time The House of Lords Voted Nemine contradicente That no Lord ought to be Committed sitting the Parliament but by Judgment of the Parliament except for Treason Felony or breach of the Peace And in Pursuance thereof they Voted a Remonstrance to the King to declare their Right and to Pray his Majesty to release the Earl of Arundel which was presented but no Answer being given to it the Lords presented another Petition to the King for an Answer to their former Petition to which the King returned his dislike The Exception taken by the King was at the Words to have a present Answer whereupon the word present was left out in a New Petition which pleased the King who sent for the Lords to Whitehall and Courted them but thinks they mistrust him and shews the difference of the Cause of Commitment of the Members of the House of Commons and the Earl of Arundel and saith He hath just cause of detaining the Earl of Arundel in prison which he will acquaint them with as soon as possibly he can The Lords present a new Petition to the King That he would be pleased to release the Earl or to declare the cause of detaining him in Prison That it was contrary to their priviledge To which the King answered That he would give them satisfaction before the end of this Session The House Adjourned till the next day and after that for a week and then at their Meeting the King signified to them That he would within a Fortnight either release the Earl or show the Cause And at the new meeting of the Lords the King took off the Restraint of the Earl of Arundel The Commons Committed Mr. Moor one of their Members for speaking words reflecting upon the King At this time Cambridge chose the Duke of Bucks for their Chancellour to please the King and shew their dislike to the Commons The Earl of Berks Name was in Competition but he had too much Courtship and too little Spirit to Contest and so he desisted The House of Commons would have Interposed by their Letter against the Dukes choice but the King forbad it challenging those Matters to belong to him and Justified the Duke to the House and by Letter to Cambridge approved their Choice of the Duke The Duke with an Ingenious Speech ushered in his Answer to the Impeachment of the Commons whom he courted yet Justified himself and said That his accuser Common Fame was too subtle a Body for him to Contest with and he doubted not but in time it would be found that Common Fame had abused both them and him His Answer to the several Thirteen Articles against him was distinct and in most of them carryed a fair colour and the chief strength of his Answer was upon the Knowledge of the King and his Father and their direction of the particular passages with his obedience thereunto and following the Advice of the Councel He denys having the Twenty thousand pound of the Earl of Manchester or Six hundred pound of the Earl of Middlesex or the Ten thousand pound of the East India Company but saith the King had those Sums and the Earl of Manchester had satisfaction by the Kings lands for the Twenty thousand pound and the Six thousand pound was given by the King to Sir Henry Mildmay He absolutly denys that he applyed the Plaister or gave the Drink to King James in his sickness but the King knowing that the Duke had been cured of an Ague by a Plaister and a Drink the King would have them and took them some of his Phisitians then being present and allowing them and tasting the drink He concludes with praying the benefit of the General Pardon of King James and this Kings Coronation Pardon to be allowed him The King sent to the Commons to quicken them about the Subsidies They Petitioned the King about Recusants and named those in Places of Government and Trust and Pray they may be put out and by their desire they attend the King where by their Speaker and in Writing they profess their Affection and Loyalty to the King but they desire that His Majesty would not permit the Duke to have any more access to him They agreed upon a Remonstrance against the Duke and concerning the taking of Tunnage and Poundage though not granted to him by Parliament And this they did because they heard that the King intended to Dissolve the Parliament and by Petition they prayed him not to Dissolve it but the King would not receive the Petition but said He was resolved to Dissolve the Parliament and directed a Commission for that purpose and accordingly the Parliament was Dissolved June the Fifteenth one thousand six hundred twenty six unhappily Thus this great warm and Ruffling Parliament had its Period The Common dispersed Copies of their intended Remonstrance which is in Rushworths Collections with the Grounds and Causes held forth by the Kings Declaration for Dissolving this and the former Parliament and the King published a Proclamation against the Parliaments Remonstrance and for the suppressing of it Sir Thomas Chamberlain chief Justice of Chester dyed and Sir John Hobert Baronett chief Justice of the Common Pleas who was a Learned Judge a grave and smooth man After the Parliament was dissolved the King caused an Information to be preferred in the Star-chamber against the Duke of Buckingham for the same Matters contained in the Articles of Impeachment in the Parliament against him to which the Duke put in his Answer and Witnesses were examined but it came not to hearing The privy Councel advised the King to take Tunnage and Poundage and an Instrument to be past under the Great Seal for his taking of it until it could be past by Parliament A Commission Issued to compound with Recusants The King required a Loan of Money and sent to London and the Port Towns to furnish Ships for guard of the Seas Noy a great Antiquary and afterwards Attourney General had much to do in this business of Shipmoney The Deputy Lieutenants and Justices of Dorsetshire excused themselves and said The Case was without president London being rated twenty Ships desired an abatement to ten and two Pinnaces the Councel denyed it and in Answer to their presidents said That the Presidents in former times were Obedience and not Direction A Benevolence was likewise required Then a General Fast was appointed Commissions Issued out for Musters and power of Martial Law was given and the Inhabitants of the Sea Coasts required to repair to and dwell upon their Estates Ships were sent by our King to the Elbe which discontented the Hamburgers they were recalled The King of Denmark declares to assist the Elector Palatine against the Emperour Tilly Fights with him and gives him a Defeat Our King requires a general Loan according to the rate of the Subsidy with promises to repay and that it shall be no president To the imposing of Loans was added the Billetting of Souldiers Martial Law was
greatly mistaken especially in their Censures not so proper for Historians nor becoming the Authors towards so knowing and active Princes Councils and Commanders as they are pleased frequently to judge and to condemn that they are not to be relyed on for they are much different from the truth of the proceedings of those honourable Actors in that War The Marquess of Hambleton sent Rea to the King of Sweden to offer his Assistance and that he would bring over Forces to him but some suspected the Marquess to have a deeper design under this pretence to begin to raise Forces to back his intended purpose of making himself King of Scotland But the Marquess being full of subtilty and in great favour with the King he wiped off all suspicion of himself goes on with raising of his Army and conducted it into Germany But so little care was taken of provisions and accommodations for his Men that they were brought into a sick and shatter'd condition so that they mouldred away in a short time and the Marquess was forced to return to England without gaining any great Renown by this action wherein he neither did Service to the King of Sweden nor to himself or to the Protestant Cause in Germany The Papists in Ireland grew into a great height Monasteries were there erected Papists frequented their publick Meetings and Masses with as much confidence and as often as the Protestants did their Churches and some of their Priests being apprehended by authority of the Governours were tumultuously rescued by the people of Dublin The Earl of Essex made a second adventure of Marriage with a Daughter of Sir William Pawlet who was of great Beauty but little Fortune some suspicion was raised touching her and a Divorce perswaded but she had at length a Child and the Earl her Husband owned it The Feoffees in trust for the buying in of Impropriations to be bestowed upon preaching Ministers were brought into the Exchequer for the breach of their trust and for bestowing Maintenance upon Nonconformists their Corporation was dissolved and their Money adjudged to the King Huntley before-mentioned being grievously censured in the High Commission Court and by them imprisoned brought his Action of false Imprisonment against the Keeper Mr. Barker and some of the Commissioners by name The Attorney General by the command of the King moved the King's Bench that the Commissioners might be spared and the proceedings to be only against the Gaoler upon much debate it was at last ordered that two of the Commissioners only should answer The Archbishop of Canterbury who did blow the Coal in this business and had ingaged the Commissioners in the Cause being first set on foot by himself in wrong courses did press the King by the Bishop of London to stay the Proceedings against the Commissioners The King sent his Advocate Dr. Rives to the Chief Justice requiring him that there should be no further proceeding in the Cause till he had spoken with him The Chief Justice answered We receive the Message but upon Consultation together the Judges conceived the Message not to stand with their Oaths commanding an indefinite stay of a Cause between Party and Party and might stop the course of Justice so long as the King would And they conceived the Doctor no fit Messenger all Messages from the King to them being usually by the Lord Keeper or the King's Attorney in Causes touching the course of Justice By the Courts desire the Chief Justice acquainted the Lord Keeper herewith and Bishop Laud and they both said the Message was mistaken and that the King intended to be in Town again within seven or eight days and then to speak with the Judges about it This Interpretation qualified the Message and the Lord Keeper feemed to agree that the Commissioners ought not to be exempted from answering but that there should be as much slowness in it as might stand with Justice otherwise the Commissioners would be weary of their places to be put to such trouble and charges Judge Whitelocke insisted on three Points 1. That it was against Law to Exempt or Privilege any man from answering the Action of another that would sue him 2. If the Court should Exempt any where should they begin and where should they end 3. That it stood with the King 's Monarchical Power that it might be lawful for any Subject to Complain before him of any other Subject and to be answered in that Complaint The High Commissinoners not contented with the Judges Answer herein caused the King to assume the Matter to himself who sent for the Judges and in the presence of the Lord Keeper and others Commanded the Judges not to put the Defendants to Answer This was at the Importunity of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London pressed the business violently on the behalf of the Commissioners At last they parted charged with the King 's Express Command that they should not put the Commissioners to answer and the Judges stoutly answered that they could not without breach of their Oaths perform that Command and so they parted in displeasure Afterwards by the King 's special Command this Matter was handled at the Council-table in presence of the Judges and after long debate and hearing of the Bishops of London and Winchester two of the Privy-council and of the Judges and King's Attorney it was agreed that the Commissioners should answer And by the stout carriage and honesty of the Judges this was a good and quiet end of an angry Cause Anno 1631. Anno 1631 Some of the Imprisoned Parliament-men upon their Petition were remov'd from the Prisons wherein they then were to other Prisons to prevent the danger of the Sickness then increasing Sir Miles Hobert put in Sureties for his good behaviour and so was discharged from his Imprisonment Sir John Walter died a grave and learned Judge he fell into the King's displeasure charged by his Majesty for dealing cautelously and not plainly with him in the business concerning the Parliament-men as if he had given his Opinion to the King privately one way and thereby brought him on the Stage and there left him and then was of another Judgment His Opinion was contrary to all the rest of the Judges That a Parliament-man for misdemeanour in the House criminally out of his Office and duty might be only imprisoned and not further proceeded against which seemed very strange to the other Judges because it could not appear whether the Party had committed an Offence unless he might be admitted to his Answer The King discharged him of his Service by Message yet he kept his place of chief Baron and would not leave it but by legal proceeding because his Patent of it was Quam diu se bene gesserit and it must be tryed whether he did bene se gerere or not He never sate in Court after the King forbad him yet held his place till he died The
Parliaments party The King's Garrison in Latham-house as was informed contrary to an agreement and cessation of Arms â—allied out and did much mischief to the Parliaments friends Jan. 29. The Commissioners for the Treaty on both parts met at Vxbridge and had their several quarters those for the Parliament and all their Retinue on the North side of the Town and those for the King on the South side and no intermixture of the one party of their Attendants with the other the best Inn of the one side was the Rendezvous of the Parliaments Commissioners and the best Inn of the other side of the Street was for the King's Commissioners The Evening that they came to Town several Visits passed between particular Commissioners of either party as Sir Edward Hyde came to visit Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke the Lord Culpepper visited Sir Henry Vane and others of the King's Commissioners visited several of the Parliaments Commissioners and had long Discourses about the Treaty and to perswade one another to a compliance Mr. Whitelocke visited Sir Edward Hyde and Mr. Palmer and Sir Richard Lane and others and several of the Parliaments Commissioners visited divers of the King's Commissioners and had discourses with them tending to the furtherance of the business of the Treaty The Town was so exceeding full of company that it was hard to get any quarter except for the Commissioners and their Retinue and some of the Commissioners were forced to lie two of them in a Chamber together in Field Beds onely upon a Quilt in that cold weather not coming into a Bed during all the Treaty This place being within the Parliaments quarters their Commissioners were the more civil and desirous to afford accommodations to the King's Commissioners and they thought it fit to appoint Sir John Bennet's House at the further end of the Town to be fitted for the place of meeting for the Treaty The foreway into the House was appointed for the King's Commissioners to come in at and the backway for the Parliaments Commissioners in the middle of the house was a fair great Chamber where they caused a large Table to be made like that heretofore in the Star-chamber almost square without any upper or lower end of it The King's Commissioners had one end and one side of the Table for them the other end and side was for the Parliaments Commissioners and the end appointed for the Scots Commissioners to sit by themselves Behind the Chairs of the Commissioners on both sides sate the Divines and Secretaries and such of the Commissioners as had not room to sit next to the Table At each end of the great Chamber was a fair withdrawing Room and Inner-chamber one for the King 's the other for the Parliaments Commissioners to retire unto and consult when they pleased The first night of their being together a little before Supper an intimation was given that the Chancellour of Scotland expected both at the Table and Meetings to have precedence of all the English Lords and that Mr. Barkley and Mr. Kennedagh expected to have precedence of the English Commissioners who were but Esquires except Mr. St. John to whom they were pleased to allow precedence because he was the King's Sollicitour Upon Discourse the Arguments they insisted upon for the Chancellour were That he was the prime Officer of Scotland and had precedence of all Dukes there unless they were of the Blood Royal and both the Kingdoms being now united he was to have the same precedence in England as he had in Scotland To which was answered That he was not Chancellour in England nor had any precedence here but in courtesie as Earl of Loudoun that formerly when the great Officers of England attended the King into Scotland as soon as they came thither they ceased to execute their Offices and had no precedence there and that it ought to be alike with the Chancellour of Scotland when he was here For the precedence of Mr. Kennedah and Mr. Berkley before the Commissioners who were Esquires they were informed that Mr. Whitlocke and Mr. Crew were eldest Sons of Knights and that by the Law of England those were to have precedence next to Knights and consequently before the Scottish Gentlemen with which they were satisfied but still they insisted upon the point of the Chancellour's precedence The Earl of Northumberland smiled at this contest and seemed to contemn it of whose great Honour and Family and the Antiquity of it the Scots Commissioners could not be ignorant nor of the difference between that and the Family of the Earl of Loudoun Yet Northumberland moved for satisfaction of the Scots that the Chancellour and one other of the Scots Commissioners might sit at the upper end of the Table which was not taken for the chief but for the Womans place and the rest of the Commissioners to sit in their ranks on either side and so that matter was for the present settled Officers had been sent down from the Parliament to prepare all things fit for the Commissioners and for their Diet and Entertainment at which the Scots Commissioners were contented to have their share and things were ordered very nobly and handsomely Mr. Thurloe and Mr. Earle were Secretaries for the English and Mr. Cheesely for the Scots Commissioners none sate at the Table with the Commissioners but the Ministers when there was room and sometimes strangers or persons of Quality that came into them and a very full Table was there kept for them and alwaies before every Meal one of the Ministers Mr. Marshal or Mr. Vines and now and then Mr. Henderson prayed and suitable to the occasion On the first day of their meeting Jan. 30. in the Evening before they entred upon the Treaty each side desired to know the others power for the Treaty and to have Copies thereof A Petition from Kent presented by their Committee express their good affection to the Parliament and encourage the Commons to pursue the Self-denying Ordinance and the thanks of the House was returned them The King's forces advancing towards Newport Paganel Sir Samuel Luke the Governour was sent down thither Divers Orders were made for Supplies for the several forces The Members of the House attended the Burial of Mr. John White of the Middle Temple a Member of the House of Commons a Puritan from his youth to his death an Honest Learned and Faithfull Servant to the publick but somewhat severe at the Committee for plundered Ministers The Lords read the Bill or Ordinance for raising Forces under Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Commons ordered a Letter to be sent to him for his speedy coming up to the Parliament and whilst the Treaty for Peace went on they did not slacken their pains to prepare for War in case the Treaty should take no effect For the motion of the Scots Army Southwards Letters were past by the Commons and sent up to the Lords Jan 31. The Commissioners for the Treaty having
dismantle his Garrisons pass an Act of Oblivion and free pardon to all and give ample satisfaction to the Kingdom of Scotland A day was appointed to consider hereof and it was ordered to be communicated to the Scots Commissioners Orders for Money for the Garrison of Hereford and for the Officers of the two Regiments at Glocester At St. Mawes the General had thirteen Guns and store of Ammunition and between three and four hundred of the Kings Forces came in to him Major General Middleton in Scotland took the Earl of Montrosses House upon surrender many were shot the Castle burnt and all the Arms and Ammunition taken 25. The day of the Monthly Fast yet solemnly observed 26. Upon the debate of the Kings last Letter a Committee was â—amed to draw up an Answer to that Message adhering to the former resolutions to have the propositions first dispatched and assented to by his Majesty A Committee of both Houses was sent into the City and communicated to the Lord Mayor and Common-Council his Majesties last Letter and made some observations upon it and informed them of the danger by the great number of Malignants coming from the Kings Quarters to London desired the care of the Militia in searching for and apprehending them and that the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council would meet both Houses at Christ-Church on the thanksgiving day An Ordinance sent by the Lords authorising the Commissioners of the Customs to pay one thousand pound per An. to every one of the Judges and Barons of the Exchequer for their Salleries and in lieu of all Fees Two Letters taken about Sir Jacob Ashley of great intelligence read in the House Letters informed that all the Lord Hoptons Forces were disbanded according to the Articles and a Proclamation for all of them the next day to depart or else to be taken as Spyes that the disbanding was done with great Civility on both parts and not the least insulting by the Parliaments Forces nor the value of six pence taken from them by any of their Army That Orders were given for the Army to march Eastward except two or three Regiments left to block up Pendennis Castle which being Summoned they returned a peremptory Answer of denyal that a Ship of the Parliaments upon Intelligence came into Falmouth harbour and hawled a Dunkirk Ship who gave two broad-sides but after a little dispute the Parliaments Ship Boarded the Dunkirker and put all the Irish in her to the Sword and took the rest Prisoners That Helford Fort was surrendred to the Parliament and in it six pieces of Ordnance and will streighten Pendennis Castle Anno 1646 Car. 22 That Lieutenant Colonel Ingolosby going to view the Castle was shot by a Musquetier whereof he dyed within three hours and that M. Cobbet was shot 27. The City invited both Houses of Parliament to dinner at Grocers Hall on the Thanksgiving day A Fast day was kept by the English and Scots Armies before Newarke Intelligence came that a Party from Dunnington Castle sallied out upon Dalbiers men killed some took fifty Prisoners and the Mattocks c. of the Pioners 28. Debate of the Blasphemies of Paul Best Divines ordered to confer with him to convince him of his Sin and that a charge be prepared against him Order for four thousand pound for the Scots Reformadoes Consideration of six Preaching Ministers to be sent down to Hereford and to have an hundred and fifty pound per An. each of them The Governor of Plymouth sent a Party to Ince house a Garrison of the Kings which they summoned to surrender to the Parliament but the Garrison returned a scornful answer upon which the Plymouth men prepared for a Battery but as soon as the great Guns came the Garrison begged for Quarter and had it and left their Arms and Ammunition Sir Tho. Fairfax Marched towards Exeter 30. The Invitation of the Prince to come in to the Parliaments Quarters pass'd and sent up to the Lords The answer agreed on to the Kings last Letter in substance That they did not conceive it safe for his Majesty or his Subjects that he return to the Parliament till he have assented to the Propositions which they are about and will be shortly sent to him The Commission read for the Lord L'isle to be Governor of Ireland The Lords desired the Commons that they would give leave that one imprisoned by them might be sent for and examined by the Lords touching a dangerous Book lately published called the last Summons or Warning-piece to London to which the Commons did agree Order for three hundred pounds for Sir Peter Smith in part of his Arrears for Service in Ireland and for disposal of the Prisoners in Glocester and for sending down the Ministers of Cornwall c. to their Charges Col Morgan Col. Birch and Sir William Brereton with their joynt Forces marched to Worcester and summoned the City to surrender to the Parliament and informed them that the King had no Forces to relieve them They answered That if it had been so they supposed they should have known the Kings pleasure therein till when they would not Surrender the City The Besiegers replied that they would not inform them an untruth but that they might the better inquire and prevent their own ruine they would for a short time draw off a little farther from them Dunnington Castle being much indammaged by the Granadoes desired liberty to send to Oxford and upon answer from thence would come to a Treaty High-Archal was surrendred to the Forces of Shropshire with all the Arms and Ammunition 31. Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax desired Favour to some Gentlemen that came in to him from the Kings Quarters and it was referred to a Committee to state their several Cases Mr. Steward who had the Parliaments protection was discharged from an Arrest and order for Money due to him to be paid The Commons Voted That in case the King contrary to the advice of both Houses of Parliament already given him shall come or attempt to come within the Lines of Communication That then the Militia of London with advice of the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army shall raise Forces to prevent and suppress any tumult that may arise by his coming and to apprehend such as shall come with him or resort to him and to secure his Rerson from danger And the House ordered that all who had born Arms against the Parliament should depart London by the sixth of April or else to be taken as Spyes The Lords concurred in the Letter of Invitation to the Prince and in the answer to the Kings last Letter A summons was sent into Newarke on Saturday to render the Town to the use of the Parliament and they took time till Mondady for their Answer April 1646. April 1. Passes for some to go beyond Seas Difference about the Ordinance for Martial Law in London Order that the Proclamation
Declaration upon the Votes touching the Kings Person and ordered those to be Sequestred who shall do any thing contrary to those Votes and they were ordered to be Printed and published A Declaration was presented to the House of Peers from the General and his Councel of War That they resolved to endeavour to preserve Peerage and the Rights of the Peers of England notwithstanding any Scandals upon them to the contrary The Officers who presented this Declaration were called into the Lords House and desired to return the thanks of the House to the General and to the Councel of War and the Officers of the Army 18. Mr. Chapman referred to the Committee of Complaints for sending a Warrant to summon a meeting of the Countrey near Reading to consider of a Petition The Manuscripts and Books in White-Hall because of Soldiers being there were ordered to be removed to St. Jame's House and placed there which Whitelocke furthered in order to the preservation of those rare Monuments of Learning and Antiquity which were in that Library Debate touching the Scots Papers and the Arrears due to that Kingdom The Lords informed the Commons at a Conference of a meeting under pretence of agreeing to a Petition to the Parliament where Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne and others spake very disgracefully of the two Houses and that there appeared to be a design of many thousands intended under a colour of a Petition to dishonour the Parliament and their proceedings That their Lordships had sent to the Lieutenant of the Tower to know why he permitted Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne whom they had formerly Committed to his Custody to go abroad who returned answer That he had an order for it from the House of Commons and the Lords desired that no occasion might be given to hinder the Vnion and Affection between the two Houses Upon much debate of this business by the Commons they repealed their Order formerly made for Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne's Liberty and ordered him to be brought to their Bar to morrow and they further ordered that M. Wildman be taken into Custody by the Sergeant at Armes 19. Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne was called into the House and made a large answer to the Information against him The reading of proofs and examination of the business held till six a clock at night and then the House ordered that he be committed to the Tower and be tryed by the Law of the Land for Seditious and Scandalous Practices against the State And that M. Wildman be committed to Newgate and tryed according to Law for Treasonable and Seditious Practices against the State That Mr. Sollicitor and all the Lawyers of the House take care to prepare the Charge against them and to bring them to Tryal next Term. The Lord Willoughby and other Impeached Lords sent a Letter to the House of Peers That after so long a restraint and no Prosecution against them they might have their Liberty The Lords discharged them of their Imprisonment and ordered a Declaration to be drawn That no Peer shall hereafter be under restraint upon a general charge above ten days This gave great offence to many of the House of Commons which they shewed afterwards Upon Letters from the General that one Lieutenant Collonel Lee in Office about Bishops Lands had intercepted Letters which the General sent to Col. Lilburne Governor of New-castle and had opened and detained some of them the House referred it to a Committee to be examined and punished 20. Upon Information that L. C. Lilburn and M. Wildman were not carried to Prison according to the order of the House and that some of their Party had given out words that they should not go to Prison and that there was a great meeting to be at Deptford in Kent about their Petition Ordered that the Officers of the Guards do assist the Sergeant in carrying of them to Prison which was done and that the Committee of Kent take care to suppress all meetings upon that Petition and to prevent all tumults and that the Militia of London c. take care to suppress such meetings and to prevent inconveniences which may arise thereby and upon the said Petition intituled The Petition of many thousands of the free-born People of England c. They ordered a Declaration to undeceive the People to shew them the dangerous consequences that will arise by such practices The House pass'd a Declaration of their real intentions to pay the remainder of the Money due to Scotland and several Ordinances for the advancing of it 21. The House sate all day in a grand Committee about the business of Ireland 22. Order for a new Ordinance to suppress all Stage-plays and for taking down all their Boxes and Seats where they Act and they ordered that the Lord Major Sheriffs and Justices of Peace and Committees of the Militia c. take care to suppress all Stage-plays for the future An Ordinance passed both Houses for making the Earl of Pembroke Chancellor of Oxford Some added to the Committee of Safety and the Committee required to take care for suppressing all tumults and insurrections c. Rumors increased of tumults like to be in the City and many spoke disgracefully of the Parliament 24. Upon Letters from Vice-Admiral Rainsborough that the Ships of the Irish Rebels were in many Roads and had taken divers of our Merchants Ships and that care might be taken for making ready the Summers Fleet. The House ordered seventy thousand pound out of the Excise for the use of the Navy Captain Burley was tryed upon a Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the late insurrection in the Isle of Wight and the Jury found him guilty of high Treason and Judgment was given against him but execution respited Others of the Conspirators were found guilty of a Riot and were deeply fined The Grand Jury of Hamp-shire at the Execution of the Commission of Oyer and Terminer presented a Declaration to be presented to the House of Commons wherein they acknowledged the Goodness and Wisdom of the Parliament in the Votes of no further Addresses to the King and declared their readiness to joyn with the Parliament in setling the Peace of the Kingdom The House of Peers ordered an Ordinance to be drawn giving up the Lords who by reason of their offences had not liberty to sit in Parliament to be prosecuted by Suits of Law and their attendants as if there were no Parliament Order for the Earl of Salisbury to have the refusal of the Purchase of Worcester House at the rate of Bishops Lands Several Ordinances past both Houses for an hundred pound to Sir Arthur Blundell and for a hundred pound to Sir John Burlace for addition of Committee-men against Papists and Delinquents about London for fifty pound to Capt. St. George and for the Committee at Derby-House Letters from Kent That the tumults there were quieted A Letter of thanks ordered to the Gentry of Hampshire Order that the
