above six Companies It is true that Col Popham was routed through the default of Major Langrish and his horse but the foot Armes were not above halfe lost In answere to his 1200. men lent Sir William Waller It is confessed we all importuned him to enable Sir William Waller by an addition of 1200 foot to take the feild for preservation of the Country which is no more then Col Fiennes in his propositions to my Lord Generall and Parliament undertook namely to defend the Country for 20 miles adioyneing And Col Fiennes himself when he gave consent to this motion did declare that if the fortune of the Feild went against Sir William Waller yet with his forces remaining in the Town and the men which would be recollected and rallied out of his defeated Companies he made no doubt but to make good the said City And Col Fiennes after the defeate of Sir William Waller did declare that he hoped to make good the Towne with 2500. men and that he hoped to to make up that number by arming those men that fled from the defeate into the Towne and by takeing Armes from the Townesmen and putting them into other hands page 6. Sir Arthar Haselrigg Collonell Burghill and divers gentlemen after Sir William Wallers defeate thought fit to withdraw themselves these Gentlemen did not leave the Towne upon apprehension it was not Tenable but out of a desire to raise men elsewhere to supply it and out of a consideration it was not fit for them in time of war to stay under his command who in time of peace had plundered some of them for not paying such taxes as he put upon the City of Bristoll not withstanding they paid in the Country and resided in Town only to do publique service upon their own purses and for lodging in the Castle it is confidently affirmed that no lodgings there were over offerred to any of the Gentlemen nor any former respects shewrd to them could incourage them to hope for any and so many meane fellowes of the Town were suffered to shelter themselves and their goods there that there was no roome left for the Gentlemen insomuch that when Collonell Stephons with his wife and family retreated into the Castle they could not endure their bad entertainment and the Princes Trumpeter then a prisoner had better lodging then he and his whole family whereupon he returned into the Town again Page 6 he tells us he had but 700 men left in the Town and never a penny of money to pay them Col Fiennes had left in the Town halfe his own foot Regiment halfe Col Pophams Regiment the new begun though not yet compleat Regiment of his brother Iohn Fiennes being about 300. or 400. men besides 300 or 400. foot remaineing of Sir William Wallers and 1000. or 1200. foot he newly by his own confession raised and Armed in the Town so that he had neere upon 2500. foot besides his Regiment of horse and his Company of dragoons which is the number he undertook to keep the Town with as aforesaid and many more men he might have had if he had not as aforesaid so much lessened the Reputation of the Committees in the Countrey that they who by their Warrant had called in neere upon a thousand men in February last when Prince Rupert was before the Towne could not now call in a hundred so much was the Countrey distasted with taking free Quarter Horses disorderly plundring even from the best affected and all these abuses with many more were imputed by the Countrey people unto the Committee and Deputy Lieutenants resident in Bristoll because being in place they did not redresse them although it were not in their power so to doe being over voted at the Councell of Warre by Captaines purposely chosen and new made by the Governour that he might have the sole power and countenance of that Councell to serve his ends and being likewise overborne by the Governours accesse of power gotten from time to time by Commissions and Letters under hand from the Lord Generall or the Parliament which he kept sleeping by him never shewing his additionall authority but upon speciall occasion and then so cursorily and privately as did easily declare he meant not to have his authority so well understood as to draw it in danger to be examined and limited Hereupon the Gentry forbore to intermeddle with affaires and the whole Towne and Countrey were filled with jealousies and indignations and where he affirmes he had not one penny of money to pay his souldiers This causeth admiration in all men who have observed what strange and unheard of waies were used and what number of spunges and horseleeches were continually imployed to suck both from the Towne and Countrey some devices to raise monies we will set downe all is impossible A tax of 500 .l. or 600 .l. a week upon the Towne which was afterwards drawne downe to a farre lesse summe we know not upon what consideration since it is apparent the Towne was able to beare a far heavier burthen A taxe upon Somerset and Glocester shires towards the fortifying of so much of Bristol as stood in these Counties yet this Relator concealeth and in his Letter the 17. of June seemes to deny that he had any speciall levy for his worke both from the Towne and Countrey The weekely assessement and the 20. parts within his verge of 20. miles which though they were not duely raised amounted to a considerable summe if an accompt had beene kept thereof The plundring of S. Thomas Bridges S. Maurice Bâ—râ—klâ—y and many other mens estates in the Countrey without any warrant from the Councell of Warre or the Deputy Lieutenants contrary to an expresse Order made by the said Councell all which were carried into the Castle without account And when complaints were made for undue plundring they were never heard by a Councell of Warre but privately referred to Langrish or his equals and the Complainants just request choaked with delaies as in Mistris Millers case and others The letting and setting or the stocking with plundred Cattle the said Delinquents and other mens estates and sequestring their Rents with account and without the concurrence or privity of the Deputy Lieutenants The confiscated estates of the Conspirators in Bristol and the secret compositions made with many of them are thought to be very considerable the rather because when it was moved that all compositions might be made openly at a full Councell and entred into the Councell cooke it would not be hearkened unto Yet Colonell Fiennes in his Letter to his Father dated June 17. 1643. see Relation pag. 25. saith he shall never make 3000 .l. of the Conspirators estates It may be he meant upon compositions besides their plunder which he could set no probable value upon Divers loanes upon the publique faith to a great value estimated at 7000 .l. Divers supplies from Parliament which were alwaies concealed from the Committee he had received 4000 .l. before
