The Online Library of Liberty

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• Preface
• The Clarke Papers
• Newsletters Written In 1653 1
• Extracts From Newsletters Written In 1654 1
• An Intercepted Letter 1
• Another Letter of the Same Date From Another Hand
• Extracts From Newsletters
• A Newsletter
• Extracts From Newsletters
• Newsletters 1655. 1
• Narrative of the Expedition to San Domingo 1
• Extracts From Newsletters, 1655
• Extracts From Newsletters, 1656
• Secretary Thurloe to General Monck
• Newsletters 1
• Major Ralph Knight to General Monck
• Newsletters
• A Letter From Dr. Worth
• F. 117b. His Highness the Lord Protector’s Speech In the Painted Chamber to the Parliament Assembled the 27th of November, 1656. 1
• Newsletters
• Lieut.-gen. Brayne to General Monck
• Extracts From Newsletters 2
• Secretary Thurloe to General Monck 1
• Newsletters 1
• Secretary Thurloe to General Monck
• Newsletters 1
• The Protector’s Speech, March 31, 1657
• The Protector’s Speech, April 3, 1657
• Newsletters
• Speech of the Protector, April 8, 1657
• Newsletters
• An Officer In Flanders to General Monck 2
• Major-general Morgan to General Monck
• Newsletters
• A Letter From Flanders
• Letters From Flanders
• Vice-admiral Goodson to General Monck [?]
• A Letter From France
• A Letter From France
• Lieutenant Colonel Hughes to General Monck
• Newsletters
• A Letter From Mardyke
• Newsletters
• A Letter From Mardyke
• Newsletters
• Newsletters, 1658 1
• Major General Morgan to General Monck
• Newsletter
• Speech of the Protector, February 4, 1658
• Newsletters
• Secretary Thurloe to General Monck
• Lieut.-col. Hughes to General Monck
• Secretary Thurloe to General Monck
• Lieut.-col. Hughes to General Monck
• Newsletters
• Lieut.-col. Hughes to General Monck
• Newsletter
• Colonel Drummond to General Monck
• Lieut-col. Hughes to General Monck
• Lieut.-col. Hughes to General Monck
• Newsletter
• Major General Morgan to General Monck
• Extracts From Newsletters
• Newsletters
• Secretary Thurloe to General Monck
• Extracts From Newsletters
• Speech of the Protector, Richard Cromwell, November 19, 1658
• Mr. Downing to General Monck
• Newsletter
• Secretary Thurloe to General Monck
• Newsletters 1659 2
• Mr. Downing to General Monck
• Newsletter
• George Downing to Secretary Thurloe 1 G. D.
• Extracts From Newsletters
• Newsletters
• Letter to General Monck
• Newsletters
• Lieutenant-general Fleetwood to General Monck
• Secretary Thurloe to General Monck
• Newsletters
• Appendix
• Appendix A: Colonel Sexby’s Advice On Foreign Policy 1
• Appendix B: Edward Montagu’s Notes On the Debates In the Protector’s Council Concerning the Last Indian Expedition 1
• Appendix C: An Account of the Fall of the Protector, Richard Cromwell, In a Letter From Nehemiah Bourne.

Newsletters1

March 7, 165.—

f. 15b.Munday the House debated the first paragraphe of the bill which was for makeing his Highnes King, and it was ordered that the said paragraphe should bee postponed, and debated in the last part of the said bill.2 Tuesday severall officers of the army met at Whitehall, and other Members of Parliament and army joyned with them, and upon debate of the busines of Kingship much satisfaction was given of the proceedings and result of the House therein. That day the House debated the point of succession, and ordered that the Protector himself should in his lifetime nominate his owne successour; soe little opposition was made to this vote, that they were not soe much as devided thereupon. Wednesday the officers met again at Whitehall, and appointed a Comittee of themselves to attend his Highnes. That day the Parliament considered of the part of the bill for nominating 70 persons to bee another and 3d estate in the nature of a House of Peeres, but came to no result. Thursday and Fryday the consideracion thereof was resumed, and these following results past thereupon, vizt. That there should be 2 Houses of Parliament; That the number of the other House should bee not above 70, nor under 40; That they should be chosen by his Highnes; That when any of them dye others in their stead shall bee appointed by the said House; That no Irish rebells, or such as were actors, ayders, councellours, or abettours in the late warre against the Parliament since 1642, unles such as have since given signall testimonyes of their good affection to the present Government, shall bee capable of sitting in the said House. The words ‘signall testimonies’ admitted of some debate, soe that the explanation and ascertaineinge thereof is referred to a Comittee. That noe Member duely elected to serve in either House, shall bee kept out from the performance of his duty therein but by the judgement of that House of which hee is chosen a Member. This day was spent in debate of the bill for the next 3 moneths double Assesments, and upon the question committed to a Grand Comittee of the whole House. A motion was made that the clergie might bee exempted from the payment thereof, upon which much debate was had, but at last layd aside.

