degree to colour or exaggerate it, I will give in the words of the original. A minute of the 14th November 1649 sets forth the following facts and provisions' respecting those facts. "Whereas there are daily great robberies and outrages committed not only in the highways on passengers travelling on their lawful occasions, but also many houses broken open and murders committed, whereby the very trade and commerce of this commonwealth is in danger to be ruined : for prevention therefore of such mischiefs in the future it is ordered that the directions following be put in due execution. "1. That of the two regiments upon the guards for London and Westminster the officers take care to send out ten men out of every troop daily eight miles to scour the roads about London, viz. Rumford, Epping, Waltham, Barnet, Uxbridge, Brentford, Shooter's Hill, Kingston, and Croydon roads. 2 "2. That twenty horse be upon the guard upon every road in two several guards which are to correspond one with another by scouts. "That every constable provide an able guide well acquainted with the several roads and ways and an able horse 1 By a former minute of 24th October 1649 it is ordered "that it be referred to the committee that consults with the officers of the army, to whom are to be added for this purpose only the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, the Chief Justices of both benches, and the Lord Chief Baron, to consider how the soldiers may be assistant to the civil power for preventing of the robberies murthers and outrages committed upon the highways and in houses, and to consider of some reward and encouragement to be given them for that purpose, and that they also draw up an Act to be offered to the Council to be from them presented to 2 In describing in a former page the arms of the "horse," I ought to have added that they sometimes at least were armed with musquetoons as well as pistols, as appears from the following passage of Ludlowe's Memoirs :-"The committee of Irish affairs raised also a troop consisting of a hundred horse to accompany me, and armed them with back, breast, head-pieces, pistols, and musquetoons."- Ludlowe's Memoirs, p. 128, folio. London, 1751. to the end the said guide so accommodated may (upon any robbery) give speedy notice to the next guards and so conduct them in pursuit of the robbers as occasion may require, and that upon notice the justices of peace respectively give order to the constables for the doing thereof, the charge of the same to be borne by the respective towns. "3. That no soldier pass above five miles from his quarter but by a pass from the field officer or chief officer present with the regiment. "4. That the officer of every troop and party that shall have the charge of any guard for this service give order every night to all innkeepers alehouse-keepers or victuallers that shall lodge travellers to give an account to the officer of the guard in writing of the number of all guests that lodge in every such inn and alehouse or victualling-house with a description of their wearing clothes, with the marks and colour of the horse of every person to be set down in writing. "5. That the captain of every guard give order to all innkeepers that lodge guests before they depart such place that they show themselves to the captain of the guard to be examined by the said captain; and the said captain is to secure all suspicious persons to be further examined by the next justice of the peace. "6. That the quartering of the rest of the regiments of horse upon the several roads in this commonwealth for the purpose aforesaid be referred to the special and speedy care of his Excellency and the Council of War. "7. That his Excellency and Council of War be desired to appoint such and so many troops as by them shall be thought requisite for securing the highways &c. within fifty miles of London more or less as they shall see cause, and the places of their abode with such particular directions and orders as to them shall seem fit. No trooper or foot soldier stirring from the place he shall be quartered in above one mile, or to the next market town, upon pain to be punished by a Council of War, unless he have a pass from his field officer or the chief officer then present with the regiment; and the said officers every week are to give an account in writing to his Excellency and Council of War of their proceedings therein." 1 While a portion of the land forces was thus employed against robbers, a portion of the fleet was employed against pirates. Thus on the 24th of August 1649 Col. Popham is informed by the Council of State of the depredations committed on the eastern coast upon merchant ships, which are carried into Dunkirk and Ostend contrary to treaty; and he is desired "to go over to that coast, making use of the countenance of those great ships which are now going out, and to expostulate the business with the governors of those places." And again on the 3rd of Sept. 1649 it is ordered "That a letter be written to the generals of the fleet with information of some pirates preparing to come out of Dunkirk to spoil the fishermen." It further appears from the Order Book that the Court of Admiralty was a good deal occupied with the business of trying pirates, who abounded considerably in those days.2 The officers of the Council were often wounded and sometimes killed in the execution of their duty. The fol 1 Order Book of the Council of State, 14 Nov. 1649. MS. State Paper Office. As a further illustration of the spirit with which the Council of State acted I am tempted to give here the minute that immediately follows in the Order Book. "That the forms of the medals which are now brought in to be given to the several mariners who have done good service this last sum mer be approved of-viz. the arms of the Commonwealth on one side with Meruisti written above it and the picture of the House of Commons on the other."-Order Book of the Council of State, 15 Nov. 1649. MS. State Paper Office. 2 Order Book of the Council of State, 24th August, and 3rd and 11th Sept. 1649. MS. State Paper Office. lowing minute describes a case of this kind. "That it be reported to the Parliament that there hath been two of the officers of this Council slain while they were about the execution of a warrant of this Council for the apprehension of a malefactor, and one other wounded, and all these by a dagger, and that the Council making inquiry thereinto do find that use of daggers and pocket-pistols do grow very common and the danger thereby be great :-to desire the House to consider of a way to prevent that. mischief by forbidding the making or the use of daggers, stilettos, or pocket-pistols." There are various other minutes throwing light on the condition of London at that time, and showing that though this government of a Council of State held its power and place by virtue of a victorious army, its position was by no means one that indicated a settled and tranquil state of society. The following minutes and orders of 30th August 1649 may be given as evidence. "That it be reported to the House that Sir Kenelm Digby is now in England without licence for aught that is known to the Council and that they conceive him a dangerous man, and to desire the House to declare their pleasure concerning him." "That the same report be made concerning Mr. Walter Montague." 1649.] THE KING'S PLATE CONVERTED INTO COIN, &c. 169 "That a warrant be issued for the seizing of a cabinet in the custody of Mrs. Shepheard [wife of a tailor] in Whyte Fryars belonging to some of Sir Robert Heath's sons." 1 "That all the keys of all the gates and doors of St. James's Park and of all back doors into the same be delivered unto Colonel Pride; and that all the doors belonging to private houses that come into the park be also railed up; and that a warrant be also issued to Colonel Pride for that purpose." "2 "That a letter be written to the Earl of Pembroke to let him know of what course is taken about the doors of St. James's Park; and that it is done for the safety of the Council that there may be no attempt upon the garrison." On the following day there was an order that the late king's plate be melted down and converted into coin; and that the gilt plate be improved to the best advantage. The hangings, carpets, chairs, stools, and beds were ordered to be reserved for furnishing the lodgings of the Council of State. It was also ordered at the same time "That rooms at Hampton Court be reserved furnished for the use of the Commonwealth "; i. e. for the use of some score or two of individuals who called themselves the Commonwealth. 4 On the 20th of September a sort of Committee of Safety was appointed for six months with extraordinary powers for apprehending suspected persons. This committee consisted of the Lord General (Fairfax), the Lord President of the Council of State (Bradshaw), Mr. Scott, and Sir William Armyne." 1 Order Book of the State, 30th August, 1649. Paper Office. 2 Order Book of the State, 30th August, 1649. Paper Office. "5 Council of Council of 3 Order Book of the Council of State, 30th August, 1649. Order Book of the Council of State, 31st August, 1649. 5 Order Book of the Council of State, 20th Sept. 1649. MS. State Paper Office. |