caused Proclamation to be made in his Army and in the Countrie about as followeth ROBERT Earle of Essex c. Captaine-Generall of the Army imployed for the Defence of the Protestant Religion King Parliament and Kingdome WHereas these Countries have beene very much afflicted and oppressed by the Euemy and we are now come to relieve them of their hard bondage It is therefore my expresse will and pleasure and I doe hereby straitly charge and command all Officers and Souldiers of Horse Foot and Dragoones belonging to the Army under my Command that they and every of them doe forthwith after Proclamation hereof made forbeare notwithstanding any pretence whatsoever to plunder or spoile any of the goods of the inhabitants of these Countries or to offer any violence or other prejudice unto them upon paine of death without mercy Given under my hand and Seale May the 26. 1644. Essex Say now then malicious Malignants was not this a better and more just Proclamation than that which came to the poore Inhabitants of those parts round about from Oxford Commanding all their Corne and Victuall upon paine of Fire and Sword And was it not thinke you better accepted of the said people than that Oxonian Edict that in all those Countreys all his Majesties Souldiers should have free Quarter for Horse and Man So that the Inhabitants were eaten up by such oppression and perforce made Slaves and Bondmen to the base lusts and wills of all the Dam-me cursed crew whose insolencies were hereby incredible and the relation of them very fearefull and grievous to modest and tender-hearted Christians About the 27th of this instant there were Letters drawne up such was the prudence providence of our ever to be honoured and renowned Parliamentary Statists to conserve and corroborate the blessed union amity between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland to be sent to the Parliament in Scotland from both the Houses of Parliament in England expressing the obligation they stood bound in to the Kingdome of Scotland the high esteeme they have of their brotherly love for their assistance to this Nation desiring also that they may be united as well in Councills as in Forces And returning them hearty thankes for their care of the Army in Ireland for which they sent them word they had provided 30000 l. and also had sent downe 20000 l. to their Army now with us in England requesting them to accept their endeavours though their abilities answered not their desires Much also about the same time came credible Information by Letters out of Gloucestershire that that most valiant vigilant and couragious Commander Colonell Massey had taken Beverton Castle in Gloucestershire about 12 miles from Gloucester and within a mile from Tedbury which was surrendred to him on no other Conditions but onely for quarter for their lives Wherein hee tooke 60 Prisoners with all their Ordnance Armes and Ammunition And with the same successe he tooke the old Towne of Malmesbury wherein were 300 men and two Sonnes of the Earle of Barkeshire and 28 Officers 400 Armes 7 or 8 Pieces of Ordnance besides Powder Match and other Ammunition and provision The Governour of the Towne Colonell Howard being at the first summoned to deliver up the Town for the use of the King and Parliament Assembled at Westminster returned an answer That he would keep it for the use of the King and Parliament Assembled at Oxford but upon this Answer Col. Massey fell close to the work and after 13 houres hot fight he as aforesaid forced the Governour to make a recantation of his errour and to cry for mercy for his folly And from thence he presently marched into Wiltshire and possessed himself of the Garrison of Chippenham the Souldiers therein having onely Quarter for their lives And thus we see how admirably successefull the Lord of Hosts hath made this Loyall and most active Commander in all his Valiant and Magnanimous undertakings Whereupon shortly after The two Honourable Houses of Parliament taking into consideration the good service of this famous and Renowned Colonell and that in pursuance of his foresaid good successe he was marched on with about 2000. men to the Devizes thereby to open a passage for the bringing in of cloth to London out of the West country An Order was forthwith agreed on for speedy supplying him with money and other necessaries And another Ordinance of Parliament was also resolved on for the rewarding of this Noble Colonell for his so great and good service done to the Kingdome and that his never-dying honour might not too long be unrecompensed therefore to confirme and settle a 1000. l. a year of Sir John Winters estate an arch Papist in armes against the Parliament and one of the Queenes great favourites on him and his heires for ever A singular and most highly commendable act greatly redounding to their own just praise and to the encouragement of the rest of the valiant and active Souldiers and commanders of the Parliaments Forces and Garrisons About the 30th of this instant May it pleased the Lord to let us the happy inhabitants O that our Malignants also could see their happinesse therein of the most famous and ever to be renowned City of London see and know that he had a purpose to doe us good and to raise us now out of our late low estate and thereby to give us still more and more just cause to magnifie and omnifie his great name in blessedly advancing all meanes and wayes for the good of his despised and distressed Church and Children and to spread the banner of the Lord Jesus Christ triumphantly in the field against his too too long over-prided and insulting â—oes For about this time notwithstanding that by Gods admirable mercy and good providence we had now already in the field 6 or 7 very considerable armies as first That of our most noble and renowned Lord Generall his Excellency the Earle of Essex in the Westerne parts of the Kingdome Secondly that of our most loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland Thirdly that of the ever most worthily honoured Lord Fairfax and his most renowned Son Sir Thomas Fairfax Fourthly that of the no lesse renowned truly noble and to be ever honoured Earl of Manchester all these three last mentioned armies in the Northern parts of the Kingdome about Yorke Fifthly that of the magnanimous and most courageous Sir William Waller in the West also Sixthly that of the most noble and active Earle of Denbigh about Staffordshire and those parts Besides that brave commanders forces in Lancastershire I mean valiant Sir Iohn Meldrum and other lesser forces in divers other parts and places of the Kingdome That notwithstanding all these and many if not most of all these in great measure raised out of the most famous City of London yet I say about this time to the glory of our wonder-working God be it spoken the honour of the said great City the
last delivered up to Sir William Waller and all within the Castle left to his mâ—rcie wherein he took prisoners Sir William Ford high Sheriff of Sussex who formerly brake out of Windsor-Castle and had sent a Letter to his Majestie offering to bring him a thousand men and to undertake the conquest of the whole County of Sussex although it be sixty miles in length but before he had gone twelve miles thereof he was caught again for want of a running horse There was also then taken Sir Edward Bishop Colo. Bamfield Lievtenrnt Colonell Roles Major Massey Major Moulines and divers other Gentlemen of qualitie of Sussex There were also taken above fifty Reformadoes that had all Commissions to raise Companies 1200 prisoners and their armes divers Engineers about 4000li. in money great store of other rich prize and pillage And heer now if wee reckon up these our late victories together and the number of prisoners taken wee shall easily see they will amount to at lest a little armie As namely first at Alton 900 at Gainesborough 700 at Grafton 300 at Sir Tho. Holts-House neer an 100 almost as many at Bewly-House by Sir William Constable and Sir John Meldrum in a House in Yorkshire from which Sir Hugh Cholmley ran away at least an 100 and heer now at Arundell-Castle above a 1000 besides what had then lately been taken by Pool Southamptons garrisons which in all may arise to at least 3300 horse and foot besides all the ammunition and armes In most just and serious consideration whereof have wee not great cause to magnifie the mercies of our good God unto us in thus still weakning the armies of our adversaries and strengthning our hands against them And yet again to adde to the lustre of this foresaid famous victory very shortly after the taking of the foresaid Castle it pleased the Lord so to order and dispose of things that Sir Will. Waller seized on a very rich prize by Sea namely a Dunkirk-Ship of a great burthen which had been chased by the Hollanders as was then credibly enformed and was forced into the harbour at Arundell and that not till wee had taken the Castle which Sir William himself went aboard of and found in her about 20 excellent brass pieces of Ordnance an 100 barrells of powder 2000 armes great store of other ammunition divers Commanders and other persons of qualitie together with a great quantitie of linnen cloth as considerable in value as the other prizes which could not but be a singular advantage to Sir William for the present better securing and defence of Arundell-Castle And about the 8th or 10th of this instant came certain information from Leverpool in Lancashire to London that a Ship of the Kings which he had sent from Bristoll to Chester with good store of armes and ammunition most unexpectedly but very happily opportunely came into Leverpool to serve the Parliament the Sailers therein having compelled their Master to put in there which armes and ammunition came very seasonably to help to arme recrute Colonell Ashtons regiment which a little before had received some loss in their valiant performances against the enemies of their Country And about the 12th of this instant moneth of January 1643. the famous and ever to be renowned Citie of London being very sensible of the great care and indefatigable pains of the Parliament in and for the defence and preservation of Religion the whole Kingdome and liberties thereof from that slavery and misery which the Prelaticall and Popish faction would bring upon them and also of their singular vigilancy and great providence and circumspection to discover all plots and secret designes against the Citie and Parliament to divide the one from the other and so to destroy both together and to shew that they are the more inseparably conjoyned and firmly united the one to the other notwithstanding all the joynt endeavours and sly insinuations of the adversaries and in speciall of that late mischievous Machination by Colonell Read that base Irish-Rebell Sir Basil Brook and the rest of that accursed rable as was forementioned The City I say was therefore pleased in the name of the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councell their representative-Body by both the Sheriffs some selected Common-Councell-men to make an humble request to the Parliament by way of testimony of their gratitude for the great endeavours as aforesaid of the Parliament for the good of the whole Kingdome to invite them all therefore even of both the Houses to a dinner at Merchant-Taylors-Hall in London on Tuesday or Thursday then next ensuing whether day might best stand most convenient with the great affaires of the Kingdome Expressing farther to both Houses that they desired that that late designe to have divided the Parliament Citie might appeare by this loving action of theirs more firmly to have united them to one another Which motion of theirs was most acceptable to the Parliament as appeared by the answer given them by the Speaker in the name of the House of Commons which in substance was this That the House of Commons had considered the loving expressions delivered by them at the barre in the name of the whole Citie of London manifesting their great esteem of the endeavours of the Parliament and their sense of the late designe of the enemie against both the Parliament and the Citie by such a division to involve both of them into one universall calamity declaring their resolution to continue in a faithfull compliance with the Parliaments good endeavours and to live and die with them in the maintenance of the publick Cause having now also desired them as a testimony of this and to deceive the expectation of their enemies that they would honour them with their presence at a dinner in the City The Speaker therefore told them he was commanded by the House to take notice of the good affection of this great City therein and that the House looked on the invitation as a seasonable demonstration of their love to them and their resolved loyaltie to the Cause and that therefore they were resolved on Thursday then next ensuing to give them a meeting according to the Cities desire And said he that both they and you may lay hold on this opportunity joyntly to acknowledg the continued blessing of God in prospering this Parliament and the City from the secret practises and malicious open designes of their enemies and particularly in this lewd and last discovery they desired that on the foresaid Thursday morning at their intended meeting about eight of the clock there might be in such a place as the City should think fit to make choice of an able godly Minister intreated to preach a Sermon for the commemoration among the rest of Gods manifold mercies of this late and not the least deliverance both of the Parliament and City and indeed therein of the whole Kingdome And
