besides those killed in the other part of the Town and many of them wounded that Sir William Campion Col. Cooke two Majors and other Officers were slain many of Quality wounded and many of the Trained Bands whom the General released They say that Colonel Farre Lieutenant Colonel to the Earl of Warwick led them out into the field and into Mr. Grimston's house and when he and the men fled being galled by the Parliaments Musquetiers he got to the gate and caused it to be shut and left his men to be cut in pieces by the Parliament Souldiers if they had not been more merciful That the General closely beleaguers the Town his train being come up to him but intends if possible to preserve the Town from fire and plunder That Sir Bern. Scudamore Colonel Stewart and Colonel Thorneton were taken at New-market raising sorces for the King That the Trumpet sent by the General into the Town to see in what condition Sir William Masham and the other Gentlemen Prisoners there were returned that they were in a reasonable good condition That Captain Zanchy who took in Marsey Fort and Island found there two Culverins two Sacres and one Drake and that Captain Peacock and the Commander of the Ships at Harwich offered their assistance to the General Order for raising two Troops of Horse in Northamptonshire and for money for the Army Order about setling Ministers in particular Parishes and for reviving the Committee of Examinations with power to suppress scandalous and unlicensed Pamphlets 17. Debate that every officer before he had his Commission should take the Covenant laid aside A Commission to Colonel Herbert to raise Forces for the Isle of Ely Vote for a Strong Summers Fleet for defence of the Kingdom and to reduce the revolted Ships and a gratuity to be given to the Officers and Mariners of the Fleet. Orders about levying the Assessments for the Army Letters of the General summoning Colchester to render to the Parliament and that the Lord Goring asked the Trumpet who brought the Summons how his General did and bid him tell his General that he heard he was ill of the Gout but that Goring would cure him of all diseases that the Soudiers were highly inraged at this scoff to their General The Lord Goring Lord Capel and Sir Charles Lucas sent to the General for a List of the Prisoners he had taken of their party and the General sent it to them 19. Order for Sir Hardress Waller to permit no new forces to be raised in Devonshire and Cornwal but to make use of the Trained-bands there if there shall be occasion Debate about breaking the Chamber of M r Charleton a member of the House and taking away a Ward from thence the affront referred to a Committee the matter of the Ward referred to the Law Vote to readmit M r Walter Long a Member of the House The Case of Sir John Clotworthy referred to the Committee of Priviledges to examin The County and the City of Chester raised Forces for the Parliament and desired that Captain Carter might command those of the City which the House granted A Letter sent to old Sir Robert Booth inviting him to raise Forces for the King was by him sent up to the Parliament and they referred it to a Committee Referred to a Committee to examin some Mariners upon suspicion of plotting against the Parliament A battery being made against Pembroke Castle an assault was attempted but the Parliament Forces were repulsed with the loss of three and twenty men and but four of the Garrison Letters from Colchester that a Party of three hundred Horse issued out of the Town and returned with forty Head of Cattle and a hundred Sheep and were not met with by the Parliaments Forces sent after them That Lieutenant General Cromwell hath planted his Cannon and intended the next day to begin his battery Letters from the North that Langdale marching towards Carlisle Lambert fell upon his Rear into the quarters of a Regiment newly raised which he totally dispersed and brake that the Officers fled after Langdale and the Souldiers threw down their Armes and ran home seeming glad of the opportunity That Lamberts men pursued another Party of Langdale's and took some Prisoners that Carlisle was unwilling to receive Langdale's Forces saying they would rather lose their lives than be forced to eat Horse Flesh as they had been before Letters from Scotland that an Army will be forthwith raised there that Duke Hamilton goes along General and hath already Six thousand Horse Foot and Dragoons that Middleton is Major General of the Foot and the Earl of Kalender Lieutenant General of the Horse That their Parliament have adjourned for two years and left a great power to the Committee who act vigorously for the War so that the Chancellor the Lord Wareston and others have left them and are gone to the Earl of Argile That an Act is passed for punishing all such as preach or write or speak against any thing done by the Parliament or by any authority derived from them that Holborne is gone with a thousand Horse to fetch in the Earl of Argile and his Party 20. Both Houses reciting former Votes passed 20 Maii 1642 viz. 1. That it appears that the King seduced by wicked Counsel intends to make War against the Parliament who in all their Consultations and Actions have proposed no other end to themselves but the care of the Kingdoms and the performance of all duty and Loyalty to his person 2. That whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a breach of the trust reposed in him by his People contrary to his Oath and tending to the dissolution of this Government 3. That whosoever shall serve and assist him in such wars are Traytors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged by two Acts of Parliament and ought to suffer as Traytors 11 R. 2. 1 H. 4. The Lords and Commons now Declare that it appears that divers who have assisted the King in the late War against the Parliament and divers others endeavour to levy a new War against the Parliament That all such are Traytors by the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and have been so adjudged by the said two Acts of Parliament And they ordered that these Votes be printed and published by the Sheriffs in every Market Town and by the Judges in their Circuits An Ordinance passed to establish Colonel Welden Governor of Plymouth and a hundred Pounds orderd him to buy Horses Orders for raising Forces in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire and that the Militia of Lancashire present to the General a fit person to be Governor of Leverpool Colonel Ralph Ashton approved to command the Lancashire Brigade to joyn with Major General Lambert Colonell Russell ordered to go to his Government in Jersey Letters from Lieutennnt General Cromwell That the Garrison of Pembroke begin to be in extream want of
he gave Commissions to Irish Rebels and since was the occasion of a second War and had done contrary to the Liberties of the subject and tending to the destruction of the fundamental Laws and liberties of this Kingdom This Ordinance was read the first time and ordered to be read again the second time to morrow Order for the accounts of Colonel Aldrich a Member of the House to be stated 29. Orders touching the securing of six thousand pound to the Commissioners of the Customs for the present use of the Navy An account to the House what monies were in arrear from Delinquents of their Compositions referred to a Committee The Ordinance for impeaching the King read the second time and committed Major Pitcher who was violent against the Parliament in the War and upon the Articles of the surrender of Worcester was taken in Arms and ingaged not to serve any more against the Parliament Yet afterwards was taken in Arms again against the Parliament at the surrender of Pembroke had quarter given upon mercy and was to go out of the Kingdom for two years and for not doing so and now taken he was by sentence of the Court Martial executed and shot to Death The Council of War sate at White-Hall and finished the agreement of the People and appointed a Committee to consider of a way for the Army to subscribe it A Woman out of Hartfordshire came to the Council of the Army and acquainted them that she had something from God to speak to them and being admitted she did much incourage them in their present proceedings A Petition from Jo. Lilburn and others expressing their dislike of some Articles of the agreement of the People 30. Petition of Mrs. Jennings against Mr. Jennings her Brother a Member of Parliament for refusing to pay her portion or account standing upon his priviledge of Parliament referred to a Committee Order for two thousand five hundred pounds for M r Smithby for Saddles and other Horse-Furniture Referred to the Committee for the Trial of the King to insert the names of Commissioners and to make a Special Provision in the Ordinance in case the King should refuse to plead to the Charge against him Debate whether the thanks of the House should be given to Mr. Watson one of the Ministers that preached before the House of Commons the last Fast-day and carried in the Negative because he did not acknowledge the Parliament Mr. Brookes the other Preacher had the thanks of the House and it was debated whether the Ordinance for Monthly Fasts should be repealed and Fast-days appointed only as there should be occasion but no result was made of it 31. Mr. Owen Preached two excellent Sermons And upon discourse concerning the present affairs of the Army he seemed much to favour them and spake in dislike of those Members who voluntarily absented themselves from the House having no particular force upon their persons All men were at a gaze what would be the issue of such proceedings some thought it best for them to be reserved as to their Opinion finding every where too many talkers and few with much judgment January 1648. 1. Report of the names of Commissioners for Trial of the King being some of the Lords and Commons Officers of the Army Aldermen and Commanders in London with some Gentle-men from the Counties all being one hundred and fifty Persons and twenty of them of the Quorum to try the King and to give Sentence against him A months time was given by the Ordinance to the Commissioners to determine this business This Vote was passed as a foundation for these proceedings That the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do declare and adjudge that by the fundamental Laws of this Realm it is Treason in the King of England for the time to come to levy War against the Parliament and Kingdom of England Order touching Sequesting of Delinquents in South Wales A Letter from Elsing desiring the House by reason of his indisposition to appoint a Clerk to attend them Referred to a Committee to take an account from M r Elsing of the Books and Records of Parliament in his Hands and to receive them by Inventory and to present the names of fit persons to the House out of whom they may chuse an able Clerk to attend them Vote for M r Phelps to be Clerk assistant to the House and two hundred pound ordered for M r Darnell the present Clerk assistant A Committee named to consider of a way to prevent Anticipations of the publick Revenue The Souldiers in prosecution of an Ordinance of Parliament secured all the Players and brought them away Prisoners in the midst of their Acts as they were then habited in their Robes A Committee of the Army was appointed to consider of concealed Monies due to the State and another Committee of Officers of the Army and Citizens to consider of notorious Delinquents that are fit to be made examples of Justice and an unusual power was given to these Committees to examine witnesses upon Oath Letters from Scotland That at the late renewing of the Covenant the Lord Chancellour stood up in his Pew made publick acknowledgment of his late failings and self seeking and countenancing the last wicked ingagement which he did so orthodoxly and pathetically with many Tears and praying the people to pray for him that there was much weeping among them Letters fom Pontefract Leaguer that many of the Garrison came into them that if the supernumeraries may be sent for Ireland and Old Noll or any person of Honour command them that he cannot want men Letters of advice that all well affected men in the Kingdom might associate and be in Armes lest the Presbyterians who preach for their God viz. The Tenth of every mans Estates and for Forms do joyn with their Brother Malignants to raise new troubles 2. A high Sheriff named for Durham Upon a Letter from Colonel Whitchcot Governour of Windsor Castle Order for twenty pounds per diem for the charge of his Majesties Table and for Fire and Candle for the Souldiery and Voted that Colonel Whitchcot shall have the same power for displacing disaffected attendants about his Majesty as Colonel Hammond had in the Isle of Wight The Ordinance for Tryal of the King was carried up to the Lords of whom sixteen then sate they stuck much upon the Declaratory Vote That it was Treason in the King to levy War against the Parliament they agreed to send an answer by Messengers of their own and adjourned their House for ten days Letters from Windsor that the King was chearful and took no notice of any proceedings against him as to his Tryal and saith he doubts not but within six Months to see peace in England and in case of not restoring to be righted from Ireland Denmark and other places Letters from France that the Parliament there published an Edict against Cardinal Mazarine who escaped
mightily increased the Scots Successes animated other Subjects to their illegal Pretences and impious Actions and in this time of the King's absence in Scotland the Irish Flames of Rebellion brake forth having been thus kindled The last year the Parliament at Dublin sent a Committee hither with a Remonstrance to the King of their Grievances and Pressures under the Government of the Earl of Strafford whom they had accused of high Treason The King gave them most favourable Answers and Redresses and parted with much of his own to give contentment to his Irish Subjects Mr. Wainsford Deputy there to the Earl of Strafford Lieutenant being dead the King by Commission constituted the Lord Ditton and Sir William Parsons in the Government there but finding Ditton not well liked he made Sir William Parsons and Sir John Borlace generally approved to be the Lords Justices there These applyed themselves to give all satisfaction to the people they abated the Subsidies given in Strafford's time from 40000 l. to 12000 l. Passed an Act of Limitation much desired to settle all Estates for sixty years precedent and another for relinquishing the King's Right found for him by Inquisition to four Counties in Connaght and other Territories He declared the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Papists there were permitted a private enjoyment of their Religion and a general good Agreement was had between the English and Irish In this Security the Irish Army was disbanded after which and in the King's absence in Scotland about October 23. there brake forth so horrid black and flagitious a Rebellion in Ireland as cannot be parallell'd in the Stories of any other Nation This was fomented and contrived by their Popish Priests and Lawyers some of their Maxims in Law were That any one being slain in Rebellion though found by Record gave the King no Forfeiture That though many thousands were in Arms and exercising the violences of War yet if they professed not to rise against the King it was no Rebellion That if one were Outlawed for Treason his Heir might reverse the Outlawry and be restored These and the like Tenets they published in their Parliaments and endeavoured a Suspension of Poyning's Act and the Act for annexing that Kingdom to the Crown of England and assumed a power of Judicature in Criminal and Capital Causes to be in their Parliament They took advantage of the Scots Sucesses of their Favourers in England and our Distractions here of the disbanding the Army there and the Death of the Earl of Strafford They raise Forces give out that the Queen was in the head of them and the King was coming with an Army to them and the Scots had made a League with them that they were authorised by the King's Commission and asserted his Cause against the Puritans of England To their Country-men they scatter Advertisements out of England of a Statute there lately made That all Irish shall come to the Protestant Worship on pain of loss of Goods for the first Offence of Lands for the second and of Life for the third Offence They give them hope to recover their Liberties and ancient Customs to shake off the English Yoke to have a King of their own Nation and to possess Goods and Estates of the English These Motives they published in Print That the King and Queen were curbed by the Puritans and their Prerogatives abolished which these as loyal Subjects take to heart and that the Catholick Religion is suppressed in England and the Catholicks there persecuted with all rigour even to death and that the Puritans in Ireland have threatned to doe the same there That in Ireland the Catholicks are made uncapable of any Office to the decay of them in their Estates Education and Learning That the Government of their Country is in the hand of Strangers who come thither poor and mean yet soon rise to wealth and honour by oppressing the Natives That there have been threatnings to send Forces to compel the Consciences of the Irish and to cut their Throats and that the Catholicks are not allowed to have any Arms or Ammunition but the Protestants and Puritans may Vpon all which they saw no way but to attempt to seize upon Arms where they could get them to save their Lives maintain the King and Queen their Religion and Country Upon these pretences and manifest untruths they ground their taking up of Arms. The first suspicion whereof was by Sir William Cole who about Octob. 11. wrote to the Lords Justices of great resort to Sir Phelim Oneale and to the Lord Macquierre and they were exceeding busie about dispatches About October 21. He wrote another Letter to them of what some Irish had revealed to him of a design to seize the Castle of Dublin to murther the Lords Justices and Councel and all the Protestants there and throughout the Kingdom But this Letter came not to their hands When many of the Conspirators were come to Dublin and met there at a Tavern one Owen O Conelly an Irish-man but a true Protestant came to Sir William Parsons about Nine a Clock at Night with a broken relation of a great Conspiracy to seize the Castle the next morning and that Mac Mahon who was one of them had told him so much Parsons seeing Conelly distempered with drink gave the less credit to his relation but wished him to return to Mac Mahon to get out of him what he could further of the Plot and to return to him again that Night Yet he did not so slight the Information but that secretly he ordered strong Guards in several places and assembled the Councel where they expected the return of Conelly who coming to them was seized on by the Guards who had carried him to Prison and so prevented the discovery of the Plot had not a Servant of Sir VVilliam Parsons accidentally come by and rescued Conelly and brought him somewhat recovered of his drinking unto the Lords Justices and Councel who confessed that a few days before upon Letters from Mac Mahon he went to meet him at Connaght but he being gone to Dublin Conelly followed him thither and they two went to the lodging of the Lord Macquierre that by the way Mac Mahon told O Conelly that this Night there would be a great number of Irish Noblemen Papists in Dublin who with himself would take the Castle by Morning then force the City by the Ordnance and destroy all the Protestants and so divers others were ordered in all parts of the Kingdom to seize and destroy all the English at an Hour designed viz. to Morrow by Ten a Clock and that no posting nor speed could prevent it That Conelly moved Mac Mahon to discover it rather to the State to prevent the mischief But he answered He could not help it yet that they owned their allegiance to the King and pay it to him but what they did was against the tyrannical Government over them and
it said in former Debates in other matters in this House that such and such a thing was of as great concernment as ever came within these Walls I am sure it may be said so of the matter of your present Debate it is truly of the greatest concernment that ever came within these Walls It highly concerns us all and our Posterity after us where the Power of this Militia shall be placed This great Power which indeed commands all men and all things cannot be too warily lodged nor too seriously considered and I do heartily wish that this great Word this new Word the Militia this hard Word might never have come within these Walls But that this House may be as the Temple of Janus ever shut against it I take the meaning of those Gentlemen who introduced this Word to be the Power of the Sword Potest as Gladii which is a great and necessary Power and properly belonging to the Magistrate Potest as Gladii in Facinerosos without which our Peace and Property cannot be maintained But Potest as Gladii in Manibus Facinerosorum in the hands of Souldiers is that whereof you now Debate and it is best out of their hands I hope it will never come there Some worthy Gentlemen have declared their Opinions that this Power of the Militia is by Right and Law in the King onely others affirm it to be in the Parliament onely I crave pardon to differ from both these Opinons I humbly apprehend that this Power of the Militia is neither in the King onely nor in the Parliament and if the Law hath placed it any where it is both in the King and Parliament when they joyn together And it is a wise Institution of our Law not to settle this Power any where but rather to leave it in dubio or in nubibus that the People might be kept in ignorance thereof as a thing not fit to be known not to be pried into It is the great Arcanum Imperii and the less it is meddled with the less acquaintance we have with it the better it will be for all sorts of persons both for King and People That this Power of the Militia is not in the King onely appears in this that the Power of Money is not in the King but it will be granted here that the power of Money is solely in this House and without the Power of Money to pay the Souldiers the Power of the Militia will be of little force But if the Power of the Militia should be in the King yet the Power of Money being in the Parliament they must both agree or else keep the Sword in the Scabberd which is the best place for it It is true that the King by his tenures may require the service in War of those that hold of him but if they stay above 40 days with him unless he give them pay they will stay no longer And it is also true as hath been observed that our Law looks upon the King as the Jewish Law did upon theirs that by his Kingly Office he is to go in and out before the people and to lead them in Battel against their enemies but by the Laws of the Jews their King could not undertake a War abroad without the consent of the great Sanhedrim And by our Law as is declared by the Statute 1 E. 3. and by divers subsequent Statutes the King can compell no man to go out of his Countrey but upon the sudden coming of strange Enemies into the Realm and how many of our Parliament Rolls do record that the King advised with his Parliament about his Foreign Wars and could not undertake them without the Advice and Supplies of the Parliament All Power of the Militia is exercised either in Offence or Defence Defence is either against the Invasion of Enemies from Abroad or against Insurrections at Home Against Insurrections at Home the Sheriff of every County hath the Power of the Militia in him and if he be negligent to suppress them with the posse comitatus he is finable for it Against Invasions from Abroad every man will be forward to give his assistance there will be little need to raise Forces when every man will be ready to defend himself and to fight pro aris focis As to Offensive War against a Foreign Enemy if the King will make it of himself he must of himself pay his Army which his own Revenue will hardly afford nor can he compell any of his Subjects to serve him in those Wars none can by Law be pressed to serve in the War but by Act of Parliament But not to waste more of your time Sir I shall conclude that in my humble Opinion the Power of the Militia is neither in the King alone nor in the Parliament but if any where in the eye of our Law it is in the King and Parliament both consenting together And I think it best that it should be there still I cannot joyn in that advice to you to settle the Militia of your selves without the King but rather with those worthy Gentlemen who have moved that we yet again should petition his Majesty that the Militia may be settled in such hands as both he and you shall agree upon whom you may trust and who I hope will be more carefull to keep it sheathed than to draw it After a long Debate in the House upon this Matter they resolve to move the King that Sir John Biron may be put out from being Lieutenant of the Tower and Sir John Conyers to succeed him which was granted Then they proceed to nominate fit persons for trust of the Militia in the several Counties and pass an Act To disable all Clergy-men from exercising any Temporal Jurisdiction The King sends a Message to them That to satisfy and compose all Differences he will by Proclamation require all Statutes concerning Popish Recusants to be put in execution That the seven condemned Priests shall be banished and all Romish Priests within twenty days to depart the Kingdom He refers the consideration of the Government and Liturgy of the Church wholly to the two Houses And offers himself in Person to the Irish War The Lords and Commons petition the King That though he find cause to desert the prosecution of their Members yet the Charge against them reflects upon the whole Parliament they desire to know the Informers and their Suggestions to be proceeded against as by the Statutes 37 38 E. 3. Then they ordain the Power of the Militia for defence of the Parliament Tower and City of London under the Command of Skippon a faithfull and able Souldier And petition the King for settling the Militia of the several Counties on such as they had nominated to which the King respited his Answer till his Return from Dover whither he accompanied the Queen and their Daughter going for Hollaud Febr. 15. That pious and worthy Judge Sir George Crooke having attained near the
upon some design Sir Hardress Waller fell on them killed some and brought away many of them Prisoners 5. Debate about the Government of Ireland Voted not to be by Commissioners but by a single Person to be nominated by both Houses for a Year and that all Treaties with the Rebels should be nullified and the War to be managed by both Houses of Parliament This was communicated to the Lords at a conference for their concurrence with some votes touching the forfeitures of Delinquents Estates Several votes concerning the Assesments for Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army and directions to the Committee of the Army to the Committees of Counties to Sequestrators c. concerning the Assesments and that Military Officers shall pay the Assesment and that the Governors of the Inns of Court and Chancery do not permit any non-Resident Members in their Society Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax certified that the Prince was marched towards Dertmouth with five hundred Horse and one thousand three hundred Foot that Greenvile began to be contemptible in Cornwal as Goring was in Devon that six hundred of the Cornish men mutinyed and half of them went home that many of their men come in to Sir T. F. that Col. Grey with a Commanded Party gave an Allarm to Exeter and took some Prisoners by the way 6. Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace Voted that a former Judgment against Mr. Henry Martin of Expelling him the House should be voyd and rased out of the Journal-Book and Mr. Martin to enjoy the benefit of his first Election This gave occasion to some to believe that the House began to be more averse from the King Upon the Petition of the Militia of London informing the danger to the City by the great number of Persons coming thither from the Kings Quarters and praying additional powers to themselves for securing the Parliament and City The House granted their desires and that they should compell the Aged and Rich persons to pay for others to serve in the Regiments and to search for Papists and Delinquents Order for Supplys for Windsor Garrison Some Difference between the Commissioners of the Parliament sent down to the Scots Army and G. Leven about the Pay of the Army Upon a Sally out of Newarke they killed six of the Parliament men wounded divers and took twenty five Prisoners and Col. Rossiter fell upon them in their retreat killed eight and took nine Prisoners A Party from Walling-ford and Dennington fell upon the Parliaments Quarters at Kinbury near Newbury took Mr. Web but killed none the Parliament Party killed a Knight and two more of theirs and they being allighted to Plunder the Town a Cornet with a part of a Troop of the Parliaments took twenty of the Kings Horse and two Men. 7. Lieutenant Barrow being the Gentle-man who acted the Constables part in the Surprize of Hereford was called into the House and made them a particular relation of that Service the House gave him an hundred pound and ordered fifty pounds per An. to be setled upon him and his Heirs Mr. Tompkins formerly a Member of the House now taken at Hereford was Brought to the Bar on his knees and committed to the Counter Order for a Charge to be drawn up against Mr. David Jenkins A Committee named to consider of the Prisoners in the Tower and other Prisons how they may be secured and to prevent their holding intelligence with the Kings Party 8. Intelligence came that the Inhabitants of Chester urged the Governor to a Treaty of Surrender which he promised to do if relief came not within a Week that they were in great want of Victuals and often in Mutinies Debates touching particular differences of Members and about the poor plundered Town of Woburne 9. Proceedings touching the propositions for Peace Divers Widows of Soldiers and Creditors of the Parliament were at the House crying and importuning for satisfaction of Moneys due to them and it was referred to Auditor Bond to compute what was due These were supposed to be set on to this Clamor by some of the Kings Party and it was strange at this time of the Parliaments Prosperous condition to see how rude and impetuous especially some of the women were crying out as the Members passed through the crowd of them Pay us our Money we are ready to starve and seeming ready to tear their cloaths from off their backs Order for Money for the Forces of the Militia of London and for the Guards Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax informed that the Kings Forces were drawn up into a Body as intending to fight him and that Prince Charles was in the head of them and set out a Proclamation for all above sixteen years of Age to rise in his defence against the Rebels the House appointed a day to consider of this business of the Prince Order for Money for Windsor Garrison 10. Letters from the Commissioners in the Scots Army informed their proceedings and that a Party Sallying out of Newarke upon L. G. Pointz his Quarters some of them came to the Chamber of L. G. Pointz and rushing violently in the L. G. being there alone he engaged them with his Sword only and killed the first man that entred his Chamber at which the rest running down the Stayers he followed them and killed another of them and some of his Servants coming in to his Assistance two more of the Party were taken Prisoners and the whole Party were beaten back again Order for payment of the Arrears of L. G. Pointz and for his Forces and Supplys Col. Stockdale sent for to be examined touching the English taking of Commissions from the Scots General to raise Forces here and a day appointed to consider of the Scots raising Moneys in England bytheir Warrants Letters from Plymouth informed that some of their men after a small dispute took Canterbury-Work from the Kings Forces and in it seventeen Prisoners Arms and Ammunition That they afterwards marched to St. Budeaux where after an hot skirmish of an hour and an half they took the Church-yard and the Church-Fortified and in it ninety two Prisoners a Major three Captains three Lievetenants other Officers fifty five Horse Arms and Ammunition that ten of the Kings men were slain and seven of the Parliaments of whom Mr. Haines was one and twenty wounded 12. Debate of the Affairs of Ireland and to provide Money for that War a Committee named to compute the Charge of that War for next Summer and to consider how all Moneys by Assesment may be levyed one way and the Subject eased and of the powers of Committees in some particulars Debates about adding of Persons and Powers to the Committee of the Revenue Letters from Mr. Anesley and Sir Robert King and Mr. Beale the Parliaments Commissioners in Ireland certified That October 17. the Rebels having surrounded Sligo with a thousand Foot and three hundred Horse Captain Cook and Captain Cole with two hundred Horse Charged the
a Name If ought of that Nature happen amongst the infinite Particulars wherewith this Volume is charged it must be Noted without any Imputation either to the Intelligence or to the Integrity of our Author this being a Posthumous Work and as has been said never by him intended for the Publick MEMORIALS OF THE ENGLISH AFFAIRS During the REIGN of King Charles the First Anno 1625 Car. I KING Charles the First succeeded his Father King James Immediately after whose death the Privy Council met and drew up the Form of a Proclamation to proclaim King Charles which was forthwith published at Theobalds where the King dyed and in London by the Nobility Privy Councellors Gentry Lord Mayor and Aldermen in great Solemnity and so it was in all places with great Acclamations and testimonies of Joy from all sorts of People By advice of the Council a Commission was granted to authorize the Great Seal Privy Seal and Signet till new ones could be prepared And Commissions for authorizing of Judges Justices of Peace Sheriffs and all other Officers for Government with a Proclamation for that purpose because their Powers ceased by the King's death and the like was for Scotland and Ireland King James's Body was buried with due Solemnity at Westminster his Son King Charles though not usual was present at the Funerals The Duke of Buckingham was received by the King into an admired Intimacy and Dearness General Musters are in all Counties and 12000 Soldiers levied Coat and Conduct Money ordered to be disbursed by the Countrey and they to be paid again out of the Exchequer these were for the Palatinat and a Commission granted for Martial Law to keep the Soldiers in the better Discipline These Points of Coat and Conduct Money and Martial Law occasion'd frequent and great Debates amongst the Judges and other learned men The Espousals of our King with the King of France's Sister were made in Paris by Cardinal Richelieu and with the highest State Feasting and Bravery that could be Buckingham was sent into France to conduct the Queen hither A Navy Royal sent to Bullen to waft her over Sea she arrives at Dover where the King met her And with great expressions of affection and rejoicing by himself and all his Subjects she is received and safely came to London Some extraordinary Ceremonies and Solemnities were omitted by reason of the Plague then increasing All the Judges were sent for by the Lord Keeper Williams who told them That the King desired to change his stile and to use the stile of King of Great Britain as well in all Legal Acts and Proceedings as in Acts of State and other indifferent Acts. And he prayed the Judges to consider of it and to certifie him how it might be done They all met consulted and agreed that it could not be done which they certified the Keeper and that all the Judges of England being ask'd their opinions concerning this Point in the first Parliament of King James they answered una voce that it could not be done and Lords and Commons were likewise of the same judgment The Parliament met at Westminster the King made a Speech to them touching the War of the Palatinat wherein the last Parliament had engaged his Father and which was of necessity to be prosecuted and supplied and he urged his great wants and charges And then the Lord Keeper enlarged upon the same The Commons pressed upon the Grievances not redressed and to have an account of the last Subsidies others were for Execution of the Laws against Papists and the questioning Mr. Mountague for his Book Appello Caesarem contrived to put a Jealousie between the King and his Subjects and to encourage Popery Others praised the King and said That no Grievances had been yet in his Reign and they were only for a Petition for Religion and that Religion and Subsidies might go hand in hand together After a Fast both Houses Petitioned the King concerning Religion and against Recusants which was answered hopefully Mountague was brought to the Bar of the House of Commons for his Book the Arminian Party take in with him The House voted his Book contrary to the Articles of Religion tending to the Dishonour of the King and Disturbance of the Church and State The King owned Mountague as his Chaplain The Commons not pleased therewith yet Voted to give the King two Subsidies for which the King thanks them by a Message and yet informs them that the Necessities of the present Affairs were not therein satisfied but requires their further counsels and now he sent a full Answer to the Petition of Religion By reason of the Plague increasing the Parliament was adjourned to Oxford The Vantguard and seven other English Ships were lent to the King of France and employed against Rochel the Mariners refused the Service Buckingham was acquainted with it but not the Body of the Council The Protestants of France sollicit our King against it but he expresly commands the Vice-Admiral Pennington to do it the which he obeyed The Parliament Re-assembled at Oxford whither this News of the Ships came and exasperated many of them especially against the Duke They insist upon the Grievances Mountague is summoned his Cause by some of the Bishops is recommended to the Duke and they say That if the Church be once brought down below Herself even Majesty it self will soon be impeached and they say that King James approved Mountague's Opinions But others differed from them The King again speaks to the Two Houses of Parliament touching the War in which they engaged his Father for the Palatinat and the Breach with Spain then by his command the Lord Conway and Sir John Cooke declar'd to the Houses more particularly the present state of Affairs in Germany France the Low-Countries Sueden and other Kingdoms they computed the charge of the War to 700 000 l. a year besides the Navy and Ireland The Treasurer also acquainted them with the King's Debts for Denmark the Palatinat his Father's Funeral his own Marriage in all 300 000 l. Yet the Commons were unsatisfied some said That thing 's were improvidently managed and by contrary designs that it was not usual to give Subsidies upon Subsidies in one Parliament and no Grievances redressed that great Sums of Money were given for places that the time of the year was too far spent for the Navy to go forth that it should be enquired whether the Duke brake not the Match with Spain out of spleen to Olivarez and whether he made not the Match with France upon harder terms To these and many other things of the like nature the Duke made a handsom and plausible Answer to both Houses and gave them account of the Fleet much variety of opinion was in the House of Commons in debate hereof The King sends a Message to quicken them They answer him with a general Declaration And the King perceiving the Commons resolved
against Supply without redress of Grievances this Parliament by Commission was dissolved The King followed his design of the War and to put the Fleet to Sea and made a League with the Vnited Provinces against the Emperor and King of Spain Then issues a Proclamation to Recall Recusants Children from Beyond Sea and against Popish Priests and to command all English in the Service of the Emperor King of Spain and Archdutchess to return to England The King sends out his Letters to the Lord-Lieutenants of Counties touching a general Loan of Money to him and Warrants are issued forth to disarm Recusants The Fleet being ready with ten Regiments the Lord Wimbleton was made Commander in chief great muttering was that this design was not known to the Council but to the Duke onely and that he went not in Person The English and Dutch Ships designed to block up Dunkirk were dispersed by storm and 22 Dunkirk Men of War with Land-Forces gave an Alarum to England and Ireland The Fleet came together again and neglected or preposterously attempted a great Booty of Spanish Ships in Cadiz Bay then the Army landed and took a Fort but the English finding store of Spanish Wines abused themselves and hazarded the ruine of all They were again Shipt and the General put to Sea to wait for the Plate Fleet but the ill condition of his men by a general Contagion enforced his return home without any honourable performance which caused great clamor but where the fault lay hath not yet been determined nor any punisht for it The General was accused by some of his Colonels and Seamen and examined before the Council he laid the blame on some who did not fight the Spanish Ships as he ordered them they denied that they had Orders to fight This fending and proving little salved the Honour of the Nation All Trade with Spain is prohibited upon Confiscation all the Trained Bands are Exercised The Plague still raged in London so that in one week there dyed 5000 persons it was also spread in many places in the Countrey In some Families both Master and Mistriss Children and Servants were all swept away For fear of Infection many persons who were to pay money did first put it into a Tub of Water and then it was taken forth by the Party that was to receive it When the Plague was somewhat assuaged and there dyed in London but 2500 in a week it fell to Judge Whitlock's turn to go to Westminster-Hall to adjourn Michaelmas Term from thence to Reading and accordingly he went from his house in Buckinghamshire to Horton near Colebrooke and the next morning early to High-Park Corner where he and his Retinue dined on the ground with such meat and drink as they brought in the Coach with them and afterwards he drove fast through the Streets which were empty of People and overgrown with Grass to Westminster-Hall where the Officers were ready and the Judge and his company went strait to the Kings-Bench adjourned the Court returned to his Coach and drave away presently out of Town Sir Edward Coke and other Gentlemen who had appeared the last Parliament against the Duke were made Sheriffs and so could not be chosen Parliament-men Coke excepted against several parts of the Sheriffs Oath and by advice of all the Judges one of his Objections was allowed to wit the Clause To destroy Lollards which by Order of the King and Council was left out of the Oath and so continues The carriage of the Bishop of Lincoln towards the Duke at the Parliament at Oxford was remembred and he was sequestred from the King's Presence and from the Council and from the Custody of the Seal which was given to Sir Thomas Coventry and he was sworn a Privy Councellor and Lord Keeper The King finding the discontents of his Subjects increased thought fit to call another Parliament and first Commands are given to the Bishops to proceed against the Papists by Excommunication and a Proclamation confines them The King determines to leave Mountague to the Parliament to the great regret of Bishop Laud. The Coronation of the King is appointed on Christmas-day and Commissioners made to receive and determine Claims concerning Services to be then done Knights of the Bath are to be made and a Proclamation issues for all that had 40 l. per annum to come in and receive the Order of Knighthood A Day of Thanksgiving was kept for the ceasing of the Plague In London and the Out-Parishes this year dyed 54265 persons whereof of the Plague 35417. The King's Coronation was performed with the usual Ceremonies and Solemnities by Bishop Laud onely the King's Robe was White Sattin because as some say Purple could not be then had The Bishop of Lincoln having received no Writ of Summons to this Parliament desired the King that he might make his Proxy and besought him to mitigate the Duke's causeless anger towards him The Parliament being met the Lord Keeper made a Speech to them Of the Benefit and Constitution of Parliaments and the King's love of them and his striving whether he should be major or melior a greater King or a better man and that the causes of calling them were to make good Laws and to execute Justice Then the King approved of the Speaker who made an Harangue suitable to the Times Extolling the King and praising Monarchy Parliaments Bishops Lords Commons Laws Judges and all that were in place and inveighing against Popery and the King of Spain And concluded with the usual Prayer That his Majesty would allow the Priviledge of Parliament Freedom of Debate and Access to his Royal Person The Commons began to fall upon the Publick Grievances the Miscarriage of the late Voyage to Cadiz the mis-imployment of the Kings Revenue Evil Councels Favouring of Papists The Loans Taxes and many other which they referred to Committees They likewise Exhibited Articles against Mountague The Privy Councel required the Bishop of Durham to Apprehend such of his Majesties Subjects as should be present at Mass and to Commit them to Prison and the Kings Attourney sent Letters to the Judges to direct their strict proceedings against Recusants in their Circuits The Commons questioned the Seising of the Ship The Peter of New Haven by Sir James Bag upon which our Merchants Ships and Goods were seised in France The Duke said he would justifie it by the Kings Order The Council of War for the business of the Pallatinate were called into the House of Commons but made no clear Answer The King by Message and the Lords press the Commons for Supplies They proceed as to the Grievances by the method of Evils and Remedies and Resolved 1. That the Diminution of the Kingdom in strength and honour is an Evil which we suffer under 2. The Increase and countenancing of Papists 3. The not Guarding of the Narrow Seas 4. Pluralities of Offices in one hand 5. Sales of Honours and
executed and the Soldiers committed great outrages Sir Randâ—l Crew Chief Justice not favouring the Loan was put out of his Place and Sir Nicholas Hide who drew the Dukes Answer in Parliament was preferred to be the Chief Justice The Bishop of Lineoln for speaking words against the Government and for countenancing Non-Conformists was complained of by Sir John Lamb and others and they Informed That Fasts were kept and Money Collected by the Puritans for the Palatinat and that the Bishop would not proceed against them The Bishop got a Copy of the Informations against him Bishop Laud was Jealous that Lincoln Endeavour'd to be reconciled to the Duke Six thousand English in service with the States were commanded thence under General Morgan to join with the King of Denmark Some who refused to lend Money to the King were forced to Serve in the Kings Ships then going forth and refusers in the Country were some of them Committed and the meaner sort pressed to serve as Soldiers Dr. Sibthorp published a Sermon Preached by him to Promote the Kings Affairs wherein he delivered his Opinion That the King might make Laws and do whatsoever pleaseth him Dr. Mainwaring Preached the same Divinity and highly against the power of Parliaments The Papists were forward in the Loan and the Puritans were Recusants in it Abount this time the Earl of Denbigh had one hundred Sayl of Ships under his command in our Seas but his Excellency having no Commission to Fight suffer'd divers English Vessels to be taken away by our Enemies in his view without Rescue by their Countrymen Some Ships taken for Prize being brought before him as Admiral it was wondred at that almost all of them were by him adjudged to be no Prize and so released but one Captain pursued a released Ship and took her again brought her to London and in the Admiralty she was adjudged Prize and he Enjoyed the benefit whatever the Earl of Denbigh did before Distastes and Jealousies were raised about the Government of the Queens Family wherein the King held himself traduced by some French Servants who said that the King bad nothing to do with them he being an Heretick The Queen was brought to Insist upon it as part of the Articles that She should name all Her Servants and some unkindness arose upon it The King was also distasted That her Priests made the Queen to walk to Tyburn on Pennance Upon these passages the King dismist and sent back into France all the Queens French retinue acquainting the French King with it and Excusing it to him but it was ill resented in France and by them held contrary to the Articles of Marriage The Jarring with France brake out to an open War which was fomented by an Abbot here in disfavour with Cardinal Richlieu to put an affront upon the Cardinal and Mr. Walter Mountague Endeavoured to further it and the pretence was to assist those of the Religion in France Our King took that ground and the denial of Count Mansfields Men to land in France and the influence of the Councils of the House of Austria upon those of France and the Imbargo of our Merchants Ships there sufficient causes for a War The Duke of Bucks is appointed Admiral and General of the Sea and Land Forces prepared against France And hath power to make Knights c. He comes before Rochel with one hundred Sayl of Ships and desires them to joyn with him in behalf of the Protestants in France but the Rochellers returning thanks to our King and to the Duke answered That they were bound by Vnion and Oath not to do any thing without the consent of the rest of the Religion The Duke was advised to land his Men at the Isle of Oleron which was weak and ill provided and not at the Isle of Rea which was strong and well provided but he altered his Design and Sailed to Rea and there landed Twelve hundred Men whom the French encountred but the English forced their way and all the Army was landed in the Island Yet did they not take their advantage against the French but suffered the Governor to have five days to recover his loss and to get in as he did new Forces and Provisions in the mean time the Duke published a Manifesto of the Causes of this War particularly the King of France his Imploying our Ships against Rochel contrary to his promise and agreement The Gentlemen here who refused to pay the Loan were confined into other Counties and in close Imprisonment and some of them in common Goals Sir John Elliot one of them in a Petition to the King sets forth the Illegality of the Loan or of any Tax without Parliament taking this way to Inform the King what his Councel did not and he alledgeth his Conscience not to submit to it and prays his liberty but could not obtain it Sir Peter Haiman another refuser was sent upon an Errand as far as the Palatinate The Arch-Bishop Abbot was suspended for refusing to licence Dr. Sibthorps Book a Sermon for Absolute Power and a Commission was granted to several Bishops to exercise the Archiepiscopal Jurisdiction Of all which proceedings touching himself the Archbishop left a grave and ingenious Narrative which may be read at large in Rushworths Collections Five of the Imprisoned Gentlemen by Habeas Corpus were brought to the Kings Bench and by their Councel Assigned took Exceptions to the Return for that it had not the cause of their Commitment but of their detainer in Prison per speciale Mandatum Regis which is no particular cause and the Law being most tender of the Subjects Liberty Noy Selden Brampston Calthrope and others who were of Councel for the Prisoners prayed they might be Released and Discharged Heath the Kings Attourney at another Day argued in Maintenance of the Return Hide chief Justice declared the Opinion of the Court That the Return was Positive and Absolute by the Kings special command and the signification of it by the Lords of the Council is only to inform the Court. And that the Habeas Corpus is not to return the Cause of the Imprisonment but of the detention in Prison that the matter of this Return is sufficient and the Court is not to examine the truth of the Return but must take it as it is So the Prisoners were Remaunded The Report of this Case may be found in Rushworths Collections Anno 1627 The King resolves to send supplies to the Isle of Rea and Souldiers and Mariners are press'd for that purpose but many of them not liking the business run away from their Conductors hereupon it was resolved by all the Judges That If one be retained to serve the King beyond Seas and press money deliver'd to him and by Indenture he be deliver'd to a Conductor to lead him to the Port where he is to be shipped and he run away from the Conductor that this it Felony by the Statutes 7 H. 7. ch
end this Session The Commons proceed in the Bill for Tunnage and Poundage By the King's appointment an order is made in the Star Chamber to take off from the file the Bill there against the Duke and his answer the King being satisfied of the Duke's Innocency The Duke denies the speaking of any words at his Table against the Commons as one of their Members reported and charged one Melvin a Scotchman for saying that the Duke intended to put the King upon a war against the Commonalty with the assistance of Scotland and the like and that Sir Tho. Overbury had poysoned Prince Henry by his Instigation The King Cancelled the Commission of Excise The Commons order a Remonstrance to be drawn of the Peoples Rights and of the undue taking of Tunnage and Poundage without the grant of it by Parliament which being ready the Speaker who was before sent for to the King came late and while the Remonstrance was in Reading the King sent for the House and spake to them touching it and took offence that it mentioned Tunnage and Poundage taken without Grant by Parliament as contrary to his Answer to the Petition of Right which he excused and said he could not want Tunnage and Poundage Then he passed the Bill of Subsidies and other Bills and the Lord Keeper declared the King's pleasure to Prorogue the parliament which was so done by Proclamation Manwaring's Books were supprest by another Proclamation and compositions for Recusants Estates directed by another and to search for and commit Popish Priests by another Dr. Mountagu was made a Bishop and Dr. Manwaring though disabled by sentence was preferred to a good living and both were pardoned The chief Baron Walter is put out and the King said of Judge Whitelocke that he was a stout wise and a learned man and one who knew what belongs to uphold Magistrates and Magistracy in their dignity and there was some speech of making him cheif Baron in the room of Walter But Whitelocke had no great mind to succeed Walter because Walter alledged that his Pattent of that office was quam diu se bene gesserit and that he ought not to be removed but by a Scire facias Rochel being besieged the Duke was appointed to goe with the Fleet to relieve it and being for that end at Portsmouth with much company he was suddenly stabbed to the heart by one Lieutenant Felton and fell down presently crying the Villain hath slain me and so dyed When some that came in suspected Monsieur Sabise to have done it Felton stepped forth and said I am he that did it let no Innocent man suffer for it and so was apprehended not offering to Escape and was sent to prison The King notwithstanding went on with the design to releive Rochel and the Fleet went thither but returned without doing any service being ill provided and their Victuals stunck Upon this the Rochellers were so much distressed that of 15000 men but 4000 remained alive the rest perished with hunger The Souldiers that returned and were billetted up and down committed great Insolencies Upon the Peace made between England and France the Protestants there for a time had a little more Indulgence Morgan was sent with the Lord Vere to Gluckstadt The Privy Council wrote to Dalbier to dispose of the German Horse to the King of Sweden or to the King of Denmarke After the Duke of Bucks death Bishop Laud had great favour with the King The meeting of the Parliament was Protogued Many in London resort to Felton in prison he saith he is sorry for his fact but he was induced to it by the Parliament's Remonstrance The same he said to the Council and denyed that the Puritans or any other set him on or knew of his purpose Bishop Laud told him if he would not confess that he must go to the Rack he said he knew not whom he might accuse perhaps Bishop Laud or any other in that torture The Council by the King's directions sent to the Judges for their opinions whether he might be racked by the Law They all agreed that by the Law he might not be put to the Rack Some Merchants were committed for not paying Tunnage and Poundage according to the King's Declaration Chambers one of them brought his Habeas Corpus and it was returned that he was committed for Insolent words spoken by him at the Council Table that the Merchants were scrued up in England more than in Turkey but the words not being in the Return it was mended and he was discharged by Bayle the Council were offended at it and rebuked the Judges but they Justified what they had done Felton was tryed at the King's Bench and had Judgment of death he shewed remorse and offered his hand to be cut off which the King desired might be done but the Judges said it could not be by Law and he was hanged in Chains Mr. Vassall was brought into the Exchequer for not paying Tunnage and Poundage he pleaded Magna Charta and the Statute de Tallagio non concedendo and that this Imposition was not by assent in Parliament The Barons refused to hear his Council gave Judgment against him and Imprisoned him Chambers having his goods seised sued a Replevin the Barons stayed it and all other Replevins in the like case by an Injunction to the Sheriffs and ordered the double value of his goods to be seised and the like was in the case of Mr. Rolls At the Council it was resolved before hand to Justifie these proceedings when the Parliament should meet and if the Parliament did not pass the Bill for Tunnage and Poundage then to break it And those of the Council that were Members of the House of Commons were directed what to say if the House should fall upon any of the King's Ministers The Parliament met and found the Petition of Right to be Printed with some Additions and the Copies first Printed without the Additions were suppressed by the King's order And they were informed of the seising of the Merchants goods perticularly of Mr. Rolles then a Member of Parliament and that the Customers said If all the Parliament were concerned in the Goods they would seise them These things were referred to a Committee The King sent for both Houses spake to them in justification of his taking Tunnage and Poundage untill they should grant it to him wished them to do it and not to be Jealous of the actions of one another He sends another Message to them to expedite that Bill they are troubled that it should be imposed on them which should first move from them They consider of the Grievancies since the last Session Of the increase of Arminians and Papists Pym moves to take a Covenant to maintain our Religion and Rights they proceed touching Religion before Tunnage and Poundage and touching the late Introducing of ceremonies by Cosins and others and the late Pardons Another Message comes
are said to be committed in Parliament and ought not to be punished in this or any other Court except in Parliament The Kings Attorney moved the Court to over-rule the Plea though he did not demur to it but the Court would not and gave a day to joyn in Demurrer and to have the point argued The Attorney exhibited an information in the Star-Chamber against Mr. Long for that he contrary to his Oath when he was made Sheriff and was by his Oath to keep within his County yet he did come to Parliament and serve as a Member there and in the time of Parliament resided out of his County For this the Court sentenced him to pay Two thousand Marks to the King for a Fine to be imprisoned in the Tower and to make a submission In Hillary Term the Information in the King's Bench against Sir John Elliot and the rest touching the point of the Jurisdiction of the Court came to be argued All the Judges severally declared their Opinions That in this case the King's Bench hath jurisdiction of the Cause And the Defendants were ruled to plead further but they would not put in any other Plea Whereupon Judgment was given against them upon a Nihil dicit that they should be imprisoned and not delivered till they had given Security for their good behaviour and made a submission and acknowledgment of their Offences and they were also fined Anno 1630. Anno 1630 In Easter Term Sir Henry Martyn Dr. of Laws and Judge of the Admiralty made a great Complaint to the King against the Judges of the King's Bench for granting Prohibitions against that Court and all the Judges were before the King about it and they mannerly and stoutly justified their proceedings in those Cases to be according to Law and as their Oaths bound them Sir Henry Vane was sent to the Queen of Bohemia about a Marriage for her Son with the Emperor's Daughter and the Son to be brought up in the Court of the Emperor to which the Queen would by no means hearken The Venetians were set on to mediate a Peace between England and France which took effect and Sir Thomas Edmonds was sent to take the Ratification thereof by the King of France by his Oath and signing of it Car. 5 A Book of Sir Robert Dudley's making being of purpose to increase the King's Revenue and containing in it somewhat in prejudice of the proceedings as to the Parliament was dispersed by the Earls of Bedford and Clare Sir Robert Cotton Mr. Selden and Mr. St. John for which they were committed to prison but Sir David Fowlis discovered the Author and so the matter ended and the prisoners were released William Earl of Pembroke died suddenly as was predicted to him by an Astrologer Upon the 29th of May 1630 the Queen was brought to Bed of a Son Prince Charles to the exceeding joy of the Subjects and the same day a bright Star appeared shining at Noon-day in the East About Midsummer this year Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden landed in Germany with about 8000 Men and as soon as he came on shore he kneeled down upon the ground his Officers and Soldiers round about him and there gave thanks to God for his safe Arrival and prayed for his blessing upon that Action he prayed very pathetically in the presence of his Army and incouraged them by Texts out of holy Scripture himself being the Preacher The Prince Palatine sent his Plea to the Dyet at Leypsick and Sir Robert Amstrother was sent thither from our King to Negotiate the Palsgrave's Restitution but he received only a general Answer That at present the Affairs of the Empire were so pressing that they could not take into consideration the business of the Palatinate but that shortly it should be done and to the satisfaction of the King of Great Britain Dr. Leighton a Scotch-man for his Book Intituled Sions Plea dedicated to the last Parliament counselling them to kill all the Bishops by smiting them under the fifth Rib and railing against the Queen calling her a Canaanite and Idolatress had the Sentence of the Star-Chamber executed upon him he was stygmatized his Ears cut off and his Nose slit and imprisonment Sir Humphrey May Vice-chamberlain of his Majestie 's Houshold and one of his Privy Council died the 10th of June 1630. The Peace with Spain was concluded in November and the Articles solemnly signed and sworn to be observed upon a Latin Bible brought for that purpose by Bishop Laud. At this time the Face of War was over most parts of Christendom in Italy and France it was begun and in Spain also France fuller of fears and Germany full of the calamities of War and infested on all sides with potent Enemies Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden being entred into Germany carries on his Designs vigorously and successfully first he declares the Cause of his Invasion For succour and relief and assistance to the Protestant Princes and the Cause of Religion so much oppressed by the Emperor and the Popish Party The Emperour answers the Declaration and justifies his Proceedings It is certain that the King of Sweden had not the least ambition or thought of beginning a War in Germany wanting Strength and Treasure to carry on so great a Design and therefore for a long time would not hearken to any Motions or Proposals made to him about that matter until he was earnestly sollicited and pressed by the Protestant Princes of Germany to take their Cause and Oppression and the Cause of all the Protestants in Germany into his Compassion and Intreated for the Cause of God and of his People to assist them for their deliverance from the miserable and unjust oppressions and persecutions under which all the Protestant Party did then groan by the Emperor's violence and cruelty towards them And yet it was then after many denials and excuses and dissatisfaction in himself as to the lawfulness of his undertaking this action that at length he was prevailed with by their Importunities and fair Promises but more by the sadness of the condition of the poor Protestants in Germany and the danger to the Protestant Religion there and in his own and all other Countries designed to be rooted out to pity their Estate Paries cum proximus ardet and for defence of the Protestant Religion to confederate with the Protestant Princes of Germany He thereupon made a League with them and raised an Army though but a small one and landed happily as is before mentioned and some of the Princes of the League joyning with him they went on prosperously through the blessing of God going along with them The particular proceedings of this great King Generalissimo of the Protestant Army are set down in the Histories of that War therefore I shall not insert them here But shall only in the general say this that the relation of those Affairs by our later Chroniclers is so
His Majestie 's care and zeal to preserve his and the Kingdome 's honour in the dominion of the Sea by a powerfull Fleet. And you are to let them know how just it is for His Majesty to require Shipmoney for the common defence and with what alacrity and chearfulness they are bound in duty to contribute Some of the Judges put on this business in their charges at the Assises with great zeal and gravity to advance the King's pleasure but they did not convince many of the Legality of that business The Hollanders made a League with the French they were to Invade Flanders by Land and to infest Dunkirke and the Hollanders to doe it by Sea They prevailed at Diest and Tellemont but the Insolencies of the French and Dutch Souldiers caused the natives to beat both of their Armies out of the Country and the English Fleet perswaded powerfully the Hollanders to remove from before Dunkirke The Affairs in Germany were somewhat mitigated by the conclusion of the peace at Prague and the Protestants were reduced to their profession as it was setled in the year 1627. Some fiery spirits on both sides fomented by Cardinal Richelieu sought to undermine the peace and to reduce all again to a new Quarrel but the Emperor pursued the agreement confirmed the peace and forced many to an observance of it The Swedes were generally discontented with the peace The Elector of Saxony offered them a 100000 rize Dollars for a Reward but they refused it and held what they had gotten in Pomerland and elsewhere and what they had about Phelesbergh the Chancellor Oxenstierne put into the hands of the French A Ship loaden with many rich spoils of Germany and Goods of a very great value belonging to the Chancellor was cast away and the goods sunk in the Sea within a league of the Coast of Sweden In November this year arrived the Prince Elector in England to sollicite our King his Uncle for his assistance to the restauration of his Nephew to his dignity and Patrimony he was received here with all ceremonies and courtesies answerable to his quality and near alliance and soon after him his third Brother Prince Rupert arrived here also In December the Queen was brought to bed of a second daughter named Elizabeth to congratulate her Majestie 's safe delivery the Hollanders sent hither a solemn Ambassy and a noble present A huge peice of Amber Greece two fair China Basons almost Transparent a curious Clock and four rare peices of Tintinell and Tytian's painting Some supposed that they did it to Ingratiate the more with our King in regard his Fleet was so powerful at Sea and they saw him resolved to maintain his Right and Dominion there In March the Treasurers staffe was given by the King to Dr. William Juxton Bishop of London who was commended to His Majesty by the Arch-bishop Laud his old freind and predecessor in the Presidentship of St. John's Colledge in Oxford He was a Commoner in that Colledge and studied the Civil Law and therein took the degree of Batchellor and afterwards of Doctor of the Laws Yet with his Law he studyed likewise divinity took orders and was presented to the Parsonage of Somerton in Oxfordshire where he had a convenient livelyhood and there he sometimes resided and sometimes at St. John's Colledge He was much delighted with Hunting and kept a pack of good Hounds and had them so well ordered and hunted and chiefly by his own skill and direction that they exceeded all other Hounds in England for the pleasure and orderly hunting of them He was a person of great parts and temper and had as much command of himself as of his hounds he was full of ingenuity and meekness not apt to give offence to any and willing to doe good to all The Privy Council wrote Letters to every High Sheriff of England directing them for the taxing and levying of the Shipmoney and yet with great care and equality much beyond what was observed in following taxes But the guilding of this illegal Pill would not cause it to be swallowed down but many people especially of the knowing Gentry expressed great discontent at this new assessment and burthen as an Imposition against Law and the rights of the Subject The Plague was this year in London but by the mercy of God did not increase so much as was feared Anno 1635 The Earl of Berks whose fortune was lower than his mind betook himself to some new Projects whereof he became a Countenancer and Partner hoping to gain much by them to repair his Estate and had gotten a Patent from the King for the sole making of a new kind of Kiln for making of Malt and laboured to bring the same in use he was to have money of all those who set up this new Kiln This year by a Flood neer Glucstade in Holstein were drowned six thousand Persons and about fifty thousand Cattle And by the Plague there died in Leyden in Holland twenty thousand persons besides those that died in the rest of the Towns of that Countrey The Archbishop Laud made his Visitation and strictly enjoyned and expected a conformity to his Orders one of them which gave most distaste to many was That the Communion-table should be removed in every Church from the body of the Church or Chancel to the upper East-end of the Chancel and the side of the Table to be set against the Wall Altar-wise with a Rail or Ballaster about it Which was opposed by divers and the Bishop of Lincoln wrote a Book called the Holy Table shewing the Practice of the Primitive times and Arguments against this Innovation Anno 1636. Car. 12 The King's Navy of sixty Men of War under the Command of the Earl of Northumberland Admiral seized and sunk divers of the Dutch Busses in the Northern Seas and they fled to our King craving his leave by his Grant to Fish and Trade with the English which the King was ready to Indulge them Ferdinand the second Emperour aged and infirm summoned a Dyet at Ratisbone to be held the sixteenth of September when his Son Ferdinand the 3d. was Elected King of the Romans and was shortly after upon the death of his Father made Emperour Mr. John Hampden a Gentleman of an ancient Family in Buckinghamshire and of a great Estate and Parts denied the payment of Shipmoney as an illegal Tax He often advised in this great Business with Holborn Saint John Whitelocke and others of his friends and counsel Several other Gentlemen refused the payment of this Tax of Ship-money Whereupon the King was advised by the Lord chief Justice Finch and others to require the Opinion of his Judges which he did stating the case in a Letter to them After much sollicitation by the chief Justice Finch promising Preferment to some and highly threatning others whom he found doubting he got from them in Answer to the King's Letter and Case their
The day of the Assembly the Marquess his Commission was read and the next day a declaration and protestation was presented to the Commissioner in the name of the Archbishops and Bishops against the Assembly and containing a Nullity of it This was denyed to be read against which refusal The Commissioner entred a Protestation and took Instruments thereupon In the debate of Elections they left no man standing as a Commissioner who was not fully of their mind but the admission of Lay Elders past not without an high contest Many places protested against the Legality of their Session and the King having nominated six Lords of his Privy Council to be Assessors to his Commissioner in that Assembly they refused to entertain them or allow their suffrage affirming that If the King himself were present he should have but one Vote and that no negative one The Commissioner seeing no good likely to be done by continuing the Assembly and upon consultation the Council advising to dissolve it he went thither and caused a Paper to be read which was a Declaration the same in effect with the Proclamation discharging the Service Book Book of Canons c. After the Reading of it the Commissioner signed it and required it to be entred in the Books of the Assembly provided that the registring thereof be no approbation of the Lawfulness of the Assembly and protested that whatsoever should be done or said in it should not be obliging or reputed as an Act of a General Assembly The Commissioner assembled the Council to draw up a Proclamation for dissolving the Assembly which being agreed on was subscribed by all but the Earl of Argile who now began to shew himself for the Covenanters party The publishing of the Proclamation was Incountred with a Protestation of the Covenanters That is was lawful for them to continue the Assembly and that they would still adhere to all their former Protestations In pursuance hereof they presently declared six former General Assemblies which they thought would be against them to be null then they deprived all the Bishops and some they excommunicated and soon after they abolished Episcopacy it self as inconsistent with the Laws of that Church The Commissioner being returned in discontent for England the Covenanters began to levy Souldiers to impose Taxes to raise Fortifications to block up some and seise others of the King's Castles and to prepare for War This was the Fountain from whence our ensuing troubles did spring and therefore may deserve the larger Relation and tend the more to the full knowledge and understanding of our following story It was now 100 years since Calvin first set his foot into Geneva from whence the Bishop being expelled it was necessary to Institute some other Ecclesiastical Government Calvin being of great credit and esteem in that City the framing of this new Government was committed to his care he observing the civil state there to be Democratical he thought it must best suit therewith and with the liking of the People to frame the Ecclesiastical Government agreeable thereunto He therefore formed a Consistory of Elders a great part whereof were Lay men and they were to manage all matters Ecclesiastical This pleased the People of Geneva and some Entituled it to a Jus Divinum and it found good reception in the Gallican and Belgick Churches where it was generally setled The next design was to plant it in Britaine for which end Beza writes to Queen Elizabeth recommending this form to her as the onely thing to be desired in England ' s Reformation the Queen was loth to proscribe Episcopacy and to entertain this new model of Presbytery and therefore gave Beza his saying but not his desires and shortly after she and the Parliament whereof some Members inclined to this way were admonished in several treatises written and dedicated to them to abolish Episcopacy as Antichristian But the Queen and the Parliament stood fixed and could not be wrought to any unsettlement of the ancient discipline by Episcopacy In Scotland the new form prospered better for there about the year 1560. The Earl of Murray Prior of St. Andrews the Queen 's base Brother with his party Knox Buchanan and others gave such a shock to Popery as made every thing and by consequence Episcopacy which stood near it to Reel Yet in 20 years it could not be supplanted but it was gained upon by degrees first in an Assembly 1580. It was ordered that all Bishops on pain of Excommunication should resign up their offices and about three years after the Parliament the King being a minor annext their temporalties to the Crown of Scotland This was supposed to be Instigated from some of the Nobility and Ministers from England Whereupon the then Archbishop Whitgift by the Queen's command contrived three Articles in the late Canons to which all were to subscribe at their taking of holy orders 1. Acknowledging the Supremacy of the Queen 2. Professing conformity to the Book of Common Prayer and approbation of the Book of Ordering of Bishops Priests and Deacons 3. Assenting to the 39 Articles of the Church of England In Scotland the Hierarchy began somewhat to revive again by their Parliaments ratifying the Clergy as the third Estate 1584. But the other Party 1592. prevailed with that state to ratify their Discipline Thus Episcopacy and Presbytery took their turns of Government for about 30 years But about the year 1598. King James caused the Prelates in Scotland to be restored to their Votes in Parliament and in his Book Basilicon Doron he expressed no great affection to the Consistorian Government 1603. At his accession to the Crown of England he was urged by Petition of 1000 Ministers against Episcopacy but he slighted it and by several Acts of Parliament in Scotland he rescinded what had been formerly enacted there to the prejudice of Episcopacy and from that time till these commotions this year in Scotland the Presbyters did not appear in opposition In October Mary de Medices the Queen Mother of France came into England the people were generally discontented at her coming and at her followers which some observed to be the Sword or Pestilence and that her restless Spirit Imbroyled all where she came That her combining with Monsieur the Duke of Orleans and the ill success of that Enterprise made France too hot for her and drave her to Bruxells where the Cardinal Infanta carressed her a while but there she was pursued with such curses that for fear of violence to her person she quitted that Country and betook herself to the protection of the Prince of Orange where she stay'd not long but receiving an invitation from the Queen her daughter she repayred into England The King perceiving that the Scots intended nothing but War thought not fit to yield them the start but by advice of the Archbishop Laud and others he hastened his levies of men and money and because this was the Bishops War
his People which were of late too much encreased and were hoped might have been cemented by this Parliament were by the Dissolution thereof aggravated and the Scots Troubles which many sober men expected this Parliament would have appeased were by the breach of it feared to grow wider and the chief Blame and Odium of all was by many laid upon Archbishop Laud. He was more busie in Temporal Affairs and Matters of State than his Predecessors of later times had been Judge Whitelocke who was anciently and throughly acquainted with him and knew his Disposition would say He was too full of fire though a just and good man and that his want of Experience in State Matters and his too much Zeal for the Church and heat if he proceeded in the way he was then in would set this Nation on fire By his Councel chiefly as it was father'd upon him the Parliament being dissolved yet he perswaded the King to continue the sitting of the Convocation by a new Commission granted to them for the conclusion of such Matters as were then in treaty amongst them Yet by the Opinion of Finch Maunchester Littleton Banks Heath and Shelton signified to the King the Convocation called by the King 's Writ was not to Dissolve but by the King 's Writ notwithstanding the Dissolution of the Parliament But it was held best and to clear all Objections to continue them by this new Commission May 9. A Paper was posted up at the Old Exchange exhorting the Prentices to rise and sack the Archbishop's House at Lambeth the Munday following and on that Night about Five hundred beset his Palace but the Archbishop having had notice of the Paper provided for his Defence that they could make no entrance only their Tongues ceased not to utter Revilings of all bitterness against him A few days after some of this Company were taken and tryed for Treason upon the Statute 25 Edw. 3. for levying War against the King because they had a Drum which beat up before them The Judges resolved it to be Treason and one of their Captains a Cobler was hanged drawn and quartered for it and his Limbs set on London Bridge In this Case although there was nothing but the breach of the Peace and of a few Glass-windows and setting at liberty some Prisoners and none slain or hurt yet because so great a Number were assembled and in a War-like manner with a Drum with unlawful Intents it was adjudged Treason and the Party suffered for it As the King had his private Juncto's so the Agents of the Covenanters and their Friends in London had their private Meetings and Councels with those who were discontented at the present managing of Affairs at Court and who had suffered by the late Proceedings and from hence no small Incouragement and promise of Assistance was given to the Covenanters The King caused a Guard to be set about Westminster Abbey that the Convocation might sit the more securely yet were not these Seats very easie they were in danger of the King's Displeasure if they rose and of the Peoples Fury if they sate to be beaten up by Tumults whilst they sate at the Work and to be beaten down by the next Parliament for doing of the Work Episcopacy was Dissolved in Scotland and as much envied by many in England the Presbyters there were equall'd with Bishops the same was the Tenent of not a few here and divers Tracts were written against them and in defence of Bishops and their Divine Right The Assembly in Scotland having formed a Covenant for destruction of Episcopacy this Convocation for their own support frame an Oath equivalent to be Imposed on all Ministers THat they approve the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of England as containing all Things necessary to Salvation That they will not endeavour to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to it Nor give consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops Bishops Deans and Archdeacons c. as it now stands Established and by right ought to stand Nor to subject it to the Vsurpations and Superstitions of Rome That this they do plainly and sincerely Acknowledge and Swear and do it heartily willingly and truly This Synod also made a Canon for placing the Communion-Table at the East-end of the Church sever'd with Rails to preserve it from Profanation and for permitting the practice of Bowing to the East or omission of it as men were perswaded in their Consciences of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of it They also granted to the King an ample Benevolence of the Clergy of Four Shillings in the Pound for six years towards his intended Expedition against the Scots and so brake up the twenty ninth of May. This added more Fuel to the Flames already burning and was the Subject of great Debate and Censures which followed The King was very active to carry on his Expedition Northwards he calls a Juncto of select Counsellors whereof Sir Henry Vane was then thought sit to be trusted for one At one of their Meetings he took short Notes of the Debate which coming afterwards to his Son's hands were made use of against the Earl of Strafford as will appear in the Story And now the Parliament having yielded no Supplies to the King's occasions all the Wheels of Prerogative are set on Motion to provide Money for the King's Affairs Knighthood Money is set on foot all Knights and Gentlemen who held Lands in Capite of the King are summoned to send men Horses and Arms agreeable to their Tenures and Qualities The City of London is Invited to a Loan but they stand off and generally refuse being discontented at the present Proceedings and particularly displeased because their Plantation at London Derry in Ireland was taken from them as they held unjustly by Sentence of the Star-Chamber adjudged to be forfeited for their usurping more Liberty than their Patent warranted and Fines were Imposed on them and on the Undertakers and though they offer'd by way of Composition to build for the King a stately Palace in S. James's Park and to pull down Whitehall and make a stately way by the Thames-side streight from Charing-cross to Westminster-hall yet it would not be accepted The main Assistance for this War came from the Officers and Gentry and a Royal Army was compleated whereof the Earl of Northumberland was made General and the Earl of Strafford Lieutenant General but Northumberland falling sick the King himself took upon him to be Generalissimo as being in Person in the Expedition he ought to be July the 20th The King had another Son born Henry Duke of Glocester The King's Army was marched before and about August 20. the King himself went out of London towards the North and two days after by Proclamation He declares the Scots Rebels That he had sought by Clemency to appease their rebellious courses who upon pretences of Religion have sought to shake off his
