not this your zeal for God his Truth most illustriously flamed forth of late also in that most famous and faithfull that pious and prudent Remonstrance or Petition of yours exhibited to Both Houses of Parliament May 26. 1646. for the beating down of Heresies Errours and Schismes and the most religious advancement of the blessed work of pure Reformation and a holy and happy settled Government of the Church of God Such a pattern and monument of your Piety and godly zeal I say as shall remain to your Praise and indelible renown to Posterity throughout all Generations And hath not Heaven sweetly resented In Christ these your precious Expenses and fervent zeal for Religion as so many holy Holâ—causts and hath as it were even already sent down thanks and recompence of your Love and bounty in much measure into your Houses and Habitations Witnesse even to the just and joyfull admiration of your Friends and the envious astonishment of your Foes the constant and copious incomes of Peace and Plenty Health and Liberty but most especially and which indeed Crowns all the rest of the radiant and resplendent Gospel-Beams of pure and powerfull Word and Ordinances No leading into Captivity in your streets no slaughter or schrecvings out of your Wives Virgins and little Children nor Pestilentiall Mortality in your Houses And yee are and that most worthily for all these so rich and rare so many and marveilous Mercies the present Wonder of the whole World and ever O for ever so may yee bee the Praise of all succeding Posterity 5 TO our War-like VVorthies To all the famous and renowned Worthies of Great-Britaine and first To our meritoriously deare and entirely beloved loyall and faithfull Brother-Kingdome of Scotland to which wee are everlastingly bound in all mutuall and reciprocall bonds of Love and Vnity Whose hearts the Lord did so affect and envlame with Sympathizing Love and Zeal to his glorious Cause and to our then most low and calamitous Condition that with most brotherly â—ervour and fellow-feeling affection they entred into a holy League and Solemn Covenant with us of mutuall defence one of another Cheerfully left their own Country and Kingdom their dearest Friends Wives and Children and through many difficulties and distresses in a bitter and sore pinching Winter-march even to deep admiration carrying their lives in their hands came in unto us to help the Lord and us against his mighty and our most malicious Enemies And whom as the Lord made the main and principall instruments of the beginning of our happinesse both in saving our throats from the death-threatning knives of destruction and procuring us a most unhoped and unexpectible Parliament as the case was with us then which under God hath been the fountain of our felicity to this day So now at last also the Lord hath made choyce of them to bee the Consummators and as it were the main finâ—shers of our felicity in putting the Person of the King into their hands as counting them faithfull to improve such a Prize to the best advantage of his Glory and our Good if wee had but honest hearts so to consider it And heerin more especially and peculiarly to his Excellency Magnanimous and Victorious Generall Lesley Earl of Leven most worthily famous among us for ever both for this famous Prize the Kings Person put into his hands And for his most renowned Courage and Valour at Newcastle and Marston-Moore Next To his Excellency the most noble and renowned Lord Generall Robert Earl of Essex most famous faithfull and courageous at Keynton and Newberry To the most valiant and magnanimous present Captain-Generall his Excellencie Sir Thomas Fairfax as famous and faithfull at Naseby Bristol c. of which two most noble and loyall Generalls I may say as Plutarch in his Lives did of those two renowned ancient Romane-Commanders Fabius and Marcellus They have been under God The Sword and Buckler of the Kingdome To the right noble loyall and religious Robert Earl of Warwick the famous and faithfull Lord High-Admirall whose Chivalry at Sea and whose Seasonable Charity to Lime ought never to bee forgotten by us To the renowned Peers and Patriots of their Country the noble Earl of Manchester and famous and faithfull noble Lord Fairfax the Parliaments two most valiant and successefull Generals both in the North and Associated Counties To undaunted and never Enough honoured Sir William Waller who hath been a strong Wall and brave Bulwark indeed to this Kingdome as Portsmouth Aulton Alsford and his many other famous Victories can Witnesse To magn animous Sir William Fairfax and Sir John Meldrum those two most Courageous Commanders who most nobly spent their best blood for the best Cause that ever this Kingdom undertook To as valiant as virtuous Sir William Brereton famous for his valour and activity in Cheshire Namptwich and now lately at West chester To religious and magnanimous Major Generall Skippon that most pious Cornelius and Expert brave Souldier and Commander as was admirably evident in Cornwall and at Naseby of whom it was said Hee liv'd like an Angel pray'd like a Saint and fought like a Lyon To never sufficiently praised and prized Major Generall Massie farre more worth than his weight in Massie-Gold as the famous Siege of the City of Gloucester and all that County and the adjacent parts thereof can most copiously witnesse To Renowned and right valiant and Victorious Leiâ—tenant Generall Cromwel Those valiant victorious and active Patriots Sir John Gell and Sir Thomas Middleton Renowned Major Generall Brown Major Generall Laughorne and Major Generall Poyntz Valiant and victorious Colonell Mitton Colonell Sydenham Colonell Morgan and brave Captain Swanley Together with very many other most active loyall and most Courageous Commanders and brave Brittish-Spirited Souldiers Who all most like unto Davids Worthies honourably Commemorized 2 Sam. 23. have made themselves most meritoriously famous in this Present Age and to Future Posterity for their so faithfully and valiantly serving theiâ— GenRration Together also with the renowned Corporations and invincible Garrisons of Hull Gloucester Manchester Coventry Warwick Northampton Stafford Namptiwich famous and faithfull Plymouth Lyme and all the famous and faithfull Governours Holders and Vpholders of them With the most worthy and well-deserving Counties of Lancashire and Kent And the other most famous and faithfull Parliamentary-Patriots Cities and Counties most loyally and lovingly appearing in this great and good Cause and most freely and forwardly jeoparding Themselves and their All in the High-places of the Kingdome yea and whose gallantry of Spirits indelible Merits undaunted Resolutions Memorable adventures and great Engagements even to Life Estates and all that was most neer and dear unto them have most justly called for yea Commanded a resounding Acknowledgement of their so honourable and heroick Actions as an incessant Eccho of perpetuated Applause to all succeeding Generations Who have not onely made us to bee their deep-debtours but even the Gospel too together with all the Protestant-Churches of
this Garrison his Major and 3 Captains and not 3 of his whole Regiment but were either killed or taken and the House was wholly burnt down to the ground and wee thereby freed of a pestilent and pernicious neighbour Colonell Bruen and Mr. Crompton behaved themselves very worthily in this action and Captain Starre incomparably bravely Yours C. A. November the 12 wee were for certain informed by Letters out of the North that a party of the Enemies horse advanced from Skipton and Knaresborough in Yorkeshire and fell upon the Parliaments guard before Helmesley Castle intending to have raised that siege Whereupon 240 of the most noble and renowned Lord Fairfaxes Horse under the Command of Major Sanderson were sent to releive them but our valiant Forces before Helmesley had quite routed the Enemy before their said help came unto them and pursued the Enemy over Black-Hambleton and took prisoners 1 Captain 5 or 6 Leivtenants one Cornet one Ensigne a Quartermaster and 44 Troopers there were about or 6 slain on the place and very many sore wounded ours also took 80 Horse together with a great quantity of Meal Salt and other provisions designed for the releif of Helmesley All which was performed without the losse of any save only Captain Leivtenant Frampton Leivtenant Shepperson and 3 common Souldiers About the 16 of this instant both the Houses of Parliament passed an Ordinance for the re-establishing of free Trade again at Newcastle which now lately had beer most happily reduced by Gods blessing on the valour and magnanimity of our loyall Brethren of Scotland to the obedience of the Parliament which said Ordinance for the Readers fuller satisfaction and content I have heer thought fit to insert verbatim as it was Printed and published by Authority of Parliament Die Jovis Novemb. 14. 1644. VVHere as the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament by an Ordinance of the 14 of January 1642. did for severall reasons in the said Ordinance mentioned prohibit all ships and other vessels to carry provision of victuals armes or money unto Newcastle Sunderland and Blyth or make return of any Coales or Salt from either the said places under pain of seizure of the said ships vessels and their lâ—ding And whereas by the good providence and blessing of Almighty God and the endevours of our brethren of Scotland the Town and Port of Newcastle upon Tyne and Castle of Tinmouth are lately rescued out of the hands of the Enemy and reduced to the obedience of the King and Parliament The Inhabitants of which places by reason of the rapine and spoile of the Enemy have been brought to extremity of want It is this day Ordered by the said Lords and Commons that the said Ordinance bee repealed and annulled And the said Lords and Commons doe hereby repeal and annull the same Joh. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum About the 20 of this instant came certain intelligence by Letters out of Yorkeshire to London that the Castle of Helmesley in that County which had been then besieged as was forementioned by the right honourable and thrice noble Lord Fairfaxes forces was now at length surrendred to his Lordship upon Articles of agreement Whereupon the said Castle with all the Ordnance Armes and Ammunition therein except what armes the Commanders and Officers marched out withall according to the agreement In this Castle were about 200 men 9 peices of Ordnance 300 Muskets and Pikes 6 barrells of powder and much money Plate and other good plunder and many of the common Souldiers turned to the Lord Fairfax whereof at least 40 went presently to assist at the siege of Scarborough And about the 24 of this instant November wee were informed by Letters out of Lincolnshire of the good successe against the Enemy there of that brave and most valiant active Commander Colonell Rossiters Regiment of horse and Colonell Fleetwoods Regiment of horse Commanded by valiant and virtuous Major Harrison who resolved to face the Town of Newark to try what strength of horse they had left since the last losse of neer about 800 horse upon a rout But in their way they also resolved to attempt the beating up of one of their quarters within a mile of Newark which accordingly they did and took there an 160 horse and 80 prisoners Major Heren Captain Cressey 3 Cornets 3 Leivtenants and divers Gentlemen and afterward faced the Town of Newark the enemy not daring to adventure out wherupon they victoriously returned and brought their prisoners and prize safely with them to Lincoln And about the 28 instant wee received certain intelligence by Letters out of the West that the valiant Souldiers of Lime marched out of that Garrison to meet the Enemy at Axminster who came thither to fortifie that Town thereby to have straitned the quarters of Lime But they being as vigilant as valiant and discovering the Enemies drift and unwilling to bee nosed by so bad a neighbour fell upon the said Enemy as they stood upon a posture of defence fitted and resolved as it seemed to entertain the charge of our forces but in the end were bravely routed by the Lime Souldiers who in the encounter killed Major Walker a desperate and wicked Cavalier 2 Captains and 2 Leivtenants and mortally wounded Sir Richard Cholmley Son in Law to the Lord Pawleâ— and brother to Sir Hugh Cholmley of Scarborough that disloyall apostate Run negado who commanded in Cheif this party and some Letters since have certified that the said Sir Richard is dead of his wounds In which incounter also the brave Lime forces took 4 peices of Ordnance great store of Armes many prisoners and drove the rest into a Church which was not then taken when this Letter came to our hands This most valiant Governour of Lyme deserves to bee had in high honour and remembrance for his former famous services also especially for his so manfully defending that poore Town against Prince Maurice and the Lord Pawlet and other mighty menacing powers as hath at large been forementioned And shortly after this brave defeat it pleased the Lord that a suddain storm arising at Sea a ship of Apsome was driven into the Haven at Lime and there seized on which was estimated to bee worth many thousand pounds a part whereof was ordered by the Parliament to bee imployed for the use and service of Lyme and the rest for the other Western parts the goods in the said ship being found to belong to divers rich Malignants of Exeter and Apsome and most of them consisting of speciall good Linnen cloath And besides that foresaid Victory at Axminster and rich prize so put into their hands in their haven wee had certain information that this most valiant and active garrison of Lime within 2 or 3 dayes after fell upon another party of the Enemies and did good execution on them and took prisoners 3 Leivtenants more with 50 other Officers and Souldiers took an 160 Muskets 10 Halberts 3 barrels of
virtuously and piously that they may prove 2 glorious and illustrious Starres not only in the firmameut of these 3 Kingdomes but even of all Christendome And about the 26 instant wee received Letters out of Gloucestershire which certified that a party of Colonell Massies horse had routed a party of the Cavaliers which were sent from Bristol by Sir Ralph Hopton toward Prince Maurice and in the skirmish had taken Colonell Roberts a great Malignant of Herefordshire besides 7 Officers and 40 common Souldiers prisoners And much about the latter end of this Moneth of March the House of Commons in Parliament took into their consideration some of their well-deserving Souldiers and their great arrears and among these cheifly that brave unspotted and ever to bee honored Commander in Armes Major Generall Skippon and thereupon ordered that his Arreares should by audit bee given in and in the mean time because hee had been long without pay they ordered that 500 pound should bee presently paid unto him in part of his Arreares And about the same time an Order past the House worthy to bee recorded to their praise and honour it being full of piety and Christian charity Viz. That out of the Monies given for Composition by some able Delinquents there should bee a 1000 pound paid to poore men that had lost their horses Waggons and Carts the Summer before in the service of the Parliament and that 500 pound more should bee paid to poore Widdows whose husbands had been slain in the service of the State And now good Reader stay heer a little and take a short revise and serious advice on this Moneths mercies and marveilous passages of divine providence and preservation of this his Parliamentary Burning Bush not Consumed although environed with most violent and vehement furious flames of Malignant wrath and rage against it as hath been most evident in all the particulars forementioned both In that most famous defeat given to the proud insulting Enemies Goring and Dives at Weymouth and Melcomb-Regis Together with the seasonable seizing on the 2 ships which by providence were put into the possession of the Parliaments friends there In the seizing upon a whole Troope of Horse being the Kings Life-guard And the brave defeat given to Prince Maurices forces at Holt-Bridge Together with a fine defeat given to Colonell Ogles forces at Winchester In that brave Victory obtained by Sir William Waller and Generall Cromwell over Colonell Long and his forces at the Devizes Together with the brave activity of our Abbington Garrison about Oxford In the most happy harmony and sweet concurrence of the House of Peers in Parliament with the House of Commons about the List of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Colonels and Commanders and their pious care for the well-ordering of his New-Modelled Army as well with Spirituall as Martiall Discipline And finally In the Parliaments godly care for the royall and religious education of the Kings 2 young children at White-Hall Colonell Massies defeat given to the Enemy at or neer Bristol And the Parliaments most worthy respect and regard to the fidelity and good service of such as had been active and serviceable to the Common-wealth to comfort and incourage them therein Upon gracious and gratefull sight and serious consideration of all which precious premises who mee thinks can forbeare justly and ingenuously to confesse and acknowledge with holy David Thou O Lord hast made us rejoyce through thy works and wee will triumph in the operations of thy hands O Lord how great and gracious are all thy doings towards us and thy thoughts of Love and goodnesse exceeding deep But now to goe on ANd heer I shall begin this Moneth of Aprill with a most holy and happy Aprill-shewre likely by Gods blessing and gracious breathing on it to prove most frugiferous in the happy production of many fragrant flowers the ensuing Spring and succeeding Summer and to make way for a copious crop of blessings and happy Harvest to the glory of our ever-living and all-good-giving God and to the unspeakable comfort of his poore despised Church and Children and this it was About the 4 of this present Aprill a conference was held by the Lords with the House of Commons which was managed by the Lord Say at which was offered by the House of Peers to the House of Commons 1. That the Commissioners of the Great Seal might bee continued 2. They desired that a proportionable number of Lords being appointed to joyne with the Members of Both Houses of Parliament might bee equally employed in the great affairs of the Kingdome And as a farther demonstration of the earnest desire their Lordships had of the continuance of a happy union and correspondency of spirits and affections between Both Houses a Declaration of the Lords in Parliament was read wherein they declared That they would ever bee carefull to maintain the priviledges of the Commons as their own and should bee ready to concurre with them in all things for the good and safety of the Kingdom whatsoever some malicious and ill-affected persons endevouring thereby to divide between them might report to the contrary which 〈◊〉 they left with the House of Commons to remain upon Record 〈◊〉 testimony of their reall intentions to Posterity This passage together with a former of this kinde on the part of the House of Commons declaring their sincere resolutions to maintain the priviledges of the House of Peers and which their said Declaration being first read was also left with the Lords to bee Recorded by them also to all Posterity I thought fit to relate thus exactly because I considered and took notice of them both as soveraign healings of former jealousies betweene Both Houses and these their happy concurrencies as a speciall blessing from Heaven and as one of the greatest tokens of Gods love and favour to this Kingdome and most conducing to the peace thereof and to the salving and curing of the bloody oppressive distractions wherewith all things therein have been infested and almost broken in peices especially also considering that it has been all along the great and main plot of the Enemies of the Peace and Parliament of this Kingdome to breed and feed jealousies in the Houses Whereas now such happy correspondencies will bee their greatest discouragements and by this harmonious concord the expedition of our Southern Army now bravely set on foot and gone forth under renowned Sir Thomas Fairfax was most happily hastened on the sweet and blessed effects wherof you will now every day heare of more and more to the glory of God and comfort of the Kingdom as in their proper places I shall now by Gods assistance have occasion to make clear unto you About the 6 of this instant Aprill the House of Commons in Parliament received Letters from renowned active and loyall Generall Brown from Abbington concerning some late exploits performed by the forces under his Command the substance whereof was as followeth Viz. That
length the Ragland horse drew towards Cardiffe in Glamorganshire being a Parliament Garrison whereupon the Governour and Committee there sent to Colonell Kern lately made High-Sheriffe of that Shire by the Parliament and to the rest of the Countrie to rise in a body to oppose the Enemie But contrarie to expectation this Colonell Kern and the Malignant Gentrie being at their Rendevouz so prevailed with the people thus now raised as to besiege Cardiffe which was done with about 2000. men and so in a short time they tooke the Towne having also the assistance of the Malignant Townsmen Hereupon the Governour Committee and Souldiers betooke themselves to the Castle And Gods good providence so ordered it that Major Generall Laughorn Sir Trevor VVilliams and Colonell Keyrl and a party sent from Bristol from Major Generall Skippon came in good season to their assistance for the Governour and Committee as I toucht before had sent to them and to Colonell Morgan to acquaint them with their estate their provisions were now almost spent in the Castle and being so come fought most valiantly with the Country men and Ragland forces who were joyned on a Heath neere the Towne and at length by Gods great mercy to us routed them and just upon the nick thereof Colonell Morgan with a party from Gloucester came in also unto them and did brave service in the pursuite of the Enemie where they slew many and tooke many prisoners and forced them to flie backe to the Towne but Major Generall Laughorn pursued them and releived the Castle the enemie continuing in the Towne a while till at last Articles were agreed on that they should march away with 〈◊〉 flying match lighted 〈◊〉 But having marched some pretty distance from the Towne 〈◊〉 was given by the Enemie for â—â—â—ach of their articles whereupon both sides were ingaged in a second very hot fight in which were slaine and drowned of the Enemie at least 400. above 500. taken prisoners the rest were all scattered and fled we lost very few men in this service though many were hurt This service certainly was of very great concernment and rightly considered with the circumstances was none of the least mercies among many of our late famous successes and victories which God vouchsafed us For had the Treacherous plot tooke effect by this Colonell Kerns defaction and the revolt of this County of Glamorgan South-VVales had beene lost again which probably would have afforded many thousands to the king to joyne in a body with Sir Jacob Ashley who to this end and on this hope had drawne his forces this way from Oxford to Worcester and so forward hither thus to joyne and make strong recruites and also to have gathered together their scattered quarter'd-men that came from Chester with Byron and at Garrisons thereabout and thus to make a fair armie in the field presently But our God with whom they consulted not saw and smiled at their malice and mischiefe and hath thus most graciously crushed this Cockatriâ—e in the Egge and made this dangerous defigne a meere blasted Embrio dying in the wombe ever magnified and blessed be the Lord our good God for it Upon the intelligence of which most famous victory to the Parliament it was ordered that 1000 l. should be forthwith charged upon the Excise for the payment of renowned Major Generall Laughornes forces And the Commons conferred upon himselfe an additionall considerable estate in regard of the singular good service now and formerly performed by him most faithfully and successefully for the King and Parliament And upon the 28. of this instant Februarie we received most certaine intelligence of the taking of Corff-Castle which being fully related in a Letter sent from those parts from a speciall good hand I have here for the Readers better content and satisfaction inserted a Copy thereof which was as followeth Sir There being in Corffe-castle One Leiutenant Colonell Pitman who had formerly served the Lord Inchiquin in Ireland upon some intimation given that he had a desire to doe the Parliament an acceptable service in procuring this Castle to be delivered up to the Parliaments possession in case he might have a protection granted him Accordingly a protection was here privately procured and sent downe unto him and thereupon the plot was thus laid viz. Lieutenant Colonell Pitman having speech with Captaine Aniketell the Governour told him that if he would give way unto it he would goe into Somersetshire and privately get 100. men more and bring them into the Castle and then considering what had been formerly done he made no question but they should beat off the besiegers and make them quit the place and that he would finde meanes to colour his going out by obtaining leave to goe for an exchange of a friend of his for one of the Parliaments side that was prisoner in the Castle Which being assented unto and leave given by Colonell Bingham for him to goe forth accordingly an appointment was made and the designe so laid as that Pitman under the Colour of bringing in the 100. men for the enemy should bring in 100. of the Parliaments Souldiers and that the besiegers should give the onset the same time Accordingly 100. commanded men were taken out of severall Companies of the Garrison of Waymouth and secretly marched to Lulworth castle whence they marched away with some 30. or 40. more joyned with them as silently as they could untill they came to the place Lieutenant Colonell Pitman leading them on to the Sally-port where Captaine Aniketill the Governour stood to welcome them with much courtesie some of the men being Somersetshiremen fitted for the purpose he being that Countrey-man yet some intermixed amongst them in a disguised habit who knew all parts of the castle When 50 of these were entered Captaine Aniketill seeing many yet behind refused to suffer any more to enter saying those were enough and more than he could tell what to doe with at which Pitman seemed to be very angry saying he had done him wrong in causing him to bring men so far with the hazard of their lives and then to shut them out and make them lie in the cold and to be in danger of having their throats cut But those that were taken in got presently some of them into the Kings Tower others into the Queenes Tower and the rest into the two Platformes standing upon their guard and making it good expecting the besiegers would give the onset by scalado or otherwise it being about two of the clocke after midnight and thus it continved three or foure 〈◊〉 the besiegers in all that time never falling on and the Garrison in the meane space shooting and vapouring and threatning to cut the throats of all that were entred But those 50. standing stoutly to it at last when it was open day the besiegers when they saw their friends that were formerly entred to be on the tops of the Towers platformes then they began
to the gates and first brake open the Sand-gate the Enemy having made fast and baricadoed all the gates and then our horse also forced open the Closse-gate whereupon the Enemy dispersed themselves many of them betook themselves to the Angell at the Closse-gate others to another house at the Sand-gate but our men seeing them thus housed fired both of them and in the mean season most bravely skirmished with the Enemy without but the fire taking on the foresaid houses they within them were forced to surrender themselves prisoners to us Whereupon our men helped to quench the fire and so obtained a very considerable Victory for they there took prisoners Colonell Francis Cook Leivtenant Colonell Francis Hook 2 Captains Leivtenant Relsoll 2 Cornets 3 Quartermasters one Mr. Alexander a Gentleman of quality and 40 common Souldiers besides an 163 good horses 200 armes some Match and powder and other good purchase one Captain and divers others were slain on the ground one Sergeant Major sorely wounded and divers other Officers and Souldiers who by the opportunity of the night escaped our hands This service was most gallantly performed on our part for wee had but 2 of ours slain on the place some few wounded and Captain Feiler hurt and this was all the losse on our part blessed bee the Lord for it About the 6 of this instant December there was a great dispute in the House of Commons about the calling home of all the Members of Both Houses of Parliaments from their Offices and imployments both in the war otherwise that so the Houses being completed with their Members here might be a more suddain surer dispatch and transaction of businesses and for clearing the publicke prejudice concerning personall respects to themselves And heerin also they seriously took into consideration the slow proceedings of our Armies abroad and the not prosecuting of advantages when God in mercy gave them into our hands tending much to the prolongation of this most unhappy Warre and withall resenting that those differences which were then among our Commanders were commonly most where the command was greatest For these and such like weighty considerations I say the House of Commons put this great and most weighty businesse to the Vote in their House and the very same motion was also made by an honourable personage in the House of Peeres and many Votes and suffrages passed about it pro and con But at last it was agreed on and a Vote passed clearly with a most unanimous consent and as I take it Nemine contradicente by the House of Commons in Parliament Assembled to this effect That no Member of either House of Parliament shall during this warre enjoy or execute any Office or Command Military or Civill which hath been granted to or conferred on any Member of either House or by any authority derived from either House and that an Ordinance bee brought in accordingly This Ordinance or Vote was afterward accordingly Printed and published by authority and was very fitly called The Self-denying Ordinance whereof more hereafter in a more proper place And for the more serious and religious managing and establishing of this great Vote and the other weighty affaires of the Kingdome depending hereon and hence issuing our most renowned Worthies of the House of Commons Ordered that Wednesday the 10 of December then next ensuing should bee set apart for the keeping of a private Fast by both Houses of Parliament so to seek the Lord and implore a blessing from Almighty God upon their farther proceedings in the grand affaires of State to bee agitated and negotiated on this vote And reverend and religious Mr. Marshall Mr. Sedgewick and Mr. Hill were intreated to Preach and carry on the work of that day with them And was not heer a work hopefull indeed to end well which was so well begun A Jove owne principium Certainly if God hath made it known unto us That hee is found of those that seek him not much more unquestionably will hee bee found of those that seek and seriously enquire after him And so truely wee have blessedly found it as I shall make most clear to the godly Reader by many most remarkable and memorable testimonies and demonstrations thereof in their succeeding proper places But to goe on About the 10 of this instant wee were credibly assured by Letters out of Lincolnshire that a brave Party of the Parliaments forces in those parts led by valiant and virtuous Colonell Rainsborough under the Command of the Earl of Manchester having much battered Crowland with the Ordnance which they brought by Water in long Boats against it the Enemy at last was forced to a parley which was assented to upon the conclusion whereof it was agreed by both parties that the Enemies forces should march out of the Town the Commanders and Officers with their Swords and Pistols but the common Souldiers to leave all their Armes behinde them as also all the Ordnance and Ammunition therein to bee left for the Parliaments use which accordingly was performed And thus this place of so great concernment that at this time many hundred by Land and by Water were fain to bee imployed against only a few men within it and yet receiving many checks and affronts many times by sallies out of the Town was now thus at last surrendred again into the Parliaments possession This Town had been twice lost and recovered by us which had it not now might have proved a kinde of scurvey Dunkirk to the Parliament both by land and water too had the Enemy continued in it and thereby better manned and fortified it as they might and would have done had they not so soon been thus beaten out of it December the 12 wee were certainly informed out of the West of a singular good peice of service performed by that most valiant active and faithfull Commander Colonell Massie who heaâ—ing that a party of the Enemies Horse from Bristol had some designe about Chippingham in Wilts hee sent out his Scouts who discovered them to bee that night quartered at Sedbury in Gloucestershire some 9 miles from Bristol and the just middle way from Bristol to Chippingham Whereupon hee presently advanced with a considerable party from Malmesbury some 10 miles from Sedbury and with accustomed undaunted courage falling on the Enemies quarters hee there surprised and took an 160 of their horse 100 armes 50 prisoners together with 12 Captains Leivtenants and other Officers the rest of the Enemies leaving their design for lost fled back again with haste into Bristol And about the 14 instant came certain intelligence by Letters from Oswestre from Sir Thomas Middleton of some considerable action and good service performed by our forces thereabout the substance whereof was to this effect That now at length the long looked for Colonell Beal was blessed bee God come safely to Sir Thomas Middleton into Mountgomery-shire and that Colonell Carter with our Horse and
