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.

November 1653.

[Nov. 1.] The House chose a new Council of State, whereof Sixteen of the old Council con∣tinued, * 1.1 and Fifteen new ones were added.

Order to consider of the business of the Law, upon every Friday.

Order for a Bill to take away Holy-days, and days not Judicial.

The Commissioners of the Council, and the Four Dutch Ambassadors met upon the Treaty.

Divers called Quakers, apprehended in the North.

That the business of Transplanting, went on difficultly in Ireland.

[2.] The House passed New Instructions for the New Council of State for Six Months.

The Lord Commissioner Whitlock, Ambassa∣dor to the Queen of Sweeden, set forwards with a Gallant Retinue from London to Gravesend, to take Shiping there.

Letters that Captain Blagg took Prize, a Ship of two hundred Tun, and another Frigot took a French-Man of twenty Guns.

That young Trump, being seen with Eight Ships off the Lizard, The Frigots at Portsmouth being Seven, weighed Anchor, and put to Sea after him.

Of two other Prizes brought into Plymouth, and the Channel cleared of the Pyrats.

[3.] Of a Fight at Sea on the Spanish Coast, by four Dutch Men of War against one Merchant Man who run her self on shore, and kept off the Dutch, and got off from the shore again.

Letters that the Commissioners in Ireland had disarmed all the Irish, and forbid any of them to have Fire-Arms, or Ammunition.

[4.] Letters that Argyle finding his Country men would not follow him, by reason his Son the Lord Lorn was with the other party; he left the Highlands.

That De Wit convoyed home to the Texel from the Sound, the East-India Ships, with 375 other Merchantmen, and that about thirty Sail from Norwey were come home.

That young Trump was got home with his Mer∣chantmen, through the Channel; That the En∣glish East-India Ships, and other Merchantmen, were safely arrived with their Convoy two Men of War, and came in sight of young Trump, who had Eight men of War, yet did not exchange one Shot with them; that a great Fleet of Colliers were come into the Thames

[5.] An Act passed for Repealing part of a former Act, that enjoyns the subscribing the En∣gagement, before one shall have the benefit of the * 1.2 Law.

A Bill committed for the taking away the High Court of Chancery, and Constituting Judges, and Commissioners, for hearing Causes now de∣pending * 1.3 in Chancery, and future matters of Equi∣ty, and for Reforming Abuses in the Common Law.

[7.] Letters of the Cruelty, and Insolency of the Highlanders under Kinmore. That a Ga∣rison of the Parliaments, took divers of them Pri∣soners, and many Horses, and Arms.

Of the preparations in Holland for one hundred Sayl of Men of War.

[8.] Debate of the Bill of the Assesments, and the House Ordered the Rates to continue as before.

An Act passed concerning the Determination of certain Claims depending before the Commis∣sioners of Obstructions.

[9.] A Committee sate upon the Petition of Alderman Fowk late Lord Mayor of London.

[11.] Of a Synode in Scotland, among whom was great differences of Opinion, with long, and * 1.4 sharp Debates.

Of two French Prizes brought into Plymouth, and an other pretending to be an Hamburgher.

Of a Frigot sent to Jersey for twenty Brass Guns, and for two Companies of Soldiers.

Of two Dutch Prizes more brought into Al∣borough.

Sheriffs Nominated for the Counties of England and Wales.

[12.] Letters of two Dutch Prizes brought into Burlington Bay.

That by great storms at Sea the Dutch lost twen∣ty of their Ships driven a shore, most of them Men of War. And that De Wit was not returned. That in the late storm two thousand Dutch Men were lost, and four hundred and seventy Pieces of Cannon. That in the storm fifteen breaches were made in the Banks of that Country, and some Castles, and whole Villages drowned.

[14.] Letters of the French Capers doing much mischief to the English Merchants, and cruel∣ly using their Men, and that they make Brest ano∣ther Algiers. That the great loss of the Dutch by the late storm at Sea, hindred their Admiral Opdam from going forth with the Fleet.