G. M.

March 10, 165.—

f. 17b.I doubt nott butt you have heard that of late there hath bin amonge the officers a tender sence of the present publique transactions, which occasioned the addresse of many officers of the army to his Highnes, who (having receaved much free intertainment) were emboldened to improve his Highnes leave by a second adresse, which was done the last Thursday by about nine or ten of their number, who were chosen by the rest to represent their thoughts and desires in some better composure then could be done by soe many together, which was presented both modestly and freely, and as acceptably received, wherein my Lord was pleased to use such tender and plaine discovery of his constant regard to his army, and the antient cause of the honnest people under his government, and gave such Christian assurance thereof that amounted to a large sattisfaccion both to them and to the Councill, to whom those officers did yesterday make their reports. Besides which, many addresses are come up from the good people of manny parts of the nation to represent their feares about such things which now are upon the wheele, and are very welcomly received by his Highnes, soe that we hope the common enemy shall neither prevale to weaken the hands of the army, nor swallow up the ould honnest cause (of what kind soever their attempts are), nor yet render that cause nor the army a just reproach to the defenders thereof. These present weightie affaires have a little demurred the consideracion of the releiffe of regiments from Scotland, as alsoe the setling of the busynes of the honest Remonstratours who came from Scotland, whose case is much condoled here by many of our cheife officers and others, as being a bussines allyed with the same interest which is here also striving against the sperit of malignancy in this nacion. The tender respect which your Lordship have borne to them in Scotland is very honorably resented, as that which merits acknowledgment from all good and rightly affected people, who think themselves nesecarily involved with them in the same duty of a common indeavour to presearve the interest of God and good men, that at last it be not over run by cunning and pernitious persons, and fawnings of the opposite party, judging it better to inbarque with that parte which is most like by the arme of God to ride out all stormes, and with it to sinke or swim, if (at least) it be possible that such a cause (which we trust the mercy and goodnesse of God will yet owne) should at lenght suffer shipwrake. There is lately come forth an order for the regiments about London to recruite to two thousand each regement.

H. D.1

March 10.—

f. 19.Since the votes, that his Highnesse have liberty to nominate his successor, and that there bee two Houses of Parliament, wee sitt uppon noe other businesse after ten of the clock (except Saturdayes) but onely the severall clauses of this Remonstrance for a setlement, and the great worke hath bin that none chuse or be chosen Members of Parliament but such as [are] under certaine qualifications of godlines and honesty, excludeing Papists and Cavaliers for life. My Lord, I was fearefull that this Remonstrance would have found farre greater opposition then I can perceive it is like to doe. Good men decrie it, but when the particulars come into debate the arguments against it prove very light as to my understanding. This day it was resolved, that there bee a Committee to judge of Members hereafter to bee chosen to sitt in ensueing Parliaments.

March 14, 165.—

f. 20b.The House have spent much time this weeke in debate of the qualifications of the Members that are to bee chosen in future Parliaments, and voted that they should bee persons of integrity, and of godly life and conversation, noe Irish rebells, nor any in Holy Orders, none that denyes the Scriptures, or such as will not acknowledge the Magistracy and Ministry of the nation and the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to bee the ordinance of God. Some dayes were spent likewise in debate of a revenue to bee setled upon his Highnes and his successours, and yesterday it was resolved that 1300,000^li should bee setled as a yearly revenue upon them, of which they compute 300,000^li per annum for his familyes expence; 400,000^li per annum for maintenance of his land forces; and 600,000^li per annum for payeing his fleet. The Excise and Custome will rayse above 900,000^li per annum thereof; the Exchequer 200,000^li per annum, and the remainder upon particular offices. His Highnes is giveing out Commissions for the rayseing of 6000 foot; they are given out to bee for forreigne service, some say to joyne with the Portugall against the Spanyard, others affirme that they are to joyne with the French against the Spanyard, but their designe is not yet certainly knowne.f. 21. Many give out that Charles Stuart will bee here with a small army about the middle of the next moneth, when our forces will bee in a readines to receive them. The landing of Generall Brayne at Jamaica with his whole number of shippes and men is verified by letters under his owne hand1 and other officers of quality there. The House hath ordered to sitt twice a day for 8 dayes together for the dispatch of the Bill for Kingshipp. This dayes debate was for rayseing money to carry on the Spanish warre, but the House came to no result therein.

