brought them in and planted sure Vpon thy holy Mountain to endure In thine Inheritance thy precious Place Which Thou O Lord hast made full fraught with Grace And heav'nly Glory where Thy Self doth dwel Thy Sanctuary where all joyes excell By thine own export Hand most rarely made To all Eternity establisht staide Where Thou O Lord most gloriously dost Reign And shalt for ever evermore remain For why proud Pharaoh's Horse and Chariots All His daring Horsemen Riders strong and tall Into the Sea audaciously did enter And durst into the Deep most proudly venter But sodainly the Lords great Blast did blow And all the Waves and Floods did backward flow And drench and drown them All in Israels eye Whilâ—â— This his People passed over dry Thus as said Jethro in the very Thing Wherein they proudly dealt heavens glorious King Was admirably farre above them All And into utter Ruine made them fall And thus may I say Englands glorious King To whom so justly wee these praises sing Hath wondrously declar'd unto us All That in the Things intended for our thrall By our Papistick Atheistick Foes The Lord Jehovah farre above them rose And tumbled them into the Pit which they Had digg'd as deep as Hell for our decay For this O Lord this great deliverance Our Soules our Songs Thy Praise doe thus advance For this so great so gracious Love O Lord Our Hearts and Tongues thy Praises doe record For this so mighty Mercy glorious King For evermore wee will thy Praises sing And tell our Childrens Children of the same That they when wee are dead may blaze thy Fame To their Posterity for evermore O sing aloud all Laud and Praise therefore Advance O England then thy cordiall-voyce To Heav'ns great King who makes us thus rejoyce Omnis Gloria solius est Domini FINIS Imprimatur Ja. Cranford Aprill 4. 1646. THE BVRNING-BVSH not Consumed OR The Fourth Part of the Parliamentarie-Chronicle ABOUT the later and of the Moneth of July 1644. the Reader may bee pleased to remember that wee lest the Affaires of the Kingdome in a prosperous posture and Victorious condition for the Parliament both in the Northern parts of the Land after the most memorable and renowned Victory at Mâ—â—stone-Moore neer York together with the surrendring up of that great City it self into the power and possession of the Parliament and the Earl of Manchesters most successefull advance Southward after his departure from York with his conquering Army As also in the Western-parts of the Kingdom where the Lord had marveilously blessed the proceedings four most noble Lord Generall his Excellency â—he Earle of Essex both in releeving and securing of Liâ—â— Plimouth and other straitned Towns in the West and in the reducing of Saltash Causam Sâ—ellum Greenvills house Mount-Stamford Plimpton Barnstable Dartmouth and Warâ—ham with many other strong Holds and Towns in those parts Now therefore having by the good providence of God opportuniâ—y 〈…〉 so happily 〈…〉 famous History of the Parliaments most 〈◊〉 and inevitably necessitated proceedings and managing of affaires over the whole Kingdome for the publick safety and subsistence thereof against the destructive designes of the pornicious and viperous Adversaries thereof Atheists Papists Prelates and besotted yea bewitched Malignants I shall now I say by Gods gracious assistance and the Readers constant candor and Christian patience proceed to a Fourth part of this our Parliamentarie-Chronicle which for Varieties sake which in all things and actions addes delight and content I have termed or Entituled The Burning Bush not Consumed To which admirable-wonder shewn by God himself to Moses Exod. 3. 2 3. c. I doubt not but wee shall make a most full and fit resemblance and allusion in the admirable providentiall passages of this ensuing History For as the Angel of the Lord or as some the Lord Christ himself appearing unto Moses in a flame of fire in the midst of a Bush which Burned and was not consumed called unto Moses who voluntarily turning toward it exprest his desire to see this strange sight how it came to passe that the Bush so burning was not consumed to draw neer unto it and to put off his shooes from his feet in regard of the place of Gods presence So I shall now earnestly desire the godly Reader in the sight and 〈◊〉 of this most admirable and renowned History of the Burning estate of our â—ottering State and Kingdome all on fire with intestine furious flames of threatned ruine and confusion yet to this day even miraculously preserved by the All-saving presence of the Lords mighty protection and preservation dwelling in the midst of it whereby it is not nor hath been long ere this as otherwise it had been utterly consumed and turned into ashes of desolation and dâ—struction I shall now therefore I say desire the godly Reader to put off the shooes of prejudicacy and sinister construction and so to draw neer and seriously to peruse and take speciall notice of these miracles of mercy and divine providence with the 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Christian candor and singlenesse of heart and affection and seeing them greatly and graciously to admire and adore the infinite riches of the free grace and goodnesse of Him that thus dwelt in the Bush for it s so rare and unspeakable preservation And thus now let us accordingly come neer to behold this Wonder And for the first part and apparition thereof which presents it self to our eyes and understanding and wherewith I shall begin this Moneth of mighty and even miraculous preservations in this Burning Bush of our present Parliaments great affaires and necessitated Armes and negotiations shall bee of that most famous faithfull active and successefull Commander Colonell Massie Who about the beginning of this Moneth of August 1644. by his own Letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament certified us of a very brave defeat which he had given to the Kings fiery Furies and Cosmorant-like devourers the Cavaliers under the command of Colonell Mynne which for the Readers better satisfaction I shall heer insert verbatim as it was Printed and published by authority of Parliament August 6. 1644. To the Honourable William Lenthall Esquire Speaker to the Honourable House of Commons SIR KNowing the affaires of the Parliament so many and so weighty that their time is precious and therefore a tedious relation not so sutable to them having by this Post more fully related in my Letter unto the Lords and Gentlemen of the Committee of both Kingdomes it being their command I at all times should so doe I shall intreat you to excuse mee unto them at this time who shall suddenly God willing enform and render unto them a more perfect account of both the late following passages both of Gods displeasure yet afterward Mercy unto us That upon Friday last Colonell Generall Mynne being entred into our parts with a considerable strength both of Horse and Foot
by storming it by our brethren of Scotland The Scots pious prudent carriage before the storming of Newcastle Marley the Major of Newcastle his proud dissembling carriage toward the Scâ—ts What great most just cause England hath for ever to love most entirely their faithfull brethren of Scotland Malignants most slanderous mouths justly stopped A brave exploit performed by renowned Col. Seelâ—y Governour in Lyme The most just reasons of an Ordinance of Parliament against Irish Rebels taken prisoners by Sea or Land who are to have no quarter granted them Certain intelligence brought to London that ours and the Kings forces were within 2 or 3 miles of Newberry and like to be engaged The Copy of a Letter sent to the honourable Speaker of the House of Commons relating the whole fight at Newberry 28 Octob. 1644. The King in Newberry The Enemies strength at Newberry was 8000 foot and 5000 horse God heer took more care for his servants than the King did of his best Subjects Our Army was necessitated to quarter al night in the open field Ours took 2 or 3 cart loads of the Kings provision and 100 horse and foot of the enemies The fight begun The fight maintained for at least 3 houres space with admitable courage fiercenes on both sides The Earl of Cleveland others taken prisoners 9 of our brave peices of Ordnance which had been lost in Cornwall heer now recovered our men fought like devils as the Cornish Souldiers cryed our running away The King â—â—ed out of Newberry with only one Troop of horse General Gorings brother shot dead in the fight Prisoners tâ—ken at Newberry fight The King flying out of Newberry reviles the Major Prizes-taken at about Newb. An Order of Parliament for a day of publik Thankâ—giving to God 〈◊〉 brave defâ—at happy Victory A just check to our improvidence in not improving this braveadvantage as we might have done The Castle in the Town of Newcastle taken by our brethren of Scotland The names of the prisoners taken in the Castle A most famous defeat given to the Enemies at Bever Vale by Sir Jo. Gells Sir Tho. Fairfax his forces 800 horse and 400 prisoners taken at Bever-Vale Colonell Sydenâ—ams good service in the West Leverpool in Lancashire surrendred up to Sir Jo. Meldrum The manner how Leverpool was taken Prisoners taken the goods of the Town recovered by Sea Tinmouth-castle surrendred unto Generall Leven with 38 peices of Ordnance in it and great store of oâ—her Armes Ammunition The most wise providentiall degrees of Gods completing his mercies to us This Moneths day of humiliation was also most justly turned as much into a day of exultation Reverend Mr. Cases baptizing of the surrender of Newcastle with the name of Gâ—d a Multitude The Burning-Bush not consumed 1. A brief most grateful â—ecapâ—tulation of all the memorable mercies of this moneth of October 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Burning-Bush not consumed Isa 54. 16 17. Ibid. ver 15. Psal 18. 31. 46 Novemb. 1644. A brave exploit performed by Captain Stones one of valiant Col. Ridgele yes Officers in armes against the Enemy about Eccleshall This 5 of November a day of publik thanksgiving for divers great and famous victories The great triumph in the City of London on this solemn day of thanksgiving The Enemies Garrison at Sir Jo. Strangeways House in Dorsetstire stormed taken by Sir Anthony Ashley-Cooper The storming of this Garrison continued 6 hours together Between 30 40 of our men blown up with powder in the taking of this house A brave defeat given to the Enemy at Helmsley castle Free Trading with Newcastle re-established by the Parlia Helmsley castle in Yorkeshire taken by the thrice noble Lord Fairfax A brave defeat given to the Enemy in Lincolnshire by Major Harrison A brave defeat given to the Enemy at Axminster by Lime forces A rich ship driven into Lime Haven by a storm Another brave defeat given to the Enemy by Lime Garrison Laughorn castle in South-wales taken by Colonell Beal A brave exploit performed by Col. Sydenham against the Enemy at Dorchester The admirable courage valour of Colon. Sydenham and his Souldiers A grateful summary review of the various ways of the Burning Bush not consumed Psal 46. 11. Decemb. 1644. A brave defeat given to the Enemies at Salisbury by Sergeant Major Dewet Colonell Cooke Leivtenant-Col Hook with others taken prisoners The self-denying Ordinance for calling home al the Members of both Houses of Parliament The substance of the Ordinance or Vote it self A day of Humiliation ordered to bee set apart for both Houses in private to seek the Lord touching this great Vote Isaiah 65. 1. Crowland taken by Col. Rainesborough A brave defeat given to the Enemy at â—edâ—ury by renowned Col. Massie Good service done by Sir Tho. Middletons forces about Mountgomery-shire A brave defeat given to the Enemy in the West by Col. Holborn Plots conspiracies of the Enemies discovered and prevented Stafford Town and Castle in danger Doverâ—castle Abbington Ailâ—bury Reading Plymouth Lyn-Regis in great danger to have been betrayed An exact relation of the crafty contrivement dâ—scovery of the plot to betray Lyn-Regis The Kings esteem of Lyn-Regis Captain Lemon seems to consent to the plot The Governour of Lyn made acquainted with the businesse The brave carriage of the businesse Leivtenant Sâ—ubbin 5 or 6 more with him sent from Lyn by the Governour came in a disguise to perfect the work Mr. Strange findes himself betrayed Mr. Strange his CommissioÌ„ taken and sent up to the Parliament The Copy of the Commission Iounton-Dean in the West releived Colon Holborns activity brave service in the West Care taken by the Parliament for the choosing of good Officers in the City of London Captain Redmans brave service neer Northampton Knaresborough-castle in Yorkshire taken Cumhire Abbey a strong Garrison of the enemies in Mountgomery shire taken by Sir Tho. Middleton Captain Stones brave defeat given to the Enemy at Tongue-castle Another by Major Dewet And another by Col. Thorney The most noble Queen of Sweden desires Association with the Parliament of England The Burning-Bush not consumed Psal 367 8. 32. 7. January 1644. Sir Alexander Carew beheaded for treason Sir John Hotham beheaded for treason Captain Hotham also Son of Sir John Hotham beheaded on Towre-Hill A remarkable passage of Divine providence The Directory for pure worship Voted in Parliament the Common-Prayer Book abolished The Arch Prelate of Canterb. to be now effectually brought to his Condemnation A remarkable note Divers brave exploits performed by the Parliaments forces against the Enemies Cardigan Town Castle taken by Col. Laughorn in Wales and a brave prize at Sea The Arch Prelate of Canterbury executed for treason on Towre-Hill Isaiah 6. 10. Prov. 11. 10. A brave defeat given to the Kings forces at Abbington by renowned Major Generall Brown A Copy of Col. Harsnets Letter to Capt. Jones touching
forced to leave their Horses in the flight and to hide themselves in a Corn-field some of the speciall prisoners then taken were Colonell Sir James Prestwich Leivtenant Colonell Cottingham Captain James Anderton with five or six Captaines more six or seven Leivtenants four Cornets one Quarter-master eight or ten Gentlemen of worth and quality two Priests or malignant Ministers and as I said before above two hundred and fifty common Souldiers And heer now give mee leave good Reader to give thee this necessary note or observation upon some of the forepast premises especially touching Gods very gracious dealing with his much menaced and molested Servants in Lanoashire and Cheshire and those parts and his most just and revenging hand of displeasure upon that bold and bloody Prince Robber and his great strength of Horse wherein hee much boasted and â—oulstred up his proud hopes of subduing or ruinating those Counties For in a very short space it was sorely and suddenly abated and decreased by the great hand of God towards us As first aâ— Welsh-pool as I have forementioned there were taken by Sir Thomas Middleton and Colonell Mitton with the assistance of the Forces of Cheshire three hundred forty six Horses of Ruperts own Regiment and within a sevennight after that there were taken by Colonell Ashton at Holland in Lancashire two hundred Horse At Preston also in Lancashire presently after at least threescore Horse and at this last mentioned brave skirmish by the Lancashire Forces at Ormskirk in Lancashire about nine hundred Horse and by Sir William Brereton at Tarvin as was fore-specified at least three hundred Horse which in all make up about one thousand eight hundred Horse besides the prisoners then taken with them And about the foure and twentieth of this instant August I received a summary Relation of the valiant actions of that loyall and active brave Commander Colonell Fox so much inveighed against by that base Pamphleter Aulicus the Kings Lyer in cheif as witty Britanicus rightly titles him which I thought not sit to let slip or to sleep in oblivion which were as followeth Upon this vigilant Commanders discovering of the quartering of Worcester forces in Vpon-Warren some twelve miles from his Garrison hee went forth with a party of Horse and took in their quarters Leivtenant Colonell Dudley as appeared by a Commission found in his pocket Captain Milward Leivtenant Newberry Quarter-master Dod two Corporals ten other Souldiers and twenty Horse and with these hee also brought away a drove of Cattle from the Earl of Shrewsbury and a little after hee took Captain Knight in his Quarter at Stoke neer Bromsgrave And not long after upon intelligence that the Commission of Array sate in execution thereof at Ombersley foure miles from Worcester and seventeen miles from Egherson Garrison hee desired my Lord of Denbighs forces to joyn with him for their apprehension which was accordingly attempted where they took forty prisoners divers of them being men of note an hundred and thirty brave Horses an hundred and fifty Beasts but most of the Commissioners very hardly escaped by reason of some delayes of the Earles forces who stayed a little too long upon some other design neer Worcester contrary to the Colonells direction and desire yet notwithstanding by reason of the Colonells and his cubs pursuite after them over the River Severn where they were enforced to swim hee recovered divers excellent Horse and Armes and so returned with this prize in safety And upon the twentyeth of this instant the said valiant and vigilant Colonell having intelligence of some Cavaliers to lie in Bromsgrove hee sent forth a party of Horse under the command of Captain Tadman and Captain Johnson who surprized in the place Captain Barnsley and all his Souldiers hee being a Gentleman of note and quality and a Wâ—â—â—ster Captain And thus this noble Colonell did so hunt and fright the Cavaliers in all those parts that scarcely one of them were heard of in the Country thereabout but hee presently pulled them into his den nor durst any enemy come out of Worcester to oppose his proceedings insomuch as that the greatest Malignants and Papists about him were forced to flie or make their peace with him About the foure and twentieth also of this instant August wee were certainly informed by Letters out of Darbyshire that whereas that most active and valiant Commander and loyall Patriot of his Country Sir John Gell had long time lyen before Winck field-mannour the Sanctuary of all the Papists and Delinquents of that County hee was now by the brave assistance of the most noble Earl of Manchesters forces become Master of it it being now at last surrendred up into his possession on fair termes and Articles of agreement with all the Armes and Ammunition therein except only what the Cavaleirian Commanders carryed away with them for their own particular uses which were only each Commander his Sword and Pistoll There were in the House above there hundred Souldiers and fourteen peices of Ordnance and it was a House very strongly fortified and of no small concernment to us in the taking of it And now Sir John Gell was by Gods mercy as good as his word who had vowed hee would never leave the said siege till if God so pleased hee had the place and brave Colonell Crawford with part of the Earl of Manchesters forces came as I toucht before seasonably to his assistance and was a great help unto him in the said businesse And about the six and twentieth of August our most pious prudent and vigilant Parliament published an Ordinance of Parliament wherein it was Ordered that the Counties of Wilts Sommerset Devon Dorset and Cornwall with the Cities of Bristoll and Excester as also the Town and County of Pool bee Associated for their mutuall Defence against the Cavalierian Adversary and that the Committees nominated in the Ordinance of Parliament of the first of July shall put in execution the said Ordinance in the Counties afore-mentioned and that all the Colonells Leivtenant Colonells Captaines and other Officers are also to Associate themselves and with the well-affected of the said Counties to ayd and succour one another and giving thereby full power and Authority to the said Committees to put in execution the Ordinance for Voluntary Loanes and Contributions to the Parliament for raising of Monies and Forces for the suppression of all Malignant forces against the Parliament It was thereby also Ordered that the Earl of Northumberland the Earl of Pembrook and the Earl of Salisbury the Lord Roberts and the Lord Bruce with the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the said Counties in the House of Parliament have power to nominate and appoint all Colonells Leivtenant Colonells Serjeant Majors both of Horse and Foot to Command the Forces so raised in the Association and the Lord Generall or such as shall from time to time command in Cheif shall grant Commissions to them accordingly Much
50 Horse and so returned safe with our said prize Much also about the same time wee had certain intelligence of some singular good service done immediately after the fore-mentioned furnishment of Oswestry with Ammunition by that most valiant and brave Commander Sir Tho. Middleton at or neer about Mountgomeâ—y-castle the substance of which intelligence by a Letter was this That by Gods gracious assistance that noble Commander was advanced and came into Mountgomery where he found the people all very willing and ready to receive him and that Sir Thomas had summoned the Castle and that his own Regiment fell in that interim upon New-Town and had there taken Sir Thomas Gardiner and his whole Troop of Horse 28 prisoners 36 barrels of powder some store of match two Horse Colours one Quarter master and since that even immediately after came certain information unto us that the said most noble and renowned Commander Sir Thomas Middleton having as was fore-mentioned summoned the Castle of 〈◊〉 where the black Lord Horbert was hee upon faire and honourable termes surrendred it without much contestation about it although it bee a Castle as strong as any Castle in the Kingdom whatsoever or in the Principality of Wâ—lâ—s and of very great concernment for the happy reduction of all North-wales to the Parliament of which more in its proper place About the 10 of this instant September wee had certain information by Letters from Wem that the vigilant and active Committee there resident having intelligence of the drawing out of the forces in Shrewsbury toward Ludlow as was then conceived but afterward they understood those forces marched toward Sir Thomas Middleton they sent out under the Command of Leivtenant Colonell Rinking a very good Souldier a party of foot and horse to surprise Morton-Corbet-Castle and sent unto the Lord Calven to meet them with a party from Stoke and upon a Saturday night about one or two of the clock they came before the Castle every man being assigâ—ed the place where hee should fall on Now they being come thither it being but about four miles from Wem and they finding the People in great security ordered the businesse thus First the Commander gave the Word which was Will and Tom with order that if any asked who they were to answer Will and if the other answered not Tom they should give fire this being done hee sent Drums at a fields distance from the house with order to beat a march as soon as ever the assault began which they did accordingly and therby made the Enemy think that there had been a great strength when as indeed it was no such matter Then presently the Leivtenant Colonell calling aloud to bring up such a Regiment to such a place and such a Regiment to another place this much daunted the hearts of the Enemy at the hearing thereof and then hee sent some to discover the Centery with an order to tell the Centery that they were friends and to hold him in discourse untill they had notice which service was so well performed on all parts that before the Centinell knew who wee were our Ladders were mounted and wee in possession of one of their works and then the Enemy took the alarum and our men plyed the work most stoutly The Leivtenant Colonell endevoured with but ten men to have forced a little door wherein not prevailing hee marched along over the tops of the works with but four men and with these fell upon them that were in another work and forced them with one volley to betake them to the House where out of the windows and holes they within shot fiercely at us till wee by throwing in among them some hand Granadoes they quitted those places which gave way to our men to break a stone pillar of a window where the Leivtenant Colonell entred and his four men entred and after them immediately after many more but before these were come in the Enemy being at least 80 foot and 30 horse and fearfully supposing by reason of the noise of the Drums afore-mentioned and the Leivtenant Colonels calling together of so many Regiments supposing therefore I say that a greater force of ours followed those five then entred into the Castle they all instantly cryed out for quarter which these five granted them and by that time the rest of our Forces were come up and had entred the Castle and so possessed themselves firmly of it and in it Major Bridgeman Captain Maurice one Leivtenant one Sergeant one Quartermaster one Ensigne two Horse Colours at least 80 Souldiers and 30 good Horses 6 barrells of powder with much other provisions The House was so strongly fortified that my Lord Calven and the Leivtenant Colonell who behaved themselves most bravely in this action said it might have been maintained against a great strength for had it been day-work they should not have attempted it In all this so resolute and even desperate service wee lost but one man and had only some few wounded Now much about this time there having come constant and most true intelligence of the sweet tranquillity and peaceable and free Trading of the people in all the Eastern and Southern Associated Counties of this Kingdom where the the Kings devouring Cormorants the bold and bloody Cavaliers had no power to pester them and pilfer from them which I may therefore heer most justly adde to the Catalogue of all the rest of our most rare and singular Parliamentary-mercies as namely in Cambridgeshire what a goodly and full Fair there was kept at Sturbridge neer the University with free Trade and comfortable commerce as was formerly accustomed in our former most peaceable times the like also at Berry in Suffolk at Lyn in Northfolk at Braintree in Essex at Maidstone in Kent at London both at Peters Fair in Westminster Jameses and Bartholomew Fair in Smiâ—â—field and divers other parts and places under the power of the Parliament and where I say the Cankerworms and Caterpillers of the kingdom the most accursed Cavaliers came not And again if wee look no farther than the most renowned and famous Cities of London and Westminster the intolerable terrours and tormentors under God of all the rotten Royalists where the Word of God is most powerfully and purely most freely and frequently Preached where peace and plenty are even to the highest admiration of Gods infinite and unexpressible praise and glory enjoyed and where they know not But by hear say ever magnified and omnified bee the free grace and great mercy of our good God the most wofull massacrings plundrings and pillagings spoylings and filthy deflouring of all sorts and sexes which in very many yea too too many parts and places of the kingdom are most sadly seen and suffered where the Atheisticall Royalists Romish and Malignant Atheists rule and tyrannize as in Worcestershire where the English Papists and Cavalierian Atheists have all the time of these most unhappy warres kept correspondency with
hee dâ—ed in this Cause but that hee dyed so soon to doe no more for it A most noble speech indeed and most worthy a virtuous and Christian Lady But now to proceed About the 26 of this instant September came certain intelligence by Letters to London out of Gloucestershire of a very rare exploit performed by that most renowned and ever to bee honoured successefull Commander Colonell Massie at Monmouth in South-Wales which was this Colonell Kerl who had the Command of the said Town and Castle for the King went out in the night with a party of Horse and was met with by Colonell Massie who having laid an ambuscado surprised the Colonell and took all his men prisoners After which to requite some ill service which hee had formerly done to the Parliament in deserting it or whither that were done by compulsion or otherwise I will not determine but the said Colonell Kerl upon an agreement and resolution betwixt brave Colonell Massie and him marched in the head of Colonell Massies men to the Town of Monmouth and demanded entrance whereupon the draw-bridge being let down Colonell Massie soon became Master thereof and quickly got possession both of the Town and Castle together with the losse not of above 6 men on both sides This Colonell Kerles Father was then at Gloucester and for the Parliament and having an estate in the County of Monmouth the King gave it to his Son on his revolt to his side but by this means the Father happily regained both his Son and his inheritance together This Town being a place of great concernment was on this obtaining of it made a Garrison for the Parliament it being not only the inlet into South-Wales from Bristol but was also a Magazine to furnish that City and those parts with Butter Cheese and all sorts of Victualls And about the latter end of this instant September wee had farther certain information by Letters from Gloucâ—ster that Prince Robber having had a design to secure a passage between Bristol and Wales for which purpose â—ee had sent 200 of his Forces to Betsley in the Forrest of Dean joyning upon the Severn neer unto that grand Papists Sir John Winters in the Parish of Tidenton where they were a fortifying and making a mote and had raised a Sconce to secure that Garrison But valiant Colonell Massie having timely intelligence thereof drew out a considerable Party of his own and some of the Earl of Denbighs Horse and bravely fell upon them slew divers of them took their Governour and 10 Commanders more about an 162 prisoners 200 Armes 2 peices of Ordnance and all their Artillery bagge and baggage and thereby utterly frustrated that design and thus the noble and renowned Colonell victoriously returned to Gloucester with all his prisoners and prize aforesaid And now good Reader let mee heer desire thee to make a little pause and ponder a while with holy admiration and Christian contemplation on this moneths great wonder also even to see this blessed Burning-Bush the Cause of God his innocent Church or Children in the midst of so many combersome and combustuous and furiously flaming Conflagrations and yet this Bush so farre from being consumed as that contrariwise it growes more and more strong vigorous and victorious sprouting and spreading forth with more and more extraordinary boughes and branches and as it were in a fair and most flourishing condition Witnesse all this foresaid moneths particular passages of Gods providence and protection over his forely smitten assaulted and menaced Members of his Church both in their deep danger in Cornwall by an undoubted plot of trechery contrived by false friends as well as open enemies together I say with all the rest of the most memorable providentiall passages of this moneth in all which it was most evidently seen that the blessing and good will of him that dwelt in the Bush was plentifully poured out on his Churches Cause and may therefore most justly cause and encourage us still more and more to magnifie the mercy of our good God and with immoveable constancy and confidence relying on his experienced love and faithfulnesse to confesse with holy David to the incomparable praise of our wonder-working God O Lord God of Hosts who is a strong Lord like unto thee or to thy faithfulnesse round about thee for who in the heavens can bee compared to the Lord and who among the sons of the mighty can bee like unto our God But now to goe on AND now I say to goe on in a farther and more serious search for contemplation and admiration of these continued wonders of our great and glorious wonder-working God which were most obviously and conspicuously presented to our eyes and eares in the whole progresse of this next ensuing Moneth of October 1644. And heer wee will begin with the then present state and condition of the Parliaments main and standing-Army under the speciall Command of his Excellency the Lord Generall Robert Earl of Essex which Army what a most dangerous combustion and deep gulf of destruction it had lately escaped in the West by the unfaithfulnesse as was strongly conceived and groundedly beleeved also as I have already expressed in the last fore-going moneths passages of some of the prime Officers and Commanders of that Army In serious consideration whereof our most renowned and vigilant Parliamentary Statists did the very beginning of this Moneth Vote a Committee to goe down to the Army viz. the Lord Wareston and Mr. Crew whose advice was to bee taken by the Commander and Commanders in Cheif for the prevention of future disloyall attempts and treacherous designes and for the more serious and solid acts and motions of the Army for the good of the Kingdome by Gods blessing thereon the like course being said to bee taken in Holland namely that there are some of the States of those Vnited-Provinces that accompany the Prince of Orange whose concurrent advice hee takes upon the enterprising of any designe and yet the said Prince takes not this as any diminution of his Command And how needfull this course hath been in our main Army the Kingdom hath been or might have been most feelingly sensible especially considering the ill-instruments which about this time and formerly were and have been in the Army in the West which although I have already in some measure touched before yet because more clear demonstrations thereof are since come to light and to my hands I shall desire with the Readers patience and to his farther and fuller satisfaction therin a little heer to insist on Witnesse therefore those instructions dispersed by Colonell Butler as was most credibly informed which the King sent to tempt our said Army then in Cornwall which were the most desperate and dangerous things that ever were yet penned and may in time come to publick view One of which was this You shall also inform that wee have assurance of a Party in
