THE LETTERS, Commissions And other PAPERS WHICH Were communicated to the Common-Councel of the City of London, by a Committee of the Honourable House of Commons, on Monday, July 31. 1648. Die Martis, 2 Augusti, 1648. ORdered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That the said Letters be forthwith printed and published. Ordered, That the Instructions given to Captain Green from the Prince, and other material Commissions and Papers, be forthwith printed. H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com. London, Printed for Edward Husband, Printer to the Honourable House of Commons, August 4. 1648. For Mr. William Tompson, Town-Clerk of Edinburgh. LONDON, 26 julii, 1648. Honest Cousin, I Have yours by Will. Lamb of Carcadia, and have fully enquired into your business, and there's no fear in the behalf of I. M. I have freighted Mr. Hambleton with News, who will communicate all to you; what you writ, let it be by Sea, for that is the safest way of Intelligence at present, and there's no fear of any stop of Trade that way. I commend the prudence of the Committee, to give leave now and then for a Ship of Corn to come to this Port, it will be a means to keep Trade open to our people: W. G. hath written about the other business you mentioned of 261. or else given L. private Instructions: We are advised the Earl of Kallendar is coming with the Artillery through Northumberland. I shall not need to tell you how forward the Commons are; but their voting will be according to our Armies marching; The Presbyterian Priests begin to comply with the Independents; and which are most violent, to tell you I cannot. 83. is not in town, but is gone to consult with 219. the business I wrote to you of D. H. is almost perfected; the Furniture shall be sent next Ship without fail, but the Earl of Warwick's inconsiderable Fleet lying in the River, by their searching of our Ships makes us more than ordinary cautious: I have no more, but wishing you to send me back the great Trunk that your Curtains and Vallens were sent in, but to take leave and subscribe myself Your perfect loving friend and Cousin, T. H. You will hear of comfortable News within few days. Vale. Remember all our faithful respects to Sir Arch: Primrose, and thank him for all his Intelligence communicated. For the Right Worshipful, Sir Alexander Gibson, Clerk of the SIGNET at Edinburgh. London, 26 July, 1648. Right Worshipful, HAving so trusty a Messenger and so sure conveyance, I could not but advise you something of the state of our Affairs here: We are here in this City generally right, only Skippon makes some disturbance by Listing Horse and Foot, which though inconsiderable to what we have Listed for us, yet we hope not only to null his Listing, but out him from his being General of this City; the Lords have already done something, but wait for some further encouragement from hence; to which purpose the Common-Councel are about framing a Petition. I shall refer you to T. Hambleton for the business in the West; for that in the North, it's ours already, and * Col. Matth. Boynton. Matt. shall be Sainted: 291 is not yet ready to be dispatched; for Colchester, it's in no great straits, able to hold out this month. I hope you had mine by D. H. wherein I advised of the unfortunate success of * E. of Holland. H. We have no safer way for conveyance of Intelligence, then by Sea: I am in very much haste, and have only time to subscribe myself, Your faithful Serviture, W. G. 2 x: We are not idle, but active: God give good success. Vale. The Prince's Commission to Capt. Green, taken and sent to the Parliament by Sir MICHAEL LIVESEY. CHARLES, Prince of Great Britain, Duke of Cornwall and Albany, Highest Captain General under His Majesty of all Forces both by Sea and Land, within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick: Whereas we hold it very convenient and necessary for His Majesty's Service, to Arm, or cause to be Armed, and set forth to Sea as many Ships and Vessels of War as possibly can be, for the weakening and suppressing the Rebels usurped Power, and for the effectual stopping and breaking of their Commerce and Supply by Sea: And forasmuch as we have received sufficient testimony of your abilities and experience in Sea affairs, and of your good affection to the King our Royal Father's Service; we do by these presents, by virtue of the Power and Authority given and committed to us from our most dear Father the King's most excellent Majesty, constitute, authorise and appoint you Captain Richard Green, to be Captain and chief Commander of the good Ship called the Christopher of Sunderland, authorising and commanding you, with the said Vessel completely manned and armed for the War, and with such others as shall associate with you for our dear Father's Service, to do and cause to be done to the Rebels all possible damage and hostility in their Shipping, Commerce and Navigation; and in case of resistance, to use your best vigilance and endeavours during the time of this Rebellion, to take, apprehend, sink and fire, or otherwise to impair and destroy the Ships, Vessels and men, their goods, and all things to them belonging, of all and every of those His Majesty's Subjects, who are or shall be in Rebellion against Him, or