thing that requires a temperament it will be done with justice and equality Since France will be free from misunderstanding with England otherwise there would be too much difference in the condition of the Contractors Your High Puissances finding your selves in full Peace with Spain and England And France being overcharged with New Troubles from England besides the War which She sustains against Spain The same justice to procure for France the accomodations with England appears clearly in the Design which your High Puissances discovered when you resolved to Treat an Alliance with France for they thereupon gave Instructions to their Ambassadors in two Cases the one of the Peace the other of the War with England desiring in the last Case that the King should Imploy his Forces for their Succour and it is Equity that you should include in the Peace him whom you would have ingaged in the War otherwise you would reap all the benefit to your selves and put all the bazards upon your Friends These Conditions are so natural and pressing that they may surmount the greatest obstacles if you shall include France in the Peace of your High Puissances with England But if you do not or be found slack â—herein it cannot be said here as in other Treaties That France would not have Peace for She demandeth it instantly It cannot bo alledged what was said to your Deputies on the behalf of the King of Denmark That that Prince did not at all appear by his Ministers France hath hers at London The English are offended with Denmark No such thing appears against France It cannot be objected that our differences are of long discussion and mingled with divers pretensions Nor that there is any great War to be determined or long Animosities to be extinguished It is not a War nor is it any hatred but these differences between us and England may rather be named Disorders in the Commerce of particular Persons and are principally upon such Matters as make Application to the Office of Friends to prevent the Mischiefs of War before they be Declared The thing then is easie of it self but much more easie in the condition you are in England is willing to have a Peace with you and without searching into the Reasons wherefore they desire it it appears sufficiently that they are willing to have it parting with so many pretentions which were put forth in the beginning it is not credible that they would loose the occasion of this Accommodation with the Provinces in the present Constitution of Affairs for this only Circumstance the including of France they would the rather have Peace with your High Puissances if they saw you streightly Vnited with France And if it should fall out otherwise it would necessarily be believed that England had higher Designs that it were joyned with Spain and that the Peace presented to the United Provinces were but a blind to disunite them from their ancient Friends and to ruine them with joynt Forces of the Spaniards when they had separated them But I have no such Opinion I esteem England to treat sincerely with your High Puissances and hope that after you have well considered this Inclusion which I demand of you in the Peace what profit it will bring how necessary for your Trade and to the Security of a reasonable Treaty among Friends just between Allies and easie to be obtained you will not lose the favourable occasion to perform one of the best Actions that hath been done since the Foundation of your State promoting a Peace to a great Kingdom doing a good Office to a powerful King and making known to all the World what they may expect from your Friendship Hereupon I shall attend the Answer of your High Puissances to make it known unto the King my Master The Ordinance published for adjourning part of Easter Term that in the mean time course might be taken for reforming the Abuses and Corruptions in the proceedings of Law A Congratulation to the Lord Protector from the Town of Newcastle Letters that Cornet Kennet with Twenty Men going to Collect an Assessment about Dumfrize were set upon by Forty of the Enemy received their Charge and then charged through the Rebells routed them killed four took six and had only four of his Party Wounded That Lieutenant Hickman with another party fell upon Sixty of the Enemy took six and about twenty Horse That another Party under Cornet Keys and Lieutenant Young with about forty Horse and thirty Foot fell upon a Party of the Enemy being sixty Horse and sixty Foot Routed them and Killed a Captain and twelve Souldiers took several Officers and forty Soldiers and twenty Horse and lost but one Man and another Wounded That Major Bridge took two Prisoners and six Horses which he restored to the Country from whom the Scots had taken them That Lieutenant Hickman had routed the Enemy and taken some Prisoners slew three and pursued them to the Hills 11 Letters that the Ratification of the Articles of Peace with England was Signed by most of the States 12 An Ordinance passed touching Surveyors of the High-ways Another forbidding Planting of Tobacco in England Another for the Union of Scotland with England in these words His Highness the Lord Protector of the Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. taking into consideration how much it might conduce to the glory of God and the peace and welfare of the people in this whole Island that after all those late unhappy Wars and Differences the People of Scotland should be united with the People of England into one Commonwealth and under one Government and finding that in December one thousand six hundred fifty and one the Parliament then sitting did send Commissioners into Scotland to invite the People of that Nation unto such an happy Vnion who proceeded so far therein that
The Ambassador replyed That he did believe the Protector was at present in no Condition to part with much money and that there would be some time before this design could be set on foot by which time probably the Protector might be better able to spare money than now he is and that he thought it would be better Husbandry for England to spare 200000 l. a year for this War which would be a good Diversion and trouble the King of Spain more than now we do by spending two Millions a year upon our Fleets and in sending to Jamaica That it was true the Treaty of Ausbergh was not concerning the English Nation but the Protestants of Germany were highly concerned in it and consequently of all Christendom and the Emperour having broken that Treaty in many points there was a just ground thereby of falling upon him and the reason why he mentioned the maintenance of that Treaty was because France was already oblidged in a Treaty with Sweden for the maintenance of the Treaty of Ausbergh and England joyning likewise therein France would be Engaged with them and that Crown was a good Ballance Whereas if the Vnion with the King of Sweden should be against the House of Austria and the King of Spain It would cause the Peace which was so much Endeavour'd between France and Spain to be brought to Effect and France would hardly be brought into such an Vnion against the House of Austria because it would seem as too much against the Papists in General wherein France would be shy to Joyn. Whitelock made a doubt what great advantage would be to England by the King of Sweden's falling upon the Emperor which would but little concern the war between us and Spain as to give us advantage thereby against Spain To which the Ambassador alledged That Spain was somuch concerned in any thing relating to the Emperor that he must support him to support himself and whosoever fell upon the Emperor made Spain his Enemy and hindred from him the supplyes which he constantly had especially of men out of Germany and did necessitate Spain to a charge of supplying and assisting the Emperour whereby would be caused a diversion of great advantage to England and Spain once appearing as undoubtedly they would for the Emperour Sweden and they presently became Enemyes and all the Commodities of the King of Sweden which were of necessary use to Spain would be restrained from them without which they could not subsist and that there would be no need of Specifying Pitch and Tar and Hemp to be Contrebanda Goods Whitelock replied That Germany was a great distance from England within the Land and we could have nothing to do with them by Sea that if the Emperor should be set upon by the King of Sweden probably Spain would assist him but so covertly and craftily that Sweden nor England could take publick notice or advantage thereof That in case the King of Sweden should travail towards Flanders that would make the King of Spain look about him Indeed To this the Ambassador said only That there was a Large Countrey to pass over before they could come to Flanders But that in time something might be done he said that France had gained well by that Treaty of Ausbergh and so had all Countries that had been in Alliance with the Crown of Sweden Whitelock said That he was sufficiently satisfied of the Honour and Justice of that Crown in those publick Transactions and that the Protector was as careful to preserve his own Honour and the Faith of the Nation in those Treaties which he had made with other Princes and States and that was the reason which caused him to be so careful that the Dutch might be Included in such Treaties as he should make with others because there was an Article to that purpose in the late Treaty made with them which he was careful to observe as all other Treaties and that might the more satisfie the Ambassador of a just performance of what was or should be agreed upon with his Master To which the Ambassador replyed That he did believe as much but was of opinion that the Article which was mentioned in the late Dutch Treaty did not restrain the Protector from making the nearer Alliance with Sweden without them but when it should be made then they were by that Article to be admitted into such new Treaty if they pleased And thereupon they read over together that Article of the Dutch Treaty which seemed to carry the sence that was observed by the Ambassador who said further That there was no intention of excluding the Dutch or the King of Denmark or any other Protestants out of this intended Vnion but that they should be admitted and invited into it and he believed they would be the sooner brought into it if they first saw Sweden and England joyned together whereas to have a general meeting and Treaty first would be very difficult if not Impossible to be effected That several Interests would draw several ways But if they saw the King of Sweden and the Protector once conjoyned it would be the strongest argument in the World to persuade the rest into the same Vnion and such as would oppose ought to be taken for Enemies That the King of Denmark was now upon a Treaty with the King of Sweden whom he would not disturb and had not yet concluded by reason of England desiring first to hear from the Protector about it That the Emperour had now no fear of the King of Sweden's troubling him as might appear by his sending at this time 15000 Men into Flanders for the King of Spain Which Body of Men he would not have now sent out of his own Country if he had doubted the King of Sweden's falling upon him and that no Prince in Christendom had offered the espousing of the Protectors Interest as his Master had done Which deserved to be regarded by him Whitelock answered That the same was much regarded by the Protector and deservedly and that no Nation in Europe was of so much consideration to the King of Sweden as England especially in regard of their Men and Ships altho they had not Money to spare at this time it was not because of any Poverty of the Nation but by reason of their present and Extraordinary occasion of great Expences about their Publick Affairs especially of their Navy whereby the strength of the Nation was increased They had likewise discourse concerning Commissioners to be appointed on each part to consider of Damages sustained in the last War with the Dutch and to give just Restitution Wherein Whitelock proposed That it might be convenient for those Commissioners to have likewise a power if any Ships on either part were brought in to examine the matter speedily and if any wrong were done to award satisfaction and cause the Party that had done it to make amends and the Admiralty Court of which his Excellency had so much complained not to
be troubled with those matters but in cases of difficulty or matters of Law which could not well be determined by the Commissioners This the Ambassador seemed to like well and said He would consider of it They had much other discourse of Passes and Contrebanda Goods and other particulars of the present Treaty wherein the Ambassador held himself to the same grounds he had formerly insisted on In the Afternoon Whitelock came to White-hall to have given an account of this discourse to the Protector but he was gone abroad and thereupon he found out the Lord Fiennes in the Lobby by the Council Chamber Who sent for Mr. Secretary Thurloe and they three had a long discourse and debate together about this business Whitelock told them That he had excused to the Ambassador the Commissioners not coming to him on Saturday as they intended and gave them a full and clear account of the discourse between the Ambassador and him in the Morning And desired them to observe That the King of Sweden was willing to take in with the Protectors particular Interest as well as with the Interest of our Nation and he thought nothing more considerable as to the security thereof and of the present Government than a Conjunction with Sweden That the Dutch had not the like affection thereunto but most of them were Enemies in heart to the Protector and did but watch for an occasion to show it That their present preparations of a Fleet of 38 Men of War was not to be slighted especially when the Emperour had sent 15000 Men into Flanders That they were at present Friends with our Enemies of Spain and if an opportunity should be offer'd now when we had few Ships of War at home whereby they might bring a considerable advantage to themselves They would be apt enough to lay hold on it And he did advise as a thing in his Judgment at the distance he stood most fit not to send away the Swedish Ambassador with any just cause of discontent to him and his Master but to comply with him as far as stood with their own Judgments and with the Interest of our Nation wherein both of them seemed to agree and the Lord Fienns more Inclinable to the particulars of Satisfaction than the other And concerning Pitch and Tar and Hemp and Flax to be Contrebanda Goods during the War with Spain The Secretary held it reasonable but Whitelock differ'd from him therein especially because at the time when Contrebanda Goods were to be agreed upon and specified we had then no War with Spain and they were the great Commodities of the King of Sweden The Secretary said That tho he should be restrained from carrying or vending them to Spain yet he might to any other Nation and there would be beside vent enough for them Which Whitelock observed as an Argument for the contrary because other Nations would certainly supply Spain therewith altho the Swedes were forbid to carry them The Secretary replied That in whose Ships soever they were taken they should be Prize Whitelock answered That the Lubeckers Hamburgers and Dutch would pretend to be bound for Lisbone and then when they were past our search would carry them into Spain This the Secretary laid hold on as an argument against the Passes and Whitelock answered That it would not be more or less by reason of Passes but he thought it just that the form of Passes should be agreed on because it was so with other Nations and the thing agreed on by the Treaty formerly made The Lord Fiennes said That they had it in their power to agree on no other form but what should signifie little or nothing to the Swedes advantage which Whitelock said would not be Honourable for them to do and he thought more advantage to come to the English by those Passes than to the Swedes because the English did so much exceed them in number of Merchants Ships to which the Secretary said That they would be of use to us only in the Baltick Sea but to the Swedes in all their Voyages Southwards Upon the same reason they were of opinion against that proposition That a Free Ship should make Free Gods which the Secretary said would Encrease their Ships exceedingly and other Nations would Sell or build them Ships to colour the carrying of Contrebanda Goods to our Enemies Whitelock answered That greater advantage would be to us than to them at present but that we could not carry Goods to their Enemies Poland now having no Harbour at all and in Germany the Emperour hath none at any time but for what might fall out hereafter no judgment could be now given They had debates upon several other particulars to the like effect as is here before set down 8. The former Commissioners went in the afternoon to the Swedish Ambassador's House where Mr. Jessop one of the Clerks of the Councel by their direction read the new Articles in English as they were drawn up according to the last Resolves of the Councel after they were read The Ambassador said That he desired to be excused if he should mistake any thing of the Sence of them they being in English which he could not so well understand as if they had been in Latin which they must be put into in conclusion but he did observe on the suddain amongst other things that the specification of Contrebanda Goods did contain in it Pitch and Tar Hemp Flax and Sails these were the great Commodities of his Masters Countries and to be restrained from a Trade with them to Spain or any where else would be of very dangerous Consequence to his Master that they were never yet in any Treaty made with Sweden allowed as Contrebanda Goods and if they should be now allowed so it would be to the extraordinary prejudice of the Crown of Sweden and if allowed in this Treaty with England then other Nations would expect the like And that in the Treaty with the Lord Whitelock at Upsale it would by no means be hearkened unto as he very well knew and he did see a Paper which was given to Mnr. Boneale the Kings Commissioner here of Contrebanda Goods wherein these particular Goods were not Inserted and that he did think the King would be very hardly drawn to consent to any such thing The Lord Fiennes answered That the Articles were brought in English for the saving of time and they should be put in Latin when his Excellency should desire That concerning the specifying these Goods to be Contrebanda It was upon a great Debate of the Council who could not satisfie themselves but that it was fit to be Insisted upon during our War with Spain and there could be nothing of greater advantage to our Enemy or prejudice to us than by furnishing him with those Goods which were of so necessary a use for his supply and without which he could not carry on his War against us which was a Naval War and therefore the Council thought it
and his Council and that not suddenly but after a strict and neer disquisition and examination by a Committee of the Council of every Article of the Treaty and comparing them with the Powers Instructions given to Whitelock when he went Ambassador and that Committee having made Report to the Council That they found nothing done by Whitelock contrary unto but pursuant and according to the Instructions given him and to the advantage of the State The Council and the Protector confirmed unanimously the Treaty by Whitelock made at Vpsall and afterwards his Highness sent an express Envoy namely his own Kinsman Mr. Rolle with the ratification of this Treaty under the great Seal of England to his Majesty the King of Sweden and now after two years there falls out a War between Spain and England begun by us which was in our power to have forborn and one or two Articles in the Treaty made so long before may prove Inconvenient as to this War This will not be found by indifferent Men any objection of much weight against the Treaty nor Cause to lay blame upon the Ambassador who made it The Article of Contrabanda Goods is upon the same grounds to be excused as that of Passes alike left to the Council to specifie the particulars and after an Examination alike confirmed with this That seldome any Treaty is made without the Specification of them and the late Council of State did give in a Paper unto Mnr. Bonele the Queen of Swedens Commissioner here specifying Contrebanda Goods in the time of our War with the Low Countries which was a Precedent and Warrant for Whitelock to do the like As to the 2d objection concerning his being a Lawyer he said he accounted his Procession his greatest Honour and that it did not make him the less capable of serving his Country as the late Long Parliament thought by whom he was constantly elected to be of the Council and former ages had the like good opinion of his Profession but if the present age were wiser than our Ancestors it was because they had 200000 Men in Arms to prove them so and if they disliked the profession of the Law It was because the Law is the only opposer of unlimited will and Arbitrariness which did not love to be curbed And he thought it was no great unhappiness to him to be out of those publick transactions of this time which he conceived might not prove in case of another change wholly free in themselves from all manner of objections and perhaps in some particulars wherein the trouble of being informed that they were contrary to the Law of England would not have been to the prejudice either of the Actors or of their Actions but in time it will be understood that the Law was a good Bulwark for the defence of the rights of the People of England 6. The Swedes Ambassador again complained of the delays in his business and that when he had desired to have the Articles of this Treaty put into Latine according to the custom in Treaties that it was 14 dayes they made him stay for that Translation and sent it to one Mr. Milton a blind man to put them into Latine who he said must use an Amanuensis to read it to him and that Amanuensis might publish the matter of the Articles as he pleased and that it seemed strange to him there should be none but a blind Man capable of putting a few Articles into Latine That the Chancellor with his own hand penned the Articles made at Vpsall and so he heard the Ambassador Whitelock did for those on his part The Imployment of Mr. Milton was excused to him because several other Servants of the Council fit for that Imployment were then absent 8. Upon Summons the Lord Fiennes Strickland Whitelock and Secretary Thurloe met at the Council Chamber and they spent about an hour in considering the several particulars of the present Treaty with the Swedish Ambassador his proposals of alteration in some points formerly treated on with him and the Councils Votes therein they went from thence to the Ambassador all but the Secretary and Complements being past they fell to their business and most of the alterations propounded by the Ambassador being but difference of Expression only were agreed The main things upon which they differed were Whether Pitch Tarr Hemp c. should be Contrebanda goods or not The Ambassador was earnest that they should not and remembred his former Arguments and Reasons upon this point and said that his Master could not consent unto it for Examples Sake to others The Lord Fiennes urged the vote and resolution of the Council upon great debate and reason during the time only of our War with Spain who could not subsist without the Commodity and if we should permit it to be no Contrebanda goods with the Swedes the like would be expected by the Dutch and other Nations and thereby we should give way to the furnishing of our Enemies with that which they most wanted and where-with they could most offend us The Ambassador alleadged the inconvenience to their Trade if it should be admitted that it was their Native Commodity and not of any other Nation that the Swedes had little Traffick with Spain that other Nations would supply them if the Swedes did not That in the list of Contrebanda goods given in by the former Council of State to Mur. Bonele these Commodities were omitted and so he hoped would be now and the rather because it was agreed at the Treaty at Upsale that they should be specified within 4 Moneths and it was then taken for granted as the Lord Whitelock knew well that these Commodities should not be taken for Contrebanda Whitelock answered That at the Treaty at Upsale the General was only agreed that there should be a Specification within 4 Moneths in which time none was here on the part of Sweden to agree to a denomination of particulars That it was left to the future Agreement to Specifie them and no particulars agreed upon at Upsale that sinee that time there was a great Change both in our Affairs and in those of the King of Sweden which must necessarily be regarded in the Specification of Contrebanda goods and our War with Spain did require a Special Care not to suffer them to be furnished with such Commodities with which they would most offend us as the Lord Fiennes had declared that if the Swedes had little Traffick to Spain his Excellency might with the less prejudice to them agree that these Commodities should be Contrebanda That the Paper given to Mnr. Bonele was when we had no War with Spain or any other Nation perhaps the Commodities not then in debate Strickland mentioned the Low Countreys prohibiting these Commodities to be brought to us in our War with them Mnr. Coyett said That was never submitted unto by any Nation that could be strong enough to withstand it The Ambassador said
affairs Several Officers approved 26. Days of publick Humiliation appointed The Bill past for the Militia 27. Address from Dunkirk Forces Letters to the Parliament from the King of Sweden An Address from Scotland and several others to the Parliament 28. Referred to the Council of State to draw an Answer to the King of Sweden's Letter This was put upon Whitelocke and all other matters relating to that Crown and those parts Divers Officers received their Commissions 29. Referred to the Council to take security of the Duke of Bucks to be faithfull to this Government which they did Order for the monies gathered for Piedmont and Poland to be paid into the Exchequer which Whitelocke opposed 30. Whitelocke brought into the House the Bill of Vnion of England and Scotland General Monk and divers other Officers approved The Lady Mary Howard the Earl of Berkshire's Daughter and others were examined by Whitelocke President of the Council and the Parliament ordered them to be brought to Tryal for Treason Information of new Plots of the Cavaliers to bring in the King 31. Many persons were examined by the Council about a new Conspiracy which was evidently proved The Council sate all day and almost all night for a good while together Letters from Sir Robert Howard about his Horse being seized and protesting his Resolution to be quiet and not to joyn in the present Conspiracies August 1659. 1. A Day appointed to consider of the Regulation of the Law and Courts of Justice Divers Officers received their Commissions 2. The House was in a Grand Committee upon the Bill of Vnion of England and Scotland The Parliament were busie in the treaties with the Dutch and between the Kings of Sweden and Poland Many Commissions given in the House 3. The Fast Day kept in the House Letters of the Insurrections in several parts of the Nation Letters that Colonel Massey was taken in Gloucester-shire and mounted before a Trooper to take care of him and to bring him Prisoner to Gloucester but riding down a steep Hill the weather being wet and dark night in a great Wood the Horse slipt and fell down which Massey caused by checking of him and in the fall Massey got away into the Wood and being dark crept into a Bush and the whole Troop could not find him out but he escaped and got the next Morning to a Friends House where he was concealed about a fortnight after Intelligence of the great Insurrection under Sir George Booth in Cheshire 4. The Council of State were full of perplexity upon the several Intelligences of risings in Divers parts of the Nation and gave out their Orders for the Forces of the Parliament to meet and oppose them all which passed under Whitelocke's Hand it being his turn at this time to be President of the Council 5. Skippon and the rest of the Officers of the Militia of London approved by the House Letters of the Insurrections in the Worcestershire Circuit from the Judges referred to the Council The Parliament were busie in ordering Militia Forces More Intelligence of Sir Geor. Booth's heading the Insurrection in Cheshire and Lancashire and divers Principal Gentlemen joyning with him particularly Major Brook a Member of this Parliament and the Earl of Derby appeared with divers others in Lancashire they set forth a Declaration but did not name the King in it The Presbyterian Ministers did labour to further this rising The Council of State with great care and Vigilancy sent away Major General Lambert with three Regiments of Horse one of Dragoons and three Regiments of Foot and a Train of Artillery and ordered other Forces to meet and joyn with him for the suppressing of Sir George Booth and his party who were about four thousand strong 6. Lambert marched forth and the Council ordered messengers to bring Intelligence from him twice or thrice a day Several risings in other parts were defeated by the Parliaments Forces which were near them all the Letters were brought to Whitelocke and divers at midnight yet he in his bed directed answers by his Secretaries and sent them away forthwith when the Council could not meet 7. The House was called and the absent Members fined Mr. Bunch 100 l. Mr. Brook 100 l. and the rest 20 l. a piece the House proceeded in their usual business 8. Whitelocke being President of the Council Voted by the House That the President have power by Warrant under his Hand and Seal to commit any of those that should be brought to him for a fortnights time 9. The House debated upon the Government they ordered the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London to attend the Council of State this day A Proclamation past and was published declaring Sir George Booth and his adherents to be Rebels and Traytors 10. The Congregational Churches desired leave to raise three Regiments for the Parliament and had their willing consent to it The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London being with the Council of State the President declared to them by command of the Council The designs of the Enemy the care and Vigilancy of the Parliament and Council the taking some of the Conspirators and defeating their designs their intentions of destroying all that had been of the Parliaments party and to bring in the King Then he caused the Proclamation to be read it not being then published and after the reading of it he in the name of the Parliament and Council gave thanks to the City for their good affections and faithfull adhering to the Parliament wherein their own and the whole Nations safety and Peace was concerned and desired them to persitd therein News that Lambert was advanced to Lichfield where all his Forces were to Randezvous 11. Orders touching the Militia Forces and a Petition read of the Lord Craven 12. The House proceeded in approving of Officers and giving their Commissions and received Letters from Lambert of his march The Council had intelligence every two or three hours from their Forces now that they began to draw near to the Enemy and they sate foorenoon and afternoon and very late at night and when they were not sate the President had power to receive all Letters and to break them open which he did many times in his bed and returned present answers to such as he might answer and if they were of extraordinary Consequence he sent the messengers to summon the Members of the Council to meet with as much speed as could be so that Lambert had orders and directions without any delay and all Provisions necessary 13. The House proceeded in the business of the Vnion with Scotland they gave many Commissions to Officers Several Lords as the Duke of Bucks de la Ware Oxford and Falkland were aprehended upon susspicion to be in the present Plot they were sent to Prison all except the Duke of Bucks News of Insurrections in several other places but
