Englands Parliamentary Chronicle, Chronicle · Floating text 20 – Floating text 22
For the Right Honourable the Speaker of the Houſe of Peers, pro tempore.
Right Honourable:
THis incloſed paper having very lately come to our hands, which although it hath not ſo much as colour enough to deceive, yet nevertheleſſe as Generall Major Monro, in teſtimony of his integrity, did communicate the thing to the Commiſſioners of Parliament in Ʋlſter, ſo we for preventing miſtakes (many Copies of the ſame thing being ſpred among the people) have thought good to communicate the ſame to the Honourable Houſes, with our ſenſe upon it, that by their wiſdome and reciprocall care, a right underſtanding in all things may ſtill be preſerved between the Kingdomes. Whether any ſuch Letter was ſigned by the King at Oxford, or whether it was invented of purpoſe to ſupport a declining party, we do not know; what may concerne the King in it, we leave to himſelf, who, as he hath ſince the date of that paper expreſſed contrary intentions and reſolutions in his Meſſages to both Kingdomes, ſo he can beſt tell what he wrote at that time, we are onelyonly to ſpeake to the matter of the paper which cometh from the hand of Secretary Nicholas, unto whoſe informations what credit ought to be given the Houſes very well know, It doth conſiſt in our perfect knowledge and (we declare it with as much confidence as ever we did or can do any thing) that the matter of the paper, ſo farre as concerneth any aſſurance or capitulation for joyning of Forces, or for combining againſt the Houſes of Parliament, or any other private or publike agreement whatſoever, between the King upon the one part, and the Kingdom of Scotland their Army, or any in their name, and having power from them, upon the other part, is a moſt damnable untruth. We ſhall not need to expreſſe how improbable it is, if there had been any ſuch agreement, that the King about the ſame time ſhould have ſent a Meſſage to both Houſes, offering to come to London, and to follow their advice in all things, without offering any ſatisfaction to the Kingdome of Scotland, and that before he received the anſwer of the Houſes he ſhould write ſuch a Letter to Ireland, and give order to make it knowne, not onelyonly to his Privie Councell, but to his other Subjects of that Kingdome. Nor will we inſiſt how improbable it is that the King ſhould make this knowne to the Marqueſſe of Ormond, and neglect to acquaint the late Earle of Montroſſe, who had been much more concerned, and who would, no doubt, if he had knowne any ſuch thing, have communicated the ſame to Generall Major Middleton, and prevented the defeating of himſelf, his aſſociates and forces, about the middle of May, after the King was with the Scottiſh Armie. Nor how unlikely it is that he who is for the time Commander in chiefe for the Scottiſh forces in Ireland, ſhould be for the ſpace of ſeven or eight weeks totally ignorant of any ſuch agreement, or if he had known any ſuch thing, that he would have communicated it to the Commiſſioners of the Parliament, and immediately marched himſelf to the fields againſt the Enemy. Nor ſhall we need to call to minde the expreſſions in the Lord Digbies intercepted Letters, which gave our Nation the character of ſuch as could not be gained to that ſide, no not after all applications uſed. There are other more ſure, and more publike Teſtimonies ſince the date of that lying Paper, which make the falſehood of it more than palpable, as if divine providence had purpoſely ordered all the late actions of the Kingdome of Scotland, and of their Forces, both before and ſince the third of April, to be ſo many reall confutations of that groundleſſe invention: Wee meane, ſeverall late fights with the Rebels under the late Earle of Montroſſe and Allaſter Mac Donald; the delivery of Newark, the reſtraining and debarring of Delinquents and Malignants from the Kings Perſon, and from our Army, the late publike Declarations of the Church and State of Scotland in the beginning of April, as likewiſe of the Generall and Committee with the Army, agreed upon about the end of Aprill, and publiſhed the 15 of May in Scotland, againſt a Band of the Earle of Seaforth and his Aſſociates; As for other reaſons, ſo eſpecially for this, that the ſaid Band did tend to the weakning of the confidence and Union between the two Kingdomes firmly joyned and mutually engaged for aſſiſtance to each other in this Cauſe, as may appear more fully by the Declarations herewith preſented. Nor can we paſſe the Paper delivered to the King by the Committee of Eſtates upon the 