both for War and Peace the place for Intelligence and Supplies and betake himself to the Countrey where these things were not to be had and by his leaving the Town bring great disadvantages upon himself and his Affairs this was thought not to have been done advisedly But the fears of those with him and his own fears for them occasioned by the Tumults and his hopes that by his absence the heat of the House of Commons might in some measure be cooled were alledged in excuse of this Action The next day the five Members were triumphantly brought from London to Westminster by Water by a great number of Citizens and Sea-men in Boats and Barges with Guns and Flaggs braving as they passed by Whitehall and making large Protestations at Westminster of their adherance to the Parliament At Hampton-Court the King gave the like answer to the Buckinghamshire Petition as he had done before to that of London The Parliament were informed that the Lord Digby and Colonel Lunsford were gathering some Troups of Horse at Kingstone and appeared in Arms there whereupon they order the Sheriffs and Justices of Peace in all Counties to suppress all unlawfull Assemblies with the Trained Bands and to secure the Magazines Colonel Lunsford is apprehended and sent to the Tower and the Lord Digby escaped beyond Sea The Court removing to Royston the Attorney General Herbert is summoned to appear at the Lords Barr to answer concerning the Articles against the five Members but the King by his Letter to the Lord Keeper Littleton took all the matter upon himself and excused his Attorney and concludes that finding cause to desist wholly from proceeding against the persons accused he had commanded his Attorney to proceed no further therein Jan. 20. The King by Message to the Parliament adviseth them to digest into one body all the grievances of the Kingdome and to send them to him promising his favourable assent to those means which should be found most effectual for redress wherein he would not onely equal but exceed the most indulgent Princes The Scots having a fair plantation in Ireland offered to transport thither 2500 Souldiers upon certain Articles which the Parliament accepted and at length the King assented to them Then the Scots Commissioners mediated for a Reconciliation of the differences between the King and Parliament for which the House of Commons returned thanks to them The House of Commons moved the Lords to joyn with them in petitioning the King for the Militia and the Command of the Tower but the Lords not consenting the Commons themselves importune the King to put those Powers into the hands of the Parliament as the onely available means to remove their Fears and Jealousies The King not willing to part with those Powers gave this answer that he thought the Militia to be lawfully subject to no command but his own and therefore would not let it out of his hands that he hath preferred to the Lieutenancy of the Tower a person of known Fortune and unquestionable Reputation and that he would prefer none but such to the Command of his Forts and Castles yet would not intrust the power of conferring those Places and Dignities from himself being derived to him from his Ancestours by the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom The Commons petitioned again for these Powers and were again denied them by the King Divers Petitions accompanied with great numbers of People and more Subscriptions from Suffolk London and one from the City Dames were presented to the Parliament against the Votes of Popish Lords and of Bishops to which answers were given by the Commons that they had endeavoured and still would endeavour with the Lords that redress might be had therein Soon after this the Lords passed the Bill for disabling persons in holy Orders to have any Place or Vote in Parliament or to have any Temporal Jurisdiction The Commons again petition the King for the Militia and to clear the five Members but they perceived by his answer that he was resolved not to part with the Militia out of himself nor otherwise to clear the five Members but inclusively within a general Pardon The King sent for all his Houshold Servants to attend him particularly for the Earls of Essex and Holland but they excused themselves with the necessity of performing their Duties in Parliament upon which Essex was put out of his Place of Chamberlain and the other of the King's Bed-Chamber and became the more provoked The Lord Digby sent Letters from Middleborough to the Queen and to Secretary Nicholas to advise the King to betake himself to some place of Security where he and others might safely resort to him and he doubted not but that he should do him acceptable Service but these Letters being intercepted The Parliament sent to the King that he would desire the Queen not to correspond with Digby nor any others whom his great Council had proclaimed Traytors The Parliament took notice of a Rumour that they intended to accuse the Queen of High Treason which they deny and call a publick Scandal upon them to which the Queen gave a mild answer yet carefull to prevent any danger she obtains leave of the King who also acquaints the Parliament that his Daughter was to go into Holland to her betrothed Husband the young Prince of Orange and that her Mother the Queen desired to goe with her Daughter Accordingly the Queen went with her Daughter into Holland and carried with her all her own and the King's Jewels not leaving behind the Jewels of the Crown that with them and the assistance of the Prince of Orange a sufficient Party might be raised for the King At a Conference with the Lords Pym affirmed that many of the chief Commanders now in the Head of the Rebels and great Papists had been licensed to pass thither by the King after the Lord Lieutenant had put a stop at the Ports against their coming thither The King much distasted at this as intimating his conniving at the Rebellion required the Declaration of the House of Commons for his Vindication but could not obtain it The Parliament were busie in Debates touching the ordering of the Militia for the several Counties in which some declared their Opinions that the Power of the Militia was solely in the King and ought to be left to him and that the Parliament never did nor ought to meddle with the same Others were of Opinion that the King had not this power in him but that it was solely in the Parliament and that if the King refused to order the same according to the advice of the Parliament that then they by the Law might doe it without him and this was moved to be now done by the Parliament the King having denyed their former Petitions for settling of the Militia as they desired Upon this Debate one spake to this effect Mr. Speaker I have often heard
pieces of Ordnance 8000 Arms 40 Barrels of Powder 200 Carriages all their Bag and Baggage with store of rich pillage 3000 Horse the King's Standard and divers Colours of horse and foot one of the King's Coaches and his Cabinets of Letters and Papers Sir Marmaduke Langdale fled to Newark 15. The Lord's day divers Preachers took notice of this great Victory in their Prayers and Sermons and returned Prayers to God for it 16. Several Gentlemen Colonel Jo. Ficnnes and others came from the Army with the Prisoners and Colours and some with Letters from the General of this great success at Naseby they were called into the House and made a particular Narration of the fight The House gave 100 l. to one of them 40 l. to another and gratified all the Messengers of this good News Then according to the desire of Sir T. F. in his Letters they ordered a Day of Thanksgiving to God for it the Parliament to keep it at Christ-church and the Lord Mayor Aldermen and the Common Council to be desired to meet the Parliament there and another Day of publick Thanksgiving for this Victory was appointed to be kept in all Counties within the power of the Parliament Letters of thanks ordered to Sir T. F. and his Field-Officers and 500 l. to be bestowed upon a Jewel for Sir T. F. Order that Lieutenant General Cromwel shall continue Lieutenant General of the Horse under Sir T. F. during the pleasure of the Houses notwithstanding the Self-denying Ordinance and shall receive the pay of Lieutenant General for the time of the establishment of this Army The same Night after the Battel of Naseby Sir T. F. blocked up Leicester with his Horse and next day his Foot came up to him Houghton Garrison being taken by a party from Newark was the same Day regained by Col. Rosseter who released the Prisoners taken there and took of them Prisoners M. Broughton and divers other Officers 55 Gentlemen Voluntiers and Souldiers and 60 Horse A party of Sir William Brereton under Lieutenant Colonel Venables fell upon a party of the Chester forces took 180 of them Prisoners and 30 Horse and forced the rest back into Chester Several parties of the King 's joyning to besiege Sir W. Whitmore's House a Garrison of the Parliament a party from Shrewsbury encountred with them slew and took Prisoners about 400 and dispersed the rest and Sir William Croft's was slain in the Fight Captain Stone and Captain Tuthall fell upon a party of the King 's near Litchfield took Major Henningham other Gentlemen and Officers of the name of Devexeux 25 common Souldiers 40 Horse and Arms i a Coach and Horses divers Port-mantles and good Pillage 17. Debate in a grand Committee of the business of the Church An Ordinance committed for the sale of Delinquents Estates The Town of Taunton understanding from Lyme of the Parliaments sending relief to them and having a small supply of Powder from Lyme a party of the Garrison issued out upon the besiegers took and slew above 400 of them with the loss of 100 of the Garrison and by this means the Enemy drawing back they have inlarged their quarters five or six miles compass 18. The Sheriffs of London came to both Houses and in the name of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council invited them to Dinner the next Day being the Day appointed by them for publick Thanksgiving and both Houses accepted of the invitation Order for a Collection at the day of Thanksgiving for those of Leicester now in Town The Lords agreed to the Ordinance for Lord General Cromwel to be L. General of the Horse but altered it in point of time to be but for 3 months to which the Commons upon Debate consented Colonel Fiennes sent up to London with the 4500 Prisoners taken at Naseby Battel was ordered to stay at St. Albans till the House should take order for the disposal of them 19. Both Houses and the City kept the Day of Thanksgiving together and news was brought to them of the regaining Leicester Letters informed that upon routing the King's Army Sir Jo. Gell gathered together all the forces of Derbyshire and the adjacent parts and June 16. they met with some of the King's Horse and took 200 and another party fell upon the Newarkers and routed them took 60 horse 42 Prisoners and 80 Arms. The same Day Sir T. F. came before Leicester and summoned the Town to surrender to him and not to force him to take it by storm the Governour answered that he would not surrender it Sir T. F. called a Council of War about the storming of it which was concluded The next Day they fell to raising Batteries and made all provision Night and Day for it June 17. Sir T. F. battered the Town and stormed it and the Governour sent for a parley to which Sir T. F. agreed and sent Colonel Pickering and Colonel Rainsborough his Commissioners into the Town to treat about the surrender of it In the mean time Sir T. F. lost no time to make provision for the storm and had intelligence that the King was advancing with about 4000 horse towards them But the Commissioners agreed with the Lord Loughborough Governour of Leicester for the rendition of the Town to Sir T. F. upon Articles and there he had 14 pieces of Ordnance 30 Colours 200 Arms 500 Horse 50 Barrels of Powder and all their Arms Ammunition Provisions Bag and Baggage Both Houses were magnificently feasted by the City at Grocer's-hall and after Dinner they sang the 46. Psalm and so parted 20. The Commons sent a Letter of Thanks to Major General Skippon and Dr. Clarke a Physician to visit him and desired Sir Tho. Fairfax to take care that the Chirurgeons of the Army might use their best endeavours for his recovery The Scots Army being at Nottingham and Sir T. F. at Leicester it was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to mannage the Armies to the best improvement of the publick service An Ordinance past for Rutlandshire A Petition from the Adventurers for Ireland An Ordinance past for the Northern association Sir T. F. his Army notwithstanding their hard service marched from Leicester and sate down before Ashby de la Zouche 3000 fresh horse of Sir John Gell Colonel Rosseter Colonel Lambert and others pursued the King's Army 21. Order for the Prisoners taken at Naseby to be put into the Military grounds till they should be otherwise disposed of Care was taken of the wounded Souldiers and for prosecuting the war and advancing of the Armies in pursuit of the King's forces The 4500 Prisoners taken at Naseby fight were conducted through London to Westminster and 55 of their Colours then taken carried before them 22. The Lord's Day great expressions in the Pulpit touching the Victory at Naseby 23. Carlisle was willing for a Treaty of surrendring the Town if they might be assured of an English
