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
further accountable for the Duke The Commons ordered the allowance to the Duke of York to be taken off and an increase of allowance to the Duke of Glocester and that the Earl of Northumberland may remove him and his Sister to Sion House or Hampton Courr An Information concerning two Gentlemen relating to Everards business referred to the same Committee The General and his Officers kept a Fast-day at Windsor and the next day a Captain and others had their Tryals begun by a Councel of War Col. Poyer fell upon a Party of the Parliaments Forces under Col. Flemming routed them and killed and took most of them May 1648. May 1. Debate touching the business of the Church The Ordinance against Blasphemy and Heresie in some cases the punishment being death in other cases Abjuration c. passed both Houses but not without much opposition Order of both Houses for Ely House to be for the Sick and Wounded Soldiers Ordinance transmitted for placing of a Minister in Bathe Order for the Members of every County to present to the Commissioners of the Great Seal fit persons to be Justices of the Peace Letters from Bristol of some there privately listing for the King and the Forces there are cold in suppressing them Order for the Committee at Derby House to consult with the General about it Letters of the South-Welch rising in several places against the Parliaments Forces and driving away their Cattle and carrying away their Corn and Goods where the Parliaments Forces come not a Horse-shooe nor Smith to be found there Lieutenant General Cromwell ordered by the General to go into South-Wales with two Regiments of Horse and three Regiments of Foot Letters from Scotland that the Parliament there passed a Declaration thirty one protesting against it and the Clergy dissenting that two hundred and ten Barons and Lords met to perswade the Countries to rise in defence of Religion the King and Church 2. Vote for five thousand pound for repair of the Works of New-Castle and Tinmouth the like for Hull Scarborough and other Northern Garrisons and six thousand pound for Bristol Letters that Berwicke was surprised by Sir Marmaduke Langdale Sir Charles Lucas and other English with a Party of a hundred Horse pretending a Commission from Prince Charles that the Major endeavoured to get strength to oppose them but could not referred to the Committee of Derby House and the General Letters from the General that he had ordered the Regiments at White-Hall and the Meuse and other Forces near London to remove further off unless the Houses should give order to the contrary The House ordered a Letter to the General to stay the removal of those Regiments till farther order and a Committee to treat with the City what guards they will provide for the Houses if those Regiments be removed The General likewise acquainted the Houses with his sending Lieutenant Cromwell into Wales and with the not payment of Assessments whereby the Soldiers would be inforced to take free Quarter the House passed instructions to the Committee of the Army and Officers to rectifie it The Common Councel returned thanks to the Parliament for their confidence in the City and assured them that when the Forces of the Army should be removed the City would stand by the Parliament for their security The City allowed six hundred pound per An. to Major General Skippon Petitions to the Cities Common-Councel That the Impeached Aldermen may not be tryed by the Lords but by their equals That there may be a new Committee of the Militia every year the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs to be part and the rest to be chosed by the Common-Councel and approved by the Parliament and the Lieutenant of the Tower to be under the Cities Command referred to the Committee 3. Letters from the Lord Chancellor of Scotland by command of the Parliament there with their demands to the Parliament of England to this purpose 1. That the King may come to some of his Courts near London to abide with Safety Honour and Freedom 2. That a Personal Treaty may be had with his Majesty 3. That the Independent Schismatick Army may be Disbanded and none put into Garrisons but such as will take the Covenant and both Kingdoms may conside in 4. That all Anabaptists Separatists and Independents may be suppressed and no Toleration allowed for any of them 5. That all absent Members may be sent for to perform their duties in Parliament 6. That the Covenant may be inforced upon all men 7. That the Presbyterian Government may be effectually setled These demands were thought by some to be very strange a day was set for the debate of them Information of Tumults by the Malignants in Colchester Order for Letters to be sent to some Forces of the Army in that County to quiet them and the Committee at Derby House to take care thereof A Petition from many thousands Knights Gentlemen and Free-holders in Essex expressing the reason of their desires which were For a Personal Treaty with his Majesty that a course be taken for satisfaction of the Arrears of the Army with a disbanding of the same The Lords gave thanks to the County of Essex for their good affections and let them know that they would take their Petition into a serious and speedy consideration and not be wanting to contribute to their endeavours for the ease of the Countreys burdens and setling of a good Peace The Commons gave this Answer to the Petition That they take notice of the great service and good affections of that County to the Parliament and are consident they will so continue and as to their Petition the House is now in debate concerning the speedy settlement of the Kingdom and do not doubt but what they shall conclude there upon will give satisfaction to that County and to all well affected people It was earnestly pressed to have the words thanks of the House expressed in this Answer but it was carried in the Negative 5. Debate of the Letters from Scotland The Houses declared That they are resolved to maintain the Covenant and Treaties between the two Kingdoms and that they will be ready to joyn with Scotland in the Propositions presented to the King at Hampton-Court Order for Forces for the Northern parts and to put those Countries into a posture of defence and referred to the Committee at Derby House Instructions pass'd for the Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland to acquaint the Parliament there with the surprisal of Berwicke by enemies to both Kingdoms who had layn long in Scotland and were demanded by the English Commissioners Col. Horton published a Declaration to satisfie the Welch of the Parliaments Proceedings in order to disband the Forces of Major General Laugherne and to ease the Country of free Quarter and to settle Peace generally and of the revolt and opposition of Col. Poyer the trouble charge and danger to the Countries thereby
of Colonel Rainsbourgh and both excepted persons at the rendition of the Castle were taken at Lancaster in disguises Letters from Hamburgh that the servants of C. Cockeram there laid wait for the Minister going to preach in the English House and attempted to murder him but he was rescued by the Citizens 5. The House commanded Whitelock and his Brother Commissioner L'Isle to bring the Great Seal into the House to lye upon the table for the more solemnity because the new elected L. Mayor was to be presented this day to the House for their approbation they brought the Seal accordingly and at the door of the House Whitelock took the purse by one corner of it L'Isle by the other carried it up with usual reverences and laid it on the table they were both of them in their black velvet gowns the first time of their wearing of them The new L Mayor was according to order presented to the House by their Common Sergeant Mr. Proby who made an indiscreet speech the House Ordered thanks to the Aldermen and Common-Hall for their good choice which they approved of but not of the speech of Mâ— Proby Order to swear the L. Mayor after the new Oath An Act committed touching compositions for Delinquency and Sequestrations and giving an Appeal to the Barons of the Exchequer instead of the former Appeal to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations Reference to the Committee of the Navy of a complaint of the Spanish Ambassador and Petition of parties interessed concerning an old business of the Spanish Ship taken by Sir W. Waller A Committee appointed to receive complaints touching abuses in the Forest of Dean and destruction of the Timber 6. A Report from the Council of State for sending out some Ships speedily and appointing Commanders of them was approved by the House and referred back to the Council to expedite the sending forth of those Ships Vote that the Justices of Peace in the several Counties shall be Commissioners in the Act of assessment of 90000l. per mensem for the Forces and the Act was passed and ordered to be printed Order that the L. Mayor and Justices of Peace in London do put in Execution the statutes 5 Eliz. c. 4. and 1 Jac. c. 6. for setling the wages of Artificers and for their better relief in these dear times and the like to be done by the Justices of Peace in all Counties A Petition from divers well affected in Oxford-shire with their desires referred to a Committee and a Petition from the City of Oxford referred to the same Committee and the Petitioners had the thanks of the House Order for the rents allotted to the Prince Elector to be paid unto him Order for Mr. Garland to bring in an Act to remove all Malignant and disaffected Magistrates and that they may be incapable of bearing any office in the Common-Wealth 7. The Act for the assessment of 90000 l per mensem for the Forces in England and Ireland passed and Ordered to be printed A Committee appointed to advise with the General and Officers of the Army how upon the due payment of this ninety thousand pound per mensem free quarter may be wholly taken off Order that the four Aldermen and the late Lord Mayor Reynoldson now Prisoners be disabled from being Aldermen and the Common Council to elect new Aldermen in their places Vote that Major General Brown and Sir John Clotworthy Prisoners be brought to Tryal Captain Mountain proclaimed King Charles II. in Moulton in Yorkshire and a Parliament man came into the Town presently after and did not question it 9. The Act passed touching Compositions of Delinquents Order for the Committee of Delinquents to bring in an Act for rules of an Act of oblivion and that the Committee of the Army bring in an Act for a Committee and Treasurers for the monies for the Army Upon a Report from the Council of State L. G. Cromwell Sir Hen. Vane jun Alderman Wilson and others were appointed to treat with the Common Council of London for the borrowing of 120000 l for the service of Ireland upon security of the assessment of ninety thousand pound Order for money for disbanding the Lancashire Forces A Committee appointed to receive Informations against Major General Brown touching his ingagement with the Scots and with the Earl of Holland c. and against Sir William Waller Sir Jo. Clotworthy and Copley and other Prisoners Letters from Scotland that they are in high discontents and faction and the Prince expected to come and reconcile them Letters from New-Castle of a Ship of Corn taken by the Irish that the poor there are many of them ready to starve and the meaner sort not able longer to pay assessments not having bread to feed their families Eight Ships of the Irish Rebels taken by the Parliaments Ships 10. Debate of several acts for prohibiting Ministers to meddle with State affairs in their Pulpits And for prohibiting the Eating of Flesh meat certain daies in the Week for a time and for abating prizes of Corn and to forbid the making of malt for a time And of a Declaration of the Parliament of their resolution to settle Religion according to Presbytery and a full maintenance to the Ministers Order that the Speaker Mr. of the Rolls the Judges and Masters of the Chancery should have a Commission under the Great Seal to sit and hear causes in the Rolls in absence of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal Orders for money for several Forces The Council of War found Colonel Poyer guilty upon the Articles charged against him Upon a Report that the twelve thousand English designed for Ireland intended to march into Scotland they went on there to raise their defensive Army of ten thousand Discontent in London about the unequal laying of the assessment the Rich men being under-rated and the poorer men over-rated 11. A Report from the Council of State of several proposals agreed upon as to the Forces that shall go for Ireland was confirmed by the House and the Commitment of Lilburn and his fellows by the Council was approved by the House and Ordered that they be tryed by the Common-Law and Mr. Atturney Prideaux to prosecute them in the upper Bench. A Proclamation published by the General for the observation of former orders for the Army and that no Officer be absent from his charge without leave and to prevent misdemeanours of the Souldiers At the Council of State some discourses among them of sending Whitelock Ambassadour extraordinary into Holland Against this he laboured and urged the burden of the business in Chancery lying upon him and which gave most satisfaction and as he believed in this jealous age did prevent his journey he urged my Lord Willoughbies being in those parts which by reason of their relation might with some men raise a jealousie upon him They again urged the fitness of him for this imployment his
fell into the Lord of Kinoules Quarters took seven or eight Prisoners and about twelve Horse killed one rescued the Lord of Egles Sheriff dispersed the Regiment and the Lord of Kinoule hardly escaped The Lord Protector was Proclaimed by sound of Trumpet in the Pallace yard at Westminster at the Old Exchange and several other places in London divers of the Councel and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in their Robes with three Serjeants at Armes with their Maces and the Heraulds attending And command to Publish the same Proclamation in all Counties 20. Letters of a Dutch Prize taken by a Private Man of War and brought to Hull 21 A Proclamation Published by his Highness the Lord Protector with the consent of his Councel for continuing all Persons being in Office for the Execution of Publick Justice at the time of the late change of Government until his Highness further direction in these Words OLiver Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland considering That whereas the exercise of the chief Magistracy and the Administration of Government within the said Commonwealth is Invested and Established in his Highness assisted with a Council and lest thereupon the setled and ordinary course of Justice in the Commonwealth if remedy were not provided might receive interruption his Highness in his care of the State and publick Justice thereof reserving to future consideration the reformation and redress of any abuses by misgovernment upon better knowledge taken thereof is pleased and doth hereby expresly signifie declare and ordain by and with the advice and consent of his Council who have power until the meeting of the next Parliament to make Laws and Ordinances for the Peace and Welfare of these Nations where it shall be necessary which shall be binding and in force until Order shall be taken in Parliament concerning the same that all persons who on the Tenty day of this instant December were duly and lawfully possessed of any place of Judicature or Office of Authority Jurisdiction or Government within this Commonwealth shall be and shall so hold themselves continued in the said Offices and Places respectively as formerly they held and enjoyed the same and not otherwise until his Highness pleasure be further known And all Commissions Patents and other Grants which respect or relate unto the doing and executing of Publick Justice and all Proceedings of what Nature soever in Courts of Common Law or Equity or in the Court of Admiralty or by Commissioners of Sewers shall stand and be in the same and like force to all Intents and Purposes as the same were on the said Tenth day of this instant December until further Order given by his Highness therein And that in the mean time for preservation of the publick Peace and necessary proceedings in matters of Justice and for safety of the State all the said Persons of whatsoever Place Power Degree or Condition may not fail every one severally according to his respective Place Office or Charge to proceed in the performance and execution of all Duties thereunto belonging as formerly appertaining to them and every of them whilst the former Government was in being Given at White-Hall this 21st of December in the year of our Lord 1653. 