City Petitioners desired that the House would reassume the consideration of every part of their former Petition before they proceed in the Treaty with the King but the House did nothing in it Captain Bethan made Provost Martial with power to apprehend such as staid in Town contrary to the Ordinance and to seise upon all Ballad Singers Sellers of Malignant Pamphlets and to send them to the several Militias and to suppress Stage-playes The Instructions and Propositions were delivered to the Commissioners in the House and they took their leave to go to the King Orders for maintaining the Militias in the North out of Delinquents estates there and by other means Orders for money for Plymouth Garrison and for Herefordshire 14. The Houses sat not but the Committee of Derby House and other Committees sat and Letters came that the Lords and others sent for by the King were come to him and from the North that fifteen hundred old Souldiers were joyning to march with David Lesley to the Marquess of Argyle That Monroe was dispatching a guard to Edenburgh that Cromwell allarmed the English Cavaliers near to Berwick and that the inhabitants of Carlisle Petitioned the Governour to let in no more Souldiers neither Scots nor English That the General was gallantly entertained by the Town of Ipswich Where M r Edgar made a speech to his excellency who removed from thence to Yarmouth who sent out three Aldermen to meet him and gave him great entertainment they agree to admit three Troops of Horse and a Company of his Foot to quarter there 15. Letters that the General went from Yarmouth to S. Edmonds Bury thence to Malden where he viewed the remaining reliques of the Roman industry That he viewed the Fort of Mercy Island and gave orders at Harwich for keeping the guards and manning of the works there That he viewed Langarfort a place of great strength and concernment and there and at Harwich and other places had a great number of Ordnance discharged to salute him He ordered Colonel Desborough to command the Forces in Yarmouth and took care not to prejudice the fishing trade there by the Souldiers That he was highly entertained at Sir John Wentworths in Lovingland and at Norwich the High Sheriff of Norfolk and the Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs of the City in their Scarlet Gowns with the Trained bands of Horse and Foot came out of the Town and accompained the General in thither and highly treated him 16. The House sat not Letters from the Isle of Wight that the Commissioners of the Parliament for the Treaty were come to Newport where the King was with those whom he had sent for to attend him and that there was a very fair correspondence betwixt them and the Parliaments Commissioners Some noted the Astrological predictions of M r Lilly to fall out very strangely according to what he had predicted particularly concerning the danger of the Kings person by a fall from his Horse 18. The Houses sat not Letters came from Lieutenant General Cromwel that he sent Major General Lambert with a summons to Berwick That Sir T. Tildesly with about fifteen hundred lay on this side Berwick but were not suffered to come in That Monroe marched through with three thousand and was joyned with Lannerick who had five thousand more that Argyle lay twelve miles from Edenburgh with about ten thousand men and both parties were upon a Treaty that they found no Bread in that Country but Bisket which they brought from New-Castle That Colonel Ashton with the Lancashire Foot is marched towards Carlisle Letters from Lambert's quarters of their march towards the borders and that David Lesley with old Leven and Argyle are in the head of eight thousand Horse and Foot about Edenburgh and have made the Committee of Estates to fly That Lesley the Governour of Berwick hath kept out of that Town all both English and Scotch Cavaliers and reports that he keeps it for the Parliament of England and will deliver it up to them That the English Cavaliers in the North sware they are bewitched and will fight no more and daily depart from their Colours That the Parliaments Army are discontented for want of pay and many of them slain and wounded and divers Horse lost Letters from York that the siege of Pontefract continues that the Prince hath sent relief to Scarborough of Men Victuals and Ammunition whereupon the Besiegers stormed the Castle and took it four of the assailants slain and eighteen of the besieged and an hundred and fifty Prisoners taken some Walloons whom the Souldiers took for Irish men were put to the Sword A day of Thanksgiving was kept at Leicester after which the Lord Grey feasted his Officers one hundred and fifty of them and they all rejoyced for the Victory against the Scots and promised to stand together upon their first undertakings for a good peace Colonel Martyn went to Lieutenant General Cromwell and the Parliaments Commissioners went to Ashby de la Zouch to speak with Duke Hamilton to see what he would discover to them for the good of this Kingdom 19. Letters that the Parliaments Commissioners for the Treaty were entertained with great respect at Southhampton and met and received by Colonel Hammond at the Cows with great vollies of shot and expressions of joy That the King kept a Fast with his Company for a blessing upon the Treaty in which the Common Prayer was exactly read with the Litany and a particular Prayer drawn by his Majestys direction and dictates That after Sermon the Commissioners went to the King to acquaint him that they were come to treat the King said he was glad they were come and desired God to perfect this blessed work and professed he was in Charity with all of them and not willing to seek revenge against any nor give occasion of delayes That the Commissioners presented the Three Bills to his Majesty for Religion the Militia and recalling his Majesties Proclamations c. but as yet have received no answer to them The House approved the report of the Committee of the Army for recruiting all the Regiments of the Army and for pay for them And they allowed a Quarter-Master to each Company of Dragoons and renewed the Ordinance for the assessments for the Army for six months longer Referred to the Committee of the Army to provide clothes shoes and Stockins for the Army and order for pay of the two new Companies in the Isle of Wight A Letter from Sir Edward Walker for some more persons to be sent down to the King the House did nothing upon it but declared that upon a Letter from the King or from their Commissioners for that purpose the persons should be sent to his Majesty An addition of Salary to Colonel Hammond in regard of his extraordinary charges upon the Treaty Divers Compositions passed that of M r Geoffery Palmer was five hundred pound The House approved of what
for Ships and for two Months gratuity for the Marriners who served against the revolted Ships Referred to a Committee to inquire who printed and contrived a scandalous Pamphlet called A Solemn Declaration of the Members secluded the House by the Army That all Acts Ordinances Votes and proceedings of the House of Commons since the Seclusion of the Members and continuance of the Armies force upon it are no way obligatory but null and void The House declared it to be False Scandalous and Seditious and tending to destroy the Government and that all who had a hand in it shall be uncapable of any Office or trust or to be a Member of Parliament and that every absent Member before he sit shall disavow that Pamphlet The Army past a Declaration that whereas some enemies had written to Merchants beyond Seas to call home their estates out of England because the Army had seised upon mens goods and designed to destroy all Trade and propriety the Army declare against it and that they will maintain and preserve both according to Law and with all freedom 16. The new Ordinance for the Militia transmitted to the Lords Another that no Malignants be elected or Electors of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council Men of London A party of Horse went to Hurst Castle to remove the King to Windsor Castle The General Council of the Army sate upon the agreement of the people Colonel Butlers Troop and Major Finchers were disbanded 18. The Lords concurred in the Ordinance with the Commons for disabling Malignants to be elected or Electors of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council Men or any other Officers or places of trust on pain of two hundred pound one half of it to the Informer and the other half to the Maimed Souldiers A Sheriff of Nottinghamshire appointed A Committee appointed to draw up an expedient for the Members of the House to subscribe as Dissenters to the Vote That the Kings answer to the propositions was a ground of peace Order for the Sergeant at Arms to apprehend Sir Charles Kemish for staying in Town contrary to the Ordinance he being a Delinquent Both Houses agreed of a list of Persons to attend the King A day of Humiliation appointed for the two Houses and M r Cokayn and M r Bond to preach and M r Foxley to pray Intelligence of a new Fleet preparing by the Prince for Scilly Guernsey and Jersey and for Ireland and many discontented Persons and Reformadoes resorting to him A Committee named to confer with the Lord Admiral about this matter Letters came to the General from Major General Lambert and his Officers in complyance with the Armies Remonstrance by the Forces in the North and desiring a correspondence with the Army to whom they gave some cautions touching the prosecution of their Remonsrance When the Chancery business was over Sir Thomas Widdrington and Whitelock went to the Rolls by appointment where Lieutenant General Cromwel and Colonel Dean met them And with the Speaker they had a long discourse together about the present affairs And then another time was appointed by the Lieutenant General for them to meet again and to consider and confer how the settlement of the Kingdom might be best effected and to joyn Counsels for the publick good 19. An Ordinance past for the payment of twenty eight thousand pound taken by the Souldiers out of Weavers-Hall Referred to a Committee to consider of the great abuse in providing bad victuals for the Ships and how the persons may be punished and the like prevented Upon a Letter from the General referred to a Committee to consider how the arrears due to Colonel Rainsborough may be charged and paid to his wife An Ordinance past both Houses for making the Earl of Pembroke Constable of the Castle and honour of Windsor and Keeper of the Forrest and great Park there Order for levying the arrears of Deliquents compositions being two hundred thousand pound Letters from Scarborough of the hopes of a speedy surrender of that place and that the Scots are not well pleased with the late transactions of the Army in England The Parliaments Ships upon the Coast of Ireland took a Dutch Ship loaden with Wine Salt c. of three hundred Tun bound for Waterford The Cessation was continued in Ireland between the Marquess of Ormond and the Rebels Mr. Pierrepoint expressed much dissatisfaction at those Members who sate in the House and at the proceedings of the General and Army A visit to Lieutenant General Cromwell who lay in one of the Kings rich beds in White-hall 20. An Additional Ordinance past for election of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council men of London The Committee appointed to attend the General about the Secluded Members reported his answers that the business was of great concernment and he believed the House would not expect a present answer from him but he would prepare it as speedily as he could and in the mean time desired the House would not trouble themselves to send any more to him concerning that business Order for the same Message to be renewed to the General The House approved of what the Committees of Nottingham and Derby had done for relief of the Forces before Scarborough and Pontefract Sixteen of the secluded Members were set at liberty by order of the General to sit again in the House if they please and the rest were still in custody Two new Listed Souldiers in Colonel Deans Regiment with two more took upon them to apprehend a Citizen of London under pretence of a Warrant from the Council of War and that they had a great Charge against him when there was no such matter but they designed by this means to get money of him The Citizens acquainted some of the Council of War herewith who disowned the business caused the Souldiers to be apprehended two of them ran away the other two were sentenced to ride the wooden horse at the Exchange and to run the Gantlet 21. Order for repayment of the money taken out of Weavers-Hall to be for the use of the Navy A Petition from divers of Somersetshire that justice may be done upon Delinquents the Petitioners had the thanks of the House and the Petition was ordered to be printed Order that M r Strickland use the best endeavours he may to hinder the intended Sale in the Low Countries by the Prince of the Ordnance of the revolted Ships Both Houses past an Ordinance concerning Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne In the after-noon the Speaker Lieutenant General Cromwell Sir Thomas Widdrington and M r Whitelock by appointment met about six a Clock and discoursed freely together about the present affairs and actions of the Army and the settlement of the Kingdom In the conclusion Sir Thomas Widdrington and M r Whitelock were desired to draw up some heads upon the discourse to be considered by the same Company 22. Both Houses kept the Solemn Fast this day The
General Council of the Army had much debate concerning the matters of Religion relating to their new Representative and of the power of the Representative in Civils Sir Thomas Widdrington and M r Whitelock met staid all the day together to draw some heads upon yesterdaies discourse and to endeavour to bring the Army into some fitter temper They were likewise to frame somewhat in order to the restitution of the Secluded Members for an answer for the Army to the Messages of the House to the Army touching their Members under restraint and heads for a Declaration what the Parliament intendeth for the settlement of the Kingdom to be considered of and offered to the Parliament and Council of the Army This was a work of no small difficulty and danger yet at this time not to be declined by them both the Members of the House and chief Officers of the Army having ingaged and trusted them only therein they prayed to God to direct them in it and that neither of them might receive any prejudice but the Kingdom might receive good by this their imployment and the Courses of the Army be moderated as it was in some measure at this time though it brake out again into violence afterwards 23. A Committee of the Common Council informed the House that the Citizens of London were so generally ingaged in the Petition for a personal Treaty that if the restriction in the late Ordinance should stand that none of them should be capable to be elected Officers of the City there would want sufficient persons to be chosen to supply necessary Offices in the City Referred to a Committee to consider of some expedient in this business A sharp debate about bringing the great Delinquents of the Kingdom to speedy punishment And now was set on Foot and begun their great design of taking away the King whom divers in the debate did not stick to name for the greatest Delinquent and to be proceeded against in Justice Others insisted upon it that he was not capable of being brought to justice by his Subjects but by God alone and that having subdued him and his Party there was no need of any thing further but to secure the Parliament from their Enemies rising against them any more and that might be done without bringing the King to any judicial tryal a thing not read of in any History But those of the fierce Party prosecuted their design with all eagerness and those of a contrary opinion either durst not oppose knowing they should be presently secluded the House if they did or seeing that no opposition would be to any effect or purpose It was endeavoured wholly to have put the business upon the Army that if they would have the thing done they should do it themselves as most proper for such an irregular and unheard of business to be done in an irregular way and by such irregular men but they were subtle enough to see and avoid that and to make those whom they left sitting in the Parliament to be their stalcs and to do their most dirty work for them many of whom they found and perswaded to be strangely forward to ingage in it Insomuch that it was carryed by vote in the House of Commons to name a Committee of thirty eight persons to consider of drawing up a charge and for that purpose to receive all informations and examinations of all Witnesses for the matters of fact against the King and all other Delinquents that may be thought sit to be brought to condigne punishment Letters from Colonel Bethel to the General of the surrender of Scarborough-Castle to him upon Articles for the use of the Parliament that there was in the Castle good store of all manner of provisions especially Rye and fifty Barrels of powder with Ammunition for many Months From the Parliaments Ships in the Downes came a Declaration to the General of their free Concurrence with the Army in their Remonstrance knowing the things to be just and good The King was expected to be at Windsor this Night and Colonel Thomlinson commanded the Guards about him upon Colonel Harrisons coming away Major Pitsford taken at Pembroke and staying here contrary to the Articles of surrender thereof was by the Court Martial sentenced to be shot to Death The Lord Wenman expressed himself very high against the Army having been seised and secluded the House by them which was no small provocation Mr. Whitelock and Sir Thomas Widdrington went together according to appointment to the Speakers house There met them divers Gentlemen of the House and they consulted about setling the Kingdom by the Parliament and not to leave all to the Sword and Sir Thomas Widdrington and M r Whitelock spake their minds freely to them some of them were wholly against any King at all others were against having the present King or his eldest or second Son to be King others were for the third Son the Duke of Gloucester who was among them and might be educated as they should appoint to be made King They came after a long debate to no resolution at all but appointed to meet again on next Monday 25. The Commons sate though it was Christ-mas day and made some Orders about the association of Somersetshire with the adjacent Counties Order for one thousand pound for Mr. Withers being moneys lent by him to the Parliament Five Members declared their dissent to the vote Dec. 5. 1648. The Committee named to consider how to proceed in a way of justice against the King were injoyned to meet this Afternoon Debate whether the secluded Members should be re-admitted A dispute between the two Houses whether thirty three thousand pound formerly granted to the Lord Willoughby as Part of his arrears and by him assigned to his Creditors who accepted the security should now be granted away to others in prejudice of the Lord Willoughbys Creditors which the Lords held not just The Lords who sate in the House being very few they Ordered that all the Lords who were within twenty miles should appear to morrow and those more remote within fourteen days after receipt of this Order some moved it might be under the pain of five hundred pound but that was not agreed unto A Petition to the Commons from Norfolk and Norwich reciting the former and present evils and praying 1. That present inquiry be made who have been the chief instruments of the King in the former or latter War and in the late bringing in of the Scots and that he himself and all such as have been the most notorious incendiaries and instruments in shedding of blood may without delay be brought to impartial Justice 2. That Courts of Justice Judges and Officers and Fecs may be certain and Laws in the vulgar tongue and Justice be speedy and without respect of persons and as may most agree with the rule of Christian duty just reason and the birth-right and priviledge of English-men and that
impartial Commissioners be appointed to try the late Mutineers in Norwich and Kent and other Counties 3. That course be taken for Payment of the publick debts out of Delinquents Estates and that taxes may be made easy and laid proportionably and so levyed 4. That Malignants be incapable of Offices or being Parliament men that under the notion of a Peer we be not voted into ruine by those that could not beat us into it and that a Committee be ordained to order affairs of State in the intervals of Parliament 5. That the power of the Militia be not put into the hands of Malignants or Neuters but of faithful persons to the Parliament 6. That the Army whose faithfulness we acknowledge may be vindicated especially for their late proceedings in order to impartial justice upon the Capital Offender the best means to establish this almost destroyed Nation that free-quarter be taken away and constant pay provided for the Army Another Petition was from the Garrison of Hull of their adherence to the late Remonstrance of the Army 26. The House approved the Articles of surrender of Scarborough and gave forty pound a piece to the Messengers that brought the news Mr. Elsing Clerk of the Parliament desired to quit his place by reason as he alledged of his indisposition of health to execute the same but most men understood his reason to be and he acknowledged it to Whitelock and others of his friends because he would have no hand in the business against the King He was a man of very great parts and ingenuous education he had travelled much and was very learned especially in the Latin French and Italian Languages and was a great Student and a very just and honest man and the most excellent Clerk both to take and express the sence of the House that I believe ever sate there so great a help to the Speaker and to the House in helping to state the questions and to draw up the Orders free from exceptions that it much conduced to the dispatch of business and the service of the Parliament He was a particular friend of Whitelocks and M r Selden was fond of him The House ordered M r Phelpes formerly Clerk to the Committee of plundered Ministers to officiate in M r Elsing's place and by a Deputation from him Upon the Petition of the East India Merchants order for them to have leave to transport thirteen thousand pound in Bullion Order for procuring six thousand pound for provisions and service for the Navy Divers Petitions to the Commons and to the General in complyance with the Armies Remonstrance among them one was to the General from Colonel Mackworth and the Officers and Souldiers in Salop. Inveighing against the personal Treaty and concurring with the late Remonstrance of the Army praying the General to continue to represent to the Commons these desires of their friends and not to hearken to the Counsels of their Enemies and to make a present settlement without any more addresses to the King And that his Excellency would endeavour that justice may be done upon the Authors of our troubles and blood-shed in the three Kingdoms in some exemplary way suitable to their crimes and without respect of persons That for taking off the grievances and burdens by free-quarter unequal taxes corrupt proceedings in Courts of Justice and other gross miscarriages in government to be reformed they will depend upon the Ordinary remedy by Parliament till God declare by evident demonstrations of his will in the passages of his providence that that extraordinary is to be resorted unto which is never denyed in case of Extremity to any People They resolve God strengthning them to follow his Excellency and the rest of those conductors raised up and Spirited for so great a work through a Sea of bloud to attain the fruition thereof Letters from Windsor that his Majesty removing from Hurst-Castle when he came to Winchester the Mayor and his brethren met him delivered him the Mace and made a speech to him That the Commander of that party who guarded the King told the Mayor that the Parliament had voted no more addresses to the King on pain of high Treason and by this address they made to him that they were within the danger of being Traytors That the Mayor and his brethren humbly asked pardon for it excusing themselves that they knew not any thing of that vote and that they would be more cautious for the future Letters from Dublin that they are quiet there by reason of the distractions among the Rebels whose divisions daily increase This Morning Sir Thomas Widdrington and Mr. Whitelock being together Mr. Smith who was Clerk to the Committee for preparing the charge against the King came to them with a Message from the Committee that they required them to come to them this day they having some matters of importance wherein they desired their advice and assistance and that they must not fail them They knew what the business was and Whitelock told Sir Tho. Widdrington that he was resolved not to meddle in that business about the Tryal of the King it being contrary to his judgement as he had declared himself in the House Sir Tho. Widdrington said he was of the same judgment and would have no hand in that business but he knew not whither to go to be out of the way and that the Committee might not know whither to send to him Whitelock replyed that his Coach was ready and he was this Morning going out of Town purposely to avoid this business and if he pleased to go with him they might be quiet at his House in the Country till this business should be over and he should be glad of his Company He willingly consented to go with Whitelock and was not long in preparing himself for the journey 27. The monthly Fast day and neither of the Houses sate The Council of War ordered that nothing be done upon the knee to the King and that all ceremonies of state to him be left off and his attendance to be with fewer and at less charge 28. Order for the City of London to proceed to the electing a new Common Council according to the former Ordinance by which Malignants are excluded And that the illegal Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and all other of the like nature be referred to a Committee to the end they may for the future be taken away The Committee for drawing up a charge against the King and to consider of the manner of his Tryal reported an Ordinance for attainting the King of high Treason and for trying him by such Commissioners as should be named in the Ordinance The Charge was to this effect That Charles Stuart had acted contrary to his trust in departing from the Parliament setting up his standard making a War against them and thereby been the occasion of much blood-shed and misery to the People whom he was set over for good that
Missive from the Lord Keeper signifying his Majesties Pleasure that he should forbear coming to the Parliament which how far it might Trench upon the Liberty and Safety of the Peers was too high a Point for him but he submits it to the Lords and Prays that he may Answer for himself and sends with his Petition a Copy of the Lord Keepers Letter and his Answer to it Hereupon the Lord Keeper delivered a Message to the Lords from the King Accusing Bristol of undutifulness disrespect and Scandal to the King and desires he may be sent for as a Delinquent to answer his Offences in Spain and since and for Scandalizing the Duke The Martial of Middlesex by Petition showed to the Commons That he by Warrant searched in the Clink Prison and was resisted but found there Four Priests and their Altars Crucifixes Books Papers c. That the Priests giving notice hereof to the Archbishop before they had done a Warrant came from the Arch-bishop and Mr. Attourney that they should not search any further nor remove any thing from thence The Arch-bishop said That the searching for those Priests was a Design of the Jesuits to take the Priests and send them to Rome to be put to Death for Writing in Defence of the Oath of Allegiance The Commons caused every Member of their House in his Place to make a particular Protestation Whether they heard Mr. Coke speak the Words charged upon him or not And every one denyed the hearing of those Words spoken by Mr. Coke After which the Commons presented a Remonstrance to the King in Answer to his and the Lord Keepers Speech denying the Words to be spoken by Mr. Coke and excusing Dr. Turner and avowing their Proceedings against the Duke or any other Subject and Pray the King not to give Ear to Officious Reports of private Persons for their own Ends. The King Chargeth the Bishops in the Case of the Duke and Bristol to follow only Proofs and not Rumours The Commons sent to the Duke That they were passing of Articles against him to which he might Answer if he pleased but he acquainting the Lords therewith they would not permit it Bristol was brought to the Bar by the Lords Order and Articles Exhibited against him of High-Treason and other Crimes in the Name of the Attorney General I. That he Traiterously assured King James That the Emperour and King of Spain would restore the Palatinate and that the King of Spain would consent to the Match with our Prince which they never intended and that was known to Bristol who delayed the Treaty II. He did not Execute the Commands of the King nor put the King of Spain to a punctual Answer to the detriment of our King and his Allies III. That he perswaded King James not to break with Spain IV. That he said he cared not what the Success of the Treaty would be but he would make his Fortune thereby V. That he intended to Introduce Popery here and perswaded King James to grant a Tolleration thereof VI. That he occasioned the Princes Journey into Spain to his great hazard VII That in Spain he perswaded the Prince to change his Religion Anno 1626 VIII To the same purpose IX That he perswaded that the Prince Electors eldest Son should be bred up in the Emperours Court. X. That he would have dispatched the Disponsaries notwithstanding the Princes Commands to the contrary if Extraordinary diligence had not prevented it XI His Contemptuous and Scandalous Petition to the Lords House After this Bristol presented Articles against the Duke which were received and Mr. Atturney being asked by the Earl for a Relator said That the King had Commanded it Bristol replyed That he would not contend with his Soveraign but that it might be of dangerous Consequence If the King should be Accuser Judge Witnesses and have the Confiscation He desires that the Lord Conway might not meddle and that he might have the use of certain Papers which was granted him After which he proceeded to a large Declaration of the whole business between the Duke and him and laid it home upon the Duke with an implication that shortly after the probability of his being restored to King James his Favour the King sickned and Dyed having suffered much and to his dying Day Reputed and said That Bristol was an honest man Then he set forth the business of his Writ and the Prohibition of him to Sit and that after he had Accused the Duke the Articles of High Treason were Exhibited against him yet the Duke is in Favour and Sits as a Peer and he is a Prisoner The Articles Preferred by Bristol against the Duke were I. That he Plotted with Gondimer to bring the Prince into Spain to change his Religion II. That Porter was sent into Spain for this End III. That in Spain The Duke absented from Service in Bristols House and frequented the Popish Service and Adored their Sacrament and conformed to their Rites IV. That he procured King James to Write a Letter to the Pope for the Dispensation and to stile him Sanctissime Pater V. That the Pope sent a Bull to the Duke to incourage him in the perversion of the Prince VI. That by his behaviour in Spain he so incensed that King and his Ministers as they would admit of no dealing with him and that he brake that Match out of his particular Ends and Indignation VII That he made use of the Princes Letters to his own Ends and concealed divers great things from him VIII That as he had abused the King so he abused both Houses by a sinister Relation of those Affairs Car. 2 IX The Scandal of his Personal Behaviour in Spain and procuring favours for unworthy persons there for hire of his Lust X. That he hath been the great Cause of the Ruine of the Prince Palatine XI That he had wrong'd Bristol in his Relations to the Parliament in his honour and Liberty XII That Bristol revealed these Matters to the late King who said he would hear him against the Duke which the Duke heard and not long after the King Sickn'd and Died. The Earl also Exhibited divers Articles against the Lord Conway as the Dukes Creature and unfit to be one of his Judges and the particular injuries he did to Bristol The Lords did not Commit the Earl and Ordered the Articles against him to be First heard and then his against the Duke yet saving his Testimony against the Duke The King took in highly with the Duke and would have removed the Earl from the Lords House into the Kings Bench but the Lords would not permit it In this Parliament were several Resolutions touching Tryals there which are faithfully Collected by Rushworth pag. 271 272. They Ordered That no Peer should have above Two Proxies Bristol delivered in his Answer to the Charge against him and made a Speech of Introduction to clear the Objections of his ill Affection to Religion and his too
