of the Army came to the Parliament with Letters from the G. of the Proceedings of the Army and desiring that the 3000 Tun of French-Wines taken at Leith might be Custom and Excise-free and sold and distributed among the private Souldiers which the House granted and ordered the Letters found in the L. Chancellor's Cabinet to be Printed at the end of the Declaration for the Publick Thanks-giving 23. Letters That the Scots were raising new Forces upon the Presbyterian Interest and That the King was at Dundee with some of his Cavalier Party as well as Presbyterians That the G. sent to the Governour of Edenburgh-Castle that the Ministers with him might return to their Churches and have free liberty to Preach there and commanded that none of the Army should molest them The Ministers sent Answer That they found nothing exprest whereby to build any Security for their Persons and for their Return they resolved to reserve themselves for better Times and to wait upon him who had hidden his Face for a while from the Sons of Jacob. The G. Replied in a Letter to the Governour to this effect Our Kindness offered to the Ministers with you was done with ingenuity thinking to have met with the like but I am satisfied to tell those with you That if their Masters Service as they call it were chiefly in their eye imagination of suffering would not have caused such a Return Much less the Practices of our Party as they are pleased to say upon the Ministers of Christ in England have been an Argument of personal Persecution The Ministers of England are supported and have liberty to preach the Gospel though not to rail nor under pretence thereof to overtop the Civil Power or debase it as they please No man hath been troubled in England or Ireland for Preaching the Gospel nor has any Minister been molested in Scotland since the coming of the Army hither The speaking Truth becomes the Ministers of Christ When Ministers pretend to a Glorious Reformation and lay the Foundation thereof in getting to themselves Power and can make worldly mixtures to accomplish the same such as their late Agreement with their King and hopes by him to carry on their Designs they may know that the Syon promised and hoped for will not be built with such untempered Mortar And for the unjust Invasion they mention time was when an Army of Scotland came into England not called by the Supreme Authority We have said in our Papers with what hearts and upon what account we came and the Lord hath heard us though you would not upon as solemn an Appeal as any Experience ean parallel When they trust purely to the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which is powerful to bring down strong Holds and every Imagination that exalts it self which alone is able to square and fit the Stones for the New Jerusalem Then and not before and by that means and no other shall Jerusalem which is to be the praise of the whole Earth the City of the Lord be built the Syon of the Holy One of Israel I have nothing to say to you but that I am Sir Septemb. 9. 1650. Your Humble Servant O. CROMWELL The Scots Ministers sent an Answer to this Letter and the General another Letter in Answer to them and says therein We look upon Ministers as Helpers of not Lords over the Faith of Gods People I appeal to their Consciences whether any denying their Doctrines and dissenting shall not incur the Censure of Sectary And what is this but to deny Christians their liberty and assume the infallible Chair Where do you find in Scripture that Preaching is included in your Function Though an Approbation from men hath Order in it and may do well yet he that hath not a better than that he hath none at all I hope he that ascended up on high may give his Gifts to whom he please and if those Gifts be the Seal of Mission be not envious though Eldad and Medad Prophesie you know who bids us covet earnestly the best Gifts but chiefly that we may Prophesie Which the Apostle explains there to be a speaking to Instruction and Edification and Comfort which the Instructed Edified and Comforted can best tell the Energy and Effect of If such Evidence be I say again Take heed you envy not for your own sakes lest you be guilty of a greater fault than Moses reproved in Joshua for envying for his sake Indeed you err through the mistake of the Scriptures Approbation is an act of Conveniency in respect of Order not of Necessity to give Faculty to Preach the Gospel â—our pretended fear lest Error should step in is like the man that would keep all the Wine out of the Countrey lest men should be drunk It will be found an unjust and unwise Jealousie to deny a man the liberty he hath by Nature upon a supposition he may abuse it when he doth abuse it judge 24 An Act passed for Encouragement and Indempnity of such as voluntarily engaged themselves in the Service of the Parliament in this time of common Danger An Act passed for appointing new Commissioners for the Excise A Vote approving the late Transactions of the Militia of London and Westminster 25 Proceedings in the Trial of Sir John Gell before the High Court of Justice By the Letters taken in the Cabinet of the L. Chancellor London at Dunbar-Fight appeared that the Scots designed to invade England Letters that the L. Willoughby and others had Proclaimed King Charles the Second in the Barbadoes and That the Assembly there had Sentenced Capt. Tienman and Lieut. Brandon to be disfranchized their Estates to be seized their Tongues cut their Cheeks burnt with the Letter T and afterwards to be banished and That they had Fined and Banished most in the Island who were well affected to the Parliament 26 Order for the Thanks of the House to be given to the old Commissioners of the Excise for their good Service Letters That the Ministers about Dartmouth would not read any Act or Ordinance commanded by the Parliament Rumors of Hopton's and Greenvile's Landing with Forces in the West which caused the Governor of Weymouth and the Militia thereabouts to be in a readiness Recruits ordered for Scotland Letters That Sir Charles Coot with 600 Horse and 1300 Foot Marched to the L. Deputy before Athlowe That there was Difference amongst the Irish occasioned by their Clergy That the E. of Westmeath took in a Castle of the L. Dillon's and put all in it to the Sword 27 Upon the Report from a Committee The House Voted That one Clackson who made and Published an Impious and Blasphemous Book called The Single Eye should be sent to the House of Correction and afterwards be Banished and that the Book be Burned by the Common Hangman And That Mr. Rainsborough a Justice of peace in Middlesex who countenanced the Book be disabled from being a Justice
of England and Ireland Then a sealed Paper was produced which being opened and read appeared to be sent from the Parliament of Ireland declaring that the Commons there had Voted the Earl guilty of high Treason At this the Earl being much transported said There was a Conspiracy against him to take away his life The Committee of the House of Commons took hold of those words and required Justice from the Lords against the Earl who standing Impeached of high Treason accused the Parliaments of two Kingdoms of a Conspiracy against him Hereupon the Earl falling upon his knees humbly craved pardon for the Inconsiderateness of the expression protesting seriously that he did not thereby intend either Parliament but some particular persons and so that Matter was past over Then the Committee offered to the Lords three new Articles to be annexed to the Charge and desired that the Earl might presently give his Answer to them To which the Earl replyed That the Process being closed he hoped he should not be ordered to answer any adventitious and unexpected Charge without more convenient time assigned But the Lords finding the Articles to be of no great Importance he was urged to a present Answer which he then made to them March the 24th the Committee proceeded upon the Articles of the Charge and after Glynne had ended his part Maynard proceeded upon the following Articles and after him Mr. Palmer managed the ensuing Articles as to the aggravation of them and inforcing the Evidence upon them and his part extended to the seven last Articles upon the which Whitelocke was appointed to manage the Evidence Anno 1641. Car. 17 These Articles on his part were Matters of very high nature and some of them particularly the twenty fourth Article relating to the design of bringing over the Army in Ireland into Scotland and so to England to reduce this Kingdom Whitelocke having spoken with Sir Henry Vane the elder and with the other Witnesses to the twenty fourth Article and finding that their Testimony would not make good the Matter of that Article thought it not honourable for the House of Commons to proceed upon an Article whereof they could not make a clear proof and thereupon proposed it to the Committee to omit that Article in his proceedings The Committee were of the same opinion but upon Sir Walter Earle's undertaking to manage it they left that Article to him upon which Whitelocke after he had inforced the Evidence upon the twenty third Article sate down and Sir Walter Earl with much gravity and confidence began to aggravate the Matters in the twenty fourth Article and the dangerous Consequence and high Crime in it and called forth the Witnesses to prove the particulars which he had at large opened Some of the Witnesses were not in England those of them who came in being sworn spake little to the purpose and did not prove the Matter at all of that Article upon which the Knight was very blank and out of countenance But the Earl of Strafford who lost no advantage of his Defence rising up from his Seat made a low obeysance as he was used to do to the Lords and spake to this effect My Lords I am a poor Gentleman a Prisoner at the Bar against whom several persons learned in the Laws and of great ability for pleading and strength of reason and other noble persons of great parts and eloquence have enforced the particular Matters of my Charge and I had well hoped they had been drawing towards an end But now my Lords unexpectedly a new and great Pleader sets upon me tired out before and this noble Knight hath laid a heavy burden indeed upon my shoulders he hath opened more hainous Crimes against me than all those Gentlemen who have gone before The learned Gentleman who urged the Matters of the last Articles against me when he came to this twenty fourth Article sate down and seemed to decline it and yet he left nothing material which was not urged home by him But this noble Knight goes beyond all and indeed beyond the Article it self observing things not contained in it and impossible to be And could he have proved this it had been truly a Miracle But I humbly beg your Lordships pardon I am not willing to spend any of your time impertinently I shall only say this That where nothing is proved against me I know your Lordships great wisdom and justice will expect no defence from me After the Earl was sate down the Lord Digby stood up and in a very witty rhetorical speech took off Sir Walter Earle Desired their Lordships to pass by a mistake that this Article was not intended for prosecution as might appear by the Gentleman 's declining of it who managed the former He moved That this twenty fourth Article might be omitted and their Lordships not to receive any further trouble in the urging of it or defence to it and that they would be pleased to look upon what that noble Knight had said but as a Superfâ—tation After the Lord Digby had spoken Whitelocke presently rose up and after the Lords 〈◊〉 done smiling he proceeded with the twenty fifth Article The Queen who was present at the Tryal inquired who that Knight was whom the Lord Digby relieved and being told his name was Sir Walter Earle She said that water Dog did bark but not bite but the rest did bite close The Earl of Strafford speaking of the Committee who managed the Evidence against him and particularly of the Lawyers said to a private friend that Glynne and Maynard used him like Advocates but Palmer and Whitelocke used him like Gentlemen and yet left out nothing material to be urged against him When the Committee had gone through all the Articles they moved That if the Earl had any thing to say further in his defence that he might do it the Earl obtained with difficulty time till the next Morning The next day both Houses being met the Lieutenant of the Tower acquainted them that the Earl had been extream ill the last Night of a violent Fit of the Stone and was not able to come abroad this Day and humbly desired their Lordships excuse This caused them to adjourn to the next Morning and in the Afternoon some of the Lords were sent from the House to see in what condition the Earl was who found him somewhat recovered and he hoped so as he might attend them the next Day Then the House met again April the 10th and the Commons desired liberty to produce an additional piece of Evidence to the twenty third Article The Earl craved the same liberty for himself concerning some Testimonies not yet exhibited on his behalf this the Committee opposed but the Lords thought it equal and after a warm Debate upon it the Commons rose in some discontent not so much as appointing a day for their next meeting April 12. In the House of Commons Mr. Pym produced a Paper of some Notes taken by Secretary Vane
into the fire these bloody and mysterious Volumes of constructive and arbitrary Treason as the Primitive Christians did their Books of curious Arts and betake your selves to the plain Letter of the Law and Statute that telleth us what is and what is not Treason without being more ambitious to be more learned in the Art of Killing than our Fore-fathers It is now full two hundred and fourty years since any man was touched for this alleaged Crime to this height before my self Let us not awaken these sleeping Lions to our destructions by taking up a few musty Records that have lain by the walls so many Ages forgotten or neglected May your Lordships please not to add this to my other Misfortunes let not a President be derived from me so disadvantageous as this will be in the Consequence to the whole Kingdom Do not through me wound the Interest of the Common-wealth and howsoever these Gentlemen say they speak for the Common-wealth yet in this particular I indeed speak for and shew the Inconveniences and mischiefs that will fall upon it For as it is said in the Statute 1 H. 4. No man will know what to do or say for fear of such Penalties Do not put my Lords such Difficulties upon Ministers of State that men of VVisdom of Honour and of Fortune may not with chearfulness and safety be imployed for the Publick if you weigh and measure them by Grains and Scruples the publick Affairs of the Kingdom will lie wast no man will meddle with them who hath any thing to lose My Lords I have troubled you longer than I should have done were it not for the Interest of these dear Pledges a Saint in Heaven hath left me At this word he stopt awhile letting fall some tears at her Memory then he went on What I forfeit my self is nothing but that my Indiscretion should extend to my Posterity woundeth me to the very Soul You will pardon my Infirmity something I should have added but am not able therefore let it pass And now my Lords for my self I have been by the blessing of Almighty God taught That the afflictions of this present life are not to be compared to the eternal weight of glory which shall be revealed hereafter And so my Lords even so with all tranquility of mind I freely submit my self to your Judgment and whether that Judgment be of Life or Death Te Deum landamus Certainly never any Man acted such a part on such a Theatre with more Wisdome Constancy and Eloquence with greater Reason Judgment and Temper and with a better Grace in all his Words and Gestures than this great and excellent Person did and he moved the hearts of all his Auditors some few excepted to remorse and pity After he had done Pym and Glyn endeavoured to aggravate his Offences and so both Houses rose The Commons thought fit to justifie their Charge by Law to be Treason To which effect Mr. St. John one of the Committee made an elaborate and learned Argument It was insisted upon amongst many other things That in the Stat. 25 E. 3. the Index of Treason is a Salvo that because all particular Treasons could not be then defined therefore what the Parliament should declare to be Treason in time to come should be punished as Treason April 17. The Point in Law was argued for the Earl by Mr. Lane the Princes Attorney Mr. Loe Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Lightfoot were also present of his Councel Mr. Lane argued upon the Statute 25 E. 3. That it was a declarative Law not to be extended by Equity Consequence or Construction but by the express Letter only and being a Penal Law admitted no Inferences Penalties being to enforce obedience to known Laws not to doubtful or conjectural As to the Salvo he said That 6 H. 8. 