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.

May, 1651.

[1.] Letters that Major-General Harrison and Collonel Rich were come with their Forces in Lancashire, and an account of Recruits going will∣ingly for Ireland.

[2.] That the General was at Glascow, that the Enemies Levyes went on slowly, and the factions of Hamilton and Argile were very high.

Letters, That the Parliaments Fleet at Scilly, had taken Grinsby, after 3 times being beaten off, and that they had taken 2 Irish Frigats of 30, and an other of 24 Gunns.

[3.] Letters of a boat Loaden with Oats, ta∣ken by the Scots, That the Parliaments Soldiers at Scilly had taken all the Islands except St. Maries, and had taken 3 of their Frigats, killed 14 of their Men, and taken 120 Prisoners, that of the Parlia∣ments Forces 8 were killed and about 20 of them wounded, that they intended to send a summons to St. Maries Island, and if they refused, then to Attempt it.

[5.] Letters of a strange Apparition at Madely in Staffordshire, seen by a Woman and her Maid, the Sun as blood, and dark bodies like men about it, That they seemed to fall down into the Court, and there to fight, and the Moat about the house seem∣ed to be all of blood, and Cannons and Holsters in the Court.

That 3 great Birds with Wings like Angels came flying to the Woman and the Maid, and frighted them.

[6.] Referred to the Council of State to con∣sider of the business of Securing Mr. Case and other London Ministers, who preached against the Parli∣aments proceedings.

Letters of prizes brought into Hull, and of Con∣voys for Merchants Ships.

That the chief Ringleaders of those in Holland who assaulted the English Ambassadors house were sentenced to be whipped.

That the Collonel of the Lorraine Troopers who pillaged Mr. Steward, and the rest of the Ambassa∣dors Gentlemen in Germany, showed them a Com∣mission from the King to him, to take any of the Ambassadors men.

That there was an agreement between the Duke of Lorraine, and the Irish Rebels for him to come over to them, with Forces and Arms to assist them. That the Rebels have accepted him, as their Pro∣tector.

That the plague was still at Cork and at Water∣ford.

[7.] Letters confirming the taking of all the Isles of Scilly, except St. Maries, and of taking 3 Ships prizes, one of them richly laden, and many Prisoners.

[8.] Letters, That the Parliaments Forces in Ʋlster of 3000 Foot and 1500 Horse were upon their March towards Connaught.

That General Blake, and Sr. George Ascue with * 1.1 the Fleet at Scilly intended to fall upon St. Maries Island, that the Governour thereof Sr. John Green∣vile sent to them for a Treaty, which was agreed but took no effect, and there upon the great Guns played upon St. Maries.

[9.] Letters, That some Scots at Leith fired 2 * 1.2 Stacks of Hay at Lieth.

That they hanged a Scots-man for drowning an English-man in a Cole pit,

That tis to be supposed the Scots intend to get by the English Army, and to make the Seat of the War in England. And that they are 20000 strong, and that the English Army is very desirous to ingage with them.

[10.] Letters that the General and the Army were returned to Edenburgh, and had received a weeks Provisions.

That the Enemy have a Rendezvous every moneth, and their Horse are quartered to keep their Foot from running away. That if it were not for the provisions that come out of England, the Army could not subsist, either Men or Horse.

12.] That a Scots-man who was subject to England, by his relation to Ireland, being sent by the General on a message to the Scots, was by them executed as a Spy.

Upon Examination by a Court Martial, it ap∣pearing, that the Lady Kelsith, kept a conrespon∣dence with the Enemy, and indeavoured to invie∣gle some of the Parliaments Soldiers to be for the King, the General and his Council ordered her House and Goods to be burned.

That Middleton refuseth to take orders from any * 1.3 but the King, and would be an Independent Army, and his interest is to be kept up against Lesley's, that they would fain be upon their March for Eng∣land, but their friends there have sent them word, they cannot be ready till next moneth.

That a Scots man took a Flemmish Ship prize, and a Parliament Frigat met them, and took them both prizes.

Letters from Sr. George Ascue of the action at Scilly, that Captain Morris behaved himself most * 1.4 gallantly in the storming of the Island.

That the Scilly Islands are the key, that open a passage to several Nations

Sr. George Ascue desires to know the pleasure of the Council, that he may proceed upon his Voyage to the Barbadoes.

[13.] A Petition to the Parliament from the * 1.5 Justices of peace, Grand-Jurors and other well affected persons in Cheshire.

Shewing their good affection to the Parliament, their being over burdened in Taxes, wherein they pray relief, and were answered with good words, and the thanks of the House for their good affections.

An Act committed, prohibiting the transport∣ing of Lead Oare, Fullers-earth, and Tobacco Pipe clay.

An Act read and committed for Transporting 60 Persons convicted for petty Felonies, into Ire∣land, and the English Plantations in America.

That the English Ambassadors in Holland received letters to stay for some longer time there.

That the Cavaliers report the Kings Army in Scotland to be 60000 Men.

[14.] Letters of divers of the Parliaments Of∣ficers and Soldiers killed by the breaking of a piece of Ordnance.

[15.] Letters of Recruits and Mony arrived at Dublin, and an account how the Forces there are disposed, and of visiting the Western Garrisons.

[16.] Letters that after the Parliaments Fleet had taken the 2 Islands of Trisco, and Briers, they

had a Treaty with Sir John Greenvile by Commissio∣ners, which took no effect.

[17.] Letters that the Scots ordered a new le∣vy of every 12th man for a reserve, and have orde∣red all the English to serve under Massey, who * 1.6 courts them, and mounted 3 or 4 foot Soldiers that ran away from Cromwel to him.

