one Government they proceed to consider of the establishment of another but agree only in a negative Vote That there should for the future be no Government in England either by King or House of Lords They break the old Great Seal and cause a new one to be made which is delivered to the keeping of three Commissioners viz. Mr Keeble Mr Whitlock and Mr Lisle They likewise consider of Oaths to be administred to the Judges who thereupon meet and upon debate six of them are content to continue in their employments provided the fundamentall Laws of the Land be not altered which were viz. Chief Justice Rolles and Justice Jerman of the Kings Bench Lord Chief Justice St John Justice Phesant of the Common Pleas Lord Chief Baron Wild and Baron Yates and in order to these Judges satisfaction in their forementioned scruple the Parliament by their Declaration of the ninth of February do declare That they are fully resolved to maintain and shall and will uphold preserve and keep the fundamentall Laws of this Nation for and concerning the preservation of the lives properties and liberties of the people with all things incident there unto with the alterations touching King and House of Lords already resolved in this present Parliament for the good of the people and whatsoever shall be further necessary to the perfecting thereof and by it requiring all Judges Justices c. to execute and administer in their respective Offices and Trusts c. The House order a Committee to consider of such Persons as they should think fit to be Justices of the Peace throughout the Nation they likewise order another Committee to consider of Persons whom they might judg fit to constitute a Councell of State whose number should be forty whereof only five Lords or not above And whereas before they had only repealed they now wholly make void the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy Thus though the Parliament are endeavouring all means to make themselves as secure and firm in the Government as they can yet are the people generally discontented those who formerly affected them now sensible of the inconveniencies like to ensue the cutting off of their Prince as much disaffect them so that there is generally plotting in all Countries which makes the Parliament send forces into severall Counties to keep them in awe whilest the Royalists in Pomfret Castle still hold out hoping some relief may arise from those so universall discontents But let us from England pass a little into Scotland and we shall find that the Kings death is much more resented there at the first news of his Condemnation they proclaim a solemn Fast with Prayers to God for his deliverance but upon the news of his Execution such was their sorrow that the whole City of Edenborough seemd a flood of tears The Parliament upon this exigence are convened and putting it to the vote it passed nemine contradicente that his Eldest Sonne should be proclaimed King and accordingly a Proclamation was drawn which because of some niceties in it not usuall in things of this nature I think fit to insert as followeth viz. The Estates of Parliament presently convened in this second Session of the second trienniall Parliament by vertue of an Act of the Committee of Estates who had power and authority from the last Parliament for convening the Parliament considering that forasmuch as the Kings Majesty who lately reigned is contrary to the dissent and protestation of this Kingdom removed by a violent death and that by the Lords blessing there is left unto us a righteous Heir and lawfull Successor Charles Prince of Scotland and Wales now King of Great Brittain France and Ireland We the Estates of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland do therefore most unanimously and cheerfully in recognition and acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms hereby proclaim and declare to all the world that the said Lord and Prince Charles is by the providence of God and by the lawfull and right of undoubted succession and descent King of Great Brittain France and Ireland whom all the subjects of this Kingdom are bound humbly and faithfully to obey maintain and defend according to the Nationall Covenant and the solemn League and Covenant betwixt the Kingdome with their lives and goods against all deadly enemies as their only righteous Soveraign Lord and King And because his Majesty is bound by the Law of God and fundamentall Laws of this Kingdom to rule in righteousness and equity to the honour of God the good of Religion and the wealth of his people it is hereby declared That before he be admitted to the exercise of his Royall power he shall give satisfaction to this Kingdom in those things that concern the security of Religion the unity betwixt the Kingdoms and the good and peace of this Kingdom according to the Nationall Covenont and the solemn League and Covenant for which end we are resolved with all possible expedition to make our humble and earnest addresses to his Majesty For the testification of all which we the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland publish this our acknowledgment of his just right Title