4. a Petition was preferred by the Lords to have all Treasons limited by Statute and in that Parliament Chap. 20. an Act was made whereby that Salvo in 25 E. 3. was repealed and nothing to be Treason but what was literally comprehended in the Statute 25 E. 3. After this a Bill was brought into the House of Commons to attaint the Earl of high Treason upon Debate whereof they voted him guilty of high Treason And 19. April upon the Ingrossment of the Bill it endured a sharp Debate The Lord Digby and divers others appearing eminently for the Earl against the Bill but upon division of the House the Bill was passed yet there were fifty nine Dissenters This was 21. April and the same Afternoon it was sent up to the Lords April 24. The Lords were put in mind to appoint a Day for the reading of the Bill of Attainder and 29. April Mr. St. John by command of the House of Commons in the presence of the Lord Strafford offered to the Lords Reasons and Authorities to satisfie them and to justifie the Bill by Law The House of Commons in the mean time petitioned the King 1. For removing Papists from Court. 2. For disarming of them generally 3. For disbanding the Irish Army To which the King gave Answer 1. That all knew the legal trust the Crown had in that particular that he would use it so as not to give just cause of scandal 2. He was content it should be done by Law 3. Vpon Consultation he found many Difficulties therein and so wished the Disbanding of all Armies as he did conjure them speedily and heartily to joyn with him in disbanding those two here Scots and English May 1. The King called both Houses of Parliament together and did passionately desire of them not to proceed severely against the Earl whom he answered for as to most of the main particulars of the Charge against him tells them that in Conscience he cannot condemn the Earl of high Treason and that neither fear nor any other respect should make him go against his Conscience But for Misdemeanours he is so clear in them that he thinks the Earl not fit hereafter to serve him or the Commonwealth in any place of trust no not so much as a Constable May 2 d The Marriage was solemnized at Court between the young Prince of Orange and the Princess Mary the King's Daughter This day being Sunday from some Pulpits it was preached to the People the necessity of Justice upon some great Delinquents now to be acted And the next Morning May 3. a Rabble of about six thousand out of the City came thronging down to Westminster with Swords Cudgels and Staves crying out for Justice against the Earl of Strafford pretending decay of Trade and want of Bread They applyed themselves to the Earl of Mont-gomery who gave them good words and endeavoured to pacific them which is the best way in popular Tumults and yet this Multitude were very rude with some of the Lords and they posted up at Westminster the Names of all those Members of the House of Commons who had Voted for the Earl and
King's Children The Commons voted to Impeach Mr. Webster and Mr. Sands and two other English Merchants in Holland for being chief Actors in pawning the Crown-Jewels and sending over Arms and Ammunition against the Parliament The Clergy and others being summoned to Leicester to take the Covenant and very many of them coming in Colonel Hastings with four hundred of the King's Horse roamed about the Country and took about a hundred Prisoners of those that were going to take the Covenant and drove the rest home again Upon this about two hundred Horse were sent from Leicester who unexpectedly fell into the Quarters of Hastings rescued all the Prisoners dispersed his Troops took fifty of them Prisoners and a hundred and forty Horse and Arms. Fifteen thousand of the Scots past the River Tyne and blockt up Newcastle on the South-side as the other part of their Army did on the North-side The Lord Willoughby before Newark beat the King's Forces from their Outworks and gained their Bridges and came within Pistol-shot of the Town Colonel Wayte beat up the King's Quarters near Burley-house Colonel Norton did the like to some of the Lord Hopton's Forces and killed and took about eighty of them The Scots possest themselves of Sunderland and Durham Sir William Constable took Stamford-Bridge and three pieces of Ordnance Powder Shot Arms for several Troops of Horse and Provisions Colonel Lambert at Leeds surprised eleven Colours of the King 's and Sir William Constable besieged Scarborough Sir Hugh Cholmley revolted to the King burnt many houses in Whitbee March 12. The Archbishop came to his Tryal in the Lord's house the Evidence against him was managed by Serjeant Wild and Mr. Maynard The Archbishop in his Defence alledged for his constancy in Religion that he had converted two and twenty from Popery to be Protestants Divers Western Gentlemen came into Plymouth and submitted themselves to the Parliament The Divines of the Netherlands in Answer to a Letter from the Assembly of Divines here express their content in the proceedings of the Parliament and Assembly touching the Covenant and desire to joyn with the two Kingdoms therein The Dutch Ambassadour sent a Message to the House of Commons directed in the usual manner To the Speaker of the House of Commons And in the Afternoon they had a private Conference with the Speaker and some Members The Earl of Carlisle deserted the King's Party and came in to the Parliament Colonel Thomas Pyne took the Lord Arundel's House by assault fifty Prisoners and two pieces of Ordnance Mar. 15. The Commons referred to the Council of both Kingdoms to consider of and propound to both Houses the most probable speedy and effectual means for procuring and establishing a firm peace wherein the Lords concurred Sir Richard Greenvile was proclaimed Traytor by the General and the Proclamation nailed on the Gallows The Parliament Ships chased the Earl of Marleborough but he though two to one did not think fit to fight with them The Anti-Parliament at Oxford passed sundry Votes That the Parliament Members at Westminster were guilty of Treason Which Votes the Parliament caused to be published with a Declaration upon them A List was agreed of seven Colonels of Foot-Regiments under the Lord General in his Army The Propositions from the Ambassadours of the States Were to mediate a Peace between the King and Parliament For which end they had been with the King and now they made application to the Parliament who thought they did not fully acknowledge them as the Parliament and thereupon the business past over with Complements on both parts Colonel Purefoy beat up the Quarters of two Troups of the Earl of Northampton's Regiment took divers Officers and others Prisoners and 80 Horse The Rents of the Universitie of Oxford were secured by the Parliament Consideration was had of Regulating Sir William Waller's Army The Scots possest Sunderland by which means Coals were had for London which before was in great want of them Newark Garrison sallied out and surprised 200 of the Besiegers The Ordinance past for Regulating the Lord General 's Army and reducing them to seven thousand and five hundred Foot and three thousand Horse and thereby his Officers were discontented and himself not well pleased Letters were intercepted from the Catholick Council of the Rebels in Ireland to Cardinal Mazarini To put the Queen Regent of France in mind of her promise to assist the Irish with seven thousand men An Order past for Trade to Sunderland and Blith in the North. A difference of Opinion was between the two Houses the Lords would have a new Committee named to consider of Propositions of Peace the Commons would have that Business referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms In the debate of this matter some of the House of Commons seemed averse to any Propositions at all for Peace Amongst others one spake to this effect Mr. Speaker It would be no wonder to see an unanimous Concurrence of the whole House in furthering Propositions for a good Peace The Calamities of our Distractions have brought us to it and who is there amongst us that hath not in some measure felt the stroaks of them I am sure Sir I have smarted by them We may say here but I hope never with the like Application what Tacitus said of the Romans Omnia discordiis civilibus fessa The Land is weary of our Discords being thereby polluted with our blood God hath given you great Successes in many places against our Enemies and sometimes he is pleased to give our Enemies Successes against us in all of them whether of the one or the other Party the poor English are still Sufferers Whose Goods I pray Sir are plundered whose Houses are burnt whose Limbs are cut or shot off whose persons are thrown into loathsom Dungeons whose Blood stains the Walls of our Towns and defiles our Land Is it not all English and is it not then time for us who are all English-men to be weary of these Discords and to use our utmost Endeavours to put an end to them I know Sir you are all here of the same Opinion with me in this Point and that it was an unhappy mistake of those who told us in the beginning of our Warfare That it would be onely to shew our selves in the Field with a few Forces and then all would be presently ded We have found it otherwise let us now again seek to recover these Blessings of Peace whereof we are told that Nihil tam populare quam pax That nothing is than Peace more gracious to be heard of more pleasing to be desired and more profitable to be enioyed I am sorry we have so much and so sad Experience as well as other Arguments to convince us of this truth You think best to refer it to the Committee of both Kingdoms and you cannot find more able and faithfull men to trust in this Business the Lords think fit that
blood and infamy may rest on the Heads of them that lay obstructions in his way averring that if money cannot be had he will march without it That he received a Letter from Lieutenant General Middleton who is advanced as far as he can to relieve the Lord General but he hears there is a very great party of the King's Army drawn out to meet him and yet keep the Lord General at a Bay That he desires nothing more under God than to be able to march and no fault shall be found in him By Letters from Plymouth the House were certified touching the making of Provisions for the Lord General 's Army and that many Prisoners had taken the Covenant and freely undertook to serve the Parliament against the Irish Rebels That at Lestithiel the duty hath been so constant and various the Enemy so near and vigilant that we cannot Muster we have sick men sent hither who if not timely sent do die soon after they come here fresh Diet being their onely cure The Chirurgeons of the Army are ill stored with Provisions some not having to the value of 10s The Enemy increaseth daily upon our quarters the loss of Foy-harbour is to our infinite disadvantage no ships being able to ride out of the command of their Guns The Lord Admiral made a gallant attempt to have regained the Harbour but extremity of weather would not suffer him to land one man Major Skippon's Glove and Sleeve was shot through and his Buff in two places and he had no harm Additional Forces being come to Sir William Waller he advanced with them Westward to joyn with Middleton and Massey to make up a Body to relieve the Lord General and 4000 Foot and 3000 Horse from the Earl of Manchester were upon their march to assist the General but all of them had lost too much time Letters from the General informed that the King with all his power drew out upon him that he sent out several parties that Skirmished with them at length a great party of the Horse being ingaged they slew many of the Enemy and forced their passage through the King's Army and through the numerousness of the Enemy could hardly retreat so that the Foot being left to stand upon their own guard in a place of advantage there was a Parley enter'd into by which it was agreed that Major Skippon who fought like a Lion with the Foot should march away with the loss of some Ordnance and Ammunition and have a safe conduct for 6000 Foot to Dorchester By this and several other Letters we may observe how the Parliament Officers sought to lessen this defeat received by them and to conceal the full truth thereof from the Parliament which is usual with some to lessen their defeats and to inlarge their Victories On the King's part it was said that General Essex with most of his chief Commanders deserted their whole Army and saved themselves by flight by Sea That their Horse pretending to Skirmish got beyond the King's Army and so escaped by this way and left the Foot to shift for themselves That the Foot were totally dispersed and disarmed and submitted to the King's mercy who gave them their lives and took all their Ordnance Arms and Ammunition and thus gave a total defeat to the Parliament's main Army By this we may see the great difference in relations of Martial performances always according to the particular interest of the Relatours and it is certain that in a Fight the next man can hardly make a certain relation of the Actions of him that was next in place to him For in such a hurry and smoak as is in a Fight and when a man scarce takes notice of any thing but what relates to his own immediate safety it is hard to give any clear account of particular passages but the general will make way for it self by the consequence and issue Therefore for better satisfaction I shall give an impartial Relation of that Action in Cornwal neither favouring nor censuring the one side or the other as it ought to be the temper of all faithfull Historians The King marched after Essex who was gone Westward and by the overruling counsel of the Lord Roberts was perswaded into the narrow noose of Cornwal The King came to Liskerd eight miles from Lestithiel where Essex was and was there encompassed by the King and Prince Maurice at Boconnock Sir Richard Greenvile at Bodmyn and Sir Jacob Ashley at Hule The King's party were desirous to fight but upon consultation it was held more advisable to strave the Parliament forces to which end Goring with a party of Horse and Sir Tho. Basset with 1500 Foot were sent Westward to stop all Provisions that way and to streighten Essex by keeping his Horse and Foot close together Essex drew his Cannon and Baggage towards Foy but in those bad ways his Carriages stuck and they were much hindered by it Sir Will. Belfore with 2300 horse brake through the King's Quarters and got to Saltash and from thence to Plymouth The King pursues his advantage against Essex his foot with great wisedom and gallantry and they made a stout resistance but being overpowred by the King's forces which lay round about them and then the Country rising in great numbers upon them and killing divers of their men in their Quarters Essex quits his own Forces and with divers of his chief Officers makes by Sea for Plymouth leaving Skippon with the Foot and a few horse behind him Some came by designe to the Parliament forces intimating that the King was willing to admit of a Treaty with them and it was great wisdome and gallantry in the King rather to defeat them with their own Consents than to hazard the doubtful tryal of a Battle for it Skippon calls together his field Officers to a Council of War and being more a Soldier than an Oratour spake plainly to them to this purpose Gentlemen You see our General and many of our chief Officers have thought fit to leave us and our horse are got away we are left alone upon our defence that which I propound to you is this that we having the same courage as our horse had and the same God to assist us may make the same tryal of our fortunes and endeavour to make our way through our enemies as they have done and account it better to dye with honour and faithfulness than to live dishonourable Few of the Council of War did concur with him but were generally for a treaty with the King alledging the advantages the horse had to break through the enemy which the foot had not and that the General was then with them and added courage to his men Whereas the foot were now more dismayed by his going away and having few or no horse to assist them and other arguments were alledged to accept of a treaty and accordingly Commissioners on both parts were appointed For the King were Prince