country Secondly presently upon the Articles agreed upon the Governour set all the prisoners in the Town and Castle at liberty these forth with grew insolent and fell to plunder both Town and Castle before the enemy entered to take orderly possession of them these prisoners were many in number and divers of them men of good quality taken by Sir William Waller the Governour often complaining he was made Sir William Wallers Gaole keeper and repining at the charge of keepeing them he was often advised to remove them to a place of more safety where they might be kept as pledges for our friends in captivity London and the Lord Sayes Isle of Lundy were propounded but for the first the voyage was too chargeable and for the last it is since conceived the Governour was unwilling to send any company to that place whereby the misteries of that Island might be discovered and observation made what was carried in and out there and when Sir William Waller moved Col Fiennes to send a way the said prisoners by sea before the enemy came before the Town he answered he would not for that he would keep them to make his own conditions the better his own Councells were alwayes the best I meane for his own ends to make good which the Councell of War was well furnished with suffragan Captains purposely made to vote for him Much more might be said upon this Subject especially for abuses done in Churches c. whereby the love of the Town and Country was much alienated But enough hath been said of a bad matter let us resort to God for mercy and to man for justice to be done in a fitting way that is openly and by man uninteressed lest for want of due rewards and due punishments the two Poles upon which the frame of Government turnes the reformeing part of the Common-Wealth become 〈◊〉 corrupt as the part to be reformed which God of his mercy for … THere hath lately come to my view a Letter written by Col. Nath Fiennes to my Lo Generall with no date to it wherein amongst other matters already confuted in the answer to his relation he tells you he armed 3000. foot and 300. horse and paid constantly 2000 foot and a Regiment of hâ—rse for 4. or 5. monethes together This we deny Col Pophams Regiment of foot being armed and paid by the Country and where he will find 2000. foot those excepted we know not unles they lay hid in Prince Ruperts imaginary close decked boates he further saith he was alwaies ready to furnish Sir William Waller with armes money c. It is denyed for both especially for money the money Sir William Waller had froâ— Bristol being taken up upon the private security of divers Gentlemen Deputy Leivtenants and Committees of Parliament and others Col Fiennes alwayes repining thereat and complayning they would draw drie the spring and starve the Garrison in the Town by those courses this letter seemes to be attested under the hands of divers men some whereof deny they ever subscribed it The true Copies of a Certificate under Col Fienns own hand dated July 17. 1643. As also of an Order of a Counsel of War held in Bristol the same 〈◊〉 expressing the true causes why Sir W. Waller lost the City of Bristol THE CERTIFICATE I doe conceive that Sir W. Waller having only horse they would be of little use unto us for the defence of this City and may be rather a burthen unto us in the consumption of our provisions and therefore I do approve of Sir William resolution to march out of the Town with them and to dispose of them as he sâ—â—â—… think most advantagious to the Cause Bristol July 17. 1643. Nath Fiennes The ORDER It was Ordered at a Councel of War held in Bristol July 17. 1643. That according to the importunity of the Governour and his Officers Sir VVill VVallers depart are from Bristol will be of far greater consequence for the advancing of this present service then his remaining there And after debate it was concluded most convenient That Sir VVill. VValler speedily march towards His Excellencie the Earle of Essex or to London Edward Hungerford Alexander Popham James Kerr Francis Doweâ— Arthur Haselrig VVilliam Carr. Edward Cook Jonas Van drusch FINIS
AN ANSWER TO Col NATHANIEL FIENNES RELATION Concerning his surrender of the City and Castle of Bristol PETRON ARBITER Universus mundus exercet Histrioniam Printed in the Yeere M.DC.XLIII To the Reader Reader THough this Answer cost but few houres to compose it yet was it a work of some dayes to collect the materialls thereof out of the severall reports of many principall Gentlemen and Commanders present in Bristol when it was besieged And when this Pamphlet was ready for the Presse I found the Presse obstructed whereby I was inforced to keep it in a moneth before I could be delivered of this Birth some malicious Juno sitting crosse legged at the labour This is the reason it commeth out so late after the Relation that it may seeme to rub over an old sore whose smart is almost past But Truth is a sluggard that uses to lie long in bed after her base sister Falshood is up and stirring Yet when Truth riseth with her sober constant pace she will soone overtake