he had more Forces because of the Kings coming to Oxford 13. Debate touching the Propositions for Peace An Ordinance pass'd concerning such Delinquents as come in to the Parliament from the Kings Quarters to declare to a Committee where they lodge c. Major Blundel with a Party from Abbington fell into the Quarters of a Party of the Kings Life-guard near Walling-ford took eighty Horse and Prisoners 14. The Lords concurred in several Ordinances touching Westminster Colledge sor freeing Noble mens Parks from Taxations and for supplys for Forces A Message from the Assembly of Divines to approve the Translation of the Psalms by Mr. Rowse for which they had thanks Ordinances for reimbursing the Commissioners of ExciseMoneys advanced by them for the Forces of M. G. Pointz and for those before Chester A Regiment of the Kings Horse under the Lord Ashton were routed by the Stafford Horse the Lord Ashton wounded and taken Prisoner with many others an hundred Horse taken and divers Killed Youghall was distressed for want of Victuals and in danger of being taken by the Rebels 15. Upon Sir John Heles Petition the House accepted of six thousand pound for his Delinquency The Commons desired the Lords to pass the Ordinance for sale of Delinquents Estates and past orders for Moneys for the Army and for the Forces of M. G. Pointz and others Confirmation of the taking of Wiverton by the Parliaments Forces 17. Upon the Petition of the Officers late under the Earl of Denbigh it was reserred to a Committee to consider of their Arrears and a way to pay them The Election of Mr. Tanfield Vashell for Reading voted to be void for Miscarriages and denying the Poll and a new Election to be there Letters from Wales informed that the Glamorgan-shire Forces joyning with a Party of M. G. Langherns have in several Incounters defeated two thousand of the Kings Forces and beat off G. Stradling from any Recruits And that the Governor of Cardiffe defeated another Party of the Kings under Mr. Herbert and that generally the VVelsh declared for the Parliament Mr. Buchy Manfield ordered to command the Forces in Glamorgan-shire and Mr. Prichard to be Governor of Cardiffe and Mr. Phil. Jones Governor of Swansey Letters from the North informed that M. G. Pointz and Col. Rossiter were before Belvoir Castle that many from Newarke came in to them that the Scots Army areupon their March to besiege Newarke About sixty of the Kings Forces coming to Ledbury in Hereford-shire to take up Quarters fifteen of Mr. Hoptons men who had taken up two great Plunderers in those parts rencountring the Kings Forces Charged them through Killed two of them and took four Prisoners and in their retreat from thence to Glocester they fell upon another Party of the Kings who were driving two hundred Cattle to their Garrison which these fifteen Troopers rescued and restored to the Country Men having routed their Convoy 18. Debate touching Propositions for Peace Order for the Next Summers Fleet as the last and for the Committee of the Navy to name the Officers and Ships c. to the House all to be prepared by January Dr. Walker referred to the Committee of the Admiralty to give an account of his transactions in Flanders Pr. Charles sent a Letter to Sir T. F. for a Pass for Hopton and Culpepper to go to the King to perswade him to comply with the Parliament Sir T. F. sent a very respectful answer to the Prince and advised him to disband his Army as the best way for him his Posterity and Friends which if he would do that Sir T. F. himself would safely Convoy him to the Parliament Goring sent Col. Ellyot and Col. Scroop to Sir T. F. to desire a Treaty he answered that if he would treat in reference to Military Affairs as Surrender of Garrisons exchange of Prisoners or the like he would consent to it otherwise he must reser him to the Parliament 19. A Petition from divers of the Common-councel of London that the Government of the Church may be speedily setled and observed and that greater power might be given to the Ministers and Elders than was established by the Parliament according to the Warrant of the Word of God and about suspension from the Sacrament and about the Suppression of Schisms and Heresies This Petition was thought to be contrived by some Presbyterians and the House aster a long debate upon this Petition appointed some of their Members to withdraw and to pen the Answer to the Petition according to the Sence of the House which was done and agreed unto to this Effect That the House had already taken much pains in debating of Church Government and they conceived the City and Common-Councel was informed falsely of the proceedings of the House else they would not have precipitated the Judgment of the Parliament in this business however they take it as a good intention of the petitioners promoting this business Another Petition was from divers Ministers of London to the same effect The House referred it to the Committee of Examinations to find out the design of this days Petitions concerning Church-Government and who were the advancers thereof and they sent two of their Members to the Petitioners to tell them they need not attend any longer for an answer to their Petition but to go home and look to the Charges of their several Congregations A Letter from Sir T. F. of thanks for his Jewel and giving account of his Army with a Proposition to send seven or eight thousand Eastward if the House think sit The Anti-Parliament at Oxford declared The Commissioners of the Judges under the great Seal at Westminster and their Lawyers plead there to be High-Treason and that great Seal to be void 20. The like Petitions were presented to the Lords as had been to the House of Commons by some Ministers and some of the Common-Councel concerning Church-Government and Alderman Gibs made a long Speech to them the Lords promised to take the Petitions into Consideration Debate about propositions for Peace Order about the Garrison of Bristol Reference to a Committee to consider of a way to recompence the County of Glocester for the great Charges they have been at for a long time Beeston Castle was surrendred upon Articles to Sir William Breretons Forces Inchequin relieved Younghall in Ireland as was certified by Letters 21. Debate touching Religion A Habeas Corpus ordered for a Servant of a Member of the House of Commons apprehended by a Warrant of the Lords Major General Skippon made Governor of Bristol Debate between the two Houses touching a Lord who had broken the Priviledges of the House of Commons A Committee of both Houses named to examine the Letters of the Lord Digby The Kings Forces Plundring about Vxbridge caused the Guards at London to be doubled Letters from the Governor of Reading informed the Kings design to send Parties as a flying Army to Plunder in
General Council of the Army had much debate concerning the matters of Religion relating to their new Representative and of the power of the Representative in Civils Sir Thomas Widdrington and M r Whitelock met staid all the day together to draw some heads upon yesterdaies discourse and to endeavour to bring the Army into some fitter temper They were likewise to frame somewhat in order to the restitution of the Secluded Members for an answer for the Army to the Messages of the House to the Army touching their Members under restraint and heads for a Declaration what the Parliament intendeth for the settlement of the Kingdom to be considered of and offered to the Parliament and Council of the Army This was a work of no small difficulty and danger yet at this time not to be declined by them both the Members of the House and chief Officers of the Army having ingaged and trusted them only therein they prayed to God to direct them in it and that neither of them might receive any prejudice but the Kingdom might receive good by this their imployment and the Courses of the Army be moderated as it was in some measure at this time though it brake out again into violence afterwards 23. A Committee of the Common Council informed the House that the Citizens of London were so generally ingaged in the Petition for a personal Treaty that if the restriction in the late Ordinance should stand that none of them should be capable to be elected Officers of the City there would want sufficient persons to be chosen to supply necessary Offices in the City Referred to a Committee to consider of some expedient in this business A sharp debate about bringing the great Delinquents of the Kingdom to speedy punishment And now was set on Foot and begun their great design of taking away the King whom divers in the debate did not stick to name for the greatest Delinquent and to be proceeded against in Justice Others insisted upon it that he was not capable of being brought to justice by his Subjects but by God alone and that having subdued him and his Party there was no need of any thing further but to secure the Parliament from their Enemies rising against them any more and that might be done without bringing the King to any judicial tryal a thing not read of in any History But those of the fierce Party prosecuted their design with all eagerness and those of a contrary opinion either durst not oppose knowing they should be presently secluded the House if they did or seeing that no opposition would be to any effect or purpose It was endeavoured wholly to have put the business upon the Army that if they would have the thing done they should do it themselves as most proper for such an irregular and unheard of business to be done in an irregular way and by such irregular men but they were subtle enough to see and avoid that and to make those whom they left sitting in the Parliament to be their stalcs and to do their most dirty work for them many of whom they found and perswaded to be strangely forward to ingage in it Insomuch that it was carryed by vote in the House of Commons to name a Committee of thirty eight persons to consider of drawing up a charge and for that purpose to receive all informations and examinations of all Witnesses for the matters of fact against the King and all other Delinquents that may be thought sit to be brought to condigne punishment Letters from Colonel Bethel to the General of the surrender of Scarborough-Castle to him upon Articles for the use of the Parliament that there was in the Castle good store of all manner of provisions especially Rye and fifty Barrels of powder with Ammunition for many Months From the Parliaments Ships in the Downes came a Declaration to the General of their free Concurrence with the Army in their Remonstrance knowing the things to be just and good The King was expected to be at Windsor this Night and Colonel Thomlinson commanded the Guards about him upon Colonel Harrisons coming away Major Pitsford taken at Pembroke and staying here contrary to the Articles of surrender thereof was by the Court Martial sentenced to be shot to Death The Lord Wenman expressed himself very high against the Army having been seised and secluded the House by them which was no small provocation Mr. Whitelock and Sir Thomas Widdrington went together according to appointment to the Speakers house There met them divers Gentlemen of the House and they consulted about setling the Kingdom by the Parliament and not to leave all to the Sword and Sir Thomas Widdrington and M r Whitelock spake their minds freely to them some of them were wholly against any King at all others were against having the present King or his eldest or second Son to be King others were for the third Son the Duke of Gloucester who was among them and might be educated as they should appoint to be made King They came after a long debate to no resolution at all but appointed to meet again on next Monday 25. The Commons sate though it was Christ-mas day and made some Orders about the association of Somersetshire with the adjacent Counties Order for one thousand pound for Mr. Withers being moneys lent by him to the Parliament Five Members declared their dissent to the vote Dec. 5. 1648. The Committee named to consider how to proceed in a way of justice against the King were injoyned to meet this Afternoon Debate whether the secluded Members should be re-admitted A dispute between the two Houses whether thirty three thousand pound formerly granted to the Lord Willoughby as Part of his arrears and by him assigned to his Creditors who accepted the security should now be granted away to others in prejudice of the Lord Willoughbys Creditors which the Lords held not just The Lords who sate in the House being very few they Ordered that all the Lords who were within twenty miles should appear to morrow and those more remote within fourteen days after receipt of this Order some moved it might be under the pain of five hundred pound but that was not agreed unto A Petition to the Commons from Norfolk and Norwich reciting the former and present evils and praying 1. That present inquiry be made who have been the chief instruments of the King in the former or latter War and in the late bringing in of the Scots and that he himself and all such as have been the most notorious incendiaries and instruments in shedding of blood may without delay be brought to impartial Justice 2. That Courts of Justice Judges and Officers and Fecs may be certain and Laws in the vulgar tongue and Justice be speedy and without respect of persons and as may most agree with the rule of Christian duty just reason and the birth-right and priviledge of English-men and that
Referred to a Committee to consider how Deeds remaining with the Records of the Court of Wards may be delivered out to the Owners Referred to a Committee to consider what Powers are fit to be continued to the Committee of Haberdaeshers-Hall and to examine their Accounts Orders touching Sequestrations and Compositions of Delinquents The Parliaments Ships took five Officers going for Ireland in a Ship of the States and sent them up Prisoners Letters from Lancashire of great Scarcity of Corn and that the Famine was sore among them after which the Plague overspread it self in many parts of the Countrey taking away whole Families together and few escaped where any House was visited and that the Levellers got into Arms but were suppressed speedily by the Governour 29 The Act passed for draining the great Level of the Fennes Another past for the 20000 l. per annum for maintainance of Ministers and Schollars c. Upon a report by Lieutenant General Cromwel of the readiness of the Soldiers to go for Ireland if Mony were provided for them several Orders were made for that purpose The Petitions of Sir Peter Temple and his Wife and of his Creditors referred to a Committee Letters from Chester of relief of Dublin with Provisions from England Letters from the Hague that the Prince could not obtain from the States such an assistance of Shipping as he desired The Governour of Jersy invited the Prince thither and put out of the Island all whom he suspected to be well affected to the Parliament The Parliaments Ships took two Ships and thirty Pieces of Ordinance going for Ireland to the Rebels and many English Officers Some of them suspected to have had a hand in the Murder of Dr. Dorislaus were sent Prisoners to Pendennis Castle 30 Referred to a Committee to state the Business of the Isle of Anglesey in Relation to their Compositions and Sir Hugh Owen's Sequestrations discharged upon the Articles of Anglesey Referred to the Committee of the Navy to examine the Accounts and Business of Captain Dick and Captain Coningham in Relation to Ireland and to bring in an Act for settlement thereof the like for the Business of my L. Forbes and concerning the Original Contract with the Adventurers for Ireland Debate touching the Arrears of the Dutch Officers Referred to the two chief Justices and chief Baron to prepare an Act for settling the business between the Miners in Derbyshire and the Earl of Rutland Letters from Ireland that the little Quantity of Corn lately brought in thither hath much refreshed and incouraged the Inhabitants and Souldiers and that the Parliaments Ships have cleared that Coast that the Rebels are in much Division among themselves The Act for abolishing Kingly Government and establishing a Free State was solemnly proclaimed in London by the Lord Mayor and twelve Aldermen present with him Letters of the General his going to the Isle of Wight to view it and the Castles there and his Entertainment with the great Guns and Feasting and of his coming from thence to Southampton where he was saluted with great Guns round the Town and great Feasting That from thence he went to Portsmouth upon the same business to view the Fortifications from thence he came to Guildford the Major and Officers there shewed him all respect and near the Town he had a rendezvous of the Army He spake to the several Regiments exhorting them to Obedience and shewing them the danger that the late Mutineers might have brought the whole Nation into if God had not prevented it 31 A Committee from the Common Councel of London brought a Message to the House to desire them on the day of thanksgiving for suppressing the Levellers to dine with the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Councel at Grocers-Hall and that they might have the favour to Solemnize that Day with the House at such a Church as they should be pleased to nominate Voted that Christ-Church should be the Place of meeting for the Parliament and City to solemnize that Day that the House did accept of the Invitation from the City and ordered the hearty thanks of the House to be given them for their constant and great Affections to the Parliament and Nation The Committee of common Councel then invited the General and Officers of the Army to the same Feast which was well accepted of by them and thanks returned to the City Report of proclaiming the Act against King-ship in the City and that Alderman Chambers and Sir Thomas Soames would not accompany the Lord Mayor therein for which contempt they were ordered to appear at the Bar of the House Order for the Accounts of Mr. Rowland Wilson as Muster Master General of the Forces of Warwick and Coventry to be Stated Referred to the Committee of absent Members to consider what Members have not appeared in the House Jan. 11th last and what Members are and what Members are fit to be admitted and what expelled Order to get in 6000 l. in the hands of Mr. Gel a Member of the house Receiver for Derbyshire unaccounted for A Representation of the Officers and Souldiers of Lieutenant General Cromwells Regiment to the General reciting the great Successes God had given to the Army under his Conduct and the late horrid and unnatural Defection of some of them from the Parliament and General his Authority That from their Hearts they disown the having any hand in countenancing the Revolt and Capitulation of the 12 Troops of the Army or any others or the Papers which have scandalized the Parliament Councel of State or Army and bless God for the General his reducing of them They profess to hazard their Lives and all that is dear to them for Preservation of this Parliament and while they are Souldiers to submit to the General his Authority over them under the Parliament A Declaration came from Portsmouth in Vindication of themselves and others touching the Levellers June 1649. 