of the Governour and Garrison of Oxford made their demands which his Excellency sent up to the Parliament by Colonel Rich and Scoutmaster-General Watson two of the Commissioners for the Treaty on his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax part putting off the Treaty till the pleasure of the Parliament were knowne concerning them The heads of some of the principall of them were these Viz. 1. To have liberty to send to the King to know his Majesties pleasure Whether they shall surrender or not 2. That Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice have protection to remaine in any part of this Kingdome to have no Oath â—…posed on them to be at liberty to do as shall seem good unto them at any time hereafter 3. The Governour and all Officers and Souldiers to martch out in as full equipage as any since these Wars with six Guns ten barrels of Powder and to have thirty days time to know the King's pleasure how he will dispose of them 4. The Privy Seale and Great Seale to goe to the King And such as these The House of Commons upon reading of them conceived them so high that they thought not fit so much as to debate them but referd it to the General in what way he thonght fit to prosecute the reducing of that place May 24. or within a day sooner or later was Radcoat house surrendred after it had endured great extremity by our Granadoes one whereof falling on the top of a Tower made fearfull work tearing it into a thousand pieces and sending it severall wayes and at last falling into the Cellar let out all their Beere There were an hundred men in it who were to goe to their severall homes leaving their Armes behind them His Excellency upon the forementioned returne ftom the Parliament prepared Propositions to offer to the Garrison and sent them into Oxford on Saturday May 30. Whereupon at the desire of the Enemy the Treaty which upon their flying so high in their demands had been discontinued if not broken off was renewed againe they being willing to treat upon his Excellencies Propositions submitting therein as themselves said to the â—ate of the Kingdome rather then any way distrusting their owne strength or the Garrisons tenablenesse month June 1646 During this Treaty a Captaine of the Garrison of Oxford was taken in a Fishermans habit carrying Letters to the King from Sir Thomas Glemham and Secretary Nicholas relating the condition of the Garrison and how long probably they could hold out A few dayes before the Treaty ended when the Enemy peceived it was like to succeed they played with their Canon day and night into our Leaguers and Quarters discharging sometimes neer two hundred 〈◊〉 in a day at randome as was conceived rather to spend their Powder then to doe any great execution though they shewed good skill in that they levelled their pieces so as they shot into the Leaguer on Heddington-hill and on that side Lieutenant-Colonel Cotsworth was slaine with a great shot and likewise into the Leaguer on Colonel Rainsboroughe's side where they killed with their shot a Sutler and others in their Tents Our Canon in recompence playd fiercely upon the enemy and much annoyed them in their Works and Colledges till at last a cessation of great shot was agreed to on both sides Upon Saturday June 20. The Treaty for the surrender of Oxford was finished between the Commissioners and concluded upon the ensuing Articles The same morning that the Treaty for Oxford was concluded Farrington Garrison sent also to capitulate the Governour thereof Sir George Lisle being then in Oxford and to be briefe surrendred upon condition to have the benefit of Oxford Articles and so they were included in the same Agreement Articles of Agreement concluded and agreed June 20. by the right honourable Sir Richard Lane Knight Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England Francis Lord Cottington Lord high Treasurer of England William Marquesse of Hertford Edward Earl of Dorset Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties honorable Houshold Thomas Earl of Southampton Francis Earl of Chichester Francis Lord Seymor Sir Edward Nicholas Knight one of his Majesties principall Secretaries of State all of them being of his Majesties most honorable Privy Councel and Sir Thomas Glenham Knight and Governour of Oxford on the one party And his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax Knight General of the Forces raised for the Parliament on the other party for and concerning the rendring of the Garrison of Oxford as followeth THat the Garrison of Oxford with the Castle Forts Mounts and places of Defence whatsoever With all the Ordnance Arms Ammunition and Provisions of War with all Magazines and Stores thereunto belonging exceping what is allowed in the ensuing Articles shall be delivered to the General Sir Thomas Fairfax or whom he shall appoint without wilfull spoyl or embezlement upon Wednesday the 24. of this instant June 1646. at Ten of the Clock in the Morning or thereabouts II. That his Highnesse the Duke of Yorke shall have an honorable Convoy to London where other of his Majesties Children are attended by his Officers and Servants and sitting accommodation for the removall of His Houshold and goods thither And shall have an Honorable provision besitting his Dignity appointed for Him by the Parliament and to remaine there untill His Majesties pleasure be knowne touching His setling there or elswhere and then to be disposed accordingly to any place within fourscore miles of London and shal have such Officers and Servants to continue about him as the Parliament shall approve III. That their Highnesses Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice shall have liberty and Passes for themselves with their Servants Horses Armes and Goods the number of their Horses for them and their Traine not exceeding seventy to repaire to any place within fifty miles of London so it be not within twenty miles of London without leave from the Parliament nor in any