Congregations throughout London and Westminster and the Lines of Communication Secondly That Colonell Birch should be Governour of Hereford and the Committee of both Kingdomes to send him his Commission and that his Regiment should be recruited to 1200 men according to his own desire Thirdly That 6000 l. should be charged on the Excize and forthwith paid in to be at the disposall of the Committee of both Kingdomes for the payment of his Forces and to discharge his engagements to his Souldiers for their activity and fidelity in this designe Fourthly That 1600 suits of cloathes knap-sacks shooes and stockings should be speedily sent to the Common Souldiers of the Garrison of Gloucester that had so great a hand in the performance of this great and good service in thus taking of Hereford And fifthly and lastly The House of Commons religiously and piously considering this businesse to be the worke of God alone and that his hand was chiefly visible in it They therefore to improve this mercy to Gods farther and future honour and glory tooke into their most serious consideration the setling of able and faithfull Preachers both in Gloucester and Hereford and for that purpose there was an Ordinance tâ—ice read and committed for the uniting of severall Churches in the City of Gloucester into one only Congregation and allowed among them 300 l. per annum to be paid to the respective Ministers of them out of the Revenues of the Dean and Chapter of that City aâ—d the disposall of them to be in the power of the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councell of that City and the vacant meeting-places in the City to be set apart for a Library an English-Schoole a Magazine for Armes and other publique uses for the honour of that famous and faithfull City Also that a confirmation should also be made of all the Lands Liberties and Franchises heretofore granted under the Great Seal of England unto this said City and Corporation And likewise for the better encouragement of the Souldiers of that City the House Ordered that 30 l. a week should be paid to the Officers of the Trained Bands that do service at the Main-Guard thereof there being neer 200 that do constant duty there And shortly after also Lieutenant Barrow for so was his name that so neatly and notably acted the Constables part whereby we thus became possessours of Hereford being come to London was admitted into the House of Commons where he made a narrative of the whole businesse to the House and afterward being ordered to withdraw the House ordered that 100 l. should be forthwith issued out of Haberdashers-Hall to the said Lieutenant Barrow for his present support and further ordered That the summe of 50 l. per annum should be conferred on him and his heyres for ever for this his gallant undertakings in that service to be truly paid him out of the Estate of Sir Henry Lingen a notorious Delinquent neer Hereford A rare and singular act of encouragement to stir up the hearts of honest and active Souldiers to cheerfull industrie and fidelity in this the Parliaments most just and righteous Cause And now put all these together and then say was not here an ample and pious retribution of bounden gratitude both to God and men his Instruments for this great goodnesse and mercy to us yes certainly and therefore most worthy to be recorded to Posterity for the Parliaments indelible honour But now to proceed About the 23 of this instant December we had certaine intelligence by Letters out of the West that our most renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Forces had taken Canon-Tean a strong Fort or Block-House of the Enemies by which meanes they had the command well-nigh of all the River of Ex it was gained by storme and they found among those of the Enemies slaine in the enterprize a Lieutenant Colonell and two Captaines and divers Common Souldiers and that after the taking thereof there came voluntarily in unto Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Forces thereabout a Cornet of the Enemies with 30 good Horse who had revolted from them Also by other Letters out of the West we were certainly informed that a party of his Excellencies Forces there had taken in another strong Garrison of the Enemies lying upon the said River West of Excetor called Callyntine House and therin between thirty and forty Horse as many prisoners and their Armes by the gaining of which place the Enemy is much more straitned than before and the passage upon the River is quite blocked up And about Decemb. 26. the House of Commons received Letters from the Northerne parts of the Kingdome of the rendition of the strong Garrison of Skipton Castle which had been long besieged by our Forces the Enemy having had faire Conditions and clear performances of the same viz. To march away with their Arms either to Newarke Oxford or Hereford of the taking whereof it seems they then had not had information or knowledge Now upon the reading of this Letter the House referred the further consideration thereof to the Committee of the North. This surrender of Skipton Castle in Craven was no doubt of very great consequence for by this meanes not onely all York shire is cleared and happily reduced to the obedience of the Parliament but also all Northumberland Cumberland Westmerland and Lancashire the Enemy not having any one Garrison in their hands in all those parts of the Kingdome neerer then is Newark A wonderfull mercy indeed and most worthy our deerest and deepest engagements of 〈◊〉 gratitude to the Lord our most blessed and bountifull Fountaine of all our good And O that the sweet and serious consideration hereof might raise and rouse up our souls to an earnest and ardent deâ—ire and endeavour for the building of Gods House who thus even in the first place hastens the building of ours And about the latter end of this Moneth of December the prudent and provident Senators and Common-Councell of the most renowned City of London with a joynt and most unanimous consent among themselves at a Common-Councell hâ—ld in their Guild-Hall resolved that in regard of the many designes of the Enemy against the said City 500 Horse should be forthwith raised for the 〈◊〉 thereof and to prevent any audacious â—â—tinies or insurrections that might probably happen by reason of the multitude 〈◊〉 Delinquenâ—s and Royalists which were then laâ—â—ly come out of the Kings Quarters And that the Guards of the City should be doubled and that every one should contribute according to their ability toward the maintenance thereof And the Commons in Parliament likewise referred it to a Committee to consider how the prisoners in the Tower of London might be secured removed or confined to their Chambers and that they might be prevented from giving or holding any correspondence unto and with the Enemy And the said Committee was likewise to consider in like manner of all the other Prisons in London and
common with others you may be assured of such mediation to the Parliament in your behalfe both from my selfe and others as for one whom for personall worth and many vertues but especially for your care of and moderation towards the Country we honour and esteeme above any other of your party whose Errour supposing you more swayed with Principles of Honour and Conscience than other we most pity and whose happinesse so far as consistent with the publike welfare we should delight in more than in your least suffering These things not from any need or other ends than Humane and Christian having offered I leave to your consideration and theirs whom they concerne desiring your and their speedy resolving which I pray may be such as shall be most for the honour of God the peace and welfare of this poore Kingdome and for your and their good so far as may stand therewith And having herein discharged as I conceive the duty of an honest man a Souldier and a Christian if God shall see it good to let your hearts be hardned against your own peace I shall though with some regret for that ill which shall insue to any yet with cheerfullnesse and rejoycing at the righteous Judgements of God pursue my charge and trust for the publique in another way not doubting of the same presence and blessing which God hath hitherto vouchafed in the same Cause to the weake endeavours of Thomas Fairefax March 5. 1645. About the 16. of this instant we received more certaine intelligence by Letters out of the West of the still continued good hand of God unto us in Cornwall and in perticular of a brave defeat given to the Enemie by our forces there at or about Saint Cullumbe and the taking of that Garrison from the Enemies which being fully and faithfully set forth to the Parliament by master Rushworths Letter I have here thought fit to give the Reader a sight of the Copy thereof which was as followeth TO The Honorable William Lenthal Esq Sheaker of the Honorable House of COMMONS SIR BY the last Messenger the Packet from Ireland taken in the vessel at Padstow was sent unto you which I hope came safe to your hands by which original letters under the hand of the Earle of Glamorgan you will perceive how as yet he is imployed for the bringing over of an Army and what private correspondency there is between him the Prince the Lord Hopton and other persons of Note notwithstanding he is under the cloud of being accused of High Treason his being at liberty acting the Kings Commands in bringing over an Army of naturall Irish Rebels and his correspondency with the Prince Hopton c. is enough to satisfie the World by whose Command he manages that Affaire I also acquainted you with a Summons sent to the Lord Hopton or rather honorable conditions if he would instantly lay downe Armes and disband the Forces in the West which being sent unto him upon Thursday last and no Answer returned on Friday On Saturday the Army advanced towards Saint Collumb and being drawn to a Rendezuouz foure miles from Bodman the Weather proved so extreame wet that it was not held fit to advance on any further that day and so the Foot were appointed to Quarters in Villages thereabouts and a mile or two forwards The Horse being likewise at the Rendezvouz returned to their Quarters but some went to Quarter neerer the Enemy and to the Guards except a very good party of about eight hundred Horse and Dragoons commanded by Colonell Rich who was sent away with the same with Orders to fall upon the Enemie Guards or Quarters as he should see it most fit for the service and accordingly within two houres of Evening he fell upon their Out-guards neere St. Cullumb beat them to their Main-guard Being then drawn up in a Body ours likewise drew into three Divisions one commanded by Colonell Rich another by Major Fincher and the third by Major Scroop The Enemy seeing no way but to fight the Van of them gave a very good charge Major Generall Pâ—rt breaking through one Division himselfe But they were instantly put to the Rout and we had the pursuit of them for three or foure Miles killing many tooke about an hundred prisoners whereof Major Generall Pert was one and betwixt two hundred and three hundred Horse This so Alarm'd the Enemy that it made them desert the Head-quarter for a mile and caused them to draw all their Horse to a Rendezvouz at eleven of the Clock at night on Michel-Downe and so continued in the Wet in a great Raine till the next morning thinking the whole Army had been advanced Our party returned to St. Collumb and this morning brought the Prisoners to Towne This party of the Enemies were of the Princes own Regiment most of them Reformadoes Officers they confesse their Souldiers are very weary and that if it were published among them they might have Passes to go home it was not in the Officers power to keepe them together They likewise say that most of their Officers if they knew they might be accepted into the protection of the Parliament they would desert the Service Being askt if they had heard any Propositions were sent unto them from the Generall offering honorable conditions both to Officers and Souldiers they answered they never heard of any so by that we perceive the Lord Hopton with some few of his Councel keepes the propositions from being published There are some others come from thence who say that the French are mighty inquisitive to know whether they might be so far received into favour as to have leave to goe beyond seas Laying all these together we are of opinion that it will not be in Hoptons power to hinder a good effect to the propositions sent him so soon as the same is published amongst them which before this we hope by some means that hath beene used is effectually done This day the Generals Trumpeter that went with the sommons is returned with a briefe answer from the Lord Hopton to this purpose That he had taken the letter from the Generall into consideration but the suddaine advance of our forces gave an interruption to mention at this time any particulars but by a Trumpeter of his own he would send a particular answer The Trumpeter was curteously used and much respected This evening the Lord Hoptons Trumpeter is come with a letter in answer to the Generals propositions which indeed implies a willingnesse to end the businesse of the West without more blood shed but yet desires to be satisfied whether the King and Parliament be not neare a conclusion of a Peace for being intrusted by the King it concerns him to support his honour as long he can and yet withall inclines to have some Countrey Gentleman come unto him to satisfie him of the state of affaiers Taking altogether it argnes a coming to us though it seems yet a distance or else a way to get
the other particulars of 〈◊〉 Petition into serious and speedy consideration And have commanded me to give you hearty thanks for the Reall Testimonies of duty and good affections which not onely by your words but by your Actions you have constantly manifested unto them Jo. Browne Cleric Parliamentorum And the very same day and time the said noble Citizens exhibited the like Remonstrance and Petition to the honourable House of Commons of which I say no more but leave it to the Lords most gracious and righteous wisdome and mercy for a happy returne in his own due time But that which is yet farther very memorable and remarkable in this businesse which I only toucht before and as you saw it most evidently true before was That the very day before the Remonstrance was exhibited in Parliament the Kings Majestie himselfe as it were to honour and encourage them in that their famous and faithfull resolution sent a particular Letter to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councell 〈…〉 which they being all at that time assembled in their Guild-Hall was publikely read in the audience of them all And which is yet more memorably remarkable and worthy serious and sacred observation That a day or two at the farthest after they had exhibited their Remonstrance as aforesaid the truly religious and sincerely affected Ministers of two Counties Suffolk and Essex as it were to back the Cities brave Remonstrance exhibited a most excellent Petition to the Lords and Commons in Parliament attested by at least 300 Ministers hands subscribed to it which also for the piety and excellency of it I have thought fit for the Readers better delight and satisfaction here to insert which was as followeth To the Right Honourable the House of Lords now Assembled in PARLIAMENT The Humble Petition of the Ministers of the Counties of Suffolk and Essex concerning the Church-Government presented to the Right Honourable Houses of Parliament Sheweth THat your solemne League and Covenant great and glorious Victories the expectation of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas the longing desires of our Brethren of Scotland the humble Petitions of the Reverend Assembly and the great City of this Kingdome the pressing miseries of the Orthodox and well-affected Ministers and People in the Country cry aloud to your Honours for a settling of Church-Government according to the Word From the want of this it is Right Honourable that the name of the most High God is blasphemed his precious truths corrupted his Word despised his Ministers discouraged his Ordinances vilified Hence it is that Schisme Heresie Ignorance Prophanenesse and Atheisme flow in upon us Seducers multiply grow daring and insolent pernicious Bookes poyson many souls â—â—ety and learning decay apace very many Congregations ly waste without Pastours the Sacrament of Baptisme by many neglected and by many re-iterated the Lords Supper generally dis-used or exceedingly prophaned confusion and ruine threatning us in all our Quarters In all humility therefore acknowledging your unwearied labours for the publique good your successefull endeavours for saving this Kingdome your hopefull beginnings of a blessed Reformation we out of conscience and in tender regard to the glory of God and the salvation of our people beseech your Honours That a forme of Church-Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches may with all possible speede be perfected and confirmed by your civill sanction that Schismaticks Hereticks seducing Teachers and soul-subverting Books be effectually suppressed That further care may be had of Ordination for a supply of able and Orthodox Ministers and all good meanes used to make up the sad breaches in this our Sion So shall the Church of God be setled your hands strengthened the sacred Covenant performed our feares prevented the Judgements of God diverted And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. The Lords Answer to the said Petition THe Lords are glad to finde this zeale and care in the Ministery of the Counties of Suffolk and Essex for the preventing the further increase of Heresie and Profanenesse and for the promoting a growth in the power of godlinesse The Lords desire you to continue still in your endeavours therein and they will not be wanting to give you all encouragement They have commanded me to give you thanks for your expressions of your good affections to the Parliament and this Cause and do assure you that they will improve their power for the suppressing of Errour Heresie seducing Teachers and soul-subverting Booke and likewise for the setling of Church Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches to which they hold themselves obliged by their solemne League and Covenant and that their Lordships have appointed that their Petition with this answer shall be printed and published John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum The Answer of the House of Commons to the Minister Petition Die Mercurii 27. Maii. 1646. THe House being informed that divers Ministers of the Counties of folke and Essex were at the doore they were called in and presented to the House a Petition intituled The humble Petition of the Ministers of Suffolke and Essex the which was read The Ministers were againe called in and Master Speaker by command of the House acquainted them That most of the particular desires of their Petition are now under consideration and they hope will be brought to a settlement speedily That the House is very sensible that through some intervening obstructions the Church-Government hath not beene so fully settled as they desire and that they give them thankes for their good affections and desire them to put all Ordinances in execution concerning Church-Government as lye within their power H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. This speciall act also of Divine providence so oportunely bringing in these Ministers Petition much to the very same effect as the Cities Remonstrance was and full of much piety and zeale for God and his Great Cause the present miserably distracted and distorted Church by abhominable Errours and Scismes I could not but most gratefully and gladly record in these our Parliamentarie-Annals as no small mercie of the Lord unto us and worthy to be taken notice of to the glory of God and honour of those two most worthily to be honoured Counties And about the third of June,1646 We were certainely informed of the taking of Salcomb-Regis which was surrendred to Colonell Welden and also that Bostol-house a most pestilent and pernicious Garrison of the Enemies was also yeeled up unto the power and possession of the Parliament And upon the 4. of June it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our most worthy Parliamentarie worthies to set forth an Ordinance of Parliament for the settlement of that great scruple and Question among Gods people as touching the point of worthy or unworthy Communicants at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and for the more full and certaine establishment of the Presbyterian Church Government a mercie long
and most earnestly desired by all except our most pernicious and disorderly Seâ—â—aries and Libertines And the Ordinance to continue thus for the space of three yeares And whereas I gave a hint or touch before of our Cause of jealousie that the Kings putting himselfe into the hands of our loving and loyall brethren of Scotland and his writting of faire and smoth Letters was not so Cordiall as we did and could have desired how ever we trust and pray the Lord who hath the hearts of Kings in his hands and can turne them as the Rivers of water May and will in his good time heare the prayers of his people therein also I shall here give the Reader a notable Demonstration that our said jelousie was not groundlesse as may too evidently appeare by this ensuing Letter of his Majesties if it were his Majesties owne act whereof there is some uncertaiâ—â—ty it being assured that his Majestie disclaimed it and so t is hoped it was not his but that most wicked Agents Secretarie Nicholases sent to the Marq Marquis of Ormond in Ireland a little before he departed from Oxford which shewed his still hollow and unholy heart to plot and foment new inlargements of our bloody broyles and Civill warres which Letter being sent by Ormond to that loyall and brave Commander in Armes Major Generall Monroe in Ireland and by him to the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland by Sir Robert King I have here thought fit to insert it verbatim as it was printed and published by order of Parliament which was as followeth CHARLES REX RIght trust and entirely beloved Cousins and Concellors We greet you well having used all possible and honorable meanes by sending many gracious Messages to the two Houses of Parliament wherein wee have offered them all they have heretofore desired few or none will believe this that have had any knowledge of the Parliaments just desires and what the answers have beene to them and desire from them nothing but what they themselves since these unhappy wars have offered to procure Our Personall Treaty with them for a safe and well grounded Peace and having in stead of a dutifull and peaceable returne to Our said Messages received in stead thereof either no answer at all or such as argues nothing will satisfie them but the ruine not only of Vs Our Posterity and Friends but even of Monarchy it selfe and having lately received very good security that We and all that doe or shall adhere to Vs shall be safe in Our Honors Persons and Conferences in the Scottish Army and that they shall really and effectually joyne with Vs and with such as will come in unto Vs and joyne with them for Our preservation and shall imploy their Armes and Forces to assist Vs to the procuring of a happy and well grounded Peace for the good of Vs and our Kingdomes in the recovery of Our just Right We have resolved to put our selves to the hazard of passing into the Scots Armie now lying before Newarke and if it shall please God that We come safe thither We are resolved to use our best endeavors with their assistance and with the conjunction of the Forces under the Marquesse of Montrosse and such of Our well affected Subjects of England as shall rise for Vs to procure if it may be an honorable and speedy Peace and those who hitherto refused to give eare to any means tending therunto of which Our resolution We held it necessary to give you this advertisement as well to satisfie you and all Our Counsell and Loyall Subjects with you to whom We will that you communicate these Our Letters that failling in Our earnest and sincere endeavors by Treaty to put an end to the miseries of these Kingdomes We esteemed Our selfe obliged to leave no probable expedition unattempted to preserve Our Crowne and Friends from the usurpation and tyranny of those whose actions declare so manifestly their Designe to overthrow the Lawes and happy established Government of this Kingdome And now We have made knowne to you Our Resolvtion We recommend to your speciall care the disposing and managing of Our affaires on that side as you shall conceive most for Our Honor and service being confident the course We have taken though with some hazard to Our Person will have a good influence on that Our Kingdom and defer if not altogether prevent the Rebels meaning the Parliament transporting of Forces from them into that Kingdome And We desire you to satisfie all Our well affected Subjects on that side of Our Princely care of them whereof they shall receive the effect as soone as God shall enable Vs We desire you to use some meanes to let Vs and Our Councell at Oxon here frequently from you and of your actions and conditions there and so God prosper your Loyall Endeavors SATURDAY June 6. Thus have you seene the Kings Letter full indeede of much evill and Demonstration of no change of heart from his former bloody cruell and unkingly practises of the ruine of himselfe and his Kingdomes as much in as him lay if indeede it were his owne act as it was too strongly presumed to be upon which many jelousies being raised and founded against our Loyall brethren of Scotland they therefore in vindication of their owne integritie presented a Declaration to the Houses of Parliament in the name of the Commissioners of Scotland which was read accordingly and which I have here thought fit to insert for the Readers better content and satisfaction which was as followeth For the Right Honourable the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore Right Honourable THis inclosed paper having very lately come to our hands which although it hath not so much as colour enough to deceive yet neverthelesse as Generall Major Monro in testimony of his integrity did communicate the thing to the Commissioners of Parliament in Vlster so we for preventing mistakes many Copies of the same thing being spred among the people have thought good to communicate the same to the Honourable Houses with our sense upon it that by their wisdome and reciprocall care a right understanding in all things may still be preserved between the Kingdomes Whether any such Letter was signed by the King at Oxford or whether it was invented of purpose to support a declining party we do not know what may concerne the King in it we leave to himself who as he hath since the date of that paper expressed contrary intentions and resolutions in his Messages to both Kingdomes so he can best tell what he wrote at that time we are onely to speake to the matter of the paper which cometh from the hand of Secretary Nicholas unto whose informations what credit ought to be given the Houses very well know It doth consist in our perfect knowledge and we declare it with as much confidence as ever we did or can do any thing that the matter of the paper so farre as concerneth any assurance or
