Memorials of the English affairs, or, An historical account of what passed from the beginning of the reign of King Charles the First, to King Charles the Second his happy restauration containing the publick transactions, civil and military : together with the private consultations and secrets of the cabinet.

January, 1647.

January 1. Letters from Col. Hammond, of the great Mutiny two days since in the Isle of Wight, in New-port, when the Parliaments Commissioners went away; That the Mutineers designed to seize upon Carisbrooke Castle, and to take away the King. That Captain Barley and others of the Mutineers are in Custody, and the King yet secured at Cares∣brooke Castle, and stronger guards set upon him than formerly.

Divers Letters came from the Parliaments Com∣missioners at the Cowes, to the same purpose.

Some related (not without ground) that Mr. William L'Isle had undertaken to provide a Ship for the King's escape out of the Isle of Wight; but the Ship failed, not without some reflection upon the undertaker; and the Kings escape was thereby prevented.

Order for Vice-Admiral Rainsborough to repair with some Ships to the Isle of Wight, and the House approved the Order of the Commissioners for some of the Parliaments Ships to attend at the Island.

Order for the General to give Commission to Col. Hammond to try by Martial Law the actors in that Mutiny, and a Commission of Oyer and Ter∣miner to Try the others.

Order for a Letter of thanks to the Major, and well affected Inhabitants of Newport, for their good affections expressed upon the late Mutiny; and for Money for the Soldiers there.

Sir William Constable, Lieutenant Collonel Goffe, and Lieutenant Collonel Salmon sent from the Ge∣neral into the Isle of Wight.

More Forces sent thither, and Mr. Ashburnham Sir Jo. Berkley, Dr. Shelden, and the rest of the Kings retinue were discharged.

(3.) Upon a long debate from Morning till late at night, of the Kings last Message, and the report of the Commissioners who presented the four Bills to him, and his not giving any satisfactory answer thereunto, the Commons passed these Votes,

1. That no more Addresses be made from the Parliament to the King, nor any Letters, or Messages received from him.

2. That it shall be Treason for any to deliver any Message to the King; or to receive any Letter or Message from him, without leave of both Houses.

3. That the Members of both Houses, of the Committee of both Kingdoms have power to sit, and act alone (as formerly the Com∣mittee of both Kingdoms) for the safety of the Kingdom.

4. That the Earl of Kent, Sir Jo. Evelyn, and Mr. Fines, be added to that Committee in the rooms of the Earl of Essex, Sir Philip Stapleton, and Mr. Glyn.

5. That a Committee draw up a Declaration to satisfie the Kingdom of the reason of the Votes.

6. That the Concurrence of the Lords be desi∣red to them.

The General and his Council published a Decla∣ration, reciting tho Orders of Parliament, they do now declare and assure, That the Army by the fifteenth of January next according to the said di∣rections, shall be drawn into Towns, Cities, and Garrisons, and that the Parliament supplying the Soldiery with Pay, no free Quarter shall be taken after that day, upon any that pay their Assessments, nor any inforcement for Horse-meat or Mans meat, during the Pay.

(4.) The Commons considering the many weighty Affairs which prolong this Session of Par∣liament, and being willing to for bear their own priviledge, for the publick good, they did order,

That from 20th of this January, no person under the authority of that House, except the Members thereof, shall during this Session of Par∣liament have any Protection or Immunity by rea∣son of any Priviledge of this House, in any Suit, for Debt, or upon contract, or security, or upon any Title to Lands, &c.

Their Estates to be liable, but not their Per∣sons to be imprisoned, nor prosecuted upon Poe∣nal Laws, and if they refuse to appear to any Suit, the House being moved therein, will do Justice, and appointed a Committee to hear, and report complaints of this Nature.

A Committee of Grievances was named to con∣sider of such, whereof redress hath been promised to the People, and what ease is fit to be given, in relation to their Burdens, Freedoms, and Liberties, and of reforming Courts of Justice, and proceed∣ings in Law, and in all matters of Trade, and to prepare Ordinances for the same to be presented to the House.

Orders for Money for disbanding the Supernu∣meraries, and for supplyes for Carisbroke Castle, and other Forts in the Isle of Wight.

Several Copositions were passed.

Letters from the Isle of Wight, That the King was much Discontented since the Insurrection at New-port, That he much desired Dr. Shelden, and Dr. Hammond might continue with him, whereof Col. Hammond gave notice to the Parliament, and to the General.

(5.) Debate about Compositions.

Power given to Col. Hammond, and Sir Willi∣am Constable, to place and displace such attendants about the King, as they think fit, for security of his Person.

Order for allowance for his attendants.

Divers Compositions passed.

Both Houses passed some additional Directions, for Billeting the Army, when they are upon a March, or setled in their Quarters.

The Civil Officers to joyn with the Quarter-masters of the Army, and what the Soldiers shall have, and what he shall pay for it.

(6.) Order touching relief of Widows and maimed Soldiers.