Garrison and there to abide for the space of six moneths after the Rendring free from any molestation by imposition of Oaths or otherwise and shall have Passes to goe beyond the Seas at any time within the said six moneths with their said Servants Horses Armes and Goods they engaging themselves upon their Honours not to use the liberty hereby granted in the meane time to any Hostility against the Parliament of England sitting at Westminster or any way wilfully to the prejudice of their Affaires And they are to have the benefit of such the ensuing Articles as may concerne them IV. That the Seales called the Great Seale Privy Seale Signet and the Seales of the Kings Bench Exchequer Court of Wards Dutchy Admiralty and Prerogative as also the Sword of State shall at such time and in the presence of two such persons as the General Sir Thomas Fairfax shall appoint be lockt up in a chest and left in the publick Library and if any of the aforenamed particulars shall not be then accordingly produced the default thereof shall not be charged upon any
is gone in hand withall and now where to find a General puts them all to a stand Providence strangly designing the General Till by a strange providence without any premeditation or designe Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX was nominated The motion took was Voted and carried presently And to be brief the old Commissions being laid down and those that were waved in this New-Model being dismist from the imployment the Command of the rest to be recruited to Twenty one thousand is devolved to Sir Thomas Fairfax Of whom and whose successe since he served the Parliament as General of their Forces is this story instituted which I cannot better begin then with a brief account or description of him CHAP. II. Wherein a brief Character of the General and Lieutenant-General The framing of the New-Model The beginning of their Action at Islip-bridge Blechington-house Bampton-bush c. And the effect these things had on His Majesty at Oxford SIr THOMAS FAIRFAX eldest Son of the Lord FAIRFAX of Denton in the County of York Martially disposed from his youth Not finding action suitable to him in his own Country for through the great goodnesse and long suffering of God England hath been a quiet habitation these 80 years And there being imployment in Holland he went over thither to enable himself in military experience And upon his return into England he matched into a most Noble and Martial family taking to Wife one of the Daughters of that ever Renowned General the Lord VERE And thus the Reader may take notice how not only his Extraction Disposition and Education bespake him for a Souldier but his Contract also portended nothing lesse Albeit so far was he from congratulating such a condition of his Country when he saw it like to need the exercise of his faculty that he most sincerely offered the first attempts of his resolved Minde at the Altar of Peace When at the King 's first endeavours to raise a Guard for his own person at York apprehended then by those parts and found quickly after to be the beginning of an Army He was entrusted by his Country to preferre a Petition to His Majesty the scope whereof was to beseech him to hearken to his Parliament and not to take that course of raising Forces he was then engaging in which Petition the King refusing he prest with that instance and intention following the King so close therewith in the field called Heyworth Moor in the presence of 80. if not 100000. people of the County the like appearance was hardly ever seen in Yorkshire so close I say til at last he tendred the same upon the pomel of his saddle But finding no Propitiatory here and seeing a War could not be avoided he early paid the vowes of his Martial dedication And so soon as these unhappy troubles brake forth took a Commission under his Father Ferdinando L. Fairfax whose timely appearance and gallant performances for his country in the North deserves a story by it self And served the Parliament in lower Commands then what Providence since hath adjudged his capacity and merit unto making him now General of the Parliaments forces to which trust and honour he was preferred upon no other grounds than the observation of his Valour and all answerable abilities for the same testified in many notable services done by him in the North whilest he was yet in a lower sphere And now how delightfully remarkable is it as a most apt cadency of providence if God shall make him who was by the King rejected in his milde endeavours to prevent the troubles of the Land by a Petition then which he sought nothing more a most powerfull Instrument of restoring Peace thereunto by the sword month April 1645 section 2 The General personally assisting the framing of the New-Model Sir Thomas Fairfax having with much modesty accepted this command immediately applyes himself to the discharge of it it was the first of April ere his Commission was granted and the third of April he went from London to Windsor to see and personally to assist in the frameing of a new Army He went in a private manner purposely avoiding that pomp which usually accompanies a General into the field His Excellency continued at Windsor from the third to the last of April in that work The difficulty of the worke The difficulty whereof to say nothing of the danger through the discontents of them that were reduced under new Commanders and of those that went off the imployment which rendred it a business requiring much wisdome and tenderness as well as resolution might well accompt for this time if it had bin a longer space considering that besides the fitting the Train for the field and the attendance of the Recruits from London which with the old that continued were to make up the designed number an entire new forme was to be introduced into the whole Army the Forces that remained of the old Army being not only to be recruited but to be reduced into new Companies and Regiments as if they