Gods Ark Overtopping the Worlds Waves, Parliamentary chronicle · Floating text 2 – Floating text 3
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons aſſembled in Parliament, touching the Rebellion in Kent. Die Mercurii, Auguſt, 16. 1643.
WHereas divers ill-affected perſons of the Countie of Kent have unlawfully and traiterouſly aſſembled themſelves together, and in a warlike and hoſtile manner poſſeſſed themſelves of divers Towns and places in that Countie, and have traiterouſly and rebelliouſly levied warre against the King and Parliament, and robbed, killed, and ſpoyled divers of his Majeſties Subjects: And notwithſtanding they were invited by an Ordinance of both Houſes of Parliament, to lay down their armes and every man to depart in peace to their ſeverall places of habitation, with an offer not onelyonly to paſs by their offences then already committed by them, but to give redreſs to any juſt grievances they ſhould in a peaceable and Parliamentarie way preſent to the Parliament; yet they wilfully and contemptuouſly refuſed that favour offered unto them, and gave battaile to thoſe forces ſent by authoritie of both Houſes to ſuppreſs that inſurrection, where by Gods great goodneſs they were wholly routed, and a very great number taken priſoners. Now to the end the like inconveniences may be prevented heerafter, and that the peace of the Countie may be better ſetled; It is ordained by the Lords and Commons in this preſent Parliament aſſembled, that Sir Henry Vane. ſenior, Sir John Sidley, Sir▪ Authony Welden, Sir Michael Leveley, Sir Henry Heyman, Mr Nut, Mr Auguſtine Skinner, Mr Thomas Blunt, Mr Thomas Franklin, Sir Edward Boyſe, Mr Brown, Sir William Springate, Sir Edward Maſter, Mr John Boyl, Mr John Boyſe, Sir Peter Wroth, Mr Richard Lee, Sir Thomas Walſingham, Mr Thomas Selyard, and Sir John Robarts, or any three of them ſhall forthwith ſeiz upon all the armes and horſes of all thoſe that have in perſon appeared in that inſurrection and rebellion, and of all ſuch as have willingly aſſiſted or countenanced the ſame, or that have willingly relieved any of the ſaid rebells with armes, ammunition, money, or otherwiſe, or that have refuſed to give their aſſiſtance (being thereunto required) to ſuppreſs the ſaid inſurrection or rebellion; and that the horſes that ſhall be ſo ſeized on, ſhall be ſent to the Citie of London to the Commiſſary for horſes there to be entred and liſted for the ſervice of the State; and that the armes ſo to be ſeized ſhall be laid up in ſome place of ſafetie in that Countie, to the end the ſame may be diſtributed to the well-affected partie of that Countie, when occaſion requireth. And it is further ordained, by the authority aforeſaid, That the ſaid Sir Henry Vane, ſenior, Sir John Sidley, Sir Anthony Welden, Sir Michael Leveſey, Sir Henry Heyman, Mr Nut, Mr Auguſtine Skinner, Mr Thomas Blunt, Mr Thomas Franklin, Sir Edward Boyſe, Mr Brown, Sir William Springate, Sir Edward Maſter, Mr John Boyſe, Mr John Boyl, Sir Peter Wroth, Mr Richard Lee, Sir Thomas Walſingham, Mr Thomas Selyard, and Sir John Robarts, or any three of them, ſhall have power, and are heerby authorized to enter upon and ſeiz all and ſingular the lands, tenements, and hereditaments; and the goods, chattells, and cattell of all and ſingular the perſons that were actors, countenancers, or abettors in the ſaid rebellion, who did not ſubmit to the ſaid Ordinance, and immediately come in, lay down their armes and repair to their places of habitation; and to ſeiz and impriſon their perſons, to the end they be proceeded againſt according to the Law, and the merit of their offence. Provided alwayes, and it is further ordered, by the authority aforeſaid, That the ſaid Sir Henry Vane, ſenior, Sir John Sidley, Sir Anthony Welden, Sir Michael Leveſey, Sir Henry Heyman, Mr Nut, Mr Aug. Skinner, Mr Thomas Blunt, Mr Thomas Franklin, Sir Edw. Boyſe, Mr Brown, Sir William Springate, Sir Edward Maſter, Mr John Boyl, Mr John Boyſe, Sir Peter Wroth, Mr Richard Lee, Sir Thomas Walſingham, Mr Thomas Selyard, and Sir John Robarts, or any three of them, ſhall have power and are heerby authorized to compound with ſuch of the perſons aforeſaid, as they ſhall think fit objects of ſuch mercifull proceedings, and to receive of them ſuch ſummes of money by way of fine and ranſome, as they or any three of them ſhall think fit, having reſpect to the offence, and the eſtate of the perſon offending, and to certifie the names and ſums received of every perſon, and return the ſame to the Guildhall in London, to the