22 Letters that the States of the Netherlands keep from their People the knowledge of the Offers of England for coalition and Peace with them Of great Preparations for the Sea against the Spring of above One hundred Sayl of Ships of War 23 Letters of the Highlanders dividing themselves in several Territories that they often remove their Quarters and are in want of Provisions That a Party of the English killed three and a Captain of the Lord Lords 24 Letters of two Dutch Prizes brought in by a Private Man of War That the Dutch about the Lands-end took an English Ship which came from New England That some French Wines were taken and brought into Deal That the Highlanders make so high Demands from the Country that they are not able to supply them 26 Letters that Captain Hart about Dumfrize with a Party of English pursued some of the Enemies by the tract of the Snow and fell upon them took Sixty five Horses sixteen Prisoners and many Armes and four of them slain they fought very Resolutly for a while Captain Hart lost but one Man and sixteen Wounded That the late Change of Government in England was well Resented by the Army in Scotland and they were unanimous to obey the Lord Protector That some Gentlemen about Ruthen Castle in Scotland sent to Captain Hill the Governour to know if an Enemy should come into those Parts whether he would give them leave to furnish the Enemy with Provisions c. to rid them out of the Country to which he answered That if any did so they should forfeit their Lives and Estates Then he showes them the Power of the State of England and their kind dealing with the People of Scotland under their Power and the inconsiderableness of those in Armes against the State of England concludes with an absolute forbidding of them to give any Assistance to the Enemy and to pay in their Sesses Letters from Swedland of the safe Arrival of the Lord Ambassadour Whitelock and of his gallant Reception there 27 The Lord Protector and his Councel passed several Ordinances For continuing the Excise and the Commissioners For the continuing the Act for Redemption of Captives For alteration of several Names and Formes used heretofore in Courts Writs Grants Patents Commissions c. and setling Proceedings in Courts of Law and Equity Divers Prizes taken by Captain Newberry between the Isle of Wight and the French Coast and several other Prizes taken and brought in by others of the Parliament Frigots 28 An Order Published of the Protector and his Counsel for reviving of a former Act for the Probat of Wills and granting Administrations Letters that Chanut Ambassadour from the French King with the States did freely offer to them an Alliance and Assistance from his Master if they would break with Spain and England That Captain Crispin pursued some French Vessels into Conquet Road where he Anchored and the Town and Country came down to assist the Pickaroons and Dutch there and Crispin made Two hundred and thirty great Shot into the Town and did much spoil to the Ships which got close under the Houses 29 The Lord Protector and his Councel sate very close in Ordering their dispatches to the several Forces in England Scotland and Ireland and to their Publick Ministers abroad 30 The Lord Protector with his Councel and the Officers of his Army kept a Day of Humiliation at Whitehall That the Lord Protector was Solemnly Proclaimed at Plymouth the Magistrates present in their Robes the Trumpets sounding and Guns firing the Bells Ringing and Shouts and great Acclamations of Joy of the People Of Two English Ships loaded with Masts c. coming from New England taken by three Dutch-men of War
doubtful thoughts in the Commissioners of the Seal who knew the Authority of that Court was design'd to be lessened and they were not consulted in this Matter yet they took no notice of it but went on in the Ordinary course of their Proceedings Upon the Lords Day March 11. a Party of about Two hundred of the New Conspirators came into Salisbury at Midnight seized upon many Horses and took away the Judges Commissions being then in their Circuit in that place and they Marched from thence Westward whereof Captain Vnton Croke having timely Intelligence pursued them with his Troops and at South Molton in Devon overtook them and after a sharp Conflict Routed them took Captain Penruddock Jones and Grove and Five hundred common Persons Prisoners Sir Joseph Wagstaff then Chief Comander hardly escaping There were other Risings in Northumberland and in Yorkshire of whom Sir Henry Slingsby was taken Prisoner and others and Sir Richard Moleverer hardly escaped Many of the Conspirators were tryed by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer at Salsbury and Exeter Mr. James Decoy was Clerk to the Commissioners and did some service to Sir Henry Moor Sir George Browne and others who were of that Plot in helping to favour them for which I suppose they were not ungrateful Penruddock and Grove were Beheaded Lucas of Hungerford and others were Executed and the Prisons were filled in those parts Letters from Scotland informed That Middleton was said to be Landed there again with new Supplies from the King who was also expected to come thither shortly with a great Force and store of Mony and his Brother the Duke of York to come a little before him Upon this News former Treaties were broken off and in divers Parts New Levies began to be made for the King The Protector and his Council Publish'd an Ordinance Appointing Commissioners for Approbation of Publick Preachers Another for passing Custodies for Idiots and Lunaticks Another for continuing the Act for Impresting of Seamen He and his Councel and Officers kept a day of Solemn Humiliation and Fasting the which was also observed throughout London and Westminster Brest men did much mischief to the Merchants of Bristol and the Western parts who complained thereof The Parliaments Commander in Scotland apprehended divers of the Kings party The Lord Mayor and the Militia of London attended the Protector with their fuit to him to give leave to revive the Artillery Company in London for the better exercising of the Citizens in Arms and they undertook that none but well affected persons should be admitted into that Company to which the Protector assented Letters that Collonel Hacker had apprehended several of the Conspiratours in Notinghamshâ—re Leicestershire and those parts and kept them all in awe Captain Howard had given to him the Command of Collonel Rich his Regiment An Agent from Portugal brought the Ratification of the Treaty between England and Portugal Several Examinations were taken about the late Risings and Plots The Duke of Lenox dyed at London Letters from Scotland that they were in a quiet condition The Protector by the advice of one Gage a Minister who had been long in the West Indies set forth a gallant Fleet under the Command of Vice-Admiral Pen with a great party of Land-Soldiers under the Command of Vinables many were very eager to ingage in this design being given out in general to be very rich and that it was for the West Indies but it was kept very secret till the Fleet had been gone along time which arrived at the Barbadoes in this month and the thirtieth day of it set sail from thence and steered their Course towards Hâ—spaniola one of the fairest and richest Islands in America under the King of Spains Dominions Who having some inkling of this design sent the Marquis of Leda his Ambassadour to the Protector and the Marquis finding how things went quickly returned to his Master April 1655. April 1655. The Protector and his Councel issued many Orders for the apprehending of several persons suspected to be in the late Plot and they were brought to White-Hall and there examined by the Protector and Secretary Thurloe some of them were discharged but more of them were Committed Collonel Birch and others were secured in Hereford-shire and divers in Northumberland Letters that the Brest Pirates took some English Ships and that General Blake was gone from Tunis to Maltha to demand satisfaction for some Piracies done there upon English men The Protector feasted the Commissioners for approbation of Ministers he sate at the Table with them and was chearful and familiar in their Company and by such kind of little Caresses he gained much upon many persons The King of Sweden sent a Letter to his Highness the Lord Protector in behalf of Lord Lauderdale and his Brother Laundie And the Lord Douglas writ likewise from Stock-holm into England For the release of his poor Kinsman not doubting but that his Highness as a Gratious Prince might be moved to compassion having no powerful or any opposition at all in any of the three Kingdoms For since it hath pleased the Lord of Hosts to bless his actions in such a height that by his valâ—ur his Highness has not only subdued superior and all other power that was against him but also by prudent Conduct of Affairs hath Established himself and these three Nations in one Peaceable Estate What could that augment to his greatness to let his goodness and compassion be made known to the world that he shews upon those whose Lives and Fortunes he has in his hands Upon this Letter and the recommendation from the King of Swedland favour was procured from the Protector to the Lord Lauderdale and his Brother and considerable services were done for them but when the times altered they Scots like remembred nothing of it nor ever returned the least kindness or gratitude for all the good Offices were done them Letters from Scotland of new designs and endeavours of the Enemy there to raise Forces The Protector sent Letters to the Justices of the Peace in York-shire and in most Counties for the watching and apprehending suspitious persons as to the new designs on foot against the Peace of the Common-Wealth and the matter of the Letters was carefully executed Letters were sent to the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal to attend a Committee of the Council at the Council Chamber They attended accordingly and were acquainted with this Order Monday 23. April 1655. At the Council at White-Hall Ordered by his Highness the Lord Protector and the Councel That the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal do proceed according to the Ordinance of his Highness and the Councel Intituled An Ordinance for the better regulating and limiting the Jurisdiction of the High Court of Chancery Henry Scobel Clerk of the Councel The Chair-man told them That this Ordinance was made upon
good deliberation and advice and his Highness was persuaded that it would much conduce to Publick good to have it duely executed which this Order did require which he delivered to Whitelocke and said his Highness did not doubt of their ready compliance therein Whitelocke spake as antient and told the Committee That they had not the honour to be advised with upon the making of this Ordinance and that they were under an Oath and as far as they could they should readily comply with the pleasure of his Highness and the Councel and desired some time to peruse and consider the Ordinance Some debate in general there was about it and the Master of Rolls spake most resolutely against it The Committee would not enter into a Debate about it but gravely admonished the Lords Commissioners to be careful not to oppose his Highness intentions for the common good and so they dismissed them After this the Commissioners of the Seal and the Master of the Rolls had several meetings and consultations about the execution of this new Ordinance The Commissioner L'Isle was wholly for the execution of it Sir Thomas Widdrington the Master of the Rolls and Whitelocke were not satisfied for the execution of it and declared their reasons against it and observations of inconveniencies in it which are as followeth The Commissioners and Master of the Rolles are by this Act of Regulation made instrumental to deprive several persons of their Freehold without Offence or Legal Tryal which reflecting upon the Great Charter and so many Acts of Parliament they humbly desire they may have the opinion of all the Judges of England in point of Law therein The fourth Rule of the Ordinance is that the first process in Chancery be a Subpaena which shall be open and that as many Defendants as the Plaintiff doth desire be inserted into the same paying no more but one shilling six pence for every Subpaena thus to be distributed six pence for the Seal and twelve pence to the Office Vpon serving the Subpaena open the abuse now too frequently used will be much increased by Forgery of Names Persâ—ns and Dates 5 That no Subpaena be sued out until a Bill be Filed and a Certificate thereof be brought unto the Subpaena Office under the Hand of the Chief Clerk or his Deputy for which Certificate the chief Clerk shall receive no fee. The Exhibiting a Bâ—ll before a Subpaena will draw an unnecessary expence and trouble in many Suits which would end upon the bare service of the Subpaena as is found by dayly experience and is mischievious to the people in many particulars ready to be expressed and only profitable to Lawyers and Attornies 6. That in default of appearance upon Oath made of due service or in default of answer within due time security being put in as is provided an Attachment with Proclamation shall Issue to the Sheriff who shall cause the same to be Proclaimed at the door of the Defendants dwelling House Lodging or last abode between Ten and Two by the Sheriffs Bayliffs or special Bayliffs and the Bayliffs shall have power for the apprehension of the party if need shall be to break open any House or Door where the party is in the day time provided that if the Warrant be to special Bayliffs they shall not break up any House or Door but in presence of a Constable who upon the shewing of such Warrant is required to be assisting unto the Bayliffs and if the Defendant cannot be apprehended nor shall appear by the return of the Writ the Plaintiff may return the Attachment as often as there shall be cause which Attachment shall be in Lieu of a Commission of Rebellion and Serjeant at Arms. This seems to advance the Jurisdiction of the Chancery upon a mean Process beyond an exemption at Law to break open not only the parties but any other persons House without notice or request made to be admitted which may be used to the Robbing of Houses and taking away Evidences and other great abuses it being far different from the awarding the Sergeant at Arms who is a known and Responsible Officer and Acts only by special Order in open Court upon satisfaction of the heighth of the contempt and his Warrant is under the Hands and Seals of the Commissioners and he is also answerable to them for his miscarryage if any be and the other Process is issued by Clerks of course which reflects upon the Liberty and safety of the people of this Nation wherein every Ordinary Clerk hath power to do more then all the Judges of England and how safe it is for Judges to award such process is left to consideration 7. The Defendant shall not be compelled to answer until the Plaintiff with one Surety at least hath acknowledged a Recognizance before a Master of the Chancery in Ordinary or Extraordinary the sum not to be under twenty Marks conditioned to pay such Costs to the Defendant in that Suit as the Court of Chancery shall award if they see cause to award any for which Recognizance he shall be paid twelve pence only and no more and such Master of the Chancery shall for as much Certifie every such Recognizance into the Office of the Petty-bag in Chancery to be there Filed and the Officer there shall give a Certificate thereof to the Plaintiff or his Attorney upon request and for the Filing such Recognizances making Certificate and keeping an Alphabet thereof he shall receive twelve pence and no more but where the Plaintiff shall be admitted in Forma Pauperis there no Security is to be required By this the Defendant is not bound to answer without the Plaintiff gives Security by Recognizance which will be an incumbrance upon his Land so long as that Suit endures which will hinder Commerce and disable Infants and persons Non Compos Mentis to Sue and is of great delay and five times the former expence before the Suit can have an answer and the discharging and Suing Recognizances will increase motions Suits and Expences and if the Suits never proceed it will be difficult to have it dicharged and cannot be but by Orders albeit the parties consent and the Rule it self is uncertain not expressing to whom the Recognizance shall be given and doth no more than what may be done upon an Order for Costs without so much expence which is only of advantage to Lawyers Officers and Clerks 8. That where a Defendant might answer by Commission in the Country he shall not now be forced to take a Commission but may answer upon Oath before a Master of the Chancery in the Country in like manner and by such time as if a Commission had issued and that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal do take care for that purpose there be in every County a convenient number of such of the Justices of the Peace resident in that County as they shall judg to be of the greatest Ability and Integrity appointed to