shall be agreed upon by the Sub-dean and the major part of the Prebendaries and also to pass all the Premises under the style and title of the Dean and Chapter of the Collegiate Church of S. Peter in Westminster during the suspension of the Bishop of Lincoln from the Deanry of Westminster For the doing whereof this shall be your Warrant Lambeth-house this 22th day of November An. Dom. 1637. W. Cant. This was held by some Lawyers to be a strange Warrant and these Proceedings in the Star-chamber against these persons raised a deep distaste in the hearts of many people which some expressed by their murmurings and gave out Canterbury to be the Author of them more particularly against Lincoln upon the private Grudges and Emulation between these two Prelates The Troubles and Commotions in Scotland began to arise upon this occasion King James had designed to bring the Kirk of Scotland to a Conformity with the Church of England and for that purpose appointed some of his Scotish Bishops to Compile a Form of Liturgy a Book of Common Prayer to be used there which was done and sent to him into England for his Approbation but nothing further was effected in that business by King James King Charles his Son in prosecution of his Father's Design directed Archbishop Laud the Bishop of Ely and other Bishops to review and alter as they pleased that Service Book which they did with some material Alterations from that used in England and by the Advice of these Bishops and others this new Service Book was sent into Scotland with Command to be there read First In the Chapel of the King's House at Edenburgh the Communion to be Administred in that form and taken on their knees the Bishop in his Rochet the Minister in his Surplice The Scottish Bishops liked the matter of the Book but not the Imposing of it from our Church upon theirs nor the different Translation from the Scottish Language of some of the Psalms Epistles and Gospels which to satisfie them was amended and the Book proclaimed to be read in all Churches On Sunday July 23. The Dean of Edenburgh began to read the Book in the chief Church of the City upon which the people in a tumultuous manner filled the Church with uproar which caused the Bishop of Edenburgh to step up into the Pulpit to appease them by minding them of the holiness of the Place This inraged the Multitude the more so that the Women and Men threw Cudgels Stools and what was in the way of fury at the Bishop to the indangering of his life The Chancellor seeing this called down from the Gallery the Provost Bailiffs and Magistrates of the City then sitting there who thrust the Rabble out of the Church and made fast the Doors so the Dean proceeded in his Common Prayer only he was disturbed from the outward man the multitude without rapping at the Doors pelting the Windows with stones and making hideous noises Nevertheless the Service was ended though not the Peoples rage who assaulted the Bishop returning to his Lodging and in other Churches the peoples disorders were answerable The Chancellor and Councel so ordered the business for the Afternoon that the Common Prayer was read without disturbance only the Bishop returning to his Lodging was rudely treated The Magistrates of the City seemed to distaste these tumultuous Actions and to inquire out the Actors and by desire of the City Ministers the Magistrates drew up an Obligatory Act for Indemnity of their persons and settling of their Maintenance During Harvest men were at work and quiet that being ended many resort to Fdenburgh Petition the Councel That the Service-book may no further be prest upon them till the King 's further pleasure were known The Councel fearing danger issue three Proclamations 1 To dissolve their Meeting in relation to Church-matters and all to repair home 2. For removing the Session from Edenburgh to Lithgow 3. For calling in and burning a seditious Book Intituled A Dispute against the English Popish Ceremonies obtruded upon the Kirk of Scotland These Proclamations increased the Flame and the next day the Bishop of Galloway going to the Councel-house was followed in the Streets with Railings and the House beset with Clamours and Menaces The Earl of Trequaire going to relieve the Bishop became in the same condition with him the Lord Provost and City-councel were called to raise the Siege but they returned answer That their condition was the same surrounded with the multitude who had forced them for fear of their lives to sign a Paper to adhere to them in opposing the Service-book and to restore Ramsey Rollock and Henderson silenced Ministers The Lord Treasurer going to the council-Councel-house was thrown down by the throng his Hat Cloak and white Staff taken from him The Lords in this danger sent for some Noble-men and Gentlemen who were disaffected to the Service-book to come to their aid who came and quietly guarded them to their several Lodgings Then the Councel issued a Proclamation to repress the Disorders but little obedience was given to it The Citizens sent Commissioners to the Councel to have their Ministers restored and what they had promised to be performed A Petition was sent to the Councel-board not of the multitude but of Noble-men Barons Ministers Burgesses and Commons against the Liturgy and Canons This Petition was sent to the King who displeased at it gave Instructions for Adjourning the Term to Sterling 24 miles from Edenburgh to prevent confluences of people and for publishing a Proclamation forbidding such tumultuous Resorts upon the highest Penalties Upon the reading of this Proclamation at Edenburgh the Earl of Hume and the Lord Linsey and others caused their Protestation against it to be read and agreeable thereunto erected four Tables 1 Of the Nobility 2. Of the Gentry 3. Of the Burroughs 4. Of the Ministers These were to prepare what was to be propounded at the general Table consisting of several Commissioners chosen from the rest The first Act of this General Table Was a renewing of the ancient Confession of Faith of that Kirk and entering into a general Covenant to preserve the Religion there profest and the King's Person The Councel upon this Combination sent an Express by Sir John Hamilton to the King to advertise him thereof The King observed That in this Covenant contrary to what was formerly neither his own nor his Delegated Authority was Implored And whereas preceding Bands annext to Confessions were formed in defence of himself his Authority and Person This new Edition hath a Combination against all persons whatsoever himself not excepted The King though highly offended at these Affronts yet studying how to compose the Discontents sent Marquess Hamilton his high Commissioner into Scotland for settling of the Peace He stayed many days at Dalketh four miles from Edenburgh yet none of the Covenanters came to him but at the sollicitation of the City and assurance of their quiet
Ireland Marquess Hertford Governour to the Prince and the Earl of Essex was made Lord Chamberlain of the King's House The Field Officers and Commanders of the English Army were at London and some of them Members of both Houses the Army was left to the care of Sir Jacob Ashley And the dislikes between the King and Parliament with the supply of the Scots Army and neglect of the English caused discontent in the English Officers and private Meetings and Consultations which were discovered and the Design not brought to a head was crushed June 19. It was Voted that the Scots should receive 100000 l. of the 300000 l. The Scots by a Paper pretended necessity of 25000 l. in present The Parliament took off 10000 l. of 50000 l. which they had appointed for the English Army and order it for the Scots The Lord Piercy Commissary VVilmot and Ashburnham Members of the Parliament sitting together and murmuring at it Wilmot stept up and said That if such Papers of the Scots could procure Moneys he doubted not but the Officers of the English would soon doe the like And this caused the English Army to say that the Parliament had disobliged them The Officer's put themselves into a Junto of sworn Secrecy drew up some Heads by way of Petition to the King and Parliament For Money for the Army Not to Disband before the Scots To preserve Bishops Votes and Functions To settle the King's Revenue The Army tainted from hence met and drew up a Letter or Petition which was shewed to the King and approved and signed by him with C. R. and a Direction to Captain Leg that none should see it but Sir Jacob Ashley the main drift was That the Army might be called up to attend the safety of the King's Person and Parliaments security or that both Armies might be disbanded Mr. Thomas a Member of the House of Commons made a sharp and historical Speech against Bishops and concluded it with his Opinion for the unlawfulness of their sitting in Parliament any longer Mr. White did second him and divers others declared the like Opinion against Bishops The Commons had Debate about a new Form of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and July 17. agreed That every Shire should be a several Diocess a Presbytery of twelve Divines in each Shire and a President as a Bishop over them and he with assistance of some of the Presbytery to Ordain Suspend Deprive Degrade and Excommunicate To have a Diocessan Synod once a year and every third year a National Synod and they to make Canons but none to be binding till confirmed by Parliament The Primate of Armagh offered an Expedient for Conjunction in point of Discipline that Episcopal and Presbyterial Government might not be at a far distance but reducing Episcopacy to the form of Synodical Government in the ancient Church June 22d. The Commons presented to the King an Act for granting of Tonnage and Poundage to him which he before took as his due but by passing this Act accepted as a gift from his people The House also presented to the King the Act of Poll-money for the defraying the Charge of the Armies and with it an Act for putting down the high Commission Court and another Act to put down the Star-chamber July 2d. He passed the Poll-money but demurred upon the other two Acts but being informed of the discontent of the House of Commons because he had not passed the other two Bills he came again July 6. and passed the other two Bills likewise The Queen Mother went out of England into the Low-countries and shortly after died The King acquainted the Parliament with his purpose to send Sir Thomas Row Ambassadour to the Emperour to be present at the Diet at Ratisbone and there to mediate on the behalf of the Prince Elector and his intent to publish a Manifesto in his own Name about this business to which the Parliament assented July 5 th The House of Commons had a Report from their Committee of a Charge against Doctor Wren Bishop of Ely and he was voted unworthy and unfit to hold or exercise any Office or Dignity in Church or Commonwealth And a Message sent to the Lords to desire their Concurrence in a Petition to the King That he might be removed from his Place and Service and he was committed to the Tower and by few pitied Another Charge was brought in against five Judges Brampston Trevor Weston Davenport and Crawley who gave their Opinions for Ship-money and against Judge Berkley for high Treason but he came off by Redemption as is before remembred The House of Commons made an Order and Sir Robert Harlow the Executioner of it to take away all scandalous Pictures Crosses and Figures within Churches and without and the zealous Knight took down the Cross in Cheapside Charing-cross and other the like Monuments impartially The King had given Notice of his Purpose to go into Scotland and had set the Day to begin his Journey August 10. to which both Houses had agreed Yet now the Commons desire him to put off his Journey for a Fortnight the Affairs of State and his passing of some Bills requiring it But to please them the King the same day passed the Bill for taking away Knighthood-money and another for making of Gunpowder and Salt-Petre and signed a Commission to divers great Lords for passing of Bills in his absence He also signed a Bill for making the Earl of Essex General of his Forces on this side Trent with power to raise Forces in case of necessity but he refused to make the Earl of Pembroke Lord high Steward Judge Croke obtained his Writ of Ease upon his own Petition to the King but the Profits of his Place were continued to him After some Debate in Parliament whether the English or Scottish Army should be first disbanded it was at last agreed that both of them should be disbanded together which was done accordingly Aug. 6. and the Scots with Store of English Money and Spoils and the best Entertainment left their warm and plentiful Quarters August 8. Being the Lord's-day yet the House of Commons thought fit to sit for the dispatch of some important Affairs before the King went out of Town towards Scotland which was appointed the Tuesday after but they Printed an Order of Excuse for their sitting on that Day and that it should not be drawn in President After this the Parliament Adjourned to the 20 th of October and a Committee of fifty of the House of Commons was appointed to sit during the Recess with ample powers Hitherto the Calm was not quite blown over but now hideous Storms began to arise and threaten the long-enjoyed Mercies of Peace and Happiness in this Nation Discontents at Government Distractions of Opinion in Matters of Religion the whole Kingdom seemed to be moulded into a Spirit of Division and Contradiction Insolencies and Disorders unpunished or connived at
for the Recruits to be sent to Sir T. F. The Ordinance past for putting Surrey into a posture of Defence and for pay for Farnham Garrison and another for 20000 l. towards reducing Oxford The Antiparliament sate again at Oxford and were about a Declaration to encourage their party and taking care for Money and Recruits for the King Colonel Baxter Governour of Reading went out with a party and faced Wallingford near their Works 2 Debate about Church affairs One Lusher had been apprehended for a Romish Priest the Spanish Ambassadour owned Lusher as his Servant and in favour of the Ambassadour both Houses discharged Lusher and ordered him to depart the Kingdom in ten daies Both Houses ordered the continuance of the Commissioners of the Great Seal and of the Master of the Rolls for six Months longer notwithstanding the Self-denying Ordinance Mr. Gourden a Member of the House of Commons presented to them a Letter from the Lord Savile with a Paper inclosed in it and desired that they might be read and after some Debate they were read The Letter was expressing his affections to the Parliament to whom he had come from the King and submitted himself and taken the Oath enjoyned in observance whereof and of his duty to the Parliament under whose protection he was he held himself obliged to discover to them what he knew concerning two of their Members who had done contrary to their trust and to the prejudice of the Parliament in the matters contained in the inclosed Paper That Paper set forth That Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke being persons well affected to the King and to his Cause were nevertheless two of the Parliaments Commissioners lately sent to Oxford to His Majesty with Propositions from the Parliament for Peace That they being at Oxford did contrary to their trust and to the prejudice of the Parliament treat and advise with the King and some great Lords about him namely the Earl of Lindsey the Earl of Southampton and others about the King's Answer to those Propositions and did give a Paper in writing what they advised the King's answer should be That their advice in the said Paper was followed by the King and some of the very words thereof were made use of in the King's Answer and that both before and after that time they held intelligence and correspondence with the King and his party at Oxford Much other Matter was in the Paper to the like effect and upon the reading of it divers of the House were very high and moved that Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke might make a present Answer to this Paper or Charge as some called it Mr. Hollis presently in his place made his Answer to the matter of the Paper and therein unadvisedly and suddenly confessed more than he needed to have done but denied any intelligence or correspondence by him with any of the King's party Mr. Whitelocke was not in Town this Morning and knew nothing of this business but after Mr. Hollis had spoken Mr. John L'Isle stood up and acquainted the House that Mr. Whitelocke being then absent if they pleased he would undertake to give him notice to attend the House the next Day which was ordered But some were not satisfied therewith and they fiercely moved That this being a charge of High Treason against two of their Members in whom the offence was greater than in others that they would proceed with equal justice and that both Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke might be committed to the Tower Mr. Hollis who was present to be sent thither and a Warrant to apprehend Mr. Whitelocke and to carry him thither also Upon this Sir William Lewys stood up and with as much vigour on the other side said He could not but wonder at the justice of those who would commit a man to the Tower before he was heard and the other after he had fully answered that which they called a Charge That he could not admit it to be a Charge but a Scandalous and Libellous Paper against two worthy Members of the House who they all knew had served the Parliament faithfully and to the utmost hazard of their Lives and Fortunes And because they had done so and were so capable of doing further and more service to the Parliament therefore one of their enemies was come hither to cast a bone among them and to raise differences amongst the Members of Parliament a likely way when their other designs failed them to doe mischief to the Parliament He desired them to consider the person of him whom they called the Accuser who was indeed an Accuser of the Brethren that it was the Lord Savile now cloathed with a new Title from the King of Earl of Sussex and perhaps this present service was to be part of that by which he was yet to merit his new Title That still he was the same man who was first of the Parliament party then revolted from them to the King and now was revolted from the King to the Parliament again and that a Paper brought in from this person should be looked upon as a Charge against two worthy Members of their House or be in the least a ground to commit them to the Tower he could not sufficiently wonder at the reason or justice of such a motion as that was He rather thought it more reasonable and just and accordingly moved that this Libel this Paper might be thrown out of the House and the contriver of it the Lord Savile be under more streight custody and examined who set him on to promote this business and that Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke might not be put to the trouble of any further attendance about it This smart motion of Sir William Lewys so contrary to the former being spoken by him with great ingenuity and mettle and seconded by Sir Philip Stapleton and others of that party so wrought upon the House that the motion for commitment to the Tower was laid aside and Mr. L'Isle ordered to give notice to Mr. Whitelocke that the House required his attendance there the next day Carlisle was surrendred to the Parliament and Sir Thomas Glenham the Governour and the Garrison Souldiers had a Convoy by the Articles of surrender to Newark 3. At a Conference the Letters of the surrender of Carlisle were imparted to the Lords and agreed to send a Committee to the Common Council of London to acquaint them with some of the King's Letters taken at Naseby A Committee appointed to consider of the Northern Garrisons upon the borders of Scotland The King was at Ragland Castle to gather Recruits Sir T. F. was at Marlborough the Garrison of Taunton had often Skirmishes with Goring's Forces and at one time took 120 of their horse the besiegers drew off most of their horse to their Out-guards Between 4000 and 5000 Clubmen being up in Dorsetshire and Wilts carried themselves very tumultuously and forced the Parliaments quarters at Sturmister divers slain and wounded
that Sub-Committee by name did know of this his design and did authorize him to send to Oxford about it he answered that the Lord Say was from time to time acquainted with this business and did incourage and authorise him to send to Oxford about it and that he sent several times by Mr. Howard to Oxford with much to the same effect By this their friends found the bottom of this design against them to be from the advice if not contrivance of the Lord Say and the Lady Temple a busie woman and great Polititian in her own Opinion was made use of by the Lord Say to whom she was allied and by the Lord Savile to be an Agent in this matter The design and endeavour also against them was by these Papers and Examinations made the more apparent which took off the edge of divers Gentlemen who thought this Prosecution not ingenuous nor handsom against them Their friends made good use of it both at the Committee and afterwards in the House and carried it by vote to have these particulars with the rest of the Examinations reported to the Parliament 15. A Message from the Lords to the Commons about removal of the Lord Powys a Prisoner to London and for an allowance for him An Ordinance committed for impowering the Militia of London to raise horse and Dragoons for the Counties of Berks Bucks and Oxon. Major Harrison sent from Sir Thomas Fairfax to the Parliament gave them a particular and large account of the battle of Langport the Commons gave 200 l. to Major Bethell as a gratuity for his service there and ordered two good horses for Major Harrison and a Letter of hearty thanks to Sir T. Fairfax Petition from Hartfordshire of their grievances referred Sir Thomas Fairfax summoned Bridgwater but the Governour Colonel Windham gave a resolute denyal whereupon Sir Thomas Fairfax prepared to storm About 800 of the Prisoners taken at Langport fight took the Covenant and entred into the Parliaments Service Sir Thomas Fairfax went to a Rendevous of the Clubmen about 2000 of them and propounded that they should not supply Bridgwater that what his Army had of them should be paid for and no wrong done to any of them by any of his forces but upon complaint against any Officer or Souldier under his Command that right should be done 16. Major General Skippon brought to London Business of the Church debated in a grand Committee and about instructions for the Commissioners to be sent to reside in the Scots Army Referred to the Committee of both Houses for Ireland to take care for sending thither those Prisoners who were willing to fight against the Irish Rebels and for the supplies for Munster but those Prisoners who had formerly served the Parliament or were meer Irish were committed to close custody to be proceeded against according to Justice An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for making one Mr. Reynolds Deputy Clark of the Hannaper with the Salary of 50 l. per an and the profits of the place to goe to the use of the publick The King was in Wales some Parliament Ships came into King's Road to block up Bristol The Scots had some loss by the Forces of Montross at Dundee 17. The Ordinance for the Clark of the Hannaper and for Forces for Oxon Bucks and Berks sent to the Lords Care for the Charge of the Funeral of the Countess of Dorset Sir T. F. took in Borrowes a Fort of the King 's four miles from Bridgewater in which were 140 men of whom 80 took the Covenant to serve the Parliament and the rest of them marched away The Report was made to the House about the Lord Savile's business and it was moved that there might be a further examination of Mr. H. and Mr. Wh. in the House and that any Member might have liberty to ask them what questions they pleased which the House ordered and that they should be severally examined and to begin with Mr. Hollis Mr. Whitelocke sate still in his place and it was moved that he might be ordered to withdraw whilst Mr. Hollis was in examination but that was opposed as contrary to the Privilege of the House that there being no legal charge against them they ought to have the same liberty and freedom of Sitting in the House as the other Members had and neither of them to be ordered to withdraw After much debate upon this point it was brought to the question whether Mr. Wh. should be ordered to withdraw whilst Mr. Hollis was under the Examination of the House and it was carried in the Negative that he should not withdraw This question being past Mr. Wh. stood up and told the Speaker that since the House had done him that justice and favour and themselves that right in the consequence thereof Yet now to manifest the confidence he had in his own innocency and that he sought no advantages for his own vindication in this business he would of himself with their leave withdraw whilst the House should be in the Examination of Mr. Hollis Then he did withdraw and went up to the Committee Chamber at which the House seemed to give a good approbation Mr. Hollis was almost two houres under examination in the House there being some particulars urged against him which were not against Mr. Whitelocke particularly in the matter of intelligence and correspondence with the King's party The questions and matters upon which he was examined were in effect but the same which had been formerly mentioned in the House and at the Committee to which he answered fully and prudently and with great courage and when they had sifted the business as much as they could with him they gave him over and sent for Mr. Whitelocke down out of the Committee chamber to be examined He came into the House and then Mr. H. withdrew of himself into the Committee chamber whilst Mr. Wh. was under examination A multitude of questions were demanded of him insomuch as one Gentleman Sir Peter Wentworth asked him above thirty questions onely for his part The matters demanded of him were but the same in effect that had been mentioned formerly and what he answered did agree punctually with what Mr. Hollis had said before It is a very solemn thing to be examined by a House of Commons where there are so many Wits and so much odds and advantage to be taken against one single man and that in a business of High-Treason where Honour Fortune and Life are at stake The House sate upon this business till 7 a Clock at night the Earl of Essex his party and all their friends putting forth the utmost of their power and interest to rescue these two Members from the malice and danger they were now under And the other party of the House as earnestly labouring to be rid of them both either by cutting off their heads or at least by expelling of them from being any more Members of Parliament
Forces at Bath for the streightning of Bristol and a Letter inclosed from Lieutenant General Cromwel to Sir T. Fairfax That in his march to Shaftsbury he found 10000 Clubmen in a Body and Mr. Newman in the head of them that he sent to know the Cause of their being in Arms and Mr. Newman came to him told him the causes were two 1. To have an account of their fellows taken at Shaftsbury 2. To secure themselves from plunder That Cromwel told them No account was due concerning their fellows taken at Shaftsbury but yet he assured them that his General onely intended that if they were found upon due tryal to have committed any offence they should be punished according to Law otherwise to be released To the second he assured them that his General would not suffer any of them to be plundered or injured but upon Complaint against any of his Souldiers would doe them Justice That hereupon the Clubmen as being well satisfied departed to their own homes That after this about Shaftsbury he met with 2000 more Clubmen whom he sent to in a peaceable way to depart home but they fired upon his Messenger he sent again twice more to them to disperse themselves but they still shot at his Messengers and said they expected the Lord Hopton to come to them and killed two of Cromwel's men Whereupon he ordered M. Desborrough to charge them who killed about 20 of them and took the Gentlemen who were in the head of them and 300 Prisoners whom Cromwel desired he might send home and keep the Gentlemen onely Prisoners The House referred it to Sir Thomas Fairfax to discharge such of the Prisoners as he pleased and sent up an Ordinance to the Lords to continue Lieutenant General Cromwel in his Command for four Months longer notwithstanding the Selfdenying-Ordinance A Petition from the Assembly declared plainly their claim Jure divino of power to suspend from the Sacrament all such as they should judge to be scandalous or ignorant 9. Major General Brown had given a Commission to M. Temple to be Governour of Newport Paganell and Sir Thomas Fairfax desired that Lieutenant Colonel Cokaine might be Governour there which the House resolved and that Major General Brown had no Authority to give such a Commission 400 l. Ordered for the Earl of Essex his reformado Officers and Orders for other monies for several Forces Captain Moore appointed to be Governour of Monmouth The Committee of Examinations by Order of the House committed L. Col. Lilburn to Newgate for writing a Seditious Book Order to search for Papists and Delinquents Letters informed that Captain Allen with 95 Dragoons from Burleigh-house fell upon 200 of the Newarke and Belvoir horse commanded by Sir Robert Dalison routed them killed 5 took several Officers and 50 Prisoners 80 Horse and rescued the Countrymen and plunder which they had taken 11. The House approved of the Commitment of L. Col. Lilburne An Ordinance sent to the Lords for giving the publick Faith to such as had paid their 5th and 20th part An Order for discharge of Col. Waites attendance on the House and for revoking his suspension from his Government Major General Pointz took the Church and Outworks of the Castle of Skipton divers of their horse and men and their Conduit water Col. Pye and Col. Sheffeild came with their own Regiments and 700 recruit horse to Sherburn the King's recruits went on slowly The Composition for delinquency of Sir John Tyrrel for 800 l. and of Sir John Mushamp for 600 l. were confirmed and Ordered that none should compound under 2 years value of their Estates Order for discharge of Reformadoes Quarters Major Moore continued Governour of Gaunt-house and Col. Russel of Ely Order for auditing Reformadoes Debenters A Petition to the Lords from the Assembly about Non-admission to the Sacrament and punishing such as derogated from the Directory or used the Common-prayer Book An Ordinance past for money for the Northern Association The French defeated the Spanish Army in Germany 10000 killed and taken 1000 Arms 57 pieces of Ordnance 300 barrels of Powder 100 Carriages 100 Colours and all their bag and baggage In a general Assembly in France our Queen moved for aid for her Husband but they denyed it The King left Wales and went with 3000 of his horse Northwards Some Clubmen were up in Berkshire 13. Upon the King's advance Northward the House took care of the Forces about Newarke and about Hull and sent notice of the King's motion to the Scots Army who sent 4000 horse and foot after him The House took care for Gloucester Garrison and appointed Col. Morgan Governour of all the Forces in that County and in Monmouth Glamorgan and Herefordshires Pay desired for Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army Major General Brown submitted himself to the House to be commanded by them and it was referred to the Committee of the three Counties to examine some affronts offered to him by some under his Command and the House resolved to give him reparation The Garrison of Phillis Court mutinied against Captain Doiley and had like to have killed him but for the present it was pacified and Major General Brown was desired to goe to Henley to settle that busines The House in debate of a Petition from the Burrough of Southwarke desiring a New Election of Burgesses Mr. White one of their Burgesses being dead and Mr. Bagshaw the other being excluded Some were of opinion that a New Election might prove inconvenient and of danger others pressed it as the Right of the Subject to have Burgesses upon the Question to defer it for a month longer it was carryed in the Negative And the House resolved into a grand Committee to consider of it Orders for money and touching supernumerary Forces in the Northern Association Major General Langherne fell upon a party of the King 's under Major General Stradling and M. Ennerton near Haverford West gave them a great overthrow took 400 Prisoners divers Officers of note 1000 Arms 20 Colours and 4 pieces of Ordnance and retook Haverford West Letters from the Scots Army before Hereford inform of their proceedings at the Leaguer of their want of money Ammunition and Provisions that the Country will bring in none and the Scots Souldiers feed upon Apples Pease and green Wheat which is unwholsom and they are much discontented to be thus used for their kindness A months pay ordered for the Scots Army and care taken for their future pay Letters to the Northern Association to joyn their Forces with those of the Scots gone after the King Plate and rich Hangings taken at Bridgwater and sent up by Sir Thomas Fairfax ordered to be sold and the money to be sent to Sir Thomas Fairfax to give to his Souldiers for their Encouragement Order for a Declaration to be drawn and sent into North Wales of the causes of the Parliaments taking Arms and Copies
