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.

August 1653.

[Aug. 1.] Letters of one hundred Hollanders in the sight of the English, who ingaged with themabout six a Clock in the Afternoon, and fought until about twelve at night. The dispute being very hot at that time, what the issue was, it could not then be known, but the English had the wind of the Dutch at the beginning of the Engagement.

Referred to the Commissioners for the inspecting the Treasuries, and regulating Officers, and Salla∣ries, to consider how the Excise may be brought in, with the greatest ease to the people, and how the oppressions and burdens which have been in the managing of that business, may be redressed for the future.

And to consider of the grievances in granting of Wine Licenses; and the title of those, who take upon upon them to grant those Licenses. An Act passed for the taking away of Fines upon Bills, Declarations, and Original Writs.

A Petition from the Apprentices of London, on * 1.1 the behalf of Lieutenant Collonel John Lilburn, which gave such offence to the House, by the Language of the Petitioners, and the manner of presenting, that the Petition was Voted Scanda∣lous; and the six young Men who presented it were ordered to be imprisoned.

[2.] Referred to the Council, to examin the business of the Apprentices Petition.

Ordered that Mr. Lilburn be kept close Prisoner.

Mr. Rowse to continue Speaker for one Month longer.

Letters of Two Dutch Prizes, taken before the Vly.

Of Robberies done by the Highlanders.

That Argyle endeavours to prevent any joyn∣ing with them, by those in his Country.

That the Scots Ministers are angry among themselves.

[3.] The Commander in chief in Scotland, dissolved the Assembly of the Kirk there.

Letters, to the Parliament.

That July the twenty ninth about nine in the * 1.2 Morning, having weighed Anchor the night be∣fore, the Dutch Fleet was discovered by our Scouts a-head, which within two hours after appeared to be the Dutch Fleet, come from the Waylings, consisting of ninety seven Ships, or thereabouts, whereof Ninety were Men of War, whereupon we made what Sayl we could after them, fitting our Ships, in the mean time, for an Ingagement. But the Enemy tacked about, and stood off from us, as soon as they perceived what we were; so that it was five a Clock in the Evening before any of our Friggots could come up to Ingage them, which they did.

And this forced them to make a halt, whereby in the Evening, at Seven of the Clock, the Re∣solution with as many Ships, and Frigots, as made up Thirty Sayl, Ingaged with them, the rest be∣ing a stern could not get up, however we fell to work, and continued Fighting, till night parted us, which was about Nine a Clock.

After which being dark, all hands were at work to bring some new Sayles to the Yard, and mend the Rigging, wherein we had suffered very much, in so short a time; there were killed ontright Sixteen, and Twenty Five wounded, of whom Fourteen dangerously.

The next day little was done, as to any Ingage∣ment, both Fleets finding it work enough to get off from a Lee-shore, the wind blowing hard, with hick, and dirty weather, which was the worse for us, being in an Enemies Country, and in the * 1.3 Evening it began to clear up.

This morning being fair, and little wind, both Fleets prepared for a new Ingagement, the Enemy bore in upon us, having the wind of us; to this time, the Lord seemed to incourage the Enemy, by laying the Scale, as it were, in the Ballance; so that neither could tell which had the better.

About Seven in the Morning, their great Ships from the Texell, being Twenty Five in number, had made a conjunction with them and there begun a very hot dispute, which continued till one, in the Afternoon; the Enemy having the wind of us all the while, whereby he had the op∣portunity of taking all advantages.

Yet by this time the Lord had so daunted the spirits of the Enemy, that they begun to bear a∣way from us, making all the Sayl they could with the remainder of the Fleet, being not above Sixty left of their whole number.

So far as I could discern, there cannot be less than Thirty or Fourty sunk, taken, and destroyed; we are now in pursuit of them, some of our best Sayling Frigots, being almost up with them, and our expectations still are great.

The Enemy had Nine Flag Ships, when we first Ingaged, and now but one left, some of them I know are sunk.

In this Ingagement, we had but Two Ships of ours fired by them, One of them is the Oak, her Men were saved, most of them; the other had not any of her men saved. The Worcester Frigot took the Garland, which had been formerly taken from us by the Dutch, but our Men were forced to fire her.

Trumps Flag was shot down in the Morning, and could not be made stand all the day after.

The Parliament spent a day in their House, in praising God for this great Mercy, and praying for a right improving of it.

[4.] Letters from General Monck, aboard the Fleet, to the Parliament, of this Fight, to the same effect with the former.

[5.] A Petition from Kent to the Parliament, * 1.4 for taking off the Tythes, and the Speaker told them, the House was satisfied of their good affection to the Parliament, and for the matter of their Petition, part of it was under consideration, and that the Parliament would do, as the Lord should direct them.

After a long debate of this day, and yester∣day, * 1.5 the House Voted, That the Court of Chancery should be taken away, and the Committee of the Law to bring in an Act accordingly, and an other, for the Causes now depending, and for future relief in Equity.