were not equal or from an expectation of Prince Rupert's advance with 3000 horse and Dragoons and the return of the Earl of Northampton from Banbury with 1000. The King's strength is reported to have been 8000 foot and 500 horse which albeit a gallant Army yet upon the Parliaments Forces drawing into Battalia they durst not take the Field but to counterpoise the Parliaments numbers the King fell to Stratagems to fortifie the Town especially the Avenues and having raised his Batteries and lined the hedges stood upon his guard and with some great pieces where he saw the biggest bodies and most advantage liberally sent them some Bullets which killed 2 or 3 horse but hurt not their Riders For many hours some parties of horse skirmisht 'twixt both the Armies in which play the Parliament had the best of whose part but one man fell of theirs four or five of which one was knighted It being impossible to engage the King's Forces without much hazard that night the greatest part of the Parliaments Forces marched unto Chevely the horse commanded by Waller and Balfour the foot by Skippon whilst the other encamped before the Eastside of the Town and ordered by Manchester at one same time having agreed to storm the Garrison on both sides That night and the next the Parliamentarians quartered in the open fields but neither the coldness of the weather nor want of usual provision any whit disanimated the Souldiers the expectation of fight swallowing up all other extremities howbeit most of them had three days provision prepared by command in their Snapsacks By Daybreak upon Sunday the horse and foot commanded by Waller and Skippon were upon their march in four hours surrounded Dunnington Castle and made their approach towards the West of Newbury By the way they intercepted two or three Carts of Provision and took about 100 horse and foot of the King 's as they straggled and the King's Forces from the Castle fell upon the Parliaments Rear and took 10 or 12 prisoners Upon this march they received the Report that Newcastle was taken by storm and the Ulster Rebels defeated which much incouraged the Parlaiments Forces It was One a Clock ere the Train and Rear came up and near Three ere they could be put into Battalia with extraordinary shouts and other symptoms of courage and joy the Western body advanced and by the Forlorn-hope of horse quickly began the fight which with as much eagerness was seconded by the foot who cryed They would now be revenged for the business of Cornwall For three hours the fight was maintained with as much resolution and bravery on both parts as hath been since these Wars the Cannon and small shot on both sides firing with as quick a motion as was possible Among the foot the General 's Regiment especially did eminently well and among all of the whole Army there was not one man or party horse or foot seen either to desert their duty or to dishearten their fellows After a long and hot dispute the Parliamentarians beat the King's Forces first from their Work and then from their Ordnance nine in number in which atchievement they lost a few men and among them Captain Gawler The Day was of so much discontent to his Majesty that an hour after midnight he marched out of the Town with an attendant Troop only towards Winchester and sent up his Cannon Carriages and Baggage to the Castle where at day-break the Parliamentarians saw them placed and Colonel Cromwell followed the body of the Enemy two hours before day The E. of Cleveland was taken prisoner by a Lieutenant of Colonel Barkley's General Goring hardly escaped his Brother was shot dead as he charged most of his Troop were cut off Major Trevillian and divers others of quality and 200 common Souldiers of the King's part slain and 300 taken prisoners Letters came of the taking of the Town and Castle of Newcastle surrendred to General Leven Oct. 29. the Governour and the rest submitting for their lives In that little compass of the Castle were 500 men besides women and children Three Scots Lords taken there Craford Rea and Maxwell were sent into Scotland to be there tryed The Town though taken by Onslaght was not much ransackt most of them redeeming their goods from plunder upon reasonable satisfaction in moneys A Day of publick Thanksgiving was appointed for these successes at Newbury and at Newcastle Some differences among the Committee of Sussex were referred to a Committee of the House and another Committee appointed to consider of settling the Garrison of Windsor and reducing it to a less number and half pay Alderman Atkins was sworn Lord Mayor of London in the Exchequer according to custom Letters from Sir William Waller and Sir Arthur Haslerigge further confirmed the Parliaments success at Newbury and that they had taken 1000 Arms there that if they had had but one hour more of day-light in probability they had totally routed and dispersed the King's whole Army Which was in so great distraction after the fight that they retreated three several ways at once in great confusion That the King as they were informed with a small party wheeled about by Marlborough and so to Oxford Since the fight they took many prisoners stragglers and the King 's own Coach and General Forth 's Coach with his Lady many Sumpter-horses and other good Prizes An Ordinance was committed for the Attainder of the Archbishop and they that managed the Evidence against him at his Tryal were appointed to bring in the state of all the Evidence to the House Letters from Captain Hacker informed that a party of the King 's coming to relieve Crowland were set upon by the Parliaments Forces 600 horse and 400 hundred prisoners taken of Newark and Belvoir Forces and the Town much discouraged thereby A hundred horse of the Queen's Regiment were taken by the Garrison of Weymouth wherein the Country people assisted the Parliaments Forces Sir Authony Ashley Cooper with 1500 horse and foot from several Garrisons took the field to encounter Sir Lewis Dives Sir William Vvedale was readmitted to sit as a Member of the House Novemb. 1644. The Lord Paget petitioned expressing much sorrow for his deserting the Parliament and adhering to the Enemy whose Counsel and Designs he now seeth to tend to the destruction of the Kingdom humbly submitting himself to the Favour of the Parliament Letters from Newcastle desire the Parliament to consider of the new framing and settling the Government of that Town and that fit and able men may be chosen for that purpose which was referred to a Committee of both Houses General Leven sent 5000 horse and foot of the Scots Army to the Lord Fairfax in Yorkshire to suppress the stragling Enemy there An Ordinance was sent down to Newcastle for the Tryal of Sir John Marley the late Mayor there by a Council of War A Commander in Surrey sent to some Members of Parliament there to
upon view of those proofs we shall be the better able to advise and your Lordships to judge what will be fit to be done in this matter Maynard Your Excellence and my Lord Chancellour are pleased to require our advice in this great business and we shall deal cleerly and freely with your Lordships which I think will be most acceptable to you and will in conclusion be best for your service Mr. Whitelocke hath begun thus and in speaking his own sense hath spoken much of mine and left me the less to say and I shall follow him in the same plainness and method as he hath begun which I presume will be most pleasing to your Lordships The word Incendiary is not much conversant in our Law nor often met with in our Books but more a term of the Civil Law or of State and so to be considered in this case and to be taken according to the expression wherein it is used in the Accord of the two Kingdoms and in the sense of the Parliaments of both Nations That sense of it which my Lord Chancellour hath been pleased to mention it doth bear ex vi termini and surely he that kindles the coals of contention between our brethren of Scotland and us is an Incendiary and to be punished as it is agreed on by both Kingdoms But my Lords as you have been told there must be proof made of such particulars of words or actions upon which there may be sufficient ground for a Parliament to declare their judgment that he who used such words or actions indeavoured thereby to raise differences and to kindle the fire of contention among us and so that he is an Incendiary Lieutenant General Cromwel is a person of great favour and interest with the House of Commons and with some of the House of Peers likewise and therefore there must be proofs and the more clear and evident against him to prevail with the Parliament to adjudge him to be an Incendiary I confess my Lords I do not in my private knowledge assure my self of any such particulars nor have we heard of any here and I believe it will be more difficult than perhaps some of us may imagine to fasten this upon him And if it be difficult and doubtfull it is not fit for such persons as my Lord General and the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland as yet to appear in it but rather first to see what proofs may be had of particular passages which will amount to a clear proof upon which judgment may be grounded that he is an Incendiary And when such proofs shall be ready to be produced we may again wait upon your Excellence and the business will then be the more ripe for your Lordships resolution in the mean time my humble opinion is that it may be deferred Mr. Hollis and Sir Philip Stapleton and some others spake smartly to the business and mentioned some particular passages and words of Cromwel tending to prove him to be an Incendiary and they did not apprehend his interest in the House of Commons to be so much as was supposed and they would willingly have been upon the accusation of him But the Scots Commissioners were not so forward to adventure upon it for the reasons they said did satisfie them which were given by Maynard and Whitelocke until a further inquiry were made of particulars for proof to make him an Incendiary the which at length was generally consented to and about two a clock in the Morning with thanks and Complements Maynard and Whitelocke were dismissed they had some cause to believe that at this debate some who were present were false brethren and informed Cromwel of all that past among them and after that Cromwel though he took no notice of any particular passages at that time yet he seemed more kind to Whitelocke and Maynard than he had been formerly and carried on his design more actively of making way for his own advancement as will appear in progress of this insuing story The Lord sent to the Commons that a speedy answer might be given to the Papers of the States Ambassadors and for audience to be given to the French Agent and a Committee was named to consider of the manner of his reception A Report was made to the House by their Command of the particular passages betwixt His Majesty and the Committee that carried the Propositions to him which they had forborn before to mention but the House having an intimation thereof ordered the particular passages thereof to be Reported to-them which was done as I have mentioned them before The Commons ordered 6000 l. for providing store of Arms and Ammunition A party of the Newark horse being quartered near the Town Colonel Thorney fell upon them took 80 Horse one Major several inferiour Officers 2 Colonels 24 Troupers and Arms. The Commons took order for setling Magistrates in Newcastle though different from the Course of their Charter and disfranchised some of their Aldermen The Parliaments Committee at Newcastle sent up a great quantity of Coals for relief of the poor of London whereof the Commons gave notice to the Lord Mayor and orders for the distributing of them The Clause for Marriage in the Directory was agreed unto An Ordinance past for relief of Soldiers widdows Letters were ordered to several Counties for levying Arrears due to the Army and for the Deputy Lieutenants and Committees to assist the Commissioners of Excise The Commons agreed to the reception of the States Ambassadors as formerly Sir William Massey was made one of the Assembly of Divines The Court Marshal adjudged Sir John Hotham to have his head cut off Higgins the Lord General 's Trumpeter returned from Oxford where he said he was more courteously used than before and that the King commanded he should be kindly used and rewarded and that he was not as formerly hoodwink'd when they brought him in Prince Rupert by the King's direction sent a Letter to the General for a safe Conduct for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton to bring unto the Parliament of England Assembled at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of the Kingdome of Scotland an answer of the Propositions lately presented to his Majesty for a safe and well grounded peace The Commons voted that no Member of either House of Parliament shall during this war injoy or execute any office or Command Military or Civil and that an Ordinance be brought in accordingly This was moved by Mr. Zouch Tate who brought it in with a similitude of a boyle upon his thumb and was set on by that party who contrived the outing of the Lord General and to bring on their own designes and they could find no other way than by passing a Self-denying Ordinance as they called it which would serve their turn both as a specious pretence of their own integrity and waving all self ends and so plausible to the people and would also