Regal Government and now take up Arms and Invade England He declares all those who have already entred or shall enter in warlike-manner in England their Adherents and Assistants to be Rebels and Traytors Yet if they shall acknowledge their former Crimes and crave pardon he tenders it to them A Prayer was likewise published to be said in all Churches for the King in his Expedition against the Rebels of Scotland But nothing could alter the opinion and humour of divers of the Officers and private Souldiers of his Army who in their March to their Rendezvous spared not to declare their Judgments against this War and that they would not fight to maintain the pride and power of the Bishops And this their Resolution seemed not to be feigned by the ill success afterwards The Lord Conway Commander in chief then upon the place to secure some Passes August 27. drew out Twelve hundred Horse and two thousand Foot placing the Foot under a Breast-work to gall the Scots in their pass over the River Tine near New-Castle General Lesley over-night had planted nine Pieces of Ordnance on his side of the River and blinded them with Bushes In the Morning he craves leave of the Lord Conway to pass with his Petition to the King he was admitted to pass with a considerable Number but not with his Army But Lesley would not divide his Forces and Foards over three hundred Horse whom the English behind the Breast-work forced to retire and Lesley to relieve them plays his Cannon from the Blind upon the English drove them from their Post and they cast down their Arms and fled Then their Horse advanced upon Wilmot Commissary General of the King's Horse who accompanied with prime Gentlemen stood to the Charge of the Scots Horse and Cannon till galled and over-powred with Number they retired in disorder three hundred of them being slain and taken Prisoners Conway was fain to Retreat with this Ill News to the King whom he found at North Allerton Sir Jacob Ashley Governour of Newcastle for the King quitted that Town to the Scots and they became possest of it and within two days after of Durham likewise Strafford brought up the Rear of the Army retreating to York where the King staid and the miscarriage of Conway was examin'd who being accused of Cowardise or Treachery used his best Art and Flourishes to vindicate himself yet something stuck upon him The English Garrison at Berwick Issued out and recovered some Peices of Cannon which Lesley had left at Dunce as not usefull for his Train This gave Alarm to the Earl of Hadington who with two thousand Horse and Foot pursued and rescued the Cannon and the next day he and twenty more Knights and Gentlemen in an instant were all slain by an accident of Fire which blew up the Magazine of Powder in a Vault and they were killed by the Stones which flew from the Vault The Scots having got on this side the Breeze in a warmer and more fruitful Country than their own with Fires of Newcastle Coal with Meat Drink and Lodging of the best They now Petition the King In the Name of the Lords of the last Parliament and others his Majestie 's Loyal Subjects of Scotland Complaining of their Grievances in general for relief whereof they are constrained to come without prejudice to the Peace of England till they were with Arms opposed their Passage at Newborn and now present themselves to his Majestie 's goodness for satisfaction of their full Demands and repair of their Wrongs and Losses with the Advice of the Parliament of England to be Convented The King answers That he expects their particular Demands having already summoned the Peers of England to meet at York September 24. and commands them to advance no further The Scots three days after sent their particular Demands 1. That the late Acts of Parliament may be published in his Majestie 's Name with the States of Parliament 2. That Edenburgh Castle and other Strengths of Scotland may be fortified and used for our defence and security 3. That our Country-men in England and Ireland may not be pressed with Oaths and Subscriptions contrary to the National Oath and Covenant 4. That the common Incendiaries may receive their Censure 5. That our Ships and Goods and Damage may be restored 6. That the Wrongs Losses and Charges which all the time we have sustained may be repaired 7. That the Declarations against us as Traytors may be recalled 8. That by Advice of the Parliament of England Garrisons may be removed from the Borders and all Impediments of free Trade and Peace settled for our Religion and Liberties 9. That the meeting of the Peers the 24th Septem will be too long ere the Parliament be convened the only means of settling Peace and enabling us to obey his Majestie 's Commands In this time some of the English Lords well affected to a Parliament and no bitter enemies to the Covenanters had framed a Petition which they sent by some of their number to the King to York and it was to this effect They set forth their Zeal to the King and Kingdom moving them to be seech his Majestie 's leave to offer to his Princely Wisdom the Apprehension they and others of his Loyal Subjects have of the Distempers and Dangers to the Church and State and to his Person and the means to prevent them The Evils they mention are first That his Sacred Person is exposed to danger in this Expedition and by the War his Revenue wasted his Subjects burdened with Coat and Conduct-money Billetting of Souldiers and other Military Charges and divers Rapines and Disorders by the Souldiers and the Kingdom full of fears and Discontents 2. The Innovations in matters of Religion the Oath and Canons lately Imposed 3. The great Increase of Popery and imploying Popish Recusants and others ill affected to Religion in places of Power and Trust 4. The Mischiefs which may fall if the Intentions which have been credibly reported of bringing in Irish and foreign Forces should take effect 5. The urging of Ship-money and prosecuting Sheriffs for not Levying of it 6. The heavy Charge upon Merchandize and the Monopolies 7. The great Grief of the Subjects by long Intermission of Parliaments and the late and former Dissolutions of them For Remedy they humbly beseech his Majesty to summon a Parliament whereby the Causes of these Grievances may be taken away and the Authors and Counsellors of them punished That the present War may be composed without Blood to the honour and safety of the King the comfort of his People and the uniting of both Realms Concluded August 28. 1640. Subscribed Bedford Essex Mulgrave Say and Seal Ed. Howard E. of Bristoll Hartford Warwick Bullingbrook Mandevill Brook Paget The King's Answer to this Petition was That before the receipt of it he well foresaw the danger that threatens Himself and Crown and therefore resolved to
next day he was accused before the Lords but he got up earlier gave them the slip and escaped into Holland The House of Commons upon debate of the Inconveniences by the intermission of Parliaments they appointed a Committee to bring in a Bill for a Triennial Parliament This Committee met often and was much frequented by all the Grandees of the House then in most repute after diverse and great debates and consultations they agreed upon the frame of a Bill as the same is extant The King taking notice thereof and of the many Petitions from several Counties subscribed with multitudes of hands and presented by great numbers of people and all the Petitions mentioning the late exorbitances and concluding for frequent Parliaments and against the Hierarchy of the Bishops The King being informed thereof and mistrusting the Inclination of the Parliament speaks to both Houses Of their slow Proceedings and the Inconveniences thereby in maintaining two Armies in the Kingdom at excessive charges and of the weakness of his Navy and Forts He takes notice of the strange Petitions from Counties against the established Government of the Church tells them He makes a difference between Reformation and Alteration of Government that he is for the first but not for the latter He will not say but that the Bishops may have over-stretched their power and incroached upon the Temporal If they will reform the Abuse he is with them he will consent to take away some temporal authority if they have any inconvenient to the State and not necessary to the support of Episcopacy But he cannot consent to the taking away their Voice in Parliament which they have so anciently enjoyed even before the Conquest and since and which he conceives he is bound to maintain as one of the fundamental Institutions of this Kingdom He wishes them to eschew another Rock upon the Bill for frequent Parliaments which he likes well but to give power to Sheriffs Constables and he knows not whom to doe his Office that he cannot yield unto The King had reprieved one Goodman a Priest who was condemned at the Old Baily the Commons desire the Lords concurrence and both Houses Remonstrate to the King the danger thereof in these times and the increase of Popery and boldness of Papists in resorting to Mass in London the King leaveth him to the Parliament The Treaty with the Scots Commissioners proceeded at London and their Demands were in effect all yeilded unto Upon their Seventh Demand from the Justice and kindness of the Kingdom of Reparation for their Losses and Charges a long Debate was in the House of Commons about framing the Words of the Question and the stating of it The Question stated was to give them Three hundred thousand pounds as a brotherly assistance towards their charges and losses The House commanded Mr. Speaker to write to the City of London to advance Sixty thousand pounds upon Security out of the next Subsidies which was done accordingly and several other Sums were advanced by them upon Security of the House for supply of the King's Army and providing for the Northern Counties The Dutch Ambassadour here made an Overture of a Marriage between William the young Prince of Orange and the King 's eldest Daughter the Princess Mary to which the King was well inclined but as his Condition then stood he thought fit to acquaint the Parliament with it which he did in a Speech to the House of Lords and That he thought the Alliance with the Prince and the Vnited Provinces would be of much Advantage to this Kingdom and shewed his Reasons for it The Proposition was generally affected and imbraced by all the People and without fears or jealousies upon our Liberties or Religion and was soon concluded The House of Commons sent up a Message to the Lords to acquaint them that the Commons were informed of a great Design of the Papists an Army of Fifteen thousand in Lancashire and Eight thousand in Ireland well Armed and in Pay raised by the Earls of Strafford and of Worcester this gave occasion for many other Petitions but nothing was made out of the Rumour thereof February 13 1640. Sir Robert Berkley one of the Judges of the King's Bench who gave his Opinion for Ship-money was Impeached by the Commons of High Treason in the Lords House and by their Command Maxwell the Usher of the Black Rod came to the King's Bench when the Judges were sitting took Judge Berkley from off the Bench and carried him away to Prison which struck a great terrour in the rest of his Brethren then sitting in Westminster-hall and in all his Profession This Judge was a very learned man in our Laws and a good Orator and Judge moderate in his ways except his desires of the Court-favour He redeemed himself afterwards by supplying the Parliaments Occasions with Ten thousand pounds and ended his days in a private Retirement Yet not without considerable gains by his Chamber-practice and left a plentiful Fortune to his Family The Committee for the Bill of the triennial Parliament had taken a great deal of pains in the framing of it and it being past both Houses the King was not without some Difficulty as it was reported perswaded to give the Royal Assent to it which he did in his Speech to both Houses setting sorth His Confidence thereby in them and in their future Proceedings and the favour he now did to his Subjects The King then also passed the Bill of Subsidies and both Houses by the Lord Keeper Littleton returned their humble thanks to his Majesty and by their Order were Bonefires and Bell-ringing signs of Joy throughout the City Mr. Pym was sent from the House of Commmons to the Lords with the charge of High Treason against the Archbishop Laud who was thereupon committed to the Tower Articles of Particulars against Episcopal Government were presented to the House of Commons annexed to some Petitions and being read in the House were referred to a Committee The Lord Digby spake smartly against them and for Episcopacy but not many others were very eager for them The Commons the tenth of March Voted That no Bishop shall have any Vote in Parliament nor any Judicial power in the Star-chamber nor bear any Authority in Temporal Matters and that no Clergy-man shall be in Commission of the Peace The King of Spain was brought low by the Defection of Catalonia Portugal and part of the Indies the loss of Arras and his ill Successes in Italy besides the approach of the Swedish War to the back of the Danube but this year was very fortunate to the French The Spaniards ill Success was attributed to the ill management of Affairs by the Conde de Olivarez his Favourite hated by the People as is usual And the good Successes of the French were attributed to the prudence of their Cardinal Richlieu He Invites the Duke of Lorrain to Paris where he was highly caressed but
of some Opinions delivered at the Council-table of Juncto May 5. 1640. being the day that the last Parliament was dissolved the discovery whereof was thus Secretary Vane being out of Town sent a Letter to his Son Sir Henry Vane the younger then in London with the Key of his Study for his Son to look in his Cabinet for some Papers there to send to his Father The Son looking over many Papers among them lighted upon these Notes which being of so great concernment to the Publick and declaring so much against the Earl of Strafford he held himself bound in duty and conscience to discover them He shewed them to Mr. Pym who urged him and prevailed with him that they might be made use of in the Evidence against the Earl of Strafford as being most material and of great consequence in relation to that business Accordingly they were now produced to the House of Commons and in the Afternoon at a Conference with the Lords and the next day the Earl being brought to Westminster and both Houses being met the Notes were openly read the Title of them was No danger of a War with Scotland if Offensive not Defensive Then followed the Opinions interlocutory K. C. How can we undertake offensive War if we have no more Money L. L. Ir. Borrow of the City 100000 l. go on vigorously to levy Ship-money your Majesty having tried the affection of your people you are absolved and loose from all rule of Government and to do what power will admit Your Majesty having tried all ways and being refused shall be acquitted before God and Man And you have an Army in Ireland that you may imploy to reduce this Kingdom to obedience for I am confident the Scots cannot hold out five Months L. Arch. You have tried all ways and have always been denied it is now lawful to take it by force L. Cot. Leagues abroad there may be made for the defence of the Kingdom the lower House are weary of the King and Church all ways shall be just to raise Money by in this inevitable necessity and are to be used being lawful L. Arch. For an offensive not any defensive Warr. L. L. Ir. The Town is full of Lords put the Commission of Array on foot and if any of them stir we will make them smart To this the Earl answered That it were hard measure for Opinions and Discourses by Privy Counsellors in a Debate of Council to be prosecuted under the Notion of Treason As to the words that the King had an Army in Ireland to reduce this Kingdom they are only proved by the single testimony of one man Secretary Vane which is not of validity enough in Law in a matter of Debt much less in point of Life and Death 2. That the Secretarie's Deposition was exceeding dubious upon two Examinations he could not remember any such words the third time his Testimony was not positive but that I spake those words or the like and words may be very like in sound yet differ much in sense 3. There were present at the Debate but eight Privy Counsellors two of them the Arch-bishop and Secretary Windebank cannot be produced Secretary Vane affirms the words I deny them Four remain for Evidence Marquess Hamilton the Earl of Northumberland the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington all these have declared upon their Honours that they never heard me speak those words nor any the like 4. Suppose I spake the words which I grant not yet cannot the word this rationally imply England as is yielded on all hands because England was not out of the way of obedience as the Earl of Clare well observed and because there never was any the least intention of landing the Irish Army in England as the Lords of the Council are able to attest This Paper of so great Consequence was missing at the Committee and by the Earl's Answer supposed that he had seen it and that it was conveyed to him by some of the Committee Whitelocke being in the Chair and having the charge and custody of all the Papers he was suspected more than others to have acted this piece of Treachery Great inquiry and search was made for the Paper but it could not then be found He told them when it was missing and that amongst such a multitude of Papers as he had in his custody it was not easie to see that he had them all again when they were brought forth or any of them called for That he never shewed this Paper to any but to the Committee and knew not who had it or what was become of it nor did he convey it or know of any that had conveyed it away But this would not serve the House was acquainted with the missing of the Paper and they ordered That every one of the Committee should make a solemn Protestation in the House that they did not convey it away nor know what was become of it All of them made this Protestation and the Lord Digby with more earnestness and deeper Imprecations than any of the rest yet afterwards at the Battel of Naseby the King's Cabinet being taken among the Papers in it was a Copy of these Notes under the Lord Digby's hand whereby Whitelocke was cleared and the Conveyer of the Paper to the King and from him to the Earl of Strafford was fully discovered The Earl having delivered his Answer to the additional Proof the Lord Steward told him That if he had any thing to say further in his defence he should proceed because the Court intended to prepare Matters for their speedy Judgment VVhereupon he made a summary Repetition of the several parts of his former Defence and concluded thus It is hard to be questioned upon a Law which cannot be shewn where hath this fire lain hid so many hundreds of years without smoak to discover it till it thus burst forth to consume me and my Children That punishment should precede promulgation of a Law to be punished by a Law subsequent to the Fact is extream hard what man can be safe if this be admitted My Lords it is hard in another respect that there should be no token set by which we should know this Offence no admonition by which we should avoid it If a man pass the Thames in a Boat and split himself upon an Anchor and no Buoy be floating to discover it he who oweth the Anchor shall make satisfaction but if a Buoy be set there every man passeth upon his own peril Now where is the Mark where the Token upon this Crime to declare it to be High Treason My Lords Be pleased to give that regard to the Peerage of England as never to expose your selves to such Moot Points such constructive Interpretations of Laws If there must be a tryal of Wits let the subject matter be of somewhat else than the Lives and Honours of Peers It will be wisdom for your selves for your Posterity and for the whole Kingdom to cast
they afterwards were great with the King Upon receipt of the news of the Rebellion in Ireland the King was much troubled and being at that distance from his Parliament in England he sent expresses to them and referred the whole management of the Irish business to his Parliament at London November 20. the Lords Justices and Council in Ireland sent a more particular account to the Lord Lieutenant here of the Irish affairs he returned answer That he had acquainted the King at Edenburgh with all their dispatches and that His Majesty had referred the Irish business and management of the War there to his Parliament of England Some talked broadly of the Earl of Leicester's retarding so long his Service of Lieutenant of Ireland especially in such a time as then He was now pleased to Commissionate the Earl of Ormond to be his Deputy which was afterwards confirmed by the King but many wondred that the Earl did not go in his own person Some Members of the Parliament in Ireland and most of the Papists even in the Pale and generally in all places took part with the Rebels The Lord Moore stood faithfull to his King and Religion The Rebels to be revenged on him sent about a thousand men to his house three Miles from Tredah the Forces in the house were but twenty four Foot and fifteen Horse besides some few Servants and they had but six Shots of Powder apiece yet when the Rebels assaulted them they killed 140 of them All their Powder being spent and then some of their small number slain they yielded upon quarter yet the Rebels threw them out at the Windows an old Gentleman they ran through the body cut the Throat of an old blind man stripped all the women plundred the house of all the goods and so left it From Dublin they sent six hundred Foot to supply Tredah two thousand of the Rebels waited for them to intercept them and the English in a Fogg came within Musket-shot of them before they were descryed then the Captain Commanded a Counter-march in which the English were forced to take a Ditch which the Enemies thinking to be a flight they shouted and that so amazed and confounded the English that the Rebels charging them slew most of them near Gillingston-Bridge The Lord Ormond's Troop of Fifty Horse made their way through without loss of a man but by this Defeat the Rebels got store of Arms and Moneys and much encouragement The Master of a Chester Bark laden with Arms and Money for Dublin betrayed all to the Rebels who now were set down before Tredah and all the Popish Lords and Gentlemen within the Pale joyned with them About the latter end of November the King returned from Scotland he was sumptuously feasted at London by the Citizens and he banquetted them at Hampton Court and made divers of the Aldermen Knights Decemb. 2. He came to both Houses of Parliament and told them He had made as much haste from Scotland as those Affairs permitted in which he had so good success that he had left that Nation a most peaceable and contented People That he doth not find this Nation so settled as he expected but full of Jealousies and Alarms of Designs and Plots that Guards have been set to defend both Houses That he doubts not of his Subjects Affections to him by his reception at his return and mentions his own Affection to his People and so far from repenting of what he had done for them that he was willing to pass any thing more that might justly be desired for their Liberties and for maintenance of Religion Recommends to them the business of Ireland the preparations for it going on but slowly Then he sets forth a Proclamation For obedience to the Laws concerning Religion and that none introduce any Rite or Ceremonie other than those established by Law At this time this was not held by many to be very seasonable but divers were offended at it He also published a Proclamation for all the Members of Parliament To repair to the Houses by a day And Decem. 14. He again spake to both Houses To quicken them in the business of Ireland expresseth his detestation of all Rebellion particularly of this and offers his pains power and industry to contribute to that necessary work of reducing the Irish to obedience That for the Bill for pressing of Souldiers lodged with the Lords if it came to him he promiseth to pass it And because some had started the Question into a Dispute concerning the bounds of the King's Prerogative herein he offers to avoid such Debate that the Bill shall pass with a Salvo jure both for King and People And concludes conjuring them by all that is or can be dear to them or him to hasten with speed the business of Ireland Upon this the Parliament Petition the King touching the Privilege of Parliament their Birth-right declaring with all duty that the King ought not to take notice of any Matter in agitation and debate in either House but by their information nor ought to propound any Condition or Provision or Limitation to any Bill or Act in debate or preparation or to manifest or declare his Consent or Dissent Approbation or Dislike before it be presented in course nor ought to be displeased with any Debate of Parliament they being Judges of their own Errours and Offences in debating Matters depending That these Privileges have been broken of late in the Speech of his Majesty Decem. 14. particularly in mentioning the Bill of Impress offering also a provisional Clause by a Salvo jure before it was presented and withal they take notice of his Majestie 's Displeasure against such as moved a question concerning the same They desire to know the Names of such Persons as seduced his Majesty to that Item that they may be punished as his Great Council shall advise his Majesty Divers indifferent men wondered both at the King's Speech which gave the cause of Exception and was indeed notoriously against the Course and Privilege of Parliament that his Council should not inform him thereof And they also apprehended this Petition somewhat too rough in the Expressions of it to their King but the general Fate of things drove on this way to increase the Jealousies betwixt King and People and God was pleased so to order it to bring to pass what he had determined The Parliament resolve not to proceed in their Affairs till they had a satisfactory Answer to their Petition and some of them were jealous of too much favour to the Irish Rebellion by some about the King and divers went yet higher The King with some regret withdraws to Hampton Court hoping by his absence to avoid Exceptions but this increaseth discontent in the Parliament who the next day appoint a Committee to follow him thither and now they speak plainly That the whole frame of Government is out of order Among other Grievances Complaint was made by
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
1100 Prisoners and 3000 Arms. These Prisoners were led in much triumph to Oxford where the King and Lords looked on them and too many smiled at their misery being tied together with cords almost naked beaten and driven along like Dogs Among them was a proper handsome man of a very white Skin where it could be seen for the blood of his wounds he not being able to goe was set naked upon the bare back of an Horse his wounds gaping and his Body smeared with blood yet he sate upright upon the Horse with an undaunted countenance and when near the King a brawling woman cried out to him Ah you traiterly Rogue you are well enough served he with a scornfull look towards her answered you base Whore and instantly dropped off dead from his Horse And the beginning of such cruelty by English men towards their Countreymen was afterwards too too much followed Prince Rupert summons Gloucester which Massey resolves to hold out and the better to strengthen himself deserts Sudeley and other Out-Garrisons The Welsh Army under the Earl of Worcester and the Lord Herbert his Son having beaten Colonel Burroughs his Regiment sit down before Gloucester which they summoned but Massey returned a scornfull Answer Colonel Fines came to him with 200 Horse and Dragoons and not long after Sir William Waller with his Forces The Welsh were routed and the Earl after sive weeks siege without any memorable Action departed The Scots pass over the Tyne with a compleat Army into England to assist the Parliament Their General was Lesley who had been an old Commander in the service of the Swedes where he had great and deserved Reputation He was a person of great worth and honour not so good a Clerk as a Souldier The Pope sent into Ireland to encourage the Rebels there bestows upon them his fatherly Benediction and plenary Absolution The Germans received several defeats from the Swedes in Germany and from the French and this year died the famous Polititian Cardinal Richlieu and not long after him his Master Lewys the XIII King of France died in the midst of his Catalonian Conquests leaving his Son Lewys the XIV under the tuition and government of his Mother the Queen Dowager and of Cardinal Mazarin Richlieu's Successour Anno 1643. Car. 19 The Nineteenth year of King Charles 1643. begins with a Treaty of Peace between Him and the Parliament who had named for their Commissioners two Lords the Earl of Northumberland and the Lord Say and four Commons Mr. Pierpoint Sir William Ermyn Sir John Holland and Mr. Whitelocke The King excepted against the Lord Say as before is mentioned therefore he did not goe but the other 5 Commissioners The Earl of Northumberland carried with him his own Plate and Housholdstuff and Accommodations even to Wine and Provisions which were brought from London to them to Oxford where they lived in as much Height and Nobleness as the Earl of Northumberland used to doe and that is scarce exceeded by any Subject Anno 1643 The King used them with great favour and civility and his General Ruthen and divers of his Lords and Officers came frequently to their Table and they had very friendly discourses and treatments together The King himself did them the honour sometimes to accept of part of their Wine and Provisions which the Earl sent to him when they had any thing extraordinary The Commissioners finding Whitelocke's Pen usefull in the service did put him upon drawing of all their Papers to the King which were transcribed afterwards by their Secretaries Their Instructions were very strict and tied them up to treat with none but the King himself whom they often attended at his Lodgings in Christ-Church and had access at all times when they desired it and were allowed by His Majesty a very free debate with him He had commonly waiting on him when he treated with them Prince Rupert and the Lord Keeper Littleton the Earl of Southampton the Lord Chief Justice Banks and several Lords of his Council who never debated any Matters with them but gave their Opinions to the King in those things which he demanded of them and sometimes would put the King in mind of some particular things but otherwise they did not speak at all In this Treaty the King manifested his great Parts and Abilities strength of Reason and quickness of Apprehension with much patience in hearing what was objected against him wherein he allowed all freedom and would himself sum up the Arguments and give a most clear Judgment upon them His unhappiness was that he had a better Opinion of others Judgments than of his own though they were weaker than his own and of this the Parliament Commissioners had experience to their great trouble They were often waiting on the King and debating some points of the Treaty with him untill Midnight before they could come to a conclusion Upon one of the most material points they pressed His Majesty with their Reasons and best Arguments they could use to grant what they desired The King said he was fully satisfied and promised to give them his Answer in writing according to their desire but because it was then past Midnight and too late to put it into writing he would have it drawn up the next Morning when he commanded them to wait on him again and then he would give them his Answer in writing as it was now agreed upon They went to their lodgings full of Joyfull hopes to receive this Answer the next morning and which being given would have much conduced to a happy issue and success of this Treaty and they had the King's word for it and they waited on him the next morning at the hour appointed But instead of that Answear which they expected and were promised the King gave them a Paper quite contrary to what was concluded the Night before and very much tending to the breach of the Treaty They did humbly expostulate this with His Majesty and pressed him upon his Royal word and the ill Consequences which they feared would follow upon this his new Paper But the King told them he had altered his mind and that this Paper which he now gave them was his Answer which he was now resolved to make upon their last Debate And they could obtain no other from him which occasioned much sadness and trouble to them Some of his own Friends of whom the Commissioners enquired touching this passage informed them that after they were gone from the King and that his Council were also gone away some of his Bed Chamber and they went higher hearing from him what Answer he had promised and doubting that it would tend to such an Issue of the Treaty as they did not wish they being rather for the continuance of the War They never left pressing and perswading of the King till they prevailed with him to change his former Resolutions and to give order for his Answer to be drawn as it was
now delivered The Treaty upon the King's Propositions as well as upon the Commissioners going slowly on and their Instructions being strict and such as they could not shew to the King when he desired it he thought fit Apr. 12. to send a Message to the Parliament during the Treaty to this effect That as soon as he was satisfied in his first Proposition and as soon as the Members of both Houses should be restored and that his Majesty and both Houses may be secured from tumultuous Assemblies which he conceived could not otherwise be done but by adjourning the Parliament to some place twenty miles from London such as the Houses should agree upon His Majesty would consent to the Disbanding of the Armies and would return speedily to his Parliament This being intimated to the Commissioners they disswaded the sending of it as that which they feared might break off the Treaty and the improbability that the Houses would adjourn and leave the City of London their best Friends and Strength and put a discontent upon them Yet the King was prevailed with to send it and upon the Receipt of it by the Houses they presently resolved to call away their Commissioners and sent their Orders to them to return to the Parliament which they obeyed and so this Treaty having continued from the 4. of March to the 15. of April was now dissolved and all their labours and hazards become fruitless and of no effect and all good English men lovers of the Peace of their Countrey were troubled and disappointed The Earl of Northumberland demeaned himself with much courage and wisedom and was full of civility to the other Commissioners and the port they lived in at Oxford by the Earl's direction and managed by his Officers was full of State and Nobleness Mr. Pierpoint acted his part with deep foresight and prudence and was exceeding courteous to his fellow Commissioners Sir William Ermyn was a Gentleman of good understanding and conversation and would give his opinion upon good reason Sir John Holland a Gentleman of excellent parts as well as person shewed a very good Judgment and testimony of his Abilities Mr. Whitelocke was put upon very much labour and had both from the Earl and the rest of the Commissioners a great share of favour and respect When they were come to the Parliament they gave them a particular Account of all their Negotiation wherewith they were so well satisfied that they ordered the thanks of the House to be given them and by vote approved of all their proceedings The Lord Brooke having seised the King's Ammunition at Northampton marched from thence to Warwick and so to Stratford upon Avon where he beat out of the Town the Forces of Colonel Crocker and Wagstaffe and coming to Lichfield the Earl of Chesterfield and his Forces left the Town and betook themselves to the Close But in the fight one of his men shooting at the Window of the Lord Brook's Chamber where his Lordship was the Bullet pierced his Eye and my Lord instantly died At which Brook's Souldiers inraged recollected themselvers renewed the fight and took the Close with the Earl and all his Souldiers and Ordnance Shortly after the Earl of Northampton with part of the King's Army enters Lichfield and drives the Parliaments Forces into the Close and Sir John Gell and Sir William Brereton coming with 3000 Horse and Foot to relieve them were fought with and defeated but the Earl was slain in the head of his Forces Afterwards Prince Rupert fell upon the Parliament Forces there under Colonel Russell who rendred the place upon honourable conditions April 17. General Essex sate down before Reading where he made two attempts and was beaten off The King marched from Oxford to Wallingford to relieve Reading and Essex his Forces encreasing they worsted and killed many of the King's party at Cavesham and they furiously playing upon the Town Fielding the Lieutenant Governour Sir Arthur Aston being hurt with the fall of a Brick surrendred the Town to Essex Fielding for this was sentenced by a Council of War to lose his Head but was afterwards pardoned May 3. Cheapside Cross and other Crosses were voted down The Queen was voted a Traytor for raising Arms against the Parliament She met the King at Edg-hill with 3000 Foot 30 Companies of Horse and Dragoons 6 pieces of Canon c. Monsieur Harcout came Embassadour from France to mediate an Accommodation but effected nothing The King drew to his assistance the Irish and the Parliament brought in the Scots to whom they swore the Solemn League and Covenant This was long debated in the House of Commons whether the Members of Parliament should take it or not and carried in the Affirmative and those looked upon as ill affected who were backward to take it And after that upon a new and great Debate it was ordered to be taken by all persons in the City and Countrey and those who were known to refuse it were branded with the mark of Malignancy Sir Ralph Hopton at Launceston drove back Chidley and his forces but by a pannick fear in a tempestuous Night they fled back to Launceston Yet shortly after they defeated the Parliament forces Chidley revolts to the King and defeated the Cornish May. 27. The Parliament forces gained a Victory at Wakefield against the King's forces Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes discovered a Plot of Yeoman's and others to betray Bristol to the King for which they were sentenced by a Council of War to be hanged and though the King wrote to the Magistrates and General Ruthen to Colonel Fiennes the Governour to spare their lives yet they were executed In the end of this Month of May died Mr. John Pym that eminent active Member of the House of Commons and it was believed that the Multitude of his business and cares did so break his Spirits and Health that it brought his Death June began with the Arraignment of Waller a Member of the House of Commons Tomkins Challoner and others for conspiring to surprize the City Militia and some Members of Parliament and to let in the King's forces to surprize the City and dissolve the Parliament Waller a very ingenious man was the principal Actor and contriver of this Plot which was in design when he and the other Commissioners were at Oxford with the Parliaments Propositions And that being then known to the King occasioned him to speak the words to Waller when he kissed his hand though you are the last yet you are not the worst nor the least in our favour as is before remembred When he was examined touching this Plot he was asked whether Selden Pierpoint Whitelocke and others by name were acquainted with it he answered that they were not but that he did come one Evening to Selden's Study where Pierpoint and Whitelocke then were with Selden on purpose to impart it to them all and speaking of such a thing in general terms those Gentlemen did so
Seal was at the first committed to the Custody of the two Speakers to be made use of by the Warrant of the Houses afterwards it was committed to the Custody of two Lords and four Commoners as Commissioners who had the Authority of Keeper of the Great Seal The Lords were the Earls of Manchester and Bullingbrook the Commoners were Mr. Brown Mr. S. John Mr. Wilde and Mr. Prideaux The Courts of Justice were not-yet open no practice for Lawyers August 12. The Earl of Lindsey being released from his Imprisonment by the Parliament came to the King at Oxford and was highly welcomed there but the Earls of Holland and Bedford found it otherwise to them For they about August 25. upon some distaste at the Parliament left them and got to Wallingford where the Governour Blagge received them with great shews of Honour and brought them from thence to the King at Oxford To him these Lords professed their Duty and Allegiance acknowledging their former Errours and promising wholly to desert the Parliament and to adhere to his Majestie 's Interest But not long after finding less favour and respect to them from the King and his Party than they expected upon this new Discontent they found means again to quit Oxford and to return to the Parliament About the same time the Earl of Clare left the Parliament and went to the King to Oxford but finding such Entertainment as Holland and Bedford had done both from the King and those about him he stoutly told the King That he intended to return to his own house in Nottinghamshire and prayed his Majestie 's leave for it The King wished him not to go but finding him resolute upon his Journey sent to have him stopped but in the mean while the Earl found means to pass the Guards and got home to Houghton and from thence to the Parliament It was said in Drollery that these three Earls had much confirmed others to continue with the Parliament for they having tried both Parties found it by Experience that this was the best to be in and to adhere unto A Book set out by Saltmarsh a Minister gave distaste to sober men by these among other his Counsells 1. That all means should be used to keep the King and his People from a sudden union 2. To cherish the War under the notion of Popery as the surest means to engage the people 3. If the King would not grant their Demands then to root him out and the Royal Line and to Collate the Crown upon some body else Some excepting against this in the house of Commons Mr. Henry Martyn said He saw no reason to condemn Mr. Saltmarsh and that it were better one Family should be destroyed than many Sir Nevill Poole moved that Mr. Martyn might explain what one Family he meant Who boldly answered The King and his Children Upon this some of the Members urged against his lewdness of life and the height and danger of these words And divers speaking sharply against Mr. Martyn he was committed to the Tower but shortly after released and re-admitted to his place in Parliament Sir Edward Coniers is removed fom his place of Lieutenant of the Tower and the Charge thereof given to the Lord Mayor Pennington The Parliaments Commissioners in Scotland send word of a fair Correspondence with the State there and their readiness to comply with the Parliament in order to which they had sent from them the Form of a Covenant to be taken by both Nations This the Parliament refers to the Assembly of Divines then sitting for their Advice in it Sir John Evelyn of Wilts had writ a Letter from the Earl of Northumberland's house at Petworth to Sir John Evelyn of Surrey which being intercepted and suspicious both of them being Members of the house of Commons were Imprisoned Both Houses passed an Ordinance August 28 for demolishing and removing all Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition out of all Churches and Chapels in England and Wales Divers Members of both Houses were Members of the Assembly of Divines and had the same liberty with the Divines to sit and debate and give their Votes in any Matter which was in consideration amongst them In which Debates Mr. Selden spake admirably and confuted divers of them in their own learning And sometimes when they had cited a Text of Scripture to prove their Assertion he would tell them Perhaps in your little Pocket Bibles with gilt Leaves which they would often pull out and read the Translation may be thus but the Greek or the Hebrew signifies thus and thus and so would totally silence them The Lord Willoughby of Parham had done great Service for the Parliament in Lincolnshire He had taken in Gainsborough and divers Prisoners there among whom was the Earl of Kingston who with the rest being sent by Water in a close Boat towards Hull A party of Cavaliers as they passed by called to the Boat to stay and because they did not the Cavaliers shot at them and the Earl with his man and no other in the Boat were slain by their own Friends The Lord Willoughby kept the Town afterwards against the Earl of Newcastle's Forces till over-powred with Numbers he was forced to surrender it upon honourable conditions Colonel Cromwell gave assistance to the Lord Willoughby and performed very gallant Service against the Earl of Newcastle's Forces This was the beginning of his great Fortunes and now he began to appear to the world He had a brave Regiment of Horse of his Country-men most of them Freeholders and Freeholders Sons and who upon matter of Conscience engaged in this Quarrel and under Cromwell And thus being well armed within by the satisfaction of their own Consciences and without by good Iron Arms they would as one man stand firmly and charge desperately The Parliament ordered Recruits for the Lord Willoughby and for Cromwell and both of them became in the Parliaments favour Gloucester was the general subject of discourse the King was set down before it with his whole Army the Governour Massey not only refuseth upon his Majestie 's Summons to render the City to him but sallies forth upon some of their Quarters and did cut off 300 of their men A Conspiracy of the Mace-bearer and others to kill the Governour and chief Military Officers was discovered and the betraying of the Town prevented some of the Conspirators being executed Gen. Essex advanced with his whole Body from Ailesbury towards Gloucester Aug. 29. The Enemy made a breach in the Outworks and some Assaults but was gallantly repulsed The King drew his Forces from Exeter and the West to the siege of Gloucester yet the Besiegers were very doubtful whether to continue or raise the siege Warwick Castle held out against the King's Forces and Colonel Bridges the Governour acquitted himself with much honour The Earl of Denbigh was made Major General of Coventry and some part adjacent The Lord Gray and Colonel
the Town for a Winter quarter Twyford and Okingham were plundered by the King's Forces and then the poor inhabitants could not prevail with the insolent Souldiers but that they burned many of their Houses affirming they had orders for it from the King 's chief Commanders At Aulton Sir William Waller surprized 100 of the King's Forces under Colonel Bennet Some of the Irish landed at Bristol to serve the King under the command of Sir Charles Vavasour Colonel Henry Bulstrode being above sixty years of age yet underwent the hardships and hazards of war in this cause and was a discreet and stout Governour of Aylesbury in his own Countrey After him succeeded Colonel Alderidge whom the Lord Byron sought by promises of reward and preferment to corrupt to betray the Town to the King's Forces but Alderidge preserved his fidelity and prevented the design The Commissioners to goe into Scotland were named the Earl of Rutland Sir Henry Vane Junior Mr. Hatcher Sir William Armyn and Mr. Darley The Prisoners having great liberty and many private consultations by the favour of the Gaolers the House made an order against it upon pein of an Escape in the Gaoler that should permit it They also took care for the relief of sick and maimed Souldiers and of the Widows and Orphans of those who were slain in the Parliaments service Mr. Chute and Mr. Hern were assigned to be of Counsell with the Archbishop in his Trial to be shortly had in the Lords House The Earl of Warwick was made Governour in chief of all the English Plantations in America and a Committee to assist him The Lord Willoughby of Parham took in Bulling-brooke Castle in Lincolnshire The King's Forces at Reading sent a Party to beat up the Parliaments Quarters at Henly who thought themselves too secure and their Guards were not placed about Midnight the King's forces came up a narrow Lane in the Town towards the Cross where four or five Pieces of Ordance were planted but none there with them save one half drunken Gunner He seeing the King's forces advancing towards him cried out Tom and Jack and other names as if there had been many about him and when he discerned the King's Souldiers to come near him he made a shift to fire a Gun that stood just against them which in that narrow Lane did so great execution both upon Men and Horse that in a great terrour they faced about brought off their dead carrying their bodies back to Reading but left many Horses and much blood in the Lane and in the way to Reading The House appointed a Committee of some Members and others to look into the Accounts of the Kingdom for publick satisfaction therein Some bickerings were between the forces under Major General Skippon and Colonel Harvey and the King's forces in Northamptonshire wherein as is usual fortune was variable Many inveighed sharply against a Warrant of Prince Rupert's commanding provisions and labourers to be sent to him Vpon your utmost perils as the total plundering and burning of your Houses with what other mischief the licenced and hungry Souldiers can inflict upon you An Ordinance passed for associating Hampshire Sussex Surrey and Kent and Sir William Waller to be their Major General Mr. Pierpoint asked leave of the House of Commons to go beyond Seas but they were so desirous of his assistance being a Gentleman of great wisedom and integrity that they gave him a friendly denial The Speaker Lenthall was made Master of the Rolls Nov. 8. and Mr. Selden Keeper of the Records in the Tower Sir William Waller sate down before Basing-house The Commissioners for the Great Seal were agreed upon the Earls of Rutland and Bullingbrooke for the Lords House and Mr. St. John Sergeant Wilde Mr. Browne and Mr. Prideaux for the Commons and the same authority given to them as the Lord Keeper had and all Acts passed under the Great Seal at Oxford made void The Irish forces which came over with Vavasour refused to fight against their fellow Protestants the Parliament but joyned with General Essex his Army The Archbishop was brought to his Trial in the Lords House Nov. the 13. where he made a short Speech and desired that his Counsel might be heard who were Mr. Chute and Mr. Herne and Mr. Hale who having spoken to the points in Law the Lords adjourned Upon the news of the Cessation of Arms in Ireland many of the Earl of Newcastle's Army laid down their Arms and offered composition to the Parliament The Houses agreed that Committees should onely sit three times in the Week and the Houses to sit onely the other three Days Several of the English Regiments were sent for out of Ireland to assist the King here and since the Cessation the Irish Rebels committed many cruel murthers there The Earl of Holland returned from Oxford and examined here said that after he heard of the Cessation in Ireland his Conscience would not give him leave to stay any longer with them at Oxford The young Earl of Caernarvon came from Oxford into the Parliament and was by them committed to the care of his Grandfather the Earl of Pembroke A Paper was communicated to both Houses which was sent from the Prince Harecourt to the Earl of Northumberland by way of general Proposals for an accommodation between the King and Parliament and that in the name of the French King whose Embassadour he was Buisie Mr. Pryn prosecuted Colonel Nathaniel Fiennes for the surrender of Bristol but it was referred to the Council of War The King's Forces besieging Plymouth took one of their Out-works Sir William Waller drew off his Forces from Basing-house not willing to put them upon a Winter siege Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Middleton took in Holt Castle and other places in Shropshire for the Parliament Colonel Rigby with the Lancashire Forces routed a party of the King 's beyond them in number near Thurland Castle killed many and took 400 Prisoners and Arms and their Commander in chief which was the more discoursed of because Rigby was a Lawyer The Garrison of Poole made several attempts upon the King's forces in Dorsetshire killed and took divers of them and 1500 of their Horse and lost not one of the Garrison Divers of the Militia of London made Propositions to the House of Commons touching the Recruits of the Armies c. the Houses ordered them to search for any Officers of the Armies who had deserted their Colours and lay skulking in London to apprehend them and send them to the General to be punished by Martial Law Some small bickerings past between Sir William Willer's forces and the King 's near Farnham The King sent to his subjects in Scotland to forbid their taking of the Covenant or joyning with the Parliament of England but the States of Scotland returned in answer to the King the Reasons of their undertaking those lawfull actions and humbly advise the King to take the Covenant
himself The Scots generally took it except Hamilton and some three other Lords and the Estates ordered it to be taken by all men on pein of confiscation whereof they gave notice by their Letters to the Parliament of England The Houses in answer to the Prince de Harecourt declared their good acceptance of the affection of the King and Queen regent of France in their offer of a mediation of a Peace and that as soon as the Prince should make it appear that the Propositions were by authority from the King and Queen regent of France the Parliament will give such an answer as may stand with the interest of both Kingdoms and with the Solemn League and Covenant A Party from the Garrison of Poole under Captain Laye went by Water to Warham seven miles from them whereof the enemy having an alarm laid Ambuscadoes in the Hedges in the way from the landing place to the Town but Laye commanded his men it being in the Night to keep their Matches close so that the enemy could not see where to shoot at them But the Party of Poole entred Warham in two places and came into the midst of the Town where their Garrison was drawn up together who after one good volley of shot threw down their Arms and fled away Those of Poole took about 200 Prisoners much arms cloth and provisions and so returned The King's Officers having caused divers of the Parliament to be hanged for Spies as one poor man by Prince Rupert's order upon the great Elm near the Bell in Henly and many others Now the Council of War at Essex-house condemned two for Spies who brought a Proclamation and Letters from Oxford to London which were taken about them and they were both hang'd The Judges and Officers were commanded by the Parliament not to adjourn the Term by colour of any Writs or Proclamations from Oxford without order of the Parliament The Commons pressed the Lords for dispatch of the business of the Great Seal and the Earl of Rutland named for one of the Commissioners desired to be excused as not understanding the Law nor the Oath to be taken by them The Castle of Flint was besieged by Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Middleton the Governour of it for the King held it out till all provisions even to Horses failing him he then rendred it upon honourable terms Then the Parliament forces took in Mostynhouse belonging to Colonel Mostyn the Governour of Flint and in Mostyn they took 4 pieces of Ordnance and some Arms. This Colonel Mostyn was a Gentleman of good parts and mettle of a very ancient family large possessions and great interest in that Countrey so that in twelve hours he raised 1500 men for the King and was well beloved there living very nobly Ships were sent to relieve Plymouth and secure Milford Haven and to watch the coming over of any of the Irish Rebels The Earl of Rutland was excused from being one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal and the Earl of Kent named in his place Some of Sir Ralph Hopton's forces drove a party of Sir William Waller's Horse into Farnham but Waller drew his party into the Castle they being inferiour in number to Sir Ralph Hopton's party The Great Seal was carried up by the Speaker of the House of Commons the whole House attending him and delivered to the Speaker of the Lords House who in the presence of both Houses delivered it to the Commissioners and they all took their Oaths and then carried it to Mr. Brown's House the Clerk of the Parliament where it was put into a Chest with three different Locks not to be opened but when three of the Commissioners were present The Earl of Warwick was voted Lord High Admiral of England and an Ordinance passed that all who would set forth Private Men of War should have all Ships and Goods they could take which were employed against the Parliament or for supply of the Irish Rebels Sir Peter Osborn Governour of Jersey delivered it up to Sir John Pennington for the King A Regiment of the Irish Forces landed about Mostyn in Flintshire for the King's service Colonel Hastings marching to relieve Fulbury Castle held for the King was by the way set upon by the Moore-landers who routed his Troups killed 100 of them took about 150 Horse 100 Arms and many Prisoners The Commons thought not fit to treat further with Monsieur de Harecourt untill he shewed that he was Embassadour extraordinary from France and that he would direct his Papers to one of the Speakers The Estates of Scotland by Letters informed the Parliament of England of a French Agent who had been with them to propound their desisting from giving any assistance to the Parliament of England but the Scots justified to him their proceedings The Scots declared the Lords Hamilton Morton Roxborough and Lonmerick to be publick enemies and seised their Estates because they came not in to take the Covenant The King's Forces took Arundel Castle and fortified there Divers Forces from Ireland landed in Wales and the Lord Byron went to joyn with them Sir Walter Earle was made Lieutenant of the Ordnance in the place of Mr. Pym deceased The Garrison at Plymouth gave a brush to the King's forces besieging them Sir William Waller set upon the Lord Craford's forces in Aulton routed them and took about a thousand Prisoners Arms and rich Booties Colonel Morley beat back the Lord Hopton's forces advancing to take Lewys in Sussex Mr. Walter Long was by the House appointed Register of the Chancery Dr. Burges by motion from the Militia of London is made Lecturer at Pauls with 400 l. per annum salary out of Deans and Chapters lands A Letter of thanks was sent to Sir William Waller from the House for his good service at Aulton Mr. Lenthall Speaker was sworn Master of the Rolls before the Lords and he and the Commissioners of the Great Seal took the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegeance in the Lords house they also took the Oath for observation of the Act for the Triennial Parliament The Rebels in Ireland proposed to the Council there 1. To have confirmed to them the free exercise of their Religion 2. That all Laws there against Papists may be repealed 3. That all Lands there belonging to Religion Houses may be restored 4. That their Popish Bishops and Hierarchy may be confirmed 5. That the English Protestants may pay tithes to the Popish Priests These things were after the cessation of Arms in Ireland Colonel Norton in Hampshire routed four Troups of Colonel Bennet's Horse and took about 200 of them The Earls of Northumberland Pembroke Salisbury and divers Members of the House of Commons were indicted of High Treason at Salisbury for assisting the Parliament before Judge Heath Banks Forster and Glanvile but they could not perswade the Jury to find the Bill The Commons ordered a Committee to draw up an Impeachment of
Treason against the four Judges and to consider of a way to vindicate the Lords and Members of the Commons so indicted Several more forces about 1500 landed from Ireland in Wales and Sir William Brereton wrote to the Parliament that some of them were of the Rebels and the Lord Byron is joined with them The like power was given to Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Middleton for sequestrations and levying of moneys in Wales as was given to the Earl of Manchester in the associate Counties Five hundred of the Prisoners taken by Sir William Waller at Alton took the Covenant and served under him The Parliament wrote to General Essex to advance with his Army to joyn with Waller Essex answered that he held it not convenient for their Service and a little discontent began to kindle betwixt him and the House of Commons and the Committee of Safety The Commons ordered that none should elect or be elected Common Council men or Officers in London but such as had taken the Covenant The Commissioners of the Great Seal sate in the Queens Court Decemb. 22. and sealed above 500 Writs so desirous were people to have the course of Justice to proceed Colonel Brown is made Major General of the City Forces appointed to go to Sir William Waller Essex sent 600 Horse to Waller and removed his Army from St. Albans to Windsor to be the more in readiness to assist Waller and divers Kentish Forces came in to him and he sate down before Arundel Castle Duke Hamilton proscribed in Scotland gets to Oxford and there is committed close Prisoner an unhappy or unsteady man and by this you see the uncertainty of Greatness and of Princes favours Sir John Meldrum and Sir William Savile took in the Fort at Barton and after that Gainsborough for the Parliament about 600 Prisoners some of them Officers of Quality store of Arms and Ammunition The Parliament sate on Christmas day 1643. The Earls of Bedford and of Clare came from Oxford back again to the Parliament A Letter was intercepted from Oxford to Sir Peter Killegrew which brought him into suspicion Colonel Hutchinson Governour of Nottingham Castle acquainted the Parliament with an offer of the Earl of New Castle to pay him 10000 l. and to make him a Lord and Governour of that Castle to him and his heirs if he would deliver it to him for the King which Hutchinson refused The Scots Army of about 12000 advanced near to Berwick and publish a Declaration as they march of the justness of their undertakings in assistance of the Parliament Major General Skippon took Grafton House and in it Sir John Digby with 20 Officers of note and Horse and 200 Foot Arms and Money Some differences fell out at Coventry between the Earl of Denbigh and Colonel Purefoy a Member of the House of Commons they were both sent for to London and reconciled Many of the Protestants in Ireland refuse to submit to the cessation and joyn with the Scots Forces The King of Denmark providing to send assistance to the King of England and sending for men to the King of Poland to infest the Swedes the Letters being intercepted the Swedes enter Denmark and take sundry places there Colonel Fiennes was sentenced by the Council of War to be beheaded for the surrender of Bristol The King issued a Proclamation for adjourning the Parliament to Oxford and all the Members who had deserted the Parliament or been disabled met at Oxford General Essex came to London from St. Albans and was not well pleased with some Members and proceedings of the House of Commons Jan. 1643. The Earl of Bedford lately come from Oxford to the General to St. Albans was sent to London and committed to the Black Rod. Prince Maurice his Forces before Plimouth received a blow from the Garrison and the Princes men falling sick of the Camp Disease whereof many died he raised the siege Colonel Boswell with 800 Horse from Coventry took by storm Sir Thomas Holt's House 80 Prisoners store of Goods Money and Plate General Essex sent a new Commission with further powers to Sir William Waller which pleased the House of Commons A Plot was confest of setting on work a Petition from the City to the King for peace and to invite his Majesty to London and the Plotters were committed to Prison Mr. Riley a Clerk belonging to the Records in the Tower was committed for intelligence with Oxford The King sent Proclamations to the several Sheriffs to adjourn the Parliament to Oxford and to summon the Members of that County to appear at Oxford 22. of this month whereupon the Commons order their House to be called the same day Another Proclamation from the King was to adjourn the next Term and all the Courts of Justice from London which the Proclamation calls the Rebellious City to Oxford but the Parliament forbad it Arundel Castle was surrendred to Sir William Waller to mercy there were taken in it Sir William Ford High Sheriff Sir Edward Bishop Colonel Banfield and divers Gentlemen of Sussex 50 Reformades 1200 Prisoners with their Arms Money and with Pillage The Parliament imparted to the City at a Common Hall the late discovered Plot to make a difference between the Parliament and City to divert the Scots advancing hither and to raise a general Combustion under the pretence of Peace Sir Bazil Brooke and Mr. Riley were chief agents in this Plot. The Lord Byron took in Beeston Castle in Cheshire for the King The Parliament ordered the Commissioners of the Great Seal to issue forth a Proclamation for holding the next Term at Westminster and all Judges and Officers to attend here under pein of sequestration and forfeiture of their Offices The Lords sent to the Commons to hasten the impeachment against the Queen A new Ordinance of Excise passed The Lord Goring's Letter to the Queen was intercepted by which he gives her an account of Supplies of Money and Arms coming from France to our King that Monsieur Harecourt was to treat with the Parliament as the King should direct him and that all but two or three Jewels of the Crown were now pawned for money Upon this Letter and other Informations the Commons impeached the Lord Goring of High Treason and ordered the Letters of the French Ministers of State to be brought to the Committee of Safety A Party of Horse under Colonel Ashton in Lancashire marching to joyn with Sir William Brereton were by the way surprized and routed by the Lord Byron Brereton upon this alarm fell upon the Rear of the Lord Byron's Forces and killed and took many of them Major Brookban was shot to death for deserting his Colours and revolting to the King The Parliament wrote to Monsieur de Harecourt at Oxford to acquaint him with their grounds of stopping the Pacquet from France and with the Lord Goring's Letter from thence One Lord and Sir H. Mildmay and Sir William
blood and infamy may rest on the Heads of them that lay obstructions in his way averring that if money cannot be had he will march without it That he received a Letter from Lieutenant General Middleton who is advanced as far as he can to relieve the Lord General but he hears there is a very great party of the King's Army drawn out to meet him and yet keep the Lord General at a Bay That he desires nothing more under God than to be able to march and no fault shall be found in him By Letters from Plymouth the House were certified touching the making of Provisions for the Lord General 's Army and that many Prisoners had taken the Covenant and freely undertook to serve the Parliament against the Irish Rebels That at Lestithiel the duty hath been so constant and various the Enemy so near and vigilant that we cannot Muster we have sick men sent hither who if not timely sent do die soon after they come here fresh Diet being their onely cure The Chirurgeons of the Army are ill stored with Provisions some not having to the value of 10s The Enemy increaseth daily upon our quarters the loss of Foy-harbour is to our infinite disadvantage no ships being able to ride out of the command of their Guns The Lord Admiral made a gallant attempt to have regained the Harbour but extremity of weather would not suffer him to land one man Major Skippon's Glove and Sleeve was shot through and his Buff in two places and he had no harm Additional Forces being come to Sir William Waller he advanced with them Westward to joyn with Middleton and Massey to make up a Body to relieve the Lord General and 4000 Foot and 3000 Horse from the Earl of Manchester were upon their march to assist the General but all of them had lost too much time Letters from the General informed that the King with all his power drew out upon him that he sent out several parties that Skirmished with them at length a great party of the Horse being ingaged they slew many of the Enemy and forced their passage through the King's Army and through the numerousness of the Enemy could hardly retreat so that the Foot being left to stand upon their own guard in a place of advantage there was a Parley enter'd into by which it was agreed that Major Skippon who fought like a Lion with the Foot should march away with the loss of some Ordnance and Ammunition and have a safe conduct for 6000 Foot to Dorchester By this and several other Letters we may observe how the Parliament Officers sought to lessen this defeat received by them and to conceal the full truth thereof from the Parliament which is usual with some to lessen their defeats and to inlarge their Victories On the King's part it was said that General Essex with most of his chief Commanders deserted their whole Army and saved themselves by flight by Sea That their Horse pretending to Skirmish got beyond the King's Army and so escaped by this way and left the Foot to shift for themselves That the Foot were totally dispersed and disarmed and submitted to the King's mercy who gave them their lives and took all their Ordnance Arms and Ammunition and thus gave a total defeat to the Parliament's main Army By this we may see the great difference in relations of Martial performances always according to the particular interest of the Relatours and it is certain that in a Fight the next man can hardly make a certain relation of the Actions of him that was next in place to him For in such a hurry and smoak as is in a Fight and when a man scarce takes notice of any thing but what relates to his own immediate safety it is hard to give any clear account of particular passages but the general will make way for it self by the consequence and issue Therefore for better satisfaction I shall give an impartial Relation of that Action in Cornwal neither favouring nor censuring the one side or the other as it ought to be the temper of all faithfull Historians The King marched after Essex who was gone Westward and by the overruling counsel of the Lord Roberts was perswaded into the narrow noose of Cornwal The King came to Liskerd eight miles from Lestithiel where Essex was and was there encompassed by the King and Prince Maurice at Boconnock Sir Richard Greenvile at Bodmyn and Sir Jacob Ashley at Hule The King's party were desirous to fight but upon consultation it was held more advisable to strave the Parliament forces to which end Goring with a party of Horse and Sir Tho. Basset with 1500 Foot were sent Westward to stop all Provisions that way and to streighten Essex by keeping his Horse and Foot close together Essex drew his Cannon and Baggage towards Foy but in those bad ways his Carriages stuck and they were much hindered by it Sir Will. Belfore with 2300 horse brake through the King's Quarters and got to Saltash and from thence to Plymouth The King pursues his advantage against Essex his foot with great wisedom and gallantry and they made a stout resistance but being overpowred by the King's forces which lay round about them and then the Country rising in great numbers upon them and killing divers of their men in their Quarters Essex quits his own Forces and with divers of his chief Officers makes by Sea for Plymouth leaving Skippon with the Foot and a few horse behind him Some came by designe to the Parliament forces intimating that the King was willing to admit of a Treaty with them and it was great wisdome and gallantry in the King rather to defeat them with their own Consents than to hazard the doubtful tryal of a Battle for it Skippon calls together his field Officers to a Council of War and being more a Soldier than an Oratour spake plainly to them to this purpose Gentlemen You see our General and many of our chief Officers have thought fit to leave us and our horse are got away we are left alone upon our defence that which I propound to you is this that we having the same courage as our horse had and the same God to assist us may make the same tryal of our fortunes and endeavour to make our way through our enemies as they have done and account it better to dye with honour and faithfulness than to live dishonourable Few of the Council of War did concur with him but were generally for a treaty with the King alledging the advantages the horse had to break through the enemy which the foot had not and that the General was then with them and added courage to his men Whereas the foot were now more dismayed by his going away and having few or no horse to assist them and other arguments were alledged to accept of a treaty and accordingly Commissioners on both parts were appointed For the King were Prince
Maurice General Ruthen and the Lord Digby for the Parliament were Colonel Berkley Colonel Wichcotes and Colonel Butler who agreed upon Articles Sept. 2. to this effect To deliver up to the King all their Artillery with all their bag and baggage no person under a Corporal to wear any kind of weapon all Officers above to wear onely sword and pistols there were delivered up 40 pieces of brass Ordnance 200 barrels of Powder Match and Bullet proportionable 9000 Arms for horse and foot Some of the private Soldiers listed themselves in the King's service and some of the rest as they marched forth being pillaged by the King's Soldiers Skippon rode up to the King who stood to see them pass by and told him it was against his honour and justice that his articles should not be performed that his Soldiers did pillage some of the Parliaments Soldiers contrary to the Articles and desired his Majesty to give order to restraine them The King thereupon gave a more strict command for the punctual observation of the Articles and Skippon with his men marched to Poole We may take notice by this chiefly and by several other passages of the uncertain issues of War and of the overruling hand of providence in Martial affairs as much if not more than in other matters It was but a few weeks before that Essex and Waller with two great Armies were in pursuit of the King who could scarce find a way to avoid them and the Parliaments power and expectation was far above that of the King Now the dye of War is turned another way the Parliaments Army is defeated disarmed and dispersed and the King becomes Victorious This did much affright some of the Parliament party and caused several discourses among them Divers who were no friends to Essex inveighed against him as one that had quitted his Command and deserted his Army in the greatest danger others excused and commended him for this action by which means onely he could reserve himself his Officers and Souldiers to doe the Parliament further service Others condemned Waller Manchester and Middleton for not hastning more to the assistance of the General every one vented his own fancy and censure but doubtless he was a person of as much integrity courage and honour as any in his age he was brought into this noose by the wilfulness of others and though his enemies took advantage against him upon it yet many thought others to be more in fault than the General Letters from Scotland informed the Parliament that the Marquess of Argyle had taken 500 of the Rebels which came over with the Earl of Antrim to disturb the peace of that Kingdome The General having thoughts to come up to the Parliament to give them a particular account of this unhappy action and to excuse himself to the Parliament they wrote to him that they continue fully satisfied that he was not wanting to use his utmost endeavours in that service and were well assured of his fidelity desiring him to entertain no thoughts of discontent or discouragement but to go on in the managing of the VVar Sir Will. Waller and other forces being ready to joyn with him The Commons took order for supplies of Cloaths and Arms for his Souldiers and for the Earl of Manchester's marching towards him and appointed a day of publick Humiliation The Sickness being at St. James's the Parliament ordered the removal of the King's Children from thence to Whitehall Colonel William Strowde wrote to the House that 300 men of the adjacent parts were come to him to serve the Parliament and that he had sent from Wareham 1000 Arms to the Lord General A Committee of both Houses were sent to give entertainment to the Chancellour of Scotland who was newly come to Town The Lord Roberts was made Governour of Plymouth By Letters from Sir Thomas Middleton the House was informed that Lieutenant Colonel Tyll being sent by him took Sir Thomas Gardiner the Recorder's Son with his Officers and forty of his Troupers Prisoners and the rest fled that he also took two Colours and four wayneload of Powder and Ammunition Lieutenant General Lesley fell upon the Forces of Sir Philip Musgrave and Colonel Fletcher in Westmorland killed divers on the place took above 100 Prisoners two foot Colours a Standard and scattered the rest The King marched out of Cornwal and sent a summons to Plymouth to be rendered to him but they returned a positive answer in the negative Prince Rupter marched towards the King but with a small force About 1500 of the King's foot out of several Garrisons mounted for Dragoons by night marched towards Basing-house Colonel Norton and Colonel Morley took the Alarm Norton charged them and brake through them but they with great courage wheeled about and charged Norton's whole body who retreated unto Colonel Morley's Quarters In the mean time they got some supplies of Ammunition and Provisions into the House Norton and Morley faced them but they would not fight but retreated back again and were pursued and 150 of them killed and taken one Major with other inferiour Officers Norton had a slight hurt in the hand and lost but one man but the house was relieved This party of the King 's gave an Alarm to Brown at Abington who shortly after gave an Alarm to them at Oxford and brought away 40 of their fat Cattel Salt and other provisions Sir Rich. Greenvile attempted thrice by Storm to enter Plymouth but was repulsed Middleton routed Prince Rupert in his passage towards the King with seven hundred horse took divers of his Officers and about ninety common Souldiers prisoners Brereton routed the Earl of Derby coming to relieve Leverpoole and killed and took five hundred of them and put the rest to flight An Ordinance passed the Commons for Ordination of Ministers and was sent to the Assembly for them to add Ministers Names who should give Ordination A difference was between the Lord Grey and the Association of Leicestershire The King sent a Summons to Plymouth That God having given him Victory over the Rebels he desired to reduce his people by Acts of Grace and promised especial favour to Plymouth if they would render the Town to him and that they should have no Garrison A Letter was likewise sent at the same time from the Lord Digby to the Lord Roberts Inviting him upon high Ingagements of Preferment and Honour from the King to surrender the Town up to him But they prevailed neither with the Governour nor with the Townsmen but they all prepared for defence and the Enemy endeavouring the same day to storm the West-end of the Town were repulsed with great loss in which action the Seamen did gallant service The King 's whole Army besieged the Town but they having four thousand foot and eight hundred horse did not much fear their Besiegers but the Lord Roberts wrote for some supplies which were ordered for them A Letter from the King was
from Skipton fell upon Colonel Maleverer's quarters at Rippon and took about twenty of his horse The Court Marshal condemned three men one Captain Syppins for endeavouring to betray Gernsey one Francis Pits who was imployed by Sir Richard Leveson to betray Russell-hall in Staffordshire and William James a Foot-souldier for running away from his Colours The Tryal of Macquire and Macmahon was altered and ordered to be in the King's Bench and Mr. Rolles with the others before named appointed to be Council against them Sir Edward Hungerford and Sir Nevill Poole were sent down into Wiltshire for the service of that County Sir Henry Mildmay got an Order for his Salary as Master of the Jewel-house to the King Colonel Hammond who killed Major Grey at Gloucester for giving him the Lye was referred to be tryed by the Council of War in the Lord General 's Army Some of the King's Plate was ordered to be sold or pawned for 3000 l. for Abington and Reading forces and that the Plate amongst the Regalia which had Crucifixes or superstitious Pictures should be disposed of for the Publick Service A Letter of Thanks ordred to Colonel Ceely Governour of Lyme All Governours of Forts and Garrisons were prohibited coming to London unless sent by the General or sent for by the Parliament or Committee of both Kingdoms Sir Thomas Middleton took in Redcastle in Wales with the Lord Powys three Captains divers inferiour Officers forty horse two hundred Arms and store of pillage Upon the Case of Colonel Warren it was ordered That no Officer who formerly received Pay from the State and was afterwards taken by the Parliaments Forces in Arms against them should be exchanged for other Prisoners Prince Rupert removed Sir Francis Hawley from being Governour of Bristoll and turned out the Governour of Berkley Castle and put an Irish Rebel in his place The Commons were very busie in providing Monies and other Supplies for their Forces in England and Ireland The Archbishop was brought to the Lord's house and his Council heard to the matter of Law The Swedish General Tortoison beat Gallas the Emperour's General took all his Cannon and Baggage killed many of his Foot and routed all the rest and pursued his Horse to Willingborough A great fire in Oxford burnt up near a fourth part of the City from one end of it to the other The City Brigade marched forth under the command of Sir James Harrington The Lord Herbert Son to the Earl of Worcester with fifteen hundred men came against a Garrison of the Parliaments between Gloucester and Monmouth and Colonel Massey coming to relieve them routed the Lord Herbert's forces killed fifty and took sixty prisoners and good prize A Letter of Thanks was written to Massey for all his good-Services Upon Major General Skippon's desire the Captain was reprieved who endeavoured to have betrayed Gernsey Doctor Bastwick's Wife had an Allowance ordered for her and her Husband's maintenance Colonel Harley Sir Robert Harley's Son was made Governour of Monmouth Relief was ordered to the well-affected Inhabitants of Jersey An Ordinance passed for the preservation of Hyde-Park and the Timber and Pales from spoil A party from Plymouth took in Saltashe Those before Basing-house sent for more supplies of men The Lords at a Conference gave their Reasons why they thought not fit to agree to the Ordinance for selling the King's Plate but the Commons adhered to their former Vote and ordered 3000 l. out of the Earl of Thanet's Fine for supply of the Forces of Berks and Oxon. The Commons agreed upon all the Propositions for Peace to be sent to the King and took the City Propositions in debate to be sent with the other The Forces of Sir Tho. Fairfax and Colonel Rosseter blocked up Crowland Colonel Birch had an allowance for his reparation of losses from the Parliament Sir Alexander Denton was ordered to be exchanged for Sir John Norcot a Member of Parliament and Judge Mallet was exchanged Many Orders were made touching foreign Ships staid here and to do right in those cases The Commons debated the sending forth of new Writs to choose new Members in the places of those who were dead or expelled the House Duncannon a considerable Fort in Ireland yielded to the Parliament and most of the Officers and Souldiers there took the Covenant Many Orders for Money and Supplies for the Forces and for all the Forces of the Parliament to joyn together to hinder the King's march to Oxford An Order for encouragement of the Officers and Workmen in the Mint Sir William Waller and the Earl of Manchester joyned together and both of them wrote That the King marched as if he intended to fight and they desired some Supplies which were sent to them The Parliament appointed a Day of Humiliation and Prayer to God for a blessing upon their Forces now likely to engage in battel A price was set upon Coals and a Woodmonger ordered to be Indicted for ingrossing of Coals and the Admiral ordered to compel some Coal-ships at Harwich to come into the River Thames Sir John Holland had leave to stay in Holland for six Months Three thousand of the King's Forces besieged Taunton and the Governour Colonel Blake sent out a party who fell upon the Besiegers killed and took many of them whereof some Commanders Sir Hugh Cholmley set out some Vessels which took some Coal-ships coming for London and the Parliament ordered some Ships of War to lie on that Coast Some ships coming in the Parliament gave order for the present payment of the Mariners The propositions for peace were agreed upon by the Commons A party of the King 's coming to Beachly upon Severn to fortifie there Colonel Massey fell upon them slew seventy of them on the place took about a hundred and seventy prisoners two pieces of Cannon and two hundred Arms with the loss of but ten men Colonel Charles Fleetwood took two Troups of the King's horse near Belvoir Castle Doctor Bastwick was exchanged for Colonel Huddleston Jeffreys the Queens Dwarf in a Duel on horse-back in France killed Mr. Crofts Colonel Temple was sent into Sussex to raise Forces for the Parliament in case the King should bend that way The King's Army marched to Andover where some skirmishes were betwixt them and Sir William Waller's Forces and about twenty killed on both sides Colonel Kerne had the thanks of the House for his good Service and was sent down to his Charge in the Isle of Wight By Letters from the Lord Wareston and Mr. Crew Commissioners in the Parliaments Army was certified That all the three Armies were joyned near to Basing and that the King's Forces were at Whit-church within five miles of them That the General had sent to Reading and other places to pull up their Bridges to prevent the King's march to Oxford And that the Council of War had resolved to give battel to the Enemy The Parliament took care for provisions to be sent to
