April, 1655.
April, 1655. The Protector and his Councel is∣sued many Orders for the apprehending of several persons suspected to be in the late Plot, and they * 1.1 were brought to White-Hall, and there examined by the Protector, and Secretary Thurloe; some of them were discharged, but more of them were Commit∣ted.
Collonel Birch, and others were secured in He∣reford-shire, and divers in Northumberland.
Letters that the Brest Pirates took some English Ships, and that General Blake was gone from Tu∣nis * 1.2 to Maltha, to demand satisfaction for some Pi∣racies done there upon English men. The Pro∣tector feasted the Commissioners for approbation of * 1.3 Ministers, he sate at the Table with them, and was chearful and familiar in their Company, and by such kind of little Caresses, he gained much upon many persons.
The King of Sweden sent a Letter to his Highness * 1.4 the Lord Protector, in behalf of Lord Lauder∣dale, and his Brother Laundie.
And the Lord Douglas writ likewise from Stock-holm into England, For the release of his poor Kins∣man; * 1.5 not doubting but that his Highness, as a Gratious Prince, might be moved to compassion; having no power∣ful, or any opposition at all in any of the three King∣doms. For since it hath pleased the Lord of Hosts to bless his actions in such a height, that by his val••ur his Highness has not only subdued superior, and all other power, that was against him, but also by pru∣dent Conduct of Affairs hath Established himself and these three Nations in one Peaceable Estate, What could that augment to his greatness, to let his good∣ness and compassion be made known to the world, that he shews upon those whose Lives and Fortunes he has in his hands.
Upon this Letter, and the recommendation from the King of Swedland, favour was procured from the Protector to the Lord Lauderdale, and his Brother, and considerable services were done for them, but when the times altered, they, Scots like, remembred nothing of it, nor ever returned the least kindness, or gratitude for all the good Offices were done them.
Letters from Scotland of new designs and en∣deavours of the Enemy there to raise Forces.
The Protector sent Letters to the Justices of the Peace in York-shire, and in most Counties, for the watching, and apprehending suspitious persons, as to the new designs on foot against the Peace of the Common-Wealth; and the matter of the Let∣ters was carefully executed.
Letters were sent to the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal to attend a Committee of the Coun∣cil at the Council Chamber. They attended ac∣cordingly, and were acquainted with this Order.
Monday, 23. April, 1655. At the Council at White-Hall,
Ordered by his Highness the Lord Protector and the Councel, That the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, do proceed according to the Ordinance * 2.1 of his Highness and the Councel, Intituled An Ordinance for the better regulating, and limiting the Jurisdiction of the High Court of Chancery.
Henry Scobel, Clerk of the Councel.
The Chair-man told them. That this Ordinance was made upon good deliberation, and advice, and his Highness was persuaded that it would much con∣duce to Publick good to have it duely executed, which this Order did require, which he delivered to Whitelocke, and said his Highness did not doubt of their ready compliance therein.
Whitelocke spake, as antient, and told the Com∣mittee, That they had not the honour to be advised with upon the making of this Ordinance, and that they were under an Oath, and as far as they could, they should readily comply with the pleasure of his High∣ness and the Councel, and desired some time to peruse and consider the Ordinance. Some debate in general there was about it, and the Master of Rolls spake most resolutely against it. The Committee would not enter into a Debate about it, but gravely ad∣monished the Lords Commissioners to be careful not to oppose his Highness intentions for the common good, and so they dismissed them.
After this the Commissioners of the Seal, and the Master of the Rolls had several meetings, and consultations about the execution of this new Or∣dinance. The Commissioner L'Isle was wholly for the execution of it, Sir Thomas Widdrington, the Master of the Rolls, and Whitelocke, were not satisfied for the execution of it, and declared their reasons against it, and observations of inconveni∣encies in it, which are as followeth.