15 of May laſt, that if His Majeſtie ſhould delay to go about the readieſt waies and meanes to ſatisfie both his Kingdomes, they would be neceſſitated for their own exoneration to acquaint the Committee of both Kingdoms at London, that a courſe might be taken by joynt advice of both Kingdoms, for attaining the juſt ends expreſſed in the Solemne League and Covenant. We ſhall ſay no more of this particular, God hath his owne time to make manifeſt, who have dealt ſincerely, and who falſely; and as our Nation did refuſe to joyne with the Enemies Forces when they were ſtrongeſt, and did joyn with our Brethren of England in their weakeſt and moſt neceſſitous condition, ſo we ſhall never look for a bleſſing from God upon either Nation longer than they continue faithfull to God, and to each other, according to the Covenant and Treaty. And we do confidently expect from the wiſdome and Juſtice of the Honourable Houſes, that this and ſuch like Papers ſhall finde no more credit here, than Papers and Declarations againſt themſelves did formerly finde in Scotland, and that Declarations and publique Papers from the Kingdome of Scotland, or their Committees or Commiſſioners, ſhall have ſuch acceptation with both Houſes, as they deſire Declarations from themſelves, or Papers from any in their Name, may have with their Brethren of Scotland. Nor do we doubt but God will diſſipate all theſe clouds of calumnies and miſ-underſtandings endeavoured thereby, and will give ſuch a frame of ſpirit to both Nations, as may continue them in a brotherly accord and mutuall confidence for the good both of this, and of the ſucceeding Generations, which hath been, is, and ſhall be moſt earneſtly wiſhed and faithfully endeavoured by
Your very affectionate friends, and humble ſervants. Lauderdaill. Johnſton. Charles Erſkine, Henry Kennedie. Robert Barnlay. Worceſter Houſe, the 8. of June, 1646.
Die Lunae 8 Junii, 1646.
Ordered by the Lords aſſembled in Parliament, That the Letter of the Commiſſioners of the Parliament of Scotland. Dated the 8 of this inſtant June, 1646. ſhall be forthwith printed and publiſhed.
Jo. Browne Cleric. Parliamentorum.
And becauſe there were many ſuſpicions and jealouſies loved and fomented in the hearts, and uttered too frequently by the tongues of many ill affected ones to our faire loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland, That they would not eaſily be got out of the Kingddome of England, no not when our warres were quite ended and we had no more need of them among us, as ſome, yea many of them maliciouſly took upon them to conceive, and ſpatter abroad with their baſe and buſie tongues; I have therefore alſo here thought fit to inſert another Letter or Declaration, incloſed in the foreſaid Letter or Declaration to the Lords in Parliament, by the Commiſſioners of the Parliament of Scotland, as was forementioned, which I conceive may and will give faire and full ſatisfaction, touching that ſuſpition alſo, to thoſe that are not too much byaſſed with prejudice and partiallity, which was as followeth:
IT is not light but grievous to us to heare of any diſorders at all committed by any perſon in that Army (how great ſoever the neceſſities be unto which they are redacted, or that our Army ſhould be any longer burthenſome to this Kingdome. And we do in the Name of that Kingdome and Army declare and aſſure, That as they came into this Kingdome upon an earneſt invitation from both Houſes of Parliament, and for the ends expreſſed in the Covenant and Treaty, and Declaration of both Kingdoms, (the cloſe whereof doth expreſſe the reſolution of both to have Truth and Peace ſetled upon a firme Foundation before their laying down of Arms) ſo their continuance neither is nor ſhall be made uſe of to the leaſt encroachment upon the Government of this Kingdome; nor to any other ends beſides thoſe expreſſed in the Covenant and Treaty: And how ſoon ſoever Religion and Peace ſhall be ſetled accordingly, our Army and Garriſons ſhall forthwith remove out of this Kingdome. And theſe things we ſhall wiſh may be ſpeedily done, and that the Propoſitions for a ſafe and well grounded Peace which did for a very ſhort time remaine in our …ands) may now after ſo long expectation, be ſent to the King, that upon his Royall conſent to the deſires of his People for ſetling and ſecuring of Religion and Peace, his Majeſty may returne to his Parliament, here, all Armies may be disbanded, the heavie preſſures of the Subjects ended, and the Kingdoms may remaine in a firme Peace and Ʋnion to all Poſterity, according to the Solemne League and Covenant.