now having thus happily finished this Months Voyage I shall desire to cast Anchour and put to shore and make a little stay desiring the Christian Reader with me to make a briefe review and succinct recitall of all the rich Merchandize of this Moneths Voyage the better to raise up our soules to a just and gratfull valuation and admiration of them As First the brave defeat and repulse of the Enemies at Plymouth And Colonell Foxes valiant and active performances and taking of Budely-house in Worcestershire The most successefull progresse of the most renowned Earle of Manchesters Forces in Lincolnshire and taking of the Towne and Castle of Lincolne The Pious Ordinance of Parliament for the demolishing of all Organs and Superstitious Monuments of Popery in Churches and Chappels or else where together with valiant Captaine Swanleys yet farther brave exploits in Wales And Colonell Massies at or about Gloucester The brave Citizens of Londons Petition for the re-establishment of the State-Committee and the happy result thereof Together with more of renowned Colonell Massies brave performances about the adverse Garrisons neere Gloucester Lyme Stormed and its Enemies bravely repulsed The renowned Lord Generalls advance of his Army Westward and a day of Humiliation set a part in London to seeke the Lord for a blessing on it And Devon and Corwalls defection from the bloody and barbarous Irish A most devillish designe and pestilent plot to have undone Scotland and England too by a divertive Warre but most blessedly crost and prevented with the discomfiture and disgrace of those that plotted and acted it A brave and briefe description of the state of that famous Garrison at Lime Together with a brave prize taken at Sea by the most noble Earle of Warwicks Ships And Kents pious pattern of gratitude to God for its great deliverance The truely Noble Earle of Pembrookes love and loyalty to the Parliament attested Cawood-castle And Ayremouth Isle and Fort taken by valiant and virtuous Sir Iohn Meldrum in the Northerne parts of the Kingdome The most renowned Lord Generals prosperous progresse and advance with his Army into the West Valiant Captain Temples brave exploit at Islip The gratulatory Message sent by the Parliament in England to the Parliament in Scotland More of renowned Colonel Masseys admirable activity and the Parliaments most worthy gratifying of his good Service And lastly Englands great wonder to Gods great glory in the famous Muster of so many thousand Souldiers in and about the City of London all compleatly Armed notwithstanding so many Armies abroad in the Field before it The taking of Russell-house that notoriously theevish Garrison Together with the brave defeate given to Newarke by Nottingham Garrison And the brave condition of that famous Towne of Lime notwithstanding the long and tedious Siege against it All which being rightly regarded and seriously laid to heart have we not still great and just cause to see and say that God hath most triumphantly carried and borne up his holy Arke the Parliaments blessed Cause above all the raging and roaring billowes and swelling surges of the turbulent Ocean of this our greatly distracted and disturbed Nation carrying it on I say most smoothly with pleasant gales of good things bestowed and preserving it most happily from malice and mischiefe threatned And therefore how great cause hath England in almost infinitely bounden gratitude to confesse with holy David and sincerely to say Lord thou art good and thou doest good And therefore also to exult and rejoyce in the Lord our God yea and as good David saith To make our boast of God all the day long and to praise his name for ever and ever With a Selah Especially since as the holy Spirit of God himselfe declareth in Hannahs sweet Song There is none holy as the Lord for indeed there is none beside him neither is there any Rocke like our God Talke no more therefore so exceeding proudly ô yee Atheisticall Malignants and Popish Irish-Rebels let not such arrogancie come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed Yea and as holy Iob saies He is most wise in heart and mighty in strength Who hath hardned himselfe against him and hath prospered ANd now I shall againe put out our blessed Barke to Sea hoise up our Sailes and launch forth into the Deepe and prosecute this our next ensuing Moneths Voyage wherein we shall see how the Lord still carries on his glorious Arke the Parliaments Cause above all the furious Floods and raging Waves of its outragious and impious Adversaries And in the first place I shall desire to remember the Reader how it most graciously pleased the Lord to bring off his blessed Arke from a very dangerous and death-threatning Shelfe of devouring Quick-sands and most safely and securely to set it afloat againe carrying it on with most pleasant and prosperous gales I meane the happy and honourable releiving and raising of the Seige of that long beseiged and greatly straightned famous Towne of Lime in Dorsetshire a most full exact and true relation wherof sent in a Letter to a friend at London and comming to my hands I have thought fit here to insert for the Readers better content and satisfaction which was as followeth An exact and true relation of the relieving of the most resolute Garrison of Lime in Dorsetshire Sir I Have written one Letter to you since I came into this Bay where also I have received yours I blesse God for present health onely much sadnesse of spirit is contracted from the sad spectacles which besieged Lime continually offers to our view a Towne which deserves aboundance of pitty and love they being so constantly under the violence of a cruell Enemy But God hath brought our most noble Lord Admirall to this Towne to a singular purpose it tending directly to the preserving of that distressed Towne it not having in it at his Lordships comming above a dayes bread and a small quantity of ammunition There were then in the Town 4000 Soules whereof a 1000 in garrison who though they wanted shoes stockings cloathes and pay and had not departed from Lyme since the beginning of the siege yet were all of them resolved to stand out to the last man and when they could doe no more to breake through the Enemy with their swords At my Lords first comming he sent on shoar neere 40 barrels of powder and some match which came along with his Lordship purposely for their reliefe The ships under his Lordships Command did before his comming spare what provisions they could none comming from any other parts and the passages by sea being neer blockt up his Lordship contracted for 350. l. worth of corn and other provisions being then bound for Plymouth to be sold there and tooke order to send it into the Towne himsefe undertaking the price The condition and courage of the besieged did so prevail with our seamen
and to inventorie the goods thereof and to let the Danish Commander know that the Parliament would be answerable touching the disposall of them according to their discretion and direction And thereupon the Ship was brought safely to London and there unladen A Copie of the true Inventorie of the fraight and goods wherein I have heer thought fit to insert for the Readers better satisfaction and content as I my self received it from the hands of one of the most eminent and most worthy Members of the Militia in the Citie of London which was as followeth Barrells of Gunpowder 476 Bundles of Match 890 Drums 050 Belly-pieces of armour 150 Swords 3040 Muskets 2977 Pistolls 493 Head-pieces 3000 Round-heads or Clubs 1000 Pikes very good ones 1500 Musket-rests 3000 Forks to fight against horses 0500 Collers of Bandiliers 3000 Belts 1 Hogshead Hangers 1 Hogshead Girdles 2 Hogsheads Hangers 4 Barrells Pistoll-keyes 1 Firkin Flasks 3 Barrells Hangers 1 Barrell Moulds for Muskets 2 Kilderkins Stones for Pistolls 1 Firkin Souch-powder 1 Firkin Cannon-Bullets 197 And pigs of Lead 14. And neer upon the same time a Ship laden with Sea-coales whereof I had unquestionable information from Newcastle and bound for Holland was then also apprehended by the vigilancy of the most noble Earl of Warwicks Ships wherein they found about 3 or 4000li. in money hid deep in the coales which was to have bought armes c. in Holland for the Kings use but thus happily diverted another and a better way And truly Reader there must needs be seen a speciall hand of Gods providence toward us in this Danish prize formentioned for this Ship could not have been seized on in a more seasonable time than as thus it pleased the Lord to dispose it considering the great use the Parliament had at that time of the said armes and ammunition to help to set forth a new armie then making ready to march forth again under the command of that noble and renowned Generall Sir William Waller and especially also the circumstances of that time considered namely the then ill success of our armies in the North under the command of the noble Lord Fairfax and the most unhappie surrender of Bristoll and Exeter also shortly after it to the Kings forces Sir William Wallers unhappie defeat in the West Countrie and the Lord Generalls armie being mouldred and crumbled away and almost quite torn in pieces by sickness and such like casualties as that he was not able to advance and take the field to affront the Kings and Kingdomes enemies untill they could be conveniently recruited and fill'd up and furnisht with men and armes Of all which having most fully made mention in the Conclusion of the Second part of our Parliamentarie Chronicle I shall cease to speak any more thereof And now about this time namely the 6th of August 1643. the Parliament being credibly and comfortably enformed out of Yorkshire that the most noble and renowned Lord Fairfax had in much competent measure recruited his Armie at Hull and got together some troops of horse and companies of foot that so he might the better both increase and strengthen his forces the Parliament sent him many Muskets Carbines Pistolls hookes and piked Clubs viz. Round-heads as they were termed that so his honest Round-heads might with them soundly beat and bang Newcastles Rattle-heads or rather Rotten-headed and hearted Papists and Atheists as not long after by Gods mercy they did by the brave conduct of renowned Sir John Meldrum together with 200 barrells of gunpowder part I say of this Danish prize so happily seized on as aforesaid Much also about the foresaid time there was a generall report and that upon good grounds and reasons all about the Citie of London that there was a purpose if not a plain though private plot at Oxford to work some of the Peeres in Parliament to treat again upon some articles or propositions for a pretended peace and indeed a motion was made as was credibly reported in the House of Lords to set it on foot which was generally much disrelisht and disliked in the Citie of London and began to cause great jealousies and feares among the wisest and best-affected Citizens as they and the whole Kingdome had just cause wee having ever received greatest dammage and detriment by such fained and treacherous treaties Whereupon the most renowned famous and faithfull Citizens of London with an unanimous consent resolved to joyn together as one man in a Petition to the Parliament in the name of the Lord Major Aldermen Commons of London which Petition coming to my hands I have heer thought fit to insert for the Readers better content and satisfaction therein To the Right Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House in Parliament The humble Petition of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons of the Citie of London in Common Councell Assembled Sheweth THat your Petitioners having heard that such propositions and offers have been lately sent from the House of Peers to this honourable House which as wee greatly fear if yeelded unto may be destructive to our Religion Lawes and Liberties And finding already by experience that the spirits of all the well-affected partie in the Citie and Counties adjacent that are willing to assist the Parliament both in person and purse are much dejected thereat and the brotherly assistance from Scotland as well as the raising and maintaining of forces our selves thereby likely to be retarded all which the Petitioners refer to your serious consideration and considering our present sad condition lies upon us in a speciall manner through the incensed patience of the Almightie by delay and want of execution of justice upon traitors and Delinquents and having an opportunitie yet afforded us to speak our humble desires are That you would be pleased so to persist in your former resolutions wherupon the people have so depended and wherein yee have so deeply engaged your selves though you should perish in the work that justice may be done upon offenders and delinquents And since wee are as willing as ever to expose what wee are and have for the crowning of so good a cause you would be pleased by passing the Ordinance hereunto annext or one to this effect to put us into a probable way for ours and your defence wherein your Petitioners will by the blessing of God be never wanting But will ever pray c. This Petition being presented Aug. 7. 1643. by the Petitioners aforesaid to the House of Commons was well accepted and thankes returned by Mr Speaker for their care of the Kingdomes welfare with promise that the particulars desired should speedily be taken into consideration and to consider of an Ordinance to the purpose in the Petition mentioned which was referred to a Committee Now this Petition thus exhibited to the Parliament by Alderman Atkins in the name of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons as aforesaid shortly after
