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city_n	esq_n	sir_n	william_n	97,805	5	11.5789	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A95892	Magnalia Dei Anglicana. Or, Englands Parliamentary chronicle. Containing a full and exact narration of all the most memorable Parliamentary mercies, and mighty (if not miraculous) deliverances, great and glorious victories, and admirable successes, ... from the yeer, 1640. to this present year, 1646. Compiled in four parts; the two first, intituled, God in the mount. The third, Gods ark overtopping the worlds waves; the fourth, The burning-bush not consumed: this last part, comming up to these present times, and to our most renowned generall, Sir Thomas Fairfaxes late famous actions, in the west, and the happy (because unbloody) rendition of Oxford, in this present yeer, 1646. Collected cheifly for the high honour of our wonder working God; and for the unexpressible comfort of all cordiall English Parliamentarians. / By the most unworthy admirer of them, John Vicars.; God in the mount. Part 4	Vicars, John, 1579 or 80-1652.	1646 (1646)	Wing V319; Thomason E348_1; ESTC R201016	408,597	484

Magnalia Dei Anglicana OR Englands Parliamentary-Chronicle Containing a full and faithfull Series and Exact Narration of all the most memorable Parliamentary-Mercies and mighty if not miraculous Deliverances great and glorious Victories and admirable Successes of the Counsels and Armies of this present Parliament both by Sea and by Land over the whole Kingdom of England in the most just defence and Vindication of her Religion Laws and Liberties from the yeer 1640. to this present yeer 1646. Compiled in 4 Parts The two first intituled God in the Mount The third Gods Ark overtopping the Worlds Waves The fourth The Burning-Bush not Consumed This last Part comming up to These Present Times and to our most renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfaxes late famous Actions in the West and the happy because unbloody rendition of Oxford in this present yeer 1646. Collected cheifly for the high Honour of our Wonder-working God And for the unexpressible Comfort of all Cordiall English PARLIAMENTARIANS By the most unworthy Admirer of Them JOHN VICARS Gen. 49. 22 23 24. Joseph is a fruitfull Bough even a fruitfull Bough by a Well whose Branches run over the Wall The Archers shot at him and hated him But his Bow abode in strength and the Armes of his hands were made strong by the Hand of the mighty God of Jacob from thence is the Shepherd the stone of Israel Imprinted at London for J. Rothwell at the Sun Fountain in Pauls Church-yard and Tho. Vnderhill at the Bible in Woodstreet 1646. THE Burning-Bush not Consumed OR The FOVRTH and Last PART OF THE PARLIAMENTARIE-CHRONICLE Containing a full and Faithfull Continuation and Exact Narration of all the most materiall and most Memorable Proceedings of this renowned Parliament The Armies and Forces which are or have been in the severall parts of the Kingdome The Description of all the brave Battailes Victories and famous Defeates given to the Enemies both by Sea and by Land Especially the winning of Newcastle the glorious Victory at Nazeby and that famous Victory at Langport won through fire and water Together with all the other admirable Successes of our most Renowned and Victorious Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax with his despised New-Modelled Army in the West even to admiration and the happy Rendition of Oxford and the rest of the strong Garrisons about it Beginning from August 1644. and comming up to this present Moneth of July 1646. Collected for Gods high Honour and all pious Parliamentarians COMFORT By the most unworthie Admirer of Them JOHN VICARS Isaiah 63. 7. I will mention the Loving kindnesse of the Lord and the high praises of our God according to all the rich Mercies which the Lord hath bestowed upon us And his great goodnesse toward us his English-Israel which hee hath conferred on us according to his great Mercies and according to the Multitudes of his loving kindnesses The Third and this Fourth Part being Printed at the sole and entire cost and charge of the Authour Himself Imprinted at London by R. C. and M. B. for M. Spark at the Bible in Green Arbor J. Rothwel at the Sun in P. Church yard T. Vnderhill at the Bible in Woodstr 1646 TO The Right Honourable Peeres and Pious Patriots of this Kingdom Algernon Earl of Northumberland Philip Earl of Pembrook Robert Earl of Essex Robert Earl of Warwick Oliver Earl of Bullingbrook Edward Earl of Manchester Fardinando Lord Fairfax His Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax Captain Generall of all the Parliaments Forces over the Kingdome Sir William Waller Sir Harbotle Grimstone Harbotle Grimstone Esquire Walter Young Esquire Sir John Young Francis Rouse Esquire Edmund Prideaux Esquire and Major Generall Massie And to the Rest of the most Noble and Right Worthily Renowned and Honourable Lords and Commons and Famous Souldiers and Senators Assembled in Parliament that are loyally affected and Constantly Addicted to the Great-work of a Glorious and Thorow Reformation of the Kingdomes Evills in Church and State John Vicars most humbly Dedicateth and Consecrateth Himself and These most Gratefull Memorialls of Gods Eternall Glory and Their high Honour And