seventeen of his own men Lyme being relieved and the Siege raised the Earl of Warwick went on shore and much wondred that the Works of the Town being so slight and the Enemy so strong that yet the Town should hold out so long and against so many fierce Assaults and yet in the whole Siege the Town lost not above a hundred and twenty men but the Enemy lost two thousand Letters of Thanks were ordered to be written from the Parliament to the Town and two thousand pounds gratuity to be given them and Cloths for the Souldiers General Essex sent a Party to have relieved Lyme but Prince Maurice was gone with all his remaining Forces and the Siege raised before they came The Party sent by the Lord General to relieve Lyme marched from thence to Weymouth which was rendred to them upon terms and all their Ordnance Arms and Ammunition left behind them Prince Rupert took in Leverpoole a Garrison of the Parliaments in Lancashire but they first shipped all their Arms Ammunition and portable Goods and most of the Officers and Souldiers went on Ship-board whilst a few made good the Fort which they rendred to the Prince upon quarter yet were all put to the Sword The Lord General came to Dorchester where divers Western Gentlemen came in to him and among them the Lord Becham Son to the Marquess of Hertford The Queen was brought to Bed of a Daughter at Exeter The Parliament now ordered that the General should continue in the Western Service and Sir William Waller to attend the motions of the King's Army and that the Earl of Denbigh Sir William Brereton Colonel Massey Colonel Mitton and Colonel Rigby and their Forces should joyn with Sir William Waller The Earl of Newcastle desired a Treaty which was admitted and he demanded to march away with Bag and Baggage and Arms and Drums beating and Colourâs flying and that all within the Town should have liberty of Conscience the Prebends to enjoy their Places to have Common Prayer Organs Copes Surplices Hoods Crosses c. These things were denied by the Parliaments Generals but they offered the Earl of Newcastle that he and all the Commanders should go forth on horseback with their Swords and the common Souldiers to march out with Staves in their hands and a Months Pay and all else to be left behind them The Enemy desired four or five days time to consider hereof which was granted Taunton Dean was rendred to the Lord General and some other Places in the West where he was The Archbishop was again brought to his Tryal and the Matters insisted on against him were His introducing of Popery and Arminianism The Lords sent to the Commons that they could not consent to the Ordinance for secluding the Members of both Houses who had deserted the Parliament because they had already voted the Readmission of the Earl of Holland And the Commons referred it to a Committee to consider of some Expedient as to the Case of the Earl of Holland A Committee of Lawyers was appointed for sequestring and selling the Chambers in the Inns of Court belonging to malignant Lawyers The General by his Letters from Dorchester informs the Parliament that the Country thereabouts generally declared themselves for the Parliament and had furnished his Army with plenty of provisions The Lord Canoule a Scot Master of the Horse to the King came in and submitted himself to the Lord General The King left his Foot at Worcester and from thence went with two thousand Horse to Evesham where he took the Mayor and divers Aldermen of the Town and carried them with him prisoners to Oxford and brake down the Bridges after them as they passed to hinder Sir William Waller's pursuit of them they likewise burnt down many houses in the Suburbs of Worcester the better to secure the City and the like they did at Oxford and also at Abington The Siege continued before Basing-house but those that were before Greenland-house thought not fit upon the King 's coming back to Oxford to continue any Siege to Greenland-house till they might have the Forces of Major General Brown to joyn with them An Ordinance passed to impower the Committee of Oxon Berks and Bucks to raise Forces and Money to pay them and they to be under Brown's Command Troubles were in the Virginia Plantation The Archbishop was again brought to his Tryall and the same points of Popery and Arminianism urged against him and as a proof thereof the Remonstrance of the House of Commons in Parliament in the year 1628. Sir Richard Onsley's Regiment came to assist Colonel Norton lying before Basing-house to whom and to Colonel Morley the Commons sent a Letter of thanks At Weymouth the Lord General took a hundred pieces of Ordnance two thousand Musquets a thousand Swords Arms Pistols Powder and about sixty of great and small Vessels The General sent parties to Dartmouth VVareham and other places The Lord Viscount L'Isle had allowed him 1000 l. upon account of the Irish Service Plymouth Garrison sent out parties who beat up the Enemies quarters and at one time took forty and at another time a hundred and fifty horse and prisoners A Ship with Letters to the Parliament from Scotland and two other Ships loaden with Coals for London put in at Harwich and there cast Anchor and the Mariners went on shore leaving none aboard the Ships to guard them In the mean time came into the harbour a Pinnace of the King 's carrying the Parliament Colours and finding these Ships without any Guard boarded them and carried them clear away Westward The King marched from Oxford towards Bedford and several parties of his Army did very much spoil as they marched in Bucks Bedford and Hertfordshires they plundred Leighton and at Dunstable when the people were at Church they shot at the Minister in the Pulpit and committed many outrages there and in many other places Major General Brown marched out with his Forces to Barnet and from thence to St. Albans where the Forces of the Associated Counties are to meet him and the Commons took care for the supply of all of them Sir Thomas Fairfax and Major General Lesley were sent from the Leaguer before York with six thousand Horse and Dragoons and five thousand Foot to relieve Lancashire and to attend the motions of Prince Rupert Colonel Charles Fairfax sent to assist the Scots party at Sunderland beat back the Earl of Montross Musgrave and the rest into Newcastle and the Earl of Calender with a reserve of ten thousand Scots entred England to assist the Parliament The Commons took order touching the Prerogative Court and appointed Sir Nathaniel Brent to be the Judge of that Court. Letters of thanks were sent to the Lord General for his good Service and upon a Petition of the Western Gentlemen that he might continue in the Service there it was so ordered and an Ordinance appointed for the impowering a Committee of the
very earnest for Strafford's coming up to the Parliament for which he laid his commands upon him and told him that as he was King of England he was able to secure him from any danger and that the Parliament should not touch one hair of his head The Earl thank'd His Majesty but replyed that if there should fall out a difference between His Majesty and his Parliament concerning him that it would be a great disturbance to His Majestie 's affairs and that he had rather suffer himself than that the King's affairs should in any measure suffer by reason of his particular The King remained unalterable in his resolution concerning Strafford's coming up to the Parliament saying that he could not want his advice in the great transactions which were like to be in this Parliament and in obedience to his Commands the Earl came up to London The King in His speech to both Houses had told them that he was resolved to put himself freely upon the love and affections of His English Subjects He told them the wants of his own Army The Calamities of the Northern Countries where both Armies lay and freely leaves it to them where to begin promiseth Redress of Greivances and desires that all suspition of one another may be layd aside Some exception being taken that in his Speech he called the Scots Rebels He after explains and Justifies in his speech to the Lords The first week was spent in naming general Committees and establishing them and receiving a great many Petitions both from particular persons and some from multitudes and brought by troups of horsemen from several Counties craving redress of Grievances and of Exorbitances both in Church and State Many were inlarged out of Prison to make their complaints Prynne Burton Bastwick and others Many smart speeches were made in the House of Commons touching grievances which Mr. Pym divided into three heads 1. Against Privilege of Parliament 2. Prejudice of Religion 3. Liberty of the Subject Under the first head were reckoned 1. Restraining the Members of Parliament from speaking 2. Forbidding the Speaker to put a question 3. Imprisoning divers Members for matters done in Parliament 4. By Proceedings against them therefore in Inferiour Courts 5. Injoyning their good behaviour and continuance in prison even unto death 6. Abrupt dissolutions of Parliament Under the second head of Religion were mentioned 1. The suspension of Laws against them of the popish Religion Laws and Oaths will not restrain them the Pope dispenceth with all 2. Their places of trust and honour in the Common wealth 3. Their free Resort to London and to the Court to communicate their Councils and designs 4. As they have a College in Rome for the Pope's authority in England so they have a Nuntio here to execute it Under Innovations of Religion were brought in 1. Maintenance of Popish Tenets in Books Sermons and Disputes 2. Practice of Popish Ceremonies countenanced and enjoyed as Altars Images Crucifixes Bowings 3. Discouragement of Protestants by rigid Prosecution of the scrupulous for things indifferent no vice made so great as Inconformity 4. Incroachment of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction 1. In fining and imprisoning without Law 2. Challenging their Jurisdiction to be appropriate to their order Jure Divino 3. Contriving and publishing new Orders of Visitation in force as of Canons the boldness of Bishops and all their subordinate Officers and Officiales Under the third head the Grievances 1. By Tunnage and Poundage unduly taken 2. Composition for Knighthood 3. The unparalell'd greivance of Shipmoney 4. Enlargment of the Forests beyond the due bounds 5. Selling of Nusances by compounding for them 6. The Commission for building 7. The Commission for Depopulations 8. Vnlawful military charges by warrant of the King Letters of the Council and Orders of the Lieutenants of the Counties and their Deputies 9. Extrajudicial Declarations of Judges without hearing Council or Arguments 10. Monopolies countenanced by the Council Table and Justices of the Peace required to assist them 11. The Star Chamber Court 12. The King's Edicts and Proclamations lately used for maintaining Monopolies 13. The ambitions and corrupt Clergy preaching divine authority and absolute power in Kings to doe what they will 14. The Intermission of Parliaments The Lord Digby mentioned the late Benevolence and the New canon Oath which he called a Covenant against the King for Bishops and the Scots Covenant is against the King and Bishops Many other Speeches were made by several Members all of them to the same Effect touching grievances The King made the Lord Cottington Constable of the Tower of London and placed there a Garrison of 400 men to keep the City from Tumults But the House of Commons and others without much unsatisfied thereat the King took off the Garrison and Commission of Constable and left the command of it to a Lieutenant as before Upon the extraordinary confluence of Popish Recusants to London the King sent a Message to the Parliament that by Proclamation they should be removed to their places of abode and disarmed The House of Commons ordered that all Projectors and unlawful Monopolists be disabled to sit in the House and many members thereupon withdrew themselves and new Elections were made in their Rooms Complaint was made to the Lords House of breach of their Privilege by search of the Pockets Cabinets and Studies of the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Brooke upon the dissolving of the last Parliament Sir William Beecher one of the Clerks of the Council who did it upon command of the Secretaries of State was committed to the Fleet. The House of Commons sent up a Message to the Lords by Mr. Pym The impeachment of the Earl of Strafford of high treason upon which the Earl was committed to the black Rod and Sir George Ratcliffe his confederate was sent for out of Ireland by a Serjeant at Armes The two Armies lay a heavy burden on the Counties where they quartered to ease which the Parliament borrowed 100000 l. of the City of London Upon suit of the Lords to the King the Bishop of Lincoln was released out of the Tower The Earl of Strafford moved that he might be bayled by divers Lords who offered to be Sureties for him which was denied but a Council and a Sollicitor were assigned to him In the house there fell out a Debate touching the writs of Habeas corpus upon which Selden and the rest of his fellow prisoners demanded to be bayled and the Judges of the King's Bench did not bayle them as by Law they ought but required of them Sureties for their good behaviours This was so far aggravated by some that they moved the Prisoners might have Reparation out of the Estates of those Judges who then sate in the King's Bench when they were remanded to prison which Judges they named to be Hyde Jones and Whitelocke as for Judge Crooke who was one of that Court they excused him as differing
of them their duty to the Parliament their desires of Peace and ingaged themselves not to act any thing against the Parliament The Officers of the Forces in Council with the Lord Lieutenant debated the consequence of this place the strength of its situation the plenty of the Countrey the nearness to London and the disaffection of the University to the Parliaments Cause That the King by his coming to Shrewsbury and looking this way and because of the conveniency of the place might probably make this a principal Quarter for his Forces and fortify the City which would prove a great prejudice to the Parliament To prevent which it was propounded to the Lord Lieutenant to take a course that the Scholars might not supply His Majesty if he came thither or rather to fortifie the City and place a good Garrison here under a Governour whom his Lordship might trust with so important a place as this was And Whitelocke was named to be a fit person to be the Governour and one whom both the City and the University and the Countrey thereabouts did well know and would be pleased with and the Scholars the more because they knew him to be a Scholar and a Member of this University But the Lord Say shewed no forwardness to fortify and make this City a Garrison This being spoken of abroad divers of the Neighbours offered to bring in 1000 men at any time within a days warning to be under Whitelocke's command in the Garrison and the Towns-men were very forward to ingage so Whitelocke might be Governour but the Lord Say declined it pretending favour to the University and Countrey and the improbability in his opinion that the King would settle there though that which follows in this Story will shew what a great errour was committed in not fortifying this place for the Parliament as it might easily have been done at this time and surely the Lord Lieutenant though a person of great parts wisedom and integrity yet did much fail in this particular Some of the Company moved his Lordship to seise upon or to secure the Plate in the several Colleges that it might not be made use of by the King if he should come thither but he did not think fit to doe it onely he and his Deputy Lieutenants went to the several Colleges and took an Ingagement and Promise from the respective Heads That their Plate should be forth coming and should not be made use of by the King against the Parliament Many with his Lordship were unsatisfied with this his favour to the University and foretold the ill consequences of it which afterwards happened to the prejudice of the Parliament But his Lordship had the sole power in himself and thus carried all this business for which he had no thanks from either party Sir John Biron marched away from Oxford with 500 Horse to Worcester and took in the Town for the King About the beginning of November the two Princes Palatine Rupert and Maurice arrived in England and were put into Command in the Army of the King their Uncle who had now gotten together a potent Army to whom he made a Speech declaring his intentions to preserve the Protestant Religion Laws and Liberties of his Subjects and Priviledges of Parliament Sept. 9. 1642. The Earl of Essex in much state accompanied by many of both Houses of Parliament sets out from London to St. Albans from thence to Northampton where his Forces met him and they were together above 15000 men The Parliaments Petition which he carried with him was refused to be received by the King who now had furnished himself with store of money by melting in his new Mint in Wales the Plate which was brought in to him in great quantities and from thence he marcheth towards London The Parliament having notice thereof order the Trained Bands to be in readiness and fortify the passages about the City with Posts Chains and Courts of Guard and it was wonderfull to see how the Women and Children and vast numbers of people would come to work about digging and carrying of earth to make their new fortifications The Parliament vote those that will not contribute to their Charges to be secured and disarmed Mr. Fountaine the Lawyer was for his refusal committed but afterwards as will appear in the progress of this Story he and many others refused and again assisted on both sides as they saw the Wind to blow The Parliament appoint a Committee for the Sequestration of the Lands of Bishops and of Deans and Chapters and of the King's Revenues to be employed for defence of the Common-wealth Colonel Nathaniel Fines with some Forces raised by the Lord Say and Colonel Sandys marched to Worcester to remove Sir John Biron from thence and expected General Essex to second them but in stead of him came Prince Rupert and slew and routed all the Parliament Party Sandys was taken Prisoner and shortly after died of his Wounds Essex coming on with his Army after he had Garrison'd Northampton Coventry and Warwick Rupert and Biron thought fit to quit Worcester to him and Essex sent from thence the Earl of Stamford with a Party to Hereford to hinder the Forces of South Wales from joyning with the King Stamford marches from Hereford to Gloucester and called away from thence leaves Massey Governour there Colonel Tho. Essex is sent to Garrison Bristol and left Governour of Worcester Some Forces are sent to Kiddermister and Beaudley to joyn with the Lord Wharton's Regiment and Sir Henry Chomley's and at Coventry and Warwick lay the Lord Peterburgh Sir William Constable and Colonel Brown with their Regiments to oppose the King's march to London and at Yarmouth they seised a Ship with 140 Cavaliers and 300 Barrels of Powder sent from Holland to the King In Yorkshire the King's Party grew strong under the Earl of Cumberland Sir Francis Worsley Sir Marmaduke Langdale Sir Thomas Glemham Mr. Nevill and others who forced Hotham to retreat to Hull In Cornwal under Sir Ralph Hopton their General Sir Nich. Slamning Sir Bevill Greenville and others they possessed Launceston for the King and with a considerable Body opposed the Parliamentarians In Wales the Earl of Worcester raised a great number of Welch and marched to the King The King having gained a days March of Essex toward London Essex finding his errour of so long a stay at Worcester hastens after the King The Parliament and their Party were not a little troubled at the King's March towards the City and the suspicion of a great Party hereabouts that would joyn with him and had invited him this way they used all means to stop his March and to hasten General Essex after him They sent down their Members Deputy Lieutenants into several Counties towards the Army to gather together such Forces as were raised and to send them to their General and to raise such further as they could Oct. 24. Intelligence was brought from Vxbridge Road that
1100 Prisoners and 3000 Arms. These Prisoners were led in much triumph to Oxford where the King and Lords looked on them and too many smiled at their misery being tied together with cords almost naked beaten and driven along like Dogs Among them was a proper handsome man of a very white Skin where it could be seen for the blood of his wounds he not being able to goe was set naked upon the bare back of an Horse his wounds gaping and his Body smeared with blood yet he sate upright upon the Horse with an undaunted countenance and when near the King a brawling woman cried out to him Ah you traiterly Rogue you are well enough served he with a scornfull look towards her answered you base Whore and instantly dropped off dead from his Horse And the beginning of such cruelty by English men towards their Countreymen was afterwards too too much followed Prince Rupert summons Gloucester which Massey resolves to hold out and the better to strengthen himself deserts Sudeley and other Out-Garrisons The Welsh Army under the Earl of Worcester and the Lord Herbert his Son having beaten Colonel Burroughs his Regiment sit down before Gloucester which they summoned but Massey returned a scornfull Answer Colonel Fines came to him with 200 Horse and Dragoons and not long after Sir William Waller with his Forces The Welsh were routed and the Earl after sive weeks siege without any memorable Action departed The Scots pass over the Tyne with a compleat Army into England to assist the Parliament Their General was Lesley who had been an old Commander in the service of the Swedes where he had great and deserved Reputation He was a person of great worth and honour not so good a Clerk as a Souldier The Pope sent into Ireland to encourage the Rebels there bestows upon them his fatherly Benediction and plenary Absolution The Germans received several defeats from the Swedes in Germany and from the French and this year died the famous Polititian Cardinal Richlieu and not long after him his Master Lewys the XIII King of France died in the midst of his Catalonian Conquests leaving his Son Lewys the XIV under the tuition and government of his Mother the Queen Dowager and of Cardinal Mazarin Richlieu's Successour Anno 1643. Car. 19 The Nineteenth year of King Charles 1643. begins with a Treaty of Peace between Him and the Parliament who had named for their Commissioners two Lords the Earl of Northumberland and the Lord Say and four Commons Mr. Pierpoint Sir William Ermyn Sir John Holland and Mr. Whitelocke The King excepted against the Lord Say as before is mentioned therefore he did not goe but the other 5 Commissioners The Earl of Northumberland carried with him his own Plate and Housholdstuff and Accommodations even to Wine and Provisions which were brought from London to them to Oxford where they lived in as much Height and Nobleness as the Earl of Northumberland used to doe and that is scarce exceeded by any Subject Anno 1643 The King used them with great favour and civility and his General Ruthen and divers of his Lords and Officers came frequently to their Table and they had very friendly discourses and treatments together The King himself did them the honour sometimes to accept of part of their Wine and Provisions which the Earl sent to him when they had any thing extraordinary The Commissioners finding Whitelocke's Pen usefull in the service did put him upon drawing of all their Papers to the King which were transcribed afterwards by their Secretaries Their Instructions were very strict and tied them up to treat with none but the King himself whom they often attended at his Lodgings in Christ-Church and had access at all times when they desired it and were allowed by His Majesty a very free debate with him He had commonly waiting on him when he treated with them Prince Rupert and the Lord Keeper Littleton the Earl of Southampton the Lord Chief Justice Banks and several Lords of his Council who never debated any Matters with them but gave their Opinions to the King in those things which he demanded of them and sometimes would put the King in mind of some particular things but otherwise they did not speak at all In this Treaty the King manifested his great Parts and Abilities strength of Reason and quickness of Apprehension with much patience in hearing what was objected against him wherein he allowed all freedom and would himself sum up the Arguments and give a most clear Judgment upon them His unhappiness was that he had a better Opinion of others Judgments than of his own though they were weaker than his own and of this the Parliament Commissioners had experience to their great trouble They were often waiting on the King and debating some points of the Treaty with him untill Midnight before they could come to a conclusion Upon one of the most material points they pressed His Majesty with their Reasons and best Arguments they could use to grant what they desired The King said he was fully satisfied and promised to give them his Answer in writing according to their desire but because it was then past Midnight and too late to put it into writing he would have it drawn up the next Morning when he commanded them to wait on him again and then he would give them his Answer in writing as it was now agreed upon They went to their lodgings full of Joyfull hopes to receive this Answer the next morning and which being given would have much conduced to a happy issue and success of this Treaty and they had the King's word for it and they waited on him the next morning at the hour appointed But instead of that Answear which they expected and were promised the King gave them a Paper quite contrary to what was concluded the Night before and very much tending to the breach of the Treaty They did humbly expostulate this with His Majesty and pressed him upon his Royal word and the ill Consequences which they feared would follow upon this his new Paper But the King told them he had altered his mind and that this Paper which he now gave them was his Answer which he was now resolved to make upon their last Debate And they could obtain no other from him which occasioned much sadness and trouble to them Some of his own Friends of whom the Commissioners enquired touching this passage informed them that after they were gone from the King and that his Council were also gone away some of his Bed Chamber and they went higher hearing from him what Answer he had promised and doubting that it would tend to such an Issue of the Treaty as they did not wish they being rather for the continuance of the War They never left pressing and perswading of the King till they prevailed with him to change his former Resolutions and to give order for his Answer to be drawn as it was
the Town for a Winter quarter Twyford and Okingham were plundered by the King's Forces and then the poor inhabitants could not prevail with the insolent Souldiers but that they burned many of their Houses affirming they had orders for it from the King 's chief Commanders At Aulton Sir William Waller surprized 100 of the King's Forces under Colonel Bennet Some of the Irish landed at Bristol to serve the King under the command of Sir Charles Vavasour Colonel Henry Bulstrode being above sixty years of age yet underwent the hardships and hazards of war in this cause and was a discreet and stout Governour of Aylesbury in his own Countrey After him succeeded Colonel Alderidge whom the Lord Byron sought by promises of reward and preferment to corrupt to betray the Town to the King's Forces but Alderidge preserved his fidelity and prevented the design The Commissioners to goe into Scotland were named the Earl of Rutland Sir Henry Vane Junior Mr. Hatcher Sir William Armyn and Mr. Darley The Prisoners having great liberty and many private consultations by the favour of the Gaolers the House made an order against it upon pein of an Escape in the Gaoler that should permit it They also took care for the relief of sick and maimed Souldiers and of the Widows and Orphans of those who were slain in the Parliaments service Mr. Chute and Mr. Hern were assigned to be of Counsell with the Archbishop in his Trial to be shortly had in the Lords House The Earl of Warwick was made Governour in chief of all the English Plantations in America and a Committee to assist him The Lord Willoughby of Parham took in Bulling-brooke Castle in Lincolnshire The King's Forces at Reading sent a Party to beat up the Parliaments Quarters at Henly who thought themselves too secure and their Guards were not placed about Midnight the King's forces came up a narrow Lane in the Town towards the Cross where four or five Pieces of Ordance were planted but none there with them save one half drunken Gunner He seeing the King's forces advancing towards him cried out Tom and Jack and other names as if there had been many about him and when he discerned the King's Souldiers to come near him he made a shift to fire a Gun that stood just against them which in that narrow Lane did so great execution both upon Men and Horse that in a great terrour they faced about brought off their dead carrying their bodies back to Reading but left many Horses and much blood in the Lane and in the way to Reading The House appointed a Committee of some Members and others to look into the Accounts of the Kingdom for publick satisfaction therein Some bickerings were between the forces under Major General Skippon and Colonel Harvey and the King's forces in Northamptonshire wherein as is usual fortune was variable Many inveighed sharply against a Warrant of Prince Rupert's commanding provisions and labourers to be sent to him Vpon your utmost perils as the total plundering and burning of your Houses with what other mischief the licenced and hungry Souldiers can inflict upon you An Ordinance passed for associating Hampshire Sussex Surrey and Kent and Sir William Waller to be their Major General Mr. Pierpoint asked leave of the House of Commons to go beyond Seas but they were so desirous of his assistance being a Gentleman of great wisedom and integrity that they gave him a friendly denial The Speaker Lenthall was made Master of the Rolls Nov. 8. and Mr. Selden Keeper of the Records in the Tower Sir William Waller sate down before Basing-house The Commissioners for the Great Seal were agreed upon the Earls of Rutland and Bullingbrooke for the Lords House and Mr. St. John Sergeant Wilde Mr. Browne and Mr. Prideaux for the Commons and the same authority given to them as the Lord Keeper had and all Acts passed under the Great Seal at Oxford made void The Irish forces which came over with Vavasour refused to fight against their fellow Protestants the Parliament but joyned with General Essex his Army The Archbishop was brought to his Trial in the Lords House Nov. the 13. where he made a short Speech and desired that his Counsel might be heard who were Mr. Chute and Mr. Herne and Mr. Hale who having spoken to the points in Law the Lords adjourned Upon the news of the Cessation of Arms in Ireland many of the Earl of Newcastle's Army laid down their Arms and offered composition to the Parliament The Houses agreed that Committees should onely sit three times in the Week and the Houses to sit onely the other three Days Several of the English Regiments were sent for out of Ireland to assist the King here and since the Cessation the Irish Rebels committed many cruel murthers there The Earl of Holland returned from Oxford and examined here said that after he heard of the Cessation in Ireland his Conscience would not give him leave to stay any longer with them at Oxford The young Earl of Caernarvon came from Oxford into the Parliament and was by them committed to the care of his Grandfather the Earl of Pembroke A Paper was communicated to both Houses which was sent from the Prince Harecourt to the Earl of Northumberland by way of general Proposals for an accommodation between the King and Parliament and that in the name of the French King whose Embassadour he was Buisie Mr. Pryn prosecuted Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes for the surrender of Bristol but it was referred to the Council of War The King's Forces besieging Plymouth took one of their Out-works Sir William Waller drew off his Forces from Basing-house not willing to put them upon a Winter siege Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Middleton took in Holt Castle and other places in Shropshire for the Parliament Colonel Rigby with the Lancashire Forces routed a party of the King 's beyond them in number near Thurland Castle killed many and took 400 Prisoners and Arms and their Commander in chief which was the more discoursed of because Rigby was a Lawyer The Garrison of Poole made several attempts upon the King's forces in Dorsetshire killed and took divers of them and 1500 of their Horse and lost not one of the Garrison Divers of the Militia of London made Propositions to the House of Commons touching the Recruits of the Armies c. the Houses ordered them to search for any Officers of the Armies who had deserted their Colours and lay skulking in London to apprehend them and send them to the General to be punished by Martial Law Some small bickerings past between Sir William Willer's forces and the King 's near Farnham The King sent to his subjects in Scotland to forbid their taking of the Covenant or joyning with the Parliament of England but the States of Scotland returned in answer to the King the Reasons of their undertaking those lawfull actions and humbly advise the King to take the Covenant
himself The Scots generally took it except Hamilton and some three other Lords and the Estates ordered it to be taken by all men on pein of confiscation whereof they gave notice by their Letters to the Parliament of England The Houses in answer to the Prince de Harecourt declared their good acceptance of the affection of the King and Queen regent of France in their offer of a mediation of a Peace and that as soon as the Prince should make it appear that the Propositions were by authority from the King and Queen regent of France the Parliament will give such an answer as may stand with the interest of both Kingdoms and with the Solemn League and Covenant A Party from the Garrison of Poole under Captain Laye went by Water to Warham seven miles from them whereof the enemy having an alarm laid Ambuscadoes in the Hedges in the way from the landing place to the Town but Laye commanded his men it being in the Night to keep their Matches close so that the enemy could not see where to shoot at them But the Party of Poole entred Warham in two places and came into the midst of the Town where their Garrison was drawn up together who after one good volley of shot threw down their Arms and fled away Those of Poole took about 200 Prisoners much arms cloth and provisions and so returned The King's Officers having caused divers of the Parliament to be hanged for Spies as one poor man by Prince Rupert's order upon the great Elm near the Bell in Henly and many others Now the Council of War at Essex-house condemned two for Spies who brought a Proclamation and Letters from Oxford to London which were taken about them and they were both hang'd The Judges and Officers were commanded by the Parliament not to adjourn the Term by colour of any Writs or Proclamations from Oxford without order of the Parliament The Commons pressed the Lords for dispatch of the business of the Great Seal and the Earl of Rutland named for one of the Commissioners desired to be excused as not understanding the Law nor the Oath to be taken by them The Castle of Flint was besieged by Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Middleton the Governour of it for the King held it out till all provisions even to Horses failing him he then rendred it upon honourable terms Then the Parliament forces took in Mostynhouse belonging to Colonel Mostyn the Governour of Flint and in Mostyn they took 4 pieces of Ordnance and some Arms. This Colonel Mostyn was a Gentleman of good parts and mettle of a very ancient family large possessions and great interest in that Countrey so that in twelve hours he raised 1500 men for the King and was well beloved there living very nobly Ships were sent to relieve Plymouth and secure Milford Haven and to watch the coming over of any of the Irish Rebels The Earl of Rutland was excused from being one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal and the Earl of Kent named in his place Some of Sir Ralph Hopton's forces drove a party of Sir William Waller's Horse into Farnham but Waller drew his party into the Castle they being inferiour in number to Sir Ralph Hopton's party The Great Seal was carried up by the Speaker of the House of Commons the whole House attending him and delivered to the Speaker of the Lords House who in the presence of both Houses delivered it to the Commissioners and they all took their Oaths and then carried it to Mr. Brown's House the Clerk of the Parliament where it was put into a Chest with three different Locks not to be opened but when three of the Commissioners were present The Earl of Warwick was voted Lord High Admiral of England and an Ordinance passed that all who would set forth Private Men of War should have all Ships and Goods they could take which were employed against the Parliament or for supply of the Irish Rebels Sir Peter Osborn Governour of Jersey delivered it up to Sir John Pennington for the King A Regiment of the Irish Forces landed about Mostyn in Flintshire for the King's service Colonel Hastings marching to relieve Fulbury Castle held for the King was by the way set upon by the Moore-landers who routed his Troups killed 100 of them took about 150 Horse 100 Arms and many Prisoners The Commons thought not fit to treat further with Monsieur de Harecourt untill he shewed that he was Embassadour extraordinary from France and that he would direct his Papers to one of the Speakers The Estates of Scotland by Letters informed the Parliament of England of a French Agent who had been with them to propound their desisting from giving any assistance to the Parliament of England but the Scots justified to him their proceedings The Scots declared the Lords Hamilton Morton Roxborough and Lonmerick to be publick enemies and seised their Estates because they came not in to take the Covenant The King's Forces took Arundel Castle and fortified there Divers Forces from Ireland landed in Wales and the Lord Byron went to joyn with them Sir Walter Earle was made Lieutenant of the Ordnance in the place of Mr. Pym deceased The Garrison at Plymouth gave a brush to the King's forces besieging them Sir William Waller set upon the Lord Craford's forces in Aulton routed them and took about a thousand Prisoners Arms and rich Booties Colonel Morley beat back the Lord Hopton's forces advancing to take Lewys in Sussex Mr. Walter Long was by the House appointed Register of the Chancery Dr. Burges by motion from the Militia of London is made Lecturer at Pauls with 400 l. per annum salary out of Deans and Chapters lands A Letter of thanks was sent to Sir William Waller from the House for his good service at Aulton Mr. Lenthall Speaker was sworn Master of the Rolls before the Lords and he and the Commissioners of the Great Seal took the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegeance in the Lords house they also took the Oath for observation of the Act for the Triennial Parliament The Rebels in Ireland proposed to the Council there 1. To have confirmed to them the free exercise of their Religion 2. That all Laws there against Papists may be repealed 3. That all Lands there belonging to Religion Houses may be restored 4. That their Popish Bishops and Hierarchy may be confirmed 5. That the English Protestants may pay tithes to the Popish Priests These things were after the cessation of Arms in Ireland Colonel Norton in Hampshire routed four Troups of Colonel Bennet's Horse and took about 200 of them The Earls of Northumberland Pembroke Salisbury and divers Members of the House of Commons were indicted of High Treason at Salisbury for assisting the Parliament before Judge Heath Banks Forster and Glanvile but they could not perswade the Jury to find the Bill The Commons ordered a Committee to draw up an Impeachment of
Treason against the four Judges and to consider of a way to vindicate the Lords and Members of the Commons so indicted Several more forces about 1500 landed from Ireland in Wales and Sir William Brereton wrote to the Parliament that some of them were of the Rebels and the Lord Byron is joined with them The like power was given to Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Middleton for sequestrations and levying of moneys in Wales as was given to the Earl of Manchester in the associate Counties Five hundred of the Prisoners taken by Sir William Waller at Alton took the Covenant and served under him The Parliament wrote to General Essex to advance with his Army to joyn with Waller Essex answered that he held it not convenient for their Service and a little discontent began to kindle betwixt him and the House of Commons and the Committee of Safety The Commons ordered that none should elect or be elected Common Council men or Officers in London but such as had taken the Covenant The Commissioners of the Great Seal sate in the Queens Court Decemb. 22. and sealed above 500 Writs so desirous were people to have the course of Justice to proceed Colonel Brown is made Major General of the City Forces appointed to go to Sir William Waller Essex sent 600 Horse to Waller and removed his Army from St. Albans to Windsor to be the more in readiness to assist Waller and divers Kentish Forces came in to him and he sate down before Arundel Castle Duke Hamilton proscribed in Scotland gets to Oxford and there is committed close Prisoner an unhappy or unsteady man and by this you see the uncertainty of Greatness and of Princes favours Sir John Meldrum and Sir William Savile took in the Fort at Barton and after that Gainsborough for the Parliament about 600 Prisoners some of them Officers of Quality store of Arms and Ammunition The Parliament sate on Christmas day 1643. The Earls of Bedford and of Clare came from Oxford back again to the Parliament A Letter was intercepted from Oxford to Sir Peter Killegrew which brought him into suspicion Colonel Hutchinson Governour of Nottingham Castle acquainted the Parliament with an offer of the Earl of New Castle to pay him 10000 l. and to make him a Lord and Governour of that Castle to him and his heirs if he would deliver it to him for the King which Hutchinson refused The Scots Army of about 12000 advanced near to Berwick and publish a Declaration as they march of the justness of their undertakings in assistance of the Parliament Major General Skippon took Grafton House and in it Sir John Digby with 20 Officers of note and Horse and 200 Foot Arms and Money Some differences fell out at Coventry between the Earl of Denbigh and Colonel Purefoy a Member of the House of Commons they were both sent for to London and reconciled Many of the Protestants in Ireland refuse to submit to the cessation and joyn with the Scots Forces The King of Denmark providing to send assistance to the King of England and sending for men to the King of Poland to infest the Swedes the Letters being intercepted the Swedes enter Denmark and take sundry places there Colonel Fiennes was sentenced by the Council of War to be beheaded for the surrender of Bristol The King issued a Proclamation for adjourning the Parliament to Oxford and all the Members who had deserted the Parliament or been disabled met at Oxford General Essex came to London from St. Albans and was not well pleased with some Members and proceedings of the House of Commons Jan. 1643. The Earl of Bedford lately come from Oxford to the General to St. Albans was sent to London and committed to the Black Rod. Prince Maurice his Forces before Plimouth received a blow from the Garrison and the Princes men falling sick of the Camp Disease whereof many died he raised the siege Colonel Boswell with 800 Horse from Coventry took by storm Sir Thomas Holt's House 80 Prisoners store of Goods Money and Plate General Essex sent a new Commission with further powers to Sir William Waller which pleased the House of Commons A Plot was confest of setting on work a Petition from the City to the King for peace and to invite his Majesty to London and the Plotters were committed to Prison Mr. Riley a Clerk belonging to the Records in the Tower was committed for intelligence with Oxford The King sent Proclamations to the several Sheriffs to adjourn the Parliament to Oxford and to summon the Members of that County to appear at Oxford 22. of this month whereupon the Commons order their House to be called the same day Another Proclamation from the King was to adjourn the next Term and all the Courts of Justice from London which the Proclamation calls the Rebellious City to Oxford but the Parliament forbad it Arundel Castle was surrendred to Sir William Waller to mercy there were taken in it Sir William Ford High Sheriff Sir Edward Bishop Colonel Banfield and divers Gentlemen of Sussex 50 Reformades 1200 Prisoners with their Arms Money and with Pillage The Parliament imparted to the City at a Common Hall the late discovered Plot to make a difference between the Parliament and City to divert the Scots advancing hither and to raise a general Combustion under the pretence of Peace Sir Bazil Brooke and Mr. Riley were chief agents in this Plot. The Lord Byron took in Beeston Castle in Cheshire for the King The Parliament ordered the Commissioners of the Great Seal to issue forth a Proclamation for holding the next Term at Westminster and all Judges and Officers to attend here under pein of sequestration and forfeiture of their Offices The Lords sent to the Commons to hasten the impeachment against the Queen A new Ordinance of Excise passed The Lord Goring's Letter to the Queen was intercepted by which he gives her an account of Supplies of Money and Arms coming from France to our King that Monsieur Harecourt was to treat with the Parliament as the King should direct him and that all but two or three Jewels of the Crown were now pawned for money Upon this Letter and other Informations the Commons impeached the Lord Goring of High Treason and ordered the Letters of the French Ministers of State to be brought to the Committee of Safety A Party of Horse under Colonel Ashton in Lancashire marching to joyn with Sir William Brereton were by the way surprized and routed by the Lord Byron Brereton upon this alarm fell upon the Rear of the Lord Byron's Forces and killed and took many of them Major Brookban was shot to death for deserting his Colours and revolting to the King The Parliament wrote to Monsieur de Harecourt at Oxford to acquaint him with their grounds of stopping the Pacquet from France and with the Lord Goring's Letter from thence One Lord and Sir H. Mildmay and Sir William
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
was in York Upon the defeat at Marston divers persons of Quality in discontent at that action and at passages of Prince Rupert distastfull to them quitted their charges under the King and went beyond Sea there landed of them at Hamborough the Earl of Newcastle and his two Sons General King the Lord Falconbridge the Lord Widderington the Earl of Carnwarth the Bishop of London-derry Sir Ed. Widderington Colonel Carnaby Colonel Basset Colonel Mazen Sir William Vavasour Sir Francis Mackworth and Sir Charles Cavendish and about 80 other A party from Northampton came to Banbury beat the Enemy into the Castle and took some Prisoners A party of the Irish Rebels took in Woodhouse in Devonshire near Warmestre where after the Parliament Forces had yielded up the House upon Quarter yet the Irish inhumanely abused both the Men Women and Children and afterwards hanged 14 honest wealthy men Clothiers who were fled thither for shelter Eighteen of the King 's best Ships and ten Merchantmen with some Frigots were ordered to be fitted for the Winter guard at Sea Mr. Constantine was sent up Prisoner from Poole and committed to the King 's Bench. The Widow of Captain Turpine who was executed in cold blood at Exeter petition'd for satisfaction from Sergeant Glanvill who gave judgment against him and from Meredeth and Seymour Justices of the Peace which was voted by the Parliament and a Letter Written to the General that if any of their Estates came within his power he should cause this to be done accordingly Captain Hammond sent out by Colonel Massey with a party of Horse to relieve the Countrey whom the Garrison of Berkley Castle had miserably plundered went to the Castle beat in the Enemy drove the Park rescued and restored to the Countreymen all their Cattel and killed and took divers Officers and Souldiers of the Garrison Prisoners By Letters from the Lord General the House was informed that he with his whole Army marched from Tiverton Eastward whereof Prince Maurice having notice marched after him with 4000 Horse and Foot that part of the Lord Paulet's Regiment took up their Quarters at Cheriton where part of the Lord General 's Horse fell in upon them took 60 of their Horse routed the whole Regiment killed divers of their Officers and Souldiers took store of Arms Bag and Baggage In his Letter was inclosed a Petition from the Town of Barnstable newly made a Garrison by the General that their Major might be their Governour and Colonel with power to levy money all which was granted That he intended to goe for the relief of Plymouth The King was at Evil in Somersetshire with about 5000 Horse and Foot After the business of Cherington the Lord Paulet went to Exeter where the Souldiers at his entring into the Town asking money of him he Caned some of them whereupon they pulled him off from his Horse and beat him and his life had been in danger if not rescued Waller sent a party of Horse and Dragoons into the West under Lieutenant General Middleton The Commons took great care to provide money and other necessaries for supply of their Armies in the North and of the English and Scots Forces in Ireland The Ordinance passed for the Court Martial in London for the trial of the Irish Rebels and others of greatest distast with the Parliament The Lords put the Commons in mind of the propositions for Peace and desired that the Scots Commissioners might be conferred with about them and the business hastened and the Commons appointed a day for it The Dutch Ambassadours desired respit of the sale of some ships taken for prize which was granted The Commons had debate about the sale of the Estates of some Papists in Arms and notorious Delinquents and of Bishops Deans and Chapters The Archibishop came again to his Trial and the Evidence being over he desired a day for his Counsel to plead to the matter in Law which was granted and that afterwards he himself might give his general Answer to the whole Charge The Earl of Manchester took in Tickhill Castle near Doncaster upon terms that the Officers Soldiers and Gentry there might go quietly to their own homes all the Arms Ammunition and Provisions were left to the Earl and were considerable A party of the King's Horse fell upon some Troops of the Earl of Denbigh at Evesham but the Earl's men took 120 of the Enemies Horse prisoners slew many in the place and lost but two or three men A party of the King's Garrison at Donnington Castle came from thence to Newbury on the Lord's day with design to seize upon some of the chief men of the Town but a party of Sir William Waller's men rescued them and beat the Enemy back to the Castle and took about 20 of them prisoners Aug. 1644. The Lord Henry Piercy's Regiment marching with the King Westward quartered at Collyton and a party of them came in the Evening and faced Lyme which Garrison to requite their visit sent out a party of about 120 Horse that night under Captain Pyne Herle and Bragge who beat up their Quarters took about 120 of their Horse 55 Prisoners divers Officers 100 Arms and good pillage After which a like party marched from Lyme to Chard the King being newly gone with his main Body out of the Town there they took eleven brave Horses with rich Saddles supposed to be the king's own Saddle horses and divers Prisoners General Essex marched into Cornwal the Enemy removing before him most of the Garrisons near Plymouth and on the borders of Devon and Cornwal were quitted by the Enemy Mount Stamford with four pieces of Ordnance was regained Plimpton with eight pieces of Ordnance Salt Ash and a great Fort with some great Guns and many Arms Launceston and other small Garrisons yielded to the General At Newbridge was a hot encounter betwixt a party of the General 's and Sir Richard Greenvile disputing the passe into Cornwal but the General took the Bridge with the losse of about 40 of his men slain and of the Enemy about 200 killed and taken The General from thence went to Greenvile's House where the Garrison desired a parley but the General 's Souldiers had not patience to treat but stormed it all within had quarter except the Irish Rebels There was taken in the house two pieces of Canon 150 Prisoners many Arms great pillage for the Souldiers Money and Plate to the value of 3000 l. and great quantities of provisions At Launceston the Shire-town the Countrey came in many of them to the General and he had 2500 of the Plymouth Forces that joyned with him The King came to Exeter and there joyned with some Forces of P. Maurice and of Hopton The Propositions for Peace were taken into Debate by the House and divers of them voted the proceedings in them were the more slow because of the Scots concurrence to be required in every one of them Sir Philip Stapleton
Parliaments Souldiers endeavouring to enter were beaten back by the Garrison Colonel Smith of Bucks escaped out of prison and was retaken Letters from the Lord General informed That the King was drawn from Exeter near Shaftsbury where Sir William Waller was That they would endeavour to prevent his coming to Bristoll or back again to Oxford and they desire that the Earl of Manchester may hasten to joyn with them The King took up a great number of horses in the Country as he passed to the high distaste and prejudice of the Inhabitants and his Majesty by this means mounted all his Foot and made them Dragoons Many Gentlemen of Wales came in to the Parliament and rendred themselves to Sir Thomas Middleton Sir William Brereton took more of the King's Forces near Chester Captain Swanley's Forces encreased in South-Wales many of the Country coming in to him Colonel Leigh presented a Petition to the Commons subscribed by four thousand Staffordshire men praying That the Differences between the Earl of Denbigh their General and some of the Country might be reconciled and the Earl sent down again amongst them Upon delivery whereof the Colonel made a long Harangue to the Commons and all was referred to a Committee Colonel Butler suspected of miscarriage in the West was sent up by the General to be examined The Order passed the Commons House thereupon for a select Committee to go along with the Army and to advise with the Council of War upon all Occurrences Colonel Kerle who revolted from the Parliament upon the loss of Bristoll went out with a party near to Monmouth to fetch provisions and being full of Jollity and security Colonel Massey fell upon them in the midst of their mirth and surprised them Kerle doubting that he should not have quarter because he had revolted from the Parliament to make some recompence he undertook to bring Massey into Monmouth and himself to march in the front which was concluded accordingly When they came to the Guards they thinking them to be their own men let down the Draw-bridge and received them into the Town who demanded it for the Parliament at which the Garrison was so amazed that many of them fled away and left their Arms the rest called for quarter and so the Town and Castle being of great consequence was reduced to the Parliament with the loss of not above six men on both parties The new Sheriffs of London were presented at the Exchequer by a Speech of Mr. Glyn the Recorder October 1644. The Commons entred upon consideration of electing new Members in the room of those who were dead or expelled by Vote The Library belonging to the See of Canterbury was given to Sion College The Ordinance for Ordination of Ministers passed both Houses The Popish party in Scotland submitted themselves and the Lord Argyle pursued the Irish Rebels into the Highlands whereupon the Earl of Calender returned again to the Leagure before Newcastle The Garrison there made many Sallies upon the Besiegers and were beaten back with loss The Conmissioners of Array in Cumberland and Westmorland met to feast and consult about raising more forces for the King and the Country-people rose up against them took forty of them prisoners and sent them to General Lesley One Greenvile a kinsman of Sir Richard Greenvile was perswaded into a Plot to betray Plymouth to Sir Richard but the Plot was discovered and Mr. Greenvile executed But the King honoured Sir Richard with Title of Baron of Lestithiel Waller sent out a party of two hundred horse to Evill under Major Clutterbocke who met a party of the King's forces and took divers of them prisoners and presently after meeting another party of about three hundred of the King's horse drawn up into a body whose Commander came out from the head of his Troops singly this caused Major Clutterbocke to do the like and they two skirmished before their parties The King's forces seeing their Commander likely to have the worst came in hastily to his rescue and slew Clutterbocke before his men came in and they upon the loss of their Major were so discouraged that they wheeled about and retreated from their Enemy The Commons set apart a day for redress of private Grievances and gave much satisfaction to divers thereof Colonel Rosseter gave a blow to the King's forces about Newark Mr. Prynne Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Newdigate were appointed to be of Council for the State against Macquire and Macmahon the Irish Rebels at their Tryal appointed to be before Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer The Commons voted in the Case of the Arch-bishop that his Council should be heard in point of Law whether in the Charge against him there be contained any Treason But that they ought not to speak to any exceptions therein for matter or form Colonel Bliere laid down his Commission and had leave to go beyond Sea and part of his Arrears paid The Militia of London desired the passing of an Ordinance for the sending forth five Regiments of the City for a reserve of the Armies and for supplies for them which passed both Houses the same day A Declaration was agreed upon to be sent to the King of France to excuse the business of the search for Macquire and Macmahon in the house where the French Agent lay Essex Manchester and Waller all took the field to encounter the King's forces in their march to Oxford and all Officers and Souldiers in London were commanded forthwith to repair to their Colours Colonel Jepson's Garrison at Portsmouth was compleated to one thousand foot and an hundred horse Chester was blocked up by Brereton A party of Colonel Hastings his men came to Loughborough on the Lord's-day rode into the Church in Sermon-time and would have taken away the Preacher out of the Pulpit but the women rescued him and proved then more valiant than their husbands or Hastings his men An Ordinance was appointed to be brought in for augmentation of the Means of Ministers where their Maintenance was very small and that to be out of Deans and Chapters Lands A party of the King's forces surprized and took in Crowland Colonel Hurrey who revolted from the Parliament when Colonel Hampden was slain and served the King had now obtained his Majestie 's Pass to go beyond Sea and came to Sir William Waller to desire the like Pass from him who refused to do it but sent him up to the Committee of both Kingdoms The Counties of Norfolk and of Cambridge petitioned for their security in the Earl of Manchester's absence and some assistance for the pay of his Army The Commons ordred that no Carter coming to London should be pressed for a Souldier The Commons appointed to take in consideration the Propositions for Peace every day till they should perfect them Mr. Hoyle a Member of the House of Commons was by general approbation chosen Lord Mayor of York and took his place there A party of the King 's
