House of Lords Journal Volume 10: 4 September 1648

Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 10, 1648-1649. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1767-1830.

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Citation:

'House of Lords Journal Volume 10: 4 September 1648', in Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 10, 1648-1649( London, 1767-1830), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol10/pp485-490 [accessed 23 December 2024].

'House of Lords Journal Volume 10: 4 September 1648', in Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 10, 1648-1649( London, 1767-1830), British History Online, accessed December 23, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol10/pp485-490.

"House of Lords Journal Volume 10: 4 September 1648". Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 10, 1648-1649. (London, 1767-1830), , British History Online. Web. 23 December 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol10/pp485-490.

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In this section

DIE Lunæ, 4 die Septembris.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Gower.

Domini præsentes fuerunt:

Ds. Hunsdon, Speaker.

Comes Rutland.
Comes Mulgrave.
Comes Midd.
Comes Suffolke.
Comes Northumb.
Comes Denbigh.
Ds. Howard.

Preachers on the Day of Humiliation.

Ordered, That Mr. Valentine and Mr. Gower do preach before the Lords, in the Abbey Church, the 12th of this Instant September.

Thanksgiving.

Ordered, The Sermon at the Thanksgiving-day, on Thursday next, shall be at St. Martin's in the Feilds.

Letter from L. Admiral.

A Letter from the Lord Admiral, reported from Derby House, was read; and ordered to be communicated to the House of Commons. (Here enter it.)

Servants to attend the King.

Next, a List of Ordinary Servants to be sent to attend the King, was read, and approved of; and ordered to be communicated [ (fn. 1) to the House of Commons,] for their Concurrence:

Two Coachmen, Thomas Lowen,
George Murry.

Two Grooms, Alexander Scurry, Edw. Foster.
One Sumpter-man of the Robes, George Karr.
One Farrier, Francis Russell.
One Surveyor of the Stable, Wm. Morgan.
"One Purveyor, Thomas Manley."

Answer from the H. C.

Mr. Page and Dr. Aylett return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they agree to the Instructions for the Commissioners that are to go to treat with the King, and to the Order for the Ministers to attend the Commissioners, and to the Letter to the King by Sir Peter Killegrewe, and also to the Alteration in the Ordinance for the Listing of Horse and Foot for the City of London: (Here enter them.) That they have taken into Consideration the Petition of Colonel Edmund Temple; and that they will give a Conference this Day, in the Painted (fn. 1) Chamber, as is desired, concerning Tattersall Castle: But to that Part which concerneth the not answering the Message, and to all the rest, they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Col. Eyres' Order.

An Order for paying Two Hundred Pounds to Colonel Eyres, was read, and Agreed to.

(Here enter it.)

Kynnersley & al. a Pass to the King.

Ordered, That Mr. Newton, Mr. Kynnersley, and Mr. Henry Murray, shall have a Pass, to go to the King, in the Isle of Wight.

Moore's Petition, for Relief.

A Petition of Charles and John Moore, the Orphans of Arthur Moore, Son to the Lord Viscount Moore, was read; and ordered to be recommended to the House of Commons, for some Relief for them.

Morris, alias Poyntz, Smith, & al.

The Order of this House, made the 26th of August last, concerning the Business of Morris, Isabella Smyth, &c. was read, and declared to be the true Sense of this House; and accordingly to be entered.

(Here enter it.)

Col. Wayte's Ordinance.

The Ordinance for paying Two Thousand and Ten Pounds to Colonel Wayte, for Arrears, was read, and Agreed to. (Here enter it.)

Message to the H. C. with L. Admiral's Letter;-about the King's Servants;-about Obstruction in Messages between the Houses;-and about Capt. Jessop's Petition.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Dr. Aylette and Mr. Page:

1. To communicate to them the Lord Admiral's Letter.

2. To desire Concurrence in the Names of such Persons as are to be sent to attend the King, in inferior Offices.

3. To desire, at this next Conference appointed this Morning, to impart unto them something concerning some Obstructions in Messages between the Two Houses.

4. To put them in Mind of Captain Jessop's Petition.

White to be paid for Oxen.

Upon reading the Petition of John White, Yeoman Warder in The Tower:

It is Ordered, To be recommended to the House of Commons, that he may have Satisfaction given him for those Oxen which the King had for His Provisions when He was last at Readinge.

Mrs. Babbington's Petition.

