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.

March, 1653.

[March 1.] A Publick Minister from the Arch-Duke Leopoldus had Audience from the Lord Pro∣tector. * 1.1

The Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Recorder of London, attended the Lord Protector and his Council, about the business of a Corporation to the City of Westminster.

That the Lord Ambassadour Whitlock goes on ve∣ry hopefully in Sweden, but they are a little stum∣bled at the detention of Swedish Ships in Eng∣land.

[2] Letters that the Duke of Lorain was seized upon, and secured by the Arch-Duke Leopold.

[3] Letters that many of Athols Men forsook him, and that his Levys did take little Effect, the Country being grown weary of his Oppressions.

That one of Collonel Daniells Men running away to Athol, was taken again, and Hanged. That others ran away from Collonel Daniels Regement.

That Major General Lamberts Regiment of Horse, and Commissary General Whaleys were come near to the Highlands.

That the States Ambassadors came in great state through London in Coaches.

[4] Letters, that the English Fleet Road at St. Hellens Point, near the Isle of Wight.

The Dutch Ambassadors had Audience of the * 1.2 Lord Protector in the Banqueting House at Whitehall, which was richly hanged, and a Chair of State for the Lord Protector, and Chair, for the Ambassadors, and a great multitude of people.

They acquainted his Highness, That all their Provinces had consented to the Articles of Peace, and had Impowred them to Ratifie the Articles; and they desired a Cessation of Arms in the mean time.

An Ambassador was Landed from the King of * 1.3 Denmark, to the Lord Protector.

[5] That Lieutenant Hellin with Six Troopers, charged six of the Enemies ten miles into the Hills, and took them, their Horses and Arms, and one of them being an English-man refused Quarter, and was killed.

That Major Bridge with a Party took Six of the Enemy, and seven Horses.

That young Montross had like to have killed the Lord Lorn.

[7] Of English Seamen Pressed for the Fleet.

Of an English Barque taken by a Dutch Man of War, who restored Her, and secured Her from a Brest Man of War.

Of an English Ship brought in Prize, into the Texel, by a Dutch private Man of War.

[8] An Ordinance for Approbation of Mini∣sters, by Commissioners.

That six Members of the Lord Protectors Coun∣cil were appointed Commissioners to meet with the * 1.4 Dutch Ambassadors to Sign the Articles of Peace with them.

That still both the English and the Dutch prepa∣red to increase their Navies.

[9] Orders by the Lord Protector for all to re∣pair to their Charges in Scotland.

[10] Of Barques taken by the Dutch Free-booters in the North.

Of one hundred and forty Dutch Ships Arrived at the Ʋlye from the East Country.

That Middleton was gone for Scotland, with two small Men of War, and a little Ammunition, and some Arms, and about Three hundred Volun∣tiers.

[11] Letters that Middleton was Landed in the Highlands.

That the Lord Protector went on amain in his Preparations for the Sea, and caused divers Mar∣riners to be Pressed, and drew out some Land. Soldiers to put aboard the Ships.

[13] Letters that the Highlanders, upon Mid∣dletons * 1.5 coming to them, give out that he brought with him Two thousand five hundred Foot, and five hundred Horse, whereas he had under Three hun∣dred in all.

That Captain Witter sent out a Party to skirmish with Captain Johnson before Blair Castle, and John∣son, and one more were killed.

That Captain Masons Troup, and Captain Pal∣mers Troup, about Dunfrize, fell soul upon one another, by occasion of one of their Centries, who was a Scotchman, and thinking they had been Ene∣mies, six of them were killed, and many wounded, before they knew the mistake.

[14] Letters that Monsieur Chaunt the French * 1.6 Ambassadour, with the States, labours to put on the Interest of his Master, and to have him Com∣prehended in the Peace, betwixt the two Common-wealths.

That an East-land Fleet of One hundred and fifty Sail, had brought to the Netherlands, the necessary Commodities for Shipping that were wanting in those Countries.

That the King of Scots was still at Paris, but had no encouragement to stay in that Court, who much desired Peace with the Lord Protector.

[15] The Lord Protectors Commissioners met with the Dutch Ambassadors at their Lodgings, to examine Papers, and to compare the Articles of Peace agreed upon, with the ingrossment of them.

That the Portsmouth Frigot, and the Constant * 1.7 Warwick, met with Beach the Admiral of the Brest Pyrates, and pursued him till night, when the Two Frigots were parted. Beach roaving to and again in the Night, chanced to light again upon the Con∣stant Warwick, and thinking she had been a Mer∣chants Ship, came up to her to Board her.

The Captain of the Warwick demanded who it was, and Beach answered, he was the Portsmouth Frigot, but the Warwick suspecting him, bad him stand off; then Beach perceiving his mistake, made away; but the Warwick being a good Saylor made after him and kept him company all the Night.

That about Six in the Morning, Beach begun the Fight, firing Three Guns, which were answered by the Warwick, and the Fight lasted till Two in the Afternoon, when Beach and his Men called for Quarter and had it.

That Beach had five Foot Water in the Hold, when he yielded.

That he had Two hundred Men in his Ship, whereof Twenty were killed in the Fight, That his Ship was a Gallant New Vessel of Forty two

Guns, whereof Thirty were Mounted.

[Anno 1654] That there were taken with him Nine Captains, besides himself, and divers Gentlemen; That this Beach was the chief Ring-leader Pyrate: That he lived at Brest like a Prince, and had done much Mischief to the English Merchants.

[16] Letters that the Queen of Sweden and the Chancellor are desirous to see what will be the Issue of the Treaty, between England and the Dutch, before they come to a Conclusion with the Lord Ambassador Whitelock; who is often in conference with the old Chancellor Oxenstiern, and hath great respect from him, and from the Queen.