One presented to the House a Book concerning the Power of Civil Magistracy, for which he was Committed; and the Committee about Scandalous Pamphlets ordered to sit, and Money ordered to gratifie such as shall discover Presses, or Authors of Scandalous Pamphlets.

Order for Supplies of Garrisons.

(7.) Order for a Letter of thanks to the Com∣mittee of Kent, for their care in suppressing the tu∣mult in Canterbury, and for a Commission of Oyer and Terminer to try the chief Mutineers there.

The Commons agreed with the Lords for fur∣ther Liberty upon Bayl, for the Marquess of Win∣ton, and Earl Cleaveland.

(8.) More Power given to the Committee of Grievances, and order for the Printing of that bu∣siness.

Order of both Houses to restore to Duke Ha∣milton his Pictures.

An Ordinance sent up to the Lords to prohibit the transportation of Wool, and of Fullers Earth, and of Irish Wool.

Order for a further Ordinance against Scanda∣lous Pamphlets, and Reports from that Committee to have Precedence.

Upon a petition of the Primate of Armagh,

Order for him to continue Preacher at Lincolns Inne.

The general Councel of the Army sat at Wind∣sor, and were very Unanimous in the results of their debates, and to morrow they were appointed to dine with the General in the Castle, to congratu∣late the Unity of the Army, and to take leave of one another, before the Armies going into Towns, and Garrisons, after the fifteenth of this Month.

(10.) Upon a Report from a Committee of some Papers and Warrants taken in the time of War, as a Warrant under the Kings hand, for di∣verting the Ships pretended for the relief of Rochel, another for sending Ammunition to York in the be∣ginning of the War, the House ordered the Com∣mittee to Print such of them as they thought fit.

Divers Sheriffs passed.

Order for a Judge to go down upon the Commis∣sion 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 Com∣missioners 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 Hou∣ses of Parliament, and that he supposed his Ma∣jesty was not ignorant of the cause of his doing thus.

The King professed the contrary, and the Go∣vernor 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 inten∣tions in writing, in that which is called a Declara∣tion,

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 ne∣cessity of the Parliaments vindicating the King∣dom, 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 endeavou∣red 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 King∣dom, 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 un∣to, 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 se∣curing 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 Lon∣don, 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 Mer∣chants who had procured a Collection of Charity in the United Provinces of thirty one thousand two hundred and eighteen pound for the relief of Ire∣land.

Order for raising forty thousand pound forth∣with 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 thou∣sand pound to be raised out of the Earl of Worcest∣ers 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 refer∣red, 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 Sessi∣ons the late Rioters in Fleet-street.

Order that the General take course for the safe∣ty of the Parliament. And that he send some Horse and Foot to be Quartered within the Liber∣ties 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 Quar∣tered in White-Hall.

(17.) Debate touching Sequestrations, and a∣gainst 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 Lon∣don 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 a∣ny 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 consi∣der 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 pla∣ced 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 Ar∣rears due to that Kingdom.

The Lords informed the Commons at a Confe∣rence of a meeting under pretence of agreeing to a Petition to the Parliament, where Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne, and others spake very disgrace∣fully 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 Lieute∣nant Collonel Lilburne, whom they had formerly Committed to his Custody, to go abroad, who re∣turned answer, That he had an order for it from the House of Commons, and the Lords desired, that no oc∣casion might be given to hinder the Ʋnion and Affection between the two Houses.

Upon much debate of this business by the Com∣mons, they repealed their Order formerly made for Lieutenant Collonel Lilburne's Liberty, and ordered him to be brought to their Bar to mor∣row; 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 Informa∣tion against him. The reading of proofs, and ex∣amination 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 Imprison∣ment, 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 Lieu∣tenant 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 re∣ferred it to a Committee to be examined and pu∣nished.

(20.) Upon Information that L. C. Lilburn and M. Wildman, were not carried to Prison, accor∣ding 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 Lon∣don, &c. take care to suppress such meetings, and to prevent inconveniences, which may arise there∣by; and upon the said Petition intituled, The Pe∣tition of many thousands of the free-born People of En∣gland, &c. They ordered a Declaration to unde∣ceive the People, to shew them the dangerous conse∣quences that will arise by such practices.

The House pass'd a Declaration of their real in∣tentions 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 Com∣mittee, about the business of Ireland.

(22.) Order for a new Ordinance to suppress all Stage-plays, and for taking down all their Box∣es 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 suppres∣sing all tumults, and insurrections, &c.

Rumors increased of tumults like to be in the City, and many spoke disgracefully of the Parlia∣ment.

(24.) Upon Letters from Vice-Admiral Rains∣borough, 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 se∣venty 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 Conspi∣rators were found guilty of a Riot, and were deep∣ly fined.

The Grand Jury of Hamp-shire at the Execution of the Commission of Oyer and Terminer, present∣ed 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 King∣dom.

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 Parlia∣ment, 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 re∣fusal of the Purchase of Worcester House, at the rate of Bishops Lands.

