Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	advantage_n	great_a	time_n	1,691	5	3.1967	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A75350	Lancashires valley of Achor, is Englands doore of hope: set wide open, in a brief history, of the wise, good, and powerfull hand of divine providence, ordering and managing the militia of Lancashire; not onely to the preservation, but exaltation of a poor, and praying people, in two hundreds; against, and above a considerable armie, of popish, and ill-affected persons in foure hundreds: Wherein the strift [sic] of piety and providence, with impiety and humane strength, in the weaknesse of means, unto graduall, and compleate victory, is laid out; to advance gods praise, and advantage Englands faith. By a well-wisher to the peace of the land, and piety of the church.	Angier, John, 1605-1677.	1643 (1643)	Wing A3165; Thomason E67_39; ESTC R12056	22,269	43

Temptation 1. The unskilfulnesse of Commanders and Souldiers being bred and educated in a land of Peace where no enemy was left as sometimes in Israel to teach them warre They knew not to take advantage or prevent disadvantage They were fit to hurt themselves and one another as they did And that very day the enemy appeared hearts were down because their number to man their works was no greater The Issue But when God put the work into their hands he put in skill Psal 144.1 If ever it were given a people in that houre how to do both hands and skill now was the time So that in a short time even to admiration men of all callings were skilfull ready Fire-men And on that five and twentieth of September came in new and considerable Forces whereupon the souldiers thanked God and took courage The Temptation 2. What the enemy cannot do by force he will do by fraud he sets fire on poor houses and rich barnes any thing to advance the Catholique Cause hoping by the light of the fire and darknesse of the smoke to see to hit and 〈◊〉 be hid from shot Fire is a cruell Lord and dreadfull object to fresh and low-water souldiers The winde blowes right to help the enemy to heat and blinde the assaulted And now fire to fire a fierce assault to a flaming fire will destroy all opposition The Issue Faith that sometimes quenched the violence of fire did no lesse now It quenched the violence of feare in our souldiers the zeale of the Work consumed them whilest the fire consumed the buildings And though the fire heated our men to strive for the Wall and to give the more ready fire yet the smoke did not hide their enemies And when the winde had blowne so long against us that we might be sensible of a Turn he that gathereth the winde in his fists apparantly turned it to our advantage The Temptation 3. They had a Towne of advantage Salford is open affords them entertainment and assistance proves their stalking-horse brings them neere and gives them shelter faceth us and opens them a back-door God complains of his evil neighbours Jer. 12.14 The Issue They sought help by fire God helped us by water The rain poured down raised the water and parted the Army neerer neighbours then Manchester and Salford They fought from heaven the Stars in their courses fought against Sisera The river Kishon swept them away the ancient river the river Kishon Judges 5.20 21. Hither they came to lay their dead in sight and to let them lie with shame The Canonneer had much adoe to Charge and more adoe to Discharge If they peeped out of the houses they were unhoused The Temptation 4. They had meanes of advantage many roaring thundering terrifying Canons we had but one small Peece We have heard the report of them and our hands waxed feeble The Issue The Canons did but play they did no work no execution They had no Commission but to strike thorow houses which could neither bleed nor weepe Onely one Lad stood in their way who was out of his own way and as they say timely prepared by his wickednesse for such a stroke It was a wonder to see when they came into an house what haste they made out as afraid there to stay and how strictly they kept their Lane lest by turning aside they should harme any in the house Surely the joynt praises of Gods rejo●cing people as the voice of many waters and as the voice of a great thunder Rev. 14.2 did drowne the noise and remove the terrour of the Canons The Temptation 5. Though the enemies fire was quenched and the force of their Canons broken yet we wanted fewell Match failed and Powder grew scarce The Issue He that could finde so many Souldiers when there was none was not to seeke for one Match-maker in time of need He findes a Common-Souldier and makes him to finde Match Some Malignants houses contributed Powder and some Marched to Manchester from neighbour places in the face of the enemy who looked and fled and againe looked and fled They saw it and so they marvelled they were troubled and hasted away fear took hold upon them there Psal 48.5 6. The Temptation 6. Though we be supplied with Match and Powder yet we shall be overcome with waking we want rest and cannot finde it The Issue God gives his beloved rest To that end he moves the Lord to found for a Parley Upon which a Cessation of Armes is concluded