appointed for the two Ministers to attend the Commoners Sir Peter Killegrew was sent with the Letters to the King and was to bring back a List of the King's Commissioners for the Treaty and of their Attendants An Ordinance read and referred to a Committee of the whole House for laying the Assessment for the Armies upon the several Counties They appointed a day to consider of the business of Dunnington Castle and the Earl of Manchester The Lord Savile Earl of Sussex the Lord Piercy and the Lord Andover were consined at Oxford The business of Dunnington Castle and of the Earl of Manchester was taken into consideration and a weeks time given for the Earl to be heard therein if he please An affront done to the Commissioners of Excise in Lancashire was referred to examination and the House resolved to be severe in upholding the power of the Commissioners The Sergeant at Arms was sent to apprehend one as a Delinquent for serving of a Sub poena upon a Member of the House of Commons Goring with his forces coming before Christ-church were beaten back by Major Lower and many of them killed The Commons proceeded in the business of the new Model of the Army and nominated Sir Tho. Fairfax to command in chief and Colonel Middleton Holborn Fortescue and Barkley tobe four of the Colonels Then they appointed a Committee to consider what honour should be conferred on the Earl of Essex for his fidelity and good services to the publick the like for Sir William Belfour and to settle the payment of their Arrears to such as should not be employed in the new establishment The Commons proceeded upon the Ordinance for the new Assesment Colonel Lambert was ordered to speed down into the North to take care of the forces there he being Commissary General of the Lord Fairfax his Army when Sir Thomas Fairfax should come up Colonel Holborn took in the King's Garrison at Sydenham-house and therein about 100 Prisoners and the High Sheriff of Somersetshire and ten Commissioners of Array and after that he fell upon the Lord Hopton's forces going to joyn with Greenvile took some hundreds of them and drove the rest to Bristol The King made Prince Maurice General of Worcester Hereford and Shropshire and some of his forces began to fortifie Cambden-house Letters from Secretary Nicholas intercepted gave no hopes of Peace upon the intended Treaty Sir Peter Killegrew returned from Oxford with the King's Answer concerning the Treaty and the names of the King's Commissioners with a Safe Conduct and Propositions from the King to be treated on The Safe Conduct was inclosed in a Letter from P. Rupert to the Earl of Essex and was to this effect CHARLES REX Charles by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To our Generals Lieutenants General Commanders in Chief Generals of Towns Colonels Lieutenants Colonels Captains Officers and Souldiers belonging to any of our Armies or Garrisons and to all other our Ministers and loving Subjects to whom these presents shall come Greeting Our Pleasure and Command is that every of you permit and suffer that Algernon Earl of Northumberland Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery William Earl of Salisbury Bazil Earl of Denbigh Thomas Lord Viscount Wenman Denzil Hollis William Pierpoint Sir Henry Vane Junior Oliver St. John Bulstrode Whitelocke John Crew Edmond Prideaux for the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament of England at Westminster and John Earl of Loudoun Lord Chancellour of Scotland Archibald Marquess of Argile John Lord Maitland John Lord Balmerino Sir Archibald Johnston Sir Charles Erskin George Dundas Sir Jo. Smith Mr. Hugh Kenedy and Mr. Robert Berkley for the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland together with Mr. Alexander Henderson and their Retinue mentioned in a List annexed together with the Retinue of the Scottish Commissioners not exceeding in all the number of 108 persons together with their Horses Coaches and all other Accommodations for their Journey may repair to Uxbridge from London stay there and return at their pleasure and that they and any of them be permitted freely and as often as they shall please to go themselves or send any of their Retinue to and from Uxbridge and London without any let hinderance interruption or molestation whatsoever and to these our Commands we require your due obedience as you tender our service and will answer the contrary at your utmost perils Given under our Signet at our Court at Oxford the 21. day of January 1644. By His Majestie 's Command Edw. Nicholas The King's Propositions were Signed likewise Edw. Nicholas The Names of the King's Commissioners appointed for the Treaty for whom Prince Rupert desired a Safe Conduct from the Parliament were these The Duke of Richmond Marquess Hertford Earl of Southampton Earl of Kingston Earl of Chichester Lord Seymour Lord Hatton Lord Capel Lord Culpepper Sir Orlando Bridgman Sir Edward Nicholas Secretary Sir Edward Hyde Sir Richard Lane Sir Thomas Gardiner Mr. John Ashburnham Mr. Geoffrey Palmer with Dr. Stewart Dr. Laney Dr. Shelden and their Attendants in all to the number of 108. They were to meet with the Parliaments Commissioners on Wednesday the 29. of January at Vxbridge upon the Treaty for Peace The States Ambassadours were satisfied with the Answer of the Parliament to their Papers and said they would acquaint the States therewith expressing their good affections to the Parliament The Commons in a grand Committee further debated the Ordinance for new Modelling the Army and inserted therein the names of Sir Thomas Fairfax and of Major General Skippon They proceeded upon the Directory for Church Government and voted that several Congregations be under one Classis and that the Church be governed by Congregational Classical Synodical Assemblies and that there shall be one at least in every particular Congregation to labour in the word and doctrine Both Houses referred the Papers of the Treaty to the Committee of both Kingdoms to consider what is fit to be done and ordered that the Ministers in their several Congregations on the next Wednesday the day of the publick Fast and of the beginning of the Treaty should pray to God for his blessing upon it Both Houses ordered that the Lord Macquire should come to his Trial in the King 's Bench. A difference was between the two Houses touching the Safe Conduct for the King's Commissioners the Committee of both Kingdoms having altered some of their Titles given them by the King since the Great Seal was carried away from the Parliament as the Earl of Chichester they called Lord Dunsmore Lord Culpepper Sir John Culpepper Lord Hatton Sir Christopher Hatton and the new made Knights they called Mr. Hyde Mr. Lane and Mr. Bridgeman The Lords gave their Reasons why the new Titles should be given in the Safe Conduct the Commons gave Reasons against it as contrary to one of their Propositions and at length the Titles were agreed to be
the King's Forces at Thrup near Farrington killed one Neast a Lieutenant of Horse who formerly kept a Dicing-house and three or four more and brought away 19 good Horse Major Sheffield fell upon the Enemies quarters on the edge of Northamptonshire took Sir Tho. Read Lieutenant Denton and divers Horse and Prisoners and intercepted with Read two Letters of importance 8. Orders concerning the Army and drawing together Forces for Sir Tho. Fairfax and for supplies and some High Sheriffs named A Committee of both Houses named to consider of selecting Officers to supply the Commands of Members of both Houses Morton Bishop of Durham a Reverend man was brought before the Commons for Christening of a Child in the old way and signing it with the sign of the Cross contrary to the Directory and because he refused to deliver up the Seal of the County Palatine of Durham he was committed to the Tower Serjeant Major Hudderston under Greenevile came to London with 30 Horse and submitted to the Parliament offering to take the Covenant Three of Waller's Troups were surprised in their quarters by Goring's Forces and about 50 of them taken the rest escaped Letters from Scotland informed that Lieutenant General Bayly and Major General Vrrey took 800 horse-load of provisions going to Montross the men horse bag and baggage and dividing themselves pursued Montross into the High-lands 9. Colonel Rainsborough's Regiment appointed for Colonel Grey Referred to the Committee to consider of the profits of Places lately enjoyed by Members of Parliament and what of them may be spared for ease of the publick charge Letters from Massey informed that the discontented Herefordshire men having laid down their Arms upon Articles with the Princes afterwards and contrary to those Articles the Princes caused three worthy Gentlemen to be executed who were conceived chief in that Rising That there the Princes levy men and money by violence and he saith that if 1000 horse may be sent to him he doubts not but most of the discontented party will come in to him many being already come this was in a special manner referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms The Master of the Ceremonies ordered to acquaint the States Ambassadours that to morrow if they pleased they might have audience of both Houses and Coaches were to be provided for their Reception The Earl of Warwick laid down his Commission of Lord Admiral in compliance with the Ordinance for discharging the Members of both houses from all employments Military and Civil but with a protestation of continuing his faithfulness and endeavours to serve the publick as long as he lived and some believed that the Precedents of the Earls of Essex Manchester and Denbigh were inducements to him to doe the like He did gallant service in the time of his Command for the Parliament and deserves an honourable mention 10. Care taken for employment of old Officers left out of the new Army and of the condition of the West and of settling the Excise and for the Forces of Poole and Dorsetshire 11. Orders for the Army for the Regiment of Kent under Colonel Welden to go to Sir Thomas Fairfax and for Officers to repair to their Charges by a day or to be cashiered and Sir Tho. Fairfax to choose new ones this proclaimed by beat of Drum and sound of Trumpet The States Ambassadours had Audience in both Houses with solemnity and they spake of the affection of their Masters to this Kingdom and their deslres to have mediated peace and composed the distractions thereof but that it took no effect and the distractions were now wider than when they came first hither Therefore there being nothing more for them to doe their Masters had sent for them home and they had taken their leave of the king and were now come to do the same of the Parliament Sir William Brereton began to Mine at Hawarden Castle and took in Goozanna House and in it a Captain and 27 prisoners and some Officers and from thence blocked up Chester on the Welch side gained Manley House killed divers and took a Captain and many prisoners 12. Care taken touching the Customs and for the Officers Oaths and for the Affairs of the Admiralty Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax gave an account of the state of his Army and the chearfulness of his Souldiers and his want of pay for them This was very early for them to want pay and the House were very sensible of the inconveniences which might thereupon ensue and therefore specially referred it to the Committee of the Army to take order therein Pay ordered for the British Forces in Ireland and an Ordinance to be brought in for satisfaction of their Arrears out of the Rebels-Estates next after satisfaction to the Adventures Care for pay for Brereton's Forces by borrowing upon the Excise 14. Ordinance committed for associating the Northern Counties Ordinances past for reimbursing the Moneys raised for Brown and for Langherine another considered for pay of the Lincolnshire forces Order that the Scots Brigade lately come from Sir William Brereton be sent to by the Scots Commissioners to return to his assistance again the Enemy drawing towards him and the Committee of both Kingdoms to take care thereof and for provisions and money for him the House took order Langdale relieved Sir Jo. Winter's House besieged by Massey and was hurt in the Arm Massey brought off his men with little loss Care for Imployment of the Officers of the Earl of Manchester and of Sir William Waller not imployed in the new Army Order for Goods concealed from the Excise to be forfeited About 300 discontented persons got together into a body in Kent and took Sir Percival Hart's House but Colonel Blunt being sent against them with 500 foot and two Troups of horse dispersed them and took divers of the chief of them and regained the House 15. Debate touching persons not to be admitted to the Sacrament Both Houses agreed upon a Committee of six Lords viz. Essex Warwick Northumberland Pembroke Say North and 12 Commoners viz. Sir William Earle Sir Philip Stapleton Sir Jo. Evelyn jun. Sir Christop Wray Mr. Rolle Greene Hollis Selden Rouse Eden Lisle and Whitelocke to manage the Admiralty business An Insurrection in Westmerland and a design to have surprized a Magazine of the Parliaments there was suppressed The Plague increased in Newcastle and the Inhabitants were discontented at the Imposition upon Coals Some of Pomfret Garrison sallied out but were beaten back with the loss of Colonel Tindall Lieutenant Colonel Middleton and other Officers and many Souldiers Carlisle was upon Treaty to render A Dunkirk Ship loaden with Arms and Ammunition for the King taken by the Besiegers of Scarborough A party from Abington under Captain Blundell met with some of Dennington forces took a Colonel and a Major and divers others and slew a Captain and others of them Brown himself between Shottover and Oxford took divers Carriages and about
those parts referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms Orders for preserving the three Counties by Forces to be sent thither against this design of the Kings Forces 24. The House gave answer to the Scots Papers touching Payment of their Army and Propositions for Peace in an effectual way the Chancellor of Scotland being to carry those Answers with him to the Parliament of Scotland now Sitting Debate touching Church-matters Orders touching relief of Widows who lost their Husbands in the War An Ordinance passed for further Relief of maimed Soldiers and for regulating misimployments of Hospitals An Ordinance passed for disabling Heath Crawley Forrester Weston and Mallet from being Judges as though they were dead Letters from C. G. Pointz certified the taking of Belvoir Stable and outworks by Storm with the loss of forty men by reason whereof and of the provoking Answer of Sir Jervas Lucas to the Summons calling the Parliament Forces Rebels they gave no Quarter to eighty of the Kings men in those outworks 25. Debate about propositions for Peace and care taken for provision for maimed Soldiers Widows and Orphans of Soldiers and for payment of the debts of the Kingdom Orders for supplys for the Garrison of Plymouth An Ordinance passed for a new Excise upon several Commodities not before excised the Money to go to the Payment of Artificers to whom the Parliament was indebted Divers of Worcester-shire under Mr. Dingley their Leader declared for the Parliament and complained of the Insolencies and Injuries by the Garrison of Worcester A Coppy of a Warrant from Col. Bard the Governor to the Constables for Contribution was sent up wherein was this expression Know that unless you bring in to me at a Day and House in Worcester the Monthly contribution for six Months you are to expect an Unsanctified Troop of Horse among you from whom if you hide your selves they shall fire your Houses without mercy hang up your bodies where ever they find them and Scare your Ghosts c. A Party of Foot under Captain Moor and an hundred and fifty Glocester Horse routed a party of two hundred of the Kings Horse at Lech-lade killed Mr. Duet a French-man two Captains and twenty others took thirty Prisoners Horse and Arms. 27. Debate about Propositions for Peace They concurred with the Lords for appointing a day of Humiliation for the Eastern Association and in a Declaration and Letters to be sent to Scotland and referring to the Committee of the Admiralty a Letter from the Governour of Flanders and appointing Doctor Walker to be Advocate of the Admiralty The Lord Byron Governor of Chester came to a treaty with Sir William Brereton but stood upon very high terms An Embassador from the Emperor of Russia came to London 28. The Lords debated the Ordinance for setling Bristol The Commons debated the business of the Church and passed a further Declaration for Suing out of Liveries and compounding for Wardships Reference to a Committee to consider of a Recompence to the Lord Roberts for his good Service and order for two thousand pound to be paid to him in part of his Arrears The Kings Forces plundred cruelly about Bedfordshire and fired part of the Town of Woburne 29. Debate of the Propositions of Peace Orders for four pound a week for divers Members of the House whose Estates were in the Kings Power Debate about the Excise Most of the Gentry in Newarke left the Town unwilling to indure a Siege Sir John Holland came into the House after Dinner with Mr. Recorder and others of that Gang. December 1645. Car. 21 1. Debate about the Propositions for Peace and therein voted that Sir T. F. be made a Baron and five thousand pound a year setled on him and his Father to be made an Earl That Lord General Cromwel be made a Baron and to have two thousand five hundred pounds per Annum That the Earls of Northumberland Essex Warwick and Pembroke be made Dukes and the Earls of Salisbury and Manchester to be made Marquesses That the Lord Roberts Lord Say Lord Willowby of Parham Lord Wharton and Lord Howard be made Earls That Mr. Hollis be made a Viscount That Sir William Waller be made a Baron and to have two thousand five hundred pounds per An. Sir Arthur Hazelrigge to be a Baron and to have two thousand pound per An. Sir Henry Vane Senior to be a Baron Sir Philip Stapleton to be a Baron and to have two thousand pound per an Sir William Brereton to have one thousand five hundred pound per An. Major General Skippon to have a thousand pound per An. A Committee named to consider of matter of Priviledge of the Members and to examine any complaints of Bribery c. against any Members c. The Anti-Parliament at Oxford voted against the Directory and for the Common Prayer Intercepted Letters of the King to Pr. Rupert expressed little forwardness to Peace 2. Proceedings about Propositions of Peace Letters from G. Leven dated two miles from Newarke desiring Money and Cloaths for his Army whereof present care was taken by the House and both Houses agreed that G. Leven should Command in Chief all the Forces both English and Scotch at the Siege of Newarke Ordinances passed for the settlement of the Government of Bristol The Scots took a Fort of the Enemy at Muschampe Bridge and so blocked up Newarke on the North and Lievetenant General Pointz Col. Rossiter and others on the South side of it Col. Ireton and Col. Whaley with two Regiments of Horse sent by Sir T. F. into Bucks to stop the Incursions of the Kings Forces 3. Debate about the Church-business Part of the Propositions for Peace sent up to the Lords for their concurrence New High-Sherriffs named The return of Mr. Sandford to be Burgess for Cockermouth in Cumberland voted to be void because the Precept and Indentures were not returned 4. Debate about the Propositions touching the Militia of London Order for one hundred pounds for Doctor Twisse Prolocutor of the Assembly of Divines Ordinance passed for Money for Munster in Ireland and another for the Assembly to meet daily and proceed upon the Catechisme A Petition of the Hartford shire men touching Tythes laid aside 5. Debate about the Church-business Orders for new Elections A Petition and Declaration of the County of Brecknock was read of their resolutions to comply with and wholly to submit to the Commands of the Parliament A Committee appointed to draw an answer to it of granting their desires accepting their submission and commending their Resolutions A Committee of both Houses named to reside in the Scots Army before Newarke Ordinance passed for renewing the Power of Martial Law in Kent A Pass for Sir H. Bruce to go beyond Sea and order for a new High-Sheriff of Suffolk and for three hundred pound to Mr. Hancock in part of his Arrears Order for paying the disbursments of the Commissioners that went to
midnight about the City Petition and some perhaps were a little awed by the multitudes of Citizens attending at the door of the House They agreed upon a Declaration against all such Persons as take upon them to Preach or expound the Scriptures except they be Ordained And this gave much offence to those of the Independent Judgment January 1646. January 1. Orders for payment of Moneys formerly ordered to the Earl of Stamford and for eight hundred pound to the Commissioners that are to go into the North for their accommodations and their instructions Debate upon the Ordinance against Blasphemies and Heresies Vote for Sir Peter Killegrew to be sent with the Preamble and vote in answer to his Majesties last Letters 2. A Letter from General Leven complying with the Parliaments desires in their Letters to him and order given to have the Jewel ready for him Letters informed an endeavour of the King to escape from New-castle without the Scots privity and a more strict Guard upon him Orders for stay of Sir Peter Killegrew's Journey and for a thousand pound for Mr. Pury out of the Earl of Worcesters Estate and a thousand pound for Mr. Hodges in repair of their losses and for a thousand pound for Sir Robert Pye Jun. out of Sir Edmond Pye's Composition Order for allowances to the Officers of the Court of Wards 4. Upon a Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax Orders for two thousand pound for Sir Hardress Waller of his Arrears and for two thousand pound for Col. Sidney Order to continue the two Speakers Commissioners of the Great Seal for ten days longer An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for the Government of Chester Instructions and powers agreed for the Lieuetenant of Ireland and a Sword to be born before him and Counsellors of State named for Ireland and they to have five hundred pound per An. apiece till their Estates shall be recovered An Ordinance appointed to settle the same Church-Government in Ireland as in England Vote to name Commissioners of both Houses to receive the King from the Scots and to bring him to Holmeby and the Committee of both Kingdoms to draw instructions for the Commissioners and Letters to be written to General Leven and to the Scots Commissioners at New castle to acquaint them with these Votes and that the Commissioners should speedily come for the King Letters sent from Major General Laugherne and the Committee of Haverford West informed That Mr. Hudson the Kings Guide having escaped out of Prison was by the King imployed upon another design to carry Letters to be delivered to Major General Laugherne to invite him to betray his Trust and to revolt to the King That the Major General sent up the Letters and other Papers to the Parliament and Hudson and Price one of his Agents and the examining them was referred to a Committee The Commons agreed that Mr. Godolphin Governor of Sâylly upon his surrender of that Island and all Forts c. and taking the Covenant and Negative Oath should enjoy his Estate and be free from Arrests for any acts of War 6. Both Houses agreed the Instructions for the Commissioners that go to the Scots Army and to the Declaration in answer to the Kings last Letter and about disposing of his Person and to the Letters to General Leven and to the Scots Commissioners at Newcastle touching this business and Sir Peter Killegrew was to post with them to Newcastle The Earl of Pembroke the Earl of Denbigh the Lord Mountague named by the Lords and by the Commons Sir William Armine Sir Jo. Hollond Sir Walter Earle Sir John Cooke Mr. John Crew and Major General Browne Commissioners to receive the Kings Person and with such Guards as they shall think fit to bring him to Holmeby House Ordinance for Sir Anthony-Ashley-Cooper Sheriff of Wilts to live out of the County Order for Winchester Castle to be dis-garrisoned and delivered to Sir William Waller the owner A Committee named to consider of several debts owing by the Earl of Corke who is gone beyond Sea without perfecting his Composition Letters informed that the Money for the Scots was safe come to Yorke The Parliament Forces after great Storms at Sea Landed in Ireland and had course entertainment there 7. Mr. Sandys reported what places and profits Members of the House had that an Account thereof may be given Order for two thousand five hundred pound for the Commissioners that are to receive the Kings Person and their instructions debated Sir William Ermyn upon his own desire excused and Sir James Harrington Commissioner in his stead and Mr. Marshall and Mr. Carill appointed to go along with them Articles presented to the House against one Harris referred to the Justices of Peace Endeavours were in Countries to get hands to Petitions to second that of London 8. Debate upon the Ordinance against such as Preach or expound the Scriptures not being ordained Upon Petition of the Countess of Peterburgh Order that she should have her Husbands Arrears out of such Delinquents Estates as she should discover 9. Orders for ten thousand pound for the Lord Say for the loss of his place in the Court of Wards Sir Rowland Wandesford to have five thousand pound Sir Ben. Rudyeard six thousand pound and Mr. Bacon to have three hundred pound Reference to the Committee of the Navy about adding four Frigots to the next Summers Fleet. The Commons agreed with the Lords to have Goring House for the Ambassador of France Orders for Petitions to be read in rank as they were presented and for ten thousand Pound for the reduced Officers and a thousand pound to Colonel Waite for Arrears and to Summon Col. King to attend the Committee The Commissioners to name Attendants for the King 11. Major General Skippon sent up intercepted Letters from Hudson the Kings Guide to his Majesty bewailing his unhappiness in failing of success with Major General Laugherne and being again apprehended Order for a Letter to the Governor of Hull to send up Dr. Hudson in safe Custody by Land to the Parliament and reserred the Letters to a Committee Upon a Letter from Sir Tho. Fairfax Order for four thousand pound for the standing Officers of the County of York Approbation of the Convoy sent by Sir T. Fairfax with the Money to the Scots Order for four thousand five hundred pound for Sir Samuel Luke for his Arrears out of Goldsmiths Hall The Town of Cirencester elected Sir Th. Fairfax and Col. Rich for their Burgesses Debate upon the instructions of the Lord L'Isle Lieutenant of Ireland The Scots refused to surrender Belfast to the Parliaments Forces Ireland in great want of Supplys Commissioners came from the Parliament of Scotland to Newcastle to perswade the King to Sign the Propositions 12. Order for Sir Oliver Fleming Master of the Ceremonies to go to the French Ambassador to know whether he hath any thing from his Master the King of France to the Parliament that he may be dispatched
Committee who are to go into the several Counties for disbanding the supernumerary Forces take care to disband Troop after Troop and Company after Company till they be all disbanded and the General desired to give his Orders therein Letters of a design of Col. Kempson's Col. Ayres Col. Herberts and Col. Cookes Officers of their Regiments consulting about eighty of them together to surprize Glocester and other Forts thereabouts upon assurance that Col. Laugherne and the discontented Londoners would joyn with them This was referred to the Committee at Derby House 25. Order for the Committee of the Revenue to retrench the Kings Servants and upon the Governors Letter a thousand pound ordered for Repairs of Carisbrooke Castle The Commons named Mr. Goodwyn Mr. Ashurst Mr. Stapleton and Col. Birch their Commissioners to go into Scotland An Ordinance passed both Houses for Pardons to be passed under the Great Seal for some Prisoners in New-gate Another for the sale of Worcester House to the Earl of Salisbury another for making Major General Mitton Vice-Admiral of North Wales 26. The Monthly Fast-day Letters from Ireland of the Lord Inchequin's success in Limericke but the extream want of his Soldiers of Food and Rayment compelled his return That there were differences amongst the chief of the Rebels the Lord Taffe was chosen their General 27. Upon Letters from the Committee of Kent the House voted tryal of more of the Rioters of Canterbury by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer The charge against the Lord Willoughby of Parham pass'd the House and ordered to be sent up to the Lords wherein his Friends did him what service they could to pacifie his adversaries but they were sharply bent against him Debate of the charge against the eleven Members The charge against Sir Jo. Maynard passed and ordered to be sent up to the Lords and ordered that Mr. Hollis Sir William Lewis Mr. Nichols Sir Jo. Clotworthy Sir William Waller Col Massey and Col. Long be disabled to sit as Members of the House The Lords named the Earl of Denbigh and the Earl of Stamford Commissioners to go into Scotland 28. The Ordinance for setling the Presbyterian Government and for removing obstructions therein sent up to the Lords Part of the Instructions assented to for the Commissioners that are to go into Scotland Upon information that divers discontented persons met in the West and under pretence of apprehending High-way-men themselves committed many Robberies Order for the General to suppress all such Money ordered for the Commissioners who are to go into Scotland Reference to a Committee to consider of removing Prisoners out of the Tower to other Prisons for security of the Magazine and of the Lieutenants Fees 29. Voted that the rest of the eleven Members should be impeached of High Treason as Sir Jo. Maynard was except Sir William Lewis who was to be impeached of High Crimes only The House considered of recommending a Successor to Mr. Glyn to be Recorder of London And upon consideration of the good Service done by Mr. Steel in the business of Captain Burley and other affairs they recommended him to the City to be their Recorder Voted to impeach the rest of the seven Lords as the Lord Willoughby was impeached The Lords named the Earl of Nottingham in the place of the Earl of Denbigh to be one of the Commissioners to go into Scotland and had sent up to them the instructions for the Commissioners Sir William Constable's Regiment marched into Glocester and Col. Morgan's Forces marched from thence 31. An Ordinance pass'd the Commons for dividing the Parish of Roram in Kent The Charges carried up against the Lords and desired that they may be proceeded against according to the Laws and Customs of Parliament Reference to the Committee of Foreign Affairs to examine an Information touching the raising some Forces here for the Spanish Ambassador without leave of the Parliament Order for payment of Arrears of some of the Scots Officers Debate of the Ordinance for suppressing of Stage-plays The Lords Concurrence was desired to recommend Mr. Steel to be recorder of London A Petition of the Officers sent out of Ireland to have their Liberty The Ordinance passed both Houses for dividing and setling the several Counties into distinct Classical Presbyteries and Congregational Elderships The Disbanding went on in the North. Rumors of preparations for War from Scotland February 1647. February 1. Orders for providing Money for the next Summers Fleet and about the Customs An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for two thousand pound per Mens for Ireland Order to prosecute the late Riotous Persons and that Mr. Jermy and Mr. Steel be of Councel with the State against them and Mr. Becke to be the Sollicitor An Ordinance for repair of Churches assented to Letters from Ireland That Col. Jones for want of Corn and Cloaths for his Soldiers was inforced to leave the Field 2. The Examination and punishment of the late Authors of the Force against the Parliament referred to the Judges An Ordinance appointed that the Probate of Wills shall be as heretofore by the Civil Law proceedings Order to dissolve the Kings Houshold and the Committee of Revenue to pay them off and the General to appoint attendants upon the King not exceeding thirty Sir Henry Mildmay had the thanks of the House for his good Service in Hamp-shire at the tryal of Captain Burley c. The House of Peers ordered the seven Impeached Lords to give security for their appearances and to answer the charges against them by a day 3. Votes for Legacies Administrations Marriages Divorces Suits for Tythes c. to be by the same Law as formerly Referred to a Committee to consider of some speedy course to prevent the sale or pawning of the Crown Jewels An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for conveying the Earl of Newcastle's Mannor of Flawborough in Nottingham to a Member of the House in satisfaction of his losses by the Earl Upon Letters of General Leven Order for a thousand pound for Mr. Robert Fenwicke for his losses and good affections Both Houses pass'd an Ordinance to make Mr. Strong Minister of St. Dunstans 4. Debate upon the Confession of Faith The General was feasted in the City by the Lord Major with many of his Officers 5. Referred to Col. Hammond to remove such attendants about the King as the Collonel cannot confide in and to appoint eight such persons to attend his Majesty as he shall think fit and can confide in till the General hath setled the Family according to former Order Debate about the Declaration touching non Addresses to the King Sir Jo. Maynard one of the eleven Members appealed from the Judgment of the Lords by a Paper spread abroad saying their Lordships were no competent Judges of him The Lords advised with two Judges Assistants as to matter of Law and ordered Sir Jo. Maynard to be remanded to the Tower Fined five hundred pound
Mariners of the shipping belonging to the River of Thames and a third Petition from the Master Warden and Fellows of Trinity House all for the personal Treaty with the King were presented to the House and a Committee appointed to draw up an answer to them Order for a Months pay for the Lancashire Forces and for the thanks of the House to Colonel Ashton their Commander Upon Information of an Insurrection in Sussex referred to the Committee of Derby house to take course for the subduing of them Upon Letters from the General ordered that the Committee of the Army take care speedily to send down to the Army provisions and other necessaries which they want An Ordinance to impower the Committee of Essex to raise money for payment of the Forces in their County now raised Order for security of their arrears to those Officers and Souldiers who came off from the Army for the service of Ireland Order for six hundred Pounds for victualling the Fort and Castle of Chester and that the late Actors in a design there be tryed by Martial Law Letters from Colchester leaguer that the Enemy is debarred from all manner of provisions that a party of the Suffolk Forces from Cattaway bridge took ten Troopers of the Enemy plundering and afterwards went to Sir Harbottle Grimstons house which they found miserably ruined and all the goods taken away and torn 30. Upon a report from the Committee for the business of the personal Treaty the Lords agreed to these Votes 1. That the Vote of Jan. 3. 1647. forbidding any addresses to be made to or received from his Majesty should be made null 2. That the three propositions sent into Scotland and to be presented to his Majesty before a personal Treaty be had should not be insisted upon and that his Majesty be removed to some of his Houses within ten miles of London to which the Lords desired the Commons concurrence The Lords recommended to the Commons the Petition of the Lady Capell that she may have her eldest Son again who is one of those sent down to the General to be used in the same manner as the Committee are under restraint by the Lord Goring The House ordered a Letter to be sent to the General with the Lady Capell's petition inclosed and that the General be desired to do therein as may stand with the Justice and honour of the Parliament M r Dowsett upon a Message from the Lords was ordered to attend that House in the business of M r Rolfe who was committed Order for the Committees of Sussex and of Worcestershire to raise Forces for suppressing Insurrections and preserving the Peace of those Counties The Ordinance passed for payment of the Forces of Essex and another for ten thousand pounds for Bristol Debate upon the Ordinance touching Religion Letters from Colchester leaguer that the Enemy plaid with their great Guns but did no hurt by reason of the deepness of the Trenches then they fell to annoy the besiegers with small shot out of M r Grimsion's House but the General 's great Cannon shooting through and through the House cutting off the Legs and Arms of many of them they fled into the Town and set that and other Houses with it on fire That the Enemy sallyed out on the other side towards Suffolk which the Parliaments Horse discovering they lined the hedges with Dragoons and went on with a party of Horse as if they had incant to charge and then faced about as running away from the Enemy who pursued them to the place where the Dragoons were who did so gall them with shot that they retreated leaving some slain and others desperately wounded That the next morning they sallyed out again with three troops of Horse five hundred Foot and a Drake but the Parliaments Foot coming up too late to them they brought away some Cattle and killed M r Sandford though their friend the owner of them The Barbarous Common Souldier will know no distinction between Friends and Foes eithers goods come alike to their rapine and upon an hasty word they no more regard the bloud of a Friend than of an Enemy and so it was with M r Sandford A Captain taken prisoner near Harwich Captain Brown came from the North to the General with Intelligence that the Enemy had quitted the Isle of Axholme July 1648. 1. Debate upon the report That the three Bills sent into Scotland should not be insisted upon c. ordered to be resumed to morrow and all the Members to attend Vote to approve what the Lord Grey of Groby and Captain Temple had done in raising a considerable Body of Forces in Leicestershire and commanding them Order for Committees to go down into the several Counties to take care for raising monies for the Forces before Colchester and in Essex Letters from Colchester Leaguer that those in the Town are so block't up that they cannot get provisions that the Works are near finished and that the besiegers perdu's lye so near the Enemy that they can hear them discourse drink healths c. The General sent to offer an exchange of the Lord Capell's Son for Sir William Masham and two affidavits that by the Earl of Norwich's and the Officers directions their Souldiers had chewed bullets and cast in Sand delivered to them out of their stores which being contrary to the Law of Armes the General required that the same might be forborn for the future Concerning the Lord Capell's Son the Lord Goring returned answer that he conceived it inhumane and that if all the Committee had been offered to him he would have disdained the Motion and that he joyed to see any of his if no other way yet by their sufferings to pay the Duty they owe to the King and known Laws To that concerning bullets all the three Generals denyed any such command or practice but for rough cast slugs they were the best they could send on the sudden 3. A long Debate whether the three Bills viz. 1. For setling the Presbyterian Government for three years 2. For recalling Declarations and Proclamations against the Parliament 3. For setling the Militia in the Parliament shall be sent as propositions to which his Majesty is to give his approbation by subscribing his hand before a Treaty and to give assurance to passe them into Acts so soon as he shall come to London and sit in Parliament It was carried by Vote in the affirmative Upon Information that the King's Party were listing of men in London and some of them who were apprehended for it were rescued the House for the better guarding and securing themselves and the City orderd five thousand Pounds for raising a new Regiment of Horse to be under the Command of Major General Skippon and declared it an acceptable service in such as would send in Horse or Arms for that purpose An Ordinance past for raising fourteen thousand pounds out of the Estates of Delinquents in Kent and
which was furthered by Whitelocke's advice to the Protector 20. The Commissioners of the Treasury made several reports to the Protector and Council of Arrears of money due to the state and upon advice with them his Highness and the Council made several orders for the Collecting and bringing in of those Arrears December 1657. 1. News of the King of Sweden's proceedings in the Isle of Funen 3. The distaste between the Protector and Bradshaw was perceived to increase 6. Order for the prosecution of some persons who had committed very great wasts and spoils in Forests 7. The Protector was perswaded to take to heart and to further the relief of the poor persecuted Protestants in the Vallies of Piedmont and to send an Agent to the Duke of Savoy to negotiate for favour to them as other Princes had done 11. Writs of Summons under the great Seal were sent to divers persons to sit as Members in the other House of Parliament The Form of the Writs was the same with those which were sent to summon the Peers in Parliament They were in all sixty among whom were divers Noblemen Knights and Gentlemen of ancient Families and good Estates and some Colonels and Officers of the Army Their Names were as followeth The Lord Richard Cromwell the Protectors eldest Son The Lord Henry Cromwell his other Son Lord Deputy of Ireland Nathaniel Fiennes John Lisle Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Henry Lawrence Lord President of his Highness Privy Council The Lord Charles Fleetwood Robert Earl of Warwick Edmund Earl of Mulgrave Edward Earl of Manchester William Viscount Say and Seal Lord John Cleypole Master of the Horse Philip Viscount Lisle eldest Son to the Earl of Leicester Charles Viscount Howard Philip Lord Wharton Thomas Lord Fauconbridge Lord John Desborough Lord Edward Mountague Generals at Sea George Lord Eure. The Lord Whitelocke Sir Gilbert Pickering Colonel William Sydenham Sir Charles Wolseley Baronet Major General Philip Skippon Lord Strickland Colonel Philip Jones Sir William Strickland Francis Rous Esq John Fiennes Esq Sir Francis Russel Baronet Sir Thomas Honnywood Knight Sir Arthur Hasilrigge Baronet Sir John Hobart Sir Richard Onslow Knight Sir Gilbert Gerard. Sir William Roberts Knight John Glyn Oliver St. John Lords chief Justices William Pierpoint Esq John Jones Esq John Crew Esq Alexander Popham Esq Sir Christopher Pack Sir Robert Tichborn Edward Whalley Esq Sir John Barksted Knight Lieutenant of the Tower of London Sir George Fleetwood Sir Thomas Pride Richard Ingolsby Esq Sir John Hewson James Berry Esq William Goffe Esq Thomas Cooper Esq Edmund Thomas Esq George Monk Commander in chief of his Highness Forces in Scotland David Earl of Cassils in Scotland Sir William Lockart Sir Archibald Johnston of Warriston William Steele Lord Chancellour of Ireland The Lord Broghil Brother to the Earl of Corke in Ireland Sir Matthew Tomlinson 16. Colonel Sir John Reynolds who commanded the English Forces that joyned with the King of France was in a Pink coming over with Colonel White and others from Mardike for England and upon Goodwin Sands the Pink was cast away and all their men in her were drowned Among them was one William de Vaux a young man a good Scholar and very ingenious and being in a great storm in a former Voyage he vainly said That if ever he went to Sea again he would be contented that God should let him be drowned And now being again at Sea the Judgment imprecated by him did fall upon him and he was now drowned 24. The Commissioners of the Treasury prepared the business of the Contract with Commissioners for the Excise and new Impost 25. Some Congregations being met to observe this day according to former solemnity and the Protector being moved that Souldiers might be sent to suppress them he was advised against it as that which was contrary to the Liberty of Conscience so much owned and pleaded for by the Protector and his friends but it being contrary to Ordinances of Parliament which were also opposed in the passing of them that these days should be so solemnized the Protector gave way to it and those Meetings were suppressed by the Souldiers January 1657. 1. Whitelocke having lent Mr. Rushworth some Manuscripts he attended Whitelocke to shew him his Historical Collections as his Highness had ordered 3. A Meeting of the Gentlemen of the County of Bucks at Merchant-Taylors Hall where they had a great Feast 9. The Lord Willoughby petition'd the Protector for his Highness Order to go into the Country to dispatch some necessary business in relation to his Estate and promising to return to Prison which Petition the Protector granted 12. The Protector resolved to have a Collection for the poor persecuted Protestants of Piedmont 20. The Parliament met according to their Adjournment and the Members of the other House summoned by Writ met and sate in the Lords House as the Lords used to do formerly The Protector came thither and the Speaker with the House of Commons being sent for by the Black Rod came to the Lords House where the Protector made a solemn Speech to them but was short by reason of his Indisposition of health and after him the Lord Commissioner Fiennes spake to them more at large My Lords and Gentlemen of both the most honourable Houses of Parliament AMongst the manifold and various Dispensations of God's Providence of late years this is one and it is a signal and remarkable Providence that we see this day in this place a Chief Magistrate and two Houses of Parliament Jacob speaking to his Son Joseph said I had not thought to have seen thy face and lo God hath shewed me thy seed also Meaning his two Sons Ephraim and Manasseh And may not many amongst us well say some years since We had not thought to have seen a Chief Magistrate again amongst us and lo God hath shewn us a Chief Magistrate in his two Houses of Parliament Now may the good God make them like Ephraim and Manasseh that the three Nations may be blest in them saying God make thee like these two Houses of Parliament which two like Leah and Rachel did build the House of Israel May you do worthily in Ephrata and be famous in Bethlehem May it be your great business to procure the peace the safety and the prosperity of these three Nations and these things too not for themselves only but in order yet to greater and higher ends the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ amongst us and the Glory of God in the good of all men but especially of the Churches of God amongst men which as they are God's most precious Jewels and his chiefest care so must they also hold the choicest place in the eyes and in the hearts of all those that act under him and are cloathed with his power and authority In order to the great and glorious end you may please in the first place to reflect upon the Posture that
go towards the Swedish Army but the King's Fleet in the Downs saluting him by the way and his own Ship discharging a Vollay at his landing at Bolloigne and by other means he was discovered and denying himself upon examination he was secured by a Guard and the King of France took this Passage ill from him and he was a great while kept in the nature of a Prisoner The Scots Commissioners returned home to Edenburgh the same night the 19th of November that a great part of the Castle Wall fell down with the Cannons mounted which some of the Covenanters supposed to be done by way of treachery to them and opposed the reedifying of it by the King's Command not permitting Materials to be brought to repair it Whereat the King was highly offended and concluded upon force to bring them to obedience for which end he chose a select number of His Council into the Cabbinet of the Scottish Affairs Some gave out that this was done by the Archbishop Laud's advice and to keep out Pembroke Salisbury Holland and others late Commissioners in the Pacification whom the Arch-bishop is said to call the hunting Lords but Hamilton was kept in at last their number was brought to three onely the Archbishop Strafford Lieutenant of Ireland and Hamilton This Junto met the 5th of December where the King discoursed of the present Evils and necessity of suddain preventing the growth of them before it should be beyond remedy which he declared in his Judgment ought to be by the assistance and consent of a Parliament in England Strafford acknowledged it the best means and highly approved and magnified the King's Resolution herein the Archbishop was said to agree therein and Strafford had the honour of the Peoples good opinion for promoting this Resolution A Parliament was likewise to be called in Ireland and Strafford to go thither and return back again to the Parliament here which was appointed to meet the 13th of April following In the mean time and it was a strange time for such a Business so near the sitting of a Parliament the King tells his Lords That it will be long ere the Parliament meet and Subsidies granted by them will be long in levying In the Interim his Affairs will suffer without some speedy course for Supplies Hereupon the Lords told him they would engage their own Credits Strafford begins and subscribes for Twenty thousand pounds Richmond the like Hamilton excuseth himself for poverty most of the rest subscribed and some few refused The Judges and Officers of Courts of Justice Ecclesiastical and Temporal were assessed by the Councel according to the Quality and Profit of their Places The Queen employed Sir Kenelm Digby and Mr. Walter Mountague to labour the Papists for a liberal Contribution to the King which they gained and thereupon some styled the Forces raised The Popish Army The News of a Parliament to be called raised the Expectations of many for good and did set divers on labouring to get themselves to be chosen Parliament-men and the Courtiers to get their Friends chosen The beginning of January died the Lord Coventry who had been Keeper of the great Seal above fifteen years He raised a great Fortune and Barony for his Posterity was of no transcendent Parts or Fame but as some gave out He died in a seasonable time The Scot's Covenanters sent new Commissioners to the King The Earl of Dunferling the Lord Loudon Sir William Douglass and Mr. Berkeley the two last not mentioned in the Commission The Lords only authorized to plead Integrity and demonstrate their Fidelity but not impowred to propose any Particulars towards a Mediation to the King's satisfaction They had great Resort to them and many secret Councels held with them by the discontented English chiefly by those who favoured Presbytery and were no friends to Bishops or had suffer'd in the late Censures in the Star-chamber Exchequer High Commission and other Judicatories Those also who inclined to a Republick had much Correspendence with them and they courted all fomented every Discontent and made large and religious Promises of future happy times The Earls of Essex Bedford Holland the Lord Say Hampden Pym and divers other Lords and Gentlemen of great interest and quality were deep in with them The Covenanters in this time imprison divers Lords and others affected to the King's Service They procure from the Hollanders divers Officers Scots and others with liberty to keep their Commands there and great store of Arms and Ammunition upon trust but those Officers in the Hollanders Pay who came over to serve the King were there cashiered the King would say of them both That they were lost by favours and won by punishment The Covenanters proclaim their Discontents and implore Aid from the French King by a Letter under the hands of many of their Principal Actors which they the less doubted upon confidence of Cardinal Richlieu and Con the Pope's Nuntio The Original Letter hapned to be brought to our King and it being found to be the character of the Lord Loudon he was though a Commissioner from the Covenanters committed to the Tower It was said they were encouraged to take Arms from Cardinal Richlieu by his Chaplain Chamberlain a Scot whom he sent to them and by Letters which Hepburn a Page to his Eminence brought to divers here and in Scotland They seized upon Edenburgh Sterlin and Dunbarton Castles They are reported likewise to offer the Isles of Orkney and Shetland to the King of Denmark and to desire Assistance from him and from the Swedes Hollanders and Poland That the Jesuits had their Hands and Wits in promoting these Troubles is set forth in a long Letter to the Archbishop Laud from a Noble-man of Bohemia one Andreas ab Habernfield which Mr. Pryn hath published in Print upon trust as he useth to do as well as others Mr. Bagshaw was Reader of the Middle-Temple in the Lent Vacation this year He was a hard Student and much inclin'd to the Nonconformist's way and to publish some of his Learning in favour of them He chose for his Statute to read upon 25 Edw. 3. ch 7. In his speech in the Hall he said He had intended to meddle with Prohibitions but not with Tacitus to follow truth too neer the heels for fear of his teeth nor too far off lest he lose it and so neither to offend nor be offended In his first Case he made one Point Whether it be a good Act of Parliament which is made without assent of the Lords spiritual The Reader argued Affirmatively 1. That they do not sit in Parliament as Bishops but by reason of the Baronies annexed to their Bishopricks which was done 5 W. 1. and all of them have Baronies except the Bishop of Man and he is not called to Parliament 2. He cited some Parliaments to be held without any Bishops Kelwayes Reports 7 Hen. 8. fol. 184. That the presence of Bishops in