had been new raised section 3 A digression in due commendation of Major Gen. Skippon for his free and faithfull assistance therein In the mention of this particular the great paines care and diligence of that valiant and discreet Commander Major-General Skippon whose prudent carriage added much life and expedition to the busines is not to be omitted of whose singular and extraordinary service therein the House of Commons taking notice by Letters that were sent to them Ordered and sent a Letter returning him the hearty thanks of the House for this and all his former faithfull services Whilest the Army lay about Windsor thus forming and fitting for the field Prince Rupert with the Kings main force for the midland lay about Worcester and the frontiers of Wales preparing from thence to take the field but the Kings person with most part of the Train and some of their Foot intended for the field being then in Oxford A Convoy of horse reputed about 2000. was ordered from Worcester to fetch them off from Oxford upon advertisement whereof the Committee of both Kingdomes wrote to the General to send some horse to march beyond Oxford and lie on the further side thereof towards Worcester to intercept that Convoy and keep the King and his train from passing out The charge of this service they recommended particularly to Lieutenant-General Cromwel who looking on himself now as discharged of military imployment by the new Ordinance which was to take effect within few dayes and to have no longer opportunity to serve his countrey in that way was the night before come to Windsor from his service in the West to kisse the Generals hand and to take his leave of him when in the morning ere he was come forth his chamber those Commands then which he thought of nothing lesse in all the world came to him from the Committee of both Kingdoms The General then immediately commanded a party of Horse and
to General Goring about Taunton who received him and the news very gladly and looking upon him as a fit instrument to be imployed to the King then about Leicester and as they supposed intending Northward deal with him as about a businesse of great concernment to carry a Pacquet of Letters from him the Prince and his Councell to the King He with some seeming difficulty suffered himselfe to be perswaded received the Pacquet brought them to his Excellency fair sealed up discovering to him the true state of the Enemies Armies and affairs in the West The Letters from the Lord Goring to the King signifying how that in three weeks time nine dayes whereof was then expired he was confident to master our Forces at Taunton and by consequence to settle the West of England in an absolute posture for his Majesties service and march up with a considerable Army to his assistance advising the King by all means in the mean time to stand upon a defensive posture and not to engage till his forces were joyned with his Majesty Had these Letters bin delivered to the King as they might have bin but for this defeatment in all probability he had declined fighting with us for the present and staid for those additionals which would have been a far greater hazard this intelligence did withall much quicken us to make speed to relieve Taunton yet being so neer Leicester and Leicester in all probability being easily to be made ours considering the fear that they within were possest withall by the losse of the day at Naseby besides the want of men thereby in all likelihood to make good their Works it was resolved first to assay that accordingly Monday Iune 16. about noon the whole Army came before the Town The General sent a Summons to the Lord Hastings to surrender the Garrison with all the Ordnance Arms and Ammunition therein who returned a peremptory answer as if he meant to defend it to the last man whereupon a Councel of War being called it was resolved to storm the place warrants were sent to the hundreds to bring in ladders carts hay straw other things fitting for a storm wherein the country was very forward to give assistance Tuesday Iune 17. great store of ladders were brought in a battery was raised upon which two Demy-Cannon and a whole Culverine taken at Naseby were planted which played upon an old work called the Newark being the very same Guns which the King not many dayes before had used against the same place The Lord Hastings now beginning to perceive his condition was like to be desperate sent a Trumpeter with a Letter to the Generall desiring a parly concerning the surrender of the towne which his Excellency desirous to save blood hearkened unto Commissioners were appointed to treate on our side Colonel Pickering and Colonel Rainsborough Hostages on both sides were given the Treaty begun that evening and held debate till twelve a clock that night and was concluded upon these Articles 1. TThat the Lord Loughborough shall have quarter granted him and have protection for his Person to be safely conveighed to the Garrison of Ashby-de-la-Zouch 2. That all Field Officers Colonels Lieutenant Colonels Serjeants Majors and Captains and Lieutenants of Horse but not of Foot shall march away with their own particular single Horse and Arms with protections for their own Persons 3. That all the rest of the Officers shall be conveyed safely to the Garrison of Lichfield with Staves only and no other weapons in their hand 4. That all common Souldiers have quarter only for their lives and be conveyed to Lichfield without any other weapons save only staves in their hands 5. That before 10 of the clocke the said morning June the 18. the Governour of the Towne and the Lord Loughborough and all the rest of the Officers and Souldiers march out of the Garrison according to the agreement aforesaid 6. That Sir Thomas Fairfax be permitted to enter in at 10 of the clock the said Wednesday morning aforesaid with his Forces and take possession of the Garrison 7. That all the Pieces of Canon great and small now in the Garrison of Leicester be