from the Governour or Mayor of the Towne our men fell to playing on the Towne with their ordnance both by sea and by land both our seamen and landmen performing admirable good service and the Towne also maintaining the assaults with brave resolution as ours more bravely assaulted them even to the face of death and danger Commissary Guine the Governour of the Towne shewed himselfe indeed to be a man of an undanted spirit issuing out of the Town and bringing up his small shot and making good their owne ambuscadoes but his hot valour exposed the Towne to unavoydable misery by his furious vowing he would neither give nor take quarter whereby he forced himselfe into much danger for leading on his men to face our small shot who plyed their muskets so thick and nimbly that his men forsooke him and himselfe received a shot under his right pap which enforced him to retreat who was no sooner entred the Towne but the master Gunner thereof was also slaine In all which brave and resolute fight we must not omit to manifest the high praise of Gods providence toward us for our small shot having forced the enemy out of their ambuscadoes pursued them close to the Town-gate their gunner having laden a piece of ordnance with case-shot and watching for such an opportunity having also travised the gun said to those that stood by Now you shal see me make a slaughter of these Roundheads at which word a small shot from our forces hit him on the head after which he never spake word more but dyed instantly which fall of his so daunted the enemy both commanders and souldiers that forthwith they cryed out for quarter and so we by Gods mighty mercy and goodnesse obtained the Towne of Tynby which was held by the judgement of the most judicious almost impregnable it being not to be entred but by single file In this Towne wee tooke 3 or 400 prisoners as many armes 7 pieces of ordnance all which were taken on Saturday March the 9. 1643 and on the Lords day March the 10. Carew-castle was also surrendred unto ours and therein also was happily consummated the totall subduing of all the malignant and insulting party in the whole County of Pembrooke Wee tooke from the Earle of Carbery and his complices in this action 4 castles 53 pieces of ordnance about 6 or 700 souldiers as many armes and the whole County I say of Pembrooke subdued who thereupon most unanimously took the Covenant to stand to Gods cause for the King and Parliament In all which the Lord of hostes gave his servants the victory over his and their enemies and gives us all therein just cause to put our confidence in him and in that comfortable ejaculation of holy David to exult and say By this we know that thou Lord favourest us in that thou hast not suffered our enemies to triumph over us And now to proceed About the foresaid 16 or 17 of March also came true information of more very good successe with our ships at Sea about the Isle of Garnsey performed and obtained by Captain Iordan who went out with a squadron of ships well man'd a part of brave Captain Swanlyes fleet before famously mentioned to beat the Earl of Malborough the Admirall of the Kings fleet at Sea who was gone to those parts of Garnsey and Iersie to get souldiers for the Kings Service which yet he could not effect as he hoped and at last Captain Jordan understood that the Earl was got to St. Mallows whither he thereupon set sail and came to Cape Tryhull whence he chased two Vessels the bigger of them fleeting towards Saint Mallows he took by the way which had been a ship belonging to Lyme and was bound for Topsham laden with Canvase cloth wine c. of burthen an 110 tuns and bearing 13 peeces of Ordnance The other ship was chased by Captain Thomas who forced her on shoare and the next day got her off being also laden with Canvas and belonging unto and bound for Topsham of 36 tuns and she being shot between wind and water they unladed her goods into their own Ships The next day plying the Cape aforesaid they took two Barks more of Topsham laden with Wollen cloath Iron Train Oyle c. bound for Saint Mallows of 30 tun a peece and of value able to defray the whole charg of the ships then in company But the Earl having got into Saint Mallows they could not reach him nor durst he stir forth all the time of their waiting for him there and so they missed of that hoped oportunity to have bickered with him About the 18th of this instant came certain information by Letters from Gloucester that although the ammunition intended for Gloucester could not wholely be conveyed thither with safty by reason of the great partee of the Enemies thereabout yet that Colonel Massey that most famous Commander having sent an expresse to the Earle of Denby Sir Thomas Fairfax and Colonel Bear That he was able by Gods assistance to keep the Town 6. moneths longer yea though he were closely besieged and that therefore if any designe or opportunity were offered them he prayed they would pursue it Since which time neither of those brave Commanders had beene without action and for confirmation thereof besides their former services it was particularly advertised by severall Letters That the valiant Commander Colonell Beare having intelligence of a Regiment of the Earle of Northamptons quartered at Cambden in Gloucestershire he drew forth a Party of his Horse who fell upon the Enemy there routed the whole Regiment tooke 80 Horse about 10 Officers whereof one was a Major and 2 Captaines 2 Horse Colours and 5 Foot Ensignes an 100 Prisoners much Armes and Ammunition and pursued them as farre as Burford in Oxfordshire and afterward brought the Prisoners and Prize to Warwick-castle About the 20 th of this instant also wee had certaine intelligence by more Letters from Gloucester that that valiant faithful and renowned Gentlemen Colonell Massey whose actions render him truly Honourable for Virtue is the badge of Honour as Vice is of Shame had taken from the Enemy about 8 Miles from Gloucester 35 Horse and some prisoners and returned back safely and seasonably to Gloucester having intelligence that sir Iohn Winter his Popish neighbour was at some places in the Forrest of Deane to raise men by virtue of the Commission of Array whereupon he forthwith marched toward him and most bravely defeated his designe tooke about 60 Horse of his prisoners and victoriously returned home againe Thus most gallantly and vigilantly awing his Enemies on every side And about the 22d. of this instant March came Letters from the Army of our loyall Brethren of Scotland which were read in the Parliament certifying that they had then passed over the River Tyne at three severall places without any opposition and shortly after were possessed of
knowledge of the enemies coming they were very full of joy and resolution thinking it a great mercie that they should now fight with him Our men went on in severall bodies singing Psalmes Quarter-master Generall Vermeyden with five troopes had the forlorn-hope and Colonell Cromwell the Van assisted with other of my Lords troopes and seconded by Sir Thomas Fairfax Both armies met about Ixbie if I mistake not the Townes name both they and wee had drawn up our Dragooneers and gave the first charge and then the horse fell in Colonell Cromwell fell with brave resolution upon the enemie immediately after their Dragooneers had given him the first volley yet they were so nimble as that within half pistoll-shot they gave him another his horse was killed under him at the first charge and fell down upon him and as he rose up he was knockt down again by the Gentleman that charged him who 't was conceived was Sir Ingram Hopton but afterward he recovered a poor horse in a Souldiers hand and bravely mounted himself again Truly this first charge was so home-given and performed with so much admirable courage resolution by our troops that the enemie stood not another but were driven back upon their own body which was to have seconded them and at last put them into a plain disorder and thus in less than half an houres fight they were all quite routed and forced to run for their lives though they were two for one and as soon as our men perceived them to shrinke they fiercely charged within them all and then I say they ran for it leaving all their Dragooneers which were now on foot behind them Thus our men pursued them and did execution upon them about five or six miles all the way being strewed with broken armes dead men and horses And heer I may not omit to make mention of the rare courage and valour of that most noble Commander Sir Thomas Fairfax who when they first viewed the enemie and saw great odds in their number was so much the more inflamed with godly courage and resolution saying Come let us fall on I never prospered better than when I fought against the enemie three or four to one One hundred of their men to avoid the furie of our men were drowned many were wounded and in one gravell pit above an 100 were hid some there breathing their last breath others less wounded my Lord of Manchester most mercifully gave order that care should be taken of them all And heer it must not be forgotten that some with mortall wounds upon them cryed out The Commission of Aray the Commission of Aray brought us hither full sore against our wills wee were as true servants to the Parliament and our Religion and liberties as any in England and woe to those that were the cause that Lincoln and Yorkshire became a prey to the enemie wee die as true friends to the Parliament as any Two hundred horse were found left in the Castle their riders being all fled many hundreds fled into the waters up to the arme-holes they that lay slain in the high wayes were very many and divers of qualitie for there were brave bodies stript naked Sir George Bowles was slain and Sir Ingram Hopton Colonell Shelley was taken prisoner among those taken out of the water and Colonell Ayres the number of horse taken in all were about 2000 of prisoners about 1000 and as many slain of armes 1500 and not 100 of the enemies 't was verily believed to be found in a body of 94 Standards 35 were taken Wee lost very few of our men none of note wee hardly found above one officer hurt and that was Colonell Cromwells Captain-Lievtenant Our foot were not drawn up to the place where the fight was untill after the fight and chase was over Horse and foot though very weary marched on toward Horncastle where my Lord lay that night with all the foot his horse being sent to their old quarters in the Townes adjoyning And truly both Officers and Souldiers did their dutie that day singularly well and bravely my Lord himself also took wonderfull paines in bringing the business to this foresaid pass in drawing up all the foot to have relieved the horse in case they had been put to straits and had needed it But God himself did all taking away the enemies hearts and giving resolution and courage to our men to him therefore be all the honour and glory of this famous victorie Now whiles these things were thus in agitation the noble Lord Fairfax had a Letter brought unto him which was intercepted written by that ignoble Popish Lord Widrington the then present Governour of Lincoln in which Letter writing to his great Lord the Marquess of Newcastle he confirmes by his own confession the truth of this great victorie Another Letter was also intercepted written by Generall Hinderson also to the Governour of Newark The former Letter enforming Newcastle that the loss of all Lincolnshire and Yorkshire too was in a great hazard especially if he were forced to quit Hulls siege too and in his said Letter also certifying the loss of divers of their prime Commanders for certain slain in the foresaid battail Hindersons Letter also importing a pitifull complaint of his loss in the said fight and assuring the Governour of Newark that since the fight he was not able to rally or get together hardly 400 men of all his former great and numerous forces And that which addes extraordinarie lustre to the honour of our wonder-working God and which I may not heer by any meanes omit It pleased the Lord by his admirable providence so to order it that both this great victorie at Horncastle and that brave victorie also obtained by the most renowned Lord Fairfax at Hull under the command of that most worthy and expert Commander Sir John Meldrum were bestowed by the Lord our God upon his people and Parliament upon one and the same day namely Wednesday October 11 1643. And now to goe on About the 16th of October 1643. came Letters from Gloucester to London with most credible intelligence that the truly valiant and magnanimous Commander Colonell Massie that ever to be honoured and renowned Governour and by Gods wonderfull assistance maintainer of Gloucester having true intelligence that about a regiment of the Kings Welch forces were come to Tewksbery intending to fortifie and quarter themselves there and to make that Town winter-Garrison This noble and most vigilant Colonell being very desirous to be rid of such unfriendly and unruly neighbours speedily and privately drew forth a considerable partie of horse and foot from Gloucester and marched with them to Tewksbery where he sodainly and resolutely fell upon the enemie slew above 30 of them took many prisoners and forced the rest to flie for their lives some of whom were in that their hastie flight drowned in the river Severn He also took
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
Admirall for the Maria-Pinace to ride before this Town We are yet in safety blessed be God but daily braved by the Enemy yet hitherto they have not dared to fasten upon this Town And I have observed that they have never come before this place or neer it but we have still worsted them we have alwayes taken prisoners horses armes wounded or slain some of them On Thursday last we took sixe men and Horse wherof one was a Cornet On Saturday wee tooke two men Horses and Armes shot a Captaine who lyes languishing at Rumsey and wounded three men more The Lord bee still our defence and refuge and give us thankfull hearts for his preservation over us This poor County of Hampshire having had its share of blood and misery in this sad Tragedie of our Nation that there is hardly left any thing for man or beast therein I perceive you have received knowledge of a treacherous practice for the delivery of this Town but lest you should bee misinformed therein I will give you a briefe account thereof Some few daies before Christ-tide last the Lord Hopton marched with his Army from Winchester towards Southampton with a purpose to face it as we were informed but he came not within two Miles thereof to outface it but marched to Redbridge the way into the New Forrest brake it downe to hinder us of Provision from thence after so horrible an Act he faced about and marched to his old quarters again without attempting any further atchievement The next day here arrived a Letter from one Mr. Iasper Cornelius sometimes an Atturney of this Town but run away before my comming hither for Malignancy directed to Mr. R. Mason a Merchant of this Towne intimating that this Cornelius was the day before with the Lord Hopton before this Towne and was the meanes of diverting the Lord Hoptons intent of attempting this place and tells Mr. Mason he had made choice of him to deliver an inclosed Letter to me with all secresie which I received yet the said Cornelius was an unknowne man to me by his Letter he insinuates that then was a fit time for me to doe his Majesty good service and that I was not the man I was formerly meaning as I conceived that the government of this Towne was imposed upon my honoured friend Colonel Norton which I long sued to be eased thereof and by it he thought I was a disconted person and so fit to be wrought upon but he was deceived I being never better pleased then to be eased of so great a burthen which I had borne long enough though it pleased his Excellency to require my service with a more sutable command to my disposition made me Serjeant Major to Colonell Norton which pleased me farre better after the receit of this Letter I instantly acquainted my Colonell and Master Mayor therewith we all agreed I should shew a seeming complying the better to bottome their designe and to find out what malignant party they had made in this Town I forthwith gave him a copie of a Character to explaine his minde more fully To which he replied That by the command of his Superiours he did in the name of His Majesty and his Countrey and two Lords which he named offer me a thousand pounds in money a present imployment of more value and honour than at present I had His Majesties pardon under the great Seale and his favour if I would be a meanes to reduce the Towne of Hampton to His Majestie I returned a seeming complying Answere and demanded the one thousand pounds in hand or the moity thereof and assurance given me for the residue the imployment named the Pardon sent me this performed he should soon see what I would say to it In the interim my Colonell acquainted my Lord Generall and Sir William Waller with the offer made by Cornelius wherein I continued the Treaty to regaine time untill Sir William Waller had finished his businesse at Arundel and drawne his Army this way and then to have drawne the Enemy hither in hope of gaining this place whilest Sir William might have fallen behind them in this place of advantage and so to have deceivd such treacherous corrupters I continued the Treaty untill I had his Majesties Signe Manuall for a Pardon sent me and afterwards the Pardon it selfe but I could get no money but strong engagements of honour to performe with me when the worke desired was effected I whiled out a moneths time with them to the exchange of eight Letters Master Robert Mason being still the man they employed to bring theirs and receive my Letters whom they had bound to secrecie by an Oath before I knew thereof who brought me the copy thereof hoping to have gained me to the like saying he had no engagement all this time on me neither by protestation nor promise to performe with them and which I still delayed which put the Projectors to a jealousie that I was not reall all to them yet to draw them still on I framed some offers in the nature of Articles for my selfe and this Towne to which the Lord Hopton subscribed that upon his honour he would performe them but I still pressed for the money but could not obtaine it they fearing I would Craford them as Poole did yet Master Mason offered me to become bound for it which I accepted of but before he could performe on Friday last was sevennight he earnestly pressed me to declare my reality in the designe I saw the man in a distracted extasie by his over-zealousnesse and rashnesse for them having no assurance of me my bowels pittied him his wife and many children told him plainly I never intended to be a villaine and traytor to betray a trust committed to me and the lives and goods of so many innocent people to be made a prey to cruelty and told him I have revealed it from the beginning to my Colonell Then he begged I would conceale his name I told him I could not but in compassion of his condition gave him leave to goe to his house being but three Houses from mine in which time I went foorthwith to acquaint my Colonell with what had hapned betweene Master Mason and my selfe wee concluded instantly to seize his person and caused all the gates to be secured but yet hee escaped from us and could not be found although we searched carefully for him since we heare he is at Winchester and shall be preferred and imployed in matter of trust In all the time of our Treaty I could not discover that he had any confederates of any Townsmen with him but had undertaken it to carry it alone But I was grieved that I was conceived by the adverse part to be a fit Instrument for them But now they have tryed me I am confident they will never doe the like but to revenge themselves on me But I will to all the world declare and maintaine my faithfulnesse to my Countrey and Cause I have
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
that that sad accident fell out by Gods most wise ordering and disposing of things of the raising of the Siege at Newarke a businesse of mighty importance and great expectation on both sides especially on ours in great hope and as great fear on theirs But I say it pleasing the Lord thus to crosse our hope of comforts and to free them of their feares for the present and therein to give them a seeming Victory therein and thereby to raise up their instant and insolent swelling thoughts to an extream pitch of Pride and Arrogancy insomuch that their Mercurius Aulicus the Kings Lyer in Chiefe at Oxford-Mint must publish abroad to the World a huge blustring Declaration of the great and glorious Victory obtained by Prince Robber at Newarke not onely in raising the Siege but in an utter dissipation and discomfiture of our whole Army with many other Chymerian-additions The like credit also must be given to a farther fiction namely That the Scots were also totally defeated by the Earle of Newcastle whereas in very truth the Lord had at that very time given our loving Brethren of Scotland a brave Victorie against Newcastle whereof more in its due time And a Letter or Declaration was accordingly poasted from Oxford in all hast to Sir Ralph Hopton which was according to command openly read in the head of his Army and for their better encouragement it was seriously affirmed that now they had no considerable Enemy to encounter but onely a small despicable handfull of Round-heads under the Command of Sir William Waller which they said were so inconsiderable that halfe Sir Ralph Hoptons Army would bee easily able to give them an utter defeat which being done there would remaine nothing of difficulty for the making up of a compleat Conquest of the whole Kingdome save onely to march victoriously to London obtaine their Forts levell their workes and take the whole Plunder of that rich and rebellious Citie as a reward of their service Thus by this meanes they having deluded the Common Souldiers throughout their Army and animated them to fight it being also at that time when Sir William Waller had received a message which no doubt was as soone made known to his Adversaries not to engage his Forces in a fight for the present except he were assaulted by the Enemy or found an apparent advantage and accordingly Hopton speedily prepared himselfe to the onset with extraordinary celerity and resolved violence and vehemence Which Fight comming now to be handled and mentioned in the next place I shall herein give the best and fullest relation thereof that I could possibly fix upon which was penn'd by an actor and eye-witnesse thereof as it was presented to the most worthy and right Honourable Lord Mayor of London and the rest of the right Worshipfull Comittee for the City Militia which was as followeth May it please your Honour VPon Thursday the 21 th of this instant March 1643. our Brigade being quartered at Midhurst our Major Generall Browne received Orders from Sir William Waller to advance toward Winchester to a Towne called Trafford which accordingly he did with incredible speed almost at an houres warning and that night arrived there which we found to be a small Village not above seven or eight houses to quarter all our men there we met with much hardship staying for Orders till the Lords day following Upon Monday the 25. we marcht forwards to joyne with Sir William Wallers maine Body which accordingly we did and that night were appointed to Quarter at Westmean three miles distant from the maine Body where wee found a Partee of the Enemies Horse when our Quarter-masters entred the Towne which occasioned some action though not much considerable we onely tooke a Quarter-master prisoner The next day which was Tuesday we lay still onely our Scouts brought in some Prisoners 6 Troopes incountring with 16 of the Enemies put them to flight and brought away 3 of them prisoners The day following we discovered the Enemy who tooke some few of our men that were stragling from their Colours and soone after appeared in a great Body upon the hill on the left hand of the Towne intending as some Prisoners confessed to take us at Church it being the Fast day but it pleased God who foresaw the Plot to prevent the danger directing us to keepe the Fast the Wednesday before when we lay still at Midhurst so that we were provided to entertaine them and drew our men into a Body neere the Town which done Orders came to march away which accordingly we did in the Forlorne-Hope expecting the enemy every houre to fall upon us so that wee were forced to make a stand a mile or more from the Towne in extreame danger till Sir William Wallers Forces came up from Eastmean to joyne with us then we marcht along till we came neere to Cheeriton to a place called by some Lamborough-field where we quartered all night the Enemy lying upon Sutton-Common and some part of them neerer to us so neere that the Sentinels could heare one another talke Upon Thursday morning a commanded Partee was sent to view the Enemie which they did and encountered with a Forlorne-hope of the Enemies and behaved themselves very bravely so that day was spent in skirmishes where much gallantry and true valour was shewed by our Horse especially two men whose names I do not well remember to the perpetuall honour of the Actors and great admiration of the Spectators by whose meanes a considerable Partee was once engaged and the Enemy came on with a great Body which appearing we discharged one Gun which did such execution in our sight that they all fled This day a Councill of Warre was called by both parties both by us and the Enemy as since we are informed and the ingagement was such that of necessity they must give battaile or retreat with much dishonour the next morning we prepared for the Worke and having sought to God for assistance we did addresse our selves to the Service in the first place a Forlorne-hope was drawn out of our Brigade foure Files out of a Company led on by Captaine Tomson a stout man who were sent to take possession of a wood which lay on the right hand betweene us and the enemy which they obtained with ease in the Enemies sight but such was their policy that they fore-seeing the necessity of our gaining the wood if ever we gave battell to them in that place planted their Drakes on the farther side of the Wood which they discharged upon our men so thicke that the place was not tenible though the greatest part of Musketeers and some others were drawn up to them so that they were forced to retreat in one houres space which gave great encouragement to the Enemy who presently came on with their maine body of horse very powerfully and were met as couragiously yet being of the greater number for our whole
Designes and winning divers Ships and valuable Prizes from them Together with Gloucesters good posture and condition And Colonell Beares and Colonell Masseyes victorious achivements over the Enemies In our loyall Brethren of Scotlands safe passage over the River Tyne without resistance and the feare and terror of the Lord put into the Enemies hearts that they durst not set upon our brethren but being enforced to wait on the Scottish Forces day and night in the Fields lost many hundreds of their Army to the great weakning thereof and enforcing of them to a hasty retreat to Durham In the brave defeat given to the Enemy at Collyton neere Lyme by valiant Captaine Pyne and the excellent reformation of the Cathedrall at VVestminster And lastly in this last fore-mentioned most famous defeat and glorious Victory which God in his great mercy gave Sir VVilliam VValler and Sir VVilliam Belfore at Alsford in Hampshire against Hopton and his formidable Forces who had even already swallowed us up in their deepe hopes and greedy expectations but wherein God admirably frustrated their high-built-hopes and dasht in pieces their deepest designes In just and serious Contemplation and Consideration then of all those precious premises who can deny but that he hath most evidently and undenyably seene in this Monethes most prosperous and successefull Voyage Gods Arke Over-topping the worlds waves swelling and although the outragious waves of wicked men Atheists Papists and perverse Malignants gave the Arke especially in this Alsfords bickering many sore brushes against its sacred sides to overturne it So that we might say with holy David The floods were lifted up O Lord the floods did lift up their voice as in those Oxoniensia Sesquipedalia verba the floods did lift up ther waves But the Lord was mightier than the noise of their many waters yea than all the mighty waves of the Sea And therefore let us all with most cheerfull hearts and voyces with that sacred sugered Singer of Israel aforesaid in holy exultation and gracious gratification Say and Sing Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered and let all those that hate him flee before him As smoake is driven away so drive thou them away O God as wax melteth before the fire so let the wicked perish at the presence of the Lord. But let thy righteous ones still be glad and rejoyce yea let them exceedingly râ—jâ—yce in thy Salvation And now to proceed ANd here now to hoyse up our sailes again and begin the next Moneths Voyage see what singular and soveraign good fruit we are all ready fraught with in the very first setting forth to the farther praise and glory of God a work most pleasing to heaven and all true holv and heavenly minded Saints namely how it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our most pious Patriots and precious Parliamentary Worthies the care of the more holy strict sanctification of the Lords Day about the beginning of this moneth of April to passe and publish a most excellent Ordinance of Parliament wherein were many sweet holy and holesome Orders and Penalties agreed on and confirmed to be put in exact excution and inflicted upon all manner of Offenders against the same And among them this one clause was also added That the Ordinance formerly made for the burning of all books of giving Liberty for prophane pastimes and Lawful recreations forsooth as our impious Pontificians wickedly termed their wickedly termed their Bacchanalian sports set out by the Arch-Prelate of Canterburies license and allowance should all be put in execution throughout the whole Kingdome under the Parliaments power and Authority And was not here a blessed blast and faire gaile of wind breathed out from heaven it selfe upon this Arke of God to carry it on successefully in this Moneths troublesome Voyage through the swelling Seas of this so sorely distracted and distressed Kingdome And about the 2 of this instant April came certain Intelligence by Letters out of Derbyshire to London That that brave active and faithfull Commander in Armes Sir Iohn Gell after the raising of the Siege at Newarke had such a Vigilant eye upon the Enemie that he sent forth a partee which fell upon one of their quarters at a place called Munk-bridge upon Dove-river not many miles from Derby where they killed 22 on the place routed the rest and drave divers men and horse into the said River where they were drowned took an 140 horse and 80 prisoners Much also about the same time came credible information by Letters out of Yorkeshire to London that Colonell Bellasis Governour of Yorke marched out thence toward Bradford where his Victorious Antagonist brave Colonell Lambert lay with his Regiment which Bellasis intended and hoped to have an oportunity to set upon and surprise But the Vigilant Colonell having timely intelligence of his comming sallyed out of the Town to meet the Enemy after a little facing one another Colonell Lambert warily perceiving that the Enemy were too numerous a partee for him to encounter with thought it not safe to advance beyond his Works whereunto he discreetly retreated and there maintained the fight very valiantly and beat off the assailants with their losse having kil'd and wounded so many that the Enemy was forced to a hasty retreat which the Valiant Colonel soon perceiving pursued them therein at least 6 miles in which Action Colonell Lambert took 200 horse and furniture and a 100 Foot and took Colonell Bagshaw a notorious Lancashire Papist 8 Captains and other Officers and Commanders About the 8th of this instant we had certain Information by Letters from Gloucester to London that the supply of powder and other Military Ammunition and Provision which had long lyen about Warwick expecting an oportunity to be conveyed to Gloucester to Colonell Massey was now at last come safely thither and it is worthy the observation in what manner it was effected which in briefe was thus It was sent by parcells at 3 severall times the first time severall barrels of Powder Match Flax Brimstone and some quantity of Money were sent by honest Carriers with their pack-horses about 14 in number which were conveyed with a guard of 60 Horse In the night time the Forlorn Hope as they past along espied a fire in severall places in a small compasse as they conceited which out of sodaine fear they took to be the Enemy The Enemy also espied the same fire and conceived that the Parliaments Forces were there The Parliaments Forces upon their fear wheeled about quite out of the way the Enemy by reason of their fear hastily retreated from them but the honest Carriers not knowing or once dreaming but that the convoy of the Parliaments Forces was before them drove on their Horses till they came to one of Colonell Masseys outmost Garrisons where the Ammnition was joyfully received and presently convoyed into Gloucester but the convoy turned to VVarwick with onely hopes which
prisoners he had taken 400 of them being by him sent to Hull and the rest sent after He also declared to the Parliament that by Gods great mercy in this brave Victory he was now become master of the Field in all Yorkeshire And upon the receipt of this letter and the happy intelligence of this so renowned victory it was presently Ordered by the Parliament that the next ensuing Tuesday which was in Easter-Weeke should be a solemne day of thankesgiving throughout London and Westminster unto almighty God for this great victory The Copy of which order comming to my hands I have here also inserted which was as followeth Die Mercuri 17. April 1644. IT is this Day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That the Ministers in the severall Churches and Chappels within the Line of Communication and Parishes within the Bills of Mortality do give notice to their Parishoners of the great Successe it hath pleased God to give the Parliaments Forces in Yorkeshire and Pembrookeshire And to acquaint them that the Houses have appointed and set apart Tuesday next for a publike Thankesgiving to be given to Amighty GOD for his great Blessings and Successes H Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. Very shortly after all this the Parliament Ordered that 8000 l. should be immediately sent away to the said most noble and renowned Lord Fairfax as an encouragement to the Souldiers to goe on the more cheerfully in their present designes Now the hopefull consequence of this great blow was by Gods good providence and assistance more undoubtedly than the victory it selfe For now this noble and renowned Lord Fairfax was not onely as himselfe worte Master of the Field in all Yorkeshire but hee was thereby also enabled to advance even to the Teez-side without interruption to assist our loving brethren of Scotland and now also Newcastle must either fight with the Scots before the Lord Fairfax come to them or else retreat as afterward ye shall heare he did and what a disadvantage to the Enemie this must needs be any may most easily judge For now no other way had he left or else if he stayed he must be intrapped in a pound Another great advantage was now got by this famous Victory namely That the passage was now layd open between the West Riding and Hull so as the trade of cloath might now again be continued to the great comfort and encouragement of all those parts And here let me give the Reader this one more note and observation worthy our most serious thoughts and commemoration that by this so renowned and famous a victory it pleased the Lord to give us two most speciall and choyce occasions of two most solemne and set dayes of Thankesgiving to the Lord in one and the same Moneth over the whole Kingdome for two such famous and memorable victories over our fierce and furious enemies as that of Alsford and this at Selby such a rare and sweet mercy as we have not till now enjoyed since these unhappy and unnaturall warres began among us our ever most gracious and glorious wonder-working God be ever praised and magnified for the same But now to go on About the 20. of this instant April came certaine intelligence by letters to the Parliament and Scotch-Commissioners from our loyall and loving brethren of Scotlands army in Yorkeshire That Newcastles army having been forced to retreat from Hilton toward Durham our brethrens army drew to Easington being the midway betwixt Hartlepoole and Durham where they found reasonable good quarter for their horse resolving to abide thereabout till they made the enemy either fight or fly Those quarters they kept till about the 10. or 12. of April when as after a fast kept the day before they marched to a place called Quarrendon-Hill but two miles from Durham The enemy seeing them draw so neere and observing also his souldiers to decrease upon the approach of danger hee drew as many forces as could be spared out of Newcastle and Lumley-castle to uphold his strength of foot but finding all would not doe and not a litle plunged perplexed at the news from Selby and that the noble Lord Fairfax had obtained such a full considerable and compleat victory which was on the 11. of April He upon the 13. of the same was now enforced to remove his whole force and strength and that in great hast too and left Durham to our Brethren of Scotland and leaving behind him his troublesome luggage and provision and great quantity of victuals and directed his march Westward The noble and vigilant Generall Lesley omitted no time in pursuite of him but upon the first notice without any respect to the ransacking their for saken quarters raised his Leaguer from Quarrendon-Hill and marched after him to Ferry-Hill and so to Darnton which is as far South as the enemy could reach by that time onely a litle Eastward of him and 14 miles on this side Durham and thus followed on their resolution being meerely guided by the enemies march following them which way soever they went whom they now intended to follow close or rather march along with either till they had advantage to fight with them or should meet the noble Lord Fairfax to enclose him And if there be any truth in reports Newcastle lost at this time and upon the last straits and distresses which he was put unto one halfe of his army without fighting and shortly after all this the fugitive Marquesse quitted also Lumley-castle and so betooke himselfe to the City of Yorke intending to make that his City of refuge or rather skulking den as long as he could Whither at last as intelligence came to London about the latter end of April 1644 he was most securely arived with the remainder of his forces both horse and foot and whither our valiant and vigilant brethren of Scotland followed him being about the same time at a place called Burrough-bridge some twelve miles from York Northerly being now by this time ready to joyne with the ever honoured and right noble Lord Fairfax And it was enformed to the Parliament about the 22 of this instant that Rupert that Prince of Plunderland was got to Beaver-castle and advanced toward the North to joyn as 't was strongly conjectur'd with Newcastle if not prevented Whereupon the most noble Earle of Manchester went presently to Stanford with about 4000 gallant horse and 5000 foot intending to follow him close and to sit upon his skirts as soone as any advantagious opportunity was offered And upon this information an expresse was forthwith sent from the Parliament and the Committee of both Kingdomes with an order unto him to advance with all his forces and to attend this Prince Robbers removes and by waiting for all advantages if it were possible to force him to fight which 't was conceived was not so easie a matter to do as to hasten him to filtch and therewith an order was