next day he was accused before the Lords but he got up earlier gave them the slip and escaped into Holland The House of Commons upon debate of the Inconveniences by the intermission of Parliaments they appointed a Committee to bring in a Bill for a Triennial Parliament This Committee met often and was much frequented by all the Grandees of the House then in most repute after diverse and great debates and consultations they agreed upon the frame of a Bill as the same is extant The King taking notice thereof and of the many Petitions from several Counties subscribed with multitudes of hands and presented by great numbers of people and all the Petitions mentioning the late exorbitances and concluding for frequent Parliaments and against the Hierarchy of the Bishops The King being informed thereof and mistrusting the Inclination of the Parliament speaks to both Houses Of their slow Proceedings and the Inconveniences thereby in maintaining two Armies in the Kingdom at excessive charges and of the weakness of his Navy and Forts He takes notice of the strange Petitions from Counties against the established Government of the Church tells them He makes a difference between Reformation and Alteration of Government that he is for the first but not for the latter He will not say but that the Bishops may have over-stretched their power and incroached upon the Temporal If they will reform the Abuse he is with them he will consent to take away some temporal authority if they have any inconvenient to the State and not necessary to the support of Episcopacy But he cannot consent to the taking away their Voice in Parliament which they have so anciently enjoyed even before the Conquest and since and which he conceives he is bound to maintain as one of the fundamental Institutions of this Kingdom He wishes them to eschew another Rock upon the Bill for frequent Parliaments which he likes well but to give power to Sheriffs Constables and he knows not whom to doe his Office that he cannot yield unto The King had reprieved one Goodman a Priest who was condemned at the Old Baily the Commons desire the Lords concurrence and both Houses Remonstrate to the King the danger thereof in these times and the increase of Popery and boldness of Papists in resorting to Mass in London the King leaveth him to the Parliament The Treaty with the Scots Commissioners proceeded at London and their Demands were in effect all yeilded unto Upon their Seventh Demand from the Justice and kindness of the Kingdom of Reparation for their Losses and Charges a long Debate was in the House of Commons about framing the Words of the Question and the stating of it The Question stated was to give them Three hundred thousand pounds as a brotherly assistance towards their charges and losses The House commanded Mr. Speaker to write to the City of London to advance Sixty thousand pounds upon Security out of the next Subsidies which was done accordingly and several other Sums were advanced by them upon Security of the House for supply of the King's Army and providing for the Northern Counties The Dutch Ambassadour here made an Overture of a Marriage between William the young Prince of Orange and the King 's eldest Daughter the Princess Mary to which the King was well inclined but as his Condition then stood he thought fit to acquaint the Parliament with it which he did in a Speech to the House of Lords and That he thought the Alliance with the Prince and the Vnited Provinces would be of much Advantage to this Kingdom and shewed his Reasons for it The Proposition was generally affected and imbraced by all the People and without fears or jealousies upon our Liberties or Religion and was soon concluded The House of Commons sent up a Message to the Lords to acquaint them that the Commons were informed of a great Design of the Papists an Army of Fifteen thousand in Lancashire and Eight thousand in Ireland well Armed and in Pay raised by the Earls of Strafford and of Worcester this gave occasion for many other Petitions but nothing was made out of the Rumour thereof February 13 1640. Sir Robert Berkley one of the Judges of the King's Bench who gave his Opinion for Ship-money was Impeached by the Commons of High Treason in the Lords House and by their Command Maxwell the Usher of the Black Rod came to the King's Bench when the Judges were sitting took Judge Berkley from off the Bench and carried him away to Prison which struck a great terrour in the rest of his Brethren then sitting in Westminster-hall and in all his Profession This Judge was a very learned man in our Laws and a good Orator and Judge moderate in his ways except his desires of the Court-favour He redeemed himself afterwards by supplying the Parliaments Occasions with Ten thousand pounds and ended his days in a private Retirement Yet not without considerable gains by his Chamber-practice and left a plentiful Fortune to his Family The Committee for the Bill of the triennial Parliament had taken a great deal of pains in the framing of it and it being past both Houses the King was not without some Difficulty as it was reported perswaded to give the Royal Assent to it which he did in his Speech to both Houses setting sorth His Confidence thereby in them and in their future Proceedings and the favour he now did to his Subjects The King then also passed the Bill of Subsidies and both Houses by the Lord Keeper Littleton returned their humble thanks to his Majesty and by their Order were Bonefires and Bell-ringing signs of Joy throughout the City Mr. Pym was sent from the House of Commmons to the Lords with the charge of High Treason against the Archbishop Laud who was thereupon committed to the Tower Articles of Particulars against Episcopal Government were presented to the House of Commons annexed to some Petitions and being read in the House were referred to a Committee The Lord Digby spake smartly against them and for Episcopacy but not many others were very eager for them The Commons the tenth of March Voted That no Bishop shall have any Vote in Parliament nor any Judicial power in the Star-chamber nor bear any Authority in Temporal Matters and that no Clergy-man shall be in Commission of the Peace The King of Spain was brought low by the Defection of Catalonia Portugal and part of the Indies the loss of Arras and his ill Successes in Italy besides the approach of the Swedish War to the back of the Danube but this year was very fortunate to the French The Spaniards ill Success was attributed to the ill management of Affairs by the Conde de Olivarez his Favourite hated by the People as is usual And the good Successes of the French were attributed to the prudence of their Cardinal Richlieu He Invites the Duke of Lorrain to Paris where he was highly caressed but
mightily increased the Scots Successes animated other Subjects to their illegal Pretences and impious Actions and in this time of the King's absence in Scotland the Irish Flames of Rebellion brake forth having been thus kindled The last year the Parliament at Dublin sent a Committee hither with a Remonstrance to the King of their Grievances and Pressures under the Government of the Earl of Strafford whom they had accused of high Treason The King gave them most favourable Answers and Redresses and parted with much of his own to give contentment to his Irish Subjects Mr. Wainsford Deputy there to the Earl of Strafford Lieutenant being dead the King by Commission constituted the Lord Ditton and Sir William Parsons in the Government there but finding Ditton not well liked he made Sir William Parsons and Sir John Borlace generally approved to be the Lords Justices there These applyed themselves to give all satisfaction to the people they abated the Subsidies given in Strafford's time from 40000 l. to 12000 l. Passed an Act of Limitation much desired to settle all Estates for sixty years precedent and another for relinquishing the King's Right found for him by Inquisition to four Counties in Connaght and other Territories He declared the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Papists there were permitted a private enjoyment of their Religion and a general good Agreement was had between the English and Irish In this Security the Irish Army was disbanded after which and in the King's absence in Scotland about October 23. there brake forth so horrid black and flagitious a Rebellion in Ireland as cannot be parallell'd in the Stories of any other Nation This was fomented and contrived by their Popish Priests and Lawyers some of their Maxims in Law were That any one being slain in Rebellion though found by Record gave the King no Forfeiture That though many thousands were in Arms and exercising the violences of War yet if they professed not to rise against the King it was no Rebellion That if one were Outlawed for Treason his Heir might reverse the Outlawry and be restored These and the like Tenets they published in their Parliaments and endeavoured a Suspension of Poyning's Act and the Act for annexing that Kingdom to the Crown of England and assumed a power of Judicature in Criminal and Capital Causes to be in their Parliament They took advantage of the Scots Sucesses of their Favourers in England and our Distractions here of the disbanding the Army there and the Death of the Earl of Strafford They raise Forces give out that the Queen was in the head of them and the King was coming with an Army to them and the Scots had made a League with them that they were authorised by the King's Commission and asserted his Cause against the Puritans of England To their Country-men they scatter Advertisements out of England of a Statute there lately made That all Irish shall come to the Protestant Worship on pain of loss of Goods for the first Offence of Lands for the second and of Life for the third Offence They give them hope to recover their Liberties and ancient Customs to shake off the English Yoke to have a King of their own Nation and to possess Goods and Estates of the English These Motives they published in Print That the King and Queen were curbed by the Puritans and their Prerogatives abolished which these as loyal Subjects take to heart and that the Catholick Religion is suppressed in England and the Catholicks there persecuted with all rigour even to death and that the Puritans in Ireland have threatned to doe the same there That in Ireland the Catholicks are made uncapable of any Office to the decay of them in their Estates Education and Learning That the Government of their Country is in the hand of Strangers who come thither poor and mean yet soon rise to wealth and honour by oppressing the Natives That there have been threatnings to send Forces to compel the Consciences of the Irish and to cut their Throats and that the Catholicks are not allowed to have any Arms or Ammunition but the Protestants and Puritans may Vpon all which they saw no way but to attempt to seize upon Arms where they could get them to save their Lives maintain the King and Queen their Religion and Country Upon these pretences and manifest untruths they ground their taking up of Arms. The first suspicion whereof was by Sir William Cole who about Octob. 11. wrote to the Lords Justices of great resort to Sir Phelim Oneale and to the Lord Macquierre and they were exceeding busie about dispatches About October 21. He wrote another Letter to them of what some Irish had revealed to him of a design to seize the Castle of Dublin to murther the Lords Justices and Councel and all the Protestants there and throughout the Kingdom But this Letter came not to their hands When many of the Conspirators were come to Dublin and met there at a Tavern one Owen O Conelly an Irish-man but a true Protestant came to Sir William Parsons about Nine a Clock at Night with a broken relation of a great Conspiracy to seize the Castle the next morning and that Mac Mahon who was one of them had told him so much Parsons seeing Conelly distempered with drink gave the less credit to his relation but wished him to return to Mac Mahon to get out of him what he could further of the Plot and to return to him again that Night Yet he did not so slight the Information but that secretly he ordered strong Guards in several places and assembled the Councel where they expected the return of Conelly who coming to them was seized on by the Guards who had carried him to Prison and so prevented the discovery of the Plot had not a Servant of Sir VVilliam Parsons accidentally come by and rescued Conelly and brought him somewhat recovered of his drinking unto the Lords Justices and Councel who confessed that a few days before upon Letters from Mac Mahon he went to meet him at Connaght but he being gone to Dublin Conelly followed him thither and they two went to the lodging of the Lord Macquierre that by the way Mac Mahon told O Conelly that this Night there would be a great number of Irish Noblemen Papists in Dublin who with himself would take the Castle by Morning then force the City by the Ordnance and destroy all the Protestants and so divers others were ordered in all parts of the Kingdom to seize and destroy all the English at an Hour designed viz. to Morrow by Ten a Clock and that no posting nor speed could prevent it That Conelly moved Mac Mahon to discover it rather to the State to prevent the mischief But he answered He could not help it yet that they owned their allegiance to the King and pay it to him but what they did was against the tyrannical Government over them and
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
inveigh against any such thing as treachery and baseness and that which might be the occasion of shedding much blood That he said he durst not for the awe and respect which he had for Selden and the rest communicate any of the particulars to them but was almost disheartned himself to proceed in it They were all upon their Trial condemned Tomkins and Challoner onely were hanged Waller had a Reprieve from General Essex and after a years imprisonment he paid a fine of ten thousand pound was pardoned and travailed into France The General Essex being about Thame ordered the Buckinghamshire Forces to Alarm the Cavaliers some Skirmishes past between them Rupert ingageth their Body in Chalgrave Field Routs them and takes Captain Sheffeild and many other Prisoners Major Gunter was shot dead in the place and Hampden wounded whereof he died a week after Some had advised him not to go forth upon this Party he not being ordered to doe it but his Mettle did put him forward and his death insued He was a Gentleman of the ancientest Extraction in Buckinghamshire Hampden of Hampden his fortune large his natural Abilities great and his affection to publick Liberty and Applause in his Countrey exposed him to many difficulties and troubles as in the business of the Ship-money of the Loan and now in Parliament Where he was a most Active and Leading Member he spake rationally and subtilly and often proposed Doubts more than he resolved he was well beloved in his Countrey where he had a great Interest as also in the House of Commons he died lamented about the 24. of June 1643. In the West the Parliament Forces took in Taunton and Bridgwater The Synod of Divines sate but concluded upon nothing In Germany the Protestant Forces under the Duke of Brunswick endeavoured to reduce Woolfen Bottel Picolomini for the Emperour enters the Town and sets upon Brunswick but was beaten and lost 2000 men Lamboy for the Emperour about Bohemia had his Regiment defeated for want of good Guards and himself taken Prisoner and sent to France by Count Guebiran who for this service and taking of John de Wert received the Marshals Staff The Swedes with 7000 fresh men under Tortoison enter Germany and did gallant Service against the Arch-Duke Leopold Picolomini marcheth against and brake through their left Wing at Leipsick and fell to plunder The Swedes rally and turn upon the Enemy and they fly six thousand of them seized never shot off The Swedes take Leipsick and besiege Friburgh which is relieved by Picolomini who upon this success took leave of the Arch-Duke and the Emperour's service and was entertained by the Spaniard The French prospered in Catalonia June 16. The Queen was brought to Bed of a Daughter at Excester named Henrietta Maria. The Parliament finding the great failure of Justice for want of a great Seal voted That if the Lord Keeper Littleton did not return with the Great Seal within fourteen days he should lose his Place and whatsoever should be sealed with that Great Seal afterwards should be void By their Order a new Great Seal was made engraven on the one side the Picture of the House of Commons the Members sitting on the other side the Arms of England and Ireland Waller with his whole Army was fought with by Greenvile and Slanning at Lands Down in the West Greenvile did gallant Service and was slain there so was Leake the Lord Deincourt's Son with the Enemies Colours about his Arm and many others of quality On Waller's part the Foot were dispersed and cut off many Officers and Arms lost Waller follows the King's Forces to whom Wilmot was sent with fifteen hundred Horse they both met at Rowndway Down near the Devises in Wiltshire where Waller's Horse upon a pannick fear fled and left their Foot to the mercy of the Enemy who flew a great number of them and took many Prisoners four brass Guns Ammunition and Baggage This caused a diminution of the former Fame of Waller which was raised up near to a competition or emulation with Essex himself and caused some slackning of mutual Succors and Assistance to the prejudice of their common Cause But after this Defeat Waller posted up to London where his person being a man known to be of much honour and courage silenced Invectives against him and made the better way for Recruits for him During these Actions of Waller their General Essex writes to the Parliament to incline them to a Peace with the King at which some were displeased and intimated the promoting of Waller in his place But this was before they received the News from Rowndway Down of this Defeat In the North some difference had been between the Lord Fairfax and Sir John Hotham who refused to submit to Fairfax though General for the Parliament in those parts but Hotham was as high and morose as the other was meek and courteous The Parliament hearing of this Contest intended to displace Hotham which he discovering by Letters that he intercepted began to have new Designs His Son Captain Hotham being suspected by the Parliament was imprisoned at Nottingham from whence escaping he under-hand treated with the Earl of Newcastle and coming to Hull he and his Father stood upon their Guard The Parliament doubting the Consequence hereof sent Sir Matthew Bointon with a Commission to seize them both and to be Governour there who not suspected by Hotham being his Brother-in-law had the more opportunity to tamper with the Garrison and gain an Interest with the Souldiers so that he gained them and the Magazine Then Sir John too late seeing the Design against him fled to Beverley where his own Souldiers set upon him and forced him back again to Hull where he was taken by his Brother Sir Matthew Bointon and with his Lady his Son and all his Children sent up Prisoners to the Parliament and Bointon remained Governour of Hull in his place His rough carriage especially to his Inferiours his very narrow living and the betraying of the Trust committed to him rendred him so distastfull to all sorts of people That his Masters for whom he had done so great Service in resisting the King at his first coming to Hull they now cast him off his Souldiers who had fought for him now chase him away from them and his Brother in Law supplants him and sends him with his Wife and Children Prisoners to the Parliament The Exit of his Scene in this Tragick Age follows in its order of time Prince Rupert hovered long about Bristoll till finding by his Correspondents whereof he had many in the City when it was worst provided for resistance he fell upon it and Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes the Governour after three days siege was forced to surrender it For which the Governour was afterwards sentenced by a Council of War to lose his life but by General Essex he was pardoned and gave off his Military Service The new Great
Harvey with their Parties and many Voluntiers joyned with General Essex in his advance for the relief of Gloucester At Plymouth Mr. Alexander Carew a Member of Parliament and Governour of the Island there had a design to betray the Town and Island to the King But his own Souldiers discovering it seized upon their Governour to send him up to the Parliament and the Women were so enraged against him for his perfidiousness that it was difficult to rescue him from their execution The House by Vote disabled him from being a Member and the like they did for Sir John Harrison Sir Henry Anderson and Mr. Constantine of whom they were informed that he designed to betray Poole into the King's hands And these and divers other Members of the House being disabled and the new Great Seal finished they ordered that new Writs should be issued forth to the several places for which they served to choose new Members in their room Sir Edward Bainton another Member who deserted the Parliament and went to the Isle of Wight where he spake opprobrious words against them was put in Prison The Town of Lyn in Norfolk declaring for the King the Earl of Manchester with three thousand Horse and fifteen hundred Foot draws to them and blocks up the Passages to them by Land The Earl of Warwick did the like by Sea General Essex made the slower marches towards Gloucester being forced to keep his Army together in a continual posture of Defence for he was daily skirmished with by the Lord Wilmot who attended all his Removes with a Body of two thousand and five hundred Horse His Majesty understanding that Essex advanced apace towards the relief of Gloucester sent to him a Trumpet with some Propositions to be treated on But Essex too much acquainted with such small designs to hinder his march returned a speedy Answer That he had no Commission to treat but to relieve Gloucester which he was resolved to do or to lose his life there And his Souldiers hearing of a Trumpeter come with Propositions to treat they cried out for a long time together with loud acclamations No Propositions no Propositions And so the Trumpeter was dismissed The Ordinances for the Covenant and for the Excise were at a Conference delivered to the Lords as having past the House of Commons the Covenant was read to the Lords with the Explanation upon it and the Fifth Article touching the Pacification omitted and Ireland added The Ordinance for the Excise with some Amendments of the former was read to the Lords and their Concurrence to both desired which was given by them the next Morning Sir John Hotham and his Son were examined in the House touching their Treasons and committed to the Tower Sir William Brereton took Eccleshall Castle and defeated a Party of the Lord Capel's Forces under Colonel Hastings Two of the City Regiments were ordered to march out and joyn with Sir William Waller The Major General of his Army was Colonel Potley an old Souldier under the King of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus He was of such repute with that Crown that when he took his leave of them to come for England the Chancellor Oxenstierne by command of the Senators when they all sate in Council sent for this Colonel to come in to them and told him That he having been an ancient Servant to that Crown and who had done gallant Service for them they held him in the Rank of their Children and therefore by command of the Senate he put about the Colonel's Neck a rich Gold Chain with a Medal of the late King his Master to wear in Memory of him He told him that the Senate had ordered Two thousand Dollars to defray his Expences and Four thousand Dollars to bear his Charges to his own Country and to keep him still a Servant to that Crown and that he might eat of their Bread as long as he lived they had given him a Pension of Two thousand Dollars per annum during his Life Essex proceeded in his march to Gloucester and when the Enemy fell upon any of his Companies as they often did Essex relieved them fought with his Enemies and made his way through them The King understanding his near approach to Gloucester and finding his own Souldiers not forward to fight Essex as the King intended He upon Sunday and Monday the third and fourth of September drew off his Carriages and removed the Siege and on Tuesday morning Septemb 5. 1643. went over Severn with all his Army the way to Bristoll Essex came to Gloucester Septemb. 6. and sent four Regiments who entred the Town and himself the next day finding the Siege totally raised he sent Three thousand horse to attend the King's march and keep his Forces in a body that they might not plunder the Country er else to fight them Upon the coming of the Earl of Newcastle towards Beverly the Lord Fairfax finding the Town not tenable and the Inhabitants ill affected to the Parliament he drew off all the Carriages and Souldiers from thence to Hull and Newcastle entred and possessed Beverly The Mayors of Barnstable and of Bidiford in the West betrayed these Towns to the Lord Digby's Forces The Lords sentenced Judge Berkley to pay Twenty thousand pounds Fine and to be disabled from bearing any Office in the Commonwealth for his Judgment in the business of Ship-money The Lord Maitsland Mr. Henderson and another Scots Commissioner with Mr. Hatcher and Mr. Nye arrived in London and their Letters of Credence from the States of Scotland were read to the Lords and Commons with the readiness of the Scots to assist the Parliament This Business was referred to a Committee of both Houses to Treat with the Scots Commissioners upon their Propositions and at two Meetings all was agreed The Lords assented to the Covenant with the Alterations made by the Commons and the Scots Commissioners assented to them likewise The King sent his Proclamation to Scotland forbidding them to Treat any further with the Parliament of England or to give them any Assistance Newcastle's Forces from Beverly quartered about three miles distance round on the Lands-side of Hull upon whom Sir Thomas Fairfax made a sally out of Hull killed many and took fifty Prisoners The Town of Portsmouth petitioned that Sir William Waller might be their Governour and it was left to the General Essex to give him a Commission accordingly The Speaker acquainted the House with Letters he received from France That an Army of Twenty thousand was ready at S. Malloes to be shipped for Bristoll to assist the King The News of the King 's raising the Siege of Glocester occasioned various Discourses of that Action all men both Friends and Enemies agreed that Essex herein performed a very gallant Souldier-like Action And most men were of opinion that when the King went to Gloucester if he had marched up to London he had done his work For at that time the Parliament had
Parishes and the Ministers to exhort them to it The General with the Lord Gray Sir Philip Stapleton and others came to London and the Army removed to Windsor and thereabouts Sir William Waller's Forces quartering at Colnebrook Stanes and thereabouts The House of Commons with their Speaker went to Essex-house to congratulate the General his safe Return to them and his happy Success and Valour in the late Business at Newbury And caused their acknowledgment thereof and of their Protection by him under God to be entred in the Journal Book of the Parliament The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London waited in their Scarlet Gowns upon the General and highly complemented him as the Protector and Defender of their lives and Fortunes and of their Wives and Children and the Trained Bands sent out as he passed by loud acclamations of his praise In humane probability the King's Army was the more likely to have prevailed their Horse more and better than the Parliaments and their Foot were as good their advantages greater and their courages higher and their confidence too much God was pleased to raise the Courage of the Parliaments forces and to give them the success and indeed all success in war as well as in other matters is the free gift of the Lord of Hosts Essex and his Souldiers acknowledged much gallantry and courage in those of the King's party and the King's party acknowledged the like of Essex and his Souldiers all were Englishmen and pitty it was that such courage should be spent in the bloud of each other A passage or two I shall here remember of extraordinary mettle and boldness of Spirit One is of Sir Philip Stapleton though he would not acknowledg it that he being with other Parliament Commanders in the head of a body of horse facing another body of the King's horse before whom stood their Commanders and the cheif of them was Prince Rupert This Parliament Officer desiring to cope singly with the Prince he rode from before his Company up to the body of horse before whom the Prince with divers other Commanders were and had his pistol in his hand ready cockt and fitted Coming up to them alone he looked one and another of them in the face and when he came to Prince Rupert whom he knew he fired his Pistol in the Prince's face but his armour defended him from any hurt and having done this he turned his horse about and came gently off again without any hurt though many Pistols were fired at him Another passage was of Sir Philip Stapleton's Groom a Yorkshire man and stout if not two rash by this story he was attending on his Master in a charge where the Groom's mare was killed under him but he came off on foot back again to his own Company To some of whom he complained that he had forgotten to take off his Saddle and Bridle from his Mare and to bring them away with him and said that they were a new Saddle and Bridle and that the Cavaliers should not get so much by him but he would go again and fetch them His Master and Friends perswaded him not to adventure in so rash an Act the Mare lying dead close to the Enemy who would mall him if he came so near them and his Master promised to give him another new Saddle and Bridle But all this would not perswade the Groom to leave his Saddle and Bridle to the Cavaliers but he went again to fetch them and stayed to pull off the Saddle and Bridle whilst hundreds of bullets flew about his ears and brought them back with him and had no hurt at all The Lord Grey of Groby Sir Philip Stapleton and divers other Members of the House and divers Officers of the Army received the thanks of the House for their good service done in the late Gloucester journey and fight at Newbery and this to be entred in the Parliament journals for an honour to them and their posterity Amongst the Colours taken at Newbery one Cornet was the figure of the Parliament House with two Traitors heads standing on the top of it and by them this word ut extra sic infra but the Parliament nevertheless exposed them to publick view and censure The Commons ordered a Declaration upon a Bull from the Pope intercepted which was to encourage the Roman Catholicks in Ireland to the rigorous prosecution of the War Some discontents had been between the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller which upon a Conference with a Committee of both Houses and a Letter from Waller to Essex were made up again and the General of a good nature declared himself to be fully satisfied The Commons borrowed 30000 l. of the Merchant Adventurers to supply the Navy and took up other large sums for supply of the Armies They past a Declaration against the Cessation of Arms then in treaty between the King and the Irish Rebels but the same was brought to a conclusion and many of the Irish came in to the King's service here This gave occasion for many Invectives and Pasquils That the Queen's Army of French and Walloon Papists and the King's Army of English Papists together with the Irish Rebels were to settle the Protestant Religion and the Liberties of England The Charge against Arch-bishop Laud was referred to a Committee to be drawn up and presented to the Commons and the Committee to manage the Evidence at the tryal against the Arch-bishop The Earl of Ormond concluded the Cessation of Arms with the Irish Rebels and divers of them under Colonel Ernely came over hither to serve the King The Earl of Craford for the King sought to gain the Town of Poole by treachery and dealt with Captain Sydenham one of the Garrison who promised to doe his work and received of him 40 l. and a promise of a great reward and preferment At an hour appointed Craford comes to the Town with 500 horse and some foot Sydenham and the Governor whom he acquainted with it let in Craford and half his men into the Town and then letting fall a chain shut out the rest few escaped of those who entred the town but were killed or taken prisoners A Letter from Dr. Featly to Oxford was intercepted wherein he held correspondence with them and fished for preferment from them and the Dr. being a Member of the Assembly of the Divines was for his Infidelity discharged of his attendance on the Assembly and of his two Parsonages Sir Nicholas Crispe upon a quarrel and affront offered to him in his own quarters by Sir James Ennyon who challenged him also to fight he killed Ennyon but was acquitted for it by the King's Council of War Mr. Walter Mountagu was apprehended at Rochester coming up towards London in a disguise and Letters of Consequence taken about him They ordered Copes and Surplices to be taken away out of all Churches Monsieur de Cressey came over Embassadour from the French King
Strickland were sent to Gravesend to entertain and conduct the Dutch Embassadour to the Parliament The City invited both Houses of Parliament to Dinner in Merchant Taylor 's Hall on such a day as the Parliament would appoint and the rather at this time the General Essex and the Earl of Manchester being in Town that the City might express their thankfulness to the Parliament for their unwearied labours and care for the defence and peace of the City and whole Kingdom The Houses returned thanks to the City and ingaged to live and die with them in this Cause and this was the rather contrived now that the Plot to raise differences between the Parliament and City and to bring in the King might appear to be the more frivolous The Parliament ordered publick thanks to be given at this Meeting at a Sermon and the Sunday after in all Parishes for the discovery and prevention of the Plot of Sir Bazil Brook A Ship laden with Arms and Ammunition sent from Bristol to relieve the King's Forces at Chester was by the Mariners compelling their Master brought in to Leverpool to the Parliament The Archbishop Laud was brought to the House of Peers and the impeachment against him read and he required to answer who said he was an old man and weak and could not answer without Counsel and desired a further time to answer which was granted Both Houses dined with the City at Merchant-Taylor's Hall in the morning they met at Sermon in Christ Church from thence they went on foot to the Hall the Trained Bands making a Lane in the Streets as they passed by First went the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in their Scarlet Gowns and the Common Council then the Lord General Lord Admiral Earl of Manchester and other Lords attended with divers Colonels and military Officers After the Lords came the Members of the House of Commons and the Commissioners of Scotland then the Assembly of Divines and as they went through Cheapside on a Scaffold many Popish Pictures Crucifixes and Superstitious Relicks were burnt before them The Lord Howard of Escrick petitioned for reparation of his losses by the Cavaliers out of Delinquents Estates The 22. of January being the day appointed for the Anti-Parliament to meet at Oxford the Parliament at Westminster called the House and there appeared 280 of their Members besides 100 more in the service of the Parliament in the several Counties and now they expelled by vote 40 Members who had deserted the Parliament The Anti-Parliament met at Oxford but have not taken upon them the name and power of Parliament The first day of Hillary Term the Commissioners of the Seal and the Judges sate in the several Courts at Westminster Hall The Ordinance passed That if any should deliver Proclamation or other thing to any persons from Oxford or sealed with any other Great Seal than that attending the Parliament that they should be proceeded against as Spies according to Marshal Law Monsieur de Harecourt sent a Letter to both the Speakers but not intituling them Speakers of the Parliament but only Messieurs Grey de Werke and Lenthall upon which the Parliament refused to accept the Letters Colonel Mitton routed a Party of the King's Horse convoying Arms and Ammunition to the Besiegers of Nantwich Mitton fell upon them unexpectedly killed many took Sir Nicholas Byron Governour of Chester Sir Richard Willis one hundred inferiour Officers and Troopers one hundred and fifty Horse and Arms and all the Ammunition and Powder which they brought from Shrewsbury The Lord Lovelace wrote to Sir Henry Vane Junior to perswade a Treaty of Peace and to raise divisions among the Parliaments party The House authorised Sir Henry Mr. St. John and Mr. Brown to keep a Correspondence with the Lord Lovelace to sift what they could out of him and his Lordship was too weak for these Gentlemen Three hundred Native Irish Rebels landed at Weymouth under the Lord Inchiquin to serve his Majesty Divers Papists Servants about the King's Children were removed Ogle for the King wrote to Mr. Thomas Goodwyn and Mr. Nye of the Independent Judgment to make great promises to them if they would oppose the Presbyterian Government intended by the Scots to be imposed on England and much to that purpose These two being persons of great Judgment and Parts acquainted their Friends herewith and were authorised to continue a Correspondence with Ogle who gained no ground upon them No more could Ogle upon the Governour of Ailesbury nor upon Mr. Davenish the one was sollicited to betray Ailesbury and the other Windsor with mountainous promises from Ogle on the King's part but all were refused The Scots Army now entred England were eighteen hundred foot and thirty five hundred of horse and Dragoons The Recorder and Citizens of London presented a Petition to the Commons for dispatch of the business of the Accounts of the Kingdom and for recruiting and reforming the Armies This gave a stroke of jealousie and discontent to Essex and his friends and the more because the House so well entertained it The Commons ordered Worcester-house to be furnished for the Scots Commissioners who desired some Members of both Houses might be appointed as a joynt Councel with them A Trumpet came from Oxford with Letters to the General and a Parchment-Roll signed by the Prince the Duke of York Duke of Cumberland Prince Rupert about fourty Lords and one hundred Knights and Gentlemen sometime Members of the House of Commons and now met by the King's Proclamation at the Assembly at Oxford to debate of the State and Peace of the Kingdom and to prevent effusion of more blood And therefore they desire the General to treat with his Friends and those by whom he is imployed not naming the Parliament to appoint a time and place to treat of Propositions of Peace The General acquainted the Parliament herewith who would not own nor receive the Letters having no Directions to them but left it to the General to return an Answer An Ordinance past to recruit the Lord General 's Army to 7500 Foot and 3000 Horse and Dragoons and they to have constant pay only eleven Officers to have but half pay The Forces of Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Brereton joyning together marched to relieve Nantwich The King's Forces before the Town drew out to fight them and gallant Actions were performed on both sides the event of the Battel was long doubtful till unexpectedly the King's Forces gave ground and were pursued by the Parliaments till they were totally routed and dispersed There were taken Prisoners Major General Gibson Earnley Sir Richard Fleetwood Sir Francis Boteler an Irish Rebel Colonel Monk who afterwards served the Parliament and this was his first turn Colonel Gibs Harmon Sir Ralph Downes fourteen Captains twenty Lieutenants twenty six Ensigns two Cornets two Quarter-masters forty Drums forty one Serjeants sixty three Corporals and
King's Children The Commons voted to Impeach Mr. Webster and Mr. Sands and two other English Merchants in Holland for being chief Actors in pawning the Crown-Jewels and sending over Arms and Ammunition against the Parliament The Clergy and others being summoned to Leicester to take the Covenant and very many of them coming in Colonel Hastings with four hundred of the King's Horse roamed about the Country and took about a hundred Prisoners of those that were going to take the Covenant and drove the rest home again Upon this about two hundred Horse were sent from Leicester who unexpectedly fell into the Quarters of Hastings rescued all the Prisoners dispersed his Troops took fifty of them Prisoners and a hundred and forty Horse and Arms. Fifteen thousand of the Scots past the River Tyne and blockt up Newcastle on the South-side as the other part of their Army did on the North-side The Lord Willoughby before Newark beat the King's Forces from their Outworks and gained their Bridges and came within Pistol-shot of the Town Colonel Wayte beat up the King's Quarters near Burley-house Colonel Norton did the like to some of the Lord Hopton's Forces and killed and took about eighty of them The Scots possest themselves of Sunderland and Durham Sir William Constable took Stamford-Bridge and three pieces of Ordnance Powder Shot Arms for several Troops of Horse and Provisions Colonel Lambert at Leeds surprised eleven Colours of the King 's and Sir William Constable besieged Scarborough Sir Hugh Cholmley revolted to the King burnt many houses in Whitbee March 12. The Archbishop came to his Tryal in the Lord's house the Evidence against him was managed by Serjeant Wild and Mr. Maynard The Archbishop in his Defence alledged for his constancy in Religion that he had converted two and twenty from Popery to be Protestants Divers Western Gentlemen came into Plymouth and submitted themselves to the Parliament The Divines of the Netherlands in Answer to a Letter from the Assembly of Divines here express their content in the proceedings of the Parliament and Assembly touching the Covenant and desire to joyn with the two Kingdoms therein The Dutch Ambassadour sent a Message to the House of Commons directed in the usual manner To the Speaker of the House of Commons And in the Afternoon they had a private Conference with the Speaker and some Members The Earl of Carlisle deserted the King's Party and came in to the Parliament Colonel Thomas Pyne took the Lord Arundel's House by assault fifty Prisoners and two pieces of Ordnance Mar. 15. The Commons referred to the Council of both Kingdoms to consider of and propound to both Houses the most probable speedy and effectual means for procuring and establishing a firm peace wherein the Lords concurred Sir Richard Greenvile was proclaimed Traytor by the General and the Proclamation nailed on the Gallows The Parliament Ships chased the Earl of Marleborough but he though two to one did not think fit to fight with them The Anti-Parliament at Oxford passed sundry Votes That the Parliament Members at Westminster were guilty of Treason Which Votes the Parliament caused to be published with a Declaration upon them A List was agreed of seven Colonels of Foot-Regiments under the Lord General in his Army The Propositions from the Ambassadours of the States Were to mediate a Peace between the King and Parliament For which end they had been with the King and now they made application to the Parliament who thought they did not fully acknowledge them as the Parliament and thereupon the business past over with Complements on both parts Colonel Purefoy beat up the Quarters of two Troups of the Earl of Northampton's Regiment took divers Officers and others Prisoners and 80 Horse The Rents of the Universitie of Oxford were secured by the Parliament Consideration was had of Regulating Sir William Waller's Army The Scots possest Sunderland by which means Coals were had for London which before was in great want of them Newark Garrison sallied out and surprised 200 of the Besiegers The Ordinance past for Regulating the Lord General 's Army and reducing them to seven thousand and five hundred Foot and three thousand Horse and thereby his Officers were discontented and himself not well pleased Letters were intercepted from the Catholick Council of the Rebels in Ireland to Cardinal Mazarini To put the Queen Regent of France in mind of her promise to assist the Irish with seven thousand men An Order past for Trade to Sunderland and Blith in the North. A difference of Opinion was between the two Houses the Lords would have a new Committee named to consider of Propositions of Peace the Commons would have that Business referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms In the debate of this matter some of the House of Commons seemed averse to any Propositions at all for Peace Amongst others one spake to this effect Mr. Speaker It would be no wonder to see an unanimous Concurrence of the whole House in furthering Propositions for a good Peace The Calamities of our Distractions have brought us to it and who is there amongst us that hath not in some measure felt the stroaks of them I am sure Sir I have smarted by them We may say here but I hope never with the like Application what Tacitus said of the Romans Omnia discordiis civilibus fessa The Land is weary of our Discords being thereby polluted with our blood God hath given you great Successes in many places against our Enemies and sometimes he is pleased to give our Enemies Successes against us in all of them whether of the one or the other Party the poor English are still Sufferers Whose Goods I pray Sir are plundered whose Houses are burnt whose Limbs are cut or shot off whose persons are thrown into loathsom Dungeons whose Blood stains the Walls of our Towns and defiles our Land Is it not all English and is it not then time for us who are all English-men to be weary of these Discords and to use our utmost Endeavours to put an end to them I know Sir you are all here of the same Opinion with me in this Point and that it was an unhappy mistake of those who told us in the beginning of our Warfare That it would be onely to shew our selves in the Field with a few Forces and then all would be presently ded We have found it otherwise let us now again seek to recover these Blessings of Peace whereof we are told that Nihil tam populare quam pax That nothing is than Peace more gracious to be heard of more pleasing to be desired and more profitable to be enioyed I am sorry we have so much and so sad Experience as well as other Arguments to convince us of this truth You think best to refer it to the Committee of both Kingdoms and you cannot find more able and faithfull men to trust in this Business the Lords think fit that
another Committee be named to whom this may be referred VVhilst we differ upon the Committee we lose the Business and do not pursue Peace I am perswaded Sir you can hardly name any Committee either within or without these Walls but would be ready to take pains to effect this good work Unless it were those who have said That if this War be well managed it may last twenty years But those were not English-men and although we have Irish French Dutch and Walloons as well as other Papists ingaged for the settlement of the Protestant Religion and Laws of England Yet I am perswaded that his Majesty and you mutually indeavouring as it is both your Interests none can hinder it It is true that these Foreigners help to open the Veins wider but a Peace will rid us of them and stop the Issue of Blood but if it bleed on still we must faint and perhaps become a prey to Foreigners Sir I humbly move that we may endeavour without more loss of time to satisfie the Lords with reasons that it is fittest to have this matter referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms Yet if their Lordships shall not be satisfied herein let us consent to name another Committee rather than to suffer so desirable a business to be protracted Let us consent to any thing that is just reasonable and honourable rather than in the least to neglect to seck Peace and to ensue it The Commons appointed a Committee to draw up Reasons to satisfie the Lords that it was fittest to refer this Matter to the Committee of both Kingdoms The Lord Howard of Escricke had an allowance out of Sequestrations in satisfaction of his Losses and the first Precedent herein was of a Lord. Captain Weere going with a Party from Lyme was surprised by the King's Forces and most of his men taken Prisoners and carried to Collington and divers killed Captain Thomas Pyne having Intelligence thereof went out the same Night with a Party of the Garrison of Lyme to Collington where he found them in Jollity for their Success and falling upon them he took the Colonel several inferiour Officers about sixty Souldiers and many Horse and Arms and rescued all their Prisoners Prince Rupert with a great body of Horse came unexpectedly upon the Parliaments Forces before Newark so that they had no time to prepare to receive him yet Colonel Rossiter Major Lilburn Captain Bethell and Hunt gallantly charged and routed the Right Wing led by the Prince Other of the Parliaments Forces did not play their parts so well but five hundred of them deserted the great Fort before they were assaulted secured their Arms and went away to Lincoln By which means the Prince became Master of that Fort and of the Island and there intrenched himself and cut of Provisions from the Besiegers which made them render upon Articles which were not observed The Parliament lost there three thousand Arms and nine pieces of Ordnance and the Enemy rejoyced much in this action The occasion of this defeat was the want of a good Agreement amongst the Officers before the Town who took upon them more power than belonged to them several of them striving to be chief in command and all thereby were the more careless and unprepared to resist the Enemy The Ordinance passed for compleating and maintaining the Lord General 's Army to consist of seven Regiments of Foot each of 1000 Souldiers divided into eight Companies and the General 's Regiment to be of 1500 Souldiers and divided into twelve Companies and to have six Regiments of Horse each to consist of 550 Troupers and divided into six Troups Instead of nine great Ships not so usefull in the Navy it was ordered to fit up twelve Merchant Ships The Commons ordered the Lord Mayor and Militia of London to provide a Store of Corn for the City An Ordinance passed for contribution of one Meal a Week for the Auxiliary Forces Colonel Harvey was sent forth with his Regiment of Horse to Sir William Waller Captain Swanley took a Bristol Ship laden with Arms and Ammunition for the King The Scots took a great Fort over against Tinmouth which commands all Ships coming in or going out of New Castle and five pieces of Ordnance Arms Powder and some Prisoners and lost but nine men Colonel Cromwell Governour of the Isle of Ely had the like power for levying money there for his Forces as the Earl of Manchester had in the associated Counties General Forth and Sir Ralph Hopton having drawn together the strength of the King's Forces in those parts marched towards Sir William Waller who with Sir William Belfore Sir Arthur Haslerig and others had got together about 10000 Men. Both Armies lay within a mile of each other about four miles from Winchester and two or three days faced each other and had some light Skirmishes between the Horse and William Waller's Men took about thirty of the enemy and slew one Captain and an Irish Rebel March 29. Both Armies fell on upon each other the King's Forces having the advantage in the number both Parties fought very gallantly and stoutly the London Forces and Kentish Men with Waller and Sir Arthur Haslerig and Belfore did very brave service and after a sharp Fight the Parliament Forces totally routed and dispersed the King's Army The first of the King 's that are said to run away were two Regiments of Irish the other Foot Regiments fought stoutly on both sides and came up to push of Pike the London Regiments drave the Enemy from the Hedges which they had lined with Musquetiers and gained the passage to a Wood which stood the Parliament Forces in great stead and shortly after put the Enemy to a Rout which was so total that scarce ten of them were left together Their General Forth and Sir Ralph Hopton fled to Bafing House their Ordnance Arms Bag and Baggage left to the Parliament about 500 of them slain besides those in the pursuit closely followed by Sir Arthur Haslerig The Lord John Brother to the Duke of Lenox was slain and many Officers of the King's Party of the Parliaments Party about 100 Men slain Colonel Dalbier wounded and Colonel Thompson's leg shot off The News hereof as it was joyfull to the Parliament so it took off much of their rejoycing at Oxford for the relieving of Newark and raising of the siege there Anno 1644. April 1644. The Parliament ordered a day of publick thanksgiving for the good success which it pleased God to give to their Forces hear Winchester Ships were ordered to lie to hinder the landing of the Irish Captain Swanley secured Milford Haven Haverford West and all Pembrokeshire for the Parliament The Irish Rebels enter'd into a Catholick Covenant and sent their Agents to the King to have a free Catholick Parliament and they had countenance at Oxford The Commons took course for making of Gunpowder The Scots and New-Castle's Army often faced each other and had some
small Rencounters A Party of Sir John Gell's men near Derby fell upon a quarter of the Enemy killed twenty two routed the rest drove divers Men and Horse into the River Dove where they were drowned took 140 Horse and 80 Prisoners Colonel Bellasis attempted the Quarters of Colonel Lambert who beat back Colonel Bellasis and pursued him six miles took 150 Horse 60 Foot Colonel Bagshaw and 80 Captains and Officers Sir Edward Hartop and Major Bingley were questioned for letting the Enemy pass to the Relief of Newark when they had a considerable force to oppose him and it was referred to a Council of War It was agreed to send 66000 l. to the Brittish Forces in Ulster The Prince Elector wrote to the Parliament of the great want he and his Mother were in for want of the stipend they formerly had bemoans the courses which his brother took in fighting against the Parliament and rejoyceth to hear of the Covenant The King's Forces at Reading levelled the works and marched to Marlborough An Ordinance passed for observation of the Lord's day The Isle of Wight sent store of provisions and 300 men to Waller Upon advice from the Committee of both Kingdoms the Parliament resolv'd to draw together all their Forces at a general Rendezvous and to put the Enemy to it by a day and took order for Victuals and Necessaries for their Armies and that this their resolution should be published on the day of Thanksgiving Newcastle imposed an Oath of Adherence upon the inhabitants of York to oppose the Scots but many resused to take it The Lord Fairfax his Regiment took 160 Horse and 80 Foot at Axholm The Commons and Lords answered the Dutch Ambassadour That when they should make it appear that they hadCommission to address themselves to the Parliament they should receive a fit Answer At a Common Council the Earl of Warwick Sir Henry Vane Junior and the Earl of Pembroke spake to the Citizens acquainted them with the Resolution of the Parliament to put the business of the war to a speedy issue and to a day and to desire their assistance Sir William Waller spake to them to the same effect Mr. Hollis and Mr. Glyn to the same purpose and the Citizens were very forward in the business A Party of Sir William Waller's Forces took Christ Church and Sir John Willis the Governour with divers Commissioners of Array 120 Horse 200 Foot and about 400 Arms. The London Brigade with Colonel Whitehead took in by composition Walton House belonging to the Bishop of Winchester Colonel Langhern and Captain Swanley with the help of a squadron of ships sent to them took in the fort of Prickspil divers Officers 18 great Ordnance 6 Carriages 300 Souldiers with their Arms and two Bristol ships with Arms and Powder This so terrified Haverford West that their Centuries the next night seeing a herd of Cattel cried out that the Round-heads Black-coats were come and Sir Henry Vaughan and his company hasted away leaving behind them Powder ten pieces of Ordnance and store of Provisions Then they took Tinby a strong Fort with the Governour 300 Souldiers and Arms 8 pieces of Cannon and store of plunder and secured all Pembrokeshire and most part of South Wales for the Parliament Prince Griffith so called made a proposition for 15000 l. to reduce all NorthWales to the Parliament Col. King took in Crowland for the Parliament 80 Horse and Arms. The Lords agreed to refer the drawing up of propositions for Peace to the Committee of both Kingdoms to doe it by a day An Oxford Spie was executed The Lord Conwey and the Earl of Kingston came into the Parliament The King again sets up his Standard at Marlborough but seeing few come in to it he declared at the Standard that the two Houses were preparing Propositions for Peace and he would reward those that came in to him as there should be further occasion to use them and so the Standard was taken down The King's Forces surprized Wareham as was suspected by the treachery of the Captain of the Watch who let them in for which they being Masters of the place killed the Captain and many others and committed divers rapes and cruelties The Archbishop coming again to trial the Article was urged against him and several witnesses produced That he assumed the title of the Pope that in Letters from the Vniversity of Oxford he was styled Optimus Maximus Sanctitas Vestra Your Sacred Holiness Aeternum Reverendissime Cancellarie Maximus Pontifex It was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to send Agents to the Swedes and to Zealand to declare the Parliaments affection to them who had expressed their good liking of the proceedings of the Parliament The Lord Fairfax and Sir Thomas Fairfax his Son joyning together drew up their Forces to Selby where a Garrison of the King 's was and in it Colonel Bellasis the Governour of York that night they beat in a party of the Enemies Horse and took divers Prisoners Early the next morning they beset the Town in three Divisions and after a hot fight wherein both parties performed brave service Fairfax routed them and entred the Town where they took 4 Colonels 4 Majors 20 Captains 130 inferiour Officers 1600 common Souldiers 4 brass Pieces of Ordnance Powder Match 2000 Arms 500 Horse besides Colours and a Pinnace and Ships in the River and 500 more Prisoners at Hemcough near Selby For this the Parliament ordered a day of publick Thanksgiving The Candlesticks Crucifixes and Plate in Pauls Church was ordered to be sold and a motion debated for borrowing 100000 l. of the States of the Netherlands The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London proposed that they would raise 20000 men and how they might be paid but the Commons doubting it might retard their present designs it was for that time laid aside A party of Sir William Waller's Horse beat up the Enemies Quarters at Sunning near Reading took 2 Lieutenant Colonels 3 Captains divers other Officers 21 Souldiers with Arms and 40 Horse A Proclamation was published from Oxford commanding the Inhabitants of Oxfordshire Bucks and Berks c. to bring in all their provision for Men and Horse to Oxford within 5 days that they may not assist the Enemies now marching on pain of fire and sword The Commons appointed a Declaration to be drawn and published thereupon These three Counties Oxon Bucks and Berks entred into an association and a Committee was appointed of Members of the Mouse and other Gentlemen of those Counties then in London to manage the affairs of those Counties to compound with Delinquents and to raise supplies for the Forces there The Earl of Newcastle troubled at the news of Selby and his Army wasting upon the approach of the Scots towards them they left Durham to the Scots and General Lesley pursued them The Commons did right to Mr. Cambell upon a complaint of Horses taken