for their passage and that they were not to part with it but they shewed it to his Messenger and gave him a Copy of it with which he returned to the Governour and after some two hours attendance he sent a Troop of Horse to convoy them into the Town They went directly to the Governour 's quarters who received them not rudely but with hight enough and called for wine for them he told them that he believed the King was returned to Oxford and that it was more probable they might find him there than in any other place Amongst other discourses he and the Earl of Denbigh fell into relations of some passages of War wherein both the Earl and Colonel Blake had been Actors and both of them being high Spirits could not brook any diminution to the honour of each other or of their parties They differed upon some matters of fact and grew unto very high words insomuch as the Lord Maitland looked very pale and he and others thought that they should have their throats cut by the garrison and Blake looked very big upon them and his words were answerable All the Company held it fit to remove from this Garrison seeing the Carriage of Blake so full of insolence and incivility and with much difficulty they at last got into their Coaches and and took leave of the proud Governour The next morning they took their journey towards Oxford and upon the Hill half a mile before they came to the Town they stayed in the field till they sent a Messenger to the Governour of Oxford Sir Jacob Ashley to acquaint him with their being there to wait upon the King according to their safe Conduct whereof they sent him a Copy and desired entrance and accommodation in the City The Messenger returned that Sir Jacob Ashley would acquaint his Majesty with their being there and know his pleasure about it and then he would send to them accordingly and after three or four hours stay in the wet and cold open field then came an Officer and a Troup of horse to Convoy them into the City As they past along the streets the rude multitude the people part of that body for whom they underwent so many hazards of their lives and fortunes to preserve them in their Rights and Liberties and from Slavery and Popery which some about the King as was believed endeavoured to bring upon them Part of this People of England as they past along the Streets reviled them with the names of Traitors Rogues and Rebels and the like and threw stones and dirt into their Coaches a great incouragement and reward for their service for them They went on their way taking no notice of these affronts and abuses and were brought to their quarters to a mean Inn the sign of the Katherine Wheele next St. John's College which house was little above the degree of an Alehouse The Officer made a slight excuse to them for making them stay so long before they were admitted into the Garrison the which he said could not be till the Governour had spoken with the King which took up some time and that the providing of quarters for them was very difficult in regard the Town was so full of the King's Forces After they were setled in their quarters divers of the King 's great Officers and Lords came to visit them and some had their particular friends who came thither to them among whom was Sir Edward Hyde who came to Visit some of them and in discourse in general about the Propositions for peace profess'd his earnest desire and endeavour that they might take effect The Earl of Lindsey who then lay sick of wounds he had received sent a Gentleman in his name to visit Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke and to tell them that if he had been able to come abroad he would himself have visited them The Commissioners Servants informed them of a great bussle in the Hall of the Inne That some Officers of the King's Army came in thither to them and fell to quarrel with them called them and their Masters and the Parliament Rogues and Rebels and Traytors and would not suffer them to come near the fire upon which they quarrell'd Mr. Hollis went presently to one of the King's Officers who was there a tall big black man and taking him by the Collar shook him and told him it was basely and unworthily done of them to abuse their Servants in their own quarters and contrary to the King 's safe conduct and presently took away his Sword from him Whitelocke did the like to another great mastiff Fellow an Officer also of the King's Army and took away his Sword from him Upon this fearing some Design upon them and that more of the King's Officers and Souldiers would come in to affront them they caused the door of the Inne to be shut up and sent to acquaint the Governour with this abuse and affront offered to them He presently sent a Captain who took away those two Officers who had been disarmed and carried them to prison he excused a little the matter to the Commissioners and brought a Guard of Foot-souldiers to attend at the door of their quarters This business was much talked on among the King's Officers and Souldiers and most of them said that Hollis and Whitelocke had done well and like Gentlemen in disarming those two that offered the affront whom they much condemned and they were after this quiet The next day they had access to his Majesty who used them civilly and gave to every one of them his hand to kiss but he seemed to shew more disdain to the Scots Commissioners than to any others of their Company The Earl of Denbigh read the Propositions to his Majesty who heard them with much patience and when they were all read told them that he would consider of an Answer to be given to them Hollis and Whitelocke thought themselves obliged in civility and courtship to return a Visit to the Earl of Lindsey But all the Commissioners having agreed that none of them should singly give any Visit to any of the King's Officers or great Lords nor in company without acquainting their Fellow-commissioners therewith They thought fit to tell them their Intentions with their leave to return a Visit to the Earl of Lindsey who had so courteously first sent to visit them and all their Fellow commissioners approved thereof and wished them to doe as they intended The same Evening about Eight or Nine of the Clock Hollis and Whitelocke went to the Court to the Earl of Lindsey's Lodgings whom they found ill and in his Bed and divers Lords with him among the rest the Lord Savile then newly made Earl of Sussex The Earl of Lindsey expressed much contentment and that he took it extream kindly that they would come to visit him and treated them with extraordinary respect and courtesie and no man with him was so forward to complement them as was the Lord Savile When they had
into them were to settle the Militia of both Kingdoms This Answer of the King's Commissioners to the great Point of the Militia gave much dissatisfaction to the Parliaments Commissioners And the Earl of Northumberland Mr. Pierpoint Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke with others of them advising in private about it endeavoured by particular applications to their friends of the King's Commissioners to get a better Answer and more complying with the Parliament from them But it could not be obtained and they hinted to them that they were bound up by their Instructions from the King that they could go no further Yet they promised to send to Oxford to see if they could prevail there for a further concession from his Majesty in this particular But nothing came of it They sent the Papers on both parts in every dispatch to the Parliament and when these of the Militia were read the House of Commons seemed much troubled at them some were pleased who were no great Wishers of Peace and others doubted thereupon of any good success in the present Treaty 7. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London sent a Letter to the Speaker intimating the scarcity of Flesh-meats by the destruction of Cattel in the time of these Wars and the good by encouraging the Fishing and submitted the whole not as to the keeping of Lent but to prevent Dearth to the judgment of the houses Who ordered an Ordinance to be brought in for this business After a Debate from Morning till the Evening upon the alterations made by the Lords in the Ordinance of the new Model the Commons voted That Sir Thomas Fairfax should nominate all the Commanders in his Army to be taken out of any the other Armies and to receive the approbation of both Houses The Scots Commissioners at Vxbridge were much unsatisfied that no Answer was given touching the settlement of the Militia in Scotland and took it as an high neglect of that Kingdom They and the Parliaments Commissioners gave in some Papers to the King's Commissioners touching the Propositions for Ireland A Letter was past to be sent to the Parliament of Scotland concerning the Scots present advance Southwards 8. The Commons state from Eight a Clock in the Morning till Eight a Clock at Night upon the Alterations made by the Lords in the Ordinance for the new Model And agreed to most of them and ordered Reasons to be drawn up to satisfie the Lords in those wherein they differed They voted that all Officers in the new Army that shall be approved by both houses shall take the Covenant within twenty days and the Souldiers in a time to be set for it The rest of the Papers upon the Propositions for Ireland were delivered in to the King's Commissioners for the Treaty 9. The Lords-day one of the Ministers with the Commissioners preached very seasonably for the Occasion in the Morning and another in the Afternoon Some Visits past between some of the Commissioners on both parts and indeavours to perswade one another to nearer terms of agreement but to little effect 10. Some Debate touching the Point of Excommunication The Lords concurred with the Commons in a Letter to the Parliament of Scotland for the March of their Army Southwards and the place of their Rendezvous was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms for the more secrecy thereof They also agreed in Approbation of the Opinion of Judge Bacon in over-ruling the Plea of Macquire in the point of Peerage who was this day at his Tryal in the King's Bench and excepted against twenty three of the twenty four returned of the Jury The Commons past the Bill for taking away Episcopacy in Ireland as in England and sent it up to the Lords for their Concurrence They nominated several High Sheriffs 11. Orders for Money and Supplies for the Navy The Reasons of the Commons for their differing from some Alterations made by the Lords in the Ordinance of the new Model where delivered to the Lords A Petition of Merchants trading into France whose Goods were seized there and Letters of Marque granted against all that adhered to the Parliament was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms and to draw up a Letter to be sent to the King of France for redress therein Propositions touching Navigation sent from the Lords The Commons had information of a great Design in Bucks to dissolve the Treaty at Vxbridge to be effected by a Petition framed for them and great endeavours to get hands to it in Bucks The Petition was directed to the Commissioners of both sides at Vxbridge and 5000 Inhabitants were designed to come with it The Commons had a Copy of the Petition the Effect whereof was That Religion might be established as in the purest times of Queen Elizabeth c. Sir John Lawrence was informed to be the active Promoter of this Petition and was therefore sent for in Custody to the Parliament The Directory for Worship was much approved by the Assembly in Scotland General Leven went towards Carlisle to assist in the Siege there Macquire upon his Tryal in the King's Bench was found Guilty and had Judgment of High Treason pronounced against him to be hanged drawn and quartered He desired to be beheaded and to have his Execution respited till he might speak with Sir Bazill Brooke and Mr. Walter Mountague The Judge said he would acquaint the Parliament therewith and observe their directions The King's Commissioners at Vxbridge gave in their Answer to the Proposition concerning Ireland and therein justified the King in making a cessation with the Rebels there and that he is in honour bound to maintain it And they would by no means yield to that part of the Proposition To prosecute the War against the Irish Rebels The Commissioners entred upon a second Debate concerning Religion the King's Doctors highly insisted for Episcopacy 12. Orders for new Sheriffs and for Monies for the Army and the Lords were desired to expedite the Ordinance for the Model News came that Goring's Horse and a party of Foot from Portland by a sudden assault took the Works at Weymouth and the Town was in great danger to be lost if not suddenly relieved Orders were thereupon sent to Sir William Waller to march immediately for relief of Weymouth The House was in a Grand Committee to consider of the business of the Navy and of the Customs An Ordinance past for raising of Monies for the Scots Army to march Southwards 13. Letters from Sir William Waller intimated Disobedience in some of the Souldiers to march into the West and desired further power The House referred it to the Committee of both Kingdoms to give such power accordingly Such was the inconstancy of the Souldiers and the incertainty of the Affairs of the Parliament and of War Those who had been so well paid by the Parliament now dispute their Commands occasioned by the unsettledness of the Parliaments business
Stocks in Trade and absent themselves and Orders for seizing suspicious persons and Arms and an Ordinance for raising Souldiers Gunners and Chirurgeons for Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army With an Exception to press none in the Universities Inns of Court and Chancery trained Bands c. or Esquires or their Sons or Officers Sea-men c. 26. The publick Monthly fast solemnly kept 27. A Messenger from Melcombe Regis informed that the Town held out still and expected Sir William Waller's approach to them that a party of 80 of their Horse sallied out and routed near 300 of the Enemy and took 60 horse and another time 30. The House ordered Colonel Cromwel to march with all speed into the West to joyn with Waller The Government of Shrewsbury was referred to the Committee of that County and 4000 l. to be provided for them to raise Forces and 20 l. given to their Messenger A party under Sir Maronaduke Langdale marching Northwards fell upon a party of the Parliaments in Northamptonshire whom they routed killed some and took divers of them prisoners and the rest shifted for their lives and by flight saved themselves The same party of the King 's fell upon some Dragoons of the Parliaments in Leicestershire and routed them 28. Several Officers of the new Army approved by the Commons A party of Col. Massey's men under his Brother fell upon Sir John Winter in the Forest of Dean routed him and made him swim the River of Wye in which 60 of Winter's men were drowned 70 slain besides Col. Gamme and Lieutenant Colonel Winter 120 taken prisoners 140 Horse taken several Officers and 300 Arms. The Commons ordered a Letter of thanks to Massey and Supplies March 1644. 1. The Commons proceeded in the List of the Officers of the Army They sent to the City to call a Common Hall the 4th of March That the Commissioners for the Treaty at Uxbridge might then acquaint the City with the proceedings at that Treaty and the aversness of the King's party to the peace They have already set forth a Declaration at Oxford for the vindication of themselves in that business An Ordinance for Provisions for the Parliaments Forces before Pomfret another for the Essex Forces Letters from Colonel Sydenham and Captain Batten informed that Goring had spent much time with 5000 horse and foot before Melcombe but had made no honourable attempt only the night before endeavoured to cast up a Work before Melcombe betwixt it and the Seas but Sydenham sent out a party who beat them from their Work killed two and took divers prisoners and all their Tools without any loss 3. The Commons past the List of Officers for the new Army Mr. Pryn was ordered to Print the Proceedings of the Archbishop's Tryal Orders for a Committee to hasten the Declaration of the Proceedings of the Treaty at Vxbridge in which much labour was put upon Mr. Pierpoint and Whitelocke Mr. Sherrington Talbot and Mr. Dowdeswell Commissioners of Array in Wigorn were taken and sent up The Chapel Fort at Weymouth was taken by the Parliaments Forces from the King 's Letters from Sir William Brereton informed that four Regiments of Irish Rebels were lately landed in Wales for the King's Service Sir Marmaduke Langdale's party were met with by Colonel Rosseter near Melton where they had a sharp Encounter and loss on both sides Of Langdal's party were slain Colonel Tuke Major Kertlington Captain Markham and about 100 others of Rosseter's about 50 but no Officer he lost one Colours and took two Langdale got Provisions into Newark and was recruited to 3000 and Rosseter followed him with 2000. 4. The French Agent sent a Letter to the Parliament of the desires of his Master and the Queen Regent That the Parliament would continue the Treaty with the King The House ordered a Committee to draw up a fair and respective Answer to the Letter but not to consent to any thing of renewing the Treaty The Speaker was authorized to give Passes to Delinquents to come into the Parliament and to compound at Goldsmiths-hall for their Delinquency The Parliaments Forces in Melcombe Febr. 25. having regained Chapel Fort of great prejudice to the King's Forces they resolved by a Council of War to fall again upon the Fort and upon the Town of Melcombe at once in several places The same Evening that they resolved to do it one of Melcombe Souldiers who had been taken prisoner escaped and gave notice to the Governour of this Design who got his men in readiness The King's men that night assaulted the Line about Melcombe in five or six places and the Chapel with great resolution but were in every place repulsed and lost about 150 of their men In which Service Captain Batten and his Seamen did very bravely the Enemy retreated back to Weymouth the Melcombe Souldiers stood still upon their guards expecting the return of the Enemy but they came not again But the next morning they all drew out of Weymouth in hast as in a Pannick fear and marched away both horse and foot to Dorchester leaving behind the Ordnance they had before taken from the Parliament in Weymouth and two pieces more with some Arms and took nothing with them but some Plunder and the Parliament Forces poslessed all the Forts and lost but ten men At the same time a Ship of the Kings of 12 Guns came into Captain Batten Great numbers of Clubmen in Worcestershire and Dorsetshire got into a posture of defence and refused to serve the King according to his Proclamation The Parliaments Commissioners for the Treaty at Vxbridge came to the Common-hall in London and acquainted the City with the proceedings of that Treaty and of the aversness on the King's side to come to a closure of peace so that now it was of necessity for their own defence to furnish out the Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax for which end they desired from the City the Loan of 80000 l. to be repaid with Interest Upon Information that the mutinous horse inclined to obedience the Parliament past an Order that if they submitted by a day they should be pardoned and continued in Service otherwise to be proceeded against as Traytors 5. Orders touching Money from the Customs and Excise The House approved of the Train of Artillery and their Officers under General Fairfax and passed all the Colonels except two And an Ordinance for 2000 l. for the Officers Souldiers and Seamen of Weymouth and Melcombe for their gallant Service Order for a Day of Thanksgiving for the Successes which God gave the Parliament since the breach of the Treaty ordered to be kept in Christ church London and the Lord Mayor and his Brethren desired to be there also Sir William Waller with Colonel Cromwel's Horse and Colonel Fiennes Regiment about 5000 Horse and Dragoons marched into the West Provisions grew scarce in Oxford Brown surprized a herd of Cattel going thither and brought them to Abington Craford
pieces of Ordnance 8000 Arms 40 Barrels of Powder 200 Carriages all their Bag and Baggage with store of rich pillage 3000 Horse the King's Standard and divers Colours of horse and foot one of the King's Coaches and his Cabinets of Letters and Papers Sir Marmaduke Langdale fled to Newark 15. The Lord's day divers Preachers took notice of this great Victory in their Prayers and Sermons and returned Prayers to God for it 16. Several Gentlemen Colonel Jo. Ficnnes and others came from the Army with the Prisoners and Colours and some with Letters from the General of this great success at Naseby they were called into the House and made a particular Narration of the fight The House gave 100 l. to one of them 40 l. to another and gratified all the Messengers of this good News Then according to the desire of Sir T. F. in his Letters they ordered a Day of Thanksgiving to God for it the Parliament to keep it at Christ-church and the Lord Mayor Aldermen and the Common Council to be desired to meet the Parliament there and another Day of publick Thanksgiving for this Victory was appointed to be kept in all Counties within the power of the Parliament Letters of thanks ordered to Sir T. F. and his Field-Officers and 500 l. to be bestowed upon a Jewel for Sir T. F. Order that Lieutenant General Cromwel shall continue Lieutenant General of the Horse under Sir T. F. during the pleasure of the Houses notwithstanding the Self-denying Ordinance and shall receive the pay of Lieutenant General for the time of the establishment of this Army The same Night after the Battel of Naseby Sir T. F. blocked up Leicester with his Horse and next day his Foot came up to him Houghton Garrison being taken by a party from Newark was the same Day regained by Col. Rosseter who released the Prisoners taken there and took of them Prisoners M. Broughton and divers other Officers 55 Gentlemen Voluntiers and Souldiers and 60 Horse A party of Sir William Brereton under Lieutenant Colonel Venables fell upon a party of the Chester forces took 180 of them Prisoners and 30 Horse and forced the rest back into Chester Several parties of the King 's joyning to besiege Sir W. Whitmore's House a Garrison of the Parliament a party from Shrewsbury encountred with them slew and took Prisoners about 400 and dispersed the rest and Sir William Croft's was slain in the Fight Captain Stone and Captain Tuthall fell upon a party of the King 's near Litchfield took Major Henningham other Gentlemen and Officers of the name of Devexeux 25 common Souldiers 40 Horse and Arms i a Coach and Horses divers Port-mantles and good Pillage 17. Debate in a grand Committee of the business of the Church An Ordinance committed for the sale of Delinquents Estates The Town of Taunton understanding from Lyme of the Parliaments sending relief to them and having a small supply of Powder from Lyme a party of the Garrison issued out upon the besiegers took and slew above 400 of them with the loss of 100 of the Garrison and by this means the Enemy drawing back they have inlarged their quarters five or six miles compass 18. The Sheriffs of London came to both Houses and in the name of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council invited them to Dinner the next Day being the Day appointed by them for publick Thanksgiving and both Houses accepted of the invitation Order for a Collection at the day of Thanksgiving for those of Leicester now in Town The Lords agreed to the Ordinance for Lord General Cromwel to be L. General of the Horse but altered it in point of time to be but for 3 months to which the Commons upon Debate consented Colonel Fiennes sent up to London with the 4500 Prisoners taken at Naseby Battel was ordered to stay at St. Albans till the House should take order for the disposal of them 19. Both Houses and the City kept the Day of Thanksgiving together and news was brought to them of the regaining Leicester Letters informed that upon routing the King's Army Sir Jo. Gell gathered together all the forces of Derbyshire and the adjacent parts and June 16. they met with some of the King's Horse and took 200 and another party fell upon the Newarkers and routed them took 60 horse 42 Prisoners and 80 Arms. The same Day Sir T. F. came before Leicester and summoned the Town to surrender to him and not to force him to take it by storm the Governour answered that he would not surrender it Sir T. F. called a Council of War about the storming of it which was concluded The next Day they fell to raising Batteries and made all provision Night and Day for it June 17. Sir T. F. battered the Town and stormed it and the Governour sent for a parley to which Sir T. F. agreed and sent Colonel Pickering and Colonel Rainsborough his Commissioners into the Town to treat about the surrender of it In the mean time Sir T. F. lost no time to make provision for the storm and had intelligence that the King was advancing with about 4000 horse towards them But the Commissioners agreed with the Lord Loughborough Governour of Leicester for the rendition of the Town to Sir T. F. upon Articles and there he had 14 pieces of Ordnance 30 Colours 200 Arms 500 Horse 50 Barrels of Powder and all their Arms Ammunition Provisions Bag and Baggage Both Houses were magnificently feasted by the City at Grocer's-hall and after Dinner they sang the 46. Psalm and so parted 20. The Commons sent a Letter of Thanks to Major General Skippon and Dr. Clarke a Physician to visit him and desired Sir Tho. Fairfax to take care that the Chirurgeons of the Army might use their best endeavours for his recovery The Scots Army being at Nottingham and Sir T. F. at Leicester it was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to mannage the Armies to the best improvement of the publick service An Ordinance past for Rutlandshire A Petition from the Adventurers for Ireland An Ordinance past for the Northern association Sir T. F. his Army notwithstanding their hard service marched from Leicester and sate down before Ashby de la Zouche 3000 fresh horse of Sir John Gell Colonel Rosseter Colonel Lambert and others pursued the King's Army 21. Order for the Prisoners taken at Naseby to be put into the Military grounds till they should be otherwise disposed of Care was taken of the wounded Souldiers and for prosecuting the war and advancing of the Armies in pursuit of the King's forces The 4500 Prisoners taken at Naseby fight were conducted through London to Westminster and 55 of their Colours then taken carried before them 22. The Lord's Day great expressions in the Pulpit touching the Victory at Naseby 23. Carlisle was willing for a Treaty of surrendring the Town if they might be assured of an English
Governour and Garrison the which was voted by the Commons and Letters sent to the Officers of the English and Scottish Armies to assure the same to those of Carlisle who had held out very long and courageously for the King Another order for the E. of Northumberland to have the care of the King's Children and 3000 l. per annum allowed him for them The Letters taken in the King's Cabinet at Naseby read in the House and some of them referred to a Committee to be decyphered Mr. Brown a Gun-founder and his Son committed upon matters in some of the Letters 24. The Letters taken in the King's Cabinet were more of them read in the House and in some of them was mention of His Majestie 's intention to make a Peace with the Irish Rebels and to have 40000 of them over into England to prosecute the War here In other Letters to the Queen the King complains That he could not prevail with his Mungrel Parliament at Oxford to vote that the Parliament at Westminster were not a lawfull Parliament that he will not make a Peace with the Rebels the Parliament without her approbation nor goe one jot from the Paper she sent him That upon the Treaty at Uxbridge he did not positively own the Parliament it being otherwise to be construed though they were so simple as not to find it out and that it was recorded in the notes of the King's Council that he did not acknowledge them a Parliament Ordinance sent to the Lords for putting the County of Surrey into a posture of Defence and for pay for the forces there 100 l. given to the Messenger that brought up the Colours from Naseby fight Ordinance sent to the Lords for money for Portsmouth Garrison Order for the business of the Church to be taken into Debate every Wednesday and Friday An Ordinance past for re-imbursing money for Pembrokeshire Sir T. F. prosecuted the King's forces towards Hereford and left Colonel Needham Governour of Leicester Colonel Morgan blocked up Sandal Castle and M. G. Poynes went to Pomfret to order the battery there Colonel Rosseter came back from pursuing the King's forces charged and routed a party of the Newarkers rescued 20 Constables and Tithingmen taken by them and took 50 horse and many prisoners of them 25. The Monthly Fast kept divers Officers Prisoners committed to London-house 26. An Ordinance sent to the Lords about taking the Accounts of the Kingdom and orders for disposal of the Prisoners some to serve the Parliament in Ireland and others as the Parliament shall direct Letters written to Sir T. F. to prosecute his intentions against the Enemy and the Ordinance continued to impower him to press Souldiers for three months longer and another for Recruits for his Army Another Ordinance past impowering the Committees in the several Counties where any Souldiers were pressed and afterwards did desert the service to proceed against them according to Marshal Law Another for money for the late Officers of the Earl of Essex and of Sir William Waller Massey advanced to Lyme in order to relieve Taunton the King was at Hereford and Sir T. F. at Gloucester The Scots Army ordered to march from Nottingham to Worcester Colonel Hunt went from Shrewsbury before Cause Castle which surrendred to him The King's Garrison there marching away with their Colours and Swords and left in the Castle 500 Arms and store of Ammunition M. G. Brown took a Troup of Colonel Royden's horse and a foot Company of Oxford The Commons ordered all the Ensigns and Cornets taken at Naseby or formerly and which hereafter be taken from the Enemy should be brought into the Herald's Office and be there Registred and Mr. Riley to be intrusted therewith 27. The Grand Committee sate for the Church business and after that in the House an Ordinance read to consirm and establish the Directory for worship An Ordinance past for a Collection to provide money and necessaries for those Prisoners who were willing to serve against the Rebels in Ireland to transport them thither Letters from Plymouth informed that Greenvile was raising more forces in Cornwal and that divers Souldiers come away from the King's Garrisons to the Parliaments That three Dunkirk Ships came to Dartmouth with the King's Commission to inhabit there and were received but not well used and two of the Dunkirk Ships were taken by the Parliaments 28. Sir T. F. by order of Parliament advanced toward the relief of Taunton and sent to Massey that by a Day he would joyn with him Letters from General Leuen desired pay for the Scots Army the Houses thereupon sent a Committee to acquaint the Lord Mayor and Common Council of the City therewith and to desire the speedy raising of 30000 l. for this service and wrote answer to General Leuen that they would take care forthwith for their satisfaction The Commons ordered the Prisoners to be removed from the Military Ground where there wanted shelter for them and 300 l. for their supplies 30. Letters from M. G. Skippon informed of his being in a hopefull way of recovery and thereupon the Commons ordered 200 l. to be sent to him as a testimony of their favour and 200 l. more for payment of his Doctours Chirurgeons Apothecaries and other expences Order for 1000 l. for those Gentlemen some of whom were now Members of Parliament who suffered in 1 2 Car. for their affections to the publick and the Committee for them and for the necessities of the present Members was revived and satisfaction of damage voted to be out of the Estates of Delinquents The Letters taken at Naseby referred to a Committee to be perused and observations to be made upon them and to communicate some of them to the Common Council of London An Ordinance sent to the Lords touching Gunpowder and the Office of the Ordnance Letters to the association for Recruits and Arrears to be sent to Sir T. Fairfax's Army Ordinance past for 1500 l. for the Regiment of Colonel John Fiennes M. G. Poynes took the Church at Pomfret Sir T. F. took about 100 Arms from Lieutenant Colonel Not at Highworth who was there slain and divers Officers Colonel Hutchinson took 60 Horse and 48 Prisoners Officers and Arms. Major Saddler took from M. Duet near the Devizes 16 Prisoners Colonel Venables took Sir Th. Powel High Sheriff of Chester 40 Prisoners and 100 Horse July 1645. 1. An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for 400 l. to be paid to Sir William Waller's Life-guard Tuesdays and Thursdays set a part for considering how to raise Monies for Sir T. F. his Army and several Orders passed for that purpose Order of both Houses for the Departure of the Duke of Lorrain's Agent and of the King of Portugal's Agent and for a Letter to be sent to the King of Portugal of the miscarriage of his Agent here Order that the Committee of both Kingdoms should give directions from time to time
on both sides and they took sixty Dragoon Horses and Arms from the Parliaments Forces for restitution whereof Colonel Massey sent a Trumpeter to them and they promised to make restitution the next day Letters sent from both Houses to Sir T. F. and Colonel Massey to inform the Clubmen of the Parliaments intentions to relieve Taunton and to require them to depart peaceably to their habitations and that they should not be questioned for their rising otherwise to be taken as contemners of the Parliaments authority and to be fallen upon as Enemies The King's Letters taken at Naseby were read at the Common Council and observations upon them and they were appointed to be kept in a place where any might peruse the Originals for their satisfaction The Kingdom of Scotland sensible of the Calamities of the three Kingdoms in this Civil War drew up a Remonstrance by way of Summons to His Majesty to come and joyn with them in the Solemn League and Covenant and this being by consent of the general Assembly of that Kingdom was sent to His Majesty Whitelocke attended the House all this Morning and nothing was said to him in publick by reason of the other business about 12 a Clock he acquainted the House that he received a Letter from a worthy Member of the House signifying their pleasure that he should attend them which he now did accordingly and humbly desired to know what the business was Then it was moved by some that the Letter and Paper of the Lord Savile might be read to him others were for a time to be appointed two or three days after for this business Whitelocke desired it might be the next day Upon his suit it was appointed for the next day and that the Paper and Letters of the Lord Savile should be then ready and he to be heard to say what he thought fit to this business 4. The Justices of Peace not being informed of the order for Lusher the Priest to be sent out of the Kingdom proceeded in his Trial and he was convicted but the Commons ordered his Reprieve so was one White another Romish Priest Intercepted Letters of the Portugal Ambassadour were ordered to be broken open by the Committee of Examinations and notice thereof to be given to the Agent that he if he pleased might be present The Lord Fairfax had the Thanks of the House for his good service and the same ordered to be entred into the Journal of the House Sir T. F. was on his march to Taunton as far as Blandford where he joyned with Massey Goring had drawn off his Horse but left his Foot in the passages to block up Taunton The Scots Army were at Birmicham marching towards Worcester and in their way took about 80 of the Dudley Horse About ten a Clock some Friends of Mr. Whitelock's called upon the business appointed for the Day and the Letter of the Lord Savile with the Paper inclosed were read in the House to Mr. Whitelocke after which he stood up in his place and made Answer to it by way of Narrative to this effect Mr. Speaker I am happy since I must be under an Accusation which is no mean thing in this honourable House that this Gentleman my Lord Savile is my Accuser and more happy that you to whom I have been so long a Servant and who know my ways so well are to be my Judges I shall say nothing concerning my Lord Savile because he is my Accuser but to the parts of his Accusation I shall give you a short and true Answer with all ingenuity and submission to your great judgment His first part of the Accusation is that I was a person well affected to the King but he gives no instances thereof nor is it a crime to be well affected to my Sovereign we have all expressed the same in our Covenant I could give some instances to the contrary effect as the plunder of my Goods seizing the profits of my Lands indicting my person of High Treason for serving you and giving away my inheritance to Sir Charles Blunt a Papist which are no great motives to an extraordinary affection more than a Subject is obliged to his Prince But if my Lord Savile means by well affected to the King my being well affected to Peace I confess I am a passionate Lover of a good Peace and Seeker of it and thereby have testified my affection both to King and Parliament and the longer our Troubles continue the more we shall all be of this opinion and affection Sir I hope I may be thought capable to know my duty to my King and to understand what Protection I was to have from him the mutual Relations of both and further I hold my self disobliged The second Accusation is That I met at the Earl of Lindsey's Lodgings in Oxford to advise about the King's Answer to your Propositions and that I there did give advice to the King contrary to the trust reposed in me by you To this I answer That when your Commissioners came to Oxford we consulted together what among other things was fit for us to doe in point of Civilities and Visits whilst we were there and it was agreed by us all that we should not visit any that were excepted in your Propositions but that we might visit others who did visit or send Visits to us The Earl of Lindsey sent to visit Mr. Hollis and me with a Complement That he was not well else he would have come to visit us at our Lodgings And I having a particular relation and alliance to him we went together to return a visit to his Lordship and told our fellow Commissioners of our intentions before we gave the visit and they approved of it When we came to the Earl's Lodging we found there the Earl of Southampton the Lord Savile and some others but it was so far from an appointed meeting that I knew not of their being there till I saw them in the Chamber There was much discourse among us about your Propositions and they urged the unreasonableness of them we affirmed the contrary and vindicated your honour in them There was also discourse concerning the Scots Commissioners whom they affirmed to be averse to peace we assured them that they were not but willing to have a good peace There was likewise upon this occasion discourse of the Presbytery and of the Point of Jure divino we told them that the Scots were off from the rigid Presbytery and did not insist upon the Point of Jure divino They were then likewise discoursing of Tumults and of Persons and Petitions brought to Westminster in a violent and disorderly manner we did not speak of any violent Independent Party nor any the words mentioned in the Lord Savile ' s Paper nor that the Propositions were unreasonable They indeed pressed much upon that Argument that they were unreasonable particularly the Propositions concerning Religion and the Militia we told them that
came to the House with a Petition and Proposals to the House for raising of 500 Horse and money to pay them out of Delinquents Estates for the which the House gave them thanks and ordered a Committee to treat further with them upon these Proposals Debate about Supplies for Ireland and particularly for the Province of Munster referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Ireland and to the Committee of Accounts to state the former charges for that Kingdom The Committee for the Lord Savile's business sate again this Afternoon and Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke offered to make a Narrative to the Committee for their satisfaction and to answer any Questions which should be asked of them by any of the Committee Then Mr. Brown the Chairman moved the Committee whether it were not fit that as Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke were present when the Lord Savile was heard so now the Lord Savile should be present when Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke made their Narrative This held not much debate it being judged by most of the Gentlemen there present to be improper and unfit and moved by the Chairman in too much favour to the Lord Savile It was then taken into debate whether Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke should be heard speak by way of Narrative or whether they should be examined as to a Charge and it was over-ruled that they should be heard by way of Narrative Then Sir Peter Wentworth moved that whilst the one of them was making his Narrative the other might withdraw and that they should not both be present together to hear what one another affirmed or denied But this was not regarded Mr. Hollis began first and made his Narrative and after he had done Mr. Whitelocke spake and both their Narratives were the same in effect with what they had spoken before in the House and they denied some of my Lord Savile's Informations which were not true and he had no proof but his own honour which was not in much esteem of most of them 11. Debate of the desire of the Scots Army to have Commissioners of the Parliament to reside with them which was agreed and a Message sent to the Lords to name those of their House who should be of this Committee Debate about the Ordinance for sale of Delinquents Estates Order for the Committee of the Navy to send two Barks to Weymouth for the safety of the Fishermen in those parts whom the Clubmen had injured The Committee for the Lord Savile's business sate not this day Some friends who sounded the Solicitor St. John and the other great men of this Committee told Whitelocke that they found them not so sharp against him as against Mr. Hollis whom they were resolved to ruine if they could But Mr. Whitelocke being so much involved in this business with him they could not separate them but either both or neither must be ruined They prepared accordingly for their defence and although many private Messages were sent to Whitelocke and private Conferences with him that if he would desert Mr. Hollis and discover what he could say against him that he should not only be preserved but be rewarded and preferred yet they could not prevail with him to confess any thing against Mr. Hollis or the trust of friendship wherein he held himself engaged 12. Debate of the Ordinance for sale of Delinquents Estates An Ordinance read for raising a 1000 Horse and 500 Dragoons and Money for them in associated Counties The Committee of Kent who had power of Martial Law gave judgment of death against 30 who were in the late Insurrection there yet ordered that they should throw the Dice for their lives and but four of them to be executed only two who refused to throw the Dice were ordered to be executed The House sate in the Afternoon and a Messenger brought them this relation from Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army That Goring with his whole Army being quartered at Langport expecting more Forces from the King to joyn with him Sir Thomas Fairfax having notice thereof called a Council of War Whose result was to give battel to the Enemy if they could force them to it That accordingly they advanced in several bodies L. G. Massey with his Brigade of 4000 horse and about 7 or 8 foot Regiments advanced in the Rear of Goring's Army fell on a party of them took many Colours about 200 prisoners and more horse but few in this service were slain Sir Thomas Fairfax by that time was advanced near Goring's head quarters at Langport not knowing of Massey's engagement who was quartered on the other side of the River July 10 Sir Thomas Fairfax very early drew out with seven Regiments of horse and most part of his foot into the field near Sutton Goring perceiving this possest himself of a Pass which lay between Sir Thomas Fairfax and Massey and hindred the conjunction of their Forces not above four a breast being able to march through the Lane in which the Enemy had lined the Hedges with Musquetiers By this they intended to bring off their Ordnance and Carriages and to make an honourable retreat to Bridgwater But upon the firing of Sir Thomas Fairfax his foot they beat off Goring's foot from the hedges whereby Fairfax his horse might advance Major Bethel with a single Troup entred the Passage the rest of the horse following him and gallantly charged the whole body of Goring's horse who were in the Lane and as gallantly received him but he routed their first party then their reserve and so retreated to the body After this Col. Desborough with about 300 horse of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Regiment charged Goring's horse and after a short but hot engagement wherein both parties did very gallantly Goring's horse were routed and put to flight and pursued almost to Bridgewater There were about 400 slain on both sides 2000 prisoners taken by Sir Thomas Fairfax 1200 horse and about 40 Colours 4000 Arms two pieces of Ordnance six Carriages with Ammunition M. G. Porter next in Command to Goring and with him 100 Officers were taken After this good news they went in the better humour to the Committee of the Lord Savile where Mr. Hollis and Mr. Whitelocke had procured the Earl of Denbigh to come and desired that he being one of the Commissioners with them at Oxford would be pleased to declare his knowledge concerning the Matters in question before the Committee The Earl of Denbigh then told the Committee that he was desired by them to be there and had leave of the House of Peers to be at this Committee and would acquaint them upon his honour with the truth of what he knew in this business He told them that he did well remember that at their first coming to Oxford there was care taken by them for their carriage and discourse there that they were so punctual that he read the Propositions before-hand that there might be
sent out to drive Goring farther into Cornwall and that Plymouth was in good Condition November 1645. Novem. 1. An Ordinance pass'd concerning the Composition for Fines in the Court of Wards for signing of Bâ—â—â—s and passing them under the great Seal An Ordinance for the Government of Bristol sent up to the Lords The House approved of Sir Anthony-Ashly-Cooper to be high-Sheriff of Norfolk and of other Sheriffs Letters from Col. Rossiter with one inclosed from Prince Rupert desiring Passes for him and his Brother and the rest before-mentioned to come to London and from thence to go beyond Sea ingaging their Honours never to return to take up Arms against the Parliament Upon debate thereof and the Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms Who thought this fit to be done Ordered that Colonel Rossiter should grant them Passes accordingly Letters to the Scots Commissioners informed that the Lord Digby and Langdale with eight hundred Horse advancing towards Scotland to joyn with Montross were fallen upon at Carlile Sands by a party of the Scots Forces under Sir John Brown who though less in number after a sharp dispute routed Digby's Party killed an hundred on the place took two hundred of their Horses divers Officers three Colours and many Prisoners dispersed the whole Party and Digby and Langdale fled into the Isle of Man 3. The Form of a Pardon for Delinquents sent up to the Lords Order touching their Compositions Order about a Convoy for a Spanish Don to be transported into Flanders Orders for raising Moneys and for the Lord Buck-hurst to have the fifth part of the Earl of Dorset his Fathers Estate Other Letters taken in the Lord Digby's Cabinet at Sherbourne were read touching persons imployed to get Foraign Forces to assist the King Intelligence that many of the Kings Forces came in to Sir Thomas Fairfax And that since the defeat of the Lord Digby at Carlile-Sands some of his scattered Forces were met with near Dumfrize in Scotland where Sr. John Browne took an hundred more of them Col. Briggs took two hundred of them about Beeston Castle and M. G. Vaâ—â—â—uske took an hundred and eighty more of them in Westmerland Debate in the House touching propositions for Peace Orders to prevent transporting of Irish Rebels to assist the King here and for Money for the Forces before Dunnington Letters from Col. Mitton Col. Jones and Col. Louthaine informed that one thousand seven hundred Horse and seven hundred Foot under Sir William Vaughan designing to relieve Chester the Council of War of the Besiegers ordered to draw forth a Party to meet them before they came near Chester That one thousand four hundred horse under Col. Jones and a thousand Foot under Louthaine all commanded by Mitton yet leaving the Works manned before Chester marched to the Kings Party near Denbigh and after several hot Ingagements routed Vaughans Party took about five hundred Horse and four hundred Foot slew above an hundred and pursued them six miles not above an hundred of them left together That M. G. Langherne had taken in Aberathwait a strong Garrison of the Kings in Cardigan-shire and in it two pieces of Ordnance store of Arms and Ammunition The House gave fifty pounds to the Messenger of this good News and ordered a Letter of thanks to Col. Mitton and the rest for their good Service 5. The day of thanksgiving for 〈◊〉 deliverance from the Gun-powder-Treason was solemnly kept Sir T. F. By reason of the bad weather and want of Provisions drew off his Forces to a farther distance from Exeter but still continued blocking up of the City Letters from M. G. Pointz informed the taking of Shelford Mannor near Newarke and the Earl of Chester-fields house The Garrison within were very resolute refusing Summons and Quarter so that of two hundred the greatest part were slain and the Governor the Earl of Chester-fields Son wounded there were taken four Colours of Horse two of Foot store of Arms and Provisions 6. The grand Committee sate about Propositions for Peace Debate in the House about regulating the University of Cambridge Order for Money for Abbington Garrison Colonel Dalbier marched with the Forces of the three Counties to meet with the Hampshire Forces at Newberry for the Besieging of Dunnington Castle Intelligence came that the King by night got out of Newarke and was come to Oxford Mr. Fountain and Mr. Scot brought Col. Fleet-wood one of the new Knights of Bucks into the House with great Triumph though the Election was but yesterday 7. Order for Sussex to send a Troop of Horse to Abbington and for allowances for Preaching Ministers in Glocester A Petition from Bucks against the Election of their new Knights as not free by reason of the Garrisons in that County and other obstructions and passages referred to a Committee The Lord Cromwell revolted from the King to the Parliament and was by the Lords committed to the black Rod. Letters from Scotland informed that Montross keeps the Monntains and that L. G. Lesley returned from Scotland to New-Castle 8. debate upon a Declaration touching matters of the Church Musgraves Petition Referred An Ordinance debated touching stipends for the Officers and Attendants on the Kings and Princes Housholds The Grand Committee sate in the afternoon about the East-India Company 10. Debate of a Declaration from the Assembly touching Church-Government The Pass agreed upon for Prince Rupert and the rest of the Commanders who desired with him to go beyond Seas Sir John Burlaces Composition agreed and three hundred pound of his Fine assigned for the Garrison of Abbington and the Fine of the Lord Downes also Order for a new Election for Hampshire Order to take off the Fine formerly imposed by the Star Chamber upon L. C. Lilburne and for the Arrears due to him to be audited The Ordinance pass'd for Ordination of Ministers The Lord Wharton and other Commissioners returned from Berwick The Commissioners of Excise were perswaded to advance ten thousand pound for M. G. Browne 11. The grand Committee sat about Propositions for Peace The House voted that L. Col. Bulstrode should be Governor of Aylsbury Bolton Castle the Lord Scroops House in York-shire was surrendred to the Parliament upon Articles and in it store of Ammunition and Provisions 12. The Commissioners who treated with the Scots about surrendring the Garrisons in their Possession in England had the thanks of the House for their good Service The House voted to insist upon this demand and that a Letter be sent to the Parliament of Scotland from both Houses here for this purpose Orders for Money and supplys for the Scots Army intending to sit down before Newarke Order for a new Election in Surrey Letters informed the taking of Worton house upon Articles and that Welberke house was agreed to be slighted upon condition of slighting of Tickhil Castle and Belvoir by the Parliaments Forces Dalbier was at Aldermaston and forbore to sit down before Dennington Castle till
Rebels Horse fell to the Sword pell mell and beat them among the Divisions of their own Foot and routed them Which Lievetenant Colonel Sanderson with the Foot recovered and Sir Francis Hamilton coming with his Troop of Horse they had the Execution of the Rebels for five miles their Foot taking flight upon the giving ground of their Horse In the flight and pursuit their Commander and President of that Province the titular Arch-Bishop of Tuam was slain The Parliament took an hundred and fifty of their Horse with Pistols all their Baggage Tents and Ammunition two Waggons with rich Spoil and Money in them they took several of the Rebels Standards and Colours twenty four Drums and Officers of note forty eight two hundred of their men killed but Plunder prevented further Execution But one of the English killed some men and horses hurt With the Arch-Bishops Carriages they took several Letters and Papers Notes and Instructions from the Pope and matters relating to the King and many of the great men of Ireland and to the carrying of the War there Letters to the Speaker certified that Sir Thomas Fairfax Marched near the Kings Forces and ordered Sir Hardress Waller to amuze them near Okehampton whilst L. G. Cromwell was designed with one Regiment of Horse and two of Foot to fall upon them who after a March of fourteen miles about six a clock at night fell upon three Regiments of their Horse at Bovey of the Lord Wentworths Brigade took four hundred Horse five Colours and many Prisoners some of Quality 13. The Answer passed both Houses to the Kings last Letters concerning Peace and ordered to be sent forthwith to his Majesty by a Trumpet This resolution of the Parliament against a Personal Treaty was not liked by divers who expressed their discontent at it and it brake out farther afterwards A Committee named to draw a Letter to Prince Charles forthwith to disband his Army Reference to the Committee of the West of the Differences in Somerset-shire concerning the Election of a new Knight of that Shire Debate of Ordinances touching the Excise A Conference with the Lords about the Ordinances for Martial Law in London for continuance of the Committee of the Army and Treasurers at War and that no Delinquent should wear a Sword or other weapon of War in London 14. The two Houses at St. Martins in the Fields and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen kept a Solemn Fast Letters informed that in the late action at Bovey they took seven Colours of Horse whereof one was the Kings that some of their chief Officers being in a house shut the doors and threw out at the Window about ten pound in Silver which the Foot-Soldiers were so busie to get that in the mean time the Officers escaped That the Parliaments Foot took twenty Horse and nine Prisoners at Ashburton and then quitted the pass to Totness 15. The Ordinance pass'd for continuance of the Committee of the Army and Treasurers at War and several Ordinances for Martial Law in the Garrisons of Glocester and Hereford Another for the several Committees to punish Soldiers that run away from their Colours by Martial Law Another sent up to the Lords for Martial Law for Col. Jephsons Regiment Ordinances debated for five pound a Week allowance for the Marquess of Winton and an Impeachment ordered against him of Treason for levying War against the Parliament A Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London for the speedy Settlement of Church-Government referred to a Committee and thanks given to the Petitioners Debate of the Irish Affairs and dispatch of Col. Jephson with his Regiment thither Preparations of Forces in Oxford for the Relief of Chester and Col. Whaley is attending their Motions Letters from Scotland informed that Montrosse was beaten from the Siege of Anderness by the Earl of Sleford that after a sharp fight two hundred of Montross's men were slain and his whole Party consisting of two thousand routed and pursued to the Mountains divers of note slain many Prisoners Arms and Ammunition taken A Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London to the House of Peers desiring the speedy setling of Church-Government according to the Covenant That no Toleration be granted of Popery Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophaneness or any thing contrary to sound Doctrine and that all private Meetings contrary to the Covenant may be restrained The Lords Answered complementing the City and thanking them for their care and zeal for Gods Worship and assured them as they had been so should they continue ready to advance so good a work whereto they held themselves obliged by the Covenant and they recommend it to the City to suppress such unlawful courses as are by them mentioned in their Petition Debate in the House of Commons about the business of the Church A Letter from Sir Tho. Glemham Governor of Oxford and therein another from the King to both Houses much to the same effect as his former for a Treaty to which he complained that he had received no Answer but this Trumpet met the Parliaments Trumpet who carried their Answer near to Oxford The King desires that the Church-Government may continue as it was in the days of Queen Elizabeth and of King James and is contented that the Directory shall be used as now in some Churches in London That he doubts not but he shall give both Houses satisfaction touching the choice of the Lord Admiral and other Officers of State if he finds them inclinable to a Treaty in which he will assist in Person and he makes no question but he shall give all his Subjects satisfaction about the debts of the Kingdom and the business of Ireland After this some Papers were read that were taken about the Arch-Bishop of Tuam when he was slain in Ireland discovering the transactions between the King and the Rebels and his large offers to them of Toleration of their Religion and to have all the Forts in their possession on condition they should raise ten thousand men to assist the King here Hereupon a day was set to debate this business and the Letters ordered to be printed Debate of sending Commissioners into the Netherlands 17. Proceedings in the business of the Church Order for Money for the Forces The Ordinance for further Power to the Militia of London sent up to the Lords An Exchange for Mr. Jennings a Member of the House Letters from the West informed of the Kings Forces quitting Totnesse and Plymouth and the Prince and Hopton flying into Cornwal that at Plympton they took seven pieces of Ordnance Arms and Provisions and many Prisoners and freed Plymouth of their Besiegers Sir Thomas Fairfax Besieged Dartmouth 19. Orders for Martial Law for the Garrisons of Henley Reading and Apsely Order for a new Election and for the letters taken in the Lord Digby's Coach at Sherburne to be printed Proceedings in the Church-business An Answer
present buying of Horses and Furniture for him as an earnest of the affections of the House to him Order for Pay for the Army 24. Information from the Commissioners in the Scots Army of their Warrant to bring in Provisions for the Scots and of some complaints against that Army The House approved of those Warrants of the Commissioners and took care for payment of the Country for the Provisions brought in by them Mr. Hunt the Serjeant at Arms being dead the House gave that place to Serjeant Birkhead for Life Debate at a Conference touching Martial Law in London and about the Letters from Newarke A Petition of the Merchants of New-Castle and Sunderland referred to the Committee of the Navy 26. Upon Letters from M. G. Brown Order for one thousand eight hundred pound of Sir John Borlace his Composition to be paid for the Garrison of Abbingdon and for other Money for them They continued M. G. Brown Governor of Abbingdon for three Months longer and dispensed with his attendance in the House as a Member Order for Money for the Garrison of Henley Several Ordinances touching the arrears of the Officers late under the Lord Fairfax and for digging of Salt-Peter Another Letter came from his Majesty about a Personal Treaty wherein he smartly answers the Letters of the Parliament last sent to him in all the particulars and concludes with his earnest desires of Peace and saith it is clear to him that there is no way but a Treaty or Conquest for a final ending of such distractions as afflict this Kingdom The latter he hopes none will have the impudence or impiety to wish for and for the former if his Personal assistance be not necessary let any reasonable man judge and earnestly presseth for an Answer The King sent a Warrant under his hand to the Heads of Houses in Oxford for the reading of Divine Service established by Law daily Morning and Evening and to fast on Fridays 27. Letters from Stafford informed that Captain Stone 's Troop of an hundred beat up the Lord Molineux's Quarters near Stafford routed three hundred of the Enemy took three Captains and other Officers about an hundred Horse and many Prisoners some slain and divers wounded Order for five hundred pound for Captain Stone for his Troop and fifty pound given to his Lieutenant Proceedings upon the propositions for Peace and seven Bills to be prepared to be forthwith sent to the King to which if he shall assent then they are willing he should come to London and treat about the other matters The Bills were 1. For setling Presbyterian Government and extirpating Episcopacy 2. For prosecuting the War against the Irish Rebels 3. For the Militia to remain in the power of the Parliament 4. For payment of the Debts of the Kingdom 5. For bringing Delinquents to punishment 6. That no Honours be given but to such as have testified their affections to the Publick 7. Concerning the Priviledges of London Sir Tho. Fairfax returned from Dartmouth to the blocking up of Exeter 28. The day of the Monthly Fast in the Evening the House met and heard a Report from the Committee of Plundred Ministers of the Blasphemies of one Paul Best who denied the Trinity of the God-head and the Deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost the House ordered him to be kept close Prisoner and an Ordinance to be brought in to punish him with Death 29. Consent to amendment of some mistakes in an Ordinance The House voted that some of the Members of the Committee of both Kingdoms had done their Duties in making known some intelligence from Paris and ordered them thanks for it The Lord Montague Col. White and Mr. Robert Goodwin ordered to go Commissioners into Scotland Orders for supply of the Army A Petition for Mr. Saltmarsh to be a Lecturer in Kent opposed by divers of the County countenanced by Col. Blunt and divers others of the Parliaments Friends The Parliament of Scotland executed divers of Montrosses Party The Siege of Newarke continued streight A Treaty was had about the surrender of Chester but nothing concluded Sir William Brereton drew out a Party to incounter the Irish of whose landing in Anglesey he had Intelligence Mr. Ed. Vaughan with a small party in Merioneth-shire fell upon a hundred of the Kings Forces who were Fortifying at Dolgethly took their Captaine eighteen Prisoners and divers Horse and Arms. 30. Reference to the Committee of both Kingdoms to prevent the Incursions from Oxford into Wilts and Hant shire Orders for allowance to Preaching Ministers and for Mr. Edward Clerke High Sheriff of Oxford shire to make his Residence at Reading Proceedings upon the Propositions for Peace Mr. Tilshead met the Party from Oxford in Wilts whereof he was High-Sheriff and took thirty of their Horse and many Prisoners Letters informed the taking of Pouldram Castle by Col. Hammond That they surrendred upon conditions that Greenvile was apprehended and carried prisoner to Oxford and that Hopton was made General of the West that many intercepted Letters were sent up to the Parliament That many Devonshire Gentlemen declared for the Parliament and Sir Tho. Fairfax gave a Commission to Mr. Vowell to be a Col. 31. Debate of a Report from the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall touching Compositions of Delinquents Another Letter came from the King wherein he presseth his coming to London for a personal Treaty offers the Militia to be setled in the hands of the Parliament for seven years and that the Parliament shall nominate Officers of State Judges c. that Religion shall be setled as in the days of Queen Elizabeth having regard still to tender Consciences And for Ireland and the other Propositions to grant what was offered at the Treaty of Uxbridge and disclames the Earl of Glamorgan's Commission by which he treated with the Irish as false and no Act of his Majestys This Letter was referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to be communicated to the Scots Commissioners and the Commons desired a conference with the Lords concerning the present sending of the seven Bills to his Majesty Vote that the Committee of both Kingdoms receive from the Lord L'isle his propositions touching Ireland Both Houses agreed upon the Ordinance touching Covent-Garden Order for the Countess of Winchester to go to her Husband where he is Prisoner Sir William Brereton intercepted a Letter from the Lord Byron to Oxford that if they had not relief by the last of January then of necessity they must surrender Chester February 1645. February 2. Debate about the Kings Letter A Conference at which the seven Bills were presented to the Lords for their Concurrence to be forthwith sent to the King Ordinance passed for Money for the Guards and other services in London Martial Law given to the Garrisons of Aylisbury and Newport Paganell Order that there should be no new motion in the House after twelve a Clock Letters informed that Sir Tho. Fairfax drawing towards Exeter the
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
volley of Shot The Parliaments Forlorn hope seeing the Dragoons ingaged gave fire whereupon the enemy gave fire all along the Hedges and Works and the reserve to the Forlorn Hope came up to relieve them and being so ingaged the whole Army advanced and about eight at night the Battle began about six fields from the Town and they fought from hedge to hedge till the enemy were beaten into their Barricado's Which they maintained for an hour after very resolutely and often times repulsed the Parliaments Forces yet at last they got over the Barricado's and forced the Enemy into the Town whereupon the Horse were let in who scowring the Streets were received by the enemy and a hot charge given by both Parties Yet at last the enemy was driven out of the Barricadoes at the farthest end of the Town and by this time many Prisoners were taken by the Parliaments Forces and put into the Church but far more escaped being dark over the hedges and by-ways throwing down their Arms and every man flying several ways The Parliaments Forces were no sooner possest of the Town but the enemies Magazine which they left in the Church was fired whether on purpose by them or by accident is uncertain but it proved a terrible blow blowing up the Church with all the Wood and Lead upon it deforming many Houses killed some of the Prisoners in the Church and some of the Parliament Soldiers in the Church-yard two great webs of Lead fell within twice a Horse length of the General many others were hurt with the stones timber and lead Most of the Town was shaken by this blow being the terriblest that hath been seen there being above eighty barrels of powder blown up together The enemy perceiving their Magazine thus on fire gave one Charge more with their Horse commanded by Sir John Digby but being fired upon by the Musquetiers they took their farewell the Parliament horse instantly advanced through the Town after them and began the pursuit about eleven at night The Infantry were taken slain and totally routed the Horse many taken and dispersed and the rest gone in great disorder towards Cornwall they had eight Regiments of Horse two thousand five hundred or three thousand men very resolute and fought valiantly and after they were chased from hedge to hedge defended their Barricadoes and Works at push of pike and the butt end of their Musquets They were old Cornish Foot many of the Parliaments Men were wounded Officers and Soldiers more than hath been at any Storm since the Army came forth The Parliaments first Word was Emmanuel God with us and a Furse-bush in their hats the Enemys Word was We are with You and a handkerchief tied about their right arm they having gotten the Word and Signal of the Parliaments Army they took a second Word which was Truth and a handkerchief or white mark in their Hats The particulars of this great Victory were not ready to be sent up with these Letters 20. Both Houses agreed upon several Votes for the chusing of Elders in the Church-Government The two Messengers that brought the news of the success of Torrington had forty pound for a gratuity A Passage at the Common Council of London referred to a Committee to be examined 21. Letters from Sir Tho. Fairfax informed the particulars of the great success at Torrington Six hundred Prisoners taken many of them of Quality Eighty of the Princes Life-guard Thirty of Hoptons Life-guard Three thousand Arms taken Hopton shot in the thigh Sir John Digby wounded in the head others of note wounded Divers of the enemy slain in the Fight and in the Church by firing the Magazine Eighty Barrells of Powder blown up in the Church done purposely and twenty pound given by the Enemy to one of their men to do it Twenty of the Parliaments Party slain in the Fight and at the firing of the Magazine and an hundred wounded All the Enemies Bag and Baggage and Provisions taken The Messenger had twenty pounds for a reward 23. A Gratuity of fifty pounds to the Messenger from Sir T. F. A day of thanksgiving appointed Debate about the business of the Navy and the Officers for the next Summers Fleet voted one by one Eight Colours were taken and brought in from Torrington-Battle one the Lord Hoptons with this Motto I will strive to serve my Soveraign King about a hundred of the Enemy slain Lord Hoptons Commission taken and Sir John Digby's and other Papers five hundred pound in the Lord Hoptons Quarters and much rich pillage Many of the Kings Party came in to Sir Thomas Fairfax who prepared to follow the broken Troops into Cornwall where they had in all but four hundred Foot Sir Tho. Fairfax blocked up Barnstable and took in the Earl of Bathes House neer it his Forces took two Ships with ten pieces of Ordnance and ten tun of Salt Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax to the Parliament desiring two Months pay for his Army that they may not take free Quarter in Cornwall and desires care may be taken that the Oxford Horse may not infest the Countries thereabouts whilst his Army was in the West The House made effectual Orders in these things and for recruits for the Army The Forces besieging Banbury were about three thousand and about three hundred in the Castle the Parliaments Forces Quartered in the Town and the Enemy made some Sallyes but were beaten back Col. Fleet-wood fell upon the Kings Quarters neer Wood-stock took fifty Horse and divers Prisoners 24. An Ordinance debated for discharging the Ward-ship of the Heirs Males of Sir Christopher Wray late a Member of the House according to a former Vote for discharging the Wardship of those who died in this War in the Parliaments Service Upon debate hereof the Original of Ward-ships and the misapplication of the intention of Ward-ships and the present oppression to the Families of Noble-men and Gentle-men by Ward-ships being opened to the House by Selden Maynard St John Whitelocke and other Lawyers the House passed a Vote That the Court of Wards it self and all Ward-ships Tenures Licenses for Alienation c. should be taken away and the Lords concurred therein The Ordinance for the Northern Association was continued Order for fifty thousand pound out of the Excise for Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army in Cornwall Articles for the Surrender of Ashbe de-la-zouch were sent up to the Parliament and a debate upon them whether the Estates of the Earl of Huntington Col. Hastings and Col. Perkins should be discharged of Sequestration which the House did agree unto Some of the Garrison of Newarke Sallied out and took twenty four of Captain Markhams men and horse in their Quarters Letters from Bristol informed that the Governor of Cardiffe for the Parliament Col. Prichard and Col. Leyton betook themselves to Cardiffe Castle and kept that with their Forces that the Vice-Admiral came and shot six pieces to the Castle to let them know that in that time
upon which the House revoked their last Order about the Muster and set a day for it and informed the Militia that both Houses would be present at it Order for the safe keeping and disposing of the Princess Henrietta and for all things fitting for her Person Order for a Declaration to take off Scandals and Jealousies of the Parliaments Proceedings Conferrence about the Votes touching the demand of the Kings Person and the Lords desired reparation about some words spoken by a Member of the House of Commons at the last conference touching this business The King was at Lumley House three miles from Newcastle Letters from the Leaguer before Oxford certified that a Treaty was begun about the surrender of Oxford 18. Progress in the business of the Church Ordinance passed for eight hundred pound per An. to Bishop Morton of Duresme A Petition from M. G. Massey put off The Commissioners of the Excise continued Pass'd in the afternoon by the Commons for Compositions of Delinquents near twenty Ordinances Intelligence came of the Kings coming into Newcastle but without any Solemnity and lay at G. Levens Quarters Proclamation made by G. Leven that no Papists or Delinquents be permitted to come to the King Upon a Letter from the English Commissioners another Proclamation that all do conform to the Orders and Ordinances of Parliament Gen. Leven forbids all compliance of his Officers and Soldiers with any Malignants The Estates of Scotland forbid any to go out of that Kingdom without a Pass 19. Reasons given in the House why Mr. Ashburnham could not be delivered up according to the order of Parliament and complaints of the Scots Forces quartering in York-shire Voted That this Kingdom had no farther need of the Army of their Brethren the Scots in this Kingdom and that a hundred thousand pound should be raised and paid to the Scots Army fifty thousand pound thereof after they shall have surrendred New-Castle Carlisle and other English Garrisons possessed by them and the other fifty thousand pound to be paid to them after their advance into the Kingdom of Scotland Order to desire the Scots Commissioners in London to give in the Accounts of their Army that the Arrears may be audited and paid Both Houses went into Hide Park to see the general Muster Hartlebury Castle was surrendred to Col. Morgan upon Articles 20. The Speaker ordered to give a Pass for six Horses for the Prince of Orange Supply of Ammunition for Garrisons Progress upon the propositions for Peace and to sit daily till it were finished Letters of the Surrender of Ludlow to Col. Birch and Col. Mackworth 21 Wholly spent about the business of the Church Letters informed that the Treaty went on for the surrender of Oxford 22. Col. Rich brought Letters to the House from the General giving an account of the demands for the surrender of Oxford which were very high and so esteemed by the House who writ a Letter of thanks to the General for his care and desired him to proceed in the business for the reducing of Oxford The Copy of the Instructions to the Commissioners from Oxford to treat about the surrender of it sent up 23. Order for the Serjeant at Arms to fetch up from New-Castle Mr. Hudson one of the Persons that conveyed the King into the Scots Army who was said to confess that his Majesty was near London upon the day that the General Muster should have been Progress in the business of the Church The Houses differed upon some amendments of an Ordinance for Ely House for the Serjeant at Arms. The Oxford Commissioners for the Treaty of Surrender insisted upon liberty to send to the King wherein Sir Tho. Fairfax would not resolve and in the mean time the Treaty was adjourned for two or three days yet both sides prepared for War great Guns came from Reading and they shot from the Garrison at those in the Leaguer but little hurt was done Col. Whaley coming before Worcester Col. Morgan drew farther off and the Garrison sallyed out upon Col. Whaley who beat them back and took eight Prisoners Captain Batten summoned Pendennis Castle to surrender to the Parliament 25. Order for the Princess Henrietta to be brought to St. Jameses and Provision to be made there for her answerable to her Quality and Richmont was appointed for the Prince his Residence if he shall come in A Letter from the King to both Houses expressed That his Majesty was not come into the Scots Army out of any intent to divide the Kingdoms in assection or prolong the War but to secure his Person and labour to compose the differences between him and his Kingdoms and settle all well He desired that Religion might be first insisted on and setled according to the advice of the Assembly of Divines of both Kingdoms For the Militia he was willing to concur with that propounded at Uxbridge For Ireland he will do what he can to satisfie desires of that kind That for surrender of the Garrisons in his hands he hath given order for Oxford to be surrendred and will do the like for the rest and is willing that all Forces may be disbanded and that the Debts of the Nation should be paid He sent another Letter to the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland Professing his Intention to settle Peace and give them satisfaction and that he hath written to all that have Commissions from him in Scotland to disband their Forces and to render their Garrisons and professeth his resolution to give all just satisfaction to the joynt desires of both Kingdoms and to comply with both Parliaments and for the expression of their loyal intentions towards him he returns them hearty thanks He acquaints them that he hath written to the Governor of Oxford to quit that Garrison upon honourable conditions and disband those Forces and that being granted he will give the like order to his other Garrisons and Forces he desires this Letter may be published with a proclamation in Scotland He also wrote another Letter to the City of London complementing them and acquainting them with his Letters to the Parliaments of both Kingdoms Ashburnham escaped from New-Castle before the Deputy of the Serjeant at Arms came thither for him and another Messenger was sent thither for Hudson 26. Debate about the Irish business and supplys thither and the Arrears of the Lord Inchequin and Lord Broghil A Remonstrance from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Council of London was presented to both Houses desiring a strict course for suppressing all private and seperate Congregations That all Anabaptists Hereticks and Sectaries c. as conformed not to the publick Discipline may be declared and proceeded against That all may be required to obey the Government setled or to be setled That none disaffected to the Presbyterian Government may be imployed in any place of publick Trust That the Propositions for Peace may be hastned That the Vnion may be preserved
consider what Garrisons are fit to be demolished 4. Progress upon the propositions for Peace and both Houses agreed to trust London with their own Militia Col. Rossiter was called into the House and had thanks for his good services The Treaty proceeded for the surrender of Oxford 5. The Ordinance past both House for the Church Government Ammunition ordered for the Forces at Monmouth and Money Divers Ordinances past the House of Commons for compositions of Delinquents 6. Order for the Commissioners of Excise to pay ten thousand pound a Month for the Northern Forces A Declaration ordered to be drawn of the misdemeanors Plundrings and Cruelties of the Scots Army and their refusal to surrender the English Garrisons and to undeceive the People â—ouching a Book of the Lieutenant of the Scots Army justifying their proceedings and to draw the affections of the English to the Scots Sir Robert King brought Letters from Ireland to the House one from the King to the Marquess of Ormond to be communicated in Ireland to this effect That his Majesty having sent many Messages and Propositions for Peace to the Parliament received either no answer or such as shews their intentions to ruine him and Monarchy it self and a refusal of what formerly themselves desired but to have That hereupon having received good security that he and all that would adhere to him should be safe in their Persons Honours and Consciences in the Scots Army who would joyn with the King and his Forces in procuring a happy Peace and his rights he resolved to put himself into that Army and to use the best means by conjunction of them with the Forces of the Marquess of Montross and his Friends in England and Ireland to endeavour the setling of a good Peace The Treaty proceeded for the surrender of Oxford the General had nineteen thousand five hundred men in his Army 8. Mr. Hudson one of the Kings guides to the Scots Army was discovered at Rochester coming to London and apprehended Papers from the Scots Commissioners here touching the Kings Letters to the Marquess of Ormond whereof they say they had no knowledge nor hand in it ordered to be considered at a set day Ordinance for a thousand pound a Month for the Garrison of Henley Bostall House was surrendrd to the Parliament upon Articles A Letter of thanks to the General and order for thanksgiving to God for the several late successes 9. Votes That the King in going to the Scots Army intended to prolong the War against the Parliament in England and to make a difference between the two Kingdoms That there should be a Declaration to set forth the Jealousies and fears and the grounds thereof this Kingdom had to be presented to the States of Scotland and their Commissioners here Order for the Execution of the Ordinance for Church-Government Letters intercepted going to Oxford to incourage them to hold out and that the King was in the Scots Army Recruits came out of Scotland to the Army at New-castle The Lord Byron surrendred Caernarvon Castle to Major General Mitton upon Articles Letters and Papers read of transactions between the Marquess of Worcester and the Committee of Monmouth and L. G. Morgan and his Lp. for the surrender of Ragland Castle which Morgan by command of Sir Thomas Fairfax summoned and the Marquess desired liberty to send to the King to know his Pleasure which Morgan denied alledging that the King was in the Army of the Scots our Friends who had proclaimed that none formerly in Arms against the Parliament should be admitted to any conference with him The Marquess resolved to stand it out to the uttermost 10. Order for Circuits to be gone and the Commissioners of the Seal to appoint Judges Messages between the two Houses about the reception of the Russia Embassador and about an house for him 11. Several Orders in private matters Col. Glyn voted to be Governor of Caernarvon Castle The Garrison of Bostall house marched out and left four Brass Pieces and one Iron Gun store of Provisions and Ammunition 12. A Ship was taken with Ammunition and Provisions for Pendennis Castle and divers Letters intercepted in her Some of the Sheriffs and Common Council of London came to the House gave them thanks for their unwearied labours and desired that in any act or propositions care might be taken of the Rights and Priviledges of the City and were answered that the House have been and ever will be tender of the Rights and Priviledges of the City Order concerning an honourable reception of the Russia Ambassador 13. The Russia Ambassador solemnly received and delivered his Message for Unity between the two Nations and concerning Trade The Judges were appointed in several Circuits and the Commissioners of the Seal ordered to issue forth Commissions and Warrants requisite for that purpose The Order for Church Government published and ordered to be put in Execution Two hundred Sallyed out of Farrington House fell upon the Guards but the Parliament Forces wounded their Commander Major Hen and took him Prisoner killed two Lieutenants and five others took four Horses forty brown bills and forced the rest into the House again and lost but four men 15. Letters from Ireland informed of a great defeat given to the Protestant Forces in Ireland by the Irish Rebels the House ordered several Supplys for those Forces and ordered five thousand Foot and fifteen hundred Horse to be provided for that Service Referred to the Committee of Ireland to dispose of the Forces under Major General Massey for the Irish Service and the rest to be disbanded the like for other Forces in several Counties Complaint of the Major and others of Derby against some of the Soldiers of that Garrison upon his commitment of four of them for Sheepstealing the House ordered those Forces to be disposed of for Ireland and that Garrison to be dismantled The Scots Forces in Vlster marched out of their Garrisons under Major General Monrow to fall upon the Rebels all of them were about five thousand Foot and eleven Troops of Horse they were informed that the Rebels had eight Regiments of Foot and twelve Troops of Horse compleatly armed but the Scots would not believe it nor valued it but the Brittish Forces marched after them The Rebells drew up in good order in a place of advantage and set divers Ambuscadoes the Brittish Horse drew up so near them that they were galled and retired their Ambuscadoes made the Protestants retire and after some hours hot dispute the Rebels prevailed near five hundred of the Protestants killed taken and routed five field pieces with all the Ammunition and Baggage lost and about five thousand Foot Arms and most of the Officers killed and taken The Lord Mont-gomery and Lord Blaney taken the Lord Conweys Son had two Horses killed yet mounted on a third and escaped many Horses lost and men wounded Letters from the King to both Houses of Parliament to the same effect