from five at Night till seven in the Morning that our men might rest and be refreshed And ere this release came God that can nourish without meat gave rest without sleep He held their eyes open and created new spirits They waked and watched from strength to strength They that wait upon the Lord shall change their strength as a man doth his suit to fit a new occasion Isa 40.31 The Temptation 7. This new bodily rest may serve to strengthen a restlesse minde It is now harvest time our Corn the livelyhood and subsistence of our families is in the field ripe and groaning for the sickle The Issue Whilest the Siege lasted against Manchester the heavens held a simpathy with the well-affected in and about Manchester God melted them into a wet and weeping frame There was little harvest weather that week Which did evidence the work of Gods people did not now lie in the Field but in the Town in the Barn It was not reaping work but threashing work Gods work was to Inne the Corn their work to Thresh it He shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor Arise and thresh Micah 4.12 13. The Temptation 8. We are defending the Town and the Cavalliers are Plundering our houses or at least we leave wife children and estate to their mercy What portion have we in Manchester every man to his Tent. The Issue O peace private spirit The people in Nehemiahs time had a minde to work Nehem. 4.6 a strong minde and therefore the discouragements of the ill-affected could not weaken their hands Manchester-work was publique work and the spirit of the work did generally rest upon the people Sometimes Foot sometimes Horse issued out and drove in the Plunderers Sometimes the Countrey Spirit guarded with Bills and Staves and ●ick-forks rose to that height that it subjected horse and man to the wonder of the Cavaliers Some houses were safe others willing to suffer the lesse to save the greater The Temptation 9. Some sensible of the danger of neighbour-Villages that had emptied all their defensive power into Manchester made motion that their lent assistance might be loosed for home and neighbour defence against the wilde and wandering Horse This motion seemed reasonable and by consequent the defence of the Town unreasonable The Issue When this Reason came to be handled it proved a shadow and soon vanished Neare home this motion felt heavy but abroad where greater matters were in hand it was found light Private

of note and worth into a teadious and removing captivitie yet could not the enemy be thus satisfied for the misse of such a prize they labour to destroy that by fire which God had sent by water But God that sent the Peeces saved them The most came whole and safe to the Castle before and after their Lodging was fired But malice and enuie followed them The Earle attended with great strength besets Lancaster and sends this Summons To the Major and Burgesses of the Town of Lancaster these Gentlemen I Am come into these parts by His Majesties speciall command to free you from the bondage of these declared Traitours that now oppresse you and endeavour your destruction by bringing you into their own condition I will not now mention your former neglect of the Kings Service nor I hope I need not tell you what Forces I have or might have upon occasion nor how joyfully all the Countrey in my March have joyned themselves unto me If you will submit the Town and your Armes unto me and likewise endeavour with me to reobtaine the Castle you shall have all faire usage from me if not expect from me what the Law of the Land and of Warre will inflict upon you Thus expecting your answer by ten of the Clock this day I rest March the 18 eight a clock Your friend Derby This Summons came first to the hands of our Commanders of the Castle who gave the Town leave to returne this Answer Right Honourable WE received yours of this instant and do return this Answer That all our Arms are under the command of Officers now within our Town for the King and Parliament so that we have not the disposall of them and at their comming they took and fortified the Castle which was never in our command and by reason thereof have our Towne likewise at their pleasure so that both the Town and Castle are now at the disposall and will be by Gods blessing kept for his Majestie And thus we humbly take our leave and rest Your Honours in all due respects THis Answer pleaseth not th●y must expect the punishments of War which they found They fiercely assault for an hour in vaine they turn their rage upon houses Lancaster 〈◊〉 fired and by Commission on the sudden become ready firemen all of them They fire Houses and Barnes without the sentinell in which they sacrificed their dead bodies Thus they heated and smoaked our valiant souldiers from their Sentinell and when they were entred the Towne Papist-like they continue to burn and butcher denying Quarter to our men but rather cursedly quartering them from which cruelty raging mad the most of our Forces retired into the Castle The account of this cowardly Conquest is thus given in from Lancaster The dwelling houses that were burned were in number fourscore and ten containing three hundred Bayes of building The Barnes