Whereas the Parliament appointed a Com∣mittee, to consider of such Petitions, as are di∣rected to the Parliament; and to Present such of them only to the Parliament, as are proper to the Legislative power, or not relievable elsewhere, and to examin Witnesses upon Oath, if they shall see cause, and state the matter of Fact, and Re∣port to the Parliament, and their Opinions touch∣ing Oaths, for the Persons unjustly molested.

And this Committee having in their hands a∣bout Two Hundred and Fourty Petitions, which according to the said Order, they are to consider of, and examin. They resolved to re∣ceive no more Petitions for one Month, except for lives, or publick concernment, whereof all are to take Notice, and not to put themselves to unnecessary attendance.

Several Murderers condemned by the High

Court of Justice in Ireland. That the Enemy there was so wholly vanquished, that not a Tory, or a Wood-Kern, was to be met with.

That a great part of the Army there, was re∣duced, Eleven Regiments of Foot, and Four Re∣giments of Horse, besides all new Regimented Troopers, and Foot Companies, all of them re∣duced, being Five Thousand Foot, and Three Thousand Horse.

A special regard taken of all the Field Officers, and other Officers, That the Accounts of the Ar∣my, were audited, and care taken for the satis∣faction of all, and to give them possession of Lands for their Arrears.

[6.] That Seven Thousand Tories were march∣ing to the Sea side, in order to their Tran∣sportation for Spain.

That an English Merchant Ship, by storm, and Fog, fell in among Eight Dutch Ships, yet got away from all, to Plymouth.

Letters of the Highlanders plundering the Low-lands, and taking some Horses.

That Captain Drew broughr in Three Dutch Prizes, their Scout Vessels, sent to give advice to their East India Fleet, to put in at Norway, or the Sound, because the English had a strong Guard upon the Northern Coast.

Letters from General Monck, and Vice Admi∣ral Pen, of the late success against the Dutch, to * 1.6 the same effect with the former; and that we had sunk Thirty of the Enemies men of War, taken One Thousand Prisoners, whereof Vice Admiral Ever∣son (one of their most Valiant and best Sea men) was one.

That we lost Two Hundred and Fifty Men slain, and Seven Hundred wounded, Captains of ours slain, were Graves, Cox, Chapman and Peacock, and Captains wounded were Stokes, Seaman, Rouse, Holland, and Cubi, and that the Enemies loss is by conjecture about Three▪ Thousand.

[8.] The Commissioners for Administration of Justice in Scotland, published a Proclamation, for re∣viving some antient Laws, and for prevention of the Exorbitancies of broken Highlanders, Border∣ers, and such as disturb the peace.

Order for a Day of Thanksgiving for the late good success at Sea, with a Narrative to be pub∣lickly * 1.7 read.

Order for several Gold Chains to be given from the Parliament, to General Blake, General Monck, Vice Admiral Pen, and Rear Admiral Lawson, and to the Four Flag Officers, and im∣mediatly to be bestowed among the Officers of the Fleet, as Marks of the Parliaments Favour, and good Acceptance of their service.

An additional Act passed for Stating and De∣termining the Accounts of the Officers and Sol∣diers in Ireland.

Much Debate upon the Act for Marriages, and the Registring thereof, and of Births, and Burials.

That a private man of War of Scilly, took a a Prize, which was again taken from him, by Two Dutch men of War, and retaken again by the Pre∣sident Frigot.

That the Dutch have gotten again about One Hundred and Fourty Sayl of Ships, besides Fire-ships, That Three of their States are to go in the Fleet; and advise; and they have proposed a Reward to those, who shall take any of the Three English Admirals, and the benefit of their Ships. That Tumults were amongst them, but pacified. Great Guns were heard off at Sea.

[10.] Two of the Dutch Deputies to the Parlia∣ment, went away upon the news of the late Vi∣ctory.

Upon the Petition of Lieutenant Collonel Lil∣burn's Wife, the Vote for his close Imprisonment was taken off, and he Ordered to be Tryed at the Sessions in the Old-Bailey.

[11.] That the King of Scots was sick of a Feavor at Paris.

The Dutch supprized Four English Ships, in the East-Indies, Traders for Port to Port.

Lilburn's Trial proceeded at the Sessions House.

[12.] Letters that the Highlanders in Scotland were gotten into a considerable body.

That a Declaration was Published by the Com∣missioners, for visiting Universities in Scotland, and placing, and displacing of Ministers, which did much astonish the Kirk-men.

Of Pyrates upon the Coast of Jersey, who were socoured, and assisted by the French, who would not permit a Vessel of the Parliaments to have fresh water in their shoar, and a Bristol Merchant man taken by the Hart Frigot, which was lost to the Dutch, and now manned out by them.

[13.] Letters of two Dutch men of War that came into Burlington Bay, to surprize Ten Barques there, which cut their Cables, and went into the Peer, and so were preserved.

That the Parliaments Ships, on the North Coast, brought in a Danish Ship of great value, and se∣veral other Ships Prizes, and cleared that Coast of Pickeroons.

That Prince Rupert was gone to Nants, to make the best of his Robberies.

That many thousands of the Irish, were tran∣sported * 1.8 for Spain.