right again in relation to them and a Committee made to consider what other Votes were fit to be vacated Then to please their Patron they voted Monk to be General of all the Forces in England Scotland and Ireland Lawson was voted to be Vice-Admiral and the Powers given to the Commissioners for government of the Army were repealed Sir Robert Pye Fincher and others released of their Imprisonment All Orders of the Council of State or Commissioners of the Army concerning the Forces are to be communicated to Monk and not to be proceeded upon without his approbation The Powers given to the Council of State to be taken away and a new Council to be chosen Order to restore the Common Council of London to their liberty and for the City to set up again their Posts Chains Gates and Portcullises The Members of Parliament ordered to attend the House the imprisoned Apprentices released by Order and the cause of the Imprisonment of Sir George Booth Col. Brooke the L. Crawford L. Louderdale and Lord St. Clare to be certified to the House 22. More former Votes vacated M. G. Brown restored to his place in Parliament Sir G. Booth released upon security and his Sequestration stopped Order for a new Parliament to be summoned to meet April 25. 1660. A Committee named to prepare Qualifications for it The City returned thanks to the House for their favour and the House sent to borrow money of them Monk took up his Quarters at S. James's House 23. Divers imprisoned for Addresses to the former House were released and ordered that no private business be admitted during the sitting of this Parliament All Powers granted for the several Militia's repealed and an Act to be for new settling of them The Vote repealed that Scot be Secretary of State The City sent a Congratulation to the Parliament for their Restauration and consented to lend them 60000 l. for pay of the Forces and petitioned for settling their Militia in such hands as the City might confide in and named in a List Commissioners for their Militia which the House approved A Day of Thansgiving appointed The Council of State named Several Sheriffs appointed Vote to discharge Mr. Bulstrode from being a Commissioner for the Excise this Gentleman Whitelocke had put in formerly to be a Commissioner of the Excise and although he had faithfully served the Parliament yet that was not now considered but he was set by and perhaps the rather because of his kindred to Whitelocke to make way for another The like was done to others and several new Officers made Order for a Bill to dissolve the present Parliament 25. The Act passed for constituting George Monk Esquire Captain General and Commander in chief under the Parliament of all the Land Forces in England Scotland and Ireland An Act passed for constituting the Council of State with a Repeal of the Act for the former Council An Act past for continuance of the Excise and Customs and Votes about those Customs The Lent Circuits put off and a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to be issued forth in the several Counties Several persons discharged of their Imprisonments and Sequestrations A Pardon past for divers reprieved persons A Declaration from the Officers of the Army in Ireland for the secluded Members and for a free Parliament Sir Hardress Waller opposed by Coot and others The City advanced money for the Parliament They entertained Monk and his Officers at Dinner on the Thanksgiving Day Monk visited the Speaker at the Rolls Ingoldsby sent by Monk with Forces to quiet the Regiment at Bury Colonel Morley Lieutenant of the Tower concurred with Monk 27. Votes to make void all that was done in Parliament against those of Sir George Booth's Party and against Chester This was sufficient to cause men to suppose what was intended The Speaker made Chamberlain of Chester An Oath past for the Officers of the Council of State A Proclamation for the Officers of the Army to continue with their Souldiers Vote for the Council that they may secure any persons though they be Members of Parliament to prevent publick danger John Thomson and John Thurloe Esquires voted to be Secretaries of State Vote for Dr. Clargies Monk's friend to have the Hamper Office Letters from York that by Monk's Letters to the Forces there he had given them so full satisfaction of his joyning against the Old Enemy and that Family that they concurred with him but if he should do otherwise they would oppose him 29. A Committee to examine matters touching sequestred Ministers Debate of security for money to be lent by the City and Votes touching the Militia of the City and other Militias A few Arms seized in the Houses of L. Colonel Kiffin and others Monk made Mr. Carew Ralegh Governour of Jersey Colonel Vnton Crook and his Regiments concurrence with Monk declared by them and the like by other Regiments March 1659. 1. Sir George Gerrard voted to be Custos Rotulorum of Middlesex Order for maimed Souldiers c. and for the poor Knights of Windsor Order about the Publick Revenue and the Assessment and for wounded Seamen Vote that this Parliament be dissolved at or before the fifteenth day of this instant March A Message to the City for money 2. The Confession of Faith of the Assembly of Divines agreed unto by the House except the 30 and 31 Chapters which are touching Church censures and synods Monk and Mountague voted to be Generals at Sea both fit for the intended design Orders touching the Militias and for maimed Souldiers c. and about the settlement of Ireland Repeal of former Votes against Hollis and of two late Acts of Sequestrations 3. The Question betwixt Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Owen about the Deanry of Christ-Church referred to a Committee The Earl of Crawford and Lauderdale and the Lord Sinclere released from their Imprisonment in Windsor Castle Orders about the Admiralty and Navy and Prize Goods Dr. Walker put out from being Judge Advocate Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper's Regiment declared for the Parliament and for Monk Courting Addresses to Monk from Northampton-shire and Nottingham-shire Intelligence of the Death of the King of Sweden a Gallant wise just and valiant Price The Protestant Interest lost a great Patron A Souldier hanged for murther Monk was feasted by several Companies in London 5. An Act passed for the publick confession of Faith Divers Sheriffs of Counties named Orders for a Proclamation to put the Laws in execution against Papists Orders for the Militias and for Justices of Peace Order for Printing and setting up in Churches the Solemn League and Covenant 6. Some Sheriffs named Lambert committed to the Tower and Haslerigge ordered to attend the House Overton discharged from being Governour of Hull and a Colonel Divers Commissions for the Militia passed Persons and Arms apprehended 7. The House approved the committment of Colonel Rich by the
persons in authority to put the Ordinance of the Militia in execution which the King declares to be no legal power in the Houses and commands that none do obey it and summons the Gentry of the County to York to whom he relates these illegal proceedings of the Parliament and tells them his purpose to have a guard onely to secure his person in which he desires their assistance And the rather because the Members that came with the last Message to the King returned to York and before them all these proceedings were had Sir Thomas Gardiner Recorder of London was impeached for advising the Lord Mayor to pay Ship-money and other illegal things and against Scotland and opposing the Parliament but he got to the King The County of York being Summoned the Committee prevailed with some of them to oppose the raysing of a guard for the King and the Parliament declared against it and that such as do are disturbers of the Peace The Ordinance of the Militia being now past and Lieutenants named for the several Counties they nominated their Deputy Lieutenants to the Parliament for their approbation The Lord Paget being named in the Ordinance and approved to be Lieutenant of Bucks he named Hampden Goodwyn Grenville Tyrrell Winwood and Whitelocke to be his deputy Lieutenants who were approved by the Parliament The Lord Paget not long after this began to boggle and was unfixed in his resolutions and upon the King 's publishing of his Commission of Array and Declaration against the Ordinance of Parliament for the Militia his Lordships heart failing him and being unsatisfied in his Judgment he revolted from the Parliament and went to the King Whereupon the Lord Wharton was nominated and approved by both Houses of Parliament to be in his roome Lieutenant for the County of Bucks Mr. Palmer Mr. Hyde and Mr. Bridgeman and divers other eminent Lawyers and Gentlemen had given their opinions positively against it and left the House upon the passing of it On the other part the Lord Littleton was most confident for the legality of it and divers other Lawyers and Gentlemen of the short robe were cleerly for it and that the Lords and Commons in case of the King's minority sickness or absence had done the same in other times As when H. 3. dyed and his Son E. 1. was in the holy Land and came not home in almost two years after his Father's death yet in the mean time the Lords and Commons appointed Lieutenants in the several Counties and made several Ordinances which are of force at this day So are the Ordinances made by them in the minority of H. 6. and upon the difference between him and the Duke of York and the Ordinances in the minority of E. 6. and in other times That the King was now absent and having called his Parliament at Westminster was himself gone as far from them as York and had before he came thither and since appeared with Warlike forces about him to the terror of the Parliament That the business of Ireland and other threatning dangers gave too much cause of Fears and Jealousies to the Parliament and to stand upon their guard and for defence of themselves and the Kingdome Without which the King would so grow upon them and his evil Counsellors so prevaile that they would undoubtedly bring their designs to pass of a speedy introducing of Popery and Tyranny whereas if they saw the Parliament in a good posture of defence and that the people generally would adhere to them as no doubt but they would that then the King would be brought to a good accommodation and agreement with his Parliament without a blow to be struck between them Whereby they should preserve the just Rights and Liberties of the Subject the privilege of Parliament and themselves and their friends and the Protestant Religion from Ruine which without this appearance onely of arms or power to arme if there should be occasion would unavoidably be brought to pass These arguments together with the solemn protestations of the most powerful and active Members That they had not the least purpose or intention of any War with the King but to arme themselves for their necessary defence prevailed with most men to keep their station and at present to accept those Commissions of Deputy Lieutenancy Maynard Glyn Grimstone St. John Selden and divers other Gentlemen of great parts and interest accepted of the like Commissions and continued in their service in the Parliament The King resolves that Easter Term be adjourned from London to York the Parliament Vote it to be illegal and Order that the Lord Keeper Littleton issue no Writs or Proclamation for that purpose They publish a large Declaration much to the same effect as the former were mentioning that the Rebellion in Ireland was countenanced by evil Council about the King the proclaiming them Traitors deferred from October to January after and then but 40 Copies ordered to be Printed nor any of them to be published without the King's Order whereas the proceedings against the Scots and proclaiming them Traitors was very sharp and speedy To this the King gives an answer in effect the same with what he had said before to these particulars after which he writes to his Council in Scotland to acquaint them with the State of his affairs in England to which he receives a dutiful and affectionate answer with a Petition from divers of the Nobility and people there full of zeal and loyalty to his service The Parliament hearing of this took course to turn the Ballance and within eight days after the Scots Council declare their earnest desires both to King and Parliament to joyn in a perfect union and humbly desire the King to hearken to his greatest his best and most unparallel'd Council They disswade the King from a personal Journey into Ireland and pray that a Mediation may be at home ere the breach be wider And in fine they come to a large manifestation of their true and hearty affection to the Parliament of England protesting to do nothing contrary to them in their Privileges A multitude of people at Edenburgh hearing of the King's Letter to his Council there and of the Answer to it and Petition before mentioned they petition the Council there not to meddle by any verball or reall engagement for the King against the Parliament of England These Passages in Scotland gave much advantage to the Parliaments Affairs in England who protest their Fidelity to the King and court the Scots with very kind expressions The Earl of Bristol moved for an accommodation and a select Committee to be appointed to consider of some way to effect the same But the Parliament voted that which was done at York for a Guard for the King to be a preparation for War against the Parliament a breach of the trust reposed in him by his People contrary to his Oath and tending to the dissolution of his Government
and all such as serve him there to be Traytors to the Laws of the Kingdom 11 R. 2. and 1 H. 4. After this they publish another Remonstrance of the King's Misactions and their own Privileges He answers it and they reply and May 28. they order That all Sheriffs Justices of the Peace c. within one hundred and fifty miles of York make stay of all Arms and Ammunition carrying to York and apprehend the Conveyers and that all Sheriffs do suppress all Forces coming together by the King's Commission and all persons to aid them and this to be published in all Market Towns and Churches The King forbids all Obedience to any Orders or Ordinance of Parliament for the Militia according to the Statute 7 E. 1. and requires all the people of Yorkshire to meet at a day and place which the Parliament declare to be against Law and forbid Obedience to it This was an unhappy condition for the poor people none knowing what to doe or whom to obey nor what would be the consequence of these thwartings between the great Powers and Authorities of King and Parliament Divers Members of both Houses withdrew to the King which caused an Order for all to attend at a day upon forfeiting of an hundred pounds to the Irish War They order that whosoever shall lend or bring Money into this Kingdom upon the King's Jewels shall be an Enemy to the State Ju. 2. The Parliament sent to the King Nineteen Propositions for Peace which are in Print the King rejected them as inconsistent with the Regall Rights he caresseth the people of Yorkshire Ju. 4. The Parliament order all Deputy Lieutenants to be present at all Musters and the Lieutenants of Counties to dispatch their Warrants Ju. 10. They make an Order for bringing in Money or Plate to maintain Horsemen and Arms for defence of the King and Parliament and for the publick Peace The King sends forth his Commissions of Array begins in Leicestershire these Commissions were declared by the Parliament to be against Law and the Actors in them to be Betrayers of the Subjects Liberty The Lord Keeper Littleton after his great adherence to the Parliament delivered the great Seal to Mr. Elliot whom the King sent to him for it and shortly after Littleton followed the Seal to the King but was not much respected by him or his Courtiers yet was he a man of Courage and of excellent Parts and Learning Many other of the Lords being with the King at York he declared to them That he would not exercise any illegal Authority but defend them and all others against the Votes of Parliament and not engage them in any War against the Parliament And they all in a solemn Protestation engaged to his Majesty to stand by him The King wrote to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London Not to raise any Forces for the Parliament and sets forth his large Declaration and invites men to bring in to him Money Horse and Arms on security of his Forests and Parks for the Principal and Eight per cent Interest He forbids Levies without his Consent upon the Statutes 7 E. 1. 2 E. 3. 