many of their horses and armes most of their pickaxes spades and other instruments wherewith they were raising trenches and strength'ning their kennells to have lyen lurking the more securely like so many prey-devouring Wolves or Sheep-biting mischievous Mastives and having thus most successfully demolished their works he returned again victoriously to Gloucester Much also about the same time came certain intelligence by Letters out of Warwickshire to London of another brave defeat given to the Kings Cormorants at Cambden in another part of the said Countie of Gloucester which was informed to be thus About 300 of the Kings horse came from Oxford into that Town of Cambden whereof the Parliaments forces in Warwick-Castle having speedie intelligence there came a considerable partie of them in the midst of the night into the said Town surprized most of them in their beds and carried them away prisoners with them to Warwick-Castle together with all their horses There were between thirtie and fortie of thtm that for some space stood stoutly to oppose our forces but they were all soon quelled and some of them slain in fight but the rest were all taken prisoners and carried to Warwick-Castle as aforesaid About the 20th of October also 1643. Our most prudent and provident Parliamentarie-Statists for the better securing of the great affaires and waightie negotiations of both the Houses of Parliament and their just proceedings therein for the welfare of Church and State they set forth an Ordinance or Declaration for the prevention and surprisall of all spies and intelligencers from Oxford to London and from London to Oxford for the sequestring of their estates and allowance of a fair reward to all such persons as should be assistant in giving notice of and apprehending any such according to the tenor of the said Ordinance which for the Readers better satisfaction therein I have thought fit to insert as it was printed and published by authoritie of Parliament A Declaration and Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the Sequestring of c. Die Martis Octob. 31. 1643. WHereas by the frequent intercourse of persons and intelligence contrary to the use and custome of War between the Cities of London and Westminster and other parts of the Kingdome and the persons of the King and Queen and forces raised by the King against the Parliament and Kingdome opportunitie hath been given for the plotting and contriving a late treacherous and horrid design and in case the said intercourse and intelligence should continue the same way will still be open for any other of the like nature in time to come As also for the frequent conveying of moneys and other provisions for the supporting of this unnaturall War For the preventing whereof be it declared and ordained by the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament that no person or persons whatsoever shall from henceforth repair or goe from the said Cities of London and Westminster or from any other parts of the Kingdome unto the person of the King or Queen or Lords of Councell abiding with him or her or to any person or persons within any of the Kings Quarters Leaguers or Garrisons or that are within any of the armies raised by the King nor shall give or hold any intelligence by Letters Messages or otherwise with the persons of the King and Queen or other persons aforesaid without consent of both Houses of Parliament or warrant from the Lord Generall of the forces raised by the two Houses or from the respective Officers that shall command in chief any of the forces And the said Lords and Commons doe further declare That the person or persons who shall doe to the contrary heerof shall be proceeded against as those within the Ordinance for sequestrations And shall be farther accounted as persons that doe adhere unto those that have levied war against the Parliament and Kingdome and be liable to the same punishment And be it further declared and ordained for the better and more effectuall execution of the premises That the person or persons that shall discover any of the persons offending as aforesaid shall have one fifth part of all such benefits and profits that shall acâ—rue or grow by reason of the seizing and sequestring of their estates according to the true intent and meaning of this Ordinance and of the said Ordinance of Sequestration And in case any person or persons after the last of June having knowledge of the said offenders and offences shall not within convenient time reveal the same unto the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament or to the Lord Geneâ—all or other Officers commanding in chief the said person or persons shall incur the like penalties and forfeitures as are heerin provided against the said principall offenders Ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that this Declaration and Ordinance be forthwith printed and published Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. About the 24th also of October aforesaid the most noble and victorious Earl of Manchester whom the Lord most graciously raised up to shew himself most valiantly for the cause of God and his Countrie and whom the good hand of Gods almightie power and providence hath made victorious over those abominable Antichristian and atheisticall forces in the North in pursuance now of his late so prosperous and successfull atchievments in those parts and of that brave and memorable victory he obtained at Horn-Castle as aforesaid went on also most couragiously to the Citie of Lincoln whither being come with his forces and upon the summoning thereof it was soon surrendred to him Wherein he found and forced to be left in the Citie Close and Minster of Lincoln armes for at least 2500 men 28 or 30 Colours three pieces of Ordnance and great store of other ammunition the Cormorants or Cavalerian Officers having libertie granted to depart on horseback with their swords but the common Souldiers onely with sticks in their hands and thus became Master of this Citie without bloudshed or much molestation After which he most victoriously marched also to Gainesborough another of the enemies Garrison Townes in the said Countie But the Garrison therein hearing of the surrender of Lincoln and that the noble Earl of Manchester was making hastie preparation unto them they more hastily sleighted their workes as by credible information was related and speedily quitted the place and fled away thence to Newark And very shortly after this most noble and renowned Lord having received farther assistance and supply by the coming over of such horse as the most heroick Lord Fairfax could spare him from Hull he now resolved to prosecute his design to the full of quite clearing Lincolnshire maugre all the opposition of Newcastles viperous papisticall forces from those devouring Cormorants and hideous Harpyes which had so infected and infested that whole Countie where now for a while wee will leave him full of cause of praise and thanksgiving to his God who made him
made some great shot against the House which caused a parley while the parley was some shot was made from the House which hurt or killed two of Coventrymen Whereupon they left parling and instantly fell to battering the House whereby they kill'd divers of them within and forcibly made their way into the House took about 80 prisoners some horse and all the plunder of the House so returned safely to Coventry Shortly after they issued out again under the command of Colonell Boswell and marched to Bewley-House which was one Mr Sheldens being a very strong hold on the edge of Warwickshire but in the County of Worcester which the enemy had strongly fortified But in brief Coventry forces forced their passage and surprized it and the whole garrison and much wealth and rich pillage therein and all the Irish-Rogues whom they found there they put to the sword and victoriously returned safely home again Much also about the same time namely the beginning of this instant Ianuarie 1643. it pleased the Lord the great and glorious searcher of hearts and discoverer of the most secret and deepest designes of the most politick and pernicious enemies of his Church and children to bless our Kingdome and Parliament in the timely revelation of a very dangerous plot and conspiracie under a pretence of Propositions for peace forâ—ooth to which end there was a new Cross-Petition contrived under a colour of accommodating the differences between the King and the Parliament but thereby in very deed to destroy the Parliament by dividing the City of London from it and by such a combustion to prevent the coming in of the Scots to the ayd and assistance of the Kingdome and Parliament Now the parties who were prime promoters and machinators of this plot were Colonell Read a Jesuiticall Papist and a great Commander in the Rebellion in Ireland and a prisoner to the Parliament but released and then residing at Oxford Sir Basill Brook a notorious Papist also and personally acting also in that Irish-rebellion and a prisoner to the Parliament and who to make his aboad at London the firmer and more immoveable contrived as I was credibly enformed to have an Execution for debt layd upon him that thus without suspect or molestation he might actuate at London in the plot One Mr Violet or rather stinking Varlet a most malignant Goldsmith or rather a Projector in that trade And one Mr Riley a Citizen of London Scout-Master Generall for the Citie of London who had the name and reputation of an honest religious man but in the issue of this discourse will be found to appear either a very simple fool or a notorious hypocrite and down-right deep dissembler The place of meeting was at the three-Cranes in the Vintrie and at The Man in the Moon The way and manner of contrivance thereof was first that Mr Riley being in much credit in the Citie must be a means to get this Irish-Rebell Read out of prison by whose meanes for the better effecting of their plot he being at liberty an address was easily made to my Lord Generall that one Captain Read a poor old man taken by the Earl of Manchesters forces tonight be exchanged for one that was a Quarter-Master for the Parliaments armie and then in prison at Oxford and was a Scout of Mr Rileys Now my Lord Generall relyed so much on the supposed integrity of Mr Riley that he forthwith granted his Exchange and the Rebell-Read was thereby presently released But before this Read departed out of the City He Mr Riley and Sir Basill Brook had conference together about this designe and it was agreed that Colonell Read should direct his letters to Mr Riley by the name of The Man in the Moon and that one Mr Wood should be the Messenger between London and Oxford This Wood being an apprentice of London living then in the Stocks Read being come to Oxford propounds the designe to his Majestie who instantly called to advise with him the Queen the Lord Digbie a proclaimed traytor and the Dutchess of Buckingham the Arch-Prelate of Canterburies convert forsooth wife to the great Irish-Rebell the Earl of Antrim then at Oxford His Majestie with these rebells and traytors contrived what they should propound to the City to beget Propositions for Peace just such an intended peace as Bynions should have been and thereupon they concluded to write to the City that his Majesty was resolved to maintain the Protestant Religion and that in as ample manner as the Irish-rebells and atheisticall traytors thus admitted to be of his Majesties Cabinet Councell would or could require his Majestie to settle it for the good and content of the whole Kingdome the clean contrary-way Now at the first time of their generall meeting they concluded of the draught of a Letter to the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen from his Majestie full of expressions of love to encompasse the designe to his loyall Subjects the Citizens of London though traytors rebells a little before and this was dispatched by Wood with a Letter from Colonell Read to Mr Riley by the name of the man in the Moon to passe over his Majesties Letter with Sir Basill Brook to put it into such words as they should think fit but Read writ in his Letter to Riley that what he did he should do it quickly for it must be done and concluded before the Scots come in or not at all and withall writ to have Violet set at liberty to come to Oxford to seek an exchange that he might passe to and fro on this occasion They met accordingly and concluded of the Letter for his Majesty to signe of some Propositions Violet was the Clerk that writ them Sir Basill Brook and Mr Riley as was enformed contrived them Mr Riley loses no time but applies himself to Sir Arthur Hasâ—erig and propounds Mr Violet in exchange for a brother of his Mr Hasterig prisoner to the pretended Lord Loughborough commonly called Master Hastings and to have leave to goe to Oxford Sir Arthur thinking Mr Riley to be the man he was reputed to be gave way and his libertie was obtained to goe to Oxford to solicite this exchange Violet goes accordingly carries with him the Letter for the King to subscribe and other Instructions and as by his Examination he confesseth he imparted the same onely to the King Queen Dutchess of Buckingham Colonell Read and the Lord Digby who all met together and that he stayed not seven houres in Oxford but returned with the Letter directed to the Lord Major and Aldermen signed by his Majestie under his signet Violet returned and the Letters being imparted to Mr Riley and Sir Basill Brook means was used how to engage others in the plot whereupon Violet attempted to sound Sir David Watkins and soon came to the bottom of honest Sir Davids judgement who told him he did like well of
consisting in all of about fifty foot colours and a great bodie of horse which indeed was Newcastles whole armie which coming so unexpectedly put us to new consultations My Lord Willoughbie and I being in the Town agreed to call off our foot and so I went to bring them off but before I returned to them divers of our foot were ingaged the enemy advancing with his whole bodie our foot retreating in some disorder and with some loss yet got the Town where now they are our horse also came off with some trouble being wearied with their former long fight and their horses tyred yet bravely faced the enemies fresh horse and by severall removes got off without the loss of one man the enemy following the rear with a great bodie The honour of this retreat as also of all the rest is due to God alone My Major Whaley did in this business carry himself with singular courage and gallantrie becoming a Gentleman and a Christian Thus have you this true relation as short as I could contract it what you are to doe upon it is next to be considered The Lord direct you therein Gentlemen I am Your faithfull Servant O. C. Huntington July 31. 1643. A list of the slain and prisoners taken at the raising of the Siege of Gainesborough GEnerall Cavendish slain Colonell Beton slain a Lievtenant Colonell slain a Sergeant Major slain Captain Husses slain a 100 dead in the place an 150 prisoners taken and 200 slain in the pursuite of them a totall defeat not ten men in a bodie Much about the aforesaid time also namely in the said July 1643. came certain information to London that the Kentish Malignants perceiving the firm resolution of the Parliament and Citie of London not to desert but closely to adhere to the cause of Religion and liberties of the Kingdome and being extremely vexed with a spirit of malignity and rage to hear of the constant preparations of the pious and well-affected Parliamentarians especially I say in the Citie of London to raise a considerable strength of horse to make a flying Armie a design at that time very hotly on foot to pursue the Kings Cormorants or devouring Cavaliers and thus to force them from their wicked trade of plundering and pillaging the Country They therefore in Kent upon a pretence of rising against a new Oath or Covenant begun at this time to be taken by the Parliament and Cities of London and Westminster and intended to be ordered to be taken over the whole Kingdome which they declared they had no minde to take and yet this Oath or Covenant was not as yet imposed upon them nor any penaltie on the refusers thereof onely the names of such as refused it were to be taken and returned thus to distinguish the well-affected from the ill-affected and to disarm them and to keep a more vigilant eye over their persons as just causes were administred Whereas their main plot was to make a generall insurrection and seditious disturbance of the whole Countie and thus to make way for Sir John Culpepper Sir Edward Deering and a strong partie of the Kings Oxonian Cormorants to joyn with them and thereby to disturb the Parliaments and Cities foresaid preparations and for the farther endangering of this royall Metropolis or chief Citie of the whole Kingdome and therein to work the ruthfull ruine of Church and State Therefore I say these Kentish Jack-Cades under colour forsooth of resisting and rejecting of that Oath and Covenant seditiously assembled themselves first at Seven-Oakes in Kent which they intended to be their chief Rendevouz and where they quickly increased for as our Proverb is Ill weeds grow apace into a body of about 2 or 3000 desperately minded Malignants or Atheists which you please their chief Ring-leaders being Sir Edward Bathurst Captain Stanley and one Mr. Leigh with some others of those parts They being thus audaciously assembled together about 200 of them attempted to have seized on the Magazine at Dartford but a troop of horse appearing there prevented them therein yet some of them meeting with Sir Thomas Walsingham a most worthy patriot of his Country and member of the Parliament as he was riding with two servants onely to Dartford boldly laid hands on him and carried him prisoner to their Rendeâ—ouz and about the same time also they forced Captain Rolf a very worthy and religious young Gentleman of Arpington in Kent out of his bed about 100 11 of the clock at night who never suspected any such rising or sodain surprisall and with no little danger of his life carried him also prisoner with them to Sir Thomas Wâ—â—singham and there kept them together in prison and a little before these Rebells were subdued they were both in great danger to have been slain or put to death in prison had not God graciously prevented it Now the Parliament understanding of this sodain mutinie presently sent a Declaration among these mutiners by Sir Henry Vane the younger who took great paines by all fair meanes to pacifie them proffering them pardon if they would instantly lay down their armes and peaceably submit to the Parliament if not the bloud that must be spilt would lie on their own heads And withall to reduce them by force in case of disobedience Colonell Brown was presently dispatcht into Kent with a 1000 London-Redâ—oates and about 800 more after them together with two troops of horse from London divers Voluntieres also of the well-affected of Kent rose against those seditious and joyned with Colonell Brownes forces And that no opportunitie might be omitted for the taming of these insolencies the Parliament gave power to the Committee for the Militia in London to raise Dragooneers and to use what other meanes they thought fit to suppresse them And in regard the Parliament had had former information that this rising was a part or branch of treacherous Tompkins and Challenors designe who had appointed Blackheath to be the place of Rendevouz if that plot against the Citie had then taken effect they appointed strict watches and guards to be kept in the Citie and Out-workes therof and that a strength of horse should be sent into Surrey toward Rigate and other parts thereabout to suppress insurrections if any should happen to be there also Now these Kentish Rebells being thus assembled at Senock as aforesaid and hearing of the approach of Colonell Brownes forces toward them they deserted this Town and fled thence to Tunbridge and from thence sent a Messenger with a submissive Petition to the Commanders of the Parliaments forces to be presented to the Parliament that they were willing to lay down armes if the Parliament would forgive their offences but the Parliament most prudently and like themselves indeed utterly rejected any Petition from them whiles armes were in their hands but if they would lay them down first and then Petition they might finde grace
of July 1643 came certain intelligence by Letters to London out of Cheshire that the most successfull forces of that renowned and pious patriot Sir William Brereton had happily taken from the Kings accursed Cormorants a very strong hold in those parts called Houghton-Castle which had long time been a sore goad in the sides of Sir Williams great affaires in that Countie but now was by Gods mercie and his vigilancie delivered up unto him and in his full possession and safe custodie Much also about this time the King having by the wicked Counsell of his most impious Achitophels at Oxford sent out a Proclamation in his own name to command all his loving Subjects to forbeare all commerce and trading with the Citie of London and to withhold all provision of victualls from them and all this under a great penaltie hoping by this meanes to starve the Citie and so in time to enforce it to their wicked intended tyrannicall subjection to Popery and slavery but blessed be the Lord this base plot had like issue with the rest for the Citie of London was not so easily to be begirt and starved by a Proclamation from Oxford though the Broad-Seal countenanced and commanded it for the Lords and Commons in Parliament presently upon this unpatternd Proclamation to starve a Citie for its honesty and fidelity and thereby to destroy the whole Kingdome passed an Ordinance to give the most renowned Lord Major of London and the Militia thereof power over all persons within the line of Communication sodainly to discover and disarm all malignants and to purge it of all such dangerous persons and about 5000 more Citie-Souldiers to be charged to doe dutie at all the Out-workes of the Citie Nay and our most renowned Parliamentarie-Statists rested not heer so tender were they of the welfare and preservation of the Citie in reference to that pernicious Proclamation but past an Ordinance in both Houses for the appointment of the then most pious and prudent Lord Major and two Sheriffs of London to take the charge of the Lievtenantship of the Tower of London Sir John Conyers having at his own voluntary desire obtained the consent of the Parliament to goe beyond Sea into Holland and after the expiration of the said ever to be honoured heroick and most active-spirited Alderman Penningtons most happie Majoraltie which by Gods gracious guide and speciall assistance he finished with more honour and renown the times thereof seriously considered than any of his predecessors in that place of honour and trust had done before him it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our most noble Parliamentarie Worthies to confer the said Lievtenantship of the Tower of London solely and wholly upon him as one in whom they had so good experience they might most indubitably confide in the faithfull managing of a place of so much trust and concernment for the welfare safety and security of the Citie and Kingdome and partly also as an honourable guerdon and repay of his former wise and loyall discharge of that his foresaid troublesome and chargeable Majoraltie And heer now good Reader I shall desire to cast anchor and make a little stay to pause and ponder on the most sweet Parliamentarie-Mercies of this first Moneth of our voyage and adventure into and through thus much of this boysterous and billowing Ocean of the Kingdomes distractions and disturbances and with a gratefull heart succinctly to see what God hath done for us as in a short Map and ocular prospect of them As first in that excellent Petition of the Assembly of Divines to both the Houses of Parliament for the good of Church and State in a pious reformation of things amiss in both Secondly in the Parliaments prosperous success at Gainesborough by the Lord Willoughby against the Earl of Newcastles forces there And the taking of the Town of Stamford by brave Colonell Cromwell Together also with the taking of Burleigh-House by the said brave Colonell Thirdly in another brave victorie obtained by the Parliaments forces at a second Siege of Gainesborough Fourthly in Gods admirable and timely appeasing of that desperate and dangerous Rebellion of the Kentish Malignants Fiftly in the taking of Houghton-Castle in Cheshire and that provident prevention of aâ—wicked plot to starve the Citie of London in keeping provision of victuall from it Sixthly and lastly in the most happie and prudent putting of the Tower of London into the safe custodie and government of the most worthy Lord Major and Sheriffs of London for the better safety and security of the said Citie and whole Kingdome Upon the which said serious review of all these rich and rare Parliamentarie-Mercies tell me good Reader hast thou not already seen Gods Ark most bravely born up above all the swelling and blustering waves of the worlds mischievous malignancy against it and It carried on with most pleasant and prosperous gales of Gods guard and guide and gracious protection of it Yes certainly witness this six-fold coard of clearly convincing testimony Great cause have wee therefore to check those proud waves of the world for their insolency against our God and his most righteous cause even in the Lords own words by his holy Prophet Feare yee not mee saith the Lord will yee not tremble at my presence which have placed the sand for a bound to the Sea by a perpetuall decree that it cannot pass it And though the waves thereof rise and toss themselves yet can they not prevail though they roar yet can they not pass over it Cease then and abate your pride O yee proud and pernicious Royalists since our God doth so curb and keep you in As for us wee shall therefore as wee have just cause triumph and sing God is our refuge and strength and a very present help in time of trouble Therefore will wee not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountaines be carried and hurried into the midst of the Sea But to goe on and to launch forth again in the deep for the further prosecuting of our next Moneths voyage About the beginning of August 1643 a brave Ship of about 300 tun bound from Denmark for Newcastle having been lately before taken at Sea by the most noble renowned and loyall Earl of Warwicks Ships within a league of Tinmouth laden with armes and ammunition to furnish and arme our Kings forces against the Parliament The Commander of which Ship was a Papist or Romish-Catholike and that which he pretended to be a countenancing supersedeas against all assaults of his Ship by any advers partie was a Letter from the King of Denmark which imported that the goods wherewith this Ship was fraught were his and therefore not to be toucht or medled with But the Ship notwithstanding all their pretexts being seized on and notice thereof immediately dispatcht away to the Parliament an Order was instantly returned to keep the Ship