Upon reading the Petition of Sara Babbington:

It is Ordered, To be referred to the Committee for Ireland; and the Concurrence of the House of Commons to be desired herein.

Heads for the Conference about Tater. shall Castle.

Ordered, That the Earl of Suffolke, Earl of Midd. and the Earl of Lyncolne, do prepare what is fit to be delivered at the Conference concerning Tattersall Castle, and report the same to this House.

The Earl of Suffolke reported from the aforesaid Committee the Matter of the Conference; which, being read, was approved of, and ordered to be delivered at this Conference. (Here enter it).

Ordinance for Payler, White, and Falkner, to be Officers of the Ordnance.

An Ordinance was presented to the House, for George Payler, John White, and John Falkener, to be Storekeepers of the Stores of the Ordnance; and being read, was committed to the Committee of the whole House.

The House was resumed.

And committed to these Lords following:

E. Northumb.
E. of Mulgrave.
L. Hunsdon.
L. North.

To report on Wednesday Morning next.

Surry Committee.

Ordered, That the Earl of Denbigh be added to the Committee of Surry.

Answer from the H. C.

Dr. Aylett and Mr. Page return with this Answer from the House of Commons:

That they have taken the Lord Admiral's Letter and Captain Jessop's Business into Consideration; and they agree to the Persons to be sent to attend the King as inferior Officers; and they agree to the Second Part of the Conference.

Heads for a Conference about Obstruction in Messages between the Houses.

The Matter of the Conference concerning the Obstructions in Messages, was read, and approved of:

(Here enter it.)

"To acquaint the House of Commons, the Lords are informed, That, upon Saturday last, the Messengers of the House of Lords delivered a Message to the House of Commons, desiring a Conference with them; and stayed Five Hours in Expectation of an Answer, but had none returned.

"And that divers Times the Lords Messengers have waited at the Door of the House of Commons Three or Four Days together, to deliver a Message.

These Things being so prejudicial to the expediting the Affairs of the Kingdom between the Two Houses, and so unusual in former Time, and being an Occasion of multiplying very many Businesses as One Message; the Lords do desire them to take the same into Consideration, and think of some Course for preventing the like Obstructions for the future, that so Answers more seasonably may be returned."

Letter to the King, with the Commissioners Names who are appointed to treat with Him.

"May it please Your Majesty,

Your Two Houses of Parliament have commanded us to acquaint Your Majesty, that they have appointed the Earl of Northumberland, the Earl of Pembrooke, the Earl of Salisbury, the Earl of Middlesex, and the Lord Viscount Say & Seale, Members of the House of Peers; and Tho. Lord Wainman, Mr. Denzill Hollis, Mr. William Peirpoint, Sir Hen. Vane Junior, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Sir John Potts, Mr. John Crew, Mr. Sam. Browne, Mr. John Glyn Recorder of the City of London, and Mr. John Bunckly, Members of the House of Commons; to treat with Your Majesty at Newport, in the Isle of Wight. And although they cannot come within the Time before appointed, yet they shall give their Attendance with all convenient Speed.

"Your Majesty's

Sept. 2, 1648,

"Most loyal and humble Servants."

Order for 200 l. for Col. Eyres.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds be forthwith paid, out of Sir Charles Keymies's Composition, to Colonel Eyres, or his Assigns, by the Treasurers at Gouldsmiths Hall, for the Service of Hursts Castle; and the Acquittance or Acquittances of the said Colonel Eyres, or his Assigns, testifying the Receipt thereof, shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the said Treasurers at Gouldsmiths Hall, for Payment thereof accordingly."

Order for 2010 l. for Col. Wayte.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Sum of Two Thousand and Ten Pounds, due to Colonel Thomas Wayte, upon his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament, be paid unto the said Colonel Thomas Wayte, or his Assignee, out of the Sequestration of the Estates Real and Personal of John Pate, in the County of Leicester, Esquire, of the Lord Beaumont, of the County of Leic. and of Sir Wingfield Boddenbam, of the County of Rutland, in full Satisfaction of all Arrears, Demands, and Respites of Public Faith, claimable by the said Colonel Wayte upon his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament; and the Committees of Sequestrations, Solicitors, and Treasurers, in the several Counties where any of the Estates of the foresaid Persons do lie, as likewise the Tenants of the foresaid Persons, are hereby authorized and required to pay the Rents and Profits that shall arise out of, and be made of, the said Estates Real and Personal, (fn. 2) be from Time to Time paid unto the said Colonel Thomas Wayte, or his Assignee, until the said Sum of Two Thousand and Ten Pounds be paid and satisfied, if the said Delinquents shall not in the mean Time be admitted to Composition, and that the said Estates remain so long under Sequestrations: And the Acquittance of the said Colonel Thomas Wayte, or his Assignee, shall be from Time to Time a sufficient Discharge to the Committees, Solicitors, and Treasurers, and Tenants aforesaid, for the Payment of all such Sums as in Pursuance thereof they shall accordingly pay as aforesaid."