His Majestie 's care and zeal to preserve his and the Kingdome 's honour in the dominion of the Sea by a powerfull Fleet. And you are to let them know how just it is for His Majesty to require Shipmoney for the common defence and with what alacrity and chearfulness they are bound in duty to contribute Some of the Judges put on this business in their charges at the Assises with great zeal and gravity to advance the King's pleasure but they did not convince many of the Legality of that business The Hollanders made a League with the French they were to Invade Flanders by Land and to infest Dunkirke and the Hollanders to doe it by Sea They prevailed at Diest and Tellemont but the Insolencies of the French and Dutch Souldiers caused the natives to beat both of their Armies out of the Country and the English Fleet perswaded powerfully the Hollanders to remove from before Dunkirke The Affairs in Germany were somewhat mitigated by the conclusion of the peace at Prague and the Protestants were reduced to their profession as it was setled in the year 1627. Some fiery spirits on both sides fomented by Cardinal Richelieu sought to undermine the peace and to reduce all again to a new Quarrel but the Emperor pursued the agreement confirmed the peace and forced many to an observance of it The Swedes were generally discontented with the peace The Elector of Saxony offered them a 100000 rize Dollars for a Reward but they refused it and held what they had gotten in Pomerland and elsewhere and what they had about Phelesbergh the Chancellor Oxenstierne put into the hands of the French A Ship loaden with many rich spoils of Germany and Goods of a very great value belonging to the Chancellor was cast away and the goods sunk in the Sea within a league of the Coast of Sweden In November this year arrived the Prince Elector in England to sollicite our King his Uncle for his assistance to the restauration of his Nephew to his dignity and Patrimony he was received here with all ceremonies and courtesies answerable to his quality and near alliance and soon after him his third Brother Prince Rupert arrived here also In December the Queen was brought to bed of a second daughter named Elizabeth to congratulate her Majestie 's safe delivery the Hollanders sent hither a solemn Ambassy and a noble present A huge peice of Amber Greece two fair China Basons almost Transparent a curious Clock and four rare peices of Tintinell and Tytian's painting Some supposed that they did it to Ingratiate the more with our King in regard his Fleet was so powerful at Sea and they saw him resolved to maintain his Right and Dominion there In March the Treasurers staffe was given by the King to Dr. William Juxton Bishop of London who was commended to His Majesty by the Arch-bishop Laud his old freind and predecessor in the Presidentship of St. John's Colledge in Oxford He was a Commoner in that Colledge and studied the Civil Law and therein took the degree of Batchellor and afterwards of Doctor of the Laws Yet with his Law he studyed likewise divinity took orders and was presented to the Parsonage of Somerton in Oxfordshire where he had a convenient livelyhood and there he sometimes resided and sometimes at St. John's Colledge He was much delighted with Hunting and kept a pack of good Hounds and had them so well ordered and hunted and chiefly by his own skill and direction that they exceeded all other Hounds in England for the pleasure and orderly hunting of them He was a person of great parts and temper and had as much command of himself as of his hounds he was full of ingenuity and meekness not apt to give offence to any and willing to doe good to all The Privy Council wrote Letters to every High Sheriff of England directing them for the taxing and levying of the Shipmoney and yet with great care and equality much beyond what was observed in following taxes But the guilding of this illegal Pill would not cause it to be swallowed down but many people especially of the knowing Gentry expressed great discontent at this new assessment and burthen as an Imposition against Law and the rights of the Subject The Plague was this year in London but by the mercy of God did not increase so much as was feared Anno 1635 The Earl of Berks whose fortune was lower than his mind betook himself to some new Projects whereof he became a Countenancer and Partner hoping to gain much by them to repair his Estate and had gotten a Patent from the King for the sole making of a new kind of Kiln for making of Malt and laboured to bring the same in use he was to have money of all those who set up this new Kiln This year by a Flood neer Glucstade in Holstein were drowned six thousand Persons and about fifty thousand Cattle And by the Plague there died in Leyden in Holland twenty thousand persons besides those that died in the rest of the Towns of that Countrey The Archbishop Laud made his Visitation and strictly enjoyned and expected a conformity to his Orders one of them which gave most distaste to many was That the Communion-table should be removed in every Church from the body of the Church or Chancel to the upper East-end of the Chancel and the side of the Table to be set against the Wall Altar-wise with a Rail or Ballaster about it Which was opposed by divers and the Bishop of Lincoln wrote a Book called the Holy Table shewing the Practice of the Primitive times and Arguments against this Innovation Anno 1636. Car. 12 The King's Navy of sixty Men of War under the Command of the Earl of Northumberland Admiral seized and sunk divers of the Dutch Busses in the Northern Seas and they fled to our King craving his leave by his Grant to Fish and Trade with the English which the King was ready to Indulge them Ferdinand the second Emperour aged and infirm summoned a Dyet at Ratisbone to be held the sixteenth of September when his Son Ferdinand the 3d. was Elected King of the Romans and was shortly after upon the death of his Father made Emperour Mr. John Hampden a Gentleman of an ancient Family in Buckinghamshire and of a great Estate and Parts denied the payment of Shipmoney as an illegal Tax He often advised in this great Business with Holborn Saint John Whitelocke and others of his friends and counsel Several other Gentlemen refused the payment of this Tax of Ship-money Whereupon the King was advised by the Lord chief Justice Finch and others to require the Opinion of his Judges which he did stating the case in a Letter to them After much sollicitation by the chief Justice Finch promising Preferment to some and highly threatning others whom he found doubting he got from them in Answer to the King's Letter and Case their
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
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
another Committee be named to whom this may be referred VVhilst we differ upon the Committee we lose the Business and do not pursue Peace I am perswaded Sir you can hardly name any Committee either within or without these Walls but would be ready to take pains to effect this good work Unless it were those who have said That if this War be well managed it may last twenty years But those were not English-men and although we have Irish French Dutch and Walloons as well as other Papists ingaged for the settlement of the Protestant Religion and Laws of England Yet I am perswaded that his Majesty and you mutually indeavouring as it is both your Interests none can hinder it It is true that these Foreigners help to open the Veins wider but a Peace will rid us of them and stop the Issue of Blood but if it bleed on still we must faint and perhaps become a prey to Foreigners Sir I humbly move that we may endeavour without more loss of time to satisfie the Lords with reasons that it is fittest to have this matter referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms Yet if their Lordships shall not be satisfied herein let us consent to name another Committee rather than to suffer so desirable a business to be protracted Let us consent to any thing that is just reasonable and honourable rather than in the least to neglect to seck Peace and to ensue it The Commons appointed a Committee to draw up Reasons to satisfie the Lords that it was fittest to refer this Matter to the Committee of both Kingdoms The Lord Howard of Escricke had an allowance out of Sequestrations in satisfaction of his Losses and the first Precedent herein was of a Lord. Captain Weere going with a Party from Lyme was surprised by the King's Forces and most of his men taken Prisoners and carried to Collington and divers killed Captain Thomas Pyne having Intelligence thereof went out the same Night with a Party of the Garrison of Lyme to Collington where he found them in Jollity for their Success and falling upon them he took the Colonel several inferiour Officers about sixty Souldiers and many Horse and Arms and rescued all their Prisoners Prince Rupert with a great body of Horse came unexpectedly upon the Parliaments Forces before Newark so that they had no time to prepare to receive him yet Colonel Rossiter Major Lilburn Captain Bethell and Hunt gallantly charged and routed the Right Wing led by the Prince Other of the Parliaments Forces did not play their parts so well but five hundred of them deserted the great Fort before they were assaulted secured their Arms and went away to Lincoln By which means the Prince became Master of that Fort and of the Island and there intrenched himself and cut of Provisions from the Besiegers which made them render upon Articles which were not observed The Parliament lost there three thousand Arms and nine pieces of Ordnance and the Enemy rejoyced much in this action The occasion of this defeat was the want of a good Agreement amongst the Officers before the Town who took upon them more power than belonged to them several of them striving to be chief in command and all thereby were the more careless and unprepared to resist the Enemy The Ordinance passed for compleating and maintaining the Lord General 's Army to consist of seven Regiments of Foot each of 1000 Souldiers divided into eight Companies and the General 's Regiment to be of 1500 Souldiers and divided into twelve Companies and to have six Regiments of Horse each to consist of 550 Troupers and divided into six Troups Instead of nine great Ships not so usefull in the Navy it was ordered to fit up twelve Merchant Ships The Commons ordered the Lord Mayor and Militia of London to provide a Store of Corn for the City An Ordinance passed for contribution of one Meal a Week for the Auxiliary Forces Colonel Harvey was sent forth with his Regiment of Horse to Sir William Waller Captain Swanley took a Bristol Ship laden with Arms and Ammunition for the King The Scots took a great Fort over against Tinmouth which commands all Ships coming in or going out of New Castle and five pieces of Ordnance Arms Powder and some Prisoners and lost but nine men Colonel Cromwell Governour of the Isle of Ely had the like power for levying money there for his Forces as the Earl of Manchester had in the associated Counties General Forth and Sir Ralph Hopton having drawn together the strength of the King's Forces in those parts marched towards Sir William Waller who with Sir William Belfore Sir Arthur Haslerig and others had got together about 10000 Men. Both Armies lay within a mile of each other about four miles from Winchester and two or three days faced each other and had some light Skirmishes between the Horse and William Waller's Men took about thirty of the enemy and slew one Captain and an Irish Rebel March 29. Both Armies fell on upon each other the King's Forces having the advantage in the number both Parties fought very gallantly and stoutly the London Forces and Kentish Men with Waller and Sir Arthur Haslerig and Belfore did very brave service and after a sharp Fight the Parliament Forces totally routed and dispersed the King's Army The first of the King 's that are said to run away were two Regiments of Irish the other Foot Regiments fought stoutly on both sides and came up to push of Pike the London Regiments drave the Enemy from the Hedges which they had lined with Musquetiers and gained the passage to a Wood which stood the Parliament Forces in great stead and shortly after put the Enemy to a Rout which was so total that scarce ten of them were left together Their General Forth and Sir Ralph Hopton fled to Bafing House their Ordnance Arms Bag and Baggage left to the Parliament about 500 of them slain besides those in the pursuit closely followed by Sir Arthur Haslerig The Lord John Brother to the Duke of Lenox was slain and many Officers of the King's Party of the Parliaments Party about 100 Men slain Colonel Dalbier wounded and Colonel Thompson's leg shot off The News hereof as it was joyfull to the Parliament so it took off much of their rejoycing at Oxford for the relieving of Newark and raising of the siege there Anno 1644. April 1644. The Parliament ordered a day of publick thanksgiving for the good success which it pleased God to give to their Forces hear Winchester Ships were ordered to lie to hinder the landing of the Irish Captain Swanley secured Milford Haven Haverford West and all Pembrokeshire for the Parliament The Irish Rebels enter'd into a Catholick Covenant and sent their Agents to the King to have a free Catholick Parliament and they had countenance at Oxford The Commons took course for making of Gunpowder The Scots and New-Castle's Army often faced each other and had some
and Mr. Herbert came from the General to the Parliament and made report to the Commons of the General 's progress in the West as before mentioned and that the General came to Bedman in Cornwal they desire the House to take care for supplies for the General 's Army and that Forces might be sent to be in the Rear of the King's Army Sir Peter Osborn and Sir Thomas Fanshaw for deserting the Parliament whereof they were Members were discharged of their Offices which were conferred upon others A party of the Lord Robert's Brigade was sent to pursue Greenvile and his Army which was about 3000 strong and fell upon him at Lestithiel in Cornwal killed divers of Greenvile's men and took many Prisoners The General took in Foy a Haven and place of importance with several ships there and in all 17 pieces of Ordnance and summoned the Countrey to come in to his assistance By Letters from the Lord Inchequin Lord Brohale and Burchet from Ireland they certify the Parliament That they had thrust the Rebels out of most part of the Port-towns in Munster that many considerable places there have declared for the Parliament and that those Lords have 12000 men in Arms for the Parliaments service they desire some supplies and send over a Declaration of the Protestants there against the cessation The City of London petitioned that obstructions in Justice might be removed that Delinquents might be proceeded against speedily and that the City debts might be paid out of Delinquents Estates General Hastings for the King sent out a party to relieve Wink field Manor besieged by the Earl of Denbigh and Sir John Gell who marched out with 500 Horse sent them lately by Sir William Waller fell upon the Enemy killed many of them and took 150 Prisoners The Earl of Calender with some of the Scots forces took in Hartlepoole in the Bishoprick of Durham and Stockton places of importance for the Parliament and another party of the Scots under Sir John Meldrum besieged Leverpoole in Lancashire The French Ambassadour sent a Letter to the Speaker wherein he acknowledged that the Parliament at Westminster was the Parliament of England and informed that he had a Message to them from the King his Master this was referred to the Committee concerning the Dutch Ambassadours The Commons gave 150 l. gratuity to the Governour of Lyme and some provision of money formerly ordered for Glocester was transferred to Plymouth which was ill taken by Colonel Massey Several Ordinances past for giving power to Committees in several Counties and the Irish Remonstrance was permitted to be printed Commissary Copley was inlarged upon bail A Committee of the Lawyers of the House were ordered to consider of the plea of the Archbishop upon the Act of Oblivion and to report their opinions to the House Captain Moulton did some service for the Parliament in Pembrokeshire The Earl of Antrim landed in the North of Scotland with 2500 Irish and the Marquess of Argile went to resist them with a considerable Army General Leven advanced toward Newcastle to joyn with the Earl of Calender in besieging that City Colonel Massey having drawn out his Forces against Berkley Castle Colonel Myn with about 700 of the King's Forces entred Glocestershire and began to spoil the Countrey and to streighten Glocester Massey wheeled about and fought with them slew Colonel Myn and about 100 of his men and Lieutenant Colonel Mercy and took one Colonel four Majors divers inferiour Officers and about 300 common Souldiers Of his part Colonel Hartley was shot in the Arm some others wounded but not above three men slain Orders were made concerning relief to be sent to Ireland and for supplies of the Earl of Manchester's Army and the Forces of Sir William Waller Colonel Middleton sent up to the Parliament from Sarum many Copes Surplices Tippets Hoods Plate and the Picture of the Virgin Mary taken in the Minster there other Relicks being divided amongst the Souldiers Colonel Doddington with a party of the King's Forces came to Dorchester and was repulsed by Major Sydenham The Commons ordered 250 l. out of the Lord Capel's Woods to the Window of Colonel Meldrum slain in their service and 50 l. to another like Widow They gave power to Waller for exchange of Prisoners except such as had been Parliament men and some others A party of about 1600 from Oxford came to surprize Sir William Waller's Forces at Abington but were repulsed and Sir Richard Grimes and some others of them slain and about 40 taken Prisoners The three Generals and the Committeeresiding with them had a meeting and consultation how to dispose of their forces for the service of the Parliament and agreed upon several considerable things and concluded That if any of the three Armies should be in any distress upon notice thereof all the others should come in to their assistance The Parliament in Scotland voted the Earl of Montross and other Lords taking part against them to be traitours and confiscated their Estates The King being joyned with the Lord Hopton and Prince Maurice followed General Essex into Cornwal and drove away all the Cattel and took away all the Provisions to streighten the Parliaments Army The Parliament ordered Lieutenant General Middleton with the 3000 Horse now with him to march with all speed to the assistance of the Lord General and 4000 Horse more to be sent speedily after him but it was too late Upon the motion of the Assembly of Divines a day was appointed for publick humiliation to implore the assistance of God for the prosperous undertaking of the Lord General Divers of the County of Lincoln were desirous that Colonel King might be restored to his Commands in that Countrey Colonel Hastings coming to plunder some Carriers at Belgrave was beaten back with losse by a party from Leicester The Earl of Calender took Gate-side and blockt up Newcastle on that side beating back a party of the Garrison that sallied out upon him and General Leven marched towards him Sir Thomas Middleton and Sir William Brereton took about 320 Horse of Prince Rupert's Regiment 60 Prisoners many Arms and much Pillage Colonel Ashton took 200 of the Earl of Derby's Horse near Preston Letters came from the Lord General from Lestithiel in Cornwal and in them a Letter inclosed from the King to the Lord General dated Aug. 6. with another Letter from Prince Maurice and the Earl of Brainford the King's General dated Aug. 9. and another Letter from the Lord Hopton and most of the King 's chief Officers to the Lord General The King's Letter was with more than ordinary mildness inviting the General to join with him in that which is both their aims to make the Kingdom happy and to ingage the King to him in the highest degree and if any shall oppose them to make them happy against their wills and promiseth great rewards to him and his Army The Letters from the others were
Ordinance The Commons voted to hear no private business for ten days Mr. Roger Lestrange was tryed for a Spy before the Court-Marshal coming from the King's quarters without Drum Trumpet or Pass to betray Lynne Garrison Sir Thomas Middleton and Colonel Mitton took in a Garrison of the King 's near Mountgomery and in it Colonel Ballard the Governour Llayd the high Sheriff divers Officers two Foot Colours sixty common Souldiers with store of Arms and Pillage The Assembly of Divines presented to the House some further Additions to the Directory for Worship Much time was spent to settle the payment of the Northern Armies and to enable the Scots to march Southwards The Commons concluded their Debate upon the Directory for Worship A Letter was agreed to be written to the Parliament of Scotland from both Houses here to express the great ingagement of this Kingdom to them for their brotherly assistance The Lords upon the Petition of Sir John Hotham and his Son thought fit to pardon the Father and desired the Concurrence of the Commons therein but upon the Question it was carried in the Negative not to be taken by them into consideration The Court-Marshal gave judgment upon Mr. Lestrange The Commons passed an Ordinance for continuing the Court-Marshal for three Months longer and another for disfranchizing some Aldermen of York The Commons ordered the Commissioners of the Great Seal to issue out the Sheriffs Patents to the Messengers of the Seal The Lords debated the Self-denying Ordinance They concurred with the Commons to refer the business of the Treaty upon the Propositions for Peace to the Committee of both Kingdoms Major General Brown marched out with a Party towards Oxford and was near taking the Fort Royall there but his Design was discovered and prevented yet he brought away forty men and horse with him Several Orders were made for Money for the Scots and other Armies and for supply of the Forces in Ireland Divers of Bucks petitioned against the Outrages of the Parliaments Forces in that County Colonel Bulstrode was made Governour of Henley and Phillis Court but he was shortly after called away to his Regiment and Colonel Charles Doyley made Governour there But he and the Souldiers falling out they had like to have killed him and he would stay there no longer and Colonel Piuter Temple succeeded him Sir John Hotham was going to his Execution and much company expecting it on Tower-hill when a Messenger came with a Reprieve from the Lords But the Commons sent to the Lieutenant of the Tower to know the reason of deferring the Execution when they did not consent to any Reprieve for him The Lord Fairfax his forces took in Pomfret Town and close blocked up the Castle and other Castles thereabouts Colonel Bright fell upon a party of the King 's under Sir William Cobbes took divers Officers and Souldiers and good Horses from them A party of the Newark forces in the night time surprized some of the Parliaments forces and took near two Troups of them The Leicester forces drove the forces of Hastings out of Ashby-Town into the Tower and took divers Prisoners and Arms. Prince Maurice laid down his Commission for the West and the Lord Hopton was made General there and laboured to get a new Army January 1644. The Directory for Worship was finished by the Commons and sent up to the Lords by Mr. Rouse Upon the Debate touching the Reprieve of Sir Jo. Hotham by the Lords the Commons voted that no Officer made by Ordinance of both Houses should stay the execution of Justice by any order of either House without the concurrence of both Houses They likewise ordered that the Lieutenant of the Tower do proceed to the Execution of Sir John Hotham according to the Sentence of the Court Marshal Captain Hotham his Son sent a Petition to the Lords and another to the Commons praying his Pardon but it was denied and the same day his Head was cut off Mr. L'Estrange petitioned the Lords that his Case might be heard before the Parliament which was consented to by both Houses Letters were ordered to be written by the Speaker to Sussex Surrey and Hampshire for raising of Dragoons formerly undertaken One hundred and fifty horse from Oxford possessed themselves of Beselsley Mr. Speaker's House near Abington intending to fortifie it but Major General Brown sent out a party under Colonel Boswel to whom upon his summons they rendered the House on conditions to march away onely one who had formerly broke Prison at Abington was denied that favour Sergeant Wilde Mr. Brown and Mr. Nicholas offered Reasons and Arguments to the Lords that the Matters proved against the Archbishop were Treason An Answer was ordered to be given to the Papers of the Scots Commissioners to be sent by them to the Parliament of Scotland A Committee of both Houses was named to receive from the Sweedish Agent some matters which he said he had further to impart to them from the Queen Sir John Hotham in the Morning before his Execution procured a motion in the House of Commons for his Pardon which took up a Debate and Sir John being brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill expected the good news of his Pardon and the time was protracted till two a Clock in the Afternoon but the Commons would not grant his desire He spake shortly to the people and Mr. Peters prayed with him and spake to the people in his Name and told them that Sir John ' s Father said to him when he was going forth to be a Souldier Son when the Crown of England lies at stake you will have fighting enough He was somewhat fearfull of death and his head was cut off The Committee of both Kingdoms reported their opinion to the Lords That the place for the Treaty of Peace should be Uxbridge and the Commissioners to be four Lords and eight Commoners and four Scots Commissioners to which the Lords agreed and sent to the Commons for their concurrence Both Houses agreed to send Commissioners to the Parliament and Assembly in Scotland The Queen of Sweden's Letter to the Parliament was read and contained a Narrative of the King of Denmark's hard usage of the Crown of Sweden and the great affection that Queen bears to England The Directory of Worship was fully agreed upon by both Houses and ordered to be printed and two of the Assembly to take care thereof and that a course shall be taken for publishing and settling of it to be generally used The Commons ordered that the Assembly of Divines should write a Congratulatory Letter to the Assembly in Scotland and to acquaint them what they had done and that the Parliament here had agreed in those Matters The Lords agreed to the Ordinance for Attainder of the Archbishop of High Treason and to be hanged drawn and quarter'd for it The Commons agreed that the place for the Treaty should be Vxbridge the Commissioners for
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