That old Van Trump was dead, killed with a Cannon shot, in the late Fight with the English, and that many others of Note were slain.

Upon Information of designs in hand against the Parliament,

Order for an Act, for Erecting a High Court of Justice.

That a Standard was set up for the King of Scots in the Highlands, and Middleton was among them, and some landed out of Ireland, and came to them.

[15.] Letters that the Highlanders were up in a body of Four Thousand, Glencarn their General, Middleton, and some other English Officers, and the Earl of Argyles Son was with them.

Of the Refractoriness of the Scots Ministers.

That the Hollanders endeavoured to lessen their losses in the late Fight; that the States keep Guards in several places, to prevent tumults, and give it out that the English were beaten in the late Fight; that twenty five of their Ships carried themselves as Rogues, and kept without Cannon shot.

[16.] The Act passed touching Marriages. * 1.9

A Committee appointed for Trade, and to re∣ceive Informations, touching the good of the Common-wealth.

Order for an Act touching Publick Debts.

Votes concerning the Publick Revenue.

Mr. Lilburn's Trial at the Sessions proceeded.

[17.] Order for a Grand day of Thanksgiving for the success against the Dutch; and the Declarati∣on, and Narrative of that business was passed.

[19.] Several Persons secured by the Com∣mander in Chief in Scotland, for having intelligence with the Highlanders.

That Argyle set out a Proclamation, declar∣ing all those to be Traitors, who joyned with his Son.

That the King of Scots his Standard was set up in the Highlands, and they were raising more Forces, to joyn with Glencarn, in the Lowlands.

That Middleton was landed in the Highlands, with Arms and Ammunition.

[20] Of three Dutch Prizes taken by the French.

A Charge against Sir John Lenthall referred to a Committee.

Order for an Act for Redress of Grievances, touching Prisons and Prisoners.

A Committee to consider of a new body of Law.

Orders touching Arrears of some Officers in Ireland; and for Sale of some Delinquents Lands, to defray publick Charges.

About twenty Dutch Vessels taken by Lawson, who had Fifty Sayl upon the Holland Coast, and more going out to him.

The Jury found Lilburn not Guilty, he pleaded * 1.10 long for himself.

Vice Admiral Lawson, with Sixty Ships, was up∣on the Coast of Holland, before the Dutch had got out.

Letters from Holland, acknowledging Their loss in the late Fight to have been Twenty Seven Ships; and of Men slain, drowned, wounded, and prisoners, Six Thousand. That the English Merchants there, left the Country, for fear of the rage of the People; that at the Hague they began to be sensible, that they had not a Victory. That the Dutch labour to get France to them. That the States clapt up Three English Men, pretending they had Correspondency with England, one of them they Rackt, and threw the other Two into the Dungeon. They appointed a day of publick Fasting, and Prayer.

[23] The House was called, and the absent Members appointed to Attend by a day.

Orders upon Reports from the Committee of Petitions.

Order for an Act to take care of Ideots, Luna∣ticks, and Infants.

Order for Hampton Court, and the Parks there to be sold.

An Act passed touching Marriages, and the Re∣gistring of them, and of Births, and Burials.

[25] The Solemn day of Thanskgiving for the Victory against the Dutch.

[26] Letters that Collonel Morgan marched * 1.11 with some Forces to Innerness; but the Highlanders being about Seven Hundred in a body, and Three Hundred Horse; would not force the English near∣er than two miles distance, and that upon the news then coming to them, of the Victory at Sea a∣gainst the Dutch, they presently dispersed them∣selves.

[27] Vessels chased into Plymouth, and Falmouth, being Merchant Men. A Convoy appointed for them.

[29] Lilburn marched towards the Highlands, to suppress any Commotions in those parts.

The Ministers in Scotland published their Rea∣sons against the Declaration of the English Com∣missioners, and in Justification of their pray∣ing for the King; and the Answer to those Reasons.

[30] An Act passed for the bringing in the Ar∣rears of the Excise.

Referred to the Council, to examine, and take order to punish a Riot, lately committed in Staf∣fordshire, in pulling up the Fences of some inclo∣sures, and laying the Grounds unto the Common fields again.

Vote for all Occupyers of Deans and Chap∣ters Lands, yet concealed from the State, to dis∣cover the same by a day, on pain of Sequestra∣tion.

Order of the Committee of Petitions, for Peti∣tioners in private Matters, to set the Matters down in Writing in particular, and the Witnesses names to each particular. * 1.12

[31] Letters of a Fleet of twenty Sayl of Hollan∣ders gone towards the Orkneys, and an express sent thither from the English Fleet.

That the Highlanders in Commotion in Scot∣land were dispersed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.2

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.3

  August.
• * 1.4

  Petition from Kent.
• * 1.5

  Court of Chancery.
• * 1.6

  The Dutch beaten.
• * 1.7

  Gold Chains for the Officers.
• * 1.8

  Old Van Trump dead.
• * 1.9

  The Mar∣riage Act passed.
• * 1.10

  Lilburn acquitted.
• * 1.11

  Highlan∣ders dis∣perst.
• * 1.12

  S••pi••mb••