hee desired to see Whereupon Mr. Strange went immediately to a hole in the canapy of his bed and produced the Commission and read it to him and having read it hee put it into his pocket In the interim came Leivtenant John Stubbin Leivtenant to Major Moll with 5 Souldiers more all in the habit of poore Sea-men apparelled like ship-broken men with a Warrant to attatch suspicious persons who came begging to the doore and somewhat boldly getting within the Court-yard of the said house being so ordered by the Governour who as soon as they were up to the doore of the House the Gentlewoman of the house came running up to Mr. Strange and told him there were 6 or 7 poore Souldiers come from Lyn a begging Mr. Strange presently sent them down a shilling and wished them to bee gone and Mistris Paston went downe to barre the door which Captain Lemon seeing winckt upon the foresaid Corporall there present to lay hold on Mr. Strange which instantly done hee gave a stamp with his foot by which the Leivtenant knew what hee had to doe whereupon Mr. Strange seeing hee was betrayed conveyed his Commission to Captain Lemon out of the frying-pan into the fire then the Leivtenant not taking notice of the person of the Captain as known to him or as set purposely to ensnare Strange did first attach Mr. Strange as an Enemy to the Common-wealth and demanded his name which hee refused to tell then hee required his Commission but hee denyed to have any Heerupon the Leivtenant seeing Captain Lemon demanded what hee was and what hee did there consulting against the State telling him hee was a stinking knave and searched him for the commission and finding it in his pocket took it from him and set a guard over him and another over Mr. Strange and would not suffer them to speak each to other by the way from Appleton-Hall to Lyn whither they were brought prisoners to the Governour with the Commission all which was done by order and consent of the Governour and Captain Lemon before Mr. Strange his apprehension which said Mr. Strange was immediately brought up to London and committed to safe custody and the Commission sent up to the Parliament the Copy whereof I have heer also inserted which was as followeth His Majesties Commission granted to Mr. Roger le Strange for the betraying of the Town of Lyn-Regis into the hands of the Enemy Charles Rex VVEE having received from our trusty and well-beloved Roger le Strange declarations of the good affection of divers of our well-affected Subjects of our County of Norfolk and Suffolk and particularly of our Town of Lyn as also some overtures concerning the reducing of our said Town of Lyn Wee have thought fit forthwith to return our Royall thanks unto our said well-affected Subjects and particularly to give our said trusty and well-beloved Roger le Strange these encouragements to proceed in our service principally in the work of reducing the said Town of Lyn. 1. That in case that attempt shall bee gone through withall hee the said Roger le Strange shall have the Government of the place 2. That what engagement shall bee made unto the inhabitants of the said place in any other person capable of contributing effectually to that service by way of reward either in employment in his Majesties Navy or Forts or Money not exceeding the summe of 5000 pounds the service being performed shall bee punctually made good unto them 3. That they shall in this work receive what assistance may bee given them from any of our merest Garrisons And lastly that when ever our said Town shall bee reduced unto our obedience Wee shall forthwith send thither 〈◊〉 a considerable power as shall bee sufficient to releive and preserve them Wee being at present even without this fully resolved to send a considerable power to encourage our faithfull Subjects in those parts and to regain our rights and interests therein By his Majesties Command George Digby Given at our Court at Oxford this 28 of November 1644. And much about the foresaid time wee had certain intelligence of the releiving of that brave courageous and pious people in the good and strong Garrison of the Town of Iounton-Dean whereof that ever to bee honoured faithfull Gentleman and most courageous Commander Colonel Blake was Governour and where Prince Maurice and his thousands were after a long siege most shamefully beaten away and many precious soules in the said Town preserved from the bloody rage and intended cruelty of those blood-thirsty and lustfull Enemies those scelerous sons of violence a most renowned peice of Gods providence and mighty mercy to those Western parts never to bee obliterated out of theirs and our most gratefull remembrance Since which wee also were most certainly informed by Letters out of those parts that Major Generall Holborn marched with a party to the Lord Pawlets House where hee took 30 horses many prisoners and divers armes and made himself Master of that Garrison From whence hee marched to the House of one Mr. Arundell a notorious Papist at a place called Chadwick where hee beat the Enemy out of that pernicious nest and took some of them prisoners After this also hearing that divers of the Enemies forces were got into Sir John Pooles House hee marched toward them but the Enemy hearing of his approach that way fled to Exeter And the like did another party of the Enemies at Mr. Crewes House setting it on fire they fled away Thus this most active and valiant Commander ferretted the Enemies out of their sculking holes in those parts and procured much security to the inhabitants thereabout December the 20. the Parliament taking into their serious consideration that the time was neer approaching for the annuall chusing of Officers in the most famous City of London according to their anniversary custome and well knowing that the good government thereof doth cheifly depend upon the faithfulnesse and integrity of publick Officers especially in these times of so much trouble and danger It was therefore Ordered in Parliament that no person should bee elected to bee of the Common-Councell or into other Offices in the City of London who have not voluntarily contributed upon the Propositions according to an Ordinance in Parliament of the 29 of November 1642. or who have otherwise testified their dis-affection to the Parliament or who have not taken the solemn League and Covenant And that no such person shall have any voice in such elections or any else who have been imprisoned or whose estates have been sequestred for Malignancy against the Parliament And the right honorable Thomas Atkin Lord Major of the City of London and the Aldermen in their severall Wards were required to see the due execution thereof About the 23 instant wee had certain intelligence from Northhampton of singular good service done in those parts by Captain Redman who with a party of Northampton horse marched out and fell
nights together during all which time our valia Souldiers put off neither armes nor cloathes as I was credibly informed they by Gods infinite mercy obtained a most happy and comfortable enlargement and freedome from their cruell and murtherous-minded Enemies And thus Goring and Dives who were both present in this service marched away to Dorchester with their horse and foot which were above 4000. whereas ours that were invironed by them were not above 900. being also discouraged or at least wee justly might have been for want of releif and our little or no hope of relief besides the former successe of the Enemies and yet that ours should so gallantly quit themselves and so impregnably oppose and fall upon their Enemies when they were at their strongest and themselves in the lowest and most desperate condition and besides the Townesmen within being trecherous unto them of whom above 40 had conspired to seize on the Fort which Colonell Sydenham possessed and by procuring false keyes to the prison doores to let out all the prisoners and also as I toucht before to let in the enemies at their back-doores but the plot of the false keyes was timely discovered and prevented many of the Malignant Conspirators apprehended and imprisoned some in this fight were slain and some wounded and those imprisoned in a fit posture to bee hanged as afterward they were Wee lost but 10 men on our side in all this hot and furious service All which premises considered it must needs bee granted that the hand of God was indeed most visibly seen in the whole carriage of this admirable action and famous defeat wherein I say was an apparent vision of our present Parliamentary mighty wonder Viz. The Burning Bush in the midst of such furious flames not consumed To God alone therefore bee all the honour and glory of it And March the 8 wee had certain intelligence that a ship carrying 28 peices of Ordnance laden with store of armes and Ammunition was come into Weymouth from Rhoan in France supposing Weymouth had still been in the Enemies possession and so was seized on for the Parliaments use Yea and about the same time even 3 or 4 houres after the Enemy had quitted the Outworks of Weymouth whereof you have at large heard before a lusty serviceable ship of Weymouth called the Endevour carrying in her 12 peices of Ordnance and laden with Salt and other commodities belonging to some Malignants of those parts which ship then lay close under Portland Castle but having as it seemed many honest Sea-men in her suddenly they cut her Cables swiftly and of its own accord came off to Captain Batten then at Weymouth and Melcomb although the Castle of Portland had made at least 7 or 8 shots at her And thus wee see how God most graciously blessed the affaires of that Town at that time both by Sea and by Land to him alone bee all the praise and glory of it Shortly after to wit on Wednesday March the 12. Both Houses of Parliament most piously concurred for the keeping of a Solemn day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God at Christ-Church in London for all these so many and marveilous rich mercies of the Lord unto us Since the happy dissolution of that foresaid Treaty at Vxbridge as namely for the winning of Scarborough Town Haven Shrewsbury so unexpectedly and admirably put into the Parliaments hands The extraordinary recovering of Weymouth and even miraculous preservation of Melcomb Regis c. Where and at which foresaid time Reverend Learned and Religious Mr. â—rrowsmith and Mr. Vines Preached before the Lords and Commons of Parliament the Lord Major and Aldermen of the City of London accompanying them there at that holy service And both Houses of Parliament immediately after passed an Ordinance for the payment of 2000 pound to the brave Garrison of Weymouth for the encouragement and reward of the good service done there and for a supply of some necessaries in that Town And besides all these remarkable mâ—â—cies of our good God to the Parliament whereof you have most fully been informed since and even at the dissolution of that Mock-Treaty at Vxbridge We were yet farther credibly assured by Letters from Ailsbury about March the 16. That the King lost the Troop of Horse belonging to his own Life-guard the manner of the taking of which prize was thus related Ailsbury Garrison having intelligence of divers of the Kings horse quartered out of Oxford for want of necessaries about this time within the Town they that have spoiled a most fruitfull Kingdome will shortly I hope want bread and Pease for themselves Heerupon valiant Captain Abricomie a Scottish Commander in Ailsbury and Major Ennis of Newport-pagnell marched from their Garrisons toward Oxford with a party of horse to Killington where accordingly they met with the Kings own Troop as they had been informed Our party went over at Islip Mill and there they found the Enemy entrenched on the other side of the River but our party of horse had carryed Fagots and so filled-up the Trench with them and with earth and so handled it that they blew up the Bridge forced the Turn-pike and Chain surprized the Guard marched into the Town took 40 gallant horse worth some said 50 li. and Captain Cheyworth Commissary Generall to the King also the Kings Chirurgeons own mate with other prisoners and in their return home they took 4 more Cavalierian Troopers driving Cattle to the Kings quarters All which praised bee the Lord they brought home safely without any wound or losse of a man About March the 14. the House of Commons received Letters from Sir William Brereton that brave Commander and pious Patriot of his Country informing them of the singular good condition of Shrewshury and also of a notable defeat given to the Forces of Prince Maurice by a party of Sir William Breretons at Holt-Bridge in Cheshire under the Command of valiant Leivtenant Colonell Jones the manner whereof was thus Prince Maurice being still greatly vext in his minde at the sad losse of Shrewsbury and as vigilantly as possibly hee could watching to catch and lay hold on all opportunities to bee revenged on the Parliaments party at last resolved upon one and therefore sent a party of foot over the River of Dee which parts Cheshire and Wales and about 13 Companies got over the said River by laying over it a Bridge of Canvas dipt in Pitch over which 3 men might march abrest These all being thus past over intended in a dark night to have surprized Sir Williams said Garrison at Holt-bridge and to have forced their passage that way to some other farther design which Garrison the Prince understood was maintained by only 2 Companies of Firelocks under the Command of Leivtenant Colonell Jones who being thus now suddenly assaulted by the said numerous enemy yet had his men in order and readinesse to receive them and entertained them with such a
to him and they then also took order for monies to pay his well-deserving Souldiers as had been desired And they having formerly bestowed 200 pound per annum upon Owen Occonelly for his good Service in discovering the plot in Ireland who not receiving the same according to the said Order the House of Commons therefore Ordered the due and constant payment of the said 200 pound per annum out of the old customs of the Kingdom Thus Honos alit artes virtus compensata crescit And about the 23 instant wee had Letters out of Staffordshire which certified that when the Kings forces advanced for the releif of Chester then most hopefully besieged by ever to bee honoured Sir William Brereton by Stafford and Shropshire Captain Stone the valiant and active Governour of Stafford for the Parliament gave the Enemy severall successefull visits in their Rear at they past along and did good execution upon them therein And first how hee sent out a party of his Horse who fell upon a party of the Enemies quartered at Wâ—lverhampton killed 16 on the place took 26 Horse and most of their Riders and returned without any losse the Kings own quarters being then not above 2 miles off it That presently after this hee sent out another party even the next day who fell upon the Enemy quartered in the field neer Newport in Shrâ—pshire brought away 60 horse killed a Captain and about 20 others in the place And the next day following this that hee sent out another paity that fell upon their quarters at Pancridge killed 3. took 4 prisoners and 7 horses About the 28 of this instant May being that Moneths day of a publike Fast or humiliation and Reverend Mr. Henderson one of the Scottish Commissioners and reverend Mr. Whitaker Preaching before the House of Peers that day in the Abbey at Westminster and before the House of Commons Reverend Mr. Caryll and Mr. Ford as wee were that day labouring in prayers and other acts of humiliation to draw neer to our God wee found the Lord in mercy drawing neer to us for the Fast day being ended there came Letters from renowned Colonell Massie which gave us the happy intelligence of the taking of the strong Garrison of Evesham the manner wherof was breifly thus Colonell Massie with about 800 horse and 600 foot having lyen before Evesham a day or 2 stormed the Town and took it in an houres storming In which service wee received lesse losse than could have been expected in such a hot peice of service as for the time it proved not above 4 or 5 of our Souldiers slain and 2 Officers besides and about 30 common Souldiers wounded Wee slue of the Enemies 10 or 11. took divers Officers and common Souldiers to the number of about 548. and neer upon an 120 good horses a List of the prime prisoners was as followeth Colonell Robert Legge Governour of the Town Colonell Foster Leivtenant Colonell Bellingham Major Travillian 13 Captaines 16 Leivtenants 3 Reformadoes 20 inferiour Officers together with 20 barrels of Gun-powder 700 fire-armes and 2 Tuns of Match The taking of this brave Garrison was a very considerable peice of service in many respects and this not the least namely that by this means almost all Worcestershire will bee freed and mightily secured from Cavalierian Contributions which before were frequently gathered for the King And about the 30 of this instant wee were credibly informed by Letters out of Hampshire that a party of horse and foot belonging to Colonell Norton marched forth upon a design on Lanâ—ford-House The horse were commanded by Captain Betsworth Captain Smibark and Captain Gerson The foot were under the command of young Murford with part of these forces they placed an ambuscado neer the foresaid House undiscovered to the Enemy and Colonell Griffith seeing some of our forces facing the House sallyed forth to encounter them whereupon ours retreated to their ambuscado the Enemy hotly pursued them but were now as fiercely as unexpectedly assaulted and charged by ours on every side who took them all prisoners finding no way to escape There were surprized Colonell Griffith the Governour of Langford House his Captain Leivtenant a Cornet 8 other Officers 64 prisoners besides of common Souldiers and all their Armes and 10 of them slain upon the place And heer good Reader let mee again desire thee to make another very short stay for a most just and deserved gratefull Comtemplation on all the fair and famous mercies of this Moneth also and therein to see and admire the continued Miraculous wonder of our Parliamentary Burning-Bush still Vnconsumed notwithstanding the many singeing yea scorching assaults and hot attempts constantly and continually flashing against it both In the great danger and admirable deliverance of that ever to bee honoured Commander Colonell Massie from Prince Ruperts plot or design to have suddenly surprized him In the famous defeat given to the Enemy by Major Purefâ—yes forces in Warwickâ—shire In the as singularly seasonable as comfortable releif of the good Town of Taunton and the setting at liberty of so many precious Soules as that long siege had curbed and coopt in from necessary comforts And the excellent Orders set out by the Parliament for the well-regulating of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes New-Modelled Army In the happy harmony of our prime Commanders in the Army And the Parliaments most noble and renowned gratitude to those that have well deserved of the Kingdom by their industrious and loyall services In the brave services of Captain Stone Governour of Stafford against the enemy And the happy taking of Eveshams strong Garrison by renowned Colonell Massie and therein a most notable and evident return of Prayer And lastly In that brave defeat given to our Cavalierian adversaries by valiant and loyall Colonell Norton All which premises of this Moneth of May prudently piously and gratefully considered O say good Reader whether wee have not most just cause continually to praise our ever-living and all-good-giving God and with the holy Prophet to break forth into Soul-exulting and God-exalting raptures of joy and gratitude and to confesse and say O Lord thou art our God and wee will exalt thee and will everlastingly praise thy name for thou haste done wonderfull things for us and thy counsels of old and of later times too are nothing but faithfulnesse and truth unto us But now to proceed ANd heer now wee will begin the farther contemplation and just admiration of the rich and rare mercies I had almost said miracles of this Moneth of June also with the cordiall and comfortable mention of a most excellent Petition exhibited about the beginning of this Moneth on the 4 or 6 day thereof to the House of Commons in Parliament by the right Honourable Lord Major of London together with the Aldermen and Common-Councill of the said most famous and ever to bee renowned City touching their deep apprehension of divers disastrous sad
and sorrowfull accidents lately falne out in the Kingdome to the great greit of the best Members thereof laying down also in their prudent and provident thoughts some most probable grounds and causes of all those sad and sorrowfull losses which had notwithstanding all our undeniable precious mercies fore-mentioned befalne the Parliamentary Cause a true representation therefore still of the Burning-Bush Vnconsumed and humbly therfore tendring the conceived remedies thereof and the likely prevention of more by Gods gracious assistance if seriously and seasonably seen unto Which Petition for the excellency thereof and for the Readers better content and satisfaction together with the Parliaments most fair and favourable answer thereunto I have thought fit heer to insert which was as followeth To the Right honourable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament The humble Petition of the Lord Major Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common Councell Assembled Sheweth THat the Inhabitants of this City and parts adjacent are generally most deeply sensible of these pressing miseries under which they and the whole Kingdom now groan And that imminent ruine which is comming upon both through the releiving of Chester the unexpressible losse of Leicester the barbarous cruelty executed there the danger of the rest of our Garrisons and well-affected thereabouts and the increasing and prevailing of the Enemy by Sea and Land like a mighty Torrent That among other causes which have had a deep influence upon this most sad posture of our condition the said Inhabitants apprehend that the not compleating of Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Army according to an Ordinance of Parliament in that behalf the want of such a Committee in that Army as may give our Commanders in cheif power and encouragement to improve all present advantages without attending Commands and Directions from remote Councels The calling back of Leivtenant Generall Cromwell and Major Generall Brown when they were pursuing the Enemy The not advancing of our Brethren of Scotland into these Southern parts The great decay of Trade and discouragements of Merchants for want of a constant convey His Majesties publishing his sense of the proceedings at the late Treaty and the Parliament not publishing their sense thereof And their resolutions against free trade by Sea to such Ports as are or shall bee in the power of the Enemy have been the cheif That great numbers of those Inhabitants have lately expressed their earnest desires by Petition and otherwise to the representative body of the City in Common Councell Assembled That this their deep sense and apprehensions might bee forthwith made known to both Houses of Parliament Their humble suit that the remedies may bee speedily considered of and effectually executed and their resolutions according to all former expressions that they will not think their lives nor any thing they possesse too dear to hazzard for your encouragement and preservation Thereupon the Petitioners for prevention of further miseries inconveniencies and the utter ruine of the Parliament of this City and Kingdome make it their humble request to this Honourable House That care may bee taken for the speedy recruiting of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army and for his encouragement That such a Committee may bee sent with that Army as may give our Commanders in cheif of whose faithfulnesse the Kingdom hath had so large testimony power and encouragement to improve all present advantages aforesaid That the said Army or such part thereof as in your wisdome shall seem meet may bee ordered forthwith to march towards our enemies in the field as well for the regaining of Leicester if it bee possible before it bee made impregnable by fortifications as also for prevention of the Enemies further surprizing of other places of strength and destroying the rest who have appeared in defence of the Parliament and for preservation of the Kingdom That our Brethren of Scotland may bee more earnestly prest to march Southward That Leivtenant Generall Cromwell may presently have power to raise and command the Association untill such other course bee taken as may tend to the safety of those Counties and of this City and Kingdome That the Navy may bee so ordered as may encourage Merchants and advance Trade by having constant convoyes That the proceedings of the late Treaty may bee forthwith published by the Parliament and their resolution against free Trade as aforesaid And the Petitioners as in duty shall pray c. Vera Copia H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. Die Mercurii Junii 4. 1645. Resolved c. THat the Answer to the Petitioners shall bee That the House will take the particulars of the Petition into serious consideration And doe return them Thanks for their good affections And as to their desire of leave to present the like to the House of Peeres this House leaves it to themselves and to their own discretion H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. About the 8 of this instant June wee had credible information by Letters out of Cheshire that a party of the Enemies forces about Chester were sent out by Byron the Governour of Chester some few miles a forraging into the Country thereabout and especially to Broxton hundred with imperious Warrants to fetch in Contribution-money where they plundered all they could finde worth carrying with them and took divers of our men prisoners Wherof Leivtenant Colonell Venables hearing hee made use of this opportunity and marched forth with a party from Tarvin and having got between the Enemies and the Town hee charged them with such courage and resolution that hee totally routed the whole party and took from them 180 prisoners whereof about 20 were Captains Leivtenants and other Officers in Armes and some of a degree above Captains hee also took in this service 50 horse and about 200 Armes besides divers slain in the conflict and having thus releived his captive and plundred friends and suppressed the Enemies hee returned with honour and triumph to his quarters And about the 10 instant wee received certain intelligence of a brave peice of service performed by valiant active and loyall Colonell Rossiter and Colonell Gray against a party of the Newarkâ—rs who marched under the Command of Colonell Willâ— his own Major who marched all night and at 6 of the clock in the morning appeared in a full body and came before Houghaâ—-House which the Enemy having thus now beset wondered to see not any of our men awake in the whole Garrison to make any resistance for a while they did forbeare to assault the place fearing ours might have prepared some stratagâ—m within but some new intelligence administring other counsels and putting by that fear they almost at once forced the bridge and entred the House where they found them all fast asleep not dreading or dreaming of the approach of any Enemy Being now entred they used them not whom they found within as our King Richard of old used a Souldier of his whom hee killed because hee found him