treaſurers appointed to receive money and plate upon the Propoſitions; and every perſon that ſhall compound and pay the money according to this Ordinance, ſhall be freed in their perſons and eſtates and diſcharged from any farther proſecution for the crimes and offences committed by them in that rebellion or inſurrection; and it is further ordained, that the ſaid Sir Henry Vane, ſenior, Sir John Sidley, Sir Anthony Welden, Sir Michael Leveſey, Sir Henry Heyman, Mr Nut, Mr Auguſtine Skinner, Mr Tho. Blunt, Mr Thomas Franklin, Sir Edward Boyſe, Mr Brown, Sir William Springate, Sir Edward Maſter, Mr John Boyſe, Mr John Boyl, Sir Peter Wroth, Mr Richard Lee, Sir Thomas Walſingham, Mr Thomas Selyard, and Sir John Robarts, and every of them ſhall be protected and ſaved harmleſs by the authority of both Houſes of Parliament, for what they ſhall doe in purſuance of this Ordinance.
Ordered by the Lords and Commons aſſembled in Parliament, that this Ordinance be forthwith printed and publiſhed.
About the 22 of July, 1643, came certain intelligence by Letters to London out of Cheſhire, that the moſt ſucceſsfull forces of that renowned and pious patriot Sir William Brereton had happily taken from the Kings accurſed Cormorants, a very ſtrong hold in thoſe parts called Houghton-Caſtle, Houghton Caſtle in Cheſhire taken by Sir Will▪ Breretons forces.which had long time been a ſore goad in the ſides of Sir Williams great affaires in that Countie, but now was by Gods merciemercy and his vigilancie delivered up unto him and in his full poſſeſſion and ſafe cuſtodie.
Much alſo about this time, the King having by the wicked Counſell of his moſt impious Achitophels at Oxford, ſent out a Proclamation in his own name to command all his loving Subjects to forbeare all commerce and trading with the Citie of London, A▪ Proclamation from Oxford to ſtarve the Citie of London.and to withhold all proviſion of victualls from them, and all this under a great penaltie, hoping by this meanes to ſtarve the Citie, and ſo in time to enforce it to their wicked intended tyrannicall ſubjection to Popery and ſlavery▪ but (bleſſed be the Lord) this baſe plot had like iſſue with the reſt;The Cities care and providence to prevent this plot of the impious Oxonians. for the Citie of London was not ſo eaſily to be begirt and ſtarved by a Proclamation from Oxford, though the Broad-Seal countenanced and commanded it: for the Lords and Commons in Parliament (preſently upon this unpatternd Proclamation to ſtarve a Citie for its honeſty and fidelity, and thereby to deſtroy the whole Kingdome) paſſed an Ordinance to give the moſt renowned Lord Major of London, and the Militia thereof power over all perſons within the line of Communication, ſodainly to diſcover and diſarm all malignants, and to purge it of all ſuch dangerous perſons, and about 5000 more Citie-Souldiers to be charged to doe dutie at all the Out-workes of the Citie. Nay, and our moſt renowned Parliamentarie-Statiſts reſted not heer (ſo tender were they of the welfare and preſervation of the Citie, in reference to that pernicious Proclamation) but paſt an Ordinance in both Houſes for the appointment of the then moſt pious and prudent Lord Major and two Sheriffs of London, The L. Major and two Sheriffs of London take the Lievtenantſhip of the Tower by authoritie of Parliament. A juſt & brief touch of the due praiſe of Ald. Penningtons happie Majoraltie. Alderm. Pennington, only, made Lievtenant of the Tower of London.to take the charge of the Lievtenantſhip of the Tower of London (Sir John Conyers having at his own voluntary deſire obtained the conſent of the Parliament to goe beyond Sea into Holland) and after the expiration of the ſaid ever to be honoured, heroick and moſt active-ſpirited Alderman Penningtons moſt happie Majoraltie (which by Gods gracious guide and ſpeciall aſſiſtance, he finiſhed with more honour and renown, the times thereof ſeriouſly conſidered, than any of his predeceſſors in that place of honour and truſt had done before him) it pleaſed the Lord to put into the hearts of our moſt noble Parliamentarie Worthies, to confer the ſaid Lievtenantſhip of the Tower of London, ſolely and wholly upon him, as one in whom they had ſo good experience, they might moſt indubitably confide, in the faithfull managing of a place of ſo much truſt and concernment, for the welfare, ſafety, and ſecurity of the Citie and Kingdome, and partly alſo, as an honourable guerdon and repay of his former wiſe and loyall diſcharge of that his foreſaid troubleſome and chargeable Majoraltie.