and succession to the Crown of these Kingdoms at the Market-Cross in Edenborough with all usuall solemnities in like cases and ordain his Royall Name Portract and Seal to be used in the publike writings and Judicatories of this Kingdome and in the Mint-house as was usually done to his Royall Predecessors and command this Act to be proclaimed at all the Market-Crosses of the Royall Burghs within this Kingdom and to be printed that none may pretend ignorance God save King Charles the second This was done by the Parliament the Lords in all their Robes the Cross was richly hanged the Chancellor brought up the Proclamation read it to the King at Arms who proclaimed it there being an universall joy in the City and their great Guns from the Castle sending peals of the same into the adjacent Countries The solemnity being past care was taken for the sending Messengers to acquaint his Majesty with the business Sr Edward Douglas was chosen to go and acquaint him with it to desire him to take heed of evill Councellors c. that there should very speedily a more full address be made to him In the mean time a Fast is proclaimed and supplications made that God would prosper their addresses to him for the good both of the Kirk and State The Lords and the whole Parliament in the mean time put on mourning for the death of his Father But to return to England again The beheaded old King Charles was February 12. thirteen days after his death buried at Windsor in the same Vault where Henry the eighth was interred without any manner of solemnity the Bishop of London Dr Juxon and some few others attending him to his Funerall The Parliament not thinking that they are not yet secure enough whilest they have only power over
mens bodies endeavour the like over their souls They therefore Enact that every Citizen of London at the time of their admission to their Freedome should take the ensuing Oath viz. You shall swear That you shall be true and faithfull to the Commonwealth of England and in order there unto you shall be obedient to the just Government of the City of London You shall to your best power maintain the peace and all the due Franchises thereof and to your knowledge and ability do and perform all Acts and things belonging to a Free-man of the said City They likewise Enact that the said Oath Mutatis mutandis be taken by every Free-man in every City Borrough and Town Corporate in England and Wales at the time of their admission to Freedome as aforesaid The Extraordinary Ambassadors for the States of Holland having had audience and promise of Redress for the injuries done to their Ships provided the wrong-doers could be found out being on departure many thanks and civilities having past between them and the House they Order two Members to give them a solemn farewell who accompanied them to Gravesend The Army again Petition the Parliament in prosecution of some desires formerly presented to them viz. 1. To make and establish such wholesome Laws in the native Language as may preserve the Interest and Liberties of this Commonwealth 2. That Tithes may be abolished 3. That no punishment be inflicted upon any man for the Exercise of his Conscience 4. That all that had to deal in the publick Treasury be called to account and that free Quarter be taken off 5. That all Persons whatsoever may have a free and equall Administration of the Law 6. That Persons imprisoned for Debt having nothing to pay may be released and that such as are able and shelter themselves in prison be forced to pay 7. That all Persons in prison for pretended words c. be brought to triall and if found innocent have satisfaction for false imprisonment 8. That Provision might be made for the Poor of the Nation 9. That constant Pay may be provided to prevent free Quarter 10. That the Arrears of the Army might be paid out of the Kings Deans and Chapters Lands 11. That their want of Horses might be supplied 12. That care might be taken for prevention of clipt Money 13. That the Articles of Warre might be mitigated 14. That the Souldiers might not be put to the execution of civil Orders as seizing on unlicensed Books distraining of Moneys or the like so that the people may not complain of their intrenchment on their Liberties These were February 19. 1649. drawn up by the Army as their humble Petition and Address to the Parliament but we need not think it strange that every common Souldier should have liberty to propose what was necessary to be done in the Government since they had perfectly the whole power in their hands and had first by the fetches of some of their Commanders excluded and extirpated all other power to give life and being to this shadow of a Government this little finger of a Parliament and yet ten times heavier to the Nation then the whole loynes of its legal Magistracy But to return to our purpose the Parliament for so in their own language we must call them order the Triall of Duke Hamilton who though he was no Englishman yet was arraigned under the Name of Earl of Cambridge thereby to subject him to the English Law together with the Earl of Holland Lord Capell Lord Goring and Sr John Owen the two