and Dragoons faced Bristol and Bath but returned without doing any thing Cromwel marched to Cerne in Dorsetshire where Colonel Holborn and Colonel Popham joyned with him the Enemy came within three miles of them undiscovered Cromwel drew into the Champion there intending to fight them though a greater number than he was but they drew off and Colonel Norton's and Colonel Cook 's Regiments and others came in to joyn with Cromwel 28. A months pay ordered for Colonel Pickering's and Colonel Ayloffe's Regiments The Queen of Sweedlands Agent had desire to impart somewhat to the Parliament in secret who thereupon referred it to be imparted to the Committee of both Kingdoms who heard the Agent who offered a strict Alliance between Sweedland and England and against the Dutch and to assist the Parliament The Committee prepared a respectfull answer to the Queens Agent and his Proposals to which the Parliament assented but it was general A day appointed for the Committee to bring the Declaration touching the proceedings in the Treaty at Vxbridge and the Commissioners for the Treaty were of this Committee A Difference between Colonel Jones the Governour of Farnham and the Committee of Surry referred to the Members of the House of that County and to treat with Jones about giving up his Command A Clerk of the Checke ordered for the moneys of the Army Sir Humphrey Forster to pay 1000 l. fine for his Delinquency 29. Another Order for the money at Abington An Ordinance passed for re-imbursing the 80000 l lent by the City Debate about Admission to the Sacrament Sir Thomas Fairfax presented to the House the Names of 20 General Officers as Muster-Master General Scout-Master General and others and they were all approved Colonel Mitton was brought to the House and had thanks for his good services An intercepted Letter of Prince Rupert's Secretary expressed much joy for the Execution of ten Englishment by sentence of Prince Rupert because they had formerly served the King in Ireland and afterwards revolted to the Parliament a Declaration was ordered to be drawn concerning this business Waller came undiscovered to the Devizes till he faced the Town who sent out a party of Horse and Dragoons to Skirmish with him whom Waller's men beat back and pursued into the Town took of them 190 Horse 60 Foot and 400 Arms. 31. Upon the Certificate of the Commissioners for the Treaty at Vxbridge 300 l. was ordered for Sir Peter Killegrew Reference to the Committee of Excise touching the imposition upon the Mercers and broad Weavers An Exchange ordered for Colonel Stephens and Jones for the Earl of Cleveland About 300 of the Lord General 's Foot lately quartered at Farnham mutinied for a fortnights pay and with some of their inferiour Officers came to Twyford and so to Colebrooke and so towards London plundering in all places as they past It was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to send out a strength to reduce them Ordinance for money for the defence of Essex and that for calling in the Members of both Houses from all Military and Civil Offices past the House of Commons Both Houses sate till nine a clock at night in debate of the Ordinance for Sir Thomas Fairfax but agreed it not The Lord Savile in regard he hath not given any satisfaction to the Parliament for his coming from Oxford hither but rather many grounds of suspicion that he came to doe ill offices was ordered speedily to depart the City and all other the Parliaments Quarters and Garrisons and to betake himself to the King or whither he pleaseth within one week after which time if he stay within the line of Communication or the Parliaments Quarters he is to be taken and proceeded against as one adhering to the Enemy Some of Gerrard's Forces fired the House of one who refused to pay a Tax assessed on him by Gerrard the House being on fire the Master of it and his two Sons leaped through a window from the rage of the fire but Gerrard's men took them and murthered them and the man's wife and his other Children were burnt in the fire These were by Letters informed to be the Actions of Gerrard's men and by this may be seen the nature of many other of the like great miseries under which our poor Country laboured at this time and what inhumanities were committed by the insolent Souldiers especially upon the unarmed Countrey people April 1645. 1. Letters from Major General Brown for supplies of Cannon and other accommodations were especially referred to the Committee of both the Kingdoms After a free conference the Lords consented to the Ordinance for Sir Thomas Fairfax his Commission Ordered that those Officers who are not now employed under Sir Tho. Fairfax upon a Certificate from Major General Skippon of their good carriage shall have their arrears audited and allowed Debate about not admitting some persons to the Sacrament and ordered that the Assembly set down in particular what measure of understanding persons ought to have of the Trinity and other points debated before they be admitted to the Sacrament Letters from Scotland informed that Major General Vrrey fell upon the Lord Montross his Forces at Aberdeen took 80 Horse and killed about 50 the Lord of Arlies and two other Lords slain and Montross's Son afterwards died Vrrey having intelligence of their meeting to bury Montross's Son intended then to fall upon them but being discovered Montross left the burial but Vrrey fell upon his quarters killed 30 of his men and beat him into the Town and brought away divers Prisoners That the Lord Leymouth the Chancellor's Brother fell upon the Rear of Montross's quarters took the Carriages Bag and Baggage slew 50 and took 50 Prisoners Highlanders that guarded the Carriages whom he brought to Andernesse and there hanged all of them that 1500 whom Montross pressed were run away from him 2. The Earl of Essex and the Earls of Manchester and Denbigh in the House of Peers offered to lay down their Commissions and at a conference a paper presented by the Earl of Essex to the Lords was read to this effect That he having been employed for almost three years past as General of all the Parliaments Forces which charge he had endeavoured to perform with all fidelity and sedulity yet considering by the Ordinance lately brought up to the House of Peers that it would be advantageous to the publick He desired to lay down his Commission and freely to render it into the hands of those from whom he received it and desired that such of his Officers who had done faithfull service and were now left out might have their Arrears and some others received into favour This giving up of their Commissions at this time was declared by both Houses to be an acceptable service and a testimony of the fidelity and care these three Lords had of the publick and the Commons appointed a Committee to consider of
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
been shed and as they will answer it at the dreadful day of Judgment not to delay an answer and consent to so blessed a work This Letter being the same in effect with the former the same answer was agreed should be made to both Captain Pickring returned from Worcester where he had been negotiating the business with Prince Rupert and his Company who had desired Passes to go beyond Sea which was not well carried on their part Pickering had fifty pound more added for his Charges and Fisher Willis Honey-wood and Boulton Colonels who came with him from Worcester had liberty to go beyond Sea or stay in England and orders were made for security to all who should come in from the King Several Orders for Recruits Money and Supplys for Garrisons 18. Proceedings touching the propositions for Peace An Act read against Pluralities of Benefices A day appointed to consider of the Priviledges of Members and of the Powers exercised by Country Committees A Party of fifteen hundred from Oxford and the Kings Garrisons thereabouts marched out with a design to relieve Chester but Col. Bridges and others of the Parliament Forces about Warwick broke down Avon-Bridge and other Bridges where they were to pass and lined hedges with Musquetiers so that the Kings Party retreated and were disappointed of another design against Colonel Lidcot 19. Debate touching propositions for Peace Order for the Speaker to write to M. G. Langherne to send up Sir Walter Lloyd a Prisoner to the Parliament The Lords sent a Petition of the Earl of Hollands wherein he desired forbearance of a Rent payable by him to the Crown but upon the Question it was laid aside to the great discontent of this Earl and the House were Censured to be too forward to provoke particular persons in small matters and too backward to oblige them 20. Debate about the Government of Ireland The Scots Commissioners desired there might be a Treaty upon the propositions for Peace which was not thought fit by the Parliament who found great interruption in their affairs by the mixt Counsels of both Kingdoms A Scout taken in the Leager before Newarke discovered a new design of the King to relieve Chester Letters from Col. Morgan informed that he with Col. Birches Forces in all two thousand sent a party in the night disguised who by Stratagem entred Hereford Town surprised the Centinells and being seconded by a sudden and fiery assault Morgan became Master of the Town in a short time without opposition saving a little at the main Guard in the body of the Town There was little loss on either side they took in the Town eleven pieces of Ordnance forty Lords Knights and Gentlemen of worth most of them Papists whom they sent Prisoners to Glocester They took many Officers and the Soldiers and much Riches and Prize in the Town was secured 22. Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace and a Vote That the Kings Answer shall be desired to them without any Treaty and that the same be signified by a Letter to the Parliament of Scotland with the reasons why the Parliament of England cannot consent to the desire of Scotland to have a Treaty for Peace with his Majesty Letters from Col. Birch informed the particulars of the taking of Hereford That he hired six men and put them in the form of Labourers and a Constable with them with a Warrant to bring these men to work in the Town that in the night he lodged these men within three quarters Musquet-shot of the Town and an hundred and fifty Fire-locks near them and himself with the Foot and Col. Morgan with the Horse came up in the night after them and cut off all intelligence from coming to the Town so that they were never discovered That one night they came too short but the next night with careful Spyes and Scouts they carried on the business and in the morning upon letting down the Draw-Bridge the six Countrymen and the Constable went with their Pickaxes and Spades to the Bridge That the Guard beginning to examine them they killed three of the Guard and kept the rest in play till the Fire-locks came up to them and then made it good till the Body came up who entred the Town with small loss and became Masters of it Col. Morgans Secretary who brought the first news to the House had thirty pound given to him and Col. Birch's Messenger had twenty Order that thanks be given to God for this success the next Lords-day That Col. Birch be Governor of Hereford and his Regiment recruited to a thousand two hundred and for setling a Godly Ministry there and in Glocester and for sending Cloaths to the Soldiers of Glocester M. G. Langherne took in Embleden-Castle in Wales and had hot Service before Abernsteck Castle in Cardigan-shire with loss on both sides The Commissioners of Parliament the Earl of Rutland the Lord Willoughby Sir William Ermin Sir Edward Ascugh Sir Christopher Wraye appointed to reside in the Scots Army before Newarke took their Journey 23. Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace A Petition of the Brewers touching the Excise referred to a Committee Oders for Money and for supplys for the Army and for Garrisons and for the imploying Horse at Wickham and other Forces The Parliament Forces quitted a Fort at Pouldram to the Kings Forces in the West and the same night Col. Okey with some of his Dragoons fell upon the Enemies Quarters near Chimley took a Captain a Cornet nineteen Horse and twelve Troopers and Sir Hardress Waller took at the L. Chichester's a Captain a Lievetenant a Cornet six Soldiers and two hundred Foot and allarm'd them to the Walls of Exeter In another place they took some Horse and Commodities going to Exeter to cloath the Soldiers Captain Bell one of Greenvils Captains came in with thirty Horse to Sir T. Fairfax 24. Orders for Money for the Forces before Chester and for the Forces in Hereford On Ordinance for a Tax in England for the Brittish Forces in Ireland At the Committee of Priviledges the Election for Bucks was hotly debated and the lye given by Mr. Fountain one of the House to Mr. Vivers a witness in the Case yet the Committee thought not fit to report it to the House upon which the Petitioners Council craved leave to desist because their Witnesses were so discouraged which the Committee took as an affront and voted to report that to the House A Party from Faxington surprized some Countrymen as they were choosing a new Burgess for Calne in Wiltshire 25. This Christmass day the House sat about an Ordinance to make the Members of both Houses liable to Arrests Reference of the Accounts of the Treasurers at War to the Committee of Accompts Orders for the Arrears of the Assesment for Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army and that the Committee of the Army should see all free Quarters and Billetings of Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army to be satisfied and Officers made
into the hands of Members of both Houses the question was put whether that question should be put or not and carried in the Negative Voted That it should be disposed into hands of three Commissioners That the Members of both Houses late Commissioners of the great Seal as a token of Favour from the Parliament and Kingdom should have a thousand pound bestowed on them for all their faithful Services That the Earl of Salisbury one of the late Commissioners should have the thanks of the House That the Members of the Commons late Commissioners of the Seal should have the priviledge to plead within the Bar next to the Sollicitor General of the King An Ordinance voted to be brought in for setling five thousand pounds per An. upon Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Heirs Many Aldermen and Common Council-men of London desired to know the pleasure of the House whether the Works about the City should be slighted or not and if not then they desired twelve thousand pounds for the Maintainance of them the House appointed the Committee of the Army to treat with the Militia of London about it Letters informed that the Popish Clergy at Waterford have pronounced the supreme Council at Kilkenny to be perjured for agreeing to the Peace and proceed to excommunicate them 2. The House sate in a Grand Committee till seven at night upon the Ordinance for disposing of Bishops Lands 3 Private Petitions heard Order for two thousand pounds for the Officers and Garrison of Dover and for payment of the debts of the State to some Handy-crafts men and for two thousand pound for Col. Sandersons Regiment upon their disbanding Order for seizing upon a new Impression of the Common-Prayer Referred to a Committee to find out the Author and Printer of a Pamphlet called Yet another word to the Wise that they may be punished 5. Ordinance for setling two hundred pound per An. on Mr. Hugh Peters Order for a new Election The Negotiations of some Captains of the Parliaments Ships with the Marquess of Ormond confirmed as to lending to him Arms and Ammunition against the Rebels and order for Letters of thanks to Captain Willoughby one of those Captaius Orders for supplys for Ireland Ordinance sent up to the Lords for sale of Bishops Lands Treasurers and Trustees for it named Letters informed That the Estates of Scotland had fully agreed to the Scots Army marching out of England and the Garrisons to be delivered up upon payment of the two hundred thousand pound as was agreed The Irish Rebels drew their Forces towards Dublin and the Marquess of Ormond prepared for defence Col. Bethel was called into the House and had their thanks for his good Services Beaumarice Castle in Anglesey was surrendred to the use of the Parliament upon Articles Order that all Commissions made to Sea Captains which were as from the King and Parliament which some of them interpreted to the prejudice of the Parliaments Service should be altered and made in the name of the Parliament only Order for Money out of Delinquents Estates in Wilts for disbanding the Forces there The Confession of Faith brought in from the Assembly debated Order for one thousand seven hundred pound out of Delinquents Estates in Lincoln-shire to be paid to the Earl of Lincolne which he had disbursed for the Parliaments Service A French Pyrat taken by the Parliaments Ships The Irish Rebels prevailed A Conference by the Committee of Lords and Commons with the Scots Commissioners about disposing of the Kings Person 7. Upon Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax for Pay and Cloathing for the Army Ordered that the Assesment be continued for six Months longer for the pay of them Order for three pound a week for maintenance of the Widow and Children of Mr. Franklyn a Member of the House that dyed a Prisoner to the Kings Party and that the Arrears of M. Franklyn be computed and paid Order for hastning the payment of ten thousand pound to the poor Widows and for relief of Tenants whose Land-lords were of the Kings Party For supplys for the Northern Forces 8. Composition of the Lord Savile allowed and out of it a thousand pound was ordered for the Widow and Children of Captain Askwith who laid out nine hundred and sixty pound in raising a Troop of Horse for the Parliament Votes That Sir Rowland Wandesford Sir Tho. Beddingfield and Mr. Jo. Bradshaw be Commissioners of the great Seal for six Months sent up to the Lords 9. Progress upon the Articles of Faith Votes of both Houses that Captain Pen be Captain of the Assurance Frigot The Committee of both Houses debated with the Scots Commissioners about disposing of the Kings Person An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for four hundred pound for the poor Irish Protestants here The Lords desired the concurrence of the Commons in the Ordinance for dissolving of all Countrey Committees 10. Debate upon the Accounts of Sir Will. Brereton as Major General and a Committee named to consider of the pay of ten pound per diem to every Major General and of their incident charges and of the free quarter and provisions taken by them They ordered five thousand pound to Sir Will. Brereton out of such Delinquents Estates not yet compounded for as he should nominate Order that the Tax of one per cent for Plymouth shall continue till January 1 and no longer Vote for a Balleting box to be made 12. Report of seven Ordinances drawn out of the Propositions for Peace 1. For justifying and confirming the Proceedings of Parliament 2. For setling the Militia of England and Ireland in the Parliament for twenty Years 3. For confirming the Treaty with Scotland 4. For making void all Titles under the great Seal after it was carried away 5. For confirming the present great Seal and all Acts done thereby 6. For making void the Irish Cessation 7. For disposing Offices by consent of Parliament All these except that of the Militia and Scots Treaty pass'd and sent upto the Lords An Ordinance appointed to be drawn to injoyn all to take the Covenant Order touching Compositions of Delinquents A Malignant chosen Major of Berwick sent for and the old Major continued A Petition of many Officers and Soldiers of the Parliaments That they may not be prosecuted at Law for things done by them in the war and as Soldiers upon sundry Exigencies Conference about disposing of the Person of the King A Committee appointed to treat with the Commissioners come from the Marquess of Ormond The French Ambassador and Agent were with the King at Newcastle The Plague broke forth there brought from London Letters informed that divers Inhabitants of Northumberland had left their habitations by reason of the oppression by the Soldiers quartered with them 13. The Lords concurred to the Ordinance for sale of Bishops Lands for advance of two hundred thousand pounds for the Scots Army and to take away the power of Committees for disposing
Some of the Kings antient Servants and some others were approved of by the House to go down with the Commissioners to attend his Majesty and power given to the Commissioners to name inferiour Servants Orders for Money for the Commissioners charges for repairing Holmby House for Coaches Horses c. for the King For two thousand pound for Major General Brown in part of his Arrears and referred to a Committee that he be considered as other Major Generals Debate about an Information of a Protection from the King to a Member of the House A Colonel charged the Earl of Northumberland and of Pembroke to have sent Money to the King but upon examination he said he heard it from some of their Servants they denyed it and the Colonel being but a single witness and speaking but by hearsay the Lords acquitted the Earls and left them to their Remedy against the Colonel for the Scandal Mr. Murrey sent for in again upon information that he was Plotting the Kings escape from Newcastle in a Dutch Ship lying there for that purpose 13. A report of the Committee approved for making Sir John Bramston Sir Thomas Beddingfield and Mr. Chute Commissioners of the Great Seal and an Ordinance appointed to be brought in for that purpose An Ordinance committed for regulating the University of Oxford and agreed that no Members of either House shall be Visitors and that the right of the Earl of Denbigh as Chancellor of the University be preserved and that the City of Oxford do choose a Recorder An Ordinance to put Doctor Temple into a Parsonage 14. Compositions of Delinquents pass'd Ordinance sent up to the Lords for the new Commissioners of the Great Seal 15. Debate in a Grand Committee touching the Dissenters from the Presbyterian Government A Minister presented Articles to the Council of War against a Trooper for Preaching and expounding the Scripture and uttering erroneous Opinions The Council adjudged that none of the Articles were against the Law or Articles of War but that only the Trooper called the Parson a Minister of Anti-Christ for which Reproach they ordered the Trooper to make an acknowledgment which he did and was one night imprisoned Great noise was about this in London and about another Troopers Preaching at Buckingham upon which a Tumult was raised by the Cavaliers and suppressed 16. Order for levying the Arrears for the Army Debate about inlarging the Instructions for the Commissioners who were to receive the Kings Person they being gone out of Town An Ordinance sent from the Lords to the Commons for constituting the Commissioners of the Seal the Commons desired the Lords to pass that which they formerly sent up to them Ordinance for the accounts of the Soldiery and an order for fifteen hundred pound for Sir William Fairfax's Lady of her Husbands Arrears 18. Votes for Mr. Hollis Mr. Selden Sir Jo. Elliots Children Mr. Strodes Kindred Mr. Valentine Sir Peter Hammond's children Sir Miles Hobert Mr. Walter Long and Mr. John Hamdens children shall have five thousand pound to each for the sufferings of them or their parents 3 Car. for opposing the illegalities of that time and a thousand pound to Mr. Varsall upon the same account and all sentences formerly against them to be taken off and a Committee to consider how these allowances may be raised and to consider of the Petition of Alderman Chambers Order for two thousand pound for the Soldiers in Portsmouth and Hurst Castle and for viewing the Fortisications there and for six months pay for the Army The General made strict Orders for his Officers and Soldiers to pay their Quarters and that the Countrey may not be burdened and misdemeanors prevented and this by advice of his Council of War Captain Batten kept in the Dutch Ship at Newcastle Sir Tho. Tiddesly and Col. Price being apprehended about endeavouring the Kings escape got away Letters informed that the Scots Commissioners at New-castle could not prevail with the King to take the Covenant and sign the Propositions and that a Scotch Lord told him if he did not they must give him up to the Parliament of England and it would fall heavy upon him and his Posterity That his Majesty is not pleased to come to Holmby house not liking the place Letters informed that the Parliament of Scotland had voted That if his Majesty should have thoughts of coming thither at this time he not having subscribed to the Covenant nor satisfied the Lawful Defires of his Subjects in both Nations they have just cause to fear the consequences of it may be very dangerous both to his Majesty and to these Kingdoms which they desire may be timely prevented and they express their Arguments that if they should receive his Majesty it would be contrary to their Engagements with England and the Treaties 19. Order for ten thousand pound for the Earl of Northumberland out of Compositions in regard of his losses in the North. Orders about the Sale of Bishops Lands Lieutenant Col. Harrisons Accounts referred to a Committee and three hundred pound ordered to Mrs Serle a widow out of Doctor Ducks Estate Order for Money formerly given to Licutenant General Cromwell to be out of the Estates of Papists in Arms. Power given to the Committee of Complaints to imprison 20. Orders for bringing in and maintaining the credit of the Excise Order for the due observation of the Articles of surrender of Portland Sir Peter Killegrew returned with Letters from the King to both houses That he had received their Votes for his coming to Holmby and understood that Commissioners were coming for him and that he shall give them his resolution when they come the like Letters were to the Scots Commissioners Another Letter was from General Leven That according to the Parliaments desires he would take care of his Majesty that he depart not away and will be ready to do all good Offices A third Letter to the Parliament was from the Commissioners of Estates that they had received the Votes and sent them to the Parliament of Scotland Orders to communicate these Letters to the Scots Commissioners and for a hundred pound for Sir Peter Killegrew for his Journey Letters from the Parliaments Agent in Denmarke and an offer from thence of a Treaty for Correspondence betwixt the Kingdoms referred to a Committee Orders for a hundred pound for Mr. Jenkins formerly imployed to Denmark and for a hundred pound to Sir Henry Vane Sen. disbursed by him for the State and for two hundred pound to Mr. Smith for Provisions for Ireland and for the Arrears of the Porter of Portland Castle 21. The Lords differing about the new Commissioners for the Great Seal An Ordinance pass'd to continue the two Speakers Commissioners of the Seal till ten days after the next Term and they were ordered to consider of persons to ride the next Circuit A Committee named to draw instructions for the Judges that shall ride the next Circuits and to
and they then would bring up the Charge and Proofs Order about a new Lord Mayor Captain Batten laid down his Commission of Vice Admiral and Col. Rainsborough was voted in his place and a list of the Captains and Ships agreed upon for this Winters Flect Petitioners of Somerset shire had thanks for their good affections A thousand pound ordered for Col. Rainsborough for his Arrears An Ordinance to make void Elections of Delinquent Majors c. and order for the Speaker to write to the Corporations to make new Elections The like for Delinquent Sheriffs and no Delinquent to have a Voice in Elections Ordinances pass'd for Money for Lynne Garrison and for Cloaths for Soldiers Letters from Ireland of the good success of the Lord Inchequin taking twelve Castles in Tipperary and the Castle of Cahir in this manner An English Trooper was wounded and taken by the Rebels and carried into Cahir-Castle Col. Hepsely having observed some defects in the Works had a mind to get into the Castle to see them and was permitted to come in a disguise as a Chyrurgeon to dress the Troopers wounds Having thus espyed the defects in the Works he led on a Party to that place and Stormed the Castle A Letter was ordered to the Lord Inchequin to desire him to send over some of his Officers in safe Custody against whom some things were charged Col. Jones marched out of Dublin with a strong Party The Estates in Scotland ordered their Forces to be disbanded unless the Committee of Estates think fit to continue them in case the Kingdom be in any danger of trouble the person of the King in any hazard or the Nation like to be dishonoured and such as refuse to disband to be taken as Mutineers Major General Lambert quieted the difference about Quarter between the Soldiers and the Richmond-shire men and appeased a Mutiny with stoutness and sent a Party against the Moss-Troopers 28. Both Houses pass'd an Ordinance for suppressing Scandalous and unlicensed Pamphlets the Execution of it was left to the Militia of London and to the Committees of the several adjacent Counties An Ordinance was read for levying the Arrears to the Army of the City of London A Letter from the General Council of the Army to Lieutenant General Cromwel was read in the House mentioning the danger of Mutinys and loss of the Army and of new distractions for want of Pay and desiring him to acquaint the House therewith and to be a means to procure Money The Ordinance passed for thirty thousand pound for the Army and an Order for the Months gratuity and Months Pay Debate of Ordinances for Money for Soldiers Widows and touching Arrears A Letter agreed upon by both Houses from the Parliament to the Queen of Sweden and the state of the matter of Fact of what passed between the Ships of England and Sweden ordered to be delivered to the Swedish Agent Election of a new Lord Major of London 29. The Monthly Fast-day 30. Alderman Warner was presented to the Lords for the new Lord Major for the next year and for the remaining time of the last Lord Major now in Prison and approved of and sworn for both times The Ordinance read for continuing Tunnage and Poundage for two years and referred to the Committee of the Navy to treat with the Commissioners of the Customs about Money for the Winter-Guards Upon debate what should be further tendred to his Majesty upon the Propositions it was voted 1. That the Proposition concerning the prosecution of the War in Ireland by both Houses and in the intervals by a Committee 2. That the Proposition for making void the Cessation with the Irish Rebels 3. That the Proposition for nominating the chief Officers of England and Ireland by both Houses and in the intervals by a Committee be again tendered to his Majesty and drawn into Bills for his consent 4. The three Treaties between England and Scotland ordered to be considered and how far they stand in relation to the desire of his Majesty and that the Lords concurrence be desired October 1647. October 1. Order for Money for Officers and Widows in distress and for the poor English Irish Order for a Declaration That both Houses intend to desist from prosecuting any more that were active or abettors in the late tumults and force upon the Parliament than those whom they have already voted against Order about Cursitors places referred to the two Speakers Orders for removing Prisoners in the Tower to other Prisons The Impeachment agreed unto against Lieutenant Collonel Baines The Ordinance for Delinquents to have no voice in the Election of Officers pass'd and sent to the Lords 2. Some appointed to be examined upon the late tumult and the Declaration committed that no more should be questioned whereby peoples minds were quieted but this was not to extend to any Members of the House reduced Officers or Delinquents Pardon 's granted to some Prisoners Debate upon the Confession of Faith presented by the Assembly A Paper from the Army desiring 1. That the House would grant to the General and such Officers and Soldiers as he should appoint full power with the directions of the Committee of the Army to levy by way of distress from the City the Arrears due to the Army 2. That the Parliament would set a Penalty upon those that put them to this trouble of distreining 3. That they would give the like power and penalty for levying all the Arrears in other places 4. And that the Houses would provide for their own Guards so as the Army might Quarter further from the City 4. Vote for twenty thousand pound a Month above the 60 thousand pounds for the nine thousand Horse and Foot designed for Ireland and towards the Charge of that War And other Votes touching the Forces and Government there Order for two months Pay for all the Garrisons that are put out and so disbanded and all of the Army who are not of the Establishment nor to go for Ireland to be cashiered An Ordinance pass'd for money another for Guernsey c. and Col. Birch Col. Ludlow Mr. Harrington and Mr. Weaver named Commissioners for this business The Letter from the General touching the Arrears of the Army referred to the Committee of the Army Orders touching Guards for the Tower The Lords concurred with some small alterations about the Propositions to be again sent to the King The Lords ordered the Sequestration of the D. of Bucks his Estate to be taken off and recommended to the Commons the Earl of Newport's Petition for lessening of his Compositions and ordered the continuance of the allowance of eight hundred pound per An. to the Bishop of Durham and desired the Commons concurrence Both Houses pass'd the Ordinance for disabling Delinquents to have voices in Elections 5. Debate upon the Ordinance for Turinage and Poundage and Orders for Money for Mr. Prince Order for four hundred pound