3 June 1646.
Theſe moſt honeſt, and (as I conceive) moſt abundantly ſatiſfactory expreſſions and demonſtrations of our honeſt and loyall Brethren, beſides all their former faithfull performances of all things promiſed and proteſted by them, and exacted from them ever ſince the beginning of comming among us, may, me thinks give full content and aſſurance too, to us all of their integrity and faithfull intentions to deal moſt honeſtly and uprightly with us in all things; in the maine, I meane, eſpecially, notwithſtanding the moſt ſhameleſſe and graceleſſe calumniating tongues and ſelfe-ſeeking ungodly intentions and Satanicall deſire of ſeditious Spirits to make a moſt ſad and ſcelerous fraction and Diviſion betweene two ſuch Brother-Nations as we are or ought to be: But let them take heed, who ev…r they be leaſt the ſevere and bitter curſe of God fall not heavily on their heads and hearts too, who thus dare play faſt and looſe with ſacreed Covenants and endevour to ſeparate (and that to a moſt bloody Diviſion) thoſe whom God hath ſo graciouſly conjoyned: for, for my part, I never reade or heard but that the Lord (the righteous judge, to whom vengeance belongs) did firſt or laſt, ſoone or late revenge moſt ſadly and ſeverely perfidious Covenant-breakers. But to proceed:
Boſtoll Garriſon ſurrendred.About the 8. of this inſtant June a Letter was read in the Houſe of Commons from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax, and therein Articles incloſed for the ſurrender of Boſtol Garriſon, thereof I made briefe m…ntion onelyonly before; but now is moſt fully confirmed; The Articles were to this effect: That the Governour, Sir William Campion and all Officers in Commiſſion ſhould march away with their horſe and armes, and thoſe that deſired to goe beyond Sea ſhould have paſſes, and they that deſired to make their compoſitions ſhould be effectually recommended by the Generall to the Parliament, that their fines ſhould not exceede two yeares revenue; the Common Souldiers to march away without armes to their owne homes. Hoſtages were given for performance of theſe conditions, and the Garriſon to be ſurrendred immediatly to our forces for the uſe of the King and Parliament.
Carnarvan Towne and Caſtle ſurrendred.And upon the 11. of June a Letter was brought to the Houſe of Commons with Articles of the ſurrender of Carnarvan Towne and Caſtle by Byron the Governour thereof to renowned Colonell Mitton and the Houſe after the reading thereof conſidered of a Governour for the ſaid Garriſon, and having experience of the integrity, valour and fidelity of Colonell Thomas Glyn, they nominated and appointed him Governour of the ſaid Towne and Caſtle.
Upon intelligence whereof the Houſe of Commons ordered that thankes ſhould be given in all Churches throughout London the next Lords day, and likewiſe for Ludlow, Dudley-Caſtle and Carnarvan.
About the 14. of this inſtant June we received certaine knowledge from New Caſtle of the Kings reſolution to give ſpeedie order for the ſurrendring of all the reſt of his Garriſons, which yet held out againſt the Parliament a Copie whereof I have here thought fit to inſert which was as followeth.
CHARLES REX.
HAving reſolved to comply with the deſignes of the Parliament in every thing that may be for the good of the Subjects and leave no meanes unaſſayed for removing of differences betwixt us; Therefore we have thought fit, the more to evidence the reality of our intentions of ſettling a happie and firme peace, to require you, upon honourable conditions to quit thoſe Townes, Caſtles, and Forts intruſted by you to us, and to disband all the forces under your ſeverall commands.
New-Caſtle the 10. June 1646.
TO our truſty and welbeloved Sir Thomas Glemham, Sir Thomas Tidſley, Colonell Henry Waſhington, Colonell Thomas Blague, Governours of our Townes and Caſtles of Oxford, Worceſter, Litchfield, and Wallingford; and all other Commanders of any other Townes, Caſtles, or Forts, within the Kingdome of England or Dominion of Wales.