That Middleton Commanded the Sheriff Guther∣land to Act no more in the Name of the Lord Pro∣tector, but said, he would give him a Commission to Act as Sheriff under the King.

That he laboured much to raise men for the King.

[17] That Middletons Son when he Landed, had * 1.8 but a few Reformadoes with him, One hundred and fifty Barrells of Powder, and Arms for about One thousand Men; some say in all, that he brought Five thousand Armes, and two great Guns, and that Grafort had got together Six hundred of his Men to meet Middleton, and the rest had appointed a Rendezvous, to shew their Forces to him.

That Collonel Morgan was Marched that way to wait upon them and their Motions.

[18] Letters of a French Vessel brought in Prize by a Private Man of War.

That Captain Potter, after Captain Beach had yielded to him, and came on Board the Warwick, Beach demanded of him the performance of Arti∣cles, to be set on Shore in France; Potter told Beach that he never heard of any such Articles, and told Beach, if he would, he might go on Board his own Ship again, and Fight it out; but, Beach would not do so. That the Fight between them lasted Eight hours. That Beach had Thirty nine Guns, and Two hundred Men; whereof he lost twenty. That Potter had but Thirty two Guns, and One hun∣dred and thirty Men, and lost but two of them. That Captain Potter brought Beach and his Ship and Company into Plymouth.

An Order passed by the Protector and his Council, appointing of Commissioners for approving of Mi∣nisters.

Another passed for disposing of Forfeited Estates in Scotland.

Two other Ordinances passed, for setling the Customs, and Excise.

Of a Dutch Ship loaded with Pitch, Tarr, &c. taken Prize, by a private Man of War.

[20] That the Lord Protector passed a Declara∣tion, inviting the People of England, and Wales to a day of Solemn Fasting, and Humiliation, and shewing the ground thereof.

Letters of a great Fleet gone from New Castle, for London; and Ten more going forth after them, and without a Convoy, were set upon by the Capers, and though they ran themselves on Ground, yet af∣ter their Men were got out, the Capers got off Five of the Ten Sihps, and the other Five were lost; that in a Fortnight the Capers had taken Twenty two Coal Ships.

[21] The Ordinance Published for continuing the Excise for one Year, and the Rates of the Ex∣cise.

That the Country that fail to send in their Le∣vies to the Enemy, expected Fire and Sword from them.

That a Party of Collonel Okeys Regiment took a Cornet and Four Troupers, and Eleven Horses, from the Enemies.

[22] Several meetings by the Dutch Ambassa∣dours, and by the Lord Protector's Commissioners about the perfecting the Articles for the Peace. * 1.9

Report of a Match between the King of Scots, and the Duke of Lorains Daughter; and that the King was to have Four Millions, and the Dukes Assistance for his Restauration.

[23] The Ordinance for Approbation of Mini∣sters published, with the Names of the Commissi∣oners, some of them being not Ministers, and the greatest number of them Eminent Ministers.

[24] Kept by the Lord Protector and his Coun∣cil, a Solemn day of Humiliation, and they had Three Sermons at White-hall.

[25] An Ordinance Published for continuing the Imposition upon Coals, for the Building of Ships.

Another for passing Custodies of Ideots, and Lunaticks.

Another for continuing an Act for Pressing of Seamen.

Letters, that there wanted People in Ireland for Manuring the Ground; that the Tories were near destroyed, and if they heard of any Party of the English abroad, they presently fled to the Woods and Boggs.

That the Highlanders had a Rendezvous, and gave out, that they were Seven thousand Men, but have no Monys; that the Duke of York was ex∣pected to come to them.

The Post, with the Dutch Letters, was seized up∣on by Thieves at Southwark, and the Letters open∣ed and thrown away.

That Monsieur Burdeaux was to be brought in State through London, as Ambassadour Extraordi∣nary from the French King, to the Lord Protector.

[27] Monsieur Burdeaux made his Entry in Lon∣don as Ambassador Extraordinary, attended with Sixty Coaches.

Upon Letters from the Dutch Ambassadors in England, to their Superiours, That the Treaty of Peace with England was not yet concluded, the States sent to their Admirals, and Chief Sea Offi∣cers to repair to Amsterdam, and to take care, that the Fleet should be in readiness.

A List of divers Prizes lately taken.

[28] That the old Natives about Lewis in Scot∣land joyned with the English, against Seafort and his Men, and killed many of them.

That the English Commander in Chief, confined some persons, for Corresponding with the Ene∣my.

[29] The French Kings Ambassadour, Monsieur Burdeaux, had Audience by the Lord Protector in the Banquetting House at White-Hall.

New Frigots Launched for the Lord Protector.

[30] An Ordinance passed for Relief of Per∣sons that have acted in Defence of the Common-wealth.

Letters of the Resignation of her Government * 1.10 by the Queen of Sweden, to her Cousin the Prince Palatine; and of her Knighting of the Count de Montecuculi General of the Horse to the Empe∣rour.

An Act passed for suspending the Act for Relief of poor Prisoners and Creditors.

Towns in Scotland fined by the Court Martial for harbouring the Enemy, the Houses to be razed to the ground.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Leopaldus.
• * 1.2

  Audience of the Dutch Ambassa∣dors.
• * 1.3

  Ambassa∣dours from Denmark.
• * 1.4

  March
• * 1.5

  Middleton
• * 1.6

  Inclinati∣ons of France
• * 1.7

  Sea-fight
• * 1.8

  Middleton
• * 1.9

  April.
• * 1.10

  Resignati∣on of the Queen of Sweden.