of those who shall be aiding, abetting or assisting to them; and of all others who shall transport or convey any goods belonging to them, or which shall bring or carry any Arms, Ammunition, Victuals or Provisions of Arms, or Warlike Provisions whatsoever to them, or for their use, or to any City, Town, Port, Creek or place in their possession, & out of his Majesty's obedience, contrary to His Proclamations made or to be made on that behalf: All which you shall and may do and perform by virtue of this our Commission; as also to anchor, victual and refresh in any His Majesty's Roads, Ports and Havens, and from thence again to put forth to Sea, and to bring the Prizes by you taken, the Papers and Evidences found on board, without breaking bulck into any Port or Haven within His Majesty's obedience and possession, and to have the same adjudged as lawful Prizes, and the same to be divided, parted and shared, according to the ancient custom of the Sea: And in case it shall so happen, that you cannot without eminent and apparent danger bring the Prizes so taken into some of His Majesty's Ports, without danger or hazard of having them surprised or taken from you again by the Rebels; then and in such necessity you shall have free Power and Authority to carry such Prizes into any Port or Haven of any His Majesty's Friends or Allies beyond the Seas in League and Amity with him, there to dispose of the same: Except always, and reserving to his Majesty all Tenths heretofore used to be paid in cases of like nature to the Admiral of England, and all customs and duties due or accustomably paid to his Majesty for or upon any of the said Prizes, which we will that you pay and justly account for to his Majesty. Provided always, That before the said Ship or Vessel of War to be set out by you shall put forth to Sea, you shall enter into security with his Majesty, according to the course of the high Court of Admiralty of England, in such caution as shall be thought meet and necessary by the Judge of the Admiralty or Vice-Admiralty in the place from whence you shall put forth to Sea, That you will do, or suffer to be done no wrong or violence to any of his Majesty's Friends, Allies, or Loyal Subjects; but on the con rary, as occasion and need shall require, to yield and afford them all favour, furtherance and assistance, excepting such of them as shall be employed in aid and service by the Rebels, or any of them: And we further charge & command all the inferior officers & their Mates, and all the Soldiers and Mariners of the said Ship (whom we hereby likewise give you full power to nominate and appoint) you to obey and observe as their captain & chief commander, and to receive, execute & fulfil readily alley our orders, commands, and all things tending to the good and advancement of his Majesty's Service; and you yourself likewise to accomplish such Orders and Directions as you shall receive from time to time from his Majesty, from us, or from any other your Superior Officer for the time being touching the Premises; for which this shall be unto you, and to every one employed under you, a sufficient Warrant and Discharge, the same being to continue in full force for the space of one whole year, from the day of the date hereof. Given at St. en Say, the 6. of June, 1648. CHARLES P. By his Highness' Command, Rob. Long. The Prince's Instructions to Capt. Green, directing him to expect Orders either from the Prince himself or the Lord Jermin, the Lord Willoughby of Parham being Vice-Admiral in Name only (as it appeareth) and not trusted with the Secrecy of Affairs. CHARLES P. Instructions for Captain Richard Green, touching the execution of his Commission of Captain of the good Ship or Vessel called the of bearing date herewith, that is to say, the 6. of June, in the Four and twentieth year of His Majesty's Reign. FIrst, Because it is not seasonable to put the said Commission in execution, you shall therefore for the present conceal the same. Secondly, You shall not put the said Commission in execution by taking any Prizes, or doing any act of hostility by virtue thereof, until we shall have published our Manifest and Declaration, whereby it shall be expressed who are the Enemies against whom you are to execute our said Commission, or until you shall receive further and particular Order from us, or from our right Trusty and well-beloved Henry Lord Iermin in that behalf. Thirdly, You shall in all things concerning our said Commission, obey such Orders and Directions as you shall from time to time receive from the said Lord Iermin, to whom we have given full Power and Authority and in that behalf. There was at the same time communicated to the Common-Councel, a judgement given in the Admiralty Court held in the Isle of Jersey the 30 of March, 1648. against one Thomas Tatnel, Master of the Frigate called The Saint Christopher; by which judgement Tatnel is adjudged to lose his said Frigate, for this Reason entered (in terminis) in the Instrument of Adjucation, Pur ceo que est Troue que le dit Tatnel & ses Consortes avoient prise le detestable Serement dict le Covenant, Because that it did appear, That the said Tatnel and his Consorts had taken the detestable Oath called the Covenant. Look to yourselves Covenanters. FINIS.