loss by the absence of their Apprentices they will take care that reasonable satisfaction shall be made unto them out of the publick stock of the Kingdome according to justice and indifferency H. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. An Order of Parliament That all Trunks and Carriages that come out of the Citie be searched at the Courts of Guards c. Die Sabbathi Septemb. 23. 1643. IT is this day ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That all Trunks and other Carriages that come out of the Citie to pass the Courts of Guards shall not pass till they be searched by such men as the Committee for the Militia shall depute or by the Courts of Guards And that my Lord Major be desired to give order that no Flâ—x Brimstone or Saltpeter or other things that tend to the making of provisions for warre be permitted to pass these ten dayes either by water or by land unless it be by warrant under the hand of Mr Speaker and that such goods shall be good prizes as shall be so seized And it is left to the Committee for the Militia to reward those that shall so seiz the same out of the said goods and the persons that shall so send any of the said goods as aforesaid shall be secured and tryed by a Councell of warre And this Order is to be printed and published and to be sent to the severall Courts of Guards by the Committee for the Militia Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. An Order of Parliament That a Collection be made in all Parish-Churches and Chappels throughout London Westminster for sick and maimed Souldiers c. Die Sabbathi Septemb. 23. 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That on Wednesday next being the day appointed for publick humiliation there shall be a Collection made in all the Parish-Churches in and about the Citie of London and Westminster that are mentioned in the bill of Mortalitie as also in the severall Chappels within the said limits by the Church-Wardens and other Officers of the said Parishes and Chappels for and toward the relief of sick and maimed Souldiers And the moneys by them so collected they are not to detain upon any pretence whatsoever but to make payment thereof at Tallow-Chandlers-Hall neer Dowgate on Fryday next being the 29th of this instant Septemb. 1643. unto Mr William Greenhill Mr John Pocock Mr John Randall and Mr Richard Hutchinson or any two of them Citizens of London appointed to be Treasurers for the receiving and paying of moneys to sick and maimed Souldiers And it is heerby likewise ordered That the Ministers of the said severall Parishes and Chappels shall earnestly perswade the people freely to give and contribute to this so pious charitable and honourable a work in this time of great extremity there being many maimed men heer already and more expected from the Armie for the recovery and cure of whom there is great reason to provide they having so freely and cheerfully hazzarded their lives for the preservation of all our lives and liberties and the true Protestant Religion Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. Ordered by the Commons in Parliament That this Ordinance and Order be forthwith printed and published Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. And heer also I may not omit justly to enumerate and commemorate the great blessing of the 29th day of this September 1643. as a singular Parliamentarie-mercie and speciall blessing of the Lord our good God both to the most famous and renowned Citie of London in speciall and indeed to the whole Kingdome of England in generall namely the happie continuance of the successfull godly and gracious government of the said most famous Citie by the comfortable and desired choice of that most worthy virtuous and pious patriot and Senator of the said Citie Sir John Wollaston to succeed for the ensuing year in the honourable Majoraltie thereof who was chosen thereunto with a most full fair and unanimous consent and suffrage of the heartie votes and voices of all the numerous company of grave and well-affected Citizens then assembled thereunto in the Guild-Hall of London A rare mercy indeed considering the times for I make no question nay I am most confidently assured out of that intimate and ancient experience which I my-self have most happily had of his singular piety and ingenuity of spirit and sweetness of naturall endowments and approved cordiall affection and constant adherence to the cause of God in the Parliaments proceedings that he will with no less deserved honour and reputation by Gods gracious assistance manage the â—elme of government and steer the Stern of the Ship of the Cities great Ocean and motion of serious and important affaires than his former famous Predecessour did And that also which sweetens this mercie and makes it so much the more remarkably eminent is that his honourable choice also as his pious Predecessours was a happie and holy fruit and return of prayer it being on the very next day after our monethly day of publick humilitation when the Lord had been in particular sought unto for this blessing And for the confirmation in part of what I have thus fairly and faithfully attested of him It pleased the Lord very shortly after his inauguration into his honourable Majoraltie ere he was as the Proverb is hardly warm in the seat of authoritie as aforesaid now to put him even already upon an honourable tryall of his love loyalty to the great cause in present question and agitation and as he was now an eminent Cedar of our Lebanon and but new-now planted on the top of the Cities mountain and so obnoxious to many and mightie blustering blasts of tryall and probation So I say it pleased the Lord to administer an occasion to shew and set forth his loyaltie and fidelitie and that God had enabled him and would so still like a strong well-grown well-grounded Oake to stand fast and most immovable to oppose withstand and break the force of the either violent blasts of malignitie or slie and insinuating breathings of treachery wherewith he now I say was already assaulted from Oxford thus About the first of November then succeeding a Messenger was sent from Oxford with no less than four Proclamations to be delivered to the Lord Major of London all of most pernicious and dangerous consequence and by him and his authoritie to be published and proclamed in the Kings name throughout the Citie of London The first to alter the generall Monethly Wednesday-fast contrary to an act established by King and Parliament and strange and uncouth reasons given for the cause of the alteration thereof one reason being in regard of the horrid and damnable Cessation of armes in Ireland O monsirum infandum informe ingens c. The second Proclamation was to make all money coined in Ireland currant in England The third to command all Counties in the Kingdome to accept such new high Sheriffs as
farther and enjoyning them not to ayd his two Houses of Parliament which he said were in actuall rebellion against him c. But praised for ever be our good God by whose gracious providence their hearts were most wisely and resolutely established not to be dasht and daunted therein but they utterly refused to yeeld to either of his demands and commands in both the Letters and sent his Majestie an answer suteable to their Christian dutie and the nature also of such a Message and command and so went on most religiously and resolvedly in the just and warrantable work they had so advisedly undertaken But now to goe on in the manifesting as I promised and setting forth in order the progress of the great work at home by our adversaries designes against the Citie of London and therein the whole Kingdome in that their forementioned grand plot to starve up the Citie by taking from them all the neighbour Countries succours and supplements of all kindes and thus at last hoping to bring it low and according to that old Proverb If you will tame a wanton Colt take away his provender and tame it and make it stoop to their most untaimed wilde and wicked tyranny but yet how our most wise and righteous God crost and confounded this their wicked work and devillish designe And now in the first place I must tell you how the most noble and victorious Earl of Manchester being in Lincolnshire prosecuting his successfull and victorious enterprises in those parts as hath been formerly and fully related having intelligence that the Oxonian-Cormorants were entred into Bedfordshire with purpose to make an inroad into the rest of the associated Eastern-Counties whereof he was made Commander in chief under his Excellencie the Lord Generall His Lordship therefore held it not fit to leave them without relief against such plundering and all-devouring Cormorants and greedie unwelcome guests and was therefore necessitated to grant such a composition to the Lord Widrington Colonell Henderson c. then in the Citie of Lincoln as otherwise he would not that thus he might hasten to the preservation of those his foresaid Counties and so having gotten this Citie as hath been forementioned he presently sent away renowned and victorious Colonell Cromwell with a considerable part of his forces toward Huntington to interrupt the Cormorants pernicious intentions in those parts and about Cambridge but his Excellencie the Parliaments renowned Lord Generall being then at St Albanes with his armie presently sent Messengers to countermaund the brave Colonells resolutions and required him to return again to my Lord of Manchester and to prosecute those intended Services in the North assuring him that by Gods assistance he would take speciall care that the associated Counties should receive no prejudice by the Kings Cormorants which he most nobly made good and accordingly performed For presently after it his Lordship sent a considerable strong partie of horse and foot toward Newport-Pannell against those greedie Cormorants who hearing of their certain and speedie approach made all the haste they were able to flie away from thence for fear of being intrapped in a nooz whereby on a sodain those parts were already fairly and fully cleared from fear of them both at Newport and Bedford too And heerby also Colonell Cromwell being returned to the noble Earl of Manchester his great and noble designes in those parts went on again most successfully and thus by Gods speciall providence and great mercie the Kings Cormorants were doubly disappointed of their late high-built hopes and pernicious purposes For by their intended fortifying of Newport they hoped to have establisht one main branch of the foresaid swelling designe to have starved up the Citie by thus encroaching by degrees into the Eastern-associated Counties and also by their thus coming and nestling by little and little in them they strongly hoped to have drawn and diverted the Earl of Manchester quite out of Lincolnshire and so to have taken him off from the pursuite of his victories in those parts But his Excellencie as I said before most nobly clipt the wing of that high-soaring hope of theirs by marching into those parts to expell the enemie out of them and so the safelier to secure them Thus I say the Lord our good God doubly blest us against this devillish designe of theirs blasting it in the bud stifling it in the birth and very beginning of it and making it abortive to them and giving us great assurance thereby of yet more hopefull advantages as by Gods blessing wee shall have fit and fair opportunities to mention them in their severall succeeding and proper places And now good Reader let mee desire thee heer to make a little stay to strike sail and cast thine anchor of serious recogitation and summarie contemplation into the deep Ocean of all this Moneths many and most rich mercies and Parliamentarie preservations of this Ark of Gods Cause First In the Lords stirring up of the hearts of our Parliamentarie-Worthies to remember the welfare of the poor children of Christs Hospitall and also raising up the affections of the Citizens of London to seal their holy League and Covenant with a large and liberall contributed loan of a great summe of money for our brethren of Scotlands advance unto our help In the most noble Lord Fairfaxes brave victorie against the Earl of Newcastle at Hull and thereby raising the siege thereof In the right noble and victorious Earl of Manchesters renowned victories over the Popish and atheisticall forces in Lincolnshire at Bolenbrook and Horncastle Famous Colonell Massies good service at Tewksbery and that also by the Parliaments Garrison at Warwick-Castle against the Kings forces at Cambden In the Ordinance of Parliament against Spies and intelligencers and farther famous prosecution of the most noble Earl of Manchesters victories in the gaining of the Citie of Lincoln and strong Town of Gainesborough And lastly In the most happie frustrating and defeating of the enemies deep and dangerous designe to starve the Citie of London and so to enforce the conquest of it and in Gods crossing that other great designe of our Oxonian Achitophells to have hindred our honest Brethren of Scotlands resolution to advance forward to our assistance All these rare mercies I say layd together and seriously considered O how can wee choose but be extraordinarily elevated to a high pitch and peg of obliged gratitude to our great and glorious God who hath so powerfully and prudently propped up and protected his thus poor menaced and assaulted Ark securely bearing it up above all the raging and swelling waves and boysterous billowes of fierce and furious adversaries beating and brushing against it with their utmost envie and most malevolent oppositions And therefore I say with holy David to break forth into insulting and triumphant joy in the Lord and say Our hearts are fixed O God our hearts are fixed wee will sing and give praise