better securing those Counties for the Parliament The City freely agreed hereunto and resolved to send out another Brigade of horse and foot under Major General Brown to joyn with the Forces of these three Counties The Earl of Warwick relieved Lyme with Provisions and Ammunition which they greatly wanted and with some of his Seamen helped to keep the Line Prince Maurice stormed the Town but Captain Ceely the Governour and his Garrison with the Seamen made such a Defence that sixty of the Prince's men were slain two Captains and many of his Souldiers taken prisoners and but eight men lost of the Garrison in this storm The chief Commanders before Lyme were Prince Maurice the Lord Pawlet and Sir John Borlace with about 2500 horse and foot in all The next day but one they began again to storm the Town and came on with as much bravery and resolution as could be performed by English men against English-men and they were as gallantly received by the Garrison and 400 of the Prince's men were slain on the place and not above seven of the Garrison All this was certified to the Parliament by Letters from the Earl of Warwick to whom a Letter of thanks was sent from both Houses for his great Service in relieving this Town and they ordered 1000 l. per an to the Town out of the Lord Pawlet's Estate and full satisfaction to the Inhabitants for their losses and the Lord General was desired to send a party to relieve them It was much wondred at that this Town could so long hold out being of little strength more than by the courage of their men and situate low under a Hill which was of great advantage to the Besiegers and they were sometimes brought unto such streights that their Water was noisom with the bloud of those slain and they much wanted provision of Victuals and Ammunition which the Earl of Warwick supplyed He also certified the Parliament that he had taken two Pinnaces at Sea one bound for Bristoll valued at 18000 l. A Troup of the Earl of Dallensie's Regiment marched to the Walls of York killed thirty and took thirty four Prisoners sxity Horse and forty Oxen and Cows from the Garrison General Lesley and the Earl of Manchester intrenched on each side of York very near to the City and the Scots took and fortified a Windmill near the Town though the Garrison made 200 great shot at them The Parliament ordered the Lord General to pursue the King and Sir William Waller to march into the West which was contrary to the General 's liking and it was thought strange that the Committee of both Kingdoms would at that distance take upon them to give particular Orders for the Services and course of their Armies March and not rather to leave it to the chief Commanders that were upon the place and who upon every motion of the Enemy might see cause to alter their Counsels This increased the jealousies and peeks between the General and Waller both gallant men but the General thought himself undervalued and Waller was high enough Nor did there want Pick-thanks to blow these coals of jealousie and this proved unhappy to the Parliament Affairs as will appear afterwards Mr. Hungerford a Member of the House of Commons was committed for going to the Anti-Parliament at Oxford Colonel Massey took in Tewksbury and in it Lieutenant Colonel Mynne and many Prisoners Powder and Ammunition and slew several inferiour Officers A Battery was made at the Windmill-hill at York five pieces of Ordnance planted which shot into the Town and did much hurt the Lord Eglinton with four thousand Scots entred some of the Gates and made a passage into the Mannor-house A strong party sallying out of the City were beaten back with loss General Leuen with his Regiment took a Fort from the Enemy and in it 120 prisoners the Garrison burnt up much of the Suburbs The Archbishop came again to his Tryal and the Matters against him were Touching his Ceremonial and Popish Consecrating of Churches and concerning the Book of allowing Recreation on Sundays The Earl of Manchester having made a Mine forced the great Fort at York where all the Defenders were slain and taken and but ten or twelve Scots lost The Earl of Newcastle sent to General Leuen to know the Cause of his drawing thither Leuen answers That he wondred Newcastle should be ignorant thereof that his intent was to bring that City to the obedience of the King and Parliament and therefore for avoiding further effusion of blood he summoned him once more to render the Town The Earl of Newcastle Sir Thomas Widderington and other chief Commanders with a strong party sallyed out of the Town endeavouring to escape but were driven back into the City from whence they shooting at a Tent where Leuen was took off part of the Tent but did no other hurt Sudley Castle in Glocestershire was yielded to Sir William Waller at mercy and taken in it nine Captains twenty two inferiour Officers and all the common Souldiers of whom a hundred and fifty took the Covenant and listed themselves for the Parliament they took here likewise 4000 l. worth of Cloth The same day Colonel Purefoy with the Warwick Forces took Compton-house and in it 5500 l. in money and five or six Pots of money more found in a Pond all their Arms four hundred Sheep about a hundred head of Cattel and great store of Plunder The King's Forces as they hasted to Worcester broke down the Bridges after them to hinder the pursuit of them and many of them crouding to get over Pursow Bridge the Planks left for their passage brake and about sixty of them were drowned The Commons again desired the Lords Concurrence to the Ordinance for secluding the Members who had deserted the Parliament and assisted their Enemies but the Lords were not yet satisfied therein A Party continued before Greenland-house An Ordinance passed for the relief of the maimed and sick Souldiers and for the Wives and Children of those who were slain in the Service of the Parliament The King sent from Bewdely a party of three thousand Horse to relieve Dudley Castle besieged by the Earl of Denbeigh who coming suddenly upon the Earl he sent out a Forlorn commanded by Colonel Mitton who charged the Enemy so home and was so far engaged that the Earl's friends advised him to draw off as fast as he could to save himself and the rest of his Company the Forlorn being given over for lost and the King's Forces far in number exceeding the Forces of the Earl But the Earl would not so leave his Friends ingaged but in person led on his Party and charged the Enemy so hotly that they retreated in disorder and the Earl rescued and brought off his Forlorn and the Enemy lost about a hundred of their men besides many Officers and common Souldiers taken Prisoners by the Earl and lost but
time upon the besiegers but were beaten back with loss they were in great want of Salt in the City but the besiegers drew off to a greater distance from the City the better to resist their Sallies and to receive Prince Rupert who was come to Craven The Portugeses had a great Victory against the Spaniards The Lords consented to the Ordinance for secluding the Members of both Houses who had deserted the Parliament The Portugal Ambassadour desired to be heard before some Ships appointed for that purpose did go to the River Amazons within his Masters dominions which was referred to a Committee The Archbishop came again to his Tryal Prince Maurice sent a party to burn Barnstable but the Town rose against them shut them out and killed about 20 of them hereof they gave notice to the Lord General who sent the Lord Roberts with a strong party to secure them The Lord Grey routed a party of the Enemy near Stamford killed 6 of them took 40 horse and as many Gentlemen and divers inferiour Officers and pursued Colonel Hastings and his forces The besiegers of Greenland-house had almost beaten the house about the Ears of the Garrison A Committee was appointed to consider of the manner of reception of the Dutch Ambassadour and of other Ambassadours Upon Prince Rupert's coming towards York the besiegers drew off from the City to be the better prepared to receive the Prince Divers Letters were intercepted going from Oxford to the Queen wherein the King acquaints her with the Parliaments purpose to present him Propositions for Peace which if She likes he thinks will be the best way for settlement as things now stand In those and other Letters there are relations of the late fight at Cropedy-bridg and of other incounters much different from the relations thereof made by the Commanders upon the place Colonel Warren taken prisoner by the Parliaments Forces in the North and now prisoner in Hull was sent for up to the Parliament in whose service he had formerly been and they committed him to the Tower Colonel Monke is said to have done good service for the Parliament against the Irish Rebels till he received a Command from the King upon which he deserted his Regiment in Ireland and served in person against the Parliament whose forces took him prisoner with Colonel Warren and he was now likewise committed to the Tower Prince Rupert having relieved the Countess of Derby who had couragiously defended Lathom-house besieged 18 weeks by Colonel Ashton Moore and Rigby and they being all drawn off The Prince marched towards York with 20000 horse and foot upon notice whereof the three Generals for the Parliament Leven Manchester and Fairfax raised their Siege from before York and drew into a large plain about 8 miles from the City called Marston Moore The Prince fetching a compass about with his Army got into York and there the Earl of Newcastle with 6 or 7000 men joyning with him they both marched unto Marston Moore and possessed themselves of the best places of Advantage for ground and wind The Right Wing of the Parliament was commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and consisted of all his horse and three Regiments of the Scots horse the Left Wing was commanded by the Earl of Manchester and Colonel Cromwel One body of their foot was commanded by the Lord Fairfax and consisted of his foot and two brigades of the Scots foot for a reserve and the main body of the rest of the foot was commanded by General Leven The Right Wing of the Prince's Army was commanded by the Earl of Newcastle the left Wing by the Prince himself and the main body commanded by General Goring Sir Charles Lucas and Major General Porter thus were both sides drawn up into Batalia July the 3d. In this posture both Armies faced each other and about seven a Clock in the morning the fight began between them The Prince with his Left Wing fell on the Parliament's Right Wing routed them and pursued them a great way the like did General Goring Lucas and Porter upon the Parliaments main body The three Generals giving all for lost hasted out of the Field and many of their Soldiers fled and threw down their Arms the King's Forces especially Prince Rupert too eagerly following the chace the victory now almost atchieved by them was again snatched out of their hands For Colonel Cromwel with the brave Regiment of his Countrymen and Sir Thomas Fairfax having rallyed some of his horse fell upon the Prince's Right Wing where the Earl of Newcastle was and routed them and the rest of their Companions rallying they fell altogether upon the divided bodies of Rupert and Goring and totally dispersed them and obtained a compleat Victory after three hours sight From this Battel and the pursuit some reckon were buryed 7000 Englishmen all agree that above 3000 of the Prince's men were slain in the Battel besides those in the chace and 3000 prisoners taken many of their chief Officers 25 pieces of Ordnance 47 Colours 10000 Arms two Waggons of Carabins and Pistols 130 barrels of Powder and all their bag and baggage For this great Victory the Parliament ordered a day to be kept of publick thanksgiving and a Letter of thanks to be written to the three Generals who with their Armies kept a day of thanksgiving for the great success that God had given them Colonel Cromwel was much cryed up for his service in this Battel and received a slight hurt with a Pistol shot in the neck which some imagined to be by accident and want of care by some of his own men Sir Thomas Fairfax likewise performed very gallant service in this Action and both the Commanders and the Souldiers on both parts acquitted themselves like couragious Englishmen it pleased God upon this appeal to decide it for the Parliament Prince Rupert escaped narrowly by the goodness of his horse and got into York the Papers of the Earl of Newcastle were taken and among them the Commission of the Earl of Newcastle to be General and to make Knights and they were presented to the Parliament The Parliament ordered 30000 l. for Ireland A party from Oxford and Wallingford came to relieve Greenland-house whereupon the Parliament Forces then but a few before it drew off to Henly and the King's Forces brought their fellows little relief onely carryed away 29 women and some plunder and so returned and then the besiegers sate down again before it Oswestry being besieged by the King's forces under Colonel Marrowe Sir Tho. Middleton relieved it and took 200 Common Souldiers 7 Carriages 100 Horse the Lord Newport's eldest Son and divers Officers and Arms and the Lord Newport's Estate was ordered to be sold An Ordinance passed for the new Excise Sir William Waller mounted his foot the better to pursue the King's Forces and the adjacent Counties furnished him with horses Sir Ralph Hopton with about 500 men attempted Marleborough on the Fair day but
and Mr. Herbert came from the General to the Parliament and made report to the Commons of the General 's progress in the West as before mentioned and that the General came to Bedman in Cornwal they desire the House to take care for supplies for the General 's Army and that Forces might be sent to be in the Rear of the King's Army Sir Peter Osborn and Sir Thomas Fanshaw for deserting the Parliament whereof they were Members were discharged of their Offices which were conferred upon others A party of the Lord Robert's Brigade was sent to pursue Greenvile and his Army which was about 3000 strong and fell upon him at Lestithiel in Cornwal killed divers of Greenvile's men and took many Prisoners The General took in Foy a Haven and place of importance with several ships there and in all 17 pieces of Ordnance and summoned the Countrey to come in to his assistance By Letters from the Lord Inchequin Lord Brohale and Burchet from Ireland they certify the Parliament That they had thrust the Rebels out of most part of the Port-towns in Munster that many considerable places there have declared for the Parliament and that those Lords have 12000 men in Arms for the Parliaments service they desire some supplies and send over a Declaration of the Protestants there against the cessation The City of London petitioned that obstructions in Justice might be removed that Delinquents might be proceeded against speedily and that the City debts might be paid out of Delinquents Estates General Hastings for the King sent out a party to relieve Wink field Manor besieged by the Earl of Denbigh and Sir John Gell who marched out with 500 Horse sent them lately by Sir William Waller fell upon the Enemy killed many of them and took 150 Prisoners The Earl of Calender with some of the Scots forces took in Hartlepoole in the Bishoprick of Durham and Stockton places of importance for the Parliament and another party of the Scots under Sir John Meldrum besieged Leverpoole in Lancashire The French Ambassadour sent a Letter to the Speaker wherein he acknowledged that the Parliament at Westminster was the Parliament of England and informed that he had a Message to them from the King his Master this was referred to the Committee concerning the Dutch Ambassadours The Commons gave 150 l. gratuity to the Governour of Lyme and some provision of money formerly ordered for Glocester was transferred to Plymouth which was ill taken by Colonel Massey Several Ordinances past for giving power to Committees in several Counties and the Irish Remonstrance was permitted to be printed Commissary Copley was inlarged upon bail A Committee of the Lawyers of the House were ordered to consider of the plea of the Archbishop upon the Act of Oblivion and to report their opinions to the House Captain Moulton did some service for the Parliament in Pembrokeshire The Earl of Antrim landed in the North of Scotland with 2500 Irish and the Marquess of Argile went to resist them with a considerable Army General Leven advanced toward Newcastle to joyn with the Earl of Calender in besieging that City Colonel Massey having drawn out his Forces against Berkley Castle Colonel Myn with about 700 of the King's Forces entred Glocestershire and began to spoil the Countrey and to streighten Glocester Massey wheeled about and fought with them slew Colonel Myn and about 100 of his men and Lieutenant Colonel Mercy and took one Colonel four Majors divers inferiour Officers and about 300 common Souldiers Of his part Colonel Hartley was shot in the Arm some others wounded but not above three men slain Orders were made concerning relief to be sent to Ireland and for supplies of the Earl of Manchester's Army and the Forces of Sir William Waller Colonel Middleton sent up to the Parliament from Sarum many Copes Surplices Tippets Hoods Plate and the Picture of the Virgin Mary taken in the Minster there other Relicks being divided amongst the Souldiers Colonel Doddington with a party of the King's Forces came to Dorchester and was repulsed by Major Sydenham The Commons ordered 250 l. out of the Lord Capel's Woods to the Window of Colonel Meldrum slain in their service and 50 l. to another like Widow They gave power to Waller for exchange of Prisoners except such as had been Parliament men and some others A party of about 1600 from Oxford came to surprize Sir William Waller's Forces at Abington but were repulsed and Sir Richard Grimes and some others of them slain and about 40 taken Prisoners The three Generals and the Committeeresiding with them had a meeting and consultation how to dispose of their forces for the service of the Parliament and agreed upon several considerable things and concluded That if any of the three Armies should be in any distress upon notice thereof all the others should come in to their assistance The Parliament in Scotland voted the Earl of Montross and other Lords taking part against them to be traitours and confiscated their Estates The King being joyned with the Lord Hopton and Prince Maurice followed General Essex into Cornwal and drove away all the Cattel and took away all the Provisions to streighten the Parliaments Army The Parliament ordered Lieutenant General Middleton with the 3000 Horse now with him to march with all speed to the assistance of the Lord General and 4000 Horse more to be sent speedily after him but it was too late Upon the motion of the Assembly of Divines a day was appointed for publick humiliation to implore the assistance of God for the prosperous undertaking of the Lord General Divers of the County of Lincoln were desirous that Colonel King might be restored to his Commands in that Countrey Colonel Hastings coming to plunder some Carriers at Belgrave was beaten back with losse by a party from Leicester The Earl of Calender took Gate-side and blockt up Newcastle on that side beating back a party of the Garrison that sallied out upon him and General Leven marched towards him Sir Thomas Middleton and Sir William Brereton took about 320 Horse of Prince Rupert's Regiment 60 Prisoners many Arms and much Pillage Colonel Ashton took 200 of the Earl of Derby's Horse near Preston Letters came from the Lord General from Lestithiel in Cornwal and in them a Letter inclosed from the King to the Lord General dated Aug. 6. with another Letter from Prince Maurice and the Earl of Brainford the King's General dated Aug. 9. and another Letter from the Lord Hopton and most of the King 's chief Officers to the Lord General The King's Letter was with more than ordinary mildness inviting the General to join with him in that which is both their aims to make the Kingdom happy and to ingage the King to him in the highest degree and if any shall oppose them to make them happy against their wills and promiseth great rewards to him and his Army The Letters from the others were
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
brought to the Parliament declaring his Affections for Peace and concluding that God had given him a late Victory and therefore he desires them to consider of his long rejected Message from Evesham which was for peace but not till this time brought to the Parliament The Parliament appointed a day to take this into consideration and ordered all Officers and Souldiers to repair to their Colours on pain to be proceeded against by the Commissioners for Martial Law Mr. Hoyle was put into Sir Peter Osborn's Office and Mr. Salway into Sir Thomas Fanshaw's place in the Exchequer and several Judges went into the Counties which were quiet to keep Assizes and to execute the Commissions of Oyer and Terminer Colonel Cromwell was sent with two thousand horse to meet Prince Rupert coming to relieve Bandury but Colonel Massey had before prevented the Prince's coming The Irish Rebels that landed in Scotland were beaten into the Mountains by the Earl of Argyle and L. Gourdon Upon debate of the King's Letter it was held not to be a sufficient acknowledgment of the Parliament and therefore laid by Yet the House went on to compleat the Propositions for Peace and a day was appointed for the bringing in the Names of such Delinquents as should be excepted from pardon Divers Ministers of London presented a Petition to the Parliament for dispatch of the Directory of Worship and settling of pure Discipline and Government according to the word of God and complained of the Schisms in the Church The Petitioners had thanks from the House and the Committee of Lords and Commons appointed to confer with the Assembly to endeavour to reconcile some Differences among them and to find out a way how tender Consciences may be born withall so far as may stand with the peace of the Kingdom and the word of God The Assembly named 23 Ministers to give Ordination who were passed The Commons considered of the Propositions for peace the L. Macquire and Macmahon who escaped out of the Tower were again apprehended by the Lieutenant of the Tower and Sir John Clotworthy and upon a Report from a Committee of Lawyers it was ordered That they should be tried by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer and not by Martial Law The French Agent lay at the same house where Macquire and Macmahon were taken and had a chief hand in their escape and opposed the Officers searching in that house for papers c. because he lodged there But a Committee of both Houses were appointed to search there and did so notwithstanding the Agent 's pretences A Committee of Lawyers was appointed to meet daily about the Tryal of the Archbishop till the same should be dispatcht The Parliament ordered all the Forces of the Earl of Manchester and of Sir William Waller to joyn together and advance into the West The Ordinance passed for the Militia in Worcestershire About eighty of the Leicester horse in convoy of some Carriers were set upon by 120 of Colonel Hastings his men but the 80 routed and dispersed the 120 killed 8 and took 60 of them prisoners and store of Arms. By Letters from Sir Thomas Middleton it was certified That he having taken Mountgomery Castle was forced to retreat upon the coming of the King's Forces thither who again besieged the Castle with five thousand men and Middleton being joyned with Brereton Sir John Meldrum and Sir William Fairfax in all about three thousand they marched to relieve the Castle and were fought with by the Enemy who came up gallantly a good while to push of Pike and worsted the Parliament Horse Which so encouraged the King's Forces that they shouted and cryed The Day is ours the Day is ours at which the Parliament Forces were so enraged that they came on again with a fresh Charge and wholly routed and put them to flight took prisoners Major General Broughton Colonel Sir Thomas Tilsley Lieutenant Colonel Bludwell Major Williams nine Captains many inferiour Officers and fifteen hundred common Souldiers Of the King's part were slain about three hundred and about five hundred wounded Of the Parliament part were slain Sir William Fairfax with eleven wounds and Major Fitz Symons and about forty common Souldiers and about sixty wounded the Lord Byron who commanded the King's Forces hardly escaped by the goodness of his horse Upon Letters from my Lord Roberts both Houses took care for Supplies for Plymouth and their other Western Garrisons The King came to Exeter and gave order to remove all superfluous persons forth of the Town and for the Country to bring in thither all their provisions About forty prisoners of quality were brought from Plymouth to London and committed to Lambeth-house After the Siege was raised before Plymouth and the King gone to Exeter yet the Cornish-men continued near the Town to stop provisions coming to them by Land but were driven away again Many of the prisoners taken at Mountgomery being willing to take the Covenant and to serve against the Rebels in Ireland the Parliament to avoid the inconvenience of many prisoners consented thereunto and gave order for their transportation The Commons came near to a conclusion of their Debate touching the Propositions for peace Orders were sent to the Earl of Manchester and Sir William Waller to advance together with all expedition to prevent the King's return back to Oxford and took care for Supplies for them and for the Lord General The Parliament sent thanks to Sir Thomas Middleton Sir William Brereton and Sir John Meldrum for their good service at Mountgomery and which was more acceptable took order for Supplies for them the Lord Cherbury and Sir John Price came in to the Parliament Massey fell upon a party of the King 's between Bristoll and Monmouth took their Commander in chief and ten others and a hundred and sixty common Souldiers two hundred Arms and two pieces of Ordnance The King's Forces besieged Barnstable which rendred to them upon conditions which they afterwards broke pillaged the Parliament's Souldiers plundred the Town executed the Major and imprisoned many of the Inhabitants Colonel Ludlow took eighty of the King's Commissioners of Array in Somersetshire and Captain Savile took twenty of Prince Rupert's men prisoners Sir Thomas Fairfax recovered of his Wound and Sir H. Cholmly offered to surrender Scarborough Castle to the Parliament but now upon the news of the King's Victory in the West he revictuals it again and is again wholly for the King whereupon the Lord Fairfax sent Sir William Constable with a strong party to besiege the Castle Colonel Ware revolted from the Lord General in the West to the King and another Colonel quitted his Post and the Matters of that nature were referred to a Committee to be examined A Day was set apart by the Commons for receiving private Petitions At Basing-house the Besiegers took an Outwork a Captain and twenty eight Souldiers who defended it At Banbury they made a Breach and some of the
were not equal or from an expectation of Prince Rupert's advance with 3000 horse and Dragoons and the return of the Earl of Northampton from Banbury with 1000. The King's strength is reported to have been 8000 foot and 500 horse which albeit a gallant Army yet upon the Parliaments Forces drawing into Battalia they durst not take the Field but to counterpoise the Parliaments numbers the King fell to Stratagems to fortifie the Town especially the Avenues and having raised his Batteries and lined the hedges stood upon his guard and with some great pieces where he saw the biggest bodies and most advantage liberally sent them some Bullets which killed 2 or 3 horse but hurt not their Riders For many hours some parties of horse skirmisht 'twixt both the Armies in which play the Parliament had the best of whose part but one man fell of theirs four or five of which one was knighted It being impossible to engage the King's Forces without much hazard that night the greatest part of the Parliaments Forces marched unto Chevely the horse commanded by Waller and Balfour the foot by Skippon whilst the other encamped before the Eastside of the Town and ordered by Manchester at one same time having agreed to storm the Garrison on both sides That night and the next the Parliamentarians quartered in the open fields but neither the coldness of the weather nor want of usual provision any whit disanimated the Souldiers the expectation of fight swallowing up all other extremities howbeit most of them had three days provision prepared by command in their Snapsacks By Daybreak upon Sunday the horse and foot commanded by Waller and Skippon were upon their march in four hours surrounded Dunnington Castle and made their approach towards the West of Newbury By the way they intercepted two or three Carts of Provision and took about 100 horse and foot of the King 's as they straggled and the King's Forces from the Castle fell upon the Parliaments Rear and took 10 or 12 prisoners Upon this march they received the Report that Newcastle was taken by storm and the Ulster Rebels defeated which much incouraged the Parlaiments Forces It was One a Clock ere the Train and Rear came up and near Three ere they could be put into Battalia with extraordinary shouts and other symptoms of courage and joy the Western body advanced and by the Forlorn-hope of horse quickly began the fight which with as much eagerness was seconded by the foot who cryed They would now be revenged for the business of Cornwall For three hours the fight was maintained with as much resolution and bravery on both parts as hath been since these Wars the Cannon and small shot on both sides firing with as quick a motion as was possible Among the foot the General 's Regiment especially did eminently well and among all of the whole Army there was not one man or party horse or foot seen either to desert their duty or to dishearten their fellows After a long and hot dispute the Parliamentarians beat the King's Forces first from their Work and then from their Ordnance nine in number in which atchievement they lost a few men and among them Captain Gawler The Day was of so much discontent to his Majesty that an hour after midnight he marched out of the Town with an attendant Troop only towards Winchester and sent up his Cannon Carriages and Baggage to the Castle where at day-break the Parliamentarians saw them placed and Colonel Cromwell followed the body of the Enemy two hours before day The E. of Cleveland was taken prisoner by a Lieutenant of Colonel Barkley's General Goring hardly escaped his Brother was shot dead as he charged most of his Troop were cut off Major Trevillian and divers others of quality and 200 common Souldiers of the King's part slain and 300 taken prisoners Letters came of the taking of the Town and Castle of Newcastle surrendred to General Leven Oct. 29. the Governour and the rest submitting for their lives In that little compass of the Castle were 500 men besides women and children Three Scots Lords taken there Craford Rea and Maxwell were sent into Scotland to be there tryed The Town though taken by Onslaght was not much ransackt most of them redeeming their goods from plunder upon reasonable satisfaction in moneys A Day of publick Thanksgiving was appointed for these successes at Newbury and at Newcastle Some differences among the Committee of Sussex were referred to a Committee of the House and another Committee appointed to consider of settling the Garrison of Windsor and reducing it to a less number and half pay Alderman Atkins was sworn Lord Mayor of London in the Exchequer according to custom Letters from Sir William Waller and Sir Arthur Haslerigge further confirmed the Parliaments success at Newbury and that they had taken 1000 Arms there that if they had had but one hour more of day-light in probability they had totally routed and dispersed the King's whole Army Which was in so great distraction after the fight that they retreated three several ways at once in great confusion That the King as they were informed with a small party wheeled about by Marlborough and so to Oxford Since the fight they took many prisoners stragglers and the King 's own Coach and General Forth 's Coach with his Lady many Sumpter-horses and other good Prizes An Ordinance was committed for the Attainder of the Archbishop and they that managed the Evidence against him at his Tryal were appointed to bring in the state of all the Evidence to the House Letters from Captain Hacker informed that a party of the King 's coming to relieve Crowland were set upon by the Parliaments Forces 600 horse and 400 hundred prisoners taken of Newark and Belvoir Forces and the Town much discouraged thereby A hundred horse of the Queen's Regiment were taken by the Garrison of Weymouth wherein the Country people assisted the Parliaments Forces Sir Authony Ashley Cooper with 1500 horse and foot from several Garrisons took the field to encounter Sir Lewis Dives Sir William Vvedale was readmitted to sit as a Member of the House Novemb. 1644. The Lord Paget petitioned expressing much sorrow for his deserting the Parliament and adhering to the Enemy whose Counsel and Designs he now seeth to tend to the destruction of the Kingdom humbly submitting himself to the Favour of the Parliament Letters from Newcastle desire the Parliament to consider of the new framing and settling the Government of that Town and that fit and able men may be chosen for that purpose which was referred to a Committee of both Houses General Leven sent 5000 horse and foot of the Scots Army to the Lord Fairfax in Yorkshire to suppress the stragling Enemy there An Ordinance was sent down to Newcastle for the Tryal of Sir John Marley the late Mayor there by a Council of War A Commander in Surrey sent to some Members of Parliament there to
comprehend the Lord General with the rest and without naming of him which for shame and ingratitude they could not think fit to be done Some of them confest that this was their design and it was apparent in it self and the reason of their doing this was to make way for others and because they were jealous that the Lord General was too much a favourer of peace a good fault in a General of an Army and that he would be too strong a supporter of Monarchy and of Nobility and other old Constitutions which they had a mind to alter such is the ingratitude of people and the incertainty of their Favour no confidence can be placed therein for this gallant mans sake who was a most faithful Servant to the publick and performed so many brave services for them to the utmost hazards of his own life honour and fortune and for all this had no other recompence but an unhandsome affront by a side Wind and cunning contrivance of his Enemies to remove him from his Commands so gallantly and succesfully executed by him A safe Conduct was assented to for the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Southampton and the Committee of both Kingdoms ordered to get the Concurrence of the Scots Commissioners and to send it with expedition to the King Major Duett with a party of Colonel Ludlow's Regiment fell upon a party of the King's horse near Salisbury took Colonel Cooke Lieutenant Colonel Hooker divers inferiour Officers 40 Souldiers 160 Horse and Arms and killed about 20 of them Sir John Hotham's Son Captain Hotham was tryed before the Court Marshal for betraying a Regiment of Horse of the Parliaments to the Enemy and for treachery and betraying his trust in divers particulars proved against him by his own words letters and actions and many witnesses produced to make good the Charge The States Ambassadors were received with great State and Honour by both Houses who thanked them for their offer of a Mediation of peace and desired the Continuance of Amity and Friendship with the High and Mighty Lords the States but in regard propositions for peace were now on foot between His Majesty and His Parliament and the Scots Commissioners nothing otherwise could be now done therein The Ambassadors replyed in French that they would return what they had received to their Lords and they desired a further answer to their propositions touching Free Trade When they were gon out of the House the Speaker desired that some of the Members who understood the French Tongue better than he might interpret to the House the essect of the Ambassadors Speech in French which usually was done by Mr. Hollis and he being now absent Whitelocke was called up to doe it and thereupon the House named a Committee to consider of their Propositions for a Free Trade to the Ports of the Enemy An Ordinance past for satisfaction to Waggoners who lost their Carriages in the late Fights The Earl of Northampton with 3000 horse much infested part of Bucks and Oxfordshire order was taken for money to pay the forces of those Counties to resist him Somerset-house was ordered to be prepared for the King's Commissioners and voted that no Member of either house should visit or speak with or send or receive any Message to or from those that should come from Oxford unless they had leave for it Liberty was given to any Members that would to go visit Sir John Hotham before his death The Self-denying Ordinance was read and a day of publick Fast Ordered Crowland was surrendred to the Parliaments Forces on Conditions the Officers to march away with Swords and Pistols the foot to leave behind them their Arms Ordnance and Ammunition The Petition of divers Londoners was read commending the Vote for the Self-denying Ordinance and they again had the thanks of the House Colonel Massey fell upon a party of the King 's at Sodbury near Bristol took 120 Horse 100 Arms 50 Prisoners and 12 Officers Captain Hotham made his defence before the Court Marshal and justified Treaties with the Enemy as a Commander for the service of the Parliament other charges he denyed and excepted against some Witnesses The Commons Ordered that none but Members of the House should come to the Church where they kept the Fast The Lords reprieved Sir John Hotham for a few days till he had better setled his Estate Both Houses kept the Fast in Lincolns-Inn Chapel and none were to be present there but the Members onely and some said that the Preachers desired it might be so that they might speak the more freely to them especially upon the point of the Self-denying Ordinance Both Houses agreed to receive the Lords that were come from the King in the Painted Chamber by a Committee of 14 Lords and 28 Commoners and they desired from the Lords a list of their retinue to the end no affront might be offered to them Here of they had not cause to complain as the Parliaments Commissioners had at Oxford for these Lords and all their attendance were civily treated by all sort of persons and this Order for the list was the rather made to discover such as came to Town with the Lords under pretence of being of their retinue when they were not but came to do ill offices to the Parliament Sir Symonds D'ewes had an order to present a Minister to a Living in his gift Order was taken for raising of monies for the English and Scots Armies in the North for certain Months Mr. Roger L'Estrange was apprehended for a designe to betray Lynne in Norfolke to the King and for that end had a Treaty with Captain Lemmon Lieutenant Governour there who shewed a Complyance with L'Estrange but acquainted Colonel Walton the Governour with all the passages whereupon L'Estrange was seized upon and with him was found a Commission from the King Authorizing him for this service and engaging That if the Town were gained That L'Estrange should be Governour of it and have great preferment and what Rewards he should promise for effecting it not exceeding 80001. should be paid and divers other fair promises made and this was noted to be when the Treaty for peace was on foot The like design was for betraying St. Nicholas Island by Plymouth but prevented by the Lord Roberts the Governour the like was for the betraying Stafford prevented by Sir William Brereton the like design was for betraying of Reading discovered by the apprehending of a Spy who having lighted Matches put to his fingers confessed all and Alderman Harryson and his Complotters were seized upon The Self-denying Ordinance passed the House of Commons without excepting any Member The Committee of Lords and Commons received the King's Answer to the Propositions for peace wherein the Parliament and the Commissioners of Scotland were acknowledged and the King desired That in regard of the great Alteration in Government both of Church and State imported in the Propositions That the
same and Reasons for any Alteration or Explanation of them may be debated and weighed He therefore proposeth that the Parliament would appoint such number of persons as they should think fit to treat with the like number of persons to be appointed by his Majesty upon the said Propositions and such other things as shall be proposed by his Majesty for preservation and defence of the Protestant Religion with due regard to tender Consciences the Rights of the Crown the Liberty and Propriety of the Subject and the Privilege of Parliament and upon the whole matter to conclude an happy and blessed Peace Taunton Castle was relieved by Colonel Hepburne and Major Van Russe and divers of the Besiegers taken prisoners The Protestant Forces and Subjects in Munster petitioned the King's Commissioners against a further Cessation of Arms there which was to be treated on by those Commissioners with the Rebels The two Houses and the Scots Commissioners agreed upon an Answer to the King's Message sent by the Duke of Lenox and the Earl of Southampton That they did consent to a Treaty as was proposed but in regard there were many things which will take up some time for preparation thereunto both for the time and manner how to treat they have sent back his Majestie 's Messengers and will return a speedy answer by Messengers of their own They held this way the fitter to be taken because those two Lords and their Company were labouring and plotting whilst they were here against the Interest of the Parliament which was intimated to them by a Petition from the Common Council of the City An Agent of the Queen of Swedland addressed himself to the Houses by Letters from the Queen acquainting them that he had Matters of great Importance to communicate to them from the Queen his Mistres and acknowledged the Parliament and desired Audience The Self-denying Ordinance was again brought to the House to be preferred and a Clause offered to be added That it should not extend to any L. Lieutenants Deputy Lieutenants Justices of Peace or Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer who were Members of either of the Houses of Parliaments Upon this Debate many spake against the Ordinance and among the rest one to this effect Mr. Speaker I am one of that number of your Servants who have no Office or Imployment but such as you are now about to except out of this Ordinance nor have ambition for any and therefore may the more freely and indifferently yet with all submission humbly offer my reasons against it as that which I apprehend may prove prejudicial to your Service It hath been objected that your House and the House of Lords is thin and empty and you the less esteemed having so few Members here many of them being imployed in Offices that they cannot attend the Houses but that by this Ordinance they will be at leisure and liberty to attend the Service of the Parliament here and the Houses be much fuller than now they are I confess Sir this is fit to be remedied but I apprehend you have a fitter way than by this Ordinance to doe it ' that is by issuing out new Writs for electing new Members in the places of those who are dead or expelled and this will satisfie the Objection and engage divers of interest and quality the more immediately in your Service Whereas this Ordinance will discontent many and the Houses will be but little the fuller by the passing of it Another Objection is that if this Ordinance do not pass the Treaty for Peace will not so well proceed but the particular Interests of Members of Parliament may retard the same but will be all taken away by this Ordinance I am to seek how this can be materially objected when I suppose whether this Ordinance pass or not yet you intend Members of Parliament only to be your Commissioners for that Treaty and in case some of then be Officers they will the better understand your businesses on which the Treaty will be grounded Another Objection is that unless this Ordinance pass the great work intended of new modelling your Armies will not so well be carried on for that by putting all out there will remain no exception I should rather have argued that by putting out all Members out of their Imployment the exception and discontent would be the more general and by leaving them still in their Imployments there would be the less competition and sollicitation for new Officers in their rooms Another Objection or Argument is that the Members of Parliament who are Officers being of equal power in Parliament will not be so obedient to your Commands as others who have smaller interests and would not so much dispute one with another Surely Sir those whose interest is the same with yours have the more reason to obey your Commands than others and have more to hazard by disobedience than others can have and in your Commands all your Members are involved and it were strange if they should be backward to obey their own Orders Nor will the Contests be so frequent and high between them and other Officers as it will be between those who will be of a more equal condition But Mr. Speaker as you consider the inconveniences if this Ordinance do not pass so you will be pleased to consider the Inconveniences if it do pass You will lay aside as brave men and who have served you with as much courage wisdom faithfulness and success as ever men served their Country Our noble General the Earls of Denbigh Warwick Manchester the Lords Roberts Willoughby and other Lords in your Armies besides those in civil Offices not excepted and of your own Members the Lord Grey Lord Fairfax Sir William Waller Lieutenant General Cromwel Mr. Hollis Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Brereton Sir John Meyrick and many others must be laid aside if you pass this Ordinance And I am to seek and I doubt so will they be to whom you shall refer the new modelling of your Armies where to find Officers that shall excel if equal these If your Judgments are that for the Publick Service it will be expedient to remove any of them from their Commands let the same if you please be plainly made known to them from you Let them have what they deserve your thanks for their former good Services and they will not be offended that you having no more work for them do lay them aside with honour But to do a business of this nature às hath been well said by a side Wind is in my humble opinion not so becoming your Honour and Wisdom as Plainness and Gravity which are Ornaments to your Actions I shall conclude with the Example of the Grecians and Romans amongst whom Sir you know that the greatest Offices both of War and Peace were conferred upon their Senatours and their Reasons were because they having greater Interests than others were the more capable to doe them the greatest service
Ordinance The Commons voted to hear no private business for ten days Mr. Roger Lestrange was tryed for a Spy before the Court-Marshal coming from the King's quarters without Drum Trumpet or Pass to betray Lynne Garrison Sir Thomas Middleton and Colonel Mitton took in a Garrison of the King 's near Mountgomery and in it Colonel Ballard the Governour Llayd the high Sheriff divers Officers two Foot Colours sixty common Souldiers with store of Arms and Pillage The Assembly of Divines presented to the House some further Additions to the Directory for Worship Much time was spent to settle the payment of the Northern Armies and to enable the Scots to march Southwards The Commons concluded their Debate upon the Directory for Worship A Letter was agreed to be written to the Parliament of Scotland from both Houses here to express the great ingagement of this Kingdom to them for their brotherly assistance The Lords upon the Petition of Sir John Hotham and his Son thought fit to pardon the Father and desired the Concurrence of the Commons therein but upon the Question it was carried in the Negative not to be taken by them into consideration The Court-Marshal gave judgment upon Mr. Lestrange The Commons passed an Ordinance for continuing the Court-Marshal for three Months longer and another for disfranchizing some Aldermen of York The Commons ordered the Commissioners of the Great Seal to issue out the Sheriffs Patents to the Messengers of the Seal The Lords debated the Self-denying Ordinance They concurred with the Commons to refer the business of the Treaty upon the Propositions for Peace to the Committee of both Kingdoms Major General Brown marched out with a Party towards Oxford and was near taking the Fort Royall there but his Design was discovered and prevented yet he brought away forty men and horse with him Several Orders were made for Money for the Scots and other Armies and for supply of the Forces in Ireland Divers of Bucks petitioned against the Outrages of the Parliaments Forces in that County Colonel Bulstrode was made Governour of Henley and Phillis Court but he was shortly after called away to his Regiment and Colonel Charles Doyley made Governour there But he and the Souldiers falling out they had like to have killed him and he would stay there no longer and Colonel Piuter Temple succeeded him Sir John Hotham was going to his Execution and much company expecting it on Tower-hill when a Messenger came with a Reprieve from the Lords But the Commons sent to the Lieutenant of the Tower to know the reason of deferring the Execution when they did not consent to any Reprieve for him The Lord Fairfax his forces took in Pomfret Town and close blocked up the Castle and other Castles thereabouts Colonel Bright fell upon a party of the King 's under Sir William Cobbes took divers Officers and Souldiers and good Horses from them A party of the Newark forces in the night time surprized some of the Parliaments forces and took near two Troups of them The Leicester forces drove the forces of Hastings out of Ashby-Town into the Tower and took divers Prisoners and Arms. Prince Maurice laid down his Commission for the West and the Lord Hopton was made General there and laboured to get a new Army January 1644. The Directory for Worship was finished by the Commons and sent up to the Lords by Mr. Rouse Upon the Debate touching the Reprieve of Sir Jo. Hotham by the Lords the Commons voted that no Officer made by Ordinance of both Houses should stay the execution of Justice by any order of either House without the concurrence of both Houses They likewise ordered that the Lieutenant of the Tower do proceed to the Execution of Sir John Hotham according to the Sentence of the Court Marshal Captain Hotham his Son sent a Petition to the Lords and another to the Commons praying his Pardon but it was denied and the same day his Head was cut off Mr. L'Estrange petitioned the Lords that his Case might be heard before the Parliament which was consented to by both Houses Letters were ordered to be written by the Speaker to Sussex Surrey and Hampshire for raising of Dragoons formerly undertaken One hundred and fifty horse from Oxford possessed themselves of Beselsley Mr. Speaker's House near Abington intending to fortifie it but Major General Brown sent out a party under Colonel Boswel to whom upon his summons they rendered the House on conditions to march away onely one who had formerly broke Prison at Abington was denied that favour Sergeant Wilde Mr. Brown and Mr. Nicholas offered Reasons and Arguments to the Lords that the Matters proved against the Archbishop were Treason An Answer was ordered to be given to the Papers of the Scots Commissioners to be sent by them to the Parliament of Scotland A Committee of both Houses was named to receive from the Sweedish Agent some matters which he said he had further to impart to them from the Queen Sir John Hotham in the Morning before his Execution procured a motion in the House of Commons for his Pardon which took up a Debate and Sir John being brought to the Scaffold on Tower-hill expected the good news of his Pardon and the time was protracted till two a Clock in the Afternoon but the Commons would not grant his desire He spake shortly to the people and Mr. Peters prayed with him and spake to the people in his Name and told them that Sir John ' s Father said to him when he was going forth to be a Souldier Son when the Crown of England lies at stake you will have fighting enough He was somewhat fearfull of death and his head was cut off The Committee of both Kingdoms reported their opinion to the Lords That the place for the Treaty of Peace should be Uxbridge and the Commissioners to be four Lords and eight Commoners and four Scots Commissioners to which the Lords agreed and sent to the Commons for their concurrence Both Houses agreed to send Commissioners to the Parliament and Assembly in Scotland The Queen of Sweden's Letter to the Parliament was read and contained a Narrative of the King of Denmark's hard usage of the Crown of Sweden and the great affection that Queen bears to England The Directory of Worship was fully agreed upon by both Houses and ordered to be printed and two of the Assembly to take care thereof and that a course shall be taken for publishing and settling of it to be generally used The Commons ordered that the Assembly of Divines should write a Congratulatory Letter to the Assembly in Scotland and to acquaint them what they had done and that the Parliament here had agreed in those Matters The Lords agreed to the Ordinance for Attainder of the Archbishop of High Treason and to be hanged drawn and quarter'd for it The Commons agreed that the place for the Treaty should be Vxbridge the Commissioners for
the Parliament to be sixteen and as many for the King The Propositions touching Religion the Militia and Ireland to be first treated on and twenty Days allotted for them that his Majestie 's Propositions be received by the Parliaments Commissioners at Vxbridge and transmitted to the Parliament The Commons proceeded to the Directory for the Government of the Church and voted upon a long Debate That to have a Presbytery in the Church is according to the word of God The Commons sent to the Lords for their concurrence to a Warrant for the Execution of the Archbishop according to the Ordinance for his Attainder to which the Lords agreed and a Warrant issued to the Lieutenant of the Tower to deliver the Prisoner to the Sheriffs of London to see Execution done accordingly The Parliaments forces that relieved Taunton in their Retreat fell upon the Enemies Quarters and took many horse and divers prisoners Colonel Ludlow's Regiment thinking themselves secure in their Quarters at Salisbury about 200 of them were surprised the Colonel and the rest brake through and got to Southampton and took Colonel Fielding and some others Prisoners The Scots forces got the Town of Carlisle and the King's forces in the Castle sent to Treat The Lord Fairfax possessed Pomfret Town and close blocked up the Castle and Scarborough Skipton and Sandal Castles were blocked up by the Parliaments forces Ordinances passed for payment of 6000 l. lent by the Commissioners of Excise and 10000 l. lent by Mr. Estwick The Lords at a Conference gave Reasons to the Commons against passing the Self-denying Ordinance wherein they affirmed the honour of Peerage to be so much concerned and the Commons ordered a Committee to draw up Reasons in Answer to those delivered by the Lords The Lords acquainted the Commons with a Petition from the Archbishop and a Pardon granted to him by the King under the Great Seal two years since but it was denied by both Houses being granted before conviction and if it had been after yet in this case of Treason against the Kingdom they said it could not be available His Petition was That in case he must die that he might be Beheaded not Hanged and that three of his Chaplains Dr. Heyward Dr. Martin and Dr. Stern might be with him before and at his death for his Souls Comfort The Commons denied both onely allowed Dr. Stern with Mr. Marshal and Mr. Palmer to be with him The Sheriffs of London attended in person to know the manner of the execution of the Archbishop for which they were referred to the warrant of both Houses that he should be hanged drawn and quartered Divers of the Lord General 's Officers of Foot petitioned the Commons and very modestly for the better discipline of the Army for which the House gave them thanks but this was looked upon by some as an ill precedent for Officers of the Army to petition the Parliament and it proved so afterwards The Commons being informed that a party of about 5000 horse and foot of the King 's were near Peterfield and had taken Christ-church and were drawing towards Surrey to disturb that association they sent some of their Members to the Lord General and to the Earl of Manchester to give an account why their forces lay quartered on their Friends near London and did not remove nearer to the Enemy according to former directions At this time the Earl of Manchester was under a kind of accusation and the Lord General in discontent Sir William Waller not much otherwise the forces not carefully ordered and the Parliaments business but in an unsettled condition so that it was high time for some other course to be taken by them The Commons appointed an Ordinance to be brought in for the ease of free quarter The Lords sent another Petition from the Arch-bishop to the Commons that he might not be hanged but beheaded and the Lords gave their reasons why they had assented to it and after some debate the Commons agreed to it also Order was made for provision for some of the Assembly of Divines who had lost their means by the Enemy Colonel Holborn with the forces under him that relieved Taunton took about 200 of the King's horse near Bridgewater Provisions were ordered to be sent by Mr. Davies for Ireland The Commons agreed with the Lords in an Ordinance for the Lady Wilmot who professed much affection to the Parliament and agreed for pardon of some condemned Prisoners in Newgate The Commons offered their reasons to the Lords for passing the Self-denying Ordinance and shewing the breach of privilege in sending to the Commons their Lordships reasons without the Ordinance The Commons gave order to the Commissioners of the Great Seal to issue out the Patents for new Sheriffs The Commons debated the model of the new Militia and it was propounded that the Army should be 21000 horse and foot Jan. 10. The Archbishop was brought to the Scaffold on Tower Hill and made a Speech to the people as he called it his last Sermon in which he endeavoured to excuse the Matters charged against him and professed himself of the Religion of the Church of England as it stands established by Law then he prayed to God to bless the Parliament to direct them that they may not fall under any misgovernment He concluded thus I forgive all the world all and every one bitter enemies or others whatsoever they have been which have any ways prosecuted me in this case and I humble desire to be forgiven first of God then of man whether I have offended them or they think I have Lord forgive them and now I desire you to joyn with me in Prayer Then he made a short Prayer audibly kneeling at the Rail after that putting off his Cloaths Coat and Doublet he kneeled to the Block and upon a sign given the Executioner took off his Head at one blow The Lord General and Earl of Manchester returned answer to the Parliament concerning the removal of the Army nearer to the Enemy The Commons desired the Lords to use expedition in passing the Self-denying Ordinance for that the Kingdom suffered much for want of passing it They permitted a Certificate to be made of the Judgment in the King's Bench against the Duke D'Espernon They debated about the new Model of the Army The Lords delivered to the Commons further Reasons against the passing of the Self-denying Ordinance but the Commons ordered that their whole House should go up with a Message to the House of Peers for the speedy passing of it and they acquainted the Lords with their Order to exclude all private business for eight days longer Captain Swanley took a Ship and in her the Commissioners sent from Ireland to treat with the King about a further Cessation with the King's Commission under the Great Seal and instructions about concluding a Peace with the Rebels of Ireland The whole House of Commons went