Order of Parliament, touching the Redemption of the Captives of Algier.

Letters from the States of Lubeck, and Ham∣burgh, to the Parliament of England, read in the House.

[15.] The House Nominated some Sheriffs, and Debated the Bill of Assesments.

Letters of a Party of the Highlanders falling up∣on a small Party of the English, of whom, they kil∣led one, and wounded three of them. That Cap∣tain Watson fell upon a Party of the Highlanders, and did them much damage.

Of thirteen Dutch, and French Prizes brought into Plymouth, most of them pretending to be Hamburghers.

[16.] Orders touching claims for Moneys due upon Publick Faith, and touching some Sheriffs of Counties.

[17.] The Council of State published an Or∣der, * 1.5 Reciting the Trust reposed in them by the Par∣liament for this purpose, they declare that the Coun∣cil will protect all the good People of these Na∣tions.

That no disturbance shall be offered to any such, in their peaceable Assemblies for the Worship of God.

It is expected, and required of all Ministers of Justice to proceed against the offenders therein, as disturbers of the publick peace, and all other persons to take notice thereof.

Order for a Lottery for Provinces and Counties in Ireland, as to claims of land there.

[18.] Letters that Kenmores party increased, and took many Horses from the Lowlands, who were generally their Friends. That they plun∣dered the Country, and took some Prisoners, that they received a Letter from their King, that he could not assist them, which discouraged them.

That by the late Inundation in Holland, Am∣sterdam was damaged one hundred thousand l. That their Fleet being seventy two Men of War riding in the Texel, were much shattered by the late violent winds, sixteen of them lost, and fourteen driven on shoar, not above six left that were serviceable.

That the Seamen there, are discontented, that General Monk was gone down to the Parliaments Fleet.

[19.] Debate of the power of Patrons in Presenting Ministers, and the inconveniencies * 1.6 thereof, and Orders for an Act to take away Pre∣sentations.

An Act passed for setling Lands of the late Earl of Darby, upon the present Earl his Son.

Order for a Bill touching the Excise; and, de∣bate upon the Bill of Assesments.

That the Pickaroons of Bulloign, took an English Merchant Man.

[21.] That the Highlanders Garisoned se∣veral Houses, that a Party of them took two Cap∣tains of Collonel Overtons Regiment, going with their Wives to Glascow; and took two Soldiers of Colonel Tomlinsons. Regiment, and that they plundered the Lord Warestons House.

An Act published for Establishing of a High Court of Justice.

A great Insurrection and Tumult, was at the New Exchange, between the Portugal Ambassadors Brother, and some of his Company, and Collonel * 1.7 Gerrard, an English Gentlman: who hearing the Portugueses discoursing in French, of the Affairs of England, told them in French, That they did not represent those passages aright. Whereupon one of the Portugueses gave him the lye, and they all three fell upon Collonel Gerrard, stabbing him in the shoulder with a Dagger, but being rescued out of their hands, by one Mr. Anthuser, they retired home; and within one hour, returned with twenty more, Armed with Breast-Plates, and Head-pieces, but after two or three turns, not finding Mr. An∣thuser, they returned home that night.

[22.] Letters, that two thousand Dutch Pri∣soners of War in England, were discharged, and come home into Holland.

That young Trump was come home safe, and so was the Dutch Ships from Bergen in Norwey.

The Portugal Ambassadors Brother returned a∣gain to the New Exchange with his Company, and walking there, they met with Colonel Mayo, whom they supposed to have been Mr. Anthuser, and shoot∣ing off a Pistol, as a warning, Fifty Portugueses came in, with drawn Swords, and leaving some to keep the Stayers, the rest went up with the Am∣bassadors Brother, and fell upon Colonel Mayo, who gallantly defending himself, received seven dangerous wounds, and lies in a dying condition: And then they fell upon Mr. Greenway of Lincolns-Inn; who was walking with his Sister in one hand, and his Mistriss in the other; and Pistol'd him in the head, whereof he dyed immediatly; they brought with them several Jars filled with Gunpowder in their Coaches, stopped with Wax and filled with Matches; intending (as it seemed) to have done some mischief to the Exchange, had they not been prevented.