Stables Cow-houses replenished with Corn Hay and Cattell that were burned were eighty six contayning two hundred and forty Bayes of building and one Malt-Kiln of four Bayes of building with three hundred Windles of Malt therein By all which it evidently appears that they displayed the Banner of the Skarlet coloured Beast A miracle of mercy was wrought in midst of this undoing and heart-breaking misery They purposely and industriously gave fire to two houses of persons well-affected to King and Parliamentt but they would not take fire no by no means though they renewed their indeavours severall times in severall places though the next houses were burnt down to the ground God restrained the remnant of their rage he remembred his promise Esay 43.2 The flame shall not kindle upon thee faith quenched the violence of fire this Shield quenched the fierie darts of the Devill March 19. 2000. of our Forces marched out for the timely relief of Lancaster Preston recovered Blackburn risled but how they were divided and diverted walked and breathed too and fro whilest the Earle fires Lancaster recovered Preston and risled Blackburne I have no minde to inquire but doe sadly remember and cannot easily forget how these tydings affrighted our Commanders out of Lancaster Castle and exposed the Castle so well appointed to the will of the Enemy had not the mighty GOD by the assistance of a minister doubled the spirit of the heartie though headlesse Souldiers to maintain with utmost hazzard so great a trust Thus GOD set our Sunne backe many degrees but not in manifest favour as to Hezekiah yet he brought us to himselfe in Fasting and Prayer the seven and twentieth day of March that we repenting he might repent This very night came a Messenger from Lancaster Castle reporting the safetie of the Castle the heartinesse of the souldiers and their comfortable provision Boltons second Assault THe Earle encouraged by so manifold successe hopes to gain all he brings on Boltons second hour of sore Temptation yet in an unhappy season March twenty eight the day before the Nationall Fast and immediately after the Fast March 27. at Manchester because of the Designe in hand and also when the Towne was well provided with Souldiers and Bury also furnished for their succour The Enemie made no neare approach till three of the Clock so soone as they began to draw into a Body upon the Moore our Cannoneer drew his Cannon into a Croft on the backside of the Towne and at the second shot killed two horses neare a mile off Then a Messenger came to summon the Towne to submission but they resolved not to change the tenure for King and Parliament When Sun was set and it began to be darke the Minister of the Town prayed with a company of Souldiers most of them Townsmen The end of Prayer was the beginning of the Fight and where the Souldiers had even now prayed they had a furious Assault The Enemy came on desperately even to hand-blowes and some of them leap'd upon the Works where they found Cluo-law The enemy retreated and left ten men dead After this they made no assault till Bury Forces were come into the Town for this second time they were more favourable to leave an open passage to our succour Then they made an assault upon the South end of the Towne by the advantage of the darknesse they come close to the Mud-wall Here they hoped to prosper by fire as at Lancaster but the light discovering their nearnesse to danger they fled for safetie After this they marched towards the West but finding it a busie and warme corner they hasted off and came on no more The Enemy left upon the ground at this Assault three and twenty men Bolton lost not a man nor had any hurt done save onely one youth shot through the arme O admirable In Judah is God knowne his name is great in Israell Psalme 76.1 Many a time have the afflicted me may Bolton now say yet they have prevailed against me Psalm 129.1 2. It was the aggravation of Solomons sinne and Gods anger That GOD

of this County in other part of re-payment of the said moneys so l●avied by them And whereas the Sheriff of this County and some others have lately seiz●d into their hands and possession the said Powder Match and Ammunition in the Towns of Preston and Leverpoole and have threatned and attempted to do the like in Manchester without givi●g any account either by what Authority or for what us● they did and do the same We therefore tendering our own inter●st and poss ssion of this small remainder left at Manchester have thought good to take it into our hands for the defence of the King both Houses of Parliament and this County of Lancaster Thus wisdom and honesty in a way of manifest authoritie got the leading of subtiltie and injustice the Snare at last is broken and a Seed of defence happily sowne But if Manchester will not be cheated of their Magazine they shall be forcibly dispoiled Forces are summoned to Bury for that end but the confluence of the well-affected to Manchester for defence did them the favour of disinission for that time And lest this businesse should appear in its own colours it is coloured over by a meeting of the Array at Wigan the sleeping Magazen is adjudged to travell part to