ever prayes as he is most justly bound for a most plentifull Repay of enlarged Gracious Honour heer and Glorious Immortality heerafter For all their pious Paines and indefatigable Labours Loyalty and Love for the Best-Good of Church and State to bee showred downe into the Bosomes of Them and their Posterity after them for ever TO The Right Honourable Thomas Adams Esq Lord Major of the most famous and renowned City of London And to the Right Worshipfull Sir John Wollastone Knight and Alderman of the said most Renowned City TO The Right Worshipfull his most highly Honoured singular good Friend Sir Matthew Brand Knight High Sheriffe of the County of Surrey And the Right Worshipfull Sir Richard Sprignall Knight TO The Right Worshipfull and truely Pious and Virtuous the Lady Francesse Brand The Lady Anne Sprignall The Lady Rebeccah W●llastone And Mistris Mary Grimstone All of them my Pious and most precious Friends And Honourable and Worshipfull Patrons and Patronesses and principall Encouragers and Countenancers of all my poore and unworthy Labours and Endeavours to advance Gods Glory and Unspotted precious TRUTHES John Vicars their meanest and most unworthy Votary most humbly Dedicates and Consecrates Himself and all his poore but most bounden Services And ever prayes for their perpetuall and pious increase of all Honour and Happinesse heer and an immarcescible Crown of Glory heerafter A Colossus of Eternall bounden Gratitude OR A Panegyricall Pyramides of perpetuall Praise First erected by our Britaines ingenious and ingenuous MERCURIE And now Re-erected by the unworthy Authour of this Parliamentary-Chronicle with some plain and homely Inlaid-Work of his own insome convenient places 1 To God TO the Eternall-Ternall-Trin-Vn Glorious and ineffably illustricus Great and Gracious most Holy and most Wise Wonder-working JEHOVAH Great Britains onely Rock of Defence and most prudent Pilot steering and upholding her Weather-beaten Bark through the midst of the Ocean of all her turbulent and overflowing Floods and swelling Waves of bloody Woes and Wretchednesse The most Potent and Provident Shepherd of his English-Israel discovering and defeating all the malignant Machinations and Hell-hatcht deep Designes of Wrath and Ruine most maliciously intended and most desperately attempted by Papisticall Prelaticall and Atheisticall Wolves a degenerous Generation of her Vnnaturall-Native● Paricides To this Great God this Righteous Lord and King of Heaven and Earth who is thus glorious in Holinesse fearfull in Praises and hath in meer Mercy and free Grace done all these most memorable Wonders for us in Crowning us with so many most glorious Victories and treading our Enemies under our feet Let England and Scotland and with them all the Powers and Potentates of the World with the 24 Elders Revel 4. 10 11. fall before this great God and the Lambe that sits upon the Thr●ne and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their Crowns down at his feet before the Throne

taken nor likely to bee without more assistance which also upon the advance of our Forces God delivered into our hands as in its due and proper place wee shall make more particular mention thereof and thereby most of the Northern parts were cleared as far as Newark save only Pomfret-castle and some few other strong Houses or Holds beyond York In all which the Lord our God made this most Noble and renowned Earl of Manchester a most victorious and glorious instrument About the eighteenth of this instant came certain intelligence out of the West that in the time of the Lord Generals unhappy enclosure in heathenish I had almost said hellish Cornwall by the Kings Forces who also at that time were in no little straits for want of provision for his Army also and was therefore forced to send into Sommersetshire for supplies therein wherof Leivtenant Generall Middleton watchfully having gotten intelligence and that there were divers Carriages and Waggons laden with necessaries for the King gotten together Hee very seasonably marched thither and met with them valiantly encountred their convoy slew and took about an hundred and forty Horse and many or most of the Carriages After which he marched farther toward Sherbor● and sending our parties for intelligence was certainly informed that Sir Francis Dorrington Sir William Courtney and others in all about a thousand Horse and Dragoones were at Lamport Whereupon hee advanced with a party of five hundred Horse and Dragoones to Pederton where the enemy was in readinesse to receive him at his comming And being now in sight of each other Major Ennis and Major Car charged them most gallantly being seconded by Colonell Middleton who at the very first encounter Routed the Enemies Horse and Dragoones though their Dragoones had lined the Hedges and pursued them within half a mile of Bridgewater In which conflict hee took prisoners one Major three Captaines one Leivtenant two Cornets two Quarter-masters forty common Souldiers and fourescore Horses and killed fifty upon the place on our side Major Car was taken prisoner and only scure common Souldiers more and heer also ours took the Enemies Carriages And about the twentieth of this instant August wee received farther intelligence out of the West of some more good service done by this foresaid Leivtenant