G. M.

March 19, 165.—

f. 23.I am glad to heare the officers are soe well disposed in Scotland; most heere are nott only come to a contented subjection to what is doing, butt to a liking thereof. This day the House passed the clause for Liberty of Concience, and indeed much more to sattisfaction generally then as in the Instrument of Government. They alsoe passed the clause for Confirmacion of the Acts and Ordinances of Parliament for the sale of the King’s and other lands sould by authority of Parliament, soe that there onely remaines the clause for the Oath to be given to the Caveliers, and two or three businesses which are comitted to Committees for the wording, and the clause about the name to be given to the single person, which was postponed, soe that by Satterday, or the beginning of the next weeke at furthest, I hope we may come to a close. Truly I was never soe tired in my life as with this constant sitting morning and afternoone. I pray God give his blessing; the Cavalliers and other of our ennemies in Flanders are infinitly madde at what is now doeing heer, as looking upon it as having a tendency to settlement.

G. D.

March 31, 1657.—

f. 29.Yesterday the bill for attainting the rebells in Ireland was read, this day the bill for indempnity. About 11 of the clocke the Speaker attended with the Members came into the Banquetting House, where his Highnes, attended with severall of the Counsell and manny officers, Generall Mountague carr[y]ing the sword before him (the Lord Lambert being at Wimbleton), met them. The Speaker acquainted him that the greate Councell of the 3 nations assembled in Parliament had by advice from heaven bin indeavoring to settle a right basiss of government in these dominions, to reduce the law to its right current, and to assertaine propriety by settling a kingly government, which (by reason of the manny distractions and interests amongst us) will and ever hath bin best pleasing therein. The word Protectour was never knowne unlesse in a prinses minority; the woord King the Scripture and lawes of the nation doe owne. At last he presented the petition, and humbly desired his Highnes’ acceptance thereof and assent thereunto. Which being read by Mr. Scobell his Highnes answered, that the Lord had inabled him to rune throw manny trobles, and in his owld age he well hoped for rest. That he beleeved that the Lord had blest their councells, and what they now offered was an earnest of their reall affections to him, but the bussines was of soe greate importance, and consisted of soe many heads that he desired time to waite upon God for councell and direction, and to consult with his owne conscience therein; and what the Lord should please to sett upon his hart he would faithfully and speedily comunicate to them without feare of any discontented persons.

G. M.

[1 ]March 2. See Commons’ Journal, vii. 497.

[2 ]First Article of the Remonstrance:

‘That your Highnes will be pleased to assume the name, style, tytle, dignity and office of King of England, Scottland and Ireland and the respective dominions and teritories thereunto belonging, and the exercise thereof, to hould and injoy the same with the rights, priviledges, and prerogatives justley, legally, and rightly thereunto belonging. God who puts downe and setts up another, and gives the kingdomes of the world to whomsoever hee pleaseth, having by a series of Providence[s] raised you to bee a deliverer to these Nations, and made you more able to governe us in peace and prosperity then any other whatsoever soe long as God shall continue to us the blessing of your life and governement; and for preventing such confusions and inconveniences that otherwayse may ensue upon your death, that your Highnes will be pleased in your life time to appoint and declare the person, who shall, immediately after your death, succeed you in the government of these nations; and we shall esteeme your Highnes acceptance of our unfained desire herein as a farther testimony of your care and good affection to us and this Commonwealth, and doe faithfully obleige ourselves to adhere to you with the expence of our lives and estates.’ (Clarke MSS. xxix. f. 10b.)

The second part of this article was passed in an abridged form on March 3, the words italicised being voted to stand as part of this Remonstrance.

[1 ]It is possible that H. D. is a mistake for G. D. and that this letter is from George Downing to Monck. See his letters of March 19. On the other hand it looks as if the author were an officer and H. D. may be Major Henry Dorney, one of the Scottish Officers sent to London in the previous September to represent the army there.

[1 ]See p. 86 ante.