11 R. 2. and the Earl of Shrewsbury's Case in H. 8. time and minds them of their Oath of Allegiance to be faithful to the King's Person as well as to his Authority and justifies his Commissions of Array To which the Parliament reply and he to them again All which rather exasperated the Differences And now came up the Names of Parties Royallists and Parliamentarians Cavaliers and Roundheads The King goes to Nottingham and summoneth and caresseth the Freeholders of the County and promiseth to act according to the Protestation at York the like he did at Lincoln And July 11. sends a Message to the Parliament Of his intentions to reduce Hull if it be not rendred to him which if they do he will admit of their further Propositions He complains of Hotham's actions for which he will punish him and of the Earl of Warwick's taking upon him the Command of the Fleet who had got in the Sea-men to him and put by Sir John Pennington and took a Ship of Ammunition coming to the King from Holland The Lord Willoughby of Parham being Lieutenant of Lincolnshire was there putting the Militia into a posture which being informed to the King he wrote to the Lord Willoughby to desist from that action and the Lord Willoughby returned an humble ingenious and weighty Answer to his Majesty to excuse his not performing at present what the King required of him which he said was not in his power to doe without breach of that trust which he had undertaken to the Parliament and to which he was encouraged by the opinion of some of his Majestie 's great Officers eminent in the knowledge of the Laws wherein he was not learned After this he proceeded in executing the Ordinance for the Militia and the King was not so severe against him as against others The Parliament now thought it high time to provide for their own Defence and to raise an Army for that purpose Upon the Debate whereof one of the Members declared his Opinion to this effect Mr. Speaker The Question which was last propounded about raising of Forces naming a General and Officers of an Army hath been very rare before this time in this Assembly and it seems to me to set us at the Pits-brink ready to plunge our selves into an Ocean of troubles and miseries and if it could be into more than a Civil War brings with it Give me leave Sir to consider this unhappy Subject in the beginning progress and issue of it Caesar tells us and he knew as much of Civil War as any man before him that it cannot be begun Sine malis artibus Surely Sir our Enemies of the Popish Church have left no evil Arts unessayed to bring us to our present posture and will yet leave none unattempted to make our Breaches wider well knowing that nothing will more advance their Empire than our Divisions Our Misery whom they account Hereticks is their Joy and our Distractions will be their glory and all evil Arts and ways to bring Calamities upon us they will esteem meritorious But Sir I look upon another beginning of our Civil War God blessed us with a long and flourishing Peace and we turned his Grace into wantonness and Peace would not satisfie us without Luxury nor our plenty without Debauchery Instead of sobriety and thankfulness for our Mercies we provoked the Giver of them by our sins and wickedness to punish us as we may fear by a Civil War to make us Executioners of Divine Vengeance upon our selves It is strange to note how we have insensibly slid into this beginning of a Civil War by one unexpected Accident after another as Waves of the Sea which have brought us thus far And we scarce know how but from Paper Combates by Declarations Remonstrances
this is more than an imposing by the Magistrate it is the precept of God and they are in a sad condition both Magistrates and People who are not under this Government But it is objected that no form of Government it Jure Divino in this or that particular but in the general onely Let all things be done decently and in order A Government is Jure Divino but whether this or that Government whether Presbytery Episcopacy Independency or any other Form of Government be Jure Divino or not whether there be a Prescript Rule or express Command of the Holy Scripture for any of these particulars will not be admitted by many men as a clear thing It may be therefore not unworthy your Consideration whether to give occasion for these Disputes or not if you shall think fit at this time to forbear to declare your Judgments in this Point the truth nevertheless will continue the same and not wronged thereby If this Government be not Jure Divino no opinion of any Council can make it to be what it is not and if it be Jure Divino it continues so still although you do not declare it to be so I therefore humbly submit it Sir to your grave Judgments whether it be not better at this time when Disputes upon such Subjects as these are too apt to be raised to avoid giving occasion for them which will but retard that Settlement of Government that is desired and high time it were done And that you may be pleased to present your Judgments to the Parliament that the Government of the Church by Presbyteries is most agreeable to the word of God and most fit to be settled in this Kingdom or in what other expressions you may much better know than I it is fit to Cloath your Questions and I hope you may soon have a desired Issue The Ordinance passed for a Council of War to be held for punishment of Delinquents and Articles annexed to it and it was ordered to be proclaimed in London and in all Counties Goring Langdale and Mackworth appeared on the borders of Scotland with 4000 Horse and 4000 Foot which caused the Parliament there to send 5000 Men to the borders and to take care of their defence Divers of the propositions for a Peace were passed and the House sent to the City that if they desired to have any thing inserted in the Propositions they would be willing to receive it which was kindly taken by the City Macquere and Mac Mahon with a Steel-saw cut asunder the door of their Chamber swam over the Tower-ditch and escaped away the Parliament ordered 100 l. to any that should bring either of them alive or dead They ordered Waller to march into the West and past a new Ordinance for the Excise General Leven came also before Newcastle he and Calender got possession of the Bridge and most of the inhabitants of the lower Town fled to the high Town for shelter Leven summoned 3000 Countreymen to come in with Spades Mattocks c. The Earl of Warwick wrote that he had sent provisions by Sea for the Lord General 's Army The Lord Mayor and Aldermen presented their desires to the Parliament to be inserted in the propositions for Peace The Besiegers made a breach in Basing-house and took some Prisoners of the Garrison The Earl of Manchester had Bozer-house surrendred to him upon Articles An association was past for Wilts Dorset Somerset Devon and Cornwal and the Earls of Northumberland Pembroke and Salisbury Lord Roberts Lord Bruce and the Knights and Burgesses serving for those Counties had power any eight of them to appoint Colonels and other Officers and to raise moneys c. The Commons ordered some prizes unduly taken to be restored to the owners A party of Prince Rupert's forces were fallen upon by some of the Lancaster forces and of the Earl-of Manchester who slew 30 and took 100 of the Prince's men prisoners Middleton encountred a party of the King's forces in Somersetshire took about 200 Horse one Colonel divers inferiour Officers and 38 common Souldiers he wrote also that the King's Army was in such want of provisions that a peny loaf was there sold for six pence The General 's Army and the King 's often faced one another the General 's men took a Captain and some inferiour Officers and 48 common Souldiers of Sir Richard Greenvile's own Troop It was certified by Letters that Sir Francis Doddington meeting an honest Minister upon the way near Taunton asked him who art thou for Priest who answered for God and his Gospel whereupon Doddington shot the Minister to death The Parliament ordered Commissions of Oyer and Terminer to be executed and appointed Mr. Hoyle one of their Members to be Lord Mayor of York till the next day of election The Committee of Sussex complained against Colonel Apsley one of them The Lord Ogle and Colonel Huddleston fell upon Colonel Doddington near Lathom-house and worsted him till Colonel Shuttleworth came in to Doddington's assistance with some of the Parliaments forces and took 50 Horse 40 Prisoners and routed the rest among the Prisoners was the Lord Ogle Colonel Huddleston and other Officers Brereton and Middleton faced Chester out of which Garrison Colonel Marrow issued and fell upon them but was slain in the fight and divers of his men killed and taken The next morning Prince Rupert drew forth two of his best Regiments of Horse and a party of Foot fell upon Brereton and Middleton but they were beaten back to Chester many of his men killed and taken and in both these fights they certifie that 400 of the Enemy were killed and taken Middleton took thirty horse of one of the King's Convoys near Bristol The Commons took order touching the trade of Fishing at Yarmouth and a payment to be made by Fishers Six Troups of the Protestants in Ireland routed fifteen Troups of the Rebels and had many miraculous successes against them the Parliament took care for supply of them The Rebels in Vlster with an Army of 22000 intended to have massacred all the English and Scots there but the Lord Monroe with 14000 Protestants fought with them wholly dispersed and killed and took many thousands of them and Cattel and other Provision for a month which the Rebels left behind them and whereof the Protestants then were in great want The Commissioners of the Court-martial met and had a List of all the Prisoners which they transmitted to the House for their direction Colonel Sands besieged Pomfret Castle and took of the Garrison forty Horse and many Cattel Letters from the General certifie that Aug. 21. the King's Army drew up near to the General in Battalia who sent out a forlorn hope and a party of horse and foot to second them the forlorn fired and retreated to the reserve and they also charged the Enemy killed many and forced the rest to retreat and the Lord General kept the Field that night
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
provide Contribution for him for this he and his Troop were sent for up to the Parliament Four Chirurgeons of the Army were referred to be tryed by a Council of War for being absent at the late fight The Archbishop was ordered to attend the House of Commons to hear the Evidence against him repeated and to answer to it the Commons resolving to proceed against him by Bill of Attainder because they perceived the Lords not forward to give Judgment for Treason against him A hundred pound was given to Colonel Berkley newly come to Lond. sore wounded in the late fight The Archbishop was brought to the Bar of the House of Commons where Mr. Samuel Brown one that managed the Evidence before against him did now repeat it and took up three hours time the Archbishop had a weeks time given him to answer there Letters from Colonel Charles Fleetwood informed more particularly of the late defeat given to the Newark Forces near Belvoir By desire from the Scots Commissioners both Houses sent to the Assembly of Divines to bring in the Particulars of what they had finished for the Government of the Church that it may be approved and confirmed by the Parliament and to hasten the dispatch of what further they have in determination concerning the same Letters from Sir William Brereton and Sir John Meldrum certified That fifty of the English Souldiers of the Garrison of Leverpoole came out of the Town and submitted to Sir John Meldrum after which the Irish Souldiers in the Garrison knowing that if the Town were taken they should have no quarter they conspired together seized upon all their Commanders and rendred the Town to Sir John Meldrum submitting to his mercy for their lives Sir John gave them all their lives and sent them over into Ireland there were taken in the Town two Colonels two Lieutenant-Colonels three Majors fourteen Captains besides inferiour Officers and common Souldiers Ordnance Arms and Ammunition in great quantity Many of the Townsmen had shipped their best Goods to be conveyed away but Sir John Meldrum by Long-boats seized on them Letters from Newcastle certified That Tinmouth Castle was surrendred upon conditions and in it 38 pieces of Ordnance and store of Arms and Ammunition and Provisions the Souldiers were to march with their particular Baggage and to be quiet in their own Dwellings submitting to all Ordinances of Parliament The King and Prince Rupert with about 2000 horse and foot marched to Cirencester the Lord Gerrard was expected to come to him with 1500 out of Wales the rest of his Forces were about Woodstock the Parliaments Army marched after them to Abington Upon the day of publick Thanksgiving as the Lord Mayor came home from St. Pauls in Cheapside divers Popish Books Pictures Beads and Crucifixes were burnt where the Cross stood Letters of Direction were sent from the Parliament to their Armies for their motion after the Enemy A Petition of Lincolnshire complained of Grievances and another from Leicestershire desired that the Lord Grey might be sent down to them being their Commander in chief Letters from Captain Hacker inform That at the Defeat of the Newark Forces the number of horse taken were about 800. That Sir John Girlington was drowned and divers others of quality with him besides common Souldiers in their confused flight over a Mill-dam That forty Commanders and Officers and near 400 common Souldiers were taken prisoners and but one man slain of the Parliaments They blocked up Belvoir Castle put a Garrison into Grantham and continued close Siege to Crowland and Newark A party from Leicester faced Ashby and drove away many of their Cattel and two days after 10 or 12 horse from Ashby came to a Gentleman's house where some of the Lord Grey's Commanders were making merry and took them away prisoners Colonel Ludlowe with a party of horse joyned with the Besiegers of Basing The Members for each County were ordered to name three in every County and the Parliament would choose one of the three to be high Sheriff Both Houses agreed in all matters touching the Propositions for peace and referred it to the Committee of both Kingdoms to consider of the manner of sending them to the King An Ordinance passed for the better securing of the Isle of Wight The King and Prince Rupert were at Oxford and had a Rendezvous in Cuddington Moor of about 11000 horse and foot care was taken to prevent their breaking into the associated Counties of Norfolk c. Four Members of the House of Commons viz. Mr. Pierpoint Mr. Hollis Mr. Whitelocke and the L. Wenman were named as a Committee to joyn with two of the House of Lords and a Committee of the Scots Commissioners to carry the Propositions for Peace to his Majesty and the Committee of both Kingdoms were ordered to send to the King for a safe Conduct for them The King's Souldiers begging as if they had been wounded in the Parliaments Service were prohibited and order taken for allowance to all the wounded Souldiers of the Parliament The Defaults in the duty of the Officers and Souldiers of Colonel Fiennes his Regiment and other Officers before Banbury referred to be examined by a Committee The Assembly of Divines as soon as the House of Commons were sate and before they were full came to the House and presented them with the Assemblie's Advice and Opinion for the Presbyterian Government to be settled and an expression was in their Advice That the Presbyterian Government was jure divino Glyn and Whitelocke were then in the House and few others but those who concurred in judgment with the Assembly and had notice to be there early thinking to pass this business before the House should be full Glyn stood up and spake an hour to the point of jus divinum and the Presbyterian Government in which time the House filled apace and then Whitelocke spake to the same Points inlarging his discourse to a much longer time than ordinary and purposely that the House might be full as it was before he had made an end And then upon the question it was carried to lay aside the point of jus divinum and herein Glyn and Whitelocke had thanks from divers for preventing the surprisal of the House upon this great question An Ordinance passed for the due payment of Tithes The Propositions for Peace being fully agreed unto a Letter was ordered forthwith to be sent to the General of the King's Army for a safe conduct for the Lords and Commons and Scots Commissioners that are to go with them to the King The Commons took order concerning the Trade of Coals from Newcastle and the Government of that Town Colonel Vrrey because of his former inconstancy was denied to be again received into the Parliaments Service but permitted to go beyond-sea The City of London petitioned That care might be taken of the Garrison of Windsor being a place of so
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