into them were to settle the Militia of both Kingdoms This Answer of the King's Commissioners to the great Point of the Militia gave much dissatisfaction to the Parliaments Commissioners And the Earl of Northumberland Mr. Pierpoint Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke with others of them advising in private about it endeavoured by particular applications to their friends of the King's Commissioners to get a better Answer and more complying with the Parliament from them But it could not be obtained and they hinted to them that they were bound up by their Instructions from the King that they could go no further Yet they promised to send to Oxford to see if they could prevail there for a further concession from his Majesty in this particular But nothing came of it They sent the Papers on both parts in every dispatch to the Parliament and when these of the Militia were read the House of Commons seemed much troubled at them some were pleased who were no great Wishers of Peace and others doubted thereupon of any good success in the present Treaty 7. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London sent a Letter to the Speaker intimating the scarcity of Flesh-meats by the destruction of Cattel in the time of these Wars and the good by encouraging the Fishing and submitted the whole not as to the keeping of Lent but to prevent Dearth to the judgment of the houses Who ordered an Ordinance to be brought in for this business After a Debate from Morning till the Evening upon the alterations made by the Lords in the Ordinance of the new Model the Commons voted That Sir Thomas Fairfax should nominate all the Commanders in his Army to be taken out of any the other Armies and to receive the approbation of both Houses The Scots Commissioners at Vxbridge were much unsatisfied that no Answer was given touching the settlement of the Militia in Scotland and took it as an high neglect of that Kingdom They and the Parliaments Commissioners gave in some Papers to the King's Commissioners touching the Propositions for Ireland A Letter was past to be sent to the Parliament of Scotland concerning the Scots present advance Southwards 8. The Commons state from Eight a Clock in the Morning till Eight a Clock at Night upon the Alterations made by the Lords in the Ordinance for the new Model And agreed to most of them and ordered Reasons to be drawn up to satisfie the Lords in those wherein they differed They voted that all Officers in the new Army that shall be approved by both houses shall take the Covenant within twenty days and the Souldiers in a time to be set for it The rest of the Papers upon the Propositions for Ireland were delivered in to the King's Commissioners for the Treaty 9. The Lords-day one of the Ministers with the Commissioners preached very seasonably for the Occasion in the Morning and another in the Afternoon Some Visits past between some of the Commissioners on both parts and indeavours to perswade one another to nearer terms of agreement but to little effect 10. Some Debate touching the Point of Excommunication The Lords concurred with the Commons in a Letter to the Parliament of Scotland for the March of their Army Southwards and the place of their Rendezvous was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms for the more secrecy thereof They also agreed in Approbation of the Opinion of Judge Bacon in over-ruling the Plea of Macquire in the point of Peerage who was this day at his Tryal in the King's Bench and excepted against twenty three of the twenty four returned of the Jury The Commons past the Bill for taking away Episcopacy in Ireland as in England and sent it up to the Lords for their Concurrence They nominated several High Sheriffs 11. Orders for Money and Supplies for the Navy The Reasons of the Commons for their differing from some Alterations made by the Lords in the Ordinance of the new Model where delivered to the Lords A Petition of Merchants trading into France whose Goods were seized there and Letters of Marque granted against all that adhered to the Parliament was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms and to draw up a Letter to be sent to the King of France for redress therein Propositions touching Navigation sent from the Lords The Commons had information of a great Design in Bucks to dissolve the Treaty at Vxbridge to be effected by a Petition framed for them and great endeavours to get hands to it in Bucks The Petition was directed to the Commissioners of both sides at Vxbridge and 5000 Inhabitants were designed to come with it The Commons had a Copy of the Petition the Effect whereof was That Religion might be established as in the purest times of Queen Elizabeth c. Sir John Lawrence was informed to be the active Promoter of this Petition and was therefore sent for in Custody to the Parliament The Directory for Worship was much approved by the Assembly in Scotland General Leven went towards Carlisle to assist in the Siege there Macquire upon his Tryal in the King's Bench was found Guilty and had Judgment of High Treason pronounced against him to be hanged drawn and quartered He desired to be beheaded and to have his Execution respited till he might speak with Sir Bazill Brooke and Mr. Walter Mountague The Judge said he would acquaint the Parliament therewith and observe their directions The King's Commissioners at Vxbridge gave in their Answer to the Proposition concerning Ireland and therein justified the King in making a cessation with the Rebels there and that he is in honour bound to maintain it And they would by no means yield to that part of the Proposition To prosecute the War against the Irish Rebels The Commissioners entred upon a second Debate concerning Religion the King's Doctors highly insisted for Episcopacy 12. Orders for new Sheriffs and for Monies for the Army and the Lords were desired to expedite the Ordinance for the Model News came that Goring's Horse and a party of Foot from Portland by a sudden assault took the Works at Weymouth and the Town was in great danger to be lost if not suddenly relieved Orders were thereupon sent to Sir William Waller to march immediately for relief of Weymouth The House was in a Grand Committee to consider of the business of the Navy and of the Customs An Ordinance past for raising of Monies for the Scots Army to march Southwards 13. Letters from Sir William Waller intimated Disobedience in some of the Souldiers to march into the West and desired further power The House referred it to the Committee of both Kingdoms to give such power accordingly Such was the inconstancy of the Souldiers and the incertainty of the Affairs of the Parliament and of War Those who had been so well paid by the Parliament now dispute their Commands occasioned by the unsettledness of the Parliaments business
turned their Musquets against their fellows This so discouraged Argyle's men that they gave back and retreated which Montross perceiving fell on with great resolution upon them routed the whole body of Argyle's men killed divers and took many of them Prisioners A party of about 150 of the King 's from Skipton beat up Colonel Brandling's quarters at Heightley surprized the Guards came into the Town and took near a hundred prisoners 60 horse and other booty As they returned Colonel Lambert's men fell upon them rescued their friends and the booty took Captain Hugh's who commanded the King's party killed his Lieutenant and about 15 of his men and took about 20 of them prisoners pursuing the rest to Skipton Samon one of Lambert's Captains and about eight of his Souldiers were killed Sir John Meldrum got the Power of the Harbour at Scarborough and appointed to storm the Town 18. Orders about the Navy and new Commissioners of the Customs A Letter from Prince Rupert to the Lord General for release of some persons imprisoned contrary to Articles was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to have right done Sir Thomas Fairfax came privately to Town and a Committee was appointed to consider of raising Moneys and Recruits for his speedy taking of the Field About 700 of the mutinous Troops being come near London care was taken to prevent Surrey Kent and the adjacent Counties from any inconveniences by them Tobias Basely formerly a Porter condemned by the Council of War for a Spy and betraying Carriers was hanged in Smithfield Prince Griffith petitioned that since he was in custody he was poysoned and had but a few days to live Whereupon two Doctors were approved by the House to visit him 19. Four Members of the Commons House were sent by them for Sir Thomas Fairfax to bring him to the House where a Chair was set for him but he modestly refused to sit down The Speaker told him somewhat of Agamemnon and of the old Romans which I have forgotten then he informed him of the trust the Kingdom reposed in him in the Command of the Army and the good opinion they had of him for his valour and fidelity giving him thanks in the name of the House for the many and great services he had done for the publick and in the defence of Religion Laws and Liberty and incouraged him to go on as he had begun The Ordinance for Tunnage and Poundage sent up to the Lords and another touching the Excise Weymouth held out and received some relief by Sea from Poole Sir William Waller was upon his march to them The House received Letters from their Commissioners at Vxbridge with several Papers concerning the Militia and the Reply made by the King's Commissioners who took advantage the last point of time to deliver in their Reply when it might be conceived no Answer could be made to it by the Parliaments Commissioners But they being impowred by their additional Instructions to reassume the business of the Militia when they pleased the Parliament voted that their Commissioners shall have power to treat with the King's Commissioners about passing a Bill for settling the Militia in the power of the Parliament until such time as the three Kingdoms shall be reduced to peace and so declared by Parliament and three years after or else for seven years from the time of the granting the Militia and after that his Majesty to take the advice of both Houses of Parliament for the settling thereof And the Commissioners of both Kingdoms delivered in a Paper accordingly The Earl of Southampton and some others of the King's Commissioners went from Vxbridge to Oxford to the King about the business of the Treaty to receive some further directions from his Majesty therein The Doctors reported Griffith to be in no danger 20. The Ordinance for Tunnage and Poundage with the Clause for Currants passed both Houses Orders for setting forth the Fleet. Letters from Holland to the Parliament advise that Brown Bushel was at Sea with a small Fleet intended for Piracy Information of a Design to cause the Souldiers to mutiny was referred to be examined An Ordinance passed for raising of 21000 l. for the Scots Army to be repaid out of Sequestrations The Committee at Goldsmiths-hall had 30000 l. ready to be sent to the Scots Army upon their advance Southwards The King's Forces intending to keep a Guard near Harrington Brown sent out a party of Horse from Abington who suddenly fell upon them surprized the whole Guard being about nineteen and brought them prisoners to Abington After that he sent out another party who intercepted and brought away 27 horse-loads of Corn Cheese and other Provisions going towards Oxford Major Purefoy fell upon the Enemy near Oxford tooâ a Lieutenant and other Officers 12 Troupers and Arms. The Lord Macquire was executed at Tyburn he refused to make any Confession but died desperately 21. The Parliament sent an Express to their Commissioners atVxbridge with their Vote to propound a Limitation of the Militia for three years after the three Kingdoms are declared by the King and Parliament to be settled in peace or to have it settled in the Parliament for seven years after the time the King is willing to settle it To this effect they delivered in a Paper to the King's Commissioners and endeavoured to perswade their Compliance and were full of hopes that they would have consented to it Several Ordinances passed for 20000 l. supplied by the Commissioners of Excise and an Ordinance for all Souldiers to repair to their Colours within 48 hours and an Ordinance was sent up to the Lords for the new Commissioners of the Customs Orders for the Commissioners of the Navy and for the Prince Elector 22. The Commissioners at Vxbridge sent a Letter to the Parliament with all the Papers containing the three Treaties of the three last days about Ireland wherein the Kings Commissioners did not think fit to yield to any of the Propositions but again justified the Cessation with his Majestie 's Catholick Subjects there The Parliaments Commissioners in their Reply laid home the innocent blood shed by the Irish Rebels Letters from Sir John Meldrum informed that Feb. 18. about ten a Clock the Town of Scarborough was stormed in four places by the English and Scotish Souldiers who gained the Town and Church with the loss of eleven men in the Church they took 80 Souldiers and the Governour of Hemsley Castle Cholmley perceiving the Town like to be lost fled into the Castle and was pursued and one of the Works taken but the White Tower in the Castle commanding it they beat out Meldrum's men with stones Cholmley laboured to escape by Sea in a little Pinnace he had there which he called his Running Horse but Meldrum got Boats between him and the Pinnace and forced him back again into the Caâtie Sir Hugh Cholmley had five Dunkirk Vessels lying in
Stocks in Trade and absent themselves and Orders for seizing suspicious persons and Arms and an Ordinance for raising Souldiers Gunners and Chirurgeons for Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army With an Exception to press none in the Universities Inns of Court and Chancery trained Bands c. or Esquires or their Sons or Officers Sea-men c. 26. The publick Monthly fast solemnly kept 27. A Messenger from Melcombe Regis informed that the Town held out still and expected Sir William Waller's approach to them that a party of 80 of their Horse sallied out and routed near 300 of the Enemy and took 60 horse and another time 30. The House ordered Colonel Cromwel to march with all speed into the West to joyn with Waller The Government of Shrewsbury was referred to the Committee of that County and 4000 l. to be provided for them to raise Forces and 20 l. given to their Messenger A party under Sir Maronaduke Langdale marching Northwards fell upon a party of the Parliaments in Northamptonshire whom they routed killed some and took divers of them prisoners and the rest shifted for their lives and by flight saved themselves The same party of the King 's fell upon some Dragoons of the Parliaments in Leicestershire and routed them 28. Several Officers of the new Army approved by the Commons A party of Col. Massey's men under his Brother fell upon Sir John Winter in the Forest of Dean routed him and made him swim the River of Wye in which 60 of Winter's men were drowned 70 slain besides Col. Gamme and Lieutenant Colonel Winter 120 taken prisoners 140 Horse taken several Officers and 300 Arms. The Commons ordered a Letter of thanks to Massey and Supplies March 1644. 1. The Commons proceeded in the List of the Officers of the Army They sent to the City to call a Common Hall the 4th of March That the Commissioners for the Treaty at Uxbridge might then acquaint the City with the proceedings at that Treaty and the aversness of the King's party to the peace They have already set forth a Declaration at Oxford for the vindication of themselves in that business An Ordinance for Provisions for the Parliaments Forces before Pomfret another for the Essex Forces Letters from Colonel Sydenham and Captain Batten informed that Goring had spent much time with 5000 horse and foot before Melcombe but had made no honourable attempt only the night before endeavoured to cast up a Work before Melcombe betwixt it and the Seas but Sydenham sent out a party who beat them from their Work killed two and took divers prisoners and all their Tools without any loss 3. The Commons past the List of Officers for the new Army Mr. Pryn was ordered to Print the Proceedings of the Archbishop's Tryal Orders for a Committee to hasten the Declaration of the Proceedings of the Treaty at Vxbridge in which much labour was put upon Mr. Pierpoint and Whitelocke Mr. Sherrington Talbot and Mr. Dowdeswell Commissioners of Array in Wigorn were taken and sent up The Chapel Fort at Weymouth was taken by the Parliaments Forces from the King 's Letters from Sir William Brereton informed that four Regiments of Irish Rebels were lately landed in Wales for the King's Service Sir Marmaduke Langdale's party were met with by Colonel Rosseter near Melton where they had a sharp Encounter and loss on both sides Of Langdal's party were slain Colonel Tuke Major Kertlington Captain Markham and about 100 others of Rosseter's about 50 but no Officer he lost one Colours and took two Langdale got Provisions into Newark and was recruited to 3000 and Rosseter followed him with 2000. 4. The French Agent sent a Letter to the Parliament of the desires of his Master and the Queen Regent That the Parliament would continue the Treaty with the King The House ordered a Committee to draw up a fair and respective Answer to the Letter but not to consent to any thing of renewing the Treaty The Speaker was authorized to give Passes to Delinquents to come into the Parliament and to compound at Goldsmiths-hall for their Delinquency The Parliaments Forces in Melcombe Febr. 25. having regained Chapel Fort of great prejudice to the King's Forces they resolved by a Council of War to fall again upon the Fort and upon the Town of Melcombe at once in several places The same Evening that they resolved to do it one of Melcombe Souldiers who had been taken prisoner escaped and gave notice to the Governour of this Design who got his men in readiness The King's men that night assaulted the Line about Melcombe in five or six places and the Chapel with great resolution but were in every place repulsed and lost about 150 of their men In which Service Captain Batten and his Seamen did very bravely the Enemy retreated back to Weymouth the Melcombe Souldiers stood still upon their guards expecting the return of the Enemy but they came not again But the next morning they all drew out of Weymouth in hast as in a Pannick fear and marched away both horse and foot to Dorchester leaving behind the Ordnance they had before taken from the Parliament in Weymouth and two pieces more with some Arms and took nothing with them but some Plunder and the Parliament Forces poslessed all the Forts and lost but ten men At the same time a Ship of the Kings of 12 Guns came into Captain Batten Great numbers of Clubmen in Worcestershire and Dorsetshire got into a posture of defence and refused to serve the King according to his Proclamation The Parliaments Commissioners for the Treaty at Vxbridge came to the Common-hall in London and acquainted the City with the proceedings of that Treaty and of the aversness on the King's side to come to a closure of peace so that now it was of necessity for their own defence to furnish out the Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax for which end they desired from the City the Loan of 80000 l. to be repaid with Interest Upon Information that the mutinous horse inclined to obedience the Parliament past an Order that if they submitted by a day they should be pardoned and continued in Service otherwise to be proceeded against as Traytors 5. Orders touching Money from the Customs and Excise The House approved of the Train of Artillery and their Officers under General Fairfax and passed all the Colonels except two And an Ordinance for 2000 l. for the Officers Souldiers and Seamen of Weymouth and Melcombe for their gallant Service Order for a Day of Thanksgiving for the Successes which God gave the Parliament since the breach of the Treaty ordered to be kept in Christ church London and the Lord Mayor and his Brethren desired to be there also Sir William Waller with Colonel Cromwel's Horse and Colonel Fiennes Regiment about 5000 Horse and Dragoons marched into the West Provisions grew scarce in Oxford Brown surprized a herd of Cattel going thither and brought them to Abington Craford
and other Officers Letters to the Committee in the Army to keep the Army together and to assist for Sir Tho. Fairfax his Recruits Orders for providing the Train Waggons Artillery Arms Powder and a Magazine for Sir Tho Fairfax and for Draught-horses and Carriages out of several Counties for him A thousand pounds ordered for General Brown The mutinous Horse returned to duty were allowed a Fortnights pay but none for the time they were in mutiny and were now sent upon Service Several Committee-men added in divers Counties and Orders for money and clothes for the Scots Army in Ireland 15. Ordinances past for 1. per Cent. for supply of Plymouth and for money upon the Custom of Currans for Gloucester and for recruiting the Kentish Regiment at Plymouth The Lords at a Conference gave Reasons why they left some Officers out of the List of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army but they waved the nominating of others they sent to the Commons an Ordinance for Marshall Law differing from the former and to continue two Months Waller and Cromwell beat up Goring's quarters who sled to Exeter 17. Captain Smith of Colonel Martins Regiment for a slight offence murdred an honest Buckinghamshire man the Commons sent to inform the Lord General thereof and ordered Smith to be sent for and punished Letters from the Committee of Nantwich informed that Prince Rupert Maurice and Langdale were all joyned in one great body and that without a speedy relief Sir Will. Brereton's Forces would be in great danger The House Ordered a Letter to be forthwith sent by the Committee of both Kingdomes for a party of the Scots horse and Dragoons to advance towards Sir Will. Brereton and ordered Supplies for his Forces And they referred it to the Members serving for Yorkshire and Lancashire to consider of some means for the supply of the Forces in those Counties At a free Conference the Commons offered their reasons to the Lords why they could not consent to the leaving out of the list those Officers whom the Lords had left out because they were such as Sir Tho. Fairfax nominated and the Commons approved and a delay in passing this list would be dangerous to Sir Will. Brereton ' s Forces to the association and to the whole Kingdome The Lords acquainted the Commons with a Paper from the French Resident desiring the transportation of Gunpowder from Holland to France without interruption of the Parliaments Navy The Commons Ordered for Answer that there being Amity between the Crown of England and the Crown of France there needed no particular Licence for the same Colonel Sir James Long High Sheriff of Wilts for the King returning from the Convoy of Prince Charles to Bristol was set upon by a party of Sir William Waller's at the Devizes and 40 of his men killed the Colonel 8 Captains 7 Cornets and most of the other Officers with 300 Souldiers taken Prisoners about 340 Horse and store of Arms taken and but 30 of the whole Regiment escaped Oxford was much streightned for Provisions Browne did them no small prejudice from Abington some of the Souldiers and Townsmen grew very mutinous and the Antiparliament there were about to question the Lord Digby for an Incendiary but they were dissolved 18. 1000 l. Ordered for Abington Colonel Stephenson a Member of the House was taken Prisoner at Royden-house in Wilts Ordered that Sir James Long taken at the Devizes be exchanged for him An Order for supply of the Town of Henly upon Thames with Match 1000 Bandeliers c. and Whitelocke was appointed Governour of that Town and of the Fort of Phillis Court which he rather accepted being his own house and he had there in Garrison about 300 foot and a Troup of horse The works of the Fort were strong and regular and the Thames brought round the Fort in a large Graft all the horse and foot were quartered within the works the great Guns about it were good and the Souldiers stout men and well armed and good Officers The Officers and Souldiers of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army had a fortnights pay allowed them The Lords concurred with the Commons in passing the list of the Officers of Sir T. Fairfax's Army without any alteration which was so well taken by the Commons that they appointed a Committee to prepare a Message to be sent to the Lords from them to assure their Lordships of the real affection and endeavours of the House of Commons to support their Lordships in their honour and privileges The List of the Officers was this Sir Thomas Fairfax Commander in chief Major General Skippon Colonels of Horse Middleton Sidney Graves Sheffield Vermuden Whaley Sir M. Livesey Fleetwood Rosseter Sir Robert Pye Colonels of Foot Craford Berkley Aldridge Holborne Fortescue Inglesby Mountague Pickering Welden and Rainsborough A Petition of the East India Company for transporting some things agreed unto The Governour of Hurst Castle took two of the King's Ships bound for France forced by weather into the Isle of Wight in them they had 300 barrels of Herrings 11 pieces of Cloath 10 pieces of Ordnance 40 Prisoners and a pack of hounds News came that the Swedes in Germany gave a great defeat to the Emperours Forces 8000 of them slain the two Generals the whole Army routed many Prisoners taken all their Colours Ordnance Carriage and Ammunition Letters from Holland mentioned some difference rising there between the Prince of Orange and the States 19. The care of the education of the King's Children was committed to the Earl of Northumberland and his Countess and they took into Consideration the great losses of this noble Earl for his affection to the publick Care was also taken for an allowance for the Earl of Mulgrave and the Lord Sheffield in lieu of their losses Mr. Ford was voted to be one of the Assembly in the room of Mr. Bolles deceased Orders for expediting Sir Thomas Fairfax into the field and for money for the Lord Generals old Foot Souldiers and for monies for Sir William Brereton's Forces and for supplies for Ireland The Lord Savile left the Oxford party and came to London he was staid by the Guards and this day examined by a Committee of the Lords of the grounds of his coming in and was committed to the custody of the black Rod. Colonel Holborne routed a party of Goring's horse near Crookehorne and took about 500 of them About 400 of Banbury horse faced Northampton and endeavoured to take a Parliament Captain out of his house near Northampton but he with his Servants and about 16 firelocks kept the house and repelled the enemy and a party of horse drawing forth of Northampton the Banbury Horse fled away with some loss Letters from Colonel Cromwel informed that since his coming to his Regiment their Carriage had been obedient respective and valiant a good testimony whereof they gave in the late defeat of Long 's Regiment that they were sorry
of maimed men carried off and in the Town about 100 only slain and many wounded When the Besiegers went away they left behind them 1000 Arms. A hundred and fifty a Week died of the Plague in Bristol 20. the business of the Church Order for payment of the Arrears of the Earl of Essex and an Ordinance past for settling 10000 l. per an on him in consideration of his great Services and losses Order for 3000 l. a Month for the Forces under Col. Welden and Col. Graves who relieved Taunton And a Letter of Thanks ordered to Sir John Meldrum and 500 l. more to be bestowed on him and for Pay for his Forces and the constant payment of 200 l. per an to Owen O Conelli that discovered the Rebellion in Ireland The business of Trade and the Admiralty referred to the Committee of the Navy A Consultation by a Committee with the Common Council of London about the reducing of Oxford Sir Tho. Fairfax advanced from Newbury to Blewbury and thence to Witney thence to Newnham 3 miles from Oxford Cromwell and Brown called back to joyn with him He took three Carts loaden with Canary Wines 40 Horse and their Riders of the Oxford Forces and pursued those that escaped to the walls of Oxford The King went towards Shropshire Sir William Brereton drew off from Chester to prevent the King 's surprizing of his Forces The King's Party took Hawkesley House in Staffordshire and carried the Garrison being 80 Prisoners to Worcester 21. A Petition from Lynne upon which an Order for repairing the Works there and care taken for money for Provision for Cambridge and for the Works there and 100 l per Mens for the Committee of the Eastern Association for their Clerks and extraordinary charges Order for raising the Arrears of the Scots money from those Counties The exchange of Colonel Fielding approved A Petition against the Monopoly of Merchant Adventurers referred to a Committee 22. Order for a Committee of the House to joyn with a Committee of the City to consult about the designe of reducing Oxford and for money for it Order for money for Windsor Garrison Ordinance for the Government of Newcastle sent up to the Lords Sir William Brereton raised his siege of Chester and drew into Lancashire to joyn with the Scots Forces and the King's Forces relieved Chester Captain Stone fell upon the rere of the King's Army at Woolverhampton killed 16 and took 26 horse and their Riders Next day Captain Stone fell upon their quarters at Newport took 60 horse and killed a Captain and 20 others next day he killed 3 took 4 Prisoners and some horses Sir Thomas Fairfax blocked up Oxford and at several times took of them about 100 Prisoners and Arms. 23. An impeachment for breach of privilege uncivil'y and violently using a Member of the House was ordered to be brought in Money provided for charges of the siege of Oxford A fortnights pay ordered for M. Vrrey and his Officers Order for auditing the Accounts of the Officers under Sir William Waller now left out of the Establishment The Lords adjourned two days in the Week and sent to the Commons that they intended to doe so and it was moved in the House of Commons that they might doe the like but carryed in the Negative not to adjourne two days in the Week and the like for one day 24. Upon a Petition of the maimed Soldiers and Widdows of those slain who were very impetuous for more maintenance the House added 501. a Week to the 2001. a Week formerly given to them The House sent earnest Letters to the Scots Army and Messages to the Scots Commissioners to hasten the advance of the Scots Southwards to joyn with other Forces to pursue the King's Army A Messenger discovered to have counterfeited a Letter from the Lord Inchequin of a great Victory in Ireland and that it rain'd bloud at Dublin upon Examination he confest he did it in hopes to get a gratuity from the Parliament and was committed for it A Collection for the Town of Taunton where so many of their houses were burnt and so much of their goods spoiled 26. Ordinances for raising monies sent to the Lords Collonel Barker Governour of Coventry desired that by reason of his sickness and old age he might surrender that charge and the Committee of Coventry Petitioned that Captain Willoughby might succeed him which the Commons agreed and sent to the Lords for their consent Charges for Convoyes of monies ordered to be paid and pay for the Forces in Derbyshire Sir John Morley and divers Aldermen of Newcastle disfranchised and new Majestrates there appointed Letters from the Forces before Oxford informed that Sir Thomas Fairfax came to Marston about a mile from Oxford where Cromwel and Browne met him that their foot were quartered near their horse guards and perdues within twice Musket shot of the Works That the King's Forces drowned the Meadows as much as they could and fired the Suburbs burnt a Corn Mill and a Garrison at Woolvercot and intended to have burnt the Towns round about but that Sir Thomas Fairfax's Forces possessed them that as he was viewing the Works a Cannon bullet from the Garrison came very near him but did no hurt and then he came within twice pistol shot of the Works but they were sparing of their Powder that the Soldiers were intrenching of their head quarters and making a bridge over the water That they intercepted some Letters and took Philpot the Herold and some Doctours that were fearful of a siege that the Lord Cottington Earl of Dorset and all the Lords and Gallants in Oxford bear Arms that they quenched the fire and took the Deputy Governour and all the Arms and Ammunition at Woolvercot Captain Flemming going beyond his Commission and by the unruliness of his horse who carried him among the Enemy was mortally wounded by a shot in the belly The Sickness continued very hot in Bristol 27. Order for Lord General Cromwel to goe with a party to the Isle of Ely and to endeavour to prevent the King's coming into that association Ordinances for money for Ely and for the siege of Oxford Order for Colonel Paine to have two Regiments and pay for them in the North. An Ordinance past to inable the Committee of Oxon Berks and Bucks to take voluntary Contributions for the additional Forces for reducing of Oxford An Ordinance past for raising monies out of Delinquents Estates The Scots Army retreated again Northwards suspecting the advance of the King's Forces that way Letters from Edenborough informed that M. G. Vrrey routed Montrosse's Forces who retreated to Aberdeen and that 2000 were slain on both parts 28. The Monthly Fast In the Evening the House sate and had Letters from Mr. Dormer That Colonel Massey with about 800 horse and 600 foot took Evesham after an hours storming with the loss but of five Souldiers and two Officers and about
Governour and Garrison the which was voted by the Commons and Letters sent to the Officers of the English and Scottish Armies to assure the same to those of Carlisle who had held out very long and courageously for the King Another order for the E. of Northumberland to have the care of the King's Children and 3000 l. per annum allowed him for them The Letters taken in the King's Cabinet at Naseby read in the House and some of them referred to a Committee to be decyphered Mr. Brown a Gun-founder and his Son committed upon matters in some of the Letters 24. The Letters taken in the King's Cabinet were more of them read in the House and in some of them was mention of His Majestie 's intention to make a Peace with the Irish Rebels and to have 40000 of them over into England to prosecute the War here In other Letters to the Queen the King complains That he could not prevail with his Mungrel Parliament at Oxford to vote that the Parliament at Westminster were not a lawfull Parliament that he will not make a Peace with the Rebels the Parliament without her approbation nor goe one jot from the Paper she sent him That upon the Treaty at Uxbridge he did not positively own the Parliament it being otherwise to be construed though they were so simple as not to find it out and that it was recorded in the notes of the King's Council that he did not acknowledge them a Parliament Ordinance sent to the Lords for putting the County of Surrey into a posture of Defence and for pay for the forces there 100 l. given to the Messenger that brought up the Colours from Naseby fight Ordinance sent to the Lords for money for Portsmouth Garrison Order for the business of the Church to be taken into Debate every Wednesday and Friday An Ordinance past for re-imbursing money for Pembrokeshire Sir T. F. prosecuted the King's forces towards Hereford and left Colonel Needham Governour of Leicester Colonel Morgan blocked up Sandal Castle and M. G. Poynes went to Pomfret to order the battery there Colonel Rosseter came back from pursuing the King's forces charged and routed a party of the Newarkers rescued 20 Constables and Tithingmen taken by them and took 50 horse and many prisoners of them 25. The Monthly Fast kept divers Officers Prisoners committed to London-house 26. An Ordinance sent to the Lords about taking the Accounts of the Kingdom and orders for disposal of the Prisoners some to serve the Parliament in Ireland and others as the Parliament shall direct Letters written to Sir T. F. to prosecute his intentions against the Enemy and the Ordinance continued to impower him to press Souldiers for three months longer and another for Recruits for his Army Another Ordinance past impowering the Committees in the several Counties where any Souldiers were pressed and afterwards did desert the service to proceed against them according to Marshal Law Another for money for the late Officers of the Earl of Essex and of Sir William Waller Massey advanced to Lyme in order to relieve Taunton the King was at Hereford and Sir T. F. at Gloucester The Scots Army ordered to march from Nottingham to Worcester Colonel Hunt went from Shrewsbury before Cause Castle which surrendred to him The King's Garrison there marching away with their Colours and Swords and left in the Castle 500 Arms and store of Ammunition M. G. Brown took a Troup of Colonel Royden's horse and a foot Company of Oxford The Commons ordered all the Ensigns and Cornets taken at Naseby or formerly and which hereafter be taken from the Enemy should be brought into the Herald's Office and be there Registred and Mr. Riley to be intrusted therewith 27. The Grand Committee sate for the Church business and after that in the House an Ordinance read to consirm and establish the Directory for worship An Ordinance past for a Collection to provide money and necessaries for those Prisoners who were willing to serve against the Rebels in Ireland to transport them thither Letters from Plymouth informed that Greenvile was raising more forces in Cornwal and that divers Souldiers come away from the King's Garrisons to the Parliaments That three Dunkirk Ships came to Dartmouth with the King's Commission to inhabit there and were received but not well used and two of the Dunkirk Ships were taken by the Parliaments 28. Sir T. F. by order of Parliament advanced toward the relief of Taunton and sent to Massey that by a Day he would joyn with him Letters from General Leuen desired pay for the Scots Army the Houses thereupon sent a Committee to acquaint the Lord Mayor and Common Council of the City therewith and to desire the speedy raising of 30000 l. for this service and wrote answer to General Leuen that they would take care forthwith for their satisfaction The Commons ordered the Prisoners to be removed from the Military Ground where there wanted shelter for them and 300 l. for their supplies 30. Letters from M. G. Skippon informed of his being in a hopefull way of recovery and thereupon the Commons ordered 200 l. to be sent to him as a testimony of their favour and 200 l. more for payment of his Doctours Chirurgeons Apothecaries and other expences Order for 1000 l. for those Gentlemen some of whom were now Members of Parliament who suffered in 1 2 Car. for their affections to the publick and the Committee for them and for the necessities of the present Members was revived and satisfaction of damage voted to be out of the Estates of Delinquents The Letters taken at Naseby referred to a Committee to be perused and observations to be made upon them and to communicate some of them to the Common Council of London An Ordinance sent to the Lords touching Gunpowder and the Office of the Ordnance Letters to the association for Recruits and Arrears to be sent to Sir T. Fairfax's Army Ordinance past for 1500 l. for the Regiment of Colonel John Fiennes M. G. Poynes took the Church at Pomfret Sir T. F. took about 100 Arms from Lieutenant Colonel Not at Highworth who was there slain and divers Officers Colonel Hutchinson took 60 Horse and 48 Prisoners Officers and Arms. Major Saddler took from M. Duet near the Devizes 16 Prisoners Colonel Venables took Sir Th. Powel High Sheriff of Chester 40 Prisoners and 100 Horse July 1645. 1. An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for 400 l. to be paid to Sir William Waller's Life-guard Tuesdays and Thursdays set a part for considering how to raise Monies for Sir T. F. his Army and several Orders passed for that purpose Order of both Houses for the Departure of the Duke of Lorrain's Agent and of the King of Portugal's Agent and for a Letter to be sent to the King of Portugal of the miscarriage of his Agent here Order that the Committee of both Kingdoms should give directions from time to time
for the Recruits to be sent to Sir T. F. The Ordinance past for putting Surrey into a posture of Defence and for pay for Farnham Garrison and another for 20000 l. towards reducing Oxford The Antiparliament sate again at Oxford and were about a Declaration to encourage their party and taking care for Money and Recruits for the King Colonel Baxter Governour of Reading went out with a party and faced Wallingford near their Works 2 Debate about Church affairs One Lusher had been apprehended for a Romish Priest the Spanish Ambassadour owned Lusher as his Servant and in favour of the Ambassadour both Houses discharged Lusher and ordered him to depart the Kingdom in ten daies Both Houses ordered the continuance of the Commissioners of the Great Seal and of the Master of the Rolls for six Months longer notwithstanding the Self-denying Ordinance Mr. Gourden a Member of the House of Commons presented to them a Letter from the Lord Savile with a Paper inclosed in it and desired that they might be read and after some Debate they were read The Letter was expressing his affections to the Parliament to whom he had come from the King and submitted himself and taken the Oath enjoyned in observance whereof and of his duty to the Parliament under whose protection he was he held himself obliged to discover to them what he knew concerning two of their Members who had done contrary to their trust and to the prejudice of the Parliament in the matters contained in the inclosed Paper That Paper set forth That Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke being persons well affected to the King and to his Cause were nevertheless two of the Parliaments Commissioners lately sent to Oxford to His Majesty with Propositions from the Parliament for Peace That they being at Oxford did contrary to their trust and to the prejudice of the Parliament treat and advise with the King and some great Lords about him namely the Earl of Lindsey the Earl of Southampton and others about the King's Answer to those Propositions and did give a Paper in writing what they advised the King's answer should be That their advice in the said Paper was followed by the King and some of the very words thereof were made use of in the King's Answer and that both before and after that time they held intelligence and correspondence with the King and his party at Oxford Much other Matter was in the Paper to the like effect and upon the reading of it divers of the House were very high and moved that Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke might make a present Answer to this Paper or Charge as some called it Mr. Hollis presently in his place made his Answer to the matter of the Paper and therein unadvisedly and suddenly confessed more than he needed to have done but denied any intelligence or correspondence by him with any of the King's party Mr. Whitelocke was not in Town this Morning and knew nothing of this business but after Mr. Hollis had spoken Mr. John L'Isle stood up and acquainted the House that Mr. Whitelocke being then absent if they pleased he would undertake to give him notice to attend the House the next Day which was ordered But some were not satisfied therewith and they fiercely moved That this being a charge of High Treason against two of their Members in whom the offence was greater than in others that they would proceed with equal justice and that both Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke might be committed to the Tower Mr. Hollis who was present to be sent thither and a Warrant to apprehend Mr. Whitelocke and to carry him thither also Upon this Sir William Lewys stood up and with as much vigour on the other side said He could not but wonder at the justice of those who would commit a man to the Tower before he was heard and the other after he had fully answered that which they called a Charge That he could not admit it to be a Charge but a Scandalous and Libellous Paper against two worthy Members of the House who they all knew had served the Parliament faithfully and to the utmost hazard of their Lives and Fortunes And because they had done so and were so capable of doing further and more service to the Parliament therefore one of their enemies was come hither to cast a bone among them and to raise differences amongst the Members of Parliament a likely way when their other designs failed them to doe mischief to the Parliament He desired them to consider the person of him whom they called the Accuser who was indeed an Accuser of the Brethren that it was the Lord Savile now cloathed with a new Title from the King of Earl of Sussex and perhaps this present service was to be part of that by which he was yet to merit his new Title That still he was the same man who was first of the Parliament party then revolted from them to the King and now was revolted from the King to the Parliament again and that a Paper brought in from this person should be looked upon as a Charge against two worthy Members of their House or be in the least a ground to commit them to the Tower he could not sufficiently wonder at the reason or justice of such a motion as that was He rather thought it more reasonable and just and accordingly moved that this Libel this Paper might be thrown out of the House and the contriver of it the Lord Savile be under more streight custody and examined who set him on to promote this business and that Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke might not be put to the trouble of any further attendance about it This smart motion of Sir William Lewys so contrary to the former being spoken by him with great ingenuity and mettle and seconded by Sir Philip Stapleton and others of that party so wrought upon the House that the motion for commitment to the Tower was laid aside and Mr. L'Isle ordered to give notice to Mr. Whitelocke that the House required his attendance there the next day Carlisle was surrendred to the Parliament and Sir Thomas Glenham the Governour and the Garrison Souldiers had a Convoy by the Articles of surrender to Newark 3. At a Conference the Letters of the surrender of Carlisle were imparted to the Lords and agreed to send a Committee to the Common Council of London to acquaint them with some of the King's Letters taken at Naseby A Committee appointed to consider of the Northern Garrisons upon the borders of Scotland The King was at Ragland Castle to gather Recruits Sir T. F. was at Marlborough the Garrison of Taunton had often Skirmishes with Goring's Forces and at one time took 120 of their horse the besiegers drew off most of their horse to their Out-guards Between 4000 and 5000 Clubmen being up in Dorsetshire and Wilts carried themselves very tumultuously and forced the Parliaments quarters at Sturmister divers slain and wounded
unless the King would grant those Propositions it would be in vain to treat of any peace There was also much discourse about the acknowledging you to be a Parliament the Earl of Lindsey said That the King had acknowledged you a Parliament by the words Lords and Commons of Parliament We answered That this was the same style his Majesty gave to the Assembly at Oxford and we could not be satisfied with that acknowledgment Then the Earl of Lindsey demanded of us how we would be acknowledged We told him thus The Lords and Commons assembled in the Parliament of England at Westminster After this we returned to our Lodgings and acquainted our fellow Commissioners with the persons that were at the Earl of Lindsey ' s Chamber when we were there and with the matter of our discourse with them In all our discourses Mr. Hollis and my self did justifie your Propositions and vindicate your Proceedings Mr. Speaker It is no small trouble to my thoughts to have my Name questioned in this House but I am comforted in my own integrity and innocency and in my Accuser but chiefly in my Judges to whom I most humbly and most willingly submit my self After Whitelocke had spoken there was much debate in the House whether this Paper of the Lord Savile were an Accusation or Charge against them Many Gentlemen argued That it was against the Privilege of the House to take it for an Accusation being from the Lord Savile who was an Enemy come from the King's Quarters and one in contempt to both Houses of Parliament for refusing to name the person from whom he received the Letter concerning Mr. Hollis and therefore committed a close prisoner That he had not discovered this to the Parliament in five or six Months together that he had been in their quarters but after he had been complained of by Mr. Hollis about a Letter and Mr. Whitelocke was in the Chair of the Committee appointed to examine the business of that Letter Then the Lord Savile brought in a new Accusation both against Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke the Chairman to take off his testimony for Mr. Hollis Others went upon this ground That this business might be committed to see if the Lord Savile would avow his Letter and Paper and by what testimony he could make it good and that Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke might have reparation and be cleared from this aspersion But these were not their Friends and moved this out of a design to bring the business before a Committee to be examined more than out of respect to them After a long debate it was at last referred to a Committee to be examined in the general and power given to the Committee to examine any Member of the House and a Message sent to the Lords to desire that the L. Savile might be examined at this Committee Those who were of a contrary party to the Earl of Essex set their interest upon it to ruine Mr. Hollis whom they found to be a great Pillar of that Party and with him to ruine Mr. Whitelocke they being both involved in this business but they had not the same envy against Mr. Whitelocke as they had against Mr. Hollis nor could they well sever them But now having got it referred to a Committee they resolved there to put it home and were full of expectation to destroy them both which was their intention 5. A Letter from the Portugal Agent and his carriage to the Parliament referred to a Committee and how the Parliament might be vindicated therein Order that the Militia of London should put in execution the Ordinance for searching for Papists and Delinquents Proposals from the Governour of Windsor for supply of that Garrison presented to the House from the Common Council of London and referred to the Committee of the Army Sir Thomas Fairfax and Colonel Massey marched from Blandford towards Taunton their Scouts and Goring's had some Encounters but Goring understanding that Sir Tho. Fairfax was advancing towards him drew off all his horse and foot from before Taunton and went towards Exeter The Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons in answer of theirs yesterday That the Lord Savile if he pleased might be examined from time to time at the Committee to whom the business of his Letter was referred 7. Divers of Westminster in the name of the City petitioned the House for Maintenance for the Lecturers in Westminster Abbey out of the Revenues belonging to the Dean and Chapter there Thereupon an Ordinance was read and committed for regulating the College of Westminster and the Petitioners called in and acquainted with the care of the House in their business and had the thanks of the House Letters from Scout-master General Watson informed that the Enemy was wholly drawn off from before Taunton An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for making Mr. Jackson Lecturer at Gloucester and a 100 l. per annum to be settled on him and the House ordered Col. Morgan to be Governour there An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for One percent for the Captives in Argiers The King's Forces from Bolton Castle surprized Raby Castle belonging to Sir Henry Vane but were again close blocked up by Forces raised by Sir George Vane The Scots Army were on their march towards Worcester as far as Birmicham The Marquess of Argyle was in pursuit of Montross over the Hills and the Parliament of Scotland being now sate the Parliament of England appointed the Earl of Rutland the Lord Wharton Sir Henry Vane senior Sir William Ermine Mr. Hatcher and Mr. Goodwyn to be their Commissioners in Scotland The King with about 4000 horse and foot was at Hereford to raise 5000 l. Assessment and some Recruits The Committee of Salop took in Cause Castle Hawarden Castle and Lynsell House belonging to Sir Richard Lucy and sate down with their Forces before High Arcall the Lord Newport's House In the Afternoon Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke attended the Committee touching my Lord Savile's Accusation where Mr. Samuel Brown had the Chair and was no friend to them in this business but pressed matters against them more than a Chair-man was to do The Lord Savile was brought into the Committee and his Letter and Paper read to him which he owned as his and his hand to them and that he would justifie them to be true upon his Soul and his Life Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke averred the contrary but with less passion and with less indiscretion than the Lord Savile who being put to it by the Committee could not make any proof of one Particular mentioned in his Papers more than they themselves acknowledged which was the same in effect that they had said before in their Narratives in the House Every particular Clause in his Papers were severally read and he heard to them and they to make their Answers but they both did it with this reservation That what they did in this was out of their willingness
to give any satisfaction they could to the Committee or to any particular Gentleman but they hoped that they should not be examined upon this as a charge against them which was not allowed to be so by the House Which after some debate seemed to be admitted and that in general they should be heard in this business by the Committee which they themselves freely offered The Lord Savile insisted upon a Letter from Mr. Hollis to the Duke of Richmond in a correspondence with his Grace but that did not touch Whitelocke nor did he prove by the Letter a Correspondence by Mr. Hollis but by some circumstances raised jealousies of it in some of their minds who were not Friends Nor could his Lordship prove any thing of his Information That they distinguished the parties among them in the Parliament into the Presbyterian and the Independent parties the Earl of Essex and the Scots as the Heads of the Presbyterians and the other party being the Independent party to be averse to peace but the Earl of Essex and his party of which Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke were to be the friends to peace Which words were denied by them The Committee adjourned to the next day and nothing was further done at this meeting 8. An Ordinance for regulating the University of Cambridge read the first and second time Order for Money for the Lord Fairfax his Forces and for the other Northern Forces of that Association An Ordinance sent to the Lords for levying 12000 l. in the Eastern Association Upon Letters from General Leven care was taken for Money for his Army Order for 2000 pair of Shoes and 2000 pair of Stockings for Sir Thomas Fairfax his Foot-souldiers A Souldier of Sir Thomas Fairfax was hanged for running away from his Colours and a Dragooner hanged for robbing a Countryman upon the High-way some few of his men staying behind at a Fair were surprized by the King's Forces from the Devizes Agents came from the Clubmen in Dorsetshire to Sir Thomas Fairfax desiring his Pass for their Commissioners to go to the King and others to the Parliament with their Proposals for a new Treaty of Peace and for a Cessation of Arms in the mean time and for the Towns and Garrisons of Dorset-shire and Wiltshire in the mean time to be put in their hands To this Sir Thomas Fairfax gave an Answer in writing That he could not allow of their Demands nor be an Instrument to convey them to the Parliament because by the Cessation of Arms and the Garrisons to be put into their hands the Parliament should be disabled to carry on the War in their own defence until a firm Peace might be settled which he and his Army desired as much as any and was the end of this War That he would undertake that the Army under his command should not injure the Country whereof they already had some experience and thus he dismissed the Clubmen's Agents The Governour of Lyme had an Encounter with some of them and killed about 50 of them led by one of Goring's Officers Colonel Fleetwood with a Party of 200 Horse and Dragoons was sent to follow the Rere of Goring whose Forces hasted away and they took only about 10 Prisoners Sir Charles Lucas with a party from Barkley Castle fell upon the quarters of some of the Parliaments Forces who received them and routed the whole party killed 16 wounded many took 38 Prisoners In the Afternoon Hollis and Whitelocke attended the Committee for the Lord Savile's business which was very full And many were there to promote the design of ruining them and to preserve them there were Mr. Recorder Glyn Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewys and many other noble Gentlemen constantly attending upon this Great Committee The Lord Savile was again brought in to the Committee and as before he justified the Paper and that in the King's Answer to the Propositions there were divers expressions and words the same with those in the Paper which Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke did give to the Earl of Lindsey at Oxford Being again shewed his Paper and demanded by the Committee to say in particular what were the same words he intended he desired to see the King's Answer which was delivered to him and he comparing their Paper and the King's Answer together observed several expressions and words in their Paper to be the same with expressions and words in the King's Paper and did particularly set forth which they were Mr. Recorder asked If it were proved that Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke did give in a Paper at Oxford which had in it those words and expressions which the Lord Savile noted to be in the King's Answer That he had not heard any such thing proved and then he thought the Observations of the Lord Savile upon the King's Answer to be to little purpose Others disired to know how the Lord Savile being in those secret Councils at Oxford should become so well affected as he pretended himself to be to the Parliament He answered That he was Impeached at Oxford for something that he spoke at those Meetings with Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke and that they met more than once at the Earl of Lindsey's Chamber To which they made no answer Then the Lord Savile desired that Mr. Hollis would produce a Letter which he brought to him from the Duke of Richmond from Oxford by which he believed much of this business would appear But it was returned upon the Lord Savile that even then when he came into the Parliament he confessed he was imployed to bring Letters and a correspondence from the Parliaments Enemies to this place Mr. Hollis said little to this Letter and I suppose and partly know that such a Letter was delivered to him by the Lord Savile from the Duke of Richmond Mr. Gourdon at this Committee acknowledgeth that the Letter and Paper was brought to him by the Lady Temple who was the Messenger and Agent of the Lord Savile and that the Lord Say was acquainted with it before the Letter was delivered and that Sir Nathaniel Barnadiston and Sir Henry Vane jun. were likewise acquainted with it and wished him to offer the Letter That he said the House would be in a grand Committee and then he could not offer the Letter They replyed that they would call the Speaker to the Chair purposely to receive the Letter That none but these knew Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke to be the persons charged with having Intelligence with the King's Party but only he told others in the general That he had an Impeachment to deliver against two Members of the House but did not name them to any others 9. Order for a Letter of Thanks to Coventry for sending plenty of Provisions to Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army Much time was spent about Ordinances for raising Money for the Scots Army 10. The Sheriffs and divers of the Militia of London and of the adjacent Counties