improvement wee can make of this our voyage for the honour of our good God in briefly observing and admiring the menacing molestations and shrewd brushes and disturbances which the advers waves and boysterous billowes rocks and sands of most wicked and ungodly proud presumptuous enemies of this Ark labouring to overtop or overturn it yet now by the Lords almightie and irresistible power and sweet protection all those proud waves were broken the rocks removed and the devouring sands securely evaded Both in the good hand of God first Uniting and associating the Counties of Hampshire Sussex Surrey and Kent and ordaining renowned Sir William Waller Commander in chief over them Secondly In the Parliaments pious care and providence for the welfare of forein English Plantations Thirdly In causing a considerable number of English-Irish-Protestant Souldiers transported out of Ireland and landed at Bristoll to fight against the Parliament to revolt from the Kings designes by them and really and readily to turn to the Parliaments-side against the Parliaments enemies Fourthly In that brave defeat given by the Parliaments forces in Shropshire and Cheshire to that proud and unsuccessfull upstart Lord Capell Fifthly In the most successfull pious and renowned Earl of Manchesters spoyling and bereaving of that pernicious Town of Newark of their provision the taking of Bullingbrook-Castle the declining and perishing condition of proud and Popish Newcastles armie and the notable defection of the Gentrie of â—orkshire and other Northern-Counties from the Kings partie Sixthly In the admirable contrary effects which the wisdome of the Lord our God caused the accursed Cessation of armes in Ireland to bring forth which mainly appeared in the Parliaments perfecting and producing their former long intended new Broad-Seal of England and the hopefully happie effects thereof Seventhly In renowned Sir William Wallers brave prize taken about Newbery The most excellent effects which the loss of Stamford-Mount at Plymouth produced And renowned Colonell Rigbies famous victorie at Thurland Eighthly The brave atchievements and victorious performances of the little Town yet greatly renowned Garrison at Pool in Dorsetshire Ninthly The happie re-establishment of the renowned Earl of Warwick in the place of Lord high Admirall of England for the singular securitie and safety of the Kingdome as well by sea as by land Tenthly The brave exploits of the valiant Governour and Garrison of Warwick Castle Eleventhly The most successfull proceedings and brave atchievements of those two renowned Colonells and Commanders Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Midleton Twelfthly and lastly the most prudent and provident Ordinance of Parliament granting out Letters of Mart by Sea for the better hindrance of the accursed designes of our Oxonian adversaries in the rebellious and most bloudy Kingdome of Ireland And now tell mee good Reader dost thou not see plainly by all these premised passages and apparent prints of Gods providence The Lord sitting as a most prudent and propitious Pilot at the Stern of his Ark and graciously and gloriously carrying it on safely and securely through the midst of all these molesting and raging waves of wicked men and all their most desperate and devillish designes against it whereby wee may and must most justly and ingenuously acknowledge with the sweet Psalmograph the holy Prophet David Thou O Lord art our safe and secure hiding-place Thou alone dost preserve us from troubles Thou dost encompasse us with songs of deliverance But to proceed The first thing wherewith I shall begin this Moneth of December shall be that happie and blessed business to this Kingdome of fully confirming and setting on foot the new Great Seal of England But before I come to the present relation of what was more fully setled and confirmed therein Give me leave good Reader to acquaint thee with what formerly past about it in Parliament namely That about the midst of October last when as the Commons debating on the speedie putting it in execution they considered a collection of certain Acts then read setting forth the power and use of the great Seal of England and reviewed their former votes touching the absence of the other great Seal at Oxford the substance of which former votes having relation to what was then farther agreed upon I have thought fit heer to insert Resolved on the Question 1. That the great Seal of England ought to attend the Parliament 2. That the absence of it hath been a cause of great mischiefes to the Common-wealth 3. That a remedie ought to be provided for those mischiefes 4. That the proper way is by making a New great Seal And they then proceeded to some farther votes touching the same which were to this effect Resolved on the Question That the great Seal at Oxford be disanull'd and what ever act or thing hath passed under it since it was carried away from the Parliament to be voyd and of none effect and that an Ordinance of Parliament be forthwith drawn up to that purpose By which Vote those late thundring Proclamations against the Parliament and well-affected Subjects of the Kingdome and the many new honours conferred on c. and many others at Oxford for their good service in withholding his Majestie from his Parliament and fostering this unnaturall rebellion against the Parliament Kingdome thereby occasioning the death of many thousands of his Majesties good and loyall subjects will fall flat to the ground Also resolved on the Question That Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament be forthwith appointed viz. Three of the House of Peeres and six of the House of Commons if the Lords so think fit to have the trust of the new great Seal which is to reside with the Parliament for the use of the Parliament and Kingdome And lastly resolved on the Question That the House of Peeres be forthwith desired to nominate such members of their House to joyn with a proportionable number of the Commons House as Commissioners for the said New great Seal and that all businesses proper to the Seal be dispatched by them or by order of both Houses All which was accordingly ratified not long after as was manifested in the Ordinance of Parliament for the great Seal forementioned After which long and serious agitation consultation and debates in both Houses of Parliament a Declaration from both Houses now fully resolved on and the Lord Ruthen Earl of Kent being with full approbation of both Houses chosen and made a Commissioner thereof in stead of the Earl of Rutland first chosen who upon some scruples of conscience objected by him was acquitted of that service and the Ordinance of Parliament accordingly altered The new great Seal was now I say delivered to the Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament for the putting thereof into due execution viz. To the Earl of Kent and the Earl of Bullingbrook for the House of Peers Mr Saint John Sollicitor Generall Mr Serjeant Wilde Mr Prideaux and Mr
from London for their relief had been beaten back with contrary winds whereby the poor people were grievously pinched put to it But behold on a sodain there camâ— in an infinite multitude of Pilchards into the harbour within the Barbicon which the people took up with as great ease as cheerfulness in baskets and tubs and that in such a plentifull measure as did not onely refresh them for the present but a great deale more were taken preserved and salted whereby the poor got much money in selling them Such a passage not heard of I beleeve in our kingdome since the siege of Rochel in France by that innumerous shole of Cods which then preserved that Protestant Town then besieged by the French King with an 100000 Popish enemies as the French Historie records The truth heerof I have also attested out of the foresaid Narration of this Plymouth Siege pag. 14. And now to goe on Much about the foresaid time also came credible intelligence from Northampton to London that that most valiant vigilant and well experienced Souldier Capt. Clarke one of the prime Commanders in the garrison at Northampton advancing from thence with a partie of horse and coming to a place called Brandon within 2 or 3 miles of Taciter in that Countie according to the intelligence given him sprung up a covie of Prince-Robbers Commanders and Officers being indeed the greatest part if not all the Commanders the enemie had in their garrison at Tociter one whereof was a Lievtenant Colonell and another a Serjeant Major with their horses and a malignant Parson of that County in their company they surprized them all as they were playing at cards for you must know that it is the greatest devotion that these prophane time-servers use at the good time forsooth of their merry Christmas which they account the most solemn time in the year for beastly Bacchanalian and atheisticall playing drinking revelling and thus spoyling their sport they were all carried prisoners to Northampton And at the same time also such another prety prank or Christmas-gamball was played them by a partie of Dragoones sent out from Windsor-Castle who advancing as far as Redding having come within little less than half a mile of the Town and faced the enemie there they entred the Townes of Twyford Hurst and Okingham and took there divers of the enemies horse and four high Constables who were gathering Contribution-money for Redding-Cormorants they having then collected the sum of 80li. which the said Dragoons took from them and brought it together with their prisoners and horses into Windsor-Castle And very shortly after another partie was sent out from thence who coming into Stoke about 4 miles from Windsor they had intelligence of a great feast which was that day to be kept at the house of a notorious malignant in that Town who had accordingly invited all his malignant neighbours unto it who being all assembled and preparing to sit down our said forces came sodainly in upon them and having laden a Cart full of their provision which they had made ready for dinner with great store of sack claret and other sorts of wine they speedily dispatched it to Windsor and brought away with them 3 prime men of about twenty then present namely the Master of the house the Parson of the Town and another active malignant who were all committed prisoners in the Castle there to feed on prison-short Commons whiles the garrison-Souldiers merrily feasted themselves with their good chear and drank off their wine heartily it being all disposed of among the said garrison-Souldiers December the 30th 1643. The high altar and other superstitious pictures and Crucifixes in King Henry the sevenths Chappell in Westminster Abbey were by order of Parliament and in the presence of the Committee for innovations taken away and demolished even the very next day after the monethly fast Sermon preached that day before the House of Commons in Parliament by Mr Hinderson that reverend and renowned Scotish Minister at Westminster This pious act being performed at the request of the said venerable Mr Hinderson as I was by credible testimony enformed And now good Reader having by Gods gracious assistance thus finished this Moneths voyage and brought our Ark safely into the harbour of this Moneths conclusion I shall heer desire wee may a little repose our senses and reflect our serious thoughts upon a most brief and gratefull recapitulation of all the precious traffique rich merchandize of mercies brought in for the better improvement of Gods honour and precious praises therein and to see and survey with thankfull hearts as in a short Map what God hath this moneth done for us and how he hath graciously and gloriously carried on this blessed Ark the Parliaments most upright and innocent cause through all the boysterous billowes and swelling surges of all its inveterate and malignant enemies rage and most malicious sly and subtill machinations not onely to overtop but overturn it too with utter ruine and destruction if it had been possible for them as namely First In setling the New great Seal of England In the religious reviving and farther pressing the Solemn-League or Covenant in places and by persons where it had not formerly been taken and this notwithstanding that shrew'd crosse-winde it met with by the way in the Oxonian accursed Proclamation published against it In the many and most brave exploits of that ever renowned and famous Commander Colonell Massie at Gloucester against his many and malicious garrison-neighbours In that brave defeat given to trayterous Digbie before Plymouth and that other defeat at Dunscot neer Tociter by Northampton forces In that famous defeat or rather indeed glorious victory obtained through the good hand of God by that ever to be honoured and renowned Commander Sir William Waller at Alton in Surrey the discovery and prevention of the plot of conveying away the Duke of Gloucester and the Princess Elizabeth from St Jameses to Oxford And the most triumphant return of the Train'd-Bands of London and Westminster with their prisoners taken at Alton In that excellent Ordinance of Parliament for the preservation of the Citie of Londons good Government The brave exploits of Cap. Sydenham at Pool And the notable reformation of the Cathedrall Church at Canterbury In the successfull Storming of Gainesborough and the brave prize taken therein The Kings unsuccessfulness in all his most waightie enterprizes since that most odious scelerous Cessation of armes in Ireland Together with the Storming of Grafton-House the rich spoiles taken therin And the great encouragement of the other London train'd Bands thereby to goe forth in the publick service and the excellent Ordinance of Parliament enabling the Militia of London the sooner and better to send them forth to noble Sir William Waller The notorious plot against Nottingham Town and Castle discovered and prevented And the brave defeat given to the Belvoir Cormorants by renowned Colonell Waight The