sent up to the Lords for payment of five hundred pound to Mr. Phips out of the Marquess of Wintons Estate for which Sir John Danvers was ingaged A Scotch Minister Preached boldly before the King at New-castle and after his Sermon called for the fifty second Psalm which begins Why dost thou Tyrant boast thy self thy wicked works to praise His Majesty thereupon stood up and called for the fifty sixth Psalm which begins Have Mercy Lord on me I pray for men would me devour The People waved the Ministers Psalm and sung that which the King called for 16. An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for disposing four thousand five hundred and fifty pounds Arrears of the Joynture of the Countess of Essex by reason of her delinquency Sir David Watkins called into the House denyed the words which Mr. Pennoyer justified to be spoken by him of Sir John Evelin and said he heard them from one Mr. Drake who was ordered to be sent for The two Speakers continued Commissioners for the great Seal twenty days longer Order for the Committee of Elections to sit and for reports every Monday from the Committee of Priviledges The Lords concurrence desired to the Treaty for the two hundred thousand pound and a hundred thousand pound of it sent away 17. Order for three thousand pound for the poor Widows c. Hostages agreed to the Scots for the two hundred thousaud pound Sir William Selby Mr. Dela Vale Sir Edward Loftus Sir Tho. Trollop Sir H. Mildmay and Sir William Browton Mr. Drake called in about speaking the words touching Sir Jo. Evelyn named one Dr. Aldwyn who said he heard it from a Member of the House referred to a Committee 18. To the Scots Paper desiring aid of this Kingdom against the Rebels in Scotland the House answered that that was no obstruction of their March or delivery up of the Garrisons which being done then the House would consider of that particular To that of charging the Countrey upon their March out of England was answered That they should take no money nor goods of the English Subjects but pay and discharge all their quarters and the form of their Receipts for the two hundred thousand pound was agreed upon The Committee of both houses ordered to meet about disposing the great Seal Sir Thomas Fairfax went towards Northampton to give order for the Convoy of the Scots Money and fifty thousand pound was carried thither for his Army 19. Order for two thousand pound for Sir Peter Killegrew for his Interest in Pendennis Castle and for a thousand pound for the burying of the Earl of Worcester and the Lord Dockra to be according to the Directory The Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council and many Citizens of London presented the Petition formerly mentioned first to the Lords who gave them thanks then to the Commons who after much debate gave them thanks for all their good Services and appointed a day to consider of the Petition and also the Petition of the Gentry of Durbam Another considerable party of the City were about a different Petition 31. Orders touching the payment of the second two hundred thousand pound to the Scots and that they should not take free quarter These to be Communicated to the Scots Commissioners The Earl of Stamford for the Lords and Mr. Ashhurst and Mr. Goodwin for the Commons named Commissioners to go into Scotland to satisfie the Parliament there of all proceedings and to prevent misunderstandings between the two Kingdoms and a Committee appointed to draw instructions for them Upon a Petition of many of Durham that the Scots Army may be removed and twenty five thousand six hundred sixty six pound paid due to them since 1641 and that they may send Knights and Burgesses to the Parliament the House gave this answer that they were sensible of the Countreys sufferings and had taken course to remove the Armies and concerning their electing Knights and Burgesses for the Parliament it was referred to a Committee Col. Hoskins voted to be Governor of Lynne Both Houses agreed to an Ordinance for maintaining of the water-guards And the Lords sent an Ordinance to the Commons that none be permitted to Preach or use publick Exercise but such as had taken Degrees in the Universities and another Ordinance against such as shall disturb the Ministers in their publick Exercises 22. The House agreed that Sir Rich. Lloyd Governor of Holt should have liberty to go beyond Sea and carry three hundred pound with him and his Wise to enjoy his Land being three hundred pound per An. and they voted that Holt Flint Harding Rotheland and Ruthen Castles should be slighted Sir William Listers Lady ordered to have six hundred and ten pound of her Husbands Arrears and two thousand pound to Col Carter and five hundred pound to Major General Skippon for his extraordinary charges in convoying the two hundred thousand pound The Lords sent their Vote to the Commons That the King should come to New-Market upon the Scots Army marching away Upon debate of the City Petition the House Voted first to insist upon the breach of Priviledge in the way of this Petition and then to consider of the particulars of the Petition and for that purpose referred it to a Committee The Earl of Northumberland acquainted the Lords that some persons had a Plot to steal away the Duke of York and to carry him beyond Sea and that by advice from his Majesty two that were in the Plot were apprehended and the rest escaped Mr. Hudson the Kings Guide to the Scots was taken again by Major General Pointz and his Examination sent up to the Parliament Some Proposals from the Lord L'isle Lieutenant of Ireland for supplyes and Moneys to carry on the War there and that he would go over thither in person 23. Letters from Ireland informed That proposals were received by the Marquess of Ormond from the Rebels That the Roman Catholick Religion may be free and publick as in Paris That the Garrisons may be in their hands All Counsellors Officers and Soldiers to take an Oath to fight against the Parliamenteers and never to make Peace with them The Scots Hostages given in A Letter directed to General Leven that no free quarter be taken by his Soldiers in their march for Scotland Order for Mr. Allen to provide a Jewel as a gift of the House for General Leven Order for five hundred pound for Mrs. Chichester and four pound per mensem for the Lady Denny Widows The Duke of York confessed that the King his Father sent to him to get away Great use was made of a Press at London to Print the Lord Chancellor of Scotlands Speeches the London Petition and other things at New-castle 24. The Commons dissented from the Vote of the Lords for the Kings coming to New-Market and voted his coming to Holmesby-House in Northampton shire and to be those with such Attendants as both Houses shall think sit
bayling of Sergeant Glanvile Order of the Lords against Counterfeiting and Clipping the Kings Coin 16. Ordinance Read for making Mr. Bradshaw Chief Justice of Chester Votes for Captains of Ships for the next Summers Guard for Packet Boats for Ireland and Convoys for Merchants Ships Votes That the Houses intend to carry on the War for Ireland with the Forces of England and the Scots Forces there to be called away paying what is due to them and the Scots Commissioners here and the Parliament of Scotland to be acquainted herewith Order to treat with the General and his Field Officers how the Forces designed out of that Army may be disposed of for Ireland and sixty thousand pounds Voted for Pay per Mens of the Forces there and in England 17. A Petition from the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of London Professing their Zeal to the Parliament and to the Covenant and their apprehensions of the advance of the Army not yet Disbanded nearer to the City and of a dangerous Petition now on Foot in the City the Copy whereof they annexed pray that the Army may be removed and Disbanded and the dangerous Petition suppressed and that they may yearly chuse their Militia The House answered them That most of the particulars in their Petition were under consideration and that the House would do what may be most for the ease safety and satisfaction fo the City and Kingdom that the annexed Petition was referred to a Committee and they had thanks for their sincere Affection Divers Governours of Garrisons Voted Fifty pounds a day allowed for the Kings Expences Collonel Jones Ordered by the Committee for Ireland to take Possession of Dublin with two thousand men 18. The Commons again Voted Sir John Brampston Sir Thomas Bedingfield and Mr. Chute to be Commissioners of the Seal The Lords Voted Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Warburton Mr. Keble and Mr. Littleton Mr. Powell and Mr. Clerke Mr. Lewis and Mr. Elkenhead to be Judges in Wales The House passed several Compositions of Delinquents 19. Report of the Counter-Petition in London and That the Committee had imprisoned one Tewleday an active man for that Petition Many excused him as being as lawful for those of one Judgment as of another to Petition the Parliament but it was carried in the House to approve of his Commitment and Mr. Tewleday was sent for in safe custody Order of both Houses to remove the Kings Children into the Country Orders for new Elections Some disturbance was in the Army about going into Ireland and for Petitioning the Parliament and Offence taken at the Essex Petition which reflected upon them but all was appeased and they promised not to Petition before they had acquainted their General therewith 20. The Ordinance Read for the Assessement of sixty thousand pounds per Mens for the Forces Order for the House to adjourn every Friday till Tuesday after Divers Citizens came to the House to avow the Petition complained of by the City Petition The Commissioners of the Great Seal continued for twenty days longer 22. The Ordinance for sixty thousand pounds per mens referred to a Grand Committee and the same proportions as formerly observed A Petition from the reduced Officers answered with a reproof for their giving directions to the Parliament Upon information of a great Riot in Moorfields and assaulting and Plundering the House of Mr. Hobbard a Justice because he Committed one for Tipling on the Lords day in Sermon time Both Houses past an Order for putting in due Execution the Laws for prevention of Riots and Tumults and for better observation of the Lords day and Fast days The Commons Voted that Mr. Hobbart should have reparation Sir Thomas Fairfax and his Field-Officers met with the Parliaments Commissioners at Saffron Walden about sending Eight thousand Foot and Four thousand Horse into Ireland the Officers as to a personal Engagement to go thither could then make no answer but agreed whether they go in person or not yet they shall endeavour to advance the Service among those under their respective Commands They desired satisfaction in Four Particulars 1. Vnder whose Command in chief they were to go 2. What particular Regiments Troops or Companies were to be continued in England 3. What assurance for Pay and subsistence for those that go to Ireland 4. Satisfaction in point of Arrears and Indemnity for past services A Petition was presented to these Officers from the Army to be by them presented to the General and by him if he thought fit to the Parliament upon these Heads 1. For indemnity for actions as Souldiers 2. For satisfaction of Arrears 3. That neither Horse nor Foot may be Pressed to serve 4. For relief of Widows and Maimed Souldiers 5. For Pay till disbanded 23. Mr. Bolton admitted one of the Assembly Mr. Cooke's Sequestration taken off The Ordinance recommitted for regulating the University of Oxford and the Ministers sent down thither to Preach Ordered to continue there and two hundred pounds allowed to them Order for Collonel Jones going for Dublin to have power of Martial Law A Pass for the Dutch Ambassadour to go to the King Debate upon the Ordinance of the Fleet and for Lambeth Library Votes touching Sequestrations The Parliaments Commissioners agreed with the Marquess of Ormond for the surrender of Dublin and other Forts in Ireland and returned to England with Hostages from the Marquess The Parliament of Scotland answered the English Commissioners That they could not render Belfast in Ireland whilst they had an Army there but upon Paying off their Arrears they will render Belfast and all they have in Possession The Jewel was presented to General Leven from the Parliament of England to whom the General wrote a Letter of thanks The Plague broke out in Edingburgh 24. Votes for Governours of Garrisons Anno 1647 Order of both Houses to free the States Ambassadors from Custom and Excise for things for his own use Orders that no private business be debated for ten days and for re-payment of Money to the Customers and for thanks to their Commissioners in Scotland The Lords gave Reasons to the Commons against the Armys quartering in the Association or near London 25. Votes for Governors of Garrisons Order for the Lord Herbert to have possession of his own Castle A Committee of both Houses to receive some intelligence which the Prince Elector desired to communicate to the Parliament of great concernment to the Protestant Religion Order that the Master and Wardens of the Stationers endeavour to find out the Authors and Printers of a Book called a warning piece c. to suppress it and to seize the Books 26. Order to bayl Mr. Tulida and his business referred to a Committee Votes for Governors of Garrisons Order for Money for Col. Birch who agreed to transport a thousand Foot and two Troops of Horse into Ireland A long report of what is paid and what in Arrears to the Army
sate not 5. The Houses sate not Letters from some in the Army informed that they were discontented at a Petition on foot in Essex against the Army That they might not be heard to Petition but Petitions against them were not suppressed That the Horse talked of drawing to a rendezvous to compose something for their vindication That the General was very industrious to keep them from disorders Letters from Scotland informed of good success by Major General Middleton against the Gourdons and that he had taken in the chief Fort of the Marquess Huntley 6. Orders for placing Ministers in Livings Letters from the Judges in the Norfolk Circuit of convicting one for Blasphemy Order for the Members of the House who serve for Essex and for Suffolk and for Norfolke to write into the Countrey for suppressing the Petition now on Foot there against the Army and to let the Inhabitants understand that the Parliament are upon a way so to dispose of the Army as may be best advantageous to the whole Kingdom The difference about the new Election at Newcastle referred to a Committee The Committee of both Houses propounded to the Common Council for the loan of two hundred thousand pound this security viz. the remainder of the Bishops Lands the Excise Delinquents Estates and the Ordinance for sixty thousand pound a Month or any other security in the power of the Parliament to give the Common Council appointed a Committee to consider of their answer to these Proposals Several Forces dispatched for Ireland For Dublyn divers Irish Rebels went out of that City and others were turned out by the Marquess Ormond Mr. Ashurst was careful in sending Forces and Supplys thither The Rebels were raising a great Army for Vlster 7. Reference to the Committee of Ireland to consider of the Exchange of some Scots Lords taken Prisoners in Ireland Scots Papers read about Belfast and calling home all their Forces upon payment of their Arrears Letters from Ireland from the Lord L'Isle Debate upon the Ordinance for sixty thousand pound a Month. A Clause offered to exempt the Universities Hospitals and Schools from the payment of it referred to a Committee Another Clause for abating all Counties the free Quarter in paying the Assessment was agreed unto Power to the Committee of Ireland to secure the Horses and Arms of such as shall not be listed for Ireland and to transport those that are designed thither The Lords desire the Commons concurrence to take off the Sequestration of the Duke of Bucks 8. Vote for Col. Jones to be Governor of Dublyn and to approve several contracts for supplys for Ireland and that Col. Sidney be considered for his good Service An addition of both Houses to the Committee for Ireland Votes to continue the Regiments of Horse of Sir Thomas Fairfax of Lieutenant General Cromwell of Col. Rossiter and Col. Whaley and Col. Needham and that Major General Mitton shall have an hundred Horse and an hundred Dragoons for North-Wales and Major General Laugherne the like for South Wales Letters from the Commissioners at Holmeby informed That notwithstanding all their care to prevent delivering of Papers to his Majestie yet one Col. Bosvill formerly of the Kings Party in the disguise of a Countrey mans habit as the King and the Commissioners were passing over a narrow Bridge put a packet of Letters into the Kings hand the Commissioners apprehended him and he confessed the Letters came from France and sent up his Examinations Order that Col. Bosvile be sent up as a Delinquent and a Letter of thanks to the Commissioners for their care and to desire the continuance of it 9. Order for greater pay for the Officers that go for Ireland than for those that continue here and to have Land in Ireland for that part that is respited upon the publick Faith and a Committee to draw up an Establishment of pay for the Forces there and in England Power to the Committee to grant Commissions to the Officers for Ireland to draw the Forces into Regiments and to take care to transport them Order to proceed a fortnight hence in the business in the Church for fourteen days together and no private business to intervene and the Assembly to examine such as are recommended to Livings Reasons given by the Lords at a Conference for taking away of Country Committees The present Commissioners of the great Seal continued for twenty days longer 10. The House sate not 12. Letters from Holmeby certified That when Bosvile delivered the Letters to the King no man perceived it but a Miller that stood by and he espying it cryed out Nobles and Gentlemen there is a man gave his Majesty Letters That Bosvile offered Gold to the Miller to be silent but he would not take it Bosvile got away and the Miller told some of it that attended the King and they rode after Bosvile and brought him back who being examined confessed he brought the Letters from Paris from the Queen That he was told the Letters contained a desire of the Prince to go into the War with the Duke of Orleans this Summer in point of Honour That the King being desired to make known the Contents of the Letters answered he was not to give an account to any man living That Bosvile was sending up to the Parliament 13. Votes touching Pay for the Forces to go into Ireland The Committee of both Houses sent down again to the Army to make further Propositions to the Forces that are to go for Ireland An Establishment agreed by the Commons for the Forces in both Kingdoms The Impost of five shillings per Chaldron upon Coals taken off and Vote That those who adventured mony for the reducing of Newcastle be repaid by Goldsmiths Hall Letters from the Lord L'Isle Lord Lieutenant of Ireland expressing his readyness to serve the Parliament and willingness to return if they think fit Letters Propositions and a Charge against a person in Ireland referred to the Committee for Ireland Unruliness of some of the Souldiers going for Ireland referred to that Committee A Citizen came and rendered himself Prisoner to the Sergeant at Arms saying He had a dangerous Plot to discover against the Parliament and Westminster which he had imparted to Mr. Marshal and Captain White The Lords concurrence desired to the Votes concerning Ireland and other Votes The Souldiers in North-Wales mutinyed for mony kept some of the Committee-men Prisoners in Wrexham Church and say they will have mony before Disbanding Letters from Ireland informed That the Lord L'Isle was ready to take the Field and to do all the service they should enable to do for the Parliament The Scots prevailed against the Gourdons Letters from Ireland informed That about sixty Men Women and Children that were stripped by the Rebels in Kerry coming from thence into the Protestant Quarters were taken and thrown into a deep rocky Cave and impossible to get out some with broken Arms Legs and other Limbs and most
from Ireland of the delivery of Caterlogh upon Quarter to the Rebels and their preparations to besiege other Garrisons Letters from the Army informed that the Soldiers had chosen Committees out of every Troop and Company to confer about the matters communicated to them from the Parliament That the Committees of Horse and Foot two out of every Troop and Company met and returned That there was no distemper in the Army but many grievances whereof they complained and desired the General Officers to draw up into a Form the Particulars as the sence of the Officers and Soldiers of the Army which was done and delivered by them to the field Martial Skippon and the rest sent down to them to be presented to the Parliament 17. From Ireland informed of the taking Dungarnon Castle and other Garrisons from the Rebels by the Lord Inchequin's Forces and that twenty English taken there who had revolted from the Parliament were hanged That the Lord Digby riding forth without a Pass hardly escaped from some of the new English Forces who were upon the Guards and cryed stop the Traitor Digby That the Bishop of Downe Preached That any Power ought to be obeyed and explained himself that the War in England was a wicked Rebellion and he intended no other obedience than as to thieves and Rebels 18. A Letter read from the King to both Houses wherein he gives answers to the Propositions to some he consents in the whole to others in part others he denys and gives his reason He consents that the Presbyterian Government be setled for three years and to ratify the Assembly of Divines propounding a certain number of his own Ministers to be added to them to consider what Government to settle after the three years and in the mean time he and his house-hold to be free to use the Common Prayer Book The Militia he yields to for ten years and afterwards to return to him the Covenant he is not satisfied in but would have some of his own Ministers sent to him to satisfie his Scruples That he will confirm the great Seal and all done by it and for the future he to have it as formerly He grants what is desired for the City of London speaks in behalf of his Party promiseth to recall the Prince and desires to come to London the better to satisfie the Parliament To the seventh and eighth Proposition he assents and to the ninth upon satisfaction about the Penalties To the tenth for an Act against Papists he consents and propounds a general Act of Oblivion and Pardon to all on both parts The Lords desired the concurrence of the Commons to an Ordinance against clipping of Money Votes that all Forces not subscribing for the service of Ireland shall be disbanded except those for Garrisons That the General be forthwith to repaire to the Army if his health permit That the Commissioners in the Army send up any one or two Officers of their Company to give an account to the Parliament only Skippon to remain in the Army Orders for a Train of Artillery to be sent to the Lord Inchequin and a Letter of thanks to him and for supplys to Ireland The whole day spent in debate upon the confession of Faith Order about four hundred pound for Col. Mainwaring The list of Ships for this Summers Expedition passed 20. Several Compositions passed Many Citizens presented a Petition in prosecution of their former Petition and Mr. William Brown one of the Petitioners at the door said that they had waited many days for an answer and would wait no longer but take another course Upon which being attested to the House Brown was brought to the Bar on his knee as a Delinquent they being satisfied that he spake those words and further that when a Member of the House who heard him took his name Brown said time may come when I may take your name The House were sensible that it was fit for them to be more than formerly quick upon these occasions and therefore voted 1. That the Petition was an high breach of Priviledge 2. That it was Seditious 3. That this Petition and the former should be burnt in London The Petitioners were called in and told what a Sence the House had of this and the former Petition and did conceive that the Petitioners did not do it out of any disaffection to the Parliament but as being misled by others and wished them to be careful in not agitating in Petitions of that nature for the future Vote for one Kelsey to be Governor of an Hospital in Southampton The Lords desired the Commons concurrence in a congratulatory Letter to the Arch-Duke of Leopold In Flanders and for setling a correspondence there The Lords Voted that the King should come to Oatlands The Provincial Synod of London sate Sir Thomas Fairfax went to the Army 21. Both Houses pass'd the Ordinance for indemnity for all things done by Sea and Land during the late Troubles and Wars The Commons concurred with the Lords that Sir Peter Killegrew go with a congratulatory Letter from both Houses to the Arch-Duke Leopold Order a Writing in the hands of a Member of the House be delivered to Mr. Brown Clerk of the Parliament that he may examine a forgery of his name to an Act of Parliament A Petition from Northampton-shire of the pressures there appointed to be considered and the Petitioners had thanks Some of the Commissioners came from the Army and reported their proceedings to the House and the desires of the Army the Commissioners ordered all of them to have thanks for their good service and pains and upon debate of the particulars of the report the House Voted 1. That the Soldiers Arrears should be speedily audited and a visible Security given them for so much as shall not be paid off upon disbanding 2. That by Ordinance the Declaration of both Houses be made good for Apprentices to have their time allowed them that they have served in the Wars for the Parliament 3. That an Ordinance be for not Pressing such 〈◊〉 as have voluntarily served in the Wars for any Service beyond Seas 4. That an Ordinance be pass'd to provide for Widows maimed Soldiers and Orphans Touching the vindication of the Army about the aspersion of their sending to the King and concerning the Declaration against them and the imprisonment of some of their Members a day was set for further debate of it 22. The House sate not but Committees The City Petition was burnt at Westminster and the Exchange Intelligence came from the Army that they rejoyced at their General 's coming to them and were all in good order A Letter from Mr. Ashburnham to the King intercepted and unciphered advising him to forbear to make any absolute agreement with the Parliament for now that the Peace beyond Sea was almost concluded the King might rely upon the aid of forty or fifty thousand men 24. The House sate not Intelligence came
them that they might not be burdensom to the Countrey The Houses approved the Letter to be sent from the City to the Army they sate late this night and ordered to sit again to morrow though Sunday 13. After the Evening Sermon the House sate and had a Letter from their Commissioners at St. Albans That Sir Tho. Widdrington and Col. White had acquainted the General with the additional instructions 14. Both Houses named a Committee to draw up a Declaration what they had done and intended to do for the ease of the People and for the Soldiery and for settlement of Peace and that a Committee was appointed to consider what place is fit for the King to come unto for the applications of both Kingdoms to be made to him for setling Peace Upon a Petition of divers Officers Order for a Declaration that hereafter none should presume on pain of Death to meet in a tumultuous way as they had lately done and the Militia to send a considerable Guard to the House Captain Falconbridge and Captain White ordered to bring the trained bands of Westminster for guards to the House A Committee of both Houses to draw a Declaration what the Army hath demanded and what the Houses have offered The Commons being informed that divers of the Parliaments old Officers and Soldiers were in the Hall and Palace they sent to them to withdraw Letters from Ireland that some of the Rebels were returned out of Scotland into Vlster That the Parliaments Commissioners and Col. Jones with some Forces were landed at Dublyn That the Lord Inchequin sent a Party to surprize some Castle near Waterford the Rebels Sallied out and were beaten back about a hundred of them slain and wounded many Prisoners and much Cattle taken 15. Order of both Houses that the General be required to deliver the Person of the King to such Persons as both Houses shall appoint to be placed at Richmond under such manner as they shall think fit to the intent that the Propositions agreed upon by both Kingdoms may be speedily presented to his Majesty for the setling a safe and well grounded Peace That the Persons to whom the King shall be delivered shall be the Commissioners now with him or any three of them That the Guards to receive Orders from the Commissioners shall be Col. Rossiter and his Regiment Order for Col. Birch to have the publique Faith for four thousand nine hundred pound upon his Accounts Officers whose accounts are not stated to have one months pay for Subsistence Order for the Committee of Indemnity to discharge those that are or shall be under restraint for any thing done tempore loco belli A Months Pay to Col. Graves his Forces Letters from the Commissioners in the Army informed that the Votes concerning those that would come away from the Army did much distast them The Results from the Army were 1. The Heads of a Charge against divers Members of the House of Commons which they delivered in to be speeded by the Parliament and when they should be admitted would appoint fit Persons on their and the Kingdoms behalf to prosecute and make good the same 2. If the Parliament shall admit these things at the desire of the Army and proceed for a general satisfaction therein then they desire 1. That the Persons Impeached may be suspended else they can expect no good issue if the same persons who have appeared most active in the late proceedings to the prejudice and provocation of the Army and hazarding the Peace of the Kingdom shall continue in the same Power and Judges of these things 2. For a Months Pay and a resolution thereupon in two days 3. That those of the Army may have as much Pay as they who have ingaged for Ireland or come away from the Army 4. That none who have so deserted the Army may have any more Pay till the rest of the Army be first satisfied in their Arrears 5. That during the transactions of this business the Parliament would not suffer as some have designed any new Forces to be raised in this Kingdom or to be brought out of any other Kingdom hither or any thing else to be done that may carry the Face of a new War or may indanger the settlement of the Liberties and Peace of this Kingdom 6. That the Parliament would be pleased without any delay to put these things into a speedy way of resolution and dispatch the present condition of the Kingdom and Army and of the King not admitting delayes 16. A Charge came to the Houses from Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Officers and Soldiers of the Army against eleven Members of the House of Commons whereby they are charged with obstructing the business of Ireland to have been Actors against the Army and against the laws and Liberties of the Subject and Obstructors of Justice The Members Charged were Denzill Hollis Esquire Sir Philip Stapleton Sir William Lewis Sir John Clot-worthy Sir William Waller Sr. Jo. Maynard M. G. Massey Mr. Recorder Glyn Col. Walter Long Col. Edward Harley and Mr. Anthony Nichols After reading of the Charge the Members severally made some defence thereunto and desired it might be put into a speedy way of tryal A Declaration of the Army was sent from the Commissioners vindicating their proceedings and their desires for the setling and securing their own and the Kingdoms common rest freedom peace and safety The Commissioners of the City returned from the Army with expressions of Love and the Common Council voted to send a Letter to the Army with leave from the Houses that according to their desire no Forces shall be raised against them and that they will move the Parliament for Money to pay the Army and that they may withdraw further from the City The Army further desired of the Parliament 1. That the Houses may be speedily purged of such as ought not to sit there 2. That those persons who have abused the Parliament and Army and indangered the Kingdom may speedily be disabled from doing the like 3. That some time may be set for the continuance of this and future Parliaments and new Elections made successively according to the Bill for Triennial Parliaments 4. That Provision be made that future Parliaments may not be dissolved at the Kings pleasure without their consent but continue the set time 5. That the right of the People to represent to the Parliament their grievances by Petition may be vindicated 6. That the large Powers given to Committees or deputy Lieutenants during the War as appear not necessary to be continued may be taken away and such as are necessary may be put into a regulated way and left to as little Arbitrariness as the nature and necessity thereof will bear 7. They wish that the Kingdom may be righted and satisfied in point of Accounts and other things wherein the Common-wealth may be conceived to have been wronged 8. That publick Justice being satisfied by some few Examples
of the worst of excepted Persons some course may be taken by a general Act of Oblivion or otherwise whereby the seeds of future War or Fears may be taken away In these Declarations and transactions of the Army Col. Ireton was chiefly imployed or took upon him the business of the Pen. And having been bred in the middle Temple and learned some grounds of the Law of England and being of a working and laborious Brain and Fancy he set himself much upon these businesses and was therein encouraged and assisted by Lieutenant General Cromwell his Father in Law and by Col. Lambert who had likewise studied in the Inns of Court and was of a subtle and working brain An Account was given by the Commissioners of the City of their transactions with the Army and was approved by the House A Petition was presented to the General in the name of Bucks men subscribed by a thousand hands extolling the merits and atchievements of the General and Army and expressing their readiness to joyn with them to bring to just Censures any that should endeavor to make them odious to the Parliament or Kingdom Both Houses ordered That the several Orders made by the Committee of Safety for the Listing and drawing together of any Forces of Counties shall be void and also the Order for Col. Dalbier and others to bring in a list of such Gentlemen and Reformadoes as are willing to ingage in the Parliaments Service 17. Orders for securing of Arms and Ammunition and for a Pass for the Lord Lotherdale and other Scots to go the King and for a Months pay for the Army in part of the three months pay for disbanding or ingaging for Ireland Orders for a Letter to the General to require him to retreat with his Army forty miles from London and another to the Commissioners in the Army to acquaint them with the votes for a Months pay Upon Letters from Col. Blunt of the misdemeanors of Sir Robert Pyes Troopers in Kent the examination thereof and the easing of the County of Kent referred to a Committee An Ordinance pass'd for indemnity of the Forces that deserted the Army Order for a Months pay for Col. Rossiters Regiment and for the Forces of Tinmouth and Newcastle A Petition from Hartfordshire subscribed with twelve hundred hands and presented by two hundred Knights and Gentlemen to the General much to the same effect as the former from Essex Bucks c. and that Malignants might not be elected Members of Parliament nor put in any places of trust and that the Parliament and others who had received any of the Parliaments Money might be called to account 18. Orders for issuing Money for Soldiers and for Guards for the Treasurers The Letter from the Common-Council of London to the Army now brought to the House was not approved of 19. A second Letter from the Common-Council to Sir Thomas Fairfax was brought to the House for their approbation and after a long debate the House left the Common-Council to themselves to write what Letter they thought fit to the General and they sent one to the General and his Officers The Commissioners attending the King sent to Sir Thomas Fairfax to know his Answer to the Votes concerning the disposal of the Kings person to Richmond The Lord Mayor with the advice of the Aldermen and Common-Council published a command for all the Trained-Bands and Auxiliaries to appear at their Colours taking notice of their former backwardness for suppressing of tumults and unlawful Assemblies in the City It was strange to see how several Counties and the Citizens of London began to make all their applications to the General and Army omitting the Parliament and all looked upon the Army in the chief place and were affraid of doing any thing contrary to them Mr. Peters went to the King to New-Market and had much discourse with him 21. Letters from Major General Laugherne of an Insurrection in Wales who declared themselves for the King and Sir Thomas Fairfax and the Major General went to suppress them Letters from Major General Pointz for Commission to stop the mutinying of the Soldiers and for Pay for them Sir Peter Killegrew sent with Letters to the Commissiones attending the King and to the King with the Votes for his removing to Richmond Votes Passed upon the representation of the Army 1. That no Person that hath been in actual War against the Parliament or acted in the Commission of Array or voluntarily aided the King or received Pardon from him shall presume to sit in the House 2. That if they do sit they shall incur the displeasure of the House 3. That the Committee for examining such cases be revived 4. That a Declaration be brought in for any who have any charge against any Member of the House to come in 5. That the Committee bring in by a day such charges as are already before them against by any Members 6. That the Report of Elections be brought in by a short day Orders for Pay of the Soldiers Divers Censures pass'd upon the Parliament for their Cow Votes and resolution to comply with a Mutinous Army who had their Pay and Power from them Others approved them as prudent respecting the time and to avoid blood Some wished the first Votes and severe prosecuting the business of disbanding had been declined which occasioned this trouble Cromwell began now to mount still higher and carried his business with great subtilty An Impeachment was against his Enemies in Parliament and business of the Army guided by his Son in Law Ireton and others under Cromwell Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax of his submission to the Votes of Parliament for the Kings going to Richmond and the House ordered the house to be prepared for him The Agitators of the Army sent to the Trinity-House concerning the Navy Ordered that Sir Robert Pye's Troop do not return to the Army without leave of the Parliament Sir Thomas Fairfax published a Proclamation that no Soldier of his Army molest any Countrey men or others or abuse any in their Quarters or Marches 22. Letters from the General and Commissioners in the Army of the receipt of the Parliaments Votes and the Moneths Pay and that shortly there would be a Council of War about them and then would be returned a positive and no doubt a satisfactory answer Order for proceedings against Judge Jenkins and Mr. Sollicitor St. John Sergeant Jermyn Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Prynne to prosecute him Order for a Months Pay for the Forces of the Northern Association and for Major General Pointz to secure such as disturb his Forces and to quiet his Regiments Order to put out the Justices of Peace as were of the Insurrection in Wales and the Letters of Major General Laugherne to be sent to the G. desiring him to take care for quieting those distempers about which the General sent to them and for supplyes for Laughernes Forces The Ordinance pass'd for
raising sixty thousand pound a Month for maintenace of the Forces in this Kingdom and for the service of Ireland and the lessening of the former assessment gave some content to the People 23. Col. Birch stopped by the Guards was discharged by the General Debate about the Charge of the Army against the eleven Members and a Letter sent to the General that what shall be particularly charged against their Members with Testimony and Witnesses shall be received and the House proceed in a legal way therein The third proposition of the representation of the Army upon the question resolved not to be debated and the fourth and a day set to debate the fifth Proposition The City Commissioners returned with Letters from the General further to satisfie the City of his real intentions towards them 24. The Common Council acquainted the House with a Remonstrance and a Letter sent from the General and the Army and in prosecution thereof they desired 1. That they may have further leave to send some of their Members to the Army to hold a good correspondence with the Army which after debate the House agreed 2. That all forces listed by the Committee of Safety or Militia may be discharged which was also hardly consented to 3. That the discontented and reduced Officers and Souldiers may be put out of the Lines of Communication to which was answered That they had put it in such a way as in their judgments they thought fit The Remonstrance of the Army was 1. That the Declaration inviting men to desert the Army be recalled 2. That the Army may be paid up equally to the deserters 3. That His Majesties coming to Richmond may be suspended until Affairs be better settled and no place appointed for his Residence nearer London then the Parliament will allow the Quarters of the Army to be 4. That the Members charged may be forthwith suspended the House 5. That those who have deserted the Army may be disperst and receive no more of their Arrears till the Army be first satisfied 6. That the Parliament and City may be freed from the multitudes of Reformadoes and Souldiers 7. That all Listings and Raisings of new forces and preparations towards a new War may be declared against and supprest The Lords desired the Commons consent to a Letter to the King That by reason of some late accidents they humbly entreated his Majesty either to stay at Royston or Theobalds or to return to New-market to which the Commons agreed 25. Debate of the Charge of the Eleven Members and Voted That by the Law no judgment can be given to suspend those Members from Sitting in the House upon the Papers presented from the Army before the particulars be produced and proofs made and that it doth not appear that any thing hath been said or done in the House by any of those Members touching any Matters in the Papers sent from the Army for which the House can in Justice suspend them Order for pulling down the new Excise-House in Smithfield to which work many people gladly resorted and carryed away the Materials The Head Quarters of the Army removed from St. Albans to Berkamstead the King was unwilling to return to Newmarket but stayed at Royston Power given to the Parliaments Commissioners to confer with the Commissioners of the City in the Army and Order for the Militia of London to send four Companies for the Guard of the Parliament 26. Letters from the Commissioners in the Army and from the General of the Grounds of the Armies advance nearer London Not to awe the Parliament or be a terror to them or the City and renewed their desires That the Members charged by them may be suspended the House and then they will give in a more particular Charge with the Proofs to make it good Letters from the General and his Officers to the City assuring them That they will keep their promise to them and intend not in their near approach any prejudice to the City That they tender their peace and welfare equal with their own and their aims are only to obtain a firm Peace and not a new War The Head Quarters came to Vxbridg and resolved not to march nearer London The King was at Hatfield Upon debate of a message from the eleven Members Charged by the Army the House at last agreed to it and they all left the House Mr. Hollis Sir Phil. Stapleton and Mr. Long went together in a Ship to France where that Gallant English Gentleman Sir Phil. Stapleton fell sick at Sea and grew more sick on Shoar at Callis and within two or three days dyed there as some suspected of the Plague Others of the eleven Members went to other parts and some of them retired into their Countries and there lived privately Mr. Hollis continued divers years after in Britany in France Letters from the Commissioners in the Army about their additional Powers Orders touching the Arrears of Listed Officers out of the twenty five thousand pounds The Ordinance past the Commons for relaxation of Schollars and Apprentices Letters from Vxbridge informed That Dr. Hammond and Dr. Shelden were come to the King to Hatfield That the Councel of War Sat all night at Vxbridge and recalled some of their Regiments who had Quarters nearer London 28. Upon Letters from the Commissioners with the King the House Ordered That they do remove the Duke of Richmond Dr. Shelden Dr. Hammond and all others who ought not to come to the King according to their instructions and that a Letter be sent to the General to give Order that the Guards attending His Majesty observe the Commands of the Commissioners in relation to their Instructions and in keeping Malignants from the King Letters from the Army to this effect That as to the Vote That for any thing done by the eleven Members in the House they could not in justice suspend them Though they doubted not but if it might be done without breach of Priviledg they could prove such proceedings and practises of theirs in the House that they ought to be suspended yet they were so tender of the Priviledges of Parliament that at present they would forbear to press any further upon that point To the Vote That by the Law no judgment can be given to suspend those Members upon the Papers from the Army till particulars produced and proofs made Though reasons may be given and precedents of this Parliament produced to the contrary as in Cases of the Earl of Strafford the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Lord Finch yet considering the proceedings thereupon will take up much time and the present unsettled affairs will require a speedy consideration they are willing that the greater and more general matters be first settled and will forbear giving in the particulars unless required Whereas they understand that the Members Charged by them desired leave to withdraw themselves from the House they take notice of the modesty thereof and
General set forth a Proclamation forbidding any abuse or obstruction to the Parliaments Officers in Levying the Excise or Assessments The King went to Windsor for two or three days to see his Children 3. Letters of an high Mutiny of the Souldiers in Chester Order for mony for them and to lessen the Garrison A Petition of one Goodwyn a Curate who gave uncivil words to divers Members of the House for an answer of his Petition Resolved That the Petitioner hath no cause of complaint but deserves punishment for his scandalous Petition Orders for pay for the Nothern Association and for Dover Upon the Prince Electors desire it was left to his pleasure to visit the King if he thought fit The Treaty proceeded in the Army and they removed their Head Quarters to Reading the King returned from Windsor to Causham the Lord Cravens House near Reading Several Members did not attend the House so frequently as heretofore seeing the designs put upon them by the Army and the City and Tumultuous Petitions 5. Vote to add a penalty to such as sit in the House not being duly chosen and that none who have assisted the King in the late War or the Cessation or Rebellion in Ireland or that have been sequestred for Delinquency shall sit in the Parliament Orders touching New Elections Upon a Petition of the Trinity House Order That Dr. Clerk shall be Judg Advocate and an Ordinance to give further power to the Trinity House Goodwyn the Curate for his insolency and revilings committed to Newgate Votes of the Lords to leave out of the first qualification of excepted persons Prince Rupert and Maurice and others The Treaty went on fairly and methodically between the Parliaments Commissioners and the Commissioners of the Army A Proclamation by the General That his Souldiers shall not take Horses without Warrant nor compel any where they Quarter to give them mony and he granted Commissions to every Regiment for Marshal-Law 6. Orders for the House to sit early and for sitting of the Committees and for Money for the Army and for dismantling of Carrisons according to former votes and for Money for Ireland Col. Scroop and other Officers presented to the House the particular Charge of the Army against the eleven Members who were sent for such as could be found and the Charge read unto them 7. The last day of the Term the House adjourned the Speakers being to sit in Chancery Mr. Bellieur the French Ambassador was received by the King at Causham The first part of the Charge of the Army against Mr. Hollis was the former business of the Lord Savile 8. A List agreed for Judges to ride this Summers Circuit and order for instructions for them The Militia of London desired new powers and Money from the House part whereof was assented to and orders given them for the guards of the House The House committed some Soldiers for assaulting the Person and House of Mr. Pury one of their Members The Charge against the eleven Members put off 9. Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax full of respect towards the King and taking notice of some reports as if he and his Officers were upon some under-hand contract with the King and so to slander their integrities and endeavour a misunderstanding betwixt the Parliament and their Army which their Enemies would fain effect to hinder the settlement of the Peoples Rights but a good accord between them is their design to preserve He declares that they have not done nor shall do any thing which they desire to hide from the Parliament and the World and shall not avow to the faces of their Adversaries their desires to settle the Kings Rights he first giving his concurrence to secure the rights of the Kingdom they have already declared publickly That since their Papers sent in to the Parliament several Officers were sent to the King to satisfie him concerning those Papers and some others sent to him about his removes in which Addresses they bargained not nor asked any thing of the King as to any private interest of their own But they endeavoured only the settlement of the publick Peace and rights of the Nation and assured the King that this being done with his concurrence the rights of his Majesty and his Family should be provided for and in the mean time his Majesty should find from them all personal civilities and respects and such freedom as may stand with safety and the trust lying upon them That they are no enemies to Monarchy and Civil Government that upon his Majesties importunity though with some reluctancy they did give way for the Duke of Richmond and the two Chaplains to come to his Majesty as that which they thought reasonable and Just and to make the King less prejudiced against others That they conceived to avoid all harshnesses and afford all kindnesses to his Majesty consisting with the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom is the most Christian Honourable and Prudent way and that tender equitable and moderate dealing towards his Majesty his Family and Party is the most hopeful course to take away the seeds of War and feuds amongst us and our Posterity and to procure a lasting Peace And that being setled with the Rights and Liberties of the Nation and propagation of the Gospel of Truth and they honoured to be instrumental therein they shall be willing to be dismist and be happy to be discharged not only from Military imployments but from all matters of Power whatsoever In the like Letter to the House of Lords was a Letter from the King to his Son the Duke of York Both Houses pass'd an Ordinance for all Papists and Delinquents to depart the Lines of Communication The House appointed a Committee to examine an Information concerning Listing of men in London An Ordinance for Money for the Army and Votes against Members sitting in the House not being duly Elected and qualified 10. Both Houses passd an Ordinance for disbanding Soldiers and their departing out of London Votes of the House against tumultuous meetings in the City and to give power to the Militia to prevent them and to punish the Offenders The Sheriffs and some of the Common-Council acquainted the House with Letters they received from the Army touching the proceedings in the Treaty for which the House gave them thanks Debate fore-noon and after-noon upon the Charge against the eleven Members but nothing concluded thereupon Two thousand pound ordered to Col. Massey in part of his Arrears 12. Upon long debate of the Charge of the Army against the eleven Members the House voted it to be aCharge and gave a weeks time for the Members to bring in their Answers Mr. Chute Mr. Glover Mr. Pryn and Mr. Hales to be of Council for them The Lords desired the Commons Concurrence upon a Letter from the King to his Son the Duke of York that the Kings Children might go to see him Sir Thomas Fairfax wrote
King came to Sion and dined with his Children and removed to Hampton Court News of the Sudden death of Sir Philip Stapleton at Callis of the Plague 25. The Monthly Fast-day 26. Orders for a new Election and about the Excise and an Ordinance pass'd to make Mr. Langley Master of Pembroke Colledge in Oxford Referred to a Committee to consider what is fit to be done for the security of the Parliament when the Army shall withdraw A Petition of many Citizens in behalf of Lilburne referred to the Committee where Mr. Martin had the Chair Order to put off all private business for ten days In respect of the danger of infection the General was desired to give command to the Guards attending the House to keep the passages from Clamorous Women and to suffer none to disturb the House 27. The alterations in the Propositions for peace sent from the Lords to the Commons were with some other alterations made by the Commons agreed unto and returned to the Lords again who concurred in them and they were ordered to be communicated to the Scots Commissioners Debate touching the Election of Mr. D'oyley the House not satisfied but that he was within the Rule of those who by adhering to the Kings Party were uncapable to sit in Parliament 28. Letters from the General to the House That upon consideration of the present advantage that may be made through the goodness of God of the late success of their Forces in Ireland upon advice with his Council of War he finds that there will be in readiness six thousand Foot and two thousand Horse if they may have incouragement for the Service of Ireland He desires an effectual course may be taken for Moneys and Necessaries and to remove obstructions and saith he hath appointed a certain number of Officers to wait upon such as the House shall appoint to consult upon the whole business The General removed his Quarters to Putney and his Army into larger Quarters and further then before from London The Parliaments Commissioners went to the Army and had conference with the General and his Council of War touching the sending of Forces into Ireland and the General consulted about putting a guard of Citizens into the Tower and for guards for the Parliament The old Commissioners of the Militia of London met again The Common-Council sat about an Ordinance to be pass'd for calling in of clipped Money Col. Layton was committed Prisoner by the General Sir Robert Pye taken Prisoner by some of the Army was released again by the General 30. The Houses sat not but the Committee proceeded in the examination of the business touching the late Force put upon the Parliament An Ordinance pass'd both Houses for establishing the duty of Excise Letters from Col. Whaley that the King thought himself much wronged and abused by a Paper lately published as in his name intituled His Majesties Declaration which the King wholly disowne and dislikes and that to vindicate the King by discovering and punishing the Libeller would give great satisfaction to his Majesty That the King hunted in the great Park and dined with his Children at Syon c. 31. The day of thanksgiving for the Victory in Irland The Marquess of Ormond visited the King and afterwards visited the General at Putney and was received with great kindness The Council of War sat about sending the Forces into Ireland and about placing of Guards in the Tower and for Guards for the Houses September 1647. September 1. Letters ordered to the Commissioners in the Army to treat farther with the General and to expedite the sending away of Forces into Ireland and a Committee to consider of raising Money for them Debate about security for such as shall bring in Bullion and against transporting of it and for calling in clipt Silver Orders about stating the accounts of Officers and Soldiers and about Money for the maimed Soldiers and for Money for Plymouth Garrison Several Votes of both Houses about presenting the propositions of Peace to his Majesty Debate upon a Message from the Lords with a Letter from the Estates of Scotland and from the Scots Commissioners about the business of the Lord Lotherdale and the stay of Mr. Chiesely at Newcastle desiring reparations The Lords referred it to the Committee of both Kingdoms the Commons referred it to the Committee with the Army Col. Lilburne Governor of New-castle wrote a Letter to the States of Scotland excusing the stay of Mr. Chieseley at New-castle that he knew him not nor did Mr. Chiesely show any Pass from the Scots Commissioners or from Sir Thomas Fairfax and was stayed in the time when the Tumults were at London and intelligence of endeavours to engage a Party in Scotland against the Parliament of England but as soon as he knew who Mr. Chiesley was he discharged him freely 2. Both Houses passed the Ordinance for setling the Militia of London in the old hands and some of the Committee joyned with them They also pass'd a Declaration against the crowding of Soldiers and others at the doors of both Houses A Petition in the name of the Inhabitants of Bristol 1. For settlement of Peace and to prevent another War 2. To answer the Grievances of the Army and to Vindicate them 3. To preserve the just Rights and Liberties of the People from Tyramy 4. To free the People from unlawful Powers and endeavours to suppress their Petitions 5. To remove out of the House and places of Justice unfit and uncapable persons 6. That Faithful Persons may be trusted 7. For tenderness in imposing the Covenant 8. That tender Consciences may not be grieved 9. For an Act of Oblivion 10. For speedy tryal of Prisoners 11. Against long Imprisonments 12. To compassionate Widows and maimed Soldiers 13. That Accounts may be given 14. To find out a way that Suits of Law may be less chargeable and dilatory and the Laws in a less Volumn and in English The Petitioners were called in and told That the House could not approve of some things in their Petition but gave them thanks for their good affections Upon a Letter from the General Order for a Commission to determine differences in Jersey Both Houses agreed upon an answer to the Letter of the Scots Commissioners Vote That the works about London be demolished according to a Paper from the Army to ease the charge of maintaining and keeping them 3. Order That the propositions be presented to the King on Tuesday next by the Commissioners and that the ten days for receiving his Majesties answer be altered to six days Debate of making Col. Hammond Governor of the Isle of Wight and about an Ordinance for suppressing of scurrillous Pamphlets Mr. Bainton charged with signing a Warrant for raising Horse in the City to further the late tumults was suspended the House 4. The whole day spent upon the report concerning the late tumult and force upon the Parliament Voted That Summons be sent
the Commissioners with the King That he is willing to settle Presbytery for three years and the Militia as he before offered but others he is not satisfied to assent unto but desires to put himself upon the Proposals of the Army and that they may be taken into consideration Some private Treaties were said to have been by some Officers of the Army with the King and instructions given by Cromwell and others That if he would assent to their Proposals lower than those of the Parliament that the Army would settle him again in his Throne But the unfortunate as to him his Bishops persuaded him against what he was inclined in his own judgment to have agreed unto and thereby ruined him and themselves at the present 13. The Commissioners returned with His Majesties answer to the Propositions He waves those now sent to him or any Treaty upon them and flies to the Proposals of the Army urgeth a Treaty upon them and such as he shall make professeth he will give satisfaction for settling the Protestant Religion with Liberty to tender Consciences to secure the Laws Liberty and Property and Priviledges of Parliament and of those concerning Scotland he will Treat apart with the Scots Commissioners A Copy of this answer was sent by the King to Sir Thomas Fairfax Many Addresses were dayly made by Petitions and otherwise to the General upon particular grievances and he and his Councel of War returned prudent answers to them The Agitators of the Army presented a Paper to the General in behalf of many who were in Prison for words spoken by them against the King in the time of the War and the General certified the same by Letter to the Parliament Letters from the North of the wise and just managing of the affairs in those parts by Major General Lambert That by his Councel of War he sentenced one Macro an Irish man a notorious proved Drunkard and Swearer to be bored through the Tongue with a red hot Iron imprisoned fourteen days with Bread and Water and to be Cashiered the like Sentences were against others to the contentment of the people 14. Upon reading the Kings answer to the Propositions for Peace a day was appointed by either House to consider of it and that in the mean time it be communicated to the Scots Commissioners Upon earnest Letters from the General in behalf of James Symbâ—l and others in Prison for speaking of words against the King in the time of War for which Justice Bacon and Sergeant Creswel Commited them the House referred their Cases to the Committee of Imdemnity with power to release the Prisoners if they found cause A Petition from divers Bucks men against Tithes and Free Quarter answered that the House would take the business of Tithes into consideration in covenient time and were now in debate touching Free Quarter Debate upon the report concerning Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne and touching some Compositions and a Vote to take off the Sequestration of Sir Robert Nappiers Estate The Common-Councel of London thought it discretion to comply with the desires of the Parliament and Army in advancing fifty thousand pounds for the Army and had such addition of security for it as they proposed 15. An Ordinance committed for settling some Lands of the Earl of Worcesters upon the Lord Say Sir Benjamin Rudyeard and Sir Rowland Wandesford for reparation of their losses by the taking away of the Court of Wards Orders for Commitment of some Actors in the late great Tumult A report of the proceedings of the Commissioners in the Army and a debate touching Tithes and referred to a Committee to consider of a way to redress the grievances in this business of Tithes Several Petitions from Oxfordshire Heriford-shire and other Countries against Tithes referred to a Committee A Petition of the Inhabitants of Southwark That the Houses may be purged of such as assisted in the late Tumults and Force upon the Parliament when the Members were driven away was laid aside for the present 16. the Petitions of London Southwark Oxfordshire Bucks Hertfordshire c. For purging the House of all Members that Sat in the absence of the Speakers was debated and resolved That the proceedings in that time should be Null but that no Member should be questioned for being then present in the House but such as were Actors in the Tumult City engagement and design of a new War The Petitioners had thanks for their good affections and were desired to be be satisfied in this business Order for an Impeachment of high Crimes and Misdemeanours against Mr. Glyn and against Collonel Copley and for the Lords to be desired to appoint a day for the Commons to bring in their particular Charge against the seven Impeached Lords Both Houses past the Ordinance concerning Delinquents Compositions and some particular Ordinances for taking off Sequestrations of the Estates of the Lady Bankes and her Son Sir Richard Price and others The Commons Concurrence desired to Ordinances touching Payment of Fee Farm Rents by Members of Parliament and recovery of monies due by Bonds given in the Court of Wards Debate touching the lessening of the Forces in England and Votes touching the Forces to be sent into Ireland and for Pay for them and referred to the Commissioners in the Army to Treat further with the General and his Field-Officers concerning these particulars 17. Orders touching the months gratuity appointed for the Army and the months Pay for them and about the fifty thousand pounds and touching the Charge against the seven Lords Vote That for present security of this Kingdom till affairs be settled here and in order to the future relief of Ireland seven thousand two hundred Horse one thousand Dragoons and eighteen thousand Foot be kept up in England The Scots Forces under Lieutenant General David Lesley Qnartering upon the Borders gave some cause of offence to the English many of their Commanders resorted often to Berwick 18. The Establishment of the Army and Garrisons was referred to the General and Commissioners of Parliament in the Army with reference to the former Orders of the House Information from Ireland of some underhand dealing and invitation of the Lord Inchequin and Col. Jones to joyn with the Scots Forces in Vlster After a Sermon in Putney Church the General many great Officers Field Officers inferiour Officers and Agitators met in the Church debated the Proposals of the Army and altered some few things in them and were full of the Sermon which was Preached by Mr. Peters The General and his Council agreed upon a Declaration concerning the delays in raising money for the Army and Garrisons and the sufferings of the Country by free Quarter occasioned by those wants and the hindrance of disbanding the Forces not necessary to be kept up and of relieving Ireland all this caused by their neglect on whom the Parliament did depend and especially they take notice of the delayes of
the City They declare 1. That for what time their defaults and delayes shall occasion the stay of the Army hereabouts the charge should be upon them and their adherents about the City 2. That the Houses would consider of the Delinquencyes of those that had a hand in the late tumults and design of a new War and that such Fines may be set upon them as are agreeable to Justice 3. That in case the Money be not brought in by the time appointed that the Parliament would give leave to the General with the advice of the Committee of the Army for levying of the Arrears This was sent by the Commissioners to the Parliament and by them communicated to the Common-Council of London at which they were much startled 20. An Ordinance pass'd for payment of Moneys due upon Bonds in the Court of Wards and a day set to consider of providing for Orphans Upon a Letter from the General of the necessities of Portsmouth Garrison referred to the General and Commissioners in the Army to take care thereof An Ordinance sent up to the Lords for suppressing unlicenced Pamphlets and punishing the Authors and Sellers of them Orders for seven thousand Suits of Apparel and for Shirts Shoes and Stockings for the Forces in Munster and the like for the Forces in Vlster to be deducted out of their pay Mr. Thomas Challoner and Col. Jo. Temple appointed Commissioners of Parliament in Munster The Army in Scotland was voted to be disbanded The Inhabitants of Richmond-shire stood upon their Guard against free Quarter Major General Lambert sent some Forces thither to keep all quiet and went himself to disband the Forces in Northumberland The General made Commissioners of Martial Law in every Regiment to punish the misdemeanours of Soldiers in their Quarters referring all cases extending to Life or Limb to the Council of War at the Head Quarters 21. Upon a long debate Voted by both Houses That the King denyes in his answer to give his assent to the Propositions Order for all the Members of the House to attend in their places by a day Ordinances pass'd for Compositions A Report from the City to satisfie the House That the City at this time could no ways advance the fifty thousand pound for the Army Mr. Porâ—y one of the Commissioners with the Army presented to the House the Explanations and resolutions of the Council of the Army to the Quaeries made upon the Army's Proposals by the Parliaments Commissioners residing with the Army 1. Touching the time when this Parliament should determine it was held fit to suspend that till it should appear what expedition will be made in the Settlement of the things proposed 2. That the Army shall be satisfied either with Biennial or Triennial Parliaments if Triennial then they to sit at least six or eight Months 3. The limitations that Parliaments shall not sit above two hundred and forty days to be understood unless the Parliament find it fit to sit longer but every Parliament to dissolve at least eighty days before the next is to be begun that the course of new Elections may not be interrupted 4. That the Liberty of entring dissents is not desired but where the Vote may be to the destruction of Right or Liberty 5. By the Power of the Militia they mean the power of raising arming c. according to the expressions in the Propositions 6. By the Power of raising and disposing Moneys they mean the same as in the expressions in the Propositions 7. By great Officers they mean the same as in the Propositions 22. Upon a long debate in a grand Committee touching the Kings answer to the Propositions and motions for a personal Treaty and for sending the Propositions again to the King the House resolved to fall upon the settlement of the Kingdom by establishing such additional Laws as may make for the present and future good of the Kingdom and turning the Propositions into Bills and Acts. The House resolved That the Militia should be setled as a Law for twenty years Ordinances sent up to the Lords for Money for the Forces in Lancashire and against unlicensed Pamphlets 23. Upon debate Whether the Parliament should once more send the Propositions or any of them to the King it was voted That they should once more make application to his Majesty for his assent to such things in the Propositions as they conceive will most tend to the good of the Kingdom In order to which it was voted That the Proposition for the great Seal concerning Honours and Titles the Proposition for taking away Bishops c. with some alterations the Proposition concerning Declanations and Proclamations against the Parliament and so much of the twelve Propositions as concern the raising of Moneys for payment of the publick debts of the Kingdom be drawn into Bills and sent to his Majesty for his Assent The Ordinance pass'd for continuing the Committee of the Army and Treasurers at War Orders touching thirty thousand pound for the Army and the Months gratuity to the private Soldiers The General Council of Officers of the Army at Putney agreed upon a representation to the Parliament of their desires as Soldiers and delivered to the Parliaments Commissioners 1. That a Committee may abide at the Head Quarters to state the Accounts and give Debenters 2. For a visible security for the Arrears 3. For an Ordinance That none who have served the Parliament shall be pressed to any Forraign Service nor a Horseman to serve on Foot 4. That the Ordinance concerning Apprentices Freedom who have served the Parliament may be an Act. 5. The like for maimed Soldiers c. 6. For an addition to the Act of Indemnity for all said or done by any of the Army concerning any thing about the Army's Petition at Walden or in vindication of themselves 24. Upon a further report touching the Force upon the Parliament It was voted That Sir John Gayer Lord Major of London Alderman Bunce Alderman Cullam Alderman Langham and Alderman Adams shall be committed to the Tower upon Accusation of High Treason for countenancing and abetting the Force and Tumult brought down and used against the House July 26 last and this to be in order to their Tryal and the Committee ordered to bring in Impeachments against them 25. The Impeached Lord Mayor and Aldermen were carried to the Tower and upon further debate touching the Tumult and Force upon the Parliament it was Voted That several Citizens be Impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors and others to be Indicted at the Kings Bench of High Treason Reference to the Aldermen and Common-Council to consider how the Civil Government of the City may be executed according to their Charters now that the Lord Mayor is committed Orders touching Wharton's Books and other Pamphlets scandalous to the Parliament 27. The Commons sent up to the Lords an Impeachment against the Lord Major and desired a time for his Tryal
consent 5. The King not to call Parliaments in the Intervals without consent of the Councel of State 6. Elections to be free to Free-men 7. Patents and Monopolies to be removed 8. Their power to extend to Declaration of Laws and final Judgments without further Appeal than to the Representative 9. No Law to be against a Commoner but with the House of Commons Concurrence 10. No Commoner or great Officer to be exempt from Judgment of the House of Commons 11. The King to give no power to Protect or Pardon those so condemned 12. The Priviledg to be in the people in Election of Officers about Church Discipline Raising of Souldiers Freedom for what hath been done these Wars 13. Elections to be distributed equally 3. Debate of an Ordinance for setting poor people to work and for punishing of Vagrants and about the Ordinance for Tunnage and Poundage Confirmation of Truro Articles The Ordinance past for Guernsey c. The General Council of the Army agreed upon these further Heads 1. That the Proposals concerning Elections be publickly Read in each Division at their first proceeding to the Election 2. That by the Indentures of Election the persons Elected be limited to serve as Deputies for the time set 3. That a more equal course be taken and a rate if it may be on every mans Land not exceeding two shillings in the Pound in lieu of Tithes They also debated touching the Propositions to be sent to His Majesty 4. Orders for Disbanding of the disjoynted and supernumerary Forces Discharge of the Sequestration of Col. Brandling's Estate Confirmation of Exeter Articles Order for five hundred pounds for the Lord Ormond The General Councel of the Army desired some alterations and additions might be made to the Propositions to be sent to His Majesty 1. For security of the Souldiers Arrears by Deans and Chapters Lands and Compositions 2. These alterations about the Militia 1. That the Lords and Commons in future Parliaments may have the power of the Militia as well as the present 2. That where the safety of the Kingdom is concerned the Commons may exercise the Militia without the Lords they not concurring and that to bind the Commons 3. That London may have no other priviledg of the Militia than other Corporations Divers resolutions in favour of Delinquents That the Faith of the Army be kept upon Articles of Surrender That there be a General Act of Oblivion 5. Information of new designs against the Parliament and Army Debate touching the Kings Negative voice in Parliament 6. A Letter from the Scots Commissioners here mentioning the Kings being taken away from Holmeby by a party of the Army and they desiring to know from him his present condition His Majesty referred them therein to the Parliament and Army That they held it needless to apply to the Army in this matter whom they suppose are or ought to be under the Command of the Parliament That the Kingdom of Scotland finding their stability and happiness so much to depend upon the safety and preservation of the Kings person and they resolving to continue in all Loyalty under his Government have endeavoured the Composure of the unhappy differences They desire that the business of the Propositions may proceed with the mutual Councels of both Kingdoms and in the name of the Kingdom of Scotland they desire that there may be a personal Treaty with His Majesty and for that effect that the King may be invited to come to London with honour freedom and safety due to him and not to be under the power and restraint of Souldiers 8. Debate touching Provision for a constant Pay of the Army Both Houses agreed to the conference for speedy dispatch of the Propositions The General Councel of the Army desired his Excellency That for a time the Officers and Agitators should resort to the several Commands and Regiments till the General Rendezvous be over and the General shall see cause to call them together again and the same was done accordingly Collonel Jones took in divers Castles and Forts from the Rebels in Lemster 9. Letters from the General mentioning the long expectation of the Army of somewhat to have been done by the Parliament in Order to the satisfaction of the desires and Proposals of the Army that somesatisfactory answers therein would enable him and his Officers to serve the Parliament the more and to have more credit with the Army to keep them in better Order That he had appointed a General Rendezvous by the advice of the General Officers of the Army and General Councel who offered to repair to their several Charges and Regiments to improve their endeavours for quieting of them and recovering the antient Discipline of the Army He desires the House to grant the inclosed Particulars 1. Six weeks Pay if possible if not a months Pay to be presently sent to the Army 2. The Arrears to be paid out of the remainder of Bishops Lands Deans c. 3. Provision for constant Pay of the Army 4. That there be one hundred thousand pound a month for the Forces in England and Ireland and those of the supernumeraries to be disbanded 5. That Free Quarter or taking any thing from any man be punisht with death Orders for mony for the Army A Paper from some of the Agitators called The Case of the Army Voted by the House Destructive to the Priviledges of Parliament and the Fundamental Government of this Kingdom and referred to the General to find out the Authors Liberty granted to Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne to go abroad without his Keeper Order for restitution of monies seised from Mrs. Curriton The Lords appointed a Committee to draw an answer to the Letter of the Scots Commissioners about a personal Treaty They fined their absent Members an hundred pound a Man The Commons desired the Lords concurrence to several Ordinances for Moneys for the Lord Ormond for allowance for Soldiers Wives for Trade for confirming Truro Articles A Committee of the General Councel of the Army appointed to collect a summary of the Engagements Declarations and Papers of the Army of matters concerning the good of the Kingdom the Liberties of the People and the interest of the Army and to consider the case of the Army stated and a Paper called the agreement of the People to be presented to the General for his order to communicate it to the several Regiments before their Rendezvous They also made a Declaration That by their Letter to the Parliament November 5. it was no part of their intentions to hinder the sending of the Propositions to the King but only to assert the freedom of Parliament 10. A grand Committee sat about the future Pay of the Army and to prevent free Quarter Order that the Members of every County do present three names out of which the House to choose one to be High Sheriff for that County Debate of Ordinances for Money for Ireland one by sale of Rebels Lands
the Kings hand for diverting the Ships pretended for the relief of Rochel another for sending Ammunition to York in the beginning of the War the House ordered the Committee to Print such of them as they thought fit Divers Sheriffs passed Order for a Judge to go down upon the Commission of Oyer and Terminer to try the Mutineers in the Isle of Wight Order for a Collection for Bridge-north and no Collection to be but under the Great Seal Letters from the Isle of Wight informed That the King sent for the Governor Col. Hammond and asked him the reason why he had given order for dismissing his Majesties Servants and whether it stood with the Engagement to them who had so freely cast themselves upon him and with his Honour and Honesty That the Governor told the King That his Honour and Honesty were in the first place to them that imployed him and next that he thought the King could not but confess that he had done more as things stood for him than he himself could have expected Then the King asked him whether the Commissioners were privy to this Order He said no the King demanded of him by what Authority he did it he said by Authority of both Houses of Parliament and that he supposed his Majesty was not ignorant of the cause of his doing thus The King professed the contrary and the Governor replyed that he plainly saw his Majesty was acted by other Councels than stood with the good of this Kingdom The Garrison of Hull sent Letters of thanks to the General for continuing Col. Maleverer to be their Governonor 11. Sir Hardress Waller acquainted the House That the General had commanded seven Collonels of them with other Officers of Quality in the name of the Army to make their humble address to the House and they have presented their intentions in writing in that which is called a Declaration which shall either have name or life or be exposed to view according as it shall receive approbation and direction from the House It was to this Effect Reciting the high Violations of the Kingdoms Rights and Liberties and endeavour to swallow them up in the Power and Will of a King the necessity of the Parliaments vindicating the Kingdom and their tenderness towards the Kings person and Rights so as might be consistent with and not destructive to the great and more obliging interest of Religion and the Rights and Liberties and safety of the Kingdom and not otherwise That the Army have declared and endeavoured the same and several addresses have been made to the King for those ends and in the Parliaments last address to him they insisted only upon some few things so essential to the interest of the Kingdom that without betraying the safety of the Kingdom and themselves and all engaged with them and without denying that which God in the issue of this War hath been such a Testimony unto they could not go lower and those things granted they have offered to treat for all the rest That upon the Kings denyal of these things they can see no further Hopes of settlement or Security that way Therefore understanding that upon debate of that denyal added to so many others the House of Commons by several late Votes resolved not to make any further Address or Application to the King nor receive any from him nor to suffer either in others They do freely and unanimously declare for themselves and the Army that they are resolved through the Grace of God firmly to adhere with and stand by the Parliament in the things then Voted and in what shall be further necessary for prosecution thereof and for setling and securing the Parliament and Kingdom without the King and against him or any other that shall hereafter partake with him This Declaration was twice read and the House Voted that they did approve of it and ordered that the thanks of the House be returned to the General and the Army for it A Petition from the Provincal Assembly of London referred to the Committee of Grievances and the Petitioners had thanks An Ordinance read and debated for Collecting twenty thousand pound a month for the Service of Ireland Order for ten pound to bury Captain Harris his Widow 12. The House gave thanks to some Merchants who had procured a Collection of Charity in the United Provinces of thirty one thousand two hundred and eighteen pound for the relief of Ireland Order for raising forty thousand pound forthwith for the Navy and thirty thousand pound more as soon as may be Order about sending some Divines to the Isle of Wight Letters from Vice-Admiral Rainsborough That he had appointed a guard of Ships for the Isle of Wight and for the Irish Coasts Order for five thousand pound for the Lord Brook's Son Both Houses passed an Ordinance for forty thousand pound to be raised out of the Earl of Worcesters Estate for the Service of Ireland Several Compositions passed 13. An Ordinance pass'd for repair of the Church of Taunton A Petition from the East-India Company referred and another from the Levant-Merchants Divers Compositions passed 14. Order that Delinquents be put out of the Line Upon Information of a new design of the Kings Party Orders for re-manding the Earl of Cleaveland to the Tower and for Sir Lewis Dives to be kept in safe Custody and for Mr. Sollicitor to prosecute him and Sir Jo. Stowel and Judge Jenkyns to Tryal the next Term and that the Lord Major and Justices do cause to be prosecuted at this Sessions the late Rioters in Fleet-street Order that the General take course for the safety of the Parliament And that he send some Horse and Foot to be Quartered within the Liberties of Westminster and to prevent inconvenience to the inhabitants That the Foot be Quartered in Whitehall and the Horse be Quartered in the Meuse 15. The Lords agreed to the Votes of the Commons That no more Addresses be made to the King and the Commons agreed with the Lords Preamble to those Votes and that they be Printed and published and that all who shall do contrary to those Votes shall be Sequestred Power to the Militia to imploy persons for the finding out and apprehending Delinquents who stay within the Lines Divers Compositions passed 16. Part of Col. Baxter's Regiment Quartered in White-Hall 17. Debate touching Sequestrations and against the Partiality of Committees Papers from the Scots Commissioners That they were speedily to return to Scotland and their desire of an answer of former Papers and what they shall return to the Parliament of Scotland and about the Arrears due to that Kingdom Orders for Money for Dover-Castle Some Delinquents committed who stayed in London contrary to the Ordinance and Order given by the House to the Regiments at White-Hall and the Meuse to apprehend and bring before a Justice of Peace such Papists and Malignants as they shall find in Town contrary to the Ordinance The House pass'd a