regular fortification and might have proved great offence to us whereupon they contracted themselves retreating in great fear and confusion toward Newark and the other side of Trent where at a generall Rendevouz at or about Mansfield they met with all Newcastles horse who together with them made up about an 100 troopes who quartered on that side Trent to the almost undoing of that part of the Country Now his Lordship being much affected with the distresse of the Country and perceiving that the vagabond-like Enemie declined to fight with him and were onely inclined to plunder he advanced to Grantham and from thence to Lincoln resolving by the Almighties assistance to attempt and take that place whereby he might either really weaken those Enemies of God and this Kingdome or else necessitate them to fight with us We came to Lincoln on Fryday the third of this Moneth iâ— the afternoone on which day in the morning Colonell Sir Peregrin Bartie high sheriffe of this County the Earle of Lindseyes brother and sometime Governour of this City was brought prisoner unto us by a party of ours We drew up our whole army in the face of the City on the brow of the hill neer Lanwicke and perceiving the enemy had made the entrance into that part which is called the old Towne very strong my Lord sent a trumpet to them with a fair demand of the place for the King and Parliament whereunto a very uncivill answer was returned reproaching us with the defeat at Newarke hoping we should be served here as there The next day we sent out a party of our Horse towards Gainsbrough and tooke some Prisoners who told us of a great body of Horse to the number of 5 or 6000. that were comming against us under Colonell Gorings Command which made my Lord resolve to storme them that afternoone and to that intent the scaling Ladders were brought forth and the Foot made ready to set on but second and better thoughts stayed us till next morning we having intelligence that they were farre enough off from comming to their reliefe for that night My Lord in the meane time sent 2000 Horse under the Command of Lieutenant generall Cromwell to meet the Enemy and to stop them from comming to relieve the City and thereupon the Foot were by Order drawne off from about the Hill which the Enemy perceiving it caused them to insult hooping and hollowing against us thinking we were affraid to set upon them but the next morning they were forced to sing another note in another tune For that night Order was given for the Foot to lye on the severall quarters of the Hill round about their Workes and to bee all in a readinesse to fall on from every quarter when they heard the great Ordnance goe off which was betweene 2 and 3 in the morning there being accordingly 6 Pieces together let fly And my Lord had a little before commanded 2 Regiments of Foot viz. Colonell Russells and Colonell Montagues to draw down toward the Gate and Draw-bridge which they accordingly did with admirable alacrity and resolution being led on by those two most valiant and religious Colonels who through the might of God so undauntedly approached the Enemy that after a very short dispute even within lesse than a quarter of an houre terrour seized on the enemies spirits and our men seized on their workes and so with incredâ—ble courage possest themselves of the low Town the enemy flying to the upper Towne and castle Ours tooke divers of the enemy in this brave bickering without the losse of any on our side which we humbly acknowledge to Gods glory to be a great mercy Upon the enemies retreat they endeavoured to have fired the low Town but ours pursuing closely prevented their mischievous intention in a great part and helped most industriously to quench those houses which they had fired We pursued no farther at this present resolving by Gods helpe to have stoâ—med the other part of the Towne and castle the next morning by breake of day though the common souldiers seemed to be impatient even of that short and needfull delay but by reason of much rain which fell that night and all the next day and night we were necessitated to deferre this worke till Monday following in which interim the Lord gave us the Sabbath day wherein we might seeke him for his blessing in so great a businesse Now the Enemy having by their Horse whom Colonell Cromwell strongly waited on with our whole Body of Horse enforced us thereunto it was consulted on whether the former resolution of Storming the next morning should hold or not it was presently agreed againe that by the help of our God the Lieutenant Generâ—l should with our Horse attend the Enemies Horse as aforesaid our Foot storm the Towne which was done accordingly wherein we received merveilous mercie from God who gave much wisdome and valour to our men as was then manifested for that at most in one quarter of an houre as was fore-showne wee gained their Workes every Division beating backe the Enemy and entring the places allotted to them to the admiration of the wisest and ablest of our enemies who did confesse that though they knew our intentions to storme them that night and therefore had drawne out all their Forces being 21 Foot Companies and 2 Troops of Horse besides the helpe of many of the City to make good their Works against our assault yet they were not able to stand out against the fiercenesse of our men whom as they said they thought to bee starke mad to come on in so desperate a manner at which as then so now on this second on-set they were so amazed and terrified that they fled to hide themselves but their pursuers found them out though they were crept into their Cathedrall many of them For our men never left running and pursuing of them untill they came to the top of the hill which would have been enough to have tyred a very Horse where being under the Castle-workes ours set up the Scaling-ladders which they in the Castle seeing left their Firing and fell busily to throwing downe of great stones upon us from over their Works and Walls by which we received more hurt than by all their former shot yet all would not daunt our men but up to the top of the Ladders they got which proved 100 short many of them to reach to the top of their Wallâ—s and their Workes they being most of them as high as London walls but yet they made shift to get up which the Enemy perceiving they had no spirit now left in them but betooke themselves to their heeles from the walls and our men close following them having all got over the walls and works shouting and hollowing and following them as fast as they fled but they not knowing whither to runne cryed out for Quarter saying they were
the same time came certaine intelligence by letters from Colonell Massey of more singular good successe which God had then given unto him against his neighbour enemies especially against that great Papist Sir John Winter the Queenes Secretary whom together with the most barbarous and bloody Irish-Rebells his so pious Mistresse imployed to settle the Protestant Religion I shall forbeare for brevities-sake to give an exact and particular relation how this most renowned Colonell by a brave martiall stratagem laid a train of powder and a granado at the end of it which did good execution to the purpose on the enemies the succinct number of the prisoners and the place where they were taken were as followeth Prisoners taken at Newnam which was Sir Iohn Winters head-quarter 3 Captaines 3 Lieutenants 4 Ensignes 12 Serjeants 4 Corporalls 4 Drums one Cannoneer one Engineer one provost Marshall 1 Chaplaine of the army 4 double barrells of powder 60 skaines of Match one Fawknet 3 Hambrough guns 4 Pieces of Ordnance 130 Common-souldiers besides good store of Armes Taken also at Westbury the same day which in the relation was about May the 7. the whole garrison with officers and souldiers one Capt. one Lieut. one Ensigne besides other officers 60 souldiers besides 9 slain 2 barrells of powder and 12 skaines of match At Litle-Deane also the day before slaine Lieut. Colonell Congrave the Governour thereof Captaine Wigmoore 70 others also slain there and at that time and 15 prisoners taken And thus have you briefely seene how that ever most worthily to be ever honoured and valiant Commander Col. Massey made notable advantages of that provision which was so lately before sent unto him And how to give this brave Commander his due praise or how to crown his browes with sufficiently flourishing green Laurells I confesse I am not able my expressions being indeed too low to set forth so high deserts and the present generation is so envious that if I could and should give him but so much right as I conceive him most worthy of and should not say as much of the rest they would I fear storme against me though I desire to exclude or extenuate no mans worth nor would disparage any in commending active Massey I will onely therefore say thus much in briefe and that most truely Many garrisons have done bravely but Massey at Gloucester hath exceeded them all And truly that brave Commander Colon Mitton of Wem garrison may challenge a second place in our highest and lowdest praises and expressions and why not renowned Lime garrison the third place which hath also done bravely to deep admiration as hath beene already and shall be yet more fully set forth in it's proper place All all the rest I say have done singularly well to Gods glory and their honour be it spoken As Captain Ludlow at Warder-castle Col. Norton Colon. Sydenham and the rest at Pool who have done as much as no man could expect more yea Warwicke garrison Alesbury and Northampton and the rest who have all done most heroickly and honourably and if they have come short of any others I hope they have meant as well as the best but peradventure had not the like opportunities thereto But to proceed About the 12. of this instant came credible information out of the Westerne parts from the garrison of Lyme that revived Prince Maurice not this ghost though he be ghost-like in reguard of his infirmity stormed the Town of Lyme a third time and was now also beaten off with great losse above 80 of his men being slain in one ditch and 60 in another and the rest of his army pursued even to their own workes and that Lyme garrison brought off 2 Pieces of the enemies ordnance within the command of their works though the enemy slew many of the poore Country-men to compell them to fight to have saved the 2 pieces of ordnance but all in vain And now upon Monday the 13. of this instant his Excellency the Parliaments Lord Generall of all their Forces advanced toward Oxford his Carriages went the day before and he in person followed the next day early in the morning which was Tuesday the 14th upon which day at Black-Fryers in London was a day of humiliation kept in the behalfe of the Western affaires at Saint Brides a Day of Thankesgiving for the Victory at Lincoln together with prayers and Solemn Supplications for the good successe of the Noble Earl of Manchesters Army and ere his Excellency left London he earnestly desired that a day might be set a part to seek the Lord for him and his brave Army which was accordingly performed in a most high and solemn manner by the Lord Mayor Aldermen Shriffes and Common-Councill of the City of London at Christs Church on Fryday the 17th of May A thing which had not been done before in all the time of these unhappy wars since they first began and therefore we have the greater ground of hope of a happy issue and good successe and that God will in mercy be found of those that seeke him first and which desire to go forth in his name and in his strength alone And about the 16th of this instant May we were certainly enformed at London that the Counties of Devon and Cornwall began to be sensible of and displeased at the concourse of the Irish comming into those parts declaring that rather than they would beare with it any longer they would with an unanimous consent as one man rise against them and expell them out of their Countries and thus we may hope that the kingdome will at length be beaten into a condition of having their eyes of understanding opened to see and believe those truths of their hastning danger which they before so long withstood to their late and long just misery and that now at length they will come back although it be by weeping-crosse which they might have avoyded had they not either through envy or ignorance fought against those who with the hazard of their lives have thus long preserved the Kingdome and untill this unhappy difference and inhumane discord and bloody war was plotted and managed by Romish-Iesuits and most ambitious and proud-Prelates no story can make report of so much basenesse of the English Nation especially after so much illumination as to take up armes against their owne Parliament chosen by themselves and which hath been in all ages the preservation of the subject But to proceed Whereas the Malignant-Spirits and most malicious adversaries of our Kingdome are continually working and contriving how to ruine themselves and the whole Church and State and had for this end by their active agents in Scotland the Marquesse Huntley the Lord Montrosse Craford Musgrave and others attempted an intestine insurrection in the Kingdome of Scotland about Aberdene the most malignant Towne in all that Kingdome hoping thereby by way of a divertive warre to bring off
to fall upon them and ease the Towne of them left the Siege totally and made hast away for feare of being taken as in a trap betweene the Town and the Generals Army as anone you shall hear most exactly and fully related About the beginning also of this instant Iune came certaine Information by Letters from that most pious Patriot Sir Wil. Armine Dated at Sunderland May 22th That the noble and religiously affected Earle of Callender having about a Moneth since entred the Kingdome out of Scotland as a second or reserve to the greater Armie of our Brethren of Scotland was about this time entred into Northumberland and had got possession of Morpeth-castle in the said County his Army then consisting of about 8 or 10000 men That by treachery between the Governour of the Southshields and the Mayor of Newcastle the Southshields was surrendred to the enemy without stricking one blow And that there was a Plot for the betraying of Sunderland also to the Enemy which being by Gods mercy timely discovered by the Seamen that lay upon the River with much difficulty they planted two Pieces of Ordnance commodiously and betaking themselves to their Armes they made good the passage repulsed the Enemy with strong hand and so secured the place against them For which excellent piece of service the Parliament Ordered that 200 l. should be given among them as a gratuity and the Captaine that had the command of the Shields was laid in hould till he also might have a just reward by a Councill of War for his said treachery Much also about the same time Letters were read in the House of Commons in Parliament from the Gentrie of Wales therein supplycating the House that Captaine Swanley that brave Sea-Commander an eminent person and famous for his good service in those parts as hath been already fully related might speedily returne unto them and continue Commander in Chiefe among them Whereupon it was speedily Ordered that the Leopard the Swallow and the Providence which he brought to the Downes with him should be forthwith re-victualed and that he should bee instantly recommended unto Wales as was desired and being in person called to the Barr in the Commons House of Parliament he had thanks returned for his good Service done and as a token of their good affection toward him and for his better encouragement it was Ordered That a Chaine of Gold of 200 l. value should be given to him and another of an 100 l. to Captaine Smith his valiant Vice Admirall A brave way to spur the Spirits of valiant Souldiers thus to engrave Characters of honour on their former famous and well-deserving Services The King as we all too well know made an agreement with his abominable Irish Canibals at Oxford to grant them a Parliament in Ireland of their own packing of Popish Natives and other such like most impious immunities and they having received their dispatch at Oxford went away for Ireland with great devillish joy and impious content to their hellish hearts But yet his Majesty and his accursed Councill would not permit the honest and well-affected Agents for the miserable and oppressed Protestants in Ireland to have favourable admittance to the King nor so much as to know what he had condescended unto it being so much against them But it pleased the Lord very shortly after to manifest to the world that he thrived and prospered accordingly For his Excellencie the Parliaments Lord Generall came thither with such a potent Army against Oxford and gave them there such a sudden alarme that Oxford proved too hot an habitation for his Majestie to reside in so that he was glad to fly after his beloved Irish-Rebels and to leave Oxford in a very distracted condition For upon Munday Iune the 3d 1644. about 12 of the Clocke at night he was glad to horse and away some 30 Coaches with Luggages and Court-baggages accompanying him and some of those Shee-Creatures crying out that they left their Iewels behinde them for haste and thus the next day they got to Burford where the King refreshed himselfe his Ladies and Souldiers but for a matter of two houres space for noble Sir William Waller comming at the same time to Whitney five miles distant gave them a sodaine and sound alarm whereat they all most frightfully cryed out to horse to horse away away and his Majestie with his naked Sword in his hand rode all about the Town to hasten his men away many of whom as 't was well known being more willing to stay behind and run to the Parliaments L. Generall the noble Earle of Essex than to serve his Majestie any longer Ah sad effects but most just reward of following such wicked Counsell and wretched Counsellours and oh the admirable justice of our most righteous God! in thus prosecuting the wilfull workers of iniquity with terrours and disgrace And here observe besides to this purpose what admirable operation this forlorne condition of the Enemies of Truth had upon the Councells of the Parliament and City of London For an Ordinance of Parliament was presently hereupon passed for the enabling of valiant and renowned Colonell Brown that noble Citizen who had done much most excellent service both in suppressing the Kentish Rebellion and at the battell neer Alsford where Hopton received such a fatall defeat as he could never recover nor recruit himself to this day to Command in chiefe as Major Generall of all the forces raised and to be raised for the reducing of Oxford Wallingford Greenland house and Banbury and of all other forces raised for the setling in peace of the Counties of Oxford Berks and Buckingham with power to use and exercise Martiall-Law according to the rules put forth by his Excellency the Earl of Essex the Parliaments Lord Generall About the 4th of this instant we had certain intelligence that noble Sir William Waller being in pursuite of those whom his Excellency the Lord Generalls horse had moved and pricked faster forward in their flight than they were willing and it comming speedily also to the knowledge of that most valiant and active Commander Col. Massey he presently also fell into martiall action and with a considerable party marched valiantly to Tewkesbury and after a slender dispute about it became master of it and with very little losse on his side slew Colonell Godfrey and a Quarter-master Gen. to that Runagado Wilmot a rancke Papist tooke Lieutenant Colonell Mynne prisoner and other Officers and Souldiers together with 300 new Pikes severall other Armes 18 Barrels of powder and other good purchase left in the Town and placed a garrison therein to prevent the Kings Army from reliefe there in case they should move that way About the 6th of this instant we were credibly informed that at a place called Parrishaw a Town about 7 miles from Worcester in the mid way between Evesham and Worcester the Kings forces passing or
rather flying that way they pulled up the bridge and laid the loose boards upon stones for a party of their own forces then behind to passe over and then they intended to take them away to hinder the passage of any of the Parliaments Forces then in pursuite of them But the Rear of the Kings Army marched so hastily away that the loose boards slipt away from the stones when many were upon it there being a great and deep water running swiftly under the bridge so that about 60. of them fell into the river and were drowned among whom were some Commanders of quallity Thus we see still how evill haunts the wicked man at the heeles to destroy him And Sir William Waller still pursuing them as we were credibly enformed fell upon a party of them and took the Queenes Serjeant Major 3 Cornets and about an 100 horse But the noble and prudent Lord Generall well knowing what a considerable and sufficient party Sir William Waller had to pursue them marched Westward and Colonell Masseys forces joyned with Sir William Wallers in the prosecution of this running flight of their Enemies And about the 8th of this instant June we had credible enformation touching the siege and taking of Shudley-castle by that noble and renowned Generall Sir Wil. Waller a very strong piece and of much consequence which Sir William plyed so close with his batterring pieces that in a short space he became master of it for they within came soon to a parley with him the issue whereof was That they delivered up themselves prisoners and onely had quarter for all their lives Wherein were taken prisoners Col. Sir William Mourton Lieut. Colonell Sayer Serjeant Major Aldham Serjeant Major Floyd 4 Captaines 7 Lieutenants 1 Cornet 4 Ensignes 7 Gentlemen of quality 289 common souldiers one Drum a Malignant Priest and his 2 Sons 80 horse 2 Drakes many were slain in the fight against the castle but not a man slaine on Sir William Wallers side A rare mercy and singular preservation The very same day also on which the former good service was performed as aforesaid Colonell Purefoy being returned from Glocester and not willing to be idle by the way but having taken up some more strength from Coventry to adde to his owne Warwicke forces set upon the Earl of Northamptons-House commonly called Compton-House being between Banbury and Warwick a place or House of very considerable-strength In which House they found as was credibly enformed 5500 l. in ready money besides 5 or 6 earthen-pots of money afterward found in a fish-pond they tooke also an 120 prisoners and all their Armes 60 Horse 400 sheepe neer an 100 head of Cattell 18 loads of excellent plunder and other good prizes and there also they tooke prisoners Colonel Knotsford and Captain Clarke And now about the 10th of this instant came out the Ordinance of Parliament mentioned a litle before printed and published for the association of Buckinghamshire Berks and Oxfordshire and a Committee was nominated therein for the raising of money upon Papists Malignants and Delinquents estates in those Counties and likewise to settle the Excise there and to levy money upon the Ordinance of Parliament for the 25th parts for the maintenance of the forces that are or shall be raised for the reducing of the Enemies garrisons in those Counties And that the said Committee have power to cut downe the wood and timber of Papists or Malignants to raise fortifications or for other services as there shall be occasion And likewise that they shall call before them the Malignant Clergy and Schollars in those Counties and place and displace such as they shall find occasion thereunto And all this power was put principally into the hands of this brave and loyall Citizen Serjeant Major Generall Brown who was thereby also of purpose made Serjeant Major Generall of all the forces raised or to be raised in all those Counties aforesaid and he had power by this authority of Parliament to assemble a Councill of war as oft as he saw occasion for the executing of justice on all sorts of offenders About the 12. of this instant came certain information by letters and otherwise from that most valiant and worthy Commander Sir William Brereton of an excellent exploit performed by that most valiant and noble Patriot of his Country the Earle of Denbigh against a party of the kings horse which came to raise his siege at Dudley-castle the manner whereof was thus related The King being upon his departure from Bewdley toward Shrewsbury sent a party of about 3000 horse against the Earle of Denbigh at Dudley-castle which horse comming suddenly on them the noble Earle sent a party of forlorn-hope commanded in chiefe by ever honoured Col. Mitton Governour of Wem who most bravely charged the Enemy but their force as I said being all horse and comming violently on our forlorne-hope seemed to be in a forlorn condition being on a sudden desperately engaged and in such a danger that it was advised by the Councill of War That the Earl could not without great hazard to his whole Army attempt to releive the forlorn-hope but must rather leave them to shift as they could and keep their trenches with their main body to receive the Enemy if they came on But the noble Earle to his perpetuall honour hating to see his dear friends sacrifice their lives in a Cause so just as Religion and Liberties and himself stand by a looker on resolved to relieve them maugre all disadvantages or dye in the attempt and with this martiall and most noble resolution he drew up his forces and himselfe in person leading them on against the Enemy with admirable courage cryed out thus to his Souldiers Come on Sirs follow mee for by the grace of God I will rescue Colonell Mitton or lay my bones in the place And thereupon charged them to so good purpose that he soon freed his forlorne-hope and in short time put the Enemies to a disorderly flight if not quite routed them and was in the pursuite of them divers miles together In which flight as was certainly enformed the Enemy lost above an 100 men which were slain in the place and among them one person of speciall note was then killed for whom they made much lamentation there were also 17 persons of quality taken prisoners besides the common-souldiers and 30 more afterward at Master Dudleys House whom that valiant and most worthy Commander Colonell Rudgeley who with his Staffordshire forces did singular good service in this fight tooke prisoners before they could retreat besides Horse and Armes and on the Earles side was onely 7 slain and some wounded I a little before made mention of the good hand of God upon the most valiant and courageous garrison of Lyme in their long and straight Siege by a furious and cruell Enemy And now about the 15th of this instant came certain intelligence of
Kingdomes returne and re-advance with all my said Forces unto a place called Spurstow heath where that night we quartered and thence advanced upon Munday morning towards Whitchurch we quartered that night likewise in the open Fields at a place called the Fennes in Flintshire where yesterday we marched towards Elsmore and so to the said Towne of Oswestree where the Enemy endeavoured by battering and storming of the same violently to have carryed it about two of the clocke in the Afternoon we came in sight of the Towne and within three miles of it where the Enemy having got intelligence of our approach prepared to receive us the chiefe Forces of our Enemy consisting of the most valiant Commanders and Souldiers drawn out of the garrisons of Chester Cheshire Shrewsbury Shropshire Ludlow Denbyshire Flintshire and other places The Enemy had taken the passage of water neere to Whittington and very furiously assaulted and charged us but were repulsed and forced to retyre through the courage of our Horse who most courageously entertained the Enemy three severall times the skirmish was doubtfull either side being forced so often to retreat but in the end our Foot Forces comming up relieved the Horse beat back the Enemy and pursued them with such force that the Horse thereby encouraged which indeed was formerly weary joyning with the Foot they put the Enemy to an absolute flight in which we pursued them Five miles towards Shrewsbury to a place called Felton-heath and where likewise we remained after their flight again thence Masters of the Fieldâ— In the skirmish with the Enemy and in the pursuite wee lost severall of our Horse some of our Troopers but never a Foorman which I am yet informed of many of the Troopers are hurt but I hope they will recover I lost one Captain Williams and one Captain Lieutenant Fletcher a very couragious man being Captain Lieutenant to Colonell Barton in my Brigade was dangerously shot but I hope not mortally As for the Enemy they lost many stout men had many of them taken prisoners the number whereof the inclosed will manifest some of them being of great quality As the Lord Newports eldest Son And besides in their flight such was their haste that wee found in the way of our pursuite of them the high way as it were strewed with store of Bread Cheese Bacon and other good provisions clothes and such necessary appurtenance to an Army besides some whole Veales and Muttons new kill'd The Enemy before the reliefe came had taken the Church being the strongest hold about the Town upon the approach of the reliefe they suddenly deserted it and sent their two battering pieces unto Shrewsbury In the way also were taken by our Forces seven Carts and Waggons loaden with provisions as Beer Bread and other necessaries whereof one was loaden with Powder and other Ammunition the Towne of Oswestree I find to be a very strong Town and if once fortified of great concernment and the Key that lets us into Wales SIR I had to my ayd 3. Regiments of Foot viz. Colonell George Boothes Regiment a gallant Regiment led by himselfe on foot to the face of the Enemy Another by Colonell Manwaring and the third by Colonell Croxon all of them stout and gallant Commanders and the rest of the Officers and Souldiers full of courage and resolution Major Louthien Adjutant Generall that brave and faithfull Commander to whom I cannot ascribe too much honour brought up the Reare that day SIR I rest Yours THO MIDDLETON Prisoners taken at Oswestree at the raising of the siege thereof Francis Lord Newport Son and heir to the Earl of Newport Captain Swinerton Captain of a Troope of Horse twenty Welsh and Shropshire Gentlemen one Cornet of Horse which had no command Lievtenant Norrell one Quartermaster two Corporalls 32 Troopers two pieces of Artillery to come up to the walls to save the Musketteers seven Carryages whereof one of powder 200 common-souldiers most of them Welsh great store of Armes found as was toucht before in the wayes and ditches There was since also taken Major Manly and Major Whitney under the walls of Shrewsbury in the pursuite of them About the 5th of this instant July came certain intelligence out of the North to London of that most famous and glorious victory wherewith it graciously pleased the Lord to crown our three most noble and ever to be renowned Generalls viz. Cenerall Lesley Earl of Leven in Scotland The most noble Earle of Manchester and the most renowned Lord Fairfax Which was most happily obtained on the second of this instant July 1644. being Tuesday toward night and that within the space of lesse than three houres The full and true relation of which Fight and famous Battell although the three most noble Generalls aforesaid sent it to London under their owne hands and divers other relations thereof have been published in print to shew the clearnesse and truth of the thing they every one in substance agreeing one with another yet both in regard of the fulnesse and faithfulnesse as also the pious enlargements of that Copy which was written by that very reverend learned and pious Pastour and Heroicke-spirited Gentleman Master Simon Ash Chaplaine to the most noble valiant and victorious Earle of Manchester I have therefore made choice of his excellent relation and here inserted it verbatim as it was printed and published with onely some interlacing and addition of some few materiall passages cull'd out of other authentick copies for the Readers better satisfaction and much content therein which was as followeth A true Relation of the Fight and famous Victory at Marstone-Moore neere YORKE from Master Ash his owne hand-writing VPon the thirtieth of June being the Sabbath towards evening we had certaine Intelligence that Prince Rupert with his Army were quartered at Burrow-brigs within twelve miles of Yorke and that he intended to fight with us the next day Heereupon the 3 Generalls resolved that night and in the morning to raise the Siege that they might be able to encounter the great Forces now ready to assault them with hope to returne unto the Seige upon the repulsion of the potent enemy You will easily believe that there was much joy and many manifestations thereof in the Citie upon removing of the Forces which had so long begirt it on every side And truely many of our hearts were oppressed with heavinesse looking upon this providence as speaking Divine displeasure against us but our God hath mercifully made knowne the groundlesnesse of our doubts and discouragements for ever blessed bee his Name Upon Monday July 1 we marched with all our Forces unto 〈…〉 on the Sâ—uch-side of the River Owsed with hope there to meet with Prince Rupert in his way towards Yorke In the afternoon our Army was set in Battaliâ— and our Souldiers were full of joy expecting to have a Battaile with the Enemy becaâ—sâ— we were assured by our Scouts that the Prince with his whole