1 Upon a Report from the Commissioners of the great Seal of the Names of fit Persons to be Judges and Barons of the Exchequer the house voted That Serjeant Nicholas and Mr. Ask be Judges of the upper Bench. That Serjeant Puleston and Peter Warburton Esq be Judges of the Common Pleas. That Serjeant Thorp and C. Rigby be Barons of the Exchequer And that the Commissioners of the Seal do grant them Patents accordingly That Mr. Broughton be Clerk of the Crown of the upper Bench in the Place of Mr. Ask he being made a Judge An Act passed declaring the Grounds of the next thanksgiving Day Upon the Generals desire the House confirmed what C. Pine had done in Somer setshire in raising Force there against the Levellers by Letters from the General he and Sir T. Wroth had the thanks of the House for what they did Sir Thomas Soames being called to the Bar and asked why having notice of the proclaiming the Act against Kingship he did not attend the Lord Mayor at the doing of it
Judges were sent for to be consulted with touching the Tryal of the Lord Audley who was Indicted for a Rape committed upon his Wife with his assistance by one of his own Servants and for Buggery The Tryal was very solemn before the Lord Keeper made Lord High Steward for that day and eight Judges Assistants and twenty seven Peers the Jury or Judges of the Fact The Matters were of the most horrid and foul wickedness that ever was heard of and therefore I have esteemed it not convenient to preserve the memory of the particulars of such infamous and beastly Abominations By Letters from the Lord Keeper all the Judges of the King's Bench were required to come up to London and the business was for their Advice touching the Conference had in Germany between certain Scots about making of the Marquess Hambleton Head of a Party against the King and his Kingdoms of England and Scotland and what was sit for the King to do thereupon The Lord Rea a Scotch Baron did Impeach Ramsey and Meldram for moving him to this Conspiracy They denied it punctually and no Witness could be produced Ramsey a Souldier offered to clear himself by Combate that he was innocent and the Appellant Rea accepted of the Challenge The King was desirous it should be put upon a Duel and the Judges were consulted with 1. What the Offence was 2. Where the Tryal should be 1. They all with the Lord Keeper were of Opinion That it was an high and horrible Treason if that in the Examinations were true 2. That the Tryal might be by an Appeal of Treason upon which Combate might be joyned but that the King must make a Constable durante bene-placito for the Marshal could not take the Appeal without him and that it must be after the manner of the Civil Law the Judges not to intermeddle Car. 6 The Judges were also of Opinion That this proceeding before the Constable and Marshal was as it was before the Stat. 35 H. 8. c. 2. and that that Statute devised a way how to try foreign Treasons in England but did not take away the other and that the Stat. 1 Mar. cap. 10. did not take it away nor intend it and that a Conviction in this Appeal was no corruption of Blood nor a forfeiture at the Common Law According to the advice of the Judges there was a Court of the Constable and Marshal appointed and the Earl of Lindsey made Constable for that purpose and the proceedings between Rea and Ramsey in that Court were very solemn and multitudes of people attending that Novelty In this Tryal it was delivered for Doctrine That if the Defendant do send a Challenge to the Appellant it is a proof of the Defendant's guilt That no Testimony is to be neglected in matter of Treason And the Story in Livy was cited That it is not base to undergo any Office to save a Nation but that it was unbecoming a gentle-man to fish for Circumstances and then to be an Informer That in France the holding up of the Hand is taking an Oath and in this Case it was urged That if Ramsey be guilty of Treason that Rea is so likewise for that both did speak the words in the Accusation The Business was taken up by the King through the interest of the Marquess Hambleton whose Servant Ramsey was and the Lord Rea returned to his Command under the King of Sweden in Germany Sir Nicholas Hyde chief Justice of the King's Bench died in August this year he was promoted to that place by the Duke of Buckingham and demeaned himself in it with good Integrity and prudence in those difficult times he was somewhat reserved and not affable In Michaelmas Term certain Questions were propounded to the Judges touching the Clergy 1. Whether Clergy-men were bound to find Watch and Ward Day or Night To this the Answer was deferred till the Judges had informed themselves of the practice in the Countries where they went Circuit 2. Whether Clergy-men might be compelled to take Apprentices by the Stat. 43 El. of the Poor On this all agreed that no man was out of the Statute but there was a discretion to be used in the Justices of Peace to consider where it was fit to put the Child to be kept and where it was fitter to take money toward the putting of it out And it was held that the meaning of the Statute was not for the Education of them in Arts but for Charity to keep them and relieve them from turning to Roguery and Idleness so a man's House was as it were an Hospital in that case rather than a Shop of Trade for they might be brought up to Husbandry Cookery Dayery and the like Services in an house This Case I have reported because it sheweth somewhat of the expectation and temper of the Clergy in that time The same likewise appeared by proceedings against some of the University of Oxford for Sermons preached by them against Arminianism and upon other Points of Religion then in Controversie upon which divers of them were censured and some expelled the University Much difference of Opinion was also preached and published touching the Observation of the Lord s-day And in the North they kept their Wakes and Ale-meetings upon the Sabbath-day Whereof complaint being made at the Assizes Judge Richardson was so hardy as to make an Order to suppress them But the Bishops took this as an Intruding upon the Ecclesiastical Power and Bishop Laud complaining of it to the King the Judge was checkt and occasion was taken from hence to republish the former Book for allowance of Pasttimes upon the Lord's-day which was not very pleasing to many who were no Puritans as well as to them generally About this time the Repair of Pauls was set on work chiefly by the Zeal of Bishop Laud and new Images and Ornaments other than formerly were set up to the discontent of many persons The King came himself to this Church and made a kind of Procession to view it and granted a Commission to some Bishops and others to have a Contribution and to see the Work done Some affirm that about Eighty thousand pounds was gathered for it and Sir Paul Pindar is remembred to have laid out Nineteen thousand pounds of his own Money towards it A piece of London Bridge was burnt down The King fell sick of the Small-pox but was well recovered again to the joy of his Subjects Anno 1632. Car. 8 The Chancellor of Poland came Ambassador hither for Assistance against the Turks and got some Money and two thousand Men of our King He was bred up a Lawyer and at length came to be a principal Civil Officer of Justice and was also at the same time a great Commander in the Army In November our Queen was brought to Bed of the Princess Mary Our King sent an Ambassador to the King of Sweden in behalf of the Prince Elector in
persons in authority to put the Ordinance of the Militia in execution which the King declares to be no legal power in the Houses and commands that none do obey it and summons the Gentry of the County to York to whom he relates these illegal proceedings of the Parliament and tells them his purpose to have a guard onely to secure his person in which he desires their assistance And the rather because the Members that came with the last Message to the King returned to York and before them all these proceedings were had Sir Thomas Gardiner Recorder of London was impeached for advising the Lord Mayor to pay Ship-money and other illegal things and against Scotland and opposing the Parliament but he got to the King The County of York being Summoned the Committee prevailed with some of them to oppose the raysing of a guard for the King and the Parliament declared against it and that such as do are disturbers of the Peace The Ordinance of the Militia being now past and Lieutenants named for the several Counties they nominated their Deputy Lieutenants to the Parliament for their approbation The Lord Paget being named in the Ordinance and approved to be Lieutenant of Bucks he named Hampden Goodwyn Grenville Tyrrell Winwood and Whitelocke to be his deputy Lieutenants who were approved by the Parliament The Lord Paget not long after this began to boggle and was unfixed in his resolutions and upon the King 's publishing of his Commission of Array and Declaration against the Ordinance of Parliament for the Militia his Lordships heart failing him and being unsatisfied in his Judgment he revolted from the Parliament and went to the King Whereupon the Lord Wharton was nominated and approved by both Houses of Parliament to be in his roome Lieutenant for the County of Bucks Mr. Palmer Mr. Hyde and Mr. Bridgeman and divers other eminent Lawyers and Gentlemen had given their opinions positively against it and left the House upon the passing of it On the other part the Lord Littleton was most confident for the legality of it and divers other Lawyers and Gentlemen of the short robe were cleerly for it and that the Lords and Commons in case of the King's minority sickness or absence had done the same in other times As when H. 3. dyed and his Son E. 1. was in the holy Land and came not home in almost two years after his Father's death yet in the mean time the Lords and Commons appointed Lieutenants in the several Counties and made several Ordinances which are of force at this day So are the Ordinances made by them in the minority of H. 6. and upon the difference between him and the Duke of York and the Ordinances in the minority of E. 6. and in other times That the King was now absent and having called his Parliament at Westminster was himself gone as far from them as York and had before he came thither and since appeared with Warlike forces about him to the terror of the Parliament That the business of Ireland and other threatning dangers gave too much cause of Fears and Jealousies to the Parliament and to stand upon their guard and for defence of themselves and the Kingdome Without which the King would so grow upon them and his evil Counsellors so prevaile that they would undoubtedly bring their designs to pass of a speedy introducing of Popery and Tyranny whereas if they saw the Parliament in a good posture of defence and that the people generally would adhere to them as no doubt but they would that then the King would be brought to a good accommodation and agreement with his Parliament without a blow to be struck between them Whereby they should preserve the just Rights and Liberties of the Subject the privilege of Parliament and themselves and their friends and the Protestant Religion from Ruine which without this appearance onely of arms or power to arme if there should be occasion would unavoidably be brought to pass These arguments together with the solemn protestations of the most powerful and active Members That they had not the least purpose or intention of any War with the King but to arme themselves for their necessary defence prevailed with most men to keep their station and at present to accept those Commissions of Deputy Lieutenancy Maynard Glyn Grimstone St. John Selden and divers other Gentlemen of great parts and interest accepted of the like Commissions and continued in their service in the Parliament The King resolves that Easter Term be adjourned from London to York the Parliament Vote it to be illegal and Order that the Lord Keeper Littleton issue no Writs or Proclamation for that purpose They publish a large Declaration much to the same effect as the former were mentioning that the Rebellion in Ireland was countenanced by evil Council about the King the proclaiming them Traitors deferred from October to January after and then but 40 Copies ordered to be Printed nor any of them to be published without the King's Order whereas the proceedings against the Scots and proclaiming them Traitors was very sharp and speedy To this the King gives an answer in effect the same with what he had said before to these particulars after which he writes to his Council in Scotland to acquaint them with the State of his affairs in England to which he receives a dutiful and affectionate answer with a Petition from divers of the Nobility and people there full of zeal and loyalty to his service The Parliament hearing of this took course to turn the Ballance and within eight days after the Scots Council declare their earnest desires both to King and Parliament to joyn in a perfect union and humbly desire the King to hearken to his greatest his best and most unparallel'd Council They disswade the King from a personal Journey into Ireland and pray that a Mediation may be at home ere the breach be wider And in fine they come to a large manifestation of their true and hearty affection to the Parliament of England protesting to do nothing contrary to them in their Privileges A multitude of people at Edenburgh hearing of the King's Letter to his Council there and of the Answer to it and Petition before mentioned they petition the Council there not to meddle by any verball or reall engagement for the King against the Parliament of England These Passages in Scotland gave much advantage to the Parliaments Affairs in England who protest their Fidelity to the King and court the Scots with very kind expressions The Earl of Bristol moved for an accommodation and a select Committee to be appointed to consider of some way to effect the same But the Parliament voted that which was done at York for a Guard for the King to be a preparation for War against the Parliament a breach of the trust reposed in him by his People contrary to his Oath and tending to the dissolution of his Government
