manifest danger greatest action and least defence upon others refusall I undertook my self though by my engagements I was not bound to fight at all but to advise and direct onely For this service Septemb the 28. I took with me 50. Muskettiers we lay there till Munday without action Munday Septemb 27. I was necessitated to send 20. of my Muskettiers to Captain Bradshaw at the Deans-gate which never returned that afternoon though thus weakened I was numerously assaulted but through the goodnesse of him who saved us my 30 Muskettiers having no Brest-work but a Chain gave them a sound repulse The next day Septemb. 28. the Enemy plaid at us with his great Peeces which being a strange noise and terrour to my raw men sixteen of them took their heels the rest some for fear of my drawn sword others out of gallantry resolving rather to dye than to forsake me stuck close to me and to the safety of their Town I was now few in number but found some pitie from some other gallant hearts who voluntarily came in to my assistance making up my number 28. And this was my huge Army even then when I had not onely many Enemies without but dangerous temptations within to deal with For the Enemy finding their assault not to take successe nor their Cannons to terrifie us as at the first severall parleys sore against my will were sent into the Town whereof I gave my Souldiers a little notice with incouragements to stand out to the utmost Particularly Wednesday Septemb 29. the Earl offered upon the delivery of some 100 Muskets to withdraw his Forces and march away To back this offer Collonel Holland understanding my aversenesse earnestly pressed me to condescend to the motion using withall these three Reasons First said he we have neither Powder nor Match I confesse I had onely six pound of the one and 18. fathome of the other but this was onely known to my self Secondly the Countreymen said he though falsly will stay no longer their own houses and goods lying open to the mercy of the Enemie Thirdly said he the Enemy is increased in strength With these arguments did he not only urge but almost command the embracing of the Earls Proposals I related these things to my Souldiers who unanimously resolving never to yeeld to my Lord of Darby so long as I would stand out and they had an inch of Match or a shot of Powder my heart leaped at such courage and thereupon I peremptorily refused any terms whatever Which so passionately moved Collonel Holland that he left me in great anger and discontent Immediately after this Master Bourne an aged and grave Minister came down to the Bridge to me I told him Collonel Hollands language and the dangerous concernment it tended to I advised him that if he desired to prevent the mischief which might ensue he would immediately walk to the Deansgate from thence to the other Centuries using his best encouragements to prop up their hearts against any dangers and assuring them from me that whereas the Enemy now made no assaults but where I was I was confident with the help of Almighty God and my few men to defend it against their whole Power nor should they ever enter at my guard The heartned old man quickly left me and followed my advice with such gravity and chearfulnesse that I cannot but ascribe much to it as to the means of our preservation Having thus prevailed for a refusall of all terms sent in by the Enemy our height of resolution to defend our selves to the utmost was returned to the Earl who finding by our actions that we spake as we meant within 3. dayes after withdrew this siege and gave me leave with about ten of my men in open view to fetch away a great number of good Arms from them Thus was Manchester freed from the danger of her first brunt wherein how farre I was instrumentall if impartiall men cannot see I will appeal from them to my Enemies If either can deny me an acknowledgement I am content the world should be blinde and what I have done should be buried But was the safetie of Manchester the whole of Manchesters safetie He that shall view in a Prospective the state of things at that time in the Kingdome must yet see more my Lord of Essex had then at that instant no great Forces and those very remote from those parts And surely if the actions of Manchester had not sufficiently ballanced the Earl of Darbies Forces or had that Town yeelded either to his Assaults or Proposals Lancashire and all those associated Counties had been at his service and the whole Souldery therein at his disposing which with his own Souldiers would have made up at least 9000 well armed fighting men besides Horse These joyned to his Majesties Body who onely wanted Infantery would have made such an Army as in humane reason could not have found an opposition strong enough from all the Parliaments Forces which at that time could be brought together These concernments I onely touch at because though my heart would break if I should not let the world know how I have served and am served yet I have no minde to draw my own picture Onely one thing more let me adde to do my self a little right since