Enemy quitted a Garrison at Sir Peter Bymes house that Col. Hammond being ready to fall on to Storm Pouldram Castle the Enemy made but one shot and instantly cryed for Quarter That the Generals Courtesie and fair usage of those at Dartmouth did win much upon the People made other Garrisons to yield the sooner and divers to come in to the Parliament that all the Cornish men in Dartmouth being a hundred and twenty had their Liberty freely given them and two shillings a man to bear their Charges home and those that would take up Arms for the Parliament had three shillings a man That Greenvile was sent Prisoner to Silley by the Prince for refusing to obey the orders of Hopton the General That Sir Tho. Fairfax sent a Summons and honourable propositions to Sir John Berkly the Governor for the surrendring Exeter to him to the use of the Parliament to avoid the effusion of blood and ruine to the Inhabitants To this the Governor returned an answer full of Resolution and denyal to which Sir Tho. Fairfax made a reply in vindication of the Parliaments Honour and his 3. Upon debate of the Kings last Letter the Commons voted that it was unsatisfactory in the whole and referred it to a Committee to draw up an answer to it and to the former letter and a Declaration concerning this matter to the Kingdom Order for two hundred pound per An. for Doct. Walker Advocate to the Admiralty and that if he went to Sea he should have twenty pound per An. extraordinary Order to audit Arrears of Soldiers to be paid to their Wives and Widows A thousand pound to be paid to the Train of Artillery of the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller Many came out of Exeter to the Parliaments Army twenty in a company 4. A Ship from France came into Dartmouth supposing it had been still in the Kings hands but finding his mistake he submitted to the Parliaments Forces and threw into the Sea a packet of Letters which he had and the next Flood the Packet came to Shore and was sent by Col. Lambert to Sir Tho. Fairfax and by him to the Parliament In it were read in the House Letters from the Queen to the King against the sending of the Prince into Denmark but rather to send him into France where a match was propounded for him with the Duke of Orleances Daughter Other Letters were from Jermyn Goring and others mentioning great Sums of Money and an Army from France to be ready against the Spring to come over to the King that Montrois and the King would joyn and march into the West Intercepted Letters from Ireland were sent up to the Parliament by Col. Mitton whereby they had good intelligence of the Affairs there Reference to a Committee to consider of Propositions for reducing North-Wales Orders for an Exchange of Mr. Denham for M. Harris and about a new Election News came of the surrender of Belvoir Castle upon Articles and Sir Jervase Lucas the Governor left there one piece of Ordnance store of Arms and Provisions 5. The day of Thanksgiving Letters came to the Speaker from Sir William Brereton That his care of preserving Chester the most considerable City in those parts from ruin invited him to entertain a Treaty which was continued ten days and delayed by the enemy hoping for relief for which there were strong preparation by conjunction of Ashtey Vaughan and the Welsh and Irish Forces and those Irish newly landed That he sent forth a strong party under Col. Mitton who prevented their conjunction and then those in Chester hopeless of Relief came to a Treaty That he was contented to have the more Commissioners that the Soldiers might be the better satisfied with that which was agreed unto by some of their own Officers and the Officers would be the more careful to keep their Soldiers to the observation of it They in Chester desired farther time for the Treaty to be continued but Sir William Brereton refused it and thereupon they came to an agreement on both parts to surrender the City to the Parliament upon Articles in it they had all the Arms Ammunition Ordnance and Provisions the County Palatine Seal Swords and all the records c. 6. The Letters from Sir William Brereton read Orders for setling that Garrison and that Alderman Edward of Chester be Colonel of the Regiment of that City A long Petition from the Common Council of London a day appointed for the Debate of it Two Members of the House sent to Gravesend to examine Mr. Murray one of the Bedchamber to the King taken coming from France Col. Whaly with some Forces of the Adjacent Counties besieged Banbury Castle 7. Proceedings touching the propositions for Peace A Petition from the Common Council of London to the Lords of the same effect with that yesterday to the Commons A Party of about eighty Horse and forty Dragoons were sent from Leicester under Mr. Meers to Ashby who marched with such speed and privacy that they came to Ashby about eleven a Clock that night undiscovered surprised the Sentinels fell in at the Turn-pike broke the Chain and entred the Town They took a hundred Horse rich Prize and Pillage Plundred the Town rescued divers Gountrymen Prisoners there and returned to Leicester without opposition 9. Votes for supplys for the Protestant Forces in Ireland The Office of Lieutenant of the Ordnance for the Tower continued Colonel Needham appointed to be Governor of Leicester Order for a new Election and for Money for Col. Mittons Forces A Petition from the Inhabitants of Westminster and Middlesex That the Militia might not be setled as was desired by the London Petition was referred to the same Committee 10. Progress in the propositions of Peace Order for a new Election of Members M. G. Browne had the thanks of the House Sir William Lower and Captain Dunbar who revolted from the Parliament referred to be tryed by Martial Law A day appointed to consider of easing the people under the sufferings of Committees Letters informed that Sir Tho. Fairfax had made two Bridges over the River at Exeter block'd it up on all sides and planted Guards round the City and was within Musquet shot of their Works that he sent forth a Brigade to attempt the enemy at Barnstable News came of Preparations at Oxford upon some new design and that the Nobility there were assembled and it was propounded to them to assist the King in his War this Summer and that his Majesty declared to live and die for the Priviledges of his Crown his Friends and Church Government 11. Progress in the business of the Church Mr. Murray committed close Prisoner to the Tower and to be more strictly examined A Complaint against some Scots Horse referred to be examined Intercepted Letters and some taken at Dartmouth in characters were deciphered by Sir Walter Earle and he had the thanks of the House for it The Garrison of Newarke sallied out
of his Parliaments that all differences might be composed and all Armies disbanded To which the King answered That he came to the Scots Army with intent to settle Peace and to satisfie the just desires of his good Subjects and to comply with his Parliament in all things for the good of Religion and the Happiness of his Subjects and when Peace shall be setled he will find out some honourable means for imployment of so many gallant men as are in this Army 6. Malignant Ministers to be disabled from any Livings of the Church Instructions passed for the Commissioners to go to the King with the propositions for Peace they were to demand his Majesties positive Answer to them which if not given within ten days they were to return to the Parliament Commissioners for the House of Lords were the Earls of Pembroke and Suffolke for the House of Commons Sir Jo. Danvers Sir Jo. Hippesley Mr. Robinson and Sir Walter Earle Letters from the Deputy Major of New-Castle that he had hindred Delinquents from coming to his Majesty His action was approved and order for a Declaration to give power to the Northern Committees to hinder Delinquents from coming to his Majesty Debate touching slighting of Inland Garrisons and referred to the respective Committees to do it in the North and West Vote against the Scots renewed That this Kingdom had no more need of the Scots Army and that the Scots Commissioners should be desired to take order that their Army might be withdrawn out of this Kingdom which is no longer able to bear them The Lords desired a Committee of both Houses might be appointed to reform Cambridge University and to slight that Garrison 7. Sir John Danvers desired to be excused and Mr. Robert Goodwin was named in his stead one of the Commissioners to go with the Propositions to his Majesty Captain Johnson that brought up the last Message from the King had twenty pound Divers Ordinances past for Compositions Petitions about Tyn and about the Fens Divers Ministers from the Assembly in Scotland came to the King with a Petition to him to take the Covenant but would preach to him before it were delivered Sir Peter Killegrew went to the King with the Letter of both Houses touching Ireland 8. Order for stating the Accounts of Sir Will. Brereton as Major General The Committee of Examinations dissolved not having done well Order for five thousand pound for the Forces before Litchfield and that Sir Will. Brereton should go down to that Siege Orders for relief of Ireland Reports of Compositions and Orders Worcester demanded higher Articles than Oxford had Wallingford was upon Treaty but the Governor Col. Blagge sent an high and proud Letter to the General Blagge desired a Cessation and the General agreed to it to prevent the burning of the Town which Col. Blagge intended and the Commissioners met on both parts about it The Cessation from all acts of Hostility was agreed for four days 9. Order to discharge the attendants of the Duke of York when he should come to St. Jameses and six hundred pound to buy a Coach and Apparel for him Mr. Marshall ordered to go with the Commissioners that carried the Propositions Money for the Scots Officers Intelligence that the Prince was come into France to his Mother and that the Lord Digby was gone for Ireland and that the Earl of Glamorgan was in the head of an Army there Monsieur Bellieure the French Ambassador to the Parliament landed Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice took Shipping Major General Massey took his place in the House The Treaty for Worcester broke off 10. Ordinance committed for Sale of Delinquents Estates another past for Irish and Papists to go out of London Order for all that came in upon the Articles of Oxford and Exeter to ingage before the Committees to act nothing prejudicial to the Parliament Ordinance past for Mr. Woodcocke to be Parson of St. Olave Southwarke another for redemption of Captives Letters from the general Assembly of the Kirke of Scotland after complements earnestly desire the Parliament of England timeously to settle Church-Government according to the Covenant with expressions against those who hinder Uniformity they resolve to observe the Covenant Another Letter from them to the Assembly of Divines thanking them for their care and pains in the work of Religion that Sectaries ought to be suppressed c. Another to the Lord Mayor and Common Council of London commending them for their Petition to the Parliament about Religion and mentioning those of London in Queen Maries days and the zeal of the Citizens for God commending them for their actions in the present times and for their countenancing the Assembly and the Scots Commissioners and highly incouraged them to go on The French Ambassador was received into London in great State 11. Order for reducement of the Forces of Nottingham and for Money for that work and for the losses and damages of that County Order for a pass for the Earl of Bristol to go beyond Sea according to Exeter Articles Liberty to the Earl of Cleveland upon bail to go into the Countrey for three weeks for his health The propositions for Peace fully passed both houses Money for M. G. Massey's Forces Order for slighting divers Garrisons Lieutenant Col. Lilburn brought to the Barr of the Lords House had his charge read to him but he seemed to slight it and was re-committed 13. The Houses sate not having resolved to adjourn this hot season two days in the week till they had an answer to the propositions but a Committee sate to examine the ingrossment of the propositions and to see them signed by the Speakers and the Scots Commissioners and to declare them to the Commissioners The Propositions were to sign an Act. 1. To take away all Oaths and Proclamations against the Parliament and their Actions 2. To Sign the Covenant and an Act for the general taking of it 3. To pass an Act to abolish Bishops c. 4. To confirm the Assembly 5. That Religion be setled as both Houses should agree 6. Vnity and Vniformity of Religion to be confirmed by an Act. 7. An Act against Jesuits Papists c. 8. An Act for educating Papists Children in the Protestant Religion 9. For Penalties against Papists 10. Against saying of Mass in any place 11. The like for Scotland as they shall think fit 12. For the due observation of the Lords day and against Pluralities non Residents and regulating the Vniversities in the same Act. 13. The Militia to be in the Parliament for twenty Years so for Scotland with power to raise Moneys and use the Militia c. Londons Priviledges as to their Militia confirmed 14. All Honours and Titles since the great Seal was carried from the Parliament to be void and no Peers to be but by consent of both Houses 15. To confirm the Treaty between England and Scotland and conservators of the Peace to be appointed
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
about monies for the Navy Letters from Scotland of preparations there to raise an Army and men being Listed in all parts on pretence to put that Kingdom in a posture of defence and that they are preparing Proposals to be sent to the Parliament for a personal Treaty with the King That the English in Edenburgh were in all about two thousand and have four pence a day allowed to the Souldiers 18. Sergeant Welde a Member of the House and one of the Judges in the last Circuit in the West reported a presentment of the Grand Jury of Sommersetshire Acknowledging the great care and pains of the Parliament for the Peace of the Nation particularly in the late Votes touching the King desiring the Judges to return their humble thanks to the Parliament and their resolutions to adhere to them in prosecution thereof The danger of their Country by Malignants Apostates and Newtrals from whose power they desired to be freed The Dearth of Corn and excessive multitude of Ale-Houses and Malsters wherein they desire remedy and against Forestallers Ingrossers and Regrators and against Malignants being in Offices and practising as Counsellours and Attorneys The Judges and Grand Jurors had the thanks of the House and referred to a Committee to nominate able and well affected persons to be Justices of the Peace in those Counties Order for an Ordinance to impower the Committees in the respective Counties to secure all suspected and disaffected turbulent persons Which passed not without much opposition as a thing of ill consequence and example especially by those who professed to be so highly for the Liberty of the Nation Thanks given to the Sheriffs of Norwich for their good affections Order to renew the Commission of Oyer and Terminer and Judges to go down to try the late Rioters at Canterbury The Commons desired the Lords to proceed upon the Impeachments against the seven Lords and against the Citizens and against Judg Jenkins and to pass the Ordinance for making Mr. Steele Recorder of London in Mr. Glyn's place 19. The Commissioners of the Customs refused to advance thirty thousand pounds for the Navy which others offered to do if they might be Commissioners but the House would not put forth the old Commissioners till they were reimbursed the monies formerly advanced by them The House accepted ten thousand pounds Composition for Sir Jo. Strangeways and ordered it for the use of the Navy Order to remove Prisoners from the Tower to Warwick Castle Windsor Castle and Wallingford Castle Collonel Fortescue recommended to the General for imployment in the Army and an order for his Arrears To the Papers of the Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland the Parliament there gave this answer 1. To that of the amity between the two Kingdoms they do on their part desire it and will labour to continue it 2. For delivery of Captain Wogan Sir Thomas Glemham and the other English Delinquents they say it is not contained in the Treaties they not taking these to be Incendiaries between the two Kingdoms but only between the King and England 3. They approve of the matter of their Commissioners Declaration and the Parliament answer to it they conceive not satisfactory Sir John Geere late Lord Mayor of London was brought to the Lords Bar and refused to kneel was fined five hundred pound and committed to the Tower and a day set for him to put in his desires for Counsel Debate about mony for the Navy The Earl of Pembroke Chancellour of the University of Oxford went thither and made Dr. Reynolds his Vice-Chancellour put him into possession of the Deanery of Christ-Church by the