Friday, February 16.
THe House of Commons (this day) had the Answer in the Scots papers [nl]and,
and upon the Question passed they excellent and full, wherein it is shewed
how carefull the Parliament of England hath been in things for the amity of the
Kingdomes, and who it was that transgressed in the matter of the Covenant; and as
for the King, they demonstrate what they have done to be according to the fundamentall
Lawes of this Nation.
The Whole was recommited, and ordered to be brought in again on the morrow.
From the Hague came (this day) letters which certifie, That the first news that
Prince Charles had of the death of his Father the King of England, was, when his
Chaplain was a going to prayer, who wept and saluted him King of England; the
Prince after enquiry how, was in a great distemper, pulled his hair, and was like one
distracted, and in this distemper he fell into as wound, but after wards being recovered,
they did what they could to comfort him; and presently mourning was bespok
for Prince Charles and his Attendants.
The Prince of Orange and his Wife Prince Charles sister, and divers Others came
to condole with him, upon the hearing of the death of his Father.
There were some from the States of Holland also to condole with him, but not
as King of England, but as the deceased Kings son for the death of his Father, as
to matter of ceremonies about mourning for the dead.
Upon Reports from the Committee of the Navy, the House of Commons passed
severall Votes in order to the setling of the Navy, and for advance of monies for
that service of so great consequence.
This day the Lord Goring and Sir John Owen were brought to the Bar before the
High Court of Justice, The Lord Goring made a Narrative of his being beyond the
Seas, and what he had agitated to endeavour the peace of France, Holland, and the
like, and of his coming over hither, and what he did here how he came to
Whitehall, and after he was put out there, went to Hampton court, his being put out
there, and so whether he went from place to place: His going to the County of
Essex, where they were in severall meetings about petitions, as was said for Peace,
all which he made to be a prosecution of his endeavours for Peace. But he went on,
and said that when he came to them in Essex; they (unhappily) made him their
Commander in chief, rising in Arms, and he was so unhappy as to accept of it; that
when he was defeated there by the Lord Generals Forces, he passed over into Kens,
and show he was pursued by the Lord Generall and besieged in Colchester.
But in all this he could fasten on nothing legally to build upon for clearing him,
but only to beg the mercy of the Court, and he did acknowledge his fault, and was
very submissive.
Sir John Owen, his plea was a deniall to the matter contained in the charge again him that
there was no such guilt of Treason, and murder by him, as is contained in the Charge. And that
as for the Sheriffe, he saith that he did not would him, nor was guilty of his death, and [nl]and he was
as free from killing of him as Col. Mitton himselfe.
There is a set of some hundreds of person (not Souldiers but pretended themselves to be Souldiers
in London and parts adjacent, who do much hurt in robbing and plundering, and abusing people,
some of them are prisoners in White Hall, others are imprisoned for fellory in severall prisons about
the City and parts adjacent; but 2 or 3 of them that were in White Lyon prison in Southwork
have made an escape. They have one who is their Cheifetaine, and Commander over them, and
it is said he gives our orders and rules to such and such; so and so in the severall respective stations
And this Commander in chief they call their Prince, and in their discourse say the
Prince said or did so, and give him that stile and none other, which some have mistaken