as a lighting from his Horse but drew out his Forces and marched towards Colonell Rossiter and was within halfe a mile of him where news came to him that Colonell Rossiter was routed neverthelesse he marched towards the Enemy untill Captaine Collins of Burley not Captaine Collinson met him and told him that Colonell Rossiters Horse were all routed and that he had seene an end of all his brave Horse and men and had not a man left to stand in the face of an Enemy and told him further that the Enemy had twenty bodies of Horse and that their Forlorne Hope was as bigge as Colonell Rossiters Body whereupon Captaine Hacker the Garrison of Kirby not being finished nor defensible without Draw-Bridge or so much as a Line drawne on â—â—e side the House he set fire on part of the out houses brought away all his Ammunition and Armes and left not so much Provision as would have kept his men two daies and came to Leicester whence if Captaine Collins his report had been true of the Enemies number he might have done more service then in a naked House but offereth to prove that the time the Enemy was in those parts he had Scouts and Guards out continually though by the Pamphlettor it is alleadged to the contrary And now let this be taken into their printed Records of more sincerity and truth that this was that Cap. Hacker for whose release the three Committees of Leicester Nottingham Derby petitioned the Parliament for when he was Prisoner at Belvoyre Castle This was that Cap. Hacker that was principall actor in taking Bagworth House from the Enemy and first entred the Towne of Nottingham and tooke it when the Enemy had possessed it that in his returne from Nottingham with a few of his owne Troope entred Ashby Parke within command of their Muskets and Canons brought many Cattell out of it and the same that gave the defeate at Bagworth Heath to the Enemy where they wounded and flew many and tooke three score prisoners and the same that gave the defeate at Milton where they killed and wounded many both Captaines and Souldiers tooke forty five Prisoners and the same that entred the Towne of Ashby brought away forty of the Enemies Horse and divers Prisoners and the same that with eight of his Troope entred the grounds under Belvoyre and tooke thirty sixe of the Enemies Horse and the same that had the command of Leicester Nottingham and Derby Horse at the great defeate given the Enemy neere Belvoyre where they lost about nine hundred Horse and the same Captaine Hacker that of all the prizes that ever he tooke reserved nothing for himselfe but gave all frankly to the State and his Souldiers and the same that having layne long Prisoner at Belvoyre was offered his Pardon and the Command of a Regiment of Horse to change his side and refused it with scorne and the same that now at the Kings taking of Leicester was so much prized by the Enemy as they offered him a choice Regiment of Horse to serve the King but he refused chusing rather to suffer imprisonment and beggery then to take up Armes against the Parliament And finally this is that Hacker that ever hath carryed himself as a man tender of his Country a friend to all honest and good men and fights not for the spoile of the Kingdome And these and many â—ore are his honest actions and we know no cause of this invectâ—â—â— spleene against him but that he is a valliant Souldier and one of the Committee The next Charge is upon Col. Grey That it will be proved that he suffered Sir Bern. Ashley with his whole Brigade of Foot to scale with three ladders and entred the Works without discharging one Musket and running from his Post was wounded in the back one of his Enemies saying He would give him the marke of a coward This charge is most unjust we have it under the hands of sufficient witnesses he behaved himself valiantly and Major Trollop that took him in Leicester acknowledges him to be a valiant and a stout man he had no Post to keep but maintained the Line with much diligence and courage till the Enemy with Horse and Foote brake in upon him incompast Belgrave Gate and there fighting on Horseback was wounded on the face and had two cuts on the fore-part of his head one of them cut the scull and also a wound in the back with a Pike which was rather a marke of honour then of disgrace and there being beaten off his Horse was led away And were there no other Answer made to this Pamphlet but to desire the honest Reader to observe these two last passages he would finde it stuffed with nothing but malice and falshoods in the extreme and things alledged impossible to prove And concerning Captain Hurst who is reported in the Narration to be slaine it was by mis-information but wounded he was And whereas it is declared in this abusive Pamphlet that it is most certaine that the Committee were so possest with feare that they told his Majesty they would have delivered the Towne at first upon the Summons had not Sir Robert Pye and Major Innes diswaded them from it Hereunto we answer That the Committee never spake with the King that both Sir Robert Pye and Major Innes know that if any of the Committee told the King so they told him a notorious untruth for they themselves with many others both Captaines Officers and other Gentlemen were witnesses that no one of the Committee spake one syllable of the rendring of the Towne but all assented to what was said by him that read the Summons the sum whereof was That he desired to die in no better a Cause and every man stood to his imprisonment neither did we expresse so much feare as either to crave or accept any pardon which if any particular man have done we desire to know him and shall indeavour to put him out from amongst us After which answer Sir Robert Pye and Major Jnnes questioned whether the strength in thâ— Towne was sufficient for the defence of it and how farre they woâ—ld have proceeded by arguments to have perswaded us to the rendring of it had they found us inclinable to have hearkned to them we know not but the concurrance betwixt us and our Officers was such in our joynt resolutions for the defending of the Towne that they could have but small hopes to prevaile thereby although upon examination of some things lately come to our eares we are not altogether without grounds of such a suspition And whereas it is alledged that Sir Henry Skipwith and Sir John Pate two notorious Delinquents and powerfull with his Majesty declared at Leicester in the presence of manie honest men there That the greatest motive that drew the King to Leicester was the certaine intelligence that he had of the weakenesse of the Committee and their want of experience in militarie affaires We say that it is was
complaint of inequalitie of Taxes was made to us but it received redresse And whereas it is said by the Author Wee that it is verily beleeved that had the Moneys collected weekely bin converted to no other use then for the service and maintenance of their Garrisons Leicester had beene better provided for a siege then as appeares now was Friendly Reader let it fall into your consideration what wee may expect from this Bunch if men included in this word Wee for it cannot be wee Major Jnnes onely but wee defamers of other mens actions have made this Quaere upon you the Committee of Leicester and wee againe the Committee there doe thus answer That in the Narration set forth which this Pamphlet examines and passes a censure upon it is desired that something might be first proved and then Printed but notwithstanding wee the behind-doore publishers of this scandalous Pamphlet in case wee cannot find just matter proved will yet upon our owne braines believe and publish also that you are defrauders of the State and deceivers abusers of that trust put into you and let these conceits speed how they will yet goe they shall But to this wee reply no further but upon more certaine evidence we suppose if guesses faile us not there are none of those that thus stand behind the doore or looke through the Lettuce and cry Wee but they are or should be Accomptants to the State for large summes of Mony 〈…〉 conclusion of this point wee wish that those Gentlemen of â—â—â—â—â—â— tie who made the first entrance into the Affaires of the Miâ—â—â—ia in this Countie may as punctually reckon with the State as wee and when they have cleared themselves they may the better charge us And whereas the Pamphlet saith wee affirme that wee receive not any pay and this Examiner saith that they are credibly informed that very few or none of us but are chargeable with Money raysed in the Countrey for the publique service and how wee have disposed of it they must leave it to the examination of those who are imployed for that purpose wee answer wee also shall leave that to the examination of the Sub-Committee for Accompts they having it in charge and being men wee neither desire nor expect favour from And whereas they say that many of the Committee were Captaines and have received great summes of Money yet seldome or never went out with their Troupes for the defence of the Countrey wee answer that this Charge is most unjust the greatest part of our Horse were ingarrison'd abroad neere the enemie and were so active that they kept the enemies Garrisons in such awe that they durst not stirre out but like Theeves in the night As for cashiering old souldiers wee say wee never cashier'd any neither know wee any old souldier formerly imployed at Leicester above the degree of a Lieutenant in the Low-Countries except Colonel Wardeloe who was gone long before the last Ordinance for the Militia And for Captain Temple we know not that ever Captain Temple refused to goe forth declin'd an enemie or lost oportunitie and for his going to London he was High Sheriffe of the Countie and by reason of that Office had businesse there and that at his going not ten dayes after we heard not any thing of the enemies approach and for the rest of his charge we hold it frivolous and not worth the answering And however he might perswade upon report of the Kings advance towards Ashby to secure the Ordnance in Rockingham-Castle Leicester being unfortified it was no verie indiscreet advice yet he never concurred in advice upon the approach of an enemie to strip Colours off the staffe and to put them into a Coach so to carry them away And whereas they say that of those that now sit in the Committee not above two or three of them did appeare and joyne in the service with those Gentlemen that hazarded their lives and fortunes for the publique in the beginning and are now out of the Ordinance for the Militia and that they did not appeare till Leicester was neere fortified both Towne Countrie in a good posture of defence we say there was more of the now Committee appeared then there was of those Gentlemen of qualitie mentioned to be the fortifyers of Leicester But give us leave to aske one question Wherefore did not those Gentlemen of quality appear at Oundle to personate the affairs of the County there when the wel-affected Gentlemen of the eight Counties did meet to consider what everie Countie should contribute toward the raysing an Armie for the mutuall defence one of another Had they beene active then to have made an association and gathered a sutable strength to those eight Counties which were the best in the Kingdome of England for able horse and men and meanes to maintaine them Leicestershire had seene no Garrison upon its owne soyle nor had Newarke upon Trent taken so deepe a root no these Counties had not knowne what Pillaging and Plundring had beene no more then the Associated Counties have done nor was it hard to demonstrate that the North of England had never undergone those heavie pressures by the Earle of New Castles Armie but the Major Generall had no more strength then poore Leicestershire maintained had those Gentlemen of qualitie done this it had not beene to put Leicester onely into a posture of defence but the whole Association and beene a worke much more proper and extreamly beneficiall to the whole Kingdome And whereas in our Narration wee declare that if Sir Edward Hartop Baronet Sir Thomas Hartop Sir Roger Smith Knights John Saint-John and Thomas Brudnell Esquires were but commanded downe to sit as Committees they would give more satisfaction to the Countrie and doe the Parliament better service then those that are of lesse estates possible can doe whereunto they answer the Committee well know that all or most of those Gentlemen before mentioned by reason of their age and infirmities without prejudice to their healths cannot attend to doe service as otherwise they willingly would Whereunto we reply we know well but know no inabilities of bodie in them such as may hinder them altogether from the service divers of us being as aged and infirme as some of them And whereas there are divers persons in the Pamphlet named to be added to the Commttiee which certainly were unknowne to Major Jnnes as if twenty eight besides Townes-men formerly approved of by the Parliament were not enough being the choysest Gentrie in the Countrie that were not in armes against the Parliament amongst which are named all those who appeared upon the first Ordinance and deserted not the service and yet they spake of a Petition preferred by the Countrie for addition wee say that a Petition was presented in the name of the best affected of the Countie but not set on foot by them and to make the greater shew verie manie mens names were twice subscribed manie others Malignants both Gentrie
An Examination Examined Being a full and moderate Answer to Maior Innes Relation concerning the Siege and taking of the Town of Leicester by the Kings Forces the last of May 1645. THere lately came forth an Examination of a Narration of the siege of the Towne of Leicester attested by James Innes which we conceive to be Major Innes he must needs take up by way of trust what this Pamphet containes which concernes not that Siege for he was not in the Towne above one weeke we wish he had named his Informers but we hope Souldiers that are men of honour and prize it so dearly will not slander others from lesse then honourable assurance First he takes upon him to declare That complaints were heretofore made by honourable persons against the Committee of Leicester and that they were not groundlesse Accusations nor splenative Aspersions We thinke he meanes by complaints those words spoken by the Earle of Stamford at the House of Commons door for there was not yet any complaint made to the House of Commons we are sure that no one Accusation raised against us hath any true grounds to make it good and under his favour if he or others divulge things from Honourable persons against us that are not to be proved they are splenative aspertions were we guilty but in the least measure we had long sithence suffered and we still justifie our whole proceedings though not to be free from errour yet from injustce partiality or any just imputation and we hold it forth to the world that divers of us have served the Parliament from before this warre began to this present with integrity without change or gaine The Author goes on in these words Those Gentlemen of quality that at the beginning of this sad warre had with the hazard of their lives and fortunes put the Towne of Leicester into a posture of Defence could not chuse afterwards out of zeale to the publike but continue their care for the suppressing of it though the full managing of that Affaire were since taken out of their hands and committed to others of meaner ranke and such men who had not at first joyned in the hazard with them nor appeared till danger seemed to be blown over To this we answer That the Towne of Leicester was not begunne to be fortified till about three quarters of a yeere after the warre beganne neither was there much hazard to any mans person in that worke no considerable enemy being then neere to interrupt them We cannot but commend those Gentlemen for their zeale to the publike and their forwardnesse in fortifying Leicester and with their care had still continued for maintenance of those Fortifications and not for the suppressing them as is confest in the Pamphlet with sadnesse be it spoken the Parliament hath found many such Changers and we should be glad to know their names that their thanks might suit with their merits and the Parliament take notice of them accordingly And for the distinction made betwixt the present Committee and those who acted then we cannot distinguish so well as to afford them their sayings since none that did execute then were left out in this Ordinance but Master Danvers Master Cotton and Master Richard Bent whose quality is not of such note neither in regard of persons estates or families to be magnified above those Gentlemen who now act as Committees And for those who were left out the