Falshood and tread on her heeles Reader it is in thy discretion that Truth lose not her grace for want of noveltie Although she come forth with this further disadvantage that almost all those Gentlemen and Commanders that should wait upon her justification are going out of towne with Sir William Waller yet let Truth be welcome without attendants without ornaments it being one of her most naturall ornaments to be starke naked Thine Cle. Walker An Answer to Col Nathaniel Fiennes Relation concerning his Surrender of the City and Castle of Bristol SInce the heart of man is deceitfull above all things and none can know the issues thereof we will not search over-curiously into the desires of the late Governour of that unhappy City of BRISTOL Colonel NATHANIEL FIENNES whether he affected the Government or no Yet seeing it is a point controverted by himselfe in his Relation page 3. we will be bold to say FIrst his undermining Col Thomas Essex whom he struck into the box and laid himself in his roome In this manner Colonel Fiennes brought a letter to Bristol from my Lord Generall authorizing him to seize on and send up prisoner Colonel Essex then Governour of that City and this was so under-hand carryed that the Deputy-Lieutenants and Committee of Parliament then resident in Bristol to assist Colonel Essex in the Government were never consulted with to know what cause of suspition they found in him This was an affront put upon the Deputy-Lieutenants in point of integrity or discretion and industry Secondly his putting Creatures of his own neither souldiers nor men known in those parts into Bristol Castle to make the Government more intirely his owne contrary to the desires both of the Towne and Countrey which were to have a Gentleman of honour and integrity such as both the Towne and Country could confide in placed there Thirdly his many artifices to lessen the Reputation abridge the power of the Committees and Gentlemen of the Country whereof more afterward Fourthly his underhand indeavours to draw a Territory of twenty miles compasse as annexed to that City to be within his sole command and to make it independent upon the rest of the adjacent counties thereby to exclude Sir W. Waller and all others These considerations we say make us think he was as jealous of his Government there as any man is of his wife and that he would brooke no rivall therein nor can his Letters sent to his Father oversway our beliefe Father and sonne being Testes Domestici in the neerest degree But to take off this conceit in his fourth page he tels us he made certaine Propositions to the Gentlemen of the adjacent Counties for the setling and maintaining a Garrison there to which most of the Gentlemen consented It is answered he made a certaine Proposition in generall to that purpose to the Gentlemen of Somerset and Gloucester and the Letter dated the 20. of March 1642. published in the Governours Relation page 13. was sent to the Lord Say and the like to his Excellency the Lord Generall to see how the said generall Propositions would take But when the said Gentleman expected to be againe advised withall for reducing the said generall into particular Propositions he having got the start of them secretly sent up particulars of his owne framing the same it may be which he hath published in his Relation Page 17. intituled A draught of the Ordinance whereby he endeavoured to weaken the power of the Deputy-Lieutenants and Committees and to make Bristol and the Countries adjacent for 20. miles compasse his Territory himselfe in all matters of moment being of the Quorum For example in his said draught of the Ordinance he projected that First the Garrison which should have consisted of 3. Foot Regiments besides Horse whereof one to be raised in the County of Somerset under the command of Colonel Alexander Popham another in the County of Gloucester should be raised by the Governour onely Secondly the money raised in the Easterne-Division of Sommerset in Barkely-Division in Gloucester and in the Cities of Bristoll and Bath upon the weekly Assessment Twentieth part and Sequestration nay and upon Excises and new Imposts should be assigned only for the use of that Garrison with further provision in the Ordinance that if all this be not enough it should be made up out of the said Counties respectively and the Committees appointed to pay the charges of the said Garrison and fortifications being valued and made known to them by the said Governour of Bristoll whose Warrant and Receipt should bee a sufficient discharge Thirdly The Treasurers of the said Divisions not to issue out any monyes without the concurring warrant of Col Fiennes Governour Fourthly The Trained-Bands and Voluntiers of the said Divisions not to be drawn forth upon service either into the City of Bristol or Country but by the like warrant See now what power was left to the said Committees or Deputy Leivtenents even in their own Counties and over their own men and monyes upon which Collonell Fiennes had not incroached in this his draught of an Ordinance Again page 4. he complaines that Sir William Waller drew forth Collonell Essex Regiment and all the Troopes of horse we conceive Sir William Waller drew forth only Col Essex his Troope of Red Coates being not above 30 or 40 and his foot Regiment being incompleate the one halfe whereof never marched out of Towne and were entertained by the Governour still page 5. when Sir Ralph Hoptons Army drew towards Somersâ—tshire Collonell Alexander Popham moved by letters from my Lord Generall would have gone forth with his whole Regiment to joyne with Wilts and Dorset and the Westerne forces of Somersâ—t but was Countermanded by Collonell Fiennes who then first produced a letter from my Lord Generall whereby Collonell Popham and his Regiment were reduced under his command which letter untill then hee had concealed and would not suffer Col Popham to march with