Bury part to Ratchdale and part to lie in Manchester upon an order from the King published at Manchester Crosse to that purpose Under this new colour the Lord Strange returns with his Forces to Bury calls a second Muster some of the Towne of Manchester and thereabouts more forward in this than forecited attend his Honour think to make all well by ingaging themselves to buy so much Powder and lay it in the empty place and to sweeten and sink all former bitter and clogging passages they invite him to a Banquet upon condition that he come peaceably with his own attendance they unhappily forgetting or not considering that it was not a little Powder that was sought or the submission of a few fearfull men but a Town and not a Town onely but a County nor that onely but the honourable rule and government of it things out of the teach of their arm but hopefully within the compasse of his own power According to this desire not according to the condition was the march for Manchester ordered his Honour came attended with many Horse they entred the Towne in an Hostile and insulting manner with cocked Pistols and shouts that the town was their own their own The Sheriffe reade the Commission of Array which evidenced a composition for War not for Peace Some wise and well affected foreseeing what others did not beleeve till they sadly saw had laid in some Musquetteers and Pikemen against such a time resolving to lie hid if not forced out of Peace But the unconditioned carriage of these in-comers beats the Drum to bring our men in sight onely to put them in remembrance of the conditions agreed on They will not remember but forcibly ride upon our men give them course language strive to disarm them sorely wound one and cruelly slay another and had not God mercifully sent water from heaven to quench this fire and moved them to be the Peace-keepers which were not the peace-conluders they that have since sought our blood had themselves been satisfied with blood But blessed be God that heaven and earth did concurre to quiet this dangerous Commotion Let Manchester and the neighbourhood never forget how their hands were blest from blood whilest the hands of those that strove with them were imbrued therein By this time the Array had gotten enough done the unappeasable crie of blood is against them seconded by the bitter crie of some truly pious in the Town who were in extreme danger to be pulled in pieces they and their houses by the part-taking and incensed Rascalitie the admirers and adorers of greatnesse being feasted with the Crummes that fall from their Tables God fore-appointing the hour of Temptation and resolving in a course of ordinary though to us unusuall means to shew us his salvation sent a man before a skilfull and faithfull Engineer to be ready to concur with our necessitie and desire to take course for our own defence which now will admit neither dispute nor delay This prepared and provided instrument is entertained fals to artificiall and restlesse motion till the Mud-wals at the severall passages were finished when God gave an Alarum from the plundering disarming Array in Cheshire Sept. 13. being Tuesday to heighten the spirits of the well-affected in the Town above the opposition of the male-content that the opposed stoopes might be set down and the chaines coupling the Works compleated he well-knowing they had almost as much work to do as time to do it in All this time that God was contriving our preservation in a way of probable meanes Satan in a contrary course was plotting our subjection or desolation and when the door of our defence was once shut not before oh the waking watchull providence of God! but presently after the floodgates of our opposition were opened for it was about Friday night Sept. 23. ere the Works were finished and the Lord appeared on Sabbath-day morning and it was Friday night if not Saturday night ere the defendants were anchored against windes and waves Thus we are come to Manchester Seige of which I will not give a full and particular account because it is already performed by severall good hands onely observe three things 1. The time in which it fell out 2. The severall temptations in it with their Issues 3. And some remarkable passages THe time when it began was September the five and twentieth the Sabbath day about nine of the Clock Church-time God was fo●ced as sometimes Paul Galath 4.20 to change his voice to awaken and enliven his sleepie and dead-hearted people Sabbath-dayes Alarums of all Alarums are never to be forgotten Severall Battels have been fought and severall Assaults made in severall places on the Sabbath day let England study the meaning Our Saviour tels us there is an affliction in the time Mat. 24.20 Pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath day God hath a controversie with the people for their Sabbath dayes services Yet observe the breath of the enemie Saul breathed threatnings and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord The enemies mocked at their Sabbaths Their breath blasteth holy persons times actions The Episcopall breath fetch him out of the Pulpit scatters the people suspend him suspend the place This Seige-week was unskilfully joyn'd with the Nationall Fast-week for thus succours came into Manchester from all parts of the Kingdom Armies of Prayers Legions of Angels The enemies Lot so warily cast fell not unlike to Hamans Lot Esther 9.1 The enemies of the Jewes hoped to have power over them but it was turned to the contrary that the Jewes had rule over them that hated them The severall Temptations that straightned this Siege with their present and proper Issues were The