Souldiers breaking open the Deans Lodgings which were shut against him The like he did for Dr. Palmer at All Souls Colledg where Dr. Sheldon denyed the Chancellours Authority not being derived from the King So did Dr. Bayle at St. Johns Colledg where Mr. Cheynel was put in to be President and Mr. Wilkins at Wadham Colledg 20. An Ordinance debated and committed for raising fifty thousand pounds for Ireland An Ordinance debated for securing all disaffected and tumultuous persons Another for punishing defaulters upon Musters in Kent Letters from Wales That Collonel Poyer increased in strength and that many of Laughernes men after they were Disbanded and had received their Pay went and joyned with Poyer and That Collonel Powel is joyned with him That they force the Country to Musters and great Taxes 21. Debate of Ordinances for settling of Ministers The thanks of the House ordered to the Earl of Pembroke for his settling and reforming the University of Oxford And That such as refused to submit to the power of the Visitors there should be expelled and That the Tenants of the Colledges should pay their Rents to such as the Parliament appointed to receive them And That these Votes be Printed The Ordinance sent up to the Lords for securing all the disaffected Riotous party in England An explanatory Ordinance for Ireland past Letters from Collonel Horton of his being near to Pembroke Castle and resolution to ingage Poyers men as soon as he could 22. Upon debate of the Letters from the Commissioners in Scotland It was Voted That the answer of the Parliament of Scotland to the demands of the English Commissioners touching Captain Wogan and other Delinquents is no ways satisfactory and that their Commissioners in Scotland insist upon their demands and press the Parliament of Scotland for a further answer thereunto An Ordinance transmitted to the Lords for ascertaining and securing the Arrears of the Soldiery At a Conference the Lords acquainted the Commons That the Duke of York with the Duke of Gloucester and the Lady Elizabeth being together playing in a Room the last night after Supper by themselves the Duke of York privately slipt from them down the back Stairs without Cloak or Coat in his Shoos and Stockings and by the way of the Privy-Garden having got a Key of the Door he escaped away through the Park and could not be found none of his servants were missing who attended him Letters to the General to send for a Lieutenant who with his Souldiers took Free Quarter about Barnstable and to examine the business and do Justice to the Country and the House passed a new Ordinance for taking away Free Quarter 24. The House of Commons was called and there appeared and Sate three hundred and six of their Members and referred to a Committee to report the cases of those who were absent and none to go out of Town without leave A new Instruction past for the Commissioners in Scotland to insist upon their demands to the Parliament there to deliver up Incendiaries Divers Captains agreed upon for the Summers Fleet. Letters from Scotland That preparations for War go on there but opposed by the Kirk yet the other party prevails That Wogans Troop increaseth and the Parliament there declared That they will preserve the Union and ends of the
But this perswaded little among them the Common People few of them understanding English and the Gentry being generally against the Parliament and rising in most parts of South-Wales as soon as the Parliament Forces were gone from them 6. The Commissioners of the Customs advanced twenty thousand pound for the Navy The Votes sent up to the Lords concerning a new Address to the King c. Orders to sell the Duke of York's Houses and two hundred pound of the Money for lame Soldiers 8. Debate about the business of the Church Letters from the North That since the surprisal of Berwicke Sir Thomas Glemham and Sir Philip Musgrave have taken Carlisle That Langdale promised much to Captain Batten if he would keep Holy Island for the King but he refused That Sir Arthur Hazlerigge sent Forces to secure some other places that Langdale gives out that he is General of the five Northern Counties by Commission from Prince Charles and perswades them to Arm for the King Thus a new War was begun and new perplexities upon the Parliament but it turned only to the uniting of their Party again Major General Lambert sent Forces to secure Appleby Raby and other places The Parliaments friends in those parts fled to Newcastle The Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland delivered in Papers to the Parliament of Scotland touching the taking of Berwicke and Carlisle but had no answer to them they went on earnestly with their preparations for War in that Parliament 9. A Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of London to the House That they are willing to undertake the guarding of the Houses the Militia being setled and they authorised That their nomination of the Lieutenant of the Tower being suspended and importation of Bullion hindred and Merchandising diverted Trade is much decayed They pray that the Committee of the Militia may be nominated by the Common Councel to be approved by both Houses of Parliament and the like for the Lieutenant of the Tower and the Soldiers now there removed and that Merchants may be invited to bring in Bullion The House passed several Votes according to the desires of the Petitioners and acquainted them therewith and told them The House doubted not but that their confidence in the City and affection to them would be answered with Love Trust and obedience from them to the Parliament Letters from Sir Arthur Hazlerigge of the condition of the North and of Captain Battens refusal to revolt to the King for which the House ordered thanks to be sent to him and continued his Government Letters from the Speaker to the Committees of every County to meet and to observe the motions and practices of disaffected Persons and such as they find active to endanger the Peace of their Country to secure them and to provide for the safety and for securing of places of strength that the Parliament may without disturbance intend the settlement of the peace of the Kingdom Vote that the General be desired to advance in Person into the North with such Forces as he shall think fit to reduce those places that are possessed by the Enemy and to prevent any danger in those parts and that a Committee acquaint the General with the grounds of these Votes Letters that the Duke of York was come into Holland Letters from Dublyn that Col. Monke defeated a Party of Owen Mac Arts Forces in Vlster killed between five hundred and a thousand of them and took all their Arms and Baggage That Corn is there at twenty shillings a Bushel and many perish for hunger 10. Ordinance committed giving power to Committees to secure disaffected and tumultuous Persons in South-Wales Another for Money for fortifying Bristol in some new places A Petition of many reduced Officers for part of their Arrears referred to a Committee Instructions passed to the Commissioners in Scotland to acquaint the Parliament there how ill the two Houses here resent the Title of their last Letter to which an Answer will be sent in convenient time Letters from Wales That when Collonel Hewes Governor of Chepstow Castle was absent Sir Nicholas Kemish and Mr. Thomas Lewis got possession of the Castle in the night at a Port and that Collonel Herbert got together some of the Parliaments Forces and besieged it 11. An Ordinance committed for satisfying Debts due from Delinquents to well affected persons Letters from Wales That the Forces under Collonel Horton about three thousand Horse and Foot fought with the Welch Forces under Major General Laugherne Major General Stradling Collonel Powel and others being near eight thousand men who were totally routed by Collonel Horton and Collonel Bethel Stradling taken Prisoner and Laugherne wounded twenty six Captains and an hundred and fifty Officers and three thousand Soldiers of the Welch taken Prisoners many Colours and Arms and divers slain The House gave Captain Mercer an hundred pound and Collonel Bethel an hundred and fifty pound for bringing this good news and ordered a day of thanksgiving for it and that Captain Wogan not the Revolter who had done with the rest gallant Service in this Action should have his Arrears audited They ordered also that the Land formerly given to Major General Laugherne and a thousand pound per Annum more out of the Delinquents Estates who were in this Action should be sold and the proceed thereof given as a gratuity from the Parliament to Collonel Horton and the Officers and Soldiers who ingaged in this action Order for a Declaration that all who should engage in any War Commotion or insurrection against the Parliament should dye without Mercy The Lords were put in mind to proceed against Judge Jenkins A Committee appointed for disposing of the Welch Prisoners 12. Upon debate of the Scots Letter a Committee was appointed to draw up an answer from the two Houses Order for a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to be sent down into Wales and Mr. Eltonhead Brother to the Master of Chancery and Mr. Parker to be Judges for Tryal of the Riotors there and that the General send for the Officers and chief Prisoners taken by Collonel Horton's Forces and try them by a Councel of War The City were desired to call a Common Council that the good success in Wales might be communicated to them and they desired to take course for the Collecting of the Arrears due to the Army upon the General 's March Northward Order upon the General 's Letters for Arms Ammunition and Money for the Forces that are to march with him into the North. 13. An Ordinance transmitted to the Lords for setling the Militia of the Kingdom A Tumult in Saint Edmonds Bury about taking down of a May-pole which came to the Plundering of some but was neer abated Order for the Members serving for that County to go down and take care to suppress all Tumults there Endeavours to put a Garrison of the Kings into Ash-by-de-la-zouch was prevented 15. The
Proposals to be tendered to the Parliament of England for their Submission to them That they are contented to wave Kingly Government That no Lord shall exceed in Power a Private Person That the Tyrannical Power of the Clergy may be dissolved 14. Letters That the Lord Argyle had called a Parliament and that Mr. Alexander Kant a Minister said in his Pulpit That God was bound to own that Parliament that all other Parliaments were called by Man but this was brought about by his own Hand That the Lord Belcarris levying Forces in the North of Scotland his Officers would not allow Men and Horses sent in though they were very good but would find fault with them and demanded 20 l. for every one and they would find Men and Horses for 20 l. a-piece themselves Whereupon the Countrey rose upon them killed some of them and made the rest run away A Soldier shot to death by Sentence of a Court-Marshal for striking a Serjeant who was correcting him for a misdemeanour That 800 Recruits were landed in Scotland and more expected That the Lieutenant-General sent out a strong Party under Collonel Overton That the greatest part of the Gourdons had laid down their Arms and most of the Gentry were willing to comply with the Parliament of England only the Ministers endeavoured to keep up the War 15. Letters That the Marquess Huntley sent to the Governour of Lieth for a Treaty as Argyle had done the Countrey forsaking them and inclining to submit to England That Mount Orgel in Jersey was surrendred to the Parliament Forces and in it 20 Brass and Iron Guns and 20 Barrels of Powder and that Admiral Blake was in a Treaty for Elizabeth Castle That a Master of a Ship coming by saw Boats passing up and down between the Ships and the Castle with Flags of Truce and many Guns fired The Parliament voted That it was a convenient time to declare a certain time for the continuance of this Parliament beyond which it should not sit 17. Letters That the Gentlemen of Fife and other Counties met and prepared Letters and Commissions to be sent into every County for authorizing Commissioners to attend the coming of the Commissioners from England to make Proposals to them for setling the Peace of the Kingdom 18. The Parliament voted That the time for continuance of this Parliament beyond which they resolve not to sit shall be the third day of November 1654. And that such Scots Prisoners who have been disposed of by the Parliament or Council of State and any Officers of the Army if they run away and go into Scotland without licence shall suffer death and be proceeded against by Marshal Law Letters from Collonel Heane from Jersey of his Proceedings there with the Summons Answers and Conditions of the Surrender of Mount Orgeil Castle That they had in the Castle 18 Pieces of Ordnance four Barrels of Powder Match and Bullet proportionable 1000 Arms Two Months Provisions for 70 Men. The Parliament confirmed the Articles and voted Thanks to General Blake and Collonel Hayne for their good Service 19. Letters That at the Surrender of Lymbrick the Bishop the Major and the Deputy-Governour were hanged the Governour was condemned but reprieved to be sent to the Parliament That the Bishop and Major were hanged for breach of the Articles in disguising many Friars Priests and Bloody Rogues whereby they escaped contrary to the Articles 21. Letters from Lieutenant-General Monk giving thanks to God for the good news of the Rendition of Orgeil Castle That he appointed some Gentlemen to meet with the Marquess of Argyle to treat with him according to his desires That the Country are expecting the coming of the Parliaments Commissioners from England to settle the Civil Affairs of Scotland The Protestation of 28 Ministers given in to the Provincial Assembly at Aberdeen which the Assembly condemned as prejudicial to the Priviledges of the Kirk whose Proceedings they justifie 22. Letters That the Marquess Huntley was come to live privately at his own House upon a Passe sent to him That one of his Proposals was That the Lieutenant-General should put him in possession of certain Lands which was kept from him by his Cousin the Marquess of Argyle That the Earl of Kalander and others of Quality were come in That some Gentlemen in Scotland have done great Service for the Parliament of England at which the Kirk are much enraged and call those Gentlemen Malignants and inveigh against them and against the Parliaments Forces That the Scots rose against Captain Augustin their Countryman killed some of his Men and drave away the rest That the Lord Forbes and others were come in to the Parliament of England and the Country generally desired to be under the Protection of the English Commander in chief in that Kingdom 24. Major-General Massey and others were brought up Prisoners to London Massey endeavoured to escape by the way as he was brought up having a good Horse to ride on he set Spurs to his Horse thinking to ride away from his Convoy but the Soldiers overtook him and brought him back Letters That the Enemy in Cornet Castle in â—uernsey were besieged and very high but the Inhabitants of Guernsey Island were generally the Parliaments Friends That Collonel Hayne shot with his great Guns against Elizabeth Castle and did very great execution and Sir George Carteret had much ado to appease the Mutiny of his Soldiers That Major-General Sterling was come in to the Protection of the Parliament That Argyle and Huntley were to meet with some Persons appointed by the Lieutenant-General to treat with them about their Submission to the Parliament 25. The Parliament ordered the new Council of State to be constituted for the year ensuing That 20 of the last years Council should be continued and â—1 new ones joyned to them The Parliament passed further Instructions to the Council of State The Power of the Admiralty was placed in the Council of State They ordered That the Council of State take care that no Meetings should be in Scotland under any pretence of consulting touching Matters of Government Order That no Chair-man shall continue in the Chair of any Committee above a Year and this to extend to the President of the Council of State Several Votes touching Compositions of Delinquents in Durham Letters That Major-General Dungan with 600 Horse attempted Rosse in Ireland and possessed the Town and took Collonel Markham and killed 12 sick Men in their Beds and took 13 Prisoners and plundered the Town although Irish upon the coming of Forces from Waterford they deserted the Town That Zanchey and others fell upon them killed 100 of them and took 50 of them Prisoners That 4 or 500 of Lymbrick were dead of the Plague That the Lord Deputy had the Castle of Clare surrendred to him 26. Letters That the Lord Belcarris had disbanded his Forces in Scotland and was come to his own House to
