America and West Indies: November 1651

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1860.

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'America and West Indies: November 1651', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, (London, 1860) pp. 364-366. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp364-366 [accessed 25 April 2024]

November 1651

Nov. 7. Order of the Council of State. Directing Mr. Rowe to deliver to the auditors of accounts at Worcester House, all books and papers in his hands, concerning the Newfoundland Adventurers. [INTERREGNUM, Entry Bk., Vol. LII., p. 16.]
Nov. 12.
On board the Rainbow.		 Sir George Ayscue to Lord Willoughby. Has received news from England of the victorious armies of the Commonwealth, both by sea and land; the King of Scots and his army totally routed and destroyed at Worcester. Sends papers which the Commonwealth presses upon him to give Willoughby an account of, and which will show how he had done his duty in avoiding the shedding of blood, and the ruin of the island. Leaves it to him to judge of the necessity of due obedience being given to the State of England; cannot suppose that rational men will suffer themselves to be swallowed up in destruction. If he reflect on the true state of affairs, knows he will lose no time in submitting to the Government of his native country; this will best be shown by delivering up the island for the use of the Commonwealth "which can never be happy 'till that day." Expects an answer by return of his trumpetter. Sends letters addressed to him that arrived yesterday. [This letter and all the correspondence between Willoughby and Ayscue, which follows in Nov. and Dec. 1651, and Jan. 1652, was most probably inclosed by Ayscue in his letter to the Council of State of 26 or 27 Feb. 1652, both of which are unfortunately missing, but as may be seen in the Commons' Journal, were reported from the Council of State to Parliament, and read on 23 April 1652.]
Nov. 13.
Barbadoes.		 Lord Willoughby to Sir George Ayscue. Acknowledges his civility in transmitting some intercepted letters and papers, though the contents do not please him at all. It would appear that he was looked upon as one guided rather by success than honour. Assures him that he never served the King in expectation so much of His Majesty's prosperous condition as in consideration of his duty, and will not be a means of increasing the King's affliction by delivering up the island. The unanimous resolution and courage of the inhabitants will be perceived by the inclosed. [Colonial Corresp., 1652, Jan. 10.]
I. Declaration of the Representative Body of Barbadoes. Have taken into serious consideration the summons sent by Sir Geo. Ayscue; the object message of the late Marshal to shake the fidelity of their Lord Lieut-General; those loose and scandalous papers industriously scattered up and down the island to poison the allegiance of the good people; and the endeavours to persuade some of the ignorant that the Government now set up in England by miseries, bloodsheds, rapines, and other oppressions is better than that under which their ancestors have lived for many hundred years past, and the menaces to drive them from their loyalty "to which their souls are firmly united as to their bodies." Unanimously protest that they will with the utmost hazard of their lives and fortunes defend His Majesty's just interest in and lawful power to the island, and will manfully "stick" to Lord Willoughby their Lord Lieut-General, and fight under his command in defence of his government, from which resolution, no hopes of reward, nor fear of future sufferings will ever make them recede. Subscribed by Phil. Bell, Hen. Hawley, Edm. Read, Thos. Gibbes, Hen. Shelley, Tho. Modyford, Tho. Ellice, John Birch, Hen. Guye, Benj. Beringer, Wm. Kirton, Jas. Browne of the Council, and Will. Byham, and sixteen others of the Assembly of the Island, Nov. 5. [Ibid.]
Nov. 14.
On board the Rainbow in Maxwell's Bay [Barbadoes.]		 Sir Geo. Ayscue to Lord Willoughby. Received his letter last night on the return of his trumpeter; and although as a person of honour it became him to write as he did, did expect to meet with reason as well. If there were such a person as the King, the Keeping Barbadoes signifies nothing to the King's advantage; the surrender could therefore be a small addition of grief to him. Knows very well the impossibility of the island being able to subsist without the patronage of England, and having used his best endeavours to preserve it from destruction, hoping that fairer ways might prevail, will not trouble either himself or Willoughby "with more of these disputes." [Colonial Corresp., 1652, Jan. 10.]
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