and to inventorie the goods thereof and to let the Danish Commander know that the Parliament would be answerable touching the disposall of them according to their discretion and direction And thereupon the Ship was brought safely to London and there unladen A Copie of the true Inventorie of the fraight and goods wherein I have heer thought fit to insert for the Readers better satisfaction and content as I my self received it from the hands of one of the most eminent and most worthy Members of the Militia in the Citie of London which was as followeth Barrells of Gunpowder 476 Bundles of Match 890 Drums 050 Belly-pieces of armour 150 Swords 3040 Muskets 2977 Pistolls 493 Head-pieces 3000 Round-heads or Clubs 1000 Pikes very good ones 1500 Musket-rests 3000 Forks to fight against horses 0500 Collers of Bandiliers 3000 Belts 1 Hogshead Hangers 1 Hogshead Girdles 2 Hogsheads Hangers 4 Barrells Pistoll-keyes 1 Firkin Flasks 3 Barrells Hangers 1 Barrell Moulds for Muskets 2 Kilderkins Stones for Pistolls 1 Firkin Souch-powder 1 Firkin Cannon-Bullets 197 And pigs of Lead 14. And neer upon the same time a Ship laden with Sea-coales whereof I had unquestionable information from Newcastle and bound for Holland was then also apprehended by the vigilancy of the most noble Earl of Warwicks Ships wherein they found about 3 or 4000li. in money hid deep in the coales which was to have bought armes c. in Holland for the Kings use but thus happily diverted another and a better way And truly Reader there must needs be seen a speciall hand of Gods providence toward us in this Danish prize formentioned for this Ship could not have been seized on in a more seasonable time than as thus it pleased the Lord to dispose it considering the great use the Parliament had at that time of the said armes and ammunition to help to set forth a new armie then making ready to march forth again under the command of that noble and renowned Generall Sir William Waller and especially also the circumstances of that time considered namely the then ill success of our armies in the North under the command of the noble Lord Fairfax and the most unhappie surrender of Bristoll and Exeter also shortly after it to the Kings forces Sir William Wallers unhappie defeat in the West Countrie and the Lord Generalls armie being mouldred and crumbled away and almost quite torn in pieces by sickness and such like casualties as that he was not able to advance and take the field to affront the Kings and Kingdomes enemies untill they could be conveniently recruited and fill'd up and furnisht with men and armes Of all which having most fully made mention in the Conclusion of the Second part of our Parliamentarie Chronicle I shall cease to speak any more thereof And now about this time namely the 6th of August 1643. the Parliament being credibly and comfortably enformed out of Yorkshire that the most noble and renowned Lord Fairfax had in much competent measure recruited his Armie at Hull and got together some troops of horse and companies of foot that so he might the better both increase and strengthen his forces the Parliament sent him many Muskets Carbines Pistolls hookes and piked Clubs viz. Round-heads as they were termed that so his honest Round-heads might with them soundly beat and bang Newcastles Rattle-heads or rather Rotten-headed and hearted Papists and Atheists as not long after by Gods mercy they did by the brave conduct of renowned Sir John Meldrum together with 200 barrells of gunpowder part I say of this Danish prize so happily seized on as aforesaid Much also about the foresaid time there was a generall report and that upon good grounds and reasons all about the Citie of London that there was a purpose if not a plain though private plot at Oxford to work some of the Peeres in Parliament to treat again upon some articles or propositions for a pretended peace and indeed a motion was made as was credibly reported in the House of Lords to set it on foot which was generally much disrelisht and disliked in the Citie of London and began to cause great jealousies and feares among the wisest and best-affected Citizens as they and the whole Kingdome had just cause wee having ever received greatest dammage and detriment by such fained and treacherous treaties Whereupon the most renowned famous and faithfull Citizens of London with an unanimous consent resolved to joyn together as one man in a Petition to the Parliament in the name of the Lord Major Aldermen Commons of London which Petition coming to my hands I have heer thought fit to insert for the Readers better content and satisfaction therein To the Right Honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House in Parliament The humble Petition of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons of the Citie of London in Common Councell Assembled Sheweth THat your Petitioners having heard that such propositions and offers have been lately sent from the House of Peers to this honourable House which as wee greatly fear if yeelded unto may be destructive to our Religion Lawes and Liberties And finding already by experience that the spirits of all the well-affected partie in the Citie and Counties adjacent that are willing to assist the Parliament both in person and purse are much dejected thereat and the brotherly assistance from Scotland as well as the raising and maintaining of forces our selves thereby likely to be retarded all which the Petitioners refer to your serious consideration and considering our present sad condition lies upon us in a speciall manner through the incensed patience of the Almightie by delay and want of execution of justice upon traitors and Delinquents and having an opportunitie yet afforded us to speak our humble desires are That you would be pleased so to persist in your former resolutions wherupon the people have so depended and wherein yee have so deeply engaged your selves though you should perish in the work that justice may be done upon offenders and delinquents And since wee are as willing as ever to expose what wee are and have for the crowning of so good a cause you would be pleased by passing the Ordinance hereunto annext or one to this effect to put us into a probable way for ours and your defence wherein your Petitioners will by the blessing of God be never wanting But will ever pray c. This Petition being presented Aug. 7. 1643. by the Petitioners aforesaid to the House of Commons was well accepted and thankes returned by Mr Speaker for their care of the Kingdomes welfare with promise that the particulars desired should speedily be taken into consideration and to consider of an Ordinance to the purpose in the Petition mentioned which was referred to a Committee Now this Petition thus exhibited to the Parliament by Alderman Atkins in the name of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons as aforesaid shortly after
were prickt at Oxford and to remove the office of Green wax from London to Oxford The fourth to inhibite the administring and taking of the Nationall League and Covenant between England and Scotland of which Proclamation more heerafter in its more proper place But I say this our most worthie wise pious and loyall Lord Major to the glory of God his own just honour the joy of all Gods people and the vexation of all the base malignant spirits in London whose false faithless and graceless hopes in him were now at the first I say most worthily frustrated and blasted by him even in the very bud who no sooner received the said four Proclamations but the presently sent the Messenger and them with a strong guard to the Parliament who took it as a singular and acceptable service from the Lord Major kept the Proclamations and committed the Messenger to Newgate-prison as a Spie for coming from Oxford to London without either their warrant or his Excellencies the Lord Generalls contrary to their late Ordinance of Parliament About the latter end also of the said September 1643. the Parliament taking into serious consideration the great inconveniences which the Kingdome in generall and the Citie of London in speciall were like to feel and finde in the insuing Winter-season by reason of the want of Sea-coal fuell and firing which would fall most heavily upon the poorer sort of people and might cause a mutinie and molestation of the peace of the Citie if not timely prevented and they not therein competently provided for according to that old adagie That hunger and cold will break through stone-walls Therefore upon a Message from the House of Lords in Parliament a Committee also of the House of Commons was appointed to joyn with a Committee of Lords to consult about the prevention of this otherwise inevitable danger and to take order for the felling and cutting of wood for the better supply of the Citie and parts adjacent with firing for the winter season according to an Ordinance of Parliament which both Houses had passed immediately after viz October 2d 1643. and by virtue whereof the said Committee had power to appoint the felling and cutting of such quantitie of wood as they should think fit within sixtie miles of London in all Forests Chases and Parkes belonging to the Kings or Queenes Majesties or out of any other woods groves springs or other land where fellable wood was belonging to any Arch-bishops Bishops Deanes Chapters c. Papists Delinquents or other Malignants against the Parliament and the same to be disposed of for the better supply of the Citie as aforesaid and to be sold at such rates as the said Committee should think fit And now again good Reader be pleased a little heer to re-peruse and review the sweet Parliamentarie-Mercies of this Moneth also First In the timely preservation of Plimouth from a treacherous plot Secondly In the Siege and preservation of Hull from that dangerous casualtie by Gunpowder Thirdly In the three-fold Declaration of the Parliaments pietie and providence Fourthly In the happie election of Sir John Wollaston to be Lord Major of the Citie of London in such a time of so great need of godly and loyall Magistrates Fifthly The dashing that dangerous designe in pieces of the four pernicious Proclamations sent to the said most worthily honoured Lord Major and in the Parliaments so prudent and provident provision of fuell in this Winter-season And then tell mee good Reader whether God did not heerin also most smoothly carry-on his Ark with prosperous gales maugre all the swelling surges of the wicked intentions of its envious adversaries and on the sweet sight and serious consideration thereof to give the Lord onely all the praise and glorie and with holy David to break forth into a holy extasie of rejoycing gratitude and say Blessed be the Lord our God who thus daily loads us with benefits and blessings even the Lord the God of our salvation And now to goe on And heer now I shall begin this moneth of Octobers successfull voyage with a singular act and evidence of our most renowned Parliaments piety and charitie to that most famous Nursery of many succeeding thousands of poor helpless Orphans I mean Christs Hospitall in London The best and most beautifull Flower of my Garden Where and I most heartily bless my good God that I have this happie and fit and fair opportunitie to acknowledge and to let the whole Kingdome know as I am infinitely bound to Gods due glorie and mine own comfort I the unworthy Author of this Parliamentarie-Chronicle have from my tender infancie had my best beeing breeding and education And to which House of Charitie and so consequently to the renowned Citizens of London the pious and provident Patrons thereof next under God I owe my self and my poor All what ever it be both for all my former happie education and present sustentation there in my place and Calling But to leave this brief and gratefull digression which I hope was not altogether impertinent to this place I am sure not to my person and condition and to come to the present business It pleased God I say to put into the hearts of our plous Parliamentarie-Statists to set forth a singular act and order of Parliament for the good of the poor Children of Christs Hospitall in these hard and pinching times that they might have comfortable sustenance and maintenance notwithstanding the great straits and necessities of the Kingdome Which order of Parliament happily coming to my hands I have thought good heer to insert for the Readers betâ—er content and satisfaction which was as followeth Die Lunae Octobris 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That all the Rents and Revenues belonging to Christs Hospitall which are to be payd for the immediate use and advantage of the Children of the said Hospitall shall be free from the Ordinance of the Twentieth and Fifth part and from all other Taxes or Charges whatsoever And they doe require all Assessors heerby to take notice heerof Provided that the Tenants who injoy good and considerable bargaines in their Leases from the said Hospitall doe claime and enjoy no freedome exemption or advaâ—tage by this Order Joh. Brown Cler. Parliament October the 6th 1643. The House of Commons in Parliament adjourned themselves into severall Committees and one choice Committee of them assembled the same day at a Common Hall in London which was called on purpose to consult with the Citizens for the speedie raising of an 100000li. for the advance of the Scottish Armie unto us for repayment of which summe our Brethren of Scotland undertook as hath been formerly mentioned to bring 21000 men into this Kingdome which said 100000li. was also desired to be borrowed of the Citie upon loan and to be certainly repaid out of moneys procured from forein parts upon the publick Faith of
so victorious and pray for the perfecting of this his so pious and honourable resolution And heer now good Reader give me leave to tell thee or rather to remember thee of what thou knewst too well before viz. That the most famous and ever to be honoured Citie of London being the main if not the onely white and mark of the inveterate malice and envie of the Oxonian Court-Achitophels and atheisticall and Popish Cormorants and Malignants this place mightily and mainly being the great Remora and mightie Stone in the way of their mischievously intended tyrannicall Monarchie and Popish Hierarchie which must be removed or els all their whole work must needs be fruitless and frivolous Now therefore having grasped such a handfull of the Kingdome in the Western parts thereof and having as they hoped but falsly praised be God gotten good hold on the Northern parts of the Kingdome too Now I say they began to knock all their heads and hearts together on the anvill of their utmost Jesuiticall Councells seeing London to be so great a goad in their sides and such a strong bolt and obstacle in the way of their high designes and that it was impossible to be mastred by any of their present might or immediate assaults This therefore was the main and great design how to starve up the Citie this Winter which must be first by breaking in with their armies into the associated Counties fortifying some considerable Towns therein and thereby awing the rest with restless alarmes and excursions disabling them in money and armes hindring thus all commerce to and from the Citie and thus also stopping all kinde of provision to be brought to it and then the Irish Rebells or deluded Irish Protestants yea both to be brought on by multitudes to assist and help forward this great and main designe and then to share and divide the plunder the honours and lands both of London England and Ireland among them onely Scotland must have the unhappie happiness to stay to be devoured at leasure and in the last place of the three Kingdomes Now the manner of the beginning and setting this designe on foot was to take and fortifie Redding again Bedford Newport-Pannell c. and so to get forward to Cambridge and Huntington-shire that way toward the North-Easterly parts of the Kingdome and thus to encrease and strengthen advantages already gotten at least I say as they falsly conceited and then consequently to be for the South-Eastern and Southern parts thereof And thus had they in their hopes and touring or devouring proud and pernicious opinions already swallowed us up in the mawes of these their mischievous and most malâ—cious designes Thus Man as our Proverb is doth deeply purpose but our God onely doth over-poweringly dispose of all things but to goe on For the full and effectuall prosecution heerof that most vile and â—â—perous active Agent of theirs Sir Ralph Hopton is designed with all the preparations they could make for him to advance to Winchester Chichester and so forward to Kent this was the substance of this great plot and high designe on the Citie of London and consequently on the whole Kingdome which being thus laid before the eyes and understanding of the judicious Reader and wise observer of the passages of this kinde he may most clearly and with admirable delight comfort and content behold and see how our good God in his infinite mercy wisdome and all-disposing providence whose eyes run through the whole world to shew himself strong for those that are of an upright heart still most graciously crost their wicked counsells and turned them into folly and madness as in all the subsequent passages shall be fully related and set forth and all which I shall desire the Reader with mee to take most gratefull notice of as they fall out both in Sir William Wallers vigilant and valiant attending and waiting on Hoptons wayes and deportments in the South and South-Western parts and in his Excellencies the Parliaments Lord Generalls and Major Generall Skippons most wise and warle observation and attendance on the wayes and courses of that most pernicious Prince of Plunderers Rupert about Bedfordshire Newport-Pannell and St Albanes together with the rest of our faithfull and famous Commanders more Easterly and Northward all which I shall represent to the Readers view in fit and following places But before I yet come to those particulars give mee leave good Reader with thy accustomed candor and patience to acquaint thee heer also with another great designe they had upon us and our precious Parliament to cross and curb the provident proceedings in our most just defence against their accursed and bloudy breaking in upon us our lives liberties and Religion namely their deep endeavours to hinder our honest Brethren of Scotland from coming forth to help us Wherein also the hand of God will be wonderfully seen for good and the passages wherof most worthy to be recorded and enrolled in the number of these our precious Parliamentarie-mercies as most highly conducing and contributing to the honour of our most wise and wonder-working God and the great comfort of all his Saints and servants which to omit divers other former plots and contrivements to this foresaid end was briefly thus About the midst of October 1643. meanes having been used by private Messengers into France by the pestilent Councell and contrivers at Oxford The Queen-Regent of France sent an Embassadour into Scotland of purpose to divert the Scots resolution from coming into England to assist the Parliament The substance of whose Message being That as they tendered the continuation and preservation of that ancient league and amitie which had been between the Crownes of France and Scotland for so many hundred yeares they would be now advised to stay at home in peace and not to shew themselves in any hostile or armed manner against their King c. But to be brief for most certain the said Embassadour was soon and soundly answered and so departed thence into France again without that expected and intended issue he came for and those our Brethren most piously and constantly persisted in their obliged and engaged resolution to joyn in our ayd and assistance Again much about the same time the King sent two Letters into Scotland commanding that they should both be publikely read in all the Cities and Market-Townes of that Kingdome and that then they should both be entred upon Record the Copies whereof were by those our honest brethren of Scotland sent to our Parliament The one of them was against a Proclamation which the States of Scotland set forth in the Kings name to command the Subjects there to be ready with their aâ—mes whensoever they were summoned on severe penalties which the King said he much marveiled they would doe without his consent c. The other Letter was against their godly and most gracious Covenant requiring them not to prosecute it any
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
Master Speaker told them farther that he was commanded in the name of the House to assure them that as the Cities resolution was to live and die with them So they resolved by the grace of God never to desert the City but to make it one of their greatest cares to watch all opportunities to advance the honour happiness of this City which under God hath been the principall meanes of the preservation of this Parliament Now on Thursday January the 18th 1643. according to this foresaid invitation the whole Parliament of Lords and Commons with the Assembly of reverend and learned Divines and the Scottish Commissioners met at Christ-Church in London between 9 and 10 of the clock in the morning in the first place to testifie and acknowledge their bounden gratitude unto almightie God for the gracious preservation both of the Parliament and City from the late desperate designe of those pernicious Conspirators aforesaid who had complotted with Oxford agents to have made a dissention and discord between them There preached before them that day that venerable pious and learned Divine Master Stephen Marshall who before the Sermon made an elegant and patheticall Preface wherein he did excellently set forth both the true occasion of their meeting and the admirable lustre and glory of that most honourable Assembly the like never seen since England was a Kingdome Which being singularly observable I have heer for the Readers better delight and most full satisfaction therein exactly set down and inserted which was to this effect Right Honourable and well beloved in our Lord THis day is a day purposely set apart for feasting and it is like one of the Lords Feasts where you have a Feast and an holy Convocation and you are first met heer to feast your soules with the fat things of Gods House with a Feast of fat things full of marrow and wine on the lees well refined and afterwards to feast your bodies with the fat things of the Land and Sea both plentie and daintie But if you please you may first feast your eyes Doe but behold the face of the Assembly I dare say it is one of the excellentest Feast that ever your eyes were feasted with Heer in this Assembly you may first see the two Houses of Parliament the Honourable Lords and Commons who after thus in my yeares wrestling with extreame difficulties in their indeavouring to preserve an undone Kingdome and to purge and reforme a back-sliding and a polluted Church you may behold them still not onely preserved from so many treacherous designes and open violences but as resolved as ever to goe on with this great work which God hath put into their hands Here you may also see his Excellency my most honoured Lord and neer him that other Noble Lord the Commander of our Forces by Sea as the other is by Land and with them abundance of Lords resolute Commanders all of them with their faces like Lyons who after so many terrible Battles and abundance of difficulties and charging in the faces of so many Deaths are yet all of them preserved and not a haire of their head falne to the ground Here also you may behold the representative Body of the Citie of London the Lord Major the Court of Aldermen the Common-Councell the Militia and in them the face and affection of this glorious Cities this Citie which under God hath had the honour of being the greatest meanes of the salvation of the whole Kingdome and after the expence of Millions of Treasure and thousands of their lives still as courageous and resolute to live and die in the Cause of God as ever heertofore Here you may likewise see a reverend Assembly of grave and learned Divines who daily wait upon the Angel in the Mount to receive from him the lively Oracles and the pattern of Gods House to present unto you All these of our own Nation and with them you may see the Honourable Reverend and Learned Commissioners of the Church of Scotland and in them behold the wisdome and the affection of their whole Nation willing to live and die with us all these may you behold in one view And not onely so but you may behold them all of one minde after so many plots and conspiracies to divide them one from another And which is yet more you may see them all met together this day on purpose both to praise God for this union to hold it out to the whole world and thereby to testifie that as one man they will live and die together in this Cause of God Oh Beloved how beautifull is the Face of this Assembly verily I may say of it as it was said of Salomons Throne that the like was never to be seen in any other Nation I question whether the like Assembly was ever to be seen this thousand yeares upon the face of the earth Me thinkes I may call this Assembly The Host of God I may call this place Mahanaim and I beleeve there are many in this Assembly that would say as old Jacob did when he had seen his son Josephs face Let me now die seeing my son Joseph is yet alive And for mine own part I am almost like the Queen of Sheba when shee had seen the Court of Salomon it is said that shee had no spirit in her and I could send you away and say that you had no cause to weep to day or to morrow but to eate the fat and drink the sweet and send portions one unto another and I should send you away presently but that I have first some banquetting-stuffe for your soules such as the hand of God hath set before you for your inward refreshing the ground whereof you shall finde in the 12 Chapter of the 1 Book of Chronicles and three last Verses Upon which Text the said Mr Marshall made an excellent Sermon sitting his discourse suitable to the persons and occasion After the conclusion of the Sermon the said Honourable Assembly went to Merchant-Taylors-Hall to dinner all the Regiments of the London Trained Bands standing in a compleat posture from Christ-Church to Merchant-Taylors-Hall as two wals between which they passed without presse or disturbance The first that went forth were the Common-Councell men and Militia of London in their gownes after them the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen in their scarlet gownes on horsebacke with their Officers and Attendants next came the Lord Generall and the Lord Admirall and the Earl of Manchester together with about 16 Earles and Lords of the Peers House of Parliament divers Colonels and Military Commanders all on foot and immediately after them came neer two hundred of the worthy Members of the House of Commons and the Speaker of that House with the Mace born before him and then the Commissioners of Scotland and after all these about 80 Divines of the Reverend Assembly All which did much content and delight the spectators to see these so noble
of sedition in the City of London by Master Nye Master Goodwin and other Independents in the Plot against Windsor and that also at Aylesbury and the most happy preservation of Nottingham Towne and Castle by loyall and valiant Colonell Hutchinson The long desired and seasonable comming into this Kingdome of our loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland to our assistance with a potent Army to help to re-establish Peace and Truth among us In the harmonious pious and prudent consent of the Commissioners and Estates of both Kingdoms in a most excellent Declaration for the just terror and trouble of our Popish and Atheisticall Adversaries as a condigne punishment of their viperous insolencies And lastly in that most memorable and famous Victory which the Lord graciously vouchsafed to give unto his two faithfull and magnanimous Joshuahs Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Brereton at Namptwich All which admirable Parliamentary mercies being rightly reflected on and seriously considered of with a truly pious and gratefull heart who can choose but sâ—e and say Gods Ark was here also triumphantly over-topping the Worlds waves and winds fiercely raging and swelling And upon the right and religious review thereof who can but in all bounden gratitude with holy David break out into most thankfull expressions of soule and say Ascribe unto the Lord O happy England ascribe unto the Lord glory and strength ascribe unto the Lord the glory due unto his great name worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse For the voice of the Lord is upon the great waters yea the Lord rideth upon many and mighty waters as King for ever And now to proceed About the beginning of this moneth of February came certain advertisement by Letters out of Gloucestershire to London that the ever to be renowned Commander Col. Massey had lately before issued forth with a party of his Souldiers and had fallen upon Sir Henry Talbots quarters at Shepstow where he surprized the said Colonel 3 Captains 3 Lieutenants 3 Irish Reformadoes Serjeant Major Moore besides 60 Common Souldiers with much arms and ammunition And that he had also the week before this sent out a Frigot man'd with his Garrison-souldiers which took a Vessel going with supplies to the Enemies forces at Worcester the Bark was laden with Tobacco and some ammunition which was all brought into Gloucester for his own Souldiers And it was likewise then confirmed that divers parties of his Horse had taken divers Carriers going with severall parcels of Gunpowder and other Military necessaries to the Enemy which he also disposed of to his own better uses Also about the beginning of this instant Febr. came certain intelligence from Sir Iohn Meldrum that brave pious and prudent Commander that whereas a little before some French-men had treacherously betrayed about 20 of Sir Iohn's Souldiers and a Captain of his together with divers well-affected Inhabitants of the Isle of Axholme into the hands of Newcastles Cavaliers Sir Iohn hereupon resolved to go into that Island with a convenient party to repay that affront and to give them their due desert for their said treachery and about the 4. of February Sir Iohn approaching the Isle most valiantly assaulted and took the Royall Fort or chiefe Defence of the said Island which commands all the passages from Newark upon Trent and that he purged the Island of all the Malignants therein and took there about an hundred prisoners most of them men of quality 8 peeces of Ordnance 300 Arms and a Troop of Horse of Newcastles Cormorants together with 5 Hoyes upon the River which were going forth with provision to Newcastles Army Much also about the same time our most pious and prudent Parliamentary Worthies having long and divers times had much debate in both Houses about a resolved Councel of State for the more sure secret transacting and managing of the principall and most weighty affaires in and about all the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland and having deliberated most seriously both of the persons and power of those that were to be chosen thereunto and after a most wise and discreet regulating thereof so as that they may never commence nor determine a Peace without the House of Commons consent and good liking They at last agreed that all those personages which were nominated by the Lords should be returned without any alteration and so resolved to transmit the businesse to the Lords The names of those that were to be of this Councell are these following The Earle of Northumberland the Earle of Essex the Earle of Warwick the Earle of Manchester the Lord Vicount Say and Seale the Lord Wharton and the Lord Roberts Of the house of Commons Sir Gilbert Gerard Sir William Waller Sir Arthur Haslerigge Sir William Armyne Sir Henry Vane senior Sir Henry Vane junior Sir Philip Stapleton Mr. Crew Mr. St. Iohn Sollicitor Mr. Brown Mr. Glyn Recorder of London Mr. Perpoint and Mr. Wallop And for the State and Kingdome of Scotland the Lord Lowden the Lord Maitland Sir Archibold Johnstone and Mr. Berkley But shortly after namely about the midst of this instant February the Ordinance for the absolute setling of this great Councel of State passed both Houses with a joint concurrence in all particulars both the time of their sitting for three moneths to advise consult order and direct concerning the Recruits regulating and government of the Armies and concerning Treaties and Answers and other the great affairs of the three Kingdoms The names of the persons ye have had their place of meeting was Derby-house in Chanel-row in Westminster This piece of State-policie may by Gods mercy and hath already as we have found by happy experience it hath and doth produce much good to the whole three Kingdomes and is no doubt a mighty terrour and startling to the Enemies God in his mercy go on still to direct them for the best advancement of his glory and the blessed peace and welfare of the three Kingdomes About thâ—5 of this instant came certain intelligence by Letters to London of another mischievous designe plotted against the Town of Southampton most happily discovered and prevented by the wisdom and loyalty next under God of Mr. Peter Murford Serjeant Major to Colonel Norton the most noble and active Governour of the said Town Which Letter containing the exact relation thereof and having in it divers very observable passages I have therefore thought fit for the Readers better and more full content and satisfaction therein here to insert verbatim as it was printed and published by Order and Authority A true Copy of Mr. Murfords Letter touching the discovery of a new Plot against the Town of Southampton by the Kings Cormorants or Cavaliers SIR YOur Letter is come to my hands which I take kindly from you I should desire to exchange lines oftner with you I thank you for your newes I had Letters this day from my Lord