About the 19. of this inſtant June, the Parliament having had much and long debate about the Propoſitions to be ſent to be ſigned by the King, and eſpecially about the ſettlement of the Militia of the Kingdome, at laſt there was a happy Compliance of Both Houſes about it; And it was reſolved upon the queſtion, That the Militia ſhall be in the power of Both Houſes of Parliament for 20.The Propoſitions for a wel grounded Peace reſolved and in ſpeciall … of the Kingdom. yeares; and in caſe after 20. yeares there be occaſion to uſe Armes by any inſurrection at home or forraigne invaſion and the Lord… and Commons agree thereunto, if the King will not concurre, yet it ſhall be Lawfull for the Lords and Commons to proceede in that warre and exerciſe of that Militia for the ſafety and peace of the Kingdome: And immediately after this the Propoſions were by Both Houſes of Parliament ſent to the Commiſſioners of Scotland for their aſſent and concurrence in them.
And much about the ſame time, there was aſpeciall m…e…ing of the Divines of London and W…ſtminſter and within the Lines of Communication, at Zion-Colledge, where three of them for all the reſt, ſpent 5 howers or there about in prayer to beg direction fromThe Miniſters of London and Weſtminſters pious meeting and religion reſolution in Zion Colledge. God about the acting and putting in execution the Presbyterian Church-Government according to the late Ordinance of Parliament, enabling and authorizing them thereunto; And ſome that were preſent there and Members of that Aſſembly aſſured me that they never ſaw or heard of a more zealous and earneſt ſeeking of the Lord, and their prayers were uttered with ſuch fervencie and burning zeale that very many there preſent were ſo extraordinarily raviſht in ſpirit, as cauſed very many teares to be ſhed and deep and heartily ſighs and groanes to be ſent up to Heaven; And this holy worke being ended, they began to debate of the worke to be acted by them, and though at firſt they excepted againſt ſome things in the Ordinance of Parliament, yet at length by Gods ſpeciall providence, it was reſolved with an unanimous conſent, yea, Nemine Contradicente, to put on the worke, and reſt upon God and the Parliament, for the Compoſing of what was found wanting by practicall experience; onelyonly for the better ſatisfaction of their owne conſciences therein and to ſhew forth to the whole Church of God, as well abroad as at home, their adviſed care therin, they immediatly upon it reſolved on certaine Conſiderable Cauſions, on which they under tooke the work, & printed and publiſhed them, I ſay, to the view of the World. An excellent paſſage of prudence and providence, in my poore judgement, and worthie ſuch a reverend and religious Aſſembly.
Letters from Sir Thomas Fairefax. Articles for the Surrender of Oxford and the Meſſengers rewarded by the Parliament.And about the 22. inſtant the Houſe of Commons in Parliament taking into conſideration a Letter from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax, and the Articles (which are extant at large in print, and too large to be here inſerted,) for the Surrender of Oxford into the poſſeſſion of the Parliament, and having ſpent much time in debate thereof, and being informed that one D…ll the Chaplaine of their Armie before Oxford, who brought the Letter and Articles was at the doore, the Houſe thereupon ordered that he ſhould be called in, and gave him the ſumme of 50. l. for his paines in the journey; and that one Maſter Heath another meſſenger from his Excellency ſhould have 30 l. for a gratuity, for Letters which he brought about the ſaid buſineſſe, and likewiſe 20 l. to one Maſter Thredder.
The Duke of Yorke to come from Oxford to S. James-Houſe.They likewiſe conſidered (about the ſame time) of the reception and maintenance of the Duke of Yorke in Saint James with the Kings other two children, and there to be provided for in an honourable and Princely way, as thoſe two of his Majeſties children were. And about the 25. inſtant came Letters from renowned and victorious Colonell Mitton from Carnarvan with Articles incloſed for the ſurrender of Beaumorris Towne and Beaumorris Town and Caſtle ſurrendredCaſtle, a very ſtrong Garriſon in Wales which much annoyed the Countrie in thoſe parts, and the Houſes after the reading thereof ordered that the ſaid Colonell Mitton ſhould be Governour of the ſaid ſtrong Towne and Caſtle, and ordered that a Commiſſion ſhould be granted to him accordingly.