And base things in the worlds esteem and things which are despised yea and things which are not God hath chosen as heer wee see to bring to nought things which are And heer me thinks I cannot pretermit but most justly make honourable mention of what I have been credibly informed of touching our most noble and renowned Generall himself Viz. That hee was observed before this fight to have been exceeding merry and cheerfull in his carriage and countenance among his Commanders and Souldiers But after this victory was obtained hee continually day by day carryed himself with very much settleed gravity of countenance lowlinesse and meeknesse of face and heart as giving God all the honour and willing to take none to himself Two rare postures indeed of a pious and prudent Cornelius or Commander and fit for all Souldiers especially Saint-like Souldiers to practise and imitate For indeed both Hee I mean this our most renowned Generall and all of us with him might most justly as reverend Mr. Marshall in his excellent Thanksgiving Sermon at Christ-Church the Thursday following this famous Victory say concerning this glorious Victory as the most noble and renowned late Lord Generall nobly said at Keinton-Victory Never more of God and lesse of man And therefore as wee were most justly bound our most pious and prudent Parliamentary Worthies immediately upon their perfect knowledge and understanding of this so glorious a Victory as you have thus fully heard appointed a day of Solemn Thanksgiving to bee celebrated to the high honour and praise of our great and gracious Wonder-working God a Copy of which their Order I have heer inserted which was as followeth Die Lunae Junii 16. 1645. ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament that Thursday next shall bee set apart for a day of Publique Thanksgiving to Almighty God in all the Churches and Chappels within the Cities of London and Westminster and Lines of Communication and weekly bils of Mortallity For the great and glorious Victory obtained by the Parliaments Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax against the Forces of the King And Mr. Marshall and Mr. Vines bee desired to Preach at Christ-Church before the Parliament And that the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councell doe meet the Parliament there And it is further Ordered That Friday being the 27 of this instant June bee set apart for a publick day of Thanksgiving for this Victory in all the Churches and Chappell 's in the severall Counties of the Kingdom under the power of the Parliament H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. About the 15 of this instant there came Letters out of Shropshire which certified of severall good services performed by Colonell Mittons forces in those parts and for better satisfaction I have heer thought fit to insert the Copy of the Letter it self which was sent to renowned Colonell Mitton himself which was as followeth SIR I Being desired by Leivtenant Colonell Goldgay to certifie our late proceedings at Oswestree and the good successe wherewith it pleased God to blesse your Forces there I am humbly bold thus to trouble you On Tuesday the third of this present June your Troop with a considerable party of your Foot marched unto Clerk being commanded by Leivtenant Colonell Goldgay where wee took 27 horse from under their walls being the best horse I have seen together in Wales Wee drawing off in order the Enemy sallyed out came through the wood with firelocks thinking to redeem their losse charged our Rear-guard of horse whom Captain Simpkins caused to face about and fall on them lying in the manner of an ambuscado which they did and soon got through them and got betwixt them and home killed 2 of them took 24. the Governours Leivtenant being one and his Organist whose losse hath caused a generall Melancholly in the Castle and if hee bee not changed their mirth and devotion it is to bee feared will perish together On Thursday the 6 instant wee marched in the like posture to Shraden went close under their works took from them 24 good horse which was the greatest part of Dr. Charles Vaughan then Governour his Troop wee expected them also to sally out but the Dr. though hee hath forgotten his Preaching since hee turned Cavalier yet remembred his Grammar-rule Optimum est alienâ frui insaniâ For being warned by the folly and harm of Cherkmen hee was content to sleep within doores in a whole skin and to suffer us to march away with our prize without any of their lets or least disturbance This wee did without the losse or hurt of any one man of ours Wee ascribe the praise and memory of the work to that God who hath hitherto crowned your endevours with successe and I doubt not in despight of malice will doe so still under whose banner of love I leave you and humbly rest yours to Command And now upon the 19 of this instant June being the next ensuing Thursday after the happy tydings of the foresaid most famous Victory at Naseby according as our most pious and prudent Parliamentary Senators had formerly Ordered and as our most renowned Generall himself Sir Thomas Fairfax had earnestly desired by the Messenger by whom the relation of the victory was first brought a day of Solemn Thanksgiving was celebrated and wholly set apart to give all the glory of that great Victory and mighty mercy to the Lord alone as it was most due in all Churches and Chappels within the Cities of London and Westminster and the Lines of Communication which was as on this day most solemnly performed in a speciall manner at Christ-Church in London where reverend and religious Mr. Marshall and Mr. Vines preached that day before the whole Body of the Parliament both Lords and Commons whom the Lord Major the Aldermen and Common Councell of London met there and had invited the said most honourable Lords and Commons to dine with them that day in their City at Grocers hall And heer I hope it will not bee offensive or tedious to my Reader to give him a short sight or intimation of the manner of the gallant entertainment the City gave the Parliament at Grocers Hall that day not to mention the Messes of their dainty chear which in great plenty was provided answerable to so honourable an Assembly but onely to shew you the speciall guests and the order of their placing according to their state and Orders which was thus At the upper end of the Hall sate the Lord Major On the left hand The Prince Elector Earle of Northumberland Earle of Kent Earle of Essex Earle of Manchester Lord North Earl of Elgar Lord Brighton Two of the Scotch Commissioners On the right hand Earle of Pembroke Earle of Nottingham Earle of Salisbury Earle of Denbigh Earle of Bullingbrook One Scotch Lord The Lord Say There were three Tables more in the Hall On the right hand going up sate Mr. Speaker at the upper end entring to the doore toward
the Parlour Then all the other Members of the House of Commons in order So for the middle Table and the like for the left hand Table going up towards the Lord Majors Table In the Parlour All the Assembly of Divines in order In the upper Roome over that sate The Recorder of London at the upper end The Aldermen on the left hand The Common-councell and divers Gentlemen of quality on the right After these the Lord Majors Officers that attended and divers others sate down in the same roome where the Aldermen and the rest dined The Trumpets continued sounding all the time of the Feast After Dinner and Thanks given by Mr. Marshall both Houses of Parliament the Assembly of Divines the Aldermen of the City and all the rest being assembled in the Hall they sang the 46 Psalm and after that departed And Friday June the 27 then next ensuing was ordered by the Parliament to bee set apart for a publick day of Thanksgiving for this Victory in all the Churches and Chappels in the severall Counties of the Kingdom under the power of the Parliament The House also ordered that Letters of thanks should bee writen and expedited to the renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax his Field-Officers for their extraordinary valour fidelity and judgement in this famous service against the Enemy And they likewise ordered that 2 worthy Members of the House of Commons should bestow at least 500 pound upon a jewell to bee presented to Sir Thomas Fairfax as an earnest of their love and affection to him And as for the Gentleman that brought this happy news to the Parliament from Sir Thomas in farther testimony of their great affection to their foresaid renowned Generall the Parliament most prudently ordered that an 100 pound should bee bestowed upon the first messenger 40 pound upon the second and for the other messengers that came from Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Secretary they also were all well gratified for their paines The House also about that time fell into a particular debate of the gallant great and faithfull service of that heroick and most valiant Commander Leivtenant Generall Cromwell and of the former desires of the Officers of the Horse under the Command of the Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax to have him Command them as their Leivtenant Generall and considering the great necessity of continuing him in that imployment notwithstanding the Self-denying Ordinance after a long and serious debate of this businesse they ordered that Leivtenant Generall Cromwell should continue Leivtenant Generall of the Horse under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax during the pleasure of Both Houses and that hee should receive pay as Leivtenant Generall from the time of the establishment of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army and they sent to the Lords for their concurrence which was assented unto by them And upon the foresaid 19 of this instant June Both the Houses of Parliament and the prime Body of the City of London keeping the day of Solemn Thanksgiving as hath been forementioned It pleased the Lord as a farther addition to our former great Cause of Thankefulnesse and as an exact completing of our present just joy that day that that very day in the morning before the Sermons began the most welcome newes of the happy regaining of the Town of Leicester by ever to bee renowned Sir Thomas Fairfax was brought to London the particulars whereof I have heer thought fit to insert for the Readers better content and clearer satisfaction as they were related in a Letter from an eminent person there in the Army which was as followeth Honoured Sir Upon the routing of the Kings Army at Naseby as aforesaid Sir John Gell gathered together all the forces of Darbishire Nottinghamshire and the adjacent parts that possibly hee could and on Munday the 16 instant they met with â—ome of the Kings horse and took 200 of them and another party met with some of the Newarkers and fell upon them routed them took 60 horse 42 prisoners and 80 Armes On the said Munday June the 16. Sir Thomas Fairfax lay before Leicester and sent in a Summons to the Town to require the Governour to surrender it to him for the use of the Parliament and putting it to them to consider how the King was routed and shewing them what use they might make of that Clemency with divers other very gallant expressions to the summons to advertise them how much better it was for them to surrender than to force him to take it by storming To this summons the Enemy sent a negative Answer positively this that they would not surrender it whereupon Sir Thomas Fairfax called a Councell of Warre to consult about the storming of it which was soon concluded on that they should prepare all things in readinesse to round it the next day which was done with all expedition not losing any time So they sell presently to raising of Batteries and doing all things that were necessary for the storming thereof according as they had appointed and continued providing every thing that was requisite for the dâ—ing thereof to bee in a readinesse to batter it the next day and sent into the Country thereabouts for such helps as were necessary for the work which went on with great speed both night and day so desirous wee are to have a speedy end of the work that there may bee an end of these Warres if possible On Tuesday the 17 of June wee drew down our Ordnance and played with our peices against the Town wee stormed it playing with our Ordnance very hot on the Newark side which wee conceived was their greatest strength And in short time wee made a breach in their works which struck such a terrour into the hearts of the Enemy that the Governour sent to us to desire a Parley and offered to surrender upon very faire termes as upon capitulation should bee agreed upon To this request Sir Thomas Fairfax being willing to save the spilling of innocent blood as much as may bee hee assented and promised speedily to send in Commissioners for the Treaty and called a Councell of Warre and it was agreed that Colonell Pickering and Colonell Rainsborough should go into Leicester to treat with the Governour about the surrendring the said Garrison to Sir Thomas Fairfax And accordingly a safe conduct was desired for them which being sent they went to Capitulate with the Governour about the surrender thereof In the mean time Sir Thomas Fairfax was not idle nor did hee lose any time but went on providing and furnishing himselfe with Pittars Carts Hay Granadoes Ladders and all other things necessary for storming resolving to fall on at their return in case that they should not agree not knowing how things might fall out during which time there was both great pains and care taken by all in their places for the going on in the said work In the mean time wee had intelligence that the King was on Munday the 16 of June at
to Wareham in great triumph and joy without the losse of one man And about the 22 of June wee had credible information by Letters out of Cheshire that Colonell Jones a Gentleman of approved valour and fidelity to the Parliaments Cause having command of about 1300 horse and foot the horse were Sir William Breretons who himself was gone up to London by virtue of the Self-denying Ordinance and hee having assured intelligence of a party of the Kings consisting of about 1700. neer Kidderminster in Worcestershire about 12 miles from Worcester hee most courageously fell upon them killed above 40 on the place took 300 horse and a 100 prisoners among whom was a Leivtenant Colonell a Captain and some other Officers the remainder of them escaping fled to Beudly and Worcester which was indeed their head Quarter About the 26 of this instant June our most renowned and ever to bee most highly honoured Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax sent a Letter to the high and honourable Court and House of Commans in Parliament wherein hee certified his sending up to the said House that most precious present and memorable mercy of the Lord unto us I mean The Kings Cabinet full of His and the Queens Letters taken in the late famous fight and most glorious Victory at Naseby which Sir Thomas most prudently and humbly desired in his Letter might bee read in a full House and publick audience of all the Commons in Parliament which accordingly was performed and therein were most happily discovered admirable matters of as great importance as ever were discovered since the beginning of these most unhappy and unnaturall Warres which in breif were to this effect First there was found a Declaration of his Majesties intentions for the setling of Peace and Religion in this Kingdom certified by a Letter to the Queen wherein hee does assure her that no agreement shall bee made but what shall bee approved by her and that all Laws made against Popery shall bee repealed and yet when Letters came from Oxford to the Parliament touching a Treaty and in the Propositions for Peace there were verball expressions that Laws should bee made against Popery Secondly hee acquainted the Queen that hee intended to make a firm peace with his good Subjects the Irish Rebels and that severall Acts called Paynings-Law made in behalf of the Protestants of that Kingdom should bee repealed But in lieu thereof 40000 Irish were expected to help on the Warres in England for hee must wage Warre hee said till this Perpetuall Parliament as hee termed it were dissolved for otherwise he could never Order things to His or Her content Thirdly in another Letter the Queen chid the King in that hee did in the Treaty at Vxbridge acknowledge the Lords and Commons assembled at Westminster to bee a Parliament which is answered in other Letters then taken that hee did not positively acknowledge it a Parliament it being otherwise to bee construed though they were so simple not to finde it out And that it was entred upon Record among the Acts of the Kings Councell that it was not done out of any intent to have Posterity to think that hee did truely acknowledge it a Parliament In other Letters hee also writes That His long Parliament would in a short time hee dissolved In others That if forces could bee sent to the King out of forain Kingdomes hee would cause all the Acts of Parliament against Papists to bee repealed Fourthly the King found fault in other Letters that hee could not prevail with his Juncto at Oxford which hee called his Mongrell Parliament to passe a Vote against the Lords and Commons at Westminster which hee called his perpetuall Parliament that they are not a lawfull Parliament saying Some of them were so over-witty some stark fooles and others so phantasticall that hee cannot make them due any things to his content The Queen also in one Letter desired the King to give Jermin thanks for his care of her and for his good service there And the King promised not to goe a jot from the little paper shee sent him Many other such like notable passages were in those Letters but I leave the Reader for fuller satisfaction therein to the Parliaments Declaration and the Letters themselves which shortly after were printed and published by Order of Parliament with excellent annotations upon them after they had first been publickly read in a Common Hall in the Guild-Hall in London by a Committee of both Houses of Parliament met there for that very purpose the Lord Major Aldermen and Common Councell of the City of London together with a mighty confluence of Citizens of all sorts and ranks being assembled thither at the reading of the Letters and Annotations upon then who by their shouts and exhibilations declared their marveilous dislike and disapprobations of the Kings and Queens evill expressions in them and on the contrary their high approbation of the Parliaments proceedings by their unanimous acclamations upon the observations made on the said Letters by the Members of the House of Commons to the amazement of the then present hearers and the future wonder and astonishment of Posterity either Malignants or others But to goe on About the 28 of this instant June wee had certain intelligence by particular Letters out of Shropshire of divers brave services performed by the valiant and active forces of Shrewsbury Garrison commanded by the Committee there namely of the taking in of Stoksey and Caus-Castles places of great strength and importance in those parts The substance of which Letters and true relation of which said Victories I have heer for brevities sake faithfully set down for the Readers full content and satisfaction which were as followeth SIR THere was drawn out of this Garrison by order from the Committee 500 foot and 300 horse viz. part of Colonell Mackworths Regiment and part of Colonell Lloyds Regiment both of them marchâ—d along in the service our forces marched within five miles of Ludlow the design being to reduce that part of this County and to secure it by placing some Garrisons there to block up Ludlow with a party of horse they viewed Howgate and Braincroft Castles both of which the Enemy had much demolished notwithstanding they placed the Lord Calvine in Braincroft Castle and fell to repaire and fortifie it in the interim they sent Leivtenant Colonell Riveling to view Stokesey Castle a Garrison of the Enemies the place was conceived considerable therefore the next morning wee drew up to it and summoned it but the Governour Captain Dauret refused thereupon wee prepared for a storm being ready to fall on gave a second summons which was hearkned unto a parley admitted and the Castle delivered up and is now Garrisoned by us One of these Castles commands all Cordale a rich and fertill part of the County the other secures all Stretonsdale so that Ludlow is blockt up on this side and hath only Hereford to range
to draw them from their place of refuge and to gaine more miles to follow the pursuite which by Gods mercy they resolutely intended Now the Enemy thinking all their own came on as farre as Wolverhampton after him where the brave Colonell facing about and giving them a violent charge brake quite through them and charging them again hee absolutely routed them and took many prisoners among whom were 2 Captains 3 Leivtenants and other Officers about 60 horse and much Armes all which hee brought safely into Stafford And much about the foresaid time wee had certain intelligence by Letters from that much honoured Patriot Sir William Armyne and Mr. Henry Darley and the rest of the Commissioners of the North that the Town of Carlile which had divers weeks been besieged by a party of the Scottish Army under the Command of the noble Earl of Callender was now surrendred to our said Brethren of Scotland upon Articles of agreement viz. in breif that Sir Thomas Glemham then Governour thereof and his Souldiers should march with their Armes to Newark c. But that they left behinde them in the Town great store of Armes and Ammunition 20 peices of Ordnance and much other good provision About the 8 instant wee were certainly informed that shortly after the good successe of our Shrewsbury forces in the taking of Caus-Castle forementioned valiant Colonell Mackworth marched to Shrawarden-Castle where after summons and some shot sent forth a parley was offered and accepted and the said Castle on conditions surrendred to him wherein they found some competent store of Armes one Drake and much other good provision and the Enemy therein being about 300 in number were sent away to Ludlow as they desired and our forces presently after this with valiant Colonell Mackworth marched to Higharchall Castle And about the 10 of this instant July wee had certain information by Letters out of the West that the Right honourable and most renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax and ever to bee honoured Major Generall Massey being happily conjoyned with their forces into one body at Branford they now marched forward to Taunton and understanding by their Scouts in what posture the Enemy was now a third time sate down about that notable eye-sore of theirs terribly maligned Taunton they advanced toward them But Goring hearing of Sir Thomas his approach drew off to Chard and not daring to fight drew off all his Army from before Taunton and marched quite away from them whereby that brave Town and the thousands of most precious Soules therein were now a third time blessed bee the Lord clearly set at Liberty from farther fear and danger of those their base and barbarous blood-thirsty Enemies who like devouring Locusts had lyen long lurking about their parts and quarters in greedy gaping hope every day to have eaten them up But who being thus happily driven away the Country round about came in unto them most joyfully with all kinde of provisions in abundance whereby they had presently a most plentifull Market kept among them The preservation of this Town was indeed of very great concernment and most worthily to bee accounted no lesse than a marveilous mercy from heaven and therefore to give the Lord our God all due honour and praise for the same And withall wee may not neglect his instruments therein but in the next place highly praise and prize their love and labours especially heer also to make particular mention of the ever to bee honoured Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax who after so much hardship in Marches Siege and Battail in so short a time trod so much ground as to come so seasonably to the releif of so many brave spirited and undaunted resolved Souldiers and honest-hearted inhabitants who with so much difficulty and in much want of necessaries had maintained themselves and defended the Town against a very potent and most pestilent and blood-thirsty Atheisticall adversary About the same time also came certain intelligence unto us by Letters out of Gloucestershire that a party of the Parliaments forces being before Barkley Castle at a distance to keep in the Enemy from ranging abroad there being about 15 or 16 horse that were as Sentinels attending the Castle the Enemy prepared a party from within of about 300 horse and foot and came forth thinking to surprize the said Sentinells but those few horse discovering the Enemies approach unto them took the best advantage they possibly could and bravely defended themselves till the alarm came to the rest of their horse who thereupon came in speedily to their rescue and fell upon the Enemy with much courage and routed them killed 16 in the place whereof 2 were forward Captains many were wounded and about 40 taken prisoners Sir Charles Lucas the Governour of the Castle was there in person in the fight and escaped with a wound as wee were informed wee took also at the same time 30 horse and upward and a 100 Armes and pursued the Enemy to the very Castle-gates and in this brave service wee lost not above 3 men And thus wee see the Lord does great things for us every day ever magnified bee his name therein And about the 12 instant divers Gentlemen and others of the City of Westminster came to the Parliament and presented a petition to the House of Commons in the name of the whole City of Westminster setting forth the great happinesse and priviledge they now enjoy by the care of the Parliament and unwearied paines of the Divines of the Assembly that preach the morning Lecture weekly at the Abbey in Westminster whereby many that lived in Darknesse and Ignorance for many yeares together doe now see the light of the Gospel more clearly and plainly than ever their humble suite to the House was that the said Ministers so preaching weekly viz. Dr. Stanton Mr. Marshall Mr. Nye Mr. Palmer Mr. Hill and Mr. Whittaker may have a competent maintenance allowed them out of the Revenues of the late Dean and Chapter of the said Abbey that so they may in some measure bee enabled to subsist and encouraged to goe on in this great work of converting and bringing Soules daily nearer to God After reading of this Petition and debate thereupon an Ordinance was read and Committed to a Committee for regulating the Colledge of Westminster after which the House gave Order the Petitioners should bee called in before the House where Mr. Speaker in the Name and by command of the whole House informed the Petitioners that the House had read and debated their Petition and had likewise read an Ordinance for regulating the Colledge of Westminster and had put them both in a way to their satisfaction and returned them the thanks of that House for their care and zeale for the publike Much also about the foresaid time wee received certain information by Letters from Abbington of the prosperous successe and brave exploits of our forces under the command of that
vast body of Horse against him and had also Musketteirs in a hedge which did flank him and somewhat front him also yet this brave Major managed the charge with such gallantry that hee routed 2 of their divisions of about 400. received the charge of the third division both in front and flank but at last being over-powered by reason of their numbers increasing upon him hee bravely retyred to the Generalls Regiment which was not farre behinde him and Colonell Desborough with the Generalls Troops sheltered him by his flank and charged up himself with about 200 horse and dispersed and scattered the Enemy and gave freedome thereby for all our horse and foot to draw into bodies whereupon the enemy fell to plain running not being able to endure the charge The Generall Leivtenant Generall and some other Officers being on the hill at this charge commended it for as brave and resolute a peice of service as any they had seen performed since the beginning of these warres Our men having thus put the Enemy to flight pursued them within 4 miles of Bridgewater And in the flight the Enemy passing through their own Garrison of Langport most mischeivously and desperately fired the Town at the Bridge end to hinder our men in the pursuite but renowned Leivt Gen. Cromwell himself and his resolute Souldiers undauntedly resolved to passe through fire as renowned Massie had before through water as was fore-mentioned after them and so through the midst of Lang-port they passed although the fire was flaming very hot on both sides of them there being about 20 houses in all burnt down And heer mee thinks I cannot but take speciall notice of the faithfullnesse of our good God in all his holy and righteous promises which to his children as they are alwayes in Christ yea and Amen so at this time in a speciall and most peculiar manner that faithfull promise of his by the Prophet Isaiah was most exactly heer fulfilled to these his Saints and Christian Souldiers When thou possest through the waters I will bee with thee and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee When thou also passest through the fire thou shalt not bee burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee for I am the Lord thy God the holy one of Israel and thy Saviour O the most particular and exact performance of this good word of God heer now I say to these his faithfull ones Even to wonder and admiration And thus it pleased the Lord to give us a glorious day of it by this so famous a defeat and apparent Victory Let the glory thereof bee ascribed primarily to our good God as to the Authour and giver of all Victories And in the next place to his pious prudent and valiant instruments our renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax Leivtenant Generall Massie and Leivtenant Generall Cromwell and the rest of those valiant Commanders and Souldiers who were deeply ingaged therein A true and perfect List of the slain prisoners and prizes taken from the Enemy in this famous defeat Slain Gorings Quartermaster Generall of Horse Gorings Quartermaster Generall of Foot 60 Officers that were buried about Weston whereof some very eminent men 200 that were left dead upon the place whereof many Officers 100. or very nigh drowned Wounded Goring himself had a cut with a Sword over the eare Sir Thomas Aston and 3 or 4 Knights more wounded Taken Prisoners Leivtenant General Blothridge alias Bertridge Leivtenant Generall of the Ordnance Colon. Slingsby of Horse Colon. Hunningham of Horse Leivten Col. Standish of Horse Leivten Col. Gamble of Horse 3 Majors of Horse 4 Captains of Horse 11 Leivtenants of Horse 20 Cornets of Horse Colonels Leivtenant Colonels Majors Captains and Officers of Foot have not yet sent in their Lists save onely 3 of the Captaines of Horse 60 Inferiour Officers at least 1900 Prisoners Taken besides 35 Colours of Horse 21 Colours of Foot 2 Field peices 4000 and odde Armes 3 Cart-load of Ammunition 3 Cart-load of other purchase 2000 Horse taken and above Diverse Armes both of Horse and Foot daily found in the ditches which the enemy threw away when they fled The Camp Whâ—res fled away thâ—row the hedges 700 of those that are taken petition to serve the Parliament The losse on our part 2 Reformado Captains slain Major Bethells thumbe and fore-fingers shattered Colon. Butlers Captain Leivtenant slain Colonell Cook shot on the mouth slightly on his upper lip 4 or 5 of Bethels Troop slain and about 16 of his Troop wounded and very few more killed on our side The House of Commons Ordered upon the happy intelligence of this famous Victory that 200 pound should bee given to valiant Major Bethell for his speciall service in this brave fight And two good horses to bee given to valiant and virtuous Major Harrison who brought the news thereof And especially as was most boundenly fit our most renowned Worthies in Parliament Ordered and appointed that a solemn day of Thanksgiving should bee celebrated for the Lords exceeding great mercy and goodnesse unto us the Copy of which their Order I have heer thought fit to insert as it was printed and published by their authority which was as followeth Die Lunae 14 Julii 1645. ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled that Tuesday being the 22 of this instant July shall bee set apart for a publike day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God in all Churches and Chappels through the whole Kingdom under the power of the Parliament for the great and glorious Victory obtained by the Parliaments forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax on the Enemies forces in the West And that on the same day the Ministers doe likewise take notice of the great mercy of God in preserving the City of London during the sitting of this Parliament from the infection of the Plague and that this order bee printed and published Ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament That the Committee of the severall Counties doe take care that the Order for a publick day of Thanksgiving on Tuesday sevennight bee dispersed to the severall Parishes in the respective Counties And that the Counties doe keep the same day And that the Members of this House that serve for the severall Counties doe send these Orders to the respective Committees accordingly And now all that I shall adde for the farther illustration of the just praise and glory of God touching this famous fight and glorious Victory shall bee onely these few serious and materiall Observations upon the same First that had not God made our Souldiers forget all their wearinesse and many other former and present difficulties and so hasted this famous work the Enemy had certainly been re-inforced with at least 5000 Welsh foot whereof 1500 were already come over Severn at that time Secondly Greenvile that vile Apostate and perfidious fugitive had undoubtedly brought down as many out of Cornwall with all