Heads for the Conference, for Tattershall Castle to be restored to the E. of Lincoln.

The Lords having sent down an Order of their House (made the 3d of July last), requiring the Delivery of Tattershall Castle to the Earl of Lincolne, or such as his Lordship should assign; the then pretended Governor, Captain Clinton, alias Fynes, being served with the said Order, refused to yield Obedience thereunto, alledging he had an Order of the House of Commons, a Copy whereof is hereunto annexed, bearing Date the First of August, commanding his detaining the same till their Pleasure was further known.

The Lords, being desirous to continue a good Understanding between the Two House, and to prevent all Clashing of Orders, have desired this Conference, in Confidence that the House of Commons will recall their Order; which they believe could not have been obtained, if they had been duly informed that the said Castle is the Possession of the Earl of Lincolne, a Peer of this House, who hath constantly and faithfully adhered to the Parliament; and therefore his House ought not to be disposed of by any, without the Consent of the House of Lords:

1. Because, by the Laws of this Land, as well the Possessions as Persons of Peers are privileged from all Disturbance whatsoever.

2. The said Earl hath formerly suffered very great Damage, by a Garrison there, by Free Quarter, pulling down his Houses, and by spoiling his Warren, never having received any Consideration for the same.

"3. The Order of the House of Commons, bearing Date so long after, could not be any sufficient Warrant to the forementioned Governor to disobey their Lordships Order, in not delivering it up to the said Earl of Lincolne, or his Assigns.

4. That there is now no Need of putting the Country to so unnecessary a Charge, in maintaining a Garrison there.

"5. The Lord Clinton, Son to the said Earl, being a Member of the House of Commons, and now at Nottingham with his Wife, hath no other House furnished to carry her unto.

"And for these Reasons, the Lords command me to let you know, it's their Lordships Desire, the House of Commons will recall their Order."

Mortis, alias Poyntz, Smith, & al.

Upon Consideration of the Report of the Judges, and also upon reading the Petition of John Browne Esquire, Clerk of the Parliaments, and likewise the Judgement of this House against John Morris, alias Poyntz, and Mary his Wife, Leonard Derby, John Harris, and Isabell Smith, dated the 21th September, 1647:

It is Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That when the Parties adjudged in the said Judgement, or any of them, shall bring in the Exemplification under the Great Seal of England, concerning the Manor of Little Munden, in the County of Hertford, and also the forged Exemplification of the counterfeit Act of Parliament, to which the Great Seal of England is charged to have been unduly and fraudulently affixed, that so the aforesaid forged Exemplification may be canceled and vacated, then this House will take their Releasement into Consideration.

Ordinance for the Committee for the London Militia to raise Forces, and for Gen. Skippon to command them.