and to stand with a Paper in the Market-place and to be whipped Another shot to death for killing a man 14. The Lords finished the four Bills to be sent to his Majesty and named the Earl of Northumberland Kent Rutland Pembroke and Salisbury to be their Commissioners to present them The Commons concurred and named for their Commissioners Mr. Bulkley Mr. L'Isle Mr. Robert Goodwyn and Mr. Kemp for their Commissioners or any three of both Houses Order for Money for Ireland Divers Compositions passed 15. Ordinance for Sallaries for the Officers of the Committee of Accounts Another pass'd for addition of Members to the Committee of the Navy The Scots Commissioners desired time to consider of the four Bills to be presented to his Majesty Vote of both Houses for the Country Committees to certifie the full value of all Sequestred Estates The House in the afternoon passed an Answer to the Scots Commissioners That Bills pass'd both Houses are not to be altered by any other and that they are resolved to send their Commissioners by Tuesday next and desire that the Scots Commissioners would send their Propositions at the same time 16. Report from Col. Lilburne's Committee An Ordinance for repairing Churches and Chappels Ordinances sent to the Commons for turning Delinquents out of the Lines Another about chusing Common-Council-men Malignants and such as abetted the late Force against the Parliament to be uncapable to be chosen Order for five thousand pound to be paid to Mr. Hampden's Executors An Ordinance pass'd for setting poor people to work A Letter with an inclosed Declaration from the Scots Commissioners Order about the Guards of the House Ordinance pass'd for Captain Ed. Harley to be Vice-Admiral of the North c. Reference to the Committee of the Navy about the Isle of Providence Letters from Windsor of a good agreement between the Parliaments Commissioners and the G. Councel of the Army about the particulars before-mentioned and for the Armies being drawn into Garrisons and all free Quarter to be taken off so as they may have constant Pay Deans and Chapters Lands desired for security A Petition of the Farmers in Surrey to the General about free Quarter and their Landlords refusing to deduct of their Rents for the free Quarter they desired the General to move the Parliament for their Relief herein who recommended it to the Houses 18. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Nye appointed to go Chaplains to the Commissioners to the Isle of Wight Divers Compositions passed Order for Col. Nedham's Arrears to be audited One of Col. Lilburn's Regiment condemned to dye by the Councel of War for raising the Mutiny at Ware and others to run the Gantelope Captain Grey and Major Cobbet tryed 20. The Commissioners ordered two hundred pound for their Charge to go to the Isle of Wight The Primate of Armagh continued Preacher at Lincolns Inne Referred to a Committee to examine what Delinquent Ministers did Preach or Read the Book of Common Prayer and to silence them which was much opposed by divers as contrary to that liberty of Consciences which they themselves pretended to insist upon as due to every Christian It was carried in the Negative upon the question that Deans and Chapters Lands should not be security for the Arrears of the Soldiers but that it should be out of the remainder of Bishops Lands and out of Forrest Lands and the Excise Several Compositions were passed Debate upon the Declaration from the Scots Commissioners claiming in language a joynt interest with the Parliament of England in the setling of Peace in both the Kingdoms and protesting against the four Bills and they press for a personal Treaty at London They inforce Let that be given to God which is God's and to Caesar that which is Caesar ' s and puts them in mind of their professed Loyalty An Answer was agreed upon in like high termes to their Declaration 21. Order for an Ordinance for further Indemnity for the Soliders and for another to draw the Forces into Garrisons and for a Declaration of the necessity that hath been to keep up an Army and to take free Quarter and that if the Kingdom will pay in six Months Arrears of the sixty thousand pound per Mens that then the other three Months Arrears will be remitted and no Officer shall come into any mans House without his leave nor no Soldier except in Innes Ale-houses Taverns and Victualling-houses The Printer Committed for Printing the Scots Declaration without leave of the House Orders for preserving the Arms of such as shall be disbanded from being imbezeled that the Forces to be disbanded shall have two month pay and divers Compositions were passed Major Cobbet sentenced by the Court-Martial to be Cashiered 22. Debate of an Ordinance for reimbursing the Commissioners of the Customs and they to be removable at the pleasure of both Houses their Money being paid An Ordinance passed for the maimed Soldiers another committed for securing the Soliders Arrears Another past for stating the Accounts of the Army Another pass'd to make a Committee in Kent to hear Differences about Military Affairs and to give indemnity Order for the Members to go into their several Counties for collecting the Arrears of the Assesment 23. The Trustees for Bishops Lands were made Trustees for Delinquents Lands and Forrest Lands for security of the Arrears of the Soldiers Vote That 15 January next the Army shall be drawn into Garrisons and free Quarter taken off and that the remainder of Bishops Lands should be security also to the Soliders Orders about collecting the Assessment of sixty thousand pound a Month. 24. Letters from the General to the House with a Paper of the result of the Councel of War at Windsor concerning Quartering of the Soliders in Innes Ale houses c. referred to the Committee of the Army to confer and consider with the General and his Officers about it A Petition of Divers Citizens who were abused the last year for opening their Shops on Christ-mas day though an Ordinance of Parliament did warrant it Order that the Committee of the Militia of London and Westminster should take care to prevent the like inconveniences and to put out of the Lines all Delinquent Ministers Order upon the General 's Letter for Col. Rainsborough to go forthwith to his Charge at Sea as Vice-Admiral At a Councel of War some Officers acknowledged their Errors upon former passages and desired to be re-admitted into the favour of the General and his Councel which was approved and the Officers kept a Fast where Cromwell Ireton Col. Tichburne and other Officers Prayed and from Scripture exhorted to Unity and Obedience to Commands 25. Christ-mas day the shops were all shut up in London notwithstanding the Ordinance to the contrary The Houses sat and upon complaint that some Delinquent Ministers Preached on this day in London and that the Common-Prayer-Book was used in several places power was given to the Committee of Plundered Ministers
Lambert that he intends no hurt to him or to the Kingdom which his future carriage would demonstrate The Major General returned answer that as to not satisfaction with this Parliament he had nothing to say but as to his coming in hostile way in England he would oppose him to the utmost and fight him and his Army as Traytors and Enemies to the Kingdom That this great breach of the Covenant and large Treaty between the two Nations he doubted not but would be revenged upon them to their utter ruine and was assured of assistance herein by all true English men and right Covenanters of the two Nations Letters from France that Prince Charles was sailed from Calice to Holland 13. Order to prevent tumults that no more Prisoners of quality shall be brought up to London but be disposed of to other places of strength The Earl of Holland was sent Prisoner to Warwick Castle Order for a thousand Foot and five hundred Horse to be raised and maintained in Essex out of the estates of those who ingaged with the Lord Goring The House approved Articles made by Colonel Rich upon the surrender of some Castles in Kent and that a letter of thanks be sent to him and ammunition for his Regiment Order that the Estates of the Duke of Bucks of the Lord Francis his Brother and Sir Francis Ratcliff in the North shall go towards the maitenance of the Forces of Major General Lambert 14. Letters from Major General Lambert that Duke Hamilton was advanced into this Kingdom with an Army of ten thousand men with whom Sir Marmaduke Langdale is joyned and that their Army is about Carlisle The House declared that the Forces now come out of Scotland into England in an hostile manner being without the authority of the Parliament of England are Enemies to England and that all such English or Irish that shall adhere to or assist them are Rebels and Traytors to England and shall be proceeded against and their Estates confiscated as Traytors and Rebels Order for twenty thousand Pounds for the Forces in the North and that all the Revenues of the King Queen and Prince in the North shall be paid by the Receiver of Yorkshire to the Commander in chief of the Northern Forces for their maintenance and referred to the Committee of Darby House to consider of sending more Forces down to Major General Lambert Here you may take notice of a strange turn in the affairs of this Parliament to which all humane affairs are subject but in these times much more than ordinary You have read the great indeavours formerly to bring them in as Friends to assist the Parliament and remember the story of their actions and return home again now the other faction in Scotland prevailing the Scots are turned Enemies to England and invade them with a considerable Army before they joyned with the Parliament against the King now they joyn with the Kings Forces against the Parliament How like the Sea the People of the world are still ebbing or flowing always in an uncertain motion and constant in nothing but inconstancy Debate upon the Citizens offer of security to the King and both Houses of Parliament during the Treaty if it be at London 15. Letters from Lieutenant General Cromwel to the General and to the Committee of Darby House that 11. of July last the Town and Castle of Pembroke were surrendred to him upon Articles That Langhorne Poyer and four more Officers surrendred to the mercy of the Parliament Sir Charles Kemish Sir Henry Stradling and about ten more Officers and Gentlemen were to depart the Kingdom within six weeks and not to teturn in two years and all the rest to have liberty to go to their homes and not to be plundered The sick and wounded men to be taken care of the Towns-men not to be plundered but to injoy their liberty as heretofore The Town Castle Arms Ammunition and provisions to be delivered up to Lieutenant General Cromwel for the use of the Parliament That Cromwel prepared to advance towards Lambert to joyn with him again the Scots The House declared to adhere to their former Vote that the three propositions shall be signed by his Majesty before a personal Treaty be had with him and a Committee was appointed to draw reasons to satisfy the Lords concerning the same Letters from the Isle of Wight that the King declared to divers of his party and wished them to declare it to others that the Governor Colonel Hammond was a man of honour and trust and had carryed himself civilly and respectfully to his Majesty That Osborne had unjustly and ungratefully aspersed the Governor and as touching the preservation of his person from Poyson or any such horrid design the King said he was so confident of the honesty and faithfulness of the Governour that he thought himself as safe in his hands as if he were in the Custody of his own Son Letters from Colchester Leaguer that the Enemy were all drawn up into the high Street but were beaten in with loss upon their sally forth That Captain Jailler got out of the Town and came to the General and told him that many of the Souldiers in the Town would come to his Excellencie if they knew his Conditions That the General had made a breach in the wall and beat the Enemy from their guards That Colonel Whaley with some of the Suffolk Foot fell upon a Church which the Enemy had fortifyed who presently cried for quarter and that there were taken about eighty Prisoners most Kentish-men Intelligence that the Duke of Bucks party was wholly routed near Oundleby Captain Butler and the Duke with Sir Thomas Bludder and about a hundred more got away privately towards London From Colchester Leaguer that the General had taken Sir Jo. Lucas his House and the Gate-House which was hotly disputed till a hand Granado was by Cromwells men thrown among them which lighting upon their magazine of Powder about forty of them were blown up about sixty taken Prisoners the rest of a hundred and forty were destroyed and killed This so inraged them that being confined within the walls they fired all the Suburbs round about a very sad spectacle the Houses for above a mile together being all of a flame one of the Companions of War 17. Voted that after the three propositions signed the King be desired to name three places within ten Miles of Westminster of which the Parliament to choose one where the Treaty with his Majesty shall be had The Commons confirmed what was done by the Governor of New Castle in laying the Tax on Coals and Salt there They gave twenty pounds to the Messenger of the surrender of Pembroke Castle Voted a pardon to divers that were in the Insurrection in Kent and to all that came in upon the Indempnity offered and to such as can make it appear that they were forced A Petition from the Tower-Hamlets and from
and Major General Lamberts Forces were near one to another but did not ingage There being extreme violent Storms of wind and rain which did much hurt six Prisoners in Tinmouth Castle escaped letting themselves down through a Privy-House by Ropes and several Sheets tyed together Letters from Dublin that Colonel Monk and Colonel Hungerford with eight hundrd men took the Field and stormed Ballahor Castle which they gained and besieged Nabor Castle From Chester that the Lord Byron was out with three hundred men and advanced towards Anglesey 8. A Letter came from the Prince to the Speaker of the House of Peers without any mention to be communicated to the Commons in which Letter the Prince takes notice of the progress made as to a personal Treaty and desires 1. That the Treaty be in such a place and manner as may consist with the honour freedom and safety of his Majesty his Father so that the agreement many not be blemished with any face of restraint 1. That the Treaty be between the King and his two Kingdomes of England and Scotland that things may go on fairly to all persons concerned therein 3. That during the Treaty there be a general cessation of Arms that the affection of the People of this and the other Kingdom be not lessened by Acts of hostility 4. An ordinary moderate subsistence during the Treaty may be agreed upon for all Forces on Foot and which in no sort must go unmentioned for the Scots Army now in England and so as may be with least pressure to the Northern parts And if the two Houses will agree to these things he will endeavour to his utmost power with his Father for a good agreement He concludes with a desire that a course may be taken to content him and his Ships now in the Downes with mony and Provision that so he nor they may not hinder the City trade and discharge the Ships he hath now in hold One of those Ships taken by the Lord Willoughby who was Vice-Admiral of the Prince his Fleet had in her near twenty thousand Pound in Gold which she brought from Guiney most of it belonging to M r Rowland Wilson the Father and Son and their partners The Lord Willoughby did affirm that when the Earl of Warwick with his Fleet came near to the Prince his Navy the Lord Willoughby and some others were earnest to have fought the Parliaments Fleet and had some assurances given them that several of the Earl of Warwicks Ships would have revolted to the Prince But that others about the Prince disswaded him from Fighting pretending the danger to his Highness person and carryed it by that argument again Fighting whereas in probability and as the Sea-mens affections then stood if they had fought the Parliaments Fleet had been indangered A Petition was presented to both Houses from the Common Council of London desiring 1. That the King may be free from his restraint 2. Invited to a Treaty 3. That all Acts of hostility by Sea and Land may by command of King and Parliament cease 4. That the Government of the Church may be settled according to the Covenant 5. That distressed Ireland may be relieved 6. The People of England by disbanding all Armies eased 7. The Liberty of the subject restored 8. The Laws of the land established 9. The Members of both Houses injoyned to attend 10. That the self-denying Ordinance may be effectually observed 11. That speedy consideration be had of such Merchants whose Ships and goods are staid by those with the Prince in the revolted Ships and that some expedient may be thought of for discharge of all Ships that trade be not destroyed The Lords gave thanks to the Common Council the Commons appointed a Committee to draw up their answer A Petition to the Commons from the reduced Officers that there may be a speedy settlement of Religion the King Parliament and Kingdom in a Parliamentary way by a free and personal Treaty according to the late desire of the City of London and that all Officers and Souldiers without exception whose accounts are not stated may have them audited Order for payment of the Petitioners arrears out of their discoveries and for a Committee to give them further satisfaction and to make payment to the Non-commission'd Officers of Sir Robert Pyes Regiment of their arrears Order for M r Ailburton who brought Letters to the King from the Committee of Estates in Scotland to stay here for a month for the Kings answer Major Huntington made Oath in the Lords House that the Narrative given in by him was true and would be attested Letters from Colchester Leaguer that twenty or thirty a day run from the enemy and the last day a whole Guard together came from them that their Wine and Raisons are near spent so that the Common Soldiers get none That they killed thirty Horses to powder them up and have the Bloody-flux much among them that they have drawn off their Guns from the Wall some say they will carry the Parliament Committee with them into the Castle and cut their throats if they may not have conditions for themselves The General sent a Letter by a Drummer to the Lord Norwich Lord Capell and Sir Charles Lucas about exchange of prisoners 9. The grand Committee sat long about the Ordinance for the Militia Debate upon the Self-denying Ordinance The answer to the Cities last Petition was sent to them to this effect Shewing how far they have proceeded to a Treaty with the King the Votes thereof their expectation of the Kings answer and hopes that he will treat That the Scots are declared Rebels for invading the Kingdom and they hope the City will joyn in the subduing of them That they offered the revolted Ships indemnity but they refused to come in the Votes for reducing them and the reference to a Committee to treat with the King for a way for free Trade A Collection ordered on the Fast-day for the poor people that are come out of Colchester M r Thomas Cookes Composition passed The Keeper of the Prison in Canterbury put out Letters from the Commissioners with the King that his Majesty is willing to have the Treaty and likes the terms of honour freedom and safety and though he have no Secretary yet he will give them his answer in their time Order that none speak with M r Ailburton but in the presence of his Keeper 10. The Fast-day Letters from Holland that the Merchants there do highly resent the Prince of Wales his being in the Downes as a great hindrance of traffick That there is tampering to borrow some Regiments to attempt something in England adviseth to look to Poole Lyme and Weymouth That the Letters and Declaration of the Prince of Wales were printed there in Dutch and French 11. Debate upon the Ordinance for settling Church government and the title to it agreed The Ordinance for setling the
in general and to propound remedies Debate about the Ordinance for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands 7. Report of the arrears of the Assessment to the Army to be three hundred fourteen thousand three hundred fifty one pounds for which fifty thousand pound was in arrear in London Order that the Collectors who had not brought in the arrears should be taken into custody and that the Members of the House write to the Committees of the several Counties Letters from Lieutenant General Cromwell of the Surrender of Berwick and Carlisle to him The House approved what he had done and ordered the pay of the Forces there a hundred pound given to the Messenger Letters from the Isle of Wight that the King gave a Paper of reasons to the Parliaments Commissioners why he could not condescend to take away Bishops and Government by Bishops which he conceived to be of Apostolical institution and alledged several Scriptures to that purpose He also propounded some quaeries concerning Presbyterian Government wherein he desired to be satisfied the Commissioners referred it to M r Marshall M r Vines M r Caryll and M r Seaman who were with them to draw up an answer for satisfaction of his Majesty 9. Debate of an Ordinance for a hundred thousand pound for paying the Arrears of reduced Officers and Souldiers and Upon information that they were coming to London from all Parts of the Kingdom Order for a declaration to give them notice that the House is passing an Ordinance for satisfaction of their arrears and that their coming up to London will hinder the great business of the Kingdom and to forbid their coming up upon that or any other pretence whatsoever Order to admit Colonel Butler to his Composition upon Pembrokes Articles The Lords House being called there were about thirty Lords with them Letters from the Isle of Wight that his Majesty gave in to the Commissioners his objections touching the alteration of Church Government and the Ministers then with the Parliaments Commissioners gave in a Paper for answer and satisfaction to the Kings Scruples and as to the obiection that the Sale of Bishops Lands was sacriledge the Commissioners said it lay so much in the Laws of the Land that the Ministers could not judge of â—it That in their Debate touching the Liturgy the King asked what fault they found in the Common Prayer Book to which was replyed that the Liturgy was taken out of the Masse-Book only spoyled in the Translation and that King James had so considered it The King said that if it were good in it self that did not make it ill That his Majesty offered a limited Episcopacy Letters from Lieutenant General Cromwell of the particulars of the rendring of Berwick and Carlisle to the Parliament and desiring that Sir Arthur Haselrigge may supply Berwick being so considerable a place with Guns and Ammunition from New-Castle That both Parties in Scotland were agreed to disband all Forces except fifteen hundred Horse and Foot under General Leven to be kept to see all remaining Forces disbanded that he had some things to desire from the Committee of Estates in Scotland for the service of the Parliament of England for which purpose he was himself going to them The Chancellour of Scotland by command of the Committee of Estates of Scotland writ a Letter to Lieutenant General Cromwell giving him thanks for the many civilities and kind respect he had shewed to that Kingdom and that they had sent Commissioners to him to acquaint him with the agreement betwixt them in Armes in Scotland wherein they had been careful to avoid any thing that might give offence to the Parliament of England They acknowledge advantage hath come to them by the near distance of the English Forces in preventing new troubles whereof they shall be alwaies mindful and endeavour to preserve the Union and a good correspondence betwixt the two Kingdoms 10. A Petition from New-Castle desiring that before the Treaty be ended impartial and speedy Justice may be executed upon the incendiaries fomenters and Actors in the first and second War Another from York and from Hull that the treacherous and Implacable Enemies may be destroyed and exemplary justice done upon them without partiality or delay and their Estates to go towards discharging arrears and publick debts Another Petition to the same purpose but all laid aside by the House 11. Letters from the Commissioners in the Isle of Wight that his Majesty had consented to the settling of the Militia by Sea and Land as in the Proposition and that he will consent to an Act of Parliament to confirm for three years the form of Church Government and Directory for worship presented to him But that he is not satisfied in his conscience or can be content to the utter abolishing of Episcopacy the Substance whereof he conceives to consist in the power of Ordination and Jurisdiction as they were exercised by the Apostles themselves and others by authority derived from them Superiour to Presbyters and Deacons in the Primitive times His Majesties resolution being to comply with his two Houses for the alteration and regulating of his present Hierarchy and Government so as Episcopacy reduced to the Primitive usage may be settled and continued in the Church and if his two Houses shall so advise his Majesty will be content to lessen the extent and multiply the number of the Dioceses That he will consent to the sitting of the Assembly of Divines as formerly he offered and to confirm the publick use of the Directory and will consent to the repeal of so much of all Statutes as only concern the Book of Common Prayer and taking the same away out of all Churches provided that the use of it be continued to his Majesty That he will consent to an Act for the better observation of the Lords day and to prevent saying of Mass That he was not satisfied to take the Covenant or to impose it upon others and conceives his two Houses will not insist upon it and the rather because the ends of it will be obtained by the agreement if happily concluded Upon Debate of this Paper from his Majesty whether as concerning matter of Religion it was satisfactory or not it was voted in the Negative and a Letter ordered to be Writ to the Commissioners to proceed in the Treaty according to their Instructions and that till the Proposition for Religion were signed they should not proceed to the debate of any of the new and that notice should be taken of the extraordinary wise management of this Treaty by the Commissioners An Ordinance transmitted to the Lords for five thousand pound for pay of the Horse-guards attending the Parliament Orders touching mony and Provisions for the Fleet. 12. Upon a report from the Commissioners of the Seal the House ordered that there should be a new call of Serjeants at Law and voted to be Serjeants Out of Grays Inn Sir
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
Committee An Act brought in by the Councel of State for repealing the Statutes 23. El. and 35. El. Against Pretended Sectaries and the Statute 1. Jac. Recommitted Order for Payment of the Sallaries to the Judges of the Admiralty Order to borrow 150000 l. for Ireland An Act past for discharge of the Commissioners of the Excise upon their accounts Sir Henry Heyman and another re-admitted to sit in the House Upon the report of the L. Commissioner Whitlock Baron Gates by reason of his sickness was excused from riding the Circuit and Serjeant Green ordered to go Judge in his place Power given to the Commissioners of the Seal to grant Commissions of Sewers and of Charitable uses as any L. Chr. L. Keeper or Commssioners of the Seal used to do Letters that the Enemie had besieged Dublin that C. Hewson twice beat off their Parties with loss to them and came off with flying Colours that C. Jones sent to Chester for Corn. That the Enemy was within one Mile of Dublin from whence a Party skirmished with them and took one Captain Duncan Prisoner That London Derry was not in a very bad Condition 30 The Lord Commissioner Lisle being formerly by the House made Master of St. Cross Hospital did now voluntarily surrender it to the House again and they bestowed it upon the Sollicitor G. Mr. Cook and ordered Augmentations of Meanes to the Ministers and poor Brethren as the Lord Commissioner Lisle had formerly given Debate upon the Act for sale of the Kings Houses Parks c. And Voted that St. James House and Park Theobalds Park Windsor Castle and Little Park Greenwich House Castle and Park should be reserved from Sale for the use of the State And referred to the Councel of State to consider what other Houses should be reserved from Sale The New Park near Richmond was given to the City of London as a Testimony of the Favour of the House to them Order for saving the Timber in the Parks c. for the use of the Navy Letters from Cheshire that Ormond had besieged Dublin with 14000 Men and doubted not but to carry it in a short time and that divers Ministers in Cheshire did pray publickly for restoring Charles the Second to his Fathers Crowns and Honours July 1649. 2 A Letter from the Parliament of Scotland in answer to the Letter sent to them from the Parliament of England in high Language and invective against the late proceedings in England but desiring that Commissioners of both Kingdoms may meet and treat about a good Correspondency between the two Nations Referred to the Councel of State how to prosecute the Desires of the Parliament of England and to vindicate it from the Aspersions cast upon them by the Parliament of Scotland Captain Row who brought the Scots Answer had 100 l. given him Divers Orders for Mony and Approbation of the Generals Allowance of more than ordinary Pay in regard of Billet Mony A Petition of the Car-men setting forth the Oppressions and Exactions of the Woodmongers and desiring to be made a new Corporation of the Car-men referred to a Committee The 400 l. per annum allowed to Dr. Vsher Primate of Armagh continued Order for 70 to be of the Life Guard to the Lieutenant of Ireland and Mr. Owen to go his Chaplain and his Wife and Children to have 100 l. per annum in his Absence Letters that C. Jones put out all the Men Roman Catholicks out of Dublin that Ormond took in all the Country about Dublin and put Jones to great wants that Sir George Askue secured the Harbour for the Army to land from England and that most of the English joyned with Ormond Letters that five Witches were burnt at Edenburgh who had the marks upon them which they had from the Devil The Parliament of Scotland sent a Gentleman to the Queen and Chr. of Sweden to acquaint them with their Proceedings with England and their falling off from them upon their late transactions c. That they prepare for new Levies of 15000 Horse and Foot to be added to the 5000 now in being 3 Debate upon the Act for sale of the Parks Lands c. of the late King and Officers agreed upon Captain Martins Accounts stated and he ordered to have 1000 l. per annum Inheritance in lieu of his Arrears The Lord Grey's Accounts passed A Pardon ordered for some Prisoners condemed in the Circuits Referred to the Councel of State to take care for bringing in the Arrears of Londons Assessement Letters from Dublin that C. Jones sent out 12 Horse who charged 30 of the Enemy routed them and took Lieutenant Collonel Duncan Prisoner and wounded Captain Dungan mortally and that Ormond stood within half a mile looking on That divers Malignants are imprisoned and the Papists driven out of the Town but their Wives and Children stay That Jones his Men killed a Captain and a Lieutenant of Ormonds Horse took a Cornet and 4 Horse and lost a Quarter Master That Inchequin wrote to Jones to treat but he returned a sharp denyal Letters that Prince Charles near Antwerp was met by some eminent Persons and presented by the Arch Duke with a sumptuous Coach studded with Silver and six gallant Flanders Mares drawing it and six Saddle Horses of the Neapolitan Race That at Antwerp the Magistrates conducted him to a stately Pallace where he stayed two dayes and was entertained as if he had been King of Spain Letters from France that the Queen of Englands Pension was lessened there from 12000 Crowns to 7000 Crowns and no Pension allowed to Prince Charles but what his Mother gives him Letters from Scotland of the strange number of Witches executed there that the Kingdom was quiet and in great Expectation of their new King 4 The Act passed for sale of the Goods of the late King Queen and Prince part of the Mony to pay some of the Kings Houshold Debts and 30000 l. for the Navy Debate upon a report from the Councel of State for borrowing 150000 l. of the City for the Service of Ireland Vote that the Letter from the Parliament of Scotland to William Lental Esq doth disobliege the Parliawent of England to proceed with Scotland to a Treaty and referred to the Councel of State to draw up a Declaration upon this and the former Scots Letters Letters of 1660 Barrels of Beer with other Provisions proportionable ready at Bristol for the Souldiers designed for Ireland Letters that Captain Harris with the Phenix Frigot had rescued divers Prizes taken by the Jersy Men. 5 Orders for Mony for lame Souldiers and the Widdows of Souldiers slain Mr. Steel was chosen Recorder of London in the place of Mr. Glyn. Divers Surveys returned of Deanes and Chapters Lands The Train of Artillery and Ammunition was shipped for Ireland 6 The Account of the Lieutenant of Ireland approved and he discharged The Lord Commissioner Whitelock did voluntarily surrender the place of Attourney of the Dutchy