first of which were afterwards beheaded in Pallace-yard and the two last meeting with more favour from them were suffered to depart beyond Seas A Councell of State being setled by the Parliament they met at Derby House where some Propositions of the Parliaments in order to their unanimous Proceedings were tendred to them viz. the approbation of the Proceedings with the late King the House of Lords the present Alteration and some other These were by them received with some dislike to some of the particulars and their dislike being mentioned in the House was referred to a Committee The Prince Elector Palatine makes his Addresses to the Parliament with returnes of thanks for their former favours and desires that 5600lb due of his last years Pension might be paid that the Pension of 8000lb per annum might be continued and that he might have the Pass of the House for himself Family and forty Horse to go home The first and last desires were granted and the Summe due Ordered to be paid him but the Continuation of his Pension put off to further consideration The Parliament and Councell of State agree upon an Attestation to be taken by every individuall Member of the Councell of State which ran as followeth viz. I A. B. being of the Councell of State do Testifie that I do adhere unto this present Parliament in the maintenance and defence of the publick Liberty and Freedome of this Nation as it is now Declared and to the Government for future in way of a Republick without King or House of Peers And I do promise in the sight of God that through his grace I will be faithfull in the performance of the trust committed to me as aforesaid and therein faithfully pursue the Instructions given to this Councell by this present Parliament and not reveal or disclose any thing in whole or in part directly or indirectly that shall be debated or resolved on in Counsell without command or direction in Parliament or the Order and allowance of the major part of them that shall be present at such debates or resolutions In confirmation of the Premisses I have hereunto set my hand To which Attestation the Clerk of the Parliament is Ordered to see that every individuall Member of the Councell of State do Subscribe And now comes out the Protestation of the Parliament of Scotland against the Proceedings touching his Majesties Life and Person which because it was of so eminent concernment I shall here insert the most materiall Circumstances viz. That by their Letter of the sixth instant viz. January they represented unto you what endeavours have been used for taking away of his Majesties life for Change of the fundamentall Government of this Kingdome and introducing a sinfull and ungodly Toleration in matters of Religion and therein they did express their sad thoughts and great feares of the dangerous consequences that might follow thereupon and further they did earnestly press that there might be no proceeding against his Majesties Person which would certainly continue the great distractions of the Kingdomes and involve them in many evils troubles and confusions but that by the free Councels of both Houses of the Parliament of England and with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Scotland such course might be taken in relation to him as may be for the good and happiness of these Kingdomes both having an unquestionable interest in his Person as King of both
an end to the fray and difference And the Major Generall being that afternoon made a Free-man of the City did a day or two after come up to London and render himself to the Counsel according to their Order whereupon he was dismissed and was by his Glocester friends chosen with free consent for one of their Burgesses Great were the expectations of this time what the Counsel of State would do concerning the King many being of opinion and resting confident that they would bring him in before the beginning of the Parliament all men antedating the time of his restoration by their longing and earnest desires of that happy day wherein they might see him setled upon the Throne of his Ancestors and the Nation restored to its true and ancient Liberties The designes of the Fanaticks did now appear almost in every County but the head being brok in Lambert the Members could not long enjoy life and motion but in every County they were dispersed and the chief Ringleaders taken amongst whom Major General Harrison who was taken in Staford-shire was most considerable But the 25th of April being now come a day of greatest expectation by the whole Nation the Parliament met in their House where the first day nothing of moment passed but only they chose their Speakers and Sr Harbotle Grimstone for the House of Commons a man of eminent parts and deserts The next day the House of Commons appointed severall Committees to take care of such things as were first to come under consideration and the first was concerning double elections and till the business was determined none but those who were returned in both the indentures were to sit in the House A Bill against vagrants wandring idle and dissolute persons was read And not long after The Lords