Body would passe that way But Prince Rupert understanding our preparations for him did passe on the other side the River and while a Party of his Horse did face us on the Moore which was neere a Bridge for their secure retreat at pleasure the Prince himselfe with 2000 of his Horse went into Yorke for the reliefe of that distressed people Upon this so sad and unexpected a disappointment our hearts generally were filled with sorrow but yet in the middest of our sadnesse many of us did encourage each other unto an hopefull expectation of a comfortable issue from the good hand of our God whose Name we had uncessantly supplicated for the happy speedying of this great concernment The night drawing on we marched unto Long-Marston a Town at hand where very few had either the comfort of convenient lodging or food our Souldiers did drinke the Wells drie and then were necessitated to make use of puddle water most of our Horse quartered in the Moore that night Upon Tuesday morning a Partie of the Enemies Horse having faced us a while wheeled backe out of sight which gave us cause to suspect that the maine Body was marched towards Tadcaster having relieved Yorke where he might cut off the River and so both scant us of Provisions and get downe suddenly into the South Hereupon our Foot with Artillery were commanded to advance towards Tadcaster The Scots marching in the Van that day being got almost to Tadcaster and the Earle of Manchesters Foot being two or three miles from Marston wee had a very hot alarme that the Enemy with all his strength was returned to the Moore While our Horse â—â—ced the Enemy the whole Body of Foot were called back with all theâ—speed which they possibly could make and 〈◊〉 hope of a Hattaile moved our Souldiers to returne meerily which also administred matter of Comfort unto all who belonged to the Army Before our Foot could get backe which was about two or three a clock the Enemy was possessed of the Moore a ground very advantagious and had in many small Bodies bespread themselves that their Armie did extend two miles as it s judged in length yea by the improving of this opportunity they had by divers Regiments of Muskettiers so lined the bedges ditches betwixt themselves and us that our Souldiers could not assault them without very great apparent prejudice We were compelled to draw up our Army and to place it in Battalia in a large Field of Rie where the height of the Corne together with the shoures of raine which then fell proved no small inconvenience unto our Souldiers yet being on an hill we had the double advantage of the ground and the wind Here the noble Commander Generall Lessey exercised his Martiall abilities with unwearied activity and industry He hasted from place to place to put all his Forces in Battell array which hee did to the satisfaction and admiration of all that beheld it the other two Generals acting also in their owne Armies How goodly a sight was this to behold when three mighty Armies each of which consisted of above 20000 Horse and Foot did with flying Colours prepare for the Battell and looke each other in the face The Posture of our Army when drawne up was this Most of Generall Lesley his Horse together with the Horse of the Lord Fairfax made the right wing The Earle of Manchesters Horse with some of the Scotch Horse were the left wing Generall Lesleyes Foot were on the right hand the Earle of Mancesters Foot were on the left hand of the Lord Fairfax his Foot who were the Body There were three or foure Brigads placed for a Reserve Our Army being thus marshalled toward sixe or seven of the clock we advanced about 200 paces toward the Enemy Our Cannon which had played one or two houres before from the top of the hill was drawne forward for our best advantage Our Signall was a white Paper or Handcherchiffs in our Hats Our Word was God with us The Enemies Signall was to bee without Bands and Skarffâ—s Their Word was God and the King Our Army in its severall parts moving downe the Hill was like unto so many thicke clouds having divided themselves into Brigades consisting of 800 1000 1200 1500 men in a Brigade And our Brigades of Horse consisting of 3 and some of 4 Troopes The Enemy as some Prisoners reported was amazed and daunted at our approach not expecting any assault till the next morning Upon the advancing of the Earle of Manchesters Foot after short sitings on both sides we caused the Enemy to quit the hedge in a disorderly manner where they left behind them four Drakes The Lord Fairfax his Brigade on our right hand did also beat off the Enemy from the hedges before them driving them from their Cannon also being two Drakes and one Demiculvering but being afterwards received by Marquesse Newcastles Regiment of Foot and by them furiously assaulted they made a retreat in some disorder This advantage being espyed by a body of the Enemies Horse they charged through them unto the top of the hill but one Regiment of the Earle of Manchesters Foot seeing the Enemy both Horse and Foot pursuing an advantage did speedily wheele on the right hand upon their flancke and gave them so hot a charge that they were forced to fly backe disbanded into the Moore And these Enemies were also so opportunely met in the Moore by a body of our Horse that very many of them were killed in the place and about 200 by the Scots Horse taken prisoners Before this time also Lieutenant Generall Cromwell had with much gallantry charged through and through and quite routed two of the bravest Brigades of Horse in the Enemies right wing where were the stoutest men and best horse which Prince Rupert had And our Horse and Foot with undaunted courage did put the Enemies right wing to flight forcing them both from their Cannon and Ammunition but when they came up to the Enemies left wing hoping that our right wing had done as good service as themselves they were disappointed for our Horse here was beaten back And although the Scots musketteers had fired there most bravely and to good purpose to the dissipating of the Enemies Foot yet their Horse there stood still in full body But our left wing was neither wearyed by their former hot service nor discouraged by the sight of that strength which they saw in the Enemy yet unshaken and in order but continuing ô the strength of our God in them and renuing their valour they charged every party remaining in the Field till all were fully routed and put to flight and our men most admirably beating and pursuing the Enemies about three miles at least till they came neer unto Yorke in so much that Prince Rupert himselfe and Marquesse Newcastle escaped with much difficulty being extraordinarily well Horst and had not Rupert played the creep-hedge and
blasphemous Crucifix which had continued there in marvellous fair and fresh oyâ— colours undeâ—â—ced for the space of above a 100 or six score yeares at least upon all the length and bredth of the wall at the upper end of that great Hall and onely a great picture in a large frame of the manner of the donation of the Hospitalls to the City of London set before it and that monstrous Crucifix standing behind it This abominable and most blasphemous Crucifix which no man before durst touch to deface it King CHARLES himself having at his sight of it commanded the contrary this most pious and religious noble Knight now caused I say to be presently at his comming pulled down and broken I dare say into 1000 pieces I my selfe being an eye-witnesse and assistant in this businesse it being all most gorgeously painted on boards neatly and closely joyned together And thus I say was that fair roome made far more fair and cleanly swept of that most filthy and Popish-dirty Corner that night against the next dayes solemn-meeting as aforesaid and all the wood and boards so pull'd down and broken in pieces was reserved for this Thursday-night the Thankesgiving Evening and by the children of the Hospitall a great Bonefire was made of the fame in a great yard called the Townditch just at the time when the foresaid assembly were at supper All this foresaid solemn Celebration of this day of Thankesgiving justly serving besides the outward expression of christian joy and triumph for the shame and vexation of our audacious adversaries the Parliaments Enemies and all their malicious and malignant atheisticall adherents But now to goe on And now in the very next place comes most properly to be remembred and informed the manner and truth of the happy rendition and surrender of the City of York into the Parliaments possession Which also being fully and faithfully set out by the pious pen and zealous heart of that most religious and truly venerable Gentleman Master S. Ash I have thought fit here againe to write by his Copy and to plow with his Heifer and to set it downe as hee hath delivered it under his owne hands testimony which was as followeth Upon Thursday Iuly the 11th our Armies saith hee having after the foresaid famous fight and glorious victory closely begirt York again with a strong and straight siege and made very neer approaches to the walls of Yorke and raised batteries whereby was made some Execution and our men being now busie in preparing ladders and other instruments for the storming of the Town Hereupon the Enemy within perceiving our serious resolution presently sent and desired a treaty According to which desire Sir William Constable and Colonell Lambert were sent by the Lord Fairfax into the City upon other answerable hostages sent out of the City for their security and safe return They went in upon the next Saturday morning and having spent that day in parley they returned with this request to the three Generalls That there might be Commissioners authorized to treat and conclude upon Articles for the peacable surrender of the City Our three Generalls having demanded the judgement of some Ministers whether the worke of the Treaty might be approved and allowed on the Lords-day and receiving encouragement that it might They thereupon immediately appointed the Lord Hamby Sir William Constable and Colonell Mountague to goe the next day into the Town three Hostages being sent out of the Town for their security who continued their Treaty and Debate till Munday about noon and then returned with the Articles to be subscribed by the three Generalls which were 14. in number and which was done accordingly But the particular recitall whereof I forbeare for brevities-sake and as knowing they were aboundantly known to all that have heretofore read these relations Now if any upon the perusall of those Articles did conceive or imagine that too much favour was granted to the Enemy I desire that these 〈…〉 First That the benefit which could be expected for our Armies or the Kingdome by taking the Town by storme could not possibly in any mâ—asure counterveil the miserable consequences thereof to many thousands Who knowes how much precious blood â—ight have been spilt upon so hot a 〈…〉 the Town could have preserved their houses and shops 〈…〉 thousand Souldiers had broken in upon them with heat and violence How much would this County have suffered in the ruinâ—â— of this City And how many of our good friends in other places 〈◊〉 drive Trades with Citizens here would have been pinched in their estates by the impoverishing of their Debters Upon Tuesday the Enemy went out of the Town according to Articles our Souldiers were set on both sides the way where they were to passe for the space of a mile from Micklegate and the Officers according to command went from place to place to prevent the doing of any wrong to the Enemies as they marched away That morning very early as I should have told you before all the Souldiers in the Royall Fort which is a curious and strong worke possessed with needlesse feare did run away and left their Armes behinde them The fourth part of them at least who marched out of the Town were women many very poore in their apparell and others in better fashion Most of the men had filled and distempered themselves with drink the number of the Souldiers as we conjectured was not above a thousand besides the sick and wounded persons When the Enemies were departed our three Generalls went together into the City attended with many of their Officers The first house they entred was the Minster-Church where A Psalme was sung and thankes given unto God by Master Robert Duglas Chaplaine to the Lord Leven for the giving of that City into our hands upon such easie termes At which time notice was given that Thursday after should be kept by the whole Army as a day of Thankesgiving for that great mercy which accordingly was observed Now the three most noble Generalls also as was credibly enformed Manchester Leven and Fairfax with the Committee of those parts as a most reall testimony of thankes to God both for their great Victory at YORKE and for this taking of the City of YORKE sent to the Parliament presently after their possession thereof desiring that Propositions of Peace might be prepared and sent to the King to shew their true desire of Peace notwithstanding this great Victory and advantage against the Kings party But withall desiring that they might treat with their Swords in their hands and that the War might be prosecuted as a speciall meanes next to Gods blessing to bring about the better termes and ascertaine the reallity and expedition of the worke And they also desired that businesse about religion might be setled with all convenient speed in the Church now that we had so good successe Now surely to desire Propositions of
the Danish-Ship Aug. 4. 1643. Another brave prize taken at the same time The seasonableness of that Danish prize wherein Gods providence is the more to be observed The low ebbe of our armies briefly touched Divers of the Danish armes sent to Hull to the noble Lord Fairfax Clubs called Round-heads sent to Hull A plot for a pretended Peace in the house of Peers in Parliament The Citizens of London Petition the ParliameÌ„t against the pretended Peace The Parliaments present answer to the Petition The effects of the said Petition An Oath or Covenant to be taken by all Citizens of London Citie-Malignants imprisoned in Saint Faiths Church under Pauls in Ships on the Thames The Earl of Hollands Tâ—unks seized on by water The Fellowship a brave Ship of Bristoll taken by Capt. Smith in the Swallow a Parliament-Ship Sir Wiâ—â—allers CommissioÌ„ to advance with his intended designes is granted by his Excellencie A brief recapitulation of all these last recited Parliamentarie-Mercies by way of obliged thankfulness 1. 2. 3. 4. GODS Ark fairly carried on with fair blasts of good success against its boysterous billowes and swelling waves Psal 136. 4. September 1643. Sir Alexander Carews plot against Plimouth timely discovered and the danger prevented Hull besieged by the Earl of Newcastle Gods mightie preservation of the Town Beverly pitifully plundred by the enemies The Earl of Newcastle despairs of getting Hull A sodain and most remarkable preservation of Hull Hulls very great danger at this time by Powder sodainly blown up The admirable hand of God in Hulls mightie danger The occasion of Huâ—ls so great danger The Parliaments care for the encouragement of London Apprentices in their Service of the Kingdome Sir Jo. Wollaston most happily chosen Lord Major of the Citie of London The Authors just and experimentall attestation and commendation of Sir John Wollaston Lord Major of London The mercies of this Lord Majors choice also was a sweet return of prayer A notable triall by Gods most wise disposall put upon the Lord Major of London and most loyally managed by him Foure Proclamations sent at one time to the Lo Major of London to be published in the Kings name in the Citie Provision of firing ordered by the Parliament for preventioÌ„ of dangerous muâ—â—nâ—es by the poorer sort Woods to be cut down to furnish the Citie and parts adjacent with fuell What woods were to be cut down A summary gratefull review of this Moneths Parliamentarie-Mercies GODS Ark carried on with fair and prosperous gales Psal 68. 19. October 1643. The Parliaments charitable act and order for the good of the poor children of Christs Hospitall in London The Authors own gratefull acknowledgement of Gods goodness to him in the said Hospitall An 100000 li to be raised in the Citie of London for the advance of an army of 21000 Scots to come into England 2 Sam. 24. A famous victorie obtained by the Lord Fairfax against Newcastles Popish forces whereby the Siege of Hull was raised The Marquess of Newcastle put to great straits by this Defeat A Copie of Sir John Meldrums Letter to the Speaker of the Parliament touching the brave victory he obtained at Hull A brief touch of Sir Jo. Mâ—â—drums worth and valour attested by the renowned Lord Fairfax himself The most famous and renowned victory obtained by the right honourable Earl of Manchester at Horncastle in Lincolnshire Bolenbrook-Castle summoned The enemie prepares to meet and fight with the Earl of Manchester Our forces are drawn all neer each other about Bolenbrook The enemie gives ours the allarm about Horncastle Ours bravely bicker with the enemies forlorn-hopes Three or four of our troopes in great dangâ—r but came off most bravely Cap. Iohnsons Cap. Moodies and Captain Players brave courage and resolution The commanders notable discretion and courage The great strait they were still put unto Bolenbrockhill designed to be the place to fight The enemies strength and ours The word on both sides Both armies in sight of each other The pietie of our armie Both armies met at a Town called Ixbie Gen. Cromwells great danger The sight in the very heat of it The enemie â—â—ins to 〈◊〉 The enemies flie Sir Tho. Fairfax his undaunted courage The issue of the fight The Commission of Aray cryed out on by the dying Souldiers The spoyl and prizes taken The armie with the most noble Lord of Manchester possess themselves of Horncastle Letters of the enemies intercepted confirming the truth of this great victorie This famous victory and that also at Hull were obtained both in one and the same day Col. Massies good service at Tewksbery Another brave defeat given to the Kings forces by the Parliaments forces in Warwick-Castle An OrdinaÌ„ce of Parliament against Spies and intelligencers The Citie of Lincoln taken by the noble Earl of Manchester The prize taken in the Citie of Lincoln Gainesborough also taken by the said noble Earl of Manchester The great design against the Citie of London The great plot and designe was how to contrive to starve up the Citie of Londoâ— The manner and wayes of the enemies contriving their plot against London The manner of the enemies acting their coÌ„trivements 2 Chro. 16. 9. How God all along crost and disappointed all the enemies deep designes Another great ploâ— of the enemies to hinder our Brethren of Scotlands coming in to our ayd and assistance An Embassadour sent from the Queen-Regent of France into Scotland to divert those our brethren from coming to ayd us Two Letters sent by our King into Scotland to cross the Scots resolution to ayd England The substance of both the said Letters The Royallists hopes heerin also frustrated The grand plot of starving up the Citie of London now prosecuted by the Royallists but blessedly frustrated The Earl of Manchester resolves to ayd his associated Counties out of Lincolnshire by Colonell Cromwell Col Cromwell sent out of Lincolnshire into Huntingtoâ—shire with considerable forces Col. Cromwell ordered by the Lo. Generall to return again into Lincolnshire The Kings Cormorants flie out of Newport-Pannell The great plot mightily dasht damped alreadie A summarie recapitulation of all this Moneths Parliamentarie-mercies and therein the sweet preservation of his Ark his great Cause GODS Ark still born-up above the tops of all its advers swelling waves of opposition Psal 57. 7. Psal 60. 12. November 1643. An association of Hampshire Surrey Sussex and Kent Sir 〈◊〉 Waller Commander in chief of this association The Parliâ—ments providence for the welfare of forein English Plantations A considerable number of English-Irish Protestant Souldiers landed at Bristoll out of Ireland revolted from the King to the Parliament The English-Irish Souldiers fall foul on their Commanders and Officers They march away to Gloucester to serve under Colonell Massiâ— A remarkable hand of Gods providence in this business A most brave defeat given to the Lord Capell by Cheshire Shropshire forces The manner of the performance of the defeat The Lord Capell marches toward
consisting in all of about fifty foot colours and a great bodie of horse which indeed was Newcastles whole armie which coming so unexpectedly put us to new consultations My Lord Willoughbie and I being in the Town agreed to call off our foot and so I went to bring them off but before I returned to them divers of our foot were ingaged the enemy advancing with his whole bodie our foot retreating in some disorder and with some loss yet got the Town where now they are our horse also came off with some trouble being wearied with their former long fight and their horses tyred yet bravely faced the enemies fresh horse and by severall removes got off without the loss of one man the enemy following the rear with a great bodie The honour of this retreat as also of all the rest is due to God alone My Major Whaley did in this business carry himself with singular courage and gallantrie becoming a Gentleman and a Christian Thus have you this true relation as short as I could contract it what you are to doe upon it is next to be considered The Lord direct you therein Gentlemen I am Your faithfull Servant O. C. Huntington July 31. 1643. A list of the slain and prisoners taken at the raising of the Siege of Gainesborough GEnerall Cavendish slain Colonell Beton slain a Lievtenant Colonell slain a Sergeant Major slain Captain Husses slain a 100 dead in the place an 150 prisoners taken and 200 slain in the pursuite of them a totall defeat not ten men in a bodie Much about the aforesaid time also namely in the said July 1643. came certain information to London that the Kentish Malignants perceiving the firm resolution of the Parliament and Citie of London not to desert but closely to adhere to the cause of Religion and liberties of the Kingdome and being extremely vexed with a spirit of malignity and rage to hear of the constant preparations of the pious and well-affected Parliamentarians especially I say in the Citie of London to raise a considerable strength of horse to make a flying Armie a design at that time very hotly on foot to pursue the Kings Cormorants or devouring Cavaliers and thus to force them from their wicked trade of plundering and pillaging the Country They therefore in Kent upon a pretence of rising against a new Oath or Covenant begun at this time to be taken by the Parliament and Cities of London and Westminster and intended to be ordered to be taken over the whole Kingdome which they declared they had no minde to take and yet this Oath or Covenant was not as yet imposed upon them nor any penaltie on the refusers thereof onely the names of such as refused it were to be taken and returned thus to distinguish the well-affected from the ill-affected and to disarm them and to keep a more vigilant eye over their persons as just causes were administred Whereas their main plot was to make a generall insurrection and seditious disturbance of the whole Countie and thus to make way for Sir John Culpepper Sir Edward Deering and a strong partie of the Kings Oxonian Cormorants to joyn with them and thereby to disturb the Parliaments and Cities foresaid preparations and for the farther endangering of this royall Metropolis or chief Citie of the whole Kingdome and therein to work the ruthfull ruine of Church and State Therefore I say these Kentish Jack-Cades under colour forsooth of resisting and rejecting of that Oath and Covenant seditiously assembled themselves first at Seven-Oakes in Kent which they intended to be their chief Rendevouz and where they quickly increased for as our Proverb is Ill weeds grow apace into a body of about 2 or 3000 desperately minded Malignants or Atheists which you please their chief Ring-leaders being Sir Edward Bathurst Captain Stanley and one Mr. Leigh with some others of those parts They being thus audaciously assembled together about 200 of them attempted to have seized on the Magazine at Dartford but a troop of horse appearing there prevented them therein yet some of them meeting with Sir Thomas Walsingham a most worthy patriot of his Country and member of the Parliament as he was riding with two servants onely to Dartford boldly laid hands on him and carried him prisoner to their Rendeâ—ouz and about the same time also they forced Captain Rolf a very worthy and religious young Gentleman of Arpington in Kent out of his bed about 100 11 of the clock at night who never suspected any such rising or sodain surprisall and with no little danger of his life carried him also prisoner with them to Sir Thomas Wâ—â—singham and there kept them together in prison and a little before these Rebells were subdued they were both in great danger to have been slain or put to death in prison had not God graciously prevented it Now the Parliament understanding of this sodain mutinie presently sent a Declaration among these mutiners by Sir Henry Vane the younger who took great paines by all fair meanes to pacifie them proffering them pardon if they would instantly lay down their armes and peaceably submit to the Parliament if not the bloud that must be spilt would lie on their own heads And withall to reduce them by force in case of disobedience Colonell Brown was presently dispatcht into Kent with a 1000 London-Redâ—oates and about 800 more after them together with two troops of horse from London divers Voluntieres also of the well-affected of Kent rose against those seditious and joyned with Colonell Brownes forces And that no opportunitie might be omitted for the taming of these insolencies the Parliament gave power to the Committee for the Militia in London to raise Dragooneers and to use what other meanes they thought fit to suppresse them And in regard the Parliament had had former information that this rising was a part or branch of treacherous Tompkins and Challenors designe who had appointed Blackheath to be the place of Rendevouz if that plot against the Citie had then taken effect they appointed strict watches and guards to be kept in the Citie and Out-workes therof and that a strength of horse should be sent into Surrey toward Rigate and other parts thereabout to suppress insurrections if any should happen to be there also Now these Kentish Rebells being thus assembled at Senock as aforesaid and hearing of the approach of Colonell Brownes forces toward them they deserted this Town and fled thence to Tunbridge and from thence sent a Messenger with a submissive Petition to the Commanders of the Parliaments forces to be presented to the Parliament that they were willing to lay down armes if the Parliament would forgive their offences but the Parliament most prudently and like themselves indeed utterly rejected any Petition from them whiles armes were in their hands but if they would lay them down first and then Petition they might finde grace
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
had proved an apostate and endeavoured secreâ—ly to betray that Island and thereby the brave Town of Plimouth into the hands of the Cornish Cormâ—rants But by Gods great mercie and good providence was timely prevented therein by the fidelity of the Officers in armes and honest Souldiers who upon the first discovery of his perfidious purpose sodainly seized on his person and kept him in safe custodie till he might be sent away to the Parliament to receive just punishment for such a base and perfidious demerit Also about the beginning of September aforesaid came certain intelligence to London by letters from Hull that the said brave strong Maritime Town having been besieged by the Earl of Newcastles Popish and atheisticall armie consisting of about 15000 horse and foot who lying about Cottingham and Newland and those other neer adjacent parts about a mile or two distant from Hull had cast up severall workes against it and planted divers pieces of Ordnance and batteries on them And though they frequently shot against the Town very many 36 pound bullets and other Canon-shot yet by Gods great mercie and good providence did very little or no hurt at all by them yea that on the Lords-dayes when the Inhabitants were at Church serving the Lord their God the bullets came whisling over the Church and flew into their market-place but did no harm save onely to a Malignants-house and chimney in the Town and ever praised be our good God by the most noble and renowned Lord Fairfax his wisdome and valour and martiall circumspection they were still kept at such a distance from the Town that the enemie could not shoot their granadoes into the Town as they desired and vehemently endeavoured but they pitifully spoyled the Country about Hull and especially the Town of Beverly which as soon as they came into they miserably plundred yea and they thought to have done the Town of Hull a terrible mischief by cutting them short of fresh-water but blessed be the Lord the Town felt no great want thereby being very competently furnished with all sorts of provision and sustenance for men Now Newcastle grew exceeding mad and was extremely vexed that he was so hopeless of getting the Town having been formerly so hopefull at least in his high and proud conceits to get it for his Winter-quarters and to be a Sanctuarie for him from the Scots and it was generally reported and that probably enough that he car'd not for the loss of 10000 of his men so he might buâ— get possession of it But by Gods blessing on the most noble Lord Fairfax his valour and vigilancie there is no fear of that strong Town in all probabilitie Yet see how it pleased the Lord it should fall out within the said Town in the time of this Siege which is the thing I mainly intended to mention at this time and in this place namely That about Septemb. the 16th 1643 being Saturday an accident happened at the North-Block-house of the Town the danger whereof had not the Lord marvellously prevented and had it fallen out on the side of the Town where the enemies lay as it did on the most remote â—ide from them had undoubtedly ruined the whole Town For there were at least â—ortie Carthages of Gun-powder sodainly blown up and some granadoes which lay there in the same place and all fired which quickly brake down a great part of that strong Block-house both within and without which breach and loss 't was verily believed could not be repaired with at least 2000li. charge but I say the especiall providence of God heerin appeared in that it was blown up on that side of the Town which lay next to the Sea-side otherwise it would have been a very advantageous opportunitie to the enemies for their more secure assaulting and storming of the Town Besides this was also very remarkable above the rest and in it the hand of God most eminently was seen that it blew open a door in which very room there were fourteen barrells of Gun-powder some with the heads open yet took not fire which had it done it would most certainly have blown up at least the whole house have spoyled some considerable part of the Town But I say by Gods great mercie and admirable providence they were all untoucht and it did no other harm than as aforesaid It was conceived and feared at first that it came by some treacherie but upon diligent search and inquisition 't was clearly found to be done by the carelesness of a Gunner There were foure men killed by it and as many hurt and with this loss the danger ended blessed and praised be the Lord our God for it And now wee shall for a while leave Hull in this besieged posture and condition and speak of some other Parliamentarie-passages worthie our notice and observation About the midst of September 1643 our most prudent and provident Parliamentarie-Senators in their pious and prudent care for the encouragement of Apprentices and young men to be chearfull and forward to assist the Kingdomes great affaires against the common-Adversaries thereof set out an Ordinance of Parliament for the securing of their indempnitie in going forth in service and listing themselves under the command of Sir William Waller in his Expedition As also another Ordinance came forth at the same time for the searching of Trunkes and any other carriages that past out of London And a third also for a Collection to be made for sick and maimed Souldiers All which three said Ordinances of Parliament for the Readers better satisfaction content and delight I have thought fit heer to insert The Copie of an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the securing those Apprentices from indempnitie that list themselves under the Command of Sir William Waller Die Veneris Septemb. 15. 1643. WHereas in times of common danger and necessitie the interest of private persons ought to give way to the publick It is ordained and declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That such Apprentices unto Watermen plying and rowing upon the river of Thames as have been or shall be listed to serve as Souldiers for the defence of the Protestant Religion and libertie of the Kingdome his Majesties royall person the Parliament and the Citie of London under the Command of Sir William Waller Their sureties and such as stand ingaged for them shall be secured against their Masters their Executors and Administrators from all loss and inconveniencies by forfeiture of bonds Covenants infranchisements or otherwise And that after this publick service ended the Masters of such Apprentices shall be commanded and required to receive them again into their service without imposing upon them any punishment loss or prejudice for their absence in the defence of the Common-wealth And the Lords and Commons doe further declare That if it shall appear that the Masters of such Apprentices have received any considerable
bold resolution to finde him out and fight with him Upon Tuesday those of the Castle kill'd one or two of our men and as Major Knight and Quarter-master Generall Vermeyden were viewing of it made some shot at them and one of them hit the said Quarter-master Generall a little below the ancle but pierced not the skin onely bruis'd his leg That afternoon my Lord of Manchester came himself to Kirkby which is within a mile of Bolenbrook with Colonell Cromwell where also my Lord Willoughby met him and Sir Thomas Fairfax was then at Horn-Castle about five miles off one of his Regiments having the watch at Edlingston about three miles farther but neerer to the enemie My Lord had not been long there before he received a Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax that an allarm was given to some of our Quarters and that himself had sent out some horse to discover what it might be and would immediately give him a farther account which he did by another Letter about an houre after the partie being returned and could get no information of any enemy neer but conceived it to be a mistake However Sir Thomas resolved to stay there untill the evening and then to come to Kirkby to my Lord. My Lord conceived it fit and so did all those that were with him to give the allarm to all his quarters and to appoint Horn-Castle to be the Allarm-place and then to goe himself immediately thither to Sir Thomas Fairfax and when all their men were thus drawn together to take farther resolutions and so immediately with my Lo. Willoughby and some Officers with him he took horse for Horn-Castle Sir Thomas Fairfax in the mean time getting no intelligence of the enemies approach came away toward Kirkby to my Lord. Before my Lord had reached Horn-Castle the allarm came to him in good earnest that the enemie was fallen into our quarters and was marching toward Horn-Castle Coming neerer the Town he could hear great shouting and noyse which he conceived to be the enemies triumph having beaten our men out of the Town but it proved otherwise for some of our men falling upon the enemies forlorn-hopes though but part of two troopes seeing themselves desperately engaged resolved to put the best face on it and fell upon them with crying and shouting which did exceedingly amaze the enemie and gave our men the easier passage through the midst of them Now my Lord finding the enemie come into his quarters before he could have any certain information where he was and the allarm-allarm-place possessed by the enemie he appointed Kirkby and Bolenbrook-hill for all his men to repair unto and accordingly sent word to all the quarters whither all our men came but that night except three troopes that were directed to Stickney and three or four troopes that went by the way of Tottershall and came not in till next morning Many of our troopes came to Horn-Castle according to the first orders but finding the enemie there came away without any loss at all or very little The enemie had fallen into our quarters at Thimbleby and some Townes thereabout where three or foure of our troopes were in a manner surprized but finding themselves ingaged gave so good testimony and proof of their courage and resolution that the enemie had little or no cause to brag of that nights work which being of so memorable consequence I have thought fit briefly heer to relate which was thus Captain Johnson Captain Samuel Moody and Captain Player were three of the commanders of these troopes which the enemie had thus almost surprized in their quarters and were afterward also environed about by the enemie who had gotten between them and the bodie of their horse so that they were forced to break through two bodies of the enemies horse of at least a thousand horse in each body but with admirable courage and resolution they with their troopes charged the enemy crying all of them as before they had agreed among themselves with a shout and loud voyce Come on come on all is our own all is our own which so amazed the enemie expecting some ambuscado that these three troopes brake thorow the first bodie and so thorow the second doing great execution yet lost but three men After that they hasting toward the Town of Horncastle where they thought the Earl of Mâ—nchester was about a mile before they came at the Town they discovered another partie of the enemies horse Heer they discreetly agreed to goe soberly toward them every man making answer to him that asked any question nothing but Friends friends all friends as if they had been of the enemies troopes and were going upon some design it being yet dark therefore when the enemies called to them Who is there the other all answered Friends friends and so they passed but as soon as they were past and thought themselves secure they turned faces about and asked the enemie Who are you for They answered for the King Then said they Wee are for the King and Parliament and charging the enemy fled toward Horncastle and the enemy pursuing followed them to the Town-side there being no forces in the Town on either side but they in the Town had with carts and timber barracadoed the passages into the Town so that by this meanes there was some loss in the troopes being thus unexpectedly put to their shifts but the loss was but little a Cornet and some few others and they brought half a douzen of prisoners with them Which could not but manifest a most evident hand of God in so great a preservation But to proceed All that night wee were drawing our horse to the appointed rendevouz And the next morning being Wednesday my Lord gave order that the whole force both horse and foot should be drawn up to Bolenbrook-hill where he would expect the enemie being the onely convenient ground to fight with him But Colonell Cromwell was no way satisfied that wee should fight our horse being extremely wearied with hard duty two or three dayes together The enemy also drew that morning their whole body of horse and Dragooneers into the field being 74 Colours of horse and 21 Colours of Dragooneers in all 95 Colours Wee had not many more than half so many Colours of horse and Dragooneers but I believe wee had as many men besides our foot which indeed could not be drawn up untill it was very late The enemies word was Cavendish and ours was Religion I beleeve that as wee had no notice of the enemies coming toward us so they had as little of our preparation to fight with them It was about twelve of the clock ere our horse and Dragooneers were drawn up after that wee marched about a mile nearer the enemie and then wee began to descry him by little and little coming toward us But untill this time wee did not know wee should fight but so soon as our men had