Generall Middleton since his so routing of Sir Francis Dorrington as aforesaid namely that hee fell upon the Enemies with a party of three hundred Horse and a hundred Dragoones at Farringdon neer Bristol where hee also most bravely dispersed the Enemy and took these prisoners following viz. Colonell Edward Bisse foure Captaines five Leivtenants one Cornet one Quarter-master a Chaplain of their Army and a Chirurgeon eight and thirty Troopers two Gentlemen Troopers twelve Foot Souldiers three barrels of powder with a good quantity of Match and Ball together with an hundred Horse Much also about the same time wee were for certain advertised out of Lancashire that a party of Prince Robbers forces being about three hundred of them whom hee left in that County and were going to fortifie Wiggen whereof Sir John Meldrum Commander in cheif in that County having certain intelligence hee sent a considerable party to them who surprised them all with all their Armes and Ammunition and so also utterly frustrated their intended designe August the two and twentieth 〈◊〉 credible information by Letters out of Lancas to London that the Lord Ogleby a Scotch incendiary fell upon Colonell Doddington neer Preston in Loncashire as hee was marching out of Yorkeshire to Sir John Meldrum then in Lancashire Colonell Doddington at the first had the worst but young Colonell Shuttleworth who indeed deserved to bee an elder brother for his activity and very gallant performances in this Service came in timely to the releif of that valiant Gentleman Colonell Doddington and put the Enemy consisting of foure hundred Horse to a totall Route slew many on the place and took many prisoners among whom were the Lord Ogleby himself Colonell Mynne and Leivtenant Colonell Huddlestone a man of power and much repute in Cumberland and divers other persons of quality Scottish Commanders and Gentlemen were taken prisoners they also took threescore Horse with their Riders and a party of these also endevouring to get to Latham-House as a place of retreat was surprised by our Forces which lay before Latham-House and every man of them taken prisoners Much also about the same time came certain and unquestionable intelligence that the Cavaliers were soundly cudgelled in Cheshire for Colonell Marrow a second Nimrod of those parts and indeed a stout Souldier and brave Commander issuing out of the City of Chester with about fourescors or an hundred Horse was received by a party of that most renowned and Religious Commander and loyall Patriot Sir William Breretons neer Crowton-House where wee kept a Garrison who most bravely routed the Colonell and in the conflict wounded him mortally of which wounds hee dyed the very next day in Chester at which time Sir William took many prisoners And Prince Robber to revenge the death of Colonell Marrow advanced next day with two of his best Regiments of Horse to beat back Sir William Breretons Forces but the Robber was routed and about foure hundred of his men slain on the place and taken prisoners In which conflict valiant and undaunted Captain Zanchie who commanded Sir Williams own Troop most gallantly pursued the enemy within pistoll-shot of the walls of Chester and valiant Lievtenant Colonell Jones performed his part in this conflict with no lesse valour and gallantry and a Corporall of Sir William Breretons Troop by name John Cooper seeing a most brave Horse which the Enemy could not get into the Church in Tarvin Town where the fight was very hot and furious but was fain to bee held by the bridle by one of the Enemies under the Church wall this brave spirited Corporall adventured to fetch the Horse away but they fired so fast out of the Church upon him that hee was forced twice to retreat but hee adventured the third time pistolled the enemy and so brought away the Horse which was valued to bee worth at least fourescore pound And about the same time the renowned Major Generall of Lancas Sir John Meldrum having notice of the Enemies marching toward Ormskirk made haste after them overtook them on Tuesday the twentieth of August in the Evening upon a Moore neer unto Ormskirk where they stood in Battalia and upon the first charge of our Musketteers which were under the command of Colonell Booth they all fled whereupon our Horse bravely fell upon them and totally routed them in the pursuite of whom they took about eight hundred Horse some Letters report a thousand and three hundred prisoners but by reason of the night comming so fast upon them they could not improve the Victory as otherwise they might have done but the Lord Byron and the Lord Mollenaux were