from him and to the inhabitants of Surrey for satisfaction of their charges for supply of Sir William Waller A thousand Countrey men came in to Colonel Massey who represented the condition of his Garrison to the Parliament who ordered supplies for him and the Earl of Manchester was ordered with 4000 Horse and 5000 Foot to attend the motion of Prince Rupert The Lord Fairfax his Forces joyned with the Scots and care was taken to supply the Earl of Manchester Sir William Waller sent out a party which fell upon a Convoy of the Enemies for supply of Basing House and took of them divers Officers 40 Souldiers 1000 Sheep and fat cattle and money Sir John Gell routed 2 Troups of Colonel Goring's Regiment of Horse and dispersed the rest The Earl of Warwick took 8 ships bound for Bristol York was close besieged by the Scots and the Lord Fairfax his Forces The Dutch Embassadour and the Parliament courted each other but nothing came to effect between them The King's Forces whereof many were Irish burnt Bemister Cerne and Shaftsbury in Dorsetshire The Commons ordered that no private business should be heard in the House before the Armies were upon their march The Propositions for Peace were brought into the House and Read and Debated and the Debate adjourned The Marquess Huntley in Scotland made some commotion on behalf of the King but the Earl of Argile quieted him The Anti-Parliament at Oxford had written Letters to the Estates of Scotland dehorting them from giving any assistance to those at Westminster who were in arms against the King and these Letters set forth the unlawfulness and injustice of such undertakings and actions The Estates of Scotland sent up this Letter to the Parliament with a Copy of their answer to it which was to this effect That their expedition into England was not intended till all other means were first assayed and disappointed they deny not the Parliaments invitation of them and they declare that their pitty to see England bleed and their sense of the danger of their own Religion and Laws were the chief cause of their taking up Armes That they held not the invitation of the Parliament any ways invalid because they at Oxford are wanting or others are gone beyond the Seas having either wilfully deserted the Parliament or been expelled for Delinquency or why those that stay in Parliament are not a sufficient number without those at Oxford they do not apprehend with much of the like matter which was well accepted by the Parliament May 1644. An Ordinance for the supply of the Earl of Manchester's forces stuck with the Lords An Ordinance was published to prevent the adjournment of the Term or any the Courts of Justice from Westminster and all Judges and Officers were commanded to attend their places here Some 30 firelocks of the Garrison of Northampton being surprized by the Enemy and carried Prisoners to Banbury the Northampton forces marched forth entered Banbury fetched off all their Prisoners and took about 30 of them Sir Thomas Fairfax and Major General Lesley closely pursued the Earl of Newcastle's horse Southward The Archbishop of Canterbury came again to his tryal the evidence against him was mannaged by Mr. Nicholas Captain Swanley took in the town of Caernarvon with 400 Prisoners Arms Ammunition and much Pillage Plymouth sallyed out upon the besiegers took 40 Prisoners Horse Arms Ammunition The Speaker and some Members of the House were sent to the Dutch Ambassadours to complement and take leave of them The Commons sent to acquaint the City that they were preparing Propositions for Peace and desired to know from them what concerned their particular for which the City returned their humble thanks Particular Letters were ordered to be written from the Houses to the Scots General and to the Lord Fairfax and his son in acknowledgment of their good services The Lord General wrote to the Houses to appoint a Committee to reside with the Army and to supply the Army Mr. Rolles a Member of the House had satisfaction voted to be given him for his losses in opposing the King's taking of Tunnage and Poundage when it was not granted by Parliament At the taking of Caermarthen by Captain Swanly many Irish Rebels were thrown into the Sea The Earl of Manchester took the City of Lincoln by storm and in it Sir Francis Fane the Governor three Colonels many inferiour Officers 800 Common Souldiers 1000 Armes 8 pieces of Ordnance all their Armes Ammunition and pillage given to the Souldiers and 80 of them were slain A new Ordinance passed for abolishing all Popish Reliques fixed to Tombes or other places and all Organs Images c. The Earl of Holland desired licence to accompany the Lord General in the present expedition which the Lords granted but the Commons denyed which upon my knowledge distasted the General Sir Philip Stapleton and Hollis were two of the most secret Counsellors and Friends the General had they often advised with him about his affairs for his good and the advantage of the Parliament but he was not well fixed Newcastle's horse coming to relieve Lincolne were beaten back by Manchester's The siege of York was continued and the Scots and the Lord Fairfax's forces drawn very near to the wals The Lord Say Mr. of the Wards and the Officers of that Court sate Mr. Charles Fleetwood was made Receiver General and Mr. Miles Corbet Clerk of the Wards Captain Fox with one Troop of Horse went to Bewdely the enemies Garrison and in the night under pretence of being one of the Princes Troops passed the Guards to the main Guard where he killed the Sentinels seized the Guard and took Sir Thomas Littleton and divers persons of Quality prisoners The Londoners presented a Petition to the Lords desiring their free and mutual concurrence with the Commons in the great affairs now in agitation which was not well taken by the Lords A party of the King's horse came to Henly requiring the inhabitants to carry in all their Provisions for men and horse to Oxford else the Town should be burnt and faln upon by the Souldiers but Captain Buller being quartered not far from thence and hearing of it came unexpectedly and fell upon the enemy and rescued the Town Colonel Massey with his own forces and some of the Regiments of the Lord Stamford Colonel Devereux and Colonel Purefoy took Westbury by assault divers Officers and 60 Souldiers the same night he marched to little Deane and meeting with a party of the Enemy under Captain Congrave and Wigmore he slew them and 7 or 8 more and took divers prisoners Then he stormed Newnam a strong fort who shot at his Trumpet sent to summon them and that so inraged Massey's men that they entered the Town and slew about 40 took divers Officers and 130 common Souldiers and store of Arms. A new Ordinance for settling the Committee of both Kingdomes was sent up to the Lords who denyed to
such Officers as have engaged themselves for the service of Ireland some disorders began in the four Regiments of Norfolke about this business but Major Huntington and other Officers pacified them 27. Four Officers of the Army informed against for obstructing the service of Ireland in the Army were sent for up by the Sergeant at Arms. Upon a Message from the Lords touching the Army the Commons resolved that the Army Horse and Foot should be Disbanded with all convenient speed and six Weeks Pay to be given them at their Disbanding Some Officers of the Army in the name of themselves and the rest of the Officers presented to the House a vindication of the particulars in their late Petition Setting forth the great sence they had of some misrepresentation lately made to the House of their Actions and Intentions by which as they conceived it is endeavoured to Alienate the Houses of Parliament from that their ever Trusty and Obedient Army That the accomplishing thereof would much rejoyce their and the Kingdoms Enemies they desire liberty to Petition as Souldiers now and hereafter as Members of the Common-Wealth and that their integrity might be vindicated from such false suggestions and reports as had been formerly made and raised against them and suggested to the House Here it was observed by some that a Victorious Army out of imployment is very inclinable to assume Power over their Principals and this occasioned the Parliaments greater care for their imployment for Ireland One Ensign Nichols of the Army sent up by the General to the Parliament Major General Skippon declared himself willing to accept the Imployment to which he was Voted for Ireland The Lord L'Isle returned from thence The Common-Councel of London outed of the old Commissioners for their Militia Alderman Pennington Foucke Warner and Kenricke and Collonel Wilson Collonel Player and Collonel Tichburne and agreed upon a new List of Commissioners for their Militia They received from the Parliament of Scotland Letters of thanks for their affection and respect to the Covenant and Union of both Nations and they Ordered thanks to be returned to the Scots Commissioners who presented them Some proceedings were upon Mr. Eastwicks and Mr. Bretts not taking the Covenant 28. The Monthly Fast-day 29. Order for a Writ for a new Election Order for continuing the Commissioners of the Seal and the Commissioners for hearing Causes in Chancery for ten days after the Term. Vote that Sir John Brampston be one of the Judges of the Common Pleas and that Mr. Walter Long be continued Register of the Chancery The Assembly attended the House with their advice upon the thirty nine Articles and the Confession of Faith with the Texts upon both of them Order for six hundred Copies of them to be Printed for the use of the Houses and Assembly and they had the thanks of the House given them The thanks of the House given to Field Marshal Skippon for his compliance and not denying himself to serve the Publick in Ireland and one thousand pounds bestowed upon him for his services 30. Debate upon the Petition and Vindication of the Army and Major General Skippon in the House produced a Letter presented to him the day before from some Troopers in the behalf of eight Regiments of the Army of Horse wherein they expressed Some reasons why they could not engage in the service of Ireland under the present Conduct and complaining of the many scandals and false suggestions that were of late against the Army and their proceedings whereupon they were taken as Enemies and saw designs upon them and many of the Godly Party in the Kingdom and that they could not engage for Ireland till they were satisfied in their expectations and their just desires granted Three Troopers Sexby Allen and Sheppard who brought this Letter were examined in the House touching the Drawing and Subscribing of it and whether their Officers were engaged in it or not They affirmed That it was first drawn up at a Rendezvous of several of those Regiments and afterwards at several meetings by Agents or Agitators for each Regiment and that few of their Officers knew or took notice of it Those Troopers being demanded whether they had not been Cavaliers it was attested by Skippon That they had constantly served the Parliament and some of them from the beginning of the War and being asked concerning the meaning of some expressions in the Petition they answered That the Letter being a joynt Act of those Regiments they could not give a punctual answer being only Agents but if they might have the Quaeries in writing they would send or carry them to those Regiments and return their own and their answers These Troopers were ordered to attend the House upon Summons and after several Votes passed for prevention of disorder in the Army Major General Skippon Lieutenant General Cromwel Collonel Ireton and Collonel Fleetwood were Ordered to go down to the Army and acquaint them That the House would provide a considerable sum of mony for them before their Disbanding and their Arrears should be audited and an Ordinance to be brought in for Indemnity for acts done tempore loco belli Vote of both Houses for Sergeant Godbolt to be a Judg of the Common Pleas and for Mr. Rich and Mr. Hakewel Masters of the Chancery to sit with the Commissioners of the Seal to hear Causes Both Houses Ordered their Commissioners in Scotland to return The Accounts of Sir John Clotworthy Ordered to be certified May 1647. May 1. The Receipts of Goldsmiths-Hall Ordered by both Houses for part of the security for the two hundred thousand pounds to be borrowed of the City and that the Common-Councel be acquainted with it Ordinance for securing mony to some poor men who could not lend more Six thousand pounds and Ammunition Ordered for Collonel Rainesborough for reducing Jersey Order for payment of mony to Mr. Potter A Proclamation by Sir Thomas Fairfax pursuant to an Order of the House that all Officers of his Army do within twenty four hours repair to their Charges The Committee of both Houses met with the Common-Councel about security for the Loan of two hundred thousand pounds 3. The Provincial Assembly of London met at St. Pauls and Doctor Gouge was chosen their Prolocutor about settling the Presbyterian Government Both Houses past the Ordinance for regulating the University of Oxford there was also a numerous Committee for Appeals Letters from Scotland informed that Kolkitoth in the Marquess of Argiles Country put to the Sword Men Women and Children that Lieutenant General Lesley was Marched against him Forces Shipped away for Ireland 4. Divers Citizens of London attending for an answer to their Petition were called in and the Speaker told them That the House did not approve of their Petition The Commissioners for the Militia of London approved and their Ordinance passed and thanks Ordered to the old Militia Commissioners Letters from the Sheriff of Oxon
