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
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
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
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
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
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
Thiefe having intelligence that according to the direction of the Parliament the Nationall Covenant was taking throughout that County and to that purpose that there were Summons of all the Clergy-men Church-wardens and other Officers to come in to Leicester to take the Covenant whither accordingly they came for two or three dayes together with much freenesse and cheerefulnesse whereof I say Hastings having notice hee with 4 Troops from Bever-Worton-house coursed about the Countrey as farre as Dunton and Litherworth and tooke neere upon an 100 of the Clergâ—emen and others and carried them Prisoners to a Town called Hinckley intending to have carryed them to Ashby-de-la-Zouch c. using them very coursely and threatning to hang all them that should take the Parliaments Covenant nor were they content with this but roaving up and downe the Countrey they tooke away about 80 Kine Oxen and Horse from the poore Countrey people and one Master Warner a godly Minister whom they much abused threatning to hang him But the intelligence of these things comming to Leicestor and they most justly very ill resenting these outrages and cruelties lost no time but though all their horse were gone to Newark yet they resolved every private man to spare his owne horse and so sent away presently an 120 of the Foot Souldiers and some 30 Troopers that lay at Bagworth-house to keep it from the enemy under the command of Colonell Gray whom the Lord Gray had made Governour of Leicester These their Forces being upon their March toward Hinkley so well ordered the matter that about eight of the clock that night they fell most valiantly on them in their quarters undiscovered tooke the Enemies Scouts and without much resistance tooke the outworks and a piece of Ordnance and there performed their worke also with so good successe that they presently entred the Towne killed one of the Enemies Captains named Man-waring and foure or five more of their Souldiers wounded 9 or 10 of them very sorely presently routed them all tooke two of their Lieutenants one Quarter-master one Ensigne 45 Prisoners and 140 Horse with their Armes released all the Country men rescued all the Cattle and restored them to the right owners and so returned home safe with this victory and booty the next day being Shroâ—e-Teusday as then they called it None of Leicester men were slaine in this defeat onely 4 wounded whereof one was casually hurt by Colonell Gray because he forgot their Word in the fight which was God prosper us the Enemies Word being For the King But that which makes this exploitâ—the more remarkable was that the Enemy was between 4 and 500 strong as was credibly informed and ours not above 200 at the most Our men went on most couragiously in all the Service and had they not been too greedy of the prey we had meere taken them all And therefore desire to ascribe all the honour to God alone And about the same time also came certain intelligence to London that valiant and vigilant Colonell Norton had takes severall prisoners in his parts about Southampton and slaine divers of the seulking enemies among whom Sir Iohn Stowell was slaine in the place About the 18th of this instant came yet farther intelligence by letters out of Yorkeshire to London that that brave and valiant commander Col Lambert since his late famous victory at Bradford hearing that a party were gathering against him to oppose him in the West-riding of Yorkeshire be drew out his forces to meet them and discovering the enemy neere Kirkelesse consisting of about 11. troopes of horse of the Earle of Newcastles as good as they could make up for the designe Col. Lambert presently drew out a small partie which he sent upon the forlorne hope to draw the enemy into a noose who discovering onely a small party of our men they marched toward them Hereupon our men began to retreat the enemy followed In which interim brave Colonell Lambert having wisely carryed the businesse had placâ—d a party on each side of the enemy so as they were surrounded ere they were aware Whereupon with very litle harme the valiant Colonell surprized and cooped them up on three sides and there being a river on the fourth side they all became his prisoners irresistibly save only two or three who adventured to swim over the river who whether they were drowned or not was uncertaine for the river was deepe and dangerous The noble Colonell tooke prisoners at this time 4. Lieut. Colonels and Serjeant Maiors 7. Captaines 11. Cornets 300. souldiers and other officers with other purchase and prizes which the enemy had pillaged in the Country a sore pull from them and a faire strengthening of us blessed be the Lord for it And about the very same time we had certaine knowledge that Sir William Constable that most pious and prudent commander and one Captaine Carter had with a very small and unconsiderable losse taken two bridges in the East-Riding of Yorkeshire both of them very considerable places for their