and particular interests are wrapped up in the Publique not so much publique in private Heere the remembrance of Parliamentary ingagement and an honourable esteem of the Publique Faith did no little availe The Temptation 10. But after all there is an uncertaine blast of the spirit of Faith and Co●rage in our Leaders being in the infancie of the Work and not discerning as afterward that God had raised them up to be Saviours on mount Zion This was Davids sin when he had escaped so many dangers and was now out of pursuit for Saul sought no more after him 1. Sam. 27.4 yet he could not beleeve his safet●e but feared though he had long escaped yet he should at last be taken 1 Sam. 27.1 We may sooner be free from trouble then beleeve we are free Troubles may come and go but sin will stick fast The Issue God kept up the Souldiering spirit by Prayers and Psalms mutuall encouragement and the blast of the Silver Trumpets the Ministers of God sounded by a Divine breath When the Temptation was at highest and their spirits at the lowest that very night something should have been done by man to have undone in a few houres all that God had been doing in a week that man might be humbled and God the more magnified the tide of our oppression turned They moved homewards both sides were in despaire we would have manifested ours but God hid it They hid theirs in the Night but the Morning brought it to light The remarkable Passages were these A Reverend and grave Divine who had long been a blessing to the Town and had seen a resurrection of it from the Plague nigh fourty yeers before was lifted up from the gates of death and raised in the Spirit to promote this Work A spirit of Piety and Devotion in Prayers and singing of Psalms rested generally upon persons and families yea Taverns and Innes where it might not put in the head formerly As when David in his trouble went and dwelt with Samuel at Najoth in Ramah the Spirit of Prophecie came upon Sauls Messengers the first second and third time and upon Saul himself Davids spirit rested upon his enemies when God will have him to rest They say The Parliament hath made many Converts but here Papists and Atheists and prophane made many Converts no better yet then Parliament Converts Many of them have proved practicall Arminians practising falling from Grace so many of our Souldiers and people have been worse since then in the Siege A Gentleman imployed in the Service not so religious as were to be wished professed he had seen much of God and hoped it would do him good so long as he lived Friends told him he wanted Armour He answered He saw Gods protection was in stead of Armour September 30. reported That the Cheshire Trained-Band brought into Stock-port under the command of Master Leigh of Adlington had promised one another not to go over Lancashire-Bridge And his own Tenants Petitioned They might be excused from this Service Twelve men the Butt of enemies before and friends behinde were Shot-free from both The greatest hurt they did was by fire and that to one conceived to be too good a friend of theirs They lodged with him in a place if report lye not free for all manner of sin A faire house called the Lodge and before their departure payed a good round reckoning in smoke and ashes since which a cooler fire tooke downe their lodging A neighbour in imminent danger had emnient preservation five of the Earls Souldiers came to the house where he was he seeing their approach thought a chamber was fitter then the house foure pursue him to his hiding place three of them drew their swords swearing to slit out his heart the fourth having a Musket resolved to do the execution God sends up the fifth in the nick of time who in his comming up moved the Musquet-man and removed the mouth of the discharging Musquet to another White one of their owne company whom God gave in ransome for this man appointed to die Three neighbours returning from Manchester home were pursued by a Troope of Horse one of them was taken and wounded by part of the Troope Another part continue their pursuit of the other two one of them casts a shoe yet by the enemies missing the way once or twice and casting a shoe also and one telling them they were a mile before when the enemy was hard at their heels they escaped and the taken and wounded was rescued by the Bill-men It was observed That Christians nearer and further off were united in one argument of support viz. That God had not mustered his precious servants from all adjacent parts in Manchester to shut them up into the hands of the enemy but rather to shew them his salvation Thus we leave Manchester compassed about with songs of deliverance keeping I beleeve a more waking gladsome Sabbath