Whereas the Lords and Commons, by an Ordinance of Parliament of the 12th of July, 1648, have declared it to be an acceptable Service in any Persons that would inlist themselves, Horse or Foot, under the Command of Major General Skippon, who was thereby authorized to inlist them accordingly, and to act, do, and perform, such other Acts and Things as in and by the said Ordinance is declared and authorized: Now, for the preventing of Divisions and Disturbances in the Forces of the City of London and the Liberties thereof, and the better to unite them for the Defence and Preservation of the Parliament, City, and Kingdom, the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do ordain and declare, and be it Ordained and Declared, That the Power formerly given to Major General Skyppon, by the aforesaid Ordinance, to list and raise Forces, in the City of London and Liberties thereof, be transferred, and is hereby accordingly transferred, to the Committee for the Militia of the City of London, of which Major General Skippon is a Member; and the said Committee, or such as they shall appoint, shall have Power, and are hereby authorized, to inlist any Person or Persons accordingly, within the City of London and Liberties thereof; and all such so listed and raised shall be, by the Appointment and Direction of the said Committee, put under the Command of Major General Skippon, who is to present to the said Committee the Names of all such Officers as shall be found necessary, who, being allowed and approved of by the said Committee, shall be by them constituted accordingly; and the said Committee are hereby authorized to employ all such Forces, as well Horse as Foot, raised and constituted in Manner aforesaid, for the suppressing of all Mutinies, Tumults, and Infurrections, which shall happen within the said City and Liberties thereof, and to fight with, kill and slay, all such as shall oppose them therein; as also to send forth and employ all such of the Forces aforesaid as shall be willing to march, under the Command of Major General Skippon, according to such Directions as the said Committee or Major General Skippon shall receive from both Houses of Parliament, or from the Committee of Lords and Commons sitting at Derby House: Provided always, That the Number of Horse to be listed and raised by virtue of this Ordinance do not exceed a Thousand, nor the Number of Foot Five Thousand: Provided also, That this Ordinance continue for Six Months, and no longer. And whatsoever the said Committee, or Major General Skippon, or any other Person or Persons, shall do in Persuance hereof, they shall be saved harmless and indemnified by Authority of Parliament."

Instructions for the Commissioners to treat with the King, in the Isle of Wight.

"Instructions for Algernon Earl of Northumberland, Phillip Earl of Pembrooke and Mountgom'y, Wm. Earl of Salisbury, James Earl of Midd. Wm. Lord Visc. Say & Seale, Members of the House of Peers; Thomas Lord Viscount Wenman, Denzell Holles, Wm. Pierrepont, Esquires, Sir Henry Vane Junior, Knight, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Sir John Potts, Baronets, John Crew, Samuell Browne, John Glynn, John Bulkley, Esquires, Members of the House of Commons; Committees nominated and appointed by both Houses of Parliament, to repair to Newport, in the Isle of Wight, and there to treat Personally with His Majesty, upon Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace.

"1. You shall repair to Newport, in the Isle of Wight, where you, or any Eight of you, whereof Two Lords shall be present, to treat with His Majesty, for the Space of Forty Days from the Beginning of the said Treaty, upon the Propositions which were presented to His Majesty at Hampton Court, concerning the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and for the taking away of Wards and Liveries, now delivered unto you, and such other Propositions as by both Houses of Parliament shall be agreed upon.

"2. You shall receive such Propositions as His Majesty shall offer, and forthwith transmit them to both Houses of Parliament, that you may have further Directions from them how to proceed thereupon.

"3. You shall proceed to treat upon the Propositions for recalling Declarations, &c. the Propositions concerning the Church, the Propositions concerning the Militia, the Propositions concerning Ireland, in the First Place, in Order; and receive the King's Answer to each of them, and upon the rest in the same Order as they are now placed.

"4. You shall use your best Endeavours that the aforementioned Propositions may be agreed unto, without receding from the Matter of them.

"5. You shall deliver your Demands, and receive His Majesty's Answer to them, in Writing.

"6. You shall give frequent Advertisement to both Houses of Parliament, of your Proceedings in this Treaty."

Order for a Protection for Dr. Williams, Archbishop of York, against the Enemy.

Whereas Dr. John Williams, late Archbishop of Yorke, having for many Months last past lived and resided at Gwydir, in the County of Carnarvon, under the Obedience of the Parliament, and there upon several Occasions manifested his good Affection to the Parliament; and whereas the said Dr. Williams is maligned by divers Persons now in Arms in the County of Anglesey against the Parliament, some whereof have attempted to seize upon the Person of the said Doctor:

It is Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That the said Doctor Williams, upon all Occasions of Danger, may withdraw himself from Time to Time to any other Place of Strength, to secure himself, his Servants, and Goods, as he shall see Cause, and there to continue and remain, for his Safety, under the Protection of the Parliament, with all Freedom: And it is further Ordered, That the said Dr. Williams, with his Servants and other Accommodations (if the Troubles shall continue in those Parts where he shall be), may remove to any such other Place as aforesaid, under the Obedience of the Parliament, for the Causes abovesaid: And hereof all Committees of Parliament, Officers, and Soldiers, under the Command of the Parliament, and all others any Way concerned, are to take Notice, and yield their Obedience unto this Order, whereby the said Dr. Williams and his Servants may have civil Respect and Safety; they carrying themselves inoffensively, and in Obedience unto the Parliament.