none else hitherto have done This Town was not onely a foyl to an assaulting Enemy but a strength help and Magazine to all the adjacent Counties as they stood engaged for the Parliaments service But of this enough The Earl of Darby having afforded me a vacancy by his departure I throughly set my self to raise up my Works of Fortification about the Town during the residue of that half yeer for which my Contract was made In which I did not onely prosecute that to my utmost by my directions but having declared my judgement that unlesse we did something speedily against the Earl he would get head again and do us new mischief We thereupon gathered our Forces together went out and upon Decemb 24. we shattered the Enemy at Shewbent and the same night we took Leigh by assault returning again within three dayes I was now so observed for my faithfulnesse and successe that Januar. 2d following I was unexpectedly honoured with a Commission from my Lord Wharton to be Lieutenant Coll of a Foot Regiment to Coll Ashton with which Febr. 6. I was commanded by Serjeant Major Generall Seaton to joyne with Coll Hollands Regiment and to attempt Preston which was accordingly taken by assault Febr. 8. And afterwards at Serjeant Major Generall Seatons and the Deputy Lieutenants request was fortified by my direction I kept this Command of Lieutenant Coll during the residue of my half yeers service contracted for with the Town of Manchester which being now expired they then observed what they cannot without shame remember now that I was both trustie and successefull They were loath to for-go such a servant and therefore propounded new terms to me offering me
quarter in or near the Town that they might assist us in times of danger But how were we answered he disbanded these men went away left us to our selves there being no established Souldiers in the Town at that time but that one single Company under my command and some few of Major Radliffs Company which with all that could be perswaded to look to the security of their lives and livelihoods made not up so many Muskettiers as to double our guards much lesse reasonably to enable us against a resolute Enemies attempt Nor was our distresse without many aggravating circumstances for besides the decay of our Mudwals and the unmounting of our Cannons we knew not who to trust The insinite toyl pains and indefatigable industry night and day which I used at this time all that had eyes in that Town saw and all that have tongues can witnesse insomuch that the ablest and richest of those who had engaged themselves for my Annuity being overcome with the consideration of my pains and the shining evidences of my fidelity gave me deep protestations and promises That if ever the hand of Providence should lead them to peace again and that Trading might once again flourish they would out of their own private purses enlarge my reward particularly foure of the six to whom I first discovered the Enemies stratagem specified their summes Mr. Johnson promised me 10 li. Mr. Gaskell 20 li. Mr. Hunt 30. Mr. Hartley 40 li. yeerly as long as I lived But alas when our distresse was over which lasted a week this smoke vanished The issue was this that whereas Coll Holland who ever hath been as you may see all along the bountifull rewarder encourager and furtherer of my good services had suspended my 40 s. per week part of my Captains pay for a whole yeer they drew a most importunate Petition to the House for the Arrears of my pay and continuance of it for the time to come recommending me also for some noble gratuity agreeable to my deserts and quality This Petition begot me an Order for my discontinued pay and a recommendation from the House to Manchester for my Annuity It was dated Sept. 4. 1644. This being granted me through much importunity and great expences on my part my 40 s. per week was payed me till Octob. 9. 1647. I shall onely adde one more Evidence of my faithfulnesse to this ungratefull Town The Summer after Prince Ruperts diversion it pleased God to lay his heavy hand of plague upon us which ranging according to his direction left no part unvisited becoming indeed such a sad object that our very miseries were as great a guard to us against our Enemies as the cries of them were strong for a publick commiseration from our friends The Pestilence in a little time grew so hot that it not onely occasioned most of the richest to depart with their whole families but moved also the Warden and the other Minister to desire me with my family to withdraw not far from the Town that if occasion were I might from thence readily serve the danger and extremitie which might befall it from the Enemie I think few men would have blamed me if having stayed thus long I had left the Town upon such importunitie But conceiving my self as strongly tyed to look to the goods and estates of those that were gone as one of the Ministers thought himself charged to look to the souls of those there remaining I waved all fear and resolved personally to serve my trust leaving my death to him that once gave