and be it Ordained That the Great Seal of England shall be committed to the custody and keeping of Henry Earl of Kent William Lord Grey of Werke Sir Thomas Widdrington Knight and Bulstrode Whitelocke Esquire who are hereby Ordained Commissioners for that purpose for and during the time of one whole year from the Passing of this Ordinance Which said Persons are hereby constituted and appointed to be Commissioners for the Custody of the said Great Seal of England during the time aforesaid and they or any two of them whereof one Member of the Lords House also one Member of the House of Commons shall have and are hereby authorized to have the Custody and Keeping Ordering and Disposing thereof as also all such and the like Powers and Authorities as any Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal of England for the time being hath Lawfully had and used or ought to have had or used John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum Henry Elsinge Cler. Parliam Dom. Com. Orders upon private Petitions of Grievances Letters from Ireland That the Lord Inchequin relieved some Garrisons of the English in Tipperary entred Carricke and Fortified a Pass to make good his Retreat blew open the Gate of Cullen by a Petard entred the Town took two Castles by Assault and put three hundred Soldiers to the Sword and some Women notwithstanding order to the contrary and then took in another strong Castle upon Mercy That Owen Roe Oneal is dead and the Supreme Councel fled from Kilkenny That the Parliaments Ships took three of the Rebells Ships loaden with Ammunition and Captain Ball took an Irish Man of War 16. Orders for taking off several Sequestrations in performance of Articles of War Ten thousand pound accepted for the Composition of Sir Jo. Strangeway and his Son and ordered for the Navy The Lord Fairfax Father to the General having a bruise on his Foot where a Corn was growing it festred and turn'd to a Gangrene which brought a Feaver upon him whereof he died at York March 13. and was much lamented Order that Sir Thomas Fairfax his Son should be Keeper of Pontefract Castle Custos Rotulorum of York-shire and chief Ranger c. in the place of his Father Order for Papists to be admitted to Compositions in performance of the Articles of Oxford 17. Long debate upon the Confession of Faith allmost all the day Several Ordinances pass'd for placing Ministers in vacant Benefices 18. The House sate not but according to their Order the Grand Committee sate about the business of the Fennes in Lincoln-shire 20. a Petition of London Merchants complaining of Pyrats and decay of Trade was referred to a Committee of Trade which was revived with power to consider of removing Obstructions in Trade and to receive all Petitions concerning the advance of Trade And referred to the Committee of the Admiralty to provide a sufficient guard for the Merchants Ships Letters of the Proceedings of the Commissioners in Scotland and of their Letters to the Major of Berwicke giving him notice of a design to surprize that Town and the Major's Answer Order for a Letter of thanks to the Major and to desire him to preserve the Town from Garrisoning according to the Treaty and order to the General to prevent any inconvenience by such meetings of the Cavaliers and Papists Letters from York of another Troop Landed from Ireland at Chester which marched towards Scotland That the Lord Fairfax the General 's Father was honourably buried Letters from Scotland of Divisions in their Parliament Some for raising an Army against the Sectaries in England others for the King and a third Party for no War The Clergy were for an Oath to be generally taken That Presbyterial Government be maintained that the King be not restored till he sign the Covenant to endeavour the extirpation of all Sectaries especially Erastianisme that the Ecclesiastical power is not subject to the Civil that the Kings Negative Vote in England be taken away Captain Wogan had Money sent to him in Scotland to pay his Quarters but by whom will not be discovered there are four hundred Foot and a Troop of Horse of the English in a Body 21. Letters that Col. Poyer held out in Pembroke Castle against the orders of Parliament and the Forces sent thither by the General that in the Morning he is sober and penitent and in the afternoon drunk and full of Plots that he put four or five of his Companions in the best Apparel he could get and by Sunrising put them out at the Sally-port and received them in again at the Gate himself with great Ceremony giving out in the Town that they were Commanders sent out of France to him from the Prince of Wales and more were to follow That when he hears news that pleaseth him then he puts forth bloody Colours and declares for the King and Common-Prayer when he hears other news then he is for the Oath and Covenant and puts forth blew and white Colours That one day he fired all his Guns on the Parliaments Forces without any occasion that afterwards he was very quiet yet the next day he vowed that not one of the Parliaments Forces should go away alive and calls the General King Thomas That the Parliaments Forces lye close and make no Shot at him but none of his men dare peep out of Town Upon Summons sent to him his answer was that if they might have their Arrears Disbursements and Indemnity they would give up the Castle The House ordered the General to send sufficient Forces to reduce Col. Poyer and Pembroke Castle an Ordinance to remove him from being Major of Pembroke and to constitute another Order for a Months Pay for the Forces in the Isle of Wight and for an allowance for four Gentlemen attending his Majesty Debate about Compositions upon surrenders of Garrisons A Plot was discovered by the General to surprize the Tower this night 22. Orders upon many private Petitions Ordinance past touching the Collecting of the Rents of Westminster Colledge The Commons agreed with the Lords in the Doctrinal part of the Confession of Faith but altered the Title from the Confession of Faith to be Articles of Faith agreed upon by both Houses 23. Debate touching Oxford Articles and about clipped and false Money Ordinance about reimbursing the Committee of Surrey for Money laid out by them for the Soldiery Order for a Writ for a new Election 24. Debate about setling of a good Ministry in some vacant places and Ordinances for some particular Parishes Order for two thousand pound for repairing the Library at Cambridge to be raised out of Deans and Chapters Revenues and an Order for incouragement of the Heads of Colledges there The General sent strict Orders for the disbanding of Major General Laugherne's Forces according to the Orders of Parliament and for the reducing of Col. Poyer 25. The Ordinance passed both Houses for setling the business of the Navy
acquainted the Houses with his Highness's Letter it not being in his power to act further the Parliament having ordered the way in which the Prisoners should be proceeded against not so much for hostility as for breach of the trust they reposed in them to the ingaging the Nation again in War and blood Subscribed Your Highness most humble Servant Fairfax Letters from the North that as yet there was no ingagement with the Scots 21. The Commons concurred with the Votes touching the Treaty and referred it to the Committee of both Houses for peace to prepare thing needful for the Treaty They thought fit again to send to his Majesty to let him know how far they had proceeded as to treat and to have his approbation A Letter from the General that he had received an order from the Lords to deliver the Earl of Holland from Warwick Castle to be confined to his house at Kensington A Letter from the Lord Admiral that upon the Lords Passes for some to go beyond Seas they had gone to the Prince as M r Aleburton the Scots Agent the Lord Andover and others The Commons desired a conference with the Lords about it and that a Letter be sent to the Lord Admiral and to the Lord General to make stay of all such persons notwithstanding their order Upon Petition of thousands of the Suburbs that had joyed with Major General Skippon he was ordered to grant them Commissions and the committee for suppressing of tumults to furnish them with Armes Letters from Salop that Sir Henry Lingen with a party of Horse took sixty of Colonel Harly's men and about two daies after a party of Colonel Harlies and Colonel Hortons men met with Sir Henry Lingens men about Radnor regained all their Horse and Prisoners took Sir Henry Lingen and Colonel Crofts and many other of the Kings commanders Prisoners slew divers of the party and routed the rest Letters from Colchester Leaguer that the approaches were so near that the besiegers and the Enemy laid aside their Muskets and in stead of shooting cast Stones at one another Some petitions inclosed in a Letter from the Lord Norwich and the rest were sent to the General expressing that at the desire of the inhabitants they had thought fit to send them And that they should be constrained for the better accommodation of the Souldiery to turn out the Towns People whereby their Houses and goods would be left liable to spoil and ruine for prevention whereof they had thought fit to treat with his Lordship for the surrender of the Town if he pleased to which purpose they would send six Officers if his Lordship would appoint the like number With this came another Letter offering an exchange of Captain Gray for M r Weston and M r Rowling the General accepted of the exchange but as to the Treaty said he would send answer by a Messenger of his own The General was in some danger by a shot from the Town that one who was exchanged told the Lord Norwich he heard the Parliament Souldiers discoursing sharply against those in Colchester and one of them bid him tell Goring that they would bore a hole through his nose and draw him with a Rope through Cheapside crying Here is the great Bull of Colchester The inclosed Petitions were one to the Earl of Norwich the Lord Capell and Sir Charles Lucas from the inhabitants of Colchester That having received their Commands to depart the Town for better supply of the Souldiers they might Petition the Lord Fairfax for Liberty to pass into the Country to prevent the danger of their lives without his leave They prayed their honours to give way for their Petition to be presented to the Lord Fairfax and till they had his answer that they might not be inforced from their habitations The Petition of the inhabitants of Colchester to the Lord Fairfax was to inform his Lordship that the Commanders in Chief in the Garrison had ordered all the inhabitants to provide with expedition to depart the Town or otherwise by power they should be forced thereto for that whatever became of the Townsmen the Souldiery who maintained the Kings cause must and shall be provided for That being driven to this Exigency they have no other means but to fly to his Christian Charity and clemency and humbly to pray that he would give them leave to pass into the Country for the preservation of their lives Subscribed by the Major and four Aldermen in the name of all the Petitioners To the Letter the General returned this answer He was willing to believe that the pressing necessities of the miserable inhabitants of Colchester had wrung from them the Petition inclosed in their Letter That he should not onely clear himself to all the world from the occasion of their sufferings but so far contribute to their relief as to allow all the inhabitants of the Town the Lords first ingaging not to restrain any who shall be willing to come out to enjoy the Liberty in their Petition desired Provided the Committee of the County of Essex then Prisoners with the Lords in the Town be sent out with the first only he shall not permit the wives and Children of any Towns-men or others who shall abide with the Lords in Armes to have the benefit above-mentioned Concerning the rendition of the Town he offers That all such officers and Souldiers under the degree of a Captain excepting all such who being Members of his Army have since the 10. of May last deserted their Colours they ingaging themselves never hereafter to bear Arms against the Parliament shall have passes without injury offered them to return to their respective homes And all Captains and other superiour Officers with the Lords and Gentlemen to submit to mercy Subscribed Your Lordships Servant Tho. Fairfax An Express came from Lieutenant General Cromwel in the general of his defeating the Scots Army under Duke Hamilton New Instructions for Colonel Hammond 1. That the King be removed to Newport in the Isle of Wight the place of the Treaty 2. That he be in the same condition and freedom there as he was at Hampton Court 3. That no person in the first Exception out of Mercy nor under restraint of the Parliament nor of late actually in Arms against the Parliament be admitted to the King 4. That no person that hath been in Arms against the Parliament or aiding or assisting to them or of whom there is just cause of suspicion be admitted into any Fort or Tower in the Isle of Wight 5. That no person of any forrain Nation be admitted to come into the same without leave from both Houses of Parliament 6. That if the Kingdom of Scotland send any to treat with his Majesty they shall have a Pass from both Houses 7. That his Majesty pass his Royal word not to go out of the Island during the Treaty nor twenty eight daies after