went from Aylesbury towards Cambridge to secure that Association 6. The Assembly sent to the Parliament a Message touching the Title to the Directory for Worship and the Ordinance for taking away the Common Prayer-book and for settling an able Ministry and that no prophane or ignorant persons might be admitted to the Sacrament Orders touching Delinquents Lands and for sale of Lands of such as did not compound or refused to pay the Fines set on them The Commons desired the Lords to hasten the passing of the List of Officers of the Army The King had now Goring with a considerable party in the West Prince Maurice in Cheshire Langdale in Yorkshire Prince Rupert and Sir Jacob Ashley gone towards Shropshire and the Parliament yet no formed Army The Commons adjourned for three days to treat in the mean time about raising Moneys Letters from Sir William Brereton informed that Prince Maurice sent about 13 Foot-companies over the River Dee to force the passage at Holt-bridge which was maintained by two Companies of Fire-locks under Lieutenant Colonel Jones for the Parliament Who beat back the Prince's men over the River where many of them were drowned and slew of them Sir Owen a Colonel 100 Officers and Souldiers took divers Prisoners and five Arms and Colours and lost only 6 men and Major Jackson Captain Aber Cromwey and Captain Ennis with a party of the Parliaments from Aylesbury surprized 50 of the King's horse near Oxford quartered there for want of Provisions in the Town Letters from Major General Langherne and Captain Thomas informed of their good success in Wales and the House ordered 500 l. for Langherne as a token for his faithful Service 7. The House sate not but their Committees sate about providing of Moneys Letters from Massey confirmed his late success against Sir John Winter that of the Enemies were slain Sir John's Brother Colonel Gamme Colonel Van Garres and another Colonel 70 more slain 60 drowned 2 Lieutenant Colonels and 120 others taken prisoners Colonel Ogle Governour of Winchester for the King sent out a party to beat up Sir William Waller's quarters who was prepared to receive them and slew Colonel Philips who commanded the party and took Lieutenant Colonel Gardiner and divers others prisoners 8. Sir Marmaduke Langdale being on his march towards Pomfret Colonel Forbes drew from the Siege to meet him the Lord Fairfax ordered them not to engage but upon great advantage till his additional forces came up to them But they did engage and Langdale's Horse were beaten back to the last reserve in which Encounter Colonel Lambert and other Commanders received some slight hurts the Parliaments Foot there being deserted by others who did not their parts and galled by the Garrison Souldiers who sallied out of Pomfret were forced to retreat with the loss of many Arms an Iron piece of Ordnance two Carriages and some of their fellows The rest of their Carriages they drew off over Ferrey-bridge almost a mile from the fight which pass was made good by Colonel Morgan and his Dragoons against Langdale's men The same night when this fight was a party of the Yorkshire Forces fell upon a party of the King 's at Houghton and took 100 Horse and divers prisoners The Lord Fairfax with the Yorkshire Horse drew out their Forces but the fight was over before they came and the rallied Forces joyned with them 10. Some Ministers of London petitioned both Houses for an Appendix to the Directory of Worship to give power to Ministers to deny the Sacrament to ignorant and scandalous persons and that there might be Elders in every Parish to joyn with the Ministers therein And the Lords past an Ordinance for that purpose and sent it to the Commons The Lords past the List of Officers of the Army and sent it to the Commons who appointed a Committee to consider how to imploy those who were not in the List in some other Service or to allow them maintenance Alderman Chambers his Petition for recompence for his former sufferings for opposing the Prerogative was taken into consideration and divers Orders past for money Langdale retreated to Newark Colonel Rosseter and other of the Parliaments Forces fell on his Rear near Doncaster and took divers prisoners Fourteen Troops and 2000 of the Scots foot advanced Southwards The King's Forces in Shropshire quitted Routhsea Castle and Medley House and burnt Tongue Castle and other places The Committee put out of Shrewsbury 50 Families of Malignants A Ship of 26 Guns with Arms and Ammunition from France came into Weymouth supposing it to be the King's Garrison News came of a Mutiny in Oxford among the Souldiers and Scholars and that Prince Charles the Bishop of Armagh Hopton and 300 Horse were gone towards Bristoll and the King was to follow them 11. Ordinances for Money for Brereton Shrewsbury and Langherne Ordinance to make up the breaches in the Fenns in Lincolnshire Another for Sir Thomas Fairfax to choose Officers out of the other Armies Another for Money for the Scots Letters from Sir William Waller and Colonel Cromwel certified the taking of the Lord Piercy and 30 with him at Andover Divers Clubmen were up in several Counties and 4000 of them armed in Dorsetshire threatned to plunder all who did not joyn with them to extirpate the Cavaliers the Governour of Wareham for the Parliament sent some Horse to joyn with them In Worcestershire about 2000 of them were got together and put out a Declaration of their Intentions against the Popish party and to preserve the King 's Rights and Privilege of Parliament 12. Both Houses of Parliament and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen kept this as a day of Thanksgiving for the good success of the Parliament 13. The Lords sent to the Commons to hasten the passing of the List for the new Model A Petition of Seamen for relief and satisfaction for Prizegoods taken care of Langdale marched towards Shropshire and was followed by Rosseter and Yorkshire Horse The mutinous Horse returned to their duty and Colonel Graves was sent to take the command of them and to joyn with Craford to assist Brereton The Earl of Northampton's Regiment of Horse from Banbury surprized about 80 Horse loaden with cloath with a Convoy of about 80 men of whom they killed some took about 20 prisoners and the rest fled away The Worcestershire Clubmen increased Prince Rupert sought to pacifie them but in vain the Constables refused to bring in a List of their Names that assembled 14. Orders for Horses Saddles c. for Sir Tho. Fairfax his Horse and for recruiting his Foot out of the Lord General Essex his Regiment and otherwise and the Recruits to have a Fortnights pay and clothes This brought in almost all Essex his Foot to Fairfax they being such Creatures as will be carried any where for money Order for Sir Thomas Fairfax to give Commissions to his Colonels Lieutenant Colonels Majors Captains
for these Mercies Fifty pound given to Mr. Row the Commissioners Secretary before Newarke A Committee appointed to draw Reasons to satisfie the Lords for demanding the Kings Person as was formerly voted 11. Letters advised of the Kings advancing Northwards with the Scots Army and that a house was preparing for his Majesty in Newcastle this caused the resuming of the debate for demanding the Kings Person but voted to be disposed of and to reside near his Parliament not to go to Warwick Castle The Lords concurrence desired to Votes That his Majesty be desired to give command for the Delivery up of all Forts in England Ireland and Wales into the hands of the Parliament and to dissolve the Commissions for Peace with the Irish Rebels and to leave the prosecution of that War to the Parliaments care Letters from Col. Whaley of the surrender of Banbury Castle upon Articles and left there ten pieces of Ordnance five hundred Arms nine Colours Arms Ammunition Malt Beef Wheat Bisket twenty Cows and sixty Sheep An hundred pound ordered to Col. Whaley to buy him two horses and five hundred pounds to the Engineer twenty pounds to the Messenger Letters of the Particulars of the surrender of Newarke that there went out with the Lord Bellasis the Governor the Lord Deincourt the Lord Lexington twelve Knights and many Gentlemen of one thousand five hundred foot all went to their several homes that the Articles were exactly performed and they left in the Town fourteen Pieces of Ordnance three thousand Arms store of Ammunition and Provisions and the Town very strong but the sickness was violent in it Letters of oppressions by some of the Scots Forces in the North upon whom the Countrey rose and some of both partys were killed A day appointed to consider thereof and of sending Forces into the North to protect the well affected and to hinder resort of malignants to the King and how to dispose of the Scots and other Forces and of Carlisle and other Forts which the Scots supplyed being in their hands 12. The day of thansgiving observed Letters of the Scots Army being on their march Northward the King in the van of them and that the Scots Commissioners desired a Meeting with the English Commissioners to give an account of their sudden departure and reasons for their not delivering up Mr. Ashburuham according to the Order of Parliament Letters that Sir Tho. Fairfax had made his approaches near the works at Oxford and finished the Bridge at Marston that Oxford Garrison made a Sally out but were beaten back one of their men killed and one of the Parliaments wounded that the approaches were so near that the Officers and Soldiers of either Parties parlied one with another and those of the Garrisonseemed troubled at the Kings goingto the Scots Army The General was a person of as meek and humble carriage as ever I saw in great imployment and but of few words in discourse or Council yet when his Judgment and Reason were satisfied he was unalterable except it were by Letter whereof as was fit he was the only Judge But I have observed him at Councils of War that he hath said little but hath ordered things expresly contrary to the judgement of all his Council and in action in the Field I have seen him so highly transported that scarce any one durst speak a word to him and he would seem more like a man distracted and furious than of his ordinary mildness and so far different temper The General sent a Summons to the Governor to surrender Oxford for the use of the Parliament expressing his unwillingness to do any thing of damage to that famous University and offering to them honourable terms Sir Thomas Glemham the Governor desired a safe conduct for Sir Jo. Mounson and Mr. Philip Warwick to come to the General to speak with him from Sir Thomas Glemham first which was assented to and the same day a Summons was sent to Wallingford Bostol and Radcot 13. An Ordinance sent to the Lords enabling the Lord L'isle Lieutenant of Ireland to beat up Drums to raise six thousand Foot and eight hundred and fifty Horse for Ireland another for Money for the Forces there A Letter for Sir Thomas Fairfax to spare a hundred Horse for recruits for Col. Jephson and referred to consider how an able Ministry might be setled in Ireland and that a thousand pound given by a Gentleman for the service of Ireland should be imployed for maintainance for Ministers there Reasons given by the Commons to the Lords why they adhered to their Votes for demanding the Kings Person That in England the disposal of him belonged to the Parliament of England and that the Scots Army were in Pay of the Parliament of England that the King ought to be near his Parliament and it was consonant to the Covenant The Scots Commissioners here presented papers to the House touching stay of their Packets of Letters the last Week Another Letter agreed on to be sent to the Prince further inciting him to come in to the Parliaments Quarters with offers of due respects beseeming a Prince Letters that M. G. Mitton fell upon the Lord Byron at Carmarthen beat them out of the Town into the Castle Letters of Dudley Castle being surrendred to Sir William Brereton upon Articles which were sent up to the Parliament and approved by them 14. A Letter of thanks to the Commissioners at Newarke for their care in that business and in demolishing the works of the Town Debate of the Scots Commissioners Papers touching the seizing of their Pacquet at the Court of Guard and the Speaker was ordered to deliver to them a paper inclosed in their pacquet which was in characters and no subscription to it nor Superscription Debate touching the Scots Commissioners Papers about the propositions for Peace and what inteterest Scotland had in the affairs of England in relation unto Peace and some Votes passed thereupon The Scots Commissioners failed to meet with the English Commissioners in the North about the delivering up Mr. Ashburnham Sir Jo. Mounson and Mr. Warwick who came from the Governor of Oxford to Sir Tho. Fairfax desired only liberty for the Governor to send to the King to know his pleasure touching the surrender of Oxford which the General denyed next day a Trumpet was sent to the General to desire longer time Wallingford also desired leave to send to the King but it was denyed News came that Prince Rupert made a Sally out of Oxford but was beaten back and himself wounded in the shoulder 15. Debate about the Scots Papers concerning the propositions for Peace Order for the Arrears of M. Mathews The General Muster put off The high Sheriff of Devon impow'red to bring forth his Regiment out of his County Allowance ordered to the Marquess of Winton 16. Some of the Common Council came to the House and desired the general Muster might not be wholly put off
between the two Nations and all jealousies removed That the Priviledge of Parliament may be so qualified that men may recover their Debts That the publick Revenues may be imployed to publick use and the Taxes of the City abated That the compositions of Delinquents may be imployed to pay the Debts owing to the City and Citizens That Plymouth Duty may be taken off That the Committee at Haberdashers Hall may be dissolved That the reducing of Ireland may be considered That the Letter of the Parliament of Scotland to this City may be returned That the City may enjoy the Militia as it was presented at Uxbridge Treaty That Quatermaine may be punished for his affront to this City That the Lord Mayor may be vindicated That none of their expressions in this Remonstrance may be interpreted as charging any thing upon any Members of the House or intrenching upon their Priviledges and profess their readiness to serve the Parliament The Lords returned answer acknowledging the great Services and Merit of the City and giving them thanks for the testimony of their Duty and good Affections The Commons had a long debate upon this Petition many expressed great offence at it and that the City should now prescribe to the Parliament what to do and many sober men were unsatisfied with this action of the City and looked upon it as wholly a design of the Presbyterian Party and it was not liked They came at last to this Answer That the House had debated their Remonstrance and Petition and would take it into Consideration in convenient time A Committee appointed to receive an Information of importance from a Member of the House The King sent orders to the Marquess of Montross to disband his Forces Lieutenant Col. Coffes-worth was slain by a shot from Oxford A Pass was desired for the Lady Aubigney to go forth of Oxford but was denyed Radcot House was surrendred to the General Col. Whaley Besieged Worcester and Col. Morgan besieged Ragland Castle 27. The Monthly Fast day A Petition from the Ministers of Essex c. that Church-Government might be setled answered that it was in consideration Order to revive a Committee for examination of divulging and maintaining Heresies 28. The Lords passed an Ordinance for taking away the abuse and delay in writs of Error A Conference about the disposal of the Princess Henrietta Debate about compositions of Delinquents and many Ordinances passed the House for them 29. A long report and debate touching the transactions between the Parliaments Commissioners and the Scots before Newarke The Kings Letter to the Governor of Oxford to surrender that Garrison upon honourable terms was read and voted unsatisfactory and not to be sent Some Sallys were made out of Worcester upon the Besiegers but they were driven back Sir Trevor Williams fell upon the Ragland horse at Vske killed about sixteen of them and took twenty Prisoners and the next day he siezed upon eighty of the Kings horse as they were grazing under the Castle wall the Garrison burnt the greatest part of Ragland Town The Forces before it of Col. Morgan Major General Laugherne and Sir Trevor Williams were in all about five thousand 30. A further report from the Commissioners who resided in the Scots Army before Newarke of their transactions with the Scots and of several Papers and Petitions and of divers complaints against some of the Scots Forces for plunderings and misdemeanours of the Scots and proof thereof by Witnesses examined The House approved what