Declaration upon the Votes touching the Kings Person and ordered those to be Sequestred who shall do any thing contrary to those Votes and they were ordered to be Printed and published A Declaration was presented to the House of Peers from the General and his Councel of War That they resolved to endeavour to preserve Peerage and the Rights of the Peers of England notwithstanding any Scandals upon them to the contrary The Officers who presented this Declaration were called into the Lords House and desired to return the thanks of the House to the General and to the Councel of War and the Officers of the Army 18. Mr. Chapman referred to the Committee of Complaints for sending a Warrant to summon a meeting of the Countrey near Reading to consider of a Petition The Manuscripts and Books in White-Hall because of Soldiers being there were ordered to be removed to St. Jame's House and placed there which Whitelocke furthered in order to the preservation of those rare Monuments of Learning and Antiquity which were in that Library Debate touching the Scots Papers and the Arrears due to that Kingdom The Lords informed the Commons at a Conference of a meeting under pretence of agreeing to a Petition to the Parliament where Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne and others spake very disgracefully of the two Houses and that there appeared to be a design of many thousands intended under a colour of a Petition to dishonour the Parliament and their proceedings That their Lordships had sent to the Lieutenant of the Tower to know why he permitted Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne whom they had formerly Committed to his Custody to go abroad who returned answer That he had an order for it from the House of Commons and the Lords desired that no occasion might be given to hinder the Vnion and Affection between the two Houses Upon much debate of this business by the Commons they repealed their Order formerly made for Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne's Liberty and ordered him to be brought to their Bar to morrow and they further ordered that M. Wildman be taken into Custody by the Sergeant at Armes 19. Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne was called into the House and made a large answer to the Information against him The reading of proofs and examination of the business held till six a clock at night and then the House ordered that he be committed to the Tower and be tryed by the Law of the Land for Seditious and Scandalous Practices against the State And that M. Wildman be committed to Newgate and tryed according to Law for Treasonable and Seditious Practices against the State That Mr. Sollicitor and all the Lawyers of the House take care to prepare the Charge against them and to bring them to Tryal next Term. The Lord Willoughby and other Impeached Lords sent a Letter to the House of Peers That after so long a restraint and no Prosecution against them they might have their Liberty The Lords discharged them of their Imprisonment and ordered a Declaration to be drawn That no Peer shall hereafter be under restraint upon a general charge above ten days This gave great offence to many of the House of Commons which they shewed afterwards Upon Letters from the General that one Lieutenant Collonel Lee in Office about Bishops Lands had intercepted Letters which the General sent to Col. Lilburne Governor of New-castle and had opened and detained some of them the House referred it to a Committee to be examined and punished 20. Upon Information that L. C. Lilburn and M. Wildman were not carried to Prison according to the order of the House and that some of their Party had given out words that they should not go to Prison and that there was a great meeting to be at Deptford in Kent about their Petition Ordered that the Officers of the Guards do assist the Sergeant in carrying of them to Prison which was done and that the Committee of Kent take care to suppress all meetings upon that Petition and to prevent all tumults and that the Militia of London c. take care to suppress such meetings and to prevent inconveniences which may arise thereby and upon the said Petition intituled The Petition of many thousands of the free-born People of England c. They ordered a Declaration to undeceive the People to shew them the dangerous consequences that will arise by such practices The House pass'd a Declaration of their real intentions to pay the remainder of the Money due to Scotland and several Ordinances for the advancing of it 21. The House sate all day in a grand Committee about the business of Ireland 22. Order for a new Ordinance to suppress all Stage-plays and for taking down all their Boxes and Seats where they Act and they ordered that the Lord Major Sheriffs and Justices of Peace and Committees of the Militia c. take care to suppress all Stage-plays for the future An Ordinance passed both Houses for making the Earl of Pembroke Chancellor of Oxford Some added to the Committee of Safety and the Committee required to take care for suppressing all tumults and insurrections c. Rumors increased of tumults like to be in the City and many spoke disgracefully of the Parliament 24. Upon Letters from Vice-Admiral Rainsborough that the Ships of the Irish Rebels were in many Roads and had taken divers of our Merchants Ships and that care might be taken for making ready the Summers Fleet. The House ordered seventy thousand pound out of the Excise for the use of the Navy Captain Burley was tryed upon a Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the late insurrection in the Isle of Wight and the Jury found him guilty of high Treason and Judgment was given against him but execution respited Others of the Conspirators were found guilty of a Riot and were deeply fined The Grand Jury of Hamp-shire at the Execution of the Commission of Oyer and Terminer presented a Declaration to be presented to the House of Commons wherein they acknowledged the Goodness and Wisdom of the Parliament in the Votes of no further Addresses to the King and declared their readiness to joyn with the Parliament in setling the Peace of the Kingdom The House of Peers ordered an Ordinance to be drawn giving up the Lords who by reason of their offences had not liberty to sit in Parliament to be prosecuted by Suits of Law and their attendants as if there were no Parliament Order for the Earl of Salisbury to have the refusal of the Purchase of Worcester House at the rate of Bishops Lands Several Ordinances past both Houses for an hundred pound to Sir Arthur Blundell and for a hundred pound to Sir John Burlace for addition of Committee-men against Papists and Delinquents about London for fifty pound to Capt. St. George and for the Committee at Derby-House Letters from Kent That the tumults there were quieted A Letter of thanks ordered to the Gentry of Hampshire Order that the
and be it Ordained That the Great Seal of England shall be committed to the custody and keeping of Henry Earl of Kent William Lord Grey of Werke Sir Thomas Widdrington Knight and Bulstrode Whitelocke Esquire who are hereby Ordained Commissioners for that purpose for and during the time of one whole year from the Passing of this Ordinance Which said Persons are hereby constituted and appointed to be Commissioners for the Custody of the said Great Seal of England during the time aforesaid and they or any two of them whereof one Member of the Lords House also one Member of the House of Commons shall have and are hereby authorized to have the Custody and Keeping Ordering and Disposing thereof as also all such and the like Powers and Authorities as any Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal of England for the time being hath Lawfully had and used or ought to have had or used John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum Henry Elsinge Cler. Parliam Dom. Com. Orders upon private Petitions of Grievances Letters from Ireland That the Lord Inchequin relieved some Garrisons of the English in Tipperary entred Carricke and Fortified a Pass to make good his Retreat blew open the Gate of Cullen by a Petard entred the Town took two Castles by Assault and put three hundred Soldiers to the Sword and some Women notwithstanding order to the contrary and then took in another strong Castle upon Mercy That Owen Roe Oneal is dead and the Supreme Councel fled from Kilkenny That the Parliaments Ships took three of the Rebells Ships loaden with Ammunition and Captain Ball took an Irish Man of War 16. Orders for taking off several Sequestrations in performance of Articles of War Ten thousand pound accepted for the Composition of Sir Jo. Strangeway and his Son and ordered for the Navy The Lord Fairfax Father to the General having a bruise on his Foot where a Corn was growing it festred and turn'd to a Gangrene which brought a Feaver upon him whereof he died at York March 13. and was much lamented Order that Sir Thomas Fairfax his Son should be Keeper of Pontefract Castle Custos Rotulorum of York-shire and chief Ranger c. in the place of his Father Order for Papists to be admitted to Compositions in performance of the Articles of Oxford 17. Long debate upon the Confession of Faith allmost all the day Several Ordinances pass'd for placing Ministers in vacant Benefices 18. The House sate not but according to their Order the Grand Committee sate about the business of the Fennes in Lincoln-shire 20. a Petition of London Merchants complaining of Pyrats and decay of Trade was referred to a Committee of Trade which was revived with power to consider of removing Obstructions in Trade and to receive all Petitions concerning the advance of Trade And referred to the Committee of the Admiralty to provide a sufficient guard for the Merchants Ships Letters of the Proceedings of the Commissioners in Scotland and of their Letters to the Major of Berwicke giving him notice of a design to surprize that Town and the Major's Answer Order for a Letter of thanks to the Major and to desire him to preserve the Town from Garrisoning according to the Treaty and order to the General to prevent any inconvenience by such meetings of the Cavaliers and Papists Letters from York of another Troop Landed from Ireland at Chester which marched towards Scotland That the Lord Fairfax the General 's Father was honourably buried Letters from Scotland of Divisions in their Parliament Some for raising an Army against the Sectaries in England others for the King and a third Party for no War The Clergy were for an Oath to be generally taken That Presbyterial Government be maintained that the King be not restored till he sign the Covenant to endeavour the extirpation of all Sectaries especially Erastianisme that the Ecclesiastical power is not subject to the Civil that the Kings Negative Vote in England be taken away Captain Wogan had Money sent to him in Scotland to pay his Quarters but by whom will not be discovered there are four hundred Foot and a Troop of Horse of the English in a Body 21. Letters that Col. Poyer held out in Pembroke Castle against the orders of Parliament and the Forces sent thither by the General that in the Morning he is sober and penitent and in the afternoon drunk and full of Plots that he put four or five of his Companions in the best Apparel he could get and by Sunrising put them out at the Sally-port and received them in again at the Gate himself with great Ceremony giving out in the Town that they were Commanders sent out of France to him from the Prince of Wales and more were to follow That when he hears news that pleaseth him then he puts forth bloody Colours and declares for the King and Common-Prayer when he hears other news then he is for the Oath and Covenant and puts forth blew and white Colours That one day he fired all his Guns on the Parliaments Forces without any occasion that afterwards he was very quiet yet the next day he vowed that not one of the Parliaments Forces should go away alive and calls the General King Thomas That the Parliaments Forces lye close and make no Shot at him but none of his men dare peep out of Town Upon Summons sent to him his answer was that if they might have their Arrears Disbursements and Indemnity they would give up the Castle The House ordered the General to send sufficient Forces to reduce Col. Poyer and Pembroke Castle an Ordinance to remove him from being Major of Pembroke and to constitute another Order for a Months Pay for the Forces in the Isle of Wight and for an allowance for four Gentlemen attending his Majesty Debate about Compositions upon surrenders of Garrisons A Plot was discovered by the General to surprize the Tower this night 22. Orders upon many private Petitions Ordinance past touching the Collecting of the Rents of Westminster Colledge The Commons agreed with the Lords in the Doctrinal part of the Confession of Faith but altered the Title from the Confession of Faith to be Articles of Faith agreed upon by both Houses 23. Debate touching Oxford Articles and about clipped and false Money Ordinance about reimbursing the Committee of Surrey for Money laid out by them for the Soldiery Order for a Writ for a new Election 24. Debate about setling of a good Ministry in some vacant places and Ordinances for some particular Parishes Order for two thousand pound for repairing the Library at Cambridge to be raised out of Deans and Chapters Revenues and an Order for incouragement of the Heads of Colledges there The General sent strict Orders for the disbanding of Major General Laugherne's Forces according to the Orders of Parliament and for the reducing of Col. Poyer 25. The Ordinance passed both Houses for setling the business of the Navy
that nothing might be concluded as to War till the lawfulness of it were first stated and agreed upon That reparation may be first sought for the Breaches by England and the Presbyterian Party there not disobliged That they may oppose and suppress the Popish Malignants Party as well as the Sectaries That the Kings concessions concerning Religion may be declared by the Parliament to be un-satisfactory as they have been by the Assembly For security from the King in matters of Religion before he be admitted to his Regal power and all other ends of the Covenant That none be imployed but of Integrity to the Cause Ingagements to be by Oath The Committee of Danger voted an Army to be raised of forty thousand men against which a Protestation was made by divers Lords and others as to their power to make such a Vote Divers more English came into Scotland 4. Debate touching the Commissioners of the Customs and their receipts The Commissioners vindicated and approved the like of Mr. Tomes Ordinance for disposing the Estate of the Earl of Chesterfield Order to secure Sir Sackvile Crowe and Mr. Hide and the complaints against them by the Merchants referred to a Committee Order to refer the Lord Pawlet to a tryal of Law for the death of one Hen. Illery slain by him and an hundred pound bestowed upon his Widow Letter of thanks from the Prince Elector for his allowance of eight hundred pound per An. The House Adjourned for a Week and ordered the Committee at Derby House to sit dayly 5. Letters from Pembroke shire of the continuance of Col. Poyer with some of Major General Laugherne's men in their defection and that they had taken divers Committee-Men and others Prisoners that some of the Parliaments Ships were come into the Harbour there to help block them up and that Col. Horton was come with a good Party against them Letters from Scotland of great Jealousies from thence That there were many Duels fought That Sir William Flemming was come thither with a man of War with thirty Guns That they hate the English Army and Parliament Letters from Edenburgh and Wales Poyer was grown five hundred strong in Foot and a hundred Horse and raised new Forces and laid Assessments thrice as much as that for the Army 7. The G. sent additional Forces against Poyer The forces of M. G. Laugherne except those with Poyer agreed to be disbanded by the prudence of the Commissioners and Col. Horton's care Letters that Poyer increased in strength some other Forces of Col. Butler and others fell in to him no Gentlemen of note or Estates came in to Poyer nor any of Major General Laughernes Officers Letters from Shrewsbury of a design of the Malignants to surprize that Town but by the Governers care it was prevented 8. Letters from Chester of the Plague breaking out there and the General for the ease of the City ordered all the Garrison to be drawn out except one Company 9. There hapned this night a very high and dangerous tumult by the Apprentices who with other people and Malignants who instigated them went towards the Soldiers at White-Hall and the Meuse but were met with in the way by a Party of Horse who killed some and wounded many of them and scoured the streets It began in Moorfields about tipling and gaming on the Lords day contrary to the Ordinance of Parliament they set upon and overpowred a Party of the Trained Bands about Finnesbury and from thence went to White-Chappel where they seized upon the Captains Colours and others went to Smithfield and some to Whitehal but they were met with by the Horse and dispersed 10. The last night they increased and surprised Newgate and Ludgate took the Keys went to the Lord Mayors and took thence a Drake in which action some of them were slain the Drake they brought to Ludgate the Lord Mayor left his house and went to the Tower This morning their numbers increased and they laboured to get Arms broke up a House in Milk-street and took out Arms from thence and other places with the Drake they went to Leaden-Hall where they possessed the Magazine and beat up Drums upon the Water to invite the Seamen and Watermen for God and King Charles Upon this high tumult the General sate up all night called a Councel of War where the question was whether they should hazard the two Regiments at the Meuse and White-Hall or stay for more Force and they agreed rather than to delay this business further which must needs be dangerous and hazard much blood and increase of the Mutiny that they would ingage with the two Regiments only Accordingly this Morning early the two Regiments entred at Aldersgate and came to Leaden-Hall and Charged the Mutineers they fired their Drake hurt Captain Merriman in the shoulder and his Lieutenant in the Belly and killed a Woman The Soldiers hurt many of the Mutineers a Waterman who shot off the Drake was killed divers Prisoners were taken the Mutineers in all parts of the City were presently dispersed the City Gates set open and all quiet before ten a Clock this Morning throughout the City This small Party of the Army behaved themselves against a great multitude of men with much Gallantry and Resolution and it was no small happiness to the Parliament that this insurrection was well quieted which in these times of discontent and distraction if it had not been so soon appeased and nipped in the bud might have proved of most dangerous consequence to all the Parliament Party and have occasioned a new War We may take notice of the incertainty of Worldly affairs when the Parliament and their Army had subdued their Common Enemy then they quarelled among themselves the Army against the Parliament when they were pretty well pieced together again then the Adprentices and others make an insurrection against the Parliament and Army Thus they were in continual perplexities and and danger Letters informed of some dissatisfaction betwixt the Parliament of Scotland and the Assembly of the Kirk concerning the matter of a new War That store of Arms were come thither from Holland and that Edenburgh is full of English The Estates of the Parliament of Scotland made this answer to the desires of the Commissioners of the General Assembly 1. That the causes of the War shall be cleared to be just and lawful 2. They think fit that the breaches of the Covenant and Treaty be represented and reparations sought 3. That Scotland will be so far from making War against England that any ingagement they shall enter into shall be for strengthning the Vnion and incouraging the Presbyterians and well affected in England 4. They agree to it 5. That they will declare his Majesties concessions concerning Religion not to be satisfactory 6. They will take care for his Majesties Oath and Acts of Parliament injoyning the Covenant and establishing the Presbyterian Government c. 7. That
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
Commissioners sent down to try the Riotors at Canterbury could not perswade the Grand Jury to find the Bill and therefore they adjourned the Court they and the Committee of Kent had the thanks of the House for their care in this business and the Committee were desired to proceed in the further execution of it Intelligence from Vice Admiral Rainsborough of two Men of War from France appointed to transport Arms and Horse for Scotland Letters from the North of a design to surprize York for the King and at the time appointed for the Royalists to enter the City a Troop of the Parliaments Horse coming thither accidentally the Malignants taking them for their own Party cryed up the King and so were discovered and prevented Letters from Newcastle That Colonel Bright's Regiment and other Parliament's Forces are come that way to guard the Borders That the Governour of Berwick laies heavy Taxes upon the English That they and the King's Party in Carlisle are impatient that the Scot's Forces do not come in to assist them being dayly expected The Commissioners of the Kirk of Scotland sent to the Ministers to admonish their people not to engage in the intended War under the pain of the displeasure of God but the other Party proceeded in their Levies The Commissioners of the Kirk passed a Declaration in answer and opposition to that of the Parliament of Scotland Which they say is to restore the King to his Honour before Jesus Christ be restored to his and they declare their dissent from the intended War 16. An Ordinance transmitted for punishing Defaulters at Musters in Kent Letters from the Gentlemen of Cheshire That they had fortified the Castle and City of Chester the House approved thereof and Ordered thanks to the Gentlemen Letters from the Gentlemen of the Counties of Flint Denbigh and Montgomery That they had entred into an Association for securing those Counties against the Enemy the House approved thereof and Ordered them hearty thanks for it The like from Lancashire The House agreed to the Ordinance for the Militia of London A Petition to both Houses accompanied with divers hundreds of that County That the King may be restored to his due honour and just Rights according to the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance that he may be forthwith Established in his Throne according to the splendour of his Ancestors That he may for the present come to Westminster with Honour and Safety to Treat personally for composing of Differences That the Free born Subjects of England may be Governed by the known Laws and Statutes That the War beginning may be prevented That the Ordinance for preventing Free-Quarter may be duly Executed and speed made in disbanding all Armies having their Arrears due paid them The Lords answered the Petitioners That they were at present upon consideration of the Settlement of the Kingdom and doubted not but to satisfie all This Petition was presented to the Commons in the Afternoon when some of the Country-men being gotten almost drunk and animated by the Malignants as they came through Westminster-Hall they fell a Quarrelling with the Guards and asked them why they stood there to Guard a Company of Rogues Then words on both sides increasing the Countrymen fell upon the Guards disarmed them and killed one of them and wounded divers Upon this Alarum more Soldiers were sent for from White-Hall and the Meuse who fellupon the Country-men and killed five or six of them and wounded very many chasing them up and down through the Hall and the Lanes and Passages there abouts 17. The day of Thanksgiving for the success in Wales observed by the Houses but not much in the City After the Sermons the House Ordered the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council of London not to suffer any multitudes of men to pass through the City nor any to come in Armed and that the Ordinance be renewed for putting Papists and Delinquents c. out of the Lines and twenty Miles from London Order That the Committees of Kent and Surrey take care to prevent tumultuous meetings in those Counties One hundred pounds given to Captain Nichols who brought Letters from Collonel Horton Order to examine and find out the Authors and Printers of some Pamphlets Letters That Lieutenant General Cromwel came to Chepstow where they drew out some Forces against him but Collonel Pride's men fell on so furiously that they gained the Town and beat the Soldiers into the Castle which being strongly fortified and provided Cromwel sent to Bristol for some Great Guns left a Party before it and Marched with the rest to Pembrokeshire 18. Both Houses passed the Ordinances for appointing the Militia of London and the Liberties during the pleasure of the Houses and for Collonel West to be Lieutenant of the Tower and for Major General Skippon to be Major General of London Westminster and the Lines Letters of St. Edmondsbury That about six hundred got together in Arms there about setting up a May-Pole and they cried out for God and King Charles laid hold upon some of the Soldiers and set Guards in several places That some Troops of the Parliament Quartered near and some Country Foot drew together and kept in a Body before the Town all night and kept them in on every side who seeing themselves in that condition sent for a Parley and submitted to mercy Upon a Letter from the Prince Elector his Brother Prince Philip had leave to raise one thousand Voluntiers for the Venetian service Report of a great design in London and the Suburbs of rising for the King in a great Body and to destroy the Parliament and City The House Ordered notice hereof to be given to the Common-Council and That the Militia be put into a posture of defence And That Prisoners be secured and a Committee appointed to draw Heads for an Union and good correspondence between the Parliament and City 19. Mr. Ashburnham and Mr. Legge being apprehended were committed to Windsor Castle Orders for the Committee of Salop to secure such Prisoners as they have surprized in Ludlow Castle and for Winchester Castle to be Garrisoned at the request of that Country 20. An Ordinance transmitted to the Lords for suppressing tumults The Common Councel of London returned in answer to the Parliament's Proposals for Union and good Correspondence That they resolve to remain firmly joyned against the Common Enemy And for this Parliament they did acknowledge with thankfulness their great care and pains for the Kingdom and particularly for this City and that they would live and die with that Parliament according to their former protestation An Ordinance past the Commons for putting Papists and Malignants out of the Lines Order for Captain Wogan and other Officers and Soldiers who came off from Major General Laugherne to the Parliament's Forces to have their Arrears and that the Prisoners taken in Wales and tryable by Marshal-Law shall be so
Princes Dukes Earls Lords and all persons alike liable to every Law of the Land 7. That all Commoners be freed from the Jurisdiction of the Lords in all cases and all tryals to be of twelve Sworn men and no conviction but upon two or more sufficient known Witnesses 8. That none be examined against themselves nor punished for doing that against which no Law is provided 9. That the proceedings in Law be abbreviated mitigated and made certain the charge thereof in all particulars 10. That all trade be made free from all monopolizing and ingrossing by Companies or otherwise 11. That the Excise and all kind of taxes except Subsidies be taken off 12. To have laid open all late inclosures of Fenns and other Commons or to have them inclosed only or chiefly for the benefit of the Poor 13. To have considered many thousands that are ruined by perpetual imprisonment for debt and provided for their inlargement 14. To have ordered some effectual course to keep people from begging and beggery in so fruitful a Nation as by Gods blessing this is 15. To have proportioned punishments more equal to offences that so mens lives and estates might not be forfeited upon trivial and slight occasions 16. To have removed the tedious burden of Tithes satisfying all Improprietors and providing a more equal way of maintenance for poor Ministers 17. To have raised a stock of mony out of confiscated Estates for payment of those who contributed voluntarily above their abilities before those that disbursed out of their superfluities 18. To have bound themselves and all future Parliaments from abolishing Propriety levelling mens Estates or making all things Common 19. To have declared what the duty or business of the Kingly Office is and what not and have ascertained the revenue past increase or diminution that there be no more quarrels about it 20. To have rectified the election of publick Officers for London restoring the Commonalty thereof to their just Rights 21. To have made reparation to all oppressed by Sentences in High Commission Star-Chamber and Council Board or by any Monopolies or projects and that out of the Estates of those that were Authors Actors and Promoters of those mischiefs and that without much attendance 22. To have abolished all Committees and have conveyed all businesses into the true method of the usual tryals of the Common-Wealth 23. Not to have followed the example of former Tyrannous and superstitious Parliaments in making Orders Ordinances or Laws or in appointing punishments concerning Opinions or things supernatural stiling some Blasphemies others heresies 24. To have declared what the business of the Lords is and ascertained their condition not derogating from the Liberties of other men that so there might be an end of striving about the same 25. To have done Justice upon the Capital Authours and Promoters of the former or late Wars 26. To have provided constant pay for the Army and to have given rules to all Judges and other Officers for their indemnity and saving harmeless all that have assisted 27. To have laid to heart the abundance of innocent blood that hath been spilt and the infinite spoil and havock that hath been made of peaceable harmless People by express Commission from the King and to have seriously considered whether the Justice of God be likely to be satisfied or his yet remaining wrath to be appeased by an Act of Oblivion The House gave thanks to the Petitioners for their great pains and care to the publick good of the Kingdom and said they would speedily take their desires into Consideration Another Petition was from well Affected Masters and Commanders of Ships Shewing that the Parliament had done Contrary to their Declarations and trade destroyed and they Petition for convoyes of their Ships in trading Outwards and Inwards according to the order of the Hollanders And that all monopolies and restraint of trade may be removed and some way taken to prevent the Shipping of Goods in foreign bottoms Intelligence from the revolted Ships that some of them are mending in Holland that the Saylors are insolent in their carriage towards the Prince Letters from the Isle of Wight that the King was removed to the place of Treaty and had his Liberty to ride about the Island Letters from Chester that by a Council of War there two were condemned and executed for a Plot to betray that City to the Kings Forces Letters from the North that a hundred Scots were brought in Prisoners by the Country that Cromwel was in pursuit of the Enemy and Lambert in the reare of him that the Enemy are about six thousand strong That Colonel Bethel and Colonel Lassells are sent to inforce the siege at Scarborough where three hundred Walloons are landed by command of the Prince That the Souldiers run away from Pontefract Castle to the Parliaments Party 12. The day of publick Humiliation for a blessing upon the Treaty Letters from New-Castle That Lieutenant General Cromwell was about Durham pursuing the Enemy who in the Bishoprick had exceedingly plundered and terrified the people wounding divers taking away the Children of others to get mony for the redemption of them and besides quarters they took of some three pound a House That those who cryed up Duke Hamilton's Party for the great reformers having been thus used by them and with civility by the Parliaments party their opinions are now altered That Monroe held a Council of War and resolved to march back to the Colepits and fire them all but two Posts came speeding to him to have him return presently back to Scotland for that the Presbyterian Ministers had got hold of the Civil Sword made the Marquess of Argyle General who was four thousand strong and too hard for the new levyed Forces of the Lord Lannerick Brother to Duke Hamilton That these Messengers came from Craford and Lannerick That the Scots Ministers had decreed among other things that in regard of the great defection to the Government throughout Scotland they will not administer the Sacrament of the Supper for one year to come That this saved the Colepits and sent the Scots the nearest way over Tweed in such hast that they had almost left their plunder behind them had they not preferred it before life and they left their confederate English to shift for themselves That some of Lieutenant General Cromwells Forces were gon over Tine and Major General Lambert marched by the way of Carlisle and many Countrey-men went with them to seek their Goods and Cattle carryed away into Scotland 13. The Grand Committee sat upon the Ordinance for sale of Deans and Chapter-lands and voted that a hundred pounds per annum should be the least that should be allowed to any minister for his benefice Letters from the Committee of York that the Treaty about Pontefract not taking effect they desired twenty thousand pounds for the Souldiery the House ordered twelve thousand pounds for them Some of the former
Thomas Widdrington Sir Thomas Beddingfield Mr. Keble M r Thorpe and M r Bradshaw Out of Lincolns Inn M r Sollicitor M r Samuel Brown M r Recorder Glyn and M r Earle Out of the Middle Temple Mâ— Whitelock Mr. Coniers and Mr. Puleston Out of the Inner Temple Mr. Chapman Mr. Gates and Mr. Will. Littleton Order that Serjeant Rolles should be made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench that Serjeant Iermyn and Mr. Samuel Brown should be made Justices of the same Court That Mr. Sollicitor should be chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Sir Thomas Bedingfield and Mr. Serjeant Creswell should be Justices of that Court. That Serjeant Wilde should be Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer and Mr. Gates a Baron of the Exchequer That Mr. Whitelock should be Attorney General of the Dutchy and one of the Kings Serjeants that Mr. Prideaux should be Sollicitor General and Sir Thomas Widdrington one of the Kings Serjeants The House approved of all those whom the Commissioners of the Seal named to be Judges and Serjeants except Mr. Hatton of the middle-Temple upon whom the question was not put 13. Vote that leases renewed with Deans and Chapters since a day past should be void An Ordinance past by the Commons for abolishing Deans and Chapters c. An Ordinance past both Houses for the Governour of Dover-Castle to be Lieutenant of it Vote for a charge to be prepared against Mr. Dowcet The Declaration prohibiting the Souldiery from repayring to London upon pretence of having their arrears was past and ordered to be Printed and published and sent to the several Sheriffs to be proclaimed Letters from the Isle of Wight that the King had consented 1. That an Act of Parliament be passed to make void the Cessation and all Treaties and conclusions of Peace with the Rebels in Ireland without the consent of both Houses of Parliament and the Prosecution of the war there to be left to the two Houses and the King to assist them and do no Act to hinder or disturb them 2. The Reformation of Religion in Ireland to be settled by the Parliament of England 3. The Chief Governours and Officers in Ireland to be nominated by the Parliament of England This to be for twenty years from 1. July 1648. 14. Voted for the Lord Admiral to continue at Goree in order to the reducing of the revolted Ships and orders for the Committee of the Navy to make provisions and take care for mony for the Fleet. 16. Upon a Petition of the Common Council of London for a supply of ministers in the City and for an allowance to them out of Deans and Chapters Lands referred to a Committee to consider thereof and of the want of a good ministry in other Parts of the Kingdom Order that those who took a Bark at Rye of the Kings Party should have the benefit of it Debate about satisfying of a debt out of Sir Jo. Stowells Estate to Sir Henry Holcroft but not allowed and an order for tryal of Sir John Stowell Letters that Lieut. General Ashton relieved Cockermouth and pursued the Enemy to Appleby which was rendred to the Parliament and taken in it five Knights twenty five Colonels nine Lieutenant Colonels six Majors forty six Captains seventeen Lieutenants ten Cornets three Ensigns five Pieces one thousand two hundred Horse one thousand Arms and all their Bag and Baggage Letters that Lieutenant General Cromwel was received with great Ceremony at Edenburgh where he demanded that none who had been in Action in the late wicked Ingagement and Invasion might hence forward be imployed in any publick Place of Trust to which the Committee of Estates there gave a satisfactory answer He had also visits and Conferences with Commissioners from the Kirke and from the Provost and Magistrates of Edenburgh and a strong Guard of Souldiers at his Lodging At the time of his being at Edenburgh several other demands were made by him to the Committee of Estates who gave him very fair answer and he reserved liberty for the Parliament of England to make such further demands as they should think requisite The Charges of Lieutenant General Cromwels entertainment and of all his Company during the time of their being at Edenburgh were defraied by the Lord Provost of the City by Order of the Committee of Estates and Cromwel Haselrigge and the rest of their company were entertained by General Leven the Lord Argyle and many other Lords at a sumptuous Banquet in the Castle At their going away the Castle Saluted them with many great Guns and Vollies of small Shot and divers Lords convoyed them out of the City That in Edenburgh was a Proclamation for all Malignants to depart the City and not remain within six miles of it 17. The House Voted to Adjourn for six days but the Lords dissenting they recalled ' their Vote Upon Letters from Colonel Ashton of the surrender of Appleby Castle referred to the Committee of the North what to do with the Castle and how to secure the Arms Ordnance and Ammunition there in Lancaster Castle and gave thirty pounds to the Messenger Letters from Lieutenant General Cromwel of his proceedings in Scotland and his return to Carlisle the House approved of it and ordered a Letter of thanks to be written to him The Commons Voted Sir William Parsons and Sir John Temple to be Commissioners for the Great Seal of Ireland and dissented from the Lords who Voted to have a Chancellour there Letters from the Isle of Wight that the King had assented to all the Propositions except that of the Church with some qualifications That an Act be passed for raising Monies to pay the publick Debts and if the King assent not to it that then if it pass both Houses it shall be valid in Law That by Act of Parliament all Peers made since the Lord Littleton carried away or that the Great Scal was carried away to Oxford May 10. 1642. and who shall hereafter be made shall not sit or Vote in Parliament without the consent of both Houses and that all Honours and Titles conferred on any since May 20. 1642. shall be void Letters from the Hague that the Prince with the revolted Ships is still in Goree Road his Seamen discontented That the Lord Culpeppeâ— was sent to them with Mony and they said they might thank the Earl of Warwick for it that the Lord Culpepper was accused for betraying the secrets of the Prince to the Parliament and that the Lord Percy was committed for giving the lie in the Prince his presence Letters that the Lord of Ormond was landed at Wexford in Ireland and brought with him four thousand Arms and five hundred Curassiers part of the Supply designed for the Scots That the English Army were in great want of pay and provisions 18. Letters from the Lord General Fairfax intimating the proceedings of the Army and that several Petitions were promoting among the Souldiery of the
aiding the King in his Wars and of an Act for making void all honours conferred on persons without the consent of both Houses And of an Act for the due observation of the Lords day Order for two great Cannons to be sent down to the Forces before Pontefract and Scarborough The House required an account concerning the taking off of the Sequestration of Sir John Winters Estate Order for addition of seven days more time for the Treaty at the Isle of Wight Letters from St. Albans that the General Officers of the Army upon their several meetings at the head quarters had agreed upon a Large Remonstrance to be presented to the Parliament The new Serjeants appeared at the Chancery Bar and Whitelock made the speech to them to this Effect M r Serjeant S t John and the rest of you Gentlemen who have received Writs to be Serjeants at Law IT hath pleased the Parliament in commanding these Writs to issue forth to manifest their constant resolutions to continue and maintain the old setled form of Government and Laws of the Kingdom and to provide for the supply of the high Courts of Justice with the usual number of Judges and to manifest their respects to our profession And likewise to bestow a particular mark of favour upon you as eminent Members of it the good affections to the publick and the abilities of most of you they know by experience among themselves and of the rest by good information I acknowledge that the burthen of this business lies heavy upon me in regard of my own weakness And the worthiness of the Persons to whom my words are directed but as I am of the least ability to give so you have the least need to receive Instructions I should be unwilling to see the solemnity of this general Call diminished and am the rather perswaded to supply my present duty for several respects 1. For the honour of that Authority which commands your attendance and my service upon this occasion 2. For the honour of this Court which challengeth a great share in this work your Writs issuing from hence your appearance here Recorded and your Oath is here to be taken 3. The honour and particular respects which I have of you that are called to this degree 4. And lastly out of my own affections to the degree being my self the Son of a Sergeant and having the honour to be one of your number in this Call and I do acknowledge that both in my descent and fortune I am a great debtor to the Law For these reasons I presume especially being with those from whom I have by long acquaintance found much friendship that I shall now receive a fair construction of what I speak upon this very great subject My observations shall be upon your Call by Writ and upon the Writ it self Your being called by Writ is a great argument of the antiquity of Sergeants The Register hath many Writs as my Lord Coke holds in his Preface to the 10. Rep. that were in use before the Conquest and in the most antient Manuscript Registers is your Writ of the same form with those by which you are called and if there had beeen any alteration within time of memory it would probably have been extant We find Sergeants at Law often mentioned in our Year-Books and in the Records in the Tower as high as the beginning of E. 1. and by Bracton who wrote in H. 3. time And it may probably be conjectured that William de Bussey was a Sergeant by his habit of the Coif and his Office Of whom Matthew Paris relates 42 H. 3. that he was Seneschallus Principalis Consiliarius Gulielmi de Valentia and being accused for great crimes upon his Tryal when he could not acquit himself Voluit ligamenta suae Coifae solvere ut palam monstraret tonsuram se habere clericalem and so to have avoided judgment but it would not serve his turn Thus far it is granted by a little Manuscript treatise which endeavours to detract from the honour of this degree and therefore requires an answer It asserts that by Magna Charta Communia placita non sequantur curiam nostram the Court of Common-Pleas was crected and that some of our profession by Writ then framed were commanded to attend that lower Court the Lawyers being generally unwilling to leave the Kings House where the other Courts of Justice then sate and to attend this new Court elsewhere It is reasonable well that they are allowed the antiquity of 9 H. 3. and by this as antient as the Common-Pleas Court but the errour that this Court was erected 9 H. 3. is sufficiently refuted The same great Charter is in Matthew Paris in King John's time with the words of Communia placita c. in it but I presume his meaning is that before the Statute of Magna Charta there was no Court of Common-Pleas though his words be before 9 H. 3. It is manifest by undeniable Authorities out of antient Manuscripts and Rolls and the black Book of Peterburgh that Cases were adjudged in R. 1. and H. 2. time coram Justitiariis in Banco residentibus and the names of those that were then Judges of this Court are set down many years before Magna Charta was granted which by Hoveden Paris and others are said to be the Laws of Edward the Confessor And if itbe admitted that Sergeants are as ancient as these Laws they allow them the Antiquity of the Confessor and if as ancient as this Court they are certainly as ancient as any thing in our Law But the Author of this Treatise affirmeth that before the Erection of the Court of Common-Pleas it cannot be shewed that there were any special Sergeant Pleaders I am of his opinion and likewise that no man can shew when that Court was first erected which is also the opinion of my Lord Coke 5. Rep. 9 Ed. 4. Sir Roger Owen Lambert and others Yet if the Author mean that before Magna Charta 9 H. 3. there were no such Sergeants he may be satisfied the contrary out of Hoveden and Paris who lived in R. 1. and H. 3. time and are Authors of good Credit They recite the Charge of the Justices in Eyer given in R. 1. and King John's time One of their Articles is to Enquire of the Sergeants at Law and Attorneys Fees In the Book of Entries in a Bill of Debt against a Sergeant at Law in the Common-Pleas he shows and prescribes that Sergeants could not be sued there by Bill but by Writ out of the Chancery and this being by Prescription shows that Sergeants were before the time of Rich. 1. And the Mirror of Justices which I presume they will not deny to be yet more ancient which my Lord Coke holds to be written before the Conquest saith a Countor est un Sergeant Sachant in la Ley de Realm to pronounce and defend Actions in Judgment From the Antiquity of the degree I come
General Council of the Army had much debate concerning the matters of Religion relating to their new Representative and of the power of the Representative in Civils Sir Thomas Widdrington and M r Whitelock met staid all the day together to draw some heads upon yesterdaies discourse and to endeavour to bring the Army into some fitter temper They were likewise to frame somewhat in order to the restitution of the Secluded Members for an answer for the Army to the Messages of the House to the Army touching their Members under restraint and heads for a Declaration what the Parliament intendeth for the settlement of the Kingdom to be considered of and offered to the Parliament and Council of the Army This was a work of no small difficulty and danger yet at this time not to be declined by them both the Members of the House and chief Officers of the Army having ingaged and trusted them only therein they prayed to God to direct them in it and that neither of them might receive any prejudice but the Kingdom might receive good by this their imployment and the Courses of the Army be moderated as it was in some measure at this time though it brake out again into violence afterwards 23. A Committee of the Common Council informed the House that the Citizens of London were so generally ingaged in the Petition for a personal Treaty that if the restriction in the late Ordinance should stand that none of them should be capable to be elected Officers of the City there would want sufficient persons to be chosen to supply necessary Offices in the City Referred to a Committee to consider of some expedient in this business A sharp debate about bringing the great Delinquents of the Kingdom to speedy punishment And now was set on Foot and begun their great design of taking away the King whom divers in the debate did not stick to name for the greatest Delinquent and to be proceeded against in Justice Others insisted upon it that he was not capable of being brought to justice by his Subjects but by God alone and that having subdued him and his Party there was no need of any thing further but to secure the Parliament from their Enemies rising against them any more and that might be done without bringing the King to any judicial tryal a thing not read of in any History But those of the fierce Party prosecuted their design with all eagerness and those of a contrary opinion either durst not oppose knowing they should be presently secluded the House if they did or seeing that no opposition would be to any effect or purpose It was endeavoured wholly to have put the business upon the Army that if they would have the thing done they should do it themselves as most proper for such an irregular and unheard of business to be done in an irregular way and by such irregular men but they were subtle enough to see and avoid that and to make those whom they left sitting in the Parliament to be their stalcs and to do their most dirty work for them many of whom they found and perswaded to be strangely forward to ingage in it Insomuch that it was carryed by vote in the House of Commons to name a Committee of thirty eight persons to consider of drawing up a charge and for that purpose to receive all informations and examinations of all Witnesses for the matters of fact against the King and all other Delinquents that may be thought sit to be brought to condigne punishment Letters from Colonel Bethel to the General of the surrender of Scarborough-Castle to him upon Articles for the use of the Parliament that there was in the Castle good store of all manner of provisions especially Rye and fifty Barrels of powder with Ammunition for many Months From the Parliaments Ships in the Downes came a Declaration to the General of their free Concurrence with the Army in their Remonstrance knowing the things to be just and good The King was expected to be at Windsor this Night and Colonel Thomlinson commanded the Guards about him upon Colonel Harrisons coming away Major Pitsford taken at Pembroke and staying here contrary to the Articles of surrender thereof was by the Court Martial sentenced to be shot to Death The Lord Wenman expressed himself very high against the Army having been seised and secluded the House by them which was no small provocation Mr. Whitelock and Sir Thomas Widdrington went together according to appointment to the Speakers house There met them divers Gentlemen of the House and they consulted about setling the Kingdom by the Parliament and not to leave all to the Sword and Sir Thomas Widdrington and M r Whitelock spake their minds freely to them some of them were wholly against any King at all others were against having the present King or his eldest or second Son to be King others were for the third Son the Duke of Gloucester who was among them and might be educated as they should appoint to be made King They came after a long debate to no resolution at all but appointed to meet again on next Monday 25. The Commons sate though it was Christ-mas day and made some Orders about the association of Somersetshire with the adjacent Counties Order for one thousand pound for Mr. Withers being moneys lent by him to the Parliament Five Members declared their dissent to the vote Dec. 5. 1648. The Committee named to consider how to proceed in a way of justice against the King were injoyned to meet this Afternoon Debate whether the secluded Members should be re-admitted A dispute between the two Houses whether thirty three thousand pound formerly granted to the Lord Willoughby as Part of his arrears and by him assigned to his Creditors who accepted the security should now be granted away to others in prejudice of the Lord Willoughbys Creditors which the Lords held not just The Lords who sate in the House being very few they Ordered that all the Lords who were within twenty miles should appear to morrow and those more remote within fourteen days after receipt of this Order some moved it might be under the pain of five hundred pound but that was not agreed unto A Petition to the Commons from Norfolk and Norwich reciting the former and present evils and praying 1. That present inquiry be made who have been the chief instruments of the King in the former or latter War and in the late bringing in of the Scots and that he himself and all such as have been the most notorious incendiaries and instruments in shedding of blood may without delay be brought to impartial Justice 2. That Courts of Justice Judges and Officers and Fecs may be certain and Laws in the vulgar tongue and Justice be speedy and without respect of persons and as may most agree with the rule of Christian duty just reason and the birth-right and priviledge of English-men and that
impartial Commissioners be appointed to try the late Mutineers in Norwich and Kent and other Counties 3. That course be taken for Payment of the publick debts out of Delinquents Estates and that taxes may be made easy and laid proportionably and so levyed 4. That Malignants be incapable of Offices or being Parliament men that under the notion of a Peer we be not voted into ruine by those that could not beat us into it and that a Committee be ordained to order affairs of State in the intervals of Parliament 5. That the power of the Militia be not put into the hands of Malignants or Neuters but of faithful persons to the Parliament 6. That the Army whose faithfulness we acknowledge may be vindicated especially for their late proceedings in order to impartial justice upon the Capital Offender the best means to establish this almost destroyed Nation that free-quarter be taken away and constant pay provided for the Army Another Petition was from the Garrison of Hull of their adherence to the late Remonstrance of the Army 26. The House approved the Articles of surrender of Scarborough and gave forty pound a piece to the Messengers that brought the news Mr. Elsing Clerk of the Parliament desired to quit his place by reason as he alledged of his indisposition of health to execute the same but most men understood his reason to be and he acknowledged it to Whitelock and others of his friends because he would have no hand in the business against the King He was a man of very great parts and ingenuous education he had travelled much and was very learned especially in the Latin French and Italian Languages and was a great Student and a very just and honest man and the most excellent Clerk both to take and express the sence of the House that I believe ever sate there so great a help to the Speaker and to the House in helping to state the questions and to draw up the Orders free from exceptions that it much conduced to the dispatch of business and the service of the Parliament He was a particular friend of Whitelocks and M r Selden was fond of him The House ordered M r Phelpes formerly Clerk to the Committee of plundered Ministers to officiate in M r Elsing's place and by a Deputation from him Upon the Petition of the East India Merchants order for them to have leave to transport thirteen thousand pound in Bullion Order for procuring six thousand pound for provisions and service for the Navy Divers Petitions to the Commons and to the General in complyance with the Armies Remonstrance among them one was to the General from Colonel Mackworth and the Officers and Souldiers in Salop. Inveighing against the personal Treaty and concurring with the late Remonstrance of the Army praying the General to continue to represent to the Commons these desires of their friends and not to hearken to the Counsels of their Enemies and to make a present settlement without any more addresses to the King And that his Excellency would endeavour that justice may be done upon the Authors of our troubles and blood-shed in the three Kingdoms in some exemplary way suitable to their crimes and without respect of persons That for taking off the grievances and burdens by free-quarter unequal taxes corrupt proceedings in Courts of Justice and other gross miscarriages in government to be reformed they will depend upon the Ordinary remedy by Parliament till God declare by evident demonstrations of his will in the passages of his providence that that extraordinary is to be resorted unto which is never denyed in case of Extremity to any People They resolve God strengthning them to follow his Excellency and the rest of those conductors raised up and Spirited for so great a work through a Sea of bloud to attain the fruition thereof Letters from Windsor that his Majesty removing from Hurst-Castle when he came to Winchester the Mayor and his brethren met him delivered him the Mace and made a speech to him That the Commander of that party who guarded the King told the Mayor that the Parliament had voted no more addresses to the King on pain of high Treason and by this address they made to him that they were within the danger of being Traytors That the Mayor and his brethren humbly asked pardon for it excusing themselves that they knew not any thing of that vote and that they would be more cautious for the future Letters from Dublin that they are quiet there by reason of the distractions among the Rebels whose divisions daily increase This Morning Sir Thomas Widdrington and Mr. Whitelock being together Mr. Smith who was Clerk to the Committee for preparing the charge against the King came to them with a Message from the Committee that they required them to come to them this day they having some matters of importance wherein they desired their advice and assistance and that they must not fail them They knew what the business was and Whitelock told Sir Tho. Widdrington that he was resolved not to meddle in that business about the Tryal of the King it being contrary to his judgement as he had declared himself in the House Sir Tho. Widdrington said he was of the same judgment and would have no hand in that business but he knew not whither to go to be out of the way and that the Committee might not know whither to send to him Whitelock replyed that his Coach was ready and he was this Morning going out of Town purposely to avoid this business and if he pleased to go with him they might be quiet at his House in the Country till this business should be over and he should be glad of his Company He willingly consented to go with Whitelock and was not long in preparing himself for the journey 27. The monthly Fast day and neither of the Houses sate The Council of War ordered that nothing be done upon the knee to the King and that all ceremonies of state to him be left off and his attendance to be with fewer and at less charge 28. Order for the City of London to proceed to the electing a new Common Council according to the former Ordinance by which Malignants are excluded And that the illegal Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and all other of the like nature be referred to a Committee to the end they may for the future be taken away The Committee for drawing up a charge against the King and to consider of the manner of his Tryal reported an Ordinance for attainting the King of high Treason and for trying him by such Commissioners as should be named in the Ordinance The Charge was to this effect That Charles Stuart had acted contrary to his trust in departing from the Parliament setting up his standard making a War against them and thereby been the occasion of much blood-shed and misery to the People whom he was set over for good that
them and That the Prince of Conde came with Force before Paris and stopt provisions 3. The List of the Officers of the Fleet referred to the Committee of the Navy To report who they think fit to go out with this Winter guard and who not Ordered that Captain Moulton be preferred in the Navy answerable to his Merit and the like for Colonel Lidcote The Commons taking notice that the Lords had rejected their Ordinance for Tryal of the King and had Adjourned their House they sent some of their Members to examine the Lords Journal-Book and they reported to the Commons three Votes passed by the Lords 1. To send answer by Messengers of their own 2. That their Lordships did not concur to the Declaration 3. That they had rejected the Ordinance for Tryal of the King Hereupon the Commons Voted That all their Members and others appointed to act in any Ordinance wherein the Lords are joyned with them shall be impowered and injoyned to sit act and execute in the said several Committees of themselves notwithstanding the House of Peers joyn not with them Order that the Ordinance for Tryal of the King and the Declaration from which the Lords dissented and which were intended for both Houses shall now be by the Commons only and that the former Committee do sit presently and report the alteration in the Afternoon during which time the House Adjourned In the Afternoon the Committee made their report and the Ordinance was re-committed and to be reported again to morrow the Lords names to be left out and the three Judges and Sergeant Bradshaw Sergeant Nicholas and Mr. Steel to be Assistants The Speaker acquainted the House with a Letter he had received by the French Ambassador from the Queen but the House would not have it read A Letter was sent from the General to the Committees of several Counties for Levying the Arrears of the Assessment for the Army and that he would take off free-quarter from those who paid their proportions 4. Report of amendments to the Ordinance for Tryal of the King and in respect the Lords had rejected it the Commons turned themselves into a Grand Committee to consider of the power of the Commons in Parliament and the Committee Voted 1. That the people under God are the Original of all just power 2. That the Commons of England assembled in Parliament being chosen by and representing the people have the Supream Authority of this Nation 3. That whatsoever is enacted and declared for Law by the Commons in Parliament hath the force of Law and all the people of this Nation are included thereby although the consent and concurrence of the King and House of Peers be not had thereunto These being reported to the House were upon the question all passed without a negative Voice to any of them An Ordinance intitled for Tryal of Charles Stuart by a Court Martial was assented to and ordered to be Ingrossed and brought in to Morrow Order that the Clerk do not give out any Copy of the Ordinance for Tryial of the King to any Member of the House or to any other 5. Order to require the Lord Mayor of London to suspend the taking of the usual Oaths and to proceed to perfect the elections of Common-Council Men. Upon information that divers Prisoners of War had escaped out of Peter-house through neglect of the Keeper referred to a Committee to examine and report it And to consider of a Prison to be given to the Sergeant at Arms attending the House Order to desire the General to command his Marshal General of the Army to put in execution the Ordinance concerning Scandalous and un-licensed Pamphlets Order for a large Book of Velom to be made and all the Acts Ordinances and Records which lie abroad in Papers and have been neglected be there entred The Committee for Concealed Monies sate in Whitehall and rewards were allowed to the discoverers 6. The Ordinance for Tryal of the King was brought in ingrossed and passed A Letter from the Commissioners of Scotland resident here pressing for unity of Councils and Actions according to the Covenant betwixt the two Kingdoms and that the House would not proceed to Try or Execute the King till the advice of that Nation be had thereunto Debate concerning the proceedings of Law the issuing of Writs and the like in what name they should be the King and the Lords not acting The Common Council agreed upon an Order to be published to morrow in all Churches for speedy payment of nineteen thousand pound of the arrears of the Assessment for the Army to prevent the whole Armies coming into the City and to be quartered upon those who have not paid their Arrears 8. Letters from Ireland that Sir Charles Coot marched with his Forces of Connaght from Sligo seventy miles into the Rebels Country and after a little conflict with the Rebels some of them were killed and his party burned great store of their Corn preyed upon the Country and brought away one thousand of their Cows without loss That at his return he apprehended Sir Robert Stuart and hath sent him into England with a Charge against him that since this he hath possessed himself of Kilmore and fourteen Guns which Sir Robert Stuart endeavoured to block up by Sea and Land and hindered the provisions sent by the Parliament from being brought to their Forces The House referred it to the General and Councel of War to try Sir Robert Stuart and to take care for the Forces of Sir Charles Coot in Ireland whose actions they approved and Ordered a Letter of thanks to him Referred to the General and Council of War to secure Holy Island Order for the Northern Counties to have the Sequestrations of Delinquents there for disbanding their Forces The Commissioners for Tryal of the King sate in the Painted Chamber at Westminster and Ordered that to morrow a Herald should proclaim and invite the people to bring in what matter of fact they had against Charles Stuart King of England and appointed to sit the next day upon his Tryal 9. Widdrington and Whitelock by agreement went into the House this Morning the Tryal of the King being begun some looked very shy upon them others bid them welcome and seemed glad to see them there About ten of the Lords sate and passed several Ordinances which they sent to the Commons who laid them all aside The Lords had debate upon their last Votes about the Tryal of the King And that some thing should be published to satisfy upon what grounds they rejected the Commission for his Tryal but they resolved nothing Sergeant Dendy who attended the Commissioners for Tryal of the King according to their Order rode into Westminster-Hall with the Mace on his shoulder and some Officers attending him bare and six Trumpets on Horse back and Guards of Horse and Foot in the Palace-yard The Trumpets sounded in the middle of the
the place for Tryal of the King should be Westminster-Hall and that in order thereunto the King should be brought from Windsor to London The Commissioners of the Seals heard some Cause in the Queens Court some told 'em for News that new Commissioners of the Great Seal were to be appointed Sergeant Bradshaw Sergeant Thorpe Sergeant Nicholas this was supposed to be discourse only as some would have it 14. The Lords day in the Evening a visit to Mr. Speaker who seemed much unsatisfied with the proceedings of the Army especially with an apprehension that they design to put him out of his place and to claim all by conquest The times were indeed full of dread and danger and of trouble and change which caused many a perplexed thought in sober men who yet put their trust in God and resolved to depend on him and to go on in the way wherein he had set them whilst they were permitted 15. The Declaration passed for revoking the former vote for taking off that of non-addresses to the King and for justifying the present proceedings of Parliament Order for one thousand pound for defraying incident charges for Tryal of the King A Petition from the Common Council of London desiring the House to proceed in the execution of justice against all Capital actors in the War against the Parliament from the highest to the lowest That the Militia Navy and places of power may be in faithful hands for recovery and increase of trade and to endeavour the setling of the Votes that the supreme power is in them upon foundations of righteousness and peace and that they resolve to stand by them They also presented a Narrative of the carriage of the Lord Mayor and some Aldermen denying to concurr with them in this Petition and departing the Court The House approved what the Common Councel had done and gave them thanks and appointed a Committee to consider of their desires The High Court of Justice sate and heard the Charge against the King and appointed a Committee to peruse it and the proofs of the matters of fact and Ordered to move the Parliament to adjourn the Term for fourteen daies in respect to this Tryal A Declaration read at the Council of the Army of the grounds of their present proceedings justifying them and making apologies for themselves that they seek no particular advantage by the agreement of the people by which they have discharged their consciences and their duty to their native Country in their utmost endeavours for a settlement unto a just and publick interest Letters from France of great troubles there and Forces raised by the Queen Regent the Cardinal Mazarine and their Party and Parisiens the Parliament and the Prince of Conde and other grandees of that Party 16. An Act passed for adjourning the Term for fourteen daies Another Act passed for regulating the Clerks Fees of the Navy and Customs and discharging unnecessary ones Now the Commons stil'd what were before Ordinances at this time Acts of Parliament Papers from Scotland not acknowledging the House of Commons a Parliament laid aside and not read Private Letters from Scotland that the Parliament there nemine contradicente did dissent from the proceedings of the Parliament of England 1. In the toleration of Religion in Order to the Covenant 2. In the Tryal of the King 3. In alteration of the form of Government Letters from Pontefract that the Enemy keeps up in hope of relief that Major General Lambert was very active in disbanding the Militia Forces The Commissioners of the Seals heard Demurrers in the Queens Court work men being in Westminster-Hall to make the Chancery and Kings Bench into one Court taking down part of either Court and making Scaffolds 17. Referred to the Committee of Derby House to bring in a list of names of some to be sent Commissioners to the Parliament of Scotland now sitting and to keep a fair correspondence between the two Kingdoms Order for Mr. Kiffin and Mr. Knolles upon the Petition of Ipswich-men to go thither to preach A Petition with large subscriptions from the Isle of Wight Portsmouth Southampton c. representing their grievances and remedies A Committee appointed to consider of this and all other Petitions of this nature and to begin with those of most concernment to the present settlement The High Court of Justice sate and caused the Charge against the King to be abbreviated they Ordered a Sword and Mace to be carried before them The Commissioners of the Seal heard some causes in the Queens Court and an Act of the House of Commons being brought to them for adjourning the Term they were required to issue forth Writs for that purpose They rose and advised together about it the two Lords Commissioners with them refused to joyn in signing a Warrant for those Writs because the Lords House did not concur in this Act. Sir Thomas Widdrington and Whitelock thought fit to acquaint the House herewith and there some moved to send up to the Lords for their concurrence but most of the House opposed it as a waving of their own authority having already without the Lords past an Act for it and so it was laid aside Sir Thomas Widdrington and Whitelock sate in the House till four a Clock and went then to the Earl of Kent and the Lord Grey to acquaint them with what the House had done in this business and advised them to move the Lords House in it themselves which the Earl of Kent did stick at Then Sir Tho. Widdrington and Whitelock went to some of the Judges and advised with them whether the Term might not be adjourned without any Writ and they seemed to be of Opinion that it could not 18. Major General Massey one of the secluded Members made his escape from St. James's where he was Prisoner The Lords sent down an Ordinance which they had past to the House of Commons for their concurrence and it was the same in effect for adjourment of the Term which the Commons had past before But the Commons having before voted That they were the supreme power and that all Committees which before were of Lords and Commons might after that Vote Act though the Lords joyn not they would not own the Lords as formerly by agreeing to this Ordinance Whitelock was in the House at this Debate and excused the two Commoners Commissioners of the Great Seal for their scruple in this business withal expressing their readiness to observe and obey the commands of the House of Commons 19. An Ordinance long debated and at last committed touching Delinquents paying in the remainders of their compositions or else to be sequestred again The place of Lieutenant of the Ordnance was formerly given to Sir Walter Earl now one of the secluded Members it was now snapt at by others and a motion made to give it to another Member but referred to a Committee The High
The King desired that in respect sentence of death was past upon him and the time of his execution might be nigh that the House would give him leave to see his Children and that he might have D r Juxon to be private with him in his Chamber and to give him the Sacrament This was ordered accordingly and Dr. Juxon preached before the King in his private lodgings this night at White-Hall 28. The Commissioners of the High Court of Justice kept a Fast in the Chappel at White-Hall 29. The House sate early and one of the secluded Members coming in they Voted That such Members as 5. Dec. last Voted that the Kings concessions were a ground of setling peace in this Nation should not be readmitted but disabled to sit as Members for the future The Dutch Ambassadours had their Audience in the House they read their Instructions and Credentials in French and promised Copies of them in English to morrow but would not part with the Originals Their business was to interceed for the Kings life and to preserve a fair correspondence betwixt this Nation and the States An Act passed for alteration of names and forms in Writs Grants Patents procedings in Courts c. That in England Ireland and Berwick c. instead of the style title and teste of the King shall be used Custodes libertatis Angliae Authoritate Parliamenti c. That the date shall be the year of our Lord and no other That instead of the former words Juratores pro Domino Rege c. the words now to be used shall be Juratores pro Republica Instead of the words Contra pacem dignitatem vel Coronam nostram the words shall be Contra pacem Publicam That all Writs Patents Commissions c. shall stand good notwithstanding the death of the King The High Court of Justice sate and appointed the time and place for the Execution of the King The Kings Children came from Syon-House tovisit him at S t Iames's he took the Princess in his Arms and kissed her and gave her two Seals with Diamonds and prayed for the blessing of God upon her and the rest of his children and there was great weeping The Prince Elector the Duke of Richmond and others made suit to see him which he refused Letters from Scotland that the Ministers there preach against the Army in England and the proceedings against their King they say they are bound by their Covenant to preserve Monarchy and that in the Race of the present King That their Parliament have passed several votes against those that were in the late ingagament against England Letters that Prince Rupert was at Sea with about fourteen of the revolted Ships and took divers Merchant men the Parliament having no Ships abroad The Commissioners met at Mr. Browns House where the Seal lay to have had a Private Seal but by reason of my Lord Grey's absence who had the key and because of the sentence given against the King they did not seal any thing but they heard divers Petitions 30. The King walked from St. James's through the Park guarded with a Regiment of Foot and Partisans to White-Hall Divers Gentlemen went bare before him D r Juxon followed next to him and Colonel Thomlinson had the charge of him they brought him to the Cabinet-Chamber where he continued at his devotion He refused to dine having before taken the Sacrament but about twelve a clock at noon he drank a Glass of Claret Wine and eat a piece of Bread from thence he went with D r Juxon Colonel Thomlison Colonel Hacker and the Guards through the Banqueting House adjoyning to which the Scaffold was erected it was hung round with black and the Floor covered with black and the Ax and block laid in the middle of it Divers Companies of Foot and Horse were on every side of the Scaffold and great multitudes of People came to be spectators the King looked earnestly on the Block asked if there were no place higher and directing his speech to the Gentlemen upon the Scaffold he spake to this effect I shall be very little heard of any Body here I shall therefore speak a word unto you here indeed I could hold my peace very well if I did not think that holding my peace would make some men think that I did submit to the guilt as well as to the punishment but I think it is my duty to God first and to my Country for to clear my self both as an honest man and a good King and a good Christian I shall begin first with my innocency in troth I think it not very needful for me to insist long upon this for all the world knows that I never did begin a War with the two Houses of Parliament and I call God to witness to whom I must shortly make an account that I never did intend for to incroach upon their priviledges They began upon me it is the Militia they began upon they confest that the Militia was mine but they thought it fit to have it from me and to be short if any Body will look to the dates of Commissions theirs and mine and likewise to the Declarations they will see clearly that they began these unhappy troubles not I. So that as to the guilt of these enormous Crimes that are laid against me I hope in God that God will clear me of it I will not I am in Charity God forbid that I should lay it upon the two Houses of Parliament there is no necessity of either I hope they are free of this guilt for I do believe that ill Instruments between them and me have been the chief cause of all this Blood-shed so that by way of speaking as I find my self clear of this I hope and pray God that they may too Yet for all this God forbid that I should be so ill a Christian as not to say that Gods judgments are just upon me many times he does pay justice by an unjust sentence that is Ordinary I only say this that an unjust sentence that I suffered for to take effect is punished now by an unjust sentence upon me that is so far I have said to shew you that I am an innocent man Now for to shew you that I am a good Christian I hope there is a good man pointing to Dr. Juxon that will bear me witness that I have forgiven all the world and even those in particular that have been the Chief causers of my Death who they are God knows I do not desire to know I pray God forgive them But this is not all my Charity must go further I wish that they may repent for indeed they have committed a great sin in that particular I pray God with St. Stephen that this be not laid to their Charge nay not only so but that they may take the right way to the peace of the Kingdom for Charity commands me not only to forgive particular men but
That Colonel Brownbushell be tryed for his life That the Prince Duke of York and divers Lords of the Kings party be banished The Confederates in Ireland sent to the Prince to come thither that they would proclaim him King of Ireland and joyn with him against England 15. The House sate not The Council of State nominated Lord General Cromwel to be General for Ireland M r Munday an Irish Rebel was shot to death by sentence of the Council of War and James Wilson to ride the Wooden Horse with a Musket at each Leg and to run the Gantelope at Lancaster Articles of Peace between the King of France and the Parisians were agreed upon At the Council of State they had great businesses and long sitting 16. Letters from the Hague that their Ambassadour lately returned from England reported the many civilities and honour he had received in England from the Parliament and Army Whitclock brought in the Draught of a Declaration touching the proceedings of Parliament in the late transactions Upon his report of the Declartion it was moved to pass it presently without any Commitment but he moved it might be committed to amend some faults in it and upon the commitment they made it much sharper than he had drawn it and added divers Clauses which he thought matters fit to be omitted After this it was much pressed to set a time for dissolving this Parliament most of the House disliked to set a time as dangerous but agreed that when the business of the Kingdom would permit that then it should be dissolved 17. Order for a publick fast The Declaration passed touching the transactions of Parliament and Ordered to be Printed in English Latin French and Dutch An Act reciting Charls Stuart to have been justly condemned and put to death for many Treasons Murders and other hainous Offences by him committed And that it hath been found by experience the Office of a King in this Nation and Ireland and to have the power thereof in any single Person is unnecessary Burthensom and Dangerous to the Liberty safety and publick Interest of the People and that for the most part use has been made of the Regal Power and Prerogative to Oppress and Impoverish and Enslave the Subject and that usually and naturally any one Person in such power makes it his interest to incroach upon the just Freedom and to promote the setting up of their own lust Therefore the Office of a King in this Nation henceforth not to reside or be exercised by any one single Person And whereas by the abolition of the Kingly Office a most happy way is made for this Nation if God see good to return to its Just and Ancient right of being governed by its own Representatives or National Meetings in Council from time to time chosen and intrusted for that purpose by the People They resolve and declare that they will put a period to the sitting of this present Parliament and dissolve the same so soon as may possibly stand with the safety of the People that has entrusted them and with what is absolutly necessary for the preserving and upholding the Government now setled in the way of a Commonwealth And that they will carefully provide for the certain Chusing Meeting and Sitting of the next future Representatives with such other circumstances of Freedom in Choice and equality in distribution of Members to be elected thereunto as shall most conduce to the lasting freedom and good of this Common-wealth Votes touching Compositions of Delinquents Order for every Member to meet by nine in the Morning upon forfeiture of twelve pence for every default Debate of making Elections of Parliament men more equal and not to be ingrossed in some few Corporations 19. A Petition from the well affected of Leicestershire 1. That the Militia may be in good hands 2. That the Army may be provided for and all Delinquents Estates to go for that end and Free-quarter be taken off 3. That the profits of great Offices may be imployed for the publick 4. That the Laws may be according to those God gave his people and plain and short in the English Tongue and Hand 5. That Tythes may be taken away and a more equal provision for the Ministry 6. That Officers of Treasure may account 7. That all may injoy their freedoms to worship God according to his word without coercive courses to the contrary 8. For relief for Ireland 9. For provision for the poor and to set them to work as they do in Holland The petition was commended and the Petitioners had the thanks of the House Captain Bray presented Books to the Members of the House entituled An Appeal against the the Lord Fairfax General containing matter of Charge against him to have him outed of his command in the Army Which being read Captain Bray was called in and asked if he would own the Book which he did and the House Voted the Book to be Scandalous as to the General and Council of War and tending to stir up sedition in the People and mutiny in the Army and the Captain was committed Prisoner to Windsor Castle Upon information that the Turkish Alcoran was printing in English Ordered to suppress it The Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations repealed and a Committee named to consider of a way for Appeals upon sequestrations Votes touching Compositions and some excepted Persons Order for Justices of the Peace to meet Monthly and make provision for the poor and to set them to work and to find out ingrossers of Corn and Coal An Act passed that the Commons of England assembled in Parliament finding by too long experience the House of Lords to be useless and dangerous to the people of England to be continued Ordain from henceforth the House of Lords in Parliament to be wholly abolished and taken away nevertheless they nor their Posterity to be excluded from the publick Councils of the Nation but to have their free Vote in Parliament as other members when duly Elected In the House business went on slowly as heretofore and not without great difference in opinion and some Animosities the most mischievous of all other things to their interest 20. The House sate not The Council of State had consideration of the business of the Navy and several Merchants attended in it The Lady Carlisle was examined about the last Summers insurrection and confined by the Council They consider also the letter from the Parliament of Scotland upon staying of their Commissioners here Which they alledge to be contrary to the Covenant League and Vnion between both Nations in breach of the Treaties and contrary to the Publick Faith and Law of Nations by which the freedom of Ambassadors and Commissioners is Sacred and Inviolable not only betwixt Christians but even among Heathen Kingdoms and States they desire their Commissioners may be freed from all restraint Letters from Lancaster that the
