MY LORD

I wrote to your Lordship by Saturday post (which letter your Lordship this week mentions not the receipt of) giving you an account of Mr Creed’s payment of the remaining dollars due upon the bill and my delivering them the next day to Mr Sheply. Also concerning my writing to Captain Goffe by Major Hart’s advice about the Regiment money, to which I hope for an answer this week. For Sir H. Crooke’s money and the ballast there hath not any been accounted for yet for the last half year, but when my Lord Whitelocke moves for his share of that of Sir H. Crooke’s, I shall not neglect to look after your Lordship’s.

As for Mrs Jemimah I have spoke to Mr Scott, who hath promised all expedition, and that more particularly to her than many of his patients, some of whom have been five or six weeks at his house, and are yet no forwarder than Mrs Jem, for her bodice were tried on yesterday and be says shall be fitted against the next week. I have been solicitous to him and her concerning it and I doubt not, they will speedily provide for the child’s cure.

I wrote (though a little too late) by Tuesday post concerning Monday’s broil in London, which letter will come along with this. Since then the news is confirmed concerning Portsmouth (where Morley, Haselrig, Walton, Fagg, and Wallop are got): also the Isle of Wight have declared with them for certain; Plymouth is expected to do the same, and from Colchester it is said they have declared and are in arms for a Parliament. The greatest fear at Whitehall is what Lawson (now in the Downs) will do, some of whose ships I am assured from the Treasurer of the Navy are fallen in with Portsmouth. It is said that Haselrig hath set sail himself for Scotland, and that the more suspected because nothing hath come thence this Sevennight. Five troops and as many foot Companies were sent from hence on Tuesday to Portsmouth, but cannot be thought able to do anything, for the Militia thereabouts are made sure to Morley.

The present posture of the City is very dangerous, who I believe will never be quiet till the soldiers have absolutely quitted the town. These circumstances (my Lord) may give your Lordship the best guess of the City’s condition viz. the Coroner’s inquest upon the death of those that were slain on Monday have given it in murder and place it upon Colonel Hewson, who gave his soldiers order to fire. The Grand Jury at the Sessions this week in the Old Bailey desired of my Lord Mayor that the soldiers might be removed out of the town, who answering that he knew not well with the safety of the City how to do it, they offered in open Court to indict their officers and undertake to bring them before his Lordship. Upon Tuesday last the Committee of Safety sent their desire for the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs and Aldermen to give them a meet­ing at Whitehall at night. The aldermen did so (but the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs would not). My Lord Whitelocke made a speech excusing the entrance of the soldiers into the City on Monday last, as having received intelligence that some ill design was intended against the City, and what was done was in defence to the City; and in the close of his speech offered the Recorder a Commission to try the Middlesex causes (as was customary). The Recorder thanked him, and let him know that for London causes the City Charter gave him a sufficient commission, and for Middlesex he darst not do what the Judges would not unless he could tell him from whom and in whose name he could lawfully give such a Commission. One passage more I shall add, that in the common council house upon the reading of the prentices’ petition, Brandrith stood up and inveighed highly against the insolence of the boys to meddle in such businesses, whereupon he was hissed down by the whole Council and answered by Wilde the Recorder, who particularly defended the whole petition with a general applause. This is the present fate of the City, who are informed how the army have sent in granados to Paul’s and the Tower to fire the City upon an extremity (which is certain) and I am confident will not rest but in the chasing away of the soldiers out of town. My Lord