confirmed their old Speaker the Earl of Manchester Both houses likewise Ordered Thursday May 10. to be set apart for a day of publick thanksgiving to Almighty God for his wonderfull goodnesse in stirring up and assisting of General Monck and other worthy persons in being so grandly instrumentall to the restoring of happinesse to their Country and Ordered to be observed by this House and the Cities of London and Westminster and late Lines of Communication and that the Thursday fortnight after be likewise observed the whole Nation and this their Resolve being by Mr Herbert carried up to the Lords they immediately concurred with them therein and so passed the Orders The Commons resolved that the thanks of their House should be given to Generall Monck as an acknowledgement of his eminent and unparalleled services for the good of these Nations and likewise Ordered thanks to be returned to Coll. Ingoldsby for his late eminent services both which were by the Speaker elegantly performed accordingly The Houses on Friday April 27. adjourned till the Tuesday following appointing Munday to be observed as a day of Humiliation by both Houses whereon Dr Reynold and Mr Hardy preached before the Lords and Dr Gauden Mr Calamy and Mr Baxter before the House of Commons And now appeared that happy day Tuesday May 1st which is not to be mentioned amongst English men without praise to Almighty God for his infinite mercy it being the day whereon he pleased at length to bring us out of that masse of confusion and misery into which his just hand had suffered us to plunge our selves into our former blessed and happy estate For the Parliament having received by Sr John Greenvile his Majesties most Gracious Letters and Declarations it was unanimously passed by both Houses That according to the ancient and fundamentall Laws of this Kingdome the Government is and ought to be by King Lords and Commons The Kings Majesty besides his Letters to both Houses and Declaration had likewise sent a Letter to General Monck with the Officers under his Command together with one to General Mountague and the Commanders at Seas The substance of all which was His Majesties free and Gracious pardon to all that should within fourty daies lay hold on the same with resolution as far as in him lies to preserve them free from injury in their lives and Estates liberty for tender Consciences and such as differ in matters of Religion provided they disturb not the peace of the Nation and that all things relating to Sales and Purchases shall be determined in Parliament And the full satisfaction of the Arrears of the Souldiery and receiving them into his Majesties pay Upon the reading of the fore-mention Letters and Declaration in the Houses there was all reverence shown due to his Majesty and so Royall a concession and one thing is worth observation that the first who celebrated his Majesties grace and extraordinary goodnesse was Luke Robinson a man whose former actings had rendred him deservedly odious but now I hope he hath made a reall repentance Never was Vote received with more joy then this was by the Citizens and all others who could hear of it at night the Bels Bonfires and shouts of the people did highly demonstrate their extraordinary content and satisfaction On the next day the House of Commons agreed upon a Letter in answer to his Majesty and resolved that the Superscription should be To the Kings most excellent Majesty And General Monck acquainted the House with an Addresse made to him by the Officers of the Army wherein they did with one heart testifie their resolutions to demonstrate themselves the best and most loyall of his Majesties Subjects Which Addresse was presented to the Generall by Coll. Sr John Lenthall and subscribed by all the chief Officers then in London The House Resolved that Dr Claerges have leave of the House to go to the King with the Lord Generals answer to his Majesties Letter to him They likewise Resolved that Sr John Greenvile should have the thanks of the House and receive 500lb to buy him a jewel as a restimony of their respect to him Honest Ald. Robinson acquainted the House That the Lord Major Aldermen and Commoncounsel had likewise received a Letter with the Declaration from his Majesty to which they desired liberty of the Parliament to return an answer which was by this House accordingly granted An Agreement was made between this Commonwealth and the King of Spain for metuall exchange of all prisoners which was signed by the Marquesse of Caracena on the behalf of his Catholick Majesty and the Lord General Monck in behalf of this Commonwealth and the Orders taken according for the transportation of such Spaniards as were prisoners here which agreement is hoped will not end there but that there will shortly be a finall conclusion of all differences between both Nations May 3. The Lords and Commons Ordered a Declaration for continuance of all Sheriffs Justices of the Peace Major and other Officers that were in office the 25th of April 1660. and to exercise their functions in his Majesties name and stile and suppresse all unlawfull Assemblies and punish all misdemeanours against his Majesties Royall