the bringing of the Churches of God in the three Kingdomes to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith forme of Church-Government Directory for Worship and Catechising which thing both Kingdomes are by Covenant obliged sincerely and really to endeavour and that not for a time but constantly so that neither of the Kingdomes can be loosed or acquitted from the most strait and solemne obligation of their continued and constant endeavouring these good ends so farre as any of them is not yet attained it being also understood that our concurrence to the sending of the Propositions shall be without prejudice to any Agreement or Treaty between the Kingdomes and shall not infringe any engagement made to the Kingdom of Scotland nor be any hinderance to our insisting upon the other Propositions already made knowne to the Houses and it being understood that it is not our Judgement that every particular and circumstance of thâ—se Propositions is of so great importance to these Kingdomes as Peace and Warre should depend thereupon Vpon these grounds which we make knowne only for clearing our consciences and for discharging Our selves in the trust put upon us without the least thought of retarding the so much longed for Peace We condiscend and agree that the Propositions as they are now resolved upon be in the name of both Kingdomes presented to the King whose heart we beseech the Lord wholly to incline to the Councels of Truth and Peace June 25. 1646. Die Veneris 26. Iunii 1646. ORdered by the Lords in Parliament Assembled that the Marquesse of Argyles Speech with the Paper concerning the Propositions be forthwith printed and published John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum And at the same time with the foresaid Paper there was another Paper delivered in unto the Parliament being a Letter from his Majesty to the Marquesse of Ormond in Ireland discharging all further Treaty with the Irish Rebels for thus now blessed be God His Majesty was pleased to terme them not Catholike Subjects as formerly and this being a businesse of so high and eminent concernment I have here also thought fit to give the Reader a Copy thereof which was as followes CHARLES REX RIght trusty c. Having long with much griefe looked upon the sad condition which our Kingdom of Ireland hath bin in these divers years through the wicked and desperate Rebellion there and the bloody effects which have ensued thereupon for the settling whereof we would have wholly applyed our selves if the difference betwixt us and our subjects here had not diverted and withdrawne us and not having bin able by force for that respect to reduce them we were necessitated for the present safety of our Protestant subjects there to give you power and authority to treat with them upon such pious honourable and safe grounds as the good of that our Kingdome did then require But for many reasons too long for a Letter We thinke fit to require you to proceede no farther in Treaty with the Rebells nor to engage us upon any conditions with them after sight hereof And having formerly â—ound such Reall proofes of your ready obedience to our commands We doubt not of your care in this wherein our service and the good of the Protestant subjects in Ireland is so much conâ—erned From New-Castle the 11. of June 1646. And upon the 29. of this instant June the Lords and Commons in Parliament held a serious debate and Consultation about the the time and persons by whom to send away the Propositions for a happy Peace among us which now they had quite finished and as was forementioned our Deare Brethren of Scotland had fully and fairely assented unto for his Majesty to sign and confirm unto us And now all these late and last admirable passâ—ges of Divine provicence thus sweetly and amiably concurring to make us a most happy o-that they may make us a most holy people by our gracious and gratefull improvement of them to the best advantage of Gods glory and our best good both for Soule and body I will now most joyfully and thankfully close up all with that of the blessed Prophet David that sacred and sugred Singer of Israel Thou O Lord hast for us turned our mourning into Dancing thou hast put off our Sackcloth and girded as with gladnesse To the end that our Glory may Sing praise to thee and not be silent O Lord our God we will therefore give thankes to thee for ever and ever And thus I a poore weake and most unworthie instrument the meanest I say and most unable of many thousands having now by the good hand and helpe of Divine providence even by the only ayde and assistance of the Lord my good God led you on my Deare Christian brethren thus farre in the full and faire view and perusall of this so famous and renowned historie though I confesse in a very plaine and unpolisht style and in the most blessed and beautifull sight of this admirable and amiable wonder of the Burning-Bush hitherto Vnconsâ—med yea hitherto I say even most miraculously prospered preserved even to a strongly hoped period of our bloody wars and happy enjoyment of sweet and precious Peace I say if now at last Pride wanton ingratitude to God and men I mean mainly our Loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland cut us not short therof in the haven of our hoped happinesse not withstanding all the most violent flames of malice and virulent furie of unreasonable and outragious men yea of such Ephesian Beasts as the holy Apostle Paul was forced to fight with for the vindication of his great Masters immaculate Cause unsported Truth what shall I say more unto you all my deare Brethren the honest and happy Readers of this honourable History the blessed eye-witnesses and possessors of all these rich and rare forementioned mercies I will now most thankfully shut up all with a word or two and but a briefe word or two as having in all my former parts of this Parliamentary Chroniâ—le said so much already in this kinde of Christian Caution and Exhortation to you all in generall as to mine owne soule in particular First then hath our good God out of his meere mercie and free favour and grace in Christ Jesus onely been so bountifull unto us a sinfull Nation as thus to load us with his love even then when we have been loading him with our sins and provocations Hath he thus remembred us in our low estate as not onely to let us be as at this day a Nation a People but a beloved Nation yea even as it were a people desired Hath the Lord not onely given us our lives as a prey unto us but also given our cruell-hearted and bloudy-minded enemies as bread for us to eate and devour And herein fulfilled and made good his Word and Promise to his people That they shall be as mighty men which tread downe their Enemies in the
the World And the Generations that are yet to come shall pay tributary-Honours to their Ashes And O that this present Generation would plant a Field of ever-flourishing Laurell and fragrant Bayes unto them and tell their Children These are for Garlands to deck the browes of all these our renowned Worthies who have not been afraid to look Death in the face for the preservation and maintenance of their more than Life precious Gospell and Liberties 6 To God ANd now again in the last place as in the first since the Lord JEHOVAH our Great and Glorious Wonder-working God is and ought to bee the Alpha and Omega of all things in Heaven and in Earth And is indeed the Authour and Finisher both of our Faith and of all our Felicity And hath so freely and so fully wrought and done All our Works in us and for us And so admirably raised up all these Saviours the Means and Instruments to bee thus happily and successefully assistant to us For all these so rich and rare for all these so many and marveilous Blessings Benedictions and Preservations thus graâ—ciously and gushingly flowing out and powred down upon Vs Therefore I say to This only Wise God of Peace and Power this unexhaustible overflowing Fountan of Free Grace and Goodnesse whose Wayes are unsearchable whose Power is unreâ—istible and whose unlimited Love and boundlesse Bounty is unexpressible Who hath thus done abundantly above All that wee were able to ask think or desire much lesse in the least measure to deserve according to the Power of his Spirit wherby hee is able indeed to doe All Things To Him Alone and Altogether bee all Honour and Glory Dominion and Praise with all holy Reverence and Universall Obedience in the Church of God by Jesus Christ throughout all Generations even worldwithout end Amen and Amen THE SONG of MOSES PARAPHRASTICALLY And Metrically applyed to our Present-Purpose AS A Preparative whereunto let mee beseech every Religious Reader of this Parliamentary Chronicle to rouse up his Soule and raise up his Spirit with this fervent and affectionate ejaculation of holy David that Sacred and Sugred Singer of Israel Psal 57. 7 8 9 10. My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed I will sing and give Praise Awake up my Glory awake Psaltery and Harp Yea I my self will awake right early I will praise thee O Lord among the People I will sing unto thee among the Nations For thy Mercy is great unto the Heavens And thy Truth reacheth unto the Clouds THE Song of Moses paraphrastically applyed in Meeter to our present purpose IF ever Moses had just cause to sing The high-tun'd praises of heavens glorious King When God his Israel out of Egypt brought And with strong Arme and mighty Wonders wrought Them from tyrannicall Tax-masters freed And their Deliverance long before decreed Had now completely brought to passe with Fame And all his People gladly saw the same Themselves secure on Land their Foes all drown'd And they had thus Gods Promise faithfull found Then sure as justly it to us belongs With as enlarged-hearts to sing such Songs Even us I say Gods English-Israel It ev'ry-way befits becomes as well To magnifie and Omnifie Heavens name And with incessant sounds of Trumps of Fame With Voice and Verse with tongues and hands and hearts Triumphantly to put forth our best-Parts And with God-pleasing Moses thus to sing The endlesse praise of heavens eternall King The Song SIng praise sing praise unto Jehovah high For hee hath triumphed most gloriously O're all our foes The horse and Rider Hee Hath tumbled down to deepest misery Yea all the rotten-Routâ— of Romanists Papists and Prelates Atheists Royalists And mad-Malignants voyd of Grace or Sense To whom God now hath made just recompense The Lord is our sure-strength and pleasant-Song And unto him yea him alone belong The precious praise of our Salvation sweet Hee is our God let us as is most meet Prepare for him a holy Habitation Who is our God yea God of all our Nation Let us make holy-haste to edifie His glorious Church in worships purity For sure the Lord 's a Man of War most stout The Lord God is his Name the world throughout The proudest Princes that against him rose The strongest stoutest hosts of furious foes With all their boldest bravest Captains Hee Hath drown'd and drencht in Seas of misery And like a Stone made them sink deep and fall Death and destruction hath them swallowed all The Right hand of the Lord is most Victorious The Right hand of the Lord is strong and glorious And full of Power and Might and Majesty To dash in peices each proud Enemy And in the Greatnesse of thy glorious Might Thou hast o're thrown all that against Thee fight And mad'st their swelling Pride but as a Bubble And by thy Wrath consumedst them like stubble And with thy Nostrills easie Breath and Blast The swelling Waves were like great Banks up cast And made on heaps to stand up like a Wall And so congealed that they could not fall And when thine Enemies which saw this sight Stuft and stirr'd up with rancour rage and spight Said in themselves So so I 'le now pursue I 'le overtake and make them All to rue I will divide the spoile and satisfie My utmost Lust upon them till they dye I 'le draw my Sword and quickly them destroy My hand shall bring them all to dire annoy And thus O thus did ouâ— proud Enemies Resolve o're us to treaâ— and tyrannize All England Scotland Ireland quite to foil And ' mongst themselves soon to divide the Spoil But in the midst of their insulting Pride The Lord Jehovah blew brought back the tyde Turn'd all those Watery Walls to liquid Waves And made the Ocean the eternall-graves Of all his Israels foes who sank like Lead Into the Seas vaste depth till they were dead O therefore who Great God in like to Thee Who ' mongst all gods to Thee compar'd may bee In Holinesse most glorious and in Praise Most fearfull Working Wonders in our dayes When Thou thy powerfull Right hand stretchest out Thou mak'st the Earth devour thy Foes most stout But Thou in thy rich Grace dost lead along Thy Chosen Flock and them redeem'st from wrong And in thy strength dost them most safely guide And in thy holy Habitation hide The Heathens shall this hear and bee afraid With woe shall Palestina bee dismaid The Dukes of Edom shall astonisht bee And when as Moabs mighty Men shall see Gods mighty Wonders they shall tremble All The Canaanites shall moulder melt and fall Even France and Spain and Rome and Denmark bold Shall bee amaz'd when they the things behold Which God hath dâ—ne for England Scotland and Malignants all shall thus astonisht stand And fear and dread shall them soon overtake And Gods strong Arm as still as Stones them make Till all thy People Lord passe over free Till they passe over purchased by Thee Till Thou hast
brought them in and planted sure Vpon thy holy Mountain to endure In thine Inheritance thy precious Place Which Thou O Lord hast made full fraught with Grace And heav'nly Glory where Thy Self doth dwel Thy Sanctuary where all joyes excell By thine own export Hand most rarely made To all Eternity establisht staide Where Thou O Lord most gloriously dost Reign And shalt for ever evermore remain For why proud Pharaoh's Horse and Chariots All His daring Horsemen Riders strong and tall Into the Sea audaciously did enter And durst into the Deep most proudly venter But sodainly the Lords great Blast did blow And all the Waves and Floods did backward flow And drench and drown them All in Israels eye Whilâ—â— This his People passed over dry Thus as said Jethro in the very Thing Wherein they proudly dealt heavens glorious King Was admirably farre above them All And into utter Ruine made them fall And thus may I say Englands glorious King To whom so justly wee these praises sing Hath wondrously declar'd unto us All That in the Things intended for our thrall By our Papistick Atheistick Foes The Lord Jehovah farre above them rose And tumbled them into the Pit which they Had digg'd as deep as Hell for our decay For this O Lord this great deliverance Our Soules our Songs Thy Praise doe thus advance For this so great so gracious Love O Lord Our Hearts and Tongues thy Praises doe record For this so mighty Mercy glorious King For evermore wee will thy Praises sing And tell our Childrens Children of the same That they when wee are dead may blaze thy Fame To their Posterity for evermore O sing aloud all Laud and Praise therefore Advance O England then thy cordiall-voyce To Heav'ns great King who makes us thus rejoyce Omnis Gloria solius est Domini FINIS Imprimatur Ja. Cranford Aprill 4. 1646. THE BVRNING-BVSH not Consumed OR The Fourth Part of the Parliamentarie-Chronicle ABOUT the later and of the Moneth of July 1644. the Reader may bee pleased to remember that wee lest the Affaires of the Kingdome in a prosperous posture and Victorious condition for the Parliament both in the Northern parts of the Land after the most memorable and renowned Victory at Mâ—â—stone-Moore neer York together with the surrendring up of that great City it self into the power and possession of the Parliament and the Earl of Manchesters most successefull advance Southward after his departure from York with his conquering Army As also in the Western-parts of the Kingdom where the Lord had marveilously blessed the proceedings four most noble Lord Generall his Excellency â—he Earle of Essex both in releeving and securing of Liâ—â— Plimouth and other straitned Towns in the West and in the reducing of Saltash Causam Sâ—ellum Greenvills house Mount-Stamford Plimpton Barnstable Dartmouth and Warâ—ham with many other strong Holds and Towns in those parts Now therefore having by the good providence of God opportuniâ—y 〈…〉 so happily 〈…〉 famous History of the Parliaments most 〈◊〉 and inevitably necessitated proceedings and managing of affaires over the whole Kingdome for the publick safety and subsistence thereof against the destructive designes of the pornicious and viperous Adversaries thereof Atheists Papists Prelates and besotted yea bewitched Malignants I shall now I say by Gods gracious assistance and the Readers constant candor and Christian patience proceed to a Fourth part of this our Parliamentarie-Chronicle which for Varieties sake which in all things and actions addes delight and content I have termed or Entituled The Burning Bush not Consumed To which admirable-wonder shewn by God himself to Moses Exod. 3. 2 3. c. I doubt not but wee shall make a most full and fit resemblance and allusion in the admirable providentiall passages of this ensuing History For as the Angel of the Lord or as some the Lord Christ himself appearing unto Moses in a flame of fire in the midst of a Bush which Burned and was not consumed called unto Moses who voluntarily turning toward it exprest his desire to see this strange sight how it came to passe that the Bush so burning was not consumed to draw neer unto it and to put off his shooes from his feet in regard of the place of Gods presence So I shall now earnestly desire the godly Reader in the sight and 〈◊〉 of this most admirable and renowned History of the Burning estate of our â—ottering State and Kingdome all on fire with intestine furious flames of threatned ruine and confusion yet to this day even miraculously preserved by the All-saving presence of the Lords mighty protection and preservation dwelling in the midst of it whereby it is not nor hath been long ere this as otherwise it had been utterly consumed and turned into ashes of desolation and dâ—struction I shall now therefore I say desire the godly Reader to put off the shooes of prejudicacy and sinister construction and so to draw neer and seriously to peruse and take speciall notice of these miracles of mercy and divine providence with the 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Christian candor and singlenesse of heart and affection and seeing them greatly and graciously to admire and adore the infinite riches of the free grace and goodnesse of Him that thus dwelt in the Bush for it s so rare and unspeakable preservation And thus now let us accordingly come neer to behold this Wonder And for the first part and apparition thereof which presents it self to our eyes and understanding and wherewith I shall begin this Moneth of mighty and even miraculous preservations in this Burning Bush of our present Parliaments great affaires and necessitated Armes and negotiations shall bee of that most famous faithfull active and successefull Commander Colonell Massie Who about the beginning of this Moneth of August 1644. by his own Letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament certified us of a very brave defeat which he had given to the Kings fiery Furies and Cosmorant-like devourers the Cavaliers under the command of Colonell Mynne which for the Readers better satisfaction I shall heer insert verbatim as it was Printed and published by authority of Parliament August 6. 1644. To the Honourable William Lenthall Esquire Speaker to the Honourable House of Commons SIR KNowing the affaires of the Parliament so many and so weighty that their time is precious and therefore a tedious relation not so sutable to them having by this Post more fully related in my Letter unto the Lords and Gentlemen of the Committee of both Kingdomes it being their command I at all times should so doe I shall intreat you to excuse mee unto them at this time who shall suddenly God willing enform and render unto them a more perfect account of both the late following passages both of Gods displeasure yet afterward Mercy unto us That upon Friday last Colonell Generall Mynne being entred into our parts with a considerable strength both of Horse and Foot
taken nor likely to bee without more assistance which also upon the advance of our Forces God delivered into our hands as in its due and proper place wee shall make more particular mention thereof and thereby most of the Northern parts were cleared as far as Newark save only Pomfret-castle and some few other strong Houses or Holds beyond York In all which the Lord our God made this most Noble and renowned Earl of Manchester a most victorious and glorious instrument About the eighteenth of this instant came certain intelligence out of the West that in the time of the Lord Generals unhappy enclosure in heathenish I had almost said hellish Cornwall by the Kings Forces who also at that time were in no little straits for want of provision for his Army also and was therefore forced to send into Sommersetshire for supplies therein wherof Leivtenant Generall Middleton watchfully having gotten intelligence and that there were divers Carriages and Waggons laden with necessaries for the King gotten together Hee very seasonably marched thither and met with them valiantly encountred their convoy slew and took about an hundred and forty Horse and many or most of the Carriages After which he marched farther toward Sherbor◠and sending our parties for intelligence was certainly informed that Sir Francis Dorrington Sir William Courtney and others in all about a thousand Horse and Dragoones were at Lamport Whereupon hee advanced with a party of five hundred Horse and Dragoones to Pederton where the enemy was in readinesse to receive him at his comming And being now in sight of each other Major Ennis and Major Car charged them most gallantly being seconded by Colonell Middleton who at the very first encounter Routed the Enemies Horse and Dragoones though their Dragoones had lined the Hedges and pursued them within half a mile of Bridgewater In which conflict hee took prisoners one Major three Captaines one Leivtenant two Cornets two Quarter-masters forty common Souldiers and fourescore Horses and killed fifty upon the place on our side Major Car was taken prisoner and only scure common Souldiers more and heer also ours took the Enemies Carriages And about the twentieth of this instant August wee received farther intelligence out of the West of some more good service done by this foresaid Leivtenant Generall Middleton since his so routing of Sir Francis Dorrington as aforesaid namely that hee fell upon the Enemies with a party of three hundred Horse and a hundred Dragoones at Farringdon neer Bristol where hee also most bravely dispersed the Enemy and took these prisoners following viz. Colonell Edward Bisse foure Captaines five Leivtenants one Cornet one Quarter-master a Chaplain of their Army and a Chirurgeon eight and thirty Troopers two Gentlemen Troopers twelve Foot Souldiers three barrels of powder with a good quantity of Match and Ball together with an hundred Horse Much also about the same time wee were for certain advertised out of Lancashire that a party of Prince Robbers forces being about three hundred of them whom hee left in that County and were going to fortifie Wiggen whereof Sir John Meldrum Commander in cheif in that County having certain intelligence hee sent a considerable party to them who surprised them all with all their Armes and Ammunition and so also utterly frustrated their intended designe August the two and twentieth 〈◊〉 credible information by Letters out of Lancas to London that the Lord Ogleby a Scotch incendiary fell upon Colonell Doddington neer Preston in Loncashire as hee was marching out of Yorkeshire to Sir John Meldrum then in Lancashire Colonell Doddington at the first had the worst but young Colonell Shuttleworth who indeed deserved to bee an elder brother for his activity and very gallant performances in this Service came in timely to the releif of that valiant Gentleman Colonell Doddington and put the Enemy consisting of foure hundred Horse to a totall Route slew many on the place and took many prisoners among whom were the Lord Ogleby himself Colonell Mynne and Leivtenant Colonell Huddlestone a man of power and much repute in Cumberland and divers other persons of quality Scottish Commanders and Gentlemen were taken prisoners they also took threescore Horse with their Riders and a party of these also endevouring to get to Latham-House as a place of retreat was surprised by our Forces which lay before Latham-House and every man of them taken prisoners Much also about the same time came certain and unquestionable intelligence that the Cavaliers were soundly cudgelled in Cheshire for Colonell Marrow a second Nimrod of those parts and indeed a stout Souldier and brave Commander issuing out of the City of Chester with about fourescors or an hundred Horse was received by a party of that most renowned and Religious Commander and loyall Patriot Sir William Breretons neer Crowton-House where wee kept a Garrison who most bravely routed the Colonell and in the conflict wounded him mortally of which wounds hee dyed the very next day in Chester at which time Sir William took many prisoners And Prince Robber to revenge the death of Colonell Marrow advanced next day with two of his best Regiments of Horse to beat back Sir William Breretons Forces but the Robber was routed and about foure hundred of his men slain on the place and taken prisoners In which conflict valiant and undaunted Captain Zanchie who commanded Sir Williams own Troop most gallantly pursued the enemy within pistoll-shot of the walls of Chester and valiant Lievtenant Colonell Jones performed his part in this conflict with no lesse valour and gallantry and a Corporall of Sir William Breretons Troop by name John Cooper seeing a most brave Horse which the Enemy could not get into the Church in Tarvin Town where the fight was very hot and furious but was fain to bee held by the bridle by one of the Enemies under the Church wall this brave spirited Corporall adventured to fetch the Horse away but they fired so fast out of the Church upon him that hee was forced twice to retreat but hee adventured the third time pistolled the enemy and so brought away the Horse which was valued to bee worth at least fourescore pound And about the same time the renowned Major Generall of Lancas Sir John Meldrum having notice of the Enemies marching toward Ormskirk made haste after them overtook them on Tuesday the twentieth of August in the Evening upon a Moore neer unto Ormskirk where they stood in Battalia and upon the first charge of our Musketteers which were under the command of Colonell Booth they all fled whereupon our Horse bravely fell upon them and totally routed them in the pursuite of whom they took about eight hundred Horse some Letters report a thousand and three hundred prisoners but by reason of the night comming so fast upon them they could not improve the Victory as otherwise they might have done but the Lord Byron and the Lord Mollenaux were
forced to leave their Horses in the flight and to hide themselves in a Corn-field some of the speciall prisoners then taken were Colonell Sir James Prestwich Leivtenant Colonell Cottingham Captain James Anderton with five or six Captaines more six or seven Leivtenants four Cornets one Quarter-master eight or ten Gentlemen of worth and quality two Priests or malignant Ministers and as I said before above two hundred and fifty common Souldiers And heer now give mee leave good Reader to give thee this necessary note or observation upon some of the forepast premises especially touching Gods very gracious dealing with his much menaced and molested Servants in Lanoashire and Cheshire and those parts and his most just and revenging hand of displeasure upon that bold and bloody Prince Robber and his great strength of Horse wherein hee much boasted and â—oulstred up his proud hopes of subduing or ruinating those Counties For in a very short space it was sorely and suddenly abated and decreased by the great hand of God towards us As first aâ— Welsh-pool as I have forementioned there were taken by Sir Thomas Middleton and Colonell Mitton with the assistance of the Forces of Cheshire three hundred forty six Horses of Ruperts own Regiment and within a sevennight after that there were taken by Colonell Ashton at Holland in Lancashire two hundred Horse At Preston also in Lancashire presently after at least threescore Horse and at this last mentioned brave skirmish by the Lancashire Forces at Ormskirk in Lancashire about nine hundred Horse and by Sir William Brereton at Tarvin as was fore-specified at least three hundred Horse which in all make up about one thousand eight hundred Horse besides the prisoners then taken with them And about the foure and twentieth of this instant August I received a summary Relation of the valiant actions of that loyall and active brave Commander Colonell Fox so much inveighed against by that base Pamphleter Aulicus the Kings Lyer in cheif as witty Britanicus rightly titles him which I thought not sit to let slip or to sleep in oblivion which were as followeth Upon this vigilant Commanders discovering of the quartering of Worcester forces in Vpon-Warren some twelve miles from his Garrison hee went forth with a party of Horse and took in their quarters Leivtenant Colonell Dudley as appeared by a Commission found in his pocket Captain Milward Leivtenant Newberry Quarter-master Dod two Corporals ten other Souldiers and twenty Horse and with these hee also brought away a drove of Cattle from the Earl of Shrewsbury and a little after hee took Captain Knight in his Quarter at Stoke neer Bromsgrave And not long after upon intelligence that the Commission of Array sate in execution thereof at Ombersley foure miles from Worcester and seventeen miles from Egherson Garrison hee desired my Lord of Denbighs forces to joyn with him for their apprehension which was accordingly attempted where they took forty prisoners divers of them being men of note an hundred and thirty brave Horses an hundred and fifty Beasts but most of the Commissioners very hardly escaped by reason of some delayes of the Earles forces who stayed a little too long upon some other design neer Worcester contrary to the Colonells direction and desire yet notwithstanding by reason of the Colonells and his cubs pursuite after them over the River Severn where they were enforced to swim hee recovered divers excellent Horse and Armes and so returned with this prize in safety And upon the twentyeth of this instant the said valiant and vigilant Colonell having intelligence of some Cavaliers to lie in Bromsgrove hee sent forth a party of Horse under the command of Captain Tadman and Captain Johnson who surprized in the place Captain Barnsley and all his Souldiers hee being a Gentleman of note and quality and a Wâ—â—â—ster Captain And thus this noble Colonell did so hunt and fright the Cavaliers in all those parts that scarcely one of them were heard of in the Country thereabout but hee presently pulled them into his den nor durst any enemy come out of Worcester to oppose his proceedings insomuch as that the greatest Malignants and Papists about him were forced to flie or make their peace with him About the foure and twentieth also of this instant August wee were certainly informed by Letters out of Darbyshire that whereas that most active and valiant Commander and loyall Patriot of his Country Sir John Gell had long time lyen before Winck field-mannour the Sanctuary of all the Papists and Delinquents of that County hee was now by the brave assistance of the most noble Earl of Manchesters forces become Master of it it being now at last surrendred up into his possession on fair termes and Articles of agreement with all the Armes and Ammunition therein except only what the Cavaleirian Commanders carryed away with them for their own particular uses which were only each Commander his Sword and Pistoll There were in the House above there hundred Souldiers and fourteen peices of Ordnance and it was a House very strongly fortified and of no small concernment to us in the taking of it And now Sir John Gell was by Gods mercy as good as his word who had vowed hee would never leave the said siege till if God so pleased hee had the place and brave Colonell Crawford with part of the Earl of Manchesters forces came as I toucht before seasonably to his assistance and was a great help unto him in the said businesse And about the six and twentieth of August our most pious prudent and vigilant Parliament published an Ordinance of Parliament wherein it was Ordered that the Counties of Wilts Sommerset Devon Dorset and Cornwall with the Cities of Bristoll and Excester as also the Town and County of Pool bee Associated for their mutuall Defence against the Cavalierian Adversary and that the Committees nominated in the Ordinance of Parliament of the first of July shall put in execution the said Ordinance in the Counties afore-mentioned and that all the Colonells Leivtenant Colonells Captaines and other Officers are also to Associate themselves and with the well-affected of the said Counties to ayd and succour one another and giving thereby full power and Authority to the said Committees to put in execution the Ordinance for Voluntary Loanes and Contributions to the Parliament for raising of Monies and Forces for the suppression of all Malignant forces against the Parliament It was thereby also Ordered that the Earl of Northumberland the Earl of Pembrook and the Earl of Salisbury the Lord Roberts and the Lord Bruce with the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the said Counties in the House of Parliament have power to nominate and appoint all Colonells Leivtenant Colonells Serjeant Majors both of Horse and Foot to Command the Forces so raised in the Association and the Lord Generall or such as shall from time to time command in Cheif shall grant Commissions to them accordingly Much
fell valiantly upon their works and forced the Enemy into the pallisadoes and got over the first and second pallisadoes notwithstanding the great and small shot both from the works and the ships and pinnace in both the rivers of Wye and Severn and being himself thrown down to the ground by a leap which his horse made over the ditch hee himself first entring a Musketteir of the enemies gave fire at him but by Gods good providence missed his mark and being somewhat neer him as soon as hee had discharched hee turned the Buttâ—end of his musket and strook at the Colonell and with the force of the blow strook off his head-peice all which was so suddainly done that the brave Colonell had no time to consider the danger hee was in but being of an undaunted spirit hee now had recovered himself and instantly charged the Musketteir and kild him on the place and by this time was valiant Colonell Harley also entred into the second pallisado with his horse and so fully releived and remounted Colonell Massie and presently after him came also Colonell Kerle and so they all together made a most furious onset upon the Enemy and fell to it pell-mell with their Swords Muskets and Pistols now the Enemy seeing himself so hard beset and that there were little or no hope to doe any good they began to run away apace and Sir John Winter himself that grand Papist who had alwayes shewed himself exceeding active in the Papist cause being now amongst them and who to give him his due stood stoutly upon his guard with a fire-pike a while till Colonell Kerle discovering who hee was cryed out that 's Winter that 's Winter pistoll him pistoll him whereupon hee flung down his pike and tumbled himself down the steep banck or hill where the pallisado stood where his neck contrary to all likelihood incurred not the act of breaking and so hee escaped but his horse was taken but yet 230 men that might have escaped the same way durst not follow his example therein and so were all taken prisoners among whom was Leivtenant Colonell Powell Sir Ralph Hoptons own Major together with divers other Commanders and Officers and neer 10 slain upon the place wee took there also 8 barrels of powder 4 Drakes and 4 Iron-peices 200 Armes with many horse and furniture And that which was further observable was this that Prince Robber was to have been there the next night after it was thus taken by us and his bed was set up and fairly furnished for him and hee was to have joyned with Colonell Gerard but now was by Gods great mercy and good providence prevented therein All which service was thus most bravely performed by this victorious Colonell through Gods gracious assistance with the losse of only 10 of his own men and some few wounded This exploit was of great concernment to us in regard that it hinders all manner of provisions from the Enemy at Bristoll and stops the passage from Wales so that they can have no supply of men from thence which consideration indeed made the enemy so eager to have possessed themselves of that advantageous passage Many Colonells I justly and ingenuously acknowledge have done bravely but brave and ever to bee renowned Massie hath excelled them all and that which challengeth eternall fame and datelesse splendour to his illustrious name and indelible honour is his constant persevering in all his most noble actions free from self-aymes and ends not ambitious nor proud of his many incomparable Victories not covetous but truely gallant and noble Hold on then renowned Massie and certainly the illustrious name and fame of Massie more precious than Massie-gold shall never dye but ever fairly flourish whiles England stands But to goe on About the 16 of this instant wee had also indubitable information out of the North that the base and bloody Irish-Rebels having sent a ship with 8 great peices of Ordnance 20 double-barrels of powder and good store of other Ammunition into White-Haven in Cumberland intended for the releif of Carlile being then distressed for want of powder and such other Ammunition Sir Wilfrid Lawson who had raised a Regiment in Cumberland for the service of the Parliament happily surprized her in the said Haven by manning out some men in boats and so seized upon the said Ship Ordnance and Ammunition Much also about the same time came certain news from Pool of the taking of an 100 brave horse of the Queens own Regiment 2 Colours a Masse-book and other Popish trumpery 40 prisoners then taken and 16 killed on the place by the brave Governour of Pool who victoriously returned thither again with all the said Horse and prisoners with the losse of but one man of his This brave exploit was performed between Pool and Blanford And about the same time wee had certain intelligence out of the North that valiant Colonell Lambert since his and Colonell Sandys taking a Troop of Horse in Craven hath taken a 120 horse more from the Enemy at Plumpton in Yorkeshire together with an Irish-Rebell their Commander whom they took prisoner with the rest And much about this time also a petition was presented to the Parliament by that virtuous and religious Gentlewoman Mistris Bastwick wife to that heroick-hearted Gentleman and famously suffering servant of the Lord Jesus Christ Dr. John Bastwick for some allowance for herself and children and toward the present maintainance of her said Husband then a prisoner in the Castle of Knarsborough in Yorkeshire for the Parliaments Cause as hee had formerly lyen prisoner a long time in the Island of Silly in Cornw. for pieties and religions Cause which her petition was very freely and favourably entertained by the House of Lords and by them sent to the House of Commons to desire their concurrence therein who accordingly most willingly agreed thereunto and the sum of an 100 pound was presently ordered to bee paid unto her out of Haberdashers-Hall in London and which shee immediately received thence as was ordered And shortly after this it pleased the good hand of Gods providence so to order it that by the indefatigable pains and care of Mistris Bastwick and of Colonell Hudlestones wife hee being then a prisoner in the Towre of London the said noble Dr. was upon exchange for the said Hudlestone released out of prison from Knaresborough Castle as aforesaid where and also in the Castle in York hee had indured much wrong and great affliction but now was I say returned home to London with abundance of honour and most welcome entertainment to the City of London and to all the honest-hearted-Christians therein yea most welcome I say to his dear Wife and Children And O thrice happy Gentleman indeed say I heerin especially namely that having most magnanimously and with invincible Christian courage and wisdome passed as the Poet sang Per varios casus per tot discrimina rerum and now
not accepted and Hostages sent before eight a clock in the morning the nineteenth of this instant for surrender of the Town at or before Munday next they shall then bee altogether void and have no effect But in place of accepting the above Conditions which the Governour himself did afterwards acknowledge most honourable they not only returned this following Answer whereby their judiciall induration and obstinacy may appear but the Governour likewise the same morning while the Army was in action sent out a Letter to my Lord Sinclair full of mockeries and incivilities but before that day ended hee changed his strain and was resolved of his scruple whether there was such a man that had the name of Leven Answer of their three Commissioners to the Lord Generall his last Letter with the Articles Octob. 19. My Lord VVEE received your Letter wherein you say wee cannot make good that your Commissioners demands are against either his Majesties honour or the welfare of Newcastle Wee will give you but one reason amongst many whether it bee for his Majesties honour that the Town of Newcastle should be rendred to any of another Nation nay more if it bee for the honour of the English Parliament and that it is not for our welfare is so clear needs no answer And wheras you say you wonder wee are not ashamed to be so delatory having demanded a Treaty We say we wonder you can be so forgetfull knowing we have your Letter to show that the Treaty was your own motion but for Answer to the rest and to your Articles Wee say the delivery of Newcastle is not of so small moment but if you intend as you say time may well bee given till munday for giving answer for in case wee should give consent to let you have this Town there are divers more Articles then you have set down both fit for us to demand and you to grant Therefore if you would shun effusion of blood-shed as you professe forbeare your acts of Hostility untill wee give you Answer upon Munday wherein wee will not faile otherwise wee doubt not but God will require an account at your hands and besides will keep and preserve us from your fury So expecting your Answer Wee rest Your Friends Jo. Marlay Nich. Cole G. Baker Newcastle 19. Octob. 1644. The Letter sent by the Governor to my Lord Sinclair Octob. 19 My Lord I Have received divers Letters and Warrants subscribed by the name of Leven but of late can hear of none that have seen such a man besides there is strong report hee is dead therefore to remove all scruples I desire our Drummer may deliver one Letter to himself thus wishing you could think on some other course to compose the differences of these sad distracted Kingdomes than by battering Newcastle and annoying us who never wronged any of you for if you seriously consider you will finde that these courses will aggravate and not moderate distempers but I will referre all to your own consciences and rest Your Friend John Marlay Newcastle 19. Octob. By these former Letters Answers and Replies it is more than manifest how perversly obstinate the Enemy was and how carefully and patiently they were sought after but seeing their obstinacy desperate and incurable it was full time to proceed to action for the condition of the Army which had endured much hardship and of the Mines which were alwayes in hazard of discovery as they had formerly destroyed some seven or eight and the approaching Winter could not well admit of further delayes and thereupon October 19. early in the morning the Cannon began to play upon the walls from their severall Batteries while 8 a clock at which time the Hostages should have come out or otherwise they were to expect the extremities of Warre but since none came the service continued from all the Batteries and the Regiments were drawn up standing to their armes while the breaches were in readinesse and the Mines sprung About three a clock in the afternoon the Enemy by their countermines had very neer approached some chambers where the powder was lodged for blowing up the walls which being signified to his Excellency he forthwith ordered that fire should bee given to these two mines endangered and thereafter to maintain the breaches carefully while the generall assault should bee made from all quarters a little after the day failing and the breaches being made though not so large and passable as was needfull for so desperate service the word was given and the sign made to give fire to the rest of the Mines and for the Regiments to advance all at once towards the breaches and those places of the wall which were opened by the mine but they met with no small opposition and nothing was left undone by the Enemy to repell the fury of the assault They played very hotly and desperately from the Castle upon the breaches and from the â—â—anking-towers of the walls with scattered shot yet the Regiments advanced without any shrinking though the Cannon played from many places upon their full open bodies so that the difficile accesse to the breaches and the mighty advantages of their walls and works within the Town made a considerable losse of Souldiers and Officers of good quality yet notwithstanding all difficulties and resistances they acquit themselves as become a people that considered the importance of so high a cause and minded nothing but the happinesse of both Kingdomes and after two houres very hot dispute upon the breaches they found their first entry at the mine sprung on the West side of the Town neer to Close-gate and after their entry were furiously charged three severall times by the horse which were in Town but the charge was gallantly sustained and the place maintained while the reserve of that post came to assist thereafter they marched for the releif of the rest of the breaches and so the Souldiers gave over and forsook the walls and the whole body almost of the Army entring they became Masters of the Town which tasted of no lesse mercy and favour after the Victory than they found valour in obtaining the same for after their entry the Souldiers did quite vanish sheltring themselves in houses the Inhabitants kept close their doores the Regiments marched thorow the streets without any insolency or disorder never offering once to rifle a house or cut off either Citizen or Souldier they were presently after their entry in peaceable possession of all the corners and streets and on a sudden all tumult feare and noyse did cease Upon the first entry the Governour Lodovick Lyndesay sometime Earl Crawfoord the Lord Maxwell Doctor Wishart a man of a dangerous temper who had seasoned the people both before and the time of the siege with bitter Malignancy Mr. Gray and Alvay and others of the perverse crew authours of all the evils which might justly have falne upon the Town so exceedingly obstinate according to the rule of Warre did all betake themselves
as neer the Town as the Enemies Cannon would suffer This was upon Fryday the 25 of Octob. The King kept within the Town guarded by his Artillery but his body of Horse and Foot drew out into Speenfield the midway betwixt the Town and Castle both to make his Army more numerous and also to embattle them in a place of extraordinary advantage That day afforded nothing save an interview the interposing river hindring our desired fight on their side appeared rather a declining to bee ingaged either that their numbers were not equall or from an expectation of Ruperts advance with 3000 Horse or Dragoones and the return of the Earl of Northampton from Banbury with a 1000. The Enemies strength is reported to have been 8000 Foot and 5000 Horse which albeit a gallant Army yet upon our drawing into battalia they durst not take the field but to counterpoise our numbers with his Stratagems hee fell mainly to fortifie the Town especially the avenues and having raised his batteries and lined the hedges hee stood upon his guard and with some great pâ—ices where hee saw the biggest bodies and most advantage hee sent liberally some of his bullets among us which killed 2 or 3 Horse but hurt not their Riders For many houres some parties of Horse skirmisht betwixt both the Armies in which play wee had the best on our part but one of our men fell of their 's 4 or 5. of which one had been knighted It being impossible to ingage them without much hazzard that night the greater part of our Army marched unto Cheveley The horse commanded by Sir William Waller and Sir William Belfore the foot by Sergeant Major Generall Skippon whilst the other encamped before the East-end of the Town and was ordered by the Earl of Manchester at one same time they had all agreed to storm the Garrison on both sides That night and the next wee quartered in the open field but neither the coldnesse of the weather nor want of usuall provision any whit disanimated the Souldier the earnest expectation of fight swallowed up all other extremities Howbeit most of them had 3 dayes provision prepared by Command in his snapsack By day-break upon Sunday the horse and Foot commanded by Sir William Waller and Major Generall Skippon were upon their March and in 4 houres had surrounded Dennington-Castle and made their approach toward the West of Newberry By the way wee intercepted 2 or 3 Carts of the Enemies provision intended they said for his Majesty but in respect an unworthy race about him were to have shared therein and that our men more needed it wee disposed of it to our selves To recompence which they fell upon our Rear from the Castle and took 10 or 12 of ours prisoners Upon this March wee received the report that Newcastle was taken by storm and the Vlster Rebells in Ireland totally defeated happy news unto us and of a double use to our engagement It was one of the clock ere the Train and Rear came up and neer 3 ere wee could bee put into Battalia With extraordinary shouts and other testimonies of courage and joy the Western-body advanced and the forlorn Hopes of horse quickly began the fight which with as much eagernesse was seconded by the foot so as for 3 houres at least the fight was maintained with as much resolution and bravery on our side and desperatenesse on the other as hath been seen since the commencement of these Warres the Cannon and small shot on both sides firing with as quick a motion as was possible to bee done by Souldierâ— and amongst the foot to speak impartially his Excellencies Regiment did most eminently well of whom especially and of the rest wee can speak very justly we neither saw man nor party horse or foot either to desert his duty or dishearten his fellow About the midst of the fight the Earl of Cleveland and some other of the Enemies prime Commanders rode among our Souldiers asking them Wherefore they would fight against their own men but being demanded the word and not knowing it divers of them were knockt down from off their horses and the Earl of Cleveland himself and some other Officers were taken prisoners And after a long and hot dispute wee beat the Enemy first from their works and then from their Ordnance 9 in number Our forces were no sooner possest of the Ordnance which were a part of those which wee lost in Cornwall but our Western sparks with exceeding great joy hug'd and kist them and cryed out Now will wee shew them a Cornish hop and on the other side many of the Cavaliers most fearfully threw down their Armes and ran away crying out Devils Devils they fight like devils for ours gave no Quarter to any whom they knew to bee of the Cornish In which fierce fight and brave deportment of ours wee lost a few men and with or among them Captain Cawler a brave Gentleman of Glamâ—rganshire who by an honourable and triumphant hazzard bequeathed the thing adventured to us with his life also an expression sufficient fully to entitle himself True to his Charge notwithstanding his captivity in Cornwall The day was of so much discontent to the King that wrapping up his losses with the night an houre after mid-night hee marched or rather fled out of the Town with an attendant Troop only toward Winchester and sent up his Cannon Carriages and Baggage to the Castle where at day-break wee saw them placed Upon the first intelligence of their departure Colonell Cromwell followed the body of the Enemy a houres before day the issue of which as yet wee hear not of Our men are full of Spirit and extraordinarily heightned with this Victory The Enemy hath little to support them but their Rodomants In the mean time as an addition and signall of good successe wee have as I toucht before the Earl of Cleveland prisoner taken by a Leivtenant of Colonell Barkleys who wonders how Generall Goring escaped our hands but his Brother paid his account being shot dead as hee charged and most of his Troop were cut off and Major Trevillian and divers other whose bodies are seen but names as yet undiscovered Above 200 were slain on the ground and 300 taken prisoners wherof these in speciall by name The Earl of Cleveland Captain Philpot Leivtenant Harper Leivtenant Roan Cornet Whealand Quartermaster Ironmonger Quartermaster Campion Quarter master Nicholas Mr. John Percie all these of the Earl of Clevelands Brigade and 38 Troopers of the same Brigade Taken prisoners of Sir Ralph Hoptons Regiment Captaine Elmes a Captain of Horse Mr. Simon Court Quartermaster to Hoptons own Troop Edward Philips Henry Dimmoâ—k Hugh Pope Gent. of Armeâ— and divers other Troopers Colonell Philpot Captain Mildemâ—y Captain Nâ—vet Mr. Richard Niston Mr. John Curtis Mr. Edward Archer and divers other Gentl. of Armes and Reformadoes besides as I said before 300 Common Souldiers And
it was credibly reported by good testimony that at the instant of his Majesties flight from Newberry hee complained of the Major Townesmen and Inhabitants of Newberry saying that they were most pestilent Roundheads and that they were not so loyall as his subjects of Cornwall who used to give him intelligence upon all occasions There were also taken at least 2000 Armes at this fight and the Kings and Generall Forths Coaches and divers sumpture-horses laden with rich prize and upon the consideration of this great and good successe of this our Army at Newberry and the other of our brethren of Scotland at Newcastle An Order was agreed on by both the Houses of Parliament that publick Thanks should bee given to God in all Churches in London and Westminster on Tuesday then ensuing which was the 5 of November being the day of solemn annuall thanksgiving for Englands deliverance from the most horrid and exorbitant Popish Gun-powder-Treason which sacrifice of Thanksgiving for these 2 foresaid Victories was on the said day accordingly performed But Oh our unhappinesse that ever it should bee justly said of us as it was of Hanniball that great Carthaginian Conquerour and scourge of the Romans Vincerescis Hannibal Vtivictoriâ nescis O that wee should not onely not prosper in this Victory according to the admirable advantage which God had put into our hands but that wee should suffer the Enemy to rally and recrute their Forceâ— and as it most unhappily fell out Quo fato aut qâ—â fraude nescio at Dunnington-castle shortly after where they greatly and most grossely recovered much of their losses and our then famous and formidable Army was to our shame and sorrow bee it spoken most strangely baffled and abused even to their faces wee standing still and looking on But enough and too much of this and now to proceed About the 28 of this instant also came certain intelligence by Letters from Newcastle to the Committee of both Kingdomes that the Castle within the Town of Newcastle was for certain taken by our noble brethren of Scotland and that all within the Castle who had flâ—d in thither at the taking of the Town surrendred both the Castle and themselves to the mercy of those our very mercifull brethren of Scotland wherein were taken severall prisoners of quality and who they intended should all have legall tryall both English and Scottish but their own Native Scots they speedily sent away into Scotland and the English to bee adjudged by the known Laws of England they sent to London The names of the most eminent men taken then in the Castle were these Sir John Marley the atheisticall Major and Governour of the Town a most pestilent and desperate malignant and enemy to all goodnesse the Lord â—raford the Lord Maxwell the Lord Ree 3 Lords of Scotland and all 3 most desperate incendiaries together with divers others prime Commanders and Officers in armes Much also about the same time wee were most certainly informed by severall Letters out of Lincolnshire that his Majesty had sent directions to all the Commanders of his Garrisons at Newark Belviâ—-castle and others thereabout with speciall command speedily to joyn into a considerable body and to march for the releif of Crowland and then to fall into the Associated Counties which accordingly and instantly they put in practise and for which purpose they met together in a great body and came into the Vale of Bever from whence they intended to march speedily toward Crowland But loyall active and valiant Sir John Gells and Sir Thomas Fairfaxes forces being timely informed thereof appointed also speedily to meet together and to fall upon the Enemy in the said Vâ—le of Bever which accordingly they performed with singular good speed and good successe and bravely surprized the greatest part of them took Major Pudsey and 2 Colonells about 800 horse and 400 prisoners and by this means most happily frustrated both the certain releiving of Crowland and especially prevented that most desperate and dangerous designe as it might unquestionably have proved of breaking in like a furious overflowing flood into the Associated Counties a mercy most worthy our extraordinary thankfulnesse to the Lord our God the most gracious and vigilant Watchman of the English Israel And about the 30 of this instant October wee were credibly assured by Letters from Wareham in the West that that most valiant and faithfull Commander Colonell Sydenham had fallen upon Sir Lewes Dives Forces at Crew in Dorsetshire and had a brave bickering with them where hee wounded his Leivtenant Colonell took an 100 horse 40 prisoners above a 100 Armes and routed and put to flight 400 horse and foot And the same Letters also farther certified that Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper with 1500 horse and foot from severall Garrisons thereabout in Dorsetshire had then taken the field to encounter with Sir Lewis Dives who was endevouring to fortifie some places in those parts whereof more in its due and proper place The good news from our Armies rested not heer for about the 30 also of this instant came certain intelligence to the Parliament signifying under the hand of that pious prudent and victorious Commander Sir William Brereton that Leverpool in Lancashire was delivered up to brave and ever to bee honoured Sir John Meldrum The English Souldiers therein some 2 or 3 dayes before having combined together came away out of the Town and drove away with them the Cattle that was thereabout and the Irish seeing themselves left only with some few English Commanders they also being in great straits and knowing no quarter would bee given them if they stood it out they therefore also voluntarily came forth of the Town and cast themselves at Sir John Mâ—â—drums feet and had their lives granted them thereupon before the Ordinance of Parliament against the Irish came to his hands or knowledge And heerupon the Commanders also were enforced instantly to surrender the Town wherein were taken prisoners Sir Robert Byron Governour Colonell Cuthert Clifton Robert Bambridge Major Hugh Anderson Leivtenant Colonell 14 Captains â—nd many other Officers in Armes Most of the choice Goods which were in the Town they had shipped in small Barks and Boats thinking to have stoln away in the night time by our Ships to Beu-Morrice but some of the well-affected in the Town having given timely notice thereof our ships manned out long boats and took all their said Goods from them to a very considerable valew Nay yet Gods goodnesse to the Parliament and his extraordinary blessing on their forces rested not heer for much about the foresaid time wee were certainly informed by Letters from Newcastle to the Committee of both Kingdomes that noble and renowned Generall Leven carryed on businesses so prudently in the capitulation between his Excellency and the Governour of Tinmouth-castle that the said Castle was Octob. 27. 1644. surrendred to his Excellency and that therein hee found
Dragoones to the number of 450 were sent under the Command of Captain Farrar into Cardiganshire to meet them who in their return had upon the borders of Mountgomery shire a skirmish with about a 1000 of the Enemies where the Country was summoned in by Sir Richard Price and Mr. Pughe of Mathavern they met in the night in a very narrow passage where the Musketteirs played for an houre together upon them but no good could bee done Whereupon Captain Farrar led up the Horse in a full Carreir upon them which put them all to a present and confused flight our forces pursued them 3 miles together and slew at least 20 of them in the pursuite whereupon the Enemy cryed quarter quarter and had quarter given them wee there took 60 prisoners among whom were 12 Officers and an 100 armes wounded divers of them and put all the rest to flight The next morning Captain Farrar sent a Troop of Horse and a company of Dragoones under the Command of Captain Luke Floyd to summon Mathavern-house where the Enemy kept a Garrison where Mr. Pughe having had notice of our comming toward this house presently upon our appearing hee flew away and left the House whereupon wee instantly entred the Garrison took what was in it and then burnt it down to the ground to keep them from returning again to it to doe us any farther mischeif About the 16 instant wee had credible information by Letters out of the West that Colonell Holborn Major Generall of the forces sent to releive Taunton at this time much straitned by the Enemies being upon his March in Dorsetshire and upon the designe the Enemy had intelligence thereof and drew themselves into a body to meet him in battalia and Major Generall Holborn having also intelligence that they were come as farre as Chard hee marched thither with an intent to give them battaile But the Enemy discovering our forces drawing nigh them and seriously bent to encounter them fled out of the Town in great haste and left above an 100 armes behinde them dispersing themselves in a disorderly retreat but our forces pursued them and took a whole Troop of their Horse the Captain Leivtenant Cornet and all both Officers and Souldiers Horse and Armes besides 20 other prisoners whereof 5 were Officers together with all their Hay Oates and other provisions which they brought with them for their releif there And about the 18 of this instant wee received certain knowledge of divers plots and treacherous designes of the Enemies for the betraying of severall Townes and strong Holds their old trade of trechery into the Enemies hands but how our good God the most vigilant Watchman over his English-Israel most graciously discovered and disappointed them in their devillish designes and perfidious practises therein as namely the great danger of losing the Town and Castle of Stafford by the either unfaithfulnesse or negligence or both of Colonell Chadwick Governour of the said Town and Castle but by Gods goodnesse and by valiant virtuous and faithfull Sir William Breretons vigilancy timely prevented Another plot and most dangerous and desperate designe for the betraying of Dover-castle That of Abbington also wherin renowned valiant and faithfull Major Generall Brown most bravely befooled that spurious spark and glistring Glow-worm of Oxonian wit and base treachery apostate Digâ—iâ— Another plot against Reading and Ailesbury And another plot against Plymouth also to have betrayed the Island there into the Enemies hands All these much about one and the same time but all of them as seasonably discovered and prevented as they were secretly and deceitfully plotted But especially that most notable and craftily contrived Stâ—â—tagem which I may not heer by any means omit acted by Mr. Roger le Strange a strangely audacious and desperate Cavalier for the betraying of Lyn-Regis in Norfolk into the Enemies hands which being a place of great concernment and in regard of most neat and cleanly carriage of the businesse in the discovery and prevention of the plot a very remarkable peice and worthy of serious notice I have therefore heer for the Readers better content and fuller satisfaction thought good exactly to impart it as it was truely related and attested under the hand of that worthy and most loyall Gentleman Captain Lemon the faithfull discover under God and preventer of the plot which was as followeth Mr. Roger le Strange third Son to Sir Hamond le Strange sent to Captain Thomas Lemon of Lin to Appleton-Hall to the house of one Mr. Paston a Papist and at his comming to him with a design intended by him against Lyn for which hee said hee had a Commission from his Majesty to surprize the Town of Lyn which Commission hee presently shewed him and told him that if hee would undertake to bee assistant to him and raise a party within the Town to effect the designe that hee should have a 1000. li. for his pains and whatsoever preferment hee would desire either in the Town or in his Majesties Navy And farther hee told him that the King did value the surprising of this Town as half his Crown and that within 10 dayes after certain notice that the Town was reduced his Majesty would send a sufficient power to their releif and that those forces should bee under the command of the Lord Goring To which plot the said Captain Lemon for his own security having taken the Covenant and well weighing on a suddain the peace and good of the Common-wealth for the present hee seemingly gave consent the night then comming on hee departed from him with promise to come to him again the next day to advise farther of the designe but presently hasting to Lyn hee went to the Governour Colonell Valentine Walton and acquainted him with it who after long debate resolved the next day that at the time appointed hee should goe to the said Appleton-Hall and take with him a Corporall of his clad in a Sea-mans habit who seemingly should bee a partaker with him to effect their designe and comming thither the said Mr. Strange demanded of Captain Lemon what hee was that came with him who answered that hee was a man for their turne and immediately upon it the said Corporall himself answered very discreetly that hee was a pooreman living in Fishers-end in Lyn and kept an Ale-house and that hee was 40 pound the worse for the Round-heads whereunto Mr. Strange replyed It is no matter for when the designe is accomplished thou shalt have a 100 li. for it and a Cannoneers place which the Corporall seemingly was exceeding well pleased with But the better to know where the Commission was Captain Lemon said Mr. Strange this my friend by the way as wee came demanded of mee what security you had if in case the plot should bee discovered to save them from the gallows if it might bee Captain Lemon therefore said hee told him you had the Kings Commission which