Souldiers whil'st they were on Shore behaved themselves very civilly and payed for what they took and any that were debaucbed were severely punished That there was much seeking of God by Prayer for a Blessing on them Letters that the Cavaleers endeavoured to raise Differences betwixt the 2 Nations but since the News of the late Defeat in Ireland they are very still Letters from York That one Morrice and one Blackbourn were arraigned before Baron Thort and Judge Puleston for levying War against the Kingdom they pleaded not guilty but desired as they were Marshal Men that they might be tryed by Marshal Law which was denyed to them Morrice at last said he would be tryed by God and the Countrey and 17 Witnesses proved foul Crimes against him He had two Sheets of Paper written with Matters of Law and Statutes many of which he pleaded and urged the case of the War betwixt the two Houses of York and Lancaster the difference of which from his case was shewed by the Judges Then he produced a Commission from the King when he was Prince the Judges told him that the Prince was a Subject as well as he and must be tryed by the same Law He was found guilty of Treason and manacled with Irons at which he said What a Martial Man Ironed the like President was never before known He desired to have a strong Guard saying Let me be damned if I escape but it was denyed so was a Copy of his Indictment and to have Councel or to be exchanged He and Blackbourn were both condemned Letters from Chester That Lieutenant General Jones having put Dublin into a good posture was marched forth with 1000 Horse and 3000 Foot and sat down before Tredah That Ormond executed many for Runawayes That the Markets are full again at Dublin Letters from Paris That Prince Charles received an account from Ormond of this Defeat given him by Jones and blamed Inchequins Horse and others that betrayed him and ran away and Inchequin by his Letters to the Prince complained against Ormond for fighting when he was gone from him with 2000 Horse That Ormond diswaded the Prince from coming into Ireland 21 The House sate and received Letters from the Lieutenant of Ireland of his then being setting Sail for Ireland and offering to their consideration the Removal of Penal Statutes that inforce the Consciences of honest conscientious Men. The House ordered the Committees to make their Reports touching the Ease of tender Consciences And an Act to be brought in for Commissioners to be chosen in all Countries to make choice of fit and able Men to be made Ministers that cannot conform to the present Ordinance for Ordination of Persons to Preach Orders about Monies for the maimed Souldiers and about Disbursements for disbanding Souldiers The House was acquainted with divers Papers taken in a French Mans Trunk at Rye discovering a popish Design to be set on Foot in England with Commissions from the Bishop of Chalcedon by Authority of the Church of Rome to Popish Priests and others for settling the Discipline of the Romish Church in England and Scotland Referred to Mr. Attourney General to make a further Examination of this Business and report it to the House Some sent to seize Books of Lieutenant Collonel Lilbourn newly Printed were perswaded by him to look to their own Liberties and let the Books alone Letters that the Lieutenant of Ireland was safely landed at Dublin and all his Men with him in about 40 Ships That Commissary General Ireton with about 60 Ships more full of Men Arms and Provisions were with a good Wind sailing for Munster 22 Petitions of the Miners of Derbyshire and of the Earl of Rutland referred to a Committee Petition of the City of London for more Houses to set the poor on work referred to a Committee The Arrest of a Member of the House not one that sate was referred to be examined by a Committee An Act passed touching Plantations about Florida near Virginia Letters of great Complaints of the Taxes in Lancashire and That the meaner sort threaten to leave their Habitations and their Wives and Children to be maintained by the Gentry That they can no longer bear the Oppression to have the Bread taken out of the Mouths of their Wives and Children by Taxes And that if an Army of Turks come to relieve them they will joyn with them Reasons against the arresting of Mens Persons were presented to the Members of Parliament 23 The Arrears of the Fee-Farm Rents of Carlisle remitted by the House The King of France had prohibited all Trade with England the English Merchants took this as a Breach of the League and thereupon addrest themselves by Petition to the Councel of State desiring them to report this matter to the House The Councel reported the whole matter to the House who upon long debate thereof Voted That no Wines Wool or Silk of the Growth of France and usually vended in this Nation shall from thenceforth be imported into any Port thereof or vended here upon forfeiture of the Goods and Ship that shall import them Upon the Question whether Linnen Cloth should be likewise prohibited It was resolved in the negative in regard of the general and necessary use thereof and they referred it to the Councel of State to bring in an Act according to these Votes Letters That when the Lieutenant of Ireland landed at Dublin he was most Heroically entertained with the resounding Eccho of the great Guns round about the City and great concourse of People to see him to whom he made a very grateful Speech with his Hat in his hand and there was a great cry that they would all live and dye with him That the next day after the raising of the Siege of London Derry Sir Charlet Coot Summon'd the Garrison that was near to it in the Possession of the Enemy and that within two dayes the new Fort Slogh Castle and other Forts were delivered up to him with the Ammunition and Artillery all upon Quarter 24 Order for 20 l. for the buryal of Mr. Powel a reduced Officer A Letter from Sir Charles Coot to the House That Charles Coot his Brother had concluded a Peace with M. G. Row O Neal and his Reasons for the doing of it were for Preservation of the Garrison of London Derry and the English Interest in those parts After reading of the Articles and a long Debate Ordered that a Copy of a Declaration of the House upon M. G. Monks joyning with Owen Roe O Neal should be forthwith sent to Sir Charles Coot and in vindication of his Honour they Voted That they approved of the Fidelity Care and Vigilancy of Sir Charles Coot in Preserving the English Interest in Ireland and holding out London Derry against the Scots They referred it to the Councel of State to take care for the sending of these Votes to Sir Charles Coot and for relieving him with
contract for Ships and Provisions to be sent to the Plantations in America Order about Monies for Convoyes An Act Passed for easing the Charge of Lords of Mannors and their Bayliffes in passing their Accounts in the Exchequer 6 Letters of some small Prizes brought into Plymouth That the Prince of Orange was dead of the Small Pox. 7 Letters That some Pyrates took three Ships out of Plymouth-Road at Noon-day That thousands came in voluntarily to take the Engagement without any Summons That the Commissioners for charitable uses at Taunton found out great Sums of Money due to the poor Letters That the L. Deputy gave a Defeat to the Enemy in Munster That those in Lymerick refused to Treat for Surrender of the Town and the L. Deputy prepared to build a Fort against it That the L. Ormond hanged some Mass-Priests and thereby lost the Affections of the Irish That C. Cooke fought with the Wickloe-Tories and took prisoner Shurlocke their great Captain That upon the L. Deputies Approach to Athelow they quitted the Town and burnt it and guarded the Pass over the River to the Castle That the Deputy left Sir Charles Coote there and marched to Lymerick and in the way took in several Garrisons That the Plague was much ceased in Ireland 9 Letters Of a London-Ship split upon the Rocks near Dartmouth That the Royal-Party and the Kirk-Party in Scotland were reconciled and all engaged against the English Army 11 Letters That 2000 were daily at work upon the new Fortifications at Leith and when they meet with a Rock they boar holes in it and blow it abroad with Gunpowder That Middleton refusing to come in when the King sent for him was Excommunicated by the Kirk That David Lesley's Army have no mind to fight with Middleton's men That they being upon the King's Interest only have to colour their Pretences set forth a Declaration Entituled A Declaration of the Noblemen in Arms for Vnion in the prosecution of the Cause of God and Relief of the Kingdoms That Middleton and the rest of his Party refused an Act of Indempnity unless they might be admitted as others to Places of Trust which the Kirk and Estates would not permit yet all of them are like to agree That the Scots prisoners taken at the Battel of Dunbar at their first coming to Newcastle got into the Gardens and fed so greedily upon the raw Cabbage that they poysoned their Bodies That 1600 of them died 500 more of them were sick and 900 in health who are set to work there 12 The Committee revived to examine some Complaints made against Ranters An Act committed for turning all Books of Law into English and for all Process and Proceedings in Courts of Justice to be in English The Act committed for the Assessment of 120000 l. per mensem Upon Report from the Councel of State several Votes passed in order for Reparation to the English Merchants who had been injured by the French An Act passed to make Prize of Portugal Ships and Merchandise The Parliament named the Sheriffs for the several Shires of England and Wales for the year enâ—â—ing Five of C. Barkstead's Souldiers rode the wooden Horse in Smithfield and two of them were whipped for attempting to rob in Smithfield and a Trooper condemned to be shot to death for killing his Fellow-Souldier 13 Letters That a Cook of a Ship of Bremen upon what Discontent was unknown did at Lee near Gravesend mix Mercury with the Pottage and poysoned the Master and 11 men being all in the Ship so that they all died within 24 hours after and the Murderer escaped away An Account of Provisions shipping from Pendennis for Ireland 14 An account of many Subscribing the Engagement at Oxon and of setling the Militia there Convoys appointed to be constantly attending upon the Merchants Ships and they required not to send abroad without them An Account of two Ships laden with Provisionâ—â—ent to G. Blake riding before Lisbon Recruits for Ireland who ran away and were retaken one of them was hanged and others did run the Gantelope for abusing some Countreymen and the Court-Martial published some Orders for preventing the like Inconveniences for the future Other Souldiers were punished for erroneous Tenents and scandalous Prophaneness 15 Letters That the E. of Clanrickard took in two or three little Places Garrison'd by the Parliaments Army That the Irish upon an advantage fell upon a party of C. Cookes men and the Dispute lasted many hours between them at length C. Cooke routed the Irish killed three or four hundred of them and took two Colonels prisoners Letters That some Waggoners of the G. with 36 traine Horses were surprized in their Quarters within a Mile of Edenburgh That C. Straughan was inclinable to come in and joyn with the English Army That the Laird of Brady one of the Commissioners that brought the King from Holland into Scotland came from the Court to the Committee of Estates and declared his sorrow for having a hand in that Action That the King removed to Dumferling fearing to be fetcht away by the Royal Party That Middleton was 8000 strong 18 Letters That the Army was quartered in Edenburgh Leith and the Villages 8 miles compass about That there are great Differences Discharge amongst the Scots and the King endeavours to reconcile all 19 Order of Parliament for Discharge of all Sums due for respit of Homage and Fines for Alienation and for all mean Rates c. Referred to a Committee to draw Instructions for the Barons of the Exchequer touching the Poll-Bill c. An Act passed for Regulating the making of Norwich-Stuffs Letters That many came away from Straughan to St. Johns Town and some from David Lesly came to Middleton The G. published a Proclamation That if any of his Souldiers were robbed or killed in the Country he would require restitution and life for life of the Parish where the fact should be committed unless they discovered the Offender 20 Letters of a Ship with Goods bound for Ireland taken by Scilly Pyrates near Minhead That the Princess of Orange was brought to bed of a Son 21 Letters Of Ministers rayling in their Pulpits in several Counties against the Present Government and yet that more than were summoned came in to take the Engagement That the Plague was ceased in Shrewsbury Of two Dutch Ships loaden cast away near Dartmouth Letters That C. Monk with a Party of 1600 was sent to take in Derlington-House a Nest of the Moss-Troopers who killed many Souldiers of the Army That M. G. Lambert came before the House and cast up their Batteries the same night so that their great Guns were ready to play the next Morning by the Break of Day That their great Shot played and the fourth Shot of their Mortar-piece tore the inner Gate beat down the Draw-Bridge into the Moat and killed the Lieutenant of the Moss-Troopers so that they called for Quarter Which would not
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
that time 16 Letters That General Blake sent in four Prizes one was a French Man of War with forty Copper Guns whose Captain being commanded on Bord by General Blake he asked him if he was willing to lay down his Sword the Captain answered No. Then Blake bid him return to his Ship and fight it out as long as he was able which he did and after two hours Fight he came in and submitted and kissing his Sword delivered it to Blake who sent him and his Ship with the rest into England 17 Letters of a Remonstrance of divers Ministers sent to the Commissioners of the Kirk against their present Proceedings but the Ministers were threatned to be proceeded against unless they desist 18 Letters that the Scots Army was 8000 Horse and 8000 Foot and they resolved to bring it up to 50000 and then to give Battle to the English Army That C. Fenwick took Possession of Edenburgh Castle as Governour thereof That a Party of Dragoons took a Ship loaden with Herrings going to the Scots 20 Letters that at the Coronation of the King in Scotland many Speeches were made to him and the Kirk promised him good Success if he did hearken to their Councel That he gave them fair Answers and signed the Covenant and promised to defend them and maintain their Laws Government and Covenant That a Party of 800 choice Horse attempted the Quarters of the English at Lithlingow but were beaten back Letters of great Mischiefs Murders and Plunderings by the Tories in Ireland many of whom the Governour of Dublin had killed and taken That the Governour is turning the Papists out of Dublin 21 A Pardon granted to four Persons condemned to dye by the High Court of Justice for the late Insurrection in Norfolk A new Seal for the Parliament approved and an Act passed for the use of it and that it shall be Treason to Counterfeit it 22 Letters That at the Assises at Taunton two men accused a poor Fellow and preferred eight Indictments against him for stealing eight Sheep but upon the Tryal some being accidentally present came in as Witnesses and fully proved that those eight Sheep were stolen by the Accusers themselves who were Indicted for it and hardly escaped the Gallows Letters That the States of Holland Zealand and Groningen did acknowledge the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England 23 Letters that one Story a Souldier was hanged by sentence of the Court Marshal for killing a Countreyman and another Souldier accescessary to it was hanged on the same Gibbet whil'st one walked ten paces and was then cut down and recovered to Life again 24 Letters that some Conntrey-men Scots were hanged in chains by sentence of the Judge Advocate of the English Army for killing some of the English Souldiers That several Rendezvouzes of the Scots Army were appointed and the King present at them That the Commissioners of the Kirk presented a Remonstrance to the King at St. Johns Town 25 Letters that the Kirk pressed the King to humble himself and to quit the Nation of their Enemies now in the Bowels of the Kingdom 27 Letters of a Mutiny at Sterling which David Lesly had much to do to appease That the General intends to attempt Hume Castle That a Ship loaden with Cloaths and Provisions from London submitted to a Garrison of the Scots on the Sea through the Malignancy of the Master That the Kirk set forth an Exhortation to their Brethren at Edenburgh from Communion with the English or any that desert the Kirk That there were Jealousies between Argyle and Hamilton 28 An Act passed for continuing the Act for the Militia A Charge of the Grand Jury of Northumberland against one Musgrave who had much traduced Sir Arthur Haselrigg ordered by the Councel of State and Musgrave committed 29 Letters that means are used in Spain by the King and his Councel to give Satisfaction to the Parliament of England for the Murder of their publick Agent Mr. Ayscham there but that the Church opposed the punishing of the Murderers being fled to Sanctuary But the Parliament insisted upon it to the Spanish Ambassadour here to have them punished or no further Treaty with that Crown 30 Letters of divisions among the Irish by the Popish Clergy And Opposition made against Ormond and Inchequin That the Rebels in Kerry being 5000 Foot and 500 Horse dispersed the Quarters of C. Le Hunt And that Major General Waller was gone to fight them That divers Robberies and Murders were committed near Tade after and the Thieves demanded of those they robbed whether they had taken the Ingagement 31 Letters of the Kings going about to several Rendezvous and Garrisons to encourage the Souldiers That a Party of Horse from Sterling took seven or eight stragling Souldiers of the Parliâ— ments February 1650. 1 The Parliament appointed the Lord Chief Justice St. John and Mr. Strickland to go Ambassadors extraordinary to the States of the United Provinces Strickland had been Agent there before and for his Experience thought â—it to be sent with St. John who was Cromwells Creature and his Disposition suited with such an Imployment which met with good Abilities though not much versed in Forraign Affairs or Languages Mr. Strickland was an honest rational Gentle-man and versed in the Dutch Business but St. John was looked upon as the principal man The number of Ships and men agreed upon for the reducing of the Barbadoes A difference between C. Sidney Governour of Dover and his Officers referred to the Councel of State 3 Letters of an allarm taken by the Enemy at Sterling upon notice that the English Army intended a March thither That many of their new listed men run away That C. Fenwick Summon'd Hume Castle to be surrendred to General Cromwel But the Governour answered That he knew not Cromwel and for his Castle it was built upon a Rock That the General Assembly of the Rebels in Ireland which they call their Parliament declared their due and perfect obedience to his Majesty Yet that they will insist upon the Articles of Peace and provide against the violation of them And that the King being in the hands of the Scots Presbyterians who had vowed the extirpation of their Religion they would receive no Governour from him whil'st he was in this unfree Condition 4 Order that the Kings Arms be taken down in all publick places and the Armes of the Common-wealth set up in the room thereof and the charge of it paid out of the Parish-Rates and the Justices of Peace Church-wardens and other Officers to see this order executed An Additional Act passed for the sale of Fee-Farm Rents Letters of the Commissioners safe arrival in Ireland 5 Letters that the Ministers about Leverpoole refused to observe the Thanksgiving Day Of several Prizes brought in 6 Letters of an agreement of the Ministers of Somerset and Devon to refuse subscribing the Ingagement or observing the Orders of Parliament
had a Colonel a Captain and about 14 of the Parliaments Souldiers Prisoners with them whom they kept in a Cellar and as he understood they intended to starve them That there are 25 Men of War belonging to Jersey Scilly the Isle of Man and Galloway 18 Letters That the Scots have chosen a Committee of Sixty to mannage the Affairs of the War with the consent of the Kirk Of Recruits come to the English Army and of four or five Prizes taken by the Parliaments Ships and brought into Leith and one worth 10000 l. with Commanders in her and one small Vessel taken by the Enemy 19 Letters That the Scots Parliament House raised the value of Coins as a 12 d. to 13 d c. That their Army was come up to 20000 l. That Money was come from the Parliament of England to their Army and flat-bottom'd Boats 11 Letters That a Party of Horse of the Enemy entred Lithgow but were beaten back the Governour was dangerously wounded and two of his Souldiers killed That the General had ordered a Rendezvous of all his Horse at Muscleborough That the English Ambassadors at the Hague were freer from Affronts than formerly since a Placart published by the States against them and punishing two or three Offenders That a Servant to C. Butler of the King's Party was apprehended for being one in the late Tumult at the Ambassadors House and confest his Master set him on The States ordered six of their Guards to watch every night at the Ambassador's Gate That the E. of Oxford and C. Sidney were gone into Flanders to fight a Duel with Seconds An Act passed for pressing 10000 Men as there should be occasion within one year An Act passed for continuing the Committee of the Army and Treasurers at War Another for continuing the Jurisdiction of the Court of Admiralty Letters from the Lord Deputy of the D. of Lorraines Undertakings with the Earl of Clenrickard for Assistance of the Rebels in Ireland That Van Trump lay before Scilley and declared That he would assist the English against it Of more Prizes taken by the Jersey Pyrates and of Captain Bennet's fighting with two of them four hours and came off with the Ships to whom he was Convoy Of a Prize brought in by Capt. Pen. That Lieutenant General Fleetwood by Command of the Councel of State published a Proclamation for all Officers and Souldiers by a Day to repair to their several Charges 23 Letters of Ships going out from Plimouth towards Jersey Of Recruits going for Ireland 24 Letters of the Fleets Arrival at Scilley and of the Guns heard from thence That the Governour of Weymouth set out a Boat full of Souldiers to couvoy some Vessels which a Jersey Pyrate espying came up to them and the Boat with Souldiers suffered the Pyrate to lay them on Board the Souldiers lying unseen but when the Pyrates men were on Board the Souldiers appeared and gave them such a Welcom that they hasted away and hardly escaped leaving the Captain and 12 of his Men dead 25 Letters of the General and his Army Marching out towards Fife That Captain Howard was made Captain of the Life-Guard and Captain Beak Lieutenant That the General contributed 50 l. and the Officers of the Army contributed freely to the Relief of the Necessities of the Godly People in Scotland 26 Letters That the General quartered at Hamilton and the Army about him That his March Allarm'd the Enemy that way and the Parliaments Ships allarm'd and kept them in Action at Brunt Island and that way where they made shew to attempt the Island to amuse them 28 Letters of the Armies March to Glascow where the Scotch Ministers railed in their Sermons against the English Army of Sectaries unjustly invading their Countrey and throwing down all Power both in Kirk and State That the General sent for those Ministers and moderately debated those Matters with them and shewed them wherein they were mistaken and thus sought to win them by fair means rather than to punish them That the Parliaments Commissioners in Ireland set forth an Order That the Lands of some of the Chief Rebels should not be under the Protection of the Parliaments Forces as the King's County c. And that all Persons Friends to the Parliament should by a Day remove themselves Goods and Families from those Places and the Commissioners are to assign them Lands in other Places 29 Orders touching Maimed Souldiers for their Relief Letters That 2000 of the Parliaments Souldiers and Seamen were Landed in the little Isles on the West of Scilly and That the Ordnance were heard thundring there many hours together 30 Letters That the English Ambassadors at the Hague received from the Councel of State the Votes of Parliament for their Return home which was sudden and unexpected both to the Ambassadors and to the States The Truth was That the Lord Ambassador St. John was irritated against the States by the Affronts offered to them at the Hague and not punished and he had little hopes of dispatching the Treaty with them according to his Mind especially as to his Proposal of Coalition He therefore sent his Judgment to his private Friends in Parliament who sway'd the House and as unexpectedly there as elsewhere the House passed their Vote for Recalling their Ambassadors from Holland Upon this News the States sent presently to the Ambassadors to know the Certainty thereof and expressed much trouble and sorrow That the Ambassadors would return before the Treaty were brought to a Conclusion and earnestly at several times by one of their own Number sent to them and pressed the Ambassadors to stay They answered That they must obey the Order of Parliament But at length they sent Mr. Thirloe the Lord St. John's Secretary back with the Messenger to England to know the further Pleasure of the Parliament concerning their Stay or Return That in the mean time the States proceeded in the Business of the Treaty with England and laid aside all other Affairs and professed great Desire of a near Amity with England and said that Time must perfect all things That six of the Ambassadors Gentlemen going up into Germany to see those Parts were taken Prisoners by some Lorain Troopers and pillaged and were to pay 1200 l. for their Ransom May 1651. 1. Letters that Major-General Harrison and Collonel Rich were come with their Forces in Lancashire and an account of Recruits going willingly for Ireland 2. That the General was at Glascow that the Enemies Levyes went on slowly and the factions of Hamilton and Argile were very high Letters That the Parliaments Fleet at Scilly had taken Grinsby after 3 times being beaten off and that they had taken 2 Irish Frigats of 30 and an other of 24 Gunns 3. Letters of a boat Loaden with Oats taken by the Scots That the Parliaments Soldiers at Scilly had taken all the Islands except St. Maries and had taken 3 of their Frigats killed 14 of