coast and not a small Vessel escapes them that they have 36 Oares 7. That the Scots could not agree at Edenburgh That divers gentlemen in the High lands subscribed to act nothing prejudicial to the Common-wealth of England and submitted to it 9. Letters That the Major-General had found out a Vale between the Marre and Athole which would keep 1500 Horse for 14 daies and therefore would stay longer in the High lands and had sent a summons to Clankerry and his forces about 2000 men to come in to him That Van Trump with 125 Sail of Ships was upon the Coast of Aberdeen and took an English Ship worth 2000 l. and detained all the men that he had 5 fire Ships 5 Gallies for Intelligence and 115 men of War That General Blake was come near to Van Trump That the Earl of Glencare and divers Gentlemen were with the Major-General who punished divers Soldiers for pillaging That the French had taken an English Ship of 300 Tuns That Sir George Ascue took 4 Prizes French and Dutch and brought in 4 English Ships That Zealand and Amsterdam Petitioned the States to give Commissions to Prince Rupert and his Fleet. 10. Order of Parliament for a day of Publick Humiliation A Bill read for the Settlement of Ireland An Act passed to inable the Judges of the Northern Circuit to hold Assizes at Durham Referred to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Justices of Peace of London to examine what Lead had been taken off from St. Pauls Church and to prevent the taking away any more Letters That General Blake was off at Sea near Scarborough and that 44 Dutch Ships were near Rye in Sussex That the new Committee of Sequestrations in Hertford Shire make void the former Leases of Sequestred Lands contrary to right 11. Letters That Trump by a Storm at Sea had the greatest part of his Navy lost and spoiled and came home with but 40 Ships 60 men of War missing and Two of their East-India Ships cast away 12. An Act passed for settling the Affairs of Ireland for satisfaction to the Adventurers and Soldiers out of Lands there and for Provision of maimed Soldiers and for the Widows of Soldiers slain in the Parliaments service there and a List of the Persons excepted from pardon 13. A Petition from the Officers of the Lord-General his Army reciting that they had often sought the Lord and desire these particulars to be considered 1. That speedy and Effectual meanes may be used for promoting the Gospel Prophane and Scandalous Ministers be outed good Preachers incouraged maintenance for them Provided and Tithes taken away 2. For regulation of the Law and what the Committee for it have propounded may be debated and incouragement given to them 3. That Prophane Scandalous and Disaffected Persons in all places of Authority may be removed by Act of Parliament and well affected Persons put in and all to be such as fear God and hate Covetousness 4. To redress abuses in the Collecting and Manageing of Excise 5. That publick Faith Debts be justly Satisfied and firct to the poorer sort and before any more of the publick Revenue be given away to particular persons 6. For stating the Accounts and satisfying the arreares of Soldiers and care for maimed Soldiers and Widdowes and Children of Soldiers slain 7. That all Articles of War given to the Enemy may be made good 8. That the publick Revenue may be brought into one Treasury with Officers to be appointed by Parliament and their receipts and disbursement published half yearly 9. That a Committee may be appointed out of the House to consider of unnecessary Offices and Salaries 10. For setting the Poor to work punishing beggars and providing for the impotent 11. For liberty in Corporations for those who have served the Parliament to use Manual occupations 12. For qualifications of such as shall sit in future Parliaments The Speaker from the Parliament returned to the Petitioners the hearty thanks of the house for their great care and love to the publick Many were unsatisfied with this petition looking upon it as improper if not arrogant for the Officers of the Army to the Parliament their Masters and Cromwel was advised to stop this way of their petitioning by the Officers of the Army with their swords in their hands lest in time it may come too home to himself But he seemed to slight or rather to have some design by it in order to which he put them to prepare way for him Letters of the Ships come with Armes Ammunition and men which were feared to have been lost That the Major-General was retreated to St. Johns Town wanting provisions to continue the pursuit of the thievish Highlanders Of the Highlanders generally submitting to the Parliament of England That the Hart Frigot fought with 3. Dutch ships but was taken by them 14. Letters That the Dutch fleet that appeared neer the Goodwin Sands caused the Kentish men to be up in armes lest they should land That a Portugal Ambassador was arrived at Plymouth From General Blake to the Councel that he was safely arrived with his Fleet from the Northward Of a Dutch private man of war taken after a Sharp fight sunk by two English Catches 15. Letters to the Councel of State of General Blakes standing off to the coast of Holland to looke after the Dutch fleet who were gone off from the Coast of Sussex 16. Letters That the Commissioners for the several Counties in Scotland were to meet at Edenburgh to choose Commissioners to attend the Parliament of England That the Assembly of the Kirke at Edenburgh agreed upon an Act and Overture of the general Assembly for the peace and Vnion of the Kirke With a letter to the Nobility and Gentry and all other wise and pious persons to promove the same 17. Vote for transportation of all Commodities to the Parliaments quarters in Ireland custom-free Referred to the Councel of State to send over Preachers into Ireland and to give them Salaries Referred to the Commissioners in Ireland to provide for maimed Soldiers and Widowes there Addition of names to the Bill for sale of forfeited lands Letters of a Fleet of Dutch Ships upon the Sussex coast who took and plundered some English Fishermen that the Country thereabouts fired their Beacons 18. That 42 of Trump's scattered Ships were safe at Shetland and the Two East-India Ships supposed to be lost That Sir George Ascue and the Dutch Fleet were ingaged about Plymouth and there had passed between them 2 or 3000 Shot 19. Letters That Argyle promised to go and submit to the Parliament of England 20. Letters That Sir George Ascue was ingaged with 80 Sail of the Dutch near Plymouth as Captain Packe related who was brought off in a Ketch having his Leg shot off that 200 Men went from Shore chearfully in their Boats to relieve Sir George Ascue That the Hollanders lost Two Ships one sunk and
long after him came General Venables who upon Examination by the Protector and Councel of his Management of that Affair was committed to the Tower but being judged that he failed rather through his Imprudence than any ill Intent he was at length released The Princess Royal and her Brother the Duke of Gloucester went to the King of Scots to Colen and they went together to the Fair at Franckford through every Princes Countrey where they past the Chief Officers of State were sent to complement them and the great Guns saluted them from their Forts the Elector of Mentz entertained them sumptuously three dayes The King hearing the Queen Christiana of Sweden was coming that way in her Journey to Italy sent one of his Lords to her to Salute her in his Name and to express his desire to wait upon her Majesty at what place she would appoint She named Coningstein where they met and had private discourse together and amongst other things as the King afterwards related there was some mention of Whitelock and of his Ambassage in Sweden wherein the Queen spake with high Favour and Respect of him and told the King that in all the Conferences that she had with him at that time she never heard him speak a dishonourable word of the King The Duke of Savoy having Committed great Cruelties and a Barbarous Persecution of the poor Protestants in Piedmont the Protector appointed a Solemn day of Humiliation to be kept and a large Contribution to be gathered throughout the Nation for their Relief which was very well resented by the Protestants beyond the Seas October 1655. The Protectors Councel in Scotland published a Declaration for the Election of Magistrates there which was observed so great a power had he then in Scotland Notice by a Ship arrived in the Isle of Wight from Bilboa that the Imbargo continued there upon English Goods and in all Spain and the English Factors were confined to their Houses there and at Malaga the People were in disorder for the loss of their Trade with the English The Councel at Whitehall ordered That no Person presume to publish in Print any matter of publick News or Intelligence without leave and Approbation of the Secretary of State Many Lords and others Prisoners were released upon Security given by them for their Peaceable Demeanour Letters of the success of the Swedes in Poland and Lithuania Some Bickerings at Sea between General Blakes Ships and the Enemy but little done some of them returned home wanting Victuals Audience given to the Venetian Ambassador Some Spanish Ships assaulted some of General Blakes Fleet but they came off Stop of English Ships in Flanders A French Ship taken that had been Fishing at New-Foundland Letters of the Miseries of the poor Protestants in Piedmont Orders for Accommodations for Mr. Feake and Mr. Rogers Prisoners A Declaration by the Admiral of France for the clearing of all English Ships and Goods in any Ports of France Injuries to the English at Dunkirk Letters of the State of the Island of Jamaica and of the English Forces there Order of the Protector and Councel for those that bought Delinquents Estates to pay in forthwith all Arrears of the Purchase Money Letters of the Swedes Victory against the Muscovites Order of the Protector and Councel against Printing Unlicensed and Scandalous Books and Pamphlets and for regulating of Printing Orders touching the Ministers of Scotland The Protestant Cantons of Switzerland acknowledge the Protectors zeal and care for Piedmont The Spaniards took an English Man of War by Treachery Proclamation against Coiners and advice that none receive their false Money Order of the Protector and Councel commanding all that have been of the Kings part to depart out of the Lines of Communication Major-Generals appointed by the Protector and his Councel in the several Counties The Articles of Peace between England and France signed here October 24. General Pen was released from his Imprisonment This Moneth the Ambassador was full of expectation that Commissioners should be appointed to Treat with him but by reason of the great and unsettled Affairs of this Nation and for that the Councel judged other Affairs which they had in hand though perhaps mistaken to be of greater Consequence than this Treaty No Commissioners were yet appointed though the Ambassador had been several times with the Protector and desired his business might be proceeded in and was promised that it should November 1655. Letters of the miserable Condition of the Poor Protestants in Dauphine oppressed by the Duke of Savoy and left Sick and without Covert Food or Cloathing and many of them Dead with Cruelty A Day of Thanksgiving in Dublin for their Deliverance from the Rebels the Courts of Justice Established there the Soldiers many of them turned Planters One who called himself William Smith a Minister in Cornwall apprehended for having Seven Wifes together General Venables was released from his Imprisonment The Swedish Ambassador had Audience Letters of Reprisal granted to divers English against the Spaniards The Protector and Councel appointed a Councel of Trade to consider how to improve order and regulate the Trade and Navigation of the Common-wealth upon which Letters were sent to several Persons in this Form Sir His Highness considering of how great Importance it is to this Nation that the Trade and Commerce thereof be by all good wayes and means advanced and duely regulated hath by the Advice of his Councel thought fit to appoint a certain number of Persons whose Abilities and Experience have qualified them to be Serviceable to their Countrey herein to be a Committee for Trade Impow'ring them to take into Consideration the Trade and Navigation of this Common-wealth and in what manner and by what wayes and means the same may be Encouraged Improved Ordered and Regulated And having named you to be one of that Committee have thought fit to signifie the same unto you to the end you may be present at their first meeting which is appointed to be on the 27 of this Instant November in the Painted Chamber at Westminster not doubting of your readiness to joyn with the rest of the Committee in contributing your best assistance to a Work so highly tending to the Publick good Whitehall the 2 of November 1655. Signed in the Name and by the Order of his Highness and the Councel Hen. Lawrence President This was a business of much Importance to the Common-wealth and the Protector was earnestly set upon it A Declaration of the Protector and his Councel of the reasons for raising additional standing Forces of Horse in every County to preserve the Peace thereof from the New Plots and attempts of the Enemies of the Common-wealth upon whom he resolves to put the Charge of these New Forces which they have occasioned and not upon the honest party who have already so much suffered Letters from Ireland commending their Governour the Lord Lieutenant Cromwell
Ships of War so they were also for Merchandise which was not intended to be barred Whitelock then gave them an account of the Treaty made with him and how that agreed the Enumeration to be and what debates were in Sweden with him about it but referred by him to an after Enumeration It was alleadged also That Contrebanda Goods were such as were ready for present use of War Not such as were Materials for Preparation and they urged that they had made the like Enumerations in other Treaties and a saving of Corn to be no Contrebanda Goods else it had been included and they said that there was no certainty what Goods were or were not Contrebanda but as was agreed by Stipulation This was referred to a further Consideration and a more full Answer to be given to it They had likewise debate touching the Form of a Passport in pursuance of Whitelock's Treaty at which the Commissioners did stick and offered their Objections as formerly they had done but could not come near to an Agreement At length the Ambassador propounded That a free Ship should make Free goods and Free goods a free Ship which was not held unreasonable At their parting the Ambassador also propounded to take into Consideration at their next meeting the giving of satisfaction for the Losses susstained by either part in the late Wars between England and Holland with the rest of the particulars in Whitelock's Treaty referred to a future Consideration and Treaty whereof Whitelock gave them an Account 20. The Swedish Ambassador kept a Solemnity this Evening for the Birth of the young Prince of Sweden All the Glass of the Windows of his House which were very large being new built were taken off and instead thereof painted Papers were sitted to the places with the Arms of Sweden in it and inscriptions in great Letters testifying the rejoycing for the Birth of the young Prince in the inside of the Papers in the Rooms were set close to them a very great number of Lighted Candles glittering through the Papers the Arms and Colours and writings were plainly to be discerned and shewed glorious in the Street the like was in the Stair-Case which had the Form of a Tower In the Balconies on each side of the House were Trumpets which Sounded often 7 or 8 of them together The Company at Supper were the Dutch Ambassador the Portugal and Brandenburgh Residents Coyett Resident for Sweden the Earls of Bedford and Devon the Lords St. John Ossery Bruce Ogleby and 2 or 3 other young Lords The Count of Holac a German the Lord George Fleet-wood and a great many Knights and Gentlemen besides the Ambassadors Company 25. The Swedish Ambassador went to visit Whitelock and told him That now the Business of sending an Ambassador from hence to Sweden was over and there was at present no occasion for it for this their reasons he alledged were a Peace concluded betwixt the King of Sweden and the Elector of Brandenburgh And the proceeding of the Treaty here Intimating that he was sufficiently Impowered to conclude what was at present requisite between his Master and the Protector and that there was no likelyhood but there would be also a good understanding between the King of Sweden and the Vnited Provinces 28. Some of the Swedish Ambassadors Gentlemen had a little Quarrel with two Fidlers in a Tavern and beat them for calling the Gentlemen Swedish Dogs and other foul Language and ill carriage of the Fidlers who were drunk yet Alderman Tichburn bound over the Gentlemen to the Sessions being apprehended by a Constable and