Parliament saw cause for what they did and though some of meaner ranke were put in they are such as never petitioned for that imployment and to their best abilities have endeavoured to advance the publike and have both appeared acted when divers of greater ranke in the Countrey either durst not or would not appeare being made Committees by the same Orders and Ordinances And there are some of this Committee when the King came in person to demand the Magazine at Leicester before he advanced his Standard at Nottingham were active in defence thereof and saw the order of the Knights of the Shire for the distribution thereof by the grand Jury to the Country executed accordingly And whereas they say They will insist only upon such things as without too much injury to truth cannot be let passe we shall give a full answer to this Pamphet without any injury to truth and cleere our selves of any aspertion cast upon us It is well they have nothing to say against what the Committee did upon Master Purefoy his intelligence from Bristoll some thought to have made it a very great charge And first they seeme to confute what the Committee writ in a Narration touching the mending of the Works with this Answer That divers Houses of advantage to the enemy were undemolished within one hundred and twenty paces of the Works and most of them within Pistoll shot Where is the Logick In this answer the Works were not amended for the houses were standing But to reply to the standing of the houses we found them so and a Major Generall and those Gentlemen of quality spoken of had as much power to pluck them downe as the now Committee yet we resolved in case of absolute necessity to fire them which was done accordingly And whereas Major Innes doth apply the burning the houses at St. Sundayes bridge to his men we say That there was onely two of his men and all the rest were Colonell Greys and some Townesmen And as to the next charge That the Committee was unprovided of Mattocks Spades and Shovels to make up the breaches Our answer is We marvell what became of all those Pioners instruments that were provided for the making of the Works at the first and wherefore they were not delivered to the Committee for the service of the State yet there was no want of such implements witnesse the brestwork against the battery that was raised and finisht within the Newarke wall in a very short time where many hundreds workt together to the amazement of the enemy And whereas it was objected That the Committee would not suffer that place in the Newarke to be fortified where the breach was made because it was upon M. Wadlands ground who is Clerke to the Committee We answer That had wee beene permitted to fortifie the Newarke this tax had been just but wherefore was it not done by those Gentlemen of quality before spoken of The next objection is That the Lord Grey could never prevaile with the Committee for the pulling down those houses and shortning the Line wee answer the Lord Grey was Major Generall and one of the Committee and might have done it by his owne power nor was it ever propounded unto us debated amongst us or opposed by us And where it is objected that in our Narration we write that the Kings comming to Ashby was so sudden that we had no time to call off our men from Cole-Overton and bring off our Cannon To which the Author tells us that Sir John Gell by Letters advertised
us three dayes before the Kings comming that in all probabilitie his designe was for Leicester to that we answer that what Sir John Gell writ was but probable and uncertaine and Cole-Overton was a Garrison within Cannon-shot of Ashby and had exceedingly weakned them both in reputation and strength and was the preserver of all the Northerne Trade to London and of as great consequence as any small Garrison in England which made us unwilling to quit that place but upon undoubted intelligence of the Kings resolutions for Leicester had we quit that Garrison and the King gone Northward of which we had probable intelligence those carefull Gentlemen of qualitie then had had one just complaint at which we should have blusht The next is an answer to the reply made by Sir Robert Pye and Major Innes after the Towne was summoned both of them then questioning whether the strength of the Towne was sufficient to defend it against the Kings Armie which Major Innes answers saying that upon view at the Posts they found but foure hundred and fiftie souldiers Our reply is That if he meanes Listed Souldiers under the Committee besides Townes-men it approaches neere unto truth There was of those about five hundred Colonel Grey in his march to the Works had in his companie two hundred and thirtie being accounted by Sir Robert Pye Captaine Farmer had one hundred and twentie Captaine Hurst had one hundred twentie and nine Lieutenant Colonel Battersby about fiftie there was also about nine hundred Townes-men and 150 of the Countreymen and this computation riseth neere to sixteene hundred In the next place it is said That Sir Robert Pye desired the Committee that Teames might be in a readinesse for removing the Cannon from place to place but that not a Horse or Teame was to be seene in readinesse for that service whereunto we answer That all the Teames in the Town were in readinesse and many of them imployed to bring Wooll-Packs Baggs of Hops and other necessaries to stop the breaches and to supply us with what was wanting and this doth appeare to be so because there was but two Cannon desired to be removed the one from the Horse-Faire Leyes to the breach in the Newarke and the other from the high Crosse to the North Mills which were done accordingly The next Charge is That the Committee did not keepe promise with Sir Robert Pye to keepe three hundred men upon the maine guard wee say that we made no such promise neither was it sutable to the Towne strength having so large a worke to man yet the enemie found a maine guard which cost many of them their lives and we had many prisoners also that while we were in sight violently prest for libertie so that we were enforst to draw off some Musquetiers from the maine guard to keepe them in order We consent with Major Innes that it is a vast Line but under his favour we differ upon the defence of it for fifteene hundred men cannot halfe man it against a great Army which we foreseeing indeavoured the fortifying of the Newarke the Workes being neare foure miles in circuit And we desire every man to take notice that when it was in the Enemies hands and that Sir Thomas Fairfax came against it the Enemy had as many more Forces as ever we had in it all our Armes and Ammunition the Trayned Bands being called in to their assistance the Country compelled to fortifie notwithstanding all this thought it not safe for them to stand upon their defence but yeelded without any assault at all It is also averred That Sir Robert Pye and Major Innes declared they would contribute their best indeavours for the maintenance of the Towne which they said they fully performed To this we answer We cannot justifie them in this particular but say That if Major Innes did any such service at the breach in the Newarke by his favour we know not how he came there for his Post was assigned him at St Margarets Church-yard and the West Bridge and to that ground he was brought by Colonell Grey and Master Hasilrigge two of the Committee which ground he profest to maintaine or loose his life But the Enemy entred at the North Mills within that Line and betwixt Belgrave Gate and Humberston Gate close by that Line and the Horse at Belgrave Gate And thus plainly yet truly we are inforced to deale with him to vindicate our owne Souldiers from unjust charges We know no Officer of ours that forsooke his Post nor we suppose that any man of honour will goe about to prove it And not to disparage his Service we had at the breach in the Newarke Commanders and Souldiers both Horse and Foote as valiant and tryed men as are any where to be found as both friends and Enemies can witnesse and had they not entred elswhere they must not have entred there Though Major Innes had beene away our men did their parts and there tooke two of the Enemies Colours and pluckt divers of their Pikes out of their hands and beate the Enemy back foure severall times This is truth And we doe againe averre it to be true which was said in the Narration that we did disperse our selves to severall parts in the Towne to supply what was wanting in Ammunition or otherwise in distributing Money and Provisions to the Souldiers and to incourage them some one amongst us distributing ten pounds of his owne Money amongst them besides what others did and if any had want of meate or moneys it might be their owne fault absenting themselves from the Works And that the Committee very seldome appeared at the Works it is also false and is but the effect of that scandellous malice the Pamphlettor without any just cause expresses both towards us and our Souldiery through the whole Pamphlet which he injuriously and senselesly prosecutes against Captaine Hacker taxing him with making an escape through the breach at which the Enemy entred after five repulses and that he should be taken neere Humberston if this had been true as it was not it had been an honour to him to breake out in the face of an Enemy and not at a back doore or to hide himselfe under a Table the truth indeed is that when the Enemy had broken in on the contrary Line and came upon the backs of them in the Newarke then Captaine Hacker with divers others got over the River at the Pike head and were all taken on that side the River towards Bramstone which is opposite to Humberstone And whereas the Author goes on to make Captaine Hackers name the burden to a scandalous story saying this is the same Captaine Hacker that failed to joine with Colonell Rossiter It is true his Forces were not joyned with Colonell Rossiter but himself was in person with him when newes came of the neare approach of the Enemy and was desired by Colonell Rossiter to goe and fetch his Troops which accordingly he did not so much
strange that Sir Henry Skipwith and Sir John Pate should make such declaration to manie honest men in Leicester there being so few out of prison there at that time and we marvell the more that such as come in to the Kings Garrisons voluntarily should by any well-wisher to the Parliament be accounted honest and being of the Kings partie they cannot be competent evidence to accuse us and the planting of Cole-Overton Garrison and managing of it is so well knowne to the Countrie that they will testifie that the enemie was beaten as oft as our forces could meet with them and if their wisedomes and experience were so eminent we cannot but wonder that they should not out us in all that time being such a thorne in their sides and so neare as that the bullets from our Cannon knockt at their doores in Ashby Towne and we may with modestie enough affirme that if the King had not come or some considerable armie to their assistance they would not have dared to have met us in the field this yeare And touching the fortifying of the Newarke they say in these words we will leave it to the judgement of all the world how great