of the State in those parts the House ordered that 2000. l. should be charged in course upon the receipt of the Excize with consideration also for forbearance thereof for the speedy supply of the Forces under the command of the said Col. Generall And for the encouragement and at a gratuity to the said Noble 〈◊〉 and Faithfull Colonell Genrall Laughorne the House ordered That the Estate of John â—arlow of 〈◊〉 Gentleman who had been long in actuall Armes against the Parliament shall be setled by Ordinance of Parliament upon the said Col. Generall and his Heires The House also Ordered That the Ministers of the severall Churches and Chappels in London Westminster and 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 should the next Lords day give thanks to Almighty God for the happy successe of our Forces in clearing the whole County of Pembroke for the surrender of the 〈◊〉 and of Lacock-House also in Wiltshire and it was ordered That the Lord Major of the City of London should give timely notice thereof accordingly About the 28. instant came certain intelligence by Letters out of Cheshire to the Parliament of a very great and notable Victory which our good God was graciously pleased to give to their Forces under the Command of valiant active and loyall Major Generall Pointz against the Forces of the King within three or foure miles at the 〈…〉 of the City of Chester the manner whereof was in briefe thus The King resenting the great danger he was in of the utter losse of Westâ—hester which in all probability was like suddenly to come to passe if speedy reliefe came not unto them Our Forces which besieged them since the taking of the Suburbs thereof having by their batterâ—es made a breach in the Wall and purposing 〈…〉 The King I say having knowledge of this their danger resolved with what strength he possibly could make presently to advance thither and with between â— and 5000 Horse and Dragoones part whereof he had drayned out of many of his Garrisons made all the speed he could to come timely to their help In which interim Major Generall Poyntz who indeed hath deserved much honour for his constant activity in the whole Service and resolution as I told you before most diligently to attend the Kings Motions having intelligence hereof and renowned Colonell Rossiter with his Horse being come up to Generall Poyntz and the Scottish and Cheshire Horse being joyned with them they all thus conjoyned together marched away with extraordinary expedition for Westhester and went on without any possible intermission day and night to get before the King and withall in his way took in a strong House with a Draw-Bridge moated which stood in the way of his march in lesse than an houres space And after a very hard march as I said day and night on the 24 of Septemb. in the morning his van curriers discovered the Enemy upon a Moore or Heath within three or foure miles at most of Chester called Rowton-Moore Whereupon notwithstanding his former tedious and even overtyring marches of neere upon 300 miles not resting above a day in a place together with divers difficulties which he was forced to passe through and all this to prevent or at least overtake the King yet I say notwithstanding all these he immediately drew into order and advanced upon them though all his forces were not then come up together for he supposed and hoped to take the Enemy at unawares it being probable they could have no intelligence of his being so neare though it proved otherwise for his Letters written that night to the Commander within the out-Lines of Chester giving notice of his advance were intercepted and the Enemy being possessed of the advantage of ground and in order confronted our Van led by Colonell Hugh Bethell in the middest of a Lane betwixt two Moores covered with the armed men of both Baâ—taliaes where was given a very sharp and gallant charge by both parties for after Pistols were discharged at half Pikes distance they disputed the matter with their Swords a full quarter of an houre neither yeelding ground to other till at length the Enemy was forced to retreat whom our men pursuing were re-encountred by a fresh reserve at the Lanes mouth and they were likewise discomfited and a third but being over powred were in the end forced to retreat through the Laneâ— uncapable of receiving a Reserve to second them here we had some losse the Enemy pursuing to the Lanes end but were beaten back for there was space for our Reserves to advance Colonell Bethell and Colonell Graves were then sore wounded after this the Generall perceiving the Enemy lay upon his advantage onely skirâ—â—â—ed him with some flying parties while he held correspondency with his friends in Chester Suburbs whose signe was the discharge of two peeces of Ordnance when they would issue out with Horse and Foot to joinâ— with him upon whose appearing the Enemy quitted their station and the Generall with a party advanced to take the most convenient ground giving command in Colonell Parsons Quartermaster generall of the Army Colonell Sandies who performed the duty of Commissary Generall of the Horse during the aforesaid march being then imployed to the Committee of both Kingdoms to order up the rest which was opportunely done for they joyned with the Auxiliary forces of Horse and Foot in the enemies ground and were drawn into many small Divisions and Reserves being much overnumbred by the Enemy who accompted themselves 5000 Horse and Generall Poyntz not above 2500 Horse besides two small bodies of Foot who were disposed in the two outmost intervals of Horse upon the very instant of this juncture the Enemy advanced with their whole Body and the Generall leaving the charge of the reserves to Colonell Parsons tooke care of and led up the Van Divisions with which after a round volly of shot from the Foot he joyned battell charging the Enemy in Front and Flanck where his horse was deeply wounded on the head being continually seconded with reserves as often as there was occasion the rest being kept intire followed at a due distance The prevailing Generall put the Enemy to a totall rout and although the pursuit was as hot as could be expected from such wearied Horse thorow narrow durty lanes and over ditches the Enemy rallied in a great moore wide of Chester in two vast bodies a great distance assunder the first not without some dispute were again routed and the other likewise who retreated upon the Warwick Regiment with such violence as bore them away confusedly intermixed with the flying Enemy up to the out-Works of the Suburbs the Musketeers within were never the lesse liberall of their Gunshot but the Divine providence appeared much in the distribution of the impartiall Bullets few or none lighting upon our men though many of the Enemy were found there expiring A Body of horse all the while of these last
disputes appeared fixed on the top of a hill a little distant on that side Chester wherein the King was very confidently reputed to be for confronting whereof a party of Foot winged with Colonell Lidcot and Colonell Bethels Regiments were drawn into a convenient Close in the bottom as a grand Reserve but the night by this time falling the body on the hill appeared not and those in the bottome returned to their comrades sasiated with slaughter prisoners and booty of the vanquished Enemy While these things were thus agitated in the field the remainder of Foot left with Colonell Lowthian in the Suburbs were not idle for the Enemy made a strong sally upon them out of the City and were more strenuously repulsed the number of the slaine of the prisoners and horse taken is not yet knowne but is generally conjectured 800 slain 1500 men and 2000. horses taken there was brought in that night the underwritten list of the considerablest men taken and slaine in the fight which was as followeth Sir Thomas Dâ—bridgecourt Sir Thomas Gore Colonell Thomas Weston sonne to the Earle of Portland and 6 more Colonells 7. Leivtenant Colonells 5. Majors 19. Captaines to one whereof the Queene had given a Scarffe to weare for her sake 14. Leivtenants 7. Cornets 19. Gent. of his Majesties Life-guard 20. other Gent. 5. Trumpeters 4. Quartermasters There were slaine in this fight as we were credibly informed 2. Lords whereof the one for certaine was the Lord Bernhard Stuart the Kings kinsman Earle of Litchfieild Sir Bryan Stapleton a new made Knight the Kings Agent for the bringing over of 10000. men out of Ireland one Colonell one Leivtenant Colonell with about 400. more Officers and Common Souldiers Between 800 and 1000. others taken prisoners Great store of armes much good pillage and many more horse and men taken in the pursuit whose exact number and conditions could not so suddenly be certified After the reading of Colonell Parsons Letter in Parliament whose relation as aforesaid I have principally followed the House of Commons entred into serious Debate of the prosecutions of this great victorie And ordered that certaine Members of that House should be forthwith sent down to Sir Tho. Fairefax then at 〈◊〉 to informe him and the Armie of this good successe which it had pleased the Lord to give our forces under the command of Major Gen. Poyntz and of the condition of the North and to desire a supply of forces to be sent thither upon a designe not then fit to be revealed in publike They also ordered that the Thursday then next ensuing should be appointed a day of Thanksgiven for this great victorie in the City of London Westminster and Lines of 〈◊〉 and the Thursday 7 night following for all the Counties within the power of the Parliament And 〈◊〉 an encouragement to that worthy and Gallant Souldier 〈◊〉 Gen. Poynez they ordered that 500. l should be bestowed 〈◊〉 him as a testimonie of the affection of the Houses toward 〈◊〉 And that which made this excellent victorie the more sweet and remarkable to us was that it was given us Even as a return of prayers or as a blessed prevention of prayer to set an edge of Spirituall zeale on our hearts in prayer it being obtained and given in unto us by the wise and gracious power and providence of our good God and bountifull and ever blessed Father upon the 24. of this instant Septem which was that Moneths publike solemne fast-day Otheâ— who would not faithfully wait rest and rely on such and so liberall a God who is readier to give than we to aske And this September the 29. according to the Ancient annuâ—ll custome of the renowned City of London there was an election of their New Lord Major of the said City for the yeare ensuing at the Guild-Hall in London where and at which time the Citizens whom it concerned advisedly and most unanimously chose Alderman Adams a pious prudent Gentleman and grave Citizen to be their Lord Major In whose most happie choice this renowned City is most like by the mercy of God to be as happie and honourable every way after this yeare of his Major 〈◊〉 as ever it was by any of his former famous and faithfull Prâ—decessours And about this foresaid time the Commons assembled in Parliament received an Ordinance from the House of 〈◊〉 for making of a new Baron of the Exchequer which was read and past there and returned backe immediately to the Lords and fully past there also in the blanck whereof the House of Commons nominated and inserted for that place Richard Tomlins Esquir a Councellour of the Inner-Temple a faithfull worthy and pious Patriot as in a speciall manner his fidelity was formerly manifested to injurious persecuted pious Master Priâ—â—e for whom in those dangerous dayes he was of Counsell and stood close unto 〈◊〉 did most aboundantly declare And about this time also 〈◊〉 Parliamentary States prudently and providently tooke into their serious Consideration not only the choice of some new and truly well deserving Serjants of Law to be now necessarily made Judges viz. Serjeant Rolles to be a Judge in the Kings-Bench Serjeant 〈◊〉 a Judge in the Common-Plea's and Serjeant 〈◊〉 another of the Barons of the Exchequer But also for the future avoyding and prevention of those ungodly corruptions which have been formerly in those places it was most piously and prudently ordered that 1000. l. Per annum should be allowed to each Judge out of the Reveâ—â—â— to be paid 〈…〉 of Fees Livâ—ries and such like former allowances A happie and holy Common-wealth 〈…〉 most like to be established when both worthie learned pious and prudent Governours Judges and Magistrates fearing God and hating Covetousnesse are thus chosen to fit at the Helme of Authority and Judicature and also such courses taken as may in all likelihood and equity by Gods Grace especially restraine wonted corruption and briberie and fairly induce them to doe Iustice to all without partiality and avarice which the Lord in mercy grant unto us that Iustice now at length may run about like Rivers in our streets as the Prophet speakes Amen and Amen About the end of this September we received certaine intelligence that Barclay Castle in Gloucestershire was surrendred to valiant and active Colonell Morgan and Colonell Rainsborough the taking whereof being a place of such strength and the manner of taking of it worthy an exact relation I have therefore thought 〈◊〉 for the Readers better content and satisfaction therein to insert the Letter of a speciall actor and Commander in that service and siege which was as followeth SIR Vnderstanding that you desire to be acquainted with the true manner of our taking in of Barclay Castle which it seems you have not yet had a full Relation of I have therefore here satisfied your desire and given you a full and faithfull account thereof which was thus The 〈◊〉 was
up but most fled And in this action Sir John Browne himselfe deported himselfe with as much gallantry as any man in the world could do the whole body being not discouraged though in number so much overmatched For the particulars of those that were killed and taken I refer you to the list where all the particulars are certified according to Sir John Brownes own letter The Lord Digby had a cleare rout as ever was given to any The Lord Digby himselfe with Sir Marmaduke Langdale and others of his chiefe Officers that escaped fled over to the Isle of man in a Cock-Boat The Isle of man is a malignant Island between Cumberland and Ireland the Earle of Derby is the Governour thereof for the King and of others that escaped there are divers taken straglers and their Horse and Armes but in a body there are none heard of save onely about 200. that are fled towards Bâ—â—m and a party are sent to stop them from getting in thereto if they can but of them that are fled that way of the Enemies many of them are fore wounded A List of what was slain and what was taken by Sir John Brown at the routing of the Lord Digby and Sir Marmaduke Langdale at Carlile Sands On the Enemies part ONe hundred slaine upon the place Many wounded Taken Prisoners DIgby his Quartermaster Generall 1 Colonell of Langdales Brigade 2 Lieutenant Colonels 3 Captains of Horse Divers other Officers Many Prisoners Taken besides TWo Hundred Horse and Armes The Lord Digbyes owne Standard Sir Marmaduke Langdales Standard 3 Colours of Horse On our part SIr John Browne shot thorow his side but not mortally for he is able to fit upon his Horse back Captaine Lesley wounded 30 and odde slaine amongst whom some Officers but none of note that I hear of 50 or there abouts wounded on our side in all Digby and Langdale with 1000 Horse were totally routed by Sir John Browne with a party of about 500. and Digby and Langdale fled to the Isle of Man in a Cock-boat And upon the intelligence hereof an Order passed both Houses of Parliament to this effect It is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled That the Ministers in the severall Congregations in the Cities of London and Westminster and Lines of Communication do upon Wednesday next being the 5 of November take notice of the great mercy of Almighty God in preserving and continuing this present Parliament now full five yeares compleat notwithstanding all the designes and machinations of the Enemy against them And likewise to make most thankfull mention of Gods great mercy in the defeating of the Lord Digby and Sir Marmaduke Langdales Forces in Scotland by Sir John Browne of Fardell Knight And that the Lord Mayor be desired to give the severall Ministers timely notice of this Order And now good Reader let me intreat thee as there is very great reason here to make a little stay and even to stand amazed in the serious and most gratefull re-view and re-cogitation of the still continued and multiplied mercies of our most good and gracious wonder-working God in this Moneth also to his blessed Burning-Bush still I say both unconsumed and also made most prosperously to stand and flourish in the midst of all the rough and outragious conflagrations and combustions of Malignants power and policie might and mischievous machinations to have utterly 〈◊〉 destroyed it root branch had not God I say the great and gracious the most wise and vigilant Watchman over his poore maligned English-Israel stood for them as hath been mightily manifested in its glorious preservation and propagation both in the brave defeat given to the Enemy by Col. Moore Governour of Gâ—â—nt-House the taking of Farâ—igh Castle in Somersetshire and of Sandall Castle in Yorkeshire In the happy surrender of the Town and Castle of Winchester into the Parliaments power and the pious resolutions of our Parliament to deale mercifully with Malignants and Delinquents notwithstanding their intended mercilesse cruelty towards us and yet herein also the Parliaments prudence and providence for the safety and welfare of the Kingdome In the most happy taking of Bazing-House that pernicious denne of theeves and thus cleansing that foule and filthie Augean-stall together with the taking of Chepstow Towne and Castle by Colonell Margan In the cleared integrity of the Parliament touching 〈◊〉 of new Members unto them the brave defeat given to the Enemy by our Abington Forces together with that other brave defeat given by valiant Colonell Rossiter to Banbury Forces neare Newarke In the taking of Langford-House neer Salisbury and the soundly beating of Sir William Vaughans Forces by Tamworth Garrison In the famous defeat given to the Enemy at Sherburne his York-shire by valiant Colonell Copley and the admirable and almost miraculous taking of Tiverton Town and Castle In the happy overture of things in Wales for the reducing of that Principality to the Parliaments obedience and the taking in of 〈◊〉 and Monmouth Towns and Castles to the Parliaments party And lastly In the discovery of Digbies Letters the brave defeat given to the Enemy neer Denbigh Castle coming to relieve Chester And that other brave defeat given to Sir William Byron on the like intention to relieve Westchester where he was taken Prisoner Together with that last not least famous defeat given againe to the Lord Digby and Langdale in their mischievously intended march into Scotland to Montrose Upon the most weighty and worthy gratefull consideration of all which most memorable and admirable Parliamentary mercies and mighty blessings O what infinite cause have we O in what innumerable and indissoluble bonds of obliged gratitude are we everlastingly bound to blesse the Lord our thus great and gracious wonder-working God And with the pious Prophet to be inlarged in our hearts and tongues with abundant expressions of joyfull confessions and exultations in our God and to sing and say in this our day Lo this is our God we have waited for him and he hath saved us This is the Lord we have trusted in him and now he hath made us to be glad and rejoyce in his mighty salvations for he hath trodden downe Moab our most proud and politick adversaries under his feet even as straw is trodden downe for the dunghill This also cometh all forth from the Lord of Hosts who is wonderfull in counsell and most excellent in working Go on O Lord we pray thee still to make thy great name more and more glorious and let not men prevaile Let still these irreligiâ—us Royalists be judged in thy sight Put them still in feare O Lord that they may know they 〈…〉 men So shall we thy people and the sheep of thy pasture give thanks 〈◊〉 to thee and blesse thy name as we do this day for ever and ever 〈◊〉 now to go on And here now we will begin the yet further most gratefull contemplation and admiration of the most
at Sea driven into a creek neer Plymouth from whence a Boat was sent to demand and know whom they were for the Marriners thinking themselves to be in his Majesties Quarters answered They were for the King Hereupon our boat left them and acquainting the Governour of Plymouth therewith he sent forth severall Boats with Musketeers to take the Barke which they did after some resistance and some few slain on both side and so brought it safely into Plymouth to be made use of for the King and Parliament And about November the 24. we also received certaine information by Letters out of Gloucestershire of a brave defeat given to the Enemie in those parts which also was confirmed by another Letter especially from Malmsbury the substance whereof was as followeth That upon occasion of planting and fortifying a Garrison for the Parliaments partie by renowned and active Colonell Morgan the valiant and faithfull Governour of Gloucester at Sir Henry Fred. Thynnes House at Kempsford in that Countie the Enemy belonging to Rad-Court and Farringdon being enraged at it and much offended that they should have a troublesome neighbour so neere them to straighten and curb their former accustomed excursions into the Countrie for contribution-money and plunder They therefore came forth with a party of about 30. horse to impede and disturbe their workes begun Whereupon Captaine Moore who had the Command of Malmsbury foot left at Letch-lad by Colonell Morgan drew out 60. Musketeers with which he bravely flankt the Enemie slew 2. of them shot their Captaine in the thigh and so made retreat but this their Commander swore in a rage that they would ere long be avenged upon our forces and thereupon they presently fetched in unto them Major Duet that French-Renegado and base apostate from the Parliaments service who since his defection had beene a Scourge and vexation to those parts though most Commonly with losse to himselfe who came that very evening with 100. foot and 120. horse purposing to have surprised ours in their workes and now to be revenged on them for his friends former repulse but valiant and vigilant Captaine Moore timely discovered them sent out another partie of Musketters and the Gloucester-horse thereabout having taken the Alarm drew forth also to the Encounter set fiercely upon the Enemy put them to the rout pursued the chace mortally wounded Major Duet himselfe unhorst him threw him into the dire where within 4 or 5 houres after he was found dead a just hand of God now at last upon such a disloyall and faithlesse apostate from the honest Cause which he first undertooke they also slew another Captain and 20. more Common Souldiers upon the place tooke 30. prisoners whereof one was a Corner and 5. of the Kings Life-guard 40. horse and 60 fire-armes And thuâ— having by Gods great mercy to whom alone be all the praise and glory thereof chaced them close to Rad-cot-Bridge even almost to their very workes they returned victoriously safe to their Garrison without the lose of any one man of theirs slaine only 2. or 3. wounded but not mortally Finally about the latter end of this November it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our most prudent and provident Parliamentarie-Statists for the more luculent and cleare manifestation of their hearts integrity to manage all matters for the greater honour of that great and supreame Court of Parliament and the fairer evidence of their own personall sincerity in and about the same to take into their serious debate the great prejudice which many have received by protection of Members of Parliament and their servants or attendants and therefore how the same might be remedied for the future The result whereof came at last to this issue that they appointed a Committee of New elected Members who were to meet certaine dayes weekly with power to heare and examine complaints of such as have suffered in that nature And also to receive such complaints as shall upon just ground be brought against any Member of Parliament for taking of Bribes or for any other act of injustice whatsoever Certainely such acts of justice as these especially being faithfully and effectually carryed on will make this already most famous Parliament much more famous and illustrious to all posterity and cannot but most justly stop the mouths of all malicious-hearted Malignants and others who have or shall endevour injuriously to scandalize their honourable proceedings And here now againe good Reader let me desire thee to stay a while to make a most gratefull review there in to admire the rare and remarkable Parliamentarie-mercies of this moneth also in the cleare and most demonstrative ratification of this admirable wonder of the Burning-Bush still unconsumed and rarely kept and recovered from the many menaced distractions of it by the incessant assailant furious flames and conflagrations flashing continually round about it as hath beene most apparently seen and set forth both in the Parliaments provident care and Circumspection for the safety and welfare of the Kingdome and City of London in those two excellent Orders against Delinquents In the taking in of Shelford-House And miserably taring in peeces of the Lord Digbies late scattered forces againe rallyed into a body In the surrender of Abarashwait a strong Garrison of the Enemie in Cardiganshire into the Parliaments power And the gratefull recordation of the Parliaments happie preservation from the malicious machinations of the plotting Enemies therof since the beginning of it to this present In the taking in of Worton-Garrison Wiverton and Welbeck-house And the spontaneous falling off of all Glamorganshire from the Kings pernicious party In the surrender of Bolton-Castle in the North to the Parliaments forces And the brave defeat given to the Enemy at Cannon-Froom and surprisall then of a notable Engine for batterie called a Sowe In the notable defeate given to the Lord Ashton and his forces where himselfe was slaine And the brave prize taken at Sea from the Enemie by Plymouth Garrison In the brave defeat given to Major Duet that French renegado and base Apostate where he himselfe was slaine And lastly In the remarkable testimonie of the Parliaments integrity shining forth in that excellent order of theirs against Parliaments protections and taking of bribes All which graciously and gratefully considered can amount to no lesse than a most cordiall and comfortable acknowledgement and confession of the Lords unchangeable free grace and unexhaustible bounty to us his most unworthy people of England even to admiration and astonishment to all our neighbour Nations round about us And that therefore they may and must most justly cause yea compellus with thankfull thoughts hearts and tongues to confesse and say with holy David Through the Lord alone we have done thus valiantly and he it is that â—ath thus graciously and gloriously trod downe our Enemies Yea He it is that hath bidden us not to be afraid of our most potent or politick
Colonell Birches Leiutenant Colonell Hammond who indeed carryed the businesse bravely and behaved himselfe most gallantly therein and the maine body of foot Colonell Birch himselfe led and Colonell Morgan the horse but the forlorn hope of horse which were first to enter was Commanded by brave Captaine Temple These things being thus designed in the morning after that the trevalley was beaten and upon the first letting-downe of the draw-bridge 3. men came out of the City not discerning any body the Firelocks lay so close and now the Constable with a hedgebill on his shoulder and the other 6. Souldiers like homely Countrie Labourers with spades and Mattocks came forth to their worke and the 3. foresaid men went along on their way seeing none else till they came beyond the hill and then perceiving our men they spake pretty loud to themselves What doe all these men here Whereupon they were instantly surprized and snapt-up and so could not stir back to give any notice of ought they saw And now the Constable and 〈◊〉 Labourers were come to the Draw-bridge where the guard began to examine them The Constable told the Centinell that he was come to doe his worke with those workmen according to his warrant from the Governour which they presently desired to see the Constable shewed it him and so he and the rest looking on it to read it the 6. men came close to them and were now on the top of the bridge and as they were reading the warrant the Constable with his hedge-â—ill knockt down the Centinell who instantly fell down dead at his feet the other Labourers killed 2. more of them and so all these 7. kept the others in play busâ—ing at the Bridge to over master them all which Leiutenant Colonell Hammond seeing who stood on the top of the hill to watch the Event and so gave the signe to all the Firelocks by houlding up and shaking his Hat unto them even all the 150. that lay coucht in the house whereupon out they all rushed and came speedily but yet orderly to the Bridge where they found the Constable and his Labourers close at their work indeed and so the Fire-locks making way for the horse and the horse close following them over the Bridge they got and into the Town they entred Captainâ— Temple and Sir John Bridges marched on in the forlorn hope of horse Leivtenant Colonell Hammond with the forlorn hope of Firelocks and Captaine Aldern with the reserve of foot and thus I say they entred bravely Captaine Temple with his horse-troope doing speciall good service making his way to the mainguard where his horse was shot under him and he fought so stoutly that his sword also was broken in his hand to the very hilt and three of his Troopers onely being slaine which was all the losse that we sustained of our men in this whole worke and some wounded The Commanders both of horse and foot I meane especially both Colonell Morgan and Colonell Birch did most excellent service from the first to the last of this brave service and so did the rest of the Commanders and Officers and went on so gallantly and undauntedly notwithstanding that they and their Souldiers had layen out all that cold night that they quickly seized on all the guards insomuch that at last many of the Enemie had got through the market place up to their chambers and thence discharged their Muskets and Pistolls upon our men and many of the Malignant Townesmen did the like out of their windowes which so enraged our men that they slew 8. in the streets but when the Enemie saw our men come in so fast and in great numbers they cryed out for quarter By this meanes the Souldiers fell toâ—â—â—â—ndering and rifling and tooke what they could catch from which the Governour of Gloucester Colonell Morgan could by no meanes restraine them for they accounted all their own in regard they entred the City by an ouslat and had so much opposition And thus by 12. of the clocke that night they had fully got the whole City and taken most of their prisoners This mercie was wonderfull unto us let the Lord have all the honour and praise thereof who made in so succesfull unto us in all the particulars of it from the first to the last A List of the prisoners and prizes thus taken in Hereford by Collell Morgan Governour of Gloucester and Colonell Birch now made Governour of Hereford THe Lord Brudenell the Bishop of Hereford by name Doctor Cooke Sir Fra. Howard Sir Marmaduke Floyd Sir Henry Beding-field Sir Walter Blunt and 2. more of the Blunts both Knights also and Papists Sir Rich. Kennish Sir Richard Weston Sir Thomas Lunsford Sir George Vaugham Sir Gyles Mumpessons Sir John Stepney Sir Fra. Lloyd Sir Philip Jones Sir Edw. Morgan Sir Nicholas Throgmorton Sir Richard Basset Sir Henry Spiller Sir Roger Bodingham Lievtenant Colonell Price Leivtenant Col. Jones Lieutenant Colonell Lewes Lieutenant Colonell Tooley and Lievtenant Colonell Jefferies Major Mathewes and Major Sayer Major Lewis Major Roberts Major Price and also Judge Jenkins Captaines 9. Secretarie Barnes 4. Leivtenants 3. Cornets one Ensigne one Quarter-master one Commissarie 2. Gentelmen of worth and quality besides Mounseiur Peter Morlet French Gent. 3. Chirurgeons together with many other Officers and Troopers of worth and quality and by the relation of the Townesmen there were at least 2000. Papists of all conditions then in the Town who had fled hither for their security since the taking of Chepstow and other places there abouts We tooke there also 12. peeces of Ordnance but as for the rest of the Magazine and Ammunition there was not then a full account given thereof it being then so scattered and disperst in the Towne Of what consequence this Towne is unto us may appeare in that the whole Countie of Hereford is by thus obtaining of this City brought into the obedience of the â—arliament and not onely so but all South-Wales and a good Omen for the reducing of Ragland Castle all provisions and intercourse being stopped out of Wales also to Worcester and Ludlow and the Enemies of other Garrisons thereabout being by this meanes in a faire way of reduction to the Parliament this next Spring by the gracious assistance of our good God Colonell Morgans Secretary who first brought the intelligence of this so gallant peece of service to the Parliament had 50 l. given him for his paines therein and Colonell Birches Messenger had 20 l. given to him also by Order from both Houses of Parliament And the Parliament taking into serious consideration the extraordinary providence and unexpected much more immerited mercy of God in thus gaining this strong City and that with so little losse of blood made thereupon these severall Orders following First That on the next Lords Day bounden thanks should be rendred to Almighty God for this great mercy by the Ministers in their severall