there Letters from Dublin that the Lieutenant was marched with 10000 Horse and Foot towards Tredah to find out Ormond who with the L. of Ardes was very Numerous But many English came from them to the Lieutenant and such as Ormond took going from him were Presently Executed One Mr. Williams sent to Prison for reading the Common Prayer Publickly 10 The Councel Ordered both the General his Regiments and Okey's Dragoons and some other Regiments commanded by M. G. Lambert to march to Oxford to quiet the distempers there Letters from Dublin that the Lieutenant with about 12000 Horse and Foot was come near Tredah which Ormond had victualled for 6 Months and fortefyed and put in it 2000 Irish Foot and 200 Horse and made Sir Arthur Ashton formerly Governour of Reading for the King Governour of this place That the Lieutenant ordered Ships to stop Provisions from the Town and to furnish the Besiegers that he sent 1000 Foot by Sea to Sir Charles Coot and ordered 500 Horse to march by land to him An intercepted Letter from Prince Rupert from Kingsale to Ormond of the wants of the Fleets with proposal for Provisions 11 The Imposition of 4 s. per Chaldron upon Coales taken off for the benefit of the Poor Captain Wagstaffe gave an account to the House of the particular Passages in the meeting at Oxford how they imprisoned their Officers set Guards fortifyed New-Colledge and other Acts of Hostility That C. Ingoldsby their C. sent to them from the Parliament was put under a Guard by them and how they chose Agitators That the secured Officers walking near to the Guards after two dayes discoursing with the private Souldiers on the Guard and some of them not well satisfyed with these Proceedings of their fellow Souldiers which these Officers fomented and demanded liberty to go away some of the Guards were fit for it and others against it whereupon the Officers forced their way through the Guards and so past them and went up to their C. Ingoldsby and told him how the Matter stood He with his two Men came to the Guards that were put upon him and without saying much to them came through them and commanded the Souldiers to march with him which they did and came to the Officers in the Street One of the Agitators on Horseback killed a Souldier who offered to stop him and the Guard which the C. brought with him took the rest of the Agitators Prisoners many Souldiers came in to the C. as he went along in the Streets and marched with him Then he went up to New-Castle and commanded the Colours which were brought to him He sent for a Party of Horse to Whateley and placed his own Guards The Souldiers generally obeyed him and manifested great Joy that they were thus disingaged Referred to the Councel of State to give directions to the Attourney General to proceed against the Mutineers at Oxford by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer for Treason and to appoint other Councel to assist him and a Sollicitor and to prepare a Declaration touching this Business Order for an Addition to C. Okey's Regiment of Dragoons to make them up 1000. A Member of the House chosen Major of Taunton had leave to serve in that place An Act passed for relief of Felt-Makers and Hat-band Makers against Aliens importing them to the hindrance of English Manufactures 12 Instructions against the Accounts of Mr. Hawkins Treasurer of Ireland Order to certify the Accounts of C. Rossiter Some Delinquents sent for from Norwich An Act past prohibiting to brew for sale any Ale or Beer above 16 s. the Barrel above the Excise 13 Recommended to the General to give his Orders to his Officers of Horse for securing by his Horse the High-Wayes from Robberies and to apprehend the Thieves Order for a Commission to visit the University of Oxâ—ord The Act for relief of tender Consciences against the Penalties of several Statutes read and committed The Troop of Horse in Oxford under Captain Smith continued for 6 Months 20 s. per week ordered for the Lady Beaumont Complaints from New-Castle against Taxes Petition of M. G. Mitton and Arrears and Losses allowed to several Persons The Earl of Salisbury chosen a Member into the House for Lyn. Letters that the Prince and Duke of York were landed with 300 Men in Jersy Papers intercepted from Ormond to Prince Rupert concerning Provisions and Necessaries for their Fleet. Letters that the Duke of York had visited the King Queen and Cardinal of France and was revisited by them whom he most humbly beseeched to have Compassion on the King his Brother and to give all Assistance possible for the regaining of his Estate and Kingdom To which the Cardinal made answer That it could not possibly be now but that he might assure himself and the King his Brother that when they were in a capacity to serve him they would spare neither Purse nor Power and in the mean time desired the Kings Brother to accept of a small present of 100000 Crowns Letters that Ormond was but 5000 in the Field and had put the rest into Garrisons That the Lord Lieutenant finding the Enemy to give ground besieged Tredah That he did not pursue Ormond judging it not safe to march too far into an Enemies Country and leave many of their Garrisons behind him especially Tredah which was very strong and would be of singular Advantage to him both for Sea and Land The 1000 Foot sent to Sir Charles Coot were safely landed at Derry Major General Lambert C. Baxter and other Officers went to Oxford to try the Mutinous Souldiers there by a Court Marshal those of the Country who joyned with them are to be tryed by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer 14 A Petition of the Countess of Castle-Haven referred to a Committee who upon proof of the truth of it are to bring in an Act as the Petition desires Sir Kenelm Digbys Petition carryed upon the Question not to be read Letters from Mr. Strickland from Holland That the Provintial States there had given him audience as a publick Agent from this State Order that Mr. Speaker write a Letter to acknowledge the Respect to their Agent Order that a Ship lately taken from the State and adjudged Prize should be discharged by the Admiralty and the Seamen who took her to be gratifyed otherwise Order for Money for such as fled out of Ireland hither and to inable them to return into Ireland Order for 1000 l. for the Countess of Kent for her dammage by the demolishing of Goodrick Castle Order for more Carriages for the Regiments gone for Ireland and the Councel to bring it into the Establishment An Act past Authorizing the Commissioners of the Customes to Impose Fines and Forfeitures on such as Import Wines c. From France contrary to a late Act. 15 Letters to the Councel that Jermin and Percy were imprisoned in France for holding Correspondence with the Spaniard to the disservice
of the 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
answered That they were not satisfied in Conscience to do what he required but would give an Answer to Collonel Overton who had before sent to them the like Message That the Ministers of St. Johns Town refused to Preach unless they might pray for the King and their Army in England the Governour told them they might Preach the Gospel of Christ but that would not satisfie them That in swimming over the River to come to Dundee Two or Three Men and Horses were drowned Among other Countries Oxford-shire had raised a Regiment of Foot and Two Troops of Horse to assist the Lord General before Worcester and had chosen Collonel James Whitelocke to command both their Horse and Foot he was the Collonel Mr. Robert Warcup Lieutenant Collonel and the Major and Captains were most of them Oxford-shire Gentlemen They wrote to Collonel James Whitelocke to acquaint him herewith and to desire him to come into England to accept of this Command to which the Committee had freely chosen him he returned thanks for the Honour his Country-men had done him accepted the Command and promised to hasten into England to serve them But before he could come over from Ireland the King with his Army being come into England and all the new raised Forces being commanded to march to the Lord General towards Worcester his Lieutenant Collonel Warcup marched with his Regiment of Foot thither 2. An Act passed to enable the Commissioners of the Militia to raise Money for the present Service of the Common-wealth A Messenger from the Head Quarters informed That the Lord General and Lieutenant General met and viewed their Forces and consulted about carrying on of the Work and prepared to receive the Enemy if he should ingage who came forth in a full Body but would not come near to Cromwel Who thereupon sent out a Party against them upon whose approach the Scots retreated into the City That the Parliament Forces were got within half Musquet-shot of the Enemies Works and their Canon played daily into the City with good execution That the Earl of Derby came wounded into Worcester with about 30 Horse and no more of all his Levies in Lancashire which so distracted the Towns-men that they began to repent their deserting of the Parliament That the King seeing his hopes in the Earl of Derby frustrated would have marched away with his Horse upon which his Foot were ready to mutiny and said They should both endure the same Fortune the King and his Officers had much ado by fair words to appease them The Parliament voted That whosoever had the Kings Declaration in their Hands should bring it in to the Council or to the Lord Major of London or some Justice of Peace to be burnt by the Hang-man and those who should not bring it in or should disperse it to be punished according to Law Twelve Regiments of London being 1400. Mustered in Finsbury Fields the Speaker and divers Members of Parliament were there and the Lord Major and Sheriffs of London the Kings Declaration was burnt by the Hangman at the Head of every Regiment who gave loud Shouts and Acclamations thereupon That Captain Escot a Parliament Man of War fetched two Prizes out of the Enemies Harbour in Scotland and brought them into Lieth loaden with Corn and other Commodities In one of them were divers intercepted Letters of Consequence from the Lord Argyle Cleveland and others to the Lord Jermyn Captain Titus the Earl of Newcastle and others in Holland That the same Man of War fought Three hours with another Ship bound for the Enemy loaden with Wine Arms and Ammunition and at length sunk her and all her Goods except Ten Hogsheads of Wine which were saved and a few of the Passengers the rest were drowned 3. Letters That a Party of the Enemies Horse moved and pulled down Two Bridges of the River Tearne in Hereford-shire but being flanked by a Party of Lieutenant General Fleetwood supposing they intended to march away they retreated That a Servant of Masseys came into Cromwels Quarters and reported That the wants of the Kings Army were very great that his Master was shot in the Hand and the Earl of Worcester wounded in the Mouth Major Mercer with a strong Party was sent to secure Bewdly Bridge From Scotland That a Party of Collonel Alureds Men being sent out to prevent their new Levies Seven Miles from Dundee they found old General Leven and several other great Lords raising of Forces whom they apprehended and brought away Prisoners Letters That Scurlocke the Famous Tory took Two small Garrisons of the Parliaments in Ireland That the Garrisons of Lymbrick and Galloway were much straitned That 2000 Sallied out of Galloway upon Collonel Russel who commanded there in Sir Charles Coote's absence but were repulsed with the loss of 2 or 300 of their Men and but Six of Russels lost That the Remnant with Clanrickard increased in number but were so full of terror that upon the advance of Sir Charles Coote and Collonel Reynolds towards them they quitted divers strong Passes and a Castle of Consequence where the Soldiers had Quarter for Life the Officers and Protected People left to Mercy and some of them hanged That the Enemy took Raghaera Castle from the Parliament surprising most of their Men gathering Contribution in the Country who were likewise cut off That the Sickness is still in those Parts That the Commissioners of Parliament appointed a day of Humiliation 4. Letters from Scotland to the Speaker That after the taking of Sterling Lieutenant General Monk marched to Dundee for the reducing of that Place and summoned it they in answer to his Summons sent him a Proclamation from the King That whosoever would lay down Arms and come in to them should have Mercy That this Impudence of theirs was occasioned by the Promise of old Lesley Earl of Leven with divers other Lords and Ministers Commissioned from the King to raise Forces whereby he would relieve the Town Private Intelligence being given hereof Collonel Alured with a good Party marched to the Place of their Rendezvous and surprized old Leven and the Lord Chancellor with divers other Lords Six or Seven of their Ministers and 300 more Persons of Quality Letters from Worcester Sir This day hath been a glorious day this day Twelvemonth was glorious at Dunbar this day hath been glorious before Worcester the Word was then The Lord of Hosts and so it was now and indeed the Lord of Hosts was wonderfully with us The same Signal we had then as now which was to have no White about us and indeed the Lord hath clothed us with White Garments though to the Enemy they have been Bloody In the Morning 3. Sept. Lieutenant General Fleetwood had order to advance with his Brigade on the other side Severne and all things being prepared for the making of a Bridge and having cleared our Passages with a Forlorn we laid a Bridge over Severne and
Council of State the Lord Major Sheriffs and Aldermen of London the Militia and many Thousand others of Quality There was a great Guard of Soldiers Horse and Foot and Multitudes of People in the Fields and in the Streets he was entertained all the way as he passed to his House with Vollies of great and small shot and loud Acclamations and Shouts of the People He carried himself with great affability and seeming humility and in all his Discourses about the Business of Worcester would seldom mention any thing of himself but of the gallantry of the Officers and Soldiers and gave as was due all the Glory of the Action unto God 13. A List sent up to the Parliament of many Officers taken in Pursuit of the Scots near Manchester That Collonel Gerrard who fell upon the Rear of the Scots Party in Cheshire was by them taken Prisoner and carried four or five Miles when coming to a Passe where they saw Clubmen ready to oppose them Two Majors Three Captains and Twelve Soldiers desired the Collonel that they might be his Prisoners to avoid the Club-men which he did and brought them Prisoners to Chester That the King was escaped but the Earl of Montgomery and about 80 more divers of them Men of Quality were brought Prisoners to Halifax That Collonel Lilburne's Regiment took divers Officers of Quality and 200 Soldiers and sent them Prisoners to York That the York-shire Forces took Lieutenant General Lesley Major General Middleton many Officers Gentlemen and Soldiers That Duke Hamilton was dead The Scots Prisoners were conducted through the City to the new Artillery-ground in Tuttle-fields 15. Letters That a Party under Collonel Okey took several Houses in the Highlands by Storm That the Scots threatned to hang all between sixteen and sixty that would not joyn with them and executed some That 80 Women were killed at the Storming of Dundee 100 Ships Prize in the Harbour That about 1000 Scots were brought Prisoners by the Country joyning with the Parliaments Forces in Lancashire and that of 2000 Horse of the Enemy that fled from Worcester few or none escaped 16. Cromwel sate in the House and the Speaker made a Speech to him and gave him the Thanks of the House for his great Services Lieutenant General Fleetwood and other Officers of the Army had also the Thanks of the House Cromwel and most of the Members of Parliament and divers Commanders of the Army were Feasted by the Lord Major in London The Parliament resumed the Debate touching a New Representative Debate of an Act of Oblivion and General Pardon with some Expendients for satisfaction of the Soldiery and the Ease of the People Order for a Fast-day in the House to seek God for Counsel and Assistance for improvement of his great Mercies and for doing things most to his Glory and the good of the Common-wealth Report to the House from the Committee of the Army of all the Forces in England and Ireland and the Monthly Charge of them A Committee appointed to receive the Agent from the Common-wealth of Genoa Letters That the Mosse-Troopers killed four of the Parliaments Soldiers and Two Passengers and indangered the Packet and that the Forces in the North were on the Borders to meet with the Flying Scots That the Commissioners of the Militia in Worcester-shire were disbanding the Militia Forces demolishing the Works and securing the Persons and Estates of such as adhered to the King 17. The Scots Prisoners came to London and among them who were not discovered before were the Lord Grandison Collonel Blague and others of Quality the Parliament ordered the Trials of the Earl of Cleveland Lauderdale Derby Major and Sheriffs of Worcester and others 