undertaken and cleare my unfeigned reputation Thus much I thought good to say unto you that you may give a satisfactory testimony of that designe in my behalfe if you heare it falsely reported And I shall be ready to requite you in vindicating of truth and acknowledge my selfe Southampton Feb. 5. 1643. Your reall friend PET. MURFORD About the 6. of this instant came to the publike knowledge of the City of London and so to others in the Kingdome a notable designe from Oxford namely That in the latter end of Ianuary last the pretended Parliament or rather mischievous meeting of Popish Atheisticall and Malignant fugitive Lords and rotten Members of the most blessed Parliament at Westminster being brought into a desperate condition by the happy and good successe of our said Parliamentâ— Forces against them assembled themselves into a most illegall jugling Iunto or accursed Conventicle at Oxford and would needs there forsooth make a poor shew of Propositions for Peace And by their Lord Generall Ruthen the Popish Earl of Forth they contrived a Letter which was signed by the Prince the Duke of York 44 of the foresaid condition'd Lords and about an 100 rotten Commons and was sent as from Ruthen to his Excellencie the Parliaments most noble and renowned Lord Generall the magnanimous and heroick Eul of Essex and in that Letter manifested their scornfull esteem of our most renowned Parliament at Westminster not allowing it so much as the name of a Parliament which must needs argue a proper piece of intention really to advance a true Peace betwixt the King and his Parliament Now hereupon the said Letter being by his Excellencie communicated with the Parliament they thought it not fit to take notice of the said Message only it was consulted and resolved on by both Houses that my Lord Generall should be intreated to send a Complement to the Earle of Forth and to inclose the Covenant and Declaration agreed upon by both Kingdomes in this Letter which accordingly his Excellencie performed as followeth His Excellencies Letter to the Earl of Forth in answer to a Letter from Oxford subscribed by the Prince Duke of Yorke and divers Lords and Gentlemen at Oxford My Lord I Received this day a Letter of the 29. of this instant from your Lordship and therein a Parchment subscribed by the Prince Duke of York and divers Lords and Gentlemen but it neither having addresse to the two houses of Parliament nor therein there being any acknowledgment of them I could not communicate it unto them My Lord the maintenance of the Parliament of England and of the priviledges thereof is that for which we are all resolved to spend our blood as being the foundation whereon all our Lawes and Liberties are built I send your Lordship herewith a Nationall Covenant solemnly entred into by both Kingdomes of England and Scotland and a Declaration passed by them both together with another Declaration of the Kingdome of Scotland I rest Your Lordships humble Servant ESSEX Essex-house Ian. 30. 1643. About the 9. of this instant February our most noble and renowned Patriots in Parliament resolved on the sequestring of the Estates of many grand Malignants and Incendiaries and to order and dispose of their Estates for the publike use And they appointed a Committee accordingly to take order for the sequestrating of the Lands and Estates of the Earle of Berk-shire prisoner in the Tower and that the same should be disposed of for the use of the publike good And the like for the estate of the Earle of Carbery a great stickler for the adverse party in Wales The Lord Aborthorum Mr. Walter Mountague prisoner in the Tower The Lord Cottington that Spanish Don and grand Incendiary of the Kingdome And that all the goods and Chattels already sequestred and to be sequestred belonging to the aforesaid Lords and Gentlemen should be forthwith sold and the monies made use of for the publike service and more especially for supplies for the Noble Lord Fairfax in Yorkshire The like also for all the goods and chattels belonging to Sir John Banks Lord Chiefe Justice at Oxford The like for the Bishop of Winchester and the like for all the goods of all other Malignants sequestred and being in Cambden-house in London or elsewhere As also the goods and whole estate in and about London belonging to that unhappy and unholy Neuter or Ambo-dexter Dr. Vsher Arch-Prelate of Armagh resident at Oxford a man once I confesse of good yea of great esteem like his apostate brother Dr. White Bishop of Ely in City and Country both in England and Ireland but at length whose last dayes hitherto have proved his worst dayes Of whom one thing I may not here omit to his eternall shame and ignominie That upon debating of the businesse in Parliament concerning him there was evidence given in to the Parliament against him That upon the first framing of that pernicious Oath at Oxford to enjoyn all men to take up Armes against the Parliament this slye Archbishop was a chiefe Agent by his Episcopall rhetorick to perswade all men to take the said Oath yea and that he wished they might all dye in prison that refused to take it that divers who by his perswasions had taken it were afterward much troubled in conscience and some of them dyed in that condition much perplexed and unsatisfied A most sad and bad burthen to lie on the Conscience of such an unholy and unhappy Instigator thereunto whose perishing blood will I feare be one day severely required at his hands without repentance Also about the 10. of this instant certain intelligence came out of York-shire by Letters to London from the most Noble Lord Fairfax of the taking of Burlington in the said County the place where the Queene formerly landed when she unhappily returned out of Holland by a party of Horse and Foot commanded by that valiant and vertuous Colonel Sir William Constable who entred the Town in a full Carriere took 250 Common-souldiers besides Major New nam the Governour of the Town and divers other Officers with 2 Drakes and 500 Arms besides other Ammunition In this exploit Major Briery and Captain Bethel the one in the Van the other in the Reare did singular good service and put the Enemy into a great disorder This place being within 6 miles of Scarborough will make Sir Hugh Cholmley that perfidious Apostate to look about him And very shortly after came farther intelligence of another notable Exploit performed by the said brave and valiant Commander Sir William Constable who surprised a party of the Enemy at a place called Driffle between Malton and Scarborough where he took 300 of Newcastles Horse Colonel Washington one Serjeant-Major three Captaines divers Officers and about an hundred and sixty common Foot-souldiers and routed another Regiment besides Much about the same time came certain information by Letters from the Scotch Commissioners out of the North That since
they say the comming in of the Scottish Nation will occasion though they know very well that their former comming in was by Gods mercy a great means to prevent it and so also may this but they are too willing to forget or at least to silence what horrid cruelties are dayly committed by their bringing over of such multitudes of Irish Rebels or that this damdable Plot of theirs can be any Invasion of our Kingdome since these are forsooth the Kings honest Catholik Subjects O grosse and egregious daubing and dissimulation Now the Lords of the Councill of Scotland having received this Letter spent no long time about it but the very next day O the mercy of our God thus to cleare up their pious and prudent judgement herein dispatched an answer to that Letter much to this effect That they conceived their Lordships at Oxford were not so great strangers to their proceedings as not to know that their expedition into England was not intended till all other meanes were first assayed and disappointed That they will not deny the invitation of the Parliament to ayde them and that not onely out of pittie to see England bleed but out of sense of the danger of their owne Religion and Lawes they had thus as a maine cause taken up Armes at this present that they hold not the invitation of the Parliament any wayes invalid or null'd because they at Oxford are wanting thence or others are gone beyond the Seas having either wilfully deserted the Parliament or been expelled thence for their Delinquency but how this Parliament hath sought earnestly for Reformation of Religion for redresse of grievances and the happy settlement of the great affaires of that Kingdome and which was indicted by his Majestie for these ends is ratified by a speciall Act of Parliament not to be raised without advise and consent of both Houses as null and void and that those who stay in Parliament are not a sufficient number without them at Oxford is more than they can apprehend And as they are more deepely affected with unfeined griefe for these unhappy differences betweene his Majestie and his Subjects and more sensibly touched with the sufferings of their Brethren than desirous to judge of the Lawes and practises of another Kingdome So they doe hold themselves in duty obliged to their Countrey to clear that Kingdome of that unjust aspersion of invasion These things with sundry other excellent expressions were contained in this Letter or answer to the former as by the Letters themselves Printed and published at large appeared And heere now good Reader I shall again desire to cast Anchor to put in and make a short stay in the happy Harbour of this Moneths Voyages conclusion also a little to refresh and recollect thine and mine own serious thoughts in the most gratefull Contemplation and Recapitulation of all the eminent and excellent Parliamentary Mercies as so many specious and precious Merchandizes safely brought home in the Successefull adventure of the Arke of God in this Moneths Voyage which may conspicuously appeare to the eyes and understanding of any of all intelligent and impartiall Readers First In that most fragrant Aprill Primrose or odoriferous virtuous Violet I meane that most excellent Ordinance of Parliament for the better sanctifying of the Lords day In those brave Defeates given to our Adversaries The one at Munck-bridge by Sir Iohn Gell the other given to Colonell Bellusyes by victorious Colonell Lambere in Yorkeshire In the remarkable meanes of Conveyance of the Ammunition from Warwick to Gloucester And how thereby they were enabled to fright and secret their neighbouring Enemies Together with the taking in of Waltham-house by Colonell Whitehead with the good assistance of the London Brigade which God made victorious both going and comming In the happy Conjunction of the Lord Fairfaxes Forces with his most valiant and virtuous Son Sir Thomas Fairfax whereby their eminent designes were by Gods mercie greatly advanced which was immediately begun in the taking of Cawood Castle and the Isle of Axholme In the farther good successe and singular good service of Captaine Swanley in South-Walles And the regaining of Crowland a place of great concernment by the noble Earle of Manchesters Forces In the Hollanders Honourable attestation of precious Master Prynnes learned Labours in his Invincible Vindication of the Parliaments Power and Priviledges Together with the most comfortable correspondency betweene our Kingdome and Parliament and the Kingdome of Swethland and also States of the Vnited Provinces In that most Famous and admirable Victory obtained by the right Honourable and most renowned Lord Fairfax at Selby in Yorkeshire In the prosperous pursuit of Newcastles Atheistiall Army from Durham to Yorke by our valiant and vigilant brethren of Scotland the most noble Earle of Manchester and most worthily thrice Honourable Lord Fairfax who all uniting and joyning themselves together into a body about Yorke necessitated Newcastle to be enclosed and coop'd up within the walles of the said City In the brave Defeat given by renowned Sir William Waller to the Kings Cormorants at Basing-house Together with that other given by Northampton Forces to their Adversaries at Banbury And lastly in the Lords most gracious frustrating and foolifying that most pâ—rnicious Oxonian Plot to have diverted or rather perverted the Christian Amity and Fidelity of our loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland in their pious purposes aud resolutions to come into our Kingdome for our timely and needfull assistance All which precious premises rightly regarded and most seriously considered especially that most remarkable Conquest at Selby and this the Lords most gracious turning of Oxonian Achitophels crafty and cruell Counsell into folly O who can but most justly and ingenuously acknowledge that in all in any of these rare and rich Parliamentary-mercies the Lord hath most comfortably caused his blessed Arke triumphantly still to over-toppe the high swelling waves and rough rising billows of Papists Atheists and mischievous malignants So that we may in strong and long experienced confidence in God conclude with holy David Yet truly the Lord is good to his Israel and to all such as are of an upright heart Great câ—use have wee therefore with magnanimous Martyn Luther in our greatest straits and seeming distresses to say and sing God is our refuge and strength a very present help in time of trouble Therefore we wil not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountaines be hurryed or caryed into the midst of the sea and though the waters thereof roar and be troubled But now to goe on and to lanch forth again into the next Mouths adventure And first to begin with the certain intelligence which about the beginning of this Moneth of May came to London by Letters from Plymouth that that traiterous Skellum and base Apostate Sir Richard Greenvile came within two miles of Plimouth to a place called S. Butolphs with some Forces of Horse and Foot whereof
the blood of the Protestants that was upon them And about the same time we were certainly enformed that the most gallant and active Governour of Gloucester Colonell Massey loosing no time to annoy the Enemie nor omitting any opportunity to advance and advantage the Kingdomes Cause intercepted a Letter going from Wales to Oxford the contents whereof signifying that if assistance came not all Wales would be utterly lost And he also having intelligence of some preparations for that designe on the Enemies side to be put in action by Colonell Mynne he instantly and resolutely fell upon Mynnes quarters took divers Prisoners and Horse and brake the necke of that designe And about the same time it pleased the Lord very graciously to defeat our Adversaries devillish designs in the discovering of a most treacherous plot for the betraying of Gloucester into the enemies hands which was acted and agitated by one Edward Stanford Esquire a knowne Papist who plotted with an honest and loyall-hearted Gentleman Captaine Backhouse a Captaine of Horse under Colonell Massey In whom this Papist conceived he had a deep interest by reason of former ancient and intimate acquaintance To whom this Stanford assured a reward of 5000 l. for effecting the Treason But Captaine Backhouse most loyally and politickly deceived the said Popish Traitor and by speciall assent and good liking of Colonell Massey exchanged divers Letters about the firme contriving and carrying on of the businesse and so brought the Popish Agent into such a Fooles or Knaves Paradise as that he received 200 l. in hand of the said moneyes from Stanford and held out the acting of the businesse at least 3 moneths in treaties about it and things so fell out in that interim that partly Captaine Backehouse seemed to be necessitated to put it off but principally themselves were not fitted for action therein So that in the upshot they found themselves wound into a dangerous noose had it gone on and so voluntarily themselves left it off All this being at large related in print by Captain Backhouse himselfe with the interchangeable letters that past betweene them wherein was a cleare and full discovery of the whole plot to the just shame of those blood-thirsty traitors and the most deserved honour of that most loyall and faithfull commander Captain Backhouse May the 10. the most renowned and ever to be highly honoured Citizens of London observing a long and tedious obstruction in the Parliament about the re-establishing of the State-Committee of both Kingdomes which in its former setlement had produced much good to the affaires of the Kingdome and finding that the City Malignants began in their common discourse to seem to have great hopes of an utter dissolution thereof and most justly much fearing the ill consequences that were likely to follow thereon and considering that the main rub and remora thereof was in the House of Peeres The religious resolute prudent and provident Citizens therefore petitioned First their owne City Common-Council and the Common-Councill in the name of the whole City lamenting the not farther continuing of this Committee for both Kingdomes petitioned the whole House of Peeres for a most happy and speedy concurrence with the House of Commons especially now when an unanimous correspondency betweene them even in this conjuncture of time might redound much to their honours and the singular good of the Kingdome it having in 3 moneths time almost ruined our adversaries in their deepest designes against us as affaires then stood To which petition the Lords returned a very respective answer with great thankes for their love and care for the publike good And upon the 15. of May following the two Sheriffs of London with severall of the Aldermen and Common-Councill being the representative body of the City of London presented to the House of Commons in Parliament an humble petition expressing to that honourable House their thankefullnesse for the great and undefatigable paines which the House had now for some yeares past taken in the service of the publike Telling them withall that they were very sensible of the great discouragements they had received by some late obstructions yet did humbly desire them to loose no time in setling the Committee of both kingdomes assuring them that the City was resolved to obey the orders and directions of the House of Commons and that with the House of Commons they would live and dye as by the petition it selfe it was more at large expressed The House of Commons hereupon by their Speaker instantly returned many thanks to the City for their continued affection to the publique and to that House in particular and because a Petition so full of affection and resolution for the good of the publique might appeare to posterity They ordered it to be entred in the Journall-Book of the Parliament and the answer thereunto which was framed in expressions so suitable to the Petition as that it was exceedingly for the honour of the City and for the terrour of the enemies of this great Cause who eagerly sought and were in great hope at this time to have divided the one from the other The substance of this answer was delivered by Master Speaker as aforesaid on the very day of the delivery of the said City Petition and upon the Saturday following their Petition having been delivered but the Thursday before being May the 18th it was by expresse Order of the House delivered in writing by divers members of the House at a Common Councill in Guild-Hall sitting there of purpose to recieve the same Yea and upon the 20th or 21 of May next ensuing the Lords sent to the House of Commons this so long desired Ordinance for setling the Committee of both kingdomes with the alteration only of one word in it and the addition of two words more than were in it before and thus this weighty matter so long in disputation and expectation was now comfortably composed and yeelded unto to the great content of the well-affected and to the adversaries of the Causes great vexation and discouragement But yet within a day or two after the House of Commons moved the House of Lords againe by way of a reply to former Propositions therein with solid reasons why they could not concur with the Lords to have an additionall number of 15. to mannage the State-affaires with secrecy which is the key of certainty this having been the great blocke and obstruction in this weighty businesse and matters of high concernment being best carryed on when the number is the least So that at last the Lord was pleased to direct the heart of the Peeres to a full and clear setlement of this great businesse according to the desire of the House of Commons and long longed expectation of all the Well-affected Party and to the heart vexation of Malignants who hoped for an unhappy intestine division hereby among our selves Much also about
parts of the Kingdome that the King about this time marching with his Forces into Devonshire and passing by Chard in Sommersetshire towards Honyton in Devonshire the way to Exetor A Regiment of the Kings horse commanded in chiefe by that upstart Lord and rotten Runagado Henry Piercy who desirous as it appeared to visite Lyme took up his quarters about Collyton a Town within 3 miles of Lyme and gave them an alarme which notwithstanding the Garrison at first slighting yet after a little pawse considering and perceiving the Enemies designe was onely in a bravado to give them a visit and so a vale to return back again to Collyton and renowned Lyme doubting whether it might not be taken a little unkindly if no regreet were given on so friendly a visit Lyme therefore to acquit themselves of that suspected guilt sodainly sent out young Captain Hercules Pine Capt. Herl Capt. Bragg and some others with a partee of about an 120 horse who ere the Enemies had well digested their Supper at Collyton sodainly fell in among them took as many horse of the Enemy as they carried out with them viz. between an 100 and sixscore besides 55 prisoners whereof one was a Major of that Regiment 2 or 3 Captains and some other Officers above an 100 Armes very good pillage found about those they took and brought them all safe into Lyme that whole Regiment by this notable exploit being totally routed and dispersed But yet this brave and most active Garrison rested not here but made another gallant adventure with the like partee of horse and came to Chard in Sommersetshire 12 miles from Lyme where the King being scarce got out of the Town with his main body they surprised 11 gallant Horses all with rich saddles and furniture conceived to be the Kings own Stable horses which they brought to Lyme with some prisoners of the Enemies partee And about the 30th and 31th of this instant Iuly we were certainly informed by yet more frequent letters out of the West that upon his Excellencies the most Noble Lord Generalls advance toward Plymouth the Forces which were then under that Apostate Greenvile being about 3000 were stricken with such a panick fear that they quitted their quarters there and raised themselves from their severall trenches and holds so as his Excellencies Forces immediately after possessed themselves of severall considerable Garrisons as namely Mount-Stamford where they tooke foâ—re pieces of Ordnance Plympton where they tooke 8 pieces of Ordnance Salt Ash and in it a great Fort with some pieces of Ordnance and many Armes Lanson also and divers other small Garrisons thereabout which all instantly yeilded to my Lord Generall That presently after my Lord Generall sent a party against Greenviles-house at Tavestock Plymouth men having also about this time taken the field and being in all between 2 and three thousand Horse and Foot whither they being come those within the House hung out a white flag and desired a parley but our brave Souldiers had no patience to stand upon termes and treaties but sodainly and resolutely stormed the House got over the walls and soone entred the House they within crying out for quarter which was granted to all except bloody Irish-Rogues There was taken in the House two pieces of Cannon an 150 prisoners very neer 1000 Armes a â—oomefull of excellent good Muskets many pair of pistols excellent pillage for the Souldiers even at least 3000 pound in money and plate and other provisions in great quantity From thence his Excellency advanced toward Lanceston and tooke it and in it 40 barrells of powder And that Skellum Greenvile being gotten to Newbridge which is a passage into Cornwall his Excellency sending a considerable party thither set upon Greenviles Forces where they found some hot opposition for a while but at last ours got the bridge and Town too with the losse of some 40 of our men but there were slaine on the Enemies side neere upon 200 and many prisoners on their side taken and that a party of the noble and right valiant Lord Roberts Brigade being sent to pursue Greenvile and his Army which was reported to be neer 3000 strong horse and foot over-took him and forced their passage over Horsbridge fell fiercely on him and routed most of his forces about a place called Listithell in Cornwall where many of his men were slain and a 150 taken prisoners and that now they had no considerable Enemy left them in Cornwall so as they might proceed according to their owne designes leaving the most noble Lord Roberts with a reasonable party in Cornwall totally to keepe it downe and to reduce that whole County by presenting a full body to the East Intimating likewise that now that had advanced toward Bodmin and that in their passage from Newbridge as aforesaid they had taken Tadcaster and Foy and that in all they had taken from the Enemy 17 or 18 pieces of Ordnance and many ships of good value in Foy which the Enemy quitted and yet it was a place of great consequence and a Haven-Towne in Cornwall And thus the West also as ye have heard is in a very faire way and hopefull condition as well as the North to be timely reduced to the obedience of the Parliament especially if the Kings forces now gathered into a body in those parts be well back't with a party of the Parliaments to come as a reserve upon his Rear which was about this time seriously recommended to the farther consideration and speedy dispatch of the Committee of both Kingdomes and also of the Westerne Committee and money and other necessary supplies to be sent speedily to his Excellency the most noble and renowned Lord Generall of the Parliaments Forces And thus now have we by Gods good providence and gracious guide and assistance brought our Bark back again most prosperously into the Haven or Harbour of this Moneths rest and repose also full fraught and richly laden with rare Commodities most worthy the serious reveiw rumination and recogitation of every pious and prudent Christian Reader Wherefore I shall here now cast Anchour and make a stay to rest and refresh this our weary and weather-beaten Bark to rig and trim it and fit it for another Voyage whensoever God gives a fair occasion thereunto In which interim let me here now unlade and lay open in a summary and short occular sight and review all the most rare rich and indeed unvaluable Parliamentary-prizes and Kingdome-commodities which God hath purchased for us in this last Moneths happy Voyage and honourable adventure As first in our most noble Lord Generalls first very successefull advance toward the Western parts of the Kingdome from Oxford to raise the Siege at Lyme Darbyshires activity Barnstables revolt from the King to the Parliament And the second brave defeat given to the Enemy at Oswestree by the most noble and renowned Lord Denbighs Forces In
of them labouring and tugging like so many Galley-slaves of Satan in vain which is their greatest miserie ever glorified and praised be the free grace of God therein as now wee shall most lively delineat and set forth by Gods gracious assistance in this our third Voyage through this vaste and various Ocean And having now I say by the good hand of Gods gracious providence made two former voyages through this our English-Ocean and twice safely and I hope successfully arrived at the desired Haven and brought my vessell thither fully and fairly fraught with such mercifull Merchandizes as I hope may help my Christian brethren to trade withall for the enriching of their hearts and soules with copious expressions of bounden gratitude and infinitely obliged thankfulness to our almighty Jehovah-jireh our most glorious and gracious Elohim God All-sufficient for the highest improvement of his all-deserving praise and glorie which indeed is and ought to be the pious Alpha and Omega the originall and ultimate ayme and end of his free and gracious Giving and of our so undeserved receiving of such and so rich rare and manifold mercies and deliverances from the hands and hatred of our so raging and roaring enemies Now I â—ay I am resolved by Gods guide and my Readers accustomed candor and experienced patience to set sayl again into this our English Main-Ocean and to enter upon a third voyage therein Onely beseeching thee good Reader to assist me with thy holy prayers that our good God will graciously breath upon our sayles and give us a prosperous gale which may carry us on comfortably to the end of this Voyage and reduce us safely to our desired Haven And now therefore plainly and pertinently to begin and goe on in this our intended Parliamentarie-History But heer before I proceed to the narration of the ensuing Parliamentarie-mercies which immediately succeeded the most happie and holy entring into the League or Covenant with God and our Brethren of Scotland and Ireland for the prosecution of a pure and perfect Reformation in all the three Kingdomes with which Covenant wee closed and shut up our former Continuation or Second Part of this our Parliamentarie-Chronicle Give me leave now good Reader in the first place to premise and set down a few very memorable mercies pretermitted by too much haste to finish the former Part at the importunitie of the Stationer in our said Second Continuation wherein I was I say by the Stationers over-much haste to publish that second part enforced to omit many memorable passages or if not to omit yet to misplace many between the Moneths of June July August and September then next following my orderly Conclusion of that second part being about the midst of June renowned Sir William Waller being then victorious in the Western parts of the kingdome with his faithfull and courageous Achates Sir Arthur Haslerig as you may see clearly about page 380 381 82 c. Give me leave now I say in the first place to make a fuller supply of the deficiencies of those foresaid Moneths with divers memorable passages there omitted but yet which fell out in order and came to my knowledge before some of those last mentioned Parliamentarie Mercies wherewith I say I concluded that Second Part and which now I thought fit heer to make mention of rather than to suffer them to be raked up in the ashes of oblivion which briefly are these that follow The happy and blessed Assembly of Divines being Convened at Westminster for the rectifying and setling of things amiss in the Church both touching Doctrine and Discipline as hath been mentioned in the former Narrations of this our Parliamentarie Chronicle pag. 352. It pleased the Lord immediately after the setling of their said Convocation or Assembly namely July the 19th 1643 to put into the hearts of our said venerable Assembly among many other sacred and serious matters to exhibite a Petition to both Houses of Parliament which Petition coming to my hands I thought fit to give the godly Reader a sight and sense of the sweet and fragrant sent thereof together with both the Houses comfortable answer thereunto the happie and holesome effects whereof have since that time dropped and distilled like so many honey-dewes upon our Church already and is like to be more and more by Gods gracious assistance and blessing on their pious endeavours manifested among us in Gods due time as in their proper places we shall have occasion to make mention of as in good measure we have had former opportunities hereunto Which Petition I say for the excellencie and singular sweetness thereof and for the high honour of God and the heart-reviving comfort of his children yea and for the just and eternall credit of the pious Petitioners themselves I have heer I say thought fit to insert which was as followeth To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons assembled in PARâ—IAMENT The humble Petition of divers Ministers of Christ in the Name of themselves and of divers others Humbly sheweth THat your Petitioners upon serious consideration and deep sense of Gods heavy wrath lying on us and hanging over our heads and the whole Nation and manifested particularly by the two laâ—e sad and unexpected defeates of our forces in the North and in the West doe apprehend it to be our dutie as Watchmen for the good of the Church and Kingdome to present to your religious and prudent Consideration these ensuing requests in the name of Jesus Christ your Lord and ours First That you would be pleased to command a publike and extraordinary day of humiliation this weeke throughout the Cities of London Westminster the Suburbs of both and places adjacent within the weekly bills of mortalitie that every one may bitterly bewaile his own sinnes and â—ny mightily to God for Christs sake to remove his wrath and to heal the Land with professed and renewed resolutions of more full performance of the late Covenant for the amendment of our wayes Secondly That you would vouchsafe instantly to tale into your more than ordinary serious Consideration how you may most speedily set up Christ more gloriously in all his Ordinances within this Kingdome and reform all things amiss throughout the Land wherein God is more immediately dishonoured Among which wee humbly lay before you these particulars First That the brutish ignorance and palpable darkness possessing the greatest part of the people in all places of the Kingdome wherby they are utterly unfit to wait upon God in any holy datie to the great disgrace of the Gospel and the everlasting endangering of their poore soules may be remedied by a speedy strict charge to all Ministers constantly to Catechize all the youth and ignorant people they being cammanded to be subject to it and all sorts to be present at it and information to be given of all persons who shall withstand or neglect it That the grievous and hainous pollution of the
loss by the absence of their Apprentices they will take care that reasonable satisfaction shall be made unto them out of the publick stock of the Kingdome according to justice and indifferency H. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. An Order of Parliament That all Trunks and Carriages that come out of the Citie be searched at the Courts of Guards c. Die Sabbathi Septemb. 23. 1643. IT is this day ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That all Trunks and other Carriages that come out of the Citie to pass the Courts of Guards shall not pass till they be searched by such men as the Committee for the Militia shall depute or by the Courts of Guards And that my Lord Major be desired to give order that no Flâ—x Brimstone or Saltpeter or other things that tend to the making of provisions for warre be permitted to pass these ten dayes either by water or by land unless it be by warrant under the hand of Mr Speaker and that such goods shall be good prizes as shall be so seized And it is left to the Committee for the Militia to reward those that shall so seiz the same out of the said goods and the persons that shall so send any of the said goods as aforesaid shall be secured and tryed by a Councell of warre And this Order is to be printed and published and to be sent to the severall Courts of Guards by the Committee for the Militia Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. An Order of Parliament That a Collection be made in all Parish-Churches and Chappels throughout London Westminster for sick and maimed Souldiers c. Die Sabbathi Septemb. 23. 1643. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament That on Wednesday next being the day appointed for publick humiliation there shall be a Collection made in all the Parish-Churches in and about the Citie of London and Westminster that are mentioned in the bill of Mortalitie as also in the severall Chappels within the said limits by the Church-Wardens and other Officers of the said Parishes and Chappels for and toward the relief of sick and maimed Souldiers And the moneys by them so collected they are not to detain upon any pretence whatsoever but to make payment thereof at Tallow-Chandlers-Hall neer Dowgate on Fryday next being the 29th of this instant Septemb. 1643. unto Mr William Greenhill Mr John Pocock Mr John Randall and Mr Richard Hutchinson or any two of them Citizens of London appointed to be Treasurers for the receiving and paying of moneys to sick and maimed Souldiers And it is heerby likewise ordered That the Ministers of the said severall Parishes and Chappels shall earnestly perswade the people freely to give and contribute to this so pious charitable and honourable a work in this time of great extremity there being many maimed men heer already and more expected from the Armie for the recovery and cure of whom there is great reason to provide they having so freely and cheerfully hazzarded their lives for the preservation of all our lives and liberties and the true Protestant Religion Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. Ordered by the Commons in Parliament That this Ordinance and Order be forthwith printed and published Hen. Elsynge Cler. P. D. Com. And heer also I may not omit justly to enumerate and commemorate the great blessing of the 29th day of this September 1643. as a singular Parliamentarie-mercie and speciall blessing of the Lord our good God both to the most famous and renowned Citie of London in speciall and indeed to the whole Kingdome of England in generall namely the happie continuance of the successfull godly and gracious government of the said most famous Citie by the comfortable and desired choice of that most worthy virtuous and pious patriot and Senator of the said Citie Sir John Wollaston to succeed for the ensuing year in the honourable Majoraltie thereof who was chosen thereunto with a most full fair and unanimous consent and suffrage of the heartie votes and voices of all the numerous company of grave and well-affected Citizens then assembled thereunto in the Guild-Hall of London A rare mercy indeed considering the times for I make no question nay I am most confidently assured out of that intimate and ancient experience which I my-self have most happily had of his singular piety and ingenuity of spirit and sweetness of naturall endowments and approved cordiall affection and constant adherence to the cause of God in the Parliaments proceedings that he will with no less deserved honour and reputation by Gods gracious assistance manage the â—elme of government and steer the Stern of the Ship of the Cities great Ocean and motion of serious and important affaires than his former famous Predecessour did And that also which sweetens this mercie and makes it so much the more remarkably eminent is that his honourable choice also as his pious Predecessours was a happie and holy fruit and return of prayer it being on the very next day after our monethly day of publick humilitation when the Lord had been in particular sought unto for this blessing And for the confirmation in part of what I have thus fairly and faithfully attested of him It pleased the Lord very shortly after his inauguration into his honourable Majoraltie ere he was as the Proverb is hardly warm in the seat of authoritie as aforesaid now to put him even already upon an honourable tryall of his love loyalty to the great cause in present question and agitation and as he was now an eminent Cedar of our Lebanon and but new-now planted on the top of the Cities mountain and so obnoxious to many and mightie blustering blasts of tryall and probation So I say it pleased the Lord to administer an occasion to shew and set forth his loyaltie and fidelitie and that God had enabled him and would so still like a strong well-grown well-grounded Oake to stand fast and most immovable to oppose withstand and break the force of the either violent blasts of malignitie or slie and insinuating breathings of treachery wherewith he now I say was already assaulted from Oxford thus About the first of November then succeeding a Messenger was sent from Oxford with no less than four Proclamations to be delivered to the Lord Major of London all of most pernicious and dangerous consequence and by him and his authoritie to be published and proclamed in the Kings name throughout the Citie of London The first to alter the generall Monethly Wednesday-fast contrary to an act established by King and Parliament and strange and uncouth reasons given for the cause of the alteration thereof one reason being in regard of the horrid and damnable Cessation of armes in Ireland O monsirum infandum informe ingens c. The second Proclamation was to make all money coined in Ireland currant in England The third to command all Counties in the Kingdome to accept such new high Sheriffs as
both Kingdomes of England and Scotland and there were sundry excellent speeches made there and then to the Citizens to set forth the great importance of their speedy assistance in this particular and how acceptable a work it would be to the Lord not onely to enter into a holy League or Covenant for reformation of the evills in Church and State but also to seal it with some benevolent and chearfull act of Contribution though but by way of loan to set forward the work that thus both hand and heart might goe together in the work and wee with holy David might manifest that wee would not offer a sacrifice to our God of that which cost us nought To which motion then most efficaciously made there All then present with very much chearfulness and alacrity declared their forwardness and willing assent to the utmost of their ability as was desired and at the same time and afterward also at the taking of the said Covenant in all the Parish-Churches in and about London great numbers subscribed for very considerable summes to be raised accordingly with all convenient and possible expedition And now good Reader thou mayst be pleased to remember that wee lately left the atheisticall Earl of Newcastle and his Popish Armie besieging the strong and important Town of Hull most bravely defended as I mentioned before by the most renowned and victorious Lord Fairfax the most noble and faithfull Governour thereof Now therefore to return to it again I shall heer acquaint thee that about the 14th of this instant October 1643. came certain intelligence to London from thence both by severall relations and also by Letters of a most memorable and brave bickering between the besiegers and the besieged wherein the Lord was pleased to crown the most noble Lord Fairfax with a very glorious and famous victory over those his Popish adversaries and thereby to raise that insolent Siege of this proud Atheist against Hull put the said new Marquess forsooth for honours at Oxford are t is too well known so cheap that they are most easily bought and sold for any base and treacherous designe against the Parliament and Kingdome of Newcastle to new troubles and driving him quite out of his little patience and probitie and making thereby his wit as well as his honestie run a wool-gathering and indeed plunging him into inextricable perplexities as was most remarkably evident in this most memorable and brave Defeat given to him and his Popish forces before Hull where he lay in Siege as you have already heard For now Winter being come on and he desirous to make Hull his most strong and advantageous Winter-quarter and safe retyring and retreating place on all disasterous occasions he now resolved to set stifâ—y and stoutly upon the work and with his utmost powers to endeavour to procure it but was now forced to make a new reckoning for thus reckoning without his hoste The description of which noble and renowned skirmish and brave bickering for the more full and clearer setting forth of the truth thereof I have heer thought fit to give the Reader a sight of the Copie of that renowned Commander Sir John Meldrums own letter even verbatim as he himself being a principall actor in the whole business writ and sent it to the Speaker of the Parliament onely I shall heer or there interlace some few materiall circumstances extracted out of the most noble Lord Fairfaxes Letter sent also about the same time to the said Mr. Speaker of the Parliament which was as followeth For my honourable Friend William Lentall Esquire Speaker of the Commons House of Parliament SIR I Shall not weary you much with the relation of some happie successes God hath blessed us withall since my arrivall at Hull knowing that many pens will be set awork whereby neither the truth in the narration nor the favour and mercy of God can be fairly and fully revealed There having been a supply sent into Hull Octob. 5th 1643. of about 400 Souldiers from the Earl of Manchester and about 250 from Sir William Constable Upon munday the 9th of the said October the Reginalists or Popish forces under the Earl of Newcastles command about break of day did with a great deal of courage being commanded by Denton Stricland and one Little a Countryman of mine who commanded in chief fell upon one of our Outworkes called the Ragged-jetty a place of great importance for the safe riding of our Shipping before the Town but by the resolution of two English Commanders and a Countryman of mine cousen-germane to Sir William Cunningham and the courage of the Gunners and Souldiers they were upon view of an hundred Musqueteers which followed mee from the Mount beaten out of the work and driven to a most shamefull retreat leaving the bodies of their Commanders dead upon the place many of their Souldiers killed and wounded Whereupon on the said 9th of October my Lord Generall called a Councell of warre where it was resolved for us to issue forth and to beat them out of their next workes approaching to ours The order was to fall out in two distinct bodies of five hundred Musqueteers apiece commanded under my charge by two Colonells Lambert and Rainsborow who with Major Forbess and Major Wren carried themselves very bravely in the business and thus the Lord Generall having placed three troopes of horse to keep off the enemies horse which were quickly drawn into a bodie from annoying our foot marching along about nine of the clock that morning toward the enemies line of approach on every side the enemy abandoning one work after another untill wee had made our selves masters of their Ordnance But as the Sun in its greatest brightness is subject to Eclipses so it fell out with us at this time for the forwardness and violence of our souldiers was abated by about an hundred pikes of the enemie who charging the Van of our foot scatter'd and drave us back again even so as that they regained their Ordnance and enforced us all to a shamefâ—ll retreat neither my self nor the other Commanders being able to stop any one man no if the Kingdome it self had been at the stake In this retreat Colonell Rainsborow was as I conceive either taken prisoner or killed dead and so fallen into some ditch for he could not be found but his mans dead body was found Upon my Lord Generalls order to shut the gates and upon the sense of their own miscarriage a body of our foot was drawn up again which falling again with as much animositie and heat of courage as formerly they had retreated did drive them again out of their workes recovered again all the Ordnance lost and gained beside a half-Cannon and a Demiculverin of brass which wee had not possessed in the first charge even one of their â—orreigne great brazen-staves which now through Gods mercy hath proved a Staff of Reed unto them Upon this change of the Scene of affaires the Marquess
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
before were a nominating fit persons to be presented to his Majestie to be entrusted with the places of strength within the Kingdome But for further observations upon this Commission and the probability of the truth thereof for works in tenebris must come to light by circumstances be pleased to read the Booke entituled The Mystery of Iniquitie where this Commission is at large set down and you will finde Endymion Porter had the great Seal of Scotland in his custody when the Commission to begin the Rebellion in Ireland was sealed as he had the great Seal of England in custody when the Commission to make a Cessation with those bloudy Rebells called by his Majestie Subjects was sealed But see now as was touched before how the most wise God graciously ordered the effects of all these most wicked plots to fall out exceeding contrary to the wicked hopes and aymes of the Jesuiticall incendiaries and Atheisticall projectors of them turning their counsell into folly and blasting these their high or rather hellish hopes even at the first springing and sprouting of them into execution witness I say that forementioned example thereof in the Irish Souldiers transported out of Ireland to Bristoll yea and that of one Arundell Master of Pendennis-Castle in the West who as it was credibly informed by Letters to London discharged two pieces of Ordnance against two ships fraughted with Irish-Rebells notwithstanding that they produced the Kings Warrant for their landing there and that he also sent a Poste to Oxford to know his Majesties pleasure signifying withall that if they landed the Gentrie of all those parts would forsake the King Witness also that remarkable piece of State-policie and providence whereunto our most prudent Parliamentary Worthies were now at last inevitably necessitated to have recourse by this most odious Cessation and divers other such like destructive designes of the Oxonian adversaries of the Kingdome I mean the establishment and setting on foot a New-broad Seal of England to be resident in the Parliament a piece of great and high concernment for the better advancing and forwarding of the future great and waightie affaires of the Kingdome A Copie of which Declaration and Ordinance of Parliament I have heer thought fit for the Readers better content and satisfaction to insert verbatim as it was printed and published by order of Parliament Novemb. 11. 1643. A Declaration and Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT Touching the Great Seal of England WHereas the Great Seal of England which by the Laws of this Realm ought to attend the Parliament being the Supreme Court of Justice and Judicature within this Realm for the dispatch of the great and weighty affaires of the Common-wealth which is especially interessed and concerned therein was above a yeer last past that is to say the two and twentieth day of May An. 1642. by the then Lord-Keeper thereof Edward Lord Littleton then a Member and Speaker of the House of Peers in Parliament contrary to the great trust in him reposed and duty of his place secretly and perfidiously conveyed away from the Parliament into the Kings Army raised against the Parliament the said Lord-Keeper departing therewith into the said Army without the leave or privity of the said House By means whereof great mischiefs and inconveniences have ensued to this Kingdom and the Kingdom of Ireland And whereas the said Great Seal ought constantly to remain in the hands and custody of one or more Officer or Officers sworn for that service and to be used and imployed for the weal and safety of His Majesties People which notwithstanding hath been divers times sithence the conveying away thereof as aforesaid put into the hands of other persons not sworn and Popishly and dangerously affected who have had the disposing and managing thereof at their own wills and pleasures and hath been trayterously and perniciously abused to the ruine and destruction of the Parliament and Kingdom by granting and issuing out divers illegall Commissions of Array and â—other unlawfull Commissions for raising of Forces against the Parliament by issuing out of most foul and scandalous Papers under the Name and Title of Proclamations against both Houses of Parliament and divers Members thereof and others adhering to them and proclaming them Traytors and Rebells Commissions of Oyer and Terminer to proceed against divers of them as Traytors and other Commissions to seize and confiscate their Estates for no other cause but for doing their duties and services to the Common-wealth as likewise by granting that horrid Commission for executing of that most bloudy and detestable designe of Waller Tomkins and others for the destruction of the Parliament and Citie of London and of the Army raised for their just defence and as if Massacres and Assasinations had been but light and veniall crimes another Commission hath been granted under the same Seale for a Cessation of Armes with the barbarous and bloudy Rebels in Ireland after the effusion of so much innocent bloud and slaughter of above one hundred thousand Protestants Men Women and Children by their mercilesse and bloudy hands whereupon a Cessation of Armes is accordingly concluded and those brutish Rebels thereby imboldned to prepare themselves not onely for a totall Extirpation of the Protestants remaining there but for a Conquest also of this Kingdome And further by granting of severall Commissions and Offices of Trust and Command to notorious Papists who by the Laws and Statutes of this Râ—alm are made uncapable thereof and by conferring of Honours and Dignities and granting of Lands and Estates to divers exorbitant Delinquents who stand legally impeached of high Treason and other high Crimes and misdemeanours in Parliament All which and many other unlawfull and enormous Acts have passed under the said Great Seale since the removall thereof from the Parliament as aforesaid Which the Lords and Commons taking into their consideration and finding all wayes and means obstructed for the procuring of any redresse from his Majestie in the Premisses notwithstanding their long hopes and uncessant Labours for the obtaining thereof are bound in duty and of necessitie to provide some speedy Remedy for these insupportable mischiefes BE it therefore Declared and Ordained by the said Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament that as well all and every the said acts formerly mentioned which have passed under the said Great Seal as also all Letters Patents and Grants of any Lands Goods or Estates of any person or persons whatsoever for adhering to the Parliament all Compositions or Grants of any Wardships or Leases of any Wards Lands Liveries Primer seizins Ouster le maines since the said 22. of May 1642. which have not according to the due course of Law passed through the Court of Wards and Liveries established by Law All grants since the said 22. of May 1642. of any Honours Dignities Mannors Lands Hereditaments or other thing whatsoever to any person or persons which have voluntarily contributed or shall voluntarily contribute
improvement wee can make of this our voyage for the honour of our good God in briefly observing and admiring the menacing molestations and shrewd brushes and disturbances which the advers waves and boysterous billowes rocks and sands of most wicked and ungodly proud presumptuous enemies of this Ark labouring to overtop or overturn it yet now by the Lords almightie and irresistible power and sweet protection all those proud waves were broken the rocks removed and the devouring sands securely evaded Both in the good hand of God first Uniting and associating the Counties of Hampshire Sussex Surrey and Kent and ordaining renowned Sir William Waller Commander in chief over them Secondly In the Parliaments pious care and providence for the welfare of forein English Plantations Thirdly In causing a considerable number of English-Irish-Protestant Souldiers transported out of Ireland and landed at Bristoll to fight against the Parliament to revolt from the Kings designes by them and really and readily to turn to the Parliaments-side against the Parliaments enemies Fourthly In that brave defeat given by the Parliaments forces in Shropshire and Cheshire to that proud and unsuccessfull upstart Lord Capell Fifthly In the most successfull pious and renowned Earl of Manchesters spoyling and bereaving of that pernicious Town of Newark of their provision the taking of Bullingbrook-Castle the declining and perishing condition of proud and Popish Newcastles armie and the notable defection of the Gentrie of â—orkshire and other Northern-Counties from the Kings partie Sixthly In the admirable contrary effects which the wisdome of the Lord our God caused the accursed Cessation of armes in Ireland to bring forth which mainly appeared in the Parliaments perfecting and producing their former long intended new Broad-Seal of England and the hopefully happie effects thereof Seventhly In renowned Sir William Wallers brave prize taken about Newbery The most excellent effects which the loss of Stamford-Mount at Plymouth produced And renowned Colonell Rigbies famous victorie at Thurland Eighthly The brave atchievements and victorious performances of the little Town yet greatly renowned Garrison at Pool in Dorsetshire Ninthly The happie re-establishment of the renowned Earl of Warwick in the place of Lord high Admirall of England for the singular securitie and safety of the Kingdome as well by sea as by land Tenthly The brave exploits of the valiant Governour and Garrison of Warwick Castle Eleventhly The most successfull proceedings and brave atchievements of those two renowned Colonells and Commanders Sir William Brereton and Sir Thomas Midleton Twelfthly and lastly the most prudent and provident Ordinance of Parliament granting out Letters of Mart by Sea for the better hindrance of the accursed designes of our Oxonian adversaries in the rebellious and most bloudy Kingdome of Ireland And now tell mee good Reader dost thou not see plainly by all these premised passages and apparent prints of Gods providence The Lord sitting as a most prudent and propitious Pilot at the Stern of his Ark and graciously and gloriously carrying it on safely and securely through the midst of all these molesting and raging waves of wicked men and all their most desperate and devillish designes against it whereby wee may and must most justly and ingenuously acknowledge with the sweet Psalmograph the holy Prophet David Thou O Lord art our safe and secure hiding-place Thou alone dost preserve us from troubles Thou dost encompasse us with songs of deliverance But to proceed The first thing wherewith I shall begin this Moneth of December shall be that happie and blessed business to this Kingdome of fully confirming and setting on foot the new Great Seal of England But before I come to the present relation of what was more fully setled and confirmed therein Give me leave good Reader to acquaint thee with what formerly past about it in Parliament namely That about the midst of October last when as the Commons debating on the speedie putting it in execution they considered a collection of certain Acts then read setting forth the power and use of the great Seal of England and reviewed their former votes touching the absence of the other great Seal at Oxford the substance of which former votes having relation to what was then farther agreed upon I have thought fit heer to insert Resolved on the Question 1. That the great Seal of England ought to attend the Parliament 2. That the absence of it hath been a cause of great mischiefes to the Common-wealth 3. That a remedie ought to be provided for those mischiefes 4. That the proper way is by making a New great Seal And they then proceeded to some farther votes touching the same which were to this effect Resolved on the Question That the great Seal at Oxford be disanull'd and what ever act or thing hath passed under it since it was carried away from the Parliament to be voyd and of none effect and that an Ordinance of Parliament be forthwith drawn up to that purpose By which Vote those late thundring Proclamations against the Parliament and well-affected Subjects of the Kingdome and the many new honours conferred on c. and many others at Oxford for their good service in withholding his Majestie from his Parliament and fostering this unnaturall rebellion against the Parliament Kingdome thereby occasioning the death of many thousands of his Majesties good and loyall subjects will fall flat to the ground Also resolved on the Question That Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament be forthwith appointed viz. Three of the House of Peeres and six of the House of Commons if the Lords so think fit to have the trust of the new great Seal which is to reside with the Parliament for the use of the Parliament and Kingdome And lastly resolved on the Question That the House of Peeres be forthwith desired to nominate such members of their House to joyn with a proportionable number of the Commons House as Commissioners for the said New great Seal and that all businesses proper to the Seal be dispatched by them or by order of both Houses All which was accordingly ratified not long after as was manifested in the Ordinance of Parliament for the great Seal forementioned After which long and serious agitation consultation and debates in both Houses of Parliament a Declaration from both Houses now fully resolved on and the Lord Ruthen Earl of Kent being with full approbation of both Houses chosen and made a Commissioner thereof in stead of the Earl of Rutland first chosen who upon some scruples of conscience objected by him was acquitted of that service and the Ordinance of Parliament accordingly altered The new great Seal was now I say delivered to the Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament for the putting thereof into due execution viz. To the Earl of Kent and the Earl of Bullingbrook for the House of Peers Mr Saint John Sollicitor Generall Mr Serjeant Wilde Mr Prideaux and Mr
as you have that such choice men as they are may not continue long unredeemed God give a sodain stop to this issue of English bloud which is the desire of your faithfull friend to serve you Winton 16 Decemb. 1643. Ralph Hopton And one thing more as a very observable passage of Gods providence heerin I cannot omit namely That the knowledge of this victory as wee were credibly enformed came to Oxford just upon the very same day on which they were making Bonfires at Oxford for joy of the death of that ever most worthily honoured and most pious and prudent Patriot one of the most famous never to be forgotten Atlasses of this Church and State I mean learned and religious Mr John Pim which relation of their loss at Alton could not but be as it were a strong showre of rain to quench the prophane flames of their wicked fiery jollity at our loss of so precious and choice an instrument of so much good as God had made him to the Cause and Kingdome But now to proceed About the middle of this instant December the Duke of Gloucester and the Ladie Princess Elizabeth the two pledges of the Crown of England Scotland Ireland royally kept and maintained by the Parliament at St Jameses were by a private Oxonian plot designed with the close help of some malignant and dis-affected persons about them to be conveyed away to Oxford but Letters being intercepted they were presently the better secured and all ill-disposed servants about them ordered to be removed and good Ministers placed in the roomes of bad ones and to preach monethly by turnes at St Jameses reverend and godly Mr Stephen Marshall and Mr Obadiah Sedgewick being appointed two of them for this service And about Decemb. 20th 1643. the trained bands which had been sent out of London and Westminster to Sir William Wallers army viz. the Red-Regiment under the command of Colonell Sir James Harrington of Westminster The Green Regiment of Auxiliaries under the command of Colonell Whitchcot and the Yellow Regiment of Auxiliaries all which had been upon divers hazardous desperate services and adventures since their going forth and especially at the siege of Basing-House and this last brave defeat at Alton now returned home by the good hand of God to whom be all the honour and praise thereof victoriously to London with about 400 prisoners which they others of Sir William Wallers forces had taken at Alton the Wednesday before as hath been already declared namely 37 Commanders and Officers and 330 common Souldiers together with divers servants and attendants belonging to some of the chief Commanders And as thus they came triumphantly home they were met by the most worthy Lievtenant of the Tower of London Alderman Pennington by Colonell Manwaring Colonell Zacharie together with a brave company of the Hamletts belonging to the Tower and the Citie Marshalls and divers other most gallant Citizens who accompanied them into the Citie that afternoone As for their prisoners they were safely guarded through London to the Royall-Exchange and from thence conveyed and dispersed by direction of the Committee of the Citie for the Militia into severall places of Strength in about London viz. Leaden-hall Bridewell Newgate Eli-house London-house and divers other prisons where they were safely kept in durance till they could be disposed of by way of Exchange or otherwise Much also about this time both Houses of Parliament taking into consideration that the well-government of the City of London did chiefly depend on the faithfulness integrity of their Common-Councell-men and such like Officers of the Citie they passed an Ordinance for the disabling of all those to be Common-Councell-men or to bear any other office of Church-warden Constable c. who shall or doe refuse to take the solemn-League or Covenant appointed to be taken throughout all the three Kingdomes and the like course to be observed concerning those whose estates are sequestred for their delinquencie malignancie against the Parliament who were also to be debarred from bearing any Office or having any vote in any such offices or places as aforesaid A singular good course indeed for the happie conservation of the peace and welfare of the well-affected partie in the Citie and the better putting in due execution of the Orders and Constitutions of the Parliament and Citie as occasions are offered About the 20th of this instant came certain newes by Letters to London that valiant Colonell Sydenham having taken Warham in Dorsetshire as hath been forementioned and fortified it He went with about an hundreth men to Dorchester where he apprehended Capt. William Churchhill Deputie-Governour of that Town his Lievtenant Paty both which had been very active against the Parliament and had compelled that Town and County to yeeld obedience to the Kings Cormorants And there this brave Commander Col. Sydenham brake open the prison and freed such honest men out of it as had been committed by those cruell Cormorants for refusing their illegall commands and took them with him for their further safety There also he met with a Cart laden with Muskets and gunpowder which came from Weymouth and was bound for Bristoll the gunpowder he threw into the river brake 200 Muskets and carried away 80 of them his men not being able to carry any more He also borrowed there of one Mr Cokar a malignant Goldsmith such plate as he had and all this he did in an houre half and returned safe to his garrison at Warham And a little before this action he went into the Isle of Purbeck and carried away from thence 323 cattle of all sorts This is that valiant and faithfull Gentleman that saved the Town of Pool from the Earle of Crafords intended treacherie against it Much also about the foresaid time came credible intelligence by letters to London from Canterbury in Kent that about the 13th or 14th of Decemb. the Ordinance of Parliament for demolishing idolatrous and superstitious images pictures and monuments was there put in execution And the first place which was set upon in Canterbury-Minster was the famous window in that Cathedrall wherein among many other Popish pictures was Austine the Monks picture who first brought Poporie not true Christianity as they vapour and brag from Rome into England and this Austine forsooth was the first Bishop of Canterbury therefore was very fitly first puld down Next they went to the Quire-door over which were placed 13 images or statues of stone 12 of them personating the 12 Apostles and the 13th in the middle of them our Saviour Christ these were all hewn-down and 12 more images of Popish Saints over them which were also headlong thrown down and like so many Dagons had their necks broke in the fall yea and hands and bodies too Many other they also brake down in this Cathedrall and many Crucifixes yea blasphemous pictures of God the Father
and the holy Ghost being there found were zealously confounded and turned as they deserved into base rubbish And as the work went on the wife of one Dr Blessenden a Prebend of that Church came in very devoutly and cryed out Oh hold your hands I pray what hurt do these images spoyl not such a fair and beautifull Church and when shee saw a man strike at the image of Christ lying in a manger shee screekt out as was credibly enformed to her Popish husband who thereupon came into the Cathedrall and according to accursed custome no doubt began to plead for Baal those Popish images telling them that were there of the lawfulness of them from the Cherubims in the Temple But whiles he was must seriously and sottishly disputing thus with some godly Ministers then present to assist the Commissioners he grew very sick of this dispute and was fain to give way to the work which went on most fervently After his departure they fell upon 7 large images of the Virgin Mary pictured in the window over the steps going into the Quire all which were in severall as glorious shapes as paint and Art could make them with Angells lifting her up to heaven with these inscriptions Gaude Maria Sponsa Dei c. And under her feet were placed the Sun Moon Starres and in the bottome of that window this inscription In laudem honorem beatissimae Virginis c. And heer now there came in a Petty-Canon and shot off his pety-canon or his fools bolt told them they exceeded their Commission but they soon sent him away with a flea in his ear and a mote in his eye much vext and perplext to see his Demi-gods Semi-Saints so coursly handled After this they came to a most gorgeous and idolatrous image of Thomas Becket forsooth that arch-traytor to the King which they also instantly defaced and demolisht and so went on most zealously and religiously in ruinating and turning into rubbish all those monuments of idolatrie in that Cathedrall blessed be the Lord for it December also the 20th 1643. came certain intelligence by letters from Hull to London that those two right valiant and magnanimous Commanders Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir John Meldrum about noone time of the day assisted by some men by water sent unto them by the most noble Lord Fairfax from Hull sodainly and successfully stormed the Town of Gainesborough in Lincolnshire took therein 500 armes store of other ammunition together with 260 prisoners common-Souldiers besides the Lord Caworth Col. Saint-George the then Governour of the said Town also Lievtenant Colonell Royalston Major Hern and Major Chappell 16 Captains 2 Lievtenants 2 Ensignes and other inferiour Officers Another brave gale of winde indeed besides that of Alton lately mentioned to fill the sailes of our floating-Ark and make it sail on the more chearfully through the boysterous billowes of the Kingdoms intestine broyles praised for ever be the Lord of hosts for it And heer good Reader give mee leave to tell thee and to desire thee to take serious note and observation of it That ever since that accursed Cessation in Ireland with those most barbarous and inhumanely bloudy Rogues and Rebells and the Kings so tender respect unto them as to terme them his Catholick Subjects and contrariwise the Parliament but a pretended Parliament and them and all their loyall adherents traytors and rebells the righteous God of Heaven hath never prospered any design of moment which his Majestie or his accursed Cormorants have taken in hand but still they have been most unsuccessful and put to the worst every way and every where For besides the many marveilous forementioned victories which God hath most graciously given to the Parliaments partie ever since that so odious unreasonable cessation which have been in their proper places before related Now also about the 20th or 22th of this instant came certain information by Letters and other indubitable intelligence from Northampton to London that pious and valiant Serjeant Major Skippon with a partie of the most renowned Citizens of London who for their admirable valour fidelity and constancy to the Common-wealth and for the maintenance of the true Religion preservation of the known Lawes indeed and liberties of this Kingdome especially now in these modern times when the Kingdome has most need of them are no whit inferiour to the most famous ancient conquering Romanâ—s being and returning successfull and victorious where soever they be together with a partie of the valiant victorious Northampton forces also had most courageously stormed Grafton-House a place of great strength and consequence being also the Queenes own jâ—yuter and after much hard service and many most furious assaults made upon it they having also sent a partie at the same time to face Tociter that so they might prevent all relief from coming to Grafton at last most victoriously obtained the same and took prisoners therein Col. Sir John Digbie a rank noted and most active Papist and brother to that arch-traytor and incendiarie George Lord Digbie Col. Sir Edward Longervile and 5 Colonells more above 300 common-souldiers 600 armes 6 piece of Ordnance 80 brave horse besides many brave sadle-horse together with many other rich things of great worth and estimation which were all left for plunder to the valiant Souldiers and which they had and divided among themselves most merrily This brave victory together with that at Alton could not choose but be a singular encouragement to our other London trained-bands and auxiliaries who now about the 23th of this instant December were designed by an Ordinance of Parliament enabling the Militia of London thereunto to send forth such regiments of horse and foot as they should think fit for the farther relief and supply of Sir William Waller and about this time they did accordingly send forth the White and Yellow Regiments of the â—ained hands auxiliaries in the roome of those who had lately returned home as you heard before By which Ordinance of Parliament the City Militia had also power given them to recall the same forces at their pleasure and to proceed against such as refused to goe out according to their votes and the Ordinance of the Militia either by fine or imprisonment as seemed fit to them And that the brave and undaunted spirited Citizen and successfull Commander Colonell Richard Brown was by the said Ordinance appointed to be Serjeant Major Generall of the said Citie-forces And much about this time there fell out another remarkable passage much to his Majesties dishonour since his still persisting in his unnaturall disaffection to his loyall Subjects and iâ—religious affection to the Irish-Rogues and Rebells viz. That the Marquess of Newcastle plotted and contrived by one Colonell Dacre to have corrupted and undermined the valiant and most loyall governour of Nottingham-Castle Colonell Hutchinson to betray the said Castle and Town into the
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
last delivered up to Sir William Waller and all within the Castle left to his mâ—rcie wherein he took prisoners Sir William Ford high Sheriff of Sussex who formerly brake out of Windsor-Castle and had sent a Letter to his Majestie offering to bring him a thousand men and to undertake the conquest of the whole County of Sussex although it be sixty miles in length but before he had gone twelve miles thereof he was caught again for want of a running horse There was also then taken Sir Edward Bishop Colo. Bamfield Lievtenrnt Colonell Roles Major Massey Major Moulines and divers other Gentlemen of qualitie of Sussex There were also taken above fifty Reformadoes that had all Commissions to raise Companies 1200 prisoners and their armes divers Engineers about 4000li. in money great store of other rich prize and pillage And heer now if wee reckon up these our late victories together and the number of prisoners taken wee shall easily see they will amount to at lest a little armie As namely first at Alton 900 at Gainesborough 700 at Grafton 300 at Sir Tho. Holts-House neer an 100 almost as many at Bewly-House by Sir William Constable and Sir John Meldrum in a House in Yorkshire from which Sir Hugh Cholmley ran away at least an 100 and heer now at Arundell-Castle above a 1000 besides what had then lately been taken by Pool Southamptons garrisons which in all may arise to at least 3300 horse and foot besides all the ammunition and armes In most just and serious consideration whereof have wee not great cause to magnifie the mercies of our good God unto us in thus still weakning the armies of our adversaries and strengthning our hands against them And yet again to adde to the lustre of this foresaid famous victory very shortly after the taking of the foresaid Castle it pleased the Lord so to order and dispose of things that Sir Will. Waller seized on a very rich prize by Sea namely a Dunkirk-Ship of a great burthen which had been chased by the Hollanders as was then credibly enformed and was forced into the harbour at Arundell and that not till wee had taken the Castle which Sir William himself went aboard of and found in her about 20 excellent brass pieces of Ordnance an 100 barrells of powder 2000 armes great store of other ammunition divers Commanders and other persons of qualitie together with a great quantitie of linnen cloth as considerable in value as the other prizes which could not but be a singular advantage to Sir William for the present better securing and defence of Arundell-Castle And about the 8th or 10th of this instant came certain information from Leverpool in Lancashire to London that a Ship of the Kings which he had sent from Bristoll to Chester with good store of armes and ammunition most unexpectedly but very happily opportunely came into Leverpool to serve the Parliament the Sailers therein having compelled their Master to put in there which armes and ammunition came very seasonably to help to arme recrute Colonell Ashtons regiment which a little before had received some loss in their valiant performances against the enemies of their Country And about the 12th of this instant moneth of January 1643. the famous and ever to be renowned Citie of London being very sensible of the great care and indefatigable pains of the Parliament in and for the defence and preservation of Religion the whole Kingdome and liberties thereof from that slavery and misery which the Prelaticall and Popish faction would bring upon them and also of their singular vigilancy and great providence and circumspection to discover all plots and secret designes against the Citie and Parliament to divide the one from the other and so to destroy both together and to shew that they are the more inseparably conjoyned and firmly united the one to the other notwithstanding all the joynt endeavours and sly insinuations of the adversaries and in speciall of that late mischievous Machination by Colonell Read that base Irish-Rebell Sir Basil Brook and the rest of that accursed rable as was forementioned The City I say was therefore pleased in the name of the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councell their representative-Body by both the Sheriffs some selected Common-Councell-men to make an humble request to the Parliament by way of testimony of their gratitude for the great endeavours as aforesaid of the Parliament for the good of the whole Kingdome to invite them all therefore even of both the Houses to a dinner at Merchant-Taylors-Hall in London on Tuesday or Thursday then next ensuing whether day might best stand most convenient with the great affaires of the Kingdome Expressing farther to both Houses that they desired that that late designe to have divided the Parliament Citie might appeare by this loving action of theirs more firmly to have united them to one another Which motion of theirs was most acceptable to the Parliament as appeared by the answer given them by the Speaker in the name of the House of Commons which in substance was this That the House of Commons had considered the loving expressions delivered by them at the barre in the name of the whole Citie of London manifesting their great esteem of the endeavours of the Parliament and their sense of the late designe of the enemie against both the Parliament and the Citie by such a division to involve both of them into one universall calamity declaring their resolution to continue in a faithfull compliance with the Parliaments good endeavours and to live and die with them in the maintenance of the publick Cause having now also desired them as a testimony of this and to deceive the expectation of their enemies that they would honour them with their presence at a dinner in the City The Speaker therefore told them he was commanded by the House to take notice of the good affection of this great City therein and that the House looked on the invitation as a seasonable demonstration of their love to them and their resolved loyaltie to the Cause and that therefore they were resolved on Thursday then next ensuing to give them a meeting according to the Cities desire And said he that both they and you may lay hold on this opportunity joyntly to acknowledg the continued blessing of God in prospering this Parliament and the City from the secret practises and malicious open designes of their enemies and particularly in this lewd and last discovery they desired that on the foresaid Thursday morning at their intended meeting about eight of the clock there might be in such a place as the City should think fit to make choice of an able godly Minister intreated to preach a Sermon for the commemoration among the rest of Gods manifold mercies of this late and not the least deliverance both of the Parliament and City and indeed therein of the whole Kingdome And
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
became Master of the whole East-riding of Yorkeshire The Kings Oxonian Councellors or rather Conventiclers and devouring Cormorants having had a deepe designe by that late conquered and quelled bloody Byron forementioned namely with his so great a strength which was also to be augmented in Cheshire by very many Irish-rebells to be then shortly landed at Milford Haven and thus I say with a very strong army of those Irish-Rebells Welsh Papists and viperons Malignants to have put a stop to the Scots army in the North but I say Byron was conquered by that most brave defeat as you have already heard given him at the raising of the siege at Namptwich by those two famous Commanders Sir Thomas Fairfax and Sir William Brereton Prince Robber also with all the forces he could collect and make up was to meete them at their randevouz in the said County-Palatine of Chester About twelve ships fraught with Irish Rebells were to have beene landed at Milford Haven but most valiant and couragious Capt. Swanley having by Gods good providence put into the said haven was first possest thereof before they came thither and when they came most bravely beat them all off againe from landing there only a part of 2. regiments landed afterward at Bewmorice for whose safe conduct a regiment of horse was sent from Prince Plunderer who went in person toward Chester with what forces could be spared to helpe to maintaine the foresaid designe and there he sent out a most base and bloody warrant up and down that County to summon all that were able to come in unto them to joyne with him in that wicked design and for those that refused this was to be their punishment viz. To looke for no mercy but speedily to expect fire and sword Whereby he compelled many for feare to march with him into Shropshire but that brave magnanimous and active Commander Colonel Mitton timely understanding thereof fell upon some of their quarters and after a short skrimish without any considerable losse to himselfe routed a whole regiment of them tooke about 60. horse two of Sr. Rich. Fleetwoods sons Commanders in that regiment and other officers 50. foot-souldiers prisoners an 100. armes And thus partly and especially by those two noble Commanders Sir Tho. Fairfax and Sir William Brereton partly by Capt. Swanley and partly also by this defeat of brave Colonell Mitton this their great and wicked designe was by Gods great mercy quite broken in pieces and came to nought And thus also was this poore County-Palatine of Chester upon which the kings eye was more fastned to fixe and augment strong forces there for the greater advancement of this and his other great designes than on any one County in the kingdome Witnesse his first sending thither that Cow-stealer the unsuccessefull atheisticall Lord Capell who was soone beaten thence Then Serjeant Major Willis surprized by Colonell Mitton Then the bloody Lord Byron beaten as aforesaid And after all these pilfering Prince Robber himselfe 〈◊〉 as you have heard by the said most valiant Colonell Mitton Thus was this County at last brought into a more quiet and stable condition ever praised and blessed be the Lord our good God for it About the 16. of this instant Feb. 1643. there was a conference between both the Houses of Parliament which was managed by the noble and truely pious Earl of Manchester the effect whereof was this That whereas there were divers inconveniences and great disturbances begun to be brewing and already raised and likely to grow much greater if not timely prevented in the City of London by reason of many unhappy differences of opinions in matters of Religion by Anabaptists Antinomians and such like the honourable Peeres did therefore desire that both Houses would joyn together in sending to the Assembly of Divines to expedite their care in setling of Church-Government with as much speed as conveniently might be and in the mean time an Order was drawn up to be sent to the Lord Major of London which was also read in the Churches Wherein it was desired that speciall care might be taken that none did Preach in any Church but such as the Minister or the Pastor thereof â—hall answer for their Doctrines delivered if justly questioned of which therefore all Ministers especially were to be very carefull A course marvelous fit to be put in execution least if such Tares take root it might cost more care and toyle to pluck them up and root them out and thereby also endanger the pulling up of the good corn which by a timely prevention might be easily remedied and better Ordered About the 18. of this instant came certain Intelligence by Letters from Northampton to London that a partee of Horse was lately before sent out from thence upon a design within three miles of Banbury where they had Intelligence that Captain Farmer son to Sir Hutton Farmer a great Royalist was quartered with his Troopes who comming suddenly into the same Town they took the said Captaine and above 40. horse divers Commanders Officers and common souldiers with some Armes and brought them all safely into Northampton Thus our hopes of prosperous successe through Gods assistance doe still encrease there having scarcely one day past about this time of the yeare for above a moneth together wherein we have not had comfortable tydings and certaine relation of good service done by the Parliaments forces at Northampton Warwicke-Castle and other parts Let God have all the glory even the Lord of hosts who onely is the giver of all victories About the 20th of this instant came certaine intelligence by letters from Hull That the noble and ever to be honoured and loved Lord Fairfax with a sufficient party issued out of Hull upon the enemies quarters routed 3. Regiments of their horse tooke 300. of them in the fight above an 170 prisoners slew 50 on the ground and took divers Captaines and Commanders And that the most notorious Prince of Robbers or as now the King hath made him the Duke of Cumberland or Plunderland call him what you please having got together among all his great and rich pillage and plunder and sent about 3000. l. in gold and silver toward Waymouth intending as was conceived to passe it away by Sea into his own Country but the brave Garrison of Poole I call it a Garrison but may indeed call and count it an Army for its Valour and Vigilancy it having equalled if not transcended some of our great bodies this last winter in Martiall exploits having had private Intelligence thereof watched them narrowly and at a fit oportunity fell upon the convoy thereof neer unto Dorchester surprised them and all their Horse Armes and Ammunition and bravely took from them the said 3000. l. in gold and silver and carryed all away with them to Pool a brave and suddain unexpected accommodation to Valiant Captain Bingham to be imployed for the
defence of the Parliament against the common adversaries thereof and held it very fit that the said Bookes containing four parts should be translated into the Latin and French tongues that so they might be read of all the reformed Divines and States-men in Europe This passage I have here most deservedly added as a Parliamentary-Mercy of the Lord in thus raising this faithfull and heroick-hearted Patriot from his once being as it were buryed alive in the grave of a most unjust and barbarous forreigne Perpetuall Banishment thus to vindicate the most honourable reputation of our most renowned English Parliaments About the 18. of this instant out most pious prudent and provident Parliamentary Statists taking into serious and deliberate consideration the good affection which the Swedes beare to this Kingdome which they have severall waies expressed to this our present Parliament they therefore held it very fit that faire correspondencie should be continued betwixt them and us and thereupon agreed on an Ordinance with the consent of the Committees of both Kingdoms to send with their Agents to the Sweeds to declare their reciprocall amity and mutuall affection to them As likewise into Zeland and other the united Provinces who had likewise declared their good affection to the proceedings of the Parliament have endevoured to prevent the bringing over of Armes and Ammunition into this Kingdome to be imployed against them And about the 19 of this instant came certaine intelligence to the Parliament by Letters from the most noble renowned L. Fairfax that most famous faithfull and never sufficiently honoured pious Patriot of his Countrey intimating the admirable good successe wherewith it pleased the Lord God of Hosts to Crowne him since he and his most magnanimious and virtuous Sonne Sir Thomas Fairfax joyned their Forces together and especially touching that famous and admirable Victory which they obtained at Selby in Yorkeshire For the Readers better satisfaction wherein and the fairer cleerer Demonstration of the very truth wherof I have here thought fit to give thee the Copy of the said Letter verbatim as it was by Order and Authority of Parliament Printed and published Which was as followeth A Letter sent from the Right Honourable the Lord Fairfax to the Committee of both Kingdomes concerning the great Victory lately obtained by Gods blessing at Selby in Yorkeshire My Lords ACcording to the Orders sent to mee and my Sonne from your Lordships we have now joyned our Forces together and though the Enemy held all the passages from the East-riding to the West and by that meanes intercepted divers of our Letters and thereby became acquainted with our appointments and so endeavoured to prevent them which forced me to decline Selby and make a passage over the River tenne miles below it in Marshland where my Men and Carriages being passed with some difficulty on Sonday and Monday last I instantly marched with the whole Army consisting of two thousand Horse and Dragoones and two thousand Foot or thereabouts to Ferry-Bridge and so to Selby where Colonell Iohn Bellasyss commanding in chiefe in Yorkeshire then lay with an Army of fifteene hundred Horse and 1800 Foot as themselves confest though reports made it much more numerous Vpon Wednesday our Forlorn-hope of Horse beat in a partee of the Enemies Horse and followed them into the Towne taking divers of them prisoners and the day being farre spent I quartered the Army within a mile of Selby that night and drew them out againe early the next morning and then with the Foot in three Divisions one led up by my selfe a second by Sir Iohn Meldrum and a third by Lieutenant Colonell Needham fell upon the Towne to storm it in three places altogether where the Enemy received us with much courage and made strong resistance for two houres or thereabouts but in conclusion my owne Foot Regiment forced a passage by the River side and my Sonne with his Regiment of Horse rushed into the Town where he was encountred by Colonell Bellasyss and the Enemies Horse but they being beaten backe and M. Bellasyss himselfe wounded and taken prisoner and our Foot entred on al sides the Town the Enemy was wholly routed and as many as could saved themselves by flight some towards Cawood some towards Pontefract and the rest towards Yorke over the River by a bridge of Boates laid by themselves We pursued them every way and tooke in the Towne and chase the prisoners Ordnance Armes Ammunitions and Colours mentioned in the List inclosed Of my owne men I lost in the fight divers gallant Commanders and Souldiers and very many sore wounded And indeed all my Army both Commanders and Common souldiers behaved themselves with as much courage as ever I observed in men All which we must acknowledge to God alone who both infuseth courage and gives Victory where he pleaseth I shall now I hope be able to raise more Forces in the Countrey and improve this Victory that God hath bestowed on us to the best advantage This being all for the present untill further occasion I rest Your Lordships most affectionate and humble Servant Fer. Fairfax Selby 12 April 1644. A List of the Officers taken Prisoners the 11. of April 1644 Colonell Iohn Bellasyse Colonell Sir Iohn Ramsden Colonel Sir Thomas Strickland Lieutenant Colonell Tyndall Lieutenant Colonell Forbes Major Heskit 8 Commanders of Horse 14 Captaines of Foot 4 Lieutenants of Horse 20 Lieutenants of Foot 6 Cornets 11 Ensignes 9 Quartermasters Elias Walker Master of the Magazine Richard Ludlow Provost Marshall And divers Serjeants Trumpets Corporals Drums and others Officers Divers slaine and lay strewed in the way to Yorke for four miles together others that fled to Pomfract were pursued as far as Ferry-Bridg Foure Brasse Pieces of Ordnance Seven Barrels of Powder Sixteen Bundles of Match Two thousand Armes or above Many Horse and Foot Colours taken but as yet sixteene or seventeen come in And sixteene hundred common Souldiers Above five hundred Horse The Pinnance taken at Gainsbrough All their Bag and Baggage and many Ships and Boats upon the River And foure hundred more prisoners were taken at Homcough neere Selby and some commanders among them And was not here good Reader the Arke of God mightily elevated and borne up maugre all the malignity of this terrible Storme of wrath and rage in the enemy above all the swelling waves and boysteâ—ovs billowes of the enemies fiercest fury Did not the Lord ride gloriously in triumph on the Chariot of his innocent and upright Ark and curb the pride of these proud swelling surges and cause his blessed Arke I say safely to float above them all Yes certainly it must needs be confest even by our adversaries themselves who to their shame sorrow felt and found it so Now then the L. Fairfax presently after the fight and victory obtained as aforesaid sent a letter to the Parliament and therein desired to be directed by them how to dispose of the
made immediately for a speedy supplying of the said noble Earle with Carriages and all other military necessaries About the 25. of this instant came letters to the Parliament from Sir Will. Wallers army intimating that this ever to be renowned generous Generall having intelligence that a considerable convoy of the enemies was going with much Cattell and other necessary provisions for the further supply of their garrison at Basing-house he sent out a convenient party of his horse who suddenly encountred them seized on their cattell and carriage tooke of the enemy neere the said garrison one master Gunner 3 Serjeants 3 Corporalls 40 common souldiers a 1000 sheep and other fat cattell together with a considerable summe of money which they had gathered in the adjacent Counties to have helped to pay their garrison And about the 26. of this instant came letters out of the North assuring the Parliament that the most noble Lord Fairfax and his famous faithfull and thrice noble son Sir Thomas Fairfax were conjoyned with our loyall brethren of Scotland and that having a very brave army they had drawne their forces on each side the river of Ouze neer unto Yorke and had closely begirt the said City whereby they not onely stopt the passage of any persons from comming to the Earle of Newcastle by water but by land also having made good all the bridges and were in great hope in Gods good time and by the Lords gracious assistance to be victorious masters of the said City About the 28. also of this instant came letters from Northamptonshire informing us that a party of some 30 foot men with firelocks were sent out from Serjeant Major Whetham Governour of Northampton to collect money in that County neer Banbury they had onely a Clerke of a company with them who commanded that party which about Easter-day 1644. lay at Sir Iohn Draytons house at Cannons-Ashby 6 miles from Banbury But a party of the enemies about 200 and 20 horse with them from Banbury-castle having intelligence of their being abroad there marched into the Town which our Forces having notice of got quickly into the Church for their better-safety and defence whether the enemy pursued them and soone got in by fastning a pettard to the Church door which instantly forced it open whereupon our men got into the Steeple which they bravely maintained 2 houres together but at last the Enemy beginning to fire it they yeilded themselves upon composition and were all carried prisoners to Banbury save onely one whom being sorely wounded they left behinde who since got back again to Northampton and there declared these things as aforesaid Our men in this action killed one of theirs with a stone from the Steeple and wounded 2 or 3 others but the Enemy got all their Muskets and about 7 pounds in money and imprisoned all the Souldiers in a Barn in Banbury The next day the Committee and Governour of Northampton hearing hereof sent for an exchange of these prisoners which being refused Major Lidcot who commanded the horse in Northampton it was that same Lidcot that gave the Earl of Northampton a touch on the forehead that knockt him off from his horse at the fight neer Stafford where and when the said Earl was slain This brave Major I say being much displeased at their refusall of the said exchange presently after led forth about 5 or 6 Troops of Horse with 50 fire-locks to Banbury who being undauntedly led into the Town on foot most fiercely entred the same bravely set al our foresaid prisoners at Liberty out of the Barn and then most furiously marched into the very body of the Town where a partee of the Enemy opposed them but ours most bravely beat them into the Castle took 33 of them prisoners whereof 2 were Ensigns and 2 Corporalls released 10 men more whom the Enemy had pressed and intended to send to Oxford for his Majesties service slew 5 or 6 of the Enemies in the fight and took besides 40 horse as many Muskets and so returned back unto Northampton with the losse onely of one man who adventured too far and was taken prisoner Thus were they well revenged on their Enemies for their former losse having sodainly and souldier-like put themselves thus upon such a desperate and most dangerous adventure And much about the conclusion of this Moneth of April 1644. we were certified by Letters out of Scotland that our faithfull and loving brethren of that Nation were not a little encouraged at the prudent and pious progresse of our Assembly of Divines in England at Westminster they having sent Letters to some Members of the said Assembly and to their own Divines to the same effâ—ct intimating therein That England could give them no greater content and incouragement to gain their best assistance and love than this their willingnesse in joyning themselves with them in the Solemn Covenant thereby to set up a thorough Reformation in all their Churches according to the Word of God And together with those Letters they sent likewise a letter sent by the Juncto at Oxford to the Noble Earl of Argyle and other Lords of the Councill of Scotland which were much to this effect in briefe First therein manifesting their impious explanation of the Act of Association of both kingdomes which as they said with Iesuiticall Spirits was consented to by the Lords Subscribers thereunto and others that were prisoners with them at Oxford as though the Act of Association had not been made with the joynt consent of his Majesty and the Parliament of both Kingdomes but between a private Juncto and some aspiring Papists stupid Atheists Parasiticall Iesuite Priests and damnable Irish Rebels then at Oxford Withall they further averred That the Lords in Parliament at Westminster were not then above 25 and that the major part of the Commons were then with them at Oxford that there were nothing but tumults in London and unruly Voting which was the cause that they themselves had deserted that pretended Parliament as then they audaciously and maliciously called and counted it and what said they in this Letter Will ye my Lords get but a knock with a pollax or a Sequestration-lash But all this was but the Preface to this their learned Epistle Their subject matter follows in such modest straines as these We do conjure you my Lords by your common allegiance and subjection to the King by the amity and affection betwixt the two Nations by the Treaty of Pacification and by all Obligations both Divine and Humane to use your utmost endeavours to prevent the effusion of so much blood as must needs follow the invasion of this Kingdome this you must consider was before our Scottish brethrens comming in unto us by your intended Armies preparing for the pretended Parliament at Westminster Thus you see good Readers that our impious Oxonians seem to be very sensible and tender of the effusion of blood which
the same time came certaine intelligence by letters from Colonell Massey of more singular good successe which God had then given unto him against his neighbour enemies especially against that great Papist Sir John Winter the Queenes Secretary whom together with the most barbarous and bloody Irish-Rebells his so pious Mistresse imployed to settle the Protestant Religion I shall forbeare for brevities-sake to give an exact and particular relation how this most renowned Colonell by a brave martiall stratagem laid a train of powder and a granado at the end of it which did good execution to the purpose on the enemies the succinct number of the prisoners and the place where they were taken were as followeth Prisoners taken at Newnam which was Sir Iohn Winters head-quarter 3 Captaines 3 Lieutenants 4 Ensignes 12 Serjeants 4 Corporalls 4 Drums one Cannoneer one Engineer one provost Marshall 1 Chaplaine of the army 4 double barrells of powder 60 skaines of Match one Fawknet 3 Hambrough guns 4 Pieces of Ordnance 130 Common-souldiers besides good store of Armes Taken also at Westbury the same day which in the relation was about May the 7. the whole garrison with officers and souldiers one Capt. one Lieut. one Ensigne besides other officers 60 souldiers besides 9 slain 2 barrells of powder and 12 skaines of match At Litle-Deane also the day before slaine Lieut. Colonell Congrave the Governour thereof Captaine Wigmoore 70 others also slain there and at that time and 15 prisoners taken And thus have you briefely seene how that ever most worthily to be ever honoured and valiant Commander Col. Massey made notable advantages of that provision which was so lately before sent unto him And how to give this brave Commander his due praise or how to crown his browes with sufficiently flourishing green Laurells I confesse I am not able my expressions being indeed too low to set forth so high deserts and the present generation is so envious that if I could and should give him but so much right as I conceive him most worthy of and should not say as much of the rest they would I fear storme against me though I desire to exclude or extenuate no mans worth nor would disparage any in commending active Massey I will onely therefore say thus much in briefe and that most truely Many garrisons have done bravely but Massey at Gloucester hath exceeded them all And truly that brave Commander Colon Mitton of Wem garrison may challenge a second place in our highest and lowdest praises and expressions and why not renowned Lime garrison the third place which hath also done bravely to deep admiration as hath beene already and shall be yet more fully set forth in it's proper place All all the rest I say have done singularly well to Gods glory and their honour be it spoken As Captain Ludlow at Warder-castle Col. Norton Colon. Sydenham and the rest at Pool who have done as much as no man could expect more yea Warwicke garrison Alesbury and Northampton and the rest who have all done most heroickly and honourably and if they have come short of any others I hope they have meant as well as the best but peradventure had not the like opportunities thereto But to proceed About the 12. of this instant came credible information out of the Westerne parts from the garrison of Lyme that revived Prince Maurice not this ghost though he be ghost-like in reguard of his infirmity stormed the Town of Lyme a third time and was now also beaten off with great losse above 80 of his men being slain in one ditch and 60 in another and the rest of his army pursued even to their own workes and that Lyme garrison brought off 2 Pieces of the enemies ordnance within the command of their works though the enemy slew many of the poore Country-men to compell them to fight to have saved the 2 pieces of ordnance but all in vain And now upon Monday the 13. of this instant his Excellency the Parliaments Lord Generall of all their Forces advanced toward Oxford his Carriages went the day before and he in person followed the next day early in the morning which was Tuesday the 14th upon which day at Black-Fryers in London was a day of humiliation kept in the behalfe of the Western affaires at Saint Brides a Day of Thankesgiving for the Victory at Lincoln together with prayers and Solemn Supplications for the good successe of the Noble Earl of Manchesters Army and ere his Excellency left London he earnestly desired that a day might be set a part to seek the Lord for him and his brave Army which was accordingly performed in a most high and solemn manner by the Lord Mayor Aldermen Shriffes and Common-Councill of the City of London at Christs Church on Fryday the 17th of May A thing which had not been done before in all the time of these unhappy wars since they first began and therefore we have the greater ground of hope of a happy issue and good successe and that God will in mercy be found of those that seeke him first and which desire to go forth in his name and in his strength alone And about the 16th of this instant May we were certainly enformed at London that the Counties of Devon and Cornwall began to be sensible of and displeased at the concourse of the Irish comming into those parts declaring that rather than they would beare with it any longer they would with an unanimous consent as one man rise against them and expell them out of their Countries and thus we may hope that the kingdome will at length be beaten into a condition of having their eyes of understanding opened to see and believe those truths of their hastning danger which they before so long withstood to their late and long just misery and that now at length they will come back although it be by weeping-crosse which they might have avoyded had they not either through envy or ignorance fought against those who with the hazard of their lives have thus long preserved the Kingdome and untill this unhappy difference and inhumane discord and bloody war was plotted and managed by Romish-Iesuits and most ambitious and proud-Prelates no story can make report of so much basenesse of the English Nation especially after so much illumination as to take up armes against their owne Parliament chosen by themselves and which hath been in all ages the preservation of the subject But to proceed Whereas the Malignant-Spirits and most malicious adversaries of our Kingdome are continually working and contriving how to ruine themselves and the whole Church and State and had for this end by their active agents in Scotland the Marquesse Huntley the Lord Montrosse Craford Musgrave and others attempted an intestine insurrection in the Kingdome of Scotland about Aberdene the most malignant Towne in all that Kingdome hoping thereby by way of a divertive warre to bring off
caused Proclamation to be made in his Army and in the Countrie about as followeth ROBERT Earle of Essex c. Captaine-Generall of the Army imployed for the Defence of the Protestant Religion King Parliament and Kingdome WHereas these Countries have beene very much afflicted and oppressed by the Euemy and we are now come to relieve them of their hard bondage It is therefore my expresse will and pleasure and I doe hereby straitly charge and command all Officers and Souldiers of Horse Foot and Dragoones belonging to the Army under my Command that they and every of them doe forthwith after Proclamation hereof made forbeare notwithstanding any pretence whatsoever to plunder or spoile any of the goods of the inhabitants of these Countries or to offer any violence or other prejudice unto them upon paine of death without mercy Given under my hand and Seale May the 26. 1644. Essex Say now then malicious Malignants was not this a better and more just Proclamation than that which came to the poore Inhabitants of those parts round about from Oxford Commanding all their Corne and Victuall upon paine of Fire and Sword And was it not thinke you better accepted of the said people than that Oxonian Edict that in all those Countreys all his Majesties Souldiers should have free Quarter for Horse and Man So that the Inhabitants were eaten up by such oppression and perforce made Slaves and Bondmen to the base lusts and wills of all the Dam-me cursed crew whose insolencies were hereby incredible and the relation of them very fearefull and grievous to modest and tender-hearted Christians About the 27th of this instant there were Letters drawne up such was the prudence providence of our ever to be honoured and renowned Parliamentary Statists to conserve and corroborate the blessed union amity between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland to be sent to the Parliament in Scotland from both the Houses of Parliament in England expressing the obligation they stood bound in to the Kingdome of Scotland the high esteeme they have of their brotherly love for their assistance to this Nation desiring also that they may be united as well in Councills as in Forces And returning them hearty thankes for their care of the Army in Ireland for which they sent them word they had provided 30000 l. and also had sent downe 20000 l. to their Army now with us in England requesting them to accept their endeavours though their abilities answered not their desires Much also about the same time came credible Information by Letters out of Gloucestershire that that most valiant vigilant and couragious Commander Colonell Massey had taken Beverton Castle in Gloucestershire about 12 miles from Gloucester and within a mile from Tedbury which was surrendred to him on no other Conditions but onely for quarter for their lives Wherein hee tooke 60 Prisoners with all their Ordnance Armes and Ammunition And with the same successe he tooke the old Towne of Malmesbury wherein were 300 men and two Sonnes of the Earle of Barkeshire and 28 Officers 400 Armes 7 or 8 Pieces of Ordnance besides Powder Match and other Ammunition and provision The Governour of the Towne Colonell Howard being at the first summoned to deliver up the Town for the use of the King and Parliament Assembled at Westminster returned an answer That he would keep it for the use of the King and Parliament Assembled at Oxford but upon this Answer Col. Massey fell close to the work and after 13 houres hot fight he as aforesaid forced the Governour to make a recantation of his errour and to cry for mercy for his folly And from thence he presently marched into Wiltshire and possessed himself of the Garrison of Chippenham the Souldiers therein having onely Quarter for their lives And thus we see how admirably successefull the Lord of Hosts hath made this Loyall and most active Commander in all his Valiant and Magnanimous undertakings Whereupon shortly after The two Honourable Houses of Parliament taking into consideration the good service of this famous and Renowned Colonell and that in pursuance of his foresaid good successe he was marched on with about 2000. men to the Devizes thereby to open a passage for the bringing in of cloth to London out of the West country An Order was forthwith agreed on for speedy supplying him with money and other necessaries And another Ordinance of Parliament was also resolved on for the rewarding of this Noble Colonell for his so great and good service done to the Kingdome and that his never-dying honour might not too long be unrecompensed therefore to confirme and settle a 1000. l. a year of Sir John Winters estate an arch Papist in armes against the Parliament and one of the Queenes great favourites on him and his heires for ever A singular and most highly commendable act greatly redounding to their own just praise and to the encouragement of the rest of the valiant and active Souldiers and commanders of the Parliaments Forces and Garrisons About the 30th of this instant May it pleased the Lord to let us the happy inhabitants O that our Malignants also could see their happinesse therein of the most famous and ever to be renowned City of London see and know that he had a purpose to doe us good and to raise us now out of our late low estate and thereby to give us still more and more just cause to magnifie and omnifie his great name in blessedly advancing all meanes and wayes for the good of his despised and distressed Church and Children and to spread the banner of the Lord Jesus Christ triumphantly in the field against his too too long over-prided and insulting â—oes For about this time notwithstanding that by Gods admirable mercy and good providence we had now already in the field 6 or 7 very considerable armies as first That of our most noble and renowned Lord Generall his Excellency the Earle of Essex in the Westerne parts of the Kingdome Secondly that of our most loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland Thirdly that of the ever most worthily honoured Lord Fairfax and his most renowned Son Sir Thomas Fairfax Fourthly that of the no lesse renowned truly noble and to be ever honoured Earl of Manchester all these three last mentioned armies in the Northern parts of the Kingdome about Yorke Fifthly that of the magnanimous and most courageous Sir William Waller in the West also Sixthly that of the most noble and active Earle of Denbigh about Staffordshire and those parts Besides that brave commanders forces in Lancastershire I mean valiant Sir Iohn Meldrum and other lesser forces in divers other parts and places of the Kingdome That notwithstanding all these and many if not most of all these in great measure raised out of the most famous City of London yet I say about this time to the glory of our wonder-working God be it spoken the honour of the said great City the
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