many of their horses and armes most of their pickaxes spades and other instruments wherewith they were raising trenches and strength'ning their kennells to have lyen lurking the more securely like so many prey-devouring Wolves or Sheep-biting mischievous Mastives and having thus most successfully demolished their works he returned again victoriously to Gloucester Much also about the same time came certain intelligence by Letters out of Warwickshire to London of another brave defeat given to the Kings Cormorants at Cambden in another part of the said Countie of Gloucester which was informed to be thus About 300 of the Kings horse came from Oxford into that Town of Cambden whereof the Parliaments forces in Warwick-Castle having speedie intelligence there came a considerable partie of them in the midst of the night into the said Town surprized most of them in their beds and carried them away prisoners with them to Warwick-Castle together with all their horses There were between thirtie and fortie of thtm that for some space stood stoutly to oppose our forces but they were all soon quelled and some of them slain in fight but the rest were all taken prisoners and carried to Warwick-Castle as aforesaid About the 20th of October also 1643. Our most prudent and provident Parliamentarie-Statists for the better securing of the great affaires and waightie negotiations of both the Houses of Parliament and their just proceedings therein for the welfare of Church and State they set forth an Ordinance or Declaration for the prevention and surprisall of all spies and intelligencers from Oxford to London and from London to Oxford for the sequestring of their estates and allowance of a fair reward to all such persons as should be assistant in giving notice of and apprehending any such according to the tenor of the said Ordinance which for the Readers better satisfaction therein I have thought fit to insert as it was printed and published by authoritie of Parliament A Declaration and Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the Sequestring of c. Die Martis Octob. 31. 1643. WHereas by the frequent intercourse of persons and intelligence contrary to the use and custome of War between the Cities of London and Westminster and other parts of the Kingdome and the persons of the King and Queen and forces raised by the King against the Parliament and Kingdome opportunitie hath been given for the plotting and contriving a late treacherous and horrid design and in case the said intercourse and intelligence should continue the same way will still be open for any other of the like nature in time to come As also for the frequent conveying of moneys and other provisions for the supporting of this unnaturall War For the preventing whereof be it declared and ordained by the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament that no person or persons whatsoever shall from henceforth repair or goe from the said Cities of London and Westminster or from any other parts of the Kingdome unto the person of the King or Queen or Lords of Councell abiding with him or her or to any person or persons within any of the Kings Quarters Leaguers or Garrisons or that are within any of the armies raised by the King nor shall give or hold any intelligence by Letters Messages or otherwise with the persons of the King and Queen or other persons aforesaid without consent of both Houses of Parliament or warrant from the Lord Generall of the forces raised by the two Houses or from the respective Officers that shall command in chief any of the forces And the said Lords and Commons doe further declare That the person or persons who shall doe to the contrary heerof shall be proceeded against as those within the Ordinance for sequestrations And shall be farther accounted as persons that doe adhere unto those that have levied war against the Parliament and Kingdome and be liable to the same punishment And be it further declared and ordained for the better and more effectuall execution of the premises That the person or persons that shall discover any of the persons offending as aforesaid shall have one fifth part of all such benefits and profits that shall acâ—rue or grow by reason of the seizing and sequestring of their estates according to the true intent and meaning of this Ordinance and of the said Ordinance of Sequestration And in case any person or persons after the last of June having knowledge of the said offenders and offences shall not within convenient time reveal the same unto the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament or to the Lord Geneâ—all or other Officers commanding in chief the said person or persons shall incur the like penalties and forfeitures as are heerin provided against the said principall offenders Ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that this Declaration and Ordinance be forthwith printed and published Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. About the 24th also of October aforesaid the most noble and victorious Earl of Manchester whom the Lord most graciously raised up to shew himself most valiantly for the cause of God and his Countrie and whom the good hand of Gods almightie power and providence hath made victorious over those abominable Antichristian and atheisticall forces in the North in pursuance now of his late so prosperous and successfull atchievments in those parts and of that brave and memorable victory he obtained at Horn-Castle as aforesaid went on also most couragiously to the Citie of Lincoln whither being come with his forces and upon the summoning thereof it was soon surrendred to him Wherein he found and forced to be left in the Citie Close and Minster of Lincoln armes for at least 2500 men 28 or 30 Colours three pieces of Ordnance and great store of other ammunition the Cormorants or Cavalerian Officers having libertie granted to depart on horseback with their swords but the common Souldiers onely with sticks in their hands and thus became Master of this Citie without bloudshed or much molestation After which he most victoriously marched also to Gainesborough another of the enemies Garrison Townes in the said Countie But the Garrison therein hearing of the surrender of Lincoln and that the noble Earl of Manchester was making hastie preparation unto them they more hastily sleighted their workes as by credible information was related and speedily quitted the place and fled away thence to Newark And very shortly after this most noble and renowned Lord having received farther assistance and supply by the coming over of such horse as the most heroick Lord Fairfax could spare him from Hull he now resolved to prosecute his design to the full of quite clearing Lincolnshire maugre all the opposition of Newcastles viperous papisticall forces from those devouring Cormorants and hideous Harpyes which had so infected and infested that whole Countie where now for a while wee will leave him full of cause of praise and thanksgiving to his God who made him
of War how prejudiciall this was like to prove to his designes he heerupon led on his misled animals to Namptwich hoping to get abroad what he prudently foresaw he was like to loose neer home but being come to Namptwich he found that that Garrison gave him his hands and his belly full ere Sir William Brereton who most providently watching his motions was on his march toward them could come to their relief Which also this nimble gallant perceiving he quickly retreats toward Wem and with his whole armie consisting of about 4000 horse and foot fell desperately upon that small strength which Colonell Midleton and Colonell Mitton had there who contrary to his good Lordships expectation did most bravely maintain the fight untill renowned active and indefatigable Sir William Brereton was come againe from Namptwich to their rescue assistance who being now all together did such execution upon the enemie that it with the particular circumstances of Gods admirable providence therein deserve to be perpetuated to all posteritie in those parts The particulars whereof being so memorable I have heer thought fit for the Readers better satisfaction and more full content to set down as they came from singular good hands which were as follow 1. That whiles wee quartered at Drayton as wee were on our March to assist Sir Thomas Midleton and the rest when there came with all possible speed upon us no less as was credibly reported than a 1000 horse from Shrewshery to have surprized us in our quarteâ—s they were all repelled and beaten back again by onely a partie of thirtie or fortie horse and Dragooneers commanded by Captain Munck there being divers of them slain and the rest pursued by our horse many miles toward Shrewsbery at which time some of Major Bromhalls men were taken prisoneâ—s some slain and some wounded and one Geâ—rge Cook a very valiant man of Sir William Breretons own troop was slain and one Peter Anlet another of them taken prisoner but afterward redeemed 2. That wee were not interrupted in our march to Wem all the next day nor disquieted or disturbed there during six or seven dayes untill wee had made some works of defence which though they were then but sleight and weak yet were of some encouragement and advantage to our men 3. That when they had made mightie preparation to hinder us in our fortification at Wem and that notwithstanding all the forces they could make united into a bodie which were said to consist of three or foure thousand which quartered within three or foure miles of Wem yet that they should and did receive interruption by two or three Companies of our Dragooneers who were quartered at Lappington a little village about two miles from Wem who hearing of the enemies approach betook themselves to the protection of the Church and Churchyard which they did most valiantly maintain a long time untill by the multitudes of the enemies encompassing them they were enforced to betake themselves onely to the Church where they behaved themselves so valiantly as that their enemies could not take the Church untill they fired the porch roof of the Church which were covered with shingles by which meanes some of our men were almost suffocated and stifled so as they were constrained to deliver up themselves prisoners though wee speedily rescued many of them Our Souldiers then wounded were Major Spotswood and Captain Daughtie since reported to be dead and one other Captain wounded and their Cannonier wounded or slain and their whole armie was repulsed by less than 200 foot and 300 horse of ours who hasted from Wem to the relief of our men in the Church so soon as they heard the enemies Cannon play and our horse pursued and routed them so as they left one of their Cannons within our power but by reason of the darknesse of the night wee knew not thereof nor could we see to pursue them the lanes being narrow and hedges thick They took Major Bromhall prisoner and we took Master Needham the Lord Vicount Kilmurreys sonne prisoner If they had then come on to Wem they had found the Town very weak and naked and much less able in respect of the workes to make resistance and defence than when they did make their violent assault upon tuesday and wednesday 17. and 18. October 4. That betwixt the first and second assault at which time they were much more encouraged by the increase of their strength from Litchfield Dudley Worcester and some from the Kings armie and when their forces were all united and in readinesse The Lord in his wisdome and goodness was pleased so to order as that there were many interruptions and diversions which occasioned their delay as want of cariages and steering their course toward us and assaulting Namptwich on purpose to withdraw the Cheshire forces out of Wem during which intermission wee made good use of our time in Wem to perfect the workes 5. That when they all came against Namptwich upon Munday October 16. they were so confident of surprizing the same as that the Lord Capell as it is reported returned backe all the Chester horse which were tendered unto him and coming to his assistance returning this answer That he had strength sufficient to take Namptwich to which end he did speedily and that before notice was given of his approach seize upon and possesse himselfe of Acton Church and Dartford house and attempted to force their passage by the way of Beame-bridge but by the valour of those few men who were left in the Town they were repulsed from passing the water not without the losse of divers of their men Foure whereof were found dead in the ditch those that attempted to undermine the walls in the darknesse of the night were taken prisoners and this night and the next morning there were neer forty prisoners taken besides many horses and armes and many of their men run away And upon the newes of our approach to their reliefe they sent away their carriages and marched after them with speed towards Wem This was the fift time they did come before and attempt this poore Town of Namptwich which the Lord hath miraculously preserved and defended and returned them alwayes backe with shame and dishonour 6. That whilst the Cheshire Souldiers continued in Wem which were about 500 Musketteers besides horse the enemy did forbeare to make any attempt against the Town but were repulsed and beaten off with great loss by a far lesse number than the third part of those who were commanded out of the Town and gone to relieve Namptwich as though the Lord judged all too many and preferred rather to deliver them by Gideons three hundred to whom the whole glory of this deliverance is to be attributed and ascribed 7. The unparalleld magnanimity resolution and dexterity of those young Souldiers who were not in any service except some of them in that skirmish at Lappington before they were ingaged in this
other Workes and Fortifications belonging to the Towne The Enemy having the Worke yeelded to them those of the Enemies party in the Towne as it must be expected in all places are some began to get courage our own friends doubtfull and I believe the Neâ—tralists do desire that the Towne might be delivered up Whereupon for feare either of the treachery of the Townesmen or for want of experienced men I seized the Fort and Iland the Castle and Magazine that in case the Towne should be forced and over-powered with strength by the Enemy and knowing this place of such great concernment that through Gods assistance I would keepe them till supplies and reliefe come Whereupon I have put them into the hands of such as will keepe them for the King and Parliament with the last drop of bloud in their bodies Our friends began then to be incouraged our enemies both within and without us to be dismayed thinking that there was no hope of surrendring the Towne so ever since the Townsmen and all Inhabitants have been more forward to contribute their best assistance than formerly many have done And upon Thursday last after Prayer and our mornings best preparation for the same my selfe and Mr. Major took a Vow and Protestation which I have here sent inclosed and caused it to be presented to all Gentlemen the Committee of Parliament the Deputy Lievtenants all Townesmen all Officers and Souldiers and all Inhabitants whatsoever which I finde was generally taken with great joy and cheerefulnesse I hope the honourable Houses of Parliament are not unmindfull of us yet I never received any instructions from them since the fifth of September being the time that I departed from London although I have sent foure severall Packets concerning divers and speciall affaires I humbly crave that with all speed I may have Powder Lead and Match sent that I may with honour performe the trust imposed upon me Thus humbly kissing your hand I take leave and rest Plymouth 11 Novemb. 1643. Your most humble Servant to be commanded James Wardlace The Vow and Protestation I A. B. In the presence of Almighty God do vow and protest that I will to the utmost of my power by Gods assistance faithfully maintain and defend the Townes of Plimouth and Stonehouse the Fort and Iland with all the Out-works and Fortifications to the same belonging against all Forces now raised against the said Townes of Plimouth and Stone-house the Fort and Iland or any part thereof or that shall be raised by any Power or Authoritie whatsoever without the consent and authoritie of both Houses of Parliament Neither will I by any way or meanes whatsoever contrive or consent to the giving up of the Townes and Fortifications aforesaid or any parcell of them into the hands of any person or persons whatsoever without the consent of both Houses of Parliament or of such as are Authorized thereunto by them Neither will I by Gods grace raise nor consent to the raising of any Force or Tumult nor will I by any way or meanes give or yeeld to the giving of any advice counsell or intelligence to the prejudice of the said Townes and Fortifications either in whole or in part But will with all possible speed faithfully discover to the Major of Plimouth and to the Commander in chiefe there whatsoever designe I shall know or heare of hurtfull thereunto Neither have I accepted any pardon or protection nor will I accept any protection from the Enemy And this Vow and Protestation I make without any Equivocation and Mentall reservation whatsoever Beleeving that I cannot be absolved from this my Vow and Protestation and wishing no blessing from God on my selfe or my posterity if I doe not truly and sincerely performe the same So help me GOD. Ordered by the Commons in Parliament assembled that this Letter and Protestation be forthwith printed and published Hen. Elsynge Cler. Par. D. Com. Much also about the foresaid time viz. the 20th of Novemb. 1643. came certain intelligence from Lancashire to London by a Letter to the House of Commons from Colonell Rigby a most worthy Member of the same House of a most rare and admirable yea even miraculous Defeat given by him the said brave Colonell to the Earl of Newcastles forces neer Thurland-Castle upon the edge of Lancashire The exact Narration whereof being fully set forth by himself in his said Letter I have heer thought good for the Readers better content and clearer satisfaction therein to give thee it verbatim as it was printed and published by authoritie of Parliament which was as followeth A true Relation of the great Victory obtained by Gods mercie and providence by the Parliaments forces in Lancashire under the Command of Colonell Rigby sent in his own Letter to the honourable William Lenthall Esquire Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament Honoured Sir THat I may give you an account of our proceedings at Thurland you may understand that Sir John Girlington having drawn Forces into his Castle of Thurland he began to plunder the Countrey and to commit robberies and murthers and thereupon for the suppression of him and his adherents I repaired thither and after seven weeks strait siege of the Castle it was delivered unto me to be demolished upon agreement to suffer him and all his in the Castle to passe away with their lives and goods During most part of the siege the greatest part of the Forces of Westmerland lay within our view and daily threatned us but God confined them to their own Countie and every day more and more inclined the hearts of the Commons of Westmerland to decline any attempt upon us though wee then lay in an Out-Angle of our County far from supplies and whilest these things were in suspence a designe was set on foot by all the malignant Gentry of Westmerland and Cumberland and by Roger Kirby and Alexander Rigby of the Burghe two Lancashire men to raise all the Forces of Cartmell and Fournes part of Lancashire to joyn with Cumberland and Westmerland to surprize Lancaster and Hornby Castles and to assault us on all sides and to raise our Siege and then to proceed further into Lancashire and as upon credible information I beleeve to joyn with Latham-house and all the ill-affected in our Countie to our generall devastation And for this end they drew together part of Cumberland forces into Fournes and with them the strength of that place to about the number of sixteen hundred intending the next day to March into Cartmell towards us and there to adde to their forces and in their way they took and imprisoned divers of the best affected and caused the rest of them to flie out of the Country who posting to us I forthwith took five hundred foot two Drakes and three small Troops of horse parcell of my Forces at Thurland and with them in one day I marched almost thirty miles over mountaines and through Sea-sands and waters within two miles of the
coming upon them also who accordingly hearing of his coming upon them indeed drew themselves into a body upon a hill to face our brave Colonell but on his neerer approach they retreated hastily to their Garrison at night where somewhat late Col. Massey valiantly coming on setting on them found the enemy all mounted yet gave the word so fell on them and put them all to flight toward Bristoll with great terrour of whom he took onely 11 or 12 prisoners â—lew some 5 or 6 but all the Officers being well mounted and by reason of the extraordinary darkness it being also a very rainy night made their escape and left that government also for Col. Massey to quarter in that night After all this the gallant Colonell marched back to Gloucester contrary to the hopes of Sir John Winter aforesaid and the rest of that â—action in the Citie of Gloucester who had secretly and treacherously sent to all quarters of the Forrest Monmouth and Herefordshire to march presently to Gloucester on hope by the assistance of a fly partie aforesaid in the Town now in the Governours absence to have surprized the City as by the sequell may easily appeare For that very night the Governour had intelligence that the enemy in the Forrest was advanced three miles toward Gloucester and upon their march thither he then not thinking on or hearing of any such purposed plot by the enemy who thereupon who thereupon commanded a Captain at one of the clock at night to draw 50 or 60 Musketteers from off the guards and to advance that way some three miles off to make good a House upon the passage to the Citie but ere the said Captain came to Mr Cooks House at Heighham he encountred the enemy both foot and horse drawn up in a broad lane upon whom he commanded fire to be given and sodainly slew one of the enemies Captains and 3 or 4 Souldiers more at the very first charge But the enemy so sodainly and unexpectedly meeting with this partie sent out as aforesaid by this prudent provident Governour sodainly retreated to Huntley where Sir John Winter in person much amazed at that change with all speed also marched away in such a confused manner at the approach of about 14 or 15 of the Governours horse that they fell in among them also slew 7 or 8 of them carried 9 or 10 of them prisoners to Gloucester and so that plot was by Gods mercy thus happily prevented and the enemie discomfited About the 10th of this instant December came credible information by Letters and other intelligence from Plymouth to London that upon that Lords-day was a seven-night before about 2 or 3 of the clock in the morning the enemie under the command of the Devill and Lord Digbie then chief Commander there gave an assault on the Town and set upon the weakest Forts thereof and at last took by force the Fort called the Lorde-fort and forced the Town and Souldiers to a retreat But upon this alarm the whole Town was readie standing on their guard and by break of day made a â—ally out with very great courage against the enemy being 2000 foot and 800 horse with undaunted spirits and resolution either to recover their â—oâ—s or lose their lives and so fell most furiously upon them but the enemie unwilling to endure such a fierce sodain shock quickly retreated and our men soon regained their work and Ordnance and upon the enemies disorderly retreat our horse came on very valiantly seconded and maintained by the Musketteers and so most bravely routed the enemie so that some fled into the water and mud and myre and whatsoever way seemed best to make an escape and save their lives of whom 25 were found dead on the place 40 prisoners taken 80 horse besides many armes and severall barrells of powder and other prizes God undoubtedly fought for them for the enemie was at least six for one of ours the most brave and valiant Governours horse was twice shot under him yet he most undauntedly came safely off by Gods good providence and returned home most victoriously for this time secure from the danger of the enemie praised be the Lord for it Much also about the same time came certain intelligence by Letters from Northampton that a partie of horse issued out of the garrison at Northampton in the night time to fall upon the enemies quarters at a place called Dunscot a mile and half from Tociter whither being come they valiantly fell upon their grand-quarter killed 15 or 16 on the place took 17 prisoners and wounded divers took 35 horse gave them alarms in most of their quarters round about and so retreated without the â—oâ—s of one man And this defeat so affâ—ighted the enemie that when ours â—ent out a partie of but 10 or 12 horse they would make them all quit a Town where they quartered yea though fire were but given on the Sentimells in so much that they were constrained to remove their quarters more toward Banburie Such a spirit of fear and terrour possest them upon this onely defeat About the 14th of this instant came also most certain information to London by Letters and other infallible testimony of the great and famous victory through Gods good providence obtained by the Parliaments forces under the command of renowned Sir Wil Waller against the Kings 〈◊〉 under the command of the Lord Graford at Alton in Surrey which being in speciall related by a Messenger sent by Sir Will. Waâ—â—er himself to the Parliaments Committee for the safety of both Kingdomes and to divers of the House of Commons and by them ordered to be printed published I have been thought fit to give the Reader the relation thereof from the said Copie together with some small additions of another authentick relation thereof which came to my hands which was as followeth An exact Narration of the great victory through Gods providence and famous Defeat obtained by the Parliaments forces under the command of Sir William Waller at Alton in Surrey Decem. 13. 1643. against the Royalists ON Tewsday the 12th of this instant Decemb. Sir Will. Waller in the afternoon drew forth his forces into a battalia in Fernham-Park being about the number of 5000 horse and foot among which were the regiment of Westminster whose behaviour and valour in this service is never to be forgotten The manner of the business was exceeding well carryed both by Sir William and all the rest for strictness of appearance and likewise for secrecie in so much that neither the enemie nor any malignant partie could have the opportunitie to understand the least part of their intentions heerin They were upon their march by seven of the clock in the night and in an houres march obtained a heath between Brundon Fernham and there after an houres stay for the foot whose march could not be so quick as the
sent you the originall I preserve by me as a testimony of their unworthy proffers To Colonell Dacre SIR Your propositions sent to me on Wednesday last by Captain Poulton for which you shewed him my Lord Newcastles Commission were so unworthy of a Gentleman so wicked and base that once I thought in contempt and scorne to have forgotten them yet lest my silence may receive too favourable an interpretation from you know and tell your Generall that set you on this brave imployment that I abhorre the thought of treason to my Country though I might thereby grow as great for wickednesse as he tell him I le weare no title but what my faith and vertue purchaseth and I le leave my children an honest though a small inheritance to whom my spotless name not tainted with the foule blot of treason shall be an ornament when the remembrance of all treacherous Apostates shall rot with infamie and I doubt not but my gracious Prince once cured of his mistake will reward my loyall constant faithfulnesse to his Regall Power and Parliament with a larger recompence than he propounds for my corruption if he doe not vertue is its own reward Tell your most Excellent Generall his threats and promises are both alike contemptible to me I feare not those and I hate these I fight not to repaire a broken fortune but to maintain a just quarrell in which may that man perish and fall low as the depth of hell that can be hired to prove unfaithfull tell him if you dare that it had been an imployment more beseeming you or any Gentleman had he sent you with ten thousand armed men to assault our well defended wals than with so many pieces of contemned gold to lay your siege against an honest heare I could honour an enemie for performing brave and gallant things but such attempts as these will render your persons as odious to all honest men as your rebellion and I am sorie you should undertake so base a service as to deserve the just neglect and scorne of John Hutchinson Nottingham Castle Decem. 16. 1643. Postscript Pray Sir send me word what you should have had for the procuring this that I may know at what rate the enemie valueth this Castle To Colonell Dacre SIR You have now convinced me of an errour I once thought it possible that some rash misâ—led young men might still among the Cavaliers have retained a sense of Gallantry and Honour though no Religion and have been enriched with those morall vertue which made the Heathen famous such a one I beleeved you to be but since you can attempt to buy mee to so great a villany as you did in your late propositions by Captain Poulton I must needs be perswaded you would never offer me what you your self would not have done 'T is I confesse strange to me you could imagine that a Christian a Gentleman or a Commonwealths-man would ever prove such a villain as for a little gaudie dirt to sell his soule his honour and his Countrey perish that most contemned gain with all that can accept or offer it Dacre 't was base in you to think so of me I am sure you cannot so mis-interpret any act of mine as to receive from it the least ground of encouragement to such an opinion and had you known my Brother you would have thought it easier for you your self alone to have conquered all the men now fighting in the Kingdome than to corrupt that guard of vertues which protect his constant soule from treacherous thoughts Did you think men of sense will part with reall honour for a Title you are not capable of a religious consideration or I could tell you that our â—ouls redeemed with an unvaluable price are by you most unequally valued at a poore inconsiderable summe of money but your thought cannot reach heaven look upon earth and give me an example where ever any Traytor preserved his foul name from an horrid blot of infamy on him and on his house for ever How can you think He that by you will be corrupted to betray anothers trust will not by another be again corrupted to betray yours Keep your despised coyn to tempt some fraile waiting-woman it may work with her to procure such honest things as you affect but desist these base attempts on men of noble spirits with whom they will but render you as contemptible as your offers Consider the unworthy message you sent and blush at the remembrance of your guilt in it and if yet you have so much worth left in you repent the injury you did to him that was your Friend Farewell that name for evermore between us George Hutchinson Trent Bridges Decemb 16. 1643. To his truly noble friend Captain Poulton Noble Sir I Was in hopes to have waited on you this day but indeed I received an Expresse last night from my Lord Generall wherein I am commanded to wait on his Excellency neer Chesterfield this day Sir I hope you remember the businesse I sole to you of when you were at my quarter I will engage my selfe upon my life that what I promised shall be really performed if you please but to consider and truly value the business I make no question but I may obtain my desires which I will assure you is not for any particular ends but in the first place to serve my gracious King and then my friends which I will assure you I shall ever esteeme your Lievtenant Colonell and your selfe to be desiring very much to heare from you by this bearer wishing us all to agree for upon my word it troubles me to think that all honest men should not be of one side Which the Lord grant that we may all be I remaining alwayes Sir Your most humble servant Richard Dacre Watnell Friday morning the 15. of December My humble service to my truly noble friend your Lievtenant Colonell and tell him I wish him as my owne soule To Colonell Dacre SIR Had the Cavaliers since found out away to performe their promises better than they did at Bristoll Gainsborough c. you might have had some hopes of a young man whose best fortune is his sword but so unworthy have their dealings ever been so little faith and honour doe you give testimony of in tempting me to act such things as gallant men would not accept if offered that I must tell you these unworthy wayes you take to advance your cause are but so many confirmations to me in this I do maintain against you He that fights for honour not for plunder to which the Dutch Prince hath well trained all your armies would scorne to receive his enemies Fort on any conditions but such as were purchased by his prevailing valour not undermining treachery to which Sir I am as unflexible as you to worth and goodnesse The Governour I beleeve and his brother have returned you their answers and you may in this receive the negative resolution of Thomas Poulton Nottingham Castle
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