Forces of Colonel Aston about four thousand refuse to disband profess for the Covenant and are incouraged by the Clergy that Major General Lambert is gone to disband them by force if there be no other way The Scots Anti-Covenanteers offered to joyn against the Sectaries in England In the Council of State the President Bradshaw spent much of their time in urging his own long arguments which are inconvenient in State matters and his part was only to gather the sence of the Council and to state the question not to deliver his own opinion 21. Vote That Papists in Arms might compound at a Moiety of their Estates Reference to the three Commissioners of the Navy of matters relating to the Fleet A Letter from the Lord Chief Baron Wilde of the Mayor and Justices of Excester refusing to appear at the Assizes referred to the Council of State and referred to them to take care against the ingrossing of Coal from Newastle A Book of the Lancashire Ministers called the Agreement of the People referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers to examine 22. The House sate not but divers Committees to prepare business for them The Countess of Carlisle was again before the Council of State about the last Summers Ingagement A Complaint to the Council of the Army against Woolaston Keeper of Newgate and an Officer sent to desire justice against him The King of France's agreement with the Parisians was refused by them The King of Denmark sent an Ambassadour to Prince Charles to offer him assistance A Minister of the Hague in the presence of divers others his Brethren made a complemental Speech to Prince Charles and stiled him most Illustrious King The Swedish Resident at the Hague made great rejoycing for the peace in Germany at every health 30. Pieces of Ordnance were discharged two Fountains were made to run with Claret and White Wine and in their Fire Works as the Letters relate the name of the Queen of Sweeden might be read very perfectly The Parliaments Declaration of their grounds and intentions of their late transactions published 23. An Act committed for relieving and setting the poor to work Order for the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London in Person to proclaim the Act for dissolving Kingly government and a Writ agreed for proclaiming it in the Market Towns of the Several Counties by the Sheriffs Order for eight thousand pound which should have been paid to the Scots to be for the Navy Order for Commissioners to be appointed to Inventory the goods and Personal Estate of the late King Queen and Prince and apprise them for the use of the Publick Order for an Act to be brought in to satisfy well affected persons to whom the King Q. or P. were indebted before the Wars out of the value of those goods and estate but that the first 30000â— to be raised by them be for the use of the Navy the Council of State to keep such of the goods as they should think fit for the use of the Common-wealth An Act for an assessment of 90000â— per mensem Ordered to be debated in a Grand Committee Order for a Commission to the Judge and other Officers of the Admiralty to try and give sentence on such Sea-men Prisoners as revolted to the Enemy A Report from the Council of State of several great Ships to be presently set out to Sea approved Referred to them to consider of raising monies by the Forests Chaces and Parks and the timber in them which is unfit for shipping The Council of the Army named two Officers of every Regiment to meet and seek God what advice to offer to the G. concerning Ireland and the Lieutenant General Cromwell was to give in his answer to the Council of State whether he will go for Ireland or not within two daies 24. The House sate in a grand Committee upon the Ordinance for assessments for the Army The Council of the Army proposed incouragements for those who would ingage for Ireland and the Regiments to be drawn out by lot Letters that Ormond proclaimed King Charles II. in Ireland and sent a Letter to C. Jones to advise him to come in to the obedience of the King and promising him great rewards if he do it and safety to all that come in with him and leave the pretended Parliament of England who have murdered their King and would introduce Anarchy C. Jones returned answer That he understood not how his Lordship came to that power that the Parliament of England would never have consented to such a peace as his Lordship made with the Rebels without any provision for the Protestant Religion That he knew not how that could be established by an Army of Papists to whose hands his Lordship had given up that whole Kingdom that he had rather suffer in his trust than to purchase to himself the ignominy of perfidy by any advantage offered to him Letters that Pontefract Castle was surrendred upon Articles six persons were excepted whereof three escaped that the Souldiers and Officers were to go to their homes first subscribing an ingagement not to advise act or take up Arms against the Parliament or Common-Wealth of England that they had two Months provisions and forty Barrels of Powder in the Castle 25. Easter day 26. The House sate not The Council of the Army agreed for incouragement of those who shall ingage for Ireland that they shall have three months advance of their pay and of their arrears and if they be slain those to have it to whom they shall assign it That a Court of Admiralty be in Ireland c. these things to be proposed to the House for their confirmation Letters from Ireland of Ormond's preparations for his Forces that the Vlster Scots declared against the Parliament and declined Monk that the Parliaments Army there are in great want and their interest in danger to be wholly lost in that Kingdom The heads of the Articles of Peace made by Ormond were 1. That the Roman Catholicks of Ireland have free exercise of Religion all penalties to be taken off not to be obliged to the Oath of supremacy to injoy Church livings in their possession and jurisdiction 2. For a Parliament when the Catholicks shall desire it 3. All Laws made in England since 1641. in blemish of the Catholicks to be vacated 4. All Indictments against them since that time to be vacated 5. That Catholicks may be elected and vote in Parliament 6. Debts to remain as in 40. 7. The Estates of freeholders in Connaught c. to be secured 8. All incapacities of the Natives to be taken away 9. All honours trusts imployments c. to be conferred on the Catholicks as well as Protestants 10. That the King take two thousand pound per annum for the Court of Wards 11. Noble men to have but two Proxies in Parliament 12. The depending of the Parliament of Ireland upon England to be
as both shall agree to stand with the Laws of Ireland 13. That the Council table meddle only with State matters 14. Act against transporting wooll to be null 15. Those wronged by grants to have relief 16. Wronged persons to have right 17. Restitution of Estates 18. An Act of oblivion to pass 19. Customs not to be farmed and Monopolies to be taken away 20. The Court of Castle-Chamber to be regulated 21. Acts forbidding ploughing with Horses by the tayl and burning Oats in the Straw to be nulled 22. An Act to take off grievances 23. Maritime causes to be determined in Ireland 24. No rents to be raised under pretence of defective titles 25. Interest money to be for given from 1641. 26. All this to be acted till a Parliament agree it 27. That the Catholick Commissioners agree upon such as shall be Justices of Peace and hear all causes under ten pound 28. All Governours of Forts to be by approbation of the Catholick Commissioners 29. None of the Kings rents to be paid till a further settlement by Parliament 30. Power of the Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer 31. Differences in Ireland to be tryed there and not in England 32. The Roman Clergy not to be molested 33. That his Majesty grant whatever else is necessary for the Catholicks Prince Rupert was upon the Irish coast with sixteen Ships many vessels were taken by him A Petition to the General and his General Council of War from the well affected Inhabitants of Lincolnshire much to the same effect with others lately presented to him and to the Parliament and which are before mentioned Two men measuring some ground in Windsor forest were asked by what Authority they did it they showed a kind of Warrant from Lieutenant General Cromwell desiring all Officers of the forest Souldiers and others to permit these men to set out some Land c. in regard there was no Justice in Eyre It were to be wished that such men as Lieutenant General Cromwell would not so irregularly meddle with such matters as these are the men were forbidden to make any divisions of the Land or ditches about it till further order 27. A Declaration passed that a Book lately published entituled the second Part of Englands new Chains discovered contained matter false Scandalous Seditious Mutinous and tending to raise a new War that the Authors and publishers of it were guilty of Treason and referred to the Council to find them out Anno 1649 Letters from Major General Lambert with the Articles of the surrender of Pontefract Castle A Letter and Petition from the Grand Jury of Yorkshire acknowledging with humble thanks the justice of the Parliament in their late proceedings and ingaging to joyn with them and desiring Pontefract Castle may be demolished and some other Forts thereabouts Vote for three hundred pounds per annum to be setled on Major General Lambert out of Pontefract honour for his good service The Lancashire Forces submitted to disband and quitted Clithero Castle Order for that Castle to be demolished and that the Council of State consider what other Inland Castles are fit to be demolished Sir Henry Cholmely sent for upon complaints against him Instructions for the Scots Commissioners to their new King were 1. That he take the Covenant 2. To put from him all who have assisted his Father in the War particularly Montross else not to Treat with him 3. To bring but one hundred with him into Scotland and none who have assisted his Father in Arms. 4. To bring no Forces into Scotland from other Nations without their consent Marquess Huntley was beheaded at the Cross in Edenburgh Letters from the Hague that the Queen of England invited Prince Charles her son into France that the States inhibited their Ministers from insisting upon matters of State and in their Pulpits and particularly not to meddle with Englands or other Kingdom 's proceedings 28. Upon a Report from the Council of State of the particulars for incouragement of those who shall ingage for Ireland with Lieutenant General Cromwell the House referred them back again to the Council to perfect Upon a Report from them of the Earl of Ormond's proclaiming the King in Ireland c. the House voted the Earl a Traitour and an Act to be brought in to attaint him Order for a Letter of thanks to Colonel Jones and a gratuity Order that no Ministers shall teach in their Pulpits any thing relating to State affairs but only to preach Christ in sincerity and an Act to be brought in for penalties to those who shall do otherwise Orders for money given away A new day given to the Lord Mayor to conform to the order for proclaiming the Act against King-ship or to give an account to the House why he hath not done it 29. The House sate not The Council of State upon examination of Lilburn Walwyn and others who owned the Book called England's new chains did commit them to the Tower The Estates of the Netherlands summoned and examined their Ministers and disallowed what they had done in relation to King Charles II. And forbad them all to meddle with State matters in their Pulpits without leave of the Magistrate The Council of State perfected the particulars for incouragement of those who shall ingage for Ireland and Lieutenant General Cromwell declared himself willing to undertake that service 30. Vote that Gresham Colledge be not exempted from the assessment to the Army nor the Doctors in Doctors Commons nor the Counties in Wales formerly exempted Order that the Speaker do sign such Letters as shall be thought fit by the Council of State to the States of Hamburgh touching Merchants Upon a Petition of the Borough of Southwark of the inequality of their rates with the County of Surrey the House held their desires just and Ordered that in all future rates they should pay the eight part of that assessed upon the County of Surrey Order for the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall to form the Votes concerning compositions of Delinquents and to have them printed and published that none may plead ignorance of them Referred to the Committee of the Army to make provision of four thousand Cassocks and breeches to be disposed of by the General to his Foot Souldiers in regard of the smallness of their pay Upon the Report of Alderman Atkins that the Lord Mayor desired to be excused from proclaiming the Act for abolishing Kingly Government the House Ordered that he be summoned to attend at the Bar to answer his contempt and disobedience herein 31. Upon a Report from the Council of State that Lieutenant General Cromwell accepted of the service for Ireland and would endeavour to the utmost of his power with Gods assistance to carry on that work against the Rebels and all that adhere to them Voted that the House doth approve of Lieutenant General Cromwell to be Commander in chief of all the
him the Charge and Care of these pretious Medals and Books and to be the Library Keeper himself and to appoint whom he thought fit to look to them under him He knew the greatness of the Charge and considered the Prejudice that might fall out by being responsible for those rich Jewels the Imbezelment whereof would be endeavoured by many and his other occasions would not permit him to give much Personal attendance on this Business nor to enjoy much of the delight of perusing them Yet he being informed of a design in some to have them Sold transported beyond Sea which he thought would be a Dishonour and Damage to our Nation and to all Scholars therein and fearing that in other hands they might be more subject to Imbezeling and being willing to preserve them for Publick use He did accept of the trouble of being Library Keeper at St. Jamse's and therein was incouraged and much perswaded to it by Mr. Selden who Swore that if he did not undertake the charge of them all those rare Monuments of Antiquity those choice Bookes and Manuscript would be lost and there were not the like to them except onely in the Vatican in any other Library in Christendom The Councel made an Order for him to be Library Keeper of St. Jamses and to have lodgings in the house belonging to the place and recommended to him Mr. Duery a German by Birth a good Scholar and a great traveller and Friend to the Parliament to be his Deputy in that place but at his liking He was willing to have a Deputy by their recommendation being thereby he should be the less answerable and he appointed Mr. Duery to have the Keys to go to Mr. Patricke Young the former Library Keeper to the late King to inquire for an inventory of the Books and Meddalls and to see an exact one made forthwith of all of them An Act past for altering the Seals of the Custome House Leave given to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London to transport 60 prisoners out of New-gate to the American Plantations Letters that the Lord Leiutenant of Ireland was ready to take shiping that a few deserted the engagement and that Money was much wanting that 500 Irish were landed at Jersey designed as was Imagined to second the Plot for surprising Weymouth Portland and other Garrisons Letters of many Pickeroons upon the Northern Coast who took divers vessels and much disturbed the Coal ships and Fishermen Letters from Scotland that the Kirk party much Commended their New King and that his coming thither was expected That they continued a Force of 6000 Men which in ten dayes they could make up 2000. And perswaded the People that England was sending an Army against them to be Commanded by Lieutenant General Cromwell Letters of a Holland Man of War taken with an Irish Commission and that had done much mischief on the Sea to the English and taken divers ships from them 31 Mr. Lemmon a Member of the House Chosen by the City to be one of their Aldermen although he had left the City 17 Yeares since the House left it to himself whether he would hold to be an Alderman or not Order for Mony for Maimed Souldiers and for the Widowes of slain Souldiers An Additionall Act passed for the Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands and to remove some Obstructions in the Sale of them Upon notice that the Prisoners in the Kings Bench were in some mutiny some Horses were sent thither to suppress the insurrection onlyone Woman was Killed by one of the Prison Officers and another was hurt 100000 l. went from London to the Lieutenant of Ireland into Wales Letters from Chester that Ormoâ—◠〈◊〉 40000 strong before Dublin That Colonel Monk upon the Enemies approach towards Dundalke sent to Owen Rowe Oneal head of the natural Irish desiring him in pursuance of the Articles between them to draw his Forces together and to be in readiness when the Enemy should draw near to them This was undertaken by Owen but he sent word back that he wanted Ammunition and being come within 3 Miles with his whole Army he sent out 1200 Foot and 200 Horse who received from Colonel Monk 20 barrels of Powder with Match and Bullets proportionable Presently after this they had information that Inchequiu was coming against them which made them speed as fast as they could to their General but they were over taken and routed 500 killed upon the place many Prisoners taken the rest so beateu and scattered that few of them escaped without their deaths wounds This News was so terrible to Owen and his Army that they all rose in a Panick Fear and Fled into the County of Long ford this defeat was given in the view of the Town of Dundalke and Inchequin sent the news of it presently to Ormond who thereupon sent to C. Jones for exchange of Prisoners and sent him the news of this defeat given to Owen Inchequin the same evening came before Dundalke and summoned it C. Monke was retreated thither upon the assurance of all his Officers and Souldiers to stand by him except one Souldier who when Monk told them that if any of them scrupled to fight in this quarel he might depart and should have a pass from him This one Souldier only desired a passe and said he could not in Conscience fight in this quarell Monke gave him a Passe according to his desire and the rest promised to be Faithful to him But when Inchequin came now before the Town all the Faithful Souldiers ran away over the Trenches to Inchequin Swearing deep Oaths that they would not Engage with Monk who entred into confederacy with Owen Row the Head of the native Irish By this and many other Passages both in ours and other Histories we may observe the strange inconstancy Lightness and Irrational Actions of the Common Souldiery whom for the most part Mony and avoiding present Danger carryes beyond any other interest These Souldiers of C. Monk's one Day Swore to stand by him the next every one of them deserted him Mony was to be had from Inchequin none from Monk with whom if they staid they must Fight but if they left him they thought the Danger was over They had all engaged under C. Monk and when he had demanded of them whether they would be faithful to him and stand by him all but one said that in Conscience they could not leave him but would stand by him The next Day when Danger approached then they could not in Conscience stay with him because he was Confederate with the Head of the Native Irish Rebells Owen Rowe Yet the same Conscience could give them leave to serve under Ormond who Commanded both the Irish Rebells Catholickes and the English Royalysts against the English Protestants Monkes Souldiers having thus deserted him the Town of Dundalke was presently surrendred to Inchequin upon no other Conditions but that Monk might dispose of what was his as he saw
Provisions and Ammunition Order for 100 l. to Mr. King who brought the Letters from Sir Charles Coot for his good Service Referred to the Councel of State to examine the Business of Captain Kesar mentioned in Sir Charles Coots Letter and to send for and secure him if they find cause 25 By Vote the House declared That all such English and Scots and all others that have ingaged for the Parliament of England in the Nation of Scotland and have revolted from that Service and all such as have or shall adhere unto or joyn with Charles Stuart eldest Son of the late King in that Nation are Traytors and shall have their Estates confiscate and their Persons proceeded against by Martial Law Order for these Votes to be Printed and Published and a Copy of them to be sent to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Order to forbid proceedings in the Composition of the Earl of Derby because he holds the Isle of Man against the Parliament By two Printed Papers and three Letters to the Committee of the Army for discovery of Criminal Offenders Mr. Speaker was taxed for an ill Member and that he had conveyed a great Sum of Money to the King and Matters of Falsehoods and Breach of Trust are charged on him Upon the Order of the General the Officers of the Army certifyed under their Hands That they never examined any matter touching the Speaker nor had any Order from his Excellency for that purpose to authorize it That they find the same Business had been Judicially heard before a Committee of Parliament and by them reported to the House who declared those complaints raysed and prosecuted falsely malitiously and scandalously against the Speaker and that exemplary Punishment be inflicted upon the Prosecutors The Officers of the Army conclude their Certificates That they humbly conceive the said Information raysed and promoted since the Judgement of the House as aforesaid was a practice to bring an Odium upon the Speaker who hath so highly merited from the publick An Advertisement published That if any Countryman be injured by the Souldiers taking of Free-Quarter contrary to the Act that upon Complaint to the Judge Advocate of the Army and Proof thereof made he shall have Satisfaction out of the Pay of the Souldier and Protection from the Army 27 The House sate not Letters from Dublin to the Councel of State of some Correspondence betwixt the Governour of Tredagh and Lieutenant General Jones and that Ormond came thither with 1500 Horse and 2000 Foot That Owen Roe O Neal conceiving that he had merited from the Parliament desired a Convoy for his Men to serve the Spaniard but nothing was granted Letters that the Scots Army was full of Malignants and the Nation full of Feares That nothing will give Satisfaction there but the Kings putting Malignants from him and granting the particulars of the Covenant Letters from Mr. Peters to the Councel giving them an account of the Fleets setting sail for Ireland c. Lieutenant Collonel Morrice Governour of Pontfract Castle for the King was executed according to the Sentence of the Court Marshal Letters that 5 Men of War wearing the Scots Colours set upon 5 Ships of the Parliaments killed 4 of their Men wounded 18 and did much Prejudice to the Ships The Governours of the new Corporation in London for setting the poor to work sent their Warrants requiring the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor in every Parish to return the Names to them of all such as are able to work and have not meanes to maintain themselves and of all who are not able to work and want Livelyhood 28 Order for such as neglect to take out Discharges upon their Compositions for Delinquency to be taken into Custody The Act passed prohibiting the Importing of any Wines Wool or Silk from France into England or Ireland An Act passed for admitting the Purchasers of Bishops Lands to pay the whole purchase Money by Weavers-Hall Bills Another Act passed touching the second 40000 l. charged on the Excise and Goldsmiths-Hall 29 The Publique Thanksgiving day Solemnized The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland shortly after his landing at Dublin published a Proclamation reciting the great Mercies of God to that City particularly in the late Defeat given to the Rebels who incompassed it round about and finding that notwithstanding the Goodness of God to them yet by profane Swearing Cursing and Drunkenness his holy Name is dayly dishonoured and blasphemed contrary to the Laws of God and the known Laws of that Land and to the Articles of War He commands the Major and Magistrates of the City and the Officers of the Army to put in due Execution the Laws against such Offenders and that he will punish the neglect and contempt of this Proclamation with the severest Punishment of the Law 30 The Act for relief of Prisoners of Debt was after a long Debate and difference in Opinion ordered upon the Question to be ingrossed Debate touching Fees and Salaries of the Officers belonging to the House The Arrears of Sir Adam Lostus referred to the Committee for Irish Affairs Letters from Holland That the Prince his Men run away from him for want of Mony That 2 Irish Frigots brought into Dunkirk 6 Hull Ships for Prizes Letters from Dublin That the English Fleet which came thither with the L. Lieutenant strikes a great Terrour into the Enemy That Trumpets came to Jones from Ormond Inchequin and others but he sent them back with this Answer That now all Addresses must be made to the L. Lt. Cromwel 31 Order that Serjeant Dandey Serjeant at Arms to the Councel do proclaim the Act for prohibiting the Importation of Wines Wool and Silks from France Debate touching Mr. Warners Case An Act passed touching the West-India Islands and making them subordinate to the Government of England Order for an Act to prohibite the Brewing of Ale or Beer above 10 s. the Barrel Report by the Councel of a Letter from the Lieutenant of Ireland giving an Account of his Condition after his safe Arrival and laying open his necessities for Supplies and speedy Recruits Referred to the Councel of State to consider of the Letter and Desires of the L. Lieutenant and to answer his Expectation so far forth as it may not increase the Charge of this Common-Wealth Order for Payment of the 200 l. formerly given to Captain Poulton Order for 1200 l. for C. Fielder late Governour of Portsmouth for his Service there and 1148 l. for his Arreares out of concealed Delinquents Estates to be discovered by him Upon a Report from the Councel of their Opinion That Sir Kenelm Digby is a dangerous Person and to know the pleasure of the House concerning him they Voted That he was not within the compass of the Votes for compounding for his Delinquency And that he be injoyned to depart the Common-Wealth within 20 days and not to return without leave of the House under pain of Death
this betterness will save much effusion of Blood through the Goodness of God I wish that all honest Hearts may give the Glory of this to God alone to whom indeed the Praise of this Mercy belongs for Instruments they were very inconsiderable the Work throughout Then he gives an Account of his purpose for Wexford and concludes Captain Brandly did with 40 or 50 of his Men very gallantly storm Tenalis for which he deserves the Thanks of the State O. Cromwel Sep. 16th 1649. The Councel of State ordered that the Ministers in their several Churches to morrow being the Lords Day should acquaint the People And according to the Order of the Councel of State the Ministers of London acquainted the People with the great Successes of the Parliaments Forces in Ireland and returned Thanks to God for the same October 1649. Octob. 1 More Letters of the Particulars of the taking of Drogheda That the Breaches not being made low enough the Horse could not go on with the Foot but the Foot alone stormed and entred the Town but by reason of the numerousness and stoutness of the Enemy who maintained the Breach as gallantly as ever men did and by the death of Collonel Castle whose Regiment was one of those that stormed and he was slain at the Storm our Men were disheartned and retreated Which my Lord Lieutenant seeing went himself to the Breech and after a little time a fresh reserve of C. Evers Men fell on with the rest very couragiously and God abated the Courage of the Enemy they fled before us till we gained the Town and they all agreed in the not giving of Quarter and other particular Passages before mentioned 2 Letters from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to the Parliament and Councel of State of the Success at Drogheda more particularly That Sir Arthur Ashton the Governour and divers considerable Officers got up into the Mill Mount a very strong Fort in the Town but Cromwels Men got up to them and put them all to the Sword having Command not to spare any that were in Arms in the Town That about 140 got into a Tower and being Summon'd would not yield but killed and wounded some of our Men and when they submitted their Officers were knocked on the Head and every 10th Man of the Souldiers killed and the rest were shipped for the Barbadoes That these People thrust the Protestants out of the great Church and set up Mass there and in this very place 1000 of them were put to the Sword flying thither for safety their Fryars and Priests were knocked on the Head promiscuously with the others who were in Arms. The Letters said further That in Sir Arthur Ashtons Pocket were Letters taken from Ormond to him assuring him of relief in a short time That Ormond and Inchequin were at variance The Parliament ordered a Day of publick Thanksgiving for the great Successes in Ireland The Inhabitants of Wickloe being all Roman Catholicks submitted to the Lord Lieutenant who marched with his Army to the West for reducing of Munster Letters of more Moss Troopers taken Letters from Scotland That Mr. Windham was gone to their King with as inviting a Message as Pen could draw or People send promising him Personal Protection Restauration c. and no Condition for so much as subscribing the Covenant Several Persons apprehended at Lancaster who raised a tumult to keep a Malignant Person in his Benefice 3 Several Votes past and ordered to be Printed for Repayment of Money lent upon the publick Faith Letters from France That Prince Charles went from the Court towards Caen in Normandy and from thence intended to go for Jersy That his Train was but 60 Horses and six Coaches with six Horses a piece and that many of his Servants and some Gentlemen went on Foot That the Prince had but 300 Pistols left him to defray the Charges of his Journey 4 A Letter from the General with a Petition inclosed from the Officers of the Army being the humble Desires of the Councel of War in prevention of the disorderly buying of Debenters of the Souldiers at inconsiderable Rates Referred to a select Committee with Power to send for and conferr with such Persons as they shall think fit in order to that Business The Election of Alderman Fowke to be Lord Mayor of London and his being presented to the House with a Speech by their Recorder Steel The House approved the Election Letters from Salop of their Ministers preaching bitter Invectives against the Parliament Letters that Captain Dawkins took a Dunkirk Frigot with four pieces of Ordinance and a Commission from Prince Charles Letters that a Minister and his Wife near Edenburgh were lately apprehended for Witches Letters that the Lord Lieutenant upon his March towards Wexford took in several Garrisons C. Scroope was made Governour of Bristol-Castle 5 These Acts passed To give Liberty of Transporting ungarbled Spices For settling the Accounts â—f the Common-wealth For Redemption of Captives Order for a Declaration to be published to the Kingdom upon sale of the Lands of the late King Queen and Prince The House adjourned Letters that some Aldermen of Wexford were sent out to treat with the Lord Lieutenant ten Miles before he came to the Town That Inchequin would surrender up his Forces and Garrisons so he might have security of his Life and of his Estate of 1000 l. per annum That the Earl of Antrim would surrender four Garrisons upon Condition to enjoy his Life and Estate That C. Veneable was made Governour of the North of Ireland That most of C. Evers Officers were wounded at the storming of Tredah Prince Rupert having been for divers Months blocked up in the Harbour of Kinsale by the Parliaments Ships at length by reason of his want of Provisions and Cromwels being ready to take that Town by Land the Prince was forced to a Resolution to make his way through them And with the loss of three of his Ships he bore out of that Harbour and with the remainder of his Fleet getting clear of the Parliaments Ships steered his Course for Lisbon where he was not only protected but caressed by the King of Portugal which so much displeased the Parliament that they commenced a War with that Prince doing him many great Dammages in the Trade and Navigation wherein the Riches of that Nation chiefly do consist At the same time that Prince Charles and his Retinue about 300 arrived at Jersy and was there proclaimed King Some few Forces were landed in the Isle of Orkeney from the Lord Montross and some came out of Ireland into the North of Scotland under Sir James Montgomery Hereupon and to oppose these Forces the Scots began to make Preparations though at the same time they were upon terms of Treaty with their King for whose Service these Forces were designed The Kirk having long before excommunicated Montross strict Order was now given for suppressing a Declaration which he had
Officer of the Kings in Cornwall who were carryed to Prison til further Order from the Parliament or Councel of State 16 Divers Surveys returned into Worcester House of Lands of the late King Queen and Prince appointed to be sold 17 The General sent his Orders to several Garrisons to hold Courts Martial for the Punishment of Souldiers offending against the Articles of War provided that if any be sentenced to loose Life or Limb that then they trasmit to the Judge Advocate the Examinations and Proceedings of the Court Marshal that the General 's Pleasure may be known thereupon The Commission also from the General gave authority to examine Witnesses upon Oath against the Offender and for his Defence An Account of Recruits for Ireland and Returns of Subscriptions to the Ingagement from several Regiments and Garrisons 18 Letters that the Mayor and Magistrates of Yarmouth and all the Officers and Souldiers of the Garrison there did willingly take the Ingagement and that there was great Affection and Unity between them That the Commissioners appointed by the Councel of State were settling the Militia in those parts That a Danish Ship of twelve Guns was cast away in sight of the Town who sent out Boats and saved twelve of her Men the rest were drowned and six of her Guns saved From Jersy That the Prince intends to remove back again into France That his Councel is much divided about what Answer to give to the Lord of Libbertons Message From Durham That a written Paper was fixed upon the Market Cross of the Title of King Charles the Second c. and that all that opposed him were guilty of Rebellion which was Treason in the highest nature and therefore the Authors kindly wished all to amend 19 Most part of this week was spent in Parliament upon Debates of a new Act for regulating the Elections of Members for suture Representatives and upon a Bill for managing and ordering of the Sequestrations Granger and others were apprehended for counterfeiting Warrants and receiving great Sums of Money collected for the Service of the Forces in Ireland The Generals at Sea met at Portsmouth to hasten out the Navy to Sea The General and his Officers made several Resolutions touching the purchasing of the late Kings Lands Several other Persons apprehended and Committed to the Marshal General for counterfeiting Debenters and Warrants whereby they received several Sums of Money from Collectors 21 The General and his Officers met and passed several Votes to be presented to the Committee of Parliament touching the Removal of Obstructions in the sale of the late Kings Lands and for the Examination of the Souldiers times of Service and what Arrears are due to them c. 22 Long Debate upon the Act of Sequestrations to which the House added several Provisoes Letters from Weymouth about the Pirates infesting that Coast From Newcastle That the taking of the Ingagement sticks most with the Presbiterians who pretend Conscience to oppose it but the Cavaleers in Policy subscribe it That the Cavaliers report that Lieutenant General Cromwel was sent for out of Ireland because he was forced from thence and could no longer subsist there From Edenburgh That Libberton wrote a Letter only to let them know that he was safely arrived in Jersy but not one word of the Kings Mind That Sir William Flemming came thither from Jersy to see what Posture they were in That many Witches were dayly apprehended and brought to the Fire From Hull That Mr. Strickland the Parliaments Agent in Holland finds there a very fair Comportment as to the Affairs of England From Plymouth That the Cavaliers have frequent and great Meetings That the Souldiers and Officers there did willingly subscribe the Ingagement 23 In a meeting of the Officers of the Army with the Committee for removing Obstructions in the sale of the late Kings Lands several things were agreed upon for the Advantage of the Souldiery in the purchase of those Lands C. Desborough and his Court Marshal at Plymouth sentenced ten Souldiers to death for running away after they had listed themselves and taken Money for the Service of Ireland Letters that a Ship with 30 Horse and 120 Foot bound for Ireland were cast away and all drowned From Kingsale of Cromwels viewing several Forts his taking the Mace from the Mayor of Kingsale and delivering it to C. Stubber the Governour That all things were in good Condition in Munster and that Waterford was upon Treaty of Yielding The Earl of Pembroke dyed his Son who was a Member of the House of Commons before continued to sit in the House now being himself an Earl upon the death of his Father Letters from Jersy that the Prince and the Scots Commissioners were upon agreement That they desired him to go with them into Scotland but he was advised not to adventure it without good Shipping to carry him safe thither That the Prince sent to Dunkirk for some Frigots for Jersy That he gave Commissions to French Runagadoes to take Prizes of all English Merchants and to bring them to Jersy That they took a good Ship of Lime 24 Divers Returns of Subscriptions to the Ingagement from several Regiments and Garrisons There was sent from Scotland and published here the Copy of a Declaration of the general Assembly of Scotland in answer to that of Montross to whom they gave only the Title of James Graham Charging the People of Scotland not to harken to or joyn with him or draw on themselves the wrath of the most High God by breach of the Covenant and gross backsliding nor hearken to any of his Calumnies and Slanders Nor countenance or assist any who shall invade that Kingdom or raise War therein under pretence of Commission from his Majesty or putting him in the Exercise of his Royal Power before Satisfaction had from him to the just and necessary desire of that Kirk and Kingdom concerning Religion and the Covenant 25 The Councel of Officers ordered That Clarendon and Bowrod Parks in Wilts should be Lands set apart for satisfaction of the Contractors Trustees and Officers imployed about the sale of the Kings Lands Order of the Parliament to sit on Saturdayes and Mundayes for the future for the speedy dispatch of Business and that no private business be heard in the House till the first of March next Debate upon the Heads of a Bill for a new Representative and regulating Elections and about the number of the whole to be elected and for some particular Counties Debate about the Act for the better manageing the Estates of Recusants and Delinquents and a Proviso added touching the reserving the chief mansion house of Recusants not having been in Arms from sequestration and for restraining wast in their Timber and reserving the rights of the Lords of the Manners to Coppy hold Estates Another Proviso was added not to take away the Power of the Committee for removing delinquent Ministers and Schoolmasters with
the public Treasuries in London and several Counties The high Court of Justice sate 6 From Exeter That the Judges of Assise there had much settled the People Minds asto the present Government in their Charges to the Grand Jury wherein the Lord Chief Justice Rolles and Judge Nicholas were very much commended An Account of Shipping some Troops designed for Ireland From Tossiter That the Officers and People in that Country did generally and chearfully subscribe the Ingagement From Liscard That the Committee were very active in settling the Militia and the Country were ready to come in and be listed 8 From Chester That Kilkenny was surrendred upon Articles unto the Lord Lieutenant That C. Hewson in his return to Dublin with part of his Brigade took Scarlough the great Tory and divers Priests and Fryars accidentally and that the Lord Lieutenant besieged Cartherlow From Scarborough That the Governour having notice of a small Man of War belonging to the Prince he got a Northsea Vessel and sent Captain Lassels with 50 men in her to see if they could meet with the Pyrate who lay near to that Harbour That the Pirate espying this little Vessel at Seacame out to her set upon her her men having Orders to keep close and not be seen till the word given and assoon as the Pyrates were ready to board the Souldiers came forth and fell on them forced their Men being 29 under deck and brought away them and their Ship to Scarborough six of their Men and one Captain being slain and all the men in the Pyrates Ship were Papists and those who had long used this Course of Piracy 9 An Act and Declaration passed for imposing Penalties upon such as purchase any Crown Lands as original Creditors and pay with assigned or false Bills An Additional Act Passed for the furthur ease and relief of poor Prisoners Order that the Lords Commissioners of the great Seal take care that all Indictments Outlawries and other Acts against any Person for adhering to the Parliament remaining upon Record be searched out taken off the File cancelled and burnt as things scandalous and void Order that all Patents for granting any Title of Honour to any Person after the carrying away of the great Seal to Oxford be annulled and made void And that they do not take that title to whom it is granted nor any presume to give it them and that the Lords Commissioners do prepare an Act for that purpose An Act read for laying an Imposition upon Coals towards the building of Ships An Act read against transportation of Gold and Bullion out of this Nation beyond Seas An Additional Act passed for providing Maintenance for Ministers by Augmentations Vote That no Merchant or Trader beyond Seas shall have any Place in the Custome House during the time that he tradeth That the Arms of the King be taken down in all Ships and the Generals at Sea to see it done That the Arms of the King be taken down in all Churches and Chappels and the Justices of Peace Churchwardens and other Officers ordered to see it done That the Councel of State have power to remove from London and 20 Miles distance from thence all such Delinquents whose abode there they shall Judge to be dangerous An Act passed impowring Commissioners to put in execution the Powers formerly given to the Commissioners for compounding with Delinquents the Committee of Habberdashers Hall c. 10 An Account of transporting Forces for Ireland Letters that Ormond is desirous to go out of Ireland and Inchequin to come in to the Parliament From Lisbon That G. Blake with the Parliaments Fleet arrived there and understood that Prince Rupert intended to set sail from thence within two days whereupon Blake sent to the King of Portugal for leave to come into the River of Lisbon and coming near with his Ships the Castle shot at him That upon this Blake came to an Anchor and sent a Boat to know the Reason why they shot at him the Captain of the great Castle made answer That they had no Order from the King to let them come in That the Merchants Ships that came with Blake seeing this set sail for the Streights After this the King sent one of his greatest Nobles to congratulate with Blake and to desire him not to come in except the weather proved bad whereby he could not ride where he was it being his Majesties Fear that he and Prince Rupeit would quarrel and fight in his Harbour The Kng also sent to Blake a large present of fresh Provisious for his Refreshment That the weather beginning to be foul Blake came into the Bay of Wyers in the River two Miles from Prince Rupert whose men came dayly from him to Blake and one of his Ships the Swallow was coming away but was discovered and the Boatswain clapt in Chains That the Admiral had not above 40 Seamen in his Ship and very few in the rest of his Fleet. That Captain Molton went on Shore from Blake to satisfy the King of the Falsities of Prince Ruperts Declaration 11 A Scots Vessel taken by an Irish Man of War was rescued by a Dutchman The Commissioners settled the Militia in Courwall From Chepsto That at the Assises was as great an appearance of Gentlemen and Freeholders as ever was seen in that Country One tryed and found guilty there for poisoning his Wife and was upon his own words greatly suspected to have poisoned his four Wives and three Children Orders issued That every Regiment of Foot should be recruited to 1200 the Collonels Company to be 200 the Lt. Collonels Company 160 the Majors 140 and the other seven Companies to be 100 a piece Anno 1650 12 From Scotland That notice being had of their Commissioners arriving in Holland the Kirk kept a day of humiliation to seek God for a Blessing upon the Treaty and injoyned the like through Scotland That many German Officers are there expecting imployment when the King comes thither That Cromwel granting Liberty of Conscience to the Irish they will all submit to him 13 From Dublin That the Governour C. Hewson after he had taken Lawlinbridge by order marched with a strong party and met the Lord Lieutenant at Gouran five Miles from Kilkenny and March 19. entred the Town without Opposition That the Castle stood on t and after a sharp dispute upon one attempt to storm the Common Souldiers that they might have Quarter for themselves delivered up their Officers viz. C. Hammon M. Townly two Captains one Quarter Master one Lieutenant and a Priest March 22 All the Officers were shot to death except the Lieutenant who was spared for that he joyned with the Souldiers to deliver up the Officers and the Priest was hanged The Souldiers that were English took up Arms with ours Next day our Forces marched towards Kilkenny and March 24th were necessitated to attempt a Storm to divert the Enemies Forces from falling upon a Party of
to it in that Action of D. Hamilton which was by order and authority from the Parliament of that Kingdom and so the Act of the whole Nation by their Representatives And if they now give us too much cause of suspicion that they intend another Invasion upon us joyning with their King with whom they have made a full agreement without the Assent or Privity of this Commonwealth and are very busie at this present in raising Forces and Money to carry on their Design If these things are not a sufficient ground and Cause for us to endeavour to provide for the safty of our own Countrey and to prevent the miseries which an Invasion of the Scots would bring upon us I humbly submit it to your Excellencies Judgment That they have formerly invaded us and brought a War into the Bowels of our Countrey is known to all wherein God was pleased to bless us with Success against them and that they now intend a new Invasion upon us I do as really believe and have as good Intelligence of it as we can have of any thing that is not yet acted Therefore I say My Lord that upon these grounds I think we have a most just Cause to bogin or rather to return and requite their Hostility first begun upon us and thereby to free our Country if God shall be pleased to assist us and I doubt not but he will from the great misery and calamity of having an Army of Scots within our Countrey That there will be War between us I fear is unavoidable Your Excellency will soon determine whether it be better to have this War in the Bowels of another Country or of our own and that it will be in one of them I think it without Scruple Lord General It is probable there will be War between us but whether we should begin this War and be on the offensive part or only stand upon our own defence is that which I scruple And although they invaded us under D. Hamilton who pretended the Authority of the Parliament then sitting for it yet their succeeding Parliament disowned that Ingagement and punished some of the Promoters of it Whitelock Some of the principal men in that Ingagement of D. Hamiltons are now in great Favour and Imployment with them especially in their Army since raised and now almost ready to advance into England and I believe your Excellency will judge it more prudence for us who have an Army under your Command ready formed and experienced Souldiers whom God hath wonderfully prospered under your conduct to prevent their coming into England by visiting of them in their own Countrey Lord General If we were assured of their coming with their Army into England I confess it were prudence for us to prevent them and we are ready to advance into Scotland before they can march into England but what warrant have we to fall upon them unless we can be assured of their purpose to fall upon us Harrison I think under favour there cannot be greater assurance or humane probability of the intentions of any State than we have of theirs to invade our Countrey else what means their present Levyes of Men and Money and their quartering Souldiers upon our Borders it is not long since they did the like to us and we can hardly imagine what other design they can have to imploy their Forces Lord General Humane Probabilities are not sufficient grounds to make War upon a Neighbour Nation especially our Brethren of Scotland to whom we are ingaged in a solemn League and Covenant St. John But My Lord that League and Covenant was first broken by themselves and so dissolved as to us and the disowning of D. Hamiltons Action by their latter Parliament cannot acquit the Injury done to us before Cromwel I suppose your Excellency will be convinced of this clear truth that we are no longer oblieged by the League and Covenant which themselves did did first break Lord General I am to answer only for my own Conscience and what that yields unto as just and lawful I shall follow and what seems to me or what I doubt to be otherwise I must not do Whitelock Your Excellence is upon a very right ground and our business is to endeavour your Satisfaction in those doubts you make if we shall stay till they first invade us we shall suffer much misery to come among us which probably we may prevent by sending first to them and surely the Law of Nations if an Ally enter in an hostile manner into his Neighbour Nation contrary to the Allyance and be beaten out again that Nation thus invaded may law fully afterwards invade the other to requite the former wrongs done unto them But besides this we cannot but see their present preparations to be against us for they are in Amity with all others and their conjunction now with the Kings Party may plainly enough discover their Designes against this Commonwealth Lord General I can but say as I sayed before that every one must stand or fall by his own Conscience those who are satisfyed of the Juistce of this War may chearfully proceed in it those who scruple it as I confess I do cannot undertake any Service it in I acknowledge that which hath been said to carry much weight and reason with it and none can have more power upon me than this Committee nor none be more ready to serve the Parliament than my self in any thing wherein my Conscience shall be satisfyed in this it is not and therefore that I may be no hinderance to the Parliaments designs I shall willingly lay down my Commission that it may be in their hands to choose some worthier Person than my self and who may upon clear fatisfaction of his Conscience undertake this business wherein I desire to be excused Cromwel I am very sorry your Lordship should have thoughts of laying down your Commission by which God hath blest you in the performance of so many eminent Services for the Parliament I pray My Lord consider all your faithful Servants us who are Officers who have served under you and desire to serve under no other Gene. It would be a great discouragement to all of us and a great discouragement to the Affairs of the Parliament for our noble General to entertain any thoughts of laying down his Commission I hope your Lordship will never give so great an Advantage to the publick Enemy nor so much dishearten your Friends as to think of laying down your Commission Lambert If your Excellence should not receive so much satisfaction as to continue your Command in the Parliaments Service I am very fearful of the mischiefs which might ensue and the distraction in the pulick affairs by your laying down your Commission but I hope that which hath been offered unto you by this Committee upon your serious consideration will so far prevaile with your noble and pious disposition and with your Affection to this cause wherein we are so deeply
many Portugals and French coming forth The Parliaments Generals stopped all the English Ships and their lading of Passengers and Souldiers and sent another message to the King of Portugal to demand the English Ships under Prince Rupert but he and his Councel answered that it was an unreasonable demand That the English Agent there escaped in a Disguise to the Fleet but the English Merchants at Lisbon who were Friends to the Parliament were imprisoned by the Kings Order That they tendred an Ingagement to the rest of the English to endeavour the reinthroning of King Charles the Second From Barnstable of a design to destroy all the Parliament Party in that Town and thereabouts prevented by small means through the Mercy of God was this day celebrated with great Solemnity 4 Letters of a Spanish Ambassador landed in the Downs and of a French Man of War with some English in her who took small English Vessels near Pool Of the Treasure Waggons going Northwards to the Army Of a Vessel loaden with Iron under sail from Tsalee in Ireland newly gone out of the Harbour when a Party of the Lord Broghils Forces coming thither haled her to come back but she being under Sail regarded them not but made on her way Whereupon 20 of the Troopers stripped themselves making as if they would swim to her and storm her and two of them who could swim well came uP to her which so amazed those in the Vessel that they hoised out their Boat on the other side of the Ship and got away leaving the Ship and her loading to the two valiant Troopers Of the Plague breaking forth near Barnstable 5 Letters of the L. Willoughbyes arrival in the Barbadoes Where he lay concealed eight dayes untill he had contrived his business with some great Delinquents there and then appeared as the chief Governour and proclaimed King Charles the second Of the seizing the Ships bonnd for Brazile from Lisbon by the Parliaments General at Sea and all the Ammunition and Provisions in them and some French Ships blocking up that Haven 6 Letters of a Message sent from the Scots Parliament to M. G. Lambert at the same time when they sent to the English Parliament to know the reason of their Armys march Northwards and urging That by the large Treaty no Act of Hostility or Invasion ought to be upon each other before three Months notice given That the Messenger is detained but not under restraint without answer till the Pleasure of the Parliament be known That Cromwell coming to York the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Sheriffs attended him and invited him and his Officers to dinner where they were highly caressed From Ireland That the Bishop of Clogher interposed between Sir Charles Coot and C. Veneables with an Army of 10000 Irish and caused Sir Charles Coot several times to retreat but at length his Forces took such Courage that they resolved to fight the Bishop and after an hours hot dispute it pleased God to deliver that great Army into their hands That the Bishop their General received many wounds and in a few hours after he was taken Prisoner dyed of them that their Lt. G. Oneal was slain with their Quarter Master General and nine Collonels inferiour Officers very many and 3000 common Souldiers That the names and qualities of their Officers Slain and taken were not then known a messinger being dispatched with a General account of the business till they could have time to particularize that some of the Prisoners confest if they could have given a defeat either to Sir Charles Coot or C. Venables that the Bishop resolved to draw his Army into Scotland to promote the Kings affaires there 8 Letters that the Scots King was still at Dundee that they could not agree about his coming to Edenburgh nor about his Coronation that Commissioners from the Parliament and a Commitee of the Kirk were with him about signing the Propositions That a party of the Scots Horse were drawn within 20 Miles of Berwick which gave an allarm and caused the Parliaments Forces thereabouts to be in a ready Posture to receive them but they came not on From Sir Charles Coot that his party with him being but 600 Horse and 800 Foot he sent to C. Venables to come and joyn with him but the Bishop of Clogher with his Army being then about 4000 Foot and 600 Horse fell in between them to hinder their conjunction The Enemy incamped themselves on a boggy ground within 2 Musket Shot of our Leaguer and after about 4 hours began to draw off with most of their Forces over a pass which I perceiving called the Officers together and it was thought fit to charge the Enemy in the Rear with about 200 Horse keeping our foot and the rest of the Horse intire Our Horse Fell on with a great deal of gallantry and charged through 2 divisions of their Foot but their Horse being quite behind their Foot Finding our Horse in some disorder Fell on them and forced them to retreat Whereupon C. Richard Coot advancing with part of his Regiment to relieve our men the Enemies Horse Faced about and were beaten back again into their main Body We lost only in this conflict Captain Taylor who dyed most gallantly in the midst of the Rebels Pikes and 7 Troopers but took Prisoners a Captain of theirs and killed at least 6 for one but they drew off to a pass a Mile below I Sent Orders to the Country People to remove themselves and their goods and our Soldiers secured the passes between them and the Enemy C. Fenwick with 1000. Foot came to us but without any Provisions and it pleased God to give such courage to our Souldiers that we Marched up towards the Enemy who upon sight of our party they being encamped upon the side of a Mountain inaccessible either for Horse or Foot drew forth into a piece of Ground which though extream bad yet it pleased God to put into our Hearts to advance towards them Where we presently ingaged them and by the blesing of God after an hours hot dispute with great resolution on both sides we wholly routed them Many of them were killed upon the place and the Execution was 10 or 11 Miles every way that Night What numbers were slain I cannot positively say the Countrey People as well as the Souldiers eagerly pursuing and killing them for two daies after But with modesty I may assure you there cannot be less than 2000. slain together with their M. G. 5. Colonels 1. Bishop with almost all their Officers and their Lieutenant G. Offorrel as we are informed though his body be not yet discovered They lost likwise their Armes Colours Baggage with most of their Horse Since my writing thus far I have received several Letters from one party in the pursuit that they have Killed 6 or 700. more of the Rebels That M. King with 50 Dragoons had taken the Bishop of Clogher Prisoner
marched from Muscleburgh towards Edenburgh in sight of the City for two or three miles together and had no opposition in their March nor so much as a salute from Edenburgh Castle or Dalkeith and the General pitched his Tents on Pencland Hills a convenient place to fight within view of Edenburgh but they gave no alarm to the Army That the Scots in Edenburgh were much streightned for Provisions by the Armies thus getting behind them That all the people fled with their Barns and Goods where the Army came being told by their Ministers That the English would destroy all with Fire and Sword and when some of the Souldiers burnt some Furse bushes they said they fired their Houses and Towns That the Parliaments Ships attended the Armies March with Provisions That a Trumpet came to the General with a Declaration and Letters from Lt. G. David Lesly which the General caused to be read to his Officers in the hearing of the Trumpet That upon desire and safe conduct of some of the Scots Officers they and some English Officers had conferences about a Reconcilement and the Scots Officers said they were deluded by the Malignants and that the King refused to sign the disowning of his Fathers actions and to adhere to the Covenant and repent for the Bloud shed by his Father and himself and that they had thoughts of relinquishing him That when the English Army drew off from Edenburgh the King would have sallied out in Person upon them but General Leuen told him If he did so he would lay down his Commission 24 Letters that the Plague increased and that there died the last week 797 in Dublin That in Wexford the people are almost all dead of the Plague That Waterford Duncannon and Carlowe are surrendred to the Lord Deputy That many Officers and Souldiers were dead of it 26 Letters of taking in and fortifying some Places by the General to secure Passes to the Army That a Sergeant was hanged on Pencland Hills for plundring a Countreyman's House and three Souldiers that were with him and sentenced to die were pardoned by the General That Parties on both sides pickeering and a Body of 3000 Horse of the Scots being drawn out Cromwel drew out a Forlorn and went in Person before them That one of the Enemy fired a Carabine at him upon which Cromwel called to him and said to him that if he had been one of his Souldiers he would have cashiered him for firing at such a distance which the Souldier told to Lt. G. Lesley and said he knew it was Cromwel That some Run-aways from the Army were apprehended at Berwick and sent back Prisoners to Cromwel and nine of them were condemned by a Court Marshal That the Scots drew out their whole Army out of Leith being about 30000 Horse and Foot and retreated without any Ingagement That in a full Council of War all the Officers were unanimously to fall upon the Enemy That in Pickeering a Scots Captain was killed and two Prisoners taken 27 Letters that the Lord Deputy sent a Summons to Waterford to surrender but they so much despised the weakness and small number of his Forces before the Town that in answer to his Summons they returned That one of their Gates should be set open for as many of his men as would come in That the Lord Deputy smiling at their vain Brags went on with his Siege sent for more Forces and great Guns and so laid the main Body of his Army between Waterford and Carlowe that they might be ready to give assistance to either Party That after this the Town sent for a Treaty but insisted upon high terms of Punctilio's of honour which the Lord Deputy rejected And when they heard that Carlowe was surrendred then they also agreed upon Articles of surrender That 700 Souldiers marched out of the Town and the Townsmen in Arms were more and the Town very strongly fortified and full of Provisions yet it pleased God to bring them to terms of surrender to a small Party before them as they had before done at Carlowe The Lord Deputy sent a Letter to the Parliament of the particulars and Copies of the several Articles of surrender of Waterford Duncannon and Cartelagh The Parliament ordered a day of Thanksgiving to be kept for those Successes An Act passed impowring the Commissioners of the High Court of Justice to hear and determine any Misprision or Concealment of Treason 28 An Answer passed to the King's Declaration in Scotland Letters that the Fairfax Frigot fought with three French Men of War who got so near the Shore among the Rocks that the Fairfax could not follow them and so they escaped 29 The Council of State took Order for better securing of Weymouth Letters of the decrease of the Plague at Dublin That M. Blunt fell upon a Party of the Enemy in Wicklowe fought with them killed and took many of them though they were two to one and had not a Bogg prevented they had been all killed or taken That he brought away with him 200 Cows and 120 Horses That Charlemont was surrendred upon Conditions 30 Letters that the Army in Scotland was well supplied with Provisions by Sea and inabled to lie near Edenburgh That the Enemy kept close between Edenburgh and Leith having a Trench before them and a River behind them and a strong Castle on the one hand and a strong Garrison Town on the other hand and it was impossible to fall upon them without the apparent hazard of the whole Army 31 Letters that the Army stormed Red-Castle a Garrison of the Enemies about a Mile and a half from Edenburgh which had about 80 Foot to defend it and though they stormed it in the sight of the Enemies whole Army yet they sent out no Parties to relieve it There were taken 60 Prisoners and the Place was of great advantage to the English That Dunster Castle was slighted That four Men out of Somersetshire pretending to have an immediate Call from God to go and Preach the Gospel in Galilee sold their Estates and went to London to imbarque themselves for that Place September 1650. 3 Letters that Prince Rupert came out of the River of Lisbon with 27 Ships and 20 Carvills That the Parliaments Generals with twenty three Ships made up to him and some Shot were spent between some of them but Prince Rupert got under the Command of the Castles and the Parliaments General thought not safe to pursue him thither the like was done several days after but the Prince would not ingage in Fight That the Duke of York came to Paris having gotten 100000 l. by Prizes 4 Letters of a great Pyrate taken about Dartmouth 5 Letters of the Plague increasing in Shrewsbury yet of about 200 Souldiers there not one was infected 6 Letters that the Scots Army though more in number than the English by a great many and well furnished with Arms and all accommodations in their
of the Defeat given to C. Ker. That there is a great Distraction and mighty Workings of God upon the hearts of divers Religious People in Scotland both Ministers and others much of it tending to the Justification of your Cause A Declaration was published in Scotland of the King and Committee of Estates concerning the Remonstrance of Col. Straughan and his Party And another Declaration and Resolution of the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland 17 An Act passed for continuing two former Acts touching Elections in London of Commmon-Councel-men c. Vote That the Fee called Damna Clericorum or Dammage Cleer shall be taken away and an Act to be brought in for that purpose An Act passed for the Sale of the L. Deincourt's Lands Upon a Report from the Councel of State of all the Proceedings of the High Court of Justice upon the Trial of the King the House Ordered them to be Recorded amongst the Records of Parliament and to be transmitted into the Chancery and other Cours at Westminster and to the Custos Rotulorum of the several Counties That an Ambassador from the King of Portugal to the Parliament was arrived in the Isle of Wight 18 Letters from the Admirals at Sea That upon a Letter from the Councel of State to improve all Opportunities for the Service of the State he took the French Man of War and went on in pursuit of P. Rupert That Blake pursued the Prince to the Port of Carthagena belonging to the King of Spain where the Prince with five Ships was put in and Blake sent to the Governor That an Enemy to the State of England was come thither That he had Orders from the Parliament to pursue him c. and the King of Spain being in Amity with the Parliament Blake desired leave to take all Advantages there against an Enemy To this the Governor returned Answer That he could not take any Notice of the Difference of any Nations or Persons among themselves only such as were Declared Enemies to the King his Master that they came in thither for Safety and therefore he could not but give them Protection and that he would do the like to them assuring them all Safety if they also did come in whilst they should stay there That Blake sent a Reply pressing the Governour for leave to fall upon the Prince and thanking him for his Offer to himself But the Governour sent to the King of Spain to know his pleasure herein and in the mean time Blake waited without the Harbour That since the Defeat of C. Ker they took 100 Horse more about Aire and Col. Straughan came in to Major General Lambert with about 60 Horse many of them Officers Jasper Collins was hanged at Charing-Cross for extorting Money from the Countrey and other Outrages as he marched with Recruits towards Ireland Another was tied by the Thumbs to the Gibbet for concealing a Design to betray Walling-ford-Castle where he was a Souldier Two others whipped at the Gibbet for running from their Colours 19 Letters That the Money and Supplies sent from the Parliament to the Army were arrived at Leith That three of the Parliaments Souldiers defended a weak House three hours together in their Shirts against 100 Moss-Troopers 20 Letters That Prince Rupert came to Malago and other Ports and fired and sunk divers English Merchants Ships and demanded the Master of a London Ship who had signed the Petition against the Personal Treaty saying that he would boyl him in Pitch but the Governour of Malago refused to deliver up the Master to him Of a French Ship sent in Prize to Poole by Capt. Mildmay 21 Letters That Blake fell upon Prince Rupert in Malago Road sunk two or three of his Ships run on Shore and exposed to Ship-wrack the rest of his Fleet only two Ships escaped wherein it is conceived Prince Rupert and his Brother Prince Maurice were and Blake in chace of them That when the Great Guns and Mortar-pieces played against Edenburgh-Castle they hung out a Flag of Defiance but after they had played a while and some Execution done by them those in the Castle hung out another Flag for a Treaty And sent a Messenger to the General that they might have time to send to their Friends at Sterling to know by what time they might expect Relief from them and if their expectation was not answered therein that then they would treat for Surrender of the Castle Or if this should be denied then they desired that some of the Scots Prisoners with the General might be permitted to come into the Castle to speak with them which the General granted That the Souldiers in the Castle were many of them sick for want of Water 23 Letters That the Battery went on against Edenburgh Castle and dismounted three of their Guns and shattered their Platform in pieces Copies sent to the Parliament of the Summons sent by the General to the Governour of Edenburgh Castle with his Answer and the General 's Replies 24 Upon a Petition of the Adventurers for Lands in Ireland a Committee appointed to consider of it and to state the Matter of Fact of that Business An Act passed giving power to the Lieutenant General Deputy and Commissioners of Ireland and declaring several Laws to be in force in Ireland Order touching the Trade of Gold and Silver Wyer A safe Conduct granted for the Ambassador of Portugal to repair to London Upon Information by the Speaker That the Spanish Ambassador had been with him and delivered to him a Copy of the Credentials directed to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England and Signed by the King of Spain the House Ordered That the Ambassador should have Audience The General sent his Letter to the Commanders at Chester Conwey and and other parts commanding That none of the Souldiers offer to give any Disturbance to Justice in the Case of Cheadle who had murdered Bulkley Letters That the High Court of Justice at Norfolk had condemned six of the Mutiniers in the late Insurrection who were Executed at Norwich 25 Letters That Prince Rupert was got on shoar in Spain and being demanded by C. Blake the King of Spain refused to deliver up the Person of the Prince but sent a Messenger to the Parliament about it 26 Letters That Sir Arthur Haselrigg and Mr. Scot members of the Councel of State were come to Edenburgh That the King made a Speech in the Parliament at St. Johns Town expressing much Joy that he was the first Covenanted King of the Nation 27 Letters That Major General Lambert was come to Edenburgh with C. Ker and other Prisoners That after much Execution done by the great Guns and Mortar-pieces in Edenburgh Castle and the General denying them to send to the Committee of Estates The Governour admitted a Treaty and the Commissioners agreed upon the Surrender of the Castle to the L. General Cromwel with all the Ordnance Arms Magazine and
answered That they were not satisfied in Conscience to do what he required but would give an Answer to Collonel Overton who had before sent to them the like Message That the Ministers of St. Johns Town refused to Preach unless they might pray for the King and their Army in England the Governour told them they might Preach the Gospel of Christ but that would not satisfie them That in swimming over the River to come to Dundee Two or Three Men and Horses were drowned Among other Countries Oxford-shire had raised a Regiment of Foot and Two Troops of Horse to assist the Lord General before Worcester and had chosen Collonel James Whitelocke to command both their Horse and Foot he was the Collonel Mr. Robert Warcup Lieutenant Collonel and the Major and Captains were most of them Oxford-shire Gentlemen They wrote to Collonel James Whitelocke to acquaint him herewith and to desire him to come into England to accept of this Command to which the Committee had freely chosen him he returned thanks for the Honour his Country-men had done him accepted the Command and promised to hasten into England to serve them But before he could come over from Ireland the King with his Army being come into England and all the new raised Forces being commanded to march to the Lord General towards Worcester his Lieutenant Collonel Warcup marched with his Regiment of Foot thither 2. An Act passed to enable the Commissioners of the Militia to raise Money for the present Service of the Common-wealth A Messenger from the Head Quarters informed That the Lord General and Lieutenant General met and viewed their Forces and consulted about carrying on of the Work and prepared to receive the Enemy if he should ingage who came forth in a full Body but would not come near to Cromwel Who thereupon sent out a Party against them upon whose approach the Scots retreated into the City That the Parliament Forces were got within half Musquet-shot of the Enemies Works and their Canon played daily into the City with good execution That the Earl of Derby came wounded into Worcester with about 30 Horse and no more of all his Levies in Lancashire which so distracted the Towns-men that they began to repent their deserting of the Parliament That the King seeing his hopes in the Earl of Derby frustrated would have marched away with his Horse upon which his Foot were ready to mutiny and said They should both endure the same Fortune the King and his Officers had much ado by fair words to appease them The Parliament voted That whosoever had the Kings Declaration in their Hands should bring it in to the Council or to the Lord Major of London or some Justice of Peace to be burnt by the Hang-man and those who should not bring it in or should disperse it to be punished according to Law Twelve Regiments of London being 1400. Mustered in Finsbury Fields the Speaker and divers Members of Parliament were there and the Lord Major and Sheriffs of London the Kings Declaration was burnt by the Hangman at the Head of every Regiment who gave loud Shouts and Acclamations thereupon That Captain Escot a Parliament Man of War fetched two Prizes out of the Enemies Harbour in Scotland and brought them into Lieth loaden with Corn and other Commodities In one of them were divers intercepted Letters of Consequence from the Lord Argyle Cleveland and others to the Lord Jermyn Captain Titus the Earl of Newcastle and others in Holland That the same Man of War fought Three hours with another Ship bound for the Enemy loaden with Wine Arms and Ammunition and at length sunk her and all her Goods except Ten Hogsheads of Wine which were saved and a few of the Passengers the rest were drowned 3. Letters That a Party of the Enemies Horse moved and pulled down Two Bridges of the River Tearne in Hereford-shire but being flanked by a Party of Lieutenant General Fleetwood supposing they intended to march away they retreated That a Servant of Masseys came into Cromwels Quarters and reported That the wants of the Kings Army were very great that his Master was shot in the Hand and the Earl of Worcester wounded in the Mouth Major Mercer with a strong Party was sent to secure Bewdly Bridge From Scotland That a Party of Collonel Alureds Men being sent out to prevent their new Levies Seven Miles from Dundee they found old General Leven and several other great Lords raising of Forces whom they apprehended and brought away Prisoners Letters That Scurlocke the Famous Tory took Two small Garrisons of the Parliaments in Ireland That the Garrisons of Lymbrick and Galloway were much straitned That 2000 Sallied out of Galloway upon Collonel Russel who commanded there in Sir Charles Coote's absence but were repulsed with the loss of 2 or 300 of their Men and but Six of Russels lost That the Remnant with Clanrickard increased in number but were so full of terror that upon the advance of Sir Charles Coote and Collonel Reynolds towards them they quitted divers strong Passes and a Castle of Consequence where the Soldiers had Quarter for Life the Officers and Protected People left to Mercy and some of them hanged That the Enemy took Raghaera Castle from the Parliament surprising most of their Men gathering Contribution in the Country who were likewise cut off That the Sickness is still in those Parts That the Commissioners of Parliament appointed a day of Humiliation 4. Letters from Scotland to the Speaker That after the taking of Sterling Lieutenant General Monk marched to Dundee for the reducing of that Place and summoned it they in answer to his Summons sent him a Proclamation from the King That whosoever would lay down Arms and come in to them should have Mercy That this Impudence of theirs was occasioned by the Promise of old Lesley Earl of Leven with divers other Lords and Ministers Commissioned from the King to raise Forces whereby he would relieve the Town Private Intelligence being given hereof Collonel Alured with a good Party marched to the Place of their Rendezvous and surprized old Leven and the Lord Chancellor with divers other Lords Six or Seven of their Ministers and 300 more Persons of Quality Letters from Worcester Sir This day hath been a glorious day this day Twelvemonth was glorious at Dunbar this day hath been glorious before Worcester the Word was then The Lord of Hosts and so it was now and indeed the Lord of Hosts was wonderfully with us The same Signal we had then as now which was to have no White about us and indeed the Lord hath clothed us with White Garments though to the Enemy they have been Bloody In the Morning 3. Sept. Lieutenant General Fleetwood had order to advance with his Brigade on the other side Severne and all things being prepared for the making of a Bridge and having cleared our Passages with a Forlorn we laid a Bridge over Severne and
bring in the Enemy thereabouts to the Parliament of England Whereupon the Forces removed and a Cornet of Collonel Okey coming to his Regiment with a small Party was set upon by many Moss-Troopers who gave seven of them quarter yet afterwards killed them in cold Blood and only the Cornet and four more scaped That Collonel Heane was shipping with his Men at Weymouth for the design of Jersey 18. Letters That Captain Benboe was shot to death at Shrewsbury according to the Sentence of the Court-Martial and that the Earl of Derby was beheaded at Bolton the same day That Captain Duckinfield with his Men were shipped for the Isle of Man 20. Letters of the Particulars of the Earl of Derbies Death who carried himself with stoutness and Christian-like temper 21. Letters came from Holland That the Scots King was landed there with the Duke of Buck's and the Lord Wilmot and others in Sea-mens Cloaths and that upon the news thereof the Princess Royal and many with her went to Scheveling where they met the King That an English Man of War meeting with some Dutch Fishermen demanded of them the Tenth Herring as an acknowledgement of the Sovereignty of England in those Seas but the Dutch denying it they fell from words to blows and the Dutch shooting first at the English the English Man of War sunk one of their Ships and all their Men were lost Others relate That the Quarrel began upon the English Man of War requiring the Dutch-men to strike Sail to him according to the usage and they refusing it he sunk one of them Of the dispersing of Dungans Forces by Collonel Reynolds and his recovery of some Castles and joyning with Collonel Zanchey That Fitz-Patrick stormed Castle-Jorne and took 30 of the Parliaments Soldiers and ingaged Collonel Hewsons Troop took 25 and killed 27 of them That the Irish are numerous and desperate That Two Congregational Churches were gathered in Dublin 22. Debate upon the Bills for a New Representative and on a Bill for propagation of the Gospel and ordered that they be considered de die in diem till ended Letters of Forces shipped from Chester against the Isle of Man being 3000 Men and between 30 and 40 Sail. Mr. John Sayer condemned by a Court-Marshal at Chester to be hanged for Treason but upon his Penitence was reprieved That Collonel Venables rose from the Siege of Dundalke in Cavan That the Irish attempted Bellinger but were beaten off with the loss of 40 of their Men and divers of their Officers and Soldiers wounded 23. Letters of some Endeavours for new Levies in Scotland 24. The Thanksgiving-day observed solemnly Letters That the Scots are ready to embrace what the Parliament of England shall require of them That divers Ministers confer at Edenburgh and are permitted That Argyle and Huntley are raising Forces yet have none in a Body but a few stragling Highlanders That an English Soldier for lying with a Scots Woman was by Sentence of the Court-Marshal together with the Woman whipped through Edenburgh and a Scotch Laâ—s that held the Candle to them in the Action lighted them all the way and was duck'd with them That Augustine the Moss-Trooper took an English Sutler and 60 l. in Money at Monrosse That Argyle sent a Trumpet to Sterling to desire a Treaty and that the Scots generally desired to be governed by the English That the Lord Chef-Justice St. John Sir Henry Vane jun ' Major-General Lambert Major-General Deane Lieutenant-General Monk Collonel Fenwicke Alderman Tichburne and Major Sallowey were appointed Commissioners for the Affairs of Scotland and being there it was hoped they would soon settle the Civil Affairs there 25. Letters That many of the Scotch Prisoners and others at Shrewsbury were dead of a Contagious Feaver That there was no certainty of the King of Scots Arrival in Holland and that upon the Rumor of it the States propounded to pass a Decree That no forreign Prince or Noble-man should come into their Dominions without their Privity That Meen heere Scape and Meen heer Parre were nominated Ambassadors for England 27. Letters That the King of Scots was arrived in France and got to Paris met by the way and conducted thither by the Duke of Orleans and visited by the Queen his Mother and divers of the great Lords That he told them his Adventures after the Battle of Worcester to this effect That about Six a Clock in the Evening his Army being in all likelihood beaten he quitted Worcester with a Party of Horse and marched towards Lancashire being fearful of being pursued and lest some of the Scots Officers should deliver him up he with the Lord Wilmot quitted their Horses and sent the Party of Horse upon their March That he and the Lord Wilmot betook themselves the second days march from Worcester into a Tree where they remained until night and then marched on foot that night That the third day they took Sanctuary in a Wood and night approaching marched on foot towards Lancashire where they were received by a Lady who furnished them with Cloaths for a disguise and cut off their Hair very short Having reposed two or three days the Lady resolved to endeavour to ship them out of England to which purpose she riding behind the King and Wilmot as another Servant by they went to Bristol But finding a narrow and hot Inquiry there they went to London where they stayed three Weeks and the King went up and down in London in a Gentlewomans Habit and at Westminster-Hall he saw the States Arms and the Scots Colours That the Lord Wilmot procured a Merchant to hire a Ship of 40 Tuns to transport them which cost them 120 l. but as soon as the Lord Wilmot was entred the Bark and the King as his Servant the Master of the Vessel came to him and told him That he knew the King and in case it should be known he could expect no mercy which Saying troubled them But at length what with Money and Promises they Prevailed and so set Sail for Haver de gras and there landed and from thence went to Rohan where they were cloathed and wrote from thence to Paris That this Arrival of the King stopped the French King from sending Ambassadors for England That the King sent for the Lords Inchequin Taffe and Ormond That the Lord Taffe had treated with the Duke of Lorrein for his undertaking the Business of Ireland That divers Prisoners presented a Petition to the Lord General reciting That the Law was the Badge of the Norman Bondage and that Prisons were Sanctuaries to Rich Men Prisoners and Tortures to the Poorer sort who were not able to fee Lawyers and Goalers They pray the General into whose Hands the Sword is put to free them from oppression and slavery and to restore the Nations fundamental Laws and Liberties and to gain a new Representative and that the Poor may have Justice and Arrests