October 2. the day after their release then of many yeeres before compassing the Throne of so great Grace with high sounding praises with the Souldiers as they could October 3. and more solemnely October 6. when our Drums and Muskets that had formerly sounded terrour to our enemies kept silence in the Church whilest the Saints sung the Song of Moses and when their time and turn came to utter their voice in the open aire with a loud voice and one consent clapping their hands apace they reported God fearfull in praises working wonders Though the Devil let passe the Munday Thanksgiving which was more confused yet he was ill pleased and laboured to marre the mirth of Thursday-Thanksgiving which was intended to be more Orderly and Solemne An Alarm was given October 5. that they were coming against the Town the second time This bred some disquiet but served to awake unto and to sweeten the following day of Thanksgiving which was kept without distraction blessed be God This false Alarm repeated October 10. God advantaged to lay a Garrison in the Town which God intended to use for offence as well as defence as will afterward appear About October the eleventh some Powder coming from the South to Manchester was stayed by the Kings Forces but some came safe from the North from Hull the fourteenth of October The two and twentieth day store of Powder came in and the foure and twentieth day some coming was stayed The joy of this last supply was sadly tempered with the accidentall but mortall wound of a skilfull and active Souldier When God had thus gloriously appeared in Salford-Hundred the first and forwardest Hundred he went and displayed his Banner in Blackburne-Hundred that onely other Hundred in the Countie that appeared in the same Cause Blackburne-Hundred ABout November the seven and twentieth the Array with some three hundred armed men as is conceived besides Club-men possessed themselves of Blackburne whence they sent a party to disarme Whalley This Alarm awaked the Militia to awake the people by precept They being awaked were

soon up and marched toward Blackburne about two hundred armed men some companies of Club-men and some Horse-men but without Arms. The want of skill in Souldiers and skilfull Captains to supply that want caused a consultation on Hinfield-Moore which received Determination not from the Discoverie of hidden skill but from the resolute will of these stirring Souldiers to dispossesse those forcible Tenants They speed on with shouting dividing themselves unto the conduct of two chosen Captains and come within sight of the Town about eight of the clock when the Queen of the night that had shined upon their March did discover them to their enemies who soon let flie from the Steeple which ordered one Captain and his companie to the South-side of the Town and the other Captain with his company to the East-end of the Town where they found though not so high yet as hot entertainment out of the Town for the space of two houres But God that varieth his providence according to his peoples occasions and had maintained the passages of Manchester that a rightfull people might not 〈…〉 did now open a difficult passage to let in his friends from whom the Array hasted having disburdened themselves of their Arms and restored what they took from Wh●●ley Now had God added an experience of favourable providence in a new kinde formerly in a way of Defence now in a way of Offence declaring his All-sufficiencie and co●● pleatnesse for Warre to those two united Hundreds giving a Shield to Manchester and a Sword to Blackburne hereby assuring them from heaven That if they would cleave together and be mutually assistant in his Cause they should be variously but suitably and compleatly assisted and saved he would be their All-sufficient God their God indeed and to purpose By this time the Most-High had lifted us aloft that we might through weaknesse of head or neglect of our footing have fallen dangerously had not God as carefully taken us down as he lifted us up which he did about the sixteenth of December The Plundering Array issued out of Wigan to provoke the anger and stirre up the courage of the neighbourhood who to maintain their Protestation in their own defence resolved to be mutually encouraging and assistant but apprehending themselves too weak requested two Captains out of Manchester with their companies to Quarter with them for their security which was granted This new strength was augmented by forces raised thereabouts They wax bold to face Wigan and come off faire They go to Plunder a Papists house neere Wigan The enemy sends a party after them and is advantaged by their securitie But leaving their Plunder and taking to their Armes they redeem their libertie for this time The enemy hath not thus done with them he will be better provided for a second encounter he Warrants the adjacent parts to come in to his help Houghton Common Our Captains and Companies go to plunder another Papists house the Enemy with about a thousand horse and foot makes after them as if they had chosen to relieve their confederate Papists Our Forces will not flie though but about eighty Musquetteers no not from