Letter from the E. of Warwick, with an Account of his chacing the revolted Ships;-that he is joined by the Portsmouth Fleet, and apprehends the revolted Ships are gone to Goree.

(fn. 3) "The Earl of Warwick's Letter to the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons at Derby House; containing a Narrative of his Proceedings in Pursuit of the Revolted Ships, and their declining the Engagement, and of the Conjunction of the Portsmouth Fleet with the Lord Admiral's.

To the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons, at Derby House.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

By my Letter of Thursday last, I gave your Lordships a brief Account of our Condition.

I shall take Leave now to trouble your Lordships with a more particular Representation of our Proceedings.

On Tuesday Morning, 29 August, the Fleet with me proceeded down as low as The Shooe, where, the Tide of Flood coming in, we anchored.

In the Forenoon of the same Day, we discovered a great Fleet of Ships coming up into the River; and by a Signal from The Adventure Frigot (sent out the 28 for Advice) we found them to be the revolted Ships: At their coming nearer, we saw their Three Flags, and made them to be (small and great) at least Twenty in Number.

We had by this Time a very great Experiment of the Mariners Affection; those aboard my Ship applying themselves to a Preparation for Fight with the greatest Alacrity that ever I saw, there being not One of them that discovered the least Averseness to engage, or Unwillingness to lay down his Life for the Enemy's Reduction; which (as the Captains informed me) was likewise the general Temper of the rest of the Fleet: And truly the special Influence of God upon their Spirits was visible to Admiration; and (which I value as no small Privilege and Honour to this Undertaking) their Eyes, Hearts, and Prayers, were so advanced to Heaven (as the Place only from whence they expected their Help), that it was a great Engagement to our Faith, that God would manifest and engage His special Presence and Power amongst us and for us, in the Issue of this Service.

The Place where we that Day anchored was full of Sands, and the Channel narrow; therefore about Noon we began to ply up towards the Buoy of The Oze Edge, endeavouring to keep the Advantage that God had given us, of being to the Windward of the Enemy. That Night we anchoring off the Buoy of The Oze Edge, and the Enemy at about a League Distance from us, the Prince sent me a Summons, by Mr. Henry Seymour, about Eight of the Clock; which I received, and answered, as I gave Account in my last to your Lordships; wherein, of the Summons, and of my Answer, I inclosed a Copy.

The same Tuesday Night, I consulted with a Council of War, where we determined how to manage the next Day's Action; the Sum of our Resolution being, that every Ship should weigh, and be loose at the Windward Tide, and get and keep the Wind of the Enemy if possible, and assist each other to the best Advantage, if engaged, but not on that Day to begin the Engagement on our Part; we being every Hour in Expectation of the Portsmouth Ships, and the Channel where God's Providence had cast us being so narrow, that, in case of Engagement, some of the Ships would have been necessarily forced upon the Sands, and so destroyed (which Inconvenience, we considered, might be prevented by the Portsmouth Ships falling upon the Rear, while we fell upon the Van of the Enemy's Fleet); yet withal to keep our Ground about The Oze Edge, being a Place of more Advantage than many others thereabouts.

That Night and the next Day, videlicet, the 30 of Aug. till about Noon, all was quiet (the Mariners retaining their former Spirit of Courage, Unanimity, and Resolution); and then, the Tide of Flood coming on, the Enemy weighed. I also weighed, with the Fleet under my Command; which, plying up and down some Hours according to the Resolutions of the Council of War, maintained the Advantage of being to the Windward of the Enemy, and expected without Scruple a sudden Engagement; the Weather also being fair, and a Calm expected rather than otherwise: But about Four in the Afternoon there fell so great a Gale of Wind (amounting to no less than a Storm), that the Admiral of the revolted Ships, with his whole Fleet, was forced to come to Anchor, and so were we; there being no Action the Remainder of that Afternoon nor the Night following, during which the Admirals of the Two Fleets rode about a League each from other.

That Day I sent forth a Vessel, to enquire after the Portsmouth Fleet.