Garye Lieutenant Colonell to Sir Tibbot Bourk eldest Sonne to the Lord of Maye Richard Bourk Major to Richard Bourk the Earle of Clanrickards Heire and Sonne to Sir William Bourk Brother to the late Earle of Clanrickard Captaine William O Shaghuise brother to Sir Roger O Shaghuise Captaine Garret Dillon Sonne to Sir Lucas Dillon who saith that his Father was shot in the thigh Captaine Ro. Castallogh Killed Edward Brown Captaine of 100 Musketeers out of Galloway brother to Jeffery Brown the Lawyer Three Lieutenants of Foot Two Cornets Three Engines Killed also the Titular Archbishop of Tuain the Rebels president of Cannaught a principall incendiary in that Kingdome in whose pockets were found Letters and other papers of great importance and for his own particular an Order from the Councell of Kilkenny for leavying the arreares of his Bishoprick together with severall other prisoners of inferiour quality both of Horse and Foot and 22 or 23 were drowned And here now I shall desire the Reader by way of introduction to what I have further to say touching this Irish Victory and especially some of the Papers taken from this foresaid Archbishop of Tuain to take speciall notice of the admirable wisdome and providentiall mercy of the Lord unto us therein viz. That in regard of the wonderfull great and good successe which the Lord hath lately given to our Forces in the West of our owne Kingdome and the King finding what bad successe he hath of late had as well as all along indeed for the most part in all the parts of the Kingdome both West and North now therefore sent Letter after Letter to the Parliament for the procuring of a pretended well grounded Peace and the way nay forsooth the only way in the opinion of the subtill Oxonians that must lead thereto he propounded to be by a Treaty nay when that could not serve by a Personall Treaty in himself proffering himself to come in person to our Parliament But our prudent Parliament who by much experience knew very well of what danger and disadvantage such Treaties have been and this also of the Kings personall coming in this juncture of time would be both to foment pernicious delayes and abusive designes for raising desperate parties to spoile us all resolved therefore most peremptorily to go a neerer way to worke to wit by drawing up Bils and to present them to the King to have them immediately signed and made Acts. But now that the Reader I say may see how fairely the King meant both in sending Letters thus for a Treaty of Peace yea and proffering himself in person to treat of Peace I have here thought fit to set downe the substance of one of his Letters sent to the Parliament for this purpose verbatim and most faithfully as it was printed and published and therewith also a Declaration of his compacting with the Rebels in Ireland against God our Religion and his English Protestant Subjects yea the whole Kingdome and Parliament And then I say the impartiall Reader may see how crossely and craftily yet most accursedly things were carried underhand even with extream Atheisme and impiety and now I say for the full clearing hereof take here first a true Copy of the Kings Letter to our Parliament expressing his even greedy seeming desire of Peace with his Parliament and his Protestant People and then you shall have the other Letter or Declaration sent into Ireland and then be amazed and confounded in thy thoughts at such hideous and horrid yea even hellish dissimulation Upon Friday Jan. 16. another Trumpet for you must know by the way as I touched before divers former Trumpets and Messages had been sent came from the King with a Letter directed to the Speaker of the House of Peers pro tempore the substance of which Letter was C. R. HIs Majesty doth expresse his great wonder that whereas he had sent a gracious Message on the 26 of December last the subject whereof was for a Treaty for peace that the Parliament should returne no Answer to that Message ever since He much admired what should become of his Trumpeter whom he sent unto them in December last having heard 〈◊〉 newes of him since his departure from Oxford unto London He seemes to be very carefull of the Government of the Church and desireth that it may continue as in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth and King James of blessed and perpetuall memory yet he expresseth that because the Act it abolished for the use of the Booke of Common Prayer he is not altogether averse that the Directory shall passe as it is now used in some Churches of London and this He is content to condescend unto for the ease of tender consciences He maketh no question but that He shall give both his Houses of Parliament a full content for the choyce of the Lord Admirall and other Officers of State if He finds his Houses of Parliament inclinable to a Treaty for peace in which he intendeth to assist in Person He expresseth a speciall care to satisfie the Scots in their arreares and to discharge the expences of the City and for the businesse of Ireland He doubteth not but He shall give His Subjects of England perfect satisfaction Subscribed Given at our Court at Oxford Jan. 15. 1645. This is the substance of his Majesties Letter which though communicated by former pens was read in the House this day and it is the rather here inserted because you may see how crosse it is to His Majesties Letter sent to Ireland and sealed with his highnesse Signature and Royall Signet which Letter together with other papers of great concernment were found in the pocket of the Archbishop of Tuain slaine at Sligo in Ireland the tenour of which Letter was as followeth C. R. CHARLES by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith To our trusty and right well beloved cousin Edward Earle of Glamorgan greeting VVE reposing great and speciall trust and confidence in your approved wisdome and fidelity do by these as firmly as under our great Seale to all intents and purposes authorize and give you power to treat and conclude with the Roman Catholicks in our Kingdome of Ireland if upon necessity any thing be condescended to wherein our Lieutenant cannot so well be seen as not fit for us at the present publikely to owne We therefore charge you to proceed according to this our Warrant with all possible secrecy and for whatsoever you shall engage your self upon such valuable considerations as you in your judgement shall thinke fit we promise in the word of a King and a Christian to ratifie and performe the same that shall be granted by you and under your Hand and Seale the said Confederate Catholicks having by their supplies testified their zeale to our service and this shall be in each particular a sufficient Warrant to you Given at our Court at Oxford under our
Signet and Royall Segnature in the twenty yeere of our reigne c. It was therefore ordered by the said Earle in the Kings behalf 1 That all the professors of the Roman Religion in Ireland of whatsoever degree or quality shall enjoy the free and publique use of the Roman Catholike Religion 2 That the professors of the said Roman Religion shall enjoy all the Churches within the Kingdome of Ireland other than such as are now actually enjoyed by his Majesties Protestant Subiects 3 That all the Roman Catholick Subiects of Ireland should be exempted from the iurisdiction of the Protestant Clergy 4 〈◊〉 whereas there was an Act made 〈◊〉 Parliament holden in Dublin in the second yeare of Queen Elizabeth entituled An act restoring to the Crowne the ancient Right and Jurisdiction over the State Ecclesiasticall and for the abolishing of all forraigne and Popish power repugnant to the same And whereas there was another Act for the Vniformity of Common Prayer and Service in the Church and Administration of the Sacraments and sundry mâ—cts laid upon the professions of the Roman Religion it is accorded and granted that a Parliament shall be called in Ireland and that an Act shall passe for the reliefe of his Maiesties subiects and that neither of the said Statutes nor only branch Article clause or sentence in them neither in any other Statute made either by his Majiesty or any of his Predecessors touching the free and publique use of the Catholique Religion shall extend or be of my force to prejudice the professors of the Roman Church for any matter or cause whatsoever And these things and some other of the like nature being granted by the King according to his promise made in the word of a Christian and a King the Confederate Catholicks did oblige themselves to bring in the number of 10000 men who are to be armed there one half with Muskeâ—s the other with Pikes to be shipped to serve his Majesty in England Wales Scotland at his Majesty shall appoint Thus have I set forth the Kings Letter to the Parliament on the one side and his Letter or Declaration to the most bloody and barbarous Rebels of Ireland on the other side And now how the King is able to reconcile these two vast contrarities and to give the Kingdome and Parliament full satisfaction as in that Letter to them he saies he will concerning the affaires in Ireland let the world judge and God and his owne soul be witnesse Therefore the Parliament as by Gods mercy to us they have done all things hitherto for the most part with much moderation and 〈◊〉 did very 〈◊〉 I think present to his Majesty in theâ—â— Letter or Declaration sent unto him on their knowledge of these things that the war in Ireland being fomented and prolonged by his Majesty to the utter ruine almost of the Kingdome of England and Scotland that untill satisfaction and security be 〈◊〉 given to 〈◊〉 Kingdomes for the same his Majesties coming to London could not be convenient nor assented unto Thus I say the Parliaments providence next under the infinite wisdom and mercy of our good God hath still wonderfully discovered and disappointed all the pestilent plots and dangerous designes of our adversaries and maugre all their malicious machinations and craftiest combinations made all our Parliamentary great grave and godly affaires go on with wonderfull safety and security ever magnified and praised be the Lords most glorious mercies for it But now to proceed About the 14 of this instant January we received certain intelligence by Letters out of the West that the Enemy in those parts continued in a most distracted condition flying still before us and our men loosing no advantage and opportunity to pursue them And that they no sooner had heard of our Forces approach toward Plymouth but as they were in their Garrisons and Holds before Plymouth about Plympton they immediately forsook them to provide for themselves by a shamefull flight and were no sooner fled but our men became masters of their Works There were found in Plympton upon this the Enemies hasty flight seven peeces of Ordnance which in that confused haste they were not able to draw off there were also taken divers barrels of powder and great store of Armes and Ammunition and it much joyed the Garrison of Plymouth to see a full deliverance come so soone and so unexpectedly and that in the depth of snow and dead of Winter whereas according to ordinary reason there could in such a time no reliefe be expected But the Garrison of Plymouth to be sure made good use of the flying condition of their Enemies for immediately they sallyed forth after them and tooke about 60 of them one whereof was said to be a Commander of note and one of the most active against the Parliament in those parts And as the Garrison of Plymouth was active so our renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax with his most loyall and active Forces would loose no time or opportunity but tooke all occasions of the Enemies feares and flights and following them close made them quit Sir Francis Drakes House which they had made a strong Garrison and our men took possession of it And then Sir Thomas commanded a considerable party to march to Dartmouth who with much willingnesse undertooke the march and the Town being summoned the Enemy not onely refused to submit but sent out a party to fire some out houses supposing that they might be beneficiall to us during the siege but our Forces routed the party took 40 Horse and divers prisoners and slew the Lieutenant Colonell that commanded the said party And in the meane time Sir Thomas Fairfax sent to Captaine Batten Vice Admirall of the Parliaments Ships in the Westerne stode to come up to Dartmouth 〈◊〉 because he would storme it both by Sea and by Land whereof more in its more proper place January the 16 a Petition was 〈◊〉 to the House of Peers in the name of the Lord Mayor Alde â—men and Common-Councell of the City of London for the speedy setling of Church Government in the City and over the whole Kingdome as the day before they had presented one of the same to the House of Commons and upon the presenting of the Petition Alderman Gibbs made a Speech to their Lordships and after some consideration of the Petition the Lords returned them a most acceptable answer which Petition together with the Answer thereunto from the Lords for the Readers better content and satisfaction and the honour of that most famous and renowned City in such a pious Act and Petition I have thought fit here to insert them which were as followeth To the Right Honourable the LORDS now Assembled in the High Court of PARLIAMENT The humble Petition of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common-Councell Assembled Sheweth THat in Novemb. last the Petitioners made it their humble request to this honourable
House That Church-Government might be setled and are most humbly thank full for your favourable interpretation thereof proceeding from the good intentions of the Common-Councell who are resolved according to their duty to have a tender respect to the Priviledges of Parliament whereby the Liberties of the City and Kingdome are preserved That in December last at the choise of new Common-Councell men for the yeare ensuing the Inhabitants of most of the Wards in this City petitioned their respective Aldermen in their Wardmote to move your Petitioners to make their further addresse to the Honourable Houses of Parliament for the speedy setling of Church-Government within this City and against Toleration as by a Copy of one of the said Petitions annexed appeared That private Meetings especially on the Lords Day of which there are at least eleven in one Parish are multiplyed whereby the publique Congregations Ordinances and godly 〈…〉 are very much neglected and contemned as if they were Antichristian and our present times were like the Primitive persecutions or as if we were still under the Tyranny of the Prelaticall Government and by reason of such 〈◊〉 and the preaching of women and other ignorant persons superstition Heresie Schisme and Profaness are much increased 〈◊〉 divided and such Blasphemies as the Petitioners tremble to thinke on uttered to the high dishonour of Almighty God That the Petitioners are informed that divers persons have an inteâ—â—tion to Petition this Honourable House for a Toleration of such Doctrines at are against our Covenants under the Notion of Liberty of Conselâ—â— The Petitioners therefore having no power of themselves to suppresse or overcome these growing evils Doe according to their Covenant reveale and make the same knowne to this Honourable House and for timely prevention and removall thereof do 〈…〉 the Preâ—â—â—sses may be taken into your most serious consideration And that Church Government 〈◊〉 speedily 〈…〉 to our most Solemne Covenant with the most high God in such manner and forme as to your Wisdomes shall seeme most agreeable thereunto before me be destroyed one by another through 〈◊〉 and divisions And that no Toleration be granted either of Popery Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schisme Prophannesse or of any thing contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of godlinesse And that all private Meetings contrary to the said Covenant the rather in regard of the sad effects thereof may be restrained And the Petitioners shall pray c. MICHELL To the Right Worshipfull the Alderman and Common-Councell men of the Ward of Farrington within at their Ward-moot A representation of the Humble desires of the Inhabitants of the said Ward I THat Church Government may speedily be setled within the City before we be utterly ruined with rents and divisions II That this Government may be that which is agreeable to the Word of God and example of the best Reformed Churches according 〈◊〉 solemne League and Covenant with the most high God III That no Toleration either the Popery Prelacy Schisme Heresie Superstition Prophamenesse or any thing contrary to sound Doctrine or the power of godlinesse may at all be yeelded unto as being against the Word of God and contrary to the very Letter of our Covenant And these our most humble and earnest desires which we are obliged and encouraged also to make by reason of our said Covenant we intreat the Right Worshipfull the Alderman and Common-Councell men of this Ward to represent to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and the Honourable Court of Common-Councell at their first sitting that they would make their further addresse to the Honourable Houses of Parliament for the obâ—aining of these our just and necessary desires The Answer to the said Petition pronounced by the Speaker of the House of Peers THe Lords have alwaies had great experience of the care and good affections of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councell of the City of London for which they are glad of any opportunity to expresse their great sense and to returne their hearty thanks and 〈◊〉 especially upon this occasion wherein the Common-Councell have maâ—â—â— so great zeale and faithfulnesse to the true Worship of Almighty 〈◊〉 and care for the Peace and well ordering of the City of London 〈…〉 the whole Kingdome is so neerly concerned The Lords therefore 〈…〉 of the Petition now presented unto them and the expressions of that worthy Alderman made unto their Lordships have commanded me in their names to give ye further and larger acknowledgements for your great care and endeavours to prevent so growing a mischief giving ye this assurance That as they have been very forward formerly to do what in them lay for a settlement of Church-Government so they shall still continue to advance and perfect a Worke so much tending to the glory of God and to the â—erâ—ing of the Peace of the Kingdome holding themselves thereunto obliged by their solemne League and Covenant and they do seriously recommend it to the care of the Lord Mayor and such at 〈◊〉 in Office in the City to suppresse and prevent such great Offences by you mentioned which are so much to the dishonour of God and the disturbance of the present and future good Government of the City of London And wherein ye shall finde your selves wanting in pâ—wer the Lords will be ready to contribute their authority for your incouragement and assistance And about the 20 of this instant January we were credibly informed by Letters from Abington of an excellent exploit performed by the Forces of most active loyall and renowned Major Generall Brown against Wallingford Horse in which he had taken Lieutenant Colonell Lour the Deputy-Governour of Wallingford some other Officers and Prisoners of note 50 of the Enemies Horse their Riders and Armes and also rescued 30 Horse which the Enemy had before taken of ours by which defeat Wallingford Garrison was much weakened On the 23 of this instant we received happy and most welcome newes out of the West of the taking of Dartmouth with the Castle Ordnance c. by storme on Sunday night Jan. 19. and there was also a Letter read in Parliament from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax of all the particulars of the storming and taking of the said strong Towne and Castle with a List of the Prisoners therein taken which being a full and authentick narrative of the whole businesse I have here for the Readers better content and satisfaction inserted a true Copy of the said Letter which was as followeth My Lords and Gentlemen AFter my coming to Totnes the Enemy rising in great disorder from the siege at Plymouth and leaving their Guns and some Ammunition behind them I considered with those about me of attempting upon Dartmouth and it being concluded affirmatively I caused two Regiments of Foot to march to Ditsam and two to Sucheflemming being on the West of Dart River I having summoned the place before resolved upon Sunday night to attempt it by storme which was agreed to
l. per annum formerly voted to be conferred on his Excellency and his Heynes for ever might be presently setled possessed and enjoyed by him They likewise ordered That a Letter should be written to his Excellency to returne the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for his noble valour and unwearied paines in the service of the State and particularly in the storming of Dartmouth and to informe him what a great mercy the Parliament esteems this businesse of Dartmouth and how highly they respect and esteem of his Excellency and his designes and undertakings And here now I shall desire the Reader for Gods greater glory and high honour to consider seriously and most graciously and gratefully how admirable wisely powerfully and advantagiously for us the Lord carried on all these late great works in these few ensuing observations worthy our cordiall consideration As first That God all along cast such a pannick feare upon our Enemies such a Magor-Misabib into their hearts and spirits that they were a continuall terrour to themselves and that since our taking of Boviâ—-Tracy God hath given into our hands neer 1000 of the Enemies Horse and that upon the advance of a party of ours from Crediâ—â—on the Enemies fled and onely â—ix of Colonell Okeyes Dragoones put 500 of their Horse from their post at which time they fled from Plymouth leaving their Guns Arms and Ammunition behind them Secondly That Captaine Batten Vice-Admirall of the Parliaments Ships coming to block up Dartmouth by Sea as our noble Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax had ordered him liâ— upon a Ship of the Enemies bound for France wherein were many Gentlemen of quality and money and jewels to a good quantity together with many other rich 〈…〉 Thirdly which is indeed very remarkable That till our Forces came before Dartmouth in at least seven weeks space there had been little or no 〈◊〉 upon that 〈◊〉 but now our Army being there ther was such a mighty shole of Muâ—â—its taken as comfortably fed our Army and which so continued among them to the great admiration of all the Inhabitants Fourthly That in the storming of the Towne though all things answered not the appointments of the Councell of War yet there was no confusion or miscarriage in the whole worke and withall that we had very faire weather all the time of the siege and storme even to a minute till the Town was taken and then only it rained much Fifthly That notwithstanding the great strength of the Fortifications of the Town and in men and Ordnance also yet it was taken without much bloodshed we having lost but two men in all the whole worke that we could possibly heare of which was even a miraculous mercy to us considering I say that there were 〈◊〉 strong Works and Forts in it and about 100 Peeces ready mounted and manned which might have been thought sufficient to have maintained the Town and Harbour against a very potent Army Sixthly and lastly That Master Peters one of the Ministers of the Army at this time presented to the Parliament divers Colours taken in the Towne and Country and among the rest the Kings owne first Colours which he first advanced at Yorke against the Parliament with the Kings owne picture on it and a Sword in 〈◊〉 hand and a booke in the other together with a bundle of brave Letters found in the Governours House in Dartmouth some of the Princes some of Ruperts some of Gorings some of Culpeppers and their Commissions by Sea and Land besides a Popish Masse-Book and an Altar taken from the Engineer of Dartmouth who was a Dutch Masse Priest For all which so rare and remarkable free favours and mighty meer mercies so graciously conferred upon us our most renowned Parliamentary Worthies most rightly and religiously ordered a solemn day of Thanksgiving to be kept a Copy of which their Order I have here thought fit to insert which was as followeth Die Jovis Jan. 26. 1645. THe Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do order and appoint this day fortnight being Thursday for a day of Thanksgiving for the taking in of Dartmouth and Hereford to be kept within the Cities of London and Westminster the Lines of Communication and ten miles about And this day three weeks for all other places over the Kingdome in the Parliaments power About the 26 of this instant January we received also certaine intelligence by Letters out of Stafford-shire that Captaine Stone that valiant and active Commander had sent out a party of about 100 and odde Horse to beate up the Lord Molinaux his Quarters who fell upon the Enemy at a place called Cark within seven miles of Stafford and managed their charge with such martiall resolution and dexterity that they routed 300 of the Enemies and tooke prisoners three Captaines two Cornets eight Reformadoes ten inferiour Officers about 100 Horse and divers prisoners above 100 Pistols In which conflict many of the Enemies were wounded and some slaine And thus they returned victoriously to Stafford againe with their Prisoners and Prizes And about the 28 of this instant we were certainly informed from our Army in the West that Pouldram Castle which was Sir William Courteens House a strong Garrison of the Enemies neer Exeter was surrendred to brave Colonell Hamond who commanded in chiefe upon these Conditions The Officers and Souldiers to depart to their own dwellings leaving all their Arms behind them There were about 120 in the Castle 4 Peeces of Ordnance unmounted 5 Barrels of powder with Bullet and Match proportionable but little other Provisions His Excellencies most courteous carriage and mercifull useage of those at Dartmouth notwithstanding that he wonne it by storme had a great influence and operation upon the spirits of the Enemies elsewhere and was not only a prevalent motive to these of Pouldram Castle to yeeld so soone unto his famoused mercy but made many others also shortly after to desert the Enemy for there being at least 120 Cornish men prisoners in Dartmouth notwithstanding their former even most barbarous cruelty to ours yet I say renowned and mercifull Sir Thomas Fairfax as I was credibly informed set them all at liberty and gave them two shillings a man to beare their charges And was not here a heaping of Coales of fire on their heads as our Saviour commands and commends in his Disciples and a rare way of winning of hearts even of those formerly heathenish cruell Cornish Enemies Those of them that would stay and take up Armes for the Parliament as divers did he gave them â—â—ree shillings a peece to all the Seamen in prison he freely gave their liberty and to all their Common Souldiers unwilling to take up Armes he gave Passes to go to their owne habitations nay to severall Officers of whom any of the faire conditioned Townesmen could give any good Character he also gave Passes to go to their owne homes also on promise of future faire and peaceable demeanour toward the
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 â—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 forâ— this of Chester was most Convenient for landing of the Irish-Râ—â—â— 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 aâ—â— them now at libertie to be elsewhere imployed on other usefull and important avocations toward Oxford Litchfâ—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 â—â—avely and marched with such expedition and privacie that they came to Ashbiâ— 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 mischiefeâ— and plundring of that Garrison to the Parliâ—â—â—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
Chaplaine 2000 armes at least and all their Ammunition Bag and Baggage A brave famous and most seasonable victorie it was indeed and a most hopefull way and meanes of a speedy end by Gods mercy of all the intestine warres and bloody broyles in the Kingdom to God alone be all the honour and glory thereof About the 26. of this instant March we received advertisement of the full disbanding of all Sir Ralph Hoptons forces in the West and divers other occurrents of our Armie there by Letters received from Truro to the honourable speaker of the House of Commons One of which Letters for the Readers better content and satisfaction I have here inserted Verbatim as it was printed and published which was as followeth SIR IN my last I gave you an account of the beginning to disband the Lord Hoptons Army I can now satisfie you of the conclusion of that great worke this day having put a period thereunto except two troops of the Princes Regiment under the Command of Sir Francis Mackworth which by reason of the darknesse of the night could not be conveniently dispatched and so put off till to morrow at seven of the clock by nine it will be done and presently after Proclamation is to be made for the Enemy or any belonging unto them immediatly to depart from Truro and all those Ports to be with the convoy to morrow night or else to be taken as Spies and proceeded against accordingly I have bin present at the disbanding of these Forces from the first to the last except as aforesaid and never did see a thing done with so much civility on both sides and not the least appearance of insulting of ours as if we had never bin at variance each with other not a reproachfull word used nor the value of two pence taken from any man by the Souldiers of this Armie though the country people are apt enough if they have opportunity and the enemies Souldiers straggle to revenge former injuries but the convoy so long as the Souldiers keepe with them suffer not the least prejudice to befall them the number of Brigades in all that have bin disbanded are nine viz. the French Brigade consisting of three Regiments the Lord Wentworths Brigade consisting of three Regiments Sir James Smiths Brigade consisting of three Regiments the Lord Clevelands Brigade consisting of foure Regiments Major Generall Webbs of three Regiments the Lord Hoptons Brigade commanded by Colonell Rovil the Lord Gorings Brigade of five Regiments the Princes Lifeguard consisting of nine troops and 700. men armed Sir Richard Greenvils Reformadoes the men that are dismounted are proper and lusty men Orders are given out for the Army to face about and march Eastward part of it moves to morrow the residue on Saturday except two or three Regiments that are to stay behinde for the blocking up of Pendennis and the mount the Castle of Pendennis was summoned yesterday but those within gave a peremptory answer of refusall and Master Arundel beares the name of Governour but Sir John Digby sir Henry Kilegrew Colonell Slaughter Colonell Sir Abraham Chipman and some others of desperate Fortunes over-rule the Gentleman and make him governe and command to serve their owne ends though it be to ruine himselfe On Wednesday the Generall sent this Bearer in haste with a Letter to Saint Maws who imbarqued himselfe there and went three or foure Leagues to Sea to the Parliament ships and acquainted them with a Frigot of Dunkirk that lay in the Harbour at Falmouth and much annoyed our men at Penny-com-quick a place of good shelter for our men that lye against the Castle So this morning betweene one and two of the clocke a Frigot of ours put into the Harbour being Moon-light had the honour to be saluted with twenty peeces of Cannon from the Castle but got in without any prejudice and hauled the Dunkirk who instead of yeelding gave two broad sides but our Vessel presently made up and after a little dispute Boarded Her put the Irish to the sword preserved the rest and have them Prisoners a broad It is a fine Vessell belonging to Browne Bushel commanded by Captaine Lewis and will be of singular use to cleare the Harbour if any Vessel of the Kings happen to come in having the benefit of Saint Mawes on the one side and at the mouth of the Harbour the assistance of Hilford Fort which was this day surrendred to us wherein were twenty and six peeces of Ordnance so their strong Castle of Pendennis is of little use at Sea and by Land of no great prejudice considering the narrow necke of Land it stands upon and the Line that may be drawne from Sea to Sea and may be defended with as many men as are in the Castle Leiutenant Colonell Jngoldsby going to view the Castle received a shot from some Muskettiers of the Enemies that were behind the Mud-wals of which he died within three houres being a valiant and stout man Major Cobbet also was shot in the Arme but not dangorously This is all the accompt time would give me leave to present you with concerning the Army of these parts which I thought fit to send this Bearer purposely withall that you may be certainly informed of our condition adding this that about an hundred with their Armes came this day from the Mount to Truro the head quarters many took up Armes with us the rest went to their homes I am Sir your Servant J. R. Truro March 19. 1645. The Messenger staying till this morning I can now satisfie you that the two Troops that remained of the last night are this morning disbanded I have no other newes to write but to morrow the Generals Army marches towards Exeter Truro March 20 1645. at 4 in the afternoon And March 27 the House of Parliament in way of bounden gratitude to almighty God for this great mercy of the thus reducing of well-nigh all Cornwall to their obedience and that also of subduing and overthrowing of Sir Jacob Ashleyes Army and thereby obtaining a most happy and hopefull end of our troubles they having first invited the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councell of the most famous City of London to heare two Sermons that were to be preached before them at Christs Church in London In answer thereof the Lord Major Aldermen and Common-Councell aforesaid invited both Houses of Parliament to a Dinner on the same day of Thanksgiving At which invitation Alderman Foukes delivered himself as from the whole City to the House making a Speech unto them and Master Speaker answered the same by command of the House in a congratulatory way much affection and amity being expressed mutually on both sides About the 28 instant we also received certaine information by Letters out of the West of our most noble Generals advance toward the City of Exeter and concerning the taking of Pouldram-Fort neer Exeter and of Inch-House also by Colonell Welden the Governour of