present buying of Horses and Furniture for him as an earnest of the affections of the House to him Order for Pay for the Army 24. Information from the Commissioners in the Scots Army of their Warrant to bring in Provisions for the Scots and of some complaints against that Army The House approved of those Warrants of the Commissioners and took care for payment of the Country for the Provisions brought in by them Mr. Hunt the Serjeant at Arms being dead the House gave that place to Serjeant Birkhead for Life Debate at a Conference touching Martial Law in London and about the Letters from Newarke A Petition of the Merchants of New-Castle and Sunderland referred to the Committee of the Navy 26. Upon Letters from M. G. Brown Order for one thousand eight hundred pound of Sir John Borlace his Composition to be paid for the Garrison of Abbingdon and for other Money for them They continued M. G. Brown Governor of Abbingdon for three Months longer and dispensed with his attendance in the House as a Member Order for Money for the Garrison of Henley Several Ordinances touching the arrears of the Officers late under the Lord Fairfax and for digging of Salt-Peter Another Letter came from his Majesty about a Personal Treaty wherein he smartly answers the Letters of the Parliament last sent to him in all the particulars and concludes with his earnest desires of Peace and saith it is clear to him that there is no way but a Treaty or Conquest for a final ending of such distractions as afflict this Kingdom The latter he hopes none will have the impudence or impiety to wish for and for the former if his Personal assistance be not necessary let any reasonable man judge and earnestly presseth for an Answer The King sent a Warrant under his hand to the Heads of Houses in Oxford for the reading of Divine Service established by Law daily Morning and Evening and to fast on Fridays 27. Letters from Stafford informed that Captain Stone 's Troop of an hundred beat up the Lord Molineux's Quarters near Stafford routed three hundred of the Enemy took three Captains and other Officers about an hundred Horse and many Prisoners some slain and divers wounded Order for five hundred pound for Captain Stone for his Troop and fifty pound given to his Lieutenant Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace and seven Bills to be prepared to be forthwith sent to the King to which if he shall assent then they are willing he should come to London and treat about the other matters The Bills were 1. For setling Presbyterian Government and extirpating Episcopacy 2. For prosecuting the War against the Irish Rebels 3. For the Militia to remain in the power of the Parliament 4. For payment of the Debts of the Kingdom 5. For bringing Delinquents to punishment 6. That no Honours be given but to such as have testified their affections to the Publick 7. Concerning the Priviledges of London Sir Tho. Fairfax returned from Dartmouth to the blocking up of Exeter 28. The day of the Monthly Fast in the Evening the House met and heard a Report from the Committee of Plundred Ministers of the Blasphemies of one Paul Best who denied the Trinity of the God-head and the Deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost the House ordered him to be kept close Prisoner and an Ordinance to be brought in to punish him with Death 29. Consent to amendment of some mistakes in an Ordinance The House voted that some of the Members of the Committee of both Kingdoms had done their Duties in making known some intelligence from Paris and ordered them thanks for it The Lord Montague Col. White and Mr. Robert Goodwin ordered to go Commissioners into Scotland Orders for supply of the Army A Petition for Mr. Saltmarsh to be a Lecturer in Kent opposed by divers of the County countenanced by Col. Blunt and divers others of the Parliaments Friends The Parliament of Scotland executed divers of Montrosses Party The Siege of Newarke continued streight A Treaty was had about the surrender of Chester but nothing concluded Sir William Brereton drew out a Party to incounter the Irish of whose landing in Anglesey he had Intelligence Mr. Ed. Vaughan with a small party in Merioneth-shire fell upon a hundred of the Kings Forces who were Fortifying at Dolgethly took their Captaine eighteen Prisoners and divers Horse and Arms. 30. Reference to the Committee of both Kingdoms to prevent the Incursions from Oxford into Wilts and Hant shire Orders for allowance to Preaching Ministers and for Mr. Edward Clerke High Sheriff of Oxford shire to make his Residence at Reading Proceedings upon the Propositions for Peace Mr. Tilshead met the Party from Oxford in Wilts whereof he was High-Sheriff and took thirty of their Horse and many Prisoners Letters informed the taking of Pouldram Castle by Col. Hammond That they surrendred upon conditions that Greenvile was apprehended and carried prisoner to Oxford and that Hopton was made General of the West that many intercepted Letters were sent up to the Parliament That many Devonshire Gentlemen declared for the Parliament and Sir Tho. Fairfax gave a Commission to Mr. Vowell to be a Col. 31. Debate of a Report from the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall touching Compositions of Delinquents Another Letter came from the King wherein he presseth his coming to London for a personal Treaty offers the Militia to be setled in the hands of the Parliament for seven years and that the Parliament shall nominate Officers of State Judges c. that Religion shall be setled as in the days of Queen Elizabeth having regard still to tender Consciences And for Ireland and the other Propositions to grant what was offered at the Treaty of Uxbridge and disclames the Earl of Glamorgan's Commission by which he treated with the Irish as false and no Act of his Majestys This Letter was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to be communicated to the Scots Commissioners and the Commons desired a conference with the Lords concerning the present sending of the seven Bills to his Majesty Vote that the Committee of both Kingdoms receive from the Lord L'isle his propositions touching Ireland Both Houses agreed upon the Ordinance touching Covent-Garden Order for the Countess of Winchester to go to her Husband where he is Prisoner Sir William Brereton intercepted a Letter from the Lord Byron to Oxford that if they had not relief by the last of January then of necessity they must surrender Chester February 1645. February 2. Debate about the Kings Letter A Conference at which the seven Bills were presented to the Lords for their Concurrence to be forthwith sent to the King Ordinance passed for Money for the Guards and other services in London Martial Law given to the Garrisons of Aylisbury and Newport Paganell Order that there should be no new motion in the House after twelve a Clock Letters informed that Sir Tho. Fairfax drawing towards Exeter the
Limrick in Ireland The Lord Inchequin took Pilborne Castle by Storm and put all in it but eight to the Sword The Governor of Silley Islands for the King sent to Captain Batten to treat for the surrender of them to the Parliament and the Treaty was begun Letters informed the Particulars of the surrender of Pendennis Castle that there was taken great store of Arms and Ammunition ninety five pieces of Cannon two Murderers but little Provision That there marched out of it four Knights eight Colonels many other Officers and Gunners and a thousand Soldiers and two hundred left sick behind Mardike in the Low Countreys was surrended upon Articles to the French September 1646. September 1. An Ordinance for Sir Jo. Heles Composition The Commissioners of the great Seal continued for a Month longer Upon Papers from the Scots Commissioners demanding four hundred thousand pound for their Army after long debate the House agreed to it and to days of payment of it Voted that the Election of Mr. Toll a Member of the House to be Major of Lynne ought not to have been without the consent of the House yet in respect it was for the advantage of that place the House granted the petition of the Town that he might execute the place of Major there and have Power to make a Deputy 2. An Ordinance for punishment of Blasphemies and Heresies committed Order for divers Committees to give account what Moneys they had issued The Scots Commissioners insisted to have two hundred thousand pound upon their advance to Scotland but the House would allow only an hundred thousand pound 3. The Earl of Cleaveland is released he ingaging his Honour to the Lieutenants of the Tower to render himself again if required by the Parliament An Ordinance to make Mr. Hallingham Vicar of South-Wales in Essex Order for Money for Soldiers Wives and Widows upon the Excise An Ordinance to make Mr. Elliston Parson of Sandford in Essex Ordinances past for Compositions 4. Orders concerning new Elections Letters of the Generals gallant entertainment by the Welch and in other places 5. Though a day of Adjournment yet the House sate till seven at night to dispatch the business of the removal of the Scots Army and at length voted to give them two hundred thousand pound at their advance to Scotland if it could be raised and sent a Committee to treat with the Common Council of London for the raising of it 7. Commissioners fram the States of Scotland came to perswade his Majesty to Sign the Propositions The Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland presented a Remonstrance to the Committee of Estates there desiring that Malignants and Incendiaries may not be favoured that all possible means might be used to confirm the union between England and Scotland and to preserve the Reformation of Religion and to bring the Churches in both Kingdoms to the nearest Conjunction and perfect Reformation according to the Covenant They sent another Remonstrance to the King to the same effect to which the King answered That the Assembly had no authority to intermeddle in the affairs of this Kingdom or Church and then justifies his own proceedings Earnest Letters came from Ireland for supplys and recruits 8. The day of publick thanksgiving no intelligence received 9. Sir Jo. Stowell was found guilty of Treason by a Jury of Somersetshire Orders touching Compositions of Delinquents another touching a general day of thanksgiving After the Surrender of Mardike the French designed the taking in of Dunkirke 10. The Common Council of London propounded for security of the two hundred thousand pound to be advanced for the Scots That all who had contributed upon the propositions for Horse Money and Plate may contribute the like Sum upon this proposition for the two hundred thousand pound and be secured both sums out of the Excise and Bishops Lands The House agreed to this and returned thanks to the Common Council only they excepted Advowsons out of the security and added to it the Sale of Delinquents Estates Order for an hundred pound for the Church-Wardens of the Abbey and St. Margarets Church in Westminster to maintain Watchmen to look to the doors of houses infected with the Plague The Lords desired the Concurrence of the Commons for taking away all Countrey Committees and for appointing new Commissioners for the great Seal 11. Mr. Edwards continued Major of Chester by Ordinance for thirteen Months A Menial Servant of Mr. Martin a Member of the House being arrested contrary to the Priviledge of the House was released and the Bayliff that arrested him and knew him to be Mr. Martins Servant was sent for as a Delinquent Ordinance touching the Excise in the Northerne and Westerne Associations not consented to by the Commons Orders for new Elections 12. The Commons sate not but the Lords sate about the two hundred thousand pound for the Scots and agreed to what the Commons had voted except the additional security by sale of Delinquents Estates which the Common Council of London did not insist upon the Committee of the Parliament met with the Committee of Common Council as often as was held requisite for the carrying on of this business and agreeing upon the security to those who should lend Money or double their former Loans according to the propositions for raising of the two hundred thousand pound 14. Letters certified that the Commissioners of the Estates of Scotland had been often with the King and pressed him to consent to the propositions and to take the Covenant That the King questioned their power which they justified as relating to both Kingdoms and were very plain with his Majesty who said he was not satisfied in point of Conscience to subscribe it they moved that some able Divines might be conferred with by him for his satisfaction and that was appointed Letters informed a discontent among the Irish Rebels about the Peace the Popes Nuntio Bishops and Clergy protesting against it because done without their consent and because it gave liberty of Conscience to the Protestants Forces were hastning thither out of England This Evening the noble Earl of Essex dyed at Essex House Orders for twelve hundred pound for the Duke of York and for a constant maintenance for him and for Money for the Northerne Forces A Remonstrance from Cleveland and other Northerne parts of the insupportable burden of the Scots and English Forces upon them referred to the Northerne Committee Order for a new Election Order that the House should accompany the Earl of Essex his Body at his Funeral Order for Money for Masseys Brigade H great Petition of Lancashire debated Upon the news of the death of the Earl of Essex both Houses adjourned to the next day 16. The House sate in a grand Committee to debate the Ordinance touching Blasphemies and Heresies The Lords ordered a Writ to be sent to the new Viscount of Hereford to whom that honour descended by the death of
Cooke and Sir Robert Cooke discharged 26. Petition of Captain Sheffield referred Money given to some who had lost their eyes in Ireland 27. The French Ambassador had his audience in usual State and Ceremony in both Houses The substance of his Speech was to desire a happy accommodation between the King and Parliament and presented himself as a Mediator for composure of them if in any thing the Houses thought fit to make use of him But nothing was then done upon it An explanatory Ordinance touching the Sale of Bishops Lands A Letter and Declaration of the Parliament of Ireland by way of address to the Parliament of England for relief and supplyes referred to the Committee of Irish affairs and orders for Supplyes and the Messenger ordered to return to the Parliament of Ireland to acquaint them therewith March 1646. March 1. A Petition of many thousand young men and Apprentices of London ingeniously Penned and desiring That all occasions of breaches between the well affected Party may be taken away That those who have adventured their lives for the Parliament may be countenanced and the contrary Party not favoured and that a sufficient Guard and Strength may be kept up for the safety of the Kingdom That they may enjoy the Grants and Priviledges of the City and that some times for Recreation may be set apart for Servants The House sent thanks to the Petitioners for their good Affections Upon a Letter from Major General Skippon of his settlement of the Garrison of Newcastle a Letter of thanks Ordered to him Both Houses continued the Commissioners of the Seal for twenty days longer A Commission past for Mr. Strickland to go over Agent to the Low-Countries Both Houses gave an Allowance to the Earl of Chesterfield with an intimation That he do not entertain Malignant Preachers in his House nor use the Book of Common-Prayer Divers Votes for Dismantling Garrisons 2. Further progress about Dismantling Garrisons Letters from the Commissioners at Holmeby with a List of those appointed to attend the King and an estimate of Charges Vote that the List be not allowed as to an Establishment and the Charges referred to the Committee of the Revenue and the Commissioners desired not to exceed in them Order to know of the Commissioners of Scotland whether they have power to joyn with the Parliament in procuring His Majesties consent to the Propositions and Sale of Bishops Lands The Commissioners could not persuade the King to hear their Chaplains 3. Votes for slighting Garrisons Instructions past by the Lords for the Judges for hearing of Criminal Causes 4. Order for One thousand three hundred pounds for the Lord Willoughby of Parham for his Arrears and that what his Lordship shall propound further for the remainder the House will be ready to grant Addition of fifty pounds per Mens for the maimed Souldiers The Scots Commissioners here answered to the Parliaments question That they had not now power to joyn for procuring His Majesties consent to the Propositions but expected it speedily from their Parliament 5. After long debate carryed upon the question That Sir Thomas Fairfax shall be General of the Forces to be continued and some wondered it should admit a debate and question 6. Votes for Forces and Supplies for Ireland Of Foot seven Regiments three thousand Horse one thousand two hundred Dragoons out of the Army and the House will consider the Charge of maintaining all the Forces in Ireland and how they may be under one Pay and Establishment The General Collonel Hammond and others expressed their willingness to further the business of Ireland and Collonel Hammond to go himself 8. Votes concerning the Forces to be kept in Ireland That no Member of the House of Commons shall have the Command of any Garrison under Sir Thomas Fairfax in England That there be no Officer above a Collonel That they shall all take the Covenant That none who hath born Arms against the Parliament shall be in Command That they shall all Conform to the Established Government of the Church Nor any Prophane or Scandalous person The Officers to be chosen by the Parliament The Lords Ordered the Sale of the Miters Copes c. brought from Oxford and that Magistrates do put in Execution the Laws against Rogues c. for relief of the poor A Proclamation of Major General Skippon for all Papists to bring in their Arms to Newcastle and he desired the Sheriffs of Northumberland and Durham with the Gentlemen of each County to give a List of the places fittest for Quartering of his Soldiers which they took very well from him 9. Order for One thousand nine hundred pounds to Sir William Constable in full of all his Arrears Discharge of some Prisoners Order for a Committee to imprison Preachers not Ordained Approbation of Collonel Hammonds going for Ireland and the conditions The King sent another Letter to the Parliament to have two of His Chaplains come to him and told the Commissioners That he had not power to Command them or any man but would importune them to be instrumental in satisfying his reasonable desire The Lord Lisle landed at Corke and presently sent forth a Party into the Rebels Country where Lieutenant Collonel Croccar and the rest did good service 10. The day of Humiliation against Blasphemies and Heresies 11. Lieutenant Freeman being indicted at the Assizes for doing service for the Parliament the House Ordered his relief Some Members sent to the Judges required them to discharge such Persons and Causes as concern matters done in relation to the War Upon a Petition from Essex that the Souldiers quartered there might be removed the House left it to the General to Quarter his Army as he should think fit and satisfied the Petitioners 12. An Ordinance Read for respiting Tryals and Judgments in Criminal Causes relating to the War till the pleasure of the Houses be known Votes for Collonel Fortescue Lieutenant Collonel Butler Collonel Rous Captain St. Aubin Captain Keckwith and Captain Rous to be Governours of Forts Sir Thomas Fairfax came to Cambridge and was highly caressed and a Latin Oration made to him by a Fellow of Trinity Colledg who had been a Souldier in his Regiment In the Chappel they presented him with a rich Bible in the Hall with a sumptuous Banquet Then the Town entertained him with a stately Banquet and at the Schools he was made a Master of Arts. 13. Many Governours of Garrisons Voted and an Ordinance sent up to the Lords for continuing Tunnage and Poundage 15. Debate about the business of Ireland A Counter-Petition to the London Petition discovered by one Boys at a Conventicle where it was produced and signed was referred to the Committee where Collonel Lee hath the Chair to find out the Authors Ordered that none who have been put out of their Livings for scandalous Malignancy shall be admitted into any without consent of both Houses Orders for new Elections and for
them that they might not be burdensom to the Countrey The Houses approved the Letter to be sent from the City to the Army they sate late this night and ordered to sit again to morrow though Sunday 13. After the Evening Sermon the House sate and had a Letter from their Commissioners at St. Albans That Sir Tho. Widdrington and Col. White had acquainted the General with the additional instructions 14. Both Houses named a Committee to draw up a Declaration what they had done and intended to do for the ease of the People and for the Soldiery and for settlement of Peace and that a Committee was appointed to consider what place is fit for the King to come unto for the applications of both Kingdoms to be made to him for setling Peace Upon a Petition of divers Officers Order for a Declaration that hereafter none should presume on pain of Death to meet in a tumultuous way as they had lately done and the Militia to send a considerable Guard to the House Captain Falconbridge and Captain White ordered to bring the trained bands of Westminster for guards to the House A Committee of both Houses to draw a Declaration what the Army hath demanded and what the Houses have offered The Commons being informed that divers of the Parliaments old Officers and Soldiers were in the Hall and Palace they sent to them to withdraw Letters from Ireland that some of the Rebels were returned out of Scotland into Vlster That the Parliaments Commissioners and Col. Jones with some Forces were landed at Dublyn That the Lord Inchequin sent a Party to surprize some Castle near Waterford the Rebels Sallied out and were beaten back about a hundred of them slain and wounded many Prisoners and much Cattle taken 15. Order of both Houses that the General be required to deliver the Person of the King to such Persons as both Houses shall appoint to be placed at Richmond under such manner as they shall think fit to the intent that the Propositions agreed upon by both Kingdoms may be speedily presented to his Majesty for the setling a safe and well grounded Peace That the Persons to whom the King shall be delivered shall be the Commissioners now with him or any three of them That the Guards to receive Orders from the Commissioners shall be Col. Rossiter and his Regiment Order for Col. Birch to have the publique Faith for four thousand nine hundred pound upon his Accounts Officers whose accounts are not stated to have one months pay for Subsistence Order for the Committee of Indemnity to discharge those that are or shall be under restraint for any thing done tempore loco belli A Months Pay to Col. Graves his Forces Letters from the Commissioners in the Army informed that the Votes concerning those that would come away from the Army did much distast them The Results from the Army were 1. The Heads of a Charge against divers Members of the House of Commons which they delivered in to be speeded by the Parliament and when they should be admitted would appoint fit Persons on their and the Kingdoms behalf to prosecute and make good the same 2. If the Parliament shall admit these things at the desire of the Army and proceed for a general satisfaction therein then they desire 1. That the Persons Impeached may be suspended else they can expect no good issue if the same persons who have appeared most active in the late proceedings to the prejudice and provocation of the Army and hazarding the Peace of the Kingdom shall continue in the same Power and Judges of these things 2. For a Months Pay and a resolution thereupon in two days 3. That those of the Army may have as much Pay as they who have ingaged for Ireland or come away from the Army 4. That none who have so deserted the Army may have any more Pay till the rest of the Army be first satisfied in their Arrears 5. That during the transactions of this business the Parliament would not suffer as some have designed any new Forces to be raised in this Kingdom or to be brought out of any other Kingdom hither or any thing else to be done that may carry the Face of a new War or may indanger the settlement of the Liberties and Peace of this Kingdom 6. That the Parliament would be pleased without any delay to put these things into a speedy way of resolution and dispatch the present condition of the Kingdom and Army and of the King not admitting delayes 16. A Charge came to the Houses from Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Officers and Soldiers of the Army against eleven Members of the House of Commons whereby they are charged with obstructing the business of Ireland to have been Actors against the Army and against the laws and Liberties of the Subject and Obstructors of Justice The Members Charged were Denzill Hollis Esquire Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewis Sir John Clot-worthy Sir William Waller Sr. Jo. Maynard M. G. Massey Mr. Recorder Glyn Col. Walter Long Col. Edward Harley and Mr. Anthony Nichols After reading of the Charge the Members severally made some defence thereunto and desired it might be put into a speedy way of tryal A Declaration of the Army was sent from the Commissioners vindicating their proceedings and their desires for the setling and securing their own and the Kingdoms common rest freedom peace and safety The Commissioners of the City returned from the Army with expressions of Love and the Common Council voted to send a Letter to the Army with leave from the Houses that according to their desire no Forces shall be raised against them and that they will move the Parliament for Money to pay the Army and that they may withdraw further from the City The Army further desired of the Parliament 1. That the Houses may be speedily purged of such as ought not to sit there 2. That those persons who have abused the Parliament and Army and indangered the Kingdom may speedily be disabled from doing the like 3. That some time may be set for the continuance of this and future Parliaments and new Elections made successively according to the Bill for Triennial Parliaments 4. That Provision be made that future Parliaments may not be dissolved at the Kings pleasure without their consent but continue the set time 5. That the right of the People to represent to the Parliament their grievances by Petition may be vindicated 6. That the large Powers given to Committees or deputy Lieutenants during the War as appear not necessary to be continued may be taken away and such as are necessary may be put into a regulated way and left to as little Arbitrariness as the nature and necessity thereof will bear 7. They wish that the Kingdom may be righted and satisfied in point of Accounts and other things wherein the Common-wealth may be conceived to have been wronged 8. That publick Justice being satisfied by some few Examples
suppose that as the Gentlemen themselves will forbear to offer the contrary so they expect the Wisdom and Justice of the House will not admit of any thing to the contrary to interrupt the proceedings upon the general affairs The House passed these Votes That no Officer or Souldier of the Army shall leave the Army without Licence or Discharge from the General That they do own this Army as their Army and will make provision for their maintenance and for their Pay equally with those that have deserted the Army Referred to the Committee of the Army to make provision accordingly Referred to the Commissioners in the Army to be earnest with the General That no obstruction or discouragement be given by the Souldiers to the levying of the Excise and other Assessments An Ordinance Read for saving harmless all well affected persons from any Bonds c. extorted from them by the Enemy in the time of War Referred to the Commissioners of the Great Seal to bring in a List of Judges for the next Circuit 29. An Ordinance past both Houses for Collonel Butler to be Governour of the Isle of Scilley A Petition from the Eleven Members except the Recorder Glyn to come to a speedy Tryal he earnestly advised his Brethren against this Petition but they were wilful and he would not joyn in it A day set for the particular Charge of the Army to be brought in against the Eleven Members Order for the Accounts to be stated of Collonel Graves and Collonel Pyes Forces and that the Officers and Souldiers come off from the Army advance for Ireland or be Disbanded An Ordinance committed for Souldiers not Inhabitants to depart the City Both Houses granted a Pass to the Dutch Ambassador to go to the King and so to return home 30 The Fast-day after Sermon A Committee appointed about reedifying the Church of Torrington Another to consider of able persons for accommodation in Religion Order for the Magistrates of the City to be careful to execute the Ordinances for observation of the Lords-day and Fast-days and for inquiry what Malignant Ministers have been admitted into Benefices Letters from the Commissioners in the Army and from Sir Thomas Fairfax That the last Votes of the House had met with such complyance in his Councel of War that in confidence of this further progress about the desires of the Army and in submission to the Votes of Parliament the Army had removed their Quarters further from London and were to be this night at Wicombe The Commissioners in the Army were desired by the Councel of War to procure from the Parliament a full answer to the last Propositions of the Army before which they cannot conclude any thing upon the Treaty Mr. Patrick Young formerly His Majesties Library-keeper at St. James's and a great Scholar with the assistance of Selden and Whitlock undertook the Printing of the Septuagint Translation of the Bible whereof he had in his custody a famous antient Copy if not an Original Manuscript July 1647. July 1. Orders about Pay for the Army That the King shall reside no nearer London than the Quarters of the Army will be born That the Committee do meet about accommodation in Religion Information of one Cousens an Alderman of Newcastle Negotiating to bring the Scots again into England The Lords were desired to expedite the Propositions to be sent to the King It was reported That part of the Charge against the Eleven Members particularly against Mr. Hollis would be the business of the Lord Savile's Information against him and Whitelock two years since 2. A Petition from the Common-Councel 1. That Command be given that no Officer or Souldier come within the Lines of Communication upon pretence to share monies for their Arrears 2. That such as are Paid may depart the City within two days 3. That all who have been in Arms against the Parliament may depart the City 4. That such as have come in from the Army may be otherwise disposed of 5. That all bring in concealed Goods 6. That the revenue be mannaged by Rules 7. That the Parliament would lay aside lesser businesses and prepare such Laws for the Kings concurrence as may settle the Government of the Church secure the people from Arbitrary Power and to restore his Majesty to his just Rights and Authority 8. That all Officers of State and Justice may be Persons of Honour of considerable Interest and known Integrity 9. That speedy care be had of Ireland 10. That Correspondence with Scotland according to the Covenant be maintained 11. That Elections may be examined and the House purged of such as are unduely Elected or have been against the Parliament 12. For a course to decide Admiralty Causes 13. That satisfaction being made by Delinquents an Act of Oblivion may be passed The Petitioners had thanks for their good affections and answer That most of the particulars were under consideration Some of the Members attended the less in the House when these matters were in agitation being unsatisfied that the Army and City should thus seem to impose upon the Parliament Reference to the Committee of Cheshire about Pay and lessening of the Garrison of Chester Orders about the affairs of Ireland That two thousand six hundred pounds be paid to the Lord of Ormond and for mony for Advance and Transport of Forces into Ireland and that three Commissioners be sent into Munster One of the Knights of Essex presented a Petition from part of that County and the Gentlemen that brought it had thanks for their good Affections and the House took notice of the delivery of it in a Parliamentary way Other Petitions from Norfolk and Suffolk Letters from the General and his Officers with a Declaration of the Army disclaiming a Pamphlet called Heads presented by the Army to the Kings Majesty and another called Articles agreed upon betwixt the King and the Army as false scandalous and injurious to them and which they detest and desire the Authors may be found out Letters from the Commissioners in the Army certified That the General had appointed Lieutenant General Cromwell Collonel Ireton Collonel Fleetwood Collonel Rainsborough Collonel Harrison Collonel Sir Har-Waller Collonel Rich Collonel Lambert Collonel Hammond and Major Rainsborough or any five of them to Treat with the Parliaments Commissioners upon the Papers sent from the Army to the Parliament and their Votes To the Vote touching the Eleven Members was answered That the Councel of War had a great willingness to answer the expectation of the House in all things so in this particular but the things being of great importance and the persons charged many it had taken more time than was expected they therefore desire respite for three or four days when they would bring in the particular Charge against the Eleven Members and the Kingdom shall see that they have not impeached the Gentlemen out of any private respects but their duty to the Publick The