which duely considered we had reason to hope should have given a stop to all Proceedings against his Majesties Person But they understood that after many of the Members of the House of Commons have been imprisoned and secluded and also without and against the Consent of the House of Peers by a single Act of this Parliament alone power being given to certain Persons of their own Number of the Army and some others to proceed against his Majesties Person in order whereunto he was brought upon Saturday last in the afternoon before this new Extraordinary Court. Wherefore they do in the Name of the Parliament of Scotland for their vindication from false aspersions and calumnies declare That though they are not satisfied with his Majesties Concessions at Newport in the Isle of Wight especially in the matters of Religion and are resolved not to crave his Majestes restitution to this Government before satisfaction be given by him to this Kingdome yet they do all unanimously with one voice not one Member excepted disclaim the least knowledge of or accession to the late Proceedings of the Army against his Majesty and sincerely profess that it will be a great grief unto their hearts and lie heavy upon their spirits if they shall see the trusting of his Majesties Person to the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England to be made use of to his ruine so far contrary to the declared intentions of the Kingdome of Scotland and solemn professions of the Kingdome of England and to the end it may be manifest to the world how much they abominate and detest so horrid a design against his Majesties Person they do in the Name of the Parliament and Kingdome of Scotland Declare their dissent from the said Proceedings and the taking away of his Majesties Life and protest that as they are altogether free from the same so they may be free from all the evils miseries confusions and calamities that may follow thereupon to these distracted Kingdomes In thus much is contracted the large Letter of the Scottish Parliament to which the Parliament in short answer That as to the alteration of the fundamentall Laws of the Land and allowing liberty of Conscience in Religion if Scotland had not the same power of liberty as they did not go about to confine them so they would not be limited to them but leaving them to act in relation to theirs as they shall see cause resolve to maintain their own Liberties as God should enable them In relation to the putting the King to death they had done it upon serious consideration of the miseries both they and the Nation had suffered by the Misgovernment and Tyranny of that man of sin as they termed him that they doubted not but God would prosper them in it That if Scotland would not now with them assert its Liberties but espouse that quarrell they would reap no other advantage by it but a lasting Warre and the miseries that attend it or the intailing of a perpetuall slavery under a Tyrant and his Issue to them and their posterity These jarrings at length produced a bloudy Warre betwixt the two Nations to the devastation and almost utter ruine of Scotland as the sequell of the Story will show The Parliament Order the Army to march Northward The Parliament now more fully ordered that no Member whatsoever who had absented himself from sitting in the House since the 31. of December 1648. should be re-admitted into the House but should be utterly secluded and barred from sitting except such as had been imployed in the service of the Parliament They then consider of wayes for raising of Money to serve their Occasions and in order thereto appoint a Committee to consider of the Revenues of the late King Queen Prince Bishops c. and how they may be improved to their greatest advantage Collonel Popham Collonel Dean and Collonel Blake who are to go with the Fleet are ordered to go down immediately and nine pound a day appointed for their maintenance The Lord Warwicks Commission of Admirall of the Seas and Warden of the Cinque Ports being null'd and that power put into the Hands of the Councell of State who have devolved it upon those three aforementioned In the mean time those who stand out in the two Cityes of Dublin and London-Derry for this Parliament earnestly entreat relief before that Ormond Inchiqueen and Owen-Roe who were very near Compositions should joyn which would go near to ruine all They therefore desire that eight thousand men formerly promised them might come over which would either hinder the malevolous Conjunction threatned or be a good Barricado against them however they promise to hold out as long as possibly they can The Earl of Lothian Sr John Chesley and Mr Glendonning who came as Commissioners from the Parliament of Scotland to this of England not having received any satisfaction in relation to their Instructions or the Desires of the Parliament of Scotland being somewhat angry but loath to express their Choller by word of mouth after their departure from London send back a Letter by a servant to the Parliament in the Name of the Parliament of Scotland enumerating all their Declarations the breach of all