the Commissioners had done and gave them thanks for their good service herein and Ordered a Committee to peruse those Papers Petitions and Examinations and to make a full report thereof and touching the Scots surrender of the English Garrisons in their hands Thus the matter of discontent began to increase betwixt the two Kindoms the Presbyterian Party here sought as far as modestly they could to support the interest of their Brethren of Scotland Others did not spare to aggravate matters against them the General was much inclined to the Presbyterians Cromwell and his Party were no friends to their designs of conformity but carried their business with much privacy and subtilty The House proceeded upon the propositions for Peace and voted to have the Militia in the hands of both Houses of Parliament not complying with what the King desired herein Many Sober men and lovers of Peace were earnest to have complyed as far as in safety they might with what the King proposed from Nen-Castle but the Major Vote of the House was contrary and for the most part the new elected Members took in with those who were averse to a complyance with that which his Majesty propounded and their number swayed very much upon the questions June 1646. June 1. Letters of the sufferings of the Northern parts by the Scots Army who instead of eight thousand pound per men have charged nine thousand pound a Month and the refusers or persons not able to pay are plundered and cruellyused referred to a Committee to state the matter to the House They desired the Lords concurrence to their former vote That this Kingdom hath no further need of the Scots Army A Paper from the Scots Commissioners here desiring present Moneys for their Army auditing of their Accounts and payment of their Arrears referred to a Committee to draw an answer to it Progress upon the Propositions for Peace The General sent honourable conditions to the Governor of Oxford who desired a day or two to consider of them the General had all things ready for a Storm Charles Fort was surrendred to Col. Welden for the Parliament upon Articles Major General Mitton Besieged Caernarvon Denbigh Flint and Holt Castles 2. An humble acknowledgment and Petition of many thousands of London was presented to the House setting forth the power of Parliaments and the labours and successes of the present Parliament which causeth the more opposition against them Prayes them to proceed in managing the affairs of the Kingdom according to their own best wisdoms and the trust reposed in them and to punish Delinquents and procure Peace And that they would never suffer the free born people of this Kingdom to be inslaved upon what pretence soever nor any other to share with the Parliament or to prescribe to them in the Government or Power of this Nation That the Petitioners will stand by the Parliament with their Lives and Fortunes This was a Counter Petition to the former from the City and now the designs were to make Divisions Arms beginning to fail The Petitioners were called in and had thanks for their good affections Ludlow Castle was surrendred to the Parliament Progress in the business of the Church Hudson escaped from New-castle the French Agent was busie there 3. Order for pay for the Garrison of Henley Orders for Money for Reading and Abbington Garrisons The Ordinance for Church-Government sent up to the Lords Referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to
of his Parliaments that all differences might be composed and all Armies disbanded To which the King answered That he came to the Scots Army with intent to settle Peace and to satisfie the just desires of his good Subjects and to comply with his Parliament in all things for the good of Religion and the Happiness of his Subjects and when Peace shall be setled he will find out some honourable means for imployment of so many gallant men as are in this Army 6. Malignant Ministers to be disabled from any Livings of the Church Instructions passed for the Commissioners to go to the King with the propositions for Peace they were to demand his Majesties positive Answer to them which if not given within ten days they were to return to the Parliament Commissioners for the House of Lords were the Earls of Pembroke and Suffolke for the House of Commons Sir Jo. Danvers Sir Jo. Hippesley Mr. Robinson and Sir Walter Earle Letters from the Deputy Major of New-Castle that he had hindred Delinquents from coming to his Majesty His action was approved and order for a Declaration to give power to the Northern Committees to hinder Delinquents from coming to his Majesty Debate touching slighting of Inland Garrisons and referred to the respective Committees to do it in the North and West Vote against the Scots renewed That this Kingdom had no more need of the Scots Army and that the Scots Commissioners should be desired to take order that their Army might be withdrawn out of this Kingdom which is no longer able to bear them The Lords desired a Committee of both Houses might be appointed to reform Cambridge University and to slight that Garrison 7. Sir John Danvers desired to be excused and Mr. Robert Goodwin was named in his stead one of the Commissioners to go with the Propositions to his Majesty Captain Johnson that brought up the last Message from the King had twenty pound Divers Ordinances past for Compositions Petitions about Tyn and about the Fens Divers Ministers from the Assembly in Scotland came to the King with a Petition to him to take the Covenant but would preach to him before it were delivered Sir Peter Killegrew went to the King with the Letter of both Houses touching Ireland 8. Order for stating the Accounts of Sir Will. Brereton as Major General The Committee of Examinations dissolved not having done well Order for five thousand pound for the Forces before Litchfield and that Sir Will. Brereton should go down to that Siege Orders for relief of Ireland Reports of Compositions and Orders Worcester demanded higher Articles than Oxford had Wallingford was upon Treaty but the Governor Col. Blagge sent an high and proud Letter to the General Blagge desired a Cessation and the General agreed to it to prevent the burning of the Town which Col. Blagge intended and the Commissioners met on both parts about it The Cessation from all acts of Hostility was agreed for four days 9. Order to discharge the attendants of the Duke of York when he should come to St. Jameses and six hundred pound to buy a Coach and Apparel for him Mr. Marshall ordered to go with the Commissioners that carried the Propositions Money for the Scots Officers Intelligence that the Prince was come into France to his Mother and that the Lord Digby was gone for Ireland and that the Earl of Glamorgan was in the head of an Army there Monsieur Bellieure the French Ambassador to the Parliament landed Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice took Shipping Major General Massey took his place in the House The Treaty for Worcester broke off 10. Ordinance committed for Sale of Delinquents Estates another past for Irish and Papists to go out of London Order for all that came in upon the Articles of Oxford and Exeter to ingage before the Committees to act nothing prejudicial to the Parliament Ordinance past for Mr. Woodcocke to be Parson of St. Olave Southwarke another for redemption of Captives Letters from the general Assembly of the Kirke of Scotland after complements earnestly desire the Parliament of England timeously to settle Church-Government according to the Covenant with expressions against those who hinder Uniformity they resolve to observe the Covenant Another Letter from them to the Assembly of Divines thanking them for their care and pains in the work of Religion that Sectaries ought to be suppressed c. Another to the Lord Mayor and Common Council of London commending them for their Petition to the Parliament about Religion and mentioning those of London in Queen Maries days and the zeal of the Citizens for God commending them for their actions in the present times and for their countenancing the Assembly and the Scots Commissioners and highly incouraged them to go on The French Ambassador was received into London in great State 11. Order for reducement of the Forces of Nottingham and for Money for that work and for the losses and damages of that County Order for a pass for the Earl of Bristol to go beyond Sea according to Exeter Articles Liberty to the Earl of Cleveland upon bail to go into the Countrey for three weeks for his health The propositions for Peace fully passed both houses Money for M. G. Massey's Forces Order for slighting divers Garrisons Lieutenant Col. Lilburn brought to the Barr of the Lords House had his charge read to him but he seemed to slight it and was re-committed 13. The Houses sate not having resolved to adjourn this hot season two days in the week till they had an answer to the propositions but a Committee sate to examine the ingrossment of the propositions and to see them signed by the Speakers and the Scots Commissioners and to declare them to the Commissioners The Propositions were to sign an Act. 1. To take away all Oaths and Proclamations against the Parliament and their Actions 2. To Sign the Covenant and an Act for the general taking of it 3. To pass an Act to abolish Bishops c. 4. To confirm the Assembly 5. That Religion be setled as both Houses should agree 6. Vnity and Vniformity of Religion to be confirmed by an Act. 7. An Act against Jesuits Papists c. 8. An Act for educating Papists Children in the Protestant Religion 9. For Penalties against Papists 10. Against saying of Mass in any place 11. The like for Scotland as they shall think fit 12. For the due observation of the Lords day and against Pluralities non Residents and regulating the Vniversities in the same Act. 13. The Militia to be in the Parliament for twenty Years so for Scotland with power to raise Moneys and use the Militia c. Londons Priviledges as to their Militia confirmed 14. All Honours and Titles since the great Seal was carried from the Parliament to be void and no Peers to be but by consent of both Houses 15. To confirm the Treaty between England and Scotland and conservators of the Peace to be appointed
Trooper according to the Sentence of the Councel of War was shot to death for killing one of his fellow Souldiers He discovered matters of concernment to Mr. Knight the Generals Chaplein who went with him to the Execution 19 C. Bampfield an Agent for Prince Charles and that had a hand in the escape of the Duke of York was apprehended and brought to Whitehall and examined by the Couucel of State and by them committed fo the Gate-house Letters from Guernsey complaining of the want of Ships for securing that Island and relating the French News From Dunstar Castle That Recruits for Ireland were raising there by Captain Desborough From Scarborough of a Vessel loaden with Corn from Jerzey forced in thither by Storm and secured by the Garrison From Plymouth an account of Recruits to be Shipped for Ireland From Berwick That notwithstanding the late Seizures and Confiscations of Corn carried by the Scots thither yet they were stil supplyed for their Money The Scots published a Proelamation for restraining the Exportation of Victual out of that Kingdom 20 Some Stage Players in St. John-Street were apprehended by Troupers their Cloaths taken away and themselves carried to Prison Several Returns were made of Subscriptions of Regiments and Garrisons to the Ingagement Letters from Rye of the dearness of Corn there it was desired to have a Magazine there because of the appearance in Arms in France 21 The General Councel of the Army made several Resolutions touching the Souldiers purchasing of the Kings Lands and sent Instructions about it to the several Regiments and Garrisons Letters from Plymouth of the Shipping from thence of Sir Hardress Waller with his Companies and other Recruits of Ireland all which went with great willingness From Ireland that the Lord Lieutenant was still before Waterford had Summoned them but they refused to surrender but the Inhabitants to saveingly comply their Estates which are very great would wil That Preparations were made to storm and 1200 Horse and Foot came from Cork to assist the Lord Lientenant that the Enemy avoided fighting as much as they could and gave out that the Prince would be shortly with them from Jersy 22 At Tyburn eighteen were executed for Robbery Burglary and Murder one Captain Reynolds who had been of the Kings Party as he was going to be turned off the Ladder with the Rope about his Neck cryed God bless King Charles Vive le Roy. The Commissioners for Articles gave Relief to Sir Allen Apsley Governour of Barnstable who was sued contrary to those Articles upon the Surrender of it The Cittizens at the choice of the new Common Councel Men elected Collonel Pride and Lieutenant Collonel Lilbourn to be two of the new Common Conncel Men. 24 The General and his Officers considered which Garrisons were sit to be reduced to case the Nation in point of charge Letters from Portland that C. Cox with his Men were under sail for Ireland with a fair Wind. From Newcastle that the Pyrats lay lurking up and down in those Seas and did great mischief That one of them went into the River Tees and took out of a Vessel as she lay on ground 200 Firkins of Butter and went on shore and took divers Gentlemen but being pursued by a Party of Foot from Hartlepoole they left the Gentle-men behind and got to their Ship From Edenburgh That the Scots will do nothing till they hear from the Lord of Libburton That Montross is expected in Scotland which bred a Jealousy in their Army which some would have purged That Montross by his Declaration threatens to invade the North Parts of Scotland and to be revenged for the Death of the King and layes it to their Charge that they have sold him From Hallifax That some of the Clergy tampered with the Souldiery not to subscribe to the present Government An Account from several places of the Souldiers signing the Ingagement but that divers Ministers refused to sign it 25 Christmas-day the House sate and Letters came from Chester That from the north of Ireland they understood that about 4000 Horse and Foot of the Enemy who came to relieve Carrickefergus were routed by Sir Charles Coot and C. Veneables That the Irish were commanded by Monroe the Lord of Ardes and the Earl of Claneboy that 1000 of them were killed and 500 Horse taken and but 200 of the Parliaments Forces did fight that Claneboy was slain or sunk in a Bog being corpulent and C. Montgomery and C. Hamilton taken Prisoners From Trym That Mr. Stanly with 40 Horse set upon 60 of the Enemy killed about 10 or 12 of them all Reformadoes took the L. C. that commanded them and one more and many Horse Other Letters of the defeating of the L. of Ardes Claneboy and Monroe by Sir Charles Coot and C. Vaneables that they took all their Arms Ammunition Bag and Baggage killed C. Henderson and 1400 more C. Hamilton and most of the Foot Officers That the Horsemen lost their Horses and betook themselves to Boggs That the English lost but one Corporal and three Souldiers 26 Other Letters confirming the Victory against the Lord of Ardes and the rest And that it was done by onely 200 Men who were sent out as a forelorn and fell upon the Rear of the Enemy who fell into disorder and were wholly routed by those 200 only 27 Letters from Hull that Montross was at Hambourgh bestirring himself to get Forces for Prince Charles but had little probability to get any considerable number or Assistance from the Emperour the King of Denmark or the Princes of Germany 28 Letters doubting that C. Cox and his Men in their Voyage for Ireland being dispersed by Storms and not heard of since may be in some danger The Act passed for taking the Ingagement by all Persons throughout the Kingdom with a Penalty upon the Refusers Those in Office or publick Imployment to loose their Offices others not to have the benefit of Law to sue in any Court The Act passed touching the rates npon the Excise increasing them to the intent to lessen the other Assessments The Act passed for continuing the Assessment of 90000 l. per mensem for six months for the Forces in England and Ireland An Act passed for the discharge of poor People out of Prison who are not able to give Satisfaction to their Creditors 29 The Messenger that brought the good News from Ireland had 100 l. given him by the House Upon a Petition of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London touching the late Election of Lieutenant Collonel Lilburn to be a Common Councel Man the House Voted his Election to be void according to a late Act disabling the Election of divers Persons into Offices within the City of London Lieutenant Collonel Lilbourn took the Ingagement with a Declaration of his own sense upon it Mr. Chetwyn who procured the Election of Lilburn to be a Common Councel