left to Sir Thomas Fairfax 8. That all the Armes and Ammunition now in Leicester be left to Sir Thomas Fairfax save only what is agreed to for the Officers of Horse aforesaid 9. That all the Provisions Colours Bag and Baggage be also left to Sir Thomas Fairfax 10 That all the Horse save onely those excepted for the Officers aforesaid that are in the Garrison of Leicester be delivered up to Sir Thomas Fairfax for the service of the Parliament 11. That all the officers souldiers have quarter for their lives 12. That all the Prisoners of War that are in Leicester at the same time be released and set free to serve the Parliament The Guards and Centinels of the gate-house prison in the Newarke hearing of the conclusion of the Articles about four a clock on Wednesday morning went away from their duty and left their Armes behind them and the prison door open whereupon the prisoners went out and finding the Enemy a plundering they fell a plundering too About seven a clock all their guards were drawn off the souldiers on the Line threw downe their Armes quit their Posts and the gates were opened which gave invitation to divers of our stragling souldiers to get into the Town at the Ports and over the works Complaint hereof being made to his Excellency by some from the Lord Hastings or Loughborow of the violation of the Articles by our souldiers His Excellency sent to the Lord Loughborow to keep all his men upon their guards and if any offered violently to enter the Towne before the time to fire upon them and immediately issued out a Proclamation commanding the punctuall observance of the Articles by his owne souldiers under paine of death But the Lord Hastings instead of standing upon his guard according to the Articles till ten of the clock that morning which he ought to have done whereby he might have prevented that inconveniency which fell out and have performed his Articles in delivering the Towne to his Excellency with the Arms and Ammunition mounted on horse-back in the morning with divers Gentlemen officers and others and left the towne some houres before the time appointed for his marching forth so that when our Commissioners came according to appointment to see the Articles punctually performed they found the Lord Hastings was gone and all the towne in a confusion but the souldiers were commanded off and things were presently settled in good order and about eleven a clock that day the Army entred the towne where we found divers Commanders of note viz. Serjeant-Major-Generall Eyres Colonell Lisle Lieutenant Colonell Mouldsworth Lieutenant Colonell Pemberton Major Naylor Major Trollop besides divers persons of quallity all wounded in the battail There were taken in the towne fourteen peece of Ordnance thirty Colours two thousand Armes five hundred
no other satisfaction or assurance therein then this That the King hath made some offers to the Parliament and amongst them one concerning the Militia Something to the purpose as you say you have heard but the just certainty what his last overtures are or how far they are advanced to a generall accord I cannot at present certifie I do not heare they have proceeded so farre as to a Treaty And I beleeve that as the Parliament may be discouraged from the way of Treaty by former experiences of the fruitlesnesse thereof and the ill use the same hath been designed or driven unto viz. onely to gaine advantages for Warre without reall intentions for Peace so the late overtures that way are the lesse like to be succesfull by reason of the cleer and certaine discoveries the Parliament have had That his Majesty at the same time was and is labouring by Agents in all parts to draw in Forraigne Forces and especially that the Earle of Glamorgan by Commission from his Majesty had concluded a Peace with the Irish Rebels on tearmes extreamly dishonourable and prejudiciall upon the onely condition of sending over Force under the command of that Lord to invade England whereof I presume you cannot but have heard And though his Majesty did in a Letter to the Parliament disavow any such agreement and pretended he had given order to the Lord Digby for the attainting and impeaching the Earle of Glamorgan of high Treason for what he had done therein yet by late discoveries to the Parliament and especially by Letters intercepted the other day at Padstow from the Lord Digby the Earle of Glamorgan and others to Secretary Nicholas your selfe Sir Edward Hide the Lord Culpepper and others it is most cleer and evident that the arresting of the Earle of Glamorgan was onely for a present colour to salve reputation with the people and continue their delusion till designes were ripe for execution for the same peace is fully concluded with the Rebels the King to have the ayde conditioned upon the same agreement and the Earle of Glamorgan at liberty againe and to command that Force in chiefe Now for the overture of a meeting to treat further about the Propositions I sent though I know nothing materiall that I can adde or alter except in circumstances yet I shall not refuse or decline such a meeting or ought else that probably tends to the saving of blood or further misery to any Provided the meeting be speedily and number of persons not to exceed four or five But my Lord when you consider what I have before related concerning Forraigne supplies which I have reason to think you know beleeve you see what cause I have to be jealous of advantages sought by delayes and not to intermit any time or omit any opportunity to prosecute the service I have in hand And that there may be no colour of your expecting that forbearance on my part which you offer on yours I doe the more hasten back my resolution to you In pursuance whereof I doe not despise nor shall insult upon your present condition I question not nor yet shall I hope be much moved with the resolution of your men I presume not on former successes nor present advantage in fleshly power but desire to trust in God alone whose favour and blessing to this Army above others I doe not account in what is past or expect in future to be for any precedence in merit or goodnesse of ours whereby we should be more pleasing to him then others but from his owne Free grace and goodnesse towards his people whose welfare with the common good of the Kingdome we seek and desire with all faithfulnesse and integrity to pursue And so committing the issue of all to his good pleasure J remaine Your humble Servant THO. FAIRFAX March 9. 