their Covenants Oaths and Protestations for contiruance of the late Government and how much they had gone contrary to all of them in what they had now done to King Lords c. desiring them to do their first work which if they did not as they that then they would wash their hands of all the misery that was like to ensue This so netled our Parliament that they immediately imprison the Messenger and besides the giving secret Order for the securing the Subscribers they put forth a Declaration against the Paper arguing it to contain much scandalous and reproachfull matter against the just Laws and Government of this Nation to the high dishonour thereof That it was a design in the contrivers and subscribers of it to raise Sedition and lay the grounds of a new and bloudy Warre They therefore Declare that all Persons whatsoever residing in England or Ireland or Scotland that shall adhere to the said Subscribers in pursuance of the Grounds by them laid in the said Paper are Rebels and Traitors to the Commonwealth of England and shall be proceeded against as Rebels and Traitors They likewise Order that a Letter be sent with a Copy of that Paper to the Parliament of Scotland to know if they will own or justifie it The Parliament are so necessitated for Moneys that they are resolved to let no way slip for the raising of it the ancient Standard in the Palace-yard shall not scape but a Committee is ordered to examine what it might be worth in case it were sold for publique use The Parliament in consideration of Sr George Ascues eminent services at Sea order him to be Admirall of the Irish Seas and Modell the Expences of the Navy as low as they can possibly whereby a great part
his Father or him formerly and particularly the Lord Montross Thirdly That he bring but 100 with him into Scotland And fourthly That he bring no forreign force into Scotland without their consent But whether these Conditions were by him agreed to or no I think is hardly known In the mean while the Parliaments friends in Ireland are but in a bad condition they therefore desire present aid Clanrickard Taffe and Preston with their Catholicks having made a full agreement with Ormond and Inchequeen the Articles were viz. after the Catholicks acknowledgement by way of preamble That Charles the second is King of Ireland and that they will stand to him with their lives and fortunes It is agreed 1. That the Catholicks have free exercise of Religion in Ireland and all penalties taken off 2. That a Parliament shall be held within six Moneths or after when the Catholicks desire 3. All Laws made in the Parliament of England since 41 in blemish of Catholicks in the next Parliament to be null 4. All Indictments against any Catholicks since 41 to be vacuated 5. Way and provision made that Catholicks may be Elected and Vote in Parliament 6. All Debts to remain as they were February 8. 1641. notwithstanding any disposition under colour of Attainder 7. The Estates of the Knights Gentlement and Freeholders of Connaght Clare Thomond Limerick and Tipperary to be secured by Act. 8. All incapacities of the Natives in Ireland to be taken away by Act. 9. All Honours Trusts c. to be conferred as well on Catholicks as Protestants 10. That the King take 2000lb per annum in lieu of the Court of Wards 11. Noble men to be capable of more Proxies then two in Parliament 12. That the depending of the Parliament of Ireland on that of England shall be as shall stand with the Laws of Ireland 13. That the Counsell-Table meddle only with State-matters 14. That all Acts forbidding the transport of Wooll be made null by the next Parliament 15. That if any have been wronged by Grants from King James or since they may have relief in Parliament 16. That divers particular Lords Knights and Gentlemen who have as they conceive been wronged may be righted 17. That all who have had their Estates taken from them in Cork Youghall and Dungarvan have restauration 18. That in the next Parliament an Act of oblivion pass to all Ireland 19. That no Lord Deputy or other Officer of Eminency farm the Customes 20. An Act against Monopolists and no imposition on Aqua-vitae 21. That the Court of Castle-chamber be regulated 22. The Acts prohibiting plowing with Horses by the tail and burning Oats in the Straw be nul'd 23. That his Majesty take off the grievances of the Kingdome 24. That Maritime causes be determined in Ireland 25. That no Rents be raised under pretence of defective titles 26. That Interest be forgiven from 1641. 