Plymouth the particulars whereof were in substance as followeth That about March 21. 1645. the said Colonell Welden having summoned Inch-House where the Enemy kept a strong Garrison they returned a scornfull Answer Whereupon the Colonell sent 60 Muketeers to keep them from coming out and appointed 60 more to follow with a Demy-Culverin But upon the landing of the first they within begged Quarter for their lives and so surrendred all unto the Colonell There was taken in that Garrison 90 Muskets 4 Minions and 6 Barrels of Powder And by the same Letter we were likewise certified of the surrender of Pouldram strong Fort with 18 Peeces of Ordnance in it and much Ammunition with other Provisions good store which was thus yeelded up to valiant Sir Hardâ—esse Waller those in the Garrison having had in both of them fair Conditions to depart to their owne homes upon engagement not to take up Armes any more against the Parliament And about the 30 of this instant March we received intelligence by Letters from that brave and active Committee of Shrewsbury of their great and good successe in the taking of that very strong and considerable Garrison of High-Archall after a short siege and having by Granadoes and other great shot battered them for the space of nine houres together without intermission it being I say a place of great strength and well fortified and having a large deep moat about it and in regard of the scituation of it not thought feazable to be carried by storm but by the blessing of God and our continuall plying of our great shot and Granadoes which had done great execution among them in short space we caused them to come to a Parley whereat it was concluded that the Horse all but 40 should march away without Arms that the Foot should all leave their Arms behind them and that they should leave all their Ammunition and Provision of which there was great plenty behind them and they were to have a Convoy to Worcester the place they had made choice of to go unto There marched out 212 Souldiers and Officers out of this Garrison And thus Shropshire by Gods great mercy and the indefatigable industrie care and valour of their Committee is now well cleared from all their open Enemies And much about the foresaid time we were certainly informed that this most gallant and active Committee of Shrewsbury not yet resting immediately after they had thus taken in High Archall as aforesaid sent out a party of Horse and Foot upon a designe against Bridge-North but the length of the march and the wearinesse of the Souldier hindred them so as the Town took the alarm before they could refresh themselves a little and go on in the designe as was intended yet notwithstanding the next day they summoned it Colonell Billingsley who commanded in chief in the Town would give no Answer to the Summons and Colonell Howard who commanded the Castle gave a flat denyall whereupon in the afternoon having set out three Posts the brave Salopians resolved to storm One Post was assigned to Colonell Goulden another to Major Braine and the third to Captain Hickson who at the warning given fell all three on with such a courage and undaunted resolution that they stormed the Towne killed Colonell Billingsley in the heat of the storm together with some others and took divers prisoners the rest of the Gentry fled into the Castle the North Gate Fort also stood some hot dispute but was likewise gained and so the Town taken wholly into their possession and in its proper place we shall certifie the taking in of the Castle also which yet a while stood out very obstinately against them And much about the foresaid time we heard for certaine out of the West that Portland Castle was surrendred the Enemy within it having had liberty granted them to go to their own homes leaving all their Armes and the Castles Ammunition behinde them And upon the 31 of this instant March we were certainly informed by a Letter out of the West of the taking of Exmouth Fort the particulars whereof were as followeth in this ensuing Letter to Colonell Ceeley Noble Colonell I Beseech you to excuse my not giving you an account of the businesse of Exmouth Fort till now which hath been occasioned by reason of the sudden commands of Sir Hardresse Waller laid upon me to advance neer the City of Exeter And although I know you are well acquainted with our proceedings yet I conceive it my duty to advertise you of our condition The 14 instant I summoned the Fort and took possession of it the next day I have sent you inclosed what provision was left in it The Governour thereof Lieutenant Colonell Arundell desires to serve you for Ireland Sir we are now within Musket shot of Mount-Hadford and exchanging shot every minute and God hath pleased to honour yours with the Frontier Quarters As yet nothing hath happened that will not speak us Colonell Ceeleys The forementioned note of what was left in Exmouth Fort was 13 great iron Peeces 2 small Drakes 1 of brasse 3 Murtherers unmounted 72 Muskets 29 Collers of Bandaleers 10 Pikes 10 Halberts and Partizans 12 Barrels of Powder 2 bundles of Match 1 barrell of Pease 5 Hogsheads of Bread 1 Hogshead of Beef 5 Hogsheads of Salt 1 Butt of Beer c. About the beginning of the Moneth of Aprill 1646. we received certaine and most welcome intelligence of the surrender of Dennington Castle about which valiant Colonell Dalbeir having continued playing with his Granadoes into the Castle with much furie it at last procured this good successe That Sir John Boys the Governour thereof finding no hope of help or reliefe and perceiving what great danger the Castle was in at last he agreed to surrender it up to the said noble Colonell for the use of the King and Parliament And so the Enemy immediately came forth of the Castle having liberty according to their Articles to depart to Oxford and our Forces took present possession of it And thus this pernicious nest and den of Royall Robbers and abusers of those parts of the Country was now at last happily emptied and cleared and the Castle restored to its right owner againe that most worthy and truly religious Gentleman Master John Packer whose formerly it had been And Aprill 2. the Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled prudently taking notice of the great confluence and resort of Papists Malignant Officers and Souldiers of fortune and such as have borne Arms against the Parliament of England from the Enemies Garrisons and Quarters unto the Cities of London and Westminster and other parts within the Lines of Communication Do for the prevention of such inconveniences as may therby arise think fit to order and it is hereby ordered by the said Lords and Commons That all Papists whatsoever and all Officers and Souldiers of fortune and other persons that have borne Arms
against the Parliament of England not being under restraint do before the sixth day of April 1646. depart out of the Cities of London and Westminster and Lines of Communication And if any such person shall continue within the said Lines after that time such person is hereby declared a Spy and shall be apprehended imprisoned and proceeded against as a Spy according to the Rules of War And the said Lords and Commons do further orden That all such persons do forbeare upon the penalty aforesaid to come within the said Lines without Licence under the hands of the Committee appointed for Compositions at Goldsmiths-Hall And the Committee of the Militia of London and the Sub-Committees in their severall limits respectively are hereby required to keep strict Guards and Watches and cause frequently searches to be made and to take care for the due execution of this Order Provided that this Order nor any thing therein contained shall extend to any person or persons who shall obtain license under the hands of the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall to continue within the limits aforesaid Provided that this Ordinance or any thing therein contained shall not extend to any person or persons who came in to the Parliament before the first of June last 1645. and are cleared by both Houses of Parliament from their Delinquency Provided also that no Peere of this Realm shall resort unto the Committee for license to continue within the limits aforesaid but shall repaire only to the House of Peers for their said License This Order to continue for one Moneth after the sixth of April and no longer And it was also further ordered and resolved on by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That in case the King should contrary to the advice of the Parliament then already given unto him come or attempt to come within the Lines of Communication That then the Committee of the Militia of London shall have power and are hereby enjoyned upon advice had with the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army to raise such forces as they shall think necessary to prevent any tumults that may arise by his coming and to suppresse any that shall happen and to apprehend and secure all such as shall come with him and to prevent resort unto him and to secure his own Person from danger About the sixth of April we received certaine good newes by a Letter written to renowned Major Generall Brown of a brave defeat given to the Kings Horse about Farringdon not far from Oxford which Letter was read in the Honourable House of Commons and a Copy whereof for the Readers better content and satisfaction therein I have here inserted as it was printed and published which was as followeth Honourable Sir THe last night I had intelligence the Enemy was drawn out of Oxford and gave out that they did intend to plunder Newnham wherefore I sent to Colonell Betsworth to desire him to draw his Horse towards Abingdon which he did but early this morning we had intelligence that six hundred Horse marched out of Oxon through Conmer and Fisield whereupon I commanded forth our Horse and Dragoons and marched with Colonell Betsworth after the Enemy and it pleased God to direct us that we found them at Farringdon and quartered at the Towns thereabouts We had gallant hunting them from place to place over the hils and pursued them into Farringdon Town and afterwards we discovered a good party of about two hundred between the two Coxwels who ran down into a Meadow and would have parlyed to â—urrender their Horse and Arms but our â—â—n fell on them and took them all save very few that escaped Afterwards we gleaned up divers more in severall places so that I am confident that party is so broken that the King will scarce be able to get such a body of Horse againe in the Kingdome We took above 300 Horse and almost as many Prisoners there was brought in this evening about 250 unto Abingdon the Major and most of the Officers of Sir William Comptons Regiment belonging to Banbury are prisoners it was esteemed the best Regiment the King had and the newes of their ingagement being reported at Oxford this day that they would come off with honour or be lost they sadly replyed if that Regiment were lost they were all undone There was but one man slain on our part and not many of the Enemies Sir your most humble and faithfull servant Geo. Payne Abington April 3. 1646. About the 10 of this instant Aprill Letters came from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Quarters from severall Gentlemen of credit to the Committee of both Kingdomes and by other informations from thence that the Articles for the surrender of the City and Garrison of Exeter were now fully agreed on and foure Hostages given for performance of the same to be surrendred into the hands of the Parliament on Munday Aprill 13. 1646. and as a farther firm pledge and assurance hereof they immediately upon the mutuall giving of Hostages surrendred three of their strong Forts into the renowned Generals hands viz. Saint Downes Fort on the North side Mount-Rat-Ford on the South side and a very strong House in Saint Tho. Pâ—rish on the West side all these were surrendred on Thursday April the 9. the maine substance of the Articles was That all within the Garrison that would were to march away on April 13. being Munday both Horse and Foot with Arms and to have a Convoy either to Pendennis or Saint Michaels-Mount or to Oxford and to nominate which of these three places they would go unto when they marched out And those that would to have Passes to go beyond Sea or laying down their Arms to go to their own homes upon an ingagement not to take up Arms againe against the Parliament All the nobility as some of these were there Gentry and Clergy in the City to have liberty to march out with the Garrison Souldiers with their Horses Arms and their own proper goods One Article was mainly insisted on concerning the Cathedrall in Exeter that forfooth it might not be defaced which was also so farre agreede on Now if any should imagine these and the other conditions to be too large for such enemies Let them but waigh the considerablenesse of the place and how long it might have held out withall its advantages and it may easily balance all the rest Besides that now it is gained with the losse of so little bloodshed and in so short a time since the Armie returned out of Cornwall That now also upon the matter all the West is cleared and setled in a peaceable posture and how considerable this is that now the army may immediately advance and take the oportunity to cleare up these Eastern-parts which in all probability will by Gods blessing be effected suddainly and we hope an end put to these miserable and most unhappie warres The noble Generall presently upon this with part of his Armie advanced
April being the solemne Fast-day of this Moneth after both the Sermons before the Lords in the Abby at Westminster and the Commons Sermons in Margrets-Church were ended The House of Commons sitting a while in Parliament received certaine intelligence of the Kings escaping out of Oxford in a disguised manner betweene Sunday-night and Munday-morning with 2. others in his Companie whereof Master Aâ—bhurnhâ—un was one who was pretended to be the Kings Master and the King and the other partie must be Ashburnhams Servants and the King himselfe as it was credibly and Constantly related must goe along under the name of Harry Master Ashburnhams man and thus I say these 3. went forth of Oxford together the King also carrying a cloak-bag or portmantle behind him on his horse like a Servingman indeede but whether or which way he went was not then knowne for as it was reported the better to conceale the way of his departure there went out 3. at every part of the City at the same instant time that so none should be able to discover in which of the Companies the King was It seemed as since we heard his Lords in Oxford were desirous of his departure hoping thereby to have the beter conditions for themselves looking more it seem'd at their owne safetie than at the Kings preservation who hereby may plainly see whose interests they have all this while driven on Ah good Reader see here and seriously consider in thy soul with feare and trembling and amazement how truely how justly God most wise most righteous hath made good that word of his Those that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed O that we would faithfully and fruitfully lay these remarkable examples thereof to our hearts and walke answerably for the time to come Now upon the 4 of May 1646. so soone as ever our most noble Generall had received certaine intelligence of his Majesties departure ouâ— of Oxford as abovesaid he immediately by his Letters and Messengers informed the Parliament thereof giving them farther to understand the great confidence though mightily mistaken as aâ—on you shall plainly understand of those that came out of Oxford to his Excellency and their constant affirmations as those that saw but the shallow superficies of the businesse only that the King was certainly come into or neer unto London upon which information the Commons in Parliament had much debate and the House of Peers also the like and considering the danger that might ensue by concealing and hiding the Kings person they appointed a Committee forthwith to prepare and draw up something to be published touching all such as should harbour or conceale the harbouring of the King and accordingly an Order was drawn up by this Committee reported to the House and assented unto by the House of Peers and likewise passed by them and â—y Order of both Houses to be published throughout London and Westminster by beat of Drum or sound of Trumpet which was accordingly performed the said Order being to this effect ORdered that it be declared and it is hereby declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled That what person soever shall harbour or conceale or know of the harbouring or concealing of the Kings person and shall not reveale it immediately to the Speakers of both Houses shall be proceeded against as a Traytor to the Common Wealth forfeit his whole Estate and die without mercy The Parliament also about this foresaid time seriously considering that a former Ordinance for putting out of the Lines of Communication all Papists Officers and Souldiers of fortune that have come out of the Kings Quarters was now expired and the danger that might happen by permitting such to abide within the City of London no whit slacking but rather increasing An Ordinance was therefore read the first and second time and committed to a Committee for the continuance of the said former Ordinance for a Moneth longer and that all such Papists and Souldiers should remove themselves â—wenty miles distant from the City An Ordinance was likewise read and assented to giving power to the Militia of London to search within twenty miles of London for all Papists Malignants and other suspected persons and to secure and disarm them and likewise to search for Arms and this power to continue for twenty daies longer And now upon the sixth of this instant May the much expected newes of the Kings discovery and place of aboad was by a most excellent Letter sent to the Commissioners of both Kingdomes and so to the Parliament brought to London which Letter for the eminency and excellency thereof and for the just honour of our ever most worthily deserving loyall and loving Brethren of Scotland I have here thought fit in the first place to set forth and shew to the honest and godly Reader for his just joy comfort and content which was as followeth The Letter from the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland to the Commissioners of both Houses concerning his Majesties coming to the Scottish Army Dated at Southwell May the 5. Right Honourable THe discharging of our selves of the duty we owe to the Kingdome of England to you as Commissioners from the same moves us to acquaint you with the Kings coming into our Army this morning which having overtaken us unexpectedly hath filled us with amazement and made us like men that dream We cannot thinke that He could have been so unadvised in his Resolutions is to have cast himself upon us without a reall intention to give full satisfaction to both Kingdomes in all their just and reasonable Demands in all those things that concern Religion and Righteousnesse whatsoever be His disposition or resolution you may be assured That we shall never entertaine any thought nor correspond with any purpose nor countenance mee any endeavours that may in any circumstance incroach upon our League and Covenant or weaken the union or confidence between the Nations That Vnion unto our Kingdom was the matter of many prayers and as nothing was more joyfull to us than to have it set on foot so hitherto have we thought nothing too dear to maintain it and we trust to walk with such faithfulnesse and truth in this particular that as we have the testimony of a good conscience within our selves so you and all the world shall see that we minde your interest with as much integrity and care as our owne being confident you will entertaine no other thoughts of us Signed by the Warrant and Command of the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland LOTHIAN Southwel May 5. 1646. For the Right Honourable the Commissioners of the Parliament of England In the next place I shall give the Reader a summary narrative of the manner of the discovery of His Majesty to most noble and renowned Generall Lesley Earl of Leven as it was related to the Commissioners of Scotland by the Secretary of the Scots Army and
call in all such Commissions as any have at Sea from him and accordingly hath done As for his Towns he is willing to surrender and that they be slieghted and accordingly hath sent to Sir Thomas Glemham onely in regard there are some such there as have faithfully served him in the preservation of his person he desires they may have honourable and good tearmes and that had the surrender of Oxford shall be a rule to the rest of the Towns Cities and Castles that all Forces may be disâ—anded to the quiet and ease of both the Nations likewise that the debts of the Kingdome be paid he shall be willing with some other particulars but these are the chiefe The Letter from His Majestie to the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland is as followes Verbatim CHARLES R. Right trusty and welbeloved Couzens and Counsellors right trusty and right welbeloved Couzens trusty and welbeloved Councellers And trusty and welbeloved We greet you well AFter so long and sad an interruption of the happy understanding betwixt Us and Our good Subjects of our Kingdome of Scotland which hath exceedingly afflicted Us and lest the sad effects thereof may have alienated the affections of many of that Kingdome from Us and preferring nothing to the love of Our subjects on which Our safety and greatnesse most depends and without which We propose not to our selves any happines We have thought fit to labour to dispossesse them of all prejudices rather by shewing them Our present Resolutions than by remembring them of Our former differences having come hither with a full and absolute intention to give all just satisfaction to the joynt desires of both Our Kingdomes And with no thought either to continue this unnaturall War any longer or to make a division betwixt the Kingdoms but to comply with our Parliaments and those entrusted by them in every thing for setling of Truth and Peace Your Commissioners have offered to Us divers Papers in your name expressing Your Loyall intentions towards Us for which we cannot but returne you hearty thanks And shall study to apply Our selves totally to the Councells and advices of Our Parliaments We have already sent a Message to the two Houses of Our Parliament of England and your Commissioners at London which we hope will give satisfaction We have likewise written to all such within Our Kingdom of Scotland as have any Commission from Us to lay downe Armes disband their forces and render their Garrisons And have written to Our Agents and Ministers abroad for recalling all Commissions issued forth by Our Authority to any at Sea against any of Our Subjects of either Kingdom And have sent Letters to the Governour of Our City of Oxford to quit that Garrison upon honorable conditions and disband Our forces there which being granted to him we have resolved presently to give the like order to all Our other Garrisons and forces within this Kingdome And that the truth of these Our Royall intentions may be made known to all Our good Subjects of Scotland We desire a Proclamation may be printed and published together with this Letter at all convenient places hoping none will believe but that this is Our voluntary and cordiall resolution and proceeds from no other grounds than Our deepe sence of the bleeding condition of Our Kingdomes And that Our Reall intentions are with the blessing of God and his favourable assistance to joyne with Our Parliament in setling Religion here in purity after the aduice of the Divines of both Kingdoms assembled at Westminster And Our Subjects of both Kingdoms in freedom and safety So expecting your Councells and advices in every thing wherein we shall be concerned We bid you very heartily farwell From Newcastle May 10. 1646. Besides these likewise the King to shew his love to the City of London also sent a Letter to the said most famous City which being but short I shall for my Readers better content and satisfaction here insert which was as followeth CHARLES REX RIght Trusty and welbeloved we greet you well Having expressed Our resolutions to the two Houses of Our Parliament of England and the Committee of Estates of Our Parliament of Scotland to give all just satisfaction to the joynt desires of both Kingdomes we have now likewise thought fit to assure the two chiefe Cities of both Our Kingdomes That nothing is more grievous to Vs then the troubles and distractions of Our people And that nothing on earth is more desired by us then that in Religion and Peace with all the comfortable Fruits of both they may henceforth live under Vs in all godlinesse and honesty And this profession we make for no other end but that you may know immediately from Our selves Our integrity and full resolutions to comply with our Parliaments in every thing for setling truth and peace And our desire to have all things speedily concluded which shall be found requisite for that end That Our returne to that Our ancient City may be to the satisfaction of Our Parliament the good liking of you and all our good people and to our owne greater joy and comfort we bid you heartily farewell From Newcastle the 19. of May 1646. And upon the 26. of this instant May the most renowned famous and faithfull Citizens of London in their most Cordiall zeale for Gods glory the honour of Religion hatred of damnable doctrines errours and Schismes wherewith the City was then extremely infected and infested and for the honest honourable vindication of themselves as touching their Solemn League and Covenant in promoting the long desired establishment of a godly Church-Government in City and Country and over the whole Kingdome exhibited to Both Houses of Parliament which I must and that most worthily inroule in this our Parliamentarie-Chronicle among the rare and most remarkable mercies of our good God unto us in thus raising up the Spirits of these most renowned Citizens to such a high place and pitch of godly zeale and faithfull courage exhibited I say a most noble and renowned Remonstrance or Petition in the name of the Lord Major and Aldermen and Common-Councell of that most Honorable City of London wherein their piety and Cordiall integrity to God the Church and State was most Copiously and right Christianly Demonstrated to the perpetuated honour and indelible dignity of those renowned Citizens especially of their never sufficiently honoured and renowned religious and pious Lord Major Alderman Adams who told his Brethren who in their prudence and providence for waightie reasons best known among themselves not willing to let their noble Lord Major goe along with them to the exhibiting of the said Remonstrance told them I say with expression of much fervour and zeale therein That Though his Person was not permitted yet his heart he assured them most affectionately went along with them Which said rare and religious Remonstrance both for the Readers better content and satisfaction especially it having beene so basely and abusively
