THe Treaty being at a period, the face of things in the Isle of Wight are much changed; the Pomp and State of a Court lookes like (at the best) a roy­all prison: some say the difference between his Maje­sty and the Commissioners was scarce discernable, but they must be gone, and with a gentle salute to his Majesties hand, and other expressions of hearty af­fections, take their leaves.

Colonell Hammond also comes to his Majesty and tells him; he is commanded to the Head-quarters at Windsor, and was informed another Governour of that Iland would forthwith succeed: Then the King askes him, who for the present he left as his Deputy to command in chiefe, and in particular to take charge of his person; to this Colonell Hammond answers, that he would leave it to him that was next in office and place (Major Rolph,) his Majesty then re­plyed, that he could not name any that could be so pleasing to his own thoughts as Mr. Rolph, from whom he had alwaies found very civill respects, having ever since he knew him, reteined an opinion that he is a very godly man, and if it might be in his own choise, he would more willingly commit himselfe to his care then any other that he knew, saying further to Co­lonell Hammond, that he thought he should not see him againe in the Isle of Wight, but was likely to see [Page 3] him at Windsor or thereabout shortly; Colonell Hammond comes to the Head-quarters and receives a check, because he gave not such ready obedience to orders as was required; neverthelesse had liberty to go upon his parroll to stay at Reading.

The first of Decemb. is newes at the Head-quarters, that the old Malignants in many parts of this King­dome are very bold, and in some Counties scarce any other favoured by the Committee. In the County of Worcester Sir [...] Clare and Sir Iohn Windford, men that have alwaies acted against the Parliament, are at liberty, yet no satisfaction given for their delinquen­cie; The Governour of Harthelbery Castle Captaine Inet, with the advice of the well affected in that County, comes up to the Parliament, in his absence the Country is raised to demolish the workes of the Castle: The Deputy Governour capitulates the busi­nesse, and will see their authority, but showing none, he let them know by what warrant he kept it, and sent some bullets into their breeches, which divers of them were forced to carry away with grief, and not find­ing themselves able to make party good with the de­fendents in the Castle, they went away with this en­tertainment: but within few daies after some of the Committee came, and shewed an Order of Parlia­ment of a later date for demolishing the Workes, and disbanding the souldiers, which was submitted to, and the works are cast down accordingly.

The 2. of Decemb. the Kings person was seized on by some Officers of the Army, and carried out of the Island to Hurst Castle, which is over against it on Hampshire side.

The 4. of Decemb. came to the Lord Generall one that is a high German and a great Scholler, one that is called a Prophet, when there was admitted into his Excellencies presence, he made a long Speech to this eff [...]ct, That he did reverence and honor his Lord­ship, for that God had done great things by him, but he now came to him to acquaint him in the name of God, that he is not pleased with this Nation; and that they (viz. the Army) do not act upon right principles: God is a God of love, he dwells in love, those that seek to destroy are not in love or of God, but are of the destroyer, and follow wrong princi­ples.

His Excellencie demanded of him, whether he had any thing to say more then what was held forth by the Word of God.

To which the Prophet replyed, that he had not a­ny Commission to deliver any thing to his Excellencie but what he would maintain by the written Word.

This German also said, that the King had done a­misse, but ought to be forgiven; and that God would defend and support him, so that he shall in the end subdue all his Enemies, and either raigne here, or in a better world.

After this he delivered some Papers to the Generall, to take into consideration, and took his leave.

The Commons sate all night in debate of the great affaires of the Kingdome as it now stands, and upon reading of Letters, certify­ing that the King was taken into custody, and carried prisoner to Hurst Castle, it was lookt upon as a very dishonourable action, the Parliament having no [...] yet past any Vote about his Majesties last Concessions whether satisfactory or unsatisfactory; And after some houres spent in this discourse, the businesse came to the Vote as followeth.