desired for the Scots Foot intending to besiege Newark Orders for Col. Welden to be Governour of Plymouth for giving Sir John Banks his Books to Mr. Maynard and the Books to Mr. Vaughan of Lincolns-Inn to Mr. Recorder Glyn. Letters read that were taken in the Lord Digby's Coach some of them ordered to be published As that of the King to the Marquess of Ormond touching the Irish Rebels and one touching the Earl of Thomond upon which his Estate here was ordered to be sequestred Letters informed the taking of Tiverton Castle 23. The House received Letters from Sir T. F. of the motions of his Army in the West That the Enemy designed with 2000 horse to break through his Quarters towards Oxford That they taking the darkness of the Night passed by his Guards fell into the Quarters of his Dragoons and took 50 prisoners That he marched after the Enemy with his whole Army lay in the field all night to prevent their going by him and quartered part of his Army along the River Ex near to Exeter to prevent the Enemies return and with the rest marched to Tiverton where M. G. Massey was sent before The Governour of Tiverton resolving to hold out Sir T. F. resolved to storm it and after the morning Sermon on the Lord's-day one of his Canoneers with a great shot brake the Chain of the Draw-bridge whereby it fell down and the Parliament Souldiers immediately entred and got over the works with little opposition The Enemy fled into the Castle and Church and had quarter for their lives Col. Sir Gilbert Talbot and about 200 more were taken prisoners and they found there 4 pieces of Ordnance and 40 Barrels of Powder 34 Officers 168 common Souldiers a Spy and a Minister Order for Recruits for the Army Order that the Earl of Devon being beyond Seas should return by a day Order to sequester the Estates of such as refused to pay Taxes in Sussex 24. An Ordinance for disfranchising of some of Bristoll and settling the Government there and the Militia Ordinance touching Ordination of Ministers and others touching Monies The Jewel provided for Sir Thomas Fairfax appointed to be presented to him by a Member of the House A Messenger from Sir Tho. Fairfax related that he was before Exeter and a numberof Clubmen of Devonshire under Colonel Popham assisted him 25. New High-Sheriffs named and Writs for new Elections granted The Commissioners sent to the Scots Army about their delivering up the places Garrisoned by them had the thanks of the House for their good Service L. G. Points Besieged Newark where the King was and Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice Consideration of Differences between the Committee of Derby and Sir Jo. Gell. 27. Both Houses agreed in making the Speaker Master of the Rolls Order for all Commanders of Forces to be under Sr. Tho. Fairfax Col. Dalbier named to Command the Forces for Besieging Dunnington Castle Letters informed the taking of Carmarthen by Major General Langherne whereby the whole County was reduced and so was Monmouth-Shire by taking of Monmouth Town and Castle by Col. Morgan in which they had seven pieces of Ordnance and store of Ammunition Order for thanks to God for this success and a Letter of thanks to Col. Morgan Sir Trevor Williams was made Governor of Monmouth The House gave 1500 l. to Mr. Green Chair-man of the Committee of the Navy and 500 l. per Annum for the future for his Service at that Committee a reward which few others obtained 28. Mr. Browne made a Speech in the Kings Bench and then swore Mr. Justice Rolles to be one of the Judges Serjeant Pheasant was sworn of a Judge of the Common Pleas and Serjcant Atkins a Baron of the Exchequer Mr. Soliciter and Serjeant Wild made Speeches to them Goring went out of Exeter with 1000 Horse before Cromwel came up thither upon which Sir Tho. Fairfax drew off part of his Forces after him 30. The Lords sent their Concurrence to the Commons in several Ordinances for the Government of Bristoll for the Isle of Wight and for Westminster Colledge The Commons Ordered new Elections for Knights in Bucks and for other places Upon a Letter from Sir William Vavasor Prisoner to the Parliament he had a Pass to go beyond Sea ingaging never to return to take up Arms against the Parliament and they ordered that if any who have Passes to go beyond Sea shall return and take up Arms against the Parliament they shall have neither Pardon nor Quarter Goring went to the farther part of Devon-shire and Sr. Tho. Fairfax returned towards Exeter where Goring had burnt most part of three Parishes to make the rest more tenable The Garrison of Chester made divers resolute Sallies upon the Besiegers and were beaten back and the Forces of M. G. Pointz slew many of them in the Streets Sir Will. Byron the Lord Byrons Brother got together four hundred Horse about Holt Castle upon notice whereof Col. Jones drew out a Party of Horse from before the Leaguer fell upon the Enemy in the Field who worsted the Forlorn-Hope of Jones but he rallied them and after a sharp dispute routed them took Sir William Byron and others of Quality Prisoners divers Troopers slew forty and took forty Horse Sir William Wain-waring was slain by the Parliament Forces in Chester Street News was brought of a great difference between Col. Gerrard and the Lord Bellasis Governor of Newark about the Lord Digby and the King had much ado to reconcile it 31. An Ordinance past for putting in Execution the Seal for Lancaster Doctor Oldesworth Was Bayled upon good Security to speak or act nothing prejudicial to the Parliament Order for the Covenant to be tendred to all that come in to compound for their Delinquency and such as refuse it to be secured The Gentlemen of Bucks withdrew to consider about the business of the Countrey and Mr. Fountain carried himself very high Letters from Col. Rossiter informed that Prince Rupert Prince Maurice G. Gâââard the Lord Hawley Sir Richard Willis and about four hundred other Gentlemen of Quality the meanest whereof was a Captain had laid down their Commissions deserted the King and betook them to Wotton-House fourteen Miles from Newarke where they stood upon their Guard They subscribed a Declaration that if they may obtain from the Parliament a Pass to go beyond Sea they will all engage upon their Honour and Oath never to return to take up Arms against the Parliament and sent to Col. Rossiter to acquaint him herewith the Messenger informed that the Prince had sent to Mr. G. Pointz to the same purpose and offers of Surrendring of Welbeck House to him The House referred this matter to the Committee of both Kingdoms to report their opinions what was sit to be done in it News came that Sir Tho. Fairfax set his Posts for Besieging Excester that Cromwell was come up to him and a Party
been shed and as they will answer it at the dreadful day of Judgment not to delay an answer and consent to so blessed a work This Letter being the same in effect with the former the same answer was agreed should be made to both Captain Pickring returned from Worcester where he had been negotiating the business with Prince Rupert and his Company who had desired Passes to go beyond Sea which was not well carried on their part Pickering had fifty pound more added for his Charges and Fisher Willis Honey-wood and Boulton Colonels who came with him from Worcester had liberty to go beyond Sea or stay in England and orders were made for security to all who should come in from the King Several Orders for Recruits Money and Supplys for Garrisons 18. Proceedings touching the propositions for Peace An Act read against Pluralities of Benefices A day appointed to consider of the Priviledges of Members and of the Powers exercised by Country Committees A Party of fifteen hundred from Oxford and the Kings Garrisons thereabouts marched out with a design to relieve Chester but Col. Bridges and others of the Parliament Forces about Warwick broke down Avon-Bridge and other Bridges where they were to pass and lined hedges with Musquetiers so that the Kings Party retreated and were disappointed of another design against Colonel Lidcot 19. Debate touching propositions for Peace Order for the Speaker to write to M. G. Langherne to send up Sir Walter Lloyd a Prisoner to the Parliament The Lords sent a Petition of the Earl of Hollands wherein he desired forbearance of a Rent payable by him to the Crown but upon the Question it was laid aside to the great discontent of this Earl and the House were Censured to be too forward to provoke particular persons in small matters and too backward to oblige them 20. Debate about the Government of Ireland The Scots Commissioners desired there might be a Treaty upon the propositions for Peace which was not thought fit by the Parliament who found great interruption in their affairs by the mixt Counsels of both Kingdoms A Scout taken in the Leager before Newarke discovered a new design of the King to relieve Chester Letters from Col. Morgan informed that he with Col. Birches Forces in all two thousand sent a party in the night disguised who by Stratagem entred Hereford Town surprised the Centinells and being seconded by a sudden and fiery assault Morgan became Master of the Town in a short time without opposition saving a little at the main Guard in the body of the Town There was little loss on either side they took in the Town eleven pieces of Ordnance forty Lords Knights and Gentlemen of worth most of them Papists whom they sent Prisoners to Glocester They took many Officers and the Soldiers and much Riches and Prize in the Town was secured 22. Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace and a Vote That the Kings Answer shall be desired to them without any Treaty and that the same be signified by a Letter to the Parliament of Scotland with the reasons why the Parliament of England cannot consent to the desire of Scotland to have a Treaty for Peace with his Majesty Letters from Col. Birch informed the particulars of the taking of Hereford That he hired six men and put them in the form of Labourers and a Constable with them with a Warrant to bring these men to work in the Town that in the night he lodged these men within three quarters Musquet-shot of the Town and an hundred and fifty Fire-locks near them and himself with the Foot and Col. Morgan with the Horse came up in the night after them and cut off all intelligence from coming to the Town so that they were never discovered That one night they came too short but the next night with careful Spyes and Scouts they carried on the business and in the morning upon letting down the Draw-Bridge the six Countrymen and the Constable went with their Pickaxes and Spades to the Bridge That the Guard beginning to examine them they killed three of the Guard and kept the rest in play till the Fire-locks came up to them and then made it good till the Body came up who entred the Town with small loss and became Masters of it Col. Morgans Secretary who brought the first news to the House had thirty pound given to him and Col. Birch's Messenger had twenty Order that thanks be given to God for this success the next Lords-day That Col. Birch be Governor of Hereford and his Regiment recruited to a thousand two hundred and for setling a Godly Ministry there and in Glocester and for sending Cloaths to the Soldiers of Glocester M. G. Langherne took in Embleden-Castle in Wales and had hot Service before Abernsteck Castle in Cardigan-shire with loss on both sides The Commissioners of Parliament the Earl of Rutland the Lord Willoughby Sir William Ermin Sir Edward Ascugh Sir Christopher Wraye appointed to reside in the Scots Army before Newarke took their Journey 23. Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace A Petition of the Brewers touching the Excise referred to a Committee Oders for Money and for supplys for the Army and for Garrisons and for the imploying Horse at Wickham and other Forces The Parliament Forces quitted a Fort at Pouldram to the Kings Forces in the West and the same night Col. Okey with some of his Dragoons fell upon the Enemies Quarters near Chimley took a Captain a Cornet nineteen Horse and twelve Troopers and Sir Hardress Waller took at the L. Chichester's a Captain a Lievetenant a Cornet six Soldiers and two hundred Foot and allarm'd them to the Walls of Exeter In another place they took some Horse and Commodities going to Exeter to cloath the Soldiers Captain Bell one of Greenvils Captains came in with thirty Horse to Sir T. Fairfax 24. Orders for Money for the Forces before Chester and for the Forces in Hereford On Ordinance for a Tax in England for the Brittish Forces in Ireland At the Committee of Priviledges the Election for Bucks was hotly debated and the lye given by Mr. Fountain one of the House to Mr. Vivers a witness in the Case yet the Committee thought not fit to report it to the House upon which the Petitioners Council craved leave to desist because their Witnesses were so discouraged which the Committee took as an affront and voted to report that to the House A Party from Faxington surprized some Countrymen as they were choosing a new Burgess for Calne in Wiltshire 25. This Christmass day the House sat about an Ordinance to make the Members of both Houses liable to Arrests Reference of the Accounts of the Treasurers at War to the Committee of Accompts Orders for the Arrears of the Assesment for Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army and that the Committee of the Army should see all free Quarters and Billetings of Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army to be satisfied and Officers made
was brought from the King to the Parliaments last Letters to him about Peace wherein the King tells them of violating the known Laws to draw an exorbitant Power to themselves over their fellow Subjects and that they give a false character of his Majesties Actions This Message was quick and laid the matter home to the Parliament they referred it to the Committee of both Kingdoms to draw up an Answer to it to clear the Parliament from the aspersions cast upon them by this Message News came of great distractions among them at Oxford and unrulyness of the Soldiers and scarcity of Provisions Coll. Hastings with the Ashby Horse surprised a Convoy of the Parliaments going to Belvoir with a Mortar-piece and Granadoes and a Party from Oxford surprised two Troops of the Parliaments Horse and divers Gentlemen who were choosing a new Parliament man in Wiltshire and that Sir John Gâll surprised an hundred and forty of the Kings Horse at Titbury and many Prisoners A Party of the Kings got over the Ice and designed to surprize Monmouth but were beaten back with loss M. G. Langherne besieged Ragland 20. Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace Letters to the Speaker informed that the Kings Forces quitted Sir Francis Drakes house that their thoughts and discourses are how to save themselves that some would carry the Prince beyond Sea others say they will cut the throats of those who shall attempt it That Sir T. F's Forces daily take Prisoners and most Horse that since the business at Bovey they have taken two hundred Horse that the last day they took eighty Horse two Colours and thirty Prisoners near Barn-Stable That Sir Hardress Waller with his Brigade took many near Oke-hampton that L. G. Porter came in to them and Baronet Seymour who said he would disinherit his Sons if they did not come in and serve the Parliament that many of them makemeans to be received unto mercy That the Lord Newport desired a Pass to come out of Dartmouth to go to the Prince but was denyed it A Scout certified that the Kings Forces quitted Tavestock and fled into Cornwall 21. The Lord Viscount L'isle voted to be Governor of Ireland Sir William Brereton continued in his Command before Chester for forty days longer Order for Supplys for Derby Garrison Proceedings in the Church-business Ordinance past for regulating the University of Cambridge Sir William Brereton sent another Summons to the Mayor of Chester and the Lord Byron Governor to which they returned no Answer in five days upon which Sir William Brereton sent another Letter to them requiring an Answer the same day which they did and offered to come to a Treaty if the King did not relieve them within twelve days and desired a Pass to send to him but it was denyed M. G. Brown took Col. Lour and some Officers and Prisoners of Wallingford Garrison fifty of their Horse Riders and Arms and rescued thirty Horse which they had taken of the Parliaments Captain Batten coming to block up Dartmouth by Sea lighted upon a Ship of the Kings bound for France with divers Gentlemen of quality in it money and rich Jewels 22. Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace Order for Money for Glocester Garrison and for continuing the Excise till March. Orders for High Sheriffs approved News came of the taking of Dartmouth by Sir Tho. Fairfax and the House ordered a day of thanksgiving for it and for the taking of Hereford and other good successes Order for a thousand pound to buy horses and furniture for Sir T. Fairfax as an earnest of the affection of the House towards him 23. Mr. Peters came from the Army to the House and made them a Narration of the storming and taking of Dartmouth and of the valour unity and affection of the Army and presented several Letters Papers and Crucifixes and other Popish things taken in the Town the Letters were referred to a Committee The Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax informed that he with those about him agreed to Storm Dartmouth January 18. That Col. Hammond entred the West Gate where four Guns were planted and two upon the Mill-pool upon his Flanck the Enemy firing his great Guns but once Hammonds men that had the Forlorn hope did very gallantly as they all did and went freely on and beat off the Enemy and possessed one Fort after another and beat off the main-Guard where were taken four Lieutenant Colonels and so possessed the Town from the West Gate to little Dartmouth That in the interim Lieutenant Col. Pride attempted the North part of the Town called Hardness where beating off the Enemy he entred it and took about eighty Prisoners in it and by it possessed all the North part of the Town unto the Draw-Bridge where Col. Hammonds men and his did meet That Col. Fortescue with his men attempted Tunstall Church which was manned with above an hundred men and had in it ten Guns that his men after some dispute entred the place and possessed it so that now the Enemy was beaten out of all except the great Fort and the Castle unto which the Governor with the Earl of Newport and as many as escaped them did flye That the Governor coming back from the Castle to see in what posture the Town was a Musquet-shot was made at the Boat in which he was pierced the Boat and through both the Thighs of one that was next to him and about three inches into his own Thigh upon which he returned to the Castle That Sir Tho. Fairfaxes Dragoons with two Companys of Firelocks and some Seamen were ordered to allarm the great Fort wherein was Sir Henry Carey with his Regiment twelve Guns and store of Ammunition a strong Fort with four Bulwarks but the enemy came willingly to terms and Sir Tho. Fairfax agreed that Sir Henry Carey should march away with the rest leaving the Arms Ordnance and Ammunition and Provisions in the Fort and ingaging never to take up Arms against the Parliament which was done by them That the next Morning the Governor yielded the Castle himself and all Officers and Soldiers upon Quarter and sent Col. Seymour and Mr. Denham for Hostages with whom came out the Earl of Newport In the List of Prisoners was Sir Hugh Pollard the Governor about fifty Officers many Country Gentlemen Ministers and inferior Officers and all the Common Soldiers being between eight hundred and a thousand were set at liberty to repair to their dwellings about an hundred and twenty Ordnance mounted and two men of War in the Harbour taken The House referred it to a Committee to consider how five thousand pound formerly Voted might be setled upon Sir Tho. Fairfax and his Heirs and ordered a Letter of thanks to be written to him They also referred it to a Committee to consider how L. G. Cromwell might be put into Possession of two thousand five hundred pounds formerly voted for him and they ordered five hundred pound for the
present buying of Horses and Furniture for him as an earnest of the affections of the House to him Order for Pay for the Army 24. Information from the Commissioners in the Scots Army of their Warrant to bring in Provisions for the Scots and of some complaints against that Army The House approved of those Warrants of the Commissioners and took care for payment of the Country for the Provisions brought in by them Mr. Hunt the Serjeant at Arms being dead the House gave that place to Serjeant Birkhead for Life Debate at a Conference touching Martial Law in London and about the Letters from Newarke A Petition of the Merchants of New-Castle and Sunderland referred to the Committee of the Navy 26. Upon Letters from M. G. Brown Order for one thousand eight hundred pound of Sir John Borlace his Composition to be paid for the Garrison of Abbingdon and for other Money for them They continued M. G. Brown Governor of Abbingdon for three Months longer and dispensed with his attendance in the House as a Member Order for Money for the Garrison of Henley Several Ordinances touching the arrears of the Officers late under the Lord Fairfax and for digging of Salt-Peter Another Letter came from his Majesty about a Personal Treaty wherein he smartly answers the Letters of the Parliament last sent to him in all the particulars and concludes with his earnest desires of Peace and saith it is clear to him that there is no way but a Treaty or Conquest for a final ending of such distractions as afflict this Kingdom The latter he hopes none will have the impudence or impiety to wish for and for the former if his Personal assistance be not necessary let any reasonable man judge and earnestly presseth for an Answer The King sent a Warrant under his hand to the Heads of Houses in Oxford for the reading of Divine Service established by Law daily Morning and Evening and to fast on Fridays 27. Letters from Stafford informed that Captain Stone 's Troop of an hundred beat up the Lord Molineux's Quarters near Stafford routed three hundred of the Enemy took three Captains and other Officers about an hundred Horse and many Prisoners some slain and divers wounded Order for five hundred pound for Captain Stone for his Troop and fifty pound given to his Lieutenant Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace and seven Bills to be prepared to be forthwith sent to the King to which if he shall assent then they are willing he should come to London and treat about the other matters The Bills were 1. For setling Presbyterian Government and extirpating Episcopacy 2. For prosecuting the War against the Irish Rebels 3. For the Militia to remain in the power of the Parliament 4. For payment of the Debts of the Kingdom 5. For bringing Delinquents to punishment 6. That no Honours be given but to such as have testified their affections to the Publick 7. Concerning the Priviledges of London Sir Tho. Fairfax returned from Dartmouth to the blocking up of Exeter 28. The day of the Monthly Fast in the Evening the House met and heard a Report from the Committee of Plundred Ministers of the Blasphemies of one Paul Best who denied the Trinity of the God-head and the Deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost the House ordered him to be kept close Prisoner and an Ordinance to be brought in to punish him with Death 29. Consent to amendment of some mistakes in an Ordinance The House voted that some of the Members of the Committee of both Kingdoms had done their Duties in making known some intelligence from Paris and ordered them thanks for it The Lord Montague Col. White and Mr. Robert Goodwin ordered to go Commissioners into Scotland Orders for supply of the Army A Petition for Mr. Saltmarsh to be a Lecturer in Kent opposed by divers of the County countenanced by Col. Blunt and divers others of the Parliaments Friends The Parliament of Scotland executed divers of Montrosses Party The Siege of Newarke continued streight A Treaty was had about the surrender of Chester but nothing concluded Sir William Brereton drew out a Party to incounter the Irish of whose landing in Anglesey he had Intelligence Mr. Ed. Vaughan with a small party in Merioneth-shire fell upon a hundred of the Kings Forces who were Fortifying at Dolgethly took their Captaine eighteen Prisoners and divers Horse and Arms. 30. Reference to the Committee of both Kingdoms to prevent the Incursions from Oxford into Wilts and Hant shire Orders for allowance to Preaching Ministers and for Mr. Edward Clerke High Sheriff of Oxford shire to make his Residence at Reading Proceedings upon the Propositions for Peace Mr. Tilshead met the Party from Oxford in Wilts whereof he was High-Sheriff and took thirty of their Horse and many Prisoners Letters informed the taking of Pouldram Castle by Col. Hammond That they surrendred upon conditions that Greenvile was apprehended and carried prisoner to Oxford and that Hopton was made General of the West that many intercepted Letters were sent up to the Parliament That many Devonshire Gentlemen declared for the Parliament and Sir Tho. Fairfax gave a Commission to Mr. Vowell to be a Col. 31. Debate of a Report from the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall touching Compositions of Delinquents Another Letter came from the King wherein he presseth his coming to London for a personal Treaty offers the Militia to be setled in the hands of the Parliament for seven years and that the Parliament shall nominate Officers of State Judges c. that Religion shall be setled as in the days of Queen Elizabeth having regard still to tender Consciences And for Ireland and the other Propositions to grant what was offered at the Treaty of Uxbridge and disclames the Earl of Glamorgan's Commission by which he treated with the Irish as false and no Act of his Majestys This Letter was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to be communicated to the Scots Commissioners and the Commons desired a conference with the Lords concerning the present sending of the seven Bills to his Majesty Vote that the Committee of both Kingdoms receive from the Lord L'isle his propositions touching Ireland Both Houses agreed upon the Ordinance touching Covent-Garden Order for the Countess of Winchester to go to her Husband where he is Prisoner Sir William Brereton intercepted a Letter from the Lord Byron to Oxford that if they had not relief by the last of January then of necessity they must surrender Chester February 1645. February 2. Debate about the Kings Letter A Conference at which the seven Bills were presented to the Lords for their Concurrence to be forthwith sent to the King Ordinance passed for Money for the Guards and other services in London Martial Law given to the Garrisons of Aylisbury and Newport Paganell Order that there should be no new motion in the House after twelve a Clock Letters informed that Sir Tho. Fairfax drawing towards Exeter the
the Marquess of Ormond the Earl of Glamorgan the Lord Digby and others of great concernment and mentioning preparations for Irish Rebels hither which so inraged the Countrey people that they put to the Sword thirty Irish taken by them in that Vessel at Padstow 10. Difference of Opinion between the Houses about the Earl of Derby the Lord Pawlet Sir John Byron and Sir Jo. Strangways whom the Lords thought fit not to except from Pardon Col. Rainsborough sent to command the Forces before Banbury had power of Martial Law given him Letters informed that Sir William Brereton entred Litchfield with the loss of three men slain and some wounded that he killed six of the enemy and beat the rest into the Close being a thousand horse and soot A Sally out of Newarke with four hundred horse and a thousand foot upon the Scots Guards the Bridge being down none of the rest of the Army could come to assist them and the Newarkers were double the number to the Scots in that place but after a little time some got over to them and the Newarkers retreated having killed one Captain two Lieutenants and eight Soldiers and about twenty wounded and few of their own party left behind them 11. The accounts of the Committee of Excise brought in and a Vote passed to continue the Excise in such hands as both houses shall think fit and order for advancing of eighty four thousand pound upon the Excise for the Army Divers other orders about the Excise and one for two thousand pound for Abbington Garrison Letters informed that the Army advanced from Bodman towards Truro but by reason of bad weather put into Quarters that a party of 800 Horse and Dragoons was sent under Col. Rich to fall upon the enemies Quarters which they did near St. Columbe being the Princes Regiment consisting of about eight hundred they of the Van Charged Rich's men but were quickly put to the rout and pursued three or four miles Rich's men took about an hundred Prisoners most of them Reformado's whereof M. G. Perâ was one twenty nine of the Princes Guard and a hundred Horse this so allarm'd the Enemy that they left their head Quarter for a Mile and drew all their Horse to a rendezvous upon a down at eleven a clock at night where they stood in the rain till the next morning A Trumpet came with an Answer from the Lord Hopton to Sir Tho. Fairfax's Summons implying a willingness to end the business of the West without more blood-shed but desires to know whether the King and Parliament be not near to a conclusion of a Peace that he being intrusted may be careful of the Kings Honour and a Treaty is entertained and in the mean time Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army advanced The Letters taken in the Trish Ship mentioned the Commitment of the Earl of Glamorgan to be to colour that business and that a Peace was concluded with the Irish Rebells and that ten thousand of them were ready to come into England to assist the King 12. The day of thanksgiving for the late successes in the West Letters from Abbington certified that they had several allarms from Oxford and the last Lords day at six in the Morning a great party of Horse and Foot came near to Abbington Town who took the Allarm and were in a posture to receive them That the Cannon played upon them half an hour from the Town and did good execution that the Oxford Party notwithstanding their words that they would gain the Town or leave their bones there yet they ran away and the Horse could not be perswaded to stay but taking up about ten of their Fellows dead bodies they all retreated to Oxford That the Soldiers wanted no Courage but Money and are put to watch almost every night 13. The Assembly of Divines desired by some of their brethren sent to the House That Mr. Patrick Young might be incouraged in the Printing of the Greek Testament much expected and desired by the Learned especially beyond Seas and an Ordinance was read for Printing and Publishing the Old Testament of the Sepâuagint Translation wherein Mr. Young had formerly taken pains and had in his hand as Library-keeper of St Jame's an Original Tecta Bible of that Translation Orders for Money for Soldiers Wives and Widows and to the train of Artillery The Petitions of London Westminster and Middlesex touching the setling of the Militia and the differences thereupon referred to a Committee to be composed A Party from Oxford plundring Basing-stoke and the pressed men going to Sir Thomas Fairfax mutinied at Farnham their Conductor Col. Ven being very imperious and not pleasing to them but it was soon appeased Foy was delivered up to Sir T. Fairfax and thirteen pieces of Ordnance in it 14. An Ordinance past both Houses for setling and regulating the Heralds Office to effect which Whitelocke laboured and was one of the Committee for that end but opposed by many inclining to leveling Order for a Pass for the Earl of Northampton and twenty Officers with him to go beyond Sea provided they take the Negative Oath Votes that the Great Seal should be in the hands of Commissioners Members of both Houses and in the present Commissioners for six Months longer Both Houses agreed to the Ordinance for setling Presbyterian Government Letters informed that Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Lord Hopton agreed upon these Articles That the Lord Hoptons Army should presently be disbanded and his Horse Arms and Ammunition Artillery Bag and Baggage delivered up to Sir Tho. Fairfax Officers to have their Horses and Troopers twenty shillings a man Strangers to have Passages to go beyond Sea and English to go to their homes A hundred and twenty Musqueteers Armed came out of Pendennis Castle and yielded themselves to Sir T. F. That the Lord Hopton surrendred to Sir Tho. Fairfax near three thousand horse 16. Votes touching the Affairs of Ireland and the Commission to be granted to the Lord L'isle appointed Governor there Care for Money for Major General Massies Forces Reference to a Committee to consider what places of benefit are held by any Members of the House and to report it Conference about the propositions for Peace Harwarden Castle was surrendred to Major General Mitton and he besieged Holt Castle A Party from Hereford and Monmouth surprised sixty Horse in the Stables of Gotherick Castle burnt the Stables and Besieged the Castle A Party from Worcester came within a Mile of Evesham plundered and took away some Country men Prisoners but were pursued by a Party from Evesham the Prisoners and Plunder rescued and eighteen of their Horse taken 17. The House being informed that the Prince was in Silley and in some streights for want of Provisions they agreed that a Letter should be written to him in a loving and tender way from both Houses of Parliament to invite him to come in to the Parliament and to reside in such place and have such
for these Mercies Fifty pound given to Mr. Row the Commissioners Secretary before Newarke A Committee appointed to draw Reasons to satisfie the Lords for demanding the Kings Person as was formerly voted 11. Letters advised of the Kings advancing Northwards with the Scots Army and that a house was preparing for his Majesty in Newcastle this caused the resuming of the debate for demanding the Kings Person but voted to be disposed of and to reside near his Parliament not to go to Warwick Castle The Lords concurrence desired to Votes That his Majesty be desired to give command for the Delivery up of all Forts in England Ireland and Wales into the hands of the Parliament and to dissolve the Commissions for Peace with the Irish Rebels and to leave the prosecution of that War to the Parliaments care Letters from Col. Whaley of the surrender of Banbury Castle upon Articles and left there ten pieces of Ordnance five hundred Arms nine Colours Arms Ammunition Malt Beef Wheat Bisket twenty Cows and sixty Sheep An hundred pound ordered to Col. Whaley to buy him two horses and five hundred pounds to the Engineer twenty pounds to the Messenger Letters of the Particulars of the surrender of Newarke that there went out with the Lord Bellasis the Governor the Lord Deincourt the Lord Lexington twelve Knights and many Gentlemen of one thousand five hundred foot all went to their several homes that the Articles were exactly performed and they left in the Town fourteen Pieces of Ordnance three thousand Arms store of Ammunition and Provisions and the Town very strong but the sickness was violent in it Letters of oppressions by some of the Scots Forces in the North upon whom the Countrey rose and some of both partys were killed A day appointed to consider thereof and of sending Forces into the North to protect the well affected and to hinder resort of malignants to the King and how to dispose of the Scots and other Forces and of Carlisle and other Forts which the Scots supplyed being in their hands 12. The day of thansgiving observed Letters of the Scots Army being on their march Northward the King in the van of them and that the Scots Commissioners desired a Meeting with the English Commissioners to give an account of their sudden departure and reasons for their not delivering up Mr. Ashburuham according to the Order of Parliament Letters that Sir Tho. Fairfax had made his approaches near the works at Oxford and finished the Bridge at Marston that Oxford Garrison made a Sally out but were beaten back one of their men killed and one of the Parliaments wounded that the approaches were so near that the Officers and Soldiers of either Parties parlied one with another and those of the Garrisonseemed troubled at the Kings goingto the Scots Army The General was a person of as meek and humble carriage as ever I saw in great imployment and but of few words in discourse or Council yet when his Judgment and Reason were satisfied he was unalterable except it were by Letter whereof as was fit he was the only Judge But I have observed him at Councils of War that he hath said little but hath ordered things expresly contrary to the judgement of all his Council and in action in the Field I have seen him so highly transported that scarce any one durst speak a word to him and he would seem more like a man distracted and furious than of his ordinary mildness and so far different temper The General sent a Summons to the Governor to surrender Oxford for the use of the Parliament expressing his unwillingness to do any thing of damage to that famous University and offering to them honourable terms Sir Thomas Glemham the Governor desired a safe conduct for Sir Jo. Mounson and Mr. Philip Warwick to come to the General to speak with him from Sir Thomas Glemham first which was assented to and the same day a Summons was sent to Wallingford Bostol and Radcot 13. An Ordinance sent to the Lords enabling the Lord L'isle Lieutenant of Ireland to beat up Drums to raise six thousand Foot and eight hundred and fifty Horse for Ireland another for Money for the Forces there A Letter for Sir Thomas Fairfax to spare a hundred Horse for recruits for Col. Jephson and referred to consider how an able Ministry might be setled in Ireland and that a thousand pound given by a Gentleman for the service of Ireland should be imployed for maintainance for Ministers there Reasons given by the Commons to the Lords why they adhered to their Votes for demanding the Kings Person That in England the disposal of him belonged to the Parliament of England and that the Scots Army were in Pay of the Parliament of England that the King ought to be near his Parliament and it was consonant to the Covenant The Scots Commissioners here presented papers to the House touching stay of their Packets of Letters the last Week Another Letter agreed on to be sent to the Prince further inciting him to come in to the Parliaments Quarters with offers of due respects beseeming a Prince Letters that M. G. Mitton fell upon the Lord Byron at Carmarthen beat them out of the Town into the Castle Letters of Dudley Castle being surrendred to Sir William Brereton upon Articles which were sent up to the Parliament and approved by them 14. A Letter of thanks to the Commissioners at Newarke for their care in that business and in demolishing the works of the Town Debate of the Scots Commissioners Papers touching the seizing of their Pacquet at the Court of Guard and the Speaker was ordered to deliver to them a paper inclosed in their pacquet which was in characters and no subscription to it nor Superscription Debate touching the Scots Commissioners Papers about the propositions for Peace and what inteterest Scotland had in the affairs of England in relation unto Peace and some Votes passed thereupon The Scots Commissioners failed to meet with the English Commissioners in the North about the delivering up Mr. Ashburnham Sir Jo. Mounson and Mr. Warwick who came from the Governor of Oxford to Sir Tho. Fairfax desired only liberty for the Governor to send to the King to know his pleasure touching the surrender of Oxford which the General denyed next day a Trumpet was sent to the General to desire longer time Wallingford also desired leave to send to the King but it was denyed News came that Prince Rupert made a Sally out of Oxford but was beaten back and himself wounded in the shoulder 15. Debate about the Scots Papers concerning the propositions for Peace Order for the Arrears of M. Mathews The General Muster put off The high Sheriff of Devon impow'red to bring forth his Regiment out of his County Allowance ordered to the Marquess of Winton 16. Some of the Common Council came to the House and desired the general Muster might not be wholly put off
sent up to the Lords for payment of five hundred pound to Mr. Phips out of the Marquess of Wintons Estate for which Sir John Danvers was ingaged A Scotch Minister Preached boldly before the King at New-castle and after his Sermon called for the fifty second Psalm which begins Why dost thou Tyrant boast thy self thy wicked works to praise His Majesty thereupon stood up and called for the fifty sixth Psalm which begins Have Mercy Lord on me I pray for men would me devour The People waved the Ministers Psalm and sung that which the King called for 16. An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for disposing four thousand five hundred and fifty pounds Arrears of the Joynture of the Countess of Essex by reason of her delinquency Sir David Watkins called into the House denyed the words which Mr. Pennoyer justified to be spoken by him of Sir John Evelin and said he heard them from one Mr. Drake who was ordered to be sent for The two Speakers continued Commissioners for the great Seal twenty days longer Order for the Committee of Elections to sit and for reports every Monday from the Committee of Priviledges The Lords concurrence desired to the Treaty for the two hundred thousand pound and a hundred thousand pound of it sent away 17. Order for three thousand pound for the poor Widows c. Hostages agreed to the Scots for the two hundred thousaud pound Sir William Selby Mr. Dela Vale Sir Edward Loftus Sir Tho. Trollop Sir H. Mildmay and Sir William Browton Mr. Drake called in about speaking the words touching Sir Jo. Evelyn named one Dr. Aldwyn who said he heard it from a Member of the House referred to a Committee 18. To the Scots Paper desiring aid of this Kingdom against the Rebels in Scotland the House answered that that was no obstruction of their March or delivery up of the Garrisons which being done then the House would consider of that particular To that of charging the Countrey upon their March out of England was answered That they should take no money nor goods of the English Subjects but pay and discharge all their quarters and the form of their Receipts for the two hundred thousand pound was agreed upon The Committee of both houses ordered to meet about disposing the great Seal Sir Thomas Fairfax went towards Northampton to give order for the Convoy of the Scots Money and fifty thousand pound was carried thither for his Army 19. Order for two thousand pound for Sir Peter Killegrew for his Interest in Pendennis Castle and for a thousand pound for the burying of the Earl of Worcester and the Lord Dockra to be according to the Directory The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council and many Citizens of London presented the Petition formerly mentioned first to the Lords who gave them thanks then to the Commons who after much debate gave them thanks for all their good Services and appointed a day to consider of the Petition and also the Petition of the Gentry of Durbam Another considerable party of the City were about a different Petition 31. Orders touching the payment of the second two hundred thousand pound to the Scots and that they should not take free quarter These to be Communicated to the Scots Commissioners The Earl of Stamford for the Lords and Mr. Ashhurst and Mr. Goodwin for the Commons named Commissioners to go into Scotland to satisfie the Parliament there of all proceedings and to prevent misunderstandings between the two Kingdoms and a Committee appointed to draw instructions for them Upon a Petition of many of Durham that the Scots Army may be removed and twenty five thousand six hundred sixty six pound paid due to them since 1641 and that they may send Knights and Burgesses to the Parliament the House gave this answer that they were sensible of the Countreys sufferings and had taken course to remove the Armies and concerning their electing Knights and Burgesses for the Parliament it was referred to a Committee Col. Hoskins voted to be Governor of Lynne Both Houses agreed to an Ordinance for maintaining of the water-guards And the Lords sent an Ordinance to the Commons that none be permitted to Preach or use publick Exercise but such as had taken Degrees in the Universities and another Ordinance against such as shall disturb the Ministers in their publick Exercises 22. The House agreed that Sir Rich. Lloyd Governor of Holt should have liberty to go beyond Sea and carry three hundred pound with him and his Wise to enjoy his Land being three hundred pound per An. and they voted that Holt Flint Harding Rotheland and Ruthen Castles should be slighted Sir William Listers Lady ordered to have six hundred and ten pound of her Husbands Arrears and two thousand pound to Col Carter and five hundred pound to Major General Skippon for his extraordinary charges in convoying the two hundred thousand pound The Lords sent their Vote to the Commons That the King should come to New-Market upon the Scots Army marching away Upon debate of the City Petition the House Voted first to insist upon the breach of Priviledge in the way of this Petition and then to consider of the particulars of the Petition and for that purpose referred it to a Committee The Earl of Northumberland acquainted the Lords that some persons had a Plot to steal away the Duke of York and to carry him beyond Sea and that by advice from his Majesty two that were in the Plot were apprehended and the rest escaped Mr. Hudson the Kings Guide to the Scots was taken again by Major General Pointz and his Examination sent up to the Parliament Some Proposals from the Lord L'isle Lieutenant of Ireland for supplyes and Moneys to carry on the War there and that he would go over thither in person 23. Letters from Ireland informed That proposals were received by the Marquess of Ormond from the Rebels That the Roman Catholick Religion may be free and publick as in Paris That the Garrisons may be in their hands All Counsellors Officers and Soldiers to take an Oath to fight against the Parliamenteers and never to make Peace with them The Scots Hostages given in A Letter directed to General Leven that no free quarter be taken by his Soldiers in their march for Scotland Order for Mr. Allen to provide a Jewel as a gift of the House for General Leven Order for five hundred pound for Mrs. Chichester and four pound per mensem for the Lady Denny Widows The Duke of York confessed that the King his Father sent to him to get away Great use was made of a Press at London to Print the Lord Chancellor of Scotlands Speeches the London Petition and other things at New-castle 24. The Commons dissented from the Vote of the Lords for the Kings coming to New-Market and voted his coming to Holmesby-House in Northampton shire and to be those with such Attendants as both Houses shall think sit
Some of the Kings antient Servants and some others were approved of by the House to go down with the Commissioners to attend his Majesty and power given to the Commissioners to name inferiour Servants Orders for Money for the Commissioners charges for repairing Holmby House for Coaches Horses c. for the King For two thousand pound for Major General Brown in part of his Arrears and referred to a Committee that he be considered as other Major Generals Debate about an Information of a Protection from the King to a Member of the House A Colonel charged the Earl of Northumberland and of Pembroke to have sent Money to the King but upon examination he said he heard it from some of their Servants they denyed it and the Colonel being but a single witness and speaking but by hearsay the Lords acquitted the Earls and left them to their Remedy against the Colonel for the Scandal Mr. Murrey sent for in again upon information that he was Plotting the Kings escape from Newcastle in a Dutch Ship lying there for that purpose 13. A report of the Committee approved for making Sir John Bramston Sir Thomas Beddingfield and Mr. Chute Commissioners of the Great Seal and an Ordinance appointed to be brought in for that purpose An Ordinance committed for regulating the University of Oxford and agreed that no Members of either House shall be Visitors and that the right of the Earl of Denbigh as Chancellor of the University be preserved and that the City of Oxford do choose a Recorder An Ordinance to put Doctor Temple into a Parsonage 14. Compositions of Delinquents pass'd Ordinance sent up to the Lords for the new Commissioners of the Great Seal 15. Debate in a Grand Committee touching the Dissenters from the Presbyterian Government A Minister presented Articles to the Council of War against a Trooper for Preaching and expounding the Scripture and uttering erroneous Opinions The Council adjudged that none of the Articles were against the Law or Articles of War but that only the Trooper called the Parson a Minister of Anti-Christ for which Reproach they ordered the Trooper to make an acknowledgment which he did and was one night imprisoned Great noise was about this in London and about another Troopers Preaching at Buckingham upon which a Tumult was raised by the Cavaliers and suppressed 16. Order for levying the Arrears for the Army Debate about inlarging the Instructions for the Commissioners who were to receive the Kings Person they being gone out of Town An Ordinance sent from the Lords to the Commons for constituting the Commissioners of the Seal the Commons desired the Lords to pass that which they formerly sent up to them Ordinance for the accounts of the Soldiery and an order for fifteen hundred pound for Sir William Fairfax's Lady of her Husbands Arrears 18. Votes for Mr. Hollis Mr. Selden Sir Jo. Elliots Children Mr. Strodes Kindred Mr. Valentine Sir Peter Hammond's children Sir Miles Hobert Mr. Walter Long and Mr. John Hamdens children shall have five thousand pound to each for the sufferings of them or their parents 3 Car. for opposing the illegalities of that time and a thousand pound to Mr. Varsall upon the same account and all sentences formerly against them to be taken off and a Committee to consider how these allowances may be raised and to consider of the Petition of Alderman Chambers Order for two thousand pound for the Soldiers in Portsmouth and Hurst Castle and for viewing the Fortisications there and for six months pay for the Army The General made strict Orders for his Officers and Soldiers to pay their Quarters and that the Countrey may not be burdened and misdemeanors prevented and this by advice of his Council of War Captain Batten kept in the Dutch Ship at Newcastle Sir Tho. Tiddesly and Col. Price being apprehended about endeavouring the Kings escape got away Letters informed that the Scots Commissioners at New-castle could not prevail with the King to take the Covenant and sign the Propositions and that a Scotch Lord told him if he did not they must give him up to the Parliament of England and it would fall heavy upon him and his Posterity That his Majesty is not pleased to come to Holmby house not liking the place Letters informed that the Parliament of Scotland had voted That if his Majesty should have thoughts of coming thither at this time he not having subscribed to the Covenant nor satisfied the Lawful Defires of his Subjects in both Nations they have just cause to fear the consequences of it may be very dangerous both to his Majesty and to these Kingdoms which they desire may be timely prevented and they express their Arguments that if they should receive his Majesty it would be contrary to their Engagements with England and the Treaties 19. Order for ten thousand pound for the Earl of Northumberland out of Compositions in regard of his losses in the North. Orders about the Sale of Bishops Lands Lieutenant Col. Harrisons Accounts referred to a Committee and three hundred pound ordered to Mrs Serle a widow out of Doctor Ducks Estate Order for Money formerly given to Licutenant General Cromwell to be out of the Estates of Papists in Arms. Power given to the Committee of Complaints to imprison 20. Orders for bringing in and maintaining the credit of the Excise Order for the due observation of the Articles of surrender of Portland Sir Peter Killegrew returned with Letters from the King to both houses That he had received their Votes for his coming to Holmby and understood that Commissioners were coming for him and that he shall give them his resolution when they come the like Letters were to the Scots Commissioners Another Letter was from General Leven That according to the Parliaments desires he would take care of his Majesty that he depart not away and will be ready to do all good Offices A third Letter to the Parliament was from the Commissioners of Estates that they had received the Votes and sent them to the Parliament of Scotland Orders to communicate these Letters to the Scots Commissioners and for a hundred pound for Sir Peter Killegrew for his Journey Letters from the Parliaments Agent in Denmarke and an offer from thence of a Treaty for Correspondence betwixt the Kingdoms referred to a Committee Orders for a hundred pound for Mr. Jenkins formerly imployed to Denmark and for a hundred pound to Sir Henry Vane Sen. disbursed by him for the State and for two hundred pound to Mr. Smith for Provisions for Ireland and for the Arrears of the Porter of Portland Castle 21. The Lords differing about the new Commissioners for the Great Seal An Ordinance pass'd to continue the two Speakers Commissioners of the Seal till ten days after the next Term and they were ordered to consider of persons to ride the next Circuit A Committee named to draw instructions for the Judges that shall ride the next Circuits and to