1645. Moreover besides the proportion this Answer might beare to the better information of the Lord Hopton his Excellency to satisfie him more fully commanded some of the Regiments to advance this day to Tregny an ill signe of a Cessation and the next day the Army advanced two severall wayes part of it following to Tregny the head Quarter that night another part of it to Probus and those parts But such was the force of the Lord Hopton's imagination upon his owne Souldiers that they instead of asking acted a Cessation when our Forlorne of Horse comming neer theirs not far from Probus they did not endeavour to put themselves in order to receive us nor did they make any tesistance but stood still our men much wondring thereat And what was the cause but a Cessation between the Armies as they beleeved or would seem to beleeve for so soon as our men came neer they cryed A Cessation a Cessation ours cryed No no there was none and much adoe had Commissary-generall Ireton and other Officers to perswade them there was none notwithstanding since they were so possessed and deluded we wisht them to be gone and we would take no advantage of them The Enemy expressing much sorrow that there was not a Cessation as they were informed retired seeming also to be somewhat affected that they had so noble and ingenuous an Enemy that took not this advantage to do them any hurt as we might have done there being no Cessation The Lord Hopton seeing his stratagem would not take but he must beg a Cessation if he would have it and that his men were so startled at the advance of our Army The Lord Hopton sends for a Treaty sent this night about twelve of the clock for a Treaty naming the place Tresillian-Bridge if his Excellency approved of it The Trumpet was returned about three in the morning That the General did hearken to a Treaty and would appoint Commissioners to meet at the place proposed by the Lord Hopton Hereupon Commissioners on both sides were nominated to meet at nine the next day being Tuesday morning March 10. But the General being unwilling to lose time gave Orders for a martch accordingly the Army that Tuesday advanced by breake of day and martched to a Randezvouz within two miles of Truro by ten of the clock where the Lord Hopton's Trumpeter brought a safe Conduct for our Commissioners and they having received the like from us a Cessation was agreed to but withall a Message was sent to the Lord Hopton from the General That he intended to quarter his Army at Truro and Saint Allen that night which he thought fit to give him notice of that none of his Forces might be left in the Towne when our Souldiers entred This much disrelished with the Lord Hopton and his Commissioners that he sent had much reluctancy against it The General upon conference with the Commissioners was content to let them have Saint Allen for their Quarter his Excellency reserving still Truro the prime Quarter to himselfe And here we had the Enemy in a pound so that he had but six miles bredth to break through if
case of Pistols To the Quartermaster-generall six Horses and two case of Pistols To the Marshall-generall four Horses and one case of Pistols To the Deputy Quartermaster-generall two Horses To the Deputy Scoutmaster one Horse To the Major generall twelve Horses and six case of Pistols To the Commissary-generall of Horse provisions three Horses and a case of Pistols To the Commissary-generall of Victuals three Horses and one case of Pistols To the Chirurgion generall three Horses To Quartermasters of Brigades three Horses and one case of Pistols To Chirurgions of Regiments two Horses To all these except Chirurgions their desensive Armes and Swords for themselves and their servants and to every Field Officer one Carabine and Chirurgions their swords Secondly Those that shall chuse to abide in England with the General Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX his Protection and to live at home shall have their Proportions as followeth The Trumpeters one Horse a piece and their Trumpets To Quartermasters one Horse a piece To Cornets and Lieutenants two Horses a piece and one case of Pistols To Captaines three Horses a piece and one case of Pistols To Majors four horses a piece and one case of Pistols To Lieutenant-Colonels five horses a piece and one case of Pistols To Colonels six horses a piece and two case of Pistols To the Major-generall ten horses three case of Pistols To the Adjutant-generall six horses one case of Pistols To the Adjutants of Brigades one horse a piece and one case of Pistols To the Quartermaster-generall six horses one case of Pistols To the Marshall-generall three horses one case of Pistols To the Deputy Quartermaster-generall two horses To the Scoutmaster-generall four horses one case of Pistols All these to have Swords for themselves and their Servants To the Commissary of horse provision two horses and a case of Pistols To the Commissary of Victuals two horses a case of pistols To the Deputy Scoutmaster one horse To the Quartermasters of Brigades two horses To the Chirurgion-generall two horses To Chirurgions of Regiments one horse To Chaplaines two horses All these except Chaplaines to have Swords for themselves and their Servants VII That the precedent Articles concerning the surrender of Troopers Horses c. being performed if any Officer in command that chuseth to live at home shall appeare to have more Horses of his owne then what he is before allowed by the last precedent