be paid by the Commissioners of the Excise, to the Commissioners of the Navy, being
Arrear of a former sum charged on them. Eight thousand pounds more to be paid to them
from the Treasurer of Goldsmiths Hall. An Act read for setting poor on Worle, and
committed. Either take some care to case, or relieve them, else their necessities will enforce
them to be rich, and level what they never intended.
Lancaster, March 21.
Not long since the Minsters of this County had a meeting at Preston, called
one of their Provincicall meeting; they had much debate concerning the presenting of a
Petition to Major General Ashton, to desire that he would settle the Presbyteriall Government
within this County before he disbanded his forces; what they concluded is not
certainly known; but here is a report that twenty out of each Troope and Company are
to fetch Ammunition, and that they intend to make proposalls unto those who shall come to
disband them, if granted, then to disband, if not, to stand upon their guard.
It is thought the Ministers at the same meeting did agree, that two of them should be sent
to Scotland congratulate with the Priests there; that which makes this more proveable;
two of them were met the other day farther North, and now they are at a gererall meeting,
its thought to receive what those two hath to impart unto them.
Its said the Scots are raising one thousand eight hundred horse and foot within every
County, and that they had a Randezvous within seven miles of Edenburg upon Friday last,
of all in twelve Counties; the Scors hath sent Commissioners into Ireland to Preston
and Inchequin; the Priests in Scotland doth each of them set four men, all which considered,
you may perceive that these Garrisons within the Northren parts of this Nation had
need to be speedily provided with store of Ammunition and Provision of victuals; therefore
we desire you to acquaint the Councell of war with as much, that speedy care may be
taken in it.
From Northamptonshire, March 22.
We are quiet here as yet: The Clergy were very active, and had many meetings
about some design against the agreement, but could bring forth nothing. The Malignants
are tollerably quiet, the greatest part of their confidence being shaken out of their hearts;
but the Clergy are the men, out of whose mouthes so strong a gale blows, that probably may
raise the waves again, or at least make the waters churlish. We take notice here how those
Presbyterian Ministers, Dr. Sibals, Mr. Hodges, and Mr. Boulton, that accompanied those
three Lords to the Scaffold, who were executed for their treason, how they shewed not the
least dislike against their Malignity, and herrible treson, for which they suffered, nor ever
once so much as minded them of their grievous sins against God, and against the Kingdom;
their treachery, cruelty, invasion of the Nation, turning from Parliament to King, from
King to Parliament, any way for their own advantage, though to the imbroyling the Kingdom
in new wars, and to the ruine of the people; yet these Presbyterian Ministers, without
so much as bringing their sins to remembrance, or once exhorting them to repent,
court them, and complement with them, as Martyrs, and give them goodly and glorious
words; hereby not only betraying their souls, as much as in them lay, speaking peace to
them, when there was no peace, but also darkning that cause of God, which once these men
themselves countenanced and preached for, and covenanted for, by giving forth the opposers
of it, not for Malefactors, but for Martyrs; and if they had had any of the old Prelates
for their Confessors, how could they have soothed them up, and incouraged them more?
so that it must needs be coucluded, that there is not now one hairs breadth between Malignity
and Presbytery, when the chiefe Ringleaders of the Malignants are honoured for
Saints and Martyrs by some of the chief Ministers of the Presbyterians. But all honest men
begin to spy out their juglings, and among the rest, your Servant.