faithfull religious and honourable Pillars of the Truth and maintainers of their rights and priviledges and Patrons of the true Religion appeare with so united a concurrence of hearts and spirits The same morning there was set up in Cheapside in the place where the Crosse formerly stood a standing frame of slight Firre-poles on which were hung up divers Pictures and Trinkets as Crosses Crucifixes Images and Saints Agnus Dei's Beads Whippes and other superstitious Reliques and frivolous inventions of Papists all which with a chest of Popish Books were set on fire at the coming by of the said honourable Persons as a testification of their detestation and hatred of all such Romish and Babylonish superstitions and to declare their intentions to reforme take away those things which may justly incense the wrath of God against us one thing is also very remarkable that after they had been honourably entertained at Merchant-Taylors-Hall and dinner ended in stead of idle Maskings and other such uncomely actions heertofore used at such publike meetings to declare their union of spirit as in the presence of God all both Lords Commons at the godly motion of the reverend Assembly of Divines publikely and unanimously heavenly harmony indeed sung together the 67 Psalme to testifie their thankfulnesse to God A religious president worthy to be imitated by all godly Christians in their both publike and private feastings and meetings And which addes much to the admirable radiant lustre of this so precious a day of rejoycing in the Lord and to make this our joy yet more complete on this very same day of this so rare and fair an Assembly namely the 18th of this instant January our loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland came with their whole armie into England to help the Lord and us his greatly abused servants against our mightie and most malicious enemies All which I mean both this most memorable and unparalleld Love-feast and the seasonable entrance of our brethrens brave armie and all in one day how much they must needs vex the impious Oxonians and all the rest of our motley-Malignants and how great and unexpressible cause they gave of cordiall comfort and enlarged thankes to the Lord to all his Saints and servants I leave to every rationall and honest Reader religiously to judge and consider And for the yet greater and most just glory of God within a day or two after namely about the 20th of this instant both Houses of Parliament to shew their deeply obliged thankfulness to the Lord for that late foresaid great deliverance agreed most piously upon an Order for a publick day of thankesgiving in all Churches in and about London for Gods great mercy in preserving the Parliament and Citie of London from the secret practises and most malicious designes of their foresaid enemies Sir Basill Brook Read Violet and Riley which was immediately printed and published and accordingly performed on the appointed day Much about this foresaid time also came certain intelligence by letters from about the parts of Staffordshire and Namptwich to London of an unhappie defeat given to the Parliaments forces of Lancashire part whereof were enforced to flie to a Church for their farther hoped safety but were there also environed and at last broken in upon and by that base and bloudy pretended Lord Sir John Byron most barbarously put all to the sword at his accursed Turkish command and which was worse to triumph in this his inhumane barbarity he immediately upon this villanous victory of his wrote a Letter to his as base and treacherous brother the mischievous Marquess of Newcastle which was by Gods providence intercepted by noble Sir William Brereton and by him sent to the Honourable House of Commons in Parliament a true Copie whereof in aeternam rei infamiam being afterward printed and published I have thought fit heer to insert for the Readers fuller content and satisfaction A Copie of Sir John Byrons I had almost said Sir John Butchers Letter to the Marquess of Newcastle dated December 26. 1643. My Lord I Have already dispatched two Messengers to your Excellency to give you an account of my proceedings in these parts I am now at Sambich and have thought fit to acquaint your Excellency that Brereton for the relief of Namptwich had so prevailed with the Lancashire-men as to draw thence 1500 foot which I having notice of immediately marched toward him but as soon as I came within sight of him he instantly according to his custome ran away a most intolerable egregious Popish lyer as all men know that know that noble and renowned Commander in great confusion so that now those 〈◊〉 are so dispersed that they are not like to meet together again And I doubt not but by Gods assistance in a short time to clear this Country if your Excellencies forces advance toward Stopford to be able to set footing in Lancashire The rebells had possessed themselves of a Church at Bartumley but wee presently beat them forth of it and I put them all to the Sword Which I finde to be the best way to proceed with these kinde of people for mercy to them is crueltie so indeed sayes Salomon of such wicked ones as Byron I am my Lord your Excellencies most humble servant J. B. But now to come to my intended purpose this forementioned relation being onely an introduction to what followes that this inhumane monster bloudy Byron and all his accursed malicious adherents might clearly see and take notice of a divine providence notwithstanding this his insulting blasphemous Letter which over-powers the greatest potency of the proudest Bragadochiâ—es yea mightiest Monarches in the world which oppose his all-sacred soveraign power and authoritie There came therefore most certain intelligence by Letters out of Cheshire to London of divers brave repulses given to buteherly Byrons forces at the siege of Namptwich by the most valiant besieged Souldiers and Inhabitants of the said Town And shortly after by a Letter under Col. Mittons own hand which was brought to London about Jan. 20th 1643. By which it was for certain advertised That Sir Nic. Byron Governour of Westchester uncle to this foresaid bloudy Byron having heard of the sore repulses and defeats given to their forces at Namptwich which redounded to the great loss of his proud insulting kinsman bloudy Byron as aforesaid at his said kinsmans intreatie Sir Nicholas advanced with a partie of horse and foot from Westchester to fetch in armes and ammunition both to supply his kinsmans wants therein and his own too their Ship being carried to Lerpool as was forementioned which should have supplied those their wants and coming unto a Town called Elsmere neer Colonell Mittons quarters this most valiant and loyall Commander Colonell Mittan drew forth his regiment fell upon the enemies forces aforesaid who were then in the Town he killed above 60 of them in the place took the said Sir Nicholas Byron Commander in
as followeth A full Relation of the SCOTS March from BARVVICK to NEVVCASTLE THere is no cause why we should conceive that our Brethren of Scotland have delayed in any wise their comming though they have not been here so soon as some expected but rather that wee should give God praise for their so soon and speedy march First Considering the great Army which they have raised and provision for them which to be done orderly and by the brotherly assistance of that whole Kingdome is a great worke and asketh long time Secondly Because they are not onely ayding and assisting unto us but also to our brethren of Ireland who are brought to a very low and most miserable condition insomuch that informations from thence have certified the Kirke of Scotland that 200. at the least of the Scots are starved to death in Ireland for want Thirdly Their chiefe Engineer hath formed a new kind of great gunns never before discovered which were made purposely for this designe above three quarters of a yard long or some a yard that will carry a twelve pound bullet to doe good execution at a good distance and yet so framed that a Horse may carry one of them all which tooke up a great deale of time Yet neverthelesse blessed be God they are now come into England their number being 18000 Foot 3000 Horse and between 4 and 500 Dragoneers and they bring along with them 120 great Gunns and other traine of Ammunition very full and large which came to Barwick by Sea and there met the Army in a convenient time and was prepared ready for them in their march On Tuesday the 18 of January last they marched to Barwick and that day was a sore day to them by reason of great stormes and Snow that fell all the day long and yet such was their valiant resolution and desire of expedition that they came 18 Scotch miles that day to reach Barwick which is at the least as much as three and twenty or foure and twenty of our miles heere They billited about Barwick that night and there received their train of Artillery which they neglected not though after so long and wearisome a dayes journey and the next day being Ianuary the 19. they marched out of Barwick one Regiment after another as conveniently as they could obtaine fit quarter in those parts Our Brethren of Scotland brought along with them Printed Declarations of the Kingdome of Scotland for information and satisfaction to their brethren of England concerning their present expedition viz. Whereas the greatest Questions that are like to arise in this businesse may be deduced to these three particulars viz. The justnesse of ourcause The lawfulnesse of our calling thereto And the faithfulnesse of carriages therein our brethren of Scotland will hereby endeavour to give satisfaction in them all and doubt not to doe it unlesse there remaine some whose inveterare malice hath produced in them a resolution to be unsatisfied This their Declaration gave the Countrey so good satisfaction that they found no opposition and they doe carry themselves so civill and well and without offering the least wrong to any where they come that the Count ey are exceeding glad of their being come When the Messenger that brought the message to the Parliament yesterday left the Scotch Army which was on Wednesday last then they were at Adestone within some sixe miles from An wick in their march towards Newcastle which is about some 28 English miles and then a Letter was prepared to be sent to Colonel Glemham the Governour of Newcastle to require the delivery of the same up to the use of the Parliament in England and he doth verily beleeve that by this time they can give account of the same for on Saturday last they intended to be before Newcastle Colonell Glemham it seemes had marched out of Newcastle with a Partee such strength as he could make and the the Letters were delived to him which came from our brethren of Scotland sent from both the Chaire-men of the Committies of England and Scotland which was very faire and declared that they did not desire blood but to bring in those Delinquents to justice who seeke to divert his Majestie from the Parliament The Letter was delivered to Colonell Glemham and by him read to the Army then with him which himselfe would not deny but that it was very faire and so made unto them three Propositions at the reading of the said Letter 1. Whether the Countrey should be burnt up before them and all destroied and laid wast To this it was answered No which they had reason so to doe because there were then present many of the Gentry of those parts who had interest in the Land there 2. Whether they should oppose the Scots and send them a denyall To which it was answered that they were altogether unable to oppose them because they being but two thousand Foot and some few Horse it would be in vain to stand against them 3. Whether an Answer should be retuned to the said Letters To which some said that it were best First to send to the Earle of Newcastle to know his mind Others that it was convenient first to send to Oxford before an answer be returned The Messenger further reporteth that as he sailed by the mouth of the Channell which leadeth to Newcastle he saw some seven Ships or more which seemed to be fraught and upon inquiry it was certified that they were laden with Malignants goods supposed for Holland whereof he gave notice to some Commanders under the Lord Admirall who appointed eleven Ships to wait their comming out and if they came not foorth before Saturday the day appoinappointed by our brethren of Scotland to be at Newcastle then to fall in and steal upon them Now that our brethren of Scotland may not be looked upon with the prejudice of strangers we hope this firme Union of this mutuall Covenant will beare it out There is a Committee of our own Nation the most of which are Parliament men such to whom they have committed the trust and care of their Religion Lawes and Liberties joyned with them without whose concurrence nothing that concernes us is to be transacted And to free us of all unjust suspition which if our minds are not ready to conceive yet the malicious mouthes of our Adversaries and theirs are ready to suggest that notwithstanding their Declaration they have some finister and secret ends which may prove prejudiciall to our Rights and Happinesse It is hereby made known to us that they have freely engaged themselves by an Article of the late Treaty betwixt the Nations to give the publike Faith of the Kingdome of Scotland unto the Kingdome of England that neither their entrance into nor continuance in this Kingdom shall be made use of to any other ends than expressed in the Covenant and that Treaty subscribed to by the Commissioners of both Kingdomes which they are resolved to the honour of God