Article the Commissioners of Sir Thomas Fairfax his part will recommend it to his Excellencies favour that they may enjoy the benefit of such Horses of their own to the same number as Officers of like quality that are to goe beyond the Seas VIII That of the Reformadoe Officers that chuse to live at home in England Reformadoe Quartermasters shall have the same conditions as Coporals in command Cornets and Lieutenants shall goe away with one Horse a piece Captaines Majors and Lieutenant-Colonels with two Horses a piece and Colonels with three Horses a piece if they have so many of their owne and one case of Pistols those Reformadoes that desire to goe beyond Seas to have halfe the proportion of Horses and Arms allowed in that case to Officers of the like quality in present command if they have them of their owne and all of them to goe with Swords Bag and Baggage or dispose thereof at pleasure IX That all Gentlemen of quality in Armes or not in Armes but living under the protection of the said Army shall have liberty either to goe to their own houses or beyond the Seas with Bag and Baggage and Equipage according to their severall qualities as followeth That is to say A Knight with four Horses three Servants one case of Pistols and their Swords An Esquire with three Horses two Servants one case of Pistols and their Swords A Gentleman with two Horses one Servant one case of Pistols and their Swords A Gentleman of lowest rank with one Horse for himselfe and a Sword Schollers and Clergymen to have one Horse at the least or more according to their different degrees at the Generals discretion X. That to all those who according to the effect of these Articles shall chuse to goe beyond the Sea Passes shall be granted from the General Sir Thomas Fairfax accordingly and to those who being English shall chuse to live at home Passes for that purpose and protections for the liberty of their persons and also for the freedome of their Estates from all plunder and violence of Souldiers and that such Gentlemen or others that have considerable Estates may have the General 's Letters of Recommendation to the Parliament if desired for their moderate composition XI That after the performance of these Articles so farre to disbanding and delivering up of what is to be delivered All Officers and Souldiers that shall according to these Articles chuse to goe beyond the Seas shall have sufficient Quarters assigned them by Sir Thomas Fairfax neer convenient Ports for their transportation and that they shall have twenty eight dayes allowed to stay in England from the day of their severall disbanding and that the charge of quartering their Horses be discharged by themselves after the first fourteen dayes for the time of their further stay That the Generall will appoint men to take care that Shipping shall be provided for transporting their Persons Armes Bag and Baggage they paying the accustomed rates XII That a certaine number of Officers of the Lord Hopton's Army not exceeding forty upon the Lord Hopton's Commissioners request shall be permitted to have passes for themselves and their Servants Horses and necessaries to goe to Oxford Provided that their Servants exceed not the number of two their Horses three to every one respectively XIII That the Lord Hopton shall be allowed for his owne use all his Horses Provided they exceed not the number of forty and Armes for himselfe and twelve men and that the Lord Wentworth shall have all his Horses Provided they exceed not five and twenty and Armes for himselfe and eight men and places assigned them for conveniency of Quarters XIV That such English men as shall chuse to abide in England at their homes and all Forreigners of the said Army shall engage themselves by promise in such forme as is herewith agreed on not to beare Armes any more against the Parliament of England nor to act any thing wilfully prejudiciall to the Parliaments affaires without first rendring themselves prisoners to the Parliament And likewise all such English as shall chuse to goe beyond Sea shall engage themselves in the like promise for three yeers next ensuing the date hereof or otherwise shall lose the benefit of these Articles excepting the Lord Hopton and Lord Wentworth and the number of Officers allowed to goe to Oxford in the twelfth Article before-going who are by the intention of these Articles left free from such engagement XV. That all Horses Armes and Furniture of Warre belonging to or in the hands of any person in the said Army not allowed
and Pendennis month August 1646 OXford Garrison having run to its period of obstinacy against the Parliament and being now reduced many other Garrisons that attended its fate fell with it even like ripe fruit with an easie touch But these two Garrisons of Ragland and Pendennis like winter fruit hung long on Ragland Castle a strong hold in Wales Garrisoned for the King under the command of the Marquesse of Worcester scituated conveniently to command all the parts of South-Wales being straightned by some Forces of Sir Trevor Williams and Major-General Langhorne before Colonel Morgan was ordered from Worcester thither to command in chiefe the Forces that were and should be sent before it was at length formidably and closely besieged The same Captaine-Engineer that gave so good demonstration of his skill at Banbury at the reduction of that Castle Captaine Hooper was imployed here and so soon as he could get Spades and Shovels he went most dexterously to work against this Castle of Ragland Colonel Morgan at first had but fifteen hundred men to carry on the designe the Enemy was eight hundred strong within in Horse and Foot and made divers desperate sallies upon Colonel Morgan who received him as gallantly and in every of them was personally engaged with great hazard to himselfe in particular In one sally the Enemy took a Colour of ours the Cornet lost his life withall In exchange whereof a Major and Captain of the Enemies was slaine and divers wounded on the Enemies part But at length by the addition of two thousand more to Colonel Morgan from his Excellencies Army after Oxford was over as is noted before the Enemy in the Castle was reduced to more caution and taught to lye closer And especially when his Excellency in person was come thither from the Bath to put life into the Siege which was by that time in a good forwardnesse both for their Works and Approaches Who being come sent in this Summons into the Castle MY LORD BEing come into these parts with such a strength as I may not doubt but with the same good hand of providence that hath hitherto blessed us in short time to reduce the Garrison of Ragland to the obedience of the Parliament I have in order therto thought good to send your Lordship this summons hereby requiring you to deliver up to me for the Parliaments use the said Garrison and Castle of Ragland which as it onely obstructs the Kingdomes universall peace the rendition may beget such tearms as by delay or vain hopes cannot hereafter be expected I remaine My Lord Your Lordships most humble servant THOMAS FAIRFAX Leaguer before Ragland Aug. 7. 1646. 〈◊〉 which Summons begat an intercourse of many Messages from one side to the other with the copies whereof I shall continue that part of the Story SIR ALthough my infirmities might justly claime priviledge in so sudden an answer yet because you desire it and I not willing to delay your time to your letter of summons to deliver up my House and the onely house now in my possession to cover my head in these are to let you know that if you did understand the condition I am in I dare say out of your judgement you will not thinke it a reasonable demand I am loath to be the Author of mine owne ruine on both sides and therefore desire to have leave to send to his Majesty to know his pleasure what he will have done with his Garrison As for my House I presume he will command nothing neither am I knowing how either by Law or conscience I should be forced out of it To this I desire your returne and rest Your Excellencies humble servant H. WORCESTER MY LORD TOuching your sending to his Majesty it is that which hath been denied to the most considerable Garrisons of England further then an account to his Majesty of the thing done upon the surrender which I doe also freely grant to your Lordship And for that distinction which your Lordship is pleased to make it is your House If it had not been formed into a Garrison I should not have troubled your Lordship with a Summons and were it dis-garrisoned neither you nor your House should receive any disquiet from me or any that belong unto me This I thought good to returne to yours and thereby to discharge my selfe before God and the world of all extremities and sad consequences that will ensure upon the refusall of the rendition of your Garrison upon my Summons I remaine yours THO. FAIRFAX SIR I Doe so much confide in your Honour as that being at stake concerning leave to send to his Majesty I will at this time forbeare to make further motion in it Onely one thing which is extraordinary I offer to your consideration for the just cause besides my Allegeance of my reasonable request which is That upon his Majesties promise of satisfaction I am above twenty thousand pounds out of purse and if I should doe any thing displeasing unto him I am sure all that is lost and no benefit to the Parliament If you knew how well known I was in Henry Earle of Huntington's time unto your noble Grandfather at York I am assured I should receive that favour at your hands that safely you might afford God knowes if I might quietly receive my meanes of subsistence and be in security with the Parliaments approbation and freed from the malice of those Gentlemen that are of the Committee within this County I should quickly quit my selfe of the Garrison for I have no great cause to take delight in it I have that high esteem of your worth noblenesse and true judgment that knowing you will offer nothing ignoble or unworthy for me to doe as the case stands with me I desire to know what Conditions I may have and I will returne you present answer and in the meane time I rest Your humble servant H. WORCESTER MY LORD ACcording to your Lordships desire I have returned you conditions such as may be fit and satisfactory to the Souldiery To your Lordship and Family I have granted quiet and security from all violence of any that belongs to me I would perswade your Lordship not to fear any ill or disrespect from the Committee of this County I shall easily reconcile that Party or that they will doe any thing but as they shall receive order from the Parliament By this meanes you are at liberty to send to the Parliament and upon a present surrender and submission to their mercy and favour your Lordship cannot but think to receive better termes for your selfe then if you stand it out to the last extremity when besides the hazard of your person and of those in your Family which I do presume are deare to you and the spoyle of the Castle which cannot be avoyded in extreame undertakes against it Your Lordship hath no reason to expect better then the Marquesse of Winchester received who in making good Basing-house to the last narrowly escaped in