the younger Sir Robert Spotswood pretended Secretary of State and Son to the late pretended Archbishop S. Andrews Sir John Hay sometimes Clarke Register Sir James Dowglas Sonne to the Earl of Morton Sir David Murray Sir John Byres Sir Nathaniel Gordon Sir Alexander Lesly Serjeant Major Generall Sir William Rollock William Murray Brother to the Earle of Tullibrand Col. William Stewart adjutant-Generall Col. James Hay O Cain Lieutenant-Colonell to the Irish The Serjeant Major to the Earl of Antrim and di●●rs Gentlemen Prisoners of note killed LOdwick Lindsay Earl of Crawford Generall of the Horse The Baron of Innerleigh The Baron of Tough The Baron of Cambusnethen younger And Common Souldiers as was toucht before between 2 and 3000. In all which Fight our friends of the Scots lost not one Noble man or any Officer of note save onely Lieutenant Generall Middletons Father whom Montrosse before the Fight too murthered in his bed a grave old Gentleman that never tooke up Armes at all against him All Montrosses Carriages and Ammunition were taken all his Bagge and Baggage and above 4000 Armes And that Gods due glory may yet more illustriously appeare in this famous Fight and rare Victory I shall desire the Reader to take notice of these remarkable Observations on this Fight and Victory As First Montrosse having had so long a time after this last great Victory before Lesly came yet he had not gotten many thousands together Secondly That all this time not one Minister of Scotland complyed with the Enemy either to preach to them or to pray for them Thirdly That the Lord gave us this Victory in the space of an houre Fourthly That it was by an inconsiderable party not above five Regiments of Horse Fifthly That it was onely with the losse of fifteen Common Souldiers and two Captains on our side Sixthly That it was the very next day after our Fast or day of humiliation as a precious returne of our poore Prayers Seventhly and lastly that in the conclusion of the fight a paper-book was taken among our prizes in which were the names of all that either were come in or intended to come in unto Montrosse So as all the rotten members in the Kingdome of Scotland were thereby discovered in an houre and many of them cut off in a short time in this their overthrow Our Souldiers all cried out after the victorie Give all the glory to God and none to us This relation of this famous victorie though acted in and chiefly interested on the kingdome of Scotland yet having so much of God in it and no small influence on us of England also our Scottish-Brethrens wel-fare and ours being so mutually imbarked as it were in one and the same vessell I could not therefore pretermit it insilence but most justly make this honourable mention of it in this our Parliamentarie-Chronicle But now to proceed About the 18. of this instant September it pleaseth the Lord to shew himselfe wonderfully for us at the City or Towne of Chester in giving there unto renowned Sir William Breretons forces left under the Command of that valiant active and faithfull Colonell Iones and Adjutant Generall Louthane a most admirable victorie and such singular prosperous successe upon that City as gave us extraordinary hopes and probability of the timely totall reduction thereof to the obedience of the Praliament which having beene most exactly and faithfully certified and set forth by letters from thence I have here thought fit to give the Reader for his full content and satisfaction therein the Copie of one most authentick from a speciall Commander and actor therein which was as foloweth SIr It hath pleased the good hand of Gods providence and assistance to leade us on so prosperously and successefully in these parts of Cheshire that our Leaguer at Beeston-Castle hath continually kept the said Castle in great awe so kept in the enemie also at the City of Chester on Chester-side as that they could not at any time offend us but if they durst be so bold as to sally forth it hath still turned to their owne prejudice And now lately we heard for certaine that Byron their Governour went out of Chester on the welch side and we having much longed for noble Sir William Breretons comming down to command in chiefe among us which would no doubt ere this time have been an occasion of at least doubling our forces for the better and strong managing of our affaires heere But however we being unwilling to loose any advantage which we could possibly gaine or might be happily administred to us have at this time attempted a great designe yea such an one as you will iustly wonder at especially knowing the smallnes of our strength yet to God alone be all the praise and glory we are now both able to give a very good account of it for the present and we doubt not by Gods assistance we shall be able so to do for the future But noble Sir not to trouble you any farther with a tedious preamble time being precious with us at this time especially The busines was thus On Fryday last September 19 1645. We called a Councell of Warre in the Leaguer before Beeston Castle to consult about the marching to Chester to storme that Garrison and concluded that it should be done forthwith So we stole away from the Leaguer that night the Enemie within the Castle knowing nothing at all of the businesse and drew off about 1300. horse and foot from the Siege Collonel Iones commanded the horse and Adjutant Generall Louthany the foot and the next morning before the Enemie were awake we came upon them having marched all that night through the Moores passing over the River at Hupley and so on by the way of Wareton not so much as staying at Christleton to refresh our selves lest by our stay we should loose the opportunitie or be discovered We marched that night about eight miles and passed before breake of day between Christleton and Hunnington and so on to Boughton all which we carried on so privately that the Enemy had not so much as an alarme in the City We came before the City on the North east side thereof where we made no stop but presently fell to storming and by breake of day were got upon their Works and many of us got over in severall places before they heard any thing of us we tooke their workes betweene Cowland and Boughton quite to the walles of the City the enemy still flying before us we pursued them to the inner-worke which they shut up against us but we forced open the gates at the barres and still followed them driving them into the East gate which we had prevented them of had we not been stopped by the fastning of the gate which they did to gain opportunity to flye into the city we lost in all this not above 2. men killed many wounded the enemy carried away their dead all but one body many of