to the house to give way to it and the Commons concurred and that the Earl of Northumberland should go with the Children to the King and take care of their return Order for the Lord Major of York to have the charge of Cliffords Tower there The Soldiers in Dublin were in a high Mutiny Col. Jones the Governor in danger to be killed by them yet he appeased the Mutiny with great Courage and stoutness Some little Defeats were given to the Rebels and sometimes to the English some of the leading Rebels taken Prisoners by Col. Coots Forces twenty five killed five hundred Cowes a thousand sheep and two hundred and fifty Plough-Horses taken Indeavours were used in Scotland to raise an Army there to invade England several debates about it at Edinborough and by the Estates but nothing concluded 13. The first day of relaxation for Scholars and Apprentices Many Apprentices came to the Parliament with a Petition which they presented to the Commons set on by their Masters and others their desires were 1. That the House according to promise take into consideration the several heads of a petition of theirs delivered the fifth of March last 2. That the authority of Parliament so apparently abused contrary to Right by those that have of late effected the ejections of men of known Fidelity out of places of Trust redeemed and those so expulsed may be restored 3. That they would declare against all invectives of the Clergy 4. That those who have appealed to this Court of Justice may have an impartial Tryal 5. That the sum of all the endeavours of Parliament may tend to the sweet composure of differences The Petitioners had Answer by some Members that were Citizens That their Petition would be considered in due time And they were commended for their civil carriage in presenting it Orders for slighting of Garrisons The Lords desired the Commons Concurrence to an Order for Money for the Earl of Kildare the Commons rejected it because the Lords had first made the Order for Money which was not proper for them to do but afterwards the Commons made a new Order for two hundred pound for the Earl 14. A contrary Party of the London Apprentices came to both Houses with a Petition 1. That according to the Covenant the Kings Person may be defended and his just power in defence of Religion and Liberties be estabished 2. That the Priviledges of Parliament may be vindicated and the Liberties and Property of the Subject preserved 3. That the Government of the Church may be setled and Conventicles suppressed 4. That Incendiaries Malignants and evil instruments hindering reformation and raising Divisions may be punished 5. That Obstructions in Courts of Justice may be removed and the abuse of Committees and their Officers considered 6. That Arrears of Soldiers may be paid 7. That the Army may be disbanded 8. Against Forreigners being free of London Thus each Party might frame what matter they pleased into Petitions and have hands to them and multitudes to present them The answer to this Petition was That divers matters thereof were under consideration and the rest should be considered in due time The Lords gave leave for the Marquess Winton to go out of Town The Earl of Clare had his Priviledge of Peer allowed him 15. According to a former Order of the House several Members of the House brought in their Case stated touching their Elections and the point of being disable to sit in the House and they were referred to a Committee Letters from Major General Pointz and another from his Wife informed the manner of his imprisonment by his own Soldiers and their seizing of his goods The House ordered Copies of them to be sent to the General with directions for the discharge of Pointz or sending him up to London and a Letter ordered to the Lord Mayor of York to discharge and restore his goods to him The Kings Children went with the Earl of Northumberland to Causham to see their Father 16. Orders touching supplys and managing the Forces in Ireland A Proposition for the Earl of Ormond to transport five thousand five hundred men out of Ireland was denyed by the House Orders for Pay and disbanding of Forces come off from the Army The Kings Children coming to Causham to meet their Father great numbers of People slocked thither to see them and strewed the ways with green bows and herbs After Dinner at Maiden-head the King and his Children went together to Causham 17. Vote That all the Forces in England and Wales c. be under the immediate Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax and for disbanding of divers Forces Order for putting Reformades out of the Line and about money for the Army 19. The eleven Members in Person presented to the House an answer by way of Demurrer to the Charge of Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Army against them which was for the present laid aside Votes for divers Garrisons to be slighted and the Deputy Lieutenants to see it done Bristol Castle and the great Fort at Caernarvon to be continued the keys of the Garrison to be delivered to the Mayors of the Corporations to be governed as formerly Leave given to the Lawyers to go the Circuits Upon information from Col. Birch of some distempers in his Regiment Ordered that the General send them away for Ireland The Assembly in Scotland debated about a Declaration concerning the Affairs of England relating to the King the Parliament and Army Letters from Ireland informed the taking of eight or nine thousand Cattle from the Rebels but they by a strategem killed betwixt thirty of forty of the Parliaments Forces and That they are forced for want of Bread and Money to leave the Field and retire into Garrisons A design to surprize Dublyn discovered and prevented and the Actors apprehended 20. Upon a Message from the eleven Members of their desires to absent themselves for six Months That in the mean time the great affairs of the Kingdom mentioned by the Army might be setled without any interruption from their lesser business The House voted That they or any of them should have leave and Passes to go into the Countrey or beyond Sea for six Months and then to return to the Parliament to attend concerning the Charge against them Upon information that a Multitude of People were coming up to the doors of the House in a tumultuous manner The House Ordered that the Guards do disperse them And that the Serjeant at Arms acquaint that it was the pleasure of the House that they remove themselves That an hundred Halberts be brought into the House for their Service That the Militia order the Guards constantly to suppress such disturbers of the House and that Col. Webbe see the Guards daily placed Letters from the Commissioners of the Army with these new Proposals from the Army 1. That a Declaration be published against the
the Kings hand for diverting the Ships pretended for the relief of Rochel another for sending Ammunition to York in the beginning of the War the House ordered the Committee to Print such of them as they thought fit Divers Sheriffs passed Order for a Judge to go down upon the Commission of Oyer and Terminer to try the Mutineers in the Isle of Wight Order for a Collection for Bridge-north and no Collection to be but under the Great Seal Letters from the Isle of Wight informed That the King sent for the Governor Col. Hammond and asked him the reason why he had given order for dismissing his Majesties Servants and whether it stood with the Engagement to them who had so freely cast themselves upon him and with his Honour and Honesty That the Governor told the King That his Honour and Honesty were in the first place to them that imployed him and next that he thought the King could not but confess that he had done more as things stood for him than he himself could have expected Then the King asked him whether the Commissioners were privy to this Order He said no the King demanded of him by what Authority he did it he said by Authority of both Houses of Parliament and that he supposed his Majesty was not ignorant of the cause of his doing thus The King professed the contrary and the Governor replyed that he plainly saw his Majesty was acted by other Councels than stood with the good of this Kingdom The Garrison of Hull sent Letters of thanks to the General for continuing Col. Maleverer to be their Governonor 11. Sir Hardress Waller acquainted the House That the General had commanded seven Collonels of them with other Officers of Quality in the name of the Army to make their humble address to the House and they have presented their intentions in writing in that which is called a Declaration which shall either have name or life or be exposed to view according as it shall receive approbation and direction from the House It was to this Effect Reciting the high Violations of the Kingdoms Rights and Liberties and endeavour to swallow them up in the Power and Will of a King the necessity of the Parliaments vindicating the Kingdom and their tenderness towards the Kings person and Rights so as might be consistent with and not destructive to the great and more obliging interest of Religion and the Rights and Liberties and safety of the Kingdom and not otherwise That the Army have declared and endeavoured the same and several addresses have been made to the King for those ends and in the Parliaments last address to him they insisted only upon some few things so essential to the interest of the Kingdom that without betraying the safety of the Kingdom and themselves and all engaged with them and without denying that which God in the issue of this War hath been such a Testimony unto they could not go lower and those things granted they have offered to treat for all the rest That upon the Kings denyal of these things they can see no further Hopes of settlement or Security that way Therefore understanding that upon debate of that denyal added to so many others the House of Commons by several late Votes resolved not to make any further Address or Application to the King nor receive any from him nor to suffer either in others They do freely and unanimously declare for themselves and the Army that they are resolved through the Grace of God firmly to adhere with and stand by the Parliament in the things then Voted and in what shall be further necessary for prosecution thereof and for setling and securing the Parliament and Kingdom without the King and against him or any other that shall hereafter partake with him This Declaration was twice read and the House Voted that they did approve of it and ordered that the thanks of the House be returned to the General and the Army for it A Petition from the Provincal Assembly of London referred to the Committee of Grievances and the Petitioners had thanks An Ordinance read and debated for Collecting twenty thousand pound a month for the Service of Ireland Order for ten pound to bury Captain Harris his Widow 12. The House gave thanks to some Merchants who had procured a Collection of Charity in the United Provinces of thirty one thousand two hundred and eighteen pound for the relief of Ireland Order for raising forty thousand pound forthwith for the Navy and thirty thousand pound more as soon as may be Order about sending some Divines to the Isle of Wight Letters from Vice-Admiral Rainsborough That he had appointed a guard of Ships for the Isle of Wight and for the Irish Coasts Order for five thousand pound for the Lord Brook's Son Both Houses passed an Ordinance for forty thousand pound to be raised out of the Earl of Worcesters Estate for the Service of Ireland Several Compositions passed 13. An Ordinance pass'd for repair of the Church of Taunton A Petition from the East-India Company referred and another from the Levant-Merchants Divers Compositions passed 14. Order that Delinquents be put out of the Line Upon Information of a new design of the Kings Party Orders for re-manding the Earl of Cleaveland to the Tower and for Sir Lewis Dives to be kept in safe Custody and for Mr. Sollicitor to prosecute him and Sir Jo. Stowel and Judge Jenkyns to Tryal the next Term and that the Lord Major and Justices do cause to be prosecuted at this Sessions the late Rioters in Fleet-street Order that the General take course for the safety of the Parliament And that he send some Horse and Foot to be Quartered within the Liberties of Westminster and to prevent inconvenience to the inhabitants That the Foot be Quartered in Whitehall and the Horse be Quartered in the Meuse 15. The Lords agreed to the Votes of the Commons That no more Addresses be made to the King and the Commons agreed with the Lords Preamble to those Votes and that they be Printed and published and that all who shall do contrary to those Votes shall be Sequestred Power to the Militia to imploy persons for the finding out and apprehending Delinquents who stay within the Lines Divers Compositions passed 16. Part of Col. Baxter's Regiment Quartered in White-Hall 17. Debate touching Sequestrations and against the Partiality of Committees Papers from the Scots Commissioners That they were speedily to return to Scotland and their desire of an answer of former Papers and what they shall return to the Parliament of Scotland and about the Arrears due to that Kingdom Orders for Money for Dover-Castle Some Delinquents committed who stayed in London contrary to the Ordinance and Order given by the House to the Regiments at White-Hall and the Meuse to apprehend and bring before a Justice of Peace such Papists and Malignants as they shall find in Town contrary to the Ordinance The House pass'd a
Covenant and will oppose the Popish Prelatical and Malignant party as well as the Sectaries if they shall be put to ingage in a new War That as they will endeavour to rescue His Majesty who is detained Prisoner contrary to the resolution of both Kingdoms that he may come to some of his own Houses near London with honour freedom and safety where both Kingdoms may make Applications to him for a safe and well grounded Peace So they resolve not to put into the hands of His Majesty or any other such power whereby the ends of the Covenant may be obstructed or Religion or Presbyterian Government indangered but before any agreement that His Majesty give assurance by Oath and under his Hand and Seal that he will pass such Bills as shall be presented to him from both or either Kingdoms respectively for settling the Covenant the Presbyterian Government Directory of Worship and Confession of Faith and never to oppose them That if any War be made as it shall be on just and necessary Grounds so none shall have charge in the Armies or Committees but men of known integrity that the Church shall have interest therein That they think fit the Kingdom be put into a posture of defence and some discreet persons be sent with their demands to the Parliament of England 25. Upon a Letter from Prince Philip Son to the Queen of Bohemia to Vice Admiral Rainsborough desiring a Pass to come into England to visit his Brother the Prince Elector Wherein the Vice Admiral desired to know the pleasure of the House they ordered a Pass to be given to Prince Philip. A day set to consider of settling the Kingdom and Mr. Strong desired that morning to Pray with the House and a Letter sent from the House to all the Ministers in and about London to Pray to Morrow being the Fast-day For a blessing of God upon the Consultations of the Parliament Upon Information That Captain Brown Bushel who revolted from the Parliament with a good Ship and turned Pyrate was apprehended the House gave twenty pounds to the two men that took him and referred it to the Committee of the Admiralty to take order for his Tryal as a Pyrate and he was committed to Windsor Castle Orders for monies for repair of Hull and New-Castle Works The Aldermen Langham Adams and Bunce brought to the Lords Bar refused to kneel or be Tryed by their Lordships but Petitioned to be Tryed by the Common Law denying the power of the Lords to try Commoners They were fined five hundred pounds apiece sent back to the Tower and had liberty to name their Counsel in order to their Tryal The Common-Councel of London sat Yesterday and this day upon an Affidavit made by one Everard That he being at Windsor in an Inn in Bed heard some Gentlemen whereof he supposeth one was Collonel Grosvenour another Ewer and others with them in the next Room to him discoursing together to this effect That they doubted not but the Scots would come in and that the City of London would joyn with the Scots for the preventing of which they found no way but to disarm the City friend and foe That such as were friends to the Army should be armed and keep the rest in aw and that they would make the City advance a Million of mony or else would plunder them and that they had acquainted Ireton therewith Letters from Scotland That the Kings Party there carry all That the Irish Forces under Monke have offered their Service to Scotland and received thanks and a fornights Pay from the Parliament of Scotland 26. Letters came this Fast-day from Norwich to Collonel Fleetwood That the Major of Norwich being sent for to attend the Parliament the Malignants opposed his going and the Parlamenteers were for it That both Parties got into Arms and plundred many Inhabitants of the City That Captain Zanchie with his Troop and some other Horse of Collonel Fleetwood's Regiment Quartered thereabouts came into the City They sell upon the Rioters in several Partys drove them into Corners and wounded many of them and Captain Lloyd and divers of the Troopers were wounded That the Rioters got possession of the Magazine and being to get out Powder the Magazine was fired and about forty of them blown up and spoyled the blow shaked the whole City threw down part of some Churches wounded and killed many of the Town not one of the Troopers hurt by it Legs and Arms found in the Streets torn from the Bodies and about a hundred and twenty of the Citizens missing in the Evening all quieted 27. Order for all the Members who have not taken the Covenant to take it tomorrow Debate about setling the Kingdom the question was whether the business of the Church or of the State should be first considered but the business of the City intervening the House resolved to sit again in the afternoon The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of London presented a Petition to the House informing the business beforementioned in the affidavit of Everard and desired That upon further examination thereof such course may be taken therein as the House shall think fit That the Chains of the City may be set up again and the Army be removed to a further distance That an Ordinance may pass to constitute Major General Skippon Major General of all Forces within the Lines of Communication for defence of the City and of the Parliament to whom the City resolve to adhere The Lords gave the Petitioners thanks for their good affections and resolutions to adhere to the Parliament As to the setting up again of the Chains they leave it to the Lord Major and Common Councel to do as they think fit as to Major General Skippon he being a Member of the House of Commons they can do nothing without the assent of the House The House of Commons approved the desires of the Common Council and ordered the Militia to see the Chains set up again and the Speaker acquainted the Petitioners therewith That the occasion of part of the Armies being drawn so near was the late tumults that the House would take this business into Consideration and gave their thanks to the Petitioners 28. The House proceeded in debate about the business of the State and voted That the Government of the Kingdom should be still by King Lords and Commons and the ground-work for that Government should be the propositions presented to the King at Hampton-Court and that every Member of the House shall have liberty to speak to any Votes c. concerning the King 29. Both Houses passed a Declaration upon the Duke of York's going away That whereas upon a former endeavour of his to escape which was prevented the Duke by his Letter to the Houses acknowledged his Errors and promised not to attempt the like for the future they declared that they conceived the Earl of Northumberland not to be
Southwark c. That the personal Treaty may be hastened and those Militiaes united to the City They had thanks for their good affections and were told that the house had already voted the uniting of the Militiaes Letters from Colchester Leaguer that the Enemy attempted to escape by a Ford but the Parliaments Scouts firing at them they retreated in again That the General to prevent shedding of more blood and the ruine of the Town sent another Summons to the Earl of Norwich the Lord Capel and Sir Charles Lucas to surrender the Town to the service of the Parliament to which they returned a scornful answer that if any more Letters of that kind were sent to them they would hang up the Messenger That presently after the return of the Generals Trumpet the Enemy set fire on another Street of the Town That before any attempt upon the Town the General intends to send for all women and children to come out Letters from the North that Duke Hamilton was come in person into Carlisle where he was received with shooting of Ordnance and ringing of Bells that he marched himself in the Van of his Army his Trumpets in rich Liveries and his Life-guard with Standards and Equipage Prince-like with his Carriages but little Artillery that being expected by them at Carlisle and Sir Marmaduke Langdale with three thousand English to joyn with the Duke The Duke sent a Letter to Major General Lambert to the effect before mentioned and that he was commanded by the Committee of the Estates of Scotland to prosecute their desires here against the Sectaries to liberate the King from his base imprisonment and the two Houses of Parliment from constraint and for the disbanding of all the Armies whereby the subject may be free from Taxes and Quarter and for setling peace and a firm Vnion That being the intentions and desires of the Kingdom of Scotland he expects Lambert will not oppose their just pious and loyal undertakings but rather joyn in prosecution of these ends and desires his present and positive answer To this Letter Lambert returned answer that as to the transactions of the Parliament he could give no answer seeing they are laid open to the view of the world and known to his Excellency That as to the English Forces being drawn upon the borders of Scotland he can the better give answer to that having the conduct of those Forces by Commission from the Lord General Fairfax and his positive Command to be most tender in acting any thing that might give any seeming occasion of offence to our Brethren of Scotland which he hath punctually observed That he believes it never entred into the thoughts of the Parliament or his Excellency the Lord General Fairfax to act any thing prejudicial to the Kingdom of Scotland That the occasion of their drawing Forces near the borders is notoriously known to be for suppressing of Sir Marmaduke Langdale and his adherents many of them Papists and grand Delinquents opposers to the ends of the Covenant and who are risen in rebellion against the Parliament That he wonders at the suggestions of the Parliament of Scotland that the Parliament of England is under Force when all English men except Sir Marmaduke Langdale and his adherents do act only by the immediate authority of the Parliament who sig and command all freely Then he vindicates the Parliaments Proceedings for Peace and to free the People from Taxes and Quarter he concludes that the resolutions of the Committee of Estates are wholly grounded upon mistakes and desires the Duke to consider if they be not contrary to the Covenant He saith that he must in prosecution of the trust reposed in him to the utmost of his power oppose all Forces raised or brought into this Kingdom except those by authority of the Parliament of England in which he hopes the D. will not oppose but rather assist him if the Parliament of England shall desire it 18. A Declaration transmitted to the Lords of the Victories God had given to the Parliaments Forces within a few late Months Letters from Major General Lambert that the Scots Army was joyned with Sir Marmaduke Langdale that they were in all about twelve thousand Horse and Foot he desired supplies of Money and men and it was referred to the Committee of Darby house to take care of it A Petition from the Common Council of London to the House of Commons that no Tax or Imposition may be laid upon New-Castle Coals and that the House would consider of disposing the profits of all places and imployments injoyed contrary to the self-denying Ordinance and the Votes of Parliament Junii 10. 1647. and of Customers Excise-men Committee-men c. for the publick occasions of the Kingdom Another Petition was to both Houses for adding fifteen persons named by the Common Council to be of the Militia of London Another Petition not from the Common Council but with ten thousand Hands to it that the Militiaes may continue distinct that the Parliament would keep the power in their own hands and call what Forces they please to their assistance These and other Petitions from Southwark Westminster c. for joyning the Militiaes together and some against it were referred to a Committee to hear all parties and their Claims and report their opinions to the House A Petition from the Water-men upon the Thames for a personal Treaty and settlement of Peace the Petitioners had thanks for making their Addresses by a few of their Company and were told that they were witnesses of the Parliaments indeavours for Peace who had now the same things under consideration for which they petitioned and would do therein what they judged best for the Kingdom Order for a day of thanksgiving for the great Victories obtained by the Parliaments Forces Letters from Colchester Leaguer that those within the Town made several attemps to escape away but were beaten back again some of them killed and divers wounded That they refused another summons of the General to surrender the Town 19. Intercepted Letters from one in Carlisle that they expect the Prince of Wales there that he sent a Declaration to Sir Marmaduke Langdale to publish to the Army and Country that the King his Father being kept Prisoner by the Parliament he is resolved to use all possible means to free him and re-inthrone him and desires all men to joyn with him therein And he ingages and desires Langdale and his friends to ingage in the Princes name that all who have formerly acted for the Parliament and shall now come in and joyn with him shall not only have their Pardon and Indemnity but all their Arrears satisfied 20. Letters from the Committee of Surrey of a late Insurrection at Horsham but suppressed and that Mr. Middleton a member of the House of Commons was a party in it and imprisoned by that Committee which the House approved and sent for Mr. Middleton
