most fit to give us an account of their proceedings. In confidence whereof we remain.
Signed in the name, and by command of the Parl. Your affectionate friends
of the Kingdom of Scot. Eding. March 6. 1649. London, Chancellarius.
We send you here a Duplicate of the paper of the 24. given unto you by our commissioners.
The Scots Commissioners with their guard were Friday last at Doncaster.
The Councel of State also were this day about the regulating of the Navy, and the
Merchants of London gave their attendance there. They did something also about
Ireland, and received the Reports concerning the Turkish Alcharon.
The Committee for the North sate upon the examination of the businesse concerning
Mr. Lilburn, and the rest, concerning those papers from the Bishopwrick of Dufine,
in Mr. Blakstons hands.
Wednesday March 21.
This day the House of Commons received letters from the Lord chief Baron Wild,
concerning what Carriage the Mayor, and Justices of the peace, had towards him at
Excester.
Another letter from an eminent hand followes, viz.
Honoured Sir,
OUr Assizes are here begun, and the Lord Baron wild hath been at our Guild-Hall,
but neither Mr. Gould the Major, nor one Justice of this City appeared. The Judge
seeing the Major and Justices so backward to doe their right, and carrying themselves
so uncivelly towards him, he hath fined the Major 200.l. And the City 200. l,
more. This City is very arrogant and obstinate to the present proceedings of Parliament:
I beleeve they will he compelled to pay their Fines. The Judge is a very mild
man, and dth not speak in his own behalf, (as to his particular Interest) but for the
good of the Common-wealth; He is sorry this City shewes so much contempt: They
will smart for it: And the rest of the Justices of the Country are bad too; very few of
them appeared, no more but 7. whereas about 40. were called; and those which did
come, were very much diswaded by the Ministers in the Country. The Judge made a
gallant Speech for the vindication of the present proceedings of Parliament.
Exon the 17. of March. 1648.
The House of Commons ordered to referre the Lord Chiefe Baron Wilds Letter
to the Councel of State, and the businesse to be by them examined, and proceed as
they shall see cause.
A Report was made to the House of Commons, concerning divers sale of ships
come with Coales from Newcastle, and that they send up first 3. or 4. and then to
send more, thereby to keep up the prizes thereof, to the great prejudice of the
poore. And that some Citizens engrosed them at great rates, to their own private benefit
and much prejudice of the poor.
The House ordered to referre it to the Councel of State, to inquire whether those
Reports be true, and to take care for the help of the poor therein, and to proceed
therein as they shall find cause, for the preventing of so great abuses, and for reliefe of
poor, [unr] being so lamentably pinched these hard times,