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.

February 1650.

(1) The Parliament appointed the Lord Chief Justice St. John, and Mr. Strickland to go * 1.1 Ambassadors extraordinary to the States of the United Provinces. Strickland had been Agent there before, and for his Experience thought ••it to be sent with St. John, who was Cromwells Crea∣ture, and his Disposition suited with such an Imployment, which met with good Abilities, though not much versed in Forraign Affairs or Languages.

Mr. Strickland was an honest rational Gentle-man, and versed in the Dutch Business; but St. John was looked upon as the principal man.

The number of Ships and men agreed upon, for the reducing of the Barbadoes.

A difference between C. Sidney Governour of Dover, and his Officers, referred to the Councel of State.

(3) Letters of an allarm taken by the Ene∣my at Sterling, upon notice that the English Army intended a March thither.

That many of their new listed men run away.

That C. Fenwick Summon'd Hume Castle to be surrendred to General Cromwel: But the Gover∣nour * 1.2 answered, That he knew not Cromwel, and

for his Castle, it was built upon a Rock.

That the General Assembly of the Rebels in Ireland, which they call their Parliament, decla∣red their due and perfect obedience to his Maje∣sty. Yet that they will insist upon the Articles of Peace, and provide against the violation of them.

And that the King being in the hands of the Scots Presbyterians, who had vowed the extirpa∣tion of their Religion, they would receive no Go∣vernour from him whil'st he was in this unfree Condition.

(4) Order that the Kings Arms be taken down in all publick places, and the Armes of the Common-wealth set up in the room thereof, and * 1.3 the charge of it paid out of the Parish-Rates, and the Justices of Peace, Church-wardens, and o∣ther Officers to see this order executed.

An Additional Act passed for the sale of Fee-Farm Rents.

Letters of the Commissioners safe arrival in Ireland.

(5) Letters that the Ministers about Lever∣poole refused to observe the Thanksgiving Day.

Of several Prizes brought in.

(6) Letters of an agreement of the Ministers * 1.4 of Somerset, and Devon, to refuse subscribing the Ingagement, or observing the Orders of Par∣liament.

That C. Pines Militia Regiment of 1200 had a Rendezvous, and shewed great forward∣ness.

(7) Letters that C. Fenwick with the great Guns played against Hume Castle, and that the * 1.5 Governour sent this Letter to him,

I William of the Wastle Am now in my Castle. And awe the Dogs in the Town, Shand garre me gang down.

Letters of a party pursuing the Earl of Castle-haven in Ireland, And that Corn is extream dear there.

That liberty being given to the Dutch to carry Provisions Custom-free to the Parliaments Ar∣my in Scotland, many Dutch Ships are preparing to supply the Army.

(8) Letters of an Ostender refusing to come in to one of the Parliaments Frigots, she sunk the Ostender.

(10) Letters that the Mortar-Pieces had done great Execution against Hume-Castle, and spoiled many rich Goods there, and the great Guns had made Breaches; whereupon C. Fen∣wick * 1.6 resolved upon a Storm, and the Officers cast lots who should lead on to it;

But the Governour beat a parley; Fenwick re∣fused to treat, unless they would presently sur∣render upon Quarter for Life; which they did; and Fenwick appointed some Officers to look to the equal sharing of the Goods among his Souldi∣ers, only the Governours Lady had liberty to carry out some of her Goods, and Bedding for her accommodation.

That the Army began their March with eight Regiments of Foot, and nine of Horse towards Sterling.

That there are great Divisions among the Scots.

(11) Vote that ••he Councel of State should be altered for the year ensuing, twenty one of the * 1.7 old Members to continue in still, and twenty new Members to be chosen in.

This was done by way of balletting.

The old Members which continued were Crom∣wel, Bradshaw, Rolles, St. John, Skippen, Sir Ar∣thur Haselrigg, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Sir Henry Vane Junior, Sir William Masham, Sir William Armyn, Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir James Harring∣ton, Whitelock, Lisse, Lord Grey, C. Purefoy, Scot, Challoner, Walton, Bond, Gourden.

The Names of the new Members were, Sir T. Widdrington, Prideaux, Major General Harrison, Strickland, Lieutenant Ceneral Fleetwood, Sir John Trevor, Sir William Brereton, Sir John Bou∣chier, Love, Allen, Salwey, Lister, Thomson, Cary, Fielder, Darley, Say, Cawley, Goodwyn, Lemman.

(12) Letters of a Court Marshal at Plymouth, they began with Prayer, and condemned three Souldiers to dye, for running away from their * 1.8 Colours.

(13) Letters of a Ship taken at Poole by the Pyrates, pretending Commission from the King.

(14) Letters that the Scots in a Village called Geddard, rose, and armed themselves, and set upon Captain Dawson, as he returned from pur∣suing some Moss-Troopers, killed his Guide and Trumpet, and took him and eight of his Party, and after they had given them Quarter, killed them all in cold Blood.

That the Lord Deputy had scattered the Re∣bells, and was returned to Dublin.

(15) Letters that the General marched with his Army three dayes Westward, but by reason * 1.9 of the extream Snow and Storms, they were for∣ced to return back to Edenburgh.

That the Enemy were sufficiently allarmed by this March, and fled to Sterling, but none ap∣peared against the English.

(17) Letters that the General had been ill in Scotland, and some miscarriages in some of the Souldiers in their late March, which were punish∣ed.

And the General set out a Proclamation, That none should buy any Goods of Souldiers, without their Officers hand to attest it.

That General Ruthen was dead. And the Ca∣valiers of the deepest dye, hold colour best in Scotland.

That the Presbyterians see how they are decei∣ved, and preach against them as much as they dare.