singing of Psalmes A blessed badge and cognizance indeed to be thus distinguisht from their impious Enemies which makes mee to think on that in the Gospell That when the Souldiers who were sent to apprehend our blessed Saviour and hee asking them whom they sought And they answered Jesus of Nazareth And Christ replying I am hee They sayes the Text fell down backward at those words stricken with terrour and amazement And so I say ô the power of godlinesse what reverence and terrour too it strikes into the hearts of profaine and irreligious Wretches Tenthly That before the Battell began as I have it from credible information Prince Rupert that bloody Plunderer would forsooth to seem religious just like a jugling Machivilian have a Sermon preached before him and his army his Chaplain took his Text out of Josuah 22. 22. The words were these The Lord God of gods the Lord God of gods he knoweth and Israel he shall know if it â—e in rebellion 〈…〉 us not this day Now how evident a demonstration from 〈◊〉 was heregiven by the successe of that dayes 〈…〉 enough one would have thought to have 〈◊〉 the most perverse Malignant In so much that God did so 〈…〉 himselfe in deciding the controversie by denying victory and successe to those who being in a false and bloody way had yet implored the Almighty to prosper them according to the justnesse of their Cause Eleventhly and lastly That this so glorious famous and full victory was by our good and mercifull LORD God bestowed upon us as an undoubted return of Prayer wee having but the very Weeke before been pressing the Throne of Grace on ouâ— Monethly Fast-day and publike Humiliation and prayer to the Lord even for this mercy a victory of Yorke â—â—at Yorke and the Lord heard us and granted us the desire of our Soules therein together with the lives and welfare of all our three most noble and renowned Generalls Praised and for ever magnified be the Lord our God for it Upon the immediate next Lords-day succeeding this famous victory all the three renowned Generalls with their whole Armies according to their pious and 〈◊〉 appointment celebrated a Solemn-day of most deserved and obliged Thanksgiving to the Lord and by their messengers to the Parliament who brought the intimation of this great victory desired that a Solemn-day all over the whole Kindome might be also appointed by their Authority and that they might have convenient knowledge thereof that so they likewise might again keep it with the rest of the Kingdome which accordingly was forthwith aâ—â—eâ—ted to by the Parliament and an order presently after printed and published a Copy whereof I have hereunto annexed Die Lunae 8. Julii 1644. IT is this day ordered by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament that Thursday come a seven-night being the eighteenth of this instant July shall be 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 far a day of publique Thankesgiving to be rendred vnto Almighty God for his great blessing and full victory 〈◊〉 Prince Ruperts Army in Yorkeshire to be kept in London and Westminster and all 〈◊〉 parts of the Kingdome Hen. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Coâ— And very shortly after a Committee of the House of Commons was appointed for providing necessary supplies for the Northern-Armies and it was also ordered by the Parliament that the Committee of both Kingdomes should forth with send a letter of thankes to the Earl of Manchester Generall Lesley and the Lord Fairfax for their great courage valour and fidelity expressed against Prince Rupert at the said great fight And yet for all these clear and reall demonstrations of this so absolute and 〈◊〉 a victory give me leave to tell the Reader that it may stand as another everlasting stain upon the Enemies of Truth and Honesty and as an indelible badge of their Atheisme and unheard of 〈◊〉 impiety thus even to mocke God with thanks for what they never received That just as they impudently also did at Keynton or Edgehill victory so now they made bonefires and caused the Bells to be rung in many places in their power and quarters yea and though that very night when they were so beaten out of the Field and so many of them ran into Yorke yet so intolerably impudent were they as so indeed are all Couzening Cormorants Malignants as to make Bonefires and cause ringing of Bells in the City of Yorke for their great victory obtained by Prince Robber that Prince of blood and lyes reporting openly in the streets that Generall Lesley was taken prisoner the Lord Fairfax slain and 14000 prisoners taken but that the Prince was so carefull of the welfare of the City that hee would not bring them thither for feare of oppressing that place with them yea and the next morning early when he fled thence betimes he told them he must abroad to catch more of the stragling Round-heads and would carry all his prisoners and ordnance taken to the King for else he said the Round-heads in the South would not believe he had got the victory O intolerable blasphemy thus to goe about grossely belying their owne consciences to abuse if possibly both God and Man Yea at Newcastle and at Newarke also and especially at Oxford they made great Bonefires with other triumphs by squibs and wilde-fire at Banbury also and Litchfield Exeter Bristol and all other places I say where the accursed Cormorants domineer'd Yea our sottish bewitched Moleâ—y'd Malignants of London also were â—o led along with a spirit of lying like their father the Devill that they mightily boasted of this Robbers vain victory over us the rouring of our whole three Armies the death and imprisonment of all our three most renowned and precious Generalls And thus I say have we seen the festivity of the Royalists 〈◊〉 Wit or the mad rage of the Malignant-Spirits notwithstanding that God gave such an eminent and notorious cheek to their impudence as Venerable Master Vineâ— said in his Sermon of Thankesgiving for this victory In that upon fictious confidence of successe they must needs as you have heard Antedate their Bells and Bonefires Whereas within a few houres there was nothing of the Enemies left in that field but Bag and Baggage Ammunition Ordnance Prisoners and Dead-Karkasses which had indeed 〈◊〉 more if that noble and most renowned Commander Sir Thomas Fairfax who is the honour of the fields he treads upon had not as he rode up and down taken up that sweet Word which Caesar once in such a case used Parcite civibus Spare the poore deluded Countrymâ—n O spare them I pray who are misled and know not what they 〈◊〉 A most excellent and pious Spirit and Speech and most beâ—itting such a valiant and virtuous Commander And thus I say blessed be our God that we see and know their vanity folly and madnesse having nothing to brag of but their own lying inventions For as we have aboundantly heard to
Gods glory and our great comfort as witty and worthy Britanicus well noted his Majestie made Bonefires in the morning and our three foresaid noble Generalls quenched them and put them all out again before night And though now I have done with this brave Battell and famous Victory yet give me leave Good Reader to add this one note for a conclusion which I had from very credible and good information viz. That our Malignants choice Champion and stout Souldier Prince Robber as valiant and courageous as they would have the world hould him to be yet I say this great Kill-â—owe besides the losse of his dainty Dog found dead among the rest of the slain lost also his brave Beaver in the field or flight for found it was and himselfe as divers affirmed lay hid in a Bean-field as was toucht before after a litle service done in the field untill it was dark and then got away into Yorke And in the same place where the Marq. of Newcastles Commission was found there was also found a Letter signed with Charls Rex to it saluting the Marquesse of Newcastle by the name of Right Trusty and most entirely beloved Couzen and Councellor by which we may observe that he was most entirely beloved that put Armies into Papists hands to cut the troats of Protestâ—nts signifying by that Letter That his Lordship should take care that the Lord Viscount Rochford should have all his Rents paid unto him for that he was reconciled to his Majesty If then his Majesty spake truth the Lord of Rochford deserved much blame who was thereupon accused by the House of Commons for adhering to the Enemies and upon Thursday Iuly the 11. the said Lord comming to the House of Peers was saluted with an impeachment of high Treason and committed prisoner to the Black Rod. About the 12 of this instant it was for certain informed that although they at Oxford boasted much of the relieving of Greenland-House yet now by Gods mercy it was yeilded upon fair termes and moderate Articles unto Major Generall Brown and that for the present his Souldiers maintained a Garrison in it But that it was resolved on not to continue it so but to have it demolished to the ground The taking of this House was of great concernment to the City of London for by that means great quantities of provisions may be securely convayed by water to London out of Oxfordshire and Barkshire and aboundance of Wood out of the Oxford Malignants estates in those parts to serve London for fuell all the succeeding winter Much also about the same time came certain intelligence by Letters out of the Western parts of the Kingdome that the Forces of his Excellency the Parliaments most Noble Lord Generall under the Command of Sir Robert Pye and Colonell Blake had taken Taunton Castle a peice of great strength and concernment also in those parts and that in it they had taken 4 Iron peeces of Ordnance 6 Murtherers 4 Hogsheads of Beef a load of Iron great store of powder one Demi culverin 2 tun of Match one powder-Mill a great quantity of bullets 2 Loads of Cheese 2 Hogsheads of Oatmeal with great store of Salt Wheat Meal and other sorts of provision with store of Housholdstuffe and rich moveables and Colonell Reve who commanded the Castle for the King and the rest of his souldiers had quarter to March away to Bridgewater the Kings next Garrison Town About the 14th of this instant came also certain information by letters from the truely noble Lord Denbigh that whereas he had made a shew as if he would have drawn his Forces toward Shrewsbery as intending to besiege it yet indeed his private resolution 〈…〉 upon the House of the Lord Cholmley and tooke it which was a singular good 〈◊〉 of service to the State in 〈◊〉 that this House had been a very great and long mischiefe to the Country in those neer adjacent 〈◊〉 into it Much also about this foresaid time we were certified by letters out of Lincolnshire of the brave activity and valour of Colonell Rossiter Governour of Lincoln who weekly used to fall upon the Enemy neer Newark and that at one time he took a Major a Captaine and 30 Troopers and their horses Shortly after also that issuing out again he took another Major 3 Captains and 50 horse more with their Riders within three miles of Newark The Commanders especially were good prize these not being so easily 〈◊〉 as Horses those Newarke plunderers making a shift frequently to take an 100 horse in a hight out of the Villages about them Thus that poor County of Lincoln was continually wronged and turned by that pestilent den of plunderers About the 16th of this instant came certain intelligence of some late performances and good Service done by Captain Sydenbam and Captaine Carr neer Dorchester which was informed to be thus The Lord Inchiquin drew out of Warchaâ—â— about 240 horse and Dragoons and came against Dorchester intending to plunder burn and destroy all before them but making some pause before they fell upon the Town it gave Valiant Captain Sydenham and Captain Carr the opportunity of comming to their reliefe before they had attempted the intended mischiefe and so they fell upon the said Enemies about a mie from the Town beat them soundly back again took 160 prisoners with 60 horse and good store of their late gotten plunder elsewhere loaden in a Waggon and that some of the Enemies so taken being Irish Rogues euen 8. of them thus taken had such quarter given them as they gave the Protestants 〈◊〉 Ireland viz. That they hanged them up presently they having pursued their Enemies about 12 miles killing many of them by the way About this foresaid 〈◊〉 the honourable House of Commons in Parliament took into confideration having also before it passed the bill and great businesse of Ordination of Ministers the pious and religious 〈◊〉 of a godly and learned ministery of which there was and iâ— great complaint of the 〈◊〉 of and not without cause thankes to our former wicked Bishops almost all over the whol Kingdome And thereupon they agreed that all such as shall have Ordination shall be sound men well skil'd in Philosophy Logick and in the Tongues If all these and piety especially must precede it is to be feared that an age will not furnish all the Parishes in England and Wales in such a manner How ever we have just cause to blesse the Lord most heartily for so blessed and long desired a godly resolution in them and to wait on God for the good issue thereof Much also about the 18th of this instant July came certain intimation by Letters to London from out of Leistershire that Generall Hastings that wicked Râ—b-Carrier of all those parts was at Colchetâ—â— with about 2000 horse and Foot they being all he could possibly draw out of all the Garrisons under his Command with
some intention to walk in his accustomed way of plundring robbing and spoyling the Country about him Whereupon the truely noble and valiant Lord Gray of 〈◊〉 hearing of this partee of the Enemy drew out of Leicester with all expedition thirsting to give his old Antagonist battell supposing this gallant partee which Hastings had gathered together would have put some valour into him But as soon as the Lord Grâ—y drew neer unto him he presently retreated to Asâ—â—by de la Zouch his old den and kennell of refuge to be there an onely spectator of the Lord Grey and Sir John Gells meeting who no sooner were joyned together but they fell upon Wilne-Ferry and Fort which had been Hastings chief trap to take the Carriers in their passage between Dâ—rby and Leicester with such resolution and courage that after 3 dayes siege giving the Enemy continuall Alarms with notable thunder-claps of Cannon both their Forces drew up close to the Ferry and Fort and immediately with admirable brave gallantry they stormed it kill'd 8 or 9 men took the Governour prisoner with 2 Captains 3 Lieutenants 3 Ensignes with their 〈◊〉 and Colours 2 Drakes 80 Souldiers neer an 100 Gentlemen and others which came in to their assistance with all their Armes and brought them all into Leicester In all which businesse the Lord Grey lost but one man and some few hurt but thanks be to God not mortally As soon as this businesse was thus successefully finished my Lord presently slighted the Works pull'd down the Fort and burn'd the House in its own rubbish 〈…〉 to Lâ—icester the Enemy never so much as attempting to 〈…〉 Charge Now during this time the prudent Lord Grey ever desirous to preserve his assoâ—iation hearing that a party of Newarke and Belvoir Horse was come up as farre as Melton Mowbray to plunder the Country in his absence he immediately sent Colonell Waâ—t with a party of Horse to drive the Enemy out of the Country or fight with them which was accordingly done and the Country thereby in the interim safely protected And here now I cannot I may not passe over without a great 〈…〉 of impious ingratitude the happy remembrance of that most sweet and Solemn-day of Thankesgiving to the Lord our all-good-giving and forgiving God which was rarely and religiously celebrated on Thursday the 18th of this instant July 1644. for that late and most admirable yea even miraculous Victory which the Lord our God gave unto our forces under the command of those three most renowned Generalls in the North neer the City of York And yet which happy day our impious and heaven-out-daring Adversaries the wretched Royalists had laboured as was before mentioned at the end of the description of that famous victory to cloud and to take off the Edge of our thankfulnes by spreading abroad false rumours and presuming I say most audaciously to mock God by outward appearances of their pretended and false joy whereas they had no salvation wrought for them in the thing wherein they seemed to rejoyce and one main argument which our Malignant-Enemies used to discourage and discountenance us and if it could have been to have infused into us to believe that there was some truth in their outward flourishes that so I say they might have cast ashes upon our heads in the day of our triumph was because the City of Yorke was not yeilded to us which said they would not nay could not hold out if Prince Ro. had beene routed But our most wise and mercifull God would not suffer them hereby to rob him of his honour and therefore it is most worthy our observation that the newes of Yorkes being certainly surrendred unto the Parliaments forces arived at London the very Thankesgiving-day before the time set a part for the duties of our Solemn-Thankesgiving Which now I say comes here next to be spoken of namely That on Thursday July the 18th 1644. The Lords and Commons of Parliament joyned together at Westminster in the cheerful solemnization of this day and every parish in and about London Assembling together both forenoone and afternoone to hear Sermons preached in their Churches and prayers and praises proclaimed to our so great and good God the Wonder-working God of this our Israel and in a speciall manner this was performed by the Right Honourable prudent and pious Lord Mayor of the City of London Sir John Wolaston together with the most worthy Aldermen and Sheriffs his Brethren as also all the Companies of the City of London in their Gownes and Liveries at Pauls-Church where after the morning Sermon was ended a volley of small shot was triumphantly discharged and two Ensignes or Colours were flourished and displayed on the toppe of Pauls-steeple which gave notice to the severall Forts in the fields and thereupon the Ordnance went off round about the City and after the afternoones Sermon great outward joy and thankesgiving was expressed both first in liberall summes of money collected in the Churches to refresh the loynes of the poore and afterward in ringing of Bells and making Bonefires in the streets that night yea and the neighbours and parishoners of divers parishes in London both Husbands and Wives supped altogether in extraordinary solemn-manner especially in the parish of Christs-Church in London where I my selfe was an unworthy part and present eye-witnesse of the same All or the greatest part of the said whole parish both men and women especially of the best sort and quality Knights Ladies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen yea all well-affected persons of fashion and ability assembled together in the great Hall of Christs-Hospitall to the number of about 200 men and their wives who being all very gravely and cheerfully met together and supper made ready their reverend pious and painfull Pastor Mr. Jenkins who indeed was the first mover of this so solemn meeting an act worthy a godly Divine indeed he I say began A Psalme of David as sweet heavenly musicke which all the Company sang together whiles the dishes of meat were brought in and set on the tables Then a blessing on the creatures craved and supper ended the said reverend Pastor as hee piously began so hee religiously concluded with thankesgiving and another Psalme sung by them all at their tables ere they rose all done in a most grave and reverend manner And here also I desire the godly Reader to take notice of one remarkable passage of Gods providence about this worke which happily preâ—eded this solemn-meeting in the foresaid place viz That upon the Wednesday the very immediate day before this meeting it pleased the Lord so to order and dispose it That that most worthy and most deservedly ever to be honoured religious and zealous Nehemiah of our dayes Sir Robert Harlow Knight of the Bathe came himselfe to the said Hospitall and caused by the power and authority of Parliament most happily invested on him a mighty great and most
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
the Danish-Ship Aug. 4. 1643. Another brave prize taken at the same time The seasonableness of that Danish prize wherein Gods providence is the more to be observed The low ebbe of our armies briefly touched Divers of the Danish armes sent to Hull to the noble Lord Fairfax Clubs called Round-heads sent to Hull A plot for a pretended Peace in the house of Peers in Parliament The Citizens of London Petition the ParliameÌ„t against the pretended Peace The Parliaments present answer to the Petition The effects of the said Petition An Oath or Covenant to be taken by all Citizens of London Citie-Malignants imprisoned in Saint Faiths Church under Pauls in Ships on the Thames The Earl of Hollands Tâ—unks seized on by water The Fellowship a brave Ship of Bristoll taken by Capt. Smith in the Swallow a Parliament-Ship Sir Wiâ—â—allers CommissioÌ„ to advance with his intended designes is granted by his Excellencie A brief recapitulation of all these last recited Parliamentarie-Mercies by way of obliged thankfulness 1. 2. 3. 4. GODS Ark fairly carried on with fair blasts of good success against its boysterous billowes and swelling waves Psal 136. 4. September 1643. Sir Alexander Carews plot against Plimouth timely discovered and the danger prevented Hull besieged by the Earl of Newcastle Gods mightie preservation of the Town Beverly pitifully plundred by the enemies The Earl of Newcastle despairs of getting Hull A sodain and most remarkable preservation of Hull Hulls very great danger at this time by Powder sodainly blown up The admirable hand of God in Hulls mightie danger The occasion of Huâ—ls so great danger The Parliaments care for the encouragement of London Apprentices in their Service of the Kingdome Sir Jo. Wollaston most happily chosen Lord Major of the Citie of London The Authors just and experimentall attestation and commendation of Sir John Wollaston Lord Major of London The mercies of this Lord Majors choice also was a sweet return of prayer A notable triall by Gods most wise disposall put upon the Lord Major of London and most loyally managed by him Foure Proclamations sent at one time to the Lo Major of London to be published in the Kings name in the Citie Provision of firing ordered by the Parliament for preventioÌ„ of dangerous muâ—â—nâ—es by the poorer sort Woods to be cut down to furnish the Citie and parts adjacent with fuell What woods were to be cut down A summary gratefull review of this Moneths Parliamentarie-Mercies GODS Ark carried on with fair and prosperous gales Psal 68. 19. October 1643. The Parliaments charitable act and order for the good of the poor children of Christs Hospitall in London The Authors own gratefull acknowledgement of Gods goodness to him in the said Hospitall An 100000 li to be raised in the Citie of London for the advance of an army of 21000 Scots to come into England 2 Sam. 24. A famous victorie obtained by the Lord Fairfax against Newcastles Popish forces whereby the Siege of Hull was raised The Marquess of Newcastle put to great straits by this Defeat A Copie of Sir John Meldrums Letter to the Speaker of the Parliament touching the brave victory he obtained at Hull A brief touch of Sir Jo. Mâ—â—drums worth and valour attested by the renowned Lord Fairfax himself The most famous and renowned victory obtained by the right honourable Earl of Manchester at Horncastle in Lincolnshire Bolenbrook-Castle summoned The enemie prepares to meet and fight with the Earl of Manchester Our forces are drawn all neer each other about Bolenbrook The enemie gives ours the allarm about Horncastle Ours bravely bicker with the enemies forlorn-hopes Three or four of our troopes in great dangâ—r but came off most bravely Cap. Iohnsons Cap. Moodies and Captain Players brave courage and resolution The commanders notable discretion and courage The great strait they were still put unto Bolenbrockhill designed to be the place to fight The enemies strength and ours The word on both sides Both armies in sight of each other The pietie of our armie Both armies met at a Town called Ixbie Gen. Cromwells great danger The sight in the very heat of it The enemie â—â—ins to 〈◊〉 The enemies flie Sir Tho. Fairfax his undaunted courage The issue of the fight The Commission of Aray cryed out on by the dying Souldiers The spoyl and prizes taken The armie with the most noble Lord of Manchester possess themselves of Horncastle Letters of the enemies intercepted confirming the truth of this great victorie This famous victory and that also at Hull were obtained both in one and the same day Col. Massies good service at Tewksbery Another brave defeat given to the Kings forces by the Parliaments forces in Warwick-Castle An OrdinaÌ„ce of Parliament against Spies and intelligencers The Citie of Lincoln taken by the noble Earl of Manchester The prize taken in the Citie of Lincoln Gainesborough also taken by the said noble Earl of Manchester The great design against the Citie of London The great plot and designe was how to contrive to starve up the Citie of Londoâ— The manner and wayes of the enemies contriving their plot against London The manner of the enemies acting their coÌ„trivements 2 Chro. 16. 9. How God all along crost and disappointed all the enemies deep designes Another great ploâ— of the enemies to hinder our Brethren of Scotlands coming in to our ayd and assistance An Embassadour sent from the Queen-Regent of France into Scotland to divert those our brethren from coming to ayd us Two Letters sent by our King into Scotland to cross the Scots resolution to ayd England The substance of both the said Letters The Royallists hopes heerin also frustrated The grand plot of starving up the Citie of London now prosecuted by the Royallists but blessedly frustrated The Earl of Manchester resolves to ayd his associated Counties out of Lincolnshire by Colonell Cromwell Col Cromwell sent out of Lincolnshire into Huntingtoâ—shire with considerable forces Col. Cromwell ordered by the Lo. Generall to return again into Lincolnshire The Kings Cormorants flie out of Newport-Pannell The great plot mightily dasht damped alreadie A summarie recapitulation of all this Moneths Parliamentarie-mercies and therein the sweet preservation of his Ark his great Cause GODS Ark still born-up above the tops of all its advers swelling waves of opposition Psal 57. 7. Psal 60. 12. November 1643. An association of Hampshire Surrey Sussex and Kent Sir 〈◊〉 Waller Commander in chief of this association The Parliâ—ments providence for the welfare of forein English Plantations A considerable number of English-Irish Protestant Souldiers landed at Bristoll out of Ireland revolted from the King to the Parliament The English-Irish Souldiers fall foul on their Commanders and Officers They march away to Gloucester to serve under Colonell Massiâ— A remarkable hand of Gods providence in this business A most brave defeat given to the Lord Capell by Cheshire Shropshire forces The manner of the performance of the defeat The Lord Capell marches toward
Cormorants at their departure A most admirable passage of Gods provideÌ„ce to Plymouth by a great shole of Pilchards coming into their harbour in the time of this Siege Captain Clark of Northampton apprehended diverse Commanders playing at Cards Windsor-Castles Dragoons brave exploits about Redding Foure high Constables and 80li. taken and carried to Windsor Good cheer provided for a partie sent out of Windsor at a greaâ— Malignants house at Stoke The high-altar Popish pictures in King Henry the sevenths Chappell taken away and demolished A briefe recapitulation and gratefull rumination on all this last Moneths remarkable mercies GODS Ark over-topping the worlds waves swelling Psal 31. 19. Januarie 1643. 2 Chron. 16. 9. A most notable and deep designe and pernicious plot against the Protestant Religion in all Christendom The Danes Hollanders coÌ„tribute to the King against us An admirable and sodain breaking-out of a combustion twixt Denmark and Sweden The King of Denmarkes plot against the Swedes discovered by Letters intercepted The Swedes enter into Denmark The falling out of the Danes with the Swedes much for our good Sir Tho. Holts House surprized by Coventrie forces A treacherous parley desired from the house The house batterd and taken Bewly-House also taken by the foresaid Coventry forces A most dangerous and pernicious plot against the Parliament discovered The ayme in this plot to divide the Citie Parliament The coÌ„trivers of this plot The place of meeting and consulting The contrivance of the plot The plot discussed on at Oxford The settlemeÌ„t of the Protestant Religion by Papists traytors and atheists still pretended The result of their first meeting was to send a Letter to London Rilâ—ys honesty acts a peace for this peacefull work The plot advanced And by Gods providence so dainly discovered Sir Basil Brook examined The Letter to the Lord Major The conspirators imprisoned The whole business communicated to the Citie of London Gods providence in delivering three worthy Gentlemen of Garnsey faithfull friends to the Parliament from prison in Castle-Cornet in Garnsey Acts 12. 11. Arundell-Castle besieged taken by Sir Wil. Waller The Castle delivered up to Sir William Waller The prisoners taken Fifty Reformadoes taken 1200 Common Souldiers 4000 li in money taken and other rich pillage A little armie taken prisoners in a little time about the taking Arundell-Castle At least 3300 enemies taken prisoners A brave Ship also richly laden taken at Arundell-Castle A Bristoll ship also taken at Leverpool in Lancashire The Citie of London takes into serious consideration the great care love paines of the Parliament for the welfare of the Kingdome The Citizens of London invite the Parliament c. to a dinner in the Citie A most excellent Message and Motion of the Citie to the Parliament at the invitation The Parliaments answer to the Cities invitation The Parliaments most pious desire to have a Sermon to be preached at this meeting The admirable expressions of loving acceptance of the Parliament of the Cities love to them The guests invited meet at Christ-Church in London Venerable Mâ— Marshall preached before them Whose excellency and unparalleld same and fidelity I must coÌ„fesse I want words to set forth as it deserves The same day of this glorious Assembly our Brethren of Scotland came into England with their armie All these causes of vexation in the wicked causes of rejoycing in the godly A publike and more generall day of thanksgiving appointed by order of Parliament A bloudy defeat given to the Parliament forces by Sir John Byron but an introduction to a great most admirable victory obtained by ours Pro. 12. 10. A most brave defeat given to Sir Nicholas Byron Governour of Chester by Colonell Mitton The slain prisoners and prizes taken Sir John Gellâ—s brave surprisall of Burton upon Trent Hilsden-House taken by the Parliaments forces 1. Laystolk quieted 2. Croyland subdued 3. Granthams victorie 4. Burleigh-house taken 5. Gainesborough relieved 6. Twentytroops of horse of Hull preserved 7. The winning of Lyn-Regis 8. Winsby fight 9. Lincoln taken 10. Gainesborough taken by storm 11. Hilsden-House taken Another most devillish plot between the Earl of Bristol and Serjeant Major Ogle to make a division between the ParliameÌ„t and Citie of London Mr Nye and Mr Jo. Goodwin wrought with to help on with the plot Propositions for encouragement to the Independent-men to help on the design Serjeant Major Ogle being released out of prison gets to Oxford This plotcame to nought in the end Another plot to betray Windsor-Castle into the Kings hands The manner of contriving it This plot also perished almost in the birth Another plot to betray Aylesbury most neatly disappointed Serjeant Major Ogle a plotter again in this treachery also A 1000 li promised as a reward for the betraying of Aylesbury and great preferment and an 100 pound therof paid in hand a good horse and a sword Ogles mightie motives to encourage Lievtenant Colonell Mosely in the plot Three hoped strings to their Bowe yet all brake and faild them The great preparatioÌ„ of forces to goe to take possessioÌ„ of Aylesbury Their extreme misery in a most bitter March At Ethrop-house 2 miles from Aylesbury the enemies heard the designe was discovered Their good reward which they got for all their cost and coyle The King lost at least 500 of his men at this Service Sore brushes against Gods Ark. A desperate design against Nottingham-Town and Castle A true Copie of Colo. Hutchinsons letter sent to a worthy GentlemaÌ„ of NottinghaÌ„shire resident then in London Esa 57. 19 20. Our Brethren of Scotlands first advance and coming into England for our assistance What a rich rare mercy this of our Brethren of ScotlaÌ„ds coming into England is unto us Three or 4. memorable Contingents in the Scots March 1. A great thaw much hindring the Scots march 2. A Bridge which would much have retarded the Scots March not suffred to be cut down as intended 3. The contrary effects of the great Snow in the Scots march 4. A remarkable hard Frost which helped all the Army over the river Tweed Gods evident hand of good Providence going along with the Scots Army A Declaration consented to and confirmed by the Estates of England and Scotland 1. 2. 3 4. Namptwhich most bravely relieved and a most glorious victory obtained by Sir Tho. Fairfax and Sir Willâ— Brereton A retunr of Prayer The first relation of this famous victory came to London on the conclusion of this monthly fasts hoâ—y duties Namptwich 3. times assâ—ulted and the enemy most bravely repulsed The siege raised The 2. Armies met and encountred each other Bloody Byron commander of the Horse first began to fly Prisoners and prizes taken Above an 100 Irish-Queanes with sharp long Skeanes to cut throats The slaine on the Enemies part Bloody Byron fled to Oxford His lying brag retorted on him An Order of Parliament for solemne Thanksgiving to God for this great viâ—tory A most gratefull revise