his Majesty had agreed to the proposition for recalling Oaths Proclamations c. and the preamble thereof Letters from Lieutenant General Cromwells quarters That Messengers came to him from the Lord Argyle and his Associates to inform him of their dislike of Duke Hamilton's coming into England with his Army and of Monroe's being there with his Forces and desired Cromwells assistance against them That Cromwell by advice of his Council of War answers that he will assist them and with all heartiness joyn with them against Monroe and desires nothing more than the subduing and rooting out of trust all loose persons and such as are Enemies to goodness and good men and desires his Letter may be kept as a Testimony against him and those under him of their hypocrisy if they did not joyn with them for these ends with all cordialness Letters that Monroe fell upon a Party of Argyle's men when they were in Treaty contrary to the Agreement The Lords voted the approbation of Lieutenant General Cromwells entring into Scotland by directions from the Committee of Derby House and that he may assist those in Scotland who dislike Duke Hamiltons coming into England if they shall desire it of him Divers after they were called over in the House went out of Town again the same day God forgive them for their Negligence 27. The publick Fast-day Letters from France of the troubles there and of Mazarine and the Prince of Conde c. 28. The Commons concurred to the Votes of approving Lieutenant General Cromwells entring into Scotland and to a Letter to be written to him to prosecute his Victory and take all advantages for recovery of Berwick and Carlisle Letters that Colonel Monk fell upon the Scots quarters in Ireland who were drawing out under Major General Monroe to joyn with his Nephew Monroe's Forces in Scotland that he had taken Carickfirgus and Belfast and had Monroe and all his Forces Prisoners Order for five hundred pounds to be bestowed on Colonel Monk and a Letter of thanks to him and his Officers and Souldiers and that he be Governour of Belfast and be advised with for a Governour of Carickfirgus and the Committee of Derby House to give him a Commission and to consider of an Establishment of pay for his Forces This Action and success was one of the first that brought Colonel Monk into extraordinary favour with the Parliament and Army who began to have more confidence in him than they had formerly since his revolt to them Order for a day of thanksgiving for this success in Ireland Letters that the King and the Commissioners in the Treaty proceeded upon the proposition for setling of the Church Government 29. Debate of an Ordinance for setling five hundred pounds per annum Salary upon each of the Judges of the Admiralty and a Proviso agreed upon that they take no mony of any persons upon any pretence whatsoever Order for five thousand pounds out of Delinquents Estates for payment of the Horse-guards that attend the Parliament Upon Petition of the Commissioners of the Excise all the Members of the House were added to the Committee of Excise and Ordered in their several Counties to endeavour the removal of all obstructions in that receipt Both Houses past a Declaratory Vote that nothing should be binding between the King and Parliament till all were concluded in the Treaty Major Miles Corbet a Member of the House being assaulted and wounded by some Cavaliers as he past in a Boat upon the Thames the Serjeant at Armes was ordered to apprehend the Malefactors Liberty given for Major Ashburnham to return into England to prosecute his Composition 30. Debate of an Ordinance for raising a hundred thousand pounds for pay of arrears of reduced Officers The Officers of the Committee of Haberdashers Hall coming to seise the goods of the Earl of Lauderdale who came with the late Scots Army to invade England they found a File of Musquetiers as a Guard to oppose them the House ordered the Militia of London to secure those guards and to give an account to the House of the business The Lord Admiral offered indemnity to the revolted Ships and the Prince offered the like indemnity to the Lord Admiral A Member of the House coming out of the City was assaulted by three Cavaliers but he and a Friend with him repulsed the Assaulters Colonel Rainsborough and a Captain with him upon the High way near London were assaulted by three others of the Kings party who after a little bickering ran away a Captain of the Army and a Major were in the like manner assaulted in London and both killed It was dangerous for any Member of the House or of the Army to walk without Company for fear of being assassinated and the Committee of Derby House were informed that a certain number of the Kings Party had combined to massacre eighty Members of the House of Commons whom they suspected averse to their hopes A Petition in the name of many thousands of Oxfordshire agreeing with the large Petition of the City against the Treaty Letters from the Head quarters of great want of pay for the Souldiers which forced them to take free-quarter and that it was to be feared neither the Country nor the Souldiery would long undergo it That Letters came to the General out of Scotland of the good corespondence betwixt Lieutenant General Cromwell and Argyle Letters came to the General from good hands and others from France of a design of the Cavaliers to stab him October 1648. 2. A Letter from his Majesty by Captain Titus That he will consent to confirm by Act of Parliament the sitting of the Assembly of Divines and the Directory of Worship for three years and the form of Church Government provided that the King and those of his judgment who cannot submit to it be not obliged to comply That a free consultation and debate with the Assembly be had in the mean time twenty of his Majesties nomination being added to them whereby it may be determined how Church Government and the form of publick Worship shall be after that time and how Religion may be settled and the Articles determined and care taken for the ease of tender Consciencs Concerning the Bishops lands and revenues his Majesty will consent to Acts of Parliament whereby legal Estates for lives or for ninety nine years shall be made of those lands towards satisfaction of purchasers or others to whom they are ingaged or his Majesty will order some other way for their further satisfaction providing that the propriety and Inheritance of those lands may still remain to the Church That his Majesty will consent to Acts for the better observation of the Lords day for suppressing innovations in Gods worship and for the advancing of Preaching And to acts against Pluralities and Non-residencies for regulating the Vniversities and Colledges for the better discovery and conviction of Popish Recusants and
greatness and found by Experience to be a grievance to the subject a hindrance of piety an incroachment upon the power of the Civil Magistrate and so a burthen to the persons purses and consciences of men Whereupon the Parliament finding it to be for the honour of your Majesty and profit of the Subject to take it away desire this Bill for that purpose not inedling with the Apostolical Bishop nor determining what that Bishops is whom the Apostles mention in Scripture but only to put him down by a Law who was set up by a Law Nothing can be more proper for Parliaments than to alter repeal or make Laws as Experience teacheth to be for the good of the Commonwealth but Admitting that Apostolical Bishops were within the purport of this Bill they humbly conceive it doth not follow that therefore in Conscience it must not be passed for they may not grant that no occasion can make that alterable which is found to have sure foundation only in the practice of the Apostles not in a precept For the Sale of Bishops Lands which his Majesty apprehends to be Sacriledge they humbly offer that Bishopricks being dissolved their Lands as of all Corporations naturally by the Laws of the Land revert to the Crown which is their founder and Patron and heretofore held it no Sacriledge to dispose of Bishops Lands to its own and others use by Act of Parliament which was an Ordinary practice in his predecessors Besides that they might say that in all ages and even under the Ceremonial Law imminent and urgent necessity especially by the publick hath dispensed with the otherwise imploying of Consecrated things As to that that his Majesty cannot communicate in a publick form of divine service where it is uncertain what the Minister will offer to God They answer that the Directory is certain as to the matter leaving it to the Minister to inlarge or express in words according to his discretion for the exercise of his gifts and they add that it can be no objection against joyning with a Minister in a Prayer not to know before hand the very words that he will say for then one must not hear any Prayer before Sermon where every several Minister hath a several form and must vary still according to occasion That what his Majesty hath already consented to concerning Bishops leaves it solely in his own power for their return again to their former power after three years and to have the Negative voice in Ordination which they humbly conceive the Scripture holds not forth to have been in that Bishop who is there mentioned in these Writings of the Apostles and consequently that which his Majesty endeavours to preserve not to be the primitive Office of a Bishop That the intention of the Parliament is not to Offer violence to his Majesties Conscience but that he will be pleased to rectify it by being better informed that both he and his People may have cause of rejoycing The Lord Grey of Groby had the thanks of the House for taking Marquess Hamilton Prisoner and dispersing a Brigad of his Horse The House spent almost the whole day in nominating Sheriffs for all the Counties of the Kingdom Many Rumours were of the Armies coming again to the Houses 24. Upon a Letter from the Lord Admiral Order touching the raising of twenty thousand pound for the Mariners that come in from the revolted Ships and for other affairs of the Navy and for providing money for the Summers Fleet. Vote for the Earl of Arundel to be admitted to his Composition for six thousand pound in regard he had suffered losses by the Parliament's Forces and that this six thousand pound should be paid for the use of the Navy 25. Orders touching Sheriffs Orders for Slighting the Garrisons of Ashby de la Zouch and Bulling-brook A Petition of one Maurice complaining of the arbitrary proceedings of the House of Lords concerning an Estate of three thousand pound per annum referred to be examined by a Committee Votes for disbanding Forces The Commissioners of the great Seal went into the Queen's Court and there they did swear Mâ— Prideaux to be the King's Sollicitor 27. Letters from Colonel Hammond with one inclosed from the General to him to require Colonel Hammond to repair to his Excellency to the Head quarters and that Colonel Ewers was appointed to take the charge of his Majesty in the Isle of Wight The Commons Voted Colonel Hammond to stay in the Isle of Wight to attend his Charge there and the General to be acquainted with this vote and Letters to be sent to the Admiral to send some Ships for security of the Isle of Wight and that they obey the Orders of Colonel Hammond Letters from the Head quarters that the Officers spent yesterday wholly in prayer that they consult how to effect what is in their Remonstrance and are resolute to bring Delinquents to punishment and to settle the Kingdom in peace with what necessary Laws are wanting for the benefit and ease of the subject and that a Petition came to the General from the Forces in Wales and in the North to expedite this work A Messenger brought word to Windsor that Colonel Ewers had the Custody of his Majesty and that Colonel Hammond was upon the way to Windsor Upon Information of the wants of Plymouth Garrison orders for raising four thousand pound for them and Colonel Welden to go thither Debate whether the new Sergeants should send a Ring to the King and put off Letters from the Leaguer at Pontefract that the Garrison Souldiers come away from thence and many move for Passes that they made a Sally and were beaten in again that all the Regiments in the North have petitioned the General against the Treaty and for Justice which were recommended and sent by Lieutenant General Cromwell to the Lord General 28. Order for Captain Skinner and the rest of the men in the Crescent Frigat lately taken to be brought to judgment for Pyracy after the Course of the Admiralty Order for Sequestrations of Delinquents in the North for raising money to disband the Supernumeraries there And for satisfaction of the Lancashire Forces Order touching new Sheriffs Order that the Estate of the Lord Lovelace be again sequestred if he refuse to pay five hundred pound to Colonel Temple as part of his arrears The Lord of Ormond knighted divers in Ireland 29. The publick Fast day Letters from Colonel Hammond with a Copy of the Orders from the General Council of the Army and their Letter to Colonel Ewers and others for securing his Majesties person in the Isle of Wight The House Ordered a Letter to the General to acquaint him that these Orders and instructions from him to Colonel Ewers for securing his Majestie 's person in the Isle of Wight were contrary to their resolutions and instructions given to Colonel Hammond and that it was the pleasure of the House that his Excellency recal the
he gave Commissions to Irish Rebels and since was the occasion of a second War and had done contrary to the Liberties of the subject and tending to the destruction of the fundamental Laws and liberties of this Kingdom This Ordinance was read the first time and ordered to be read again the second time to morrow Order for the accounts of Colonel Aldrich a Member of the House to be stated 29. Orders touching the securing of six thousand pound to the Commissioners of the Customs for the present use of the Navy An account to the House what monies were in arrear from Delinquents of their Compositions referred to a Committee The Ordinance for impeaching the King read the second time and committed Major Pitcher who was violent against the Parliament in the War and upon the Articles of the surrender of Worcester was taken in Arms and ingaged not to serve any more against the Parliament Yet afterwards was taken in Arms again against the Parliament at the surrender of Pembroke had quarter given upon mercy and was to go out of the Kingdom for two years and for not doing so and now taken he was by sentence of the Court Martial executed and shot to Death The Council of War sate at White-Hall and finished the agreement of the People and appointed a Committee to consider of a way for the Army to subscribe it A Woman out of Hartfordshire came to the Council of the Army and acquainted them that she had something from God to speak to them and being admitted she did much incourage them in their present proceedings A Petition from Jo. Lilburn and others expressing their dislike of some Articles of the agreement of the People 30. Petition of Mrs. Jennings against Mr. Jennings her Brother a Member of Parliament for refusing to pay her portion or account standing upon his priviledge of Parliament referred to a Committee Order for two thousand five hundred pounds for M r Smithby for Saddles and other Horse-Furniture Referred to the Committee for the Trial of the King to insert the names of Commissioners and to make a Special Provision in the Ordinance in case the King should refuse to plead to the Charge against him Debate whether the thanks of the House should be given to Mr. Watson one of the Ministers that preached before the House of Commons the last Fast-day and carried in the Negative because he did not acknowledge the Parliament Mr. Brookes the other Preacher had the thanks of the House and it was debated whether the Ordinance for Monthly Fasts should be repealed and Fast-days appointed only as there should be occasion but no result was made of it 31. Mr. Owen Preached two excellent Sermons And upon discourse concerning the present affairs of the Army he seemed much to favour them and spake in dislike of those Members who voluntarily absented themselves from the House having no particular force upon their persons All men were at a gaze what would be the issue of such proceedings some thought it best for them to be reserved as to their Opinion finding every where too many talkers and few with much judgment January 1648. 1. Report of the names of Commissioners for Trial of the King being some of the Lords and Commons Officers of the Army Aldermen and Commanders in London with some Gentle-men from the Counties all being one hundred and fifty Persons and twenty of them of the Quorum to try the King and to give Sentence against him A months time was given by the Ordinance to the Commissioners to determine this business This Vote was passed as a foundation for these proceedings That the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do declare and adjudge that by the fundamental Laws of this Realm it is Treason in the King of England for the time to come to levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom of England Order touching Sequesting of Delinquents in South Wales A Letter from Elsing desiring the House by reason of his indisposition to appoint a Clerk to attend them Referred to a Committee to take an account from M r Elsing of the Books and Records of Parliament in his Hands and to receive them by Inventory and to present the names of fit persons to the House out of whom they may chuse an able Clerk to attend them Vote for M r Phelps to be Clerk assistant to the House and two hundred pound ordered for M r Darnell the present Clerk assistant A Committee named to consider of a way to prevent Anticipations of the publick Revenue The Souldiers in prosecution of an Ordinance of Parliament secured all the Players and brought them away Prisoners in the midst of their Acts as they were then habited in their Robes A Committee of the Army was appointed to consider of concealed Monies due to the State and another Committee of Officers of the Army and Citizens to consider of notorious Delinquents that are fit to be made examples of Justice and an unusual power was given to these Committees to examine witnesses upon Oath Letters from Scotland That at the late renewing of the Covenant the Lord Chancellour stood up in his Pew made publick acknowledgment of his late failings and self seeking and countenancing the last wicked ingagement which he did so orthodoxly and pathetically with many Tears and praying the people to pray for him that there was much weeping among them Letters fom Pontefract Leaguer that many of the Garrison came into them that if the supernumeraries may be sent for Ireland and Old Noll or any person of Honour command them that he cannot want men Letters of advice that all well affected men in the Kingdom might associate and be in Armes lest the Presbyterians who preach for their God viz. The Tenth of every mans Estates and for Forms do joyn with their Brother Malignants to raise new troubles 2. A high Sheriff named for Durham Upon a Letter from Colonel Whitchcot Governour of Windsor Castle Order for twenty pounds per diem for the charge of his Majesties Table and for Fire and Candle for the Souldiery and Voted that Colonel Whitchcot shall have the same power for displacing disaffected attendants about his Majesty as Colonel Hammond had in the Isle of Wight The Ordinance for Tryal of the King was carried up to the Lords of whom sixteen then sate they stuck much upon the Declaratory Vote That it was Treason in the King to levy War against the Parliament they agreed to send an answer by Messengers of their own and adjourned their House for ten days Letters from Windsor that the King was chearful and took no notice of any proceedings against him as to his Tryal and saith he doubts not but within six Months to see peace in England and in case of not restoring to be righted from Ireland Denmark and other places Letters from France that the Parliament there published an Edict against Cardinal Mazarine who escaped
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
Provisions and Ammunition Order for 100 l. to Mr. King who brought the Letters from Sir Charles Coot for his good Service Referred to the Councel of State to examine the Business of Captain Kesar mentioned in Sir Charles Coots Letter and to send for and secure him if they find cause 25 By Vote the House declared That all such English and Scots and all others that have ingaged for the Parliament of England in the Nation of Scotland and have revolted from that Service and all such as have or shall adhere unto or joyn with Charles Stuart eldest Son of the late King in that Nation are Traytors and shall have their Estates confiscate and their Persons proceeded against by Martial Law Order for these Votes to be Printed and Published and a Copy of them to be sent to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Order to forbid proceedings in the Composition of the Earl of Derby because he holds the Isle of Man against the Parliament By two Printed Papers and three Letters to the Committee of the Army for discovery of Criminal Offenders Mr. Speaker was taxed for an ill Member and that he had conveyed a great Sum of Money to the King and Matters of Falsehoods and Breach of Trust are charged on him Upon the Order of the General the Officers of the Army certifyed under their Hands That they never examined any matter touching the Speaker nor had any Order from his Excellency for that purpose to authorize it That they find the same Business had been Judicially heard before a Committee of Parliament and by them reported to the House who declared those complaints raysed and prosecuted falsely malitiously and scandalously against the Speaker and that exemplary Punishment be inflicted upon the Prosecutors The Officers of the Army conclude their Certificates That they humbly conceive the said Information raysed and promoted since the Judgement of the House as aforesaid was a practice to bring an Odium upon the Speaker who hath so highly merited from the publick An Advertisement published That if any Countryman be injured by the Souldiers taking of Free-Quarter contrary to the Act that upon Complaint to the Judge Advocate of the Army and Proof thereof made he shall have Satisfaction out of the Pay of the Souldier and Protection from the Army 27 The House sate not Letters from Dublin to the Councel of State of some Correspondence betwixt the Governour of Tredagh and Lieutenant General Jones and that Ormond came thither with 1500 Horse and 2000 Foot That Owen Roe O Neal conceiving that he had merited from the Parliament desired a Convoy for his Men to serve the Spaniard but nothing was granted Letters that the Scots Army was full of Malignants and the Nation full of Feares That nothing will give Satisfaction there but the Kings putting Malignants from him and granting the particulars of the Covenant Letters from Mr. Peters to the Councel giving them an account of the Fleets setting sail for Ireland c. Lieutenant Collonel Morrice Governour of Pontfract Castle for the King was executed according to the Sentence of the Court Marshal Letters that 5 Men of War wearing the Scots Colours set upon 5 Ships of the Parliaments killed 4 of their Men wounded 18 and did much Prejudice to the Ships The Governours of the new Corporation in London for setting the poor to work sent their Warrants requiring the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor in every Parish to return the Names to them of all such as are able to work and have not meanes to maintain themselves and of all who are not able to work and want Livelyhood 28 Order for such as neglect to take out Discharges upon their Compositions for Delinquency to be taken into Custody The Act passed prohibiting the Importing of any Wines Wool or Silk from France into England or Ireland An Act passed for admitting the Purchasers of Bishops Lands to pay the whole purchase Money by Weavers-Hall Bills Another Act passed touching the second 40000 l. charged on the Excise and Goldsmiths-Hall 29 The Publique Thanksgiving day Solemnized The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland shortly after his landing at Dublin published a Proclamation reciting the great Mercies of God to that City particularly in the late Defeat given to the Rebels who incompassed it round about and finding that notwithstanding the Goodness of God to them yet by profane Swearing Cursing and Drunkenness his holy Name is dayly dishonoured and blasphemed contrary to the Laws of God and the known Laws of that Land and to the Articles of War He commands the Major and Magistrates of the City and the Officers of the Army to put in due Execution the Laws against such Offenders and that he will punish the neglect and contempt of this Proclamation with the severest Punishment of the Law 30 The Act for relief of Prisoners of Debt was after a long Debate and difference in Opinion ordered upon the Question to be ingrossed Debate touching Fees and Salaries of the Officers belonging to the House The Arrears of Sir Adam Lostus referred to the Committee for Irish Affairs Letters from Holland That the Prince his Men run away from him for want of Mony That 2 Irish Frigots brought into Dunkirk 6 Hull Ships for Prizes Letters from Dublin That the English Fleet which came thither with the L. Lieutenant strikes a great Terrour into the Enemy That Trumpets came to Jones from Ormond Inchequin and others but he sent them back with this Answer That now all Addresses must be made to the L. Lt. Cromwel 31 Order that Serjeant Dandey Serjeant at Arms to the Councel do proclaim the Act for prohibiting the Importation of Wines Wool and Silks from France Debate touching Mr. Warners Case An Act passed touching the West-India Islands and making them subordinate to the Government of England Order for an Act to prohibite the Brewing of Ale or Beer above 10 s. the Barrel Report by the Councel of a Letter from the Lieutenant of Ireland giving an Account of his Condition after his safe Arrival and laying open his necessities for Supplies and speedy Recruits Referred to the Councel of State to consider of the Letter and Desires of the L. Lieutenant and to answer his Expectation so far forth as it may not increase the Charge of this Common-Wealth Order for Payment of the 200 l. formerly given to Captain Poulton Order for 1200 l. for C. Fielder late Governour of Portsmouth for his Service there and 1148 l. for his Arreares out of concealed Delinquents Estates to be discovered by him Upon a Report from the Councel of their Opinion That Sir Kenelm Digby is a dangerous Person and to know the pleasure of the House concerning him they Voted That he was not within the compass of the Votes for compounding for his Delinquency And that he be injoyned to depart the Common-Wealth within 20 days and not to return without leave of the House under pain of Death
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
setling business there and taking off free quarter The Parliament approved the Articles of Rendition of Cornet Castle in Guernsey and of Elizabeth Castle in Jersey and ordered Sir Philip Carterets Lands to be restored to him accordingly That the Commissioners for compounding do send over some to sequester the Estates of those in Jersey which are to be sequestred and that 1000 l. which shall be raised thereof shall be given to those who were banished out of Jersey 5. Letters That Dunbarton Castle was surrendred upon Articles to Major-General Lambert 6. Referred to the Council of State to treat with the Dutch Ambassadors upon a Paper delivered in by them Upon a Report of a Paper given in to the Council of State by the Spanish Ambassador the Parliament referred it back to the Council and injoyned them to insist with the Ambassador for Justice for the Murder of Mr. Ayscham who was Agent there for the Parliament An Act passed appointing a Committee for the Army and Treasurers at War 8. Letters advising the Parliament to pass an Act of Oblivion and to take away Tithes c. 9. Letters That Collonel Venables attempted the reducing of Ballinacargy and beat down the Castle about the Enemies Ears but for want of Powder and Provisions he was forced to draw off Of the Streights Fleet going off from Pendennis That Captain Chapman maintained a gallant Fight with Three Ships from 11 at noon till night and sunk one of them and was much torn in the Fight and lost Three Men and Ten Wounded The Parliament debated again the Business of regulating the Law and Proceedings therein The Courts of Kings-Bench and Chancery were by order of the Parliament removed to one side of Westminster-hall 10. That Mr. Eliot was committed to New-gate Several Dutch Vessels seised upon by vertue of the late Act of Parliament upon report of the state of the Case of the East-land Merchants were ordered to be discharged 12. Letters of a great Meeting of the Ministers and Lay-men at Edenburgh and their Debates very high especially of the Kirk-men That a Dutch Ship was taken in the Frith loaden with Commodities not of her own growth contrary to the late Act and made Prize That a Moss-Trooper was sentenced by the Court-Marshal to be whipped with his Comrade for entring a Country-mans House by violence and a Soldier to be tyed to the Gallows and whipped for stealing a Sheep though he restored it again Major-General Lambert published a Proclamation against a great abuse of differing values of Coins Of Two Prizes brought into Yarmouth rescued from the Pyrates who much infested the North Coast Of four Vessels of French Wine taken That Prince Ruperts Admiral Ship was sunk and another wracked and the Prince and his Brother only saved That Admiral Pen sent some Ships after the rest of them Report of Odwears coming in with 3000 Tories in Ireland to submit to the Parliament 13. Order for an Act to sell all the rest of the Fee-Farm Rents Votes for payment of such as lent under 10 l. upon publick Faith without doubling Referred to the Council of State to confer with the Lord-General about nominating of a fit Person to be Commander in Chief for Ireland and to report their Opinions to the House Debate about the next Summers Fleet to be 120 Sail. 14. Letters That Captain Augustine the great Robber in Scotland upon disbanding of Marquess Huntleys Forces went into the Orcades and there took Ship for Norway Order not to fortifie Innernesse because of the great charge and the poverty of the Town That 100 Aegyptians were rambling in the High-lands and cheating the Country That the Regiments in Scotland were very full above 1000 in a Regiment That 1000 Highlanders appeared at the Summons of the Marquess of Argyle as was usual that out of them he might choose 30 to attend him to the Major-General That Major-General Lambert and Deane went towards Aberdeen and were entertained by the way with Vollies of great Shot and Solemnity 15. Letters That when the Wind is Westerly few Ships touch at Scilly That a Hamburgher Ship was wracked there and a Coffin taken up out of the Sea which was in her having the Body of the Young Duke of Holtsteine in it Of a great Earthquake in Scilly Islands 16. Letters That Sir George Carteret and his Company had but course entertainment at St. Mallows only himself and nine more suffered to come into that Town where he staid a short time and then went to Paris to the King A Thanksgiving-day was kept in Jersey for the good success in reducing that Island and the great Guns were fired 17. That the Major-General courted the Presbyterians at Dundee that they with the Lieutenant-General were setling the Affairs of the Country and to put on the Assessment and to take off free quarter That the Commissioners for Scotland were with their Retinue at Berwick where they intended to stay three or four days That the Lord Major of York feasted them Of Recruits and Provisions for Ireland preparing Debate of Mr. Primates Petition against Sir Arthur Haselrigge and the Commissioners for compounding and about a Book against them referred to a Committee but the Proceedings of the Commissioners were approved by the House and Primate was fined 3000 l. to the Common-wealth 2000 l. to Sir Arthur Haselrigge for his Damages and 2000 l. to four of the Commissioners for compounding The like was voted against Lieutenant-Collonel Lilburne of a Fine of 7000 l. and that he should be banished out of England Scotland and Ireland and the Petition and Book to be burned by the Common Hangman 19. Letters That the Kirk-men in Scotland speak little against the War or for Peace but rather foment the War That the Lord of Drum being summoned to come before the Kirk-men â—he summoned them to appear before Collonel Overton alleadging that he was under the Protection of the Parliament of England and could not acknowledge any other Jurisdiction or Judicatory in Scotland But if as private Christians they required him to purge himself of not being a Papist he would do it Of great pride and insolency of the Presbyteries in Scotland That the Lord of Drum wrote a Letter of Thanks to Lieutenant General Monk for relieving those who were oppressed in their Consciences by the Presbyteries and acquaints him with the Proceedings of the Presbytery of Aberdeen against him and his Appeal from them That Lieutenant-General Monk ordered That no Oaths should be imposed by any of the Kirk Officers upon any Person without order from the State of England nor any Covenant and if they do that he will deal with them as Enemies And that who shall tender or take any Oath or Covenant so imposed and against Conscience without leave of the Common-wealth of England shall be taken as Enemies and the Provost and Bailiffs of Aberdeen were to proclaim this And all Civil Officers were commanded by the