[19.] Letters of the Armies posture in Scot∣land, but little Stirring.

[20.] Letters of Collonel Reynolds, and Sir Charles Coote being upon their march to attend the Enemies motions in Connaght.

[21.] Letters of Sir George Ascues departure from Scilly Islands towards the Barbadoes.

[22.] The Parliament debated several Acts touching the Assessment, putting the publick Trea∣sury into a way most for the püblick advantage, and other Acts.

[23.] Letters of the Scots gathering their for∣ces * 1.7 together to a Rendezvous, and intelligence of their design to slip by the English Army into Eng∣land, and so to draw the Seat of the War out of their own Country into England, where they ex∣pected many to befriend them.

[24.] Letters of the forces in Ireland upon their march for Connaght, and of Recruits come thither.

[26.] Letters, That the Scots drew up together 8 Regiments of Foot at Sterling, their Horse were in other places, and Middleton with his party stood still at a distance, That they brought Straw 30 miles for their use.

That one of their Collonels said he hoped to see the word in their Colours to be Covenant for Tobac∣co, Stong-waters, and Whores.

That Collonel Lidcott fell upon a Garrison of the Enemies with his Horse, and brought away many Prisoners.

That Major Sydenham was dead of his Wounds.

That a party of Collonel Montgomeries fell upon some of the English Dragoons. and surprized about 40 or 50 of them, as they were in the Country ga∣thering the Assessment.

That it was conjectured, the Scots would decline any ingagement with the English, but weary them out, and take the first opportunity to get by them into England.

That there was some damp upon the English Army, by the sickness of the General.

From Waterford, That the Army fell upon the Rebels beyond the Shannon, did some execution up∣on them, and brought away some booty.

That they rejoyced to hear that the Parliament had sent a Fleet towards Dunkirk, to keep in the Duke of Lorrains Fleet, if they should attempt any thing upon Ireland.

That Prince Rupert was gone to Sea with 5 Ships, and 2 Fire-ships.

That 2 French Ships laden with Silk, were taken by the English.

[27.] The Parliament sent a Message to the General to desire him to retire for his health to * 1.8 some convenient place in England for the fresh Air, and to intrust the Army in the mean time in such hands as he should think fit.

The Parliament discharged all Recognizances, Fines, and Amercements and Process upon them un∣till 30 Jan. 1648.

That the General being Sick of an Ague, the Officers of the Army provided to march without him. That several Ships were arrived at Lieth with Provisions for Men and Horse.

That Prince Edward was summoned to appear * 1.9 at the Hague to answer his misdemeanor against the English Ambassadors.

That the 6 Gentlemen of the English Ambassadors * 1.10 who where taken Prisoners by Collonel Hatter the Lorreiner, were carried by him to the Spaw to drink the waters there with him, and there a Gentleman who had received civilities in England, looking ear∣nestly upon them, imagined that they were gentle-men in some distress & inquiring of them, was told all the story of their being surprised by Collonel Hatter, upon which the Gentleman raised the * 1.11 Town, and rescued the English Gentlemen from the Collonel, and brought them from thence in liberty to Lymburgh.

That there the English Gentlemen bragging of their good fortune, and that now they should save 1200l which they had promised to pay to Collonel Hatter for their ransom;

This coming to the Ear of the Governour of Lymburgh, he kept the English Gentlemen in re∣straint, and told them, That seeing they had in∣gaged to pay 1200l to Collonel Hatter for their ransom, and that now they were fallen into his power in Lymburg, that they should pay the same Summ to him, which they should have paid to Collonel Hatter.

That the States sent to the PrincessRoyal, to the Duke of York, and to the Queen of Bohemia, to de∣sire them, that none of their trains might be suf∣fered to offer any affront to any of the English Am∣bassadors company, whom the States had taken into their Protection, and would not regard any great Person that should affront them. That they all pro∣mised to conform to the States desire.

That they caused a new Court of Guard to be built at the English Ambassadors door.

That they visited the Spanish Ambassador, who had been very courteous to them, & by their desire, had written to the Governour of Lymburgh (who was under the Spanish Jurisdiction) to set free the Ambassadors Gentlemen in his power, without any Ransom.

That the Dutch inquired much after the Affairs in Scotland, and seemed inclinable to a good Cor∣respondence with England.

[29.] An account of Recruits for Ireland.

That the Scots Foot were very poor in Cloaths, and both Men and Horse in great want of Provi∣sions.

[30.] Letters, That the Earl of Derby was vi∣ctualling and furnishing his Castles in the Isle of Man.

Letters, That the Enemy took some Cows, from the Garrison of Charlemont, which the Lord Cau∣field having notice off, lay in the way; and met them in their return, killed about 30 of them, and took 120 Arms, and brought away the Cows.

That another party of the Enemy came into the English quarters, who routed them, and took di∣vers of them.

That the Foot at Scilly entred at St. Maries Is∣land, and that those in the Castle were in great want of water.

[31.] Letters, That the Country between Edenburgh and Dunbar was full of excellent Corn.

That there were many Ships come into Lieth with Provisions.

A Soldier shot to death for killing his fellow Soldier in a Duel,

Notes

• * 1.1

  Scilly Island.
• * 1.2

  May. Scots.
• * 1.3

  Scotland.
• * 1.4

  Scilly Island.
• * 1.5

  Petition.
• * 1.6

  Massey.
• * 1.7

  Scotland.
• * 1.8

  Cromwel.
• * 1.9

  P. Edward
• * 1.10

  English
• * 1.11

  English Ambassa∣dors.