designes the one called Chester-bridge and the other was Stamford-bridge with them they tooke also divers prisoners and three pieces of ordnance there Much also about the same time came credible information to London that a party of Colonell Waights horse from Burley-House in Rutlandshire went out suddenly toward Beaver-castle intelligence having beene given them of a troope of horse quartered a mile off from the castle Whereupon they with the best preparation they could make of sadle-horses and others for dragoones the most part of their garrison troupers being then out in the service at Newarke siege with Sir Iohn Meldrum they fell on them in their quarters tooke divers of them prisoners and then went neerer the castle tooke thence 20. fatt oxen and at least 200. fat sheep and brought them all away safely with them to Burley-House And much about the foresaid time we were for certain enformed at London that divers ships at sea full fraught with Irish-bloody-rebells bound for Westchester met with a great storme by Gods justice and good providence which so violently tost and shattered them that at least a full regiment consisting of 1500. were cast away and drencht and drown'd in the salt streames of the sea as they had destroy'd others in the gory streames of their blood at land And about the same time it was enformed most infallibly that the noble garrisons of Pool and Warham beat upon the then ignoble Weather-cocke the Lord Inchiquins regiment of Irish bloody Rascalls in Dorsetshire with a fierce land-storme where they tooke divers prisoners 2. pieces of ordnance killed very many of them fired their magazine and returned victoriously and safely home againe About the 10th of this Instant March came information from Southampton that a party of Sir Ralph Hoptons horse came and faced that Town Whereupon the brave and valiant Governor thereof Colonell Norton sent out some
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
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
the Parliaments Cause above all the boisterous Billowes and swelling Surges which have tost and tumbled it too and fro purposing thereby to have over-topt or over-turned it but our God I say who is Soveraigne Lord of Sea and Land hath borne up the beautifull Sailâ—s of his blessed Arke and carryed it on most comfortably and brought it home safely to its home and harbour And therefore who can be so stupid and stony-hearted as not to acknowledge but that this is the Lords owne Worke and it is marvellous in our eyes and therefore in spirituall exultation to sing out with holy David and say The waters saw thee O God the proud waves and waters of the world even wicked and bloody men and were afraid before thee and the great depths were troubled at thee So that as Moses also sang The Children of Israel went into the the middest of them upon dry ground and the mighty waters were so farre from drowning or destroying them that they were a wall of safe-guard on their right and on their left hand to defend them And therefore as the foresaid sweet Singer of Israel Not unto us Lord not unto us but to thy great name be all the praise and glory of all these rare and rich mercies of all these many and mighty Deliverances But now to proceed ANd now we shall by Gods safe assistance put forth to Sea again with our blessed Barke the Arke of our God even our most righteous Cause and make this our next Moneths Voyage and begin first wiâ—h a present touch upon the Parliaments most renowned Lord Generalls successefull proceedings in the Westerne parts of the Kingdome From whence wee were certified by Letters from Chard that about the latter end of the last moneth and beginning of this there came in unto his Excellency within the circuit of twelve miles at lâ—st 4000 men who were all drawn into Rankes and Files in a Meadow whither his Excellency came to welcome them together with the noble Lord Roberts Lord Marshall of the Field who made an excellent speech unto them which they most cheerefully accepted with great and frequent acclamations they all offering themselves to live and dye in the Parliaments Cause and this in part confirmes what I mentioned before touching these West Countreymen at Dorchester Plymouths brave Garison also offered to take the Field with the most noble Lord Roberts who was Ordered aud resolved to goe into Cornwall and a part of that Garrison went out at that time about seven miles from Plymouth beat up a quarter of the Enemies tooke 44 Horse with their Riders Prisoners were pursued by that Skellum Greenvill but he also was beaten backe in great disorder with the losse of divers of his men Colonell Arundell a Member of the Oxford Junto and Major Wiseheart were slaine Colonell Digby brother to the traiterous Lord Digby wounded in the face and Greenvile himselfe closely put to it for his life but escaped the Gallowes as yet Much about the same time we were also informed by Letters out of Darbysh that that most worthy and active Patriot S. Ioh. Gel having sent 3 troops of horse 2 troops of dragoons to the E. of Denbigh then in Lancashire had also a small party of Horse abroad towards Nottingham seeking adventures who were met by some of the Kings Forces from Winkefield and divers of ours by them taken Prisoners but the alarme