27. That all this be Acted and of force till a Parliament agree it 28. That the Commissioners for the Catholicks that treated agree upon such as shall be Commissioners of the peace and hear all causes under 10lb. 29. That all Governours of Towns Castles c. made by the King be with the approbation of Catholick Commissioners 30. That none of his Majesties Rents be paid till a full settlement in Parliament 31. That the Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer do try all Murthers Thefts c. 32. That hereafter such Differences as arise between Subjects be tried by a Court in Ireland 33. That the Roman Clergy that behave themselves according to this Agreement be not molested These Articles thus agreed on Ormond publishes a Declaration exasperating the horrid Murther of the late King and Declaring Charles the second King of Ireland as the true lawfull and undoubted Heir to his Father and to him and in his Defence they all resolve to stick with lives and fortunes The Counsell of State begin now to take the business of Ireland into more serious consideration and to dispatch relief the sooner Order that a convenient number of Shipping be made ready at Bristoll Leverpool Beaumorris and Milford Haven to transport the Army and to be at the direction of the Commander in chief for Ireland They likewise give Order that an Hospitall be provided for maimed Souldiers in Dublin That all those who are already in the Parliaments pay in Ireland do joyn with those now sent over under the Command of his Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell That Bread Salt Cheese and other provisions be provided with a train of Artillery And that care be taken that continuall supplyes of men be constantly sent The seventh of Aprill the Parliament for the better supply of their Army and taking off the intollerable oppression of Free-Quarter pass an Act for 90000lb. a Moneth for six Moneths But in relation to their present exigencies for setting forward of the relief for Ireland the Generall Earl of Pembroke and some others are sent to the City to borrow 120000lb. upon the security of the two last Moneths Assessment And now the business of Ireland goes on vigorously the Parliament making sundry Votes for its furtherance viz. That care be taken for provisions for the Winter Quarters That a sufficient number of Ships be imployed on the Coast at the Command of the Generall by Land That provision be made for maimed Souldiers and for the Widows and Orphans of Souldiers slain That a train of Artillery be provided That the Troopers be supplyed with such Backs Brests and Pots as shall be fitting And that care be taken for the convenient sending over of Recruits And indeed it was no time to dally now except they meant to have lost all for Ormond Taffe Preston and Inchequeen are mustering their Forces to lay siege to Dublin London-Derry and Sr Charles Coot in it was already besieged by the Covenanters or Laggan Forces And though Owen Roe's standing out might make a kinde of schisme amongst them yet it was judged that their Army would be numerous enough both to besiege Dublin and reduce him for which last service Inchequeen was intended his Brother Sr Phellime not being so sure a friend to him as was imagined so that Ireland could not at that time seem to be in any other condition then near utterly lost to the Parliament The sale of the Deans and Chapters Lands coming under consideration were found worth 9000lb per annum impropriate which goes towards the Ministers maintenance and 18000lb per annum old Rent which is to be sold But 1. It was resolved that 300000lb be raised on it in way of doubling as on Bishops Lands 2. That no Bill of Faith pass but such as hath been allowed by Trustees 3. That the 600000lb due for Souldiers Arrears stand good upon the Excise till other security be setled 4. That this 600000lb be paid out of Lands belonging formerly to the Crown 5. That twelve Trustees be for this Act six nominated by the Generall and six by the Parliament 6. That
thirtieth Articles concerning Church-censure and Synods They likewise constitute General Monck together with General Montague to be Generals at Sea for the next Summers expedition and accordingly command Montague to go to Sea with all possible speed And because several Members had impeachments against them and upon that score were secluded the House they disanull those impeachments and re-admit them as namely Mr Denzil Hollis and Sr Robert Pye About this time the Deanry of Christ-Church which had for a long time been in the hands of Dr Owen a man look'd upon at Oxford as a hair-brain'd schismatick was taken from him and confirmed to Dr Reynolds a man who farre better deserved it They likewise at the beginning of March released the Lord Lindsey the Lord Sinclare and Lord Lauderdale from their tedious imprisonments to which upon various pretences they had been committed Dr Walker and Dr Turner were made Judges of the Admiralty and Probate of Wils and Dr Wiseman constituted the Commonwealths Advocate And now was the Lord General invited to Dinner by the Company of Mercers and afterwards by several other of the Companies the Citizens striving mutually who should in the best manner discover and expresse the gratefulness and esteem they bore for his noble and heroick actions At this time there was an assembly of a Parliamentary Convention in Ireland summoned by Sr Charles Coote and the Lord Broghill for the better Regulating of affairs there till all things in England might be in a better posture The Parliament that they might testifie to the world that they were not so forgetfull of Oaths as their fellow-Members order the solemn League and Covenant to be set up and read in all Churches and likewise to be set up in the Parliament that they might remember