Order about Soldiers Widows and Officers 27. A report from the Commissioners who treated with the General and his Officers about part of the Army going into Ireland and the result of the Officers and about the Petition intended from the Army Order to desire the General to use means to stop the progress of the Petition and thanks were given to the Commissioners and the House declared the good esteem they had of the Army 29. The Lords desired the concurrence of the Commons to an answer to the last Message from the King That they cannot consent to his desire in sending any of his Chaplains named in his Letter because they are disaffected to the present Government of the Church and have not taken the Covenant but for others of his Chaplains who have taken the Covenant if his Majesty please they will send them to him They desired the Commons concurrence also to the Ordinances for putting down Countrey Committees for prohibiting the killing of some flesh meats for eight weeks and for power to the Northern Committee Letters to Col. Harley and Col. Rossiter Members of the House from some of their Soldiers informed that the Petition of the Army was carried on and was subscribed by many and those who refused it threatned to be cashiered and that the subscriptions were to be sent to Lieutenant General Hammond Col. Hammond Col. Ireton Col. Rich. Order that a Letter be written from the Speaker to the General to hinder the progress of this Petition and a Declaration to require a desisting in it By this we may take notice how soon the Officers and Soldiers of an Army though never so successful and well disciplined will through want of Action fall into disorder and designs of trouble The Parliament took great care to prevent this and others were as busie to foment it Hammond Ireton Skippon and others were ordered to reside in the Army and some of their Quarters to be removed Car. 23 Vote that three Regiments of Horse under M. G. Pointz C. Bethel and C. Copley be continued and all the Foot of the Northern Association except those in Garrisons to be disbanded and all the Foot in England and Wales except those in Garrisons or such as are to be sent for Ireland shall be disbanded At a second meeting of the Officers of the Army at Saffron Walden by the desire of Sir William Waller and the rest of the Parliaments Commissioners this question was propounded to every Officer distinctly Whether upon the Votes and Resolutions of the House of Commons now read do you find cause to alter or recede from the third quaere concerning assurance of pay and subsistence It was resolved in the Negative by all except Col. Harley Col. Fortescue and Capt. Young The same question being proposed concerning the fourth Article To have satisfaction in payment of Arrears and Indemnity Resolved in the Negative by all except Captain Young The like question being proposed concerning the first quaere To know what particular Regiments Troops or Companies of this Army are to be continued in this Kingdom it pass'd likewise in the Negative All referring to the Votes yesterday Several other Officers that came in to the meeting agreed with the other Captain Young receded from what he concurred in yesterday and resolved upon the main question That he will engage with as many of his Soldiers as he can get and several other Officers did the like 30. Divers Compositions passed Letters from St. Malloe in France advising that a Pyrate about Jersey had made Prize of a vessel of the Parliaments going for Ireland with Cloath and Apparel for six thousand Soldiers Order for a Letter to the Parliaments Agent in France to desire the King to seize the Pyrate and restore the Ship The Lords desired the concurrence of the Commons to some desires of the Dutch Ambassador and for a Pass for him to go to the King and to an Ordinance for setling the Militia of London A Committee named to treat with the City of London about the loan of two hundred thousand pound upon the Assessment of sixty thousand pound per mensem that they might provide Money for sending the Forces into Ireland and to pay off those that were to be disbanded and to pay the Army here Both Houses passed a Declaration against the Petion in the Army as set on foot by some evil Spirits purposely to raise a Distemper and mutiny in the Army Pardons what is past and forbids further proceeding by any of them in that Petition The Parliament of Scotland named their Commissioners to joyn with the Commissioners of the Parliament of England to perswade the King to pass the Propositions for Peace Harleigh Castle the last in Wales surrendred to Col. Mitton whose Soldiers put a Guard upon Col. Jones for their pay 31. Very long Prayers and Sermons this Monthly Fast day as usual April 1647. April 1. Orders for the Letter to the Agent in France and for Ships to keep in Pyrates Voted That the Civil Government in Ireland shall be distinct from the Military and be by two Lords Justices as formerly That the Military Government shall be by a Commander in Chief and be to be directed by Commissioners on the Place Sir William Waller was named to be Commander in chief there but it came not to the Vote Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax informed that he had Communicated the Letter and Votes of the House to the Officers of his Army touching the Petition on Foot among them That they expressed a deep sence of their unhappiness in being misunderstood in their clear intention which were no other than by way of Petition to represent to him those inconveniencies which would necessarily befall most of the Army after disbanding desiring that as much as he should think fit might submissively be made known to the House of Commons and assuring him that they would wholly acquiesce in whatsoever he should think fit to offer and the House to grant That he had sent up Hammond Lilburne and some other Officers to give the House a full account of this business and that he doubts not of the Armys Obedience Hammond Pride and the other Officers sent up by the General were called into the House and Pride was charged to have read the Petition at the head of a Regiment where was threats to those that should not subscribe it which Pride denyed and they were all required to return to their charges and to suppress the Petition 2. Debate of the Ordinance for the Militia of London Vote That the Commander in Chief of the Forces in Ireland should be stiled Field-Martial and his pay be six pound a day and Major General Skippon to be Field Martial there and that Golonel Massey should be Lieutenant General of the Horse under him A Committee of both Houses named to go into the City for borrowing two hundred thousand pound for the service of England and Ireland 3. The House
for their Pay as for the rest of his Army That he was sent down to Command them by the General not of his own seeking or for private Interest and desired their complyance then they gave him a loud acclamation and had Orders to go to their several Quarters The News of the Parliaments being restored by the Army and the City of London agreeing with the Army hindered the intended proceedings of the Estates of Scotland Great resort was from London to the King at Oatlands 17. Upon the question it was carried in the Negative by three Votes That the Declaration should not pass that the proceedings in the House from July 26. to Aug. 6. were forced and that sitting not to be a free Parliament A Petition and Congratulation was presented to the General of many thousands Young men and Apprentices of London for his great services to the Kingdom and City which they acknowledg with thankfulness and as they refused to comply with those who lately acted against the Army so they resolved to live and dye with his Excellency and the Army in settling His Majesties Rrights the Parliaments Priviledges and the Peace and Freedom of the Nation To this the General gave a respectful and grateful answer The Councel of War Sat close about a Declaration of their proceedings in behalf of the Parliament the Kingdom and themselves 18. Order for a day of Thanksgiving for the great success in Ireland and for one thousand pounds for Collonel Jones one thousand pounds to Collonel Fenwicke and other gratuities to other Officers in this service and for Supplies for Ireland Upon a Letter from Mr. Nicholls one of the Eleven Members now under restraint in the Army Order to the General to discharge him or send him up to the Parliament for his Tryal A Complaint by Letters from the Scots Commissioners for breach of the Union in staying Mr. Chieseley their Secretary at Newcastle the Copy hereof sent to the General and that he give Order for Mr. Chieseley's release 19. Letters from the General to both Houses with the Remonstrance of the Army touching their late proceedings and chiefly driving at The purging of the Parliament by expunging such Members as did Act and Vote in the time that the Speakers and the rest were forced from the House The House of Lords approved of this Remonstrance and Voted a Letter of thanks to the General and to signifie to him that they would take care for the Punishment of those Delinquent Ministers and others by whose practises Ministers put into Livings by the Parliament had been disquieted and outed in which the Commons Concurred but did nothing upon the great Remonstrance The Examination of Collonel Ennis who sought to go beyond Sea under another name referred to a Committee Order for eight thousand pounds for Plymouth Garrison and to Treat with the General about the lessening of the Charge there 20. Order for a Collection for the poor English Irish here and for one hundred pounds for the poor visited people in St. Martins Parish and for a general Contribution for the visited City of Chester and an Ordinance for twenty thousand pounds for Ireland Mr. Strickland had leave to come to England Upon another debate the Ordinance passed For declaring all Votes Orders and Ordinances passed in one or both Houses since the force on both Houses July 26 until Aug. 6. 1647. to be null and void 21. Upon a Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax Order for thirty pounds a week for Sick and Wounded Souldiers four shillings eight pence a week for each of them and an Ordinance passed for Judges and Justices to put it in execution Order for a months Pay for the Army to be borrowed of the City Upon a report touching the late Tumults Order That the Lord Mayor and Aldermen do call a Common Councel by Tuesday next and that the Clerk who attended the Committee of the Militia and of the Safety do deliver over the Books Papers and Warrants in his hands or be committed to the Sergeant Mr. Hollis Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Waller Sir William Lewys Sir Jo. Clotworthy and Mr. Long being in a Vessel going towards Callis were pursued by a Frigot of the Parliament and taken within six Miles of Callis and by their desire brought back to Captain Batten who dismist them to their Voyage again and chid those that apprehended them The High Sheriff entertained the Judges and Lawyers very nobly at Shrewsbury The Ordinance pass'd both Houses for relief of Ministers put into Livings by the Parliament Another for a Collection for the poor visited Persons in Chester and an additional Ordinance concerning the sale of Bishops Lands A false Allarm of Scots Forces being upon the Borders Letters from Ireland informed That the Lord Inchequin had taken divers Castles from the Rebels in the County of Limricke That he defeated a Troop of the Rebels near Balling garry slew twenty three of them and took the rest That he beat the Rebells from a Pass near Limricke and killed about an hundred of them and took two hundred horses and two hundred Cows and took in New castle within a mile of Limricke some of his Forces got over the River Shannon and got eight thousand head of Cattle and five thousand Sheep and struck such a terror into the Rebels that they burnt the Earl of Thomond's Castle Bonratty which they had Garrisoned and fled away That they took in Grace-Castle and put all the Rebels there to the Sword and took eight hundred head of Cattle and Garrons They stormed and burnt the Abbey of Adare where four Fryars were burned and three taken they took Fox's Castle and put all in it to death 24. A Letter from the General touching Mr. Anthony Nicholls one of the eleven Members sent up Prisoner with the Grounds of his detainment by the Army and a further accusation of High Treason against him Ordered that he be continued in safe Custody but he escaped from Denham one of the Serjeants Deputys in whose Custody he was Denham being examined concerning the escape confessed That he took Mr. Nicoll's word as a Gentle-man to be a true Prisoner but he brake his word and escaped The House committed Denham and ordered all the Ports to be stopped for the apprehending of Mr. Nicolls and revoked the Pass formerly granted to Mr. Nicolls Upon a report by Mr. Corbet touching the Force upon the Parliament and Commitment of some of the Offenders the House approved of their Commitment and ordered an impeachment of high Treason to be brought in against Col. Chapman and Lieutenant Collonel Baines and of high misdemeanor against Col. Vaughan A Petition from the Brewers to take off the Excise of Beer and Ale They were told if they paid not the Excise by a day they should be distrained to pay The Common-Council excused themselves that they could not advance a Months pay by way of loan for the Army The
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
in Essex to Joyn with him they quartered at Bowe and Colonel Whaley with a party of the Parliaments Horse at Mile-end some Skirmishes were between their Scouts The Houses passed an Act of Indempnity for all of them except Goring and some few others if they forthwith lay down Armes and the Act was sent down to them Letters from Scotland of great distractions among them and difficulties to raise their Army which the Clergy opposed and Mr. Galaspe preached to be against the Covenant Letters from New-castle of the preparations in Scotland if their differences hinder not for an Armies coming into England that Berwick and Carlisle are supplyed with Armes and other things from thence that the Scots in Ireland are expected and money sent to fetch them that Langdale's Forces were about eight thousand and no relief from the Parliament of England to their Party 6. About twenty of the Kings party came with Corn and Frocks over their Clothes pretending to supply Pontefract Castle and having Armes under their Frocks they seised upon the main guard part of whom they had corrupted and another Party of the Kings lying in Ambuscadoe near hand entred and surprised the Castle The House referred it to the Committee of Derby house to consider of the speedy sending some of the Forces in Wales to the Northern parts Upon information from the Militia of London that the Spanish Ambassador here by reason of some Victories lately obtained in Spain had appointed Bonefires to be made which would occasion great confluence of Malignants and tumults the House sent to desire the Ambassador to forbear the same in these tumultuous times till the Peace of the Kingdom should be better setled Order for the Garrison of Leverpoole to be taken into pay The Lords concurred in the discharge of the seven impeached Lords the eleven Members and the three Aldermen in London An Ordinance committed for the sequestring the Estate of Powell Langhorne and Poyer and proceeding against them as Delinquents The General sent Colonel Rich to raise the siege at Dover Letters from Wales that Overton's Regiment and part of Sir W. Constable's Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Reade Stormed the Suburbs of Tenby took twenty Horse and killed some that about a Week after that the Town and Castle were surrendred upon mercy to the Parliament That the Townsmen seeing nothing but ruine brought the desperate Officers and Country Gentlemen to a complyance although they had sufficient provision three hundred Souldiers thirty five Guns mounted and twelve Barrels of Powder That Pembroke Town and Castle was besieged by Lieutenant General Cromwell that Poyer had in the Castle three hundred Horse and many Foot That the Lion a Ship of the Parliaments riding in Milford Haven sent to Cromwell two Drakes two Demy Culverins and two whole Culverins that when two of them were planted and shot off against the Castle at the same time the Parliaments Souldiers Stormed a Village under the South gate of the Town of great advantage to the Besiegers Which Poyer perceiving pulled in his red Flag That the Horse in the Town made desperate Sallies but were beaten back with loss on both sides they desired to come out but it would not be granted but upon Mercy that they had no grass for their Horses but pulled off the thatch from the Houses for them they gave no quarter to the Parliaments Dragoons nor the Dragoons to them 7. The assembly of Divines presented to the House a congratulatory Letter from the Assembly here to the Assembly in Scotland to strenghen the Amity and Vnion of both Kingdoms which the House approved Order to forbid the making of Reading a Garrison or any other Town in Barkshire without leave from the Parliament A Passe from both Houses to Prince Philip to return with twelve Horses beyond Seas Upon a Petition of the Inhabitants of Westminster M r. Glyn who served for them was readmitted a Member of the House Order for securing New-port Paganel Intelligence that the Malignants were up in Lincolnshire under Colonel D r. Hudson and Colonel Stiles Letters that Co. Rich had relieved Dover-Castle and that Sir Richard Hardresse who besieged it with two thousand men and had taken the block Houses Ordnance and Ammunition fled upon the approach of Colonel Rich and Sir Miles Livesy who were possest of the Town block-Houses and all their quarters and Ordnance and Colonel Rich in pursuit of Sir Richard Hardress Letters from Essex that the Parliaments Commissioners having published the Indempnity at Bowe Sir William Hickes and divers other Gentle-men submitted and the Lord Goring retreated but Sir Charles Lucas perswaded them not to lay down Armes but to continue in a Body and that they had seised upon Sir William Hickes and other Gentlemen and plundered some to the discontent of the Inhabitants The General sent some additional Forces to Colonel Whaley by direction of the House and that he should presently fall on the Essex men And the Members of Norfolk and Suffolk had Instructions from the Committee of Derby House for preservation of the Peace of those Counties Letters from Jersy of cruel oppressions and tyranny by Cartwright the Governor there and solliciting for relief 8. Letters from Colonel Waite that he had fallen upon those who made an insurrection at Stamford had killed their Commander D r. Hudson and others and taken many of them Prisoners but discharged the Country-men The House approved what he had done and Ordered him thanks for it and that the General should send him a Commission of Marshal Law to try the Prisoners Referred to a Committee to take order for transporting beyond Sea some of the Prisoners taken in Kent and Essex except such as had formerly served the Parliament and revolted from them and those to be tryed by Marshal Law Referred to the Master and Wardens of the Water-men to sind out and disfranchise such Water-men as had joyned with the Rebels in Kent and Essex and the like for the London Apprentices Order for the Militia to put in execution the Ordinance for putting Papists and Delinquents out of the Lines Letters from the Navy that the Ships at Portsmouth submitted to the Earl of Warwick and resolved to be for the Parliament 9. Intelligence that the Lord Capell was very active in Hertfordshire to raise a Body for the King referred to the Committee of Derby House to take speedy order to suppress them A Petition from the County of Sussex answered with Courtesy 10. Letters from North-Wales that Colonel Garter and Lieutenant Colonel Twisselden with the assistance of thirty Horse and seventy Foot from Chester intending to joyn with Colonel Mason and Colonel Mitton who were in Caernarvon Castle marched towards them but Sir Jo. Owen to prevent their joyning drew off from his siege of Caernarvon with an hundred and fifty Horse and an hundred and twenty Foot and met Colonel Carter upon his March The
Forlorns of both Parties incountred and the Parliaments Horse were forced to a disorderly retreat the Enemy pursued with their whole Body upon the reserve of the Parliaments who received their Charge and after a hot dispute routed them Captain Taylor singly incountring Sir John Owen after he had broken his sword upon his head closed with him dismounted him and took him Prisoner and his party immediatly sled There were killed of them thirty and Sir John Owen with divers others of Quality and sixty private Souldiers taken Prisoners four of the Parliaments Souldiers were Slain and divers Wounded and many Horses Killed on each side Order for two hundred pounds for Captain Taylor and gratuities for divers others and for disposing of the Prisoners Letters of an Agreement betwixt the General and the Kentish-men and that the five revolted Ships are willing to submit upon an Act of Indempnity which the General hath promised them That Sir Thomas Feyton was taken Prisoner at S. Edmonds Bury the Lord Goring Sir Charles Lucas and the Lord Capell coming to them increased in numbers in Essex whereupon the Lord General Fairfax advanced to Gravesend intending to pass over his Men there into Essex 12. Order upon Letters from the Governor of New-Castle for fifteen hundred Pounds for that garrison and that no free Quarter should be taken but only of such as refuse to pay their Assessements and Letters thereof to be written to the Commitees Order for those Gentlemen who formerly attended the Duke of York to attend the Duke of Gloucester and four more added to them and two thousand five hundred Pounds per annum for maintenance of his Family Letters from Colonel Sir Hardresse Waller of his disarming some in Exeter Major General Lambert advanced to Langdale who retreated expecting Assistance from Scotland A Souldier of Hemsley Castle was offered a hundred Pounds in hand and five hundred Pounds more and to be knighted if he would betray the Castle to the Kings Forces but he discovored the Plot and the Agents were apprehended Pontefract Castle was besieged by eight hundred Horse and Foot but at a distance the Kings party there being two hundred and fifty Horse and four hundred Foot The Committee of Lancashire ordered four Regiments of Foot and two of Horse to joyn with Major General Lambert laid an Assessement of three thousand Pounds to advance them and kept a day of Fast to pray to God for his blessing upon them 13. The House approved of the Articles of Canterbury and what the General had done in reducing of Kent A day of thanksgiving appointed for the good success in Kent and a Narrative thereof to be read in Churches Orders touching compositions of Delinquents A Report made of a Design to surprise Nottingham Castle but the Governor Captain Poutton surprised and took Prisoners the Complotters Letters from the Head quarters that Ireton Rich and Hewson's Regiments had reduced Canterbury wherein were three thousand Armes good Horse and twenty four Colours and the other Castles The General sent by Letter an offer of Imdempnity to some revolted Ships at Deale but a Boson told the Trumpeter that brought the Letter that they did not owe the Parliament so much service as to write answer to any that came from them and so the Ships set Sail and went away That the General put over his Forces with much trouble at Gravesend into Essex where Colonel Whaley and Sir Thomas Honywood with two thousand Horse and Foot of the Country joyned with him who kept many from going to the King's Party Among others fourscore Horse out of London most or all Gentlemen intending to be as a Guard to the Prince of Wales when he came in their March met with some of Whaley's Horse many of them killed and taken the rest dispersed among them were four Brothers three of whom were killed or mortally Wounded and the Country-men took many Prisoners That Goring marcheth about four thousand whereof six hundred Horse and about two thousand five hundred are well armed that he touched at Lee's and took horses guns and Arms of the Earl of Warwick's and marched from thence toward Colchester That many of Essex came in to the General who wrote to Suffolk to pull up Bridges and cut down Trees in the way to hinder the March of the Enemy Whitelock reported to the House the appointment of the Judges for the next summer Circuit 14. Order for the tryal of Sir John Owen and the rest of the chief Actors in his business An Ordinance past for forty two thousand pounds for arrears of disbanded Officers and Soldiers Order renewed that such as shall take up Arms without the authority of Parliament shall dye without mercy A Letter ordered to the States of Holland for apprehending three revolted Ships gone for Holland and an order for payment of part of their arrears to others of the revolted Ships that were come in again upon the Act of Indemnity A Committee appointed to draw up a Declaration touching the business of Kent 15. Ordered That the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall do Print all their Receipts for Compositions and how the Moneys have been disbursed that the aspersion upon the Parliament may be cleared of their receiving many millions by compositions for which they could give no account And that the Order should be printed that none shall pay their fifth and twentieth part but Delinquents An additional Ordinance committed for putting Papists and Delinquents out of the Lines of Communication An ordinance transmitted to the Lords for putting the County of Radnor into a posture of defence A Committee appointed to take order for twenty persons of the Kings party to be apprehended and sent down to the General to be kept in like harsh usage as Sir Willian Masham and others sent down by the Parliament are kept in by the Lord Goring until they be exchanged Orders concerning Saltpeter 16. Ordinance past for putting Papists and Delinquents out of the Lines of Communication and twenty Miles from London and four days time given them to depart the Town and that Delinquents who have not presented their compositions and sequestred Ministers shall be taken to be within this Ordinance An affront to Sr. Henry Mildmay by a Foot-man of the D. referred to a Committee to be examined Letters from Colchester That the great ones had a purpose to escape had shipped their Goods but were prevented by the Parliaments Horse and Dragoons who took in Marsey Island and Fort by which they intended to escape and by land their body cannot stir That many of the Townsmen came away to the General whose Soldiers are inraged against those of Colchester for the loss of their Commanders That the General hath five hundred Prisoners most of them taken from the gates of the City that Sir William Masham and the rest of the Committee are detained Prisoners by Goring That the Enemy buryed sixty of their slain men in one Church-yard
Parliament being in great danger by reason of the Malignant party flocking up to London upon some design at the breach of the Treaty and most of them armed with Daggers and Pistols in their Pockets A Committee appointed to confer with the Common Council of London concerning the Security of the Parliament and Kingdom and to report with speed 5. The Streets were full of Bonefires this being the Gunpowder Treason day 6. The Commons concurred with the Lords that the number of the persons to be excepted from pardon should be seven and Voted three of those seven to be the Lord Digby the Earl of Newcastle and Sir Marmaduke Langdale Letters from the Gentlemen of the four Northern Counties that upon Conference with Lieutenant General Cromwel it was held necessary to have twelve hundred Foot in Berwick and six hundred Foot in Carlisle and two Regiments of Horse six hundred in a Regiment to suppress any insurrection and the Moss-troupers They desire in regard of the great sufferings of those Counties that these Forces may be maintained at the general charge of the Kingdom these being frontier Garrisons and those Counties will be willing to pay their proportions With these Letters came a Petition Complaining of the want of bread in those Counties that many Gentlemen of quality and their Families had no other drink but Water of imprisoning their persons dispeopling their Towns destroying their Corn and Goods killing their Neighbors and Country-men driving away their Cattle compelling all betwixt the Age of sixty and sixteen to bear Arms against the Parliament Of bringing in to this Kingdom a foreign Nation and delivering into the Scots hands the two considerable places of Berwick and Carlisle that many of the actors in that horrid design are returned to their homes to plot new Treasons They press for justice against those Delinquents and a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to be sent down for trial of them The House past no Vote upon this letter and Petition Letters from St. Albans of a day appointed for the meeting of the Officers of the Army and that the cry of free-quarter was so great in the ears of the Souldiers that it was to be feared it would occasion some distemper among them By this Petition and by these Letters you may take notice of the miserable effects of Civil War and of the condition of even the victors to be continued full of fears and dangers to themselves A Complaint came against the ill management of the Siege before Pontefract by Sir Henry Cholmely and Lieutenant General Cromwel was come thither 7. Orders touching the winter guard of Ships Vote That Sir Richard Greenvile Judge Jenkins Sir Francis Doddington Sir John Winter should be the rest of the seven Persons excepted from Pardon Letters that Major General Lambert with three Regiments of Horse was still in Scotland and that the well affected there could not act securely without them that they quarter upon the contrary Party Letters from the Hague that the Prince was there sick of the small Pox and that his Seamen were much discontented that the Lord Willoughby and Sir William Batten had left him 8. Upon Letters from Colonel Welden Governor of Plymouth Orders for pay for that Garrison The consideration of the Garrisons of Berwick and Carlisle referred to the Committee of Derby-House and orders for Money for disbanding supernumerary Forces Vote that no more than seven Persons should be excepted from Pardon An Ordinance past both Houses for pay of their Guards Several Lords and Commons came from the Treaty the Earl of Northumberland M r Pierrepoint and M r Holles staid behind divers also of the Kings people came away His Majesty made a further condescention touching the Church but did stick at the word Bishop yet was content he should be in the condition only of a Primer Presbyter and was not willing Bishops lands should be sold Letters from Ireland of the desperate condition of that Kingdom and the distress of Dublin by the Lord Ormonds joyning with the Rebels Letters from St. Albans that the general Council of the Army met and the Officers expressed a great sence of the odium cast upon the Army as they suspect by design to hinder their pay that they might be forced to take free-quarter 9. Upon jealousie of a design to surprise the Tower order that the Committee of the Tower do advise with the Lord Mayor concerning the security thereof and have power to remove and appoint what Guards they please there Order for an Ordinance to authorize the several Committees in the Counties to receive security of all the Delinquents in the respective Counties who have not compounded not to go above five Miles from their dwellings not to act any thing prejudicial to the Parliament and such as shall refuse this to be secured by the Committees The Commissioners returned from the Isle of Wight made report to the House of all their transactions in the Treaty and of the Kings last Concessions touching the Church That he doth not intend to make any more new Bishops during three years nor that after the three years the power of Ordination should be practised in the old manner but with consent that Bishops shall not receive any into Holy Orders without the consent of a limited number of Presbyters to be chosen in such manner as shall be agreed by his Majesty and the two Houses That his Majesty purposed after the agreement and within the three years to have a consultation with the Assembly of Divines twenty being added of his Majesties nomination for the settlement of the Church Government That his Majesty will not insist upon any provision for continuance of the Book of Common Prayer in his Majesties Chappel for himself and his Houshold but declares that he intends to use some other set form of Divine Service That he consents to Acts to be passed for a further course and more strict to prevent the saying and hearing of Mass in the Court or elsewhere That in what he hath not consented he is not really satisfied in conscience and hopes his two Houses will not put further pressures of so tender a nature upon him The Commissioners had the thanks of the House for their good service in the Treaty and a day set to debate upon his Majesties final answer Orders for relief of the maimed Souldiers and for disbanding of Supernumerary Forces 10. Ordinance for repaying mony advanced for the Treaty Order for mony for payment of the Horse-guards of the Parliament Vote that the Lords Goring Capel Loughborough the Earl of Holland Major General Laugherne and Sir John Owen shall be banished out of the Kingdom 11. Vote that his Majesties answer to the discipline of the Church and as to the continuing of Bishops is unsatisfactory The like concerning his laying aside the Common Frayer for himself and his own family The like concerning his mentioning to
of the Army two Regiments of Foot and several Troops of Horse were quartered in London and the Treasuries secured in Haberdashers-Hall Weavers-Hall and Goldsmiths-Hall whereof the General by his Letter acquainted the Lord Mayor and City before hand And gave his reasons for the doing of it because they had not paid their arrears of the Assessment nor furnished the Money which he desired of them and that they had by order of Parliament quartered in several Counties on those who did not pay the Assessment till they paid the same That yet if they would advance for the Army forty thousand pound in part of their arrears the Souldiers should not be further troublesome to them A party of Souldiers going by mistake to the Excise House to seize the Money there the General recalled them and wrote a Letter to the Commissioners of Excise to excuse it 9. A Committee of the Common Council made some proposals to the General and Council of the Army touching their security for forty thousand pounds which the General demanded of them which they promised to advance and humbly desired that the Army might this night withdraw out of the City To this the General answered that if within fourteen days the City would pay in all their arrears of the Assessment that then the Army should withdraw but that in the mean time their quartering in the City would facilitate the work The Foot were quartered in private Houses the Horse in Inns and two more Regiments marched into the City and took up their quarters there this day 11. The Houses sate not but to the General and general Council of the Army was âresented a new Representative or an agreement of the people propounded as a Rule for future government to be published to the view of all that any might offer what they thought fit against it or of alteration or addition to any part of it Much of the same matter was contained therein as in their late Remonstrance this was more large giving rules for future Elections of Representatives of the people they to have the supream authority and this Parliament to be dissolved in April next and then a new Representative to sit Divers Rules for the Election of them Officers and Malignants to be incapable of electing or being elected and generally of the power and equal distribution of the Members of this Representative to be in all three hundred Persons c. The frame of this agreement of the people was thought to be for the most part made by Commissary General Ireton a man full of invention and industry who had a little knowledg of the Law which led him into the more errours Little business in the Chancery The Lord Grey of Groby came to the Lord Grey one of the Commissioners and wished them not to sit to morrow because it would be a busy day It seems he was acquainted with the private Councils of the Army They advised together about this matter and resolved to meet to morrow at Westminster and to do as they should see cause as to the hearing of Motions or other business of the Chancery 12. Both Houses sate the Commons ordered two Troops of Horse in Northamptonshire to be continued for a Month longer under Major Butler and Captain Strike Petitions from Bristol and Exon complaining of the neglect of guarding those Coasts that ten Merchants Ships had been taken by the Irish the last week the Petitions referred to the Committee of the Navy A Letter from the Lord Admiral of the grounds of his coming from Goree to the Downes to avoid the danger of being frozen up and because he wanted Victual referred to the Committee of the Navy Vpon debate of the last proposals and desires of the Army Voted That the Vote for revoking the Order of disabling the eleven Members and re-admitting them into the House when a charge of so high a nature lay against them was un-Parliamentary and of dangerous consequence and was now made Null They Voted likewise that the Vote of this House concurring with the Lords to take off the former Vote which forbid any more addresses to the King was highly dishonourable to the proceedings of Parliament and apparently destructive to the good of the Kingdom Major General Brown Sir Jo. Clotworthy Sir William Waller Colonel Massey and Colonel Copley were apprehended by the Army and sent Prisoners to S t James's House M r Pelham M r Vaughan and some other of the Members that were Prisoners had liberty given upon their Paroles The City sent in Beds for the Souldiers whereupon the General ordered them to be removed from private Houses and Quartered in empty Houses Letters from Ireland that the Marquess of Ormond was piecing up the differences among the Rebels and that their main design was against Dublin 13. Voted that the Votes of non-Addresses to the King shall stand and that the Votes for revocation of them and that for a personal Treaty with the King in the Isle of Wight were highly dishonourable to the proceedings of Parliament and apparently dectructive to the good of the Kingdom Letters with the Catalogue of twenty Commanders who were for the Parliament lately come in to the Lord Ormond Several Members did forbear going to the House not being satisfied whether they might with a safe conscience be in the House or not having such a force upon them and lest they should countenance that force On the other side they considered whether it were fit for such as had no force upon them and were not forbidden to be in the House to be absent and wholly to omit their duty or rather to continue therein whereby they might help to keep up the Parliament lest it should be dissolved which the Souldiers wished and thereby the whole power be given up into the hands of the Army Sir Thomas Widdrington did forbear going to the House this day 14. Referred to the Committee of the Army to confer with the General and Officers of the Army how the last six Months Assessment may be raised and payed to the Souldiers Order for two hundred pound for Colonel Ewers now Governor of Hurst Castle Order to repeal the former Ordinance for setling the Militia it being made upon design to destroy the present Army and that a new Ordinance be brought in for the Militia Debate of a Letter to be sent to the General to desire that a charge may be brought in against such of their Members not admitted to sit against whom they have any matter and that the rest against whom they have no matter may have the freedom to sit in the House Letters from Hurst Castle that his Majesty was in health and had good accommodations that he desired of the Governour to have two of his own Chaplains to pray and preach with him and to have liberty to write to the Queen and to the Prince 15. Debate touching provisions for the Navy and orders for pay
and in the same sence are used in the Customary That which puts it further out of scruple is that there are yet extant the Manuscripts themselves of the Saxon Laws made in the Parliamentary Councels held by them here which are in the Language and Character of those times and contain in them many of those things which are in the Norman Customary It is no improbable Opinion that there was a former establishment of our Laws in Normandy before the time of H. 1. and that it was by Edward the Confessor who as all Writers of our History agree was a great Collector and Compiler of our English Laws He lived a long time with his Kinsman Duke William in Normandy who was willing to please the Confessor in hopes to be appointed by him to be his Successor wherein the Dukes expectation did not fail him The Confessor having no Children and finding Normandy without a setled Government and wanting Laws advised with his Kinsman Duke William to receive from him the Laws of England which he had collected and to establish them in Normandy which Duke William and his Lords readily accepted for the Good of their People and thereby obliged the Confessor Another Proof hereof is That such Laws as the Normans had before the time of D. William were different from those in the Customary and from the English Laws As their Law that the Husband should be hanged if the Wife were a Thief and he did not discover it The meaner People were as Slaves and the like and the trial of Theft by Ordeil which then was not in England Wigorniensis reports That the Normans who came in with Queen Emma the Wife of Ethelred were so hated of the English for their Injustice and false Judgment that in the time of King Canutus they were for this cause banished and it is the less probable that they being so unjust themselves should introduce so just Laws as ours are Between the Conquest of Normandy by Rollo and the Invasion of England by Duke William there were not above 160 Years that of Normandy was about An. 912. that of England An. 1060. It is not then consonant to reason That those Normans Pagans a rough Martial People descended from so many barbarous Nations should in the time of 150 Years establish such excellent Laws among themselves and so different from the French Laws among whom they were and all parts in the World except England And such Laws which were not onely fit for their Dukedom and small Territory but fit also for this Kingdom which in those dayes was the second in Europe for antiquity and worth by confession of most Forreign Historians If we will give Credit to their own Authors this Point will be sufficiently evinced by them these words are in the Proheme of the Customary which is titled Descriptio Normanniae Hucusque Normannicae consuetudinis latorem sive datorem Sanctum Edvardum Angliae regem c. The same is witnessed by Chronica Chronicorum That St. Edward King of England gave the Laws to the Normans when he was long harboured there And that he made both the Laws of England and Normandy appears sufficiently by the conformity of them for which he cites several particulars as of Appeals and the Custom of England ad probandum aliquid per credentiam duodecem hominum Vicinorum which he sayeth remained in Normandy to that day Polydore forgetting himself what he wrote in another place sayeth of King Henry the Seventh That when a doubt was made upon the Proposal of Marriage of his Daughter to Scotland that thereby England night in time be subject unto Scotland The King answered No and that England as the greater will draw it to Scotland being the less and incorporate it to the Laws of England as sayeth the Historian it did Normandy though the Owner thereof was Conquere in England And Sir Roger Owen in his Manuscript affirms That there is not any of our Historians that lived in the space of 200 Years immediately after the Conquest which doth describe our Laws to be taken away and the Norman Custome introduced by the Conquerour Some of them and not improbably mention the alteration of some part of them and the bringing in some Norman Customes effectual for the keeping of the Peace There is yet behind the great Argument most insisted on and often urged by the Gentlemen of another Opinion which is the Title of William who is called the Conquerour from whence they conclude That by his Conquest he changed the Laws and Government of this Nation and that his Successors reckon the beginning of their Reigns from his Conquest To this is answered that â posse ad esse non valet argumentum the conquering of the Land is one thing the introducing of new Laws is another thing but there is direct Proof to the contrary of this Argument Duke William never surnamed himself the Conquerour nor was so called in his life time as may appear by all the Letters Patents and Deeds that he made wherein he is called Gulielmus Rex Dux c. never Conquestor and our antient Historians give him the same Titles and not that of Conquerour In the Title of Nubrigensis's Book he is surnamed William the Bastard Malmsbury calls him W. 1. Hoveden W. the Elder Adam de Monmouth sayeth That 1. E. 3. this word Conquest was found out to denote and distinguish the certain Edward because two of the same name were Predecessors to this King and to the Conquerour who claimed the Crown as Heir to Edward the Confessor but saith he we call him the Conquerour for that he overcame Harold Duke William himself claimed to be King of England as Successor and adopted Heir of the Confessor by his Will and Harolds renouncing of his Title by Oath The Register of St. Albans Math. Paris and others attest that the Barons of England did homage to him as Successor and he relyed on them in his Forreign Wars and the check given to him by the Kentish men and the Forces gathered by the Abbot of St. Albans brought him to ingage to confirm the Laws of the Confessor and as his Successor by legal right they admitted him to be their King Volaterus writes That he was made Heir to the Confessor and was Vncle to him Another affirms That Edward by his Will left England to him Paulus Aemilius and Fulgasius are to the same purpose Pope Alexander the Second sent him a Banner as witness that with a safe Conscience he mighe expel Harold the Tyrant because the Crown was due to him by the Confessors Will and by Harolds Oath Agreeable hereunto are Gemiticensis Walsingham Malmsbury Huntington Ingulphus Paris Pike Wendover Caxton Gisborn and others The antient Deeds of the Abby of Westminster which were sometimes in my Custody do prove this King William in his Charter to them sets forth his own Title to the Crown thus Beneficio Concessionis Cognati mei gloriosi Regis Edvardi In his
Second Charter dated anno 15. of his Reign he sayeth In Honour of King Edward who made me his Heir and adopted me to rule over this Nation In his Charter dated 1088 of the Liberties of St. Martins the Great in the Manuscript thereof are these words In Example of Moses who built the Tabernacle and of Solomon who built the Temple Ego Gulielmus dei dispositione Consanguinitatis haereditate Anglorum Basileus c. The Charter of H. 1. his Son to this Abby In Honour of Edward my Kinsman who adopted my Father and his Children to be Heirs to this Kingdom c. In another Charter of Henry 1. in the Book of Ely he calls himself the Son of King William the Great who by hereditary right succeeded King Edward It is true that as to his pretence of Title by the Will of the Confessor Mathew Paris objecteth That the device was void being without the consent of the Barons To which may be answered That probably the Law might be so in H. 3. time when Paris wrote and was so taken to be in the Statute of Carlisle and in the case of King John But at the time of D. Williams Invasion the Law was taken to be That a Kingdom might be transferred by Will So was that of Sixtus Rusus and Asia came to the Romans by the Will of King Attalus the words by Annaeus Florus are Populus Romanus bonorum meorum Haeres esto Bythinia came to the Romans by the last Will of their King Nicomedes which is remembred by Utropius together with that of Lybia Cicero in his Orations tells us That the Kingdom of Alexandria by the last Will of their King was devolved to Rome And Prasitagus Rex Icenorum in England upon his death-bed gave his Kingdom to the Emperour Nero. As to Examples in this point at home this King William the 1. by his Will gave England to his younger Son William Rufus King Steven claimed by the Will of Henry the first King Henry 8. had power by Act of Parliament to order the Succession of the Crown as he pleased by Will. And the Lords of the Councel in Queen Marys time wrote to her That the Lady Janes Title to the Crown was by the Will and Letters of Edward 6. As the Case of Henry 8. was by Act of Parliament So Duke William after he had Conquered Harold was by the general consent of the Barons and People of England accepted for their King and so his Title by Will confirmed And he both claimed and Governed the Kingdom as an Heir and Successor confirmed their antient Laws and ruled according to them This appears by Chronica Cronicorum speaking of William the Bastard King of England and Duke of Normandy he saith That whereas St. Edward had no Heir of England William having conquered Harold the Usurper obtained the Crown under this Condition That he should inviolably observe those Laws given by the said Edward It is testifyed likewise by many of our Historians that the antient Laws of England were confirmed by Duke William Jornalensis sayeth That out of the Merchenlage West-Saxon-Lage and Dane-Lage The Confessor composed the Common Law which remains to this day Malmsbury who lived in Duke Williams time sayeth that the Kings were Sworn to observe the Laws of the Confessor so called sayeth he because he observed them most religiously But to make this point clear out of Ingulphus he sayeth in the end of his Chronicle I Ingulphus brought with me from London into my Monastery Crowland the Laws of the most righteous King Edward which my Lord King William did command by his Proclamation to be anthentick and perpetual and to be observed throughout the whole Kingdom of England upon pain of most heinous punishment The Leiger Book of the Abby of Waltham commends Duke William for restoring the Laws of the English Men out of the Customes of their Countrey Radburn follows this Opinion and these Laws of Edward the Confessor are the same in part which are contained in our great Charter of Liberties A Manuscript entituled De gestis Anglorum sayeth That at a Parliament at London 4 W. 1. the Lawyers also present that the King might hear their Laws He Established St. Edward Laws they being formerly used in King Edgars time There is also mention of the 12 men out of every County to deliver truely the State of their Laws the same is remembred by Selden History of Tithes and Titles of Honour and in a manuscript Chronicle bound with the Book of Ely in Cottons Library One of the worthy e Gentlemen from whom I differ in Opinion was pleased to say That if William the Conquerour did not introduce the Laws of Normandy into England yet he conceives our Laws to be brought out of France hither in the time of some other of our Kings who had large Territories in France and brought in their Laws hither else he wonders how our Laws should be in French Sir I shall endeavonr to satisfy his wonder therein by and by but first with your leave I shall offer to you some Probabilities out of the History That the Laws of England were by some of those Kings carryed into France rather than the Laws of France brought hither This is expressly affirmed by Paulus Jovius who writes That when the English Kings Reigned in a great part of France they taught the French their Laws Sabellicus a Venetian Historian writes That the Normans in their Manners and Customes and Laws followed the English Polydore Virgil contradicting himself in another place than before cited relates that in our King Henry 6. time the Duke of Bedford called together the chief men of all the Cities in Normandy and delivered in his Oration to them the many Benefits that the English afforded them especially in that the English gave to them their Customes and Laws By the Chronicle of Eltham H. 5. sent to Cane in Normandy not only Divines but English Common Lawyers by the Agreement at Troys So there is much more probability that the Laws of England were introduced into France and Normandy than that the Laws of Normandy or any other part of France were introduced in England If the Normans had been Conquerours of England as they were not but their Duke was only conquerour of Harold and received as Hereditary King of England yet is it not probable they would have changed our Laws and have introduced theirs because they did not use to do so upon other Conquests The Normans conquered the Isles of Guernsey and Jersy yet altered not their Laws which in their local Customes are like unto ours The like they did in Sicily Naples and Apulia where they were Conquerours yet the antient Laws of those Countries were continued I hope Mr. Speaker I have by this time given some Satisfaction to the worthy Gentlemen who differed from me That the Laws of England were not imposed upon us by the Conqueronr nor brought over hither either out of Normandy or any
2. and some others in Latine R. 2. H. 4. H. 5. and H. 6. used to write their Letters in French and some of our Pleadings are in French and in the Common-Pleas to our time But Sir our Law it Lex non scripta I mean our Common-Law and our Statutes Records and Books which are written in French are no Argument that therefore the Original of our Laws is from France but they were in being before any of the French Language was in our Laws Fortescue writes That the English kept their Accounts in French yet doubtless they had Accounts here and Revenues before the French Language was in use here My Lord Cooke saith That the Conqueror taught the English the Norman Terms of Hawking Hunting Gaming c. yet no doubt but that these Recreations were in use with us before his time And though D. William or any other of our Kings before or after his time did bring in the French Tongue amongst us yet that is no Argument that he or they did change or introduce our Laws which undoubtedly were here long before those times and some of them when the French Tongue was so much in use here were Translated Written and Pleaded and Recorded in the French Tongue yet remained the same Laws still And from that great Vse of the French Tongue here it was that the Reporters of our Law-Cases and Judgments which were in those times did write their Reports in French which was the pure French in that time though mixt with some words of Art Those Terms of Art were taken many of them from the Saxon Tongue as may be seen by them yet used And the Reporters of later times and our Students at this day use to take their Notes in French following the old Reports which they had studied and the old French which as in other Languages by time came to be varied I shall not deny but that some Monks in elder times and some Clerks and Officers might have a Cunning for their private Honour and Profit to keep up a Mystery to have as much as they could of our Laws to be in a kind of Mystery to the Vulgar to be the less understood by them But the Councellors at Law and Judges can have no advantage by it but perhaps it would be found that the Law being in English and generally more understood yet not sufficiently would occasion the more Suits And possibly there may be something of the like nature as to the Court-hand yet if the more common Hands were used in our Law-writings they would be the more subject to change as the English and other Languages are but not the Latine Surely the French Tongue used in our Reports and Law-Books deserves not to be so enviously decried as it is by Polydore Aliott Daniel Hottoman Cowel and other Censurers But Mr. Speaker if I have been tedious I humbly ask your pardon and have the more hopes to obtain it from so many worthy English Gentle-men when that which I have said was chiefly in vindication of their own Native Laws unto which I held my self the more obliged by the duty of my Profession and I account it an honour to me to be a Lawyer As to the Debate and Matter of the Act now before you I have delivered no Opinion against it nor do I think it reasonable that the Generality of the People of England should by an implicit Faith depend upon the knowledge of others in that which concerns them most of all It was the Romish Policy to keep them in ignorance of Matters pertaining to their Souls health let them not be in ignorance of Matters pertaining to their Bodies Estates and all their worldly Comfort It is not unreasonable that the Law should be in that Language which may best be understood by those whose Lives and Fortunes are subject to it and are to be governed by it Moses read all the Laws openly before the People in their Mother-Tongue God directed him to write it and to expound it to the People in their own Native Language that what concerned their Lives Liberties and Estates might be made known unto them in the most perspicuous way The Laws of the Eastern Nations were in their proper Tongue The Laws at Constantinople were in Greek at Rome in Latine in France Spain Germany Sueden Denmark and other Nations their Laws are Published in their Native Idiom For your own Countrey there is no man that can read the Saxon Character but may find the Laws of your Ancestors yet extant in the English Tongue D. William himself commanded the Laws to be proclaimed in English that none might pretend Ignorance of them It was the Judgment of the Parliament 36 E. 3. That Pleadings should be in English and in the Reigns of those Kings when our Statutes were enrolled in French and English yet then the Sheriffs in their several Counties were to proclaim them in English I shall conclude with a Complaint of what I have met with abroad from some Military Persons nothing but Scoffs and Invectives against our Law and Threats to take it away but the Law is above the reach of those Weapons which at one time or another will return upon those that use them Solid Arguments strong Reasons and Authorities are more fit for confutation of any Error and satisfaction of different Judgments When the Emperor took a Bishop in compleat Armor in a Battel he sent the Armor to the Pope with this Word Haeccine sunt vestes silii tui So may I say to those Gentlemen abroad as to their Railings Taunts and Threats against the Law Haeccine sunt Argumenta horum Antinomianorum They will be found of no force but recoyling Arms. Nor is it ingenious or prudent for Englishmen to deprave their Birthright the Laws of their own Countrey But to return to the Matter in Debate I can find neither strangeness nor foresee great inconvenience by passing of this Act and therefore if the House shall think fit to have the Question put for the passing of it I am ready to give my Affirmative The Question being put It was unanimously carried That the Act should pass for turning the Law-Books and the Process and Proceedings in the Courts of Justice into English 23 Letters from Scotland of the Proceedings of the Army in Mining Edinburg-Castle and that part of the King's House there was burnt 25 Letters That the Scots Officers had sent to break off any Treaty of Accommodation and that they were to have a general Meeting for reconciling all Parties That among some Tories taken in Scotland one was an Elder of the Kirk who confessed the killing of some of the English being instigated by the Ministers That C. Monk had taken in the strong Castle of Roswel That the Scots were agreed amongst themselves and raising Forces to recruit their Army to 30000. 26 Letters That C. Axtel Governour of Kilkenny marched forth with about 800 Horse and Foot to relieve the Parliaments Garrison