above 130 within the Castle We tooke in it seven Peeces of Ordnance 400 Muskets and Pikes ten or twelve barrels of Powder 25 Barrels of Brimstone and Salt-Peter together with good store of other Ammunition and Provision The truth of all this was consumed by Colonell Morgans owne Letter to the Parliament after the reading whereof the Commons ordered that thankes should be returned to Almighty God for all these great mercies in those parts the next Lords Day in all Churches and Chappels in and about London and Westminster And further Ordered That a Letter of thankes should be returned to the said valiant Colonell Morgan for this and all his other gallant and faithfull services for the State since his having command of Gloucester and that the said Colonell Morgan should have the command of all the Forces of the County of Gloucester And as for the Government of Monmouth it was conferred upon Sir Trevor Williams a worthy religious and gallant Gentleman A fit and faire-way indeed by gratifying the well-deserving to ingage their hearts and affections more and more to the State and Kingdome And much about the foresaid time the Letters taken in the Lord Digbies Coach at Sherburne conflict as hath been toucht before were read at a Conference of both Houses of Parliament In divers whereof to the Marquesse of Ormond in Ireland his Majesty much bewailes his low and decaying condition since Naseby Battell and advises him if he can to make a Peace with his Irish Catholique Subjects or at least a Cessation But however though he hazard the losse of that Kingdome that he should come away in person unto him withall the forces Armes and Ammunition that he could get and command from thence leaving the rest namely the Protestants on the Parliament-side and the Rebells to dispute the businesse together And to incourage the Marquesse therein he promised him that if he did prosper he should be preferred to all the dignity that possibly could be conferred upon a subject but if his Majesties undertakings succeeded ill as t was most like they would being altogether against God and his Truth hee and the rest of his followers would have the honour to die nobly in a good cause In another Letter upon occasion of Prince Ruperts advising him to a treaty with the Parliament his Majestie checks the said Prince for it wonders he was so much misled tels him that to condescend lower than his termes at Vxbridge would be as bad as a submission which he would never doe so long as he lived And in another Letter dated at Newarke October to the King declares the grounds of his comming to Newarke rather than any other Garrison it being most unlikely to be besieged Colonell Generall Poyntz being as the Letter said much broken with pursuing him That he had the greatest strength thence to break out upon occasion and to get to Montrosse who by an expresse gave him to understand that his Condition and late ●ent was not so bad and so great as was reported but that he was in a good condition and by an addition of forces from Kalcan who were coming to him he should be able to assist the King c. In all which premises we may all see with what poore and vaine hopes meere Egyptian-Reeds the King rests on and feeds himselfe and thereby thus more and more hardens his heart from hearing or yeilding any fit and faire accommodations with his people and Parliament About the 30. of this instant October we had certaine intelligence by a Letter under the hands of famous and faithfull Colonell Mitton Colonell Iones and Adjutant Louthian that the enemie being industrious to releive that Garrison of West-Chester and knowing that the losse of that would be the surrender of all the other They had therefore drawn a party out of their Garrisons of Worcester Ludlow Bridgenorth and other Garrisons thereabout 2400 viz. 1700. Horse and 700. foot and Commanded by Sir William Vaughan being all in one body neer Denbigh-Castle which was about 22. miles from Chester Whereupon our forces calling a Councell of War what was best to be done whether to suffer the Enemie to come neerer or to go out and right with them they concluded to goe out and so drew forth about 1400. horse and 100 foot leaving the Workes sufficiently man'd before Chester and on Saturday they came to the enemie neere Denbigh Castle sent a forelorne hope under the command of Captaine Otter the Body being commanded by gallant Colonell Generall Mitton the Horse led up by Colonell Jones the Foot by Adjeant Louthian who fell on the enemy with as much gallantrie as could be expected there being under their command some Lancashire horse some of Warwickeshire and Shropshire c. each Officer and Souldier deserving honour for their resolution and action among which Major Hanksworth of Warwick 〈◊〉 Major Sanders of Derby did very gallant service in short we wholly routed the enemie tooke betweene five and six hundred horse and above foure hundred foot slew above an hundred on the place and pursued them six miles doing great execution all the way so as in the evening there was not above one hundred left together of the enemie The particulars could not then be related this Messenger came on Tuesday night and had fiftie pounds given him for the intelligence And the Parliament also ordered that letters of thankes should be sent from that House to Colonell Mitton and the rest for this and all their other faithfull Service to the state And not long after the foresaid time we had yet farther information by Letters from those parts that renowned religious and victorious Sir William Brereton was now safely arived as had beene long and earnestly desired by the Countrie there at the Leaguer before West Chester and that valiant and vigilant Colonell Iones having certaine notice that Sir William 〈◊〉 the bloody Lord Byrons brother knowing well the wants and shalts of his said brother Governour of Chester had therefore got together what provisions hee possibly could make and scrape up together and all the forces he could raise to the number of about 400. neer Holt with an intent thus to releive the City of Chester on the Welch-side thereof But I say brave and active Colonell Jones knowing hereof chose rather to march out unto him by the way than to be more dangeously molested neere the City walls where he lay and so leaving a sufficient guard about the Towne in the Leaguer went forth and met him on the way bravely encountred him wherein the fight having soon routed him he tooke Sir William 〈◊〉 himselfe their Commander in Cheife Prisoner with about 50. other prisoners and horse slew divers on the place took divers hors-loades of their provision wherewith they intended to have relieved the City and thus by Gods goodnes hindred this designe also thus by Gods mercie hastning our hopes of the sooner surrender of the said Towne

Commanders 〈◊〉 for the use of the King and Parliament And that which made the mercy much more sweet and remarkable was that the surrender of this Towne was a cleare and most evident returne of the prayers of Gods people who had the fast day before the Moneth of January beene pressing the throne of grace for this great mercy in particular And now this Thursday February 6. being the day of solemne Thankesgiving set a part by speciall command of the Parliament for Gods great goodnesse in the obtaining of the strong Towne and Castle of Dartbmouth whiles the Parliament was in the midst of that God-delighting dutie of Thankesgiving in Margrets-Church in Westminster there came a Gentleman belonging to renowned Sir William Brereton with letters directed to the Speaker of the House of Commons certifying that the Citie and Castle of Chester were surrendred to Sir William for the use of the King and Parliament the third day of this instant Februarie about the houres of 11 or 12. at Noone upon very faire yea indeed too faire termes and conditions to such a bloody Butcher as Byron was save only in mercy and pittie to the poore and miserably long-besieged without and much abused within Inhabitants of the City and to avoyd the utter ruine and devastation thereof which this bloody Byron had vowed rather than to surrender on termes inferiour to those now thus granted For in the present condition thereof it was exceedingly impoverished by the Enemies obstinacie and cruelty within very little provisions to be found therein save only of armes and ammunition whereof indeed was good store The particulars wherof take in this list thereof the best and fullest that was then imparted to us There were taken in the City of 〈◊〉 upon the surrender thereof 300. Peeces of Ordnance 3000. armes 20. Ships and smaller Vessells 40. Barrells of Powder and good store of Bullet 2000. Bandileers 200. Firelocks ●2 Skenes of Match 200. Horse 300. Sadles and other furniture 30. Hogsheads of Wine 17. Firkins of Butter very little Cheese 20 Wagons 17. Flitches of Bacon and a little salt-beefe for the Officers 8000. Ounces of Plate and good store of other rich treasure in Byrons quarters for Byron himselfe was permitted to carry away with him not above 50. l. in mony the Seale of the County-Palatine a 1000. Records and Evidences there were also in the City two Powder-Mills and 250. Irish Prisoners This City and that of Dartmouth were of singular concernment and very great mercies to the Parliament and their losse so 〈◊〉 the greater to the Enemie blessed be our God for it for● this of Chester was most Convenient for landing of the Irish-R●●● and that of Dart-mouth for the French besides the strength which the Enemie had in them which is now by this meanes much weakned and scattered and our forces also which were a●● them now at libertie to be elsewhere imployed on other usefull and important avocations toward Oxford Litchf●ild or some such places About the 8. of this instant Februarie we had certaine intelligence by Letters from Leicester that a party of about 80. horse and 40. dragoones were sent out of Leicester under the command of Major Meeres a very valiant and discreet Gentleman by night into Ashbie de la Zouth who carried on the designe exceeding ●●avely and marched with such expedition and privacie that they came to Ashbi● about 11. of the clock that night altogether undiscovered which was about 12. miles march whither being come they suddainly surprised the Centinells fell in at the Turnpike broke the chaine and entred the Towne tooke neere 100. of the Enemies Horse being the greatest part of the horse of that Garrison 30. whereof were ready Sadled and fitted to have gone forth upon some designe of theirs all of them excellent good horses and some of them worth 20. 