And on Wedneſday June 25. the City & Garriſon of Oxford was ſurrendred to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax according to the agreement. Many (we underſtood at that time) made doubt whether it were ſurrendred or no, but we can aſſure them it for truth, being an eye witneſſe therof the manner briefly was thus. To paſſe by the ſeverall quarters of our Army, and the managing of the Line and works raiſed againſt Oxford, The manner of the ſurrender of Oxford.a Guard was placed of ſeverall Regiments of Foot and Horſe from the entrance into Oxon, at the Eaſt Port or Gate on both ſides the way to Wheatly, which way the Enemy were to march; the ſurrender by the Articles ſhould have been by ten of the clocke, at which time ſome part of the Garriſon marched forth and divers Coaches with Gentry, and their Wives and many the day before with Carriages Bagge and Baggage, but the maine body marched not forth untill about two in the afternoone on Wedneſday, at which time there fell a very bitter and violent ſtorme of Raine which held for about an houre (ſome leſſer ſhowers we had beſides likewiſe that day, but ſuddenly after the Enemy were marched forth, and ours about to enter Oxford the ſtormes ceaſed, and the reſt of the day very cleare and faire, and this by the way ſome doe obſerve as very remarkable. And alſo that there was the like ſtormy weather at the ſurrender of Leiceſter, Briſtol, and Exeter; about two of the (clocke as before) they marched forth both Officers and Souldiers, with their Armes in very good order with bag and baggage, both Officers and Souldiers generally demeaned themſelves very civilly (except ſome few that were drunke) and as themſelves ſay on our parts, never were Articles more punctually obſerved than by us, neither officer nor ſouldier offering them the leaſt prejudice or uſed any reproachfull language to them, as they marched; that which many grieved to ſee, was that there ſhould be ſo many Iriſhmen and women amongſt them, ſuch a company of women, Engliſh Drabbes, and Iriſh trulls as would have made a rotten Regiment, theſe are thoſe that uſed conſtantly to follow that Army, and whoſe naughtineſſe is ſo well known we neede not mention it; the number that marched out were adjudged to be betweene 3, and 4000. beſides thoſe that marched out before, and many of the Gentry, Clergy, and ſome Commanders that ſtayed behind in Oxford by permiſſion untill ſuch time as they had Paſſes to go beyond Sea, and ſome to their owne homes; the Garriſon in the whole (as they report) conſiſted of above 7000. Souldiers in pay, towneſmen and Schollers that bore armes. After the Governour, Officers, and Souldiers were marched forth, the Keyes of the City and Forts delivered to the General, his Excellency gave order for 3 foot Regiments to march into Oxford which was done accordingly, and the guards preſently placed, the Souldiers carried themſelves with ſo much civility to the Citizens as was admired, not any one of them I am confident being damnified by the entrance of our men to the worth of ſix pence, and I may boldly ſpeake it being then preſent in Oxford, and obſerved the whole paſſage, courteous language and entertainment there was on both ſides, and not the leaſt diſorder: not much proviſions were found in the City either for horſe or man, only ſalted Beefe and Corne a good quantity, a few Peas and Beanes, but very little Hay, within two or three houres after we had entred, the Country people that lived neere adjacent brought in what proviſions they had, or could ſo ſuddainly provide, and ſome freſh meat, for the which they received ready monyes, and not a Souldier of ours had, or deſired one penny worth of any commodity, but what they gave ready monyes for; there was in the Garriſon about 30. peece of Ordnance ready mounted, and their Workes very ſtrong and large, which to have ſtormed would have coſt the lives of very many men, too precious to be ſo caſt away, when we might have it upon more reaſonable termes, and we conceived none will imagin the conditions granted over large, if they but conſider the ſtrength of the place. But this I leave to others to judge.
And on the 26. of this inſtant June, the Houſes tooke into Conſideration ſeverall Papers preſented to the Grand-Committee of Both Houſes from the Marqueſſe of Argyle, and the Scottiſh Commiſſioners here recident, of very ſingular and ſpeciall Concernment and much conducing to the farther clearing of their (moſt …juſtly ſuſpected) integrity towards us, & of their loving conſent to the Propoſitions now fitted to be ſent to his Majeſty, for the more full compleating our hopes of a well-grounded Peace; I have here thought fit to inſert two or three of them eſpecially the ſaid pious Earle of Argyles excellent Speech made unto them, and a Paper concerning their ſaid full conſent to the Propoſitions, both which I have conceived moſt worthy to be recorded in theſe our Parliamentary Annals, as no ſmall mercy of the Lord unto us, in thus ſo graciouſly clearing their unſpotted fidelity, and of the moſt bleſſedly defeating the impious deſignes of the ſecret and crafty (but moſt malicious) enemies of our Peace and Ʋnity, which were as followeth: