poore Array-men and forced thither to fight We slew above 50 of them at this onset about 20 of whom were slaine in the Castle-yard where they made the most resistance In all we killed and tooke Prisoners of the Common Souldiers about 800 Officers and Gentlemen of quallity and worth about 200 in all neere about a 1000 men Wee tooke all their Horse and Armes 8 Pieces of Ordnance good stores of all sorts of provisions in the Magazine sufficient for a long siege Considering the greatnesse of this successe our losse was not considerable for albeit the Colonels and other superiour Officers were in the face of all the dangers performing equall service with the meanest Souldier who undoubtedly received much life and courage from the undaunted resolution and fearlesse forwardnesse or their Commanders yet I say we lost not any Field Officer onely two Majors wounded one Captaine viz. Captaine Oglesby and Lieutenant Saunders slaine and about 10 Common Souldiers at the most slain most of which were slaine with stones throwne downe upon them from the Castle-walles For this great victory and mighty preservation though wee would not rob men of their due praise Yet we desire as most fit to make our boast of God all the day long who hath beene our helpe and our strong God and hath greatly appeared herein And blessed bee the Lord that put into the heart of our most noble Generall as to seeke God earnestly for his helpe before wee undertooke the Worke so far denying himselfe as to give himselfe no rest or refreshing till calling together most of the chiefe Commanders he had returned solemne praise and glory unto God for the great helpe which he vouchsafed us Now for the greater declaration and manifestation of the praise and glory of our Wonder-working God I have thought fit to give the Reader a Summary List of the Commanders and Officers taken Prisoners in this famous Victory Viz. Sir Francis Fanâ— Governour of Lincâ—lne Colonell Sir Charles Dalison Colonell Midlemore Colonell Bandis 2 Lieutenant Colonels 2 Serjeant Majors 21 Captaines 18 Lieutenants 14 Ensignes 18 Serjeants 6 Gentlemen 4 Drums one Trumpet one Over-seer of the Workes one Master Gunner two Gunners Mates All these wee saw taken at the present and are with the least there being more found afterward in corners whose names and number were not inserted into this List of Prisoners And take this note also by the way for a Conclusion that all the Common Souldiers after they were taken did cheerefully desire to serve the Parliament making many Protestations and serious Vowes of their readinesse and fidelity to venture their lives for our Cause And now to proceede About the 9th of this instant May it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our ever to bee most highly honoured praised and prised Parliamentary Worthies for the honour of God and better advancing of the worke of Reformation in the Lords most pure and unblended Worship of God to cause an Ordinance of Parliament to be Printed and published for the speedy demolishing and taking down of all Organs Images and all manner of Superstitious Monuments in all Cathedrall and Parish Churches and Chappels throughout the Kingdome and Dominion of Wales which for the excellency thereof I have thought fit here to insert verbatim as t was published for the godly Readers better content and pious delight which was as followeth Die Iovis 9 Maij. 1644. An Ordinance for the further demolishing of Monuments of Idolatry and Superstition THe Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament the better to accomplish the blessed Reformation so happily begun and to remove all offences and things illegall in the Worship of God doe Ordaine That all representations of any of the persons of the Trinitie or of any Angel or Saint in or about any Cathedrall Collegiate or Parish Church or Chappell or in any open place within this Kingdome shall be taken away defaced and utterly demolished And that no such shall hereafter be set up And that the Chancell ground of every such Church or Chappel raised for any Altar or Communion Table to stand upon shall be laid down and levelled And that no Copes Surplisses superstitious Vestments Hoods Roodlofts or Holy-water Fonts shall be or be any more used in any Church or Chappell within this Realme And that no Crosse Crucifixe Picture or Representation of any of the persons of the Trinity or of any Angel or Saint shall be or continue upon any place or other thing used or to be used in or about the worship of God And that all Organs and the frames or cases wherein they stand in all Churches and Chappels aforesaid shall be taken away and utterly defaced and none other hereafter set up in their places And that all Copes Surplisses Superstious Vestments Roods and Fonts aforesaid be likewise utterly defaced whereunto all persons within this Kingdome whom it may concerne are hereby required at their perill to yeeld due obedience Provided that this Ordinance or any thing therein contained shall not extend to any Image Picture or Coat of Armes in Glasse Stone or otherwise in any Church Chappell Church-yard or place of publike Prayer as aforesaid set up or graven onely for a Monument of any King Prince or Nobleman or other dead person which hath not been commonly reputed or taken for a Saint but that all such Images Pictures and Coats of Armes may stand and continue in like manner and forme as if this Ordinance had never been made And the severall Church Wardens or Overseers of the Poore of the said severall Churches and Chappels respectively and the next adjoyning Iustice of the Peace or deputy Lieutenant are hereby required to see the due performance hereof And that the repayring of the Walles Windowes Grounds and other places which shall be broken or impaired by any the meanes aforesaid shall be done and performed by such person and persons as are for the same end and purpose nominated and appointed by a former Ordinance of Parliament of the eight and twentieth of August 1643. For the utter demolishing of Monuments of Superstition or Idolatry Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Assembled that this Ordinance shall be forthwith Printed and Published Iohn Brown Cler. Parliamentorum Much about which foresaid time came certaine intelligence out of Wales to London that God had still exceedingly blessed and prospeâ—ed that most industrious and valiant Gentleman Captaine Swanley in all the parts of South-Wales and that he had lately taken the Towne and Castle of Carnarvan together with great store of Prisoners many Armes and Ammunition as also that he had taken divers more Irish which were landed in those parts whom because they were good Swimmers he caused to use their naturall Art and try whether they could tread the Seas as lightly as their Irish-boggs and quagmires and binding them backe to back cast them overboard to swimme or drown and to wash them to death from
Designes and winning divers Ships and valuable Prizes from them Together with Gloucesters good posture and condition And Colonell Beares and Colonell Masseyes victorious achivements over the Enemies In our loyall Brethren of Scotlands safe passage over the River Tyne without resistance and the feare and terror of the Lord put into the Enemies hearts that they durst not set upon our brethren but being enforced to wait on the Scottish Forces day and night in the Fields lost many hundreds of their Army to the great weakning thereof and enforcing of them to a hasty retreat to Durham In the brave defeat given to the Enemy at Collyton neere Lyme by valiant Captaine Pyne and the excellent reformation of the Cathedrall at VVestminster And lastly in this last fore-mentioned most famous defeat and glorious Victory which God in his great mercy gave Sir VVilliam VValler and Sir VVilliam Belfore at Alsford in Hampshire against Hopton and his formidable Forces who had even already swallowed us up in their deepe hopes and greedy expectations but wherein God admirably frustrated their high-built-hopes and dasht in pieces their deepest designes In just and serious Contemplation and Consideration then of all those precious premises who can deny but that he hath most evidently and undenyably seene in this Monethes most prosperous and successefull Voyage Gods Arke Over-topping the worlds waves swelling and although the outragious waves of wicked men Atheists Papists and perverse Malignants gave the Arke especially in this Alsfords bickering many sore brushes against its sacred sides to overturne it So that we might say with holy David The floods were lifted up O Lord the floods did lift up their voice as in those Oxoniensia Sesquipedalia verba the floods did lift up ther waves But the Lord was mightier than the noise of their many waters yea than all the mighty waves of the Sea And therefore let us all with most cheerfull hearts and voyces with that sacred sugered Singer of Israel aforesaid in holy exultation and gracious gratification Say and Sing Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered and let all those that hate him flee before him As smoake is driven away so drive thou them away O God as wax melteth before the fire so let the wicked perish at the presence of the Lord. But let thy righteous ones still be glad and rejoyce yea let them exceedingly râ—jâ—yce in thy Salvation And now to proceed ANd here now to hoyse up our sailes again and begin the next Moneths Voyage see what singular and soveraign good fruit we are all ready fraught with in the very first setting forth to the farther praise and glory of God a work most pleasing to heaven and all true holv and heavenly minded Saints namely how it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our most pious Patriots and precious Parliamentary Worthies the care of the more holy strict sanctification of the Lords Day about the beginning of this moneth of April to passe and publish a most excellent Ordinance of Parliament wherein were many sweet holy and holesome Orders and Penalties agreed on and confirmed to be put in exact excution and inflicted upon all manner of Offenders against the same And among them this one clause was also added That the Ordinance formerly made for the burning of all books of giving Liberty for prophane pastimes and Lawful recreations forsooth as our impious Pontificians wickedly termed their wickedly termed their Bacchanalian sports set out by the Arch-Prelate of Canterburies license and allowance should all be put in execution throughout the whole Kingdome under the Parliaments power and Authority And was not here a blessed blast and faire gaile of wind breathed out from heaven it selfe upon this Arke of God to carry it on successefully in this Moneths troublesome Voyage through the swelling Seas of this so sorely distracted and distressed Kingdome And about the 2 of this instant April came certain Intelligence by Letters out of Derbyshire to London That that brave active and faithfull Commander in Armes Sir Iohn Gell after the raising of the Siege at Newarke had such a Vigilant eye upon the Enemie that he sent forth a partee which fell upon one of their quarters at a place called Munk-bridge upon Dove-river not many miles from Derby where they killed 22 on the place routed the rest and drave divers men and horse into the said River where they were drowned took an 140 horse and 80 prisoners Much also about the same time came credible information by Letters out of Yorkeshire to London that Colonell Bellasis Governour of Yorke marched out thence toward Bradford where his Victorious Antagonist brave Colonell Lambert lay with his Regiment which Bellasis intended and hoped to have an oportunity to set upon and surprise But the Vigilant Colonell having timely intelligence of his comming sallyed out of the Town to meet the Enemy after a little facing one another Colonell Lambert warily perceiving that the Enemy were too numerous a partee for him to encounter with thought it not safe to advance beyond his Works whereunto he discreetly retreated and there maintained the fight very valiantly and beat off the assailants with their losse having kil'd and wounded so many that the Enemy was forced to a hasty retreat which the Valiant Colonel soon perceiving pursued them therein at least 6 miles in which Action Colonell Lambert took 200 horse and furniture and a 100 Foot and took Colonell Bagshaw a notorious Lancashire Papist 8 Captains and other Officers and Commanders About the 8th of this instant we had certain Information by Letters from Gloucester to London that the supply of powder and other Military Ammunition and Provision which had long lyen about Warwick expecting an oportunity to be conveyed to Gloucester to Colonell Massey was now at last come safely thither and it is worthy the observation in what manner it was effected which in briefe was thus It was sent by parcells at 3 severall times the first time severall barrels of Powder Match Flax Brimstone and some quantity of Money were sent by honest Carriers with their pack-horses about 14 in number which were conveyed with a guard of 60 Horse In the night time the Forlorn Hope as they past along espied a fire in severall places in a small compasse as they conceited which out of sodaine fear they took to be the Enemy The Enemy also espied the same fire and conceived that the Parliaments Forces were there The Parliaments Forces upon their fear wheeled about quite out of the way the Enemy by reason of their fear hastily retreated from them but the honest Carriers not knowing or once dreaming but that the convoy of the Parliaments Forces was before them drove on their Horses till they came to one of Colonell Masseys outmost Garrisons where the Ammnition was joyfully received and presently convoyed into Gloucester but the convoy turned to VVarwick with onely hopes which
To the Right Honourable Alderman ADAMS Lord Mayor of the most famous and Renowned City of London The Right Worshipfull Sir Iohn Wollaston and Sir Richard Sprignall Together with the Right Worshipfull the Lady Rebecca Wollaston and the Lady Anne Sprignall their most virtuous and truely pious Consorts All my ever most highly honoured good Friends J. V. most Cordially prayeth the Fulnesse of the Kingdome of Grace here and of the Kingdome of Gloâ—y hereâ—fter Right Honoâ—rable Right Worshipfull THe much Christian Courtesie and very many and most constant immerited favours whereof from time to time I and mine have most sweetly tasted from your Honour and Worships But especially the serious observation of the pious and painfull yea even indefatigable Labours of Love for God and his great Cause which not onely I but even the whole Kingdome in generall and this renowned City in speciall have cleerly taken notice of and been most happily sensible of to proceed from your Honour and Worships Et O terque quaterque felicia saecula quae Vos tales Patriae genuere Parentes This double and indissoluble Ligament I say of ever bounden Gratitude hath most deeply engaged me to dedicate and consecrate This third Part of my Parliamentary-Chronicle to your good Honour and Worships as a most true Tessera and Sincere Symbole of that ever obliged observance which together with my poor All I most justly and ingenuously acknowledge to be most due unto you All my ever most highly honoured good Friends in generall and hereby also in a more speciall and peculiar manner to take oportune occasion to give-in my most cordiall congratulation and just and joyful Acclamation for your good Honours happy inauguration unto the most honourable Majorallity of this celebrious and most Renouned City of London which though it may seem to come somewhat too tardily yet I assure your Honour it comes now most cordially and though it cannot speak so loudly as others yet I assure you my good Lord it speaks as lovingly as the best of your good Lordships most devoted Votaries Which therefore together with my best Services hoping your good Honour Worships wil in your accustomed Candor and even connative ingenuity receive with the Heart Hand of courteous and candid Acceptation I shall hereby be still more and more deeply endeered in all my best endeavours especially in my poor Prayers to presse the Thron of Grace that your good Honour and Worships may long flourish as most famous tall-grown Cedars on the tops of the Mountains of this our English-Lebanon inferiour to None of your former famous Predecessours and shall hereby also most obligedly rest Your good Honours and Worships in what he is to be ever Commanded JOHN VICARS To the Courteous and Christian Reader THe continued Encouragements and most aimable approbation Christian and candid Readers which you All especially the truely religious and reverend Divines both of City and Country have given unto me in the former two Parts of this our Parliamentary-Chronicle have set a sharpe edge upon my serious Affections and beene as a Spirit-quickening Spur to stimulate and stir forward my most zealous Resolutions and Endevours to the Continuation of this our Parliamentary-Chronicle and most famous and renowned History to a third Part thereof Wherein as formerly so now I have laboured with all the Discretion care and consciencious Sedulity wherewith I was possibly able to communicate nothing therein but true and innocent Intelligence of all our most famous and important Parliamentary Proceedings in way of rare and reall mercies to this Kingdome in speciall for the space of one entyre 12 Month past Yet herein I must ingenuously confesse I may possibly have missed in some particular circumstantialls either of Manner Time Persons or Numbers considering that they are all for the most part received from severall remote Hands and remote Habitations yet for thy better assurance herein I have according to the wise counsell of a most learned and religious Divine my much honoured good Friend Reverend Master Arrowsmith still taken mine Intelligence as neer as I could from the Lame-post Wherefore I heartily desire thee good Reader with christian candor and ingenuity to connive at and pardon what ever small slips or failings thou mayest peradventure meet with from me herein who faithfully assure thee that I have with my best ability striven in all equitable Sincerity to wrong None but to right All as neer as I could Whereunto if thou vouchsafest courteously to condescend together with the grant of a portion in thy holy prayers for the poor and unworthy Authour I shall justly account all my great paines herein plentifully repayed and for the same most gratefully rest Thine in the Lord John Vicars GODS ARK OVER-TOPPING THE VVORLDS WAVES MOst truly sayes the princely Prophet David They that goe down into the Sea in Ships and that are busied in great Waters These see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the Deep And as truly may I say They that goe forth and lanch into our English-Ocean to use the said holy Prophets Metaphor and keep a little to his Sea-Allegories in the Ship of serious Contemplation and pious Exploration may as easily and admirably see and discover the strange workings of the Lord and the rare wonders which he does in the deep deportments and various vicissitudes of State-affaires in this I say our English-Ocean Upon one side they may see the huge swelling waves the mightie and big billowes of furious floods and raging and roaring waters I mean wicked and ungodly men Atheists Papists Prelates and rotten-hearted Malignants in Citie and Countrey puffing snuffing blowing and beating their braines and vexing their hearts to overtop and overturn to swoop away and swallow-up in the deeply ingurgitating whirpool of their irreconciliable rage and malice the Ark of the Lord his Church and Children principally personated and represented in Both Houses of Parliament and in the happie Assembly of Divines sweetly subservient unto them in the long longed for pure and thorough Reformation of all things amiss in Church and State On the other side they may see the most admirable and indeed unexpressible power and providence the most infinite wisedome and unfathomable mercie of our good God the as prudent as potent Pilot and Moderator of all that his English-Ark bearing it up most safely and securely sustaining and maintaining it maugre all the beatings and billowings the sitly surges and swellings of all those raging and roaring waves and waters and making it still fairly to float and over-top their highest rising and most furious flashing and desperatest dashing waves craggiest penetrating rockes swallowing sands and shelves and mightiest and most malicious puffes and blasts of malignity and mischief all of them conspiring and aspiring with malice pride and impious ambition either to swallow-up or per fas aut nefas to tear in pieces this most honest holy and harmless Ark of God but all
Westminster and the Liberties thereof be forthwith printed and published John Brown Cler. Parl. About which said time and upon this well-grounded encouragement by the aforesaid Ordinance of Parliament the most renowned Citizens of London began to take a more strict and exact care of the welfare of their Citie and by an Order from the Citie-Militia very many persons of dis-affected malignant Citizens were seized on and for want of safe prisons to retain them in custodie they were committed into the enclosures of the walls of St Faiths Church under the superstitious and superfluous fabrick of Pauls great and mountainous Cathedrall and very many others also for want of strong prisons were imprisoned in Ships upon the river Thames and kept safe under hatches with sufficient and constant guards to keep them safe from plotting and practising mischief at home Much also about the same time the Earl of Holland having mostâ—ignobly disloyally by stealth left the Parliament and fled to Oxford about 14 or 16 of his Trunks which had also been surreptitiously conveyed by water up the river Thames in a Barge and bound for Oxford and all of them full fraught and stuft up both with money and other most rich and costly robes and commodities were stayed and seized on and carried back to Windsor-Castle and from thence were conveyed speedily after to London About the 20th of August also 1643. came credible information by Letters from the coasts of Wales that the Fellowship of Bristoll a ship of about 400 tun carrying 24 pieces of Ordnance and the Hart-frigot in companie with it set sail from Bristoll for Miâ—ford-Haven whither being come they summoned the Countie of Pembrook and enformed them for now Bristoll Cavaliers had already learnt from Oxford the exact art of lying as well by Sea as by Land that all the Parliaments forces were quite overthrown and discomfâ—â—ed and that now all the Kingdome repaired apace to his Majestie and that Chaâ—tam Rochester and all Kent were revolted from the Parliament with a great many more of such like false and fictitious inventions which the flashie and ill-affected Gentry of that Countie seemed too easily to give ear unto yet somewhat disliked these Maritime Cavaliers or Cormorants that they should thus sodainly come on shore among them and cast up workes to secure the landing of the Irish Souldiers and rebells as their purpose was among them But whiles this was in doing and the Inhabitants seeing the drift and intention heerin as aforesaid and somewhat unwilling to have it so yet could hardly tell how to help themselves and hinder it The Swallow a brave Ship in the Parliaments service under the command of the right noble and ever to be honoured Earl of Warwick came sodainly into the said harbour and came to anchor neer unto the Fellowship of Bristoll and presently summons the Captain to come on board his Ship who a while insisted on quarter and would capitulate to be set on shore but Captain Smith for so was his name that was Captain of the Swallow utterly refused any termes of quarter and without delay gave him a broad side wherewith he killed 3 or 4 of the Fellowships men whereupon they presently yeelded their Ship and themselves prisoners among whom as was credibly enformed were foure Sea-Captains viz. Captain William Hale Captain Brooks Captain Burley and Captain Barnaby This excellent piece of service was performed by Captain Smith aforesaid a very gallant and religious Gentleman who too well knows the King is unhappie in nothing more than in being too indulgent to the Popish partie about him who seek his ruine under a false and perfidious pretence of his happiness And about the latter end of August aforesaid that right noble and renowned Commander Sir William Waller notwithstanding the malicicus hearts foul mouths and false tongues of inveterate malignants belching and bruiting abroad many disgracefull reports to the contrary thereby to encrease and encourage as much as in them was discontent and distractions among the people obtained from his Excellency the Lord Generall his long desired and much expected Commission for his advance of the important affaires of the Kingdome which was delivered unto him on Saturday August 26th in the honourable House of Commons by Mr Speaker and that with much and universall joy and content and with the generall prayers of the whole House for his prosperous and happie success the fruits and effects whereof wee shall by Gods mercy taste of and declare in Gods due time And whereas also many persons had either ignorantly or maliciously or both given out to disparage this designe that the power of his Commission extended onely to about six or ten miles distance from London the said Commission is for certain of so ample and so large extent that he may conduct his forces into any Countie of the Kingdome as the exigencie of affaires shall necessitate and require And now good Reader let mee desire thee heer again to recollect thy thoughts a little by a gratefull revise and contemplation on all those last past memorable passages and Parliameâ—tarie-Mercies and Merchandizes of this moneths voyage also as First the most happie taking of that rich prize the Danish Ship so fraught with armes and ammunition Secondly the dangerous plot for a pretended Peace discovered and prevented and the most happie and contrary issue it produced in occasioning an Oath and Covenant in the Citie of London to unite and knit them the more firmly and faster together and thereby securing the most dangerous Citie-Malignants in safer custodie Thirdly the apprehending of the Earl of Hollands rich Trunks Fourthly the taking of the Fellowship a brave Bristoll-Ship and the confirming of Sir William Wallers Commission by his Excellencie the Lord Generall for the advancement of that brave Commanders intended great designes And now then tell me good Reader on the brief review of all these memorable mercies were not heer many most fair and prosperous blasts of good success to help to carry on Gods-Ark his holy-cause through the midst of the troublesome and tumultuous Ocean of these the Kingdomes intestine and destructive swelling waves and waters of unnaturally homebred and inbred broyles and bloudy dâ—ssentions like so many devouring whirpools gaping to ingurgitate all into their insatiate maâ—â—es of all-devouring mischief and destruction And on this so sweet and comfortable consideration still to return with enlarged alacrity of spirit all the honour and praise of all these sweet and singular mercies and free favours to God alone who onely does wondrous things for his mercie endures for ever But to goe on in happie progress of the next moneths voyage and adventures About the beginning of September 1643. came certain information by letters from Plimouth to London that one of the members of the House of Commons in Parliament namely Sir Alexander Carew governour of a considerable Island neer Plimouth which commands the Sound there
knowledge of the enemies coming they were very full of joy and resolution thinking it a great mercie that they should now fight with him Our men went on in severall bodies singing Psalmes Quarter-master Generall Vermeyden with five troopes had the forlorn-hope and Colonell Cromwell the Van assisted with other of my Lords troopes and seconded by Sir Thomas Fairfax Both armies met about Ixbie if I mistake not the Townes name both they and wee had drawn up our Dragooneers and gave the first charge and then the horse fell in Colonell Cromwell fell with brave resolution upon the enemie immediately after their Dragooneers had given him the first volley yet they were so nimble as that within half pistoll-shot they gave him another his horse was killed under him at the first charge and fell down upon him and as he rose up he was knockt down again by the Gentleman that charged him who 't was conceived was Sir Ingram Hopton but afterward he recovered a poor horse in a Souldiers hand and bravely mounted himself again Truly this first charge was so home-given and performed with so much admirable courage resolution by our troops that the enemie stood not another but were driven back upon their own body which was to have seconded them and at last put them into a plain disorder and thus in less than half an houres fight they were all quite routed and forced to run for their lives though they were two for one and as soon as our men perceived them to shrinke they fiercely charged within them all and then I say they ran for it leaving all their Dragooneers which were now on foot behind them Thus our men pursued them and did execution upon them about five or six miles all the way being strewed with broken armes dead men and horses And heer I may not omit to make mention of the rare courage and valour of that most noble Commander Sir Thomas Fairfax who when they first viewed the enemie and saw great odds in their number was so much the more inflamed with godly courage and resolution saying Come let us fall on I never prospered better than when I fought against the enemie three or four to one One hundred of their men to avoid the furie of our men were drowned many were wounded and in one gravell pit above an 100 were hid some there breathing their last breath others less wounded my Lord of Manchester most mercifully gave order that care should be taken of them all And heer it must not be forgotten that some with mortall wounds upon them cryed out The Commission of Aray the Commission of Aray brought us hither full sore against our wills wee were as true servants to the Parliament and our Religion and liberties as any in England and woe to those that were the cause that Lincoln and Yorkshire became a prey to the enemie wee die as true friends to the Parliament as any Two hundred horse were found left in the Castle their riders being all fled many hundreds fled into the waters up to the arme-holes they that lay slain in the high wayes were very many and divers of qualitie for there were brave bodies stript naked Sir George Bowles was slain and Sir Ingram Hopton Colonell Shelley was taken prisoner among those taken out of the water and Colonell Ayres the number of horse taken in all were about 2000 of prisoners about 1000 and as many slain of armes 1500 and not 100 of the enemies 't was verily believed to be found in a body of 94 Standards 35 were taken Wee lost very few of our men none of note wee hardly found above one officer hurt and that was Colonell Cromwells Captain-Lievtenant Our foot were not drawn up to the place where the fight was untill after the fight and chase was over Horse and foot though very weary marched on toward Horncastle where my Lord lay that night with all the foot his horse being sent to their old quarters in the Townes adjoyning And truly both Officers and Souldiers did their dutie that day singularly well and bravely my Lord himself also took wonderfull paines in bringing the business to this foresaid pass in drawing up all the foot to have relieved the horse in case they had been put to straits and had needed it But God himself did all taking away the enemies hearts and giving resolution and courage to our men to him therefore be all the honour and glory of this famous victorie Now whiles these things were thus in agitation the noble Lord Fairfax had a Letter brought unto him which was intercepted written by that ignoble Popish Lord Widrington the then present Governour of Lincoln in which Letter writing to his great Lord the Marquess of Newcastle he confirmes by his own confession the truth of this great victorie Another Letter was also intercepted written by Generall Hinderson also to the Governour of Newark The former Letter enforming Newcastle that the loss of all Lincolnshire and Yorkshire too was in a great hazard especially if he were forced to quit Hulls siege too and in his said Letter also certifying the loss of divers of their prime Commanders for certain slain in the foresaid battail Hindersons Letter also importing a pitifull complaint of his loss in the said fight and assuring the Governour of Newark that since the fight he was not able to rally or get together hardly 400 men of all his former great and numerous forces And that which addes extraordinarie lustre to the honour of our wonder-working God and which I may not heer by any meanes omit It pleased the Lord by his admirable providence so to order it that both this great victorie at Horncastle and that brave victorie also obtained by the most renowned Lord Fairfax at Hull under the command of that most worthy and expert Commander Sir John Meldrum were bestowed by the Lord our God upon his people and Parliament upon one and the same day namely Wednesday October 11 1643. And now to goe on About the 16th of October 1643. came Letters from Gloucester to London with most credible intelligence that the truly valiant and magnanimous Commander Colonell Massie that ever to be honoured and renowned Governour and by Gods wonderfull assistance maintainer of Gloucester having true intelligence that about a regiment of the Kings Welch forces were come to Tewksbery intending to fortifie and quarter themselves there and to make that Town winter-Garrison This noble and most vigilant Colonell being very desirous to be rid of such unfriendly and unruly neighbours speedily and privately drew forth a considerable partie of horse and foot from Gloucester and marched with them to Tewksbery where he sodainly and resolutely fell upon the enemie slew above 30 of them took many prisoners and forced the rest to flie for their lives some of whom were in that their hastie flight drowned in the river Severn He also took
most happie and admirable freeing the brave Town of Plymouth from a long and dangerous Siege And lastly The pretty prankes and successfull surprisall of those loose and lewd Cavalerian Commanders and royall-Cormorants in the midst of supine and secure carding and dicing by valiant and vigilant Cap. Clark and his Northampton forces Together with the WindsorGarrisons apprehending of the 4 high-Constables and 80â—â— in money and divers Malignants also at their Christmas Bacchanalian feastings As also that religious reformation of King Henry the sevenths Chappell at Westminster All which so rich and rare mercies powred upon us with so open and bountifull a hand out of the Lords rich and unexhaustible treasury of free grace and meer mercie so many defeats and victories against our adversaries their great loss and our great gain such plots discovered such Ordinances for the States Church and Cities good confirmed and that not onely this moneth but one moneth successively after another O who can choose but say and apparently see Gods Ark still triumphantly over-tapping the worlds waves thus incessantly raging and swelling against it And who seeing seriously considering and cordially tasting with the palate of true christian godly gratitude the soveraigne sweetness of all these exuberant blessings can choose but stand and admire and adore our great and good and wonder-working God and with that sweet Psalmograph of Israel holy King David can forbear to break forth into amazing exultation and sing and say O how great is thy goodness O God which thou hast layd up for them that fear thee which thou hast wrought for those that trust in thee before the sonnes of men But now to proceed And heer now again to launch out into the deep begin this next ensuing Moneths voyage for new discoveries descriptions of Gods admirable dealings in most undeserved mercy with this our sinful Nation and Kingdome in the remarkable preservation of his so menaced and molested Ark tost up and down on the wretched waves of these our most unnaturall intestine bloudy broyles I shall in the first place desire to take libertie a little to touch upon one forein passage of Gods most wise and wonderfull disposing of things as well abroad as at home for our welfare verifying that notable Scripture The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is upright and perfect towards him So far forth onely as it hath notable influence resultance on our Kingdomes present affaires which is this That about this time it pleased the Lord to give us intelligence from Denmark that whereas the Jesuiticall plot now in sad and sanguine agitation is to destroy the Protestant Religion throughout all Christendome And because Great-Britain and Ireland are the main fat morsells their treacherous teeth so water for as their principall impediment in the way of their wicked work for an epidemicall and universall tyranny over mens bodies and soules two of these at least being the speciall upholders of the true Christian Religion indeed I mean the refined and refining pure Protestant Religion which is the goad in their sides and the offensive pearl in their eye To destroy which they have now I say engaged or at least endeavoured to engage all these three Kingdomes in the first prime place in a most degenerous unnaturall warre one against another and each of the Kingdomes against it self as in part they have most devillishly done the most miserable effects whereof wee all to our present sorrow see and feel And for the better corroborating and strengthning of this their great and Catholicall designe they have in a deluding way procured the neutrality of Denmark Holland who have more than underhand contributed much against us therein much more was shortly expected from Denmark had it not pleased the Lord in his admirable wisdome and mercy towards us to stirre up the heart of the resolved Queen of Sweden in revenge of the bloud of that late precious never enough honoured King of Sweden her dear deceased husband slain in the Germane warres in defence of the Protestant Religion to be a great block in their way and a mightie obstacle to this their deep designe and strangely to cut short that armie which the King of Denmark had plotted with the Emperour as t was cunningly contriv'd by the Romish Jesuiticall Counsell to raise up first for the destruction of the Swedes his neerest neighbours and so to sweep them out of Germany and afterward for farther designes against England And to this end the King of Denmark had secretly desired assistance from his neighbour the King of Poland next neighbour on the other side to the Swedes but divine providence most blessedly discovered the plot and by Letters from Denmark which the Swedes happily intercepted the whole plot was made known The Swedes also by the same good hand of providence wisely concealed it yet diligently prepared to prevent the danger and by speedy adding some strength to that they had made ready for another design els-where they fell sodainly upon part of the King of Denmarks Country before they thought of any surprisall and therefore were unready to make any considerable resistance the Swedes heerby O the admirable unfathomed depth and profundity of the wisdome and justice of our God! have most valiantly and resolutely run through or over-run the whole Country of Holstein a brave and rich Province being most Southward of all Denmark to Germanie which is the Duke of Holts Country second Son to the King of Denmark And they most victoriously have proceeded farther into the other parts of Denmark by Gâ—stavus Horn a brave Swedish Commander and have taken some of their chief Magazines many thousands of armes some of which no doubt intended to be sent against us for heerby the King of Denmark was constrained to make stay of 2 ships laden with armes to have been sent to England and must then be employed and all little enough in his own defence Thus wee see Man purposeth but God disposeth Our God can take the wicked in his own craftines every way and every where and bring to nought the Counsels of Princes But his own work shall stand and prosper in the thing for which he sends it This I thought good heer to premise as a certain and seasonable addition to the honour of our great and glorious wonder-working God and the just ground of raising up our hearts spirits to a yet higher pitch of praising his name for our wonderfull preservation both at home and abroad And about the beginning of this instant January came credible intelligence from Warwickshire to London that Coventry forces marched out to Sir Thomas Holts-House about 14 miles from Coventry and a little mile from Brumingham and summoned them within the House but they refused to yeeld wherupon Coventry forces
faithfull religious and honourable Pillars of the Truth and maintainers of their rights and priviledges and Patrons of the true Religion appeare with so united a concurrence of hearts and spirits The same morning there was set up in Cheapside in the place where the Crosse formerly stood a standing frame of slight Firre-poles on which were hung up divers Pictures and Trinkets as Crosses Crucifixes Images and Saints Agnus Dei's Beads Whippes and other superstitious Reliques and frivolous inventions of Papists all which with a chest of Popish Books were set on fire at the coming by of the said honourable Persons as a testification of their detestation and hatred of all such Romish and Babylonish superstitions and to declare their intentions to reforme take away those things which may justly incense the wrath of God against us one thing is also very remarkable that after they had been honourably entertained at Merchant-Taylors-Hall and dinner ended in stead of idle Maskings and other such uncomely actions heertofore used at such publike meetings to declare their union of spirit as in the presence of God all both Lords Commons at the godly motion of the reverend Assembly of Divines publikely and unanimously heavenly harmony indeed sung together the 67 Psalme to testifie their thankfulnesse to God A religious president worthy to be imitated by all godly Christians in their both publike and private feastings and meetings And which addes much to the admirable radiant lustre of this so precious a day of rejoycing in the Lord and to make this our joy yet more complete on this very same day of this so rare and fair an Assembly namely the 18th of this instant January our loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland came with their whole armie into England to help the Lord and us his greatly abused servants against our mightie and most malicious enemies All which I mean both this most memorable and unparalleld Love-feast and the seasonable entrance of our brethrens brave armie and all in one day how much they must needs vex the impious Oxonians and all the rest of our motley-Malignants and how great and unexpressible cause they gave of cordiall comfort and enlarged thankes to the Lord to all his Saints and servants I leave to every rationall and honest Reader religiously to judge and consider And for the yet greater and most just glory of God within a day or two after namely about the 20th of this instant both Houses of Parliament to shew their deeply obliged thankfulness to the Lord for that late foresaid great deliverance agreed most piously upon an Order for a publick day of thankesgiving in all Churches in and about London for Gods great mercy in preserving the Parliament and Citie of London from the secret practises and most malicious designes of their foresaid enemies Sir Basill Brook Read Violet and Riley which was immediately printed and published and accordingly performed on the appointed day Much about this foresaid time also came certain intelligence by letters from about the parts of Staffordshire and Namptwich to London of an unhappie defeat given to the Parliaments forces of Lancashire part whereof were enforced to flie to a Church for their farther hoped safety but were there also environed and at last broken in upon and by that base and bloudy pretended Lord Sir John Byron most barbarously put all to the sword at his accursed Turkish command and which was worse to triumph in this his inhumane barbarity he immediately upon this villanous victory of his wrote a Letter to his as base and treacherous brother the mischievous Marquess of Newcastle which was by Gods providence intercepted by noble Sir William Brereton and by him sent to the Honourable House of Commons in Parliament a true Copie whereof in aeternam rei infamiam being afterward printed and published I have thought fit heer to insert for the Readers fuller content and satisfaction A Copie of Sir John Byrons I had almost said Sir John Butchers Letter to the Marquess of Newcastle dated December 26. 1643. My Lord I Have already dispatched two Messengers to your Excellency to give you an account of my proceedings in these parts I am now at Sambich and have thought fit to acquaint your Excellency that Brereton for the relief of Namptwich had so prevailed with the Lancashire-men as to draw thence 1500 foot which I having notice of immediately marched toward him but as soon as I came within sight of him he instantly according to his custome ran away a most intolerable egregious Popish lyer as all men know that know that noble and renowned Commander in great confusion so that now those 〈◊〉 are so dispersed that they are not like to meet together again And I doubt not but by Gods assistance in a short time to clear this Country if your Excellencies forces advance toward Stopford to be able to set footing in Lancashire The rebells had possessed themselves of a Church at Bartumley but wee presently beat them forth of it and I put them all to the Sword Which I finde to be the best way to proceed with these kinde of people for mercy to them is crueltie so indeed sayes Salomon of such wicked ones as Byron I am my Lord your Excellencies most humble servant J. B. But now to come to my intended purpose this forementioned relation being onely an introduction to what followes that this inhumane monster bloudy Byron and all his accursed malicious adherents might clearly see and take notice of a divine providence notwithstanding this his insulting blasphemous Letter which over-powers the greatest potency of the proudest Bragadochiâ—es yea mightiest Monarches in the world which oppose his all-sacred soveraign power and authoritie There came therefore most certain intelligence by Letters out of Cheshire to London of divers brave repulses given to buteherly Byrons forces at the siege of Namptwich by the most valiant besieged Souldiers and Inhabitants of the said Town And shortly after by a Letter under Col. Mittons own hand which was brought to London about Jan. 20th 1643. By which it was for certain advertised That Sir Nic. Byron Governour of Westchester uncle to this foresaid bloudy Byron having heard of the sore repulses and defeats given to their forces at Namptwich which redounded to the great loss of his proud insulting kinsman bloudy Byron as aforesaid at his said kinsmans intreatie Sir Nicholas advanced with a partie of horse and foot from Westchester to fetch in armes and ammunition both to supply his kinsmans wants therein and his own too their Ship being carried to Lerpool as was forementioned which should have supplied those their wants and coming unto a Town called Elsmere neer Colonell Mittons quarters this most valiant and loyall Commander Colonell Mittan drew forth his regiment fell upon the enemies forces aforesaid who were then in the Town he killed above 60 of them in the place took the said Sir Nicholas Byron Commander in
lifting up their right hands bare and then afterwards to subscribe it severally by writing their names or their markes to which their names were to be added in a booke or parchment-role where-into the Covenant was to be inserted purposely provided for that end and to be kept as a record in the parish After all which there was also printed a Catalogue of the names of all such members of the House of Commons in Parliament as had subscribed to and taken the said Covenant being then 228. besides the Lords in the House of Peeres and divers others of the Lordâ— and Commons who being employed about the weighty affaires of the Common-wealth in remote parts of the Kingdome and so could not subscribe with the rest A most faire and sweet encouragement for all other persons in the Kingdome not onely to subscribe but to keep their Covenant having the Patterne and President of so many worthy and pious Patriotts set before them in so glorious and religious an Action which is not onely lawfull but all things considered exceeding expedient and necessary for all that wish well to true Religion the King and Kingdom to joyn in and to be as a singular pledge of Gods mercie and goodnesse to all the three Kingdomes About the aforesaid time also came certaine Intelligence by Letters to the Parliament of the proccedings of our loyall and loving brethren of Scotland about Newcastle who as it was credibly and constantly informed had then gained a Scence and the maine Out-workes with the losse of about 14. of their men whereof a Captaine a Lieutenant and a Serjeant of Colonell Linseyes Regiment were slaine That Generall Lesleys Sonne a brave and valiant young Gentleman had beaten 14. Troopes of the Popish Army into the Towne againe without the losse of a man and tooke two of their men Prisoners who protested that the Marquesse himself was then in the Town and that the Lord Widdrington Generall King and Sir Tho. Glemham were there also The probability whereof will appeare by an Answer returned from the Town to a Summons which the Committee of both Kingdomes sent to the Town of Newcastle which was as followeth The copy of the Summons sent by the Committee of both Kingdomes to the Town of Newcastle Right Wor and loving friends OVr appearance here in this posture through mis-informations and misunderstandings may occasion strange thoughts in you If we had opportunity of speech with you which we hereby desire and offer to you it is not impossible that as we hold out the same ends viz. the preservation of Religion the Kings true honour and happinesse the publike peace and liberty of his dominions so we might agree on the same way to promote them If you yeild to this motion you shall find us ready to do our parts therein but if worse counsell take place with you and parley be rejected although you will be unjust therby to your selves yet we have reason to expect you should be so just to us as to acquit us of the guilt of those manifold inconveniences and calamities which may be the fruits of those forcible wayes you will thereby constraine is to We desire your present Answer Subscribed the 3d. of Febr. 1643. By the Warrant and in the name of the Committees and Commissioners of both Kingdomes By us Your friends ARGILE WILLIAM ARMINE The Answer of the Town of Newcastle to the Summons of the Committee of both Kingdomes My Lord WEE have received a Letter of such a nature from you that wee cannot give you any answer to it more than this That his Majesties Generall being at this instant in the Town We conceive all the power of Government to be in him But were he not you cannot sure conceive us so ill read in these proceedings of yours as to Treat with you for your satisfaction in these particulars you write of nor by any Treaty to betray the Trust reposed in us or forfeit our Allegeance to His Majestie For whose Honour and preservation together with the Religion and Lawes of this Kingdome we intend to hazard our lives and fortunes and so we rest Your Servants John Morley Mayor Nic. Cole Tho. Liddle Lionell Madison Alexander Davison c. Subscribed by us Febr. the 3d. 1643. in the names of the Common-Councell and the rest of the Inhabitants of the Towne of Newcastle Shortly after these things the valiant Scots having gained as was forementioned the Scâ—nce and out works of the Town they rested not satisfied thus but sent out a strong party and gained also the keeles or Lighters and small boats betweene Stella and Newcastle and so made a bridge three miles above Newcastle toward Newboln over Tyne and shortly after their grand Brigade of the Scots army marched over to besiege Newcastle on the South-side and also to cut off all supplies from his Majestie and the Irish-rebells and rogues his best beloved subjects And thus was the invincible Popish army of the North of England beleagur'd in a small compasse and cut off from all manner of reliefe where for a season we will leave them till a farther and fitter occasion to make farther mention of their proceedings for this our Parliamentary Chronicles intentions and purposes And thus we see by Gods good providence that the North was in a very faire way of being totally regained to a right understanding of the state of things which will yet further appear more probable if we heer also consider the wonderfull good successe of the most noble and ever to be honoured and renouned Lord Fairfax who had about this time enlarged his quarters from Hull 20. miles towards Durham and by a party of horse commanded by that valiant victorious and religious Commander Sir William Constable drave that rotten apostate Sir Hugh Cholmley out of Scarbrough Towne into the Castle which caused such an operation in the hearts of the inhabitants of Whitby as that they were soone and surely reduced and settled as you already heard in part they were to the Parliaments side and presently after seized on Sir Hughs great House and Fort on the High-Clift disarmed his garrison and so kept it for the Lord Fairfax who afterwards sent 200. horse the better to secure it This most valourous and vertuous Gentleman Sr. William Constable stayed not here but advanced toward Yorke and beat up one of the enemies quarters neere Malton within twelve miles of Yorke who gave an alarme to their head quarters where there were 400. foot and 16. troopes of horse all put into order to charge but Sr. William with twelve troopes of horse most couragiously charged them routed them and tooke these prisoners following viz. Lieut. Colonell Washington Major Gray Capt. Iohn Vavazer Capt. Newsteed Capt. Witnell Capt. Corsfield Lieutenant Tuffni three Lieutenants of horse 5. Cornets 3. quarter-masters 3. Corporalls 2. Trumpets one minister or hedge-priest 175. foot and 300 horse and thus this noble Lord Fairfax shortly after
now having thus happily finished this Months Voyage I shall desire to cast Anchour and put to shore and make a little stay desiring the Christian Reader with me to make a briefe review and succinct recitall of all the rich Merchandize of this Moneths Voyage the better to raise up our soules to a just and gratfull valuation and admiration of them As First the brave defeat and repulse of the Enemies at Plymouth And Colonell Foxes valiant and active performances and taking of Budely-house in Worcestershire The most successefull progresse of the most renowned Earle of Manchesters Forces in Lincolnshire and taking of the Towne and Castle of Lincolne The Pious Ordinance of Parliament for the demolishing of all Organs and Superstitious Monuments of Popery in Churches and Chappels or else where together with valiant Captaine Swanleys yet farther brave exploits in Wales And Colonell Massies at or about Gloucester The brave Citizens of Londons Petition for the re-establishment of the State-Committee and the happy result thereof Together with more of renowned Colonell Massies brave performances about the adverse Garrisons neere Gloucester Lyme Stormed and its Enemies bravely repulsed The renowned Lord Generalls advance of his Army Westward and a day of Humiliation set a part in London to seeke the Lord for a blessing on it And Devon and Corwalls defection from the bloody and barbarous Irish A most devillish designe and pestilent plot to have undone Scotland and England too by a divertive Warre but most blessedly crost and prevented with the discomfiture and disgrace of those that plotted and acted it A brave and briefe description of the state of that famous Garrison at Lime Together with a brave prize taken at Sea by the most noble Earle of Warwicks Ships And Kents pious pattern of gratitude to God for its great deliverance The truely Noble Earle of Pembrookes love and loyalty to the Parliament attested Cawood-castle And Ayremouth Isle and Fort taken by valiant and virtuous Sir Iohn Meldrum in the Northerne parts of the Kingdome The most renowned Lord Generals prosperous progresse and advance with his Army into the West Valiant Captain Temples brave exploit at Islip The gratulatory Message sent by the Parliament in England to the Parliament in Scotland More of renowned Colonel Masseys admirable activity and the Parliaments most worthy gratifying of his good Service And lastly Englands great wonder to Gods great glory in the famous Muster of so many thousand Souldiers in and about the City of London all compleatly Armed notwithstanding so many Armies abroad in the Field before it The taking of Russell-house that notoriously theevish Garrison Together with the brave defeate given to Newarke by Nottingham Garrison And the brave condition of that famous Towne of Lime notwithstanding the long and tedious Siege against it All which being rightly regarded and seriously laid to heart have we not still great and just cause to see and say that God hath most triumphantly carried and borne up his holy Arke the Parliaments blessed Cause above all the raging and roaring billowes and swelling surges of the turbulent Ocean of this our greatly distracted and disturbed Nation carrying it on I say most smoothly with pleasant gales of good things bestowed and preserving it most happily from malice and mischiefe threatned And therefore how great cause hath England in almost infinitely bounden gratitude to confesse with holy David and sincerely to say Lord thou art good and thou doest good And therefore also to exult and rejoyce in the Lord our God yea and as good David saith To make our boast of God all the day long and to praise his name for ever and ever With a Selah Especially since as the holy Spirit of God himselfe declareth in Hannahs sweet Song There is none holy as the Lord for indeed there is none beside him neither is there any Rocke like our God Talke no more therefore so exceeding proudly ô yee Atheisticall Malignants and Popish Irish-Rebels let not such arrogancie come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed Yea and as holy Iob saies He is most wise in heart and mighty in strength Who hath hardned himselfe against him and hath prospered ANd now I shall againe put out our blessed Barke to Sea hoise up our Sailes and launch forth into the Deepe and prosecute this our next ensuing Moneths Voyage wherein we shall see how the Lord still carries on his glorious Arke the Parliaments Cause above all the furious Floods and raging Waves of its outragious and impious Adversaries And in the first place I shall desire to remember the Reader how it most graciously pleased the Lord to bring off his blessed Arke from a very dangerous and death-threatning Shelfe of devouring Quick-sands and most safely and securely to set it afloat againe carrying it on with most pleasant and prosperous gales I meane the happy and honourable releiving and raising of the Seige of that long beseiged and greatly straightned famous Towne of Lime in Dorsetshire a most full exact and true relation wherof sent in a Letter to a friend at London and comming to my hands I have thought fit here to insert for the Readers better content and satisfaction which was as followeth An exact and true relation of the relieving of the most resolute Garrison of Lime in Dorsetshire Sir I Have written one Letter to you since I came into this Bay where also I have received yours I blesse God for present health onely much sadnesse of spirit is contracted from the sad spectacles which besieged Lime continually offers to our view a Towne which deserves aboundance of pitty and love they being so constantly under the violence of a cruell Enemy But God hath brought our most noble Lord Admirall to this Towne to a singular purpose it tending directly to the preserving of that distressed Towne it not having in it at his Lordships comming above a dayes bread and a small quantity of ammunition There were then in the Town 4000 Soules whereof a 1000 in garrison who though they wanted shoes stockings cloathes and pay and had not departed from Lyme since the beginning of the siege yet were all of them resolved to stand out to the last man and when they could doe no more to breake through the Enemy with their swords At my Lords first comming he sent on shoar neere 40 barrels of powder and some match which came along with his Lordship purposely for their reliefe The ships under his Lordships Command did before his comming spare what provisions they could none comming from any other parts and the passages by sea being neer blockt up his Lordship contracted for 350. l. worth of corn and other provisions being then bound for Plymouth to be sold there and tooke order to send it into the Towne himsefe undertaking the price The condition and courage of the besieged did so prevail with our seamen
Lieutenants 2 Cornets 2 Ensignes Commissary Richard Edwards 9 Serjeants 9 Corporalls and one Drum-Major besides 305 Common Souldiers 8 Townesmen in Armes 200 Muskets a 100 Pikes and other warlike weapons and 40 Barrels of Powder And of what great advantage this Town was to those parts especially for the reducing of North Wales those that know that Country do very well know But this Noble Earl rested not here this successe made him not forget the directions of the Committee of both Kingdomes nor to loose any time but that he hastned to expedite what was directed and by him before resolved And so the very next day he Ordered his March accordingly leaving that ever to be honoured Gentleman and brave commander Col. Mitton Governour of that brave Town and Castle a man most fit for such a trust as Wem can witnesse And about the 28. of this instant we were credibly advertised by Letters from Dorchester that the Country at least 20 miles about from the said Town being summoned to appeare there came in most freely and it being offered unto them That any one that desired a Passe to go to Exeter Bristoll or any other parts of the Kings quarters should go together on the left hand and should have their free Passes and all those that were convinced in their consciences of the justnesse of the cause on the Parliaments side should go to the right or hold up their hands and accordingly every one there assembled did so not one desiring a passe to go to the Enemie holding up all their hands most cheerfully this being upon the ending of a Sermon preached then by Master Peters who hath done great Service for the State both by Sea and by Land both in England Ireland and Holland And much about the last of this instant Iune 1644. for the conclusion of this Moneth An Ordinance of Parliament was happily past That no Lords nor Commons who have deserted the Parliament and complyed with Oxford shall be re-admitted into the Lords House nor Members of the House of Commons be any more admitted into the House of Commons without the consent of both Houses A good bar and like to be a strong prop to the firmer stablishing of the State of the Kingdome Who if they had come when their pretended House at Oxford stood on its flashy glosse and false glory we might have thought they had come out of conscience and affection to the Parliament at Westminster but now to leave their own ship when it is upon sincking and to crawl up the main top then is but like Vermine Rats to leave the ship for fear of drowning And truely in this case One constant Royalist though bad 's the best is more worth than 2 of these rotten-hearted Turn-coats But now let these ignoble spirited Deserters revolters sit as they deserve as Britannicus said well 't is pitty either House should again be stained with the Apostacy of such tergiversatious Bats For to be sure those that have once known that way to Oxford would every Spring and Fall every ebbing and flowing of the tide of affaires have been troubled with a fit of shifting sides and parties and be willing to take the ayre 44 miles from London And now having thus by Gods good providence and assistance finished this Moneths Voyage also I shall here desire as is most fit to cast anchor again and to put to shoar a little to refresh our Vessell and to bring forth all the Merchandize and rich Commodities of this Moneths Adventure to a summary sight and revise thereby to set an edge upon our affections to stir up our most gratefull hearts the more to praise the Lord our great and good God the Father and fountain of them As first The happy and most seasonable reliefe of the long and straitly besieged Town of Lime in Dorsetshire by the most noble and renouned Lord Admirall the Right honourable Earl of Warwick together with the serious consideration of the Admirable and almost incredible courage of the Inhabitants and Souldiers thereof in so undauntedly defending it by Gods most impregnable power and assistance The most Loyall and Valiant ayde and help afforded to us by the Noble Earl of Callender in the Northern parts of the Kingdome and the Parliaments most wise and gratefull respect to Captain Swanlyes good service in Wales The kings most unworthy signing and assenting to the most wicked demands and Articles of the Irish Rebels after which he was forced to flye up and down with as much just fright of a wounded conscience as needlesse fear of his most friendly pursuers The Parliaments most prudent and provident making that brave and most gallant Citizen Colonell Brown Serjeant Major Generall of 3 Counties viz. Oxford Berks and Buckinghamshire Renouned Colonell Masseys taking of Tewksbury And Gods just judgement on some of the Kings Forces at Parrishâ—â— in their flight from Sir William Waller their victorious and most valiant pursuer and his brave taking of Shudley Castle as he past along in pursuite of the King Valiant and active Captain Purefreys taking of Compton House in Warwickshire neer Banbury and a most brave defeat given to the Enemy by the most noble and renowned Earl of Denbigh at Dudley-castle to his indelible high renowne and the Enemies extreame great losse and dishonour The totall and most remarkable raising of the long and tedious Siege of Lyme to Gods great glory our unexpressible comfort and Prince Maurices eternall shame and infamy Together with the Parliaments most wise and worthy brave carryage in and about that businesse both in their ordering of thankes to God the Lord Admirall and Lyme it selfe as also in bestowing a brave and bountifull reward on the Town of Lyme for their valour and loyalty to the Cause of God Sir William Belfores taking of Weymouth and Taunton-Deane the noble Lord Grey of Groobies brave carryage at Leicester and the Lord Generalls and Lord Admiralls preparations both by Sea and by Land to reduce the West to obedience to the King and Parliament and their hopefull progresse therein Gods admirable goodnesse to Manchester in Lancastershire together with that excellent Ordinance of Parliament for constant reliefe to Wives and Children of Wounded and Slain Souldiers in the Parliaments service The most noble and right valiant Lord Denbighs winning of that strong and important Towne of Oswelstree with the prisoners and prizes taken therein And lastly The singular good affection which wrought in the hearts of the West-Country people toward the Parliament and their upright Cause together with an excellent Ordinance of Parliament against rotten-hearted Revolters and Deserters of the Parliament All these so rich and rare Merchandizes and comfortable Commodities brought in unto and by our precious Parliament for the happy advance of Gods Cause thus agitated in the Kingdome seriously considered and rightly aestimated who can deny but that our God hath most admirably this Moneth also carryed on his blessed Arke
hid himselfe in Bean-Lands he had beene taken The Earl of Manchester with much labour did rally 500 of the Souldiers who were leaving the Field in great disorder and brought them backe againe to the Battell And the most noble and worthy Generall Lesly was much offended with his Souldiers who shrunk from the service of the day and having endeavoured both by words and blowes to keepe them in the Field with much wisedome and affection he pressed this argument Although you run from your Enemies yet leave not your Generall though you fly from them yet forsake not me Very many of the Scots both commanders and others did singular good service that day and stood stoutly to it unto the end of the fight and did therefore very well deserve to be sharers in the honour of the day and three Regiments of their Horse which with ours made the left wing of the Army being commanded by Major Generall Lesley did as brave and honourable service as any who served in the Field that day And although the right wing of our Army did not satisfyingly answer mens expectations yet the Earl of Eglington the Earl of Lindsey the Lord Cooper Sir James Lunsden and other Scottish Commanders with many of their Officers and Souldiers did as I said before give good proofe of their stoutnesse and magnanimity And as for any of them of each Nation who went away they were by their ministers and others so sharpely reproved and this their fault in such sort was aggravated to them that there was great hope they would regain their credit by good service upon the next occasion As for that famous and magnanimous Commander Lieut. Gen. Cromwell whose prowesse and prudence as they have rendred him most renowned for many former successefull deeds of Chevalry So in this great fight they have crowned him with the never withering Laurells of fame and honour who with so Lyon-like courage and impregnable animosity charged his proudest adversaries again and again like a Roman Marcellus indeed undauntedly out-daring and over-bearing his stoutest Popish and Atheisticall Antagonists even to the end of the fight and at last came off as with some wounds so with honour and triumph inferiour to none Colonell Sydney also Son to the Earl of Leicester charged with much gallantry in the head of my Lord of Manchesters Regiment of Horse and came off with much honour though with many wounds the true badges of his honour and was sent away afterward to London for cure of his wounds And as for that truly noble and renowned Commander Sir Tho. Fairfax that undanted never sufficiently praised Souldier whose former famous exploits have rendred him most magnanimous he also lost not a jot or title of honour this day for although many of his Souldiers did faint and fall backe yet his noble heart continued like the heart of a Lyon stout and undaunted for he stayed fighting in the Field untill being dismounted and wounded he was brought off by one of his Souldiers Yea and brave Colonell Lambert and some others of their officers went on most daringly through every difficult and dangerous adventure which they could meete with though I say much of their strength did unhappily shrinck from them Lieutenant Col. Needham did also very manfully in his place I nominate not here any other of my noble Lords Officers besides Liutenant Gen. Cromwell and Col. Sydney though I could have particularized Major Gen. Crawford and divers other Colonels with Lieut. Colonells Majors and Captaines who gained much honour by their very valiant carriages and exploits and therfore I hope my silence in regard of others who under the command of the two other Generalls did also most gallantly will not be offensive and the rather because I was not so well acquainted with them And it is exceedingly ill done of those who cast aspersions upon some in the Army in this fight who rather deserved commendations than uncomely calumniations Surely they neither Act christianly nor prudently who take courses to breed emulations and divisions in our Army and who cast reproach and discouragement upon such who are most ready to sacrifice their dearest heaâ—tblood in the present service of Christ in this Kingdome But to be briefe I found this generally among the Souldiers especially in my noble Lord of Manchesters Regiments to my hearts great content that they all gave the Lord of Hosts all the glory of this Victory wherein they were onely instruments Some also of the Enemies that were taken Prisoners have acknowledged the meere finger and hand of God in their rout and our victory And it pleased me wondrous well to heare and see our God honoured on both hands Yet I may not heere omit a strange speech as it was credibly reported to fall from Prince Rupert upon the disapointing of his hopes and the dis-joynting of his Forces to their ruine I am sure said he my men fought well and therefore know no reason of our Rout but this because the Devill did help his Servants These words surely intimate that he imagined the Devill gives the Victory in the day of Battell a most Atheisticall and heathenish opinion or else his Conscience told him which he would not confesse that God indeed did help his Servants Yea and a man of quality belonging to the Enemy whose name for some reasons I may not mention professed That his Conscience told him Our Cause was Gods Cause but yet his Honour would not suffer him to take part with us And the Lord Grandison who was sorâ—ly wounded in this fight and under the Chyrurgions hands for cure in Yorke told a friend that visited him That he had received 10. wounds on his body in this Battell One wound for the breach of every Commandement in the Decalogue See here then good Reader if heere be not a cleare assent to that of holy Moses Their Rocke is not as our Rocke even our Enemies being judges But to returne to to the finishing of this Fight The Runawayes with other poore people who attended the Army did grievously plunder our Wagons and other Carriages for the Wagoners Carters c. being affrighted with the flight of our owne Souldiers did leave their charge in the hands of such as love to rob and spoile It was a very sad sight to behold many thousands posting away being amazed with Panick feares Heere just occasion was given us to remember Keynton-battell at Edge-Hill Edge-Hill where the hearts of some were upheld with hopes when others gave up all as lost and that with much despondencie of spirit Upon our coole and recollected thoughts such of us as desired to acknowledg God in all his waies did firmely pitch upon these Conclusions The Lord saw that we are apt to rely upon the arme of flesh and therefore very much humane strength failed us And besides if the whole Army had continued couragious we should
have ascribed the glory of the victory unto man and therefore it pleased the Lord in reference to his owne praise to lessen our strength that so his owne arme might justly be exalted But I say to go on The Enemies being all beaten out of the Field the most noble Earle of Manchester about 11 of the Clock that night did ride about to the Souldiers both Horse and Foot giving them many thankes for the exceeding good service which they had done for the Kingdome And he often earnestly intreated them to give the honour of their Victory unto God alone He also further told them that although he could not possibly that night make provisions for them according to their deserts and necessities yet that he would without faile endeavour their full satisfaction in that kind in the morning betimes The Souldiers unanimously as my Lord had desired and most cheerefully gave God the glory of their deliverance and this great Victory and told his Lordship with much alacrity that though they long fasted and were faint yet they would willingly want three dayes longer rather than give off the Service or leave his Lordship That might we kept the Feild when the Bodies of the dead were stripped and in the morning there was a mortifying object to behold when the naked bodies of thousands lay upon the ground and many were not altogether dead but lay groaning and gasping their last We judged that the number of the slaine was at the least 3000 of the Enemys but the Countrey men who were commanded to bury the dead Corps told us they for certaine buried 4150 bodies and we beleeve as it s most probable they were best able to know the truth by the burying of them Of which 4150 two thirds were assured to be Gentlemen and persons of quality that is almost 2000 which as reverend Master Ash said was the more easily believed by reason of the very white and smoth skinnes of the many dead bodies in the field apparently seene when they were stript And that those of quality slain in this fight might be taken away and have a more honourable buriall than the rest if their friends pleased Sir Charles Lucas was desired as was credibly enformed to goe along to view the corps as they lay spred on the ground and to choose whom he would which he did but would not say whom he knew of them But one gentleman at least that had a bracelet of haire about his wrist he said he knew and desired the bracelet might be taken off saying that an honourable Lady should give thankes for it As he passed along he said in the presence and hearing of many Alas for King CHARLES Vnhappy King CHARLES And we may all most justly say Alas poore ENGLAND Vnhappy ENGLAND to be so miserably rent and torn for the satisfying of impiety folly and wilfullnesse in Papists Prelates and atheisticall Malignants And among the dead men and horses which lay on the Ground we found Prince Ruperts Dog killed which is onely here mentioned by the way because the Princes Dog hath been so much spoken of along time and was more prized by his Master than creatures of much more worth Divers men of good quality were found and knowne to be slaine in the foresaid number as namely The Lord Carey eldest Son to the Earle of Monmouth Colonell Ewers Nephew to the Lord Ewers Colonell Roper brother to the Lord Baltinglasse Sir Wil. Wentworth brother to the Earl of Strafford late Vice-roy of the kingdome of Ireland Sir Francis Dacres neer kinsman to the Lord Dacres Sir William Lambton of an ancient family to the Bishopprick of Durham Colonell Slingsby Son to Sir William Slingâ—by Sir Marmaduke Louddon Sir Thomas Mettom Monnsieur Saint Paula a French Gentleman Sir Richard Gloedhill made knight by the Earl of Newcastle Lieutenant Col. Lisle who heretofore had done good service in Holland Colonell Houghton Son to sir Gilbert Houghton Col. Fenwicke eldest Son to Sir Iohn Fenwicke Col. Prideaux son to BPP Prideaux Lieut. Col. Atkins Lieutenant Colonell to the Marquesse Lieutenant Col. Stonywood a Commander in the late warrs of Ireland Davenant the Poet also a loose liv'd Gentleman and divers others not yet so particularly known but these thus named I had from credible testimony Wee also tooke at least 1500 prisoners of which also many were men of quality and great esteem with the Enemy viz. Sir Charles Lucas Lieutenant Gen. to the Horse Porter Major Gen. to their Foot forces Major Generall Tilliard a very stout and able souldier who came out of Ireland the Lord Gorings Son with divers other Field-Officers Wee tooke all the Enemyes Cannon Ammunition Waggons and Baggage The Earl of Manchester had for his part ten pieces of Ordnance one case of Drakes about 1500 Muskets 40 barrels of powder three tun of great and small bullet 800 Pikes besides Swords Bandileers c. Now it is very admirable to consider and we cannot but admire Cods rare mercy in it how few were slain in the Battell on our side In the Earl of Manchesters Army Captain Walton had his leg shot off with a Cannon bullet and onely Captain Pue a foot Captain was slain and not above six more of our foot that we could find slain and about twenty wounded in the Moore The totall number that we could reckon and find to be slain in all our Armies was at most but between 2 and 300 of which our greatest number was among them who ran away and the carriage-keepers Many of our Souldiers the horsemen especially met with much gold and silver and other Commodities of good worth and indeed they very well deserved such encouragements by their excellent service and brave adventures and therefore as our proverbe is Win gold and wear gold Thus did the Lord put on righteousnesse as a brest-plate and an helmet of Salvation upon his head and he put on the garments of vengeance for cloathing and was clad with zeal as with a cloake And according to their deeds accordingly he did repay fury to his adversaries and recompence to his Enemies Yea surely in this famous battell the Lord seemed to say and sound courage into the hearts of our Souldiers as Nehemiah to his people at the reedifying of Ierusalem when they were molested by wicked Tobiah Sanballet and their accursed complices Be not affraid of them but remember the Lord your God who is great and terrible and fight for your brethren your sons and your daughters your wives and your houses And thus far we have principally made worthy use of reverend and religious Master Ash his unquestionable authentick relation of this most famous fight and most memorable victory with some interlacing I say of some materiall passages which I borrowed from most credible testimony And now although that our foresaid very venerable author and precious pattern by whom I have thus chosen to write hath in
that most famous defeat and glorious Victory given by the good hand of God to the Parliaments three most renowned and victorious Generalls the most religious and renowned Earl of Manchester his Excellency Generall Lesley and the ever to be honoured valiant and victorious Lord Fairfax against that barbarous and bloody hair-braind ignoble Rupert the disgrace of his progenitors and indelible stain of his Posterity In the notable and unexpected discovery of the Lord of Râ—chfords disloyalty to the Parliament in speciall and Kingdome in generall The taking of Greenland-house by Major Generall Browne And Taunton-castle by the most Noble Lord Generalls Forces In the taking of Cholmley-house by the most noble Earl of Denbigh Colonell Rossiter Governour of Lincoln his valour and activity against the Common-Enemy Captain Sydenhamâ— and Captaine Carrs most brave exploit against the Lord Inchiquin and the religious resolution of the Parliament to establish a learned and godly Ministry In the taking of Wilne-Ferry and Fort by the noble Lord Grey and valiant and faithfull Sir John Gell the said Lord Greys valour and vigilancy for the good of his Country and the most solemn and memorable Celebration of the Day of Thankesgiving at London for the most famous victory which God gave us at the great and bloody fight nere the City of Yorke In the most happy surrendering up of the City of York it self unto the three most noble Lord Generalls forementioned and the pious and prudent Message and motion which the said noble Generalls made and sent to the Parliament in point of farther thankfullnesse to God and satisfaction even to the worst of men In the most noble renowned and truely religious Earl of Manchesters successefull and victorious advance and progresse with his brave Army in taking Tickhill-castle and farther prosperous proceedings since the last great victory at Yorke And lastly In the brave defeates given to the Roysterly-regall Enemies both by Col. Laughorn and Capt. Moulton in Pembrookeshire by the noble Earl of Denbighs and Warwick Forces at Evesham the famous and ever to be renowned Garrison of Lyme at Colliton and Chard and finally in the most noble and renowned Lord Generalls brave and victorious and famous progresse into Devonshire and Cornwall and all those Western parts wherein hitherto by Gods power and providence he might worthily say as conquering Caesar said Veni vidi vici even all for the most part either voluntarily comming in unto him or violently enforced thereunto by his valiant and victorious forces All which most seriously and religiously considered have we not good Reader great cause justly and ingenuously to confesse and acknowledge to see and say with holy Samuel EBEN-EZER and to make this the glorious and gracious Motto of our Parliamentary Barke the Ark of our God most deeply ingraving it with indelible characters of golden-gratefull Remembrance HITHERTO HATH THE LORD HELPED VS And therefore zelously and constantly to conclude and hold maugre all malicious contradiction whatsoever that our title is most truely and infallibly ratified from heaven by all those manifold and even miraculous premises and patternes thereof that GODS Arke hath most triumphantly over-topped and been born above all the Worlds boysterous Billows swelling surges And hitherto the Lords most faithfull and glorious Cause blessedly embarked in our most pious Parliament hath in all its just undertakings most impregnably prevailed and been preserved against all the Malignant Atheisticall and Papisticall Machinations Plots and Practizes that men or devills were ever able to invent and foment against Gods Truth and a glorious and pure Gospel-Reformation In so much that now upon all these serious considerations of the Enemies combinations and injurious conjurations on the one side and our Gods most omnipotent and omniprudent frustrations of them all thus from time to time wee may most worthily say as the holy Prophet once said especially on the gracious and most gratefull recordation of that most memorable and admirable victory at Marston-Heath neere Yorke and also all those late forementioned Westerne victories even of this last Moneth of July wee may say and that most worthily as the LORD God himselfe said by the holy Prophet Now also many nations are gathered together against thee O English ISRAEL that say let her be defiled and let our eyes looke on Zions defilement But they know not the thoughts of the Lord neither understand they his Counsell For hee hath gathered them together as sheaves into the barn-floor And hath said to all our renowned Generalls and to their Armies Arise and thresh O daughter of Zion for I have made thy horne as iron and thy horses hoofes as brasse and thou shalt beat and bruise in pieces as with a strong flale many people and I will consecrate their gain to my selfe saith the Lord and their substance to the Lord of the whole Earth And hast not thou ô England as then Zion was promised seen all this come to passe for thy sake upon thine Enemies Even many nations brought together English Irish Dutch French Walloons who not that could be was not gathered against thee to defile and spoil thee yea to glut their accursed eyes and hearts with wicked joy at thy ruine and defilements But ah wicked fooles how ignorant and unacquainted were they with the Lords Counsels and how farre his thoughts were above and against their thoughts who brought them but together at York and else where like so many Sheaves on the barn-floar of Marston-Heath and there and then most graciously and gloriously said to our renouned Generalls Commanders and Souldiers Arise arise and thresh those Sheaves of shame and dishonour for I have made your Swords and instruments of war as Iron flales and your horses hoofs as brasse to trample on them and tear them in peices And then did the Lord also most triumphantly consecrate unto himselfe and we as we were able most worthily gave their gain and substance even all the honour and glory of these great and most famous victories to the Lord our God alone whose strong arme alone got us and gave us these glorious victories over all those our fierce and furious Enemies Yea he alone I say According to their deeds accordingly hath repayed fury to his Churches and Childrens adversaries recompense to his Enemies and to the Irish I stand he hath repayed and will yet still repay recompence And thus indeed it must needs be for Their strength and defence was departed from them and our God had made them as bread for us to eat and devour Yea our God hath for us wounded and broken in pieces the heads of these Leviathans and given them as meat to us his poore despised people And hath wounded the hairy scalps of all these that thâ—s went on in their insatiable wickednesse That thus therefore the great name of the Lord might be feared from the North to the West and his glorious splendour from the rising of the Sun
for even then when the Enemies came in like a flood then did the Lord lift up his Standard against them And truly the Lord hath dealt with all our proud Enemies all along in a most eminent and evident manner had we but eyes and hearts of undersanding to see and perceive it even ever since these last most notorious and odious plots and practizes of the Atheisticall Royalists in the abominable businesse of the accursed cessation and confederation with the bloody Rogues and Rebells of Ireland just as it is most notably set forth by the Prophet Ezekiel concerning Pharaoh King of Aegypt Our proud Enemies were like young Lyons of the nations and as a Whale in the sea and came out of their rivers and troubled our waters with their feet and fouled our rivers with mud and blood But the Lord our God did then spread out a net over them with a company of many people who brought them up into his net and dragg'd them and there the Lord left them as fish upon dry-land and cast them forth upon the open field and caused the fouls of the heaven to remain upon them and had they been left unburied all the beasts of the land had been filled with them as those inhumane bloody Irish-Rebels suffered many of our poor English Protestants to be devoured by hogs and dogs left unburied in their fields and ditches And now therefore good Christian and candid Reader thou who hast any true English-ingenuity and piety sparkling in thy soul speak from thy heart and conscience and tell mee truely have wee not great and everlasting cause with most cordiall-exultation and ravishing joy of Soul and Spirit to break out again and again into holy Moses his most excellent short and sweet expression of GODS infinite and admirable goodnesse Who is like unto thee ô Lord among the gods who is like unto thee glorious in holinesse fearfull in praises doing Wonders Let every one of us therefore joyntly and severally with that sweet Singer of Israel holy David with heart and voyce sing and say I will remember the Workes of the Lord surely I will remember his Wonders of old and of late I will meditate also of all his workes and talke of all his excellent doings For who is so great a God as our God yea thou art God that doest wonders thou hast declared strength among the people Thou hast with thy strong arme redeemed thy people even the sons of Jacob and Joseph It is better therefore as the same Psalmograph sweetely to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man Yea it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes And who then would not feare thee O King of nations for unto thee alone indeed doth appertain all honour and glory for as much as among all the wisemen of the nations and in all their Kingdomes there is none like unto thee our God Finally therefore good Reader to shut up all all that I can say herein having said so much already in my two former parts of this our Parliamentary-Chronicle is and shall be onely this That me thinkes all these so many and so manifest evidences of Gods best presence with us and of Gods all powerfull hand of providence thus admirably upholding us in the Innocency and Integrity of our Cause which he so cleerly makes and ownes to be his Cause by all those late and former Northern and Western Victories and other most specious returns of prayers should make us walk more yea most comfortably and confidently with our God That our God having thus enabled us to overcome the Beares and the Lyons of impious audacious opposition of the work of Reformation in Church and state will not fail also to deliver into our hands and unto our beleeving hearts the greatest seeming Goliahs and uncircumcised Philistims of proud and lewd reluctancies and obstructions which either men or devils can raise up against Gods glorious cause and unspotted Truth which is great and shall prevail onely let us wisely waite and beleeve for as I have oft on these like occasions said to my Christian friends who have still been harping and hammering on this demand I but when shall this be A too curious and indeed unchristianly question Beggers must be no carvers neither of the time nor means But the true Beleiver makes not haste but is willing to waite because the Vision which is for an appointed time at the end shall speak and will not lye Onely though it tarry yet waite for it because it will surely come and will not tarry as the Prophet most pertinently and excellently In sum Let me advise thee good Reader who ever thou art as holy Moses advised and encouraged his fainting Israelites in their greatest strait of Pharaoh and his furious Hoast behinde them the Red Sea before them and impassable hills and mountains on both sides of them Fear not but stand still in immovable true faith holy universall Obedience and heavenly harmonious Vnity one with another O take heed of intestine Divisions which spoil us in this triple pious posture I say Let us all voyd of all slavish fear stand still and see the Salvation of our God Whereunto the Lord in Christ through whom onely we are able to do this and all things graciously enable us Amen and Amen The Authours humble request to the Courteous Reader Courteous Reader I Must and do ingenuously acknowledge that in the publication of the second Part of our Parliamentary-Chronicle I committed two reall errours by mis-information given unto me by two known friends whom I much credited The one of them thou shalt finde Page 246. and in the Table or Index in the Alphabet B In both which Sir John Byron is said to be slain at Burford whereas he was but sorely wounded silenced as dead al the time of his cure which mistake I beseech thee good Reader who hast or may'st have that second Part utterly to obliterate and put out The other mistake by like mis-information thou shalt find Page 332 333. concerning the putting of the Commission of Array in Execution Viz. That Colonell Rudgeley was there said to be a principall agent therein Which in truth is far otherwise Hee being all along even ever since these unhappy wars began a most absolute Antagonist against that illegall Commission and a most loyall and constant freind to the Parliaments Cause having both in his person and in his purse manifested himselfe a true Patriot to his Country in the County of Stafford and a principall actour in the winning of Stafford Town and Castle and also of Chillingford-House from the Kings Cormorants All which I having lately had from most singular and substantiall testimony to be most true have chosen rather to take the shame on my self thā to suffer so noble a Gentleman to receive any eclipse of his honour by mine or my friends mistake
farther and enjoyning them not to ayd his two Houses of Parliament which he said were in actuall rebellion against him c. But praised for ever be our good God by whose gracious providence their hearts were most wisely and resolutely established not to be dasht and daunted therein but they utterly refused to yeeld to either of his demands and commands in both the Letters and sent his Majestie an answer suteable to their Christian dutie and the nature also of such a Message and command and so went on most religiously and resolvedly in the just and warrantable work they had so advisedly undertaken But now to goe on in the manifesting as I promised and setting forth in order the progress of the great work at home by our adversaries designes against the Citie of London and therein the whole Kingdome in that their forementioned grand plot to starve up the Citie by taking from them all the neighbour Countries succours and supplements of all kindes and thus at last hoping to bring it low and according to that old Proverb If you will tame a wanton Colt take away his provender and tame it and make it stoop to their most untaimed wilde and wicked tyranny but yet how our most wise and righteous God crost and confounded this their wicked work and devillish designe And now in the first place I must tell you how the most noble and victorious Earl of Manchester being in Lincolnshire prosecuting his successfull and victorious enterprises in those parts as hath been formerly and fully related having intelligence that the Oxonian-Cormorants were entred into Bedfordshire with purpose to make an inroad into the rest of the associated Eastern-Counties whereof he was made Commander in chief under his Excellencie the Lord Generall His Lordship therefore held it not fit to leave them without relief against such plundering and all-devouring Cormorants and greedie unwelcome guests and was therefore necessitated to grant such a composition to the Lord Widrington Colonell Henderson c. then in the Citie of Lincoln as otherwise he would not that thus he might hasten to the preservation of those his foresaid Counties and so having gotten this Citie as hath been forementioned he presently sent away renowned and victorious Colonell Cromwell with a considerable part of his forces toward Huntington to interrupt the Cormorants pernicious intentions in those parts and about Cambridge but his Excellencie the Parliaments renowned Lord Generall being then at St Albanes with his armie presently sent Messengers to countermaund the brave Colonells resolutions and required him to return again to my Lord of Manchester and to prosecute those intended Services in the North assuring him that by Gods assistance he would take speciall care that the associated Counties should receive no prejudice by the Kings Cormorants which he most nobly made good and accordingly performed For presently after it his Lordship sent a considerable strong partie of horse and foot toward Newport-Pannell against those greedie Cormorants who hearing of their certain and speedie approach made all the haste they were able to flie away from thence for fear of being intrapped in a nooz whereby on a sodain those parts were already fairly and fully cleared from fear of them both at Newport and Bedford too And heerby also Colonell Cromwell being returned to the noble Earl of Manchester his great and noble designes in those parts went on again most successfully and thus by Gods speciall providence and great mercie the Kings Cormorants were doubly disappointed of their late high-built hopes and pernicious purposes For by their intended fortifying of Newport they hoped to have establisht one main branch of the foresaid swelling designe to have starved up the Citie by thus encroaching by degrees into the Eastern-associated Counties and also by their thus coming and nestling by little and little in them they strongly hoped to have drawn and diverted the Earl of Manchester quite out of Lincolnshire and so to have taken him off from the pursuite of his victories in those parts But his Excellencie as I said before most nobly clipt the wing of that high-soaring hope of theirs by marching into those parts to expell the enemie out of them and so the safelier to secure them Thus I say the Lord our good God doubly blest us against this devillish designe of theirs blasting it in the bud stifling it in the birth and very beginning of it and making it abortive to them and giving us great assurance thereby of yet more hopefull advantages as by Gods blessing wee shall have fit and fair opportunities to mention them in their severall succeeding and proper places And now good Reader let mee desire thee heer to make a little stay to strike sail and cast thine anchor of serious recogitation and summarie contemplation into the deep Ocean of all this Moneths many and most rich mercies and Parliamentarie preservations of this Ark of Gods Cause First In the Lords stirring up of the hearts of our Parliamentarie-Worthies to remember the welfare of the poor children of Christs Hospitall and also raising up the affections of the Citizens of London to seal their holy League and Covenant with a large and liberall contributed loan of a great summe of money for our brethren of Scotlands advance unto our help In the most noble Lord Fairfaxes brave victorie against the Earl of Newcastle at Hull and thereby raising the siege thereof In the right noble and victorious Earl of Manchesters renowned victories over the Popish and atheisticall forces in Lincolnshire at Bolenbrook and Horncastle Famous Colonell Massies good service at Tewksbery and that also by the Parliaments Garrison at Warwick-Castle against the Kings forces at Cambden In the Ordinance of Parliament against Spies and intelligencers and farther famous prosecution of the most noble Earl of Manchesters victories in the gaining of the Citie of Lincoln and strong Town of Gainesborough And lastly In the most happie frustrating and defeating of the enemies deep and dangerous designe to starve the Citie of London and so to enforce the conquest of it and in Gods crossing that other great designe of our Oxonian Achitophells to have hindred our honest Brethren of Scotlands resolution to advance forward to our assistance All these rare mercies I say layd together and seriously considered O how can wee choose but be extraordinarily elevated to a high pitch and peg of obliged gratitude to our great and glorious God who hath so powerfully and prudently propped up and protected his thus poor menaced and assaulted Ark securely bearing it up above all the raging and swelling waves and boysterous billowes of fierce and furious adversaries beating and brushing against it with their utmost envie and most malevolent oppositions And therefore I say with holy David to break forth into insulting and triumphant joy in the Lord and say Our hearts are fixed O God our hearts are fixed wee will sing and give praise
Awake up our glorie awake Psalterie and Harp and let us all awake right early thus to blesse and magnifie the Lord. For through our God wee shall doe valiantly and it is he that shall tread down our enemies under our feet But now to goe on About the beginning of this November our most prudent Parliamentarie Statists wisely considering and most circumspectly advising on the inveterate malice and mischievous designes of the Oxonian Atheists against the Parliament and Cities of London and Westminster as hath been foreshewn they therefore past an Ordinance of Parliament wherein they declared that they held it most fit and necessary for the better setling and securing of the state of this distracted and much dilacerated Kingdome that all such Committees as were then nominated in the said Ordinance all Colonells Captaines and other Officers and well-affected persons inhabitants of the Counties of Hampshire the Town and Countie of Southampton Surrey Sussex and Kent shall and may associate themselves and mutually ayd succour support and assist one another in the mutuall defence and preservation of themselves from the inroades and outrages of the Kings Cormâ—rants and have power thereby given them to raise forces of horse and foot to suppress and expell all such forces as are or shall be raised in the said severall Counties to levie war against the Parliament or that shall make any insurrections or shall plunder or destroy any of his Majesties good subjects in those Counties And the Lord Generall the Earl of Eâ—â—ex was thereby desired to grant a Commission to that most valiant and renowned Commander Sir William Waller to command in chief as Serjeant Major Generall of all such forces raised in the said Counties the happie and successfull issues of which said association you shall now shortly have in their succeeding proper places And that the world might see and all Malignants mouthes be stopt if it were possible to doe it the godly and Christian care of this most renowned and pious Parliament not onely at home but abroad also providing for the welfare of forein English Plantations our most prudent and provident Parliamentarie Senators set forth an Ordinance of Parliament whereby that most noble renowned loyall and pious patriot Robert Earl of Warwick was made Governour in chief and Lord high Admirall of all those Islands and Plantations inhabited planted or belonging to any of his Majesties the King of Englands Subjects within the bounds and upon the coasts of America which said Ordinance for the Readers better satisfaction and full content therein I have thought fit heer to insert and interlace An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT Die Jovis Novemb. 2. 1643. VVHereas many thousands of the natives and good Subjects of this Kingdome of England through the oppression of the Prelates and other ill affected Ministers and Officers of State have of late yeeres to their great griefe and miserable hardship been inforced to transplant themselves and their families into severall Islands and other remote and desolate parts of the West-Indies and having there through exceeding great labour and industry with the blessing of God obtained for themselves and their families some competent and convenient meanes of maintenance and subsistance so that they are now in a reasonable well setled and peaceable condition But fearing lest the outragious malice of Papists and other ill-affected persons should reach unto them in their poor and low but as yet peaceable condition and having been informed that there hath been lately procured from His Majesty severall grants under the great Seale for erecting some new Governours and Commanders amongst the said Planters in their aforementioned Plantations Whereupon the said Planters Adventurers Owners of Land in the said forein Plantations have preferred their Petition unto this present Parliament that for the better securing of them and their present Estates there obtained through so much extreame labour and difficulty they might have some such Governours and government as should be approved of and confirmed by the authoritie of both Houses of Parliament Which Petition of theirs the Lords and Commons having taken into consideration and finding it of great importance both to the safety and preservation of the aforesaid Natives and Subjects of this Kingdome as well from all forain invasions and oppressions as from their own intestine distractions and disturbances as also much tending to the honour and advantage of His Majesties Dominions have though fit and doe heerby constitute and ordaine Robert Earle of Warwick Governour in chiefe and Lord high Admirall of all those Islands and other Plantations inhabited planted or belonging to any His Majesties the King of Englands Subjects or which hereafter may be inhabited planted or belonging to them within the bounds and upon the coasts of America And for the more effectuall speedier and easier transaction of this so weighty and important a businesse which concernes the well-being and preservation of so many of the distressed Natives of this and other His Majesties Dominions The Lords and Commons have thought fit that Philip Earle of Pembrook Edward Earl of Manchester William Viscount Say and Seale Philip Lord Wharton John Lord Roberts Members of the House of Peeres Sir Gilbert Gerard Knight and Baronet Sir Arthur Haselrigg Baronet Sir Henry Vane junior Knight Sir Benjamin Rudyer Knight John Pym Oliver Cromwell Dennis Bond Myles Corbet Cornelius Holland Samuel Vassall John Rolls and William Spurstow Esquires Members of the House of Commons shall be Commissioners to joyn in ayd and assistance with the said Earl of Warwick chief Governour and Admirall of the said Plantations which chief Governour together with the said Commissioners or any four of them shall heerby â—avâ— power and authority to provide for order and dispose all things which they shall from time to time finde most fit and advantageous to the well-governing securing strengthning and preserving of the said Plantations and chiefly to the preservation and advancement of the true Protestant Religion amongst the said planters inhabitants and the further enlargement and spreading of the Gospel of Christ amongst those that yet remain there in great and miserable blindnesse and ignorance And for the better advancement of this so great a work It is heerby further ordained by the said Lords and Commons That the aforesaid Governour and Commissioners shall heerby have power and authority upon all weighty important occasions which may concern the good and safety of the aforesaid Planters to call unto their advice and assistance therein any other of the aforesaid Planters Owners of Land or Inhabitants of the said Islands and Plantations which shall then be within twenty miles of the place where the said Commissioners shall then be and shall have power and authority to send for view and make use of all such Records Books and Papers which doe or may concern any of the said Plantations And because the well-setling and establishing of such Officers and Governours as