strength though as yet a door was open but having drawn their companies into a Close of ground upon the side of Houghton Common They confidently conflict with the enemy to his great losse towards three hours but lest they should escape as they were nigh to do God fires their Magazine and cools their courage they sound a Parley have quarter given them for their lives but loose their Arms and Libertie three Captains and eightscore souldiers were shut up into the hand of the enemie the first and fowlest blow God gave us in this kinde in the County an humbling blow and lasting warning To this day we halt of this blow though most of our Captains and Souldiers be released blessed be God and well it is if we carry not the marke of this wound when it is healed Upon this sad occasion God made a comfortable appearance that he had not saved Manchester to the intent they should sit still nor had he placed a Garrison there to make their mountain to stand strong but that they might be ready for action at the beat of his Drum which struck up after a reconciliation sought with him by fasting and prayer The project was for Leigh Leigh our marching out as they say caused the Earl to retreat from his purposes and beginnings against Bolton The day of assault the weeping heavens changed their chear for our encouragement looked fair upon our enterprize and triumphant return The doubt of falling first upon the town or some malignant houses the cleering of Cho-Bent in the way made it high Christmas Eve ere our men could fall on an infortunate time for us as the Papists would judge but it quickned resolution and speeded action The Enemie suffered them to come within halfe Musquet shot ere they discharged and then plaid desperately upon our men in a full Body to the present lose of onely one Our men divided themselves that they might clasp hands at a distance and compasse the Town God intending to shut up the enemy into their inclosure which done they parted again and marching up at severall places at the call of the Drum met at the Market-place to receive from the bounty of the God they had sought the repair of their lost Arms and the price of redemption for Captains and Souldies This Victory founded in humiliation was compleated in thanksgiving It is not to be passed by what a change of Christmas was now made in the Countie and Kingdom such a change in the emptinesse of great mens houses in the places and occasions of concourse in mirth and provision in idlenesse and recreation as expressed a people very sinfull and a God very angry to imprint both which there was much in the time if much considered The like Christmas kept our Forces at Blackburne The Militia having in the Towne four hundred armed men and some Club-men the Array came against the Towne on Christmas Eve with five thousand and three field Pieces very early in the morning they shot off their pieces with shouting saying Take heed you Round-heads God took heed for us for we were not afraid of the noise nor hurt once by the eight pound Bullet though directed against us eight and twenty times We called on them in vaine to come within Musquet shot About twelve a Clock they called a parley The pretence was if we would yeeld the Towne and the Arms and submit to the Earl of Darby they would meditate with him to supplicate the King to grant a Pardon The intent was to carry their god the greatest Field-Piece nearer the Towne he was too farre off to doe any harme We Scot-like knew not the meaning of a Pardon professing our selves to be for King and Parliament When we would no Pardon they laboured to punish us having set up their Idoll nearer by the

counsell as they report of four or five Priests and Jesui●es and other great Papists whom they had at hand in a tythe Barn Till Sun-setting both sides plaid fiercely but then taking advantage of the darknesse they fled in fear and over-run their great Pieces trusting more to the night for protection than to their own courage or strengh The seventh and eight of February were devoted to God in Fasting and Prayer in Manchester to succeed our Forces that were upon their march The first day was spent and gave strength to our men to march all night Preston and to set upon Preston by break of day the next mornidg the second day of fasting when some of our men soon advantaged themselves by taking of Rible-Bridge and with unspeakable courage set upon the Town well fortified and manned which God gave them in two hours as a present return of prayers Such courage was raised in the Souldiers that they dared to take hold of their enemies Musquets put thorow the Loop-holes as if the miracle of mercy had been again revived Psalme 91.19 Thou shalt tread upon the Lyon and Adder And when the Pikes kept them off from the Mud-walls yet by breaking thorow an house some twenty entred the Towne which small number drew down a Troop of Horse to take a Prey But Moses Aaron and Hur being on the top of the hill whilest Joshua was fighting in the Valley the Captaine of the horse was killed and the Troop scattered Then came up the rest of our men killed the Major and some others chased the Enemy and commanded the Towne Here Divine Providence took