and often before had spared my life And truly my resolution herein I must be bold to say was not a little courtesie to this Town as both I foresaw how things would and afterwards did come to passe For Major Ratcleifs and his Company having withdrawn and quartered themselves without the Works for fear of the plague my self having onely 12. Muskettiers whose hearts stood fixed to run my hazard the poore many of whom were at the pest-houses without and the rest within entred into a dangerous combination with about a dozen of the middle sort of men that were within to take advantage of our weaknesse and nakednesse and to seize upon the whole riches of the Town which at that time was very great In the prosecution of this villany they wanted neither secresie unanimity nor craft Not secresie for till their designe was ripe I had no knowledge of it which argues also their unanimity As for their craft a man would have thought some minor Jesuite had been of their counsell They had prepared forsooth a kinde of Declaration zeal to the safety of the Town solicitousnesse to see it so naked and unfit to oppose an Enemy were the embroidered coat of this pretty brat and to make up all they added a resolution to slick to King and Parliament and to use the whole fruits of their attempts to serve the Publick and I forsooth had the honour to be nominated their chief Commander I had at this time taken physick but my Serjeant Mr. Beirom the elder having discovered the plot to some in the Town who quickly came to advise with me We with some few others which we sent for agreed upon this as the suddenest remedy that the twelve chief conspirators should be severally sent for into one roome at one time and afterwards severally examined which accordingly was done their examinations remaining still upon fyle in Manchester Whilest these things were doing I gave order for my 12 Muskettiers privately to attend me with whose assistance having secured these heads the conspiracie vanished into smoke which otherwise would have set all on fire The plague being ceased and the chief inhabitants of the Town returned a man would have thought that this last Evidence of my faithfulnesse alone should have wrought these men if not to thankfulnesse yet to honesty But who can vvhite a Blackmore or make a rope of sand Their brows vvere brasse to all intreaties their affections flints to all reason their hearts rocks to all pitie and their consciences adamants to all obligations even still my Annuity vvas kept from me vvhich aggravating my many debts and vvants to the height of extremitie in hope of relief I repaired to London Where prevailing not for a redresse in three quarters of a yeers attendance vvith my boy and tvvo horses at very great expences at length it being true that Magister artis ingeniique largitor venter it came into my head to print an angry Paper the Copie vvhereof I have here inserted A sad Complaint of Lieutenant Collonel John Rosworme against severall of the Inhabitants of Manchester I Post and send abroad this to the deserved shame of the Tovvnsmen of Manchester vvhose names are under-vvritten vvhose heathenish most unvvorthy and perfidious dealings if I could I would publish to the end of the world My complaint is this let all Readers judge When the Town of Manchester at the beginning of these Wars was in a
most desperate danger and extremitie by reason of the Enemie I who have been a known Souldier in Forrain parts was then looked upon as a serviceable man for the safety and preservation of that Town and was accordingly compounded with by those under-written in the towns behalf to fortifie the said Town and in a word to mannage all Military affairs tending to their safety and preservation In consideration of which they obliged themselves under hand and Seal to pay me quarterly every quarter of a yeer 15. li. during the lives of my self or wife which should live longest adding with all such Solemn Protestations and Vowed Engagements of farther thankfulnesse that considering their profession of holinesse above other men it might easily have wrought an hope in a credulous man that they would be more then honest But all that glistered was not gold for see the issue I discharged my Engagements to the utmost of a man yea to the utmost of their hopes Their Town was secured themselves preserved through Providence my great pains industry and uncorrupted Faithfulnesse In the prosecution of my trust I incurred frequent and most manifest dangers of my life from which my escape hath been a matter both of their wonder and their joy of all which I have their own acknowledgements to produce and testifications of their thankfulnesse so deep as if they had looked upon me as the onely earthly Landlord of their lives All this notwithstanding these men if they deserve so good a name conceiving themselves to have no other use of me have for this 12. moneths with-held from me my dearly earned stipend broken their Covenants slighted their Engagements opposed all fair motions and frequent entreaties of my own refused all Ministeriall