the sickness of the General From Waterford That the Army fell upon the Rebels beyond the Shannon did some execution upon them and brought away some booty That they rejoyced to hear that the Parliament had sent a Fleet towards Dunkirk to keep in the Duke of Lorrains Fleet if they should attempt any thing upon Ireland That Prince Rupert was gone to Sea with 5 Ships and 2 Fire-ships That 2 French Ships laden with Silk were taken by the English 27. The Parliament sent a Message to the General to desire him to retire for his health to some convenient place in England for the fresh Air and to intrust the Army in the mean time in such hands as he should think fit The Parliament discharged all Recognizances Fines and Amercements and Process upon them untill 30 Jan. 1648. That the General being Sick of an Ague the Officers of the Army provided to march without him That several Ships were arrived at Lieth with Provisions for Men and Horse That Prince Edward was summoned to appear at the Hague to answer his misdemeanor against the English Ambassadors That the 6 Gentlemen of the English Ambassadors who where taken Prisoners by Collonel Hatter the Lorreiner were carried by him to the Spaw to drink the waters there with him and there a Gentleman who had received civilities in England looking earnestly upon them imagined that they were gentle-men in some distress inquiring of them was told all the story of their being surprised by Collonel Hatter upon which the Gentleman raised the Town and rescued the English Gentlemen from the Collonel and brought them from thence in liberty to Lymburgh That there the English Gentlemen bragging of their good fortune and that now they should save 1200 l which they had promised to pay to Collonel Hatter for their ransom This coming to the Ear of the Governour of Lymburgh he kept the English Gentlemen in restraint and told them That seeing they had ingaged to pay 1200 l to Collonel Hatter for their ransom and that now they were fallen into his power in Lymburg that they should pay the same Summ to him which they should have paid to Collonel Hatter That the States sent to the PrincessRoyal to the Duke of York and to the Queen of Bohemia to desire them that none of their trains might be suffered to offer any affront to any of the English Ambassadors company whom the States had taken into their Protection and would not regard any great Person that should affront them That they all promised to conform to the States desire That they caused a new Court of Guard to be built at the English Ambassadors door That they visited the Spanish Ambassador who had been very courteous to them by their desire had written to the Governour of Lymburgh who was under the Spanish Jurisdiction to set free the Ambassadors Gentlemen in his power without any Ransom That the Dutch inquired much after the Affairs in Scotland and seemed inclinable to a good Correspondence with England 29. An account of Recruits for Ireland That the Scots Foot were very poor in Cloaths and both Men and Horse in great want of Provisions 30. Letters That the Earl of Derby was victualling and furnishing his Castles in the Isle of Man Letters That the Enemy took some Cows from the Garrison of Charlemont which the Lord Caufield having notice off lay in the way and met them in their return killed about 30 of them and took 120 Arms and brought away the Cows That another party of the Enemy came into the English quarters who routed them and took divers of them That the Foot at Scilly entred at St. Maries Island and that those in the Castle were in great want of water 31. Letters That the Country between Edenburgh and Dunbar was full of excellent Corn. That there were many Ships come into Lieth with Provisions A Soldier shot to death for killing his fellow Soldier in a Duel June 1651. 2. The Parliament ordered 2 Physicians Dr. Wright and Dr. Bates to go into Scotland to attend the General and to take care of his health they being his usual Physicians in London and well esteemed by him they were by this time come to Edenburgh 3. Letters of several incounters with the Rebels in Ireland who in all conflicts were worsted by the Parliaments Forces 4. That the Scots lay still in their Quarters onely sometimes by parties they fell into the quarters of the Parliaments Forces neer them but were as often repulsed as they made any Attempt 5. Debates in Parliament and several Orders for Mony and Recruits for the Armies in Scotland and Ireland 6. An account of Recruits marching and of some Shipped for Ireland and others sent by land for Scotland 7. Account of Prizes taken by the Parliaments Ships 9. Letters of the General his good recovery of Health again and that the Doctors were returned from him Of a Ship loaden with Oats taken from the Scots That the Malignants with the King did some of them cause the Soldiers to plunder some of the Presbyterians by whom they had formerly Suffered That Major-General Massy had found out new inventions of fire works and Engines of War That Major-General Harison was advanced with his Brigade to the furthest part of Cumberland That the Enemy took all the Horses and 20 Men of Captain Wrights Troop the Horses being at Grass That some of the Duke of Lorraines Forces were come down about Dunkirk but retired upon the coming of General Popham thither That the Parliaments Ships chased and forced 3 Dunkerkers to run on Shoar Letters from the General acknowledging the favour of the Parliament in sending the Doctors to him and giving him leave to come into England for his health That he hath unexpectedly been restored to Health by the goodness of God 10. Letters That the Assembly of the States was adjourned for a week and that they thought the propositions made by the English Ambassadors to be too much for them to consent unto That Holland is more inclinable to an agreement with the Ambassadors than the other Provinces are That fair words are given and now and then a visit to the Ambassadors by some of the Deputies who are not gone Home That the rest are jealous of Amsterdam as if they designed to make themselves like Venice to domineer over all the other Towns 11. Letters That upon intelligence of a great party of the Enemy drawn out upon design to fall upon the English Garrison at Hamilton the General sent Collonel Whaley with 8 Regiments of Horse to bring off the Garrison which he did and slighted the House That Major-General Massy was making of Leather Ordnance and Fire-works for the Scots Soldiers to carry on the top of their Pikes to slaughter his own Country Men. That the Scots Parliament have nulled the Act of Classis whereby all Hamiltons and Montrosses party may be of all Parliaments and Judicatories
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
to this Parliament which many wondred at and sought to disswade him from upon all opportunities as far as was thought convenient and that they might not appear desirous to continue their own power and sitting in Parliament whereof they had Cause to be sufficiently weary Neither could it clearly be foreseen that their design was to rout the present Power and so set up themselves against the which they were advised as pulling down the Foundation of their own Interest and Power and the way to weaken themselves and hazard both their cause and Persons Yet still they seemed zealous upon their common Pretences of Right and Justice and publick Liberty to put a period to this Parliament and that if the Parliament would not shortly do it themselves that then the Soldiers must do it Some who earnestly declared their Judgment against this as the most dangerous and most ungrateful thing that could be practised by this freedom gained no favour with Cromwell and his Officers But there wanted not some Parliament Men perhaps to flatter with them who soothed them in this unhandsome design and were complotting with them to ruine themselves as by the consequence will appear Letters of Dutch Free-booters and French Pickeroons infesting the Coast and that in Brittain they were building new Ships of War to infest the English That Prince Rupert with 3 Ships only was come into Nantes that he could give no account of his Brother and his Ships which were seperated from him by a Hurricane in the Indies and he believed they were cast away From Legorn that the Duke by the instigation of the Dutch demanded restitution of the Phaenix recovered by a bold adventure of the English and the Duke sent to Captain Bodiley that he having refused to restore the Phaenix to the Dutch it was his Highnesses pleasure that all the English Ships should depart the Port within 10 dayes and Bodiley prepared to depart accordingly That the Dutch Admiral sent a Protest on shoar by 4 of his Captains that if his Highness would not restore the Phaenix they would fall upon the English Ships in the Mole and they warned other Ships to withdraw Thereupon the Dutch were commanded to retire out of Shot of the Castles and their Consul on Shoar was sequestred a guard put upon his House and all the Dutch clapt into hold 22. An Act passed for continuing the imposition upon Coals towards the building and maintaining of Ships Another passed for Continuance of the Customs Instructions debated in the House for the Lord Viscount Lisle to go Ambassador extraordinary from the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England to the Queen of Sweden The Speaker acquainted the House that he received Letters from the States of Holland and West Friezland the House referred to some of their Members to examine the Messenger and appointed a day for debate of the Letters The Fairfax Frigot of 50 Guns was in Chatham burned by accident of a Candle or snuff of Tobacco A Proclamation was published in St. Maloes that no eatable Provisions nor Pitch Tarr or Cordage should be exported on forfeiture of the Vessels and Goods From Edenburgh that some Clans in the High-lands had meetings and rendezvous and that they have meetings in the Low-lands and that the general Assembly and the Remonstrators or dissenting Brethren meet in several places and carry on a different Interest That Commissary Grey and others of the High-land Party were taken by the Parliaments Army From the Hague the Victory is now confest to be of the English side in the late Ingagement at Sea they having seen the names of their Ships that are lost and finding their Hospitals crowded with Sea-men and the number of them aboard Lessened That they wonder at the sudden and great preparations of the English Fleets and are discontented that their trade is gone that in a late mutiny about pressing of Seamen there 30 were killed That the States told the People that some were coming from England to offer terms of Peace That the States had sent a Letter to the Parliament lamenting the bloodshed of Protestants by this unhappy difference and how much better it would be to have an Vnion and Amity Upon the Debate of the Letter from the States the Parliament referred it to the Councel of State to prepare an answer to it From Edenburgh that the dissenting brethren have ordered some particulars concerning Kirk Affairs as for the more orderly and frequent Administration of the Sacrament and excluding of prophane Persons from it From Jersey that in a Fight at Sea between an Ostender and a Barque of Jersey she was taken by the Ostender and they were met with by a Parliament Frigot who brought them both into England From Weymouth That since the last Northerly Winds the Fisher-men fish nothing but Ship-wrack and dead men and that the French are unwilling to believe that the English did beat the Dutch in the late Ingagement That the French Rovers and the Dutch do much harm upon the English Coast Letters from the Officers and Soldiers at Edenburgh in answer to some Letters from the Army in England wherein they all agree to join for the reformation of things amiss and that Justice and liberty may have a free passage This was but in effect a proceeding in their contrivances to pull down the Parliament and to set up themselves A Letter passed in the House in answer to the Letter from the States and setting forth the Parliaments readiness as formerly to have prevented these Wars and to prosecute a fit way to close up the same and to settle amity peace and a mutual confidence between the 2 Nations Of discontents among the Dutch missing many thousands of their Friends since the late Ingagement but the Lords tell them that the men are safe in the Ports of France that they threaten to block up the Thames That they cry up the King of Scots Interest and that he hath offered to serve them at Sea in Person but that Holland will yet give no ear to it That they murmur at a new Tax and some refuse to pay it of 2 Dutch Ships taken Prize Of 3 Declarations of the Scots Presbytery publish'd 1. Against the Malignant Assembly for espousing the Kings Interest 2. Against the English for breach of Covenant and Toleration of Sects 3. Against the new Scots Dippers Particulars of the Fight in the Streights between the Dutch and Captain Bodeley That the Bonadventure one of his Ships was blown up and all her men lost but seven That the Sampson an other of his Ships was laid on board on one side by a Dutch man of War and fired on the other side by one of their Fireships but most of her men hoped to be saved by getting aboard the Mary that other of their Ships 3 in number were taken by the Dutch That 6 great men of War were sent from the Texel to lye
them to have Fire-Arms or Ammunition 4. Letters that Argyle finding his Country men would not follow him by reason his Son the Lord Lorn was with the other party he left the Highlands That De Wit convoyed home to the Texel from the Sound the East-India Ships with 375 other Merchantmen and that about thirty Sail from Norwey were come home That young Trump was got home with his Merchantmen through the Channel That the English East-India Ships and other Merchantmen were safely arrived with their Convoy two Men of War and came in sight of young Trump who had Eight men of War yet did not exchange one Shot with them that a great Fleet of Colliers were come into the Thames 5. An Act passed for Repealing part of a former Act that enjoyns the subscribing the Engagement before one shall have the benefit of the Law A Bill committed for the taking away the High Court of Chancery and Constituting Judges and Commissioners for hearing Causes now depending in Chancery and future matters of Equity and for Reforming Abuses in the Common Law 7. Letters of the Cruelty and Insolency of the Highlanders under Kinmore That a Garison of the Parliaments took divers of them Prisoners and many Horses and Arms. Of the preparations in Holland for one hundred Sayl of Men of War 8. Debate of the Bill of the Assesments and the House Ordered the Rates to continue as before An Act passed concerning the Determination of certain Claims depending before the Commissioners of Obstructions 9. A Committee sate upon the Petition of Alderman Fowk late Lord Mayor of London 11. Of a Synode in Scotland among whom was great differences of Opinion with long and sharp Debates Of two French Prizes brought into Plymouth and an other pretending to be an Hamburgher Of a Frigot sent to Jersey for twenty Brass Guns and for two Companies of Soldiers Of two Dutch Prizes more brought into Alborough Sheriffs Nominated for the Counties of England and Wales 12. Letters of two Dutch Prizes brought into Burlington Bay That by great storms at Sea the Dutch lost twenty of their Ships driven a shore most of them Men of War And that De Wit was not returned That in the late storm two thousand Dutch Men were lost and four hundred and seventy Pieces of Cannon That in the storm fifteen breaches were made in the Banks of that Country and some Castles and whole Villages drowned 14. Letters of the French Capers doing much mischief to the English Merchants and cruelly using their Men and that they make Brest another Algiers That the great loss of the Dutch by the late storm at Sea hindred their Admiral Opdam from going forth with the Fleet. Order of Parliament touching the Redemption of the Captives of Algier Letters from the States of Lubeck and Hamburgh to the Parliament of England read in the House 15. The House Nominated some Sheriffs and Debated the Bill of Assesments Letters of a Party of the Highlanders falling upon a small Party of the English of whom they killed one and wounded three of them That Captain Watson fell upon a Party of the Highlanders and did them much damage Of thirteen Dutch and French Prizes brought into Plymouth most of them pretending to be Hamburghers 16. Orders touching claims for Moneys due upon Publick Faith and touching some Sheriffs of Counties 17. The Council of State published an Order Reciting the Trust reposed in them by the Parliament for this purpose they declare that the Council will protect all the good People of these Nations That no disturbance shall be offered to any such in their peaceable Assemblies for the Worship of God It is expected and required of all Ministers of Justice to proceed against the offenders therein as disturbers of the publick peace and all other persons to take notice thereof Order for a Lottery for Provinces and Counties in Ireland as to claims of land there 18. Letters that Kenmores party increased and took many Horses from the Lowlands who were generally their Friends That they plundered the Country and took some Prisoners that they received a Letter from their King that he could not assist them which discouraged them That by the late Inundation in Holland Amsterdam was damaged one hundred thousand l. That their Fleet being seventy two Men of War riding in the Texel were much shattered by the late violent winds sixteen of them lost and fourteen driven on shoar not above six left that were serviceable That the Seamen there are discontented that General Monk was gone down to the Parliaments Fleet. 19. Debate of the power of Patrons in Presenting Ministers and the inconveniencies thereof and Orders for an Act to take away Presentations An Act passed for setling Lands of the late Earl of Darby upon the present Earl his Son Order for a Bill touching the Excise and debate upon the Bill of Assesments That the Pickaroons of Bulloign took an English Merchant Man 21. That the Highlanders Garisoned several Houses that a Party of them took two Captains of Collonel Overtons Regiment going with their Wives to Glascow and took two Soldiers of Colonel Tomlinsons Regiment and that they plundered the Lord Warestons House An Act published for Establishing of a High Court of Justice A great Insurrection and Tumult was at the New Exchange between the Portugal Ambassadors Brother and some of his Company and Collonel Gerrard an English Gentlman who hearing the Portugueses discoursing in French of the Affairs of England told them in French That they did not represent those passages aright Whereupon one of the Portugueses gave him the lye and they all three fell upon Collonel Gerrard stabbing him in the shoulder with a Dagger but being rescued out of their hands by one Mr. Anthuser they retired home and within one hour returned with twenty more Armed with Breast-Plates and Head-pieces but after two or three turns not finding Mr. Anthuser they returned home that night 22. Letters that two thousand Dutch Prisoners of War in England were discharged and come home into Holland That young Trump was come home safe and so was the Dutch Ships from Bergen in Norwey The Portugal Ambassadors Brother returned again to the New Exchange with his Company and walking there they met with Colonel Mayo whom they supposed to have been Mr. Anthuser and shooting off a Pistol as a warning Fifty Portugueses came in with drawn Swords and leaving some to keep the Stayers the rest went up with the Ambassadors Brother and fell upon Colonel Mayo who gallantly defending himself received seven dangerous wounds and lies in a dying condition And then they fell upon Mr. Greenway of Lincolns-Inn who was walking with his Sister in one hand and his Mistriss in the other and Pistol'd him in the head whereof he dyed immediatly they brought with them several Jars filled with Gunpowder in their Coaches stopped with Wax and filled with Matches intending as it seemed to have done some
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
the Fleet Rid in Stoakes Bay May 1654. May 1. Letters that Captain Rogers who was Agent with Glencarn from the King was Executed at Edenburgh upon sentence of the Court Martial for a Spye That General Monck was Arrived at Lieth That a Scotch Gentleman with six of his Men defended a little Tower against the Highlanders and killed four of them A Letter Signed by all the Officers of the Army in Ireland acknowledging the Lord Protector 2 A Proclamation by the Lord Protector for a Cessation of all Acts of Hostility between the Commonwealth of England and that of the Vnited Provinces and for Restitution of Ships and Goods taken after the time mentioned in the Articles of Peace An Address from the Justices of the Peace Magistracy Officers and Grand Jury of Shropshire to the Lord Protector acknowledging his Government 3 Ships sent out from the Texel to call in the Dutch Freebooters That the Lord Ambassador Whitelock pressed for a Conclusion in his business in Sweden and that the Queen had discharged most of her Servants in order to her Resignation 4 That the Lord Protector and his Council did not sit so frequently as formerly and all things went according unto their desire 5 Letters that Collonel Morgan saw the Enemy but could not Engage them for want of Boats to pass the Water and therefore retreated to his Quarters That General Monck was making preparations to visit the Enemy 6 Letters that Middletons numbers did decrease and sometimes increase Of Five French Ships taken by a Frigot and of an English Ship taken by a Private Brest Man of War 8 Letters that General Monk had meetings with the Officers of the Army and they resolved to go to Collonel Morgan That the Peace with England was Proclaimed in Holland and a Day of Thanksgiving appointed for it 9 An Address to the Lord Protector from the Town and County of Pool to the same Effect as others were Letters that the Lord Ambassador Whitelock made a firm Alliance with Sweden and was expected at Hamburgh in few days An Ordinance Published touching the further Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands 10 A Declaration of the Lord Protector for a Day of Thanksgiving for the Peace with Holland and for the late seasonable Rain 11 Of a Discovery made by an Indian to an English Ship of a Plot against them Of a Council of Officers about the dividing the Lands in Ireland A Congratulatory Letter sent from the Army in Ireland to the Lord Protector Of the Solemn Reception of General Monck at Edenburgh and the Proclaiming the Lord Protector there the Feasting of General Monk and the Fire-works That the Highlanders expected the King amongst them and received Supplies of Men Armes and Money by Two Ships from Dunkirk 12 Letters that in Ireland there wanted men to Till the Land That few Tories were left there That Two Brest Men of War came near to Leverpool Letters that in Holland there sticks one particular which hath occasioned some trouble at the Hague to witt his Highness and the Two Ambassadors here who serve for the Province of Holland viz. Beveningk and Newport the other knowing nothing of it agreed a Secret Article That the Province of Holland should not of themselves ever consent That the States General should make the Prince of Orange or any of his Line Stadtholder or Captain General of their Forces by Sea or Land After the Generality had Ratified the Treaty this was propounded in the Assembly of the States every one before having sworn secrecy upon the propounding of it great dissatisfaction arose amongst them but at last they past it being Dissenters Four Noblemen and four Soveraign Towns of the Nobles that agreed to it were Bredrode General of their Forces Opdam Admiral of their Fleet Notwithstanding the Secrecy it came the next day to the States General The other six Provinces have protested against it and Accuse the Two Ambassadors as having done not only beside but against their Instructions But Holland will carry it through all though I verily believe they have great difficulties to contest with the Animosities and Jealousies which are occasioned by this will not easily be Extinguished His Highness hath not yet received the Ratification of this Article from Holland but expects it daily although all endeavours will be used to perswade his Highness to go from it There is included in this Peace besides Denmark the Suissers Hans Townes Count of Oldenburgh the Duke of Holstein and Alliance with Sweden being made there will be a good understanding between most of the Protestant States and opportunities may through Gods Blessing arise from thence to promote that Interest All the question is what is to be done with the Two Crowns of France and Spain They both seek our Friendship and Alliance but nothing is yet done with either of them I trust God will lead to such an Interest as will be for his Glory and the good of this State The Denmark Agent Rosenwing had his Publick Audience since which he hath offered nothing so that the Advertisement concerning him in reference to the Isles of Orcades came in very good time The Treaty with Portugal is not yet come to any Agreement the business of his Brother yet sticks his Highness hath now ordered his Tryal by a special Commission of Oyer and Terminer The Commissioners are my Lord Rolles Justice Atkins Serjeant Steel Doctor Zouch Doctor Clerk Doctor Turner Sir Henry Blunt Mr. Lucy and Alderman Tichburn 13 Letters that the French Pickaroons did much trouble the Fishermen about Rye 15 That the Enemy will not come near to Collonel Morgan A Proclamation by the Commander in Chief in Scotland for Pardon of those in Rebellion who shall come in by a Day And for their Parents and Relations if they shall come in And Imposing a Fine upon every Parish and Presbytery whereof any one continueth in Rebellion if they do not discover him and rewards to those that shall Apprehend any of the Rebels and their Principal Commanders or kill them Order of the Justices of Peace of Wales against Licences to Drovers c. 16 The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London Dined with His Highness the Lord Protector 17 An Ordinance for suspending the Proceedings of the Judges touching relief of poor Prisoners and Creditors 18 Mounsieur Burdeaux the French Ambassadour had Audience by the Lord Protector 19 An Ordinance Published concerning the better repairing of the Highways and another for relief of Debtors in Scotland in some Cases of Extremity That the Lord Ambassador Whitclock having happily Concluded his business with the Crown of Sweden was upon his Journey homewards That Preparations were made for the Queens Resignation and for Crowning the King Charles 20 That Ireland was setled in as much Peace as it was before the Rebellion That General Monk was Marching Northward and Middleton and his Party were raising new Forces That Middletons Brother
was taken and five or six Officers more that General Monk had hanged Two of them for Spies and had burnt an Inn in Muscleborough for harboring them That the Governour of Saint Maloes in France upon some English coming ashore from their Ships to get fresh water took an Allarum killed divers of the Seamen and shot at the Ships but they got off and then he seized the Goods and turned the English out of the Town That the Peace with Holland is entertained here with all satisfaction but is not so on the other side especially because of the Secret Article which Excludes the House of Oranges Family from being Stadtholder of the United Provinces or any of them Besides the Protestation which the other six Provinces made against Holland as to this Remonstrances have been put forth pro and con and but that the Orange Party fears the Protectors joyning with Holland it is more than probable that they had been in Arms one against the other by this time what the Issue will be time will shew Indeavours are used to perswade the Protector to remit the Article but in vain 22 Letters that a Party of Twenty two English Dragoons met with Sixty Scots routed them Killed their Captain Two Cornets and Six more and took divers Horse and Men. The States General Published a Proclamation for prevention of disturbances or Breach of the Peace betwixt England and them That the Spanish Ambassador in Sweden at his taking leave had a present from the Queen worth Eight thousand Rix Dollars 23 Observed as a Day of Publick Thanksgiving for the Peace with the Dutch That some English Men of War meeting with Dutch Merchantmen the Dutch struck Sayl and acknowledged the Soveraignty of England in the Seas and were very civil to the English Of some French Ships taken Prize 24 Divers Apprehended on suspition of a Plot and Conspiracy against the Lord Protector and his Government and to raise a new War Whereupon the Lord Protector set forth a Proclamation for a List to be brought in of all Lodgers and of all Inhabitants and of suspected persons in London Westminster and the lines of Communication the List to be delivered into the Council at White-hall 25 Another Proclamation Published by the Lord Protector touching some parts of the Agreement and Peace with the Dutch to be observed Order of the Lord Protectors Council touching the Moneys Collected for Relief of those who suffered by the late Fire at Marlborough 26 Letters of some Pyrates upon the Northern Coasts pretending Commissions from the King of Scots That Middletons Men ran away from him and fed upon Horse-flesh for want of Provisions 27 That General Monck was Marched towards the Hills to observe the Passes and to ingage the Enemy if possible he can 29 An Ordinance Published for preservation of the works of the great Level of the Fenns Debate of a further Act for ejecting Scandalous Prophane and ignorant Ministers Lieutenant Collonel Lilburn moved by his Council in the Kings Bench for a Habeas Corpus but in regard he was a Prisoner in Jersey where the Government is distinct from the Law of England the Habeas Corpus was not granted 30 Letters that General Monck was Marched unto the Hills in Scotland The Commissioners for Arbitration of the losses and damages sustained by the English from the Danes met and began their business 31 One of the Prisoners Committed for the Plot against the Lord Protector made his escape through a House of Office near the Thames Three Frigots of the English Fought with Twenty French Bankers and came off without any damage to them June 1654. Bonfires and Fireworks made in the Low-Countries for Celebrating the Peace with England and great rejoycing by the People there for the Peace and happy Union with England which gave them great and general Contentment 2 Three new Judges made Serjeant Pepys Serjeant Newdigate and Serjeant Windham Letters of a French Prize taken That the Lord Argyle meetting the Lord Glencarns Trumpet and Cook seized upon them and sent them Prisoners to his House and then met with General Monck who had four Regiments of Foot and Eighteen Troops of Horse and Argyle had a considerable number of Men in a Warlike equipage 3 That Vice Admiral Lawson and other Ships were in the North Nine Frigots by the General sent to the Westward 5 Letters that Captain Hilliar with Twenty four Dragoons Routed Sixty of the Enemy killed nine and wounded twelve of them and took many Armes and Horses 6 The General caused Two Ferry Boats to be sunk neer the Highlands to prevent the Enemies passing That Cashel in Ireland was burnt down to the ground wholly in an hour except some few houses in the midst of the Town where the English lived miraculously preserved An Address to the Lord Protector from Warwick congratulating his access to the Government and promising obedience to it 7 Upon the examination of the Plot against the Lord Protector and his Government it appeared that the Conspirators intended to assassinate the Protector and some chief persons in the Government and to proclaim the King with pardon to all except Three persons Sir Gilbert Gerrard and Two of his brothers Collonel Ashburnham Mr. Joseph Ashburnham with several others were under Custody for it An addition made to the Guards at the Tower An Address to the Lord Protector from the Town of Berwick to the effect with former 8 The Protector and his Councel were very busie and sate day and night upon examination of the late Plot against His Highness and His Government 9 The Writs for choosing Members to sit in Parliament appointed to be held the third of September next were prepared by warrant from the Protector and the formes of Indentures between the Sheriffs and the Electors were ordered to be Printed and sent down to the several Sheriffs Letters that General Monck sent forth small parties who met with some of the Enemies about Douglass-Castle and took eight of them in one Place and twelve in an other place and twenty four Horses That Collonel Morgan gave the Enemies a hot Allarm in the Highlands but could not ingage them That divers of Middletons men running away from him and some of them brought back again were put to throw dice and the Tenth Man of them were Hanged or Shot That Montrosses men marching through the Country of Athol did so plunder them that the people rose upon them beat them and took eighty Horse from them 10 Letters that the Marquess of Argyle was raising men and was reconciled to his Son the Lord Lorn and both of them joyned with the English That the Enemy turned the Countess of Southerland out of her House in a Snowy Stormy Night she being weak and sickly and would not suffer her to take any thing out of her house but the Cloaths upon her back 12 Gourdon a cheif Commander of the Enemy came in upon