him as he had done before 18. Letters That when the Rebels stormed Ballyshannon Castle 300 of them were slain though but 60 Men were in the Castle and at the re-taking of it by the Parliaments Forces within Ten days after they took 1000 Prisoners and 8000 Cows 19. Letters of Preparations to invade the Highlands with Three Brigades marching several ways That a Convention of the Kirk was held at Dalkeith and dissolved by the Women of the Town That 50 of the Parliaments Men of War went from the Downs Northwards 21. Letters of a Debate in the Synod at Edenburgh about drawing up of a Paper stiled A Testimony against the present incroaching of the Civil Power upon the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction which they took from the Proclamation concerning the Committee for Visitation of the Universities and declaring That they will remove scandalous Ministers which hath highly incensed them those Proceedings being special Flowers of their Kirk-Prerogative that ought to be managed only by themselves and they concluded their Declaration That in the Synod in Fife they made a Protestation against the publick Resolutions of the Civil Power That Two French Frigots took Two or Three English Ships upon the Scots Coast That the King of Scots was transacting with the Dutch about their fishing in the narrow Seas and had offered them large Priviledges That Sir George Ascue came with his Fleet of 11 Men of War from Plymouth into Dover Road and after he had saluted General Blake with all his Guns and the whole Fleet returned him the like Salutation Sir George came aboard the General and all his Captains and dined with him These Salutes of the Guns gave the Country an Alarme so that they flocked to the Sea side expecting a Fight that the Parliaments Navy was above 100 men of War Two Regiments Shipped on Board the Navy That the Dutch Ships forbear to come through the narrow Seas but put into Ports of France and go home by Land 22. An Act passed for transferring the powers of the Committee of Indemnity to the Committee for compounding A Petition touching Registring Conveyances upon which an order for bringing in the Bill for that business 23. It was particularly given to Whitelocke in charge to prepare for the debate with the Dutch Ambassadors upon the Treaty for maintaining the right of the Common-wealth in the Dominion of the British Seas 25. Letters of the Synods meeting at Perth and citing the Ministers and People who had expressed a dislike of their heavenly Government that the men being got out of the way their Wifes resolved to answer for them And on the day of appearance 120 Women with good Clubs in their Hands came and besieged the Church where the Reverend Ministers sat They sent one of their number to Treat with the Females and he threatning Excommunication they basted him for his labour kept him Prisoner and sent a party of 60 who routed the rest of the Clergy bruised their bodies sorely took all their Baggage and 12 Horses That one of the Ministers after a miles running taking all Creatures for his Foes meeting with a Soldier fell on his knees for Quarter who knowing nothing of the matter asked the Black-Coat what he meant That these Conquerors having laid hold on the Synod Clerk beat him till he forswore his Office That 13 of the Ministers rallied about 4 Miles from the place and voted that this Village should never more have a Synod kept in it but be accursed and that although in the years 1638 and 39 the Godly Women were called up for stoning the Bishops yet now the whole Sex should be esteemed wicked 26. Letters That a Pinnace of 40 Tun being to be Launched was by the Seamen and Soldiers drawn 6 miles over Land That the Lieutenant-General was sat down before Rosse in Ireland that the Connaught and Vlster Forces were very numerous and Collonel Reynolds and Venables in pursuit of them 28. Letters of the great Fire in Glascow which burned most part of the Town and the Ministers Preached that this was for their complyance with the Sectaries That by Thunder and Lightning on the last Lords-Day at Church-Lawton in Cheshire Eleven Persons during the Sermon were struck dead in the Congregation Much hurt was done at Greenwich by Storms and a strange kind of Hail and a Ship coming up the River there had her Mast quite taken away and her Sails and Tackle torn several Boats were turned over and many People drowned The Thunder and Lightning burnt a Barn in Essex and the Steeple and much of the Church and melted the Lead and Bells at Okenden 29. A Petition to the Parliament signed by many Thousands setting forth the miseries of the War indured by them in hopes that their Rights and the Fundamental Laws formerly corrupted by the King with his Instruments the Clergy Lawyers and Statesmen would be restored as was promised by the Parliament and Army whereupon they were invited to assist them They pray 1. That no man be attached c. But according to the old Law of the Land and whatsoever hath been done contrary thereunto by Committees Courts-Martial High Courts of Justice or the like may be abolished 2. That no man be put to his defence but by presentment of faithful Men and lawful witnesses face to face 3. That no man be compelled by Oath to answer against himself 4. That all Suits may be determined without Appeal by a prefixt time in the Hundred or County Courts by Juries and no more tedious Travelling to London nor vexation and consumption of mens Estates by the Chancery and other Courts of Westminster nor further attendance upon Committees nor long Imprisonments that Malefactors may have speedy Tryals that Bail may not be denied where it ought to be taken that food and necessaries may be provided for Prisoners at the Common Charge and no Fees taken by Goalers that all proceedings in Law may be free from the Parties to the Officers 5. That punishments may be proportioned to the offences that nothing be deemed Treason but what tends to the Subversion of Fundamental Liberty and that in Criminal causes the parties damnified may be satisfied out of the Estates of the Offenders and not confiscate to the Common-wealth and that Witnesses may be Sworn for the accused as well as for the Prosecutor 6. That none be questioned or molested for matter of Conscience or Religion the grounds of implacable trouble and the very spawn of Tyranny and Superstition and that Tithes sprung from the same Root and tending to the same ends and to the obstruction of Tillage and Industry may also cease and no inforced maintenance imposed in the place thereof 7. That Copyholds and the like and the Court of Wards and unjust descents to the Eldest Son onely the principal remaining Badges of the Norman Conquest and main support of Regal Tyranny may be taken away 8. That there be no Imprisonment for Debt but
go off and of 2 French Prizes brought thither Of French and Dutch Pikeroons taking many English Fishermen and other small Vessels upon the Western Coast That Captain Stoner met with a Dutch Merchant man loaden with Gold and rich Commodities worth 60000 l. who fought stoutly till she begun to sink and some of the English Marriners leaping aboard her for greediness of plunder sunk with her 11. Letters of the proceedings of the Commissioners for Administration of Justice in Scotland Of great contests in the Kirke there between the Assembly and the Protestors That the Advice Frigot it is feared is lost that the Dutch were Frighted with the Soveraign and call her the Golden Divel That the Dutch Ambassador in Denmark presseth for Ships there against the Enemies of the Dutch That when the Dutch Fleet were last upon the Coast of Scotland they lost 7 of their Ships by storm and without saving the life of any but one Boy 12. An Act past touching Claimes An Act past to disable Delinquents from bearing any Office and to have Vote in any Elections The Bill for uniting Scotland into one Common-wealth with England referred to a Committee to meet with the Deputies come from Scotland in the House of Lords Order about setling Courts of Judicature in Scotland Letters That General Blake examined some defaults about the not sufficiently charging the Guns of the Soveraign in the late Fight and the want of courage in one Captain That the General sent some Ships towards Holland Coast and many up and down scouting From Amsterdam that 2000 wounded men were brought to Shoar that De Witt complained of many of his Captains that ran away and that the English were more in number than he That the King of Denmark hath ordered the English Merchants in the Zundt to be brought under his Castle at Elsenour intending to confiscate them and hath joined 5 of his Ships with the Dutch 13. The day of publick Fast solemnly observed by the Parliament 15. Letters of a Lamprus Fish taken near Leith as big as a London wherry That not above 30 or 40 Irish appear together who are pursued by the English Garrisons Of Frigots to keep the Irish Coast That at the Assizes at Chester there were but 3 Causes whereas there used to be 100. Of Recruits Shipped for Ireland 16. Of a free booter taken in the West and of a Holland Busse taken but run upon an Anchor at Dartmouth and was bulged and another sunk 18. That De Witt 's Fleet was gone into Goree and he went to the Hague to excuse himself and laid the blame upon some of his Captains Cowardice and the States appointed Commissioners to examine the matter That the 18 English Men of War sent to the Sound were arrived there and the Dutch sent more thither and the King of Denmark staid the English Merchant men there and offers the Dutch the Sum of mony which he is bound to furnish them with in time of War and to prohibit the English to pass the Zundt during their War with the Dutch That the English Merchants were protected at Porta Longone against the Dutch there Of a High Court of Justice prepared at Kilkenny for Tryal of the Chief of the Irish Rebels That the English Fleet took Ten Dutch Ships in the Narrow Sea Of an Insurrection in Flushing against those that were for the War with the English and some women whose Husbands were slain in the War were with them that the English Frigots Cruise to and fro in the Channel and take many Ships 19. Letters That Captain Ball lost his Ship the Antelope of 54 Guns upon the Coast of Shetland onely himself and Company saved That the English men in the Merchants Ships at Elsenour when they saw no hopes of those Ships to be discharged by the King of Denmark they all came away to the English Fleet sent thither That this Fleet in their return from Denmark lost the Antelope one of their number run a Shoar on the Coast of Jutland That the rest took 16 Dutch Ships on the Dogger-bâ—nk and a Dutch free booter 20. Committee for the Scots Union met the Commissioners for Scotland and they had a Solemn debate about that business 21. Letters That the King of Scots was complemented by the French Court and the Lord Digby made Governour of the Bastile at Paris 22. Letters That Captain Mutlo fell upon the Highlanders killed divers of them and burnt their Corn and Houses Of a strong Convoy sent to bring the Ships from thence with Coal for London and that the Colliers were well provided for defence 23. Letters of 3 Dutch men of War brought in Prize to Yarmouth that were free booters Of 15 Dutch Ships loaden with Pitch Tarr Masts c. and 2 men of War their Convoy after a short dispute taken by some English men of War 25. Letters of the Town of Edenburgh troubling the English Merchants for Trading there unless they be free of the Town and will live there That the High Court of Justice sat at Kilkenny in the same state as it had done in England That 7000 Irish were landed in Spain to serve that King and as many more ready to be Shipt for Spain That the Irish were wholly subdued and not above 6 or 700 of them left in Arms whereof and of the Affairs of Ireland Lieutenant-General Fleetwood by his Letters gave an account to the Parliament 26. An Act past for continuing the Commissioners of Scotland An Act past for continuing the Commissioners for compounding The Petition of the Lord Muskerry referred to the Councel of State A Pamphlet against the Parliament referred to be examined by the Councel And Mr. Lillye's Book of Astrological Predictions referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers Order for Audience for the King of Denmark's Ambassadors A Letter from the Duke of Vendosme referred to a Committee Votes against Delinquents Of a Holland Ship of 100 Tuns taken 27. Alderman Fowke was presented to the Parliament for Lord Mayor of London for the next year the Recorder made a Speech to the House thereupon and in commendation of the Alderman and Mr. Speaker by command of the House made a Speech in answer of the Recorder's and approved of the Choice 29. The Danish Ambassadors had Audience and took their leave of the Parliament Order to exclude private Business for Fourteen dayes Order for a Bill to Confiscate some Persons Estates in Scotland and for an Act of Grace to others Order for maintenance for Ministers to be put into Livings in Scotland Letters That the Commissioners for Administration of Justice in Scotland sat at Edenburgh and had many Criminal matters brought before them 60 in a day for Adultery Incest c. in the Court and proof against few of them and the Malice of People against one another so great that they brought accusations for facts done 20 years past and the greatest
of such as were then known An Act of the Councel of State touching the adventurers for Lands in Ireland An Address from Cumberland approving the actions of Cromwell and his Army and resolving to stand by them and assist them 7. Letters from Scotland that the 2 great Fleets missed one an other to the admiration of all men that the Malignants report the Dutch to be 150 Sail of Men of War That there continues great feud betwixt the Assembly and Protesting Party about placing and displacing of Ministers That the Lord Wareston is angry at every thing but himself and at that too sometimes Intelligence that about 20 of the Dutch Fleet were taken burnt and sunk 3 Fire-Ships taken one Vice-Admiral and 2 Rear-Admirals one Rear-Admiral towed by the Entrance being far bigger than her self having 14 Guns on a Tire and of 1200 Tun. But 126 men Slain in the English Fleet none of note but General Dean and one Captain no English Ship lost 8. Letters were sent from Cromwell to the several persons called to take upon them the trust of the Government of the Common-wealth and were to this effect For as much as upon Dissolution of the late Parliament it became necessary that the Peace Safety and good Government of this Common-wealth should be provided for and in order thereunto divers persons fearing God and of approved Fidelity and Honesty are by my self with the advice of my Councel of Officers nominated to whom the great Charge and Trust of so weighty Affairs is to be committed And having good assurance of your love to and courage for God and the Interest of this Cause and of the good People of this Common-wealth I Oliver Cromwell Captain-General and Commander in chief of all the Armies and Forces raised and to be raised within this Common-wealth do hereby summon and require you being one of the Persons nominated personally to appear at the Councel-Chamber at White-Hall within the City of Westminster upon the 4th day of July next insuing the date hereof then and there to take upon you the said Trust unto which you are hereby called and appointed to serve as a Member of the County of Bucks and hereof you are not to fail Given under my Hand and Seal the 8th day of June 1653. O. Cromwell Further Relations of the late Fight at Sea with the Dutch but to the same effect with the former and that the English Fleet were still in chase of the Dutch Fleet towards their own Coast 9. Letters of 2 Dutch Ships taken by the Warwick Frigot that as soon as the Dutch discovered her to be one of the States Men of War they presently submitted to her 10. Of a Tumult lately in Linlithgow in Scotland the people refusing to receive a Minister whom the Presbit'ry would have imposed on them and some of the Kirk-men were soundly beaten in the scuffle A Ship of Jersey taken by the French 11. Of a private Man of War of Captain Williams who brought to Pendenuis 3 prizes whereof one had store of money but how much it was the Marriners took course it should not be discovered An other private Man of War brought 3 Dutch Prizes into the Isle of Wight That the English Fleet was before the Brill and other Dutch Harbours blocking up their Ships and that thereupon the Dutch People were in very great confusion 13. A party of Soldiers being sent into the Highlands to gather the Sess there a Company of Highlanders got together in Arms and followed the Soldiers 8 Miles who making a hault fired upon the Highlanders and slew their Captain and thereupon all of them fled distractedly and left divers of their Company dead upon the place those that ran away were too nimble for the English Soldiers to pursue them eight Men of War of the English Fleet brought into Leith Road 20 small Dutch Vessels Busses and other Prizes 14. The General and Councel of State published a Declaration to invite all the good People in these Nations to thankfulness and holy rejoycing in the Lord for the late great Victory at Sea against the Dutch and appointed a Day for meeting of himself and his Councel of Officers to praise the Lord. This took the more with many People because it was not a command and imposing upon Men but only an Invitation of them to keep a day of publick thanksgiving Collonel John Lilburn arriving at London sets forth an Address to Cromwell under this Title The banished Mans suit for Protection to his Excellency the Lord-General Cromwell being the humble Address of Lieutenant-Collonel John Lilburn This was written from his Lodging in little More-fields where by Warrant of the Councel of State he was taken into Custody and Committed to Sherriff Vnderwood's House 15. The English Fleet were plying to and again betwixt the Texel and the Vly to hinder Ships coming out from thence to joyn with that part of the Dutch Fleet now at the Weilings and to stop up their Trade and Fishing 16. Lieutenant-Collonel Lilburn being Prisoner in Newgate now published another Address to Cromwell and the Councel of State for repealing the Act of the late Parliament for his banishment for which he gave divers reasons because it was a Judgment against him by the Parliament according to no law in being That the Act is a Law made after the Fact done to ordain a punishment for that Fact which was never ordained or heard of before That the Parliament which made that Law being now dissolved the Law ought to be of no Force He prays the Suspension of any proceedings against him upon that Law till the Justice of the matter and manner of it be legally examined Two small Vessels of Scilly Loaden with Provisions for the Island were taken by the Brest Pickaroons One of Prince Rupert's Men in a mad humour leaped over-board into the Sea and was drowned and another of them in a bravado killed himself with his own Pistol 17. The Highlanders in Scotland began to gather together in Arms upon Commissions they received from the King of Scots The English Fleet were upon the Dutch and French Coasts 18. Captain Steiner brought into Lee Road 12 prizes Dutch Men of War taken in the late Fight and of Dutch Prisoners 1350 who were brought to London and secured in Chelsey Colledge An Agent came from Holland with Letters to Cromwell about their Ambassadors coming hither to Treat for Peace Cromwell received and carried the Letters to the Councel of State 20. The last week arrived in England Mnr. Bevering a Commissioner from Holland and had Audience before the Councel of State and made a short Speech in French for amity between the two Common-wealths this day arrived 3 more New-port Van Dorpar and Yongstall Commissioners from the United Provinces Lieutenant-Collonel Lilburn made a 3d Address to Cromwell and the Councel of State A Petition in the names of 5000 Citizens of London
to Sea An Act passed for the Probat of Wills in the several Counties 3. The Hambrough Fleet safely arrived with Masts Deal Gunpowder c. Convoyed home with four Men of War though â—2 Dutch Men of War were sent out to interrupt them Letters that De Witt was arrived at Copenhagen with 300 Merchantmen and 40 Men of War and was to Convoy home their East-India Ships and other Merchantmen put in there and in Norway for security A Petition to the Parliament of the Godly Party in Salop to the effect with former Petitions Referred to the Committee of Petitions to report to the House c. 4. Votes passed for taking away some Offices and reducing of Salaries for the ease of the Common-wealth Tho Bulstrode and others continued Commissioners of the Excize Order for a Letter to be sent to the Cantons of the Switzers Order touching the Customs and to prevent Abuses therein 5. Letters that Argyle shewed great Civility Parliament-Forces at Mula Island That Captain Minnes in the Elizabeth Frigot off about Diep getting the Windward Gage of thirty Sail of Ships found three of them to be Dutch Men of War which engaged and after some dispute he forced them to bear away clear from him but could not pursue them both his Masts being shot quite through but he fell in among the Merchantmen and brought twenty of them into the Downs who pretend to be of Hamburgh and Lubeck 6. Letters that the Emperor had sent to the States to demand the Imperial Towns which was of great consequence in respect of England 7. Letters of some Commotions of the High-landers and their killing of two English Soldiers and taking three Prisoners that Middleton was sollicited by the Dutch to attempt some of the Northern Harbours Of an English Ship taken by a Dutch Pickeroon That two days after the Hambrough Fleet came away the Dutch came with thirty Men of War to have surprized them 8. The Commissioners for Prisoners impowred to inquire the causes of Commitment of all Prisoners for Criminal Matters and to send for the Copies of all Mittimus's and Records that the Abuses may be rectified in Committing Persons for their Judgment or Conscience or for Malice Alderman Vâ—ner presented to be Lord Mayor of London approved by the House An Act passed to call all Persons to Accompt for Publick Debts and Commissioners were named for discoveries of Money or Land concealed belonging to the State 10. Petition from Congregational Churches in the North the House Voted That there shall be a Declaration giving fitting liberty to all that fear God and for the preventing the Abuses against Magistrates and for Preservation of such as fear God among themselves without imposing one upon the other and to discountenance Blasphemies damnable Heresies and licentious Practices General Blake came into the House whereof he was a Member and received the thanks of the House for his great and faithful Services Vote for Regulating the Publick Revenue Letters that the King of Denmark had promised to send some of his Ships to Convoy the Dutch Merchants home 11. Letters that Captain Hayton in the Saphire came up to Eight French Ships of War and shot twice at their Admiral who gave him again a Broad-side that Hayton endeavoured to board the Admiral but she got away and then Hayton being between their Admiral and Vice-Admiral he fired both sides at them and the Vice-Admiral called for quarter and the Admiral ran that he took the Vice-Admiral and afterwards another of them in the Chace and in conclusion their Rear-Admiral also rich Prizes and many of their men slain and lost four men only and some wounded Of more French Prizes taken and divers Dutch Ships That Captain Welch a Private Man of War took a Pacquet-Boat of the Dutch with Letters and next morning took a Dutch Ship of 300 Tuns laden with Iron Shot and Guns and Copper and two more Ships of three hundred Tuns a piece laden with Clapboard and a Dutch Buss loaden with Herrings 12. Vote for Wills to be sealed by Colonel Zanckey Seal-keeper if the Wills were of a date before the New Act. 13. An Act passed touching Ideots and Lunaticks An Act passed for Confirmation of the Purchasers of Sir John Stowel's Estate 14. Letters that the Highlanders increase in their numbers and take many Horses and divers debauched and beggarly Fellows come in to them The Commander in chief of the Army in Scotland published a Proclamation reciting former Proclamations against Vagabonds and masterful Beggars and such as commit Murders Thefts and Robberies and join with the Highlanders requiring such to be apprehended c. That none do relieve or assist them on pain to be adjudged Enemies to the Common-wealth and those who shall discover or apprehend them to be rewarded 15. Letters of an Attempt of Captain Darcy to take the Hart Frigot in which were fifty men but he had with him only twelve men and the Hart Frigot was forewarned of the Attempt Yet Darcy frighted the Captain of the Frigot overboard and fought three hours some of his Men forsook him and others leaped overboard he and five or six more killed and wounded sixteen of the Frigots Men but the rest of the Men in the Frigot which were Darcy's old Friends for sook him though they had engaged their Lives to stand to him in that Enterprize Darcy had quarter six or seven hours and afterwards the Captain killed him in cold blood with his Pistols and ran his Sword through him three or four times then cut him in pieces and pulled out his heart Of seven St. Malloes Men brought in Prizes to Plymouth and of nine more of them taken and brought in The House sate in a grand Committee to debate the business of the inequality of Taxes and to consider of some means to rectifie it and passed several Votes thereupon Order for the House to sit in a grand Committee to consider of the Act for the Union of Scotland to the Commonwealth of England 17. Letters of Two Prizes brought into Portsmouth by Captain Plumbley and another by Captain Hawks Of the Highlander Tories increasing incouraged by the Ministers That De Witt with Fourteen Men of War and a great number of Merchantmen was gone out of the Sound Westward that the Danes were generally perswaded that the Dutch had wholly vanquished the English at Sea Ordered to suspend the hearing of Causes for a Moneth in Chancery and a Bill for a way of determining the Causes now depending in Chancery 18 Letters from Captain Green of a States Man of War who fell among five Dutch men of War that one of them laid him on board but broke his Boltsprit and so went off again the like was done by another of them whose Boltsplit was also broken That Seven Sail of English Merchant-men were near him all this time yet would give no assistance to him but he came off without the loss of one man only
them to have Fire-Arms or Ammunition 4. Letters that Argyle finding his Country men would not follow him by reason his Son the Lord Lorn was with the other party he left the Highlands That De Wit convoyed home to the Texel from the Sound the East-India Ships with 375 other Merchantmen and that about thirty Sail from Norwey were come home That young Trump was got home with his Merchantmen through the Channel That the English East-India Ships and other Merchantmen were safely arrived with their Convoy two Men of War and came in sight of young Trump who had Eight men of War yet did not exchange one Shot with them that a great Fleet of Colliers were come into the Thames 5. An Act passed for Repealing part of a former Act that enjoyns the subscribing the Engagement before one shall have the benefit of the Law A Bill committed for the taking away the High Court of Chancery and Constituting Judges and Commissioners for hearing Causes now depending in Chancery and future matters of Equity and for Reforming Abuses in the Common Law 7. Letters of the Cruelty and Insolency of the Highlanders under Kinmore That a Garison of the Parliaments took divers of them Prisoners and many Horses and Arms. Of the preparations in Holland for one hundred Sayl of Men of War 8. Debate of the Bill of the Assesments and the House Ordered the Rates to continue as before An Act passed concerning the Determination of certain Claims depending before the Commissioners of Obstructions 9. A Committee sate upon the Petition of Alderman Fowk late Lord Mayor of London 11. Of a Synode in Scotland among whom was great differences of Opinion with long and sharp Debates Of two French Prizes brought into Plymouth and an other pretending to be an Hamburgher Of a Frigot sent to Jersey for twenty Brass Guns and for two Companies of Soldiers Of two Dutch Prizes more brought into Alborough Sheriffs Nominated for the Counties of England and Wales 12. Letters of two Dutch Prizes brought into Burlington Bay That by great storms at Sea the Dutch lost twenty of their Ships driven a shore most of them Men of War And that De Wit was not returned That in the late storm two thousand Dutch Men were lost and four hundred and seventy Pieces of Cannon That in the storm fifteen breaches were made in the Banks of that Country and some Castles and whole Villages drowned 14. Letters of the French Capers doing much mischief to the English Merchants and cruelly using their Men and that they make Brest another Algiers That the great loss of the Dutch by the late storm at Sea hindred their Admiral Opdam from going forth with the Fleet. Order of Parliament touching the Redemption of the Captives of Algier Letters from the States of Lubeck and Hamburgh to the Parliament of England read in the House 15. The House Nominated some Sheriffs and Debated the Bill of Assesments Letters of a Party of the Highlanders falling upon a small Party of the English of whom they killed one and wounded three of them That Captain Watson fell upon a Party of the Highlanders and did them much damage Of thirteen Dutch and French Prizes brought into Plymouth most of them pretending to be Hamburghers 16. Orders touching claims for Moneys due upon Publick Faith and touching some Sheriffs of Counties 17. The Council of State published an Order Reciting the Trust reposed in them by the Parliament for this purpose they declare that the Council will protect all the good People of these Nations That no disturbance shall be offered to any such in their peaceable Assemblies for the Worship of God It is expected and required of all Ministers of Justice to proceed against the offenders therein as disturbers of the publick peace and all other persons to take notice thereof Order for a Lottery for Provinces and Counties in Ireland as to claims of land there 18. Letters that Kenmores party increased and took many Horses from the Lowlands who were generally their Friends That they plundered the Country and took some Prisoners that they received a Letter from their King that he could not assist them which discouraged them That by the late Inundation in Holland Amsterdam was damaged one hundred thousand l. That their Fleet being seventy two Men of War riding in the Texel were much shattered by the late violent winds sixteen of them lost and fourteen driven on shoar not above six left that were serviceable That the Seamen there are discontented that General Monk was gone down to the Parliaments Fleet. 19. Debate of the power of Patrons in Presenting Ministers and the inconveniencies thereof and Orders for an Act to take away Presentations An Act passed for setling Lands of the late Earl of Darby upon the present Earl his Son Order for a Bill touching the Excise and debate upon the Bill of Assesments That the Pickaroons of Bulloign took an English Merchant Man 21. That the Highlanders Garisoned several Houses that a Party of them took two Captains of Collonel Overtons Regiment going with their Wives to Glascow and took two Soldiers of Colonel Tomlinsons Regiment and that they plundered the Lord Warestons House An Act published for Establishing of a High Court of Justice A great Insurrection and Tumult was at the New Exchange between the Portugal Ambassadors Brother and some of his Company and Collonel Gerrard an English Gentlman who hearing the Portugueses discoursing in French of the Affairs of England told them in French That they did not represent those passages aright Whereupon one of the Portugueses gave him the lye and they all three fell upon Collonel Gerrard stabbing him in the shoulder with a Dagger but being rescued out of their hands by one Mr. Anthuser they retired home and within one hour returned with twenty more Armed with Breast-Plates and Head-pieces but after two or three turns not finding Mr. Anthuser they returned home that night 22. Letters that two thousand Dutch Prisoners of War in England were discharged and come home into Holland That young Trump was come home safe and so was the Dutch Ships from Bergen in Norwey The Portugal Ambassadors Brother returned again to the New Exchange with his Company and walking there they met with Colonel Mayo whom they supposed to have been Mr. Anthuser and shooting off a Pistol as a warning Fifty Portugueses came in with drawn Swords and leaving some to keep the Stayers the rest went up with the Ambassadors Brother and fell upon Colonel Mayo who gallantly defending himself received seven dangerous wounds and lies in a dying condition And then they fell upon Mr. Greenway of Lincolns-Inn who was walking with his Sister in one hand and his Mistriss in the other and Pistol'd him in the head whereof he dyed immediatly they brought with them several Jars filled with Gunpowder in their Coaches stopped with Wax and filled with Matches intending as it seemed to have done some
mischief to the Exchange had they not been prevented The Parliaments Horse at the Mews taking the Allaram apprehended some of the Portugueses and the rest of them ran to the Ambassadors House whether Collonel Whaley pursued them and beset the Ambassadors House with his Horse acquainted him with the Murder and Insolency committed by his followers shewed him some of them whom he had taken Prisoners and required the chief of the rest to be delivered up to the hand of Justice The Ambassador insisted upon his priviledge as Ambassador but seeing nothing else would satisfy he at length delivered up his Brother and one of the Knights of Malta and some others and promised to secure the rest to be forth coming After which the Ambassador made his Address to the Lord General and chiefly for his Brother but the General told him the business did concern the publick and therefore his Excellencies Address must be to the Parliament and the Council of State 23. Letters that upon the complaints of the Merchants at Stockholm to the Queen of Sweedland of the Abuses they had received at Sea by the Holland Men of War the Queen clapt up two Dutch Merchants into Prison and seized upon all Dutch Mens Estates till She should be further satisfied The Brother of the Portugal Ambassador and his Company who committed the Murder at the Exchange were Examined by the Lord Chief Justice Rolles and the Ambassadors Brother and four others were Committed to Newgate in order to their Trial. 24. Letters That a Knight of Malta Commander of a Man of War of France took an English Merchant man in the Streights That the French Pickaroons did much mischief on the Coast near Jersey That Captain Chainberlain an old Pyrate sent a Letter to Colonel Hean Governour of Jersey That if the Jersey Men would not contribute toward his maintenance he Swore by the Heavens that he would throw as many of them as he did meet with into the bottom of the Sea 25. Letters of the Insolencies committed by the Highlanders That the Marquiss of Loignac travelling between Brussels and Dunkirk was murdered by Thieves and all his Company only the Post-boy hardly escaped 26. Letters of Merchant Ships arrived at Dartmonth safely and of some English Vessels taken by the Pickaroons of Brest Of a Prize brought into Plymouth which pretends to be a Sweedish Ship 28. Orders touching the account of Officers and Souldiers and Stating their Arrears and for paying and securing them out of forfeited Lands in Ireland Letters that Eight Dutch Men of War in the Streights had taken Fifteen Merchantmen of London and Bristol Trading from New-found Land with Fish to the Streights and two more of them were taken by a Brest Pickaroon at the Lands end Of divers Witches Examined and sent to Prison some of them called Black Witches who killed Men Women and Children and Cattle by their Witchcrafts and others of them called White Witches who healed them that were bewitched by the other and that this was Confessed by them 29 Letters that Mounsieur Chanute late Ambassadour from France to Sweden was now come Ambassadour Extraordinary to the States General and came with a very great Train The Dutch Deputies meet daily with the English Commissioners at White-hall about the Treaty of Peace 30 Letters of great Preparations in Holland to recruit their Navy That Middleton hath leave from the States to Transport what Armes and Amunition he pleased to Scotland That the Emperour had declared for the Scots King against the Commonwealth of England December 1653. 1 Letters that the Queen of Sweden had seized upon the Persons and Estates of some Dutch in Sweden which caused the Dane to fear her closure with England That the King of Denmarks Fleet of Fourteen Men of War met with several English Merchant-men and Examined them and finding that they were English let them pass quietly 2 Of mischiefs done by the Highlanders Of harmes done by the French Picaroons and Dutch Freebooters upon the Western Coasts 3 Of many Merchants Ships staying in Deal Road for Convoyes and that the Parliaments Fleet were most of them yet at Tilbury-Hope whither the rest of the Frigots were falling down to them as fast as they could get to be ready 5 Letters that the Barons of Athol refused to assist the Highlanders who thereupon took some of the Barons Prisoners and others of them fled to one of the English Garrisons and that this caused much discontent in the Country That the further Highlanders Plundered all that come in their way and every Two Men among them devour a Sheep in one day that when they have got Plunder they run home That they depend much upon Kenmores Party consisting of Scots Irish French and English that they will not Ingage with the English 6 General Blake General Monk General Desborough and General Pen made of the Committee of the Admiralty and Navy with divers others by Act of this Parliament for Six Months Letters of Sixteen Private Men of War at Brest of Four Prizes brought into Plymouth and of Three more great Ships taken 7 Orders taken for the Relief of Marleborough upon a Collection for the loss by the late Fire there 8 Letters of preparations for One hundred and twenty Ships to go forth from Holland in the Spring that the Lords there are close and silent That Middleton had great favour there Of several Frigots in Plymouth made ready to put to Sea 9 Letters of a Ship set upon by the Dutch at Leghorn-road but rescued by the Castle Of two Dutch Ships brought in Prize to Pool by Private Men of War that divers Dutch Pirates joyned with those of Brest That the Earl of Athols Men left him in the Highlands and his Tenants refused to pay him Rents of other small Parties in other places of Scotland 10 Of the Mischiefs done by the French Pickaroons and an English Frigot coming near them they hasted away That General Monck set Sail from Tilbury Hope with all the Ships then ready 12 Of differences between Glencarn and Glengary who shall be Superiour in Command of the Highlanders That the Gentlemen in those parts were summoned by the Commander in Chief of the Parliament Forces and most of them Signed an Engagement to be faithful to the Common-wealth of England and not to Assist the Highlanders That the Queen of Sweden was gone from Stock-holm to Vpsale 13 Upon a Report from the Committee touching Tithes That the Commissioners be sent into all Counties divided into Six Circuits Three Commissioners into each Circuit from London and Four or Six of every County The Commissioners to have Power to eject all Ministers who are not of good behaviour and holy in Conversation or not apt and able to teach or hold not forth the faithful Word or be not diligent or labour not in the Word and Doctrine nor be greedy of filthy lucre And that they be impowred to settle Godly and able Persons to settle the
Correspondencie with forreign Kings Princes and States and also with the Consent of the major part of the Council have the power of War and Peace VI. That the Laws shall not be altered suspended abrogated or repealed nor any new Law made nor any Tax Charge or Imposition laid upon the People but by common Consent in Parliament save only as is expressed in the Thirtieth Article VII That there shall be a Parliament summoned to meet at Westminster upon the third day of September One thousand six hundred fifty four and that successively a Parliament shall be summoned once in every third year to be accounted from the dissolution of the preceding Parliament VIII That neither the Parliament to be next summoned nor any successive Parliaments shall during the time of Five Months to be accounted from the day of their first meeting be adjourned prorogued or dissolved without their own Consent IX That as well the next as all other successive Parliaments shall be summoned and Elected in manner hereafter exprest That is to say The Persons to be chosen within England Wales the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed to sit and serve in Parliament shall be and not exceed the Number of Four hundred The Persons to be chosen within Scotland to sit and serve in Parliament shall be and not exceed the number of Thirty And the Persons to be chosen to sit in Parliament for Ireland shall be and not exceed the number of Thirty X. That the Persons to be Elected to sit in Parliament from time to time for the several Counties of England Wales the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed and all places within the same respectively shall be according to the Proportions and numbers hereafter exprest That is to say For the County of Bedford six viz. For the Town of Bedford one For the County of Bedford five For the County of Berks seven viz. For the Borrough of Abingdon one For the Burrough of Reading one For the County of Berks five For the County of Bucks eight viz. For the Town of Buckingham one For the Burrough of Alisbury one For the Burrough of Wiccomb one For the County of Bucks five For the County of Cambridg Isle of Ely eight viz. For the Town of Cambridg one For the University of Cambridge one For the Isle of Ely two For the County of Cambridge four For the County of Chester five viz. For the City of Chester one For the County of Chester four For the County of Cornwall twelve viz. For the Burrough of Dunishwet otherwise Launceston one For the Burrough of Truro one For the Burrough of Penryn one For the Burrough of East-low and Westlow one For the County of Cornwal eight For the County of Cumberland three viz. For the City of Carlile one For the County of Cumberland two For the County of Derby five viz. For the Town of Derby one For the County of Derby four For the County of Devon twenty viz. For the City of Exeter two For the Burrough of Plymouth two For the Burrough of Dartmouth Clifton and Harderness one For the Burough of Totness one For the Borough of Barnstable one For the Borough of Tiverton one For the Borough of Honyton one For the County of Devon eleven For the County of Dorset ten viz. For the Borough of Dorchester one For the Borough of Weymouth and Melcomb-Regis one For the Borough of Lyme-Regis one For the Town and County of Pool one For the County of Dorset six For the County of Durham three viz. For the City of Durham one For the County of Durham two For the County of York twenty two viz. For the City of York two For the Town of Kingston upon Hull one For the Borough of Beverly one For the Borough of Scarborough one For the Borrough of Richmond one For the Town of Leeds one For the Town and Parish of Hallifax one For the County of York fourteen to be chosen distinctly by the three Ridings That is to say for the West-riding six for the East-riding four for the North-riding four For the County of Essex sixteen viz. For the Borough of Maldon one For the Borough of Colchester two For the County of Essex thirteen For the County of Gloucester and County of the City of Gloucester nine viz. For the City of Gloucester two For the Borough of Tewksberry one For the Borough of Cirencester one For the County and the County of the City of Gloucester except the said City five For the County of Hereford six viz. For the City of Hereford one For the Borough of Lempster one For the County of Hereford four For the County of Hartford seven viz. For the Town of Saint Alban one For the Borough of Hartford one For the County of Hartford five For the County of Huntingdon four viz. For the Borough of Huntingdon one For the County of Huntingdon three For the County of Kent eighteen viz. For the City of Canterbury two For the City of Rochester one For the Borough of Maidstone one For the Port of Dover one For the Port of Sandwich one For the Borough of Quinborough one For the County of Kent eleven For the County of Lancaster eight viz. For the Borough of Preston in Anderness one For the Borough of Laucaster one For the Borough of Leverpool one For the Town and Parish of Manchester one For the County of Lancaster four For the County of Leycester six viz. For the Borough of Leycester two For the County of Leycester four For the County of Lincoln sixteen viz. For the City of Lincoln two For the Town of Boston one For the Borough of Grantham one For the Town of Stamford one For the Town of Great Grimsby one For the County of Lincoln ten For the County of Middlesex six viz. For the City of Westminster two For the County of Middlesex four For the City of London six For the County of Monmouth three For the County of Norfolk sixteen viz. For the City of Norwich two For the Town of Lynne Regis two For the Town of Great Yarmouth two For the County of Norfolk ten For the County of Northampton eight viz. For the City of Peterborough one For the Town of Northampton one For the County of Northampton six For the County of Nottingham six viz. For the Town of Nottingham two For the County of Nottingham four For the County of Northumberland five viz. For the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne one For the Town of Berwick one For the County of Northumberland three For the County of Oxford eight viz. For the City of Oxford one For the University of Oxford one For the Borough of Woodstock one For the County of Oxford five For the County of Rutland two For the County of Salop eight viz. For the Town of Shrewsbury two For the Borough of Bruges alias Bridgenorth one For the Borough of Ludlow one For the County of
they fell into divers of their Quarters and took many Prisoners 7 Letters of a chase of a French Ship which ran on ground Of a Dutch Ship of Three hundred Tuns brought in Prize That the Brest Men of War took Two Vessels of Milford Of all the Vnited Provinces but Friezland agreeing to the Articles of Peace with England That the French Ambassadour in Holland laboured to continue the War between England and Holland and offered to bear half the Charge of it but the States would not consent unto it that nevertheless the States go on with their preparations for the Sea-war That there will be a great distraction and trouble among the People in case the Peace with England be not concluded 8 The Lord Protector Dined in London with the Lord Mayor and Common Council by their invitation at which the Recorder made a Speech to his Highness The Intertainment was in a Magnificent manner the Streets Railed on both sides and the Rayls covered with Blew-cloath Twelve Lacquayes in rich Liveries the Field Officers bravely Mounted the Guards c. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen met his Highness on Horseback in their Robes and his Highness Knighted the Lord Mayor when he went away 9 The Lord Protector appointed certain days to hear Petitions from the Masters of the Requests the Lord Protector made several Serjeants at Law 10 Letters that the Irish had a general Fast and that some of the Tories took Twelve Surveyors of the Lands as they were Travelling Of a Dutch Pyrate brought into Burlington Bay That some small bodies of the Irish were got together That a Private man of War brought in a Dutch Ship and a French Ship Prizes and of fifteen other Dutch Ships brought in Prizes 11 Of the Highlanders burning Corn and out-houses and doing much mischief to the Scots who would not afford them Supplyes and help their Leavys 13 A Servant to Myn Here Beverling the Dutch Ambassador in England brought News That all the Vnited Provinces had assented to the Articles of Peace with England Letters of the general inclinations of the People in the Netherlands to have a Peace with England for that another Summers War and their loss of another years Free Trade and Fishing would hardly be born by the Multitude That all the Orange Party and Cavaliers are against the Peace and discontented at it That Middleton was going with about Two hundred Cavaliers towards the Highlanders 14 Letters of a Party of the Enemy that came to Dunbarton and but Twelve of the Horse got ready and Charged them very shoutly they being Twenty five Horse and took their Lieutenant that Commanded them and Two more and Wounded all the rest From Vpsale that the Change of Government in England was well resented in Sweden and the Lord Ambassadors Credentialls from the Lord Protector were well received by the Queen of Sweden The Commissioners for Accounts being informed that some pretending Authority from them do summon People in the several Counties to places where they meet to draw up Accounts and Claims and exact unreasonable Fees for the doing it The Commissioners declare that they gave no such Authority to any person but leave the People to their own liberty and conveniency and will see those abuses punished 15 The Council of the Protector sate close and had got Intelligence from the Army in all places and from the Fleet. 16 Letters that the Lord Protector was Proclaimed at Dublin but not so soon and so chearfully as he was in the North. The Articles were agreed to transplant the Munster-Tories into Flanders 17 That Kenmore with a Body of Two thousand Men lay quiet expecting the issue of the Dutch Treaty That Collonel Wogan was dead and most of his Party sought to get out of Scotland again That an English Lieutenant with Twelve Dragoons took Four of Glencarns own Troop and Eight Horse That Glencarn by Proclamation threatned Fire and Sword to all that did not supply him That six English Souldiers were set upon by Fifty Highlanders who took Three and killed Two of them and the other escaped That Collonel Drummond was got to the High-landers with Instructions from the King and to see whether they were in such a posture as that the King might adventure to come to them 18 Eleven Persons were sent Prisoners to the Tower and some of them examined about a Plot against the Lord Protector and the present Government A Private Man of War from the Holy Island brought in two Prizes loaden with East-Country goods 20 An Address to the Lord Protector from the Minsters of Leistershire Two Ordinances of the Lord Protector and his Council Published one for the Monthly Assessment of Twelve hundred thousand pounds for six Months to be continued the other for an Explanation of a former Ordinance touching Treasons 21 Letters that Collonel Morgan with a Party of Twelve hundred Horse Foot and Dragoons fell upon 〈◊〉 and Kinmores Army being Two thousand and Routed them totally and pursued them Seven miles into the Hills That Captain Moltlows fell upon a House in Argibeshire and took it with all the Men Armes and Ammunition in it and fired the House That Lieutenant Collonel Coâ—â—rel Marched from Glascoiâ— to Reduce the Garrison of Ross Dew but before he came near it the Enemy ran away and left word they had no orders to Fight 22 That Captain Foster with the Phoenix Frigot brought in a Swedish Ship for Prize having Prohibited Goods on Board her That Captain 〈◊〉 with the Amity in company of Captain Fosturâ— fought with a Zealand Man of War and Killed and Wounded most of her Men yet She would not yield till Captain Foster came in to the Amity 23 Letters of Credence 〈◊〉 Monsieur Bourdeaux to be Ambassadour Extraordinary from the French King to the Lord Protector The King of Scots was to go from Paris upon the Peace with England The Dutch Admiral Prohibited all their Merchant-men from going to Sea till the Cessation of Armes came from England That the Sâ—aâ—es are sending Ambassadors Extraordinary to the Lord Protector to Sign the Peace with England Of English Merchants Ships taken by the Brest Men of War and rescued by the English Frigots 24 Letters that Collonel Daniel with One thousand men took in the Lord Athols House by Storm killed only three of the Enemies the rest cryed for Quarter and had it Collonel Daniel lost but one Man and took in the House Two Lieutenants one Ensign two Serjeants two Cornets and one hundred and nineteen Souldiers eighty Musquets some Fire-locks and Swords sixteen pound of Powder and twenty five Troop Houses That there was in the House much more Meat Mault and Oaes which Collonel Daniel could not carry away and therefore he set fire to a barrel of Powder and those Provision and blew up them and the House together 25 That one of the late Collonel Wogans Men with Three of his best Horses ran away to an English Garrison That
High Puissances are also too just to give the World cause to say that you regard not your Friends but in the Moment when you have need of them and that you neglect to give them like succour as you expect from them What will all the Neighbourhood judge of such proceedings that while these Provinces are Treating in England they let it be known that at the same time they are Negotiating Alliance in France and the Treaty in England being brought near to Effect they speak no more of the Alliance of France One would expect that these two Treaties should March with an equal pace it will be seen that one is advanced and the other stands still If that of England be concluded and no mention made of that of France will it not rather be suspected that an Alliance was proposed at Paris to obtain an advantageous Peace at London But it will not fall out so these distrusts have not entred into the Council of the King the Alliance will proceed and if in the Project which the Commissioners of his Majesty have given to the Ambassadour of your High Puissances there be any thing that requires a temperament it will be done with justice and equality Since France will be free from misunderstanding with England otherwise there would be too much difference in the condition of the Contractors Your High Puissances finding your selves in full Peace with Spain and England And France being overcharged with New Troubles from England besides the War which She sustains against Spain The same justice to procure for France the accomodations with England appears clearly in the Design which your High Puissances discovered when you resolved to Treat an Alliance with France for they thereupon gave Instructions to their Ambassadors in two Cases the one of the Peace the other of the War with England desiring in the last Case that the King should Imploy his Forces for their Succour and it is Equity that you should include in the Peace him whom you would have ingaged in the War otherwise you would reap all the benefit to your selves and put all the bazards upon your Friends These Conditions are so natural and pressing that they may surmount the greatest obstacles if you shall include France in the Peace of your High Puissances with England But if you do not or be found slack â—herein it cannot be said here as in other Treaties That France would not have Peace for She demandeth it instantly It cannot bo alledged what was said to your Deputies on the behalf of the King of Denmark That that Prince did not at all appear by his Ministers France hath hers at London The English are offended with Denmark No such thing appears against France It cannot be objected that our differences are of long discussion and mingled with divers pretensions Nor that there is any great War to be determined or long Animosities to be extinguished It is not a War nor is it any hatred but these differences between us and England may rather be named Disorders in the Commerce of particular Persons and are principally upon such Matters as make Application to the Office of Friends to prevent the Mischiefs of War before they be Declared The thing then is easie of it self but much more easie in the condition you are in England is willing to have a Peace with you and without searching into the Reasons wherefore they desire it it appears sufficiently that they are willing to have it parting with so many pretentions which were put forth in the beginning it is not credible that they would loose the occasion of this Accommodation with the Provinces in the present Constitution of Affairs for this only Circumstance the including of France they would the rather have Peace with your High Puissances if they saw you streightly Vnited with France And if it should fall out otherwise it would necessarily be believed that England had higher Designs that it were joyned with Spain and that the Peace presented to the United Provinces were but a blind to disunite them from their ancient Friends and to ruine them with joynt Forces of the Spaniards when they had separated them But I have no such Opinion I esteem England to treat sincerely with your High Puissances and hope that after you have well considered this Inclusion which I demand of you in the Peace what profit it will bring how necessary for your Trade and to the Security of a reasonable Treaty among Friends just between Allies and easie to be obtained you will not lose the favourable occasion to perform one of the best Actions that hath been done since the Foundation of your State promoting a Peace to a great Kingdom doing a good Office to a powerful King and making known to all the World what they may expect from your Friendship Hereupon I shall attend the Answer of your High Puissances to make it known unto the King my Master The Ordinance published for adjourning part of Easter Term that in the mean time course might be taken for reforming the Abuses and Corruptions in the proceedings of Law A Congratulation to the Lord Protector from the Town of Newcastle Letters that Cornet Kennet with Twenty Men going to Collect an Assessment about Dumfrize were set upon by Forty of the Enemy received their Charge and then charged through the Rebells routed them killed four took six and had only four of his Party Wounded That Lieutenant Hickman with another party fell upon Sixty of the Enemy took six and about twenty Horse That another Party under Cornet Keys and Lieutenant Young with about forty Horse and thirty Foot fell upon a Party of the Enemy being sixty Horse and sixty Foot Routed them and Killed a Captain and twelve Souldiers took several Officers and forty Soldiers and twenty Horse and lost but one Man and another Wounded That Major Bridge took two Prisoners and six Horses which he restored to the Country from whom the Scots had taken them That Lieutenant Hickman had routed the Enemy and taken some Prisoners slew three and pursued them to the Hills 11 Letters that the Ratification of the Articles of Peace with England was Signed by most of the States 12 An Ordinance passed touching Surveyors of the High-ways Another forbidding Planting of Tobacco in England Another for the Union of Scotland with England in these words His Highness the Lord Protector of the Common-Wealth of England Scotland and Ireland c. taking into consideration how much it might conduce to the glory of God and the peace and welfare of the people in this whole Island that after all those late unhappy Wars and Differences the People of Scotland should be united with the People of England into one Commonwealth and under one Government and finding that in December one thousand six hundred fifty and one the Parliament then sitting did send Commissioners into Scotland to invite the People of that Nation unto such an happy Vnion who proceeded so far therein that
Abolished taken off and discharged and that all and every the said Deeds Patents Charters and Enfeoffments in that behalf be and are hereby declared and made so far void and null And particularly that all and every the Heritors and others the Persons aforesaid and their Heirs are and shall be for ever hereafter freed and discharged of and from all sutes and appearing at or in any their Lords or Superiors Courts of Justitiary Regality Stuartry Barony Bayliary Heritable Sheriff-ship Heritable Admiralty all which together with all other Offices heritable or for Life are hereby abolished and taken away and that all and every the Heritors and persons aforesaid and their Heirs are and shall be for ever hereafter freed and discharged of and from all Military service and personal attendance upon any their Lords or Superiors in Expeditions or Travels and of all Casualties of Wards Lands formerly held of the King or other Superiors and of the Marriage single and double avail thereof Non-entries Compositions for Entries and of all Rights and Casualties payable if they be demanded only or upon the committing of any Clauses irritant And that the said Heritors and persons aforesaid be now and from henceforth construed reputed adjudged and declared free and acquitted thereof and of and from all and all manner of holding sutes duties services personal or real and demands whatsoever other than is before declared and Ordained notwithstanding the present Tenor of any their Deeds Patents Enfeoffments or any Clauses Articles or Covenants therein contained or mentioned to the contrary in any wise And that in time to come all and every Clause Covenant Article Condition or thing to the contrary hereof shall be omitted out of all such Deeds Patents Charters and Enfeoffments And be it further Ordained That all Foreitures Escheats simple or of Life Rent Bastardy and last Heir which heretofore escheated forfeited and fell to the King Lords of Regality or other Superiors shall from henceforth fall escheat and forfeit to the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth for the time being 13 The Highlanders grew numerous and were about Three thousand strong and Collonel Morgan was Marched near them 15 That the Pyrates of Brest took several English Merchants Ships and came into the very Mouth of Severn That the Enemy had a general Rendezvous and were ill Armed That they had Orders from Lieutenant General Middleton who had in his Party but Two hundred Horse 14 That the Fleet Rid in Stoaks Bay That the States of Holland had fully Ratified the Peace in every Part with great rejoycing 17 The Ratifications of the Peace Signed and Sealed by all the States of the Vnited Provinces came to their Ambassadours here and was by them presented in a Silver Box to the Lord Protector One Rogers taken at Lieth with several Commissions from the King to raise Forces Eleven Dutch Men of War set upon an English Merchant Man and took her That Collonel Morgan with Eight hundred and fifty Horse and One thousand six-hundred Foot had beset the Enemy who were Eight hundred Horse and Three thousand Foot An Holland East India Ship of Eight hundred Tun outward bound loaden with Seventy five Tun of Goods and four Chests of Silver was taken by Captain Stayner and Captain Smith That three Frigots met with a Fleet of Forty eight Sayl of French Ships fell in among them Shot their Admiral Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral and spoiled them and the Rear Admiral sunk another of them sunk and they took another of them and lost not a man and afterwards they took four more of them 18 Commissioners sent to Treat with the Lord Ambassador Burdeaux at his House in London touching the Peace with France An Ordinance passed for continuing the Imposition on Coals Order of the Council touching the improvements of Forrests Letters from Vpsale of the Passages there about the Treaty and the Queens Resignation to the Prince Palatine 19 The Ambassador from the Duke of Gelders had Audience with the Lord Protector An Ordinance Published for suspending Proceedings upon a former Act for Relief of poor Prisoners and Creditors 20 Of one Darcy made a Colonel and Knighted in France by the King of Scots 21 That Lieutenant Hunt fell upon a Party of the Scots in the Highlands took Seven Prisoners eleven Horse twenty Cloaks and many of their Cloak-bags and rescued two Prisoners That the Enemy were Four thousand Horse and Foot and Collonel Morgan but Two thousand five hundred and near one another That the Parliaments Garrisons in the High-lands were stored and supplyed with all manner of Provisions and Ammunitions 22 Letters of a Frigot that Convoyed Ammunition and some Merchants Ships to Lieth in her return was set upon by Eight Dutch Men of War and after a hot Skirmish Boarded and taken That Captain Potter brought in another Brest Pyrate An Express sent to the States of the Ratification of the Treaty by the Lord Protector 24 Divers Dutch Prizes taken The Ordinance Published for the Uniting Scotland into one Commonwealth and under one Government with England Another Ordinance Published of grace and Pardon to the People of Scotland An Order Published touching the Peace with Holland 25 Letters of Collonel Morgan's March after the Highlanders and a quarrel amongst them about Plundering a Kinsman of the Lord Montross and other quarrels among their Officers Of Prisoners taken by the English Garrisons A Proclamation by the Commander in Chief of the English Forces to the Effect as formerly forbidding Correspondence with or harboring of the Enemy Letters from the Dutch Ambassadour in England to the States That the Peace was fully Concluded and that the States were to be Responsable for One hundred and forty thousand pound for the Damage done by the Danes to the English that the Ships detained in the Sound were to be restored The States Sealed and Signed the Articles and sent away the Ratification to England and the Lord Protector also Ratified them 26 The Peace between England and the Vnited Provinces was solemnly Proclaimed by sound of Trumpet in White-Hall Court in the Presence of his Highness and his Council afterwards by the Heralds Serjeants at Arms and other Officers who were received by the Lord Mayor at Temple Bar there it was Proclaimed and then at the old Exchange An Account of the Negotiation of the Lord Ambassadour Whitelock in Sweden 27 Letters of a Dutch Ship taken of rich Value by a Private Man of War The Lord Protector Feasted the Dutch Embassador at White-Hall very sumptuously 28 Letters of the Numbers of the Enemy increasing and of some of their Party gleaned up by the Parliaments Soldiers That the Enemy was to the North of Collonel Morgan so that they must ingage with him or else they cannot pass Southward by him 29 Letters of the Tories in Ireland narrowly pursued and suppressed Of Mischiefs done by the Pyrates on the Westward Coast and about Bristol That
the Fleet Rid in Stoakes Bay May 1654. May 1. Letters that Captain Rogers who was Agent with Glencarn from the King was Executed at Edenburgh upon sentence of the Court Martial for a Spye That General Monck was Arrived at Lieth That a Scotch Gentleman with six of his Men defended a little Tower against the Highlanders and killed four of them A Letter Signed by all the Officers of the Army in Ireland acknowledging the Lord Protector 2 A Proclamation by the Lord Protector for a Cessation of all Acts of Hostility between the Commonwealth of England and that of the Vnited Provinces and for Restitution of Ships and Goods taken after the time mentioned in the Articles of Peace An Address from the Justices of the Peace Magistracy Officers and Grand Jury of Shropshire to the Lord Protector acknowledging his Government 3 Ships sent out from the Texel to call in the Dutch Freebooters That the Lord Ambassador Whitelock pressed for a Conclusion in his business in Sweden and that the Queen had discharged most of her Servants in order to her Resignation 4 That the Lord Protector and his Council did not sit so frequently as formerly and all things went according unto their desire 5 Letters that Collonel Morgan saw the Enemy but could not Engage them for want of Boats to pass the Water and therefore retreated to his Quarters That General Monck was making preparations to visit the Enemy 6 Letters that Middletons numbers did decrease and sometimes increase Of Five French Ships taken by a Frigot and of an English Ship taken by a Private Brest Man of War 8 Letters that General Monk had meetings with the Officers of the Army and they resolved to go to Collonel Morgan That the Peace with England was Proclaimed in Holland and a Day of Thanksgiving appointed for it 9 An Address to the Lord Protector from the Town and County of Pool to the same Effect as others were Letters that the Lord Ambassador Whitelock made a firm Alliance with Sweden and was expected at Hamburgh in few days An Ordinance Published touching the further Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands 10 A Declaration of the Lord Protector for a Day of Thanksgiving for the Peace with Holland and for the late seasonable Rain 11 Of a Discovery made by an Indian to an English Ship of a Plot against them Of a Council of Officers about the dividing the Lands in Ireland A Congratulatory Letter sent from the Army in Ireland to the Lord Protector Of the Solemn Reception of General Monck at Edenburgh and the Proclaiming the Lord Protector there the Feasting of General Monk and the Fire-works That the Highlanders expected the King amongst them and received Supplies of Men Armes and Money by Two Ships from Dunkirk 12 Letters that in Ireland there wanted men to Till the Land That few Tories were left there That Two Brest Men of War came near to Leverpool Letters that in Holland there sticks one particular which hath occasioned some trouble at the Hague to witt his Highness and the Two Ambassadors here who serve for the Province of Holland viz. Beveningk and Newport the other knowing nothing of it agreed a Secret Article That the Province of Holland should not of themselves ever consent That the States General should make the Prince of Orange or any of his Line Stadtholder or Captain General of their Forces by Sea or Land After the Generality had Ratified the Treaty this was propounded in the Assembly of the States every one before having sworn secrecy upon the propounding of it great dissatisfaction arose amongst them but at last they past it being Dissenters Four Noblemen and four Soveraign Towns of the Nobles that agreed to it were Bredrode General of their Forces Opdam Admiral of their Fleet Notwithstanding the Secrecy it came the next day to the States General The other six Provinces have protested against it and Accuse the Two Ambassadors as having done not only beside but against their Instructions But Holland will carry it through all though I verily believe they have great difficulties to contest with the Animosities and Jealousies which are occasioned by this will not easily be Extinguished His Highness hath not yet received the Ratification of this Article from Holland but expects it daily although all endeavours will be used to perswade his Highness to go from it There is included in this Peace besides Denmark the Suissers Hans Townes Count of Oldenburgh the Duke of Holstein and Alliance with Sweden being made there will be a good understanding between most of the Protestant States and opportunities may through Gods Blessing arise from thence to promote that Interest All the question is what is to be done with the Two Crowns of France and Spain They both seek our Friendship and Alliance but nothing is yet done with either of them I trust God will lead to such an Interest as will be for his Glory and the good of this State The Denmark Agent Rosenwing had his Publick Audience since which he hath offered nothing so that the Advertisement concerning him in reference to the Isles of Orcades came in very good time The Treaty with Portugal is not yet come to any Agreement the business of his Brother yet sticks his Highness hath now ordered his Tryal by a special Commission of Oyer and Terminer The Commissioners are my Lord Rolles Justice Atkins Serjeant Steel Doctor Zouch Doctor Clerk Doctor Turner Sir Henry Blunt Mr. Lucy and Alderman Tichburn 13 Letters that the French Pickaroons did much trouble the Fishermen about Rye 15 That the Enemy will not come near to Collonel Morgan A Proclamation by the Commander in Chief in Scotland for Pardon of those in Rebellion who shall come in by a Day And for their Parents and Relations if they shall come in And Imposing a Fine upon every Parish and Presbytery whereof any one continueth in Rebellion if they do not discover him and rewards to those that shall Apprehend any of the Rebels and their Principal Commanders or kill them Order of the Justices of Peace of Wales against Licences to Drovers c. 16 The Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London Dined with His Highness the Lord Protector 17 An Ordinance for suspending the Proceedings of the Judges touching relief of poor Prisoners and Creditors 18 Mounsieur Burdeaux the French Ambassadour had Audience by the Lord Protector 19 An Ordinance Published concerning the better repairing of the Highways and another for relief of Debtors in Scotland in some Cases of Extremity That the Lord Ambassador Whitclock having happily Concluded his business with the Crown of Sweden was upon his Journey homewards That Preparations were made for the Queens Resignation and for Crowning the King Charles 20 That Ireland was setled in as much Peace as it was before the Rebellion That General Monk was Marching Northward and Middleton and his Party were raising new Forces That Middletons Brother
and his Countenancing Orthodox Ministers and frequenting the publick Ordinances The Sweeds had good Success in Poland and in Muscovia Collonel Harvey committed to the Tower The Swedish Ambassador had Audience and related to the Protector his Masters successes A Paper of the Special Commissioners for Charitable uses read in the Churches in London inviting discoveries Cracovia was Surrendred upon Articles to the King of Sweden The Major-Generals and their several Commissioners met in several Counties to execute their Commissions The Protector and his Councel referred to Sir William Roberts and others the Examination of the Accounts of Collonel Harvey and Collonel Langham upon which they stand Committed The Ratification of the Treaty with the King of France returned by Monsieur de la Bastile the Kings Ambassador under the Kings hand and then the Protector ratified it and it was Sealed with the Great Seal of both Parties A Declaration for a publick Fast A Commission for appointing Justices of the Peace in Scotland Major Rolt arrived in Poland Envoy from the Protector to the King of Sweden A Declaration for a New Assessment The Peace between England and France proclaimed in London The French Ambassador by Invitation dined with the Protector The Swedish Ambassador having often solicited the Protector that Commissioners might be appointed to Treat with him and none being yet appointed he grew somewhat impatient and the more because none of the Grandees would vouchsafe to visit him by reason of a former Order of the long Parliament prohibiting the Conversing with Forreign Ministers neither were they willing that the Ambassador should come to them at which he wondred being so contrary to the Practice in his Countrey December 1655. Instructions published by the Protectors Councel in Scotland for the Justices of Peace in that Kingdom and for Constables and they Order the former Great Seal and Privy Seal there to be brought in The Tories in Ireland brought in the Copy of a Letter from Queen Christiana to the King of Sweden of her declaring her self to be of the Roman Catholick Religion and some Complements to the King Divers Ministers sent for by the Protector whom he acquainted with the Proposals made by Manasseth Ben Israel the Jew and referred them to the Consideration of the Ministers and others A Day of Fast publickly kept The French Ambassador went away A Brest Man of War with Commission from the Duke of York brought in the Queen Christianaes Absolution from the Church of Rome A French Man of War sunk by one of the English Fleet the Peace not being yet known Instructions to the Majors-General to take Security of all who had been in Armes for the King for their Peaceable demeanour and obedience to the Protector Audience to the Envoy of the Duke of Brandenburgh A Conference with Manasseth Ben Israel about admitting the Jewish Nation to Trade in England The Swedish Ambassador had audience The Protestors in Scotland Petitioned with Reasons against the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Church matters as contrary to Law and Scripture The Queen Christiana of Sweden Honourably received at Ferrara Additional Instructions to the Major-Generals Letters of Mr. Mannings being put to death by King Charles at Duynwald for holding Correspondence with those in England He was a Servant to Sir Edward Hyde and shot to death Audience to the Venetian Ambassador No Commissioners being yet come to the Swedish Ambassador he grew into some high expressions of his Sense of the neglect to his Master by this delay which was excused and the Protector made acquainted with it who thereupon promised to have it mended and to send suddenly to the Ambassador Mr. Meadow by Command of the Secretary of State Translated the Sweedish Treaty made by Whitelock January 1655. An Arch-Rebel in Ireland taken A Committee appointed for the business of Piedmont most of the Protectors Councel were of it Orders by the Protectors Councel in Scotland touching Delinquents payment of their Fines The Committee for Piedmont were very careful of the poor Protestants there to send relief to them The Envoy of the Elector of Brandenburgh had private Audience with the Protector Letters of the King of Sweden's prosperous Successes The Major-General and Justices of the Peace in Shropshire made strict orders for the suppressing of Drunkenness and Disorders and of Ale-Houses Players taken in New-Castle and whipt for Rogues The Sheriffs of the Several Counties declared Popish Books burnt in London The King of Sweden had a Son born at Stock-holm he was Baptized Charles Donnah o Derry the Arch Irish Traytor who had Murthered many English was Hanged at Dublin Letters of a Gallant action performed by the English in Jamaica against the Spaniards in the Indies An agreement made between the King of Sweden and the Elector of Brandenburgh The Lord Deputy Fleetwood and Collonel Sydenham told Whitelock that his Highness and the Council had appointed them to acquaint him with a Business of very great importance which is that they considering the present Condition of Affairs did hold it necessary forthwith to send an extraordinary Ambassy to the King of Swedeland about a business of the greatest Consequence and Honour that could be and most conducing to the good of the Protestant cause which was the uniting of that Interest preventing the differences that were likely to fall between that King and the Vnited Provinces and the Elector of Brandenburgh for which ends they had thoughts of Whitelock and Sir Christopher Pack to go to the King as Ambassadors from his Higness Whitelock thought he had enough of Danger and Trouble in his former Ambassy without the least reward or acknowledgment of his Service therein but instead thereof and notwithstanding the Success which God gave him yet at his return home he found Neglects and Slightings and was removed from his place of Commissioner of the Seal and was 500 l. out of Purse upon his Accounts These Considerations stuck with him and made him endeavour by all handsome pretences to be excused that Service And when Collonel Sydenham spake in commendation of Sir Christopher Pack Whitelock replyed that they might send Sir Christopher alone for he did not apprehend a necessity of sending two Ambassadors together They both to that said that the intention of sending Sir Christopher Pack was to manifest the Engagement of the City in this business and in it to put an honour upon them Whitelock alledged also that the King of Sweden's Ambassador here might probably conclude upon the Business intended without sending one from hence to him The Lord Deputy said that the Ambassador here had no Instructions for it Whitelock told him the Ambassador here he believed had instructions sufficient or might have them before Ambassadors could go from hence to Sweden And that to send him now who had been so lately with the same King would give an alarm to all the Popish Princes and
Middlesex for suppressing disorderly Innes and Ale-Houses 7. The Lord Commissioners Fiennes Strickland and Whitelock went to the Sweedish Ambassadors House as Commissioners from the Protector to Treat with him where they had a long debate touching Levies of Soldiers and hiring of Ships in one anothers Dominions which had been propounded by the Ambassador and certain Cautions put in by the Counsel here as to be only in such places and Ports as the Chief Governour of the Countrey where it was to be done should approve and not to be employed against the others Friends Against those Cautions the Ambassador offered Reasons That it would then be in the power of him in whose Countrey these were to be hired or levyed to make it wholly Fruitless by appointing inconvenient places as by his Master in Finland or by the Protector in Ireland or the like To which the Commissioners answered That the Chief Governour of the Countrey knew best the Condition of it and the State of Affairs there which might be much endamaged if the stranger should have the appointment of the places and then if either had a mind to break the Treaty It would not be difficult to find an occasion for it And that in these cases there must be a mutual considence in the Justice and Honour of each other After much debate this Expedient was propounded and not held unreasonable That the chief Governour of the Countrey where the Soldiers were to be levyed or Ships hired In Case he should not think fit to consent to the place desired he should then appoint some other convenient place for the accommodation of the party desiring it and as near as might be to the place which he desired As to the not Imploying the Soldiers or Ships against the Friends of the Party in whose Country they were had it was propounded by the Ambassador and not opposed by the Commissioners That the Soldiers might be employed defensively as in Garrisons but not offensively against the others Friends But concerning Ships the Ambassador insisted upon a Liberty to imploy them against the others Friends if those Friends attempted any disturbance of the Seas or Trade of him that hired the Ships and both parties instanced in case of the Kings of France or Denmark but neither instanced in case of the Hollanders though they were most intended The Point was left to further Consideration and there were other debates concerning the Form of Passports for Ships pursuant to the Treaty made by Whitelock in Sweden to which they referred it and also that point of the disturbance of Navigation after long debate such Passports they held would occasion deceipt and hardly be so framed as to avoid it In discourse with the Dutch Ambassador he was passionate even to indiscretion blaming the neglect of sending to the King of Sweden from the Protector and urging the Necessity of yet doing it speedily Being asked for what End he answered Concerning Trade and to prevent the doing of that which would be a hinderance to it intimating the Kings great Successes From the discourse it might plainly be Collected that he laboured to get an Ambassador sent from hence to Sweden chiefly for the advantage of their Trade Collonel Nappier being in France and in good repute there sent his Brother into England to procure leave to Transport some Irish from Ireland into the Service of France as a Recruit to his Regiment there But the Protector was not willing to suffer the Irish to go into the Service of France 9. The Sweedish Ambassador received new Advices from the King his Master concerning the great business of Uniting the Protestant Interest and owned that he had sufficient Instructions to conclude upon the General but that particulars could not so soon be determined nor so well as upon the place That it would be a difficult matter to Unite the several Protestants who have different Interests and that it would prove a long business Therefore his opinion was That it was not a Seasonable time for a general Vnion of the Protestant Interest But that if the King of Sweden and the Protector made a Conjunction first they might fall upon the Emperour and the House of Austria which would be of great advantage to England especially now they had War with Spain and that some Supply of Money and Men afforded to the King upon such a design would be of more benefit to the Protector than the sending out of great Fleets to the Indies and to the Coast of Spain which would return no benefit to this Nation But it was answered That notwithstanding the vast Expences of our Fleets at this time yet a War being begun with Spain it must be maintained and the War prosecuted with Vigor the People of England being ever contented to bear the Burden of their Taxes rather than the Injuries and Insolencies of their Enemies The Opinion of the Swedish Ambassador was plainly to be collected not to admit the Dutch to be Joyned in a Treaty with us affirming That if we would have the Dutch to be equal with us in point of Trade he thought it the way to overthrow the Trade of England The Dutch being able to Sell at under rates trading with less charge both for Ships Men and Victuals than the English could with this That the King his Master did not look upon the Duke of Briganza or the King of Portugal but upon the Salt that came from thence nor upon the King or Parliament or Protector of England but upon the Cloth and Nation acknowledging a due Civility to whomsoever they found Chief in the Government That it was the same reason for the Dutch to follow their Trade in the Baltick Sea as they might whether the Commodities thereof were in the hands of King Cassimere or of his Master It was objected That if they were all in one Hand and Power unreasonable Gabels might be required He answered That when that was they might complain but he believed it would not be at all 13. Fiennes Scrickland and Whitelock proceeded in the Treaty with the Sweeds Ambassador at his House they had long debates touching Contrebanda Goods in which list was inserted by the Councel Corn Hemp Pitch Tar Money and other things The Ambassador said That if they would likewise add Copper and Iron it would take in all the Commodities of his Masters Dominions and he might insist upon Cloath to be added which was as necessary for Soldiers as Corn and Money They answered That the particulars added were most usefull for War especially for our present Enemy the Spaniard and it was our Interest to debar him thereof The Ambassador said that in the Enumeration of Contrebanda Goods the present Condition of Affairs was not to be looked upon but how they were when the Treaty was made with Whitelock in Sweden by which the Enumeration was to be made within 4 Months then following And that as Hemp and Pitch were necessary for