30. and neere 40. l. a horse they tooke store of armes and more other Pillage released divers prisoners and some Country men whom the Enemie had taken for ransomes and thus having plundred the Towne in part of requitall of the many mischiefe● and plundring of that Garrison to the Parli●●●ts friends all these 〈◊〉 friends returned to Leicester without the least molestation the Enemie who was in the great House or Close either not 〈◊〉 the alarme or nor daring to come forth at all against them And thus I say they came safely back againe to Leicester with all their horse prize and pillage And about the 10. of this instant we received certaine information by Letters out of the West of the most prosperous proceedings of the Parliaments forces in those parts And how the Enemie did mightily desert their Colours and Commanders yea and how that some of the Commanders themselves with their Souldiers came in unto our renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfaxes party and in particular that a Commander with a party of Horse from the Princes Army came voluntarily and proffered his Service to his Excellency who was most nobly entertained by our renowned Generall And the said Commander did also assure his Excellency that as soone as oportunity did serve divers more intended to come away from the Enemie a great part whereof were North-Countrie Gentlemen who had an earnest desire to serve his Excellency And that a party of Sir Franis Drakes regiment went to visit a guard of the Enemies kept at Burrington where they tooke the Major and all his guard being about 40. Horse in number this partie of ours was commanded by Major Stephens he that formerly routed Gorings Brigade and tooke his Colours from him About the 12. of the instant Februarie our prudent and provident Worthies of the House of Commons tooke into their serious consideration the great obstructions in severall parts of the kingdome and how much it might prejudice the people in case they should not enjoy the benefit of the Lawes of the kingdome Whereupon they ordered That as formerly Commissions should be issued forth under the Great-Seale of England to the justices of Assizes and Oyer and Terminet Goale-deliveries and Nisi-prius should continue and proceede in their power in their Circuits according to former Votes and instructions A singular good worke indeed and much conducing to settlement of the peace and tranquility of the Common-wealth the long intermission whereof which could not till now be well remedied by reason of the Civill-warres among us having beene of great prejudice to the whole Kingdome And the 19. of this instant Februarie being Thursday the House had ordered a day should be set a part as a solemne day of Thankesgiving for the great mercie of God to this Kingdome for the happie surrender of the City of Chester into the Parliaments possession and that a Collection should be made in all the Churches for the releife of the Sicke mained and wounded Souldiers that lay before that place and likewise for the releife of other distressed people in and about that Citie

the Lord Powis a grand Papist and most desperate and devillish blasphemer of Gods name was Governour and the Owner also did often oppose and interrupt the bringing in of provisions unto our forces at Mountgomery castle whereupon Sir Thomas Middleton summoned the whole County thereabout to come in unto him and presently upon it advanced from Mountgomery to Pool with 300 foot and a 100 Horse where they quartered on the Munday and Tuesday night following and on the Wednesday morning next at 2 of the clock even by Moon-light Mr. John A●undell the Master-Gunner to Sir Thomas Middleton placed a Petarre against the outer-gate which burst the gate quite in peices and notwithstanding the many shewers of stones thrown from the Castle by the enemies Sir Thomas Middletons foot commanded by Captain Hugh Massey and Major Henry Kett rushed with undaunted resolution into the Enemies works got into the porch of the Castle and so stormed the Castle-gate entred it and possest themselves both of the old and new-castle and of all the plate provisions and goods therein which was great store which had been brought from all parts thereabout they also took prisoners therein the Lord Powis and his brother with his two Sons together with a Seminary-Priest 3 Captaines one Leivtenant and 80 Officers and Common Souldiers 40 horse and 200 armes The place is of great concernment for before the taking of it it did much mischeif to the Country and almost had blockt up the passages from Oswestry to Mountgomery-castle so that now the strongest forts in all Northwal●s are in the possession of the Parliament this Castle being