Ormond had given a Commission to C. Robbinson to Garrison the Isle of Barsey they sent thither Ensign Aspinal with 30 Men who three dayes after his landing there seized upon Collonel Gerrard Mr. Conwey and 6 Gentlemen more who landed there to surprize the Island took their Boat and sent them Prisoners to Carnarvan and the Pyrate fled away who had set them on shore and was an Irish Man 12 An Act passed for redress of delayes and Mischiefs arising by Writs of Error in several Cases Amendments reported to the Act for relief of Creditors and recommitted An Act passed for settling the Freefarm Rents heretofore paiable to the Crown Debate about a Book lately printed and Voted That the Book asserting the Observations of the Jewish Sabboth and condemning the Observation of the Lords Day as the Christian Sabboth is erroneous Scandalous and prophane contrary to the Practice of the Apostles and of all the Christian Churches Orders that all the printed Copies of the Book be brought in and burnt and referred to the Comittee of plundred Ministers to take Care for the apprehension and imprisonment of the Authors and for punishment of the Printer and publisher of it Order to send over 6 able Ministers to preach in Dublin and they to have 200 l. per annum a piece out of Bishops and Deanes and Chapters Lands in Ireland And in the mean time the Lord Lieutenant to take care that it be paid out of the publick Revenue and if any of those Ministers die in that Service in Ireland that the Parliament will make competent Provision for their Wives and Children A Bill committed for preventing and redress of many injuries done to the Merchants of this Commonwealth by Ships of the French and other Nations under pretence of visiting them and for recalling and inhibiting the Mariners and Seamen of this Nation for serving other Princes and States An Act for the Indemnity of Tenants well affected to the State An Act passed for the better packing of Butter and redress of abuses therein 13 Letters from Chester That Oneales Army was in great want about Cavan That as soon as Supplyes should come Sir Charles Coot intended to take the Field That the Plague raged much at Kilkenny That Inchequin appeared in a Body about Kilmallock and the Lord Lieutenant sent a Party to look upon him From Exeter of the Commissioners proceedings in settling the Militia there From Harwich That Captain Goose of the hart Frigot and all his Officers being on Shore 28 of the Mariners of the Ship who agreed together to betray her to the Prince and to carry her to Dunkirk took their Opportunity when the rest of their fellow Seamen were under Hatches and kept them there Those under hatches were 40 Men who would not joyn in this Treachery and being now shut in there by the rest they hoised sail to carry the Ship to Dunkirk But being off at Sea these 28 fell out among themselves and 17 of them took the Boat to put out to Sea and were drowned The other 11 were not able to carry on the Ship and seeing themselves pursued put back into Harwich where they were apprehended and committed to Prison 14 The Trustees sor sale of the Freefarm Rents published their Intention to begin the sale of them on a day set by them One Boutholmey a Quartermaster was tryed by a Councel of War for Blasphemy and sensenced to have his Tongue bored through with a hot Iron his Sword broken over his head and to be cashiered the Army Letters from Ireland of more Castles taken in and that the Lord Lieutenant was wholly become Master of the County of Tipperary and was upon his march into the County of Lymerick where he had Intelligence that the Enemy was imbodyed that so he might prevent their joyning together That the Sickness was very hot at Lymerick Kilkenny and other places From Pool of Tumults about the Excise especially at Shafton where they rescued Prisoners and took away from the Officers Goods distreyned for the Excise but they were quieted by a small party of Souldiers sent to them 15 Letters that G. Preston was come into Waterford with 1500 Men and that the Lord Lieutenant had besieged Kilkenny From Leverpool of Tumults about the Excise but quieted From Scotland That the Commissioners were upon going to the King and that Sir James Smith had advanced 2000 l. upon the business and was one of the Commissioners for the Treaty at Breda 16 From Coventry of the preaching of one Salmon and of his wicked Swearing and uncleanness which he justifyed and others of his way That it was God which did Swear in them and that it was their Liberty to keep company with Women for their Lust That one Wyke another of his Crew kissed a Souldier three times and said I breath the Spirit of God into thee and many the like abominable Blasphemies spoken by them for which they were imprisoned till a Tryal for the Crimes 18 Letters from Berwick That the Scots Parliament had sate and dispatched away their Commissioners to the King for Treaty From Cork That the Lord Lieutenant published a Declaration in answer to certain Declarations and Acts framed by the Irish Popish Prelates and Clergy Letters that Sir Charles Coot had reduced Castledove That the Plague was hot in Galloway and many principal Actors in the Rebellion perisned by it That the Parliament Forces took in a Fort over against Passage whereby the trading by Sea to Waterford is wholly stopped up That the Tories behaved themselves so barbarously towards their own Party that the Priests have excommunicated them 19 Returns of Subscriptions to the Ingagement by divers Regiments and Garrisons An Act for establishing an high Court of Justice in London and Westminster Committed An Additional Act for providing Maintenance for Preaching Ministers and other pious uses Committed Amendments passed to an Act for the better Preaching of the Gospel and maintainance of Ministers in Bristol An Act passed for settling certain Houses upon the Corporation for the poor of London and for Money for that Work An Act for constituting Commissioners as a standing Councel for the ordering and regulating of Trade Committed Amendments to the Act of Indempnity for Tenants who have adhered to the Parliament recommitted Petition of the Inhabitants of Westminster referred to a Committee Petition from Arundel and another from the Cinque Ports referred to the Committee of Corporations to consider of their Franchises and report them to the House From Chester That the Rebels in Ireland did blow up some strong Castles and quitted them That C. Hewson with 2500 Foot and 1000 Horse one Demyculverin and a Mortar Piece marched to Bellishannon where he planted his Guns and after the Granadoes had flown in among them killing at one time 14 Men the Enemy beat a Parley and delivered up the place That the Lord Lieutenant was before Clonmel and that the Plague was very hot in the
removing the Mayor for refusing to take the Ingagement and choosing another the House approved thereof 8 From Bristol 200 men were apprehended who were Leaders of the Countrymen that fell upon C. Rieves his Souldiers Quartered near the City That a Souldier was shot to Death for murther Of several Recruits embarqued for Ireland From Yarmouth of settling the Militia in Norfolk four Regiments of Foot and one of Horse that many of the Cavaleers take the Ingagement That the General published Orders to be observed for the Hospital of Ely House where the maimed Souldiers were 9 A Petition from the Inhabitants of Leeds in Yorkshire against an illegal Patent for incorporating that Town desiring it may be vacated From Coventry of the Militia of that County settled of 700 Horse and 1200 Foot From Tossiter of Recruits willingly come in From Stafford of a discovery of a Design for an Insurrection there upon the advance of the Army Whereupon C. Sanders and C. Twisselden secured the High Sheriff and other Gentle-men 10 From London-derry that the Lord President is marched forth with 3000 Foot and 1200 Horse by the Lord Lieutenants Desire towards Conaught but will not be able to make any Considerable attempt upon that Province for want of Shipping to convey his Ordinance and Provisions the ways there being exceeding Boggy and Mountainous Yet this will be gained by marching to the Borders of it which is the chief thing aimed at by the Lord Lieutenant That the Forces under Clinriccard will not dare to march out of their own Country to joyn with the Forces under Castlehaven or with any Brigade of the Enemy From Edenburgh That Montross his Forces being grown up to about 4000 Horse and Foot and 2000 more expected they divided themselves into two Parties and so marched out of Caithness into Sutherland having at first taken the strong Castle of Dunbeith which is near incompassed with the Sea In it was taken 1500 l. Sterling and store of Provisions the E. of Sutherland fled and divers Ministers yet some Ministers were taken and some joyned with them This hot Alarum caused David Lesly to hasten from his Rendezvous at Brechen and to desire the Rest of his Forces left with Holborn to march up to him he in the mean while goes on with what he had he raising as many as he could by the way came up to about 3000 Men. Mentross sends up a Proposal that he might freely with as many as would voluntarily joyn with him passe into England and he would ingage to do violence to none in his Passage But Lieutenant C. Strachan and the others before mentiond being many miles before therest of the Army tho the Sectary Troops ventured to ingage the Enemy routed Montrosses whole Army flew about 300 took 500 Prisoners among them Renegado Vrrey and other Persons of Quality That the Kirkmen a little before vented in publick That the Treaty was but a Jugling to deceive the Godly Party When as was believed they had before heard that the Treaty was concluded with a full coming up to the Kirks Demands Mr. Lloyd Chaplain to the Lord Lieutenant brought Letters from him That he was set down before Clonmel and his Guns Planted That after that business shall be over he intended to come for England That two Officers going to view the Town were taken Prisoners That the Enemy in Clonmel are about 2000 Foot and 120 Horse 11 Letters that Wogan the Revolter with 500 Foot came to take Possession of Borough Castle which the Lord Lieutenants Forces hearing of marched towards him but Wogan quitted the Castle leaving only 14 Men who upon the approach of the Lord Lieutenants ' Forces yielded upon Quarter That Sir Hardress Wallers Forces took Laugher Castle a considerable Fort within 6 Miles of Lymerick and an attempt of his to take Kilmallock prevented by a discovery but his Forces Possessed an Abby near the Town 13. From Berwick That thenews of routing of Montrosses Forces doth much distract the Malignants That the Committee of Estates have given Mr. Straghan 1000 l. Sterling and a Gold Chain and to Hacket 1000 Marks Sterling and to Kissin 50 l. and to the Souldiers ingaged in that Service three Months Pay From Holland That the Scots King went from Breda to the Hague That the Scots Commissioners proclaimed their King at Breda to be King of Scotland England and Ireland And that the Agreement was set up there upon Posts 14 The Act passed for suppressing the detestable Sins of Incest Adultery and Fornication Upon which Mr. Henry Martyn declared his Opinicn That the Severity of the Punishment by this Act being death would cause these Sins to be more frequently committed because People would be more cautions in Committing them for Fear of the Punishment and being undiscovered would be imboldned the more in the Committment of them Order for a Bill for the maintenance of the Ministers in Colchester An Act passed for securing such summs of Money as shall be sent for the Service of the Navy and Army Order for C. Alexander Popham to raise a Regiment of Horse in Somersetshire to be a Part of the Militia of that County and to be kept together for the publique Service and referred to the Councel of State to grant him a Commission 15 From Chester That Wexford men have beaten Phelim Birne killed 4 of his Captains and 120 of his men and have taken Fyrnes und Cornow from him That the Irish Army in Vlster will not fight with Sir Charles Coot but are withdrawn into their Quarters That the Lemster Army is retreated over the Shannon and the L. Lt. is Master of the Field in all Places From Exon That setling the Militia in that County they onely appoint Captains and no other Officers From the Hague That the King and the Scots Commissioners were come from Breda thither and the Treaty between them agreed From the Isle of Wight That a Ship of 5 Guns belonging to Sir George Carteret Governour of Jersy bound for Virginia with many Passengers all Sorts of Goods and tools for Husbandry for planting an Island which the P. had given to Sir George was taken by Captain Green and brought in thither 16 From Litchfield of one who under the Notion of a Cavalier addressed himself to divers Gentlemen of that Countrey Acquainting them that he had Instructions from the King to desire them to sign an Ingagement which he shewed them and got many of them to subscribe it then discovered it to the Officers of Litchfield who sent for those Gentlemen and made them Prisoners From Taunton of many Voluntiers listed for the Service of Ireland From Hull that an Irish Frigot brought to Amsterdam 2 great Lords who escaped out of Ireland and reported that the King was undone in his Interest there That the Governour of Hull renewed a Proclamation that no Master or Owner of any Ship coming to Hull or in the Harbour should receive in any