Brayton in Barkeshire on the other side of the Town about 2 miles off The Enemy was there commanded by Major Hatton Farmer Major of the Princes Regiment our Horse carryed themselves very courageously beat the Enemy out of their quarter and pursued them within a mile of Farrington and killed the Major with divers others and mortally wounded the Captain Leivtenant of the Princes Regiment took many of the men and horse among whom were 5 Irish men whom wee hanged the same day in the Market-place and not above 12 of these horse got into Farringdon the rest were all slain or taken without the losse of any one of our men or horse Their intent was as wee were informed by prisoners and a Trumpeter who that evening came from Oxford to desire the Majors body that the horse should give us an allarm on the one side whiles the foot stormed us on the other And another that then came from Oxford gave our Major Generall information and both of them affirmed that wee slew in this fight Sir Henry Gage Governour of Oxford and many other Gentlemen of great quality and in particular that Leivtenant Colonell Lower Deputy Governour of Wallingford was also slain I am confident the Enemy had a great advantage of us by the bridge and hills yet the Lord fought for us and hath graciously delivered us out of their hands for which wee desire Thanks may bee generally given to the Lord of Hoasts and God of Battles and in particular for preserving us also in our safe passage to Abbington the Enemy being upon their march so neer us and had they taken us it would have occasioned great triumph in the Enemy there being of us 4 Colonells besides other Captains and Commanders Our Major Generall Dr. Wilson and Quarter Master Generall Burrowes remember their loves to you and would have given you a touch heerof but that I undertook to save them that labour I pray you acquaint our Friends heerwith as having exprest nothing but what I know to bee truth One of the Messengers from Oxford informed us that Prince Rupert engaged himself to the King and Lords with many vowes and protestations yea and execrations too That hee would dine the next Sunday in Abbington and that hee would bee Master of it by 12 a clock that morning forgetting that of Aâ—ab to Benhadad Let not him that girdeth on his harnesse boast himself as hee that putteth it off But missing his hopes and the Governour of Oxford being also slain hee was ashamed to march triumphantly into Oxford with the forces that returned but came sneaking in privately another way where the Lords mocking him askt him where was Abbington which hee boasted hee would so suddainly have But wee I say gave them such a breakfast as that it was beleeved hee would have little stomach thereafter to come and visit our noble Major Generall Wee could not for want of horse pursue the victory Colonell Fynes having left us and I think God would not vouchsafe to do him so much honour as to bee present at so noble an exploit For the number of ours slain I have already given you an account The number of the slain of the Enemy was not certainly known when I wrote this the Country reported 3 or 4 Cart-loads of dead and wounded corps to bee taken with them besides many that were drowned and others that were thrown in after they were slain and some found dead upon the place Sam. Harsnet Abbington this 12. of Jan. 1644. And heer also I shall desire the Reader to take notice that this brave Victory was thus happily obtained the very next day after that judgement was given upon that egregious and abominable hypocrite and atheist and most pestilent Incendiary the Arch Prelate of Canterbury And that on the very same day also wee had the certain information of those brave Victories and rich prizes forementioned by renowned Captain Swanley specified in his Letter to the noble Earl of Warwick as aforesaid About the 16 instant wee were certainly informed by Letters out of the West especially by an Expresse from the Lord Roberts Governour of Plymouth to the Speaker of the House of Commons that that most impious and impudent rotten-hearted Apostate Skellum Greenvill having gathered all the forces hee could raise in Cornwall and other parts of the West did about the 10 of January 1644. about eleven of the clock at night alarm the works of the Town of Plymouth in 4 severall places at once with neer 6000 men whereby after a very hot dispute the Enemy became Masters of the 4 great works of the Town out of two of which they were quickly beaten but held the third called Little Penny-quick and began to scale or rather digge down another fort called Great Penny-quick But at last by the admirable courage of the Commanders and Garrison-Souldiers they were quite beaten out of that too with great losse unto the Enemy leaving 75 of their men dead on the place and at last 4 times as many more slain in this Service besides many hundreds wounded For as soon as they were beaten off from the 3 works the Plymouth men who behaved themselves with extraordinary gallantry invironed the fourth work whereinto our men had got partly by digging and undermining and partly by scaling and the Enemy within it who seeing themselves so suddainly beset and ensnared as it were in their so late and so sure seeming gotten prize instantly surrendered it upon quarter for their lives In this brave bickering there were also many prisoners taken and much armes the victory was very great and the Enemy by it much discouraged Let our God alone therefore have the greater praise and glory for it About the 18 instant wee received certain information again by Letters out of the West of valiant Colonell Holborns taking in of Sydenbam-House in which hee had neer an 100 prisoners among whom was one Captain one Leivtenant and other Officers in armes together with some other persons of quality And hee surprized also the High-Sheriffe of Somersetshire and ten Commissioners of Array with him And also that hee shortly after took 300 prisoners with many Horse and Armes as they were forraging abroad in those parts for plunder and spoyl And about the 21 instant the House of Commons in Parliament had a debate concerning the New Modell for the setling of the Armies And proceeded to the nomination of divers Officers for the new Army by which means tho for the time the Self-denying Ordinance seemed at this time to bee laid aside they might recall any of the Members of either House to the publike Service at home as well as if the said Ordinance had then been past Upon the conclusion of the debate it was now therefore Ordered and Voted that Sir Thomas Fairfax should bee Commander in cheif of the 21000 Horse and Foot to bee now raised according to the New Modell and
specious pretences having pre-occupated the hearts and beleif of the people that they could not easily bee undeceived at the second hand But see now the admirable wisdome and justice of our God against them and his great mercy toward us who so ordered the issue and the upshot of that Treaty that by the refusall of 3 Articles mainly and primarily to bee insisted on and by the Kings Commissioners to bee condescended unto to the Parliaments Commissioners namely 1. The Settlement of the true Reformed Religion 2. The Establishment of the Militia for a season in the power of the Parliament 3. The prosecution of the Warre against the Rebels of Ireland and disclaiming that accursed Cessation of Armes with them that by their most unjust refusall I say of these 3 Articles whereof not one would bee fairly granted and especially by those Oxford Commissioners so irreligious and even Atheisticall justifying and that in the Kings name that most horrid and hideous Rebellion in Ireland sealed with the most inhumane massacre and bloody slaughter and murthering of almost 200000 innocent English Protestants the Kings said Commissioners most irreligiously and audaciously daring openly to professe that his Majesty their Master could not in point of Honour Justice and Conscience yeeld to the Parliaments desire therein whereby I say even this unreasonable and irreligious refusall of the Parliaments most just and righteous demands notwithstanding the foresaid Declaration framed and forged on the impious anvill of Don Digbies vicious invention at Oxford whereby they thought to have gained much credit reputation and advantage to their party yet I say by this refusall they became great losers in the affections of the people over the whole Kingdom who also saw that in the space of full 20 dayes sitting they would not as I toucht before agree to any one Proposition of the Parliaments which so grosse miscarriage of things especially in that abominable justification of the Irish Rebellion must needs lye upon them as a most odiously black indelible stain of intolerable ignominy and disgrace to all succeeding pâ—sterity And indeed to speak the truth plainly what good could bee expected from a Treaty which was to bee held with a seduced and misled King a degenerated and ignoble Nobility a proud and superstitious Clergie an ambitious and atheisticall Gentry and an irreligious and most malignant Common people But now to proceed About the 8 of this instant February there came Letters to the Committee of both Kingdomes of an excellent peice of service performed by Major Bridges Governour of Warwick Castle the particulars whereof for the Readers better satisfaction I will set downe in the words of the Majors own Letter which was as followeth Sir I doubt not but you will bee glad to hear of the good successe which God hath given unto mee in delivering into my hands a Garrison of the Enemies called Stoke House in Glocestershire but borders on Warwickeshire where together with the House I also took a Troop of Horse And it will bee the more remarkable in respect of the goodnesse of God when wee consider the small power I had to doe it and the place it stood in being between 2 of the Enemies Garrisons the one was Cambden but 2 miles distant the other Evisham 7 miles distant But I being affected with the sad complaints of the Country and considering the danger of delayes and having notice that the Enemy wrought hard to perfect the Fortifications resolved to take the present opportunity and that my design might bee carryed on with the more privacy wherein much of my safety consisted the Regiment of our County being absent or not in readinesse I sent 2 of the 3 Companies of mine own Garrison by small parties into the Country as to gather Contribution but commanded the Officers not to return till I gave them orders to these 2 Companies I got an addition of 60 Foot commanded by one of my Captains of the Town-Company with some part of mine own Troop and about 70 Horse belonging to the Committee of Worcestershire and thus I marched all that night and being come to the House I began to storm it and the next day fell upon the House and stables by break of day both at once The House was of stone very strong they within it had made up the windowes and doores with brick and stone and defended the House very stoutly for about an houre and a half but at length wee entred by force and took the House and all therein without the losse of one man blessed bee the Lord notwithstanding that in all that time wee were without shelter and the bullets and stones flew thick about our eares Since this I heard that the Enemy drew out of Evisham and Cambden to releive their Friends but could not come up time enough by which means God so appointing I returned with my prisoners and spoile unmolested a List wherof you have herewith immediately following And to conclude the said House being a Papists and the whole Garrison of that Religion to prevent the building of any more such Rookes nests I fired the House and desire you would with us praise God for this Victory Sir Your Servant John Bridges Warwick Castle Feb. 8. 1644. A List of the Prisoners taken by Major Bridges Governour of Warwick Castle at Stoke House in Gloucestershire Captain Edward Brent Captain George Brent Captain Richard Canning Captain Smith Captain Thomas Canning together with about 30 more Officers and Gentlemen of quality all Papists and many other common Souldiers About the 10 of this instant wee were also credibly informed by Letters out of Cheshire that Captain Stones a brave active and loyall Commander under Sir William Brereton and now Governour of Eccleshall Castle in the County of Stafford with a small party marched against Partshall House another Popish Garison of the Enemies which was strongly fortified and Moated about Hee taking the opportunity of the Draw-bridge being let down suddenly forced his passage surprized the Centinells and so fell in among the whole Garrison fought bravely with them for a good season killed many of them in the fight and took prisoners Colonell Ashbey the Governour with divers Gentlemen of quality a Jesuite which was their Priest and Son and Heire to a Popish Knight and about 60 Souldiers and thus wee were possessed of the whole House with all the Armes and Ammunition and other good prize which was within it Wee also were credibly assured by Letters from Abbington about the 14 of this instant February that Major Generall Brown that most renowned valiant and active Commander sent forth a party of Horse toward Harrington who having intelligence where the Enemy kept a Court of Guard about half a mile from Harrington our said Forces got between them and the Town by which means they surprized the whole Guard being 19 men and brought them all prisoners into Abbington And that the said Noble Major Generall
the command of Major Temple to beat up their quarters which party after a very hard march comming neer the Enemies quarters they understood that the said party were all drawn off But they had also farther intelligence of another party of the Enemies quartered at Ham 8 miles from Dennington Castle whither they instantly advanced and fell upon them in their quarters took there 40 good Horse and all their Armes together with about an 100 li. of Contribution money which the Enemy had gathered thereabout took prisoners Major William Maxwell Agitant Generall to Prince Maurice Captain Robert Paddon Captain of a Troop of Horse John Cox his Leivtenant and 24 common Souldiers and so returned safe with their prisoners and prizes unto Ockingbam And about the 24 of this instant wee were certainly informed by a Letter writen from Captain Peirce to Sir John Young a worthy member of the House of Commons of a brave defeat given to that base apostate Skellum Greenvill before Plimouth which said Letter containing a full relation thereof I have heer for the Readers better content and satisfaction inserted which was as followeth Sir The good successe which it hath pleased God to give our Forces lately makes mee set pen to paper thereby desiring to inform you that upon the 18 of February the Enemy having the night before made a work upon the old work at Mount Stamford with a very large line on both sides from the work The Seamen in the morning fell on them and took one half-moon which was made at the South-end of the line but the Enemies horse comming upon them forced them to retreat but with no losse on our side blessed bee God Upon which wee were all commanded to Armes Severall companies were drawn out to goe over and a Troops of Horse One being still quartered on that side to joyn with some Sea men taken on shore for that purpose all I think consisting of about 500. and all the rest of the Garrison were commanded to march out to face the Enemy on the North side and were drawn without our Line within Musket shot of their work under the hill the said hill much befreinding us so as they could not play much upon us All wee did was only sending out small parties to shoot as if wee intended to fall on that so they might draw off some of their forces from the other side of the water where our purpose was to fall on and accordingly they did draw off some of their Horse and so wee crossing their expectation fell on where wee were least looked for and about 2 of the clock in the afternoon our foot who were most of them Sea men marched up most resolutely to Mount Stamford the forlorn hope of our Horse going before and the Reserve with them in the bottome who had the advantage of some hedges which they well-lined with our Musketteers who fired upon the Enemy and they on us where and when were poured out as mighty Vollies of shot as I have ever seen or heard and whiles our foot were getting up the hill our horse and the Enemies met who most resolutely and bravely disputed the businesse not long even about half an houre and made the Enemy rather trust to their horse legs than to their own swords our horse following them amain and our foot seâ—ing what good successe the horse had went nay rather ran up to the Enemies work with their Colours in their hands and instantly made the Enemy flye for it and thus routing totally all their horse and foot bravely took possession of the whole work and pursued the Enemy in their flight above a mile hewing and cutting them amain as they basely fled Now the names of those wee took prisoners were Leivtenant Colonell Mohun a Leivtenant Colonell of Horse Major Richard Heal Baronet Heales brother Captain Maynard who had formerly taken up Armes on our side Captain Hill Captain Aston and Captain Hatchins Leivtenant Waring Leivtenant Inglet Leivtenant Ashford Leivtenant Manwaring Ensigne Halsie Ensign Battishill and of private men about an 108. Wee also took 300 Armes in the work of Mount Stamford some barrells of pouder good store of Mattocks Shovels and Faggots and some Horses on our part wee had but one man slain and that by an accident some few hurt and but one man taken by the Enemy After this brave bickering wee had a day set apart for a speciall Thanksgiving to God for this great Victory and very shortly after called a Councell of Warre to try such of them as had heretofore taken up arms on our side but were now revolted and proceeded against 3 of them viz. Captain Maynard Leivtenant Ashford and Ensign Battishill who were executed the next day and some others afterward followed And about the latter end of this Moneth of February wee received the most welcome news of the most memorable and suddain surprisall of the strong Town of Shrewsbury by Colonell Mitton that most active and loyall Commander and Colonell Bowyer assisted by Sir William Breretons and Colonell Mittons forces together with the eminent prisoners and prizes taken by those Parliament forces which was certified and ratified by severall Letters out of Shropshire sent to London with the exact and true relation of the manner of the taking of it it being a place of great concernment and one of the most considerable Vpland Garrisons which the King then held in the whole Kingdome I shall therefore give the Reader a most true though breif narration thereof extracted out of the Letters writen from the Committees of Shrewsbury to the Speaker of the House of Commons with the List of the prisoners and prizes taken therein which was as followeth Right honourable Sir IT hath pleased God miraculously to deliver the strong Town of Shrewsbury into our hands with all the Commanders Officers and Souldiers therein a List of the cheif of whom wee have sent inclosed to you The manner of taking of it was breifly thus Upon the 22 of this Moneth of February wee drew out of our Garrisons of Wem Moreton and Stoke 250 horse and the like number of foot Sir William Brereton having sent us 250 foot and 350 horse which party by our Order was commanded by Leivtenant Colonell Rincking who in the Marshalling and managing of this designe deserves much honour and Captain Willyâ—r together with Mr. Huson a Minister who also most valiantly and bravely led on the firelockes with 50 Troopers dismounted under the Command of Leivtenant Bendebne who led on their men with great courage and undaunted resolutions after whom also followed 350 foot more which by Severn side stormed the Town neer unto the Castle-wall and marched unto the Market-house and there surprized the Main-guard and then sent a party to secure the Castle-forehead-Gate which was effected without much difficulty and after a quarter of an houre the draw-bridge was let down and the gate opened where valiant Colonell Mitton Colonell Bowyer and all the
nights together during all which time our valia Souldiers put off neither armes nor cloathes as I was credibly informed they by Gods infinite mercy obtained a most happy and comfortable enlargement and freedome from their cruell and murtherous-minded Enemies And thus Goring and Dives who were both present in this service marched away to Dorchester with their horse and foot which were above 4000. whereas ours that were invironed by them were not above 900. being also discouraged or at least wee justly might have been for want of releif and our little or no hope of relief besides the former successe of the Enemies and yet that ours should so gallantly quit themselves and so impregnably oppose and fall upon their Enemies when they were at their strongest and themselves in the lowest and most desperate condition and besides the Townesmen within being trecherous unto them of whom above 40 had conspired to seize on the Fort which Colonell Sydenham possessed and by procuring false keyes to the prison doores to let out all the prisoners and also as I toucht before to let in the enemies at their back-doores but the plot of the false keyes was timely discovered and prevented many of the Malignant Conspirators apprehended and imprisoned some in this fight were slain and some wounded and those imprisoned in a fit posture to bee hanged as afterward they were Wee lost but 10 men on our side in all this hot and furious service All which premises considered it must needs bee granted that the hand of God was indeed most visibly seen in the whole carriage of this admirable action and famous defeat wherein I say was an apparent vision of our present Parliamentary mighty wonder Viz. The Burning Bush in the midst of such furious flames not consumed To God alone therefore bee all the honour and glory of it And March the 8 wee had certain intelligence that a ship carrying 28 peices of Ordnance laden with store of armes and Ammunition was come into Weymouth from Rhoan in France supposing Weymouth had still been in the Enemies possession and so was seized on for the Parliaments use Yea and about the same time even 3 or 4 houres after the Enemy had quitted the Outworks of Weymouth whereof you have at large heard before a lusty serviceable ship of Weymouth called the Endevour carrying in her 12 peices of Ordnance and laden with Salt and other commodities belonging to some Malignants of those parts which ship then lay close under Portland Castle but having as it seemed many honest Sea-men in her suddenly they cut her Cables swiftly and of its own accord came off to Captain Batten then at Weymouth and Melcomb although the Castle of Portland had made at least 7 or 8 shots at her And thus wee see how God most graciously blessed the affaires of that Town at that time both by Sea and by Land to him alone bee all the praise and glory of it Shortly after to wit on Wednesday March the 12. Both Houses of Parliament most piously concurred for the keeping of a Solemn day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God at Christ-Church in London for all these so many and marveilous rich mercies of the Lord unto us Since the happy dissolution of that foresaid Treaty at Vxbridge as namely for the winning of Scarborough Town Haven Shrewsbury so unexpectedly and admirably put into the Parliaments hands The extraordinary recovering of Weymouth and even miraculous preservation of Melcomb Regis c. Where and at which foresaid time Reverend Learned and Religious Mr. â—rrowsmith and Mr. Vines Preached before the Lords and Commons of Parliament the Lord Major and Aldermen of the City of London accompanying them there at that holy service And both Houses of Parliament immediately after passed an Ordinance for the payment of 2000 pound to the brave Garrison of Weymouth for the encouragement and reward of the good service done there and for a supply of some necessaries in that Town And besides all these remarkable mâ—â—cies of our good God to the Parliament whereof you have most fully been informed since and even at the dissolution of that Mock-Treaty at Vxbridge We were yet farther credibly assured by Letters from Ailsbury about March the 16. That the King lost the Troop of Horse belonging to his own Life-guard the manner of the taking of which prize was thus related Ailsbury Garrison having intelligence of divers of the Kings horse quartered out of Oxford for want of necessaries about this time within the Town they that have spoiled a most fruitfull Kingdome will shortly I hope want bread and Pease for themselves Heerupon valiant Captain Abricomie a Scottish Commander in Ailsbury and Major Ennis of Newport-pagnell marched from their Garrisons toward Oxford with a party of horse to Killington where accordingly they met with the Kings own Troop as they had been informed Our party went over at Islip Mill and there they found the Enemy entrenched on the other side of the River but our party of horse had carryed Fagots and so filled-up the Trench with them and with earth and so handled it that they blew up the Bridge forced the Turn-pike and Chain surprized the Guard marched into the Town took 40 gallant horse worth some said 50 li. and Captain Cheyworth Commissary Generall to the King also the Kings Chirurgeons own mate with other prisoners and in their return home they took 4 more Cavalierian Troopers driving Cattle to the Kings quarters All which praised bee the Lord they brought home safely without any wound or losse of a man About March the 14. the House of Commons received Letters from Sir William Brereton that brave Commander and pious Patriot of his Country informing them of the singular good condition of Shrewshury and also of a notable defeat given to the Forces of Prince Maurice by a party of Sir William Breretons at Holt-Bridge in Cheshire under the Command of valiant Leivtenant Colonell Jones the manner whereof was thus Prince Maurice being still greatly vext in his minde at the sad losse of Shrewsbury and as vigilantly as possibly hee could watching to catch and lay hold on all opportunities to bee revenged on the Parliaments party at last resolved upon one and therefore sent a party of foot over the River of Dee which parts Cheshire and Wales and about 13 Companies got over the said River by laying over it a Bridge of Canvas dipt in Pitch over which 3 men might march abrest These all being thus past over intended in a dark night to have surprized Sir Williams said Garrison at Holt-bridge and to have forced their passage that way to some other farther design which Garrison the Prince understood was maintained by only 2 Companies of Firelocks under the Command of Leivtenant Colonell Jones who being thus now suddenly assaulted by the said numerous enemy yet had his men in order and readinesse to receive them and entertained them with such a
And base things in the worlds esteem and things which are despised yea and things which are not God hath chosen as heer wee see to bring to nought things which are And heer me thinks I cannot pretermit but most justly make honourable mention of what I have been credibly informed of touching our most noble and renowned Generall himself Viz. That hee was observed before this fight to have been exceeding merry and cheerfull in his carriage and countenance among his Commanders and Souldiers But after this victory was obtained hee continually day by day carryed himself with very much settleed gravity of countenance lowlinesse and meeknesse of face and heart as giving God all the honour and willing to take none to himself Two rare postures indeed of a pious and prudent Cornelius or Commander and fit for all Souldiers especially Saint-like Souldiers to practise and imitate For indeed both Hee I mean this our most renowned Generall and all of us with him might most justly as reverend Mr. Marshall in his excellent Thanksgiving Sermon at Christ-Church the Thursday following this famous Victory say concerning this glorious Victory as the most noble and renowned late Lord Generall nobly said at Keinton-Victory Never more of God and lesse of man And therefore as wee were most justly bound our most pious and prudent Parliamentary Worthies immediately upon their perfect knowledge and understanding of this so glorious a Victory as you have thus fully heard appointed a day of Solemn Thanksgiving to bee celebrated to the high honour and praise of our great and gracious Wonder-working God a Copy of which their Order I have heer inserted which was as followeth Die Lunae Junii 16. 1645. ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament that Thursday next shall bee set apart for a day of Publique Thanksgiving to Almighty God in all the Churches and Chappels within the Cities of London and Westminster and Lines of Communication and weekly bils of Mortallity For the great and glorious Victory obtained by the Parliaments Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax against the Forces of the King And Mr. Marshall and Mr. Vines bee desired to Preach at Christ-Church before the Parliament And that the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councell doe meet the Parliament there And it is further Ordered That Friday being the 27 of this instant June bee set apart for a publick day of Thanksgiving for this Victory in all the Churches and Chappell 's in the severall Counties of the Kingdom under the power of the Parliament H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. About the 15 of this instant there came Letters out of Shropshire which certified of severall good services performed by Colonell Mittons forces in those parts and for better satisfaction I have heer thought fit to insert the Copy of the Letter it self which was sent to renowned Colonell Mitton himself which was as followeth SIR I Being desired by Leivtenant Colonell Goldgay to certifie our late proceedings at Oswestree and the good successe wherewith it pleased God to blesse your Forces there I am humbly bold thus to trouble you On Tuesday the third of this present June your Troop with a considerable party of your Foot marched unto Clerk being commanded by Leivtenant Colonell Goldgay where wee took 27 horse from under their walls being the best horse I have seen together in Wales Wee drawing off in order the Enemy sallyed out came through the wood with firelocks thinking to redeem their losse charged our Rear-guard of horse whom Captain Simpkins caused to face about and fall on them lying in the manner of an ambuscado which they did and soon got through them and got betwixt them and home killed 2 of them took 24. the Governours Leivtenant being one and his Organist whose losse hath caused a generall Melancholly in the Castle and if hee bee not changed their mirth and devotion it is to bee feared will perish together On Thursday the 6 instant wee marched in the like posture to Shraden went close under their works took from them 24 good horse which was the greatest part of Dr. Charles Vaughan then Governour his Troop wee expected them also to sally out but the Dr. though hee hath forgotten his Preaching since hee turned Cavalier yet remembred his Grammar-rule Optimum est alienâ frui insaniâ For being warned by the folly and harm of Cherkmen hee was content to sleep within doores in a whole skin and to suffer us to march away with our prize without any of their lets or least disturbance This wee did without the losse or hurt of any one man of ours Wee ascribe the praise and memory of the work to that God who hath hitherto crowned your endevours with successe and I doubt not in despight of malice will doe so still under whose banner of love I leave you and humbly rest yours to Command And now upon the 19 of this instant June being the next ensuing Thursday after the happy tydings of the foresaid most famous Victory at Naseby according as our most pious and prudent Parliamentary Senators had formerly Ordered and as our most renowned Generall himself Sir Thomas Fairfax had earnestly desired by the Messenger by whom the relation of the victory was first brought a day of Solemn Thanksgiving was celebrated and wholly set apart to give all the glory of that great Victory and mighty mercy to the Lord alone as it was most due in all Churches and Chappels within the Cities of London and Westminster and the Lines of Communication which was as on this day most solemnly performed in a speciall manner at Christ-Church in London where reverend and religious Mr. Marshall and Mr. Vines preached that day before the whole Body of the Parliament both Lords and Commons whom the Lord Major the Aldermen and Common Councell of London met there and had invited the said most honourable Lords and Commons to dine with them that day in their City at Grocers hall And heer I hope it will not bee offensive or tedious to my Reader to give him a short sight or intimation of the manner of the gallant entertainment the City gave the Parliament at Grocers Hall that day not to mention the Messes of their dainty chear which in great plenty was provided answerable to so honourable an Assembly but onely to shew you the speciall guests and the order of their placing according to their state and Orders which was thus At the upper end of the Hall sate the Lord Major On the left hand The Prince Elector Earle of Northumberland Earle of Kent Earle of Essex Earle of Manchester Lord North Earl of Elgar Lord Brighton Two of the Scotch Commissioners On the right hand Earle of Pembroke Earle of Nottingham Earle of Salisbury Earle of Denbigh Earle of Bullingbrook One Scotch Lord The Lord Say There were three Tables more in the Hall On the right hand going up sate Mr. Speaker at the upper end entring to the doore toward