chief Serjeant Major Generall Willis a very considerable Commander even that perfidious run-away Willis taken prisoner formerly at Winchester belonging to the Cavalerian garrison at Shrewsbery and his brother Major Willis Capt. Offley Capt. Hatton Capt. Rixam and another Capt. with an 100 inferiour Officers 250 horse and armes 30 of them being the prime horse of all those parts eight double barrells of powder 700 waight of Match 3 pieces of Ordnance all which he brought safe to Stafford together with all the provision that Sir Nicholas had brought at this time from Shrewsbery for supply of his own and his Cousens wants which indeed renders this exploit more famous and of the greater consequence the enemie in those parts being then in such want of warlike provision as they were About the 23th also of this instant came certain intelligence out of Darbishire by Letters to London that that valiant and most loyall and active Knight and brave Commander Sir John Gell took Burton upon Trent and therein divers Commissioners of the Array being Knights Esquires and Gentlemen of great qualitie in that Countie with about nine-score common-Souldiers their guard much armes ammunition and treasure Colonell Hastings himself hardly escaping by flight This defeat was also so much the more advantageous in that it was very probable to be a meanes to recover three troops of horse of ours then lately surprized at Melton in Leicestershire by exchange and some prisoners to boot Much about the same time came true information to London that Sir Alexander Deyntont house in Oxfordshire called by the name of Hilsden-House was taken by some of the Parliaments forces it being about 14 or 15 miles from Oxford and some 7 or 8 miles from Aylesbury It was taken by a partie that went from Newport-Pannell and some from about Banbury they being in all not above an 100 yet there were in the House an 140 many whereof were then taken prisoners and about an 100 armes but Sir Alexander himself escaped And heer also having happily had the opportunitie of a pretty piece printed and published by Order from this noble and renowned Earl of Manchester I have thought fit to adde and insert some very memorable notes and observations collected and divulged by the said noble and pious Patriot upon the many remarkable mercies of the Lord conferred upon the seven associated Counties Cambridge Essex Hartford Huntingdon Norfolk Suffolk and Lincoln since their first association most worthy our most serious sight and consideration both for the just honour and glory of God and the singular encouragement of those and all other the Counties of this whole distressed and distracted Kingdome First then I shall desire the Reader to remember the great mercie and good providence of God in quenching that fire which began to be kindled at Laystolk by some eminent malignants there which would undoubtedly have hazarded all the Eastern parts of this Kingdome if God had not I say by a seasonable providence timely prevented the same by some of the noble Earl of Manchesters vigilant Commanders of the association this disturbance beginning to break out in that very conjuncture of time in which there had been a confederacie of the disaffected of those parts togather to a head Secondly the reducing of Croyland which is a place strong by scituation and which had a professed Papist for its Governour which how dangerous it was to some parts of this association and to the neighbouring parts of Lincolnshire Northamptonshire and Hantingdonshire is well known to those that were subject to their daily plunderings and pillagings Thirdly The defeat given to the enemies at Grantham where 11 of the Parliaments troops facing 21 or 22 troops of the enemies five of the associated troops charging the right wing of the enemies body utterly routed them and had the execution and chase of them almost two miles and got five or six of their Colours Fourthly The taking of Burleigh-House where was also taken the Lord Cambdens regiment of horse with their Colours three or foure Companies of foot and Dragooneers with all their ammunition and with about foure hundred prisoners Fifthly The defeat given to the enemies horse at Gainesborough to the breaking of neer 30 troops of the enemies horse where was slain the Lievtenant Generall Charles Cavendish Colonell Heron the high Sheriff of Lincolnshire forced into Trent with many other Officers and Souldiers who were there drowned and whereby Gainesborough was at that time relieved with ammunition which then it exceedingly wanted and this battle fought and victory gotten as without any considerable loss to us so within a mile of the Marquess of Newcastles armie Sixthly The saving neer 20 troops of horse belonging to the Lord Fairfax and under that renowned Gentleman Sir Thomas Fairfax his Son with which horse he hath since performed such notable good service in Cheshire and other parts which said horse were almost starved by the strait siege of Hull and could not in probabilitie have been thence delivered but by the horse of this association which was done by 14 troops of horse and 3 of Dragooneers belonging to this association there being nothing in assistance of them but six troops belonging to the Lord Willoughby and neer 40 troops of the enemies under the Command of Sir John Hinderson who had opportunitie to have fought with our horse before wee could come to joyn with Sir Thomas Fairfax his troops if he had pleased but did not take it Seventhly The taking of Lyn-Regis a strong Town and of great importance by raw undisciplin'd new raised Souldiers which was a place as likely to have undone this whole association as any which rebelled at such a time as the Marquess of Newcastle was at the strongest and so absolute in Lincolnshire that if he would have engaged his armie to have come to the rescue thereof the forces of this association then raised had not been considerable to have made resistance Eighthly The fight at Winsby where ours being about 60 colours of horse and Dragoons did encounter neer 90 colours of the enemie both parties being by estimate between 8 or 9000 horse Dragoons the enemie being in all probabilitie about 5000 of that number where ours gave them such a defeat that they took and killed about 1100 of them and took neer thirty of their Colours Ninthly The taking of Lincoln where the force of the defendants were in computation many more than of the assailants which the enemy surrendred to us on hard termes to themselves where we got about 3000 armes the enemies colours with good proportion of ammunition and five or six pieces of Ordnance Tenthly The taking of Gainesborough by storm the greatest part of the foot being our association-men who repulsed the enemie got over their works without any loss and possessed the Town whereby Lincolnshire formerly almost totally under the command of the enemies became wholly cleared of them
21th of January about 12 of the clock at night The word was Charles and the enemie was to be let in at the North-gate but if they could not accomplish it that night it was to be deferred till the 24th day following for it was Lievtenant Colonell Moselyes turn to watch every fourth night At their foresaid meetings Major Ogle used many arguments to perswade him to it alledging how much it would advantage his Majesties service in regard the Parliament was to sit at Oxford the Munday following which might much animate the Kings partie and exceedingly encourage that Parliament to proceed And in case this designe should not take effect the King sent him an engine which was shewn at a Conference in Parliament touching this discovery whereby he should have fired the Magazine of the Town but if none of these succeeded then upon their Storming of the Town he was to set fire on the Town The Kings forces being confident of their project at least to succeed one way or other of the three drew forth all their garrison from Taciter and the greatest part of their forces from Banbury Abington Oxford and Wallingford most of the forces the King could make in all those parts to the number of at least 5000 horse and foot All these marched two dayes and three nights in the extremity of very bitter cold weather which was at that time in so much that at last they were not able to march or set one foot before another the wayes were so deep with snow and the snow beating in their faces and so many hard passages they met by the way that their foot were enforced to make way for the horse which did so weary the poor foot forces that they fell down fourscore in a heap as it were together not being able to stirre whereupon the Officers came with Canes and beat them like dogges to force them forward and so at last with much adoe compelled them to get within two miles of Aylesbury and were quartered at and about Ethrop-House in expectation of the promised prize but being now with all that foresaid toyle and miserable hardship gotten hither betimes in the morning about five of the clock they there heard for certain that their design was discovered so that they were enforced to return back again to Oxford the walk and fresh ayre being all they had for their 100li. the good horse and sword which Lievtenant Colonell Mosley got by the bargain which their prize of mouthes full of fresh ayre must needs be worth their money considering how ill they were accommodated for fresh ayre at Oxford and so I say they returned homeward with as much comfort and content as a dog newly whipt with his tail between his legs biting tearing and plundring those that were able all that was in their way before them but it was verily believed yea and apparent too that the King lost at least 500 of his men in this sore and fruitless service for many of them ran away many dyed and many others fell sick and diseased And were not heer so many sore brushes against the Ark of God and as it were so many rough and rigid Remora's to stop at least if not over-turn the Ark of God his precious Cause and thus to have at least impeded and hindred its prosperous progress Yet see how our good God the most gracious protector and Pilot thereof freed it from the deep and desperate danger of them all But yet heer 's not all for the enemies inveterate malice was working still for much about the same time of the other foresaid plots there was a devillish design against the Town and Castle of Nottingham also to have sodainly surprised it either by force or fraud for which purpose they had provided 1500 horse and foot out of the garrison of Newark and their other Cavalerian quarters thereabout and prepared a Letter to be sent and delivered beforehand to the most valiant faithfull Governour of the Castle Colonell Hutchinson for a full and clear relation whereof I shall refer the Reader to the Governours own Letter a true Copie whereof written by noble Colonell Hutchinson himself to a worthy Patriot of his Country then residing in London coming to my hands I have heer thought fit to insert verbatim as it was printed and published by authoritie which was as followeth SIR About 6 of the clock in the morning Jan. 16th 1643. the enemie faced us on both sides of the Town and our house with 2 foot Companies went to the workes but they being a very great body and the workes not yet defensible in many places they to give them their due very bravely came on and forced their entry into the Town and our horse and foot were both forced to retreate to the Castle but we had not one man slain or wounded in the retreate Our Ordnance from the Castle made a lane among them at their entry and our Musketteers kild many of them as they retreated into the Castles The enemy possessed themselves of St. Peters Church and those houses street ends which hindred our sallying out but when our horse saw they were able to do no service their body of horse being far greater Colonell Thornhagh all the other horse Commanders encouraged their Troopers to take Muskets in their hands and serve as foot which to their great glory they very cheerfully and couragiously did and with a foot company joyned to part of them sallied out and beat the Cavaliers out of the neerest houses to the Castle and possessed them When we saw our sally and retreat both made indifferent safe we drew out 2 other foot Companies all the rest of the Troopers with Muskets who went on with so great courage valour that they drove the enemy before them out of the Town with a great deal of dishonour and confusion we have now 80 prisoners and all their armes and a great many kild the certain number whereof I cannot relate divers of them were wounded carried dead off from the field some they had buried in the field before they had entred the Town we traced them 2 miles in the snow by much bloud which we found spilt and we hear that they left dead and wounded men in the Towns as they passed I do not perceive we have any prisoners above the quality of a Captain Lievtenant but the reason is because the Commanders ran away in such hast that they left their own and got Troopers horses and took no care of their men but left them without command being happy who could first scape away We lost not all this day but one man slain and 2 or 3 wounded At last the enemy rallied in a valley about a mile from the Town where they had a body of horse which never came into the Town we faced one another but we finding their body so much exceeding all our force would not hazard the whole
Iohn Byron of whom we made mention before The generall report and relation whereof came unto us to London on the 3. of this instant Ianuary 643 being the Monthly Fast-day at night just about the time of the conclusion of the holy exercises of that day and which was by Letters confirmed more certainly particularly the next day being Thursday and Friday following The substance and manner whereof was this The English and Irish Forces which but a little before came out of Ireland under the command of sir Michael Earnly and severall other Commanders having laid siege to that brave and faithfull Town of Namptwich resolving it is probable to doe some brave piece of service at their first arrivall into England had therefore made three severall onsets and assaults upon it and were most bravely repulsed every time by Captaine Booth Governour of the Towne with great losse to the Enemie Lieutenant Colonell Boughton and foure Captaines more besides many common Souldiers being there slain before the towne At last they hearing the advance of Sir Tho and Sir William toward them to relieve the besieged they raised their siege from thence and drew out their Forces upon a plaine neere the Town to give them bâ—ttell Both Armies bâ—ing met there continued a fierce encounter betweene them which was very bravely performed on both sides for the space of two houres at least At last the enemy Gods providence so ordering it began to give ground which our as vigilant as valiant Commanders soone perceiving were greatly encouraged thereat to animate and draw on their souldiers with the braver resolution Sir Thomas Fairfax most magnanimiously charged their Horse whereof bloody Byron was Commander who not daring to stand to so fierce a shock began first to fly mangre all his former lying vaunts over brave Sir William Brereton our Horse valiantly pursuing the opportunity thereof gave not over till they had â—â—terly routed their enemies and dispersed and scattered all their Forces The names of the Prisoners of eminency taken all of them either Commanders of the English Forces in Ireland or native Irish-rebells were Major Generall Gibson Sir Richard Fleetwood Major Sir Michael Earnley Sir Francis Butler an Irish Rebell Colonell Monck Colonell Warren Lieutenant Colonell Gibs Sir Ralph Dames Major Hamon 14. Captaines 20. Lieutenants 27. Ensignes 3. Cornets 4. Quarter-masters 40. Drummes 4. Serjeants 63. Corporals 1700. Common-Souldiers and above an 100. wicked Women and Irish Queanes with long and sharpe Skeanes or Knives to play the barbarous Cut-throats of such as they should have taken Prisoners or were wounded had they got the Victory 6. Pieces of Ordnance 4. Canoneers 27. Wagons laden with very rich spoiles taken by the Irish-Forces from the Inhabitants of those parts Very many of them were slaine on the Ground and in the pursuit of them among which were Colonell Wane a Lieutenant Colonell 4. Captaines yea and Sir Wil Brereton in his own Letter to the Parliament testifies that there were about 2400. of the Enemies slaine and taken Prisoners in this Battaile and at the siege of Namptwich there were above 500. slaine before the Towne and yet that in all that siege the Towne lost but 2. men in all Boasting bloody Byron himselfe fled like a cowardly beaten and bitten Dog with his taile between his leggs to Oxford there to bragg how he had made noble Sir William Brereton flye as his custome was and to vapour of his happy victory and good success he hath had since his former late inhumane butcherie of Lancashire Forces Herein still the Lord most wisely and justly suiting his Divine dispensations to mens actions and worthyly repaying to the wicked a suitable and proportionable measure of Iustice and revenge Of this and all the rest of his rich and rare mercies and wonderfull Victories and Deliverances let our Wonder-working God alone have all the most meritorious praise and glory And accordingly on the Fryday following which was the 2. of February the pious and prudent House of Commons in Parliament passed an Order to this effect That on the next Lords day publike thanks should be rendred unto Almighty God both for the seasonable comming in of our faithfull and loving brethren of Scotland to our assistance against the mighty Enemies of the Lord for the good successe of the Garrison of Nottingham against Newcastles treacherous fraud and forces together with the happy discovery and defeat of the severall late plotts of the Enemy against us as was forementioned and especially for this last foresaid famous Victory of Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Brereton against the English-Irish Forces in Cheshire and it was Ordered therein also that the said Order should be read by the Ministers of the severall Congregations in and about the Cities of London and Westminster and that the names of all such Ministers as should refuse to publish the said Order should be returned to the Parliament And here now I shall desire to cast Anchor againe and make a little stay of Contemplation and gratefull rumination on the precious Traffick and rich Commodities of this Moneths Voyage wherein the godly Reader may see at a sight and seeing admire the great mercies of our good God thus still carrying on his Arke and causing it to over-top all the troublesome waves and windes of Malignity that have thus still bruisht and rusht against it and bringing it home in safety to the Haven of this Moneths end fairely fraught with all these mercies As first in raising up the spirits of the Swedes to interrupt the Auxiliary designe of Denmarke against England In the taking of those two Houses Holts-House and Bewley-House two pernicious Kennels or Cages for the Kings Cormorants those birds of Prey to roust and nestle in for the fitter falling upon the spoile and plunder of the people and places neer about them In the happy and timely discovery of that pernitious plot of dividing the Parliament and City under the modest mask forsooth of pretended Peace by Sir Basil Brook Riley and the rest and the happy deliverance of those three honest and loyall Patriots of their Countrey in Gernsey from the present Imprisonment and intended future danger which they were in In the happy taking into the Parliaments possession of Arundel-Castle by Sir William Waller and his valiant Forces besides a brave Ship full fraught with Armes Ammunition and other good Merchandizes The most happy Harmony and union of Spirits Love and Loyalty between the Parliament and City of London most sweetly manifested in that famous invitation at Marchant-Taylors-Hall In that most noble Defeat given to Sir Nicholas Byron by valiant Colonell Mitton Sir Iohn Gells valiant surprisall of Burton on Trent and the taking of Hilsden-House by the Parliaments Forces In the happy discovery and disappointment of the base Plots and trecherous designes of mischievous Major Ogle both in endeavouring to sow the seeds
undertaken and cleare my unfeigned reputation Thus much I thought good to say unto you that you may give a satisfactory testimony of that designe in my behalfe if you heare it falsely reported And I shall be ready to requite you in vindicating of truth and acknowledge my selfe Southampton Feb. 5. 1643. Your reall friend PET. MURFORD About the 6. of this instant came to the publike knowledge of the City of London and so to others in the Kingdome a notable designe from Oxford namely That in the latter end of Ianuary last the pretended Parliament or rather mischievous meeting of Popish Atheisticall and Malignant fugitive Lords and rotten Members of the most blessed Parliament at Westminster being brought into a desperate condition by the happy and good successe of our said Parliamentâ— Forces against them assembled themselves into a most illegall jugling Iunto or accursed Conventicle at Oxford and would needs there forsooth make a poor shew of Propositions for Peace And by their Lord Generall Ruthen the Popish Earl of Forth they contrived a Letter which was signed by the Prince the Duke of York 44 of the foresaid condition'd Lords and about an 100 rotten Commons and was sent as from Ruthen to his Excellencie the Parliaments most noble and renowned Lord Generall the magnanimous and heroick Eul of Essex and in that Letter manifested their scornfull esteem of our most renowned Parliament at Westminster not allowing it so much as the name of a Parliament which must needs argue a proper piece of intention really to advance a true Peace betwixt the King and his Parliament Now hereupon the said Letter being by his Excellencie communicated with the Parliament they thought it not fit to take notice of the said Message only it was consulted and resolved on by both Houses that my Lord Generall should be intreated to send a Complement to the Earle of Forth and to inclose the Covenant and Declaration agreed upon by both Kingdomes in this Letter which accordingly his Excellencie performed as followeth His Excellencies Letter to the Earl of Forth in answer to a Letter from Oxford subscribed by the Prince Duke of Yorke and divers Lords and Gentlemen at Oxford My Lord I Received this day a Letter of the 29. of this instant from your Lordship and therein a Parchment subscribed by the Prince Duke of York and divers Lords and Gentlemen but it neither having addresse to the two houses of Parliament nor therein there being any acknowledgment of them I could not communicate it unto them My Lord the maintenance of the Parliament of England and of the priviledges thereof is that for which we are all resolved to spend our blood as being the foundation whereon all our Lawes and Liberties are built I send your Lordship herewith a Nationall Covenant solemnly entred into by both Kingdomes of England and Scotland and a Declaration passed by them both together with another Declaration of the Kingdome of Scotland I rest Your Lordships humble Servant ESSEX Essex-house Ian. 30. 1643. About the 9. of this instant February our most noble and renowned Patriots in Parliament resolved on the sequestring of the Estates of many grand Malignants and Incendiaries and to order and dispose of their Estates for the publike use And they appointed a Committee accordingly to take order for the sequestrating of the Lands and Estates of the Earle of Berk-shire prisoner in the Tower and that the same should be disposed of for the use of the publike good And the like for the estate of the Earle of Carbery a great stickler for the adverse party in Wales The Lord Aborthorum Mr. Walter Mountague prisoner in the Tower The Lord Cottington that Spanish Don and grand Incendiary of the Kingdome And that all the goods and Chattels already sequestred and to be sequestred belonging to the aforesaid Lords and Gentlemen should be forthwith sold and the monies made use of for the publike service and more especially for supplies for the Noble Lord Fairfax in Yorkshire The like also for all the goods and chattels belonging to Sir John Banks Lord Chiefe Justice at Oxford The like for the Bishop of Winchester and the like for all the goods of all other Malignants sequestred and being in Cambden-house in London or elsewhere As also the goods and whole estate in and about London belonging to that unhappy and unholy Neuter or Ambo-dexter Dr. Vsher Arch-Prelate of Armagh resident at Oxford a man once I confesse of good yea of great esteem like his apostate brother Dr. White Bishop of Ely in City and Country both in England and Ireland but at length whose last dayes hitherto have proved his worst dayes Of whom one thing I may not here omit to his eternall shame and ignominie That upon debating of the businesse in Parliament concerning him there was evidence given in to the Parliament against him That upon the first framing of that pernicious Oath at Oxford to enjoyn all men to take up Armes against the Parliament this slye Archbishop was a chiefe Agent by his Episcopall rhetorick to perswade all men to take the said Oath yea and that he wished they might all dye in prison that refused to take it that divers who by his perswasions had taken it were afterward much troubled in conscience and some of them dyed in that condition much perplexed and unsatisfied A most sad and bad burthen to lie on the Conscience of such an unholy and unhappy Instigator thereunto whose perishing blood will I feare be one day severely required at his hands without repentance Also about the 10. of this instant certain intelligence came out of York-shire by Letters to London from the most Noble Lord Fairfax of the taking of Burlington in the said County the place where the Queene formerly landed when she unhappily returned out of Holland by a party of Horse and Foot commanded by that valiant and vertuous Colonel Sir William Constable who entred the Town in a full Carriere took 250 Common-souldiers besides Major New nam the Governour of the Town and divers other Officers with 2 Drakes and 500 Arms besides other Ammunition In this exploit Major Briery and Captain Bethel the one in the Van the other in the Reare did singular good service and put the Enemy into a great disorder This place being within 6 miles of Scarborough will make Sir Hugh Cholmley that perfidious Apostate to look about him And very shortly after came farther intelligence of another notable Exploit performed by the said brave and valiant Commander Sir William Constable who surprised a party of the Enemy at a place called Driffle between Malton and Scarborough where he took 300 of Newcastles Horse Colonel Washington one Serjeant-Major three Captaines divers Officers and about an hundred and sixty common Foot-souldiers and routed another Regiment besides Much about the same time came certain information by Letters from the Scotch Commissioners out of the North That since
our loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland's advance into this Kingdome from Barwick toward Newcastle and their taking of Alnwick and Morpeth the two only Towns of defence and strength twixt Barwick and Newcastle That they also took the strong Island of Cocquet with about 200 men and their Arms 7 peeces of Ordnance and other necessary martiall provisions Also that Colonel Gray brother to the Lord Gray of Wark with a Regiment of Horse came in unto the Army of our said brethren of Scotland and most cheerfully took the Covenant That they had rescued a head of cattle which were driven away by the enemy toward Newcastle and that they most honestly restored them to the persons from whom they were taken A notable act of justice and that the Counties of Northumberland and Westmerland most cordially came in and adhered to them About the tenth of this instant certaine letters being intercepted were read in Parliament which came from the Lord Goring to the Lord Digby dated at Paris Feb. 7. 1643. The summe whereof in briefe was this That he hoped this Letter would have better successe to come to the hands of his most blessed sacred Mistresse than his former Letters had That he was in nothing more happy than to be accounted a Trator at London considering his sacred Mistresse had the same badge of honour stamped upon her before him in whose service he professed hee would be ever faithfull to the quicke and was not here think'st thou good Reader a pure and sure slave to Sathan That the same morning he wrote this Letter he was called to sweare to be true to the two Crownes of England and France and afterward was to dine with the King And further specifying what forreine forces armes and ammunition were in preparation to be sent into this Kingdome And said he in this very expression let my Mr. hang me if I do not furnish him with armes ammunition c. And concludes thus that what he writes they may believe to bee as true as Gospell This flashey letter of this old doting shamelesse Traytor full as yee see of blasphemy and Treason and so adjudged by the Parliament they have ordered to be recorded with an other former intercepted Letter of his which will be sufficient evidences to make good their impeachment of high Treason against him See heere then good Reader the good hand of Gods wise and just providence thus to discover the secret and slavish enemies of his Church and people But to goe on Besides those former brave exploits of that pious and prudent Commander Colonell Sir William Constable aforesaid There came certaine intelligence to London much about the middst of this instant February of divers other most valiant performances and victorious atchivements of the Parliaments Forces in severall other places worthy our most thankefull remembrance both to Gods glory and the Instruments deserved praise The first was performed by the brave and active well-deserving Garrison of Pool in Dorsetshire who sallied out and by an Ambuscado their enemies owne late Stratagem against Pool with some little losse not long before they entrapped Colonell Windham and about 7. or 8. score of his Horse and slew his Lieutenant Colonel Barker but the Colonell himselfe with the rest of his men taken as aforesaid they carried Prisoners into Pool A Partie also of Warwick Garrison issuing out toward Stow on the Wold in Gloucestershire tooke a Cavalier Colonell Prisoner and about 30 good Horse with him And heere also I may most justly commemorate diverse brave atchievements of Sir Thomas Fairfax that as famous as pious Commander in Cheshire since his last great Victory at Namptwich who most prosperously pursued his late Victory in those parts took a strong hould called Keel-House Another called Adlinton-House Duddington also belonging to sir Thomas Delves And Crew-House where he tooke an 150. Royalists Prisoners and great store of Armes and Ammunition together with Dorison-House another strong Garrison of the Enemies where he tooke 200. Prisoners with good store of armes and ammunition Darby Forces also having been two dayes before Kings-Mylus a very strong House of the Earle of Huntingtons neere Wildon-Ferrey upon the River of Trent whereinto Colonell Hastings alias Rob-Carryer had put a Garrison of Souldiers who much annoyed that part of the Countrey but the House being very strong their Ordnance did no great execution upon it Whereupon that brave and most couragious and faithfull Patriott Sir Iohn Gell chose 5. men out of each of his Troopes to storme it who made such a desperate assault upon it that they tooke this House with the losse onely of three of his men whence they brought 46. Prisoners with their armes to Darbey but Captaine Daniel and his Lieutenant they sent Prisoners to Nottingham-Castle Lastly that most noble and renouned successefull Patriott of the Northern parts the good Lord Fairfax with his valiant Commander sir William Constable marched toward Whitby a Haven-Town in the farthest part of Yorkeshire with a very considerable Army intending if the Enemy would not deliver up the Town to Storm it For this Whitby was a very strong Garison of the Earle of New-Castles But the Enemie considering in what a condition they were surrendered up the Town to the Lord Fairfax wherein were above 500. Captaines Lieutenants Commanders Officers and Common-souldiers besides at least 20. of the Commission of Array and almost a 1000 Saylers and Inhabitants of the Town all which delivered up the Towne and with it themselves to the said most noble Lords Service together with 40. Vessels greater and lesser in the Haven So this most Honourable Lord with valiant sir William Constable seized on all their Workes Ships Ammunition 500. Armes many Barrels of Powder Match and other traine of Artillery and it was verily beleeved about an hundred pieces of Ordnance in the ships and on the Workes for the use of the Parliament About the 16th of this instant February 1643. an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament and instructions agreed upon by them for the taking of the Solemne League and Covenant throughout the whole Kingdome which we have formerly mentioned to have been solemnly taken by both Houses of Parliament and in and about the whole Cities of London and Westminster and the Dominion of Wales was new Printed and published together with a most emphaticall and patheticall â—xhortation made by the Assembly of Divines at the motion and desire of our most pious and prudent Parliamentary Worthies for the more willing and cheerfull taking thereof and for the better and more full satisfaction of all such scruples as might arise thereupon which was ordered to be taken after this manner The minister was first to read the whole Covenant distinctly and audibly in the Pulpit and during the reading thereof the whole congregation to be uncovered and at the end of his reading thereof all to take it standing
Thiefe having intelligence that according to the direction of the Parliament the Nationall Covenant was taking throughout that County and to that purpose that there were Summons of all the Clergy-men Church-wardens and other Officers to come in to Leicester to take the Covenant whither accordingly they came for two or three dayes together with much freenesse and cheerefulnesse whereof I say Hastings having notice hee with 4 Troops from Bever-Worton-house coursed about the Countrey as farre as Dunton and Litherworth and tooke neere upon an 100 of the Clergâ—emen and others and carried them Prisoners to a Town called Hinckley intending to have carryed them to Ashby-de-la-Zouch c. using them very coursely and threatning to hang all them that should take the Parliaments Covenant nor were they content with this but roaving up and downe the Countrey they tooke away about 80 Kine Oxen and Horse from the poore Countrey people and one Master Warner a godly Minister whom they much abused threatning to hang him But the intelligence of these things comming to Leicestor and they most justly very ill resenting these outrages and cruelties lost no time but though all their horse were gone to Newark yet they resolved every private man to spare his owne horse and so sent away presently an 120 of the Foot Souldiers and some 30 Troopers that lay at Bagworth-house to keep it from the enemy under the command of Colonell Gray whom the Lord Gray had made Governour of Leicester These their Forces being upon their March toward Hinkley so well ordered the matter that about eight of the clock that night they fell most valiantly on them in their quarters undiscovered tooke the Enemies Scouts and without much resistance tooke the outworks and a piece of Ordnance and there performed their worke also with so good successe that they presently entred the Towne killed one of the Enemies Captains named Man-waring and foure or five more of their Souldiers wounded 9 or 10 of them very sorely presently routed them all tooke two of their Lieutenants one Quarter-master one Ensigne 45 Prisoners and 140 Horse with their Armes released all the Country men rescued all the Cattle and restored them to the right owners and so returned home safe with this victory and booty the next day being Shroâ—e-Teusday as then they called it None of Leicester men were slaine in this defeat onely 4 wounded whereof one was casually hurt by Colonell Gray because he forgot their Word in the fight which was God prosper us the Enemies Word being For the King But that which makes this exploitâ—the more remarkable was that the Enemy was between 4 and 500 strong as was credibly informed and ours not above 200 at the most Our men went on most couragiously in all the Service and had they not been too greedy of the prey we had meere taken them all And therefore desire to ascribe all the honour to God alone And about the same time also came certain intelligence to London that valiant and vigilant Colonell Norton had takes severall prisoners in his parts about Southampton and slaine divers of the seulking enemies among whom Sir Iohn Stowell was slaine in the place About the 18th of this instant came yet farther intelligence by letters out of Yorkeshire to London that that brave and valiant commander Col Lambert since his late famous victory at Bradford hearing that a party were gathering against him to oppose him in the West-riding of Yorkeshire be drew out his forces to meet them and discovering the enemy neere Kirkelesse consisting of about 11. troopes of horse of the Earle of Newcastles as good as they could make up for the designe Col. Lambert presently drew out a small partie which he sent upon the forlorne hope to draw the enemy into a noose who discovering onely a small party of our men they marched toward them Hereupon our men began to retreat the enemy followed In which interim brave Colonell Lambert having wisely carryed the businesse had placâ—d a party on each side of the enemy so as they were surrounded ere they were aware Whereupon with very litle harme the valiant Colonell surprized and cooped them up on three sides and there being a river on the fourth side they all became his prisoners irresistibly save only two or three who adventured to swim over the river who whether they were drowned or not was uncertaine for the river was deepe and dangerous The noble Colonell tooke prisoners at this time 4. Lieut. Colonels and Serjeant Maiors 7. Captaines 11. Cornets 300. souldiers and other officers with other purchase and prizes which the enemy had pillaged in the Country a sore pull from them and a faire strengthening of us blessed be the Lord for it And about the very same time we had certaine knowledge that Sir William Constable that most pious and prudent commander and one Captaine Carter had with a very small and unconsiderable losse taken two bridges in the East-Riding of Yorkeshire both of them very considerable places for their designes the one called Chester-bridge and the other was Stamford-bridge with them they tooke also divers prisoners and three pieces of ordnance there Much also about the same time came credible information to London that a party of Colonell Waights horse from Burley-House in Rutlandshire went out suddenly toward Beaver-castle intelligence having beene given them of a troope of horse quartered a mile off from the castle Whereupon they with the best preparation they could make of sadle-horses and others for dragoones the most part of their garrison troupers being then out in the service at Newarke siege with Sir Iohn Meldrum they fell on them in their quarters tooke divers of them prisoners and then went neerer the castle tooke thence 20. fatt oxen and at least 200. fat sheep and brought them all away safely with them to Burley-House And much about the foresaid time we were for certain enformed at London that divers ships at sea full fraught with Irish-bloody-rebells bound for Westchester met with a great storme by Gods justice and good providence which so violently tost and shattered them that at least a full regiment consisting of 1500. were cast away and drencht and drown'd in the salt streames of the sea as they had destroy'd others in the gory streames of their blood at land And about the same time it was enformed most infallibly that the noble garrisons of Pool and Warham beat upon the then ignoble Weather-cocke the Lord Inchiquins regiment of Irish bloody Rascalls in Dorsetshire with a fierce land-storme where they tooke divers prisoners 2. pieces of ordnance killed very many of them fired their magazine and returned victoriously and safely home againe About the 10th of this Instant March came information from Southampton that a party of Sir Ralph Hoptons horse came and faced that Town Whereupon the brave and valiant Governor thereof Colonell Norton sent out some