they had sworn for the maintenance of the King and his posterity Collonel Lambert being found to lurk up and down about the City notwithstanding the Order of the Parliament was as a person too dangerous to be trusted to himself at such a time as this committed to the Tower Orders were sent down to Hull by Collonel Alured and Major Smith that Collonel Overton should immediately deliver up that Garrison into the hands of Collonel Fairfax and to repair immediately to London and he notwithstanding his former Declaration that he was resolved to keep it till the coming of King Jesus presently obeyed the Order and Collonel Fairfax accordingly took possession of the place Sr Arthur Haslerig and others were questioed before the Parliament and Counsell of State but nothing extraordinary being found against him as to the designs were then on Foot it was passed by The Parliament made Sr Peter Killigrew Governour of Pendennis-Castle and worthy Mr Morris Commander of Plymouth-Fort and Island There was about this time a conference between ten of the Counsell of State and ten head-Officers of the Army the Generall being present concerning the Government but the conference being only for mutuall information and satisfaction it had no result The Parliament ordered that the Examination of Sr George Booth and his Lady should be taken off the File and given to him he deserving to have his Encomium put on in the room of it And now they obliterated the Engagement which was made by the Rump in 1649 to free them from punishment for the impious murther of their Gracious Soveraign out of the Journall and voted it to be null and void And now the time of their dissolution being come they put out the Act for summoning a new Parliament in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberties of the Commonwealth of England The Qualifications which they put out being only these That all persons who have advised aided or any wayes assisted or abetted the rebellion in Ireland All those who profess the Popish Religion All that advised or voluntarily aided in the Warre against the Parliament in 1641 unless they have since given a manifestation of their good affection shall be uncapable of being elected Members for the ensuing Parliament and no person elected and thus qualified to sit in the House upon a high penalty Though these Qualifications did seem at first to exclude a great number yet divers eminent and worthy persons though they had actually been in the Kings service in the late War having been engaged in Sr George Booths quarrell for the naturall interest were elected and admitted to sit in the House The City having compleated their Militia as well Auxiliaries as trained Bands made choice of his Excellency the Lord Generall to be Major Generall of all their Forces Major Generall Brown being Collonel of the Regiment of Horse The Parliament ordered 9000lb to be given to Major Generall Brown in satisfaction for those great losses which he had received under the tyranny of the Rump for his noble and publick spirit They likewise gave 20000lb as a gift to his Excellency And before their dissolution they released Dr Wren who for about eighteen years had suffered imprisonment in the Tower of London a man who doubtless deserved better usage but that the times then did not well understand him They gave power also to the Counsel of State to release what Prisoners upon State-matters they should see good and particularly Maj. Gen. Lambert They ordered a stop should be put to the sale of the Estate of the Lord Craven and Lord St John the first of which had his Estate taken away from him by more than hellish injustice Some neglect being in the Printer concerning the Printing of the Act for the Militia and it being supposed there was a designe of some of the late Rump to make some alteration in the Act as might suit for their turn or else upon the Parliaments dissolution by violence to hinder it The Parliament ordered a Committee to take care that it should be finished with all expedition which accordingly was performed And so this part of a Parliament which was chosen in 1640. was now finally dissolved in 1660. by their own Act which was That the day for dissolution of this Parliament be from the sixteenth of March 1660. Multiplicity of business having caused them to alter the first appointed day About this time our gracious Sovereigne King Charles the second hearing of the transactions of affairs in England and seeing how the face of all things began to alter so that great probability there was of being admitted to his undoubted Right without the effusion of his Subjects blood removed his Court from Brussels to Breda in Holland a Town belonging to his Sister the Princess of Orange there expecting till England might be brought into such a posture as might fit it for his happy and wished for reception The Parliament at their dissolution had conferred on the Counsel of State all Power whatsoever in the Interval till the assembling of the Free Parliament April 25. 1660. which accordingly they executed so prudently and wisely and preserved the Nation in peace and put the affairs of the Kingdom in