exhortations earnestly and often pressing their dutie herein upon them despised all requests and letters of publick and private eminent persons not onely minding them of but reproving them for their backwardnesse I may say perfidiousnesse so that if I were not beholding to a more bountifull Providence then what runs in their honesty I and mine might rot perish starve or famish whom by their obligation as well as the Common obligations of Equitie they are bound to relieve what ingratitude this is let the world judge yea judge your selves ye worst of men did I hazard life limbs and all that was dear to me and do the richest of you grudge me a few shillings by the yeer to buy me and mine food is this your equitie have you ingaged your selves solemnly for my satisfaction and now do you deny it me to my destruction Is this your honesty would you indeed murder me my wife and children after the highest manner of cruelty that under God have been a means of preserving you alive What is no other death sit for me but famishing have you no easier way to shew your unthenkfulnesse then that are you so hard-hearted to a stranger so perfidious to your obligation so unthankfull for curtesies such obstinate enemies of reason and equitie do you professe your selves ashamed to see me and can you read this without blushing ye Adamants can ye indeed be so flintie Well be so for ever finde out the utmost bounds of ingratitude be matchlesse in your treacherie set the Devill himself a Copie that you may be the most infamous men of your generation and when you have done triumph in this That your Consciences are made of such steel as can be touched with nothing As for me the utmost of your cruelty shall I hope reach no farther then to cause me to be angry with my self that I have ever hazarded my blood for such despicable earth-worms But withall let me tell you I hope I shall finde out a way to make you pay me against your wills nor shall your dishonestie for ever help you To conclude for I know though your brows be Basilsico-proof yet you could be content I should end this Language if ever you stand in need of the faithfulnesse of a man again may you meet with none that will trust you better then you deserve for since you have in my case manifested your best profession to be but hellish dissimulations what man after me will ever credit you who will ever free me from this reproach of being the last credulous fool that ever you shall abuse If any thing here seem either to your selves or others too sharp I shall shortly cleer your eye-sight and present you with a larger Looking-glasse wherein you shall see if you will not shut your eyes Circumstances enough which will more fully discover your bruitishnesse not onely to your selves but to all that will take the pains to observe your most detestable unworthinesse so farewell The Names of those unworthy Covenant-breakers in Manchester who have sealed and subscribed the Covenant in behalf of themselves and the whole Town Rich Heyrick Will Radelyff Rich Haworth Rouland Hunt John Hartly John Gaskell Tho Lancashire Richard Lomax Edward Johnson Lawrence Owen Robert Lewer Nich Hawet Edw Holbroock Roger Worthington Richard Meare henry Bradshowe Thomas Ellingworth Mich Buxton Rap. Wollen Hugh H Williams William Dean Thomas Mynshall Lond May 9. 1648. The shame of this Paper which the bitternesse of my condition and the unworthines of their dealing forced me to Print together with the concurrence of the Scottish advance from which they feared danger occasioned them to recall me from London and to pay me my then Arrears But this storme being over they again most shamelesly slighted their Engagements and therfore being utterly worn out with the vexation of their usage and finding nothing to work I sent them a Letter dated Octob. 11. 1648 desiring their leave that I might seek imployment where I could and look after a means of subsistence elsewhere since their hearts were such that they could suffer me my wife children and family to perish before their eyes who for six or seven yeers had been an evident Instrument of keeping them their wives and children from the same end For this purpose I sent them inclosed the form of a testimony to be subscribed the result of all was I neither could get pay nor testimoniall what is this but as much as to say in other words For all the good service you have done us we will keep you here and famish you I have now done my story what 's behinde must be for Application And first I shall begin with those undertakers of Manchester who first engaged me and first and last and all along have almost equalled my services with their wrongs My Masters For it hath been my unhappinesse to have been your servant Give me your leave a little If you have any roome in your memories for any thing but debts you may well remember the confusions fears and extremities you were in when you first desired my service what a strong Enemy you expected from without how divided within how weakly provided and unable against either insomuch that my Engagement in your