the Fidlers in actions of Battery against one of the Gentlemen had a Verdict for Forty pounds Damages The Ambassador was highly exasperated at this afront and as he called it breach of the Priviledge of an Ambassador and complained of it upon which his Servants had no further Trouble which gave full Contentment to the Ambassador 29. Fiennes Strickland and Whitelock went to the Swedes Ambassadors House where they proceeded in the Treaty and had much debate upon the Article of Restitution which the Ambassador pressed as pursuant to Whitelock's Treaty and instanced in several Cases wherein his Masters Subjects had received great Injury and Damage by the Capers of England in time of the War betwixt them and the Vnited Provinces Whitelock acquainted them with his proceedings upon this point in Sweden that it was there demanded to have Restitution made to the Swedes which he denied upon these grounds 1. Because such an Article would seem to admit a wrong done to the Swedes by the English and that Justice could not be had for the same 2. Because such Injuries were relievable in the Ordinary Course of Justice in England as in the Admiralty Court and upon Appeals 3. Because no Restitution could be expected untill the damage and wrong were first made to appear which could not then and there be done and was not to be admitted without proof At length this Epedient was agreed on there That Restitution should be made to either part for dammage Sustained and as it is in the Article After long debate and many Complaints now made by the Ambassador wherein the Admiralty Court here was much reflected upon and the delaies and Injustice of that Court by him opened and not spared it came to this Close The Ambassador was desired by the Commissioners that his Secretary might prepare Abstracts of such particular Cases as he thought fit to insist upon to be presented to his Highness and the Councel who would thereupon cause an Examination to be made of the particulars and would give Order that right should be done as the Cases should require It was now also agreed That at the next meeting they should proceed to a perusal of all the rest of the Matters remaining to be Treated on that after a view of the whole they might come to particular Resolutions and Agreements March 1655. The Mayor Aldermen and divers of the Common Councel of London being sent for came to the Protector who told them the reasons of his appointing Major-Generals in the several Counties as a means to preserve the Peace to suppress wickedness and to encourage Goodness and haveing found the good effects hereof in the Counties he thought fit to appoint Major-General Skippon for the same end in the City And that all care should be had of their Immunities and Government Orders published of the Sessions in Middlesex for the punishment of Rogues Intelligence of the King of Sweden's Successes in Poland That Bishop Goodman of Glocester dyed a Papist A Declaration for a Fast-Day Some Prizes taken of Ostend A Soldier that killed a Gentleman in Lincolne was sent to the Goal The Queen of Sweden imbarqued with 5000 new raised Foot to carry to her Husband into Prussia Letters from Scotland of Popery increasing there From Ireland of new designs of Rebellion care taken for prevention of both The Articles of
16. To establish the Declaration of both Kingdoms 30 June 1643. with the qualifications of exception from Pardon both English and Scots and the names of those made incapable of Office and such as have deserted the Parliament 17. To make void the Cessation in Ireland the War there to be left to the Parliament and the same Religion to be setled there as in England 18. The Militia and Tower of London to be in the Government of the City and their Charters to be confirmed 19. All grants and Process under the Great Seal here to be confirmed and all by any other Great Seal to be void and the like for Ireland and all Honours granted since the Cessation there to be void And all these particulars to be pass'd by several Acts of Parliament 14. Order for disposing and paying the Forces under Major General Massey Differences between the Soldiers and Towns-men of Exeter referred to a Committee to be composed and orders for pay of that Garrison Search ordered for Materials for coining in some Trunks The Commissioners set forth with the Propositions Letters informed that Montrill the French Agent came to New-Castle and brought letters from the Queen to the King advising him to make Peace upon any Terms at which the King was very joyfull That Montross desired liberty to go beyond Sea and that great levys of men were made in Scotland and the Garrisons of New-Castle Carlisle and Berwick re-inforced by the Scots who lay heavy upon Northumberland and the Bishoprick of Durham 15. An Ordinance committed for setling three hundred pound per An. on Mrs. Burghill whose Husband was slain in the Parliaments Service and upon their Heirs Upon Information of the Master of the Ceremonies an Order for the reception of the French Ambassador One Grady and Irish Rebels and other Papists apprehended and committed and orders for apprehending all of their condition and a day set for their departure out of London Orders for pay for several Forces The Kings answer to the Letters of both houses for delivery up of the Garrisons in Ireland into the the hands of such as the Parliament should appoint was read and was very General expressing great desires of Peace and that the Propositions for it might be speedily sent to him And that business being once well setled those Garrisons and all the rest of the Forces will be ordered for the publick good 16. Great complaints from Cumberland and Westmorland of the heavy pressures of the Scots Army Ragland Castle held out the Siege some of their Officers as M. Price and others were taken Prisoners by L. G. Morgan Major General Mitton Besieged Denbigh Castle Letters informed that the Rebels in Ireland were come within twenty miles of Dublin 17. Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax gave an account to the House of the Treaty for surrender of Wallingford Castle and desired the direction of the House upon one Article insisted on by Col. Blagge That they might have no Oaths nor Covenants imposed upon them after the surrender The House ordered the General to continue his Siege of that Castle and would not allow of that Article Order that the Heads of Houses in Cambridge for bear cutting down of Timber in Colledg Lands till they had order from Parliament to do it An Ordinance sent up the Lords for fifty thousand pound for Ireland Monsieur Bellieure the French Ambassador was received in great State and usual Ceremonies in both Houses 18. A day of Thanksgiving appointed for the reducing of Oxford Litchfield was surrendred upon Articles to Sir Will. Brereton with all their Ordnance Arms and Ammunition 20 Montross demanded that his Son and the Gentleman with him might enjoy their liberty and Estates and he to go beyond Sea otherwise he resolved to hold out and not disband Letters informed great resort of Malignants English and Scots to the King The City of Worcester was agreed to be surrendred to the Parliament upon Articles 21. The day of publick thanksgiving for the surrender of Oxford 22. Debate of the French Ambassadors Message which was That he had in command from the Queen Regent and the King of France to interpose and endeavour a good reconciliation of the differences between his Majesty and the Parliament of England but seeing in what forwardness they were and the Propositions sent to his Majesty he had now nothing further to do but to take his leave and desired their Pass to go to the King and to the Estates of Scotland The Answer of the Parliament was That they took in good part and thankfully from the King of France his good affections and intentions to these Kingdoms and willingness to see their troubles over to end the which they had done and would continue to do their utmost But they could not agree that any Foraign State should interpose in the remaining Differences nor in particular the King of France by his extraordinary Ambassador And they agreed that he should have a Pass and be used with all respect and civility Mr. Herle voted to be Moderator of the Assembly Dr. Twist being dead Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax of the surrender of Worcester and thanks ordered to be sent to him and his Messenger had a gratuity Letters from the Northern Committees of the insupportable burden upon them by the Forces there and relief of those Counties A Letter from both Houses inviting the Duke of York to come to London Order for an Ordinance for the Government of North-Wales and for Committees there The Lords pass'd a Declaration for restraining Malignants from coming to the King 23. A Committee appointed to receive complaints against such as have been in Arms against the Parliament with power to imprison Order for re-imbursing Commissioners of Excise Some Forces of the Eastern Association met at St. Albans in a kind of mutiny the House ordered them to return to their several Counties Order for a new Election Goring House ordered for the Speaker The Ordinance for sale of Delinqueuts Estates sent up to the Lords 24. Letters informed the surrender of Wallingford with a Copy of the Articles Several Ordinances pass'd for Compositions by Delinquents Order for the slighting of all the Garrisons in Worcester-shire except Worcester City and all the Horse there to be disbanded except eighty to attend upon the High Sheriff An Ordinance appointed to be drawn for obedience to be yielded to Committees so long as they should be continued and no affronts to be offered to them or to any publique Officer Order for a Collection for the poor in the places in Devon-shire visited with the plague Order for all the Horse in Bucks to be reduced to eighty only 25. The House did not sit The Commissioners arrived with the propositions at New-Castle and the King seemed well pleased 27. The Houses sate not many Letters came from the Northern Counties of the Miseries and devouring Charge indured by them from the Scots Army and
from the English Forces The Commissioners of Parliament arrived with the propositions for Peace at New-Castle and were visited the same day by General Leven and the King appointed them to present the propostions the next day A List was sent up to the Parliament of those that marched sorth of Worcester upon the rendition of it The Earl of Shrewsbury Lord Talbot Lord Brereton sixteen Knights forty four Equires eleven Colonels nine Lieutenant Colonels fifteen Majors seventy Captains forty nine Lieutenants twenty four Ensigns of Horse forty Ensigns of Foot one Bishop many Doctors and Clergymen and many Ladies They left there twenty eight pieces of Cannon six Drakes and sling-pieces Arms three thousand Provisions for six months and Ammunition 28. Every Friday ordered for Debate how the Gospel might be Preached in some dark places of this Kingdom Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax of the Particulars of the Surrender of Wallingford and the House approved Adjutant Evelin to be Governor there who was nominated by the General Order for imployment of the Forces in the Counties of Oxon Berks and Bucks for the Service of Ireland Upon Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax of some breaches of Articles which he had made the House took care that right should be done and appointed a Committee to hear Complaints of that nature Order to apprehend Capt. Conningham come from the Queen to New-Castle because he had formerly broke the Prison of the Parliament the like order was to apprehend Mr. Buchannon Order to slight all the Garrisons in Glocester-shire except Glocester and to reduce the Forces there to a less number The Duke of York came to Town and was met by the Earl of Northumberland and divers Lords and Gentlemen and conveyed in great and fitting state to St. Jameses where his Oxford retinue was dismiss'd and new Servants placed about him The Princess Henrietta was conveyed away from Oatlands Letters informed the Surrender of Wallingford Castle That Col. Blagge sold the Corn and Provisions there and put the Money in his own purse without giving one penny of it to the Soldiers though much pay was in arrears to them and they were so much discontented at the greediness of their Governor that they fell into a Mutiny which caused Blagge to surrender the Castle two days sooner than it was agreed to be They left in it fourteen pieces of Ordnance store of Arms Ammunition and some Provisions and marched a thousand Foot beside Horse out of it Rutland Castle surrendred to C. Mitton with all the Arms and Ammunition in it 29. The Monthly Fast day Letters informed the sad condition of the Protestants in Ireland the Rebels prevailing there that they lately took Roscommon and put all the English there to the Sword then they took Bonratty which held out three Months and there also they put the English and Scotch to the Sword 30. Order for a considerable Force to be sent over into Ireland and for such as were willing of M. General Masseys Brigade to go over thither under their own Officers A Regiment of five hundred Horse ordered for Col. Coote for the Irish Service and for supernumerary Forces in all Counties Another Regiment of five hundred Horse ordered for Col. Lidcote for Ireland and an order for forty thousand pounds for Ireland 31. Debate of the business of Ireland and voted that none of the Forces of Sir Tho. Fairfax his Army should be taken off to be sent thither but four Regiments of Foot and three Regiments of Horse of the Forces of the several Garrisons dismantled and of the Counties where there was no present use of them Upon hearing a Petition of Adjutant Grey and Mr. Steward against an illegal Decree made by Sir George Ratcliffe in Ireland against them the House ordered fifteen hundred pounds to Mr. Steward and four hundred pounds to Adjutant Grey out of Sir Geroge Ratcliff's Estate Reference to a Committee to compute the arrears of some Reformadoe Officers that course may be taken for their pay Moneys ordered for the Duke of Glocester Order to demand of the Commissioners of Scotland here the Rendition of Belfast in Ireland More Letters came of the Particulars of the Surrender of Worcester much to the same effect as is before mentioned with an order of the Committee of Worcester-shire to take the Mace and Sword and Seal of that City into their possession That Serjeant Welde who went from the Parliament thither was chosen to be their Recorder with other particulars Letters from Newcastle certified that the Commissioners had presented the Propositions for Peace to his Majesty and acquainted him that they had but ten days allowed them to attend for his Majesties answer which they desired he would be pleased to give them within that time That the King desired longer time for him to consider and give his answer to all those propositions and matters of so great weight as they were but being told by the Commissioners that they had no longer time allowed to them but ten days only after which time they were commanded to return back to the Parliament his Majesty told them that within that time they should receive his answer to the propositions August 1646. August 1. The House sate not nor did any intelligence come this day 3. Letters from Newcastle informed that upon the Commissioners presenting the propositions to the King he asked them if they had any power to Treat they answered they had not then the King replyed saving the honour of the business an honest Trumpeter might have done as much That the Scots Lords and Officers begged of the King to sign the Propositions A Proclamation at Newcastle forbidding all Malignants to come to the King the Provost and Baylies of Edingborough Petitioned the King to grant the propositions Col. Birch entred some of the works of Gotherich Castle whereupon the Garrison hung out a white Flag for Parley which Birch refused and went on Storming and they all submitted to Mercy In the Castle besides the Governor Sir Henry Lingen were fifty Gentlemen and a hundred and twenty Soldiers with Arms Ammunition and Provisions Ragland Castle held out and made some Sallies but were beaten back Col. Birch and Col. Rainsborough went to assist Col. Morgan in that Siege and the General himself went thither Pendennis Castle had some relief by Sea the Arch-Bishop received some loss at Conwey Denbigh Castle held out against the Parliament and Film Castle seemed tractable to come to a Treaty 4. Order to transport the Forces of Major General Laugherne into Ireland and that the Forces in the several Counties that will list themselves for Ireland shall have a Months pay and those that will not to be disbanded their Officers are to march with those that go to the water side if they will not go over into Ireland Bristol Chester and Leverpoole appointed to be rendezvous for the Soldiers to take shipping for Ireland and orders for Cloaths Victuals and