Sunderland about which time the Enemies shewed themselves upon a hill within two miles of the Towne but soone retreated without giving one stroake and then the Enemies Forces of Durham and Newcastle joyning and by the accession of new forces from Yorkeshire supposed to be about 14000 Horse and Foot they shewed themselves againe in a body within 3 miles of Sunderland whereupon the Scots drew out put themselves in Battalia both Armies standing so all day long and lay in the field all night within halfe a mile at most of each other the like they did the next day and the next night after but the Enemy having the advantage of ground the Scots could not engage their Army without great disadvantage and through the unpassablenes of the hedges and ditches betwixt them Within 3 or 4 dayes after in the morning the Enemy retreated apace toward Durham and the Scots sent out a Partie after them who skirmished upon their Reare and tooke some of them Prisoners by whom they received information that Newcastles Forces lying in the Field in the clod Snowey weather and in the skirmish had lost at least 800. Horse and men kill'd and runne away And within 3 or 4 dayes after the whole body of the Scots Army advanced against the Enemy toward Durham leaving about two Regiments at Sunderland for the security of that place About the 24th of this instant came certaine information by Letters from Lyme to London that Colonell Wear going from Lyme with a party of neere upon 7 or 8 score foot and Dragoons into Devon at least 14 miles from his Garrison to joyne with some well-affected persons that had invited him to come thither and were then in Armes but unhappily set upon by the Enemy who kill'd and surpriz'd most of them before the Colonel could get to them Whereupon the Colonell retreated to Lyme and the Prisoners which the Enemy tooke they carryed to Colliton a Towne within 4 miles of Lyme and to expresse their joy for this Victory they presently fell a drinking and carousing in exessive manner But the vigilant and valiant Captaine Pyne of whom we have made mention before having got good intelligence thereof lost no time but that very night went out of Lyme with a party of Horse to Colliton being come thither they first killd the Sentinels then entred the Towne and sodainly fell upon them in the night and height of their secure jollitie where he tooke a Collonell 2 or 3 Captaines and other Officers released all their owne Prisoners tooke above 60 common Souldiers with divers Horse and Armes and brought them all safe into Lyme By which excellent exploit all things rightly reckoned and accounted one would thinke they had little cause to boast of that dayes good successe much lesse of a Victory And about the 26 of this instant March my intelligence put me in minde heere to make mention of Gods admirable and most wise ordering and disposing of things to the glory of his Name joy of his children and vexation of the base Brats of Rome and malignant Enemies of Reformation in the most rare and strange alteration of the face of things in the Cathedrall Church at Westminster Namely that whereas there was wont to be heard nothing almost but Roaring-Boyes tooting and squeaking Organ-Pipes and the Cathedrall Catches of Morley and I know not what trash now the Popish-Altar is quite taken away the bellowing Organs are demolisht and pull'd downe the treble or rather trouble and base Singers Chanters or inchanters driven out and instead thereof there is now set up a most blessed Oxthodox Preaching Ministery even every morning throughout the Weeke and every weeke through the whole yeare a Sermon Preached by most learned grave and godly Ministers of purpose appointed thereunto and for the gaudy guilded Crucifixes and rotten table of dumbe Idols Popish Saints and Pictures set up and placed and painted thereabout where that sinfull Singing was used now a most sweet assembly and thicke throng of Gods pious people and well-affected living teachable Saints is there constantly and most comfortably every morning to be seen at the Sermons O our God! what a rich and rare alteration what a strange change is this indeed And about the end of this instant March wee were credibly informed that Hopton and his Mercenary and compulsatory Confederates had swept the Westerne parts pretty cleane to make up a mighty supposed formidable Army as if therewith he intended to pursue Gods people like furious Pharaoh himselfe to the red Sea of ruine and destruction or rather to make the Seas and Rivers red with the blood of Gods Saints and servants which the land was loath to drinke in Inchiquine with his Hell-bred Irish Generall Forth foaming and fuming with his witlesse Welsh and the rest of the rabble of Outlandish godlesse gracelesse French Walioones c. Gebal Ammon and Amaleck with the Philistims were all gathered together that they might all perish together at once like Sisera and Iabin at the brooke of Kison The Cause is one and the effect shall be the same for the same God lives now and for ever and hath onely appointed them a time wherein to whip his Children for a while for a day to be scourged and disturbed but not destroyed by them For sayes the Lord Asshur is my Rod. But this being once done this rod shall be cast into the fire and then neither their Idols Images Crosses Crucifixes Ave-Maries Pater-nosters or any or all their Masse-Sacrifices shall be able to save them but they shall perish and be packing to Rome whence they most unhappily came among us For as I say Hopton was thus preparing his powers against God So on the other side Sir William Waller Sir William Belfore and renowned Major Gen. Brown a rare Pair-royall of most famous faithfull and magnanimous Commanders were also with a very considerable Army within a little distance of the multitude of their impious Adversaries and as ready to receive them as they to give the Charge The head Quarter of the Enemy was at Winchester and upon the Downes foure miles from Winchester where Hopton had raised some Workes and a great part of his Army lay about in the Field Sir William Waller also Sir William Belfore and Serjeant Major Browne lay about Petersfield and Trafford and some parts of the Armies on both sides faced each other as they lay at distance and some slight Skimishes had first beene with some of Hoptons Horse who were beaten by brave sir William Belfores horse but Hoptons were experienced hoppers and runners too and so saved themselves the better But now to come to the maine matter intended And yet before we come to speake exactly of the fight it self I shall desire the Reader to give me leave with his patience to premise these pertinent antecedents thereof very worthy pre-observation namely That about this time it was
the blood of the Protestants that was upon them And about the same time we were certainly enformed that the most gallant and active Governour of Gloucester Colonell Massey loosing no time to annoy the Enemie nor omitting any opportunity to advance and advantage the Kingdomes Cause intercepted a Letter going from Wales to Oxford the contents whereof signifying that if assistance came not all Wales would be utterly lost And he also having intelligence of some preparations for that designe on the Enemies side to be put in action by Colonell Mynne he instantly and resolutely fell upon Mynnes quarters took divers Prisoners and Horse and brake the necke of that designe And about the same time it pleased the Lord very graciously to defeat our Adversaries devillish designs in the discovering of a most treacherous plot for the betraying of Gloucester into the enemies hands which was acted and agitated by one Edward Stanford Esquire a knowne Papist who plotted with an honest and loyall-hearted Gentleman Captaine Backhouse a Captaine of Horse under Colonell Massey In whom this Papist conceived he had a deep interest by reason of former ancient and intimate acquaintance To whom this Stanford assured a reward of 5000 l. for effecting the Treason But Captaine Backhouse most loyally and politickly deceived the said Popish Traitor and by speciall assent and good liking of Colonell Massey exchanged divers Letters about the firme contriving and carrying on of the businesse and so brought the Popish Agent into such a Fooles or Knaves Paradise as that he received 200 l. in hand of the said moneyes from Stanford and held out the acting of the businesse at least 3 moneths in treaties about it and things so fell out in that interim that partly Captaine Backehouse seemed to be necessitated to put it off but principally themselves were not fitted for action therein So that in the upshot they found themselves wound into a dangerous noose had it gone on and so voluntarily themselves left it off All this being at large related in print by Captain Backhouse himselfe with the interchangeable letters that past betweene them wherein was a cleare and full discovery of the whole plot to the just shame of those blood-thirsty traitors and the most deserved honour of that most loyall and faithfull commander Captain Backhouse May the 10. the most renowned and ever to be highly honoured Citizens of London observing a long and tedious obstruction in the Parliament about the re-establishing of the State-Committee of both Kingdomes which in its former setlement had produced much good to the affaires of the Kingdome and finding that the City Malignants began in their common discourse to seem to have great hopes of an utter dissolution thereof and most justly much fearing the ill consequences that were likely to follow thereon and considering that the main rub and remora thereof was in the House of Peeres The religious resolute prudent and provident Citizens therefore petitioned First their owne City Common-Council and the Common-Councill in the name of the whole City lamenting the not farther continuing of this Committee for both Kingdomes petitioned the whole House of Peeres for a most happy and speedy concurrence with the House of Commons especially now when an unanimous correspondency betweene them even in this conjuncture of time might redound much to their honours and the singular good of the Kingdome it having in 3 moneths time almost ruined our adversaries in their deepest designes against us as affaires then stood To which petition the Lords returned a very respective answer with great thankes for their love and care for the publike good And upon the 15. of May following the two Sheriffs of London with severall of the Aldermen and Common-Councill being the representative body of the City of London presented to the House of Commons in Parliament an humble petition expressing to that honourable House their thankefullnesse for the great and undefatigable paines which the House had now for some yeares past taken in the service of the publike Telling them withall that they were very sensible of the great discouragements they had received by some late obstructions yet did humbly desire them to loose no time in setling the Committee of both kingdomes assuring them that the City was resolved to obey the orders and directions of the House of Commons and that with the House of Commons they would live and dye as by the petition it selfe it was more at large expressed The House of Commons hereupon by their Speaker instantly returned many thanks to the City for their continued affection to the publique and to that House in particular and because a Petition so full of affection and resolution for the good of the publique might appeare to posterity They ordered it to be entred in the Journall-Book of the Parliament and the answer thereunto which was framed in expressions so suitable to the Petition as that it was exceedingly for the honour of the City and for the terrour of the enemies of this great Cause who eagerly sought and were in great hope at this time to have divided the one from the other The substance of this answer was delivered by Master Speaker as aforesaid on the very day of the delivery of the said City Petition and upon the Saturday following their Petition having been delivered but the Thursday before being May the 18th it was by expresse Order of the House delivered in writing by divers members of the House at a Common Councill in Guild-Hall sitting there of purpose to recieve the same Yea and upon the 20th or 21 of May next ensuing the Lords sent to the House of Commons this so long desired Ordinance for setling the Committee of both kingdomes with the alteration only of one word in it and the addition of two words more than were in it before and thus this weighty matter so long in disputation and expectation was now comfortably composed and yeelded unto to the great content of the well-affected and to the adversaries of the Causes great vexation and discouragement But yet within a day or two after the House of Commons moved the House of Lords againe by way of a reply to former Propositions therein with solid reasons why they could not concur with the Lords to have an additionall number of 15. to mannage the State-affaires with secrecy which is the key of certainty this having been the great blocke and obstruction in this weighty businesse and matters of high concernment being best carryed on when the number is the least So that at last the Lord was pleased to direct the heart of the Peeres to a full and clear setlement of this great businesse according to the desire of the House of Commons and long longed expectation of all the Well-affected Party and to the heart vexation of Malignants who hoped for an unhappy intestine division hereby among our selves Much also about