not many days since they earnestly Laboured to hinder the doing of it now they Shout for Joy because it is done thus are the minds this is the practice of the Multitude whom nothing pleaseth long nothing more than Novelty The Ceremonies being performed at the Cathedral the New King with all His New Subjects and Servants returned back from thence unto the Castle in the same Order as they came thither and by the way He was Saluted by the People with their Loud Shouts of God save the King Thus coming to His Court the Abdicated Queen as He entred looks out of the Window and with a cheerful Countenance and Voice heard by the Company wisheth Her Cousin Joy of His Crown and Government He retires for a while to His private Chamber then is called forth to a Sumptuous Feast where most of the Senators and Nobility did Atend upon Him and rejoyce with Him 13 An Order of the Commissioners for setling the differences according to the Treaty with the Dutch between any of the Subjects of those Common-wealths 14 Letters of ten Days constant march of the English Army in the Highlands burning the Houses and Corn as they marched That they Traced the Enemy four days but could not meet with them nor with any Intelligence of them all the People removing before the Army and all their Goods and Cattle carried away That Middleton got away by water and lost one hundred Horse in his march but would not Engage with the English 15 Letters of a Brest Man of War taken Of a French Banker brought in Loaden with Fish and of eight more of them got away Of two French Prizes brought into Plymouth Of some Tories still abroad in Ireland 17 A List sent in and published of the Names of those who were Elected in the several Shires Cities and Burroughts in England and Wales to Serve in the next Parliament 18 Letters of the Armies March in the Highlands where in fourteen Days they saw neither Man Woman or Child and those they saw afterwards hardly to be called Men or Women by reason of their mishapes The Description of the strange bad Country of Loquaber and Kintal and the Mountains of Admannoth the difficult passages and the almost continual Fog and Rain there Of the Queen of Swedens private coming to Hamburgh 18 Letters of the King of Swedens proceedings in his Government and of his Brother Prince Adolphus his coming to Hamborough in his travail toward France 19 Letters that the English Army could by no means Engage the Forces of the Enemy in the Highlands in Scotland but after a most tedious and difficult march and being in great want of Provisions were returning back 20 A Ship Loaden of one hundred Tun near London Bridge was set on Fire by a Pot of Pitch heating upon the Decks and burnt with all her Lading and divers of her Men and some looking on her were slain with Pieces of her Timber blown up by the Gunpowder in her and much harm done to St. Olaves Church and to Houses near her 21 An other Ship Loaden with Oyl and other Goods had her Powder set on fire and all the Goods in her were burnt and sunck divers Men in her slain and some wounded and much damage done to the adjacent Houses Letters of the Brest Men Freebooters again upon the Western Coast 22 Letters of Middletons Forces being about Dunkel in Scotland eight hundred Horse and twelve thousand Foot much discontented complaining of the King and that amongst them four Horses Shooes were Sold for 15 d. That the English Army are still marching in pursuit of the Enemy 24 The French Ambassador and the three Ambassadors from the States of the United Provinces had Audience of the Lord Protector Letters that Middleton intended to dismount most of his Horse and to make use of his light Footed Highlanders to provoke the English to follow him in the Bogs and to prolong the War That Writs were received in Scotland for Election of Members in that Nation to Serve in the Parliament of England That a Party of Collonel Okeys Men fell upon the Earl of Atholls Men drove them up to their main Body killed three and took four of them upon which Allarum the Enemy fled and the English being tired could not pursue them nor gain intelligence where they were That the King of Scots the Princess of Orange the Queen of Sweden and Prince Adolphus were to meet at the Spaw in Germany 25 Letters of the great meeting at the Spaw with the Queen of Sweden and very many great Persons and Nobility upon which some English Design was expected 26 Mr. Sympson was enlarged from his Imprisonment and had liberty to Preach any where ten Miles from London The Lord Protector Sate very close with his Councel and gave Audience to several Ambassadors 27 Letters of some Tories in Ireland breaking out again into a Rebellion That one hundred thousand were come into Conought and Clare to be Tenants to particular Persons but refuse to become Tenants to the Common-wealth 28 Letters that divers of Middletons Forces left him that the English Vant Guard fell upon their Rear and did much Execution upon them till night prevented further dispute of them That General Blake went out of the Downs with a gallant Fleet as Admiral and Captain Lawson his Vice-Admiral 29 The Dutch sent seventy thousand pound into London for satisfaction of the Losses sustained by the English at the Sound in Denmark according to the late Articles of Peace A. C. came Post from Scotland with Letters from General Monk and from Collonel Morgan of the Routing of the Forces under General Middleton by Collonel Morgan divers killed and taken and his whole Body broken and dispersed Several Scots Officers of Quality taken Prisoners 31 Letters from General Monk to the Lord Protector of the particulars of the Routing of Middletons Army to this effect The Enemy having marched off in a very scattered posture upon our pursuit of them in Argyle and they bending Northwards I held it much necessary in regard that both Horse and Foot with me were much Beaten out with continual Marches to attend their motion slowly having sent to Collonel Morgan with his fresh Party to pursue them as he had Intelligence Who marching out of Baquenorth to Loughgary where he intended to quarter that night he fell upon Middletons Body of Horse who had also appointed that same place for their Quarter after a little resistance the Enemy ran and the pass being narrow and boggy quit their Horses and disperst themselves what Execution is done I have not yet Notice but by divers Prisoners who endeavoured to escape this way I am assured that their whole Body of Horse is routed totally so that they will not be able to get any considerable numbers together among those Prisoners taken there was one brought in by Cornet Baker Lieutenant-Collonel Hay who lately escaped out of Edenbrough Castle
behind and many others were Boged and Tired the People said That never any Army Marched there before The Scots Fired the Houses of their Neighbors as they Marched and Besieged the Marquiss of Argyle till upon the Approach of General Monk they fled and left behind them many Horses and Portmautnes and some of their Soldiers hid themselves under the Rocks but were taken the English could not pursue them by reason of the Boggy Hills but Middletons Forces dispersing were Reduced from four thousand to two thousand Men. 15 A Recognition from Ely presented to the Protector wherein they desired that Mâ—n fearing God might be put into the Commission of the Peace and Supernumerary Ale-Houses Suppressed Prophaness Sabath breaking Swearing and Drunkness Prohibited and Virtue and Piety Advanced to which he gave a pleasing Answer 16 Returns of Parliament Men Examined by the Councel An Ordinance passed for Reforming abuses upon the River of Thames Another passed Authorizing Commissiones to appoint Magistrates and Councels for the Borough in Scotland Another passed for Moneys for General Blake Members for Ireland Returned to Serve in Parliament of England The Hollanders complained of wrongs done them by the French Pyrates 17 General Monk continued his pursuit of the Highlanders and gave Orders to Collonel Morgan to follow them another way yet to be near him 18 Middletons and Glencarns Forces upon the Approach of General Monk fled further into the Hills 19 Great working in Holland to Receive the young Prince of Orange for their General and Admiral 21 The English Army in the Highlands burnt the Houses and destroyed the Corn of those who were in Arms against them or refused to pay their Sesses The Election of Members in Scotland to Serve in the Parliament of England went on slowly yet some were chosen and Returned One Humphrey Marston who had killed two of the Sergeants Men who came to apprehend him by a Warrant of the Councel and fled upon it beyond Sea returned into England and betook himself to Coyning for which he was taken and Hang'd before the Doors where he killed the Sergeants Men. Divers Coyners of Money Clippers and Sellers were Apprehended 22 A Committee of the Councel sate for Examining the Elections of several Members for the Parliament An Ordinance passed for the Regulating the Jurisdiction of the Chancery Another passed Appointing Commissioners to Survey the Forrests c. Several Ordinances passed for discharge of Sequestrations and for Payment of Moneys The French Ambassador Monsieur Burdeaux had Audience of the Protector 23 An Ordinance passed for Naturalizing William Hanmor Son of Sir Thomas Hanmor Another passed for Stating the Arrears of General Monk and to have them out the Rebels Estates in Ireland Another passed for Repealing the Powers of the Commissioners for Managing the Affairs of Ireland Another passed for Appointing Salaries for the Councel in Ireland General Monk got a Considerable pass from Middleton The Moss-Troopers fell upon some good People when they were at Church and Receiving the Scrament and carryed away their Horses c. 24 Deputies in Hollond about the Young Prince of Orange his Commands Many Scots submitted to Mercy The Members Chosen in Ireland to Serve in the Parliament of England Returned to the Councel 25 A Mutiny of the Keelmen at Newcastle for increase of Wages Twenty nine Moss-Troopers sent to Berbadoes Letters that Middleton and several other Persons of Note had Shipped themselves to go beyond the Sea and divers others were taken Prisoners 26 Some Prisoners on Bord a Ship Mutined and put the Officers and Seamen under the Deck but another Ship coming up to them and giving them a Broad-side they submitted The Brest Men of War troubled the Bristol Merchants Three French Bankers brought thither for Prizes 28 Letters from Collonel Morgan to the Protector That he had Gleaned up most of Middletons Men and that his Foot were gone Home Glencarn and Montross sent to General Monk that they might be received upon Terms of life A House of the Enemy taken and burnt by Collonel Twisleton An Ensign and six Soldiers surprized by the Highlanders and two more killed by them after Quarter given and the Commander told them whilst they were Murdering of them that they had no Barbadoes to send them to but would send them to Heaven or Hell Five Sheriffdomes in Scotland Returned that not one sit to be a Parliament Man was to be found within their Liberty 29 The States of Hosland and Zealand sent a Letter to the Protector directed To the most Screne and High Lord Oliver Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland It was in Answer to a Letter they received from him and they made great Professions of their sincerity in the Inviolable Observation of the late Treaty of Peace between the two Common-wealths 30 Several Ordinances passed concerning private Businesses An Ordinance passed for Ejecting Scandalous Ignorant and Insufficient Ministers by Commissioners appointed in each County Another passed for the calling to Account the Commissioners upon the Act for Propagating the Gospel in Wales Another passed for the Sale of four Forrests An Order for Relief of well affected Persons in Cheshire and Lancashire Tenants to the Popish and Delinâ—uent Landlords 31 The Ordinance published for Regulating the Jurisdiction of the Chancery and the Tables of the Officers Fees Printed September 1654. Sept. 〈◊〉 Athell with his two Scots Regiments submitted to General Monk And Glencarn was upon Treaty of Submission There were not one hundred Scots left together in a Body The Queen of Swedens intention to come into England was made known to the Protector but he would not give her any Encouragement he put it all upon the ill Example she would give here by her Course of life 3 The Lords day yet the day of the Parliaments meeting the Members met in the After-noon at Sermon in the Abby Church at Westminster after Sermon they Attended the Protector in the Painted-Chamber who made a Speech to them of the Cause of their Summons after which they went to the House and Adjourned to the next Morning 4 The Protector Rode in State from White-Hall to the Abby Church in Westminster some hundreds of Gentlemen and Officers went before bare with the Life-Guard and next before the Coach his Pages and Lacquayes richly Clothed on the one side of his Coach went Strickland one of his Councel and Captain of his Guard with the Master of Ceremonies both on Foot on the other side went Howard Captain of the Life-Guard In the Coach with him was his Son Henry and Lambert both sate bare After him came Claypole Master of the Horse with a Gallant led Horse richly Trapped next came the Commissioners of the Great Seal and of the Treasury and divers of the Councel in Coaches and the Ordinary Guards He Alighting at the Abby Door the Officers of the Army and the Gentlemen went first
Middlesex for suppressing disorderly Innes and Ale-Houses 7. The Lord Commissioners Fiennes Strickland and Whitelock went to the Sweedish Ambassadors House as Commissioners from the Protector to Treat with him where they had a long debate touching Levies of Soldiers and hiring of Ships in one anothers Dominions which had been propounded by the Ambassador and certain Cautions put in by the Counsel here as to be only in such places and Ports as the Chief Governour of the Countrey where it was to be done should approve and not to be employed against the others Friends Against those Cautions the Ambassador offered Reasons That it would then be in the power of him in whose Countrey these were to be hired or levyed to make it wholly Fruitless by appointing inconvenient places as by his Master in Finland or by the Protector in Ireland or the like To which the Commissioners answered That the Chief Governour of the Countrey knew best the Condition of it and the State of Affairs there which might be much endamaged if the stranger should have the appointment of the places and then if either had a mind to break the Treaty It would not be difficult to find an occasion for it And that in these cases there must be a mutual considence in the Justice and Honour of each other After much debate this Expedient was propounded and not held unreasonable That the chief Governour of the Countrey where the Soldiers were to be levyed or Ships hired In Case he should not think fit to consent to the place desired he should then appoint some other convenient place for the accommodation of the party desiring it and as near as might be to the place which he desired As to the not Imploying the Soldiers or Ships against the Friends of the Party in whose Country they were had it was propounded by the Ambassador and not opposed by the Commissioners That the Soldiers might be employed defensively as in Garrisons but not offensively against the others Friends But concerning Ships the Ambassador insisted upon a Liberty to imploy them against the others Friends if those Friends attempted any disturbance of the Seas or Trade of him that hired the Ships and both parties instanced in case of the Kings of France or Denmark but neither instanced in case of the Hollanders though they were most intended The Point was left to further Consideration and there were other debates concerning the Form of Passports for Ships pursuant to the Treaty made by Whitelock in Sweden to which they referred it and also that point of the disturbance of Navigation after long debate such Passports they held would occasion deceipt and hardly be so framed as to avoid it In discourse with the Dutch Ambassador he was passionate even to indiscretion blaming the neglect of sending to the King of Sweden from the Protector and urging the Necessity of yet doing it speedily Being asked for what End he answered Concerning Trade and to prevent the doing of that which would be a hinderance to it intimating the Kings great Successes From the discourse it might plainly be Collected that he laboured to get an Ambassador sent from hence to Sweden chiefly for the advantage of their Trade Collonel Nappier being in France and in good repute there sent his Brother into England to procure leave to Transport some Irish from Ireland into the Service of France as a Recruit to his Regiment there But the Protector was not willing to suffer the Irish to go into the Service of France 9. The Sweedish Ambassador received new Advices from the King his Master concerning the great business of Uniting the Protestant Interest and owned that he had sufficient Instructions to conclude upon the General but that particulars could not so soon be determined nor so well as upon the place That it would be a difficult matter to Unite the several Protestants who have different Interests and that it would prove a long business Therefore his opinion was That it was not a Seasonable time for a general Vnion of the Protestant Interest But that if the King of Sweden and the Protector made a Conjunction first they might fall upon the Emperour and the House of Austria which would be of great advantage to England especially now they had War with Spain and that some Supply of Money and Men afforded to the King upon such a design would be of more benefit to the Protector than the sending out of great Fleets to the Indies and to the Coast of Spain which would return no benefit to this Nation But it was answered That notwithstanding the vast Expences of our Fleets at this time yet a War being begun with Spain it must be maintained and the War prosecuted with Vigor the People of England being ever contented to bear the Burden of their Taxes rather than the Injuries and Insolencies of their Enemies The Opinion of the Swedish Ambassador was plainly to be collected not to admit the Dutch to be Joyned in a Treaty with us affirming That if we would have the Dutch to be equal with us in point of Trade he thought it the way to overthrow the Trade of England The Dutch being able to Sell at under rates trading with less charge both for Ships Men and Victuals than the English could with this That the King his Master did not look upon the Duke of Briganza or the King of Portugal but upon the Salt that came from thence nor upon the King or Parliament or Protector of England but upon the Cloth and Nation acknowledging a due Civility to whomsoever they found Chief in the Government That it was the same reason for the Dutch to follow their Trade in the Baltick Sea as they might whether the Commodities thereof were in the hands of King Cassimere or of his Master It was objected That if they were all in one Hand and Power unreasonable Gabels might be required He answered That when that was they might complain but he believed it would not be at all 13. Fiennes Scrickland and Whitelock proceeded in the Treaty with the Sweeds Ambassador at his House they had long debates touching Contrebanda Goods in which list was inserted by the Councel Corn Hemp Pitch Tar Money and other things The Ambassador said That if they would likewise add Copper and Iron it would take in all the Commodities of his Masters Dominions and he might insist upon Cloath to be added which was as necessary for Soldiers as Corn and Money They answered That the particulars added were most usefull for War especially for our present Enemy the Spaniard and it was our Interest to debar him thereof The Ambassador said that in the Enumeration of Contrebanda Goods the present Condition of Affairs was not to be looked upon but how they were when the Treaty was made with Whitelock in Sweden by which the Enumeration was to be made within 4 Months then following And that as Hemp and Pitch were necessary for
Ships of War so they were also for Merchandise which was not intended to be barred Whitelock then gave them an account of the Treaty made with him and how that agreed the Enumeration to be and what debates were in Sweden with him about it but referred by him to an after Enumeration It was alleadged also That Contrebanda Goods were such as were ready for present use of War Not such as were Materials for Preparation and they urged that they had made the like Enumerations in other Treaties and a saving of Corn to be no Contrebanda Goods else it had been included and they said that there was no certainty what Goods were or were not Contrebanda but as was agreed by Stipulation This was referred to a further Consideration and a more full Answer to be given to it They had likewise debate touching the Form of a Passport in pursuance of Whitelock's Treaty at which the Commissioners did stick and offered their Objections as formerly they had done but could not come near to an Agreement At length the Ambassador propounded That a free Ship should make Free goods and Free goods a free Ship which was not held unreasonable At their parting the Ambassador also propounded to take into Consideration at their next meeting the giving of satisfaction for the Losses susstained by either part in the late Wars between England and Holland with the rest of the particulars in Whitelock's Treaty referred to a future Consideration and Treaty whereof Whitelock gave them an Account 20. The Swedish Ambassador kept a Solemnity this Evening for the Birth of the young Prince of Sweden All the Glass of the Windows of his House which were very large being new built were taken off and instead thereof painted Papers were sitted to the places with the Arms of Sweden in it and inscriptions in great Letters testifying the rejoycing for the Birth of the young Prince in the inside of the Papers in the Rooms were set close to them a very great number of Lighted Candles glittering through the Papers the Arms and Colours and writings were plainly to be discerned and shewed glorious in the Street the like was in the Stair-Case which had the Form of a Tower In the Balconies on each side of the House were Trumpets which Sounded often 7 or 8 of them together The Company at Supper were the Dutch Ambassador the Portugal and Brandenburgh Residents Coyett Resident for Sweden the Earls of Bedford and Devon the Lords St. John Ossery Bruce Ogleby and 2 or 3 other young Lords The Count of Holac a German the Lord George Fleet-wood and a great many Knights and Gentlemen besides the Ambassadors Company 25. The Swedish Ambassador went to visit Whitelock and told him That now the Business of sending an Ambassador from hence to Sweden was over and there was at present no occasion for it for this their reasons he alledged were a Peace concluded betwixt the King of Sweden and the Elector of Brandenburgh And the proceeding of the Treaty here Intimating that he was sufficiently Impowered to conclude what was at present requisite between his Master and the Protector and that there was no likelyhood but there would be also a good understanding between the King of Sweden and the Vnited Provinces 28. Some of the Swedish Ambassadors Gentlemen had a little Quarrel with two Fidlers in a Tavern and beat them for calling the Gentlemen Swedish Dogs and other foul Language and ill carriage of the Fidlers who were drunk yet Alderman Tichburn bound over the Gentlemen to the Sessions being apprehended by a Constable and the Fidlers in actions of Battery against one of the Gentlemen had a Verdict for Forty pounds Damages The Ambassador was highly exasperated at this afront and as he called it breach of the Priviledge of an Ambassador and complained of it upon which his Servants had no further Trouble which gave full Contentment to the Ambassador 29. Fiennes Strickland and Whitelock went to the Swedes Ambassadors House where they proceeded in the Treaty and had much debate upon the Article of Restitution which the Ambassador pressed as pursuant to Whitelock's Treaty and instanced in several Cases wherein his Masters Subjects had received great Injury and Damage by the Capers of England in time of the War betwixt them and the Vnited Provinces Whitelock acquainted them with his proceedings upon this point in Sweden that it was there demanded to have Restitution made to the Swedes which he denied upon these grounds 1. Because such an Article would seem to admit a wrong done to the Swedes by the English and that Justice could not be had for the same 2. Because such Injuries were relievable in the Ordinary Course of Justice in England as in the Admiralty Court and upon Appeals 3. Because no Restitution could be expected untill the damage and wrong were first made to appear which could not then and there be done and was not to be admitted without proof At length this Epedient was agreed on there That Restitution should be made to either part for dammage Sustained and as it is in the Article After long debate and many Complaints now made by the Ambassador wherein the Admiralty Court here was much reflected upon and the delaies and Injustice of that Court by him opened and not spared it came to this Close The Ambassador was desired by the Commissioners that his Secretary might prepare Abstracts of such particular Cases as he thought fit to insist upon to be presented to his Highness and the Councel who would thereupon cause an Examination to be made of the particulars and would give Order that right should be done as the Cases should require It was now also agreed That at the next meeting they should proceed to a perusal of all the rest of the Matters remaining to be Treated on that after a view of the whole they might come to particular Resolutions and Agreements March 1655. The Mayor Aldermen and divers of the Common Councel of London being sent for came to the Protector who told them the reasons of his appointing Major-Generals in the several Counties as a means to preserve the Peace to suppress wickedness and to encourage Goodness and haveing found the good effects hereof in the Counties he thought fit to appoint Major-General Skippon for the same end in the City And that all care should be had of their Immunities and Government Orders published of the Sessions in Middlesex for the punishment of Rogues Intelligence of the King of Sweden's Successes in Poland That Bishop Goodman of Glocester dyed a Papist A Declaration for a Fast-Day Some Prizes taken of Ostend A Soldier that killed a Gentleman in Lincolne was sent to the Goal The Queen of Sweden imbarqued with 5000 new raised Foot to carry to her Husband into Prussia Letters from Scotland of Popery increasing there From Ireland of new designs of Rebellion care taken for prevention of both The Articles of