conceived to bee of strength sufficient to hold out a years siege and to bee able to keep out at least 10000 men for a whole 12 moneth it having at that present sufficient provision in it of all sorts for such a continuance of time Besides by this means noble Sir Thomas Middleton hath now the command of all North-wales and can raise men there at his own pleasure About the 10 of this instant October the Ordinance for Ordination of pious and painfull Ministers pro tempore whereof I breifly made former mention that it was in preparation in the Parliament now fully had passed both the Houses and was Printed and published By which it was Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliaments upon advice had with the Learned and Reverend Assembly of Divines convened at Westminster that during the present exigencies of the Armies and of the Navy as also of many Congregations destitute of able and faithfull Ministers and untill a farther and fuller Church-government were compleated and the whole and constant course of Ordination of Ministers in an ordinary way were set up and setled for the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland That these persons in the City of London being Presbyters viz. Dr. Cornelius Burge● one of the Assessors of the Assembly Dr. William Gouge Mr. John Ley Mr. George Walker Mr. Edmund Calamy Mr. Daniel Coudrey Mr. Stanley Gower Mr. John Conant and Mr. Humphrey Chambers all members of the Assembly Mr. Henry Roxborough Mr. John Downham Mr. Charles Offspring Mr. Richard Lee Mr. Timothie Dod Mr. James Cranford Mr. Thomas Horton Mr. Thomas Glendon Mr. Arthur Jackson Mr. Samuel Clark Mr. Emanuel Brown Mr. Fulk Bellers Mr. Francis Roberts Mr. Leonard Cook or any 7 of them the major part being present shall examine all those which are to bee admitted into the Ministery upon these particulars following viz. Touching his skill in the Originall tongues and that tryall bee made by reading the Hebrew and Greek Testaments and rendring some portion of them into Latine Whether hee hath skill in Logick and Philosophy What Authours hee hath read and what knowledge hee hath to defend the Orthodox Religion contained in them That hee shall frame a discourse in Latine upon some Common place or controversie in Divinity as shall bee assigned him and maintain a dispute thereon and shall preach before the people or Ministers appointed to Ordain or some of them Being thus approved hee is also to Preach three severall dayes in the Church where hee is to serve that they also may have tryall of his gifts and may know and bee satisfied concerning his life and conversation Which being thus completed and concluded the next thing in reference to that and the very first thing indeed the pious and prudent House of Commons took into consideration was how such godly and able Ministers might bee supported and comfortably subsist who formerly had very small and inconsiderable livings and yet that the Parishioners might not bee over-charged therein Whereupon a remedy was propounded to bee out of the revenues of Deanes and Chapters of Cathedralls which also was generally approved of and referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers to bring in an Ordinance to that purpose And a president thereof was made for a farther allowance to bee given to the Minister of To●●ham-High-●ros●● out of the revenues of the Dean and Chapter of Pauls in Lond●n hee having at that time not above 30 pound a year in that Parish But of this more in its due place About the 14 of this instant wee had certain information by Letters out of Glo●estershire and from Colonell Massie himself who thereby confirmed the truth thereof to the Parliament of a very rare and famous exploit performed by this most renowned successefull and unconquerable Commander Colonell Massie the substance of which Letters was to this effect That God had in his rich mercy and goodnesse given him singular good successe against the Kings Forces commanded by Sir John Winter that active arch Papist at the passage at Beechley where hee had formerly well cudgelled him as I have before specified And now again Sir John Winter perceiving himself and those of his Popish and malignant humour that inhabited in those parts to bee in a desperate condition unlesse that passage at Beechley or Bestley could bee fortified by them against Colonell Massies constant excursions upon him whereupon hee I say adventured again to fortifie the same and which hee did with much admirable dexterity and expedition as was almost incredible to bee beleeved that in so few dayes such strong works could bee made but having pallisadoes ready made at Bristol and speedily conveyed to him of three severall sorts each higher than other and all of them well strengthened with iron-work they were therefore suddainly fastned into the ground and good deep ditches made But notwithstanding undaunted Colonell Massie hearing heerof presently marched out of Monmouth with a 100 Foot all commanded men and 8 troopes of Horse and therewith marched against the Enemy who having intelligence of his approach presently drew out a party of Musketteirs and lined the hedges in his way but about 4 of the clock in the morning the noble Colonell fell upon them beat them from the hedges and drave them to their holds and following them close