a noble Captain off his feet before the dangerous discharge of a Bullet he stood not to fall but fell to rise We lost few men in this dangerous assault took store of prisoners and Armes and came in the nick of time to relieve the well-affected in Preston and thereabouts upon whom the Array were prepared to impose an Oath and heavy Taxations This prey God plucked out of the teeth of the Lion and paw of the Bear Haughton Tower It was not long after that this glorious victory was clouded by a dark and terrible blow at Haughton Tower where the miscarriages of great and small in the taking of Preston did us more mischief than all our enemies from the entrance of our hostility to that time as sometimes Israels sin thorow Balaams counsell prevailed to punish them more than Warre or Witchcraft Our men going down to take the Tower and finding it prepared for entrance possessed themselves of it till being burdened with the weight of their swearing drunkennesse plundering and wilfull waste at Preston it dispossessed them by the help of Powder to which their disorders laid a Train fired by their neglected Matches or by that great Souldiers Idoll Tobacco However it was sure it is that the place so firmely united chose rather to be torn in pieces then to harbour the possessours O that this thundering Alarm might ever sound in the eares of our Swearing Cursing Drunken Tobacco-abusing Commanders and Souldiers unto unfaigned Repentance For do they think that those upon whom the Tower fell and slew them were sinners above the rest of the Army Let Christ that asked a like question Luke 13.4 5. give the Answer I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish In the day when the Lord visiteth he will visit their sins upon them Exod. 32.34 Though our sinnes thus clouded our Sun in the cleare day yet was not the praise of Gods glorious goodnesse and power to be darkned but to be held forth two severall dayes to hold proportion with the time of our humiliation which if I mistake not was done The latter day of thanksgiving was at Manchester the sixteenth of February the unhappy time that the Earle chose to recover his Prestor-losses in the gaining of poore and pious Bolton which would have been a back-door to Manchester The relation of that businesse stands thus Boltons first assault THe Earles Major Generall with about one thousand Horse and Foot Marched towards Bolton surprized their Scouts in the way and discovered themselves to be within a mile of the Town about nine of the clocke little suspecting that the Bolton Souldiers were that while at Prayer in the Church nor the Souldiers knowing what need they had by Prayer to prepare for Fight Had they presently come down upon the Towne they had taken them unprovided of Ammunition But fetching a compasse that they might come on in a more ominous way by Great-L●aver the Bishops house the Souldiers were furnished to resist The assault was fierce and threatning the Out-works outed our men to entertain the Enemy who stayed not there but followed to the Town fired an house neer the Sentinell wherein the winde served them to carry the smoke upon us But God presently commanded the winde to blow from another point to darken and smother the fire-kindlers Then the Enemy tooke an house that joyned to the Mud-Wall and had Windows above it which gave them advantage to beat our men from the Wall and a Stable that opened into the Street whence they shot the Major through the Arme and had Commission to kill his Horse but to save him This doore they opened to enter but God so faced and feared them by our men that they turned their backs and shut the doore found passage out and place for retreat Whilest the Fight lasted the vapouring Horse prevented assistance so that they compassed the people of God a●out yea They compassed th m about but in the Name of the Lord they did destroy them Psal 118.11 Whilest Gods people at Manch●ster did Sing and Praise the Lord set ambushments against their enemies at Bolton and They were smitten 2. Chron. 20.21 22. Here the Canons roared often but still played childrens play for they mortally bit but one lad r●ported to be of their own side Hither their wittie malice brought a new-invented mischievous Instrument which received this description at Bolton An head about a quarter of a yard long a staffe of two yards long or more put into that head twelve i●on pikes round about and one in the end to stab with This fierce Weapon to double their scorn they called A Round-head But no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper Isaiah 54.17 Lancaster THe report of our taking in of Preston flew to Lancaster and prepared the Towne and Castle for our entrance Thither was sent a company of Foot and a Troope of Horse to take possession This new and enlarged possession was inriched honoured and secured by the God of the sea who had provided for our welcome The ship laden with great pieces and Warlike entertainment a Dunkirke Ship a man of War that came from Spain furnished with 21 Peeces of big Brasse and Iron Ordnance fit to supply the Castle and fortifie other Garrisons Desire to see this Forreiner and care to secure this captivity led some