forces against them who came forth and faced them also whiles other some of his forces had placed themselves in some advantagious ambuscadoes and upon the ingagement of the rest in fight came upon the reere of Hoptons forces beat them soundly tooke about at least 80. of them prisoners among whom were 2. Cornets and other officers whom they safely carryed into Southampton And that most loyall and magnanimous commander Sir William Belfore had performed much good service against the enemy neere Basing-house in Hampshire where he defeated a party of Basing forces which sallyed out of the said House and fell upon his infantrie in their marching that way But Sir Williams horse wheeling about and comming in the rear of them killed 20. on the place routed 200. horse and tooke many prisoners whereof some were men of quality After which he advanced to Newbery and tooke possession of the Towne which the enemies garrison understanding of his comming toward them had quite quitted upon his approach thither at which time he was about 5000. strong in horse and foot And about the same time came certaine intelligence from forraine parts which I here mention as having reference to our present affaires in England that on the last Monethly fast day of Febr. last 1643. which was also kept at Delph in Holland the same day that ours was in England by the English Inhabitants and Merchants there residing and that the Prince Elector Palatine CHARLES subscribed the Solemine-League or Covenant entred into by the Kingdomes of England and Scotland and which had beene sent over and ordered by the Parliament to be taken by all the English in all those Provinces and that many also of the Court in Holland have done the like Also that the Swedes had about that time taken the King of Denmarkes castle of Elsenburge which guards the Sound on Norway side and that they had then also taken two Danish ships with 1200. of the king of Denmarkes souldiers And which is of greatest concernment and most remarkable that the Swedes were then expediting an Embassie to the Parliament of England wherein they desired the first motion wherof we touched before that they might associate themselves with the kingdomes of England and Scotland for the mutuall defence of one another in point of the Protestant religion against the Popish party in any part of the world Thus good Reader we see still dayly how the kingdome of Antichrist like Sauls house decayes and decreases more and more and therefore how justly and joyfully we may and must expect the House of David to encrease flourish and prevaile in all parts of the earth and thereby our glorious hopes more sweetly and firmely to be lifted up in expectation of the most happy holy Halcyon dayes of the Church of Christ in this last age of the world Amen and Amen About the 12. of this instant came farther intelligence also out of Yorkeshire That the most noble Lord Fairfax did still enlarge his quarters in those parts and that his two most valiant Champions Colonell Sir William Constable and Colonell Lambert grew more and more prosperous and victorious And in particular that Colonell Constable marching to Yorke quartered at a place called Pocklington and from thence to the enemies quarters and faced their Garrison at Tadcaster-Bridge within ten miles of Yorke on the East side fell valiantly on the Enemies and in short time took it In which Gaâ—rison he took 10 Captaines Lieutenants and Commissioners of Array besides other Officers about 200 Souldiers 300 Armes 3 peices of Ordnance 14 Barrells of powder besides match and other good prizes Much about this time the Declaration of both Kingdomes for the comming in of the Oxford partee by the first of March 1643. had a great influence upon many of the more ingenuous moderate and discreet delinquents among them so as divers of note and quality came in before and some â—ince the time assigned and very willingly took the Solemn League and Covenant Some of the most considerable of whom I have here thought fit to expresse by name viz. The Earl of Westmerland the Earl of Monmouth the Earl of Thanet Sir Francis Lâ—e one of the Gentlemen of the Kings Bed-chamber the Lord Paget who went to Warwick-Castle the Earle of Carlile Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper Baronet high Sheriffe of Dorsetshire and Governour of Weymouth Sir Edward Deering Sir Iohn Evelin of Hampshire Sir Iohn Evelin of Surrey Sir William Acton an Alderman of London Mr. Roger Pits Mr. Mason Mr. Carpenter and many other most of them men of eminency and great Estates who came to London and took the Covenant besides many who had submitted themselves to the Parliaments Garrisons at Northampton Warwick and other places too numerous to be here particularized and many more would fain have come away thence had they not taken such a strict course in all the Kings Quarters to retain and restrain them by setting up Gibbets at Oxford and threatning them most terribly with no lesse than hanging if they were taken in any such defection Here also I conceive it not unfit but in much pertinent measure consonant to these our Parliamentary mercies to make mention of that most vile and base Athesticall defection of that most ignoble and perjured Knight Sir Richard Geenvile which I say may justly come in as no small mercy to us in regard of the great designe of the Parliament about that time against the enemies thereof a mercy I say that he went then away since he was so rotten at the core and had so false a heart to the State and Parliament so soon when as he did us so little hurt where as had he stayed till our Forces had gone into the Field and had been to joyn in Battail with the Enemy as not long after they did he might especially being then also in such an eminent place of power and trust in the Army like his brother in iniquity Sir Faithlesse Fortescue at Edgehill Battell he might I say have done us a far greater mischiefe in the fight than he did by this his base flight But for this his so wicked and unworthy tergiversation he was followed with a most just reward for upon the 15. of this instant March being Fryday according to an Order of the Councill of War there were two Gibbets erected the one over against the Royall Exchange in Cornhill in London and the other in the Pallace yard at Westminster whereat Proclamation was made by the Provost Marshall and trumpeters of his Excellencies Armie declaring Sir Richard Grinvile that grand Apostate and Renâ—gado of England a Traiter unto the Kingdome which Proclamation was fixed upon both the foresaid Gibbets in writing in the words following Whereas Richard Greenvile hath of late presented his Service unto the Parliament and hath been entertained by the Parliament as a Colonell of a Regiment of Horse And whereas the said
our sorrow and to sympathize with our sadnesse and loth as it were to let us lie under the burthen of our heavinesse 2. or three dayes together lest our spirits might have beene too much depressed with griefe and sorrow O who can then forbeare but hereat breake forth into Moses his blessed extasie and rapture of joy exultation and admiration of this our Gods so free so forward and so inessable goodnesse and with him say and sing O who is like unto thee O Lord our God among all gods O who is like unto thee Glorious in holinesse fearefull in Praises doing Wonders The enemy being thus put to flight and enforced to leave the field as aforesaid some part of their infantry with the carriages began to march away a pace their horse and the rest of their foot standing for some small time onely facing of us being left to shift for themselves as well as they could but whiles they stood thus facing of us ours fell on againe upon them and routed both their horse and foot and no sooner was the field cleared but ours having intelligence that most of the carryages were gone to Winchester and that the Commanders that escaped were fled to Basing-house and likewise some horse and most of the infantry toward Andover Sir William Waller with a part of his Army marched in pursuit of the carriages toward Winchester Sir William Belfore pursued the infantry and valiant Sir Arthur Haslerigge the commanders Who being thus closely pursued before they came to Winchester the ordnance with litle or no guard strooke through a by-lane and leaving Winchester got to Basing and so to Redding it being in the night and so the easier for them to escape and the harder for our forces to discover the way they went yet we took some of their carriages which were going to Andover and pursuing the flying enemy to Alsford about 200. of the Irish received the terrestriall reward of their bloody merits Now when Sir William Waller came to Winchester the Mayor and Aldermen submitted dissemblingly to him declaring themselves for the King and Parliament desiring to be preserved from violence and plunder which was accordingly granted them and notwithstanding a small and inconsiderable number of the Kings forces then in the Castle our men having refreshed themselves it was not thought fit that so brave an army should spend no not an hours time about so poore and petulant a designe as the reducing of that castle onely but rather with all vigilancy and valiancy to pursue the victory and fall on some other service of farre greater importance and though they were certaine that Gloucester was in part relieved yet they deemed it would be a good piece of service to scoure those coasts thereabout which Sir William Waller performed accordingly and that most noble and loyall hearted gentleman Sir Will. Belfore with a party of horse marched up as far as Salisbury without any resistance In this fight the Kentish-men behaved themselves most bravely like their ancient famous and unvanquisht predecessours even as if they had been again to struggle with the Norman Conquerour for a whole Kingdome or their ancient Liberties Lawes and Priviledges and to their lasting fame during the whole fight gave not a foot of ground to the proudest enemy And so also did the City Regiment to their eternall renowne and indelible honour like so many ancient Romane Conquerours who of their voluntary accord went upon the forlorne-hope beat the enemy with impregnable courage from the hedges which they had lined with store of musketeers and gained the passage to a wood which stood our forces in great stead as was forementioned in the description of the fight and soon after by Gods providence turned the scale of the daies honour which before hung on equally indifferent termes and put the enemy to the rout And here before I conclude the relation of this famous victory give me leave good Reader for thy fuller content and delight herein to give thee these few materiall observations thereon First that the enemy made himselfe so sure of routing Sir Will. Waller as that their commanders had Commissions ready signed in their pockets to raise forces in Kent a County which is as I toucht before resolved to sacrifice it selfe to destroy those accursed Cormorants and defend their ancient rights which William the Conquerour could not gaine from them and are therefore resolved that Popish Queene Mary shall purchase them at a deere rate if shee overcome them Secondly that the word which the enemy had and which the Parliament forces had was one and the very same GOD WITH US And God indeed the most righteous Judge shewed who took his sacred name in vaine they or we and for whom he graciously stood by the successe of the battell Thirdly how mischievous and wicked the enemy is in his courses if God did not curb and prevent them in that when they saw they could not keep the Towne of Alsford but that their Irish were put to the sword they set the Towne on fire in two or three severall places but it was happily and seasonably quenched by the care and industry of the Parliaments forces Fourthly that they were so inhumane and cruell that the poore Countrymen whom they compelled to take armes for this fight they most mercilesly drove up with their horses and by shooting at them and beating them either forced them to fight or to be slaine and dye And lest our malignants might report as indeed they did at London and else where that Sir R. Hopton had soone so rallyed his forces the next day both horse and foot that Sir William Waller and Sir William Belfore duâ—st not pursue him let the wise and impartiall Reader judge the truth thereof by these subsequent materiall occurrences which de facto were thus First at VVinchester the Mayor of the Towne the very next morning sent word to Sir VVilliam VValler that the gates of the City were open for him and his comming expected there being onely 100 in the castle whom an hundred of ours might easily keep in Secondly that the keeper of the prison in VVinchester was so possest with feare of Sir VVilliams comming that he presently set open the prison doores and set 80 prisoners at liberty taken as 't was supposed at Rumsey who came all to Sir VVilliam VValler Thirdly that the enemy fled in such feare and confusion that 50. prisoners of the Parliament side whom they had taken in the fight were by the enemies suffered to escape and return to their colours Fourthly that upon an alarum which they had at Andover they fled and left the Towne to the Parliaments forces whither Sir VVill. Belfore comming he heard that the Lady Hopton wife to Sir R. Hopton was at or neer Newbery he thereupon sent out a party and surprized her and with her tooke 200 prisoners wherof 80 were horse and great quantities of
blessed be God afterward proved true that the Ammunition came safely to Gloucester The second time also all that was sent came safely to them without danger or disturbance The third time when all that was appointed for Gloucester was sent away was also most safely conveyed by Colonell Beare who went with his Valiant Troopes without fear of the fiercest Enemie who now had need looke about them that they be not frighted with a worse feare than an Ignis fatuus for now Gloucester was hereby enabled not onley to be most secure within it selfe but also to offend and greatly to disturb their pernicious neighbours For since this the Country as 't was credibly reported came in unto Colonell Massey very much and deserted Mr Dutton and the rest of the Commissioners of Array in those parts and tooke the Covenant to serve the King and Parliament About the 10. also of this instant April came certaine intelligence by letters from severall persons of quality and note in the London brigade dated from a Town called Wickham within a mile of Waltham in Hampshire that on the 6. of April 1644. Major Gen. Browne that brave famous and victorious London Commander in his march from Southampton toward Waram had intelligence that Colonell Whitehead being set down before Waltham house aforesaid with about an 100 men there being also the like number within the said House to keepe and maintaine it who hearing that the London Brigade passed by that way he sent unto Major Generall Brown to desire his ayd in taking thereof with the quicker dispatch Whereupon the London Brigade marched toward the said House and planted their Ordnance against it but upon the valiant Majors drawing up his men to make an assault Propositions were sent forth from those in the House to the Major Generall which at last were assented unto being to this effect That the commanders and officers then in the House might passe away with their horses and their swords by their sides and the common-souldiers onely with a rod or staffe in their hands Which articles were accordingly performed on both sides the enemies leaving behind them all their armes and ammunition and good store of provision and rich plunder all which was divided among the souldiers to their great refreshment and encouragement After which the brave London Brigade marched away leaving the House to Colonell Whitehead to demolish and pull it downe if hee conceived it requisite or convenient And thus it pleased God to honour this London Brigade with this other victory making them successefull and victorious both in their going forth and in their comming home To God alone be all the praise and glory thereof And about the foresaid time also we had credible information by letters out of Yorkeshire to London that that noble Son Sir Thomas Fairfax was joyned with his most renowned Father the ever to be honoured Lord Fairfax and that they joyntly were full 2500. foot and 4000. horse a most gallant power and like to make a most notable diversion of Newcastles army And that about the same time great store of Corne and other provisions of all sorts were sent from Hull and other places to our brethren the Scots army The effects of which happy and honourable Union of this famous fathers and sons forces we shall have occasion to make mention of in its proper ensuing place In which interim we were credibly informed that the most noble Lord Fairfaxes forces had taken Cawood-castle neere Yorke belonging to the Arch-bishop of that Sea with divers of the Marquesse of Newcastles forces and much armes and ammunition therein and they had again possessed themselves of the Isle of Axholme with an 160 horse and 80 foot therein besides much armes and ammunition About the 12. also of this instant April came certaine intelligence out of Wales of the happily continued and brave exploits and singular good service of that most worthy and valiant Patriot and Sea-commander Captain Swanley which was confirmed by letters sent to noble Sir William Brereton which letters made mention of all Pembrookeshire Carnarvanshire and Mountgomery all these 3. Counties to be by Gods speciall blessing on his brave endeavours there joyned in an association for the King and Parliament and that they had taken all the chief Townes and castles of those Counties and in them the number of 49 pieces of ordnance And that if the Lord vouchsafe them a good preaching ministry of Pastors after his owne heart 't is very probable that those old now brutish Brittains may become pious Protestants for they begin now to be very much discontented at the comming over of so many of the blood-thirsty Irish rebells Much also about this foresaid time came certain information out of the Eastern-parts of the Kingdome that the affairs of those parts and especially about Lincolnshire went on very prosperously by Gods blessing on the forces of that most noble and pious Patriot and successefull Commander in chiefe the right honourable Earle of Manchester who had under the command of valiant Colonell King regained and repossessed themselves of those Townes which the enemy had lately before taken and particularly Crowland alias Croyland a most Malignant Town but a place of very great consequence which was surrendred to the said valiant Colonell King The articles agreed on betweene the said Colonell and Captaine Styles a pestilent Malignant and of the right Canterbury-cut Commander of the forces in the Towne were That the souldiers in the Towne should have quarter for their lives should march out with their swords but leave all the armes and horses in the Towne unto the Colonell which were accordingly performed and no violence offered them by any of our forces notwithstanding their most perfidious dealing with ours so lately at Newark There were taken in the Towne 80 horse and 300 armes About the 16. of this instant April 1644. The learned grave and pious Gilbertus Voetius ofVtrick one of the united Netherland Provinces declared his judicious and learned testimony of that most famous and ever to be most justly honoured Philopatriae Mr William Prynnes most elaborate Book entituled The Soveraigne Power of Parliaments in foure Parts c. Which testimony he sent in his Letter to Mr Walter Strickland the Parliaments Agent in the Netherlands dated Vltrajecti Non. Feb. 1644. In these words Accepi nuperrime commodato librum Gulielmi Prinne tam din mihi desideratum et Rationes omnes cum responsionibus tam solide et erudite pro Parliamentis contra adversarios instruct as atque explicatas deprebendi vt non videam quid ultra desiderari potest Debebat tractatus ille latine Gallice exstare vt Reformatis Theologis ac Politicis in Europa legi potest The sence and substance of which honourable Attestation is this in English That he did highly esteeme of the long desired labours of Mr. William Prynne with his solid and learned arguments in
defence of the Parliament against the common adversaries thereof and held it very fit that the said Bookes containing four parts should be translated into the Latin and French tongues that so they might be read of all the reformed Divines and States-men in Europe This passage I have here most deservedly added as a Parliamentary-Mercy of the Lord in thus raising this faithfull and heroick-hearted Patriot from his once being as it were buryed alive in the grave of a most unjust and barbarous forreigne Perpetuall Banishment thus to vindicate the most honourable reputation of our most renowned English Parliaments About the 18. of this instant out most pious prudent and provident Parliamentary Statists taking into serious and deliberate consideration the good affection which the Swedes beare to this Kingdome which they have severall waies expressed to this our present Parliament they therefore held it very fit that faire correspondencie should be continued betwixt them and us and thereupon agreed on an Ordinance with the consent of the Committees of both Kingdoms to send with their Agents to the Sweeds to declare their reciprocall amity and mutuall affection to them As likewise into Zeland and other the united Provinces who had likewise declared their good affection to the proceedings of the Parliament have endevoured to prevent the bringing over of Armes and Ammunition into this Kingdome to be imployed against them And about the 19 of this instant came certaine intelligence to the Parliament by Letters from the most noble renowned L. Fairfax that most famous faithfull and never sufficiently honoured pious Patriot of his Countrey intimating the admirable good successe wherewith it pleased the Lord God of Hosts to Crowne him since he and his most magnanimious and virtuous Sonne Sir Thomas Fairfax joyned their Forces together and especially touching that famous and admirable Victory which they obtained at Selby in Yorkeshire For the Readers better satisfaction wherein and the fairer cleerer Demonstration of the very truth wherof I have here thought fit to give thee the Copy of the said Letter verbatim as it was by Order and Authority of Parliament Printed and published Which was as followeth A Letter sent from the Right Honourable the Lord Fairfax to the Committee of both Kingdomes concerning the great Victory lately obtained by Gods blessing at Selby in Yorkeshire My Lords ACcording to the Orders sent to mee and my Sonne from your Lordships we have now joyned our Forces together and though the Enemy held all the passages from the East-riding to the West and by that meanes intercepted divers of our Letters and thereby became acquainted with our appointments and so endeavoured to prevent them which forced me to decline Selby and make a passage over the River tenne miles below it in Marshland where my Men and Carriages being passed with some difficulty on Sonday and Monday last I instantly marched with the whole Army consisting of two thousand Horse and Dragoones and two thousand Foot or thereabouts to Ferry-Bridge and so to Selby where Colonell Iohn Bellasyss commanding in chiefe in Yorkeshire then lay with an Army of fifteene hundred Horse and 1800 Foot as themselves confest though reports made it much more numerous Vpon Wednesday our Forlorn-hope of Horse beat in a partee of the Enemies Horse and followed them into the Towne taking divers of them prisoners and the day being farre spent I quartered the Army within a mile of Selby that night and drew them out againe early the next morning and then with the Foot in three Divisions one led up by my selfe a second by Sir Iohn Meldrum and a third by Lieutenant Colonell Needham fell upon the Towne to storm it in three places altogether where the Enemy received us with much courage and made strong resistance for two houres or thereabouts but in conclusion my owne Foot Regiment forced a passage by the River side and my Sonne with his Regiment of Horse rushed into the Town where he was encountred by Colonell Bellasyss and the Enemies Horse but they being beaten backe and M. Bellasyss himselfe wounded and taken prisoner and our Foot entred on al sides the Town the Enemy was wholly routed and as many as could saved themselves by flight some towards Cawood some towards Pontefract and the rest towards Yorke over the River by a bridge of Boates laid by themselves We pursued them every way and tooke in the Towne and chase the prisoners Ordnance Armes Ammunitions and Colours mentioned in the List inclosed Of my owne men I lost in the fight divers gallant Commanders and Souldiers and very many sore wounded And indeed all my Army both Commanders and Common souldiers behaved themselves with as much courage as ever I observed in men All which we must acknowledge to God alone who both infuseth courage and gives Victory where he pleaseth I shall now I hope be able to raise more Forces in the Countrey and improve this Victory that God hath bestowed on us to the best advantage This being all for the present untill further occasion I rest Your Lordships most affectionate and humble Servant Fer. Fairfax Selby 12 April 1644. A List of the Officers taken Prisoners the 11. of April 1644 Colonell Iohn Bellasyse Colonell Sir Iohn Ramsden Colonel Sir Thomas Strickland Lieutenant Colonell Tyndall Lieutenant Colonell Forbes Major Heskit 8 Commanders of Horse 14 Captaines of Foot 4 Lieutenants of Horse 20 Lieutenants of Foot 6 Cornets 11 Ensignes 9 Quartermasters Elias Walker Master of the Magazine Richard Ludlow Provost Marshall And divers Serjeants Trumpets Corporals Drums and others Officers Divers slaine and lay strewed in the way to Yorke for four miles together others that fled to Pomfract were pursued as far as Ferry-Bridg Foure Brasse Pieces of Ordnance Seven Barrels of Powder Sixteen Bundles of Match Two thousand Armes or above Many Horse and Foot Colours taken but as yet sixteene or seventeen come in And sixteene hundred common Souldiers Above five hundred Horse The Pinnance taken at Gainsbrough All their Bag and Baggage and many Ships and Boats upon the River And foure hundred more prisoners were taken at Homcough neere Selby and some commanders among them And was not here good Reader the Arke of God mightily elevated and borne up maugre all the malignity of this terrible Storme of wrath and rage in the enemy above all the swelling waves and boysteâ—ovs billowes of the enemies fiercest fury Did not the Lord ride gloriously in triumph on the Chariot of his innocent and upright Ark and curb the pride of these proud swelling surges and cause his blessed Arke I say safely to float above them all Yes certainly it must needs be confest even by our adversaries themselves who to their shame sorrow felt and found it so Now then the L. Fairfax presently after the fight and victory obtained as aforesaid sent a letter to the Parliament and therein desired to be directed by them how to dispose of the
made immediately for a speedy supplying of the said noble Earle with Carriages and all other military necessaries About the 25. of this instant came letters to the Parliament from Sir Will. Wallers army intimating that this ever to be renowned generous Generall having intelligence that a considerable convoy of the enemies was going with much Cattell and other necessary provisions for the further supply of their garrison at Basing-house he sent out a convenient party of his horse who suddenly encountred them seized on their cattell and carriage tooke of the enemy neere the said garrison one master Gunner 3 Serjeants 3 Corporalls 40 common souldiers a 1000 sheep and other fat cattell together with a considerable summe of money which they had gathered in the adjacent Counties to have helped to pay their garrison And about the 26. of this instant came letters out of the North assuring the Parliament that the most noble Lord Fairfax and his famous faithfull and thrice noble son Sir Thomas Fairfax were conjoyned with our loyall brethren of Scotland and that having a very brave army they had drawne their forces on each side the river of Ouze neer unto Yorke and had closely begirt the said City whereby they not onely stopt the passage of any persons from comming to the Earle of Newcastle by water but by land also having made good all the bridges and were in great hope in Gods good time and by the Lords gracious assistance to be victorious masters of the said City About the 28. also of this instant came letters from Northamptonshire informing us that a party of some 30 foot men with firelocks were sent out from Serjeant Major Whetham Governour of Northampton to collect money in that County neer Banbury they had onely a Clerke of a company with them who commanded that party which about Easter-day 1644. lay at Sir Iohn Draytons house at Cannons-Ashby 6 miles from Banbury But a party of the enemies about 200 and 20 horse with them from Banbury-castle having intelligence of their being abroad there marched into the Town which our Forces having notice of got quickly into the Church for their better-safety and defence whether the enemy pursued them and soone got in by fastning a pettard to the Church door which instantly forced it open whereupon our men got into the Steeple which they bravely maintained 2 houres together but at last the Enemy beginning to fire it they yeilded themselves upon composition and were all carried prisoners to Banbury save onely one whom being sorely wounded they left behinde who since got back again to Northampton and there declared these things as aforesaid Our men in this action killed one of theirs with a stone from the Steeple and wounded 2 or 3 others but the Enemy got all their Muskets and about 7 pounds in money and imprisoned all the Souldiers in a Barn in Banbury The next day the Committee and Governour of Northampton hearing hereof sent for an exchange of these prisoners which being refused Major Lidcot who commanded the horse in Northampton it was that same Lidcot that gave the Earl of Northampton a touch on the forehead that knockt him off from his horse at the fight neer Stafford where and when the said Earl was slain This brave Major I say being much displeased at their refusall of the said exchange presently after led forth about 5 or 6 Troops of Horse with 50 fire-locks to Banbury who being undauntedly led into the Town on foot most fiercely entred the same bravely set al our foresaid prisoners at Liberty out of the Barn and then most furiously marched into the very body of the Town where a partee of the Enemy opposed them but ours most bravely beat them into the Castle took 33 of them prisoners whereof 2 were Ensigns and 2 Corporalls released 10 men more whom the Enemy had pressed and intended to send to Oxford for his Majesties service slew 5 or 6 of the Enemies in the fight and took besides 40 horse as many Muskets and so returned back unto Northampton with the losse onely of one man who adventured too far and was taken prisoner Thus were they well revenged on their Enemies for their former losse having sodainly and souldier-like put themselves thus upon such a desperate and most dangerous adventure And much about the conclusion of this Moneth of April 1644. we were certified by Letters out of Scotland that our faithfull and loving brethren of that Nation were not a little encouraged at the prudent and pious progresse of our Assembly of Divines in England at Westminster they having sent Letters to some Members of the said Assembly and to their own Divines to the same effâ—ct intimating therein That England could give them no greater content and incouragement to gain their best assistance and love than this their willingnesse in joyning themselves with them in the Solemn Covenant thereby to set up a thorough Reformation in all their Churches according to the Word of God And together with those Letters they sent likewise a letter sent by the Juncto at Oxford to the Noble Earl of Argyle and other Lords of the Councill of Scotland which were much to this effect in briefe First therein manifesting their impious explanation of the Act of Association of both kingdomes which as they said with Iesuiticall Spirits was consented to by the Lords Subscribers thereunto and others that were prisoners with them at Oxford as though the Act of Association had not been made with the joynt consent of his Majesty and the Parliament of both Kingdomes but between a private Juncto and some aspiring Papists stupid Atheists Parasiticall Iesuite Priests and damnable Irish Rebels then at Oxford Withall they further averred That the Lords in Parliament at Westminster were not then above 25 and that the major part of the Commons were then with them at Oxford that there were nothing but tumults in London and unruly Voting which was the cause that they themselves had deserted that pretended Parliament as then they audaciously and maliciously called and counted it and what said they in this Letter Will ye my Lords get but a knock with a pollax or a Sequestration-lash But all this was but the Preface to this their learned Epistle Their subject matter follows in such modest straines as these We do conjure you my Lords by your common allegiance and subjection to the King by the amity and affection betwixt the two Nations by the Treaty of Pacification and by all Obligations both Divine and Humane to use your utmost endeavours to prevent the effusion of so much blood as must needs follow the invasion of this Kingdome this you must consider was before our Scottish brethrens comming in unto us by your intended Armies preparing for the pretended Parliament at Westminster Thus you see good Readers that our impious Oxonians seem to be very sensible and tender of the effusion of blood which