scandalized by a rable of rotten hearted impious and impudent Sectaries of the City and for the super-eminent Excellencie of the Thing it selfe speaking indeede much merited honour for it selfe I have here thought fit to insert it which was as followeth And here first good Reader thou shalt see the honour which the most Honorable House of Lords in Parliament put upon it in giving speciall Order for the speedie printing and publishing of it to all the world and then after it thou shalt have their most noble and ever to be renowned resent and singular approbation and Commendation of it immediately after it Die Martis 26 Maii. 1646. IT is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Assembled That the Remonstrance and Petition of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councell of the City of London this day exhibited to the House of Peeres and their Lordships Answer thereunto shall be forthwith printed and published And the care for the true printing thereof is hereby specially recommended unto Colonell John Bellamie who is by this Order authorized and required to print and publish the same accordingly And none else are to presume to print and publish the same as they will answer the contrary at their perils Jo. Browne Cleric Parliamentorum To the Right Honourable the LORDS Assembled in High Court of Parliament The humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London in Common-Councell assembled OUR duty in the first place doth lead us to begin all our Addresses as we most heartily and humbly do these with all due and humble acknowledgement of the great Labours and endeavours which Your Lordships have these many yeers employed in Reformation both of the Church and Common-Wealth and in preservation of both with the humble tender of our constant devotion to serve the Parliament according to our Covenant made before Almighty God In the next place we most humbly crave pardon although we do presume to returne againe unto your Lordships and humbly yet plainly lay open the sorrowes and feares of our hearts even in this season when as God hath blessed your Armies with the greatest successes and that man might perswade himselfe that the War is almost at an end For first when we remember that it hath been long since declared to be farre from any purpose or desire to let loose the golden Reins of Discipline and Government in the Church or to leave private persons or particular Congregations to take up what form of Divine Service they please when we looke upon what both Houses have resolved against Brownisme and Anabaptisme properly so called when we meditate on our Protestation and Covenant And lastly when we peruse the Directory and other Ordinances for Presbyteriall Government and yet finde private and separate Congregations daily erected in divers parts of the City and elsewhere and commonly frequented and Anabaptisme Brownisme and almost all manner of Heresies Schismes and Blasphemies boldly vented and maintained by such as to the point of Church-Government professe themselves Independent we cannot but be astonished at the swarmes of Sectaries which discover themselves every where who if by their indeavours they should get into places of profit and trust in Martiall and Civill affaires it may tend much to the disturbance of the Publike Peace both of the Church and Common-wealth We also cannot but call to minde what Vowes we have made to God in the same Covenant as well as our former Protestations to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament and the Liberties of the Kingdomes and to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdomes that the world may beare witnesse with our Consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just Power and Greatnesse and do humbly rest in the assurance we have received in the many former Declarations of both Houses concerning their intentions towards his Majesty his Royall Posterity and the Peace of this Kingdome which we doubt not but your Lordships will pursue with all speedy dispatch of Propositions to his Majesty now whilst God doth so mercifully and miracuously go along with your Armies in all the parts of the Kingdome We may not in the next place forget our Brethren of Scotland how first they were invited to engage with this Kingdome in Gods Cause when yet they were at peace at home in what Covenant this Nation is mutually linked with them at what time in relation both to the weak condition of our Forces then and the season of the yeare they adventured upon an Enemy warmly lodged and well armed and prepared what they have since suffered for this Cause in their own Kingdome how successefull ever since God hath made our Forces in suppressing the Common Enemies of both Nations and what present hopes we have of a well-setled Peace while we continue in this mutuall amity And then cannot but lament the many jealousies which the Enemies of our Peace Union and good Government do now strive to beget between both Nations and tremble at the sad effects thereof if not timely prevented by the wisdome of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes We cannot also omit humbly to represent unto your Lordships consideration how many Citizens have already suffered and how many more will be undone if your Lordships shall still make use of that ancient Priviledge to protect your selves the Assistants of this Honourable House and the Servants of both and others from being proceeded against in any course of Law for Debt which now because this Parliament hath already sate so long and is likely by reason of the unsettlednesse of affaires to sit much longer would especially require some expedient for relief of so many as otherwise must daily suffer under this Priviledge And now that the Kingdom is almost reduced by which means the Revenues of the Kingdome will be unburthened and the Customes and Excise increase and the publike charge of the Kingdome decrease now that Delinquents do daily come in and compound and now that the Enemy hath but few Holds left we hope that the great and extraordinary Taxes and burthens on this City and their Trade shall be in the future abated that the Debts owing to the City and Citizens of London either by particular Assurances of the Parliament or upon the Publike Faith of the Kingdome be taken care for and discharged as well as those assigned upon the Excise and may not be diverted from the uses appointed by former Acts and Ordinances And we humbly crave have to present to the consideration of this Honourable House the Committee of Haberdashâ—rs-hall as being one of the greatest grievances of this City and which so long as it is continued doth hinder the concoursie of people thereunto and tendeth much to the destruction of the Trade and Inhabitants thereof And now also we doubt not but God
will give the Parliament some better means and opportunity for the relief of our bleeding Brethren in Ireland and the suppressing of those horrid Rebels and reducing of that Kingdome wherein besides the publike and common interest we are particularly concerned Lastly we should have much to say for this City if we could imagine that its fidelity and constant services and devotions to the Parliament could either be questioned or forgotten that little we shall expresse on the part of the City is not to repeat how zealous we have been in the Cause of God and this Parliament how we have spilt our blood and spent and laid out our selves and our Estates in maintenance thereof how many publike acknowledgements we have by us of the favourable acceptance of them and promises to leave Testimonies thereof to all future ages but only to beseech your Lordships to consider how much our hearts may justly be dejected now that God hath followed your endeavours and our prayers with so many successes and brought the Warre to a probable period as to the sense of man That the Enemies of our Peace should strive now to sow jealousies between the Parliament and this City as hath been too evident of late and particularly should so far prevaile as to be able to render the chiefe Magistrate of this City the Lord Mayor suspected unto whom we cannot but give this iust Testimony That he in his place hath faithfully behaved himself and carefully dischaged his Office We could adde much more of the daily invectives against us from the Pulpit and other places where the Boutefew's of these Sectaries are admitted the scurrilous and seditious Pamphlets daily broached in and against the City And the great contempt of and discouragement unto the Ministers of the Gospel who adhere to the Presbyteriall Government But we shall conclude with this briefe and humble representation of our Petition and desires to your Lordships in the name of the whole City I. That some strict and speedy course may be taken for the suppressing of all private and separate Congregations II. That all Anabaptists Brownists Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers and all such Sectaries as conforme not to the publike Discipline established or to be established by Parliament may be fully declared against and some effectuall course setled for proceeding against such persons III. That as we are all Subjects of one Kingdome so all may be equally required to yeeld obedience unto the Government set forth or to be set forth by the Parliament IV. That no person disaffected to the Presbyteriall Government set forth or to be set forth by the Parliament may be employed in any place of publike Trust V. That your Lordships will please to hasten Propositions to His Majesty for setling of a safe and well grounded Peace amongst us after so long and unnaturall a warre VI. That your Lordships according to the Covenant and Treaties will please to study all means to preserve the Union between the two Nations of England and Scotland and to remove all jealousies which may endanger our mutuall agreement VII That your Lordships will please to consider of some meanes whereby the priviledge which the Members of this Honourable House and their Assistants and the Servants of both and others enjoy by being protected and exempted from being proceeded against for their debts may be so qualified as that the Subject may be able to recover his own in some due time VIII That all publike Revenues and Receipts may be employed to publike uses that so the Taxes of the City may be abated IX That the Estates and Compositions of Delinquents may according to the engagements by Ordinances of Parliament be applyed to discharge the great summes owing to this City and Citizens X. That the Plymouth Duty may be taken off the Trade especially now that the West is reduced XI That the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall may be presently dissolved or at least so limited and regulated as that the City may have no cause of complaint XII That the reducing of the Kingdome of Ireland may be taken into consideration before the good party there be too farre wasted and discouraged XIII That the Lord Mayor of this City may be fully vindicated XIV And lastly and above all That your Lordships will please not to looke upon any expressions of this our Remonstrance and Petition as charging any thing upon your Lordships or as intended to intrench upon any priviledges of this Honourable House but favourably to accept thereof and so to interpret the same as from a single and humble heart it is sincerely and without any by-ends or to comply with any party whatsoever intended and breathed forth from the sad heart of the Petitioners who are overwhelmed with many feares on all sides And who call God the Searcher of all hearts to witnesse that according to their Covenant and duty their zeale devotion and obedience is as servant and prostrate as ever to serve the Parliament with their Lives and Estates against all the Enemies of our Peace and to conjoyn the City more and more to the Parliament and to maintain the Union of both Nations against all Opposers whatsoever All which we humbly submit unto the wisdome of this Honourable House 26. Maii. 1646. The Answer of the Lords in Parliament to the Remonstrance and Petition of the City of London THe Lords are very sensible of the great fidelity and constant services of the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councell of the City of London to this present Parliament which they shall never forget They acknowledge their zeale expressed upon all occasions in the Cause of God and this Parliament and how readily they have spilt their blood and spent and laid out themselves and their Estates in the maintenance thereof They are well satisfied with your Expressions and Care to settle the true Reformed Protestant Religion according to the Covenant and with your desires to have all Heresies Schismes and Blasphemies suppressed as also with your respect to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament the Liberties of the Kingdomes and to preserve and defend his Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation of the true Religion and the Liberties of the Kingdomes his Royall Posterity and the Peace of the Kingdomes As also with your desires for the continuance of that union between us and our Brethren of Scotland Of whose services and sufferings we shall not only hold a gratefull memory but upon all occasions give a Retaliation Vnto all which we hold our selves equally with you obliged by our Solemne League and Covenant As to the person of the Lord Mayor the Lords hold a high esteem of him according to his Merit and have commanded me to let you know that nothing hath passed this House at any time in prejudice of him And when the particulars wherein he findes himself agrieved shall be made knowne unto them they shall be ready in a Parliamentary way to do him right The Lords will take
the other particulars of 〈◊〉 Petition into serious and speedy consideration And have commanded me to give you hearty thanks for the Reall Testimonies of duty and good affections which not onely by your words but by your Actions you have constantly manifested unto them Jo. Browne Cleric Parliamentorum And the very same day and time the said noble Citizens exhibited the like Remonstrance and Petition to the honourable House of Commons of which I say no more but leave it to the Lords most gracious and righteous wisdome and mercy for a happy returne in his own due time But that which is yet farther very memorable and remarkable in this businesse which I only toucht before and as you saw it most evidently true before was That the very day before the Remonstrance was exhibited in Parliament the Kings Majestie himselfe as it were to honour and encourage them in that their famous and faithfull resolution sent a particular Letter to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councell 〈…〉 which they being all at that time assembled in their Guild-Hall was publikely read in the audience of them all And which is yet more memorably remarkable and worthy serious and sacred observation That a day or two at the farthest after they had exhibited their Remonstrance as aforesaid the truly religious and sincerely affected Ministers of two Counties Suffolk and Essex as it were to back the Cities brave Remonstrance exhibited a most excellent Petition to the Lords and Commons in Parliament attested by at least 300 Ministers hands subscribed to it which also for the piety and excellency of it I have thought fit for the Readers better delight and satisfaction here to insert which was as followeth To the Right Honourable the House of Lords now Assembled in PARLIAMENT The Humble Petition of the Ministers of the Counties of Suffolk and Essex concerning the Church-Government presented to the Right Honourable Houses of Parliament Sheweth THat your solemne League and Covenant great and glorious Victories the expectation of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas the longing desires of our Brethren of Scotland the humble Petitions of the Reverend Assembly and the great City of this Kingdome the pressing miseries of the Orthodox and well-affected Ministers and People in the Country cry aloud to your Honours for a settling of Church-Government according to the Word From the want of this it is Right Honourable that the name of the most High God is blasphemed his precious truths corrupted his Word despised his Ministers discouraged his Ordinances vilified Hence it is that Schisme Heresie Ignorance Prophanenesse and Atheisme flow in upon us Seducers multiply grow daring and insolent pernicious Bookes poyson many souls â—â—ety and learning decay apace very many Congregations ly waste without Pastours the Sacrament of Baptisme by many neglected and by many re-iterated the Lords Supper generally dis-used or exceedingly prophaned confusion and ruine threatning us in all our Quarters In all humility therefore acknowledging your unwearied labours for the publique good your successefull endeavours for saving this Kingdome your hopefull beginnings of a blessed Reformation we out of conscience and in tender regard to the glory of God and the salvation of our people beseech your Honours That a forme of Church-Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches may with all possible speede be perfected and confirmed by your civill sanction that Schismaticks Hereticks seducing Teachers and soul-subverting Books be effectually suppressed That further care may be had of Ordination for a supply of able and Orthodox Ministers and all good meanes used to make up the sad breaches in this our Sion So shall the Church of God be setled your hands strengthened the sacred Covenant performed our feares prevented the Judgements of God diverted And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. The Lords Answer to the said Petition THe Lords are glad to finde this zeale and care in the Ministery of the Counties of Suffolk and Essex for the preventing the further increase of Heresie and Profanenesse and for the promoting a growth in the power of godlinesse The Lords desire you to continue still in your endeavours therein and they will not be wanting to give you all encouragement They have commanded me to give you thanks for your expressions of your good affections to the Parliament and this Cause and do assure you that they will improve their power for the suppressing of Errour Heresie seducing Teachers and soul-subverting Booke and likewise for the setling of Church Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best reformed Churches to which they hold themselves obliged by their solemne League and Covenant and that their Lordships have appointed that their Petition with this answer shall be printed and published John Brown Cler. Parliamentorum The Answer of the House of Commons to the Minister Petition Die Mercurii 27. Maii. 1646. THe House being informed that divers Ministers of the Counties of folke and Essex were at the doore they were called in and presented to the House a Petition intituled The humble Petition of the Ministers of Suffolke and Essex the which was read The Ministers were againe called in and Master Speaker by command of the House acquainted them That most of the particular desires of their Petition are now under consideration and they hope will be brought to a settlement speedily That the House is very sensible that through some intervening obstructions the Church-Government hath not beene so fully settled as they desire and that they give them thankes for their good affections and desire them to put all Ordinances in execution concerning Church-Government as lye within their power H. Elsynge Cler. Parl. D. Com. This speciall act also of Divine providence so oportunely bringing in these Ministers Petition much to the very same effect as the Cities Remonstrance was and full of much piety and zeale for God and his Great Cause the present miserably distracted and distorted Church by abhominable Errours and Scismes I could not but most gratefully and gladly record in these our Parliamentarie-Annals as no small mercie of the Lord unto us and worthy to be taken notice of to the glory of God and honour of those two most worthily to be honoured Counties And about the third of June,1646 We were certainely informed of the taking of Salcomb-Regis which was surrendred to Colonell Welden and also that Bostol-house a most pestilent and pernicious Garrison of the Enemies was also yeeled up unto the power and possession of the Parliament And upon the 4. of June it pleased the Lord to put into the hearts of our most worthy Parliamentarie worthies to set forth an Ordinance of Parliament for the settlement of that great scruple and Question among Gods people as touching the point of worthy or unworthy Communicants at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and for the more full and certaine establishment of the Presbyterian Church Government a mercie long
us Nay and hath not the Lord againe on the other side made good his faithfull promise to us his people excellently set forth by holy Jeremy that all they that thirsted to devoure us are themselves devoured and all our adversaries even every one of them have tasted misery and they that spoiled us are spoiled and all for the most part that preyed upon us the Lord hath given as a prey unto us but hath mercifully as the Prophet there excellently and most pertinently to our purpose and case condition goes on restored health unto us and graciously healed us of our formerly felt and feared wounds the enemy having called and counted us out-casts even Traitors and Rebels saying in scorne and derision of us This is Sion these are the fasting and Praying Round-heads whom no man seeketh after but to deride and ruinate them Againe hath not the Lord according to his yet further most faithfull promise by his holy Prophet Ezekiel purged out from among us the Rebels indeed both English Irish French and Germane Rebels who sorely transgressed against our God and hath forced them forth out of our Country and Kingdome where they sojourned witnesse Windebanke Finch Newcastle Goring both Father and Sonne Jermine Digby Langdale and the rest and God would not let them enter into nor abide in our now most hopefull Land of rest and peace yea hath not the Lord as he further said of them by pious Isaiah accordingly made it good unto us Your Brethren the Royalists that hated you and strugled and strove to cast you out and pretending but most falsly that it was for my names sake deceitfully said Let the Lord be glorified but this our wise our righteous and good God hath contrariwise appeared unto our joy and they themselves are confounded and asham'd All this I say the Lord hath done for us all these ample and admirable testimonies we have seene and found to assure us that God is with us and therefore we ought wonderfully to be confirmed and encouraged against whatsoever men or Devils can doe against us wherefore from all these pâ—evalent premises on our enemies and precious promises made good to us we may justly say with holy Job Lo thus we have searched and seene so it is heare it O England and know thou it for thy good The Lord is wise in heart and mighty in strength who ever hardned himselfe against him and hath prospered None certainly for as the Prophet Isaiah excellently to this purpose surely the Princes and Grandees of the world even carnall and Atheisticall machivillian Statists are very fooles and the counsell of such wifest Counsellours is but base and brutish for as he goes on admirably how say yee of Pharaah so I of Bristoll Cottington and Digby I am the Sonne of the wise the Sonne of ancient Princes and Peeres But where are they now Where are those wise men What 's become of their craftiest cursed Counsell hence therefore we may clearly conclude with Jethro Moses Father in Law and with him say most certainly Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods than all the most potent and politicke Peeres and Potentates of the world for in those very things wherein they dealt most proudly and lifted up themselves most superciliously he hath admirably all along been still above them Give me leave now therefore in a word or two for conclusion to speake plainely to any to all of what ranke order or condition soever they be Who art thou O cowardly carnall man so leaning on the arme of Flesh and consulting with meere carnall reason that thou shouldest still notwithstanding all that hath been done and said and seene be afraid of man that shall dye yea thus dye as thou hast heard and seene with shame and obloquie or that thou shouldâ—t dread any Sonne of Man which shall be made as Grasse And forgettest the Lord thy God and Maker and hast manifested too evidently that thou fearest continually every day with strange pusilanimity unchristianly cowardice fond and false feares and imaginary conceited Chimera's and all this forsooth because of the furie of the oppressour as if he were ready to devoure and destroy and yet saith the Lord unto thee where is the furie of the oppressour what 's become of all his braggs and boastings even to this day O let us then put on Princely Davids Christian courage and resolution and feare and confide in the Lord alone and with his invincible magnanimity of soule and spirit say and say most justly Thou even thou alone O Lord art to be feared for who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry For thou hast made the wrath of man as it is at this day to praise thee and the remainder of his wrath thou hast wonderfully restrained as is most evident to all 〈◊〉 eyes and understanding O therefore I say againe and againe to our Honourable Parliament and reverend Assembly to the noble City of London and our famous Army since we have seene with our eyes as well as by the hearing of our eares what the Lord our God hath done to our unreasonable and incorrigible enemies on the one side and how he hath most graciously borne us as it were on Eagles wings and brought us in his infinite meere mercy thus neare unto himselfe on the other side O therefore I say to my selfe to all O that we would now at length obey his voice indeed O that we would now break off from our provoking sinnes and most seriously break our hearts for our sinnes with that godly sorrow which is unto Repentance never to be repented of And that we would cordially and conscientiously remember and keepe our solemne 〈…〉 Covenant made with our God and with one another and with a speedy and pious resolution would pay our vowes especially that to build up Gods House to set up a Church-Government most substantially that is as neare as may be in a Scripturall Modell and therein lovingly to joyne with our most loving Brethren of Scotland most worthy perpetually to be embraced by us with all due expressions of most cordiall love and endlesse amity as having been under God the maine meanes if not onely instruments of purchasing and procuring for us this present precious Parliament and so consequently of all our had and hoped happinesse and let us for shame oh for foule shame let us leave off our unchristian our ungratefull our ungracious biting of them and snarling at one another thankfully and religiously labouring to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and pure Love for then oh then and not till then the Lord will certainly make us a peculiar Treasure to himselfe above all the people of the world To this say Amen O Lord I pray thee by the worke of thy Spirit of Grace in Christ Jesus and let All that read and heare it
mercy to the enemy p. 358 Sir Thomas Fairfax advanced to Oxford p. 140 Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Forces or strength before Oxford p. 142 The King flyes from Leicester p. 172 G. SIr John Gell takes Winkfield Mannour p. 14 The Lord Generalls fidelity p. 37 Generall 〈◊〉 brother shot dead p. 59 God a multitude of Parliamentary mercies p. 63 Gratitude of the Parliament to well deservers p. 2â—â— Glamorgan-shire turned to the Parliament p. 317 Germanies Bloud p. 322 Gentry of Cornwall submit to the Parliament p. 383 The Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax honoured by the Parliament with a Jewell p. 170 Goods of Papists apprehended in Long Acre p. 183 H. TWelve brave Horses surprised from the enemy p. 6 Helmesley Castle taken p. 70 Col. Holbornâ—s good-service in the West p. 77. 82. 8. 96 Col. Harsnets Letter touching Abbington p. 93 The happy Harmony of both Houses of Parliament p. 127. 131 Hoptons Army totally routed in the West p. 367 A Day of Humiliation kept for our Forces in the West p. 182 Hopton summoned to come in p. 387 Hopton expects supplyes out of Ireland p. 391 Col. Hooke taken prisoner p. 74 I. LOrd Inchiquins Letter p. 5 An Irish Ship taken p. 44 Irish Rebells to have no quarter p. 36 Integrity of the Parliament p. 293 325 King James his sad and bad mention p. 321 Isle of Rees Bloud p. 323 Irelands Bloud p. 223 Irish Rebels bravely beaten at Sligo p. 342 An Irish Ship taken p. 386 Thirty Irish Rebels put to the sword p. 386 A Jewell of Five hundred pound sent to the noble Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax p. 170 A Jewell of Five hundred pound presented to Gen. Leven p. 203 K. THe King come to Newbery p. 56 Knares borough Castle taken p. 83 The Kings Plot in the North frustrated p. 259 The Kings Horse beaten at Kiddarminster p. 276 Kent Petitions the Parliament about the selfe-denying Ordinance p. 98 The Kings owne Life-guard troope of Horse taken p. 121 Kent rises againe in Rebellion p. 136 The King flyes from Leicester p. 172 The Kings Cabinet of Letters taken at Nasebie p. 175 The King escapes disguisedly out of Oxford p. 414 The Kings comming into the Scots Army p. 417 L. A Letter from the Lord of Inchiquin p. 5 Our Army in danger by a Plot at Leistithiel in the West p. 17 London Ministers Petition against Schismes p. 28 Col. Lambert takes a brave prize p. 44 Levon poole in Lancashire surrendred p. 62 Line apprehends a rich Ship driven into it p. 71 Laughorne Castle in Wales taken p. 71 Lin-Kegis in danger p. 79 The Parliaments gratitude to Major Generall Laughorne p. 278 Loyalty of Gen. Poyntz rewarded p. 281 A Letter touching Abbington p. 93 Letters of the Lord Digbies p. 303 About forty of the King Life-Guard surprised p. 320 Generall Lesley made Commander in chiefe at Newark p. 327 Londons providence and the Parliaments care for the Cities safety p. 337 The Kings Letter to the Parliament p. 345 The Kings Letter for a Treaty of Peace answered p. 347 London Petitions for Church-Government p. 349 Cabinet of Letters taken at Nasebie p. 175 Learning encouraged at Cambridge by the Parliament p. 135 Divers Lords come from Oxford to the Parliament p. 137 Londons Petition touching the Kingdomes sad condition p. 155 A List of Cornish Gentry come in to the Parliament p. 395 The Duke of Lenox and others come in to the Parliament p. 414 A Letter of the Commissioners of Scotland to the Parliament p. 416 Londons preservation from the plague of pestilence a great mercy p. 315 A Letter from the King to the Marquesse of Ormond in Ireland p. 437 Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax touching Oxford p. 445 The Kings Letters for yeelding up all his Garrisons p. 444 M. COlonell Massies Letter to the Parliament p. 3 Earle of Manchesters advance from Yorke p. 6 Col. Middleton beates the enemy p. 9 Sir Iohn Meldrum beates the enemy in Lancashire p. 10. p. 12. Our Magazine in the West in danger p. 17 Sir Thomas Middleton beates the enemy p. 23 Mountgomery Castle taken p. 23 Mourton-Corbet Castle taken p. 25 Macquire and Macmahone two Irish Rebels apprehended p. 27 Ministers Ordained at London p. 41 Sir Iohn Meldrums noble act touching Sir William Fairfax p. 34 The enemy bravely beaten at Mountgomery Castle p. 30 Col. Massies brave exploit against the enemy p. 34 Monmouth Towne and Castle taken p. 35 Col. Massies just praise p. 44 Sir Thomas Middletons performances in Wales p. 46 Malignants mouthes stopt p. 55. 135. Sir Thomas Middletons brave exploit in Mountgomeryshire p. 77 Montrosse prevailes in Scotland p. 269 Montrosse soundly beaten in Scotland p. 270 Not a moneth weeke or day hardly without a mercy p. 285 Mercy to Malignants intended by the Parliament p. 288 Election of Members of Parliament looked unto p. 293 Maintenance for the New-Modell'd Army p. 97 A passage of providence at Melton-moubury p. 103 Col. Massies brave Victory at the Forrest of Deane p. 116 Col. Massie beates the enemy neare Bristoll p. 129 Col. Massies danger and deliverance p. 144 Sir Iohn Meldrums good service requited p. 152 Col. Mittons Forces good service p. 167 Monethly continued Morning Prayers at London p. 207 The Ministers of two Counties Petition the Parliament for a Church Government to be establisht p. 434 Our mercies Baptized Gad a Multitude p. 63 Ministers of Londons and Westminsters most pious meeting at Sion-Colledge p. 445 N. NEw-Castle taken by the Scots p. 46 Newbery Fight p. 57 Newcastle Castle taken p. 61 Newcastle in free Trading againe p. 69 Our Northerne Forces in good condition p. 259 The fifth of Novembers Commemoration a Thankes-giving Day for the Parliaments continuation p. 315 Novembers seventeenth Queene Elizabeths just Commemoration noted on a speciall occasion p. 323 Newarke besieged by the Scots and their brave beginnings there to tame that enemy p. 327 The prisoners taken at Nasebie-fight brought to London p. 173 Newarke left by our Brethren of Scotland p. 419 O. LOrd Ogleby taken prisoner p. 11 The enemy beaten at Orinskirk p. 11 Ordination of Ministers at London p. 46 Ordinance against Irish Rebels p. 57 Ordinance of self-deniall p. 5 Care for chosing good Officers in London p. 82 Two excellent Ordinances of Parliament p. 312 An Ordinance for the maintenance of the New-modell'd Army p. 97 Oxford Lords come in to the Parliament p. 137 Oxford besieged by the Gen. Sir Thomas Fairfax p. 140 Master Occonnelly rewarded for his discovery of the desperate plot in Ireland p. 152 Oxford surrendred the manner how p. 446 P. A Plot upon our Magazine in the West p. 17 The Parliaments promptitude to the worke of Reformation p. 29 A Plot against the Parliaments Army in the West p. 37 Plottings of the Royalists to cousen the Kingdome p. 37 Plimouth mens admirable courage p. 38 A brave prize taken at Poole p. 44 More Plots of the enemy discovered p. 78
The Plot against Lyn-Regis p. 79 A Plot in the North frustrated p. 259 Major Gen. Poyntz his activity and fidelity rewarded p. 281 The Parliaments piety p. 293 The Parliaments happy continuation a great mercy p. 315 Preservation of London from the plague of pestilence a great mercy p. 415 Parliaments formerly made staulking-horses to get Subsidies p. 322 A prize taken at Plimouth p. 323 The Parliaments integrity against Protections and Bribes p. 325 Serjeant Major Purefoyes brave valour at Compton-house p. 99 A brave Passage of providence at Sir Erasmus Fountaines house p. 103 Pretended peace at Uxbridge p. 104 The Parliaments care of the City of London p. 337 Plimouths singular good successe against the enemy p. 340 Partshall Garrison taken p. 108 Plimouth totally releeved and freed from Siege p. 348 Praises encouraged p. 365 Serjeant Major Purefoyes good Services about Warwick p. 146 A Petition to the Parliament about the Kingdomes sad condition p. 155 A Petition to the Parliament by the inhabitants of Westminster p. 188 A Plot of the Westerne Clubmen discovered p. 201 A Petition of the Ministerr of the two Counties about Church-Governement p. 434 Propositions for a well-grounded Peace resolved on p. 444 Q. NO Quarter to be granted to Irish Rebels p. 56 The Queene of Swedens desire to associate with England p. 84 Queene Elizabeths just Commemoration p. 320 R. PRince Robert defeated p. 11 12 13. Col. Rudgely bravely beates the enemy p. 22 Royalists plot to cousen the Kingdome p. 37 Rad Castle taken p. 40 Captaine Redmans good service in Northamptonshire p. 83 The enemy defeated about Redding p. 261 Master Rouses Psalmes p. 319 Rochels Bloud p. 323 The enemy defeated at Rumsey p. 136 An excellent Remonstrance of our Brethren of Scotland p. 183 The City of Londons most excellent and famous Remonstrance p. 426 Reformation of Religion taken into consideration p. 257 S. SHeffild Castle taken p. 7 Staley-house taken p. 9 Major Straughans brave performances in the West p. 15 Major Skippon bravely encourages his Souldiers p. 19 Schismes Petitioned against p. 28 Reasons of slandering of our Brethren of Scotland p. 39 Col. Sydenhams good service p. 62 Capt. Stone his brave service p. 66 Sir John Strange-waies house a strong Garrison stormed p. 67 Col. Sydenhams brave service p. 72 Selfe-denying Ordinance p. 76 The Swedes desire to associate with England p. 84 Sir George Strange-waies brought Prisoner to the Parliament p. 259 A foule and false slander laid on the Parliament by Royalists in Wales p. 263 Major Generall Skippon made Governour of Bristoll p. 268 Our Brethren of Scotlands Victory over Montrosse in Scotland p. 270 Scotlands bloud p. 323 Scarborough Town Church and Haven taken p. 110 Shrewsbury Towne and Castle taken p. 113 A brave victory obtained at Sligo in Ireland p. 342 Major Gen. Skippons brave service about the settlement of the new Modell'd Army p. 132 A Ship taken at Dartmouth with Letters of importance p. 359 A spur to quicken the spirit of praises p. 365 Captaine Stones good service against the enemy p. 152 The Scots advance to Nottingham p. 174 A Ship of Ireland taken at Padstow of much concernment p. 386 Our Brethren of Scotlands excellent Remonstrance to the King p. 183 Shrewsburies Committees just praise p. 443 The Scots retreat from Newark to Newcastle p. 419 The enemy beaten at Stoke-new-house p. 107 T. TInmouth Castle taken p. 63 Free Trading at Newcastle p. 69 Taunton-Dean in the West releeved p. 81 The enemy beaten at Tong Castle p. 84 Mr. Tomlins made a Baron of the Exchequer p. 282 Thanksgiving for Londons welfare p. 315 The Treaty at Uxbridge for peace p. 104 Major Temple bravely beates the enemy neare Dennington p. 111 Treaties with Malignants dangerous p. 344 Thanksgiving for Chester p. 364 Tauntons most happy releefe p. 174 Tauntons Souldiers good services rewarded p. 151 Thanksgiving for Langport the manner thereof p. 197 V. A Brave Victory obtained neare Chester by Sir William Brereton p. 97 A brave Victory obtained by Colonell Massies Forces in the Forrest of Deane p. 116 Major Gen. Vrreyes brave Victory against Montrosse in Scotland p. 134 Uxbridge Treaty p. 104 A brave Victory at the Devizes p. 123 W. THe enemy beaten at Welch-poole p. 5 Wareham yeelded to the Parliament p. 5 Welbeck-house taken p. 7 Winkfield Mannour besieged p. 9 Winkfield Mannour taken p. 14 Wales in good condition for the Parliament p. 302 The Governour of Warwicks brave service in Worcester-shire p. 107 Weymouth bravely regained p. 117 Sir William Wallers brave Victory at the Devizes p. 123 Court of Wards Voted downe p. 369 Warehams Garrisons good service p. 175 Inhabitants of Westminsters Petition p. 181 Y. THe Duke of YORK to come from Oxford to Saint Jameses p. 445 FINIS A Summary relation of the state of the Kingdom at the Conclusion of the third paâ—â— of this Parliamentary-Chronicle Varietas in omnibus delectaâ— The Title of this fourth Part of our Parliamentary Chronicle justified England the Burning-Bush not consumed August 1644. Colonell Massies Letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons in Parliament A branch of the Bush heer on fire but not burned Generall Mynne slain a brave Victory obtained A brave defeat given to the enemy at Welchpool in Mountgomery shire The prize and prisoners taken The shrewd strait that Sir Thomas Dallison was put unto The Town of Wareham yeelded to Colonell Sydenham A Letter from the Lord of Inchiquin out of Ireland occasioned the speedy yeelding of this Town Twelve brave Horses surprised by the Garrison of Stafford The Noble Earl of Manchesters advance from York Welbeck House taken by the Earl of Manchester Sheffeild-castle taken The manner of assaulting the Castle The prize taken in the Castle The Country gave my Lords Souldiers 500. pound to drink for their good Service Boulsover-castle also yeelded to the Earl of Manchester The prize taken in this Castle Staley-House also taken Wingfleld-Mannour besteged by Darby forces A brave defeat given to the Enemy by Colonell Middleten Another gallant Victory obtained by Colonell Middleton A third brave deâ—eat given to the Enemy by Col. Middleton Sir John Meldrum defeats the Enemy in Lancashire Colonell Doddington takes the Lord Ogleby prisoner A brave defeat given to the Enemy by Sir WilliaÌ„ Brereton Colonell Marrow slain Prince Robber with two Regiments of horse defeated The valiant performances of Sir William Breretons forces in the fight at Tarvin Another most brave defeat given to the Enemy by Sir John Meldâ—um at Ormskirk 800 Horse and 300 prisoners taken A breif note how the Lord prospeâ—ed our proceedings against bloody Prince Robber in and about Lancashire Almost 2000. of Ruperts Horse taken by ours besides prisoners A breif relation of some active and victorious performances of Colonell Fox A prize taken at Vpton-Warren Another brave prize taken by Colonell Fox A third prize also taken by Colonell Foxes Forces What a terrour Colonell Fox was to all
Caus-Castle taken by the Committee of Shrewsburies forces and a brave Victory obtained by them besides Sir William Crofts slain A brave defeat given to the Enemies by valiant Colonell Venables in Cheshire Heywoâ—th in Wilts taken by the forces of Sir Tho. Fairfax Sir Thomas Nott slain A sweet and summary recital of all the excellent Parliamentary mercies of this Moneth The Burning-Bush not consumed The Burning-Bush flourishing in flames 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. A succinct return of gratitude to God for all the great Parliamentary mercies of this Moneth Isai 42. 13. Chap. 29. 20. Psal 124. 1 2 3 4 5 c. July 1645. A day of humiliation appointed by Order of Parliament kept by the Assembly of Divines in several Churches in London to seek a blessing on our forces in the West At least 29 or 30 Carts load of Popish goods apprehended in a house in Long-Acre neer Covent Garden Our Brethren of Scotlands excellent Remonstrance presented to the King The Heads of it 1. 2. The Garrison of Dudley castle shrewdly put to it and â—orely defeated by our forces and our brethren of Scotland Dudley castle faced outfaced by the Governor of Stafford Carlile surrendred to our brethren the Scots Shrawarden-Castle in Shropâ—shire surrendred to Colon. Macworth Our most renowned Sir Thomas Fairfax and noble Major Generall Massie met neer Taunton Taunton most happily releived a third time Great plenty of provision and a full Market already at Taunton The breif but deserved honour of our renowned Generall A brave defeat given to the Enemy at Barkley castle A pious Petition exhibited to the Parliament by the Inhabitants of Westminster The prosperous successe of our forces at Abbington under the Command of valiant Major Generall Brown Commissioners sent to the Parliament in Scotland a Committee sent to the Scotsh army The famous defeat given to Gorings army at Lang-port in the West The first victorious blow given by renowned Major Generall Massie The prisoners prizes taken at the first onset Major Generall Massies policy in pursuite of his Enemies Our renowned Gen. Sir Thomas Fairfax prepares for a fight The Enemy also drew forth into the field The straits of our forces in the Rivers The effects of the foresaid defeat The Enemy put into an amazed rout flight Major Bethels brave courage and resolution Col. Desborough bravely charges the Enemy helps Major Bethel The Enemy put to â—light The Enemies in their flight most desperately did set the Town of Lang-port on fire Isa 43. 2 3. God the great and only giver of this famous Victory His Instruments therein Major Bethel Major Harrison that brought the news of this victory rewarded Observations speciall serious notes upon this â—amous victory 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The Western Clubmen The Clubmen come in to the Parliaments party The manner of the celebration of the Solemn Thanksgiving-day in London for the famous Victory over our Enemies at Langport Bridgewater taken by storm A most exact precious return of our Prayers One Mr. Peters presented 3 Commissions to the Parliament taken by Sir Tho. Fairfax in Bridgewater The plot and design of the Clubmen discovered Pontefract Castle surrendred to the Parliament Scarborough Castle surrendred to the Parliament Cannon Froom taken by our Brethren of Scotland A jewel of 500 li. sent by the Parliament to Generall Leven as a badge of honour to him Chadwick house in the West taken Rabby Castle surrendred to the Parliament Bathe also surrendred into the Parliaments possession with the manner thereof A most remarkable return or rather gracious prevention of Prayer Isa 65. Ibid. â— A most singularly pious motion as zealously as piously put into execution The Monethly morning prayers in London religiously begun by reverend Mr. Case The blessed effects and precious returnes of prayer ever since the foresaid free will-offering of daily â—orning prayers began June and July last justly intituled Menses Mirabiles The Burning-Bush not consumed Isa 54 17. Psal 115. Psal 32. 7. August 1645. A brave defeat given to the Enemy by Captaine Allen neer Stamford in Lincolnshire The taking of all the Kings Commissioners as they sate in Counsell at Shaftsbury and were brought Prisoners to Sherburne by Colonel Fleetwood His Excellencies most excellent demeanour with the Kings Commissioners in their Examinations The routing and dispersing of 2500 Club-men by Lieutenant Generall Cromwell upon Hambleton Hill neere Blanford in the West A famous defeat given to the Enemy in Wales by valiant and faithfull Major Generall Laughhorne The Prisoners and Prizes taken at Colby-Moore Haverford-West stormed taken both Towne and Castle Sherburne Castle stormed and taken by renowned Sir Tho. Fairfax The Prisoners and prizes taken The slaine on our side The Parliaments most pious and prudent care for the Reformation of matters in Religion The good condition of our Forces in the North and the Kings Plot there frustrated and his Forces defeated Sir Lewis Dives and Sir George Strangwaies brought prisoners to the Parliament Sir Thomas Fairfaxes Leaguer before Bristoll and the taking of the strong Fort called Ports-head point A brave defeat given to the Enemy neer Redding Ours worsted at the first by false intelligence The Enemy quite routed and a brave victory obtained Valiant Major Fenicks good Service at Bishops Castle in Shropshire The Burning-Bush unconsumed Psal 6â— 6 7. 8 September 1645. A most foul and false projected slander of the Royaiists to abuse the Parliament and people of Wales A day of Humiliation in the Generals Army before the storming of Bristoll Bristoll summoned Bristoll stormed and the manner thereof The disposall of all the Brigades and Regiments about Bristoll The Word Col. Rainsboroughs brave service on his part And Colonell Mountagues on his part Almost all the Town taken Rupert being fled into the Castle desires a Parley The Towne and Castle of Bristoll surrendred on Articles of Agreement Intelligence of the taking of Bristoll brought to the Parliament the Messengers rewarded Thanks returned to God for the thus regaining of the City of Bristoll The strength and Wealth of the City of Bristoll when it was taken The Enemies losse and our gaine at Bristoll Renowned religious Major Generall Skippon made Governour of Bristoll Shrewsburies defeat given to the Enemy at Bridge-North Gods speciall preservation of Lieutenant Col. Phips of Coventry from the danger of the Enemy The sudden most strange condition of Scotland by Montrosse The as sudden and most admirable alteration of things againe in Scotland to Gods glory and that Kingdomes comfort A briefe Relation of the brave and famous Victory obtained by our Brethren of Scotland against Montrosse in Scotland The fight begun Montrosse discomfited 100 Irish shot to death The Earle of Crawford slain The slaine in this Fight on the Enemies side The slaine on our side All Montrosses Bagge Baggage taken Observations on this Fight The relation of inserting this relation of Scotland into this our English
Parliamentary Chronicle The SuburB of the City of Chester woâ— by valiant active Coloâ—â—â— Iones The manner entring in the Subuâ—â—â— of Chester 〈◊〉 our forces A brave defeat given to a party of the Kings horse about Kidderminster by renowned Major Generall Poyntz Cardiff Town and Castle surrendred to the Parliaments forces The Devires Towne and Castle taken by valiant Leivtenant Generall Cromwell 〈◊〉 House in Wiltshire surrendred to the Parliament All Pembrokeshire reduced to the Parliaments obedience The Parliaments gratitude to Colonell Generall Laughorne Thanksgiving to God for these so great mercies The famous Victory obtained by Major Gen. Poyntz at Routon Heath neer Chester The King prepares to relieve Westchester Major Generall Poyntz his admirable activity to follow prevent the King Major Generall Poyntz his remarkable march to prevent or overtake the King The fight begun fiercely The Enemy put to a retreat Oâ—rs sorely put to it Col. Bethell and Col. Graves sorely wounded Ours much 〈◊〉 by the Enemy Major Generall Poyntz his Horse wounded on the head The admirable courage of Major Generall Poyntz The Enemy routed mixed with troubled ours The Enemy appeared again in a body on a hill The Enemy sallyed out of the City are repulsed Prisoners and prizes taken The slaine The Lord Bernhard Earl of Litchfield A day of deserved thanksgiving appointed by order of Parliament 500. â— Sent as a token to renowned Major General Poynz Alderman Adams chosen Lord Major of the City of London Religious Mr. Tomlins made a Baron of the Exchequer Other well deserving Gentlemen of the Law made Judges by the Parliament Barkley Castle surrendree to valiant Colonell Morgan and Colonell Rainsborough The Burning-Bush unconsumed Not a month a week nay hardly a day void of one mercy or other unto us Psal 68. 19. Psalm 32. 7. October 1645. A brave defeat given to the Enemie by Colonel Moore Governour of Gaunt-house Farleigh-Castle in Somersetsh taken Sandal-Castle in Yorkeshire taken Winchester Towne and Castle taken by victorious Leivten Generall Cromwell The list of what was taken from the edemie in Winchester Castle The strength of Winchester-Castle The Parliaments intended mercy even to Malignants and Delinquents The Excellent wisedome and justice of the Parliament mixed with their foresaid mercie Bazing-House taken A list of the prizes and prisoners taken at Bazing-House The slain and wounded Chepstow Town and Castle in Monmouthshire besieged and taken by valiant Colonell Morgan The Parliaments piety and gratitude The Parliaments integrity about the election of new Members for the House of Commons The writ for the right chusing of Members of the House of Commons A brave defeat given to the Enemy at Farringdon by Abington Forces A brave defeat given by Col Rossiter to the Banbury Forces which conducted the two Princes to Newarke Valiant Captain Allen Governour of Burleigh Garrison unhappily slaine Langford House neare Salisbury taken A note most worthy to be taken notice of Sir William Vaughanâ— Regiment bravely beaten The famous defeat given to the Enemy at Sherburne in Yorkshire Col. Copleyes Letter touching the most famous defeat given to the Enemy at Sherburne The Enemy surprizeth our Forces in Sherburne both Horse and Foote The difficulties our Forces met about Sherburne Both parties meet together in the Field The substance of Sir Marmaduke Langdalet Speech to his Souldiers before this fight The fight begun The Enemy routed and put to flight The Lord Digby wounded in the Fight and foure Pistols fired on Sir Marmaduke Langdale The Enemy pursued three miles Scarcely ten of our men slaine The importance of this businesse All our men and Arms recovered that were taken before The admirable and almost miraculous taking in of Tiverton Towne and Castle Major Generall Massie enters Tiverton The Generall fits downe before the Castle Church The admirable providence of God here that one of our Canoneers shootes a shot at adventure and breakes down the Draw-bridge of the Castle The Castle Church entred by 〈◊〉 Souldiers The Generals clemency The Prisoners and prizes taken in the Church and Castle The good condition of Wales for the Parliament Carmarthen Towne and Castle taken The Declaration of the County of Carmarthen Monmouth Towne and Castle taken by Colonell Morgan The manner of taking the Castle The prizes taken in the Castle The Parliaments gratitude to God for these great mercies and thanks to Col. Morgan The Letters taken in the Lord Digbyes Coach at Sherburne in Yorkshire read in the Parliament The substance of 3. or 4. of those Letters A brave defeat given to the enemy neer Denbigh Castle who intended to relieve Chester Another brave defeat given to the Enemy at Holt-bridge where Sir William Byren was taken prisoner Another most famous defeat and brave victorie over the Lord Digby and Sir Marmaduke Langdale in their march into Scotland to joyne with Montrosse The Lord Digby crost in his way and forced to goe another way The Burning-Bush unconsumed Isa 25. 9 10 11. Isa 28. 29. Psal 9. 19 20. November 1645. Two excellent Ordinances of Parliament Shelford-house stormed and taken by valiant Major Gen. Poyntz Shelford-house summoned The House taken A sore slaughter made in the House by the Enemies obstinancie Digbyes late scattered forces being rallyed again are againe met with and miserably mangled and brought to nothing Abarashwait a strong Garrison of the enemies in Cardiganshire taken Thanks returned to the Lord on this 5. of November for the happy preservation and Continuation of this present Parliament Thankes and praises also returned to the Lord by order of Parliament for the City of Londons preservation from the plague of Pestilence Worton Garrison surrendred Wiverton Garrison taken Welbeck-house surrendred Bolton Castle in the North surrendred A brave defeat given to the Enemy neer Canon-Froom and a notable Engine taken from them Col. Morgan frights away the Enemy The Engine is left behinde The Engine was called a Sow The description of it Master Rouses Psalmes approved of by the Assembâ—y of Divines A brave defeat given to the Lord Ashton and himself slain therin About forty of the Kings Life Guard surprized by Major Blundell of Reading The just and glorious commemoration of rare and renowned Queen Elizabeth on the 17 of November 1 Sam. 2. 30. Psal 112. 6. A briefe but bad and sad mention of King James his life and death 1 Sam. 2. 30. Prov. 10. 7. King James quite forgotten in the hearts of his people King James and King Charles not true to their Principles King James King Charles and Queene Elizabeth paraleld together in point of Reformation Queen Elizabeths rule King James and King Charles rule Parliaments made the Kings Stauking Horses to get Subsidies Arbitrary Tyranny The Power of godlinesse to be beaten downe Popery or prophanesse to be set up in Germanies blood Rocâ—els and the Isle of Rees blood Irelands blood England and Scotlands blood Other blood not yet revealed The Authors of all this The crafty colour of all
this A brave prize taken at Sea by Plymouth Garrison A brave defeat given to the enemie in Gloucestershire where Major Duet that French Renegado was slain Major Duet slaiâ—e The prisoners and prizes taken A Notable testimonie of the Parliaments integrity touching Protections and Bribes The Burning-Bush unconsumed 1. 2. Psal 60. 12. Isaiah 41. 10. 11. Psal 116 December 1645. Newark besieged and Muschamp Bridge and Fort taken by our Brethren of Scotland General Lesley made Commander in chiefe of all the Forces both English and Scottish before Newark The County of Brecknock in Wales comes in to the Parliament Latham House taken Fulford House taken Hereford surprized and taken by a brave stratagem Col. Morgan and Col. Birch provide to promote the designe The Souldiers sore march the first setting forth The whole armie come neer unto Hereford A Copie of the warrant which helped to win Hereford The manner of managing the busines with the Constable and his warrant The draw-bridge is let down The Constable knocks down the Centinell The Fire-locks rush out and haste to the City The Towne fully entred and obtained Lords and Knights 21. in number Leivtenant Colonells and Majors 10. in number besides Judge Jenkins Many Gentl. of Quality At least 2000. Papists The great consequence of the obtainning this City The Messengers of this good newes to the Parliament rewarded Orders of Parliament voted and confirmed upon this great providence of God 1 2 3 4 5 Great gratitude expressed by the Parliamenâ— both to God and man for this great mercy Lieutenant Barrow the pretended Constable rewarded by the Parliament Canon-Tean a strong Fort taken at Exeter Callyntine House taken Skipton Castle surrendred to the Parliament The Freedome of almost all the Northerne parts The singular providence of the City of London and of the Parliament for the defence and safety of the said City The Burning-Bush not consumed Psal 62. 7 8. January 1646. Plymouths singular good successe against their besieging Enemies Canterbury Fort taken Saint Beudeaux taken The prisoners and prizes taken The slain on both sides A brave victorie obtained by our Forces at Bovy-Tracy in the West The prisoners and prizes taken Iminster taken Ashburton taken Totnes taken Okehampton taken The most brave victorie over the Rebels in Ireland at Sligo The slaine Gods good providence in the apprehension of certain Papers and Letters from the Archbishop of Tuain The danger of Treaties with our Malignant adversaries Yea of a Personal Treatie with the King himselfe Remarkable mischiefe and impiety discovered in the Kings party A Copy of the Kings Letter to the Parliament The summe of the Parliaments Answer to the Kings Letter for a treaty for a pretended peace Plymouth totally relieved and relinquished by the Enemies Plymouth made good advantage of the flight of their Enemies Sir Francis Drakes House taken Dartmouth summoned Captain Batten Vice-Admiral helps to besiege Dartmouth Sy Sea The City of London petitions the Parliament about Church-Government A brave defeat given to Wallingford Forces by Major Generall Brownes Forces Dartmouth Towne and Castle taken by storme The relation of the manner of taking Dartmouth signified by Sir Thomus Fairfaxes Letter to the Parliament Prisoners taken Prizes taken Major Pollard slaine on the Enemies side Deserved thanks and reward given to our renowned Generall Sir Thomas Fairfax Certain observations on the Premisses A Solemne day of Thanksgiving ordered to be kept in London and over the Kingdome A brave defeat given to the Enemy at Cark neere Stafford Pouldram Castle taken The most noble and renowned Generals singular mercy and clemency toward his Enemies Sir Thomas Fairfax a second Caesar A Ship from France taken at Dartmouth with Letters of great consequence The Burning-Bush unconsumed 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jer. 10. 7. Zecha 25. February 1646. Belvoir-Castle surrendred to the Parliament The City of Westchester taken A most sweet and evident returne of Prayer Chester surrendred upon very conditions and the reason therof The prizes taken in the City of Chester A brave defeat given to the Enemie at Ashbie de-la Zouth The good and prosperous successe of our armie in the West The Assizes of Oyer and Terminer revived A Solemne Thanksgiving for Chester and a charitable Collection made A fresh spurre to quicken the spirit of praises Torrington Church fired by the Enemy Hoptons Army totally routed The valour of the Cornish men Prisoners prizes and spoil in and after this fight The slaine in this fight The Parliaments gratuity to the Messengers that brought this good newes A day of solemne thanksgiving set apart for this great Victory at Torrington The Court of Wards utterly put down A Copy of the Order or Vote in Parliament for puting downe the Court of Wards The brave victorie obtained over the Enemie at Cardiffe in Glamorganshire Colonell Kern the High-Sheriffe revolts and joynes with the Malig. Gentry against the Parâ—iament A second fight and brave victory The slain prisoners and prizes The great concernment of this victory The Parliaments gratitude to Maior Gen. Laughorn for this good service Corffe Castle delivered up to the Parliament The Burning Bush not Consumed 1. 2. 3. 4 5 6 Psal 116. 12 13 14. March 1646. Launceston in Cornwall taken by the Parliaments Forces Abington most â—ercely aâ—sauled and most bravely defended and preserved Our men most bravely charges the Enemy The Enemies beaten out of the Town The hurt on our side Some of ours most desperately fought in their shirts only The King vowed to have Abington and to fire it A passage of speciall providence in the preservation of Abington Abingtons bad and sad condition had it now been taken Ashbie de la-Zouch surrendred to the Parliament Our Armies singular good successe in Cornwall and the taking of Bodman Listithiel and VVare Bridge A brave defeat given to the Enemy by valiant Colonell Moore The Summons sent to Hopton A brave defeat given to the Enemy at Saint Culbumbe in Cornwall and that Garrison taken them Sir Ralph Hopton expects supplies out of Ireland Foy taken Pendennis besieged A List of the number of 〈◊〉 Gentry of Cornwall came in to the Parliament Maus Castle surrendred Sir William Vaughau well beaten by Captain Ashley The activity of the bravâ— Committee of Shrewsbury Shruardon Castle taken Goodrich Castle taken The famous fight and glorious victory obtained against Sir Jacob Ashley A description of the fight at Stow in the Ould Sir Jacob Ashleyes croâ—se and crafty marches put Sir William Brereton to tedious marches Both Armies are met The signall Word on both sides The fight begun The Enemy totally routed and pursued The Lord Ashley taken prisoner Sir Charles Lucas also taken prisoner Sir Jacob Ashleyes words to our Souldiers sitting on a Drum A List of the prisoners and prizes taken in the battle at Stow in the Ould All the enemie to depart from Truro The extraordinary faire carriage of the Souldiers The 9. Brigades that were disbanded Our Armie to march Eastward A Dunkerk
Frigot taken by our ships Hilford Castle taken Livetenant Colonell Ingoldsby slain by Musket shot A day of solemn Thanksgiving for the forementioned great mercies to the King Our noble Generals advance to Exeter Inch-House surrendred Pouldram Fort taken High-Archall surrendred to the Parliament Bridge-North Towne taken by Shrewsbury forces Colonell Billingsley slaine in the Storme Portland castle surrendred Exmouth-Fort neere Exeter taken Aprill 1646. Dennington Castle taken An Order of both Houses of Parliament for restraint of Papists and other Delinquents from coming to the Cities of London and Westminster An Order also concerning the Kings private coming to London A brave defeat given to the Kings Horse neare Farringdon Treaty about the surrender of the City of Exeter to the Parliament Three strong Forts already delivered up to the Generall Justification of the large Articles of conditions agreed unto upon the surrender of Exeter Ruthin-Castle surrendred to the Parliament A brave defeat given to Denbigh forces by Colonell Mitton Captaine Cottingham slaine Prisoners and prizes taken at Denbigh and Ruthin The Raglanders soundly beaten by Sir Trevor Williams Many Gentlemen of Wales came out of Ragland castle to Sir Trevor and submitted to the Parliament Master Fog a Minister rewarded for his Loyalty to the Parliament The strong Garrison of the City of Exeter surrendred to the Parliament The first letter The second Letter The manner of their marching out of the City of Exeter Branstable Towne and Câ—stle surrendred Sir Michaels-Mount surrendred Titbury-Castle surrendred Aburisthwait Castle in Wales surrendred Dunstar-Castle surrendred Our WesternArmie advanced toward Oxford Woodstock-Garrison surrendred Bridge North Castle surrendred The just praise of the most faithfull and active Committee of Shrewsbury The Duke of Lenox and others come in unto the Parliament The King escaped out of Oxford in a disguised manner 1 Sam. 2. 30. May. 1646. The Parliament informed of the Kings departure out of Oxford toward London Both Houses of Parliaments Order published throughout London and Westminster touching concealing the King The Parliaments providence for the welfare of the City of London A Copy of the â—etter from the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland to the Commissioners of both Houses concerning His Majesties coming to the Scotch Army The manner of the Kings coming into the Scots Army and discovering himself unto them Newark surrendred to the King and Parliament The summe of the Articles of Agreement Our Brethren of Scotland drew off from Newarke Banbury Castle surreâ—dred to the Parliament A day of Solemn thanksgiving to the Lord for late great mercies to us Hartlebury Castle taken The prizes taken therein Ludlow surrendred to the Parliament Some hopefull sweet effects of the kings being in the custodie of our loyall Brethren of Scotland The summe of the kings Letto the Parliament of England The famous Citie Remonstrance exhibited to Both Houses of Parliament Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdome pag. 19. The Parliaments Declaration upon his Majesties Declaration after the Battell at Edge-hill pag. 659. * This desire of the City of London is no more nor other in effect than the House of Commons in Parliament it self voted as most justly at the taking of the Protestation May 5. 1641. Salcoomb Regis Surrendred Bostol-House also yeilded up to the Parliament Ordinance of Parliament for the better settlement of Presbyterian Church Government Bostoll Garrison surrendred Carnarvan Towne and Castle surrendred The Propositions for a wel grounded Peace resolved and in speciall 〈…〉 of the Kingdom The Ministers of London and Westminsters pious meeting and religion resolution in Zion Colledge Letters from Sir Thomas Fairefax Articles for the Surrender of Oxford and the Messengers rewarded by the Parliament The Duke of Yorke to come from Oxford to S. James-House Beaumorris Town and Castle surrendred The manner of the surrender of Oxford His Majesties Letter to the Marquesse of Ormond The Propositions for Peace sent to the King Psal 30 11 12 Ehen-Ezer The summary use of all Caution and Exhortation 1 Caution Zechar. 10. 5. Ezra 9. 6. Deut 32. 6. Ier. 37. 10. Iohn 5. 14. Mat. 12. 45. 2 Exhortation Reformation both Nationall and personall Building of Gods house Schisme and Errour petitioned against The danger of it briefly described The building of Gods house petitioned Hest 6. 3. The great fault and â—ayling of these times Scripture Eye-salve 2 Chron. 16. 9 Gods eye of providence over us Zeche 8. 1â— Our Fasts turned into Feasts Num. 23. 13. No enchanment or Divination against Gods Israell Isa 54. 17. No weapon formed against us hath proâ—pered Jer. 30. 16 17. Our devourers are devoured and our spoylerâ— are spoyled Ezekiel 20. 38 The regaâ—â— Rebels purged out of the Kingdome Isay 66. 5. The Royalists impious hypocrisie unmasked Great encouragements for Gods Children Iob 5. 27. Marke this O England Isa 19. 11 12 13 14. A true description of the Kings Counsellours Exod. 18. 11. Isa 51. 12 13. A just objurgation and too tâ—ue taxation on all Psal â—6 7 10 An exhortation to Christian courage and godly resolution Exod. 19. 4 5. Breake off from sinne Remember our Covenant Bâ—â—ld Gods House Love our Brethren of Scotland Our Brethren of Scotland were the main meane of procuring this present Parliament Exod. 19. 5. One hundred and forty Cart-loads of dead and wounded at Newbery fight some at Brainford at Dorchester and Causham at Marston-moore A Looking-glasse for Malignants