Days and this Day debated upon the Articles of Government An Ordinance was Published to enable such Soldiers as had served the Commonwealth in the late Warrs to Exercise any Trade 12 Oliver being acquainted that the Debates of the Parliament grew high touching the New Government and entertaining a Jealousie to which he was addicted that this Parliament would either too far invade it or indeavour to overthrow it he sent for the Members to meet him in the painted Chamber where he spake to them to this effect That when he met them few days since and delivered his mind unto them he did it with much more hopes and Comfort than now that he was very sorry to find them falling into heats and divisions He opened to them the miscarriages of the former long Parliament and by what means he came to the Government together with the consent that the people had many wayes given thereunto That the other day when he told them they were a free Parliament he did also consider there was a Reciprocation For that the same Government which made them a Parliament made him Protector and as they were intrusted with some things so is he with other things That there were some things in the Government Fundamental and could not be altered 1. That the Government should be in one Person and a Parliament 2. That Parliaments should not be made perpetual which would deprive the people of their successive Elections nor that the Parliament should be always sitting that is as soon as one Parliament is up that another Parliament should come and sit in their places the very next day that this could not be without subjecting the Nation to an Arbitrary Power in Governing because Parliaments when they sit are absolute and unlimited The Third Fundamental was in the matter of the Militia and therefore for the preventing the two aforementioned inconveniences The Militia was not to be intrusted in any one hand or power but to be so disposed that as the Parliament ought to have a Check upon the Protector to prevent excesses in him so on the other hand the Protector ought to have a Check upon the Parliament in the business of the Militia to prevent excesses in them because if it were wholly in the Parliament they might when they would perpetuate themselves But now the Militia being disposed as it is the one stands as a Counterpoiz to the other and renders the ballance of Government the more even and the Government it self the more firm and stable The Fourth was about a due Liberty of Conscience in matters of Religion wherein Bounds and Limits ought to be set so as to prevent persecution That the rest of the things in the Government were Examinable and Alterable as the occasion and the state of Affairs should require That as for a Negative voice he claimed it not save onely in the foresaid particulars That in all other things he had onely a deliberative power and if he did not pass such Laws as were presented to him within twenty days after their presentment they were to be Laws without Consent Therefore he told them that things being thus he was sorry to understand that any of them should go about to overthrow what was so setled contrary to their Trusts received from the people which could not but bring on very great inconveniences to prevent which he was necessitated to appoint a Test or Recognition of the Government which was to be signed by them before they went any more into the House The Recognition was in these Words I A. B. do hereby freely promise and Ingage my self to be true and faithful to the Lord Protector and the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and shall not according to the tenour of the Indenture whereby I am returned to serve in this present Parliament propose or give any Consent to alter the Government as it is setled in one single person and a Parliament This being Ingrossed inparchment was placed on a Table near the House Door for the Members to peruse and sign it and about 130 of them subscribed it and took their places and the House Adjourned for one day to give time for the rest to sign it Major General Harrison was secured by a Party of Horse by the Lord Protectors Order 13 The Solemn Fast was kept An Ordinance passed to give Liberty to carry Milstones Timber Stones c. 14 Many more of the Members subscribed the Recognition The House voted and declared that the Recognition did not Comprehend nor should be construed to Comprehend therein the whole Government consisting of Forty two Articles but that it doth onely include what concerns the Government of the Commonwealth by a single Person and successive Parliaments An Ordinance Published touching Fines The University of Oxford acknowledge the respect of the Protector to them in continuing their Chancellor and bestowing on the Publick Library there twenty four Manuscripts in Greek and for muificently ordering an Hundred pound per Annum to a Divinity Reader 15 A Ship from Saint Lucar came into the Downs and in her 100000 l. in Plate besides other Rich Goods Some Barks were cast away near Pool laden with Linnen 16 After a sharp Conflict with Sir Arthur Forbes in Scotland he was taken Prisoner and his Forces dispersed Cornet Peas with twenty five horse set upon Montross who had 200 horse and Foot and Killed five took eight Prisoners and twenty seven horse Montross and his Officers hardly escaping and took divers Commissions and Instructions from the King 18 The Parliament passed a Declaration to which the Protector assented for a Fast to be kept in the three Nations The Parliament Passed these Votes That all persons Returned or who shall be Returned to serve in this present Parliament shall before they be admitted to sit in this House subscribe the Recognition That those Subscriptions shall be taken in the presence of any two Members who have subscribed the Recognition 19 The Parliament sat in a grand Committee and ordered so to sit de Die in Diem to debate the Act of Government till they have gone through the Forty two Articles They Voted that the Supream Legislative authority shall reside in a Lord Protector and the People assembled in Parliament and that the present Lord Protector shall continue during life The Lord Lorn the Earl of Argyle's Son took a essel Loaden with Provisions that was going to his Father and took her men Prisoners Fleetwood was Proclaimed Lord Deputy in Ireland 20 The Parliament debated in a grand Committee upon the articles of Government as they did dayly 21 Still the debates continued in a grand Commitee upon the Articles of Government and several Votes were passed by the Committee 22 Collonel L. Fâ—â—ester in Scotland submitted upon Articles to the English Commonwealth and no enemy appeared in Scotland The English Commissioners appointed Magistrates and Councels
Articles in the Petition and Advice excepting such as since have born Arms for your Highness or the Parliament or have been admitted to sit and serve in the Parliament of this Commonwealth and are of good life and conversation or such as shall hereafter be declared by your Highness with the advice of your Council to have given some signal testimony of their good affection and continuance in the same That the Proviso in the said fourth Article be explain'd thus viz. That such English and Scotish Protestants who since the defection of the Earl of Ormond and the Lord Inchiquin and before the first day of March 1649. have born Arms for and ever since continued faithfull to the Parliament or your Highness or have otherwise before the said first day of March 1649. given signal testimony of their good affection to this Common-wealth and have ever since continued faithfull to the same shall not be debarred or deemed uncapable of electing or being Elected to serve in Parliament And whereas in the said fourth Article Publick Ministers or Publick Preachers of the Gospel are disabled to be Elected to serve in Parliament It is hereby explained and declared to extend to such Ministers and Preachers only as have Maintenance for Preaching or are Pastors or Teachers of Congregations In the said fourth Article That in stead of Commissioners to be appointed by Act of Parliament to examin and try whether the Members to be Elected for the House of Commons in future Parliaments be capable to sit according to the Qualifications mentioned in the said Petition and Advice there shall be the Penalty and Fine of a 1000 pounds laid and inflicted upon every such unqualified Member being so adjudged by the said House of Commons and imprisonment of his Person until payment thereof And that the ensuing Clauses in the said Article viz. We desire that it may by your Highness Consent be Ordained That forty and one Commissioners be appointed by act of Parliament who or five or more of them shall be Authorized to examine and try whether the Members to be Elected for the House of Commons in future Parliaments be Capable to sit according to the qualifications mentioned in this Petition and Advice and in case they find them not qualified accordingly then to suspend them from sitting until the House of Commons shall upon hearing their particular Cases admit them to sit which Commissioners are to stand so Authorized for that end until the House of Commons in any future Parliament shall nominate the like number of other Commissioners in their places And those other Commissioners so to be nominated in any future Parliament to have the same Power and Authority That the said Commissioners shall Certifie in writing to the House of Commons on the first day of their meeting the cause and grounds of their suspensions of any person so to be Elected as aforesaid That the Accusation shall be upon Oath of the Informant or of some other person That a Copy of the Accusation shall be left by the party accusing in writing under his hand with the party accused or in his absence at his house in the Country City or Town for which he shall be Chosen if he have any such House or if not with the Sheriff of the County if he be chosen for a County or with the chief Magistrate of the City or Burrough for which he is chosen shall not be put in Execution or made use of but shall be void frustrate Null and of none effect and shall be so construed and taken to all intents and purposes whatsoever anything contained in the said Petition and Advice to the contrary notwithstanding In the fifth Article That the Nomination of the Persons to supply the place of such Members of the other House as shall die or be removed shall be by your Highness and your Successors In the seventh Article That the monies directed to be for the supply of the Sea and Land Forces be issued by Advice of the Council And that the Treasurer or Commissioners of the Treasury shall give an Account of all the said money to every Parliament That the Officers of State and Judges in the Ninth Article of the said Petition and Advice mentioned shall be chosen in the â—ntervals of Parliament by the Consent of the Council to be afterwards approved by Parliament That your Highness will be pleased according to the usage of former Chief Magistrates in these Nations and for the better satisfaction of the People thereof to take an Oath in the form ensuing I do in the presence and by the Name of God Almighty promise and swear That to the uttermost of my power I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the uttermost of my power and understanding and incourage the Profession and Professours of the same and that to the utmost of my power I will endeavour as chief Magistrate of these three Nations the Maintenance and Preservation of the Peace and safety and of the just Rights and Privileges of the people thereof And shall in all things according to my best knowledge and power govern the people of these Nations according to Law That your Highness successors do before they take upon them the Government of these Nations take an Oath in the Form aforesaid That all such persons who now are or shall hereafter be of the Privy Council of your Highness or Successors before they or either of them do act as Counsellors shall respectively take an Oath before persons to be authorised by your Highness and Successors for that purpose in the Form following I A. B. doe in the presence and by the Name of God Almighty promise and swear That to the uttermost of my power in my place I will uphold and maintain the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and encourage the Profession and Professors of the same And that I will be true and faithfull to His Highness the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging as Chief Magistrate thereof And shall not contrive design or attempt any thing against the person or lawfull Authority of his said Highness and shall keep secret all matters that shall be treated of in Council and put under secrecy and not reveal them but by Command or consent of His Highness the Parliament or the Council and shall in all things faithfully perform the trust Committed to me as a Councellor according to the best of my understanding in order to the good Government Peace and Welfare of these Nations That the same Oath be taken by the members of your Highness Council of Scotland and Ireland That every person who now is or hereafter shall be a Member of either House of Parliament
the full and perfect state of your Revenue you will particularly understand from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and such other Persons as his Highness will appoint to inform you therein which cannot be expected at this time from me who have already held you too long and spent too much of your time and tired out your patience which you will have occasion enough to make use of to better purposes This only I shall add before I conclude That though I shall not I must not I dare not flatter Man in the presence of God and his presence is more than ordinary in such Assemblies as this yet you all know and the three Nations know and all the Nations round about us know that the Quiet Peace and Welfare of these Nations doth at present in great measure under God depend upon his Highness life And therefore with hearts and hands lifted up to Heaven let us pray for the continuance of it and of the Influences of God's gracious Spirit upon his Mind and Heart for the Weal and good Government of these Nations And Sir what ever you are or shall be what ever you have done or shall doe and what ever Abilities you are or shall be endowed with are not from nor for your self but from and for God and for the good of men and especially of God's people amongst men To which ends that you may lay forth your self and them and improve all the Opportunities and employ all the Power which God hath put into your hands is the Hope is the Prayer of all good men And in so doing you shall have Comfort you shall have Honour and we shall have Safety and we shall have Happiness that happiness to see Truth and Peace Justice and Mercy kiss each other and Christ set upon his Throne in these Lands not in that litteral and carnal way which hath so much intoxicated the Brains and Minds of many in these our days but in Spirit and in Truth and more conformable to that which Christ himself hath pronounced That his kingdom is not of this world And yet must all the Kingdoms of the World be subservient to that World which is to come to that Kingdom which is above Whereupon having our eyes fixt let us bend our course that way with our faces thitherward discharging every one his duty in his place diligently and faithfully and finishing the work which God hath appointed us to doe in this life that in the life to come we may hear that sweet and blessed voice directed unto us Come good and faithfull servants enter into your masters joy 21. The House of Lords appointed a Committee for Privileges and a Committee for Petitions and sent to the House of Commons for a Day of Humiliation to be appointed The Messengers were two of the Judges who all sate Assistants as formerly in the House of Lords 25. Upon a Letter from the Protector to the Speaker of the House of Commons they met his Highness in the Banquetting-house and he exhorted them to unity and to the observance of their own Rules in the Petition and Advice and gave them a state of the publick accounts and good counsel 27. Both Houses kept a Day of Humiliation within their own Walls 28. The House of Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons three days past by Judge Windham and Baron Hill the House of Commons put off the Answer to that Message Sir Arthur Hasilrigge and some others not allowing the House of Lords and fomenting by their dissatisfied Spirits a difference betwixt the two Houses This day they again put off their Answer to the Message which caused distaste in the other House and Protector and was contrary to what themselves had at their last Meeting assented unto 30. The House of Lords taking into consideration the state of Affairs relating to foreign Princes and states and particularly to Sweden Whitelocke gave them a full account of his Negotiation in Sweden and of the Interest of this Nation in relation to Sweden with which account the House seemed greatly satisfied The House of Commons again put off their Answer to the Lords February 1657. 2. The Debate of the Answer of the House of Commons to the Message of the Lords House was again adjourned 3. The House of Lords sent another Message by two Judges to the House of Commons who told them they would send an Answer by Messengers of their own And then the House of Commons as formerly took in Debate what Appellation they should give to the other House many were against the calling of them the House of Lords some were against the having of such another House perhaps because they were not thought fit to be Members of it and others were against it upon other fancies and upon a Spirit of contradiction and some spake reproachfully in the House of Commons of the other House All these Passages tended to their own destruction which was not difficult to foresee The Protector looked upon himself as aimed at by them though with a side-wind and testimonies of their envy towards him and he was the more incensed because at this time the Fifth Monarchy-men began again their Enterprizes to overthrow him and his Government by force whereof there were clear discoveries he therefore took a resolution suddenly to dissolve this Parliament He was disswaded from it and told the danger of frequent dissolving of Parliaments the streights it would bring him into for money which he could not raise without the highest discontent except it were given by them that a little time would cool these heats and bring the Parliament into a better temper but some fierce men and flatterers to comply with him advised the dissolving of them 4. The Protector came to the House of Lords in the Morning and caused the Usher of the Black Rod to go to the House of Commons and acquaint them that his Highness was in the Lords House and there expected them Thereupon the Speaker and the whole House came to the Lords House where his Highness made a Speech to them declaring several urgent and weighty Reasons making it necessary for him in order to the publick peace and safety to proceed to an immediate dissolution of this Parliament And accordingly his Highness dissolved the Parliament Some were troubled at this others rejoyced at the troubles and were suspected to be Assisters of the new Designs of Insurrection Divers were imprisoned upon the new Plot and the Protector and his Council were busie in the Examinations concerning it And Thurlo did them good service Major General Harrison was deep in it 12. Divers seditious Books taken of the Conspirators News of the King of Sweden's success in Liefland against the Poles and that by the Frost he marched his Troops of Horse over the Ice cross an Arm of the Sea and got by that means into the Isle of Fuenen which he gained that he
defeated by the Parliament Forces 15. Letters to the Parliament from their Forces they approved Officers and gave Commissions 16. Letters from Lambert from Stafford and from others Sir William Dâ—venant was released out of Prison 17. Letters that the Moorlanders and others in Staffordshire were in Arms for the Parliament That Colonel Croxton held out the Castle of Chester against Sir George Booth An Insurrection in Surrey was suppressed 18. Audience appointed for the French Ambassadour Bourdeaux Letters of Sir Arthur Haslerigge's Son active in Lancashire for the Parliament 19. Letters from Lambert to the Parliament with one inclosed sent to him from Sir George Booth for capitulation with Lambert's Answer and refusal of it which the Parliament approved In the Evening a Messenger came from Lambert to the Parliament with a Relation That the Parliament Forces followed Sir George Booth so close that he could not avoid fighting with them and after a smart contest Lambert gave a total rout to Sir George Booth's Forces pursued them a great way and killed and took many of them the particulars were not yet exactly known Mr. Prideaux the Attorney General died a generous person and faithfull to the Parliaments Interest A good Chancery-man 20. The Messenger sent by Lambert declared in the House the good news of defeating Sir George Booth and his Forces And the great courage of the Officers and Souldiers of the Parliament Two Regiments from Ireland under Colonel Zankey and Axtell came over to joyn with Lambert 22. Letters to the House from Lambert and others and Captain Brown sent up by him related in the House the good success against Sir George Booth The House voted a Reward for Brown and Letters of thanks to Lambert The House agreed to a Letter to be sent to the King of Sweden drawn by Whitelocke in Answer to the King's Letter to the Parliament A Seal for the Speaker agreed The French Ambassadour had his Audience very solemnly in the House and after it the House referred it to the Council of State to confer with him 23. Letters from Lambert of the Surrender of Chester to him and Letters from him to the Council and Letters from Waring Order for a Jewel of a thousand pounds value to be bestowed on Lambert and a Letter of thanks to him and for a Thanksgiving Day to be kept Captain Spilman sent from Lambert made a full relation to the House of all Lambert's proceedings 24. Reward ordered to Jo. Roden who took the Earl of Derby Prisoner An Act for sequestring the Estates of the last Rebels passed Letters from the Parliaments Plenipotentiaries at the Zound An Account given to the House by Mr. Gibbes Minister of Newport Paganel in Bucks of the apprehending of Sir George Booth whither he came with four Servants and behind one of them himself rode in the habit of a woman but acting that part not well he was suspected and being apprehended and examined he confessed himself to be Sir George Booth and was sent up to London and by the Parliament committed to the Tower He made applications to many of the Parliament and Council by his friends for favour The Earl of Derby was taken in the habit of a Serving-man Colonel Shawcrosse and others were taken 25. Referred to the Council of State to give further Instructions to the Plenipotentiaries in the Zound 26. The Grand Committee sate upon the Bill of Vnion Leverpoole surrendred to the Parliament 27. Letters from Lambert of the surrender of Chirke Castle The Examination of Sir George Booth taken by Haslerigge and Vane referred to the Council of State 29. Orders touching the Militia's Applications from the Lord Say and others to save the life of Sir George Booth 30. Several Officers of the Army approved by the House a List of Prisoners sent to them 31. A Report to the House of the Examination of Sir George Booth September 1659. 1. The House made Provision for sick and wounded Souldiers and for the Wives and Children of those that were slain 2. Letters from the Zound and from Lambert Order for Ireton to continue Lord Mayor for another year 3. Votes touching the Pay of commissioned Officers for the Militia and touching Sequestrations and for an Engagement to be taken by the Officers in these words viz. I A. B. do hereby declare That I do renounce the pretended Title of Charles Stuart and the whole Line of the Late King James and of every other person as a single person pretending to the Government of these Nations of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging And that I will by the grace and assistance of Almighty God be true faithfull and constant to this Commonwealth against any King single Person and House of Peers and every of them and hereunto I subscribe my Name Order for Mordant Brown c. to come in by a day or else to be taken as Traytors 5. The House were busie in debate of the Government to be settled in the three Nations 7. List of the Prisoners at Chester 8. The House discharged James Nailer from his Imprisonment 9 A Committee for the Government in Scotland A Representation from the Ministers of Leicester Letter of thanks to Colonel Zanchey 10. General Mountagne returned from the Zound 12. The House were upon the Bill of Assessment the neglect whereof was ill taken by the Souldiery 13. Mr. Brooke a Member of the House at the Bar confessed his joyning with Sir George Booth for which he was disabled from being a Member of Parliament and sent to the Tower for high Treason 14. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper voted Not guilty of the Accusation against him of having correspondence with the King The question was not brought against Whitelocke for the same matter there being no ground for it as there was for the other Some service was done for the Lady Mary Howard at the Council which was ill requited by her and her Father afterwards 15. Debate about the Irish Adventurers 16. Letters from the Commissioners at the Zound with an account of their Treaty referred to the Council of State to draw answers The Lord Ruthen petitioned for maintenance 17. Vote to dissolve the Corporation of the City of Chester and that the County be no more distinct 18. Orders for the Winters Guard of Ships and divers Officers approved 20. Order for the poor Knights of Windsor Lambert returned to London 21. Private business excluded Debate about Commissioners for the Treasury 22. The House being informed of an intended Address to them from the Army wherein were things unacceptable to them imposing on them and contrary to the privilege of Parliament they ordered Ashfield Cobbet and Duckenfield in whose hands the Original Paper thereof was to bring it into the House in the afternoon this discontented the Officers of the Army especially Lambert and those who were with him in the defeat
Dutch Ambassadour The City invites the Parliament Laud. City Feast Crommell Members expell'd Ordinance Fr. Ambassadour Mitton Scots Petition Letters from Oxford Nantwich Fight Monk Massey Sir Edw. Deering G. Essex's Answer Scots Orders of the House Irish Ormond Letters from Oxford Mitton Differences Letters from Oxford Cromwell Newark Irish Covenant Prince Elector The King's Letter Observations Proposals Laud. Netherland Divines Earl of Carlisle Parl. of Oxford Dutch Embassadours Gen. Essex discontented Letters intercepted Newark Army Model'd Winchester Fight Irish Prince Elector Dutch Ambassadours The King's Standard Laud. Fairfax Selby London Proclamation Association Letters from Oxford Scots Answer Laud. City Earl of Manchester Petition Massey London Petition Jealousies Association Laud. Gen. Essex Laud. Massey Gen. Essex Colonel Coningham Dutch Ambassadour Laud. City Lyme Earl of Warwick York Peeks York Laud. York Sudley Castle Compton-house Secluding Members Earl of Denbigh Lyme Queen brought to Bed York Laud. Secluding Members Laud. Earl of Calender Queen For secluding Members Edgehill York Queen Copredy Bridge Fight Message to Waller York Ambassadors Letters intercepted Monke Marston-Moor fight Ambassadours Greenland-house Articles Blandford Hotham York Laud. Parliament York rendred Irish Stratagem Judges Debate Hollis Laud. Message from the King York Marston L. Paulet Laud. Debate of Propositions London Petition Fr. Ambassadour Massey Montross Newcastle Letters to Essex Answer Kirk Jure Divino City Association Ireland General Essex Prince E. lector Plot. Letter from Essex Pr. Elector Laud. Pr. Elector Col. Jones Wallers Middletons Gen. Essex defeated Different relations The true account Skippon Articles Essex blamed Excused by the Parliament Lesley Summons to Plymouth Letter from the King Minister Petition Fr. Agent Montgomery Castle Scarborough Petition Committee with the Army Monmouth suprised Laud. France Court-Marshal Laud. Taunton The three Armies joyned Newbury Pâ— Elector Newcastle Gen. Essex Jealousies Petition Hotham Newbury fight Newcastle Newbury Laud. Sir Anth. Ashl Coop Laud. Laud. Assembly of Divines Leverpool Tinmouth Castle Lord Gerrard Newark Propositions for Peace King at Oxford Commissioners for the Propositions Assembly of Divines Jure divino Propositions for Peace Petition Answer Laud. Divines Laud. Hemsley Castle Kent Petition Names of Commissioners Safe conduct Assembly of Divines Scots Army Sir Alex. Carew Commissioners for propositions Directory Jealousies Sir Alex. Carew Miscarriages Commissioners at Oxford City Petition Monmouth Castle Commissioners at Oxford The King's answer Hotham Letter to P. Rupert Sydenham Cromwel Jealousies Conference against Cromwel Hotham Safe Conduct Vote Self-denying Ordinance Dutch Ambassadors Hotham Fast Lords from Oxford L'Estrange Several places to be betrayed Answer to the Propositions for Peace Answer to the King's Message Agent from Swedland Self-denying Ordinance Lords from the King Dissenters Sir A. Carew Laud. Taunton Gen. Essex Hotham Hotham Vote Hotham Hotham H. Peters Treaty Queen of Sweedland Laud. Treaty at Vxbridge Laud. Laud his pardon Laud's Petition Army Petition Discontents Laud. Breach of Privilege Laud Beheaded Differences betwixt Lords and Commons Model of the Army Commissioners for the Treaty Brown Plymouth Safe Conduct Army Church Houses differ Brereton Titles Treaty C. Craford Treaty Difficulties Scots Vxbridge Precedence Petition Mr. White Treaty Quaeries Dr. Steward Jure divinâ— Marquess Hartford's Speech Love's Sermon Puresoy Treaty Militia Assembly Army Malton Peerage Cardigan Castle Militia London Army Vxbridge Army Scots Macquire Peerage Petition Macquire Vxbridge Ireland Religion Souldiers unruly M. Bridges Covenant Mutinous Souldiers Cromwel Waller Souldiers insolent Capai Stone Vxbridge Jure divino Covenant Vxbridge Militia Argyle routed Colonel Brandling Mutinous Troops Sir Thomas Fairfax Vxbridge Militia Scots Army Macquire Vxbridge Militia Vxbridge Ireland Scarborough Sir Hugh Cholmley Meldrum Vxbridge Treaty brake off Dutch Ambassadors Brereton Treaty Shrewsbury taken Langdale Common Hall Melcombe Clubmen City Mutinous Souldiers Assembly The King's Forces Jones Massey Waller Morgan Ministers Clubmen Clubmen Fairfax Army Army French Agent Answer Sir James Long. Oxford Message to the Lords List of the Officers Swedes Lord Savile Cromwel Petition Brown Assembly Fairfax his Commission Conference Declaration Jealousies Meldrum Sir John Henderson Clubmen Assembly Cromwel Sweedish Agent Answer Officers Waller Mutiny Lord Savile Assembly Scotland G. Essex c. lay down their Commissions New Model York Tuitnam Clubmen York Fairfax Fairfax Skippon Abington Bishop of Durham Dutch Ambassadour E. Warwick lays down his Commission Du. bassadoâ— Commissioners of the Admiralty Pomfret Brown Scotland Thanksgiving Covenant King's Children C. Norton Blasphemies Creenvile London Cromwell Admiralty Taunton Brown Cromwell Massey Dutch Ambassadour Fairsax Pr. Elector Assembly Covenant London Spirits Plymouth The King leaves Oxford Cromwell Self-denying Ordinance Taunton relieved Massey King's Children Countess of Dorset Dutch Ambassadours Scarborough Taunton Welden Meldrum O Conelli Captain Stone Oxford Scots Army Counterfeit Oxford Vrrey Duch Ambassadors C. Norton Leicester Brown Eeicester storm'd Meldrum London Petition Martial Law Massey Taunton Leicester London Armies draw near each other Cromwel Langdale Ingolesby Taunton Naseby Battel Skippon Fairfax The King Cromwell C. Rosseter Taunton London Cromwell Sir J. Gâ—l Leicester Both Houses feasted Naseby Prisoners Carlisle King's Children Letters taken at Naseby C. Rosseter Marshal Law Ensigns taken at Naseby Scots Army Skippon Foreign Agents Oxford Parliament L. Savile Hollis and Whitelocke accused Carlisle Club-men Naseby Letters Scotland Remonstance Priests Fairfax Taunton Commissioners to Scotland Clubmen Fairfax Fleetwood Hollis and Whitelocke London Hollis and Whitelocke Martial Law Fairfax Langport fight Goring Bethel Desborough M. G. Porter Hollis and Whitelocke E. Denbigh Blasphemy Langport Particulars Thanksgiving Hollis and Whitelocke Langport Clubmen Countess of Dorset Hollis and Whitelocke Privilege Fairfax Mr. Cranford Hollis and Whitelocke Martial-Law Sir Thomas Fairfax Club-men Thanksgiving Fairfax Pomfret Bridgwater stormed Particulars Impeachment H. Peters Abington Prince Elector Scarborough Cannon-froom Leven Mr. Strickland Club-men Bath surrendred Petition of the Assembly Answer Scarborough Counâ—ess of Dorset Cambridge Petition Hereford Votes Col. Jephson Fairfax Clubmen Cromwel Assembly Lilburn Newark Skipton Assembly Spaniards defeated Brown Petition of Southwark Haverford West Scots Army North Wales Sherburn Castle Propositions for peace Thanksgiving Oath Parliament Forces York Tumults Bibles Book taken at Naseby New Elections Brown in discontent Ministers Petition Scotland The King retreats Huntington Bristol Lilburn Cambridge the King returns to Oxford Humiliation Militia New Elections Clubmen Ordinance explain'd Montross The King leaves Oxford Church Affairs Selden Montross Countess of Dorset Fast-day Prince Elector E. Essex Presbytery Bristoll Clubmen Intercepted Letters Mr. Strodes Bristolâ— Jersey Manner of storming Bristoll Speaker Bristoll Bristoll Cromwell Montross Club-men Courts of Wards Club-men Scots Cromwel Chester Presbytery Prince Charles Scots Army Defeat at Chester Judges Scots Judges Sir John Borlace Scots Winchester taken Votes Scots Votes Scots Army Gr. Scal. Differences with the Scots Propositions of Peace Morgan King of Denmark Cromwell Basing c. taken Leven Vote Presbytery Vote Chepstow Cromwell C. Payre C. Rossiter Copley Books Fairfax Tiverton storm'd The Speaker made
