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.

July, 1653.

[1.] An Address to Cromwell and his Councel * 1.1 of Officers, from the Commission-Officers of Lymericke, and Clare in Ireland, of Joyning with him.

Some prizes taken upon the Scotch Coast by Cap∣tain Rudlee.

[2.] Some 50 Dutch Merchants from the S••u••d, Convoyed by 12 Danish Men of War for Holland.

William of Nassan coming to Amsterdam upon * 1.2 a design to suprise that Town, hardly escaped with his life from thence.

Letters, That the English Fleet had taken 5 Ships loaden with Masts, Pitch, and Tar; two from Stockholm, which besides other rich goods, had 200 Copper Guns in their hold, 3 Ships loaden with Corn, 2 others from Denmark and 2 from the Streights, one loaden with Oyl, and the other with Silkes.

[4.] The persons Summoned by Cromwel to take the Supream authority, appeared in the * 1.3 Councel Chamber at Whitehal, about 120 of them; and being set round the Table, Cromwel and the Officers of the Army standing about the middle * 1.4 of the Table, Cromwell made a Speech to them: Shewing the cause of their Summons, and that they had a clear call to take upon them the Supream Authority of the Common-wealth; and he urged di∣vers Scriptures to admonish and incourage them to do their duties.

Then Cromwel produced an Instrument in writ∣ing, under his own hand and Seal, whereby he did with the advice of his Officers, devolve and intrust the Supream Authority and Government of this Common-wealth into the hands of the Persons then met.

And that they or any 40 of them, are to be held and acknowledged the Supream authority of the Nation, unto whom, all persons within the same, are to yeild obedience and Subjection.

That they should not sit longer than the 3d. of November 1654. and 3 moneths before their Dis∣solution to make choice of other persons to Succeed them; who are not to sit longer than a year, and to be left to them to take care for a Succession in government.

Then Cromwel and his Officers withdrew, and the persons met did adjourn themselves to the next day in the Parliament-house, and appointed to keep a Fast there, to seek God for his Direction and Blessing.

It was much wondered by some, that these Gen∣tlemen, many of them being Persons of Fortune and Knowledge, would at this Summons, and from these hands, take upon them the Supream Authority of this Nation: considering how little Authority Cromwell and his Officers had to give it, or these Gentlemen to take it, but it was accepted by them.

An Address to Cromwell from many well affected * 1.5 in Lincolnshire to stand by him, &c.

[5.] The Summoned Gentlemen met in the * 1.6 House and kept the Day in Humiliation and Prayer.

After which ended, they resolved, that Mr. Rouse should sit in the chair for a Moneth, and that Cromwel Lambert, Harrison, Desborough and Tomlinson do sit in the house as Members, and that Mr. Scobel should be their Clark.

A list of 20 Dutch prizes brought into Lee Road by Captain Wright.

Cromwel and the Councel of State ordered the continuance of the powers of the Commissioners of Indemnity.

[6.] The new Supream authority met in the Parliament house and resolved, to take the name of Parliament, then they appointed a day of Pray∣er in the House.

[7.] The Highlanders had a rendezvous, but few of them appeared, the aid they expected from the Dutch failing them.

The Warwick Frigot exchanged a broad side with a Dutch Man of War, who thereupon got a∣way from her; Divers French Pickeroons infested the coast of Jersey.

The King of France proclaimed down his mo∣ny, a penny in a Lewis, to the prejudice of Jersey where there is little other mony.

[8.] An East India Merchants Ship was en∣countred near Falmouth by 2 Dutch Free-booters, who left the English Ship after some shot exchanged between them, and two English Men slain.

The Orange Party gathered heart in Holland, and * 1.7 carried on their design, to make the young Prince their Captain General as his Father was. * 1.8

[9.] The People in the United Provinces were full of discontent by reason of the War with Eng∣land, and apt to fall into Sedition.

The English Fleet still continued plying before their Harbours.

[11.] The Parliament kept a day of Humilia∣tion and Prayer in the House.

The Highlanders had a Rendezvous, and fell upon some of the English Forces, what the issue thereof was, the newes was not come.

[12.] The Serjeant at Armes Birckhead; at∣tended * 1.9 the Speaker of this Parliament, with the Mace, in like manner as he had attended former Speakers.

[13.] The Parliament passed a Declaration to stir up the Godly of the Nation to seek God for a blessing upon their proceedings.

They debated the business of Tithes.