18. Letters That Aberdeen was quitted by the Scots That divers died of the Spotted Feaver at Lieth Collonel Hubbold and others and that Lieutenant General Monk had been dangerously sick That the Gentlemen of Fife submitted to the Government of England An Account of dismissing Militia Forces and of the trouble to the Countries by the Scots Prisoners 19. Letters That upon the Suit of General Leven Sir Arthur Hasclridgge had given leave for his being Prisoner at his Son-in-law's House Mr. De la Vale upon his Parole and Mr. De la Vale gave Bonds of 20000 l. for his being a true Prisoner 20. Upon the desire of the Guinnee Merchants 1500 of the Scots Prisoners were granted to them and sent on Ship-board to be transported to Guinnee to work in the Mines there and upon a Quarrel among the Soldiers in the Barges Two or Three of them were drowned 22. Letters That Lymbrick would gladly accept of the first Offers of the Lord Deputy That they have Divisions among themselves That they made a Salley with 1000 Foot upon the Parliaments Forces who after an hours Dispute killed 80 of the Irish and wounded many and had nine slain and 35 wounded of the Parliaments Soldiers The House kept a Private Fast in the House Act read for a Thanksgiving-day and another Act for a yearly Observation of the third day of September in all the Three Kingdoms with a Narrative of the Grounds thereof The High Courts of Justice continued for Three Months by a new Act. Letters of a Prize taken with 20000 Dollers and rich Lading 24. The Funerals of General Popham were accompanied from Exeter House by the Speaker and Members of Parliament the Lord General and Council of State with great Solemnity to Westminster 25. Two of the Parliaments Soldiers in Scotland sentenced to ride the Wooden Horse for seizing and carrying away a Chest of Goods buried by a Country-man in the Fields and the Lieutenant General Monk published a Proclamation for the better prevention of disorders and plundering in Dundee 26. That the Enemy in Limbrick have made many Overtures for another Treaty but it would not be granted That the Priests and Friers among them bind them by new Oaths but they dare not trust one another That the Lord Deputy is before Clare Castle 27. Letters of the Jersey Pyrates doing mischef upon the Western Coast The Parliament ordered a Bill to be brought in for setting a time for the ending of this Parliament and for constituting a New Representative 29. The Narrative of the Mercies and Victories obtained by the Parliaments Forces in Scotland and England The Lord Major and Sheriffs of London were presented at the Exchequer 30. Letters That Collonel Reynolds had taken in Bellebeg Castle in Ireland and dispersed Dungans Forces That whilst Collonel Hewson was abroad the Enemy took in Two or Three small Garrisons of the Parliaments near Dublin but upon Hewsons return they quitted them An Act passed for providing Maintenance for Maimed Soldiers and Widows of Soldiers Order for a Bill for Confirmation of the Sale of Bishops Lands and the Lands of Deans and Chapters c. October 1651. 1. Several new Acts of Parliament Fead and debated in the House 2. Letters of
to him to submit to the Parliament upon good terms and Letters to the same effect from other Friends were the cause of his surrender of the Island 30. Orders for Recruits from Pendennis Castle for Ireland and six weeks pay for them before they were transported out of England May 1652. 1. Letters That the Declaration of the Parliament of England for the Union of Scotland with England and their sending of Members to the Parliament of England was proclaimed with great solemnity at Edenburgh Cross but the Scots shewed no rejoycing at it 3. Letters justifying the Proceedings of the Commissioners for propagating the Gospel in Wales written by Mr. Vavasour Power a Minister there 4. Referred to the Committee to consider how a competent Maintenance for Godly Ministers may be setled in lieu of Tithes Order for relief of maimed and sick Soldiers Mr. Weaver one of the Commissioners of the Parliament in Ireland came into the House whereof he was a Member and gave them an account of the State of their Affairs there Letters of Credence of the Queen of Sweden to the Noble Hareldus Applebone her publick Minister to the Parliament of England were read and Letters from the Prince of Conde to the Parliament read and both of them referred to the Council of State Letters That Argyle did again solicit for some singular Act of Favour from the Parliament of England but his ways were known That Three Judges were come from England to administer Justice to the Scots in Scotland 5. That some Travellers upon Hunsloe Heath saw a strange Apparition of the Sun about sixth Clock in the Evening c. 6. Letters That the Ministers of Scotland were as bitter as ever against the Interest of England Of more Counties and Boroughs accepting the Vnion with England and that Argyle had agreed to Terms to come in to the Parliament of England but they were not published That the Lord Chief-Justice St. John Mr. Salloway and Alderman Tichburne the Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland went away for England That the Deputies of Argyle Shire had consented to the Vnion 7. Letters That the Magistrates of Musselborough had taken the Ingagement of the Parliament of England Of a Pyrate who took several English Vessels to the Westward of Recruits Shipped from Pendennis for Ireland That the Irish begged for Conditions to come in to the Parliament and some of them were admitted 10. Letters of Preparations to reduce Dinnoter Castle in Scotland That the new Judges sent into Scotland were very busie in setling of new Judicatories there That Ireland was wholly reduced and had no other refuge but Bogs and Woods that the Plague was much abated there That Commissary-General Reynolds had gotten most of the Provisions of the Rebels and killed and taken many of them and prevented their fortifying That he setled Three considerable Garrisons upon Passes in Kings County took in the strong Forts in those Parts upon Quarter for Life only 11. The Scots Commissioners returned and were in the Parliament The Committee revived for setting a Period to this Parliament and providing for future Representatives 12. Debate upon Qualifications of such Persons as shall be received into the House as Members Letters That Captain Howe a Young Gentle-man who had done gallant Service for the Parliament in Ireland being assaulted in his Quarters by a Party of the Tories he at the first Charge routed them but then they came on again with a fresh Party and routed Captain How 's Party who endeavoured to make good his Soldiers Retreat and himself charged Three times and came off well but upon a Fourth Charge he was unfortunately slain and his Death was very much lamented 13. A Duel between the Lord Chandoys and Mr. Compton and the Lord killed Mr. Compton 14. The knocking of a Link near some Reeds set the Reeds on fire and they fired a House in Redriffe and Two Ships lying near the Shore and burnt them at low water when no Boats could come to help them nor could they get Water Letters That the Inhabitants of Virginia willingly submitted to the Government of the Parliament 15. That the Army in Scotland was taking the Field Of the refractoriness of the Ministers That the Judges sent out of England published a Proclamation at Edenburgh That they would sit at the usual place for administring of Justice 17. Letters from the Commissioners in Ireland to the Parliament giving an account of the Affairs there of the Provisions received and acknowledging the great care of the Parliament therein and how they had disposed thereof to the Forces Of the Ports in Kerry fit for a Forreign Enemy to land in That Clenrickard and others were gone to Vlster to joyn with Phelim O-Neale That in some places the Enemy have made some Incursions in small Parties and taken some prey and Dragoon Horses but upon their return they being 250 Horse and 500 Foot they were met by Lieutenant-Collonel Throckmorton with 140 Horse and 400 Foot who had no Pikes and the Horse at first made some retreat But at length after a sharp Dispute the English Horse routed the Irish and killed 200 of them on the place and in the pursuit and took and killed divers Officers and had but twenty one killed and 100 Soldiers wounded That the Irish Clergy have excommunicated Collonel Fitz-Patrick for submitting to the Parliament and the Laity published a Declaration against him and all that joyned with him and some of his Party were cut off by the Irish who also cut off the Ears of some whom they took Prisoners That Fitz-Patrick met with some of them That Shipping was wanting to transport those who are to go beyond Seas 2000 of Fitz-Patricks Party 1000 of O-Dwyers Party and 4000 more Of many Applications made by divers chief Officers of the Irish to come in to the Parliament and Commissioners were sent with Instructions to give the same Terms which Collonel Venables was authorized to give to those in Vlster That Sir Charles Coote explained the Articles of Galloway which he yielded to to prevent charge to the Parliament and to get the possession of that City 18. Letters of a Squadron of the Parliaments Ships meeting with Three Dutch Men of War and Seven Merchants that the Dutch Admiral came under the Lee of the Parliaments Ships and kept his Flag up whereupon the English Ship sent a Boat to him to acquaint him that they had received Orders from their General to cause those Ships they met to take down their Flags and presently the Dutch Admiral took down his Flag and saluted the English Ships with Three Pieces of Ordnance and the English did the like to him After the Admiral came the Vice-Admiral of the Dutch but came to the Windward of the English contrary to the custom in the Narrow Seas and saluted the English with 13 Shot but took not down their Top-Flag The English called to them to take it down
Collonel Morgan in his late Ingagement with Glencarn and Kinmore killed One hundred and twenty of their men took Twenty seven Prisoners with all their Ammunition and most of their Arms and Eighty Horse That the business in Sweden goes on very hopefully the Lord Ambassadour has great great Repute with the Queen and the Grand Chancellour and his New Credentials are very well accepted of by them That the Ambassadors were Landed from Holland with Power to ratifie the Articles of Peace with England The Lords Newport and Youngshall Ambassadours Extraordinary from the States General Arrived with Eighty Persons in their Retinue and very Gallant 28 An Ordinance of the Lord Protector and his Council Published for the Reviving of the Jurisdiction of the County Pallatine of Lancaster and for holding Assize there Letters that Athol Glencarn Glencary and Kinmore were drawing all their Forces together about Four thousand to be Revenged of Collonel Morgan That they have taken off all their Garrisons and intend a flying Army and to Lodge their Ammunition in Woods Of a Scotch-man who in a Vision was warned to go to their General and tell him That because of their wicked living the Judgments of God would light on them The Scot not going to the General was warned in a Second Vision to go to him or else that the Judgment of God would fall upon him and was presently struck Dumb and declared all this by Writing and his Resolution to go to their General and to declare this to him in Writing March 1653. March 1. A Publick Minister from the Arch-Duke Leopoldus had Audience from the Lord Protector The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Recorder of London attended the Lord Protector and his Council about the business of a Corporation to the City of Westminster That the Lord Ambassadour Whitlock goes on very hopefully in Sweden but they are a little stumbled at the detention of Swedish Ships in England 2 Letters that the Duke of Lorain was seized upon and secured by the Arch-Duke Leopold 3 Letters that many of Athols Men forsook him and that his Levys did take little Effect the Country being grown weary of his Oppressions That one of Collonel Daniells Men running away to Athol was taken again and Hanged That others ran away from Collonel Daniels Regement That Major General Lamberts Regiment of Horse and Commissary General Whaleys were come near to the Highlands That the States Ambassadors came in great state through London in Coaches 4 Letters that the English Fleet Road at St. Hellens Point near the Isle of Wight The Dutch Ambassadors had Audience of the Lord Protector in the Banqueting House at Whitehall which was richly hanged and a Chair of State for the Lord Protector and Chair for the Ambassadors and a great multitude of people They acquainted his Highness That all their Provinces had consented to the Articles of Peace and had Impowred them to Ratifie the Articles and they desired a Cessation of Arms in the mean time An Ambassador was Landed from the King of Denmark to the Lord Protector 5 That Lieutenant Hellin with Six Troopers charged six of the Enemies ten miles into the Hills and took them their Horses and Arms and one of them being an English-man refused Quarter and was killed That Major Bridge with a Party took Six of the Enemy and seven Horses That young Montross had like to have killed the Lord Lorn 7 Of English Seamen Pressed for the Fleet. Of an English Barque taken by a Dutch Man of War who restored Her and secured Her from a Brest Man of War Of an English Ship brought in Prize into the Texel by a Dutch private Man of War 8 An Ordinance for Approbation of Ministers by Commissioners That six Members of the Lord Protectors Council were appointed Commissioners to meet with the Dutch Ambassadors to Sign the Articles of Peace with them That still both the English and the Dutch prepared to increase their Navies 9 Orders by the Lord Protector for all to repair to their Charges in Scotland 10 Of Barques taken by the Dutch Free-booters in the North. Of one hundred and forty Dutch Ships Arrived at the Vlye from the East Country That Middleton was gone for Scotland with two small Men of War and a little Ammunition and some Arms and about Three hundred Voluntiers 11 Letters that Middleton was Landed in the Highlands That the Lord Protector went on amain in his Preparations for the Sea and caused divers Marriners to be Pressed and drew out some Land Soldiers to put aboard the Ships 13 Letters that the Highlanders upon Middletons coming to them give out that he brought with him Two thousand five hundred Foot and five hundred Horse whereas he had under Three hundred in all That Captain Witter sent out a Party to skirmish with Captain Johnson before Blair Castle and Johnson and one more were killed That Captain Masons Troup and Captain Palmers Troup about Dunfrize fell soul upon one another by occasion of one of their Centries who was a Scotchman and thinking they had been Enemies six of them were killed and many wounded before they knew the mistake 14 Letters that Monsieur Chaunt the French Ambassadour with the States labours to put on the Interest of his Master and to have him Comprehended in the Peace betwixt the two Common-wealths That an East-land Fleet of One hundred and fifty Sail had brought to the Netherlands the necessary Commodities for Shipping that were wanting in those Countries That the King of Scots was still at Paris but had no encouragement to stay in that Court who much desired Peace with the Lord Protector 15 The Lord Protectors Commissioners met with the Dutch Ambassadors at their Lodgings to examine Papers and to compare the Articles of Peace agreed upon with the ingrossment of them That the Portsmouth Frigot and the Constant Warwick met with Beach the Admiral of the Brest Pyrates and pursued him till night when the Two Frigots were parted Beach roaving to and again in the Night chanced to light again upon the Constant Warwick and thinking she had been a Merchants Ship came up to her to Board her The Captain of the Warwick demanded who it was and Beach answered he was the Portsmouth Frigot but the Warwick suspecting him bad him stand off then Beach perceiving his mistake made away but the Warwick being a good Saylor made after him and kept him company all the Night That about Six in the Morning Beach begun the Fight firing Three Guns which were answered by the Warwick and the Fight lasted till Two in the Afternoon when Beach and his Men called for Quarter and had it That Beach had five Foot Water in the Hold when he yielded That he had Two hundred Men in his Ship whereof Twenty were killed in the Fight That his Ship was a Gallant New Vessel of Forty two Guns whereof Thirty were Mounted Anno 1654 That there were taken with him Nine Captains