the Princes men to advance to firmer ground in confidence of victory which the Parliaments Horse took advantage of Flanked the Prince his men and were almost in the rear of them The three hundred Musquetiers at the same time charged the Princes men and put them in disorder and the Parliaments men fell to execution about two hundred of the Prince his men were slain on the place and in the pursuit of whom many were of quality one hundred prisoners and three hundred Arms were taken Many of them were wounded and not above one hundred serviceable men thought to return to the Ships some fled to the Castle from whence Forces came out to fetch them in but were beaten back and left Arms behind them Of the Parliaments Forces Colonel Rich's Quarter-Master was slain Major Husbands his Lieutenant wounded three Horse-men and four Foot-men killed Order for a Letter of thanks to Colonel Rich and that Major Husbands who brought the news and lost divers horses in the fight should have one hundred and fifty pounds to buy him more horses and that Colonel Hewson should have one hundred and fifty pound to buy him horses The Grand Committee sat for the Militia in the afternoon 16. The Lords desired the Commons concurrence to these Votes 1. That the Treaty be according to these Votes 2. That the Votes against further addresses to the King be recalled 3. That such persons as his Majesty shall send for in the Treaty be admitted to wait on him and that he be in the same freedome as he was at Hampton-Court 4. That such servants as he shall appoint may wait upon him 5. That the place for the Treaty be in Newport in the Isle of Wight 6. That the Scots be invited to treat upon the propositions presented at Hampton-Court 7. That his Majesty be admitted to invite the Scots to treat upon those propositions 8. That the Instructions to Colonel Hammond be recalled 9. That five Lords and ten Commoners be chosen to treat with the King 10. That it be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for peace to prepare all things in readiness for speeding of the Treaty The Commons ordered these Votes to be considered de die in diem till they be finished and nothing to intervene Upon Information that Colonel Martin a Member of the House and Colonel Ayres and M r Walrond were raising of Horse in Berks and took Horses from the inhabitants against their wills and had no authority from the Parliament for it The House ordered Colonel Martin to attend them and Colonel Ayres and M r Walrond to be sent for in safe custody for this action The Committee of Estates of Scotland sent a Letter to the Prince wherein next to his Fathers restraint they bewail his Highness long absence from that Kingdom his right by descent and now that their Forces are again in England they humbly beg his Highness's presence to countenance their endeavours for religion and his Fathers reestablishment And if he will intrust his person among them they ingage the Publick Faith of that Kingdom for his Highness being in honour freedom and safety whilst he shall be with them in Scotland or in their Army in England with Liberty to return when he shall please and this was sent to him by the Earl of Lauderdale 18. Both Houses passed a Manifesto that whereas they had not been able to afford to the Protestants in Ireland such supplies and relief as was necessary for them and therefore had imployed M r Derrick Hoast M r Corseilles M r Maurice Thomson and M r Laurence their Commissioners to the States of the United Provinces to sollicite contribution and relief from thence for Ireland who had there collected by Voluntary contribution thirty one thousand two hundred and eighteen pounds twelve shillings five pence and was disposed of for victual The Lords and Commons take Notice of the great affection of the people of the Vnited Provinces herein and acknowledge their pious and Charitable sense of the miserable condition of their distressed brethren in Ireland and their benevolence for relief of those Protestants and do give their most hearty thanks to the Commissioners and to the Treasurers there named and to all others who have without any Salary assisted in that work After long debate whether the Commons should concurr with the Lords in the Vote to invite the Scots to the Treaty it was carryed in the Negative The Commissioners of the Seal had a meeting with the Judges about their riding of this Summers circuits and they resolved to know the pleasure of the Houses therein 19. Vote that if his Majesty shall think fit to send for any of the Scottish Nation to advise with him concerning the affairs of the Kingdom of Scotland only the Houses will give them a safe-conduct Vote for ten of the House of Commons to joyn with five Lords as Commissioners to treat with the King Order that the Judges be desired to go their several circuits as formerly appointed except some Counties where the Kings Forces were and that they may avoid going to any place where they shall apprehend to be any danger Order that the chief Justices of Chester shall go down Letters from Colchester Leaguer that five came out of the Town and said that the Cryes of Women and Children and the poorer sort in the Town are very great and that they are like to starve that Goring will permit none who are well affected to the Parliament to come out of the Town unless some of his party may come with them That a Woman and five Children one sucking at her Breast came out of the Town and fell on her knees before the Parliaments Guards begging leave to pass the line but they were forced to turn her back again lest hundreds more should follow her to the prejudice of the service That those who come out of the Town affirm that all the Dogs and Cats and most of the Horses there are already eaten That a Trumpeter came from the Enemy in Colchester desiring leave to send to know whether they may have relief or not and if they see no hopes of any within twenty days then to treat but the Lord General denyed this desire That they in the Town refused to exchange the Earl of Cleveland for one of the Committee that the Women and Children were at the Lord Gorings lodging for bread who told them they must eat their Children if they wanted the Women replyed that they would put out his Lordships Eyes and highly reviled him The Prince sent a Letter to the Lord General Fairfax for moderation to be used towards Major General Langhorn Colonel Powel Colonel Poyer and others who acted by Commission from him otherwise he should be necessitated to proceed contrary to his intentions against such as should fall into his hands Subscribed Your Loving Friend Charles P. The General returned answer that he had
acquainted the Houses with his Highness's Letter it not being in his power to act further the Parliament having ordered the way in which the Prisoners should be proceeded against not so much for hostility as for breach of the trust they reposed in them to the ingaging the Nation again in War and blood Subscribed Your Highness most humble Servant Fairfax Letters from the North that as yet there was no ingagement with the Scots 21. The Commons concurred with the Votes touching the Treaty and referred it to the Committee of both Houses for peace to prepare thing needful for the Treaty They thought fit again to send to his Majesty to let him know how far they had proceeded as to treat and to have his approbation A Letter from the General that he had received an order from the Lords to deliver the Earl of Holland from Warwick Castle to be confined to his house at Kensington A Letter from the Lord Admiral that upon the Lords Passes for some to go beyond Seas they had gone to the Prince as M r Aleburton the Scots Agent the Lord Andover and others The Commons desired a conference with the Lords about it and that a Letter be sent to the Lord Admiral and to the Lord General to make stay of all such persons notwithstanding their order Upon Petition of thousands of the Suburbs that had joyed with Major General Skippon he was ordered to grant them Commissions and the committee for suppressing of tumults to furnish them with Armes Letters from Salop that Sir Henry Lingen with a party of Horse took sixty of Colonel Harly's men and about two daies after a party of Colonel Harlies and Colonel Hortons men met with Sir Henry Lingens men about Radnor regained all their Horse and Prisoners took Sir Henry Lingen and Colonel Crofts and many other of the Kings commanders Prisoners slew divers of the party and routed the rest Letters from Colchester Leaguer that the approaches were so near that the besiegers and the Enemy laid aside their Muskets and in stead of shooting cast Stones at one another Some petitions inclosed in a Letter from the Lord Norwich and the rest were sent to the General expressing that at the desire of the inhabitants they had thought fit to send them And that they should be constrained for the better accommodation of the Souldiery to turn out the Towns People whereby their Houses and goods would be left liable to spoil and ruine for prevention whereof they had thought fit to treat with his Lordship for the surrender of the Town if he pleased to which purpose they would send six Officers if his Lordship would appoint the like number With this came another Letter offering an exchange of Captain Gray for M r Weston and M r Rowling the General accepted of the exchange but as to the Treaty said he would send answer by a Messenger of his own The General was in some danger by a shot from the Town that one who was exchanged told the Lord Norwich he heard the Parliament Souldiers discoursing sharply against those in Colchester and one of them bid him tell Goring that they would bore a hole through his nose and draw him with a Rope through Cheapside crying Here is the great Bull of Colchester The inclosed Petitions were one to the Earl of Norwich the Lord Capell and Sir Charles Lucas from the inhabitants of Colchester That having received their Commands to depart the Town for better supply of the Souldiers they might Petition the Lord Fairfax for Liberty to pass into the Country to prevent the danger of their lives without his leave They prayed their honours to give way for their Petition to be presented to the Lord Fairfax and till they had his answer that they might not be inforced from their habitations The Petition of the inhabitants of Colchester to the Lord Fairfax was to inform his Lordship that the Commanders in Chief in the Garrison had ordered all the inhabitants to provide with expedition to depart the Town or otherwise by power they should be forced thereto for that whatever became of the Townsmen the Souldiery who maintained the Kings cause must and shall be provided for That being driven to this Exigency they have no other means but to fly to his Christian Charity and clemency and humbly to pray that he would give them leave to pass into the Country for the preservation of their lives Subscribed by the Major and four Aldermen in the name of all the Petitioners To the Letter the General returned this answer He was willing to believe that the pressing necessities of the miserable inhabitants of Colchester had wrung from them the Petition inclosed in their Letter That he should not onely clear himself to all the world from the occasion of their sufferings but so far contribute to their relief as to allow all the inhabitants of the Town the Lords first ingaging not to restrain any who shall be willing to come out to enjoy the Liberty in their Petition desired Provided the Committee of the County of Essex then Prisoners with the Lords in the Town be sent out with the first only he shall not permit the wives and Children of any Towns-men or others who shall abide with the Lords in Armes to have the benefit above-mentioned Concerning the rendition of the Town he offers That all such officers and Souldiers under the degree of a Captain excepting all such who being Members of his Army have since the 10. of May last deserted their Colours they ingaging themselves never hereafter to bear Arms against the Parliament shall have passes without injury offered them to return to their respective homes And all Captains and other superiour Officers with the Lords and Gentlemen to submit to mercy Subscribed Your Lordships Servant Tho. Fairfax An Express came from Lieutenant General Cromwel in the general of his defeating the Scots Army under Duke Hamilton New Instructions for Colonel Hammond 1. That the King be removed to Newport in the Isle of Wight the place of the Treaty 2. That he be in the same condition and freedom there as he was at Hampton Court 3. That no person in the first Exception out of Mercy nor under restraint of the Parliament nor of late actually in Arms against the Parliament be admitted to the King 4. That no person that hath been in Arms against the Parliament or aiding or assisting to them or of whom there is just cause of suspicion be admitted into any Fort or Tower in the Isle of Wight 5. That no person of any forrain Nation be admitted to come into the same without leave from both Houses of Parliament 6. That if the Kingdom of Scotland send any to treat with his Majesty they shall have a Pass from both Houses 7. That his Majesty pass his Royal word not to go out of the Island during the Treaty nor twenty eight daies after
Standard others that they saw him in the field in several fights with his Sword drawn The Parliament of Paris proclaimed the Cardinal Mazarine a disturber of the publick peace and Enemy to the King and Kingdom In the evening Whitelock met at Sergeants-Inn with the Committee to receive the Judges answer concerning the alteration in the Style of Writs The Judges answered that because of their Oaths they could not advise in this business being it was an alteration of the Government of the Kingdom but with this answer the Committee went away not well satisfied 26. The Heads of the Charge against the King were published by leave in this form That Charles Stuart being admitted King of England and therein trusted with a limited power to govern by and according to the Laws of the Land and not otherwise and by his trust being obliged as also by his Oath and Office to use the power committed to him for the good and benefit of the people and for the preservation of their Rights and Priviledges Yet nevertheless out of a wicked design to erect and uphold himself in an Vnlimited and Tyrannical Power to rule according to his Will and to overthrow the Rights and Liberties of the People yea to take away and make void the Foundations thereof and of all Redress and remedy of Misgovernment which by the Fundamental Constitutions of this Kingdom were reserved on the Peoples behalf in the Right and Power of frequent and successive Parliaments or National meetings in Council He the said Charles Stuart for accomplishment of his designs and for the protecting of himself and his Adherents in his and their wicked Practices to the same ends hath Traiterously and Maliciously Levyed War against the present Parliament and the People therein represented more particularly Then they named Nottingham Beverly and other places where fights were and go on That he hath caused and procured many Thousands of the Free-People of the Nation to be slain and by Divisions Parties and Insurrections within this Land and by Invasions from Foreign parts indeavoured and procured by him and by many other evil ways and means His giving Commissions to his Son the Prince and other Rebels and Revolters both English and Foreigners and to the Earl of Ormond and to the Irish Rebels and Revolters associated with him from whom further Invasions upon this Land are threatned upon the procurement and on the behalf of the said Charles Stuart All which wicked designs and evil practices of him the said Charles Stuart have been and are carried on for the advancing and upholding of the personal interest of Will and Power and pretended Prerogative to himself and Family against the publick interest Common Right Liberty Justice and Peace of the Pâ—ople of this Nation by and for whom he was intrusted as aforesaid By all which it appeareth that he the said Charles Stuart hath been and is the Occasioner Authour and Contriver of the said Vnnatural cruel and bloody Wars and therein guilty of all the Treasons Murders Rapines Burnings Spoyls Desolations Dammage and Mischief to this Nation acted or committed in the said Wars or occasioned thereby M r Pierrepoint still kept in his station though dissatisfied with present proceedings So was Sir Thomas Widdrington 27. The High Court of Justice sate in Westminster-Hall the President in his Scarlet Robe and many of the Commissioners in their best habit After the calling of the Court the King came in in his wonted posture with his Hat on as he passed by in the Hall a cry was made justice justice execution execution This was by some Souldiers and others of the Rabble The King desired to be heard the President answered that he must hear the Court and sets forth the intentions of the Court to proceed against the Prisoner and withal offered that the King might speak so it were not matter of debate The King desired that in regard he had something to say for the peace of the Kingdom and Liberty of the Subject before Sentence were given he might be heard before the Lords and Commons in the Painted Chamber Upon this the Court withdrew into the Court of Wards and the King to Sir Robert Cottons house and after about an hours debate they returned again into Westminster-Hall The Court resolved that what the King had tendered tended to delay yet if he would speak any thing for himself in Court before Sentence he might be heard Many of the Commissioners in the debate of it in the Court of Wards were against this resolution and pressed to satisfy the Kings desire and themselves to hear what the King would say to them in the Painted Chamber before Sentence but it was Voted by the major part in the Negative Upon which Colonel Harvey and some others of the Commissioners went away in discontent and never sate with them afterwards this proposal of the Kings being denied by the Commissioners the King thereupon declared himself that he had nothing more to say Then the President made a large Speech of the Kings misgovernment and that by Law Kings were accountable to their People and to the Law which was their Superiour and he instanced in several Kings who had been deposed and imprisoned by their Subjects especially in the Kings native Country where of one hundred and nine Kings most were deposed imprisoned or proceeded against for misgovernment and his own Grand-Mother removed and his Father an infant crowned After this the Clerk was commanded to read the sentence which recited the Charge and the Several Crimes of which he had been found Guilty For all which Treasons and Crimes the Court did adjudge That he the said Charles Stuart as a Tyrant Traitor Murderer and publick enemy shall be put to death by the Severing of his head from his body The King then desired to be heard but it would not be permitted being after Sentence and as he returned through the Hall there was another cry for justice and execution Here we may take notice of the abject baseness of some vulgar spirits who seeing their King in that condition endeavoured in their small capacity further to promote his misery that they might a little curry favour with the present powers and pick thanks of their then Superiours Some of the very same persons were afterwards as clamorous for Justice against those that were the Kings Judges The Act passed for altering the forms of Writs and other proceedings in Courts of Justice which were before in the name of the King and no Concurrence of the Lords was desired A Committee appointed to draw a Proclamation to declare it High Treason for any to Proclaim any King of England without assent of the Parliament and none to preach or speak any thing contrary to the present proceedings of the Supreme Authority of this Nation the Commons of England assembled in Parliament under pain of imprisonment and such other punishments as shall be thought fit to be inflicted on them
there Letters from Dublin that the Lieutenant was marched with 10000 Horse and Foot towards Tredah to find out Ormond who with the L. of Ardes was very Numerous But many English came from them to the Lieutenant and such as Ormond took going from him were Presently Executed One Mr. Williams sent to Prison for reading the Common Prayer Publickly 10 The Councel Ordered both the General his Regiments and Okey's Dragoons and some other Regiments commanded by M. G. Lambert to march to Oxford to quiet the distempers there Letters from Dublin that the Lieutenant with about 12000 Horse and Foot was come near Tredah which Ormond had victualled for 6 Months and fortefyed and put in it 2000 Irish Foot and 200 Horse and made Sir Arthur Ashton formerly Governour of Reading for the King Governour of this place That the Lieutenant ordered Ships to stop Provisions from the Town and to furnish the Besiegers that he sent 1000 Foot by Sea to Sir Charles Coot and ordered 500 Horse to march by land to him An intercepted Letter from Prince Rupert from Kingsale to Ormond of the wants of the Fleets with proposal for Provisions 11 The Imposition of 4 s. per Chaldron upon Coales taken off for the benefit of the Poor Captain Wagstaffe gave an account to the House of the particular Passages in the meeting at Oxford how they imprisoned their Officers set Guards fortifyed New-Colledge and other Acts of Hostility That C. Ingoldsby their C. sent to them from the Parliament was put under a Guard by them and how they chose Agitators That the secured Officers walking near to the Guards after two dayes discoursing with the private Souldiers on the Guard and some of them not well satisfyed with these Proceedings of their fellow Souldiers which these Officers fomented and demanded liberty to go away some of the Guards were fit for it and others against it whereupon the Officers forced their way through the Guards and so past them and went up to their C. Ingoldsby and told him how the Matter stood He with his two Men came to the Guards that were put upon him and without saying much to them came through them and commanded the Souldiers to march with him which they did and came to the Officers in the Street One of the Agitators on Horseback killed a Souldier who offered to stop him and the Guard which the C. brought with him took the rest of the Agitators Prisoners many Souldiers came in to the C. as he went along in the Streets and marched with him Then he went up to New-Castle and commanded the Colours which were brought to him He sent for a Party of Horse to Whateley and placed his own Guards The Souldiers generally obeyed him and manifested great Joy that they were thus disingaged Referred to the Councel of State to give directions to the Attourney General to proceed against the Mutineers at Oxford by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer for Treason and to appoint other Councel to assist him and a Sollicitor and to prepare a Declaration touching this Business Order for an Addition to C. Okey's Regiment of Dragoons to make them up 1000. A Member of the House chosen Major of Taunton had leave to serve in that place An Act passed for relief of Felt-Makers and Hat-band Makers against Aliens importing them to the hindrance of English Manufactures 12 Instructions against the Accounts of Mr. Hawkins Treasurer of Ireland Order to certify the Accounts of C. Rossiter Some Delinquents sent for from Norwich An Act past prohibiting to brew for sale any Ale or Beer above 16 s. the Barrel above the Excise 13 Recommended to the General to give his Orders to his Officers of Horse for securing by his Horse the High-Wayes from Robberies and to apprehend the Thieves Order for a Commission to visit the University of Oxâ—ord The Act for relief of tender Consciences against the Penalties of several Statutes read and committed The Troop of Horse in Oxford under Captain Smith continued for 6 Months 20 s. per week ordered for the Lady Beaumont Complaints from New-Castle against Taxes Petition of M. G. Mitton and Arrears and Losses allowed to several Persons The Earl of Salisbury chosen a Member into the House for Lyn. Letters that the Prince and Duke of York were landed with 300 Men in Jersy Papers intercepted from Ormond to Prince Rupert concerning Provisions and Necessaries for their Fleet. Letters that the Duke of York had visited the King Queen and Cardinal of France and was revisited by them whom he most humbly beseeched to have Compassion on the King his Brother and to give all Assistance possible for the regaining of his Estate and Kingdom To which the Cardinal made answer That it could not possibly be now but that he might assure himself and the King his Brother that when they were in a capacity to serve him they would spare neither Purse nor Power and in the mean time desired the Kings Brother to accept of a small present of 100000 Crowns Letters that Ormond was but 5000 in the Field and had put the rest into Garrisons That the Lord Lieutenant finding the Enemy to give ground besieged Tredah That he did not pursue Ormond judging it not safe to march too far into an Enemies Country and leave many of their Garrisons behind him especially Tredah which was very strong and would be of singular Advantage to him both for Sea and Land The 1000 Foot sent to Sir Charles Coot were safely landed at Derry Major General Lambert C. Baxter and other Officers went to Oxford to try the Mutinous Souldiers there by a Court Marshal those of the Country who joyned with them are to be tryed by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer 14 A Petition of the Countess of Castle-Haven referred to a Committee who upon proof of the truth of it are to bring in an Act as the Petition desires Sir Kenelm Digbys Petition carryed upon the Question not to be read Letters from Mr. Strickland from Holland That the Provintial States there had given him audience as a publick Agent from this State Order that Mr. Speaker write a Letter to acknowledge the Respect to their Agent Order that a Ship lately taken from the State and adjudged Prize should be discharged by the Admiralty and the Seamen who took her to be gratifyed otherwise Order for Money for such as fled out of Ireland hither and to inable them to return into Ireland Order for 1000 l. for the Countess of Kent for her dammage by the demolishing of Goodrick Castle Order for more Carriages for the Regiments gone for Ireland and the Councel to bring it into the Establishment An Act past Authorizing the Commissioners of the Customes to Impose Fines and Forfeitures on such as Import Wines c. From France contrary to a late Act. 15 Letters to the Councel that Jermin and Percy were imprisoned in France for holding Correspondence with the Spaniard to the disservice
of the French Crown Order for sommerset-Sommerset-House to be the Head Quarters of the Army Orders of the Councel for supplyes of Horse Saddles Pistols c. for the Lord Lieutenant Letters that many of Ormonds Men came in to the Lord Lieutenant That Sir George Askue sent Provisions to Dublin and more to the Leaguer before Tredah 17 Letters that the Commanders of the Rebells were in Factions and that Sir Charles Coot took advantage thereof to march into their Country and took in divers small Garrisons Letters that the Lord Lieutenant had fixed his Posts and begun his Batteries before Tredah That the Garrison often sallyed out upon him but were beaten back with loss That in the Town were 3000 Foot Souldiers and 500 Horse and they were victualled for five Months That Inchequin commits great wast as far as he dares venture about Dublin and Tredah by burning and driving away of their Cattle and hangs all he can meet with going in to the Lord Lieutenant That Ormond proclaimed whosoever should mention the Covenants Subscription or that the King should not come in but upon Conditions should be secured and his Estate Sequestred That Mr. Peters the Minister was arrived at Dublin and that at the beginning of the Troubles in Ireland he had a Brigade against the Rebels and came off with honour and victory and the like was now expected from him That the Lord Lieutenant for satisfying of the Country through which he was to march and that they might not be terrifyed with Fear upon his Approach set sorth a Declaration of his Intentions and to assure the Country that none of them should be injured behaving themselves peaceably and bringing in their Provisions c. Letters that 14 Sale of English and Dutch Ships were brought into Dunkirk and Ostend laden with Corn and other Goods and after the Goods Sold the Masters were forced to buy their own Ships That 15 small Ships of four and six Pieces of Ordinance a piece were manned out of those Ports with Commissions from Prince Charles to take the English Ships That the Governour of Dunkirk hath the 10th part of the Prizes and the Prince hath the 5th part That one of the Parliaments Ships brought in a New Ostend Frigat of 10 Guns a Prize and an Account of the several Convoys That Montrossis with about 5000 Men at Hamborough That the Packet-Boat with the Keel of a Ship striking her by a gust of wind was sunk and the Packets all lost but the Men saved 18 For an Honour to the E's of Pembroke and of Salisbury and of the Lord Howard of Escrigge Members of the House of Commons ordered That they might sit in all Committees of which they were before the Lords House was dissolved Allowance of 40 s. a week to an Irish Officers Widdow Mr. Noel made sole Treasurer at Weavers Hall 300 l. allowed to Lieutenant Goddyer for Losses sustained by him when he prevented the betraying of Tinmouth An Act past for Tryal of Pyrates and Robbers at Sea and of revolted Seamen and Mariners An Act past for maintenance for the Alms-Men and Free-School at Westminster A Letter from the Holland Ambassador in behalf of three Vessels loaden with Wines taken by the Parliaments Ships referred to the Committee of the Navy The Lord Ormond sent Instructions to his Officers to this Effect 1 That every man who hath submitted to his Majesties Authority be put into Possession of his Estate he contributing to the maintenance of the Army and necessary Burdens of the Countrey 2 That the Articles of War be put in Execution 3 That no Commanders in Ulster do assume to themselves the Nomination of any Military Officer upon pretence of any late Commission but leave them to our discretion as in this Kingdom hath ever been accustomed 4 Any that speak or act in prejudice of his Majesties Affairs let him be imprisoned and his Estate secured and Information sent up to us of the Nature of his Crime that we may give further order therein And if any Ecclesiastical Person in his Prayer or Sermon shall incite the People to Sedition or disobedience or shall intermeddle with the Managery of civil Affairs or derogate from the present Government or teach that his Majesty is not to be admitted to the Crown till he hath given Satisfaction to his Subjects or taken such Oaths or Covenants as are imposed on him without his consent contrary to Law and the Dictates of his own Conscience Vpon Proof thereof without further Circumstances let his Estate be confiscated to the use of the Army and himself be either Imprisoned or banished or tryed for his Life as the Case shall require 5 If there be any whose Loyalty is suspected let the chief in Command upon the place Minister to him the Oath of Allegiance and if he refuse let them securehis Person and Estate 6 For Inlargement of Quarters 7 Touching Forces coming from other Quarters into Ulster 8 Let the Siege of Derry be prosecuted by the common advice of the Lord of Ardes Sir Robert Stuart Sir George Monroe and C. Audley Mervin 19 Orders upon private Petitions By Sentence of M. G. Lambert C. Okey and the rest of the Officers at the Court Marshal at Oxford two of the late mutinous Souldiers were shot to death a third was reprieved and seven ran the Gantlope The University entertained the Officers with great Respect and presented them with Gloves That the Schollars offered to assist the Officers against the Mutineers and not above three of the Townsmen joyned in the Mutiny Letters that Sir Thomas Armstrong sallyed out of Tredah upon the Lord Lieutenants Quarters with 200 Horse but were so entertained that every one of them was enclosed and taken except Sir Thomas who escaped by the Goodness of his Horse That the Enemy hath 3000 Horse hovering about the Lord Lieutenants Camp but attempting nothing That 35 of the Renegadoes being taken ten of them were hanged in the Camp and the rest were sent to Dublin to be executed Letters that the English Merchants in Muscovia were commanded by the great Duke to sell all they had there and to depart his Dominions within a Year and not to come thither any more unless in the King of Englands Name and by his Patents So great a dislike did he conceive against the English andit was fully fomented by the Dutch upon the Parliaments proceeding against the late King and Kingship 20 Letters from Sir Arthur Haselrigg of want of Pay for his Regiment referred to the Committee of the Army Order for Mr. Genners Sallary Upon Debate of a Letter from the Holland Ambassador resolved not to dispence with the late Act against Importation of French Wines The Act past for the Schoole and Alms-Houses in Westmiuster and the allowance to Mr. Lambert Osbaldstone Debate of the business of the Miners of Derby-shire The Act passed against revolted Seamen and against Pyrates Another for suppressing Scandalous