singing of Psalmes A blessed badge and cognizance indeed to be thus distinguisht from their impious Enemies which makes mee to think on that in the Gospell That when the Souldiers who were sent to apprehend our blessed Saviour and hee asking them whom they sought And they answered Jesus of Nazareth And Christ replying I am hee They sayes the Text fell down backward at those words stricken with terrour and amazement And so I say ô the power of godlinesse what reverence and terrour too it strikes into the hearts of profaine and irreligious Wretches Tenthly That before the Battell began as I have it from credible information Prince Rupert that bloody Plunderer would forsooth to seem religious just like a jugling Machivilian have a Sermon preached before him and his army his Chaplain took his Text out of Josuah 22. 22. The words were these The Lord God of gods the Lord God of gods he knoweth and Israel he shall know if it â—e in rebellion 〈…〉 us not this day Now how evident a demonstration from 〈◊〉 was heregiven by the successe of that dayes 〈…〉 enough one would have thought to have 〈◊〉 the most perverse Malignant In so much that God did so 〈…〉 himselfe in deciding the controversie by denying victory and successe to those who being in a false and bloody way had yet implored the Almighty to prosper them according to the justnesse of their Cause Eleventhly and lastly That this so glorious famous and full victory was by our good and mercifull LORD God bestowed upon us as an undoubted return of Prayer wee having but the very Weeke before been pressing the Throne of Grace on ouâ— Monethly Fast-day and publike Humiliation and prayer to the Lord even for this mercy a victory of Yorke â—â—at Yorke and the Lord heard us and granted us the desire of our Soules therein together with the lives and welfare of all our three most noble and renowned Generalls Praised and for ever magnified be the Lord our God for it Upon the immediate next Lords-day succeeding this famous victory all the three renowned Generalls with their whole Armies according to their pious and 〈◊〉 appointment celebrated a Solemn-day of most deserved and obliged Thanksgiving to the Lord and by their messengers to the Parliament who brought the intimation of this great victory desired that a Solemn-day all over the whole Kindome might be also appointed by their Authority and that they might have convenient knowledge thereof that so they likewise might again keep it with the rest of the Kingdome which accordingly was forthwith aâ—â—eâ—ted to by the Parliament and an order presently after printed and published a Copy whereof I have hereunto annexed Die Lunae 8. Julii 1644. IT is this day ordered by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament that Thursday come a seven-night being the eighteenth of this instant July shall be 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 far a day of publique Thankesgiving to be rendred vnto Almighty God for his great blessing and full victory 〈◊〉 Prince Ruperts Army in Yorkeshire to be kept in London and Westminster and all 〈◊〉 parts of the Kingdome Hen. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Coâ— And very shortly after a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed for providing necessary supplies for the Northern-Armies and it was also ordered by the Parliament that the Committee of both Kingdomes should forth with send a letter of thankes to the Earl of Manchester Generall Lesley and the Lord Fairfax for their great courage valour and fidelity expressed against Prince Rupert at the said great fight And yet for all these clear and reall demonstrations of this so absolute and 〈◊〉 a victory give me leave to tell the Reader that it may stand as another everlasting stain upon the Enemies of Truth and Honesty and as an indelible badge of their Atheisme and unheard of 〈◊〉 impiety thus even to mocke God with thanks for what they never received That just as they impudently also did at Keynton or Edgehill victory so now they made bonefires and caused the Bells to be rung in many places in their power and quarters yea and though that very night when they were so beaten out of the Field and so many of them ran into Yorke yet so intolerably impudent were they as so indeed are all Couzening Cormorants Malignants as to make Bonefires and cause ringing of Bells in the City of Yorke for their great victory obtained by Prince Robber that Prince of blood and lyes reporting openly in the streets that Generall Lesley was taken prisoner the Lord Fairfax slain and 14000 prisoners taken but that the Prince was so carefull of the welfare of the City that hee would not bring them thither for feare of oppressing that place with them yea and the next morning early when he fled thence betimes he told them he must abroad to catch more of the stragling Round-heads and would carry all his prisoners and ordnance taken to the King for else he said the Round-heads in the South would not believe he had got the victory O intolerable blasphemy thus to goe about grossely belying their owne consciences to abuse if possibly both God and Man Yea at Newcastle and at Newarke also and especially at Oxford they made great Bonefires with other triumphs by squibs and wilde-fire at Banbury also and Litchfield Exeter Bristol and all other places I say where the accursed Cormorants domineer'd Yea our sottish bewitched Moleâ—y'd Malignants of London also were â—o led along with a spirit of lying like their father the Devill that they mightily boasted of this Robbers vain victory over us the rouring of our whole three Armies the death and imprisonment of all our three most renowned and precious Generalls And thus I say have we seen the festivity of the Royalists 〈◊〉 Wit or the mad rage of the Malignant-Spirits notwithstanding that God gave such an eminent and notorious cheek to their impudence as Venerable Master Vineâ— said in his Sermon of Thankesgiving for this victory In that upon fictious confidence of successe they must needs as you have heard Antedate their Bells and Bonefires Whereas within a few houres there was nothing of the Enemies left in that field but Bag and Baggage Ammunition Ordnance Prisoners and Dead-Karkasses which had indeed 〈◊〉 more if that noble and most renowned Commander Sir Thomas Fairfax who is the honour of the fields he treads upon had not as he rode up and down taken up that sweet Word which Caesar once in such a case used Parcite civibus Spare the poore deluded Countrymâ—n O spare them I pray who are misled and know not what they 〈◊〉 A most excellent and pious Spirit and Speech and most beâ—itting such a valiant and virtuous Commander And thus I say blessed be our God that we see and know their vanity folly and madnesse having nothing to brag of but their own lying inventions For as we have aboundantly heard to
for even then when the Enemies came in like a flood then did the Lord lift up his Standard against them And truly the Lord hath dealt with all our proud Enemies all along in a most eminent and evident manner had we but eyes and hearts of undersanding to see and perceive it even ever since these last most notorious and odious plots and practizes of the Atheisticall Royalists in the abominable businesse of the accursed cessation and confederation with the bloody Rogues and Rebells of Ireland just as it is most notably set forth by the Prophet Ezekiel concerning Pharaoh King of Aegypt Our proud Enemies were like young Lyons of the nations and as a Whale in the sea and came out of their rivers and troubled our waters with their feet and fouled our rivers with mud and blood But the Lord our God did then spread out a net over them with a company of many people who brought them up into his net and dragg'd them and there the Lord left them as fish upon dry-land and cast them forth upon the open field and caused the fouls of the heaven to remain upon them and had they been left unburied all the beasts of the land had been filled with them as those inhumane bloody Irish-Rebels suffered many of our poor English Protestants to be devoured by hogs and dogs left unburied in their fields and ditches And now therefore good Christian and candid Reader thou who hast any true English-ingenuity and piety sparkling in thy soul speak from thy heart and conscience and tell mee truely have wee not great and everlasting cause with most cordiall-exultation and ravishing joy of Soul and Spirit to break out again and again into holy Moses his most excellent short and sweet expression of GODS infinite and admirable goodnesse Who is like unto thee ô Lord among the gods who is like unto thee glorious in holinesse fearfull in praises doing Wonders Let every one of us therefore joyntly and severally with that sweet Singer of Israel holy David with heart and voyce sing and say I will remember the Workes of the Lord surely I will remember his Wonders of old and of late I will meditate also of all his workes and talke of all his excellent doings For who is so great a God as our God yea thou art God that doest wonders thou hast declared strength among the people Thou hast with thy strong arme redeemed thy people even the sons of Jacob and Joseph It is better therefore as the same Psalmograph sweetely to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man Yea it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes And who then would not feare thee O King of nations for unto thee alone indeed doth appertain all honour and glory for as much as among all the wisemen of the nations and in all their Kingdomes there is none like unto thee our God Finally therefore good Reader to shut up all all that I can say herein having said so much already in my two former parts of this our Parliamentary-Chronicle is and shall be onely this That me thinkes all these so many and so manifest evidences of Gods best presence with us and of Gods all powerfull hand of providence thus admirably upholding us in the Innocency and Integrity of our Cause which he so cleerly makes and ownes to be his Cause by all those late and former Northern and Western Victories and other most specious returns of prayers should make us walk more yea most comfortably and confidently with our God That our God having thus enabled us to overcome the Beares and the Lyons of impious audacious opposition of the work of Reformation in Church and state will not fail also to deliver into our hands and unto our beleeving hearts the greatest seeming Goliahs and uncircumcised Philistims of proud and lewd reluctancies and obstructions which either men or devils can raise up against Gods glorious cause and unspotted Truth which is great and shall prevail onely let us wisely waite and beleeve for as I have oft on these like occasions said to my Christian friends who have still been harping and hammering on this demand I but when shall this be A too curious and indeed unchristianly question Beggers must be no carvers neither of the time nor means But the true Beleiver makes not haste but is willing to waite because the Vision which is for an appointed time at the end shall speak and will not lye Onely though it tarry yet waite for it because it will surely come and will not tarry as the Prophet most pertinently and excellently In sum Let me advise thee good Reader who ever thou art as holy Moses advised and encouraged his fainting Israelites in their greatest strait of Pharaoh and his furious Hoast behinde them the Red Sea before them and impassable hills and mountains on both sides of them Fear not but stand still in immovable true faith holy universall Obedience and heavenly harmonious Vnity one with another O take heed of intestine Divisions which spoil us in this triple pious posture I say Let us all voyd of all slavish fear stand still and see the Salvation of our God Whereunto the Lord in Christ through whom onely we are able to do this and all things graciously enable us Amen and Amen The Authours humble request to the Courteous Reader Courteous Reader I Must and do ingenuously acknowledge that in the publication of the second Part of our Parliamentary-Chronicle I committed two reall errours by mis-information given unto me by two known friends whom I much credited The one of them thou shalt finde Page 246. and in the Table or Index in the Alphabet B In both which Sir John Byron is said to be slain at Burford whereas he was but sorely wounded silenced as dead al the time of his cure which mistake I beseech thee good Reader who hast or may'st have that second Part utterly to obliterate and put out The other mistake by like mis-information thou shalt find Page 332 333. concerning the putting of the Commission of Array in Execution Viz. That Colonell Rudgeley was there said to be a principall agent therein Which in truth is far otherwise Hee being all along even ever since these unhappy wars began a most absolute Antagonist against that illegall Commission and a most loyall and constant freind to the Parliaments Cause having both in his person and in his purse manifested himselfe a true Patriot to his Country in the County of Stafford and a principall actour in the winning of Stafford Town and Castle and also of Chillingford-House from the Kings Cormorants All which I having lately had from most singular and substantiall testimony to be most true have chosen rather to take the shame on my self thā to suffer so noble a Gentleman to receive any eclipse of his honour by mine or my friends mistake