reasonable to hinder him from those Supplyes as much as might be and that in case the King of Sweden should have any thing to do with the Emperour that It would be his advantage likewise not to afford those Supplyes unto the King of Spain who had want of nothing more than of those Commodities Whitelock said That at Upsall when mention was made by him of those Commodities to be Contrebanda Goods both the Old Chancellor and his Son the now Chancellor would by no means debate on that Point saying It was not to be mentioned which was one of the Reasons why he thought fit to refer the specifying of them to the Council here and said That he was of the Committee of Parliament who Treated with Mnr. Boneale and it was true that in the List of Contrebanda Goods given in to him these Commodities were not expressed nor was any mention to the contrary but the Council of State whereof he was then a Member did reserve that Particular to their own Judgments and that if they took any Ships whatsoever carrying such Goods to the Dutch their Enemies at that time they did make bold to bring them in and to prevent that Supply to their Enemies The Ambassadour said That surely If the then Council had been of Opinion that such Goods were Contrebanda Goods they would not have omitted them out of the List given to the King of Sweden's Commissioners And said That Cloth was necessary for the Souldiers of every Army Yet If he should Insist upon Cloth to be Contrebanda Goods that none should be carried to the King of Poland's Army or to any of his Enemies he did believe that it being the great Commodity of England that we should hardly be drawn to consent unto it and the same occasion was for Pitch and Tar and Hemp being the great Commodities of his Countrey The Lord Fiennes answered That Cloth was no weapon for Souldiers to offend withall nor could be made use of for that purpose That Corn was as necessary and other Victual for the Souldiers as Clothing and yet we had not specified that to be Contrebanda Goods no more than Cloth That he never saw the List delivered to Mnr. Boneale and therefore could say nothing to it but now we were upon a particular agreement what Goods should be said to be Contrebanda Goods and If we did permit these Commodities to be free The Council were of Opinion that It would be much to our prejudice in this War with Spain Mnr. Coyett then spake in Latin That Pitch Tar and Hemp were not in their own nature nor by the Law of Nations Esteemed Contrebanda Goods and that they were of use for men in Civil things and Other uses which were not Military but for the well-being of men and were also useful for Merchandising as well as for Ships of War and therefore not to be accounted nor ever were esteemed Contrebanda Goods The Lord Strickland said That Guns were also useful to kill Birds and yet were Esteemed always to be Contrebanda Goods Whitelock answered Mnr. Coyett in Latin That he did not know of any Law of Nations at all properly so called and binding universally but that certain things were generally admitted and received by most Nations and particularly relating to Treaties to Merchandize to Matters of War and to Sea Affairs That he had not found or heard of any Law which did define Contrebanda Goods nor any that naturally might be called such but that they were to be Esteemed such or not according to particular Stipulations That the word Contrebanda came of the old French word Ban which signifies an Edict or Proclamation as Ban Arriereban and Contrebanda is as much as to say contra Edictum vel Proclamationem which is agreed upon by the Nations concerned and according as their Interest leads them upon the occasion presented and he thought that these Commodities could not so properly be termed Contrebanda or not of their own nature but the denomination must be given by agreement and not otherwise The Lord Fiennes said That certainly Contrebanda Goods were only such as were agreed to be so and that sometimes a Nation in War with another would by publique Proclamation forbid the bringing of such Goods as they thought fit to be forbidden to be brought to their Enemies and that in our late Wars with the Dutch they did by publique Proclamation forbid the bringing of these other Commodities to England and did seize upon them If they found any bringing hither to us and If we should permit these Commodities to be carryed by the Swedes to Spain The Dutch would expect the like Liberty and so our Enemy would be supplyed by our consent The Ambassadour said It was true that the Dutch did make such a Proclamation as is remembred in the time of our War with them but that no Nation did ever acknowledg the same to be binding and that the Swedes at that time in spight of their Proclamation did bring those Commodities into England and supplyed us in our greatest want of them and that it would be hard now to restrain the People of Sweden from Trading to Spain or elsewhere with those Commodities which were never heretofore reputed Contrebanda Goods Whitelock said That he had formerly perused most of the Treaties which England had made and had three Books Manuscript of Treaties and Transactions between England and Sweden and between England and Denmark and other Northern Parts which the Old Chancellor had looked into with much delight That he could not charge his Memory with particulars of those Treaties because since his Service was not held useful in matters of that nature he had wholly laid them and the thoughts of them aside but that he did much forget If in some of those Especially with Denmark Pitch and Tar and Hemp were not Enumerated among the Contrebanda Goods and If his Excellency thought it might be of ill consequence to be now put into the Treaty there might be a private Article for that only The Ambassadour said That If there should be a private Article for it yet all the People of Sweden must know it and be forbid the carrying of those Commodities and possibly they might be named Contrebanda Goods in a Treaty with Denmark because they had little of those Commodities in their Country Whitelock said That they had great store of Firre in Norway and wheresoever was Firre they might make Pitch and Tar. The Ambassadour said They might make it in Norway but the Country was so Mountainous that it could not he carried to any Port to be transported abroad and that in this business he did believe tho these Commodities were not taken to be Contrebanda Goods yet such course would be taken that our Enemies should not be supplyed with them from the Ports of the King of Sweden where only they were to be had especially Hemp out of Livonia and those Parts and that he knew no other Expedient in thus business but
great strength of it being kept longer it would break the hoopes of the Vessels and be lost and if the least Restraint should be put upon the vending of it to any place the Inhabitants of Finland would think themselves undone and it would be a great prejudice to their Trade besides if it should be forbidden to be carried to Spain it would cause the Spaniard to seek out elsewhere for Pitch and Tar and possibly it might be had in America and if that should come to pass it would wholly overthrow the Trade of Finland Further he said That in case the Spaniard should want their Pitch and Tar that yet he had the Oyl of a certain Fish which he could make use of instead of Pitch and Tar which might turn to the great prejudice of his Masters Subjects The Lord Fiennes answered as formerly these Arguments and said That if the Swedes had so little Trade with Spain the forbearing of it during our War would be the less prejudice to them that the restraint would be only as to Spain not as to any other Nation and but for a time during our War with Spain Whitelock said That the Pitch and Tar from Finland was to be had in great quantities and better and at a lower rate than it would be had from America and so long there would be no danger to the Trade of that Countrey and for the Oyl of the Fish which the Spaniard might make use of it was perhaps in case of Necessity when they could get no Pitch and Tar which was so much to be preferred before that Oyl that the Oyl would never be made use of if they could get the other Whitelock also seconded a Proposition made formerly by the Lord Fiennes That some Declaration should be agreed on that Pitch and Tar was not determined one way or other as to Contrebanda Goods but left to know the Kings pleasire about it and in the mean time it should not be taken to be omitted as not Contrebanda Goods which last part he thought might be left out of the Declaration this was thought worthy Consideration by the Ambassador and from thence they went to the point of Passes Wherein the same Arguments were used as formerly on both parts the Ambassador much enlarging himself in the Repetition affirming also that both this matter of Passes and that of Contrebanda Goods were once agreed upon as now he desired and as he could prove though now the War between us and Spain had occasioned us to stand upon these alterations on our part The Lord Strickland mistaking the Ambassador and very ready to know any thing which might reflect upon Whitelock demanded if these things were agreed in the Treaty of Upsale Whitelock answered That he supposed that Treaty had been perused and no such matter would be found to be agreed in it but the general only that there should be a specification of Contrebanda goods and a Form of Passes to be agreed upon here But Whitelock understood these words of the Ambassador to reflect upon him and upon a Letter which Whitelock by direction here had written to Mr. Laggerfeldt to this effect That he had presented the Form of Passes and the list of Contrebanda goods which was delivered to him at Upsale unto the Councel here and he did not doubt but that there would be a good Agreement upon them But Whitelock not having any Copy of his Letter to Mr. Laggerfeldt nor any writing or order to Warrant his Letter and the Reflection upon it by the Ambassador not being plainly expressed nor observed by his Fellow Commissioners he thought it best not to take notice of it himself nor to draw it in question but insisted upon the Treaty of Vpsale in the Answer to it and again mentioned the former proposition of Commissioners to be appointed for restitution who might also have power to determine the difference upon the bringing in of any Swedish Ship hereafter in a Summary way and to be resident at convenient Ports near the Sea But this the Ambassador did not think good to assent unto and this brought in the debate concerning these Commissioners Wherein the Ambassador insisted to have rules given to the Commissioners for restitution which he had set down in writing and were to this Effect That these Commissioners should give damages to such Swedes whose Ships had been brought in and questioned here during our War with the Low-Countries if those Swedes should bring before the Commissioners Certificates from Port Towns or Governours of the King of Swedens Territories that those Ships so brought in were then belonging to the Kings Subjects The Lord Fiennes said That this seemed not to be reasonable to give Rules now for that which was done before the Rules were given That here and in other places it was no difficult thing to obtain Certificates from Towns upon Misinformations or upon particular Affection and this might prove to the great prejudice of England That in our Treaties with France Denmark and Holland wee had an Article appointing Commissioners for Restitution and in none of them were any such Rules given yet they proceeded to determination of the differences secundum aequum bonum and there was a very good Issue of it Whitelock said That Laws and Rules were not to be made to look back that the particular Cases which should come before the Commissioners were to be considered according to such Circumstances only as were then in question when the business was formerly under Examination and to bring Supplemental Proofs now and to procure subsequent Passes and Certificates might be a means not only to give Restitution to all Swedes but to the Dutch also The Ambassador answered That the Treaties with Denmark and Holland upon the point of Restitution were in single Matters as that of seising our Ships at one time in the Sound and that of Amboyna But in this Treaty it was upon many particulars They agreed it being very late to have a Declaration drawn up as was moved concerning Contrebanda Goods as to Pitch and Tar and Hemp c. and to meet again this day Seven-night 20. Tuesday The Commissioners according to the former appointment met at the Swedish Ambassador's House this Evening where the Lord Fiennes did acquaint his Excellency That since the last Meeting those Matters which remained yet in difference and were not fully agreed upon were tendred to the Councel who upon serious debate and Consideration thereof were of opinion that they would in no wise depart from the former Resolution But thought it very reasonable to be insisted on that Pitch and Tar and Hemp should be accounted Contrebanda goods during our War with Spain and his Highness and the Councel being of this opinion and understanding that there was but little Trade between Sweden and Spain and therefore the inconvenience to have them Contrebanda Goods would be the less to the King of Swedens Subjects but on the other side it would be so great
a prejudice to England to have the Spaniard at this time to be supplied with those Commodities which they had need of His Highness and the Councel did hope that the Ambassador would consent to have them specified amongst the Contrebanda Goods and that the Declaration by way of Expedient drawn up and sent by his Excellencie to the Lord Fiennes being considered by the Councel they were of opinion that the same did determine the question that they should not be accounted Prohibited goods and afterwards Referred them to a future determination and in the mean time it might occasion differences and quarrelling upon that point between the People of both the Nations The Ambassador endeavoured to maintain the reasonableness of that Declaration and said That he would not agree to have Pitch c. to be specified among the Contrebanda Goods and repeated his former Reasons and Arguments at large upon that Subject and in the conclusion said that it was once approved of here after the Lord Whitelocks return from Sweden that they should be lest out of the number of Contrebanda goods as he could make it appear And then called to his Secretary for a Paper which being given him Whitelock did imagine to be a Letter that he had written to Mr. Laggerfeldt and thereupon thought fit to mention it first himself and said that he had observed now and at former debates that the Ambassador did glance at a Letter which he had formerly writ to Mr. Laggerfeldt and lest more might be apprehended of it than the Letter it self would bear he thought fit himself to acquaint what it was which he did imagine the Ambassador intended by those expressions He told them That after his Arrival in England and an account given by him to his Highness and the Councel of his Negotiation in Sweden and the same throughly looked into and approved His Highness and the Councel thought fit to Confirm the Treaty made by him at Upsale and there having been some debate concerning the Articles of Passes and of Contrebanda Goods the same were also ratified with the rest That this being done Whitelock thought fit to certifie Mr. Laggerfeldt thereof which he did by Letters not long after and the Ambassador having before intimated something of these Letters Whitelock thought good to look out the Copies of them amongst his Papers and found nothing in them to this purpose but only that his Highness and the Councel had ratified the Treaty made by him at Upsale and had agreed that there should be a list of Contrebanda Goods and a Form of Passports which was part of that Treaty but nothing was said in that Letter of the Form of Passports or list of Contrebanda Goods given in to him by the Queens Commissioners at Upsale nor that those were by Whitelock delivered in here or that those were agreed upon by his Highness and the Councel That he had not the honour to be of his Highness Councel and that his Commission of Ambassador was then ended and that he wrote this Letter as a private Man and if it had been as a publick Person yet nothing of Weight as to this Matter could be collected out of it the words being as he related To this the Ambassador made no Reply but gave back the Paper again and said he believed that the Lord Whitelock when he was at Upsale would not have insisted that Pitch and Tar and Hemp should be accounted Prohibited Goods The Lord Fiennes said he perceived that there was much debate at Upsale concerning these Points which occasioned the Lord Whitelock to refer the determination of them to the Lord Protector and his Councel to be determined by them here Whitelock said That indeed there was much debate at Vpsale concerning these Matters especially about Passes and he thought fit to refer the determination thereof to His Highness and the Councel and was glad he had done so and the more because of the difficulty now made here about them he did ingenuously Confess that when he was in Sweden England being then in War with the Dutch his Judgment was not to insist upon the having of Pitch c. to be Contrebanda Goods but rather that they should not be esteemed so and his reason was because the Dutch could have them notwithstanding by small Vessels which should take them in at Hamborough or have them brought from Lubeck most part of the way by Water except about 20 miles by Land to Hambourgh and from Hambourgh in those Vessels they could bring them down the Elbe and from thence by the Flats which are shole Waters full of Sand on the Coast of Bremen and so along to Holland without going at all into the open Sea or coming within the danger of our Ships which could not come among those Flats nor hinder the Dutch from having of those Commodities But on the other Side they could not be brought to England but through the wide Sea where they were subject to the danger of being intercepted by our Enemies and if he should then have agreed to have them Contrebanda Goods he conceived the same would have hindred England's being supplied and not have hindred our Enemies having of them But now he said our War with Spain had made a great difference as to that Matter because they could not have them but through the wide Sea where they must be brought by us and we should watch the Conveyance of them The Lord Fiennes then fell upon the point of Passports and said that if his Excellency did not approve of the Proposal for the Commissioners for restitution to examine and determine all differences upon the bringing in of Ships for the future that then a Form of Passports should within a few dayes be sent unto him which the Ambassador seemed to acquiesce in Then the Lord Fiennes said That his Highness and the Councel had likewise considered the Rules which his Excellency had proposed for the Commissioners for Restitution of Damages to walk by and did apprehend the same to be very unequal to make Rules now for Cases that had been formerly adjudged and to give such Regard to Certificates to be now procured for Matters long since past and said that either from some place in Sweden or Denmark or some of those Parts a Counterfeit Pass had been procured as was proved and confessed The Ambassador seemed to be Nettled at the mention of a Counterfeit Pass procured from his Country and said they did so highly value their Honour that if any should do such a thing he would not be received in any honest Company afterwards and said that in his Countrey they esteemed Certificates from good men or from Magistrates of Towns far better Testimony than Witnesses upon Oath if they were not of great Quality who did testifie upon Oath and he much insisted upon the having of those Rules and urged the same Arguments as formerly Whitelock said That to give these Rules to the Commissioners were to make a Law
with a Retrospect and to judge the Cause beforehand but it would be more equal to leave the Commissioners to judge upon all Circumstances and the whole Matter to be before them which would not be if they were tied up by Rules nor could they then proceed secundum aequum bonum The Ambassador replied somewhat impatiently That he should be glad to know whether his Highness and the Councel did intend or not as he hoped they did that restitution should be made to those who had suffered Damage being our Friends during our War with the Dutch and that without some rules to be given to the Commissioners for restitution it would be impossible ever to expect any Satisfaction for their Damages The Lord Fiennes said That it did appear that his Highness did really intend that a just satisfaction should be made for any wrongs done or else he would never have consented to this extraordinary way of Referring it to Commissioners whereof the one half were to be Swedes to determine those Matters when he might have left those Matters to the ordinary Judicatory of the Nation the Admiralty Court for a final determination Whitelock said That the Admiralty Court here did proceed according to the Law used amongst most Nations in Europe in Maritime Affairs and was the Judicatory which both the English themselves and their Friends were to submit unto if they had done any wrong the same would be now examinable before the Commissioners and the Lord Protector had shewed a very real desire to give Satisfaction to the King of Sweden and to his Subjects by consenting to have Commissioners to determine these Matters which he might have left if he had pleased to the Ordinary Judicatory of his own People in the Court of Admiralty The Ambassador had some other touches about Contrebanda Goods and the Lord Fiennes said That they were informed that by the Civil Law Pitch and Tar and Hemp were accounted Contrebanda Goods wherein Whitelock was not so fully satisfied as to second him in this point The Ambassador said That he wished he might have had the happiness to have known the mind of his Highness and the Councel in these Matters 4 or 5 Moneths agone that then he might have returned to his Master and not to have staid so long a time here to no purpose That he could not now stay so long as to send to his Master as the Lord Fiennes moved and to have his Answer concerning these Commodities as to Contrebanda Goods He likewise desired to be excused that he could not consent to a proposal on our Part that Rebels goods and prizes being brought into each others Harbours should be seized upon and all taking Commissions from Charles Steward or from any Prince or Person who was not in Possession of any Territories should be taken for Pirates Whitelock said That there was a clear difference between Enemies and Rebells agreed by Grotius and the antienter Civilians that where there is an Allegiance there to take up Arms is Rebellion where there is no Allegiance there they are Enemies The Lord Fiennes proposed to leave out the words Charles Steward and to let the Article go generally of taking Commissions from any who had no Territories and agreed the difference between Rebels and Enemies The Ambassador said They were all one that were in Arms against them that he could not Consent to any part of this Article That if he should it would make many to be their Enemies which now were not and those of Dunkirk and Ostend would fall upon their Ships That Sweden had never medled with the differences amongst us in England That whatsoever was reasonable in this kind was already sufficiently provided for as against Rebels and Traytors by the Treaty made by the Lord Whitelock at Vpsale The Commissioners came away appointing to meet with the Ambassador again on Tuesday next June 1656. 14. The Swedish Ambassador was now in hopes that they should agree having had Audience of the Protector and received much kindness from him and had some discourse with the Protector about the great business of the Protestant Interest and hoped that some thing might be done in it 19. Letters that the Peace between us and Portugal was now lately confirmed there and the Mony paid according to the Treaty July 1656. 10. The full Ratification of the Treaty with Portugal was this day presented to his Highness The Lords Commissioners of the great Seal sitting at the Temple sealed the writs of Summons for a Parliament to meet the 17th of September The Protector by Warrant to Sr. John Barkstead Lieutenant of the Tower discharged Mrs. Lucy Barlow from Imprisoment she had a young Son with her which she publickly declared to be King Charles his Son and that she was his Wife The Officers found a Grant when she was apprehended signed Charles R by which she had an Annuity or yearly Pension of 5000 Livres granted to her for her life with an Assurance to better the same when it should please God to restore him to his Kingdoms and it was subscribed by his Majesties Command Edward Nicholas 17. The Lord Fiennes Strickland and Whitelock met at the Swedish Ambassador's house where they signed and sealed the Treaty agreed on both parts and concerning the carrying of Pitch and Tar c. to Spain during our War with them there was a single Article that the King of Sweden should be moved to give Order for the prohibiting of it a kind of undertaking that it should be done It was very late before they had done signing of them The Protector gave a Commission under the great Seal to the Lord Fiennes Whitelock and Strickland to Treat and Conclude with the Ambassador which Commission was then read at the signing of the Articles as was the Commission of the King of Sweden under the great Seal of Sweden to the Ambassador giving him power to Treat and Conclude 25. The Swedish Ambassador having taken his leave of the Protector received great civilities and respects from him and afterwards dined with him at Hampton Court and Hunted with him The Protector bestowed the dignity of Knighthood upon one of his Gentlemen Sr. Gustavus Du Vale the Mareschal August 1656. 13. The Ambassador of Sweden dined at Sr. George Ayscough's house in Surrey where they had very noble Entertainment The House stands Environned with Ponds Motes and Water like a Ship at Sea a fancy the fitter for the Masters humour who is himself so great a Seaman there he said he had cast Anchor and intended to spend the rest of his life in a private Retirement The Ambassador understanding the Abilities of Sr. George in Sea affairs did according to his custom endeavour to improve his own knowledge by his discourses and questions to the Company according to their several capacities and abilities he therefore found many questions to demand of Sr. George and had much discourse with him about Sea matters
English which he did and the Protector said he would consider of the business Upon advice with his Council about it some of them to shew their Extraordinary care of his person suggested that this Messenger being an Italian who were skilful in the art of poysoning and ready to be hired for such a purpose might bring poyson with his Letters to the danger of his Highness and therefore diswaded him from receiving of this Messenger or permitting him to come into his Highness presence The Protector smiling acquainted Whitelock with this cautious Counsel who convinced the Protector of the folly of it and the high disstast that would be taken by the Queen in case her Secretary should be denyed audience The Protector replyed that the Messenger desired to deliver his Errand in private to the Protector and none to be by but one more whom the Protector should appoint and that person his Highness said he intended should be Whitelock who said that if he were by when the Gentleman delivered his letter he would first receive it of the Gentle-man hazard the danger of being poysoned by it at which the Protector laughed and appointed a day for the Gentlemans audience At that time Whitelock only was present with the Protector and the Gentleman offering to deliver the letter to his Highness Whitelock took it first from the Gentleman and then he delivered his secret Message to his Highness which Whitelock interpreted from the French and it was a particular account of the causes why she ordered her Servant the Italian Marquis to be put to deathin France and he also propounded to his Highness several matters in order to alliances with foreign Princes which were of great consequence and probable advantage to England and the Protector seemed well pleased with it Whitelock procured a civil treatment of the Gentleman whilest he was here and a respectfull answer to his business and dismission of him her Majesty had satisfaction in it as well as her Secretary 5. Whitelock having as Chairman dispatched the great point of the humble petition and advice touching the title of King which was now laid aside he absented himself as much as he could from the Committee that some other might be employed in the other points relating to the Petition and the Master of the Rolls Lenthal reported from the Committee that his Highness had appointed them to attend him this afternoon which the House ordered 6. The Committee attended his Highness who desired that the house would give a meeting to morrow 7. The Master of the Rolls reported this to the House and that since that appointment his Highness had sent for some of the Committe and desired that the Committee would meet him this afternoon and that the meeting of the House with him this day might be put off which the house ordered 8. Whitelock reported their attendance upon his Highness and that he desired the House would meet him this morning and they presently adjourned to the Painted Chamber 11. The Bill for the Adventurers in Ireland read 15. The House debated the Protectors answer to the Petition and Advice 19. The House resumed the debate upon the Protectors answer to the Petition and Advice and voted his Title to be Lord Protector and referred it back to the Committee to consider it 22. The Committee reported to the House the Bounds and Limits of the Title of Lord Protector and the House agreed to it 25. A Committee named to attend the Protector to know what time the House should wait on him about the Petition and Advice and this afternoon being appointed by his Highness the House waited on him and presented it to him and desired his consent thereunto The Petition and Advice was in these words To his Highness the LORD PROTECTOR of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging The humble Petition and Advice of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses now Assembled in the Parliament of this Common-wealth WE the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in this present Parliament Assembled taking into our most serious Consideration the present State of these Three Nations Joyned and Vnited under Your Highness Protection cannot but in the first place with all Thankfulness acknowledge the wonderful Mercy of Almighty God in delivering us from that Tyranny and Bondage both In our Spiritual and Civil Concernments which the late King and his Party designed to bring us under and pursued the effecting thereof by a long and Bloody War And also that it hath pleased the same gracious God to preserve Your Person in many Battels to make You an Instrument for Preserving our Peace although environed with Enemies abroad and filled with turbulent restless and unquiet Spirits in our own bowels that as in the treading down the Common Enemy and restoring us to Peace and Tranquillity the Lord hath used You so eminently and the worthy Officers and Soldiers of the Army whose Faithfulness to the Common Cause We and all good men shall ever acknowledge and put a just value upon So also that he will use you and them in the Settlement and Securing our Liberties as we are Men and Christians to us and our Posterity after us which are those great and glorious ends which the good People of these Nations have so freely with the hazard of their Lives and Estates so long and earnestly contended for We consider likewise the continual danger which your Life is in from the Bloody Practices both of the Malignant and discontented Party one whereof through the Goodness of God you have been lately delivered from It being a received Principle amongst them That no Order being Setled in your Life time for the Succession in the Government nothing is wanting to bring us into Blood and Confusion and them to their desired ends but the destruction of Your Person And in case things should thus remain at Your Death we are not able to express what Calamities would in all humane probability ensue thereupon which we trust Your Highness as well as we do hold Your Self obliged to provide against and not to leave a People whose common Peace and Interest You are intrusted with in such a condition as may hazard both especially in this Conjuncture when there seems to be an opportunity of coming to a Settlement upon just and legal Foundations Vpon these Considerations We have judged it a duty incumbent upon us to present and Declare these our most just and necessary Desires to Your Highness I. That Your Highness will be pleased by and under the Name and Stile of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging To hold and exercise the Office of Chief Magistrate of these Nations and to Govern according to this Petition and Advice in all things therein contained and in all other things according to the Laws of these Nations and not otherwise That Your Highness will be pleased during Your Life
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