That Tantallon Castle was besieged by C. Monk, and the Town was burnt by the Govern∣our.

(18) Letters that Sir Hardress Waller and Cromwell had relieved the English Garrisons in * 1.10 Kerry, and taken four from the Irish, and made their Army fly and killed as many of them as they found.

That in the mean time the Irish got together in a Body from several places, imagining the English could not draw forth another Party of any strength to oppose them.

But by reason of Divisions among themselves, the Irish could not have a Conjunction and Body together, above 3 or 4000.

That the English drew all the strength they could against them, but could not attack them.

General Blake had the thanks of the House for * 1.11 his great and faithful Service.

Instructions and Credentials passed for the Am∣bassadors to be sent to the United Provin∣ces.

(19) Letters that the Irish being abroad in several Parties, Collonel Reynolds with one Party, and Collonel Hewson with another were out, to attend the motions of the Enemy.

That four Parliament Troopers were taken by the Scots near Carlisle, three of them were killed, and the fourth saved his Life, by swearing he was a Scot.

That the Scots would laugh in the Faces of the English, and take the next opportunity to cut their throats.

(20) Letters of disturbance of the execu∣tion of the Militia about Cambridgeshire by some of the Commissioners being Malignants.

(21) Letters of Recruits in Cornwall readi∣ly coming to be under Sir Hardress Waller in Ireland.

That the settling of the Militia, and subscri∣bing the Ingagement goes on readily in those parts.

That the Scilly Pyrates took a rich Londoner, and several Merchant-men have been taken on the Western Coast by the Jersey Pyrates.

(22) Letters that the Ministers about Northampton, did generally refuse to take the In∣gagement.

(24) Letters that a Hoy of Hamborough coming with Cheese for Leith, and brought by stress of weather into the North of Scotland, was there seized on and examined, and shewed Coquets for Haver de gras in France, whereupon he was dismist, and a Scots Man imbarqued with him for Haver de gras.

The Hamburgher having thus got free, brought his Cheese and the Scots Man to Leith.

Mr. Fry a Member of Parliament, being accu∣sed by C. Downes another Member in Parliament, * 1.12 for a Book written by Mr. Fry, and Mr. Fry ha∣ving Printed another Book with all this matter in it.

The House Voted this to be a Breach of the Pri∣viledge of Parliament.

They Voted other matters in the Book to be Erroneous, Prophane, and highly Scanda∣lous.

That the Book be burnt, and Mr. Fry disabled to sit in Parliament as a Member thereof.

Several Persons executed, for robbing the Charter-house Hospital.

(25) Letters that the Lord Deputy had settled the Customs at Waterford, and those parts, and incouraged the Natives to plow and * 1.13 sow their Land; and restrained the killing of Lambs.

That the Plague was broken out at Waterford, whereupon the Lord Deputy removed to Kilken∣ny, to be nearer to the Enemy.

That two Troops fell upon the Tories, killed about 50 of them, and took some Prisoners.

That the Souldiers were in great want of Victuals and Cloaths.

Proposals were agreed by the Lord Deputy, and his Commission granted to C. Lawrence for raising a Regiment of 1200 in England, and to transport them to Waterford. The Parliament approved of them, and referred it to the Lord Deputy and the Commissioners in Ireland, to see them executed.

Referred to the Councel of State, to order the Stores and Magazines both for Sea and Land Ser∣vice, as they shall think best for the advantage * 1.14 of the Common-wealth.

Pardons passed for divers poor Prisoners upon Certificates of the Judges.

Order for an Act to confine Papists, and De∣linquents to their Houses.

Letters that the King was active in survey∣ing his Garrisons and new Levies.

(26) Letters that two Dutchmen loaden with salt, came to an anchor within half a League of Dartmouth Castle, That presently af∣ter two Jersy Pirates came up with them, cut their Cables by the half, and carried them away.

That the Castle shot at them, but could not reach them.

(27) Order by the Parliament, That the Officers for the Recruits for Ireland shall con∣stantly attend their Charges, and the Forces to march directly to their Ports, and in their march, to Quarter in Inns and Ale-houses, and to pay for what they have.

Referred to the Councel of State to send this order into the several Counties where the Re∣cruits are to pass, to the Commissioners of the Mi∣litia, and for the Assessement, and to the Con∣stables, that it be observed.

(28) Letters that the Irish having distressed a Party of the Parliaments Forces, another com∣manded Party marched from Kilkenny to relieve them, and after five weeks march, in such a sea∣son of the Year, into such inaccessable places, they scattered the Enemy, driving them out of many strong Holds, some whereof they had ta∣ken from the Parliaments Forces.

That after pursuing them with Fire and Sword, and utterly destroying that part of the Countrey, which was part of the Enemies chief fastness and Refuge, in their return home, the Parliaments Foot ingaged with the Enemies at their own play, and upon their own terms, in such fastnes∣ses of Woods, and Boggs, that the Parliaments Horse could not come near.

But God shewing himself, the Irish were not able to abide, but quickly fled, leaving their Ammunition, and store of their Arms behind them: and some hundreds of them, fell by the Sword in this Expedition.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ambassa∣dors to the States.
• * 1.2

  Hume-Ca∣stle.
• * 1.3

  Kings-Armes.
• * 1.4

  Ministery.
• * 1.5

  Hume-Ca∣stle.
• * 1.6

  Fenwick.
• * 1.7

  Councel of State.
• * 1.8

  Court-Marshal.
• * 1.9

  Cromwel.
• * 1.10

  Ireland.
• * 1.11

  Blake.
• * 1.12

  Mr. Fryes Book.
• * 1.13

  Ireland.
• * 1.14

  March.