the Parlour Then all the other Members of the House of Commons in order So for the middle Table and the like for the left hand Table going up towards the Lord Majors Table In the Parlour All the Assembly of Divines in order In the upper Roome over that sate The Recorder of London at the upper end The Aldermen on the left hand The Common-councell and divers Gentlemen of quality on the right After these the Lord Majors Officers that attended and divers others sate down in the same roome where the Aldermen and the rest dined The Trumpets continued sounding all the time of the Feast After Dinner and Thanks given by Mr. Marshall both Houses of Parliament the Assembly of Divines the Aldermen of the City and all the rest being assembled in the Hall they sang the 46 Psalm and after that departed And Friday June the 27 then next ensuing was ordered by the Parliament to bee set apart for a publick day of Thanksgiving for this Victory in all the Churches and Chappels in the severall Counties of the Kingdom under the power of the Parliament The House also ordered that Letters of thanks should bee writen and expedited to the renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax his Field-Officers for their extraordinary valour fidelity and judgement in this famous service against the Enemy And they likewise ordered that 2 worthy Members of the House of Commons should bestow at least 500 pound upon a jewell to bee presented to Sir Thomas Fairfax as an earnest of their love and affection to him And as for the Gentleman that brought this happy news to the Parliament from Sir Thomas in farther testimony of their great affection to their foresaid renowned Generall the Parliament most prudently ordered that an 100 pound should bee bestowed upon the first messenger 40 pound upon the second and for the other messengers that came from Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Secretary they also were all well gratified for their paines The House also about that time fell into a particular debate of the gallant great and faithfull service of that heroick and most valiant Commander Leivtenant Generall Cromwell and of the former desires of the Officers of the Horse under the Command of the Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax to have him Command them as their Leivtenant Generall and considering the great necessity of continuing him in that imployment notwithstanding the Self-denying Ordinance after a long and serious debate of this businesse they ordered that Leivtenant Generall Cromwell should continue Leivtenant Generall of the Horse under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax during the pleasure of Both Houses and that hee should receive pay as Leivtenant Generall from the time of the establishment of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army and they sent to the Lords for their concurrence which was assented unto by them And upon the foresaid 19 of this instant June Both the Houses of Parliament and the prime Body of the City of London keeping the day of Solemn Thanksgiving as hath been forementioned It pleased the Lord as a farther addition to our former great Cause of Thankefulnesse and as an exact completing of our present just joy that day that that very day in the morning before the Sermons began the most welcome newes of the happy regaining of the Town of Leicester by ever to bee renowned Sir Thomas Fairfax was brought to London the particulars whereof I have heer thought fit to insert for the Readers better content and clearer satisfaction as they were related in a Letter from an eminent person there in the Army which was as followeth Honoured Sir Upon the routing of the Kings Army at Naseby as aforesaid Sir John Gell gathered together all the forces of Darbishire Nottinghamshire and the adjacent parts that possibly hee could and on Munday the 16 instant they met with â—ome of the Kings horse and took 200 of them and another party met with some of the Newarkers and fell upon them routed them took 60 horse 42 prisoners and 80 Armes On the said Munday June the 16. Sir Thomas Fairfax lay before Leicester and sent in a Summons to the Town to require the Governour to surrender it to him for the use of the Parliament and putting it to them to consider how the King was routed and shewing them what use they might make of that Clemency with divers other very gallant expressions to the summons to advertise them how much better it was for them to surrender than to force him to take it by storming To this summons the Enemy sent a negative Answer positively this that they would not surrender it whereupon Sir Thomas Fairfax called a Councell of Warre to consult about the storming of it which was soon concluded on that they should prepare all things in readinesse to round it the next day which was done with all expedition not losing any time So they sell presently to raising of Batteries and doing all things that were necessary for the storming thereof according as they had appointed and continued providing every thing that was requisite for the dâ—ing thereof to bee in a readinesse to batter it the next day and sent into the Country thereabouts for such helps as were necessary for the work which went on with great speed both night and day so desirous wee are to have a speedy end of the work that there may bee an end of these Warres if possible On Tuesday the 17 of June wee drew down our Ordnance and played with our peices against the Town wee stormed it playing with our Ordnance very hot on the Newark side which wee conceived was their greatest strength And in short time wee made a breach in their works which struck such a terrour into the hearts of the Enemy that the Governour sent to us to desire a Parley and offered to surrender upon very faire termes as upon capitulation should bee agreed upon To this request Sir Thomas Fairfax being willing to save the spilling of innocent blood as much as may bee hee assented and promised speedily to send in Commissioners for the Treaty and called a Councell of Warre and it was agreed that Colonell Pickering and Colonell Rainsborough should go into Leicester to treat with the Governour about the surrendring the said Garrison to Sir Thomas Fairfax And accordingly a safe conduct was desired for them which being sent they went to Capitulate with the Governour about the surrender thereof In the mean time Sir Thomas Fairfax was not idle nor did hee lose any time but went on providing and furnishing himselfe with Pittars Carts Hay Granadoes Ladders and all other things necessary for storming resolving to fall on at their return in case that they should not agree not knowing how things might fall out during which time there was both great pains and care taken by all in their places for the going on in the said work In the mean time wee had intelligence that the King was on Munday the 16 of June at
Sheffield that hee came from Ashby de la zonch thither with about 2000 horse or more the day before viz. Sunday night and marched that morning viz. Munday morning to a Randevouz neer unto Dudley Castle wherewith the Litchfield and Dudley horse and others that came in to their Rendevouzes the King had then about 3000 horse as it was conjectured by the Country people which saw them But to leave him in this his most unhappy flying progresse occasioned by his own unholy miscarriages and unnaturall waged warre against God and his best Subjects and to come to our present businesse All the rest of that foresaid Munday June the 16. our Commissioners were in capitulation with the Enemy in Leicester and the Army went on preparing for a storm having received no answer all that night and looking for the return of our Commissioners the next morning and so very early resolving to fall on if they had not agreed with the Enemy But upon Wednesday June 18 about 2 of the clock the Commissioners viz. Colonell Rainsborough and Colonell Pickering returned with a full conclusion that the Town of Leicester was to be surrendred and delivered up to the King and Parliaments use upon fair and fitting Articles of agreement on both sides namely that Loughborough or Hastings that pestilent Rob-carryer should have quarter for his life and liberty to depart both hee and his Officers and Souldiers that would with a safe convoy for their persons c. But to leave all Armes Ammunition Ordnance great and small bagge and baggage behinde them in the Town save only what was agreed on for the Officers in the Articles With those Articles at large expressed our Commissioners being returned unto Sir Thomas Fairfax certifying farther how marveilous joyfull the poore Town of Leicester was at the hearing of the said agreement and that they should bee rid of the Cavalierian Roysters which accordingly was performed and on Wednesday morning about 10 of the clock Sir Thomas was permitted with all his forces to enter into Leicester and take possession thereof for the use of the King and Parliament Wherein was left 14 peices of Ordnance 30 Colours 2000 Armes 500 Horse 50 barrels of Gunpowder And all other their Armes and Ammunition and provisions in great plenty with all their bagge and baggage And thus you see the Lord doth wonderfully for us still yea above the reach of mans wisdom and truely wee cannot but much admire the goodnesse of Almighty God unto us in doing so great things for us we cannot ascribe it to any but to the hand of God alone who indeed is the Lord of Hosts the God of battails and the onely giver of all Victories to whom alone therefore bee all the honour and glory and praise Amen and Amen About the 20 of this instant June the prisoners which were taken by most renowned Sir Thomas Fairfax and famous and faithfull Major Generall Skippon at Naseby fight fore-mentioned being neer upon 5000 in number were conveyed from Northampton to London and being brought into London they all marched clean through the City with all the Colours Standards and Ensignes yea even the Kings and Queenes Royall Standards about 55 in number which were all carryed in triumph in the faces of the prisoners who were thus led along to Martins-Lane end in the Strand the cheif Officers and Commanders being separated from the Common Souldiers were conducted by severall guards to Peter-House in Aldersgatestreet the Common Souldiers were disposed of in the New Military Garden guarded by the Green and Yellow Regiments of the Trained Bands of the City of London where they had liberty to discourse and talk with their Malignant friends and where and when some of them most audaciously entered many dangerous speeches other some confest and complained they were prest men and enforced to take up Armes for the King The next day of their being there which was the Lords day for they came into London on the Saturday they had 2 eminently learned and pious Divines appointed to preach unto them and such was the piety and charity of our renowned Parliamentary Worthies that 200 pound was presently allotted to provide bread and beer for them which was distributed among them the same night of their comming to Town I appeal then to the very est and most malicious malignant that is whether the usage were not farre more Christian-like than that most base barbarous and inhumanely cruell usage of our forces in Atheisticall Cornwall though Articles and conditions to the contrary were consented to by the King himself who was there present where they poore soules were very many of them stript naked and enforced to march through water and mudde thick and thin yea and some to go in that naked condition without or bread or drink some 30. some 40. some almost 50 miles Besides this how many of ours have been imprisoned at Oxford Marleborough and other places who have been tyed and manacled their necks and heeles together and many of them starved to death yea even wilfully murthered in prison as I may justly say in not being allowed sustenance or Chirurgeons to heal their greivous wounds where is you see heer our Parliament piously and mercifully provided both sustenance and Chirurgeons for their prisoners bodies and soules too blessed bee the Lord for it Much also about the foresaid time wee had certain information that our loyall and loving brethren of Scotland were now advanced and arrived at Nottingham with 7000 foot and 4000 horse expecting command for their removall and promoving of some great design for the good of the Kingdome and for the carrying on of the hopefull re-establishment of a happy and holy peace among us and that in this their advance their horse in their march on the way met with some of the Kings stragling scattered and broken Troops fled from Naseby and took at least 60 horse and their Riders neer Skipton And much about the same time wee had certain intelligence by Letters out of Dorsetshire that Captain Butler having assured information that the Kings Garrison at Corff-Castle had store of Cattle and that they turned them out to grazing every day but fearing our forces they brought them into the Castle every night hee therefore drew forth out of Wareham a party of horse and foot in the night being assisted by Captain Jordon and Captain Lawrence and lay undiscovered all the night till morning and at break of day the Enemy in the Castle having turned out the Cattle and horse to grasse Captain Butler who commanded the horse drew neer the Castle and faced the Enemy whiles Captain Jordan and Captain Laurence drew up the foot entred the Town beat the Enemy to the Castle and bravely kept them play whiles the horse drove away their Cattle from under their very walls to the number of at least 140. and took about 20 good horse and brought them all off safely
costliest Capitall-Letters of Gold I mean that most memorable Victory at Naseby in Northamptonshire given by our good God to his vaâ—iant and virtuous his gallant and godly servant Sir Thomas Fairfax the Parliaments most renowned Generall In the excellent successes of the Parliaments forces against their Enemies in Shropshire And the sacred and solemn celebration of a Day of Thanksgiving to our all-good-giving God for that foresaid great Victory in speciall And the Parliaments honourable gratitude to Gods Instruments therein A rare and right way to beget more blessings In the most happy regaining of Leicester out of the harpeian-Harpeian-hands of Enemies And the triumphant conduction of the Naseby Prisoners to London there to bee kept in custody yet used there with Christian mercy and clemency In our loyall and loving Brethren of Scotlands neerer advance unto us to help the Lord against the Mighty Together with that brave defeat given to our Enemies by the Garrison of Wareham in the Wâ—st And valiant Colonell Joneses also against our adversaries in Cheshire In the Lords admirable good providence in bringing to light and publike knowledge the Kings and Queenes most ungodly designes for the ruinating of all their 3 late most flourishing Kingdomes by the happy apprehension of the Kings Cabinet of Letters Together with the continued good successe of our forces in Sâ—ropshire in the taking of Stokesey Castle Caus-Castle and Heighworth in Wiltshire In the most serious and sanctmonious rumination and recogitation of all which most rich and rare Parliamentary Mercies and Victories most sweet and singular passages and fair footsteps of divine providence and preservation O how should our hearts bâ—e râ—nzed and raised up to an exceeding high pitch of praise and incessant and redundant gratitude to our so good so great so gracious God who hath so gloriously and so graciously wrought all these great things for us especially that most famous and glorious and never sufficiently to bee admired mercy in Nasebies admirable and most advantageous Victory Concerning which O how can England greatly beloved England though most ungratefull and sinfull England but in infinitely bound and unbounded-exultation and admiration confesse and say with the Holy Prophet that The Lord went forth in this famous fight as a mighty man stirring up jealousie and wrath as a man of Warre and mightily prevailing against his enemies By whom the terrible one is brought to nought the scorners are consumed and all that maliciously watched for iniquity and blood are righteously cut off And therefore I say O how justly may wee heer take up that of the pious Prophet David and with him most cordially sing and say If it had not been the Lord who was on our side now may England say if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us They had swallowed us up quick when their rage and wrath was kindled against us Then the waters had overwhelmed us Yea the proud waves had gone over our Soules But blessed O for ever blessed bee the Lord who hath not given us as justly for our sins hee might a prey to their mouthes For our Soule is escaped as a bird out of the snare and all our help stands in the name of the Lord Hallelujah therefore Hallelujah praised and ever blessed and glorified bee the name of the Lord. ANd now to proceed in our farther progresse to the continued contemplation of this admirable still continued wonder of the Burning-Bush Vnconsumed and therein of the rich and rare mercies of our ever blessed and bountifull God the unexhaustible fountain of all goodnesse to us his English Israel And first I shall acquaint the Reader that whiles our most miserably seduced King was fleeting from place to place between Bristoll and the Forrest of Dean c. and taking fierce and furious illegall courses to recruite his mangled Army even almost quite broken in peices at Nasebies famous fight among the poore and perplexed inhabitants of Herefordshire Worcester and such parts of Gloucestershire as hee had any power in to strengthen and revive his now gasping and neer expiring desperate designes in the West with Goring and Greenvill devillish Dives and the rest In this interim I say our most pious and prudent Parliament had Ordered by a speciall Ordinance from the House of Commons that the Assembly of Divines at Westminster should upon Tuesday the first of this instant July seek the Lord our God for his continued ayd and assistance in blessing the proceedings of our forces then also gathering into the West in a set day of Humiliation in the City of London which was accordingly performed by divers of the most eminent Members of the said Assembly who all that day did Preach and Pray in these following places Viz. In the Abbey at Westminster in Christ-Church in London Black-Fryers Dunstans West Dunstans East Michael Cornhill Olaves Southwark Algate and Aldermanbury A Jove oâ—ne principium And are not those works like to prosper indeed which are begun in the Lord Yes certainly as now wee shall yet farther illustrate and set forth in their subsequent and most proper places And much about the very same time there being a strong suspition of dangerous persons to lurk and lye hid and harboured in a house in Long-Acres neer Covent Garden which had been the House of one Mr. Catesby where once the Popes Nuncio lay and was entertained this House I say being suspected was suddenly searched by authority thereunto given and there they found and apprehended at least 29 or 30 Carts load of Papists and pernicious Malignants goods to a great value being very much thereof rich goods indeed which was all taken away and carryed to Haberdashers-Hall or to Cambden-House There was among them also very much Popish apish trumpery as Crucifixes Images and many Popish Books which were laid up and kept till a due time to bee reduced into ashes by the fire the best use that could bee made of such Romane Babylonish babyish fooleries and the rest of the goods to bee sold to the best advantage and the money to bee disposed of by Order of Parliament for the use and supply of the Parliaments Garrisons and forces in the West About the 4 of this instant our most loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland published a most pious and modest Remonstrance which they had lately before sent and for certain had presented to the King himself wherein they shewed themselves full of godly zeale and fidelity to God the King and Parliament of England which being singularly worthy of speciall notice but too large to bee heer inserted at full as it was delivered I shall heer only for brevities sake give the godly Reader some of the most memorable passages or heads thereof which were to this effect First that his Majesty would bee pleased to call to minde their oft neglected addresses to him heretofore and after their prayers to
upon their legges with sticks in their hands They left 300 good Armes behinde them and good store of powder and Ammunition And upon the 30 of this instant July to make this Moneth a most compleatly victorious Moneth indeed it pleased the Lord to deliver up also into the Parliaments happy possession the strong Garrison of the Town of Bathe which was related in a Letter sent from thence by an eminent Commander and actour in the same which for the Readers better content and full satisfaction I have heer thought fit to insert and impart as it was Printed and published by authority which was as followeth SIR AS I gave you an account of the taking of Bridgewater so God multiplying his mercies upon us wee having taken in Bath also I shall breifly give you an account thereof only I cannot omit something yet behinde of Bridgewater for wee have found 6 peices of Ordnance which the Enemy had hid and there is left besides what was destroyed by the fire 44 barrels of Gunpowder and 4000 weight of Match On Saturday last Sir Thomas Fairfax marched out of Bridgewater Leivtenant Generall Cromwell hath been ill but God bee thanked hee mends that night wee marched to Marstock about nine miles on the way to Sherburn where wee quartered that night and Sunday night On the Lords day wee heard that Rupert had been himself in person the day before at Bath with Sir Thomas Bridges to encourage him to keep it against us promising him releif in case he should bee besieged On Munday the 28 of July 1645. the Generall marched to Sherborn about 14 miles from Marstock Major Generall Massie was left further West And the same day viz. Munday about 60 horse most Welsh came from Prince Rupert to strengthen Bath and other Officers with them to Govern the Town because that Prince Rupert had found when hee was there two dayes before that Sir Thomas Bridges was quite out of heart to keep it for the very name of Sir Thomas Fairfax strikes a terrour to the Enemy But when they were come into Bath the Town cryed out as one man all against the Welsh No Welsh no Welsh Neither did Sir Thomas Bridges take it well that hee should bee displaced and another put in which caused a great division in the Town that the Officers and Horse would not stay to dispute it yet neverthelesse some Welsh stayed in the Town which did much displease both the Governour Officers Townsmen yea and the Garrison Souldiers also On Tuesday the Generall sent two Regiments of horse and two Troops of Dragoons under the Command of Colonell Rich to view and give account of the condition of the Garrison of Bath then held by Sir Thomas Bridges for the King The Army removed to Wells Colonell Pickering is with a party before Sherborn a nest of most mischeivous vermine under whom the Countrey hath much suffered and by whom before wee came thither some of our own messengers have been taken and our Letters intercepted and the Countrey doe wholly complain against them for very great plunderers and barbarous neighbours Wee made on towards Bath having no foot at all with us onely the aforesaid 2 Regiments of horse and 2 Companies of Dragoones and about an houre before Sunset the South side was close beset the Dragoones lay about Holliwell and wee kept them on the South and on the West parts of the Town But the North part of the Town lay open for wee came not to block them up nor had wee Forces to doe it then present there The Enemy might have gone away on the North part of the Town in despight of all that wee could doe to hinder them but God did so infatuate them that they had not power as in our former victories so particularly in this taking of Bath the hand of God was much seen for us About Sunset wee gained Holliwell and placed our Dragoones within half Pistoll shot of the Gate on the Bridge at Bath where there was some skirmishing and the Dragoones behaved themselves very gallantly In the night the Enemy within took severall Allarms and were in great fear of us I conceive they knew not our strength only before had some intelligence of the advance of our Army On this present Wednesday morning the Enemy heard of a party from Malmsbury on the North side of them but they were not considerable but they were struck with such a fear that Sir Thomas Bridges sent a Messenger very early forth of Bath to us to desire a parley which wee wondred at so wee presently held a parley with them and by Sunrising had the Garrison of Bath delivered up to us upon very good Conditions 1. All both Officers and Souldiers to have quarter for their lives 2 That Sir Thomas Bridges and all the Officers bee permitted to march away to Bristoll without let or molestation 3 That Sir Thomas Bridges and all other Field Officers and Captaines have liberty to march away with Horse and Armes 4 That all Officers under the degree of Captains march away without Arms only staves in their hands to Bristoll 5 That Sir Thomas Bridges with all the Officers aforesaid doe immediately march out of the Garrison and surrender it to Colonell Rich for the service of the Parliament 6 That all the Ordnance Armes and Ammunition bee surrendred also 7 The common Souldiers to bee left all prisoners All which was done and wee were possest of the Garrison by break of the day And truely you may think it a strange thing for horse to take a Town and no foot within 15 miles of it but you may see how God infatuates men and possesseth them with a fear that deprives them of wisdome and courage Bath July 30. 1645. A List of what was taken in the Garrison of Bath by Colonell Rich on Wednesday July 30. 1645. Left in the Town according to the Articles aforesaid 200 prisoners which were 100 Garrison Souldiers 100 Welsh that came in but three houres before into Bath 200 Muskets an 100 Pikes 6 peices of Ordnance 10 barrels of Gunpounder 10 barrels of other Ammunition a great quantity of Match and Bullet Sir Thomas Bridges his Standard Colours in the Royall Fort 5 Colours besides good store of Victuall and other provisions some Pistols and Swords all Sir Thomas his bagge and baggage besides the Armes and provisions of the Townesmen Together with divers Halbert-Roundâ—eads and other weapons This Garrison was of great consequence for the straitning of the passage to Bristoll whereof more in its more proper place And that which makes this mercy much the sweeter and spiritually comfortable to us is that as that former famous mercy of Bridgewater was given in unto us even whiles wee were a praying for that mercy upon occasion of a speciall and extraordinary Fast Day So this likewise was unexpectedly cast into our laps even in the very time and on the day of our Solemn set Monethly Fast Day even as a