Leiutenant Collonel Lilburn was Arraigned at the Sessions in the Old-Bayly, upon the late Act for * 1.10 his Banishment.

A Petition from Hertfordshire, in the behalf of him.

[14.] Lieutenant Collonel Lilburn was brought again to his Tryal, but he urged for further time, in regard that the Councel assigned him, refused to appear for him, onely Serjeant Maynard, who was sick; and he had an order for a Copy of his In∣dictment.

[15.] The house debated the business about * 1.11 taking away of Tithes, and the difficulty was to find an expedient for satisfying Improprietors therein, and for providing some maintenance for the Ministry.

The question was put whether the question should be put that Tithes should continue till November next and it was resolved in the Negative.

The Judges in Causes Criminal in Scotland sat and adjudged some to be Hanged for the Murder * 1.12 of some Troopers of Collonel Okey's Regiment; and some to be whipped for robbing Houses.

A mad man in Shrewsbury proclaimed King Charles. 2.

[16.] The Towns of North Holland after the example of Enchuysen declared for the young Prince * 1.13 of Orange, desiring that all Forces might be raised in his Name and Authority.

The English Fleet lay before the Texel and the Ʋly.

Some French Pickeroons infested the Coast.

The House debated the business concerning the * 1.14 Propriety of Tithes, whether it was in the State, or in particular persons.

Lieutenant-Collonel Lilburn was again brought to his Tryal, but nothing done in his business.

[18.] The Parliament appointed a Commit∣tee to consider of the Claims and Propriety of all persons interessed in Tithes.

The Highlanders in Scotland stole from the Lord Beclarris, who was in Arms to joyn with them, two of his best Horses.

The Dutch had 110 Men of War ready to En∣gage the English Fleet, and to drive them off from * 1.15 their Coast, and the Orange Party hoped that most of the Fleet would declare for the Prince, and though they were beaten, yet th••••r Spirits were up still against the English.

They were high upon the right of their Fishing at Sea, and to be equal Sharers with the English in the Dominion thereof, and the English with them blow up their humours.

Tromp was going forth to draw the English from their Coasts, that in the mean time their East-In∣dia Fleet might slip in, which had 800 bales of Persian Silk, besides many other Rich Commodi∣ties.

That none knew the time of their return, but 6 of the East-India Company, who were under an Oath of Secrecy, and had power to send advice and Instructions to them, for their Security.

The Queen of Sweden had an Army and Navy * 1.16 ready, and the Dutch feared that She would fall upon their Confederate the King of Denmark, She having claimed a Property in the Sound, and de∣manding satisfaction for some goods of her Sub∣jects in the English Ships seized by the King of Denmark.

[19.] Captain Bun of an English Frigot took 3 Dutch Vessels Loaden with Corn, and sent them to Lieth.

[20.] The Parliament made several Com∣mittees, * 1.17

• 1. To consider matters touching the Law.
• 2. Touching Prisoners and Prisons.
• 3. For inspection into Treasuries, and easing pub∣lick Charges.
• 4. For Ireland.
• 5. For Scotland.
• 6. For the Army.
• 7. For Petitions.
• 8. To consider what shall be offered, about publick Debts, publick Fraud, and breaches of Trust.
• 9. For regulating Commissions of the Peace, and for making provisions for the Poor.
• 10. For advance of Trade.
• 11. For advancement of Learning.

A Commotion was at Bergen ap Zoom for the Prince of Orange.

A List of several Ships taken by the English from the Dutch.

A List of many Persons Condemned and Execu∣ted for Murder, by Sentence of the High Court of Justice in Ireland.

[21.] Collonel Cobbet with several Ships of War, prepared for a design to reduce Lewis Island in Scotland, to hinder the Dutch Fishing, and for securing the Scotch Trade.

[22.] The Parliament referred it to a Com∣mittee * 1.18 to consider of the Laws, that hinder the Pro∣gress of the Gospel, and for repealing of them.

Referred to a Committee to consider of a way for Marriages.

The Greyhound Frigot brought into Leith 5 Prizes taken by her near the Sound, 2 Danes, and 3 Dutch Busses.

The little Falcon brought in 3 Prizes to Leith from Norway.

[23.] Three English Frigots took two great Merchants Ships of Zealand richly laden with fine Goods.

Letters from the Fleet that they were 2 Leagues off the Texel, and that the Dutch were much divi∣ded * 1.19 in their Counsels, and not ready to come out.