That C. Pines Militia Regiment of 1200 had a Rendezvous and shewed great forwardness 7 Letters that C. Fenwick with the great Guns played against Hume Castle and that the Governour sent this Letter to him I William of the Wastle Am now in my Castle And awe the Dogs in the Town Shand garre me gang down Letters of a party pursuing the Earl of Castle-haven in Ireland And that Corn is extream dear there That liberty being given to the Dutch to carry Provisions Custom-free to the Parliaments Army in Scotland many Dutch Ships are preparing to supply the Army 8 Letters of an Ostender refusing to come in to one of the Parliaments Frigots she sunk the Ostender 10 Letters that the Mortar-Pieces had done great Execution against Hume-Castle and spoiled many rich Goods there and the great Guns had made Breaches whereupon C. Fenwick resolved upon a Storm and the Officers cast lots who should lead on to it But the Governour beat a parley Fenwick refused to treat unless they would presently surrender upon Quarter for Life which they did and Fenwick appointed some Officers to look to the equal sharing of the Goods among his Souldiers only the Governours Lady had liberty to carry out some of her Goods and Bedding for her accommodation That the Army began their March with eight Regiments of Foot and nine of Horse towards Sterling That there are great Divisions among the Scots 11 Vote that âhe Councel of State should be altered for the year ensuing twenty one of the old Members to continue in still and twenty new Members to be chosen in This was done by way of balletting The old Members which continued were Cromwel Bradshaw Rolles St. John Skippen Sir Arthur Haselrigg Sir Gilbert Pickering Sir Henry Vane Junior Sir William Masham Sir William Armyn Sir Henry Mildmay Sir James Harrington Whitelock Lisse Lord Grey C. Purefoy Scot Challoner Walton Bond Gourden The Names of the new Members were Sir T. Widdrington Prideaux Major General Harrison Strickland Lieutenant Ceneral Fleetwood Sir John Trevor Sir William Brereton Sir John Bouchier Love Allen Salwey Lister Thomson Cary Fielder Darley Say Cawley Goodwyn Lemman 12 Letters of a Court Marshal at Plymouth they began with Prayer and condemned three Souldiers to dye for running away from their Colours 13 Letters of a Ship taken at Poole by the Pyrates pretending Commission from the King 14 Letters that the Scots in a Village called Geddard rose and armed themselves and set upon Captain Dawson as he returned from pursuing some Moss-Troopers killed his Guide and Trumpet and took him and eight of his Party and after they had given them Quarter killed them all in cold Blood That the Lord Deputy had scattered the Rebells and was returned to Dublin 15 Letters that the General marched with his Army three dayes Westward but by reason of the extream Snow and Storms they were forced to return back to Edenburgh That the Enemy were sufficiently allarmed by this March and fled to Sterling but none appeared against the English 17 Letters that the General had been ill in Scotland and some miscarriages in some of the Souldiers in their late March which were punished And the General set out a Proclamation That none should buy any Goods of Souldiers without their Officers hand to attest it That General Ruthen was dead And the Cavaliers of the deepest dye hold colour best in Scotland That the Presbyterians see how they are deceived and preach against them as much as they dare That Tantallon Castle was besieged by C. Monk and the Town was burnt by the Governour 18 Letters that Sir Hardress Waller and Cromwell had relieved the English Garrisons in Kerry and taken four from the Irish and made their Army fly and killed as many of them as they found That in the mean time the Irish got together in a Body from several places imagining the English could not draw forth another Party of any strength to oppose them But by reason of Divisions among themselves the Irish could not have a Conjunction and Body together above 3 or 4000. That the English drew all the strength they could against them but could not attack them General Blake had the thanks of the House for his great and faithful Service Instructions and Credentials passed for the Ambassadors to be sent to the United Provinces 19 Letters that the Irish being abroad in several Parties Collonel Reynolds with one Party and Collonel Hewson with another were out to attend the motions of the Enemy That four Parliament Troopers were taken by the Scots near Carlisle three of them were killed and the fourth saved his Life by swearing he was a Scot. That the Scots would laugh in the Faces of the English and take the next opportunity to cut their throats 20 Letters of disturbance of the execution of the Militia about Cambridgeshire by some of the Commissioners being Malignants 21 Letters of Recruits in Cornwall readily coming to be under Sir Hardress Waller in Ireland That the settling of the Militia and subscribing the Ingagement goes on readily in those parts That the Scilly Pyrates took a rich Londoner and several Merchant-men have been taken on the Western Coast by the Jersey Pyrates 22 Letters that the Ministers about Northampton did generally refuse to take the Ingagement 24 Letters that a Hoy of Hamborough coming with Cheese for Leith and brought by stress of weather into the North of Scotland was there seized on and examined and shewed Coquets for Haver de gras in France whereupon he was dismist and a Scots Man imbarqued with him for Haver de gras The Hamburgher having thus got free brought his Cheese and the Scots Man to Leith Mr. Fry a Member of Parliament being accused by C. Downes another Member in Parliament for a Book written by Mr. Fry and Mr. Fry having Printed another Book with all this matter in it The House Voted this to be a Breach of the Priviledge of Parliament They Voted other matters in the Book to be Erroneous Prophane and highly Scandalous That the Book be burnt and Mr. Fry disabled to sit in Parliament as a Member thereof Several Persons executed for robbing the Charter-house Hospital 25 Letters that the Lord Deputy had settled the Customs at Waterford and those parts and incouraged the Natives to plow and sow their Land and restrained the killing of Lambs That the Plague was broken out at Waterford whereupon the Lord Deputy removed to Kilkenny to be nearer to the Enemy That two Troops fell upon the Tories killed about 50 of them and took some Prisoners That the Souldiers were in great want of Victuals and Cloaths Proposals were agreed by the Lord Deputy and his Commission granted to C. Lawrence for raising a Regiment of 1200 in England and to transport them to Waterford The Parliament approved of them and referred it to the Lord Deputy and the Commissioners in Ireland to see them executed Referred
Parliament and given signal Testimony of their good Affections thereunto shall be disabled and be uncapable to be Elected or to give any Vote in the Election of any Members to serve in the next Parliament or in the three succeeding Triennial Parliaments XV. That all such who have advised assisted or abetted the Rebellion of Ireland shall be disabled and uncapable for ever to be Elected or to give any Vote in the Election of any Member to serve in Parliament as also all such who do or shall profess the Roman Catholick Religion XVI That all Votes and Elections given or made contrary or not according to these Qualifications shall be null and void And if any person who is hereby made uncapable shall give his Vote for Election of Members to serve in Parliament such person shall lose and forfeit one full years value of his real estate and one full third part of his personal estate one moity thereof to the Lord Protector and the other moity to him or them who shall sue for the same XVII That the persons who shall be Elected to serve in Parliament shall be such and no other then such as are persons of known Integrity fearing God and of good conversation and being of the age of One and twenty years XVIII That all and every person and persons seized or possessed to his own use of any Estate real or personal to the value of Two hundred pounds and not within the aforesaid Exceptions shall be capable to Elect Members to serve in Parliament for Counties XIX That the Chancellor Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal shall be sworn before they enter into their Offices truly and faithfully to issue forth and send abroad Writs of Summons to Parliaments at the times and in the manner before exprest And in case of neglect or failer to issue and send abroad Writs accordingly he or they shall for every such offence be guilty of High Treason and suffer the pains and penalties thereof XX. That in case Writs be not issued out as is before exprest but that there be a neglect therein fifteen days after the time wherein the same ought to be issued out by the Chancellor Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal that then the Parliament shall as often as such failer shall happen assemble and be held at Westminster in the usual place at the times prefixt in manner and by the means hereafter expressed That is to say That the Sheriffs of the several and respective Counties Sherievedoms Cities Boroughs and places aforesaid within England Wales Scotland and Ireland the Chancellor Masters and Scholars of the Vniversity of Oxford and Cambridge and the Mayor and Bayliffs of the Borough of Berwick upon Tweed and other the places aforesaid respectively shall at the several Courts and places to be appointed as aforesaid within Thirty days after the said Fifteen days cause such Members to be chosen for their said several and respective Counties Sherievedoms Vniversities Cities Boroughs and places aforesaid by such persons and in such manner as if several and respective Writs of Summons to Parliament under the Great Seal had issued and been awarded according to the Tenor abovesaid That if the Sheriff or other persons authorized shall neglect his or their duty herein That all and every such Sheriff and person authorized as aforesaid so neglecting his or their duty shall for every such offence be guilty of High Treason and shall suffer the pains and penalties thereof XXI That the Clerk called The Clerk of the Common-wealth in Chancery for the time being and all others who shall afterwards execute that Office to whom the Returns shall be made shall for the next Parliament and the two succeeding Triennial Parliaments the next day after such Return certifie the Names of the several persons so returned and of the places for which he and they were chosen respectively unto the Council who shall peruse the said Returns and examine whether the persons so Elected and Returned be such as is agreeable to the Qualifications and not disabled to be Elected And that every person and persons being so duly Elected and being approved of by the major part of the Council to be persons not disabled but qualified as aforesaid shall be esteemed a Member of Parliament and be admitted to sit in Parliament and not otherwise XXII That the persons chosen and assembled in manner aforesaid or any Sixty of them shall be and be deemed the Parliament of England Scotland and Ireland and the Supream Legislative Power to be and reside in the Lord Protector and such Parliament in manner herein exprest XXIII That the Lord Protector with the advice of the major part of the Council shall at any other time than is before exprest when the necessities of the State shall require it summon Parliaments in manner before exprest which shall not be Adjourned Prorogued or Dissolved without their own consent during the first three Months of their Sitting And in case of future War with any Foreign State a Parliament shall be forthwith Summoned for their Advice concerning the same XXIV That all Bills agreed unto by the Parliament shall be presented to the Lord Protector for his consent and in case he shall not give his consent thereto within twenty days after they shall be presented to him or give satisfaction to the Parliament within the time limited That then upon Declaration of the Parliament That the Lord Protector hath not consented nor given Satisfaction such Bills shall pass into and become Laws although he shall not give his consent thereunto provided such Bills contain nothing in them contrary to the matters contained in these Presents XXV That Philip Lord Viscount Lisle Charles Fleet-wood Esquire John Lambert Esquire Sir Gilbert Pickering Baronet Sir Charles Wolseley Baronet Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper Bar. Edward Montague Esq John Desborough Esq Walter Strickland Esq Henry Lawrence Esq William Sydenham Esq Philip Jones Esq Richard Major Esq Francis Rous Philip Skipton Esqs or any Seven of them shall be a Council for the purposes exprest in this Writing and upon the Death or other removal of any of them the Parliament shall nominate Six persons of Ability Integrity and fearing God for every one that is dead or removed out of which the major part of the Council shall Elect two and present them to the Lord Protector of which he shall Elect one And in case the Parliament shall not nominate within Twenty days after notice given unto them thereof the major part of the Council shall nominate Three as aforesaid to the Lord Protector who out of them shall supply the vacancy And until this choice be made the remaining part of the Council shall execute as fully in all things as if their number were full and in case of corruption or other miscarriage in any of the Council in their Trust the Parliament shall appoint Seven of their numbers and the Council Six who together with the Lord Chancellor Lord Keeper or
besides himself and divers Gentlemen That this Beach was the chief Ring-leader Pyrate That he lived at Brest like a Prince and had done much Mischief to the English Merchants 16 Letters that the Queen of Sweden and the Chancellor are desirous to see what will be the Issue of the Treaty between England and the Dutch before they come to a Conclusion with the Lord Ambassador Whitelock who is often in conference with the old Chancellor Oxenstiern and hath great respect from him and from the Queen That Middleton Commanded the Sheriff Gutherland to Act no more in the Name of the Lord Protector but said he would give him a Commission to Act as Sheriff under the King That he laboured much to raise men for the King 17 That Middletons Son when he Landed had but a few Reformadoes with him One hundred and fifty Barrells of Powder and Arms for about One thousand Men some say in all that he brought Five thousand Armes and two great Guns and that Grafort had got together Six hundred of his Men to meet Middleton and the rest had appointed a Rendezvous to shew their Forces to him That Collonel Morgan was Marched that way to wait upon them and their Motions 18 Letters of a French Vessel brought in Prize by a Private Man of War That Captain Potter after Captain Beach had yielded to him and came on Board the Warwick Beach demanded of him the performance of Articles to be set on Shore in France Potter told Beach that he never heard of any such Articles and told Beach if he would he might go on Board his own Ship again and Fight it out but Beach would not do so That the Fight between them lasted Eight hours That Beach had Thirty nine Guns and Two hundred Men whereof he lost twenty That Potter had but Thirty two Guns and One hundred and thirty Men and lost but two of them That Captain Potter brought Beach and his Ship and Company into Plymouth An Order passed by the Protector and his Council appointing of Commissioners for approving of Ministers Another passed for disposing of Forfeited Estates in Scotland Two other Ordinances passed for setling the Customs and Excise Of a Dutch Ship loaded with Pitch Tarr c. taken Prize by a private Man of War 20 That the Lord Protector passed a Declaration inviting the People of England and Wales to a day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation and shewing the ground thereof Letters of a great Fleet gone from New Castle for London and Ten more going forth after them and without a Convoy were set upon by the Capers and though they ran themselves on Ground yet after their Men were got out the Capers got off Five of the Ten Sihps and the other Five were lost that in a Fortnight the Capers had taken Twenty two Coal Ships 21 The Ordinance Published for continuing the Excise for one Year and the Rates of the Excise That the Country that fail to send in their Levies to the Enemy expected Fire and Sword from them That a Party of Collonel Okeys Regiment took a Cornet and Four Troupers and Eleven Horses from the Enemies 22 Several meetings by the Dutch Ambassadours and by the Lord Protector 's Commissioners about the perfecting the Articles for the Peace Report of a Match between the King of Scots and the Duke of Lorains Daughter and that the King was to have Four Millions and the Dukes Assistance for his Restauration 23 The Ordinance for Approbation of Ministers published with the Names of the Commissioners some of them being not Ministers and the greatest number of them Eminent Ministers 24 Kept by the Lord Protector and his Council a Solemn day of Humiliation and they had Three Sermons at White-hall 25 An Ordinance Published for continuing the Imposition upon Coals for the Building of Ships Another for passing Custodies of Ideots and Lunaticks Another for continuing an Act for Pressing of Seamen Letters that there wanted People in Ireland for Manuring the Ground that the Tories were near destroyed and if they heard of any Party of the English abroad they presently fled to the Woods and Boggs That the Highlanders had a Rendezvous and gave out that they were Seven thousand Men but have no Monys that the Duke of York was expected to come to them The Post with the Dutch Letters was seized upon by Thieves at Southwark and the Letters opened and thrown away That Monsieur Burdeaux was to be brought in State through London as Ambassadour Extraordinary from the French King to the Lord Protector 27 Monsieur Burdeaux made his Entry in London as Ambassador Extraordinary attended with Sixty Coaches Upon Letters from the Dutch Ambassadors in England to their Superiours That the Treaty of Peace with England was not yet concluded the States sent to their Admirals and Chief Sea Officers to repair to Amsterdam and to take care that the Fleet should be in readiness A List of divers Prizes lately taken 28 That the old Natives about Lewis in Scotland joyned with the English against Seafort and his Men and killed many of them That the English Commander in Chief confined some persons for Corresponding with the Enemy 29 The French Kings Ambassadour Monsieur Burdeaux had Audience by the Lord Protector in the Banquetting House at White-Hall New Frigots Launched for the Lord Protector 30 An Ordinance passed for Relief of Persons that have acted in Defence of the Common-wealth Letters of the Resignation of her Government by the Queen of Sweden to her Cousin the Prince Palatine and of her Knighting of the Count de Montecuculi General of the Horse to the Emperour An Act passed for suspending the Act for Relief of poor Prisoners and Creditors Towns in Scotland fined by the Court Martial for harbouring the Enemy the Houses to be razed to the ground April 1654. April 1. Letters that Collonel Cooper with a Party falling into the Enemies Quarters took Thirty five Prisoners and Killed Twelve and took sixty Horse and some Armes That about Three thousand Tories were shipped to be Transported out of Ireland Of a Dutch Prize brought in and a Ship of Vlushing taken after five hours Fight 3 Addresses to the Lord Protector from York and of the City and the Grand Jury of the County acknowledging his Government and promising Obedience thereunto Letters of a Captain of Middletons and Six Souldiers taken Ofa Vessel surprized by Seafort with Boats She was loaden with Armes and Ammunition That the Enemy were cruel in Plundering and Burning when the Country did not obey their Warrants The Portugal Ambassadour had Audience of the Lord Protector The Committee for Approbation of Ministers began to Sit. 4 An Ordinance Publisted for Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration Another Prohibiting making of Cock Matches The Agent from the Queen of Sweden had Audience Letters of an English Ship of One hundred Tuns taken by the Brest Men of War Of another Ship of Two hundred and
the Citizens and 30 of them and of the Inhabitants were Slain by the fall of Timber and Houses on fire upon them Some small Skirmishes were between little parties of the Highlanders and the Parliaments Forces 31 Voted by the Parliament that any Natives of the Commonwealth may transport Wheat when the Price shall not exceed six and thirty Shillings the quarter paying Four-pence the Quarter Custome And Rye when it exceeds not Four and twenty shillings the Quarter paying three pence the Quarter Custom And Barly or Mault when the Price of it exceeds not twenty shillings the Quarter paying two pence the Quarter Custom And Pease not being above four aâd twenty shillings the Quarter paying three pence the quarter Custom And Beans not being above four and twenty shillings the Quarter paying three pence the Quarter Custom The Corn to be transported in Vessels of this Commonwealth Butter to be transported when it is not above six pence the pound A Bill to be brought in for this purpose November 1654. 1. Nov. The Officers of the Army met at St. James's to keep a day of praying together The Resident of the Duke of Guelders had Audience of the Protector declaring the late decease of his Master and the acknowledgment he made upon his death bed of the Favours and Protection he had receiv'd from the Protector desiring the continunuance of his Favour and Protection to his Son 2 The Lord Lorn the Marquls of Argiles Son continued in Rebellion against his Father Collonel Hammonds Funeral solemnized at Dublin with much State 3 The Parliament sat upon the Articles of Government and voted the forfeiture of Lands for Treason and Delinquency 4 Petitions of the Lord Craven Sir John Stowell and others referred to several Committees 6 Debate about the Bill for Ejecting Ignorant and Scandalous Ministers and School-Masters and Voted That in the mean time the Ordinance for Ejecting them passed by the Protector and his Councel shall not be suspended Order for Accounts to be brought in of the value of all Customs and Receipts in several Offices Petition of the Doctors of the Civil Law in behalfe of themselves and their profession was referred to a Committee A Committee of Ten persons appointed to confer with His Highness about stating the Point of Liberty of Conscience 7 Order to examine and punish the Authors and publishers of a Scandalous and Treasonable pamphlet entituled Collonel Shapcots speech in Parliament and the Sergeant at Arms to seize the Copies 8 The Protector and his Councel considered of the Nomination of new Sheriffes in the several Counties 9 Long debate by Councel at the Committee for the Lord Cravens and Sir John Stowells Petitions 10 Debate in Parliament upon the Articles of Government That the Supream Legislative power shall be in one Person and the People assembled in Parliament being the first Article And upon the 24 Article That if the Protector consent not to Bills presented to him within twenty days that they shall pass as Laws without his consent This Letter came from Seldon to Whitlock My Lord I am a most humble Suitor to your Lordship that you would be pleased that I might have your presence for a little time to morrow or next day Thus much wearies the most weak hand and body of Novemb. 10. 1654. White Fryers Your Lordships most humble Servant J. Selden Whitlock went to him and was advised with about settling his Estate and altering his Will and to be one of his Executors But his weakness so encreased that his intentions were prevented He dyed the last of this Month. He lived at the Countess of Kents house in the White-Fryers His mind was as great as his learning He was as hospitable and generous as any man and as good Company to those whom he liked The Primate of Ireland preached his funeral Sermon in the Temple Church and gave him a great and due Eulogie 11 The Parliament agreed upon the first and 24th Articles of Government with little alteration 13 A Petition of the Purchasers of the Lord Cravens Estate referred to the former Committe likewise a Petition of Sir John Stowell The King of Swedens Marriage was solemnized at Stockholm the 14th of October last 14 Prince William of Nassaw received by the Province of Over-Issell to be Governour there during the minority of the Prince of Orange 15 The House proceeded in the debate of the Articles of Government They considered of an Assesment for the preventing of free Quarter The Lord Lorn sent parties into his Fathers Countrey to steal Cows 16 The Parliament voted His Highness to be Lord Protector c. during his life They debated about the business of the Militia by Sea and Land 17 A List published of the several Sheriffs for England and Wales agreed on by the Protector and his Councel Much debate at the Committee concerning the Lord Cravens and Sir John Stowels business A Fire in Amsterdam quenched by casting Sand upon it Some few of Middletons party in Scotland roaming up and down were routed by the Parliaments Forces The Funeral of the Protectors Mother Solemnized at Westminster Abby 20 The Parliament sat Forenoon and after-noon upon the Government and agreed fully upon the first Article and the 24th 21 Vote for an Assesment of 60000l a month for three months to be laid on England Petition concerning Sir Peter Vanlores Estate referred to a Committee Some small Skirmishes were in the Highlands 22 A Committee appointed to consider of the Accounts of the Kingdom and who have any publick moneys in their hands The King of Scots was at Colen and the Queen of Bohemia went to Flanders to visit the Queen of Sweden 23 The House in the Forenoon upon the Government and in the Afternoon upon the Assessment 24 Five Hundred Irish were landed in some Isles of Scotland to joyne with Middleton and Seaford 160 horse more were to joyn with them and to force the Clans to rise with them The Parliament voted That no Law should be altered or repealed nor new Laws made nor any Tax imposed but by assent of Parliament 25 The Parliament voted That a new Parliament should be summoned to meet upon the third Monday of October 1656. They called for a Report from the Committee for Regulating the Chancery Seven English Ships and divers Forreign Ships cast away by a storm near Dover 27 The Parliament passed several Votes touching Qualifications of persons to be chosen to serve in Parliament and for the Electors Vote that a new Parliament shall be every third year and not to sit above six Months but by Act of Parliament with the Protectors Consent and that to be but for three Months longer That the Protector may Summon Parliaments within the three years if he see Cause to sit for three Moneths and the Summons to be by Writ according to Law The Chancellor or Commissioners of the Seal to issue Writs
delivered to the President of the Councel till some time after the date of it the next day they received this Order or Warrant from the Protector Oliver Protector RIght trusty and right well beloved We greet you well Whereas by an Ordinance Entituled An Ordinance for the better regulating and limiting the Jurisdiction of the High Court of Chancery It is among other things Ordained that the Masters of the Chancery in Ordinary shall be only six in number to be now and from time to time appointed by the Lord Protector for the time being We according to the said Ordinance do appoint William Lenthal Esq Master of the Rolles John Sadler Nathanael Hubart Arthur Barnardiston Thomas St. Nicholas and Kâbert Aldworth Esq to be the six Masters of the Chancery in Ordinar and do hereby signifie unto you our pleasure that they be sworn and admitted accordingly given at White-Hall this second day of May 1655. To our Right trusty and Right well beloved Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke Knight Sir Thomas Widrington Kt. and John L'Isle Esq Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England Upon Receipt of this Warrant they gave the Oath to the six Masters of the Chancery named in the Order it being the old Oath and they proceeded in ordinary business of the Court according to the former course Letters from the Barbadoes of some Dutch Ships there Trading seized upon by Pen and his Fleet ready to sail from thence but whither the Officers knew not That they only waited for more stores from London which were not yet come to them That Pen had here recruited his men and sent some Forces to the Leeward Islands That the English here love to Trade more with the Dutch then with their Country men That Pen and Venable settled in the Barbadoes a Court by Commission to levy what should appear to be owing there to the Dutch and to make seizures of all Dutch who should Trade there That they were now six thousand Land-men and five thousand Sea-men and intended shortly to set Sail upon their design Letters of the Duke of Savoys cruel persecuting the Protestants in Piedmont by taking away their Goods and Estates and putting them in Prison and carrying away of their Children using all means with violence to make them forsake their Religion and the purity of the Gospel which when they could not do the Priests persuaded the Duke to send an Army against them to force them to Conformity who sent eight thousand men against these poor quiet people and Loyal Subjects the Army fell upon them slew many of them with small loss and took many Prisoners whom they used with all cruelty and then put them to death Others of them with their Wives and Children fled unto the Mountains whilst the Soldiers plundered their Houses and then fired them and their Churches A Solemn Fast was kept throughout London and Westminster During this Easter Term the Commissioners of the Great Seal proceeded in Chancery according to the former course of that Court and did not execute the Protectors new Ordinance which was informed to him but he could not disturb them till the Term was over and then was quick with them for their disobedience June 1655. Divers sollicitations were made to Whitelocke by sundry persons whose interest lay that way that he should recant the Letter he had subscribed with Widdrington and Lenthal that he was not satisfied to execute the Protectors New Ordinance concerthe Chancery and that he would promise to do it and to Conform to his Highness pleasure and that then he should be continued in the place of Commissioner of the Great Seal otherwise he must expect to be put out of that good and great Office Whitelocke answered them that no worldly considerations could prevail with him to do any thing contrary to his Judgment and Conscience for then he knew he should offend a greater Protector and better Friend than my Lord Protector could could be That he had taken an Oath to execute the place of Commissioner of the Great Seal Legally and Justly and for him to execute this Ordinance as a Law when he knew that those who made it had no Legal power to make a Law could not be justified in Conscience and would be a betraying of the Rights of the people of England and too much countenancing of an illegal Authority That as long as he should continue a Commissioner of the Great Seal he would execute that place according to Law and do right to the parties in Court after the best of his Judgment and Conscience but to do an Illegal Act and to execute such an Ordinance as he knew not to be agreeable to Law and would be an occasion of Injustice to many because he would thereby keep himself in the place of a Commissioner he thought was not according to good Conscience nor honesty and therefore he resolved to give himself satisfaction rather than any other and further than this he could not be persuaded This Order was brought to the Lords Commissioners To the Right Honorable the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal My Lords I Am commanded to signifie unto your Lordships his Highness and the Councels pleasure That your Lordships do attend his Highness with the Great Seal at six of the Clock this Evening I am My Lord your Lordships most humble Servant Henry Scobell White-Hall June 6. 1655. As soon as this Letter came to them they understood the meaning of it and attended with the Great Seal at the time appointed at the Councel-Chamber and were after a little waiting called in The Protector gravely told them That he was sorry some of them could not satisfie their own Consciences to execute the Ordinance concerning the Chancery which they were informed had much good in it to the publick but he confessed that every one was to satisfie himself in matter to be performed by him and that he had not the worse opinion of any man for refusing to do that whereof he was doubtful but in this particular the Affairs of the Common-Wealth did require a Conformity of the Officers thereof and their Obedience to Authority and being some of them refused to execute this Act as was enjoyned they were compelled thereby to put this charge of the Custody of the Great Seal into the hands of some others who might be satisfied that it was their duty to perform this Command and to put the Ordinance in Execution Whitelocke being the antientest of the Commissioners told his Highness That their scruple was not upon the Authority of his Highness and the Councel as to the Command of all matters concerning the Government of the Common Wealth but only as to the effect of this Ordinance to be Executed as a Law the which they apprehended and had formerly given their reason for it would be of great prejudice to the Publick and would be contrary to what they had formerly by their Oath promised and being yet unsatisfied
touching Recusants and about making of Salt and in the case of Mr. Hanson a Merchant of London 9. Applications in the behalf of the Civilians to be the Judges of the Admiralty and for Probate of Wills 10. Applications about the Church of the Walloons in Norwich 12. Applications about Visitors of the University of Oxford The Bill for setling the Company of Merchant Adventures 13. A Bill for a Market in Lincoln's-Inn Fields and the Bill for mitigating the Forrest Lawes and preservation of the Timber in the Forrest of Dean 14. An Account prepared for the House of the whole years disbursements for the Land and Sea Forces and Government 15. Applications touching the Earl of Bedfords Buildings in Covent Garden 19. The great business of the Setlement of the Nation 20. A Charter granted for the Town of Marleborough in the County of Wilts 26. A Bill for prices of Wines 27. An Act of Indemnity 31. A Bill to buy in Impropriations to maintain Ministers April 1657. Anno 1657 2. Application in a business in Parliament by the Lord fitz-Fitz-William 3. A Bill for the maintenance of Ministers in Bristol 4. The Parliament had been long about the Setlement of the Nation and had framed a Writing which they stiled The Humble Petition and Advice of the Parliament of England Scotland and Ireland to his Highness The first business of it was for the Protector to have the title of King This Petition and Advice was presented to his Highness by the House and he desired that a Committee might be appointed to conferr with him about it which was named and Whitelock being one of the Committee was made Chair-man When the Committee attended his Highness Whitclock spake to him upon the point of the Title of King giving reasons why he should accept of that title The Protector urged his reasons against it and Whitelock replyed The whole debate in Print 5. This day Whitelock reported to the House the passages when their Committee attended his Highness 6. Referred to a Committee to consider what was fit further to offer to the Protector in the great business this was the former Committee They attended his Highness and he appointed the next day for them to come again to him 9. A Plot discover'd by the vigilancy of Thurlo of an intended Insurrection by Major-General Harrison and many of the fifth Monarchy-Men 11. Whitelock reported to the House the Committee's waiting upon the Protector but that the new discover'd Plot hindred their proceedings at that time 12. Applications by the Officers in behalf of the Army in Ireland 13. Applications in behalf of the Company of Vintners The Committee offer'd their reasons to the Protector in the great business 14. Whitelock acquainted the House with the passages yesterday betwixt his Highness and the Committee about the title of King 16. Whitelock moved the House for their Committee to meet again with his Highness which was ordered they attended but the Protector being busy in Examining the new Plot they were put off to another day 20 Upon Whitelockes motion the Committee were ordered again to attend his Highness The Protector was satisfied in his private Judgment that it was fit for him to take upon him the title of King and matters were prepared in order thereunto but afterwards by sollicitation of the Common wealth's Men and fearing a mutiny and defection of a great part of the Army in case he should assume that Title and Office his mind changed and many of the Officers of the Army gave out high threatnings against him in case he should do it he therefore thought best to attend some better season and opportunity in this business and refused it at this time with great seeming Earnestness 21. Whitelock acquainted the House that his Highness had some things to offer to the Committee in a paper and desired them to meet him this afternoon whereupon the House adjourned till to morrow and the Committee met his Highness 22. Whitelock reported to the House the Committees attendance upon his Highness yesterday who offer'd to them a paper of particulars touching several things in the humble Petition and Advice and that the Committee are preparing a Report of the whole business thereupon the House adjourned till to Morrow 23. All the Members in Westminster being sent for into the House Whitelock made the report of the whole proceedings of the Committee with his Highness touching the title of King with the Protectors answers and Papers given in by him to the Committee which Whitelock read and afterwards the Clerk read them again and the debate of this great business was adjourned 27. The House were busy in debating the last report made by Whitelock in the business of the title of King 28. They proceeded in the same debate 29. They came to some resolutions in in that debate which were not all pleasing to his Highness May 1657. 1. The Committee of Parliament where Whitelock had the Chair according to the order of the House attended the Protector and acquainted him that the House had now perfected their answer to the papers formerly deliver'd by his Highness to the Committee who now attended him with the Parliaments answer His Highness told the Committee that he would take the particulars of this answer into consideration and as soon as might be he would return his answer Whitelock declined the first delivery of the Petition and advice to the Parliament not liking several things in it but Sr. Christopher Packe to gain honour presented it first to the House and then the Lord Broghil Glyn Whitelock and others put it forward 2. The Protector often advised about this and other great businesses with the Lord Broghil Pierepoint Whitelock Sr. Charles Wolseley and Thurlo and would be shut up 3 or 4 hours together in private discourse and none were admited to come into him he would sometimes be very chearful with them and laying aside his greatness he would be exceeding familiar with them and by way of diversion would make verses with them and every one must try his fancy he commonly called for Tobacco Pipes and a Candle and would now and then take Tobacco himself then he would fall again to his serious and great business and advise with them in those affairs and this he did often with them and their Counsel was accepted and followed by him in most of his greatest affairs 3 The Sieur Phillipi Passerini being sent by the Queen of Sweden to the Protector with Letters Credential and to inform his Highness of some Secret affairs he by the Queens Instructions addressed himself first to Whitelock with Letters to him from the Queen desiring Whitelock to bring her Secretary this Gentle-man to the presence of his Highness and to promote his business Whitelock acquainted the Protector therewith and read to him the Queens letters to Whitelock which were in French The Protector desired Whitelock to read them again to him in
time to Appoint and Declare the Person who shall immediately after Your Deâth Succeed You in the Government of these Nations II. That Your Highness will for the future be pleased to Call Parliaments consisting of Two Houses in such manner and way as shall be more particularly afterwards agreed and Declared in this Petition and Advice Once in Three Years at furthest or oftner as the Affairs of the Nation shall require That being your great Council and in whose Affection and Advice Your Self and this People will be most safe and happy III. That the ancient and undoubted Liberties and Priviledges of Parliament which are the Birth-right and Inheritance of the People and wherein every man is interessed be preserved and maintained And that You will not break or interrupt the same nor suffer them to be broken or interrupted And particularly That those persons who are legally chosen by a Free Election of the People to serve in Parliament may not be excluded from sitting in Parliament to do their Duties but by Judgment and consent of that House whereof they are Members IV. That those who have Advised Assisted or Abetted the Rebellion of Ireland and those who do or shall profess the Popish Religion be disabled and made uncapable for ever to be elected or to give any Vote in the Elestion of any Member to sit or serve in Parliament And that all and every person and persons who have Aided Abetted Advised or Assisted in any War against the Parliament since the First day of January One Thousand six hundred forty one unless he or they have since born Arms for the Parliament or Your Highness or otherwise given signal Testimony of his or their good Affection to the Commonwealth and continued faithful to the same And all such as have been actually Engaged in any Plot Conspiracy or design against the person of Your Highness or in any Insurrection or Rebellion in England or Wales since the Sixteenth day of December One thousand six hundred fifty three shall be for ever disabled and made uncapable to be elected or give any vote in the Election of any Member to sit or serve in Parliament That for Scotland none be capable to elect or be elected to sit or serve in Parliament who have been in Arms against the Parliament of England or against the Parliament in Scotland before the first day of April One thousand six hundred forty eight except such as have since born Arms in the Service of the Parliament of England or Your Highness or given other signal Testimony of their good Affection Nor any that since the said First day of April One thousand six hundred forty eight have been in Arms or otherwise Aided Abetted Advised or Assisted in any War against the Parliament of England or Your Highness except such as since the First day of March One thousand six hundred fifty one old style have lived peaceably and thereby given Testimony of their good Affection to the Parliament and Your Highness Provided That nothing in this Article contained shall extend to put any Incapacity upon any English or Scotch Protestants in Ireland either to elect or be elected to serve in Parliament who before the First day of March One thousand six hundred forty nine have born arms for the Parliament or Your Highness or otherwise given signal Testimony of their good Affection to this Commonwealth and continued faithful to the same That all Votes and Elections given or made contrary or not according to the Qualifications aforesaid shall be void and of none effect and that if any person or persons so uncapable as aforesaid shall give his or their Vote for Election of Members to serve in Parliament All and every such person and persons so Electing shalllose and forfeit oneYears value of his and their respective real Estates one full third part of his and their respective personal Estates The one Moyety thereof to Your Highness and the other Moyety to him or them who shall sue for the same in any Court of Record by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information wherein no Essoign Wager of Law or Protection shall be allowed And that the Persons who shall be Elected to serve in Parliament be such no other than such as are persons of known Integrity fearing God and of good Conversation and being of the Age of Twenty one Years and not such as are disabled by the Act of the Seventeenth Year of the late King Entituled An Act for disenabling all persons in Holy Orders to Exercise any Temporal Jurisdiction or Authority nor such as are Publick Ministers or publick Preachers of the Gospel Nor such as are guilty of any of the Offences mentioned in an Act of Parliament bearing Date the Ninth of August One thousand six hundred and fifty Entituled An Act against several Atheistical Blasphemous Execrable Opinions derogatory to the honour of God and destructive to humane society No common scoffernor reviler of Religion or of any person or persons for professing thereof No person that hath married or shall marry a Wife of the Popish Religion or hath trained or shall train up his child or children or any other child or children under his tuition or government in the Popish Religion or that shall permit or suffer such child or children to be trained up in the said Religion or that hath given or shall give his consent that his son or daughter shall marry any of that Religion No person that shall deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God or the Saecraments Prayer Magistracy and Ministery to be the Ordinances of God No common prophaner of the Lords Day nor prophane Swearer or Curser no Drunkard or common haunter of Taverns or Alehouses And that these Qualifications may be observed and yet the Priviledge of Parliament maintained We desire that it may be by Your Highness consent Ordâined That Forty one Commissioners be appointed by Act of Parliament who or any fifteen or more of them shall be Authorized to Examine and try whether the Members to be Elected for the House of Commons in future Parliaments be capable to sit according to the Qualifications mentioned in this Petition and Advice And in case they find them not qualified accordingly then to suspend them from sitting until the House of Commons shall upon hearing of their particular Cases admit them to sit which Commissioners are to stand so Authorized for that end until the House of Commons in any future Parliament shall nominate the like number of other Commissioners in their places and those other Commissioners so to be nominated in any future Parliament to have the same Powers and Authorities That the said Commissioners shall certifie in writing to the House of Commons on the first day of their meeting the Causes and Grounds of their Suspensions of any persons so to be elected as aforesaid That the Accusation shall be upon the Oath of the Informer or of some other person That a Copy of the Accusation
be of dangerous consequence to the Peace and Rights of his Country To prevent which and to keep things in a better order and form he might be instrumental in this Imployment Upon these and the like grounds as also by the ingagement of divers of the Committee to joyn with him therein he was perswaded to undertake it and did meet with them at the place appointed where he was received by them with all respect and civility The Instructions of the Committee of Safety were presented to them 29. The Committee sate all day The Armies Declaration was published of the grounds of their late proceedings A Letter came from General Monk to the Officers of the Army here of the dissatisfaction of himself and some of his Officers in the late proceedings of the Army here Persons were sent to him for his better information He secured Berwick for himself Lambert was appointed to command the Forces in the North and to have more Regiments with him 31. Bradshaw died of a Quartan Ague which had held him a year a stout man and learned in his Profession No friend of Monarchy November 1659. 1. The Committee of Safety appointed Fleetwood Whitelocke Vane Ludlow Salwey and Tichburn a Committee to consider of a Form of Government for the three Nations as a Commonwealth and to present it to the Committee of Safety Whalley and Goffe and Caryl and Barker Ministers were sent to Monk to perswade him to a right understanding of things and to prevent effusion of blood This Order was made at the Committee of Safety Thursday Novem. 1. 1659. At the Committee of Safety at Whitehall The Committee of Safety taking into consideration the necessity of disposing of the Great Seal so as the same may be made use of for the publick service and the administration of Justice Ordered that the custody of the Great Seal of England be committed to the Lord Whitelocke as Commissioner and Keeper of the said Great Seal until further Order And the same was accordingly delivered to his hands by the Lord President And ordered That an Entry of the delivery of the Great Seal to the said Lord Whitelocke as Commissioner and Keeper of the said Great Seal be made in the close Roll in Chancery and in the Office of Petty Bagge William Robinson Clerk of the Committee of Safety 2. A new Letter was sent to General Monk from the Officers here The Lords Northampton Falkland Castleton Herbert Howard and Bellasis were discharged from Imprisonment upon security to live peaceably and this was to ingratiate with the Cavaliers Letters from Edenburgh that General Monk and many of his Officers had declared for the Parliament against the Officers of the Army in England and that General Monk had imprisoned some of his Officers who were of a different judgment and put others out of their Command and was preparing all things in order to restore the Parliament Letters from Colonel Pearson who dissented from Monk and that many of his Officers and Souldiers would not joyn with him against the Army in England 3. The Commissioners of the Militia of London wrote to Monk to perswade him to an Accommodation Lambert went towards the North. 4. Letters from Ireland of the Forces there concurring with those here An Answer Agreed upon to a Letter from Monk Fleetwood Whitelocke Desborough and Tichburn went to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen in London and acquainted them with the proceedings of Monk and with the danger of a new Civil War to the City and Kingdom and advised them to take special care for the prevention of it and for securing the City 5. New Commissions ordered for raising of new Forces to Vane for a Regiment of Horse and another to Whitelocke for a Regiment of Horse and other Commissions to others The General Council of Officers kept this a day of fasting Letters from Scotland that Monk had secured several of his Officers and resolved to march into England That divers of his Officers and Souldiers were discontented Other Letters that Monk was entered England with some Regiments but retreated An Address to Fleetwood from the Officers of the Northern Forces of their resolution to joyn with the Forces here 7. The General Council of Officers met and received Letters from the North. 8. An Answer to Monk's Letter agreed upon by the General Council of Officers Fleetwood Whitelocke Desborough and divers principal Officers of the Army went to the Common Council in London and represented to them the proceedings of Monk and that the bottom of his design was to bring in the King upon a new Civil War They shewed the danger of it to the City and Nation and counselled them to provide for their own safety and to joyn for the safety of the whole Nation and for preservation of the Peace The Common-council returned thanks to them and resolved to follow their advice 9. Letters from Scotland of the probability of a friendly Accommodation The like from several persons in the North. Letters from the Officers of the Fleet to Monk and his Officers to incline them to an Accommodation to this effect THE deep sense we have of the Duty incumbent on us in this day of Englands fears tryals and temptations puts us upon this Application to your Honour unto whom not long since most of us had a more immediate relation and the experience we had then of your readiness to receive and grant our just desires gives us encouragement to believe this present tender will have the like resentment As private Members of this Commonwealth we cannot but take notice of and in secret bewail before the Lord the intestine divisions that are amongst us at this day and the dreadfull consequence likely to ensue thereupon when duly pondered do exceedingly afflict and even break our hearts All the force that the common Enemy whilst in his strength was able to muster up against the good people of this Nation either at home or from abroad could never raise such Clouds of fears nor impress those terrours on our hearts as we now lie under from the apprehension of that evil which attends that distance which is between you and the Army in England which being manifested to us by a Declaration lately sent from Scotland and published by your command and resolutions therein expressed of your vindicating the late Parliament in opposition to the general proceeding of the General Council of Officers here we have taken the boldness not only as private Christians but in our pubblick capacity as Officers of the Fleet to beseech you in the bowels of mercy and compassion to this your Native Country and especially to all the Lord's people therein whose interest we remember hath formerly been precious to you seriously to consider 1. Whether the undertaking you are ingaged in will not make the hearts of the righteous sad whom the Lord hath not
and that he would be ready to use his endeavour in what might conduce to the good of the Town Letters informed of some armed Forces that marched through Lancashire and Westmerland towards the borders of Scotland 8. Debate upon private Petitions Orders to provide for Reformadoes and Soldiers Widows Six of the Impeached Lords Petitioned for further time for their answers and it was granted them till the twelfth of April next Order of both Houses for Mr. Marshall to return from Scotland An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for the sale of some Lands of the Earl of Newcastle to Col. Whaley Order for Money for poor Widows of Soldiers and a reward given to the Auditors of the Soldiers Accounts Letters from Holland certified that the Lord Willoughby of Parham was come thither 9. The House debated and confirmed the ingagement of their Members who were forced by the tumults from Westminster and the subscription by them Aug. 4 1647. testifying a zeal to the Publick and a resolution to vindicate the honour and freedom of Parliament Divers Inhabitants of Bucks presented a Petition and remonstrance to the House acknowledging with thanks their unwearied Labours for the Publick the great successes God had given them and the continuance of their care and faithfulness They resolve to adhere unto and stand by the Parliament to their utmost ability against all opposers They desire them to proceed to a speedy setling of the Civil Government as may most conduce to the freedom and happiness of the Nation to promote Religion according to the Word of God to incourage able Ministers and to cast out such as are Scandalous and to be tender of the Consciences of those whose Conversation is as becometh the Gospel to relieve Ireland and to secure themselves from violence The Petitioners had the thanks of the House for their constant good affections and the Speaker told them that the House had ordered their Petition to be Printed as a pattern for other Counties and would consider of the particulars of their Petition in convenient time Order touching Augmentations for Ministers Sir John Strangeways upon his Petition was admitted to his Composition and the Money which should be raised thereby was ordered for the Navy 10. Order for an Ordinance for electing a Lord Major Aldermen and Common Councelmen of York as had been formerly for London Debate upon the confession of Faith 11. Debate about the draining of the Fennes in Lincoln-shire c. and about matters presented by the Committee of Accounts which were referred to a Committee Upon Information that the Troop which marched through Lancashire towards the borders of Scotland was Captain Wogans Troop and he with them who had slighted several Orders of the General 's and now hoped to find invitation to Scotland The General sent Orders to Col. Lambert and to the Sheriffs of the Northern Counties to stop Col. Wogans March and to deal with him and his Party as Disturbers of the publick Peace 13. Upon reading the Impeachment and hearing of Proofs against Sir John Gayer late Lord Major of London the House pass'd the Articles against him the like against Alderman Bunce Alderman Adams Alderman Langham and ordered them to be sent up to the Lords and their Lordships be acquainted that the House is ready to make good their Charge against the Aldermen The House approved of the Ingagements of Col. Welden for supplyes for the Garrison of Plymouth and ordered them to be paid accordingly Order to desire the Parliament of Scotland to give direction to seize and apprehend Captain Wogans Forces or any such that shall march into Scotland being discontented Persons who endeavour to forment new differences Reference to the Committee for Irish Affairs to examine and state the business concerning accounts for Provlsions for London-derry between Mr. Goring and Mr. Thornton Merchants Mr. Dell who was Chaplain to the General took his leave of the Army and retired to his private home Letters from Scotland informed That the Divines there have presented to the Parliament their resolution against adhering to on joyning with the King and his Party That a Letter from the King to the Commissioners of the Kirk was voted by them of a dangerous consequence that some of the Kirk are joyned to the Committee of danger who have in consideration these particulars 1. The danger of Religion in both Kingdoms 2. The carrying on of the Covenant 3. The state of the King 4. Monarchical Government 5. The danger Scotland is in 6. The Vnion of the two Kingdoms That the English Horse which are come into Scotland are not received the English Commissioners declaring to the Parliament there that these Horse come not by any authority of the Parliament of England They lye at their own charge and pay Quarter 14. Divers Compositions passed An Explanatory Ordinance for sale of Bishops Lands sent up to the Lords Reference of a Petition touching matter of Priviledge upon a Bond from a peer who doth not now sit in the House of Lords Sir Hardress Waller published a Declaration or Representation to the Counties of Devonshire and Cornwall where he commanded the Forces Expressing the Honour and Justice of the Parliament and their General in their proceedings and in the distribution of the Forces in those Counties and touching the Assessments and freeing the Countreys from the burden of free Quarter perswading them to complyance with the Orders of Parliament and to pay the Assessments and promiseth his utmost endeavour in his Station to preserve and further the Peace and good of those Counties 15. A Message from the Lords to the Commons That their Lordsnips had agreed to the Ordinance for the maintenance of the Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax Also that they had agreed to the Ordinance for committing the custody of the great Seal of England into the hands of Commissioners of both Houses viz. The Earl of Kent Sir Thomas Widdrington Knight and Bulstrode Whitelocke Esquire for one year only their Lordships desired that the Lord Grey of Werke might be added to the said Commissioners and that one Lord and one Commoner might be of the Quorum And in regard the Commissioners of the House of Commons were in the Circuits and shall not return till the beginning of the next Term whereby much dammage would accrue to the Subject by not having Commissions and Writs Sealed before the Term as usually it was desired that the Earl of Kent and the Lord Grey might have power to sign Commissions and Writs till the tenth of April next to which the Commons after some debate assented The Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament for the custody of the great Seal was of this Tenor Die Mercurii 15 Martii 1647. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for Committing the Great Seal of England into the Hands and Custody of Commissioners The Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled do Order and Ordain