comming to Darby a fresh Party was sent out who in Winkefield set upon the Enemy as they were carousing and rejoycing at dinner for their good successe where they recovered all their owne men tooke 80 of the Enemies Horse and Riders and brought them all safe to Darbie without the losse of one man of their owne About the 4th of this instant Iuly we had also certaine newes out of the West that the greatest part of the Garrison at Barnstable being called off by Prince Maurice who it was then said was to goe to Pendennis Castle to be a Life-guard to the Queene yet the Garrison would needs leave a stinking savour behind them of their old trade of Plundering Whereupon the Inhabitants knowing the Lord Generall was at hand tooke courage and stoutly resisted them and in the issue bravely overcame their late tyrannicall Masters Which the most noble Lord Generall understanding of presently sent them a strong Party of Horse under the Command of the noble Lord Roberts and Sir Phillip Stapleton to helpe them to beat them quite away and keep them out from returning againe And thus they most happyly shooke off that servile Yâ—akâ— of those cruell Cavees and twice repulsed young Digby and others whom Prince 〈◊〉 â—ent to have reduced them again under that banefull bondage and killed divers of them and tooke many others prisoners And now we hope they begin to taste how sweet religion and Liberty is And ô how vâ—liant they grow being now sensible I say of what it was that made their brave Brethren of Lyme with so much unheard of 〈◊〉 to fight and stand it out against such spoylers of their peace and conscience comforts Much also about the foresaid time we had certain intelligence at London by a letter sent by that brave Commander Sir Thomas Midleton to the Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons concerning the brave and victorious raising of the siege of Oswestree lately taken by the noble Earle of Denbigh as was forementioned who left that brave Commander Colonell Mitton Governour of the said Town and Castle and which presently after my Lords departure for Lancashire was besieged by the Kings forces of those parts under the Command of Colonell Marrow which Letter containing a full relation of the carryagâ— of the whole worke I have thought fit here to insert as it was printed and published by authority of Parliament which was as followeth To the Honourable William Lenthall Esquire Speaker of the House of Commons HONOURED SIR NOt to trouble you with vain relations whereby to hinder the other serious imployment for the Kingdomes good May it please you to be advertised That the Town of Oswestree late taken by the Forces of the Parliament under my Brother Colonell Mittons Command was upon Saturday last begun to be begirt and since strictly besieged by the Kings forces consisting of about Fifteen hundred Horse and Three thousand five hundred Foot under the command of Colonell Marrow And that thereupon in pursuance of a Councell of War's determination occasioned by â—â—â—â—arnest and importunate Letter from my Brother Colonell Mitton directed to wee for speedy reliefe and raising of the siege of the said Towne I did upon the Lords-day last past with such Forces of Horse and Foot as I then had with me and the Foot Forces of Cheshire all of us then at Knotsford upon a determinate resolution to have marched for Manchester and then for the service in the North According to enjoyment of the Committee of both
against Prince Rupert 163 Exploits of Col. Massye about Glocester 92 Exploits yet more of Colonell Massyes 227 Englands just objurgation 229 Englands great wonder to Gods great glory Anno 1644. 237 Enemy bravely beaten at Oswestree 266 The low Ebbe of the Parliaments Army 22 Estates of Malignants sequestred 153 Enemy bravely beaten at Lyme 241 A brave Defeat given to the Enemy at Evesham 295 F. The Fellowship a brave ship taken by the Parliaments Forces 27 Fuell provided for for the City of London 35 The Lord Fairfax his Victory at Hull 38 Sir Thomas Fairfax at Horn-Castle 47 France sends into Scotland 54 A brave Fight at Stamford 75 Sir Tho. Fairfax 156 Lord Fairfax Victorious at Hull 163 The Lord Fairfaxes Forces conjoyned with Sir Tho. Fairfaxes 202 L. Fairfax and the Scots conjoyned 210 Fidelity of the Scots to England 211 Col. Fox Victorious at Budely 217 Forces of Northampton beate the Enemy 95 Sir Thomas Fairfax stormeth Gains-borough 102 Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Valour at Marston-Moor Fight 274 Sir Tho. Fairfax compared to Julius Caesar 284 Foy in the West taken 297 G. Gally-slaves of Sathan are Wicked Men. 2 Gods glory is our Alpha and Omega ibid. Gainsbrough won 6 Gainsbrough taken again 51 Lord Gorings Letter intercepted and read in Parliament 155 Lord Generalls just praise 167 Gallows set up at Oxford and the cause 174 Sir Richard Greenviles defection from the Parliament 174 Gloucesters good condition 182 Gloucester releived with necessaries 192 Sir John Gell Victorious at Muck-bridge 199 Gloucesters Ammunition how conveyed thither 200 The Lord Generals advance with his Army 228 Gainsbrough stormed by Sir Thomas Fairfax 102 Grafton house taken 103 The Lord Generalls Mercifull Proclamation 235 The Lord Grey of Grooby his brave carriage at Leicester 257 The Lord Generall successefull in the West 264 3 Garnsey Gentlemen mightily preserved 122 Greenvill beaten at Plymouth 265 Government of the Church 162 Greenland-house taken 285 Lord Grey of Grooby and Sir John Gells forces take Wellney Fort. 287 The Lord Generall victorious in the West 296 Greenvils house at Tavestocke taken 297 H. Sir Edward Hales taken prisoner 15 Houghton Castle in Cheshire taken 18 The Earl of Hollands trunk seized on 27 Hull besieged 30 Hull remarkably preserved 31 Horn-castles famous Victory 42 Hulls victory related by Sir John Meldrums Letter 39 Hampshire Surry and Sussex Associated 57 30 or 40 of our Horse beate 1000 of the Enemies Horse 65 Hilsey house taken 167 Lord Hastings vexes the honest inhabitants of Leicester 169 Hinckly house 170 Sauls house decreaseth Davids house increaseth 173 Haverford west in Wales strangely taken 180 The Lady Hopton and two hundred prisoners taken 194 House of Peers take the Covenant 90 Sir Ralph Hopton writes to Sir William Waller 99 Sir Ralph Hoptons low ebbe 253 Hollanders underhand Enemies to the Parliament 116 Sir Tho. Holts house taken 117 Hildsden house taken 131 Sir Robert Harlow puls down a mighty crucifix at Christs-Hospitall in London 290 I. Capt. Johnsons brave courage 45 Intelligencers and Spies voted against 49 Irish Massacree 69 About 1500 Irish Rogues cast away at Sea by a storm 172 A Land storm also on the Irish ibid A Welch jest 179 Captaine Jordans good successe at Sea 182 The Lord John brother to the Duke of Lenox slain 190 Irish Rebels accorded with by the King 248 Justice of God prosecutes the wicked 249 K. The Earl of Kingstone slaine 7 Kentish Malignants rise in Rebellion 11 The King sends Letters into Scotland 54 The 3 Kingdomes to have one Councill of State 147 King Milus taken 156 The Kings great ayme at Cheshires County 161 The Kings children cared for by the Parliament 175 Kentish-mens brave behaviour at Alsford 193 Kents memorable gratitude to God 232 The Kings party unsuccessefull ever since the Irish cessation 102 The Kings Forces frighted 234 The Kings ungodly agreement with Ireland 248 The King pursued by Sir William Waller 248 L. Sir Michael Levesey at Yawlden in Kent 14 Londoners Petition against a pretended peace 23 Londoners take an Oath 24 A Loan of an 100000. l. to be raised in London for the Scots 38 Lincoln taken 51 Letters sent by the King into Scotland 54 London must be starved up 55 A Letter sent from Oxford to the Parliaments Lord Generall 152 A Letter from the Lord Goring intercepted and read in Parliament 155 Leicestershire men victorious at Hinckly 170 Col. Lamberts brave victory at Bradford 168 Col. Lambert again Victorious 171 Col. Laughorn in Penbrookshire 77 London Regiments brave valour at Alsford 193 Col. Lambert beats Bellassys in Yorkshire 200 Captain Layes Valour at Wareham 81 Solemn League or Covenant farther pressed 88 London petitions the Parliament for the setling of the State Committee 225 Lyme stormed by the Enemy and bravely repulsed 228 Lymes condition related 231 Lymes brave carriage against Prince Maurice ibid. Lymes valour testified by the Enemy 240 Lymes seige wholly raised 243. 252 Lyme bravely beats the Enemy 241 The Kings Letter to the Lord Mayor of London 121 Generall Lesleyes carriage at Marstone Moore fight 273 Col. Lamberts valour 274 Laystolk Garrison quitted 132 Col. Laughorns brave performances in Pembrookshire 294 Lyme garrison gives the Enemy a brave defeat 296 M Malignants of London imprisoned 27 Sir John Meldrum at Hull 39 Captain Moodies brave courage 45 Earle of Manchester victorious at Horncastle 42 Colonel Massies good service at Tewksbury 48 Earl of Manchester takes in Lincolne 51 Earl of Manchester takes Gainesborough 51 Earl of Manchesters care for the associated Counties 55 Malignants estates sequestred 153 Kings-Milus taken by Darby Forces 156 Members of Parliament that tooke the Covenant their names and number 157 Milford-Haven taken 161 Colonell Mitton beates Prince Rupert 161 Colonell Massey still victorious 183 Malignants mouthes stopt 194 At Munk-bridge Sir John Gell victorious 199 Letters of Mart granted against the Parliaments Enemies 84 Earl of Manchester again victorious at Lincoln 217 Colonell Massies brave exploits about Gloucester 92 Colonell Massey at Wotton garrison 93 Colonel Massyes just praise 227 Sir Thomas Middletons brave performances 84 Montrosse beaten in Scotland 230 A Message sent from England to Scotland 236 Col. Massey victorious 236 Malmsbury taken by Colonell Massye ibid. Colonell Massey still Victorious 237 Colonell Massies good services rewarded by the Parliament 237 Morpeth-castle taken by the Scots 247 Colonell Mitton his great daunger and deliverance 251 Two Maids had three of their hands shot off together 254 Gods mercy to Manchester in the midst of her misery 258 Malignants in London their Flea-biting 260 Marstonâ—Moores most famous victory described 269 Sir John Meldrum stormes Gainesborough 103 Monuments of Superstition to be demolished 222 The Earl of Manchesters labour and vigilancy at York fight 273 A learned and godly Ministry to be ordained 287 Captain Moultons brave performances in Pembrookeshire 294 N The Earle of Newcastle beaten from Gainesborough 6 Mewcastle besiegeth Hull 30 Newcastle in great straites