And heer now good Reader, I ſhall deſire to caſt anchor and make a little ſtay,A ſuccinct & moſt gratefull review of all the Parliamentarie-Mercies of this monethmonth. to pauſe and ponder on the moſt ſweet Parliamentarie-Mercies of this firſt MonethMonth of our voyage and adventure into and through thus much of this boyſterous and billowing Ocean of the Kingdomes diſtractions and diſturbances, and with a gratefull heart, ſuccinctly to ſee what God hath done for us, as in a ſhort Map and ocular proſpect of them.
As firſt,1. in that excellent Petition of the Aſſembly of Divines to both the Houſes of Parliament for the good of Church and State in a pious reformation of things amiſs in both.
Secondly,2. in the Parliaments proſperous ſucceſs at Gainesborough by the Lord Willoughby againſt the Earl of Newcaſtles forces there; And the taking of the Town of Stamford by brave Colonell Cromwell; Together alſo with the taking of Burleigh-Houſe by the ſaid brave Colonell.
Thirdly,3. in another brave victorie obtained by the Parliaments forces, at a ſecond Siege of Gainesborough.
Fourthly,4. in Gods admirable and timely appeaſing of that deſperate and dangerous Rebellion of the Kentiſh Malignants.
Fiftly,5. in the taking of Houghton-Caſtle in Cheſhire, and that provident prevention of a…wicked plot to ſtarve the Citie of London in keeping proviſion of victuall from it.
Sixthly and laſtly,6. in the moſt happie and prudent putting of the Tower of London into the ſafe cuſtodie and government of the moſt worthy Lord Major and Sheriffs of London, for the better ſafety and ſecurity of the ſaid Citie and whole Kingdome.
Upon the which ſaid ſerious review of all theſe rich and rare Parliamentarie-Mercies, tell me, good Reader, haſt thou not already ſeen Gods Ark moſt bravely born up above all the ſwelling and bluſtering waves of the worlds miſchievous malignancy againſt it; Gods Ark above the worlds waves.and It carried on with moſt pleaſant and proſperous gales of Gods guard and guide and gracious protection of it? Yes certainly, witneſs this ſix-fold coard of clearly convincing teſtimony. Great cauſe have wee therefore, to check thoſe proud waves of the world, for their inſolency againſt our God and his moſt righteous cauſe, even in the Lords own words, by his holy Prophet; Feare yee not mee, Je…. 5. 22.(ſaith the Lord) will yee not tremble at my preſence, which have placed the ſand for a bound to the Sea, by a perpetuall decree that it cannot paſs it? And though the waves thereof riſe and toſs themſelves, yet can they not prevail, though they roar, yet can they not paſs over it. Ceaſe then and abate your pride, O yee proud and pernicious Royaliſts, ſince our God doth ſo curb and keep you in. As for us, wee ſhall therefore,Pſal. 46. 1, 2. as wee have juſt cauſe, triumph and ſing; God is our refuge and ſtrength, and a very preſent help in time of trouble: Therefore will wee not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountaines be carried and hurried into the midst of the Sea. But, to goe on, and to launch forth again in the deep, for the further proſecuting of our next Moneths voyage.