incroached upon our Enemies and in many places got within Pistoll shot and have had hot incounters with them On Munday morning last about foure a Clock they sallyed out againe and we watched how to catch them and that evening we took Sir Bernard Ashley the best Souldier in Bristoll and kild Col. Daniel for he had seaven bullets in his body but being so neere the works we durst not alight to bring off his body Sir Bernard Ashley we have Prisoner though sore wounded The other day at our first comming we shot Sir Richard Crane another great favourer of Ruports through the thighe of which he lyes dangerously ill the party of Foot under Lieutenant Col. Kempson hath taken the strong Fort of Ports-head point and therein â—ix pieces of Ordnance and one Demy-culvering so our Ships may come in freely into Severne we have also seized on one Ship in Avon with twelve peice of Ordnance The last night we were all up in Armes expecting a Sally out of one thousand Horse upon our Guards being extream wet weather all night long the Enemy drew out under their Workes but their Scouts discerning our readinesse came not on besides they had a most fierce Alarm Ports-head point was taken and the Parliament Ships coming up the River the Towns men were dismayed and threw down Arms Rupert imprisoned some of them and thus is the condition of affaires for the present We had by this raised as good Works against theirs as may be and if Goring come on of the other hand But singly either of them we feare not I am in great hast and can write no more but that I am Sir Your most humble servant From before Bristoll Aug. 28. 1645. at 4. in the afternoone Colonell Morgan is before Barklay Castle and the Generall hath sent a Regiment of Horse to his assistance Our Horse before Bristoll have done five daies and nights duty never coming off the Field And about the 30 of this instant August came certaine information by Letters to London from Redding that a Party of about 120 Horse from Wallingford and Dennington came into those parts to gather Contribution Money even within a mile of Redding Colonell Baxter the Governour of Reading with Captaine Pile and as many Horse and Dragoones of their Troops as could be presently made ready which was not above 30 or 40 in all at most understanding thereof sent to Colonell Moore ond Captain Burroughs who then had about 100 of Abington Horse quartered also at Redding to prepare for his Reserve The Enemy upon their March homeward ware closely followed by the Governours party whose forlorn hope forced the Enemies Rear guard to their body at which their body faced about and caused our forlorn to retreat and they perceiving our number to be but small pursued the Governour through and through yet he had but one man slain and eight of his men were taken Prisoners and the Governours sword was cut off to the hilt for upon the Enemies facing about upon ours the Governour seeing the Enemies advantage to be at least foure to one did forbeare an engagement till he had sent one of his Captaines to know how far behind the Abington horse were and to give them the Word who returned to the Governour and told him they were at hand which proved otherwise to the hazard of the Governour and his whole party then engaging as you have heard See here therefore how much conducing to the welfare of martiall affaires true intelligence is and how the want of it proves destructive In this interim at length and seasonably enough came in Colonell Moore and Captain Burroughs with their horse and they now with the Governours Horse and Dragoones being rallied againe very fiercely charged the Enemy again bravely routed them regained their prisoners tooke about 50 Horse of the Enemies 60 Arms 23 Prisoners one Major one Captaine and sorely wounded another and slew 13 of them on the ground and in their pursuit which ours had upon them for at least five miles The rest escaped by flight to tell their fellowes at Wallingford what a brave prize and purchase they had got We had but that one man slaine upon the place forementioned and two dyed since of their wounds The Governour Colonell Moore Captaine Pile Captaine Burroughs and Quarter-Master Barker behaved themselves with much gallantry in this businesse and generally the Souldiers fought all of them very bravely but most justly to God be all the praise of the victory And about the same time we also understood for certaine by Letters out of Shropshire That the brave and active Garrison of Shrewsbury fell also upon a party of the Enemies at Bishops-Castle in that County as they were hot in plundring the Fayre which was then kept there whom they bravely and suddenly routed rescued all the plunder tooke 200 of the Enemies Horse and many Prisoners This Service was performed by valiant Major Fenick and the Enemies party was from Ludlow and Bridge-North And here now good Reader let me desire thee to make a little pause and parley with thy heart and soul in the serious contemplation and consideration of the rich and rare mercies of this moneth also wherein thou hast most remarkably seen the faithful performance of this our still-continued mighty marvelous wonder of The Burning-Bush unconsumed or rather indeed more and more prospered and preserved in the midst of such and so many fierce furious flashes and flames of mischief and malignity in outragious opposition against it which hath bin most abundantly demonstrated both in Captain Allens brave defeat given to the Enemy neer Stamford in Lincolnshire In the surprisall of the Kings Commissioners at Shaftsbury by Colonell Fleetwood In the routing of the Clubmen by Lieutenant Generall Cromwell In the famous defeat given to the Enemy in Wales by Major Generall Laughorne In the storming and taking of Sherburne Castle by renowned Sir Thomas Fairfax In the Parliaments pious and prudent care for the reformation of matters in Religion In the good condition of our Forces in the North whereby a dangerous designe of the Kings was frustrated and his forces defeated In our most noble and renowned Generals winning of that strong Fort at Bristoll called Ports-head Point In that brave but dangerous defeat given to the Enemy neer Reading And Major Fenicks defeat given to the Enemy at Bishops-Castle in Shropshire All which rare Parliamentary Mercies bestowed on us and sore pinches and pulls thus from time to time put upon and wrested from our vile and vexatious Enemies O how ought the gracious and gratefull recordation and consideration thereof work upon our spirits and affect our souls with unexpressible gratitude to our God the most mercifull wise and wonderfull worker of them and cause us to break forth with holy David that sweet singer of Israel into this holy extasie of exultation and rejoycing sing and say Our souls waite yea wait only
the younger Sir Robert Spotswood pretended Secretary of State and Son to the late pretended Archbishop S. Andrews Sir John Hay sometimes Clarke Register Sir James Dowglas Sonne to the Earl of Morton Sir David Murray Sir John Byres Sir Nathaniel Gordon Sir Alexander Lesly Serjeant Major Generall Sir William Rollock William Murray Brother to the Earle of Tullibrand Col. William Stewart adjutant-Generall Col. James Hay O Cain Lieutenant-Colonell to the Irish The Serjeant Major to the Earl of Antrim and diâ—â—rs Gentlemen Prisoners of note killed LOdwick Lindsay Earl of Crawford Generall of the Horse The Baron of Innerleigh The Baron of Tough The Baron of Cambusnethen younger And Common Souldiers as was toucht before between 2 and 3000. In all which Fight our friends of the Scots lost not one Noble man or any Officer of note save onely Lieutenant Generall Middletons Father whom Montrosse before the Fight too murthered in his bed a grave old Gentleman that never tooke up Armes at all against him All Montrosses Carriages and Ammunition were taken all his Bagge and Baggage and above 4000 Armes And that Gods due glory may yet more illustriously appeare in this famous Fight and rare Victory I shall desire the Reader to take notice of these remarkable Observations on this Fight and Victory As First Montrosse having had so long a time after this last great Victory before Lesly came yet he had not gotten many thousands together Secondly That all this time not one Minister of Scotland complyed with the Enemy either to preach to them or to pray for them Thirdly That the Lord gave us this Victory in the space of an houre Fourthly That it was by an inconsiderable party not above five Regiments of Horse Fifthly That it was onely with the losse of fifteen Common Souldiers and two Captains on our side Sixthly That it was the very next day after our Fast or day of humiliation as a precious returne of our poore Prayers Seventhly and lastly that in the conclusion of the fight a paper-book was taken among our prizes in which were the names of all that either were come in or intended to come in unto Montrosse So as all the rotten members in the Kingdome of Scotland were thereby discovered in an houre and many of them cut off in a short time in this their overthrow Our Souldiers all cried out after the victorie Give all the glory to God and none to us This relation of this famous victorie though acted in and chiefly interested on the kingdome of Scotland yet having so much of God in it and no small influence on us of England also our Scottish-Brethrens wel-fare and ours being so mutually imbarked as it were in one and the same vessell I could not therefore pretermit it insilence but most justly make this honourable mention of it in this our Parliamentarie-Chronicle But now to proceed About the 18. of this instant September it pleaseth the Lord to shew himselfe wonderfully for us at the City or Towne of Chester in giving there unto renowned Sir William Breretons forces left under the Command of that valiant active and faithfull Colonell Iones and Adjutant Generall Louthane a most admirable victorie and such singular prosperous successe upon that City as gave us extraordinary hopes and probability of the timely totall reduction thereof to the obedience of the Praliament which having beene most exactly and faithfully certified and set forth by letters from thence I have here thought fit to give the Reader for his full content and satisfaction therein the Copie of one most authentick from a speciall Commander and actor therein which was as foloweth SIr It hath pleased the good hand of Gods providence and assistance to leade us on so prosperously and successefully in these parts of Cheshire that our Leaguer at Beeston-Castle hath continually kept the said Castle in great awe so kept in the enemie also at the City of Chester on Chester-side as that they could not at any time offend us but if they durst be so bold as to sally forth it hath still turned to their owne prejudice And now lately we heard for certaine that Byron their Governour went out of Chester on the welch side and we having much longed for noble Sir William Breretons comming down to command in chiefe among us which would no doubt ere this time have been an occasion of at least doubling our forces for the better and strong managing of our affaires heere But however we being unwilling to loose any advantage which we could possibly gaine or might be happily administred to us have at this time attempted a great designe yea such an one as you will iustly wonder at especially knowing the smallnes of our strength yet to God alone be all the praise and glory we are now both able to give a very good account of it for the present and we doubt not by Gods assistance we shall be able so to do for the future But noble Sir not to trouble you any farther with a tedious preamble time being precious with us at this time especially The busines was thus On Fryday last September 19 1645. We called a Councell of Warre in the Leaguer before Beeston Castle to consult about the marching to Chester to storme that Garrison and concluded that it should be done forthwith So we stole away from the Leaguer that night the Enemie within the Castle knowing nothing at all of the businesse and drew off about 1300. horse and foot from the Siege Collonel Iones commanded the horse and Adjutant Generall Louthany the foot and the next morning before the Enemie were awake we came upon them having marched all that night through the Moores passing over the River at Hupley and so on by the way of Wareton not so much as staying at Christleton to refresh our selves lest by our stay we should loose the opportunitie or be discovered We marched that night about eight miles and passed before breake of day between Christleton and Hunnington and so on to Boughton all which we carried on so privately that the Enemy had not so much as an alarme in the City We came before the City on the North east side thereof where we made no stop but presently fell to storming and by breake of day were got upon their Works and many of us got over in severall places before they heard any thing of us we tooke their workes betweene Cowland and Boughton quite to the walles of the City the enemy still flying before us we pursued them to the inner-worke which they shut up against us but we forced open the gates at the barres and still followed them driving them into the East gate which we had prevented them of had we not been stopped by the fastning of the gate which they did to gain opportunity to flye into the city we lost in all this not above 2. men killed many wounded the enemy carried away their dead all but one body many of
little to pull-downe their proud Spirits in the necessitated acknowledgement of their most foule offences and toâ—ly upon rols and record as a blacke spot and indelible sline upon them to posterity of their being such perfidious and pernicious betrayers and destroyers as much in them was of their own deare native Country to the utter rvine of themselves their wives and children by slavery and tyrannie over their bodies and Soules About the 10 instant we were certainly given to understand of the powerfull and propitious hand of Gods good providence and mercie unto us in giving in that strong and most pestilent and pernicious den of theeves and robbers I meane Bazing-house in Hampshire into the Parliaments possession by the martiall valour and industrie of renouned and victorious Lieutenant Generall Cromwall together with the brave Commander Colonell Dâ—Albeire the substance of the manner of the taking of it being fully related by victorious Lieutenant Generall Cromwells letter brought by Colonell Hamond to the honourable Speaker of the House of Commons and there read I have here thought fit for the Readers better content and satisfaction to Insert the same which was as followeth SIR I thanke God I can give you a good account of Bazing After our batteries placed we setled the severall posts for the storme Colonell Dalberte was to be on the North-side of the house next the Grange Colonell Pickering on his left hand and Sir Hardresse Wallers and Colonell Mountagues Regiments next him We stormed this morning after six of the clocke the signall for falling on was the firing foure of our Canon which being done our men fell on with great resolution and cheerfulnesse we tooke the two Houses without any considerable losse to ourselves Colonell Pickering stormed the new House passed through and got the Gate of the Old House whereupon they summoned a Parley with our men would not heare in the meane time Colonell Mountagues and Sir Hardresse Wallers Regiments assaulted the strongest Worke where the Enemy kept his Court of guard which with great resolution they recovered beating the Enemy from a whole Culverin and from this Worke which having done they drew their Ladders after them and got over another Worke and the House-Wall before they could 〈…〉 Sir Hardresse Waller performing his duty with 〈◊〉 and diligence was shot on the Armw but not dangerous we have had little losse many of the Enemies our men put to the Sword and some Officers of quality most of the rest we have prisoners amongst which the Marquesse and Sir Robert Peake with divers other Officers whom I have Ordered to be sent up to you We have taken about ten peeces of Ordnance with much Ammunition and our Souldiers a good encouragement I humbly offer to you to have this place utterly slighted for these following reasons It will aske about eight hundred men to manage it it is no Frontier the Country is poore about it the place exceedingly ruined by our Batteries and Morter peeces and a fire which fell upon the place since our taking it If you please to take some out of the Garison at Farnham some out of Chichester and a good part of the Foot which were here under Dalbier and make a strong Quarter at Newbery with three or foure Troopes of Horses I dare be confident it would not only be a curb to Dennington but a security and a Frontier to all these parts in as much as Newbery lyes upon the River and will prevent any incurtion from Dennington Wallingford or Farringdon into these parts and by lying there will make the Trade most secure between Bristoll and London for all Carriages And I beleeve the Gentlemen of Sussex and Hampshire will with more cheerefulnesse contribute to maintaine a Garrison on the Frontier 〈◊〉 in their 〈◊〉 which will have lesse safety in it Sir I hope not to delay but more towards the West to morrow and to be as diligent as I may in my expedition thither I must speake my judgement to you that if you intend to have your worke carried on Recruits of Foot must be had and a course taken to pay your Army also believe me Sir it may not be able to answer the wâ—rkâ— you have for it to doe I entreated Colonell Hammond to wait upon you who was taken by a mistake whilest we lay before this garrison whom God safely delivered to us to our great joy but to his losse of almost all he had which the Enemy tooke from him The Lord grant that these mercies may be acknowledged withall thankfulnesse God exceedingly abounds in his goodnesse to us and will not be weary untill Righteousnesse and Peace meet and that he hath brought forth a glorious worke for the happinesse of this poore Kingdome wherein desires to serve God and you with a faithfull hand Your most humble servant Oliver Cromwell Basingstoke 14. October 1645. I shall first present you with the particulars of the successe at Basing-house in the prizes and prisoners taken There were taken as followeth viz. The Marquesse of VVinchester Sir Robert Peâ—ke Governour Sir Inigo Jones the grand Surveyor foure Romane Catholique Priests reserved for the Gallowes twenty Gentlewomen 180. common prisoners ten pieces of Ordnance twenty barrels of Gunpowder nine Colours 3000. Armes 200. Horse 8000. l. worth of Clothes Beds and other goods many Firkins of Butter a great quantity of Cloth much bullet and match many Crucifixes Popish Pictures and Bookes neere a thousand Chests Trunkes and Boxes 400. quarters of Corne 200. barrels of Beere 300. flitches of Bacon an hundred bags of Malt 40000. weight of Cheese the Marquesse of Winchesters Plate Cabinet and Jewels worth above 5000. l. Sir Robert Peakes 500. l. besides a Box of brasse Plates the Marquesses rich Bed and furniture which cost 1300. l. one common souldier found 300. l. in gold hid in a hole about 4000. l. ready money a great quantity of Wine and many Hogsheads of Beere besides the Ladies wardrope which furnished many of our Souldiers wives with Gownes and Petticoats Slain Major Câ—st six Priests Robinson the Players sonne onely one woman who fell a railing upon our souldiers at their entrance calling them Roundheads and Rebels to the King whereupon one of our souldiers cut her on the head and neere 300. common souldiers Doctor Griffin sometimes of Dunstanes in the West late of old Fish-street taken and sore wounded and three of his daughters much Ammunition taken The losse on the Parliaments side in this desperate service was blessed be God not much Sir Hardres Waller who behaved himselfe gallantly wounded and not above ten others in all slaine outright though about eighty or an hundred wounded The word which the religious Major Gen. chose when he came to sit downe before that popish Garrison was out of the 115. Psalme concerning the worshippers of Images Their gods are the workes of mens hands wood and stone eyes they have and see not eares and heare not and
the next morning and thence to Sherburne where they met with a Countryman who told them that our men were prepared for their coming as so indeed a party of ours were of about 800 Foot and some Horse upon whom the Enemy fiercely falling being but a handfull to them they soone routed the Horse beat Colonell Wrens Regiment at the North side of Sherburne and tooke all the Foot Prisoners disarmed them all presently and laid their Armes in a great heap in Sherburme street till they could get Carriages to take or send them away for their further use But we having certain intelligence hereof marched thither with all speed and being now come to Sherburne we drew up our Horse and ordered them into bodies for Charges and Reserves But here first we fell into a great strait for we durst not march thorow Milford fearing the Enemies with their Dragoones for we heard they had such but they had none might have put us into disorder but above the Towne through the hedges which also was some inconvenience we were forced whom we came neare Sherburne and the Enemy drawing out against us to draw over a narrow way through an impossable Brooke which we knew not of having much adoe thereby to bring our bodies againe into order which truly might have occasioned the losse of the day unto us had not the Enemy been somwhat too late being busie with their Armes and Prisoners taken in the Towne as God had wisely disposed of it for us in drawing out of the Towne So thus then by Gods assistance I brought up against every of the Enemies bodies as neer as I could a body of ours and resolutely faced them in the Field both parties striving who should be soonest in Battalia But here let me give thee good Reader a sight of Sir Marmaduke Langdales Speech made to his Souldiers in the Field before the Fight began which came to my hand and was unquestionably a true Copy of the substance thereof and this it was Gentlemen YOu are all gallant men and have done bravely but there are some that seeke to scandalize your gallantry for the losse of Naseby Field but I hope you will redeem your reputation and still maintaine that gallant report which you ever had I am sure you have done such businesses as never have been done in any war with such a number your march from Oxford first beating of Rossiter and the reliefe of Pomfret the like I believe was never done And I hope you are Gentlemen and that you will still maintaine it and redeeme that which you have lost For mine owne part I will not have you upon any designe but where I will lead you my self And thus now I say he led them on into the Field Now the Enemy being also much flusht and incouraged with their late good successe against us charged valiantly upon us and ours answered them with as brave gallantry as could be at first the left wings on both sides were routed but in the conclusion our Reserves coming on so seasonably and couragiously the Enemy was forced to flie and we by Gods blessing got the day though I must confesse divers of our Horse as I toucht before were routed at first and the mischiefe fell most upon my Regiment who charged the onely gallant men the Reformadoes that the Enemy had One of their chiefe Commanders the Lord Digby by name was wounded as we were credibly informed and Sir Marmaduke Langdale himself also had foure Pistols fired upon him but whether he was wounded or not was then uncertaine unto us But the Victory was clearly ours ever magnified and praised be our great and gracious God and we solely kept the Field and pursued the Enemy at least three miles together Many prisoners were taken we believe 400 at least Sir Richard Hutton was slaine upon the place whose Corps his kinred having protection thereunto buried in the place he formerly had desired to be laid in I have here sent the List of their slaine and prime prisoners taken by us which you shall receive by Colonell Lilburne Many of our men were wounded but hardly ten slaine This was certainly a great businesse and a rare mercy unto us for the Enemy made themselves absolutely sure to have been in the City of Yorke that night or the next day at farthest but now they are scattered blessed be the Lord for it And that which was not the least part of our Victory we recovered againe all our men and Arms which they had before taken from us in Sherburne as also the prevention of the Enemies intended march to Montrose in Scotland which with the taking of Yorke in the way was the maine designe which the Enemy eagerly aimed at in this their thus undertaken march Not unto us Lord not unto us but to thy name alone we give as most due all the honour and glory hereof Honourable Gentlemen your desire of a full relation hath made me thus tedious for which I crave your pardon I shall present your Order to the Officers and Souldiers in the expression of your good acceptance of this our Service and your farther intended care for us And for the present I rest Your most humble Servant Chr. Copley Octob. 16. 1645. A List of the prime Prisoners and of the Prizes taken at this Battell at Sherburne on Wednesday Octob. 15. 1645. about foure of the Clock in the afternoone COl Sir Francis Anderson Col. Bulmer Col. Chayton Col. Carnaby Lieut. Col Matthew Wentworth Lieut. Col. Gordon Major Graythorn Captaine Leneon Master of the Ordnance Capt. James Cholmley wounded Capt. Marshall wounded Capt. Pudsey wounded And foure Captains more Capt. Lieut. Salter Lieut John Turner and divers other Reformadoes Master Duke Tunstall a great Papist Mr. Clavering Mr. Lowither Col. Sir Francis Carnaby slaine Col. Sir Richard Hutton slaine and 40 more Mr. Slingsby sore wounded Col. Clavering and Carnabyes Colours taken with divers other Colours Lord Digbyes Coach and the Kings Surgeon in it but eespecially his Cabinet wherin were divers Letters some wherof of great cōsequence written in a new Character the Character also found which could open all Much gallant Pillage We lost not ten men but many wounded The Enemie were about 1600 intended for Montrosse ours about 2250. About sixe hundred of the Enemy gone towards Skipton 300 or 400 Troopers taken about six hundred Horses 40 slaine and many wounded The Countesse of Nidsdale taken and some other Ladies About October 24 we received certaine intelligence by Letters from the most renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax his Excellency to the Parliament as also by other unquestionable informations out of the West of the taking of the Towne Church and Castle of Tiverton by his Excellencies Forces in those parts the manner whereof in briefe was thus faithfully related Upon Thursday Octob. 16. Major Generall Massie was ordered by the Generall to advance to Tiverton
in their hands and to depart to the Kings next Garrison or home to their houses if they pleased and the House with all therein Ordnance Armes and Ammunition to be delivered up for the use of the Parliament In which there was taken eight Peeces of Ordnance six Murtherers 500 Arms with store of other Provisions and Ammunition with great plenty of rich prizes and pillage By the reducing of this House the whole County of Lancashire is now totally set at liberty and cleared of all its Enemies and Colonell Bâ—oth and the other Forces which lay before it advanced thence toward Chester to joyne with Sir William Breretons Forces before Westchester About the eighth of this instant we also received certaine intelligence by Letters out of the West that his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Forces had taken in Fulford House a strong Garrison also of the Enemies on the other side of Exeter with all the Armes and Ammunition therein By the taking of which Garrison the way was made fully open to Plymouth so that our Army there had a free passage to advance for their relief which not long after was also happily effected whereof more in its more proper place And now about the 20 of this instant December Letters were read in the House of Commons both from Colonell Morgan and Colonell Birch fully relating the particulars of the taking of the Towne and Castle of Hereford the substance of both which Letters together with other unquestionable information whereof I have here for the Readers better content and full satisfaction therein set downe a true and exact Narration which was as followeth Colonell Birch having been not long before in London was by Order from the Committee of both Kingdomes sent post to his Forces at Bristoll for the effecting of some designe against the City of Hereford which ever since our Brethren the Scots raised their siege thence was growne very jocond proud and secure of all danger from thence he marched to Gloucester to advise with Colonell Morgan about the designe but finding the way which was at first intended altogether frustrate and the Governour of Gloucester at that time not very well Colonell Birch went with Sir John Bridges neer to Hereford and sent for thither two Gentlemen with whom Sir John had treated before about matters tending to this businesse who were then out of Hereford fearing to come into the Town and there Colonell Birch was fully satisfied concerning the Enemies supine security and the apparent negligence of the Guards of the Towne being I say most fearlesse of any approaching danger to them And now Colonell Birch consulting againe with Colonell Morgan whom now he found in perfect health and most active to promote the worke presently Colonell Morgan provided about 1100 Horse and Foot to joyne with Colonell Birches 900 Foot and his own Troop being about 50 more Horse which were quartered about Gloucester to be ready at an houres warning whensoever they should be called and ordered to furnish themselves with knap-sacks and provisions for a long march and so about Munday Decemb. 15. they began to march from Gloucester at which time the snow being almost knee deep they were constrained to march in file one by one both Horse and Foot and so to keep one track intending to reach to Hereford that night but I say the snow was so deep and the weather so extream cold that the Foot Souldiers had a very hard march insomuch that three of them died by the way the Foot being to beat their way thorow the snow Here Colonell Morgan and Colonell Birch were constrained to make an hault before they had marched within six miles of Hereford but their forlorne hope had marched within two miles thereof and were so neer ingagement that they came not off without some difficulty But the two gallant Commanders finding that they were discovered the better to colour their businesse marched back halfe way to Gloucester with part of their foot and lodged them at Ledburie 10. or 12. miles from Hereford and others of their horse marched almost to Gloucester After which having rested their foot and the Enemie now conceiving that they were marcht back and quite gone suddainly on Wednesday December the 17. about 9. of the clock they marcht againe toward Hereford the same way and in files as before and came by midnight within twice Musket-shot of Hereford and there rested the whole body of the Armie being 2000. Horse and foot effective Now here I must remember you that Colonell Birch as you heard before had been in these parts 4. or 5. dayes before to lay the designe and to view the ground with those worthie Gentlemen fore mentioned Sir John Bridges and the others At which time it pleased the Lord to put an excellent prize and oportunity into their hands which they accordingly by Gods assistance wisely made an excellent improve ment of and which tooke also most answerably For about that time Scudamore the Governour of Hereford had sent out a warrant under his owne hand to the High Constable of an adjacent Towne for Labourers to be sent into Hereford to breake the ice about the City now this warrant they had happily laid hould on and taken from the high-Constable the substance of which warrant was thus THese are straightly to Charge and Command you to send to my Garrison at Hereford out of your hundred a hundreth able men with spades Shovells Pickaxes and other necessaries fit for Piâ—ners for his Majesties Service whereof you are not to saile as you will answer the contrary at your utmost perill Barnabas Scudamore Given under my hand this 14. of Decemb. 1645. Now the Governour of Gloucesters Secretarie had made a returne to this warrant as from the high Constable of the hundred expressing That he had now sent the Constable of such a Towne with 6. men to worke the rest were to follow And upon this ground Colonel Birch had plotted and contrived the worke as followeth He had provided 6. faithfull and resolute men in the forme of Labourers and one more with them a stout and resolute Livetenant to be as a Constable with this warrant to bring thosâ— his Townesmen to worke in the City To whom for their present encouragement he had given a good summe of money in hand and had promised them a larger reward on their faithfull performance which accordingly they all did as now you shall heare These 6 men and their Constable together with 150. firelocks in the darke of the night lodged neere the Gate of the City in one of the burnt houses within Pistoll shot of the bridge even as neere as the ground would possibly admit In all which time ours with carefull Spies and Scouts kept back all intelligence from the Enemie So that they never discovered or suspected us after our first retreat toward Gloucester Now I say these Firelockes were for the better managing of the businesse left to