[25.] The general Assembly of the Kirk being met at Edenburgh, as soon as the Sermon was done, * 1.20 and they gone to the Assembly House, and entred upon their business, Lieutenant-Collonel Cotterel

went in to them, and standing upon a Bench, with a loud Voice, proclaimed that no Judicatory ought to sit, that had not Authority from the Parliament of England.

And so causing them to depart, he conducted them with a Troop of Horse and a Company of Foot, out at the West-gate, then bidding them to close in a round Circle, environing them with his Horse and Foot, he blamed them for their bold meeting, took in their Commissions, required them not to meet three together in a Company, and by 8 a Clock that Morning, to quit the City, and repair every one to his own home.

Great distractions were in Holland and fear of * 1.21 Tumults for want of Trade, yet were they very high in their discourses and in preparations for the War.

The Committee for Petitions ordered that the * 1.22 Petitions to be brought in to them, be Subscribed by some Member of the Parliament, who serves for the County or City, from whence the Peti∣tion comes, or otherwise by any Member of the House.

[26.] A Ship of Stockholm loaden with Tar and Iron, brought into Falmouth.

The English Fleet were within a League of the Holland Coast, plying between the Texel and the Ʋly.

The Spanish Ambassador took his leave of the Queen of Sweden at Stockholm, and she appointed one of her Ships of 70 Brass Guns to carry him to Gottenburgh.

[27.] A Petition presented to the Parliament, by the Title of the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England, from several well affected Persons in the County of Essex.

Owning this Parliaments Authority, and pray∣ing them for Christ's sake so to manage it, as those that are set for a Terrour to evil doers, and the praise of those that do well.

The Phaenix Frigot brought into Harwich a * 1.23 Dutch Man of War, whom they supposed to have Sunk an English Colliers Ship and killed her men, there being many English Mens cloaths found in the Dutch Ship, therefore her Men were sent Prisoners to Colchester.

[28.] Letters of the Troubles in France raised by the Prince of Conde, and the hopes of the King to reduce Bourdeaux.

[29.] Some ragged Forces were raised in the * 1.24 Highlands in Scotland, the Lord Glencarne to be their General, and they were promised great as∣sistance from the King, and assured that the Dutch had gotten a very great Victory lately at Sea, a∣gainst the English, bread was very scarce with them.

The Commander in Chief in Scotland of the * 1.25 English Forces, published an Order at the Market-Cross at Edenburgh, by beat of Drum and Sound of Trumpet, That he taking notice of the great concourse of People to Edenburgh, which might hazard the di∣sturbance of the Peace;

It was therefore ordered, that all Lords, Lairds, Ministers and others, that had not their constant resi∣dence there, or a publick call thither, or suits of Law of immediate dependency, should depart the Town in 24 hours.

100 Sail of Dutch Merchant Men were riding in New-haven Road, waiting an opportunity to get home.

Two English Ships Fought with two Dutch Ships near Leghorn, and after a sharp Fight took them.

The Treaty betwixt the King of Denmark, and the States-General was ratified, and the King re∣paired his Forts near Sweden.

[30.] The States promised extraordinary pay to their Seamen; which brought in many.

The Dutch took some English Coal Ships and other Vessels Prize.

An English Merchant Man boudn for Malago, ly∣ing at Graves-end, some of her Men going into the Hold with a Candle, and being careless the Candle took hold of some Oakam, which immediately set the Ship on a Flame, and consumed it as far as the Water would suffer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Address.
• * 1.2

  Nassaw.
• * 1.3

  Cromwel, New Su∣pream Au∣thority.
• * 1.4

  July.
• * 1.5

  Address.
• * 1.6

  New Su∣pream Au∣thority.
• * 1.7

  Orange.
• * 1.8

  Dutch.
• * 1.9

  Parlia∣ment.
• * 1.10

  Lilburn.
• * 1.11

  Tithes.
• * 1.12

  Scotland.
• * 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Orange.
• * 1.14

  Tithes.
• * 1.15

  Dutch.
• * 1.16

  Sweden.
• * 1.17

  Commit∣tees.
• * 1.18

  Laws.
• * 1.19

  Fleet.
• * 1.20

  Kirk.
• * 1.21

  Holland.
• * 1.22

  Petitions.
• * 1.23

  Frigot.
• * 1.24

  Highlands.
• * 1.25

  Proclama∣tion.