On Thursday Morning, 31 Aug. I called a Council of War; and then it was again considered, that the Portsmouth Fleet was not yet come in, nor heard of; that some Ships of this Fleet (especially the great ones) would in all Probability be forced on the Sands, if we should here engage; which would also produce the like Effect as to some of the revolted Ships, whereby the Strength of the Navy would be much impaired; that a few Hours Expectance might bring in the Portsmouth Fleet, whereby we might not only proportion the Enemy's Strength, but also, by God's Blessing, disable their Return: We considered withal, that on the Miscarriage of this Fleet depended the Miscarriage of the Portsmouth Fleet, and the putting of very high Advantages into the Enemy's Hand, further to prejudice the Trade of the Kingdom, and to make their Strength at Sea much more considerable: Upon which, and some other Grounds then offered, it was (amongst other Things) unanimously resolved upon the Question, by myself, the Commissioners of Parliament, and the rest of the Council of War (consisting of Twelve in Number), not One Voice contradicting it, that the Ships of this Fleet should observe the Enemy's Motion; and if he ply up, then to ply up before him, keeping as much as might be to the Windward, and declining at present an Engagement, unless it should be unavoidable; and that, in case the Enemy should weigh, and fall downwards, this Fleet should follow them, yet at such a Distance that there might be Room enough with Conveniency to anchor, and to succour the Portsmouth Fleet, in case they should be in Sight; and so we prepared ourselves in Expectation of an Engagement that Afternoon.

But, by the Time that these and some other Resolutions of the Council of War were digested and ready to be signed, the Vice Admiral of the revolted Ships did, about Ten in the Forenoon, weigh, and shortly after so did the rest; and forthwith their whole Fleet stowed away. I did thereupon give Order to the Fleet with me, to weigh; and as soon as my Letter to your Lordships of that Day was dispatched, we gave them Chace, some of our Ships keeping at a small Distance; of which, The Adventure Frigot, espying a Fleet a head of the Enemy, shot a Gun, in Token they were the Portsmouth Ships; whereupon I made all the Sail I could, to the End this Fleet's Conjuction with the Portsmouth Ships might be improved, to the more effectual engaging of the Enemy; though the Fleet, supposed by Captain Ball to be from Portsmouth, proved other Ships.

Afterwards, Night being come, and the Pilot conceiving it dangerous further to proceed so near the Sands, I anchored near the Middle of The Gunfleet, about a League and a Half short of the Enemy (who, by shooting off a Gun, and hauling up their Sails, gave Cause of Confidence that they were also coming to Anchor); purposing to weigh early next Morning to pursue them, and appointing some Ships of this Fleet to lie near, to observe their Motion.

The next Morning, the First of Septemb. we found that the Revolters had withdrawn themselves in the Night; and about Six of the Clock we discovered the Portsmouth Ships (conceived to be those, by the many Guns that passed by Way of Salute (as was interpreted) betwixt them and some of this Fleet that went up to them); whereupon I gave Order to weigh: But the Wind grew so high, that the Pilot delivered his Opinion, this Ship would not in such Weather be able to sail, without Danger of fiding upon Gunfleet Sands; whereupon we remained there at Anchor all that Day, the Wind continuing to Night very high.

This Day, being the Second of September, we weighed from the Middle of Gunfleet; and about Ten in the Forenoon met with all the Portsmouth Fleet (other than some of the smaller Vessels that retired into Harwich for Shelter against the Yesterday's Storm); and so we proceeded together to Albrough Rode, to enquire after the revolted Fleet; where anchoring, I spoke with the Captains that came from Portsmouth, who represent their several Companies to be as cordial and resolute for the Enemy's Reduction as could be desired.

Since my coming hither, I have endeavoured to inform myself which Way the Revolters are gone; and find it most probable that they are retired to Goree, there being not the least Intimation in these Parts that they are gone Northwards: Therefore I shall (God willing) repair To-morrow Morning towards The Downs, where I shall expect your Lordships further Commands; intending in the mean Time to send an Express to Holland, for a certain Account whether the Ships are in Goree, that I may be in a quicker Capacity to put in Execution such Orders as shall be given me in Charge concerning them. I shall add no more, but to commend it to your Lordships Consideration, whether it may not be necessary that the Order be renewed for Indemnity to the Revolters, upon their Submission to the Parliament's Obedience, and to rest

Your Lordships, &c.

Affectionate and humble Servant,

Aboard The St. George, in Albrough Rode, 2 Sept. 1648.

Warwick.

"I have written to Colonel Temple, to take off the Restraint of Ships Passage by Tilbury Fort; any Order or Desire from me notwithstanding."

Ordered, by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Letter be forthwith printed and published.

"H. Elsynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com."

Footnotes

  • 1. Deest in Originali.
  • 2. Sic.
  • 3. This Letter is printed, and bound in with the Original.