Peace published between the Protestant and Papist Cantons of the Switzers The Plague swept away many thousands of the Irish Monsieur Bordeaux the French Ambassador arrived in England March 26. New Commissioners for the Customs appointed News of the King of Sweden's Successes in Prussia and in Poland Of the King of Scots Conference with the King of Spains Officers Letters from Scotland that all there was quiet Mr. Meadow was going for Denmark Agent for the Protector Fiennes Strickland and Whitelock went to the Swedish Ambassadors House and proceeded in the Treaty with him The debates were upon matters of Trade The Ambassador thought the demands not equal that the English should pay no greater Impositions in the King of Sweden's Ports than his own Subjects paid and said That the former Articles were reciprocal and that herein nothing was offered for the Swedes priviledge in the Ports of this Common-wealth The Commissioners answered That this being granted to the English would cause them to frequent the Kings Ports to bring a great increase of Trade thither to have Ships there in a readiness to be hired for his Majesties Service if he should have occasion and that they were better fitted for War than any other Merchants Ships in Europe and that if his Excellencie should think fit to propound any thing on the behalf of the Swedes the same would be taken into due Consideration The Ambassador replyed That Neither the English nor any other Nation did afford equal priviledge to Strangers in point of Impositions as to their own people but made a difference as to the persons only in Sweden the difference was not made as to the persons of Swedes but as to Swedish Ships whosoever brought any goods in them paid less Impositions than others which was done to increase their Shipping and to prevent the deceipt of Strangers Consigning their Goods to Swedes names that thereby they might Pay the less Custom Whitelock told them that this was the Work of the wise old Chancellor whereby they did not only increase their Ships but likewise were provided of Mariners for those Ships which was the greatest want in Sweden as to their Navigation and the deceipts of Strangers venting their goods in Swedes names was also thereby prevented This Matter was referred to further Consideration and they proceeded to the demands for Setling the Trade and Priviledges of the English Merchants in Prussia and Poland wherein Whitelock observed to them the injustice of the Sealing the English Cloaths at Dantzick and the Not confirming of the general pact of Prussia agreed to be done formerly in relation to the English by the King of Poland who had not kept his word therein The Ambassador answered That his Mr. was but newly Mr. of Poland and Prussia which he hoped by the blessing of God to keep That he was not Mr. of Dantzick and prabably he may have granted and confirmed to those Towns that had submitted to him their ancient Priviledges And that he could not grant to the English there any thing contrary to those Priviledges of the Townes which he had confirmed and this was thought reasonable and not to be pressed further than might stand with the Confirmation of priviledges which the King had granted to the Townes that were come in to him The Ambassador then propounded That the English might have all the Trade of Russia brought down the River Volga into Narva the King of Sweedes Port upon the Balticke Sea and by that meanes save the going about to Archangel which voyage can be made but once in a year but to Narva may be made 3 voyages in a year Whitelock informed them of much discourse between the old Chancellor and his Son and him about this Matter and the Ambassador having his Mapps there Whitelock shewed them the great difference of the Voyage going about by Norwey and the frozen Sea to the Archangel and going through the Balticke Sea to Narva He shewed them likewise that there was a probability of having the Persian Silks and Commodities from the Caspian Sea to the River Volga and from thence to be brought to Narva and thereby to save that vast voyage which Merchant-Men now take of going to Persia the usual way But Whitelock objected now as he had done formerly to the Chancellor That it would be difficult to procure the Russes Commodities to be brought down to Narva and to satisfie the Emperour of Russia that he should be no looser in respect of his Customs which he now received at Archangel and the goods being brought to Narva the Customs would be payable there to the King of Sweeden To which the Chancellor then answered That the people of Russia would be more willing to bring their Commodities to Narva than to Arch-Angel because it would be done at a less Charge almost by the halfe and that the Emperor would be no looser as to his Customs for the same Custom which was now paid at Arch-Angel would be paid at Blesgo a Town of the Emperors whither the goods must be brought before they came to Narva and that notwithstanding the payment of Custom twice yet the Commodities would be afforded at easier rates than they are at Archangel by reason of the cheapness and conveniency of bringing them to Narva All this was agreed unto by the Ambassador who inserted a Story of a Dutch-man who observing the Boats passing upon the Volga to be manned with 300 Men in a boat who in a Storm and high Wind held the bottom of the Sayls down this Dutch-man offered to the Emperor that he would shew him a way how with 30 Men in a boat they should be as well Manned as now they were with 300 men in a boat and so the Charge to be lessened but the Emperor called him Knave and asked him if a Boat that now went with 300 Men were brought to go but with 30 Men how then should the other 270 Men get their living After long debate upon this and the other particulars of the Treaty they were deferred unto a more full Answer upon further Consideration and a new Meeting 5. The Commissioners were summon'd to meet at Whitehal with Thurloe to look over together the several matters which had been treated on with the Swedish Ambassador and to consider how farr it was fit to go on to an agreement and wherein not to consent that so they might come to some conclusion with the Ambassador The Lord Major Aldermen and Common Council of London were with the Protector 11. The Commissioners were with the Swedish Ambassador and most of the Articles for Levies of Men and hiring of Ships and for the Passe-ports and Contrebanda Goods were near ageed between them The Articles for Trade and restitution for Damages in the time of War between England and Holland were not concluded but deferred to another time In the mean while the matters agreed upon were ordered to be drawn up in Form 13. The Swedish Ambassador did very earnestly press that
his business might be brought to a Conclusion because he had long attended and the King his Master grew very Impatient of his long stay here and had commanded his return and looked upon the neglect to his servant as reflecting upon his own honour The Delay was excused and some occasion of it alleaged to be the Lord Fiennes his absence who was gone into the Country 31. The Council voted That Pitch Tarr Hemp and Flax should be taken as Contrebanda goods during the War betwixt us and Spain In case the Treaty here with the Swedish Ambassador came to a good conclusion The Lord George Fleetwood had commissions to Levy for the King of Sweden 2000 men more than the 4000 already granted and designed to form those 2000 into two Regiments and to be Collonel of both those Regiments himself The Commissioners of the Treasury had a constant weekly account of all the Receipts and disbursement of that great Revenue which being so often taken made it the more easie and gave them the more opportunity of ordering the same to the best advantage of the Common-wealth and as they received this account from the Officers under them so they gave information to the Protector how it was from time to time with their advice concerning the same April 1656. Letters of great appearances of the Country at the assizes and that the Gentlemen of Greatest Quality Served of the Grand Juries which is fit to be observed Mr. Rolt whom the Protector sent an Envoy to the King of Sweden returned from him from Poland Order for Letters to be written from the Protector and Councel to the Judges to be Sparing in granting Prohibitions to the Admiralty and others to the Judges of the Admiralty not to entertain any Suites in their Courts belonging to the Jurisdiction of the Common Law Some of the Council were against these Letters and advised rather to confer with the Judges about it who being upon their Oaths must observe them and Justice ought to run in a free and legal Course Letters of the Scots full of Complyance with the Government established there by the Protector which was more Conformity than ever they yeilded to any before Order by the Protector and Council for the founding and Indowing of a Colledge at Durham out of the Dean and Prebends Lands there Some were apprehended and Imprisoned by warrant from the Protector for being ingaged in a Duel The Preacher in Whitehal Chappel was disturbed in his Sermon by a Quaker whom the Protector Ordered to be carried to a Justice of Peace to be proceeded with according to Law One pretending a Message to him from God for that End denounced his Judgments against the Protector and his Councel and against all Sorts of people Cavaliers and others Order That the Corporation of Host-men in New-Castle do permit the Trade of Coals till their Complaints may be heard and determined Letters That the King of Scots had been at Bruxels in consulation with the Spanish Officers Order to call to account all Officers and Receivers of the publick Revenue which was upon a Report from the Commissioners of the Treasury The Queen of Sweden imbarqued at Colmar to go to her Husband in Poland Intelligence that some of the Plate Fleet were got home into Spain A Solemn Day of Thanksgiving in Dublin for the preservation of that City from the Rebels Letters of a Quaker in Colchester who starved himself to death upon a presumption that he could fast 40 days Letters of some new Plots in Scotland The Protector and his Council kept a day of private Fasting and Seeking God for a blessing upon their Affaires The Swedish Ambassador had been at Whitehall and was much discontented because he waited above an hour before the Protector came to him which brought the Ambassador to such Impatience that he rose from his Seat and was going home again without speaking with the Protector And said That he durst not for his head admit of such dishonor to his Master by making him so often and so long to attend for his Audience But Sir Oliver Fleming the Master of the Ceremonies did earnestly Interpose with his persuasions and prevailed with the Ambassador to stay a little longer and went himself to the Protector and plainly told him how unfit it was and how ill taken to put the Ambassador to such attendance and brought him to the Ambassador In the discourse between the Protector and the Ambassador when the matter of a nearer Alliance was mentioned his Highness answered That he was willing in case of a nearer Alliance or of an Union concerning the Protestant Interest to have our Neighbours and Allies the Low-Countries Included therein and that he thought it did become him to have a particular care of them and to take them into any such Treaty or Alliance and that he was not willing to do any such thing without them These Expressions of his Highness did a little startle the Ambassador It was afterwards offer'd to his Highness Judgment whether it were not fit in all things that might stand with our Interest to give Contentment to the King of Sweden being a Wise and Potent Prince and God having given him great successes And that the Dutch being greatly for their own Interest as well as other States in case there should not be a nearer Alliance betwixt us and Sweden might possibly slip in and make a nearer Alliance betwixt themselves and Sweden without taking much care to have us Included therein The Protector sent to the Swedish Ambassador to excuse his long stay before he had his Audience and to assure him that there was not the least Intention of reflecting upon the Kings Honour or of any disrespect to him but only the omission of the Protectors Servants in their Duty Wherein care should be taken for the future and that it should be amended And that his Highness had a very great affection for the Ambassadors Person and as great a respect for the King his Master as for any Prince in Christendom With this the Ambassador seemed fully satisfied and desired to return his Service to the Protector and his most humble Thanks But yet the Ambassador was very much troubled apprehending that at his last Audience his Highness mind was somewhat alter'd from what it seem'd to be formerly and that now there was nothing to be done without the Dutch He much wondered why the Protector should seem so forward heretofore for a nearer Alliance and Conjunction with his Master and now seemed to be more cold in that matter and wished that he might have known his mind at first for he had already given the King an account of the Protectors willingness to have a nearer Alliance with his Majesty who thereupon had dressed his Councels accordingly and now he must acquaint the King that he perceived his Highness mind to be changed as to that point which would cause the King very much to Marvel and would
put him to Inconveniencies That in his Countrey when a man profess'd Sincerity they understood it to be plain and clear dealing That if one were desired to do a thing if he meant to do it he would say Yea and do it accordingly But if he did not intend to do it then he would at the first desire to be excused and not seem at one time to be willing to it and at another time to deny it That if the Protector had not the same Inclinations as formerly for the great cause and for a nearer Alliance with his Master he must be contented that yet he hoped the matters left to be done upon Whitelock's Treaty might be dispatched and he be enabled to return to his Master speedily as he was commanded That he should have been contented if he might have had the Honour to have laid the Foundation of that great Business for the Glory of God to Unite the Protestant Interest and the Particulars thereof to have been left to a new Treaty with the King by an Ambassador from the Protector when there might be full time to consider all grounds and circumstances thereof Anno 1656 The Ambassador was told That the Protector 's Inclinations were the same now as at first in relation to a new Union with the King of Sweden and to that great and common Interest of the Protestants for the Glory of God which no Prince did more desire to promote than the Protector did But the reason why he would have the Dutch Included in that near Alliance was because of the Treaty which he had formerly made with them and which he was careful not to Infringe as he was obliged in honour and Justice The Ambassador replyed That in case England should not enter into a nearer Union with Sweden perhaps the Dutch would provide for themselves and presently make a nearer Alliance with the King of Sweden without taking much care to have the Protector included with them if they could get advantage by leaving him out which matter of advantage the Dutch very well like That they were now upon very good terms with his Master and he did not believe they had any designs against him or to the Baltick Sea That he had good Intelligence from Holland and it was true that they were Equipping 28 Ships of War But he said he could not Imagine that they should be intended for the Baltick Sea because 5 or 6 Men of War would serve as well for a Convoy for their Merchants that way as 28 and if they should have any design against the King of Sweden they had no Port to friend them for the King of Denmark would do nothing to displease the King of Sweden and all the Ports round the Baltick were now his except one or two of small consideration and that his Ports were well guarded therefore he could not believe that they had any design that way But he offered to consideration whether now that the English Fleets were almost all of them sent abroad to other parts that our Neighbours of Holland who were not all of them yet our Friends might not have some design this way 4. Letters that Prince Adolphus the King of Sweden's Brother broke his Leg in a Fight 5. Fiennes Strickland and Whitelock met by order at Whitehall to confer about the Swedish Treaty They perused the Vote of the Conncel That Hemp and Flax and Pitch and Tar shall be accounted by that Treaty Contrebanda Goods during the War between us and Spain The Commissioners wished that this Vote of the Councel had not been past because they believed it might tend to a hinderance of a good conclusion of the Treaty with the Swedish Ambassador and doubted that he would not consent to it and that it seemed to be a departing from what they as Commissioners had formerly done in being Inclinable to wave it and they thought it best not to carry this Vote to the Ambassador till the Council were further advised with about it who perhaps would not Insist upon it and in the mean time Whitelock to go to the Ambassador to excuse the delay which was to the end to give him the better satisfaction which his Highness agreed to and order'd Whitelock to go to the Ambassador and to discourse with him about the Protestant Union and appointing Commissioners for Restitution of Damages and other Points 7. According to the direction from his Highness Whitelock went this morning to the Swedish Ambassador and delivered to him what he was directed from the Protector as much to his Highness advantage as he could Improve it and Endeavour'd to satisfie the Ambassador That his Highness Intentions and Inclinations as to a nearer Alliance with the King of Sweden were the same still as at first and that he had a very good Inclination to it and was really desirous of it The Ambassador answered That perhaps his Highness had no great mind at the First to a nearer Alliance with the King of Sweden and so might have the same Intentions still That he could not but wonder that his Highness should heretofore express himself so well inclined to that nearer Alliance and at his last Audience to be so cold in it and of another opinion than he was before which would make him seem to his Master either negligent as to his Service or not at all thought worthy of regard here but he desired to know a certain answer I or No whether he would do it or not and If he had no mind to it that then there might be a dispatch of what was left to be done upon the Treaty made by Whitelock and so he might kiss the Protector 's hand and return to his Master Whitelock seeing him in such a humor of discontent sought to divert him and to satisfie him that the Protector was still very well Inclined to the Point of a nearer Alliance with the King of Sweden but found it difficult to make him to be of that persuasion yet thought fit to demand of him what those Propositions were which he delivered to the Protector concerning the nearer Alliance Whereupon the Ambassador shewed him the Propositions he had delivered in to that purpose which were To have a League Defensive contra omnes gentes and Offensive as to the maintenance of the Treaty of Ausberge That the Protector should contribute 200000 l. per annum to that design when undertaken and the King would have 30000 Foot and 6000 Horse in Service upon it Whitelock asked why his Excellency put the business upon maintenance of the Treaty of Ausberge whereto England was no Party and why rather it might not be against the House of Austria whereof the Emperour was one branch and the King of Spain another and said As to the Contributing of money he knew the Protector was not in a Condition at this time to spare money having such vast occasions of Expence at present for maintenance of his Navy and by occasion of the War with Spain
The Ambassador replyed That he did believe the Protector was at present in no Condition to part with much money and that there would be some time before this design could be set on foot by which time probably the Protector might be better able to spare money than now he is and that he thought it would be better Husbandry for England to spare 200000 l. a year for this War which would be a good Diversion and trouble the King of Spain more than now we do by spending two Millions a year upon our Fleets and in sending to Jamaica That it was true the Treaty of Ausbergh was not concerning the English Nation but the Protestants of Germany were highly concerned in it and consequently of all Christendom and the Emperour having broken that Treaty in many points there was a just ground thereby of falling upon him and the reason why he mentioned the maintenance of that Treaty was because France was already oblidged in a Treaty with Sweden for the maintenance of the Treaty of Ausbergh and England joyning likewise therein France would be Engaged with them and that Crown was a good Ballance Whereas if the Vnion with the King of Sweden should be against the House of Austria and the King of Spain It would cause the Peace which was so much Endeavour'd between France and Spain to be brought to Effect and France would hardly be brought into such an Vnion against the House of Austria because it would seem as too much against the Papists in General wherein France would be shy to Joyn. Whitelock made a doubt what great advantage would be to England by the King of Sweden's falling upon the Emperor which would but little concern the war between us and Spain as to give us advantage thereby against Spain To which the Ambassador alledged That Spain was somuch concerned in any thing relating to the Emperor that he must support him to support himself and whosoever fell upon the Emperor made Spain his Enemy and hindred from him the supplyes which he constantly had especially of men out of Germany and did necessitate Spain to a charge of supplying and assisting the Emperour whereby would be caused a diversion of great advantage to England and Spain once appearing as undoubtedly they would for the Emperour Sweden and they presently became Enemyes and all the Commodities of the King of Sweden which were of necessary use to Spain would be restrained from them without which they could not subsist and that there would be no need of Specifying Pitch and Tar and Hemp to be Contrebanda Goods Whitelock replied That Germany was a great distance from England within the Land and we could have nothing to do with them by Sea that if the Emperor should be set upon by the King of Sweden probably Spain would assist him but so covertly and craftily that Sweden nor England could take publick notice or advantage thereof That in case the King of Sweden should travail towards Flanders that would make the King of Spain look about him Indeed To this the Ambassador said only That there was a Large Countrey to pass over before they could come to Flanders But that in time something might be done he said that France had gained well by that Treaty of Ausbergh and so had all Countries that had been in Alliance with the Crown of Sweden Whitelock said That he was sufficiently satisfied of the Honour and Justice of that Crown in those publick Transactions and that the Protector was as careful to preserve his own Honour and the Faith of the Nation in those Treaties which he had made with other Princes and States and that was the reason which caused him to be so careful that the Dutch might be Included in such Treaties as he should make with others because there was an Article to that purpose in the late Treaty made with them which he was careful to observe as all other Treaties and that might the more satisfie the Ambassador of a just performance of what was or should be agreed upon with his Master To which the Ambassador replyed That he did believe as much but was of opinion that the Article which was mentioned in the late Dutch Treaty did not restrain the Protector from making the nearer Alliance with Sweden without them but when it should be made then they were by that Article to be admitted into such new Treaty if they pleased And thereupon they read over together that Article of the Dutch Treaty which seemed to carry the sence that was observed by the Ambassador who said further That there was no intention of excluding the Dutch or the King of Denmark or any other Protestants out of this intended Vnion but that they should be admitted and invited into it and he believed they would be the sooner brought into it if they first saw Sweden and England joyned together whereas to have a general meeting and Treaty first would be very difficult if not Impossible to be effected That several Interests would draw several ways But if they saw the King of Sweden and the Protector once conjoyned it would be the strongest argument in the World to persuade the rest into the same Vnion and such as would oppose ought to be taken for Enemies That the King of Denmark was now upon a Treaty with the King of Sweden whom he would not disturb and had not yet concluded by reason of England desiring first to hear from the Protector about it That the Emperour had now no fear of the King of Sweden's troubling him as might appear by his sending at this time 15000 Men into Flanders for the King of Spain Which Body of Men he would not have now sent out of his own Country if he had doubted the King of Sweden's falling upon him and that no Prince in Christendom had offered the espousing of the Protectors Interest as his Master had done Which deserved to be regarded by him Whitelock answered That the same was much regarded by the Protector and deservedly and that no Nation in Europe was of so much consideration to the King of Sweden as England especially in regard of their Men and Ships altho they had not Money to spare at this time it was not because of any Poverty of the Nation but by reason of their present and Extraordinary occasion of great Expences about their Publick Affairs especially of their Navy whereby the strength of the Nation was increased They had likewise discourse concerning Commissioners to be appointed on each part to consider of Damages sustained in the last War with the Dutch and to give just Restitution Wherein Whitelock proposed That it might be convenient for those Commissioners to have likewise a power if any Ships on either part were brought in to examine the matter speedily and if any wrong were done to award satisfaction and cause the Party that had done it to make amends and the Admiralty Court of which his Excellency had so much complained not to
whereby your Petitioner may receive Encouragement to proceed in the Management of his said Trade And he shall pray c. His Highness is pleased to refer this Petition to the Committee for Trade 15th Jan. 1655. Jo. Thurloe 15. His Highness having referred this Petition to the Committee for Trade they ordered Whitelock to attend them And they enquired the Reason of the Inhauncing the Impositions upon Coppar in Sweden and what Course might be found out to reduce that Imposition to the former Rate and to keep up the Manufacture of Lattin Wyer here Whitelock told them that he supposed the Reason of Inhaunsing the Imposition by the King of Sweden upon his Coppar was his extraordinary occasions for Money especially in this time of his Wars and that he was a free Prince who might lay what Impositions he did think fit upon the Commodities of his own Countrey That for the Reducement of those Impositions to the former or any lower Rates than they were at now he knew no way but either upon the present Treaty with the Swedish Ambassador here to see what might be done by way of ascertaining those and other Impositions or by buying up all the Coppar at certain Rates to be agreed upon That it had been usual in former times upon Treaties between England and Spain and with France and other Nations that the State here did agree what Impositions should be paid by the English upon the Commodities which they brought from those Countreys and thereby Trade was much encouraged the Merchant was upon a Certainty for payment of his Customs beyond Seas and the State here knowing what the Merchant was to pay beyond Seas as particularly for Wines did thereupon use to set the prices upon Wines here And concerning the buying up of the Coppar of Sweden he told them it would be in his poor Judgment of very great advantage to England if it might be compassed upon reasonable Terms and that it might be compassed he had the more Reason to believe because that himself had some Conference about it when he was Ambassador in Sweden with some there and since with some of the Swedish Ambassadors Company here and did perceive them inclinable to such a bargain and they had heretofore made such a Contract with the City of Lubec in Germany who gained great Wealth thereby for they became sole Merchants of the Coppar and had the Manufacture likewise within themselves of making it into Brass and of the Commodities made thereof which they vented at their own prices in all parts of Christendom and some of them they vended back again into Sweden it self That the late King Gustavus Adolphus finding the inconvenience and loss to Sweden hereby would not permit the Lubeckers to enlarge their time of that Contract but got the Manufacture of Brass within themselves and vented their own Coppar to the several Merchants who resorted thither for it That England hath a great advantage herein more than other Countreys by reason of the plenty of Lapis Calaminaris here by which the Coppar is turned into Brass and that there is not in any Countrey of Europe so great store of that Mineral as here that he knew of none but in Bohemia which was so great a Journey by Land to any Port that it would hardly quit the Cost of the Carriage of it That in case England could have the sole venting of Coppar and Brass they might make their own Rates of it they might furnish themselves and whom else they pleased and none other with Brass Ordnance which are of far better use especially for Shipping than those of Iron That it would bring the Manufacture of Lattin Wyre and all other Manufactures of Brass solely amongst us and be of great Consequence both as to matter of Profit and of security to us He told them further That he had some thoughts himself of being a Merchant for it if he could have procured others of Value to have joined with him therein but they found great difficulties for particular Persons to go through with such a business without the State especially in Relation to the Casting of Ordnance That he had acquainted some of the Councel with this business as a matter fit for my Lord Protector and the States Consideration but he found that their leisure would not admit them to think further upon it and therefore having made known his own poor Judgment therein as he conceived did become his duty and nothing being thought fit to be done in it he submitted to the Judgment of others who he supposed knew the business or the reasons of publick matters better than himself but now having received the commands of this Committee to attend them in a business which had relation to that matter of the Coppar he thought it his Duty to represent his thoughts at large to them to whose consideration he conceived it to be very proper Some of the Committee asked Whitelock what quantity of Coppar might belong to the King of Sweden and what to his Subjects and what payments might be expected for it and what the Terms might be in a contract for all their Coppar He answered that the King of Sweden had the Propriety in Right of his Crown of the most part of the great Mountains where the Coppar Mines were That all the Coppar digged out of those Mountains whereof the Soil or Royalty belonged unto him was his Majesties particular goods That of all the Coppar belonging to any of his Subjects and digged out of their particular Mines in their several grounds and soil yet a Tenth of all that is paid unto the King and by a late Composition for Customs Impositions and other duties they have agreed to pay a Fifthteenth or thereabouts of all the Remainder to the King so that a very little quantity remains but what is in his Majesties dispose and the quantity of the whole he guessed might come to about 250000 l. or 300000 l. yearly in value or thereabouts as he could guess That the way there is to make their Carriages in the Winter time by Sledds upon the Ice The Summer being so hot that they cannot Travail nor their Cattle work and the Frost so strong that the wayes are then best and then they bring all the Coppar to the Port-Towns where it lies ready for the Ships by the Spring when the Ice is gone and that they can come into those Seas That he was told they would expect one half of the money to be agreed upon before the Coppar were taken into Ships when it was ready for them and the other half of the money at the Arrival of the Ships here and would be contented to take Bills or the payment of the Money at Hamburgh or Lubec or some of those Towns not far from the Baltick But what conditions they would now expect he knew not the business having slept for some time The Committee generally expressed themselves with great approbation of the Proposition of buying
and his Council and that not suddenly but after a strict and neer disquisition and examination by a Committee of the Council of every Article of the Treaty and comparing them with the Powers Instructions given to Whitelock when he went Ambassador and that Committee having made Report to the Council That they found nothing done by Whitelock contrary unto but pursuant and according to the Instructions given him and to the advantage of the State The Council and the Protector confirmed unanimously the Treaty by Whitelock made at Vpsall and afterwards his Highness sent an express Envoy namely his own Kinsman Mr. Rolle with the ratification of this Treaty under the great Seal of England to his Majesty the King of Sweden and now after two years there falls out a War between Spain and England begun by us which was in our power to have forborn and one or two Articles in the Treaty made so long before may prove Inconvenient as to this War This will not be found by indifferent Men any objection of much weight against the Treaty nor Cause to lay blame upon the Ambassador who made it The Article of Contrabanda Goods is upon the same grounds to be excused as that of Passes alike left to the Council to specifie the particulars and after an Examination alike confirmed with this That seldome any Treaty is made without the Specification of them and the late Council of State did give in a Paper unto Mnr. Bonele the Queen of Swedens Commissioner here specifying Contrebanda Goods in the time of our War with the Low Countries which was a Precedent and Warrant for Whitelock to do the like As to the 2d objection concerning his being a Lawyer he said he accounted his Procession his greatest Honour and that it did not make him the less capable of serving his Country as the late Long Parliament thought by whom he was constantly elected to be of the Council and former ages had the like good opinion of his Profession but if the present age were wiser than our Ancestors it was because they had 200000 Men in Arms to prove them so and if they disliked the profession of the Law It was because the Law is the only opposer of unlimited will and Arbitrariness which did not love to be curbed And he thought it was no great unhappiness to him to be out of those publick transactions of this time which he conceived might not prove in case of another change wholly free in themselves from all manner of objections and perhaps in some particulars wherein the trouble of being informed that they were contrary to the Law of England would not have been to the prejudice either of the Actors or of their Actions but in time it will be understood that the Law was a good Bulwark for the defence of the rights of the People of England 6. The Swedes Ambassador again complained of the delays in his business and that when he had desired to have the Articles of this Treaty put into Latine according to the custom in Treaties that it was 14 dayes they made him stay for that Translation and sent it to one Mr. Milton a blind man to put them into Latine who he said must use an Amanuensis to read it to him and that Amanuensis might publish the matter of the Articles as he pleased and that it seemed strange to him there should be none but a blind Man capable of putting a few Articles into Latine That the Chancellor with his own hand penned the Articles made at Vpsall and so he heard the Ambassador Whitelock did for those on his part The Imployment of Mr. Milton was excused to him because several other Servants of the Council fit for that Imployment were then absent 8. Upon Summons the Lord Fiennes Strickland Whitelock and Secretary Thurloe met at the Council Chamber and they spent about an hour in considering the several particulars of the present Treaty with the Swedish Ambassador his proposals of alteration in some points formerly treated on with him and the Councils Votes therein they went from thence to the Ambassador all but the Secretary and Complements being past they fell to their business and most of the alterations propounded by the Ambassador being but difference of Expression only were agreed The main things upon which they differed were Whether Pitch Tarr Hemp c. should be Contrebanda goods or not The Ambassador was earnest that they should not and remembred his former Arguments and Reasons upon this point and said that his Master could not consent unto it for Examples Sake to others The Lord Fiennes urged the vote and resolution of the Council upon great debate and reason during the time only of our War with Spain who could not subsist without the Commodity and if we should permit it to be no Contrebanda goods with the Swedes the like would be expected by the Dutch and other Nations and thereby we should give way to the furnishing of our Enemies with that which they most wanted and where-with they could most offend us The Ambassador alleadged the inconvenience to their Trade if it should be admitted that it was their Native Commodity and not of any other Nation that the Swedes had little Traffick with Spain that other Nations would supply them if the Swedes did not That in the list of Contrebanda goods given in by the former Council of State to Mur. Bonele these Commodities were omitted and so he hoped would be now and the rather because it was agreed at the Treaty at Upsale that they should be specified within 4 Moneths and it was then taken for granted as the Lord Whitelock knew well that these Commodities should not be taken for Contrebanda Whitelock answered That at the Treaty at Upsale the General was only agreed that there should be a Specification within 4 Moneths in which time none was here on the part of Sweden to agree to a denomination of particulars That it was left to the future Agreement to Specifie them and no particulars agreed upon at Upsale that sinee that time there was a great Change both in our Affairs and in those of the King of Sweden which must necessarily be regarded in the Specification of Contrebanda goods and our War with Spain did require a Special Care not to suffer them to be furnished with such Commodities with which they would most offend us as the Lord Fiennes had declared that if the Swedes had little Traffick to Spain his Excellency might with the less prejudice to them agree that these Commodities should be Contrebanda That the Paper given to Mnr. Bonele was when we had no War with Spain or any other Nation perhaps the Commodities not then in debate Strickland mentioned the Low Countreys prohibiting these Commodities to be brought to us in our War with them Mnr. Coyett said That was never submitted unto by any Nation that could be strong enough to withstand it The Ambassador said
English which he did and the Protector said he would consider of the business Upon advice with his Council about it some of them to shew their Extraordinary care of his person suggested that this Messenger being an Italian who were skilful in the art of poysoning and ready to be hired for such a purpose might bring poyson with his Letters to the danger of his Highness and therefore diswaded him from receiving of this Messenger or permitting him to come into his Highness presence The Protector smiling acquainted Whitelock with this cautious Counsel who convinced the Protector of the folly of it and the high disstast that would be taken by the Queen in case her Secretary should be denyed audience The Protector replyed that the Messenger desired to deliver his Errand in private to the Protector and none to be by but one more whom the Protector should appoint and that person his Highness said he intended should be Whitelock who said that if he were by when the Gentleman delivered his letter he would first receive it of the Gentle-man hazard the danger of being poysoned by it at which the Protector laughed and appointed a day for the Gentlemans audience At that time Whitelock only was present with the Protector and the Gentleman offering to deliver the letter to his Highness Whitelock took it first from the Gentleman and then he delivered his secret Message to his Highness which Whitelock interpreted from the French and it was a particular account of the causes why she ordered her Servant the Italian Marquis to be put to deathin France and he also propounded to his Highness several matters in order to alliances with foreign Princes which were of great consequence and probable advantage to England and the Protector seemed well pleased with it Whitelock procured a civil treatment of the Gentleman whilest he was here and a respectfull answer to his business and dismission of him her Majesty had satisfaction in it as well as her Secretary 5. Whitelock having as Chairman dispatched the great point of the humble petition and advice touching the title of King which was now laid aside he absented himself as much as he could from the Committee that some other might be employed in the other points relating to the Petition and the Master of the Rolls Lenthal reported from the Committee that his Highness had appointed them to attend him this afternoon which the House ordered 6. The Committee attended his Highness who desired that the house would give a meeting to morrow 7. The Master of the Rolls reported this to the House and that since that appointment his Highness had sent for some of the Committe and desired that the Committee would meet him this afternoon and that the meeting of the House with him this day might be put off which the house ordered 8. Whitelock reported their attendance upon his Highness and that he desired the House would meet him this morning and they presently adjourned to the Painted Chamber 11. The Bill for the Adventurers in Ireland read 15. The House debated the Protectors answer to the Petition and Advice 19. The House resumed the debate upon the Protectors answer to the Petition and Advice and voted his Title to be Lord Protector and referred it back to the Committee to consider it 22. The Committee reported to the House the Bounds and Limits of the Title of Lord Protector and the House agreed to it 25. A Committee named to attend the Protector to know what time the House should wait on him about the Petition and Advice and this afternoon being appointed by his Highness the House waited on him and presented it to him and desired his consent thereunto The Petition and Advice was in these words To his Highness the LORD PROTECTOR of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging The humble Petition and Advice of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses now Assembled in the Parliament of this Common-wealth WE the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in this present Parliament Assembled taking into our most serious Consideration the present State of these Three Nations Joyned and Vnited under Your Highness Protection cannot but in the first place with all Thankfulness acknowledge the wonderful Mercy of Almighty God in delivering us from that Tyranny and Bondage both In our Spiritual and Civil Concernments which the late King and his Party designed to bring us under and pursued the effecting thereof by a long and Bloody War And also that it hath pleased the same gracious God to preserve Your Person in many Battels to make You an Instrument for Preserving our Peace although environed with Enemies abroad and filled with turbulent restless and unquiet Spirits in our own bowels that as in the treading down the Common Enemy and restoring us to Peace and Tranquillity the Lord hath used You so eminently and the worthy Officers and Soldiers of the Army whose Faithfulness to the Common Cause We and all good men shall ever acknowledge and put a just value upon So also that he will use you and them in the Settlement and Securing our Liberties as we are Men and Christians to us and our Posterity after us which are those great and glorious ends which the good People of these Nations have so freely with the hazard of their Lives and Estates so long and earnestly contended for We consider likewise the continual danger which your Life is in from the Bloody Practices both of the Malignant and discontented Party one whereof through the Goodness of God you have been lately delivered from It being a received Principle amongst them That no Order being Setled in your Life time for the Succession in the Government nothing is wanting to bring us into Blood and Confusion and them to their desired ends but the destruction of Your Person And in case things should thus remain at Your Death we are not able to express what Calamities would in all humane probability ensue thereupon which we trust Your Highness as well as we do hold Your Self obliged to provide against and not to leave a People whose common Peace and Interest You are intrusted with in such a condition as may hazard both especially in this Conjuncture when there seems to be an opportunity of coming to a Settlement upon just and legal Foundations Vpon these Considerations We have judged it a duty incumbent upon us to present and Declare these our most just and necessary Desires to Your Highness I. That Your Highness will be pleased by and under the Name and Stile of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging To hold and exercise the Office of Chief Magistrate of these Nations and to Govern according to this Petition and Advice in all things therein contained and in all other things according to the Laws of these Nations and not otherwise That Your Highness will be pleased during Your Life
be of dangerous consequence to the Peace and Rights of his Country To prevent which and to keep things in a better order and form he might be instrumental in this Imployment Upon these and the like grounds as also by the ingagement of divers of the Committee to joyn with him therein he was perswaded to undertake it and did meet with them at the place appointed where he was received by them with all respect and civility The Instructions of the Committee of Safety were presented to them 29. The Committee sate all day The Armies Declaration was published of the grounds of their late proceedings A Letter came from General Monk to the Officers of the Army here of the dissatisfaction of himself and some of his Officers in the late proceedings of the Army here Persons were sent to him for his better information He secured Berwick for himself Lambert was appointed to command the Forces in the North and to have more Regiments with him 31. Bradshaw died of a Quartan Ague which had held him a year a stout man and learned in his Profession No friend of Monarchy November 1659. 1. The Committee of Safety appointed Fleetwood Whitelocke Vane Ludlow Salwey and Tichburn a Committee to consider of a Form of Government for the three Nations as a Commonwealth and to present it to the Committee of Safety Whalley and Goffe and Caryl and Barker Ministers were sent to Monk to perswade him to a right understanding of things and to prevent effusion of blood This Order was made at the Committee of Safety Thursday Novem. 1. 1659. At the Committee of Safety at Whitehall The Committee of Safety taking into consideration the necessity of disposing of the Great Seal so as the same may be made use of for the publick service and the administration of Justice Ordered that the custody of the Great Seal of England be committed to the Lord Whitelocke as Commissioner and Keeper of the said Great Seal until further Order And the same was accordingly delivered to his hands by the Lord President And ordered That an Entry of the delivery of the Great Seal to the said Lord Whitelocke as Commissioner and Keeper of the said Great Seal be made in the close Roll in Chancery and in the Office of Petty Bagge William Robinson Clerk of the Committee of Safety 2. A new Letter was sent to General Monk from the Officers here The Lords Northampton Falkland Castleton Herbert Howard and Bellasis were discharged from Imprisonment upon security to live peaceably and this was to ingratiate with the Cavaliers Letters from Edenburgh that General Monk and many of his Officers had declared for the Parliament against the Officers of the Army in England and that General Monk had imprisoned some of his Officers who were of a different judgment and put others out of their Command and was preparing all things in order to restore the Parliament Letters from Colonel Pearson who dissented from Monk and that many of his Officers and Souldiers would not joyn with him against the Army in England 3. The Commissioners of the Militia of London wrote to Monk to perswade him to an Accommodation Lambert went towards the North. 4. Letters from Ireland of the Forces there concurring with those here An Answer Agreed upon to a Letter from Monk Fleetwood Whitelocke Desborough and Tichburn went to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen in London and acquainted them with the proceedings of Monk and with the danger of a new Civil War to the City and Kingdom and advised them to take special care for the prevention of it and for securing the City 5. New Commissions ordered for raising of new Forces to Vane for a Regiment of Horse and another to Whitelocke for a Regiment of Horse and other Commissions to others The General Council of Officers kept this a day of fasting Letters from Scotland that Monk had secured several of his Officers and resolved to march into England That divers of his Officers and Souldiers were discontented Other Letters that Monk was entered England with some Regiments but retreated An Address to Fleetwood from the Officers of the Northern Forces of their resolution to joyn with the Forces here 7. The General Council of Officers met and received Letters from the North. 8. An Answer to Monk's Letter agreed upon by the General Council of Officers Fleetwood Whitelocke Desborough and divers principal Officers of the Army went to the Common Council in London and represented to them the proceedings of Monk and that the bottom of his design was to bring in the King upon a new Civil War They shewed the danger of it to the City and Nation and counselled them to provide for their own safety and to joyn for the safety of the whole Nation and for preservation of the Peace The Common-council returned thanks to them and resolved to follow their advice 9. Letters from Scotland of the probability of a friendly Accommodation The like from several persons in the North. Letters from the Officers of the Fleet to Monk and his Officers to incline them to an Accommodation to this effect THE deep sense we have of the Duty incumbent on us in this day of Englands fears tryals and temptations puts us upon this Application to your Honour unto whom not long since most of us had a more immediate relation and the experience we had then of your readiness to receive and grant our just desires gives us encouragement to believe this present tender will have the like resentment As private Members of this Commonwealth we cannot but take notice of and in secret bewail before the Lord the intestine divisions that are amongst us at this day and the dreadfull consequence likely to ensue thereupon when duly pondered do exceedingly afflict and even break our hearts All the force that the common Enemy whilst in his strength was able to muster up against the good people of this Nation either at home or from abroad could never raise such Clouds of fears nor impress those terrours on our hearts as we now lie under from the apprehension of that evil which attends that distance which is between you and the Army in England which being manifested to us by a Declaration lately sent from Scotland and published by your command and resolutions therein expressed of your vindicating the late Parliament in opposition to the general proceeding of the General Council of Officers here we have taken the boldness not only as private Christians but in our pubblick capacity as Officers of the Fleet to beseech you in the bowels of mercy and compassion to this your Native Country and especially to all the Lord's people therein whose interest we remember hath formerly been precious to you seriously to consider 1. Whether the undertaking you are ingaged in will not make the hearts of the righteous sad whom the Lord hath not
Petition Another answer to the Petition of Right June 7th Dr. Lambe Votes against Bishop Neal and Laud and the Duke Remonstrance Message Remonstrance Parliament Prorogued to Octo. 20. The Duke stabbed by Felton Parliament Prorogued to Jan. 20. Merchants imprisoned for Tunnage and Poundage Felton Tunnage and Poundage Jan. 20. King's Speech Message Message for Tunnage and Poundage The Commons declaration The King's Answer Grievances Message Votes Protestation Message Members committed Parliament dissolved King's Speech Resolutions of Judges Habeas corpus Habeas corpus Habeas corpus Information in the-Star Chamber against the Members Habeas corpus The Judges perplext Members taken off Good behaviour Proceedings against Selden c. Information in the Star-chamber Information in the Kings Bench. Prohibitions Queen of Bohemia A Peace with France Prince Charls born May 29. King of Sweden Dr. Leighton stygmatized Peace with Spain King of Sweden Marquess Hambleton Papists in Ireland Earl of Essex Impropriations Huntley The High Commission Court Message to the Chief Justice The King 's express Command The Judges answer Walter dies His Opinion His Patent Lord Audley's Tryal Rea and Ramsey Appeal of Treason Judges Opinions Sir Nich. Hyde Questions to the Judges touching the Clergy Oxford Book of Sports Repair of Pauls Sir Paul Pindar The Princess Mary born Ambassador to Sweden Dr. Lamb. City of London fined Judge Whitelocke dies Abbot dies Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury Wentworth sent into Ireland King of Sweden slain Wallestein murthered Prynne's Histriomastix Prynne sent to the Tower The King's progress to Scotland October 13. the Duke of York born October 18. Masque of the Inns of Court Dr. Bastwick Bishops independent of the King Mare liberum Mare clausum Shipmoney Ambassador of Sweden slighted Noy dies Balmerino Treasurer Weston dies Sir Edw. Coke dies Spotswood A Fleet set out Lord Keeper's Speech The peace at Praguë Hollandâ—rs present Juxton made Treasurer Letters for Shipmony Laud's Visitation Northumberland Admiral Ferdinand the 2d Hampden refuses Ship-money Judges Opinion about Ship-money Croke alters his mind Arundel sent to the Emperor Burton Bastwick Pâ—yn Prince Elector defeated Sentence against Bishop of Lincoln Osbaldston Laud's Warrant Troubles in Scotland Proclamations Scot's Petition Hamilton Covenanters Answ The King's Declaration Covenanters Protest Hamilton's Proposals Declaration Covenanters protest Argile Covenanters prepare for War Calvin Whitgift's Articles Episcopacy restored The Queen mother in England Preparations for War with the Scots Arundel General Declaration The Covenanters Answer The King at York revokes several projects and Monopolies Articles of pacification The Covenanters perform not Assembly at Edenburgh Parliament Lords of the Articles The Parliament in Scotland prorogu'd Their Declaration Spanish Fleet beaten by the Dutch Prince Elector made Prisoner in France A Parliament appointed Subscriptions Coventry dies Commissioners from Scotland Loudon sent to the Tower Bagshaw's Reading A Parliament Glanvil Speaker Message from the King Sir H. Vane censured The Parliament dissolv'd Laud blam'd Convocation continues sitting Anno 1640. Tumult of Prentices Oath imposed by the Convocation Their Canons Knighthood Money Londoners discontented A Royal Army Duke of Glocester born Scots declared Rebels Conway Lesley The English worsted Wilmot Conway accused The Scots Petition The Kings Answer Demands of the Scots The Lords Petition The Kings Answer Petition of the Citizens of London The Council at York The Scotish War variously discoursed of Message to the Scots Complaint against Strafford Treaty at Rippon The Scots demands The Treaty variously censured Montross 3. Novem. a day ominous Strafford Perswaded to go to the Parliament Speech to the Parliament Petitions Pym of Grievances Lord Digby Proclamations against Papists Earl of Warwick Impeachment against Strafford Habeas Corpus Judges Crook and Whitelocke cleared Prynne and Burton Windebank Votes Committee against Strafford Alderman Pennington Votes Laud Impeacht Lord Keeper Finch His Speech Articles against Finch Petitions King's Speech Demands of the Scots yielded to Judge Berkley Triennial Parliament The Kings Speech Votes Foreign Affairs Strafford Disputes touching the tryal Undertakers Tryal of Strafford Sir Henry Vane Councel for Strafford Bill of Attainder Commons Petition The King's Answer Tumult Practices upon the Army Protestation Bill for continuing the Parliament Strafford voted guilty Letter from Strafford to the King Censures Balfour Great Officers resign their Places Discontents in the Army Officers Petition Church-Government Armagh Tonnage and Poundage granted High Commission Court Star-chamber Queen Mother dies Dr. Wren Ship-money Judges Essex Armies disbanded Parliament adjourn'd Irish Rebellion Earl of Leicester Irish Maxims Motives Owen O'Conelly Mac Mahon O Neale Votes The King's return from Scotland Speech in Parliament Proclamation Speech Parliament Petition Grievances of the Court Marshal Hyde Remonstrance Protestation Palmer Tumults Irish Oath Irish Cruelties Vote Articles against the five Members The King in the House of Commons The 〈◊〉 Speech The Spâ—â—ker The Action diversly censured Declaration Vote Tumults Bishops Protest Bishops accused of high Treason London Petition The King's Answer Petition Tumults The King removes to Hampton Court Five Members return to the House Lord Digby Lunsford Message Petition Answer Petitions Answer Bill for disabling Bishops Essex Holland Letters intercepted The Queen to Holland Pym. Militia Message Petition Skippon Petition Militia Answer Bill for Ireland Militia Petition Vote Declaration Militia Answer Vote Message Anno. 1642. Lords Report Answer Address at York Message Hull Reasons Answer Hotham Hull Messages Vote Militia Gardiner Different Opinions Declaration Scots interpose Vote Order Nineteen Propositions Commission of Array Lord Keeper Littleton Protestation at York Declaration Message Earl of Warwick Lord Willoughby Votes for an Army Petition Money rais'd Several proclaim'd Traytors Declaration Standard at Nottingham Message Answer Reply Vote Colours Hull Directions to the General Declaration Oxford King's Speech Vote Yorkshire Cornwal Edghill Fight The King at Oxford Essex An Address for Peace Petition Skippon his Speeches Turnham-green The King's Forces retreat Vote Message Petition Letters intercepted Petition Answer City Sir Hugh Cholmley Propositions for Peace Safe Conduct Treaty at Oxford Propositions The King's Propositions Massey Scots come in Lesley Ireland Richlieu dies Lewys the XIII dies Commissioners at Oxford Message Treaty breaks off Lord Brook E. Northampton Covenant Pym dies Waller Hampden Germany Swedes Henrietta Maria. Great Seal Sir W. Waller defeated Hotham Bristol taken by P. Rupert Great Seal H. Martyn Selden Earl of Kingston Cromwell Gloucester Massey Members disabled Gen. Essex Covenant Col. Potley Gloucester relieved Judge Berkley sentenced Newbery fight Lord Falkland Covenant General Essex Sir Philip Stapleton Pasquils Laud. Ormond Poole Dr. Featly Sir Nic. Crispe French Embassadour Manchester Ministers French Embassador Proclamations Commissioners for Scotland Great Seal Laud his Tryal Earl of Holland Col. Rigby Covenant Answer to Fr. Embassadour C. Mostyn Great Seal Fr. Embassadour Scotland Waller Great Seal Irish Proposals Indictment of H. Treason G. Essex Gr. Seal D. Hamilton C. Hutchinson Scots Army Parliament at Oxford Proclamations Plot. Letter intercepted Goring
great Court Lady their Friend who over heard some discourse of this intended Action and thereof gave timely notice to these Gentlemen whereby they got out of the House just before the King came Otherwise It was believed that if the King had found them there and called in his Guards to have seized them the Members of the House would have endeavoured the defence of them which might have proved a very unhappy and sad business and so it did notwithstanding that was prevented This sudden Action being the first visible and apparent ground of all our following Miseries Divers Excuses were made for this Action some said it was the womens counsel and irritation of the King telling him That if he were King of England he would not suffer himself to be baffled about these Persons provoked him to go to the House himself and fetch them out Others said he was put upon it by those who designed his prejudice by it Others said it was in passion unadvisedly undertaken and rashly executed None could make a satisfactory Apology for it and the King himself â—fterwards acknowledged his too much passion in it At his unexpected coming into the House they were in a very great amazement but upon his going away and so as he might hear them the House was in a great disorder crying aloud many of them together Privilege Privilege Some of them brake out into expressions That there never was so unparallell'd an Action of any King to the breach of all Freedom not only in the Accusation of their Members ransacking and searching their Studies and Papers and seeking to apprehend their Persons but now in a hostile way he threatned the whole Body of the House They thereupon frame and publish a Declaration Jan. 5. 1641. By which they set forth all this matter of the King 's coming to the House in a warlike manner to the terrour and affrightment of them and that this is a high breach of the Privileges of Parliament and inconsistent with the liberty and freedom thereof They conceive they cannot safely sit without a Guard in whom they may confide for which they have been Suitors to the King but could not yet obtainit They appoint a Committee to sit at the Guildhall in London to consider of these things and of Ireland and adjourn the House They publish another Vote That if any Arrest a Member of Parliament by Warrant from the King only it is a breach of Privilege and that the comming of Papists and Souldiers to the number of five hundred armed men with the King to the House was a trayterous design against the King and Parliament They vindicate the Five Members and declare that a Paper issued out for apprehending them was false and scandalous and illegal and that they ought to attend the Service of the House and require the Names of those who advised the King to issue that Paper and the Articles against the Five Members Upon these Passages and Declarations a great number of persons in a tumultuous manner came from the City to Westminster where they offered many affronts and violences to divers of the Bishops and others Jan. 12. The Bishops by Petition and Protestation in the Lords House set forth this and their own Right to Sit and Vote in Parliament which by reason of those Tumults and Insolencies they could not doe They say they have no Redress upon their Complaints hereof and cannot attend the Service of the Parliament without danger of their lives they therefore protest against all Acts and Votes in their absence as null and void And desire this their Protestation may be entred Divers of their Adversaries were much pleased with this unadvised Act of the Bishops being as they wished a way prepared by themselves for them to be set aside and removed from the House of Lords For this not long after they were accused by the Commons of high Treason Glyn was the Messenger they were brought on their knees to the Lords Bar Ten of them committed to the Tower and the other two in regard of their age to the Black Rod. The House of Commons upon suspicion of some Designs against their Persons petitioned the King for a Guard to be commanded by the Earl of Essex which the King denied but promised to take care for their Security as for Himself his Wife and Children Many Citizens tumultuously flocked to the King's Coach as he passed through the City of London Beseeching him to agree with his Parliament and not to violate their Privileges After this at a Common-Council they draw up a Petition to the King complaining That Trade is decayed to the ruine of the Protestant Religion and the Lives and Liberties of the Subjects by the designs of Papists more particularly their fomenting the Irish Rebellion by changing the Constable of the Tower and making Preparations there by fortifying Whitehall and his Majestie 's late invasion of the House of Commons They pray that by the Parliaments advice the Protestants in Ireland may be relieved the Tower put in the hands of Persons of trust a Guard appointed for the safety of the Parliament and that the Five Members may not be restrained nor proceeded against but by the Privileges of Parliament To this the King gave answer That he could not express a greater sense of Ireland than he had done that meerly to satisfie the City he had removed a worthy Person from the charge of the Tower and that the late Tumults had caused him to fortifie Whitehall for the security of his own Person That his going to the House of Commons was to apprehend those Five Members for Treason to which the Privilege of Parliament could not extend and that yet he would proceed against them no otherwise than legally During this time the Five Members had got into Friends houses of the City where they were highly caressed and had the company of divers principal Members of the House to consult together and to lay their further Designs and they wanted nothing Soon after this divers Buckinghamshire-men came up with a Petition to the King for Mr. Hampden their Knight of the Shire whereof probably he was not altogether ignorant beforehand They pray that Hampden and the rest that lie under the burthen of accusation may enjoy their just Privileges Great numbers of people gathered together in a very tumultuous manner about Whitehall and Westminster and it was a dismal thing to all sober men especially Members of Parliament to see and hear them The King fearing danger from them or perhaps by the unfortunate Counsel of some about him thought fit to remove to Hampton Court and took with him the Queen Prince and Duke of York This was another and great wonder to many prudent men that the King should leave this City the place of his and his Predecessors usual residence where most of his Friends and Servants were about him the Magazine of all Provisions
both for War and Peace the place for Intelligence and Supplies and betake himself to the Countrey where these things were not to be had and by his leaving the Town bring great disadvantages upon himself and his Affairs this was thought not to have been done advisedly But the fears of those with him and his own fears for them occasioned by the Tumults and his hopes that by his absence the heat of the House of Commons might in some measure be cooled were alledged in excuse of this Action The next day the five Members were triumphantly brought from London to Westminster by Water by a great number of Citizens and Sea-men in Boats and Barges with Guns and Flaggs braving as they passed by Whitehall and making large Protestations at Westminster of their adherance to the Parliament At Hampton-Court the King gave the like answer to the Buckinghamshire Petition as he had done before to that of London The Parliament were informed that the Lord Digby and Colonel Lunsford were gathering some Troups of Horse at Kingstone and appeared in Arms there whereupon they order the Sheriffs and Justices of Peace in all Counties to suppress all unlawfull Assemblies with the Trained Bands and to secure the Magazines Colonel Lunsford is apprehended and sent to the Tower and the Lord Digby escaped beyond Sea The Court removing to Royston the Attorney General Herbert is summoned to appear at the Lords Barr to answer concerning the Articles against the five Members but the King by his Letter to the Lord Keeper Littleton took all the matter upon himself and excused his Attorney and concludes that finding cause to desist wholly from proceeding against the persons accused he had commanded his Attorney to proceed no further therein Jan. 20. The King by Message to the Parliament adviseth them to digest into one body all the grievances of the Kingdome and to send them to him promising his favourable assent to those means which should be found most effectual for redress wherein he would not onely equal but exceed the most indulgent Princes The Scots having a fair plantation in Ireland offered to transport thither 2500 Souldiers upon certain Articles which the Parliament accepted and at length the King assented to them Then the Scots Commissioners mediated for a Reconciliation of the differences between the King and Parliament for which the House of Commons returned thanks to them The House of Commons moved the Lords to joyn with them in petitioning the King for the Militia and the Command of the Tower but the Lords not consenting the Commons themselves importune the King to put those Powers into the hands of the Parliament as the onely available means to remove their Fears and Jealousies The King not willing to part with those Powers gave this answer that he thought the Militia to be lawfully subject to no command but his own and therefore would not let it out of his hands that he hath preferred to the Lieutenancy of the Tower a person of known Fortune and unquestionable Reputation and that he would prefer none but such to the Command of his Forts and Castles yet would not intrust the power of conferring those Places and Dignities from himself being derived to him from his Ancestours by the fundamental Laws of the Kingdom The Commons petitioned again for these Powers and were again denied them by the King Divers Petitions accompanied with great numbers of People and more Subscriptions from Suffolk London and one from the City Dames were presented to the Parliament against the Votes of Popish Lords and of Bishops to which answers were given by the Commons that they had endeavoured and still would endeavour with the Lords that redress might be had therein Soon after this the Lords passed the Bill for disabling persons in holy Orders to have any Place or Vote in Parliament or to have any Temporal Jurisdiction The Commons again petition the King for the Militia and to clear the five Members but they perceived by his answer that he was resolved not to part with the Militia out of himself nor otherwise to clear the five Members but inclusively within a general Pardon The King sent for all his Houshold Servants to attend him particularly for the Earls of Essex and Holland but they excused themselves with the necessity of performing their Duties in Parliament upon which Essex was put out of his Place of Chamberlain and the other of the King's Bed-Chamber and became the more provoked The Lord Digby sent Letters from Middleborough to the Queen and to Secretary Nicholas to advise the King to betake himself to some place of Security where he and others might safely resort to him and he doubted not but that he should do him acceptable Service but these Letters being intercepted The Parliament sent to the King that he would desire the Queen not to correspond with Digby nor any others whom his great Council had proclaimed Traytors The Parliament took notice of a Rumour that they intended to accuse the Queen of High Treason which they deny and call a publick Scandal upon them to which the Queen gave a mild answer yet carefull to prevent any danger she obtains leave of the King who also acquaints the Parliament that his Daughter was to go into Holland to her betrothed Husband the young Prince of Orange and that her Mother the Queen desired to goe with her Daughter Accordingly the Queen went with her Daughter into Holland and carried with her all her own and the King's Jewels not leaving behind the Jewels of the Crown that with them and the assistance of the Prince of Orange a sufficient Party might be raised for the King At a Conference with the Lords Pym affirmed that many of the chief Commanders now in the Head of the Rebels and great Papists had been licensed to pass thither by the King after the Lord Lieutenant had put a stop at the Ports against their coming thither The King much distasted at this as intimating his conniving at the Rebellion required the Declaration of the House of Commons for his Vindication but could not obtain it The Parliament were busie in Debates touching the ordering of the Militia for the several Counties in which some declared their Opinions that the Power of the Militia was solely in the King and ought to be left to him and that the Parliament never did nor ought to meddle with the same Others were of Opinion that the King had not this power in him but that it was solely in the Parliament and that if the King refused to order the same according to the advice of the Parliament that then they by the Law might doe it without him and this was moved to be now done by the Parliament the King having denyed their former Petitions for settling of the Militia as they desired Upon this Debate one spake to this effect Mr. Speaker I have often heard
and a Person well affected to the present Government Orders for Provisions for the Admirals at Sea and concerning the Customes Upon a report from the Councel of State of the Examination of three of the Servants of Dr. Dorislaus concerning the murder of their Master Order for a Declaration to be published in that Business and for 200 l. per annum to be given to his Son for life and 500 l. a piece to his Daughters and 250 l. for his Funeral Upon the Petition of Widdows whose Husbands were slain in the Parliaments Service refered to a Committee to consider of the State of Hospitals and how in them or otherwise Provision may be made for the Wives and Children of such and for maimed Soldiers Letters from the Generals Quarters that he was marching towards the mutinous Troops and sent a Letter to them to Marlborough requiring their Obedience and to submit or else tells them what they must expect They sent an Answer with Expressions of an respect to the General acknowledged themselves his Souldiers but as to the Journey for Ireland they could not go with safe Consciences being contrary to their Ingagement at Triploe Heath They desire according thereunto that a general Councel of the Army may be called consisting of two Officers and two Souldiers of every Regiment with the general Officers and in their Judgments they will acquiesce Letters from Scotland that those in London Derry sallied out and gave a great Defeat to the Besiegers and that the Committee of Estates in Scotland published a Declaration against Middleton Ogleby and the Gourdons as Traytors 15. Debate divers hours in a grand Committee and afterwards in the House about putting a Period to this Parliament and referred to a Committee to consider of the settling the Successions of future Parliaments and regulating their Elections present Heads to the House concerning the same Order that the Lieutenant of the Tower take care that Lilburn and the rest have necessary Provisions for their Subsistence Letters that the General marched after the Mutineers who were twelve Colours and attempting to march over Newbridge towards Oxford but were forced back by Colonel Reynolds then they went over at a Ford and marched to Burford That the General pursued them and about twelve a clock at night coming near the Town sent a Forlorn under Captain Okey Who drew up a Party of Dragoons which met with the Mutineers Scouts drove them into the Town and so fell in with them and the Generals Regiment of Horse and other Forces followed That the Mutineers made some Resistance by firing out at the Windows but the Generals Officers setting the Miseries they would bring themselves and the Town into they yielded upon Quarter which was given to them There were taken in the Town near 900 Horse and Arms and 400 Prisoners and 12 Colours being almost their whole Party and not above 40 that were in the Town escaped Letters from the Hague that the States cause earnest Inquisition to be made after these that murdered Dr. Dorislaus and promised 1000 Guilders to him that bringeth any of them and published it death to any who shall harbour any of the Murderers That the Danish Ambassador sits with the P. his Councel the Swedes promise men enough and Lorraine his Assistance but that Money is wanting That C. Bard a Baronet was apprehended by Order of the States and Montross and the L. Hoptan questioned for the Murder of Dorislaus Orders touching the Imposition upon New-Castle Coales to take off as much as might be of it and about Provisions for the Garrisons of New-Castle Tinmouth and Berwick and Carlisle Order for the Commissioners of the Seal to issue out a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to try some Mosse Troopers Referred to a Committee to consider of bringing in Fines and Compositions notwithstanding Judgments and Extents upon Delinquents Estates Order about Collectors Accounts Upon a Report from the Councel of State that Sir Robert Harley Mr. of the Mint refused to stamp any Coyn with any other stamp than formerly The House ordered that a Tryal of the Pixe should be made at Sir Robert Harlie's charge they put him out of his place and made Dr. Gourdon the Physitian Mr. of the Mint in his room The House approved Sir Arthur Haselrigg his putting Captain Batten out from being Governour of the Holy Island Letters from the General to the House of his taking and dispersing the Mutineers the House gave Captain Bridges who brought the Letter 150 l. to buy him Horses Referred to the Councel of State to examine the Correspondence between some in London and the Mutineers Cornet Dean and Tomson the chief of the Mutineers were by a Councel of War sentenced to die and Dean was very penitent The General sent out his Warrant to all Justices of Peace to apprehend any of the Mutineers that should be found in those parts that they might be brought to Tryal 17 Debate all day of the case of Sir John Danvers and the Lady Gargrave his Sister about the Will of the Earl of Danby their Brother the House declared the Will to be void and referred the matter to a Committee A Declaration of C. Whaley and all his Officers and Souldiers reciting the good Intentions of the Parliament and near the effecting for settling the peace of the Nation setting out a Fleet to secure Trade and prevent Invasions providing for the Pay of the Army and their Arrears and taking off free Quarter and for the Relief of Ireland Which are endeavoured to be obstructed by the designs of the common Enemy to the ruine of that Nation and dishonour of the Army and hazard of this Common Wealth That divers have wickedly gone about to divide the Army to perswade those Soldiers to whose lot it is fallen to go for Ireland to refuse that Service and to seek by force to dissolve the Parliament and Councel of State and cast off the General They disclaim these traiterous Plots and Actions and utterly abhor them and resolve to continue their due Obedience to the Parliament the General Lieutenant General and others in Authority and ingage to stand and fall with them 18 An Act for establishing of Courts in every County for the probate of Wills Administrations Marriages Divorces c. was upon the Question rejected and referred to a Committee to draw up another Act for the same purpose according to the sense of the House in this Debate Debate touching the taking away of Tithes The House declared their Sence of the care of the States of Holland to find out the Authors of the horrid Murder of Dr. Dorislaus and hoped that the States would be careful of the Parliaments Agent Mr. Strickland now there Instructions agreed for the Mr. of the Ceremonies for a message to be delivered by him to the States Ambassador here The House declared That the Lives of those Persons of the Kings party who were excepted from pardon should
answer for the Life of Dr. Dorislaus The Parliaments Ships brought in Provisions to Dublin The Mutineers taken at Burford were by a Councel of War sentenced to die 19 Divers Delinquents complained of the greatness of their Fines and referred to the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall Divers of the Mutineers at Burford were shot to death Tomsons Brother was penitent others dyed desperately Upon the penitence of them craving Mercy and acknowledging their Fault Cromwel brought them word from the General that only every 10th man should die Their chief Leader Tomson got Possession of Northampton and of the Ordnance Ammunition Provisions and Mony there with 2. Troops of Horse and some Levellers out of the Country came in to him 21 Letters from the General that Thomson being gone from Northampton to a Town near Wellingborow M. Butler was sent with a select Party of Horse to pursue him who fell into his Quarters and took his Men and Thompson himself escaped to a Wood Butler pursued beset the Wood and sent a Party into it where they found Thomson He was well mounted and though alone yet he desperately rode up to Butlers Party shot a Cornet and wounded another and then retreated to a Bush having received two Shots himself When the Party began again to draw near to him he charged again with his Pistol and received another Shot and retreated the third time he came up saying he scorned to take Quarter and then a Corporal with a Carabine charged with seven Bullets gave him his Deaths Wound that the Lieutenant of an Oxfordshire Troop was likewise slain Order for the Commissioners of the Seal to issue out Commissions of Oyer and Terminer to fit Persons in Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire for Tryal of the Persons taken in the late Rebellion Order that the Councel of State the Lord Major and the Justices of Peace and Officers of the Militia in London and Westminster do take care for appreh ending such as were in the late Rebellion and that the Attorney General prepare a Proclamation for the apprehending of them in the several Counties The Pension of 500 l. per annum to the Earl of Nottingham ordered to be continued and by the means of Sir Arthur Haselrigge and Whitelock the Countess his Wife had the other 500 l. per annum ordered for her An Act past for draining the great Level of the Fennes Salary of 4000 l. per annum to Dr. Gourdon as Master of the Mint A Declaration published of the Parliaments ill Resentment of the horrid Murder perpetrated on the Body of Isaac Dorislaus Dr. of the Laws their Resident at the Hague An Act published declaring and constituting the People of England to be a Commonwealth and Free State Letters from Scotland that Lieutenant General David Lesley defeated those in the North of Scotland for which a day of thanksgiving was appointed and for the General Deliverances and Successes expressed in a Declaration That a Plot of a new Rebellion and to kill the Marquess of Argyle and the L. Burlegh in St. Johns Town was discovered by one of their own Party and divers of the Conspirators taken and executed Letters from Portsmouth that the Levellers began to appear in those Parts and in Devonshire but the Army Soldiers whom they expected to joyn with them were readier to fight against them 22 Order for a Letter to be sent from this Parliament to the Parliament of Scotland for a right understanding and firm League and Amity between the two Nations and that Commissioners of both Parts may meet and treat for that purpose Referred to the Committee of the Army to prepare Copies of the Act touching free Quarter to be sent to every Regiment of the Army with a Letter to the General to cause it to be observed Order for the Committee of Haberdashers-Hall to have power to give Oaths to Witnesses and for an Act to impower all Committees to do the like Upon Mr. Mabbols Desire and Reasons against licencing of Books to be printed he was dicharged of that Imployment The General and Lieutenant General and other Officers of the Army were solemnly welcomed and highly feasted at Oxford and the Proctor Zanchey presented the General and Lieutenant General Drs. of Laws and other Officers Masters of Arts and divers learned and congratulatory Speeches were made to them by the Vice-Chancellor the Proctors and other Heads and Officers of the University 23 Several Votes of the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall touching Delinquents and their Compositions confirmed by the House and ordered to be Printed Upon a Letter from the General for a Lecture to be set up in Oxford and for Dr. Renolds Mr. Carrol and Mr. Thomas Goodwyn to be Lecturers there referred to the Committtee of Oxford to have it done Visitors added for the University of Oxford Upon a Report from the Councel of State referred to them to take care for repairing the Castles of Sandown Deal and Wymere Some Mariners that revolted and since were taken by the Parliaments Ships were tryed by a Councel of Sea Officers and executed Letters from the Hague of great Preparations for the new King of Scotland to go to Sea that Montross is to go for Scotland and to have such Forces as Germany Sweden and Denmark afford 24 Upon the Desire of the Towns of Sarum Pool and the County of Devon who had advanced considerable Summs for the Parliament Order that they might double those Sums in the purchase of Deans and Chapters Lands Order for the D. of Glocester and the Lady Elizabeth the late Kings Children to be under the tuition of the Countess of Carlisle and 3000 l. per annum allowed for their Maintainance Order for Repayment of Mony lent by the City for carrying on the Treaty Order for 3 pence per pound Salary for the Trustees for sale of Bishops Lands Order that the Speaker writing to Forraign States should stile himself William Lental Speaker of the Parliament of England A Committee named to peruse the Orders of the House after they should be drawn up and to see that they should be rightly entred A Provost Marshal appointed with power to seize upon Malignants and disaffected Persons 26 The Act touching Debts debated and recommitted Order for Mony for poor Widdows and Wives of Soldiers Report by Lieutenant General Cromwel of the suppressing of the Levellers the House gave him their hearty thanks for that great Service and ordered one of thir Members to attend the General with the hearty thanks of the House for his great Service in that Business and ordered a general day of thanksgiving for that great Mercy 28 An Act passed for auditing the Accounts of the Soldiery and securing of their Arrears particular Care being had of those who shall go for Ireland The Act for giving Power to all Committees to give Oaths reported from the Committee and upon the Question rejected and an Act for continuance of the making of Salt-peter as formerly was rejected