Plymouths Commander in Chiefe Lieutenant Colonell Martine having timely intelligence upon the 18th of April last past between 4 and 5 of the Clock in the morning issued out with 17 Colours of Foot and 3 Troops of Horse the Forlorne Hope being Commaâ—ded by Captain Owen who not knowing the way came upon the Enemies Scouts unawares who would have fired upon them but by a speciall providence of God their Carbines would not off whereupon Captaine Owen safely advanced with his Souldiers to the Quarters of his Enemies-Foot-Souldiers fell upon them all pell-mell and at last forced them to retreat and to make what haste they could to sanctuary in the Church in the said Towne from the Steeple whereof the Enemy fired very violently upon our men and many of them shot from divers places round about the Church and others from the Houses but their surie was soone abated for our men fell in upon them most courageously and tooke two whole companyes of them compleat with their colours and drums 2 barrels of powder besides store of match with 40 horse there were also about 20 of the enemies souldiers drowned in their flight endeavouring to swim over Salt-Ash in Cornwall Our men heard since this defeat that Greenvile himselfe was in the Towne whereof had they had true and timely notice in all probabillity they had then surprized him On the Fryday following which was about April the 20. or 21. in the morning the enemies horse againe faced our workes upon which â—odain attempt our men could not be kept in but out they would upon them at which time about 60 of ours sallying forth pursued them as far as Plympton-bridge neere which place their maine strength lay but ours were so provident and circumspect as not to adventure too fare but had given them such a brave alarum as put them to a nonplus what to doe But ours I say not intending to hazard themselves so unequally unlesse a very faire advantage had been offered made a very faire and safe retreat our forlorne hope in this sally being led by valiant Captain Holme who fell upon one of their workes killed two in it and one brave Cavalier of quallity besides who with his horse was slaine by a shot from a piece of ordnance and many other also were slaine about that time by severall shots from Mount-Goâ—ld And thus was Plymouth bravely cleared for the most part some three miles about whereby they had a fit opportunity to cut downe two woods neere the Towne and supplyed themselves well with fuell which had beene one of their former greatest wants Much also about the same time we were credibly advertised by an expresse from Gloucester that that ever most renowned Governour Colonell Massey sent forth a party thence which joyned with the forces under the command of Colonell Fox and some other small parties from the garrisons of Warwicke and Coventry and entred Eusum where they tooke 80 of the kings Cormorants prisoners with much provision and many armes and at the same time they obtained a very good booty at Wych and other garrisons of the enemy in Worcestershire from whence they brought away diverse prisoners and performed all this with the losse only of 4 men of theirs who were taken straying from their companies and carryed prisoners into Worcester And about the third of this instant May 1644. this active and resolute Commander Colonell Fox went forth from Tamworth accompanyed with not above 64 men and that night came to Budeley a very considerable garrison Towne of the enemies At his comming to the first Court of guard in the Town he boldly commanded them it being in the night to make way for some of the Princes Regiment who desired to quarter in the Town that night which was immediately granted unto him both by that and the second guard at the chaines and so being thus come to the entrance into the Towne his men slew 5 or 6 of the Sentinells and thereby possessed themselves of the Town and set a guard at divers of the doores where the commanders officers and men of quallity lay all which he tooke with most of their common-souldiers there being about an 120 in all From thence he went to a great Mannour-house not farre from the Towne where he surprized Sir Thomas Litleton a Parliament-man and some other gentlemen tooke thence 4 brave Flaundersmares and great store of provision all which with 40 most gallant horse of the Kings Cormorants and as many prisoners together with Sir Thomas hee brought into Coventry the very next morning about which time all the neighbouring Cormorants and garrison-souldiers thereabout were raised up in armes with an intent to have rescued their friends thus taken captives and carryed away from them but blessed be God they came a day after the fair and according to that old proverbe When the steed was stoln then they would have shut the stable doore for all the prisoners and prizes were safely housed in Coventry About the 6. of this instant May came a most full and exact relation testified under the hand of that learned and truly religious minister of God Mr Goad Chaplain to the right honourable and most renowned Earl of Manchester concerning the prosperous proceedings and victorious atchievments of this most viâ—tuous and valiant Generall especially of the famous winning of Lincolne and so consequently the regaining of all that whole County and of the frighting and forcing of those most odious and enormous devouring Cormorants from all their Augean-stalls aud holds therein which relation for the Readers better content and fuller satisfaction therin I have thought fit here to insert together with some small addition out of another very authenticke and unquestionable author which came to my hands which were as followeth After the most renowned and successefull Earle of Mancesters army had marched toward Huntington and from thence to Oundell and the Townes adjacent the Lord Generall himselfe met it at a place called WaterinHeath where the Rendevouz was appointed to be from whence we marched to Stamford and quartered there till we were in some measure furnisht with ammunition fit for a neerer advance toward the enemy During our abode at Stamford intelligence was carryed to the enemies being then at Grimsthorp and Sleeford with a purpose to fortifie those two places being chief inlets into Holland and those parts but my Lord speedily sending out a party though but small whereof the enemy hearing before ours did approach them they quitted Grimsthorpe not having made any workes at all about it My Lord being farther advertised that the enemy lay almost all over the County of Lincolne raising money and levying men by the Commission of Array and miserably plundring the Country his Lordship forthwith sent out another party under the command of the Lieutenant Generall Cromwell consisting of about 2000 horse and dragoones upon whose advance they quitted Sleeford where they had begun a
joy of Gods people and the extreame terrour of the malignant Papisticall and Atheisticall adversaries of the great and glorious Cause of God there was a generall muster of all the City forces yet remaining within the line of Communication besides 6 Regiments of the City forces then abroad upon the publique service which were found to be no lesse than 12 regiments of foot of the London Train'd bands containing 40 companies Also Sir Iames Harringtons regiment being the Train'd bands of Westminster and that liberty containing 8 companies Colonell Hudsons regiment being that of Southwarke containing also 8 companies Also 4 regiments of Auxiliaries containing 20 companies within the City Colonell Willoughbies regiment being the Auxillaries of the Hamlets containing also 8 companies In all 48. All the companies of each severall regiment being more than 6 Companies in a Regiment were taken for a guard for the City and Parliament The rest being 12 Regiments 6 Companies in a Regiment marched about Noon on Thursday May 30. 1644. to Hyde-Parke where Tents were pitcht and Ordnance planted and whither the Right Honourable Sir John Wollaston then Lord Mayer of London together with the Right honourable the Lady Majoresse and other Ladies and Gentlewomen in about 30 Coaches went to see this famous Muster performed and where met them divers of the Lords and 〈◊〉 of Parliament who were there entertained in great State together with all the brave Colonels and Commanders The other 12 were thus disposed of 7 Companies to Guard the Works and Forts upon the Northside of the River 2 Companies to Guard the Southern side 1 Company for Westminsterh The other 2 Guarded the City one Company thereof at the Exchange the other Company halfe at the Tower-hill and the other at Pauls The names of the Colonels whose Regiments went forth were these The Right Honourable the Lord Mayors of the City of London Col. Atkins Col. Penningtons Col. Adams Col. Warners Col. Towers Col. Haringtons Col. Hâ—â—sons Col. Towes Col. Willoughbies Col. Shepheards and Colonell Harsnets This good Reader is here mentioned not to cause our hearts to be lifted up with pride by the Reedish-props of the arme of flesh No God forbid it God the searcher of all hearts knowes I am for from it and should much grieve if any should make such a sinister use of it but unfeinedly desiring in the words and with the spirit of the prophet Hosea to â—â—y out and confesse that Ashut shall not save 〈◊〉 we will noâ— ride 〈◊〉 horses nor will wee say to the workes of our hands ye are our gods for in thee the fatherlesse findeth mercy No I say I only doe it to shew forth the admirable power and great pitty of the Lord toward us who thus graciously raised us up and Remembred us in our â—owestate for his mercy endureth for ever But now to go on About the 3â— of this 〈◊〉 May we had certain intelligence that Russell-Hall in Staffordshire was surrendred to the noble Earle of Denbigh who managed the worke there with singular martiall prudence and prowesse There was taken in it Colonell Lane and divers other commanders at least 〈◊〉 other prisoners and all the 〈◊〉 in the House They tooke there also above 10000 l. worth of goods and wares that had beene plundered and pillaged from the carriers comming from London and other parts going toward Lancashire this being observed to have beene one of the most thee â—ing garrisons of the royall Cormorants in all that County in that they had sometimes taken 7 â—â—ore packs at a time from the Country so that 〈◊〉 piece of service hath much advantaged the security of the Country there about both in reguard they may have more free and fearlesse passage for the time to come to Coventry and London and also in reguard that a greater part of the goods thus taken will be restored to the proper owners And much about the same time we were for certain enformed by letters from Plymouth that the garrison therein sallying forth with a considerable party fell upon the enemies quarters at a place called Milbrooke 2 miles from thence where they tooke 9 pieces of ordnance a 150 prisoners a 100 cowes and 300 sheepe In which encounter 10 of the enemies were slain and 6 of ours And Colonell Martyn the brave Governour thereof did then also certifie that hee was in a good posture of defence onely that he desired some farther supply of provision to be sent unto him for which purpose 3 barks were speedily laden with victuals and all other necessaries for reliefe of the said brave Towne and faithfull inhabitants thereof Much also about the same time came certaine information by letters from Nottingham to London that that valiant and faithfull Governour of Nottingham castle Colonell Hutchinson whom neither the power nor the promises of the atheisticall Marquesse of Newcastle could ever make to startle from his loyalty and sincere obedience to the Parliament had lately sent forth a party of horse toward Newarke where they encountred with a party of the enemies horse under the command of Captain Thimbleby and Captain Cartwright and after a hot skrimish and brave bickering forcing them to fly they tooke in the pursute between 50 and 60 horse and about 20 officers and gentlemen prisoners among whom was Captain Cartwright and a Captain Lieutenant whom the acute Rhetorick of their swords perswaded to keepe them company to Nottingham-castle the foresaid Captain Thimbleby being slain in the fight And finally about the end of this Moneth of May came certain Newes of divers letters intercepted dated at Lyme May 24. under the hands of Portescue formerly a Parliamenterian Ashburnham her Majesties bed-chamber friend and some others of that stamp who informed their great masters Bristol and Heath by those letters that that villanous Town of Lyme had destroyed more brave gentlemen of the West and men of honour than had been lost in all the West since these wattes began But that they were resolved once more to storme it for a farewell and would dispute it line by line and worke by work yet feared they should be forced to leave the siege else the Country people they said would cut their throats they were so bent for the Parliament at Westminster And shortly after according to the tenour of the foresaid Letter they assaulted this brave Towne whereupon the Towne-Souldiers suffered them to make a breach in their Workes and then ran away from the defence of the Worke as if indeed they had fled away from the Enemy but by that time that 3 or 4 hundred of the Enemies were entred the breach they instantly made use of the advantage and cut off and tooke every man of them Prisoners with their Armes and Ammunition and had the slaughter of the Enemy from other of their Works and thus by Gods great mercy beat off their Enemy and rested safe and secure for this time also And here
the full and cleare raising of that famous Siege to the perpetuall shame and disgrace of Maurice Pawlet Stoell Ashburnham Strangewayes and others which was confirmed by a Letter sent by the most renouned Earl of Warwick Lord Admirall to the Speaker of the Honourable House of Peers in Parliament and by Master Iesops Letter also and others the substance of all which in effect was this That since the most Noble and ever to be honoured Earl of Warwicke performed that brave Service in so timely relieving Lyme in the deepest of its distresse and continued there observing the occurrences and carriage of affaires as well without as within the Town and that the Enemyes had in the space of 4 or 5 dayes shot many Volleys of great and small shot into the Town but most unsuccessefully the besieged answering them still as courageously as ever at the first Hopton also comming to the Leaguer and hoping to have made some recruite of his broken fragments but was refused and at Dartmouth also whither he came with but 7 Horse giving out there that he was to raise an Army of 15000 men if hee could have got them and Maurice also now tyred with so â—oylesome a worke and terrified also with fear of the Parliaments Lord Generalls approach into those parts and especially to this Town to free it of its fear of his forces and unneighbourly neighbourhood that thus I say after the Enemies losse of at least an 105 Officers besides some more superiour Officers and commanders 25 Gunners and above 2000 common souldiers more than they lost at Bristol and Exeter as some of themselves confest Prince Maurice on sad and serious consideration of all these disasters and many more about June the 14th by two of the clock in the morning quite raised this his siege and went clear away to Exeter After whose departure the noble Lord Admirall Master Iesop and many others going into Lime to view the Townes line and the Enemies workes and truely comparing the very great slendernesse of the Towns line with the extraordinary strength and solidity of all the Enemies Works they could not but greatly admire what had been done by them and were forced most freely to confesse and grant that the defence of Heaven was meerly and cleerly their munition of rocks and that it was little lesse than a miracle that they should hold out so long and violent a Siege especially the Towne standing at the bottome of two hills and their Workes so low and thinne that in many places one might have runne over them and a strong hand might have thrust them downe they being in effect as it were paper or pasteboord walles and in the latter end of the siege the Enemies outragiously shooting into the Towne barres of Iron pieces of Anchors and great Shot blowne up to as great a measure of heat as was possible they having a Forge on purpose which falling on Houses fired many yet were sodainely quenched with onely hurt not death of but three men insomuch that all that saw and considered these things could not choose but with admiration ingenuously confesse that certainely there was never more valour and undantednesse of spirit shewn in the world against a potent and pestilent Enemy than was in thus defending this place and that every man deserved as the most noble Earle of Warwicke himselfe there publikely professed some eminent badge of honour to remaine to their posterity in memoriall of this most famous Siege About the time of the end of the Siege some 26 of the Enemies side came in unto the Lord Admirall freely and faithfully proffering their service to the Parliament among whom was Lievtenant Fair an Officer of the Lord Brogall brother to the Lord Inchiquin and 10 also of Inchiquins Regiment came in unto them One Irish woman left behinde was slaine and almost pull'd in pieces by the women of Lime In the Siege many houses were burnt and yet a Granado falling into a roome in one house and breaking upon a bed wherein lay 3 children not one of them had any harme there was scarce a house in the whole Towne that was not battered and scarce a roome into which shot had not beene made At one last great fire in the Towne two maides carying betweene them a vessell of water had three of their hands shot off One of these t is probable was that honest maid that spake so christianly as was forementioned in the reliefe of Lime touching the losse of one of her hands In all this the most noble and renowned Lord Admiralls pious and singular charitable affection to the Towne gained a most just acknowledgement from them That they all did owe their lives under God to his most honourable Lordship But above all all honour and praise is most due to the great God of Lime in this his mighty and even miraculous deliverance of it it being also a businesse of so great consequence as by Gods mercy to bring in the whole West Countrey who resolved long before to obey no command on the other side till Lime was taken O had Prince Maurice but obtained one Commander of the Parliaments that is God and their good Cause what a Victor might he have proved with but halfe the strength which by relation hee brought of the Country people thereabout The Enemies cursed the unlucky houre as they called it of their comming thither having lost as I said before from the first to the last at least 2 or 3000 Souldiers and the Town but six score men with the most Ever praised be the great God of battailes for it And thus the Lord at last to the glory of his great name and joy of his servants set Lime at liberty from all their former feares and dangers To all which mercies let me adde this as a prime result of them all that I make no doubt but that the prayers put up at that instant on their behalfe both aboard our Ships and in other parts of the Kingdome were a speciall and speedy meanes to shorten their dangers shelter their persons and hasten this their happy deliverance The thus happy relieving of this brave Garrison of Lime by the ever renowned and most highly to be honoured Earle of Warwick was and that most deservedly taken by the Parliament as a most singular and acceptable service done to the Kingdome who thereupon Ordered That a Letter of thankes should be sent unto him from both the Houses of Parliament for his great care love and loyalty therein And that not onely this brave Garrison of which we may say as the Damesels sang before the Arke That Saul had slain his thousand but David his ten thousand So other Garrisons have slaine their thousand done very bravely but this of Lime it s ten thousands far out-stript them all to encourage I say not onely this Garrison but that the whole Kingdome might as well
his said relation as yee have seen toucht upon many remarkable prints of Gods admirable providence and prudence by his powerfull hand and strong arme carrying on this great work in extraordinary excellent and eminent manner to the unexpressible honour and glory of his great name Yet give me leave I pray now to adde some few more worthy the Readers most serious notice and observation as adding much also I beleeve to the praise and glory of our great and gracious Wonder-working God First That when Prince Rupert had by a by-way got into Yorke and come forth again our Generall fearing the Enemies advance to the Southerly Associated Counties to have spoyled the kingdome that way also which they might too certainly have done ours therefore marched away with their Van the rest following to prevent Rupert But he contrary to their thoughts falls with all his forces upon our Rear the Van being about two or three miles forward on their foresaid march and by a hot alarme comming sodainly to them forced for haste to returne disorderly to the fight and ere they could rally themselves orderly into battalia our Rear was engaged if not routed yet though tyred and faint they fell upon the Enemy That at the very beginning of the fight just as both Armies were joyning Battail and beginning the first encounter or assault of each other it pleased the Lord as it was most credibly affirmed for a certain truth that a sudden and mighty great storm of rain and hail and terrible claps of thunder were heard and seen from the clouds as if heaven had resolved to second the assault with a fierce Alarm from above Thirdly that about 2 or 3 Regiments of the Enemies side which at the first had routed and pursued a great party of our side which fled away from the Enemies first and fierce on-set Yet immediately after all that party of the Enemy was by a seconding party of ours following the Enemy in the Rear totally slain or taken prisoners Fourthly That God dealt with our 3 Noble Generalls Armies as he did with Gideons Army of all the thousands brought together at first he made choyce of some few hundreds to do this great work withall and when we seemed to be at the lowest ebbe of our strength a constant way of Gods admirable wisdome and power then on a sodain he turned the scale and came in with his irresistable power and never failing mercy and with a small number just as he did at Keynton battell got himself the Victory for us Fifthly that notwithstanding when Rupert that pert yea malepert giddy and bloody Prince had boldly and adventurously got into York and relieved it and thereby also released Newcastle and many or most of the Popish partee before inclosed within that City-walls which indeed was the main project or design the Enemy had at that time and that upon their return out of York all safe to the rest of their Army they called a Councill of War who also peremptorily resolved which indeed was their best and had been our worst blow of all to leave Yorke and make presently with all their strength into the Associated Easterly and Southern Counties Achitophels Councell most directly Yet then I say that this proud and bloody hair-brain'd young Prince should pluck out of his pocket the Kings Letter or Commission to him in speciall just like Hushaies Councell to crosse Achitophels charging them by no means to depart from York untill they had with all their combined powers given us battail O the admirable wisdome of our God thus to crosse that former fatall and terrible Councell as it must needs have proved Sixthly That the Counsells of Prince Rupert and others had designed the most valiant and expert Souldiers of the Popish and Atheisticall party to encounter the Wing of the Army commanded by renowned Lieutenant Gen. Cromwell as making account that in beating him they won the day and in particular Rupert had designed certain Troops of Horse all Irish-Papists and Gentlemen old Souldiers all who had been in service in Spain and France to give the first charge to the Brigade or party in which General Cromwell was and that they did confidently believe there was not a man of them but would dye rather than fly but they mist their expectations for many of them being indeed slain in the place all the rest fled Thus our God lets our proudest Enemies see and know The battell is not to the Rider nor the race to the Swift Sevently That upon the flight and departure of the Earl of Newcastle from the battell there passed many warm words betwixt Prince Rupert and him in Yorke after the rout they charging each other with the Cause thereof the Prince telling the Marquesse that he made not good his promise of assistance and the Marquesse replying in such a manner as mooved much passion and discontent yea and some say blows too And that thereupon the Marquesse of Newcastle with Generall King the Lord Witherington and very many moe fugitive gallants flying away beyond Sea to Hambrough and Holland Sir Thomas Glemham then governour of York did as 't was credibly assured and affirmed proclaim Newcastle a Traytor for his deserting Yorke and flying beyond Sea from his colours Thus as our English proverb is Theeves falling out among themselves True men by Gods mercy are like to enjoy their goods again Eightly That notwithstanding the extreame and extraordinary wants and straits which our Souldiers were put unto enough to move great compassion yea and admiration too and wherewith they were greatly pinched both the night before the battell and sometime since also as namely tyrednesse in travelling and hasty retyâ—ing to and fro such want of water much lesse of Beer to drinke that they had drained the wells even to the mud and were necessâ—â— to drink water out of dirches and places pudled and mired with the horses feet and that through want of accommodation of victualls very few of the common-souldiers had eaten above the quantity of one penny-loaf from Tuesday to Saturday morning following and as I said no beer at all to be had Yet I say notwithstanding all these that the Souldiers should fight so cheerfully and stoutly even by Gods admirable mercy to a glorious victory Ninthly That in the rout of the Enemy and in their flying and scattering about many of them ran most frightedly and amazedly to the place where some of the Regiments of Horse of the Parliaments side were standing on their Guard and all or most of their Riders were religiously singing of Psalmes to whom as the foresaid runawayes of the Enemy came neer and by their singing of Psalâ—ed perceiving who they were they all most fiercely fled back again and cryed out God damn them they had like to have been taken by the Parliament Round-heades For they only knew them I say to be the Parliament Souldiers by their
Peace may goe forward can argue nothing but a true and clear desiring of Peace and the happy setlement of the Kingdome in quiet the great thing so much at least pretended to be desired by the adverse party And this cannot but content I hope the great Vapours of Peace in our Malignants who desire any Peace be it ever so bad so it be Peace And now to proceed About the 20th of this instant we had certain information by the foresaid reverend and religious Gentleman Mr Ash his letters that the most noble Earl of Manchester advanced from YORKE more Southward to refresh his Souldiers and that night being Saturday night and all the next Lords-day his Foot quartered in â—adcaster and the other Townes thereabout and his Horse neere Pontefract a strong Garrison of the Enemies and from thence on the Munday following his Lordship remooved to Doncaster and quartered therein both his Horse and Foot in other Townes thereabout from whence he sent 200 Dragoones commanded by Lieutenant Col. Lilburne to quarter in Tickhill about five miles from Doncaster where the Enemy had a long time quartered where was a strong Castle called Tickhill-castle which was pallisadoed and invironed with a broad Mote and a Counter-scarfe in which was 80 Muskettiers and a Troop of Horse armed which did great oppression and injury to the Coâ—ntry thereabout both by laying heavy burthens and taxes upon them and which did much interrupt the trade and transportation of cloth from Leedes Hallifax and other parts of Bawtree their Horse also bringing in frequently 20 30 40 horses at a time loaden with cloath which oftentimes upon the payment of twenty shil a horse-load they again released Now upon the Dragoones comming into the Town they tooke prisoners a Captain a Cornet a Quartermaster and some other Souldiers and about thirty horses belonging to the said Castle The Governour of the Castle understanding hereby that my Lords Army was so neer and being now summoned the next day to surrender the same to the King and Parliament did admit parley with the said Lieutenant Col. Lilburne which conference produced this conclusion That three of the chiefe Gentlemen therein should come to my Lords quarters to Doncaster upon a safe convoy 〈◊〉 for their returne which being done and the Gentlemen comming accordingly on Thursday Iuly the 25th it was agreed that the said Castle should be yielded up the next day upon four or five fair and honourable Articles befitting Gentlemen and Souldiers which Articles were sealed by both parties accordingly and then his Lordship with Lieutenant Gen. Cromwell Major Gen. Crawford and many other chiefe Officers guarded by a brave Troop of Horse rode to Tickhill the Fryday following in the afternoon to take possession of it and to see the Articles on our side exactly performed whither being come the Draw-bridge let downe and a lane made by our Dragoones to whom his Lordship had given strict charge not to offer offence in the least measure by word or deed to the Souldiers of the Garrison who were to passe by them they all came out with passes in their hands to the severall places of their desired aboad who also were safely convoyed by our Troop of Horse and so his Lordship and his Officers with twenty Musketteers onely entred and possession being taken and some hurries appeased my Lord with his attendants gave solemn thankes to God there for giving in that place of so much concernment upon most easie termes and without the losse of one drop of blood There were in the Castle Major Mâ—nekton the Governour Colonell Redhead Major Redhead and divers Captaines with some of their Wives There was left in the Castle one Iron-piece mounted about in hundred Muskets sixty Horse and Armes some Powder and Match above an 100 quarters of grain many barrels of salt butter store of cheese powdred Beeâ—e and some beasts and sheepe with other necessary provisions About the 23. of this instant came certain information by letters out of Gloucestershire that the valiant Colonell Lâ—ughorâ—â— Governour of 〈…〉 and Captain Moulton with his valiant and courageous Sayleâ—s understanding of Gerrards 〈◊〉 approach to Peâ—brook with the Earl of Carbery and his Welsh and Irish-Papists our forces there joyned in a body to oppose them and the inhabitants of the County to shew theâ—â— willingnesse to assist them in this great 〈◊〉 the defence of their religion lawes and liberties First 〈…〉 books and Pâ—pish pictures apt to seduce to be brought forth and burnt and then afterward joyned themselves in a compleat boâ—y with their other friends already in armes against the common Enemy who marching into Pembrookeshire our Forces met them and notwithstanding all their power fell courageously upon them and in a short space did notable execution upon them made the Welsh fly apace to their own homes and holes in the Mountaines with great losse unto them even Gerrard himselfe hardly escaping by flight In this fight Colonell Laughorne and Captain Moulton flew and tooke prisoners at least 500 of the Enemies they also took divers Armes and many carryages with most of their baggage yea the Enemy was so routed as 't was verily believed they could never be able to get into a considerable body again against them Colonell Laughorne also resolving to follow the pursuite not leaving till he hath totally subdued them to the obedience of the King and Parliament In this fight also Captain Moulton and the brave Saylers deserved much praise and due respect for their undanted activity in this as in former performances And it was credibly assured that since this brave Sea-commander Captain Moulton cast the last Irish-rebells overboard into the Sea there have not any more been seen to passe out of Ireland About the 26th of this instant we had certain intelligence by letters out of Worcestershire that there went a party of Horse from Worâ—ester unto Evesham with an intent to have surprized some of the Earl of Denbighs Forces who were there a fortifying Evesham But the vigilant and valiant Earl of Denbighs and Warwickshire forces having private notice thereof in their march that way dispatched 600 Horse thither presently 300 whereof were to come in upon one side of the Town and the other to wheele about and to come in by the other way upon the Enemies Rear upon the comming in of the first party of the Enemies ours began to retreat and the Enemies thinking they fled began to follow them But instantly they were set upon by our other party which wheeled about upon the Enemies Rear and skirmished with them a while till at last 50 of them were slain in the place and 120 Horse and about 40 or 50 prisoners taken with the losse of onely two or three men of ours at the most the rest of the Enemy got back into Worcester About the 28th of this instant we were credibly informed by letters out of the Western
parts of the Kingdome that the King about this time marching with his Forces into Devonshire and passing by Chard in Sommersetshire towards Honyton in Devonshire the way to Exetor A Regiment of the Kings horse commanded in chiefe by that upstart Lord and rotten Runagado Henry Piercy who desirous as it appeared to visite Lyme took up his quarters about Collyton a Town within 3 miles of Lyme and gave them an alarme which notwithstanding the Garrison at first slighting yet after a little pawse considering and perceiving the Enemies designe was onely in a bravado to give them a visit and so a vale to return back again to Collyton and renowned Lyme doubting whether it might not be taken a little unkindly if no regreet were given on so friendly a visit Lyme therefore to acquit themselves of that suspected guilt sodainly sent out young Captain Hercules Pine Capt. Herl Capt. Bragg and some others with a partee of about an 120 horse who ere the Enemies had well digested their Supper at Collyton sodainly fell in among them took as many horse of the Enemy as they carried out with them viz. between an 100 and sixscore besides 55 prisoners whereof one was a Major of that Regiment 2 or 3 Captains and some other Officers above an 100 Armes very good pillage found about those they took and brought them all safe into Lyme that whole Regiment by this notable exploit being totally routed and dispersed But yet this brave and most active Garrison rested not here but made another gallant adventure with the like partee of horse and came to Chard in Sommersetshire 12 miles from Lyme where the King being scarce got out of the Town with his main body they surprised 11 gallant Horses all with rich saddles and furniture conceived to be the Kings own Stable horses which they brought to Lyme with some prisoners of the Enemies partee And about the 30th and 31th of this instant Iuly we were certainly informed by yet more frequent letters out of the West that upon his Excellencies the most Noble Lord Generalls advance toward Plymouth the Forces which were then under that Apostate Greenvile being about 3000 were stricken with such a panick fear that they quitted their quarters there and raised themselves from their severall trenches and holds so as his Excellencies Forces immediately after possessed themselves of severall considerable Garrisons as namely Mount-Stamford where they tooke foâ—re pieces of Ordnance Plympton where they tooke 8 pieces of Ordnance Salt Ash and in it a great Fort with some pieces of Ordnance and many Armes Lanson also and divers other small Garrisons thereabout which all instantly yeilded to my Lord Generall That presently after my Lord Generall sent a party against Greenviles-house at Tavestock Plymouth men having also about this time taken the field and being in all between 2 and three thousand Horse and Foot whither they being come those within the House hung out a white flag and desired a parley but our brave Souldiers had no patience to stand upon termes and treaties but sodainly and resolutely stormed the House got over the walls and soone entred the House they within crying out for quarter which was granted to all except bloody Irish-Rogues There was taken in the House two pieces of Cannon an 150 prisoners very neer 1000 Armes a â—oomefull of excellent good Muskets many pair of pistols excellent pillage for the Souldiers even at least 3000 pound in money and plate and other provisions in great quantity From thence his Excellency advanced toward Lanceston and tooke it and in it 40 barrells of powder And that Skellum Greenvile being gotten to Newbridge which is a passage into Cornwall his Excellency sending a considerable party thither set upon Greenviles Forces where they found some hot opposition for a while but at last ours got the bridge and Town too with the losse of some 40 of our men but there were slaine on the Enemies side neere upon 200 and many prisoners on their side taken and that a party of the noble and right valiant Lord Roberts Brigade being sent to pursue Greenvile and his Army which was reported to be neer 3000 strong horse and foot over-took him and forced their passage over Horsbridge fell fiercely on him and routed most of his forces about a place called Listithell in Cornwall where many of his men were slain and a 150 taken prisoners and that now they had no considerable Enemy left them in Cornwall so as they might proceed according to their owne designes leaving the most noble Lord Roberts with a reasonable party in Cornwall totally to keepe it downe and to reduce that whole County by presenting a full body to the East Intimating likewise that now that had advanced toward Bodmin and that in their passage from Newbridge as aforesaid they had taken Tadcaster and Foy and that in all they had taken from the Enemy 17 or 18 pieces of Ordnance and many ships of good value in Foy which the Enemy quitted and yet it was a place of great consequence and a Haven-Towne in Cornwall And thus the West also as ye have heard is in a very faire way and hopefull condition as well as the North to be timely reduced to the obedience of the Parliament especially if the Kings forces now gathered into a body in those parts be well back't with a party of the Parliaments to come as a reserve upon his Rear which was about this time seriously recommended to the farther consideration and speedy dispatch of the Committee of both Kingdomes and also of the Westerne Committee and money and other necessary supplies to be sent speedily to his Excellency the most noble and renowned Lord Generall of the Parliaments Forces And thus now have we by Gods good providence and gracious guide and assistance brought our Bark back again most prosperously into the Haven or Harbour of this Moneths rest and repose also full fraught and richly laden with rare Commodities most worthy the serious reveiw rumination and recogitation of every pious and prudent Christian Reader Wherefore I shall here now cast Anchour and make a stay to rest and refresh this our weary and weather-beaten Bark to rig and trim it and fit it for another Voyage whensoever God gives a fair occasion thereunto In which interim let me here now unlade and lay open in a summary and short occular sight and review all the most rare rich and indeed unvaluable Parliamentary-prizes and Kingdome-commodities which God hath purchased for us in this last Moneths happy Voyage and honourable adventure As first in our most noble Lord Generalls first very successefull advance toward the Western parts of the Kingdome from Oxford to raise the Siege at Lyme Darbyshires activity Barnstables revolt from the King to the Parliament And the second brave defeat given to the Enemy at Oswestree by the most noble and renowned Lord Denbighs Forces In