or other Nations it was not without some Jealousie that in them there was some mixture and glosses of Oratory and Art the more to set off and give Lustre to the Acts as Arguments of Emulation for others to follow the Foot-steps of their Vertues but the Actions of your Excellency will adde Lnstre and Beliefe to them being all verified in you And indeed here considering the swift Martches and the Ex peditions in these grand and difficult Attempts which were prosecuted and effected by your Excellency I may say The Almighty came Riding on the Wings of the Wind for these were nothing else but the Magnalia Dei acted in and by you his Instrument It was the Custome of the ancient Romans after a glorious and succesfull Prince to derive his Name to Posterity in memorie of his Vertues as after that great Prince JULIUS CAESAR his Successors retained the Name of CAESARS as AUGUSTUS CAESAR TYBERIUS CAESAR c. Thus hereafter all Famous and Victorious succeeding Generals in this Kingdome if the time shall prove so unfortunate will desire the addition of the Name of FAIR FAX And surely the Honour of the late Lord General was not whiles he lived any way eclipsed by the succession of your Excellency in his Command but rather augmented whiles each retained the brightnesse of his owne Honour having both Rayes enough to enlighten a Kingdome then overset with Clouds and thick darknesse I shall need to say no more but this That the Woâ—ld will admire your Excellencies Worth Posterity will honour your Name and that the whole House of Commons in the Name of the Commons of England doth returne you Thanks for your faithfull and memorable Services the beginning continuance and effect whereof I must solely attribute to the Almighty the Lord of Hosts and Victories But never had JuliusCaesar the honor in those Civil wars when he came to Rome as a Conquerour one poor Metellus confronts him and gives check to his Victory sweld spirit breaking up the Doors of Saturnes Temple Indeed there is a manifest cause of difference Caesar did not plead the Senates cause did not fight for the Roman Liberties The Senate fled when Caesar drew neare but his Excellenciâ—s Warre was the Parliments Peace by his Motion they sat still Happy man may I say of him that is able to Engage Kingdomes and Parliaments in such Respects and Dutyes and happy Kingdome and Parliament also for whose Exstreame and low Condition God Reserves such a chosen Vessell To all which his Excellency made a very modest returne Expressing How much he Esteemad himselfe Honoured by the great Respects of the Houses towards him and that he accounted it his greatest Happinesse under God to be in the least kind Instrumentall for theirs and the Kingdomes good So great was the benefit and Obligation of his Excellencies Services that the Lord Major and Aldermen in their owne and Cities interest feeling the same particularly could not discharge themselves in their Consciences to acknowledge to their General in their representive the Commons of England but on the Tuesday following came with a Train of Coaches to his Excellencies house in the name and on the behalfe of the City to render Thanks unto him by whose watchfulnesse this famous City so much longed for by the Enemy was preserved from being sackt and plundered as well as the Kingdome recovered Master Glyn the Recorder was their Mouth to this effect SIR I Am to declare unto you in the behalf of ihe Lord Major and the whole City that they in the first place blesse Almighty God for the great Victories and Successes wherewith it hath pleased God to Crowne your faithfull Endeavours And next they give your Excellency hearty Thanks for your great and incomparable Services whereby you have setled the City and whole Kingdome in so peaceable a Condition as it is at this day To which his Excellency gave a very modest Reply in way of Thankfulnesse for that Visit and the Respects of the City towards him And in close the Recorder further gave his Excellency to understand That the City intended very shortly to make a further acknowledgment of their Thankfulnesse and to give a greater Testimony of the high Esteeem tâ—ey had of his Excellency month December 1646 And thus I have brought his Excellency to Towne and here I could be glad to leave him Pacem te possimus omnes but I must carry him Forth againe but 't is not to War nor Battell 't is to discharge Armies and Souldiers that England may if it be the Will of God be a quiet Habitation againe and the noyse of War not heard in it His Excencellency had not long staid at London but he was Ordered to provide a Convoy to goe with the two hundred thousand pounds for the Scottish Army upon their martching out of England His Excellency living more to the Publick Service and Commonalty then his owne Ease or Accommodation On Thursday Decemb. 18. went from London towards Northampton having before ordered most of his Forces to advance to those parts and appointed three Regiments of Horse viz. Colonel Sir Robert Pye's Colonel Grave's and Colonel Rossiter's and three Regiments of Foot viz. Major-General Skippon's Colonel Lilburnes and Colonel Sir Hardresse Waller's to martch under the command of Major-General Skippon as a Convoy to the said Money to Newcastle upon Tyne a tedious Winter martch being neer two hundred miles from the place where some of them received the Money yet the better to be undergone when it ends not in fighting as many tedious Martches of this Army have done And thus you have an account of six Regiments how they are disposed the rest of the Army I leave in their Quarters to practice Saint John Baptists Lesson Doe violence to no man and be content with your Wages And would to God I might here set Finis to our English Troubles as well as to this History Times and Issues are in the Hand of God we cannot know what is to come let us look over and recount with thankfulnesse what God hath done for us who for his Works sake among us is glorious in the Eyes of all Nations yea in the Consciences of our Enemies who cannot but confesse our Rock is not as their Rock if he be not glorious in our Eyes t is the least can be said his Mercies have been ill bestowed upon us It may be expected here I should conclude with a Panegyrick of the Army and a Paraenetick to the Kingdome to Love and Honour them but me thinks there should be no need of that the whole Story proclaimes their Worth and Merit their Name is Engraven by God himselfe as with the Poynt of a Dyamond on the Gates and Wals of many of our chiefe Places Yea they have Sown a Name to themselves in the Earth and Watered it with their Blood in many places of this Kingdome and if all those great Works God hath done for the Kingdome by them have not