a discouragement that had beene to Towne and Countrie and of what small advancement to the publque since it was impossible that the Newarke could receive the persons much lesse the Goods and Estates of the wel-affected For answer whereunto we say that Colonel Bard told some of us that if that had beene done the King had never come to Leicester and we suppose him as competent and impartiall a Judge as Major Inâ—â—â— and what inconvenience had there beene in that Next we say that the Kings experienced old Souldiers thought it of so great consequence as that they set upon it and had done a good part of it before Sir Thomas Fairfax tooke the Towne and they being enemies to both can be partiall to neither And last of all Sir Thomas Fairfax his judgement in martiall affaires we suppose equall to those opposers and he hath commanded the finishing of it as wee had begun it this we hope to effect in a short time and whereas they object want of roome for the wel-affected and their goods and so they had beene subject to as much miserie and plunder as before to which we answer also that it is the condition of manie that having once engaged in an argument they will seeke all corners and sift everie thing to the bran to make it good but the Newarke is of receipt enough to receive into it all the persons and estates of the wel-affected and yet leave sufficient quartering for two thousand souldiers for the defence of the place there being in it a great circuit of wast ground the Castle-Hal where the generall Assizes are kept a verie fair large and spacious Church together with a vast Cellar by the Castle and an Hospitall wherein are one hundred and nine poore men together with their Keepers everie one having a severall Roome to themselves besides their Houses for store Wash-houses c. together with manie faire Buildings Houses Barnes Stables Orchards Gardens c. within the Newarke and the Castle-yard And for Colonell Boothes Letter which bares date from Leicester yet peradventure might be contrived elsewhere we past it over before but since it comes to us re-printed we shall presume to examine some particulars omitting the fyled phrase and fall upon the substance First he sayes that by all mens account that there were not above two hundred souldiers in the Towne that is confuted by the confession of the Author who confesses foure hundred and fiftie and a more particular account of five hundred besides Townes-men and the Horse Troups Secondly that the souldiers were as peremptorie against Discipline as the Governours more ignorant of it to which if we should have answered that this young Gentleman spake more then he knew it might have stood well enough but we say and are confident in it that there are amongst us that have seene more in matters of Warre and beene in more Garrison Townes before he was borne then ever he saw or came in since And whereas he speakes with so much confidence that he would hazard life and fortune that he would take the Towne at any time day or night with five hundred men we say it is no difficult thing for so young a Gentleman to lose both life and fortune but we hope the enemies losse will teach this young Gentleman to beware of rash undertakings especially in Print it being confest by Colonel Lesley that they lost few lesse then one thousand men and of them two Colonels foure Majors three other eminent persons whose names they were not willing to reveale all buried in Martins and ten buried in Margarets Church manie more in other Churches these being all Commanders of note besides manie of the same ranke being wounded dyed since and were buried at Leicester And whereas hee further addes That the grand Masters as hee in scorne tearmes us most sensible of danger have all of them gotten houses in the Newarke this also is as true as that Captaine Hurst was kill'd for of sixteene of the Committee there was eleven had houses or Lodgings in the Towne and not one of them removed and some of us dwelt in Houses in the Newarke before the Warre began And whereas he saith that he perceived the Townes-men much discontented with the fortifying of the Newarke conceiving themselves destined by the Committee to the enemies mercie To this we answer that certainly this young Gentleman alighted at a malignant Inne and unlesse the malignants of the Towne attended him there and desired him to preferre this Complaint wee neither know nor imagine how this came about for he spake not with the Committee nor a Common Hall and the Townes-men who were of the Committee subscribed the Order for the fortifying the Newarke though their houses stood in the Towne And whereas the Author Wee is so well assured of Colonel Booths good intentions in that disswading Letter we conceive young men seldome know their owne intentions neither doe we his this we are certaine that this Letter hath ruined us both Towne and Countrey and we cannot but stand amazed to see a stranger write with that confidence of things he understood not and of us he knew not and we have againe reprinted the Letter hoping that by time and review this young Gentleman may come to give the Towne and Countrey some satisfaction And concerning the taxing of the Countrey this answer may serve That the weekely summe was imposed by the Committee an hundred pound lesse then we were enabled by the Ordinance of Parliament and that gave power to rayse but six hundred pounds weekely the Tax both upon the Townes and persons was made by the most able and honest countrey-men we could pick out in the Countrey and was not taxed by the Committee and we dare affirme that never any just