Colonell Birches Leiutenant Colonell Hammond who indeed carryed the businesse bravely and behaved himselfe most gallantly therein and the maine body of foot Colonell Birch himselfe led and Colonell Morgan the horse but the forlorn hope of horse which were first to enter was Commanded by brave Captaine Temple These things being thus designed in the morning after that the trevalley was beaten and upon the first letting-downe of the draw-bridge 3. men came out of the City not discerning any body the Firelocks lay so close and now the Constable with a hedgebill on his shoulder and the other 6. Souldiers like homely Countrie Labourers with spades and Mattocks came forth to their worke and the 3. foresaid men went along on their way seeing none else till they came beyond the hill and then perceiving our men they spake pretty loud to themselves What doe all these men here Whereupon they were instantly surprized and snapt-up and so could not stir back to give any notice of ought they saw And now the Constable and 〈◊〉 Labourers were come to the Draw-bridge where the guard began to examine them The Constable told the Centinell that he was come to doe his worke with those workmen according to his warrant from the Governour which they presently desired to see the Constable shewed it him and so he and the rest looking on it to read it the 6. men came close to them and were now on the top of the bridge and as they were reading the warrant the Constable with his hedge-â—ill knockt down the Centinell who instantly fell down dead at his feet the other Labourers killed 2. more of them and so all these 7. kept the others in play busâ—ing at the Bridge to over master them all which Leiutenant Colonell Hammond seeing who stood on the top of the hill to watch the Event and so gave the signe to all the Firelocks by houlding up and shaking his Hat unto them even all the 150. that lay coucht in the house whereupon out they all rushed and came speedily but yet orderly to the Bridge where they found the Constable and his Labourers close at their work indeed and so the Fire-locks making way for the horse and the horse close following them over the Bridge they got and into the Town they entred Captainâ— Temple and Sir John Bridges marched on in the forlorn hope of horse Leivtenant Colonell Hammond with the forlorn hope of Firelocks and Captaine Aldern with the reserve of foot and thus I say they entred bravely Captaine Temple with his horse-troope doing speciall good service making his way to the mainguard where his horse was shot under him and he fought so stoutly that his sword also was broken in his hand to the very hilt and three of his Troopers onely being slaine which was all the losse that we sustained of our men in this whole worke and some wounded The Commanders both of horse and foot I meane especially both Colonell Morgan and Colonell Birch did most excellent service from the first to the last of this brave service and so did the rest of the Commanders and Officers and went on so gallantly and undauntedly notwithstanding that they and their Souldiers had layen out all that cold night that they quickly seized on all the guards insomuch that at last many of the Enemie had got through the market place up to their chambers and thence discharged their Muskets and Pistolls upon our men and many of the Malignant Townesmen did the like out of their windowes which so enraged our men that they slew 8. in the streets but when the Enemie saw our men come in so fast and in great numbers they cryed out for quarter By this meanes the Souldiers fell toâ—â—â—â—ndering and rifling and tooke what they could catch from which the Governour of Gloucester Colonell Morgan could by no meanes restraine them for they accounted all their own in regard they entred the City by an ouslat and had so much opposition And thus by 12. of the clocke that night they had fully got the whole City and taken most of their prisoners This mercie was wonderfull unto us let the Lord have all the honour and praise thereof who made in so succesfull unto us in all the particulars of it from the first to the last A List of the prisoners and prizes thus taken in Hereford by Collell Morgan Governour of Gloucester and Colonell Birch now made Governour of Hereford THe Lord Brudenell the Bishop of Hereford by name Doctor Cooke Sir Fra. Howard Sir Marmaduke Floyd Sir Henry Beding-field Sir Walter Blunt and 2. more of the Blunts both Knights also and Papists Sir Rich. Kennish Sir Richard Weston Sir Thomas Lunsford Sir George Vaugham Sir Gyles Mumpessons Sir John Stepney Sir Fra. Lloyd Sir Philip Jones Sir Edw. Morgan Sir Nicholas Throgmorton Sir Richard Basset Sir Henry Spiller Sir Roger Bodingham Lievtenant Colonell Price Leivtenant Col. Jones Lieutenant Colonell Lewes Lieutenant Colonell Tooley and Lievtenant Colonell Jefferies Major Mathewes and Major Sayer Major Lewis Major Roberts Major Price and also Judge Jenkins Captaines 9. Secretarie Barnes 4. Leivtenants 3. Cornets one Ensigne one Quarter-master one Commissarie 2. Gentelmen of worth and quality besides Mounseiur Peter Morlet French Gent. 3. Chirurgeons together with many other Officers and Troopers of worth and quality and by the relation of the Townesmen there were at least 2000. Papists of all conditions then in the Town who had fled hither for their security since the taking of Chepstow and other places there abouts We tooke there also 12. peeces of Ordnance but as for the rest of the Magazine and Ammunition there was not then a full account given thereof it being then so scattered and disperst in the Towne Of what consequence this Towne is unto us may appeare in that the whole Countie of Hereford is by thus obtaining of this City brought into the obedience of the â—arliament and not onely so but all South-Wales and a good Omen for the reducing of Ragland Castle all provisions and intercourse being stopped out of Wales also to Worcester and Ludlow and the Enemies of other Garrisons thereabout being by this meanes in a faire way of reduction to the Parliament this next Spring by the gracious assistance of our good God Colonell Morgans Secretary who first brought the intelligence of this so gallant peece of service to the Parliament had 50 l. given him for his paines therein and Colonell Birches Messenger had 20 l. given to him also by Order from both Houses of Parliament And the Parliament taking into serious consideration the extraordinary providence and unexpected much more immerited mercy of God in thus gaining this strong City and that with so little losse of blood made thereupon these severall Orders following First That on the next Lords Day bounden thanks should be rendred to Almighty God for this great mercy by the Ministers in their severall
be done in three places The first Post was on the West Gate by Colonell Hamond the second on the North end of the Towne by Lieutenant Colonell Pride and the third on Tonstall Church and Works by Colonell Fortescue the time resolved on was in the evening Our men fell on accordingly with great resolution to whom Colonell Lamberts Regiment was a Reserve and to alarm the Enemies elswhere Colonell Hamond entred the West Gate where foure Guns were planted and two upon the Mill-Pool upon his Flank the Enemy â—â—ring his great guns but once his men that had the forlorne hope did very gallantly as indeed they did all and went freely on and beat off the Enemy and possessed one Fort after another viz. Mount-Flaggon the West Gate and Paradise Fort and beat off the Main-Guards where were taken foure Lieutenant Colonels and so we possessed the Town from the West Gate to little Dartmouth 〈◊〉 the interim Lieutenant Colonell Pride attempted the North part of the Towne called Harnesse where beating off the Enemy be entred it and took about eighty prisoners in it and by it possessed all the North part of the Town unto the Drawbridge which divided the North part from the rest of the Town where Colonell Hamonds men and his met Colonell Fortescue with his men attempted Tunstall Church which was very well man'd with above 100 men and having in it ten Guns His men after some dispute with good resolution entred the place and possessed it so that by this time the Enemy was beaten out of all except the great Fort on the East side of the River called Kingsworth Fort and the Castle with the Fort which lay over the Castle at the mouth of the Harbouâ— called Gallant Bover to which last the Governour with the Earl of Newport and as many as escaped out fled After they were forced from their strength out of the Town the Governour coming back from the Castle to see what posture the Town was in had a remarkable shot as he was in the Boat one sitting by him a Musket shot was made at the Boat which pierced the Boat and through both the thighs of one that was next unto him and about three inches into his own thigh upon which he retreated to the Castle Our Dragoons with two Companies of our Firelocks and some Seamen were ordered onely to alarm Kingsworth Fort wherein was Sir Henry Cary with his Regiment having in it 11 Guns and 12 Barrels of powder and convenient proportion of Ammunition This was a very strong Fort with about foure good Bulworkes strong enough to have made a troublesome resistance but the Enemy came willingly to terms and to save time I willingly condescended to let Sir Henry Cary march away with the rest leaving the Armes Ordnance Ammunition with all Provisions in the Fort to me and all engaging themselves never to take up Arms more against the Parliament which was accordingly performed Next morning being thus master of all but the Castle and Gallants Bower I summoned that the Governour was willing to listen unto me but I held him to those terms upon which after some dispute he yeelded which was to deliver himself and all Officers and Souldiers upon quarter he sent me out Colonell Seamor and Master Denham for Hostages with whom came out the Earl of Newport and all was this day performed accordingly In this Fort and Castle were 11 Guns with proportion of Ammunition and Provisions We have taken in the Harbour two men of War one belonging to the Governour of Barnstable with 12 Guns Burden 200 Tuns the other belonging to Newcastle formerly Captaine Johnsons of ten Tuns In the Town one hundred and three peeces of Ordnance and about 600 prisoners and 100 Horse with good proportion of Arms and Ammunition exact particulars whereof I am not able to give your Lordship at present an account There being many of the Inhabitants of this Towne Souldiers in Plymouth and some Officers And understanding that that Towne had 2500 in Garrison besides Townesmen I have sent thither for 500 Foot for this place who quickly will increase to more and to this I desire your approbation for having found more worke to do I held it not fit to weaken my Army especially considering the Recruits designed by you I doubt will be too long before they come I have given your Lordship a brief account of this service which I desire may be accounted a sweet mercy of God in a very fitting season and only ascribed to him who truly did direct and act it and made all the preparation to it both in the ordering our hearts and giving health to the Army which laboured two moneths ago extremely of sicknesse but is now in good disposition generally to health I can say I finde it to be in the hearts of all here in all integrity to serve you And that it is so is still the mercy of God for surely the successe of your affaires only depends upon the ordering of a gracious providence which is no lesse visible in your councels which we congratulate than amongst us that being the common root and spring of all and which can and will carry you through the greatest difficulties and us in serving you untill God hath finished his own work wherein to professe the obligation and readinesse of my selfe and the Army by the same good hand of God is all the undertaking of Your Lordship most humble servant THO. FAIRFAX Dartmouth Jan 20. 1645. A List of the Prisoners and Prizes taken at Dartmouth Jan 19. 1645. SIr Hugh Pollard Baron Governour of the Towne The Earl of Newport Colonell Saymor Master Denman Baron Denmans Sonne Lieutenant Colonell Nicholas Codrington Lieut. Col. Bluet Lieut. Col. Thomas Warkland Lieut. Col. Searl Major Francis Fielfâ—rd Major Hooper Captaines 16. Lieutenants 14. Ensignes 10 Cornet 〈◊〉 and others not then brought in Master Reynolds Gentleman of Armes besides 6 Gentlemen of note of the Country and divers others Divers Ministers or Priests and many inferiour Officers Common Souldiers betwixt 800 and 1000 who were all set at liberty and to repaire in peace to their dwelling houses who tooke it as a great favour as also did the whole Country to whom they were related Many Barrels of Powder 1000 Armes besides many broken ones Two men of War in the Harbour the one belonging to Barnstable the other to New-Castle And 60 Sayle of Ships both great and small 120 Peeces of Ordnance ready planted with those 13 in Gallows-Brow In all by Sea and Land neer upon 200. 100 Horse 8 Horse Colours 5 Foot Colours 7 Standards of Foot Colours and one with the Kings own picture on it Major Pollard of the Enemies part slain in the storme After the reading of this Letter the Commons in Parliament tooke into their serious consideration the great and worthy valour and singular good successe of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax and reserted it to a Committee to consider how the 5000.
Hosts by whose providence you are made such victorious Ministers of our deliverance from such intollerable bondage and next to our great and wise Councell by whose publique care and commission we have the happinesse this day to see you Conquerors for the preservation of our Religion so long violated and restitution of our liberty so long inthralled Neither may we omit a gratefull acknowledgement of the unexampled valour and vigilance which have been so magnanimously exercised for the reducing of this unhappy Kingdome from the wofull condition of a bloody war to so fair hopes of an assured and most happy peace And now since it hath pleased God thus to blesse us we presume not to motion through difference your future care of his Glory and the Common-Wealths good having so many rare examples of your readinesse to defend both However give us leave as a people that to our great grief and misery have so long a time wanted the happie influence and equity of the Law to relieve us to mention our desires of their reparation whereby also to distinguish our selves from those which have with an high hand indeavoured to subvert them and as hitherto you have not wanted our Prayers to God for a blessing upon your Counsels and Actions So now your Honour shall not want the ready though weak assistance so far as the lives and fortunes shall extend of your servants and faithfull votaries The taking into consideration this Petition and the coming in of the persons afore mentioned as also the rising of the Inhabitants at Camelford Ginny-Hill and other parts in the East and North of Cornwall for our assistance it was held fit to summon a Posse of five or six of the hundreds to appear at Bodman-Down to morrow being Friday where some will be fitted with Instructions to impart the Generals minde unto them For to morrow part of the Army advances to Saint Columbe and other parts the Enemy is retreated from Castle Dennis and last night had his Head Quarter about Truro some part of their Forces at S. Allens and kept Guard neer S. Columb as our staying here three daies will prove to our advantage in setling these Eastern parts of the Country So we are confident it will do so for the Western for Gorings Horse will sufficiently incline the people to wish the coming of this Army for their ease and preservation The Enemy gave out they would plunder Truro because the people there already appear for us but it was answered Whether should they go with their plunder when they had it Severall of the Princes servants have sent unto the Generall for Passes to come in and to repair to their homes which I conceive they now solicite for in regard the Prince is gone to Sea but where he is landed we yet hear not Last night a Vessell out of Ireland came into Padstow the Townsmen seized upon her and three other Vessels going out with plundred Goods and sent to our Forces at Ware-Bridge for assistance which was this morning accordingly sent unto thme A Spie is just now come from the Enemies Quarters most of their forces are North of Truro We shall be very neer Truro to morrow night I beleeve the Generall after one daies advance will send a Summons to the Lord Hopton I take my leave and rest Your most faithfull and humble Servant Jo. Rushworth Bodman March 5. 1645. two in the afternoon SInce the writing of my Letter here is Captaine Farre come from Padstow who with Captaine Wogan boarded the Irish Vessel and with the assistance of the Townsmen and Townswomen put them all to the Sword but two about thirty in all wicked naturall Irish God hath most seasonably brought that Vessell thither It enrages the Country against the Kings party for bringing in of forraigners These are but the fore-runners of many thousands speedily to come over as by their Packets of great concernment appears Indeed of so great concernment considering from whom they come that it is not fit to be lightly mentioned they were thrown into the Sea yet recovered an expresse is to come up with them We have cause to blesse God for such a mercy Severall of those Letters subscribed by Glamorgan Ormond and Digby were this day read to Master Corriton Mr. Lower Mr. Glanvile Mr. Trevisa c. And one of the two Irish that had not his throat cut was brought before them which hath so satisfied them of the Kings intentions and ready preparations to bring in bloody Irish Rebels into this Kingdom that they offer to the hazard of Life and Estate in person to oppose them I will say no more till the Letters come Pardon my haste Bodman March 5. 1645. six at night A Summons is gone to Hopton Which Summons coming in here most fitly by that mention therof and of most singular excellencie and worthy to be recorded to posterity I have thought convenient and very necessarie here to insert it the Copy whereof was as followeth Sir through the goodnes of God to his people and his just hand against their enemies your forces being redâ—ced to such condition as to my sense the same good hand of God continuing with us wherin alone we trust they are not like either to have subsistance or shelter long where they are or to escape thence nor if they could have they whither to go for better I have thought good for prevention of more bloodshed or of further hardship or extremity to any but such whose hearts God shall harden to their owne destruction to send you this Summons for your selfe and them to lay downe Armes and withall a tender of such conditions upon a present surrender and ingagement never more to beare Arms against the Parliament as may be better than any thing they can rationally expect by further standing out First therefore to the Souldery in Generall English and Forrainers I shall grant liberty either to go beyond Sea or to their homes in England as they please and to such English as shall chuse to live at home my Protection for the liberty of their persons and for the immunity of their estates from all plunder or violence of Souldiers and all to goe their wayes with what they have saving Horse and Armes But of Officers in Commission and Gentlemen of quality I shall allow them to go with horse for themselves and one servant or more sutable to their quality and with Armes befitting Gentlemen in a condition of Peace And such Officers as would goâ— beyond Sea for other service to take with them their Armes and full number of horses answerable to their Offices To all Troopers and the inferiour sort of Horse Officers bringing in and delivering up their horses and armes twenty shillings a man in lieu of their horses to carry them home To English Gentlemen of considerable Estates my Passe and Recommendation to the Parliament for their moderate composition Lastly for your Selfe besides what is before implyed to you in
time which I rather believe because he invited a cessation untill some Irish doe land which is the thing rumoured abroad in their Army and expected to be there within eight and forty houres and indeed a duplicate of that Packet we intercepted at Padstow is since arrived with the enemy whereby its probable they hasten ships unto them for the bringing over those Irish that were intended for Chester into these parts What ever his intention is the Generall will not lose a minute of time All the Regiments this day advanced to and beyond Cullomb within three miles of Truro with a great part of the horse the headquarter is at Bodman with one Regiment there which we leave to secure the passe To morrow the Generall and Lievtenant Generall advance after the Army and I believe will quarter at Truro to morrow at night This advance as it is like to further a good effect upon the Propositions if God incline their hearts unto it so it will I hope dispatch the businesse before such time as any Irish can land If there be a Treaty it must not be such a one as shall take up above one dayes time therefore a few dayes will decide that businesse and I hope with Gods blessing much to your advantage and the peace and welfare of this Kingdome Major General Pert is run through the body and shot in the body yet not mortall There was found in his Pocket a Copy of a Letter to the Lords about the Prince either sent or to be sent by him advising them That now was a good time to Treat before our Forces advance further declaring That they feared else their Condition would be desperate The Countrey is very forward to assist in the Barrocadoing up of all Lanes and Passes where probably the Enemy if they intend to breake through may attempt to passe by This being all I have to trouble you with I rest Your most faithfull and Humble Servant J. R. Bodman March 8. 1645. Much also about this same time Sir Ralph Hopton looked very earnestly for new supplies out of Ireland and received Letters thence that he should have them and that they were ready for him if he would be pleased to send forth ships to transport them over unto him But Foy also was now taken by the Parliaments forces and in it 13. peeces of Ordnance and the newes hereof made Pendennis tremble hearing especially her enemies approaching neere her and now already thundring against her walls The inhabitants of Cornwall on all sides come in unto renowned Sir Thomas Fairfax being overcome as much by his mercy and clemency as by his might and courage who thus drove his Enemies still before him terrifying Hopton also by his power and prowesse and now at last inviting him by his Summons the effects whereof you now shall heare namely that about the 18 of this instant March we received the certaine intelligence of the Demands of Sir Ralph Hopton upon our most noble Generals Summons which were as followeth Sir Ralph Hoptons Demands SIR I Received yours bearing date the fifth of this Moneth wherein I must acknowledge much kindnesse from you and a very Christian consideration of sparing of blood But one thing there is I am confident you have too much honour to expect from me which is that to avoid any danger or to enjoy any worldly advantage I will renounce my Masters Service to whom I am both a sworne Subject and a sworne servant that I must professe I am resolved to undergoe all fortunes with him and if there shall be cause to suffer any thing rather than in the least point to taint my honour in that particular and I hope there is not a man of any consideration in this Army under my command that is not so resolved yet in all honest and honourable wayes to procure the peace of this Kingdome and the sparing of Christian blood I take God to witnesse I am and still have been mostdesirous And I heare from good hands our Gracious Soveraigne is at present so farre advised to a Treaty with the Parliament as that he hath promised to passe foure of the principall of their Bils proposed whereof the intrusting the Militia for seven yeares in hands agreed between them is one I desire you to deale freely with me in that particular for if that be so it will spare the labour of further Treaty being for my part ready to obey whatsoever his Majesty shall agree unto God indeed hath of late humbled us with many ill successes which I acknowledge as a very certaine evidence of his just judgement against us for our personall crimes Yet give me leave to say your present prosperity cannot be so certaine an evidence of his being altogether pleased with you It is true we are reduced to a lower condition than we have been yet have we a gallant body of Horse that being preserved to a generall all accord may be for good use against our common Enemies and being otherwise prest I may say it without vanity want not a resolution at least to sell our selves at a deare rate against any odds Your Propositions though they be not wholly to be consented unto yet if a generall accord much more desirable be not in a likely forwardnesse to prevent them I shall be willing that eight Commanders of ours with three Country Gentlemen give a meeting as soon as you please to an equall number of yours at any indifferent place to consult of this great businesse and to conclude of some Propositions that may be reasonable and honourable for both parts wherein I hope God will sâ— blesse our cleare intentions as may procure a probable inducement to a generall peace according to the unfaigned desire of Your Servant RALPH HOPTON March 8. 1645. A Party of yours falling upon a Guard of ours yesterday it is likely they have taken some prisoners I desire the favour from you to receive a List of them by this Trumpeter till I receive a positive Answer to the contents of this Letter I shall not permit any of mine to attempt any thing upon any of your Forces Your Servant RALPH HOPTON Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Answer My Lord I Should most freely and truly inform your Lordship the best I could in any thing that might lead you to a right understanding of things in order to the Peace of the Kingdome or the reall good of your selfe and those with you so far as may stand with my trust and duty to the Publiqve to what I conceive your more certaine knowledge of that your desire to be informed in concerning the Kings offers to the Parliament would not be prejudiciall But the truth is I can give you no other satisfaction or assurance therein than this That the King hath made some offers to the Parliament and amongst them one concerning the Militia something to the purpose as you say you have heard but the just certainty what his last overtures are or
the brave defeat at Abbington The Enemies gave Abbington an alarm and possest themselves of Cullum Bridge Rupert Maurice were present Their strength 3000 horse foot The charge on the Enemy begun Cullum Bridge recovered by ours Maâ—or Bradberry slain The Enemy put to a shamefull retreat Major Hatton Farmer slain 5 Irish men hanged A rare clear victory Sir Henry Gage Governour of Oxford slain in this fight A great mercy and preservation to us Prince Ruperts proud brag to be Master of Abbington 1 King 20. 1. 1. Rupert notably jeered for his brave Victory Another passage of divine providence The enemy most bravely beaten at Plymouth The Enemy had gotten the 4 outworks of Plymouth yet were beaten out of them all again Colon. Holborn his good service in the West The New Modell of an Army of 21000 horse and foot voted in Parliament An Ordinance for raising Many to maintain the new Army A brave victory obtained by ever to bee renowned Sir William Breretons forces neer unto Chester A brave peice of service performed by valiant Colo. Craford against Colon. Bleyer and his party The County of Kent petition the Parliament for their setting forward of the Self-denying Ordinance A suddain and most dangerous assault of about 1200 of the Enemy upon Compton House Ours bravely sally out upon the Enemy and beat them back 40 of ours most bravely beat the Enemy Sir William and Sir Charles CoÌ„pton beaten back and the Outworks recovered The great drawbridg recovered the Enemy coopt up A fierce fight on both sides Sir Charles and Sir Will Compton proffer to parley but rejected A fierce assault made on the enemy in the stable The Enemy enforced to retreat be gone The slain and the prizes and prisoners taken A most remarkable Victory Deliverance Another brave defeat given to a part of the foresaid Enemies horse in their hoped return home by Northampton Horse The Burning-Bush not consumed A breif gratefull recitall of all this last Moneths Parliamentary mercies Psal 76. 4 5. February 1644. A brave passage of Gods providence at Sir Erasmus de la Fountains house neer unto Melton Mowberry Ashby Cavaleiâ—s beaten soundly at Cole-Orton in Leicestershire A brave defeat given to Colo. Gerard before Cardigan in Wales Col. Laughorn bravely releives Colonell Jones at Cardigan The prisoners and prizes The Treaty for a pretended Peace at Vxbridge Buckingham Malignanâ—s petition the Parliament Commissioners in the midst of the Treaty A notorious plot by the Buckingham petition against the Parliament A Declaration prepared and printed at Oxford to be spread over the 3 Kingdoms into forain parts touching the cause of the breach of the Treaty The true cause of the dissolution of the Treaty at Vxbridge The wicked Cessation of arms in Ireland justified by the Kings Commission at Vxbridge Malum consilium consulioribus pessiâ—â—â— A brave peice of service performed by Major Bridges Governour of Warwick at Stok-New-house in Worcestershire The House taken by storm and all in it Partshall Garrison taken by brave Major Stones Governour of Eccleshall Castle Major Generall Brown active about Oxford A brave defeat given to the Enemy by Colo. Lamberts forces at Heightley in Yorkeshire Ever to be honoured Sir Tho. Fairfax come to London and sent for to the house of Commons in Parliament to receive from them the honour of Generall of all the Kingdomes forces Scarborough Town Church Haven taken by valiant Sir John Meldrum Cholmley fled into the Castle endevours an escape by Sea Cholmley had 5 Dunkirk Vessels with him at Scarborough A Letter of Sir Hugh Cholmleys intercepted A brave defeat given to the Enemy by Major Temple neer Dennington Another brave defeat given to that apostate Skellum Greenvil at Plymouth The brave resolution of Plimouth men in winning Mount Stamford and beating away the Enemy The brave and strong Town of Shrewsbury surprized and taken The Town of Shrewsbury entred by ours The Castle taken The prisoners and prizes The Parl. gratitude for this good news A remarkable nore singular passage of divine providence in this famous victory Apsley-House in Shropshire taken by Sir William Brereton Colo. Crafords good service at Roesham neer Oxford A most brave Victory obtained by Colon. Massies forces in the For rest of Dean The Burning-Bush not consumed 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Mat. 28. 20. Psal 46. 11. March 1644. Melcomb-Regis bravely maintained Weymouth most admirably regained by Colon Sydenham Colo. Sydenham necessitated to fire the ships in Weymouth Haven The Chappel-fort in Weymouth regained And a brave booty therein obtained 2 Letters from Sir Lewis Dives intercepted Goring is extremly vext at the losse of the Chappell for t Gorings resolution to fall upon Chappel for t the Town of Melcomb at once discovered and prepared for The treachery of the Townesmen of Melcomb The Enemy tho trecherously let in to Melcomb yet bravely beaten our again with a great losse The Enemy also basely fly out of Weymouth And leave much good prize behinde them Goring Dives marched away from Weymouth to Dorchester The visible most apparent hand of God in all this service Two ships came in unto the Parliaments possession at Weymouth A day of Solemn Thanksgiving at Christ Church in London 2000 li. ordered to be paid to Weymouth The Kings own Life guard Troop of horse taken by us neer unto Oxford A brave defeat given to Prince Maurice his forces at Holt-bridge by valiant Leivtenant Colonell Jones The slain A brave defeat given to the Enemy by Sir William Wallerâ— forces The slain A great victory obtained by Sir William Waller Leivtenant-Gen Cromwell against Colon. Long at the Devizes The activity of the brave Garrison of Abbington under valiant Major General Brown The Parliaments justly high respect to Abbington Garrison The happy concurrence of the House of Peeres with the Commons about the List of Sir Tho. Fairfaxes Commanders of his New Modell Army A malicious slander of the Malignants happily thwatted to their shame Order taken by the Parliament as well for the spirituall as the Martiall Discipline of the Army The Parliaments care for the godly education of the 2 young Princes at White-Hall by the Earl of Nortâ—umberland Colonell Massie gives the Enemy a defeat neeâ— unto Bristol Fidelity and good service rewarded encouraged by the Parliament The Burning-Bush not câ—nsumed Psal 92 4 5. Aprill 1645. A most singular sign of Gods love and good will to this poore Kingdome even the most happy harmony of Both Houses Divers brave exploits performed by renowned Generall Browns forcâ—s at Abbington Capt. English choakt in a Vault at Abbington Renowned Major Generall Skippon singular good service in reducing his Souldiers to the New-Mâ—delled-Army A brave victory obtained by Major Generall Vrrey against the Lord Montrosse in Scotland A Solemn day of Thanksgiving appointed kept in London c. for this great victory Cambridge is by the Parliament highly priviledged Learning like