About the beginning of Auguſt, Auguſt, 1643. A ſhip of about 300 tun bound from Denmark to Newcaſtle laden with arms and ammunition, taken at Sea.1643, a brave Ship of about 300 tun, bound from Denmark for Newcaſtle, having been lately before taken at Sea, by the moſt noble renowned and loyall Earl of Warwicks Ships, within a league of Tinmouth, laden with armes and ammunition, to furniſh and arme our Kings forces againſt the Parliament. The Commander of which Ship was a Papiſt, or Romiſh-Catholike, and that which he pretended to be a countenancing & ſuperſedeas againſt all aſſaults of his Ship by any advers partie, was a Letter from the King of Denmark, which imported, that the goods wherewith this Ship was fraught were his, and therefore not to be toucht or medled with: But the Ship (notwithſtanding all their pretexts) being ſeized on, and notice thereof immediately diſpatcht away to the Parliament, an Order was inſtantly returned to keep the Ship, and to inventorie the goods thereof, and to let the Daniſh Commander know that the Parliament would be anſwerable touching the diſpoſall of them according to their diſcretion and direction. And thereupon the Ship was brought ſafely to London, and there unladen; A Copie of the true Inventorie of the fraight and goods wherein I have heer thought fit to inſert, for the Readers better ſatisfaction and content, as I my ſelf received it from the hands of one of the moſt eminent and moſt worthy Members of the Militia in the Citie of London, which was as followeth.
Barrells of Gunpowder—476
Bundles of Match—890
Drums—050
Belly-pieces of armour—150
Swords—3040
Muſkets—2977
Piſtolls—493
Head-pieces—3000A true Copie of the Inventorie and particular prize and goods taken out of the Daniſh-Ship, Aug. 4. 1643.
Round-heads or Clubs—1000
Pikes, very good ones—1500
Musket-reſts—3000
Forks to fight againſt horſes—0500
Collers of Bandiliers—3000
Belts, 1 Hogshead. Hangers, 1 Hogshead. Girdles, 2 Hogsheads. Hangers, 4 Barrells. Piſtoll-keyes, 1 Firkin. Flasks, 3 Barrells. Hangers, 1 Barrell. Moulds for Muskets, 2 Kilderkins. Stones for Piſtolls, 1 Firkin. Souch-powder, 1 Firkin. Cannon-Bullets—197 And pigs of Lead—14.
And neer upon the ſame time, a Ship laden with Sea-coales (whereof I had unqueſtionable information) from Newcaſtle, Another brave prize taken at the ſame time.and bound for Holland, was then alſo apprehended, by the vigilancy of the moſt noble Earl of Warwicks Ships, wherein they found about 3 or 4000li. in money (hid deep in the coales) which was to have bought armes, &c. in Holland, for the Kings uſe; but thus happily diverted another and a better way.
And truly (Reader) there muſt needs be ſeen a ſpeciall hand of Gods providence toward us, in this Daniſh prize formentioned; for this Ship could not have been ſeized on in a more ſeaſonable time,The ſeaſonableneſs of that Daniſh prize, wherein Gods providence is the more to be obſerved. than as thus it pleaſed the Lord to diſpoſe it, conſidering the great uſe the Parliament had at that time of the ſaid armes and ammunition, to help to ſet forth a new armie then making ready to march forth again under the command of that noble and renowned Generall Sir William Waller; and eſpecially alſo the circumſtances of that time conſidered,The low ebbe of our armies briefly touched. namely, the then ill ſucceſs of our armies in the North under the command of the noble Lord Fairfax; and the moſt unhappie ſurrender of Briſtoll and Exeter alſo ſhortly after it to the Kings forces; Sir William Wallers unhappie defeat in the Weſt Countrie, and the Lord Generalls armie being mouldred and crumbled away, and almoſt quite torn in pieces by ſickneſs and ſuch like caſualties, as that he was not able to advance and take the field to affront the Kings and Kingdomes enemies, untill they could be conveniently recruited and fill'd up and furniſht with men and armes. Of all which, having moſt fully made mention in the Concluſion of the Second part of our Parliamentarie Chronicle, I ſhall ceaſe to ſpeak any more thereof.
And now about this time, namely, the 6th of Auguſt, 1643. the Parliament being credibly and comfortably enformed out of Yorkſhire, that the moſt noble and renowned Lord Fairfax had in much competent meaſure recruited his Armie at Hull, Divers of the Daniſh armes ſent to Hull, to the noble Lord Fairfax. Clubs, called Round-heads, ſent to Hull.and got together ſome troops, of horſe and companies of foot, that ſo he might the better both increaſe and ſtrengthen his forces, the Parliament ſent him many Muskets, Carbines, Piſtolls, hookes and piked Clubs, viz. Round-heads, (as they were termed, that ſo his honeſt Round-heads might, with them, ſoundly beat and bang Newcaſtles Rattle-heads, or rather, Rotten-headed and hearted Papiſts and Atheiſts, as not long after, by Gods mercy, they did, by the brave conduct of renowned Sir John Meldrum) together with 200 barrells of gunpowder, part I ſay of this Daniſh prize ſo happily ſeized on, as aforeſaid.