The Parliaments Horse at the Mews, taking the Allaram, apprehended some of the Portugueses, and the rest of them ran to the Ambassadors House; whether Collonel Whaley pursued them, and beset the Ambassadors House with his Horse, acquainted him with the Murder, and Insolency, committed by his followers, shewed him some of them whom he had taken Prisoners, and required the chief of the rest to be delivered up to the hand of Justice.

The Ambassador insisted upon his priviledge, as Ambassador, but seeing nothing else would satis∣fy, he at length, delivered up his Brother, and one of the Knights of Malta, and some others, and promised to secure the rest to be forth com∣ing. After which the Ambassador made his Ad∣dress to the Lord General, and chiefly for his Bro∣ther; but the General told him the business did concern the publick; and therefore his Excellencies Address must be to the Parliament, and the Council of State.

[23.] Letters that upon the complaints of the Merchants at Stockholm to the Queen of Sweed∣land, of the Abuses they had received at Sea, by the Holland Men of War, the Queen clapt up two Dutch Merchants into Prison, and seized upon all Dutch Mens Estates, till She should be further sa∣tisfied.

The Brother of the Portugal Ambassador, and his Company, who committed the Murder at the Exchange, were Examined by the Lord Chief Ju∣stice Rolles; and the Ambassadors Brother, and four others, were Committed to Newgate, in order to their Trial.

[24.] Letters, That a Knight of Malta, Commander of a Man of War of France, took an English Merchant man in the Streights.

That the French Pickaroons did much mischief on the Coast, near Jersey. That Captain Chain∣berlain an old Pyrate, sent a Letter to Colonel Hean, Governour of Jersey, That if the Jersey Men would not contribute toward his maintenance, he Swore by the Heavens, that he would throw as many of them, as he did meet with, into the bottom of the Sea.

[25.] Letters of the Insolencies committed by the Highlanders.

That the Marquiss of Loignac, travelling be∣tween Brussels, and Dunkirk, was murdered by Thieves, and all his Company, only the Post-boy hardly escaped.

[26.] Letters of Merchant Ships arrived at Dartmonth safely, and of some English Vessels taken by the Pickaroons of Brest.

Of a Prize brought into Plymouth, which pre∣tends to be a Sweedish Ship.

[28.] Orders touching the account of Offi∣cers, and Souldiers, and Stating their Arrears, and for paying, and securing them, out of forfeited Lands in Ireland.

Letters that Eight Dutch Men of War in the Streights, had taken Fifteen Merchantmen of Lon∣don, and Bristol, Trading from New-found Land with Fish to the Streights, and two more of them were taken by a Brest Pickaroon at the Lands end.

Of divers Witches Examined, and sent to Pri∣son, some of them called Black Witches; who killed Men, Women, and Children, and Cat∣tle, by their Witchcrafts; and others of them called White Witches, who healed them that were

bewitched by the other; and that this was Con∣fessed by them.

[29] Letters that Mounsieur Chanute, late Am∣bassadour from France to Sweden, was now come Ambassadour Extraordinary to the States General, and came with a very great Train.

The Dutch Deputies meet daily with the English Commissioners at White-hall, about the Treaty of Peace.

[30] Letters of great Preparations in Holland to recruit their Navy.

That Middleton hath leave from the States to Transport what Armes and Amunition he pleased to Scotland.

That the Emperour had declared for the Scots King against the Commonwealth of England.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A New Council of State.
• * 1.2

  Novem. Act of Repeal.
• * 1.3

  To take a∣way the Chancery.
• * 1.4

  Synode in Scotland.
• * 1.5

  Order of the Coun∣cil of State.
• * 1.6

  Presenta∣tions.
• * 1.7

  Tumult of the Portu∣gal Am∣bassador's Brother, &c.