1. Haverford-west strangly taken without looking for as yet or fighting for Our forces marched toward Tynby summon it Admirable resolution in the assaulting of Tynby on both sides Commissary Guyne a stout souldier but a desperate enemy to Gods Cause The enemies Mr Gunner slaine The rare providence of God over ouâ— men Harm watch harme catch Tynby taken though of almost impregnable strengh The prize taken Carew Castle taken A sum of the totall Victory over the Earl of Carbury Capt. Jordanes good successe at sea chasing the Earle of Marlbrough the kings admiral Two ships taken at sea with their prizes Two ships more their prizes taken Glocesters good condition Col. Beares brave defeat given to the Earle of Northampton at Cambden Col. Massey stil victorious Our Brethren of Scotland passe over the River Tyne without resistance Newcastles great losse of Souldiers lying in the field Captain Tho. Pynes most brave defeat given to the Cormorants at Colliton neer unto Lyme Security is the bane of safety The prisoners and prize taken Excellent Reformation of the Cathedral at Westminster Quantum mutatur ab illo Popish trumpery expelld pious preaching establisht An introduction to the subsequent famous victory at Alsford Asshur is but Gods Rod to scourge his sinning children Psal 125. 3. Hoptons preparation Sir VVilliam VVallers preparation Hoptons head-quarter was at Winchester Sir William Wallers head-quarter A necessary preamble before the Fight Oxfords blustring Bravadoes about the raising of the Siege at Newarke Mercurius Aulicus the Kings Lyer in chiefe 〈…〉 Notorious boasts lyes to cousen the poore seduced Souldiers A message sent to Sir VVill. VValler not to engage himselfe in fight A true exact relation of the famous fight most memorable victory obtained at Alsford by renouned sir VV. VValler against sir R. Hopton The Enemies plot to surprise us at Church prevented A brave skirmish between us and the Enemy A Councill of War called on both sides The fight fiercely begun The day at this time very doubtfull Major Gen. Browne bravely charges the Enemies horse The Enemies put to the rout retreat The Enemy put totally to flight Prisoners taken The Lo. Iohn brother to the Duke of Lenox slaine in this â—ight Zach. 8 19. This moneths Fast day repayed within 2 or 3 dayes after with a blessed Feast day A returne of Prayers Exod. 15. 11. The pursuite of the Victory The Enemies flye to Basting-house and Andover c. How the Enemies Ordnance escaped from being all taken Sir William Waller is come to Winchester Gloucester fully relieved with necessaries The Kentish mens brave behaviour in this fight The admirable valour also of the City Regiment Observations upon the Victory Malignants lying mouthes stopt with the undeniable truths concerning this Victory The Lady Hopton and a traine of 200. taken by Sir Will. Belfore together with mony plate Whitchurch in Dâ—rsetshire taken with Sir John Mills a 100 Gentlemen more The Isle of Wights memorable and commendable Act of love to sir VVilliam VVallers army A day of publike thankesgiving ordered to be kept in all Churches for Gods great mercy in this so famous victory A most gratefull Summary recapitulation of all the Parliamentary Mercies of this Moneth Gods Arke over-topping the Worlds Waves swelling Psal 93. 3 4. Psal 68. 1 2 3 April 1644. A most excellent Ordinance of Parliament for the better sanctifying of the Lords day A fair gale of winde to carry on our floating Arke in the voyage Sir Iohn Gell that famous commander gives the enemy a brave defeat at Munkbridg Abrave defeat given again to Colonell Bellasâ—s by Victorious Colonell Lambert How the Ammunition for Gloucester was conveyed thither from VVarwick A strange mistake by night both by the Enemy and our Forces yet the Ammunition got safe to Gloucester Gloucester greatly enabled to oppose the adversaries by the safe coveyance of the Ammunition to it Waltham house taken by Col. Whitehead with the assistance of the London Brigade Propositions to surrender the House yeilded unto God honoured the London Brigade with Victory both going forth and comming home The Forces of Sir Tho. Fairfax and the Lord Fairfax his Father conjoyned together Cawood Castle and Axholm Island taken More of Captain Swanleys good Service in South VVales Want of pious preachers in Wales a great hindrance of their reducing to the Parliament Crowland regained by the Earle of Manchesters Forces under the command of Valiant Col. King Articles of agreement for delivering up the Town Hollands honourable attestation of famous Mr. William Prynne his learned Labours in the Parliaments Vindication This passage of Hollands honourable Attestation of Mr. Prynnes Book a Parliamentary mercy Fair correspondency between the Swedes and our Kingdome and Parliament The like also with the united Provinces The most famous and admirable victory obtained by the Right Honourable Lord Fairfax at Selby in Yorkeshire Gods Arke here mightily carryed up above all these swelling and blustring billows This brave victory thus obtaned the Lord Fairfax was now master of the Field A Day of Solemn Thanksgiving appointed 8000. pound ordered presently sent to the most Noble Lord Fairfax The most hopefull consequent advantages of this great Victory Two dayes of Solemn Thanksgiving in one the â—ame Moneth Newcastles Army sorely put to it Our brethren of Scotland draw up close to Durham The Marquess of Newcastle deserts and flyes from Durham General Lesly pursues him Newcastles great losse without any fighting Newcastle is got into the City of Yorke Prince Plunderer at Bever-castle The noble Earle of Manchester follows him close Sir Wil. Waller gives the enemy a brave defeat about Basing house The most noble Lord Fairfax our brethren of Scotland conjoyned into a body 30. Northampton souldiers surprized and taken prisoners by Banbury garrison All our Northampton souldiers imprisoned in a barne at Banbury Northampton forces are most bravely revenged on Banbury garrison The christian amity fidelity of our brethren of Scotland toward us of England The substance of a letter sent by the Iuncto at Oxford to the Lords of the Councell of Scotland Foul and false imputations laid on the Parliament at Westminster by the Oxford juncto O the wretched Rhetorick of the Oxfordians to argue themselves their posterity into perpetuall slavery Notorious and Devillish hypocrisie in this Oxford Juncto's jugling Our brethren of Scotlands wise and provident answer to the Oxonian Letter A Summary most gratefull recitall of all the excellent Parliamentary Mercies of this Moneth God Arke over-topping the worlds Waves swelling Psal 73. 1. Psal 46. 1 â— 3. May. 1644. A brave defeat repulse given to the Enemies at Plymouth A great providence at our Souldiers first adventure The Enemies beaten into the Church Ours obtain a brave victory The enemies horse face Plymouth againe Ours make a very fair and safe retreat A brave defeat given to the enemy by valiant active Colonell Fox Budely in Worcestershire surprized by valiant
Col. Fox Sir Tho. Littleton surprized by Col. Fox Mr. Goads relation of the most happy and prosperous progresse of the thrice noble and renowned Earl of Manchestâ—r in Lincolnshire The manner of the Earle of Manchesters march An 100 troops of Newcastles horse plunder the Country on the other side of Trent The Earle of Manchester advanâ—â—â— to Lincolne Sir Pâ—regâ—in Barty taken prisoner and brought to my Lord of Manchester Lincoln summoned by my Lord of Manchester Resolution to storme the Town Colonel Cromwell sent out with 2000. horse to oppose Col. Goring from relieving Lincoln Preparation to storm the City of Lincons Colonell Russels and Col. Moâ—ntague lead on most bravely to the on-set The lower town taken The Enemie in their retreat endeavoured to fire the Lower Town A second full resolution to storm the Town and Castle as was formerly intended The furious assaults on the Enemy in the upper town Castle The indefatigable paines and courage of our men about the Castle The scaling Ladders set up against the Castle wals The Town Castle obtained The slain the prisoners taken The losse on our side very inconsiderable Two Officers slain but 10 Common Souldiers The singular piety of the most noble renouned Generall A brief List of the Commanders Officers in Armes taken prisoners All the Common souldiers taken were willing to fight for the Parliament An Ordinance of Parliament for the demolishing of all Organs and superstitious monuments c. Capt. Swanley takes Carnarvan Town Castle other good prize Col. Massyes constant activity Col. Mynne beaten in his Quarters A Plot to betray Gloucester discovered 5000. l. profered for a reward to betray Gloucester 200. l. paid in hand of the 5000. to Capt. Backhouse The â—â—â—successe of their plot from themselves The Citizens of London petition the House of Peeres for the re-establishment of the State-Committee The result issue of the Cities petitioning the House of Peeres The Citizens of London also petition the House of Commons The result issue of the Cities â—â—â—tion to the House of Commons Singular sympathy 'twixt the House of Commons and the City of London The happy event of the City Petition in the principall expectation from both Houses of Parliament Secrecy is the Key of certainty The State-Committee for both Kingdomes established Col. Masseyes brave defeats given to the Enemies at Newnam Westbury and Little Dean Newnam defeat The prisoners and prizes taken Wesbury defeat The prisoners and prizes taken The defeat at Little Dean the prisoners and prizes taken Col. Massyes just Encomium The just commendation of divers other garrisons Lyme stormed the enemy bravely repulsed A day of Humiliation set a part to seeke the Lord upon the advance of the L. Gen. Army Devonshire Cornwall disaffected to the Irish Amost just objurgation of England from Devon Cornwalls great folly in deserting the Parliament A most wicked devillish plot to undoe Scotland also with England by the Popish Royallists there by way of diversion to recall our brethren of Scotand from assisting us The Noble Earl of Argyle stirs against the Popish insurrection begun in Scotland The Earl of Argyle breaks the neck of this Plot and puts the Marquesse Huntly to flight The Earl of Calender also riseth with about 8000. horse and foot to suppresse this intestine insurrection Montrosse forced to flye into the Castle of Carlile The present state of Lyme related to the Parliament by Cap. Iones Cap. Player The brave most resolute carriage of the Governour of Lyme to Pr. Maurice A brave prize taken at Sea by the noble Earle of Warwicks Ships An excellent patterne of gratitude in the County of Kent A just most deserved testimony of the right noble Earle of Pembrookes love loyalty to the Parliament Cawood Castle and all in it surrendred to the Parliam The Isle and Fort of Ayremouth taken also by Sir Iohn Meldrum The Kings Forces durst not bid battell to the Parl. L. Generall at Wantage Abington taken by the noble Lord Roberts Valiant Cap. Temples brave exploit on the enemies at Islip The most noble L. Generals mercifull Proclamation A Parallel of that Proclamation with the Oxonian Edict lately published from Oxford A most prudent pertinent Message sent by our Parliament in England to the Parliament in Scotland Beverton Castle in Gloustersh taken by Col. Massey Malmesbury taken by Col. Massey Chippenham Garrison in Wilts taken by Col. Massey Col. Massey advanceth into wilts with 2000. men toward the Devizes A most Noble and Renowned act of the Parliament in rewarding the good Service of Col. Massey Englands great wonder to Gods great glory May 30. 1644. Above 6 brave Armies at one time in the Kingdome on the Parliaments side The true muster of the City forces of Westminster at this 〈◊〉 Hosea 14. 3. Psal 136. 23. Russel-hall in Staffordshire taken good prize therein by the Earle of Denbigh This garrison was a most notorious thievish place A brave prize taken by Plymouth garrison The Garrison of Notingham gave Newarke Garrison a brave defeat Limes undaunted Valout testified by its adversaries themselves The Enemy bravely beaat Lime A gratefull summary recitall of all the foresaid Parliamentary mercies of the moneth past Gods Arke borne up above the worlds swelling waves Psal 119. 68. Psal 44. 8. 1 Sam. 2. 2 3. Iob 9. 4. Iune 1644. Lime most notably releived and the Seige wholly happily raised The most noble Lord Admirall arived at Lime Lymes distressed condition at his Lordships comming The most virtuous Lord Admiralls piety charity to Lyme Yea of my Lords honest Seamen too An assault upon the Towne to the enemies great losse The Enemies pride high hopes The most noble Lord Admiralls Stratagem The Enemy was mistaken frustrated of his hopes A very furious Assault upon the Towne bravely received The number of the slain in this Assault The enemies be fooled in reckoning without their hoast The enemies stomacke now come downe The enemies rage in firing the Towne Gods power providence was Lymes wals bulwarks The admirable courage of the women of Lyme The most pious reply of a maide in Lyme whole hand was shot off The continuance of Limes troubles took away the sense of fear terrour of them Prince Maurice leaves Lime raises his Siege The Earle of Calender possessed of Morpeth-Castle in Northubmerland Sunderland delivered from a treacherous Plot. A reward of 200 l. bestowed on the honest Seamen for their loyalty good service Valiant Capt. Swanley made commander in chief in Wales A Chaine of Gold worth 200 l. bestowed on Captain Swanley by the Parliament The Kings most ungodly agreement with the Irish Rebels Expelled him from his former secure abode at Oxford Valiant active Sir Will. Waller follows the King Gods justice prosecutes the wicked with terrour disgrace Major Gen. Brown made Commander in chiefe of 3 Counties by the
the full and cleare raising of that famous Siege to the perpetuall shame and disgrace of Maurice Pawlet Stoell Ashburnham Strangewayes and others which was confirmed by a Letter sent by the most renouned Earl of Warwick Lord Admirall to the Speaker of the Honourable House of Peers in Parliament and by Master Iesops Letter also and others the substance of all which in effect was this That since the most Noble and ever to be honoured Earl of Warwicke performed that brave Service in so timely relieving Lyme in the deepest of its distresse and continued there observing the occurrences and carriage of affaires as well without as within the Town and that the Enemyes had in the space of 4 or 5 dayes shot many Volleys of great and small shot into the Town but most unsuccessefully the besieged answering them still as courageously as ever at the first Hopton also comming to the Leaguer and hoping to have made some recruite of his broken fragments but was refused and at Dartmouth also whither he came with but 7 Horse giving out there that he was to raise an Army of 15000 men if hee could have got them and Maurice also now tyred with so â—oylesome a worke and terrified also with fear of the Parliaments Lord Generalls approach into those parts and especially to this Town to free it of its fear of his forces and unneighbourly neighbourhood that thus I say after the Enemies losse of at least an 105 Officers besides some more superiour Officers and commanders 25 Gunners and above 2000 common souldiers more than they lost at Bristol and Exeter as some of themselves confest Prince Maurice on sad and serious consideration of all these disasters and many more about June the 14th by two of the clock in the morning quite raised this his siege and went clear away to Exeter After whose departure the noble Lord Admirall Master Iesop and many others going into Lime to view the Townes line and the Enemies workes and truely comparing the very great slendernesse of the Towns line with the extraordinary strength and solidity of all the Enemies Works they could not but greatly admire what had been done by them and were forced most freely to confesse and grant that the defence of Heaven was meerly and cleerly their munition of rocks and that it was little lesse than a miracle that they should hold out so long and violent a Siege especially the Towne standing at the bottome of two hills and their Workes so low and thinne that in many places one might have runne over them and a strong hand might have thrust them downe they being in effect as it were paper or pasteboord walles and in the latter end of the siege the Enemies outragiously shooting into the Towne barres of Iron pieces of Anchors and great Shot blowne up to as great a measure of heat as was possible they having a Forge on purpose which falling on Houses fired many yet were sodainely quenched with onely hurt not death of but three men insomuch that all that saw and considered these things could not choose but with admiration ingenuously confesse that certainely there was never more valour and undantednesse of spirit shewn in the world against a potent and pestilent Enemy than was in thus defending this place and that every man deserved as the most noble Earle of Warwicke himselfe there publikely professed some eminent badge of honour to remaine to their posterity in memoriall of this most famous Siege About the time of the end of the Siege some 26 of the Enemies side came in unto the Lord Admirall freely and faithfully proffering their service to the Parliament among whom was Lievtenant Fair an Officer of the Lord Brogall brother to the Lord Inchiquin and 10 also of Inchiquins Regiment came in unto them One Irish woman left behinde was slaine and almost pull'd in pieces by the women of Lime In the Siege many houses were burnt and yet a Granado falling into a roome in one house and breaking upon a bed wherein lay 3 children not one of them had any harme there was scarce a house in the whole Towne that was not battered and scarce a roome into which shot had not beene made At one last great fire in the Towne two maides carying betweene them a vessell of water had three of their hands shot off One of these t is probable was that honest maid that spake so christianly as was forementioned in the reliefe of Lime touching the losse of one of her hands In all this the most noble and renowned Lord Admiralls pious and singular charitable affection to the Towne gained a most just acknowledgement from them That they all did owe their lives under God to his most honourable Lordship But above all all honour and praise is most due to the great God of Lime in this his mighty and even miraculous deliverance of it it being also a businesse of so great consequence as by Gods mercy to bring in the whole West Countrey who resolved long before to obey no command on the other side till Lime was taken O had Prince Maurice but obtained one Commander of the Parliaments that is God and their good Cause what a Victor might he have proved with but halfe the strength which by relation hee brought of the Country people thereabout The Enemies cursed the unlucky houre as they called it of their comming thither having lost as I said before from the first to the last at least 2 or 3000 Souldiers and the Town but six score men with the most Ever praised be the great God of battailes for it And thus the Lord at last to the glory of his great name and joy of his servants set Lime at liberty from all their former feares and dangers To all which mercies let me adde this as a prime result of them all that I make no doubt but that the prayers put up at that instant on their behalfe both aboard our Ships and in other parts of the Kingdome were a speciall and speedy meanes to shorten their dangers shelter their persons and hasten this their happy deliverance The thus happy relieving of this brave Garrison of Lime by the ever renowned and most highly to be honoured Earle of Warwick was and that most deservedly taken by the Parliament as a most singular and acceptable service done to the Kingdome who thereupon Ordered That a Letter of thankes should be sent unto him from both the Houses of Parliament for his great care love and loyalty therein And that not onely this brave Garrison of which we may say as the Damesels sang before the Arke That Saul had slain his thousand but David his ten thousand So other Garrisons have slaine their thousand done very bravely but this of Lime it s ten thousands far out-stript them all to encourage I say not onely this Garrison but that the whole Kingdome might as well
in this as in other things see and be assured that good and faithfull Service shall not be unrewarded It was therefore Ordered by the Parliament that 10000. l. a year out of the Lord Paulets Estate should be conferred upon the Towne of Lime for their loyalty and courage in this famous Siege which hath been indeed to admiration for that besides the straights they have been driven too their impregnable courage in so stoutly defending themselfe from the malice of their blood-thirsty Enemies hath sometimes caused their very water to be noysome with the blood of those that sought their ruine and destruction O the admirable power wisdome and justice of the righteous Lord of Heaven and Judge of the whole World But to goe on At the same time and from the same hand and ships of the most noble Lord Admirall at Lime it was informed that their ships had taken upon the Seas since their setting forth from the Downes two Prizes one at Dartmouth a Vessell laden with Oyle and Salt for Holland and the other that was brought in unto them was a Dutch Galliot laden with good Commodities for the Enemy at Aptham and Exeter to the value of at least 8000 l. And the Master himselfe of the Galliot confessed that they had for her more safe Convoy the Company of two Statesmen of War who had aboard their Ships 5 Barrels of money amounting to a 1000 Dollars confined to some Malignants in Exeter The Factor under whose charge the money was committed being aboard the Men of War was loath to be discovered but at length was apprehended and brought before his Lordship and for some peremptory and unmannerly speeches to his Lordship was put into safe custody And all the goods proved good prize From aboard the James at anchor before Lyme June 1. 1644. This blessed businesse of Lyme and the most noble Lord Admirals singular and seasonable supply afforded to it did also produce immediately after these severall Orders from the Parliament First that a letter was drawn up as was toucht before and sent to the most noble Lord Admirall signifying how sensible the House was of his so great and good service and returning him the thankes of the whole House for the same And truely these Parliamentary acknowledgements and gratulations are very good for the publique either by land or by water and that Excellent Lord deserves thanks of no lesse demension than a Parliament Secondly that a Letter was drawn up as from the whole House also to the Town of Lyme to enforme them that the House took speciall notice of their faithfull and valiant service And indeed it is a gratefull and most worthy act of the House to let no desert escape their notice For it is not fit that such places as have borne the heate of the day should take cold under the shadow of State-neglect Thirdly that the Lord Mayor of the City of London was thereby desired to send notice to all Churches and Chappels in and about the said City and County of Midelsex to desire the Ministers in their prayers the next Lords-day to give thanks to Almighty God for the great deliverance of the said Towne of Lime from the rage and intended malice and mischiefe of their outragious enemies Much about the foresaid time the Parliaments ever to be honoured Lord Generall the most noble Earle of Essex had sent out as he was desired by the Parliament a Party of Horse to the reliefe of Lime under the Command of that most loyall valiant and most virtuous Gentleman Sir William Belfore but as yee have already heard the Morris was done and danced away before Whereupon their Horse wheeled about toward Weymouth and after they had faced the Towne and given them Summons they within presently yeelded and 400 Souldiers were content to leave their heavier weapons and to march away with sticks onely in their hands The noyse of Lime and Weymouth and the Lord Generals terrour flew to Taunton-Deane and they also soone quitted the Garrison and daunced after Maurices pipe Truely I cannot tell what to say to these things but must most justly admire Gods infinite mercy whose hand was most manifestly seene now in the West as well as in the North working all our workes there for us But of the winning of these Townes and the rest we shall speak shortly after more fully in their more proper place Much also about the foresaid time we had certaine Intelligence by Letters out of Leicestershire that the loyall and right noble Lord Grey of Grooby who hath so bravely and faithfully defended the Town of Leicester as having divers times engaged his person and done singular good service for the Kingdome with that very small strength which hee had there notwithstanding the great strength and oft incursions of the enemy in those parts yet that he marched out of Leicester and tooke divers of the Kings Cormorants or Cavaliers which were stragling up and downe to plunder and sent them prisoners to Leicester and that he fell upon their Quarters neere Vlstrup tooke some Prisoners there and made the rest retreat and in despight of the Enemy and all their power safely conducted Sir Iohn Gells Ordnance and Artillery designed for Darby or Leicester About the 18 th of this instant Iune we had certaine Information out of the West that the most noble Lord Admirall sent word to his Excellencie the Parliaments Lord Generall that as his Lordship moved by Land so he would saile by Sea and so be assistant to him in the clearing of those Westerne coasts And that for this purpose the noble Lord Admirall designed the Iames the Admirall of his Navy for that businesse a Ship of 875 tun Captaine Richard Blithe being Commander thereof and fitted with 50 Pieces of Ordnance and 260. men in her Also the Constant Reformation Captaine William Battin being Commander thereof a Ship of 740 tun fitted with 40 Pieces of Ordnance and 250. men in her The Expedition Captain Ioseph Iordan being the Commander thereof fitted with an 100 men and 18. pieces of Ordnance together with some other lesser ships which being designed to attend the Lord Generalls marches and removes and to move by Sea still as his Army did by Land and was thus most hopefull by Gods helpe in due time to reduce all the West to the obedience of the King and Parliament whereof more in its due and proper place Much also about the same time came farther intelligence out of the Western parts of the Kingdome that his Excellency had sent severall parties to summon Wareham Bridge-water Portland-castle and other Malignant Townes in those parts that at least 800 men were gathered together in Somersetshire to joyn with his Excellency and that unhappy Hopton having lately then prest about 2000 Souldiers there giving out they were to resist the French from landing but they soone finding it otherwise most of them deserted him and came in unto his Excellency