W. Wicked men compared to the Waves of the Sea 1 Lord Willough by of Parham wins Gainsbrough 6 Sir Thomas Walsingham taken prisoner by Kentish Rebells 12 Sir William Waller hath his Commission to advance 28 Sir John Wollaston chosen Lord Mayor of London 34 Sir John Wollastons fidelity cleared by a great tryall 35 Woods of Delinquents cut down 36 Wem Forces beat the Lord Capell 60 Lord Willougâ—by of Pâ—rtham takes Bâ—llingbrook Castle 67 Sir William Waller apprehends the Lord Saulton 75 Warwick Castles Exploits 156 Whiâ—by in Yorkeshire taken 156 Col. Waights good service 171 Westminster Cathedrall bravely reformed 184 Sir William Waller at Winchester 192 Whitechurch in Dorcetshire taken 195 Isle of Wights love to Sir William Waller ibid. Waltham house taken by Colonell White-head 201 Sir William Waller heats the Enemy at Basing 299 The Earl of Warwick made Lord high Admirall of England 83 Warwick Castles brave Service ibid. Sir John Winter beaten from Newnham 93 Wotton Garrison spoiled by Colonell Massey ibid. Sir William Waller sends a present to the Lord Craford a 〈◊〉 of Sacke 98 At Wantage the Kings Forces are frighted 234 The Women of Lymes admirable courage at that siege 246 Sir Will. Waller pursues the King 248 10000. l. Proffered to Capt. White to be a taitor to his Country 106 Col. Waight beats the Kings Cormorants of Belvoir 110 Sir William Waller takes Shudley Castle 250 Weymouth taken by Sir William â—elfore 257. Western affaires going on successefully 258 Wives and children of souldiers slain or maimed provided for 259 Windsor-castles brave exploits about Redding 113 Sir William Waller takes Arundell Castle 122 Winsby fight 133 Windsor Castle to be betrayed 135 Weln Ferry and Fort taken 287 Western parts hopefully reduced to the Parliament 298 Our enemies as Whales caught in Gods net 301 Wait and believe is a Christians duty 303 Y Goods service done at York by Sir William Constable 160 York is Newcastles last shelter 209 The Yoke of Cavalerian slavery Shaken off by Barnstable â—65 〈…〉 Marston-Moor Victory 291. FINIS Imprimatur Jan. 31. 1644. Ja. Cranford Psal 107. 23 24. England fitly likned to the Sea The wicked and ungodly rable to the raging waves of the Sea The Parliament and Assembly of Divines compared to the Ark of God God the Pilot The Ark over-topping the waves The wicked are Satans Gally-slaves The Authors two former Voyages in this English-Ocean Gods glory is ought to be the Alpha and Omega of all mercies The Authors third Voyage An Apologie for the pretermissioÌ„ of some preceding Parliamentarie-Mercies in the third Part of the Parliamentary-Chronicle and which come now to be heer related July 1643. A recitall of some former Parliamentarie-Mercies omitted in their proper place in the former Narration The Assembly of Divines petitioÌ„ the Lords and Commons in Parliament for speedy reformation of some speciall evills among us A copie of the Petition of the Assembly of Divines delivered to both houses of Parliament July 19 1643. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. The Parliaments Answer to the Divines Petition A fan gale to carry on the Ark of God Gainesborough in Lincolnshire won by the noble Lord Willoughby of Parrham The pâ—izes taken Colo. Cromwell raises the Newcastelian forces from besieging Gainesborough The Earl of Kingstone slain in a pinnace by Newcastles Cavaliers The Town of Stamford taken by Colonell Cromwell Return of our Monethly fast dayes prayers Burleigh-house in Lincolnshire taken by Colonell Cromwell A parly sounded by Colonell Cromwell Burleigh house stormed A parly sounded from within the House The House taken and the priz The great providence of God in the preservation of our Souldiers in this victorie 400 Clubmen come to ayd the Cavaliers discomfited and fiftie of them slain by ours Col. Cromwels own relation of his brave victory over the enemie at Gainesborough Siege A hot skirmisâ— at a hill The hill gained by the Lincolners The fight most fiercely begun Ours rout the enemies horse Ours have them in chase five or six miles Generall Cavendiâ—sh charges the Lincolneers most fiercely Colo. Cromwell charges him as bravely Generall Cavendsh slain Gainesborough relieved Another skirmish with the Newcastelians on the other â—ide of Gainesborough Newcastles whole Armie appeares Ours retreat and safely recover the Town The rising of the Kentish Malignants The new oath or Covenant is pretended to be the cause of this insurrection The main end of imposing this Oath The main plot of the Keâ—tish Malignants Seven-Oakes is their Rendevouz Their chief Ringleaders Sir The. â—â—lsingham and Captain Rolf taken prisoners by these Rebells And in great danger of their lives Sir Hen. Vâ—â—e sent into Kent by the Parliament with a Declaration of pardon to appeale them Col. Brown sent also into Kent with forces both horse and foot from London This Kentish insurrection was a part of Tompkins and Challenors conspiracie The Cities great care and providence The Rebells flie from Senock to Tunbridge The Rebells Petition the Parliament Their Petition rejected whiles they were armed Colo. Brown charges the rebells A hot skirmish for at least three houres space Col. Browns most valiant and resolute courage The Rebells are put to fâ—â—ght Prisoners taken The slain on both sides Their Priests were the principali fomenters to this rebellion About 5000 of them were assembled at Tunbridge The Inhabitants of Tunbridge desperate Malignants Sir Michael Levesey also at Yawlding his good service against those rebells Sir Michael plants his Ordnance against the Town yet endeavours by treatie to appease them The Town very much sleights Sir Michael A remarkable passage of Gods providence against the rebells in Yawlding Master Godfrey in Sir Michael his name fairly appeaseth the rebells The prize found in the Town Yawlding set in good order and quiet Canterbury Fevershâ—m malignants began then to rise also The well-affected partie of Canterburie appease this insurrection The Major of Fevershams carriage in the business Sir Geo. Sands taken prisoner The Major of Canterburie marcheth on to Sittingborn Sir Ed. Hales his Grandson a Captain of these rebells taken prisoner The heads of the Rebells brought to London and imprisoned Houghton Castle in Cheshire taken by Sir Will Breretons forces A Proclamation from Oxford to starve the Citie of London The Cities care and providence to prevent this plot of the impious Oxonians The L. Major and two Sheriffs of London take the Lievtenantship of the Tower by authoritie of Parliament A just brief touch of the due praise of Ald. Penningtons happie Majoraltie Alderm Pennington only made Lievtenant of the Tower of London A succinct most gratefull review of all the Parliamentarie-Mercies of this moneth 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Gods Ark above the worlds waves Jeâ— 5. 22. Psal 46. 1 2. August 1643. A ship of about 300 tun bound from Denmark to Newcastle laden with arms and ammunition taken at Sea A true Copie of the Inventorie and particular prize and goods taken out of
Cormorants at their departure A most admirable passage of Gods provideÌ„ce to Plymouth by a great shole of Pilchards coming into their harbour in the time of this Siege Captain Clark of Northampton apprehended diverse Commanders playing at Cards Windsor-Castles Dragoons brave exploits about Redding Foure high Constables and 80li. taken and carried to Windsor Good cheer provided for a partie sent out of Windsor at a greaâ— Malignants house at Stoke The high-altar Popish pictures in King Henry the sevenths Chappell taken away and demolished A briefe recapitulation and gratefull rumination on all this last Moneths remarkable mercies GODS Ark over-topping the worlds waves swelling Psal 31. 19. Januarie 1643. 2 Chron. 16. 9. A most notable and deep designe and pernicious plot against the Protestant Religion in all Christendom The Danes Hollanders coÌ„tribute to the King against us An admirable and sodain breaking-out of a combustion twixt Denmark and Sweden The King of Denmarkes plot against the Swedes discovered by Letters intercepted The Swedes enter into Denmark The falling out of the Danes with the Swedes much for our good Sir Tho. Holts House surprized by Coventrie forces A treacherous parley desired from the house The house batterd and taken Bewly-House also taken by the foresaid Coventry forces A most dangerous and pernicious plot against the Parliament discovered The ayme in this plot to divide the Citie Parliament The coÌ„trivers of this plot The place of meeting and consulting The contrivance of the plot The plot discussed on at Oxford The settlemeÌ„t of the Protestant Religion by Papists traytors and atheists still pretended The result of their first meeting was to send a Letter to London Rilâ—ys honesty acts a peace for this peacefull work The plot advanced And by Gods providence so dainly discovered Sir Basil Brook examined The Letter to the Lord Major The conspirators imprisoned The whole business communicated to the Citie of London Gods providence in delivering three worthy Gentlemen of Garnsey faithfull friends to the Parliament from prison in Castle-Cornet in Garnsey Acts 12. 11. Arundell-Castle besieged taken by Sir Wil. Waller The Castle delivered up to Sir William Waller The prisoners taken Fifty Reformadoes taken 1200 Common Souldiers 4000 li in money taken and other rich pillage A little armie taken prisoners in a little time about the taking Arundell-Castle At least 3300 enemies taken prisoners A brave Ship also richly laden taken at Arundell-Castle A Bristoll ship also taken at Leverpool in Lancashire The Citie of London takes into serious consideration the great care love paines of the Parliament for the welfare of the Kingdome The Citizens of London invite the Parliament c. to a dinner in the Citie A most excellent Message and Motion of the Citie to the Parliament at the invitation The Parliaments answer to the Cities invitation The Parliaments most pious desire to have a Sermon to be preached at this meeting The admirable expressions of loving acceptance of the Parliament of the Cities love to them The guests invited meet at Christ-Church in London Venerable Mâ— Marshall preached before them Whose excellency and unparalleld same and fidelity I must coÌ„fesse I want words to set forth as it deserves The same day of this glorious Assembly our Brethren of Scotland came into England with their armie All these causes of vexation in the wicked causes of rejoycing in the godly A publike and more generall day of thanksgiving appointed by order of Parliament A bloudy defeat given to the Parliament forces by Sir John Byron but an introduction to a great most admirable victory obtained by ours Pro. 12. 10. A most brave defeat given to Sir Nicholas Byron Governour of Chester by Colonell Mitton The slain prisoners and prizes taken Sir John Gellâ—s brave surprisall of Burton upon Trent Hilsden-House taken by the Parliaments forces 1. Laystolk quieted 2. Croyland subdued 3. Granthams victorie 4. Burleigh-house taken 5. Gainesborough relieved 6. Twentytroops of horse of Hull preserved 7. The winning of Lyn-Regis 8. Winsby fight 9. Lincoln taken 10. Gainesborough taken by storm 11. Hilsden-House taken Another most devillish plot between the Earl of Bristol and Serjeant Major Ogle to make a division between the ParliameÌ„t and Citie of London Mr Nye and Mr Jo. Goodwin wrought with to help on with the plot Propositions for encouragement to the Independent-men to help on the design Serjeant Major Ogle being released out of prison gets to Oxford This plotcame to nought in the end Another plot to betray Windsor-Castle into the Kings hands The manner of contriving it This plot also perished almost in the birth Another plot to betray Aylesbury most neatly disappointed Serjeant Major Ogle a plotter again in this treachery also A 1000 li promised as a reward for the betraying of Aylesbury and great preferment and an 100 pound therof paid in hand a good horse and a sword Ogles mightie motives to encourage Lievtenant Colonell Mosely in the plot Three hoped strings to their Bowe yet all brake and faild them The great preparatioÌ„ of forces to goe to take possessioÌ„ of Aylesbury Their extreme misery in a most bitter March At Ethrop-house 2 miles from Aylesbury the enemies heard the designe was discovered Their good reward which they got for all their cost and coyle The King lost at least 500 of his men at this Service Sore brushes against Gods Ark. A desperate design against Nottingham-Town and Castle A true Copie of Colo. Hutchinsons letter sent to a worthy GentlemaÌ„ of NottinghaÌ„shire resident then in London Esa 57. 19 20. Our Brethren of Scotlands first advance and coming into England for our assistance What a rich rare mercy this of our Brethren of ScotlaÌ„ds coming into England is unto us Three or 4. memorable Contingents in the Scots March 1. A great thaw much hindring the Scots march 2. A Bridge which would much have retarded the Scots March not suffred to be cut down as intended 3. The contrary effects of the great Snow in the Scots march 4. A remarkable hard Frost which helped all the Army over the river Tweed Gods evident hand of good Providence going along with the Scots Army A Declaration consented to and confirmed by the Estates of England and Scotland 1. 2. 3 4. Namptwhich most bravely relieved and a most glorious victory obtained by Sir Tho. Fairfax and Sir Willâ— Brereton A retunr of Prayer The first relation of this famous victory came to London on the conclusion of this monthly fasts hoâ—y duties Namptwich 3. times assâ—ulted and the enemy most bravely repulsed The siege raised The 2. Armies met and encountred each other Bloody Byron commander of the Horse first began to fly Prisoners and prizes taken Above an 100 Irish-Queanes with sharp long Skeanes to cut throats The slaine on the Enemies part Bloody Byron fled to Oxford His lying brag retorted on him An Order of Parliament for solemne Thanksgiving to God for this great viâ—tory A most gratefull revise