to hunt after them a Party of the Enemies Horse fell suddenly upon them and took 64 of them Prisoners That Mr. White who formerly betrayed the Bogg of Allen to the Rebeils coming from them to Dublin was met with and killed by the Tories That the Lord Deputy Ireton came to the Siege of Catherlow and sent Collonel Axtel with 1100 Horse and Foot to Tecrohan That the Lady Fitz-Gerald whom the Souldiers called Col. Mary she defending Tecrohan wrote to her Husband for Supplyes else that she must be forced to surrender upon Conditions and that none in the Castle but one doth know her wants 22 Letters of much trouble in Scotland by reason of the Army of English Sectaries marching Northwards That one Whitford another of the Assacinates of Dr. Dorislaus was executed in Scotland as one of Montrosses Party 24 Letters that the King had left Holland and either was already or would shortly be in Scotland That a Holland Ship Loaden with goods for Edenburch was taken by the Parliaments ships and brought to Newcastle That the Scotch Levyes proceed apace and some Lords are questioned for having a hand in the Invasion of Montross 25 Orders touching the Forces marching Northwards and about Recruits for Ireland and for Widdows maintenance whose Husbands were slain in the Parliaments Service An Act passed for continuance of the Committee for the Army and Treasurers at War An Act passed for constituting M. G. Skippon Commander in chief of all the Forces in London and the Lines of Communication The Act touching Articles of War continued for six Months Debate of an Act for suppressing Raunters An humble Acknowledgment to the Parliament from the Gentlemen and well affected of South-Wales with thankfulness and Profession of their future duty and Obedience And the Speaker gave them the hearty Thanks of the Parliament The juncto of the Councel of State with whom Cromwel consulted having Intelligence of the Kings resolution for Scotland and of the Laws there made of Forces to assist him in his intended Invasion of England whereof they had more than ordinary assurance They thought it therefore not prudent to be behind hand with their Enemy nor to be put to an after Game to stay till they should first invade England but rather to carry the War from their native Country into Scotland As to the Objection that their invading Scotland would be contrary to the Covenant they were satisfyed that the Covenant was by the Scots broken and dissolved before and was not now binding betwixt the two Nations and the levying of Forces In Scotland and marchinng some of them to the Borders of England with the Hostile Acts done by them formerly were sufficient Grounds for the Parliament to provide for the Security of themselves and Countreymen the which could not be so effectually done as by carrying the War which they designed upon us unto their own Doors Upon these and many other weighty considerations it was resolved here That having a formed Army well provided and experienced they would march it forthwith into Scotland to prevent the Scots Marching iuto England and the Miseries accompanying their Forces to our Conutreymen The Ld. G. Fairfax being advised with herein seemed at first to like well of it but afterwards being hourly perswaded by the Presbyteriam Ministers and his own Lady who was a great Patroness of them he declared himself unsatisfyed that there was a just ground for the Parlament of England to send their Army to Invade Scotland But in case the Scots should invade England then he was forward to ingage against them in defence of his own Country The Councel of State fomewhat troubled at his Excellencies scruples appointed Cromwel Lambert Harrison St. John and Whitelock a Committee to confer hereupon with Fairfax and to endeavanr to satisfy him of the Justice and lawfulness of this undertaking The Committee met with the L. G. Fairfax and being shut up together in a room in Whitehall they went first to Prayer that God would direct them in this business and Cromwel began and most of the Committee prayed after which they discoursed to this effect Cromwel My Lord General we are commanded by the Councel of State to conferr with your Excellency touching the present design whereof you have heard some debate in the Councel of marching the Army under your Command into Scotland and because there seemed to be some hesitation in your self as to that Journey this Committee were appointed to endeavour to give your Excellency Satisfaction in any doubts of yours which may arise concerning that affair and the Grounds of that resolution of the Councel for the Journey into Scotland Lord General I am very glad of the Opportunity of conferring with this Committee where I find so many of my particular Friends as well as of the Commonwealth about this great business of our March into Scotland wherein I do acknowledge my self not fully satisfyed as to the grounds and justice of our Invasion upon our Brethren of Scotland and I shall be glad to receive satisfaction therein by you Lambert Will your Excellency be pleased to favour us with the particular Causes of your Dissatisfaction Lord General I shall very freely do it and I think I need not make to you or to any that know me any Protestation of the continuance of my Duty and Affection to the Parliament and my readyness to serve them in any thing wherein my Conscience will give me leave Harrison There cannot be more desired nor expected from your Excellency Whitelock No Man can doubt of the Fidelity and Affection of your Excellency to the Service of the Commonwealth you have given ample Testimony thereof and it will be much for the advantage of their affairs if we may be able to give you satisfaction as I hope we shall touching the particular points wherein your doubts arise St. John I pray my Lord be pleased to acquaint us with your particular Objections against this Journey Lord General My Lords you will give me leave then withall freeness to say to you that I think it doubtful whether we have a just cause to make an Invasion upon Scotland With them we are joyned in the national League and Covenant and now for us contrary thereunto and without sufficient cause given us by them to enter into their Country with an Army and to make War upon them is that which I cannot see the justice of nor how we shall be able to justify the lawfulness of it before God or Men. Cromwel I confess My Lord that if they have given us no cause to invade them it will not be justifyable for us to do it and to make War upon them without a sufficient ground for it will be contrary to that which in Conscience we ought to do and displeasing both to God and good men But My Lord if they have invaded us as your Lordship knows they have done since the national Covenant and contrary
another over Tame Our Foot disputed the Hedges with much Courage and Resolution the Fight began on the other side Severne and our Foot from this side began it they clearing the way for the rest to come over after them The Right Wing of Lieutenant General Fleet-woods Forces came over the Bridge of Tame while the Left Wing disputed the Bridge at Poyke which Dispute lasted a long time and was very hot but the Lord gave our Men to gain ground of the Enemy till we had beaten them out of the Ground While this was doing the Enemy Rallying made a very bold Sally out on this side of the Town and came with great Bodies of Horse and Foot supposing most of our Army had been drawn out on the other side they gave our Men a very hot Salute and put them to a little retreat and disorder But in a short while the Lord gave us Victory on this side also our Foot did very Noble and Gallant Service and they disputed with them not only the Hedges but followed them boldly to the very Mouth of their Canon which was planted on their Mountain-Works At length we gained their Works and planted their Guns against them in the Town and we hear that some of our Horse and Foot are in the North and East end of the Town the night came on so fast that we could not pursue further Most of their Horse escaped but my Lord General dispatched Major General Harrisons Brigade after them we cannot yet give an account who are taken or slain but we conceive the number of their Slain far exceeds the number of the Prisoners but I guess the number of the Killed and Taken to be about 8 or 10000. Tomorrow we shall be able to give you fuller relation Our Quartermaster-General and Captain Jones is slain and Mr. Howard Captain of the Life-guard is wounded and Major General Lamberts Horse was shot under him Yours to serve you Robert Stapleton Sept. 3. 1651. Other Letters came to the same effect 5. Letters of the Militia Troops riding up and down the Counties to prevent Insurrections Of a Pinnace of the Earl of Derbies taken by one of the Parliaments Ships A Letter from General Cromwel to the Speaker of the Victory at Worcester but the Particulars in one following 6. A more particular Letter from the Lord General Cromwel to the Parliament thus I am not able yet to give you an exact Account of the great things the Lord hath done for this Common-wealth and for his People and yet I am unwilling to be silent but according to my Duty shall represent it to you as it comes to hand This Battle was fought with various Success for some hours but still hopeful on your part and in the end became an absolute Victory and so full an one as proved a total Defeat and Ruine of the Enemies Army and Possession of the Town our Men entring at the Enemies heels and fighting with them in the Streets with very great Courage took all their Baggage and Artillery What the Slain are I can give you no Account because we have not taken an exact View but they are very many and must needs be so because the Dispute was long and very near at hand and often at push of Pike and from one defence to another There are about 6 or 7000 Prisoners taken here and many Officers and Noble-men of Quality Duke Hamilton the Earl of Rothes and divers other Noble-men I hear the Earl of Lauderdale many Officers of great Quality and some that will be fit Subjects of your Justice We have sent very considerable Parties after the flying Enemy I hear they have taken considerable numbers of Prisoners and are very close in the Pursuit Indeed I hear the Country riseth upon them every where and I believe the Forces that lay through Providence at Bewdley and in Shrop-shire and Stafford-shire and those with Collonel Lilburne were in a condition as if this had been foreseen to intercept what should return A more particular Account than this will be prepared for you as we are able I heard they had not many more than 1000 Horse in their Body that fled and I believe we have near 4000 Forces following and interposing between them and home Their Army was about 16000 strong and fought ours on Worcester side Severne almost with their whole whilst we had ingaged half our Army on the other side but with Parties of theirs Indeed it was a stiff Business yet I do not think we have lost 200 Men your new raised Forces did perform singular good Service for which they deserve a very high Estimation and Acknowledgement as also for their willingness thereunto For as much as the same hath added so much to the Reputation of your Affairs they are all dispatched home again which I hope will be much for the ease and satisfaction of the Country which is a great Fruit of the Successes The Dimensions of this Mercy are above my Thoughts it is for ought I know a Crowning Mercy surely if it be not such a one we shall have if this provoke those that are concerned in it to Thankfulness and the Parliament to do the Will of him who hath done his Will for it and for the Nation whose good Pleasure is to establish the Nation and the Change of the Government by making the People so willing to the Defence thereof and so signally to bless the Endeavours of your Servants in this late great Work I am bold humbly to beg that all Thoughts may tend to the promoting of his Honour who hath wrought so great Salvation and that the Fatness of these continued Mercies may not occasion Pride and Wantonness as formerly the like hath done to a Chosen People But that the Fear of the Lord even for his Mercies may keep an Authority and a People so prospered and blessed and witnessed to humble and faithful that Justice and Righteousness Mercy and Truth may flow from you as a Thankful Return to our Glorious God this shall be the Prayer of Sir Your most Humble and Worcester Sept. 4. 1651. Obedient Servant O. Cromwell The Parliament ordered a Thanks giving-day and the Letters of the General to be read by the Ministers From Major General Harrison We are in Pursuit of the Enemy about 4000 we have taken more already of them 1400 Horse and Foot many considerable Persons among them the Lord Cleveland and the Earl of Derby they make no resistance when any of ours overtake them but ride Post and in great confusion their King being the foremost Mr. Scot and Major Salleway returned from Worcester a particular Account they could not give because all things were then in confusion Lords Knights and Gentlemen were then plucking out of holes by the Soldiers The Common Prisoners they were driving to the Cathedral Church in Worcester and what with the dead Bodies of Men and the dead Horses of the Enemy filling the Streets there was such a
nastiness that a Man could hardly abide the Town Yet the Lord General had his Quarters in Worcester the Walls whereof he hath ordered to be pulled down to the ground and the Dikes filled up The Lord Hamilton's Leg was broken and he sent to the General for a Chyrurgeon to dress his Wounds the Militia Forces behaved themselves gallantly 5000 out of Norfolk and Suffolk came in cheerfully the same night of the Fight the Lord General dismissed them all home The Regiment of Surrey under Sir Richard Onslow and the Troop under Captain Walter St. John marched hard to come up to the Ingagement Prisoners taken Three English Earls Seven Scotch Lords of Knights Four of Collonels Lieutenant Collonels Majors Captains and other Officers about 640. the Kings Standard and 158 Colours taken 10000 Prisoners and above 2000 slain the Kings Coach and Horses with rich Goods and all Arms Bag and Baggage taken On the Parliaments part slain 100 Soldiers and 300 wounded Quarter-Master-General Mosely and Captain Jones slain and no other Officers of note Captain Howard and another Captain wounded 8. A Particular Account from Lieutenant General Fleetwood of the whole Action at Worcester of 3000 slain 10000 taken Prisoners with all their Arms Bag and Baggage the Flight and Pursuit of the Enemy c. Letters from Scotland That a Party of the Parliaments from Edenburgh after an hours Fight took Dumfrice and the Country who made opposition contrary to their Ingagement smarted for it That Lieutenant General Monk having received a scornful Answer to his Summons from the Governour of Dundee he stormed the Town and in a quarter of an hour became Master of it That Major General Lumsdain and 600 of the Enemy were slain and there was in the Town good store of Arms and Ammunition 11 Pieces of Ordnance and 60 Sail of Ships in the Harbour From Cheshire That 1000 of the Kings Horse passing through Sanebarch on a fair day the Towns-men and Country-men as they passed by fell upon them with Clubs and Staves and the Poles of their Stalls knocked them down and took about 100 of them That the Country rise upon the Routed Scots and kill and take many of them 9. A Proclamation for the apprehending of the King and a Promise of 1000 l. to any that shall do it Order for a day of Thanksgiving throughout the Kingdom for the Success at Worcester and an Act to be brought in for an Annual Observation of the third day of Sept. Letters That Sir Philip Musgrave and others raising Forces about Galloway were taken and killed by a Party from Edenburgh being in all about 500. That Major General Massey came into Leicester-shire but not being able to go further by reason of his Wounds wrote a Letter to the Countess of Stamford and surrendred himself to the Lord Grey her Son That Sir Arthur Haselrigge Governour of Newcastle upon notice of the Defeat at Worcester and the Kings Escape Northwards sent to the Militia Forces and to the Sheriffs of the Four Northern Counties to raise the Posse Comitatus and to the Lieutenant General Monk and Forces in Scotland to way-lay those that fled and went out himself with a Party for that purpose The Parliament appointed Four of their Members to go out of Town to meet the General upon his way from Worcester to London and to congratulate from the Parliament the great Successes that God had given him 10. Letters from Ireland That the Irish lie up and down in small Parties robbing Passengers by the High-way but meet not in a Body being divided in their Councels that Lymbrick and Galloway hold out That Collonel Zanchey was sent out with 2500 Foot and 28 Troops of Horse and Dragoons into Connaght upon Intelligence of the Enemies gathering to an Head there to ingage them or to strengthen Sir Charles Coote about Galloway but upon his marching over the Enemy presently dispersed The Four Members of Parliament appointed to go out of Town to meet the General went this day to Alisbury 11. Letters That a Party of the Parliaments Forces marched 40 Miles a day in Pursuit of the Enemy and at Lancaster fell upon some of them routed them killed about 20 and took 200 Prisoners That 200 more of them were taken about Shisnal in Shrop-shire the