the Shires and Borroughs of Scotland by their Deputies convened at Dalkeith and again at Edenburgh did accept of the said Vnion and assent thereunto For the compleating and perfecting of which Vnion Be it Ordained And it is Ordained by his Highness the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging by and with the advice and consent of his Council That all the People of Scotland and of the Isles of Orkney and Zethland and of all the Dominions and Territories belonging unto Scotland are and shall be and are hereby Incorporated into Constituted Established Declared and Confirmed one Commonwealth with England And in every Parliament to be held Successively for the said Common-wealth thirty persons shall be called from and serve for Scotland And for the more effectual preservation of this Vnion and the freedom and safety of the People of this Common-wealth so united Be it Ordained And it is Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That all the people of Scotland and of the Isles of Orkney and Zethland and of all the Dominions and Territories belonging unto Scotland of what Degree or Condition soever be discharged of all Fealty Homage Service and Allegiance which is or shall be pretended Due unto any of the Issue and Posterity of Charles Stewart late King of England and Scotland or any Claiming under him or that Charles Stuart Eldest Son and James called Duke of York second Son and all other the Issue and Posterity of the said late King and all and every person and persons pretending Title from by or under him are and be disabled to hold or enjoy the Crown of Scotland and other the Dominions thereunto belonging or any of them or to have the Name Title Stile or Dignity of King or Queen of Scotland or to have and enjoy the Power and Dominion of the said Kingdom and Dominions or any of them or the Honours Mannors Lands Tenements Possessions and Hereditaments belonging or appertaining to the said Crown of Scotland or other the Dominions aforesaid or to any of them any Law Statute Vsage Ordinance or Custom in Scotland to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding And it is further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That the said Office Stile Dignity Power and Authority of King of Scotland and all right of the Three Estates of Scotland to Convocate or Assemble in any General Convocation or Parliament and all Conventional and Parliamentary Authority in Scotland as formerly Established and all Laws Vsages and Customs Ordaining Constituting or Confirming the same shall be and are hereby and from henceforth abolished and utterly taken away and made null and void And that this Vnion may take its more full Effect and intent Be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That the Arms of Scotland viz. a Cross commonly called Saint Andrews Cross be received into and born from henceforth in the Arms of this Common-wealth as a Badge of this Vnion and that all the Publick Seals Seals of Office and Seals of Bodies Civil or Corporate in Scotland which heretofore carried the Arms of the Kings of Scotland shall from henceforth instead thereof carry the Arms of this Commonwealth And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That all Customes Excise and other Imposts for Goods transported from England to Scotland and from Scotland to England by Sea or Land are and shall be so far taken off and discharged as that all Goods for the future shall pass as free and with like Priviledges and with the like Charges and Burdens from England to Scotland and from Scotland to England as goods passing from port to port or place to place in England and that all Goods shall and may pass between Scotland and any other part of this Commonwealth or the Dominions thereof with the like Privileges Freedom Charges and Burdens as such Goods do or shall pass between England and the said parts and Dominions any Law Statute Vsage or Custom to the contrary thereof in any wise notwitstanding And that all goods prohibited by any Law now in force in England to be transported out of England to any Foreign parts or imported shall be and hereby are prohibited to be transported or imported by the same Law and upon the same penalties out of Scotland to any Foreign parts aforesaid or from any Forein parts into Scotland And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That all Sesses publick Impositions and Taxations whatsoever be imposed taxed and levyed from henceforth proportionably from the whole people of this Commonwealth so united And further to the end that all Dominion of Tenures and Superiorities importing Servitude and Vassalage may likewise be abolished in Scotland Be it further Declared and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That all Heritors Proprietors and Possessors of Lands in Scotland or the Dominions thereunto belonging and their Heirs shall from and after the twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred fifty and four hold their respective Lands of the respective Lord and Lords by Deed Charter Patent or Enfeoffment to be renewed upon the death of every Heritor Proprietor Possessor as now they do to his Heir or Heirs by and under such yearly Rents Boons and Annual Services as are mentioned or due by any Deeds Patents Charters or Enfeofments now in being of the respective Lands therein expressed or by vertue thereof enjoyed without rendring doing or performing any other Duty Service Vassalage or Demand whatsoever by reason or occasion of the said Lands or any the Clauses or Covenants in the said Deeds Charters Patents or Enfeoffments contained saving what is hereafter herein and hereby particularly expressed and declared that is to say Heriots where the same are due Fines certain where the same is already certain and where the Fine is uncertain reasonable Fines upon the Death of the Lord and upon the Death or alienation of the Tenant or any of them where the same have usually been paid which said Fine not being already certain shall not at any time exceed one years value of the Lands and also doing suit and service to such Court and Courts Baron as shall be constituted in Scotland in such manner as is Ordained by one other Ordinance Entituled An Ordinance for Erecting Courts Baron in Scotland And be it Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That all and every the Heritors Proprietors and Possessors aforesaid and their Heirs are and shall he from henceforth for ever discharged of all Fealty Homage Vassallage and Servitude which is or shall be pretended due from them or any of them unto any their Lords or Superiors whatsoever claiming Dominion or Jurisdiction over them by vertue of the said Patents Charters Deeds or Enfeoffments and other rights thereof or of any Clauses or Conditions therein contained other than as is before Declared and Ordained And that all the said Superiorities Lordships and Jurisdictions other than as aforesaid shall be and are hereby
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
Maurice General Ruthen and the Lord Digby for the Parliament were Colonel Berkley Colonel Wichcotes and Colonel Butler who agreed upon Articles Sept. 2. to this effect To deliver up to the King all their Artillery with all their bag and baggage no person under a Corporal to wear any kind of weapon all Officers above to wear onely sword and pistols there were delivered up 40 pieces of brass Ordnance 200 barrels of Powder Match and Bullet proportionable 9000 Arms for horse and foot Some of the private Soldiers listed themselves in the King's service and some of the rest as they marched forth being pillaged by the King's Soldiers Skippon rode up to the King who stood to see them pass by and told him it was against his honour and justice that his articles should not be performed that his Soldiers did pillage some of the Parliaments Soldiers contrary to the Articles and desired his Majesty to give order to restraine them The King thereupon gave a more strict command for the punctual observation of the Articles and Skippon with his men marched to Poole We may take notice by this chiefly and by several other passages of the uncertain issues of War and of the overruling hand of providence in Martial affairs as much if not more than in other matters It was but a few weeks before that Essex and Waller with two great Armies were in pursuit of the King who could scarce find a way to avoid them and the Parliaments power and expectation was far above that of the King Now the dye of War is turned another way the Parliaments Army is defeated disarmed and dispersed and the King becomes Victorious This did much affright some of the Parliament party and caused several discourses among them Divers who were no friends to Essex inveighed against him as one that had quitted his Command and deserted his Army in the greatest danger others excused and commended him for this action by which means onely he could reserve himself his Officers and Souldiers to doe the Parliament further service Others condemned Waller Manchester and Middleton for not hastning more to the assistance of the General every one vented his own fancy and censure but doubtless he was a person of as much integrity courage and honour as any in his age he was brought into this noose by the wilfulness of others and though his enemies took advantage against him upon it yet many thought others to be more in fault than the General Letters from Scotland informed the Parliament that the Marquess of Argyle had taken 500 of the Rebels which came over with the Earl of Antrim to disturb the peace of that Kingdome The General having thoughts to come up to the Parliament to give them a particular account of this unhappy action and to excuse himself to the Parliament they wrote to him that they continue fully satisfied that he was not wanting to use his utmost endeavours in that service and were well assured of his fidelity desiring him to entertain no thoughts of discontent or discouragement but to go on in the managing of the VVar Sir Will. Waller and other forces being ready to joyn with him The Commons took order for supplies of Cloaths and Arms for his Souldiers and for the Earl of Manchester's marching towards him and appointed a day of publick Humiliation The Sickness being at St. James's the Parliament ordered the removal of the King's Children from thence to Whitehall Colonel William Strowde wrote to the House that 300 men of the adjacent parts were come to him to serve the Parliament and that he had sent from Wareham 1000 Arms to the Lord General A Committee of both Houses were sent to give entertainment to the Chancellour of Scotland who was newly come to Town The Lord Roberts was made Governour of Plymouth By Letters from Sir Thomas Middleton the House was informed that Lieutenant Colonel Tyll being sent by him took Sir Thomas Gardiner the Recorder's Son with his Officers and forty of his Troupers Prisoners and the rest fled that he also took two Colours and four wayneload of Powder and Ammunition Lieutenant General Lesley fell upon the Forces of Sir Philip Musgrave and Colonel Fletcher in Westmorland killed divers on the place took above 100 Prisoners two foot Colours a Standard and scattered the rest The King marched out of Cornwal and sent a summons to Plymouth to be rendered to him but they returned a positive answer in the negative Prince Rupter marched towards the King but with a small force About 1500 of the King's foot out of several Garrisons mounted for Dragoons by night marched towards Basing-house Colonel Norton and Colonel Morley took the Alarm Norton charged them and brake through them but they with great courage wheeled about and charged Norton's whole body who retreated unto Colonel Morley's Quarters In the mean time they got some supplies of Ammunition and Provisions into the House Norton and Morley faced them but they would not fight but retreated back again and were pursued and 150 of them killed and taken one Major with other inferiour Officers Norton had a slight hurt in the hand and lost but one man but the house was relieved This party of the King 's gave an Alarm to Brown at Abington who shortly after gave an Alarm to them at Oxford and brought away 40 of their fat Cattel Salt and other provisions Sir Rich. Greenvile attempted thrice by Storm to enter Plymouth but was repulsed Middleton routed Prince Rupert in his passage towards the King with seven hundred horse took divers of his Officers and about ninety common Souldiers prisoners Brereton routed the Earl of Derby coming to relieve Leverpoole and killed and took five hundred of them and put the rest to flight An Ordinance passed the Commons for Ordination of Ministers and was sent to the Assembly for them to add Ministers Names who should give Ordination A difference was between the Lord Grey and the Association of Leicestershire The King sent a Summons to Plymouth That God having given him Victory over the Rebels he desired to reduce his people by Acts of Grace and promised especial favour to Plymouth if they would render the Town to him and that they should have no Garrison A Letter was likewise sent at the same time from the Lord Digby to the Lord Roberts Inviting him upon high Ingagements of Preferment and Honour from the King to surrender the Town up to him But they prevailed neither with the Governour nor with the Townsmen but they all prepared for defence and the Enemy endeavouring the same day to storm the West-end of the Town were repulsed with great loss in which action the Seamen did gallant service The King 's whole Army besieged the Town but they having four thousand foot and eight hundred horse did not much fear their Besiegers but the Lord Roberts wrote for some supplies which were ordered for them A Letter from the King was