that most famous defeat and glorious Victory given by the good hand of God to the Parliaments three most renowned and victorious Generalls the most religious and renowned Earl of Manchester his Excellency Generall Lesley and the ever to be honoured valiant and victorious Lord Fairfax against that barbarous and bloody hair-braind ignoble Rupert the disgrace of his progenitors and indelible stain of his Posterity In the notable and unexpected discovery of the Lord of Râ—chfords disloyalty to the Parliament in speciall and Kingdome in generall The taking of Greenland-house by Major Generall Browne And Taunton-castle by the most Noble Lord Generalls Forces In the taking of Cholmley-house by the most noble Earl of Denbigh Colonell Rossiter Governour of Lincoln his valour and activity against the Common-Enemy Captain Sydenhamâ— and Captaine Carrs most brave exploit against the Lord Inchiquin and the religious resolution of the Parliament to establish a learned and godly Ministry In the taking of Wilne-Ferry and Fort by the noble Lord Grey and valiant and faithfull Sir John Gell the said Lord Greys valour and vigilancy for the good of his Country and the most solemn and memorable Celebration of the Day of Thankesgiving at London for the most famous victory which God gave us at the great and bloody fight nere the City of Yorke In the most happy surrendering up of the City of York it self unto the three most noble Lord Generalls forementioned and the pious and prudent Message and motion which the said noble Generalls made and sent to the Parliament in point of farther thankfullnesse to God and satisfaction even to the worst of men In the most noble renowned and truely religious Earl of Manchesters successefull and victorious advance and progresse with his brave Army in taking Tickhill-castle and farther prosperous proceedings since the last great victory at Yorke And lastly In the brave defeates given to the Roysterly-regall Enemies both by Col. Laughorn and Capt. Moulton in Pembrookeshire by the noble Earl of Denbighs and Warwick Forces at Evesham the famous and ever to be renowned Garrison of Lyme at Colliton and Chard and finally in the most noble and renowned Lord Generalls brave and victorious and famous progresse into Devonshire and Cornwall and all those Western parts wherein hitherto by Gods power and providence he might worthily say as conquering Caesar said Veni vidi vici even all for the most part either voluntarily comming in unto him or violently enforced thereunto by his valiant and victorious forces All which most seriously and religiously considered have we not good Reader great cause justly and ingenuously to confesse and acknowledge to see and say with holy Samuel EBEN-EZER and to make this the glorious and gracious Motto of our Parliamentary Barke the Ark of our God most deeply ingraving it with indelible characters of golden-gratefull Remembrance HITHERTO HATH THE LORD HELPED VS And therefore zelously and constantly to conclude and hold maugre all malicious contradiction whatsoever that our title is most truely and infallibly ratified from heaven by all those manifold and even miraculous premises and patternes thereof that GODS Arke hath most triumphantly over-topped and been born above all the Worlds boysterous Billows swelling surges And hitherto the Lords most faithfull and glorious Cause blessedly embarked in our most pious Parliament hath in all its just undertakings most impregnably prevailed and been preserved against all the Malignant Atheisticall and Papisticall Machinations Plots and Practizes that men or devills were ever able to invent and foment against Gods Truth and a glorious and pure Gospel-Reformation In so much that now upon all these serious considerations of the Enemies combinations and injurious conjurations on the one side and our Gods most omnipotent and omniprudent frustrations of them all thus from time to time wee may most worthily say as the holy Prophet once said especially on the gracious and most gratefull recordation of that most memorable and admirable victory at Marston-Heath neere Yorke and also all those late forementioned Westerne victories even of this last Moneth of July wee may say and that most worthily as the LORD God himselfe said by the holy Prophet Now also many nations are gathered together against thee O English ISRAEL that say let her be defiled and let our eyes looke on Zions defilement But they know not the thoughts of the Lord neither understand they his Counsell For hee hath gathered them together as sheaves into the barn-floor And hath said to all our renowned Generalls and to their Armies Arise and thresh O daughter of Zion for I have made thy horne as iron and thy horses hoofes as brasse and thou shalt beat and bruise in pieces as with a strong flale many people and I will consecrate their gain to my selfe saith the Lord and their substance to the Lord of the whole Earth And hast not thou ô England as then Zion was promised seen all this come to passe for thy sake upon thine Enemies Even many nations brought together English Irish Dutch French Walloons who not that could be was not gathered against thee to defile and spoil thee yea to glut their accursed eyes and hearts with wicked joy at thy ruine and defilements But ah wicked fooles how ignorant and unacquainted were they with the Lords Counsels and how farre his thoughts were above and against their thoughts who brought them but together at York and else where like so many Sheaves on the barn-floar of Marston-Heath and there and then most graciously and gloriously said to our renouned Generalls Commanders and Souldiers Arise arise and thresh those Sheaves of shame and dishonour for I have made your Swords and instruments of war as Iron flales and your horses hoofs as brasse to trample on them and tear them in peices And then did the Lord also most triumphantly consecrate unto himselfe and we as we were able most worthily gave their gain and substance even all the honour and glory of these great and most famous victories to the Lord our God alone whose strong arme alone got us and gave us these glorious victories over all those our fierce and furious Enemies Yea he alone I say According to their deeds accordingly hath repayed fury to his Churches and Childrens adversaries recompense to his Enemies and to the Irish I stand he hath repayed and will yet still repay recompence And thus indeed it must needs be for Their strength and defence was departed from them and our God had made them as bread for us to eat and devour Yea our God hath for us wounded and broken in pieces the heads of these Leviathans and given them as meat to us his poore despised people And hath wounded the hairy scalps of all these that thâ—s went on in their insatiable wickednesse That thus therefore the great name of the Lord might be feared from the North to the West and his glorious splendour from the rising of the Sun
against Prince Rupert 163 Exploits of Col. Massye about Glocester 92 Exploits yet more of Colonell Massyes 227 Englands just objurgation 229 Englands great wonder to Gods great glory Anno 1644. 237 Enemy bravely beaten at Oswestree 266 The low Ebbe of the Parliaments Army 22 Estates of Malignants sequestred 153 Enemy bravely beaten at Lyme 241 A brave Defeat given to the Enemy at Evesham 295 F. The Fellowship a brave ship taken by the Parliaments Forces 27 Fuell provided for for the City of London 35 The Lord Fairfax his Victory at Hull 38 Sir Thomas Fairfax at Horn-Castle 47 France sends into Scotland 54 A brave Fight at Stamford 75 Sir Tho. Fairfax 156 Lord Fairfax Victorious at Hull 163 The Lord Fairfaxes Forces conjoyned with Sir Tho. Fairfaxes 202 L. Fairfax and the Scots conjoyned 210 Fidelity of the Scots to England 211 Col. Fox Victorious at Budely 217 Forces of Northampton beate the Enemy 95 Sir Thomas Fairfax stormeth Gains-borough 102 Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Valour at Marston-Moor Fight 274 Sir Tho. Fairfax compared to Julius Caesar 284 Foy in the West taken 297 G. Gally-slaves of Sathan are Wicked Men. 2 Gods glory is our Alpha and Omega ibid. Gainsbrough won 6 Gainsbrough taken again 51 Lord Gorings Letter intercepted and read in Parliament 155 Lord Generalls just praise 167 Gallows set up at Oxford and the cause 174 Sir Richard Greenviles defection from the Parliament 174 Gloucesters good condition 182 Gloucester releived with necessaries 192 Sir John Gell Victorious at Muck-bridge 199 Gloucesters Ammunition how conveyed thither 200 The Lord Generals advance with his Army 228 Gainsbrough stormed by Sir Thomas Fairfax 102 Grafton house taken 103 The Lord Generalls Mercifull Proclamation 235 The Lord Grey of Grooby his brave carriage at Leicester 257 The Lord Generall successefull in the West 264 3 Garnsey Gentlemen mightily preserved 122 Greenvill beaten at Plymouth 265 Government of the Church 162 Greenland-house taken 285 Lord Grey of Grooby and Sir John Gells forces take Wellney Fort. 287 The Lord Generall victorious in the West 296 Greenvils house at Tavestocke taken 297 H. Sir Edward Hales taken prisoner 15 Houghton Castle in Cheshire taken 18 The Earl of Hollands trunk seized on 27 Hull besieged 30 Hull remarkably preserved 31 Horn-castles famous Victory 42 Hulls victory related by Sir John Meldrums Letter 39 Hampshire Surry and Sussex Associated 57 30 or 40 of our Horse beate 1000 of the Enemies Horse 65 Hilsey house taken 167 Lord Hastings vexes the honest inhabitants of Leicester 169 Hinckly house 170 Sauls house decreaseth Davids house increaseth 173 Haverford west in Wales strangely taken 180 The Lady Hopton and two hundred prisoners taken 194 House of Peers take the Covenant 90 Sir Ralph Hopton writes to Sir William Waller 99 Sir Ralph Hoptons low ebbe 253 Hollanders underhand Enemies to the Parliament 116 Sir Tho. Holts house taken 117 Hildsden house taken 131 Sir Robert Harlow puls down a mighty crucifix at Christs-Hospitall in London 290 I. Capt. Johnsons brave courage 45 Intelligencers and Spies voted against 49 Irish Massacree 69 About 1500 Irish Rogues cast away at Sea by a storm 172 A Land storm also on the Irish ibid A Welch jest 179 Captaine Jordans good successe at Sea 182 The Lord John brother to the Duke of Lenox slain 190 Irish Rebels accorded with by the King 248 Justice of God prosecutes the wicked 249 K. The Earl of Kingstone slaine 7 Kentish Malignants rise in Rebellion 11 The King sends Letters into Scotland 54 The 3 Kingdomes to have one Councill of State 147 King Milus taken 156 The Kings great ayme at Cheshires County 161 The Kings children cared for by the Parliament 175 Kentish-mens brave behaviour at Alsford 193 Kents memorable gratitude to God 232 The Kings party unsuccessefull ever since the Irish cessation 102 The Kings Forces frighted 234 The Kings ungodly agreement with Ireland 248 The King pursued by Sir William Waller 248 L. Sir Michael Levesey at Yawlden in Kent 14 Londoners Petition against a pretended peace 23 Londoners take an Oath 24 A Loan of an 100000. l. to be raised in London for the Scots 38 Lincoln taken 51 Letters sent by the King into Scotland 54 London must be starved up 55 A Letter sent from Oxford to the Parliaments Lord Generall 152 A Letter from the Lord Goring intercepted and read in Parliament 155 Leicestershire men victorious at Hinckly 170 Col. Lamberts brave victory at Bradford 168 Col. Lambert again Victorious 171 Col. Laughorn in Penbrookshire 77 London Regiments brave valour at Alsford 193 Col. Lambert beats Bellassys in Yorkshire 200 Captain Layes Valour at Wareham 81 Solemn League or Covenant farther pressed 88 London petitions the Parliament for the setling of the State Committee 225 Lyme stormed by the Enemy and bravely repulsed 228 Lymes condition related 231 Lymes brave carriage against Prince Maurice ibid. Lymes valour testified by the Enemy 240 Lymes seige wholly raised 243. 252 Lyme bravely beats the Enemy 241 The Kings Letter to the Lord Mayor of London 121 Generall Lesleyes carriage at Marstone Moore fight 273 Col. Lamberts valour 274 Laystolk Garrison quitted 132 Col. Laughorns brave performances in Pembrookshire 294 Lyme garrison gives the Enemy a brave defeat 296 M Malignants of London imprisoned 27 Sir John Meldrum at Hull 39 Captain Moodies brave courage 45 Earle of Manchester victorious at Horncastle 42 Colonel Massies good service at Tewksbury 48 Earl of Manchester takes in Lincolne 51 Earl of Manchester takes Gainesborough 51 Earl of Manchesters care for the associated Counties 55 Malignants estates sequestred 153 Kings-Milus taken by Darby Forces 156 Members of Parliament that tooke the Covenant their names and number 157 Milford-Haven taken 161 Colonell Mitton beates Prince Rupert 161 Colonell Massey still victorious 183 Malignants mouthes stopt 194 At Munk-bridge Sir John Gell victorious 199 Letters of Mart granted against the Parliaments Enemies 84 Earl of Manchester again victorious at Lincoln 217 Colonell Massies brave exploits about Gloucester 92 Colonell Massey at Wotton garrison 93 Colonel Massyes just praise 227 Sir Thomas Middletons brave performances 84 Montrosse beaten in Scotland 230 A Message sent from England to Scotland 236 Col. Massey victorious 236 Malmsbury taken by Colonell Massye ibid. Colonell Massey still Victorious 237 Colonell Massies good services rewarded by the Parliament 237 Morpeth-castle taken by the Scots 247 Colonell Mitton his great daunger and deliverance 251 Two Maids had three of their hands shot off together 254 Gods mercy to Manchester in the midst of her misery 258 Malignants in London their Flea-biting 260 Marstonâ—Moores most famous victory described 269 Sir John Meldrum stormes Gainesborough 103 Monuments of Superstition to be demolished 222 The Earl of Manchesters labour and vigilancy at York fight 273 A learned and godly Ministry to be ordained 287 Captain Moultons brave performances in Pembrookeshire 294 N The Earle of Newcastle beaten from Gainesborough 6 Mewcastle besiegeth Hull 30 Newcastle in great straites
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
Parliament Tewktsbery taken by Col. Massey About 60 of the kings souldiers drowned at Parrishaw at a bridge Sir William VValler also pursues catches some of them in the chase Shudley-castle taken by renowned Sir VVill. VValler The prisoners prizes Compton House in VVarwickshire taken by Col. Purfrey Great deserved honour put upon Serjeant Major Gen. Brown by an Ordinance of Parliament The noble Earl of Denbighes brave exploit against the kings forces at Dudley-castle The great danger of Col. Mitton and his forlorn hope The Earl of Denbighes brave resolution The enemy put to flight and pursued by the Lord Denbigh The slain and prisoners taken The famous Seige of Lime in Dorsetshire wholely raised The unsuccesfull assaults of the enemies against Lime Sir Ralph Hoptons low ebbe The enemies notable losses at Lime Siege The Seige quite raised Heaven was Lymes munition of Rocks The Enemies strength the Towns weaknesse The outragious fury and malice of the Enemie against Lyme The almost incredible courage of the Souldiers in Lime The noble E. of Warwicks testimony of Lime Divers of the enemies party come to the L Admirall profering their service to the Parliament 3. Children in one bed miraculously preserved 2. Maides lost three of their hands at once All the praise of this mighty preservation is due to the great God of Lime Limes deliverance a certaine returne of Prayer Thankes sent by the Parlia to the most noble L. Admirall for relieving Lime 1 Sam. Lime also rewarded with 10000 l. a yeare of the L. Paulets Estate Prizes taken at Sea by the Lo. Admiralls Ships Orders of Parliament touching Lime Sir Wil. Belfore sent to free Lime of its Siege finding it raised taks Weymonth Tanton-Dean The noble L. Grey of Groobies brave carriage at Leicester Preparation by Sea to help forward the reduction of the West to the obedience of the Parliament The hopefull progresse of things in the Wect. Gods great mercy to Manchester in the midst of Lancashires miseries Victualls very cheap at Manchester A very lâ—beral bountifull Collection also there for Boulton Weymouth taken by the L. Generall Brave prizes also taken both by Sea by Land An Excellent Ordinance of Parliament for constant reliefe to the wives children of Souldiers slain in the Parliaments service Our London Malignants Flea-bitings whereof I wish them many The Malignants Flea bitings Oswestree won by the most noble Earle of Denbigh The Towne is assaulted entred The Enemies fly to the Castle The Castle also surrendered on quarter for their lives Prisoners prizes taken The singular good affection of the West-Country to the Parliament Mr. Peters his good service to the kingdome An Ordinance of Parliament against rotten-hearted Revolters or deâ—erters of the Parliament Rats crawl out of ships to the main tops when the ship is ready to sink Revolters fitly compared to Rats and Bats A summary gratefull review and brief recitall of all the rare Parliamentary Mercies of this moneth Gods Arke above the Worlds waves Psal 77. 16. Exod. 14. 22. Iuly 1644. The Parlia L. Gen. successefull in the West Country Skellum Greenvill is beaten by Plymouth Forces Darbyes brave activity Barnstable shakes off the Cavilerian yoke and returnes to the Parliament The Enemy bravely beaten at Oswestree by the Earle of Denâ—â—es forces Oswestree besieged bâ— Col. Marow on the Kings side Sir Tho. Midleton comes to Oswestree to aid his brother Col. Mitton The Enemy beaten put to flight Our losse hurt The Enemies lesse The highways and passages strewed with store of the Enemies good provision The most famous and glorious victory neer Yorke The Word Signall The Enemy was assaulted by ours before they expected us Some of ours forced to a disorderly retreat The Enemy put to the worst Valiant Lieu. Gen. Cromwel charges Ruperts Horse through through Our right wing put to the worst Our left wings unwearied valour in charging the enemy How Prince Rupert escaped The Earle of Manchesters labour vigilancy Gen. Lesseys cariage in the fight The Scots good Service Lieut. Gen. Cromwell his due praise Col. Sydney his valour Renowned sir Tho. Fairfax his undaunted valour Col. Lamberts also And L. Col. Needhams Major Gener. Crawford others A just reproof to many prejudicate misreporters of this fight the souldiers therein The souldiers gave God the glory of this victory The Enemies did the like Prince Ruperts atheisticall speech touching this fight A sad confession of one on the Enemies side Deut. 32. 31. The Run-awayes rob'd our carryages Keynton battell justly remembred Gods wisdome in managing this victory to his due praise The noble E. of Manbesters carriage among his souldiers The souldiers religious replies to their Generall A sad spectacle to behold The number of the slain on the enemies side P. Ruperts Dog kill'd among the dead corps The names of divers persons of note slain in this fight Prisoners taken and the names of some of note Prizes taken The losse on our side Our souldiers got good prize God is a great man of War Esay 59 17 18 Nehim 4. 14. Certain observations collected out of all the premises for the farther illustrating of Gods glory Observation from our Armie marching to the Associated Counties when the Enemies were fighting A mighty storm of hail rain thunder at the beginning of the fight Two or 3 Regiments of the pursuing Enemies slain taken prisoners The victory got by a small number That Rupert having relieved Yorke must needs fight with us not go into the associated Counties Achitophels Hushaies Counsell The great hopes of the enemy to cut off our right-wing frustrated Ecclesi 9. 11. A foul falling out between P. Rupert the Marquesse of Newcastle And Newcastle flying beyond sea is proclaimed traitor at York The great tyrednesse and extream hunger and thirst which the Army indured and yet their admirable courage in fighting The Parliament Souldiers known to the Kings accursed cursing Cormorants by their singing of Psalmes The Royalists imprecating a curse on themselves were accordingly answered therein by the Lord. Josh 22. 22. 〈◊〉 This glorious Victory was a most evident and cleer return of Prayer The 3 Generalls and all their Armies Celebrate the next Lords day a day of Thanksgiving Order taken for supplying the Northern Armies with necessaries and thankes sent to the 3 Generalls from the Parliament The Royalists intollerable impudence in insulting and triumphing for what they never had Bells rung bonfires made in York for joy of Ruperts Victory Monstrous lyes Newcastle Newark and Oxford also triumph in Ruperts ridiculous Victory London malignants had a hand and a heart too in this lye Mr. Vines in his Sermon of thanksgiving for this great Victory p. 14. Sir Tho. Fairfax compared to Julius Caesar A note more touching Prince Robber and his brave Chivalry Prince Robber lost his Dog and his Bever and hid himself in a Bean-field A Letter of the Kings to the Marquesse
of Newcastle touching the Lord Râ—chford The Lord Vicount Rochford impeached of high Treason Greenland house taken by Major Gen. Brown Taunton Castle taken by the Lord Generals Forces Cholmley house in Cheshire taken by the Lord Denbigh Col. Rossiter Governour of Lincoln his valour and activity Capt. Sydenham and Capt. Carrs brave exploit against the Lord Inchiquin A learned and godly Ministery to be Ordained Wâ—lne Ferry and Fort taken by the Noble L. Grey and sir Iohn Gell. Wilne Ferry stormed and taken And a brave prize with it The noble L. Grey's Martiall Vigilancy for the good of the Country The famous Celebration of the publike Thanksgiving for the late great Victory at or 〈…〉 The Enemy laboured to dim the cleer Sunshine of our Day of thanksgiving Yorkes not being taken emboldned our Malignants to buz abroad their lyes A remarkable print of providence to dash our Malignants out of countenance The glorious rayes of that Sun-shine day shines forth over the kingdome A narration of celebrating the Thankesgiving-day at London And of Christs-Church parish in particular How the great Hall was swept of some foul Romish-rubbish the day before this meeting Sir Halowâ—night â—night of the Bath pulls down and utterly demolisheth a monstrous great Crucifix in Christs Hospitall A great Bonfire made of the said Crucifix just at the Supper-time of the said Parishioners The manner of the surrendring up of the City of Yorke to the Parliaments Forces Yorke closely besieged again after the victory Preparation to storm York A Treaty desired by the City Commissioners authorized to parley and determine of Articles of agreement The Articles of Agreement being 14 in number subscribed unto by the 3 Generalls Considerations concerning the Articles A singular wise and satisfactory Message of the 3. Generalls to the Parliament Propositions of Peace Businesse of Religion to be expedited Malignants mouths stopt The Lord of Manchester advances Southward Tickhill taken by the Earl of Manchesters forces The ill neighbour-hood of Tickhill The Castle summoned Articles of Agreement concluded on and sealed to My Lord of Manchester takes possession of the Castle Col. 〈◊〉 T horns Cap. Moultons brave performances in Penbâ—ookshire The forwardnesse of the inhabitants of the County to help against the Enemy Both Armies meet and the Enemies are discomfited The slain prisoners and prizes taken A most brave defeat given to the Enemy at Evesham by the Earl of Denâ—ighs and Warwick Forces Another brave defeat given by Lyme garrison to the Enemies at Collyton Prisoners and prizes taken Another defeat at Chard in Sommersetshire by Lime Garrison Our most noble Lord Generalls brave and victorious advance and progresse in the West Divers brave Garrisons and much Ordnance taken by ours in the West Greenvils house at Tavestoke taken Rich prizes and pillage taken in the House Newbridge taken by our Forces A hot skirmish at Newbridge Greenvils Forces routed with much losse to him Our Forces come to Bodmin in Cornwall Tadcaster and Foy taken many ships therein The hopefull condition of the Western parts to be reduced to the Parliament A gratefull summary recitall of all the rich Parliamentary-mercys of this Month. 1 Sam. 7. 12. EBEN-EZER GODS ARK overtops the Worlds waves Micah 4. 11 12 13. This Scripture most properly appropriated to England Esay 59. 18. Num. 14. 9. Psal 74 14. Psal 68. 21. Esay 59. 19. Eze. 32. 2 3 4. Our Enemies as a whale are caught in Gods not to their ruine Exod. 15. 11. Psal 77. 11 12. 14 15. Psal 118. 8 9. Jer. 10. 7. The close of all What use wee are to make of all the forementioned Parliamentary-mercies Christians must Wait Beleeve Beggars must be no carvers Habbuc 2. 3. In what posture Gods people are to wait on God for deliverance
hid himselfe in Bean-Lands he had beene taken The Earl of Manchester with much labour did rally 500 of the Souldiers who were leaving the Field in great disorder and brought them backe againe to the Battell And the most noble and worthy Generall Lesly was much offended with his Souldiers who shrunk from the service of the day and having endeavoured both by words and blowes to keepe them in the Field with much wisedome and affection he pressed this argument Although you run from your Enemies yet leave not your Generall though you fly from them yet forsake not me Very many of the Scots both commanders and others did singular good service that day and stood stoutly to it unto the end of the fight and did therefore very well deserve to be sharers in the honour of the day and three Regiments of their Horse which with ours made the left wing of the Army being commanded by Major Generall Lesley did as brave and honourable service as any who served in the Field that day And although the right wing of our Army did not satisfyingly answer mens expectations yet the Earl of Eglington the Earl of Lindsey the Lord Cooper Sir James Lunsden and other Scottish Commanders with many of their Officers and Souldiers did as I said before give good proofe of their stoutnesse and magnanimity And as for any of them of each Nation who went away they were by their ministers and others so sharpely reproved and this their fault in such sort was aggravated to them that there was great hope they would regain their credit by good service upon the next occasion As for that famous and magnanimous Commander Lieut. Gen. Cromwell whose prowesse and prudence as they have rendred him most renowned for many former successefull deeds of Chevalry So in this great fight they have crowned him with the never withering Laurells of fame and honour who with so Lyon-like courage and impregnable animosity charged his proudest adversaries again and again like a Roman Marcellus indeed undauntedly out-daring and over-bearing his stoutest Popish and Atheisticall Antagonists even to the end of the fight and at last came off as with some wounds so with honour and triumph inferiour to none Colonell Sydney also Son to the Earl of Leicester charged with much gallantry in the head of my Lord of Manchesters Regiment of Horse and came off with much honour though with many wounds the true badges of his honour and was sent away afterward to London for cure of his wounds And as for that truly noble and renowned Commander Sir Tho. Fairfax that undanted never sufficiently praised Souldier whose former famous exploits have rendred him most magnanimous he also lost not a jot or title of honour this day for although many of his Souldiers did faint and fall backe yet his noble heart continued like the heart of a Lyon stout and undaunted for he stayed fighting in the Field untill being dismounted and wounded he was brought off by one of his Souldiers Yea and brave Colonell Lambert and some others of their officers went on most daringly through every difficult and dangerous adventure which they could meete with though I say much of their strength did unhappily shrinck from them Lieutenant Col. Needham did also very manfully in his place I nominate not here any other of my noble Lords Officers besides Liutenant Gen. Cromwell and Col. Sydney though I could have particularized Major Gen. Crawford and divers other Colonels with Lieut. Colonells Majors and Captaines who gained much honour by their very valiant carriages and exploits and therfore I hope my silence in regard of others who under the command of the two other Generalls did also most gallantly will not be offensive and the rather because I was not so well acquainted with them And it is exceedingly ill done of those who cast aspersions upon some in the Army in this fight who rather deserved commendations than uncomely calumniations Surely they neither Act christianly nor prudently who take courses to breed emulations and divisions in our Army and who cast reproach and discouragement upon such who are most ready to sacrifice their dearest heaâ—tblood in the present service of Christ in this Kingdome But to be briefe I found this generally among the Souldiers especially in my noble Lord of Manchesters Regiments to my hearts great content that they all gave the Lord of Hosts all the glory of this Victory wherein they were onely instruments Some also of the Enemies that were taken Prisoners have acknowledged the meere finger and hand of God in their rout and our victory And it pleased me wondrous well to heare and see our God honoured on both hands Yet I may not heere omit a strange speech as it was credibly reported to fall from Prince Rupert upon the disapointing of his hopes and the dis-joynting of his Forces to their ruine I am sure said he my men fought well and therefore know no reason of our Rout but this because the Devill did help his Servants These words surely intimate that he imagined the Devill gives the Victory in the day of Battell a most Atheisticall and heathenish opinion or else his Conscience told him which he would not confesse that God indeed did help his Servants Yea and a man of quality belonging to the Enemy whose name for some reasons I may not mention professed That his Conscience told him Our Cause was Gods Cause but yet his Honour would not suffer him to take part with us And the Lord Grandison who was sorâ—ly wounded in this fight and under the Chyrurgions hands for cure in Yorke told a friend that visited him That he had received 10. wounds on his body in this Battell One wound for the breach of every Commandement in the Decalogue See here then good Reader if heere be not a cleare assent to that of holy Moses Their Rocke is not as our Rocke even our Enemies being judges But to returne to to the finishing of this Fight The Runawayes with other poore people who attended the Army did grievously plunder our Wagons and other Carriages for the Wagoners Carters c. being affrighted with the flight of our owne Souldiers did leave their charge in the hands of such as love to rob and spoile It was a very sad sight to behold many thousands posting away being amazed with Panick feares Heere just occasion was given us to remember Keynton-battell at Edge-Hill Edge-Hill where the hearts of some were upheld with hopes when others gave up all as lost and that with much despondencie of spirit Upon our coole and recollected thoughts such of us as desired to acknowledg God in all his waies did firmely pitch upon these Conclusions The Lord saw that we are apt to rely upon the arme of flesh and therefore very much humane strength failed us And besides if the whole Army had continued couragious we should
have ascribed the glory of the victory unto man and therefore it pleased the Lord in reference to his owne praise to lessen our strength that so his owne arme might justly be exalted But I say to go on The Enemies being all beaten out of the Field the most noble Earle of Manchester about 11 of the Clock that night did ride about to the Souldiers both Horse and Foot giving them many thankes for the exceeding good service which they had done for the Kingdome And he often earnestly intreated them to give the honour of their Victory unto God alone He also further told them that although he could not possibly that night make provisions for them according to their deserts and necessities yet that he would without faile endeavour their full satisfaction in that kind in the morning betimes The Souldiers unanimously as my Lord had desired and most cheerefully gave God the glory of their deliverance and this great Victory and told his Lordship with much alacrity that though they long fasted and were faint yet they would willingly want three dayes longer rather than give off the Service or leave his Lordship That might we kept the Feild when the Bodies of the dead were stripped and in the morning there was a mortifying object to behold when the naked bodies of thousands lay upon the ground and many were not altogether dead but lay groaning and gasping their last We judged that the number of the slaine was at the least 3000 of the Enemys but the Countrey men who were commanded to bury the dead Corps told us they for certaine buried 4150 bodies and we beleeve as it s most probable they were best able to know the truth by the burying of them Of which 4150 two thirds were assured to be Gentlemen and persons of quality that is almost 2000 which as reverend Master Ash said was the more easily believed by reason of the very white and smoth skinnes of the many dead bodies in the field apparently seene when they were stript And that those of quality slain in this fight might be taken away and have a more honourable buriall than the rest if their friends pleased Sir Charles Lucas was desired as was credibly enformed to goe along to view the corps as they lay spred on the ground and to choose whom he would which he did but would not say whom he knew of them But one gentleman at least that had a bracelet of haire about his wrist he said he knew and desired the bracelet might be taken off saying that an honourable Lady should give thankes for it As he passed along he said in the presence and hearing of many Alas for King CHARLES Vnhappy King CHARLES And we may all most justly say Alas poore ENGLAND Vnhappy ENGLAND to be so miserably rent and torn for the satisfying of impiety folly and wilfullnesse in Papists Prelates and atheisticall Malignants And among the dead men and horses which lay on the Ground we found Prince Ruperts Dog killed which is onely here mentioned by the way because the Princes Dog hath been so much spoken of along time and was more prized by his Master than creatures of much more worth Divers men of good quality were found and knowne to be slaine in the foresaid number as namely The Lord Carey eldest Son to the Earle of Monmouth Colonell Ewers Nephew to the Lord Ewers Colonell Roper brother to the Lord Baltinglasse Sir Wil. Wentworth brother to the Earl of Strafford late Vice-roy of the kingdome of Ireland Sir Francis Dacres neer kinsman to the Lord Dacres Sir William Lambton of an ancient family to the Bishopprick of Durham Colonell Slingsby Son to Sir William Slingâ—by Sir Marmaduke Louddon Sir Thomas Mettom Monnsieur Saint Paula a French Gentleman Sir Richard Gloedhill made knight by the Earl of Newcastle Lieutenant Col. Lisle who heretofore had done good service in Holland Colonell Houghton Son to sir Gilbert Houghton Col. Fenwicke eldest Son to Sir Iohn Fenwicke Col. Prideaux son to BPP Prideaux Lieut. Col. Atkins Lieutenant Colonell to the Marquesse Lieutenant Col. Stonywood a Commander in the late warrs of Ireland Davenant the Poet also a loose liv'd Gentleman and divers others not yet so particularly known but these thus named I had from credible testimony Wee also tooke at least 1500 prisoners of which also many were men of quality and great esteem with the Enemy viz. Sir Charles Lucas Lieutenant Gen. to the Horse Porter Major Gen. to their Foot forces Major Generall Tilliard a very stout and able souldier who came out of Ireland the Lord Gorings Son with divers other Field-Officers Wee tooke all the Enemyes Cannon Ammunition Waggons and Baggage The Earl of Manchester had for his part ten pieces of Ordnance one case of Drakes about 1500 Muskets 40 barrels of powder three tun of great and small bullet 800 Pikes besides Swords Bandileers c. Now it is very admirable to consider and we cannot but admire Cods rare mercy in it how few were slain in the Battell on our side In the Earl of Manchesters Army Captain Walton had his leg shot off with a Cannon bullet and onely Captain Pue a foot Captain was slain and not above six more of our foot that we could find slain and about twenty wounded in the Moore The totall number that we could reckon and find to be slain in all our Armies was at most but between 2 and 300 of which our greatest number was among them who ran away and the carriage-keepers Many of our Souldiers the horsemen especially met with much gold and silver and other Commodities of good worth and indeed they very well deserved such encouragements by their excellent service and brave adventures and therefore as our proverbe is Win gold and wear gold Thus did the Lord put on righteousnesse as a brest-plate and an helmet of Salvation upon his head and he put on the garments of vengeance for cloathing and was clad with zeal as with a cloake And according to their deeds accordingly he did repay fury to his adversaries and recompence to his Enemies Yea surely in this famous battell the Lord seemed to say and sound courage into the hearts of our Souldiers as Nehemiah to his people at the reedifying of Ierusalem when they were molested by wicked Tobiah Sanballet and their accursed complices Be not affraid of them but remember the Lord your God who is great and terrible and fight for your brethren your sons and your daughters your wives and your houses And thus far we have principally made worthy use of reverend and religious Master Ash his unquestionable authentick relation of this most famous fight and most memorable victory with some interlacing I say of some materiall passages which I borrowed from most credible testimony And now although that our foresaid very venerable author and precious pattern by whom I have thus chosen to write hath in