Earl of Derby Earl of Lauderdale and divers others of Quality That Major General Harrison had taken 2000 of the Scots in the Pursuit and left but 1000 of them in a Body That the Countries rose upon them That a Party of the Parliaments about Warrington fell unadvisedly on their Rear and lost some Men. Complaint That the Countrey are much burdened with the Prisoners there being no allowance for them That five of them were put to death in Cheshire and five more appointed to be executed the next day That at the taking of Dundee in Scotland were slain between 7 and 800 Scots and taken 50 Sail of Ships 40 great Guns and Provisions and that with the Plunder of the Town the Soldiers were grown rich and gallant a private Soldier hardly to be known from an Officer That the Lieutenant General sent a Summons to Monrose near the Highlands The four Members went from Alisbury on the way the General was to come and met him and delivered their Message to him from the Parliament The General received them with all kindness and respect and after Salutations and Ceremonies passed he rode with them cross the Fields where Mr. Winwoods Hawks met them and the General with them and many Officers went a little out of the way a Hawking and came that night to Aylesbury There they had much discourse and my Lord Chief-Justice St. John more than all the rest with the General and they supped together The General gave to each of them that were sent to him a Horse and two Scots Prisoners for a Present and Token of his thankful Reception of the Parliaments respect to him in sending them to meet and congratulate him 12. Letters That at the Storming of Dundee divers of the Parliaments Horse-men went on foot with Sword and Pistol to assist the Foot-men and got into the Town as soon as the other and not above Ten Men killed on the Parliaments Part and 800 of the Enemy That it was the richest Town of the bigness in England or Scotland That some of the English Soldiers got in the Storm 500 l a piece That the Inhabitants of St. Andrews sent to Lieutenant General Monk That they would submit to his Summons and deliver up their Arms and Ammunition which was accepted but because they refused former Offers the Lieutenant General fined them 50 l. to the Soldiery Cromwel came to London in great Solemnity and Triumph accompanied with the Four Commissioners of Parliament many chief Officers of the Army and others of Quality There met him in the Fields the Speaker of Parliament the Lord President and many Members of Parliament and of the
of the Parliaments Soldiers 10. Upon the Defeat at Worcester Cromwel desired a Meeting with divers Members of Parliament and some chief Officers of the Army at the Speakers House and a great many being there he proposed to them That now the Old King being dead and his Son being defeated he held it necessary to come to a settlement of the Nation And in order thereunto he had requested this meeting that they together might consider and advise what was fit to be done and to be presented to the Parliament Speaker My Lord This Company were very ready to attend your Excellence and the Business you are pleased to propound to us is very necessary to be considered God hath given marvellous success to our Forces under your Command and if we do not improve these Mercies to some settlement such as may be to Gods Honour and the Good of this Common-wealth we shall be very much blame-worthy Harrison I think that which my Lord General hath propounded is to advise as to a Settlement both of our Civil and Spiritual Liberties and so that the Mercies which the Lord hath given in to us may not be cast away how this may be done is the great Question Whitelocke It is a great Question indeed and not suddenly to be resolved yet it were pity that a Meeting of so many Able and Worthy Persons as I see here should be fruitless I should humbly offer in the first place whether it be not requisite to be understood in what way this Settlement is desired whether of an absolute Republick or with any mixture of Monarchy Crom. My Lord Commissioner Wh. hath put us upon the right Point and indeed it is my meaning that we should consider whether a Republick or a mixt Monarchical Government will be best to be setled and if any thing Monarchical then in whom that Power shall be placed Sir T. Widdrington I think a mixt Monarchical Government will be most suitable to the Laws and People of this Nation and if any Monarchical I suppose we shall hold it most just to place that Power in one of the Sons of the late King Collonel Fleetwood I think that the Question whether an absolute Republick or a mixt Monarchy be best to be setled in this Nation will not be very easie to be determined Lord Chief-Justice St. John It will be found that the Government of this Nation without something of Monarchical Power will be very difficult to be so setled as not to shake the Foundation of our Laws and the Liberties of the People Speaker It will breed a strange Confusion to settle a Government of this Nation without something of Monarchy Collonel Desborough I beseech you my Lord why may not this as well as other Nations be governed in the way of a Republick Wh. The Laws of England are so interwoven with the Power and Practice of Monarchy that to settle a Government without something of Monarchy in it would make so great an alteration in the Proceedings of our Law that you have scarce time to rectifie nor can we well foresee the Inconveniences which will arise thereby Collonel Whaley I do not well understand matters of Law but it seems to me the best way not to have any thing of Monarchical Power in the Settlement of our Government and if we should resolve upon any whom have we to pitch upon The Kings Eldest Son hath been in Arms against us and his Second Son likewise is our Enemy Sir T. Widd. But the late Kings Third Son the Duke of Glocester is still among us and too young to have been in Arms against us or infected with the Principles of our Enemies Wh. There may be a day given for the Kings Eldest Son or for the Duke of York his Brother to come in to the Parliament and upon such terms as shall be thought fit and agreeable both to our Civil and Spiritual Liberties a Settlement may be made with them Crom. That will be a Business of more than ordinary difficulty but really I think if it may be done with safety and preservation of our Rights both as Englishmen and as Christians that a Settlement with somewhat of Monarchical Power in it would be very effectual Much other discourse was by divers Gentlemen then present upon several Points and too large to be here inserted generally the Soldiers were against any thing of Monarchy though every one of them was a Monarch in his Regiment or Company The Lawyers were generally for a mixt Monarchical Government and many were for the Duke of Glocester to be made King but Cromwel still put off that Debate and came off to some other Point and in conclusion after a long debate the Company parted without coming to any result at all only Cromwel discovered by this meeting the Inclinations of the Persons that spake for which he fished and made use of what he then discerned 11. Several Petitions from divers Counties were directed to the General and his Officers and Army acknowledging with thankfulness their great Services and setting forth the insupportable burdens upon the Country for the removal whereof they pray the General and his Officers and Army to be instrumental 1. Burden is of Tithes at first by a Cheat put upon us for advancement of Popery and maintaining superstitious and idle Persons whereby a third and fourth part of our Estates is taken away from us and the Fruit of our Labours by Priests and Improprietors And that in so-cruel and tyrannical a manner as in former times before 2 E. 6. was never practised among Christians and at present we are not able to get competent livelihood for our Children and Families leaving them as Slaves intailed to Priests and Improprietors who as cruel Task-masters do torment us 2. Burden is the managing and unlawful using of the Laws of the Land through the Number Pride Subtlety and Covetousness of Lawyers Atturneys and Clerks whereby the poor Country-men find the Cure worse than the Malady 3. Burden is the Excise 4. The great Assesses upon the Nation The Petitioners humbly pray That as God hath not put the Sword into your hand in vain you will mediate for us to the Parliament that the oppressed People may be eased and setled in freedom which they cannot be while Tithes continue and Covetousness executes the Law 12. Letters of Provisions arrived in Scotland for the Army and of Huntley and the other Lords coming in to the protection of the Parliament of England upon Capitulation and ingagement of the Lords and Gentlemen to disband all their Forces That the English Army have no opposition in Scotland and that only four Castles stand out against them in all Scotland 13. Letters That the Marquess of Argyle excused his coming to meet the Commissioners appointed by the Lieutenant-General to treat with him he being hindered by the Stone but he promised to come in Person to the Lieutenant-General That Ashfield's Regiment was marched into Murrayland
Gospel in all void places and to unite two or three Parishes together so that none be above three Miles from the Publick meeting place and Commissioners named in the Report that such as shall be approved for publick Preachers may enjoy the maintenance set by Laws and such further as the Parliament hath or shall allow That where any scruple the payment of Tithes the neighbour Justices to set a value on those due which the owner of the Land to pay or else the Minister may sue for them That Committee held That the Incumbents Impropriators c. have a Right and Propriety in Tythes The House upon Debate of this Report the first part of it upon the question passed in the Negative It was moved in the House that the sitting of this Parliament any longer would not be for the good of the Common-wealth and that it would be fit for them to resign up their Powers to the Lord General this motion was seconded by several other Members and then the House rose And the Speaker with many Members of the House with the Mace went to Whitehall where they did by a Writing under their hands resign to his Excellency the Powers and Mr. Speaker attended with the Members did present this Resignation of their Powers to his Excellency accordingly The General with his Councel of Officers met where somethings were transacted in order to the settlement of the Government of this Nation Letters of Malignants in the North who bought up Horses and went with them towards Scotland Of Sixteen Horse within five miles of Berwick who seized some Gentlemen and others going to Berwick Fair and took their Horses Money and Clothes and then let them go That they seized upon two Soldiers and disarmed them and then dismissed them and took many Horses The Portugal Ambassadours brother made an Escape out of Newgate but was retaken The Councel of State Published a Declaration against the late Tumult at the New Exchange and forbid all persons of what quality soever to do or abet the like in any Publick place of trade or resort upon pain to be dealt with as disturbers of the Publick Peace whereof a strict account shall be taken and all Osficers to perform their duty for apprehending such Offenders and to prevent the like tumultuous Actions 14 Letters of Three prizes sent into Plymonth That the Sussex Frigot was blown up with her own Powder and about Fifty of her Men at Plymouth That there was an agreement for the Duke of Lorain to exchange his Country for Ireland That the Prince of Conde was to be King of Scotland and King Charles to be King of England onely That Middleton was Transporting from Holland great store of Arms and Ammunition to the High-lands 16 Letters of the Highlanders Levys of Men and Glencorns sending Warrants to adjacent Towns for Cloth Shoes Provisions and Money for his Soldiers or else he will exact it by force That Four of them met an Englishman going to gather up Money and killed him That the Highlanders are One thousand Foot well Armed and Five hundred Horse Of two Prizes brought into Pool by a private Man of War Captain Green That General Monck with his Squadron of Ships was in the Downs The late Parliament having resigned their Powers into the Lord Generals Hands by a Writing under their Hands and Seals The Lord General called a Councel of Officers and advised with them and with other persons of Interest in the Nation How this great burthen of governing England Scotland and Ireland with the Armies therein and the Navy at Sea should be Born and by whom They after several days seeking of God and advising in this Matter Resolved That a Councel of Godly Able and Discreet Persons should be Named consisting of twenty one and that the Lord General should be chosen Lord Protector of the Three Nations His Excellency the General about Three in the Afternoon came from Whitehall to the Chancery Court in this Equipage First went the Commissioners of the Great Seal then the Judges and Barons in their Robes after them the Counsel of the Commonwealth then the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Recorder of London after them the Lord General attended with the chief Officers of the Army a Chair of State was set in the Chancery Court and the General stood on the left hand of it uncovered till a large Writing in Parchment was read Containing the Power with which his Excellency was invested and how he was to Govern the Three Nations and the Oath to be taken by him His Excellency subscribed this Writing in the face of the Court and had the Oath given him by the Lord Commissioner Lisle and after this his Excellency sate down in the Chair covered then the Commissioners delivered up the Great Seal to him and the Lord Mayor his Sword and Cap the which his Excellency returned immediatly again to him then the Court rose and they went back to Whitehall the Lord Mayor himself uncovered carrying the Sword before the Lord Protector and coming into the Banqueting House Mr. Lockier made an Exhortation to them and so the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Judges departed The Instrument which his Excellency Subscribed was in these Words The Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland I. THat the Supreme Legislative Authority of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging shall be and reside in One Person and the People assembled in Parliament The Style of which Person shall be Lord PROTECTOR of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland II. That the Exercise of the chief Magistracie and Administration of the Government over the said Countries and Dominions and the People thereof shall be in the Lord PROTECTOR assisted with a Council The Number whereof shall not exceed Twenty one nor be less than Thirteen III. That all Writs Processes Commissions Patents Grants and other things which now run in the Name and Style of the Keepers of the Liberty of England by Authority of Parliament shall run in the Name and Style of the Lord PROTECTOR from whom for the future shall be derived all Magistracie and Honors in these three Nations and shall have the power of Pardons except in Case of Murder and Treason and benefit of all forfeitures for the Publick use And shall govern the said Countries and Dominions in all things by the Advice of the Council and according to these Presents and the Laws IV. That the Lord PROTECTOR the Parliament sitting shall dispose and order the Militia and Forces both by Sea and Land for the peace and good of the three Nations by Consent of Parliament And that the Lord PROTECTOR with the Advice and Consent of the major part of the Council shall dispose and order the Militia for the ends aforesaid in the Intervals of Parliament V. That the Lord PROTECTOR by the Advice aforesaid shall direct in all things concerning the keeping and holding of a good