Several Ordinances past both Houses for an hun∣dred pound to Sir Arthur Blundell, and for a hun∣dred 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 Committee who are to go into the several Counties for disbanding the supernu∣merary Forces, take care to disband Troop after Troop, and Company after Company, till they be all disbanded, and the General desired to give his Orders therein.

Letters of a design of Col. Kempson's, Col. Ayres, Col. Herberts and Col. Cookes Officers of their Regi∣ments, consulting about eighty of them together, to surprize Glocester and other Forts thereabouts, upon assurance that Col. Laugherne, and the dis∣contented Londoners would joyn with them.

This was referred to the Committee at Derby House.

(25.) Order for the Committee of the Reve∣nue to retrench the Kings Servants, and upon the Governors Letter, a thousand pound ordered for Repairs of Carisbrooke Castle.

The Commons named Mr. Goodwyn, Mr. Ash∣urst, Mr. Stapleton, and Col. Birch, their Com∣missioners to go into Scotland.

An Ordinance passed both Houses for Pardons to be passed under the Great Seal for some Prisoners in New-gate. Another for the sale of Worcester House to the Earl of Salisbury: another for making Major General Mitton Vice-Admiral of North Wales.

(26.) The Monthly Fast-day.

Letters from Ireland of the Lord Inchequin's suc∣cess in Limericke, but the extream want of his Sol∣diers of Food and Rayment, compelled his return.

That there were differences amongst the chief of the Rebels, the Lord Taffe was chosen their Gene∣ral.

(27.) Upon Letters from the Committee of Kent, the House voted tryal of more of the Rio∣ters of Canterbury, by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer.

The charge against the Lord Willoughby of Par∣ham pass'd the House, and ordered to be sent up to the Lords, wherein his Friends did him what service they could to pacifie his adversaries, but they were sharply bent against him.

Debate of the charge against the eleven Mem∣bers.

The charge against Sir Jo. Maynard passed, and ordered to be sent up to the Lords, and ordered that Mr. Hollis, Sir William Lewis, Mr. Nichols, Sir Jo. Clotworthy, Sir William Waller, Col Massey, and Col. Long, be disabled to sit as Members of the House.

The Lords named the Earl of Denbigh, and the Earl of Stamford Commissioners to go into Scotland.

(28.) The Ordinance for setling the Presbyteri∣an Government, and for removing obstructions therein, sent up to the Lords.

Part of the Instructions assented to for the Com∣missioners that are to go into Scotland.

Upon information that divers discontented per∣sons met in the West, and under pretence of ap∣prehending High-way-men, themselves committed many Robberies.

Order for the General to suppress all such.

Money ordered for the Commissioners who are to go into Scotland.

Reference to a Committee to consider of remo∣ving Prisoners out of the Tower, to other Prisons for security of the Magazine, and of the Lieute∣nants Fees.

(29.) Voted that the rest of the eleven Mem∣bers should be impeached of High Treason, as Sir Jo. Maynard was; except Sir William Lewis, who was to be impeached of High Crimes only.

The House considered of recommending a Suc∣cessor to Mr. Glyn to be Recorder of London.

And upon consideration of the good Service done by Mr. Steel in the business of Captain Burley, and other affairs, they recommended him to the City to be their Recorder.

Voted to impeach the rest of the seven Lords, as the Lord Willoughby was impeached.

The Lords named the Earl of Nottingham in the place of the Earl of Denbigh to be one of the Com∣missioners to go into Scotland, and had sent up to them the instructions for the Commissioners.

Sir William Constable's Regiment marched into Glocester, and Col. Morgan's Forces marched from thence.

(31.) An Ordinance pass'd the Commons for dividing the Parish of Roram in Kent.

The Charges carried up against the Lords, and desired that they may be proceeded against according to the Laws and Customs of Parliament.

Reference to the Committee of Foreign Affairs to examine an Information touching the raising some Forces here for the Spanish Ambassador, without leave of the Parliament.

Order for payment of Arrears of some of the Scots Officers.

Debate of the Ordinance for suppressing of Stage-plays.

The Lords Concurrence was desired to recom∣mend Mr. Steel to be recorder of London.

A Petition of the Officers sent out of Ireland to have their Liberty.

The Ordinance passed both Houses for dividing and setling the several Counties into distinct Classi∣cal Presbyteries and Congregational Elderships.

The Disbanding went on in the North.

Rumors of preparations for War from Scotland.

Notes

• Mutiny. Isle of ••ight.
• Votes fo•• no Ad∣dresses.
• Priviled∣ges.
• Isle of Wight.
• Pamphlets
• Papers ta∣ken.
• Isle of Wight.
• Army's Address.
• Ireland.
• Scots Com∣missioners.
• Declarati∣on to the Lords.
• Library.
• Lilburns.
• Wildman.
• Lilburne and Wild∣man.
• Tumults.
• Isle of Wight.
• Disband∣ing.
• Discon∣tented Officers.
• Ireland.
• Lord Wil∣loughby.
• The ele∣ven Mem∣bers.