Much alſo about the foreſaid time, there was a generall report (and that upon good grounds and reaſons) all about the Citie of London, A plot for a pretended Peace in the houſe of Peers in Parliament.that there was a purpoſe (if not a plain, though private, plot) at Oxford, to work ſome of the Peeres in Parliament to treat again upon ſome articles or propoſitions for a pretended peace, and indeed a motion was made (as was credibly reported) in the Houſe of Lords, to ſet it on foot, which was generally much diſreliſht and diſliked in the Citie of London, and began to cauſe great jealouſies and feares among the wiſeſt and beſt-affected Citizens, as they and the whole Kingdome had juſt cauſe, wee having ever received greateſt dammage and detriment by ſuch fained and treacherous treaties:The Citizens of London Petition the Parliamēt againſt the pretended Peace. Whereupon the moſt renowned, famous and faithfull Citizens of London, with an unanimous conſent reſolved to joyn together as one man, in a Petition to the Parliament, in the name of the Lord Major, Aldermen, & Commons of London, which Petition coming to my hands, I have heer thought fit to inſert, for the Readers better content and ſatisfaction therein.
To the Right Honourable the Knights, Citizens; and Burgeſſes of the Commons Houſe in Parliament.
The humble Petition of the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons of the Citie of London, in Common Councell▪ Aſſembled.
Sheweth;
THat your Petitioners having heard that ſuch propoſitions and offers have been lately ſent from the Houſe of Peers to this honourable Houſe, which (as wee greatly fear) if yeelded unto, may be deſtructive to our Religion, Lawes, and Liberties; And finding already by experience, that the ſpirits of all the well-affected partie in the Citie and Counties adjacent, that are willing to aſſiſt the Parliament both in perſon and purſe, are much dejected thereat, and the brotherly aſſiſtance from Scotland as well as the raiſing and maintaining of forces our ſelves, thereby likely to be retarded (all which the Petitioners refer to your ſerious conſideration) and conſidering our preſent ſad condition lies upon us in a ſpeciall manner, through the incenſed patience of the Almightie, by delay and want of execution of juſtice upon traitors and Delinquents, and having an opportunitie yet afforded us to ſpeak, our humble deſires are:
That you would be pleaſed ſo to perſiſt in your former reſolutions, wherupon the people have ſo depended, and wherein yee have ſo deeply engaged your ſelves (though you ſhould periſh in the work) that juſtice may be done upon offenders and delinquents; And (ſince wee are as willing as ever, to expoſe what wee are and have, for the crowning of ſo good a cauſe) you would be pleaſed, by paſſing the Ordinance hereunto annext, or one to this effect, to put us into a probable way for ours and your defence; wherein your Petitioners will by the bleſſing of God be never wanting;
But will ever pray, &c.
This Petition being preſented, Aug. 7. 1643. by the Petitioners aforeſaid, to the Houſe of Commons, was well accepted and thankes returned by Mr Speaker for their care of the Kingdomes welfare,The Parliaments preſent anſwer to the Petition. with promiſe that the particulars deſired ſhould ſpeedily be taken into conſideration; and to conſider of an Ordinance to the purpoſe in the Petition mentioned, which was referred to a Committee.
Now this Petition thus exhibited to the Parliament by Alderman Atkins, The effects of the ſaid Petition.in the name of the Lord Major, Aldermen and Commons, as aforeſaid, ſhortly after produced this reall effect for the preſent in anſwer to their foreſaid Petition, namely, that about the 16th or 17th of Auguſt then next enſuing, the Lords and Commons in Parliament having had ſerious conſultation about the ſaid Petition, publiſhed an Ordinance of Parliament, wherein was an Oath or Covenant framed by them to be taken by all of any condition or rank whatſoever, throughout the Citie of London, An Oath or Covenant to be taken by all Citizens of London.together with divers prudent and provident Decrees for the better ſetling and ſecuring of the welfare of the ſaid Citie, which for the excellencie thereof, and for the Readers more full content and ſatisfaction therein, I have heer alſo thought fit to inſert.